More power to boost industry: Sukhbir
MALOUT, Sept 4 — Union Industry Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, while addressing a rally of SAD-BJP workers here, alleged that the Congress had done nothing for Punjab except dividing the people on caste and communal lines.

New look for Anandpur Sahib station
ANANDPUR SAHIB (Ropar) : In view of the great rush of railway passengers to this holy town during the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth in April next year, the Northern Railway has undertaken a project for the extension and renovation of the local railway station.

Released terrorists under watch, says DGP
PATIALA, Sept 4 — A number of released terrorists are building contacts with those in jails and are indulging in subversive activities in the state Mr P.C. Dogra, Director General of Police, Punjab claimed this at a Press conference here today.

BSP legislator arrested
HOSHIARPUR, Sept 4 — Mr Shingara Ram Sahungra, the BSP MLA from Garhshankar constituency, was arrested this morning at Bakkapur Dhamahi.

Ticket helps solve blind murder
LUDHIANA, Sept 4 — A bus ticket found at the site of a murder committed a few days ago in a city hotel turned out to be the most important clue in what seemed to be a case of blind murder. It also led the police to the culprit.

Takht chief assures Christians
AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — Bhai Ranjit Singh, Akal Takht chief, met representatives of Christians at his residence here today and explained to them that he had not used derogatory language against Christianity, as published by Ajit.

State award for 20 teachers
CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — The Punjab Government has selected 20 teachers for the state award which will be given tomorrow at a state-level Teachers' Day function at Bathinda, according to information available here. Mr Tota Singh, Punjab Education Minister, will preside over the function.

Ropar police solves murder, theft cases
KHARAR, Sept 4 — The Ropar police has arrested a gang of three thieves following the recovery of stolen goods worth about Rs 6 lakh from them and claimed to have solved three murder cases.

Youth shot dead, stepmother held
BATHINDA, Sept 4 — Ravinder Singh (22), a resident of Ludhiana, has been murdered allegedly by his stepmother Manjeet Kumar, a Congress activist and his friend Preet Inder Singh, alias Lovely, near Malooka village late last night, police sources said today.

Sops in offing for Punjab industry
GURDASPUR, Sept 4 — Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister of State for Industry, while talking to newspersons here today said Punjab industry would be given concessions in power tariff after the ongoing power projects were completed.

Jalal’s statement condemned
BATHINDA, Sept 4 — A team comprising four members of the SGPC, headed by Dr H.S. Gill, which probed the burning of religious books incident here today condemned the action of a former MLA, Mr Harbans Singh Jalal, for giving a communal statement.

Traders threaten stir on auction

2,500 cr to be spent on development

Holiday in Jalandhar, Nawanshahr today

HC notice to Punjab, People's Commission
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — A public interest litigation (PIL) petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court today seeking to restrain the controversial People's Commission, set up under the chairmanship of Justice D.S. Tewatia, former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, from conducting its proceedings on October 23 in Ludhiana.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Amarjeet Chaudhary and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal issued notice to the Union of India, the state of Punjab and the People's Commission for September 25. On the plea to stay the further sittings of the commission, the Bench also issued notice regarding stay for the same date.

The petition was filed by Mr Sudershan Goel, an advocate of the high court.

Referring to news reports published in The Tribune, the petitioner submitted that according to the terms of reference of the said People's Commission, the commission would examine complaints of alleged abductions, custodial tortures, enforced disappearances, summary executions and illegal cremations en masse and to give its findings whether the state agencies, individuals had committed any prima facie offence. "It can also inquire into the conduct of persons who have already been tried by courts of law and whether the court proceedings were not impartial or independent or were designed to shield the accused", the petition noted.

To achieve the said objects, the commission held its sittings on August 8 at a local gurdwara and issued summons to government officials.

The petitioner has stated that by sitting over judgements passed by courts of competent jurisdiction in cases of alleged atrocities during the militancy, an attempt was being made to set up a parallel judicial system which might subvert the judicial process as well as cause a serious threat to the country's survival.

It was pointed out by the petitioner that the state of Punjab remained a terrorist-affected area for more than a decade and the actions of the commission in summoning the police officials and other state officials and holding them guilty, should have the effect of demoralisation not only among such officials but also in the society at large and in case the militancy is ruled out, the police force would not be in a position to combat and control that situation.

It was further pointed out that even a minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, and the state Advocate-General, Mr G.S. Grewal, and various political parties in the state had condemned the working of the said commission but respondent No 1 and 2 had remained mute spectators.

Mr Mehlab Singh, Additional Advocate-General, accepted notice on behalf of the state of Punjab.

Revised CET result tomorrow
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today permitted the Punjab Technical University to release the revised result of the combined entrance test to newspapers for publication in their issues of September 6.

This decision ended a nail-biting wait by thousands of students who were placed in a dilemma about their admission to various engineering and architecture colleges in the state.

Handing down an 11-page order this afternoon, Chief Justice Arun B. Saharya and Mr Justice Swatantar Kumar nodded the suggestion of the university for holding fresh counselling of eligible candidates from September 17.

The judges also directed the university to give to all candidates the opportunity of inspection and/or rechecking their answer books in any or all the subjects in which they had taken the examination. The inspection or rechecking of papers will be conducted from September 12 on the university premises at a Lok Adalat, if so desired by the candidates, in Jalandhar.

Directing the university to give fresh opportunity to the qualified candidates to apply for admission, the Bench ordered all concerned to ensure commencement of the academic session from October 3.

Adjourning the case to October 9, the Bench held: "The provisions made in the information brochure for CET, 1998, and the admission brochure published by the university, insofar as those provisions relate to matters covered by these directions, shall stand superseded and modified."

Expressing satisfaction over the "sufficient and reasonable" steps the university had taken in the detection and rectification of various conceivable mistakes, the judges observed: "It would be in the larger public interest to permit the university to declare the revised result and proceed with the further process of counselling and admissions, so as to commence the academic session, as expeditiously as possible."

"Keeping in view the staggering number of the candidates whose marks and ranks have changed," the judges noted: "The court is confronted with the question whether to scrap the result in toto or permit the same to be revised by the university. First option would not be in the interest of anyone. The same, is therefore, ruled out. In order to save the situation, however, the candidates who had gained admissions in the first counselling must be unseated. It would be but fair to do so as the rank of all candidates, except the candidate at rank No 1 (Ankur Garg), have undergone a change."

The Bench ordered that in counselling every candidate must get the choice of institution and the course of study on the basis of relative merit and rank. "Those candidates who are lower in rank must not be allowed to enjoy wrongful gain of the higher position given to them by mistake. Likewise, those candidates who are higher in rank must not suffer the corresponding wrongful loss caused to them by token of the very same mistake in the preparation and declaration of the earlier result."

After conducting test, the university had declared the result on June 12. Out of the 14,948 candidates who had taken the test, 8499 candidates were declared qualified. The merit list showing the rank of the qualified candidates, determined on the basis of the aggregate marks in physics, chemistry and mathematics for the engineering course and physics/mathematics papers for architecture course was also declared.

It was Mr Ankit Jain, who had first knocked at the door of the high court to expose the tabulation of the original result by the university. Due to a pre-computation mistake, albeit on the part of the candidate, his answer-sheet had escaped evaluation. The university had agreed to carry out the necessary correction in his result. He was followed by Mr Vivek Jain, who had pleaded that the university had declared his merit position at No 2098, which was suo motu upgraded.

Meanwhile, the first counselling was held and he was deprived of admission to the institution and a course of his choice as per his upgraded rank. So he had prayed for directing the university to grant him admission according to his merit on the basis of first counselling as a special case.

The high court had issued notice to the university. On receipt of the notice the university reported that it had discovered one after the other a series of mistakes in zero marking in objective-type papers of a large number of candidates. This impelled the university to go in for a complete recheck of objective-type papers in each of the three subjects of physics, chemistry and mathematics of all candidates who had appeared for the test.

On the basis of the previously declared result, a total of 1986 candidates had been admitted in the first counseling held from July 7 to July 27.

The worst hit by the revised result are Scheduled Caste candidates. Out of the nine candidates who were called in the first counselling, five were given admission. On rechecking the result, all the five Scheduled Caste candidates have been pushed out of the eligibility zone.

Paddy starts arriving in markets
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — While new paddy has started arriving in the grain markets, the old stock of paddy is awaiting to be milled and transported out of Punjab.

The opening price of paddy, which is being purchased by private traders as official agencies will enter the markets only on September 15, is above the support price. Informed official sources said that private traders were buying paddy at about Rs 500 per quintal.

The support price fixed by the Central Government for common varieties is Rs 440 per quintal and for grade "A" varieties Rs 470 per quintal. However, the Punjab Government has urged the Central Government to enhance the support price of common varieties to Rs 500 per quintal and of Grade "A" varieties to Rs 550 per quintal.

The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, along with Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab Food and Supply Minister, had met the Prime Minister and other officials concerned in New Delhi on August 10 and 11 for getting the support price of paddy increased. But the Union Government has not conceded this demand so far.

Informed sources said that about 1302 tonnes of paddy had arrived in the Punjab markets in recent days. Amritsar is leading in paddy arrivals so far. In Amritsar 806 tonnes, in Ludhiana 411 tonnes, in Patiala 83 tonnes and in Jalandhar 40 tonnes of paddy had been purchased by private traders out of the new arrivals of paddy.

Sources said that within a week the paddy arrival in the state markets would pick up and touch a figure of 10,000 tonnes daily. According to an estimate submitted to the Punjab Government by the state Agriculture Department about 20 lakh tonnes of paddy is expected to arrive in the markets by the end of this month.

Due to the early arrival of paddy in the markets, the government procurement agencies will enter the markets about a week in advance. Last year paddy procurement by government agencies had started on September 22. But this year it will start from September 15. Otherwise, normally the procurement of paddy, used to commence from October 1.

Mr A.S. Chhatwal, Director, Punjab Food and Supplies, when contacted in this connection said that the Central Government had officially intimated the Punjab Government to start the procurement of paddy from September 15. The letter in this connection was received from the Central Government last evening.

The Central Government had also exempted private traders from levy rice against the paddy which they will buy before September 15. In other words, traders will not have to give levy rice to the Central Government prepared from the paddy they will buy before September 15. This has been done to prevent distress sale of paddy before the entry of government procurement agencies in the markets.

Mr Chhatwal said that out of the paddy arrivals in the market the FCI would procure 40 per cent, the Food and Supply Department 10 per cent, Punsup and Markfed 18 per cent each and Punjab Agro and others 12 per cent. There was a bumper paddy crop in Punjab and its production was expected to touch 120 lakh tonnes this year if the weather remained farmer friendly during the next two months.

Meanwhile, as much as 10 lakh tonnes of paddy is lying unmilled in Punjab from last year's stock. Out of it 7.5 lakh tonnes belong to the FCI, 1.7 lakh tonnes to Markfed, 1.60 lakh tonnes to private traders and the remaining to other government agencies.

The Central Government has asked the authorities concerned to mill the pending stock of old paddy by October 31. Till that date the relaxation given in conditions with regard to rice prepared from last year's stock of paddy will continue. Last year, the Central Government had allowed 30 per cent breakage instead of 24 per cent and 3.5 per cent driage instead 2 per cent in levy rice.

Although there has been an appreciable increase in the movement of rice and wheat to other states from Punjab in recent days, it will require another four months to empty the godowns of the old stock of rice and wheat. At present about 12 lakh tonnes of paddy and wheat is being taken to other states from Punjab every month. Earlier, only two lakh tonnes to three lakh tonnes of wheat and rice were being transported out of Punjab every month.

Dashmesh project vital: Badal
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

DERA BASSI (Patiala), Sept 4 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today said the state government had taken up with the centre the issue of implementing a Rs 370 Dashmesh canal project to meet the irrigation needs of the people of Patiala and adjoining districts.

Addressing a public gathering here, Mr Badal said various central agencies had been approached for funds and that the state government had mapped the area in which the canal was to be established.

With the establishment of the canal, it would become easy for the people of these areas to irrigate their fields as tubewells were either unsuccessful or became useless shortly after being commissioned. He urged the people to be patient as the project would take some time to be completed.

At the rally, the Congress came under attack by the top Akali leadership. A Rajya Sabha member, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundur, and the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, urged the people not to be swayed by the dharnas and agitations launched by the Congress.

The Chief Minister alleged that the earlier Congress governments had not been able to get anything from the Centre for the state.

The earlier Congress government had 'failed' to even ask the then Central Government to waive Punjab's Rs 8400 crore loan, he said. Even not the Congress was adopting 'double standards' on issueless facing Punjab and Punjabis. On the Udham Singh issue, while the state Congress was in favour of its exclusion from the proposed Uttaranchal state, the central leadership was in favour of its inclusion in that state.

The Chief Minister said the government was considering allowing farmers to take loans in cash. The likely limits would be Rs 1 lakh for a farmer having one acre and Rs 2 lakh for a farmer having five acres of land. He also said the government would reach out to the public from now onwards with all senior district officers going to various places according to a fixed plan to listen to the public grievances on the spot.

Mr Bhundur stressed that the Punjab Government was committed to not giving water to Haryana from the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. The SAD has also made it clear that it would withdraw support to the BJP central government if Udham Singh Nagar was included in the proposed Uttaranchal state.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the BJP government had agreed in principle to give more powers to the states. A commission would be set up in this regard soon. The Central Government had also agreed to give more share in central taxes to the state governments, he added.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Saini Bhavan and a cinema house. He also announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh to the Dera Bassi Municipal Committee.

More power to boost industry: Sukhbir
Tribune News Service

MALOUT, Sept 4 — Union Industry Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, while addressing a rally of SAD-BJP workers here, alleged that the Congress had done nothing for Punjab except dividing the people on caste and communal lines.

He said due to the "wrong and anti-people" policies of the Congress in the state, Punjab had lagged behind in the industrial sector. The Congress had not tried to create any infrastructure for setting up big industry in the state.

Dubbing the PPCC president, Mr Amarinder Singh and vice-president, Mr Jagmeet Brar, as political "opportunists", Mr Badal said the two leaders were capable of "betraying" any party for power.

The Union Industry Minister said in the past five months, projects worth Rs 20,000 crore had been sanctioned for Punjab by the Central Government which included an oil refinery, two cement plants, a tyre plant, a fertiliser plant and an insecticide plant. He said with the setting up of these projects, Punjab would hold the top position in the industrial map of the nation.

He said the Punjab Government was creating infrastructure and a conducive atmosphere for entrepreneurs. He said with massive industrialisation, the problem of unemployment would be solved in the state to a large extent.

He said for a boost to industry, the generation of power was being increased and Rs 500 crore had been arranged by the Punjab Government for early completion of Thein Dam.

Mr Sukhbir Singh said the Punjab Government was making efforts to increase canal water irrigation facilities. He said a small dam would be built on the Sirhind-Rajasthan canal near Gidderbaha for producing power. The state government would spend Rs 200 crore in the current financial year for increasing the capacity of the existing canals.

Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Food and Supply Minister, Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, Mr Gurtej Singh Balluana and Mr Makhan Singh, MLAs, also spoke.

New look for Anandpur Sahib station
From Sushil Goyal

ANANDPUR SAHIB (Ropar) : In view of the great rush of railway passengers to this holy town during the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth in April next year, the Northern Railway has undertaken a project for the extension and renovation of the local railway station.

The extension and renovation work would be done at a cost of about Rs 60 lakh and completed by next March next year. Under the programme, a double storey building with a covered area of 45x7 metres would be constructed while 50x50 metre area along the road has been left as an open area for parking cars and scooters as well as a pathway.

In the proposed extension, the ground floor would have the ASM's room, battery room, Station Superintendent's room, waiting hall, toilets and windows for sale of tickets, while on the first storey there would be a rest house and a first-class waiting hall.

As a part of renovation work, a cemented decorative parapet would be erected on the roof of the railway station to give it a new look.

The administrative offices of the railway station would be shifted to the new building after completion of the work. In the open area, plantation of saplings would be done. Besides, a wall enclosing the open area would be put up.

There is a proposal for a shelter in front of the new building and the case is pending with the office of Divisional Railway Manager.

According to Mr M M Lal, the Station Superintendent of the local railway station, the existing building will be used for parcel godown, goods godown and the Government Railway Police picket would be set up. At present, a police picket is there only at Kiratpur Sahib.

Nowadays, only three trains touch this railway station. These are the Himachal Express from Bareilly to Una, Ambala-Nangal Dam Passenger and Saharanpur-Nangal Passenger. The Ambala Cantt-Nangal Dam train, which was discontinued a decade ago in view of militancy, now runs up to Sirhind. There is great demand for restoring the train up to Nangal Dam.

The state government has asked the Railway Ministry to link Anandpur Sahib with Chandigarh and Delhi through superfast trains. For this Morinda would have to be rail-linked with Chandigarh.

Released terrorists under watch, says DGP
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Sept 4 — A number of released terrorists are building contacts with those in jails and are indulging in subversive activities in the state Mr P.C. Dogra, Director General of Police, Punjab claimed this at a Press conference here today.

Substantiating his claim the DGP announced that the local district police has busted a seven-member gang of ex-terrorists and arrested six of them. The DGP said the gang had plans to kidnap entrepreneur Surjit Singh Rakhra, Mr Avtar Singh, son of Mr Sukhpal Singh, chairman of a block samiti in the district.

DIG Rajinder Singh and SSP Parampal Singh Sidhu said a huge cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives was found in their possession. A car used by them has been impounded. The gang has also been held responsible for looting nearly Rs 81,500 from two petrol pumps and a liquor shop from Bakshiwallah village in this district. They also deprived a person of his car at Julkan village which has been found. The gang members are Harbhajan Singh, Jaswant Singh, Sarabjit Singh, Baldev Singh, Satnam Singh and Hakam Singh.

They were either released after completing their prison sentence or had been acquitted of charges due to lack of evidence against them.

The DGP lamented that in the past five years the number of acquittals of suspected criminals had been on the rise. He blamed it on the improper police investigation by the police for this trend.

He said vigil on terrorists released from jails had been increased.

BSP legislator arrested
From Our Correspondent

HOSHIARPUR, Sept 4 — Mr Shingara Ram Sahungra, the BSP MLA from Garhshankar constituency, was arrested this morning at Bakkapur Dhamahi.

Mr Shingara Ram, the only BSP MLA in Punjab, was wanted in a case registered at Garhshankar police station against him and Mr Avtar Singh Karimpuri, general secretary, Punjab BSP unit, and some other activists of the party under Sections 451/353/427/147/148 of the IPC wide FIR No 95 dated July 24, 1998. All other accused were arrested, but Mr Shingara Ram had been evading arrest.

According to the FIR, BSP workers headed by Mr Shingara Ram and Mr Avtar Singh Karimpuri caused damage to property at Garhshankar police station and roughed up some policemen.

Mr Shingara Ram was produced before the Area Magistrate, Garhshankar, who remanded him to judicial custody up to September 18, and sent him to the District Jail, Hoshiarpur, from where he is likely to be shifted to the Patiala jail.

In a press note the police authorities stated that on July 22 night Mr Shingara Ram and Mr Avtar Singh Karimpuri called a party workers' meeting at Gurdwara Ravi Dass, Garhshankar. Mr Som Nath, president of the Gurdwara committee, refused permission for the meeting. BSP workers assaulted him and tore his clothes. Mr Som Nath went to the police station to lodge his complaint. Mr Shingara Ram and Mr Avtar Singh Karimpuri along with seven party activists went to the police station. They damaged property and interrupted the police in doing their duty for which a case was registered against them.

Ticket helps solve blind murder
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 4 — A bus ticket found at the site of a murder committed a few days ago in a city hotel turned out to be the most important clue in what seemed to be a case of blind murder. It also led the police to the culprit.

The body of a woman was found lying in hotel room in Bhadaur House on August 24. After the post-mortem examination, it was established that the death had occurred as a result of poisoning.

Enquiries with the hotel manager and staff revealed that the woman was accompanied by a male, who had later absconded. When the police party searched the hotel room, it found a bus ticket from Tanda to Ludhiana. A police party was then despatched to Tanda and Hoshiarpur with photographs of the deceased and enquiries were made to establish her identity.

The police learnt that the name of the woman was Mrs Balbir Kaur, wife of Mr Kuldip Singh, a resident of Zahura in Hoshiarpur.

The police had also advertised photographs of Mrs Balbir Kaur in the press and her husband, who was working in Delhi, on seeing the photograph contacted the local police here. Enquiries made with Mr Kuldip Singh and other relatives of the deceased revealed that she had illicit relations with Mr Ram Kataria of Faridkot and that they also had some business dealing.

Mr Kataria owed Rs 30,000 to Mrs Balbir Kaur and she had come to meet him to take her money back. However, Mr Kataria gave a poisonous pill in a cold drink to Mrs Balbir Kaur and fled with Rs 60,000 and a gold chain belonging to her. When he was arrested, he tried to commit suicide by consuming a sulphos pill, but the police party saved him by providing him with timely medical assistance.

Meanwhile, the detection committee constituted by the IG (Zonal) headed by Mr K.S. Sandhu, SP (Detective), and comprising three SHOs — Mr Maninder Bedi, Mr Balbir Singh and Mr Prem Singh, had also been successful in soling two other blind murders in the city.

The police had found two women's bodies on the morning of August 25 outside Dada Motors and near Transport Nagar, respectively. The police sent the photographs of the two women to all police stations and also put up photographs at certain public places to establish their identity. The two women were later identified as Pooja and Mamta — daughters of Mr Raj Kapur of Muradpura.

Investigations into the case are on.

Takht chief assures Christians
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — Bhai Ranjit Singh, Akal Takht chief, met representatives of Christians at his residence here today and explained to them that he had not used derogatory language against Christianity, as published by Ajit.

"For me, all religions are equal," he emphasised, pointing out that Sikhs and Christians had always lived in harmony.

In an exclusive interview, Mr Barjinder Singh, Managing Editor, Ajit, denied that he had played a partisan role. He said Ajit was popular due to its objectivity and impartiality. Mr Barjinder Singh denied that Ajit had published a "distorted" statement of Bhai Ranjit Singh on Christianity. He said: "I stand by the report published in Ajit on the issue."

Mr Barjinder Singh also denied that he had met Mr Gobind Singh, a close relative of Nirankari chief, along with Prof Manjit Singh and Nirajan Singh Nirankari, a senior IAS officer.

Bhai Ranjit Singh when contacted, said he had stopped reading Ajit and it was for the Sikhs to decide whether to subscribe to such a paper "which had hatched a deeprooted conspiracy to denigrade the jathedar of Sri Akal Takht".

He alleged that the Managing Editor of the paper was "misleading" the Sikh Sangat by publishing "distorted facts" about him for the past about one and a half years.

He appealed to the Sikh masses not to rely on Ajit as the Editor had played a "partisan role" while publishing reports about him.

After Mr Tara Singh Hayer, Editor, Indo-Canadian Times, Vancouver, the Editor of Ajit is the second scribe to have earned the wrath of the Akal Takht chief. Bhai Ranjit Singh had earlier appealed to the Sikhs not to read any newspaper published under the editorship of Mr Tara Singh Hayer.

State award for 20 teachers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — The Punjab Government has selected 20 teachers for the state award which will be given tomorrow at a state-level Teachers' Day function at Bathinda, according to information available here. Mr Tota Singh, Punjab Education Minister, will preside over the function.

Each awardee will get Rs 5100 in cash, a shawl and a memento apart from a commendation certificate. He or she will also get one year's extension in service beyond the age of superannuation.

Official sources said that 12 teachers had been selected from the secondary section for the award while eight teachers had been selected from the primary section. The selection was made by three committees which were set up by the Punjab Government for this purpose.

From the secondary section, the teachers selected for the state award are Mr Kuljit Singh Walia, Zila Institute of Education and Training, Faridkot, Mr Gurchet Singh, Government Girls Secondary School, Sardulgarh, Ms Haranjit Kaur Cheema, Principal, Senior Secondary School, Patran, Mr Kartar Singh, Government School, Bajwa Kalan (Kapurthala), Ms Gurcharan Kaur, Model School, PAU, Ludhiana, Mr Paramjit Singh, Art and Craft Teachers School, PAU, Ludhiana.

Mr Mohammad Sadique, Head, Islamia Kamboj School, Malerkotla, Mr Niranjan Singh, Government School, Karian Pehalwan (Ferozepore), Mr Venod Kumar Uppal, Multipurpose School, Ludhiana, Mr Balwinder Singh, Sewak Jatha School, Patiala, and Mr Paramjit Singh, Government School, Takhan Badh (Moga).

From the Primary section the selected teachers are Mr Nachattar Singh, Fattuwala (Ferozepore), Mr Sajjan Singh, Narraru (Patiala), Ms Manjit Kaur, Model School, Patiala, Ms Malkit Kaur, Bhai Feru Aided School, Faridkot, Mr Avtar Singh, Sangla (Bhadson), Ms Surinder Kaur, Central Head Teacher, SAS Nagar, Ms Manjit Kaur, Balongi (Ropar), Ms Vidya Sharma, Baltana (Patiala), and Ms Prem Kanta, Bhalla Rai School, Kapurthala.

Ropar police solves murder, theft cases
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Sept 4 — The Ropar police has arrested a gang of three thieves following the recovery of stolen goods worth about Rs 6 lakh from them and claimed to have solved three murder cases.

Mr R.S. Khatra, SSP, Ropar claimed this while addressing a Press conference here today.

He said in a joint effort by Mr Jasdev Singh, SHO, Kharar, and Mr Rajinder Singh Sohal, SHO, Mohali, three thieves — Shiam Lal, alias Boss, Teja Singh and Balbir Singh were arrested when they were travelling in a stolen Maruti car (No PCF-1358) yesterday. He said gold, televisions, decks and clothes worth Rs 6 lakh, were found on their possession. He said with their arrests all the six cases of theft in Mohali and one in Kharar have been solved. He said Shiam Lal is the leader of the gang and has already been declared a proclaimed offender by the Chandigarh police.

Mr Khatra said the body found on August 22, 1998, at the SYL bridge near Morinda was of Mr Ranbir Singh of Patiala. He was allegedly murdered by his friend Navdeep Singh.

He said the Morinda police has arrested Navdeep Singh. He has accepted having committed the crime for money, he added.

Mr Khatra said the police has solved a blind murder committed on January 4, 1998 in which a body was found in a forest near Nurpur Bedi. He said the body has been identified as that of Dharmveer from Uttar Pradesh. He said the police arrested two persons Devinder and Ravinder on September 2 on the charge of murdering Dharmveer. They allegedly killed him after snatching away Rs 5400 from him. He said that both the accused were brought by the deceased from UP for working in his brick kiln.

Mr Khatra claimed that a body which was found in the fields in Chaju Majra village near Kharar on August 28 was of Pawan Kumar of Kharar. The body was identified in the presence of the Duty Magistrate on September 3. He said a case of murder has already been registered against three persons.

The S.S.P. said the Kharar police arrested two thieves Surinder Masih and Gurcharan Singh yesterday. Two colour televisions, one VCP and one stereo were found in their possession.

Youth shot dead, stepmother held
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Sept 4 — Ravinder Singh (22), a resident of Ludhiana, has been murdered allegedly by his stepmother Manjeet Kumar, a Congress activist and his friend Preet Inder Singh, alias Lovely, near Malooka village late last night, police sources said today.

The sources said Manjeet Kaur along with Ravinder Singh and Preet Inder Singh came to Nami Dera near Malooka village last evening in a car from Ludhiana. The dera was earlier being run by her husband, Mr Harbhajan Singh.

A few hours after leaving the dera, Manjeet Kaur, Ravinder and Preet Inder proceeded to the house of another acquaintance living in the outskirts of the village.

The sources said Ravinder Singh was shot dead by Manjeet Kaur and Preet Inder Singh by the double-barreled licensed .12 bore gun of Manjeet Kaur about 100 yards from the dera.

The sources said a case under Section 302 of the IPC, had been registered against Manjeet Kaur and Preet Inder Singh in Dialpura police station. The car and gun used in the crime have been impounded and Manjeet Kaur arrested.

Sops in offing for Punjab industry
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, Sept 4 — Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister of State for Industry, while talking to newspersons here today said Punjab industry would be given concessions in power tariff after the ongoing power projects were completed. He said Ranjit Sagar Dam would be completed within three months and the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant in three years.

The government was considering an industrial package for the border districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepore to generate more jobs.

Mr Langah said the state was losing several crores every year by paying toll tax to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The Punjab Government was in touch with its neighbouring states to lift the barrier and has said that it would also impose toll on products being brought from Himachal Pradesh.

He said the state government had approved a Rs 300-crore factory at Bathinda.

Farmers had been asked to diversify to supplement their income. They would be provided loans worth Rs 10 lakh for setting up dairy and bee-keeping units and fish farms on 33 per cent subsidy and an additional cut of 5 per cent interest would be given as additional incentive.

Jalal’s statement condemned
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Sept 4 — A team comprising four members of the SGPC, headed by Dr H.S. Gill which probed the burning of religious books incident here today condemned the action of a former MLA, Mr Harbans Singh Jalal, for giving communal statement.

In a Press note Dr H.S. Gill, Mr Kehar Singh, Mr Balwant Singh and Ms Darshan Kaur (all SGPC members) have alleged that Mr Harbans Singh Jalal spread such news to grab a piece of land to tarnish the image of senior Akali leaders, including Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal.

They said as per the team’s findings, no evidence of burning religious books could be collected. The team concluded that such allegations were made by Mr Jalal with mala fide intentions.

In another Press note issued today, Mr Jagjit Singh Chohan, Convenor, International Sikh Youth Organisation, condemned Mr Jalal for creating communal tension in the region and harming the political interests of the Union Industry Minister, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Traders threaten stir on auction
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Sept 4 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Beopar Cell Chairman, Mr Madan Lal Kapoor, today threatened that traders would observe bandhs and stage dharnas if the state government auctioned the octroi posts of Bathinda and Rampura Phul Municipal Councils to private parties.

In a Press note issued here, he said the state government had decided to hold the auction at Ferozepore to avoid any protest from traders. However, the traders would reach Ferozepore on the date of the auction to stop it.

By extending many facilities to the rural population of the state and by denying the same facilities to the urban population, the state government were creating a ‘wedge’ between the rural and urban population.

Mr Kapoor pointed out that the Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, had said that octroi would not be abolished in Punjab, but the BJP government in Rajasthan had abolished it form August 1.

2,500 cr to be spent on development
From Our Correspondent

KAPURTHALA, Sept 4 — Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Finance Minister, has said the state government would be spending Rs 2500 crore during the year for the development of rural and urban areas in the state against Rs 2100 crore last year.

Addressing a function organised at Begowal village to celebrate the death anniversary of Bawa Charanjit Singh yesterday, husband of Mrs Jagir Kaur, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, he said the Centre had agreed to set up a commission to recommend the redistribution of powers between the Centre and states. At a meeting of state Finance Ministers held recently in Delhi, he demanded 50 per cent share to states from the Centre in gross taxes.

He announced a sum of Rs 5.63 crore for the construction of a tehsil complex and residential colonies at Bholath subdivision. A sum of Rs 55 crore was being spent in villages for the construction of streets and drains, he said.

He announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the library being constructed in the memory of Bawa Charanjit Singh and laid its foundation stone at Begowal village.

Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of the Chief Minister, laid the foundation stone of a women welfare and computer centre at Begowal.

Holiday in Jalandhar, Nawanshahr today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — The Punjab Government has declared a local holiday in Jalandhar and Nawanshahr districts on September 5 on the occasion of Sh. Sidh Baba Sodhal Ji Maharaj fair.

All Government offices, corporations, boards and educational institutions will remain closed on this day.