Sunday, January 31, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, January 31, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Sant Samaj
cautions Badal I've
not defied Akal Takht: CM |
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Rules
soon against exorbitant fees Urea
sale frozen in Punjab Rationalise
revenue collections: traders Fasts
mark Martyrs Day Forgotten
monument gets a facelift |
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Sant Samaj cautions Badal AMRITSAR, Jan 30 (UNI) — A faction of the ‘Sant Samaj’, a body of religious Sikh leaders, backing the Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, today issued a stern warning to the Chief Minister not to take any step that would lower the integrity of Akal Takht, the supreme institution of the Sikhs. Addressing a press conference here, Sant Sarbjot Singh Bedi, head of the Sant Samaj faction, said the samaj would mobilise Sikhs against Mr Parkash Singh Badal if any effort was made by his government to lower the Takht’s authority. The Sant Samaj leader warned Mr Badal that sacking of Bhai Ranjit Singh would amount to lowering the dignity of the Akal Takht. Asked about Mr Badal’s role in defying the December 31 ‘hukamnama’, Mr Bedi claimed that the Chief Minister had tried to solicit his support in the ongoing Akali crisis. The Sant Samaj neither backed Mr Badal nor his party rival and SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra but was behind Akal Takht. Commenting on the December 31 ‘hukamnama’ issued, Mr Bedi said it was issued in view of the ‘Khalsa’ tercentenary celebrations. Moreover, it only called for a temporary ceasefire till April 15. Mr Bedi appealed to Mr Badal to show due respect to Akal Takht and not challenge the "hukamnama". He reminded the Chief Minister that the Shiromani Akali Dal and the SPGC had come into existence due to the efforts of Akal Takht and no one could challenge the Takht. Referring to the reported statement of Baba Kashmira Singh, head of the rival faction of the ‘Sant Samaj’, Mr Bedi claimed that the Baba was neither a member of the Sant Samaj, nor a religious leader. Challenging the rival
faction's claim that 111 members of the Sant Samaj
supported Mr Badal, Mr Bedi claimed that only 11
so-called ‘sants’ had held a meeting at
Jalandhar yesterday and announced their support for Mr
Badal. |
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I've not defied Akal Takht: CM NAWANSHAHR, Jan 30 — The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, while addressing a gathering at a religious function at Adliana Gurdwara in Garcha village, 12 km from here today, said he had never defied Akal Takht and had not said anything against the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs. He said the poverty, unemployment and illiteracy were the major problems which the country had been facing and the need of the hour was to take immediate steps to wipe out these problems. He said his government had introduced schemes for the all-round development of the state and had provided relief to all sections be it farmers, employees, traders or Dalits. He said his government had taken steps for economic development. Major industrial projects had already been started in the state. The government was concentrating on generating more power to help industry and had spent crores on completion of the Thein dam which would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on February 12. Similarly, the Lehra Mohabbat plant would be made operational soon. The government planned to undertake the repair of roads in a big way, especially in villages. Village development committees had been set up to oversee development activities. Mr Badal announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the development of the village on the occasion and promised to undertake desilting of the Rahon-Bharta drain on a priority basis. The Welfare Minister, Mr
Sarwan Singh, and Mr Gurnek Singh, Sarpanch, also
addressed the gathering. |
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Rules soon against exorbitant
fees FEROZEPORE, Jan 30 — The SAD-BJP government planned to formulate certain rules to check enormous fees being charged by public schools. The government would derecognise those public schools which flouted these rules. This was stated by the Education Minister, Punjab Mr Tota Singh, who was addressing a gathering of students, officials of the Education Department and local citizens after inaugurating a building of the library of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School here today. He said efforts were on to bring the standard of education in government schools on a par with public schools. But the government alone could not achieve the target as there were 18,000 government schools with 25 lakh students in Punjab. Mr Tota Singh said the state government wanted to improve the state of buildings of all government schools within three years. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had asked religious leaders, NRIs and rich persons to donate for the cause. Mr Tota Singh said many state governments, including Andhra Pradesh, had introduced computer education in government schools. The Punjab Government, too, would prepare a policy for the same. He asked the students to learn English but to follow their own culture instead of aping western lifestyles which could spell their ruin. The minister said his department had meagre funds. Out of the total Budget, 99 per cent funds were utilised for distributing salaries to employees. The remaining 1 per cent was left for other purposes. Regarding the demand of local residents to set up a government college here, the minister assured to take up the matter with the Chief Minister. He announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the school. Among others, Minister of
State for Cooperation and Sainik Welfare Janmeja Singh
Sekhon spoke. |
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Urea sale frozen in Punjab CHANDIGARH, Jan 30 — While the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has conveyed his unhappiness over the hike ordered by the central government in the urea price, the authorities concerned in Punjab have frozen the sale of the urea for the time being. Informed sources said here today that Mr Badal had taken up the matter with the central government and urged them to withdraw the hike immediately as it would adversely hit the farming community not only in Punjab but in other parts of the country also. The feeling in the Punjab Government is that the farmers in Punjab are not in the capacity to bear any hike in farming inputs. The community is already reeling under the burden of debt and repeated crop failures. The central government with an objective of cutting down subsidies on fertilisers had increased the urea price to Rs 400 per tonne yesterday. (per bag increase would be Rs 20). The sources said 20 lakh tonnes of urea were used in an year in Punjab and it would put a burden of nearly Rs 75 crore on the farming community in the state. The sources said if the central government did not withdraw the hike, Mr Badal would take up the issue directly with the Prime Minister to convince that a wrong decision had been taken by the government. In the existing political scenario, Mr Badal could not afford to take any adverse decision affecting the farming community as the Shiromani Akali Dal, headed by him, was also a coalition partner in the central government. Meanwhile, Mr R.N. Gupta, Financial Commissioner (Development) said the sale of old stocks of urea lying with dealers and various state government-owned agencies had been frozen. He said the Chief Agriculture Officers in the district had been told to count such stocks immediately and send the report to the state government or the authorities concerned. He said such a step had
been taken to sell the old stock of urea on a pre-revised
price. The state government would ensure that old stocks
of urea lying with dealers were sold at the old price and
the fresh stock at the new price. |
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Indictment
of 2 ex-ministers CHANDIGARH, Jan 30 — The Punjab Governor, Lt-Gen ( Retired) B.K.N. Chhibber, has sought clarifications from the Punjab Lok Pal regarding the cases against two former Congress Ministers, Mr Lal Singh and Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo. The Lok Pal, retired Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge, Mr H.S. Rai, had indicted these former ministers, besides another Minister, Mr Balmukand Sharma, for corruption and amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income. Raj Bhawan sources here said that the Governor after receiving the report, studied it in great detail and consulted the state's Advocate-General also. He was of the considered opinion that certain provisions of the law and the Lok Pal Act should be adhered to and the cases established more clearly on certain counts. "The Governor under the Lok Pal Act has the authority and has exercised this. He found that while some points had been established, there was some vagueness in regard to certain other charges against the accused. He sought the entire record and also made some suggestions", sources here said. It is also learnt that the Governor was keen to make a foolproof case so that when it is referred to the Punjab Council of Ministers and later to the State Assembly, the charge should not come hurtling back to the Governor that there was no proper application of mind. "The cases once approved by the State Assembly are to go to the courts for proper challans and would surely end up in the highest courts. The Governor was keen on a proper examination," sources said. It is also learnt that the Governor is keen to study in detail cases against Mr Dullo and Mr Balmukand Sharma before he refers these to the government. He has sought records of these cases. On the contrary Akali leaders feel there has been a definite delay on the part of Raj Bhavan while pursuing these cases. "The Governor, we fear took more than just normal interest. He could have asked for the records as soon as he received the cases in September-end and taken a quick decision. By now these should have been before the government and ready for the Assembly which would be meeting for the Budget Session soon," one senior minister, seeking anonymity told TNS. He reiterated that he was casting no aspersions and also did not attach any motives, but delay could have been avoided. "It was in the interest of justice as this was the first set of decisions of the Punjab Lok Pal. This leaves an impression that the institution of Lok Pal and the Lok Pal Act does not help in curbing corruption by publicmen," he maintained. The Tribune has access to two cases dealing with Mr Lal Singh and Mr Dullo. Justice Rai in a 26-page report regarding Mr Lal Singh completed on September 26,1998, did not attach any significance to some of the charges like brick kilns or induction of his son into the Punjab Civil Service. But Justice Rai established, despite Mr Lal Singh's detailed strong defence, that "it is perceptible that two things play an important role in the life of a person; one moral turpitude and the other moral rectitude. Laws cannot impart morality, they can only control external situations. Good intentions promote honesty and bad intentions breed corruption. Proclivity to vice is a natural tendency in human nature. In the present case, it will be seen that as and when Mr Lal Singh occupied any office of profit, he indulged in moral turpitude. He was Chairman of Punsup from 1982 to 1985 and as soon as he demitted office, he purchased a battery of trucks in different names showing, however, that they were obtained against loans. He and his family members started brick-kilns and that too, showing against loans. A kothi was built in the name of his son and that too against loan. Further more, he became a Cabinet Minister during 1992 and remained there for two and half years or so. During this period, he raised many sources of income, like a petrol pump in the name of his son and that too against loan. His brothers also allegedly purchased land in 1993 and that too against loans. All this lead to affection towards moral turpitude and not reflection towards moral rectitude." About Mr Dullo, the indictment is more sharp, but here too some charges did not stand. But he showed favouritism in allotment of excise vends and pushed his favoured officers and contractors. The 60-page report examined in detail a list of 26 allegations about property and favouritism. Mr Justice Rai concluded: "Mr Dullo, the public man, has misconducted himself in the discharge of his functions as Excise and Taxation Minister and abusing his position as such, caused harm to the liquor contractors on corrupt motives for his personal interest and thereby secured undue gain. He is also in possession of property disproportionate to his known sources of income. He has also been found to have concealed his assets and properties while filing his written comments qua the averment in the complaint and later on giving disclosure of those concealed properties in the list of properties owned by him, filed before my learned predecessor." The report also said: "He has further been found to have pecuniary sources/property held by him in the name of his brother Amarject Singh, son of Inder Singh, and his pet pal, namely Sant Singh son of Narata Singh. He also has been detected to have caused loss to the State Exchequer by getting a sale deed executed for a lesser consideration, when in fact the value thereof was much more than that shown in the sale deed."
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Smuggler-militant nexus busted CHANDIGARH, Jan 30 — The Punjab Police chief, Mr P.C. Dogra, while addressing a Press conference here this morning claimed to have busted a smuggler-militant nexus which was out to cause a communal riots in the country. He said the Kapurthala police had arrested three persons in this connection. The arrested persons were identified as Sukhpal Singh, Joginder Singh and Gurcharan Singh. They were engaged in narco-terrorism at the behest of the Pakistan's Intelligence agencies. Mr Dogra said large quantities of arms and ammunition, including 17 Chinese mousers of 0.30 bore, 43 magazines and 265 cartridges, were seized from the three persons after a search of their car by the police. He said the captured arms and ammunition were to be delivered to anti-social elements in Delhi for creating trouble there. Intelligence agencies from across the border had given a new task to militants to create a violent situation in the various parts of the country. He said the police in
collaboration with the Army and BSF had stepped up vigil
along the border to put a stop the activities of
anti-national elements backed by the Pakistan-based
Intelligence agencies. |
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Rationalise revenue collections:
traders BATHINDA, Jan 30 — The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal has urged the Governor, Lt-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd), to ask the authorities concerned to rationalise the system of revenue collection from various sources. A memorandum submitted by Mr Madan Lal Kapoor and Mr Banarasi Dass Goyal, President and General Secretary of the mandal, respectively, demanded that to avoid harassment to general public and to increase transparency, of octroi should be charged on weight of goods instead on value of goods. They pointed out privatisation of octroi posts had not only failed to deliver the goods but had also become a continuous source of harassment and humiliation for the general public. They said octroi on gifts and other items on festivals brought by people from other cities should be abolished. Regarding the rationalisation of the sales tax collection, they said that on most of the commodities the sale tax should be charged in lump sum on annual basis as was being done in the case of brick-kilns, cinema houses and private transport services. The system of raids by sales tax personnel should be scrapped, they added. They pointed out that at present trucks loaded with goods were being detained for days together by the sales tax authorities, and traders and industrialists faced many difficulties to get their goods released. They said that the recent
hike in electricity tariff, bus fares and other essential
commodities were the other areas where immediate
attention of the authorities concerned was also required.
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Fasts mark Martyrs Day LUDHIANA, Jan 30 — A large number of BJP workers led by Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Lala Lalpat Rai, today observed a fast in protest against the excesses committed against Christians in Gujarat and Orissa. The BJP leaders appealed to the masses to be vary of the anti-national elements and said that the attacks on Christians were a 'ploy' to weaken the Government of India. The fast was observed on a call given by the Prime Minister. Mr Shakti Sharma, the party's state General Secretary, Mr Anil Sareen, state Secretary, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, district BJP President, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, MLA and Mr Balbir Chand Kapila, state treasurer, also observed a fast along with other party workers. The District Youth Congress (Rural and Urban) observed the occasion as Anti-Communalism Day. Congress workers organised a programme at the Matarani chowk and garlanded the statue of Bapu. To observe the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi, a programme was organised at the mini secretariat here today. Mr Arun Goel, Deputy Commissioner, presided over the programme. In Moga, the city Congress committee took out a 'parbhat pheri' and the District Congress Sewa Dal organised a function to pay homage to the Father of the Nation. Nawanshahr: The death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was observed as 'balidan divas' at Baradari Club here. Mr Ravinder Chaudhary, GA to Deputy Commissioner, paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and a two-minute silence was observed. The District Leprosy Society observed the occasion as Anti-Leprosy Day. The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, presided over the programme. He said the district administration was planning to take steps to rehabilitate the lepers and would start various self-employment schemes for them. Dr H.S. Gill, Secretary, District Leprosy Society said the incidence of leprosy in the district was five persons per 10,000. Ropar: To mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Martyrs Day was observed at the local mini secretariat complex on Saturday. Two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the freedom struggle. A contingent of the Punjab police reversed its arms to salute the martyrs. Floral tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi by Mr Tara Singh Ladhal, MLA, Anandpur Sahib, Mr K.S. Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bhag Singh, a former MLA, besides civil and police officials. Anti-Leprosy Day was observed by the district health authorities in the civil hospital here on Saturday. Dr Rajinder Singh, Civil Surgeon, presided over the programme. Dr A.K. Khullar and Dr Anurag Vashist, both skin specialists, and Dr Raj Gopal Bhakhri, incharge of the local leprosy and tuberculosis programme, educated the gathering about the symptoms of leprosy, treatment and precautions of the disease. A picture exhibition on leprosy was also organised. Pamphlets on leprosy were also distributed. Gurdaspur: BJP workers representing Gurdaspur, Dhariwal Tibber and Dina Nagar mandals observed a fast here on Saturday in response to a call given by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. Mr Balkishan Mittal, a spokesman for the party, said a resolution was passed appealing to the people to follow the ideals for which Mahatma Gandhi fought. Mr Sat Pal Saini, President of the district unit of the BJP also observed a fast along with other party workers at Pathankot. Ferozepore: Two minutes' silence was observed to mark the death anniversary of the Father of the Nation at a programme held at the local Government Girls Senior Secondary School on Saturday. Among those present were the Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, the Minister of State for Cooperation and Sainik Welfare, Mr Janmeja Singh, Sekhon and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu. The District Leprosy Society in collaboration with the local Citizens Council held a programme in the leprosy colony here to mark the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi. Shoes, medicines and
fruits were distributed among the inmates. |
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Forgotten monument gets a facelift LUDHIANA, Jan 30 — A little remembered memorial raised on the banks of the Sutlej to mark the spot where the ashes of the father of the nation were immersed in 1948 has been renovated. It was formally dedicated to the nation today by officers and jawans of Vajra Corps. The memorial was noticed by Lieut-Gen K. Davar, GOC of the Vajra Corps, while flagging off a rafting expedition in October. He decided to renovate the monument and improve the surroundings as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi. Brig A.K. Verma of air defence artillery and his team were given the responsibility for the same. Within a short span, the Army was able to give a facelift to the monument and its surroundings. It fenced the monument to prevent stray animals from entering inside and a water hand pump was made functional. Brig Verma said he now
expected more people to visit the monument and pay homage
to the father of the nation. |
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PSEB engineers threaten stir LEHRA MOHABBAT, Jan 30 — The PSEB Engineers Association will observe work to rule protest from February 8 and stage a dharna in front of head office at Patiala from February 15 for pressing the management to accept its genuine demands. This decision was taken here today at the meeting of the association presided over by General Secretary of the association, Mr H.S. Bedi. In a press note issued here, Mr Arun Arey, Regional Secretary of the association, said that the main demands of the association included the filling of all vacant posts, implementation of promotional scales after four, nine and 14 years of service and grant of generation incentive on the pattern of Ropar Thermal Plant and commissioning incentive for early commissioning of unit 1 and 2 of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant. The association also urged PSEB management to start execution of stage II of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant so that manpower and other infrastructure already existing the construction organisation could be utilised properly. He said that the
association had also decided to intensify its stir from
February 21 if the PSEB management failed to redress the
grievances. |
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11 PSEB engineers transferred PATIALA, Jan 30 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) yesterday ordered the posting and transfer of 11 senior officers, including two Chief Engineers and three Deputy Chief Engineers. A board press note here said, Mr P.S. Kang, Chief Engineer, Thermal Design, Patiala, had been transferred to the commercial wing vide Mr R.P. Sharma who had retired. Mr P.R. Lochan, Chief Engineer, who was on leave, has been posted as officiating Chief Engineer, Planning, Patiala. The Deputy Chief Engineer, Mr I.L. Chitkara, has become officiating Chief Engineer, Operation and Maintenance, Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabat, on promotion. Mr Krishan Goel, Deputy Chief Engineer, Disposal, Ludhiana, has become officiating Chief Engineer, Planning, Patiala. Mr T.R. Jain, Deputy Chief Engineer, who was OSD to Chairman, has been promoted as officiating Chief Engineer, Thermal Design, Patiala. Mr K.K. Chabra, Additional Superintending Engineer, Water Power Consultancy Service, has been promoted as officiating Superintending Engineer in the same department. Mr Padamjit Singh, Additional Superintending Engineer, Fault Analysis, Patiala has become officiating Superintending Engineer, Coal Management, Patiala. Mr V.K. Chawla, Additional
Superintending Engineer, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant,
Bathinda, has been made officiating Superintending
Engineer, Instrumentation and Control, Guru Gobind Singh
Super Thermal Plant, Ropar. |
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New voice recording system
introduced PATIALA, Jan 30 — An integrated voice recording system (IVRS) for booking of telephone faults at 198 has been introduced in the city on an experimental basis. Disclosing this here yesterday, a telecommunication press note said now telephone complaints could be booked on the computerised system which would improve the accessibility of 198 to the public at large. It said besides this, efforts were being made to provide connections to those on the waiting list in Patiala by March, 1999. It said the exchanges at Amloh, Shambhu and Samana were being expanded and connections would be provided on their commissioning in about a month’s time. The press note said the issue of telephone bills in all exchanges in Patiala telecom district above 1000 lines had been computerised. Now the application forms for connections for Chandigarh internet node were available at the customer service centre, Chhoti Baradari. It said new village
exchanges were being opened at Dhakrabba, Gajjumajra,
Baran, Brass, Kheri Ghurna, Mandour, Mavi and Kularan.
These exchanges would be commissioned by the end of the
current financial year, it added. |
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IAS, PCS officers transferred CHANDIGARH, Jan 30 — The Punjab Government today transferred three IAS and two PCS officers. Mr RN Gupta has been posted as Commissioner of Ferozepore Division and Mr JR Kundal has been posted as Secretary to Department of Relief and Resettlement, while Mr GS Pirzada has been posted as Registrar of Cooperative Societies. He has come on a deputation to Punjab from Tamil Nadu after remaining on a deputation with the Central Government for a few years. Mr SS Khara has been
posted as Additional Director, Consolidation of Holdings,
Punjab, at SAS Nagar, and Ms SK Riar has been posted as
Administrator-cum-Additional Controller, Government
Press, Patiala. |
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Kavi sammelan on Khalsa
tercentenary LUDHIANA, Jan 30 — In celebration of the Khalsa tercentenary, the Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, Ludhiana, in collaboration with the Baba Kirpal Dass Degree College for Women, Paonta Sahib, will hold the first inter-state multilingual kavi sammelan at Paonta Sahib on January 31. According to Mr Prem Singh Bajaj, General Secretary of the akademi, 21 eminent poets from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh will participate. Mr Ishar Dass Dhiman,
Minister for Higher Education, Himachal Pradesh, Mr Hari
Narain Singh, Minister for Town and Country Planning, and
Ms Shyama Sharma will be the guests of honour. |
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Implement package of grades: PAUTA LUDHIANA, Jan 30 — The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association has urged the state government to immediately notify implementation of the complete package of grades for university teachers as per UGC guidelines issued by the Human Resource Development Ministry. In a letter addressed to
the Finance Minister, PAUTA President Hari Singh Brar
said yesterday that while the teachers were grateful to
the government for releasing UGC pay scales for college
teachers, it was amazing that the government had
appointed a committee for deciding other allowances such
as house rent, CCA/RA, etc for the teachers. Since these
benefits had been granted to government employees as
recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission, why should they
require a separate decision for college lecturers, he
asked. |
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Jail clash : case registered PATIALA, Jan 30 — The Kotwali police, Nabha, today registered a case under sections 325 and 34 of the IPC against two prisoners, Sukhwinder Singh and Dilip Khan, for allegedly injuring an undertrial, Jaswinder Singh, in a clash on the premises of the jail yesterday. Earlier, prisoners held a protest against the non-registration of a case against the accused. Sources in the jail
revealed that the clash took place at the morning langar. |
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Protest against bad road ROPAR, Jan 30 — Shopkeepers of the local Partap Bazaar today closed their shops in the morning in protest against the failure of the local Municipal Council to repair the badly damaged roads in their area for the past couple of years. The General Secretary of
the Partap Bazaar Shopkeepers Association, Mr Paramjit
Singh, alleged that the authorities concerned had turned
a deaf ear to their problem. |
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