Monday, March 15, 1999
|
P U N J A B | |
Monday, March 15, 1999 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
||
|
DGP: revival of terrorism
unlikely LUDHIANA, March 14 — The Punjab Police has heightened vigilance throughout the state to prevent desperate elements from taking advantage of the fluid political situation created by the ongoing Badal-Tohra feud by launching a terrorist strike at a prominent target. Fernandes
urged to probe attacks |
 |
|
|||||||
|
Accreditation
panel head visits varsity Role
of Punjab Police Academy lauded Internet
users growing in Ludhiana Mann
group to attend no confidence vote
Lathi
charge on teachers condemned Homoeo
council chief divested of powers |
|||||||||
 |
||||
DGP:
revival
of terrorism unlikely LUDHIANA, March 14 — The Punjab Police has heightened vigilance throughout the state to prevent desperate elements from taking advantage of the fluid political situation created by the ongoing Badal-Tohra feud by launching a terrorist strike at a prominent target. There is a definite rise in the political temperature of the state as a result of the political tug-of-war between the two veteran Akali leaders. The intelligence inputs, the police has been receiving from various sources, is that certain elements are out to take advantage of the situation and may strike out at leaders involved in the political struggle. Therefore, the police has increased its vigilance and is maintaining a close watch on the situation, according to the Director-General of Punjab Police, Mr Sarabjit Singh. In his first press interview conducted by TNS at the Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, after taking over last month, the new Punjab police chief answered a wide range of questions with special reference to the widespread apprehension among the people that the current Badal-Tohra feud might lead to the revival of terrorism in Punjab. Mr Sarabjit Singh, however, firmly ruled out that possibility. "I don't anticipate the return of terrorism for a variety of reasons. People of Punjab have seen terrorism and voted against it. The Punjab Police is no longer the untrained force it was in the early 80's. We have fought terrorism. We are a different force today. We may not have fought terrorism in the past few years but two-three years is not enough time to forget what we have learnt. We are a trained force and we will not allow terrorism to raise its head its earlier form at all." As regards the apprehension among the people about the revival of terrorism, Mr Sarabjit Singh sought to trace it to the fact that most Punjab politicians had always resorted to some sort of violence in the past. "Earlier, it used to be musclemen and danda-wallahs. Then came those who wielded .12-bore guns followed by AK-47s. I will only look at it as an extension of crime and political patronage to the underworld. I don't regard it as terrorism. "Therefore, there may be an attempt to use this sort of power... I don't rule out a strike on a soft or even a protected target. The attempt to strike at a particular target is definitely there. The targets include the head of the state, top political personalities, the head of the administration and of course, the DGP." He said for the terrorists to operate freely, they must have weapons, recruits and safe houses. They had been trying for that for the past several years but had not succeeded so far. There had been a changeover from the use of weapons to explosives as demonstrated in the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh. "I, therefore, foresee that terrorist actions will be based mainly on explosives but the atmosphere in the state is not conducive to organised terrorism." Mr Sarabjit Singh,
however, emphasised that terrorism in Punjab had been
contained and not eliminated. "If we say that it has
been eliminated, it will not be correct because nowhere
in the world has it been eliminated. In this containment
process, vigilance on our part is imperative at all times
and in all directions because conditions being what they
are, the terrorists will look for any opportunity to find
us weak and not alert. The nature of terrorism being what
it is all over the world, they will strike at the first
given opportunity," he warned. |
||
Fernandes urged to probe attacks JALANDHAR, March 14 (UNI) — United Christian Forum for Human Rights President Archbishop Alan De Lastic today said the forum did not see the rise in anti-Christian activities under the BJP-led coalition government in a Hindu versus Christian context. But he did not rule out the possibility of there being a nexus between internal and external vested interests in the flare up the situation. The Archbishop, who was here to apprise himself of reports of desecration of a catholic chapel in adjoining Hoshiarpur town last Sunday, said "there is a plausibility of some nations trying to hurt India economically by playing up the situation. Some multinational corporations (MNCs) might be involved in the conspiracy to hurt India economically’’. He, however, neither named any nation nor any MNC but wanted the Union Defence Minister George Fernandes to unearth the international conspiracy he had been talking about because only a government could unravel the conspiracy, if any. The Archbishop at the same time said that the forum was not satisfied with the performance of the Vajpayee government in checking violation of Christians' human rights and desecration of their places of worship. "We have also been disappointed by the response of Union Home Minister L.K. Advani’’ on the issue, he added. There could be a lunatic fringe (of Hindu community) involved in violence against Christians as stated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, he said. He said the "Hindu community by and large is in tune with the secular and composite character of this nation and a section of it involved in incidents against Christians has been rightly dubbed "pseudo-Hindus’’ by Mr Madan Lal Khurana who, he said, had to lose his job for voicing concern on the rise in violence against the minority community. On the playing up anti-Christian activities by the foreign media, the Archbishop said that "we have no hand in coverage by foreign media’’ of anti-Christian incidents in the country. But he said the burning to death of Graham Stewart Staines and his two sons in Orissa invited universal condemnation, including by saner elements of all communities of India. The Archbishop claimed that it was a fact that violence against Christians had indeed risen after the BJP-led coalition came to power. Asked if rise in the political graph of Ms Sonia Gandhi in Indian politics could also be a factor, forum convenor John Dayal interjected, alleging that anti-Christian incidents went up after the BJP government came to power at the Centre. Asked to identify internal vested interests, the Archbishop quipped "Sangh Parivar’’, with John Dayal adding "it (RSS) wanted to subjugate other minorities in the country’’. On the RSS claim that the demographic profile of certain north eastern states had been changed by religious conversions, John Dayal said let the government prove the charge with data and statistics. "Let the government also probe funds of all institutions, including the Christian ones, instead of only making insinuations’’, Mr John Dayal said. However the archbishop expressed the hope that union and state governments would do their duty to enforce rule of law and to protect and strengthen the secular and pluralistic heritage of India. He urged the Punjab Chief
Minister to do his duty and prevent recurrence of the
kind of incident that happened at Hoshiarpur. |
||
Seminar on Khalsa tercentenary
ends AMRITSAR, March 14 — Distinguished scholars from India and abroad who gathered here to participate in the two-day international seminar on the birth tercentenary of Khalsa Panth organised by the Guru Nanak Dev University here today were of the view that tercentenary celebrations must focus upon the creation of the cosmic man that is Khalsa and the creator that is Guru Gobind Singh. The seminar which was jointly organised by the School of Punjabi Studies, three Chairs and the Department of Guru Nanak Studies of GNDU concluded here today at the conference hall of the university. In the morning session of the second day, Dr Jagbir Singh from Delhi, speaking on "Gurbani de Adhyaian Dian Smasiawan te Vidhian" said that Gurbani emphasised upon developing analytical faculties. He said that religion is not something metaphysical divorced from reality. Religion is practical and dynamic directing our day-to-day life. Gurbani revolts against the feudal structure, he said. Dr Ranjit Singh Bajwa, professor of School of Punjabi Students in his paper on "Jap Sahib — cultural context of cosmology", said that in Jap Sahib, one finds an ordered structure in the cosmic dance, cosmological rhythmic and revolutions. Dr Gurbakhsh Singh from Delhi said that the papers presented had identified the challenges before the Sikh community and the consciousness generated would help in meeting them. He said the scholars had displayed a unique combination of imagination and serenity of judgement. Dr Hakam Singh from the USA who presided over the morning session said Guru Gobind Singh was definitely a supreme being. He drew excellent word pictures and a unique flight of imagination. He made references from Ram Avtar and Krishan Avtar. In the afternoon session chaired by noted Sikh scholar principal Narinder Singh Soch, seven papers were presented on various aspects of Sikh culture, ideology, Sikh identity. Dr Darshan Singh from
Chandigarh, Dr Tejwant Gill, Dr H.S. Bhatia, Dr Amritpal
Kaur, Dr Kanwaljit Kaur Jassal, Dr Harpal Singh, Dr
Gurmit Singh, Dr J S Sabar, Dr Jodh Singh from Patiala,
Dr D P Maini, Dr H C Rajpal, Dr Harpal Singh Pannu, Dr
Mohinder Kaur Gill, Dr Rai Jasbir Singh, Dr Sukhdial
Singh and Dr Jaswinder Kaur Dhillon presented papers on
the second day of the seminar. |
||
Accreditation panel head visits varsity AMRITSAR, March 14 — The time has come for Indian higher education to become world class and add brand equity to institutions places of higher learning according to the chairman of the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee, Prof A. Gnanam. He was talking to newsmen about the gradation system being evolved to assess these institutions based on quality of teaching, evaluation, infrastructure and facilities available. Dr Gnanam who was here to interact with the steering committee of the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) which had organised a one-day workshop on assessment and accreditation norms. The NAAC also works as the benchmarking body for flow of grants from the University Grants Commission. Mr Gnanam stressed the need for improving the quality of education, keeping in view that development of science and technology and academics was an important investment in national development. He said NAAC would work with the institutions for achieving excellence through continuous linkages before, during and even after the process of assessment. He remarked that the employment scenario in India was undergoing a rapid change because of the global instation leading to the predominance of private sector jobs. Talking about the deterioration in quality education, he said unplanned expansion of institutions across the country had resulted in mediocrity, and hence the need for assessing institutions and accreditation to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and promote a culture of positive competition. Prof Gnanam informed that present the assessment and accreditation of 40 universities and 110 colleges of India were being evaluated at various stages in the process. He said one university and 17 colleges had already been assessed by the NAAC and 14 colleges been given accreditation. GNDU VC Dr Soch said this
workshop had been arranged here for the first time in
Punjab for propagation of the idea of assessment and
accreditation. He said that the university had already
decided to submit to the process and will submit the
self-study report very shortly. |
||
Role of Punjab Police Academy
lauded PHILLAUR, March 14 — The Governor of Punjab, Lt-Gen BKN Chhibber, today welcomed Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's bus trip to Pakistan and expressed the hope that it would lead to easing of tension between the two countries. Talking to mediapersons after taking the salute at the annual passing-out parade of the Punjab Police Academy here, the Governor emphasised that the trip marked only the beginning things could not be expected to change overnight. "There has been bitterness between the two countries for so long, how can you expect a change overnight?" he said in response to questions from newsmen. Gen Chhibber said the phenomenon of Islamic terrorism was not confined to the Islamic countries alone. An attempt was being made to fan it in other countries as well. As regards Punjab, terrorism had been contained but not wiped out. Asked if he had been approached by the Chief Minister for an expansion of his ministry in the near future, the Governor quipped that Mr Badal was too busy in other things right now. The Governor also said that the Lok Pal had referred to him four or five cases relating to former ministers which were being examined. Earlier, the annual passing out parade of the Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, was held in which Gen Chhibber inspected the parade and took the salute. Police trainees of basic and promotional courses from within and outside the state took part in the parade. An investiture ceremony was held on the occasion in which three President's Police medals for distinguished services and 22 medals for meritorious service were awarded. Mr Chander Shekhar, IGP, PPA, and Mr Anil Kaushik, IGP, Computer and Wireless, Punjab, were also awarded the police medals for meritorious services. In his address the Governor highlighted the importance of proper training of policemen for maintaining high standards of professional preparedness. He pointed out that the role of the Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, in this regard was praiseworthy Mr Sarabjit Singh, DGP, Punjab, also addressed the trainees and awardees. The DGP asked policemen to inculcate a modern outlook in police working with the help of modern scientific aids and wished the academy would prepare future policemen in such a way that they were capable of under tough tasks in the days to come. Mr A.A. Siddiqui, Director, PPA, Phillaur, welcomed the guests and presented the annual report of the academy. The academy trained 2,129 officers and NGOs from Punjab, Himachal and Andaman and Nicobar in the past session. Mr T.S. Dhillon, Deputy Director (Outdoor), PPA, Phillaur, unfurled the flags conveying different messages through his shooting skills. After the passing-out parade, colourful man PT and horse riding shows and band display impressed the audience. Mr Anil Kumar Lal, ACP (P)
from Delhi, was adjudged the all-round best trainee and
Mr Vimukar Ranjan, DSP (P) from Himachal, was declared
all-round second in basic training category. Mr Bhisham
Singh, ACP (P) of the Delhi Police, was given the
Director's Cup for best behaviour during the last
session. |
||
Internet users growing in Ludhiana LUDHIANA: Internet is not a passing fad: it is here to stay. And, with the passage of time, computer culture will expand and so will the number of users across the country's length and breadth. Public tastes and preferences as regards their source of information and entertainment have been changing over the years. It was the radio in the 50s, transistor in the 60s, television in the 70s, video in the 80s and satellite-based cable TV in the 90s. "But Internet faces no such danger of going out of fashion because it is the ultimate thing", says Mr Gagandeep Joshi, a computer expert. Over the years, there may be improvements but it cannot be replaced...."It has the potential of changing the way people think, work and communicate. Internet is a worldwide network of computers with more than 120 million users around the globe. It is only three years old but the number of users continues to grow every minute. It is the fastest and the cheapest communication in the world. The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) estimates that there will be about two million Internet subscribers in India by 2000. In Ludhiana too, the number of users is going up by leaps and bounds. As a matter of fact, Ludhiana offers the biggest potential for Internet users in this part of the country. A sample survey conducted by the DoT some time ago in the megacity showed that the number of potential Internet users here exceeded 10,000. There are just two Internet service providers (ISPs) here. One is VSNL and the other is Satyam Infoway, which was launched by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, three months ago. Both of them have about 1,000 Internet subscribers but there is scope for much more. "There are people who have bought computers and allied equipment for up to Rs 60,000 just to have an Internet connection", says Mr Joshi. "But they are unable to get it because of the long waiting list. DoT has become a major bottleneck because a sufficient number of telephone lines are not available with it". Mr J.C. Aggarwal, General
Manager (Telephones), Ludhiana, says that the DoT is
trying to augment the capacity here. Equipment for this
purpose has been sanctioned and installation will be
undertaken as soon as the equipment arrives here. Both
VSNL and Satyam Infoway have almost similar tariff for
subscribers, but the latter claims to provide a much
better, ready-to-use connection as per international
standards i.e. one telephone line for a maximum of 10
users, which ensures instant connection in the first
dialling attempt. |
||
Mann group to attend no
confidence vote AMRITSAR, March 14 — In a significant decision, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann has decided to attend the parallel general house meetings, convened by the Badal camp and Tohra camp on March 15 and 22 at Teja Singh Samundari Hall, respectively, in which a no confidence motion against Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra would be moved. This decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the SAD held under the chairmanship of Mr Mann here today. According to Bhai Ram Singh, General Secretary of the SAD, this decision was taken to raise the party's point of view on the ongoing feud in the Akali leadership which had adversely affected the rich institutions of Sikhism. On the other hand the SAD (Amritsar) has also decided to hold a Political Affairs Committee meeting here to give final touches to the proposed agitation of the party on March 20, when the controversial SYL Canal will be filled with earth. Bhai Ram Singh said that SAD (Democratic) led by Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala will also participate in the agitation. The meeting also passed a
unanimous resolution that Bhai Ranjit Singh, who was
placed under suspension by the pro-Badal SGPC executive
on February 10, was the "real" Jathedar of Sri
Akal Takht. The SAD (A) refuses to accept Giani Puran
Singh as Acting Jathedar, it said. |
||
Raped 48 hours after marriage SANDOHA (Bathinda), March 14 — Bholi Kaur (19) of Bhagibander village was raped by her husband Kulwant Singh and brother-in-law Gurtej Singh within 48 hours of her marriage in this village, 40 km from Bathinda, on the night of March 12. Police sources said a case under Sections 376, 323, 506, 120-B and 34 of the IPC had been registered against Kulwant Singh, Gurtej Singh, and the father-in-law and mother-in-law of the victim at Maur Mandi police station. Major Singh, the father-in-law, and the mother-in-law of the victim had been booked by the police for hatching a conspiracy for committing the crime. Bholi Kaur and her sister, Rajwinder Kaur, were married to Kulwant Singh and Gurtej Singh, both brothers, on March 11 at Bhagibander village. Both women had come to their in-laws house here in the evening of March 11. On March 12, they went back to their parents' house. In the same evening, Kulwant Singh and Gurtej Singh took their respective wives to Sandoha village. However, Gurtej Singh sent his wife back to her parents' house after some time while Bholi Kaur was kept in the house by Kulwant Singh. The sources said at about 10 pm, both Kulwant Singh and Gurtej Singh came into the room where Bholi Kaur was resting. Kulwant Singh reportedly raped his wife and she fell unconscious. Later Gurtej Singh too raped her.The parents of the victim after getting the information on March 13 went to Sandoha and admitted Bholi Kaur who was bleeding profusely, to the Civil Hospital at Bathinda. Dr Snehlata of the Civil Hospital told TNS that Bholi Kaur had been raped and that she bore injury marks. Mr Gurjant Singh, SHO,
police station, Maur Mandi, said no arrest had been made
so far. |
||
Lathi charge on teachers
condemned BARNALA, March 14 — Prof R.S. Brar, Vice-President of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) and Prof Jeetpal Singh former President, PCCTU, who sustained injuries following lathi charge during a protest rally of private college teachers at Chandigarh on Friday, in joint press statement here today flayed the state government for its boorish treatment towards them and indifferent attitude towards their grievances. Teachers will observe black day tomorrow. They criticised the Punjab Government for its discriminatory attitude towards private college teachers by which issued notification of revised UGC scales for university and government college teachers only. The PCCTU leaders said the attitude of the the government had forced them to boycott Punjab School Education Board plus two class and university three year degree examination starting in April. They urged Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister to intervene. The government must apologise for insulting and injuring protesting college teachers, they said. They demanded a
magisterial probe against the officer who gave cane
charging orders to the police. |
||
Homoeo council chief divested of
powers PATIALA, March 14 — Six elected members of the State Council of Homoeopathic System of Medicine today in a resolution announced the withdrawal of powers vested in the chairman of the councils, Dr Baljit Singh, and also recommended the appointment of a homoeopath chairman to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Talking to this correspondent here today, Dr KC Batish, spokesman of the six elected members, said a full house meeting of the council, which consisted eight members elected by more than 6,000 homoeopaths in the state, and three members, including the chairman nominated by the Punjab Government, was convened on March 12 but only six members were present. It was learnt that the Secretary of the council, Mr SS Kahlon, had sent telegrams to all members informing them about the postponement of the meeting till further orders. The telegram did not give any reason for the postponement. Dr Batish said as the six members were not informed, they decided to hold the meeting as a majority of the council members were present. Releasing a signed statement of the minutes of the meeting held by the six members at Chandigarh yesterday, Dr Batish said under Section 13 of the council, any member in the absence of the chairman could preside over the meeting having a majority of members. The meeting under the presidentship of Dr Batish discussed the "failures" of the chairman and unanimously resolved to withdraw his powers. He had also been directed
not to perform any function without the approval of the
council. His emergency powers had also been divested. |
||
Attack on chapel condemned CHANDIGARH, March 14 — Archbishop Alan de Lastic, president of the United Christian Forum for Human Rights, has expressed concern at the desecration of a Catholic chapel in Hoshiarpur by anti-social elements this week. Addressing a press conference at Trinity College, Jalandhar, today, he asked the Parkash Singh Badal government do its duty and uphold law and order, besides working for the uplift of the backward and the downtrodden. The Archbishop said Punjab had a tradition of communal amity and such incidents were extremely rare in the state. He hoped that the administration would bring the guilty to book and restore a sense of security among minorities. There were efforts to sow seeds of hatred. In this connection, he expressed regret at the campaign of falsehood" and calumny against the Christian community that had been launched in several parts of the country in recent days by "vested" interests. The Archbishop expressed
hope that the state governments and the Centre would
enforce the rule of law and strengthen the secular and
pluralistic heritage of the country. |
||
One village in two districts ROPAR, March 14 — Steps will be taken to attach Behlolpur village with one district. Presently, the village falls in Ropar and Ludhiana districts. An assurance to this effect was given by Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, to residents of Behlolpur, while addressing a rural gathering at the village yesterday on the occasion of a free eye operation camp and cultural festival organised by the Shaheed Surjit Singh Memorial Youth Club. Mr Atwal said he would take up the matter with the government in this regard, adding that the state government would appoint maximum teachers in the rural areas to provide qualitative education. He announced a grant of Rs
21,000 for the youth club and honoured the Youth Club,
Mianpur, with a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a memento for
getting the first position among the youth clubs of the
district. |
||
Only spare water for Haryana: Sodhi FATEHGARH SAHIB, March 14 (PTI) — Supporting the recent statement of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal not to complete the SYL canal project, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, President of the Punjab BJP, said only surplus water could be given to Haryana. Talking to mediapersons at Sirhind today, he said BJP supported genuine demands of Punjab, including the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab. When asked about the stand
of the BJP on increase in octroi, the state BJP President
said his party was against it but the economic condition
of many municipalities in the state was very poor. It
should be imposed only on luxury items, he pleaded. |
||
Polio drops administered LUDHIANA, March 14 — The first additional pulse polio campaign was inaugurated here today by the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Dr Pooran Singh Jassi. Dr Harwinder Singh said that 186 posts had been set up to immunize children between the age of 0-5 years. Of these, 45 posts had been created in Ludhiana, 75 in Khanna and 66 posts in Sudhar and Sidhwan Bet. Gurdaspur: Dr Dawinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Civil Surgeon, inaugurated a polio camp at Civil Hospital, Batala today as part of the campaign launched by the Health Department to eradicate polio from the state by the end of the current year. Mr Sandhu said that one lakh children in the age group of 0-5 years have been identified for administration of polio drops today and 16 polio vaccination camps organised in the sub division. The camps evoked a good response. Amritsar: The final countdown for eradication of polio from India by the year 2000 began today, with the nation embarking upon a two day special pulse polio drive in selected districts of different states. Reminiscent of the strategy adopted during eradication of smallpox in the early seventies, the drive focuses on those areas where fresh polio cases are still occurring, despite four rounds of extensive pulse polio campaign. Amritsar, which was one of seven districts of Punjab, which have reported polio cases in 1998, is implementing this drive, intended to cover 80,000 children upto five years of age. Dr Rajinder Singh, Civil Surgeon inaugurated the intensified pulse polio campaign at the dispensary at Bhagtanwals, where a simple ceremony was held. He later visited slum areas of Bangla Basti on the outskirts of the city. Tomorrow, in the second
leg, 7210 mobile teams will fan out in select villages
for house-to-house immunisation. |
||
Auction of liquor shops FEROZEPORE, March 14 — Of the three districts — Ferozepore, Moga and Muktsar, liquor shops in Muktsar district fetched less revenue for 1999-2000 as compared to the revenue earned during the previous financial year. The auction of a total of 738 liquor shops, including 625 country-made shops took place here today. It was conducted by the Collector-cum-Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr Mohinder Paul Goswami. Mr Goswami said liquor shops of Muktsar district had fetched less revenue this year because of crop failures, business losses and sick industrial units. He said licencees had suffered a loss of nearly Rs 3 crore in Muktsar. As a result, they did not come for the bidding. All liquor shops of Muktsar district were therefore, auctioned to new contractors. He said liquor shops of Ferozepore division were auctioned about at Rs 117 crores this year against about Rs 113 crores in the corresponding period of last year. Regarding Moga district,
he said the shops of this district had fetched a sum of
about Rs 37 crores as against about Rs 34 crores in the
previous year. |
||
Principals to wear black badges today PATIALA, March 14 — Members of the Federation of Associations of Principals of Non-Government Affiliated Colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh has decided to wear black badges tomorrow to protest against the "unjust and discriminatory policy" of the state governments towards the demands of the teachers and the lathi charge on teachers at Chandigarh on Friday. In a press release here today, Mr Amrik Arora, President and Dr Gurmohan Singh, General Secretary of the federation, said a joint meeting of the general house of the Principals and managements of the private aided and unaided colleges would be held at DAV College, Jalandhar, on March 21. Meanwhile, the executive committee of Thapar Institute Teachers Association condemned the lathi charge on university and college teachers who were protesting peacefully in Chandigarh. Mr R.K. Sharma, President
of the association in a statement, here asked the
government to immediately implement the revised pay
scales for the teachers working in engineering and
agricultural institutions. |
||
Robbery with a difference AMRITSAR, March 14 — In a unique robbery, a shop was demolished and all goods were taken away. According to a press note issued by Mr Satya Pal Dang, CPI leader, some influential persons of Chheharta (Amritsar) indulged in the robbery with a view to getting a rented shop vacated. Giving details, he said Mr Mukhtiar Singh had rented a shop from some influential persons a few years ago for Rs 150 per month. In 1995, the shop was purchased by Mr Iqbal Singh. A few days ago the lock of the shop was broken, and all goods were taken out and the shop was demolished. Later, the goods worth about Rs 2 lakh, were taken away. An FIR was lodged when a deputation met the SSP. Mr Dang said three
labourers who had reportedly transported the goods were
brought to the police station and had been kept there
since. |
||
Pensions unpaid for over six months NAWANSHAHR, March 14 — Even though the state government has repeatedly been saying that there is no financial crisis and there local district social security officer claims the is no dearth of funds for disbursing pension about 15,000 pensioners, including about 11,000 on the old age pension list who have not received their pensions for the past six months make a mockery of the government claims. This serious lapse has not
only inconvenienced pensioners but become a major
headache for the banks who disburse the pensions, with
pensioners constantly questioning them. |
||
Recruitment rally JALANDHAR, March 14 — The Army will hold a recruitment rally from March 19 to 28 at Tibri Cantonment, Gurdaspur and Polo Ground, Patiala, for domiciles of Punjab. The recruitment is
exclusively for Sikhs (880 vacancies), Sikh Majhabi
Ramdasia, Balmiki Adharmi (1400 vacancies) and Dogra (70
vacancies). |
||
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
