Sunday, May 9, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, May 9, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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SAD may
split after May 20 |
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PM to
visit Jalandhar on May 12 Cops 'torture' woman Warning to temple committee Cultivating rice, friends Police intervention prevents clash Clash at railway station leaves 12
hurt Melody is his forte Acute water shortage in Talwandi
Sabo Registration of case ordered
against three policemen College teachers meet Adviser Sangrur boy tops in middle
standard exam 2 held for selling fake
certificates Villages get grant to clean ponds Closure of mineral water unit
ordered Batalvi remembered 25 injured in group clash Test results to be sent to parents 11 policemen get summons People asked to take up social
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SAD
may split after May 20 CHANDIGARH, May 8 — The Former SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said here today that Mr Parkash Singh Badal was not acceptable as president of the Shiromani Akali Dal as "he (Mr Badal) did not recognise Akal Takht". "No one who did not recognise Akal Takht, can be accepted as president of the SAD", Mr Tohra said and claimed that Mr Badal would be removed from the presidentship of the SAD if he did not submit at Akal Takht by May 20, the date fixed by Bhai Ranjit Singh, to whom Tohra faction recognises as Jathedar of Akal Takht. The former SGPC chief said he would unfold his strategy after May 20. He claimed that he had no dispute with Mr Badal but only wanted that he should recognise Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht and accept at Akal Takht that he had done a mistake as regards the issue of Jathedar. From today's talk of Mr Tohra it was clear that Mr Badal and Mr Tohra will finally part ways after May 20. It is also expected that the Badal camp may initiate action against Mr Tohra before that date. Already the Badal camp has started issuing statements against him. He said there was no question of entering into an alliance with the Congress. The Congress party would continue to be our main rival, he added. The experience of having alliance with the BJP was also bad. It did not accept any demand of Punjab. Neither the issue of Udham Singh Nagar was resolved nor other important demands. LUDHIANA: Informed sources in the Tohra camp of the party indicated here today that the former SGPC chief was convening a delegates' session of the Akali Dal on May 30 at Gurdwara Alamgir, near here, where the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who also heads the Akali Dal, might be "removed" from the presidentship of the party and a new President elected in his place. The Tohra camp has already undertaken a cool assessment of the relative strength of the two camps at the general house meeting of the party. The Akali Dal has a total of 423 delegates and the Tohra camp claims a majority in the House although Badal loyalists pooh-pooh the suggestion. The Tohra camp claims an 80 per cent majority in the four districts of Patiala, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana. For instance, in Ludhiana district, eight out of 10 delegates are stated to be with Mr Tohra. But in most other districts, it is the Badal camp which has the upper hand. The Tohra camp is trying to improve its position in these districts. "It will be a vertical split", says an insider of the Tohra camp. With the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, forcing a split in the parliamentary wing of the Akali Dal will be no problem". The Akali Dal has a total of four MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Mr Tohra and his confidant, Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra, can walk out any time leaving Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder in the Badal camp. In the state legislative
wing, the Tohra camp at present claims the loyalty of 14
MLAs, although not more than half a dozen MLAs having
been joining the Opposition in staging walkouts from the
Punjab Assembly in protest against various acts of
omission and commission of the government. The Tohra camp
is hopeful of an accretion in its strength once Mr Badal
undertakes the long-awaited expansion of his ministry.
"Those left out are bound to drift towards us",
says the insider. But not to be outdone, Mr Badal, too,
has put off yet again the proposed expansion of the
ministry till after the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for
September-October. "Our strategy is to create a
situation in which Mr Badal is forced to expel from the
party MLAs loyal to Mr Tohra". |
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Lobbying
on for Badal's daughter AMRITSAR, May 8 — Lobbying has started in favour of Ms Purneet Kaur, daughter of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to allocate her the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat. She is wife of Mr Adesh Partap Singh, MLA, Patti (Tarn Taran). Mr Adesh Partap Singh is a grandson of late Partap Singh Kairon, a former Congress Chief Minister. Earlier, Ms Purneet Kaur was aspirant for ticket during the by-election to Tarn Taran Lok Sabha in May last year. However, Mr Badal had allocated this seat to Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur as he did not want to give an impression that he (Mr Badal) was promoting his family. It is pertinent to mention here that Mr Prem Singh Lalpura, an MLA who was also elected to the Lok Sabha during the previous parliamentary elections, had refused to take an oath as an MP in protest against the induction of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Union Ministry. Mr Lalpura had alleged that he was even senior to Mr Parkash Singh Badal in the SAD and it was discrimination' by denying him a union ministry berth due to 'nepotism'. Meanwhile, the All-India Sikh Students Federation, headed by Mr Manjit Singh Bhoma, in a resolution, has urged the Chief Minister to allocate the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat to Ms Purneet Kaur. Interestingly, the federation has also urged the Chief Minister to allocate the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat to Mr Bhoma. The sitting MP from Amritsar is Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, President of the Punjab unit of the BJP. The federation also alleged that most of the Punjab MPs did not speak even a word in the Parliament During their 13-month tenure. The federation has also
demanded immediate expulsion of Mr Tohra from the SAD due
to his alleged anti-panthic' activities. |
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PM
to visit Jalandhar on May 12 CHANDIGARH, May 8 — The Punjab Government will apprise the Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee, about the new milestone achieved by the state's farmers on the food front. Mr Vajpayee will visit Punjab on May 12 and he will address a public rally at Jalandhar to kick off the poll campaign for the SAD-BJP combine in the state. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab Food and Supply Minister, said the Prime Minister's visit on May 12 to Jalandhar was confirmed last evening. Mr Mittal said the previous record of wheat procurement had been shattered. Till last evening 73.85 lakh tonnes of wheat had arrived in the Punjab markets and out of this 73.23 lakh tonnes had been procured by government agencies. While the state government-owned agencies procured 50.86 lakh tonnes, the FCI had bought 22.37 lakh tonnes till last evening. The previous record of wheat procurement in the state was of 72.99 lakh tonnes in 1995-96. The minister said a report with regard to the total output of wheat in the state and procurement by government agencies would be submitted to the Prime Minister on May 12. The issue of moving wheat to deficit states from Punjab would also be taken up with him. Mr Mittal said storage facility was available in deficient states and Punjab's problem of stacking wheat could be solved to large extent by expediting the movement of wheat to other states through rail or by other means. The minister said he would also submit a detailed note to the Prime Minister with regard to the Public Distribution system. The new PDS which was introduced a few years ago failed to deliver the goods. Asked whether the BJP
would support Mr I.K. Gujral if he contested again from
the Jalandhar constituency, Mr Mittal said the BJP had
neither earlier supported Mr Gujral nor it would support
him now. |
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Cops
'torture' woman LUDHIANA, May 8 — Ms Jaspal Kaur, a woman in her thirties who is recuperating in the local Civil Hospital, has alleged that she was tortured at Dakha police station. It is learnt that Ms Jaspal Kaur, a resident of Mora Kariya village in Jagraon police district, was rounded up by personnel of Dakha police station on May 2 on a charge of smuggling poppy husk and kept in custody. She was later thrown in the fields near her village on May 6. She had wounds on her back. Talking to mediapersons here today, Ms Jaspal Kaur's son, Raju, along with the local MLAs, Ms Bikramjit Singh Khalsa and Mr Satpal Gosain, said she was illegally rounded up. She was buying poppy husk for her husband, who was addicted to it. They said the village panchayat had intervened in the matter and urged the police to release Ms Jaspal Kaur, who was innocent, but to no avail. Raju said when his mother was rounded up, no policewoman was present and she was kept at a police station where only policemen were posted. He alleged that the police beat up his mother using a rubber belt with nails. Further, he said, certain policemen has demanded "Rs 70,000 for releasing" his mother and that he had paid them Rs 30,000 and also given some gold ornaments. Mr Bikramjit Singh and
Mr Gosain demanded that a sub-inspector at the police
station, Mr Baldev Singh, should be suspended and further
action taken against him. |
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AMRITSAR, May 8 (UNI) — In violation of orders of the Supreme Court and the Union Government, Punjab revenue officials have transferred prime land reserved for development of forestry in 44 villages of Ajnala sub-division of the district to farmers for agricultural purposes. According to an official letter written by Amritsar Circle Forest Officer Harbhajan Singh to Deputy Commissioner Narinderjit Singh, 10,868 acres owned by the Punjab Forest Department is under illegal occupation. The letter dated March 16 squarely blames patwaris for transfer of the land and requests the Deputy Commissioner to take necessary action against officials involved in this underhand deal. As per the contents of the letter, the Forest Department had first brought this illegal encroachment to the notice of the district administration in 1997. Despite persistent reminders, the administration failed to initiate any action against the erring officials. In the letter, Mr Harbhajan Singh has pointed out that allotment of this land to farmers is in clear violation of the Forest Reservation Act, 1980. Under this Act, forest land cannot be transferred or used for any other purpose without clearance of the Central Government. The letter has pointed out that in 1996 the Supreme Court, too, had passed an order banning "misuse" of forest land and the Punjab Government had agreed in writing to abide by the order. The letter further says the land in question was transferred by the Punjab Government to the Forest Department in 1968. The revenue officials, for reasons best known to them, did not register the land in the name of the Forest Department while in official records it was still owned by the Punjab Government. Likewise, about 500
acres in the Tarn Taran sub-division and 58 acres in the
Amritsar sub-division had been transferred to the Forest
Department but was still registered in the name of the
Punjab Government. |
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Warning
to temple committee NABHA, (Patiala), May 8 — The Shiv Durga Temple Committee, which has taken over the management of a temple on the Punjab Public School premises here, is likely to come under pressure for the first time since its inception with old school students gathering here tomorrow and a warning being given to the committee by the Congress party. Old Nabhaites are expected here tomorrow with the school Principal issuing an appeal to them to attend an emergency meeting being held in the senior school library to discuss and resolve the problem being faced by the school following demolition of its boundary wall and takeover of the temple by a self-styled committee. The Principal has issued this appeal in the Press despite an undertaking by the district administration that it would give all needed protection to the school to reconstruct the boundary wall demolished by a mob on April 3. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, told TNS he had given this undertaking to the Principal, Col D.S. Khera, when the latter called upon him yesterday. The Deputy Commissioner said he had also submitted a proposal about ways to resolve the crisis to the Home Secretary for necessary action. Mr Bir said as the religious programme started by the temple committee was likely to be over by May 9 the construction of the boundary wall could be started after that. He said security would be deployed to tackle all eventualities and the issue of giving independent access to the temple would be decided by the government. He said, however, there was no question of the committee being allowed to use the ground in front of the school. Speaking about the committee formed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner,Capt R.S. Randhawa, the Deputy Commissioner said an informal committee had been formed by the officer to discuss the issue. A formal committee to manage the temple would be formed by the government soon as the temple had been constructed on government land. He said the committee so formed would include government nominees and heads of various social organisations. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Ramesh Singla, who is also a member of the committee formed to discuss ways and means to solve the issue, today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of playing a wrong role in the entire crisis. He warned the Congress would not let the committee which had control over the temple to politicise the issue. The Congress leader appealed to the district administration to deal with the situation sternly, saying that the administration should let the temple committee hold further religious programmes on a large scale after May 9. He said though the issue of providing independent access to the temple could be considered there was no question of letting the temple committee have control of the playground in front of the school as demanded by it. Mr Singla while warning the committee to ensure students of the school were not disturbed due to blaring of loudspeakers said he would meet the Governor along with a delegation to apprise him of the issue. Meanwhile, pravachans
are continuing on the temple site with Swami Parmanand
being the main speaker. Langar is also continuing round
the clock. The sant sammelan started by the temple
committee is to continue till tomorrow night as planned
earlier by it. |
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Cultivating
rice, friends CHANDIGARH, May 8 — Under the Indian farmers project, signed between the Government of Burkina Faso and India, a team of six Punjabi farmers is all set to fly to their country to take up a three-year contract in rice cultivation and transfer of farm technology as part of the South-South cooperation. A tripartite agreement between the six farmers, the Punjab Agri Export Corporation (PAGREXCO) and the Government of India was signed here on Thursday in the light of a memorandum of understanding already signed between Burkina Faso and India in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) on April 26. The signatories to that MoU were the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs) of Burkina Faso, Mr Youssoul Ouedraogo, and Charge d' Affaires Embassy of India, Mr Mohan Lal. According to the Financial Commissioner, Development, Mr R.N. Gupta, as per the agreement all the six will also be provided individual bachelor accommodation with power and running water, a transport vehicle, medical facilities and other infrastructural support. The six farmers, who have formed themselves into a "group" with a leader are Dr Baljinder Singh (Ludhiana), Mr Bachittar Singh (Hoshiarpur), Mr Tirath Singh (Sangrur), Mr Tarlochan Singh (Ludhiana), Mr Ranjit Singh (Faridkot) and Mr Pargat Singh (Sangrur). All the six are "practical" farmers who will stay there for three years. Both governments and Punjab have assured all facilities, including looking after their families here. Each family will get Rs 10,000 a month as financial support for one year in the absence of these six farmers. These farmers will demonstrate the use of modern farm technology at the project, which will be a demonstration-cum-training centre as well. The Government of India will provide free of cost farming machinery, equipment and other inputs as required at the site itself. The site is Douna. A monthly stipend of US $ 1,000 will be paid to each of the six and to and fro from economy class tickets provided. Six to and fro economy class for two experts to visit Douna in a year for a maximum of 15 days at a time will also be provided. All the six farmers have
undergone training in farm techniques and language
proficiency at PAU, Ludhiana. |
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Police
intervention prevents clash KAPURTHALA, May 8 — The district administration with the cooperation of representatives of political parties saved the situation from turning ugly by solving a dispute between followers of Bapu Ram and workers of the Balmik Dharam Yudh Morcha in the town. The followers of Bapu Ram are organising religious discourses at the local Shalimar Garden here and have been selling a book allegedly containing derogatory remarks against Bhagwan Balmik. Hundreds of workers of the Balmik dharam yudh morcha under the leadership of Mr Jia Lal Nahar last night marched to Shalimar Garden where the workers seized copies of the book and tore the same. Thereafter, they went to the venue where a religious discourse was, being held and allegedly disrupted the same for more than half an hour. On learning of the incident, Mr Iqbal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, along with a force went to the site and the discourse resumed. The workers of Balmik Dharam Yudh Morcha in the early hours this morning held a procession in the town. In order to avoid a conflict, the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police immediately convened a meeting of the Peace Committee at the local Yojna Bhavan in which representatives of all political parties and social organisations participated. It was decided that the
controversial book would not be displayed at the venue. A
compromise was reached and the workers of the Balmik
Dharam Yudh Morcha called off the agitation. |
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Clash
at railway station leaves 12 hurt LUDHIANA, May 8 — At least 12 persons were injured in clashes between railway employees and supporters of a shopkeeper at Akalgarh Market here at the local railway station in the forenoon today. Among those who were injured were Mr Krishan Kumar, Mr Tarsem Lal, Mr Tirlochan Singh and Mr Baljit Singh. According to information available, a shopkeeper of the market, Mr Manjeet Singh, had come to the railway station to see off his sister. As the train was about to leave and he was in haste, he did not buy a platform ticket. He was stopped by a ticket checker, who imposed a fine on him. When Mr Manjit Singh said he was not carrying any money on him, he was allegedly insulted and abused by the official. Mr Manjit Singh called up his brother, who reached along with the president of the Akalgarh Market, Mr Amarjit Singh, at the station. Following a wordy duel, supporters of Mr Manjit Singh and the railway employees on duty hurled stones at one another, resulting in damage to railway station property and some vehicles parked outside. The SDM, Mr G.S. Kaler,
and senior police personnel reached the site. However,
people staged a dharna outside he station. They were
joined by some local politicians. The dharna was lifted
only after the SDM promised an enquiry. |
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Melody
is his forte CHANDIGARH: More than a year ago, the compere of a Punjabi cultural programme at the local Tagore Theatre was asked by harried organisers to take the centrestage following a last minute let-down by prominent artistes. Faced with a piquant situation, the compere relented, though hesitatingly, and managed to keep the audience glued to the seats with some appreciable presentation of Punjabi songs. Singing was certainly a field unexplored by the young artiste till then but the success achieved that evening and subsequent praise from all quarters set the youth thinking. He decided to become a professional singer. Today after months of toil and planning his dreams have fructified. Presiding over a function to mark the release of his first audio cassette "Chigarh Bhoondiyan", he bade adieu to compering, the art which opened new vistas for him, and announced his arrival on the cultural horizon of Punjab as a professional singer. Yes, he is the young Gurinder Raju, a disciple of Dr Atamjit, for whom theatre was the first love. Having realised the popularity of pop music, Gurinder's maiden cassette is also on the same lines. Besides the title song, Chigarh Bhoondiyan, the cassette contains seven other songs. Lyrics of four have been provided by Janga Nandpuri, who wrote "Bolo Tara Ra Ra...." and propelled Daler Mehndi to world fame. The music which is a blend of pop and classical, has been provided by Jaspal Moni, who has 14 years experience in the field. "It is indeed a big moment in my life," said the modest Janga while releasing the cassette in the presence of a select audience. "Gurinder Raju has brought me out of the abyss where I saw no hope of redemption," said the lyricist who has experienced exploitation at various levels. The 26-year-old Gurinder
Raju who hails from Kurali, has excelled in 'kathak' and
with the 'tabla'. Besides, he has acted in many plays
directed by Dr Atamjeet Singh and has also attended many
workshops under the aegis of the National School of
Drama. This talented singer attaches greater importance
to melody rather than catchy lyrics. "My attempt is
to offer such melodious tunes which people can play over
and over again," he says. |
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Acute water shortage in
Talwandi Sabo BATHINDA: Even 52 years after Independence, residents of the rural areas of this district are facing an acute shortage of drinking water. With the successive governments of Punjab doing nothing more than making tall promises during election time, the people of rural areas of this district have been forced to drink untreated water. The underground water of this district is brackish and unfit for human consumption. On the other hand, the successive governments could not provide the entire population with drinking water. In some of the villages of Talwandi Sabo sub-division, the drinking water problem is so acute that people and animals drink water from the same source. Official sources said in a letter written to Punjab Government by the district administration recently, it had been mentioned that many of waterworks in the district were damaged and needed immediate repair. In some cases the capacity of the waterworks required to be increased. The letter mentioned that in one of the village, cases of jaundice came to notice recently and the doctors attributed the main reason of Jaundice to non-potable water. As the entire district was dependent on canal-based water supply for drinking purposes, there was immediate need of repairing the waterworks. Official sources said all the 159 rural water supply schemes of this district were old and needed repair. About Rs 2.80 crore was required to make these schemes fully operational. To cover the entire population with the drinking water, hundreds of crores of rupees were needed. Apart from it, a few rural waterworks have been rendered useless by waterlogging, which has gripped many villages in the Talwandi Sabo area. The funds being allocated to the Public Health Department by the Punjab Government for maintaining adequate drinking water supply to rural areas were meagre and not enough even to pay the salaries of daily-wagers. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy
Commissioner, when contacted, said the Punjab Government
had been apprised of the situation about the drinking
water supply in the rural areas. He added that funds
would be provided to the authorities concerned to provide
adequate drinking water to the rural areas. |
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Registration
of case ordered against three policemen CHANDIGARH, May 8 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab Government to register a case against Mr Preet Pal Singh Virk SP (Detective); Sangrur; Sub-Inspector Rajinder Sohal, the then SHO of Malerkotla police station; and constable Ganda Singh of the District Police Lines under sections 342, 343, 346/34, IPC, for keeping Tejinder Singh and Budh Singh. Mr Justice K.K. Srivastava, gave the order on the basis of the recommendations of the CBI. The judge also directed the prosecution of Mr Preet Pal Singh Virk, Inspector Shamsher Singh of the CIA staff, Bhiwanigarh, Head Constable Avtar Singh (no 177) and Constable-II Balbir Singh (no 424), both of the District Police Lines, Sangrur, under sections 120-B, read with 364, 342, 343 and 346, IPC, for illegal detention of Tejinder Singh. The judge ordered the state government to take steps in compliance of the final recommendations of the CBI and apprise the court of the steps taken within four weeks. He also ordered that the case be listed for further orders on July 8, 1999. The CBI was entrusted
the case on the basis of a complaint filed by Mr Budh
Singh, saying that his son was last seen on July 20,
1993. |
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College
teachers meet Adviser CHANDIGARH, May 8 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union in a statement here today said that the DPI (Colleges), Punjab, has released the revised UGC pay scales notification pertaining to non-government colleges. Mr N.P. Manocha, finance secretary, and Dr G.S. Brar, secretary of the Union, in a joint statement urged the Punjab Government to immediately release a grant of Rs 22.34 crore and to gazette the amendment of the Service Security Act to make pension and gratuity scheme part of the Act. The Union leaders also appealed to Mr Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the Administrator of Union Territory Chandigarh, to implement the UGC scales in government and non-government colleges in UT on the Punjab pattern without further delay. A deputation of teachers
also met the Adviser in this connection. |
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Sangrur
boy tops in middle standard exam SAS NAGAR, May 8 — Chitsimran Singh Bali, a student of Holy Heart Convent High School, Sangrur, has topped the middle standard examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board in February, by securing 586 out of 600 marks. Love Sampuranjot Kaur of Government Girls Senior Secondary School Kapurthala ,and Ekta Kalia of Arya Model High School, Bathinda, have both secured the second position by obtaining 583 marks. Binny Rani of Bhucho Mandi in Bathinda district won the third position in the examination by getting 579 marks. Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, chairman of the board, in a press note here today, said of a total of 3,32, 939 school candidates, 2,53,216 were successful and the pass percentage was 76.05. The pass percentage of private candidates has come to 73.77, and out of total of 54,802 candidates appeared in the market, 40,428 passed out. A total of 507 candidates securing a minimum of 535 marks figure in the merit list prepared by the board, the press note said. The copies of the result
gazette will be available from 11.a.m. onwards on May 10
at all the textbook sales depots of the board at the
district headquarters. |
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2
held for selling fake certificates LUDHIANA, May 8 — The police today arrested Mahinder Singh and Paramjit Singh and seized 78 fake certificates from their possession here. Five of the certificates were for class VIII, 32 of class X, 22 of S.S.C, nine of Guru Nanak Dev University, five of Panjab University, two of Government College for Women, Ludhiana, three of the Magadh University and others of Bihar Instogia Education, University of Jammu, Arya College, Ludhiana. In addition, 150
admission forms and three fake stamps were also seized.
The police has registered a case under Sections 419, 420,
467, 468 and 471 of the IPC. |
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Two
held for selling fake documents GURDASPUR, May 8 — The police today arrested Ravinder Singh and Mukesh Kumar, both residents of Gurdaspur, for preparing and selling fake documents. A case under Sections 420, 455, 467, 468, 471 and 171, IPC, and Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at local police station here. The district police chief, Mr Varinder Kumar, said that Mr Swaran Singh, SHO after a tip-off raided the shop of Ravinder Singh and recovered 27 rubber stamps, 32 fake driving licences and 25 forged documents regarding registrations of vehicles. The rubber stamps seized from the shop of the accused included that of Deputy Commissioner, Registration Authority Motor Vehicles, New Delhi, District Transport Officer of Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Ropar Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Jammu, Chamba, Raipur, Patna and Kangra. The police chief said that the accused had been active for the past eight years and has supplied several thousand forged documents. For each document the accused charged Rs 5000 to Rs 6000, he said. The police chief also
said that Mukesh Kumar, accomplice of the main accused,
was running a printing press here and used to make rubber
stamps for the accused. He used to charge Rs 500/- per
stamp for preparing forged stamps, said the SSP. |
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Villages
get grant to clean ponds LUDHIANA, May 8 — The Punjab Government yesterday gave a grant of Rs 4,85,000 lakh to nine villages of this district for cleaning ponds. The Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, who presented the cheque during a function organised at Irak village, announced that the government had launched a new scheme to clean the water in the ponds by digging them up and providing for the drainage of the water. The villages which have
been given finances for this scheme are Takhran, Adiyana,
Ranva, Gari Tarkhana, Balio, Bondli, Gahilewal,
Kakralakalan and Kotla Shamshpur. |
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Closure
of mineral water unit ordered AMRITSAR, May 8 — The local Civil Surgeon has reported that the water sample of a mineral water factory, near Doburji village, which was sent to the state bacteriologist for examination, has been declared unfit for human consumption. He said the factory had been served a notice to take necessary precautionary measures but it had not taken any action in this regard. On the basis of the
report, the Deputy Commissioner had ordered the closure
of the factory. |
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Batalvi
remembered LUDHIANA, May 8 — On the occasion of the 26th death anniversary of the famous poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi, a literary function was organised by the Young Writers Association at the Communication Centre, Punjab Agricultural University, here and was presided over by well-known poets, Col Chanan Singh Dhillon and Dr Sarjit Singh Gill. On the occasion, Prof Gurbhajan Gill, In charge of the association, said Batalvi earned fame in the world by getting the Sahit Academy Award at the age of 27 years. His poetry is still popular in the state. Colonel Dhillon, while
delivering his presidential address, said Batalvi, in his
poetry, always spoke on the importance of the role of
women in the society. Dr Kanwal sang a couple of songs of
the poet. |
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25
injured in group clash KHANNA, May 8 — A land dispute led to an armed clash this morning between followers of a sadhu and residents of Maksudra village 20 km from here, leaving 25, including three women injured. According to sources, the bone of contention is 500 acres of village land under possession of a sadhu earlier. The sadhu had given this land to "guriya patti" of the village. But Sant Darshan Singh
Khalsa, the famous "helicopter baba" occupied
the "gaddi" of the sadhu a few years ago. Since
then there has been dispute between the sant and a group
of followers of sant Darshan Singh over the ownership of
the land. A case has been registered.
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Test
results to be sent to parents ROPAR, May 8 — In a significant decision, the Punjab Government has decided to send the house test results of students studying in government school to their parents. This was disclosed by Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, while addressing a function after the inauguration of girls' hostel at the District Institute of Education and Training here yesterday. The hostel is built at a cost of Rs 1 crore. The minister said the main aim of sending house test reports to the parents was to provide information to them about the performance of their wards from time to time. Mr Tota Singh was of the view that by sending the reports to the parents the academic performance of the students would improve.. He honoured the students
who excelled in sports, education and other activities.
Members of the Old Students Association of the institute
presented a cultural programme. |
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11
policemen get summons ABOHAR, May 8 — Summons have been issued to 11 police officials by the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate for implicating a farmer in a theft case. Mr R.K. Aggarwal, while entertaining complaint filed by Mr Jaskaran Singh, a resident of Amarpura village in this subdivision, issued summons serviceable through the SSP, Ferozepore to SHO Gamdur Singh, ASI Parminder Singh, ASI Gurpreet Singh, ASI Jaswant Singh, ASI Sucha Singh, Inspector Baljinder Singh, Sub Inspector Sohan Lal and Head Constables Gurbachan Singh, Punjab Singh, Pappu Ram and Subhash Chander. Mr Jaskaran Singh has alleged in his complaint that the police officials had conducted raids at his residence, and picked up his sons, Krishan and Joginder, and grandson Pawan Kumar. They were allegedly tortured at the behest of a relative of the complainant. The officials have been
directed to attend the court on July 28.
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People
asked to take up social service NAWANSHAHR, May 8 — Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber, Governor, Punjab, and president, Punjab Red Cross Society, presiding over a state-level function organised by the district unit of the society to mark the "World Red Cross Day" here today, said though science and technology had made rapid progress over the years, but problems like poverty and illiteracy persisted. Rather these had increased. The Governor said it was near impossible for the government alone to eradicate these problems and it was here that social organisations could play a role. More and more people should be encouraged to undertake social service, he emphasised. Mr Chhibber honoured 50 social workers, organisations and officials on the occasion. Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of the third phase of "Khoon Daan Bhavan" being constructed by a local organisation, Blood Donors Council. He also inaugurated a state-level blood donation camp. Ms Tejinder Kaur Manocha, Deputy Secretary, Punjab State Red Cross Society, Dr Gurdev Singh Preet, Director, Health Services and Family Welfare and Mr Naubat Rai, a prominent social worker also spoke on the occasion. Students of the local
Shivalik Public School presented a cultural show. |
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