 |
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| Friday, May 19, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
25
girls’ colleges make do without aid Punjab’s
rising salary bill 13
PCS officers transferred Rumours
trigger fall in milk price
Vedanti
to revive tradition Plea
to call Gill at Akal Takht Sentence
reduced Punjab
secretariat staff threaten stir |
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| ‘Encourage’ women
entrepreneurs PATIALA, May 18 — Patiala Divisional Commissioner D.S. Kalha today said industrial procedures necessary to establish units would have to be simplified if women entrepreneurs were to be encouraged in the country. Govt
draws flak from pensioners Appeal
to reopen passage Club
holds beauty contest
Woman,
kids jump into canal, die Body
of murdered man found Editor
booked for fraud Seven
arrested for stealing vehicles Two
held in murder case Killings:
suspect’s kin fear elimination Two
held with fake currency Undertrials,
cops clash, 6 hurt
University
plans research centre
|
Downsizing govt-II CHANDIGARH: As elsewhere in Punjab the state’s expenditure on salaries, pensions and allowances has been rising at a high rate. According to one estimate, it rose eight times, from Rs 441 crore in 1984-85 to Rs 3,654 crore in 1998-99. This expense, as a percentage of the revenue expenditure, went up from an average of 50 (1984-1990), to 56 (1990-1995) and 60 (1995-1999). According to the Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, the total number of employees (class 1 to contingency and work charged) in the state at present is 3.74 lakh against 2.68 lakh in 1991. Their total salary and pension bill is Rs 4,907.44 crore now against Rs 1,94.88 crore in 1991. There are several government departments and autonomous organisations which have become unwieldy. To give just one example, take the Punjab State Electricity Board, where, despite a ban on recruitment, its establishment cost at present is Rs 1,170 crore against Rs 292.50 crore in 1990. One reason why there is a heavy outgo of income on Punjab employees is that they are the highest paid in the country. The State Pay Commission also added to the financial burden, nearly Rs 1,000 crore (1998-99). It is much higher now. In fact the report of a committee of officers on possible strategy for fiscal management, submitted to the government in November, 1998, is a telling comment on the proliferation of the work-force in the government. The growth of senior bureaucracy, as per the report, shows that the number of IAS officers was 206 in 1998 against 165 in 1984, officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police and above was 258 against 112, while, PCS officers were 288 against 269, 14 years ago. The number of Chief Secretary-level posts and Financial Commissioners swelled from seven to 34, secretaries from 31 to 35 and others from 127 to 137. In the police, officers in the rank of Directors-General and Additional DGPs rose from eight to 16, Inspectors-General 19 to 28, DIGs from 85 to 193 and so on. There has, thus, been progressive increase at the lower as well as the senior in all departments. Correspondingly, expenses also rose, further diminishing the money for development. The Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, outlined certain measures in his March 22 Budget speech to check further growth of babus. Now a voluntary retirement scheme has been introduced. Employees left with five years or less of service can now seek retirement under the rules and continue to draw half of their consolidated pay till they would have retired. It also allows employees leave of the kind due up to a maximum of five years, enabling them to start their own ventures. In the event of their being successful, they can seek retirement with due benefits that go with it or opt for voluntary retirement or even serve the remaining period of their services. Mr Lakhanpal is optimistic that a “rightsized” government will be visible in the next five to 10 years, if recruitment is not done and the existing numbers are re-deployed in a realistic manner. “Our policies will at least de-accelerate the rate of growth of the work-force by a substantive percentage, 15 to 17, if not outright ‘downsize’ the government”, he adds. Achieving the objective of bringing about efficiency in services and implementing schemes to remove excess numbers will have to be done “differently”: It will involve “decentralisation”, “community participation”, and “re-prioritising” government policies. Stress has to be on “primary education (introduction of ‘sikhia karmi’ scheme for rural schools which means giving teaching job to educated youth living in the same village), health, sanitation, drinking water, sewerage and scavenging.” Making use of available human resource and honing its skills will help produce job-givers and not job-seekers. Self-employment job avenues have to be created, close to place of living. Punjab must use
“knowledge” industry to end joblessness and
“rightsize its government now. Concluded |
25 girls’ colleges
make do without aid CHANDIGARH, May 18 — There are at least 25 colleges in Punjab which are affiliated to their respective universities but get no financial assistance from the state government. These colleges are mostly in rural, kandi and backward pockets. These colleges were opened after November 1981.A majority are girls’ colleges. The tragedy of these colleges is that these neither get grant-in-aid from Punjab nor are entitled to any share out of the money which the Ministry of Human Resource Development pays to the state by way of difference between the ‘‘old’’ and ‘‘new’’ pay scales (applicable since January 1, 1996). The HRD pays up to 80 per cent of the difference.This covers all posts in the non-government but aided and affiliated colleges. Nearly 900 teaching and 600 non-teaching staff in these 25-odd colleges serve 25,000 students. Their demand for a share in 80 per cent of the money received from the ministry, which is pending with the state government, is now reported to have been processed. Sources in the Education Department told TNS that a ‘‘sympathetic’’ view has been taken and their case forwarded to the Department of Finance . A spokesperson for these 25 un-aided colleges told TNS that the financial crisis faced by them was very severe. Since the revised University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales could not be paid to the staff. The system of paying grant-in-aid to the private colleges is the brainchild of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who had introduced this scheme way back in September 1978. Even in the election manifesto (February 1997) the SAD-BJP alliance had committed itself to take due care of the financial problems of the colleges that had opened after November 1981. But that election promise has remained unfulfilled. All these 25-odd colleges had opened with the approval of the State and the universities granted affiliation ‘‘on merit’’, the spokesperson added. Incidentally there are , at present, 139 aided colleges which have created 309 new posts over a period of time on the directive of the State. While Punjabi is a compulsory subject up to degree level about 37 vocational courses have also been started. But the State has , so far, failed to take any financial responsibility for these courses, despite there being clear guidelines from the UGC that states should own responsibility after March 2000. In government colleges the tuition fee is not charged from girl students. This again is part of government sop of ‘‘free’’ education to girls up to college-level. But in private institutions the girls continue to pay normal fee. Since 25-odd colleges mostly caters to girls the financial crunch being faced may force some of these colleges to shut the institutions. A Panjab University Syndic and general secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, an apex body of 165 colleges, Mr Charanjit Chawla, regretted that Mr Badal was neither willing to own his ‘‘own baby’’ nor fulfil his election commitment. The government is forcing the colleges to generate their own revenue but will pass on the additional financial burden to the students and parents . ‘‘On its part it is unwilling to extend a helping hand to promote and protect education in private sector’’, he added. Mr Chawla also referred
to the non-implementation of another promise by the
SAD-BJP government. Despite the State Vidhan Sabha having
passed the Bill, the pension-cum-gratuity scheme too has
not been implemented. |
13 PCS officers transferred CHANDIGARH, May 18 — The Punjab Government today transferred 13 P.C.S. officers. Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, Additional Director (Administration) and Chief Engineer, P.W.D. (B and R), Patiala, has been transferred to the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Patiala in place of Mr Gagandeep Singh. Mr J.L. Jain, Additional Secretary, Lokpal, Punjab, goes as Additional Director (Administration) in the office of DPI (Colleges) against a vacant post, while Mr A.K. Singla, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Pathankot, will take over as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib vice Mr G.S. Bhatti. Mr Kirpal Singh, Estate Officer, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority, Amritsar, has been transferred as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Baba Bakala vice Mr T.S. Bhatti, while Mr Jaspal Mittal, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Fatehgarh Sahib, goes in the same position to Jagraon in place of Mr Gurloveleen Singh, who has been shifted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kapurthala in place of Mr N.S. Bath. Mr N.S. Bath, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Kapurthala, is made Deputy Secretary, Lokpal vice Mr J.L. Jain, while the services of Mr T.S. Bhatti, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Baba Bakala have been placed at the disposal of the Housing and Urban Development Department, for appointment as Estate Officer, PUDA, Amritsar. Mr Dharam Pal, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Garhshankar, goes as such to Fatehgarh Sahib. Mr K.K. Garg (awaiting posting) will be new Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Pathankot. Mr Gagandeep Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Patiala, will be new Additional Managing Director, P.R.T.C., Patiala, in place of Mr Balraj Singh Sekhon, who will be Joint Director (Administration) in the office of Chief Engineer, P.W.D. (B and R), Patiala. A press note issued by the Government said posting orders of Mr G.S. Bhatti would be issued separately. It added the posting of an officer as S.D.M., Garhshankar would be issued in due course. Till then the authorities concerned will make internal arrangements for the disposal of the work of this post. A separate press note issued by the government said Mr J.M. Balamurugam, I.A.S. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, would be new Additional Secretary of the Punjab Revenue Department. It said orders about the
posting of an officer as A.D.C. Mansa, would be issued
later. Till then the authorities concerned would make
internal arrangements for the disposal of work of this
post. |
Rumours trigger fall in milk
price AMRITSAR, May 18 — The arrival of milk from other countries in markets in cosmopolitan cities like Delhi has resulted in a number of rumours and because of these there has been a sharp fall in the prices of milk and ghee locally. Though this milk, reportedly from Norway/Denmark, has not arrived in the local markets so far. But in anticipation of the availability of foreign milk priced at Rs 5-6 per kg many of the private suppliers of milk, including diary owners and halwais have lowered the prices of milk in the city. The prices of milk have come down to Rs 10 from Rs 11.50 for one kg. Ghee which was available for Rs 120 for per kg is now priced at Rs 100 per kg. Mr Satvir Nijjar, owner of the “Everpure” brand of ghee, and Nijjar Milk while talking to this reporter on Tuesday night said their brand of standardised milk, full cream and double toned milk priced at Rs 15, 17 and 11, respectively, would now be cheaper by a rupee each. Mr Satvir, however, said the price of 15 kg tin of ghee had been reduced from Rs 1700 to Rs 1300, and added that in order to lower the prices of milk the company will take lead from “Verka”, the largest supplier of milk in Punjab. The Managing Director of Verka, Mr S.K. Mahajan, said foreign milk was likely to be available in markets across the state by June and thus on a trial basis the prices of milk had been reduced in Ludhiana but only in case of the standardised and double-toned milk which were earlier priced at Rs 15 and Rs 11 per kg respectively. However, prices of ghee had been reduced drastically from Rs 2000 for a 15 kg tin to Rs 1600. Interestingly, the production of milk usually falls significantly during May and the prices are invariably higher in this month. But this year the trend has been reversed. Almost every year the administration too clamps a ban on the production and sale of milk based products during this month. But this year such a ban has not been forthcoming from the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Mr Vikram Kamboj of “Kanhiya Sweets” confirmed that there had not been any intimation about the ban on the sale of milk products so far. A survey of market however, revealed that not even single shop in Lawrence Road market or at Putlighar or any of the attached markets or in the city had received any consignment of foreign milk. Price of dalda has also
been reduced from Rs 650 to Rs 400 for 15 litres pack.
The prices of refined oils, including sunflower oil, soya
oil and cottonseed oil, have been reduced from an earlier
cost of Rs 260 to Rs 210 for 5 litres. |
Vedanti to revive tradition BATHINDA, May 18 — Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti today said he would revive the ‘panch pardhani’ tradition for taking any decision regarding religious matters of the Sikhs. Jathedar Vedanti, who attended a function at Rampuraphul, 35 km from here, said in future all decisions regarding religious matters of the Sikhs would be taken by five designated jathedars. He added that edicts from Akal Takht would be issued by following the same principle. Making an oblique reference to the edict issued by Giani Puran Singh, former Jathedar of Akal Takht from Guna in Madhya Pradesh regarding the excommunication of the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, on January 25, Jathedar Vedanti said in the past Akal Takht Jathedars had given their own opinions under the garb of edicts to the Press. He added that the tradition of ‘panch pardhani’ was being revived to save the sacred institution of Akal Takht from controversy. In another significant statement, Jathedar Vedanti pointed out that he had been finding it difficult to find two suitable ‘granthis’ for Shri Harmandar Sahib from the two crore population of Sikhs. He added that for grooming suitable ‘granthis’, schools (Taksal) should be opened. He said every religion should be allowed to grow in its own way and nobody should interfere in the religious matters of others as it created disharmony. He pointed out that he
would organise groups of baptised Sikhs in villages and
cities so that a campaign against drug addiction and
other evils prevailing among the Sikhs could be launched
effectively. He added that the government should ban
smoking and drinking in public places and in government
offices. |
Plea to call Gill at Akal
Takht AMRITSAR, May 18—The Khalra Mission Committee yesterday urged Giani Joginder Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht, to summon Mr K.P.S. Gill, a former Director-General of Police at Akal Takht. In a petition filed
before Akal Takht, the committee alleged that Mr Gill was
responsible for the elimination of more than 25,000 Sikh
youths during militancy. The petition said the
‘barbaric face’ of Mr Gill was
‘unmasked’ by Jaswant Singh Khalra, an
office-bearer of the committee. Khalra was eliminated at
the behest of Mr Gill it was alleged in the petition. It
further stated that the former DGP had ruined the image
of the Sikhs. |
Sentence reduced CHANDIGARH, May 18 — Confirming the conviction of two Punjab Police constables, along with two other accused, in a gang rape case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday reduced the sentence awarded by the trial court to the cops from life imprisonment to 10 years. The cops, Narpinder Singh and Sukhjinder Singh, along with Varinder Singh and Harinder Singh, were earlier booked by the Punjab Police on the allegations of raping a primary school teacher. According to the prosecution, the victim was raped after being forcibly taken to the fields by the cops riding a scooter while she was returning home from school in August, 1993. The victim and Narpinder Singh were known to each other, the prosecution had added. Convicting the accused for rape, Patiala Additional Sessions Judge had sentenced the cops to imprisonment for life, while the other two accused were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years. Pronouncing the orders in the open court, Mr. Justice A.S. Garg and Mr. Justice H.S. Bedi observed: “We are of the opinion that there appears absolutely no chance for interference in the conviction of the appellants and therefore we affirm their conviction”. Regarding the quantum of sentence, the Judges observed: “We are of the view that all the appellants can be taken up with the same yardstick and there may be no need to inflict life imprisonment upon Narpinder Singh and Sukhjinder Singh. They were not wearing uniform at the time they committed the offence, nor were on official duty, nor was the rape committed in the police station. So their sentence under Section 376 (2) (g) IPC is reduced from life imprisonment to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years”. Notice issued On a petition filed by a widow seeking the registration of a rape case against the Station House Officer of Dhuri police station along with two other policemen, Mr. Justice Amarbir Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Punjab Advocate-General for August 21. Seeking the registration of the case, the petitioner had earlier alleged that she was raped by an Assistant Sub-Inspector and another official in the munshi’s room after being called to the police station in connection with the investigation of her husband’s murder case. Accusing the officials to be under the influence of liquor, the petitioner had also alleged that the SHO was present in the room when she was being raped. No lady police official was there, she had added. Counsel for the
petitioner had alleged on her behalf that the widow was
subsequently implicated and arrested in her
husband’s murder case. Her husband’s body, the
petitioner had added, was found in a tubewell kotha in
March, 1999. |
Punjab secretariat staff
threaten stir CHANDIGARH, May 18 — The Punjab Civil Secretarial Staff Association has given a notice to the Punjab Government that it will resume its agitation next week as promises made by the Government have not been implemented so far. Speaking to mediapersons in the Secretariat, Mr Jaswant Randhawa and Mr Oma Kant Tewari, Chairman and President of the Association respectively, said today that neither they had been given special allowance on the pattern of personal staff of ministers and administrative secretaries nor their promotions had been ordered. Mr Tewari said that the State Government was following a dual policy in case of promotions and using the Janjua case judgement for its convenience. As a few months ago certain officials of the personnel department were due for promotion, the Government ordered promotions and laid the conditions that these would be subject to revision of the seniority list in the light of the Janjua case judgement. Then about 150 promotions were ordered. When the association urged for following the same criteria in case of other officials due for promotion, the Personnel Department was insisted that the seniority list should be revised and promotions should be made according to it. This was being done deliberately, he said. As many as 14 promotions, including 12 of senior superintendents , one of deputy secretary and one of under secretary were due, Mr Tewari said. In fact, if these promotions were ordered, down the line at least 38 more employees would become due for promotions. A deputation of the
Association had also met the Chief Secretary in this
connection to inform about the resentment among employees
due to delay in promotions. Mr Tewari said that the issue
of special allowance at par with the personal staff of
ministers and secretaries was hanging fire for the past
three years. |
‘Encourage’ women
entrepreneurs PATIALA, May 18 — Patiala Divisional Commissioner D.S. Kalha today said industrial procedures necessary to establish units would have to be simplified if women entrepreneurs were to be encouraged in the country. Speaking on the occasion of the valedictory function on the completion of a one-month course organised by Industrial Services International by 30 women entrepreneurs held at Simran Resorts here, Mr Kalha said it had been found that women found it difficult to grapple with various procedures necessary for the establishment of an industrial unit . He said the women should take the lead in establishing their own businesses after completing the course . Industrial Services International Executive Director M R Choudhary said the women who had completed the course would also be helped by his organisation in preparation and submission of project reports and could also take the advice of the organisation if they faced any trouble in establishing their units . He appealed to the government to facilitate the setting up of industrial units by the women by simplifying the process . Mr Choudhary said women could also play an important role in providing employment to others after setting up their own enterprises . He said the emphasis should be on self-sufficiency and independent functioning. Women entrepreneurs, who were awarded degrees, also spoke on the occasion. Mrs Kuldeep Kaur said the course had helped her to understand business as well as give her confidence to set off on her own. Other women also said the course had lifted their fear of failure in the business field . Most women wanted to set up cottage industries, including handicrafts which, they said, they would be able to attempt easily. Mr Kalha gave away
degrees to 30 women entrepreneurs on the occasion. Akali
Dal (Badal) leader Surjit Singh Rakhra also spoke on the
occasion and donated a draft for Rs 50,000 to Internation
Services International. |
Govt draws flak from
pensioners LUDHIANA, May 18 — The Punjab State Pensioners Confederation has criticised the state government for its failure to implement Fourth Pay Commission recommendations made in Part III in respect of Punjab government pensioners. The PSPC President, Mr B.R. Kaushal, said in a statement here yesterday that the Pay Commission had submitted its report to the government in February, 1998, but the government had been sitting over the issue and had not announced its decision so far. According to Mr Kaushal,
the All India Central Confederation of Pensioners
Associations had also lodged a protest with the state
government over its inaction on the implementation of the
Pay Commission report. |
Appeal to reopen passage PATIALA, May 18 — The Punjab Lok Jagriti Manch today appealed to the Diesel Component Works (DCW) authorities to open the passage leading from the DCW to street No 7 of Guru Nanak Nagar. In a statement here, manch convener Sohal Gupta said DCW employees living in Guru Nanak Nagar and Gurbax Colony were facing great difficulty due to the closure of the passage recently. He said the passage had been in use for the past 20 years or so. The manch leader said
hundreds of people from the DCW had even signed a
representation in this regard, besides residents of both
colonies. He said school going children, devotees who
wanted to visit a nearby Shiv Mandir and even morning
walkers had been put to great inconvenience. |
Club holds beauty contest PATIALA, May 18 — Mrs Manju Bansal was crowned Summer Queen in the below 45 years age group at a beauty contest held by the Maharani Ladies Club, Patiala, at the Mahindra Gymkhana Club here yesterday. Saroj Bansal was crowned the first runner-up and Rajni the second runner-up . In the above 45 years age group, Mrs Pushpi Sekhon was declared the Summer Queen. Surinder Sandhu and Kiran Sekhon came in first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively. Around 30 women
participated in the contest. They went through three
rounds of catwalk, introduction and question-answer
session. |
Woman, kids jump into canal, die MUKTSAR, May 18 — Shindi, along with her five-year-old son and two-and-a-half-year old daughter, committed suicide after jumping into the Sirhind feeder canal in the district allegedly due to the atrocities committed on her by her husband and mother-in-law. Police sources said Shindi was married to Bhira of Doda village of the district about seven years ago. The husband and wife did not have cordial relations since the very beginning of their marriage. Shindi was also reportedly fed up with the maltreatment meted out to her mother-in-law. On May 16, Shindi left her house in the afternoon after quarrelling with her husband and went to Dera Dhayan Chand. After staying for a few hours at the ‘dera’ she left with her son and daughter. She went to the Sirhind feeder canal and jumped into it around 9 p.m. Mr Kultar Singh, SSP, when contacted said the body of Shindi had been recovered from the canal while a search was going on for the bodies of her son and daughter. He added that police personnel along with villagers had been making efforts to trace the bodies of two kids. The SSP said a number of times in the past the disputes between Shindi and her husband were settled by the panchayat of Doda village. They were separated and reunited a number of times during the last seven years of their marriage. He said a case under
Sections 306 and 34 of the IPC had been registered
against Bhira and Manjeet Kaur, mother-in-law of the
deceased Shindi. |
Body of murdered man found ROPAR, May 18 — The recovery of the body of Surinder Singh from the Bhakra Canal, near the Sounda headworks, has brought the police closer to solving a murder mystery which had been baffling it for the past 10 days. Surinder Singh of Bawalpur village under Chandpur panchayat had been missing since May 5. He went from his house with a relative Gurmukh Singh of Bahrampur village and was untraceable ever since. His father had lodged a complaint tat the Sadar police station, about his disappearance and alleged that Gurmukh Singh had killed his son. The police had
registered a case under Section 364 of the IPC against
Gurmukh Singh. However, now with the recovery of the body
of Surinder Singh the case has been converted to Section
302 of the IPC. The post-mortem report has indicated deep
stab injuries on the body. However, to ascertain the
exact cause of Surinder Singh’s death, his viscera
has been spent for chemical examination. |
Editor booked for fraud LUDHIANA, May 18 — The police has booked the editor of a local paper on the charges of fraud and forgery. According to an FIR lodged at the focal point police station, directors of M/s Suguna Pneumatics, Coimbatore and M/s Gopal Enterprises, Coimbatore, have alleged that M.R. Rana editor of “Lal Haveli” used to publish advertisements in his paper without the prior permission of the firms concerned. The SHO of focal point police station, Mr Paramjit Singh, said “The editor used to pick up advertisements published in the leading papers and published those in his paper, without receiving any requisition from the firm concerned.” Rana would then send the advertisement bill to the firms and legal notices followed if the firm failed to make payments. It is also alleged that
after the accused had cheated several local firms in this
way, he had started to play the same trick with firms
from far off places like Coimbatore. He has been booked
under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC. |
Seven arrested for stealing
vehicles AMRITSAR, May 18 — In a significant breakthrough, the Amritsar police has arrested seven members of a vehicle thieves gang. The gang allegedly stole vehicles from various parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. The stolen vehicles were sold in Jammu, Srinagar, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi after preparing forged documents, according to Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, SSP. The seven members of the gang who have been arrested have been identified as Rupinder Singh, alias Bobby, of Kapurthala, Malook Singh, alias Malooka, Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lakha, both belonging to Amritsar, Baljit Singh of Veroke village, Daljit Singh of Chhiddan village, Onkar Singh of Haripura and Balraj Singh, alias Kala, of Dhuppchhari village. During interrogation the gang members disclosed that to dodge the naka parties especially en route to the Jammu and Srinagar areas, the documents of stolen vehicles were forged. When these vehicles reached their destination, fresh documents were prepared and the vehicles were sold to gullible customers. Several vehicles,
including a truck, two Maruti cars, four Hero Honda
motorcycles, one Enfield motorcycle and four scooters,
were recovered from these miscreants. |
Two held in murder case AMRITSAR, May 18 — Two persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of Mrs Ramesh Rani Khanna. The arrested persons include a domestic help Raj Kumar and a gardener of the house in front of Mrs Khanna’s residence, Rakesh Kumar. Raj Kumar and Rakesh Kumar were arrested while boarding a train. According to Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, SSP, a secret information was received on May 14 about the whereabouts of the two suspects. Mrs Khanna, a resident
of the Race Course road in the Civil Lines area was
murdered on May 6. She was stabbed and her gold chain was
stolen. |
Killings: suspect’s kin fear
elimination BHUCHAR KALAN (Amritsar), May 18 — Even as the Uttar Pradesh Police has despatched a police party to Amritsar district to nab the main suspect, Ladi, in connection with the killing of six members of a Sikh family in Daunakhera village, the relatives of the alleged suspect face a threat of their lives. They have been spending sleepless nights fearing elimination at the hands of Ladi. The UP police has also launched a massive manhunt to nab Ladi and his accomplices. The motive of murder of
six persons, including two women and a minor girl, is
said to be a land dispute. Ladi, a close relative of the
deceased was involved in a land dispute with them. |
Two held with fake currency GURDASPUR, May 18 (PTI) — The police here yesterday claimed to have busted an inter-state racket indulging in the preparation and circulation of fake Indian currency with the arrest of two persons and recovery of Rs 86650 counterfeit notes and a printing machine. Kingnin Subhash Chander of Jalandhar district and his Delhi-based gang member Naresh Kumar have been arrested. The police received a tip off that a youth on a scooter (No. PB-08-Z/8653) proceeding towards Gurdaspur was carrying fake currency. On preliminary interrogation, Subhash Chander confessed that he had been in the illegal trade of preparing fake currency notes using a computer machine since the past four years. He had been active in the Jalandhar and Ludhiana areas earlier. With the help of Naresh
Kumar and Deepak Kumar, he had purchased a computer
machine for making fake currency notes of Rs 5,00
denomination. |
Undertrials, cops clash, 6 hurt GURDASPUR, May 18 (UNI) —Three undertrials and as many policemen were wounded in a clash between them in the district courts complex here yesterday. Senior Superintendent of Police Varinder Kumar, while confirming the report of the clash, said one undertrial fractured his arm, while two others were wounded. Three of the six policemen escorting the six murder accused were also wounded in the clash, he added. The SSP said clash occurred when the police party, who brought the undertrials from the Gurdaspur jail for hearing in a murder case in a local court, refused to accede to one undertrial’s request to purchase a thread reel from the market because it was getting late for their return to the jail. The hearing took place around 4.30 p.m. and there was hardly any time left for any purchase because the jail gate was shut sharp at 5 p.m. The undertrial, who
broke his arm in the clash, has been admitted to the
local Civil Hospital, the SSP added. |
1 hit by bus, dies PHAGWARA, May 18 —
Babu Lal (75), out on a morning stroll today was knocked
down by a PRTC bus on the GT Road near the Hoshiarpur
crossing. He later died at the local Civil Hospital. The
deceased was a resident of the Satnampura locality here. |
University plans research centre PATIALA, May 18 — Punjabi University is collaborating with the Yogi Harbhajan Singh Foundation of the USA to set up an alternative medicine research centre on the university campus which will provide herbal formulae to the foundation for production and marketing abroad . Under the scheme, the centre would be established in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Head of the department, Dr Manjit Singh, will go abroad shortly to finalise the signing of a memorandum of understanding in this regard. The research centre is expected to start functioning with the start of the new academic session in July. According to the broad guidelines already worked out with the foundation, the university will provide only infrastructure and manpower help. All costs for setting up the laboratory for the centre as well as recruitment of special staff conversant with ayurveda system of medicine will be borne by the foundation. Under the agreement, the university would get a fixed percentage from sale of the products which would be exported to the Foundation Headquarters in Eugene, USA, and the foundation would get scientifically prepared formulations. Sources said the foundation was selling its herbal products in the USA under the food category only and had not been able to procure permission to sell herbal medicines. The foundation feels an authentication by a university research centre could solve this problem. University Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia said according to the broad understanding, the patent of the formulations made by the university centre would be owned jointly with the foundation. The university would get a share of the profits from the venture. Dr Ahluwalia said while the scheme would help develop the Indian system of medicine, the centre could also become a centre for excellence in ayurvedic preparations. He said the University could also later start courses in alternative systems of medicine He said the university
expected to earn a substantial sum from this project
which would be used for updating infrastructure. |
 |
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