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| Tuesday, August 22, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Sikhs part of Hindu mainstream: Mittal Government ignores
employment offices ‘Alarming rise’ in illegal plying of buses ADR’s golden jubilee celebrations Docs seek apology
from minister Ex-terrorist
surrenders |
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Ultras using night
vision devices: IG Plan on carcass
disposal Bharat Gaurav
Award for doctor HC closed for
two days
Novel way to check octroi evasion PUDA to take
over land around bungalows ‘Implement’ revised
bus fares PRTC men block traffic
Undertrial escapes from
police custody Oil tanker seized,
3 arrested Attempt to destroy office record: 2 held
“Reconsider” quota decision ABVP seeks poll
to student bodies 
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Sikhs part of Hindu
mainstream: Mittal FEROZEPORE, Aug 21 — Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Minister of Food and Supplies, Punjab, today said that the Sikhs were very much part of Hindu mainstream and both were the two sides of the same coin. Talking to this correspondent here today, Mr Mittal said it was the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who transformed some of the Hindus into a martial race to fight the tyranny and misrule and to work as a shield to safeguard Hindus from Muslim fanatic rulers. He said Sikhs of Punjab were warriors and no Hindu was a true Hindu if he did not follow the Guru Granth Sahib and no Sikh was a true Sikh if he did not follow the Gita. He said it was a political conspiracy of a few to gather votes by driving a wedge between them and it was in this context that some elements were clamouring for separate personal law. He reiterated that the remedy lay not in separate law but a uniform civil code applicable to all religions and communities. On asking why the Akali-BJP government was giving preference and providing more incentives to people of the rural areas, Mr Mittal stated that it was a gimmick planned by the Congress to divide the state. Every Punjabi had borne the brunt of militancy and they would not like to see those days again, he said. On account of power free of cost to farmers, Mr Mittal said food production had increased manifold. Against 56 lakh mt wheat produced last year, the production was 96.45 lakh mt of wheat and over 1 crore mt of paddy. He said this did not mean that urban areas had been neglected as a lot of incentives had been given to industrialists also and since Punjab’s economy was agro based, rural prosperity would mean urban prosperity. The minister said the Akalis and the BJP were enjoying good relation. When asked about Chief Minister’s statement on the Finance Commission’s recommendations that the Centre was biased against Punjab and had not given Punjab its due share, he said the Prime Minister had himself declared on Independence Day that more administrative and financial powers would be given to the states and the matter would be sorted out soon. “There was no harm in attending any meeting” he said, when asked about Mr Badal attending the proposed meeting of agitated Chief Ministers in Delhi called by Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister against the recommendations of the commission. |
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Government ignores
employment offices ROPAR, Aug 21 — The neglect of employment offices by the present Punjab Government has increased unemployment. The employment offices are mere registration offices for unemployed youth. As per the data available, the number of youth registered with the two employment offices of the district has increased from 3,741 in 1991 to 35,985 in 2000. The number of posts notified through the employment offices in Ropar have also decreased from an average of 418 per annum in 1991-95 to just 160 per annum in 1996-99. This year till June only 88 posts had been notified through the employment offices. The number of placements through the employment offices also show a declining trend. The placements have decreased from an average of about 162 per annum in 1991-95 to just 86 per annum from 1996-99. Most of the placements have been temporary in nature. The number of private and government employers taking the services of the employment offices has also decreased from 489and 248 in 1991 to just 381 and 72, respectively, in 2000. Earlier, all Class III and IV level posts in government and semi-government organisations were filled through the local employment offices. This policy of the government was aimed at giving employment to the local youth, whose families were affected due to land acquisitions or other reasons in the process of installation of big projects. A set criteria of seniority was adopted to give employment opportunities to persons registered with the employment offices. Though the policy of selecting candidates through the employment offices is still being adopted in Himachal Pradesh, the Punjab Government has almost abandoned it. Most of the government and semi-government employers in Punjab now go for advertisements to recruit staff. A source in the local employment office who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the policy of recruitment through open advertisements had been adopted to help “favourites”. Since a set criteria of seniority was adopted for recruitment through employment offices, it left little scope for nepotism, whereas any person could be recruited through advertisements. The District Employment Officer admitted that recruitment had decreased through the employment offices. She, however, said they were now contacting private employers to notify their posts through them. They were also diversifying their role to providing career guidance to the youth. A seminar and exhibition in this regard would be organised from August 21 to 25 at various education institutes of this district, she added. |
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‘Alarming rise’ in illegal plying of buses CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — Illegal operation of buses in Punjab has again assumed alarming proportions. It has adversely affected Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation. This has been brought to the notice of the Punjab Transport Minister, Mr Raghbir Singh, and top officials of the state Transport Department by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Punjab Roadways. Urging the minister to initiate action and stop the illegal operation of buses, the JAC has told him that if this is done there could be an increase of several crores of rupees in the revenue of the state-owned public transport. The action committee has told the minister that about 2,000 buses ply illegally every day in the state. The origin points for most of these buses are Chandigarh, Patiala, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar. Many buses ply under the garb of tourist buses. Following reports in the media about the plying of buses illegally by politically influential persons, the state government authorities concerned had impounded a large number of such buses and heavy fines were imposed in the beginning of this year. Then the government authorities had admitted that following raids the daily income of Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation had gone up to over Rs 12 lakh daily. The annual gain with the stopping of the illegal operations was estimated at about Rs 30 crore by the authorities at that time. But with such a campaign almost coming to a halt, those involved in the illegal operations have become fully active again, the JAC has said. Senior office-bearers of the committee, after holding a detailed meeting on this and several other issues with the minister and top officials of the state Transport Department, told TNS that they had told the minister to set up special teams, including senior roadways employees, to check the illegal operation of buses. It is a known fact that most of the private transporters in the state are politically well-connected. The officers concerned have to think twice before initiating action against them. It is also a fact that several Akali leaders are themselves transporters. The committee has opposed the issuing of bus permits to private bus operators beyond their genuine claims. Not only this, the convener of the JAC, Mr Gurdeep Singh Moti, has told the minister and the officials concerned that there is need for taking bold steps to remove corruption in Punjab Roadways. Mr Moti, who was accompanied by several others, urged the minister to get completed urgently the inquiry relating to the Rs 4 crore scandal in tyres and tubes, Rs 32 lakh scandal in tickets and the scandal in the purchase of old-model chassis and substandard bodies of buses and to punish those involved. It has urged the purchase of spare parts only from the authorised dealers of standard companies. The committee has also urged the minister to formulate rules and regulations for those travelling in state-owned buses on a concessional basis. All promotions made by violating the service rules should be cancelled and the decision to close the offices of the District Managers should be implemented. The state government has also been urged not to reduce the existing fleet of 2,407 buses of Punjab Roadways. The committee has stated that the government is unnecessarily banking on the kilometre scheme which will ultimately prove to be a loss-making proposition for the government. It has strongly opposed the handing over of bus stands in the state to private companies. The committee has stated that the property of bus stands belongs to Punjab Roadways and such a status should be maintained. It has favoured the lifting of the ban on the recruitment of staff in Punjab Roadways, the formulation of a new transport policy based on the policy of 1990 and a stopping of ingenuine recoveries from conductors. The minister has given an assurance that he will look into the issues raised at the meeting by the members of the committee. He has said in no case will the strength of the existing fleet of Punjab Roadways buses be reduced. |
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Roadways buses uninsured JALANDHAR, Aug 21 — Punjab Roadways is allegedly running its large fleet of buses without insurance cover, mandatory under provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act. Though there is no direct impact of absence of the insurance cover on the passengers, it has resulted in financial losses, running into crores, as Punjab Roadways, has to pay the compensation to victims of accidents from its own funds and bear the entire cost of repair of accidented vehicles. Interestingly while the police and state Transport Department authorities challan and harass private vehicle owners for minor traffic violations none of the buses of Punjab Roadways has ever been challaned or penalised for “violation” of traffic rules. Punjab Roadways, currently has a fleet of 2407 buses. Department sources admitted that none of its 2407 buses has insurance cover as this would require a huge outgo which neither the Punjab Government nor Punjab Roadways authorities were ready to fund. Though senior Punjab Roadways and Transport Department officials are aware of the absence of insurance cover on Punjab Roadways buses, they had no explanation for the practice continuing. “Actually, we don’t know anything about the cause. But this was being done for long, even before our coming to the service,” said a Punjab Roadways officer. Similarly, the District Transport Officer, Jalandhar, Mr G.S. Khera, said while insurance cover was mandatory for every vehicle before it came on road, he was uncertain about whether there was any exemption in the case of government owned vehicles. He admitted that none of the buses had been challaned by his department on this account. Punjab Transport Minister, Mr Raghbir Singh, said he did not know the details of the issue. He, however, said that at the time of taking over the department he had consulted some insurance companies on the issue but none of them were willing to provide insurance cover to Punjab Roadways buses. |
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ADR’s golden jubilee celebrations BATHINDA, Aug 21 — The Air Defence Regiment raised on August 31, 1994, at Vishakhapatnam as 104 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Territorial Army) has initiated celebrations somewhere in the Western Sector in connection with its golden jubilee. The celebrations are being graced by the Director General, Air Defence Artillery, Lt Gen A. Mukherjee. According to a press note issued here today by the Army authorities, the unit which was raised in 1949 moved to Fort St. George at Chennai four years later. From 1960-63, the unit excelled in various fields and was awarded a cash prize by the Army Commander, Southern Command, for being the best Territorial Army battalion for the period. In 1964, the unit was recognised as 104 Air Defence Regiment (Territorial Army) following which the unit participated in the 1965 and 71 operations. In the later operation, the unit claimed several enemy aircraft and repelled all the enemy air attacks in the Western
Sector. Four gunners of the unit earned Mention-in-Despatches for the valour and dedication to duty. The unit became regular in 1975. The unit participated in Operation Trident in 1987, Operation Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir in 1992 and Operation Vijay in 1999. During Operation Trident the unit earned the distinction of having deployed in L/70 at a new task in the high altitude area which involved sustained and dedicated effort for a period of more than 20 days in the sub zero temperature. The unit also performed brilliantly during counter insurgency operations during Operation Rakshak where it earned 12 Army Commanders Commendation Cards. The regiment had the distinction of deploying an L/70 gun at a 13,000 ft high post in the northern sector, one of the highest known such positions in the world. The unit did extremely well during the flood relief operations undertaken in the Yamuna Pushta area of Delhi, in October 1998 where it evacuated 600 civilians and their families in one night under difficult conditions for which it earned two Army Commander’s Commen-dation Cards. |
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Docs seek apology
from minister SANGRUR, Aug 21 — PCMS doctors of the district have decided to paralyse the health services in the government hospitals if Mr Gobind Singh Kanjhla, Social Security Minister, Punjab, who allegedly “misbehaved” with four women doctors at Nadampur village a few days ago does not apologise till August 24. A decision to this effect was taken at an emergency meeting of the representatives of the PCMS doctors here this afternoon, held under the presidentship of Dr Darshan Pal, district unit president of the PCMS Association. The meeting also formed a 13-member committee to lead the agitation and chalk out the action plan. This action plan will be announced on August 24 at rally to be held by the doctors at the local civil hospital. Dr Darshan Pal said that after the rally on August 24, a protest march would also be taken out in the town which would culminate at the Deputy Commissioner’s office where a memorandum would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner demanding action againt Mr Kanjhla. |
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Ex-terrorist
surrenders JALANDHAR, Aug 21 — An erstwhile terrorist of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), surrendered to the police yesterday after returning from abroad. Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav said Kuldip Singh, who was wanted in a case of murder committed during a robbery in 1991 and had been declared a proclaimed offender in the case six years later surrendered through his village panchayat to SP (detective) Dilbagh Singh yesterday. The SSP said the accused, who had fled to Lebanon shortly after committing the crime, had briefly returned in 1991, but again left for Lebanon where he worked as a petty labourer. The officer said besides participating in the killing of Gurnam Singh in Dolike village under Adampur police station on October 26 in 1991. Kuldip Singh was also involved in a scooter-snatching at gunpoint near Daroli Kalan village in the jurisdiction of Adampur police station. He said the accused confessed during preliminary interrogation that he had been misled and now wanted to return to the mainstream and hence had returned home to surrender so he could start life afresh after being tried in the two
cases. |
New, affordable skin grafting AMRITSAR: Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, attached with Government Medical College, has become the first government set-up in Punjab to introduce a new technique for skin grafting on “phulveri” (vitiligo) patients. Vitiligo affects 3 per cent of the Indian population against the world average of less than 1 per cent. Vitiligo is a depigmenting condition, resulting in white patches on the skin. It is visibly striking since the patient has two contrasting colours on the body. Though it is only “cosmetic” in nature, it has a devastating effect on the patient as it distorts the body image and causes extreme fear, anxiety and concern. Here in India, it has special social significance. A young girl with the disease is almost condemned to spinsterhood and the family runs the risk of being socially ostracised. If the disease affects the exposed parts of body, the patient may not be considered for jobs that require interaction with the public. The treatment of vitiligo has proved disappointing. Various remedies, including herbal therapy, hormonal therapy and steroids, have been tried. In several patients, even after a response, depigmented white patches persist. However, with the advent of surgical techniques pigmentation may be achieved in localised stable cases of vitiligo and that, too, in a short span of six months in contrast to years of treatment earlier. Dr Suraj Parkash Dewan, Professor and Head of the Department of Skin and STD, said that for the first time a surgical camp was organised at the hospital where a number of cases were operated upon by a team of dermatosurgeons, including Dr V.P. Kaushik from New Delhi. He said the new technique of split skin grafting would become popular in the coming days. At Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, such grafting would become routine and would be affordable even by poor patients. |
Ultras using night
vision devices: IG AMRITSAR, Aug 21 — Mr A.S. Aulakh, Inspector-General, Border Security Force, has said that the militants had now started using night vision devices vigils while crossing the border from Pakistan. Addressing a press conference at Wagah joint check post, 22 km from here today, Mr Aulakh said that the new technique for infiltration was disclosed during the interrogation of some terrorists arrested recently. He said the riverine areas,
along with border was vulnerable and infiltration could not be ruled out from such areas during floods. However, the BSF was fully equipped
to check infiltration. Mr Aulakh said that the joint meeting between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers would be held in October in Pakistan. |
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Plan on
carcass disposal CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — To save the environment from pollution, the Punjab Government has drawn up a plan for the quick disposal of carcasses in a scientific manner. According to Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, modern plants would be set up for the purpose in selected areas. Such plants were being set up near the airports in the state under a Centrally-sponsored scheme. Such a plant had already been set up near Adampur airbase in Kheowal village at a cost of Rs 2
crore. |
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Bharat Gaurav
Award for doctor SANGRUR, Aug 21 — The India International Friendship Society, New Delhi, has chosen Dr Surinder Singla, tuberculosis and chest specialist in the local civil hospital, for awarding him “Bharat Gaurav Award” for his crusade against the distortion of the map of India by three leading drug companies of the country. Dr Singla received a
communiqué today in this regard from the Secretary-General of the society in which he has stated that the society will honour him at a ceremony to be held on September 7 next at New
Delhi. Earlier, Dr Singla was honoured with state award for the same cause by the Punjab Government at a state-level Independence Day function at Amritsar this year. |
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HC closed for
two days CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today declared August 23 as holiday, in addition to August 22, on account of Janmashtmi. According to a press release issued on behalf of the Chief Justice and Judges of the High Court, the court will function on August 26 in lieu of August 23. |
Novel way to check octroi evasion PATIALA The motor cycles , fitted with wireless sets , will give competition to the vehicles used to give the slip to the corporation’s octroi staff by the traders who sneak into the city without paying octroi . Presently the corporation has just one Maruti van besides two old diesel vehicles which are no match for the fast- moving vehicles used by the octroi evaders . Due to its inability to chase and catch the evaders, the corporation is losing out on revenue collection. The motor cycles are likely to be of 125cc. The drivers will be given uniforms and the vehicle’s colour will set there apart from the private two-wheelers. The motor cycles are being deployed by the corporation to streamline octroi collection after the move to auction octroi collection in the city to a private parties failed . It has already tightened the screw against tax evaders since it started managing octroi collection from July 1 but is facing problems in catching evasion as evaders use mobile phones and fast-moving vehicles to evade octroi. Commenting about the modus operandi of the evaders sources said they often unloaded goods in Rajpura around 25 km away from where they slip into Patiala with the help of accomplices who approached the octroi staff or by
choosing a lax moment at the check post . Corporation commissioner K S Kang told TNS that the vehicles were necessary as the corporation had decided not to bow to the demand of traders to reduce the reserve price for auctioning of octroi posts. He said the corporation had detected 207 cases of octroi evasion since it started managing octroi collection from July 1 and had realised a penalty of Rs 2.57 lakh. He said this detection was only a tip of the iceberg and more evaders could be caught once the motor cycles were pressed into service. They would also conduct random checks of the ‘suspect’ vehicles. He said employees manning the vehicles will be given a special incentive . Mr Kang disclosed that the corporation had also decided to note down the registration numbers of vehicles used for octroi evasion and to get cases registered against the owners of these vehicles. He said besides this numbers of such vehicles would be fed in a computer and they would be black listed which would entail a compulsory checking of these vehicles at all check-points in future . He said the corporation was also conducting a self-introspection exercise and that one employee at an octroi post had been suspended and more suspensions were on the cards . He said the corporation had also decided that it would auction octroi posts only if traders requested it to do so . He said he was confident of raising a revenue fixed as the reserve price as it was already earning an average income of Rs 2.25 lakh per day . He said that July and August were lean months and average income would go up to Rs four lakh per day in the coming months. Negotiations for auctioning of octroi posts in the city had broken down after traders boycotted the process claiming the reserve price of Rs 13.12 crore a very high. The traders had demanded a reserve price of Rs 10.50 crore. |
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PUDA to take
over land around bungalows JALANDHAR, Aug 21 — Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police and other senior officials will soon cease to enjoy access to the vast stretches of land around their official mansions, courtesy the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) which has decided to take over open spaces attached to these official residences and utilise these for commercial, residential and housing purposes under its Open Unutilised Vacant Lands Scheme. The process of taking over possession of such lands has already begun with the taking over of vacant land attached with the Sangrur Deputy Commissioner’s residence. After completing the take over exercise within a time frame of one-and-a-half years, PUDA will convert this vacant land into commercial, residential and official complexes. “We are on the job and will complete it before going to the polls,” said Mr Ranjit Singh Ballian, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development while talking to TNS here today. Even since colonial times the residences of officials like DCs and SSPs have been surrounded by vast open spaces. The residences of some DCs and SSPs in the state have 10 to 20 acres of open land attached, and some officials even farm the land profitably. |
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‘Implement’ revised
bus fares BATHINDA, Aug 21 — Lok Morcha activists have urged the state Transport Commissioner, Punjab to take stern action against the local transport authorities for not implementing the order regarding the revision of bus fares on the Bathinda-Rampura routes issued by the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Ferozepore. In a press note issued here today, Mr N.K. Jeet, President, Lok Morcha, Punjab, said that the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Ferozepore, had issued order regarding the revised bus fares. In this revised order, the fare of Bathinda-Rampura route was reduced and from Bathinda to Bhucho crossing and Bhucho crossing to Rampura the fare was reduced by Rs 1. He pointed out that copies of this orders had been sent to the district transport authorities, general managers of PRTC and owners of all private bus services but no action had been taken in this regard. The authorities had also failed to implement the Punjab Government’s order whereby while computing bus fares, the fractions
up to 49 paisa would be ignored. He demanded that excess fare charged from the public should be spent on the development of facilities at the bus stand for the people. |
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PRTC men
block traffic PATIALA Sources said the traffic was blocked to express solidarity with those employees whose identity cards had been confiscated by the vigilance staff. The vigilance staff had put up a naka at Jakhowali. Traffic was restored after two hours when the SDM and the SP of Fatehgarh Sahib district reached the spot. |
Undertrial escapes from
police custody NABHA According to police sources, Jasbir Singh Jassi, had been brought from the Jalandhar jail to be produced before the local Senior Sub Judge Kishore
Kumar. He escaped by making a sudden dash for the Maruti Gypsy, which was standing with its engine running at the Patiala Gate bus stand. The undertrial earlier got out of the grasp of one of the two police personnel who were escorting him back to Jalandhar. Earlier, he had been produced before the Sub Judge in the morning. All three were waiting for a bus to go back to Jalandhar when the incident occurred. Sources said the Gypsy immediately took off on the Bhadson road. They said there were three persons on the Gypsy, two of whom were wearing black “patkas’’. They said a police party tried to give chase in the car of a civilian immediately after the escape but could not catch up with the Gypsy. Jasbir Singh was produced in the court of the Sub Judge for allegedly being involved in forcibly taking over the possession of a car after hiring it for taxi purposes. Jasbir Singh had allegedly forced the driver out and took away with the car. |
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Oil tanker seized,
3 arrested AMRITSAR, Aug 21 — Three persons were arrested following a tip-off and a kerosene oil tanker was taken into custody by the Ram Bagh police. The tanker contained nearly 20,000 litres of Kerosene oil the blue colour of which was cleared and made transparent. The blue colour is normally added to the oil to prevent it being consumed orally as a spirit and to give it a distinct colour so it could be sold only at controlled rates. The oil tanker No. PB 02 N 9964 was intercepted at a godown opposite Indira Palace Cinema. The godown belonged to Rajeev Dhawan. Besides the owner Rajeev, the truck driver and cleaner were arrested. The police believe that the tanker was being used to store kerosene oil to which chemicals were added to make it transparent. Subsequently, the oil was intended to be sold at black market rates. A case has been booked under the Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act and Section 420,
IPC. |
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Attempt to destroy
office record: 2 held JALANDHAR, Aug 21 — The police has arrested two brothers for their alleged attempt to snatch and destroy official records of the Regional Transport Office. According to police sources, Tarsem Lal and Charan Das, hailing from Kalanour, tried to snatch some official papers from the Secretary, RTA, in his office at gunpoint. However, the gunman of the Secretary arrested both transporters and handed them over to the police. A case has been registered under Sections 382, 353, 186 and 34 of the IPC and 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. |
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One killed in
mishap BATALA, Aug 21 (PTI) — One person was killed and over 10 persons, including women and children, were injured when a mini bus was overturned while saving a scooterist near Dharamkot Bagga village near here today, the police said. A Kalanaur-Batala bound mini bus overturned when its driver lost control over the bus while saving a scooterist, the police said. The deceased was identified as Ghabbar (23 years), a photographer who was running a studio at
Kalanaur. |
Four of family
murdered AMRITSAR, Aug 21 — Four members of a family, including two minors, have been killed by some unidentified persons with
sharp edged weapons in Bhitta village was under Majitha police district. The deceased have been identified as Kulwant Singh (40), his wife Sarbjit Kaur (36), sons Gurwinder Singh (11) and Devinder Singh (8). According to police sources, the close relatives of the deceased are suspected to be behind the crime. It is alleged that the land dispute led to the crime. The Rajasansi police station has registered a case under Sections 302, 34 of the IPC against the suspects. However, no arrest has been made so far. |
Former MP
lodges FIR BATALA, Aug 21 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann, a former Rajya Sabha member, today lodged an FIR with the city police station against Jagdish Singh
Walia, Cherry Walia, Pinky Walia and Santokh Singh of Ghasitpura alleging that these persons broke the compound wall of Khalsa Senior Secondary School,
Batala, and occupied land illegally. No arrests have been made so far. |
“Reconsider” quota decision FARIDKOT, Aug 21 — Resentment prevails among students, their parents and wards of freedom fighters against the decision of the Punjab Government to decrease their reserve seats quota from two to one per cent, particularly in the admissions to MBBS courses in the state medical colleges from the current academic year. According to reports available, the government had converted the slashed quota to NRI students and sons and daughters of those political representatives who took part in Punjabi Suba Morcha and other struggles launched by Shiromani Akali Dal from time to time. It is further learnt that the government had also debarred grand children of freedom fighters from availing of the reserve quota in future. Criticising the government, Mr Satish Bagi, press secretary, district Congress committee and son of late Mr Ram Parshad Bagi, president, District Freedom Fighter Association, said that only eight seats have been filled against 30 seats in the NRI quota and the remaining had been lying vacant. He said by neighbouring state of Haryana had increased the similar quota from two to three per cent. He urged the state government to reconsider its decision. |
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ABVP seeks poll
to student bodies JALANDHAR, Aug 21 — The Punjab unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has demanded that the Punjab Government should order holding elections of student bodies all over the state, which have been due for the past 19 years. Mr Subash Sharma, general secretary of the Punjab unit of the ABVP, while addressing a press conference here today said the elections were not held due to terrorism. The parishad also criticised the government for its failure to curb unemployment and the recent fee hike in colleges. “It was practically impossible for poor students to go in for higher studies, especially in engineering colleges, where the hike was almost 300 per cent”, said Mr Sharma. The parishad decided to hold a rally at Jalandhar on September 16 to lodge its protest. A memorandum would also be presented to the Deputy Commissioner. |
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