Punjab for relaxation without cut in MSP
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 12 — While expressing resentment against the conditional relaxation given today in paddy specifications for procurement by the Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution, Mr Shanta Kumar, the Punjab Government today decided to approach the Union Government to press it to relax the specifications without reducing the procurement price.

The decision to approach the Union Government was taken at a unscheduled Cabinet meeting held here late this evening. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, presided over the meeting.

A spokesman for the state government told TNS after the meeting that Mr Badal wanted that the specifications for the procurement of paddy should be relaxed without a cut in the minimum support price (MSP) of the paddy. Mr Shanta Kumar at a press conference in Palampur this afternoon had announced to procure paddy having damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weeviled grain upto 7 per cent ( instead of 3 per cent provided for fair average quality (FAQ) paddy) at Rs 515 per quintal for grade-A and Rs 485 per quintal for common grade against the MSP of Rs 540 and Rs 510 per quintal, respectively, for these varieties of paddy. He had stated that FAQ paddy would be procured at the MSP that was Rs 540 and Rs 510 per quintal for grade-A and common grade paddy respectively.

The spokesman said the cut in the price was not acceptable to the state government. He said the Union Ministry should extend a helping hand to the farmers and not impose cut on the price of their produce. He said it was the statutory duty of the Union Government to provide MSP to farmers. The Union Ministry should understand the ground realities and act accordingly, he added.

Meanwhile, informed sources said the Cabinet also discussed the call given by various farmer and political organisations for agitation on October 13 and 14 in connection with the procurement of paddy. Sources said the government would not provide any opportunity to these organisations take advantage of the situation emerging in the state because of paddy. Ministers have been told to counter the agitation by educating the farmers about the various aspects of paddy issue.

Agencies should buy IR-8 variety: PPCC 
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Oct 12 — The Punjab Pardesh Congress President, Capt Amarinder Singh, said yesterday that the problem of glut of paddy in the state would only be solved if the common variety, IR - 8, was also purchased by the state procurement agencies other than the Food Corporation India ( FCI ).

Talking to mediapersons here, Capt Amarinder Singh said paddy was not being procured by the state procurement agencies despite the fact that the State procurement agencies in Haryana were purchasing the IR-8 variety. He said the Punjab Chief Minister was responsible for this.

The PPCC chief said the minimum support price did not convey any meaning as paddy was not being purchased at that price or even close to it. He said during his tour of various mandis in the state it was revealed that farmers had been camping for days at a stretch waiting for the procurement agencies to purchase their produce.

He said the situation could become worse if it rained in the state during the next two to three days . He said this could create a serious law and order problem as there were insufficient storage facilities in the mandis and farmers could suffer huge losses.

He lashed out at the state government for improper planning of the procurement season. He added that the government was not able to arrange funds for procuring paddy itself in case the FCI was doing tardy procurement. He said all announcements on diversification were also an eyewash as the government had not taken any concrete steps to provide infrastructure and alternative markets to farmers in case they went in for diversification in the form of agro-products and horticulture.

He further said in case the government was unable to procure the crop it should inform the farmers of the fact so that they could sow some alternative crop. He added that announcements of minimum support price were not needed, adding that it was necessary to spell out the strategy of procurement first.

In a separate statement senior Congress leaders Surinder Singla and Mohinder Singh Gill said the farmers of the state would collectively lose a large amount of money due to distress selling. The leaders , who made a survey of various mandis in the state, demanded that the only way to provide relief to the farmer was by giving him compensation amounting to the loss he suffered.

Mr Singla and Mr Gill said the receipt slips of commission agents could be used to determine the compensation to be given to the farmers.

Procurement officials demand commission 
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, former Punjab minister, today charged the field staff of official procurement agencies with demanding “commission” ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 40 per quintal from hapless farmers before agreeing to inspect their paddy heaps.

Talking to TNS here today after a tour of grainmarkets at Pakhowal, Lathana, Meharna and Dehlon in the district, Mr Grewal, who belongs to the SHSAD, said he was horrified to see thousands of tonnes of paddy lying unsold in these mandis with desperate farmers pleading with officials from the government procurement agencies to buy their paddy. There were reports of distress sale all around.

Bibi may visit southern states
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Oct 12 — The beleaguered SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who has been evading arrest by the CBI, is likely to visit various parts of southern states for the propagation of Sikhism. Advance parties have already left for Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for making arrangements for the religious functions.

Talking to Tribune News Service, Dr Gurcharan Singh Bachan, secretary, SGPC, said while the pilot parties would go by road Bibi Jagir Kaur might go by air due to paucity of time. He said the SGPC had already opened Sikh mission centres at Nagpur and other cities of the country recently.

Meanwhile, senior SGPC member Puran Singh Josh who belongs to the ruling party has announced he will launch a mass movement with the cooperation of like-minded members shortly if Bibi Jagir Kaur fails to tender her resignation as SGPC president in the wake of registration of an FIR. He said she had no right to hold the coveted post of SGPC chief till proved innocent after the investigations. He made an appeal to the SGPC members to rise above party affiliations for forcing Bibi Jagir Kaur to resign.

Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib, while answering persistent queries by journalists indicated that the five Sikh high priests could take up the case of Bibi Jagir Kaur at Akal Takht only if anybody lodged a complaint in this regard.

However, Giani Kewal Singh refused to entertain any question regarding Bibi Jagir Kaur. “Kindly don’t ask me such questions at this juncture”, he said. He said he was here to address the press conference about the efforts of Takht Damdama Sahib in preserving Sikh heritage and promotion of educational institutes of the “quom” only.

Meanwhile, the SGPC has taken a serious view of the participation of some senior functionaries of the SGPC at the press conference addressed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, here recently. Dr Bachan said instead of attending office some senior functionaries, including an assistant secretary of the SGPC, attended the press conference of Mr Tohra. Dr Bachan said show-cause notices had already been issued to these employees on the basis of their photographs appearing in various newspapers.

On the other hand, the SGPC has announced that Bibi Jagir Kaur might visit Amritsar in connection with Gurpurb on October 14. However, sources say if her visit materialises she will come in a private vehicle and is unlikely to meet the public. Her visit will be symbolic to further her claim that she is not on the run in the wake of the CBI case. She has been elusive since the registration of the case.

Sources point out that Bibi Jagir Kaur has planned to go to southern states to avoid any embarrassment being caused due to registration of case against her.

However, the SGPC secretary said the executive committee meeting was likely to be held between October 19 and November 9 at Amritsar. Earlier, she had postponed the executive committee meeting thrice in the past due to one or the other reasons.

Arrested person not Nishan Singh : witness
From Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Oct 12 — One of the two employees who was said to have been made an official witness by the CBI in the Harpreet death case saying that the papers which they were made to sign at Kartarpur’s Magnolia Resort on Wednesday identified the arrested person as Paramjit Singh and not Nishan Singh. Nishan Singh has been named as a key witness by the CBI in the case.

Meanwhile, the house-cum-nursing home of one Kartarpur-based doctor which was raided by the CBI on Wednesday to explore the possibility of whether the abortion of Harpreet Kaur was conducted there or not and the Mehli Gate residence of Harbinder Kumar, another accused in the case, remained deserted with the inmates missing for the second day.

Reports in a section of the media had pointed out that Nishan Singh had been arrested by the CBI and two officials of the State Bank of Patiala at Kartarpur were quoted as saying they had been forced to be official witnesses to the process and for conducting a raid at the Kartarpur house-cum-nursing home of Dr Satpal in the Committee Bazaar locality.

Surprisingly enough, Mr S.S. Padda, a senior clerk of the bank and one of the witnesses, was a bit confused on Thursday and said reluctantly he had not said anything regarding the arrest of Nishan Singh, a gunman and relative of the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who has been named in the FIR lodged by the CBI. The statement has, however, created confusion since Paramjit Singh Raipur, one of the accused, has already been remanded in judicial custody by a Patiala court on October 11 and it was Nishan Singh who could not be arrested by the CBI.

Meanwhile, highly placed sources in the Punjab police said Nishan Singh had not been arrested by the CBI so far and was still accompanying Bibi Jagir Kaur, who had been staging dramatic appearances in mofussil towns of Doaba like Mahilpur and Haryana in Hoshiarpur district, during the past one week. “He was summoned by the CBI and nothing has happened beyond that,” said an officer. Similarly, there was no move by the Punjab police authorities to shift the Kapurthala SSP, Mr Iqbal Singh, in the light of his alleged role in the case, as reported in a section of the media. “It is not possible at this juncture since this would mean admission to foul play,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

Talking to The Tribune on the bank premises, Mr Padda confirmed that he along with another colleague were taken to Magnolia Resort of the Punjab Tourism Corporation by a CBI party headed by a DSP. “We were shown a person with a blue turban and told that he was Paramjit Singh. Later, we were made to sign some papers which we could not read properly”. However, he could see it was pertaining to the arrest of Paramjit Singh and not Nishan Singh, said Mr Padda. Neither could he answer a query as to why he signed papers when he could not read what was written nor he dared to say that he was forced to sign the papers. He said they had been with the CBI team for about seven hours during which they conducted a raid at Anmol Hospital, said to be run by Dr Satpal, a government doctor posted at Batala.

Meanwhile, houses of both Dr Satpal and the one belonging to Harbinder Kumar at Phagwara’s Mehli Gate locality virtually remained deserted for the second day. While Raksha, mother of Harbinder Kumar, who has been a driver with Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi, was not available since her house had been locked, no one except a “relative” of Dr Satpal was present in the latter’s house-cum-nursing home.

Finding a Director of Agriculture
By P. P. S. Gill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 12 —The appointment of Capt Deep Singh Sahota as Director of Agriculture, Punjab, was quashed by the high court on October 10.

This followed petitions by the Cane Commissioner, Dr Mewa Singh Sonar, and the Joint Director, Hydrogeology, Dr Gurcharan Singh.

The court has asked the state to fill the post of Director, on a regular basis, within one month.

There is, however, more to the court’s orders.

The moot question is that Akalis claim to represent not just the interests of the Sikhs but also articulate the aspirations of the farmers, who constitute their vote bank. Even as the muddle over paddy procurement persists, the Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices has already submitted its report to the Centre recommending retaining the same minimum support price for wheat as was fixed last year, much to the consternation of the Akalis.

Moreover, the manner in which the Akalis have (mis) handled the Department of Agriculture and appointment of its Director after coming to power in February, 1997, speaks volumes of their concern for agriculture, which forms the backbone of the state’s economy.

The Department of Agriculture has had four Directors between June 11, 1997 and October, 2000. Except for Capt A. S. Randhawa, who became a “regular” Director before retirement on February 28, 1999, all others have had either “additional” or “current duty” charge of the post. Though eyebrows were raised over the “promotion” of Captain Sahota on July 19, 2000, his appointment stands quashed now.

The question now is who will be the next Director of Agriculture?

The earlier incumbents, after Captain Randhawa, were either “suspended” or “removed” by court orders.

The post of Director of Agriculture has remained jinxed since Dr S.S. Bains was shifted and appointed Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Punseed, on June 11, 1997.”Additional” charge of the post of Director was given to Captain Randhawa the following day. He held the same from June 12 to June 22. The next day he was promoted and assumed “regular” charge.

The post of Director remained vacant for 22 days, from March 1 to March 22, 1999, after the retirement of Captain Randhawa.

Then came Dr M.S. Sonar (March 23-August 4, 1999), who held “current duty” charge as Director, when he was suspended following a fertiliser scam. A subsequent inquiry into the matter exonerated him. This was told to the court by his counsel.

He was succeeded by Dr Balkarn Singh, who as Director, Seed Certification Authority, held “current duty” charge as Director of Agriculture from August 5 to November 30, 1999. Later, on January 6, 2000, he was placed under suspension following the lodging of first information reports against him in alleged cases related to the certification of seeds.

Captain Sahota was given “current duty” charge as Director the same day, November 30.He was “promoted” Director without following the proper procedure, say sources in the department, on July 19.

Though the Department Promotion Committee was constituted for making a regular appointment, its meeting was not held on the scheduled date, June 8, and again on July 18. Even in the petition, Dr Sonar’s counsel had stated that Dr Sahota’s appointment was done in a “mysterious manner, in violation of all norms, rules and regulations”.

Captain Sahota had superseded Dr Sonar, Dr Balkarn Singh (still under suspension), Capt J.S. Mahil, Dr Gurcharan Singh and Mr R.D. Singla. Thus, aggrieved by the promotion of Captain Sahota, Dr Sonar and Dr Gurcharan Singh filed their petitions in the high court. Captain Sahota’s appointment now stands quashed by the court.

A word about the removal of Dr Bains as Director of Agriculture and his appointment as Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Punseed.

Dr Bains was appointed Director on January 3, 1991, when Punjab was under President’s rule. He continued in the post till June 11, 1997.He was succeeded by the then Additional Director, Captain Randhawa, who served till his retirement on February 28, 1999.Thereafter, it has been an ad- hoc arrangement all the way.

Dr Bains was working as Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Punseed, when the government appointed Mr Ashok Dhir Chairman of Punseed.

He is an advocate from Gidderbaha. This meant the “down-gradation” of Dr Bains.

He represented to the government that, having worked as Director, he should be sent back to the same post since Captain Randhawa had retired. The government, as usual, did no bother.

Consequently, Dr Bains went to the high court, which on September 13, 1999, decided that Dr Bains should either be posted as Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Punseed, or sent back to the Department of Agriculture for consideration of his claim to the post of Director, Agriculture, wherefrom he was removed and sent to Punseed.

Instead, the government appointed him “Adviser”, Agriculture, through an administrative order only. The post of “Adviser” has no sanction of the Department of Finance. Though he joined as “Adviser” on May 2, 2000, Dr Bains has not received any pay for the past five months because the post has yet to be sanctioned by the Department of Finance.

An investigation into the working of the Department of Agriculture by TNS has revealed that “pure caste politics” and the “whims and fancies” of the powers that be rule the roost. " Inconvenient” officers are targeted and politically motivated “false” complaints engineered against them. There is an internecine war among officers as well.

Senior agriculture scientists holding administrative posts, on condition of anonymity, told TNS that as a consequence of “intense” political interference, the functioning of the department had been totally “paralysed and politicised”. That this should have happened during Akali rule is beyond the comprehension of many officers in the department.

Power cuts in Punjab from Oct 13 to 15 
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Oct 12 — Alternative power cuts will be administered in various areas of Punjab from October 13 to 15 by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). The power cuts have become imperative due to the fact that all five turbines of the Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant (GGSSTP), Ropar, will stop generating electricity from 6 p.m. onwards on October 13.

There are six turbines in the GGSSTP which have the capacity to generate 1250 MW of electricity. One of the turbines has already been shut down for the annual maintenance, while the other five are being run at full capacity.

As earlier reported by The Tribune, the outfall structure of the GGSSTP, through which used water is released in the adjoining Sirsa river, has been damaged and needs immediate repairs. The PSEB authorities have decided to repair the damaged structure by stopping the flow of water in it from 6 p.m. tomorrow. Since there is no alternative outlet for water as all turbines will have to be stopped.

The operation of the first turbine will be stopped at 6 p.m., while the other four will come to a halt alternatively after every 30 minutes interval. The operation of stopping the turbines will be completed by 8 p.m. on October 13.

According to sources in the GGSSTP, the repair work of the damaged outfall structure is expected to be completed by 6 p.m. on October 15. After the completion of the repair work turbines will once again start operations one after the other at half hour intervals.

For two days when the turbines of the GGSSTP will not operate, the loss of generation in power will partially be compensated by extra generations from the Bhakra, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Lehra Mohabat, Hargobind thermal plants and the NTPC. However, due to the lesser availability of water in hydro generation projects this year, the full generation loss of GGSSTP cannot be compensated.

The water level at Bhakra remained at 1647 feet this year against the maximum capacity of 1680 feet of the reservoir. The water level at the Ranjit Sagar dam has also remained low due to which only one power unit is operational there.

The Chief Engineer of the GGSSTP, Mr Thaman, when asked to comment on the situation admitted that the power cuts were unavailable due to the proposed closure of turbines in the thermal plant. 

Parminder reiterates promises 
From Our Correspondent

SUNAM, Oct 12 — Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, MLA, has reiterated his commitment with regard to overall development of the Sunam Assembly constituency especially the town.

Mr Dhindsa after attending the meeting of the local municipal council said he had drawn up a development plan for the constituency to be executed during the next year. He said he would make efforts to provide pure drinking water, buildings for schools, motorable link roads and dispensaries in the villages. He would also procure funds for the construction of dharamshalas for Dalits in villages, he added.

The MLA said the state government would ply its buses on all link roads in the constituency which had no bus service till now. He also assured undisrupted supply of irrigation water to the villages.

The MLA said construction of building for the 150-beded hospital here would start soon. Besides, work on the water and sewerage project worth Rs 4.50 crore provided by HUDCO would also begin soon. The town would have a sports synthetic track in the stadium for the promotion of sports.

Work on another project — construction of over-bridge on the railway line here would also start shortly as the Central government had already released requisite funds for this.

Mr Dhindsa criticised Mr Bhure Lal, Chairman of the FCI, for creating panic among farmers. He said Mr Bhure Lal’s statement was contradicted by Punjab Agriculture University experts who stated that the paddy of the current season was much better as compared to that of the previous year.

CPI-CPM unity under cloud
Tribune News Service

MOGA, Oct 12 — Unity between the CPI and the CPM has come under a cloud if the Panjab University Senate elections and Sunam by election is any indication.

There is a growing perception in the CPI state council that the CPM did not support its candidates in both elections, affecting the prospects of the Left parties to defeat their political opponents — the RSS and the SAD-BJP combine.

The CPI, which vehemently supported Mr Ravinder Sharma during the Senate elections and fielded Mr Sampooran Singh in Sunam, accuse the CPM of “humiliating” them on both occasions. In no uncertain terms, a member of the CPI state council, Mr Randhir Gill, charged the CPM of putting in half-hearted efforts in favour of the CPI candidate during the senate elections.

The CPM adopted an independent poll strategy in Sunam by campaigning in favour of radicals instead of lending support to the CPI candidate. This helped the SAD-BJP candidate, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa to win comfortably in Sunam.

Terming this as a major defeat of the secular parties, which earlier vowed to unitedly oppose the communal forces, Mr Gill also blamed the like-minded Congress party for the “Sunam mess” by shooting down the CPI’s proposal for a joint candidate.

Admitting that these elections have eclipsed the Left unity, he felt the two parties should take lessons from Sunam as their drifting apart would strengthen the hands of the SAD-BJP combine.

The three parties, which share a secular perception should engage in introspection to formulate a strategy for the future assembly elections to defeat the “communal” forces, he added.

Fazilka MC chief puts in papers
From Our Correspondent

FAZILKA, Oct 12 — Mr Bajrang Lal Gupta, president of the Fazilka Municipal Council has submitted his resignation to Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, Punjab BJP chief, today. The resigination of Mr Gupta comes in the wake of a reported agreement between two factions of the ruling BJP Municipal councillors according to which Mr Gupta was to remain president for two and half year.

Mr Avinash Jaiswal, organising secretary of the Punjab unit of the BJP, who was here today, told this reporter. Mr Gupta had put in his papers to pave the way for implementation of the agreement arrived at the time of his objection as the civic body chief in 1998.

COMMUNITY

College students disrupt traffic 
From Our Correspondent

HOSHIARPUR, Oct 12 — Students of the local DAV College disrupted traffic on Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road for about two hours in front of their college here today in protest against the state government for not taking any action against the driver and conductor of the Punjab Roadways bus of Nawanshahr depot and the doctor on duty in Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur who were responsible for the death of a student of the college.

Monika was allegedly pushed back from the front window of the moving bus by the conductor while she was boarding the bus at old Adda Mahilpur here. She lost balance and was crushed under the back wheels of the bus. She was taken to the Civil Hospital where she was not attended properly by the doctor and she succumbed to her injuries.

IT raids on leading medical centres 
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — Income Tax officials today conducted raids on the premises of several leading doctors, their hospitals and scan centres in the city and are believed to have made considerable seizures in cash and kind.

Confirming that raids were conducted on six places belonging to some leading doctors and radiologists, highly placed sources in the IT Department refused to give any specific details. However, the sources revealed that the raids were conducted only after specific information was collected about the daily income of these doctors. All of them were allegedly evading tax.

Among the hospitals raided by the IT sleuths today were Arora Neuro Centre, Anupam Scan Centre, Sofat Infertility Centre and the premises of a few other leading doctors. The raids were continuing till the filing of this report.

The sources pointed out that the scan centres like Arora Neuro Centre had been kept under observation for quite some time. Arora Neuro Centre is one of the leading scan centres in Ludhiana where magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scan and ultrasound is done on a large scale. On an average an MRI costs about Rs 5,000, while the cost of the CT scan ranges between Rs 17,00 and Rs 3,500.

Arora Neuro Centre also plans to start a cardiac centre for which it is reported to have already got sanctioned a huge loan from a leading nationalised bank. The opening of the hospital was also advertised in leading newspapers of the region.

These centres had hit the headlines earlier also over the alleged nexus between certain doctors and some of the centres. Some centres are alleged to be paying huge commission as high as 50 per cent to the doctors referring patients to their scan centres for the MRI or CT scan.

Anupam Scan Centre was also raided by the IT sleuths today. The centre is also doing brisk business and was reportedly under observation for quite some time.

Another target of today’s IT raids was Sofat Infertility Centre. The centre is believed to be one of the costliest infertility centres in the region, which promises to cure infertility. The sources pointed out that preliminary investigation revealed that only the advertising budget of the centre ran into lakhs of rupees. The centre had been issuing advertisements in leading national dailies across the north.

A few other hospitals were also raided today by the IT officials. However, no specific details were available. The raids were reportedly conducted simultaneously at all places.

Repeated attempts to contact the centres (where raids were conducted) yielded no results.

The sources revealed that “good seizures are expected” as raids were conducted only after thorough preliminary investigation.

The raids did not come as a surprise. While the industry here is faced with acute slump, people associated with the medical profession have achieved phenomenal success. In a brief span of post militancy period, a number of hospitals have come up in Ludhiana with latest facilities. The charges are also too high.

FCI official held for taking bribe 
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Oct 12 — Baldev Singh Maur, Assistant (Accounts) in the district office of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 400.

Baldev Singh was caught by a team of the Vigilance Bureau officials led by the DSP, Mr Mukhtiar Singh, last evening. He took bribes from Mr Gurwinder Singh, a contractor, to release his (contractor’s) payment.

Mr Satpal Singh Sidhu, SP (Vigilance), when contacted, said the contractor from Talwandi Sabo had lodged a complaint with the department that his security amount worth Rs 35,000 was not being refunded by the official concerned.

A case under Sections 7/13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registerd against the accused. He has been remanded to judicial custody.

Fortune-teller arrested  
From Our Correspondent

BATHINDA, Oct 12 — The district police has arrested fortune-teller Manoj Baba.

Manoj Baba used to hypnotise his clients. But his business came to a halt when he compelled Mr Pitras Sharma, a resident of Model Town here, to spend Rs 2 lakh for the construction of his (Baba’s) darbar. Mr Sharma had borrowed the amount from his department to purchase a new car, but Manoj Baba hypnotised Mr Sharma made him to part with money on the promise that Baba would return the money.

Manoj Baba had cautioned Mr Sharma against purchasing the car saying if he went ahead his children would die at once. But when Mr Sharma demanded his money from Manoj Baba he refused to return the money. The police has registered the case against Manoj Baba under Section 420 of IPC.

Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said that in another case Ranjeet Singh and Harpinder Singh who hail from Buraj Ladha Singh had been arrested in cheating case. He added that both the cheats had embezzled Rs 2 lakh from Mr Sukhmander Singh, a resident of Sukhanand village of this district, saying that they would sent Mr Sukhmander abroad. But neither they sent him abroad nor returned the money. The police has registered the case under Section 420 of the IPC.

He added that in a separate case the police had registered a case against Dr Paramjeet Kaur and Dr Gurdev Singh Brar, owner of Dev Hospital, Jalal, for conducting the delivery operation of Amarjeet Kaur, a resident of Bajakhana. He added that the operation resulted in the death of the infant. The police has registered the case against both of the doctors under Section 304-A of the IPC.

Pak national nabbed 
Tribune News Service

FEROZEPORE, Oct 12 — An unidentified Pakistani was held after he strayed into the Indian territory near Dona Telu Mal border post near here yesterday. No objectionable material was, however, recovered from him.

BSF sources revealed that the man in early 30s was insane. Although his name could not be ascertained due to his unstable mind, preliminary inquiries revealed that he was a beggar from West Punjab in Pakistan. The BSF has discounted the possibility of his being a spy, although past experiences indicate that pretenders are infiltrated by the Pakistanis on secret missions. 

1 killed, 4 hurt in furnace blast 
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — One person was killed, while four others were injured in a furnace blast in the Mukesh Steel Ltd, a steel plant located on the Giaspura road.

According to police sources, the blast occurred in the furnace when a number or labourers were at work. It is learnt that water was leaking out of the furnace. This reportedly led to the blast.

The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Usman. He reportedly succumbed to his injuries in a local hospital later in the evening. The four injured are stated to be out of danger.

The police has booked the factory owner Pradeep Gupta and the manager S.K. Singh under Section 304A of the IPC. No arrests have however been made so far.

Four killed in mishaps 
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Oct 12 — Four persons were killed and two injured in different road accidents in the district since last night.

Balwinder Singh, a resident of Badshahpur, died and Jaswant Singh of the same village was injured when a jeep hit their respective scooters near Lambra last night. Balwinder Singh died while Jaswant Singh was injured in the accident. He was admitted to a hospital.

Jamaludin, a resident of Phagwara, died while his companion Ram Dayal was injured when a Tata Sumo hit them on the GT Road at Phagwara where they were strolling last night.

Jarnail Singh, a Head Constable, was killed and Jasbir Singh, a constable, was injured when a fourwheeler rammed into their scooters near Bhaini village last night. Both were posted at the Phillaur police station.

Youth killed, father hurt
Tribune News Service

SANGRUR, Oct 12 — Amarjit Singh, a youth from Barnala, was killed while his father, Babu Singh, injured in a road accident which took place near the local Mahavir Chowk today.

The police said here this evening that Amarjit Singh and Babu Singh had been going to Barnala from Sangrur on a motor-cycle when their two-wheeler collided with a truck. Amarjit Singh was taken in a serious condition to the civil hospital where he died.

Fill 7,000 posts of teacher: CM 
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 12 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parakash Singh Badal, today directed the authorities of the Education Department to fill the 7,000 vacant posts of teachers in primary, middle and high schools on contract basis within a month. He held a meeting with senior officers of the Education and Finance Departments and the ministers concerned today in this connection.

Recruitment will be made purely on merit from the villages where posts are lying vacant, by the committees having two members from the panchayat, two from the Parent Teacher Association, one retired teacher and one ex-serviceman and headmaster of the school concerned as its members. Preference will be given to ETT and B.Ed teachers. Such teachers will get Rs 2,000 per month.

Jobless teachers seek preference in appointments 
Tribune News service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 12 — Several organisations held a joint meeting with representatives of the “Berozgar Elementary Teachers Union” here today and considered the Punjab Government advertisement on the recruitment of 7,230 teachers. The advertisement appeared in April last.

The state president of the union, Mr Sukhwinder Singh Chahal, in a signed press note said that the meeting was of the considered opinion that preference should be given to 3,400 elementary trained teachers in the matter of appointments.

The meeting decided to hold a rally in front of the office of the DPI (Primary) here on October 24. Prior to that a memorandum would be presented to the Chief Minister apprising him of the ground realities.

Mr Chahal said a relay fast started by the union entered its 58th day today.

Robot named Millennium Mover
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA: Students and a teacher of the local Government Polytechnic College have added another feather to their cap by inventing a robot named Millennium Mover which can carry nuclear waste, carry hot material and walk from cabin to cabin.

Not only this, Millennium Mover can act as a peon also as it can carry files and papers with near-perfect accuracy. It can carry a total weight of 5 kg. The accuracy of this robot is very high and can be guided by hundreds of programmes. The robot can walk up to a pre-determined place very easily.

The robot has been developed by students namely Ajit Mishra, Jaswinder Singh, Vishal Watts, Shalendar Talwar, Parmahansh, Raghav and Samir Sachdeva under the supervision of lecturer Kuldeep Singh.

Earlier, the students and the teacher had developed a domestic robot, a robotic arm and an automatic soap factory with low cost water tap. The domestic robot can serve quests like normal human beings.

Mr Kuldeep Singh; Instrumentation Engineer, said the robot had been made from two containers of aluminium, a plastic tray and an antenna. A computer had been fitted into it to guide its movements. All material except two parts were arranged from Bathinda.

He claimed that it was a robot, the first of its kind, which could handle nuclear waste and be useful in nuclear reactors. The robot could be modified according to needs.

It took four months to complete the robot. Leaving aside the cost of the computer, the approximate expenses on the robot came out be around Rs 8,000.

He claimed that at Techfest, a national-level technical festival, organised by the Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, the Millennium Mover was greatly appreciated by people who came to see the exhibition organised by them. Techfest was held on September 25 and 26.

He further claimed that Punjabi University, Patiala, had given an award for his invention of the domestic robot and Millennium Mover.

Govt depts recognise fake degrees? 
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Oct 12 — Although youths of Punjab, who have passed graduation and postgraduation examinations from the universities in the state find it difficult to find a job, yet those who have managed to procure fake degrees have been able to get government jobs.

According to information, a number of persons have managed to get jobs of teacher and other such posts in the state on the basis of degrees issued by a fake university, Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP).

Sources said certain persons, who were misleading the people regarding the status of the university, had been running the racket of selling fake degrees to the youths for the past 25 years. The Vishvavidyalaya had ceased to operate in 1974 under the above name and started operating under a different name, Sampuranand Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya.

Mr Kuljit Singh Mahi, a local resident, in a letter written to the Chief Minister, Punjab, alleged that fake degrees issued by the above said university were being given recognition by the Employment and Education Departments of the state.

He further alleged that these departments had even misinformed the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the status of the university. He added that these departments had done so despite the fact that the UGC had derecognised it with effect from December 16, 1974.