12 Cong workers booked
Clash with SGPC member’s son
Tribune News Service

Samana (Patiala), August 28
Congress workers today staged a protest march in the town to protest against the alleged assault on some workers by SGPC member Joginder Singh Panjrath’s son, Neeta, yesterday. They have also threatened a bandh tomorrow if no action was taken in the matter.

The Samana police has, however, registered a case of attempt to murder against 12 Congress workers, besides the son of a vernacular journalist, and has arrested five of them today.

According to sources, there was an exchange of fire between two groups in the town yesterday led by the SGPC member’s son and the Congress workers. After the firing Neeta reportedly fled from the scene leaving behind an official Gypsy. The vehicle was badly damaged by an agitated mob.

Today a group of Congress workers led by former party kisan wing cell president Harinderpal Singh Mann staged a protest in the city to oppose the registration of a case against their workers. The workers also represented to the Superintendent of Police to register a case against Neeta and other persons who they alleged had led a murderous attack in the town yesterday.

The DSP, Samana, Mr Ashish Kapoor, when contacted, said the firing by Neeta could not be verified by the inquiry officer who had visited the incident spot. He also claimed that the Congress workers had resorted to firing when both groups incidentally confronted each other in the town. He said following the inquiry into the case five persons, — Gurmandeep Singh, Iqbal Singh, Sukhdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Gurdaspal Singh — had been arrested today.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Harinderpal Singh Mann accused the police of conducting an cover up exercise to save Neeta. He said earlier also on August 25 the SGPC member’s son had severely beaten two boys — Shammi and Gurmandeep — with the aid of his security guards in front of a sweets shop in Patiala. He alleged that the matter had been brought to the notice of the civil lines police station the same day but no case was registered in the matter.

Mr Mann said yesterday a mob led by Neeta had attacked some persons, including some relatives of the two boys who had been beaten by them earlier. He said while Neeta and another person fired two shots and tried to attack the Congress workers with sharp-edged weapons, the Congress workers also fired back in the air in retaliation following which the attackers fled from the scene.

The Congress workers also alleged that Neeta had been involved in several unsavoury incidents in the town but nothing was being done to bring him to book. They also cited the fact the Neeta was constantly using his fathers’ escort vehicle and also misusing the security personnel provided for the security of his father.

BSP to project Ravi Inder as Punjab CM
Tribune News Service

Longowal (Sangrur), August 28
Mr Kanshi Ram, national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), said today that the BSP would project Mr Ravi Inder Singh, MLA from Morinda, as the next Chief Minister of Punjab. He said the party would allot 20 tickets to the candidates of upper castes in the ensuing Punjab Assembly elections. In the changing scenario, the BSP might think of having an alliance or seat adjustment with the Panthic Morcha at the time of elections, he added.

Mr Kanshi Ram said the BSP had approved the name of Mr Ravi Inder Singh as he could safeguard the interests of the Bahujan Samaj as well as of the Jats of the state. The BSP supremo made the announcement at the residence of Mr Gurinder Pal Singh Dhanaula, a BSP leader, at Dhanaula Khurd village before addressing a BSP conference at the local grain market. Mr Kanshi Ram said the BSP was preparing to contest all 117 Assembly seats.

He said he had no objection to allot tickets to candidates of the upper castes in the Assembly elections. He said 15 per cent tickets would be given to them. He said the process of allotting party tickets would be started after the BSP rally to be held at Hoshiarpur on September 23.

Regarding general amnesty to Punjab police officials, Mr Kanshi Ram said the BSP was still undecided on this issue.

Addressing the conference, Mr Kanshi Ram criticised the Faridkot police for registering a case against Mr Gurinder Pal Singh Dhanaula. He said it was a false case due to which Mr Dhanaula could not attend today’s conference.

Among the others who addressed the convention were Mr Mann Singh Manherra, secretary of the Punjab unit of the BSP, Mr Nirmal Singh Nimma, a former BSP MLA, Mr Sadiq Ali Dhillon, a Muslim leader, Major Pritpal Singh (retd), president of the BSP Kisan wing, Punjab, Ms Naresh Kumari Bawa, a BSP leader from Barnala, and Baba Puran Nath, head of the Valmiki sect.

Fake medical certificates kick up row
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 28
A controversy over the issuance of fake medical certificates to extend favours to jail inmates and others has cropped up in the local Civil Hospital.

Dr Jugraj Singh Sandhu, Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Civil Hospital, Bathinda, talking to Tribune News Service, said he had written a letter to the local Central Jail authorities for giving a record about the medical certificates issued to inmates in the past two years.

He said as per his information, some of the certificates issued to jail inmates in the past two years were not genuine. He said if irregularities were detected in the issuance of certificates after scanning the two years’ record, then the record of earlier years would also be examined.

He said as per rules, no medical certificate could be issued without the countersign of the SMO.

Mr Ved Parkash, member, National Council, PUCL, and Dr Vineeta, general secretary, Insaaf International, in a joint press note issued here today, alleged that convicts and undertrials lodged in the jail had managed to get themselves released on parole or leave on the basis of fake medical certificates.

They said no record of the issuance of medical certificates was being kept in the Civil Hospital. They alleged that though there were about six doctors who were MD (Medicine), in certain cases medical certificates regarding heart ailments had been issued by doctors who were not holding a master’s degree in medicine.

They said undertrials and convicts used to get medical certificates pertaining to serious illness of their kin. The certificates were issued on plain paper without any registration number of the Civil Hospital.

They demanded that a CBI probe should be conducted into the matter. They alleged that high-ups of the Health Department were involved in it.

Dr Sandhu said instructions had been given to all medical officers to issue certificates in a proper manner and these should carry the despatch number of the Civil Hospital. Apart from this, a copy of the medical certificate should be kept in the office for record sake.

Dr Bawa Ram Gupta, Civil Surgeon, Civil Hospital, Bathinda, when contacted said he would conduct an inquiry if any complaint in connection with the issuance of fake medical certificate was received by him.

Wanjara Bedi ... scholar par excellence
Ashok Sharma

Dr Sohinder Singh Wanjara Bedi is no more. Students and scholars of Punjabi folklore in this century will hardly believe that the colossal task of production of “Punjabi Lokdhara Vishvakosh” (Encyclopaedia of Punjabi Folklore and Culture) in eight big volumes was attempted single-handed by this scholar of folklore disciplines popularly known as Wanjara Bedi, after Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, who compiled “Mahan Kosh”, a single volume, and, that too, with the help of state resources, in the 19th century.

Dr Bedi was of the view that each scholar of Punjabi ought to research at least one aspect of folklore. His belief was that the creative writers who wrote anything by keeping themselves aloof from folklore failed to get recognition from the masses. That was why his passion for the discipline had become a devotion and its search an ideal. For him folklore was a pledge. With the demise of Dr Wanjara Bedi on the intervening night of August 26 and 27 at his residence in Rajouri Garden, Delhi, an era of the second generation of scholars engaged in collecting, editing and analysing folklore material has come to an end. The earlier generation was that of the European scholars. The works of Dr Bedi will continue to enlighten the scholars of this discipline in the present generation.

Shahpur Kandi project cleared
Our Correspondent

Gurdaspur, August 28
The Rs 1,400 crore Shahpur Kandi hydel project has been finally cleared by the Centre. Its completion will pave the way for the power generation of the Ranjit Sagar dam to reach its full capacity. This was stated by Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, while talking to newspersons here today. He said the first instalment of Rs 60 crore was being released next month to initiate work on the Kandi project.

The project is being taken up on a departmental level under the supervision of the Irrigation Department and will be completed within three years, he said.

The Irrigation Minister said the Punjab Government planned to build a 50-60 km Hithar canal from Harike which would cover the districts of Ferozepore and Faridkot for irrigation.

Mr Sekhon said the Ministry of Water Resources has cleared the construction of the Shahpur Kandi canal from Hoshiarpur to Balachaur. The project is yet to be cleared by the Planning Commission.

Pro-VC group sweeps PUTA poll
Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 28
The pro-Vice-Chancellor group — the UTF — today swept the elections to the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA), bagging three out of the four posts of office-bearers and four out of the seven posts of Executive members.

Candidates of the United Teachers Front (UTF) bagged the posts of president, vice-president and joint secretary of the organisation. The victors were Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon who defeated Dr K.C. Singhal for the post of president, Dr Manjit Singh who defeated Dr Balwinder Singh for the post of vice-president and Dr S.M. Verma who defeated Dr Baldev Singh Sandhu for the post of joint secretary. The lone victor for the anti-Vice-Chancellor Teachers United Front (TUF) group was Dr N.S. Atri who secured the post of secretary of the organisation by beating Dr R.K. Sehgal of the UTF. Most of the contests were closely fought, with Dr Dhillon scraping through with a margin of 16 votes. Dr Manjit Singh secured a margin of 20 votes and Dr S.M. Verma that of eight votes. Dr N.S. Atri from the other group won by a margin of 30 votes.

The elections were fought by the Teachers United Front as a referendum on the policies and functioning of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia. The TUF had made the VC the main target during its election campaign citing the various forms of victimisation done by him as well as the coercion being done by him to ensure teachers voted for the group which is aligned with him.

The UTF had, however, targeted the members of the TUF for the time wasted by them in writing memorandums against the VC instead of working for the cause of the teachers. It had taken credit for the large number of recent promotions done under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) as well as its efforts in securing new concessions for the teaching fraternity.

These include a scheme of faculty exchange with foreign universities for which Rs 25 lakh have already been earmaked as well as other welfare measures, including easy loans for teachers. The election was also seen as a test case for the VC who, it was felt, had personally selected the candidates to take on the other group which had launched a full-scale battle against him by holding a series of dharnas, besides submission of memorandums to the Punjab government and the Chancellor of the university. Two candidates of the UTF — Dr D.S. Dhillon and Dr S.K. Sehgal — also resigned from the posts of Dean, Students Welfare and Director, Research and Planning, respectively, to contest the elections.

The VC, meanwhile, in a press note said the verdict was for “a new dawn”, adding that those who had won should show humility in victory and those who had lost should show grace in defeat. He exhorted all sections of teachers to get over the bitterness of last year and march forward unitedly.

Man kills sister-in-law, paramour
Our Correspondent

Ferozepore, August 28
In a shocking incident, a man allegedly killed his widowed sister-in-law Khuswinder Kaur and her paramour Balwant Singh, a constable in the Punjab Police, after finding them in a compromising position yesterday.

According to information, yesterday at around 6 p.m., Jasbir Singh, who was already suspicious about the illicit relations of his sister-in-law with Balwant Singh, when reached the house along with his friend, he found the door of the house bolted from inside. He knocked at the door but when there was no response, he broke it open with an axe.

After finding Khuswinder and Balwant together, he shot them dead.

According to police sources, a bullet hit Khuswinder Kaur in her stomach and Balwant Singh in his head. Gursewak Singh, the 12-year-old son of Khuswinder Kaur, on the basis of whose statement the police registered an FIR, told the police that his uncle Jasbir Singh after killing his mother and Balwant Singh, whom he used to call “mama”, fled away along with his unidentified friend on a motor cycle.

POLITICS

Opinion poll ‘manipulated’
Our Correspondent

Ferozepore, August 28
A senior Congress leader, Mr Gurnaib Singh Brar, while addressing a press conference criticised the opinion poll published in a section of media, in which Mr Parkash Singh Badal was adjudged the best Chief Minister, Punjab had ever had. While terming the survey conducted for the opinion poll as biased and manipulated, Mr Brar said it was nothing but an election stunt to gain publicity in wake of elections being round the corner in the state. Mr Brar said most of the respondents for the opinion poll were perhaps not even born when Pratap Singh Kairon was Chief Minister.

He said Kairon was indeed the real architect of modern Punjab and had a dream of ‘Maha Punjab’ spread over from Kulu Manali in Himachal to Hodal in Haryana. He said all prestigious projects, like Bhakra Dam, Punjab Agriculture University, CPRI were the results of the efforts of Kairon.

PPCC public meeting on Aug 31
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) will organise a state-level public meeting on August 31 to observe the death anniversary of the late Chief Minister Beant Singh at Payal, a short distance from his native Kotli village in Ludhiana district. Capt Amarinder Singh will attend the public meeting, said Mrs Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, general secretary PPCC.

Vigilance Dept to collect money for Chhapar mela?
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 28
Prof Balwant Singh, secretary, Punjab unit of the CPM, yesterday alleged that the SAD government had assigned the duty of collecting money for the Chhapar mela for the first time to the Punjab Vigilance Department like other departments.

Talking to mediapersons, he said he had been informed by a source that a decision to collect the money and draw crowd for the mela had been taken at a meeting of officers in view of the Isru conference of the SAD which had evoked a lukewarm response from the people.

Prof Balwant Singh said the government wanted to "teach a lesson" to the Vigilance Department as it had caught the Sangrur DTO in a corruption case. The DTO had allegedly said he had been collecting money for the Chhapar Mela, he alleged.

The CPM leader alleged that the government had asked Inspectors of the Vigilance, Police, Food, and Excise and Taxation departments of the area to bring at least 100 persons (per Inspector) to the mela conference. 

Scribes boycott Badal’s function
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 28
Scribes belonging to different news organisations today boycotted all functions of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, after he refused to order a magisterial inquiry into the misbehaviour with some journalists at the hands of a Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Ludhiana railway station recently.

Nearly 50 scribes who had come from Ludhiana and Jagraon met the Chief Minister at a makeshift helipad near Jagraon and urged him to initiate action against the guilty cop. Instead of ordering an inquiry he said, “ am apologising if anyone has misbehaved with you”. This failed to satisfy the angry journalists who decided to boycott all functions he attended today.

The journalists had wanted that the DSP be shifted and a time-bound magisterial inquiry be ordered into the incident to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. The journalists also expressed their displeasure over the way the SSP, Mr Harpreet Sidhu, handled the case.

Later in the evening, the DIG, Mr Suresh Arora, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, held a meeting with the representatives of the media. However, the meeting remained inconclusive as the two officers expressed their helplessness to take any action against the erring DSP.

The president of the Punjab Press Club, Mr Virender Pramod, said that they had very rational demand of magisterial inquiry into the role of the DSP and also to shift him till the completion of the inquiry. It has also been decided that all official functions will continue to be boycotted till any action is not taken against the DSP. He disclosed that all journalists have also decided to boycott the official function at the Chhapar mela being organised on September 2.

46 gastroenteritis cases in Samana
Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 28
As many as 46 persons have been admitted in the subdivisional hospital and various private hospitals at Samana after suffering bouts of gastroenteritis due to contaminated water in the town. According to sources, gastroenteritis struck the residents of the town, mostly those living in slum areas, after sewage entered the water supply pipes which had been cut to discontinue connections of some consumers. Sources said besides this, poor sanitary conditions were also responsible for the spread of the disease.

Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir, visited the Civil Hospital at Samana and held a meeting with health officers at the spot.

He said 30 patients had been admitted at the government hospital in Samana. He said 16 patients had been admitted to some private hospitals and two children had been referred to Government Rajindra hospital for treatment. Mr Bir said a scare had been created in the town that a large number of people had been struck with the disease which was not true and that wrong figures were being quoted in this context. He said the administration had constituted four teams to improve the sanitary conditions in the town immediately and that water samples had also been sent to Chandigarh for examination.

Ranjit Singh celebrations: CM to visit UK
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will visit the UK from September 19 to 21 to participate in the Maharaja Ranjit Singh bicentenary coronation celebrations. He will be accorded a reception at India House on September 19. Mr Badal is scheduled to visit the samadhi of Maharaja Duleep Singh on September 20, followed by a visit to the museum containing invaluable articles associated with Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his times.

Thereafter, Mr Badal will attend a historic public function where the throne of the Maharaja and other items will be on display. On September 21, Mr Badal will be the chief guest at a polo match between the teams of India and the UK at Ham Polo Club. He will be accompanied, by the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and the Punjab Public Relations Minister, Mr Natha Singh Dalam.

Public participation in water scheme
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, August 28
Ms Valsalla Kutti, Director, Technology Mission, Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, has said that people do not think of water as a prized resource and only the government is held responsible for its non-availability.

Presiding over a meeting of the sector reforms committee here, she said some fault also lay in the policy as water was not projected as a natural resource.

Ms Kutti said to make the water supply schemes consumer oriented, the Union Government had formulated a policy wherein the community would also participate in the planning, designing and execution of the project. Bathinda had been chose as a pilot district under the scheme. Ninty per cent of the funds for this would be given by the Union Government and the remaining would be shared by the community.

As the underground water of the district has heavy contents of flouride, rural water supply schemes had become important, she said.

She said the Union Government had approved the first phase of the project. Rs 752.19 lakh had been allotted for it and Rs 210.28 released. 

BSP leader cries foul
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
Mr Gurinder Pal Singh Dhanula, a senior leader of the BSP, in a statement issued here today, said the Faridkot police had been trying to implicate him in a case. He alleged that the police action against him had been initiated at the behest of a prominent political family of the Faridkot area. He said on August 10, a police party accompanied by SHOs from Jaito and Sadiq police stations came to his residence. It also brought along a handcuffed man who was repeatedly forced to say that he had given a Tata Safari to him (Dhanula).

Mr Dhanula said he told the police that he had bought the vehicle from an authorised dealer in Ludhiana. All documents pertaining to the registration of the vehicle were also shown to the police. It tried to take him away along but failed as his supporters were present there. However, it took his vehicle. He alleged that he had been told by certain police officers of Faridkot district that he should contact certain members of the political family, if he wanted to get out of the case. The police also told him to cancel a rally which was scheduled to be held at Longowal village and to be addressed by Mr Kanshi Ram, BSP chief. Mr Dhanula said the inquiry should be handed over to the CBI.

MC employees stage dharna
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, August 28
Employees of the Municipal Council, Hoshiarpur, staged a dharna in front of the council office and took out a procession through the main bazars of the city today.

Mr Kulwant Singh Saini, general secretary, Municipal Employees Action Committee, Punjab, Mr Kewal Heer, president of the Jalandhar unit of the committee, Mr Ravinder Kumar, president of the Hoshiarpur unit of the committee, and many others addressed the gathering.

They warned the government that they would start a strike in Punjab in case octroi was abolished in the state.

3 die as tree falls on jeep
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, August 28
Three persons were killed and eight injured when a tree fell on the jeep they were travelling in near Romana village, about 25 km from here, this afternoon.

One of the dead has been identified as Jasvir Singh of Romana village. The identity of the other two killed, including a woman, could not be ascertained immediately.

The injured have been admitted to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot. The condition of five of them as stated to be serious.

Members of a social organisation of Bajakhana took the injured to the hospital.

Volunteers of the local Sahara Jan Sewa reached the spot and took the bodies to the local Civil Hospital.

The doctor, who was supposed to be on duty at the Civil Hospital, Bajakhana, was not present when the injured were admitted there. The injured were rushed to Faridkot as their condition was serious. A case has been registered. 

Cop ‘misbehaves’ with woman
Our Correspondent

Pathankot, August 28
The Pooja Express (2403-up) coming from Jaipur to Jammu this morning was delayed for more than half-an-hour due to an altercation following the alleged misbehaviour of a CRP constable with a woman passenger.

According to sources, Ms Rammi Kapoor was travelling from New Delhi to Jammu with others. Constable Arab Singh allegedly misbehaved with her in the S-3 coach. One of the passengers pulled chain near Bhangala. As a result the train was delayed half-an-hour. The passengers alleged that the constable was in a drunken state.

Cycle rally flagged off
Our Correspondent

Kapurthala, August 28
A cycle rally of Army jawans and officers of the 6055(1) MC BDG WKSP was flagged off by Brig M.A. Devaiah today from Kapurthala to Harike in Ferozepore.

The cyclists include two officers, two junior commissioned officers and 35 jawans.

The rallyists will interact with the people of Sultanpur Lodhi, Lohian, Gidripindi and Makhu.

Brigadier Devaiah said the rally was being organised to increase awareness among the people regarding the importance of maintaining ecological balance and protection of environment.

He said the rallyists would start back from the Harike bird sanctuary on August 30.

Ban orders
Our Correspondent

Amritsar, August 28
Mr Narinderjit Singh, District Magistrate, today ordered a ban on any type of assembly, meetings, raising slogans and demonstration at public places. 

Dispensary opened
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 28
Nishkam Seva Ashram has inaugurated its seventh dispensary at E-659, Phase VIII, focal point, here. The inauguration was preceded by a havan. In addition to the general diseases, TB patients will also be examined here.

Stir threat by Telecom officers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
The Punjab Circle Telecom Engineering Officers Association at its meeting held in Ludhiana today condemned the Chief General Manager of Punjab Telecom circle for his alleged rude behaviour.

A press note issued by the association said their several demands had been pending for a long time. These are creation of SDE posts for the year 1999-2001, gradation of list not issued up to date, confirmation cases, request transfers, honorarium to all group ‘B’ officers in all districts and delay in issuing the officiating orders of SDEs. The note said the union members would wear black badges on September 3 and hold a demonstration during the lunch hour on September 5. If their demands are not accepted, they would hold dharnas in front of the office of Chief General Manager on September 10 and 18.

CRIME

5 held for smuggling narcotics
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, August 28
The police has arrested five persons allegedly involved in the smuggling of narcotics and has recovered 40 kg of poppy husk and 500 gm of opium from them.

Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said in a press note issued here today that Rohi Singh, a resident of Man Bibria village in Mansa district, was arrested near Rajgarh village in the district for allegedly carrying 500 gm of opium. A case under Sections 18, 61 and 85 of the IPC has been registered against him at the Maur police station.

He said Resham Singh, a resident of Ram Ditta village in Mansa district, was arrested for allegedly carrying 15 kg of poppy husk near Raiya village. A case under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the IPC has been registered against him at the Talwandi Sabo police station.

Bittu Singh of Kothe Mehraj and Balbir Singh of Kala Patti Mehraj were arrested with 10 kg of poppy husk at a naka laid down near Rampura in the district. A case has been registered.

Gurjeet Singh of Chak Fateh Singhwala was arrested for carrying 15 kg of poppy husk and a case has been registered against him at the Nathana police station.

Under the Gambling Act, the police has arrested nine persons and registered seven cases. It has also recovered Rs 18,270 from the suspects. The suspects are Bhupinder Singh and Ramesh Kumar, both of Rampura Phul, Darshan Singh, Rajinder Kumar of Poojanwala Mohala, Jatinder Kumar of Jeonwala, Darshan Singh of Mandi Kalan, Devinder Kumar of Lal Singh Basti, Tarlok Chand of Nai Basti and Ashok Kumar of Naruana.

The police has also registered four cases and arrested four persons under the Excise Act and has recovered 10 litres of illicit liquor, 12 litres of country-made liquor and 40 kg of lahan from them.

The suspects are Amarjeet Kaur of the city, Jagtar Singh of Kotha Guru village, Sucha Singh of Bir Talab and Karnail Singh of Mehraj village.

Gurjeet Singh of Bangi Kalan village was arrested for illegal possession of a .12-bore pistol and two cartridges. A case has been registered against him under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at Raman police station.

Five robbers arrested
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, August 28
The district police has arrested five members of an inter-state gang allegedly involved in looting under the cover of business activities. Dr Jatinder Jain, SSP, said in a press note here today that gold jewellery was recovered from them. The culprits during investigations confessed that they used to bring fruits from Uttar Pradesh and sell them in Punjab. The culprits used to sell live stock bought from Punjab in Uttar Pradesh in order to conceal their identity.

The culprits were identified as Bhupal Singh (Dehra Dun), Sada Mohammad (Shahpur). Nishan Mohammad (Muzaffarnagar), Fanzan Mohammad (Titabi) Inam Mohammad (Shahpur). Case has been registered against them under Sections 395 and 356 of the IPC.

Patwari held for accepting bribe
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, August 28
The Vigilance Bureau has arrested Shamsher Singh, a patwari in the Revenue Department posted at Pakka Kalan in the district, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 800. The SP (Vigilance), Bathinda zone, in a press note issued here today said Shamsher Singh had demanded the money from Gurlabh Singh, a resident of Chak Heera Singh in the district, for giving favours to him.

He said the patwari asked Gurlabh Singh if he gave him the money, he could divert the direction of the drain which was to pass through the field of Gurlabh Singh. Gurlabh Singh informed them about it. The SP said they laid a trap to nab Shamsher Singh and caught him red-handed. 

Man stoned to death
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, August 28
Satpal Singh of Deenewal village under the Sadar police station has been stoned to death by four persons of the same village.

The police has arrested the accused, Sukhdev Singh, Najjar Singh, Daya Singh and Chanchal Singh of the same village and a case has been registered against them.

A minor dispute is said to be the reason behind the killing.

Proclaimed offender arrested
Our Correspondent

Phagwara, August 28
Proclaimed offender Ashok Kumar, alias Shoki, alias Shambhu, alias Sucha Ram of Shekhupur Bakhlor village under Mukandpur police station has been arrested.

A police naka, headed by Jaimal Singh, in charge CIA staff, arrested Ashok. A Tata Sumo, stolen two months ago from Phagwara, was recovered from him.

Operating in districts of Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana and wanted in several cases, Ashok Kumar, alongwith accomplices Paramjit, alias Pamma and Tarsem Lal, had also drugged Kuldip Singh, a photographer of Phagwara, and decamped with a videocamera and other articles. A case in this regard was registered against him on June 2. Wanted in two cases the local police has declared him a proclaimed offender.

EDUCATION

Police indicts, DEO(S) denies
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, August 28
Mr Major Singh Sandhu, District Education Officer (DEO), Secondary, today denied that any inquiry was pending against him in the bunglings in the issuance of experience certificates, transfer of teachers and appointments in the Education Department as appeared in a section of press.

Talking to this correspondent on telephone he said no raid was conducted on his house in the recent past. He said no money was ever recovered from his house by sleuths of the vigilance department. He added that he was not aware if any one has collected money in his name.

Mr Sandhu said he was not involved in any scandel in which experience certificates were issued on the recommendations of a private school.

He said he was not aware that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab had ordered any inquiry into the alleged bunglings in the district office of the Education Department. He said after his taking over the charge of the DEO (S) in the district he had done every effort to make the working of the department transparent. He added that people of the area were well aware about the fact. and every one was satisfied with the working of the office.

Mr Surinder Pal Singh, SP (Vigilance), Bathinda zone when contacted however, confirmed that an inquiry was held into the alleged bunglings in the District Education Office in which DEO (S) and DEO (Primary) were indicted. He said the report was prepared after thoroughly examining the records of the DEO office. He said that there was enough proof that Mr Sandhu was involved in the bunglings in the issuing of experience certificates.

Students seek subject teacher
Tribune News Service

Tanda Urmur (Hoshiarpur) August 28
Nearly 60 students of political science stream of GKSM Government College here have complained that though their classes started about a month ago yet there is no teacher for the subject.

These students, mostly from adjoining rural areas who had taken the admission in the college in the hope of quality education, were surprised to find that the college did not have a single teacher for the subject of political science. The lone teacher of the subject, which the college had, was transferred to a college in Amritsar district early this year.

“We had never thought that we would be left in the lurch by the college authorities like this. Despite our pleas no arrangement has been made so far in this connection,” said students of MA part I and II requesting anonymity. We had listened about government schools going without teachers, but it is for the first time that we have found a government college without a teacher.

Mr D.S. Mankoo, Principal, was not available for comment despite repeated efforts. The enquiries with the college Superintendent, however, revealed that the college authorities had been writing to the Directorate of Higher Education in this connection, but it has failed to get any positive response so far. “Moreover this is not an isolated case. So many colleges are going without staff as according to the new guidelines we cannot employ part-timers,” said the Superintendent.

Students to form anti-ragging union
Our Correspondent

Patiala, August 28
The Punjab Students Welfare Union today decided to form an anti-ragging union cell.

While addressing a conference here, the senior vice-president of the union, Munish Prashar, said that every year senior students rag freshers. The new students go through a mental torture which could have bad effect on their studies and overall personality. This practice should be stopped immediately.

Mahesh Sharma, general secretary, Patiala, said that many students and parents approached them with an appeal to stop ragging.

He informed that last year a committee was formed to check ragging in the universities and colleges of Punjab and its report had presented many cases of ragging which had very bad effect on the students.

He said the union would do every effort to stop ragging in the institutes.

Donor of fans honoured
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, August 28
An NRI, Mr Rachpal Singh, of Chabba village, who had donated 50 ceiling fans to the village government senior secondary school, was honoured today at a function organised on the school premises. The function was presided over by the Principal, Mr Tarsem Singh. Mr Gursharan Singh Maan, Deputy District Education Officer (S), Amritsar, was the chief guest.

Mr Rachpal Singh had also donated 16 ceiling fans to the village primary school. Baba Raman, Mr Gurmukh Singh, Sarpanch, and Mr Tarsem Singh were also honoured.