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Fast-track courts needed to settle NRI groom cases
Chhapar, September 21
“The Lok Bhalai Party was committed not only to take up the cause of the farmers but to strive for a better deal for the Punjabi youth stranded abroad, besides ensuring that girls who married abroad are not harassed, said party chief and MP B.S. Ramoowalia, while was addressing a political conference at Chhapar Mela here this noon.
MC circumvents ban, recruits staff
Bathinda, September 21
Following the government ban on the recruitment of employees of non-provincial cadre the Municipal Council here have invented a novel way of hiring staff for octroi collection and development.
Two die of gastroenteritis
‘Lax’ Jalandhar MC gets blame
Jalandhar, September 21
The “failure” of the local civic and health authorities to control the spread of gastroenteritis in the Phagwari mohalla due to the supply of contaminated drinking water for the past about 20 days, resulted in the deaths of two persons, including a 16-year-old youth. The government has announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 25,000 to the families of the victims.
Verka MLA meets CM on UT discrimination
Chandigarh, September 21
A delegation led by Dr Raj Kumar, MLA, Verka constituency in Amritsar, met the Punjab Chief Minister yesterday, and apprised him of the discrimination being made by the UT Police, Chandigarh, against candidates of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and backward classes in the matter of recruitment to about 200 posts of constable.
Ultimatum to arrest Kang
Kharar, September 21
Leaders of various parties at a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Amrik Singh have threatened to stage a dharna and block traffic, if the police fails to arrest Kiranbir Singh Kang, senior vice-president of the Shiromani Youth Akali Dal within seven days, against whom non-bailable warrants have already been issued by the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ropar in a criminal complaint field in connection with the murder of two innocent minor children of Siau village of the Kharar block.
Mystery shrouds trader’s kidnapping
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 21
Mystery shrouds the alleged kidnapping of Mr Lakhwinder Singh, 35, a trader, running a readymade shop at Sirhind town and residing at Jalbehra village. He had reportedly been missing since last Tuesday morning, when he gone to pay obeisance at a village gurdwara at about 5 a.m. and after that did not return to house till late in the evening.
Welfare funds pocketed: study
Amritsar, September 21
After the detection of the Rs 23-crore scam in old age pensions, a study titled “Scheduled Caste welfare — myth or reality”, by Dr R.B. Singh, senior research fellow of Guru Nanak Dev University, is likely to open a Pandora’s box. He has given a fact-finding report following a survey of 14 villages regarding the implementation of welfare schemes, saying that most of the targets shown by the departments concerned were “fictitious”.
PPSC scam: defence counsel’s plea on jurisdiction
Ropar, September 21
The court of the Special Judge, Mr
A.S. Katuria, today fixed September 23 as the next date of hearing in connection with the trial of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu.
During the proceedings, counsel for Sidhu today submitted an application in the court to discharge Sidhu for want of territorial jurisdiction.
Vigilance officers shielding corrupt, says Justice Bains
Amritsar, September 21
Justice Ajit Singh Bains (retd), Chairman of the Punjab Human Rights Organisations
(PHRO), has alleged that some senior Vigilance officers had been shielding “corrupt” leaders and officials who had amassed huge properties during the previous SAD-BJP government.
Youth
crosses over to Pak during retreat ceremony
Amritsar, September 21
Security forces have been put on maximum alert even as
Pakistan has refused to “hand over” a youth who swiftly crossed
over to Pakistan by taking advantage of big rush of onlookers of daily
retreat ceremony at Wagah border day before yesterday.
Jail inmates get some say
Amritsar, September 21
The Punjab Jails Department has introduced a “participating management system” in jails to improve the facilities being provided to inmates.
Punjab Additional Director-General (Prisons) Izhar Alam who was here on an inspection of Amritsar Central Jail, said here today that the scheme would change the functioning of the jails.
TSU feels pinch of staff shortage
Bathinda, September 21
Mr Resham Kumar, general secretary of the Technical Services Union (city division), in a statement issued here today alleged that due to a shortage of technical staff and overwork, many fatal and other accidents had taken place, putting the lives of the employees in danger.
1390 cases settled
Patiala, September 21
Compensation worth Rs 208 crore has been awarded in the 1,370 Lok Adalats which have been conducted in Punjab so far and nearly 1,01,100 cases out of the 1,59,000 cases taken up for hearing have been settled satisfactorily.
Ex-MLA among 10 detained
Jalandhar, September 21
The district police today detained 10 workers of the CPI, including former MLA Kulwant Singh and farmers, who were sitting on dharna at Laroa village on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road to register their protest against the failure of the state government to release sugarcane arrears to the farmers.
Badal protecting corrupt: Jakhar
Abohar, September 21
Mr Sunil Jakhar, whip of the Congress Legislative Party in Punjab, today lambasted SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal for attacking the Congress Government led by Capt Amarinder Singh to protect “corrupt former ministers and their middlemen”.
PKD to gherao Vajpayee
Amritsar, September 21
The Punjab Kisan Dal (PKD) will gherao the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, in New Delhi, if the Centre failed to announce the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy immediately.
Man gets life term in
murder case
Pathankot, September 21
Sunil Kumar, a resident of Pathankot, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10,000 by the Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur, Mr K.K. Garg, in a murder case.
Ban on Punjabi magazine
Amritsar, September 21
The District Magistrate, Mr Swinder Singh Puri, today prohibited the further publication and circulation of a Punjabi magazine, Punjab Monitor, for alleged controversial writings on Hindu gods and goddesses till November 4.
Village remembers 1965 war martyr
Ropar, September 21
On the occasion of the 37th martyrdom day of Capt Surjit Singh, a martyr of the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Punjab, today inaugurated a veterinary hospital at Boormajra village, near here.
Youths apprised of action plans
Ferozepore, September 21
A five-day development programme for youths was organised at Basti Makhan Singh from September 17 by the Nehru Yuva Kendra, Ferozepore, in collaboration with the Department of Field Publicity. As many as 40 youths from rural areas adjoining the Indo-Pak border participated.
Cycle
rally against drugs
Tarn Taran, September 21
The Punjab Vikas Manch, in collaboration with the Punjab police and NGOs, organised a cycle rally here today against the drug menace, pollution and to create awareness regarding physical fitness. A large number of school students participated.
Strategy for rabi crops
LUDHIANA: The Punjab Agriculture Department in consultation with scientists of Punjab Agricultural University has formulated a strategy for the rabi crops.
The new strategy has been chalked out under directions of Agriculture Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in view of the setback received by the farmers due to failure of the monsoon.
Farmers urged to diversify
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 21
The Punjab Government has chalked out long-term as well as short term programmes to boost the diversification of crops and to encourage the farmers to adopt the cultivation of pulses, barley, oil seeds.
Student held with 4.5 kg of charas
Gurdaspur, September 21
A student of BA-III has been arrested on charges of smuggling charas from Himachal Pradesh.
According to Mr Varinder Kumar, district police chief, Mohit Kumar of Pidre village, Bassi police station Hamirpur, was arrested with 4.5 kg of charas at a special naka at Simble Chowk, Pathankot, today.
ETT students gherao Behl
Amritsar, September 21
Students of the Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) and the District Institution of Education and Training (DIET) courses gheraoed the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Khushal Behl, for over five hours and blocked all entry and exit gates of Guru Nanak Dev University here today. The minister assured students that he would take up their demands at the Cabinet meeting.
CBSE programmes to woo NRI students
Jalandhar, September 21
The CBSE has decided to start special programmes on Indian Languages and culture at 19 schools in various countries affiliated to the board.
Talking to reporters here today, the Chairman of the CBSE, Mr Ashok Ganguli, said the programmes would start from the current session.
GND varsity to have Centre for SE Asian studies
Faridkot, September 21
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has initiated steps to set up a centre for South-East Asian studies on its campus.
The university authorities have submitted a project report to the Union Human Resources and Development (HRD) Ministry.
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