Jalandhar, December 22
Following the “forced expulsion” of their Head of the Department, Mr Hari Pani, the students of the Physiotherapy department of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts held a demonstration this afternoon in protest against the “dictatorial attitude” of the college management.

Mr Pani was allegedly forced to resign following a clash between the students of the department on the campus, which broke out in his presence last evening. A student had received head injuries in the incident and the HOD was reportedly blamed for the incident this morning.

The situation became tense as parents of the injured student also came to the campus to complain about the matter.

The students alleged that the HOD was admonished by the administration following which he tendered his resignation. “Since our HOD is not to be blamed, he should not be forced to resign. The management has pressurised him to resign which should not have happened,” the students said supporting Mr Hari Pani.

However, the HOD, who apparently looked quite tense, did not blame the management and said he had resigned on his own.

Dr Sucharita, Principal, could not be contacted as her mobile phone was “out of reach.” 

Bholath (Kapurthala), December 22
The ruling party was successful in postponing the election to the posts of president and vice-presidents of the Nagar Panchayat here today confirming the rumours in the area since yesterday that the poll would be postponed at the behest of the Congress leadership.

The Akali councillors, along with their supporters, marched towards the Tehsil Chowk shouting slogans against the state government and district administration when they received information about the postponement of the election through a fax from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Kapurthala, around 4.15 pm.

Though Bibi Jagir Kaur and five Akali councillors with their two independent councillors supporting them kept on waiting throughout the day for Mr Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Assistant Commissioner, Grievances, and the convener appointed to hold the election, the official proceeded on leave.

It seemed the Congress councillors had the prior information of the postponement of the election as none of them or their supporters arrived at the venue.

A heavy police force around the office of the Nagar Panchayat was deputed in view of the sensitivity of the elections.

When contacted, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bhawna Garg, said the election had been postponed and the fresh date would be announced later. Mr Samir Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, was away to Chandigarh.

Earlier, the election was postponed on October 5 after unruly scenes were witnessed in the House during the conduct of poll.

On the complaint of Mr Iqbal Singh Sandhu, a case was also registered against a Congress member for allegedly misbehaving with EO of the Nagar Panchayat at the meeting. 
The councillors, Bibi Kulwant Kaur, Ms Anita Rani, Ms Neelam Devi, Mr Balwinder Singh, Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Sukhwant Singh Takhar, along with Bibi Jagir Kaur, a former SGPC president and local MLA, kept on waiting till the evening, for the convener to arrive.

Interestingly, the district administration did not bother to inform the Executive Officer of the Nagar Panchayat regarding the postponement of the election till this evening.

Talking to media persons, Bibi Jagir Kaur rued that elections to the president and vice-presidents of Nagar Panchayat were deliberately postponed as the ruling party and district administration were hand in glove.

“All the things are arranged to give the Congress councillors more time to capture the control of the Nagar Panchayat,” she alleged.

“It is a sheer murder of democracy. When the Akali Dal has a clear-cut majority of eight members in the House of 13 members, why the administration was finding excuses for not holding the elections?”

The Deputy Commissioner, when contacted, later in the evening, said the mother of Mr Sandhu was in serious condition, so he had to rush to a hospital in Jalandhar to look after her. 

Jalandhar, December 22
A woman was allegedly raped by her estranged husband and his accomplice, who physically assaulted her and left her outside the Police Station near Jyoti Chowk area here.

The woman in her complaint to the police said her estranged husband and one of his friends forced her into sex. The couple was married five years ago and had a daughter from the relationship. The woman has filed a case in the court for divorce from her husband and for maintenance. 

Jalandhar, December 22
Despite demonstration by leaders of the opposition party yesterday against “re-christening of the chowk,” a function organised by the Municipal Corporation to mark the unveiling of the Prabhu Isah Masih Chowk on GT Road in Maqsudan here passed off peacefully today.

Reverend Dr Symphorian Keeprath, Bishop of Jalandhar, unveiled the triangular chowk that perhaps was an X-mas gift for the 8000-plus Christian community of the district, just two days before the festival.

The triangular pedestal in the chowk has a cross on the top and three crosses on its three sides signifying The Trinity-- Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

The function began almost one and half hours behind schedule as the VIPs, including Mr Avtar Henry, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies and MLA from the constituency, and Ch Jagjit Singh, Local Bodies Minister, arrived late.

Explaining their point of christening the chowk after Lord Jesus, the two ministers said they wanted to prove that their party was secular by all means.