Nawanshahr, December 31
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Krishan Kumar, it seems, is not only taking pain but has virtually donned the cap of a “strict headmaster” to ensure the success of his dream project launched to help science students make it to the reputed engineering colleges in the country.

The “follow your dream” project has been launched in collaboration with the Gyan Sewa Society, New Delhi, for imparting coaching to science students having rural background and who are aspiring for admission in reputed engineering colleges in the country. Under the project, the best available free coaching to Class XI science students has been started at the local

Government Senior Secondary School to enable them to clear the etrance tests for admission in engineering colleges.

To begin with, an expert in physics, Mr Sachin Chhabra, has started taking classes of students of different schools of the district. The school lecturers belonging to the science stream of the various government schools have also been attending classes. The different subject experts from New Delhi would visit every Saturday and Sunday to take classes alternately to provide the best available coaching facility at the doorstep of the students.

The Deputy Commissioner has interacted with the students and school teachers before starting the classes a few days ago. He again called a meeting of parents and students to have an interaction with them on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that students belonging to rural areas, despite having talent, had been failing to get admissions in reputed engineering colleges due to lack of resources, proper opportunities and expert guidance. With a view to making up for such shortcoming, the Gyan Sewa Society, New Delhi, was approached to extend its cooperation in providing coaching facilities in the district also.

Mr Balihar Singh Bains, district science supervisor, Mr Tarlok Singh Phillaura, district coordinator, Sarv Shikhiya Abhiyan, Mr Iqbal Singh, Principal, Mr Amrik Singh, also addressed the meeting.

Tarn Taran, December 31
The police has solved the case of disappearance of Nirmal Singh, a resident of Gandiwind who had been missing for the past 13 years, with the discovery of his skeleton where it was buried in the fields.

The Chabal police booked Balbir Kaur, wife of the deceased and her paramour Hira Singh, both of Gandiwind. The skeleton was found by Baldev Singh, who had purchased the land of Nirmal Singh from his wife Balbir Kaur. He informed the police, who registered a case under Sections 302, 201, 34 of the IPC. The accused are absconding.

Phagwara, December 31
There is an unprecedented rise in the prices of wheat flour, which is now selling at Rs 15 per kg here.

Within a month, it has witnessed a hike of Rs 3 per kg, unheard of before, hitting the economically weaker section of society hard.

Commenting on the issue, BJP block president Tejasvi Bhardwaj said: “Owing to the wrong economic policies of the government and misplaced priorities, the poorest were passing through a difficult phase. Jobs are not there and the daily bread is being snatched away from them, forcing them to commit suicides. Apathy of the government in this regard is anti-people and criminal.”

When contacted, an official of the FCI said: “On instructions of the Union Government, the FCI has decided to release 10,000 tonnes of wheat to Punjab.”

The process to sell this wheat in the open market to flour mills will start from the first week of January.

“Release of this wheat will ease the market situation and check skyrocketing prices,” he added.

Batala, December 31
The birth anniversary of the first Chief Justice of independent India was celebrated at Beotra Hall here today by the Kendriya Mahajan Sabha. The function was presided over by Mr Rakesh Mahajan, and Dr Raj Kumar Mahajan, Principal, DAV College, Phagwara, was the chief guest.

More than 100 meritorious students were honoured on this occasion and a website‘www.mahajan2mahajan.com’ was launched.

Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan was born on December 23, 1889, at Tika Nagrota village in Nurpur tehsil of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh. After passing his matriculation examination in 1906, he passed his degree in law and was an eminent lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He was appointed Chief Justice of independent India on January 4, 1953.

After his retirement he worked for the welfare of society and was instrumental in consolidating the work of the DAV institutions in North India.

Tarn Taran, December 31
Narinder Singh, Amandeep Kaur and Bhupinder Singh, residents of Munda Pind, have been booked under Section 406, 423 and 34, IPC, by the Goindwal police for harassing Ranjit Kaur, daughter of Nirmal Singh of Sarhali Kalan, for dowry.

The case has been registered on the complaint of Ranjit Kaur. She was married to Narinder Singh on December 13, 2006. She alleged that soon after the marriage she was harassed by her husband and father-in-law and mother-in-law for dowry. She further alleged that she was beaten up by the accused many times during this short period.

Kapurthala, December 31
The Kapurthala Police had a satisfactory year 2006. The district police succeeded in solving 20 blind murder cases and launched a successful campaign against drug peddlers and drug addicts in the year gone by.

The arrest of the Bholath DSP, Mr Lakhwinder Singh Khaira, in last week of December while taking Rs 25,000 as bribe damaged the reputation of the district police.

Meanwhile, contrary to allegations levelled against the district police by politicians of sheltering drug peddlers, they managed to contain the scourge. The district police is now determined to improve its performance in 2007, said SSP Mr Rajiv Ahir.

According to the data provided by the district police, 182 persons were arrested under the NDPS Act as compared to 133 the previous year.

There was an increase in seizure of poppy husk from 4,898 kg to 5,695 kg, smack from 394 gm to 1,466 gm. There was also a rise in the number of FIRs registered - from 1955 (2005) to 2037(2006).

Most of the blind murders were committed either due to illicit relations or due to property dispute, said the SSP. The police solved the double murder case of Mohinder Singh, retired Deputy Commandment (BSF), and his wife Daljit Kaur within a day. All three accused were arrested. The case revolved around illicit relations.

The blind murder of Manjit Kaur at Dhariwal by Surjan Singh was also solved. The body was thrown on the road to make it look like a hit-and-run case. The culprit Surjan Singh Kumar was arrested.

In 2006, a total of 24 Class-I, 36 Class-II and 567 Class-III certificates were awarded to encourage police personnel. Defaulters were dealt with strictly as 18 police personnel were dismissed from service while major punishments were given to 96 personnel.

Batala, December 31
The Batala police solved 22 murder cases, including 5 blind murders, out of 26 and registered three cases against the police officers for bribery during 2006. They also solved 105 theft cases and seized Rs 48 lakh, 19 country-made pistols, 5 revolvers, 1 mouser, 1 gun besides bullets and cartridges, said Mr L. K. Yadav, SSP, Batala, in a press statement.

During the year 858 excise cases and 514 cases were registered under the NDPS Act. The police introduced beat petrol system and mobile police units. Police help lines with numbers 1098/221091 was also started for the convenience of the children and old-aged persons.

A children park was developed in the police colony and a martyr yadgar hall was inaugurated in the memory of slain police officers. 

Jalandhar, December 31
A day after her birthday yesterday, a young girl of the Islamganj locality here committed suicide by hanging herself with a ceiling fan at her house on Sunday.

The body of Simran Madan (20) was found hanging by her family members today. According to the information, Simran had been upset since her mother’s death on September 25 this year. She presumably committed suicide in her melancholic condition.