Batala, July 2
An assistant sub-inspector of Batala police has been dismissed for keeping two youths in illegal custody and subjecting them to inhuman torture.

The incident took place in November last year and had created a widespread anger among the people of the area

The incident had taken place in November last year, following which a departmental probe was conducted and the officer was found guilty.

According to sources, ASI Parkash Singh posted at special operation cell of CIA staff along with his subordinates head constable Mangal Singh and constables Ajit Singh and Joga Singh brought two brothers, Victor Masih and Ammual Masih to the police station on pretext of questioning them in a criminal case.

The duo, residents of Kohali village, was kept in illegal custody and tortured.

It was only after people protested against the police brutality, the then Batala Congress MLA Ashwani Sekhri and Punjab subordinate service selection board member Kanwal Bakshi even sat on a dharna, that the youths were released and the accused cops were placed under suspension.

A departmental inquiry was marked into the entire episode.

The probe team found the allegations levelled against the accused as true, following which SSP Batala police chief RN Dhoke suspended the officer. No major action was taken against the junior staff as they were not found to be directly involved in the incident.

When contacted, SSP Dhoke confirmed the development. 

Phagwara, July 2
A Phagwara resident has entered the Limca Book of Records by carving a 24 feet 4 inches long wooden chain out of a log.

The beauty of this chain is that it does not have a single joint. Surjit Singh, who is a carpenter by profession, told that it took him over two years to complete the project.

The man, who hails from Ramgarh village, said he used to work on the chain in his free time after completing the routine assignments.

The chain bears names of 170 countries, Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Prime Minister of India, the Sikh Masters, famous cricketers, football and hockey players. Navjot, who is doing her BA, helped her father register name in the record books. The father-daughter duo are now aiming at ‘Guinness Book of World Records.’ — OC 

Amritsar, July 2
The standard of education and health must be raised to ensure comprehensive growth of Punjab besides strengthening the agro-based industrialisation in rural areas for providing lucrative employment opportunities to the state youth, said economist S.S. Johl.

The state government must provide tax concessions to agro-based industry for the coming twenty years, said Johl speaking at valedictory session of the three-week refresher course in economics.

The course was organised by the Punjab School of Economics under the aegis of the Academic Staff College of the Guru Nanak Dev University.

The internationally renowned economist said a high rate of growth was necessary and for reaping the benefits of growth, the economic development needs to be comprehensive in nature wherein all sections of the society must be involved, he added.

Dr Johl, former vice-chairman of Punjab Planning Commission, emphasised on the consolidation of sports and library facilities and activities in rural areas of Punjab to desist the rural youth from the abuse of drug addiction.

He further laid stress on the need to maintain equality in sex-ratio.

Giving details of the progress of three-week refresher course on "Applied Economics with Special Reference to the Indian Economy", Prof Sethi emphasised the need to have a suitable product-mix of both theoretical methodology and numerical information.

More than 29 participants from different states of the country participated in the course. Dr Johl awarded certificates to the participants.

Nawanshahr, July 2
Rural students have generally been deprived of career guidance, which hampers their growth as professionals.

To help such students, Amardeep Singh Shergill Memorial College (ASSMC) at Mukandpur in Doaba region has come out with a book titled ‘Bhavikh Daa Raah’ (Path to Future).

The book, which is in Punjabi, informs students about emerging career trends in different professions and institutes offering the necessary training. Around 2000 copies of books have already been distributed.

The college principal who is also the publisher, Dr Atamjit Singh while explaining the need behind coming up with such an initiative said, “The rural students need to broaden their horizons.

They are generally not aware of different job vistas, as a result they choose professions without thinking whether they have an aptitude for it or not.”

Pointing out further, he said, “The book has been divided into chapters which focus on information regarding scope of study in different fields. They also have list of institutes offering the particular courses.” Besides, it contains list of colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University and Punjab Technical University along with their telephone numbers.

The book is a collective effort of Sunita Sehgal Dhillon, lecturer in English at Government College for Women in Amritsar, Rajnish Arora of GND university and employment officer Jatinder Kumar Sareen, the principal further added.

Jalandhar, July 2
Exercising powers provided to him under section 3.1 of Punjab village and small town Patrol Act 1918, deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate Ajit Singh Pannu directed the residents of villages around Dhussi bund to patrol the area for safety reasons.— TNS