J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

2 of family among 3 killed in oxygen cylinder blast
Jalandhar, July 21
Three persons, including two members of a family, were killed and two others sustained serious injuries in an oxygen cylinder blast that occurred in a godown of Sai Gas.

The blast occurred in a godown near Leather Complex area in Jalandhar. —Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

After infrastructure, SSAA eyes teaching revamp
Nawanshahr, July 21
After improving the infrastructure facilities in government schools of Punjab, the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan Authority (SSAA) is all set to bring in a qualitative improvement in classroom teaching. Recently, director-general of school education Krishan Kumar launched “Parho Punjab”.

10 booked for murder bid
Amritsar, July 21
The Ajnala police has booked a newly elected BJP sarpanch Daljit Singh and a nambardar, Jagtar Singh, along with eight other persons for allegedly shooting at one Bagicha Singh of Othian village after his election as sarpanch.

Stuck In Stink

Commuters wade through knee-deep water in the Basti Bawa Khel area on the Jalandhar- Kapurthala  road after monsoon showers lashed the city and its nearby areas on Monday. —Photo by S.S. Chopra

Paper Fraud
2 arrested for preparing fake degrees, licences
Jalandhar, July 21
The police arrested two Jalandhar-based residents for their involvement in preparing fake documents, including degree certificates of different universities and education boards, besides driving licences, here today.

Sarpanches’ poll: Cong activists block traffic
Hoshiarpur, July 21
Hundreds of Congress activists staged a dharna and blocked vehicular traffic at two places, Bhunga on the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road and Mansar on the Jalandhar-Pathankot national highway, in the district today. The commuters of these roads remained stranded for hours together and suffered a lot in the muggy weather.

Ex-servicemen rue govt apathy
Jalandhar, July 21
The members of Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association today expressed their resentment over the ‘failure’ of the Centre to protect their interests. In a memorandum submitted to deputy commissioner Ajeet Singh Pannu, the members of the association maintained that the 6th pay commission has not given defence pensioners a fair deal. 

Talk on science behind miracles
Amritsar, July 21
Guru Nanak in his Bani has vehemently raised voice against myths. But even today a major chunk of population is groping in the dark because of superstitions and so-called miracles, propagated by self-styled babas, especially in Punjab.

Vehicle-lifters’ gang busted, 1 held
Batala, July 21
With the arrest of one person, the police claimed to have busted a gang of vehicle lifters here.  Batala SSP Naresh Arora, while talking to mediapersons here on Monday evening, said the police under the supervision of DSP (HQ) Gurmej Singh, nabbed Nirmal Singh, alias Nima, alias Dalip Singh, of Lambi Gali, Staff Road, Batala, and recovered one TATA Indigo car with fake number (HR-51AW-3561) from his possession.

2 of family among 3 killed in oxygen cylinder blast

Jalandhar, July 21
Three persons, including two members of a family, were killed and two others sustained serious injuries in an oxygen cylinder blast that occurred in a godown of Sai Gas, near Leather Complex area, here late this evening.

The incident occurred when five persons were unloading oxygen cylinders from a canter and one of the cylinders burst killing three on the spot. The blast was of such a high intensity that the body parts of the victims were tossed into the air and a part of the wall of the godown was badly damaged.

According to eyewitnesses, the area was virtually engulfed in a thick envelop of smoke. The shrieks of the critically injured could be heard from a distance. The deceased have been identified as Jasbir Singh, his son Jaswinder Singh, residents of Haripur village, and Sadhu, a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh. The critical injured, Som Nath and Om Prakash, have been rushed to the local civil hospital.

Talking to The Tribune, SP (city-II) Sarabjit Singh said the victims were unloading gas cylinders in a godown of Sai Gas owned by Mohit when the tragedy struck. He said the owner of the gas agency was being questioned.

Meanwhile, the mutilated bodies have been kept in the morgue of the civil hospital for post-mortem examination to be conducted tomorrow.

According to doctors, the condition of Som Nath is critical. — TNS

After infrastructure, SSAA eyes teaching revamp
Our Correspondent

Nawanshahr, July 21
After improving the infrastructure facilities in government schools of Punjab, the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan Authority (SSAA) is all set to bring in a qualitative improvement in classroom teaching. Recently, director-general of school education Krishan Kumar launched “Parho Punjab”.

Under it, teachers are being trained to develop innovative teaching methods so that children of primary schools may get familiar with the basic concepts of different subjects.

To lay stress on properly teaching subjects like mathematics and science from classes VI to VIII, Krishan Kumar has given a comprehensive programme for teaching with the help of aids like models, CDs, etc., to develop students’ interest in learning basic formulae.

Giving this information, district science supervisor Balihar Singh Bains said a month-wise distribution of syllabus had taken place in all the schools. To ensure regular monitoring of the performance of the students, the teachers had been asked to take tests of mathematics and science on the first and third Mondays, respectively.

The teachers have been asked to celebrate maths/science weeks in schools. They have also been asked to keep proper record of the monthly tests and submit the progress report of the students in the last week of the month to their respective district science supervisors.

Similarly, a programme to ensure regular inspection of the science laboratories to ensure maintenance of proper record, usage and supply of requisite laboratory material and apparatus has also been issued.

Besides, a programme for monthwise tests for the students from class VI to X has been given. Moreover, with a view to preparing the students for entrance tests, special classes through satellite have been started for the science students.

Edusat classrooms have been made operational in the senior secondary schools where the science stream is available.

10 booked for murder bid

Amritsar, July 21
The Ajnala police has booked a newly elected BJP sarpanch Daljit Singh and a nambardar, Jagtar Singh, along with eight other persons for allegedly shooting at one Bagicha Singh of Othian village after his election as sarpanch.

The complainant, Amarjit Singh, alleged that he and Bagicha Singh were going to Ajnala when Savinder Singh, former sarpanch, and his brother Anoop Singh came in a car and fired into the air to stop them. He said he immediately turned back to return to the village. He said when they reached near a school in the village, the remaining accused who were present there shot at them. Baghicha Singh was hit by a bullet.A case has been registsred. — OC

Paper Fraud
2 arrested for preparing fake degrees, licences
Tribune News Service

Sarpanches’ poll: Cong activists block traffic

Hoshiarpur, July 21
Hundreds of Congress activists staged a dharna and blocked vehicular traffic at two places, Bhunga on the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road and Mansar on the Jalandhar-Pathankot national highway, in the district today. The commuters of these roads remained stranded for hours together and suffered a lot in the muggy weather.

Around 300 activists, led by Jasbir Singh Paul, secretary, PPCC, and segment in charge, Garhdiwala, and former improvement trust chairman, Hoshiarpur, Pawan Kumar Adia staged a dharna and blocked vehicular traffic at Adda Bhunga at 3 pm today to protest against the district administration for not allowing the newly elected panchs of Johal village to participate in the election of village sarpanch. They also burnt the effigy of chief parliamentary secretary, Punjab, Des Raj Dhugga.

It is reported that the election of the sarpanch of Johal gram panchayat was scheduled to be held today. Out of the seven panchs, the Congress has four and SAD three. The SDO, PWD, Dasuya, Raghubinder Singh Johal, has been assigned the duty to conduct the election of the sarpanch. The SAD panchs were allowed to enter the election venue whereas the Congress panchs were stopped. Later, the presiding officer declared Iqbal Singh Johal of the SAD as sapranch.

Jasbir Singh Paul alleged that at the behest of Des Raj Dhugga, who is an MLA from the area, the police did not allow the Congress panchs to enter the election venue, despite repeated requests, while they were in time. This had forced the Congress workers to stage a dharna and to block vehicular traffic. Earlier, the administration had also postponed the election on July 19.

The dharna and blockade would only be lifted till the personal assurance of the deputy commissioner about the reelection of the Johal gram panchayat, warned Jasbir Singh Paul.

Similarly, more than 500 Congress workers, led by former president of the Mukerian Municipal Council Manglesh Kumar Judge also staged a dharna and blocked vehicular traffic for more than two hours (from 4 pm to 6.15 pm) at T-point Mansar, 70 km from here, this afternoon to protest against the returning officer of Buddabar gram panchayat (Hajipur block) Vinod Kumar, SDO, BBMB, Talwara, who did not reach the election venue today where election of the village sarpanch was to be conducted. In the nine-members house of Buddabar gram panchayat, the Congress has five panchs, whereas, SAD has four.

Later, SDM, Mukerian intervened and on his assurance that justice would be done, they lifted the dharna and the blockade. — OC

Ex-servicemen rue govt apathy
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 21
The members of Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association today expressed their resentment over the ‘failure’ of the Centre to protect their interests. In a memorandum submitted to deputy commissioner Ajeet Singh Pannu, the members of the association maintained that the 6th pay commission has not given defence pensioners a fair deal. 

President of the association, Lt Col (retd) Balbir Singh said the government should implement one-rank one-pension scheme for ex-servicemen. “Even the quota for dependents of defence personnel is being diverted to other categories, especially in government jobs,” he claimed. 

Talk on science behind miracles

Amritsar, July 21
Guru Nanak in his Bani has vehemently raised voice against myths. But even today a major chunk of population is groping in the dark because of superstitions and so-called miracles, propagated by self-styled babas, especially in Punjab.

These views were expressed by Dr Jai Rup Singh, vice-chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, while inaugurating a four-day zonal level workshop on scientific explaining of miracles, here today. The event is being organised by the department of zoology of the varsity in collaboration with DST, New Delhi and Punjab State Council For Science and Technology (PSCST).

The VC expressed hope that the workshop would help in generating awareness on dangers of exploitation from the hands of babas.

Zoology professor Pushpinder Kaur said the event would throw light on science behind so-called ‘miracles’. Dr Kulbir Singh Bath, senior scientific officer of PSCST informed that similar workshops have been organised at Chandigarh, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Barnala. As many as 40 participants from the varsity would be trained during the workshop to further spread awareness. The main objective of the event is to attract more and more students towards science, said Dr Arvinder Kaur, coordinator of the workshop. — OC

Vehicle-lifters’ gang busted, 1 held
Our Correspondent

Batala, July 21
With the arrest of one person, the police claimed to have busted a gang of vehicle lifters here.  Batala SSP Naresh Arora, while talking to mediapersons here on Monday evening, said the police under the supervision of DSP (HQ) Gurmej Singh, nabbed Nirmal Singh, alias Nima, alias Dalip Singh, of Lambi Gali, Staff Road, Batala, and recovered one TATA Indigo car with fake number (HR-51AW-3561) from his possession.

During investigation, another TATA Indigo car (PB-05M-1670) was also recovered from him.

The said accused confessed that he and his gang members used to steal cars and other vehicles and sell them off by making fake registration certificates.

Raids are on to nab the other members of the gang, asserted Arora.

A case under sections 379 and 411 of the IPC has been registered at the city police station.