Jalandhar, August 2
The police had to resort to a mild lathi charge during the ongoing recruitment of constables for Assam Rifles at the BSF Headquarters here today.

The incident took place at 9 am when youths from across the state gathered outside the BSF Headquarters to take part in the recruitment process. As the number of youths was more than expected, it led to commotion outside the BSF Headquarters gate.

An eyewitness ,on terms of anonymity, said more than 500 youths had gathered outside the BSF Headquarters campus. “Though the youths urged the BSF authorities to open the gate and allow them in, they did not do so. The BSF authorities kept the entrance gate bolted from inside and this led to arguments between both the parties,” he added.

“Within minutes the scene turned ugly with the police resorting to a mild lathi charge. Even the youths also hurled stones at them in retaliation,” he said. The situation came under control when the officer concerned intervened in the matter.

When contacted, DSP Parminder Singh, who was present on the spot, refuted the allegations saying that the police did not indulge in any lathi charge. “The police was deployed outside the entrance of the BSF Headquarters to maintain discipline among the youths,” he added

Wadala (Majitha), August 2
Fiftyone couples tied the nuptial knot during a mass marriage function organised at the grain market at Wadala village in Majitha block of the border district today.

The couples belonged to the poor strata of the society and were provided necessary domestic items like bed, fans, utensils, sewing machines and other items.

Joint Director, Vigilance, Harcharan Singh Bhullar was the chief guest, who gave blessings to the newlywed couples. Earlier, addressing the young couples, Sant Baba Sudh Singh, appealed to them not to get attracted to drugs or indulge in female foeticide.

Later taking to The Tribune, Baba Sudh Singh said he had been organising mass marriages of poor boys and girls every month with the help of funds provided by people and various social organisations. He said he started this noble cause about 10 years ago with the marriage of five couples.

Baba Sudh Singh said on today’s function he had spent about Rs 12 lakh and announced that the next mass marriage function would be held on October 25, where about 100 couples would tie the nuptial knot.

Jalandhar, August 2
Members of the BEd Teachers Front burnt the effigy of Punjab Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur near the General Post Office here today. The teachers lodged their protest against the indifferent attitude of the government for not issuing a notification of pay hike under the Fifth Pay Commission.

Teachers from across the district gathered at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall and raised anti-government slogans. The BEd teachers under contract system are getting salaries of Rs 4,550 and Rs 5,480 per month. However, as per the recommended basic pay, teachers should get Rs 14,340 for master grade and Rs 11,470 for primary grade.

Front President Ravinder Singh said the government had failed in meeting the demands of the teaching community. “Despite tall promises, the government has not issued any notification. We have been raising this issue for the past some time but to no avail,” he added.

He said their repeated meetings with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Upinderjit Kaur had failed to bear any fruit.

The teachers said if the government failed to accept their demands, they would launch a protest in front of the house of Upinderjit Kaur at Kapurthala on August 9.

Amritsar, August 2
A new chapter was added in the history of campus placements of Guru Nanak Dev University when the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Government of India, selected 15 students, including a girl, for the post of assistant central intelligence officer (AICO).

This is for the first time that a Central government department has selected students in the region through campus placement.

As many as 450 students, a majority of them from the university and other parts of the region, had appeared in the interview held in March after which they passed through rigorous physical tests, besides various IQ tests.

Dr Sukhdev Singh, professor in charge, placement cell of the university, said this was really a proud moment for the university which had set an example for others.

Earlier, the placements for the IB were done through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), he added. He said postgraduate students belonging to different streams appeared in the tests, of which only 18 were shortlisted.

He said now the university was contemplating to approach public sector units and government departments for placements.