Abohar, November 12
At least 12 female farm workers, including students and a male baby sustained injuries as the tractor-trailer they were travelling in was reportedly hit by an express train near Bakayanwala rural station on the Abohar-Sriganganagar section today. Two of them later succumbed to injuries while two more were in serious condition till filing of this report.

As per information, the 3007 Udyan Abha Toofan Express that was returning from Howrah to Sriganganagar was running late by more than 3 hours. The train hit the rear portion of the tractor-trailer that was crossing an unmanned level crossing near the rural station at about 9.45 am. The tractor had crossed the railway line, however, the trailer that carried 13 persons was hit and it jumped to a 20-m distance resulting in injuries to all occupants. The train got stopped; the cops escorting the train stepped down and reportedly nabbed Sandeep Kumar, who has driving the tractor. He said the wild shrubs near the crossing had reduced the visibility of the train. The train moved after half an hour.

Meanwhile, a van that was carrying midday meals for schools of the border area stopped to help the injured persons. They were taken to Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital at Abohar. A canter, which was on its way to collect milk, too joined in shifting the victims.

Darshana (13), daughter of Vijay Pal, died while reaching the hospital at Abohar. Doctors in the emergency ward referred Suman Rani (20), daughter of Om Parkash, Santosh Rani (21), daughter of Surja Ram and Amandeep (2), son of Maru Ram to Faridkot, but the parents preferred to take them to Sriganganagar.

Of them, Suman died as the ambulance carrying the injured persons reached Sriganganagar. Others were admitted to the hospital. 

Amritsar, November 12
The Nanakshahi calendar issue is likely to rake up a controversy in the days to come as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) leadership is learnt to have made up its mind to effect a number of changes in the calendar. The calendar was implemented in gurdwaras across the world 10 years ago and was endorsed by the SGPC in 2003.

The changes were being effected under pressure from a section of orthodox Sikh organisations, including the Damdami Taksal, which has been opposing the calendar despite the fact that the calendar was duly approved by Akal Takht and the SGPC in spite of stiff opposition by a large number of Sikh organisations from across the world.

A meeting of a section of Sikh intellectuals and religious leaders was held today. While SGPC chief Avtar Singh said more rounds of discussions would be held on the issue, sources in the SGPC pointed out that the SGPC was all set to effect certain changes in the calendar, which was said to be on the verge of rejection in a “secret” meeting of the Sikh high priests at the Golden Temple on Diwali.

Avtar Singh said a 10-member committee based on members from the two sides - those who were supporting the calendar and those who were opposing it - will be formed. It will be making a decision about the proposed amendments in the calendar. “The Sikh leaders and intellectuals held discussion today. We are going to announce a committee soon,” said Avtar Singh.

On the other hand, Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma and other religious head said the calendar was “misleading” in respect of various important dates like in case of some gurpurbs and hence, it should be subjected to some changes.

Dr Pal Singh Purewal, architect of the calendar, has been asserting that there was no ambiguity in respect of the calendar and that certain “vested interests” were behind initiating the controversy over the issue. Leaders of a number of major Sikh organisations like the Dal Khalsa abstained from the meeting, as they have been saying that the calendar did not need any changes.

Amritsar, November 12
The Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Prof Sukhadeo Thorat, here today asked the state government to enhance funding for higher education on the lines of the Centre.

He was here to deliver a keynote address at the inaugural session of a three-day 84th annual meeting of the Association of Indian Universities(AIU).

It is being hosted by Guru Nanak Dev University in collaboration with the AIU to discuss issues and problems faced while taking higher education. Over 160 Vice-Chancellors from various parts of the country are participating in it.

Thorat said a site had been selected in the holy city to set up a world class university. Besides, work was going on to establish a central university in Bathinda, he added.

He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was keen to establish 23 model colleges in the state.

Thorat said as per the estimate based on the population census data for 2001, as many as 373 districts in the country had lower average of students in higher educational institutions. Majority of these districts are in Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalya, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Jharkhand.

He said the 11th five-year plan also recognised the low enrolment rate of 11 per cent in these districts and regional imbalance.

He said to remove disparity, the UGC was releasing additional funds to these districts apart from setting up model colleges in these districts.

Dr MD Tiwari, Director, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, in his presidential address stressed to evaluate educational institutions, which was of paramount importance in the current context of the globalised world

The Vice-Chancellor of the host university, Prof AS Brar, said despite a number of initiatives and policy decisions taken by the government and apex academic bodies like the UGC and the National Knowledge Commission, higher education remained in a state of crisis.

Jalandhar, November 12
With his son seeking to register a criminal case against him, a former three-time Cabinet minister in the Punjab government has got involved in another controversy.

Gurjit Singh, son of a senior Congress leader, has accused his father, Avtar Singh Henry, of possessing two passports at fake residential addresses and with misleading particulars.

Seeking action against his father, Gurjit Singh has also made written complaints to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal besides others..

In his complaint, Gurjit Singh alleged that Avtar Singh ‘Sanghera’ had been to England on an Indian passport that he got issued from the Passport Office in Delhi by showing himself to be the son of Lakhbir Singh Sanghera. The fact is that Lakhbir Singh Sanghera is an elder brother of Avatar Singh while his father’s name is Joginder Singh. The complainant has further alleged that Henry made a false averment in the British passport that his “father”, Lakhbir Singh Sanghera, died in 1905. Lakhbir Singh actually died in November 2006.

The complaint also reads that Avtar Henry (‘son’ of Lakhbir Singh) took British citizenship on the old passport issued by the Indian Government. He later managed to get a passport from the British Government and came back to India in September 1969. He yet again got a passport prepared from the Jalandhar passport officer, showing himself to be the son of Joginder Singh, the real father, and born in Pakistan.

Gurjit Singh alleged that Avtar Henry violated the Hindu Marriage Act by remarrying Harinder Kaur without giving divorce to his first wife, Surinder Kaur. Avtar Henry had got married to Gurjit Singh’s mother, Surinder Kaur, in 1964.

Gurjit Singh submitted that his father, who was an influential Congress leader, be brought to book for committing offences like forgery and cheating under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 494 of the IPC. Avtar Singh denied the allegations saying that his son Gurjit Singh was playing in the hands of his rivals.

“He is trying to tarnish my image and playing into the hands of the BJP and SAD leaders. Gurjit Singh is my son. He was living with me before his marriage with a Ludhiana-based girl in 1998,” claimed Henry. Gurjit Singh often indulges in propaganda during the Assembly election. Last time he even tried to fight elections against me, he adds.

When asked if he was having two passports, Henry claimed to have a passport from the British Government, adding that he had surrendered it to get a new passport from the Indian Government. “I never travelled on the passport issued by the British Government,” he claimed. SSP Jalandhar RK Jaiswal, however, said that he had not received any such complaint .

Amritsar, November 12
Almost a month after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped and later burnt to death on October 15, a case was registered against the accused at the Lapoke police station late yesterday evening, putting police action under scanner. An ASI has also been suspended for negligence in duty.

Kashmir Kaur, mother of the victim, has identified two accused as Gopi of Saidpur village and Deba of Chhan Kallewal village. Three other accused have not been identified yet.

The whole incident reportedly took place in front of the victim’s kin, who tried to save the girl but were helpless, as the accused were armed with sharp-edged weapons and threatened to kill them too.

The victim’s family had lodged a complaint with the police chowki concerned in charge Sukhdev Singh the very next day. However, they alleged that Sukhdev Singh, an ASI, did not even bother to visit the spot.

They said after getting no response from the chowki in charge, they approached SSP Gurmit Singh Chouhan.

Later, the police swung into action and ordered a probe under the supervision of DSP Chhaju Ram. The DSP submitted a report in this regard yesterday following which the department suspended the ASI for negligence in duty.

“After preliminary investigations, it was found that the girl was blatantly abused and later on burnt to death. The mortal remains of the body were also disposed of to destroy evidence. The statements of the victim’s family members and the sarpanch have been recorded and the further probe is on,” said DSP Chhaju Ram. However, the accused are still absconding.

Sangrur, November 12
A security guard deployed at the residence of a senior police officer was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Barnala last evening.

Sources said Gursdaspur-based Balwinder Singh bearing belt number 782, posted as a security guard at the residence of Superintendent of Police (SP) Operations, Barnala, Khushi Muhammad, was found dead under mysterious circumstances.

Some eyewitness spotted the dead body on a land plot near his place of posting last evening and informed the city police station.

ASI Gurdayal Singh, who is investigating the case, has registered the matter under Section 174, CrPC. The dead body of the deceased has been handed over to his relatives for last rites after his post mortem was done. The post mortem report is awaited. Meanwhile, SSP of Barnala, HS Bhullar has confirmed the death.