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Retired, working teachers to gherao Assembly on Sept 24
Jalandhar, September 16
Thousands of retired and working teachers of the government aided schools across the state have decided to gherao the Assembly on September 24. This was decided by hundreds of retired and working teachers of the Majha and Doaba regions who gathered here today under the banner of the Punjab State Aided Schools Teachers and Other Employees Union.

Domestic Help Booked
BJP leader’s house burgled of Rs 5 lakh, jewellery
Amritsar, September 16
The house of BJP (Rural) president Jugal Kishore Gumtala was burgled last night. His domestic help has reportedly been found to be the culprit who stole Rs 5 lakh and jewellery.

Varsity employee suspended for slapping woman colleague
Amritsar, September 16
Guru Nanak Dev University today suspended its employee posted in the administrative block for physically assaulting a woman colleague.

EARLIER STORIES

	Encroachments removed in Sheikhan Bazaar September 16, 2010
	400 agitating ETT teachers released September 15, 2010
	Arrest of ETT teachers triggers more protests; schools shut September 14, 2010
	ETT teachers detained to foil bid to gherao minister’s house September 13, 2010
	City tops state in dengue cases September 12, 2010
	Will resist all moves to acquire our land: Farmers September 11, 2010
	IMA doctors shy away from setting up DOTS centres September 10, 2010
	3 held with heroin, fake currency September 9, 2010
	Near-total strike in region, financial services hit September 8, 2010

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‘Customer’ flees with Scorpio
Hoshiarpur, September 16
An unidentified person who posed himself a customer for purchasing a Scorpio jeep fled along with the vehicle at Ahiyapur (Tanda) on September 11.

Crime
Woman held with poppy husk
Hoshiarpur, September 16
Acting on a tip-off, the Garhshankar police arrested Kamaljit Kaur, wife of Tari of Langroia village, and seized 50 kg poppy husk from her at a special check post set up near the village last evening.

200 Amritdhari ETT teachers to go to Akal Takht
To handover a VCD of Badal, Sukhbir to Jathedar
Hoshiarpur, September 16
As many as 200 agitating Amritdhari Sikh ETT teachers, including 10 from the district, will go to Akal Takht on November 19 and hand over a video compact disc (VCD) to the Jathedar having conversation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal with the ETT teachers before the last Assembly elections in which both had promised to transfer the control of all government elementary schools in Punjab being governed by the Panchayati Raj and Local Bodies to the Education Department if their party come to power.

Tarksheel leader injured in attack
Tarn Taran, September 16
Bachitter Singh Tarsikka, leader of the Krattikari Tarksheel Lok Chetna Lehar, was injured in a attack by followers of a godman here where he had come to raise objection to the activities of the godman about allegedly misguiding the people with superstitions.

351 BSF recruits pass out
Hoshiarpur, September 16
The Deputy Inspector-General, FTR Headquarters, Punjab, Border Security Force (BSF), S.S. Chatrath, took march past salute from 351 newly trained recruits of batch No 191 and 192 at the BSF Subsidiary Training Centre (STC), Kharkan, 12 km from here, today.

Chinna seeks White Paper on drought relief
Gurdaspur, September 16
The convener of the Scheduled Castes cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Joginder Singh Chinna has urged the Chief Minister to come out with a White Paper on funds meant to be distributed among farmers as drought relief.

	Retired, working teachers to gherao Assembly on Sept 24 Amaninder Pal Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 16 Thousands of retired and working teachers of the government aided schools across the state have decided to gherao the Assembly on September 24. This was decided by hundreds of retired and working teachers of the Majha and Doaba regions who gathered here today under the banner of the Punjab State Aided Schools Teachers and Other Employees Union. The teachers will highlight their demands, including restoration of the pension scheme for teachers and to lift the ban on the recruitment of teachers in government aided schools. There are 484 such schools in the state and the pension scheme has been frizzed since June 1, 2003. Union president Gurcharan Singh Chahal said that, besides 3,000 teachers who have been retired after June 1, 2003, and were devoid of pension facility, 3,500 pensioners and 7,000 working teachers would go on a mass leave and participate in the protest. “We have apprised the Chief Minister and other ministers and officials concerned of restoration of pension scheme for teachers who retired after 2003. However, nobody paid heed to our demands,” said M.L. Chopra, a senior representative of union. Two other mass gatherings at Ludhiana and Bathinda would be organised next week to disseminate the message of gherao in districts of the Malwa region, added Chopra. N.N. Saini, general secretary of the union, claimed that a meeting on restoration of pension was held among the higher officials of finance and education departments in September 2009, in which the government ordered the education authorities to compile the requisite database needed to restore the scheme. However, the education authorities presented the exaggerated figures of staff and other employees, retired and working in such schools, and the scheme had failed to take off, he added. Black-badge protest by 4,000 teachers today Amritsar, September 16 To protest against the indifferent and callous attitude of the Punjab Government towards the long-pending demands, about 4,000 teachers working in 172 non-government affiliated colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh will start their protest by wearing black badges on September 17. The teachers would observe a two-period strike on September 22 and September 27. During the strike period the teachers will organise rallies in their respective colleges to highlight their demands. Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) general secretary H.S. Walia said the dilly-dallying tactics of the state government had forced them to start the agitation for the redress of the grievances of college teachers. The demands include, inter-alia, release of enhanced grant for the proper implementation of the revised pay scales, implementation of career advancement scheme (CAS) for the DPEs and librarians as per UGC letter, relaxation from refresher courses as per UGC guidelines, implementation of revised house rent allowance and medical allowance and proper fixation of pay in revised pay scales by the DPI (Colleges). State President Dr Jagwant Singh said they had already communicated their decision to start the agitation to Higher Education Minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur and the Education Secretary. — TNS
	Domestic Help Booked BJP leader’s house burgled of Rs 5 lakh, jewellery Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 16 The house of BJP (Rural) president Jugal Kishore Gumtala was burgled last night. His domestic help has reportedly been found to be the culprit who stole Rs 5 lakh and jewellery. Though no arrest has been made so far, the Sadar cantonment police station has registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC. According to Gumtala, his servant Vikas Bahadur had committed the crime after making the family members present then unconscious by serving the food laced with some intoxicant substance. It has been learnt that Gumtala’s father had received some injury marks on his forehead too. He has been admitted in a local hospital where he is stated to be out of danger. The police said that Vikas Bahadur, who was employed at Gumtala’s residence just a week ago, was a Nepali resident. He, in connivance with some unidentified persons, executed the crime as he knew that there was a huge cash lying in the house. Cash looted An unidentified person, riding a motorcycle, snatched a bag containing Rs 3 lakh here today. Police sources said Kulwant Singh was driving towards home on his motorcycle after withdrawing the money from Axis Bank located on Court Road when the culprit approached from behind and snatched the bag. The police has registered a case under relevant sections.
	Varsity employee suspended for slapping woman colleague Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 16 Guru Nanak Dev University today suspended its employee posted in the administrative block for physically assaulting a woman colleague. Registrar Dr Inderjit Singh said prompt cognizance was taken of the unsavoury incident with the potential of spoiling discipline and atmosphere of the institution. He said senior assistant Bakshish Singh was suspended for attacking his colleague. He said the woman employee appointed at the window to sell forms to the desiring candidates had gone to Bakshish asking for more forms as the earlier stock with her had exhausted. A large number of the candidates were waiting outside the window for the forms. The victim claimed that Bakshish simply refused to acknowledge her request and she went to approach a senior officials to complain against him. However, she alleged, he waylaid her and slapped her. The incident spread like a forest fire on the campus. University employees, especially women, resented the incident and approached the authorities to take appropriate action against the uncivilised and unethical behaviour of the person.
	‘Customer’ flees with Scorpio Hoshiarpur, September 16 An unidentified person who posed himself a customer for purchasing a Scorpio jeep fled along with the vehicle at Ahiyapur (Tanda) on September 11. According to police sources, Bikramjit Singh of Ahiyapur stated to the police on Tuesday that an unidentified person came to him on September 11 for purchasing his Scorpio jeep (PB-12H-8954). After inspecting the vehicle, he asked Bikramjit Singh to allow him a test drive of the vehicle so that the price could be finalised. Bikramjit Singh allowed him the test drive and sent Balbir Singh of Munak Kalan with him. On the way, the unidentified person stopped the vehicle and two more persons already standing there boarded the jeep. All of them forced Balbir Singh to get down from the vehicle and fled with the jeep. Balbir Singh came back to Bikrmajit Singh and told him about the incident. — OC
	Crime Woman held with poppy husk Our Correspondents Hoshiarpur, September 16 Acting on a tip-off, the Garhshankar police arrested Kamaljit Kaur, wife of Tari of Langroia village, and seized 50 kg poppy husk from her at a special check post set up near the village last evening. According to police sources, Kamaljit Kaur along with her three-and-a-half-year-old child was going on a scooter (No PB 20 1741) and a gunny bag containing the poppy husk was tied on the pillion seat of the scooter. She was booked under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. Man held for bid to convert religion of Sikh Hoshiarpur: The Garhdiwala police has booked Bashir, residing at a farm of Kulwant Singh at Talwandi Jattan village, under Section 295 A of the IPC last evening for alleged attempting to convert the religion of a 22-year-old Taranjit Singh, son of Santokh Singh of Ludhian. According to police sources, Harwinder Singh, brother of Taranjit Singh, alleged that Bashir took his brother Taranjit Singh on a motorcycle to his dera while he was going to a gurdwara for paying obeisance there. At the dera, Bashir forcibly sheared the hair of Taranjit Singh, shaved off his beard and dressed him up in a Muslim attire. Youth held with pistol Hoshiarpur: Acting on a tip-off, the Model Town police raided bypass chowk, Purhiran, on Tuesday evening and arrested Manjit Singh of Niara village under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. The police seized a .303-bore country-made pistol along with one live cartridge from him. A case under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered against Manjit. Teenaged girl abducted, four booked Hoshiarpur: A teenaged girl of Patti village was allegedly abducted by Harpreet Singh, Rajvir Singh, Jasbir Singh and Kranti Kang, all of Samrala, on September 4. The police on Tuesday evening booked the four under Sections 363, 366-A and 120 of the IPC. According to police sources, Paramjit Singh of Patti village alleged that the four came in a Maruti Gypsy (Dl-6CD-7123) and took away his daughter Manpreet Kaur (17) in the vehicle. He suspected that they had abducted his daughter for forcibly solemnising her marriage with one of the accused.
	200 Amritdhari ETT teachers to go to Akal Takht To handover a VCD of Badal, Sukhbir to Jathedar Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, September 16 As many as 200 agitating Amritdhari Sikh ETT teachers, including 10 from the district, will go to Akal Takht on November 19 and hand over a video compact disc (VCD) to the Jathedar having conversation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal with the ETT teachers before the last Assembly elections in which both had promised to transfer the control of all government elementary schools in Punjab being governed by the Panchayati Raj and Local Bodies to the Education Department if their party come to power. Claiming this in a press note here yesterday, local ETT Teachers Union Punjab general secretary Vikas Sharma said on behalf of the state unit of the union, executive committee member Som Nath promised that in case both father and son backed out from their promise at Akal Takht, the union would withdraw its agitation immediately. He alleged the Punjab Government was telling a lie to the people of the state about the ETT teachers’ agitation. Referring to the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment, he apprehended that the government would snatch the right to education of the people with this amendment. Meanwhile, a meeting of the union was held under the leadership of district president Parminder Singh and Som Nath to chalk out the strategy to intensify their agitation.

Tarksheel leader injured in attack

Tarn Taran, September 16
Bachitter Singh Tarsikka, leader of the Krattikari Tarksheel Lok Chetna Lehar, was injured in a attack by followers of a godman here where he had come to raise objection to the activities of the godman about allegedly misguiding the people with superstitions.

The sad aspect of the episode was that all this happened in the presence of a police party led by ASI Kashmir Singh in charge of the town police post.

Bachitter Singh, with his team, was holding a dialogue with godman Baba Harpreet Singh at his residence at Gali Tootian Wali when the followers of the baba came in large numbers. They objected to the coming of the Tarksheel members and advocated in favour of the baba, saying that he was mere serving the people.

After exchanges of heaterd words the Tarsikka was brought at a distant place from the site by the police party. The followers of the baba attacked Tarsikka during which his turban was fell and clothes were torn. He also received injuries.

The followers of the baba raised slogans in his favour. No case has been registered as the police said no complaint had been received yet. — OC

351 BSF recruits pass out

Hoshiarpur, September 16
The Deputy Inspector-General, FTR Headquarters, Punjab, Border Security Force (BSF), S.S. Chatrath, took march past salute from 351 newly trained recruits of batch No 191 and 192 at the BSF Subsidiary Training Centre (STC), Kharkan, 12 km from here, today.

Chatrath congratulated the newly trained recruits for their joining the BSF and appreciated the services of the trainers who had imparted excellent training to them. He said separatist, naxalite and terrorist forces were trying to weaken the country and BSF jawans were doing their best to stop their entry at the borders. He honoured all those recruits who achieved distinctions in various subjects during the training. Deputy Inspector-General of the BSF, STC, Kharkan, Dilbag Singh Sidhu briefed about the training course. — OC

Chinna seeks White Paper on drought relief
Our Correspondent

Gurdaspur, September 16
The convener of the Scheduled Castes cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Joginder Singh Chinna has urged the Chief Minister to come out with a White Paper on funds meant to be distributed among farmers as drought relief.

Chinna claimed that the state government had received Rs 850 crore as drought relief from the Centre last year. However, he alleged that the fund had been siphoned off for the development of certain VIP Assembly segments in Malwa, including the Chief Minister’s constituency of Lambi. Chinna said he would soon by moving an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to find out where the fund had actually been utilised.

He said that the Punjab Government was making a mockery of most funds it received from the

Centre, particularly the grants it got under the rural development head. He said the Chief Minister should come out with a White Paper so that the people should know whether the drought relief fund given to Punjab last year by the Centre was utilised or misutilised.