Hoshiarpur, April 7
Hundreds of activists of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackery), Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party and Bhagwan Balmik Guru Ravi Dass Sena, including women, led by their local leaders Ranjit Rana, Shashi Dogra, Vivek Sharma, S.M. Sidhu and D.S. Baghi, under the banner of the Shiv Shakti Sewa Samiti took out a procession from Municipal Council Chowk to Municipal Library near Clock Tower and observed fast here today. They were supporting noted social activist Anna Hazare, who is observing fast unto death to press upon the UPA government for formulating a stronger Lok Pal Bill to weed out corruption. They staged a dharna and rally and criticised political leaders who had failed to control the menace of corruption, which have been severely affecting society. Addressing the rally, Ranjit Rana and others warned the UPA government that if the demand of Anna Hazare was not accepted activists of the organisations would further intensify the agitation. They appealed to the people of the country to unitedly support Anna Hazare, who had been fasting unto death to finish corruption from the country. They also raised slogans against the UPA government and in support of Anna Hazare.

Nawanshahr: Activists of different social organisations took out a candle march in the town here on Thursday to express solidarity with the Anna Hazare’s struggle against corruption.

Holding banner and placards, “India against corruption”, candles in their hands and raising slogans to mobilise public opinion against corruption, the social activists start their march from Dana Mandi and it passed through Railway Road, Nehru Gate, Rotary Chowk, Old Court Road, Chandigarh Chowk before culminating at the statue of Sardar Bhagat Singh near Punjab Mata Vidhyawati Bhawan here.

The People’s Party of Punjab has also convened a meeting here today to chalk out the programme to hold a march and to submit a memorandum to the DC on Friday to express solidarity with the move against corruption.

Phagwara: Political, social and religious leaders have come forward to lend their voice in support of Anna Hazare, who is on an indefinite fast in New Delhi for a strong anti-corruption legislation in the country.

Hailing Hazare’s effort, Dharmic Samiti Phagwara convener Dr Yoginder Paul Sharma, former Nagar Council president Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, environmentalist Dr Amarjit Chaucer, physician Dr S Mahindra and social activist Inder Duggal, who is also the PPCC organising secretary, have described the step as a right stand at the right time. They appealed to the people to come forward to support Hazare.

Jalandhar, April 7
As the maturing of the wheat crop has been delayed in almost all parts of the state, its arrival in various grain markets is negligible. Official sources said the Food Corporation of India (FCI) today procured 174 tonnes of wheat and the private traders procured 82 tonnes. The state government procurement agencies are staying away from the grain markets because of their ongoing agitation.

The slow arrival of the wheat has been attributed to the delay in the harvesting of the wheat crop. The crop has not matured in most part of the state owing to prevailing relatively low day temperature. For the maturing of the wheat crop, there is a need of sunny weather accompanied by dry winds blowing across the state. Dry winds help in quickening the maturing process of the crop.

Worried over the delay in the harvesting of the wheat crop, the officials concerned said that such a phenomenon would shorten the wheat procurement season from five weeks to three weeks. “The handling of the entire wheat procurement operations in three weeks, instead of five weeks, would not only put additional burden on the procurement agencies, but also make several other tasks, such as clearing of the grain markets, difficult,” said a senior official said.

“The 107 lakh tonnes of wheat, which was earlier to be procured in five weeks, now would have to be procured in three weeks because of delay in the harvesting of the crop. Naturally, it would make the task difficult for the agencies concerned,” said the official. “Earlier, the wheat used to start arrive in good quantity from April 1, the official date fixed to start the procurement process. However, this year, there is a drastic change in the situation. At present there is a trickle of wheat in various grain markets, instead of arrival in a heavy quantity,” added the official. On the other hand, the prevailing cloudy weather is also worrying farmers.

Meanwhile, when asked about the ongoing agitation of various state government procurement agencies, a senior official of the government said the issues raised by the officials of agencies had been discussed at the Central Government as well as the state government level. “We hope that the issues would be resolved soon and the agencies would start procurement shortly,”said the official. There were some issues which were directly related to the Centre, added the official. 

Hoshiarpur, April 7
Resentment prevails among members of the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Welfare Association over the recently circulated seniority list of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) of the Health and Family Welfare Department.

In a joint press note issued here today, newly elected patron Dr M.L. Puri, president Dr Sardul Singh and general secretary Dr Jaswinder Singh of the state unit of the PCMS Welfare Association bemoaned that in the newly circulated seniority list of the Senior Medical Officers, doctors belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes had not been placed according to roster point, which was their constitutional right. They demanded a new seniority list based upon roster point.

Dr Sardul Singh and Dr Jaswinder Singh appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla to direct the officials concerned to rectify the seniority list. They also demanded strict action against those officials responsible for working against the doctors belonging to Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

They stated that if the seniority list was not prepared according to roster point, the association would launch a peaceful agitation so that doctors could get the justice as per the constitution of India.

Jalandhar, April 7
After an ambiguity lasting for over three years, Punjab Technical University (PTU) today finally took the charge of the Caparo School adjoining its own campus wherein it now plans to start the Ambika Paul Punjab Institute of Technology (APIT) for holding M.Tech classes.

While the Caparo-PTU School of Excellence for Manufacturing and Material Technology (opened in 2007 for B.Tech admissions) was run by the Caparo group, the yet-to-open APIT will be totally managed by the university officials.

The PTU Vice Chancellor, Dr Rajneesh Arora, today appointed Dr Buta Singh, Dean, Academics, as its official Director. He, however, said the process for admission of students and recruitment for the post of Director and faculty would be started soon.

Nearly 90 students had been enrolled in the Caparo School for specialised engineering courses. Even as the students were in the first year, the Caparo group showed its unwillingness to carry on with the pact. The students were then shifted to the DAV Institute of Technology where they are currently in their final semester.

Having got back the charge, the university now has plans to pump in Rs 15 crore into the institute for procuring the required equipment, furnishing and construction of hostel. Dr Arora said the grant for the purpose had already been approved by the Board of Governors.

The PTU Vice Chancellor said admission would be held on the basis of merit in GATE. He added that M.Tech in three streams, mechanical, electronics and communication, and computer engineering, would be started from this session, while that for electrical and civil engineering would come up from the next session.

There would be 25 seats in each of the three streams, Dr Arora disclosed, while adding that there would be a scholarship for each of the 75 students admitted.

Amritsar, April 7
A day after the culmination of a global conference in support of the police being the custodian of citizens’ property, held in Amritsar, three Punjab Police personnel reflected the “true picture” of the department.

After stealing a credit-cum-debit card, the three went on a shopping spree, little realising that their actions were being under surveillance.

The three - Dharamvir, Rakesh Kumar and Sandeep Singh - have been arrested and a case has been registered against them.

It is to mention that they had found the card, erroneously left by its original bearer Harjinder Singh Mattewal at an ATM booth yesterday at about 7.40 pm. This lapse came to his (Mattewal) notice only when he received SMS messages on his mobile phone regarding the amount being debiting from his account.

Nevertheless, the accused successfully withdrew Rs 5,000 from Mattewal’s account, as the card was in activate mode when left in the ATM. At about 8.20 pm, Mattewal received an SMS about spending Rs 1,500 on petrol.

“Immediately, I realised my mistake and rushed to the petrol pump where I got ascertained the appearance of those who were using my card. I brought it to the notice of the police. Half an hour later, another SMS flashed on my mobile phone about purchase worth Rs 8,332 from a shopping arcade,” he said.

The message was enough for Inspector Sanjeev Kumar to lay a trap, as the location of the accused was confirmed. “We nabbed the accused, who were about to leave the shopping mall after purchasing three pairs of expensive jeans, four belts and Rs 5,000 in cash,” confirmed Deputy Commissioner of Police A.S. Chahal, who recommended harsh action against them. 

Tarn Taran, April 7
Five persons have been booked under Section 306 of the IPC by the Verowal police for forcing a married woman to commit suicide.

The deceased has been identified as Ramanpreet Kaur (32), who was married to Navtej Singh of Ekalgadda village, 30 km from here, about 11 years ago.

According to information here today, besides Navtej Singh, the other accused are his brother Sarwan Singh, brother’s wife Sarabjit Kaur, mother Jeeto and sister Amarjit Kaur.

It was alleged that the accused had been harassing Ramanpreet mentally and physically for dowry since after the marriage.

Tarn Taran, April 7
Lakhwinder Kaur of Mianwind village, 30 km from here, has been booked under Sections 420, 494, 182 and 120 B of the IPC for remarrying without getting divorce from her first husband.

Lakhwinder Kaur, who was married to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Dehriwal (Khilchian) village, remarried saying that her first husband had died.

Jasbir Singh, in his complaint to the Verowal police, alleged that Lakhwinder got married after giving a wrong information.