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PMET scandal: 19 accused still at large
Faridkot, February 2
After arresting nine meritorious medical students, including three girls from different medical colleges of Delhi, Patna, Shimla and Lucknow, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), investigating the Punjab Medical Entrance Test (PMET) scandal, is still looking for 19 senior medical students who appeared as imposters in the PMET in 2008.

Cop finally meets his nemesis
Faridkot, February 2
Over two years after a DSP in Punjab police was convicted by a sessions court in Faridkot for helping an accused NRI to escape to the US by tampering with the police records, he finally met his nemesis as the Punjab government ordered his dismissal from service.

Over 20 sheep die
Fazilka, February 2
At least two dozen sheep died due to severe toxicity following poisoning under mysterious circumstances. The officials of the animal husbandry department have started making efforts to save the remaining sick livestock.

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	PMET scandal: 19 accused still at large Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, February 2 After arresting nine meritorious medical students, including three girls from different medical colleges of Delhi, Patna, Shimla and Lucknow, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), investigating the Punjab Medical Entrance Test (PMET) scandal, is still looking for 19 senior medical students who appeared as imposters in the PMET in 2008. The accused in Delhi, Bihar, HP and UP medical colleges charged up to Rs 15 lakh from 28 students in Punjab for appearing on their behalf in the PMET. The SIT has so far arrested 55 persons, including 28 students from Punjab, said LK Yadav, an IPS officer who heads the SIT. Last month, the SIT arrested a senior medical student of Vardhman Medical College, Delhi. Yesterday, the SIT procured the arrest warrant of another medical student of the same college. Over two years of SIT investigation into the PMET scandal has so far revealed that many medical students, including some girls from Shimla, Patna, Lucknow, Kanpur and Delhi, used to appear as imposters in the PMET, said Yadav. All imposters, so far identified, have meritorious academic record. They include six students of Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla; two students of Patna Medical College, three of King George Medical College, Lucknow; two of Vardhman Medical College, Delhi; and one student each of GBMC, Kanpur; and AIIMS, Delhi, said Gurjit Singh Romana, an inspector with the SIT. The investigation by the SIT revealed it was not only in 2008 that the imposters were appearing in the PMET but the practice was going on for the last many years. And it is not only the medical entrance test in Punjab where these imposters were giving their service but many other states also. The police investigation in the scandal, so far, revealed that many region-specific gangs are operating across the country and every gang was providing the service of imposters to write the tests in various entrance examinations, said LK Yadav. Case file The accused in Delhi, Bihar, HP and UP medical colleges charged up to Rs 15 lakh from 28 students in Punjab for appearing on their behalf in the PMET in 2008 The SIT has so far arrested 55 persons, including 28 students from Punjab All imposters identified so far have meritorious academic record They include six students of IGMC, Shimla; two of Patna Medical College, three of King George Medical College, Lucknow; two of Vardhman Medical College, Delhi; and one student each of GBMC, Kanpur; and AIIMS, Delhi The Special Investigation Team is still looking for 19 senior medical students
	Cop finally meets his nemesis Balwant Garg/TNS Faridkot, February 2 Over two years after a DSP in Punjab police was convicted by a sessions court in Faridkot for helping an accused NRI to escape to the US by tampering with the police records, he finally met his nemesis as the Punjab government ordered his dismissal from service. Bhupinder Singh Khatra, DSP and an SHO were sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment by the sessions court on September 30, 2009. In 2002, the Faridkot police had registered a criminal case against the guilty police officials on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Bhupinder and SHO Major Singh had received Rs five lakh in bribe from an NRI to help him escape from India. This US-based NRI was booked by the Faridkot police for bigamy and the police had impounded his and his second wife's passport on the complaint of the NRI's first wife. Pal Kaur, a resident of Dhudi village in Faridkot, had filed a complaint against her NRI husband, Amarjit Singh, in June 2001. She alleged that her husband had married Gurmit Kaur who was his second wife. The police had registered a criminal case against the NRI and his second wife. Police had arrested the NRI. But at the time of granting him bail, the court ordered the NRI and his second wife to deposit their passports with the police so that they could not escape from India, pending the bigamy case against them. However, after getting bribe from the NRI, the DSP tampered with the police records and procured the NRI and his second wife's passport. The NRI and his second wife fled to the US. Interestingly, days after the NRI and his second wife reached the US, the passports were back in the Faridkot police records. The modus operandi was simple. Using the passports, once the NRI reached the US, the mother of the NRI, Raj Kaur, brought the passport back to Faridkot. After the NRI's first wife came to know about the modus operandi, she filed a complaint before the High Court and after an inquiry the DSP and the SHO were booked. Four months after he was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment, the state government appointed him DSP Vigilance. After prodding by the HC, in December, last year, the government suspended him and started dismissal process.
	World Wetlands Day observed Anirudh Gupta Ferozepur, February 2 Several organisation, including the WWF-India, Indian Institute of Science and Education (IISE), besides the Wildlife Department came together to organise events to sensitise the students and at the same time spread awareness about the present scenario of the wetlands and rivers in the state on the occasion of World Wetlands Day—2012, which was observed at the Harike wildlife sanctuary today. Daljit Singh, DFO (Wildlife), said the day was celebrated every year since 1971 following the international convention on wetlands which was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar. He said that during the three days of environment related activities which concluded here today, more than 250 students from various schools including Millennium School, Springdale School, Amritsar besides Government Senior Secondary School, Harike and Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, Mohali participated and showed their hidden talent. He said that several delegates with vast experience in the field including N. Sathyamurthy (Director, IISER), Dhirendera Singh (Chief Wildlife Warden of Punjab) and Gunbir Singh (Chairperson, WWF-India, Punjab chapter) were also present during the celebration. He said that the delegates encouraged the participants to take further steps for the conservation of wetlands which are home to numerous species of flora and fauna. On the occasion, presentations and documentaries were also shown to the students by WWF-India team which was represented by their researchers Gitanjali Kanwar and Mohammed Shahnawaz Khan. The students also participated in the quiz, drawing and extempore competitions which were conducted to motivate the students and enhance their knowledge about the wetlands and the ecology.
	Over 20 sheep die Fazilka, February 2 At least two dozen sheep died due to severe toxicity following poisoning under mysterious circumstances. The officials of the animal husbandry department have started making efforts to save the remaining sick livestock. The owner of the herd of over 100 sheep, Walzoor Ali said his three sons were grazing the sheep near the wholesale vegetable market on Wednesday evening. All of a sudden, some sheep from the herd started falling on the ground unconscious. Later, the veterinary employees confirmed their death. Ali expressed the doubt that the sheep might have consumed some poisonous substance thrown on the road in the grain market by some pesticide dealer. The officials of the department, Surjit Singh and Kailash Kumar, said they have vaccinated the remaining sheep to save them from the effects of toxicity. — OC
	Udyan Abha to resume normal run today Our Correspondent Abohar, February 2 The railway authorities have announced that 13007/13008 Udyan Abha Toofan Mail train will resume its normal run from Friday. The train was suspended on Sriganganagar-Abohar-New Delhi route in November last due to foggy weather. Reservation for the train has already been started. The railways had recently extended the morning intercity train to Haridwar. It had been running up to Saharanpur only since November 22.