The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

J A L A N D H A R E D I T I O N

Not aware of PIMS, says Health Minister
Jalandhar, March 31
In his first interaction with the media here today, Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal treaded carefully as he answered queries by mediapersons. Issues like male-female sex ratio, addiction, filling of vacant posts and shortage of medicines dominated. He, however, skirted the controversial issue of the involvement of two PIMS Society members in the murder case of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Bibi Jagir Kaur, saying, “I am not aware of PIMS.”

Indian smuggler killed by BSF identified
Amritsar, March 31
The Indian smuggler, who was gunned down by the BSF jawans at New Sundergarh border post on Wednesday, has been identified as Bachitar Singh, a resident of Vairoke village. He was involved in criminal activities and was wanted in several cases of loot and robbery. “Three cases of loot were registered against him at Ajnala police station alone,” said Inderjit Singh, SHO, Ajnala police station.

EARLIER STORIES

	Police party attacked, 12 booked March 31, 2012
	10 kg heroin seized, three smugglers shot March 30, 2012
	Dasehra ground issue raised March 29, 2012
	Punjab gets 50K applications for liquor vends, draw today March 28, 2012
	Students climb atop tank, seek fine waiver March 27, 2012
	Here, childless couples offer liquor to seek blessings March 26, 2012
	Strict AICTE allows few to start new colleges March 25, 2012
	Fissures to fore in SAD-BJP combine March 24, 2012
	MoD approves abolition of octroi in Jalandhar Cantt March 23, 2012

Not aware of PIMS, says Health Minister
Aparna Banerji /TNS

Jalandhar, March 31
In his first interaction with the media here today, Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal treaded carefully as he answered queries by mediapersons. Issues like male-female sex ratio, addiction, filling of vacant posts and shortage of medicines dominated. He, however, skirted the controversial issue of the involvement of two PIMS Society members in the murder case of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Bibi Jagir Kaur, saying, “I am not aware of PIMS.”

Notably, one of his Cabinet colleagues Surjit Singh Rakhra, presently the Rural Health Minister, is the president-cum-chairman of the PIMS Medical and Education Charitable Society and Paramjit Singh Raipur and Dalwinder Singh Dhesi - those indicted in the murder case - are said to be close to him.

PIMS was a project that the Badal government took active interest in, but the Health Minister played safe by saying he was not aware about the famed institute.

Speaking of other issues, the health minister said he would look forward to improve the sex ratio by roping in religious groups.

He also declared that a special pension delivery scheme will be started for people without pensions. “A bank has been roped in by the health department to provide pensions to these employees who did not receive their pensions by going to their doorsteps.”Talking about the transfer policy of teachers, the Health Minister said: “People do not want to be posted at border belts or stations in remote areas, but now we will be making efforts to make get doctors and medical staff to work there for at least some time and then transfer them to other places.”

Indian smuggler killed by BSF identified

Amritsar, March 31
The Indian smuggler, who was gunned down by the BSF jawans at New Sundergarh border post on Wednesday, has been identified as Bachitar Singh, a resident of Vairoke village.

He was involved in criminal activities and was wanted in several cases of loot and robbery. “Three cases of loot were registered against him at Ajnala police station alone,” said Inderjit Singh, SHO, Ajnala police station.

Bachitar Singh had served jail term a number of times and the possibility of his coming in contact with the international smugglers who was lodged in jail could not be ruled out, he said.

The security agencies are also on the look out for the smugglers who had accompanied him to the border. The BSF is also in contact with other security agencies, including the Punjab Police to ascertain who had accompanied Bachitar during the smuggling bid. It may be recalled that the BSF had seized 10 kg heroin worth Rs 50 crore and gunned down three smugglers, including two Pakistani nationals on the intervening night of March 28-29. — TNS