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DTF withdraws call to stop mid-day meal scheme as govt releases funds
Youth injured in firing
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Robbers strike at garment shop
Victim of the attack Ravi at a hospital in Amritsar on Monday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Snatcher arrested
Man hurt in attack by mob
Police books man for rape attempt
Crime clouds continue to hover over city
GND University extends terms of two deans
Rs 3,420-cr credit plan for district
Teachers’ agitation continues
Punjab to tie up with industry to create job avenues: Joshi
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DTF withdraws call to stop mid-day meal scheme as govt releases funds
Amritsar, April 2 DTF president Sukhraj Singh Sarkaria said the ultimatum has been withdrawn as the government has released funds. He, however, said the government must provide more funds to ensure continuous funding for the scheme. He rued that many workers were facing financial difficulties as they were not getting their salaries in time. District Education Officer (Elementary) Jaspal Singh said the government has released more than Rs 2.30 crore for schools in the district. He said the total expenditure incurred to feed over 1.55 lakh students till February 28 was Rs 5 crore and out of which nearly Rs 3 crore had been received. He said the remaining amount is expected to be issued soon. He said the teachers had been issued salaries while the salaries of the mid-day meal workers and the payment to PUNSUP were due. He said payments will be released to both after the final installment is received. In all, students of 1,135 schools, including 865 elementary, 414 upper primary, 245 innovative education, 25 primary government-aided and 40 government-aided upper primary schools were under the mid-day meal scheme.
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Youth injured in firing
Amritsar, April 2
The accused Jujhar Singh of Guru Nanak Pura, Harpal Singh Billa of Bhai Manjh Road and Bikramjit Singh Tikka of Kot Harnam Singh are allegedly members of a gang involved in criminal activities in the city. They are also wanted in several crime incidents in the areas falling under the Sultanwind police station. According to the police, the victim Jasbir Singh was also one of their accomplices before a rift appeared between them. “A couple of days of ago they had an altercation. The accused then decided to teach Jasbir Singh a lesson,” said Nirmal Singh, SHO Sultanwind police station. Last night the accused reached Jasbir’s house and ss soon as his mother opened the door, they entered the house and entered into an altercation with Jasbir. Minutes later they brought out a country-made rifle, shot at him and fled from the spot. The bullet pierced through Jasbir’s thigh. His mother Kanwaljit Kaur was present during the incident. SHO, Sultanwind police station and ACP Rajbir Singh reached the spot. They took Jasbir to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where his condition is stated to be stable. Nirmal Singh said a case under Section 307 and other relevant sections of Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused and a manhunt has been launched to arrest them.
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Robbers strike at garment shop
Amritsar, April 2 Sadar police has registered a case under Section 394, 452, 427, 323, 148, 149 IPC. As many as seven persons armed with swords and baseball bats entered the showroom. The owner’s wife and employees were present at the shop at the time of the incident. “Out of the seven accused, four entered the shop while the remaining stayed outside. As soon as they entered the shop, they attacked us with baseball bats and swords and ransacked the shop. The employees ran to save themselves. The accused demanded money and when the owner refused to do so, they broke the counters and doors of the showroom,” said Ravi. The robbers decamped with over Rs 20,000 in cash and snatched a gold chain from the owner’s wife. Ravi was taken to the Guru Nanak Hospital by the police team. Vavinder Kumar, SHO Sadar police station, said, “We have zeroed in on several persons who might be involved in the crime,” he said.
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Snatcher arrested
Amritsar, April 2 The Circuit house police had set up a naka near Ashoka Chowk where they intercepted Vikrant who was driving a motorcycle. On seeing the police party, the accused tried to escape from the spot. “Cops chased the duo and arrested Vikrant while Yogesh escaped from the spot,” said Satish Kumar, in-charge Circuit House police chowki. The accused were allegedly involved in several cases of snatchings in Model Town, Rani Ka Bagh, Crystal Chowk, railway workshop, Putlighar Chowk, Ram Tirath Road and Rigo Bridge. The police also recovered a motorcycle and a mobile phone from their possession. He said the accused have been sent in police remand.
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Man hurt in attack by mob
Amritsar, April 2 Darshan Singh said a group of 15-20 persons suddenly attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. “As it was night, I could not recognise the persons involved in the attack,” he added. He sustained serious injuries on his head, arms and legs. Preetam Lal, SHO Maqboolpura police station said the patient was not in the condition of recording a statement. “Doctors attending on him said Darshan had sustained serious injuries and he was under the influence of medicines at this moment. He will be fit by the evening or tomorrow to record his statement and a case can be registered only after that,” said Preetam Lal. “We have also discussed this with his father Rajinder Singh who had agreed to wait till the evening or tomorrow for the statement to be recorded. Old enmity could be the reason behind the incident, but it will be ascertained only after Darshan came to his senses and record his statement,” he added.
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Police books man for rape attempt
Amritsar, April 2 The victim told the police that the accused entered her house when she was at home with her four-year-old daughter. She alleged the accused tore her clothes and tried to rape her. However, as she raised an alarm after which neighbours came. The accused fled from the scene while threatening to kill her, she complained. Gurbhej Singh, the investigating officer and in- charge Kot Mit Singh police post said Heera Singh was a drug addict. He said the accused has been absconding since the registration of the case and raids were being conducted to arrest him.
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Crime clouds continue to hover over city
Amritsar, April 2 The month of March witnessed innumerable cases of snatching, robbery, thefts and vehicle-lifting. Importantly, the police has failed to devise apt plans to curb the crime. And those police initiatives, taken till now, have failed to give desired results. Drug addiction and easy availability of arms are considered to be the major reasons for the spurt in crime rate. Moreover, criminals continue with their nefarious activities following their release from jail on bail. Few days back, Pargat Singh, a resident of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Majitha Road, was looted by several persons when he was returning home. The accused identified as Gurmeet Singh of Moon Avenue, Lovely and four unidentified accomplices thrashed him before fleeing with his car, mobile and purse. Though the police registered a case, no breakthrough has been made in the case so far. In the past one month, as many as 61 cases of thefts, including vehicle-lifting, had been registered. There were 36 cases of snatching and looting in the city. Women and tourists remained the prime targets of the robbers. The city witnessed four murders, including the killing of wife of serving Lieutenant Colonel. A senior police official, preferring anonymity, said transfer of inspectors and sub-inspectors in view of SGPC and Assembly elections was the main reason behind the sudden spurt in the crime. “Policing took a hit as SHOs and Sis, having the knowledge of their areas, were replaced during the elections. As many as 28 out of 32 inspectors and 40 out of 49 sub-inspectors were transferred during the elections. Now they have returned to the city, the situation is likely to improve in the near future,” he said. Police Commissioner RP Mittal admitted that there is an increase in the crime rate. He said nakabandi and patrolling in the vulnerable areas have been rescheduled to curb the crime instances. “We have identified different points in the city where we will intensify patrolling,” said the Commissioner. Instructions go unheard
The police has time and again issued instructions to banks, fuel filling stations and shopping malls to install CCTV cameras in and outside their complexes, but these establishments have failed to comply with the orders. A number of banks especially the nationalised banks are yet to install CCTV cameras. The recent orders of the Police Commissioner said, “There is an urgent need to install CCTV cameras outside the premises of malls, banks and filling stations to identify and arrest the accused involved in the crime.” The orders will remain in force till May 24.
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State ‘forgets’ its own notification
Amritsar, April 2 A businessman, Harpinder Singh Walia said the government failed to prepare conducive environment and provide friendly departments to industrialists to attract investment in the border city. He said many investors dropped their plans as they went through an arduous process of NOCs and seeking permissions from multi-departments. He said he knows many investors, who moved to other states after witnessing the indifferent approach of the officials and the government here. HS Makhani, secretary, Textile Manufacturers' Association, said the government had forgotten its own notification of setting up a single window system for the industry. "The state government in its gazette notification on March 20, 1996 accepted that setting up of an industrial unit involves sanctions/clearances from a number of agencies and departments," he said. So the government promised a single window system in the state. An entrepreneur has to go from a department to another to seek the clearance. And so the government envisaged providing all such clearances in a time-bound manner at a single point. Accordingly, "Udyog Sahayak" in the Directorate of Industries was to be strengthened. Its strengthening was expected to remove all bottlenecks and bureaucratic hurdles in the implementation of the projects, he added. The notification, in possession of the Amritsar Tribune, said an empowered committee of administrative secretaries would be constituted to monitor sanction and clearance to entrepreneurs, wiling to set up large and medium industries. A Chief Secretary was to head the empowered committee as its chairman. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Principal Secretary, Industries, Secretary, Environment, Secretary, Irrigation, secretary, Housing and Urban development, secretary, labour and director of industries would have been the members. This committee was also to oversee the implementation of this policy by the departments and agencies concerned in the state government. The aforementioned committee was to entertain cases of entrepreneurs having land requirement of 10,000 square yards and more. Makhni said the plan was also envisaged setting up a single window committee at the district level that was to be constituted under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner to provide sanctions and clearances for small-scale industrial units. Shawl manufacturer PL Seth said the grand plan remained unrealised. He said small investors did not have resources and technical know-how to frequently commute to Chandigarh to resolve their problems. He said the government could hold quarterly meeting with industrialists in each district on the lines of sangat darshan. Promises unkept
The state govt in its gazette notification on March 20, 1996 It accepts that setting up of an industrial unit involves sanctions/clearances from a number of agencies and departments So the government promised a single window system in the state The notification, in possession of the Amritsar Tribune, says an empowered committee of administrative secretaries will be constituted to monitor sanction and clearance to entrepreneurs, wiling to set up large and medium industries Accordingly,
"Udyog Sahayak" in the Directorate of Industries was to be strengthened
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GND University extends terms of two deans
Amritsar, April 2 Prof Pawar will also hold the additional charge of the director, department of life-long learning, for the same duration. Meanwhile, Dr Sandeep Sood was appointed the associate dean, academic affairs, at University Regional Campus, Gurdaspur, till March 31, 2013; and Prof MS Sangha was appointed associate dean, academic affairs, at University Regional Campus, Jalandhar, till March 31, 2013. Prof BS Bajwa, director, hospitality; Prof RK Mahajan, in charge (examinations); and Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu, in charge (public relations) would continue to hold the offices till March 31, 2013. Prof MS Hundal, dean, College Development Council, who is also the coordinator of EDUSAT and in charge of University Constituent Colleges and Regional Campuses Sathiala and Fattu Dhinga would continue till March 31, 2013.
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Rs 3,420-cr credit plan for district
Amritsar, April 2 The district credit plan was prepared by the lead bank. Of the entire financial projection, lion's share of Rs 1,849 crore would go to agriculture and allied activities. As much as Rs 568.47 crore would be invested in non-farm sectors and remaining Rs 1,002.43 crore would be given to other priority sectors. Jatinder Mankotia, Chief Lead District Manager, said the credit plan for the new fiscal projected a growth of nearly 9.11 per cent over the plan of the previous financial year. Giving details of the disbursement of ACP realised up to third quarter ending on December 2011, he said Rs 2996.52 crore was disbursed against the target of Rs 2367.71 crore. He said aggregate deposits of banks in the district increased from Rs 15244.64 crore in December 2010 to Rs 17,936.95 crore, witnessing an increase of 17.66 per cent. On the other hand, the credit growth registered a 6.47 per cent during the same period. The SSI sector lapped up the credit flow as it recorded a growth of 98.69 per cent till December.
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Teachers’ agitation continues
Amritsar, April 2 A meeting of the executive members was held in view of the studied silence by the university authorities. It was decided that the protest would continue till the authorities are ready for open talks. The members stressed that Vice-Chancellor AS Brar must take constructive initiatives to end the current deadlock which is detrimental to the academic environment of the varsity. The Vice Chancellor said a majority of the demands of teachers had been accepted. “My doors are open to discuss the remaining issues,” he said.
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Punjab to tie up with industry to create job avenues: Joshi
Amritsar, April 2 Attending a function at Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary Public School, he said the demand of courses in the industry would be kept in mind so that the students get employment after finishing their courses. He said we would reach an understanding with industries to carry out campus placement of students of government-run technical educational institutes. He said efforts would be made for the development of the holy city and to revive its lost industry. He thanked and congratulated the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) and its Sri Guru Harkrishan Schools for imparting quality education in the city for past over a century. He announced a grant of Rs five lakh to the school.
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Teachers Front
(DTF) has withdrawn its earlier announcement that the members working in the mid day meal scheme in government schools will stop implementing the scheme from April 1 for non-release of funds.
Several unidentified armed persons allegedly barged into a garment showroom at Guru Nanak Nagar area on Batala Road last evening. The accused decamped with cash and
jewellery. When the showroom owner Ravi tried to resist their attempts the robbers thrashed him. The accused had covered their faces. He was rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here. Ravi also has a jewellery shop adjoining the garment showroom.
