|
|
|
|
|
Central team visits Muktsar’s waterlogged villages
Govt-aided schools cry for help
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
CM seeks industry help to create jobs
Railway land wrongly given to private party
Short of 3,000 lakh units, power crisis stares at state
Shatabdi Express fails to chug off from Moga
SGPC takes up matter with UP CM
Khanna Paper Mill resumes production
Encounter specialist runs out of luck
Surjeet seeks his due from Centre
Chitarkar dead
Up to Centre to decide on wheat export: Govt
Senior students sweat it out
Demand to extend vacations of senior students too
Bathinda police dogged by canine force shortage
Another fraud marriage comes to light in Moga
Tablets fine, what about basic infrastructure?
Railways launches drive against illegal vendors
Over-the-counter abortion pills: Sale goes on unabated
PCMS Association threatens to
launch protest against new Bill
Explain police inaction, HC tells DGP
Custodial death: SHO held, four other cops at large
Canal killings: Accused’s police remand extended
|
Central team visits Muktsar’s waterlogged villages
Files in hand, a number of farmers complained against the tardy response of officials of the Irrigation and Drainage Department. During its daylong visit, the team covered Sikhwala, Kuttianwali, Tapakhera and Ratakhera villages, the worst- affected in the region. At Sikhwala village, that falls in the Chief Minister’s constituency of Lambi, farmers said the problem of waterlogging persisted even after more than two decades. They said the Irrigation Department had dug wells five years ago to clear the fields of standing water, but to no avail. Jalwant Singh, a farmer from Inakhera village, said: “Almost 24 years have passed and the situation has turned worse. We are now forced to sell our land to run our homes.” At Kuttianwali village, a desolate Rajveer Singh, who owns 40 acres of land, said: “The once fertile land is now waterlogged and I am now dependent on dairy farming.” Moved at the plight of the farmers, Dr Mihir Shah said the team would try hard to solve their problem, hinting that sub-surface drainage seemed the most effective way out. Shah said the team would visit more areas across the state. The team is to submit its report by November 30 this year. Shah said the team would recommend that central funds be given to the state generously to clear the inundated fields. He expressed concern at the ground water level, saying, “The water level in this part of Punjab is rising by the day but is declining in other parts. This is alarming” The Irrigation Minister appealed for central funds. “This problem can’t be solved without Centre’s help,” he said. He claimed that draining out water from one hectare of land cost about Rs 3 lakh and 86,000 hectares of land had been affected by waterlogging in Muktsar alone. Sekhon wants package for rivers The Irrigation Minister sought central funds for the maintenance of the three rivers flowing in the state. “Though the Satluj, Beas, Ravi flow in Punjab, yet the water is also being used by other states. It is not possible for the state, which is spending crores of rupees every year to solve the problem of waterlogging, to spend a huge amount on their maintenance,” he said. “The Centre must give funds to the state as it suffers huge losses due to flash floods every year,” he added.
|
|
Govt-aided schools cry for help
For taking care of 800 students, Faridkot’s MGM School has a mere five teachers. Similar is the condition of other aided private schools, 484 in all in Punjab, where no recruitment has been done for the last nine years. It was in May 2003 that the state government banned fresh hiring of teachers in these schools. While no new teachers were appointed, 5,100 of the existing 10,000 faculty have retired in these nine years. Punjab Government-aided Schools Management Association chief Sewa Singh Chawla said that due to the “apathetic” attitude of the state government, many of these schools had either closed or were on the brink of closure. He demanded that the government should frame a concrete policy for reviving these schools. In case that could not be done, an official declaration about their closure should be issued, he said. On December 1, 1967, the state government approved 95 per cent grant-in-aid for 522 private schools in Punjab. After the management of 38 schools handed over their reins to the state, the government sanctioned 9,997 posts of teacher for 484 schools. But in May 2003, the government banned fresh recruitment. As a result, more than 50 per cent of posts are now vacant in these schools. Besides, 140 of them are without a headmaster, said association chief adviser ML Chopra. He said GMN High School in Ropar only had six teachers against the sanctioned strength of 18. The condition is even worse at Kalgidhar Kanya Paathshala in Pathankot, which only a part-time sweeper. Another school in the city, Sarswati Arya School, had already been closed. While at present these schools are charging a nominal fee from students, but once the RTE is implemented, there would be no tuition fee. Therefore, it would mean more trouble for them. In urban area, these schools cater to the educational needs of middle-class families. In Ludhiana alone, there are 22 aided schools against the eight government schools. In Ropar, there are seven such schools against two government schools. When contacted, Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said the recruitment process in these schools was being discussed with the Chief Minister.
|
|
|
CM seeks industry help to create jobs
Chandigarh, July 2 Presiding over a meeting of Tourism Ministry officials, Badal said the issue of unemployment was not only bothering the state, but had become a national problem. Reiterating the SAD-BJP government's commitment towards imparting vocational training to unemployed youth, he said the state government had already set up the Department of Employment Generation for additional focus on creating jobs. He said a skill development programme had been launched in collaboration with Bharti Walmart to impart training in retailing, logistics and supply chain management, L&T for construction skills and Tata Motors for driving and automotive skills for the state youth. Giving details of a programme to explore opportunities of skill development in hospitality, tourism, television and film sectors in Punjab, Principal Secretary (Tourism) Geetika Kalha proposed 17 new skill development courses that would add skilled work force of 5,775 for the year 2012-13 and that of 13,000 for year 2013-14 in the tourism sector. The new courses would include therapy beauty, therapy cosmetology traditional yoga and training for lighting, photography and museum gallery facilitator.
|
|
|
Railway land wrongly given to private party
Faridkot, July 2 Information procured under the RTI revealed that on December 29, 2008, in a letter to the Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner, the Railways demanded details regarding the transfer of 662 kanal 12 marla (82.75 acres) of its land in Laluwala village to Harbans Kaur on June 25, 2006. In response, the Deputy Commissioner on January 15, 2009, wrote to the Divisional Manager Railways to collect the information from Zira tehsildar. After failing to get the information, the Northern Railways took the matter to its Delhi-based vigilance wing. This is the first case in the country where the Revenue Department allowed the allotment of Railways’ land to a private person, said a senior railway vigilance wing officer. The land was further sold to many others, he added. The plan of the land at Laluwala village, situated between Girdarpindi and Jogiwala railway stations, shows that it was acquired by the Railways in 1933. About 2,000 hectares of Railways’ land, including 82.75 acres in Laluwala, is under illegal occupation all over the country, said Rakesh Kumar, Senor Section Engineer (SSE), land & heritage wing, Ferozepur Railway Division. Senior Railways’ officials had even discussed the details of the “scandal” with the Chief Secretary, Punjab, at a meeting in Chandigarh, but the things kept moving at a snail’s pace, said an officer. RK Gupta, Senior Division Engineer of the Northern Railways, wrote to the Manager, State Bank of Patiala, Moga, about three persons, Harmandeep Singh, Navjeet Singh and Sandeep Singh, who took loan of Rs 10.95 lakh from the bank by mortgaging a portion of this land (khasra No. 52, Khatauni No.393/1, hadbast No. 221). Demanding legal action, the Railways have informed the bank about the illegal manipulation of land record to procure loan from the bank in a fraudulent way.
|
|
Short of 3,000 lakh units, power crisis stares at state
Patiala, July 2 The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has increased the tenure of power cuts to three to four hours in all the district headquarters and other places. The graph of demand of electricity in the state has increased sharply due to scorching heat and delayed monsoon, PSPCL Director (Distribution) Arun Verma said. The sharp increase in demand has particularly been in domestic sector, for cooling, and agriculture sector, for paddy plantation and irrigation of other kharif crops. He, however, said that they cannot rule out the steep hike in power consumption witnessed due to opening of government schools in the state after the month-long summer vacations. When asked about any proposal to ban air-conditioners in government offices, change of office timings and extension of summer vacations in government schools, he said, "As of now, we have been collecting data from our field offices and would discuss it with our chairman." Verma said the official data received of the power consumption till noon yesterday was 2,250 lakh units, 100 lakh units more since the preceding day. It was at an all time high as offices and schools have not opened on Saturday and Sunday. He said that certainly the demand of power today was at an all-time high and exact figure would be available by tomorrow. The supply of power in the state was only 1,990 lakh units from all resources with the gap of over 300 lakh units. He said that all the thermal units have been functioning normally but power supply from hydro units have came down. The supply from Bhakra, Pong and Dehra dams was only 160 lakh units, which was over 20 lakh units less than previous year. He said that water level at the Bhakra and Pong dams has hit an alarming low. Meanwhile, the water level at Bhakra has depleted by around 60 feet and flow of water is half as compared to last year. On July 1 last year, Bhakra had received 45,216 cusec water in its reservoir and water level of 1,590.61 feet while this year, on the very same day, water inflow was recorded at 31,326 cusec and water level hit a new low of 1,534.92 feet. The power generation at Bhakra dam has also plunged to 20 from 30 lakh units (LU) per day on an average. — PTI
|
||
|
Shatabdi Express fails to chug off from Moga
Moga, July 2 Though the Union Ministry of Railways blamed the cancellation on technical reasons, local politicians of the ruling SAD-BJP coalition alleged that it was a political gimmick by the Congress-led UPA government. Senior railway officials had on Saturday announced that the train would start running from Moga at 3.00 pm on Monday. But at the last moment, it was stopped reportedly due to technical problems, which the local authorities failed to justify to the media.
|
||
|
SGPC takes up matter with UP CM
Amritsar, July 2 In a letter written to the UP CM, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said this "criminal act of the tobacco firm has caused resentment, anger and anguish among the entire Sikh community". Makkar said the SGPC was flooded with representations and telephonic calls conveying their anger and demanding forthwith ban on the company and sale of the product. He demanded the culprits be taken to task and exemplary punishment awarded to them for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. "The Sikh religion, founded by Guru Nanak Dev, does not have any room for tobacco in any shape or form," he said. The SGPC chief has also sought an appointment with the UP CM to discuss the matter and other issues concerning the Sikhs in
UP.
|
||
|
Khanna Paper Mill resumes production
Amritsar, July 2 Khanna Paper Mill director Suneet Kochhar said the mill was running 70 per cent of its capacity at present and it would soon attain its optimum production level.— TNS
|
||
|
Encounter specialist runs out of luck
Chandigarh, July 2 A member of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Pinky agreed to become an informer after being picked up by the police. During his successful innings as an informer, he helped the police bust several militant gangs in the Fatehgarh Sahib- Ludhiana area. He was “rewarded” for his work by being inducted into the police as havildar.With powerful godfathers, including former Ludhiana and Chandigarh SSPs who now hold senior positions in the Punjab Police, backing him, Pinki climbed the ladder fast and was a police Inspector before he met his nemesis. Such was Pinki’s clout that the police dragged its feet on taking action against him, even when he was accused of killing 20-year-old Avtar Singh in cold blood in a fit of rage in a Ludhiana street in January 2001. He was awarded life imprisonment for the crime by a Yamunanagar court in September 2006. Pinki, projected as an “encounter specialist”, is known more for his understanding of militant organisations and is credited with giving real-time information, leading to big arrests, including that of former Beant Singh assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara. He is also known for his excesses, especially during his role as incharge of the CIA wing at Ludhiana. People who know Pinki say he studied at Khalsa College, Patiala. He now lives in Sector 34, Chandigarh. He has a farm on the Mohali-Fatehgarh Sahib road at Majatari village known as “Pinky Farm”. Black Cats, as former militants-turned-police informers were called, formed the pivot of the anti-terrorism strategy post-1991. These militants were promised immunity for their crimes and reward for information on their colleagues. Many were shown as dead and given new identities. Later, after the end of militancy, some of the Black Cats, including Pinki, were inducted into the police. Pinky projects himself as one who has been in the forefront in the nation’s fight against terrorism. However, he did not have much of an answer as to what wrong the young Avtar Singh, who was shot point blank by him, had done. All he said was: “My house had been burnt. I did not get justice”. n A member of the Khalistan Commando Force, Pinki became an informer after being picked up by the police n He helped the police bust several militant gangs in the Fatehgarh Sahib-Ludhiana area n He was rewarded for his work by being inducted into the police as havildar n With powerful godfathers, including former Ludhiana and Chandigarh SSPs backing him, Pinki climbed the ladder fast and became police Inspector n Pinki, projected as an “encounter specialist”, is credited with giving real-time information, leading to big arrests, including that of former Beant Singh assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara
|
||
|
Surjeet seeks his due from Centre
Phidde (Ferozepur), July 2 Surjeet plans to take up this battle to the court, if not duly compensated. “While the Indian Government claims that Pakistan refuses to release its men, the Pakistani authorities say that the Indian Government is not ready to take them back. There are many like me languishing in jails for years together “ I took up this issue both with Indian and Pakistani officials in the presence of the Joint Secretary, Interior Ministry, Pakistan, who came to see me off at the Wagah border,” claimed Surjeet, flashing the officer’s visiting card. Meanwhile, politicians are making a beeline for Surjeet’s native village. Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner S Karuna Raju and MLA Joginder Singh visited Surjeet’s house today. He said the state government would make all efforts to rehabilitate Surjeet. The minister announced an aid of Rs 1 lakh for him, assuring him of another Rs 2.5 lakh on behalf of prominent villagers. He also announced a concrete road to Surjeet’s house, a motor connection for his fields and an electric meter at his residence. Sekhon accused the Central Government of not doing enough for Surjeet and others like him.
|
||
|
Chitarkar dead
Ludhiana, July 1 He translated literary masterpieces ‘Geetanjali’ by Rabindranath Tagore, ‘Meghdoot’ by Kalidas and ‘Sikh History’ by Macauliffe into Punjabi. His paintings on Gurdit Singh's ‘Mera Pind’ captured rural life vividly.
|
||
|
Up to Centre to decide on wheat export: Govt
Chandigarh, July 2 The other major concern of the state government is that adequate space is made available to it in October and November to stack paddy. Obviously, this will only be possible if enough wheat stock is moved to other states. Grewal said of the unscientifically stored wheat, at least 10 lakh tonnes should be sent to other states before the onset of the monsoon. Of the 170 lakh tonnes of wheat stacked in the state, 130 lakh tonnes was fresh stock. “We are holding this entire stock on behalf of the Centre. The state government has procured wheat in small quantity to meet its requirement for the atta-dal scheme”, Grewal said. “The state does not have its own wheat stock for export. Hence, there is no question of exporting wheat from Punjab directly to Pakistan,” he said. Sources said the Food Corporation of India(FCI) had collected wheat samples from some warehouses in the state for testing for export purposes. The sources said the Centre was dithering as the prevailing wheat prices in the international market was $ 235 per tonne, whereas the procurement price in the country was $ 330 per tonne. However, wheat export would enable the Centre to save expenditure on maintaining the surplus wheat.
|
||
|
Senior students sweat it out
Patiala, July 2 Talking to The Tribune, a teacher said the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had announced only two-hour scheduled power cuts in the city. “But, when schools started in the morning, there has been frequent power cuts which made it impossible to sit in classrooms,” she said. “Students were sweating and were unable to concentrate on their studies. Even during morning assembly, we were finding it difficult to cope with the weather. I don’t see any point in extending the vacations of the primary students alone when the weather is so unkind,” said another teacher. While senior officials refused to comment on the issue, one of the functionaries in the Education Department said many people had already conveyed it to the authorities that it would be difficult to run schools in this hot weather. “Let’s see what they decide. Now, they have already seen today’s condition,” he added. Meanwhile, private schools in Bathinda have demanded that the summer vacation be extended for students of higher and secondary classes as well. The president of the Recognised and Affiliated Schools Association (RASA), Ravinder Mann, said the association had approached the Punjab Education Minister, Sikandar Singh Maluka, and requested him to extend vacations for all the classes. “Mercury is soaring high and it would be difficult for the children to come to school in this sweltering hot summer,” he said. Not all schools in the city have power back-up facility and power cuts may worsen the situation, he added. The Punjab Government has already declared extension of vacation for the primary classes. The students of primary classes will now go to school on July 9, while students of higher and secondary start attending classes as per the schedule.
|
||
|
Demand to extend vacations of senior students too
Bathinda, July 2 The president of the Recognised and Affiliated Schools Association (RASA), Ravinder Mann, said the association had approached the Punjab Education Minister, Sikandar Singh
Maluka, and requested him to extend vacations for all the classes. “Mercury is soaring high and it would be difficult for the children to come to school in this sweltering hot summer,” he said. Not all schools in the city have power back-up facility and power cuts may worsen the situation, he added. The Punjab Government has already declared extension of vacation for the primary classes. The students of primary classes will now go to school on July 9, while students of higher and secondary start attending classes as per the schedule.
|
||
|
Bathinda police dogged by canine force shortage
Bathinda, July 2 City residents also complain that the rate of recovery of the stolen goods is also quite low as compared to the number of thefts. While talking to TNS, many residents said the police failed to crack cases of burglaries and auto thefts. Dr Pawan Kumar of Maur Mandi, who had lodged a complaint of a bicycle being stolen from outside his hospital, said a drug addict has been involved in stealing bicycles from outside his hospital for the past few months. Despite informing the police about the activities of the addict, no action had been initiated against him. “Every time the area residents inform the police about thefts, the police says that the thief was a drug addict and he might die if arrested,” the doctor said. He added that residents got upset over the thefts and apprehended him with a stolen bicycle yesterday. He was handed over to the police who lodged an FIR against him and sent him to jail under public pressure. The doctor added that the police failed to bring either a dog squad or finger print experts or use any other modern methods to crack the theft cases. Maur SHO Jaswinderpal said he had never been informed about the bicycle thefts in his area. “Yesterday too we came to know about a thief being manhandled by the public and an ASI was sent to enquire into the incident. We brought the thief to the police station and a case was registered against him,” the SHO said. He added that theft incidents have reduced to a great extent after intensifying police patrolling. A police officer, pleading anonymity, said presently Bathinda police had only two dogs, Julie and Abdul, whose services were being availed during VIP duties. “Though we are short of expert dogs, these two are rarely pressed into service to crack theft cases,” said the police officer. Most of the time our force depends on secret information and people have to give tip offs about thieves. He said a dog squad and a fingerprint expert were imperative in nabbing criminals. The police said modern forensic laboratories with DNA testing facility and an automated system to check fingerprints to ensure fast investigation were still a distant dream for the police. The present investigation methods are quite costly and time consuming and most of the burden of the inquiry lies on the victim himself. An inquiry officer in such cases remains busy with the courts, paper work, VIP duties and other clerical jobs and hardly finds time to visit the scene of crime or develop sources to nab the culprits.
|
||
|
Another fraud marriage comes to light in Moga
Moga, July 2 Earlier, the special police cell, created to prevent frauds and crimes by the
NRIs, registered a criminal case three days ago against an Australian resident groom and his parents on the complaint of a local nurse for cheating her by fraudulent marriage on the pretext of taking her abroad. In the new case, Harwinder Singh Gill, resident of a village in Moga district, has lodged a complaint with SSP Surjit Singh Grewal that she became a victim of fraudulent marriage. She alleged that her parents paid a sum of Rs 25-lakh to the groom and his family through an agent and an ASI of the state police who acted as a mediator in 2010 to solemnise their marriage. But two years after the marriage, the groom and his family did not take his daughter to Canada. Interestingly, both the agent and mediator ASI had taken their share. The SSP has marked an inquiry to the Human Trafficking Wing of the local police in this regard. — TNS
|
||
|
Tablets fine, what about basic infrastructure?
Ferozepur, July 2 A visit to three such institutes in this border district revealed that in utter contrast to the government's claims, the infrastructure of the key educational institution is decaying in the absence of any funds for its upkeep. Situated in an old ramshackle building, the Government In-service Training Centre
(GITC), which imparts training to thousands of school teachers, is crying for attention. Out of the five rooms available here, the roof of two rooms has already crumbled whereas the condition of the other two rooms is equally poor and they can cave in anytime. Even the roof of the corridor outside the principal's office seems to be on its last leg. Lecturers here keep their fingers crossed all day praying for their safety as they fear the roof may collapse anytime. The matter has been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned many times but no efforts have been made to relocate this centre or improve the conditions here. Out of the 21 sanctioned vacancies, the post of the principal, senior lecturer, clerk, machine man and five sub staff, are lying vacant here. Veer
Bala, who is officiating as the principal, said she has already made several requests to the senior officials to provide suitable space, but in vain. In the absence of adequate funds, the staff finds it difficult even to manage the electricity bills and other recurring expenses. The furniture is decaying for want of repair. There is no provision for water cooler or generator. The management of the school on the premises of which the GITC is functioning, has already served a notice to the department to vacate the building. At the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), all posts of senior lecturers besides that of the principal is vacant. The building is in a deplorable state. "We do not have even a single working computer," said Chander
Kanta, who is officiating as the principal. She adds that now, they have been told to send the salary bills online but without any computer, they feel helpless. "Our salaries have not been paid since February," stated another staff member. The deserted hostel here on which lakhs have been spent speak volumes of the government's apathy. The state of affairs in the Government Polytechnic College is no different. Damaged structure, shortage of staff and equipment has thrown the working of this institute out of gear.
|
||
|
Railways launches drive against illegal vendors
Patiala, July 2 In his special orders, ADGP (Railways) RP Meena has asked the GRP officials to ensure that railway platforms in their respective areas of operation are free of illegal vendors. Meena said the action followed after his office received many complaints of illegal vendors operating on railway stations selling adulterated beverages and expired food items at exorbitant rates at platforms as well as inside trains. “This further caused inconvenience to passengers during their journey and information gathered by me revealed involvement of such vendors in drugging of passengers, luggage lifting and thefts”, said the
ADGP. Keeping in view the safety of the passengers and their belongings, the
GRP, Punjab, has launched a special campaign to roundup such vendors and handed them over to the Railways and RPF authorities for taking legal action under the Railway Act. The GRP has caught six vendors in
Amritsar, 22 in Jalandhar, 14 in Pathankot, 24 in Ludhiana, 21 in
Sirhind, 10 in Patiala, 12 in Sangrur, 14 in Bathinda, 14 in Ferozepur, nine in Faridkot and 11 in
Abohar. The ADGP further said more such drives would be launched and strict action would be initiated against such vendors.
|
||
|
Over-the-counter abortion pills: Sale goes on unabated
Bathinda, July 2 A schedule H drug of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945, which cannot be sold without prescription, the abortion drugs are being openly sold as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines as the Health Department prefers to look the The medicine is easily available for everyone, from a village’s midwife to a registered medical practitioner (RMP) to anyone who has little knowledge of the drug and its uses. Women opt for such unsafe methods to abort unwanted pregnancies, at times without even taking their family members into confidence. “We frequently get cases of women bleeding excessively. This happens when the medicines successfully abort the unborn, but the remnants of the baby are left intact in the uterus leading to profuse bleeding,” said Dr Rupinder Romana. She added that most of the times women prefer not to disclose that they have taken the medicine. “They don’t understand that such medicines are to be used under medical supervision only. Since the drug is freely available in the market, women consume them without giving it a second thought,” she said. A gynaecologist at the city’s Civil Hospital, preferring not to be named, said women opted for such methods out of sheer ignorance. “Few years ago, we had a case of twin pregnancy. Unaware that she was carrying twins, a woman consumed this drug on the suggestion of a local dai. She remained silent for three days after the bleeding started. On the fourth day, she suddenly collapsed and was brought to the Civil Hospital. It was only after a lot of prodding that she accepted to taking the drug. When we conducted an ultrasound, we found that twins had been aborted, but the babies were not removed from uterus completely,” she added. This drug forayed into Indian markets in 1998. Till early 2000, it was available only on doctor’s prescription. Later, with the entry of global giants in drug manufacturing in India, the drug became easily available in different avatars. Interestingly, even the health department has not conducted any raids to contain the sale of this drug. Drug inspector Lakhwant Singh said the chemist shops were checked regularly, but case of abortion medicine available round the clock has not been detected specifically. “We will look into the matter,” he asserted.
|
||
|
PCMS Association threatens to
launch protest against new Bill
Ludhiana, July 2 Talking to The Tribune, Punjab Civil Medical Services Association president Dr Hardeep Singh and general secretary Dr Inderjit Singla said the Bill aimed to curb fundamental rights of doctors, including the right to opt any other profession, higher education, migration and appeal for justice. Dr Hardeep Singh said, "If the government fails to take the Bill back, we will talk to doctors of other states and launch a protest at the national level." The association felt that the Bill would curb the right to education of eligible students and doctors opting to study abroad and prevent further advancement of the Indian medical profession. They said doctors would be asked not to share their medical treatment skills at the global level. This would adversely affect the dream to develop India as a better option for medical tourism. The proposed Bill would also curb the basic constitutional right of the doctors to opt for any other profession, they said, adding that doctors would be allowed to go abroad only for a limited period and that too with the permission of the bureaucracy.
|
|
Explain police inaction, HC tells DGP
Chandigarh, July 2 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the DGP to explain police inaction after appearing in court on the next date of hearing, July 16. He has also been asked to file an affidavit explaining the delay in arresting the accused. In November 2009, a 16-year-old Class IX student was abducted by unidentified persons in Jalandhar. Her half-burnt body was later found on the city outskirts. The victim’s mother, Manjit Kaur, had moved the High Court pleading that the probe be handed over to high-ranking officials above the rank of Superintendent of Police or to a woman IPS officer. The petitioner alleged the Punjab Police had failed to arrest the culprits, despite constituting five special investigation teams. — TNS
|
|
Custodial death: SHO held, four other cops at large
Batala, July 2 A case has been registered under Section 302, IPC, against SHO Mehnga Singh, who has been arrested, while Pritpal Singh, Surjit Singh, Baldev Singh and Satwinder Singh have absconded. Pargat Singh was picked up by the police on the charge of assaulting his neighbour Gurmukh Singh. He was brought at the local Civil Hospital in an unconscious state where he was declared dead. Initially, the police refused to register an FIR against the policemen but relented when Batala MLA Ashwani Sekri and Fatehgarh Churian MLA Tripit Rajinder Singh Bajwa staged a protest at the hospital. Ram Singh, IG, Border Range, rushed to the hospital from Amritsar and brokered a truce between the legislators and the police. On his insistence, the five policemen were booked. Legislator Bajwa said Pargat Singh was mercilessly thrashed and his spinal chord broken. He demanded an inquiry into the sequence of events leading to Pargat Singh’s custodial death. Earlier, denying torture, a senior police official had said that Pargat Singh, who had consumed alcohol in large quantity, had died at the Civil Hospital. A post-mortem by a team of doctors headed by SMO Sukhdeep Singh was conducted on the orders of the IG. An angry Sekri warned if the four policemen were not arrested soon, he and his supporters would stage a dharna. Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Dr Abhinav Trikha said a job would be given to the wife of the deceased.
|
|
|
Canal killings: Accused’s police remand extended
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 2 On the request of the police, Duty Magistrate Harsh Mehta extended the police remand of Khushwinder till July 5. He was brought to the District Courts Complex amid tight security. He used to run photostat business in the complex but no one came forward to meet him and decided to boycott him. Khushwinder had pushed six members of a family into the Bhakra canal to grab the money the family received after selling a piece of land. Only two bodies could be retrieved so for, but efforts were on to recover the remaining bodies.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Patiala, July 2
Three weeks after 75,000-MT waste paper was gutted in a fire, causing losses worth Rs 150
crore, at Khanna Paper Mill, one of the largest paper manufacturing units in the country, the mill has resumed paper production and is expected to reach its optimum production level within next eight to 10 days.
Phidde (Ferozepur), July 2
Ferozepur, July 2
Sikhwala (Muktsar), July 2
Faridkot, July 2
