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Legislation on farmers and farm workers
Power Corp breather for state industry
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Roll back tariff hike or face protests, says Youth Cong
Badal meets PM, seeks Rs
2,380 cr relief
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Saturday. A Tribune photograph
Patiala MC directed to seal illegal commercial buildings
Committee to monitor female foeticide
Soaring input costs hit farmers
Fertiliser prices double in six months
Protesters’ path full of thorns, literally
Heroin seizures derail cement
import
DGP: Rising drug trade cause for concern
US Sikhs oppose move to open casinos in state
26 teachers found absent during surprise checks
Punjabi University to hold PUTA elections on Sept 14
Central University of Punjab
Dera chief case hearing on Sept 1
HC rejects Prakash Jha’s appeal for relief
Five held for cloning cheques worth
Rs 8 crore
Amritsar woman found murdered
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Legislation on farmers and farm workers
Ludhiana, August 4 Amarjeet Singh, a member of the commission, revealed this in the city today. According to the draft, the farmers having land up to 10 acres would get pension of Rs 2,000 at the time of attaining the age of 60 years and agricultural workers would also get pension. Moreover, they would be given accidental insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh and health insurance cover up to Rs 1 lakh. He said the commission would submit the draft titled “Farmer & Agricultural Workers Welfare Act” by the end of this month to the Ministry of Law and Justice. Thereafter, it would be tabled in the Parliament, he added. About another law, he said Right to Shelter and Livelihood Act was also on the anvil. Amarjeet also stressed on the need of using information and technology as the best tool in order to speed up the justice delivery system. He also interacted with District Bar Association secretary GS Sodhi and other lawyers regarding making the justice delivery system more effective. Harbhag Singh Gill, a lawyer, said now days “Justice hurried is justice buried”. He said over 1,800 revision petitions were filed by different parties recently in the High Court in civil cases.
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Power Corp breather for state industry
Patiala, August 4 The industry came up with this arrangement since it feared that migrant labourers might leave for their home states due to reduced working days on account of no power supply for four days a week. Now, with the new arrangement in place, while the monetary interests of workers will be looked after, the duration of power supply will also remain the same as was during the four-day weekly off. Sources say there are at least 10 lakh migrant labourers working in thousands of industries across the state. The daily wage of a labourer is around Rs 200. "If a labourer works overtime (12 hours instead of eight), he gets double the wages. In case of the three-day weekly off, a labourer gets to work for 8-12 hours for four days, earning him Rs 1,600 whereas in a six-day week, he can earn Rs 2,400," said Badish K Jindal, president, Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association. Arun Verma, Director (Distribution), PSPCL, said it had been decided to supply power to all categories of the industry from 8 am to 7.30 pm for six days and with one weekly off. Mahinder Gupta, president, Induction Furnaces Association, Mandi Gobindgarh, said: "As per the earlier arrangement, the industry was getting power for 66-72 hours. Now, with one weekly off power will be available for more or less the same duration, but at least the industry can work for six days a week and the monetary interests of the labourers will be safeguarded". Meanwhile, the power situation in the state continues to be the same with the PSPCL resorting to long cuts in the domestic sector. The demand for power was 2,208 lakh units (LUs) yesterday and the availability 1,824 LUs, a shortfall of 384 LUs. In many districts, power cuts ranging between six and 12 hours are being imposed. Schedule on website
The PSPCL had issued 19 circulars regarding power regulatory measures in July. Some of these were regarding imposition of scheduled weekly offs and a few were regarding changes in peak load policies and supply to continue process industries. The PSPCL put these circulars on its website and treat it as its order. However, a majority of the industrialists are either not tech savvy or they don't have electricity to run the computer. "It thus becomes difficult for them to follow the directions. Also during power cuts, it becomes difficult for the industrialists to check these notifications," Naresh Aggarwal, President, Pathankot Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The industrialists have requested the Chief Minister to direct the PSPCL not to levy huge penalties for non-compliance of its schedule available only on its website. Record by Lehra unit
GS Chhabra, Director (Generation), PSPCL, said unit No. 4 of 250 MW of Lehra Mohabatt Thermal Plant had created a record of working continuously for 122 days. "The unit tripped during the recent failure of the Northern Grid," he said. Chhabra said one unit of 110 MW capacity of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda, which was closed for renovation, would be made operational soon. Back to work The industry suggested this arrangement since it feared migrant labourers might return to their homes due to reduced working days As per the earlier arrangement, the industry was getting power for 66-72 hours Now, with one-day weekly off, power will be available for more or less the same duration But the industry can work for six days a week and the monetary interests of the labourers will be safeguarded
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Roll back tariff hike or face protests, says Youth Cong
Jalandhar, August 4 PYC president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary along with Youth Congress leaders Gurjot Singh Dhindsa, Kulbir Singh Zira and Damanjit Singh Mohi today submitted a memorandum to Governor Shivraj Patil at Raj Bhawan in this regard. Chaudhary said the activists would hold a protest outside cabinet minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon's residence at Kairon village in Patti on August 6”. He said: “The development works carried out in the state were possible with the funds sanctioned by the Union Government. Despite this, the Akalis have been accusing the Centre for state’s fiscal deficit, power crisis, non-implementation of welfare schemes etc. The SAD has betrayed the people by making unrealistic promises in before the assembly elections”. The alliance government has failed miserably to popularise Central Government schemes meant for the common man, he added. Relief sought Chandigarh: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee's senior vice-president Lal Singh on Saturday supported the government’s demand for a special package for state farmers. He, however, said the package should be given on the condition that money received by the state be disbursed among the affected farmers. Congress MLAs Lal Singh, Parminder Singh Pinki and Gurkirat Singh Kotli in a statement said around three years ago, the state had received a special package of Rs 800 crore from the Centre, but it didn’t disburse it among the farmers. The MLAs said they feared that the government, which was passing through a difficult time, might divert the funds to meet its fiscal needs. — TNS
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Badal meets PM, seeks Rs
2,380 cr relief
New Delhi, August 4 Badal, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning, also accused the Centre of leaving out Punjab while announcing relief packages for other states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana. This, he said, had "caused anguish and resentment among the Punjab farmers who have made the country self-reliant in foodgrain production". The Empowered Group of Ministers had on July 31 announced an interim relief package of around Rs 1,900 crore to these states. The amount included Rs 24 crore for Haryana under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). But, nothing was given to Punjab. Badal said it was not the first time that farmers of the country's biggest contributor to national food kitty had been bypassed in a relief package. "Earlier also, the Centre had bypassed Punjab while announcing a package of Rs 70,000 crore for states affected by farm indebtedness and resultant suicides," he said. "Unless farmers are helped in their hour of crisis, the entire economy will take a hit, thereby, seriously and adversely impacting all growth targets," he said. In fact, Punjab's specific demands for extra power and immediate interim relief for dealing with drought were not even discussed during the EGoM meeting, as confirmed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Pawar had told The Tribune then: "Today, the priority was different. We will meet again to discuss requirements of the two states (Punjab and Haryana)". While Pawar is expected to visit the region to assess the ground situation, the Ministry officials say that the Centre could rely on the 2009 formula whereby Rs 800 crore was given to Punjab and Rs 400 crore to Haryana in as relief package for kharif 2009 (also declared a drought year). For getting relief, the government will have to provide details of the affected areas. "Unless exact details of the affected areas are available, no decision can be taken," they said. Facing 66 per cent deficit monsoon, the forecast for the remaining stretch of the monsoon period also holds no bright spots for Punjab. Badal also called for putting in place a "permanent, in-built rapid-response economic system to meet farm emergencies such as those caused by monsoon failure, floods or other natural causes".
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Patiala MC directed to seal illegal commercial buildings
Patiala, August 4 In violation of the norms, several commercial establishments, including health institutes, retail outlets and showrooms, have been raised without getting the building plan approved from the MC. Due to haphazard mushrooming of the illegal commercial establishments, people in residential areas were facing many problems, particularly parking of vehicles outside their houses. Despite repeated attempts, Municipal Commissioner GS Sidhu could not be contacted for comments. However, Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli said the MC was yet to get a copy of the court orders. “Verbally, we have got to know that the HC has directed that all illegal commercial establishments should be sealed and a compliance report should be filed in the court on August 22,” he stated while talking over phone from New Delhi. About the course of action, the Mayor said unless and until he reads the copy of the court order, he cannot comment on the matter. “All I can say is that we will implement the court directions strictly,” he added. 14 showrooms on Upper Mall Road sealed A few days ago, the MC had sealed 14 showrooms that had come up in violation of the building norms on the city's posh Upper Mall Road. A couple of days ago, the HC had instructed the Patiala Deputy Commissioner and Chief Administrator of the Patiala Development Authority (PDA) GK Singh to take action against the marriage palaces that had been constructed without following the laid down procedures and obtaining of the No Objection certificate (NOC) from different authorities. Subsequently, as many as 65 marriage palaces in the city and 13 in the areas falling under the Greater Area Mohali Development Authority (GMADA) were sealed.
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Committee to monitor female foeticide
Bathinda, August 4 The committee was formed today at a meeting of the PNDT (Pre-natal diagnostic techniques) Cell of the district, held under the presidentship of deputy commissioner-cum-president of the PNDT Cell Ravi Bhagat and the IG (Intelligence) Jatinder Jain. The following have been included in the committee: deputy commissioner Ravi Bhagat, IG (Intelligence) Jatinder Jain, SSP Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni, DPRO Jagdip Singh Gill, district programme officer Shashi Tyagi and project officer of the PNDT Cell, Sadhu Ram Kusla. As per official information, the committee will work for the eradication of female foeticide besides creating awareness by seeking the cooperation of the youth clubs, Panchayats, government institutions and NGOs. Ambuja Cement Foundation will also launch an awareness campaign against female feticide in Bhucho, Rampura and Bathinda areas. The Foundation will also adopt three villages, where the sex ratio is very low. Likewise, Guru Gobind Singh Refinery will also adopt three villages which have low sex ratio. These organisations will launch a special campaign to create awareness among people in these villages. Addressing the meeting, Jatinder Jain called upon the people to cooperate with the administration to fight female foeticide. He said though the government had enacted laws and the administration had been initiating steps, but people's cooperation was imperative. He also said the NGOs, the youth clubs and the industrial houses would create awareness against female foeticide with documentary films, posters, literature and painting competitions etc. He further said the helpline service for pregnant women, whose toll-free number is 1091, would be started soon. It would function round-the-clock. The meeting also asked the Health Department and the district programme officer to direct the ASHA workers and the Anganwari workers to register the names of every pregnant woman. The meeting also said if any pregnant woman's name is not registered, then the responsibility would lie with the ASHA worker of the area concerned. Ravi Bhagat asked the Health Department to send the statistics, relating to registration of pregnant women and the newborn babies, to the PNDT Cell, regularly. He also emphasised on forming a special task force, comprising officials of the health department, police and the PNDT Cell, so that raids could be conducted after getting information about cases of female
foeticide.
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Soaring input costs hit farmers
Chandigarh, August 4 Because of this, prices of cattle feed have increased by 35 per cent whereas that of poultry feed have gone up by 50 per cent (or Rs 100 per quintal). Dairying and poultry farming are the two most important means of generating an alternative income for farmers in the state. But they are incurring losses with the input costs going up and the retail prices remaining static. It is learnt that though the prices of soybean have increased to Rs 4,700 per quintal (from Rs 1,900 per quintal in July 2011), the prices have seen some correction now and are hovering around Rs 4,200 per quintal. This is still over 120 per cent more than the prices last year. Sources said the reason for such an abnormal increase in prices was that most of the soybean produced in India was being exported to either Pakistan or Iran, where poultry is a big business. "This year, traders from Iran have imported huge quantities of soybean from India, leading to a shortage in the domestic market. Forward trading of soybean, too, led to a hike in the prices with traders buying soya lots at abnormally high rates. It is the threat of soya being banned on the commodities exchange that led to some correction in its prices," said Daljit Singh
Sadarpura, president, Progressive Dairy Farmers Association. He, however, said prices were still unrealistic and the farmers were so far absorbing the high input costs, but this would not continue for long and they would have to increase the prices of milk by Rs 4-5 a
litre. G S Bedi, president, Amritsar Poultry Industry Association, said he had written in this regard to the Prime Minister and sought his intervention on banning the export of
soya. "Farmers here are buying soya at Rs 50 per kg while the same is being exported at Rs 30 per kg," he said. Dairy as well as poultry farmers said in case corrective steps were not taken to bring down the prices of cattle and poultry feed, they would have to increase the retail prices, thus adding to the inflationary pressure.
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Fertiliser prices double in six months
Chandigarh, August 4 Over the last few weeks, the price of DAP (a fertiliser) has gone up by Rs 250 per bag weighing 50 kg. In fact, the prices have more than doubled in the last six months. “In March, a DAP bag was available for Rs 600. The current price is Rs 1,240 a bag,” said a farmer from Machhiwara. About 35 lakh tonnes of fertilisers are used in the state in a year. Of them, DAP is the one used most frequently. Not only DAP, the price of potash has also hit the roof. It used to be Rs 223 per bag a few months ago and now it is available for Rs 870 a bag. Agriculture Director Mangal Singh Sandhu said the hike issue had been taken up with the Centre. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had also written to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Kisan Morcha plans nationwide stir
The Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha has announced a nationwide stir against the increasing prices of fertilisers and the “failure” of the Centre in granting adequate relief for drought-hit farmers. Kisan Morcha national president Om Prakash Dhankar said after holding protests in various parts of the country, they would stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on August 20.
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Protesters’ path full of thorns, literally
Bathinda, August 4 These water tanks had become a hit among protesters who wanted to highlight their plight. In the past, teachers, government employees, unemployed youths and farmers had climbed atop overhead tanks to lodge their protest. Since Bathinda is the home turf of Badals, several unions and groups feel they can be heard better if they stage protests here. Earlier, the same status was enjoyed by Patiala during the tenure of Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government. The government first tried to raise walls around the stairs, but it proved financially unviable. "Erecting walls would have been a costly affair. We constructed an enclosure around the stairs at a water tank in Bathinda city but protesters scaled it with the help of wooden stairs," said an official of the Public Health Department. "There had been at least 10 incidents in Bathinda when protesters climbed atop the tanks. Some even tried to jump off, but were prevented in the nick of time," said the official. Main incidents June 8, 2012: Teacher's Eligibility Test-qualified youths camped for one week atop a water tank at Lehra Dhoorkot village near Rampura April 23, 2012: Activists of the Special Trainer Teacher's Union climbed atop a water tank at Bhokhra village seeking government jobs. Two agitators had even jumped into the reservoir of water works February 23, 2009: Twelve jobless EGS (education guarantee scheme) teachers climbed atop a 300-ft water tank in Gole Giddi market in Bathinda. They were demanding admission to ETT courses without appearing in the entrance test
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Heroin seizures derail cement
import
Amritsar, August 4 The cement importers made it clear that no cement consignment will arrive through train from across the border until foolproof security network with scanners were in place to curb the trend. All-India Cement Importers Association president MPS Chatha attributed their decision to the fact that any seizure of contraband resulted in unnecessary harassment for the importers. He said cement exporters in Pakistan were equally concerned about the issue. "Pakistan traders stopped loading fresh stock of cement for export to India by rail immediately after the second seizure of heroin was made from a cement wagon a few days ago," he said. Chatha said 80 per cent of the cement that was imported from Pakistan via Attari arrived through train and the remaining 20 per cent through road. However, in view of their today's decision, a sizable chunk of cement import was likely to shift from rail to road route. "We can only import 40 truckloads of cement through road daily due to lack of infrastructure on both sides of the border whereas through rail route, the figure stood at 60 to 70 truckloads," he said. Chatha said their decision was likely to have a bearing on cement prices in the domestic market, which may go up in the coming days. "The ban will affect around five lakh families in Punjab, which are directly or indirectly associated with cement import from Pakistan," he said. The decision to stop cement import was taken at a meeting organised by the Confederation of International Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CICCI). The traders alleged that the latest seizure of heroin had brought to the fore the inadequacy of security apparatus. They said the government was charging Rs 28 as customs duty, Rs 12 as railway freight and Rs 32 as VAT on each bag of cement and, therefore, it was duty-bound to provide security at various levels. They urged the government to initiate urgent steps for installing scanners, beefing up security and patrolling with sniffer dogs to thwart any attempt to smuggle contraband, which could affect the cross-border trade. Recent seizures from Pak train JUNE 2: Customs authorities seize 5 kg of heroin. The consignment was hidden in a heap of 488 cement bags in a goods train from Pak. JULY 16: Customs officials seize 7 kg of heroin from a wagon of goods train carrying cement from Pakistan. Hidden in cement bags, the consignment was found during unloading at a godown. AUGUST 3: Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seize 3 kg of heroin hidden in cement bags following a tip-off. ‘Upgrade security’ The cement traders have urged the Union Government to initiate steps for installing scanners, beefing up security and patrolling with sniffer dogs to thwart any attempt to smuggle contraband into India so that the cross-border trade was not hit. They claimed the government was charging them Rs 28 as customs duty, Rs 12 as railway freight and Rs 32 as VAT on each bag of cement and, therefore, it was duty-bound to provide security at all levels.
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DGP: Rising drug trade cause for concern
Ludhiana, August 4 Saini, who was in the city for a monthly review meeting, said of the 500 kg of heroin seized in the country annually, 175 kg was recovered in Punjab alone. "Punjab earlier used to be the transit route for drug smuggling. But now, it has turned into a sale market as the thousands of youths have fallen prey to the drug abuse menace…. We will soon launch a crackdown on drug peddlers," he said. The DGP said Punjab Police will soon get more sniffer dogs, which can to some extent help check drug trade. Besides, these dogs will play a role in bomb disposal squads.
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US Sikhs oppose move to open casinos in state
Amritsar, August 4 "This move is condemnable. We will soon be writing to the Akal Takht Jathedar to take notice of the proposal as it is against Sikh tenets," they said. The duo said the Sikh Gurus had clearly stated that gambling was the worst form of habit which any Sikh should never opt to. They also said that if Sukhbir went ahead with the proposal, aimed to generate revenue, they will oppose the move at every front. Hothi said Punjab was already facing the menace of drug addiction and successive state governments had "failed" to protect the youth from falling prey to the evil. "Instead of keeping people away from drug addiction, those at the helm of affairs are introducing them to more evils, which must be opposed," they said.
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26 teachers found absent during surprise checks
Ludhiana August 4 After inspecting schools, DGSE Kahan Singh Pannu held a meeting with school principals and head masters at GCW College. He presented the inspection reports in an open session and school heads gave their explanations on the spot. Team members said though some schools and teachers were doing well, a few other schools had failed to distribute books to students. Some teachers were found teaching other subjects in the absence of the subject teacher. A teacher identified as Samsher Singh from Government School, Sherpur, was found drunk. The DGSE ordered the suspension of the teacher and issued a charge sheet against the teachers on long leave. While addressing the meeting, the DGSE asked the teachers to make efforts to uplift the standard of education in government school. He said, "A majority of students studying in government schools come from weaker sections of the society, whereas schoolteachers are getting handsome salaries. There is a gap between teachers and students on the basis of the economic status. So, the teachers have to eliminate this gap and serve to uplift the deprived section of the society." He said more such checking would be conducted regularly in schools in the future.
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Punjabi University to hold PUTA elections on Sept 14
Patiala, August 4 A notification issued by the university registrar states that the teachers of the constituent colleges of the university will not be allowed to cast their votes because of the orders of the High Court. The elections were stayed in 2003 after a petition over PUTA membership of teachers working in constituent colleges of Punjabi University was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Though the case was disposed of in 2010 after the court disapproved voting rights to the teachers of the constituent colleges, the university authorities did not hold the elections even after that. This decision has certainly brought a sigh of relief to hundreds of teachers who have been fighting against the delay.
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Central University of Punjab
Bathinda, August 4 The university, however, has declared that no student has been chosen for admission to five of its integrated programmes and four of its post-graduate (PG) courses. These courses include MA-PhD integrated programme in comparative literature, MSc-PhD integrated programme in biosciences, MSc-PhD integrated programme in environmental science and technology, MSc-PhD integrated programme in chemical sciences (medicinal chemistry), MPharm-PhD integrated programme in pharmaceutical sciences (medicinal chemistry), MA in comparative literature, MA in development economics, MA in international studies and LLM in environmental law. Speaking to Bathinda Tribune, a highly-placed source at the university maintained that although the aspirants had appeared for the entrance exam for all these courses, it was during the interview round that the panel of experts decided that the candidates, if chosen, would not meet the basic benchmark of the university. “The university has a benchmark that it wants all its students to meet. Students had appeared for the entrance exams for all the integrated and post-graduate courses but for some of the courses, no students have been chosen. “The panel of experts evaluating the aspirants held the view that aspirants for some of the courses were not up to the mark,” said the source. “The experts also opined that even if the students were admitted to the post-graduate courses, they wouldn’t be able to pursue the subjects further. The university thought it best to take no students rather than taking sub-standard students,” added the source. Interestingly, the nine-semester MSc-PhD integrated programme in environmental science and technology is part of the university’s emphasis on addressing the environmental and health problems being faced by the Malwa belt. The seriousness with which the university takes the course in environment science and technology can be gauged by the fact that this was one of the first few subjects that were offered by the university the year it started functioning.
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Dera chief case hearing on Sept 1
Bathinda, August 4 The dera head had allegedly hurt the sentiments of Sikhs by wearing a robe similar to one worn by Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. An FIR had been lodged in this regard at the Kotwali police station on the complaint of Rajinder Singh Sidhu. SK Garg, counsel for the dera head, sought time for preparing arguments in the case. Sidhu, accompanied by Baba Hardeep Singh and advocate Navkiran, was also present during the hearing. Hardeep Singh of Gurusar Mehraj said they would not relax until the Sirsa dera head was punished for his act.
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HC rejects Prakash Jha’s appeal for relief
Chandigarh, August 4 A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has “appreciated the sentiments” expressed by Prakash Jha Productions. But, it has expressed inability to order a compensation of more than Rs 6 crore for the loss the production house suffered due to the ban on its movie “Aarakshan” in Punjab. After Uttar Pradesh, the Punjab Government had in August last imposed a ban, though conditional, on the release of Aarakshan, following apprehensions that some dialogues may trigger trouble. Prakash Jha Productions and another petitioner had initially filed a petition against the Union of India and another respondent before a Single Judge of the High Court. It was seeking directions to the State of Punjab to pay Rs 6,69,24,852 for financial losses suffered due to the State’s “illegal action, suspending the exhibition of the film Aarakshan vide order dated August 10, 2011”. Appearing before the Bench, counsel for the petitioner claimed the order suspending the exhibition of the film was later withdrawn. Referring to a Supreme Court judgment passed on August 19, 2011, in another petition filed by Prakash Jha Productions, the counsel contended the apex court had observed the Censor Board had the sole jurisdiction to see whether a particular scene was to be omitted. Dismissing the plea, the Single Judge had asserted: “A lot of evidence is required to prove that how many persons would have watched the movie during the suspension period and how much profits the petitioners would have earned by exhibiting the film…. In the opinion of this Court, petitioners have alternate remedy to approach the regular Civil Court to prove the losses”. The Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice R.P. Nagrath asserted: “Though we do appreciate the sentiments and grievances expressed by the appellants, we are in agreement with the Single Judge that a Writ Court would not be the effective remedy to determine the actual loss or compensation payable to the appellants… The effective forum for such a dispute would, thus, undoubtedly be Civil Court only”.
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Five held for cloning cheques worth
Rs 8 crore
Malout, August 4 The fraud came to light when officials of Axis Bank, Malout, informed the police that a man had deposited a forged cheque worth Rs 6.98 crore with the bank. “We laid a trap and told the bank officials to call the man to the branch to collect the money. We arrested him and during an investigation, he disclosed the names of his accomplices,” said Prem Singh, SHO. He said the accused had also deposited a cloned cheque of Rs 95.52 lakh with a State Bank of India branch at Bham village in the district, which had also been seized. The SHO said: “The accused had managed to get two cheques of multinational companies manufacturing auto parts at Rohtak and Rewari. They scanned the cheques and changed the details. They opened two bank accounts in the name of Bhola Singh of Bham village and deposited the cheques for clearing,” the SHO said. Those arrested included Bhola Singh, Pradeep Kumar and Rajesh Kumar of Jind, Abhishek of Rohtak and Rajiv Verma of Barnala. A case under sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered. The police today produced the accused before a local court, which remanded them to three-day police custody.
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Amritsar woman found murdered Amritsar, August 4 Residents approached the police when she did not open her kiosk in the morning. She was later found lying in a pool of blood inside her house. Senior police officials, including ACP Gurnam Singh, also reached the spot. Sadar police station SHO Vavinder Kumar Mahajan said during investigations, it was found that two cylinders and a colour television set were missing from her house. It appeared to be the handiwork of robbers. “Sonu may have noticed the robbers while they were stealing goods from her house. The accused attacked her on her head with bricks after which she died on the spot,” said Mahajan. He said the body had been sent for a post-mortem examination. A case under Section 460 of the IPC has been registered against unidentified robbers, the SHO said.
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The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and industrialists have reached an understanding over the regulated supply of power to the industry.
With his state battling a drought-like situation this year, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought a Rs 2,380 crore relief package from the Centre to deal with the crisis.
Chandigarh, August 4
Bathinda, August 4
With the third seizure of heroin being made from a goods train carrying cement from Pakistan in the past less than two months, Indian importers today unanimously decided to stop cement import from the neighbouring nation via rail route, though its trade would continue through road.
Amritsar, August 4