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TOP STORIES

CM meets Jaiswal on coal linkage issue
Patiala, October 30
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal presents a bouquet of flowers to Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal in Delhi on Tuesday. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today met Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal in New Delhi on the issue of coal linkage for the upcoming thermal plants in Punjab. Sources say since the coal block allocated for the for the 540 MW Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Plant is yet to get environmental clearance, Badal has requested Jaiswal for temporary coal linkage or alternative arrangement of coal supply.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal presents a bouquet of flowers to Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal in Delhi on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Another scam tumbles out of Punsup closet
Chandigarh, October 30
Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (Punsup) has uncovered yet another scandal where a district manager, a field officer and an inspector had allotted paddy to blacklisted rice mills.





YOUR TOWN
Amritsar
Chandigarh



EARLIER STORIES



Paddy glut in mandis
Sangrur, October 30
As the paddy procurement process has picked up pace, lifting of the procured produce has emerged as a problem. A large number of paddy bags can be seen lying at the procurement centres.





Maximum dengue cases in Ludhiana, Mohali
Ludhiana, October 30
With the temperatures plunging, more cases of dengue are being reported from different parts of the district. The district has reported 141 confirmed cases of dengue and there has been no casualty so far, said epidemiologist Anil Verma.

Unemployment, drugs & now gastro deaths
Batala, October 30
The once vibrant township of Batala, which had the sobriquet "Iron bird of Asia" as it produced the top-class agricultural and mechanical machinery, is now in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Cement import from Pakistan down by 30%
Amritsar, October 30
A slump in the construction activity coupled with the recent heroin seizures in rail cargo has led to a decline of 30 per cent in cement import from Pakistan.



COMMUNITY

MS Keetu Special teams looking for Keetu’s killers
Moga, October 30
The Moga police has constituted special teams for conducting raids at various places to nab those accused of murdering former Akali legislator Malkiat Singh Keetu at his residence in Bilaspur village in Moga district yesterday.

MS Keetu

The damaged car which met with an accident in Sangrur. 3 of family killed in road mishap
Sangrur, October 30
Three members of a family were killed when the Maruti Swift Dzire car they were travelling in hit a roadside tree near the Zila Parishad office here last night.


The damaged car which met with an accident in Sangrur. A Tribune photograph

Punjab to acquire 12,500 acres in Patiala district
Patiala, October 30
With a view to develop industry and boost the manufacturing sector, the Central government and the Punjab government along with private investors will acquire 12,500 acres of land in 33 villages of Ghanaur and Rajpura tehsil, to set up a National Manufacturing and Investment Zone.

Food processing units in Rajpura raided
Patiala, October 30
Tightening its noose on various factories that manufacture food products, a team of Health Department led by Patiala Civil Surgeon today raided two factories in Rajpura.

A riot of colours
Girls performing gidda during the Punjabi University Inter-Zonal Youth Festival in Patiala on Tuesday.
Girls performing gidda during the Punjabi University Inter-Zonal Youth Festival in Patiala on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Youngsters go for pirated books
Bathinda, October 30
Youngsters preferred to buy the pirated versions of top-listed books which were otherwise sold at a higher price. At the ongoing NBT fair, many youngsters demanded "cheaper" version of books, especially that of English writers like Paulo Coelho's "Eleven Minutes" and "Alchemist", Kiran Desai's "Inheritance of Loss", Arundhati Roy's "God of Small Things", books of Brian Weiss on spiritual experiences and Daniel Carnegie's books on success and career. "I came here looking for cheaper books. But the prices here are the same as that at any other book stall.

No swap cards, farmers in trouble, says Bhattal
Chandigarh, October 30
Senior Punjab Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today said a large number of farmers had not got their payment for the paddy procured from them because the firm, which had been given the contract for issuing swap cards and swap machines to facilitate payments to commission agents, had not commissioned the project in time.

SC candidates complain to Commissioner
Chandigarh, October 30
Certain Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, who appeared in a test to get employed at the Agriculture Department, have complained to the Financial Commissioner (Development) stating that rules related to reservation in jobs were violated while issuing appointment letters to candidates selected as Agriculture Development Officers (ADO).

Police clueless about 19-yr-old missing girl
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 30
The whereabouts of 19-year-old girl Ashia, who had gone missing from Mandi Gobindgarh on October 18, are still not known. The girl had left her home to appear in Class XII exams, but never returned home.


COURTS

Police moves court for Nishan’s DNA test
Faridkot, October 30
The Faridkot police today moved an application in the court of the Duty Magistrate here, seeking permission for a DNA test on Nishan Singh, the main accused in the Shruti abduction case.

Family suicide case
Court rejects bail plea of former SSP, SHO
Amritsar, October 30
A local court today rejected the bail plea of former Amritsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kultar Singh and the then SHO of the Division-C police station Hardev Singh in connection with a suicide case in 2004.

ETO suicide case
VB officer’s bail plea dismissed
Chandigarh, October 30
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Mohali Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Amandeep Kaur. She is facing the allegations of implicating an Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) in a false corruption case.

Bogus Ration Cards
Govt told to hold probe in two months
Chandigarh, October 30
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has given the Punjab Government two months to carry out a probe and come out with facts and figures on the alleged issuance of bogus ration cards in the state under the Below Poverty Line Scheme.



CRIME

Surinder Kumar SAD councillor held for gambling
Amritsar, October 30
An Akali councillor was arrested for allegedly indulging in gambling after a raid was conducted at his house late last night. An amount of Rs 11.34 lakh and several boxes of liquor were seized.


Surinder Kumar



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CM meets Jaiswal on coal linkage issue
Seeks 1.4 million tonnes of coal allocation
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 30
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today met Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal in New Delhi on the issue of coal linkage for the upcoming thermal plants in Punjab. Sources say since the coal block allocated for the for the 540 MW Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Plant is yet to get environmental clearance, Badal has requested Jaiswal for temporary coal linkage or alternative arrangement of coal supply. The first unit of the thermal plant is to be commissioned in March 2013.

Developer GVK Group was to get coal from the Tokisud Coal block in Jharkhand. The supply has been delayed as some of its area under forest land has not been given clearance. Badal has requested Jaiswal for a temporary allocation of 1.4 million tonnes of coal for one year (February 2013 to January 2014) for the Goindwal project from Coal India mines.

Badal also demanded more coal allocation for the upcoming 1400 MW Rajpura Thermal Plant and the 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant.

Jaiswal reportedly told the Chief Minister that his ministry would consider the two requests and try to ensure coal availability to the state. Jaiswal said he would convene a special meeting of senior officers of his ministry and Coal India to amicably resolve all pending issues pertaining to coal linkage to ensure timely commissioning of the thermal plants in the state. Badal was toldd that the Union Government was making all efforts to increase availability of coal to the power sector and Coal India had been directed to accord top priority to the same.

Thermal Plants

Of the 89 thermal plants, 28 across the nation have come under the “super critical category”
22 thermal plants figure in the “critical category” with coal stock for less than a week
However, sufficient coal is available for Punjab’s all 3 power plants

Scindia assures Badal of all help

Badal met Union Minister of State for Power Jyotiraditya Scindia and spoke of the problems being faced by the state in getting the coal linkage for its plants. “Scindia has promised hat he will take up the issue with the Coal Minister so that power generation, which is critical for development, is not hampered,” said official sources.

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Another scam tumbles out of Punsup closet
Three officials suspended for supplying paddy to millers blacklisted for failing to deposit milled rice
Sanjeev Singh Bariana/TNS

Chandigarh, October 30
Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (Punsup) has uncovered yet another scandal where a district manager, a field officer and an inspector had allotted paddy to blacklisted rice mills.

District Manager II (Patiala) Amit Luthra, Field Officer Amolak Singh and Inspector Paras Singla have been chargesheeted and suspended for allegedly allowing paddy storage at unauthorised rice mills.

The mills were blacklisted for failing to deposit their stock of milled rice to the government agencies. These mills have reportedly sold the produce in the open market and invested the proceedings in sectors like real estate.

Punsup has been paying a monthly interest of nearly Rs 150 crore on account of utilising cash credit limit from the RBI for purchasing paddy on behalf of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Confirming the development Capt PS Shergill (retd), Managing Director, PUNSUP, said: "While mills with good track record have been complaining of not getting their share of paddy despite having allotment orders, there were reports of certain blacklisted firms allotted paddy out of turn. Enquiries revealed that the DM had flouted the rules in helping Khatra Rice Milers and New Khatra Rice Mills near Patiala".

Such firms were handed over as many as 51,000 bags of paddy unauthorisedly. The irregularity came to light on October 22 when it was found that paddy was allocated to blacklisted millers on October 17. The demand draft in their possession carried the date of October 23. This clearly meant that they had got someone else's share.

In a formal communication to Punsup, Dr Anjuman Bhasker, District Food and Supply Controller, has confirmed that the mills under question were not eligible for allotting paddy.

The department has already reported at least six scandals this year from different parts of the state. Most of these scandals involve agency staff, including a regional manager and a number of district managers from Ludhiana, Gidderbaha, Malout and Gurdaspur.

A senior Punsup officer, requesting anonymity, said: "It was appreciable the way the department has nailed certain offenders. However, instead of random raids and nabbing some of the accused, the government needs to overhaul the entire system".

He said the department was required to look into the cases of scores of employees whose service benefits were held up after retirement because their name figured in inquiries into irregularities.

taking stock

The irregularity came to light on October 22 when it was found that the accused officials had allegedly allowed paddy storage at blacklisted rice mills
Such mills were handed over as many as 51,000 bags of paddy in an unauthorised manner
Punsup has already reported at least six scandals this year. Most of these scandals involve its own staff

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Paddy glut in mandis
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 30
As the paddy procurement process has picked up pace, lifting of the procured produce has emerged as a problem. A large number of paddy bags can be seen lying at the procurement centres.

According to official information, 8,23,935 tonnes of paddy has arrived at mandis in the district till October 29, of which 7,43,718 tonnes has been procured. However, only 59 per cent of paddy was lifted till last evening.

District Mandi Officer Sukhchain Singh Dhindsa said a shortage of labour for loading and unloading of paddy was delaying the process of lifting the produce.

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Maximum dengue cases in Ludhiana, Mohali
415 patients in state; no need to panic, say authorities
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 30
With the temperatures plunging, more cases of dengue are being reported from different parts of the district. The district has reported 141 confirmed cases of dengue and there has been no casualty so far, said epidemiologist Anil Verma.

Most of the patients being treated in the city hospitals are from the Malwa belt of Bathinda, Muktsar, Sangrur, Ferozepur and Moga. Some cases have also been reported from Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Mohali, Gurdaspur and Pathankot.

“The adult mosquito survives when the maximum temperature is between 25 degrees to 30 degrees. When the temperature goes below 25 degrees, it starts to disappear,” said Dr Verma, adding that this year, the number of dengue patients had been far less that in 2011. Till October last year, 755 dengue patients had been reported from Ludhiana district alone. But this year, their number was 141. The health authorities have formed 18 teams for fogging of affected areas. The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation is also taking preventive steps.

Dr VS Mohi, Deputy Director, Malaria, said against the figure of 3,000 dengue cases last year, only 415 confirmed cases had been reported across the state so far with Mohali reporting 153 cases and Ludhiana 141.

He said people went in for two kinds of tests to confirm dengue. The Elisa test, which was being suggested by private practitioners, was not too reliable. “Nevertheless, we have asked all civil surgeons to make emergency arrangements. We are not denying dengue cases but the situation is not alarming,” he said.

Bathinda district has received five cases of dengue so far, two of them from Deon village.

Dr Ashok Monga working in the Civil Hospital here, said the health department and the civic authorities had been coordinating on a weekly basis to identify vulnerable areas(where mosquitoes breed easily) and take preventive measures. This strategy had worked well. In Amritsar, Civil Surgeon Yash Mitra said seven cases of dengue had been reported from the district while test reports of 44 suspected cases were awaited. He said that tests for dengue were being conducted at Government Medical College, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital.

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Unemployment, drugs & now gastro deaths
Ravi Dhaliwal/TNS

Batala, October 30
The once vibrant township of Batala, which had the sobriquet "Iron bird of Asia" as it produced the top-class agricultural and mechanical machinery, is now in the news for all the wrong reasons.

More than 40 deaths have taken place in a single locality of the town, forcing the district administration to scurry for cover. Batala, which is also an important religious place for the Sikhs, is now a haunted town, presenting a picture of filth and stench.

One month down the line, officials are still floundering to ascertain the exact cause of 42 deaths in just one mohalla in the Gandhi Camp area. Twentyone of these have been attributed to gastroenteritis, while the rest, as officials say, were natural deaths.

Gandhi Camp is just symptomatic of the conditions prevailing in the historical town.

Unemployment is rampant because of the dying foundry industry. There are absolutely no jobs available for the youth. Reason enough why a majority of the jobless youth of Gandhi Camp, having a population of nearly 20,000 people, are hooked to an assortment of drugs, including hardcore ones like opium and smack.

On October 16, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal distributed Rs 1 lakh each among the kin of the victims (till then 21 had died of gastroenteritis). Sources said this led to a row over the cause of the remaining deaths. The officials claim the relatives of the people who have died recently were trying to attribute the deaths to gastroenteritis to claim the relief amount. Doctors at the Civil Hospital alleged last week, relatives of a 102-year-old woman brought the "already dead" woman to the hospital and pressurised them to declare it a gastro death.

"One or two deaths occurring in Gandhi Camp area, which is in grip of drug menace, is a routine. But these days, every death is being attributed to gastroenteritis, which is adding to the confusion," claimed an official on the condition of anonymity.

Residents are aghast at the way they are treated. Batala MLA Ashwani Sekhri said the district administration had become immune to their needs. "Water being supplied to the town had abnormally high amount of TDS (total dissolved solids). Each glass had more than 300 mg/litre.”

Experts point out that water having more than 200 mg/litre is a cause of concern because it will cause mineral buildup (also called scaling) in water pipes. Residents are also piqued over the fact that despite the harrowing experience they had to undergo in the last one month, neither Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal nor his deputy Navjot Kaur Sidhu cared to redress their problems.

batala’s cup of woes

Batala, once a vibrant, is now dotted with filth and garbage
42 persons have died of suspected gastroenteritis in a single locality in Gandhi Camp
Unemployment is rampant due to the dying industry
Jobless youth of Gandhi Camp are hooked to drugs
Water being supplied to the town had abnormally high amount of TDS (total dissolved solids)

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Cement import from Pakistan down by 30%
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 30
A slump in the construction activity coupled with the recent heroin seizures in rail cargo has led to a decline of 30 per cent in cement import from Pakistan.

All-India Cement Importers Association president MPS Chatha said cement import from the neighbouring country had dropped by almost one-third primarily due to non-availability of sand and gravel and the closure of brick-kilns in Punjab. He said a section of traders were also reluctant to import cement from Pakistan in wake of the recent instance of heroin seizures in rail cargo which has also contributed to the decline.

"The construction activity has slowed down considerably as either material like sand and bricks is not available or too expensive. A middle-class family cannot afford to construct a house in the current scenario". He said the importers were not placing any fresh orders and the consignments which they were receiving at present were ordered earlier. "I myself have not placed any fresh order for the last 20 days," he added.

Architect Amanpreet Singh said the construction activity had seen a slump of 20 to 25 per cent due to an increase in the prices of construction material. He said sand was either not available or was costly at Rs 2,400 per trolley. Similarly, he said, the price of bricks had gone up from Rs 4,800 to Rs 7,000 per thousand. Realtor Sanjay Joshi said the prices of construction material had skyrocketed in the last couple of months. "Prices of sand, gravel and bricks have witnessed an increase of 40 to 50 per cent," he said.

Earlier, the cement traders had stopped import from Pakistan for a month due to three incidents of heroin seizures in rail cargo. They had resumed the trade only after the Pakistani Customs authorities started using metallic seals on the rail wagons.

With two major heroin seizures recently, the traders are again worried. Since May this year, 155 kg of heroin has been seized in rail cargo from Pakistan. The traders have been demanding proper security, installation of scanners and sniffer dog squad at the rail cargo facility here.

trade at a low

Traders blame it on slump in construction activity due to non-availability of sand and gravel and the closure of brick-kilns in Punjab
Sand is now available at Rs 2,400 per trolley while the price of bricks has gone up from Rs 4,800 to Rs 7,000 per thousand

heroin seizures a major worry

With two major heroin seizures recently, the traders are again worried. Since May this year, 155 kg of heroin has been seized in rail cargo from Pakistan. The traders have been demanding proper security, installation of scanners and sniffer dog squad at the rail cargo facility.

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Special teams looking for Keetu’s killers
Tribune News Service

Moga, October 30
The Moga police has constituted special teams for conducting raids at various places to nab those accused of murdering former Akali legislator Malkiat Singh Keetu at his residence in Bilaspur village in Moga district yesterday.

The Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order, SK Sharma, said some relatives of the deceased had been taken into custody. Keetu was reportedly shot dead by his nephews Jaspreet Singh, Harpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh and their accomplices Kulwant Singh and Angrej Singh.

A case of murder under various Sections of the IPC and the Arms Act had been registered against them on the complaint of Kulwant Singh, Keetu’s adopted son, to the Nihalsinghwala police, Sharma said.

Though preliminary investigations indicate that Keetu was killed over a property dispute, senior police officials said the murder motive could be ascertained only after the arrest of the accused. Keetu’s nephews were Congress supporters and had worked against their uncle in the last assembly elections, sources said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal visited the bereaved family at Bilaspur village this afternoon. He assured Keetu’s widow Gurdeep Kaur that the family would be accorded due respect in the party. Local MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan Kaur, local MLAs Maheshinder Singh and Rajwinder Kaur and former Union Minister Balwant Singh also called on the bereaved family.

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3 of family killed in road mishap
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 30
Three members of a family were killed when the Maruti Swift Dzire car they were travelling in hit a roadside tree near the Zila Parishad office here last night.

Sources said Varinder Mittal (65), his son Arun Mittal (37) and grand daughter Aditi (6) were killed while his wife Brij Bala Mittal (62) and daughter-in-law Suman (35) sustained serious injuries. Arun's son Lokesh (5) escaped unhurt.

The Sangrur-based family was returning from Shahbad, near Ambala, after attending a marriage there. Besides a wholesale jewellery business, the family owns an ice factory near the old grain market here.

The police said the injured had suffered fractures on their legs while one of them had a fracture on her arm as well. They were rushed to the local civil hospital from where they had been shifted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana.

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Punjab to acquire 12,500 acres in Patiala district
Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 30
With a view to develop industry and boost the manufacturing sector, the Central government and the Punjab government along with private investors will acquire 12,500 acres of land in 33 villages of Ghanaur and Rajpura tehsil, to set up a National Manufacturing and Investment Zone.

Since 1980, manufacturing in India has only contributed 15 to 16 per cent to our GDP growth whereas in other Asian countries, it has been around 25 to 35 per cent. The government is looking to set up these zones with a view to boost the manufacturing sector and bring its share in the GDP up to around 25 per cent in the next ten years.

General Manager of District Industrial Centre Harjinder Singh Pannu said they had already sent a report to Chandigarh in this regard. “We held meetings with village residents to find out what they thought about the project. Villagers seem to have no objections to it. Their only concern is that they should get good compensation for their land and that the government should ensure their rehabilitation. They have sought jobs from the government once the zone was developed. The land would be acquired only after their consent,” he said.

Asked why the government chose this particular area in Patiala district, he said the area had good connectivity, which was a must for the development of industry. The airport is nearby and the area is very close to the GT road, he added.

Meanwhile, residents of as many as 33 villages of Ghanaur had decided to formulate a committee to protect the interests of the people. The villagers refused to divulge anymore information on the subject.

Project details

Govt to set up a National Manufacturing and Investment Zone
Since 1980, manufacturing in India has only contributed 15 to 16 per cent to our GDP growth
Step taken to bring the contribution of manufacturing to around 25 per cent in the next ten years
Residents of 33 villages of Ghanaur to formulate a committee to protect the interests of the people

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Food processing units in Rajpura raided
Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 30
Tightening its noose on various factories that manufacture food products, a team of Health Department led by Patiala Civil Surgeon today raided two factories in Rajpura.

The team collected five samples and sent them to the Chandigarh lab for testing.

Patiala Civil Surgeon along with District Health Officer Dr Harish Malhotra and Food Safety Officer Aditi Gupta raided Bunge India Limited, situated on Chandigarh-Rajpura road. The company manufactures Gagan vanaspati ghee, refined oil, soyabean products and other products prepared from vegetable oil.

The team found the factory in an unhygienic condition. The workers packing the oil did not wear gloves. The team collected three samples of mustard oil, crude palm oil and soya oil. Civil Surgeon said keeping in view the unhygienic condition of the factory; we have written a letter to higher authorities to seal the factory and will also write to the government to cancel its licence.

Later, the team raided Hindustan Unilever Limited factory in Rajpura and took samples of sauce and various jams. They were satisfied with the hygiene maintained at the factory. The team also raided six cold stores in Rajpura.

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Youngsters go for pirated books
Megha Mann/TNS

Bathinda, October 30
Youngsters preferred to buy the pirated versions of top-listed books which were otherwise sold at a higher price. At the ongoing NBT fair, many youngsters demanded "cheaper" version of books, especially that of English writers like Paulo Coelho's "Eleven Minutes" and "Alchemist", Kiran Desai's "Inheritance of Loss", Arundhati Roy's "God of Small Things", books of Brian Weiss on spiritual experiences and Daniel Carnegie's books on success and career. "I came here looking for cheaper books. But the prices here are the same as that at any other book stall. In fact, now I plan to buy books from Chandigarh or Ludhiana where cheap pirated versions are available," said Jyoti, a student of DAV College.

The chief editor of National Book Trust (NBT) Dr Baldev Singh Baddan admitted that piracy was a necessary evil in printing industry. "Be it the markets in Chandigarh or Delhi, some rare old books and magazines are found there. And to some extent, the publishers are also responsible for churning out expensive books instead of making them within the reach of the common reader," he said. He added that private publishers print only 10 per cent of the books in paperback and the rest find their way to the market as hardbacks or glossy covers, which are overpriced and keep the readers at bay.

Meanwhile, the book fair evoked a mixed response from the children, young and elderly, by offering something for everyone. From Osho followers to readers of spiritual books, from tech-savvy kids to painters, from translated works to originals, from classic tales to modern era sagas, the fair has something for everyone.

While youngsters lapped up the romantic books and magazines, children were happy scrolling through a range of activity books, illustrated books, rhymes and lessons enrolled in CDs, DVDs and pen drives. The NBT's section has the largest collection of quality books for children in regional, Hindi as well as English languages.

Added to this are gadgets like telescopes, binoculars, video games and Chinese games that add zing to the book fair. With 56 publishers and 87 stalls, National Book Trust alone has registered a sale of Rs 10 lakhs in the last three days and there are still six more days to go even though private publishers may not be inclined to share the optimism.

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No swap cards, farmers in trouble, says Bhattal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30
Senior Punjab Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today said a large number of farmers had not got their payment for the paddy procured from them because the firm, which had been given the contract for issuing swap cards and swap machines to facilitate payments to commission agents, had not commissioned the project in time.

Addressing a press conference here, Bhattal said farmers were facing problems due to inefficiency on the part of the State Food and Civil Supplies Department. She said the department should have either ensured the smooth functioning of the swap card project before the onset of the procurement season or stuck to the old method of payment through commission agents this year.

According to arrangements between banks and the government procurement agency PUNGRAIN, swap machines were to be installed in grain markets which were to be operated by swap cards issued to commission agents.

Bhattal said she had toured her constituency recently and had come to know that in small ‘mandis’ of Moonak and Khanauri alone payments of more than Rs 6 crore were due to farmers. She also rapped procurement agencies for not lifting paddy on the pretext of excess moisture even as she claimed that those favoured by the government were able to get their paddy procured immediately.

Bhattal also said that the twin visits of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had boosted the party in Punjab and that the rank and file was confident of winning all 13 seats in the state in the 2014 parliamentary elections.

She claimed that the SAD-BJP government was already tottering because it had ‘managed’ the last assembly elections and was now failing on all fronts, be it economic or law and order. It had failed to safeguard the interests of the state. She said she was confident that the government would crumble under its own weight and that assembly elections would also be held in Punjab in 2014 along with the parliamentary poll.

Bhattal urged Pradesh Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh to probe the “leakage” of an alleged assessment done by the Punjab Congress Committee (PCC) stating that six out of the eight party MPs in the state were on a weak wicket. High-level sources in the PCC had earlier disclosed that an assessment had been made and that a number of MPs were doing badly. Amarinder however ruled out any inquiry in this regard claiming no survey had been conducted by the PCC about the status of sitting MPs from the state.

Admn fiasco

Swap machines, operated by swap cards, were to be installed in all grain markets
The cards were to be issued to commission agents
Swap card project was not commissioned in time
In small mandis, payments of more than Rs 6 crore due to farmers

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SC candidates complain to Commissioner
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30
Certain Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, who appeared in a test to get employed at the Agriculture Department, have complained to the Financial Commissioner (Development) stating that rules related to reservation in jobs were violated while issuing appointment letters to candidates selected as Agriculture Development Officers (ADO).

In a representation submitted to the Commissioner, SC candidates have stated that over 1,250 candidates had appeared in the test conducted to recruit 154 ADOs. Following the declaration of the result, a merit list was prepared on the basis of it in March this year. After that candidates were called for counseling.

However, it has been alleged that the SC candidates, who made it to the general category merit list were excluded from it and put in the reserve category list. Under the instructions issued by the authorities concerned, SC candidates, who make it to the general category list, cannot be pushed to the reserve category list.

SC candidates have urged the Commissioner to look into the matter.

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Police clueless about 19-yr-old missing girl

Fatehgarh Sahib, October 30
The whereabouts of 19-year-old girl Ashia, who had gone missing from Mandi Gobindgarh on October 18, are still not known. The girl had left her home to appear in Class XII exams, but never returned home.

Ashia’s mother, Nazma, resident of Sangatpura village, falling under the Mullepur police station alleged that earlier the police did not register any complaint about her missing daughter. She had lodged a complaint on October 19, The case was registered only on October 28.

The SHO, Chand Singh, said the Ashia’s family had alleged that a boy from Rajindergarh village was responsible for the girl's disappearance. — TNS

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Police moves court for Nishan’s DNA test
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, October 30
The Faridkot police today moved an application in the court of the Duty Magistrate here, seeking permission for a DNA test on Nishan Singh, the main accused in the Shruti abduction case.

In its application before the court, the police claimed that the accused had earlier declined to undergo DNA finger-printing. Hence, court permission was required. The court adjourned the hearing on the application to November 3, asking the accused to file a reply, if he so wanted.

Though the police has registered a case of kidnapping, trespass and criminal assault against Nishan Singh, no rape charge has been slapped against the latter. But Nishan Singh faces rape charges in a case registered against him on August 10 on the complaint of Shruti’s’s parents.

Doctors have already collected Shruti’s DNA samples during her medical examination at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot.

Meanwhile, fearing a demonstration by the local Action Committee (that is agitating for justice for Shruti and her family), Member of Parliament Paramjit Kaur Gulshan and Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, who was to inaugurate an education centre in the town, reached the venue an hour before the scheduled time. Gulshan came in a private vehicle to escape attention.

Shruti seeks books

Jalandhar: Young Shruti was given a set of books on spirituality at the Nari Niketan here on her asking. She has also sought textbooks for Class X.

It is learnt that Shruti was a bright student and would participate in an array of extra-curricular activities, from athletics to dance and music. — TNS

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Family suicide case
Court rejects bail plea of former SSP, SHO
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 30
A local court today rejected the bail plea of former Amritsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kultar Singh and the then SHO of the Division-C police station Hardev Singh in connection with a suicide case in 2004.

Kultar Singh, retired as a DIG, where as Hardev Singh at present is posted as the DSP, Zira. The Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) had filed a complaint in the court alleging that the police officials had forced Hardeep Singh and his family members to commit suicide. Hardeep had reportedly scribbled the name of the police officials on a wall of his house before taking the extreme step.

On September 19, the court had issued arrest warrants against the police officials. Two other accused Manmohan Singh and Jaswinder Singh have already got bail.

Sarbjit Singh, prime investigator, PHRO, said inquiries had revealed that harassment at the hands of Kultar Singh had driven Hardeep Singh and his family members to commit suicide. Suicide notes by the victims also mentioned the former SSP’s name.

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ETO suicide case
VB officer’s bail plea dismissed

Chandigarh, October 30
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Mohali Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Amandeep Kaur. She is facing the allegations of implicating an Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) in a false corruption case.

ETO Ranjeet Singh had committed suicide just three days after he was arrested by a team of Vigilance Bureau headed by Amandeep Kaur on March 29, 2011. Taking up the matter, Justice KC Puri dismissed the anticipatory bail petition after finding no merit in it. The orders come as a second setback to her. Mohali Additional District and Sessions judge had already dismissed her anticipatory bail petition. Amandeep Kaur landed herself in trouble after the Punjab government ordered a probe into the matter. The probe team in its report indicted SP Amandeep Kaur and others for abetment to suicide.

A Mohali Court too had directed the police to register a case against the guilty officials on July 27, after taking up a petition filed by deceased ETO’s wife, Manjeet Kaur. In her petition before the local court, she had alleged that her husband was implicated in a false case, compelling him to commit suicide. — TNS

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Bogus Ration Cards
Govt told to hold probe in two months
Saurabh Malik/TNS

Chandigarh, October 30
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has given the Punjab Government two months to carry out a probe and come out with facts and figures on the alleged issuance of bogus ration cards in the state under the Below Poverty Line Scheme.

The state government has been asked by a Division Bench to inquire into the instances of alleged issuance of bogus cards before providing the petitioner, Harpreet Singh, with the details. The government has also been directed to look into old-age pension grants allegedly being given to ineligible persons across the state.

The, on a public interest litigation (PIL), were issued by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain. Taking up the matter, the Division Bench observed that the PIL pertained to the preparation of false ration cards under the BPL Scheme and the grant of old-age pension to ineligible persons.

In its detailed order, the Bench said: “The complaints of the petitioner to the government on the matter have not received any response. In these circumstances, we dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the state government to treat this petition, stating instances, as a representation along with the other representation already submitted by the petitioner”.

The Bench asserted: “After inquiring into such cases as pointed out by the petitioner, a reply be given to the petitioner within a period of two months”. The order indicates that the petitioner can again move the High Court by filing a public interest litigation, if his apprehensions on bogus ration cards are established by the probe.

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SAD councillor held for gambling
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 30
An Akali councillor was arrested for allegedly indulging in gambling after a raid was conducted at his house late last night. An amount of Rs 11.34 lakh and several boxes of liquor were seized.

Six others were also rounded up by the police. All the accused were later bailed out.

Following a tip-off, a police team raided the house of Surinder Kumar Vicky, SAD councillor from ward No. 56 at Haripura, at about 1.30 am. Those present in the house, including the councilor, were allegedly found indulging in gambling. Amritsar Police Commissioner Ram Singh said: "All were taken to a police station for questioning. They were granted bail. But we will keep an eye on their activities. We have constituted teams to conduct raids to check the menace in view of the festival season," he said.

Others booked have been identified as Surinder Kumar, a resident of Katra Baghian; Pardeep Kumar, a resident of Haripura; Rajesh Bajaj and Pardeep Kumar, both residents of Gate Hakima; Satish Kumar and Deepak Kumar, both residents of Chheharta.

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