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Cabinet okays linking Mohali with UT metro
Now, complain directly to Dy CM
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Grievance cell no solution, says Capt
Chief Minister showers bounty on Bholath constituency
Schoolchildren to get tablets soon
DGP can’t supplant statutory rules: HC
MURDER
of a policeman
Helicopters, Mercedes vehicles for Pak Punjab CM Sharif’s visit
Sarna asks Akal Takht to summon Ramoowalia
Cancer survey covers half of Sangrur’s population
RTI plea exposes nepotism in recruitment
15 new panchayats in Ropar, Barnala dists
Patiala village sarpanch slaps employee, held
Excise department fails to check bogus billing
Whistleblower alleges threats by mining mafia
BKU compiling list of drug peddlers
Tehsildar fined Rs 1,000 under RTS Act
NGOs to seek medical facilities in Jalalabad
Doctor found absent at health centre
SC orders compensation for Punjab farmers
Secrecy funds
Peddler held with 1 kg of heroin
Property dispute: Ludhiana Akali councillor booked
Two policemen hurt in mishap
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Cabinet okays linking Mohali with UT metro
An official spokesperson said two corridors would be developed for the project. One from Capital Complex, Chandigarh, to Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sector 70, in Mohali, having a length of 12.49 km. At least 3.97 km in this section lie in Mohali. The second corridor will be from Mullanpur (Punjab portion) to Grain Market, Panchkula, having a length of 25.07 km. A total of 3.87 km in this portion will fall in Mullanpur. To ensure quick dispensation of justice to the people of the state, the Cabinet approved the creation of 37 posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-Judicial Magistrate besides entrusting the work of selection of 71 posts of PCS (Judicial Branch) to the Punjab & Haryana High Court by taking these posts out of the purview of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC). The said posts will be advertised by the PPSC and the selection will be made by the recruitment committee of the High Court. The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the Punjab Lokpal Act by making provision for the appointment of one Up-Lokpal. To regulate the profession of travel agents and checking their illegal and fraudulent activities, the Cabinet gave its approval for enactment of the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Bill, 2012. The Bill stipulates whosoever indulges in activities that result in sending people abroad illegally shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of not less than three years, which may extend up to seven years with fine. Whoever is again convicted of an offence under the same provision shall be punishable, for the second and for each subsequent offence, with double the penalty provided for that offence. The Cabinet decided to appoint the late ASI Ravinder Pal Singh's daughter Robinjeet Kaur, who is M.Sc in computer science, as naib tehsildar on compassionate grounds. The Cabinet approved an amendment to the Punjab School Education Board Act, 1969, to declare the Board as the sole body to discharge its functions. The move will empower the board in checking the malpractice of issuing bogus certificates/degrees which were not approved for employment in government as well as other organisations. The Cabinet decided to slash the rate of VAT on timber and scaffolding from 13 per cent (plus surcharge) to 5.5 per cent (plus surcharge). The reduction will help prevent flight of timber and scaffolding units from Punjab to other states. Acting on the written requests from farmers, the Cabinet gave its go-ahead to return their land leased to the Citrus Council. The Cabinet also approved repealing of the Pension Scheme of 1996 for the grant of pension and gratuity to the teaching and non-teaching staff of the state's privately managed recognised affiliated aided colleges. To ensure better citizen centric services to the people and smooth functioning of the Pathankot and Fazilka district administration, the Cabinet approved the creation of 239 and 228 posts in various departments of Pathankot and Fazilka districts, respectively. The Cabinet also approved the creation of 28 posts in blocks of Bhagtan Bhai Ka in Bathinda, Raikot in Ludhiana, Sujanpur and Dorangla in Gurdaspur district. other key decisions
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Now, complain directly to Dy CM
Chandigarh, December 12 Addressing a press conference at the police headquarters here, Sukhbir said there was a general feeling that the police response on complaints was slow. He said the portal and toll-free number now gave the common man an option to reach out to him directly. Launching the portal in the presence of Director-General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini and senior police officers, the Deputy Chief Minister said in case of urgency, the police would act immediately and would address the problem in 21 days in the normal course. He said complaints could be submitted on the website www.punjabpolice.gov.in and toll-free number 1800-180-2082. He said the initiative would help him get unfiltered feedback from the people and monitor the police functioning. Sukhbir said it had been decided to create separate investigation and policing wings. He said investigation wings equipped with latest techniques would focus only on investigation of cases. He said this division would strengthen the policing system and bring transparency and effectiveness in the investigation system. Launching the first-ever rapid rural response system with a three-digit toll-free number, the Deputy Chief Minister said by January, Punjab would get 700 motorcycles for rural policing and 245 fully equipped motorcycles for urban policing. PCR motorbikes would reach within 20 minutes of reporting the complaint on the pattern of 108 ambulance, he said, adding a central control room was being setup for rapid rural response system and he would personally monitor its functioning.
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Grievance cell no solution, says Capt
Chandigarh, December 12 "It either reflects the Deputy Chief Minister's lack of confidence in himself or his own Director-General of Police," he said, adding who would allow a common man to access the fortified police headquarters in Chandigarh? The grievance cell should be in each police station, he said. Capt Amarinder said it was surprising that the Deputy Chief Minister who was also the Home Minister of the state felt the need to set up his grievance redressal office at the police headquarters next to the office of the Director-General of Police. "It raises questions whether the will of the Deputy Chief Minister is prevailing in the police or not," he observed. Capt Amarinder said launching a web portal or toll-free number would not solve the problem of law and order in the state as long as Akali jathedars ruled the police stations.
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Chief Minister showers bounty on Bholath constituency
Kapurthala, December 12 The Bholath MLA said the sub-divisional hospital inaugurated yesterday would provide better health facilities to the public. The state-of-the-art 50-bed hospital had been constructed at a cost of Rs 9 crore, she added. Similarly, three power sub-stations formally upgraded from 33 KV to 66 KV would ensure efficient electricity supply to the area, she said, adding Rs 2.5 crore had been spent on this work. Bibi Jagir Kaur accompanied by her son-in-law and youth Akali leader Yuvraj Bhupinder Singh said the inauguration of Bholath sub-division's building would facilitate the visitors. An amount of Rs 3 crore was spent on a new building of the tehsil complex, she added. Badal also laid stones of several development works during his visit to the constituency yesterday. Bibi said stones laid for widening and strengthening various roads, including Subhanpur-Nadala, Nadala-Bholath and Bholath-Begowal, would make commuting convenient for the locals as well as visitors. Nearly Rs 10 crore would be spent on strengthening roads in the area, she added. Similarly, Badal also laid the stone of a new building of the DSP's office to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.65 crore, she said. Stating that Badal always remained generous towards Bholath, Bibi said various development projects worth Rs 25 crore showered on this area during his Tuesday visit further established the Chief Minister's special attention towards residents of this constituency. On his yesterday's visit, Badal, known for supporting his loyalists during the days of their misfortune, stated: "No one should oppose the development works as they benefit the entire public irrespective of their political affiliations." Bibi claimed that the confidence of the voters would further strengthened with pace of development works spree. all in a day
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Schoolchildren to get tablets soon
Chandigarh, December 12 The Education Department is likely to receive a sum of Rs 160 crore collected by the Excise and Taxation Department as education cess since 1998. The decision to transfer the funds has been taken following a contempt notice issued to the Excise and Taxation Commissioner and Special Secretary, Education, by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 8. The contempt notice was issued after the duo failed to comply with the earlier directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued on December 9, 2011. Acting on a public interest litigation filed by Ropar-based lawyer Dinesh Chaddha and the Government Teachers Union, the court has asked the Excise and Taxation department to release the funds. However, several months after the court order, the cess amount of Rs 326 crore was not transferred. This led to filing of a contempt petition against the officers by Chaddha and the union in July. The Excise Department had claimed that it had deposited the total education cess to the Finance department which had failed to release it to the Education department. Sources in the Education Department said out of Rs 326.88 crore collected by the Excise Department as education cess (from 1998 till June 2011), the Finance Department has agreed to release a part payment of Rs 160 crore on December 12. The remaining amount will be released in equated monthly instalments of Rs 40.86 crore till March 2013. The Punjab Government had introduced education cess on the sale of country liquor, Indian Made Foreign Liquor and beer at the rate of Rs 10 per proof litre. This cess was levied in August 1998, but barring a few months in 2008, when reportedly Rs 32.90 crore was transferred, most of cess collected till July 2011, remained in possession of the Excise Department. It was only from July 2011 onwards that the cess collected on liquor is being deposited regularly with the Education Department.
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DGP can’t supplant statutory rules: HC
Chandigarh, December 12 A Division Bench of the High Court repeatedly asked the Punjab Additional Advocate-General to explain: “Under what authority the DGP can issue instructions contrary to the statutory rules?” The Bench asserted: “The DGP, or even the government, cannot supplant the rules. They can only supplement such rules. The government can only amend the rules by following proper procedure... The DGP cannot issue blanket instructions to the appointing authorities in the manner that have been issued under the DGP's circular." Appearing before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, advocate-cum-petitioner HC Arora, during the proceedings earlier, referred to the provisions in Rule 16.2 (2) of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934. The rules provide that "an enrolled police official convicted and sentenced to imprisonment on a criminal charge shall be dismissed" but in case his conviction is set aside in appeal or revision, "the officer empowered to appoint him shall review his case, keeping in view the instructions issued by the government." The petitioner also referred to another proviso to the rule before stating: "An appointing authority may, in an exceptional case involving manifestly extenuating circumstances, and for reason to be recorded, and with the prior permission of the next higher authority, impose any punishment other than dismissal." The petitioner, as such, pleaded that in view of the binding statutory provisions of the Punjab Police Rules, the DGP had no authority to issue instructions in conflict with the provisions. The DGP could not direct the appointing authority to act in a particular manner, he added. The petitioner also referred to a document on record to substantiate his submission that at least 22 police officials of the Punjab Police, convicted for criminal offences, had been retained in service under the pretext of the circular dated May 18, 2010. Faced with this situation, the Additional Advocate-General, Punjab, Rita Kohli, sought a short adjournment to produce other documents for explaining the circumstances under which the circular was issued. While adjourning the case to December 20, the High Court directed that the PIL be treated “part-heard”.
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MURDER
of a policeman
An interim report explained as to why the ASI continued to remain at the crime site for about 20 minutes after being shot in the leg by Rana. The police has put together the sequence of events which led to the murder of the ASI and identified lapses by its personnel. Police sources said Rana and his associates were often seen at the Chheharta market and would indulge in eve-teasing. They said on December 1, they made a comment at the ASI's daughter Robinjeet, who was on her scooter, asking her should remove her "dupatta" that she had used to cover her face. Robinjeet stopped her two-wheeler and confronted Rana. An enraged Rana came for Robinjeet's dupatta. The ASI's daughter then complained to the Station House Officer, Chheharta police station.She also rang up her father posted in a nearby police station. The sources said a wireless message was sent to trace the Rana's vehicle and a police party went to the Chheharta market to see if the accused were still there. On December 5, Robinjeet again spotted Rana and his associates with their vehicle at the Chheharta market and rang up her father who arrived at the spot and entered into a heated argument with Rana. He fired into the air. Rana retaliated and shot him in the leg. The ASI was shifted to a relative's shop (named Dilbagh and Sons) in the market and given first-aid. This took around 10 minutes. The local police station was informed following which it was decided to shift the ASI to a car so that he could be taken to hospital. When the car was about to be driven, Rana returned with another loaded gun. The ASI asked that the car be stopped. He got out in anger with his pistol to confront Rana, but was shot dead point blank. The report says that the Chheharta police could not respond quickly because the SHO, who was preparing for a 'Global Policing Assessment', had delegated responsibilities to an ASI, who was not present there. He did not reach the crime spot before the second shootout. The report says the murder could have been averted if ASI Varinder Singh posted at a nearby naka, who reached the spot before Rana's return, had not remained a mute spectator to the crime. Head Constable Jasbir Singh, accompanying the slain ASI, fled the spot after the first shoot -out and did not report the incident. He has been suspended. A departmental inquiry has been started against ASI Varinder Singh.
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Helicopters, Mercedes vehicles for Pak Punjab CM Sharif’s visit
Chandigarh, December 12 Sharif will visit his ancestral village Jatti Umra in Tarn Taran, have lunch at the Sukhna Lake and make a brief sojourn to the hills in Himachal Pradesh. The Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister will cross the Wagah border on December 14 and fly to Chandigarh. He will meet ministers of industry, infrastructure and non-conventional energy as well as senior officers and industrialists at Chandigarh. This will be followed by lunch at the Lake Club. Sharif will fly to Ghanaur in Patiala to see a bio-mass plant and attend a dinner hosted by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the evening. On December 15, Sharif will fly to Ludhiana and interact with prominent agriculture scientists and progressive farmers. He will also see the working of a solar plant at Balachaur the same day. Public Relations Minister Bikram Majithia said on December 16, Sharif would leave for Delhi where he would call on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. On December 17, the Sharif family would visit Jatti Umra, Darbar Sahab and the Jallianwala Bagh. Sharif will be accompanied by 15 family members - his wife Nusrat Shahbaz Sharif, mother Begum Shameem, brother Abbas Sharif, his daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. An outing has been planned for his relatives at Timber Trail on December 14. The government has booked Mercedes S and E class cars for Sharif's family members and four Mercedes buses for the delegation accompanying him.
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Sarna asks Akal Takht to summon Ramoowalia
New Delhi, December 12 At a press conference here today, he said that Ramoowalia, while addressing a religious congregation at the gurdwara, had used the word “daku” instead of “saajan”. This, he said, was blasphemous. Sarna said that recently managers of the Ramgarhia Gurdwara at Hari Nagar in Delhi had organised a “jagran”. This was against Sikh traditions. Sarna appealed to the Akal Takht to summon the Akali leaders who had permitted the holding of a"jagran" at the gurdwara. He said that “except for religious ceremonies, no other activity could be allowed on the premises of a
gurdwara.” He appealed to the Akal Takht Jathedar to immediately issue a hukamnama (edict) against Akali leader Ramoowalia for his act of sacrilege. He also pleaded that he be punished as per the Sikh maryada.
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Cancer survey covers half of Sangrur’s population
Sangrur, December 12 According to information, while the cancer surveyors have detected 913 confirmed cancer cases in half of the population in the district, a total of 402 cancer patients have applied to the district health authorities so far for financial assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Cancer Relief Fund Scheme. Sources said besides other reasons, there was lack of awareness among the patients about the CM’s Cancer Relief Fund Scheme due to which a large number of patients were not availing this benefit. The other reasons include employees getting reimbursement from the government, patients getting treatment from hospitals that are not on the panel of government under the scheme and patients belonging to well-off families. Giving details of the cancer survey conducted by survey teams from December 1 to December 11, district health officer-cum-project coordinator of the cancer awareness and survey campaign Dr Surinder Singla said the survey teams had covered 8,07,778 persons residing in 1,45,966 houses in the district. He said the survey teams had found 913 confirmed cancer cases and had recorded 1,307 deaths due to cancer during the past five years in the district. The teams had also recorded 4,596 suspected cases in the district on the basis of 12 symptoms, which were warning signs for various types of cancer, he added. Meanwhile, DC Kumar Rahul has directed the SMOs of the respective areas and other district officers to educate cancer patients about the CM’s Cancer Relief Fund Scheme so that maximum number of patients could avail financial benefit towards their treatment.
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RTI plea exposes nepotism in recruitment Bathinda, December 12 Bhupinder Singh, son of the Chairman of the Rama Market Committee, Gurjit Singh, and Manpreet Singh, belonging to the Chairman's native village Kot Bhakhtu, were among the three candidates selected for the post of peon. There were in all 416 applicants. Gurjit Singh claimed that the recruitment was fair. He also claimed that he was not involved in the recruitment process. “As I was unwell, the recruitments were made by the Vice-Chairman,” he said. At Bhucho Mandi, of the 281 candidates, Kulwinder Singh, son of the Market Committee Chairman Hargobind Singh, alone could make it. Hargobind Singh also claimed he had nothing to do with the recruitment process. It was the same story at Sardulgarh where Gurpreet Singh, son of the Sardulgarh Market Committee Chairman Sukhdev Singh, was given the job. The latter maintained that his son deserved the post as he was already working as a peon on contract. He too claimed he was not involved in the recruitment process. At Mansa, Market Committee Chairman’s nephew Yadwinder Singh was selected for the job. The Chairman could not be contacted for comment. It was no different in Bareta, Dhariwal in Gurdaspur, Narot Jaimal Singh in Pathankot and Sirhind (where three relatives of the Chairman were recruited). The recruitment process was not uniform.There were different marks for interview at different market committees- 10 in Rampura Phul, Bhucho Mandi and Bathinda; 20 at Raman Mandi; 25 at Jalalabad and 50 at Phagwara. The Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, said he was not aware of nepotism in various recruitments. A peon earns a salary of Rs 12, 500 per month. A Class VIII certificate makes one eligible for the post. There is a 15 per cent quota for peons already working on contract.
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Thermal Plant
Ropar, December 12 It was on Monday that an ash disposal pipe in the plant burst, leading to Sutlej river water getting polluted. On Friday, four ash disposal pipes carrying ash slurry to dykes from units 5 and 6 of the thermal plant had burst. Revealing the cause of bursting of the pipes in the plant, sources said particles of ash had started damaging the inside of the pipes and to guard against this damage, these pipes are required to be rotated at 90 degree in the intervals of few months. However, these pipes had not been rotated for long, leading to the problem, said sources. Pollution of river had raised concern among environmentalists as well. Ropar-based bird-watcher Jaspreet Singh said the pollution will pose a risk to the flora and fauna in the region. It will even affect the arrival of migratory birds, he said. Thermal Plant Chief Engineer K Lall said such leakages take place
occasionally and the management was in the know of the problem. Measures were being taken to
minimise such incidents, said Lall. Pollution board officials collected six samples from channel four leading to Ghanauli drain and area of Ghanauli drain leading towards Sutlej. It will take some time to ascertain the quantum of pollution increased due to incident in the river, said Executive Engineer Joginder Singh.
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15 new panchayats in Ropar, Barnala dists
Mohali, December 12 While Ropar has 15 new panchayats, the department has removed six panchayats from within its fold to add these to the Municipal Council, Nangal. With the development, Ropar, which had a total of 590 panchayats earlier, would now have 599 panchayats. The newly-created panchayats in Block Anandpur Sahib in the district included Naraadh, Dehne (upper), Dabur (upper), Paharpur Simarwala, Kohiwal, Mohiwal, Mangewal, Baagh (upper), Jindwari (upper), Jindwari (lower), Chingri (lower), Nikuwal, Nangli Majra Manglore, Baagh Chowdhary Basti, Vella Dhyani, Gujjar Basti, Nangal Niku (lower) and Hathela Thalu. The six panchayats which have been included in the MC, Nangal, included Jawahar Market, Kachera, Barari, Medda Majra, Kathera and Rampur Sahni. Earlier, in Ropar district, there were a total of 590 panchayats. It would now have a total of 599 panchayats. In Barnala district, newly-created panchayats are Patti Sohal, Baazigar Basti Badwar, Manishar Nagar Dehati, Patti Bajwa, Nanakpura Pindi (all in block Barnala), Kothe Jabandi, Pakho Kenchiyan, Patti Jaidboje, Kajoke Khurd, Jaitasar, Kothe Chatryawaali and Patti Gill (all in Block Sehna). Jaspal Singh, deputy director (Panchayat) said the process of creation of new panchayats had been completed in 10 districts that included Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Mansa and Mohali so far.
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Patiala village sarpanch slaps employee, held
Patiala, December 12 Following the incident, the entire staff of the BDPO office submitted a complaint to the ADC (Development) Anandita Mitra and Patiala SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill. It may be mentioned here that Jaspal is nephew of Lal Singh, MLA from Sanaur. Terming the incident as unfortunate, Lal Singh said, "It is complete hooliganism in Punjab, with goons of the SAD thrashing the employees, as well as Congress activists, in every nook and corner of the state." Speaking to The Tribune, Jaspal alleged that Sukhjit reached the office at about 2.30 pm today and said the delimitation of wards for the village Rathian has to be done as per his instructions. "We told him that delimitation was not my subject matter and the report in this regard has already been sent to the Panchayat Secretary in the morning. Subsequently, Sukhjit slapped me and abused me in front of the office staff," he alleged. Though Sukhjit was not available for comment, his associates alleged that it was Jaspal who had indulged in a verbal duel and had used sarcastic remarks against Sukhjit. ADC (D) Anandita Mitra confirmed she had received the complaint. She stated that an inquiry would be conducted into the matter and necessary action will be initiated against whosoever is found guilty. "As far as allegations of slapping are concerned, it has to be dealt by the police and I conveyed to the staff that the police administration should be approached," she said.
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Excise department fails to check bogus billing
Ludhiana, December 12 Firms dealing with bogus billing are causing to the state exchequer loss worth crores and this looks like a never-ending affair. Department officials proffer the hope that these scams will be curbed only after the department is made "paperless". Recently, a scam worth Rs 60 crore was detected by the department, wherein a father-son duo was involved in issuing
fake bills while no goods were sold by them. They used to sell bills of blacklisted firms. In July, the department had unearthed a scam worth several hundred crores of rupees. All these dealers were dealing with Puskhar Impex, involved in the fake bill scam. In 2009-10, bogus bills of more than Rs 20,000 crore were issued by
some bogus companies in the market. During investigation, it came out that the traders across the state, in order to claim Income Tax Credit (ITC) and refund, had projected bogus turnovers of around Rs 20,000 crore. Nearly 60 per cent of the firms showing bogus turnover were from Ludhiana, said a senior
excise official. "The department is making efforts to get everything online — which will help in curbing the bogus billing racket. We hope once everything is online, there will be no room for such scams," said Excise and Taxation commissioner A Venu Parsad. The bogus bill scam has always been surrounded by controversies. The whistleblower in the scam, Jaswinderpal Singh, a clerk working with the department, died after he met with an accident under mysterious circumstances at Sudhar. He was instrumental
in preparing the files against bogus firms. Later, two excise and taxation officers, who were also investigating
the bogus bill scam, met with an accident. As for these accidents, the department had pointed fingers at the bogus
bill traders.
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Whistleblower alleges threats by mining mafia
Ludhiana, December 12 Lakhbir said despite his requests for protection, the police had done nothing so far. "About 95 acres of land in Jodhwar village was transferred to the gram panchayat in 1976 following an amendment in the Punjab Village Common Lands Act 1961 (Section 2-G, Sub- Section I). Despite this, land sale deeds continued to be done illegally till 2011. A Vigilance inquiry into the matter is on. Since the land is along the Sutlej, it attracted the mining mafia," said Lakhbir. Singh said he first lodged a complaint with the district administration in 2005 but the authorities did not take it seriously. In the absence of any strict action by the authorities, the sand mafia strengthened its hold over the area.
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BKU compiling list of drug peddlers
Chandigarh, December 12 A decision to this regard was taken during a special programme of the BKU under the chairmanship of Balbir Singh Rajewal at the Kisan Haven here today. Rajewal said the programme will commence from December 21. In the first phase, workers will distribute 1 lakh pamphlets among workers. They will supply these to as many households as possible. Rajewal said, "We are asking the government not to allow chemist shops in towns and villages which do not have any MBBS doctors, have strict control on drug inspectors, and dismiss SHOs and DSPs in whose areas illegal drugs are being sold."
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Tehsildar fined Rs 1,000 under RTS Act
Faridkot, December 12 A fine of Rs 1,000 has been imposed on him for causing a delay of 76 days in providing the copy of a land measurement record to an applicant. Applicant Rajinder Parshad was to be provided the copy within seven days of his submitting the application on July 6, 2012, but he got the copy on
September 21. “The penalty has been slapped on the officer to send a strong message among the government employees to follow the RTS Act in letter and in spirit,” said Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot. Earlier, taking suo motu notice of a news item published in these columns, the Punjab Right to Service Commission (PRSC) had directed the Faridkot Deputy Commissioner to take action against the official concerned and to get the service delivered to the applicant. Following the PRSC directions, the Deputy Commissioner today started a formal inquiry. He said the preliminary investigation revealed that the department in Faridkot seemed to have violated the RTS Act in 234 cases of delay in providing driving licences and vehicle registration documents. The officials concerned had been asked to explain the delay, he added.
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NGOs to seek medical facilities in Jalalabad
Fazilka, December 12 The residents of Jalalabad, a high-profile constituency represented by the Deputy Chief Minister, are agitating against the pitiable medical conditions in the town for nearly one and a half decades. The five-decade-old "Civil Hospital" in the town is in fact a 24-bed Community Health Centre, as per the official record. Some representatives and mediapersons had met Sukhbir Badal during his visit to the area two days ago. Badal, in turn, had directed his OSD Manish Kumar to resolve the issue within two days.
— OC
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Doctor found absent at health centre
Amritsar, December 12 The inspecting teams were led by District Family Welfare Officer Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar and Principal, Health Training School, Dr Hardeep
Ghai.
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SC orders compensation for Punjab farmers
New Delhi, December 12 The Supreme Court today directed the authorities to formally acquire the land under the Land Acquisition Act and pay the farmers compensation within nine months. A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya passed the order on an appeal filed by the
Centre, challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s 2010 orders directing payment of compensation to farmers Avtar Singh and Rajeshwar Singh represented by their advocate BS
Billoria. The SC noted that the possession of the land had been taken in 1962 but the “poor and ignorant” farmers could “muster courage” for fighting the “almighty state” only after 26 years and wrote to the authorities seeking vacation of their land or payment of compensation. As this effort did not yield any result, they approached the HC in 2005 and five years later, the HC passed an order in their favour on April 26, 2010. However, the authorities neither complied with the order, nor challenged it in the SC. As a result, the HC passed two more orders, one on July 19, 2010 and another on October 14, 2010. In the third order, the HC ordered that the salaries of four top BRO officials be stopped and imposed a cost on them for not complying with the court orders. Additional Solicitor-General
(ASG) Sidharth Luthra sought adjournment of the hearing in the case, citing some reason. However, the Bench pointed out that the BRO was in occupation of the farmers’ land for 50 years and dismissed the Centre’s petition. However, the Bench set aside the HC order stopping the salaries of the four officers. If the farmers were not paid compensation within nine months, the authorities concerned would have to face proceedings for contempt of court, the Bench warned.
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Secrecy funds
Chandigarh, December 12 During hearing of the PIL filed by advocate HC Arora, the state government had filed an affidavit by Ravneet Kaur, Punjab Secretary, Department of School Education. In the affidavit placed before the Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, the IAS officer stated that the department has constituted the committee in compliance with the order passed by the High Court on September 11.
— TNS
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Peddler held with 1 kg of heroin
Ferozepur, December 12 Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varinder Pal Singh said the police had nabbed two drug smugglers, Sucha Singh and Angrej Singh, on November 7 and seized 12 packets of heroin worth Rs 60 crore from them. Their third accomplice, Bohar Singh, had managed to escape, the SSP said, adding Bohar finally landed in the police net today. He said 1 kg of heroin was seized from the possession of Bohar Singh. He said the police was working on some leads to bust the entire gang of drug peddlers. He said investigations revealed that Sucha Singh had crossed over to Pakistan several times in
the past. "These drug peddlers had developed a lot of contacts with smugglers operating from across the fence," he said, adding the drug peddlers had confessed that they were paid an amount between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 per packet to deliver the consignment to the next courier in the chain.
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Firing in Doda village
Muktsar, December 12 Addressing a press conference here, Brar said: "Congress MLA Amrinder Singh 'Raja' Warring has been trying to link me with this incident. I am in no way related to the accused. They just belong to my native village
Kauni". "The main accused, Gurbhej Singh, and his brother
Kala, were once close to me and even supported me in the assembly elections. But none of them held any post in the Akali
Dal," Brar claimed. On his son Kuljeet Singh's statement that Gurbhej and Kala were their relatives, Brar said: "In villages, people usually call each other as their relatives. We do not have any blood relation with the accused". He also denied of having any knowledge of a newspaper advertisement carrying his picture with Gurbhej during a World Cup Kabaddi match at Doda
stadium. Brar said if someone had taken law in his hands, action must be taken against him.
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Akali sarpanch booked for murder at large
Amritsar, December 12 The police has failed to establish the role of the sarpanch, Amarjit Singh, in the case despite the fact that his name figures in the FIR. Amarjit is block general secretary of the Shiromani Akali dal. Sukhraj Kaur, the victim’s mother, had alleged that the accused had kidnapped her son. The sarpanch, she said, had opened fired at the family which accompanied by people of the area, had gone to Pargat Singh’s residence to get Gurpreet freed. “We are yet to ascertain the role of the sarpanch. Investigations so far have not established his involvement while the kidnapping charges also do not hold ground,” said Preet Paul Singh Virk, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Amritsar (Rural). Among those who have been arrested in the case are Swaran Singh and his cousin Amritpal Singh.
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Property dispute: Ludhiana Akali councillor booked
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 12 The police has also registered a cross-complaint against Inderjit Singh, his father Didar Singh and their associates under sections 323, 341, 336, 147, 148 and 149 of IPC on complaint of councillor Randhir Singh Dheera. SSP HS Mann said Randhir Singh Dheera, councillor from Ludhiana, and Didar Singh, were
partners in Golden City Colony and they had a property dispute. He said Dheera complained to the police that he, along with his associates, came to Sirhind to get the plot occupied by Didar Singh and his son vacated, but they, along with their supporters, attacked them with sharp-edged weapons, beat them, opened fire and inflicted injuries on them. Police registered a case. Meanwhile, Inderjit Singh, son of Didar Singh, lodged a complaint that Randhir Singh Dheera, along with his brother and other goons, took possession of their property and they fired shots in the air to terrorise them. He alleged that Dheera and his goons beat their family members and their companions with sharp-edged weapons and threatened to eliminate them. He said
he immediately ordered the station house officer Sirhind to register a cross-case. He said the matter is being investigated as both the parties are alleging firing at them. He added that a special team of revenue officials has been constituted to verify the original owner of the property. He said strict action will be initiated against the culprit, whosoever he may be. He said both parties are absconding and will be arrested soon.
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Three policemen killed in road accident
Barnala, December 12 The deceased were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Swaran Singh, Head Constable Satnam Singh and Constable Lakhwinder Singh. The names of the injured persons were Constable Gurbhej Singh, Constable Ranjit Singh and the PA of the CPS Sanjiv Kumar. As they sustained serious injuries, they were admitted to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana. Barnala SSP Snehdeep Sharma confirmed that in the accident, three policemen, including an ASI Swaran Singh, had died. He said the deceased and the injured persons were in the escort gypsy. The truck driver fled from the site. Postmortem of the deceased was conducted at the Civil Hospital, Barnala. The Mehal Kalan police has registered a case under sections 304-A, 279, 337, 338 and 427 of the IPC. — TNS
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Two policemen hurt in mishap
Ludhiana, December 12 Sanjeev was operated upon for removal of a blood clot from his brain. He is on life support system. Gurbhej, who has head injuries, is in trauma ward. Both the policemen are in coma said Dr Ashwani Choudhry, neuro surgeon.
— TNS
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Chandigarh, December 12
Chandigarh,
December 12