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Another Moga youth, fourth in a month, killed in Philippines
MBBS counselling: Varsity ‘tweaks’ norms for sports quota candidates
SGPC, the supreme landlord
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Flooded Beas damages crops in Majha, Doaba
Sangat Darshan a waste of time and money: Warring
Sikh panel to educate envoys
about turban
Sukhbir for audit of local
bodies to ensure fund use
VC seeks legal opinion on terror victims’ wards
Fake domiciles pose challenge to Baba Farid University
Ferozepur, Fazilka dists get
Rs 1.57 cr for mid-day meals
Bajwa behind disruptions
at Sangat Darshans: SAD
State told to recruit drug inspectors by year-end
Cong leader under I-T scanner
Bajwa behind disruption
at Sangat Darshans: SAD
Man shoots son dead over land dispute
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Another Moga youth, fourth in a month, killed in Philippines
Moga, August 10 Ramandeep Singh Gill (30), a businessman, had gone missing on Thursday and his body was recovered from a beach resort in Devao City yesterday. He died of a bullet injury. Incidentally, Ramandeep is the fourth youth from Moga to have been killed in the island country in the past one month alone. He used to live in Matina Aplaya, Davao City, an area that is home to more than 15,000 Punjabis. The local police has reportedly recovered a .357 bore revolver lying a metre away from the victim’s body. The weapon could have been used to kill Ramandeep from close range, but the police was yet to ascertain the fact, said the victim’s relatives. Preliminary investigations suggested that it either could be a crime out of an old enmity or the fallout of an attempt to resist robbery, the local media reported while quoting the police. Ramandeep’s family members said he had moved to the Philippines three years ago and was into money-lending business along with his elder brother Amandeep Singh, who had moved abroad six years ago. Thousands of Indians, including Punjabis, are settled in Manila, Quezon City, Cebu and Davao City in the Philippines and most of them are doing the business of money-lending. As such, robbery has been found to be the motive behind most of the murders. Victims from the district August 9: Ramandeep Gill (30) of Gholia Khurd village July 26: Gurprem Singh (22) of Samalsar village July 22: Gurjant Singh (34) of Kokri Buttran village July 11: Jagroop Singh (48) of Daudhar village
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MBBS counselling: Varsity ‘tweaks’ norms for sports quota candidates
Patiala, August 10 As per norms, the candidates are supposed to produce all the documents on the date of counselling and if they are unable to do so, their claim for the seat stands cancelled. The university had put a notice on its website on August 4 in this regard. The candidates have been given time till August 12. Expressing anger over the move, a sports category candidate said the gradation certificates were made round the year. "When the university has clearly mentioned in its prospectus that the candidates must produce all the documents during counselling, giving extra time is against the rules," he rued. Suspecting a foul play, another aspirant said the university had so far not displayed the merit list of sports category candidates on its website. "Tournaments were held long time ago. The players had enough time to get our certificates. This is a setback for those who have been working hard both in academics and sports," she added. Dr SS Gill, Vice Chancellor, BFUHS, said since the process of getting gradation certificates issued was complicated, they had given additional time to ensure that all sports candidates get an opportunity to present their claim. Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, Director, Sports, could not be contacted for a comment. One of the senior functionaries of the department said blaming the process was wrong. "The department has streamlined the process of making gradation certificates and students have enough time to get these issued. Seeking extra time doesn't really make sense," he added. Tournaments were held a long time ago. The players had enough time to get certificates. This is a setback for those who have been working hard both in academics and
sports Since the process of issuing gradation certificates is complicated, we have given extra time to ensure that all aspirants get an opportunity to present their
claim
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SGPC, the supreme landlord
Chandigarh, August 10 Owning a whopping 13,000 acres of agricultural land in various parts of Punjab and Haryana, the SGPC is also one of the biggest litigants of the region. A major part of its land is under illegal occupation. As such, the committee is engaged in numerous legal battles to get the re-possession of the land that it claims to be its own. While 9,000 acres of the land is in Punjab, the rest is in Haryana. Of the entire area, 3,300 acres is under litigation due to alleged illegal occupation by farmers and other parties. Among the SGPC’s biggest tracts of land are the Gurdwara Baba Budhaji Ramdas in Amritsar (over 1,400 acres), the Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in Gurdaspur (over 500 acres) and the Gurdwara Chohla Sahib (350 acre). Insiders say in certain cases, the illegal occupants comprise parties enjoying the patronage of the ruling Akali Dal, thus making the re-possession difficult. The SGPC earns around Rs 30 crore annually as contract money from the land it has leased out to farmers and other parties — the amount is a pittance given the huge land-holding. How the SGPC got such huge chunks of land? There has been a tradition in Punjab to donate land to gurdwaras, a practice that started during the tenure of Guru Nanak Dev. The largest-donated tract perhaps is in the name of Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib (now in Pakistan). As the SGPC manages 79 gurdwaras directly — has indirect control over 197 gurdwaras — in Punjab and Haryana, the control of the land donated to these bodies rests with the committee. At some places, the land ownership is even entrusted with the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the ‘Loh Langar’ (community kitchen). SGPC president Avtar Singh said a special campaign had been launched to get re-possession of the committee’s land and to increase the lease money. For instance, he said, the lease money of the Gurdwara Dera Baba Gandha Singh near Barnala had been increased from Rs 7,700 per acre earlier to Rs 30,000 per acre. “We intend to lease out the land through open auction as it will generate more revenue,” he said. At a few places, the SGPC has utilised its land for setting up of schools, colleges and other educational institutions. It has also developed orchards (like in Talwandi Sabo) and forests at certain places. It also has plans to develop a 50-acre agriculture research farm near Ludhiana to facilitate the students of agriculture-related subjects in the colleges managed by the religious body. Biggest litigant too
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Flooded Beas damages crops in Majha, Doaba
Amritsar/Jalandhar, August 10 In Mand area in Tarn Taran district, farmers of 30 villages have been affected. Among the worst-hit villages are Dhunda, Manakdeke, Vairowal, Kirishahi, Bhalojala, Gagrewal, Rampur Narottampur, Hansawala, Bhail Dhaewala, Gujjarpura, Gharka, Karmuwala, Dhun Dhaewala, Chamba Kalan and Mundapind, besides the area of Goindwal Sahib. Ghonewal, Ballarwal, Talwandi and Kotli villages in Amritsar district have also reported damages. Gurnam Singh of Dhun Dhaewala village and Dalbir Singh from Chamba Kalan village said their crop had been facing devastation due to the rising water level in the Beas every year but this time it had been completely ruined. Kisan Sangharsh Committee’s Punjab convener Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu said paddy crop, vegetables and fodder were ruined in these villages. The farmers lamented that their tube-wells had also submerged while the temporary dwellings made by them in the fields were also surrounded by water. The farmers of Dhun Dhaewala, Chamba Kalan and Kambo Dhaewala said they had for long been demanding from the state government allotment of agricultural land at an alternative place, but to no avail. Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner Balwinder Singh visited affected villages like Gharka, Dhunda, Goindwal and Mundapind. He said they were expecting the water level in the river would recede by tomorrow. In Doaba, reports of damage to crops have been received from more than 20 villages of Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts. The worst-affected are the villagers residing along the ‘dhussi bundh’. While crops over 5,000 acres of land were submerged in Sultanpur Lodhi sub-division of Kapurthala, over 2,000 acres were submerged in Mukerian and Dasuya sub-divisions of Hoshiarpur. The district administration and drainage department officials have evacuated 35 persons from low-lying areas of Mehtabpur village in Mukerian. Sultanpur Lodhi Sub-Divisional Magistrate KS Chandi claimed a record discharge of 1.16 lakh cusecs from the water bodies upstream was recorded at Dhilwan in the Beas this afternoon. Worst-affected areas
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Sangat Darshan a waste of time and money: Warring
Bathinda, August 10 Criticised by the CM for playing “cheap antics”, Raja Warring told The Tribune that he was trying to raise people’s issues only. He said the Sangat Darshan was an “unconstitutional exercise” and reminiscent of “Akbari” days where the lord of land magically appeared before masses to display his cosmic powers and prove his lordship. “This ‘darshan’ presupposes that the governance at the grassroots level is non-existent. The time and money of the administration is wasted to keep the political bosses amused. It is interference in the administrative work where the political orders are given weight over the real solutions,” he claimed. He suggested the programme be named ‘Akali Darshan’. Raja said as it was a government-sponsored programme, ignoring a democratically elected MLA was a “criminal violation of the spirit of democracy”. On the allegation that he created a scene, Warring said the CM wanted to hold the Sangat Darshan in his constituency but didn't invite him — a sitting MLA. “Was that decorum or political propriety on his part? I didn't become MLA to speak in the assembly alone. I went as a representative of the people who had complaints of non-governance. I had to go uninvited as the administration officials did not let real complainants show up.” On Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s warning that such intervention won’t be tolerated, Raja said he will not be cowed down by such threats.
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Sikh panel to educate envoys
about turban
New Delhi, August 10 Former Union Minister BS Ramoowalia and office-bearers of the Sikh body, at a press conference here, appreciated the DSGMC chief and the four other persons accompanying him for not removing their turbans at the airport on August 6. After intervention by the Indian mission in Italy, the country's authorities allowed Singh and the four other persons to board a flight a day later. Singh said he had gone to Cremona (in Italy) to attend a Dastar (turban) Awareness Day event. He said when they were asked to take off their “hats” (turbans), the group decided not to comply with the directions even if it meant missing the flight. Singh alleged that the Union Government did little to address the problem faced by Sikhs at international airports. He said the DSGMC would invite representatives of all countries to attend an event to create awareness about the turban.
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Sukhbir for audit of local
bodies to ensure fund use
Ferozepur, August 10 Disclosing this here today, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said every single penny being spent by various elected bodies would be accounted for. The audit would be different from the regular audit conducted by the CAG, he said. Sukhbir said top professional audit companies would be engaged for this purpose. The Finance Department had been told to finalise a comprehensive policy in consultation with other departments so that the audit could be started by the year-end, he said. Sukhbir said an amount of Rs 24,000 crore would be spent on the development of over 13,000 villages within the next couple of years, which made it imperative to conduct an independent audit. On the demand for reopening of the Hussainiwala-Lahore border, Sukhbir said the SAD-BJP government would take up the matter with the Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister who was also keen on opening this border". "Let the relations normalise, we will take up the issue in the right earnest," he claimed, alleging that the Congress leaders hailing from this area had been making hollow promises for long, but they forgot everything the moment they reached Delhi. Hails gutsy cop
The Deputy CM said Sub Inspector Jagdev Singh posted as SHO Mallanwala who had showed exemplary courage in nabbing a robber who had shot dead a petrol pump employee near Makhu yesterday would be promoted as Inspector.
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VC seeks legal opinion on terror victims’ wards
Chandigarh, August 10 The trouble arose because as per the original notification, the deceased should have been the breadwinner of the applicant's family. Dr SS Gill, Vice Chancellor, said: "The parents are arguing their case on the basis that their elders had laid down their lives during the days of terrorism and that the entire family had been affected. We have sought legal opinion in the matter." As per norms, 2 per cent seats are reserved for wards of terrorist\riot-affected victims. The list of victims included whose breadwinner was killed in terror-related violence in Punjab or in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots outside Punjab. On the controversy surrounding admission of Tarn Taran SSP Rajjit Singh Hundal's daughter, the VC said: "The certificate was prepared by the office of Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam. We have communicated the matter to his office and are awaiting a reply before taking an action". Dr Gill said: "The argument of families seeking reservation in this category has been submitted for a legal opinion as there were different views on the matter. In case of SSP Hundal, the notification clearly provides that the benefit of admission will be given only to families who lost their breadwinners during the days of terrorism. We are waiting for a reply from the DC". The document "certified that Rajjit Singh, son of Ajit Singh, is the girl's father who was killed in terrorist action in Punjab during an operation of security forces acting in aid of civil power". The SSP has blamed the language sought for the certificate in the prospectus. The SSP's family is also learnt to have faced terror attack in which his mother and sister had died.
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Fake domiciles pose challenge to Baba Farid University
Faridkot, August 10 The university has decided to raise the issue with the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Punjab School Education Board. Due to these dubious domiciles, the university had been facing hardships during the ongoing counselling for MBBS admissions, Dr SS Gill, Vice Chancellor said. "Some students of other states want to avail the advantage of Punjab's domicile to get admission in state's medical colleges. We have identified some schools which give dummy admission to students in Classes XI and XII," he said. "On the basis of these admissions, the students get the benefit of state's domicile," he said, adding besides Punjab, these students take the advantage of domicile in their parent states. Another major reason for these students to opt for such schools where they are enrolled as regular students but they hardly attend any class was to get full-time coaching from private centres to prepare for entrance tests, the VC said, alleging that many coaching centres were even playing the role of a facilitator. They were in touch with many PSEB or CBSE-affiliated schools where these students are enrolled as regular students, but are not required to attend classes. To curtail this practice sometime ago, the then Director General of School Education, Krishan Kumar, had directed all the district education officers to check the trend of dummy admissions. Stay extended Jalandhar: With the Supreme Court extending stay on the admission process for the third batch of 150 MBBS seats in Chintpurni Medical College and Hospital, Pathankot, till August 16, the aspirants have been left in the lurch. The court has asked the Medical Council of India (MCI) to file a reply on certain issues raised by petitioner Manohar Lal Sharma, who has challenged the MCI's approval to the college. — TNS
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Ferozepur, Fazilka dists get
Rs 1.57 cr for mid-day meals
Jalandhar, August 10 The Mumbai-based NGO Stri Shakti that served meals to 1,635 schools in both the districts had terminated its contract with the Education Department with effect from August 15. The amount released by the government would help in feeding the students in the two districts for just 20 days. The NGO had been billing Rs 1.20 lakh per month. Besides serving food to 1,58,151 beneficiaries daily, it would purchase the grains (rice and wheat) from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), store them, grind them and arrange LPG, said Gavanmeet Singh, General Manager, Punjab unit of the NGO. Prabh Charan Singh, General Manager, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, claimed that besides Rs 1.57 crore, more funds would be released as per the requirement. Singh said PUNSUP, a procurement agency, would provide food grains to the districts.
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Bajwa behind disruptions
at Sangat Darshans: SAD
Chandigarh, August 10 In a joint statement here, Jails Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka claimed the PCC chief was resorting to desperate measures. The leaders said the certainty that the Punjab Congress had drawn up a conspiracy to disrupt the Sangat Darshans was clear from the immature behavior of Gidderbaha legislator Amarinder Singh who tried to work against the wishes of his own constituents who had come to air their grievances at one such programme recently.
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State told to recruit drug inspectors by year-end
Chandigarh, August 10 The assertion by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih came on a petition filed in public interest by Varinder Kumar against the state of Punjab and other respondents. The assertion assumes significance as till date Punjab has only 51 drug inspectors. As the PIL came up for resumed hearing, the Bench was informed that the sanction for additional posts has already been sought. Taking on record the statement, the Bench asserted: "We call upon the state of Punjab to suitably augment the number of drug inspectors by sanctioning requisite posts as the matter is serious, affecting the population at large. We expect that the requisite number of drug inspectors would be recruited at least by the end of the year". The case will now come up for further hearing on January 15 next year for compliance. Already, the High Court has paved the way for the appointment of drug inspectors in the state by dismissing a bunch of 13 petitions challenging the process. The petitioners had challenged the recruitment process and short-listing of candidates for appointment as drug inspectors under the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The petitioners had contended that an advertisement was issued on May 2, 2010, by the department, inviting applications for recruitment to the various posts, including 37 posts of drug inspector. Educational and other qualifications were specifically stipulated in the advertisement. Dismissing the petitions, the HC had rejected the argument that the shortlisted candidates were ineligible as they lacked the requisite experience while observing that "the same is founded on a clear misreading of the relevant statutory provision
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Cong leader under I-T scanner
Jalandhar, August 10 Talking to The Tribune, Sanjay Mishra, Jalandhar IT Commissioner, said, “We will check the facts and take necessary action as per IT laws in this regard.” Talking to The Tribune, Samra, a Congress leader, said there was no need to inform the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the IT department about the fact that he had paid Atwal Rs 1 crore during elections. Samra said, “A team of workers had collected the fund from several persons. There was no need to inform any government department in this regard.” Samra on Friday demanded the expulsion of PPCC general secretary Gurbinder Singh Atwal from the party for his alleged anti-party activities in 2012 assembly elections in a meeting held in the presence of PPCC chief Partap Bajwa at Nakodar. Samra alleged that Atwal was paid Rs 2 crore by Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal to oppose him in the last assembly elections from Nakodar segment. “Then PPCC chief Amarinder Singh and I also paid Atwal Rs 1 crore each to persuade him to work for the party but he betrayed us by supporting his opponent Akali candidate Gurpartap Singh Wadala,” Samra said. Atwal on the other hand rubbished the allegations. He said, “Samra has levelled these allegations against me as I am the strongest candidate from Nakodar seat in the forthcoming assembly elections since my Nurmahal constituency was dissolved after delimitation. As many as 130 villages falling under the dissolved constituency have now been included in Nakodar assembly segment.” Atwal, who has won elections from Nurmahal twice in 1992 and 2002, said, “I will complain against Samra for leveling accusations against me publicly at the highest level of party forum.”
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Bajwa behind disruption
at Sangat Darshans: SAD
Chandigarh, August 10 In a joint statement here, Jails Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka claimed the PCC chief was resorting to desperate measures. The leaders said the certainty that the Punjab Congress had drawn up a conspiracy to disrupt the Sangat Darshans was clear from the immature behavior of Gidderbaha legislator Amarinder Singh who tried to work against the wishes of his own constituents who had come to air their grievances at one such programme recently.
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Man shoots son dead over land dispute
Ferozepur, August 10 Lakhwinder Singh, village sarpanch, said the panchayat had a dispute with a few people regarding the ownership of a plot in the village. He said though Gurdev Singh supported the panchayat on the issue, his son Anokh Singh was “conniving” with the rival group, which angered Gurdev Singh. Sources said Gurdev, who has been arrested on many occasions, had asked his son not to interfere in the matter but Anokh was adamant on his stand. This morning, the duo had an argument which took an ugly turn when Gurdev took out his .12 bore gun and allegedly shot dead his son. — OC
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Amritsar/Jalandhar, August 10
Ferozepur, August 10
