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Rape accused escapes from court
PWD employees go on mass leave, allege victimisation at hands of senior officials
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NGT directs DC, MC commissioner to appear on August 29
Adesh University nursing students go on strike; want exam held
Three arrested for theft
Hotel industry gasps for survival
Guru Kashi varsity sets up board of studies
Photography exhibition inaugurated
Translation breaks barrier between languages: Expert
Squint in adults due to neglect, says doctor
Six injured in separate road accidents
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Rape accused escapes from court
Bathinda, August 19 The courtroom is situated on the first floor and the accused escaped from inside the room and cross the police barricade on the ground floor. The accused managed to run away from the court complex before the police personnel on the first floor and ground floor could coordinate with each other. This is the third incident in the past six months wherein four prisoners have managed to flee from police custody till now. The accused, Raju Verma, was booked on March 13 under Sections 376 and 363 of the IPC at Kotwali police station and was later arrested in this regard. A resident of Awa Basti, Raju is accused of raping a minor girl residing near Gurdwara Haji Rattan. Police post in charge of court complex, ASI Nirmal Singh said Raju was brought to the court by two head constables, Pargat Singh and Bhola Singh, from the Police Lines. They brought him inside the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge where they removed his handcuffs. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused was apparently planning to flee as he asked for water thrice and went to the washroom twice, he added. “These are considered as warning signs which the two policemen failed to understand as they were escorting the prisoner for the first time to the court”, Nirmal said. The accused told the policemen that he wanted to talk to the judge and stood close to the exit of the court while the policemen remained seated on their chairs inside the court room. The accused made a whirlwind sprint downstairs. The ground floor was congested with litigants and those filing their traffic challans and the accused easily managed to intermingle in the crowd and fled away. Earlier in March, a murder accused had managed to escape from police custody from the Civil Hospital. In another incident in the month of April, three prisoners managed to flee after killing a policeman near Maur Mandi. Two of the accused were killed in an encounter by the Bathinda Police. Investigating Officer in the case, ASI Nirmal Singh said efforts were on to nab the undertrial and stringent action had been ordered by senior police functionaries against those responsible for the lapse. Previous cases
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PWD employees go on mass leave, allege victimisation at hands of senior officials
Bathinda, August 19 The employees will remain on leave on August 21 as well. They are demanding roll back of the transfers of the union leaders and workers. In a memorandum submitted to the executive engineer of the division, the association members demanded that the charge of chief engineer of north water supply and sanitation be given to some other official. They also demanded that the transfers of association leaders Harbhajan Singh Khunger, Surinder Kumar and Balwinder Kaur be rolled back. Revision of pay scale for the field staff, including pump operators, fitters, plumbers, electricians and AC mechanics, was sought in sync with the other technicians’ category. Union members have threatened to hold an agitation rally on September 6 outside the residences of executive engineers of divisions and superintending engineers of different circles if their demands were not met with.
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NGT directs DC, MC commissioner to appear on August 29
Bathinda, August 19 Headed by chairperson Swatanter Kumar, the NGT has directed both the officers to be present before the tribunal on the next hearing, fixed for August 29. It is learnt that the tribunal raised concerns over the non-segregation of waste at the dumping site. “The tribunal was keen to know as to why the local bodies had not started the procedure of segregating plastic (non-biodegradable) from the biodegradable waste, which is the matter of prime concern,” said one of the officials present at the hearing. He added that by summoning the DC and the commissioner, the NGT wanted to know the kind of strategy and methodology in the offing for segregation of waste scientifically. During a visit of the local commissioner, appointed by the NGT, to the site on July 27, the petitioners (area residents affected by the setting up of the plant in the near vicinity) had repeatedly pointed out that the waste was not being managed scientifically and was just being buried under layers of soil, which had polluted the soil as well as the underground water. The petitioners’ lawyer in the case, Guriqbal Singh Chahal, said the report of the local commissioner submitted to the NGT had substantiated the petitioners’ claims of the MCB not managing the garbage scientifically, not installing proper fences around the dumping site and not taking up plantation on urgent basis. The municipal solid waste treatment plant of Bathinda was the first in state to get environmental clearance in September 2012. Later, the Ludhiana plant at Jamalpur was cleared early this year. The case of Bathinda plant at the NGT is being followed closely as the judgements and directions in it may set precedence for other such plants proposed in the state. Already, there are agitations over setting up similar plants at Amritsar where people are opposing it. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav said he had been informed of the the order to appear before the tribunal on August 29. “We will get a clear idea of what is expected from us only after getting written orders by tomorrow,” he said.
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Adesh University nursing students go on strike; want exam held
Bathinda, August 19 Students gathered outside the main gate of the university in the morning and lodged their protest. The protesters included second year students of BSc post basic course and BSc nursing. Around 90 students have been left in the lurch as the university is unable to take their examinations.
The university spokesperson said as per the rules, a team of Indian Nursing Council (INC) was supposed to visit the college before it could take its own exams. After the Adesh Group of Institutes, Bathinda campus, was declared Adesh University, the INC was to visit again and give a nod for the institute to go ahead with its academics and examination system. All the admissions to the university had been conducted through Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot. The university was to take exams of the students on its own. It had applied to the INC for inspection in February and had also paid Rs 5 lakh inspection fees. “We do not know why the INC is delaying its inspection. Our university has repeatedly taken up the issue of inspection with the INC through correspondence and verbally as well, but we are yet to get a response,” the spokesperson said. He added that the on Wednesday, the university Vice-Chancellor will visit the office of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take up issue of the INC not inspecting college despite repeated requests. The students were assured today that exams would be conducted in the month of October. Though some students demanded that the Adesh University officials give the assertion in writing, the university denied the same, stating that matters were not in their hands.
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Three arrested for theft
Bathinda, August 19 A case under Sections 379 and 411 of the Indian penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the three accused in this regard. Investigations into the theft case were on, the police said. |
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Hotel industry gasps for survival
Bathinda, August 19 “We are gasping for survival as the occupancy rate in hotels is less than 5 percent and the mounting state and centre government taxes are strangulating us,” said hotelier Bikramjit Singh Bahia. President of the association Satish Arora added that the association members now plan to meet the deputy chief minister for apprising him of the state of poor business and request for deduction of taxes. The hotels are charged with 8 percent luxury tax, 12.36 percent service tax, 14.25 per VAT on food and drinks. At the onset of the year, the permit-fee was revised from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 and two months ago it was revised again to Rs 1 lakh. It is the establishment owner who pays permit fee, while the individuals holding parties pay for the event. Hotel owners claimed that 25 percent of their income was being forced out to pay taxes, despite the fact that earnings are at rock bottom. In the neighboring state of Himachal Pradesh, where the government aggressively promotes tourism, only 6 percent luxury tax is charged. In Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh charge only 4 percent VAT is charged on food. When Punjab government had not spent even a single rupee on popularizing state as a tourist destination like Himachal Pradesh government did, how can it collect luxury tax of 8 percent, the hoteliers reasoned. They said that in the whole year, in Bathinda city only World Kabaddi Cup gives them some relief as it is the only time when earnings are made. “We need at least seven big events in a year, which can be beneficial for us. Government has developed hockey stadium of best quality, it should now start holding league matches, ” they suggested. Hoteliers said while they were burdened with a number of formalities, rules, regulations and taxes, government was giving free hand to the dhabas to flourish. “Dhaba culture is killing hotel industry. AC fitted dhabas double up as low cost motels and government has turned a blind eye to it,” they added. Fact file
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Guru Kashi varsity sets up board of studies
Bathinda, August 19 Dr NS Malhi, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the university was doing its utmost to promote Punjabi language and level of education in Punjabi. Dignitaries of repute in the field, Prof Karamjit Singh, former Head of the Department of Punjabi, Dr Narvinder Singh Kaushal, Dr Iqbal Godara, head of Department of Punjabi, DAV College, Abohar, Dr Jeet Singh, Punjabi University Regional Centre, Bathinda, Dr Baldev Singh Dhaliwal, Punjabi University, Patiala, Prof Ravinder Singh Bhattal, MD College, Barnala, Prof Bharmjagdish Singh, Barjindra College, Faridkot and Dr Sunil Kumar, head of the Department of Punjabi, will be part of the board. The board of studies for undergraduate courses comprises renowned Punjabi playwright Prof Ajmer Singh Aulakh, former professor, NM College, Mansa, Dr Lal Singh Kheewa, principal of Punjabi University College, Ghudda (Bhatinda), Dr Baljit Kaur, GNC, Sirsa, Prof Harpreet Singh Dua, GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana, Dr Surinder Singh Bhattal, principal of GGS Khalsa College, Ludhiana, Dr Sudarshan Masso, professor and head, GMN College, Ambala Cantt, Dr Jagjit Singh and Dr Baljinder Singh from GKU. |
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Photography exhibition inaugurated
Bathinda, August 19 More than 100 budding photographers of the DAV Art Club showcased their photographs on a wide range of subjects. From nature to civilisation, from riches to poverty, every aspect of life had been captured in the photographs. The monuments of India, natural landscapes, clouds, rivers, insects, birds, animals and various other aspects of nature and life had been captured by the students. Dr Satwant Kaur Bhullar, principal of the School, said, “Photography is a rare talent and it needs to be nurtured. This opportunity is given to the students of the school to fortify their clicking instincts.”
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Translation breaks barrier between languages: Expert
Bathinda, August 19 Instead of introducing students to several languages at the university level, we should strive to do so at the school level since in that phase of our lives, our reception abilities are strong. Talking about, translation, the theme of the programme, she said translation was the tool with which we can break the barrier between languages. If we write in Punjabi, only those who know it will be able to read what we’ve written. If we want to reach out to more readers, we have to take the help of translation through which we will be able to tap a larger readership base. Earlier fewer people worked in the field of translation and hence, there were greater chances of mistakes in the translated works. The way government reprints the original works it should reprint the translated works as well. Translating a work is difficult than creating it. If writing is like building a house, translation is like demolishing the old house and structuring a new one in its place and hence translation is difficult, she added.
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Squint in adults due to neglect, says doctor
Bathinda, August 19 While talking about giving spectacle prescription to the children, he cautioned that computer readings are incorrect and eyes must be examined physically by doctors. President of the society Dr Amrit Sethi welcomed the guest speaker and delegates. Punjab Medical Council had given accreditation for this scientific session.
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Six injured in separate road accidents
Bathinda, August 19 NGO cremates 3 dead bodies
Sahara Jan Sewa, an NGO, today cremated three dead bodies. The volunteers said dead body of a woman was found near Malgodaam road. A mentally retard person was found dead near platform number four of the railway station. Another mentally retard person, killed in a road accident, was found on Bathinda-Rampura road. The police has handed over the bodies to the NGO as no relative was available to perform the last rights of the deceased. |
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Bathinda, August 19
