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Floods damage road, power
network
Makkar denies comparing govt schools to SGPC-run institutes
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Sidhu’s one-liner insult to voters: Cong MLA
SAD suggests way out to Modi Government
Daler Mehndi joins Congress
Consult local MPs on roads, Cong to CM
Mining ban delays ROB by four months
Nod to rapid transport system in Ludhiana, Amritsar
Govt sitting on post-matric scholarships
‘Missing’ girl keeps cops on tenterhooks
Engage expert group to probe cancer deaths, pleads govt
Recruitment scam: Documents of 70 PTIs examined
Dhindsa invites staff union leaders for talks
Punjabi University not to transfer staff from one college to another
SGPC seeks report from conservationists, puts off ‘kar sewa’
Tension over shrine
in Tarn Taran area
SGPC lodges FIR against Asaram’s spokesperson
HC for scrapping of exam
in case of mass copying
SC turns down plea for reducing sentence
Sub-Inspector arrested for
running extortion racket
Two girl students killed, 5 others injured in accident
Last of robbers’ gang nabbed
Four booked for raping woman
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Floods damage road, power
network
Muktsar, August 28 As per an estimate by the Mandi Board, the construction of new link roads in villages would cost nearly Rs 30 crore. "The floodwater has damaged nearly 268-km roads in Muktsar district. These roads will have to be reconstructed," said Sham Bihari, Executive Engineer, Mandi Board. Similarly, main roads in the district belonging to the PWD (B&R) have been damaged. A bridge on the Malout-Delhi national highway has also been washed away. The exact quantum of loss will be ascertained only after the drainage of rainwater as a number of link roads are still submerged. The power department has also suffered huge losses, with its three sub-stations inundated with floodwater. Certain areas are facing an acute power crisis as hardly any work has been initiated to restore these sub-stations. "We are helpless as villagers are not allowing the administration to drain water. A 220-KV power sub-station on the Ferozepur road, two others at Sarainaga and Wara Kishanpura villages are inundated. Till the floodwater is drained, normal power supply cannot be resumed," said Dilwar Singh, Deputy Chief Engineer, PSPCL. "The floodwater is receding at a slow pace. Nearly 2-3 feet water is still present at the main 220-KV sub-station while the Sarainaga sub-station is submerged under 6-feet water," he added. The official said: "We have arranged power from Moga, Sadiq, Bajakhana and Bathinda. The losses are increasing with each passing day." The power shortage has also hit the drainage work as a number of water lifting pumps installed in villages are being run on generators. The power supply to tubewells is also affected. Meanwhile, the police has started registering criminal cases against people creating hurdles in the drainage work. Two cases have been registered against some residents of Aulakh village for blocking the Muktsar-Malout highway and not allowing the rainwater from Badian village to enter their fields. They had also clashed with officials and residents of other villages. In 2011, when a similar situation had arisen, it had taken almost one-and-a-half months to drain out water from the fields. Sarabjit Singh, Secretary, Revenue Department, today visited some flood-affected villages of Gidderbaha and ordered a special girdawari. Paramjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, said as per directions of the Chief Minister, the Drainage Department was working on a project worth Rs 130 crore to tackle waterlogging in Gidderbaha. "There is also a plan to spend nearly Rs 21.45 crore to lay filters and pipes in the sub-surface to collect seeped water of Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind feeder canals," said Paramjit Singh. Common cause The floodwater has damaged nearly 268-km of link roads in Muktsar district Their reconstruction will require nearly Rs 30 crore A bridge on the Malout-Delhi national highway has also been washed away The power department has also suffered heavy losses with its three sub-stations submerged in floodwater
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Makkar denies comparing govt schools to SGPC-run institutes
Ludhiana, August 28 Talking to mediapersons here today, the SGPC chief said he did not make any comparison with the government-run educational institutions. He said being a representative of the SGPC, he was responsible for the promotion of the educational institutions run by the committee. He said the SGPC-run schools and colleges had produced good results in the last few years. “A student of Khalsa College, Patiala, has received gold medals in M Sc mathematics for three consecutive years. The SGPC-run schools charge fee much lower than private educational institutions,” he said. The SGPC-run Guru Nanak Engineering College and Mata Gujri College had attained autonomous status, he added. He said all educational institutions run by religious organisations promote their religious values through their institutions. “All religions do that,” he added. He denied having made any statement about the SGPC-run schools faring better than government schools. He said an FIR had been registered against Neelam Dubey, spokesperson of Asaram Bapu, for comparing Bapu with Guru Nanak Dev and Bhagat
Kabir.
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Sidhu’s one-liner insult to voters: Cong MLA
Amritsar, August 28 In a statement released here today, Verka said Sidhu with his one-liner, "when the elephant walks, a thousand dogs bark", has resorted to "lowest ever utterances as he has insulted the general public" which is questioning his prolonged absence from the constituency. Justifying the "Sidhu missing" posters pasted all over the city by certain Congress leaders, Verka said, "Everyone in the city today asks where is Sidhu while the MP has called them dogs," said Verka, adding that instead of defending himself, Sidhu initially chose his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu and now his political secretary to answer questions being raised by the people. "Why does not Sidhu come forward?" asked Verka. MP busy in Delhi, says wife Meanwhile, talking to The Tribune, Sidhu's wife and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu said her husband was discharging duties assigned to him by the party in New Delhi. When asked whether she sees any connivance of any SAD or BJP leader in the poster campaign against Sidhu, she said she had heard the people talking about it, but she had no idea about it. On her Delhi visit, she said she had a positive meeting with Punjab BJP affairs in-charge Shanta Kumar which lasted for two hours. "I underlined the need for maintaining discipline in the party. I wasn't there to fight for any party position, but to discuss the issues being faced by our Punjab unit." She said Shanta Kumar responded positively by saying that the party needed to have more meetings with the grass-roots level workers so as to be aware of the ground realities. On the possibility of Sidhu contesting the Lok Sabha elections, she said his first priority right now was the Delhi Assembly elections. She said Amritsar could never find an MP like Sidhu who had raised numerous issues concerning the city at every platform, including Parliament. — Raj Kumar Verka, Amritsar West MLA
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SAD suggests way out to Modi Government
New Delhi, August 28 Talking to The Tribune here today, Ramoowalia said he had meet Modi representatives in Gujarat and suggested a way out. “I have asked them to segregate genuine farmers from the those who have purchased land even though they are not,” he said. Thios way the Gujarat Government could sift genuine Sikh farmers from among those part of the land mafia in the state, Ramoowalia suggested. He said after the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Sikh farmers were invited to the Kutch-Bhuj area in Gujarat. The proposal to move Punjab farmers to Kutch was mooted by then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who said that Sikh farmers would not only make the land cultivable, but also help guard the country’s border. Most of them had migrated to Gujarat from Punjab’s Malwa region and Haryana’s Karnal district. After tilling their land for years, they had now been told that they could not continue in the state, Ramoowalia said. He said the affected farmers had won the case in the High Court, but the Gujarat Government had appealed in the Supreme Court. “The Chief Minister can submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court assuring that he will make amendments in the relevant law to save Sikhs and non-Gujarati farmers from being displaced. “The farmers can easily be identified from among the non-farmers from other states,” Ramoowalia said. The SAD-led Punjab Government is keen to find a way out of the impasse in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and its alliance with the
NDA.
The Gujarat Chief Minister can submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court assuring that he will make amendments in the relevant law to save Sikhs and non-Gujarati farmers from being displaced — BS
Ramoowalia, SAD leader
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Daler Mehndi joins Congress
New Delhi, August 28 “Mehndi and four others had applied for party membership and their requests have been accepted,” said a source in the party's Delhi unit. The four others include two sitting Delhi legislators, Ram Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party and Asif Mohammad Khan, who is an Independent. The two others are Ram Singh Bidhuri, a former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator, and VK Monga. — IANS
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Consult local MPs on roads, Cong to CM
Ludhiana, August 28 Tewari said the letter was clear in saying that the local MPs should be consulted before constructing roads. Tewari said, “The ministry has also asked the state government to display citizen information boards in local language at a prominent location in the area where the project are being executed.” Ramesh in a letter to the Chief Minister has also given the details of various roads sanctioned in phase two of the
PMGSY.
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Mining ban delays ROB by four months
Mukerian, August 28 The ban on mining in the state has led to an acute shortage of sand, gravel, loose soil and other materials, thereby raising construction cost. The project cleared by the Union Railways Ministry was to be completed in 13 months at a cost of Rs 14.22 crore. However, even after 17 months since the construction began, just 55-60 per cent of the work has been completed. The Railways and the Punjab Public Works Department (PWD) has been jointly working on the project since January 2012. RS Ghotra, PWD Executive Engineer, claimed that the ban on mining had delayed the project. Earlier, traffic jams were a common sight at the level crossing. Since over 50 trains passed through the crossing daily, it remained shut for long hours. After kick-starting the project, the PWD Department had diverted the traffic on the route. Sulakhan Singh Jaggi, a chemist, claimed residents had been demanding that the construction of the ROB be completed soon as alternative routes had been badly damaged. Sanjiv Kumar, a Dasuya resident, blamed the mafia for the steep rise in the price of construction material.
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Nod to rapid transport system in Ludhiana, Amritsar
Chandiagrh, August 28 An official release said Sukhbir today conducted an in-depth analysis of the transport system in Istanbul after he arrived there yesterday. Sukhbir had a long meeting with Istanbul Electricity Tramway and Tunnel's chief Hayri Baracli. The company operates BRTS in Istanbul and transports more than 7,50,000 people every day. The representatives of the company apprised the Deputy CM of the success of the BRTS and how it had been running successfully for the past five years. They also said more than 450 buses run on this system at an average speed of 35 kmph. This system has reduced vehicular traffic by four lakh cars in the city as people prefer travelling on these buses which were safer faster and cheaper. Sukhbir said they had studied the possibilities of BRTS for Punjab so that the same could be replicated there. He said this model would be introduced in Amritsar and Ludhiana in its first phase and a dedicated corridor would be created for plying of these low-floor buses. Farm tourism scheme Chandigarh: The Punjab Government has launched a farm tourism scheme in the state which aims at providing an interesting and relaxing rural tourism to visitors and also ensuring them adequate exposure to the local community life and pure Punjabi cuisine. An official spokesperson said detailed guidelines had been chalked out to rope in progressive farmers and farmhouse owners across the state. Under the scheme, a farmhouse owner would play the host and guide visitors. Those enrolling would have to provide clean, hygienic environment, equipped with modern facilities, the spokesperson said. — TNS
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Govt sitting on post-matric scholarships
Chandigarh, August 28 The money for the scholarships has not been received for the past three years. Funds for this academic session have not been earmarked either. Each year, the state has 1.5 lakh Schedules Caste students on the list of intended beneficiaries. With a matching grant from the Punjab Government, scholarships worth Rs 427 crore have not been distributed since the past three years. Besides the entire amount of Rs 166 crore for the year 2012-2013, the Centre has not provided 40 per cent of its share of funds for the year 2011-12 and a portion of the funds for the preceding year. The scheme was launched by the Centre in 1998. Social Welfare Department Director Prithi Chand, acknowledging the delay in funds, said: “We are pursuing the matter with the Centre vigorously. After a series of meetings held recently, the government has assured us it will release the scholarship funds within a fortnight”. A rather disappointed Paramjit Singh Kainth, president of the National Scheduled Castes Alliance (NSCA), said the delay in the release of funds was unfortunate. He warned both the Centre and the state government that “we will be compelled to launch an agitation in Punjab if the government fails to act on the matter. “The Congress as well as the Akali-BJP alliance have been treating the Scheduled Castes as a vote bank without genuinely caring for their upliftment.” He alleged that “servile” Scheduled Caste leaders chose not to raise issues of vital interest to the community in the state assembly. Post-matriculation students and those pursuing post-secondary courses are eligible for the scholarship. Those pursuing correspondence and distance and continuing education courses are also eligible. Ashok Kumar, a mathematics teacher at Government High School, Ferozepur, said: “A scholarship amount coming three years after a student has completed matriculation is of little use to him/her. “Alarge number of these students are forced to give up their education for want of funds.” About the scheme It was launched by the Centre in 1998 The Centre has not provided 40% of its share of funds for the year 2011-12 It has not provided a portion of the funds for the preceding year National SC Alliance chief Kainth warns to launch an agitation
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‘Missing’ girl keeps cops on tenterhooks
Pathankot, August 28 For the harried cops it turned out to be a case of killing two birds with one stone. The police not only traced the “Facebook girl,” but also brought back another one who had run away from her Pathankot house a week ago. The girls were friends and had their own reasons to flee their homes. The “Facebook girl”, as the police likes to call her, turned out to be an engineering student and a resident of Indra Colony. On August 23, while returning from college, she rang up home to inform that she was being stalked. After a brief conversation, hers phone went dead. Panic-stricken, the girl’s family approached the police. The police, sensing that something was amiss, rejected the “abduction” story and began investigations. Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police SK Kalia, who supervised the search operations, said nobody reported to have seen the girl being stalked on the street from where the family said she had been abducted. “That meant we had to no eyewitnesses to rely upon,” he explained. Flummoxed, the police personnel got in touch with cyber cell officials who went into on overdrive to locate the girl. The SSP said the police also contacted the girl’s friends but to no avail. “Later, we decided to study her mobile number call details and trace her contacts with whom she had last chatted on Facebook. A boy from her class revealed that the girl had a friend with whom she chatted regularly. And that was the lead that took us to Amritsar. “My officers rushed to Amritsar where they found the girls at the Golden Temple, where they had set up a meeting.” He said the ‘Facebook girl’ said she had decided to run away because of the “suffocating atmosphere” at her house. The other girl had left her house because of the “rigid attitude” of her family members. The girls were brought back to Pathankot where they were produced before the Executive Magistrate. “The girls expressed a desire to return to their homes following which we handed them over to their parents,” the SSP said.
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Engage expert group to probe cancer deaths, pleads govt
Chandigarh, August 28 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and state Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal took up the issue with Azad during his visit to Amritsar today. They urged Azad to engage a reputed international group of experts to conduct an extensive study of various aspects, including the quality of subsoil water, use of pesticides and fly ash, to ascertain the reasons for the rising cancer cases in the state. Mittal said the Union Minister has assured of all help in this regard. Despite several studies, there have been no conclusive findings on the cancer deaths in Punjab. Some studies have blamed the extensive use of pesticides and others the fly ash generated by various thermal plants in the Malwa belt. In certain villages near Bassi Pathana, residents have been told not drink water from hand pumps because of the dangerously high nitrate content found in water drawn from these pumps. Such pumps have been painted red by Mehar Baba Charitable Trust, which has been working on providing clean water to the people of that area. Former Director Health Services, Punjab, Dr Puran Singh Jassi, who is associated with the trust, said that nitrate was dangerous as it was toxic in nature and carcinogenic. Against the national average of 80 cancer patients per lakh population, it is 90 per lakh population in the state. However, in districts like Muktsar, it is close to 135 per lakh population. Figures say it all National average: 80 cancer patients per lakh population State average: 90 cancer patients per lakh population Malwa dists: 135 cancer patients per lakh population
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Recruitment scam: Documents of 70 PTIs examined
Mohali, August 28 Kamal Kumar Garg, DPI (S), said the DEOs concerned and other staff checked the documents of the 70 appointees. He said he would not be able to provide any information on the verification of the documents at present. Garg said an inquiry into various allegations had been marked and the matter was being probed by Deputy Director Ramesh Kumar and Assistant Director Shiv Pal. The report was likely to be submitted in about a week’s time, he added. Action would be taken in accordance with the inquiry report and as per the law, added the DPI. According to reports, 53 persons who had not even allegedly applied for the post of the PTI had been recruited. A few others were allegedly appointed despite having lower marks than the cutoff or did not have the relevant professional qualifications. The selection process has also been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In 2006, the Education Department had sought online applications for the recruitment of the
PTIs.
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Dhindsa invites staff union leaders for talks
Sangrur, August 28 A meeting between the Finance Minister and the union leaders was held at the Minister’s residence here today. Punjab State Ministerial Services Union president Sukhwinder Singh, general secretary Kulwant Singh Chahal and finance secretary Harjit Singh Grewal took part in the meeting. Sukhwinder Singh said they had informed the Minister that in the past they had suffered a lot on several grounds, including anomalies in their pay scales. He said their demands included clerical cadre scales for assistant cashier, district cashier etc, grade pay of Rs 4,200 for clerks as per their educational qualification, grade pay of Rs 4,800 for senior assistant and grade pay of Rs 5,400 for Grade-II superintendent, creation of post of subordinate staff in newly carved out districts. Sukhwinder said the Minister had told them that meetings with the Planning Commission were in progress that would continue till September 8. In view of this, the union agreed to meet him on September 16 at Chandigarh to discuss their demands, he added. He said if the government failed to accept their demand, they would intensify their agitation.
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Punjabi University not to transfer staff from one college to another
Patiala, August 28 Congratulating the Sports Department and the colleges affiliated with the university for winning the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for 2011-12 and 2012-13, The Vice-Chancellor said the university had won the trophy despite shortage of facilities for the players. He assured that they would provide the requisite facilities to the sportspersons. The Vice-Chancellor brought to the notice of the syndicate that the Punjab Government was planning to provide career counselling and new dimensions of employment to the meritorious rural students. In the meeting, appointments of Dr Paramjit Singh as Dean, Academic Affairs; Dr SS Khaira as legal advisor; Dr Amritpal Kaur as Additional Dean, Students; Dr Balwinder Singh Tiwana as Director, Academic Staff College; Dr Jamsheed Ali Khan as Dean, Colleges; Dr Jaswinder Singh as Dean, Research; Dr MIS Saggu as Additional Dean, Research; and Dr Surjit Pattar as Senior Fellowship, were approved.
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SGPC seeks report from conservationists, puts off ‘kar sewa’
Amritsar, August 28 He said the "kar sewa" would begin once the SGPC received recommendation of these experts which they hoped to get soon in the form of a report. He clarified that any repair work inside the shrine would be carried out in consultation with the experts. Former SGPC general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur had recently opposed the SGPC move to entrust the "kar sewa" to Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale, contending that it would "ruin whatever heritage is left in the shrine". She had advocated the need to engage conservation experts for the job. She had also stated that the SGPC should constitute a "heritage cell" having dedicated staff and advisory panel with conservation experts on board for the purpose When launched, it would be the first ever "kar sewa" on the interiors of the shrine. The gold-plating and the artwork inside the Golden Temple date back to Maharaja Ranjit Singh era. The shrine's interiors boast of rare architecture comprising "mohrakashi", "tukri" and "gach" work. Sources said the gold-plating inside the shrine had suffered damage up to 40 per cent, mostly around the arches of the doors. However, out of this 40 per cent damaged area, the gold-plating on only 15 per cent is required to be completely replaced while the rest will need only gold work. Similarly, only the artwork, which is severely damaged, will be repaired or replaced. The SGPC has already stated that all attempts will be made to maintain the originality and uniformity of the interiors of the shrine. Treading with caution The SGPC has roped in a team of conservation experts It will study the damage caused to the gold-plating and the artwork inside the shrine The
'kar sewa' will begin after the SGPC receives a report from the experts Earlier, the work was to begin on August 18 rare artwork The gold-plating and the artwork inside the Golden Temple date back to Maharaja Ranjit Singh era. The interiors boast of rare architecture comprising "tukri", "mohrakashi" and
"gach" work
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Tension over shrine
in Tarn Taran area
Tarn Taran, August 28 Following the incident, a heavy police force was deployed in the township. Harwinder Singh Sandhu Superintendent of Police (SP) Detective, Harpal Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Bhikhwind, and Devinder Singh, DSP, Patti, reached the spot. The local legislator, Prof Virsa Singh Valtoha, arrived at the scene and tried to pacify the protesting residents. Sources said a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, who had recently purchased 5 kanals of land for Rs 2.5 crore near the shrine, wanted to grab the shrine land. Congress leader Gurchet Singh Bhullar, BJP leader Lal Darajke and a CPM leader joined the protest dharna staged by the residents in the area. The sources said a case had been registered against the SAD leader and his supporters. Top police officials, including Senior Superintendent of Police Rajjit Singh Hundal and Superintendent of Police Harwinder Singh Sandhu could not be contacted.
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SGPC lodges FIR against Asaram’s spokesperson
Amritsar: The SGPC today lodged an FIR against controversial godman Asaram’s spokesperson Neelam Dubey for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Guru Nanak Dev during an interview to a TV channel.
As directed by SGPC president Avtar Singh
Makkar, a team of SGPC officials led by its secretary, Roop Singh, today met Amritsar Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh and lodged a complaint against
Dubey. The officials alleged that Dubey had deliberately deviated from the issue of sexual harassment case against Asaram and made objectionable remarks against the Sikh Gurus, hurting Sikh sentiments across the
globe.—TNS
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HC for scrapping of exam
in case of mass copying
Chandigarh, August 28 A Division Bench has also upheld the resolution passed by the Board of Directors of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on March 25. The Board had, vide the resolution, cancelled the written test held on July 15 last year for recruitment of assistant engineers, junior engineers and other officials. The Board had also resolved to re-conduct the written test. The resolution was, subsequently, upheld by a Single Judge. Taking up an appeal filed by Eshan Bansal and other appellants against the PSPCL and other respondents, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Surinder Gupta asserted: "In an examination, where en-mass copying takes place or large-scale unfair devices are activated, it is too difficult to separate the chaff from the grain and identify the innocent candidates, who deserve to be exonerated. In such a situation, the benefit of doubt must go to the institution instead of the individuals and that the only appropriate recourse would be to scrap and re-initiate the entire selection process". The power corporation had initially denied the allegations of malpractices in the written test and had defended the result declared by it. But, it reconsidered its previous stand after interim investigation reports were submitted by the Director-General of Police (Vigilance) and the Deputy Inspector-General (Cyber Crime). The High Court was also informed that an FIR was registered with the cyber crime cell under sections 419, 420, 465, 468 and 120-B of the IPC, along with Section 66 and 66-D of the Information Technology Act. The Board of Directors then resolved to scrap the examination and re-conduct the same. The Bench added: "As of now, there is no final definite conclusion drawn by any of the investigating agencies that only 10 candidates indulged in unfair means. "Since the investigation is still on where technical devices have been pressed into aid to unearth the mass malpractices, it is too premature to presume that some identified candidates only were the real culprits…." The Bench added: "The plea of violations of principle of natural justice is also misplaced….If the malpractice or unfair means referable to an examination are of such a wide magnitude that the individuals cannot be identified though the use of such means stands proved, there arises no occasion to give opportunity of personal hearing to those to be affected by the decision being applied uniformly as it cannot be said to have cast any aspersion to any individual candidate."
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SC turns down plea for reducing sentence
New Delhi, August 28 The convict had approached the court contending that it had no power to sentence anyone for more than a life term of 14 years. Gurvail Singh alias Gala, along with co-accused Jaj Singh, had been sentenced to death by a trial court on February 5, 2005, for murdering two children and their parents in Bhittewad village in Amritsar district on August 21, 2000. The death sentence was affirmed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 22, 1996. On the convicts’ appeal, the Supreme Courtcommuted their death sentence on February 7, 2013, but ordered them to serve 30 years in jail without any remission. They then filed a review petition which was also dismissed by the Supreme Court. After that, Gala filed a writ petition questioning the Supreme Court’s powers to award sentences for more than 14 years. Dismissing the writ petition on August 26, Justices BS Chauhan and SA Bobde clarified that the Supreme Court had the power to hand out jail terms that went beyond 14 years in the case of convicts whose death sentence had been commuted to life term. “This court issued orders to deprive a convict from the benefit of remissions only in cases where the death sentence has been commuted and it does not apply in all cases wherein the person has been sentenced to life imprisonment,” the Bench said.
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Sub-Inspector arrested for
running extortion racket
Patiala, August 28 The police, however, failed to arrest the women, identified as 22-year-old Tejinder Kaur alias Suman alias Seema, a resident of Rajpura, and her roommate 24-year-old Navjot Kaur alias Harman. But managed to arrest his two other accomplices identified as Gurmeet Singh and Sanjay Kumar for blackmailing the victims. The police said they had arrested Sub-Inspector Fakeer Chand, a resident of Sewak Colony, Patiala, who was currently posted in the wireless wing of the Fatehgarh Sahib police. Two similar cases were registered against the accused in the state and despite his suspension and arrest in the cases, he continued to indulge in the crime after joining the duty. A case under Sections 420, 473, 384 and 419 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Civil Lines police station. The police said Fakeer Chand used the two women to lure potential clients through Internet and mobile phones. “He used to let the women go out initially and befriend the persons and later blackmailed them to extort money,” said Superintendent of Police (D) Jaskaranjit Teja. “Cases of similar nature are pending against Fakir Chand in Mohali and Ludhiana,” he added. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) HS Mann said the accused had a lavish lifestyle and despite his posting in the neighbouring district, he was present in Patiala. The accused used to send the girls on an outing with the probable targets after befriending them on the Internet or mobile phones and later used to conduct a raid along with his two accomplices. “He did the same with Sunil Hooda, a resident of Rohtak and extorted Rs 50,000 from him. He spent the money to replace tyres of his car,” he added.
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Two girl students killed, 5 others injured in accident
Sangrur, August 28 Sources said a car, which was going towards Malerkotla from Dhuri, hit a motorcycle and a scooter simultaneously. Gurwinder Singh and his two daughters Arshpreet Kaur and Harman Kaur were riding the motorcycle, while Krishana Devi and Manpreet Kaur were riding the scooter. These four girls, all students of 10+1, along with Gurwinder Singh, were returning to their Banbhauri village after taking tuitions at Malerkotla. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Amargarh, Gurmeet Singh said the accident took place when a speeding Zen car hit the motorcycle and the scooter. Krishana Devi died on the spot while Arshpreet Kaur succumbed to her injuries at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in Ludhiana. He said Gurwinder Singh, Manpreet Kaur, Harman Kaur and two occupants of the car, identified as Daljit Singh and Major Singh, both residents of Sunam, were first admitted to Civil Hospital, Malerkotla. Daljit Singh and Major Singh were referred to Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, while the remaining three were taken to DMCH, Ludhiana, he added. The DSP said a case had been registered against Daljit Singh, who was driving the car, under Sections 304-A, 337, 338 and 427 of the IPC. However, Daljit could not be arrested as he was under treatment at the Government Rajindra Hospital.
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Last of robbers’ gang nabbed
Patiala, August 28 While Ramandeep was nabbed today, the other members of the gang, Harpreet Singh alias Tusa, Lovleen Singh alias Ghuggi and Kulwinder Singh were held on August 19. Bikrajit Singh Brar, Station House Officer (SHO), Banur, said there were 18 cases of attempt to murder, extortion, robbery and theft registered against the gang at various police stations. —
TNS
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Four booked for raping woman
Sangrur, August 28 Sources said the woman was reportedly staying in a rented accommodation at Dirba for the past several months after some dispute with her husband. Station House Officer (SHO), Dirba police station, Subeg Singh said the case had been registered against Gurmail Singh, Kala, Bhinda and Jhanda Singh under Sections 376 and 34 of the IPC. He said the medical examination of the woman was conducted by a board of doctors at Civil Hospital, Sangrur, today. The woman told the police that she was raped by Gurmail Singh, Kala, Bhinda and Jhanda Singh at Dirba yesterday. The SHO said the woman got herself admitted to the Civil Hospital, Sangrur. “We got information about the incident from the hospital and we recorded her statement,” the SHO said. The SHO said they were investigating the matter from all aspects as the accused persons were witness in a murder case.
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The recent floods in Muktsar district, which submerged a number of villages, have caused a massive damage to roads and power infrastructure.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar today denied that he never made any statement in Patiala yesterday that “SGPC-run educational institutions are better than government-run institutions”.
The construction of the 816.10 metre-long railway over bridge (ROB) over the level crossing on the Mukerain-Gurdaspur road has been delayed by over four months due to shortage of construction material.
The Punjab Government today requested Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to help the state ascertain the reasons behind the high incidence of cancer in the state, particularly in
Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa districts of the Malwa belt.
Three teams today examined the authenticity of the documents submitted by the appointees to the post of the physical training instructor
(PTI) at the office of the DPI here in connection with the alleged recruitment scam.
The district police has arrested a Sub-Inspector (SI) of its own department for running an extortion racket along with two women and two other accomplices.
The police, however, failed to arrest the women, identified as 22-year-old Tejinder Kaur alias Suman alias
Seema, a resident of Rajpura, and her roommate 24-year-old Navjot Kaur alias Harman.
Sidhu initially chose his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu and now his political secretary to answer questions being raised by the people. Why
does the MP not come forward
Gujarat Sikh farmers’ plight
Talking to The Tribune, Raghujeet Singh Virk, senior vice-president, SGPC, said they had roped in a team of experts which had made a few visits to the shrine recently and inspected its interiors. The team comprises conservation experts having expertise in the preservation of historic buildings in Rajasthan. He said the team had studied the damage caused to the gold-plating and the artwork inside the shrine while dwelling into the reasons that led to the damage.