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State’s power generation up by 700 MW
Tension in Hoshiarpur over dera possession
Burglaries on rise in Faridkot govt schools
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Investment proposals OK, but execution a litmus test
Election analysis
Results wake-up call for Cong: Bajwa
Uttar Pradesh next target, says Sukhbir
Lot to learn from Kejriwal: Manpreet
As Cong men face trial, cases against SAD leaders cancelled
In final stage, Dhuri’s Tehsil Complex awaits funds
Farmers to protest low prices in Delhi on December 12
Marathoners pay homage to martyrs
Clear stand on Amb Sahib protest, Jathedar told
Bride’s mother blames groom’s kin
Power officials attacked by defaulter’s kin
Body found in UK river that of Sikh woman
Six killed, 27 hurt as bus hits truck at Fatehgarh Sahib
Student hurt in accident, dead
Youth murdered by paramour’s family
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State’s power generation up by 700 MW
Nalas/Mirzapur (Patiala), December 8 With the unit's commissioning, the state's power availability has exceeded its last year's peak power demand of 8,900 MW. After the commissioning of all the three upcoming thermal plants (expected by August 2014), Punjab will have 11,991 MW of its own. The Rajpura plant has been constructed by Larsen & Toubro at Nalas village. It is the second private thermal plant to be inaugurated. Earlier, a 660 MW unit of the 1,980 MW Talwandi Sabo thermal plant became operational at Banawala village on November 25. Ignoring the five-day state mourning declared by the Centre to condole the death of Nelson Mandela, the state government held a function to celebrate the plant's commissioning on the occasion of Chief Minister's 86th birthday. Punjabi singer Miss Pooja and a live orchestra enthralled the gathering. The function was held a few kilometers away from the plant site. Addressing the gathering at Mirzapur village, Badal claimed the SAD-BJP government had fulfilled one of its major promises "by making Punjab not only self-reliant in the power sector but also a surplus state". "Availability of power is instrumental for all sectors, agriculture, industry, domestic or services. Now, its scarcity will be a thing of past," he said. Showering praise on his son and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, he said: "Sukhbir is trying hard to showcase Punjab as a major investment destination despite efforts to the contrary by the Congress. We are determined to make the state economically vibrant in the next few years." He accused the state Congress of ruining state's industry. Its (Congress') policies had hit the common man the most due to which the Congress faced defeat in the assembly elections in four states. Earlier in his speech, Sukhbir said: "We have achieved the target of a power surplus state. The Progressive Punjab Investors Summit will not only fetch massive investments but also help create jobs for lakhs of Punjabi youth". Prominent among those present included Rajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Cabinet Ministers Surjit Singh Rakhra, Sikander Singh Maluka, Madan Mohan Mittal and Chunni Lal Bhagat, state BJP president Kamal Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries NK Sharma, Babu Parkash Chand Garg and Mohinder Kaur Josh, MLAs Varinder Kaur Loomba and Justice Nirmal Singh (retd), Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema, Secretary Power Anirudh Tiwari and PSPCL Chairman KD Chaudhary. On the sidelines ...
Power scenario update State's total generation capacity is 8,071 MW. It is 3,889 MW from hydro electric projects; 1,260 MW from Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant, Ropar; 460 MW from Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda; 920 MW from Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat; and the remaining from various projects, including Ranjit Sagar, Shanan Power Plant. Villagers boycott function Residents of nearby villages whose land was acquired for the Rajpura thermal plant boycotted the function. They alleged that they had not been given their due. "It is better to watch a cricket match than to hear the Akali government take credit for the plant raised with money collected from honest tax-payers," a villager said.
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Tension in Hoshiarpur over dera possession
Hoshiarpur, December 8 Dera caretaker Sant Mohan Dass was not present at that time, but his supporters led by former sarpanch Onkar Singh Jhammat protested outside the dera, demanding Balbir Dass to leave the premises. Members of the panchayat led by Sarpanch Asha Rani protested in favour of Balbir, leading to confrontation. Administrative officers led by Naib Tehsildar Manjit Singh and a police party from the Mehtiana police station reached the dera. The Naib Tehsildar attempted to calm the protesters down, but they did not budge. There was a rumour that someone opened fire. To restore order, Superintendent of Police (headquarters) Amrik Singh Dhami reached the spot with additional force. Balbir claimed that he was the only disciple of dera founder Sant Sewa Dass, who had handed over the dera to him in a will before his death. On reaching the spot later, Sant Mohan Dass claimed that the dera was handed over to him by then village panchayat after Sant Sewa Dass’ death. He said Balbir did not have the will then. Jhammat said the issue of will was in court and the administration had appointed a receiver on the dera. Hence, Balbir’s action was unwarranted. Naib Tehsildar Manjit said Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Capt Karnail Singh held a meeting between the representatives of two groups to arrive at a solution. The meeting was on till the time of going to the press.
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Burglaries on rise in Faridkot govt schools
Faridkot, December 8 School authorities blame the rising incidents on the lack of guards during night and the “lacklustre” attitude of the police in registering theft cases. In one such case, the police registered a case today three months after the theft of ICT equipment from a government school in Romana Ajit Singh Wala village. Computers, LCDs, UPS and other accessories have caught the fancy of thieves. A few days ago, thieves stole five computers from Government High School in Behbal Kalan village. Similar incidents were reported from Pacca and Sangrahhoor villages. A few days ago, the Director General, School Education (DGSE), asked all school heads to be vigilant and investigate into all theft cases. In a letter to the District Education Officers (DEOs), the DGSE, who is also the Project Director, Punjab Edusat Society, said his office was getting reports about the theft of computers and related equipment from the government schools. Neither had the accused been arrested, nor the cases had been solved, the DGSE said in the letter, adding that it was the lack of vigilance on the part of school authorities. “The police want the school authorities to guard the ICT equipment, but for the lack of guards during night, there is no check on thefts,” a senior officer in the education department in Faridkot said on the condition of anonymity. “Guards are a must during holidays,” he said. The police are taking up the matter with panchayats to provide security in government schools, a police officer said. About the delay in registering cases, Baldev Singh, investigating officer at Romana Ajit Singh Wala, said the police were trying its best to track down the thieves. “School authorities should seek the help of panchayats to curb thefts,” Singh added.
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Investment proposals OK, but execution a litmus test
Chandigarh, December 8 Top corporate czars, Mukesh Ambani, LN Mittal, besides key management members from IT giants like Infosys and Tech Mahindra, food majors like ITC and Cargill India, and top corporate health care providers like Max Healthcare, are expected to participate in the event. The government is expected to sign several agreements and get investment proposals worth over Rs 25,000 crore. This would be commendable, considering that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has been going and meeting investors and hard selling Punjab. But the real purpose for the state, which has been witnessing a sharp decline in its industrial growth (15.90 per cent in 2007-08 to 9.19 per cent in 2011-12), will be served only when the proposals fructify and projects take off. In the past, the state has not experienced much success in getting the approved projects on track. Since 2007, the state has approved 102 industrial projects worth Rs 53,192 crore. But, because of economic slowdown, poor follow-up of investment proposals and red-tapism, the actual investment was just around Rs 7,500 crore. The good news, however, is that the state promises to change things for the better. The entire system, power availability, good road network and employable youth, is in place. Now, it is for the policy-makers to ensure that they are able to catapult these for growth. The foremost thing that Punjab needs to do, considering the fact that it will get a sizeable number of proposals for investment, is to make its single window system effective. The main issue investors have is that Punjab lacks the ease of doing business as an investor is required to get approvals from over 27 departments. The state needs to have its Investment Promotion Bureau functional immediately. The legislative changes have to be made immediately to ensure that the CEO of the Bureau gets the requisite powers to sanction the project in a time-bound manner. The next major thing Punjab needs to do is to not sit back after it receives proposals and sanctions the projects. Continuous follow-up of the status of each project and linking the fiscal concessions to the stage of take off of the project should be there to give wings to all new investment. The government should have a dedicated person, in charge for each sector of the industry, to follow-up the proposal and see it through its logical conclusion. The government must also not forget that the real growth drivers in any industrial development and progress are the small and medium enterprises. Agreed that big industrial houses and big ticket investors are needed to bolster economic activity and growth, but small entrepreneurs too have to be encouraged by giving them additional sops. Finally, though the state seems to have excluded the existing industry by not granting it any fiscal concessions, it will have to at least rationalise its tax structure for the existing industry so as to protect them and nurture them to reach to the next level. Way to go
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Election analysis
Chandigarh, December 8 The party fought on its own symbol on two seats and fielded two candidates on the BJP symbol. It has won the Rajouri Garden (on SAD symbol), Kalkaji and Shahdara (on BJP Symbol) seats. However, in Hari Nagar (fought on the SAD symbol), it lost to the Aam Aadmi Party. The SAD already has one legislator in the Haryana assembly. Winning three seats in the Capital, the SAD has catapulted itself to the national scene and it bound to get a bigger say in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). During the 2008 assembly poll, the SAD and the BJP had a similar seat-sharing arrangement with the SAD contesting the Rajouri Garden, Shahdara, Jangpura and Adarsh Nagar seats. The party polled sizeable votes but failed to open its account. The party had then attributed its failure to its decision not to use its own election symbol. This time round, the party leadership left no stone unturned and went in for micro analysis of its constituencies, getting party leaders from Punjab to Delhi to sway the voters. The SAD success is likely to have an impact in Haryana where both the parliamentary and assembly elections are scheduled to be held in 2014. With the top leadership of SAD’s alliance partner in Haryana (INLD) incarcerating in jail, it is expected that a buoyed SAD will help sway the voters in INLD’s favour. Sukhbir Badal has yet again proved his managerial skills. Earlier, the SAD had ousted the Congress-backed Sarna group in the DSGMC elections and this experiment helped it perform better in the Delhi poll. Analysts say though Delhi has a large Punjabi population, anti-incumbency too helped the SAD in its Delhi victory. Going by this logic, SAD stands stronger in Punjab today. With the Congress decimated in Delhi, the tirade against the SAD by Congress leaders in Punjab is likely to get blunted. No mean achievement
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Results wake-up call for Cong: Bajwa
Moga, December 8 Speaking to mediapersons before addressing a rally at Nihalsinghwala, he said post-Independence, the Congress had faced defeat on several occasions and the assembly poll results would not have any impact on the parliamentary elections. To a query, he said the Congress leadership accepted the defeat in humility and would analyse the reasons for the setback. “But the situation in Punjab is different. The unprecedented gathering at today’s rally here reflects the mindset of the people,” he said. Bajwa said the Congress would oppose the visit of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to Punjab on December 22. He said their protest was not on account of political differences but because the Gujarat Government had “uprooted” 1,500 Sikh farmers (in Gujarat) by amending property rights. Bajwa flayed the SAD-BJP Government for “wasting” funds on Investors’ Summit in Mohali and NRI sammelans. He said the state government had hired an American firm Apco that had earlier promoted the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, thus wasting crores collected through taxes. Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said the SAD-BJP Government was like a “misguided missile that will ruin Punjab”. She said the Badals were using every opportunity to boost their business and amass wealth even as the state farmers were getting poorer. Congress leaders Darshan Singh Brar, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Malti Thapar, Joginder Singh Panjgrain and Raja Amarinder Singh Warring were among others who addressed the gathering.
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Uttar Pradesh next target, says Sukhbir
Patiala, December 8 The Deputy Chief Minister said the SAD was no longer a regional party as it already had an MLA in Haryana and now three in the Delhi assembly. Sukhbir said the SAD would field its candidates in Uttar Pradesh on seats with a sizeable Punjabi population. Later, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said he was happy serving Punjab and was not eying a role in Delhi politics. To a query, he said he was not interested in being made NDA convener. “Kitte Dilli jande jande Punjab vi na gawa daiye,” he added in a lighter note, provoking a chuckle among mediapersons.
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Lot to learn from Kejriwal: Manpreet
Muktsar, December 8 “The AAP has given the signal that first-time parties too can turn the tide. The victory of the AAP is a good sign for the nation,” he said on the phone. On the difference between the PPP and AAP’s style of functioning, he said: “The AAP contestants were newcomers and not associated with any party. This worked in their favour. “Further, the AAP received money from the public as election fund, which we did not do.” Enthused by Kejriwal’s success, he too would bring about changes in the PPP, he added. Leaders who had ridiculed the AAP, saying it would meet the same fate as the PPP, had been proved wrong, he added.
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As Cong men face trial, cases against SAD leaders cancelled
Chandigarh, December 8 Among those against whom cases have been cancelled or declared "untraced" are Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Inderbir Singh Bularia and Amarpal Singh alias Bonny, SAD leader from Tarn Taran Alvinder Pal Singh Pakhoke and SAD sitting Moga MLA Joginder Pal Jain. This fact emerged when the Election Commission sought information on pending cases against political leaders from all states in the run-up to the 2014 General Election. The Punjab Government informed that about 75 criminal cases had been registered against politicians of different parties since 2007. Most of these pertained to the previous elections. In case of Education Minister Maluka, a case was registered at the Dayalpura (Bathinda) police station under Sections 336, 148, 149 and 427, IPC, and under the Arms Act on January 11, 2012. Sukhpal Singh, a village panch, had in his complaint alleged that SAD workers were seen distributing money for votes. As Congress workers objected, the Akali candidate Sikandar Singh Maluka arrived with about 200 supporters and fired in the air. However, the police filed a cancellation report in the court of Judicial Magistrate, Rampura Phul on April 12, 2013. This has not yet been accepted by the Court. The complainant, Sukhpal Singh, said that he will move court to seek justice as the FIR against Maluka was being cancelled without hearing him. In another case, sitting Bolath MLA Bibi Jagir Kaur and her supporters were booked under Section 171-B, 171-C, 171-H, 506 (threatening to kill) and 188, IPC, at police station Begowal (Kapurthala) on January 13, 2012. The FIR said that they were distributing illicit liquor to voters. In fact, 183 cases of liquor were recovered from the spot. In this case too the police found no evidence and filed a cancellation report on January 6, 2013. In the 2009 parliamentary poll, some Congress men were allegedly attacked by SAD workers led by Bikram Majithia near Talwandi Sabo. An FIR was registered against Majithia and others under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 148 and 149, IPC, and the Arms Act. The FIR, registered on May 7, 2009, was declared “untraced” on November 11, 2009. This was accepted by the Judicial Court of Talwandi Sabo on June 11, 2012. The next day (May 8), a case was registered against Congress MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu under Sections 341, 342, 353, 186, 148, 149 and 188, IPC. This was also declared “untraced” for “lack of evidence”. Sidhu is among the few Congress men against whom cases have been declared “untraced”. Efforts to contact him proved futile. Majithia too did not respond to telephone calls and an SMS sent to him by The Tribune. The police also filed a cancellation report on March 2, 2013, in the case involving Chief Parliamentary Secretary Inderbir Singh Bularia. He was charged under Section 420, IPC, (cheating) and 144 (PR Act) on January 28, 2012. In the case of SAD leader Alvinder Pal Singh Pakhoke, a case under Sections 326, 323, 427, 148 and 149, IPC, was registered on January 28, 2012. Though the police prepared a cancellation report in April 2012, it is yet to be submitted in court. In the case registered against Amarpal Singh Bonny on January 30, 2012, under section 341, 342, 323, and 34 of the IPC, the police filed a cancellation report which was accepted by the court on February 25, 2012. But former Congress MLA Gurpreet Singh Kangar booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) on January 11, 2012, continues to face trial. “I was booked although I was not at the incident site," he told The Tribune. Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira and his son Mehtab Singh, booked under Sections 336, 160, 427, 148, 149 and 120-B and the Arms Act, are facing trial with the police having filed a charge-sheet in court. “It is strange that Congress men are facing trial while cases against SAD leaders like Bibi Jagir Kaur have been cancelled,” observed Khaira.
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In final stage, Dhuri’s Tehsil Complex awaits funds
Dhuri (Sangrur), December 8 The initial cost of the project was Rs 3.55 crore and was later enhanced to more than Rs 4.2 crore due to addition of some works. Till now, the government has spent more than Rs 3.5 crore. Around Rs 65 lakh is required to complete the Complex. The Chief Engineer, PWD (B&R), was apprised of the increase in the project’s cost two months ago. The case for cost enhancement has been sent for approval, which is awaited. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of the Tehsil Complex on June 19, 2011. It was to be completed in a year. In July 2012, the contractor stopped the work for the lack of funds. Sources said the contractor had asked the PWD authorities in June 2012 to prepare a case for the increase in the project’s cost, but it was not done for more than one year. The incomplete works include flooring, parking space, fixing of glasses on windows, whitewash and aluminum fittings. Jagdeep Singh Tung, Executive Engineer (XEN), PWD (B&R), Malerkotla, said the case was under process as the PWD authorities had sent it to technical adviser to the CM. The case would be cleared soon, he said.
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Farmers to protest low prices in Delhi on December 12
Jalandhar, December 8 The decision was taken during a meeting of farmers’ outfits from 14 states in Delhi on November 21, said CIFA president Satnam Singh Behru. “Due to the introduction of scientific agriculture methods in several states, the cost of produce has gone up manifold, forcing farmers to pledge their land and commit suicide,” Behru said. Rejecting an increase of Rs 50 per quintal in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat, Behru claimed that according to agriculture experts, input cost on one quintal of wheat was more than Rs 2,400, while farmers were getting Rs 1,400 per quintal. “The MSP on wheat should be at least Rs 2,400 per quintal,” he said. The Centre must fix MSP of Rs 3,650 per quintal for basmati to promote paddy (basmati) cultivation and prevent the depletion of groundwater, the CIFA president said. As for sugarcane, the CIFA demands an MSP of Rs 320 per quintal. “The association seeks the release of money due with sugar mills to the farmers with an interest of 10 per cent per annum,” said CIFA Punjab unit Vice-President Satnam Singh Sandhu. According to agriculture experts, input cost on one quintal of wheat was more than Rs 2,400, while farmers were getting Rs 1,400 per
quintal.
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Marathoners pay homage to martyrs
Amritsar, December 8 While passing through Rajasthan and eight districts of Punjab, they met ex-servicemen and the kin of the martyrs to find out their problems. They said they would raise the grievances with authorities. The marathoners said Fatehpur Post held significance for them as it was the place where 44 jawans of their regiment had died while capturing the post.
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Clear stand on Amb Sahib protest, Jathedar told
Mohali, December 8 Members of various Sikh bodies have been supporting the protest at Gurdwara Amb Sahib here to seek the release of community members languishing in various prisons despite completion of their jail terms in terrorism-related cases. Harpal Singh Cheema, acting president of SAD (Panj Pardhani), said: “We doubt whether the Jathedar can give such a statement. But in case he has, he must clear his stand.” Cheema is a member of the management committee of ‘Bandi Sikh Rehai Lehar’. The Jathedar had yesterday said fast-unto-death by Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa and Damandeep Singh violated Sikh tenets. Cheema claimed the Jathedar had visited the gurdwara thrice to meet Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, who had been fasting since November 14 before being forcibly lifted by the police three days ago. Gurbaksh was replaced by Damandeep. “Even Giani Gurbachan Singh was part of the religious group that had performed ‘ardas’ before flagging off the ‘Bandi Sikh Rehai March’ from Amritsar to Mohali on Wednesday,” said Cheema. Earlier, several Sikh bodies had decided to depute their armed supporters at Gurdwara Amb Sahib here to thwart any police action. Jathedar’s remark Akali Takht chief Jathedar Gurbachan Singh was reported to have said that hunger strike and indefinite fast were against the principles of Sikhism, thus displeasing the protesting Sikh radicals
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Bride’s mother blames groom’s kin
Ludhiana, December 8 She alleged that the attack was orchestrated by the bridegroom’s sister-in-law, who was divorced. “The groom’s sister-in-law hired goons to carry out the acid attack on my daughter. We had prior warning about the threat.” She claimed the boy’s elder brother had had a troubled marriage. But a relative of the groom rubbished the allegations.
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Ringside View
Who knows best, babus or the netas? Mediapersons were left confused when Industry Minister Madan Mohan Mittal and the Director, Industries, Vikas Pratap, gave different versions on concessions being granted under the New Industrial Policy.
While the minister denied that concessions on Central Sales Tax (CST) had been given, the Director, Industries, ignoring the tap on his hand by the minister, said the government had allowed investors to retain up to 90 per cent of the CST. The mediapersons did not know who to believe and headed for a tete-a-tete with the two over high tea. They took up the issue with the Director who rushed to the minister and briefed him again. The minister then announced: "Please write as the Director says." Yes minister, but we surely know now as to who is the boss. False alarm
A tandoor installed for making chapattis, to suit the palette of officers and leaders, on the second floor of the secretariat had the fire alarm going on Thursday noon. Panicky CISF personnel ran here and there looking for the source of the fire. A security officer was positioned near the canteen door as it was noticed that whenever the door was flung open letting smoke into the corridor, it triggered the hooter. A canteen employee was heard saying: “ When the officers and netas can control everything else in the state, they surely can find a way to control the smoke too.” The mice will play when the cat is away. During the World Cup Kabaddi matches in Gurdaspur on Wednesday, where Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was to be the chief guest, district officials were on their toes ensuring the city was as clean as a slate. However, as time for the opening match drew near, word spread that Badal Junior would not make it. With time running out, district officials hastened to extend an invitation to former Speaker Nimal Singh Kahlon. Former Cabinet Minister SS Langah was also sent an SOS while Parliamentary Secretary GS Babbehali was already at the venue. With the "boss" away, the leaders gleefully hogged the limelight posing for the shutter bugs. Highway endeavour
To make Americans aware of Sikh identity and faith, two US-based organisations have taken the unique initiative of renting hoarding space on the highway in Hartford, capital of Connecticut, US. The hoarding rented by Sikh Sevak Society International and Connecticut Sikh Association is displayed on the busy route that links major cities and the airport. The estimated monthly impression of this board by Lamar Company is $7,000 per month. Sikhs have been the target of hate crime in North America after 9/11. The most brazen attack was on August 5, 2012, in which six persons were shot and four wounded at a gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Swaranjit Singh Khalsa, a member of Sikh Sevak Society International, said they want Americans to know that the turban was an article of faith for the Sikhs and that Sikhism was not a branch of any other religion. Taxing times
Local bodies, short of staff, are literally sweating it out to collect property tax. With rush outside tax collection counters increasing by the day, the Amritsar MC has had no option but to summon staff from other departments, including tube well operators! Also, there is a master trainer to oversee work by a team of 14 tax collectors at every centre. The poor officials did not anticipate what a herculean task it would turn out to be. School for thought
Pehla Kadam Free School run by an 11-member committee at New Rattan Nagar in Jalandhar has proved a boon for wards of daily wagers and rickshaw-pullers. The pre-school, set up in 2010, has 41 girls and 45 boys on its rolls. “The students are given free books and occasionally free meals. At times, we give them biscuits to make their stay a happy experience. This in turn keeps their interest in studies alive,” explained Sushil Chawla, member of the management committee. The school model definitely needs to be emulated by those espousing social causes. Contributed by Ruchika Khanna, Sanjeev Singh Bariana, Ravi Dhaliwal, Perneet Singh, Varinder Singh and Gurjatinder S Randhawa
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Power officials attacked by defaulter’s kin
Amritsar, December 8 The incident happened when the team — headed by Swaranjit Singh, Sub Divisional Officer, Commercial West Sub Station, Chheharta — was about to snap the electricity connection of Jaswant Singh as he failed to deposit the bill amount. They were attacked by Jaswant’s two sons and an unidentified youth. “We were verbally abused and manhandled by the attackers. One of my colleagues has sustained internal injuries and is getting a medical examination conducted,” said Swaranjit Singh. He said Jaswant had not paid for electricity supply for the past few months and had been served reminders a number of times. He said he was accompanied by Junior Engineer Rajinder Mohan, Assistant Junior Engineer Jatinder Kumar, two linemen and an assistant lineman. The Sub Divisional Officer said when the team visited his home, Jaswant was not present there. He said Jaswant pleaded for more time over phone, which could not be heeded to as already a lot of time had elapsed. “When we were going to disconnect the power connection, Jaswant’s two sons and The police said though no arrests had been made so far, a case had been registered against the three youths. The incident When the officials were about to snap the electricity connection of Jaswant Singh, after he failed to deposit the bill amount, his two sons and an unidentified person attacked them.
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Body found in UK river that of Sikh woman
London, December 8 Seemberjeet Kaur had gone missing from her house in Bradford city on October 23. She was reportedly under medication for depression. A local resident had reported a body in the Aire river on Thursday. The West Yorkshire Police have now confirmed that a post-mortem examination was carried out on Friday and the body had been formally identified as that of Seemberjeet. Her death is not being treated as suspicious and her next of kin have been informed, they added. — PTI
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Six killed, 27 hurt as bus hits truck at Fatehgarh Sahib
Bagrian/Fatehgarh Sahib, December 8 The police rushed the injured to the Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, while villagers helped in rescue operations. The deceased have been identified as Charanjit Singh (bus driver) of Garanga Kheri village, Foti Chand of Azad Market (Delhi), Robit of Assam, Sekhar and Sahib Singh. The sixth person who was killed in the mishap was the truck driver, who could not be identified. Doctors attending the injured at Patiala said four of them were serious and others were out of danger. Fatehgarh Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said 35 waiters and cooks of Pali Caterers, Chandigarh, were on their way to Chandigarh from Bathinda in a Swaraj Mazda mini bus after completing an assignment at a marriage function when the vehicle collided with a loaded truck coming from the opposite direction near Bagrian village at about 7 am. He said the mini bus and two other buses carrying a total of 100 waiters and cooks had left Bathinda around 3 am. Villagers said the bus was being driven at a high speed. Moreover, they said fog might have been another reason behind the accident. A case has been registered. The police said the rescue operation could be carried out swiftly as police personnel and ambulances had already been kept ready due to a state-level function in Rajpura in the afternoon, which was to be attended by the Chief Minister and other leaders. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the kin of
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Student hurt in accident, dead
Abohar, December 8 The police have booked his friend Abhishek
Bathla, who was driving the car and was injured, under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code
(IPC). A witness, Harpal Singh, told the police that Abhishek was driving the car and his classmate Arshdeep was sitting by his side. They were returning from a coaching
centre. Preliminary inquiry suggested that Abhishek lost control over the car and it hit a tree on the Seetogunno road. Both were injured and taken to the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital. The doctors referred Arshdeep to
Faridkot, as his condition was serious. Abhishek is a son of Arorvansh Sabha President and businessman Mohinder
Bathla.
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Youth murdered by paramour’s family
Samrala, December 8 The girl, who is a minor, her father Rachhpal Singh and brother Basant Singh have been booked under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the
IPC. The three have been arrested. The brother of the deceased, Rajwant Singh, told the police that his brother had known the girl since about two years and that she would often call him home. The Station House Officer
(SHO) said Gurpreet probably entered the girl’s house last night by scaling the outer wall. A family member saw them together. Thus infuriated, they attacked him with sharp-edged weapons, resulting in his death. He alleged that the girl too helped her family members to kill the youth. Later, the body was dumped near Gharkhna village. The SHO said the murder took place at about 2 am while the police learnt about at about 8 am. The girl would be sent to a juvenile jail at
Ludhiana, he added.
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Chandigarh, December 8
Chandigarh, December 8
Dhuri (Sangrur), December 8
On the other hand, cases against former MLAs Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Sukhpal Singh Khaira have been pursued vigorously by the police in courts. 
