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Cash seizure from Nabha
jail points to drug trade
More absentee schoolteachers to face axe
Take legal recourse to free Sikh detainees: Akal Takht to SGPC
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university project
Badal village all set to host lunch
Veg buffet on platter for Pak Punjab CM in Mohali Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal greets his Pakistan Punjab counterpart Shahbaz Sharif (left) in Mohali on Friday. A Tribune photo State Olympic body yet to recognise kabaddi The Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana is all set to host the Kabaddi World Cup final scheduled
for Saturday. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan
Reprieve for Tarn Taran farmers booked for ASI’s death
Burnt alive, boy’s kin
allege police inaction
Traders to protest state tax policy at Modi’s rally
Convict contracts HIV in jail, moves SC for relief
42% water samples found with high uranium content
Ranveer to make grand entry at finale
Activists challenge dismissal of case against Badal in US
Indian-origin man jailed for abandoning child
Pak delegation explores trade prospects in India
Enrolment for health insurance scheme to begin next month
SAD again defers CM’s felicitation function in Sangrur
Cancer-hit to get cashless treatment in pvt hospitals
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Vinni Mahajan talking to the media in Bathinda
on Friday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
Two students killed in accidents
Deal inked, Abohar agro
plant to start operations soon
Moonak labourers lift dharna
Sharif to lay stone of Rs 3 cr projects at Jatti Umra
Power-starved state planning to illuminate lahore: Tewari
Maluka visits Nawanshahr schools
62-yr-old gets 7-yr jail for rape
High Court stays CBI probe into VAT refunds
Notice to state on security to Moga man
Granthi attacked with sword, arm
chopped off
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Cash seizure from Nabha
jail points to drug trade
Patiala, December 13 The visitor had come to meet an inmate, who had allegedly earned the money by selling drugs inside the jail. The role of certain jail officials cannot be ruled out as the money was kept inside the jail and later passed to the visitor despite security checks. Sources said a police team headed by the Nabha Kotwali police rounded up Paramjit Singh who was returning after meeting an inmate, Kuldeep Singh. On a search, the police seized Rs 39,000 from his possession. On questioning, he admitted that the money was given to him by Kuldeep, who had earned it by selling drugs. Kuldeep is undergoing 10-year sentence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. "He is being questioned to know if jail officials were hand-in-glove with him in running a drug racket from the jail," said the police. The sources said some senior jail officials were under the scanner for this serious security lapse. Preliminary investigations revealed that accused Paramjit Singh had been regularly taking money from Kuldeep. HS Mann, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, said they had secured police remand of both the accused. They would be questioned to ascertain the involvement of any jail official. "It is a serious matter. The top jail authorities will be apprised of the matter," he stated. Unholy nexus Myanmar woman’s name surfaces in drug racket Patiala:
The state police will inform their counterparts in Myanmar after names of several women based in Myanmar figured, one of them prominently, in the investigations into the high-profile drug racket exposed by the Patiala police. Hardyal Singh Mann, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, said investigations had revealed operational details about the synthetic drug racket in Myanmar and other foreign countries. "A woman operative named Lalumi, reportedly based in Khampat, Myanmar, was in touch with accused Robert and Varinder Raja. She had made at least six trips to India to obtain contraband for further shipping to recipient parties on the Myanmar-China border," he said. In her mid-forties, Lalumi was instrumental in transporting consignments from New Delhi to Imphal by air cargo and by road through trucks via Guwahati. "From Imphal, the accused had transported the contraband by road to Tamu on the Myanmar border," Mann
added
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More absentee schoolteachers to face axe
Faridkot, December 13 "We are in process of terminating the services of more teachers for their long absenteeism," said Kamal Garg, Director, Public Instruction (DPI-Education Department). The Circle Education Office (CEO), Faridkot, has recently submitted a list of 34 such teachers of the region who have settled abroad to the Vigilance Bureau. The VB had sought a list of all such teachers from the Education Department some days ago. The Bureau will initiate legal action against them for violating the Punjab Government Employees (Conduct) Rules. Information procured under the RTI revealed that some teachers in the district have been absent for the last over six years. A woman teacher in senior secondary school in Bhagthala village is absent from duty since May 8, 2007. Another science teacher in Panjgrain village had not reported on her duty since September 11, 2009. Even
non-teaching staff in some schools are among those absent. A library restorer in a Jaitu school has been absent since December 9, 2005.
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Take legal recourse to free Sikh detainees: Akal Takht to SGPC
Amritsar, December 13 The Jathedar also met a delegation sent by Gurbaksh Singh along with detailed documents about the six Sikh detainees whose release he has been demanding. The delegation comprised Harpal Singh Cheema, Amar Singh Chahal and Gurbaksh Singh’s son Jujhar Singh. The Jathedar immediately forwarded the documents to the SGPC for pursuing the case with the government. He also directed the SGPC to seek legal opinion and set the ball rolling to initiate the process for their release. He also appealed to Gurbaksh Singh to shun the path of hunger strike as it was against the tenets of Sikhism, though clarifying he may continue with his struggle for the cause. On the other hand, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said they will hold consultations with legal experts and decide future course of action. The experts who met the Jathedar told him that they have seen the documents sent by Gurbaksh Singh and clarified that the release of Sikh detainees will take time as it has to pass through proper legal process. Sources said the experts told the Jathedar that though these six Sikh detainees were lodged in jails in other states, the process for their release may be expedited if it was pursued by the Punjab Government. Three of these Sikh detainees are lodged in Burail Jail (Chandigarh) while one each is lodged in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka prisons. Sources said the experts also felt that if the Punjab Government submitted a positive report about the three detainees in Burail Jail, stating that there was no threat if they were released now, it would help their case. They said it was also highlighted in the meeting that the co-accused of the detainee lodged in the UP jail had already been released and, therefore, his release should not be difficult.
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university project
Patiala, December 13 Sources said officials of Amity Global Business School and those of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department visited a couple of sites near Rakhra village. The university campus will be constructed over 35 acres of land with an investment of Rs 250 crore. Ravee S Ahluwalia, Officer on Special Duty with Rural Development Minister, said they had shown a couple of sites to them. The delegation was led by Dr Shivali Dhingra, director, Amity Global Business School. "We have signed an MoU with the government. We are now in the process of selecting land for the project," she said.
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Badal village all set to host lunch
Badal (Muktsar), December 13
Sharif and his family would have lunch at Badals' mansion in the village. Two makeshift helipads have been made at Badal and Lalbai villages. Nearly 250 date palm trees are to be transplanted on the roadsides. All roads are being cleaned up. Some government buildings in the village too are being whitewashed. A large number of government officials are working overtime to oversee the pace of arrangements. Earthmovers have been pressed into service to complete the groundwork by tomorrow afternoon. Kumar Amit, Malout SDM, is monitoring the preparations. The police too are busy making security arrangements. Nearly 1,500 policemen from Muktsar and Fazilka districts have been deployed. The Pakistani Punjab CM would arrive here after seeing a biomass plant at the nearby Channu village at 10:30 am on Sunday. Sources said the Sharif family would travel by road from Mata Jaswant Kaur Public School ground to Badals' the residence and their remaining journey would be on helicopter. They would leave for Jatti Umra village in Tarn Taran at 2 pm. Sandeep Singh, a relative of the village sarpanch, said: "Our village is a model village. It ranks high in sanitation. But, we are excited that it is getting a fresh look due to the VVIPs visit." Due to security reasons, no outsider is being allowed at the Badals' residence. Surjit Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar, held a meeting with his subordinates in the village. He reviewed the security arrangements and told the police personnel to remain on high vigil during the VVIP's visit. Red carpet welcome * Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his family will have lunch at Badals' mansion * Two makeshift helipads have been made at Badal and Lalbai villages * Nearly 250 date palm trees are being transplanted by the roadsides (see pic) * Roads are being cleaned and government buildings whitewashed * Officials working overtime to oversee the arrangements * Nearly 1,500 policemen have been deployed
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Veg buffet on platter for Pak Punjab CM in Mohali
Mohali, December 13 Amid tight security, the cavalcade of the visiting dignitary, who was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter-in-law, arrived at the venue at 9.30 pm. They were taken to site of the dinner in a golf cart. The 50-acre nature park was lit with coloured lights on trees and pathways. There were over 25 vegetarian dishes on the platter for the guests. Prominent guests included Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil and Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Sanjay Kishan Kaul. Punjabi Sufi singer Satinder Sartaj performed on the occasion. Sharif sought better ties between the two nations. He said there was no room for differences as the two Punjabs shared the same culture.
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State Olympic body yet to recognise kabaddi
Ludhiana, December 13 While Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has assured that kabaddi would enter the Olympic curriculum in the coming years, the Punjab Olympic Association (POA) is
yet to affiliate the game despite the fact that senior SAD leader HS Dhindsa heads it. During the first Kabaddi World Cup, it was assured that POA would soon affiliate the sport, paving its way into Olympics. Four years on, the matter of affiliating the rural sport still hangs in the balance. Congress leaders allege that the ruling SAD-BJP government had used the sport as a poll plank and to dole out money for organising a mega star night in the garb of Kabaddi World Cup. "Have you ever seen any state conducting a world cup of a sport which is yet to receive recognition? Crores of rupees have been spent on Kabaddi while other sports are facing neglect. Such a
waste of hard-earned public money on such a A retired employee of the sports department said there was "no chance" of Kabaddi entering Olympics before 2050. "Even for that to happen, the government will have to first affiliate the game both at the state and the national levels. It would further take decades of unrelenting persuasion to see Kabaddi being played in Olympics," he said. HS Dhindsa, Member of Parliament and Punjab Olympic Association president, passed the buck by saying that the matter of affiliation was hanging fire due to the ongoing dispute between the International Olympic Committee and the Indian Olympic Association. "We are waiting for the dispute between the International Olympic Committee and the Indian Olympic Association to settle. Once that happens, we will affiliate circle style Kabaddi both at the state and the national levels and push for its entry in Olympics," he said.
The irony
While Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has assured that kabaddi would enter the Olympic curriculum in the coming years, the Punjab Olympic Association is yet to affiliate the game itself despite the fact that senior SAD leader HS Dhindsa heads it
Passing the buck?
"We are waiting for the dispute between the International Olympic Committee and the Indian Olympic Association to settle. Once that happens, we will affiliate circle style Kabaddi both at the state and the national levels and push for its entry in
Olympics"
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Reprieve for Tarn Taran farmers booked for ASI’s death
Chandigarh, December 13 This has been decided after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal accepted the findings of an investigation conducted by former District and Sessions Judge CR
Goel. Kulbir Singh had died mysteriously while leading a raid to detain farmers ahead of their statewide agitation. The farmers were accused of culpable homicide as the ASI had died during their protest in the village. Justice Goel held that the ASI died of heart attack, as confirmed by medical reports and the accused who were stated to be present at the place of the incident did not seem to be responsible for his death.
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Burnt alive, boy’s kin
allege police inaction
Sangrur, December 13 The victim’s family has alleged that the police investigations had been delayed and were not headed in the right direction. The resentment against the police among the victim’s family members has increased manifold after the Facebook episode. In the video, the deceased can reportedly be seen crying and screaming due to severe pain on account of the burns. Vidhu’s father Navneet Jain said, “After seeing the video, it is clear that my son was burnt to death by two persons. The police should explain why they are delaying the investigation.” Senior Superintendent of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said it was not a new video as some persons had shot it on a mobile phone when people were waiting for an ambulance to take Vidhu to hospital. Sidhu said the police too had a copy of the video, which had been sent to the Forensic Laboratory in Chandigarh for an examination. He said the clip had been uploaded on Facebook after over two months by someone who wants to sensationalise the issue. He said prima facie, there was nothing in the video for taking action against the person who had uploaded it.
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Traders to protest state tax policy at Modi’s rally
Jalandhar, December 13 They will take out a car rally from Jalandhar, which will culminate at BJP Prime Minister candidate Narendra Modi’s rally site in Jagraon. A meeting of the Joint Action Committee of industrialists and traders was held today at a city hotel. Committee member Ravindra Dhir said: “We have chosen December 21 to hold a protest rally so that Modi should know how the business community in the state is suffering due to the levy of new taxes every other day”. Dhir said: “Industrialists and traders have been suffering due to delayed VAT refunds, introduction of E-trip system, imposition of high property tax on commercial buildings, introduction of advance tax and huge charges for regularisation of illegal colonies.” He said farmers had been given free of cost power worth Rs 6,000 crore per annum whereas new taxes were being imposed on urban population. “We are not even properly heard by the government functionaries,” he added. Others present included Gursharan Singh, Raj Kumar Sharma, Col JS Paul (retd), RK Gandhi, Sooba Singh, Vijay Dhir, Sukhwinder Singh Bagga, DL Sabharwal, Rakesh Behl and Ashwani
Malhotra.
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Convict contracts HIV in jail, moves SC for relief
New Delhi, December 13 His appeal against the dismissal of his plea in the Punjab and Haryana High Court was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam, which posted the matter for hearing before an appropriate bench on December 17. He approached the apex court after his appeal challenging his conviction was dismissed in August last by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In his plea filed through advocate Manohar Singh Bakshi, the convict has submitted that he has been lodged in a Punjab jail since 2007, when the offence was committed, and during his incarceration, he contracted HIV and then HCV (Hepatitis C). He has also challenged his conviction and sentence in the murder case by the trial court and later upheld by the high court. In his petition, he has blamed the "faulty system, arbitrary working and negligence" of the jail authorities for his afflictions and has also sought an investigation into how he contracted the diseases while in prison. He has also sought issuance of guidelines in the interest of other convicts and undertrials lodged in central jails, saying the matter was of a serious nature and "may lead to disaster if not examined and stopped". He has alleged inaction on the part of the authorities for not acting on the pleas of his wife who had filed applications seeking better treatment for him when he tested positive for HIV and later when he was afflicted with hepatitis C. He was registered as a patient in ART Centre, Medical College, Amritsar, on February 4 this year, he said. His petition also alleges that the jail authorities apart from not providing proper treatment were also ignoring the abuse, threats and inhuman behaviour meted out to him by other inmates ever since they came to know about his afflictions. — PTI Seeking justice
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42% water samples found with high uranium content
Muktsar, December 13 Sources at the BARC said 285 water samples from Bathinda had been found with the maximum uranium content, varying from 0.4 to 684.3 ppb. In Mansa district, 199 water samples were found with uranium content between 0.3 and 579 ppb. In Faridkot, 107 water samples analysed showed a uranium content between 2.4 and 476 ppb. In Ferozepur district, 189 water samples were found with uranium content between 0.3 to 467.5 ppb. In Moga district, 179 water samples were found with uranium content between 4.4 and 346.7ppb. In Muktsar, 16 water samples were tested. These were found with uranium traces between 0.2 and 149.7 ppb, more than double the permissible limit, but still less when compared to other districts. Officials at the research centre said there had been no significant change in the findings of previous and current surveys. V Govindankutty, Chief Administrative Officer, BARC, said: “The study to identify the source of uranium in groundwater was carried out by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Northern Region, Delhi, that reported that the source was geogenic in nature. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has constituted an expert committee to look into the issue.” On the measures recommended to make water fit for human consumption, he said they had studied the effectiveness of the reverse osmosis (RO)-based water purification system for removal of uranium in groundwater in Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot and Ferozepur districts and found that the system removed uranium up to 99 per cent.
Malwa malady
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Ranveer to make grand entry at finale
Ludhiana, December 13 Workers who are looking after the arrangements
for the performance said the actor would perform on "Main taan aiwen aiwen lutt gaya" song from his debut movie. Sources said the actor would also distribute his autographed t-shirts and pictures among audience members while riding on the motorbike at the stadium.
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Activists challenge dismissal of case against Badal in US
Chicago, December 13 In a petition filed on Tuesday before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals here, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) claimed there was irrefutable evidence that it was Badal who was served the summons on August 9 at Oak Creek High School in Wisconsin. The SFJ alleged that Badal had tampered with the witnesses and evidence and obstructed justice. The plaintiffs' families in Punjab had also been threatened with dire consequences by the Punjab Police, according to the group's attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. It also asserted that Chicago-based Surinder Pal Singh Kalra's claim that he was served with the summons instead of Badal was not credible. An affidavit by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann was also submitted alleging that families of plaintiffs Jeet Singh Aloarkh and Jagtar Singh were threatened by the Punjab Police coercing them to withdraw the case against Badal. While dismissing the case against Badal last month, the court of appeals had given the SFJ the right to again file the lawsuit against Badal. The SFJ and SAD (Amritsar) have alleged that there have been several hundred cases of extrajudicial killings, police tortures and human rights violations against the Sikh community in Punjab during 12 years of the Badal rule (from 1997 to 2002 and from 2007 to present). — IANS
‘Plaintiffs threatened’
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Indian-origin man jailed for abandoning child
Melbourne, December 13 Charanjit Singh, a Greymouth man of no fixed abode, appeared for sentence today in the Invercargill District Court after admitting six charges, including abandoning the child, driving while forbidden, driving recklessly, unlawfully taking a Mazda CX9 valued at 58,000 dollars on November 11. He also pleaded guilty to an earlier offence of driving while forbidden at Greymouth, New Zealand Herald reported. He was sentenced to 12 months' jail and disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was not ordered to pay any reparation because he did not have the means. Judge Phil Moran told Singh his offending had a severe impact on the child's family and they were still struggling to get over what they thought was the loss of their young child. Judge Moran said on November 11 Singh was dropped off in Balfour where he left his backpack and walked into town. He spotted a vehicle with keys in it and decided to take it but after driving off, he discovered there was a child in the backseat, he said. Singh stopped and tried to get the car seat out with the baby in it but could not do so and he took the baby out and left him on the side of the highway, Moran said. The child was quickly found and returned to his mother but Singh had driven off at speed and when pursued by police, he failed to stop, Judge Moran said. He lost control of the vehicle and rolled it down a bank before running off but he was apprehended by the police. Singh's lawyer John Fraser said his client had pleaded guilty immediately and apologised to the mother from court at his last appearance. — PTI
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Pak delegation explores trade prospects in India
Amritsar, December 13 Talking to the mediapersons at the Attari border, Irfan Illahi, chairman, Planning and Development Board, Government of Punjab, Pakistan, said the delegation was here to discuss and explore trade opportunities of mutual interest in sectors pertaining to agriculture, power, livestock and energy. He said the delegation would also hold discussions on the progress made by the Punjab Government on this side of the border in these sectors and would explore the areas where both the states could be benefited. He said the enhanced trade ties would help in strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries, besides ushering in peace and progress in the region. Taariq Bucha, co-chairman of the Task Force on Agriculture of Indo-Pak Business Forum, said the delegation was looking forward to the possibility of signing of a memorandum of understanding between two states for exchange of knowledge, students and scholarships in agriculture sector. He said there was positive response from both sides in this regard. He said the delegation would visit the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) in Ludhiana, besides visiting some farms in that city and in Amritsar. While answering media queries, he said the most favoured nation (MFN) status granted by India to Pakistan was a mere eyewash as all the duties were still being levied in trade with Pakistan. “If the Indian Government had started levying taxes as per the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) agreement, the Pakistan government would have moved further by granting the MFN status to India,” he said.
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Enrolment for health insurance scheme to begin next month
Ropar, December 13 Earlier, only BPL card holders were benefited under the Rashtriya Sehat Bima Yojna (RSBY). Giving details of the scheme, the DC said under every such family, up to five members would be given a smart card having total value of Rs 30,000 for getting treatment at empanelled hospitals each year. He said seven of these hospitals were in public sector while eight were run by private bodies in nine health blocks of the district. Dr Rajnish Sood, Civil Surgeon, said there
would be a provision to include a newly born child as the sixth member in the scheme for the
first year. Besides, the policy holders would be entitled to a stipend of Rs 100 up to the maximum limit of Rs 1,000 per annum as transport charges, he said.
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SAD again defers CM’s felicitation function in Sangrur
Sangrur, December 13 This is the second time on the bounce that the function has been postponed. Earlier, the function was to be held on November 26. The district unit wants to honour the Badals with gold medals for bringing a 300-bed satellite centre (cancer hospital) of the Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, to Ghabdan Kothi, 12 km from here. During the foundation stone laying ceremony of the caner hospital on October 10, in which Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi participated, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa had announced that ‘Samman Samaroh’ would be organised at Ghabdan Kothi. Rahul and Azad had credited local Congress MP Vijay Inder Singla for bringing the hospital to Sangrur. Now, with the SAD wanting to take credit for the hospital, people view the development as a sign of “unhealthy politics”. Dhindsa said the November 26 function was postponed because Badals were busy in the campaigning for the Delhi assembly elections. The December 15 function had been deferred as the CM was busy due to the visit of Shahbaz Sharif, he said. Dhindsa said the next date for ‘Samman Samaroh’ would be fixed in January after consulting the
Badals.
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Cancer-hit to get cashless treatment in pvt hospitals
Bathinda, December 13 “The cashless facility has been introduced in the government hospitals,” Mahajan said. She was in the city today to visit the Advanced Cancer Research and Diagnostic Centre, which will be functional in March. The hospital’s Out-patient Department (OPD) will be opened in March, while the rest will be started by June. The government provides free cancer treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh and the rest of the amount has to be borne by the patient. The department will hold a meeting of all private empanelled hospitals in the state on December 17. “The Central Government has approved a tertiary cancer care centre in Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital and a state cancer institute at Government Medical College, Amritsar. The Centre will part fund these projects,” Mahajan said. The Hoshiarpur project is pegged at Rs 45 crore, for which the Centre will contribute Rs 30 crore, while the state government will pitch in with the remaining amount. For the Rs 150-core Amritsar project, the Centre will contribute Rs 120 crore and state will provide the rest. Mahajan said the work on creating the cancer registry (count and details of cancer-affected people) in the state was on. “Cancer registry is underway in Mohali, Mansa, Bathinda and Patiala. A project of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), it was started two years ago. At the end of the project’s third year, the ICMR will give us details of the cancer trends. It will help us get a picture of the disease in the state,” the Principal Secretary said. To strengthen nearly 100 government hospitals in Punjab, the state government has recruited 300 doctors and there is a plan to recruit as many doctors.
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Two students killed in accidents
Abohar, December 13 Sunil was to board a bus for Sikar (Rajasthan) to appear in a B Tech examination tomorrow. He, along with his four friends, were on their way to Bhadrakali Temple. The injured, Mohit and Anita Khatik, were shifted to the Civil Hospital. Doctors said Anita’s condition was critical. Their fifth occupant of the car, Jatin Arora, escaped unhurt.
Man dies in mishap Nawanshahr: A man was killed and another injured when a jeep, in which they were travelling, collided with a canter near Niyamatpur village at Rahon-Machhiwara road on Thursday. The victim has been identified as Balwinder Singh of Dhilwan village in the district. The injured, Parvesh Chand of Haroli (Himachal Pradesh) told the police that he along with his driver Singh was going to Una from Ludhiana when the canter hit their jeep. Locals took them to the Civil Hospital, where Singh succumbed to his injuries. The police have registered a case against the canter driver, Shakti Kumar, of Shahpur Kandi (Pathankot) under Sections 279 (rash driving), 304-A (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount Rs 50,000) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
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Deal inked, Abohar agro
plant to start operations soon
Abohar, December 13 “The deal comes as a relief for kinnow growers, who have not been getting good returns,” Mahesh Bhalotia, who will supply processed juice to the company, said. Besides Hindustan Unilever, Meera Foods, Patanjali Ayurvedic and Bector Foods had shown interest in getting mango, amla and tomato processed from the plant, agro plant Chief Executive Officer (CEO) SK Rana said, adding that galgal from Haldwani (Uttarakhand) would also be processed. The-then Union Minister for Food Processing, Subodh Kant Sahai, and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had inaugurated the plant on October 1, 2007. Commissioned in 2008, the plant could not meet the target of processing because of the Punjab Government’s “lacklustre” approach. The government had once mulled to sell off the Abohar plant and the one in Hoshiarpur district that has also been lying unused. It appears that the move to sell off the plants has been shelved. As per the Horticulture Department, orchards in Fazilka district are spread over 55,000 acres and kinnows are available in abundance. Agro Foods Managing Director (MD) Kahan Singh Pannu said the plants in Abohar and Hoshiarpur were the first of their kind in the world to process varieties of citrus as well as tropical fruits, and vegetables such as tomato, carrot, melon, mango, guava, pear, sweet gourd, bitter gourd, aloe vera and amla. The two plants are equipped to switch from one raw material to another in four to five hours and have the distinction to de-bitter the juices of fruits such as kinnow and ‘mosambi’. “The government will make the Hoshiarpur plant functional soon and it hopes to develop the state as a hub for fruit and vegetable processing,” Pannu added.
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Moonak labourers lift dharna
Sangrur, December 13 Union state committee member Harbhagwan Singh Moonak, who was led the agitation, said that 37 years ago, the Punjab Government had allotted about 100-square-yard plots to 26 houseless labourers in Salemgarh village near Moonak. “In spite of having the allotment letters, the mutation of the plots was not entered in our favour in the revenue records,” he said. To raise their demand, the union blocked the entry of the Tehsil Complex yesterday evening. Harbhagwan said copies of the mutations would be given to the labourers on Monday.
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Sharif to lay stone of
Rs 3 cr projects at Jatti Umra
Amritsar, December 13 Sharif will inaugurate two newly-built roads in the village and lay the foundation stone of development works worth Rs 3 crore. He will also pay tributes to his ancestors at their graveyard. Venkataratnam said Sharif along with his family would land at Jatti Umra on a special helicopter on Sunday afternoon. He will be accorded a warm welcome by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his cabinet colleagues. Sharif would pay obeisance at the village gurdwara where his ancestral house existed before they migrated to Pakistan. A function will be organised to felicitate him. He will also interact with villagers. Deputy Commissioner BS Dhaliwal said the development works being undertaken at the village included water supply scheme worth Rs 60 lakh, community centre (Rs 10 lakh), concretisation of streets (Rs 19 lakh), construction of dharamshala (Rs 7.67 lakh), anganwari centre (Rs 4.39 lakh), boundary wall of sports ground (Rs 29 lakh), sewage disposal system (Rs 24.55 lakh) and 70 toilets (Rs 11.76 lakh). Senior district officials were present during Division Commissioner’s visit.
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Power-starved state planning to illuminate
lahore: Tewari
Ludhiana, December 13 “It is strange that the Akali-BJP Government in Punjab is trying to illuminate Lahore when Punjab continues to remain in darkness due to massive power shortage,” he said in a statement here. Reacting to reports that the Punjab Government was planning to sign a power purchase agreement with Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Tewari wondered as to where from would Punjab get extra electricity to sell to Pakistan when the state itself needed an additional 6,000 MW in peak season. “Even when all power plants get fully operational, Punjab will be short of about 4,000 MW,” he said, questioning the logic of exporting power under such circumstances. “Just because the state government has inaugurated two units in two thermal plants at Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo generating 1,300 MW more, it does not mean the state is power-sufficient, leave aside being power-surplus,” he said. Tewari said the total availability of power in Punjab from all sources, state as well as the central pool, was not more than 8,000 MW and this was far too less than the peak demand of 14,000 MW.
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Maluka visits Nawanshahr schools
Nawanshahr, December 13 At Government Middle School, Jethumazara, the minister checked the attendance of the teachers and students, which was found satisfactory. He asked questions of general knowledge from the students. Later, Maluka went to Government Senior Secondary School, Langroya, where cycles were being distributed to girls under the Mai Bhago Vidhayak Scheme. The Minister stayed there for a few minutes.
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62-yr-old gets 7-yr jail for rape
Ropar, December 13 The victim had stated that Sarwan had raped her in a field on July 14, 2011. The judge awarded seven years of imprisonment and along with a fine of Rs 5,000 under Section 376 of the IPC to Sarwan. He was also awarded an imprisonment of two years along with a fine of Rs 2,000 under Section 354 of the
IPC.
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High Court stays CBI probe into VAT refunds
Chandigarh, December 13 The stay by the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul came on an appeal filed by Ludhiana Traders’ Association. Appearing on their behalf, counsel Vikram Chaudhri argued that the directions were passed by a Single Bench during the hearing of an anticipatory bail plea. Referring to the enormity of the probe, he said no less than 5,000 people would have to be associated by the CBI in the inquiry, and the agency would have to scrutinise as many refunds. Nearly 15,000 families would be affected by the probe. Chaudhri also argued that the department concerned was required to take action in the matter, and there was no reason for the police not to act. The Single Judge had earlier observed that VAT refunds of almost ~500 crore had been given to firms in Punjab for inter-state trade and export of goods. The Bench had added: “The court records its painful observation that on account of the unholy nexus between the traders, officials and other beneficiaries, the state has been put to a huge loss. “As per the status report submitted by the state counsel, VAT refund of almost
Rs 500 crore has been given to various firms on the basis of inter-state trade and export of goods. The status report further reveals that process for registration of FIR has been initiated against two more firms, which claimed a refund of ~1.14 crore and
Rs 74 lakh. “This initial probe by the economic intelligence unit indicates that these facts could just be the tip of the iceberg. Keeping in view the fact that no consignment as such was dispatched, whereas there are receipts of transporters, including the Indian Railways, it is a sufficient pointer towards that the whole exercise having been executed in connivance with the state machinery, which warrants a detailed inquiry into the matter by an independent agency.”
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Notice to state on security to Moga man
Chandigarh, December 13 Taking up the matter, Justice Amol Rattan Singh also issued notice to Additional Director-General of Police (Security) and Ludhiana Senior Superintendent of Police for January 14. Describing himself as chairman of the Smajik Jagriti Front, Gill claimed he was not feeling safe in the hands of the Punjab Police. Gill claimed he was spearheading a campaign for evicting three unauthorised occupants from more than eight acres of agricultural land belonging to the village gurdwara. They were the cousins of Rajoana, facing death sentence for the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh. He had earlier filed a PIL in the High Court for the eviction of encroachers from the gurdwara land. But, it was dismissed with observation that remedy of the petitioner lies somewhere else. He then filed a civil suit in a representative capacity in a local court for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from the land, which was pending.
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Granthi attacked with sword, arm
chopped off
Bathinda, December 13 Sources said Hari Singh, who absconded after the committing the crime, was ousted from the gurdwara sometime back for not working properly. The victim was rushed to the local Civil Hospital from where doctors referred him to the Government Medical College in Faridkot. The police are yet to register a case against Hari Singh as the granthi was not in a state to get his statement recorded.
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The state government led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal played perfect host at a dinner hosted for Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Nature Park here.
Amid tight security, the cavalcade of the visiting dignitary, who was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter-in-law, arrived at the venue at 9.30 pm.
Even as the fourth edition of World Kabaddi Cup is drawing to a grand finale here, the rural sport - touted as the “mother game” of the state - is yet to enjoy the status of a sport in the state.
A 10-member delegation of Pakistani traders and bureaucrats today crossed over to India via the Attari-Wagah border to join the visiting Pakistani Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz
Sharif. The visit is aimed at boosting trade ties between Indian and Pakistani Punjab.
Talking to the mediapersons at the Attari border, Irfan Illahi, chairman, Planning and Development Board, Government of Punjab, Pakistan, said the delegation was here to discuss and explore trade opportunities of mutual interest
Under the Chief Minister’s Cancer Relief Fund, cancer treatment in Punjab will become cashless in all private empanelled hospitals to check fleecing of patients, Vinni Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, has said.
“The cashless facility has been introduced in the government hospitals,” Mahajan said.
