The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	LPG consumers hit by price hike Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 With the increase in the price of non-subsidised LPG cylinders by almost Rs 220, people using more than their quota of nine subsidised cylinders per year will have to shell out more money. While a subsidised cylinder costs around Rs 432.50 here, the rate of a non-subsidised cylinder has gone up from Rs 1,080 to Rs 1,310. The additional Rs 10 hike over Rs 220 is because of taxes and transportation charges, said local dealers. However, commercial consumers of LPG are more troubled as the rate of 19 kg commercial cylinder has gone up from the previous month's rate of Rs 1,825 to Rs 2,213. The rates of the non-subsidised cylinders and commercial cylinders are revised on monthly basis. Commercial users of LPG cylinders said though rates had been revised on a monthly basis, it was in this month that rates were increased by around Rs 380. They said the extra burden in monetary terms would make it difficult for them to run their businesses. A tea vendor, Kala Singh, said, "It seems that selling tea will not remain profitable for long. We are already selling tea at Rs 7 per cup. We will have to increase the rates further and it will not go down well with customers." Even domestic consumers said that the government should increase the quota of subsidised cylinders. A home-maker, Kawalpreet Kaur, said, "A family of five needs at least one cylinder every month. Last year, we had purchased three cylinders at non-subsidised prices. It will be better if the quota is increased to 12 a year." The consumers also demanded that the government should keep a check on the prices of commercial cylinders as well and should not allow oil companies to increase rates so frequently.
	PCCTU writes to CM about teachers’ harassment Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 After many communications to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal went unheard, the state executive member of the Punjab and Chandigarh Colleges Teachers Union (PCCTU), Prof HS Walia, today shot off an open letter to the Chief Minister regarding the mental torture and harassment being meted out to the 22 teachers working in government-aided colleges. He said a case was registered at the cantonment police station here on the basis of a “false and fabricated FIR” lodged by the Principal, Khalsa College, on March 31, 2011. These teachers' fault was that they (including two women) protested against the proposed conversion of Khalsa College, Amritsar, into a private university. In a peaceful and democratic way, the teachers struggle continued for three months from March 16 to June 16, 2011, with aims that included protecting the career and safeguarding the interests of about 150 Khalsa College teachers, protecting the heritage and historical character of Khalsa College from being converted into a purely private entity and safeguarding the interests of the students and stakeholders. The communication stated that the agitation was launched by the PCCTU which got an overwhelming response from various sections of society including social welfare groups, political parties, trade unions, Non-Resident Indians and philanthropists who contributed a lot in the establishment of the college. Bowing before the public sentiment, the Khalsa College Managing Committee entered into a written agreement with the teachers’ union on June 16, 2011. The agreement stipulated that the proposal to convert Khalsa College, Amritsar, into a private university will be withdrawn and all cases against 22 teachers, including the FIR lodged against the teachers on March 31, 2011, will also be withdrawn. Seeking the Chief Minister’s intervention, Walia said he could direct the Principal and the managing committee of a government-aided college to implement the written agreement made on June 16, 2011.
	Youth’s torture: SC commission upbraids Police Department PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 The National Scheduled Castes Commission today lashed out at the Police Department for its failure to register an FIR in the case pertaining to the alleged inhuman torture and illegal detention of a youth on theft charges. Though the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bikram Pal Singh Bhatti, informed the commission that an ASI, Major Singh, in charge, Sultanwind police chowki, and two head constables had been shifted to the Police Lines, Raj Kumar Verka, Vice-Chairman of the commission, expressed anguish over non-registration of an FIR in the case even after five days. The medical examination of the victim, too, had not been done so far, he added. The DCP appeared before the commission after the period granted by the commission for submitting the action-take report elapsed. Brahmjit Singh, a resident of Sultanwind, had appeared before the commission and had accused the Sultanwind police of keeping him in "illegal detention" and subjecting him to "inhuman torture". Verka had ordered the DCP to register an FIR and submit a report within five days. He had directed the authorities to get the medical examination of the boy done in the presence of an SDM-rank official. Brahmjit Singh alleged that on December 12 a theft had taken place near his house. On the eve of Christmas, a team from Sultanwind police chowki asked him to reach the police station. He alleged that police officials subjected him to "third-degree torture". He alleged that they pressured him to confess to the crime. He was released only after his family members and relatives had protested against the police.
	NGO opposes VAT reduction on cigarettes Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 With the state government contemplating to reduce VAT on cigarettes, the Voice of Tobacco Victims, an association of cancer affected families has opposed the move. The VAT on cigarettes was increased from the earlier 22.5 per cent to 55 per cent in the Budget 2013-14. The Voice of Tobacco Victims had played a significant role in persuading the finance ministry and state government in increasing the tax on cigarettes so as to discourage its sale. The association had submitted memorandum with the finance minister and other officials before the budget in this regard. Dr Prahlad Duggal of Voice of Tobacco Victims said as per an estimate around 24 lakh people in Punjab use tobacco in form or another. “At least 9 lakh of them are at a risk of premature death due to tobacco related problems,” said Duggal. He said the Voice of Tobacco Victims had initiated a campaign to get a pledge signed from all walks of people to curb the menace of tobacco. He said Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa had also signed the pledge. Dr Duggal said instead of focusing on increase in revenue collections from sale of cigarettes, the government should focus on the health. With the cancer already spreading its wings in the state, the state government is already spending crores on schemes for treatment of cancer patients. Jagjiwan Singh, a senior citizen said, “The government can save lot more money which is spent on treatment of cancer patients, if the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products is curbed.” He said instead of focusing on revenue from cigarettes, government should focus on general public health. An earlier study had indicated that with the increase in prices of tobacco products, there sale would go down. However, with government planning to reduce the tax, it may result in increasing the sales.
	Minister lays stone of tubewell Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 Anil Joshi, Local Bodies Minister, and Bakshi Ram Arora, Mayor, today reviewed the projects in ward No.11. While laying the foundation stone of a tubewell at Gokul Avenue, Joshi said the development of the holy city was the priority of the SAD-BJP government. There would be no scarcity of funds for making it a world-class city. “We are committed to providing safe drinking water, efficient sewerage disposal system, uninterrupted electricity supply, better road infrastructure, neat and clean parks here. Amritsar is recognised on the global level and the government has prepared a master plan to match it with an international-level city. There has been improvement here for the past six years in terms of infrastructure and facilities,” he said. Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said the tubewell inaugurated today would cost around Rs 21 lakh. “We have also planned to install identical tubewells in other wards too which could replace the obsolete and malfunctioned tubewells to provide safe drinking water to the residents,” he said. Others present on the occasion included councillor Sukhminder Singh Pintoo, Gaurav Sharma, Rakesh Sharma, Dev Raj, Harjit Singh and Mani Bhatia.
	Iron-cutter recovery puts authorities in dock GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 An iron-cutter used by the ASI-murder accused Ranjit Singh Rana to cut the iron bars of the high security cell to escape from the jail yesterday, has brought to the fore serious lapses on the part of the jail authorities. Even as the jail authorities maintained that the iron cutter could have reached Rana through another prisoner Sewa Singh, who was known to him and lodged recently in a drug recovery case. Yet the recovery of an iron cutter inside the jail has belied the jail authorities’ search and security claims. Despite having installed latest scanning gadgets and a three-tier search with the help of district policemen, there has been no let up in the smuggling of contraband and mobile phones into the jail premises. Some months ago, the jail authorities had installed an X-ray machine to scan and check the kin of the jail inmates, who come to meet them. It has reliably been learnt that the machine can spot metallic objects, including the mobile phones. How the iron cutter escaped the X-ray machine is still a mystery. The recovery of mobile phones from jail inmates is almost a daily affair. On December 30, a mobile phone was recovered from a prisoner identified as Tejinder alias Kaka Singh. On December 25, around 8 gm of smack was recovered from undertrial Gurcharan Singh, a resident of Karmu Wala Chohla Sahib village in Tarn Taran. On December 17, two mobile phones were recovered from inmate Narinder Singh, RK Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Jail, confirmed that two mobile phones, without SIM, were recovered from the accused. He said visitors played a vital role in passing on the forbidden material in the jail.
	Municipal Corporation in pink of fiscal health Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 2 After passing through a three-year phase of financial crisis, the Municipal Corporation (MC) is set to have a good year ahead, at least with regard to fiscal health. While no new project could be undertaken by the MC all these years owing to monetary constraints, the recent move of the Punjab Government to collect property tax and regularise illegal colonies has helped it collect Rs 52 crore. By March 31, the civic body authorities hope to collect over Rs 100 crore on both counts. Till about a few months ago, the MC had Rs 65 crore liabilities towards its contractors which it has been able to slowly write off, especially after a Rs 40-crore HUDCO loan was advanced to it. Now with all their dues cleared up to mid-December, even the contractors who had earlier denied taking any new work are awaiting the release of tenders of new projects. In a much comfortable position after a prolonged period of financial crises, the MC intends to roll out tenders for development projects in the city, including the re-carpeting of city roads. The MC has also recently been advanced an amount of Rs 5 crore as discretionary funds from the CM Funds for each of the four MLAs who have their constituencies in the city including Bhagat Chunni Lal, KD Bhandari, Manoranjan Kalia and Pargat Singh. The MC has, till date, collected Rs 19 crore as property tax and hopes to collect Rs 50 crore by the end of this financial year. "Since the owners of most of the commercial properties are yet to pay up, we hope to get at least Rs 30 crore to Rs 35 crore more. The BJP leaders, at a meeting tomorrow, are likely to take a call on the ongoing protest by traders. I, from my own side, have already explained to them that the property tax on the commercial properties is lower than the house tax which they had been paying till the last year," said Mayor Sunil Jyoti. The last date for paying property tax without rebate is January 31. The civic body has also netted a collection of Rs 33 crore by way of the regularisation of illegal colonies. The last date for the regularising of colonies with 20 per cent penalty for residential properties and 50 per cent penalty for commercial sites also falls on January 1. Despite the penalty provision, applicants were still seen running around with their files today. The Mayor said he hoped that the collection from this count would touch Rs 55 crore by March-end.
	City-based scholar, philanthropist in list of top 100 Sikhs Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 2 Jalandhar-based scholar, educationist and social activist Dr Raghbir Singh Bains has made it to list of the top 100 Sikhs in the world. On the 92nd spot in 2013’s top 100 Sikhs’ list, as posted on the website - The Sikh 100 - it is Dr Bains’ maiden entry on the list, which boasts of having the 100 most powerful and influential Sikhs in the world. Brought up at Dagana Kalan village, Dr Bains is a renowned encylopedist, reputed museologist, philanthropist, dedicated environmentalist, eminent drug therapist, and an extraordinary lifetime campaigner against social evils. Founder and producer of the first of its kind "Encyclopaedia of Sikhism" on Multimedia Technology in the world which was released by the then Prime Minister of Canada in the Parliament House on December 11, 1996. Dr Bains is global record holder for "setting up five Multimedia Sikh Museums" in the world. With Sikh tenets entrenched in his heart and a special eye towards the problems and needs of the young (across the world), he has worked against the menace of addiction, against human trafficking, prostitution and sexual exploitation and for the cause of propagating Sikh history in his efforts panning various countries. Listed on the website as an educationist, his "Nishan-e-Sikhi Project" based at Khadoor Sahib is a silent educational revolution in the region, providing education to thousands of rural students at a very low fees and in a job-oriented manner. Along with numerous awards for his vast field of works in Punjab and India, he has been honoured with the Queen II’s Golden Jubilee Medal by the Government of Canada in the year 2002 and the prestigious Order of British Columbia, Government of British Columbia, Canada, in 2005. Born and brought up in Punjab, he immigrated to Canada in the year 1990 and has been working to eradicate various social ills in India, Canada and in African countries as well. He now divides time between India and Canada annually.
	Forum penalises improvement trust Amritsar, January 2 The District Consumers Disputes Redressal Forum imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the chairman of Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) for failing to comply the court’s directive to provide basic amenities in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Mall Mandi scheme. On March 7, 2011, the forum had directed the AIT to provide basic amenities in the area within six months. An area resident Kanwar Pahul Singh, had filed the complaint before the forum “As the AIT failed to comply with the directives, an execution was filed before the forum which had imposed a fine of Rs 7,000,” said Kanwar Pahul Singh. The trust had later deposited the fine and court had given a month’s time to comply with the orders. The AIT failed to comply with the orders again, a fresh execution was filed before the forum. AIT Chairman Sandeep Rishi was present in the forum when the fine was imposed. The AIT deposited the fine on the spot. — TNS
	6 arrested under NDPS Act Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 The city police have nabbed six persons for allegedly indulging in drug trafficking and bootlegging. Among those who have been arrested include Bhagwan Singh, a resident of Chougawan Sadhpur village. The police recovered 200 gm opium from him. Besides, Sukhdev Singh alias Deba of Sultanwind road was held with intoxicant injections. Vijay Kumar of Kot Mit Singh, Sarabjit Singh of Anngarh, Kartar Singh of Anngarh and Sukhbir Singh of Jawahar Nagar Mehta road were arrested by the police with 9, 9, 20 and 36 bottles of illicit liquor respectively. Separate cases under the NDPS and Excise Act have been registered against them. Out of six arrested Vijay, Sararbjit and Sukhbir were released on the bail.
	Mixed fate for Fatehgarh team Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 In the knock out matches played between Amritsar and Fatehgarh teams, the former defeated the later by 2-0 during the hockey league organised by SGPC at Guru Nanak Dev University here today. In the junior wing, Fatehgarh Sahib team defeated Amritsar by 2-1. Balwinder Singh, director sports, SGPC, said the hockey league was organised to promote the game and discover new talent, which can further be trained by the experts. Olympian Brigadier (retired), Harcharan Singh, and hockey coach, HS Malhi, were also present on the occasion.
	Nittu tops MBBS exam Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 2 Nittu Sidhu, a student of Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, has topped the MBBS (final) prof part-II exam, conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. She secured 682 marks out of 900. A total of 820 students from nine medical colleges had appeared in the exam.