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BSF officers shift base to border
Hope for 12 death row convicts
Now, pay more for fancy vehicle numbers in state
Tax sops to hill states began
during NDA regime: Bajwa
Sukhbir tells Cong to learn protest tactics from Kejri
Khaira flays Badal for drawing ‘huge’ salary
Race for Amritsar seat hots up
NDA selections: Kapurthala Sainik School students shine
Belgian expert takes stock of ancient ‘beri’ at Golden Temple
Inspector accused of conniving with drug dealers
PAU staff protest against non-payment of salaries
NRIs seek visas for political refugees
Govt ‘indifferent’ to homoeopaths
Youth found dead in Philadelphia
Woman charged with son's murder on suicide watch
Relief for ‘Raam Leela’ team till March 24
Give Henry’s revised plea
copy to RTI activist: HC
Former Coop Bank MD convicted
2 of musical group held for molesting constables
Minor held for indecent calls
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AICC expands state poll panel, Ashwani in
New Delhi, January 21 The expanded panel will be notified by tomorrow. A Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, Ashwani Kumar was ignored when the committee was announced two days ago. There were several other “glaring omissions”, said top Congress sources. They said the high command had to intervene to rectify those. The revamped list has been approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Both the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries from Punjab, Kuljit Nagra and Ashwani Sekhri, have found place in the list. Another AICC secretary, KL Sharma who hails from Ludhiana, has also been included. The fifth addition is Sukhdev Singh Libra, 82-year-old Congress Lok Sabha member from Fatehgarh Sahib. He was formerly with the Akali Dal and had abstained from voting on the trust vote over the India-US nuclear deal during the UPA-I regime on July 22, 2008. Libra, who is unlikely to contest the General Election on account of his age, has reportedly been rewarded for his loyalty. Sources said the correction was mandated by the “imbalance” in the previous list. Politically, the five inclusions indicate that Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa has been subjected to oversight and not given a totally free hand, considering he had not included the five names in the previous list. The most obvious omission was that of Ashwani Kumar, who hails from Hoshiarpur and has held several important ministries at the Centre. He was recently nominated the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to improve relations with Japan. The first meeting of the reconstituted state election committee is expected soon. Five new faces
Political significance
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3 intruders shot, heroin worth Rs 180 cr seized
Khasa (Amritsar), January 21 “It is yet to be ascertained if those providing cover to the three intruders at Pul Moran were Pak Rangers or smugglers. At least 40 round were fired by the BSF in retaliation,” said Ajay Tomar, IG, Punjab Frontier. He said a protest would be lodged the Pakistani counterparts during a flag meeting. He sais when challenged, intruders at the Naushehra Dhalla outpost opened fire at the jawans and retreated. During search operations the following morning, 20 packets of heroin worth Rs 100 crore were found in a plastic pipe. At the Kassoke outpost in the Ferozepur sector, the BSF seized 16 kg of heroin valued at Rs 80 crore. Tomar said BSF personnel who had taken part in the operations would be awarded. The BSF has seized 62 kg of heroin since January 1. Abohar: The local narcotics cell claims to have arrested Mahesh Kumar of Jodhpur under the NDPS Act and seized 2.5 kg opium. Mahesh is believed to be a kingpin of a drug racket in Rajasthan. Darshan Singh, cell in charge, said the police had seized poppy husk from Kuldeep Singh of Moga at a naka in Gumjal village.
— OC
Alarming signals
‘Tyson’ discovers contraband
Ferozepur: It was sniffer dog ‘Tyson’ who helped the BSF recover 16 packets of heroin at the Kassake BoP. He was given a pat on the back by the, IG, Punjab Frontier. - OC Druglord Bhola sent to Nabha jail
Phagwara: Druglord Jagdish Bhola, who was in police remand for five days in the ASI Gurdev Singh murder case, was produced before a judicial magistrate here on Tuesday. He was sent to the Nabha jail. Though officials were tight-lipped, sources said the Phagwara police had obtained vital clues in the murder case. Bhola was brought from the Nabha jail on production warrants a few days after he named Cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majthia in the drug racket. The Jalandhar and Phagwara police took him in remand in separate cases. — Ashok Kaura
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BSF officers shift base to border
Jalandhar, January 21 Ajay Kumar Tomar, Inspector General, Punjab Frontier, said: “Smugglers become active during the winter months of December and January because of fog and then again in March during the harvest season when they take refuge amid the standing crop. We are fully prepared to thwart their attempts.” He said a bumper opium crop in Afghanistan was one of the key reasons for increased smuggling on the India-Pakistan border. He said there were reports of a 36 per cent increase in land under poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, from 1,54,000 hectares in 2012 to 2,09,000 hectares in 2013. The peddlers were now desperate to push the contraband into the Indian territory, he said. RPS Jaswal, DIG, said the BSF had devised a strategy to counter smugglers who had adopted innovative ways to hoodwink the officials. He said the smugglers often pushed in heroin packets through PVC pipes. The pipes were inserted through the border fence. At times they used cement pipes meant for irrigation. Jaswal said the smugglers often left consignments in the fields. “Their counterparts (apparently farmers on way to cultivate or harvest crops) pick these up. They conceal the contraband in specially designed cavities in farm implements and in rehras that are attached with trailers and ferried away,” the officer said.
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Hope for 12 death row convicts
Patiala, January 21 State Jails Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur held a meeting with senior jail officials here today. “These convicts will not be kept in solitary confinement. We will ensure that they are in good health, physically and mentally,” he said. With the Supreme Court ruling that jail superintendents will be the final authority to decide if the prisoner is mentally sound at the time of hanging, the minister said that a periodic health check of death row convicts would be ensured. Lodged in the Patiala jail, Rajoana was ordered to be hanged by a Chandigarh court. The Chief Minister and the Deputy CM had in 2012 submitted a petition to the President, seeking clemency for
Rajoana.
Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar is mentally ill and should have been released earlier on humanitarian grounds. Sikh detainees who have completed their jail term should also be
released. Gurbachan Singh, Akal Takht chief Avtar Singh Makkar, sgpc chief
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Now, pay more for fancy vehicle numbers in state
Muktsar, January 21 As per a notification issued by the Transport Department on January 9, the reserve price of ‘0001’ was increased 10 times the previous price. Now, people have to shell out Rs 5 lakh to get ‘0001’. The notification’s copy has not reached majority of district transport offices, but there have been verbal orders in this regard. The auction of fancy numbers was cancelled in a few districts yesterday because of the non-delivery of the notification’s copy. An official of the Department said the notification’s copy would soon be uploaded on the Department’s website. He said the reserve price of numbers ‘0002’ to ‘0009’ has been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For numbers between ‘0010’ and ‘0099’, the reserve price has been fixed at Rs 1 lakh. It was Rs 3,000 prior to the notification. The reserve price of fancy numbers such as ‘0200’, ‘0300’, ‘0111’, ‘0222’, ‘4444’ and ‘5555’ has been increased to Rs 25,000, while the reserve price of ‘2345’ and ‘3456’ has been fixed at Rs 12,500. On the lower rung are numbers such as ‘1010’ and ‘9898’ available for Rs 10,000. The religiously important number ‘0786’ has been added to the list of fancy numbers, having a reserve price of Rs 2.5 lakh. “The Department is planning to add more numbers to the list,” Additional State Transport Commissioner Harmail Singh said. If vehicle owners want numbers other than the fancy ones, they will have to pay Rs 5,000 in addition to the normal fee. There’s more bad news in store for vehicle owners who have a liking for fancy numbers. They will have to pay non-refundable fee to become eligible for bidding. One would have to pay non-refundable fee of Rs 2,000 for ‘0001’, Rs 500 for numbers between ‘0002 and 0009’ and Rs 200 for all other numbers, the official said, adding that people could apply for fancy numbers online. “The online auction will be advertised in newspapers. Those willing to get fancy numbers will pay the non-refundable fee and get a password to bid online. After the completion of a specific period, say seven days, the highest bidder will get the number. In case he doesn’t pay the money, the second highest bidder will become eligible,” the official said.
Fancy numbers can’t be
retained anymore
Now, vehicle owners will be unable to retain any fancy number and put it on another vehicle. “In case one sells his or her vehicle, the number will also go with it,” an official of the Transport Department said, adding that the Punjab Government had made the change after amending Section 42 (A) of the Punjab Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. “Earlier, half of the reserve price was collected for the purpose of retaining the number. Now, if someone wants a fancy number, he or she will have to buy a new one,” the official said.
The Transport Department aimed to collect more revenue by increasing the reserve price, but it would face difficulties, an agent-cum-document writer said, adding that the numbers available at a higher price would hardly find bidders, especially in the less developed districts.
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Tax sops to hill states began
during NDA regime: Bajwa
Chandigarh, January 21 Speaking on the sidelines of the party’s ongoing hunger strike here, Bajwa said, “It was former BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who announced these concessions in 2003. The Akalis too were part of that government at the Centre.” The PPCC leadership has been on a relay fast, demanding a CBI probe into the drug racket unearthed following the arrest of kingpin Jagdish Bhola. “How can a party (SAD) stage a protest against a policy okayed by its own alliance partner (BJP). When the decision was taken, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was the Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister whereas Sukhbir Badal was the Minister of State for Industry. Despite their portfolios, the duo failed to prevail over the BJP leadership against extending these concessions to the neighbouring states,” he said. Bajwa said he along with Punjab Ministers would again meet the Prime Minister to demand a special package to the state. “If that is not possible, the Centre could at least give a special package to six border districts of Punjab so that the industry has an option to relocate itself and prosper in the border belt where low-cost land and labour were available,” he said. Sources said the Congress was also deliberating on a plan to match the proposed ‘dharna’ by the SAD-BJP leaders in front of the Punjab Governor’s residence on January 24 to protest the “step-motherly treatment meted out to Punjab by the Centre. Bajwa also condemned the alleged hooliganism showed by SAD-BJP activists outside the house of Manish Tiwari, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting. He said window panes of Tiwari’s house were smashed, “which showed the criminal character of the ruling party”. Congress leaders Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Harminder Singh Gill, Anoop Bhullar and Sukhpal Bhullar sat on hunger strike along with party workers from the assembly constituencies of Patti and Khemkaran constituencies today.
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Sukhbir tells Cong to learn protest tactics from Kejri
Mohali, January 21 “The Centre has once again meted out a step-motherly treatment to Punjab,” said Sukhbir. He was here to felicitate Barjinder Singh Brar, who assumed the charge of Chairman, Punjab Health Services System. Lashing out at the state Congress leaders, he said they were “least interested” in Punjab’s progress. “They only visit Delhi for getting seats but never asked anything from their government at the Centre for the benefit of Punjab,” he said. Taking a jibe at the PPCC relay fast, he said they should learn protest tactics from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare. “Instead of hunger strike, they should resort to fast-unto-death. The protest (hunger strike) would also help Partap Singh Bajwa lose some weight,” quipped Sukhbir, who arrived two hours late at the function.
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Khaira flays Badal for drawing ‘huge’ salary
Chandigarh, January 21 Khaira said the Chief Minister had ignored the fact that the state was under a “colossal debt of Rs 1 lakh crore”. As per a survey by Paycheck India, a research initiative of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, Badal was the highest paid Chief Minister of India with a salary of Rs 12 lakh per annum. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh drew Rs 1.60 lakh per annum. Khaira said one could not ignore that “an exorbitant amount of taxpayers’ money was being spent by the Badal family on their luxurious lifestyle. “We are aware that a huge cavalcade accompanies the Badals when they travel by road. The security paraphernalia of the Badal duo and Bikram Majithia is beyond any rationale. They are all provided with more than 200 security personnel each under the so-called Z-plus category. Such arrangements are only equal to the feudal dictators like Saddam Hussein of Iraq,” he added.
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Race for Amritsar seat hots up
Amritsar, January 21 Though Sidhu had been keeping away from his constituency in the aftermath of his confrontation with the state government in September last year over his pet projects, he attended the Punjab BJP’s core committee meeting here on January 10, indicating he was still in the race for the BJP ticket. Brushing aside reports of BJP planning to field him from Delhi West Lok Sabha seat, he even made it clear that he could not think of fighting elections from any other constituency. “I cannot betray the trust of the people of Amritsar who have elected me as their MP thrice,” he has said. His move assumes significance in view of the fact that he hasn’t been sharing a good rapport with some key SAD and BJP leaders in the recent past, which was evident from the way Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal “ignored” him during a public event here on January 12. What fuelled speculations about Sidhu not contesting from Amritsar is the fact that he has been having a tough time here for the last around a couple of years. Earlier, he had distanced himself from the constituency for around a year and when he returned, he took the state government head, accusing it of scuttling his pet projects. Sidhu’s tussle with the government and deteriorating ties with his fellow party leaders has opened a window of opportunity for others in Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. Lobbying hard for the BJP ticket is his arch rival Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, who is also the Punjab BJP vice-president. Chhina has the advantage of being a local Sikh leader. Besides, he also shares good ties with Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, who holds considerable clout in the Majha region. BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal recently visited the residences of Sidhu and Chhina in Amritsar, fueling speculations about the party candidate from the prestigious constituency. Among other names doing the rounds are those of the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley. Political observers say being a Punjabi, Jaitley may agree to contest from Amritsar. Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma is also being seen in the race for the ticket in view of his frequent visits to Amritsar in recent past.
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SAD forms 12-member manifesto panel
Chandigarh, January 21 Those on the committee are Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Tota Singh, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Naresh Gujaral, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Gulzar Singh Ranike and Harcharan Bains. The committee will finalise the manifesto blueprint by February 20. Sources said the ruling alliance is once again banking on the development card. It will focus on the new industrial policy and the steps taken to woo industry. It will also highlight the “step-motherly” treatment meted out to Punjab with the Congress-led UPA Government extending tax concessions to neighbouring hill states, denying Punjab traders a level playing field. The state government’s war on the drug trade, additional allocation for the health sector for cancer treatment and various youth welfare initiatives would also be highlighted, committee spokesman Bains said. Another area of focus would be initiatives for governance reforms, he added.
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Now on, DEOs, principals to ensure safe school buses
Faridkot, January 21 As a majority of vehicles used for transportation of schoolchildren are in a poor condition, the head of the school will be made responsible for the transportation of children. The District Education Officer (DEO) will be the nodal officer to supervise the safety and condition of these buses with the help of the district police and the transport department. At a meeting convened by the Director, education department (SS), yesterday, the DEOs submitted
a list of schools and vehicles engaged by these schools in their respective districts. At the meeting held in the DPI Office, it was observed that most of the accidents involving school buses happened due to unsafe bus body fabrication and failure of the school institutions to adopt a comprehensive periodical preventive maintenance procedure besides poor driving skills of drivers. Moreover, over crowding in school vehicles was a common problem, said Amarjit Singh Khokhar, DEO, Faridkot. Khokhar said it was decided that every school bus should be equipped with a speed governor with a maximum speed limit of 40 km/hr. The driver of the school bus should possess a license of heavy vehicle and have five years of experience and the school bus be painted in yellow colour, he said. “The school buses must bear the name and the contact number of the school in bold letters. These buses must carry first-aid boxes,” he said. Directions to curb the practice of over loading in buses were also passed. It was also decided that a person who was challaned twice would not be hired as a driver for a school bus. Medical check-up of the school bus drivers would also be got done time to time. It was decided that the school buses should be equipped with a “stop signal arm” in order to signal other motorists not to overtake the school bus while it stops to load or discharge children. A retracting step -— a step used for entry into the bus, which can
be retracted once the bus starts moving — and storage racks beneath the seats will also be made mandatory.
New rules in force
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NDA selections: Kapurthala Sainik School students shine
Chandigarh, January 21 “The pace has picked up over the past three years or so,” Col Sudhanshu Arya, Principal, said. “Besides stress on academics, we have been organising special classes to prepare students for the NDA competition and have also brought in specialists for the purpose,” he added. SSK had passed through a rough phase in the past decade when just 1-2 cadets joined the NDA in a year. There were instances when an NDA course did not have a single cadet from this school. The upturn comes even as there has been an overall decline in the contribution of Sainik Schools in the NDA from 29 per cent in 2009 to 25 per cent in 2011. While five cadets had joined NDA last year, 10 had made it in 2012 and five cadets in the year before that. In 2014, even as SSB interviews are under way, two cadets have joined NDA and one has joined the Naval Academy. Set up in 1961, SSK is among the 24 fully residential Sainik Schools in the country mandated to prepare students for entry into the armed forces through the NDA. Their combined student strength is about 12,800 out of which about 900 pass out each year and, on an average, about 20 per cent among them make it to the NDA. Concerns have been raised in some quarters that the figure is low, especially when compared with the intake from the Rashtriya Indian Military College from where the average intake into the NDA is 76 per cent. Entry to these schools is from class VI onwards for which there is a competitive exam. 67 per cent seats are reserved for children belonging to the state in which the school is located. These days, a majority of the students are from rural areas or from economically weaker sections of society looking for a good education. “This is also a factor that we have to consider,” Gp Capt LN Sharma, Principal of Sainik School, Kunjpura, which has sent the largest number of cadets to the NDA, said. “While all get a good education, everyone may not be cut out to become an officer but tend to do well in other fields. Taking this into account, the background of the cadets and the fact that there is no binding upon them to join the Services, the figure of 20 per cent is reasonable,” he claimed. There are cadets who clear the NDA written exam and interview, but opt not to join. Some make it to the NDA in subsequent attempts while other alumni have joined after completing their graduation. Staff members say that there is also a general lack of awareness about the existence of Sainik Schools and their mandate. If their role is adequately publicised, it could get more students keen to join the forces. While the fees collected from students goes towards meeting the pay and allowances of the faculty (except those of Service officers), the state government concerned is responsible for land, buildings, furniture, educational and training aids, scholarships and a major portion of recurring expenditure. The funding for Sainik Schools is also an issue which adversely affects the maintenance of the premises and facilities. According to the staff, the schools have to seek funds from different agencies and if the financial control and allocation rested with a single authority, it could improve things.
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Belgian expert takes stock of ancient ‘beri’ at Golden Temple
Amritsar, January 21 Sonian was accompanied by MD Group chairman Harpal Singh and MS Dhanju from BIS Group of Industries. Dhanju told the SGPC officials that Sonian’s firm in Belgium was involved in the upkeep of trees using organic methods and she also had a word with a noted scientist of her company regarding Dukhbhanjani Beri, a part of which has dried up. He said the Belgium-based firm would be keen on cooperating with the SGPC in maintaining the ancient ‘ber’ trees. He said the company would treat these trees with the help of natural techniques and there would be no side-effects. Dhanju said they would first carry out a study about the existing environment before starting their treatment on these trees. The SGPC officials subsequently felicitated the trio by presenting them ‘siropa’ and a picture of the Golden Temple. The Punjab Agriculture University (Ludhiana) is currently looking after the 'ber' trees at the shrine.
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Inspector accused of conniving with drug dealers
Chandigarh, January 21 Avonjot Singh, son of Jathedar Jagdev Singh, former Chairman of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust, has written to the Home Secretary, state DGP, Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, and Director, CBI, alleging that the Inspector was working in tandem with Manmohan Singh and Jatinder Singh Raju, who ran a finance firm. “They took money from me, promising high returns.They lured me into taking drugs. I later learnt they were in the drug trade. They refused to return my money and threatened to implicate me in a false case,” said Avonjot Singh, demanding that the case be handed over to the CBI. Inspector Amrinder Singh claimed that Avonjot Singh’s acquaintance Shashi Sharma, accused in more than 12 cases, was arrested three months ago. “The allegations against me are baseless. Avonjot is a witness in another complaint filed against me by one Purshottam Singh, alleging that I had made casteist remarks. Till date, no one has turned up at the police station”, he said. The Deputy Commissioner of Police said he had marked an inquiry.
Serious allegations
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PAU staff protest against non-payment of salaries
Ludhiana, January 21 Scientists and other staff in the university said for the past several months, they had not been getting their salaries on time, the funds for which are released by the state government. The state authorities are yet to release the monthly sum of Rs 18.33 crore for this purpose, causing delay in the release of salary to PAU professors, non-teaching employees and pensioners. Lakhwinder Singh Sandhu, senior vice-president, PAU Employees Union, said that due to the “dwindling financial condition” of the state government, the funds for salaries and pensions were not being released on time. “The situation is so bad that even after 21 days since the month began, the funds have not been allocated to the PAU. Even the daily paid labourers have not been paid salaries this month,” he said. Dr Sarjit Singh Gill, president, Confederation of PAU Pensioners Associations, said as per the orders of the Supreme Court, all pensioners should get their pensions by the first of every month. “Even the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the state government to issue pensions on time else they would intervene and the pension would be issued from the funds meant for salaries of PAU staff,” he said. Dr Rajinder Singh Sidhu, comptroller, PAU, confirmed that the funds for disbursement of salaries as well as pension were yet to be sanctioned by the state government. “Vice Chancellor Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon has brought this matter to the notice of the state government and the funds would be sanctioned shortly,” he said.
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NRIs seek visas for political refugees
New Delhi, January 21 Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director, NAPA, said, “It is an established fact that these people were not political refugees but rather economic migrants who sought asylum fearing repression from terrorists in Punjab for not cooperating with them. Most of them fall in this category and did not have any association with any terror outfit.” The members claimed the minister had assured them that all the Indian nationals who were on a political asylum due to economic reasons would be issued Indian passports or their passports would be renewed if they produce nativity certificates attested by Deputy Commissioners/Sub Divisional Magistrates of their respective areas back home. In its memorandum given to the Union minister, NAPA stated a large number of NRIs owned properties in Punjab and had become victim of false litigation in courts filed by unauthorised occupants. These cases had remained undecided for a number of years and it was not possible for NRIs in US to visit Punjab frequently to fight these lawsuits. This was one of the apprehensions among overseas Punjabis which kept them from investing in land deals here, it stated. There was a need for fast track courts to decide these issues, NAPA stated.
Seek fast track courts n Members of the North American Punjabi Association in a memorandum to Union Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi also demanded fast track courts to decide cases pertaining to property disputes.
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Sangrur mushroom grower scripts success story
Sangrur, January 21 Jaspal Singh (32) of Khanal Khurd village near Dirba has established a compost unit for Rs 52 lakh. Sounds nothing great? The significance is that he prepares compost in about 15 days, while manually it is prepared in 28 to 30 days. And he calls his innovation “short-method compost”. From 1 quintal of “short-method compost”, he gets 25 kg to 27 kg of produce, while 18 to 20 kg of produce is harvested from the same quantity of manually prepared compost. This season, Jaspal prepared about 6,000 quintals of compost, comprising wheat straw, wheat chokkar, fertilisers such as calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and super phosphate. He sold about 4,800 quintals to 14 farmers, who wanted set up their mushroom units, at Rs Rs 1,000 per quintal. He used the remaining compost in his farm. On his mushroom farm, Jaspal has constructed four sheds that make up 2 acres. In each shed, about 300 quintals of compost is used to grow mushrooms. He will earn about Rs 1.5 lakh per shed this season. “A farmer with a small landholding can earn more by growing mushrooms as compared with paddy and wheat. A mushroom grower earns lakhs of rupees from 1 acre in a year, while a farmer earns about Rs 80,000 from traditional crops,” said Jaspal, who was into traditional farming. Dr Mandeep Singh, Deputy Director, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kherri (Sangrur), said Jaspal was trained in mushroom cultivation by the KVK. “Now, he is a master trainer of the KVK,” he said. Today, he is a source of inspiration for other farmers in the district. Jaspal is planning to hire five cold storages to cultivate mushrooms round the year. At present, he grows mushrooms from November to March. He along with his brother Balraj Singh does marketing of the produce by visiting Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Barnala, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
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Govt ‘indifferent’ to homoeopaths
Nawanshahr, January 21 “The Punjab chapter of the NRHM had, on Saturday, advertised 308 posts of AYUSH doctor under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram
(RBSK) for Ayurvedic Medical Officers only, ignoring homoeopathic doctors,” association president Dr Balwinder said today. In other states such as Rajasthan , Bihar,
Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, equal number of posts were advertised for homoeopaths, he said, adding that “in Haryana, a common test for the recruitment of Ayush doctors (both for ayurvedic doctors and homoeopaths) is being conducted”. The other sore point is the government’s decision to close homoeopathy out-patient departments
(OPDs) in the Civil Hospitals and dispensaries. “The homoeopathic OPDs are working well. Nearly 50 patients come for cheap and effective treatment every day,” Dr Balwinder said. “In all, 102 homoeopathy OPDs in the Civil Hospitals and dispensaries are being run under the NRHM in the state. More than 11 lakh patients availed the healthcare facilities last year,” association members Dr Hitesh Mahajan said, adding that the government’s move to close the OPDs would deprive many patients of the homoeopathic medical care “The Association has apprised Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani and NRHM MD Hussan Lal of the situation and urged them not to close the OPDs and recruit equal number of homoeopaths,” Dr Mahajan said. Dr Tejinder Pal Singh, state representative in the Centre Council of Homoeopathy, assured the association to take up their demands with the higher authorities.
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‘Sher-e-Sindh’ remembered
Abohar, January 21 Members of the Sindh community, to which Kalani belonged, want that the freedom fighter’s profile should be included in textbooks. They urged the governments to celebrate “Balidan Diwas” (martyrdom day) officially. Representatives of non-government organisations (NGOs) offered flowers at the freedom fighter’s portrait during a function at Padampur in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. Municipal Council president Bahadur Chand Narang said Kalani, born on March 23, 1924, joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Movement. On the midnight of October 23, 1942, Kalani was arrested while trying to derail the freight train that carried bombs and weapons. On January 21, 1943, he was hanged to death in Sukkur jail (now in Pakistan). When the authorities asked him about his last wish, he said: “Before hanging, say loudly with me ‘Hail Freedom’. None of the officers refused,” Narang said.
About the martyr
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Youth found dead in Philadelphia
New
York, January 21 The body of Pulkit Singh (20), a student at the
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, was discovered on January
12 in his off-campus room, Newsday website reported. The cause of
death is being investigated by the Philadelphia Health Department and
the campus police. Criminality has not been suspected but a health
department official told The Daily Pennsylvanian, a college newspaper,
that the cause of death might not be determined for months. In
January 2007, brothers Pulkit and Ankur Singh, then 13 and 12 years of
age respectively, returned home from school to find their parents,
Jaspal (46) and Geeta (38), shot dead in the New York hamlet of
Syosset in Nassau County. In 2011, Pulkit had told Newsday that he was
haunted by the discovery of his slain parents and by the fact that the
killer was still on the loose. The police said they believed that his
parents, who had immigrated to the US from India, had been targeted.
The Nassau County police were unable to comment on the status of their
case. — PTI
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Woman charged with son's murder on suicide watch
London, January 21 Rosdeep Kular, 33, appeared at a private hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday to be charged with the murder of Mikaeel Kular and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. She was remanded in custody at Cornton Vale Prison in Stirlingshire and will appear at court in another private hearing on January 28. She is currently on suicide watch in the jail, the Sun tabloid reported. Kular had reported her son missing last week, triggering a massive search operation which ended when his body was found in a woodland in Fife, near Edinburgh. It has now emerged that there had been concerns for Mikaeel's welfare in the past and he had been put into foster care as a result. Ziggy Ford and her husband cared for the boy, one of five siblings, who it is claimed was returned to his mother after social workers thought she could cope. "They took him on a short-term basis. They loved him like he was their own son," the couple's friend told the Sun. Social workers from Fife Council were said to be in regular contact with Kular and her five children when they lived in Kirkcaldy before moving to Edinburgh 18 months ago. A spokesperson for the council said they were unable to provide information about the case because of the ongoing police investigation. Local communities of Kirkcaldy, where Mikaeel's body was recovered, and Edinburgh, where he lived, are preparing for a special joint tribute to the little boy. Balloons will be let off as part of the Send-off For Mikaeel event later this week at Cramond Beach and Ravenscraig Beach in Scotland. Piles of flowers, soft toys, candles and cards continued to mount close to the three-year-old's home in Ferry Gait Crescent, with residents laying more than 2,000 bunches of flowers and teddy bears in a line at least four rows deep and stretching more than 50 yards. — PTI
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Relief for ‘Raam Leela’ team till March 24
Chandigarh, January 21 The order was passed by Justice M Jeyapaul on a petition filed by Deepika Padukone for quashing of an FIR registered by the Jalandhar police on the allegations of hurting religious sentiments. About two months ago, the Punjab Police had told the High Court that it had gathered "sufficient" evidence for the arrest of the three. The police claimed that the investigation in the matter was under progress and that the petition filed by Padukone was "premature". The police were collecting evidence against the trio and statements of the three have to be recorded. Senior advocate RS Rai has all along been arguing on the petitioners’ behalf that a complaint in the matter was forwarded by complainant Lalit Kumar on September 25 last year and an FIR was registered the next day whereas the producer-director of the movie applied to the Central Board of Film Certification subsequently. The approval from the Censor Board before the release of the movie was granted only on November 1, 2013, after carrying out cuts in the movie. It was strange that the Jalandhar police registered the FIR without even ascertaining the facts before the
movie could be released or even granted a certificate by the CBFC. Lalit Kumar’s grievance was that the movie’s title, the trailer and photographs were highly objectionable and offended the religious sentiments of general public believing in Hindu mythology. He alleged that the story was contrary to the title as it had nothing to do with Lord Rama’s life.
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Give Henry’s revised plea
copy to RTI activist: HC
Chandigarh, January 21 The Union Home Ministry had passed an order holding that Henry had ceased to be Indian citizen from the date he acquired British citizenship in 1969. Against the order, Henry had filed a revision petition under Section 15 of the Citizenship Act. Sehgal, through advocate HC Arora, had earlier stated that Henry acquired British passport and British citizenship in 1969 under the name of Avtar Singh. Subsequently, he came to India on a British passport the same year and obtained an Indian passport, which was renewed from time to time. He also registered as a voter in Jalandhar North assembly constituency as Avtar Henry and contested the elections to Vidhan Sabha on six occasions in 1986, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012. He remained Cabinet Minister in Punjab in 1992 and 2002. The petitioner had contended that Avtar Henry violated the provisions of Section 125-A of Representation of the People Act; Section 420, 467,468 and 471 of the IPC; Section 12 of the Passport Act and Section 5 of The Foreigners Act. Taking up the fresh petition, Justice Ritu Bahri directed the Union Home Secretary to provide a copy of the revision petition to petitioner Ajay Sehgal within a week from today.
About the case
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Former Coop Bank MD convicted Amritsar, January 21 The quantum of punishment will be announced on January 23. Chhina, popularly known as 'Dhuta', was once seen close to Akali stalwart Ranjit Singh Brahmpura. He was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau in 2002 in the cash-for-job scam, soonafter the arrest of former Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman Ravi Sidhu. Chhina was accused of taking money from job aspirants. With the Congress Government coming to power in 2002, Chhina reportedly switched loyalty to the new rulers, reportedly antagonising local Congress men. An FIR was registered against Chhinna and his wife and they were arrested by the VB under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Soonafter, a fresh FIR was registered against Chhinna on the complaint of a few job aspirants.
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2 of musical group held for molesting constables
Tarn Taran, January 21 The accused have been identified as Hardeep Kumar Happy , Raj Kumar Raju, Rohit Kumar , Varun Bawa and Shamir Kumar. Hardeep and Raj were arrested, while the threemanaged to escape. Police sources said the two woman constables were returning to the city after duty from Sur Singh village on their Scooty last evening. The accused who were in Tata Sumo when crossed the constables near Noordi village and passed lewd comments. The constables brought the matter to the notice of police personnel at a barricade at the Chabal bypass . The police intercepted the vehicle and arrested Hardeep and Raj. The accused were returning from a cultural
programme.
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Minor held for indecent calls
Hoshiarpur, January 21 The police traced the caller to Tarn Taran and arrested him within a few hours of getting the information. He was brought to the Mukerian police station. The accused has reportedly confessed that he had been harassing the
complainant.
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The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead three Pakistani intruders near the Pul Moran border outpost (BoP) late last night.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa today said the state government’s complaint against tax concession to the industry in the hill states was “unfounded” as these sops were doled out during the NDA regime.
Speaking on the sidelines of the party’s ongoing hunger strike here, Bajwa said, “It was former BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who announced these concessions in 2003. The Akalis too were part of that government at the Centre.”
Mohali, January 21
The school education and transport departments with police assistance have started a “safe school vehicle” scheme in a bid to check roads accidents involving schools buses.
As a majority of vehicles used for transportation of schoolchildren are in a poor condition, the head of the school will be made responsible for the transportation of children. The District Education Officer
(DEO) will be the nodal officer to supervise the safety and condition of these buses with the help of the district police and the transport department.
A Jalandhar businessman, Avonjot Singh, has accused the Economic Offence Wing
(EOW) in charge, Inspector Amrinder Singh, of misappropriating Rs 11 lakh and investing it in the drug business in connivance with drug dealers.
Avonjot Singh, son of Jathedar Jagdev Singh, former Chairman of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust, has written to the Home Secretary, state
DGP, Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, and Director, CBI, alleging that the Inspector was working in tandem with Manmohan Singh and Jatinder Singh
Raju, who ran a finance firm.
The Punjab Agricultural University staff today held a protest against non-payment of salaries. Pensioners, too, rued that they didn’t get their dues this month.
With druglords based in Pakistan stepping up operations, senior BSF officers have shifted their base to the border. 
What they say
We welcome the Supreme Court verdict. Bhullar should be released at the earliest. The SGPC had made a lot of effort to secure his release and filed a clemency petition with the
President.
The Punjab government has increased the reserve price of fancy vehicle registration numbers manifold, causing a setback to people who bid for such numbers. 
An expert from Belgium, Sonian Hablox, today met the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials here and put forth her suggestions for upkeep of the ancient ‘ber’ trees in the Golden Temple Complex.
