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Can’t contest Amritsar seat, says Capt
Govt clears over Rs 200-cr VAT refund in 2 months
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Deposit arms or face FIR
Jaitley, Harsimrat have violated election code, alleges Congress
Tewari assured of MLAs’ support from Ludhiana
HC adopts new method to expedite bail pleas
Hans asks SAD to reconsider Tinu’s name
‘Suspended’ Patna Sahib Jathedar to attend clergy meet today
Irregularities in sale of plots in Fazilka
Poll no solution to waterlogging, say Gurdaspur farmers
Woman jumps off train to chase bag snatchers
MGNREGA workers protest in Muktsar
PPSC rejects forms; aspirants seek fee refund
‘Tainted’ college seeks increase in MBBS seats
Medical college under scrutiny over CT scans
India lauds US backing for Sikhs in military
Land grab case: HC calls for SC orders
Patti SDM gets 3-yr jail in forgery case
Officer investigating drug trafficking case pulled up
Hawara case: Next hearing on April 3
Six held for helping undertrial escape
Suspended SDO held for ‘murdering’ wife, servant
‘Honour killing’: Deputy Mayor alleges frame-up
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Can’t contest Amritsar seat, says Capt
It is learnt that Amarinder met Ahmad Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, this evening. He told him what he had earlier told the Congress president - that he would not be able to contest the poll as he would be campaigning in all 13 constituencies of Punjab. Amarinder had also told the Congress president that since his wife (Preneet Kaur) was contesting the Patiala seat, it would be difficult for him to focus his energies on two seats. Sources said the party was now considering three candidates- Batala MLA Ashwani Sekhri, Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria and Raj Kumar Verka. The PPCC chief, Partap Singh Bajwa, had been mounting pressure on the party to field Amarinder from Amritsar. Bajwa is re-contesting the Gurdaspur seat. Speaking to The Tribune, Amarinder said three weeks ago, the party high command had asked him to contest the elections. " I told her that this was not possible as all party candidates had requested me to campaign for them in their constituencies. Hence, I could not be restricted to a particular area," he said.
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Govt clears over Rs 200-cr VAT refund in 2 months
Patiala, March 19 The Department officials claim that the department started the online process of refunding VAT a few months ago to clear the backlog. The officials confirmed that till January 1, 2014, VAT refunds amounting to more than Rs 506 crore were pending with the department from the past more than a year. The department has so far cleared more than Rs 200 crore of pending VAT refunds and claims to bring the pendency to less than Rs 100 crore by April-end. “We have set up an account under the Refund Fund Account. On receiving applications for VAT refund, we ask the officials to scrutinise the company and clear the refund within 60 days,” said Department Commissioner Anurag Verma. “The entire process takes some time to guard against bogus claims. Recently, a few companies filed bogus claims running in crores of rupees,” he said. In April 2013, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed before industrialists to categorise industry and online refund of VAT in minimum possible time. In spite of the Punjab Government claiming that there was no financial crunch, its own department has been dilly-dallying over the release of tax refund. Following a VAT scam coming to light last year, a status report was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A few months ago, the High Court had said: “The court records its painful observation that on account of the unholy nexus between 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 interstate trade and export of goods.” The Congress has welcomed the release of pending VAT refunds after a long delay, but questioned the release of tax a few weeks ahead of elections. “The state government should also pay interest on the delayed VAT refunds and not try to woo traders as they have already suffered a lot due to repeated delays,” said a former Cabinet minister, alleging that the department was playing into the hands of the state government. Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner (VAT) Jaspal Garg told The Tribune that the department would clear the entire backlog in two months. “We are working on a system to ensure that all refund claims are cleared in 30 days and payment is made to the companies through online,” he said, adding that there was nothing political behind the department move as the VAT refund belonged to the traders.
Eye on elections?
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campaign trail
bathinda seat
Bathinda, March 19 "Manpreet," he introduces himself as he shakes hands, evoking a warm response. He approaches an elderly woman and touches her feet. "Mataji, I am Manpreet," he tells her. Blessing him, she responds: "Kakaji I know you are Manpreet. God bless you. May you be victorious." After having called on Congress workers to seek their support, Manpreet is campaigning door to door these days. The Tribune team travelled with him to a few villages. "I am a man of integrity. None of you will return from my house empty-handed once we throw out the Akalis,” he tells the voters. He employs rustic wit and recites Urdu couplets to drive home his point. He promises a clean and people-friendly political dispensation. He strikes a chord with the voters, addressing them as ‘veero (brothers)’ and ‘dosto (friends)’. He says: "Punjab has turned into a heap of ashes. I sift through the ashes, hoping to find a spark. I see that spark (hope) in you after having met you.” He receives a thunderous applause. At Sangat village, Manpreet drives to the house of Baldev Singh Sidhu, a former chairman of the local mandi. The elderly Congress leader offers him money for his election fund. Manpreet politely refuses the offer, saying: " I am grateful but I need your blessings, not money.” Sidhu wishes him luck, saying the people have suffered enough at the hands of the Akalis. Nachhatar Singh, another former president of the market committee, says: "Congress workers in this region want you to contest on the Congress symbol (hand)." Manpreet promises to consider his advice and leaves for the next destination. “I think I have had a headstart. Unlike my rivals, I have a clean image. The campaign is bound to pick up with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, PPCC chief Partap Bajwa and former CM Capt Amarinder Singh campaigning for me,” says Manpreet.
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Deposit arms or face FIR
Sources said Punjab had around 2.80 lakh licensed weapons issued to individuals, including many with criminal background. But only 38 per cent of such weapons had been deposited so far. In Patiala district, of 26,365 individuals having firearms, only 5,400 have complied with the EC directions. The situation is similar in almost all districts where not even half of the arms have been deposited. The police have been told to start identifying those who are yet to deposit their weapons and register cases against them. Senior poll officials said following bitter rivalry in villages, there are chances of the elections turning bloody due to a politically charged atmosphere. “Till date only 38 per cent of the licensed weapons have been deposited despite orders from the respective district magistrates-cum-electoral officers. We have told the SHOs concerned to ensure that the firearms are deposited without further delay,” an official said. A senior police officer said in addition to their routine work, the police personnel had been asked to visit the houses of firearms licensees to urge them to deposit their weapons. Besides, they had to communicate to the EC about the action taken in this regard,
he said. HS Mann, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, said: “After March 20, we will start registering cases against those who fail to hand over their weapons. No licence holder is authorised to keep his weapon till the election process is complete”.
Arms deposited Of the 2,86,942 licensed arms in Punjab, as many as 1,03,768 arms have been deposited with either the police or private arms dealers. The maximum number of licensed arms are in Bathinda (26,365) and the minimum are in Pathankot (2,658). "We have asked the police to ensure all the arm are deposited before April 2 and all non-bailable warrants are also executed by then," said Raminder Singh.
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Jaitley, Harsimrat have violated election code, alleges Congress
Punjab Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Kahiara has complained that in violation of the poll code, the ruling combine has put up flex boards all over Amritsar and Bathinda in support of their candidates. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Raminder Singh said he had asked the deputy commissioners-cum-DEOs concerned to send a report on the matter. On bicycle distribution Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Indu Malhotra has given a clean chit to the Akali-BJP Government in a complaint regarding distribution of bicycles to girl students under the Mai Bhago scheme. Congress candidate from Sangrur Vijay Inder Singla had complained that unassembled bicycles carrying picture of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were stored in two rooms of a government school in Moonak. Additional CEO Raminder Singh said the report sent by the Deputy Commissioner stated that there was no poll code violation and the cycles were simply stored in a room. The report said the rooms where these cycles were stored was forcibly opened by Congress supporters and cycles photographed. “Since allegations of bias were also levelled against the Deputy Commissioner, we are awaiting a report from the Chief Secretary,” said the Additional CEO. On CM’s speech The Election Commission has also given a clean chit to Badal for his utterances regarding EC guidelines on the content of speech at religious functions. “The Chief Minister did not make any political comment during his Hola Mohalla speech. What he spoke regarding the restrictions on speech at religious functions, imposed by the Election Commission, was at a press conference. We have examined the CD and found that the CM was sitting on a sofa while making these comments and not standing on a stage,” said the Additional CEO.
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Tewari assured of MLAs’ support from Ludhiana
As the Congress considers Ludhiana a safe seat, it was Bajwa’s leadership that was being questioned. Already, senior Congress leaders, including MLAs, have defected to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Bajwa reportedly assured Tewari that all three MLAs would support him. He took an MLA and the latter's supporters to Delhi for a meeting with the MP. It was only then Tewari agreed to contest the elections. Bajwa said it was his duty as party president to bring all heads together before the crucial elections. Tewari was more keen on contesting the Chandigarh seat. Supported by Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, Tewari was being touted as the party choice for Chandigarh, if the sitting MP and former Railway Minister, Pawan Kumar Bansal, was chargesheeted in the Railgate scam. Tewari had earlier expressed his reluctance to contest the poll on account of ill-health. Highly placed sources in the Congress said a formal announcement on his candidature would be made by the week-end.
Bajwa’s role
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AAP’s Panag, Shergill kickstart campaign from Khatkar Kalan
Jalandhar, March 19 To BJP's Chandigarh candidate Kirron Kher that one of the reasons she was in the poll fray was to ensure yet another seat for BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Panag said: " I have great regard for Kirron ji, who is like a mother to me." Reacting to her rival's statement that she (Panag) had been mislead into joining AAP, she said: "There is only one alternative, AAP. I feel proud that AAP has chosen me to represent my city. The BJP and the Congress are two sides of the same coin." On Congress candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal, Panag said the fact that the Congress had allotted him the party tricket despite the bribery charges against his nephew showed the Congress had scant regard for the people and that its
anti-corruption stance was a farce. To observers saying she didn't stand a chance against stalwarts like Kirron and Bansal, she said:
“My critics, perhaps, haven't gauged the public mind. There is an overwhelming wave in favour of a political change." Shergill, who has fought for Gujarat Sikh farmers facing eviction, said: "Modi claims the farmers from Punjab have no claim on the land, despite the fact that they have turned the once barren land into a fertile tract. It is strange that the SAD Government in Punjab, rather than fighting for these farmers, has bestowed the title of 'Sardar' on Modi." He said it was sad that in martyr Bhagat Singh's land, the youth had lost their zeal for life and had taken to drugs. He said the voters must punish those responsible for the state of affairs.
Shergill vows to end VIP culture
Anandpur Sahib: Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Anandpur Sahib Himmat Singh Shergill on Wednesday kickstarted his campaign after paying obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Talking to mediapersons, Shergill said his fight was against maladies in society and politics such as corruption, unemployment and drugs. On the use red beacons by bureaucrats and politicians, Shergill said they would put an end to the VIP culture. Criticising the SAD over its alliance with the BJP, Shergill said the Narendra Modi-led government in Gujarat was trying to usurp over one lakh acre of fertile land belonging to Sikhs.
Mann to contest Khadoor Sahib seat Amritsar: Simranjit Singh Mann, SAD (Amritsar) chief, will contest the Khadoor Sahib seat. He will launch his campaign after praying at the Golden Temple on Saturday. Mann had earlier won from Tarn Taran in 1989. A party spokesman alleged that the Congress and the SAD-BJP were responsible for Operation Bluestar and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. — TNS
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Badal faces angry traders at Faridkot election rally
Faridkot, March 19 Badal was in the town to launch the poll campaign for party candidate from Faridkot Paramjit Kaur Gulshan. He addressed a rally at the old grain market. The area surrounding the grain market is a business hub of the town. Traders alleged whenever a political rally was organised here, they were forced to keep their establishments shut. “Our business is taking a hit. A few days ago when Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal addressed a rally here we were forced to stay away from the area till all the VIPs left the place. We thus decided to hold a protest this time,” a trader alleged. The protesting traders laid a siege to the main bazaar leading from the local MLA’s residence to the old grain market. When the CM’s cavalcade entered the main bazaar, the traders shouted slogans against Badal, accusing the SAD of being anti-trader. Though Badal regretted the inconvenience caused to the traders and assured that no rally would be organised at the grain market, the protesters refused to relent. Badal’s attempts to pacify the traders failed. An Akali leader lost his temper and threatened the protesters with dire consequences. While addressing the rally, Badal took on the Congress-led UPA Government for its “failure” on the domestic and international front. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Deep Malhotra, Mantar Singh Brar, Avtar Singh Brar and other party leaders.
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HC adopts new method to expedite bail pleas
Chandigarh, March 19 The new system marks a clear-cut departure from the previous procedure of issuing notices after the bail pleas were listed for hearing. The development is significant as the notice period would often extend to three months, when BK Roy was the Chief Justice. It meant that the bail pleas would come up for effective hearing only after about three months from the first date. In the absence of interim relief, the valuable right of an accused to life and liberty would remain in a state of suspended animation, as he would be incarcerated even before his plea was decided on merits. The latest scheme was given a go ahead by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul after a three-judge committee of Justice Surya Kant, Justice Amol Rattan Singh and Justice Mahavir Singh Chauhan recommended it. The procedure entails the serving of bail plea’s advance copy to the state Advocate-General’s office. The copy is, in fact, construed as an advance notice to the state. The case is then listed for hearing exactly after a week, when the investigating officer and the State counsel come prepared with the arguments. As a result, not only precious court time is saved, the accused also has the satisfaction of having
his plea come heard on day one. A formal notice by the High Court in this regard says: “Regular bail applications filed on any date of a week would be listed on the same day after a week. That is, applications filed on Monday would be listed on next Monday and applications filed on Friday and Saturday would be listed on next Friday subject to the availability of the records to be added with the file…. After filing the case, an email would be sent to the office of Punjab Advocate-General, Haryana Advocate-General and standing counsel for UT Chandigarh” The step is one of the many adopted by Chief Justice Kaul to expedite justice and bring down the pendency. Already, the High Court has come out with a “first to be filed, first to be decided” strategy where dedicated benches put on the fast track all such cases. Chief Justice Kaul has dedicated seven Benches to exclusively deal with cases where the proceedings before the trial court virtually came to a standstill long back with
stay ordered by the High Court.
Against SC directives Detailed orders sometimes passed by the High Court on bail pleas may not be in strict conformity with the Supreme Court’s directives. Former judges insist the Apex Court has time and again directed the passing of brief orders on bail pleas to prevent any possibility of influencing the trial court. But some judges were at times penning down detailed judgments with statutory warning that the observations by the High Court should not be construed as comments on the merits of the case by the trial court. But the word of warning
could hardly be termed as effective.
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Hans asks SAD to reconsider Tinu’s name
Jalandhar, March 19 Talking to The Tribune, Hans said that in the interest of communal amity, the SAD leadership should replace Tinu with a candidate who had secular credentials. Hans said: “Hundreds of representatives of Balmiki organisations have approached me and expressed displeasure over Tinu’s candidature. If the sentiment of the Balmikis are ignored, I fear the situation in Jalandhar may turn volatile.” Hans said since Jalandhar had witnessed unrest and communal tension during the Talhan riots and the Vienna incident, the SAD should not have allotted the ticket to a person tagged as “fanatic”. He said he was bitter with the party not because he had been denied the party ticket but "because we want a good candidate who can take all sections of society along.”
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Arrested BKI activist’s family cries foul
Alampur (Fatehgarh Sahib), March 19 “My father is innocent. He always remained busy in household chores, besides looking after his parents,” Gurdeep’s daughter Prabhjot Kaur told the Tribune. Gurdeep’s mother Pritam Kaur is suffering from hipbone fracture. His father Bau Singh (98) was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Netaji Subhash Chander Bose. Prabhjot, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree from a private college in Bassi Pathana, said that after being acquitted in the sensational Burail jailbreak case in November 2008, his father was a changed man. Gurdeep’s wife Harvinder Kaur said the family was surprised to see the police at their doorstep about 7 am on Monday. “The police took my husband on the pretext of interrogating him in some case and assured us that he (Gurdeep) would return by evening,” she said, adding that the police asked the family not to speak about his detention to anyone. Harvinder said the police gave the family a mobile-phone number in case it wanted to talk to Gurdeep. “When we called up in the evening to say that the family wanted to meet Gurdeep, the police asked us to come to Banur on Tuesday. But their assurance proved hollow because my son Gursimran, who visited Banur, was not allowed to meet his father,” she claimed. Harvinder said the family was surprised over the recovery of arms and ammunition from him. “He did not have a weapon at the time he was picked up from the house.” She claimed that sleuths of the Intelligence Department used to visit their house after Gurdeep
was acquitted in the jailbreak case.
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‘Suspended’ Patna Sahib Jathedar to attend clergy meet today
There are reports that Giani Iqbal Singh would participate in a meeting of the Sikh high priests here tomorrow. Talking to The Tribune, Giani Iqbal Singh confirmed that he would participate in the meeting in his capacity as Patna Sahib Jathedar. He claimed before he was suspended, the management committee members were booked on attempt to murder charges and therefore they had no right to initiate any action against him. “Their inappropriate and illegal action is not recognised by Akal Takht,” he alleged. He alleged the committee members and their aides were involved in a violent attack on him. He stated that he could not participate in the previous Sikh clergy meetings as he was recuperating from the injuries he had suffered in the clash. The Sikh high priests would deliberate on several issues in the meeting tomorrow, including that of an educational trust in Rajasthan whose members were declared “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) sometime ago. The members have been summoned to the Akal Takht Secretariat tomorrow and they are likely to be awarded “tankhah” (religious punishment). It was only last week that a Rajasthan-based Sikh group had accused Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh of receiving “siropa” from a trustee who was declared “tankhaiya”. Besides, the Sikh clergy is also expected to discuss the issue of a Hamilton-based gurdwara. Sources said the Sikh clergy had earlier directed the gurdwara management not to restrict the entry of people in the
gurdwara.
The controversy
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Irregularities in sale of plots in Fazilka
Fazilka, March 19 The MC had allegedly auctioned some plots in its colonies in an arbitrary manner without obtaining permission from the Local Self Government Department in the past few years. Some of these plot numbers are 12A, 13A, 26A in Dhobi Ghat, 44A in MC Colony, 26B in TV Tower Colony and 228A behind the Sacred Heart School Colony. These were not mentioned in the site plan for auction but were later on shown as “auctioned” to “beneficiaries”. This allegedly caused losses to the tune of several crores of rupees. The irregularities came to light after RTI activist Amar Nath Chetiwal collected information in this regard from the MC. Ultimately, the MC authorities through a letter dated January 9, 2014, admitted that no resolution was passed and no appropriate procedure was followed to sell these plots. In the ADC’s letter, it has been alleged that MC officials sold the plots for their “personal benefits”. They violated the rules under the Municipal Act, 1911, it stated. The ADC had sought an inquiry into the matter from the MC. It has been pointed out in the letter that the Executive Officer did not conduct an in-depth inquiry. The Executive Officer’s office tried to cover up the matter, stated the letter.
The anomalies
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Poll no solution to waterlogging, say Gurdaspur farmers
Gurdaspur, March 19 Gunopur village gives the district a bumper paddy crop almost every year while its poor cousin Lamin Karal, inflicted by water logging, contributes almost nothing to Gurdaspur’s kitty. While residents of Gunopur boast of good lifestyle, Lamin Karal villagers are barely able to afford two square meals a day. For many years, these villagers have been asking the successive Central and state governments through MPs and MLAs to find a solution to the problem, but in vain. They have been unable to sow wheat crop for many years due to the problem. Paddy, which grows in fits and starts, is the only crop they can fall back upon. Their sources of livelihood have virtually dried up forcing many household to take up brewing illicit liquor as a profession. Bhupinder Kaur, former sarpanch of Lamin Karal, “I can not remember when I sowed wheat in my fields the last time. Vast tracts of my land have been under water.” Another farmer, Rajinder Kumar, said, “For me, survival has become difficult. I am taking a loan to send both my children to some foreign land because I do not want them to spend the prime of their youth in abject penury.”
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Woman jumps off train to chase bag snatchers Bathinda, March 19 “At the Tohana railway station, a man entered our coach and started looking around using a torch. We thought he was a passenger looking for his berth. But, he suddenly grabbed my bag and ran away,” Abjeet said. Meanwhile, the train started moving. Abjeet jumped off the moving train and chased the thief. Soon she realised there were at least two more accomplices of the thief. She followed them on the railway track. Suddenly, an accomplice of the thief pushed Abjeet and she fell on the railway track. She suffered deep wounds on the chin and lost three teeth. Abjeet then ran back to the railway station and informed the railway police and the station superintendent about the incident. The station superintendent wired the driver to stop the train and bring it back. The train was brought back to the station. After being administered first aid, Abjeet informed her husband Gursajan Singh about the incident. The family has some relative in Bathinda, so Abjeet got off the train at Bathinda along with her mother-in-law and son. Her father Harjinder Singh Kapoor said a railway police cop accompanied the family from Jakhal to ensure their well being. Dental surgeon Dr DS Dhillon said Abjeet might have to undergo a surgery. A case has been registered at Tohana.
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Demands not met, BKU holds protests in villages
Moga, March 19 They have already announced that they would boycott the candidates of the ruling
SAD-BJP alliance in the forthcoming general elections They alleged the state government had failed to allot 5-marla residential plots to farm
labourers. The protesting activists have also been demanding that the kin of farmers, who committed suicide under debt, be compensated; farm loans be waived; and that fertile land shouldn’t be acquired to set up industry.
Sukhdev Singh Kokri, general secretary of the farmers' organisation, said the socio-economic condition of the farmers had deteriorated over the past few years. “The farmers are being forced to commit suicide due to the flawed policies of the government. The acquisition of fertile land, high rates of interest at cooperative banks, inflation, decreasing subsidies and exploitation at the hands of private money lenders have hit the farmers hard,” he
said. Kokri said they would greet the SAD-BJP candidates with black flags during their campaigns. He said the BKU had decided to intensify its stir since the ruling alliance had failed to meet the farmers’ demands.
Their demands
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MGNREGA workers protest in Muktsar
Muktsar, March 19 They alleged that the district administration was working at the behest of the Akalis and had stopped giving work to those who were not affiliated with the ruling coalition in the state. "Those affiliated with the SAD are getting work in villages and those not ready to vote for the ruling coalition are not getting work. The administration has stopped work in a number of villages," alleged Jagrup Singh, state advisor of the MGNREGA Workers' Union. He alleged that the leaders of the ruling coalition were mounting pressure on them to cast votes to their party's candidates. Earlier in the day, they gheraoed the office of the Additional District Commissioner (Development) and threatened to intensify their stir if the authorities failed to provide them work soon.
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PPSC rejects forms; aspirants seek fee refund
Patiala, March 19 They have not only missed out on the chance to appear in the examination, but also suffered financial loss as the fee for the form is not refundable. The PPSC almost doubled the fee for the forms. An aspirant in the general category paid
Rs 3,000 for the form. Last time, the form was available for Rs 1,500. Physically handicapped candidates paid
Rs 1,750 for the form this time, while Scheduled Caste applicants paid
Rs 1,125. Now that their forms have been rejected, the candidates say that the PPSC should refund the amount paid by them. One of the candidates, on the condition of anonymity, said that if there were problems in the forms, the PPSC should not have accepted them in the first place. Lt General (retd) MS Buttar, PPSC Chairperson, and Rupanjali Karthik, PPSC Secretary, could not be
contacted in spite of repeated attempts. Sorry state of affairs
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‘Tainted’ college seeks increase in MBBS seats
Patiala, March 19 In addition to the existing 150 seats, the authorities have sought an increase of 50 seats in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery. They hope that since the guidelines for an increase in MBBS seats were not as strict as for the MD and MS seats, they might be able to get a go-ahead in this case. It will be important to see whether or not the hospital can remove the “grave anomalies” as listed by the MCI in its recent report. Sources confirmed that the hospital authorities were on their toes to make up for the anomalies ahead of the MCI visit which is expected shortly. The store rooms of various departments are being converted into wards to show the increased number of wards, sources said. Moreover, the hospital, which is already facing staff crunch, is dividing the staff into the increased number of wards putting additional pressure on them. Moreover, this is not the first time the college has put forward a proposal to increase the MBBS seats only to be shelved each time for one reason or the other. Even as the Centre has increased thousands of seats throughout India in past few years, not even a single seat has been increased in government medical colleges of Punjab for almost four decades despite several meetings in this regard. In fact, the MCI had further banned admission to 150 seats in Chintpurni Medical College, Pathankot, which decreased the total number of medical seats in the state by 150. College principal Dr KD Singh said the college authorities had put up a strong case this time and sure that the demand for increase in seats would be approved soon. “The MCI team can visit anytime and we will be able to admit more students from the next session once we get a go-ahead since MCI guidelines for an increase of seats in MBBS course are not that strict as for the MD and MS courses,” he added.
Hope against hope
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Medical college under scrutiny over CT scans
Faridkot, March 19 The information procured under the Right To Information (RTI) Act showed that the private players were violating the agreement norms and fleecing patients, while the BFUHS was not monitoring the PPP project satisfactory. A case in point is the use of CT scan machine, installed in BFUHS-controlled Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, brought out that a private medical institution had consented in 2008 to provide the facility of CT scan free of cost to 10 per cent of the patients undergoing the test. The information brought out that in the past five years, only 30 patients out of 11,896 were were provided the facility free of cost “As per terms and conditions of the PPP project, 1,189 patients (10 per cent of the total) should have undergone the CT scan free of cost,” said Gurpreet Singh Chandbaja, president of the Bhai Kanahiya Cancer Roko Sewa Society, a voluntary organisation that procured the RTI information. Dr SS Gill, BFUHS vice-chancellor, said the instructions had been issued to the Medical Superintendent to ensure that the private player followed the norms.
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India lauds US backing for Sikhs in military
Washington, March 19 “The Congressional initiative is an important step towards upholding the cultural rights of the Sikh community in the United States,” India’s Ambassador to the US, S Jaishankar, said in a statement, days after 105 Congressmen from both Republican and Democratic parties wrote to Hagel on the issue. “The large number of signatories to this letter testifies to the important role played by the Sikh community in the US and its various walks of life. The Sikh community’s success in the United States is a source of pride for India and a pillar of the India-US partnership,” he said. The letter, authored by Congressmen Joe Crowley and Rodney Frelinghuysen, and signed by more than 100 members of Congress, urged Hagel to promote inclusion of Sikhs in the US armed forces by modernising appearance regulations that allow them to wear turbans and maintain beards. “India takes pride in being the cradle of Sikhism. The Sikh community is an intrinsic part of India’s multi-religious and pluralistic fabric. Sikhs have made India proud with their sacrifices, achievements and leadership,” he said. “India’s Sikh sons and daughters have held the highest offices in the land and have served at the highest ranks, including at four-star ranks in the Indian military. The tremendous progress and prosperity they have achieved, and their enormous contribution to their motherland, speak volumes about their indefatigable spirit of enterprise and diligence,” Jaishankar added. — PTI
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Land grab case: HC calls for SC orders
Chandigarh, March 19 The HC, on a previous date of hearing, had asserted that the state government had on one hand filed a special leave petition before the SC against the setting up of Justice Kuldip Singh panel. On the other, it had appointed a panel to implement the recommendations. The government has already tried to defend its action of setting up a second panel by claiming it was constituted to suggest a strategy for the retrieval of encroached land. The HC has made it clear to the state that it was now in favour of appointing a commissioner-level officer with the powers of a collector to look into land grab cases in Chandigarh’s periphery and across Punjab. The Division Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Fateh Deep Singh has also made it clear that the two interim reports by Justice Kuldip Singh panel would be taken on record.
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Patti SDM gets 3-yr jail in forgery case
Jalandhar, March 19 The court of JMIC GS Sekhon pronounced the sentence in the case titled State v/s Jagdish Kaur lodged with the division number 4 police in 2002 under sections 420, 465, 467 and 471 of the IPC. The incident took place in 1999, but an FIR was lodged much later following an investigation against Verma, patwari Parduman Singh, Hussan Lal (property buyer) and deed writer Ajay Kumar. While the SDM, patwari and the property buyer were convicted in the case, the deed writer has been acquitted. An inquiry into the matter was conducted by the then Deputy Director, Land Records, Sarojini Gautam Sharda. It was found that the trio had forged the mutation documents of a property in Kot Khurd locality here.
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Officer investigating drug trafficking case pulled up
Chandigarh, March 19 The order is significant as the issue of drug trafficking has already attained political hues with the Congress training its guns at the ruling
SAD-BJP alliance for its alleged failure to curb the menace. The accused was booked on March 9, 2013, under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, after 200 capsules were allegedly recovered from him. His counsel told Justice Bharat Bhushan Parsoon that the accused was entitled to bail as the prosecution had failed to present the challan or report under Section 173 of the CrPC within the stipulated period. The accused in the present case had claimed non-presentation of challan even after the expiry of more than 180 days. It later came to his knowledge that even the prosecution had moved an application for extension on the plea that chemical report from the laboratory had not been received. “Had some efforts been made at the level of the investigation officer even by invoking intervention of his senior officer in approaching laboratory director for getting the report at the earliest stating reasons for its early requirement i.e. necessity of filing the challan within 180 days of arrest, things would have moved with speed and in right direction. In fact, there is no effort shown to have been made for obtaining analysis report from the laboratory even when six months were going to be over after sending the sample," the court asserted.
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Hawara case: Next hearing on April 3
Ropar, March 19 Hawara is convicted of assassinating former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and lodged in Tihar Jail. He faces trial in the sessions court related to the bomb blast at Dhamana village near Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarawala’s dera. Additional District and Sessions Judge Jatinder Kaur today committed two other cases related to Hawara to the district sessions court. One of these cases pertains to an encounter on September 22, 1991. The police had booked Hawara under Section 307 of the IPC, and the Arms Act and the TADA. The other case concerns the death of an SPO in Shaheedi Jor Mela on December 23, 1998. The hearing of both cases has been fixed on April 3.
— TNS
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Six held for helping undertrial escape
Bathinda, March 19 Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the accused had carried out the plan after conniving with three policemen, who were taking Rajiv to Patiala for a court hearing on March 10. Constables Bhola Singh, Gurdeep Singh and Jatinder Singh were responsible for taking him to the hearing. Instead of taking him on a bus, they took Raja in an Innova car, which the latter had arranged. They had taken the Mansa-Maur area route. When they reached a railway crossing near Bhai Bakhtaur village, around 12 to 14 people came in three cars and took away Rajiv on “gun point”. They also took away a carbine of a policeman and jail warrants. The policemen were sent to jail for dereliction of duty. Bhullar formed a team under Superintendent of Police (D) Swarn Singh Khanna, Deputy Superintendent of Police (D) Gurmail Singh and SI Jagdish Kumar. The accused had pasted stickers of a wedding party on their vehicles to mislead. Those arrested are Jagjeevan Singh and Baljinder Singh, residents of Bajakhana in Faridkot, Gurbhay Singh of Harraipur village in Bathinda, Jaswinder Singh and Gurdeep Singh from Mallan Khana village, Bajakhana, Faridkot, and Lakhbir Singh of Bargari village
in Bajakhana. The police also seized the Innova vehicle (PB 11 A S 8305), which was used in the crime. The arrested accused told the police that Randhir Singh of Bajakhana (the mastermind), Gurcharan Singh Gogi of Harraipur and Kulwinder Singh of Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, Moga, had also helped them in the crime. They said Randhir, who was earlier lodged in jail with Rajiv, was the mastermind of the plan.
Police connivance
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Suspended SDO held for ‘murdering’ wife, servant
Sangrur, March 19 Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu said a shovel used in Jassa’s murder had also been recovered. Sidhu claimed Sarbjit strangulated his wife to death as he suspected her to have an illicit relationship with someone. He further claimed Sarbjit had killed Jassa as he suspected Jassa to have heard his wife’s cries. On March 13, the body of Guddi was found at her house in Lehragaga, while Jassa’s body was found about 3 km away from Lehragaga. A special investigation team (SIT), headed by Superintendent of Police (detective) Paramjit Singh Goraya, saw a link between the two murders and cracked the case in six days. Earlier after killing the two, Sarbjit Singh had lodged a complaint with Lehragaga police, alleging Jassa had murdered
his wife. The SSP said Sarbjit Singh had spent eight months in jail in two corruption cases, and had been out on bail since May 2013.
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‘Honour killing’: Deputy Mayor alleges frame-up
Ludhiana, March 19 Sharma has been booked for his alleged involvement in the ‘honour’ killing of a 23-year-old youth named Gaganpreet Natt, whose body was found near the railway track in Salem Tabri area on Monday night. It is learnt that the accused met a senior officer of the GRP at Patiala and requested him to investigate the matter, after which an inquiry was ordered. Sharma claimed that he was not involved in the murder and the case registered against him was false. Sharma’s supporters cancelled their protest against the GRP after the inquiry was marked. Deputy Mayor RD Sharma, his relatives were booked for allegedly murdering a boy, suspected to be having an affair with Sharma’s daughter.
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Brave pursuit