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BSF wages war against drug abuse
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Another case slapped on Cong workers
Car that killed Tarn Taran journalist impounded
DSGMC member Gurlad Kahlon quits Akali Dal
AAP impact can’t be ignored: Dayal
Admn to sell sand from de-silting
operation at Ropar headworks
Abohar girl selected for PM fellowship scheme
railway overbridges
Govt schools told to set up mgmt panels
School board told to remove OSD
Dalit pupils await books, hold protest
Gold-enameling to begin at Takht Kesgarh Sahib
8 detainees in Nigeria released
Longowal registrar’s pay stayed over non-compliance of HC order
Ludhiana mayor's security under review,
state tells HC
No interim relief for Joshi
Six APROs’ termination from service stayed
8 Bathinda women held for shoplifting
16 villagers booked for clash with SGPC staff
attack on aap supporter
Brick-kiln worker poisons sons, kills self
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BSF wages war against drug abuse
Chandigarh/Jalandhar, May 8 The students of these schools are being made to understand that the drug-triggered momentary high could only bring along death and devastation for them and their families. The response to the campaign, according to the BSF, has been encouraging. BSF Inspector General (Punjab Frontier) Ajay Kumar Tomar is in touch with de-addiction experts to ensure their active involvement in the programme. “Elated over the way the schools and children are responding to our endeavour, we are mulling to extend our campaign to most of the schools in the state in near future. Armed with knowledge, confident schoolchildren get so excited about the programme that they even dissuade their parents from indulging in drugs,” said Deputy Inspector General RPS Jaswal. “Our aim is that no narcotic substance, which has an adverse impact on the human body and the society, should cross over into our territory. But if somehow does manage to trickle some quantity to this side, the only viable alternative is to make children, who form the prospective buyer market, aware about the deadly results of its consumption,” said Jaswal. The BSF has not only distributed over 18,000 posters exhorting the students to stay away from drugs but it has also been organising de-addiction programmes and theatre presentations in villages. “Schools are demanding more and more such posters so that these could be distributed among children and their parents. Over 20 theatre presentations and around 25 free stationery distribution programmes have been held in schools this year,” said Jaswal. He said the BSF had also distributed such posters among its personnel deployed along the border, the artillery unit at Faridkot, the training institute at Kharkan in Hoshiarpur and at the Punjab Frontier headquarters in Jalandhar as part of the “Civic Action Programme”.
Record seizures led to the drive The BSF chalked out the strategy following record seizures of heroin along the border. The increasing flow of narcotics from Pakistan could be gauged from the fact that against 67.97 kg of heroin in 2011, as much as 243.66 kg has been seized in the first quarter alone this year.
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50 kiosks demolished in Phagwara
Phagwara, May 8 Corporation employees, with the help of a JCB machine, first demolished 24 temporary shops near the railway crossing. When the team began the demolition drive opposite JCT Mill, they came face to face with angry shopkeepers. Though owners of several illegal shops and kiosks vacated their dwellings, a large number, led by Gurbachan Singh Walia, started raising slogans against the corporation staff. While some protesters demanded the same action against all encroachers, others sought sufficient time to vacate their shops. Later, protesters blocked vehicular traffic on the national highway for half an hour near the mill in the presence of the police. But Executive Officer Adarsh Sharma said that all illegal encroachments would definitely be removed. The encroachers, whose shops were not demolished today, were told by the corporation team -- before returning -- to vacate the shops or remove their encroachments themselves. More than 100 temporary shops and kiosks
are being run illegally at the site.
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No bullock cart races at Kila Raipur games
Ludhiana, May 8 “We will file a review petition. The bullock cart races are the essence of the Kila Raipur fest. We have been following all rules and taking care of the animals,” said Grewal. Bull breeders say the ban will cause them a huge financial loss. Jagdeep Grewal said the price of a racing oxen varied between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh. “We look after them (oxen) well. Their diet includes milk, desi ghee, jaggery and fodder. During the races, the expense incurred on the diet rises to more than Rs 20,000 a month. The racing oxen undergo heath checkup. The oxen are no longer used for farming and the ban on racing will result in these animals being abandoned," said Jagga Singh. He demanded that horse races too should be banned. Davinder Singh of Sahnewal said: “I am the fourth generation of bullock cart jockeys. It is sad to see the demise of the race.” In 2012, a notification by the Ministry of Environment and Forest had banned the use of bulls in cart races.
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Another case slapped on Cong workers
They were charged with blocking the national highway on the polling day. Among the more than 60 persons booked were three former municipal councillors and a sarpanch. The FIR, reportedly lodged on the directions of the Muktsar SSP, says the Congress workers blocked National Highway-10 at Malout on the intervening night of April 30 and May 1 in violation of the District Magistrate’s orders. The FIR also says the Congress workers carried weapons. Earlier, the police had registered a case under Section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) against seven Congress workers for allegedly attacking Akali supporter Dharminder Singh of Inakhera village outside Harkrishan Public School after the polling ended on April 30. Among those named in the fresh FIR are former councillors Shubhdeep Singh alias Bittu, Rajpal and Bakhshish Singh, sarpanch Bhupinder Singh Ramnagar, Balour Singh, Manjeet Kumar, Loona Ram and Shamsher Singh. They have been booked under Sections 283, 188, 148 and 149 of the IPC. An angry Jakhar said: “The state police seems to have been reduced to a puppet.They have slapped another criminal case on our activists, that too a week after the elections.” He said he would now approach the Chief Election Commissioner in
New Delhi. Malout is part of the Ferozepur parliamentary constituency from where Jakhar contested against sitting Akali MP Sher Singh
Ghubaya.
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Car that killed Tarn Taran journalist impounded
Tarn Taran, May 8 The police have impounded the car (PB-10-AA-0576) allegedly involved in the accident. Harvinder Singh Sandhu, SP (D), said it was yet to be ascertained if Amar Singh had deliberately killed Baj Singh or if it was a mishap. He said Amar Singh was nabbed during a naka near Bhuse village. When quizzed, he had revealed that he would procure heroin from Chamkaur Singh and Malkeet Singh of Bhuse village and sell it in Moga and Ferozepur. The accident occurred near the victim’s native village Gandiwind late last evening. The Sarai Amanat Khan police have registered a case under Sections 304, 279, 427, 337 and 338, IPC. Fateh Singh, brother of the deceased, told the police that his brother had received threats from drug peddlers active in the area. An eyewitness said soon after the accident, three persons on motorcycles appeared on the scene and took away three packets lying inside the car. The Tarn Taran police have arrested three more persons and seized heroin worth Rs 7.50 crore and 500 gm of opium from them. Caught during a naka at Jhabal Road, they were identified as Gurjant Singh of Waan Tara Singh and Balwinder Singh and Kulwant Singh of Mehandipur in the Khemkaran area. A .12 bore pistol and two live cartridges were also recovered from them. Murder or mishap?
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Indo-Pak show brings two Punjabs alive
Amritsar, May 8 "The event brings alive the east and west Punjabs. These shows are a testimony to the fact that the business community on either side of the border is eager to see an improvement in ties between the two nations," Basit said after inaugurating the exhibition-cum-cultural extravaganza. Basit said impetus should not only be given to boosting trade ties but also to people-to-people contact. Only then could peace prevail on both sides of the border, he said. "With a new government about to take charge in Delhi, we hope the two countries engage in a fruitful dialogue," he said. "Such events go a long way in removing inhibitions among the masses in general and the business community in particular. Such events need to be held more frequently," said Naeem Anwar, Minister of Trade, High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi. Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Education), Punjab, was impressed with the quality of the products on display. "It is a unique endeavour of both the chambers, which will go a long way in promoting ties between India and Pakistan," he said. RS Sachdeva, Co-Chairman of the Punjab unit of the PHD Chamber, said, "The recent cross-border visits by delegates of commerce and industry from both the countries have provided the much-needed boost to the bilateral trade." He said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad had also confirmed the growth in trade over the last few years. Dalip Sharma, Regional Director, PHD Chamber, said the footfall was expected to rise over the next four days.
Goats gifted to Badal Officials at the Integrated Check Post received five goats of 'Nachi' breed from Pakistan on Wednesday. The goats were reportedly sent by the Pakistan Punjab Government for Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The Custom officials, after verifying relevant documents, dispatched the livestock to Delhi for quarantine tests. It is not the first time that the Badals have received livestock in gift from across the border. Six buffaloes of 'Ravi' breed and four cows of 'Shahiwal' breed were gifted to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal from Pakistan sometime back. Leaders from this side of Punjab too had extended gifts in a similar fashion.
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DSGMC member Gurlad Kahlon quits Akali Dal
New Delhi, May 8 He has questioned the use of gurdwara resources for political gains. Gurlad Singh submitted his resignation letter to the party’s Delhi unit president, Manjit Singh GK, on May 5. He said the party’s dual standards were evident during the recent elections. While the Akali leadership criticised Congress candidate Capt Amarindar Singh for defending Jagdish Tytler, an accused in the anti-Sikh riots case, it remained mum when
a Punjab minister distorted Gurbani while seeking votes for BJP’s Arun Jaitley. He pointed to the “misuse” of the gurdwara funds (golak) when a memorial was being constructed on the premises of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. In an advertisements issued for the inauguration of the memorial, the names of BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj were publish even though payment for the advertisements was made from the gurdwara fund, Gurlad Singh said. He said gurdwara resources were also used in the Delhi Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. During the Assembly poll, the sarais at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, Bangla Sahib and Sheesh Ganj Sahib were used for political purposes. Gurdwara and school employees were entrusted with election work. Gurlad Singh said that the DSGMC was being run as a private organisation and posts had been created to accommodate Akali leaders. “Apart from managing gurdwaras, the DSGMC also plays an active part in politics and in the past it has taken part in the Assembly and municipal elections,” said SAD’s office secretary in Delhi Jaswant Singh Gulati.
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AAP impact can’t be ignored: Dayal
Chandigarh, May 8 Dayal, a member of the CPI's national executive, said it appeared that Parkash Singh Badal, despite being in politics for 60 years, was not aware of the ground realities in the state. "The way AAP, that did not have an organisation in the state, campaigned in the elections surprised leaders of well-established parties," he said. Dayal urged the Left parties to look at the AAP phenomenon favourably. He is the first national leader of the mainstream Left parties to make a statement in support of AAP. He has urged the Left leaders to review their stand on the fledgling party. “The Left should be flexible in its approach towards AAP which has caught the attention of the youth and marginalised sections,” Dayal said. Sumail Singh Sidhu, AAP convener, Punjab, said his party was here to stay and was determined to cleanse the corrupt political system in Punjab. He claimed that AAP would emerge as a force to reckon with. "We thank the people who stood by us in the Lok Sabha elections," he added
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Admn to sell sand from de-silting
operation at Ropar headworks
Ropar, May 8 The district administration has a vast stock of sand near Ropar town as desilting work at the headworks have been on since January. The decision to sell the sand was taken after the visit of Punjab Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh here today. Its price in the open market is Rs 23 per cubic foot with delivery on site. Rakesh Singh said that the Ropar headworks, constructed in 1882, had a designed storage capacity of 7,056 acre feet. Silt had brought the capacity down to 5,645 acre feet. The chief secretary said that the design capacity of all the head works in Punjab would be restored to meet the irrigation needs of the farmers of the state. Principal Secretary, Irrigation, Sarvesh Kaushal, who was accompanying the chief secretary, said that with the desilting of the Ropar headworks, its capacity would increase. It will result in better supply and regulation of the Sirhind Canal and Bist Doab Canal system.
At half price
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Abohar girl selected for PM fellowship scheme
The Government of India, through the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), had joined hands with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2012 to address the problem of low number of PhDs in the country. The industry, through the CII, and the government, through SERB, had together instituted a joint fellowship scheme for scientific and industrial research -- called the Prime Minister's Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research -- in which a maximum of 100 talented students can be selected every year to receive Rs 6 lakh as annual scholarship for a maximum period of four years to work on industry-relevant projects. Applications were invited from doctoral fellows, who had enrolled for PhD between December 2012 and December 2013 in any recognised university, institute or research laboratory in India and those who want to do industrial research in science, technology, engineering, agriculture or medicine. Only 39 have been selected this year. Presently, Babita is a research scholar at Punjab Agricultural University. Felicitating Babita today, DAV College principal Dr SK Arora said that higher education deserves more attention in India.
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Wonder machine that plasters straw stacks
Raonta (Moga), May 8 Darshan Singh, who developed this technique, said that the farming community had been facing labour shortage over the past few years. Moreover, the joint family system has almost vanished even in villages. The shortage of manpower was forcing hundreds of farmers to turn away from storing wheat straw that was used as dry fodder for cattle. “Therefore, I have developed this technique that helps farmers make their own 'kupps' for storing chopped wheat straw. They save money as they don't have to buy it at an exorbitant price during odd seasons,” he said. A labour force of at least 6 to 8 persons is required to make one ‘kupp’ in at least two days. The plastering of the ‘kupp’ with mud requires extra labour, but Darshan Singh’s innovation plasters the ‘kupp’ in just two hours. “My technique not only reduces the cost of storage, but also saves time and labour,” he said. He said that a stack of chopped wheat straw is made by arranging sticks of dry cotton plants either in cone or round shape and then tied with a rope. The land surrounding it --measuring 5 to 10 feet -- is filled with water and converted into mud. Then, the machine attached with the tractor is driven around it. It sprays mud on the ‘kupp’ in a uniform manner. It takes one or two hours depending on the size of the ‘kupp’ to plaster it. “I charge just Rs 100 per hour and have advance bookings from the residents of my village and the adjoining areas,” he said. Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, agriculture scientist, said that the technique was cost-effective and would help farmers save money by storing dry fodder for the cattle at the household level.
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railway overbridges
Bathinda, May 8 The DRM said that the work has been delayed as the state government was not ready to pay its share that was mandatory in railway projects. He said, "According to rules, the railways has to only pay for the structure over the railway lines, but we are ready to share 50 per cent of the project expenditure." Kathpal said that unmanned crossings were an issue of concern as a large number of people had lost their lives in accidents at these crossings. Railway under-bridges don't work well as water fills up in those during rains. Over-bridges are the only solution, but the state government was not showing any concern. As many as 100 unmanned railway crossings have been identified as most-sensitive, he said. Thakur Singh, general secretary, Northern Railway Men’s Union (NRMU) said that the union's long-pending demand to man all unmanned railway crossings has fallen on the railways' deaf ears.
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Govt schools told to set up mgmt panels
Chandigarh, May 8 A senior officer said: “An effort has been made to ensure greater participation by women. The department will try to define the role of parent-teacher associations (PTAs)”. The schools have been told that the tenure of the committees will not be more than two years. The committees will have 12 members, of which nine would be picked from among the parents of students. Vice-president of the Government Teachers Union Principal Lakhbir Singh said: “These management committees will serve no purpose. We have no money to pay our electricity bills. Schools are not getting money to repaint blackboards or to purchase chalk. What will management committees in such a scenario do," he asked. A government schoolteacher from Hoshiarpur claimed that parents usually did not participate in the school meetings. This was particularly true of schools located in remote rural settings. " To make this exercise worthwhile, the department will have to make greater efforts to upgrade the standards of education and ensure greater accountability of teachers,” he added.
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School board told to remove OSD
Mohali, May 8 Punjab’s Principal Secretary (Education), Anjali Bhanwra, has shot off a fresh communiqué, directing the board authorities to ensure Varinder Kumar’s removal from the post with immediate effect. Bhanwra has warned that if the board pays him wages, the amount will be recovered from the pocket of the official concerned. Varinder Kumar retired as Joint Secretary on September 30, 2012. He was appointed OSD to the chairperson on January 31, 2013. He is a co-accused in the 2002 recruitment scam along with former Education Minister Tota Singh. Dr Tajinderpal Dhaliwal, the chairperson, said the directions of the Education Department would be strictly followed.
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Dalit pupils await books, hold protest
Sangrur, May 8 The protesters raised slogans against the state government and submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Pritam Singh Johal. Poonam alleged that the Badal Government had been discriminating against Dalit students. She warned that if they were not provided books at the earliest, the PYC would step up its agitation. District Education Officer (Elementary) Sher Singh said the authorities had not received books from the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) for Class IX and Class X. This was the reason that the same could not be distributed among the students. He said they expected the books to reach Sangrur in a couple of days.
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Gold-enameling to begin at Takht Kesgarh Sahib
Anandpur Sahib, May 8 The SGPC president said to overcome space shortage at the Takht during festivals, the work to widen the ‘verandah’ at the gurdwara would also be taken up soon.
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8 detainees in Nigeria released
Hoshiarpur, May 8 The case was dismissed by the court this afternoon. The eight crew members, two of whom are from Punjab, are expected to reach home in a week's time. Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Femy Adegbite, the counsel for the Indian detainees, said: "Of 10 Indian detainees, eight have been released. They have been acquitted of all charges. We will file an appeal in case of imprisonment of the other two officers".
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Longowal registrar’s pay stayed over non-compliance of HC order
Chandigarh, May 8 Justice Grover also made it clear that the registrar was in for contempt proceedings if the orders were still not complied with. The directions came on a petition filed by Vipan Kumar and another petitioner against director SK Pandey. They had alleged non-compliance of the orders dated August 27 last year vide which they were held entitled to the pay-scales admissible to technicians appointed prior to September 1, 1993. Taking up the matter, Justice Grover asserted, “Before this court proceeds to pronounce the respondent guilty of contempt, it deems it appropriate to give one more opportunity to him to comply with the directions of this court within a period of two weeks from today. “Till the time the orders of this court are not complied with, the registrar's salary shall not be paid to him. The accounts of the institute are also directed to be frozen forthwith. They shall be permitted to operate the same only if an application is moved indicating the amount to be disbursed to the petitioners and in which eventuality, the court will make the necessary concession in favour of the respondent."
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Ludhiana mayor's security under review,
state tells HC
Chandigarh, May 8 The undertaking
to make another study of the security cover came on a petition filed
in public interest by Kuldeep Singh Khaira against the Punjab
government and other respondents. In the petition filed through
counsel HC Arora, the petitioner had alleged that "deployment of
police officials for security purposes contrary to the entitlement and
in the absence of any threat perception". He had also alleged
that vehicles were also being allotted contrary to the
entitlement. As the case came up for hearing before the Division
Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli, the
Ludhiana Municipal Corporation claimed the matter had been
reconsidered. "It has been decided not to provide any security
personnel to any official of the municipal corporation unless approved
and recommended by the director general of police, Punjab. The
security personnel earlier allotted already stand withdrawn,"
their counsel told the Bench. An affidavit filed by the corporation
further claimed that remedial action has been taken. "There was
no policy or rules for providing vehicle to any person, who is not
holding the post of municipal councillor. The vehicles provided to
non-officials have been withdrawn," it said. Taking the
affidavit on record, the Bench observed: "The affidavit, filed by
the additional deputy commissioner of police (headquarter and
security), Ludhiana, states that 19 police officials are posted on
deputation with the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation and are performing
their official duties in the enforcement wing. No official vehicle is
stated to have been provided. "The counsel for the petitioner,
however, still makes a grievance on instructions that the mayor is
still being provided police protection although remedial measures had
been taken qua others”.
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No interim relief for Joshi
Amritsar, May 8 The minister had applied for an anticipatory bail to evade his arrest in case he appears in a local court tomorrow in connection with his dual vote case. His plea for anticipatory bail came up before District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh who fixed the next hearing on May 12. The court also issued notices for May 12 to the complainants, advocates Sandeep Gorsi and Vaneet Mahajan. Non-bailable warrants were issued against Joshi on May 3 as he had not appeared in court in the three cases. Two of the cases are of defamation while the third one pertains to demolishing part of Mahajan's marriage palace in an anti-encroachment drive of the Municipal Corporation.
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Six APROs’ termination from service stayed
Chandigarh, May 8 The government had, on Tuesday, terminated the services of Balwinder Kaur, Kuljit Mianpuri and Baljinder Singh, Hardeep Singh, Avtar Singh and Gurpartap Kairon. The stay orders by the Bench of Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu were passed on the petition filed by Subeg Singh and other petitioners against the Punjab Government and other respondents.
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8 Bathinda women held for shoplifting
Abohar, May 8 Preliminary investigation indicated that 15 women, who lived in dwellings near the Thermal Colony in Bathinda, had formed a gang. They reportedly conducted reconnaissance of the neighbouring towns of Rajasthan on the pretext of requesting drinking water from the shopkeepers there. An attendant at a counter in the sanitary wares shop noticed some women removing costly wares and putting those in huge bags. He raised an alarm and informed the local police. With the help of some locals, eight women were nabbed. Six of them were identified as Gita, Santosh, Usha, Sarbati, Reena and Nikko. Police teams were rushed to nab the rest of the members. Last month, the Sriganganagar police had nabbed the kingpin of another gang of women from Barnala, that was reportedly responsible for snatching gold ornaments from followers of a
dera.
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16 villagers booked for clash with SGPC staff
Bathinda, May 8 The case has been registered on the complaint of Jarnail Singh, an SGPC employee. He alleged that he along with SGPC helper Manjit Singh and clerk Jagdev Singh had visited the village for the auction. He alleged they were attacked when they went to the gurdwara for partaking ‘langar’. One of those booked, Sukhdev Singh, however, claimed they had been wrongly framed in the case. He alleged that SGPC task force workers from outside visited the village in large numbers with an intention to grab the land and attacked the villagers. Sukhdev alleged that instead of taking action against the SGPC employees, the police preferred to book the innocent villagers. While the SGPC employees claimed the committee owned the land, the villagers claimed it had been donated by Bhai Roop Chand (after whom the village is named) to the village langar committee. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) has also come out in support of the villagers. The union’s district president, Shingara Singh Mann, alleged that the land was meant for the village ‘langar’ committee but the SGPC tried to encroach upon it.
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attack on aap supporter
Patiala, May 8 The victim, who sustained skull fracture, is undergoing treatment at the PGI, Chandigarh. Kartar Singh's son Ramesh Kumar alleged the police were sheltering the assailants under political pressure. He said: "My father got severe injuries, but the police have not added relevant sections in the FIR nor have they arrested the accused." "We had helped the police nab an accused two days ago. But he was released within half an hour," Ramesh said. He alleged the accused enjoyed political backing. Gurmeet Singh, Station House Officer, Julkan police station, said he (the accused) was aged and was in poor health. "We let him go, but we have taken an undertaking from a prominent resident that he will be produced for questioning whenever required," he said. The SHO said the police had sought a legal opinion from the District Attorney regarding adding relevant sections to the FIR. AAP candidate from Patiala Dr Dharamvir Gandhi has demanded strict action against all accused. He said: "Such instances amount to the murder of democracy. Strict action should be taken to ensure a safe environment for people," he added.
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Brick-kiln worker poisons sons, kills self
Abohar, May 8 DSP Madan Singh Burhok said investigation indicated Balwinder was a habitual drinker and wasted his earnings on liquor. This had strained the relations with his wife Veerpal Kaur, who reportedly went back to her parents in Goluwala recently.
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Malout (Muktsar), May 8
Abohar, May 8