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5,800 families identified for housing grant
Bring pro-farmer measures, CM urges Jaitley
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Cash-strapped, yet govt may pay OSD’s penal rent
ED seeks tax docs of Guraya firms
Cong: Govt has failed to rescue youths
Sukhbir asks Centre to restrain Haryana Govt
Illegal mining: Cong stages dharna
Khanna youths back home empty-handed
Mason returns traumatised
‘Govt must help, things gettingworse’
Ramoowalia promises all help
Man’s complaint against wife leaves cops baffled
Undertrial dies in jail, kin protest
Yannick’s assailants may face murder trial
Rules for issuing birth certificates being flouted
Muktsar stadium in a state of neglect
Waterworks await repair in Hanumangarh
Encroachments cleared in Abohar
3 Excise officials with bogus degrees demoted
Buddha Nullah breach: State orders special girdawari
Anganwadi workers clash with police in Sangrur
Rajpura to Chandigarh rail link sought
Verify if Forest Hill Golf Club is on forest land, state told
Man gets 10-yr jail for wife’s suicide
Pakistani national’s conviction upheld
Sikh varsity to move HC against UGC
Vidhu Jain murder case: Kin move HC
Liquor worth Rs 60 lakh seized
Man shot at by brother-in-law
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5,800 families identified for housing grant
Sangrur, July 4 The survey was got conducted through offices of the block development and panchayat officers (BDPOs) in October-November last year. More than about 3,020 beneficiaries have been identified for providing grant for making pucca houses. About 2,775 beneficiaries have been identified for grant for repair of old houses. The beneficiaries were identified by the gram sabhas and panchayats of the villages concerned by passing resolutions in that regard. Sources said the administration had finalised a draft to seek over Rs 21.15 crore for making pucca houses and about Rs 4.15 crore for repair of old houses. Every beneficiary for pucca house grant would get Rs 70,000, while Rs 15,000 would be given to every beneficiary for repair of old house. In all, the district would require more than Rs 25 crore under the scheme, they said. The authorities would now send the case (seeking Rs 25 crore) to the Joint Development Commissioner, Punjab. Earlier, the district authorities had provided financial assistance to 3,758 beneficiaries, identified in 2006-07 and 2010-11, for making pucca houses. Besides, 2,780 beneficiaries were given financial assistance for repair of old houses.
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Bring pro-farmer measures, CM urges Jaitley
Chandigarh, July 4 In a letter to Jaitley, the CM impressed upon him to make agriculture more sustainable so as to ensure that no farmer was compelled to either leave this occupation or commit suicide. He sought Jaitley's personal intervention for a slew of pro-farmer measures to be included in the Union Budget proposals. Instead of vying for mere "crop diversification", stress should be on "agriculture diversification", meaning thereby that allied activities such as dairy farming, fisheries and other subsidiary occupations should also be included in the programme. Small farmers should be provided interest-free short-term crop loans, whereas other farmers should be provided crop loans at 2 per cent interest and agriculture investment credit at 6 per cent. To remove debt stress and check suicides by farmers, one-time debt-relief package should be announced for all farmers. Like agriculture, dairy farming, fisheries and other subsidiary activities should also be given exemption from income tax, he said. What he wants *
Farm scientist Dr MS Swaminathan's formula for MSP fixation should be introduced *
Small and marginal farmers should be provided interest-free short-term crop loans *
One-time debt-relief package should be announced for all farmers.
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Cash-strapped, yet govt may pay OSD’s penal rent
Chandigarh, July 4 The Punjab Government’s fiscal health is poor. The government has been dithering on paying salaries to its lakhs of employees because of poor cash flow. Even dearness allowance and medical bills are not being cleared on time.Yet the government is preparing to pay the OSD’s rent. Sources said anyone allotted a government house is required to pay a licence fee (generally 5 per cent of basic pay) to the government. The OSD reportedly did not pay this licence fee for years (from August 2009-October 2012) and, hence, has been fined. Since the government proposes to pay the rent from the state treasury, the consent of the state Cabinet, is a must. Malhotra, when contacted, said the house had been allotted to him from the state quota. He said the allotment had not been regularised, despite his pleas to the state government and the earlier UPA Government. “Now the matter is being sorted out between the Punjab Government and Union Housing Ministry,” he said. On agenda * The issue is on the agenda of the state Cabinet that will meet on July 8 *
The OSD said the house had been allotted to him from the state quota * The allotment had yet to be regularised
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ED seeks tax docs of Guraya firms
Patiala, July 4 During the hearing of the case, the investigating agency pleaded in court that it wanted to procure the original documents available with the Income Tax Department as the documents “handed over to them were not clear” due to overwriting. The IT Department in its reply said they would not be able to provide the documents directly to the investigating agency as such documents could only be procured through prescribed rules under the IT Act. The ED also wants forensic experts to examine the financial documents of the three Jalandhar-based firms that have been linked to wrestler-turned-druglord Jagdish Bhola in the Rs 5,000 crore synthetic drugs racket. Jagdish Bhola’s counsel Satish Karkra said the ED wanted to procure copies of I-T returns pertaining to Gaba so that they could attach the investigations of Gaba’s case with that of Jagdish Bhola. “We have always maintained that Jagdish Bhola had nothing to do with Gaba”, he said. The ED chargesheet says Jagdish Singh Bhola and another main accused Anup Singh Kahlon allegedly transferred money through money foreign exchange firms in Chandigarh and Punjab. The ED has also named seven others, including some Non Resident Indians (NRIs), who helped the drug dealers transfer money out of country through Hawala transactions. Documents with the ED also highlight how hundreds of benaami entries to various accounts held by NRIs in America, Britain, Canada, London, Sharjah were made. “The seven accused in the drug nexus have bought many properties in India,” reads the chargesheet. The next date of hearing in the case is July 16. Case details *
The EC pleaded in court that it wanted to procure the original documents available with the IT Department as the documents handed over to them were not clear due to overwriting *
The IT Department in its reply said they would not be able to provide the documents directly to the agency as such documents could only be procured through prescribed rules under the IT Act
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Cong: Govt has failed to rescue youths
Chandigarh, July 4
Bir Devinder Singh said whereas the Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy got release the 46 nurses in a day, no one knew the whereabouts of the abducted Punjabi boys in Iraq for the past several days. He said Badal should have camped in New Delhi or should have gone to Iraq to take up the issue of Punjabi boys with the Indian Embassy there. Now, with the release of the Kerala nurses, the pressure had mounted on the Badal government to take effective steps to get the abducted boys released, he said. AAP MP from Patiala Dr Dharmvira Gandhi said it was unfortunate that no sustained effort had been made to get the abducted Punjabi boys released. He said the first priority of the Union Government should be to take care of Indians stuck in the conflict zone of Iraq. He said he would forcefully take up the issue again with the Union Government. He urged Badal to camp in Delhi until the Punjabis boys returned home.9
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Cong leaders blame poll losses on AAP
New Delhi, July 4 “Had it not been for AAP, we would have won 12 seats in Punjab,” AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said after the meeting. He said they would have also won the Chandigarh seat but for AAP. Almost all leaders were of the opinion that AAP had taken away a huge chunk of Congress votes. Arvind Kejriwal’s 18-month-old party won four seats in Punjab – Sangrur, Patiala, Faridkot and Fatehgarh Sahib. Former PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, whose wife Preneet Kaur lost the Patiala seat to AAP’s Dharamvir Gandhi, is learnt to have submitted to the Antony committee an analysis of every seat in Punjab, revealing a shift from the Congress to AAP. Punjab Congress state chief Partap Singh Bajwa was unable to retain his Gurdaspur seat. Congress’ seniormost general secretary Ambika Soni was defeated by SAD's Prem Singh Chandumajra by 30,000 votes. She is learnt to have told the leadership that she had lost owing to the use of the administrative machinery against her by the SAD-BJP government. Speaking to The Tribune, Shakeel Ahmed said AAP was certainly a major reason for the Congress defeat in the state and that the party had failed to cash in on the anti-incumbency sentiment against the Akali-BJP government. Among those who met the Antony panel were Amarinder Singh, Partap Bajwa and CLP Leader Sunil
Jakhar.
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Sukhbir asks Centre to restrain Haryana Govt
New Delhi, July 4 The SAD president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here today. He alleged that the Haryana Congress was playing “mischief” to divide the Sikhs by propping up the demand for a separate gurdwara committtee. Accompanied by Sukhbir, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago. The SGPC chief, Avtar Singh Makkar, had led a protest against the Haryana Congress yesterday. A section of Sikhs in Haryana are demanding a gurdwara body independent of the SGPC to manage the gurdwaras in Haryana. Despite intervention by the Akal Takht chief, the matter has remained unresolved. Sikh leader in Haryana have convened a meeting at Kaithal on July 6 to take a final call on the issue. Speculation is rife that Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda may announce a separate SGPC if the sangat (congregation) ratifies the demand. Sukhbir alleged that the Congress was stoking religious sentiments to split the Sikh community ahead of the Assembly elections in Haryana. He blamed AICC president Sonia Gandhi for the move. A SAD spokesperson claimed that Rajnath Singh had assured Sukhbir that the Centre would take “due care” of the concerns of the Sikh community. HSGPC demand illegal, says Sekhwan
Gurdaspur: Former Cabinet Minister and SGPC member Sewa Singh Sekhwan today claimed that the Haryana Congress' demand for a separate gurdwara committee in Haryana was a violation of the Nehru-Master Tara Singh pact signed before Independence. He claimed that under the agreement, it had been decided that the Congress would not meddle in the religious affairs of the Sikhs. “Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa should consult Sikh scholars before raising this illogical and unreasonable demand,” he said. Warning that the Haryana Congress’ demand could snowball into a major controversy, he asked why Hooda and Amarinder Singh had raised the demand only now when Assembly elections in Haryana were a few months away. “Hooda is clearly eying the Sikh votes. But the Sikhs have seen through his designs," he claimed. He said that by seeking a separate gurdwara panel, the Congress had come into a confrontation with Akal Takht. SAD (A) for separate panel
Phagwara: Simaranjit Singh Mann, SAD (Amritsar) president, has supported the demand for a separate gurdwara committee in Haryana. Addressing mediapersons at Narangshahpur village on Friday, he alleged that the SAD, the BJP and the Congress were all politicising the issue. Mann accused the Jathedars of all Takhts of acting at the behest of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC president Avtar Singh
Makkar.
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Illegal mining: Cong stages dharna
Anandpur Sahib, July 4 Rana along with party workers reached the Tehsil office and sat on a dharna outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s (SDM) office at 10 am. He said if the state government did not take remedial measures in the next few days, he would stage a dharna at Algran village, where a majority of crushers were running illegally. The land around Nangal and Anandpur Sahib was dotted with large craters since the mafia had dug out sand and earth illegally, he said. The craters had become life threatening. Last month, a truck driver died, when his truck fell into one such crater at Nangran village, said
Rana.
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Khanna youths back home empty-handed
Khanna July 4 They had left for Iraq six months ago after the factories where they were employed were closed. In Iraq, they worked for a company at Basra. They alleged they were paid for only four months. As the situation in Iraq turned from bad to worse, they decided to return home. Though empty handed, they are relieved to be back in their village. They youths said they had often gone without meals. For several days, they subsisted on dry bread. Sarabjit Singh of nearby Jatana village had a similar tale to tell. The youths said they wanted the government to help them start afresh. Bikram Singh of Jaspalon village alleged that the Indian Embassy had failed to make adequate arrangements for the Indians trapped in Iraq. Having returned home without a penny, he alleged the Iraqi company he worked for had promised to pay him 700 dollars per month, but he was paid only 350 dollars. Though the war in Iraq had broken out on June 12, a Bombay-based company had sent 44 Indians, a few of them Punjabis, to the trouble-torn country on June 18, he claimed. “The government must check the illegal activities of travel agents as they continue to put the lives of hundreds of youths at grave risk,” he added.
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Mason returns traumatised
Nawanshahr, July 4 "I am not in my hometown, I am still in Iraq," he keeps on repeating. He still gets chills whenever there is any loud noise for he takes it for a bomb explosion. Whenever his family members try to make him understand that he has returned home, he goes restless and starts crying loudly. He does not recognise his family members, including his wife, children and mother. His family members are trying their best to help him regain his past memory by showing him old family photographs etc. His friend Ramit, who brought him from Iraq, says Raj is in a state of shock due to the torture meted out to him by officials of the Iraqi company with which he was employed there. Raj's feet, chest, arms bear injury marks, clear evidence that he was treated badly in Iraq. Raj Kumar had gone to Iraq as a mason around three months ago. He did not get any salary for the period for which he had worked there. "We were given air tickets by the company and nothing else," Ramit said. Raj Kumar's cousin Ramjit said, "He has been in a mentally upset ever since his return. He does not recognise me and other family members. He was so restless that he had to be tied with the bed to avoid any untoward happening." His company put him under house arrest after the trouble broke out in Iraq. "We were served food only once a day and if anyone asked for salary, he was beaten up by the security guards. Once Raj attempted to run away, but he was caught by the security guards. He was tied with a pillar and severely beaten up with rods," Ramit said. Instead of giving him food, he was forcibly made to consume sleeping pills. Their torture intensified after they (a group of 15 Punjabis) sent a video of the sorry state of affairs of Punjabi youths in Iraq. "After the video went on air through a news channel in India, company official turned more hostile and stopped serving us any food," Ramit said. Nawanshahr SDM Jeevan Jagjot said Raj Kumar a psychiatrist had declared him mentally upset. He, however, said the victim was likely to regain his mental health after a few days of treatment. Nawanshahr DC Anandita Mitra said the youth would be given free medical treatment till he regained his mental health. His ordeal *
Raj Kumar's Iraqi employers put him and others under house arrest *
They were served food once a day * If anyone asked for salary, he was beaten up by security guards *
Raj Kumar triedd to run away, but was caught by the security guards *
He was tied with a pillar and severely beaten up with rods * Instead of food, he was forced to take sleeping pills.
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‘Govt must help, things gettingworse’
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 4 Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Shanti Nagar in the steel town, said the incidents in Iraq had shaken the confidence of Indian youths stuck there. The situation had been worsening ever since a youth from Rajasthan died of cardiac arrest there. After that incident, he and other persons started contacting officials of the Indian Embassy to get assistance for their safe return to India, but to no avail, Lakhwinder said. He alleged the Iraqi companies were not releasing their passports and the youths were not getting any assistance from the Indian Embassy to get back their documents. He was, however, lucky to somehow get in touch with embassy officials who then helped him reach India, he said.
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Ramoowalia promises all help
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 4 The assurance was given by CM's emissary and former Union minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia during a meeting with residents of Akalgarh village in Ludhiana district near here today. Expressing concern over the alleged non-cooperative attitude of the ministerial staff of the embassies concerned, Ramoowalia said he had taken up the matter with the Ministry of External Affaisr. Officials of Indian Embassies in various segments of Iraq would soon take necessary steps for the release and safe return of Punjabi youths to their respective villages and towns in Punjab, he said. Referring to information received from Sukhwinder Singh, Harvinder Singh (brothers) and Gurbachan Singh of Akalgarh, who were allegedly held captivate by owners and managers of a company in Iraq, Ramoowalia regretted that none of the officials of the Indian Embassy in that region came to their rescue despite orders by authorities in the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi. Ramoowalia said action would be taken against travel agents responsible for the sorry plight of innocent youths. "In majority of the cases, travel agents had promised to send these youths to safe countries like Kuwait, but later got them trapped in Iraq. To prevent youths from returning home, their passports and documents were seized by employers and salaries and dues were not paid," he said. Meanwhile, Gurbachan Singh, Sukhjinder Singh and his brother Harvinder Singh told The Tribune on the phone that contrary to the claims being made by the government, no help was extended to them during the past weeks. "Though we and our parents were made to understand that we will be rescued and our dues and documents made available to us, nothing has been done so far," said Gurbachan Singh. Trapped youths slipping into depression * Lakhwinder's father Sarup Singh he had spent Rs 1.3 lakh on sending his son to Iraq on a two-year work *
He said his son was paid Rs 27,000 per month by a company in Iraq * Lakhwinder said more than 1,800 Indian youths trapped in Iraq were slipping into depression as they had no help.
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Man’s complaint against wife leaves cops baffled
Faridkot, July 4 After the Muktsar police conducted two inquiries in this “strange” case, the investigation has been handed over to the Faridkot police this week. In this case, the Kotbhai police in Muktsar had booked a 27-year-old woman and her parents for “cheating” on May 23, 2014. In the FIR registered on the complaint of Harjinder Singh of Khirkhian village in Muktsar, it was alleged that his wife, Paramjit Kaur, and her parents, residents of Chahal village of Faridkot, had cheated him by not disclosing before marriage that Paramjit could not bear a child. They were married on April 19, 2009. In the first complaint to the Muktsar police in July 2013, Harjinder, an employee of a private firm, alleged that in over four years of his marriage with Paramjit, she had been unable to bear a child. He claimed to have spent lakhs of rupees on her treatment but she could not bear him a child. In the complaint to the police, he accused his wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law and three other relatives of his in-laws for keeping him in the dark before the marriage that Paramjit could not bear a child. This complaint was dismissed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Muktsar, in August, 2014. In his inquiry report, he stated, “He (Harjinder) wants to get married again after divorcing Paramjit. For this, he should approach the civil court, not the police.” Harjinder made another complaint to the Muktsar police on October 21, 2013. This time, the investigation was conducted by the Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Muktsar, and he ordered registration of a cheating case against Paramjit Kaur and her parents for not disclosing about her incapability to bear a child. Paramjit’s parents approached the police authorities and a new inquiry was ordered. Now, while a fresh inquiry is being conducted by the Faridkot SP, Paramjit’s family has moved court for anticipatory bail, fearing their arrest by the police. Passing the parcel *
The first complaint was dismissed by the Muktsar DSP * After the second complaint, Muktsar SP ordered registration of a cheating case against the complainant's wife and in-laws *
Later, Paramjit's parents approached the police and a new inquiry has now been ordered, which is being conducted by Faridkot SP.
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Undertrial dies in jail, kin protest
Phagwara, July 4 Angry residents of Mahal village squattted on the main road, bringing traffic to a halt. They demanded that a case be registered against officials “responsible” for Gurpreet’s death. Markets remained shut during the protest which lasted six hours. Additional Deputy Commissioner Iqbal Singh Sandhu and Phagwara Superintendent of Police (SP) Gursewak Singh Brar were present at the site till the time the protesters dispersed at 1.30 pm. Senior Medical Officer Dr Manohar Lal said a three-member board comprising Dr Hardip Singh, Rajinder Kumar, Gurinder Singh had conducted a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of the death. Meanwhile, Judicial Magistrate Rupinder Singh recorded the statements of the deceased’s mother and sister. The family members of the deceased allege that Gurpreet had been poisoned to death.
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Yannick’s assailants may face murder trial
Jalandhar, July 4 The seven youths held guilty of attempted murder, are now likely to be tried under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Kunwar Vijay Pratap said they would seek legal opinion on the matter and proceed accordingly. Yannick, a student of Lovely Professional University, was on his way to a party on April 22, 2012, when he was attacked by a group of nine students. Seven of the attackers were sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years. The other two fled to Australia. The city police have written to the Australian Government, seeking their extradition. After Yannick’s father Nestor Ntibateganya wrote to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on June 20, 2012, regarding his son’s condition, Yannick was shifted to Columbia Asia Hospital, Patiala. The state government appointed a special public prosecutor to fight Yannick’s case. On October 23 last year, the fast-track court of an Additional District and Sessions Judge sentenced Sumit Ralhan, Sahildeep, Amandeep Singh, Amarbir Singh Bajwa, Harsh Gosain, Jaswant Singh and Romy Uppal to 10 years’ imprisonment. Romy Uppal’s father Dharam Singh Uppal was suspended as Superintendent of Police, Nawanshahr, for allegedly intimidating witnesses in the case. He later died of cardiac arrest. Criminal Lawyer Mandeep Sachdev said that the seven convicted youths may have to face a fresh trial for murder. “If the medical report from Burundi confirms that Yannick died due to the injuries inflicted on him by the attackers, they will have to face a trial under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code,” the lawyer said. * Yannick, a student of Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, was attacked by 9 students on April 22, 2012 * Seven of the attackers were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment in October last year; the other two fled to Australia * Yannick, who was admittted to Columbia Asia Hospital, Patiala, was airlifted to Burundi last month
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Rules for issuing birth certificates being flouted
Gurdaspur, July 4 Jyani visited the Gurdaspur Civil Hospital yesterday while Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Health) Navjot Kaur Sidhu inspected it last week. Both did some “cosmetic” work of pulling up officials but turned a blind eye to the affairs of the birth and death certificates department. Had they gone there, they would have learnt how the Right to Service
(RTS) Act pertaining to issuance of these documents was being flouted. The RTS Act states statutory laws which guarantee time-bound delivery of services for various public services, including providing birth and death certificates. People are not getting these documents within the stipulated period of five working days. It also gives out a mechanism for punishing public servants who fail to provide the service in the stipulated time. The Act is also meant to reduce corruption among government officials and simultaneously increase transparency and public accountability. At the under-staffed Civil Hospital, the Act is not being implemented in letter and spirit, thereby denying residents their basic rights. Civil Surgeon Dr Rajnish Sood said he had “effected some transfers in the section, which will hasten up the process of issuing these documents”. Notwithstanding the claims of officials, Savita
Kumari, who applied for a birth certificate a fortnight ago, said, “Officials manning the cash counters indulge in corrupt practices. The fee for getting a certificate is Rs 15. However, the officials take more than that.” Dr Rajnish Sood denied this and claimed that corrupt officials had been identified and in their place, new officials had been posted. The rule of the thumb is that officials have to state on a receipt the time period they would take to issue a document. However, the rule is not being followed as officials fear that if they do not provide the information in the stipulated time, they could be in the dock because of the RTS
Act. Surinder Kumar of Dinanagar, Naresh Kumar of Paniyar and Navpreet Singh of
Babbehali, who were standing in a long queue at the hospital, said that they had deposited their applications about a month ago.
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Muktsar stadium in a state of neglect
Muktsar, July 4 The condition of the staircase and rooms in the complex is deplorable. Big cracks have developed on walls. However, the Sports Department seems to be least bothered about repairing the complex. The multi-purpose indoor hall in the sports complex is also in a poor state. Sukhdev Bhullar, District Sports Officer, said, “I have brought the matter to the notice of higher ups in the department and the Deputy Commissioner. However, funds are yet to be sanctioned for this purpose.” He said, “Last year’s rains had caused massive losses to the infrastructure of this stadium. Before that, it was well maintained.” However, some locals and sports aficionados said the SAD-led state government was biased towards the stadium as it was founded in 2005 by the then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. “The incumbent state government did not even organise a single match of the World Kabaddi Cup here even as stadiums without proper seating arrangement have hosted kabaddi matches. The condition of stadiums in neighbouring districts such as Bathinda and Mansa is, however, far better than this one as they are equipped with modern facilities,” said a sportsperson. He said, “The state government must immediately sanction funds for its upkeep.” Govt biased, say locals Some local sports aficionados said the SAD-led state government was biased towards the stadium as it was founded in 2005 by the then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
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Waterworks await repair in Hanumangarh
Abohar, July 4 During a week-long inspection of the waterworks and other essential services by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her team, hundreds of people complained about receiving non-potable water. Experts said canal water received through various canals originating from the Harike headworks in Ferozepur could not be purified by the existing system since hazardous chemical waste was released by some Ludhiana-based industries into the Beas, Sutlej and the Sirhind. District Collector PC Kishan, Water Resources Department Superintending Engineer ML Meena and Executive Engineer Ravinderpal today inspected the filters in the main waterworks at Makkasar and other places. The SE said 60 per cent of the 800 water filters in the district needed to be renovated, the proposal for which had been sent to the state headquarters.
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Encroachments cleared in Abohar
Abohar, July 4 However, no action was taken against shopkeepers on the east Railway Road as of now even as most of them have encroached upon footpaths. A team led by Naib Tehsildar Neeraj Sharma stormed into Rani Jhansi Market and removed eateries being run on the footpaths and other encroachments. Public toilets, which had been locked by ragpickers for misusing them as store, were also vacated. Notably, thousands of citizens as well as rail commuters have to pass through the east and west Railway Roads but they remain encroached upon by rehriwalas and shopkeepers. Shopkeepers charge hefty amounts from “rehriwalas” for using the area near their shops. In memorandums sent to the authorities, complainants had alleged that the encroachments were being promoted by Municipal Council staff for their vested interests. Consumer Movement chairman Satpal Khariwal said the main markets and the Circular Road should also be cleared of encroachments since thousands of people have to suffer due to inaction on the part of the authorities concerned. Admn finally acts on complaints *
The drive was carried out in the Rani Jhansi Market area after a number of complaints were received from city residents *
Eateries being run on footpaths and other encroachments were removed. Public toilets, taken over by ragpickers, were also vacated
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3 Excise officials with bogus degrees demoted
Patiala, July 4 The department is also contemplating legal action against the accused officers. The officers who have been demoted with immediate effect are Amrik Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Parveen Kumar. “After a complaint was received, their degrees were verified and cross-examined. It was found that other than their degrees being invalid, the course was completed in 6 to 12 months. The rules say that a bachelor’s degree could not be completed in less than three years,” reads the probe report, dated June 23, 2014, a copy of which is with The Tribune. Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner Sarojini Gautam conducted the probe that nailed the three officials for submitting fake degrees. Thereafter, Excise and Taxation Commissioner Anurag Verma ordered that these officials be demoted under the punishment and appeal rules clause 5(v). The state government notification in 2008 made it mandatory for clerks to be graduates in order for them to be considered for promotion to the inspector level. Thereafter, several clerks procured bogus degrees to be considered for promotion. The department has also summoned the file records of over 50 inspector level officials promoted recently. It wants to investigate if they too got bogus degrees. Verma confirmed he had demoted three officials, while some other cases were under scrutiny. “We will give the three accused an opportunity to plead their case and will register police cases if they are found to be erring,” he added. Under scrutiny *
They were promoted last year from the clerical cadre * 50 other inspector level officials are also under the scanner in the matter.
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Buddha Nullah breach: State orders special girdawari
Machhiwara July 4 Dhillon, who along with Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal visited the site, said the breach would be plugged by the end of the day. He said the matter of cleaning Buddha Nullah and other seasonal drains would be taken up in the meeting of Punjab Cabinet to be held on July 8. Dhillon said the cleaning project would start after special funds would be allotted by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He said junior engineers and other concerned officials of the Drainage Department had been ordered to keep a vigil on the banks of drains and nullahs. He said the roads of Bet area that had been damaged by rain would be repaired after the state government allotted the funds. Some farmers brought to the notice of the DC that several trees which had fallen into the Buddha Nullah were affecting the water flow. Aggarwal said he would direct the officials of the Forest Department to remove the fallen trees from the nullah. Anuprita Johl, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Samrala, former MLA Jagjivan Singh Khirnia and other officials were also present.
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Anganwadi workers clash with police in Sangrur
Sangrur, July 4 The protesters were led by their district president Gurmail Kaur Binjoki. As the police had closed gates of the complex installed on the Deputy Commissioner’s office road and on the Ranbir Club side road, an anganwari worker tried to scale a gate to gain entry. However, the police prevented her from doing so. This was followed by a clash between the anganwari workers and the police who foiled their attempt to enter the complex twice. The workers wanted to hold a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. However later, the workers and helpers sat on a dharna on the DC office road. Additional Deputy Commissioner Pritam Singh Johal visited the site and took a memorandum from the protesters to be forwarded to the state government. The demands include Class-III status to anganwari workers and Class IV status to helpers, pension and gratuity, recruitment of supervisors and availability of gas “chullahs” at anganwari centres. They also asked the state government to give them honorarium on the pattern of the Haryana Government as part of an immediate financial relief to them.
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Rajpura to Chandigarh rail link sought
Patiala, July 4 Dr Gandhi told the minister that Malwa was a big region of Punjab, comprising 14 out of the 22 districts of the state. He said 10 of the 14 districts had poor rail connectivity with the Nation Capital. He said better connectivity would boost trade and increase jobs in the region. He said, “The districts of border area like Fazilka, Ferozepur and adjacent districts of Haryana and Rajasthan are equidistant from Chandigarh, but with no rail link between Rajpura and Chandigarh, several people could not reach Chandigarh directly via rail.” Dr Gandhi said of the total 90 trains that ran through the state, only 10 trains operated in the Malwa region.
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Verify if Forest Hill Golf Club is on forest land, state told Chandigarh, June 4 The direction came as the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Ajay Tewari disposed of a petition “court on its own motion versus Col BS Sandhu and others. The Bench also made it clear that the government was required to carry out the verification process on the basis of government records as on October 25, 1980, and other material before it. The restrictions applicable on the forest land would be applicable, if the club was found to be under forest area during the verification of the state government’s revenue record. On May 21, the Supreme Court had set aside the High Court’s earlier finding that the club in Karoran village had come up on forest land; and had sent the case back to the HC for fresh adjudication. At the same time, the Bench comprising Justices AK Patnaik and FMI Kalifulla had upheld HC order for a probe by a CBI-led special investigation team (SIT) into the role of “top executive and administrative functionaries” of the state and the Centre in the establishment and development of the club. By recording a blanket finding that all land in Karoran village was forest land under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, the HC “has affected the legal rights of several villagers, agriculturists, farmers, shop owners and inhabitants” who were carrying on their respective occupations on their land even before the Act had come into force, the SC noted. “In our view, the HC should have been very careful before recording findings which affect the property rights of persons protected by Article 300A of the Constitution,” the Bench said.
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Man gets 10-yr jail for wife’s suicide
Abohar, July 4 Tarsem Singh of Sangatpura village had in 2012 complained to the Sadulshehar police that his sister Karamjit Kaur was burnt by her husband for dowry. As her daughter Nisha (12) narrated the sequence of events that led to the woman's death due to burns, the police added Section 302 in the FIR that was initially registered under Sections 306 and 498 A of the IPC. — OC
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Pakistani national’s conviction upheld
Chandigarh, July 4 Mohammad Hanif alias Shakurullah of Sayalkot in Pakistan was apprehended in September 2004. The prosecution had claimed that a police party tried to stop a vehicle without number plate at a barricade on Pathankot-Jammu GT Road. Five occupants tried to flee while firing, after the vehicle rammed into the barricades. After an Assistant Sub-Inspector fired shots in the air to scare the miscreants, Hanif was apprehended by the police. The prosecution later claimed Hanif possessed 20 fake currency notes of Rs 1,000 each. He was also accused of possessing 5 kg of RDX, three batteries, a time device, two time-pencils and five fuse wires for igniting RDX to cause a blast. The prosecution added Hanif was holding .30 bore made-in-China Mouser. Four live cartridges of .30 bore were also found in the magazine. From his personal search, six live cartridges were also recovered. The trial court sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and pay a fine of Rs 5,000, but acquitted him of allegations of possessing fake currency due to discrepancy in numbers. Taking up the matter, Justice RP Nagrath asserted: “It was not possible for the police team to plant such a huge recovery upon an innocent person.” Dismissing the appeal, Justice Nagrath concluded: “I find that the trial court was quite correct in properly analysing the evidence and to hold the charges against the appellant to be established beyond doubt. The conviction of the appellant for various offences under Section 25 of the Arms Act; Sections 4/5 of the Explosive Substances Act; and Section 3 of the Indian Passport Act is maintained. “There is no scope of interference in the quantum of sentence, the appellant having already undergone the sentence awarded to him. No merit is found in the instant appeal and therefore, the same is dismissed.” The case *
Mohammad Hanif alias Shakurullah of Sayalkot in Pakistan was apprehended in September 2004 *
He was also accused of possessing 5 kg of RDX, three batteries, a time device, two time-pencils and five fuse wires for igniting RDX to cause a blast
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Sikh varsity to move HC against UGC
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 4 The HC, in its order on April 22, 2014, had directed the UGC to take a decision on the application filed by Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University within a month. Vice Chancellor Gurmohan Walia said the university had sent several representations to the UGC to implement the HC orders at the earliest as the delay would adversely affect admissions at the university. More than two-and-a-half months have passed, but the UGC has failed to implement the HC orders, he said.
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Vidhu Jain murder case: Kin move HC
Sangrur, July 4 Vidhu’s father Navneet Jain today said since January 3, neither the state government nor the police had approached him with regard to the investigation into the murder of his son. He said this was the reason that Vidhu’s mother Aarti Jain decided to move the High Court.
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Liquor worth Rs 60 lakh seized
Abohar, July 4 Preliminary investigation indicates that the liquor with Haryana marking was being transported to Gujarat under fake goods carrier receipt of chemicals. — OC
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Man shot at by brother-in-law
Ferozepur, July 4 The victim sustained serious injuries on his shoulder. He was admitted to a local hospital, where doctors referred him to a Ludhiana hospital. Darshan allegedly fired on Surjit was over watering of fields. Gurpreet Singh Toor, Senior Superintendent of Police, said the police was investigating the matter, following which a case would be registered.
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The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has yet again raised the issue of the proposed Haryana SGPC with the Central Government, requesting that the Haryana Government be restrained from pursuing the matter.
Five youths of Alipur village who were stuck in Iraq reached back home today. Gurpreet Singh, Major Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Sohan Singh and Baljeet Singh, who belong to poor families, were welcomed by their family members and village residents.
Despite returning to his hometown Rahon in Nawanshahr from strife-torn Iraq, Raj Kumar (40) is still not ready to believe that he has finally reached home. The reason: He is in a mentally derailed condition.
Yannick Nihangaza died at his home on Tuesday. The Burundi national, who had slipped into coma after he was brutally assaulted in Jalandhar two years ago, was airlifted to Burundi last month (June 16).
The seven youths held guilty of attempted murder, are now likely to be tried under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
Even though Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal holds the sports portfolio and is a native of Muktsar district, Guru Gobind Singh Sports Stadium here is in a poor condition. 
A large number of anganwadi workers and helpers, under the banner of the Anganwari Mulazam Union Punjab
(CITU), today clashed with the police in a bid to enter the District Administrative Complex in
Sangrur. However, no one was injured during the clash.
The Congress leader has also appealed to the Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha and former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to use his contacts with the rulers in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to get the boys released from the ISIS captivity.
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But he would never send his son to Iraq again, he said