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Teachers on way to Majithia’s house cane-charged
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Dharna near Dhindsa’s residence too
33% teachers’ posts vacant in Sangrur
Police misusing powers: Capt
On HC direction, Army hands over 4.4 acres to Fazilka MC
PPCC chief can’t issue me notice, says Brar
Benches in Patiala carry SAD slogan; CEO to seek report
Senior leaders to descend on Talwandi Sabo
BJP looking to expand base in villages
Akalis ignored Patiala: Preneet
Namdharis protest state govt ‘apathy’
Traders told to deposit 8-year rent for shops they didn’t occupy
Year on, govt yet to decide on Red Cross fund misuse
43 more youths rescued from Iraq
Work on PGI centre in Ferozepur hangs fire
Sangrur to have new bus terminus soon
Despite name change, Sheranwala village still Kuttianwali in records
Village euphoric as youth bags bronze at CWG
Woman poisons kids, attempts suicide
Schoolteacher missing for 4 months
Murdered ASI’s family alleges intimidation
Bhola drug case: Police tampered with facts, accused tells court
Industrialist, banker booked for loan fraud
2 cops held for detaining man, get bail
6 held for robbery in Abohar town
6 booked for defrauding NRI
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Teachers on way to Majithia’s house cane-charged
Amritsar, August 3 Over the past few days, the union has been registering protests by trying to gherao the houses of various Cabinet Ministers in Punjab. They have been demanding merger of the 5,752 schools in the state being run under zila parishads with the Education Department. The police rounded up about 15 protesting teachers and registered a case against them and unidentified members of the union. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Parampal Singh claimed they resorted to lathicharge only when the protesters tried to march past the barricades. He said the teachers insisted on heading to the minister’s residence even as it was conveyed to them that Majithia was not at his house. “The protesters were adamant and they attempted to break the barricades… Had the teachers been allowed to proceed to the residential locality where the minister lives, it would have created a law and order problem,” he said. He said the driver of a DSP sustained injury on his hand after being hit by a sharp-edged weapon. The union, however, has denied its members used any sharp-edged weapon. They alleged that instead, the male policemen baton-charged and rounded up their female members, which was against the law. The police have refuted the claim. The four teachers who sustained injuries were Pawanpreet Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Lovepreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh. It was around 10 am that ETT teachers from the six districts of Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar started converging upon Ram Bagh, which houses the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The protesters then marched towards the posh Green Avenue where Majithia has his house. However, their march was stopped near the Maqbool road. Union patron Ranjit Singh Baath and district unit president Sudhir Dhand said they had been waiting for a response from the Deputy Commissioner to their demand for a meeting either with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal or his deputy Sukhbir Badal. “We waited for three hours in sweltering and humid conditions outside the Deputy Commissioner’s residence, only to see our request being turned down. Akali Dal’s district president Upkar Singh Sandhu came to collect a memorandum from us, but we refused to hand it over to him,” the duo said.
The Clash
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Dharna near Dhindsa’s residence too
Sangrur, August 3 The protesters, who gathered there under the banner of ETT Teachers’ Union, Punjab, wanted to gherao the residence of the minister, but the police stopped them from going there by putting up barricades. These teachers had come from Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa and Patiala districts. They said the schools working under zila parishads and municipal councils should be brought under the Education Department. Jyoti Verma, a teacher from Government Primary School, Gaggarpur, fell unconscious during the dharna due to scorching heat. She was taken to the local civil hospital from where she was discharged after two hours, said Sukhvir Singh, district president of the ETT Teachers Union, Sangrur. In view of teachers’ threat to gherao Dhindsa’s residence, tight security was put in place in the area. DSP Gurpreet Singh Dhindsa and District Revenue Officer Avtar Singh Makkar held meetings with leaders of agitating teachers. Finally, the teachers agreed to hold a meeting with the Finance Minister at Patiala on Wednesday. The teachers also submitted a memorandum to Makkar on the occasion.
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33% teachers’ posts vacant in Sangrur
Sangrur, August 3 In Sangrur district alone, 33 per cent of the sanctioned posts master-cadre teacher and lecturer lie unfilled in government high and senior secondary schools. There are 2,770 sanctioned posts of master-cadre teacher in the district, of which 911 (33 per cent) are vacant. The maximum vacancies are 263 in science, followed by 217 in social studies, 175 of mathematics, 83 of physical education, 77 of Punjabi, 46 of Hindi and 24 of English. Of the 641 sanctioned posts of lecturer, 211 have been lying vacant. These include 41 of Punjabi, 36 of economics, 27 of commerce, 22 of history, 17 of biology, 13 of political science and 10 of chemistry. Besides, 240 posts of physical training instructor, 220 of classical and vernacular teacher and 270 of art and craft teacher lie unfilled. Apart from teaching posts, there are several vacancies in the Class IV category. Of the 666 sanctioned posts of peon, chowkidar, sweeper and gardener, 325 await recruitment. The posts of headmaster too have been lying vacant. As many as 59 posts of headmaster lie unfilled in high schools whereas two posts of principal await postings in government senior secondary schools in the district.
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Police misusing powers: Capt
Amritsar, August 3 Amarinder also warned the police official responsible for the lathicharge against “abusing his power”. In a statement, Amarinder said, “The ETT teachers should have been allowed to hold a peaceful demonstration. The police officer who led the contingent resorted to unprovoked use of force, probably to please his political bosses.” The MP assured the teachers that he would ensure that the officer was brought to book. Amarinder alleged he was the same official who was responsible for the killing of a protesting farmer a few months ago in Amritsar, and that “he should have been removed than being assigned the sensitive job of dealing with teachers protesting for their genuine demands”. “This is extreme authoritarian behaviour of the government, which is using some of its loyalist police officials to resort to excesses on peaceful demonstrators. A peaceful protest is everybody’s democratic right, but the Akalis are not only denying the same to the people but even gagging their voice,” he said.
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On HC direction, Army hands over 4.4 acres to Fazilka MC
Fazilka, August 3 On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Army authorities have handed over the possession of the land to the Executive Officer, Municipal Council. It has cleared the land. The supply depot had already been shifted to another site. For some time, the Municipal Council and the Army authorities have been at loggerheads over taking the possession of the land. Sources said 10 acres were leased to the Army through Municipal Council resolution number 54, dated June 7, 1952 at a negligible rate. More than half of the land was returned to the council authorities a few years ago, where the office of the Deputy Commissioner was established. But the Army retained the possession of 4.4 acres. The Municipal Council filed a petition before the District Collector, under the Punjab Public Premises (Eviction and Rent Recovery) Act. The collector asked the respondents, Secretary, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi, Defence Estate Officer, Bathinda circle, and station Commander, Infantry Brigade, to evacuate the land and pay the remaining rent. The Army authorities challenged the decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which in turn directed the plaintiff to hand over the possession of the land to the council. The move will also pave the way for the completion of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) as the Municipal Council had resolved to give 2 acres out of the 4.4 acres to the district administration for setting up the DAC. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had laid the stone of the DAC on July 27, 2012. The construction of the DAC had started last year, but it was not possible to complete the project as two acres of the land was under the possession of the Army. Case history
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PPCC chief can’t issue me notice, says Brar
Chandigarh, August 3 Responding to a show-cause notice issued to him by Bajwa on the instructions of AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, Brar said: “By writing to me on behalf of Shakeel Ahmed, you (Bajwa) have committed a technical error. The organisation is supreme. And I am a member of the AICC and have been a member of the CWC for several years”. He said under the party constitution, disciplinary action or a notice could be issued to an AICC member by the party high command alone. “The PPCC can only write to the high command in this regard,” Brar said. Urging Bajwa to restrain PPCC office-bearers and MLAs from going to the press without “studying and analysing” his remarks that he had made in the larger interest of the party, Brar said: “My leader (Sonia Gandhi) has appointed you PCC president and I respect her decision. Please stick to the book and the constitution of the party”. Brar was issued a notice yesterday after he reportedly issued a statement on Friday, asking party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi to go on leave for two years and hand over the party reins to somebody else. Brar has denied uttering any such thing. Asking Brar to explain his conduct by August 5, Bajwa had said that he had gone through his statement in the media criticising the party leadership. This, he said, was not expected of a leader who had enjoyed the confidence of the party president for years. Bajwa said Brar’s utterances were “irresponsible and undesirable,” especially as these were made at a time when the party was discussing the reasons for its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. Also, the party was fighting two crucial byelections in Punjab. “Such statements from senior leaders such as him have the potential to damage the prospects of Congress candidates,” Bajwa said. Brar’s close associates said that he had fought elections against the Badals as a disciplined soldier of the party. “We dare these Congress leaders to fight at least one election against the Badal family to prove their commitment to the party,” they added. When contacted, Shakeel Ahmed backed Bajwa. He said he had directed the PPCC president to issue a notice to Brar and the latter must submit a reply. Bajwa called upon his party men to win the two byelections in the state and strengthen the hands of the party president. Without naming anybody, he said certain “disgruntled, discontented and frustrated” forces were trying to sabotage the party’s campaign. “It is not for the first time that such forces have become active against the party and its leadership. These people believe in immediate gains. They forget that the party has always bounced back,” he said. Outburst ‘unfortunate’ ‘It’s technical error’
He must reply: Ahmed I had directed PPCC chief Partap Bajwa to issue a notice to Jagmeet Brar for his statement and the latter must submit a
reply
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Benches in Patiala carry SAD slogan; CEO to seek report
Patiala, August 3 The reason: Most of these benches carry SAD slogan "Raj Nahin
Sewa" (not rule, only service). The Congress feels these benches are giving undue publicity to the SAD candidate in fray for the
bypoll. These benches were installed at the instance of Bhagwan Dass Juneja (now SAD candidate from
Patiala) a few years ago. Hundreds of such benches and tree guards are installed in many parts of the Patiala (Urban) Assembly segment with names of either Bhagwan Dass or his son Harpal
Juneja, a SAD councillor and party's covering candidate, painted on them. Many of these benches also carry the name of the realty firm of the Juneja
family—Juneja Realtors. The Congress sees these benches as a threat to the conduct of "free and fair elections". According to party leaders, SAD candidate Bhagwan Dass Juneja was getting free publicity in the name of his social work. "If these benches were put for a social cause, why SAD slogan
"Raj Nahin Sewa" was engraved on them along with free advertisement of Juneja Realtors," Congress candidate Preneet Kaur said. "It is free publicity for the SAD candidate and the Election Commission should get these covered or repainted before the election," she said. During his visit to Patiala last week, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had said, "One could see the trees planted for environment conservation and benches installed beneath those trees by Juneja for the common people. Even the children of the city were aware of various contributions made by Juneja towards social welfare." Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, VK Singh said he would seek a report from the district electoral officer on the number of such benches. "I will seek a complete ground report on such benches and tree guards," he said. Bhagwan Dass Juneja or his son Harpal Juneja could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts. Election code violated?
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Senior leaders to descend on Talwandi Sabo
Talwandi Sabo, August 3 The SAD president, Sukhbir Badal, is scheduled to visit various pockets of the constituency during his two-day visit on August 6 and 7. Party candidate Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would campaign for him on August 8 and 9. The constituency comprises 59 villages and two urban pockets of Talwandi Sabo city and Rama Mandi. Senior Akali leaders Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Gulzar Singh Ranike and Sharanjit Dhillon have already toured the constituency. Campaigning on behalf of the Congress, PPP chief Manpreet Badal will go door-to-door in Rama Mandi tomorrow. He is scheduled to visit eight villages. Congress candidate Harminder Jassi said that PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira and MLAs Raja Warring and Ajaib Bhatti were scheduled to visit various villages. Senior leaders would join them soon. The Aam Aadmi Party candidate, Baljinder Kaur, said: “We are concentrating on door-to-door campaigning." Balkar Singh Sidhu, Independent , today visited Takht Talwandi Sabo and other religious places at Sheikhpura, Naan Pind, Jaga Ram Teerth and
Lehri. Key campaigners Sukhbir Singh Badal will canvass on Aug 6 and 7, while Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be here on August 8 and 9
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BJP looking to expand base in villages
Chandigarh, August 3 The BJP plans to hold meetings in several villages in the next three days. According to the party campaign programme released this evening, the BJP leaders will hold meetings at Jaga Ram Tirath, Malwala, Sukhladhi, Chak Hira Singh Wala, Bangi Ruldu, Nutt, Kaileywala villages in the next two days. While the Akalis are eyeing a victory to get a majority on their own in the Assembly, the BJP plans to strengthen its base in rural areas for greater bargaining during the next elections. Insiders say the byelection is a litmus test for BJP minister Madan Mohan Mittal who is battling dissension. The warring groups want Mittal to be replaced. But Mittal enjoys the goodwill of the Akalis and is close to the CM. Hence, he has been made in charge of the Talwandi Sabo byelection.
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Akalis ignored Patiala: Preneet
Patiala, August 3 The SAD has, meanwhile, rubbished her claims as "baseless and false". Congress candidate from Patiala (Urban) Preneet Kaur said the Akali government had been discriminating against the Patiala city for the past eight years. The government victimised Patiala with a vengeance as the people here voted and supported the Congress, she alleged. Despite being an MP and a Union minister, it was sometimes so difficult to get funds released for various development works for the area, she said. "This was being done at the behest of the Akali government which did not want any development to take place here even when the money was not theirs," Preneet said. "Compare the five years of the Congress rule with the last eight years of the Akali rule. A beautiful city like Patiala has turned into a virtual slum. The condition of the city, particularly the interior areas, has gone from bad to worse," she said while speaking at workers meetings in different parts of the city. Refuting her allegations, SAD spokesman and campaign coordinator in Patiala Daljit Cheema said Preneet Kaur was falsely alleging bias by the government on development issue. "If she ever faced such a problem, did she ever write to the Punjab Chief Minister and rake up the issue?" he said. The state government was always for development, he claimed. SAD-BJP candidate Bhagwan Dass Juneja and SAD treasurer and Chief Parliamentary Secretary NK Sharma held a series of meetings in Model Town, Gobind Nagar, Raghbir Marg areas. Sharma said the election in the royal city had a special significance as the people had to decide between Juneja who favoured development or Congress nominee Preneet Kaur who did nothing for the city as an MP. "This time, people will punish the Congress nominee and his family for ignoring them for 15 years," he stated. Under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), each MP can make suggestions to the District Collector as regards Rs 5-crore development works to be undertaken up in his/her constituency every year. PPP-Cong alliance to continue, says Manpreet Tarn
Taran: Punjab People's Party (PPP) chief Manpreet Singh Badal on Sunday said the alliance between his party and the Congress would continue during the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. Manpreet was talking to newsmen on his way back to Badal village from
Amritsar. He, however, admitted that huge ideological differences existed between the Punjab People's Party (PPP) and the Congress. He said he would canvass for the Congress candidates from Patiala and Talwandi Sabo for the byelection to be held on August 21 and that the Congress candidates would win both
byelections. Says govt behind it False allegations: SAD
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Namdharis protest state govt ‘apathy’
Ludhiana, August 3 The protesters said a Namdhari couple, Harvinder Singh and Parveen Kaur, owing allegiance to sect leader Thakur Dalip Singh, was on fast for the last three days, but the authorities had failed to conduct a check-up on them. Sources said private doctors carried out a check-up and found that the duo’s weight was fast declining. A faction that performs prayers at the Namdhari Gurdwara, “backed” by the authorities, is reportedly not allowing Thakur Dalip Singh’s followers to enter the shrine for prayers. The followers of Thakur Uday Singh and his elder brother Thakur Dalip Singh have been at loggerheads after the former was appointed chief of the Namdhari sect. Last year, Thakur Uday Singh was attacked with an axe while he was giving a sermon at a gurdwara in England. The assailant was arrested and later convicted for attempted murder. The police and officials from the administration pacified the angry protesters and managed to clear the road. A Namdhari Panthak Ekta Action Committee member, who was also sitting outside the Mini Secretariat as a mark of support to the fasting couple, blamed a section of Namdharis for dividing the community. Amid all these developments, the police turned Bhaini Sahib, the supreme religious centre of the Namdhari sect, into a garrison. The action came following inputs that Thakur Dalip Singh’s followers may proceed towards Bhaini Sahib to participate in Sunday prayers at the gurdwara, which could lead to clashes.
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Traders told to deposit 8-year rent for shops they didn’t occupy
Mandi Gobindgarh, August 3 The foundation stone of the complex was laid by former Finance Minister late Capt Kanwaljit Singh in 2001 and it was inaugurated by then Local Bodies Minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh in 2005. Nine shops were auctioned by the MC at a rent of Rs 1,650 each in 2006 by signing an agreement with shopkeepers. However, the complex, set up at a cost of several crores, has remained non-functional so far as most of the furnace and steel manufacturing units have closed down. None of the shopkeepers has shifted to these shops. However, the MC has now issued notices to the shopkeepers to deposit the rent or face legal action. Transport Nagar complex was set up to ease traffic congestion on the New Delhi-Amritsar national highway. Due to apathy of the municipal authorities, it remains a neglected lot and wild growth dots it. Windowpanes of the main building, electric and sanitary fittings have been either stolen or damaged by unscrupulous elements. Some dairy owners have encroached upon the south-western corner of the complex. Mandi Gobindgarh MC Administrator and SDM Rajdeep Kaur said notices had been issued to the shopkeepers for the recovery of rent. They would have to pay the rent as they had entered into an agreement with the MC following auctioning of the shops. Legal action would be taken against the shopkeepers if they failed to deposit the requisite rent, she said. Transport Nagar market complex
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Year on, govt yet to decide on Red Cross fund misuse
Chandigarh, August 3 In its report submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the state also sought additional time to put up another report after the final decision in such cases. Accepting the state counsel's plea, the Bench fixed September 11 as the next date of hearing. On a previous date of hearing, the Bench had asked the governments to act against tainted officials expeditiously. Appearing before the Bench, counsel for the state had claimed that process to recover money from officials found involved in the case had been initiated. An inquiry committee headed by the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, had found "culpability and impropriety" on part of nine serving and retired IAS officers for improper use of the funds. The serving officers included Vikas Garg, SR Ladhar, Sarvjit Singh, K Siva Prasad, Anjali Bhawra and Kumar Rahul. Retired officers included JR Kundal, KS Sidhu and Harkesh Sindh Sidhu. In its report to the high court, the government had claimed that most of these cases were now pending with the personnel department. The inquiry committee of Justice AL Bahri and Justice RK Nehru has already stated that it was of a prima facie view that Red Cross funds have been misused, and suggested the circulation of a list of dos and don'ts to stop fund misuse by the Deputy Commissioners-cum-ex-officio presidents of the societies. The high court had earlier taken cognisance of the apparent "large-scale and rampant mis-utilisation of funds" for Red Cross activities in the region and has asked two former judges to look into it. Reports indicate the funds were used for paying electricity bills, buying water coolers and repairing the escort vehicles of a Deputy Commissioner. Tsunami funds have not been deposited and cyclone relief funds have also met the same fate. Names of serving, former officers under lens
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43 more youths rescued from Iraq
Jalandhar, August 3 One of the youths, Navdeep Saroha of Adampur in Jalandhar, said: "They have had a harrowing experience. The company we worked for had disconnected water and power supply inside our temporary accommodation and detained us in a crammed space for 10 days. We were not given food and water. We couldn't breathe properly for the first two days." He along with 42 others was detained by the company for striking work when the latter refused to send them back to India. It was only when they contacted the Indian Embassy in Baghdad last week that the officials rescued them with the help of Iraqi army on July 30. Gaurav Kangotra from Khatkar Kalan said the embassy officials took them to an undisclosed location in Baghdad. They were told not to call anybody till the time they boarded the flight back home. The officials had disconnected the wi-fi connection at the location to keep the rescue mission secret, he said. The youths said they had repeatedly pleaded before company officials to send them home due to the ongoing crisis, but they did not pay any heed. Gaurav said when the company detained them, they dug out the underground water supply pipe passing through their lodging site and also got a temporary electricity connection from a main power supply from a nearby pole to recharge their mobile phones. "It was important for us to be in touch with the embassy officials. Since most of us were plumbers and electricians, getting water and power supply was not a big deal for us," he said. Navdeep said: "The embassy officials visited us thrice in two weeks to persuade our company for our release. Later, when we were detained the Indian officials provided us bread and other eatables. "When the officials failed to convince the company, they came with a huge convoy of Iraqi army on July 30 and after rescuing 31 Punjabi boys from a nearby site, they rescued us. It was a very tense moment," he said. The family members of the youths were elated to see their loved ones back. Gaurav's mother Inderjeet Kaur said: "I had almost lost hope to see my son again. He used to cry and seek support to get out of Iraq over the phone. When he called me yesterday that he had boarded the flight back home, I couldn't believe my luck." The nightmare The company we worked for disconnected water and power supply to our accommodation. We were crammed in a room for 10 days. We were denied food and water. For the first two days, we had difficulty in breathing. Finally, we managed to contact the Indian Embassy in Baghdad last week The embassy officials rescued us with the help of the Iraqi army on July 30. They took us to an undisclosed location in Baghdad. We were told not to call anybody till the time we boarded a flight back home. The officials disconnected the wi-fi at the location to keep the rescue mission a secret
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Work on PGI centre in Ferozepur hangs fire
Ferozepur, August 3 Sources said the state government had failed to provide land for the project even though Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had given his consent to build the satellite centre on 16 acres of land near the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in the city. Earlier, a team of doctors from PGIMER had conducted a survey in this border region and emphasised the need to set up a health facility here. The team had also studied the mortality rate in the district. It found that several people suffered from poor mental health and substance abuse. Besides a 100-bed hospital that will be linked to PGIMER for referral, training and consultation purposes, the proposed satellite centre will have Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Anaesthesia, Community/Family Medicine and Psychiatry. In the proposal approved by the ministry, two faculty members supported by two senior and junior residents each are to be posted in all departments supported by the PGIMER faculty. Round-the-clock Emergency services, OPD and inpatient facilities will also be provided at the centre. The ministry was to make an initial investment of around Rs 200 crore on the project. Parminder Singh Pinki, MLA, said keeping in view that the Hussaniwala-Lahore border might be opened for trade and transit, the proposed centre would increase scope for mutual cooperation in healthcare between India and Pakistan. “However, it is unfortunate that the state government was delaying the project, which will boost healthcare development in this border town,” said Pinki. Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said that out of 16 acres required for the project, 10 acres had already been allotted by the Department of Technical Education. Experts’ view
The project
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Sangrur to have new bus terminus soon
Sangrur, August 3 The proposal was finalised by Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Parkash Chand Garg and the Managing Director (MD) of the PRTC here. A few local SAD and BJP leaders were also present at the meeting. The new bus stand is said to be constructed at a cost of Rs 8 crore. The new bus stand will be built on the remaining area of the existing bus stand and the PRTC workshop will remain at its existing site. The bus stand area will be raised by up to four feet since the existing bus stand is situated on a low lying area, where water accumulates during the rainy season. Garg said two gates, measuring 35-ft each, for the entry and exit of buses would be built. He said the road outside the bus stand would also be widened. A parking space for 15 buses would also be constructed in the bus stand. Garg said the PRTC would spend around Rs 6 crore on the project, while the remaining amount would be spent by the state government. He said the MD of the PRTC had been asked to prepare final estimates at the earliest. State secretary of the BJP Jatinder Kalra, who has been protesting the poor state of the bus stand for the past several months, said the new bus stand should be built at the earliest.
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Despite name change, Sheranwala village still Kuttianwali in records
Muktsar, August 3 It had taken about 20 years for its residents to get the name changed, which often embarrassed them, but the issue is still not addressed as in the land records, panchayat’s records and Irrigation Department, it is still mentioned as Kuttianwali. Villagers said as of now, the name of the village was changed only on school’s boards and milestones. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had come to this village in January this year and announced that the Centre had given approval to rename the village. Nishan Singh, sarpanch, Sheranwala (earlier Kuttianwali), said, “Though the Chief Minister changed the village name, many government departments have not received the notification in this regard. During the transfer of land, we still have to write Kuttianwali village. While applying for jobs too, the youngsters have to write village name as Kuttianwali. “Even while passing any resolution in the panchayat, we have to write Kuttianwali village panchayat. Besides, residents get caste certificate issued in the name of Kuttianwali village.” He said, “The village name was weird and especially the women objected to it. We will meet the Chief Minister again to request him to get the notification issued to all government departments.” A young girl of this village said, “I don’t like saying that I belong to Kuttianwali village. People mock me and that’s why the demand for changing the name was put forth.” Gurdev Singh, Chief Engineer, Drainage Department, too during his recent visit to Muktsar district had admitted that as per their records, the village was called Kuttianwali and not Sheranwala. There are many villages with such weird names in state such as
Gidderanwali, Sappanwali, Chhapianwali, Kattianwali, Chibbranwali,
Kakhanwali, Daddumajra, etc. Other such villages There are many villages with such weird names in state such as
Gidderanwali, Sappanwali, Chhapianwali, Kattianwali, Chibbranwali,
Kakhanwali, Daddumajra, etc.
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Village euphoric as youth bags bronze at CWG
Amritsar, August 3 Arpinder’s father Jagbir Singh Chhina, an ex-serviceman, said his son had brought laurels for the region. He said his son won a bronze with a best jump of 16.63m. Jagbir Singh said he had mortgaged his two-acre land to finance his son and see him excel in his chosen sport. Arpinder has studied at the Sports School, Jalandhar. He is employed as a supervisor in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited in Ludhiana. The family of the athlete rued that Arpinder was not provided a coach which, they claimed, would have ensured much better performance. His mother Harmeet Kaur said she was confident that her son would win more medals for the country in international games in the future.
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Woman poisons kids, attempts suicide
Abohar, August 3 Investigating officer Ramdan Singh Ujwal said Jeth Ram Swami found his daughter Rekha (11) and son Kanhaiya (8) vomiting when he returned home. He shifted them to the community health
centre, where the doctor on emergency duty declared both as brought dead. A postmortem is yet to be conducted. As Swami rushed back, he found his wife Radha (40) lying unconscious in another room. He took her to the hospital, where the doctor referred her to Bikaner as her condition was critical. Their four-year-old son, who was sleeping separately, survived. Sources said the woman gave poison to Rekha and
Kanhaiya, before consuming the same.
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Schoolteacher missing for 4 months
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 3 Girl's father Jasvir Singh said his daughter Paramjit Kaur worked as a teacher at Sant Namdev School, Bassi Pathana. She left for the school on the morning of March 20, but did not return home in the evening. Jasvir said initially he presumed his daughter had committed suicide. Since her body could not be found so far, he now suspected that she might have been kidnapped.
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Murdered ASI’s family alleges intimidation
Chandigarh, August 3 Robinjit’s father, Ravinder Pal Singh, an assistant sub-inspector with the Punjab Police, was allegedly shot dead by Akali leader Ranjit Singh Rana when he confronted him for harassing his daughter. The incident occurred on December 5, 2012. “We are determined to see the accused hanged and will not succumb to threats. As the date for the court verdict ( August 8) draws near, we apprehend threat to our life. But we are determined to get justice,” says Robinjit Kaur. The family of the slain ASI — his aged parents, wife and daughter — have been provided police security. An additional guard is provided to them whenever they travel to Amritsar for a court hearing. “The accused tried to escape from jail last year. He knows that evidence is against him and in desperation he may harm us. My daughter, who was appointed naib tehsildar by the government, is posted at Dhilwan in Kapurthala. At times she comes late in the night. Though she has gunmen protecting her, we fear that Rana’s men may harm her as she is a witness in the case,” says Paramjit Kaur. Her son, Navpreet Singh, is in Australia. The family is reluctant to call him back as it fears that he may be harmed too. They have now requested the Punjab Government to transfer Robinjit to Amritsar and allot her a “safe” house in the city. “The deputy commissioner has recommended that I be transferred and a house be allotted to me in the city. We are now awaiting orders of the Financial Commissioner Revenue,” said Robinjit. She has requested the district administration to restrict the number of people who meet the accused when he is brought to the sessions court for a hearing. “While we go to the court alone, hordes of people come to meet him there. We feel intimidated. We have now requested that Rana should not be allowed to mingle freely with his supporters,” Robinjit said. The cold-blooded killing
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Bhola drug case: Police tampered with facts, accused tells court
Chandigarh, August 3 Industrialist Chahal, who is a partner/director of Baddi-based pharmaceutical units, MBP Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd and Montek Biopharma, has through his counsel accused the police of misleading the court by misrepresenting facts. His counsel Vikram Chaudhary stated Deputy Inspector General of Police, (Crime-2), in his affidavit filed in the court, had presented "wrong facts". "The affidavit is full of discrepancies and contradictory to the challan submitted by the police," he told the court. He claimed Chahal was rounded up by the police from his house in Ramanachak village, Amritsar, on November 13 last year while his arrest was shown on the next day. There was no mention of the place from where he was arrested, he pointed out. "The police tampered with the facts by overwriting in their records to show the date of Chahal's arrest as November 14. They admitted to this typographical mistake when I raised the point," Chaudhary claimed. He said: "A footage of CCTVs installed at Chahal's house showed that a police party (in plain clothes) surrounding Chahal and taking him away on November 13 at 11:55 pm. The police also claimed to have raided the two pharma units in Baddi on November 15 and 16 along with officials of the Himachal Drug Controller and after informing the Directorate of Industries, Himachal Pradesh. "However, RTI information sought by the management of these units from the departments concerned negated these claims. Deputy Director, Industries, Solan, replied that no official of his office had accompanied the Punjab Police at the time of raiding the said units. "Moreover, Kamalesh Naik, Drug Inspector, Baddi, in his reports of samples taken from the pharmaceutical units on November 20 last year declared these of standard quality," he claimed. Counsel’s argument
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Industrialist, banker booked for loan fraud
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 3 Hearing on their bail application was today adjourned by the District and Sessions Judge to August 22. The court, however, stayed the lawyer’s arrest and directed the police to verify revenue records and complete the investigation.
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2 cops held for detaining man, get bail
Tarn Taran, August 3 However, they were later released on bail. They were booked under Sections 342 and 343 of Indian Penal Code
(IPC) on June 6. The case was registered on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Bachitar Singh, a resident of Dasuwal village, had filed a petition in the high court alleging that the two policemen had kept his father Darshan Singh in illegal detention. A warrant officer from the court raided the police station and recovered Darshan Singh. The accused police officials had not recorded his arrest. The court later ordered the registration of a criminal case against the erring policemen. The police said further investigation was on in the case.
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6 held for robbery in Abohar town
Abohar, August 3 On a tip-off, Balluana Deputy Superintendent of Police Veer Chand conducted a raid on an orchard near Danewala Satkosi village, 15 km from here, and nabbed five armed persons. They were identified as Satveer Singh and Nirmal Singh of Bakayanwala village, Balwinder Singh and Gurtej Singh of Jhanduana village in Guruharsahai and Baljit Singh of Roopnagar village. The police found that Satveer Singh worked as a driver for Bakha Singh of Shahpur Thedi village in Sangrur. On June 13, when Bakha Singh was going to deliver Rs 3.50 lakh at his relatives’ house in Bakayanwala village, driver Satveer Singh hatched a conspiracy with the gang, led by Sukhminder Singh of Harbanspura village, to rob Bakha Singh. They intercepted the car near Balluana village on the Bathinda-Gidderbaha road and looted Rs 3.50 lakh. Sukhminder Singh was arrested by Bathinda police in some other crime later. As the police summoned Satveer Singh for questioning, he alleged that he was kidnapped. The accused has been remanded till August 7. The plot
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6 booked for defrauding NRI
Phagwara, August 3 A case has been registered under Section 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. Those booked are Mangat Ram of Palahai village, Pardeep Kumar and Jatinder Kumar of Phagwara and Gurpal Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Munish Kapoor of Jalandhar. In his complaint, Jatinder alleged that he had given the power of attorney for selling his property to Mangat Ram several years ago. “Mangat sold the land for Rs 1.25 crore per acre in connivance with the other accused. They also sold another of my plot at local Mansa Devi Nagar by preparing forged documents,” he said.
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Fazilka, August 3
Patiala, August 3
Ludhiana, August 3
Jalandhar, August 3
Sangrur, August 3
Chandigarh, August 3
Former Law Minister and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Ashwani Kumar (in
pic) on Sunday said Jagmeet Brar’s statement against the party leadership was unfortunate. He said that despite several electoral reverses, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had provided outstanding leadership for several years. “It is entirely irresponsible to hold Sonia Gandhi or party vice-president Rahul Gandhi primarily responsible for the Congress’ Lok Sabha defeat. It is one thing to say that we must introspect our losses and another to argue against the top leadership,” the MP said.
By writing to me on behalf of AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, you (Bajwa) have committed a technical error. The organisation is supreme. And I am a member of the AICC and have been a member of the CWC for several
years
The babudom in the state of deliberately created hindrances in the release of funds for development of
Patiala. This was done at the behest of the Akali government.
Preneet Kaur is falsely alleging bias by the government on development issue. If she ever faced such a problem, did she ever write to the Chief
Minister.
