Jalandhar, September 10
Sixty Muslim families of New Indra Colony here are a worried lot as their more than 175 members, who had moved to Kashmir in search of a better living during the tourist season, have got stuck in the flood-ravaged areas and have gone out of contact.

The families are engaged in small occupations such as pasting designer stickers on the cars or doing shoe-shine work. In summer months when the business goes down here and it is peak tourism time in the Valley, they have been moving there for three months to earn a quick buck. The families said that their kin were to return these days but they were now held up owing to flash floods, making them extremely tense.

Liyaqat Ali, who serves in a mosque of the area, said that the last time they could contact their families was on Monday at 9 am. "We were told that they were standing atop the second floor of PNB Bank at Baratana and waiting to be rescued. They told us that the level of water in the area was 12.5 feet high," he said. He said he has had no news about his daughter Bali, son-in-law Salim and nephews since the past two days.

Sita Ram, a cobbler, said that his brother Mushtaq was held up in Kashmir with no clue on the current status. Durga Das, who runs a shop of designer stickers, said that his son Sunil and nephew Kali had gone to Kashmir. "I have been trying to contact them since the past two days but to no avail. We have been watching TV all the time which has somehow made us impulsive all the more," he said.

Bagdi, an elderly woman, said that her husband Kalu Khan, nephew Satar and Naseeb had left for better livelihood but there had been no news as to whether they had been rescued safely or not. She also took the name of other missing members Bashir, Rafiq, Mehboob, Razak, Sadiq and Shauqat taking out their photographs.

Jalandhar, September 10
In a move which is all set to upset the studies of over 70 students studying at the Government Primary School, Radio Colony, the government has shifted all three teachers to far away locations in the district, as a fall out of a controversy which rocked the school about two months ago.

Following an order by the DGSE regarding the closure of the school, students' parents - backed by several NGOs - had protested against the education department about two months ago, demanding that the school be allowed function.

With the issue gathering steam, Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav had, on July 2, stayed the closure of the school for one month.

It was finally today that the transfer of all three teachers was ordered by the DPI (S) causing a major setback to the school.

While the school head teacher has been transferred to a school at Shahkot, the two teachers have been transferred to Ganna Pind (Phillaur) and Ravidasspura (Nakodar), respectively.

As per the orders, they have been transferred on an administrative basis, based on the outcome of an investigation being conducted by the Circle Education Officer, 
Jalandhar.

While some sources rue the school affairs will now be take care of by education volunteers, who will be shifted here soon. However, education department sources say teachers from other schools shall be shifted to the school.

DEO Elementary, Jalandhar, Jaswant Singh disagrees the move will affect the studies of students. "The arrangements to depute two teachers from other schools - one being Mitahpur - to the Radio Colony School have already been made. More teachers will soon be shifted to make sure the students' studies do not suffer."

Notably, almost all students of the school belong to poor families with their parents pursuing daily wage labour. The parents had initially expressed dissatisfaction over the closure of the school because they did not afford to send their wards to any other private school in the vicinity. The enquiry into the school had been made following charges of problems in the mid day meal. Inside sources in the department say the shifting is being done in a bid to ensure the closure of the school in the long term. 

Jalandhar, September 10
Congress leaders led by District (urban) president Rajinder Beri today held a protest against the ruling government over the improper implementation of atta-dal scheme, delay in disbursement of old-age pension and hike in power tariff at Maqsudan bypass here this morning.

Even as the leaders had planned to move to the residence of CPS and area MLA KD Bhandari to hand over a memorandum of their demands, their plan got shelved off as they got to know that the legislator was not at his place at that time. The leaders held a customary protest on Maqsudan Chowk for about five minutes after which SDM-1 Rajat Oberoi took the copy of the memorandum in the presence of a heavy posse of police.

Beri lambasted the ruling government for caring two hoots for the plight of poor people who have not been getting the benefit of various schemes. He said that the elderly were being made to wait for old age pension for eight months. He said that while the amount of monthly pension is a trifle Rs 250 in Punjab, this amount was being spent by them in making rounds to the bank and social security offices to know the status of reimbursement.

The district president said that while the Haryana and Himachal Pradesh governments were doling out an amount of Rs 1,200 each as old-age pension and Delhi government was offering Rs 1,500 per month, the amount was peanuts in Punjab.

He said that the power tariff had been enhanced from back date. "Compare your new bills with that two years back and see how your monthly budget on this account has shaken your accounts", he tried to strike a chord. He went on, "There has been delay in payment of shagun scheme as well".

He added that a majority of the applicants for revised atta-dal card scheme had not even got their blue cards. "You are being forced to purchase pulses at Rs 100 or even Rs 125 even as you were supposed to get it for just Rs 20," said Beri. Councillors Des Raj Jassal and party leaders Arun Jain and HS Bawa participated in the protest. 

Jalandhar, September 10
A little vague policy of the oil companies to grant the LPG connections to NRIs is costing them a lot as the distributors in the district are charging anything between Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000 to allot an LPG gas connection.

While the oil companies after the recent directions from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas have allowed NRIs to have an LPG gas connections by showing their 'foreign' passport as identity proof with a self attested affidavit; in the absence of clarity both at the distributors and the NRIs end, the latter end up paying 'enormous favour fee' to the LPG distributors for granting them the connection.

"I am running behind various LPG dealers from the last few days to get a connection. While they have accepted my electricity bill as a residence proof, I do not have any of the mandatory documents to prove my identity," said Daljeet Singh from Rama Mandi. He also informed that a distributor at Rama Mandi has offered him to provide an LPG connection for Rs 5,000. "He told me that to 'help' me out he could take my foreign passport as an identity proof but then I have to pay Rs 3,000 as the non-refundable gas connection fee and Rs 2,000 for refilling the cylinders," said Singh.

Also, president of the NRI Sabha Jasveer Singh Gill said he has been receiving lot of complaints related to the black marketing of LPG gas connections to the NRIs. "Everyday, I get calls from our members requesting the sabha to take up the matter with the District Administration. The distributors refuse to allocate them the connections if they do not adhere to their irrational demands," said Gill.

Rajiv Patel, Chief Area Manager, Indian Oil, said after the directions from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the oil companies have started taking foreign passports as identity proofs from the NRIs. "Also, the connection fee and other miscellaneous charges for NRIs are exactly the same like the Indian citizens.

The only difference is that they will get a non-subsidised gas connection where the cylinder charges will be a little more than the subsidised cylinder," said patel. He said for any complaint or query, the NRIs can call on the special NRI toll free number 9463998314.

In January this year, two NRIs - Baldev Singh and Vijay Kumar Saria - in their complaint with the NRI Commission said that they could not apply for a gas connection in India despite the Centre according many benefits to Persons of Indian Origins (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India. They pointed out that to apply for a gas connection; one has to declare that "I am an Indian citizen". They said since they were not Indian citizen, they could not apply for a gas cylinder, which "frustrated their intention" to stay in the country for a longer period. Following their complaint, the Commission had issued notice to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to look into this issue.

Later, the Secretary (Marketing) of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas submitted a report to the Commission stating that the matter had been examined and it had been decided that foreign nationals/NRIs/PIOs/OCIs would be eligible for a domestic non-subsidised LPG connection. 

Jalandhar, September 10
Three incidents in the past two days have made it amply clear that the level of familiarity school boys have begun to enjoy with arms and sharp-edged weapons is eerie, to say the least. In the past two days, there have been three clashes involving school boys in three schools of the district, which have left at least three students injured.

In two separate incidents yesterday, five students were beat up by other students owing to little arguments which escalated into serious fights at the schools. In another one today, another student took a serious thrashing by his school mates.

While at the Government Sports School at Kapurthala Road, yesterday, things turned nasty when some students of a losing team (in a Kabaddi tournament) protested to the hooting winning team, which caused a fight. The students of the losing team leaving the school premises, later, were allegedly attacked by armed youngsters when they were leaving the school.

Another fight at a school in Model Town, began with casual teasing and developed into an assault wherein students of one party threatened another student.

Meanwhile, in a fresh incident today students of a Cantonment based schoolwas attacked by a group of students studying in his own school - he was allegedly attacked by sharp edged weapons and left injured.

Even as SHOs of the Model Town and Cantonment police stations term the incidents as minor altercations with negligible injuries, in which compromises will soon be reached among both the parties, the incidents throw light at the deteriorating sense of law and order in local educational institutions.

While these sort of incidents are certainly not new in the educational set up of the district is bothersome and so far no dramatic steps have been taken by either the police or school administrations in the district to prevent such incidents.

Although there are instances when college administrations have bravely spoken up about violent clashes in their vicinity and attempted to bring the state of affairs to the notice of the police.

Jalandhar, September 10
Youth Congress leader Paramjit Singh Bal was injured when a group of armed assailants attacked him on his official premises at Transport Nagar here this morning.

Bal, who is Youth Congress leader from Jalandhar Central constituency, was reportedly sitting in his office Bal Highway Carriers this morning little before 10 am when he was attacked with swords and rods, grievously hurting him on his head, ear and shoulder and leaving his office vandalised. The assailants left him badly wounded and he was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital.

While the accused has been taking the name of Pawan Khanna, also a transporter, and his kin, the cops at Division Number 8 Police Station are still inquiring into the matter. As this happened, Congress leaders including District (urban) President Rajinder Beri, District Youth Congress President Kaku Ahluwalia, councillor Sushil Rinku and party leaders Sanjay Sehgal and Major Singh gathered at the hospital to express solidarity with Bal.

The party leaders even met ADCP-I Paramjit Singh demanding immediate arrest of all the accused and lodging of the case under Sections 307, 452 and 326 of the IPC. 

Jalandhar, September 10
Vigilance Bureau at Kapurthala has arrested a patwari for possessing wealth disproportionate to his income following a long inquiry against him.

DSP Kulwant Rai said patwari Kartar Singh, a resident of Sultanpur Lodhi, posted at the Latiawal zone had been arrested and would be produced before the court tomorrow. The department assessed that while his total income for 10 years of service was Rs 53,95,734, his movable and immovable assets were Rs 72,63,179, which meant that even after his expenditure he had been able to amass assets worth Rs 18,67,445 during this period. 

Jalandhar, September 10
A flood relief column of Vajra Corps continued its rescue operations in Srinagar for the third consecutive day today.

The rescue operation arc has been extended to the areas of Rambag, Tengpora and Mihjoor Nagar. By this morning the Corps team, comprising engineers had rescued as many as 1,767 persons to safer areas. Five army medical teams, comprising of a doctor each is working along with the engineer task force of the Vajra Corps to provide 'on the spot' medical aid to the flood victims. The relief aid in terms of food and clothing items for the flood victims has started flowing in to the cell established for the purpose, which will be transported in a military aircraft to the affected areas of Srinagar very shortly. 

Jalandhar, September 10
Since yesterday evening the PUNBUS/Punjab Roadways has taken the charge to operate the Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Inter-State Bus Terminal, Jalandhar, where the Welspun company that have been operating the bus stand, has taken back their staff.

Meanwhile, due to lack manpower the PUNBUS/Punjab Roadways has appointed other clerical staff and bus crew from Depot I and II to carry on with the tasks of bus stand.

Sources from Punjab Roadways said the department had to stop some buses as the bus crew has been taken for bus stand work including collecting bus stand fees and operating cycle stands.

However, when contacted, Punjab Roadways Depot I General Manager, Harjinder Singh, denied any such development. He said no bus had to stop to carry on with bus stand's task.

During investigation, it has been discovered that Rs 1.50 to 2 lakh bus stand fees had been collected from yesterday evening till today noon.

The passengers were seen getting annoyed at the cycle stand as they had to pay extra to park their two wheelers at bus stand. One of the passengers said that the earlier charges were like Rs 3 for four hours then charges extends with per hour ratio. But now I have been charged Rs 10, despite of fact he is going to park his vehicle for few hours.

Another passenger said that he had his monthly pass to park the vehicle is not been recognised.

A Punjab Roadways employee said staff from depot no I and II has been taken to operate bus stand that has been very hectic. Some of the staff has been working over time. "We want the bus stand should not be going to the private hands again as it would increase the income Punjab Roadways," he said.

He said surplus staff from other depots may be transferred to operate this bus stand. It was a sort of research going on to find out how lucrative this bus stand was.

Meanwhile, GM Depot I said that it would be decided later on whether to give the bus stand for lease or operate by PUNBUS/Punjab Roadways. 

Jalandhar, September 10
A school-level badminton championship of U-14, U-17 and U-19 categories concluded today at the Raizada Hansraj Stadium with Cambridge and Appejay School finishing neck to neck in all the three categories.

While Cambridge won the U-14 and U-19 girls championship, Appejay school won the U-17 girls category. In the Boys category, Appejay swept all the top positions in the U14 and U17 championship but Police DAV managed to snatch the top position in U-17 category. Jeevesh Khanna, Paras Soni, Anuj Gupta, Ankit, Manmohit in boys' categories and Dipansha and Jasmine in the girls' categories displayed excellent playing skills in the tournament. 

Jalandhar, September 10
Representatives of Punjab Student's Federation (PSF) today met Punjab Roadways Depot I general manager Harjinder Minhas to take up problems they were facing while travelling in Punjab Roadways buses.

PSF leader Ajay Philaur said the bus conductor dot let pass holder students board in the bus with excuse long route bus. He said the crew members sometimes use abusive language with the students.

Meanwhile, GM has ensured the students to resolve their problems.

Jalandhar, September 10
Various farmer organisations of Punjab today organised a state-level convention at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall to discuss their issues.

Speaking on the occasion, the representatives demanded that the government must conduct a survey of crop that has been damaged due to adverse weather. They demanded that the government must compensate the farmers with Rs 13,000 to Rs 30,000 depending upon the damage.

They said that those farmers, who have developed the land for cultivation, must be given possession to the same land. In order to promote the crop diversification, the government must provide at least 16 hours of power supply at all the season.

The leaders asked for proper implementations of Swaminathan recommendation to provide subsidy to the farmers.

They asked for Rs 2 lakh compensation to the families of those farmers, who have committed suicide.

The convention was presided over by Buta Singh Buraj Gill, Baldev Singh Baltoha, Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Satnam Singh Pannu, Surjit Singh Phul, and Datar Singh.