Wednesday, January 20, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, January 20, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Pak
intruder shot, 15 kg RDX seized DCC
suspends Mohindra men |
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A
prison-like mental hospital: study Power
to reservoir cut, restored Lowering
of teacher-taught ratio sought Urdu
academy for Malerkotla Dal
(Amritsar) to raise Sikh demands Car
thieves' gang busted |
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Pak intruder shot, 15 kg RDX seized AMRITSAR, Jan 19 (UNI) — Alert BSF jawans foiled an attempt of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to smuggle RDX into Punjab and shot dead an intruder from Pakistan near the Ratan Khurd border out post (BoP) in the Amritsar sector last night. As much as 15 kg RDX, three .9mm pistols, eight live and one fired round, four hand grenades, 202 rounds of AK-47 rifle, 60 feet of cordex wire, 28 feet safety fuse and Rs 358 in Pakistani currency were seized. The dead intruder was identified as a Pakistan national. This was the second attempt made on the Punjab border to smuggle in weapons, with the first having been foiled in the Fazilka sector last week. Giving details, DIG BSF H.S. Gill told newsmen here today that the intruder was shot dead after a brief exchange of fire with two BSF jawans who were manning the nakas. A protest in this regard had been lodged with the Pakistan rangers in charge of Kehar Singhwala BoP, he added. Mr Gill who visited the site of the encounter today said that two intruders escaped to Pakistan after the exchange of fire. He said atleast seven to eight different pairs of foot prints were noticed close to the border suggesting ISI men and rangers might have provided cover fire to the intruders. He said the intruder was shot dead between the zero line and the barbed wire fence. The very fact that detonators were not part of the consignment suggested that the RDX which was packed in small packets and the other items were thrown over the fence and probably someone had been assigned the task of recovering it on this side of the fence, he claimed. Referring to intelligence reports the DIG said the consignment was meant for Punjab militants. He said BSF jawans and
Punjab police personnel were checking out the antecedents
of certain persons living in the border villages to
identify the person who might have been assigned the task
of recovering the consignment on this side of the fence. |
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DCC suspends Mohindra men PATIALA, Jan 19 — The Patiala District Congress Committee (Urban) today suspended six close confidants of former minister Brahm Mohindra from its primary membership for misusing designations of DCC (Urban) while levelling serious charges against members of the disciplinary committee constituted to review the actions of Mr Mohindra besides the senior party leadership. An executive committee of the DCC (Urban) which was attended by Pradesh Congress Vice-President Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, in charge of the Patiala unit, and organising secretary Sanjiv Garg issued a 15-day show-cause notice to six persons asking why they should not be expelled from the district unit for their anti-party activities. Disclosing this here today, DCC (Urban) President Ved Prakash Gupta said the six party members who were suspended were Raj Kumar Malhotra, Sant Ram Bagga, Mahesh Malhotra, Hardeep Singh Deepa, Saranjit Singh Ranjha and Bhupinder Singh Bhupi. Mr Gupta said all supporters of Mr Mohindra had used their previous designations while issuing a statement in which they accused the disciplinary committee members of corrupt and illegal activities besides supporting the statement made by Mr Mohindra regarding the role of the Congress in the tercentenary celebrations. DCC (Urban) Vice-President Darshan Singh Ghuman said most of the members of the DCC (Urban) had unanimously demanded the expulsion of all six supporters of the former minister from the primary membership of the party. He said, however, it had been decided to adopt the procedure of issuing them a show-cause notice urging them to explain their behaviour. Through a resolution twelve working groups each headed by a Vice- President and assisted by seven to eight other office-bearers were formed to boost organisation work at the grassroots level. A time-bound programme up to March 31 was also passed, according to which party membership enrolment drive awareness campaign and door-to-door survey would be conducted. Another resolution
condemned the working of the local Municipal Corporation.
It was decided that a mass dharna would be held in front
of the corporation office on January 28 in protest
against its working. |
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A prison-like mental
hospital: study AMRITSAR, Jan 19 — The buildings of the mental hospital here house half-fed and half-naked patients lying on the broken floors, under leaking roofs and in totally inhuman conditions. The risk of the patients being subjected to staff cruelty is always there. A diet of Rs 8 per head with the possibility of pilferage aggravates the suffering of the patients. These facts are included in the research paper presented at the international conference on global health law by Dr Daljeet Singh, Professor of Law, Guru Nanak Dev University regional centre, Jalandhar, and Dr Subash C. Sharma, a Reader in the Laws Department, Jalandhar in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission, Punjab. The study pointed out that the mental hospital, which came into existence in 1948 in a building that had earlier been a jail, had a large area with scattered buildings, apart from the office building and the outdoor-patients department, in a dilapidated condition. The study further reads that the hospital is equally lacking in infrastructure like beds, clothes and diet provisions as well as the dedication and devotion of the staff attending to the mentally ill persons, including prisoners. The hospital has the indoor strength of 462 patients (264 men and 198 women). "Unfortunately, social treatment to these mentally ill persons, is devoid of sympathy and concern. Violation of human rights speaks loud. The medical treatment is meagre and largely missing. The cure of a patient is a rare and conspicuously recordable feature. The statutory monthly visits of the committee members are rare who remain confined to their offices. The criminal patients are kept with violent patients in solitary cells", the study added. The discharge of patients, decided by the committee, is also a long process, and such a discharge most of the time is not determined by the health of the patient but the administrative requirements of the hospital. The statutory terms as leave is referred to as parole as if they are criminals. The study reveals that the patients are rarely accepted by society. The reluctant approach of relatives and friends and lesser contribution by social organisations are other maladies pointed out in the study. Only about 7 per cent of the discharged patients are accepted back in the family while the rest are readmitted to the mental hospital within a fortnight. The presence of such a
patient in the family is considered as a social stigma
and a security risk, it added. |
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Non-payment of loan PATIALA, Jan 19 — Warrants have been issued against 558 farmers of the district for being unable to pay back cash loan taken from the District Co-operative Bank. As many as 4,461 farmers have also been enlisted as 'defaulters' by the bank. Informed sources in the bank here revealed that five farmers were arrested, but were let off after assurance by village panchayats that the entire loan would be paid back "at the earliest". The sources revealed that notices under Section 63-C had been dispatched to the defaulters. If their reply on repayment was not found satisfactory, the bank would recommend issuance of warrants against them. The approval for issuing warrants had been given by the Deputy Commissioner. In all Rs 1.20 crore stood against these defaulters. A group of farmers, talking to this correspondent, expressed anger at the issuance of warrants. They said several representatives of the Shiromani Akali Dal at rallies had assured the farmers that no police action would be taken against those who could not pay back their loans. Yet the bank authorities had issued arrest warrants. The sources in the bank, however, maintained that the authorities had not received any official communication from the Punjab Government on not taking action against the farmers who were unable to pay back the loans. The sources also pointed out that as per the procedure, a farmer was given enough time to pay back the loan even after the deadline. The defaulter was first issued notices after which personal contact was made with him. Only when he did not respond to the notice, the case was recommended to the Deputy Commissioner for issuance of arrest warrants. The sources said most
defaulters were from Bhunerheri, Devigarh, Shatrana and
Gulzarpur. |
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Power to reservoir cut, restored ROPAR, Jan 19 — The local Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) authorities disconnected power supply to the main water reservoir situated in Giani Zail Singh Nagar here yesterday. The transformer was locked as the local municipal council authorities had reportedly failed in depositing electricity bills to the tune of Rs 16, 12, 742 for this connection for the past several months. The amount of pending arrears is up to November 1998. This step of the PSEB authorities has reportedly created panic among the municipal authorities. The president of the council, Mr Inder Sain Chhatwal, immediately approached the Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.S. Sidhu, who got the power supply restored to the water supply reservoir, assuring the PSEB officials the pending bills would be cleared in instalments by the council. Talking to this correspondent here today, Mr Jarnail Singh Bains, local SDO at the PSEB office, said they had been forced to disconnect the power supply as the municipal authorities were not depositing power bills for two street light connections and the connection to water supply tank. The total amount of bills pending with the council was Rs 41, 44, 154 out of which Rs 25, 31, 412 was pending against two street light connections. The bills were pending from September 1997. Mr Bains said the municipal authorities were not depositing bills on the plea of a dispute regarding wrong billing in 1996. He said the PSEB had to refund Rs 9 lakh to the municipal council for which the local PSEB office had sent already a case to the higher authorities at Patiala for the settlement and approval. He said the office had also suggested in the past several times to deposit the remaining power bills, leaving the disputed bills aside but to no avail. Mr Bains said the PSEB had no intention to create any inconvenience for the general public. This was the main reason that power supply for the street lighting had not been disconnected so far, despite a huge amount of Rs 25, 31, 412 pending against these connections. Mr Bains also said on the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner the local municipal authorities had assured the PSEB authorities that current bills would be deposited soon while the amount of pending bills would be deposited in instalments. When contacted the Deputy
Commissioner, said in view of inconvenience to the local
public he immediately asked the PSEB authorities to
restore power supply to the main water reservoir and
instructed the municipal authorities to deposit the
pending amount in instalments. On his plea, the PSEB and
the municipal council authorities responded. Later, power
supply was immediately restored. |
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Lowering of teacher-taught ratio
sought BATHINDA: "Only an enlightened man can think about the problems of the people. As the enlightened man is awake so he always tries to awake others. For the betterment of society and education, one should make his thought process scientific." These views were expressed by Prof Gurdial Singh, a novelist, while presiding over a seminar held by the Teachers' Home Management Welfare and Educational Trust on the topic of "Modern Education and Society" here recently. He said that to fight with the corrupt, knowledge was the best weapon. The teacher could play a vital role in society to educate people about their rights and for making their thought process scientific and meaningful. Mr T.R. Sharma, an educationist, while reading out his paper "Modern Education: Condition and Direction", emphasised on the need for improvement of the country's primary education structure. To eradicate backwardness from society, the better basic education should be made the legal right of everyone. He pointed out that 98 per cent of the education budget was being spent on the salaries of teachers, as a result schools remained deprived of the much-needed facilities. Mr Harkishan Singh Mehta, an economist, stressed the need to raise the literacy rate in Punjab and for this task, teachers should make sincere efforts. He suggested that for better education, one teacher should not cater to more than 20 students. Mr K.S. Bhandari, a former Director of SCERT, said politicians were responsible for the present plight of education. He stressed that technical education should be made compulsory and suggested that teaching in the mother language and national language should go together. The government should generate employment opportunities so that one could find a job easily after graduation or post-graduation. Prof Gurbachan Singh Naruana said no one should sit idle and if the government did not improve the education infrastructure, people should raise their voice against it. Mr Atarjit Singh, a story writer, said education could be improved by launching a social movement. Dr Mohammad Rafi of Malerkotla said the syllabus of primary classes should be simplified and primary students should be taught in the mother language. Mr Haravtar Singh Gill, Punjab's Deputy Director of Education, pointed out that to build the character of students, special workshops should be organised. Mr Jagmohan Kaushal,
leader of a teachers' union highlighted the need for
people with character, knowledge and conviction to come
forward to educate the masses. This was necessary to
build a strong nation. To propagate the message of
eminent personalities to the people, a paper entitled
"Buniyad" would be launched shortly. |
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Id
celebrated
with fervour MALERKOTLA, Jan 19 — Id-ul-Fitr was celebrated here today with enthusiasm and religious fervour. A large number of Muslims attended namaz at the idgah here. Prayers were also offered at other mosques in the town. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, member, Rajya Sabha, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjhla, Minister for Youth Welfare, Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, Special Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister and the senior officers of the district administration greeted the Muslims at the idgah where the main function was held. The Chief Minister said the Punjab Government would enact a law to provide financial assistance for maintenance of religious places in the state. Addressing the congregation at the idgah he said the government had so far given Rs 22 lakh for the beautification of the idgah. Mr Badal announced that in memory of Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan the state government would every year hold a function to pay tributes for his contribution towards the Sikh community. He announced 95 per cent grant by the state government to the local R.D. Jain College for Women from the next financial year as well as an Urdu academy in the town. Mr Nusrat Khan, Minister of Sports, while welcoming the Chief Minister, greeted the people on the occasion. PHILLAUR: Thousands of Muslims in the town offered a special prayer on the occasion of Id. Hindus and Sikhs greeted their Muslim brothers. Prayers were held at Nakodar, Noormahal, Phagwara and Goraya. MOGA: The Muslims celebrated Id with enthusiasm, distributing sweets to their Hindu and Sikh brethren on the occasion. SHIMLA: Id-ul-Fitr was celebrated with religious fervour in the state. Addressing a gathering at the local idgah, Maulana Mumtaz Ahmed severely criticised parties trying to divide people on the basis of religion, caste, creed, region and language. He said people who were responsible for the burning of religious places in Gujarat must be punished. He was highly critical of the American bombarding on Iraq. Maulana Qasmi requested countrymen to strengthen ties of brotherhood. Governor V.S. Rama Devi greeted the Muslim community on the occasion and said Id signified piety, brotherhood and harmony. SONEPAT: Hundreds of Muslims all over the district celebrated Id with fervour. In the city, the biggest gathering was witnessed at the Idgah where Muslims offered namaz. Mr Dev Raj Diwan, MLA, greeted the Muslim brethren on the occasion. Both Hindus and Muslims jointly celebrated the festival at the residence of Mr Diwan. Id was also celebrated at
Gohana, Ganaur and Kharkhauda towns. |
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Birth
anniversary
of Bhindranwale JALANDHAR, Jan 19 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) and (Amritsar) will jointly celebrate the birth anniversary of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on February 12 at Fatehgarh Sahib. On the occasion the parties will press for the implementation of the Anandpur Sahib resolution, Amritsar declaration and an Independent sovereign state. Party presidents Simranjit Singh Mann and Kuldeep Singh Wadala, briefing mediapersons here today, alleged that the three issues should have been "logically the focus" at the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. They alleged that the Badal-led government and the SGPC had failed to effectively raise the Sikh issues and now the ongoing "power tussle" between Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was undermining the religious sanctity of Sikh institutions. Answering a query on the removal of the Akal Takht Jathedar, Mr Mann and Mr Wadala categorically stressed that under the "Sikh Act", the Akal Takht Jathedar could not be removed because of some "politically motivated" proposal of SGPC members. A process had to be followed. Both leaders opined that
the Akal Takht Jathedars had passed an edict in the
interests of the Sikhs and nobody had the right to
challenge it. |
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Car thieves' gang busted FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 19 — The district police claims to have busted a gang of car and scooter thieves and highway robbers. Ammunition was also seized from them. Mr Paramraj Singh Dhaliwal, SSP, while addressing a press conference here today said on January 8 Mr Bharpur Singh, Inspector, CIA, on a tip-off nabbed two car-borne persons and one person on a scooter. They have been identified as Amarjit Singh, resident of Patran Sohana, Gursewak Singh, resident of Chuni Khurd, and Baljit Singh resident of Mauli Vaidwan. The SSP said on interrogation they revealed they used to steal vehicles. The police recovered one Maruti car (PIP 5150) and a Bajaj scooter (PB-12A 6947). The numbers turned out to be fake ones. The police also seized a 315 bore revolver and two live cartridges from Gursewak Singh. He said the police arrested Karam Kumar, resident of Mandi Gobindgarh, and seized a revolver and live cartridges from him. He said Karan Kumar had relations with Sanjay Ghai, also of Mandi Gobindgarh. Both were without any work. He said Raj Kumar, elder brother of Sanjay Ghai, who was also an office-bearer of the Shiv Sena, arranged one revolver for both of them, which he had purchased from Faridabad through Sunil Kumar at the cost of Rs 8000. He asked the two to commit robberies to strengthen the organisation. The SSP said the two stole Rs 90,000 from the scooter of a trader of Mandi Gobindgarh. He said the police has registered a case under Sections 10, 25, 54 and 59 of the IPC and their interrogation was going on. In another case, he claimed the Bassi Pathana police arrested Balwinder Singh, resident of Bassi Pathana, Jiwan, resident of Nandpur Kalaur and Mohamad Badrool, resident of West Bengal, for committing thefts in shops in the main bazaar. Electric goods and other articles were seized from them. Mr Dhaliwal said a drive
had been launched in the district to nab anti-social
elements. |
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Clarification on edict sought AMRITSAR, Jan 19 — Mr Kuldip Singh Aulakh (advocate), secretary-general, Bharti Lok Lehar Party (BLLP), today submitted an application before the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission seeking clarification whether the Jathedar of Akal Takht alone could issue a "hukamnama" (edict) or not. This is the first application of its kind submitted to the commission on the 'hukamnama' issued by Bhai Ranjit Singh on December 31, 1998, directing the Akali leadership to maintain a truce till April 15. In his application, Mr Aulakh said it was in the larger interests of the Sikhs, Sikhism and Sikh institutions to clarify if the Jathedar alone was authorised to issue the "hukamnama" without the signatures of the Jathedars of the other four Takhts. Mr K.S. Randhawa, member
Singh Gurdwara Judicial Commission, when contacted, said
the commission was unlikely to deal with the application
as the subject (of hukamnama) did not fall within the
purview of the commission. |
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US Sikh bodies back
‘hukamnama’ AMRITSAR, Jan 19 — The SGPC today claimed that more than 100 US-based organisations had supported the 'hukamnama' issued by Bhai Ranjit Singh, Akal Takht Jathedar, directing the Akali leadership to maintain truce till April 15. In a written press release, issued by media director to the SGPC the American Sikh leaders have said that they held Akal Takht and its Jathedar in high esteem. The statement further appealed to the Sikhs not to raise any objection on the ‘hukamnama’. They also appealed to Bhai Ranjit Singh to take action against those who were violating the ‘hukamnama’. Meanwhile more than 100 gurdwara management committees, Sikh institutions, based in USA have urged American President to grant visa to Bhai Ranjit Singh. A written press release
issued by the SGPC on Tuesday claimed that it had
received fax copies of all representations made by the
US-based Sikh organisations to Mr Bill Clinton. |
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Dhillon takes over as PAU Dean LUDHIANA, Jan 19 — Dr Jugran Singh Dhillon has taken over as Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences, Punjab Agricultural University. He was earlier Head, Department of Animal Science. The appointment was made at the 180th meeting of the board of management, recently under the chairmanship of Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor. As per the orders issued by Mr A. Venu Prasad, Registrar, PAU, as many as 17 teachers have been appointed as heads of department with immediate effect. Meanwhile a high powered delegation of six eminent scientists from Ohio State University, USA, visited PAU on Tuesday. Addressing the delegation,
the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat said in
the initial stages of establishment and development of
the PAU, it had good collaboration with Ohio State
University, which helped it in upgradation of the faculty
thereby ushering in the Green Revolution in the country.
Dr Kalkat suggested that for another jump in agricultural
production. PAU needed similar help and collaboration
from it. |
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YC demands ban on Shiv Sena LUDHIANA, Jan 19 — Mr Devinder Singh Baboo, president of the Punjab Youth Congress, today demanded a ban on the Shiv Sena, the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for allegedly trying to undermine the unity and integrity of the country. Talking to newspersons here, Mr Baboo blamed the Shiv Sena for the attack on the BCCI office in Mumbai yesterday and said such organisations had no place in the Indian democratic policy. He said while the Shiv Sena had been holding out open threats to disrupt the forthcoming cricket matches with Pakistan the VHP and the Bajrang Dal had been busy fomenting violence against Christians in Gujarat. He also wanted the Shiv Sena chief, Mr Bal Thackeray, to be detained under the National Security Act. The Youth Congress chief
said his party would set up units in all 12,000 villages
and the municipal wards of towns and cities of Punjab
between January 26 and August 15. The Youth Congress
would also take a leading part in the tercentenary
celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa being chalked out
by the Punjab PCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh. Mr Baboo
was critical of the alleged failure of the Badal
government on economic and other fronts and said the
Youth Congress would launch a movement against the
government. |
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Produce copies of cattle permits CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed Mr Kultar Singh, Senior Veterinary Officer at the Civil Veterinary Hospital, Rajpura, to produce applications, if any, submitted to him for issuing permits and books showing carbon copies of the permits that might have been issued during the past seven months since he had been posted at Dera Bassi. Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice S.S. Sudhalkar, who delivered this order, also directed Mr Kher Khan, another respondent, to produce copies of the permits that might have been issued to him earlier for the movement of bullocks. The Bench adjourned the case to January 21. Mr Kultar Singh produced the original application allegedly moved by one Pardeep Kumar of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Rajpura, for the issuance of permits for despatching cows. According to him, only one application was given to him on the basis of which 78 permits were issued for 10 cows each. He also produced books showing the details of the permits issued. On January 15 the High Court had restrained the Station Superintendent and the Goods Supervisor of Hawra railway station not to deliver the 600 head of cattle to the consignee. These animals were loaded at the Ghaggar railway station, near Chandigarh. This order was passed on a
petition preferred by Mr Vijay Singh alleging that the
cattle were loaded from Ghaggar railway station on
January 11. He had told the court that the High Court had
passed an order directing the DSP and the SDO at Dera
Bassi to take action in accordance with the law on a
petition questioning the despatch of cows in violation of
Section 4(B) of the Punjab Prohibition of Cows Slaughter
Act, 1955. |
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Time up for coalition govts:
Sangma PATHANKOT, Jan 19 — Time was up for coalition governments and a single party (Congress) alone could provide a stable government. This was stated by former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma on his visit here today. He said though India was self-reliant in foodgrains, yet people were dying because of faulty distribution system. India was third in technical manpower in the world but 250 million were still illiterate. "We have to generate employment for 94 million in the year 2000", he said. Talking to newsmen, he said, the BJP was talking about Hinduism, but where does the Hindu block stand in the world". "There are only three blocks Christian block, Islamic Block and Buddhist Block — and by demolishing Babri Masjid, we have annoyed the Islamic countries", he said. Former Tourism Minister
Sukhwant Kaur Bhinder, former Punjab ministers Raman
Bhalla, R.S. Puri, and Partap Bajwa, and Himachal
Congress president Mr Sat Mahajan also addressed the
gathering. |
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Dalit woman insulted, six booked ABOHAR, Jan 19 — The Khuiyansarwer police station today booked six persons, including three brothers, for the alleged attempt to parade a Dalit woman in a village after blackening her face. Mr Gurmit Singh Randhawa, DSP, told mediapersons today that Jamuna Devi, wife of Brij Lal Nayak, had lodged a complaint alleging that the miscreants intruded in to her house at Bhangarkhera village, tore her clothes, blackened her face and tried to parade her in the village due to some dispute. The culprits also insulted her daughter and tried to enrage her modesty. All culprits belonged to the Kumhar community. A case has been registered
under Sections 452, 354, 342, 506, 323, 342, 148 and 149
IPC, against Ram Chand, Jas Ram and Mohan Lal (all sons
of Sriram), Ratan Lal and Paharia. |
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Workshop on aquaculture CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — The Fisheries Department, Punjab, in collaboration with Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, has decided to organise a national workshop on "sustainable aquaculture" on January 21 and 22 at PAU, Ludhiana. The objective of the workshop is to evolve new packages of fish culture practices and integrated fish farming in the State. Renowned scientists from various universities and ICAR will participate in the deliberations. Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala,
Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development
Minister, will inaugurate the workshop. |
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5 undertrials escape PATIALA, Jan 19 (PTI) — Five undertrials, who had been brought for appearance in various courts in the district courts complex here today, escaped from police custody, the police said. The escapees were among 59 undertrials who were brought for production in district courts. The five undertrials broke open the back door of the lock-up in the judicial courts complex with an iron rod and escaped, the police said. All undertrials were brought to the district courts without handcuffs from Central Jail, Patiala. An alert has been sounded
in search of the five undertrials. |
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Patiala MC cuts licence fee PATIALA, Jan 19 — In the face of mounting criticism, the Patiala Municipal Corporation today reduced the licence fee hike from Rs 500 to 100 per month. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the corporation's Commissioner Harkesh Singh Sidhu with representatives of various organisations and public men. A corporation release, however, termed the reduction of the licence fee as a "measure of generosity". It said that the date for applications for grant of licence had also been extended till February 15. In case the licence fee was not deposited till February 15 a five-time penalty would be imposed. The traders and heads or organisations had assured full cooperation to the Commissioner. The release said the
Commissioner had also deputed employees for spot
registration and filling of application forms in the
markets. Anybody found giving wrong information would be
penalised for the offence and corporation employees
collaborating in the offence would also be
charge-sheeted. |
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Akal Takht chief’s action welcomed JALANDHAR, Jan 19 (PTI) — A number of Sikh saints under the banner of the Gurmat Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj has welcomed Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh’s move to call a joint meeting of various Sikh organisations and warned Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal against challenging the power of the supreme temporal seat of the community. "Those making appeals to the Jathedar to withdraw the edict aimed at keeping the Akali Dal united are, in fact, not aware about the consequences of such actions," a statement issued by the Ludhiana-based organisation said. "It is clear from the
appeal made by 131 members of the SGPC that their real
motive is to depose the Akal Takht Jathedar," the
statement added, saying that Ranjit Singh had been
guarding Sikh ethos and the code of conduct in a
determined fashion. |
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Drive to detect jaundice cases FARIDKOT, Jan 19 — Keeping in view the 15 lives claimed by diarrhoea in November at Kotkapura, the local Health Department has launched a drive to detect cases of jaundice in the district. Teams of doctors have been deployed in remote areas for this purpose and cooperation has been sought from municipal councillors to maintain hygienic conditions, according to Dr S.P.S. Sohal, Civil Surgeon, yesterday. When his attention was drawn to a report that over 100 persons suffering from jaundice had been admitted to various private nursing homes at Kotkapura last month, he said these cases were related to the drinking of contaminated water. Meanwhile, a special ward has been set up in the Civil Hospital to provide medical aid to those suffering from jaundice. More than 30,000 chlorine tablets had also been provided for. He maintained no jaundice case had been reported here so far. Deputy Commissioner
Gurinder Singh Grewal said action would be taken against
those doctors who showed any lapses in taking remedial
measures to deal with jaundice patients. |
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Lawyers strike work SANGRUR, Jan 19 — Members of the Sangrur Bar Association today abstained from work in protest against the killing of an advocate in the courts complex at Hisar, according to Mr Lalit Kumar Garg, secretary of the association. A decision to this effect
was taken at an emergency meeting of the association in
the morning with Mr Hakim Singh, president, in the Chair. |
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19 IAS officers promoted CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 (PTI) — The Punjab Government today promoted 19 IAS officers of the state, an official notification said. The notification said that
the officers had been following their promotion
designated as Special Secretary to the government. |
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