Saturday, March 6, 1999
|
P U N J A B | |
Saturday, March 6, 1999 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
||
|
Recovery
"stage-managed" PATIALA, March 5 — An assistant sub-inspector and a constable of the Government Railway Police (GRP) who "stage-managed" the recovery of a bomb at the Ghaggar bridge on the Amritsar-Delhi rail line on February 25 have been suspended. Sikh panel
‘ignored’ Judges’ suggestion |
 |
|
||||||
|
Tohra men
may boycott meeting Akali,
Cong leaders to share stage PCCTU
to boycott exam duties Fish
and seafood products well-received Badal
seeks relief for rice millers Need
to amend rape laws: expert |
||||||||
 |
||||
Recovery "stage-managed" PATIALA, March 5 — An assistant sub-inspector and a constable of the Government Railway Police (GRP) who "stage-managed" the recovery of a bomb at the Ghaggar bridge on the Amritsar-Delhi rail line, 15 km from Rajpura on February 25, have been suspended after a Home Guard submitted an affidavit to the GRP and Punjab police officials, stating that it was he who had actually removed the bomb. A highly placed official, on the condition of anonymity said the two employees had been suspended till an inquiry into the incident was completed. The inquiry committee, formed under a senior railway official, would also decide on an appropriate award to be given to the Home Guard and others who helped him in defusing the bomb well in time, thus saving many lives. According to the affidavit submitted by Home Guard Ranbir Singh posted at the Ghaggar bridge on the Punjab-Haryana border, the assertion by ASI Virender Mohan and constable Sukhwinder Singh that they had spotted the explosive on the night of February 25 at the rail track near the Ghaggar bridge was a "lie". According to the Home Guard, the bomb was spotted by a boy, Karnail Singh, belonging to Jhail village in Haryana. The boy, a plus two students, intimated the securitymen on duty about the suspicious object. When Ranbir Singh, accompanied by another Home Guard, reached the site, they was the bomb fitted near the second pillar of the bridge on the Haryana side and not on the first pillar on the Punjab side as claimed by the ASI. The two managed to remove the bomb after disconnecting the wires. Ranbir Singh further said he took all equipment, including a detonator, wires and the time device to the railway police post at Rajpura. He was surprised when ASI
Varinder Mohan accompanied by the constable approached
the Home Guards at 9 p.m. and asked them for a torch as
there was some "suspicious looking" object at
the rail track. The Home Guards were further astonished
to see the same equipment at the new site. |
||
Sikh panel ‘ignored’
Judges’ suggestion CHANDIGARH, March 5 — Arguments on two petitions filed by Mr Dara Singh and Mr Kashmira Singh, former members of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission, questioning their removal from the commission and the constitution of the new commission today concluded before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court consisting of Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Amar Datt. At the very outset counsel for Mr Dara Singh told the court that notwithstanding the Judges' specific suggestion to the judicial commission not to pass any order on petitions pending before it, the commission had passed orders on a petition and confirmed the suspension of the Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh. The Punjab Advocate-General, on the other hand, maintained that the commission had not violated the suggestion of the High Court. It had merely dismissed a miscellaneous application. In that case neither the advocate nor the petitioner had appeared before the commission. The Bench directed the Advocate-General to inform it about the alleged passing of order by the commission. The Judges also asked him to produce by tomorrow the record pertaining to the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission case. The Central Government's Standing Counsel had sought a week's time for producing the file containing notings about the issuance of the notification on the amendment in the 1925 Sikh Gurdwaras Act. The Judges ordered him to produce that file before them by Tuesday. Initiating arguments, counsel for two newly appointed members of the judicial commission told the Judges that the commission could be reconstituted from time to time. This meant that the power to reconstitute the commission could be exercised more than once. He contended that the power to constitute the commission also included the power to reconstitute it. He asserted that Section 83 of the Act gave unconditional powers to the state government to remove members of the judicial commission. He argued that removal of members did not mean abolition of the commission, which could never be abolished unless the Act was repealed as it was created by the statute Counsel maintained that
the Central Government had the power to issue a
notification, make regulations and give directions under
the statute qua the SGPC. |
||
Punjab: then and now-II THE present religio-political militancy syndrome does not augur well for Punjab. Terrorism may take a little longer to return in a new form. Yet the widespread frustration, idleness and aimlessness of the youth may hasten it. It cannot be allowed to persist for too long. "Ironically, the worst sufferers have been the Sikhs. The macho image of Jat Sikhs, known to love personal and family honour the most, stood shattered when they and other members of their family failed to protect the women from the depredations of weapon-wielding gangs of youth", says a political analyst. With the passage of time these people have learnt many a lesson; they have become wiser and stronger. Neither the political executive nor the bureaucracy, the people tell TNS, seem to have learnt any lessons from the past. They make the same mistakes even now. It has become their way of life and functioning. The ways of the police also remain the same. They will not allow the "boys" to call the shots. The Akali leadership, however, is unconcerned. It continues to dabble in politics under the garb of religion. In the countryside TNS found a sense of relief over the end of terrorism. People still wonder and are amazed at the way violence was brought to an end. But they question why the same was not done earlier effectively and lives saved? Political analysts, social scientists, and economists still reconstruct that phase of Punjab's life and history to understand what had happened and why. Researchers at Guru Nanak Dev University like Dr Harish Puri, Mr Paramjit Singh Judge, Mr J.S Sekhon and economists like Dr R.S. Bawa, the university's Registrar , continue to study the past for a better future and a meaningful present. They say employment and education need greater attention as does economic planning. If assuaging the ruffled sensibilities of the affected families by interacting with them is their task, so is providing enough evidence to the state to make amends in governance and in dealing with problems which beset the people. People, however, strongly feel that every effort must be made to find a way out of the present religio-political controversy. In two districts, Amritsar and Gurdaspur, one found people were less indifferent and fed up with Akali infighting. They were not hopeful of anything better even if the Congress were to come to power or Baisakhi was to pass off without confrontation. TNS found the people in these two border districts were "less hopeful, more cynical", their worry being that the government had neither the time nor the inclination for them. The action and over-reaction in the pro-Parkash Singh Badal and pro-Gurcharan Singh Tohra camps has a tinge of vengeance, which would queer the pitch, they feared. Moderate politics may be the need of the day. But people are sceptical of the present-day moderate Akalis knowing they will strike a strident posture once out of power. The people say the Akalis are a laughing stock, who cannot rule. They need no outside help to destabilise them. The Sikh "qaum" is today divided, over the issues involved. At the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar, TNS learnt that several members owing allegiance to the ruling camp were in deep trouble. Punjab is paying a heavy price for the "actions of these members in following their leader, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Some members have already pulled strings with the powers-that-be seeking migration of their wards outside the two districts. The SAD dilemma is two fold: to project itself as a political party wielding power, it has to put up a secular front and to draw sustenance, it reverts to its roots in the Panth. The Panthic outlook wears a religious cloak. Thus party leaders, lacking dynamism, can neither break the shackles of the traditional past nor establish linkages with a progressive future. In the process, it rues and ruins the present. People in these border districts also say there is no governance. Corruption is rampant. Development is stalled because of faulty financial management. A single family calls the shots. There is frustration in the ruling party's rank and file. Thus the SAD President is caught in a piquant situation of running the government as well as controlling religious organisations like the SGPC and Akal Takht. On the one hand, he wants to give economic advantage to the community with political power. On the other, his hands are tied because of crisis of "religious identity and status". This leads to poor housekeeping. Interestingly, many knowledgeable Sikhs and ordinary party workers ask why the government should handle the tercentenary celebrations. What puzzles the people is why Akalis have failed when this is one such occasion where there is neither a "hostile" opposition in the state or in New Delhi; nor is there any serious challenge from within the SAD. Law and order is under control. Peace, howsoever fragile, is in fact. There is no serious labour problem nor are poor farmers, despite the damage to their crops and poor returns, are protesting. Still, why does Mr Parkash Singh Badal feel shy of taking bold decisions concerning the administration, economic policies, political matters, religious or otherwise? People find lack of confidence and competence in the Punjab Ministry which has failed to deliver. [Concluded] |
||
Tohra men may boycott meeting AMRITSAR, March 5 — The SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and his supporters are likely to boycott the general house meeting convened by 103 members of the Badal camp on March 16 at which a "no-confidence motion" will be moved against him. Sources close to Mr Tohra indicate that the Tohra camp may also move the Punjab and Haryana High Court to challenge the March 16 meeting convened by the Badal camp. This was clear from the two-paged letter of Mr Tohra addressed to all 185 members of the SGPC, including the five High Priests, calling upon them to reject the no-confidence motion against him on March 22. While the press note
regarding the appeal of Mr Tohra released to the press
today did not mention the date for the no-confidence
motion, his letter to the members specifically referred
to March 22 as the date of the general house meeting
called by him. |
||
Akali,
Cong
leaders to share stage LUDHIANA March 5 — Top Akali and Congress leaders are slated to come together and speak from a common stage at a function to be held on March 7 to observe the first birth centenary of the first Akali Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Gurnam Singh. The function will be held at the late Chief Minister's native village, Narangwal, near here. Among those expected to attend are the Governor, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Union Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Congress leader, Mr Rajesh Pilot, Capt Amarinder Singh, President Punjab PCC and Mr Ajit Jogi, spokesman, All India Congress Committee. This will be the first
time Mr Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh will be speaking
from the stage after the latter crossed over to the
Congress. Incidentally, both of them are bitter critics
of the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. |
||
PCCTU to boycott exam duties JALANDHAR, March 5 — Decrying the myopic policy of the Punjab bureaucracy, Dr V.K. Tewari, general secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), said here today the union had been compelled to boycott all examination duties from March 15 onwards. The boycott of examination duties is in protest against the state government's decision, to reduce the 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme. Already, the teachers have been discriminated against as teachers of private colleges have been kept out of the purview of the UGC pay revision scheme announced by the state government on February 20. The boycott would include
the 10+2 examinations of the Punjab School Education
Board, theory and practical examinations of all three
universities — Guru Nanak Dev University, Panjab
University and Punjabi University. The theory
examinations of private students of Guru Nanak Dev
University which began here today would be boycotted from
March 15. Similarly, the annual practical examinations of
Panjab University and Punjabi University slated to begin
from March 15 and 17, respectively, stood boycotted. |
||
Fish and seafood products
well-received CHANDIGARH, March 5 — The Punjab Fisheries Department today launched fish and seafood products programme in the State in collaboration with the Integrated Fisheries Project, Kochi. The campaign was organised in three parts i.e. demonstration for value-added fish products, exhibition of fish products and business session for the sale of fish products to the public. The campaign was inaugurated by Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, Secretary Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development. A team of technicians, led by Mr Ravinathan, demonstrated the cleaning and preparation of local fish products to more than 20 students of the Home Science College, Chandigarh. More than seven varieties of canned products i.e Tuna sticks, Tuna flakes, Mackerel, Sardine, Marlin, Ouster, Mussels were displayed. The pickle products displayed at the exhibition were fish pickle, prawn pickle, mussel pickle. The dried fish exhibited comprised Silver velly, anchavis, and shark. The local residents gave a good response to the fish products launched for the first time in Chandigarh. There was good response from the traders also towards fish and seafood products. To keep up the interest of
local people towards the products, Dr S.C. Agarwal,
Director and Warden of Fisheries-cum-Chairman, Fish
Farmers Development Agencies, Punjab, informed that the
sole distributorship for the Northern India of fish and
seafood products would be taken by the Fish Farmers
Development Agency, Ropar, to supply the products to
local people. He also informed that some products would
also be initiated to prepare value-added products from
low cost fish. The products would also be displayed in
Ludhiana on March 6. |
||
Badal seeks relief for rice
millers NEW DELHI, March 5 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and took up the problems faced by the rice millers in the state. Mr Badal pointed out to the Prime Minister that large stocks of paddy had been affected due to widespread unseasonal rain during September and October, 1998, and there was a need to grant relaxation in rice specifications for millers with effect from September 15, 1998. The Centre has already allowed relaxation in rice specifications from October 27, 1998, that is for paddy procured after October 26. Mr Badal informed the Prime Minister that the rice millers have not yet started delivering rice pertaining to the paddy purchased up to October 26, 1998, as the rice to be manufactured out of this paddy would not conform to the specifications laid down by the Union Government. The procuring agencies have been able to deliver 6.56 lakh tonnes of rice to the Central pool till date which has been manufactured out of paddy procured under relaxed specifications effective from October 27, 1998. Mr Badal said that denial of relaxation with effect from September 15 coupled with other issues like fixation of out-turn ratio, enhancement of milling charges and finalisation of rates for gunny bags relating to kharif 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, the rice millers of the state have gone on strike from February 15 this year, putting the milling of about 49 lakh tonnes of paddy in jeopardy. The Chief Minister said if the paddy stocks were allowed to remain in stores for a longer period it would deteriorate further. Besides, the procuring agencies too were suffering interest loss on the loans raised for procurement of paddy. The Chief Minister
referred to the relaxation in rice specifications granted
by the Centre to the Uttar Pradesh Government for the
kharif marketing season 1998-99 due to unseasonal rain
there. |
||
Need to amend rape laws: expert JALANDHAR, March 5 — The National Commission for Women organised a one-day workshop on laws concerning rape at the Regional Centre of Guru Nanak Dev University here. Legal experts speaking at the workshop highlighted the need to improve the existing laws which discouraged reporting of rape cases as the victim and her family were pushed into an "insensitive system". Dr Gurpal Singh, Professor of Law, Punjabi University, pleaded for "simplification" of the definition of the offence. He also suggested that a separate offence of attempt to commit rape should be included in the IPC as Section 375-A. In the evening session, Dr H.S. Soch, vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, said in recent years, rape had emerged as an issue of concern throughout the world. However, he disfavoured capital punishment for rapists. The experts highlighted that "certain amendments" were a must as at present there was no provision for punishment for crimes such as incest. The workshop’s
recommendations would be sent to the National Commission
for Women, Dr Daljit Singh, Head, Law Department, said. |
||
Conference on American studies LUDHIANA, March 5 — The 32nd annual national conference of the Indian Association for American Studies which was inaugurated by Prof M.M. Puri, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, yesterday entered its second day today. The second day of the conference started with a lecture by Dr Ramesh B. Babu on "impeachment of President Clinton, the Constitution and culture". Mr Ramesh B. Babu, an eminent professor of politics at Hyderabad, explained at length the human, constitutional, political and moral aspects of the impeachment of the President. The lecture was followed by a lively discussion by the participants of the conference on the subject. This was followed by a
presentation by Dr Sachidananda Mohanty, senior academic
associate at the American Studies Research Centre,
Hyderabad. He delved at length on the scope of American
studies. He also explained the various facilities for
American studies being offered by the ASRC. This was
followed by a presentation by Dr Jagdish M.K., Director,
American Library Centre, at Chennai. The post-lunch
session included sessions on literature and social
sciences. |
||
BJP appointment PHILLAUR, March 5 — The president of the Punjab unit of the BJP, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, MP, has appointed Mr Jugal Mahajan (general secretary) as convener of the newly formed ‘‘constitutional amendment committee’’ of the BJP. Mr Jugal Mahajan told this
correspondent here today that all district presidents had
been asked to send their recommendations for
constitutional amendments till March 12. He said a
meeting of all state office-bearers had been summoned on
March 13 at Chandigarh. The three-member Central
Constitutional Amendment Committee will visit Chandigarh
on March 13. |
||
Rs 15.78 cr for dist schemes ROPAR, March 5 — The District Planning and Development Board has released an amount of Rs 15.78 crore so far for various development works in the district during the current financial year. This was stated by Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Chairperson of DPADB and Minister for Technical Education, Punjab, at a meeting of the board here today. The Chairperson also said an amount of Rs 19.21 crore had been allotted to the board for the current financial year, of which Rs 11.68 crore had been made available for various beneficiary schemes. She also said Rs 7.98 crore had been earmarked for old age pension scheme and Rs 70 lakh for sagun scheme. The minister said the municipal councils in the district had been provided Rs 1.87 crore for providing basic amenities. Dr Upinderjit Kaur urged
the officers to work as a team for the welfare of the
state. |
||
Burglars strike again PHAGWARA, March 5 — A spate of burglaries in and around Phagwara continues unabated. Articles of daily use, including soap and cosmetics, worth Rs 25,000 were stolen last night from Bhatia Departmental Store on the GT Road. This comes close on the heels of a burglary at Anand Electricals from where copper wire worth Rs 75,000 was stolen. Earlier, burglars had
struck at a shoe shop here and stolen shoes worth Rs
40,000. Earlier this week robbers had looted an NRI
couple of jewellery, valuables and cash worth about Rs
1.5 lakh. |
||
UK Mayor regrets MCs'
functioning HOSHIARPUR, March 5 — Mr Umesh Chander Sharma, Mayor of Eling, London (UK) has regretted the ineffective functioning of Municipal Corporations/Councils in Punjab. He said Municipal Corporations/Councils in India had limited funds for the development of their respective cities and towns despite imposition of heavy local taxes. He added that these had limited staff for the maintenance of sanitation, parks, street lights and drinking water supply etc. which led to poor sanitation and posed serious threat to the Public Health. In England 80 per cent of the total Budget of a corporation/council was being provided by the Central Government and the remaining 20 per cent was being raised by the imposition of local taxes he said. Mr Umesh said Eling, having a population of 3 lakh, had £ 260 million annual Budget and had 12,000 regular employees. The development was done according to the need and after consultation with the people of the area. All employees had to justify their jobs and there was no corruption. The mayor was talking to mediapersons here last night. Mr Umesh Chander belongs
to the city and was a teacher before going to UK in 1976.
He was elected as a councillor thrice. In 1996 he was
elected as Deputy Mayor of Eling. |
||
Forum’s judgement set aside AMRITSAR, March 5 — The Punjab State Consumer Redressal Forum has set aside the earlier judgement of the District Consumer Forum in which Dr Sushma Gupta of Jandiala Guru was asked to pay Rs 1 lakh to Head Constable Kulwinder Singh due alleged negligence attributed to her in dealing with a serious delivery case of his wife, Mrs Kulwinder Kaur, leading to her death. The president of the state forum, Justice A. L. Bahri, after hearing the discussions concluded there had been negligence on the part of the doctor in dealing with the already complicated "dai"-handled delivery case of Mrs Kulwinder Kaur. Moreover, no payments had been made as alleged by the complainant. Justice Bahri has asked Mr
Kulwinder Singh to pay Rs 5000 to the doctor. Mr Aftab
Singh Bakshi, a retired judge, appeared as counsel for Dr
Sushma Gupta and advocate Manjit Singh Khera appeared as
counsel for Mr Kulwinder Kaur. |
||
Compensation to farmer ordered BATHINDA, March 5 — The high-powered committee constituted by the Punjab Government for probing the alleged bungling in paddy procurement last season today asked a commission agent of Bhagta Bhai Ka to compensate a farmer, Darbara Singh, for purchasing his paddy at a rate below the then minimum support price (MSP). Official sources said Darbara Singh, whose paddy was purchased in November last by the0 commission agent at the rate of Rs 435 per quintal against the MSP of Rs 470, had made a complaint to the committee for necessary action. Mr R.N. Gupta, Financial Commissioner (Development) and Chairman of the committee and other members, including Mr P. Ram, Mr Jai Singh Gill and Mr K.S. Junjua, after listening to Darbara Singh ordered the agent to pay the balance amount to him on the spot. Mr Gupta also hinted that a departmental action would be initiated against the Secretary, Market Committee, Bhagta Bhai Ka, and an inspector of the Punjab Warehousing Corporation. Mr Gupta, who listened to complainants at Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar districts regarding the bungling in paddy procurement, said a separate probe would be held by the committee into the illegal charging of Re 1 per bag by the commission agents from paddy growers on various pretexts. Mr S.S. Chahal, a former chairman of the Panchayat Samiti, in his complaint said he would furnish documents regarding the illegal charging of Re 1 per bag by the agents. Mr Gupta, when contacted
said as the probe was on, he did not want to comment. |
||
Seminar on stress management BATHINDA, March 5 — The Shift Engineers' Guild, Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabat, in association with the local chapter of the All-India Management Association, will organise a seminar on stress management tomorrow at Field Hostel, Power Colony. In a press note issued here today, Mr Hari Harpal Singh, convener of the guild said that the seminar was being organised to enable participants to acquire skills for managing stress. He said Dr Agyajit Singh, Head of the Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr Prem Kumar, Head of the Guru Kashi College of Management, Talwandi Sabo, Mrs Anuradha Director of SSD College of Management and Technology, Bathinda, Mr H.S. Bath, Senior Divisional Manager of the GIC and Mrs Savreet Brar, Head of the Institute of Alternate Therapy, SAS Nagar, would participate in the seminar. He added that experts from
other universities, professional bodies and schools of
management would read papers and interact with the
participants. |
||
BJYM
units
dissolved PHILLAUR, March 5 — Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Tarun Chugh has dissolved the district units in Kapurthala and Mansa and block units in Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, Phagwara and Bholath on the recommendations of the districts BJP chiefs and consent of the BJP president, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, to maintain discipline in the party. Stating this, the BJYM president, Mr Tarun Chugh, told this correspondent here today that Mr Sandeep Bajaj and Mr Rakesh Jain had been removed from the posts of district presidents of Kapurthala and Mansa districts, respectively. Mr Kuldip Sharma had been appointed president of the Kapurthala district unit and Mr Pardeep Singla and Mr Vinod Sahbi Councillor, district presidents of Mansa and Mukerian units. The new district presidents had been instructed to send their recommendations with in a week to form block units. The morcha would organise
district-level training camps throughout the state. The
first training camp would be organised on March 7 at
Batala, which would be addressed by Punjab BJP general
secretary Jugal Mahajan. |
||
League's
plea
to SAD LUDHIANA, March 5 — The Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab and Chandigarh, has urged the Shriomani Akali Dal (SAD) to concentrate on reviving the glory of Sikh traditions and ethos by being peaceful and democratic in the true sense. Lt-Col C.S. Dhillon (retd), president of the league, in a statement here yesterday said that Punjabis had shed enough blood and made numerous sacrifices during Operation Bluestar. He alleged that the SGPC
chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra's comment on
"bloodshed in Punjab" was a manifestation of
his thirst for power. |
||
One man holds four posts PATIALA, March 5 — Dr S.S. Sidhu, Principal of Government Medical College here has the rare honour of holding four offices at the same time. Already working as Head of the Department of Anatomy and Principal at the medical college here, he also holds the additional charge of Principal-cum-Director of Medical College, Jalandhar. Dr Sidhu has now been appointed as officiating Director, Research and Medical College (DRME), Punjab by the state government. Dr Sidhu has taken charge
of DRME from Dr Mrs Sudhes Khanna, Principal of
Government Medical College at Amritsar. |
||
"Kar sewa" begins PATIALA, March 5 — ‘‘Kar sewa’’ for constructing the new building of Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib began here today. The foundation stone was laid by the ‘‘punj pyaras’’ after the ardas. The SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, initiated the ‘‘kar sewa’’ by carrying a bucket of sandstone. Addressing the
congregation Mr Tohra said the nearly 60 year-old
building was in bad condition and could have crumbled any
time. |
||
Disappearance cases unsolved S.A.S NAGAR, March 5 — The police has not solved the two separate incidents of mysterious disappearance of a judicial magistrate and a doctor, both of whom are residents of the township. According to the reports lodged at the Phase I and Phase VIII police stations, the women judicial officer and the doctor, posted at Ropar and Machhli Kalan village, respectively, have been missing since February 26. While mystery shrouds about the circumstances in which the judicial officer disappeared, it was learnt the doctor did not return to his house after attending his duty at the dispensary at Machhli Kalan village. Mr B.S. Randhawa, the
superintendent of police, said no case had been
registered so far. |
||
Teachers to take leave en masse AMRITSAR, March 5 — The president of the GNDUTA, Dr R.K. Bedi, observed a fast in front of the Vice-Chancellor's office on a call given by the All-India Federation of University Teachers Association in protest against the Punjab Government for not implementing UGC recommendations in toto. Members of the executive committee also sat on fast. The faculty members apprehend the distortion of the UGC notification with regard to the promotion policy and release of advance increments in the unrevised scale of Rs 3700-5700 by the state government. It has also been decided
by the GNDUTA to go on mass leave and take part in the
rally organised by AIFUTA at Chandigarh on March 12 to
protest against the alleged indifferent attitude of the
Punjab Government towards university teachers. |
||
Plea to repair road stretch KHARAR, March 5 — Seven sarpanches of gram panchayats of Fatehpur Theri, Garangan, Machipur, Sacrulapur, Sill, Batta and Sillkapra villages in a letter sent to the Chief Minister, today demanded that a stretch of the Chandigarh-Fatehgarh Road near Sacrulapur should be repaired soon. They alleged that the road
was in very bad shape and because of it villagers were
finding it difficult to commute to the grain and
vegetable markets. |
||
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
