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Friday, May 14, 1999

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Dr Ahluwalia new Punjabi varsity VC
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 13 — Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, for a period of three years from the date he assumes duty.

A notification to this effect was issued by the Chancellor today.

Dr Ahluwalia will succeed Dr J.S. Puar, whose term ends on May 15.

Dr Ahluwalia at present is Chairman, Punjab School Education Board. He is also President of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation.

Dr Ahluwalia holds a doctorate in English literature and is a known Sikh scholar having written several books. He had represented India at international writers' conference in Moscow, in 1973 and has lectured abroad on Sikhism, Indian philosophy and Punjabi literature. He is on the international editorial board of the World Faiths Encounter, a journal of the World Congress of Faiths with its headquarters in the UK.

He has retired from the IAS.

People evacuated from Kargil areas
Wireless station shifted
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, May 13 — BSF jawans have been deployed to evacuate civilians from Hardas Thung to Sankoo in the Kargil sector in view of the Pak firing. Though after a night long exchange of heavy artillery fire between the Indian and Pakistani troops there was lull today a majority of 15,000 persons, who had deserted Kargil town and its adjoining areas, did not return home today.

The security forces already evacuated civilians from five villages, including Kharbug, Kaksar, Thus Gaam and Batalik, Additional companies of troops have been despatched to the Kargil sector to foil the Pak gameplan of grabbing Indian villages and pickets.The troops have been carrying out round-the-clock patrolling of the town and its adjoining areas after Pak shells hit the television relay centre yesterday and following the death of an Indian soldier and injuries to three civilians.

SRINAGAR (UNI): At least 12 Pakistani infiltrators and eight security personnel were killed and about 12 jawans injured in a fierce encounter in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani troops made an unsuccessful attempt to snap the road communication by targeting Iqbal bridge on Srinagar-Leh Highway at Kargil today. Official sources told UNI tonight that an encounter was going on between Pakistani infiltrators and the security forces in Kargil sector since yesterday.

The police has directed wireless operators to continue operating from Maangi village, 15 km from Kargil town. The police wireless centre was shifted yesterday after the authorities feared that it might be hit by Pak shelling and get damaged which could snap the only communication link with Srinagar.

Reports said a Pakistani shell exploded on the premises of the television relay station in Kargil yesterday.

Normal life remained paralysed in the Kargil sector for the fifth day on Thursday with senior district authorities running skeleton services with the help of the army. Many offices, education institutions and banks remained closed.