Around Town

Student beaten up by teacher for being tardy

Panchkula: A case of corporal punishment has come to light in a government school in Beed Ghaggar village,Panchkula. Vishal Thakur (15),a student of Class VIII,reached Government High School,Beed Ghaggar,at 7.50 am. He was supposed to reach at 7 am,though the first class starts at 8 am. In the school courtyard,40-50 students,who had also reached late,were already standing. Thakur was asked to stand with the children by Mathematics teacher Ramesh Taya. The teacher then allegedly abused him,slapped,punched and kicked him. Thakur was first taken to dispensary in old Panchkula,which after preliminary treatment referred him to General Hospital,Sector 6. His statement has been recorded by the police.

Fruit vendor dies,injury marks on body

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh police is probing the death of a fruit vendor,Pathri Ram in Mani Majra during the intervening night. Police said the body of 40-year-old Pathri Ram,was found at his residence in Indra Colony Mani Majra. The family alleged that his body had injury marks. “We are investigating and the postmortem will be conducted on Thursday at Government Multi- Specialty Hospital,Sector 16,” Station House Officer of police station Mani Majra,Rajesh Shukla said.

Thalassemic patient cleared for civil services

Panchkula: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to intervene for selection of Panchkula resident,Sukhsohit Singh,who was first rejected after New Delhi-based Safdarjung hospital declared him unfit because he was thalassemic. “I was intimated on September 3 that I was selected for Indian Defence Accounts Services,” said Sukhsohit,resident of Sector 2. “I was called for a second medical examination at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on June 10. Union Minister Ambika Soni intervened along with then Union Minister for Health. They wrote to the PM,who further forwarded my case to the Department of Personnel,” he added. He ranked 833 in the All India Civil Services exam of 2008. Sukhsohit was diagnosed with thalassemia in 1985. After clearing UGC NET in December 2009,he is currently pursuing his PhD in Public Administration from Panjab University (PU).

State Bank of India holds special camps

Chandigarh: Rural customers attending special camps for repaying their overdue loans from State Bank of India,shall be eligible for renewal of their existing crop loans as well as for obtaining fresh loans. This will save the borrowers from paying higher rate of interest for their debt with money-lenders as well as legal complications. The camps,called ‘compromising camps’ are being organised by the SBI’s Chandigarh Circle. The fresh crop loans will be provided at the interest rate of 7 per cent per annum according to the RBI guidelines for limits upto Rs 3 lakh and interest subvention at 1.5 per cent and additional interest subvention for regular repayment by farmers at 3 per cent per annum. As per RBI guidelines,the benefit of interest subvention is to be extended to all farmers including those who are uncovered and those who avail short terms production credit beyond Rs 3 lakh. However,the interest subvention applicable at present would be effected for the portion of credit limit upto Rs 3 lakh and normal lending rate as applicable for the sanctioned credit limit would be charged for the portion beyond Rs 3 lakh.