Three abandoned Pakistani boats found in Ravi

AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered three Pakistani boats from the Ravi river near the Nangli border outpost (BOP) on Tuesday late night and Wednesday morning. Jawans of the 164th Battalion recovered two boats around 11.30pm on Tuesday and the third around 5.30am on Wednesday.

The boats carried a painted flag of Pakistan and had the names and numbers of Pakistani owners. “This is not the first time that some boats have been recovered. The boats have been washed away to this side,” a senior BSF officer said.

COLLEGE SHUT

SINCE NOVEMBER

The college, owned by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Swaran Salaria, was shut since November 4 when the Punjab government withdrew its essentiality certificate. The ministry’s decision brings immense relief to students and parents who had been protesting in Delhi since Monday, seeking the clearance.

On September 8, the Punjab and Haryana high court had directed the state government to shift all students of 2014 batch of the college to other medical colleges across the state within two months, as the college had failed to meet the standards set by the Medical Council of India.

“The ministry has granted approval for shifting and the matter has been communicated to the state government,” DVK Rao, undersecretary, health ministry told Hindustan Times. MCI secretary Reena Nayyar also confirmed the development to HT.

Dr Sushil Garg, president, Chintpurni Medical College Parents Association, confirmed the development, and said, “It has been a victory for students and is the result of collective efforts of all stakeholders.”

A student Rohan (name changed) said, “We are happy at the approval and request the state government to shift us soon. We will make a fresh start in our careers.”

BEFORE DECISION, 30 STUDENTS DETAINED, RELEASED AFTER 4 HRS The Delhi Police, on Wednesday, detained 30 protesting students, including 12 girls, at the Mandir Marg police station in the capital after picking them up from near Nirman Bhawan. They were released after four hours.

Around 250 students had been protesting in New Delhi since Monday, seeking clearance of the Union health ministry to be shifted to other medical colleges in Punjab.