M A I N   N E W S

Harpreet case
CBI files FIR against Bibi
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The writ petition alleging police inaction in a case pertaining to the death of SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur’s daughter, Harpreet Kaur, was today disposed of by the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the Standing Counsel for the CBI stated that a first information report had been registered against Bibi and others.

In his brief order, Mr Justice V.M. Jain observed: “Mr Rajan Gupta has stated that an FIR has been registered by the CBI. The statement has been made on the basis of instructions received from Deputy Superintendent of Police S.K.Chaudhary. The petitioner does not press his application further and the same is disposed of accordingly”.

Claiming to be the husband of Harpreet Kaur, the petitioner, Kamaljit Singh had initially sought directions for handing over the probe to an independent agency like the CBI and registering a case “against all those found responsible for causing the death of Harpreet Kaur and her child”. Directions for fixing responsibility on persons involved in the “disappearance of evidence” had also been sought.

He had alleged that “on account of political power and influence wielded by Bibi Jagir Kaur, the case relating to Harpreet Kaur and her child would be hushed up and all those responsible for the same would not be touched”. He had further added that the facts and circumstances ‘clearly indicated that efforts were being made to hush up the case”.

Mr Kamaljit Singh’s counsel had contended on his behalf that no one was above the law and investigation must be held into the factors leading to Harpreet Kaur’s death.

The state government, he had added, had conceded in its reply that Harpreet Kaur was engaged to Mr Kamaljit Singh and was pregnant. He had also added that the police was working to destroy the evidence.

Taking up his petition, Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill had directed the CBI to investigate the circumstances leading to Harpreet Kaur’s death. He had also directed the Superintendent of Police, CBI, to proceed with the investigation in case and to “bring the guilty to the book”.

22 taken ill after eating ‘kuttu’ flour

KURUKSHETRA, Oct 4 (UNI) — At least 22 persons were taken to the civil hospital and private nursing homes in Shahabad (Markanda), 25 km from here, today following symptoms of food poisoning after they had eaten preparations made of “kuttu” flour.

This was the second such incident in Haryana in the past 24 hours. In Ambala last night 200 persons were taken ill, 20 of them seriously, after they had consumed preparations made of “kuttu” flour.

The flour was reportedly supplied by a Rohtak-based stockist. The police has so far not registered any case.

According to sources, several others who had fallen ill after consuming the flour, were undergoing treatment at their homes. The affected people complained of headache, vomiting, shivering and giddiness.

KAITHAL: Six members of two families fell unconscious after consuming food prepared from poisonous “singhara” flour at Mundri village on Wednesday night.

The victims, including a woman and a girl, had observed a fast and after taking meals started vomiting and fell unconscious. They were rushed to a private nursing home here.