M A I N   N E W S

Bibi, ASI’s kin get US visas
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Oct 21 — The kin of Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief, and her gunman, ASI Nishan Singh, have obtained American visas, according to sources.

Reliable sources in New Delhi said eight visas had been granted by the USA Embassy under the VIP quota. Those who had got the visa were Ms Rajneet Kaur Daisy, daughter of the SGPC chief, and nephews and nieces of Nishan Singh.

The sources said a senior functionary of the SGPC was deputed to secure visas for the wards of Bibi Jagir Kaur, Nishan Singh, Mr Sewa Singh and the late Balbir Singh from the Embassy. The late Balbir Singh is the brother of Nishan Singh and brother-in-law of the SGPC chief.

Mr Harjit Singh, personal assistant to Bibi Jagir Kaur, however, denied the kin of Nishan Singh and Bibi Jagir Kaur had got American visas. He said the SGPC had sent Mr Gurbachan Singh, information officer, to New Delhi yesterday for handing over a gift to the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi on behalf of Bibi Jagir Kaur in return for an invaluable silk carpet sent by Mr Rafiq Tarar, Pakistan President.

When contacted, Mr Gurbachan Singh also denied he had gone to New Delhi for securing visas.

Mr Harjit Singh said there was no truth in reports that Daisy, daughter of Bibi Jagir Kaur, would be leaving the country soon. He said she had to complete her ten plus two. “She can’t leave her studies midway”, he explained. He also said the Bibi had no plan to leave the country as she had visa up to 2003.

Daisy’s visa had expired recently, he added. Sources said Daisy was a witness to the “so-called marriage” ceremony of her sister with Kamaljit Singh. The sources also pointed out that Nishan Singh wanted to settle his kin abroad for reasons obvious.

When contacted by TNS, an official of the US Embassy said he could give correct information on whether the Embassy had granted visas only on Monday.

Nishan Singh detained?
From Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Oct 21 — Nishan Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector, who has been booked by the CBI as co-conspirator in the Harpreet case, has finally been detained, if indications from the Punjab Armed Police headquarters here are to be believed.

Highly placed sources in the PAP said here today that Nishan Singh was “picked by sleuths of the crime branch of the CBI from somewhere in Punjab last night”.

The sources said technically nothing much could be done by the PAP till he was not duly arrested by the CBI or withdrawn by the ADGP (Security) from the security of the SGPC chief.