M A I N   N E W S

Massive poll bandobast
46 held for illicit distillation
Tribune News Service

Majitha, February 18
Even as un-precedented security arrangements have been made for the crucial byelection, scheduled to be held tomorrow, the police has made a number of raids on the houses of history sheeters after a decade of normalcy returned to once a hotbed of militancy.

The quantum of illicit liquor that flowed during the three-week-long electioneering could be gauged from the fact that as many as 46 persons were arrested on charges of illicit distillation. The Tribune was the first paper to publish a report with picture on illicit distillation in Majitha constituency.

The police has registered 45 cases and recovered more than three lakh ml of illicit liquor and 291 kg of ‘lahan’ in a special drive after the publication of the report in these columns. Preventive action has been taken in those villages where disturbance of peace is apprehended. According to Majitha district police chief houses of nearly 130 history sheeters were searched and raids made on those indulging in such distillation.

The police has also got deposited 101 licensed weapons as a precautionary measure. Apart from mounted police, the dog squads have been pressed into service, bullet-proof tractors were also brought to traverse ‘kutcha roads’. According to an estimate 1000 police personnel, including commandos, would keep a vigil in this constituency, for which a separate police district was carved out during the heydays of militancy.

Meanwhile, Mr Darshan Singh Issapur, a member working committee, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, has given his whole-hearted support to the Congress candidate, Mr Shavinder Singh. He said he had taken this decision as he did not agree to the party decision of not participating in the election. He reiterated that Mr Amarinder Singh, PPCC chief is a “better Sikh than Mr Badal”.

With the rival Akali factions including the SHSAD, the SAD (Democratic), the SAD (Amritsar), the SAD (Panthic), not in the poll arena, the fight is straight between Mr Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha (a SAD candidate) and Mr Kathunangal — the Congress candidate. However, three more candidates including Col J.S. Bal (retd) of the Rashtriya Raksha Dal, Mr Raghubir Singh and Mrs Kartar Kaur Sandhu are also in the fray.

Mr Narinderjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Amritsar said that as many as 1,23,829 voters will exercise franchise, which includes 67194 males, 55838 females and 797 service votes. A total of 122 villages fall in this constituency.