Cong eyes Mayor’s post
Justifies stand in joining forces with the BJP
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, June 16
‘‘Politics makes strange bed fellows’’ - seems to be coming true as the BJP has reportedly made overtures during the last few days to its arch political opponent - Congress, in a desperate bid to muster the required two-third strength to dislodge the city Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal.

Although senior leaders of the BJP and the Congress refuse to acknowledge it in public but it has been reliably learnt that the former made an offer of the post of the Senior Deputy Mayor to the latter in return for the support of 21 its (Congress) party councillors in its ongoing war against the Mayor. The Congress, however, has reportedly turned down the offer, saying it will not settle for anything less than the top slot. A group of SAD councillors is reported to be adamant over having a Mayor from among them on the ground that no move for change in leadership, can succeed without their support.

Having come out openly for a decisive battle against the ‘First Citizen’, the BJP leadership is now finding it difficult to forge a combination of more than 50 councillors, to bring a successful no-confidence move against the Mayor. Even some of the SAD-B councillors, though allies of the BJP in the civic administration, have reservations over the removal of the Mayor, particularly with the support from the Congress, which could have far reaching political ramifications in the civic elections, just an year away and also the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Not only the required numbers are eluding the BJP, the party has also been made to suffer the humiliation of mending fences with the Congress, whom, both the alliance partners - the SAD-B and the BJP, have been lambasting day in and day out for the last four years, ever since the coalition government assumed power. The local BJP leadership seems so desperate to get rid of Mr Grewal that they are prepared to go to any length and whether the replacement comes from the Congress or the SAD, is immaterial to them because with a strength of 19 councillors in the House, they are in no position to dictate terms and have to play second fiddle.

Unmindful of the political fallout and consequences of joining hands with the SAD-B and the BJP, the Congress leadership in the city justifies its stand in making a bid for the Mayor’s post. Mr Surinder Dawar, president, District Congress Committee (Urban), says, ‘‘What is wrong if we have a Mayor from our own party. It is not for the first time. A similar understanding was made on an earlier occasion also with the BJP.’’He says the matter has been discussed with certain senior party leaders and they are not averse to the move.

When asked if the party (Congress) stands to lose face and having to sacrifice its main plank of non-performance of the ruling coalition in the electoral battle at hand, he says the civic administration is a local affair and will not in any way affect the campaigning in Assembly polls. However, if at all joining hands with the BJP and the SAD can affect Congress prospects, the same holds good for the ruling combine as well.

The district Youth Congress president, Mr Parminder Mehta, disagrees with the logic. He says in the wake of hike in local taxes, upward revision in rates of octroi, water rate and sewerage charges, the Congress can make political capital in the next civic elections. ‘‘Any kind of adjustment or understanding with the ruling combine (SAD-B and BJP) in the civic body, at this juncture, will be a political suicide for the party.’’ In a written communication to the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh, he has demanded that the local party leadership should be directed accordingly so that prospects of Congress in the coming elections are not jeopardized.

Broker denies involvement in Baddowal case
Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 16
The plot involving the Baddowal controversy seems to be deepening further, with one of the brokers having admitted before his close associates that he approached the marriage palace owners on behalf of another broker, who has served as an office-bearer also and is close to the corridors of power. He reportedly claimed that while the said broker pushed him forward, he remained himself in the background. The said, broker, besides dealing in stocks has stakes in the real estate business as well.

On the other hand Mr Shridhar Milawat of the Milawat and Milawat Company Ltd, a leading stock firm of Ludhiana, today strongly denied any involvement in the Baddowal controversy. He claimed that he had no contacts in political or bureaucratic circles and had never met the Chief Minister. He said, “I have seen Mr Badal only on television”.

Mr Milawat told the Tribune although he had no role or involvement anywhere, his name was unnecessarily being dragged into the controversy by his rivals. He also refuted the reports that he had any relationship with the former Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana Mr Arun Goyal, during whose tenure the controversial marriage palaces came up. He said he had met Mr Goyal only once, when he needed security arrangements for cinestar Zeenat Aman, who had come here to inaugurate a health club owned by his son.

However, he admitted that he had met two marriage palace owners only once when they had approached him for the partnership in their business. He said, “They tried to befool me, by grabbing my money, which I did not allow”. Elaborating further, he said, “They tried to keep me in the dark about the demolition orders and the case pending in the court. But I told them as long as you do not possess a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the Ministry of Defence and have not your case decided in the court, I will not invest in your business”.

Mr Milawat maintained that it was because of this fact that the palace owners were annoyed with him and they were now trying to settle scores with him by falsely implicating him in the case “as I got to know their plans to dupe me”. He did not rule out the involvement of some other stock brokers who wield considerable influence in the corridors of power, who were dragging his name in the controversy. However, he refused to divulge any names.

He also denied that he had applied for an anticipatory bail or was trying for it. “Why should I, when I am not involved anywhere nor have I been asked by anyone about it”, he retorted back when asked about his reported move to seek the bail. He also threatened all those who were trying to “drag his name into the controversy” with suing them for defamation for Rs 5 crore.

Referring to his alleged role in preventing the electricity connection to the marriage palaces, he claimed, “If I enjoyed such power and influence, I would not have to wait for one year for the electricity connection to the health clinic of my son”. He said it took more than a year for him to get the electricity connection.”

Fake forms sold inside university campus?
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 16
Scores of city students have failed to apply for B.Ed through distance education at the University of Jammu in time as they were allegedly duped by some university employees who sold them fake admission forms.

The students said that they had gone to the university by the end of the last month to procure the admission forms. An employee in the branch of distance education in the university handed over the form to them for Rs 150 each, said the students. They said that on June 13, when they had gone to the university to submit the form, a clerk checked the form and asked them to deposit the fee in the form of a draft. The students then went to a bank within the campus, deposited the amount by draft and attached the receipt with the form.

Later, when the students went to submit the form with the supervisor, they were told that their forms were fake as they did not bear the stamp and signature of the university superintendent. He told them that they would have to again purchase and fill a new form to take admission. The students were shocked and they talked to higher officials who again gave them the same advice. Their repeated plea that they had purchased the forms from within the campus failed to persuade them to accept their forms.

Kanwaljeet Singh, an applicant from the city, said that when this happened he had no other way but to return back in disgust. ‘‘Even if I had purchased a new form, it would have been impossible to get the forms again attested from the school where I had been teaching and again going back to Jammu to submit them till yesterday which was the last date of submission of forms,’’ he said.

Madhu Sharma, another applicant from the city, said that the forms being sold by the university did not bear any numbers usually printed on the forms available at other institutes, giving the university employees as well as the agents a chance to dupe the applicants. A note beneath the cover page of the prospectus read: ‘‘The University of Jammu has not authorised any outside agency/ institution/person to sell B.Ed application form and make admission’’, clearly indicating that the university authorities were skeptical about such incidents.

Car-borne miscreants beat up MC men
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 16
Two employees of the Municipal Corporation — Saheb Lal and Brij Narain — were beaten up by unidentified car-borne miscreants and their supporters in the Model Town locality last evening. Despite registration of a case in the Model Town police station here, no arrests have been made so far, creating resentment among MC employees.

The victims were members of a road-repair crew, deployed for resurfacing a portion of the damaged road, which had been temporarily closed to vehicular traffic. While bitumen was being sprayed on the road, some drops reportedly fell on passing car (PB-10J-5301). The furious occupants of the car first abused the two employees, who, in no way were responsible for the incident. The accused returned to the spot again after some time with their supporters and beat up the two employees with lathis, before fleeing.

A deputation of the Municipal Workers Union, led by its general secretary, Mr Khelar Chand Gupta, today met the MC Commissioner, Dr S. S. Sandhu, and urged him to take up the matter with the senior officials so that the culprits were brought to book. 

Polluting environment religiously
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, June 16
Widespread belief in the supernatural and superstitions makes a number of people here perform various rituals at the cost of ecology and environment. Hundreds of people here can be seen on bridges and banks of the Sutlej and other canals, offering various items to ensure favourable influence from stars.

“If you immerse 5 kg of Kaccha koyla in the flowing Sutlej on Saturday for a month, all your problems will be solved”, says an astrologer to Bhushan Ram (not his real name), who readily agrees to do the job, thinking it to be too small and easy a remedy to overcome his business problems. While Bhushan is supposed to immerse charcoal on Saturdays, there are people who are advised to perform similar rituals on different days, making the immersions a daily routine in the river.

The results are instant and obvious. Hundreds of polythene bags and other material can be seen floating in the river, which usually settle on the dry portions of the river or the riverbed itself, causing dirt, smell and environmental pollution.

Interestingly, most of the people immersing things in water are from upper and middle classes of society, who are always finding solutions and remedies to their problems like business recession, lure of a male child and happy married life.

There is no dearth of such persons, who visit the rivers and canals daily and immerse one thing or the other in the flowing water, causing pollution, blockage and playing havoc with the ecological system.

“Devotees” immerse daal, kaccha koyla, tamba, sikka, prasad, bajra and nariyal wrapped in small and big-sized polythene bags causing environmental pollution as these bags cannot be decomposed.

“Sutlej river is not the only place. We immerse things in the Gill canal, Buddha Nalah and several other canals”, said a devotee while making an offering from above the bridge on river Satluj river on the city periphery.

The material is collected on the banks of these rivers and canals and the flowing water is blocked with polythene bags, shells of coconut, plastic and scrap. Stray animals and cattle which graze around and eat the immersed material develop many infections

Chief Secy visiting today
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 16
Punjab Chief Secretary N.K. Arora will visit Ludhiana tomorrow in connection with the inquiry he is conducting into the alleged role of some people including a few bureaucrats, in the Baddowal controversy.

Following the demolition of three marriage palaces near the Field Ammunition Depot Baddowal about 7 km from here, on June 5, some of the owners had alleged that they were asked to pay Rs 20 lakh in case they wanted to keep their structures safe.

The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had ordered an inquiry to be conducted by the Chief Secretary into these allegations. The Chief Secretary is also conducting an inquiry in to the same case on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Meanwhile, the Additional Deputy Commissioner Mr S.R. Kaler, today met some of the owners of the demolished structures apparently in connection with tomorrow’s visit of the Chief Secretary.

Sangat darshans have stepped up
development: Badal
Our Correspondent

Sarabha (Ludhiana), June 16
Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal today asserted that with the release of funds directly to panchayats under ongoing sangat darshan programmes, the pace of development in every nook and corner of the state had been accelerated. He further claimed that by the end of the current financial year, no village in the state would remain without the basic development components, including pavement of streets, construction of drains, disposal of sullage water, school building, metalled roads and peripheries.

Interacting with the rural people and members of village panchayats of the area in a Sangat Darshan programme at the native village of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, the youngest martyr of freedom movement, about 20 km from Ludhiana city, here, Mr Badal said that there was no shortage of funds with the state government for the development projects The government had fully consolidated its financial position with the proper financial management and strict austerity measures undertaken during the last four years.

He said that the present year was being observed as the development year and funds amounting to Rs 2235 crore were being spent to carry out the different development projects in the state. The Congress and other opposition parties were totally frustrated with the increasing popularity of the sangat darshan programmes among the people, which had opened the flood gates of infrastructural development in all parts of the state. Expressing the deep commitment of its government for the development, the Chief Minister informed that funds amounting to Rs 152 crore had been recently released by the Infrastructural Development Board for two dozen big developmental projects including strengthening of main roads and construction of big bridges over rivers and railway lines at different places in the state.

Discussing the priorities of developmental with the panchayats of 75 villages of Kila Raipur constituency, turn by turn, the Mr Badal sanctioned grants amounting to around Rs 2.75 crore for different developmental projects and also handed over the cheques directly to the panchayats for those projects, which were to be executed by the panchayats.

After detailed discussions on a common demand of the panchayats of the area for the construction of three bridges over the Abohar branch Canal near villages Ballowal, Jhamat and Bool, estimated to cost around Rs 1.07 crore, the Chief Minister talked to the Principal Secretary, Finance on telephone to inquire about the position of funds, available with the Infrastructural Development Board and thereafter announced the construction of all the three bridges at the earliest. He also directed the officers of the Irrigation Department to execute these projects in a record period, keeping in view, the dire need for these projects. The Chief Minister also approved the construction of some important main roads in the area and directed the PWD engineers to execute the work on top priority.

On a common demand by most of panchayats regarding the serious environmental problem, caused by stagnating water in the village ponds, Mr Badal announced that a special environment programme had been chalked out for the development and management of village ponds, for which a sum of Rs 100 crore had been sanctioned. The Deputy Commissioners of all the districts had been asked to prepare the detailed plans of the ponds in the villages, falling in their districts.

The Chief Minister claimed that his government had made sincere efforts for the welfare of each section of society, both in rural and urban areas, including farmers, employees, Scheduled Castes and weaker sections. He informed that the state government had earmarked an amount of Rs 472 crore under special component plan for the welfare of Scheduled Castes during the current financial year. Mr Badal further informed that 8112 houses have been provided to the houseless scheduled caste families at a cost of Rs 40.56 crores during the last four years.

Responding to a joint complaint of gram panchayat, Pakhowal and other surrounding villages regarding non availability of any of the five doctors, including the SMO, posted in the Pakhowal hospital for emergency medical services, the Chief Minister telephonically directed the Secretary, Health, to immediately transfer the SMO, Pakhowal, and to ensure the availability of doctors in future, in the rural hospitals. Taking a serious view of the common complaint of a large number of panchayats regarding the illegal encroachments on the panchayat lands and passages, in connivance with the officials of development departments, Mr Badal directed the DDPO and BDPOs to keep full vigil in future and to take immediate steps to remove the encroachments. The Superintending Engineer, PSEB, was asked to immediately clear the pending applications of panchayats for tubewell connections on the panchayat land, as the government had already issued directions to provide one tubewell connection for each panchayat on priority basis.

Earlier, arriving at the village 15 minutes before the scheduled time, the Chief Minister paid his respects to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha by garlanding his statue and also made a round of the ancestral house of the martyr, which was extensively renovated by the administration on his directions. During the Sangat Darshan programme Mr Badal honoured Bibi Jagdish Kaur, sister, and Mr Narsher Singh, nephew of the martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha.

Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Minister for Technical Education, Punjab, and party MLA from the constituency, and the Deputy Commissioner Mr S.K. Sandhu also addressed the function.

COMMUNITY

Astrologer’s advice spoils a life
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 16
If you have been dismissing modern day astrologers as harmless creatures who are clever enough to play upon popular superstitions, then please beware. For these astrologers are not only minting money by selling fake jewels but also have among them certain pimps who do not hesitate in heaping untold miseries upon a poor family thereby shattering its peace for the sake of catering to their rich clients who want to keep a mistress.

The story of Gita, who has been abandoned by her husband and two daughters, is indeed a shameful one as far as the profession of astrology is concerned.

The poor woman, because her husband would not go to work for days together, went to an astrologer in search of a ‘solution’ on the advice of some women in the neighbourhood. The astrologer, Satish Hardpan, who has his practice in Dharampura, charged her Rs 500 and promised to have a solution ready in a week’s time.

He said there appeared to be no solution for her problem. But by his astrological prowess, he had come to know that her husband would either kill her or sell her off. If she wanted to save her life and honour, she should leave her husband and marry someone else. “I can be of help in this regard,” he added.

Narrating her story further in the affidavit submitted to the police, Gita stated that after that Satish Hardpan started visiting her and convincing her for obtaining a divorce and re-marrying. In the meantime, her husband left home for some unknown place. Then about two years ago, Satish Hardpan again came to her house . This time an industrialist, Parkash Singh, aged about 55, was with him. Hardpan told her that though the man was a bit aged he was a widower and a rich and respectable industrialist. He would marry you, he told Gita.

In her affidavit, Gita accused the industrialist of postponing the proposed marriage for two years on one pretext or the other. When she got pregnant, he got the pregnancy terminated by a quack in Dashmesh Nagar.

About a fortnight ago, when she went to his factory and insisted on marriage, he physically pushed her out and threatened her.

Gita, originally a Maharashtrian, said that Parkash Singh used to give her enough money for expenses. Her husband, who had gone away following Satish Bhardwaj’s visits, had come back only to take away the two daughters aged about eight and six with him.

Now she had been left with her two-year-old son and a couple of men, including a Congress leader were looking after her. She had some savings in the bank. As she had been a non-working woman so far, she did not know how to get a job.

Mr Parkash Singh, however, said that he used to give Rs 5000 every month to her. He said everything was going fine until he noticed that Gita had entered into a sexual relationship with a young boy living in her neighbourhood. He also said that following the termination of the relationship by him, attempts were made by certain men to blackmail him. A demand of Rs. 3 lakh was placed before him by the said blackmailers, he alleged. But he refused to pay up, he added.

Meanwhile, an inquiry into Gita’s complaint has been entrusted to Mr. Parampal Singh, SP, (Traffic), who also holds the additional charge of the special cell dealing with complaints by women.

Vigilance team raids MC premises
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 16
Following a complaint by municipal councillors of Bassi Pathana town in the district, a high-powered team of vigilance officials from Chandigarh raided the premises of Municipal Council Bassi Pathana in the morning today and checked the quantity and quality of material being used in development works initiated by the council.

The team raided the premises, and the inspection of the records continued till late evening. The team also took in to its custody the entire record related to complaints. Sources revealed that various acts of omission and commission were detected by the team.

Municipal Council members alleged that the president was not able to get any resolution passed in the meeting, so he was working in an arbitray manner by indulging in corrupt practices. They alleged that earlier also two inquiries had been conducted against the president by the Vigilance Department and he had been indicted but no action was taken.

The vigilance team inspected the CC flooring work. The thickness of the floor was not found in order. Moreover, the tender of this work was placed for PCC, but the work was got done of CC flooring. The team also inspected the flooring work from Arya Samaj Mandir to Haveli Mohalla and from Rohit Medical Hall to Sheranwala Gate. The material used was below specifications. The members alleged that the president had misused his powers. They urged the team members to take the samples of the material used in construction works. Councillors said that earlier they had complained to the Chief Vigilance Officer, alleging that the president was getting the construction work done through a bogus contractor. The CVC called both president and contractor, but no action has been taken.

They demanded probe in the development of cracks in the works just after completion undertaken by contractors.

They alleged that sanitation in the town was bad and there was no proper arrangement of streetlights. There was no proper outlet of sewage and influential people were encroaching the MC land in connivance with the president. The councillors demanded a high-level probe into the misuse of power and funds by the president. They said if case had been registered against the president of Municipal Council, Ropar, why was his counterpart being spared here.

When contacted, the Municipal Council President, said that certain people did not want the development of the town, so they were making complaints just to sabotage the development activities. He denied all allegations levelled against him.

CITY SCAN
The Goa trio of Ludhiana
M.S.CHEEMA

BUT for the past four decades, Punjab and Goa have never had anything in common. The horticulture farms of Gurdaspur have got used to the growing of the Alfonso variety of the Konkan mango, making it a sweet relationship between the two places.

Goa remembers three Punjabis who fought for its freedom. One of them, Karnail Singh, a primary school teacher of Isru near Khanna, sacrificed his life in 1955 in a non-violent struggle. The others are Major Shivdev Singh Sidhu and Captain Vijay Kumar Saihgal. All of them belonged to this district.

Karnail Singh was born in a farmer family at Lyallpur in 1930. His elder brother, Takhat Singh, was a scholar of Urdu and Persian who also composed poems in Urdu and Punjabi. Karnail Singh was an introvert, who was fond of reading newspapers, attending political rallies and listening to ballads (vars). He idolised Guru Tegh Bahadar and the sons of Guru Gobind Singh for their sacrifices. He was a schoolchild at the time of the Partition. After a short break, he resumed his studies and matriculated from AS High School of Khanna. He loved teaching because he would get to study books. As an untrained teacher, he developed an instinct for literature. Later, he joined the emergency teacher training programme. His seniors in the Students Federation of India, student wing of the Communist Party of India, introduced him to socialism. The party wanted him to sell political literature, for which, he ran a book shop at Khanna. Overtly, he transformed into a jovial and sociable person, but, at heart, he remained serious and lonely. He was perhaps the youngest of the 40 Punjabis who decided to join a peaceful march to Goa that was to be organised on August 15, 1955. On Independence Day, the volunteers entered Goa, knowing well that the Portuguese Army was ready to stop their advance. Karnail entered the state from Savantwadi and fell to Portuguese bullets with 21 men and women. He was cremated on the bank of Mutha river near Shambhaji Park Deccan Gymkhana at Pune.

Goa, then ruled by Dr Oliverira Salazar, a professor of economics, was liberated by the Indian Army on December 19, 1961. The Portuguese rule in Goa ended after 451 years and 24 days.

The Army lost 22 men in the operation and 53 soldiers were wounded. Ludhiana saw its sons, Major Shivdev Singh Sidhu and Captain Vijay Kumar Saihgal, sacrifice their lives to liberate Goa. Shivdev Singh Sidhu was born on July 2, 1926, at Sidhwan Khurd. His father, Mohinder Singh Sidhwan, was a leading educationist, politician and social worker. Shivdev matriculated with distinction and joined F.Sc in Government College. He had a tall and athletic physique, which got him the King’s Commission. During his training at Mhow and Ahmednagar, he received praise from senior officers. As an officer of the armoured corps, he received orders to lead a mission to liberate Goa. His chose a good team of officers, JCOs and jawans whom he led in a formation of tanks and armoured vehicles into Goa. When the retreating Portuguese Army blew up bridges, he took alternate routes to enter the hostile territory and defeat the Army. The declaration of surrender was found in his pocket at the time of his cremation. He sacrificed his life to rescue freedom fighters who had been imprisoned in the fort. Had he not arrived in time, the Portuguese would have executed them.

During the fight, when he learnt that his favourite Capt Saihgal tried his best to save him and finish the operation without any further loss, at the cost of his personal safety.

Captain Vijay Kumar Saihgal was born in Lahore in 1933. He studied in Government College, where his father, Prof R.L. Saihgal, taught physics. It was here that Major Shivdev Singh Sidhu raised his Armoured Division and inspired Saihgal to get a commission. At Goa, Vijay became a martyr like his mentor. Karnail, Shivdev and Vijay are called the Goa trio of Ludhiana.

Dharna against removal of kiosks from
shamlat land
Our Correspondent

Khamano, June 16
An action committee, formed in protest against the Nagar Panchayat’s action to remove some kiosks, reportedly belonging to Dalits, from the shamlat land yesterday, began an indefinite dharna in front of the SDM’s office here today.

The kiosks were removed from the shamlat land by the Nagar Panchayat yesterday, with the help of the police, for construction of a bus stand. The operation was carried out under the supervision of tehsildar Satinder Kumar. The operation started at 11 am and went on till evening. On being contacted, EO, Nagar Panchayat, said that the operation had been carried out on the instructions of higher officials. He added that construction of the bus stand would start within a week.

The members today shouted slogans against the EO, the Nagar Panchayat and the administration. Among others, the dharna was addressed by the Dalit Kisan Dal (DKD) president, Mr Iqbal Singh Kapurthala, the BSP’s district president, Mr Harchand Singh Narrali, Mr Bhinder Singh Ranwan, Mr Gurdial Singh Amrala, Mr Sukhdev Singh and Mr Rajwinder Singh Mullanpur. They said that the dharna would continue till the land was returned to the Dalits, or they were allotted land at some other place.

Meanwhile, the shopkeepers of the area were excited over the idea of having a bus stand nearby, but those belonging to the Dalit families felt exactly the opposite because not only the kiosks, but the heaps of cow dung collected by them also got destroyed in the process. Upset over this, they had yesterday approached the EO while he was getting the ‘work’ done. Led by the general secretary of the Dalit Kisan Dal, Punjab, Mr Ranwan, Mr Amrala and a teachers’ union leader, Mr Sukhdev Singh, they requested the EO to show them the written order for removal of kiosks and stop progress of the work so that an amicable solution could be found out, but the EO did not pay any heed to their request. They then took out a protest march through the bazaar, shouting slogans against him. They also met the SDM, and told him that the land had been ‘allotted’ to them many years ago. He assured them that he would talk to the authorities concerned regarding the matter. The Dalits said the Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, too, had written to the officers concerned for a detailed report on the issue, but the EO had not complied with his orders. The women demonstrators also alleged that they were manhandled by Nagar Panchayat staff on the instructions of the EO.

Eve-teasers thrash bus staff
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 16
A couple of tipsy eve-teasers, who were prohibited by the conductor of a mini local bus from teasing a girl in the bus, beat up the driver and the conductor at Samrala Chowk last night.

According to an eyewitness account of the incident, two boys in their teens, who were a bit tipsy, occupied a seat behind a girl who commutes everyday and started teasing her soon after the bus started from Laxmi Cinema for Jamalpur . The conductor of the bus, also a young boy, asked the boys to occupy some other seat out of consideration for the daily commuter. But when the boys refused to behave themselves, a scuffle followed, as a result of which the driver of the bus took the bus to the Dharampura police post located at Shingar cinema on the way. The tipsy eve-teasers were given a sound thrashing by the cops there and let off. The girl, who was being teased, was also made to sit in the chowki. But she left the scene on the ground that it would cause unnecessary harm to her name and reputation. In the meantime, the two boys went to their locality near Samrala Chowk and gathered nearly a dozen more boys who waylaid the bus at Samrala Chowk and beat up both the driver and the conductor in retaliation. Later, a medical examination of the injured bus staff was carried out at the Civil Hospital.

However, a police officer at the Dharampura police post, without disclosing the details, confirmed the incident. No case had been registered.

Happy Father’s Day
Our correspondent

Ludhiana, June 16
Sunday will be observed as Father’s Day. The day the children can go ahead and surprise their Dad by telling him that he is remembered fondly. Though, there is more ‘whoopla’ around Mother’s Day, fathers are very dear people.

Sony says: “I love my father more than my mother and I have saved money from my pocket money to buy him a wallet with his name inscribed on it. I know he will be very surprised with my gift as he knows that I do not get much pocket money”.

The card shops are full of cards with Happy Father’s Day written in various ways and beautiful poems are inscribed inside.

Puneet says: “On Father’s Day, I recall all the precious memories of all the happy times we spent together. I really owe a lot to my dad. Though a few years ago when I was growing up I had a lot of arguments with him. At times I disliked him for always putting me down. Then he had a massive heart attack. He almost died. Then I realised how precious he was to me and our relationship changed. He, too, has mellowed down and we are ‘buddies’ now”.

“A father’s love and guidance are his children’s gifts through life. Time changes many things but never dad’s special place in your heart,’’ says Shruti. She lives in USA after her marriage and misses her father a lot.

Tomorrow is the day to tell one’s father that he has always been a father who’s shown concern and care and to say, “Happy Father’s Day”.

CRIME

Bimla murder: husband, cops all suspects
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

The SHO said the role of almost all persons linked to the case was suspect, but the police could not arrest anyone without a proof.

Khanna shootout takes a new turn
Iqbal Singh

Khanna, June 16
The alleged case of gunshot injuries suffered by a son of a local Akali leader two days ago has taken a new turn when the accused contradicted his statement and alleged that he had shot himself.

The police has already registered a case under Section 307 IPC and 25.54/59 of the Arms Act against Mulkh Raj Mashal, an Akali Dal Bazigar cell leader.

According to sources, Jagpinder Singh of Railway Road had a dispute with his step brother Dr Ravinder Singh Batra regarding 7-8 acres of land. On Wednesday night Ravinder Singh along with contractor Mulkh Raj Mashal, Raj Bajigar, Mohinder Bazigar, Swaran and Joginder came to the mill of Mohinder Singh Sargodha to remove debris and called out Jugpinder Singh with an excuse when he was all alone at his house, alleged Jugpinder. He also alleged that when he had gone to the courtyard he was attacked with wooden rods and was shot at. With difficulty he saved himself from them and reached hospital for treatment.

On the other hand, accused Mulkhraj Mashal in this case has alleged in a press statement that he had gone to the residence of Mohinder Singh Sargodha in order to remove debris of his mill which had been purchased on contract from him. Jagpinder Singh wanted money as his share of the sale of the debris. Jagpinder had told them that either they pay him the amount or stop removing debris, failing which he will involve them in some case. Mashal said that he told him if he had any document being the share holder of the sale money of the debris, they would pay him that amount. But he could not show any documents, and he locked the gate of the mill. After this the SHO city Mr Anil Kohli intervened. Then the gate was got opened. Mulkhraj also told that Jugpinder Singh had threatened them that if they would not pay him his share, he will shoot himself, in order to get a case registered against them. He alleged that Jugpinder Singh has enacted this conspiracy.

SHO city Anil Kohli told this correspondent that Jagpinder Singh had a dispute with his ste-brother Dr Ravinder Singh Batra a few days ago. Jagpinder Singh had locked the gate which was got opened. He added that the reality would be known about the shootout after getting a report from forensic experts. Both the parties are claiming political patronage of the ruling party.

Man alleges foul play in mother’s death
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 16
The body of an unidentified woman of about 55 was found on the bank of Sidhwan canal. A morning walker found this body that had marks of multiple injuries.

According to the Sidhwan police, the gold ornaments that the woman had been wearing had not been touched. A case under Section 302 of the IPC was registered at Sidhwan Bet police station and the body was sent to Civil Hospital here for a postmortem.

After reading in some newspapers that a body had been found, a man called Gurmeet Singh reached the hospital because his mother had been missing since June 14.

He said his mother had entered into a deal with Saroj Rani of Beantpura Mohalla in Ludhiana to buy a property from her at Rs 3,60,000, out of which, Rs 1,60,000 had been paid as the earnest money. Since Saroj Rani had later refused to honour the sale deed, Gurmeet’s mother had filed a suit against her in Ludhiana.

After an ex parte judgement, the sale deed had been executed through a local commissioner, which had been challenged by Saroj Rani.

Gurmeet Singh said even his brother, Surjit Singh (19), had been missing for the past five years.

He said he suspected Saroj Rani to be responsible for the murder of his mother and the disappearance of his brother.

Rs 2.38 lakh looted at gunpoint
Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, June 16
Manager of Ujagar Petrol Station, Mr Parkash Singh, has been duped of Rs 2.38 lakh at gunpoint by two unidentified youths.

According to Mr Parkash Singh, he was going to deposit money in a State Bank of Patiala branch when two scooter-brone youth stoped and threatened him with a pistol. They told him to part with his bag containing the money. After this, he walked to the bank and narrated his story to the bank manager, who then called the police. The police has sealed all approach roads to the town. Though the place of the incident is quite crowded, no body claims to have witnessed it.

Man attacks wife
Our Correspondent

Khanna, June 16
A woman was badly injured with a sharp-edged weapon by her husband at the GT Road near Sadar Police Station here last evening. According to information, Mrs Satnam Kaur was going to complain to the SSP against her husband for alleged harassment by him. She alleged that her husband stopped her from complaining and attacked with a sharp-edged weapon on her scalp.

She was rushed to the local Civil Hospital by some passersby.

The victim, a mother of three children, had filed for divorce against her husband and separation allowance.

She alleged that her husband Charanjit Singh was harassing her to withdraw the divorce case from court against him.