 |
|
| Wednesday, February
13, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
Liquor flows, despite crackdown Ludhiana, February 12 A Ludhiana Tribune team, in a survey of the city, found that despite police raids and sealing of the vends by the Excise Department officials, the liquor sale was on. The division no 5 police became the first to register a case against one such violator. The case against a liquor vend owner operating from Arti Chowk was registered on the basis of a report and photograph published in Ludhiana Tribune today. The case has been registered under Section 188, IPC, for violating the orders of Deputy Commissioner and 61,1 and 14, Excise Act, against the owner of the liquor vend. A similar action against another violator in Haibowal, whose photograph was also published in Ludhiana Tribune, was in the process, police sources disclosed. The police also booked another liquor vend owner near Laxmi Cinema today, who was supplying liquor through a small hole in the shutter despite the ban. A visit on the spot near the cinema revealed that the vendors had outmastered, the Excise Department which remained busy last night sealing the vends all over the city. In this case also the shutter was sealed by the Excise Department with IPM seals but a man was selling liquor by sitting inside the locked vend. And the seals were intact. A Ludhiana Tribune team witnessed a police team led by Havildar Manmohan Singh and an excise team led by Mr Rakesh Prashar, ETO, trying to bring the man out of the vend. They were also trying to break open the locks of the shutter. Mr Prashar said the man was probably locked inside yesterday with an intention to sell liquor despite the ban. He said the seals of the Excise Department were in tact on the shutter indicating that the man was left inside before locking the vend. He said it was a clever way adopted by liquor vend owners. The cops present on the spot said while on their duty they saw a bottle coming out of the hole. They immediately raided the vend but could not see anything inside due to darkness. Despite all their efforts to see the man they could not do so till the evening. The orders were being flouted not only in the city but in villages as well. The liquor was being sold with shutters down in many villages. Sources in Pakhowal village said there was no check on the sale even as the shutters were down. Sources said in the villages the sale of liquor had decreased from the local vends as many candidates were supplying it openly. Eyewitnesses said the bottles were downloaded from a jeep or a car in the house of some party worker. And from there it was supplied to all and sundry. The villagers said the cars and jeeps carrying bottles of liquor escaped the security check as the security guards provided to the candidates were made to sit inside the cars. And this gave an impression that the car could not carry any liquor bottles that was being supplied on a large scale. The villagers said the influx of liquor could be checked only if the police made it a point to check the vehicles carrying security guards also. |
|
It’s Hobson’s choice, say industrialists Ludhiana, February 12 Like other voters, majority of industrialists do not feel an urge to vote for any particular candidate, and have taken promises of political leaders with a pinch of salt. But, they do not want to waste their votes by not exercising their fundamental right. Echoing the sentiments of the industry, Mr Satish K. Dhanda, vice-president, Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), said, “Despite limited options, it is better to vote for a candidate, who has a relatively less bad record as compared to his counterpart, and for a party which can provide less corrupt regime if not a corruption-free state.” Interestingly, unlike rural voters and other vocal sections of city voters, most of the industrialists are keeping their fingers crossed. They are ready to disclose their choice. Mr Rajinder Jindal, president, Engineering Exporters Association of India, said, “There is no remarkable difference between the election manifestos and other announced policies of two combines, but we will consider the caliber, intelligence and background of the candidates, before voting.” Praising the efforts of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, especially for reducing sales tax and waiving off octroi in the state, Mr J.R. Singhal, managing director, Eastman Industries Limited, admitted, “The current CM has indeed taken a number of steps in the interest of industry, but there is a feeling among the industrialists that the Congress should be given a chance, which has an inclination for the industrial development.” Referring to the expectations of the industry from the next government, Mr Sanjeev Gupta, president, APPEAL, a body of apparel exporters, said, “We would like to see the government to emphasise on industrialisation of the state on a high scale, like Karnataka, and Maharashtra, whose governments have aggressively pushed the industry up”. Mr Dhanda lamented that though, no party had fielded any representative of industry, but they were pinning their hopes on certain candidates of the Congress, known for forwarding the policies of Dr Manmohan Singh. It seems that the industrialists have not much expectations from the next government. Mr Singhal said, “Even if the parties implement 50 per cent of the announcements made in their manifestos, that will suffice.” |
|
Tenders floated violating code, EC told Fatehgarh Sahib, February 12 In a complaint to the state Election Commission and the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, the councillor, Mr Sher Singh, has alleged that the tenders were floated keeping an eye on the Assembly elections. He stated that as per the notice, the tenders were called for December 26 and these were to be submitted by the contractors on the same day. After opening the tenders on December 26 the usual formalities like preparation of comparative statements, verification of deposits of requisite earnest money and approval of the lowest tender by the competent authority take sufficient time in processing the tenders. But surprisingly all formalities and the process was completed the same day and the work orders were issued to the contractors, in spite of the fact that there were no funds available with the council. The councillor alleged that officials of the council had indulged in violation of the code deliberately. He alleged that besides this a large number of encroachments on municipal land were coming up. He demanded an inquiry by the Vigilance Department regarding the encroachments made during the election days and action against the Executive Officer and the Municipal Engineer, in charge of the construction wing, for misusing the powers. |
|
Child’s murder leaves village in shock Bonkar Dogran (Ludhiana), February 12 The victim Sultan Ali, was missing since last evening. His body was found in the fields bordering Rajjowal village by a team of villagers combing the area in search of the boy. The victim was the only child of a labourer’s family living in the village and was employed at a tea shop. His parents, Ibrahim and Zarin Khatoon, used to earn a living making quilts and mattresses. The police said the child died due to asphyxia caused by strangulation. The post-mortem examination conducted at the Civil Hospital late in the evening has confirmed the cause of death as strangulation marks were found on the boy’s neck. Police sources said on the basis of circumstantial evidence, it seemed a case of attempted sodomy. When a Ludhiana Tribune team reached the village, a large crowd had gathered at the murder site. Shocked villagers condemned the incident. The boy’s parents were inconsolable. Wailing aloud, they hurled abuses at the murderer. Fighting back tears, the boy’s father, Ibrahim told the Ludhiana Tribune that their entire world had come crashing down. He was their only child. His elder son had died due to an illness some years ago. However, the child did not return. In the morning, when other villagers were informed about the incident, search parties spread in different directions. One such party located the boy’s body. There were no injury mark except on the neck. The village was engulfed in gloom. The villagers were shell-shocked. They have demanded immediate police security. |
|
NRI kills man for helping sister elope Ludhiana, February 12 The accused, Manjit Singh, an NRI who had returned from Canada recently, allegedly nursed a grudge against some persons with whose help his sister had allegedly eloped and later married a person against her family's wishes. The deceased, Gurcharan Singh, was a friend of Manjit Singh’s sister's husband. Gurcharan Singh (22) was shot at his temple allegedly by the NRI after a function in the house of the accused. The two, along with some other youths, first had drinks together as the NRI had come to the village after a long time. However, things turned bitter when Manjit Singh allegedly began abusing Gurcharan Singh for helping his opponents in his sister's wedding. As tempers rose, Manjit Singh allegedly took out his licenced .32 bore revolver and shot the youth. Some unidentified youths were accompanying the accused. An unidentified caller informed the Model Town police around 2.30 a.m last night that a body was lying in the village. Early in the morning, the accused surrendered before the police and also deposited the revolver. The surrender was, however, not confirmed by the Model Town police, which said the man had been arrested. The sources, however, could not give details about
the time or place from where the accused was arrested. According to an FIR registered on the statement of Resham Singh, father of the victim, the accused Manjit Singh was now settled in Canada and most of his family was in that country only. One of his sisters had married another village youth some time ago against the wishes of her family, especially her brother. He said his son Gurcharan Singh was a friend of the man with whom Manjit's sister had got married. The girls' family had blamed them of being involved in the marriage. However, when Manjit returned from Canada there was no immediate altercation. According to him everything was normal in the function but later in the night some of the villagers informed them about the trouble. Sources in the police said Manjit Singh was infact searching for his sister's husband but could not find him and vent out his anger on Gurcharan Singh. According to sources Manjit Singh has also told the police that he and his family members were deeply hurt at the marriage and the help rendered by the victim. Heart-rending scenes were
witnessed at the house of the deceased and police had been deployed at the village to avoid any retaliatory move. |
|
LUDHIANA CALLING THOUGH campaigning for the assembly poll has come to an end, persons associated with poll campaigns of various candidates are yet to heave a sigh of relief as plenty of ground work still remains to be done before the polling day. They are to ensure that all of their promised votes are polled in their candidate’s favour. Some of these supporters, who have been reportedly assigned the job of getting some bogus votes polled as well, are all the more anxious and tense. Vehicles to transport the elderly and the ‘reluctant’ voters to the polling booths and back are to be arranged. So it will only be after the polling is over that these persons can look forward to the much-needed and deserved rest. Poll jams With elections scheduled for tomorrow and the administration focused on ensuring peace during polling all police officials seem to have vanished from the crossings and traffic lights. While the presence or absence of police cops hardly makes a difference normally but in case of an accident or some other incident they are desperately missed. Particularly at the road crossings where the traffic lights do not work. As all crossings have been deserted, it is virtually a free-for-all, leading to chaos and confusion that ultimately culminates in long traffic jams. Only if the police department could spare some staff for some important crossings to provide relief to commuters. (see accompanying photograph) Shaguns for bahu Basanti Actors (and actresses as well) can perform any role they are assigned. Whether they act on the silver screen or on stage for a politician, they act perfectly well. With the latest trend of making the actors and actresses perform to attract crowds quite in vogue, the Akali-BJP combine and the Congress too has given into this trend. While, the Congress arranged for Govinda, the Akali-BJP alliance got Hema Malini to campaign for them. And not to mention Vinod Khanna, who already belongs to the combine as he is the BJP MP from Gurdaspur. While Govinda sang lavish praises for Ms Sonia Gandhi, Hema Malini tried to touch an emotional chord by telling people that she was their “bahu”. And it seemed to work well with people coming to her with shaguns since their bahu had visited them for the first time. Some old friends of Dharmendra, her husband, showed childhood photographs of the star to her. Only if it works equally well at the hustings, as the Akali-BJP candidates must be wishing it does. Slushy sanitation The mild rain on Monday afternoon that continued for about four hours had city residents wondering again about the kind of sanitary facilities they were getting in lieu of the taxes being paid by them. A brief shower and the city, particularly the old city, became slushy all over. The worst-hit areas were around Ghanta Ghar, Gur Mandi, Saban Bazaar, Chaura Bazaar and so on. The slush caused by rain was far greater this time as several roads of the city had been dug up for laying telephone cables. The cables had been laid and the ditches filled up with soil but nothing had happened beyond that. Perhaps the cash-starved Municipal Corporation did not possess enough funds to restore these dug-up roads for the convenience of residents. Only one Valentine Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, who is quite busy these days making the election arrangements, has not forgotten the Valentine’s Day. He has informed every body that he would accept a bouquet only from his wife. “I have only one Valentine, and would love to offer her a single rose ( Romeo spirit ) and would accept whatever she offers to me,’’ he says. Unlike other hardcore administrators, he has assured all lovers in the city that the administration would not harass them provided they celebrate the occasion within limits of decency. In the same breath, he has warned the hooligans and eve teasers that despite his involvement in the election schedule, the administration would not tolerate any nuisance in the name of Valentine’s Day celebrations. Astrologer’s opinion When all pre-poll surveys, media reports and even the leaders of the ruling alliance have accepted that the Congress has a definite edge in the current elections, one of the city’s astrologers, in ‘an exclusive interview’ to a reporter, has predicted that Capt Amarinder Singh’s chances of winning will brighten only if he throws either 43 copper coins in running water or offer a copper urn full of moong sabut dal to the gods. The astrologer has further said that Mr Prakash Singh Badal would face damage to his reputation, not because of his corrupt rule and other misdeeds during the past five years, but because of rahu. It is right time that one should request psephologists Mr Vinod Dua and Mr Prannoy Roy, who might be calling other psephologists and experts on TV to discuss the election results soon, to consider these astrological factors as well as the reasons and trends behind the election results. Karza Singh Ever heard of the name Karza Singh (Debt Singh)? The sentinel came across a young man in Laddowal village the other day who is known by this name. A driver by profession, he was named so after his mother had to undergo a major surgery when he was about to be born. The poor parents had to spend a lot of money and became debt-ridden. So he was named Karza Singh as it was because of him that the family had to borrow money and came under heavy debt. Sahib’s order
scribes’ pain Different professions make different demands. The police and media at times have to work in close coordination. Sometimes media has to get the information from the cops and sometimes it is the cops who try to make their “achievements” public. But most of the times the policemen seem to become over enthusiastic. They even call the scribes at 10 or 11 pm “for some important” information, which at most of the time is “most unimportant”. They even refuse to believe the arguments that their purpose could not be solved as the deadline for filing the stories is already past. But since they are not doing it on their own, they cannot accept the arguments as “These are the orders of the Sahib, which have to be complied at all costs”, revealed a junior police officer. Creative canvassing Creativity of various candidates and their supporters for the Assembly elections was at their best during the past week. While some traditional ways like holding rallies, using mobile public address system and inviting cine stars had been followed, several new means had also been adopted this year. A bald boy, while canvassing for a BJP candidate, painted his head with lotus flower and BJP slogans. Two tiny flags with hands painted on them were fixed on the horns of cow. Similar flags depicting balance as the symbol were made to flutter after being fixed on the ends of vipers of cars. Model of an Ambassador car, symbol of the Ludhiana Vikas Manch, was put atop another car in a rally in Ludhiana West.
— Sentinel |
Direct or 3-cornered contest likely in Ludhiana segments Ludhiana, February 12 The contest at some places like Kila Raipur, Raikot and Ludhiana East is too close that it has already created tension in these areas. While Kila Raipur has already been declared as a sensitive Assembly segment, the administration has taken added precautions for Raikot and Ludhiana East. In Kila Raipur, the sitting MLA and Minister for Technical Education, Mr Jagdish Garcha, who is contesting on the Shiromani Akali Dal ticket, the Panthic Morcha candidate, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, the Congress candidate, Bibi Gurdial Kaur Khangura and an Independent candidate, Mr Tarsem Jodhan, are trying their luck. With Mr Garcha, Mr Grewal and Bibi Khangura evenly placed against each other, it could be anybody’s game there. Both Mr Grewal and Bibi Khangura are trying to cash in on the resentment against the Garcha family. In Raikot, the contest is likely to be between the sitting MLA and the Congress candidate, Mr Harmohinder Singh and the SAD candidate, Mr Ranjit Singh Talwandi, a son of former SGPC chief and senior Akali leader, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi. Mr Harmohinder Singh has earlier defeated the junior Mr Talwandi in 1997 against a pro-Badal wave. This time he has an added advantage with the presence of Panthic Morcha candidate, Mr Balwinder Singh Bains, who is likely to cut into the Akali votes. But despite that it is too difficult to predict as Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi is a much respected leader in the area, which may help his son. The other important segment happens to be the Ludhiana East, where the sitting MLA Mr Satpal Gosain, Deputy Speaker in the Punjab Assembly, is placed in a tough battle against Mr Surinder Dawer of the Congress. Mr Gosain has represented the segment since 1992, but is facing threat to his citadel this time for several reasons. Besides, being a strong candidate, Mr Dawer is also cashing in on the presence of Mr Jeet Singh of the Panthic Morcha. Mr Singh will definitely cut the Sikh vote which will otherwise go to Mr Gosain, who is the joint candidate of the Akali-BJP alliance. Similarly in Ludhiana rural, Mr Milkiat Singh Birmi is banking on the division in Akali votes. Mr Birmi is placed against the sitting MLA and the Panthic Morcha candidate Mr Hira Sigh Gabria and Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal of the ruling Akali-BJP alliance. Besides hoping for a division in the Akali votes, Mr Birmi is also optimistic on account of a strong Congress base in the area. Although the BSP candidate, Mr Gurmail Pahalwan (a Congress rebel), is also in the fray, it may not make much difference, since Mr Birmi has managed to rope in all dissidents like Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib and Mr Gurdev Lapran, who have been otherwise maintaining a distance. Jagraon is also one of the key constituencies where it will be a three- cornered contest. Presence of a Congress rebel, Mr Darshan Singh, as an Independent candidate has made the contest more interesting. While the SAD has fielded Mr Bagh Singh Mallah, the Congress has fielded Mr Parminder Singh Sibia from here. In Ludhiana West, it is again a three cornered contest with Mr Harish Rai Dhanda, who is contesting as an Independent candidate, having added another dimension to an otherwise direct fight between Mr Harnam Dass Johar of the Congress and Mr Avtar Singh Makkar of the Akali-BJP alliance. Since Ludhiana West is considered to be a Congress stronghold, the opposition to Mr Makkar from Mr Amarjit Singh Bhatia might add to Mr Johar’s advantage. In Dakha it is again a three cornered contest between the sitting MLA and the Panthic Morcha candidate, Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, the Congress candidate, Mr Milkiat Singh Dakha and the Akali-BJP candidate, Mr Darshan Singh Shivalik. Despite Mr Khalsa’s good-will and a positing influence in the area mainly due to his late father, Mr Basant Singh Khalsa, it may ultimately prove to be a fight between Mr Dakha and Mr Shivalik as the Panthic Morcha has not been able to retain much support here. In Ludhiana North, Samrala, Khanna, Koomkalan and Payal the contest may prove to be direct between the candidates of the ruling alliance and the Congress. From Ludhiana North, the sitting MLA, Mr Rakesh Pandey, is contesting against Mr Pran Bhatia of the BJP. In Samrala the sitting Congress MLA, Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, is fighting against Mr Kripal Singh Khirnia of the SAD. In Payal late Beant Singh’s son, Mr Tejprakash, is contesting on the Congress ticket against Mr Jagjivanpal Singh of the SAD. In Koomkalan, Mr Inder Iqbal Singh, a son of Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, who has himself shifted to Kartarpur, is locked in a tough fight against Mr Isher Singh of the Congress. In Khanna it will again be a direct contest between Mrs Satwant Kaur Dhaliwal of the SAD and Mrs Harbans Kaur Dullo of the Congress. |
|
POLL ANALYSIS Ludhiana, February 12 By far the most significant factor in these elections has been personal attacks by both Congress and Akali Dal-BJP leader, indicating not only the frustration among politicians, but also the
desperation to acquire power. The Akalis singled out Capt Amarinder Singh for the attack in the same manner in which the Congress singled out Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. In the nearly 10-day-long attacks and counter-attacks individuals not parties appeared to be important. Not only is the lack of second-rung leadership in all political parties being felt more than ever before, but criticism of senior leaders has also been pronounced. As a result, the issue of corruption has assumed a more serious dimension. The question of “sale of party tickets” has caused as much a setback to the Congress as has the issue of “amassing wealth at the cost of the state” for the Akali Dal-BJP alliance. It is, perhaps, for the first time that the issue of corruption is not being taken with the usual attitude of “corruption is now accepted as part of life”. People do not have more expectations from the Akali Dal-BJP alliance than they had from the previous Congress régime. But the anti-incumbency factor is bound to hit the Akali Dal harder than it hit the Congress in 1997 because it is for the first time in the history of the Akali Dal that the party completed its term in office. The Akalis cannot blame the Central Government this time for hindering its plans for the state. The fact that the BJP that heads the government at the Centre is also a part of the Akali Dal government in Punjab has caused greater resentment among the people. It is bound to take a heavier toll on the Akalis. Paradoxically, on the one hand all pre-election surveys rate Mr Badal high in terms of personal image as Chief Minister, but on the other they predict a downslide for his party. Interestingly, Mr Badal rates high as Chief Minister, despite the tirade of the Congress against him and his family, accusing them of bartering the interests of the state for personal gains. In this entire political exercise, the voter finds himself devoid of enough choice to exercise franchise. As compared to the previous elections where the educated voter showed disinterest in the electoral process, this time voters, especially the youth, wants to cast vote, but is unwilling to vote for candidates who do not have a clean image. A substantial number of people have demanded the introduction of negative voting to weed out the corrupt from the poll process. Though pre-poll surveys have gone all out to award the Congress 90 seats or more, this seems highly improbable, especially if the large numbers of dissidents in the fray are taken into account, despite the anti-incumbency factor. What is more interesting is that the Congress leadership itself wants a simple majority. A landslide victory, it feels will cause a lot of post-poll rift in the party with at least four persons aspiring for the Chief Minister’s slot. The most significant trend, however, has been the lack of loyalty to any political party on the part of the voter who has kept the politicians on the tenterhooks. It is this silence on the part of the voter that is causing anxiety to politicians. |
|
Rallies, meetings give way to personal contact Ludhiana, February 12 Major political parties have been mobilising their contacts, particularly in their weaker links, to motivate the voters and ensure fair amount of polling. One single factor, which have been worrying all contenders, in particular those on a stronger wicket in comparison to their main opponents, is almost total indifference of the electorate towards much hype and hullabaloo of the electioneering. Inclement weather, prevailing in the city and around for the past few days, also threaten to prove a spoilsport because a significant drop in mercury or the drizzle was bound to keep most people indoors. Right from this evening, when the campaigning came to an end in accordance with the relevant laws, the candidates, almost without exception, launched personal contact programmes with their supporters taking up distribution of voter slips on a massive scale. Many of the prominent contestants were reported to have been engaged in ‘close door’ meetings with specific groups of professionals, members of trade and industry and trade union activists. Meanwhile, Punjab Pradesh Congress Seva Dal volunteers went round several localities like Preet Nagar, Satguru Nagar, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Nagar, Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Harkrishan Nagar, Lohara Road and Baghi Stand to canvass support for the Congress nominee, Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha. The activists, led by the chief organiser, Mr Sushil Parashar, carried out a door-to-door campaign to muster support for the party candidate. In the wake of reports to the effect that massive number of bogus votes were got prepared by political parties and the electoral rolls showed hundreds of voters with a common address, the Independent candidate from Ludhiana West, Mr Harish Rai Dhanda, today announced that he had deployed groups of four advocates each on all polling stations to check bogus voting. A senior Congress leader and a former member of the Rajya Sabha, Mr Jagir Singh Dard, has issued an appeal to the electorate of the Koom Kalan constituency to cast their vote in favour of the SAD-BJP candidate, Mr Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, who is contesting from the seat currently held by his father, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha. He said he had not quit his party but had been actively campaigning for ‘junior’ Atwal solely in view of the massive developmental activities undertaken by his father in the area. |
|
‘Opinion surveys could be wrong’ Ludhiana, February 12 |
|
FCI bid to cover up theft Ahmedgarh, February 12 Instead of reporting the theft to the police and seeking a probe, senior FCI officials, who visited the town in the wake of a Ludhiana Tribune report in January, are reportedly trying to hush up the case in collusion with local officials. The report stated that FCI officials, for reasons best known to them, were trying to put the record straight by getting 15 rice bags from other units after showing these as damaged by rats. According to sources, a number of units have complied with the request and given 15 bags each to ‘make good’ the loss, other units have refused to do so. A team of senior FCI officials from Sangrur had visited the town but strangely it also chose to keep the matter an in-house secret rather than reporting it to the police, which according to the rules proceeds with an investigation only after a formal complaint is lodged with it. The sources further revealed the local officials were asking various ‘babus’ working under them to collect Rs 50,000 which according to them are to be passed onto the higher officials as ‘fee’ for hushing up the case. And the ‘babus’ concerned wonder as to why they are being asked to do so. |
|
MC employee missing Ludhiana, February 12 He left from his residence in Mohalla Sudan on the Daresi road in the morning on Wednesday for duty but did not reach the office. According to a report lodged by his family members, he was under mental distress for quite some time. The MC Commissioner, Mr R.L. Kalsia, has taken up the matter with the district police chief in order to trace the missing employee. The police, however, is yet to find some clue. |
|
|
Vegetarian sports quiz online Ludhiana, February 12 Giving this information, Mr Jason Baker of the PETA, said the purpose of the quiz was to educate the sports buffs that a non-vegetarian diet was not necessary for sportspersons. He said scores of professional athletes, world champions and Olympic medalists relied on vegetarian diet to get the required nutrients. |
Four get 7-yr RI Ludhiana, February 12 Convicted persons are Darshan Singh of Bajra village, Baljinder Singh of Bhattian village and Jaswinder Singh, Gurdeep Singh of Nandpur village. The accused were booked under sections 397, 307 of the IPC at police station Focal Point, on October 10, 1999. According to prosecution, Constable Baldev Singh of Tajpur police post was on duty at a “Naka” near Amrit Dharm Kanda, Tajpur road, along with other police personnel when they saw the accused coming on two scooters at about 10 pm. The scooters were without number plates, so the police party gave signal let them to stop their vehicles. But they turned their scooters towards Moti Nagar Market. On this the police party chased them and in Moti Nagar Market, the accused hit the scooter of Constable Baldev Singh as a result of which he fell down. The accused showered blows on him and fled from the spot after snatching a 9 mm Carbine from the police personnel. Constable Baldev Singh was admitted to Mohan Dai Cancer Hospital and then shifted to CMC Hospital, Ludhiana, for treatment. The accused were nabbed by the police after some days. Though they pleaded not guilty before court. But finding convincing and substantial evidence against them, the judge sentenced them to 7-year RI. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
