The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

More women come out against Jaghera
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 20
Soon after the arrest of ‘Sant’ Shamsher Singh Jaghera, in a rape case, six more women have accused him of rape. Details of their cases and addresses have been provided to the police. The women belong to the city. They were associated with the accused at one time or the other. The police has also been provided with details of a house at Lohara village which the accused allegedly occupied by fraud.

The newly constituted Gurdwara Mastuana committee has accused Shamsher Singh Jaghera of being responsible for the death of Baba Gurbachan Singh Kali Kambli wale, in December, 2000. They have, in a communication to the district police, demanded a high-level probe into the matter.

The women, who have accused the sant of rape, belong to CRPF Colony, Baba Deep Singh Nagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Sham Nagar in the city. They have approached members and the Khalsa Panchayat to take up their case.

Affidavits of the statements of the women have been prepared and will be submitted to the police tomorrow. The women said they did not want to come in the open as this could “destroy” their life.

Sources said the accused befooled a woman by promising to marry her if she divorced her NRI husband. The woman did so, but the accused did not keep his word. Former aides of the accused have now started providing information to the police about the nefarious activities of the accused.

A controversy has begun over the ownership of a house in Lohara village. It belonged to a terrorist and was in possession of the police. A few years ago, Shamsher Singh Jaghera took possession of the house.

A large number of imported perfumes have been recovered from the room of the accused in the dera.

Baba Nachhattar heads dera

Baba Nachattar Singh Kali Kambli wale of Patiala took over control of Mastauna Sahib Gurdwara, Dugri road, as well as the dera of the rape accused, Sant Shamsher Singh Jaghera, located within the Gurdwara premises.

Local residents, too, withdrew their three-year-old boycott of the place. They said the dera had been “purified” after the arrest of Shamsher Singh Jaghera. Akhand Path has been started at the dera.

An 11-member committee comprising representatives of the dera, area residents and Sikh organisations has been constituted under Baba Nachattar Singh to manage the dera affairs.

Mr Amarjit Singh Kala, husband of the raped woman, has been made President of the Gurdwara Mastuana Sahib Parbandhak Committee.

Briefing the media, Mr Charanjit Singh, president, Khalsa Panchayat Organisation, said Mr Kala had been made president as he had dared to challenge Shamsher Singh Jaghera.

The meeting was attended by members of the Kali Kambli wale sect, Khalsa Panchayat, Amrit Sanchar Sewak Jatha, residents of neighbouring areas and some Sikh organisations.

Mr Charanjit Singh, meanwhile, said in a press note that the Khalsa Panchayat would always spearhead campaigns against self-styled sants like Shamsher Singh Jaghera. He said Khalsa Panchayat had taken up cudgels against Baba Dhanwat Singh of the Noormehlia sect, Baba Bhaniara wale and several others.

The police remained deployed in the dera throughout the day following threats received by the victim and her family.

Posts of judicial officers to be filled soon
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 20
The state government is in the process of filling the 90 vacant posts of judicial officers all over the state. This was disclosed by the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice B.K. Roy, who was on a visit to the city.

He said the posts of judicial officers lying vacant for the past sometime would soon be filled. He said the process for filling the post was on.

He, however, refused to divulge details about the appointments stating that the process was at a premature stage as yet. He said he had telephonic talks with the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, over the important issues.

According to sources, more than 45 judicial officers were retrenched after the cash-for-job scam was unearthed. The remaining posts had, however, been lying vacant for the past many years.

With the filling of posts, workload on judges would come down. It would go a long way in clearing the backlog in the courts.

Mr Justice Roy was accorded a warm welcome by the local administrative and judicial officers. It was for the first time when the Chief Justice had visited the city. Justice N.K. Sud was accompanying him.

The District and Sessions Judge, Mr Baldev Singh, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, the SSP, Mr Narinder Pal Singh, the Additional Sessions Judges, Mr S.M.S. Mahal, Mr Inderjit Kaushik, Mr D.R. Arora, Mr Jaspal Singh Bhatia, Mr Sunil Arora, Mr Vijay Singh, the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Mr J.S. Chouhan, and the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Arunvir Vashisht, were also present on the occasion.

Man kills former wife’s husband
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 20
A migrant was killed by the former husband of his wife in Sector 38 here late last evening. His wife was also injured in the attack. Shankar was allegedly clubbed to death by Sukai, former husband of his wife, Mira, last night. Sukai had come to their house to meet them. The three were sitting together when an altercation started among them. Later, Sukai attacked Shankar and killed him on the spot. When Sukai tried to flee, Mira tried to stop him. She was also attacked by him and injured. The accused managed to flee the spot. Mira was taken to the Civil Hospital.

The police has registered a case against Sukai under Section 302 of the IPC.

Police sources said the accused had a rivalry with the victim as the latter’s wife was earlier married to the accused. Due to strained relationship with Sukai, Mira married Shankar and started living with him in Sector 38. Sukai used to visit them. It was only last night that they had an argument and Shankar was killed by Sukai in a fit of rage.

Rs 161 cr for rural development
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 20
The Punjab Government will spend Rs 161 crore on the development of villages during the current financial year. The control of education, health services and welfare will be handed over to the panchayats. This was stated by the Minister of State for Jails and Urban Development, Mr Malkiat Singh Birmi.

He was addressing a gathering at Jaspal Bangar village, near here, yesterday. Mr Birmi also upgraded the local high school and announced a grant of Rs 1. 25 lakh for the development of the village.

The minister said the state government was committed to strengthen the Panchayati Raj institutions and it had been decided to hand over the control of 29 departments to them. Initially, the charge of primary schools, primary health services and welfare would be handed over to the panchayats.

Mr Birmi said the panchayats would be empowered to spend up to Rs 10 lakh for executing developmental works in the villages in place of the Rs 5 lakh limit at present. The government would soon release Rs 2 lakh grant for the panchayats elected unanimously.

The minister disclosed that plans were afoot to raise the revenue by 20 per cent.

Novelist honoured
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 20
The Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Ludhiana, organised a function at Punjabi Bhavan today in honour of Prof Niranjan Tasneem, Sahit Akademi awardee. Niranjan Tasneem considers novel an 'art form'. As such narrative purity has been of prime importance to him. He depicts the plight of the modern man as a victim of existential dichotomy.

In his award-winning novel Gawache Arth (The lost meanings), he has compared the happenings of 1947 with those of 1984.

Dr Surjit Patar, president of Sahit Akademi, Ludhiana, presided over the function. critics, he said, described Niranjan Tasneem as a pioneer in introducing modernity in Punjabi novel .

Prof Ravinder Bhathal, general secretary of the Akademi, compered the programme. Prof M S Cheema laid stress on the novelist's portrayal of modern sensibilities in his fictional works.

Among others who spoke were Mr Jagdev Singh Jassowal and Dr Kulwinder Minhas. Jaswant Singh Kanwal, eminent novelist, was the chief guest.

SP’s daughter kidnapped
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 20
The Model Town police yesterday registered a case under Sections 364, 506 and 120-B of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act on the statement of Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhatti, an SP in the Investigation Department, Lok Pal, Punjab, a resident of Punjab Mata Nagar on the Jawaddi road, against Gurjinder Singh, alias Rommy, a resident of 216, Power Colony, Patiala, and another unknown boy accompanying him.

Mr Bhatti, in his complainant, had alleged that the accused , who were standing at the gate of Guru Nanak Girls College in Model Town on the morning of July 17, had kidnapped his daughter Rupinder Kaur (16) at pistol point and taken her away on their motor cycle (PB-D-6153).

The complainant stated that the accused took the action soon after Rupinder was dropped at the college by his gun man, at 8.30 am. No arrest has been made so far.

Frauds alleged: The Civil Lines police yesterday registered a case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Bakshish Singh, a resident of Miani village falling under the Koom Kalan police station, against Keemat Singh, Baljinder Singh and Paramjit Singh, residents of the same village. The complainant had alleged that he owned a joint property with the accused being his partners. But the accused prepared a forged power of attorney supposed to be issued by him on the basis of which the accused transferred his share in their names before June 22, 1992.

Another case of fraud under Sections 468 and 471 of the IPC was registered at the same police station on the statement of Commandant, First IRB, Patiala, against SPO Swarna Singh, an employee of the IRB, Patiala. The complainant had alleged that the accused had obtained his position in the IRB on the basis of a Class X certificate, which on an inquiry, was found to be a forged one. No arrest has been made so far.

The Haibowal police yesterday registered a case under Sections 420 and 468 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Manjeet Singh, a resident of Jassian village, against Amrik Singh, Ranjit Singh, Daljit Singh, residents of Green Park, Dandi Swami. The complainant had alleged that the accused, on the basis of a forged registration documents pertaining to his plot in Jassian village, took possession of the plot after January 1, 2002. No arrest has been made so far.

The Shimla Puri police registered a case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Surinder Singh Shinda, film and TV artiste, against Bhupinder Singh, who lives on the Gill road. The complainant had alleged that he had given Rs. 2,15,750 to the accused who in turn had given a cheque for the amount in order to repay the money. But on presentation, the cheque was not honoured by the bank concerned before June 23 last. No arrest has been made so far.

The Focal Point police registered a case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC on the statement of Mr S.K.Yadav, Managing Director, Impex Global Limited, a resident of Manjal Park , Adarsh Nagar, New Delhi, against Mr K.L. Jain, Managing Director, Hariant Industries Limited, a resident of Phase 5, Focal Point, Ludhiana. The complainant had alleged that two cheques given by the accused for Rs. 22,25,000 and Rs. 32,25,750 were not honoured by the bank concerned. No arrest has been made so far.

Booked for land grab: The Jodhewal police yesterday registered a case under Sections 427, 447, 434, 147 and 149 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Harsant Singh, Forest Range Officer, Mattewara, against Mann Singh, a resident of Bazra village , Sucha Singh and Veer Singh, residents of Chuhar Wal village, Disha and Sham, residents of Mazra village, and Palwinder Singh and Baldev Singh Bhola, residents of Chuhar Wal village. The complainant had alleged that the accused had dismantled the boundary wall of forest property at Chuhar Wal village on the intervening night of July 14-15 , destroyed about 1,000 new plants and occupied the land. No arrest has been made so far.

Woman dies in mishap: The Salem Tabri police yesterday registered a case under Sections 279, 337, 427 and 304-A of the IPC on the statement of Mr Prem Chand, against the driver of a bus owned by Satluj Transport Company, Jalandhar. The complainant had stated that he was going on a scooter along with his wife Poonam Jain on the GT road near Amaltas Hotel on Saturday when the driver hit the scooter from behind at about 10.45 am . As a result of the mishap, his wife died on the spot and the scooter was badly damaged.

The Salem Tabri police yesterday registered a case under Sections 279 and 427 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Karamjit Singh, a resident of Harnam Nagar, Sunet village, against the driver of a Maruti car. The complainant had alleged that the accused had hit his car with his car on the bend of the GT road near Bhattian on Saturday and damaged his car.