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My son has made big mistake, says Hawara Kalan (Fatehgarh Sahib), January 22 Her younger son, main accused in the Beant Singh murder had escaped from jail. She said she had no knowledge about it. “He has not contacted me at home. If he has done it, he has made a big mistake. He should not have done it. At least he was safe in jail. Are you sure he is the one who has run away?’’ she asked in disbelief, a feeling shared by most residents of Hawara Kalan village. Narinder Kaur and others of the village who had been witness to or heard of police atrocities during the days of terrorism in Punjab, do not believe that the truth was as simple as was being told to her or being flashed on TV channels. “There is something which the police is hiding from us. What if this is another drama to kill him in an encounter?” a close relative asked. Jagtar Singh, believed to be a member of the Babbar Khalsa International, a terrorist outfit, was first accused in the murder of a granthi of Chamkaur Sahib Gurdwara in the late 1980s. ‘‘He was later acquitted in the case but by that time he was already in the company of terrorists and since then there has been no coming back,’’said a relative. Jagtar Singh is, however, a hero for the village youth. An ace volley ball player who played for the state at the national level during his school days in Faridkot, his name is on the Hawara school honour board for topping in Class VIII. “He had never ever slapped anyone in the village,” Major Singh, his uncle, said. Jagtar's family is among the richest families of the village with several close relatives working abroad. A row of multi-storeyed houses, the biggest ones in the village, belong to his relatives. “Our families have never faced an economic problem. We have enough land here,” Major Singh said. Jagtar's elder
brother Avtar Singh and his wife Balwinder Kaur, who is the sarpanch, have been out of station for the past
one month, Narinder Kaur said, adding that the couple did not have children and were in
Indore. Suffering from near loss of vision, Narinder Kaur kept repeating that she did not know anything about her son’s whereabouts. ‘‘I had gone to meet him in jail over two months ago but he did not tell me anything. Everytime we asked him about his health, he would say he is fine. He never discussed anything with us,’’
she said. Gurcharan Singh, Jagtar’s teacher at Balsarpur village, still remembers him. ‘‘He was a very good volley ball player. After finishing class VIII in the village school, I asked him to complete his matriculation from the school at Balsarpur. He played inter-university volley ball matches while in this school and then joined a school in Faridkot and excelled in sports there too. I am not sure if he completed his plus 2. We were told by the police that he was involved with the terrorists and called himself ‘Bitta’,’’he said. All through the day, Jagtar’s escape from Burail Jail along with three others remained a hot topic of discussion in the village. Police jeeps kept coming and going, informed a villager. The village seemed surprised that Jagtar had managed to flee. ‘‘I had gone to meet him several times. You cannot believe the amount of security there. It is virtually impossible to escape from there,’’ Major Singh said. Jagtar’s father died in 1991. ‘‘He died the year Rajiv Gandhi died. Since then I have been living alone with my elder son. But my life is like a death. I missed my son but at least I knew that he was safe in jail. Now he is neither before my eyes nor safe,’’ Jagtar’s mother added. |
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Counsel suspects ploy to kill
Hawara, others
Chandigarh, January 22 “We fear Jagtar Singh Hawara, Jagtar Singh Tara and Paramjit Singh might have been killed or will be killed in a fake encounter,” said Mr Arunjeev Singh Walia, counsel for the accused, while talking to The Tribune. Terming the police's theory of escape a ‘cock and bull story’, Mr Walia claimed that the three were taken out of the jail premises with the purpose of elimination. He also alleged that the three were frequently beaten up by the jail authorities. Mr Walia also alleged that the counsel was not allowed to visit the jail premises to witness the spot from where the three allegedly escaped. The three who fled had always been posing a problem to the jail authorities. They, along with other accused in the Beant Singh assassination case, had been raising pro-Khalistan and anti-Operation Blue Star slogans. The slogans were raised during the trial on the jail premises. There had been reports that the trio used to abuse and intimidate the jail staff. In 2002, Hawara had gone on a 16-day hunger strike after the jail authorities had segregated another inmate from his barrack. For many days he was kept on drip-feed. It was Mr Simranjit Singh Mann of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) who persuaded him to end the fast. The three made at least two attempts earlier to escape from Burail Jail. It is also being alleged that during 1997-98, Hawara was using a cellphone with ISD facility. After the alleged attempt to blow up the jail in June, 1998, to help Hawara and others escape, the then UT IGP, Mr R.P. Singh, had said intelligence reports had indicated that terrorists would attempt to breach the security of the jail by either winning over somebody in the jail staff or resorting to subversion. While the police had then claimed to have thwarted the subversive act of terrorists, it appears that Hawara and others succeeded in winning over some staff members of the jail. A Deputy Jail Superintendent, D.S. Sandhu, and two CRPF constables were arrested today following their ‘prima facie’ linkage with the today’s jailbreak. In August, 2000, the Morinda police had booked a jail warden, Omvir, on the charges of sedition and committing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony after he allegedly sent a fax message to the UK on behalf of Balwant Singh, another accused in the assassination case. On August 19, 2002, Hawara complained of back problem and muscle ailment. Later, under a heavy security cover, Hawara was taken out of Burail Jail to a private clinic here for check-up. On February 9, 1996, the Chandigarh Administration imposed Section 268 of the CrPC on the eight accused lodged in Burail Jail.  |
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Jail authorities delayed
informing police Chandigarh, January 22 The outer end of the tunnel was noticed by a CRPF jawan at 6.45 am today but the matter was reported to the police and the UT Administration around 8.30 am. Sources said after the tunnel was discovered, the jail authorities started investigations at their level. Meanwhile, a Punjab police team has been associated with the Chandigarh police to nab the three accused in the Beant Singh assassination case who escaped from the Burail jail here today. A team has been constituted under a senior officer to scrutinise the list of all persons who met the accused in the recent months and take necessary action. The team will examine the interrogation reports of all accused and their accomplices. The police has constituted a team headed by DSP P. K. Dhawan to carry out searches in the city. The team has officers from the Crime Branch and the Operation Cell. The Superintendent of Police (Operations), Mr H.G.S Dhaliwal, is leading the exercise to nab the escapees. A special watch with the help of spotters and identifiers has begun at the local bus stand, railway station and other possible escape routes. International airports have also been alerted in this regard. A list of security personnel, civilians, government officials, witnesses and politicians involved in the investigation and trial of the assassination case is being prepared and their threat perception is being reviewed, said a senior police official. Mr Gurmeet Singh Pinki, the police officer who arrested Hawara, told reporters that he was in danger after the escape of the accused. Meanwhile, the security of the two local witnesses in the case has been tightened. The witnesses, Balwinder Singh and Surinder Singh, told this correspondent that the escape had frightened them. They said when the accused could escape from the high-security jail, the security provided to them could not be sufficient. |
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Eerie silence in villages Khamano, January 22 Massive raids were conducted by the police in this district at the houses of the relatives and friends of the four undertrials. The police has beefed up security and nakas were set up on major routes. Security has also been beefed up at Central Jail, Borstal Jail and Women’s Jail here. Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajjewal belong to Khamano village near Samrala and Rajjewal village near Sudhar, respectively. The Khanna and Jagraon police raided the houses to find their whereabouts. There was no report that the police has picked up any of their relatives but a sister and brother of Jagtar Singh Hawara were missing from Khamano village under mysterious circumstances. Hawara’s brother Avtar Singh and brother’s wife Balwinder Kaur is incidentally the sarpanch of the village and is said to have gone to Indore for some personal matter. A police team led by Khamano SHO Hansraj raided the house but could find only aged mother of the alleged terrorist. Villagers stayed away from the alleged terrorist’s house for the fear of being questioned by the police. The old woman, Narinder Kaur, said she learnt about the jail break from the police only. Refusing to talk much she said her son was wronged by the police. “He was a volley ball player and was picked up by police even though he was innocent. This made him a terrorist,” she claimed. She said it was surprising that her son and other undertrials managed to escape now after spending so many years. “There was much more than what meets the eye,” she suspected. At Rajjewal sources disclosed the Sudhar police inquired from the surviving relatives of the alleged terrorist Balwant Singh Rajjewal. Villagers refused to talk and everybody was staying away from the house of the relatives of the alleged terrorist, sources disclosed. |
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Lucky
escape for lifer Chandigarh, January 22 He used to cook meals for the three
undertrials and was living in the same barracks built especially for
these undertrials. Sources said there was no available photograph of
Dev Singh and at best a police party would visit his house in Chamouli
while the entire focus of the search would naturally be on the three
accused for killing Beant Singh. |
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Beant’s
daughter expresses shock Chandigarh, January 22 “The matter needs thorough investigation. They could
not have escaped without the patronage of some high-ups,” said the
MLA. However, she did not name anybody. “Keeping in view the past
actions of the undertrails in jail, their escape only highlights the
callousness and non-seriousness of the jail authorities,” alleged Ms
Gurkanwal Kaur. In the wake of the incident, the Punjab police is
considering beefing up security provided to her as well as other
member of Beant Singh’s family. |
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Parents of co-accused to
file petition Mohali, January 22 Navjot’s parents who live in Phase 3B2 have requested not to be named but said their son was falsely implicated in the case. “We have been living in hell since the past nine years,” his father said. Navjot (33), a post-graduate in English and a diploma-holder in material management, was serving in Ranbaxy in Mohali when he was arrested from his house. “He has been languishing in jail ever since and the CBI has not been able to prove that he is involved,” his father said. Commenting on the jailbreak, he said, “The jailbreak at Burail should be investigated not by the police or the CBI but by a sitting judge of either the Supreme Court or the high court. The CBI should not be entrusted with the job as it is a party in the case,” he alleged. “I have been moving from pillar to post for help for my son. My wife requested for a reinvestigation to the President when he came to Chandigarh, but there has been no response,” he said. “We belong to a respectable family. Both me and my wife have retired from senior positions in the government. Had my son been in the wrong, I would have thrown him out of the house. He is innocent and in jail for nine years for no crime. Is this what you call justice?” he said. He said Navjot had been given a separate barrack in the jail and had passed a computer course from IGNOU with over 90 per cent. |
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Governor
visits Burail Jail Chandigarh, January 22 |
Concept paper on generating 10,000 jobs Chandigarh, January 22 Mr Harman Das Johar, Minister for Higher Education, formally released the concept paper at a function here today. After orientation of the selected youths, the Director of the ITFT, said 38 corporate houses would hold a camp in the city in the second week of April this year. In his inaugural address, the minister said the state government would extend all possible support to the institute in its efforts to channelise the youth for employment in the fast-developing service industry. He said through DPI Colleges, the universities in the state would invite graduate students from different colleges for special package on personality enhancement and employment generation. Dr Sharma said employment for 10,000 persons in the region could bring in around Rs 150 crore circulation money in the region and induce 25,000 indirect employment avenues, giving further boost to the regional economy. In an audiovisual presentation, the Director of the ITFT, highlighted the recommendations of the concept paper and gave a broad scenario of the grim unemployment situation in the country, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh. He said more than 2 lakh graduates passed out every year from different universities in northern India and more than 22 lakh persons were registered with various employment exchanges in the region. He said according to a report of the Planning Commission, “India Vision –2020,” out of 200 million jobs, 120 million jobs would be created in the service sector alone. While elaborating strategy for the year, he said to commemorate its tenth anniversary, the ITFT had adopted 2004 as Year for Employment Generation for the educated youth of northern India in the service industry. During the year, the ITFT would organise five complimentary conclaves — one in each state on developing human resource, personality development-cum-career in service industry workshops — for conclaves of 500 youth in each university in Punjab, one in Himachal, two in Haryana, two in Jammu and Kashmir and one at Chandigarh. The ITFT would organise a ‘India Travel Mart’ in March, a ‘Jobs Fest’ in April, complementary personality development and service industry training from April to June, an international conference by the Forum of Education and Scholars of Tourism in June, an interactive seminar on the role of media in employment generation, a one-day conference on academia-industry interface with all principals of colleges from northern India. He informed that the ITFT would also launch a portal for placement drive, where students could keep their bio-data and meet potential employers through an e-mail. Ms Nisha Sarad, Director, Public Instructions (Colleges), Punjab, and Maj-Gen J.M Lal (retd.), Chairman of the ITFT, were also present on the occasion. |
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POLL RUN-UP Chandigarh, January 22 Mr B.B. Bahl, president of the local unit, said a majority of the members of the 11 membered Election Committee had recommended the name of Mr Bansal. The decision in this regard will be communicated to the high command, he said. This was, however, not agreed to by Congress members who showed their dissent on the issue. Mr Bahl said the difference made no issue because no one other than Mr Bansal had deposited a security of Rs 10,000, which is compulsory to be eligible for contesting the elections. There was no question of accepting any other names. There is, however, denying the fact that no consensus could be reached at two meetings held on the issue of selecting the candidate. It was felt that a section of Congressmen demanded that instead of sending a single name to the high command, the party should send a panel of names and leave it to the high command to make the final decision. In two meetings, one at the Municipal Corporation office and another at Congress Bhavan, the proposed name of Mr Bansal was not cleared unanimously. Mr Bahl claimed that he had a “signed” document showing majority in favour of Mr Bansal. At the meeting held in the office of Kamlesh, Mayor, Mr Chandermukhi Sharma and Mr Kuldeep Singh expressed their difference of opinion and even staged a walkout. At the meeting held in the party office, Mr Venod Sharma, a former MP, and Mr Munish Tewari, a former President of the Youth Congress, expressed their difference of opinion. The meeting was also attended by Mr Bahl and Mr Ram Pal Sharma, among others. Mr Tewari said no resolution was cleared regarding any name. “ On a proposal moved by Mr Sharma, it was decided that the matter be referred to Ms Sonia Gandhi, party president,” he added. The BJP has claimed that the local unit of the SAD decided to ally with it for the forthcoming elections. Mr Kehar Singh, in charge of the media relations of the BJP, in a press note stated that Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, BJP president of the local unit, had met Mr G.S. Riar, BJP president of the local unit, and differences at the local level had been sorted out. It was decided that they would contest the elections jointly. Mr Riar when contacted said: “no formal tie-up had yet been agreed upon with the local BJP unit. The Akalis would like to see the agenda and appeal for a SAD candidate to be given a ticket. There will be more meetings which will be attended by senior party leaders before any announcement”. A senior BJP office-bearer said: “When the SAD had tied up with the BJP at the national level, there was no logic in the argument of any differences at the local level”. BJP election
campaign The BJP will starts its election campaign tomorrow. The inaugural function will be held at the Nehru Ground, Sector 22. The campaign is a part of the ‘Vajpayee sandesh yatra,’ which aims to highlight the aims of the Vajpayee government in the past five years. The ‘yatra’ will make an effort to reach out each house in the city. The rallies will start from different points in a sector each day and talk to majority of the citizens to have a direct interaction with them. A combined rally will be held on February 21. Employees’ rally The Chandigarh UT Subordinate Services Federation has in a press note announced its move to reach out to the BJP and point out various areas where no action had been taken during its tenure in the Centre. A rally to counter the inauguration of the BJP campaign will be organised tomorrow. The rally will commence from the Labour chowk and end at the BJP’s office in Sector 33, where the next action plan will be decided. A meeting of the central forum for different employee organisations was held at Government Press, Sector 18. Those who attended the meeting included leaders of the CTU, General Hospital, Municipal Corporation, maintenance, Government Press, NCC, education, engineering and arts colleges , besides others. The major demands included MC employees be treated on deputation, release of pending bonus of the past six years, increase in retirement age from 58 years to 60 years, filling of vacant posts and termination of contractual system of appointment besides others. Mr Ramesh Kumar Chandolia, a leader of the federation, said they would hand over a memorandum of demands to Mr Satya Pal Jain, a former MP, and other leaders and ask them to communicate their problems to the Centre. |
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Driver recommended
for bravery award Chandigarh, January 22 Karam Singh, who was on official duty on the night of January 14 when he saw smoke rising from the residential area in Manimajra, says “I was alone on duty at that time. As I sensed the urgency of the situation, I rushed to house number 5144 that was engulfed by flames. I rushed into the kitchen where I saw the woman of the house and her maid struggling to escape the fire. I pushed them outside the house and returned to control the fire which was spreading towards the main entrance to the house”. He also removed LPG cylinders from the kitchen, before others came to help him. Thanks to the presence of mind of Karam Singh, who served as hawaldar in the Army for 15 years before joining the NCC, a major fire was averted. Talking to The Tribune today, Karam Singh said: “My reaction to save others was natural. For the 15 years that I served in the Army, all I learnt was to rush to the aid of the needy. I have also worked along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir and have participated in flushing out terrorists in Punjab”. |
4 injured in group clash Panchkula, January 22 The trouble broke when some youths passed indecent remarks against two girls who were going on a bicycle in Devi Nagar village. When two persons, Mohammad and Munawar, objected to the remarks they were allegedly manhandled by the youths. Even as hot words paved way for the scuffle, the supporters of both the groups also reached the spot. In the scuffle, apart from Munawa and Mohammad, Rafiq and Salim were also injured. |
Industry should comply with safety Mohali, January 22 Mr Gurmeet Singh, president, MIA, said the main aim of the programme was to create awareness as regard to industrial safety and also the safety of the people. The seminar would focus on enhancing the role effectiveness in respect of preservation of environment, managing safety and achieving excellence in manufacturing industry. He said nearly 30 participants, including officials from the Pollution Control Board of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and delegates from industrial units, were attending seminar. He said it was essential to comply to safety norms as certain chemicals were used by industrial units in the manufacturing process. Mr K.P. Verma, president, HRD Foundation, outlined the features of the programme. The faculty comprised of experts like Mr B.B. Chakaorborty, a former Executive Director of Indian Oil Corporation, Dr R.S. Hamsagar, a scientist from the USA, Dr H.K. Parwana, Senior Scientific Officer from the Punjab Pollution Control Board, and Dr P.B. Rastogy, Additional Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests. |
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