The SP, Mr Opinderjit Singh Ghumman, claimed that the accused, Satta, had made a trip to Pakistan where he received training in subversive activities. Satta also visited Uganda, the SP added.

Jalandhar, June 17
The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Punjab Police, Mr Iqbal Singh, has become the first police officer from the state to be honoured by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for his contribution to Sikh literature.

Mr Iqbal Singh, who is posted at Jalandhar as A.I.G (CID), has authored three books, “Lalkaarde Sahibzade,” “Gurbani Katha Vichar,” and “Musalman Kahawan Mushkil” on Sikh history and philosophy. He was among 12 eminent personalities honoured by the top Sikh religious organisation during the Shaheedi Samagam of Guru Arjan Dev, held at Tarn Taran yesterday.

His book, “Lalkaarde Sahibzade”, has placed certain poetic anomalies with historical truth about lives of the four “Sahibzadas” of Guru Gobind Singh, while “Gurbani Katha Vichar” explores the quoting of Hindu mythology in Guru Granth Sahib.

“Musalmaan Kahawan Mushkil,” reflects the services of that Muslims had rendered for the Sikh Gurus. This work presents a picture of traditional Sikh-Muslim bond and narrates the thinking and writing of the Sikh Gurus about Islam.

Besides, faring well in literature and contributing to the Sikh religion in his own way, Mr Iqbal Singh, has also proved his mettle as a professional police officer by earning a police medals for meritorious and distinguished services.

The construction of a gurdwara inside the Tarn Taran Police Lines, setting up of an outdoor hospital for leprosy patients in 1996-97, when he was the SSP, Tarn Taran, and a number of medical camps, with the help of charitable organisations, in remote areas of the district, are indications of his love for public service.

“I am proud to receive the SGPC award as it is one of highest religious honours, which comes very rarely. It has encouraged me to do undertake more social and religious works,” said a elated Mr Iqbal Singh.

The SGPC chief, Mr Avtaar Singh, was not available for comment, but, Mr G.S. Lamba, an eminent Sikh scholar, observed that no police officer before Mr Iqbal Singh had ever been honoured by the SGPC for literature.

Earlier, the SGPC secretary, Mr Harbeant Singh, had written a letter to the Punjab Director General of Police, Mr. S.S. Virk, who in turn, permitted Mr Iqbal Singh to receive the award.

Jalandhar, June 17
Taking a serious note of the death of two woman from the Nai Colony in Nakodar yesterday after they allegedly consumed contaminated water, Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anurag Verma today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

The administrative action comes after residents of the colony alleged that they were getting contaminated water supply and that the Municipal Council and Health Department had turned a blind eye to the grim situation. They also alleged that the two women died after drinking the water for the past one week.

The inquiry would be conducted by the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Nakodar. He has been asked to submit the inquiry report within two weeks.

The DC has asked the SDM to “specifically examine” whether the Municipal Council and its officers were at fault in the incident.

Similarly, the SDM would also examine whether the officials of the Health Department had held awareness camps in the affected slum localities or taken any water samples.

Mr Verma has also asked the SDM to look into the allegations that some patients were not being given proper treatment at the Civil Hospital, Nakodar, and were instead referred to private hospitals in Jalandhar.

Earlier today, the DC visited the affected localities in Nakodar. He also went to the Civil Hospital in the town to see whether the patients were getting proper treatment or not.

He was accompanied by the Jalandhar Civil Surgeon, Dr Avtar Singh, Nakodar SDM, Mr Gurpreet Singh Khaira, and Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Nakodar.

The DC directed the Municipal Council to immediately provide drinking water in the affected localities through water tankers. He said piped water supply should be temporarily suspended and leakage points be plugged.

He added that the piped water supply would be restored only after the Executive Officer was satisfied that there was no contamination from any source.

Mr Verma also directed the Executive Officer to survey all the localities of Nakodar, especially the slum areas, to see whether contamination of water was taking place in any other locality also. The DC also asked the Superintending Engineer, Water Supply & Sewerage Board, to get the water pipes in the affected areas replaced with top priority.

The Civil Surgeon was directed by the DC to collect information regarding all other gastroenteritis patients from all the private hospitals in Nakodar and pass on the information to the Municipal Council, Nakodar, “so that they can check water supply in those areas too”. He was also asked to collect water samples from all the areas of the Nakodar town, especially the slums.

Kapurthala, June 17
A railway employee was arrested for allegedly trying to rape a four-year old in his railway colony quarters after kidnapping her here today.

The accused, Udham Singh, is a resident of Hamirpur. The incident came to light after the infant managed to escape from the clutches of the alleged kidnapper and met with her grandfather on her way back home.

Later, local residents reportedly beat up Udham Singh and handed him over to the police. The Kapurthala police arrested him on charges of trying to rape and kidnap the girl under Sections 376, 511 and 363 of IPC.

Phagwara, June 17
Punjab Health Secretary T. R. Sarangal today said there was an urgent need to control tuberculosis in the state. “Social and Rural Welfare Departments along with panchayats should be involved in the creating awareness on the disease,” he said.

Mr Sarangal was here to attend a meeting of the Revised National Tuberculosis Programme under the State Health Society.

He said people in these areas should know that the diagnosis and treatment of TB was free in the health centres. — TNS