Bathinda, July 15
Vote-bank politics overshadowed the inaugural run of the Bathinda-Jammu Tawi train during half an hour high voltage drama at the local railway station as workers of the Congress and the SAD jostled with each other to hog the limelight in the presence of a heavy police force.

While the Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Singla, didn’t turn up, the SAD MP from Bathinda, Bibi Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, arrived at the station with a large number of party workers. On the other hand, in the absence of the minister his political secretary, Mr Anil Bhola, along with some Congress workers also reached the station about half an hour before the train left the platform. As the train chugged into the railway station scores of SAD workers converged adjacent to its engine. They raised slogans in favour of Bibi Gulshan as well as Mr Parkash Singh Badal and put up a banner on the rail engine.

Holding party banner, the Congress workers too indulged in intense sloganeering in favour of their leaders. Later, Bibi Gulshan and former Akali minister, Mr C.L. Garg, embarked on the engine and greeted people. Mr Bhola did not lag behind and he too got on to the engine and raised slogans. Workers of both parties also had a scuffle. However, leaders from none of the parties could flag off the train and a railway guard finally flagged it off.

At one point of time Mr Garg had got hold off the flag, but somebody broke it in the melee. About 150 police personnel were deployed at the railway station in the wake of last evening’s announcement by the Congress that Mr Singla would flag off the train in presence of local party leaders and workers.

Earlier, Bibi Gulshan had intended to flag off the train, as she claimed to have taken up the matter of extending the Ferozepore-Jammu Tawi train to Bathinda in her capacity as a member of the railway’s standing committee.

Meanwhile, Bibi Gulshan alleged that she was pressurised from various quarters to postpone her programme on the pretext of Mumbai blasts. On the other hand, Mr Bhola accused her of playing cheap politics. Reacting strongly to the incident, Mr Amrit Pal Singh Brar of the NCP alleged that Mr Singla had been trying to create tension ahead of the Assembly elections. He termed the Congress’ participation in the train’s inaugural run as an “attempt to gain political mileage”.

Book on Bhinderanwala banned
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 15
Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma today banned its own publication, “Rise and Fall of Khalistan Movement”, authored by one Buta Singh, that described his predecessor, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale and Dal Khalsa as “creations of Congress party”.

The book, which is in fact an M.Phil thesis of Buta Singh, who had got degree from Guru Nanak Dev University a couple of years ago, was earlier released by Baba Dhumma himself on June 6 at Akal Takht to mark ‘Ghallukara Divas’ (genocide day).

Virtually upset, the Taksal chief said he was “stabbed in the back” by his own men who had misguided him to publish and release the book from Akal Takht. “Since the book was in English, we could not read the contents before its publication”. The person responsible for it would be punished suitably, he said. Baba Dhumma has also constituted a three-member inquiry committee to take strict action against the “guilty”. Interestingly, Taksal and Akal Takht had described Sant Bhinderanwale as “Great martyr of 20th century” and now describing him as “creation of Cong” has come as a great embarrassment. Mr Kanwarpal Singh, a spokesman of Dal Khalsa, said Baba Dhumma had already tendered an unconditional apology for the publication of the controversial book. He, however, urged Baba Dhumma to give “exemplary punishment” to media and publications of the Taksal who got this book printed and released by Baba Dhumma.

The publication and the ban of the controversial book have brought infighting in Damdami Taksal to fore. A Taksal faction, opposed to Baba Dhumma, is likely to raise storm on the publication of the controversial book.

Bhai Mohkam Singh, a spokesman of Damdami Taksal, and Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, a former Jathedar Akal Takht, have already taken at independent and parallel stand to support Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), after clash on July at Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Golden Temple.

Dal Khalsa, while terming the book as “collection of historical wrongs”, urged Damdami Taksal to award severe punishment to its media manager for keeping Baba Dhuma in the dark. “It is directed at spreading the government’s theory and myths’, said Dal Khalsa. It said that a meagre expenditure of Rs 98 by Giani Zail Singh for a press conference meet of Dal Khalsa at Hotel Aroma, Chandigarh, had been blown out of proportion.

Though Bhai Mohkam Singh, spokesman, Damdami Taksal, has refused to comment, it is learnt that he might remove Mr Tarjeet Singh as general manager, Khandedhar, the mouthpiece of the Taksal .

The book stated that Indira Gandhi decided to reactivate the dormant Naxalites in Punjab to foment violence. The book stated that Sant Bhinderanwale supported the Congress candidates during the Assembly elections of 1980.

However, Dr S.S. Narang, a former professor of GND varsity who was guide of Buta Singh, the author of the controversial book, said that his student had mentioned quotable references in his book. Dr Narang said he himself was an admirer of Sant Bhinderanwale and the book, too, is dedicated to him (Sant Bhinderanwale) and hence it should be read from the angle of a researcher.

Governor pardons ex-minister’s son serving life term
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 15
The Punjab Governor has granted pardon to Sandeep Singh, son of ex-minister Teja Singh, who was serving life term in a murder case here. The pardon came exactly after two years of his conviction.

According to police sources, a couple of years back Additional Sessions Judge Jaspal Singh had sentenced Sandeep Singh and his two aides to life and slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on each for the murder of Harpal Singh and Rasal Singh, both residents of Multania road here. The case in which they were convicted dated back to 1998. As per the complaint lodged by Jagroop Singh, father of Harpal Singh, with the police, he was engaged in a legal battle over land with Sandeep Singh. He stated that while he and his elder son were settled elsewhere, his younger son Harpal Singh used to look after their land on the Multania road. He alleged that on the night of October 30, 1998, when Harpal and his farm hand Rasal Singh were irrigating their land he saw Sandeep and his two aides armed with .12 bore pistols and a mauser heading towards them. He further charged them with opening fire on his son and employee killing them on the spot. He termed it as a “bid to takeover his land with force” while a court case was on in this regard. On the basis of his statement, the police had registered a case against Sandeep, Jagga Singh and Monti under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and 25/27/54/59 of the Arms Act on October 31, 1998.

Police sources said 12 criminal cases were registered including that of murder, attempt to murder, illegal possession of arms and brawl against Sandeep Singh in places like Bathinda, Talwandi Sabo and Hisar between 1991 and 2002. He was first convicted in the murder case of Harpal and Rasal on July 14, 2004.

His mother Rajinder Kaur filed a petition for pardon before the Punjab Governor on August 5, 2004.

Exercising his powers conferred under Article 161 of the Constitution, the Governor finally pardoned him paving the way for his release. A letter from the Department of Home Affairs and Justice states — “After solemn consideration of relevant material and taking into reckoning the peculiar compassionate features of the petition pardon is granted.” His mother now has pleaded with the District Magistrate to direct the jail authorities to release her son.

Triple murder handiwork of contract killers, says SSP
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, July 15
Murder of three persons at Jandwala village in Guru Harsahai was the handiwork of contract killers hired by the father of the surviving housewife.

Mr Arpit Shukla, SSP, said here on Thursday that Dr Hardeep Singh, of Hadeewala village had hired the killers through Bohar Singh. Both of them have been arrested. The case has been solved in less than 24 hours.

According to Mr Shukla needle of suspicion initially pointed towards Paramjit Kaur, second wife of slain farmer Daljit Singh as the killers spared her and her two children aged two and four. The killers killed Daljit Singh with sharp-edged weapon, strangled his mother Jaswant Kaur (80) and married sister Tej Kaur who had been staying there due to strained relations with her husband. The police registered a case under Sections 302, 120-B, 148, 149 of the IPC on the statement of Gurmeet Kaur sister of Daljit Singh.

Preliminary investigation indicated that Daljit Singh deserted his first wife two years back. He was not having good relations with second wife Paramjit Kaur for some time. She told the police she informed her father about the killings on the mobile phone. As the police examined the phone, no such call was found. She then said that the SIM card had been changed.

It was later found that Paramjit Kaur made a call originally to her father at 3.27 am. A paper slip recovered by the police carried two mobile phone numbers. The killers had informed Bohar Singh who brokered the contract killing with Baldev Singh of Saideke village in Faridkot district and a local resident Prem Singh.

The police has found that Dr Hardeep Singh wanted that 80 acres land owned by the in-laws of her daughter should not be shared by Veerpal Kaur wife of the elder brother of her husband who had died in an accident. He engaged Baldev Singh through Bohar Singh. The killings were planned 15 months back. The killers had been paid more than Rs 3.5 lakh in advance so far. They were promised in writing that 5-acres land out of 80 acres would be transferred in their name after the work is finished. This could have given them 25 lakh more by selling the land.

The investigation further indicated that Dr Hardeep Singh was known during the period of turmoil in Punjab as a sympathiser of terrorists. He himself was booked thrice under Sections 307, 452, 506 of the IPC 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act and 3/4 TADA. Baldev Singh too had been very active in terrorist activities in that period. The police was scanning the information gathered about Prem Singh local partner in contract killing.

Mr Shukla said three police parties had been sent to nab killers.

Heroin worth Rs 3 crore seized
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, July 15
The BSF seized heroin worth Rs 3 crore, fake Indian currency notes of Rs 5 lakh and 200 grams of opium from the border village of Jhallianwali in Jalalabad sector near the Pakistan check post last evening.

Mr R.S. Panwar, DIG, BSF, and Mr Sham Lal Sharma, Battalion Commandant of 162 BSF, in a press conference at the BSF Headquarters, Jalalabad, 35 km from here, disclosed that on specific information a 162 battalion BSF team and the Narcotics Control Bureau in a joint operation searched the area of Jhallianwali village at different places across the barbed fencing. During the operation the BSF team searched a well in the fields of Mr Jagdish Chander and found a big plastic bag containing three different packets carrying 3 kg of heroin worth Rs 3 crore, 200 grams of opium and fake Indian currency notes of Rs 5 lakh from a bag. A new mobile sim card No 0322-4056154 of Warid Telecom of Lahore was also found in the seized packet.

Mr Sharma said he had also raided the house of Mr Jagdish Chander in the village but the latter was not at home and was believed to be absconding.

Mr Panwar apprehended that this was a calculated move of Pakistani forces to destabilise the national security. He said he would raise the issue with the Pakistan Rangers in the proposed meeting to be held on July 19. He said about a week ago the 9th Battalion of the BSF had also seized 2 kg of heroin and fake currency notes of about Rs 4 lakh in a similar manner in Fazilka sector. He said both consignments were seized within a week. 

Sangrur, July 15
Hundreds of activists of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the BJP Yuva Morcha today took out a march through the town and burnt the effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh at the traffic lights chowk, near the main bus stand here in protest against the “anti-people” policies of the Amarinder Singh Government, rising prices and corruption in the state.

Addressing the protesters, leaders of the party criticised the Amarinder Singh government and the Congress party for their “anti-people” polices by saying that every section of society, including farmers, labourers, employees and traders, was feeling uneasy under this government, as it had “failed” on all fronts. The leaders said prices of all commodities, including essential ones, were increasing and poor people were finding it difficult to make both ends meet. They also alleged that the government had failed in controlling corruption and unemployment during its regime of more than four years.

The protesters were addressed among others by Mr Harjit Singh Grewal, national secretary of the BJP, Mr Satwant Singh Punia, vice-president of the All India BJP Kisan Morcha; Mr Vasudev Arya, district president of the party, and Mr Jatinder Kalra, a local BJP municipal councillor.

Chandigarh, July 15
The Congress has resolved to contest the coming Assembly elections in Punjab on the plank of development and will not name a chief ministerial candidate, said Mr Janardhan Dwivedi, in charge of party affairs in the state, while addressing a press conference here today. The decisions were taken earlier at a meeting of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.

The Congress, in accordance with party traditions, would not project a chief ministerial candidate during the elections, said Mr Dwivedi, adding the poll would be contested under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh and the chief of the PPCC, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo.

He said the principal Opposition party in the state, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), had announced its President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, as the chief ministerial candidate out of compulsion as it had no other option.

Mr Dwivedi said the party would assess the work of all MLAs before the allotment of the party tickets. New faces would be fielded in the elections. Mr Dwivedi clarified that the Congress would contest the poll on its own, without an alliance partner.

Mr Dwivedi admitted in response to a question that some senior state Congress leaders, including ministers, had made complaints to the party high command in Delhi. ‘’We will surely solve the internal problems (in the party’s state unit).’’ Without naming Mr Jagmeet Brar, he said even those who had opposed the Reliance project in the state had given a call for unity and solidarity. Mr Brar was present at the press conference. Sources in the party said Mr Dwivedi, during the meeting with party workers, told them that he had details of the activities of every MLA.

Earlier, the executive members of the PPCC, the party MLAs and other senior leaders held a meeting. A resolution was adopted saying “the development work undertaken by the Congress government to strengthen the infrastructure for agro-based industry and mega projects in real estate have benefited the common man.’’ In the 2002 elections, the Congress had used the plank of “corruption” against the SAD and launched a media blitzkrieg blaming the Akalis for wrong deeds.

The meeting also approved the proposal of the PPCC chief to organise a mass-contact programme throughout the state from July 21 to 31 as a run-up to the Assembly poll, due in February, 2007. 

Patiala, July 15
A former Army man, who belongs to the Schedules Caste category, has complained against police inaction on the part of Jhulkan police station authorities after he was allegedly beaten up by some fellow villagers.

Sarja Singh of Tajalpura village, falling under the jurisdiction of the Jhulkan police station, alleged that on April 19 he was beaten up by some villagers. However, despite the fact that he had approached the Jhulkan police , no action was taken against the accused. On the contrary, Sarja Singh, who is now working as a security guard with the BSNL, claimed that the police registered a case under sections 107/51 against the accused and also involved him in the same case.

Meanwhile, Sarja Singh, who has sent representations to the Governor, Punjab Chief Minister, Chairman of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission and the DGP, Punjab, alleged that on June 27, the accused party once again threatened him. He also claimed that the thoroughfare leading to his and his brother Bhinder Singh’s residence in the village was closed by the accused while the police looked the other way. He added that the thoroughfare was being used by them for the past 15 years and now because of this his family had to take a longer route through the fields to enter his residence.

Meanwhile, Mr Kuldeep Singh Sekhon, SHO, Jhulkan police station, said action had been taken based on the medico-legal report of Sarja Singh, which was got prepared after he was beaten up by certain villagers. He added that the licensed weapon of Sarja Singh had been taken into custody and that of the accused would also be taken into custody. He added that Section 107/51 had been clamped on both parties.

Patiala, July 15
A workshop on motivational techniques for voluntary blood donation was conducted here today at Government Medical College in which a book on the subject “Anmol Katre”, written by Sukhwinder Singh and edited by Dr Kulbir Kaur, Professor and Head, Blood Bank, was released.

Presenting papers on motivational techniques, Dr Kulbir Kaur emphasised the growing need for voluntary blood donation and also mentioned the role of the media, institutions and other NGOs for the promotion of voluntary blood donation.

Sharing her experience, Dr Kulbir Kaur said with continuous efforts, Blood Bank was moving towards the target of 100 per cent voluntary blood donation. During this period, the department adopted different types of motivational techniques, which has brought any positive results, she added.

Patiala, July 15
A seminar on ‘Newer Concepts in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury’ was organised by the Patiala branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) under the presidentship of Dr D. S. Bhullar here today.

Dr Mridul Shahi, a neurosurgeon from a local hospital was the guest speaker and during his address he disclosed that every year more than 20 lakh patients with serious head injuries were being reported in India resulting in two lakh deaths, the common causes being road side accidents, fall from height and assaults.

He also elaborated on the latest techniques in the management of patients with serious head injuries.

The expert panelists, Dr Ajmer Singh, a renowned veteran surgeon, and Ex-DRME Punjab, Dr Surinder Singh, Professor, Surgery Department, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, and Dr Gurjinder Pal Singh (Neurologist), during panel discussions, said old clinical methods were equally effective in treating head-trauma cases and that treatment should be started at the earliest possible stage to save the patients.

They advised the general surgeons not to hesitate in treating head-injury cases by surgical interventions.

Dr D.S. Bhullar, President, IMA, Patiala, and a senior forensic medicine consultant, said due to non-serious attitude of the public towards road traffic rules, lenient attitude of the traffic police authorities to tackle the problem of rash and drunken driving, the incidence of road traffic accidents was on the rise and the medical professionals had a greater role to play to tackle the situation.

Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion were Dr Manmohan Singh, President, Punjab Medical Council, senior members of the IMA Dr Janak Sachdeva, Dr B.K. Chopra, Dr R.L. Mittal, Dr D.C. Bansal, Dr D.N. Bhardwaj and Dr R.K. Gorea.

More than 200 doctors, including private and inservice members of IMA, attended the programme. Dr Vishal Chopra, honorary secretary of IMA, Patiala, successfully conducted the proceedings.

Batala, July 15
Some unidentified persons murdered a farmer at Maan Sandwal village, 20 km from here, falling under Ghanie Ke Bangar police station last night.

Family members of the victim, Dhir Singh, told mediapersons that they had slept at their “dera” (outside village) after finishing work last night.

In the morning, when they resumed work, they noticed that Dhir Singh had not woken up.

They found Dhir Singh dead after they took the bed sheet off his face. Consequently, they informed the police.

The incident was brought to the notice of Batala police chief L.K. Yadav, who asked DSP (D) Dharam Jeet Singh, DSP Naresh Kumar and SHOs of three police stations to reach the spot.

Later, Mr Yadav visited the crime scene and requisitioned the dog squad from Gurdaspur.

The prima facie evidence suggested that Dhir Singh was done to death with sharp-edged weapons and had injuries to the head.

The Ghanie Ke Bangar police has registered a case under Section 302, IPC.

The body of the deceased was taken to the local Civil Hospital and later handed over to the kin after a post-mortem examination.

Moga, July 15
A migrant labourer, Jatinder, hailing from Chhapra, Bihar, allegedly kidnapped a minor girl, Babbi (4), of Baghapurana here yesterday.

According to the information, Babbi’s father Kanhaiya Lal Gupta knew Jatinder, who works as painter. He introduced Jatinder to a person of Panchgarai village for paint job at his house.

However, some dispute took place between Jatinder and the person who hired him over money. At this, Jatinder went to Gupta’s house where his wife Meera and daughter Babbi were present.

Jatinder reportedly took Babbi away with him on the pretext of giving her some sweets. But when did not return Meera and her relatives started search for him. Later, the matter was reported to the police. Baghapurana DSP Rajinder Pal Anand confirmed the kidnapping. — TNS

Abohar, July 15
Mangal Dev (38) and his wife Lichhma Devi (36) reportedly committed suicide by consuming some insecticide in a pit in the compound of their house at Waryamkhera village, near here, last evening.

Mangal Dev had been frustrated over the failure to have a child even after treatment at different places during the past 18 years.

He had repeatedly told his relatives that he and his wife would take samadhi on July 14, but nobody had taken it very seriously. He came here yesterday and telephoned his wife, asking her to come here.

He reportedly hired a private Indica car, took a round of the town, had lunch at a hotel and returned to the village.

His brother reportedly noticed him carrying a bottle of insecticide, snatched it and fled, but Mangal Dev chased him and took it back.

His brother went to the Khuyiansarwar police station and brought the SHO along with him.

They reportedly found the couple lying in an unconscious condition in the pit.

They were rushed to the Civil Hospital here, but died within a few minutes.