Jalandhar, February 9
Two employees of The Tribune, Raj Kumar and Shesh Ram, both assistant plate makers, were assaulted by six armed persons while they were returning home from duty last night.

In a complaint to the police, Raj Kumar said he along with Shesh Ram was traveling in jeep. As the jeep reached the Ladhewali railway crossing, the driver was signaled to stop by two-scooter borne youngsters. As the vehicle halted, they were pulled out of it by the duo. They were beaten up mercilessly by them. The driver, Jagsir Singh, was also assaulted.

“They were shouting that our vehicle was involved in some accident. Soon five other armed persons, who came in a Santro car, descended at the scene and started thrashing us with sticks and iron rods,” said Raj Kumar in his complaint.

Meanwhile, the police has registered a case under Sections 323, 341, 307, 379, 506 and 341 of the IPC against unidentified persons.

Raj Kumar was admitted to the Civil Hospital, where his medical examination was conducted.

Mr A. Venu Parsad, Deputy Commissioner, assured that suitable action would be taken. 

Balachaur, February 9
For the past two days, voters from Gujjar-dominated Balachaur constituency were hoping to see their community’s favourite leader and Congress MP Sachin Pilot, but they returned back home disappointed putting the party candidate, Ms Santosh Kataria, in a tight spot.

Owing to bad weather, Mr Pilot was not able to fly to Balachaur today.

While he was scheduled to fly to Jattewal village, near here, for a rally where nearly 2,000 persons gathered, he also did not turn up for another rally held at Balachaur Grain here where nearly 7,000 persons assembled. The rally was addressed, among others, by a senior Congress leader, Ms Mohsina Kidwai, and a former MP, Mr Iqbal Singh.

The Congress nominee still hoping that Mr Pilot could come for her support in the next two days as she said: “He told us that he will come in the next two days if the weather remains clear.” Interestingly, from this seat four Gujjar candidates are contesting. The sitting MLA and Akali candidate, Mr Nand Lal, is a Gujjar and so is the CPI (M) nominee, Mr Maha Singh Rouri.

The Shiv Sena candidate, Mr Ram Lok Singh, and the CPM (U) candidate, Mr Ram Shah Takarla, too are Gujjars.

With five Gujjars fielded by various parties, a huge vote bank of the community is likely to get widely split.

A similar situation had arisen way back in 1992 when there were five Gujjar candidates. None of them could take a lead and the seat had surprisingly gone to the BSP candidate, Mr Hargopal Singh, who is contesting again from this seat. The other candidates include Mr Dilbagh Chand Mehndipur of the BSP (A), Mr Mandhir Singh Garhi of the SAD (A) and Mr Ranvir Singh Bhatti, Independent. 

Jalandhar, February 9
Young and first-time voters are taking their right to vote seriously. They are waiting for February 13, the polling day in Punjab, to have their say.

“We want to elect a leader of our choice. A leader, who can accord priority to our needs and can put our aspirations at the centre stage. We want to elect those leaders who, can work for freedom of youth. We are happy that we have the opportunity to elect our leader and we will make full use of it,” said Chavvi Sharma and her friend Jaskirat, both M.Com students of the local Apeejay College of Fine Arts.

Abhinaya Thakur, a young businessman says, I don’t understand the logic of some people that casting of vote can get nothing. I am convinced that we can change the government through votes and I am going to vote at any cost,” said Abhinaya. His friend Harsimran Singh, a student of Law at Lovely Institutes, also supports his resolve. For Prabhjot Bharaj, a B.Tech (IIIrd year) student at DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology the reasons are slightly different. “I will select the candidate who, will work for me.