Jalandhar, March 5
The state government will prepare a database of all Punjabi NRIs, their problems, investment interests, family and property disputes in cooperation with the diaspora.

This was decided at a meeting between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and newly elected NRI sabha chief Kamaljit Singh at a meeting held at the former’s residence in Chandigarh late last night.

The sabha and the government would also streamline the mechanism for prompt resolution of all problems and issues relating to the NRIs. Kamaljit will visit different countries having a strong Punjabi presence and submit a report on their problems to the CM.

Harcharan Bains, media advisor to the CM, said Badal asked Singh to specifically focus on the property related problems and prepare a database to help the government to take timely and effective action to stop the harassment and exploitation of NRIs.

The CM also emphasised the need for closer co-ordination between government and the sabha for fighting the exploitation of innocent Punjabi youth at the hands of human traffickers.

Badal and Singh further decided to jointly address the cultural and religious matters like the turban issue in France to help in global preservation and propagation of Punjabi ethos, Bains said.

The NRI chief also requested the CM to lay the foundation stone of the NRI Bhavan in Jalandhar for which land and money were already available. It may be recalled that Badal will inaugurate the first NRI Police Station in Jalandhar in the coming days, he added.

Bains stated that the CM had already announced the setting up of NRI police stations in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshahar, Moga and Ludhiana for the quick disposal of cases involving NRIs. A high- powered committee headed by the director general of police will also review the cases where NRIs had been declared proclaimed offenders or absconders.

The government had also decided to enhance its share to 75 percent for implementation of development schemes in the native villages of NRIs instead of the previous 50 percent.

Two fast track courts at Jalandhar and Ludhiana would be set up to settle civil matters of NRIs. An office would be opened near Amritsar airport for their assistance, he added.

Kamaljit assured Badal that the sabha would motivate the diaspora to make huge investments in Punjab since the state was now emerging as the 'most preferred investment destination' in the world.

Jalandhar, March 5
In what may be seen as a case of police highhandedness, a minor Dalit boy was ‘picked up’ by Mehatpur cops from his house on Wednesday noon. His only fault: A fraud complaint against his father Jarnail Singh. The 13-year-old Sukhwinder, resident of Umarwal Billa village, was having his lunch today when three policemen reportedly led by ASI Mohinder Singh arrested him.

His mother Manjit Kaur said, “He had returned from his school and was having his lunch when the three cops came in a car and asked for his father. When they couldn’t find his father, they forcibly took the boy”. She said she made repeated requests to leave her son as he had his class VII English exam tomorrow, but to no avail. She feared that her son may lose a year due to irresponsible act of the policemen.

Talking to The Tribune, Mehatpur SHO Darshan Singh said a complaint of fraud was submitted against Jarnail Singh and he was asked to appear in the police station. However, he did not turn up. Following this, a police team led by ASI Mohinder Singh had gone to search his house today.

When asked how he would justify picking up a minor and his illegal detainment, he claimed he was not present at the police station and would verify whether Sukhwinder was released or not.

Meanwhile, demanding immediate release of the boy, Pendu Mazdoor Union chief Tarsem Peter said a legal action should be taken against the erring cops. 

Amritsar, March 5
The Prime Minister Office (PMO) has directed the DCs of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts to carry out development works in the border areas of Punjab under the border area development programme (BADP) and consider the demands in the proposals made in the year 2008-09, as per the revised guidelines of the minister of home affairs, Government of India.

Giving reference of the memorandum given by Inderjit Singh Basarke, member, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC); Shaleen Kabra, director, PMO, New Delhi, in a letter to the chief secretary, directed him to give instructions to the concerned departments of the state in this regard.

Basarke had given a memorandum to Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and requested him to take urgent steps regarding instructing the concerned departments for the development of border districts. He had urged the PM for the establishment of cottage industry for providing employment to the people of the border belt besides giving 30 per cent subsidy to large and small scale industries. He also urged to give 50 per cent concession in the traveling fares of senior citizens journeying from Amritsar to Nankana Sahib by road.

The PPCC member said the PM had taken personal interest in the requests and gave instructions to Kabra who further directed the chief secretary in this regard. He said the chief secretary had written to BADP, department of planning, Punjab, to consider the demands in the proposals in the year 2008-09 as per the revised guidelines of the minister of home affairs, Government of India.

Hoshiarpur, March 5
The Indian and Pakistan governments should release all those who have been arrested on the espionage charge and languishing in jails since long.

This was stated by Kashmir Singh who rejoined his family yesterday after spending more than 35 years in different jails of Pakistan. Talking to mediapersons at his village, Nangal Choran, he said, “I was arrested ion the charge of entering the country illegally. Army court sentenced me to a capital punishment”. He said he was kept in Mianwali, Behlawalpur, Lahore, Kot Lakhpat Rai and many other jails. Kashmir said the attitude of the jail authorities was normal towards prisoners. However, he admitted that they were punished for their mischievous acts.

Rano, wife of sepoy Jagdish Lal, and Nirmal Kaur, wife of sub Asha Singh, both from Jammu , met Kashmir to get some information about their husbands who were arrested during the 1971 war.