Jalandhar, May 16
After groping in the dark for over five months, the police claims to have made a breakthrough in the sensational Rita Bawa murder case with the recovery of the two weapons allegedly used in the crime.

Addressing mediaperons, SP (city-1) S.K. Kalia said two meat cleavers had been recovered from the rear of the residence of the deceased.

Bawa, principal of KMV, had along with two watchmen and a cook, been hacked by unidentified persons on the night of January 4.

He said some workers were digging around the rear of the official house of the principal when they came across a patch of soft earth. Upon digging deeper they recovered the two cleavers that had wooden handles. Butchers commonly use them, he added.

The police reached the place and took the weapons in its custody and on closer examination it was found that the weapons had what look like blood stains, he added. These are being sent to the forensic laboratory at Chandigarh, he added.
— TNS

The deputy controller, Balwinder Singh when contacted today said all such students who could not appear in exam because of misinformation should make a representation to the university authorities. — OC

Batala, May 16
The Batala police has traced a blind murder committed on May 12. On the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, one body was found in the fields of Dharamkot Bagga village.

The body was identified as that of Gurpreet Singh (24), alias Bhundi, son of Sukhwinder Singh, alias Sukhi, of Ballewal under Quilla Lal Singh police station in Batala police district.

On the directions of SSP Naresh Arora, DSP (rural) Dilbag Singh and SHO Narinder Singh of Quilla Lal Singh police station, investigated the case and arrested two accused persons, Manjinder Singh (20), alias Mintu, son of Lakhwinder Singh of Dharamkot Bagga and Gunam Singh (21), alias Ladhu, son of Murti Lal of Ballewal.

The accused have confessed that they were known to Gurpreet Singh and on that night they had gathered at the house of Manjinder Singh and consumed liquor and had a quarrel.

They further told that they attacked Gurpreet with a hand pump rod due to which he died on the spot. They took the body to the fields and threw it there.

The police has registered a case under section 302, IPC. The accused were produced before the court of junior civil judge Tajinder Bir Singh today who sent them in custody.

Jalandhar, May 16
The cantonment board authorities today reviewed the poll arrangements for a free and fair conduct of the board elections on May 18 for the seven wards. The presiding officers and polling staff are all geared up with adequate facilities to avoid any untoward incident during the polling.

The elections, being held after a gap of 11 years, will decide the future of 21 candidates in the poll fray. Confirming this cantonment board executive officer Sumitra Mishra told The Tribune that the authorities had completed all the necessary arrangements for the polling. As many as 27 polling booths had been set up for the residents to exercise their franchise.

Besides the polling staff, the Army has specially deployed 81 Army personnel as polling officers,” said an official on the terms of anonymity.

The voting would be from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. While talking about the security arrangements during the elections, Sumitra said, “About 300 police personnel would be deployed at the booths and a close vigilance would be kept in the cantonment.” When asked about any sensitive booths in the area, she said, “As per information we have earmarked some specific areas, including two booths in CB Elementary School, Mohalla 20, two booths in CB Elementary School, Rama Mandi, and two booths in Silver Oak Public School, Mohalla 32.” 

Hoshiarpur, May 16
Lok Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna has demanded a CBI inquiry into the central road fund expenditure made by the public works department (PWD), Punjab.

The anomalies were recently pointed out by the comptroller and auditor-general of India (CAG) during annual performance audit of the PWD.Talking to The Tribune, Khanna said the union ministry for road transport and highways had given Rs 103 crore for the widening of the Balachaur-Garhshankar-Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road during the last Congress regime in the state.

He said, “The state government unnecessarily levied toll tax on the commuters on this road just to recover cost of the project,” adding that the project was under the build, operate and transfer (BOT) scheme.

He said the CAG had pointed out that due to wrong utilisation of funds, the money released by the centre was forfeited and the general public was burdened.

He said the private agencies had installed four toll-plazas at Mazari, Nangal Shaheedan, Mangarh and Lachowal on the road and would recover the cost by imposing toll tax for the next 17 years.

The agencies were charging Rs 55 for a car, Rs 111 for a six-tyre empty truck, Rs 222 for a loaded truck, Rs 164 for a 10-tyre empty truck and Rs 334 from 10-tyre loaded truck at each toll plaza, lamented Khanna. 

Phagwara, May 16
Hundreds of people blocked traffic on the national highway near Chahal Nagar Chowk here demanding stern action against the in-laws of a young man who was allegedly forced to commit suicide by them on Wednesday.

According to reports, Vikas, who had gone to pacify his wife, was found in unconscious condition under mysterious circumstances near the house of his in-laws on Wednesday. He was immediately taken to the local civil hospital but due to his critical condition was referred to Ludhiana hospital, where he died.

In a suicide note found in his pocket, he blamed his in-laws and wife for his death. The police has registered a case and taken into custody three family members of the in-laws of the deceased.— UNI

Jalandhar, May 16
Members of the Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association held a protest in front of the LIC’s divisional office here on Thursday, demanding check on inflation.

The members flayed the government for its wrong economic and agricultural policies. Divisional president Ved Kumar said that while the rich were hardly affected, the salaried staff and the labourers were the worst hit.

He demanded that 15 consumable commodities, including pulses, rice, sugar and edible oil, should be brought under the public distribution system. He also demanded that export of 25 agricultural products should be not allowed.