Bathinda, June 6
An undertrial, Gurtej Singh, allegedly hanged himself to death in Central Jail, Bathinda, on Thursday night.

Gurtej had been arrested for killing his parents in a gruesome manner, having broken open their skulls into small pieces with repetitive attacks by a sharp-edged agricultural tool during the wee hours on April 22, when they were sleeping beside him at their house in Nehianwala village of the district.

Jail sources said that power supply was disrupted on Thursday evening and Gurtej had gone to the toilet. A few minutes later, another jail inmate found him hanging from a water pipe. Finding him a in a critical condition, the inmates immediately untied the knot and lowered him on to the floor and informed the jail authorities. But after examining him, the jail doctor declared him dead, minutes after the incident.

The jail superintendent informed the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police, who sent Sub-divisional Magistrate KPS Mahi to the spot.

The body was then shifted to the mortuary of the Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

Confirming the facts, the SDM under whose supervision the doctors conducted the postmortem, said he reportedly suffered from maniac depression which probably led to his suicide.

When contacted, jail superintendent L.S. Jakhar said, “Gurtej was undergoing trial in a murder case and was in jail as part of judicial custody since April 22. The next hearing of his case was to be held on June 17 at the local court. When we came to know of his alleged suicide, we went by the legal process and informed senior officials.”

“He was mentally depressed and was also admitted to the hospital inside the jail. His family members do not suspect any one and body has been handed over to them after the postmortem,” he added.

It may be mentioned that on the day of his arrest after the murder of his parents, he had told the media persons at the Nehianawala police station that he had attempted to commit suicide by consuming a pesticide earlier also and despite his arrest in the case, he would end his life whenever he gets the chance. And, his words of doom came perilously true on Thursday night.

Gurtej is survived by his wife, son and a daughter.

Bathinda, June 6
The Special Judge, Bathinda, has ruled that an offence under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act was not proved beyond reasonable doubt if an independent witness regarding the demand of money was lacking.

Acquitting Gurbachan Singh Ghugi, a Rampura Phul resident, accused of being involved in a corruption case, Kuldip Singh, Special Judge, Bathinda, ruled: “It is proved from the statement of the prosecution witnesses that currency, smeared with phenol pathaleine powder, were recovered from the accused. These were the same notes that were handed over to the complainant after marking their numbers. However, there is no satisfactory evidence that the accused had demanded money.”

The accused, Gurbachan Singh Ghugi, an inspector (audit), Co-operative Societies, Talwandi Sabo, was booked by the Vigilance Department on July 15, 2004, on the allegation of demanding Rs 10,000 from Bikkar Singh, secretary of the Damdama Sahib Co-operative Society, Talwandi Sabo, for making a correct audit report of the society.

The judge further ruled: “The complainant has stated that he had handed over the currency to the accused on demand, but a prosecution witness has contradicted him. In the cross-examination, the prosecution could not get anything favourable out of him. He has also not stated as to what transpired between the accused and the complainant when he handed over the currency notes to the accused.”

In his detailed order, the judge held: “It is also not proved from the statements of the prosecution witnesses that on the previous day they had told the inspector concerned about the demand for money by the accused. Thus, the essential ingredient of the offence that money was passed on to the accused on demand is missing.” The judge concluded: “It is not proved on file as to what transpired between the complainant and the accused when the amount was handed over. There is no satisfactory evidence that the complainant had handed over the amount to the accused on demand.”

Bathinda, June 6
The Punjab Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) will contest from 22 wards in the coming Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. The party will announce the names of its candidates by June 9.

Yogesh Batish, party’s district vice-president told media persons here on Friday, after a meeting of party workers.

The district general secretary of the party Ganesh Dutt Sharma and the secretary of the local unit of the party, Rajesh Srivastava, were also present at the conference.

Batish announced that the party would have no truck with any other party, not even the BJP. Instead, Sena would contest only from such wards from where BJP had announced its candidates. He regretted that BJP had never looked after the interests of the Hindus in the state.

However, he contradicted himself by declaring that the Sena could have an electoral alliance with a newly formed party with a strong base in the district. He declined to disclose the name of the party. He said the names of candidates for various wards were being short-listed.

Bathinda, June 6
The BJP on Thursday released the much-awaited first list of its 13 candidates out of the 22 for the forthcoming elections to the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) amidst protests, slogan shouting and the charges that tickets had been sold and genuine and deserving candidates ignored.

The left out aspirants staged massive protest today at Parasram Nagar, after the party state president of the BJP Rajinder Bhandari announced the names of the 13 candidates at Chandigarh on Thursday.

As expected the committee room of the BJP office was jampacked with journalists and aspiring candidates. As Narinder Mittal, district president, BJP, started announcing the names for each single ward, there were more heartburns and lesser jubilations.

It is learnt that the voices of dissent were being heard instantly. As the time passed by the dissent also grew in magnitude with more and more voices joining the protest. By the time announcement for 13 candidates was completed a huge crowd had already stepped into the committee room. Sensing trouble the selection committee members, who included Kamal Sharma, state general secretary, Narinder Mittal, district president (urban) besides some local leaders, made a quiet exit.

The pattern of protests seemed too obvious. The angry protesters in western zone of the Bathinda BJP today raised slogans against Rajinder Bhandari, Kamal Sharma and Narinder Mittal, while other members of the selection committee were left out. The protesters levelled all sorts of charges from accepting money to “para-dropping outsiders” for their “personal interests” against the three.

Two women candidates of Ward No. 37 also alleged that their genuine claims had been ignored. None of the selection committee members, against whom charges were levelled, could be contacted as they left the venue instantly for some unknown destination. Their cell phones were also found to be switched off, while at their residence there was one constant reply that they had already left. 

Abohar, June 6
During a meeting held as a part of “soul searching” exercise launched by city BJP president Ravi Setia in Jain Nagar locality last night, the party workers sounded a warning note against ‘paratroopers’ in municipal council (MC) polls from other wards, a press release confirmed today. The party had fixed Thursday as the last day for submitting applications for seeking BJP ticket in the polls slated for June 30.

Concerned over the speculations that some aspirants were trying to seek candidature from other wards as revision in the categorisation had sealed their fate in the ward, where they were residing, a senior part worker Vijay Arya reportedly cautioned the leadership that the electorate might react adversely if any “outsider” was forced as party candidate.

Baij Nath Saneja was of the view that chances of revolt by the workers could be minimised if recommendations of the ward committee were honoured.

Other active workers including, Thakar Dass Jasuja, Krishan Narang, Parma Nand Dhuria and Suresh Taneja, also apprised the senior functionaries of their similar views.

However, not only the BJP but other parties were also under pressure from some former members of the council to allow them a change in the respective ward as they were not eligible for re-contesting the elections from the same segment due to the revised categorisation, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Congress had a breather today with the release of former municipal council president Tulsi Ram Dhaulia from a sub-jail. The district court reportedly accepted bail plea of all the four accused in the case. Only two of them had been arrested.

Interestingly, the Congress in 2003 had chosen Dhaulia, who is a SC, to head the council even when the office fell in general category, as he was the senior most among the elected councillors. This had brought the SCs closer to the party but now Dhaulia’s arrest at the behest of the ruling alliance could create uncomfortable situation for the latter, sources said.

Mansa, June 6
Political parties have started preparations for municipal council elections. Meetings are being held for political alignments and selection of candidates.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) held a meeting of city committee yesterday for the selection of candidates. The party has decided to fight from eight wards. Mukand Singh would fight from ward number 2, Krishan Chauhan from ward number 5, Pawan Giani from ward number 13, Seo Pal from ward number 14, Karamjeet Kaur form ward number 21 and Satpal from ward number 19. The party would also fight from ward number 15 and 3.

In other wards, the CPI would support the candidates of like-minded parties. CPI leader Krishan Chauhan said that party would raise issues regarding the development of city, sewerage and water supply.

Meanwhile, the CPI (ML) has also decided to contest from five wards.

The BJP has been fighting from nearly 11 wards. Hardev Singh Ubha, a BJP leader, said that in other wards, the party would support the Akali candidates; as for seat sharing a meeting would be held.

Abohar, June 6
More than 50 workers have applied for tickets for the 16 wards in the old city, BJP mandal president Ravi Setia said today. Rest of the wards (15) fall on the other side of the railway station.

Speaking exclusively to The Tribune, he claimed that the response of workers during the ward-wise meetings was “very encouraging” but some of the workers, who had contested the 2003 municipal elections, preferred not to apply for a ticket this time, either due to revised categorisation of the wards or for personal reasons.

Commenting on the SAD (B)’s claim for contesting elections from 15 wards, he said the alliance partner contested for four wards in 2003 and there was no scope of increasing the share.

However, some adjustments to ensure the victory of the alliance could be made by changing the wards, he added.

Abohar, June 6
The leaders of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti refused to budge when DC Megh Raj and Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana visited the protesters at their camp inside the Canal colony on Friday. Interestingly, senior officers of irrigation department had avoided facing the agitating farmers since Monday when the Samiti started an indefinite sit-in outside the office of executive engineer.

The samiti activists said even when irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon belonged to this district, the funds released by the central government under the Rozgar Guarantee Yojna for desilting of canals and sub-canals in the region were not utilised after the formation of the present government. The supply of water had considerably improved after desilting of all canals in Muktsar district.

The ruling alliance had promised supply of water to each village located on the tail end but the farmers were struggling hard here for a drop of water and had to skip sowing of cotton. The irrigation officials had not bothered to listen to them for the last four months, the activists rued.  

SAD (B) legislator Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, while pursuing the samiti leaders to call off the agitation, assured that the long awaited work on desilting of sub-canals would be initiated tomorrow at village Shergarh. He also offered to arrange a meeting with the CM to finalise modalities for a permanent solution.

The DC reportedly assured that all the grievances regarding non-availability of canal water for drinking and irrigation would be redressed on priority basis.

Both of them (DC and MLA) returned with the impression that the samiti had agreed to call off the agitation but the activists promptly informed newspersons in the afternoon that no accord had been reached.

The agitation would be called off only when water in required quantity reaches the last field of Ramsara, Lambi and Dhingawali sub-canals, they reiterated.

Later in the evening, Kalu Ram and Paramjit Nehra, senior office-bearers of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, claimed in a press release that the deputy commissioner had directed the SDM and executive engineer of irrigation department to visit village Shergarh tomorrow in the morning to find a solution. 

Aulakh (Muktsar), June 6
To exert pressure on the chief minister so that he keeps his words regarding the acceptance of the demands of farmers, hundreds of activists of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union today blocked the Malout-Muktsar road at Aulakh village, falling under the home district of the CM.

To intensify the protest, leaders announced that from June 10-30, the effigies of Vikas Garg, deputy commissioner, Muktsar, would be burnt in different villages of the district. They added that the DC, ruling SAD MLAs and ministers would be welcomed with black flags in all villages from July 3 to July 10.

Addressing the gathering, the leaders spoke at length about their unfulfilled demands, including land for debris in Aulakh village, financial help for the terrorism-hit families of Fatoohiwala village, plots for landless peasants and the possession of allotted plots.

They lamented that on April 14, the CM had promised to settle all their demands but the process had not been initiated till date.

The leaders said if their demands were not met, the union would be forced to take extreme steps, such as gheraoing the DC office and blocking the railway tracks.

Lashing out at the police, various activists, including Lachman Singh, Nanak Singh, Sukha Singh, Tarsem Singh, Gurjant Singh and Raja Singh, alleged that till date not a single policeman had been punished, who cane-charged the peasants at CM’s home turf, Lambi village on March 26.

They rued that even the inquiries were not initiated against the cops, who had used derogatory words against the people belonging to SC and BC communities.

Taking the DC Muktsar, to task, they alleged that he deliberately created barriers in the fulfillment of the compromise reached between the protesters and the CM.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg said, “I have already told them that since the code of conduct has been imposed, nothing can be done regarding their demands. However, I assure that after the MC elections, newly-formed panchayats would be asked to begin work regarding their demands.”

Bathinda, June 6
The Oriental Bank of Commerce has launched a pro-active drive for the effective and transparent implementation of the agriculture debt waiver and relief scheme for farmers announced as part of the 2008-09 budget. Led by chairman and managing director Alok Misra, the bank has formed high-level teams headed by executive directors and general managers and the exercise, estimated to benefit one lakh borrowers, will be completed by June 20. Misra said the reprieve will lead to fresh investment in agriculture and contribute to the economic and social advancement of various sections of society.

To achieve its aim, the bank has launched door-to-door banking scheme for illiterate people in two villages of Punjab and has set up rural development training and resources centres at Ferozepur and Sriganganagar in the state. Misra also informed that the bank has 40 branches in Bathinda, Ferozepur, faridkot, Muktsar and Mansa with a total deposit of Rs 1316 crores.

Moga, June 6
Religious functions were held at many places in Moga district to pay tributes to the Sikh youths, who died in the operation Blue Star of the Army at Golden Temple complex, Amritsar, and in BSF’s action at the Bibi Kahan Kaur Gurudwara, Moga, during the first week of June 1984.

The main function was organised by the district unit of the All- India Sikh Students Federation (Mehta group) in the Bibi Kahan Kaur Gurudwara here. District president of the federation, Harmanjit Singh Chawla, and his colleagues paid tributes to those who died in the operation of the BSF in this gurudwara on the intervening night of June 4 and June 5, 1984. As many as 14 Sikh youths were killed in the operation. A prayer was offered after the bhog ceremony of the ‘akhand path’.

Another function was held in the Gurudwara Baba Namdev Bhawan, here. This function was organised by Balwant Singh, president of the Tonk Kashatri Sabha. Here also, a prayer was offered on behalf of the Sabha to pay tributes to those who died in both the operations at Amritsar and Moga. There were reports of such functions held at Rode, the native village of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Baghapurana, Daroli Bhai, Samalsar and many other places of the district.

At Rode, relatives of Bhindranwale and local villagers paid tributes to him (Bhindranwale) and Sikh youths, who according to them laid down their lives for sake of the ‘panth’( religion) in the operation Blue Star. A close relative of Bhindranwale, who did not wish to get her name published in the newspaper, told TNS on telephone that he (Bhindranwale) was a great Sikh religious leader of the 20th century.

It may be mentioned here that all religious functions held to mark the ‘Ghallughara Divas’ were held in the gurudwaras in a peaceful manner and the celebrations were kept low profile.

Meanwhile, the police remained vigilant throughout the day. It had set-up special check posts as a preventive measure .

Mansa, June 6
The Sardoolgarh police has registered a case against a manager of the Gramin Bank for forgery.

According to the information available, the Bathinda-Faridkot Gramin Bank’s Sardoolgarh manager Balwant Singh Bhatia allegedly withdrew Rs 47 lakh from the bank accounts of different persons through false signatures. The Sardoolgarh police registered a case following a recommendation from the SP(D) Sukhpal Singh Brar.

Bank officials investigated the matter and after that, the general manager of the bank recommended to the SSP Mansa to register a case against Balwant Singh Bhatia.

It is notable that Bhatia was deputed in this branch from the year 2003 to 2008. SHO Sardoolgarh informed that a case was registered against Balwant Singh Bhatia under sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC.

Efforts were made to contact the bank manager in question but in vain.

Abohar, June 6
A truckload of a local transport company was looted and its driver murdered in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh (UP) recently, sources said.

According to the sources, on May 25, a truck bearing registration number PB 13 Q 3500 left with a consignment of 1726 tins of mustard oil for Shantipur in Uttar Pradesh. As the consignment did not reach the destination, the manager of the Dashmesh Road Lines here tried to contact the driver, Swaran Singh, on his mobile phone but in vain.

A search team was despatched. On Thursday, it reported that the vehicle was found lying abandoned on the roadside near Rajpura town in Kanpur district. The driver’s body was also found lying in the truck. As many as 300 tins of oil were found missing. The police at Rajpura had taken the truck and body of the driver in its custody, sources said. The owner of the consignment, GRG Oil Mills, Sriganganagar, has reported the case to the police.

Another case of a missing consignment was registered by M/s Ratan Lal Deepak Kumar at Sriganganagar on Thursday. The complainant said 80 quintals of wheat was loaded in a tractor-trolley bearing number RJ 13 - 5220 on May 20 and was to be delivered at Udyog Vihar. But the consignment was not delivered. The police has booked the driver, Paramjit Singh, and owner of the vehicle Kashmir Singh, sources confirmed on Friday.

Fazilka, June 6
A labourer was buried alive and two others were rescued as soil caved in a well in the border village of Karni Khera.

According to the details available, Kalu Ram (30), Kaka Singh and Kamal Kishore, all residents of Karni Khera village, were extracting old pipes from an old well in the same village.

Kamal and Kaka were out of the well when all of sudden, soil caved into the well. Kalu got buried and the other two while trying to rescue him also got buried in the process, though partially. Meanwhile, villagers gathered at the site. Tractors were pressed into the rescue operation that was being supervised by the tehsildar, Fazilka. A medical team from the local civil hospital also reached the site.

Though Kaka and Kamal were rescued by the villagers but Kalu, who remained buried for about two hours, could not survive. The deceased is survived by his wife and three minor children.