Amritsar, January 12
Tarn Taran district magistrate Khushi Ram today set aside the order of the then SDM Amritsar, Vimil Setia, who had directed eviction of all the three clubs on the premises of Ram Bagh - the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The decision of Khushi Ram would be instrumental in keeping all the three clubs in the national heritage building.

When contacted, DC Tarn Taran confirmed setting aside the decision of Setia.

Earlier, Setia’s order was described as a landmark decision, issued on May 25, 2007, which had ordered eviction of all three clubs ---Services Club, Amritsar Club and Lumbsdon Club --- from the historic Ram Bagh by June20, 2007.

These clubs were opened by the British after annexation of the Punjab. Their lease had expired for the last about 16 years.

Interestingly, previous order of Setia read, “I am of the considered view that the clubs are in unauthorised occupation of the public premises.”

The eviction orders had clearly mentioned that having failed to vacate the clubs by June 2007, the Municipal Corporation would be at liberty to get the area vacated under section 5(2) of the Land Eviction and Land Recovery Act, 1973.

In a unanimous resolution, the municipal corporation vide resolution July 1, 1994, had decided that excess land in possession of clubs may be got vacated immediately.

Both the district administration and the MC should be held responsible for the violation of the acts enacted for the conservation of historical buildings. A letter by the Director, Cultural and Historical and Museum Department, to the Deputy Commissioner on July 8, 1999 reads: "You are well aware that whole of Ram Bagh has been declared as the protected monument, as per Government of Punjab’s notification number 1/14/97- TS /2051, dated October 10, 1997. Now, this garden is totally developed as per rules of historical monuments by the department.”

Nawanshahr, January 12
The shopkeepers in the old grain market, who are accused of raising illegal structures in the market, clashed with the residents and even misbehaved with mediapersons during a press meet here today.

The residents had called the press conference to brief the media over the alleged encroachments by the shopkeepers in the market. Resident Sandeep Kumar Pathak lodged a complaint after which the police registered a case against Rajan Sahni, Sanju and Happy of Sloh village.

Sandeep alleged that the accused persons entered into his shop and attacked him with rods. He received injuries on his head. The miscreants also snatched his gold chain. Sandeep was admitted to the local civil hospital.

He said the residents of the old grain market have submitted applications with the executive officer, municipal council and DM, market committee for removing encroachments in the old grain market.

The media photographers, who were trying to click photographs of the ‘encroachments’, were also allegedly misbehaved with by some shopkeepers. The miscreants also allegedly tried to snatch cameras from some of the mediapersons.

Jalandhar, January 12
The Saint Soldiers Group of Education celebrated Lohri in its schools and colleges today. St Soldiers College celebrated the occasion as ‘Lohri for Daughters’ and organised a colourful programme.

Fifteen girl students from nursery to class 12 of the Saint Soldiers School along with their parents were honoured.

Similar programmes were held at St Soldiers Law College, St Soldiers College of Education, Pharmacy College and St Soldiers School. Group chairman Anil Chopra laid emphasis on uplift of women in society and the wellbeing of the girl child. — OC

Gurdaspur, January 12
Gurdial Singh, who was allegedly involved in the murder of his two teenaged sons and facing trials for the same, today made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from the district court complex where he was taken by the policemen in connection with the hearing of the case.

A resident of Batala town, Gurdial was arrested about four months ago after he allegedly murdered his two sons and then made an attempt to destroy their dead bodies. A case was registered under sections 302 and 201 of the IPC against him in the civil lines police station of Batala after which he was lodged in the local central jail here as he was facing trails in the same case.

Police sources said Gurdial Singh along with other undertrials, who were lodged in the central jail here, were taken to the district court complex. When Gurdial came out of the courtroom and the guard concerned was taking him into the custody, he attacked the guard and fled away.

The guard, who suffered injuries on one of his shoulders, chased him and managed to overpower the accused with the help of other persons, who were present in the court complex. The sources said a case in this connection had been registered against Gurdial Singh under section 224 of the IPC in the city police station today. — TNS

Batala, January 12
Dalbir Kaur, sarpanch of Bojay village, was seriously injured when village landlords attacked her last night.

The sarpanch had to face the wrath as she had lodged a complaint with the Revenue Department against the landlords for illegally occupying six kanals of village land that was originally used as cremation ground as well as dumping place of dead animals for the last many years.

She was elected for the first time from the reserved constituency (SC). The landlords of the village, identified as Dalbir Singh and Mohinder Singh, along with a group of 40 to 50 people attacked her. The victim has been admitted to Ghuman Civil Hospital. — OC

Amritsar, January 12
Bodies of Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and his wife Manveen Sandhu were brought from Bikaner to the holy city today. Mortal remains of the couple would be consigned to flames tomorrow. The couple and two others, Baldev Sohi and Ajay Singh Pandit, were killed when they were traveling in a car near Bikaner on January 11. Their son Sahiljit Sandhu, pursuing aeronautical engineering in the US, is likely to arrive late evening. — TNS