Chandigarh, October 8
Relations between Punjab and Rajasthan have taken a new dip with the Punjab Government taking exception to Rajasthan formulating permanent schemes costing Rs 101.69 crore to utilise Ghaggar water. The Punjab Chief Secretary has written a strongly worded letter to his counterpart in that state saying that “Rajasthan had no right to Ghaggar waters”.

In his letter dated September 22 Chief Secretary S.C. Aggarwal has said that Punjab’s Irrigation Secretary had raised this issue at the third review meeting of the committee on the long-term availability and utilisation of the waters of eastern rivers.

This meeting had seen both Punjab and Haryana objecting to the use of Ghaggar water by Rajasthan saying that as per Article 16 of the Bhakra Nangal Agreement, 1959, between the erstwhile State of Punjab and Rajasthan the water belonged to Punjab.In case Rajasthan wanted to use the Ghaggar water it would have to surrender its allocation of Sutlej water.

Punjab is now contemplating taking legal recourse either by way of a suit under Article 131 of the Constitution or by raising a water dispute and seeking the constitution of a tribunal. The state has already got legal opinion that has indicated that this is a fit case to take on Rajasthan for a “breach of agreement.”

The Punjab Chief Secretary has in fact gone to the extent of accusing Rajasthan of withholding all facts from the Ghaggar Standing Committee before seeking the approval of its scheme for the utilisation of Ghaggar water, mainly the Ghaggar flood control scheme.

The Rajasthan Government has said that it is incorrect to say that the state got the Ghaggar flood control scheme approved without placing full facts before the Ghaggar Standing Committee that looks into inter-state issues.

Rajasthan, on the other hand, has been maintaining that the implementation of this scheme was undertaken to save land and other property in Rajasthan after seeking the approval of the Union Government on the basis of assessment of floods made available by the Central Water Commission (CWC). The scheme was approved after the appraisal of full facts and after giving adequate opportunity to Punjab to defend its claim.

This is not the first time Punjab has had serious problems with Rajasthan over the issue of water sharing. Recently, Rajasthan had staked its claim in the running of the Bhakra Beas Management Board and had even got its member appointed to the board. It had further demanded more share of power generated by hydel projects in Punjab. But the same was rejected by the Union Government and it was decided to refer the matter to the Supreme Court.

Recently, the SAD general secretary demanded that Punjab should be given royalty to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore for the water flowing from Punjab into Rajasthan.

He justified this by saying that seepage from the Rajasthan Canal has caused major waterlogging in southern Punjab. He had claimed that the issue of preserving Punjab’s waters had already been taken up with the Prime Minister by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and threatened that if the Centre was not quick and positive in its response, Punjab would take up the issue with the CWC and the Supreme Court.

Jalandhar, October 8
To the relief of farmers across the state, the procurement process will again begin tomorrow following an assurance by the state Food and Supplies Secretary that all arrangements for transportation and storage will be in place by tonight.

Harbilas Bassi and Akshar Kumar, coordinators of the Food Grain Taalmel Committee, who have been spearheading the strike by the staff of the procurement agencies, said they met Food and Supplies Secretary S P Singh who assured that the government had taken note of their grievances and their problems would be solved soon.

In the interests of the farmers we have decided to start the procurement process from tomorrow morning. Instructions have been given to all colleagues in the field that the procurement would be on full steam from tomorrow morning.

However, we have conveyed to SP Singh that in case the government did not ensure the lifting and storage of the bought stock we will be out of the markets after 48 hours, they pointed out.

The government should also take steps to release the payments to the farmers who have sold their produce. Despite announcements, the state is yet to give any money to such farmers, they said.

We also asked SP Singh not to take action against the agitating staff for resorting to strike since they had no other option. The ground situation was grim and they were feeling vulnerable owing to their past experiences where they had been penalised for no fault, they added.

We express our solidarity with farmers and the step taken by them was in the interests of all concerned. The foresight of the government would not have allowed the situation to come to such a pass, they said.

We also appeal farmers to bring dry paddy to mandis so that the crop is bought at the outset, they added. Bassi said the government - sheller owners’ impasse too seemed for a positive outcome with the latter deciding to withdraw their strike by tomorrow.

Jalandhar, October 8
The faction fight in the Punjab unit of the BJP has become more intense with the party’s state unit president issuing a show-cause notice to local party MLA KD Bhandari. The MLA has been asked to explain his position with regard to a statement which appeared in a section of the Press a few days ago.

Whereas people of the state earlier witnessed a prolonged tussle between BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and BJP Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia and state president of BJP Rajinder Bhandari, the latest bout is between Kalia and the MLA KD Bhandari.

Party sources said the MLA, who received the notice today, had been given seven days to send his reply.

The controversy that led to the issuing of notice to the MLA started immediately after the removal of Raj Kumar Gupta from the chairmanship of the Punjab Small Industry and Export Corporation (PSIEC) to accommodate Amritsar-based BJP leader Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, in his place.

Sidhu had taken a stand that until Chhina was removed from the chairmanship of the Improvement Trust of Amritsar, he would not enter the city. Senior Congress leader Gupta had joined the BJP a few years back, when he was denied the ticket to contest the Vidhan Sabha elections. He was made chairman after the SAD-BJP came to power in the state. However, a few days back, he was unceremoniously removed from the chairmanship.

To justify Gupta’s removal, a section of the BJP had discreetly spread the word around that it had to be done because the MLA Bhandari had complained that former (Gupta) had worked against the party in the last Lok Sabha elections. However, other sections of the party had countered it stating that it had been an attempt to spoil relations between Gupta and the MLA Bhandari, who had a good rapport.

Party sources said the MLA Bhnadari did not make any written complaint against Gupta at any stage. The matter relating to the party’s defeat in the Lok Sabha elections in various Assembly segments was discussed at a 2-day conclave held about three months back here and its proceedings were kept secret. Information to media was leaked linking the removal of Gupta to the issues discussed at the conclave.

Other sections of the party blamed Kalia for the removal of Gupta. That section spread the word that Kalia wanted to settle some old political scores with Gupta. Because of that reason Gupta was shown the door. The party sources said MLA Bhadari had been asked to explain about a statement in the media attributed to him regarding Kalia.

There are reports that the BJP national president Rajnath Singh has been briefed about the ongoing cold war among various leaders of the party in Punjab. There is one group of party leaders led by Rajinder Bhandari and Kalia and Navjot Singh Sidhu leads the other group now.

There is a third group led by Avinash Rai Khanna and Harjit Singh Grewal. Besides, there are some other factions. 

Muktsar, October 8
Allegations of a top political family of Punjab armtwisting the Punjab roadways management in an attempt to boost the income of buses owned by the family are becoming more rampant than ever in Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal’s home district.

Yesterday, office-bearers of the Muktsar unit of the Punjab Roadways Employees Union issued a statement claiming that the top brass of the roadways was working overtime to please their political bosses.

Dhanwant Singh Khaira, president of the union, charged that the buses owned by the Badals were being given prime routes and timings. He added that the Punjab Roadways was bending rules at the behest of the ruling party politicians. He said buses belonging to a certain family were being favoured.

Citing an instance, Khaira said, “Earlier the highly profitable Muktsar-Chandigarh early morning route was given to Punjab Roadways and the first bus used to ply on this route at 4.20am.

Khaira added that three buses used to ply from Muktsar between 3.50am and 4.40am, which also included the 4.20am bus. “However now the times of all three buses have been changed and all three will run after 5am.

All those slots, which were heavily favoured by residents, will now be given to private bus operators.”

“ The bus used to be jampacked and was a hit with locals as it reached Chandigarh at 8.30am. However, that time has now been changed just to make way for a private operator.” Said Jaspal Singh, a regular commuter,

Om Prakash Sharma, president of the Muktsar unit of the union, said more timings should be given to roadways buses so that it is in a position to financially sustain itself.”

Harbinder Singh Rupana, another commuter said, “Now we will have to shell more on travelling. We have been left with no options. Earlier, we shelled out Rs 128 for a one-way ticket to Chandigarh.

However, now we will have to pay nearly Rs 200 because private bus operators charge at their own will.”

However, General Manager of Muktsar depot of Punjab Roadways, Charanjeet Singh Brar, refuted the allegations of the union and said that, “the issue was snowballing into a controversy just because the new time table was not being properly interpreted. 

Amritsar, October 8
In its effort to convey hurt feelings of the Sikh diaspora over the alleged sale of over 855-kanal land belonging to Pakistan-based Gurdwara Deh Sahib and Samadh Bhai Maan Singh to the Defence Authority of Pakistan for peanuts, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtaar Singh has taken up the matter with the Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.

It was for the second time that a bid was made to sell land of a gurdwara in Pakistan after Independence. Earlier, the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Propety Board (PETB) had allegedly tried to sell 35-acre land belonging to the Dera Chahal based Gurdwara Bebe Nanki. But, the PETB was forced to hold up sale proceedings following massive protests and objections raised by Sikhs of different countries.

The SGPC chief has shot-off a letter of protest to Zardari saying that the Sikhs from across the globe have got stunned to come across an unfortunate information that vast pieces of land belonging to Gurdwara Deh Sahib and Samadh Bhai Maan Singh were “sold off” by the PETB for an amount of Rs 6.50 crore.

“Any such act in itself is in violation of provisions of the PETB Act, which stipulated that no land of any religious place in Pakistan could be sold for any purpose. Moreover, it is a matter of religious feelings and belief. How could a government body be so insensitive to hurt religious feelings of a minority in such a blatant manner?” questioned Avtaar Singh in his letter to Zardari.

He said the sale was also a violation of the Nehru-Liaqat Ali-Tara Singh Pact, essence of which was that none of the two countries- India and Pakistan- would be resorting to sale of any land of any religious place in any of the two countries. “So, it is also a clear cut violation of the pact, which should be honoured by the government of Pakistan.

Amritsar, October 8
A grand nagar kirtan as per Sikh traditions and customs marked the celebrations on the eve of the 475th “Parkash Purb”, birth anniversary of Guru Ram Dass, who is also remembered as the founder of the holy city.

Meanwhile, an 80-member Sikh jatha led by Chatin Singh Samao left for Pakistan by train from here today to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Guru at Gurdwara Chuna Mandi, Lahore. After paying obeisance at various other historic gurdwaras in Pakistan, it will return on October 15.

The SGPC, in collaboration with various Sikh organisations, organised the event in which devotees and pilgrims participated with devotion in large numbers. All devotees were keen to have a glimpse of the tastefully flower-bedecked “palaki” (palanquin) in which Guru Granth Sahib was placed.

The religious procession started from Akal Takht in the noon. President, SGPC, Avtar Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh and secretary of the shiromani

committee Sukhdev Singh Bhaur presented siropas to Panj Piaras.

Subsequently, the nagar kirtan passed through the earmarked route of Sri Guru Ram Dass Niwas, Chowk Ghanta Ghar, Bazar Mai Sewa, Bazar Papdaan, Chowk Chhatti Khuhi, Dal Mandi, Chawal Mandi and concluded at Akal Takht in the evening.

Meanwhile, en route the devotees had made elaborate arrangements for water and food for distribution among the participants and devotees . The route was cleaned and beautifully decorated with colourful buntings. The SGPC is busy giving final touches to a host of events, including the famed “attishbazi” inside the Golden Temple complex.

Devotees from all over the world listened to “Alaukik Rag Darbar” at Gurdwara Diwan Hall Manji Sahib in the evening. World-famous ragis, including Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa, Bhai Harjinder Singh, Bhai Balbir Singh, Bhai Sarbjit Singh and Gurnam Singh, rendered kirtan.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 8
A woman got married to an HIV positive man unknowingly, hoping to lead a happy life. But all she went through was a life of misery and losses besides living herself under a constant shadow of death.

This is the sorry tale of a 35-year-old Randeep Kaur (name changed), a woman married in Issru village, who lost her husband, a taxi driver to AIDS a year ago and a 12-year-old girl 
only yesterday.

The minor girl died in an unconscious state. Having lost her beloved husband and child, Randeep is now counting days and wishing she breathes her last soon as only death can rub the scars on her mind and help her out of a miserable life.

For Randeep all was lost on the altar of her father-in-law's wish to get a grandchild belying the claims of medical sciences that AIDS afflicted parents would have an HIV positive child.

‘‘Why did they make me suffer by marrying to an HIV positive man when they knew that the blunder would bring misery to the whole family?’’ asks a frail Randeep.

Her question however remains unanswered.

Daughter of an exserviceman, Randeep, a beautiful young woman of Rattan Palon village was married to Ranjit Singh of Issru village. Her groom's relatives knew that the nuptial knot would spell further doom but they preferred to remain quiet.

She got to know about the deadly virus only after the couple went to a doctor seeking treatment for physical debility. There they were certified to be carrying the virus. Shockingly, she had not got her blood tests done while she was pregnant. The under-matric couple had chosen to get the baby delivered at home. No medical help was sought during the nine months of pregnancy.
“I cannot blame anybody for what happened with me. But my in-laws must tell me as to why did they marry their son when they knew that he was suffering from AIDS?,” asks a bitter Randeep alleging her father-in-law had sold his property so that she could not stake a claim on his share.

Randip Kaur had earlier sought euthanasia for her 12-year-old daughter, who died yesterday.

Last words the innocent child uttered before falling unconscious were “If you could not get me killed in womb kill me now as I can not bear the pain of being an AIDS patient.”

Bikram Singh, her father-in-law, who has settled in Sangrur district after disposing off property at Issru denied charges levelled by Randeep Kaur.

He maintained allegations levelled by her were not proved during investigations by the Khanna police, who is conducting an inquiry into the case following a complaint by Randeep.

“Moreover, why should a father marry his son when he knows that he was suffering from AIDS? It was after the birth of Navdeep that the doctors told my son and daughter-in-law that they were carrying HIV virus,”

claimed Bikram Singh.

Randeep is dependent upon her old mother for moral and financial support. The meagre pension the old woman gets, falls insufficient for running the family. The jewelry and valuables Randip had received in dowry were disposed off for treatment of her husband who died about a year ago. Her only brother-in-law too refused to help her.

The doctors have told her that she may live for another decade if she gets proper medical care and a strong will to live. A good Samaritan may add years to her shattered life.

Barnala, October 8
Handhiaya village, near Barnala, seems to be in grip of a viral fever about which even the Barnala civil surgeon Dr Kuldip Kaur Sahni is not sure.

“It is yet to be ascertained whether the fever is typhoid, viral or malaria,” she said. As per unofficial reports, more than 200 persons have been suffering from fever in the village, while the official figure is 168. Many of them have been suffering from fever for the past some weeks, while they have been taking treatment from the private medical practitioners.

A couple of days back when the matter came to notice of the district health authorities, they sent a team of doctors to the village.

The team conducted a survey of the patients.

It has been learnt that the consumption of contaminated water could be the reason behind the fever. Due to this, the health authorities have started issuing directions to the villagers to drink boiled water. The municipal authorities have also been asked to check the water sources and chlorinate the same. The health authorities have collected 10 samples of the drinking water from the village, which have been sent to the laboratory for testing.

Barnala civil surgeon Dr Kuldip Kaur Sahni said during survey 168 persons had been found suffering from fever. She said till now blood samples of 775 persons had been taken from the village for malaria testing. She also said about 12,000 tablets of chlorine had also been distributed among the villagers so far.

Sahni further added that about 50 fever cases had also been referred to the Barnala civil hospital, but none of them was admitted to the hospital, as they had been sent back to their homes after giving treatment.

Amritsar, October 8
The Punjab government is likely to earn revenue worth several hundred crores of rupees as it is all set to transfer over 2,795 acres of nazool land (government land) lying vacant and encroached upon in the state to the Punjab Local Bodies Department for its planned and systematic development.

A decision in this regard was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who has asked the Punjab Local Bodies Department to initiate the process of taking over of the nazool lands after subjecting these to proper earmarking. The purpose behind the move, it was learnt, was not only to rake up big money but also to ensure planned development of vast chunks of land in rural and urban areas of Punjab.

The department has already started working on the project by collecting data and obtaining records about such land. “The Principal Secretary, Punjab Local Bodies Department, DS Bains, has instructed us to procure records of such lands. In Amritsar, we have 21 acres, 6 kanals and five marlas of nazool land in the urban area, 3 acres and 11 marlas in rural areas and 13 acres, 15 kanals and 17 marlas of the government land lying within 2 km of the MC limits,” MP Arora, Regional Deputy Director (Amritsar), Punjab Local Bodies Department, who took over as the administrator of the Amritsar Improvement Trust today said.

Besides, Amritsar, vast chunks of the government land were either lying vacant or had been encroached upon in different parts of the state.

Department sources pointed out that over 1,017 acres of government land was available in urban areas of Punjab while over 551 acres of such pieces of land were lying in rural areas.

Nearly, 1,227 acres of nazool land would be available to the department from rural areas of Punjab.

Department officials, it was learnt, were busy making lists of such lands, even as, they were yet to get clear-cut instructions as to what would be the next course of action in respect of these lands.

The sources, however, pointed out that any development on these lands would be initiated only after the department formally acquired possession of such lands as encroachment also figures as a major grey area in different districts, particularly in and around major cities of Punjab.

Once planned and developed, these pieces of land could be sold.

Patiala, October 8
The Centre has approved in principle to allot the “Centre of Research and Vocational Training for Physically Disabled (CRVTPD)” to Punjabi University. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has conveyed the decision to the state government. The centre would be set up on the university campus and the project would be funded by the Union Government.

Dr Jaspal Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said Punjabi University would become the only university in Punjab to have such a centre. “The centre is aimed at empowering physically challenged and ensuring their 100 per cent employability against the posts reserved for them,” he said. He also revealed that they had already submitted the proposal for the centre to the ministry.

“We have prepared a project report of Rs 7 crore. It will be up to the Union Government how much it approves,” university authorities said. According to the varsity authorities, they were hopeful that the Centre would finalise the proposal in around five months.

Dr Jaspal said the students admitted to the centre would be provided vocational training so that they could become skilled workers in various fields. The next step would be to explore the possibilities of creating avenues for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and eradicating the menace of child labour.

Ludhiana, October 8
Inderjeet Hassanpuri, the maestro of Punjabi language who weaved words with pastoral flavour like "Sare pind ch puare paye, charkha mera rangla, Kurti malamal di, chareyan di joon buri……" bid final adieu to the world today.

Hassanpuri was 79 and was admitted at Dayanad Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) earlier this week following serious problem in his kidneys. Having visited his son in Canada, the writer had recently returned to India.

The last rites of the lyricist will be performed at his native village Hassanpur tomorrow.

Known for his versatility, Hassanpuri was liked well in the laureate community as his death was condoled by his contemporaries and by the new genre writers/lyricists.

Laureates from across the state condoled the death of Inderjeet Hassanpuri's terming it as a loss for the society at large.

Navrup Singh, Inderjeet Hassanpuri's son while talking to The Tribune said, "My father was full of life as he was penning his autobiography with the name of "Hassanpuri Jeevni" and had already penned 500 pages. I will personally work on the details to get the book completed as it will be a tribute from a son to the father," .

President, Punjabi Sahit Akademy Dr Dalip Kaur Tiwana referred to Inderjeet Hassanpuri's contribution to Punjabi cinema and lyrics as "unsurpassable". "He was not just a lyricist but was a good entertainer. He loved to sing his own songs and also the songs written and sung by others."

Above all, Hassanpuri will always be remembered for his humility and sensitivity towards human relationships, which was evident from his style of writing, added Dr Tiwana.

His first poetry book "Aunsian" was released in 1959, "Samey Di Awaz" in 1962/65 and "Zindgi De Geet" in 1966. His songs have also been sung by topmost singers of Bollywood including Mohammad Rafi , Asha Bhonsle, Manna Dey and Jagjit Singh.

Baba Bohar of Punjabi culture, Jagdev Singh Jassowal lamented the death of Hassanpuri adding that he was indeed the true son of the soil, who contributed to Punjabi culture by giving a newness to Punjabi folk songs. “I still remember his initial song Sadhu hunde rab marge ghund kad ke khair na payiye, which established him as "the lyricist". It was the never say die attitude that brought accolades for Inderjeet Hassanpuri for his latest song”, he said.

CHANDIGARH: The death of Hassanpuri has sent shockwaves in the entire state.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was one of the many people who have expressed profound grief and sorrow over his sad demise. In his message to the family, Badal recalled the outstanding contribution of Hassanpuri towards the promotion of Punjabi language and literature through out his life. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal too expressed grief. Sukhbir said Hassanpuri would be remembered by all Punjabi’s for his refined sensibility, subtle perceptions, uncanny instinct for right word and unfailing ear for nuances and modulations.

The Education and Languages Minister Punjab, Dr Upinderjit Kaur in her condolence message described him as a torchbearer of writing with a constructive approach and vision and who had left a mark on the world around him.

Chandigarh, October 8
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said it was distressed that a public servant facing prosecution and departmental proceedings was appointed as the Punjab School Education Board secretary, while keeping others with a clean record out of consideration zone.

Coming down heavily on the state functionaries, Bench of Justice JS Khehar and Justice SD Anand asserted: “How a public servant, facing prosecution and departmental proceedings, be held fit to hold the office of the secretary is beyond our imagination. We are particularly distressed at the turn of events in view of the fact that there were indeed candidates, who were not facing either a criminal prosecution or departmental action. That the appointing authority opted to appoint the appellant as against them is by itself indicative of extraneous character of the appointment”.

The ruling came on an appeal filed by board secretary Pavittarpal Kaur after a single Judge quashed her appointment and directed the respondent chairman to make temporary arrangements and appoint the secretary on regular basis.

In the order under challenge, Justice Permod Kohli had held Pavittarpal Kaur’s “continuation on the post is not only undesirable, but is also unwarranted”.

Challenging her appointment, board’s law officer Sukhwinder Kaur Saroya had earlier claimed she, too, was in the fray for the post, but Pavittarpal Kaur was preferred over her. Saroya had asserted Pavittarpal Kaur was “involved in a criminal case of serious nature of service misconduct”.

Kharar, October 8
Twenty-five bonded labourers were rescued from New Sunny Enclave Air Force Colony today. Warrant officer Sharanjit Singh from Punjab and Haryana High Court conducted the raid under police protection.

While talking to TNS, Sharanjit said 25 bonded labourers included three children below the age of 10 years and two women. All labourers belonged to Bathinda district and worked for Kuldeep Singh, owner of Balaji Builders, Sunny Enclave, Kharar.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the warrant officer to conduct a raid after Sushil Kumar, a resident of Bhola Colony, Gharanuda, Karnal, filed a habeas corpus peition.

“In his petition, Sushil stated that he had worked as the munshi of Balaji Builders and came across several occasions wherein the labourers were beaten up and often mistreated. Taking cognizance of his report, the court directed to conduct a raid,” said Sharanjit Singh.

The warrant officer said that the petitioner had submitted a list of 37 persons said to be bonded labourers. However, when the team reached the spot today, it came across only 25 of them. They told team members that they were deprived of drinking water and power facility and were often mistreated in the hands of construction contractor.

Next date in court is fixed for October 21 wherein Sharanjit Singh would present his report to the court.

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 8
The steel industry here is hounded by a spurt in cases of truck hijacking. Over the past fortnight, as many as six cases of hijacking have been reported here.

Industrialists here said though the actual number of hijackings is much higher, FIRs have been registered in six cases only. In cases, where the goods being transported from here were unaccounted for, the owners have refrained from approaching the police.

Though the hijackings started in April this year, these were stray incidents. However, of late, a case of hijacking is being reported every second day, and goods worth Rs 80 lakh have been stolen.

Most industrialists here believe that this is a handiwork of a well organised gang of at least 10 persons. The modus operandi is simple. A truck carrying goods late in the night, is waylaid by the gang on the GT Road, near the town. A part of the gang pretends to be a sales tax mobile inspecting unit and stops the truck. Once the driver has been over powered and blind-folded, and the truck is in custody of the gang, they quickly move on. The driver is then thrown out of the vehicle and the truck moves on.

Amarjit Goyal, chairman and managing director of Modern Steels, whose truck was hijacked last week, informed TNS that the stolen truck was later found in a village, near Bhawanigarh.

“Besides goods worth Rs 20 lakh, all truck tyres and some other spare parts were also missing. Even the driver was found injured at a secluded spot,” he said.

Purshottam Mittal, owner of Sunshine Steels, whose truck was hijacked on a fortnight ago, said it was now getting difficult to operate from here.

“The absolute collapse of law and order has led to such incidents. There is hardly any police presence in the town and this lack of patrolling is encouraging the gangsters. We have survived the recession and volatility in steel prices. But we will not be able to deal with this lawlessness and neither can we provide own security to each of our trucks,” he said.

Industrialists also said recently they had also provided three motor cycles to the police here at their own expense to increase the patrolling. Senior Superintendent of Police, Fatehgarh Sahib, Kaustubh Sharma, said they were increasing the patrolling in the area to curb these incidents.

“We have increased the police force by 50 persons in Mandi Gobindgarh and have also increased the vehicles for patrolling. With this, we have already managed to curb the small thefts in the industrial units. Most of the truck hijackings are taking place on the highway, which is not in our jurisdiction,” he said.

Patiala, October 8
With medical report of the contraband seized a month ago stating that there was no presence of heroine in the samples, functioning of the Patiala police has come under scanner. It is being alleged that one of police official posted as SHO Jhulka, Sarabjit Cheema, had allegedly made an attempt to implicate five persons in a “fake” contraband case. Senior police officials have confirmed the development and assured to initiate strict action against the cop responsible for the misdemeanour.

A team led by Sarabjit Cheema had claimed to have busted an interstate gang, involved in drug peddling in first week of September. At that time, Cheema had claimed that the seized contraband was being brought from Haryana. The cops had shown recovery of 1 kg heroine from the accused arrested near Meerapur village, on September 3. Subsequently, the police registered an FIR against Darshan Singh, Shammi Kumar, Bahadur Singh, Dinesh Kumar and Sukhdev Singh, whereas one woman accomplice of the alleged accused Swaran Kaur, was shown absconding.

Patiala SSP RS Khatra confirmed that they had got the medical report of the seized contraband from Government Laboratory, Kharar. “The report clearly indicates that there is no presence of heroine,” the SSP revealed, adding that he would look into the matter and initiate proper action in case the cop was found guilty. The SSP said since the accused were in jail and the matter is sub-judice, the court would be appraised about the medical report. “It is up to the court that whether it sends another sample of seized contraband to some other laboratory for test or not”, he disclosed.

However, SHO Jhulka Sarabjit Cheema reiterated that he did his duty and despite the fact that reports have failed, there was no effort on anyone’s part to implicate any innocent.