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Murder of DGP’s Father
812 promoted to rank of Principal
No fresh taxes in Budget |
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Pak intruder shot dead
Abohar, February 15 A Pakistani national was shot dead in the Srikaranpur sector of Sriganganagar district by BSF jawans late last evening when he was making an attempt to cross over to the Indian side after cutting barbed fencing erected on the Indo-Pak border.
BJP protests over rising inflation
‘SAD-BJP should issue White Paper on funds’
JET to be held on May 22
Wheat storage pangs haunt state
Clash between Sikhs, dera followers averted
PAU to get Rs 75 cr from rural fund
PSEB engineers flay officials’ suspension
State may have tie-up with UK for English teachers
Arogya Mela
Gazetteer released
Mahboob’s death mourned
State IMA founder dead
He spent 14 yrs in jail for murder he didn’t commit
SHOs get training in criminal law
HC: Verify authenticity of Sukhbir’s letter
VB files contempt plea against Janjua
Patiala gets evening court
One held for planting IED
Shagun Scheme Scam
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Murder of DGP’s Father
Moga, February 15 The 70-year-old woman, who was acquitted by the Supreme Court in the murder case, had died of nervous breakdown and brain hemorrhage on September 1 at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, at a time when her son was in judicial custody. The police has included her name in the case by adding additional charges under the Corruption Act, even as it had already registered two separate FIRs of fraud and corruption against her son and five other persons, including three cops. The police had added charges under Sections 7, 13(2), 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 12-D of the Indian Passport Act in the first FIR (no 127 of August 4, 2009) registered under Sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC. The two FIRs were originally registered against Jagdev, three cops -Gurdial Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Ranjit Singh, Hakam Singh (retd), travel agent Satinder Pal Singh ‘Bittu’ and Goa travel agent Xavier Vizgard. Ramesh Grover, legal counsel of the NRI, claimed that the name of the deceased woman did not figure in any of the cases mentioned above. He said this was revealed from an application filed by Gurmeet Singh, DSP (D), in the court of Kuljit Pal Singh requesting to record statement of constable Ranjit Singh under Section 164 of the CrPC, who has probably become an approver against the NRI in this case. Jagdev alleged that the police was unnecessarily harassing him physically and mentally by raiding his house time and again. “I have not slept in my house for the past many days”, he said. Adding that her mother had already died under mental stress, he said the police had now dragged her name without any reason. Meanwhile, the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, SK Aggarwal, today granted bail to Xavier Vizgard in a fraud case while bail applications of Jagdev and others have been reserved for February 18. The court has also asked Jagdev to appear before an investigating officer in this case on February 18.
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812 promoted to rank of Principal
Chandigarh, February 15 The state government had in an affidavit to the Punjab and Haryana High Court admitted that hundreds of schools in the state were without Principals and had promised to fill these slots soon. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken a suo- moto notice of vacancies after the same were highlighted in these columns. After the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) cleared names of 725 lecturers and 94 headmasters for promotion, the government passed formal orders today, promoting 812 as Principals, unfortunately two headmasters retired in January before being accorded the promotion. Hailing the decision of the government, Sarabjit Singh Toor and Hakam Singh, presidents of the School Principal’s Promotion Front and Government Schools Lecturers Association, respectively, has called off the agitation that was to begin tomorrow. Meanwhile, Punjab has also announced record recruitments of teaching faculty, besides upgrading school infrastructure. The SAD-BJP government has claimed to spend Rs 626 crore out of Rs 699 crore on education under the Sarv Sikhya Abhiyian programme during 2008-2010. To fill all vacancies in schools, Punjab has recruited around 26,668 teachers during the past two years, whereas the recruitment process of 7,654 teachers was in progress. Besides, more 5,000 teachers will also be recruited to fill remaining vacancies. The state has spent Rs 634 crore on upgradation of infrastructure in elementary schools and to provide safe drinking water and toilet facilities in 18,969 schools. Punjab is the only state in India having kitchen sheds to prepare midday meals in all primary and upper primary schools. Further, the state government has decided to automate all functions of government schools to develop management information system (MIS) and geographical information system (GIS) for effective planning and decision-making.
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No fresh taxes in Budget
Chandigarh, February 15 HMEL officials headed by its CEO Prabh Das are scheduled to meet the Finance Minister tomorrow to put forward their case for concessions. HMEL has asked the government for an interest-free loan of Rs 400 crore a year for 15 years. In the original proposal the refinery was to get an interest-free loan of Rs 250 crore annually for five years after the commissioning of the project. The Finance Minister, when contacted on the issue, said research done by the committee headed by him had revealed that there was not much logic in the HMEL demand. “In fact, the cost of fabrication has come down as have the steel prices”, he said while putting across a counter-argument on the HMEL plea that the project would be affected by the ongoing recession. Manpreet Badal said from what he could understand was that the company was keen on the concessions as other states, including Orissa and West Bengal, were extending the same. “However, Punjab needs to know why the company is seeking concessions after signing an MoU on the issue”. He said “The demand for concessions should not be entirely profit driven only”, he added. The Finance Minister’s statement is significant as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has stated that the government is “sympathetically” considering extending further concessions to HMEL. The Chief Minister has also made it known that he is happy with the work being undertaken by the company. He has also disclosed that he is reasonably convinced that the refinery will be completed by March 2011, as claimed by the company. Meanwhile, Manpreet Badal disclosed that there was no scope for imposing fresh taxes in the coming Budget, even as he indicated that much of the money mobilised by the Sukhbir-Kalia report would be spent on meeting the backlog of the Fifth Pay Commission. He said while Rs 3,600 crore was expected to be collected from levies imposed by the committee, the state needed Rs 2,000 crore to clear the backlog of the Fifth Pay Commission. The Finance Minister also indicated that the Budget plan size could increase despite the recent effects of recession. The SAD-BJP government has been increasing the plan size from the earlier Rs 5,100 crore in 2007 to Rs 6,300 crore in 2008 to Rs 8,600 crore in 2009. Manpreet Badal said while the government had achieved 100 per cent plan compliance in the first two years, he expected 90 per cent plan compliance this year.
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Pak intruder shot dead
Abohar, February 15 The unidentified youth, who entered into the Indian territory, was first challenged by jawans when he was between the barbed fencing and the zero line. However, when he did not stop, he was shot dead. He was carrying two knives, one iron fork and one scissors. A senior functionary of the BSF said this was the second incident of intrusion in the Sriganganagar sector in the past one week. Earlier, a youth identified as Eshan Ali was arrested in the Gharsana sector after he entered into the Indian territory. A youth from Bangladesh, who made an attempt to cross over to Pakistan from the Hindumalkot sector, was also nabbed by BSF jawans a few days ago. Though Eshan Ali was being interrogated at the joint interrogation centre, Sriganganagar, for the past few days, he had not divulged anything Meanwhile, the Pakistan Rangers refused to take the body claiming the intruder did not belong to their nation.
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BJP protests over rising inflation
Amritsar, February 15 He claimed that earlier, Congress leaders and its allies in the government had categorically told that inflation would not come down soon, which triggered off negative sentiments and contributed to rising inflation. Women leaders of the BJP also voiced their protest by striking utensils. The BJP youth wing also burnt an effigy of the Congress. The rural wing of the party, led by its president Ram Sharan Parashar, also held a protest at Attari.
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‘SAD-BJP should issue White Paper on funds’
Anandpur Sahib, February 15 Bhattal said the government had failed to promote interests of the state despite funds allocated to it. The Congress was a secular party. “But we would support Sikh candidates with a clean image. The SGPC should be freed from the clutches of the SAD.” she added. Bhattal said the Congress was a democratic party and would elect its president through elections by July. She condemned the government for appointing new police commissioners and assistant commissioners. —
TNS
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JET to be held on May 22
Chandigarh, February 15 Prospectus will be available in the first week of March in all polytechnic colleges in the state as well as in designated branches of PNB and HDFC Bank in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, UP and Chandigarh. The completed application forms may be deposited in the bank branches or sent to the board’s office through courier/registered post by the stipulated date. Online counselling for admission is likely to be started in the last week of June for about 32,000 seats in 91 polytechnic colleges against 26 diploma courses. Meritorious students from poor families are eligible for scholarship and fee concession on their admission polytechnics and this is applicable to 140 such students.
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Wheat storage pangs haunt state
Jaga Ram Tirath (Bathinda), February 15 “In a recently held high-level meeting at Chandigarh, we discussed the issue in detail, where it was said almost all warehouses (stores) were jam-packed with the already procured food grains, including paddy and wheat, so it would be tough to store the coming wheat crop,” she said. Expressing deep concern over the issue, she said the state government had urged the Centre either to lift the already stored food grains or to surrender the matter to the state government with immediate effect. “If the Union Ministry is unable to resolve the matter, let us permit to handle the situation. We will make all arrangements on our own but it can be done only if the Union ministry intimates us in time,”she added. Accusing the Centre as a mother of inflation, Harsimrat said:“Unjustified price rise would be our prime topic, which would be raised in the coming session of Parliament. We have taken the steep hike in sugar prices as a strong exception, which has exposed that Union ministers, just to help their dear ones, put the interest of the whole country at stake”. When questioned about the status of her proposal to the Union Ministry to send a delegation, including MPs to Australia to get first hand account of the situation about the alleged discrimination with Indians especially Punjabis, she said: “It seems our proposal was slipped under the carpet as the Centre did not respond to it”.
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Clash between Sikhs, dera followers averted
Muktsar, February 15 Tension gripped the town when Dera Sacha Sauda followers objected to a religious programme of Sikhs, led by Baljeet Singh Daduwal, scheduled for late evening at Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib in Danewala village . Hundreds of dera followers assembled at the chowk located on National Highway-10 and started raising slogans against Baljeet Singh Daduwal, as they did not want him to join the congregation. They were accusing Daduwal of hurting their religious sentiments by uttering unpleasant words for their sect. Furious at dera followers, Sikhs also started expressing their annoyance. To douse the tension, various senior police and civil officials, including the DIG, Ferozepur range, the Muktsar SSP, the Malout DSP , Gidderbaha DSP, Muktsar DC and the Malout SDM, reached the spot. Besides deploying a large number of police men, senior police officials kept on negotiating with the dera followers, who were threatening to call thousands of their fellows, if Baljeet Singh Daduwal took part in the congregation. After hours-long efforts, the administration took the dera followers into confidence saying there would be no utterance against their sect and Daduwal would not come. Only then did they leave the spot. However, Daduwal, who was firm on attending the event, reportedly got nod from the district administration and reached the gurdwara late at night and attended the congregation, which concluded around 1.30 am in the morning. Muktsar DC Varun Roojam said, “Tension erupted among Sikhs and dera followers, but everything passed off peacefully.”
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PAU to get Rs 75 cr from rural fund
Jalandhar, February 15 Twelve-and-a-half per cent of the total annual collection in the RDF will be diverted to the PAU. It means that the university will get about Rs 75 crore in a fiscal year in addition to Rs 100 crore from the state treasury. During the current fiscal year collections from the RDF has been around Rs 600 crore. The amount will continue to grow as revenue from the RDF increases every year with the upward revision of the minimum support price of foodgrains. The RDF is charged at the rate of 2 per cent from the buyers. Most of the revenue through the RDF is generated from the wheat and paddy procured for the Central pool. The RDF is at the disposal of the Chief Minister, who is also its chairman. The government spends most of the funds of the RDF on various projects in the rural areas. However, diversion of funds to the PAU is not without rider. The PAU authorities have agreed to abide by the conditions laid down by the state government while giving its nod to the proposal to divert funds from the RDF to it. What is surprising is that the PAU has about 2,100 students on its rolls, while it has about 4,000 employees. The University has agreed to cut cost by freezing fresh recruitment except in projects related to research. It has been told to “outsource” services where it could be done without affecting research. The varsity has been told to focus on research and show results by developing high yielding and high value varieties readily acceptable in the market. Besides, the PAU has also been directed to generate its own sources of revenue. Recently, the PAU was facing crisis in giving pension to its retired employees. The Chief Minister had directed the Finance Department to pay Rs 10 crore to the varsity to clear pension dues.
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PSEB engineers flay officials’ suspension
Patiala, February 15 Accusing the board management of deliberately targeting the officers, PSEB Engineers Association president and general secretary HS Bedi and Bhupinder Singh, respectively, alleged: “To shield the real culprits and gain publicity, the board is making innocent officials and employees as scapegoats.” They added that rather than victimising the officials, the board management should lay stress on taking corrective measures to deal with the menace of power theft. The PSEB had suspended its two senior executive engineers, one SDO and one JE a few days ago for their alleged involvement in power theft at RK Welds Limited, Rajpura. Subsequently, on February 13, PSEB chairman HS Brar had warned the board staff that strict action would be initiated against anyone who found facilitating power thieves. After convening a meeting in this regard today, which was attended by 200 engineers posted at the PSEB Head Office and the Patiala region, association leaders condemned the management for taking action against the officials in a “whimsical” manner. The leaders alleged that power theft at the industrial unit in Rajpura was being carried out by the owner in a very sophisticated manner and only a technical team of investigators could unearth the wrong doing. They claimed that the report of a two member committee comprising Chief Engineer/Enforcement and Chief Engineer/Operation in this ragard had not indicted the officials against whom action had been initiated. “Just to target some selected officials, the board chairman obtained another report from the Vigilance Wing of the PSEB and issued suspension orders. The Vigilance Wing is not the competent authority to investigate cases of such nature,” the association president added.
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State may have tie-up with UK for English teachers
Chandigarh, February 15 The Chief Minister has asked McFaden to facilitate a tie-up with renowned institutions in the UK under which British teachers could visit Punjab to train and improve the communication skills of teachers of the state. McFaden has promised to pursue the matter both with the UK government as well as the British Council. It may be recalled here that the British Council is already engaged in similar programmes as Project English but Badal has sought to expand and institutionalised the same under a long-term regular arrangement. McFaden is here to study water management and impact on climate change on the state’s economy, apart from educational exchange.
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Arogya Mela
Bathinda, February 15 Men were seen thronging the stalls where the Ayurvedic version of the viagra was being sold. However, no concession was available for this category of products. One of the tonics was a favourite among buyers. Besides, a brisk sale of amla products was also registered. A manufacturer of an ayurvedic toothpaste sold not less than 3,000 packs. Rajesh Chadha, a participant from Jalandhar, said he had sold over 400 units of hair oil, herbal shampoo and face pack. A stall put up by the Patanjli of the yoga Guru Ram Dev received special attention of visitors. More than 800 patients got themselves examined in the OPDs of the ayurveda, unani and other Indian systems of medicine, which were being set up in the fair.
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MUKTSAR: Punjab Revenue Minister Ajit Singh Kohar released the first gazetteer of Muktsar in one volume here on Monday. Besides congratulating the state Revenue Department for undertaking the task of publishing it, he hoped the gazetteer would be of immense utility to teachers, research scholars and general public. The 429-page gazetteer contains detailed information regarding topography of the district. The gazetteer would be available at all offices of the state government departments. — TNS
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Amritsar, February 15 The SGPC chief said the Sikh body acknowledged Mahboob’s contributions to the Sikh philosophy and Guru Granth Sahib and had honoured him by Giani Ditt Singh Memorial Award in 2002. Former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar also offered his respects to the departed soul at his ancestral Choonda village. — TNS
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State IMA founder dead
Chandigarh, February 15
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He spent 14 yrs in jail for murder he didn’t commit
Chandigarh, February 15 Happy had filed the appeal against the Patiala Sessions Judge’s order of January 12, 2001, sentencing him to undergo life imprisonment after he was convicted under Sections 364, 377, 302, and 201 of the IPC for kidnapping, committing unnatural sexual intercourse with a minor, for committing his murder, and attempting to conceal the evidence by throwing the body in the Bhakra canal. The FIR was registered on April 3, 1996, at Kotwali police station. The prosecution’s case was eight-year-old Sahil Hasija went missing on March 30, 1996. On April 5, 1996, his body was found in a canal. During investigation, a witness said she had seen the accused with Sahil. The prosecution said accused Ajay Kumar had, subsequently, made extra judicial confession. After hearing the arguments and going through the evidence, the Bench of Justice Satish Kumar Mittal and Justice Jora Singh asserted: “The prosecution has failed to fully establish the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. In the instant case, the homicidal death of deceased and commission of unnatural sexual intercourse with the minor has been proved by the medical evidence led by the prosecution. But in order to connect the commission of the offences with the appellant, only the prosecution has relied upon the circumstantial evidence.. The facts indicate that the circumstantial evidence, relied upon by the prosecution, does not lead to the consistent conclusion that it is only the appellant, who has committed the alleged crime. “The possibility of false implication of the appellant on the ground of strained relations between his father and father of the deceased and his uncle Sham Lal, the material witness in the case, cannot be ruled out. The chain of circumstantial evidence is not complete. “Therefore, in our opinion, on the basis of the incomplete, inconsistent and weak circumstantial evidence, conviction of the appellant for the offences of kidnapping, committing unnatural sexual intercourse, murder and concealing the evidence is not safe, as a strong reasonable doubt has been created in our mind about the commission of the alleged offences by the appellant-accused. “The benefit of such reasonable doubt must go to the accused. Therefore, we are of the opinion that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond shadow of reasonable doubt”.
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SHOs get training in criminal law
Patiala, February 15 Inaugurating the camp, Mongia said the aim of the camp was to apprise the SHOs about their roles and responsibilities and also to make them aware of people’s grievances. He stressed on the need to change attitude of the police towards people. He also emphasised on the need to update police officials regarding changes in various laws. “The Human Rights Commission receives maximum complaints related to the Police Department. The police should fulfil its duty without any pressures. People go the police with high hopes for justice and the police must not disappoint them,” he added. Addressing the SHOs, he said it was the foremost duty of the police to register an FIR whenever a complainant reaches the station. If this is not done, the complainant could inform the SHO and even then if the complaint was not registered, people could move to the Human Rights Commission and the commission could then recommend an enquiry against the police station officials. Also suitable action should be taken against people who register false complaints in order to check such unhealthy practices. Talking about various arrests, Mongia said it was the duty of the police that they must inform the family of the suspect and also the reason for his arrest. Also it was important to tell them about the details of the station to which the suspect was being taken. He said the criminals should not be handcuffed while being taken to jail or hospitals. Stressing on the need to ensure the security of jail inmates, he said video-conferencing would soon begin in all jails, which would help in checking the problems related to security. The inmates would then give their statements sitting in their respective jails, he added. IG, Training, SK Sharma said it was a very important topic and the SHOs must learn everything taught in the camp properly. I will take the interviews of all SHOs after a month, he added.
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HC: Verify authenticity of Sukhbir’s letter
Chandigarh, February 15 The Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh also fixed February 25 as the next date of hearing in the matter. In his petition filed against Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, the state of Punjab and police chief, Barrister Himmat Singh Shergill had earlier asserted that the direction to the deputy commissioners was “prima facie in violation of the oath of office and secrecy taken by him”; and was a “prima facie fascist cadre building” exercise. Shergill added that the Deputy Chief Minister was inflicting fear upon the deputy commissioners of districts, while ordering them to favour handpicked Akali leaders and workers. “These are fascist ways of cadre building which are unacceptable and illegal in democracy.. It is a law that rules and no politician or officer can act in a whimsical, arbitrary manner.”
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VB files contempt plea against Janjua
Chandigarh, February 15 The petition, filed by Balkar Singh, SP (Vigilance), who is the investigating officer of the case, states that Janjua has attempted to decide the corruption case against himself, declared his lawful arrest as “abduction”, period spent in custody vide judicial orders as “illegal confinement”, all evidence against him as “false and fabricated”, without even bothering to approach the court for any redressal. “In fact, he has practically attempted to exercise the authority of the court. By making a complaint to the SHO, Sector 17 Police Station, Chandigarh, for the registration of a case, the accused has practically conveyed to this court that proceedings in the corruption case are irrelevant, since he has already appraised the evidence, ‘judged himself’, pronounced himself as ‘innocent’ and has declared Vigilance Bureau officers ‘and other unknown persons’ as perpetrators of various offences. This amounts to the gravest possible contempt of an honourable court and wilful obstruction of the criminal administration system,” states the petition. Janjua was arrested in a trap case on November 9, 2009, following which he was remanded first in police custody and then in judicial custody by the Ilaqa Magistrate. Later, Janjua approached the Special Court in Mohali on November 21 for his bail, which was granted on December 2. “From November 21 to December 2, this court was adjudicating the bail matter of the accused. Even this period has been alleged by the accused to be that of an illegal confinement. The accused is virtually attempting to get a criminal case registered in a police station alleging his lawful custody on lawful judicial orders as “illegal confinement”. A more blatant example of wilful contempt of any honorable court is difficult to conceive,”states the petition. The VB has asked the accused to be summoned and an appropriate reference made to the HC for punishment to the accused. The court will consider the petition on February 22.
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Patiala gets evening court
Patiala, February 15 He said there was a lot of work in the district courts with challans and cases under the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1958, further increased the workload. “The court timings will be from 5 to 7 pm. This will be convenient for shopkeepers and employees and will reduce the workload of the district court officials,” he added. Judicial Magistrate Sumit Makkar will be the presiding officer of the court whereas the court would be under the jurisdiction of Punjab and Haryana High Court. District Sessions Judge Varinder Kumar, SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr Jaswant Singh (PCS), CBI court judges HS Madan and Rakesh Gupta, president of the District Bar Association and Additional District and Sessions Judges Sumit Malhotra, Rupinder Kaur Chahal, Paramjeet Singh and Harpreet Kaur were also present.
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One held for planting IED Patiala, February 15 Though Patiala cops are tightlipped over the matter, highly placed sources in the police have confirmed the arrest of a person from Malerkotla. It is learnt that the arrested person, whose name has not been disclosed, had provided logistic support to a terrorist group behind the incident. A senior police official said the accused was in his 30s and was suspected to be associated with Bakshish Singh, who is alleged to have been the mastermind behind attack on Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. On a condition of anonymity, a police official said: “The accused had served jail term earlier also. In prison he came into contact with some other inmates and after coming out of jail, he got in touch with a terrorist outfit. More arrests in this matter are expected in coming days.” Inquiries further revealed that after interrogation by the Intelligence Wing, the accused has been handed over to the Patiala police for further questioning. It is also learnt that the accused was given an amount of Rs 40,000 for planting the bomb.
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Shagun Scheme Scam
Faridkot, February 15 It has been learnt that the Sandhu along with these people used to allocate money from the scheme meant for the marriage of poor girls, but during preliminary inquiries it was found that as many as 86 persons who benefited from this scheme are those whose daughters were already married or did not qualify for this scheme. SSP of Faridkot Arun Kumar Mittal has marked the investigation DSP Vikramjit Singh, who said the case was yet to come to him. “We will soon arrest the accused,” he said. This scam came to limelight after a cycle mechanic, Mangal Ram, had complained that he was offered a grant from this scheme through an agent named Chinda. He had unearthed the scam through the RTI and found that as many as 2000 such cases were cleared by the officer in connivance with the agent and granted Rs 15,000 each to the applicants. The government has also appointed five inquiry officers who were entrusted to look into the irregularities in the scheme. The Director of the Welfare Department, who conducted inquiry in Faridkot district, has found that 80 per cent of the beneficiaries did not deserve the benefit.
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Bathinda, February 15