Phagwara, June 13
Differences between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP have created trouble for the second time this month to elect two vice-presidents of the Phagwara Nagar Council and the meeting scheduled to be held on Friday in the Nagar Council office was again postponed by SDM-cum-convener of the meeting Amarjit Paul, who was on leave yesterday. Most of the councillors were informed about the decision just one hour before the meeting. Some of them had to return as the notice of postponement was found pasted at the council office.

Though a series of meetings of SAD and BJP councillors continued on Thursday, no unanimity could be reached. The Tribune learnt that Markfed Chairman Jarnail Singh Wahid wanted to allot a seat to his loyalist Gurjit Walia, but senior Akali councillors Iqbal Singh Kundi and Sarabjit Kaur were also aspirants to get the post. Though Sarabjit Kaur agreed with Wahid’s choice unwillingly, Kundi was adamant to get the post.

On the other hand, the BJP also wanted to get the second post of vice-president and to field Savita Ahuja, a close associate of Technical Education Minister Swarana Ram, but unanimity could only be reached by allotting the second post to the Bahujan Samaj Party.

It may be mentioned here that lack of coordination among the ruling alliance partners had earlier become a major hindrance to elect the vice-presidents of the Nagar Council and the proposed meeting of the council, scheduled to be held on June 7, was also postponed and the next meeting to elect the vice-presidents was fixed for yesterday by the SDM.

Neither senior vice-president nor junior vice-president of the council could be elected even after 11 months of the expiry of the terms of two vice-presidents Sarabjit Kaur and Sita Kaul who were elected on July 23, 2008, for one year.

Pathankot, June 13
The police arrested Harjinder Singh, sarpanch of Gho Pokhar village near Kot Khas along with nine other persons for opening fire on the rival group over a land dispute.

In the clash, 10 persons sustained injuries, most of them receiving bullet injuries. DSP Naresh Dogra said the police had registered a case against 15 persons in this connection and arrested 10 persons under sections 307 of the IPC.

He claimed that the police had seized two double bore licensed guns from the accused which were used to fire shots.

He said the police was hunting for the remaining accused and they would be arrested soon.

DSP Naresh Dogra said both the groups were on the warring lines for the last one month over some land dispute in the village. Today the supporters of Harjinder Singh attacked the rival group with lethal weapons and opened fire injuring 10 persons.

The injured, identified as Pawandeep Sharma, Amandeep, Swaran Singh, Charan Dass, Dharam Pal, Rakesh Kumar, Ranjit Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Tilak Raj and Basant, have been admitted to the Civil Hospital here.

Amritsar, June 13
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal played down the “occasional” recovery of weapons and arrests of terrorists belonging to banned separatist outfits saying the efforts to revive militancy in the state would not succeed.

Talking to mediapersons on the sideline of inauguration of a four-star hotel in the city, Badal said the militancy could not return as the Punjabis did not endorse violence.

He said investment in hospitality sector by private players had helped the government in its task of proliferation of tourism sector. He informed that with the assistance of Asian Development Bank, the government would invest Rs 550 crore to promote religious and heritage tourism.

He elaborated that the Tourism Department had chalked out a comprehensive plan to promote heritage tourism as it had identified old Punjabi havellis in all three regions of the state --- Majha, Doaba and Malwa.

The state government would promote tourism at places where ‘Wada Ghalughara’ (major genocide) and ‘Chota Ghalughara’ (minor genocide) had taken place. The former had taken place at Kuperhiran in Barnala while the latter had occurred at village Kahnuwan in Gurdaspur.

The Chief Minister brushed away the possibility of the impact of arrests of terrorists on state tourism industry. He said the citizens of the state had undergone an agonising ordeal during over a decade long militancy and they would reject any kind of subversive activity.

Badal assured positive consideration over the exemption of hospitality industry of the holy city from luxury tax if any such proposal came in.

Badal lauded the move of the Canadian Parliament for presenting the petition over the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. 

Amritsar, June 13
The police booked Aman Singh of Ajnala at Ajnala police station for allegedly raping and blackmailing a girl.

Masquerading as lover of the 16-year-old Kamal (name changed), Aman made physical relations with her on the pretext of marrying her.

He also made clippings of their intimate moments and started blackmailing her. He forced her to establish physical relations with his friends as well.

The Amritsar (Rural) police has registered a complaint under sections 376 and 506 of the IPC against the accused after recording the statements of the victim girl.

In her complaint, she alleged that the accused had been blackmailing and raping her for the past two months. She had met Aman about four months back, she added.

Unable to cope up with the illegitimate demands and subsequent physical and mental trauma she had been passing through for the past more than two months, Kamal decided to tell the tale of her woes to her mother.

They immediately lodged a complaint against the accused who has absconded since the registration of the case, the police said. They said raids were being conducted to nab the culprits.

Jalandhar, June 13
The District Sainik Welfare Office (DSWO) organised an interaction session of its candidates undergoing pre-commission coaching of the NDA, OTA and CDS examinations with the GOC of Vajra Corps, Lieut-Gen Ramesh Halgali here yesterday.

The interaction was held to provide first-hand knowledge to students about life as an Army officer and perks available in the armed forces. The classes began on May 25 and will conclude on July 3.

Corps Commander Ramesh Halgali motivated the students to look forward to a flourishing career in the Army.

The Corps Commander came along with four other Army officers from the Vajra Corps. They also shared their experience of being Army officers.

DSWO Deputy Director Lieut-Col Manmohan Singh said students were brimming with confidence. He was hopeful of a good result this time. Major-Gen G.S. Sohi and Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti also spoke on the occasion.

Nawanshahr, June 13
The rising trend of consumerism, coupled with the nexus of politicians, officials and influential traders, in the town can easily be gauged from the big hoardings, glorifying liquor at liqour shops, put up on highways by contractors here in a gross violation of the Excise Act/policy.

As per the Excise Act, contractors can only put up small red-coloured boards with inscriptions in white to indicate whether the shop deals in English or country-made liquor.

Wine contractors are not only violating the excise policy but also throwing the moral norms to the wind. But neither the officials concerned nor NGOs claiming to spread awareness against the ill effects of liquor consumption have come forward to raise their voice against the violation of the norms.

Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner Saroj Garg, when contacted on the phone, said she had already issued instructions for the removal of such hoardings adjacent to liquor vends. She would not only again warn the errant liquor contractors to remove the hoardings but would also monitor its implementation, she added.