J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Four contract killers in police net
NRI had hired them for killing friend
Jalandhar, June 16
The CIA staff of the district police claims to have busted a gang of contract killers with the arrest of four youths here today. The police recovered a .32-bore pistol from them. Their two accomplices, however, are still at large.

High Court
Prostitution racket busted, girl rescued from Bangalore
Amritsar, June 16
The police today busted a gang operating in the border region, which was into forcing minor girls belonging to poor families into prostitution, in the garb of performing cultural programmes.

Missing liquor cases
Hush-up game on
Jalandhar, June 16
Functioning of senior excise and taxation officials of Nawanshahr has come under a scanner with the disclosures made by suspects - Excise Inspector of Nawanshahar Sat Pal, Phillaur-based a liquor contractor Vishal Kumar and his employee Raj Kumar - in the Nawanshahr liquor missing case.

Youth shoots brother dead
Tarn Taran, June 16
Gurdev Singh, a resident of Ghariyala village, 45 km from here, shot dead his elder brother Baldev Singh (40) in the village over a domestic dispute today. The Valtoha police has registered a case under section 302 of the IPC and sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

Truck mishap: One feared drowned in canal
Hoshiarpur, June 16
Satnam Singh of Ghalowal (Garhdiwala), is feared drowned in the Shah nehar, while his companion Jatinder Singh of Kartarpur swam to safety near Uchi Bassi, 46 km from here, today. According to police sources, Satnam Singh was swept away by strong currents and efforts were on to trace him.

Martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev observed Jalandhar, June 16 Devotees thronged various gurdwaras on the occasion of martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev here today. Kirtan darbars were held and at many places chabeels were organised by the people and various religious and social organisations across the city. Army jawans serve sweetened water in Jalandhar contonment on Wednesday. A Tribune photo

Four contract killers in police net
NRI had hired them for killing friend
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 16
The CIA staff of the district police claims to have busted a gang of contract killers with the arrest of four youths here today. The police recovered a .32-bore pistol from them. Their two accomplices, however, are still at large.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Police (Crime) Rajpal Singh Sandhu said on a tip-off the CIA staff laid a trap and nabbed Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Johal village in Adampur, Kuldeep Singh of Bhakhian in Kapurthala, Gurmohan Singh of Railway Colony and Gurvinder Singh of Bullira village.

The four were hired by Italy-based NRI Harvinder Singh, resident of Nangal Shama, to kill his friend Davinder Singh, alias Giani, of the same locality.

The police suspects an extramarital affair behind the conspiracy.

During questioning, the accused revealed that Harvinder Singh, who migrated to Italy four years ago, had a dispute with Giani.

Harvinder Singh recently visited Jalandhar and came in contact with Bhupinder Singh. After being back to Italy, Harvinder asked Bhupinder Singh on telephone to hire killers to eliminate Giani. Harvinder told Bhupinder that the contract amount should not be more than Rs 2 lakh, informed Sandhu.

A deal was struck and Bhupinder received the first instalment of Rs 80,000. He in connivance with Kuldeep Singh, Gurmohan Singh and Gurvinder Singh planned to kill Giani and for that a .32-bore pistol was purchased for Rs 20,000.

Sandhu said the trio were looking for a suitable shop for purchasing cartridges for the pistol, but nabbed by the police.

The police has registered a case against the seven persons. It is trying to nab their absconding accomplices Ajmer and Pankaj.

High Court
Prostitution racket busted, girl rescued from Bangalore
PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 16
The police today busted a gang operating in the border region, which was into forcing minor girls belonging to poor families into prostitution, in the garb of performing cultural programmes.

The shocking revelations came to light when the mother of one of the victims approached the police, which managed to rescue the girl from Bangalore. The gang members took her there on the pretext of a cultural programme.

The police have booked three members, including two women, identified as Balwinder Kaur Bawa, who is running one such cultural group in Ludhiana, Dr Tarsem Lal and his wife Tamana, both residents of Batala.

“No arrests have been made so far as the accused were on the run after the registration of a case,” said inspector Davinder Singh, SHO Chheharta police station here.

The police have lodged a complaint under section 366-A of the IPC (procuring the minor girl) and section 5 of the Immoral Prevention Act, 1956 at the Chheharta police station in this regard.

During investigations, it was found that the gang, which has spread its ‘agents’ in various parts of the border region, to trap needy and poor girls, who are fond of dancing, took the girls to metro towns where they were further taken to hotels.

The victim revealed that there were about a dozen girls belonging to Amritsar and its adjoining areas, who were kept in a rented accommodation.

“The girl was allured by one of her relatives to perform in a cultural programme, where she would be given Rs 500 daily as remuneration,” said the police official, adding that their first priority was to rescue the girl.

He said as soon as the mother of the girl approached the police, they took the aunt (the relative) into custody who got in touch with the culprits and sent the girl back. He said another 14-year-old girl was in their custody and efforts are being made to save her.

Missing liquor cases
Hush-up game on
Bipin Bhardwaj/TNS

Jalandhar, June 16
Functioning of senior excise and taxation officials of Nawanshahr has come under a scanner with the disclosures made by suspects - Excise Inspector of Nawanshahar Sat Pal, Phillaur-based a liquor contractor Vishal Kumar and his employee Raj Kumar - in the Nawanshahr liquor missing case.

Sources in the department revealed that the suspects have named certain senior officials of the department of the rank of Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner and Excise and Taxation Officer for their alleged involvement in the case. The sources reveal the department has been trying to hush up the case following involvement of its senior officials.

Taking serious note of the episode, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner of Jalandhar Division P.S. Gill questioned the suspects and Balwinder Singh, ETO, Ropar, who is also having additional charge of Nawanshahr district, on Friday. Though Gill claimed that the suspects levelled allegations and counter-allegations against one another, he refused to disclose the identity of the senior officials “named” by the suspects to the police during interrogation.

The Nawanshahr police had registered a case on the complaint of Surjit Singh, manager of Brij Mohan Singh and Company, on June 7. Surjit Singh had alleged that the department conducted a raid on his store and confiscated 2,415 unsold liquor cases worth Rs 26 lakh.

After depositing a fine of Rs 10,000, he got release orders for the stuff from the store. The contractor was shocked to notice 872 cases of liquor missing when he took custody of the stock. The complainant alleged the liquor was stolen between May 14 and 25 in connivance with the excise inspector.

During investigation, the police found that the cases were stolen from the store in three attempts.

Youth shoots brother dead
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, June 16
Gurdev Singh, a resident of Ghariyala village, 45 km from here, shot dead his elder brother Baldev Singh (40) in the village over a domestic dispute today. The Valtoha police has registered a case under section 302 of the IPC and sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

The accused managed to escape soon after committing the crime. According to information, Baldev Singh had come from Ludhiana, where he reside, to the village last night to discuss the dispute prevailing over the cases regarding the domestic problem of his younger brother Sukhdev Singh with his wife.

Baldev had verbal altercation with Gurdev Singh last night and Baldev had to sleep in some other house in the village. This morning when Baldev Singh was going to the railways station to board train, Gurdev shot him dead on the way. He fired five shots at Baldev.

Truck mishap: One feared drowned in canal
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, June 16
Satnam Singh of Ghalowal (Garhdiwala), is feared drowned in the Shah nehar, while his companion Jatinder Singh of Kartarpur swam to safety near Uchi Bassi, 46 km from here, today. According to police sources, Satnam Singh was swept away by strong currents and efforts were on to trace him.

Sources said the two were going with Dharminder of Kartarpur and Ashok Kumar, an employee in the Railways, in a girder-laden articulated truck from Mukerian to Jalandhar.

On the way, near the Uchi Bassi bridge, while saving a Tavera van, truck driver Dharminder Singh lost control over the vehicle which hit the parapet of the bridge, leaving the truck hanging precariously over the canal.

As a result, Satnam Singh and Jatinder Singh fell into the canal.

Martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev observed
Tribune Reporters

Jalandhar, June 16
Devotees thronged various gurdwaras on the occasion of martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev here today. Kirtan darbars were held and at many places chabeels were organised by the people and various religious and social organisations across the city. Huge rush was witnessed at the langar halls where the people partook food in he community kitchens. Most of markets and business centres wore a deserted look.

Tarn Taran: The 404th martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev was observed here with devotion and religious fervour.

Devotees organised langers and chhabeels of sweetened water at many points in the area. Thousands of devotees paid obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib and had a holy dip in the sarowar.