The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Fight over statue turns ugly, tension at Dhilwan village Stone pelting leaves 5 cops injured, 20 rounded up after mild cane charge Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 12 Tension prevailed at the Dhilwan village near Rama Mandi here as a group from the Ravidassia community reportedly pelted stones on police personnel who tried to stop them from installing the statue of a village youth, Vijay Kumar (who was killed in the post-Vienna violence, inside a community hall), at around 4 pm today. The police reached the venue after getting reports of tension between two groups of the Ravidassia community, with one opposing the installation of the statue. Five police personnel were injured during the incident. The police had to deploy heavy force, fire in the air and resort to mild cane charge to disperse the mob. Around 20 persons of the community have been rounded up by the police. There was reportedly a difference of opinion among the members of both the groups as one group was adamant on installing the statue. Earlier in the day, the group activists had taken out a rally demanding the arrest of those responsible for the killing of Vijay Kumar about a year and a half ago. It was also announced that a a massive protest rally would be taken out on January 5, 2011, from the Ambedkar Park at Buta Mandi to the Police Commissioner’s office. Another group of the same community from the village opposed any such agitation. The situation turned tense as the police personnel reached the spot and opposed the installation of the statue. As the police tried to nab activists, the members of the community got further enraged and tried to retaliate. A few cars parked at the venue got badly damaged in the process. Police personnel, who sustained injuries, were head constables Harjinder Singh and Kuldip Singh, sub inspector Jaswant Singh and constable Gurmukh Singh. ASI Karamjit Singh also suffered a serious injury around his eye. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (city-II) Sarbjit Singh admitted that the police had to resort to a mild cane charge to bring the situation under control. He, however, claimed that the situation was under control but additional police force was deployed in the village. ADCP (city I) SK Kalia said a few youths had been rounded up in this regard, following various legal procedures. The police has got a case registered under Sections 307, 332, 353, 436, 186, 139 and 149 against people who were pelting stones.
	Farmers rely on superstitions to ensure speedy lifting of controversial 1121 paddy Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, December 12 Superstition is a belief not justified by reason, evidence or logic. However, farmers bringing the controversial, albeit high yielding, variety of 1121 Basmati paddy to grain markets of this district are actually relying on superstitions to ensure that their stocks are lifted quickly by agencies engaged in the procurement process. Agriculture experts disclose that during the plantation period of this variety, farmers become a bit finicky because they fear that the plant may be hit by the dreaded ‘foot-rot’ disease. Once that phase is over, these very farmers fall back on superstition to make sure that their produce is lifted in a hassle free manner. “Superstitions may be founded on fables and mythology yet hundreds of farmers of Majha region believe in them as to ensure that their 1121 Basmati stocks are lifted speedily. Agreed that superstition is an unreasonable belief based on ignorance yet it is a fact that these farmers actually do believe in superstition whenever they bring this variety to the market,” observed a PAU Research Centre farm scientist. A visit to the grain markets of Gurdaspur, Dhariwal, Kalanuar and Dinanagar revealed that with the process of Basmati 1121 procurement going on in full swing, farmers were resorting to an assortment of befuddling beliefs. There are examples where tractor trolleys laden with paddy are taken back to the villages just because of news, which filters in from home on the mobile, informing the farmer that a “mirror fell down and broke”. A “falling mirror” denotes that procurement process will be slow that day. Farmers of Dorangla block, known for producing bumper crop of 1121 variety, reveal that speedy uplift is due to the fact that they always hang a horseshoe on top of a wooden door before bringing their produce to the grain market. Says Vinod Bhushan, Manager (Quality Control), FCI, and who is actively involved in the procurement process, “Despite the fact that many farmers use scientific methods, still they are firm believers in superstitions.” There have been instances of even erudite farmers willing to follow their superstitious instincts. One such farmer is Surjit Singh of Purana Shalla who had his university education from the US. Sitting near his paddy stocks, Surjit says, “I agree that superstitious beliefs were uppermost in the minds of the people when science was weak. However, even now, when science is so strong and technology is at an advanced stage, people still believe in myths and superstitions. My produce will not give me good money if I don’t throw a coin into the Babbehali canal on my way to the grain market.” There are some farmers like Bikker Singh Chava Mandi who till yet has not brought his produce into the market. “Yesterday, I wanted to bring my paddy to the grain market. However, what undid my plans was the fact that a mirror fell and broke in my house just as the first tractor trolley was to leave the fields. I will bring the produce towards the fag end of the procurement process as it will also help in speedy procurement.”
	Cong levels corruption charges against MC officials Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 12 Alleging gross corruption by the Municipal Corporation authorities while undertaking various development projects of the city, the Congress activists staged a protest at the gate of city Mayor Shwet Malik’s residence here today. PPCC member Harpal Singh Bhatia said their motive was to bring to fore misappropriation of funds committed by the authorities in the garb of overall development of the city. Bhatia claimed that he had documentary evidences in his possession, which could reveal that the corrupt practices were prevailing and stipulated norms being twisted while allotting work to the agencies. “Even the Chief Vigilance Officer, on the recommendation of Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia, had sough thorough probe into the allegations of corruption, which amounted to over Rs 100 crore, in the name of laying roads and sewerage connections, yet no action has been taken against the wrongdoers,” he alleged. “We want that the corrupt officials and leaders supporting them should be booked immediately, otherwise we would intensify our agitation and similar dharnas would be staged in front of the residences and offices of MP Navjot Sidhu and Commissioner, MC, D.P.S. Kharbanda,” he told.
	26-yr-old kills self out of ‘khaki fear’ Was allegedly kept in the police custody for five days; top cops refute charges Ashok Kaura Phagwara, December 12 Fear of the police made 26-year-old youth, Ashok Kumar, consume poison on Saturday. He breathed his last today. Ashok, a migrant from Bihar, consumed celphos tablets at his house on Kherra Road after his release from the police custody yesterday. He was first admitted to the local Civil Hospital then sent to SGL Hospital in Jalandhar where he died. Ashok earned his livelihood by pulling a rickshaw and had four minor daughters. According to Parmod Kumar, brother of Ashok, they had a quarrel with Karanbir, a resident of the same locality, on December 6 after which they were taken to the police custody on the same day. He alleged that while the police released him in the afternoon, his brother was freed in the late evening yesterday. Parmod said the family saw Ashok vomiting in the street after which they took him to the local Civil Hospital, from where the doctors referred him to the Jalandhar hospital. When contacted, DSP Sandeep Sharma denied the charges of keeping Ashok and Parmod in the police custody illegally for five days. He said the City Police SHO must had called them for investigation in the case. SHO Amrik Singh Chahal said the police registered a case under Section 324 of the IPC on the complaint of Karanbir and Ashok was called at the police station three times for investigation. The SHO said the police now came to know that the deceased consumed celphos tablets in his bathroom yesterday. SP Kamaljit Singh Dhillon, though refuted the charges, said the matter would be thoroughly investigated. Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been kept in the hospital mortuary for the post-mortem examination.
	Youth stabbed to death Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 12 A group of armed persons stabbed Prabhakar Rana, a resident of the Karampura locality, to death late last night. The assailants fled the scene brandishing swords, it is learnt. According to information, the assailants, identified as Vishal Kumar, alias Buri, and his brother Sony, Preetam Singh, Vicky, Bunty and Hardeep Singh, all residents of the same area, had an old enmity with the deceased. Parkash Kaur, an aunt of the victim, in her complaint lodged with the police stated that she was retuning home from the Rattan Singh Chowk side when she saw that the assailants were brutally beating her nephew Prabhakar Rana. They stabbed him several times with a sharp-edged weapon, besides beat him with a baseball bat and fled the scene. He was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The Civil Line police has registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC. Rs 22 lakh snatched Three armed persons allegedly looted Rs 22 lakh from a commission agent, Vikram Khanna, resident of Race Course Road, here late last night. Vikram, who is a sugar trader, was accompanied by his servant Rajan Kumar at the time of the incident, which took place near Majith Mandi area. According to complaint lodged by the victim, they were returning home after collecting money from various dealers. When they reached near Majith Mandi, three unidentified persons, who had a pistol, fired at them. They fell from their scooter and the assaulters ran away snatching the bag containing the money.