The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

A Case Of Human Trafficking
As Satnam Singh lies disabled, kin accuse police of inaction
No arrest in two weeks
Amaninder Pal /Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 6
Two weeks on, the police is yet to arrest the accused in the case of Satnam Singh, who lost both his hands and feet after falling prey to human traffickers on the Iran-Turkey border.

Trapped in the web of human traffickers, who forced him to cross Iran-Turkey border on foot, Satnam of Raipur Peerbaksh Wala village, near here, was made to walk over snow covered mountains for over 15 hours, following which, both his hands and feet developed frost bite. His gangrened appendages were later amputated after he was rescued from a hospital at Turkey and flown in here.

Talking to The Tribune, his relative, Ashok Lal, a CRPF employee, alleged that the police had failed to arrest the accused even after registering a case at Police Station Bholath on March 23.

He further alleged that although the family had lodged a complaint against travel agents Paramjeet Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Baldev Singh and Harmesh Lal on March 7, the police registered a case against them only on March 23, for the reason best known to police.

“The police arrested Harmesh Lal, who allured Satnam to provide him visa of Greece for Rs 7 lakh, on March 27, but released him after a few minutes,” alleged Lal.

On the other hand, Gurvinder Singh, SHO, Bholath, said the police was making every effort to nab the accused. “Look out circular has been issued at all airports to prevent the accused from leaving the country,” he added.

He said earlier cases under Sections 406 and 420 of IPC and Section 24 of the Immigration Act were registered against the accused. However, after amputation of Satnam’s hands and feet, the police also registered a case under Section 307 of the IPC, he claimed.

On a protest path
ETT teachers demand jobs; Health Dept staff fight for regularisation

Tarn Taran, April 6
Unemployed ETT teachers and employees of the Health Department protested against the non-fulfilment of their demands in the district today. The Unemployed ETT Teachers Front organised a motorcycle flag march in the village of Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat, in Khadur Sahib. The teachers burnt copies of their certificates and degrees at the native village of Brahmpura, 25 km from here.

The ETT teachers were demanding filling of the vacant posts of the ETT teacher in schools. Gurcharan Singh Sidhu, district convener of the organisation, said in case the state government failed to accede to their demand they would be forced to intensify their agitation, which included creating disturbance in the proposed sangat darshans and rallies of the ruling SAD.

Employees working on the contractual basis in the Health Department under different programmes of the Union Government on the first day of their week-long strike held a dharna in front of the office of the Civil Surgeon. The employees belonged to the NRHM, AYUSHA, IDMP, RNTCP, NLEP, Mobile Medical Unit, etc. The computers installed in the department also remained shut down today.

Malwinder Singh, district president of the National Rural Health Employees Association, while addressing the employees demanded for the regularisation of their services after a service of one year.

Meanwhile, 12 pharmacists and class IV employees working in rural dispensaries observed hunger strike today at the local bus stand. They were protesting against the cane-charging and registration of criminal cases against their colleagues when they were doing peaceful protest at Mohali some days back. Ranjit Singh, district president of the Rural Health Pharmacists’ Association, while addressing a rally demanded the early release of the arrested employees at Mohali. — OC

Residents oppose opening up of liquor vend

Jalandhar: The residents of the Santokhpura locality staged a dharna against the opening up of a liquor vend in the residential area this morning. The liquor vend started on April 1 much to the annoyance of the local residents. Agitated residents burnt a tyre and raised slogans against its owners. The residents demanded shifting of the liquor vend at the earliest.

The residents maintained that being situated in the residential area it was a big nuisance for all of them, especially the women and girls. “Drunkards roam openly, abuse people. We will not allow this liquor vend to function from our locality. It should be shifted at the earliest”, the residents demanded. Police Inspector Surinder Pal reached the spot to listen to the grievances. “We asked the residents to meet the Excise and Taxation Officer, Jalandhar, in this regard. Later they submitted an application to ETO demanding the closure of the liquor vend”, he added. — TNS

Sewage woes force residents to take to streets

Phagwara: Hundreds of residents belonging to Gobindpura locality sat on a dharna on the Phagwara-Khaira road for more than four hours in protest against the inaction of the Nagar Council to drain out the sewer water accumulated on the streets. The demonstrators alleged that despite repeated requests, the NC failed to take any initiative to solve the problem. Naib Tehsildar Raj Kumar Nanda assured the protesters of an early solution. — OC

Congress flays govt for frequent transfers of DCs
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, April 6
Frequent transfers of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the district have adversely affected the routine development works.

The Congress has taken a strong exception to frequent transfers of DCs. Former MP Rana Gurjit Singh and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira have flayed the SAD-BJP government for the frequent transfers of the DCs.

Three DCs have been shifted from the district within four and a half months. Kavita Singh was transferred just after four months and 10 days. Her predecessor Raj Kamal Chaudhary remained on the post for less then two years.

Interestingly, the tenure of Harjit Singh as a Kapurthala DC lasted just for a few hours (joined in the forenoon of April 4 and shifted on the same afternoon) and has become the shortest serving DC in the state.

The new incumbent, former Sangrur DC Harkesh Singh Sidhu, took charge as the DC yesterday. Only time will tell how long he will last here.

Rana and Khaira alleged that these musical chairs were the result of political interference and that those DCs, bureaucrats and police officials were transferred frequently who worked in a fair manner without doing undue favour to ruling party leaders.

The former MP said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had grown old and was losing his grip on the functioning of the government. All the postings were being done by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had no experience or vision in providing honest and effective administration to the public.

Sukhbir was already confused but he became more confused after former Finance Minister had left the Akalis and did not know what to do to serve the people in the real sense, he said.

Appreciating Kavita Singh for her work as a DC, Rana said she was trying to improve the things but she was not provided adequate time to do so.

The Shortest Tenure

The tenure of Harjit Singh as a Kapurthala DC lasted just for a few hours (joined in the forenoon of April 4 and shifted on the same afternoon) and has become the shortest serving DC in the state

Crime Briefs

NRI found murdered

Nawanshahr: A UK-based NRI, Gurbaksh Singh (65), was found murdered at his native village Lallo Mazara here today. The victim had constructed a house at Phagwara. He had been here for the past about two months. On Tuesday evening, he had reportedly left his house telling the housekeepers that he would return within two hours. When he did not return, the housekeeper tried to contact him on his mobile phone, but to no avail. The body of the NRI was found lying near a field at Lallo Mazara village this morning. Banga DSP Jasbir Singh Rai said the body was kept in a mortuary at Rai Sahib Mazara hospital. The police had started investigation into the matter. The wife of the victim would come here soon and a case would be registered after recording her statement, added the DSP. — OC

2 snatching incidents

Phagwara: In two different incidents, unidentified miscreants snatched cash and gold ornaments worth lakhs of rupees from two women in local Hargobind Nagar and central town on Tuesday. Two motorcycle-borne youths snatched a purse containing gold ornaments worth Rs two lakh, Rs 20,000 in cash, passport and other documents from NRI Raj Rani of Manolia village Mahilpur tehsil. The police has registered a case.In the second incident, two other robbers snatched earrings from another woman Raksha Rani of Phagwara in local central town last evening. The robbers managed to escape. — OC

Man held with opium

Tarn Taran: Kartar Singh, resident of Thathian Mahantan village, 20 km from here, was arrested with 1.150 kg of opium at a naka in the area late last evening. The police said a case under Sections 18, 21 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered by the Sarhali police. — OC

Travel agent nabbed

Jalandhar: The police nabbed a travel agent allegedly involved in preparing passports by using forged documents. The police recovered 12 ration cards, 10 school certificates, four driving licences, nine birth certificates, five voter ID cards and eight passports, all fake, from his possession. Officials revealed that a police team, acting on a tip-off, raided the office of the agent in front of the Regional Passport Office here. After recovery of such a large number of fake documents a case under Sections 420, 465, 468, 467 and 120-B of the IPC was registered against the agent.— TNS

Another agent booked

Hoshiarpur: A fake woman travel agent has duped a woman of Rs 3 lakh in the name of sending her to Cyprus. After an inquiry by the DSP (D), the Hariana police has booked Manjit Kaur, wife of Prem of Pandori Musharkati of Jalandhar district, under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC for allegedly taking Rs 3 lakh from Surjit Kaur, wife of Ramji Dass of Kakon, for sending her to Cyprus. According to police sources, Manjit Kaur failed to sending Surjit Kaur to Cyprus and did not return her money. — OC

6 fall ill after eating ‘sanghara’ flour meal
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, April 6
Six persons of a family, identified as Manisha (40), her husband Ashok Kumar (45), daughter Pritika (10 months), Deepika (35), Sunita (45) and her son Ashok Kumar (22), all of local Mohalla Kamalpur, fell ill shortly after consuming a meal of “sanghara” flour at the end of their fast being observed on the second day of Navratras.

According to the District Health Officer Dr Yash Pal Mitra, all of them were admitted to the Civil Hospital. It was believed that the “sanghara” flour they consumed was adulterated. After giving them treatment all were discharged.

People approach DC to adopt abandoned infant
Our Correspondent

Nawanshahr, April 6
A day after a newborn was abandoned by his mother soon after the delivery at the local Civil Hospital, 25 persons have approached Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh to adopt the infant.

“The requests to adopt him started pouring in immediately after the news spread,” said Shruti.

The DC office received 25 requests, including 10 applications, over the adoption issue.

“As there is no set procedure available with the district administration for executing the adoption deed, so it has been decided to send the child to Nari Niketan, Jalandhar. The persons desiring to adopt the infant were advised to pursue their request with the authorities concerned”, the DC said.