B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Revenue staff relent, end water tank drama
Bathinda, October 13
All the 24 striking employees, including two women, of various Farad Kendras from various parts of the state, who at about 3.30 pm today climbed the overhead water tank, near the Rose Garden here, climbed down at about 9.50 pm. They were taken to the Civil Lines police station by the police.

7 hurt in group clash over possession of agri land
Fazilka, October 13
Seven persons were hurt when two groups clashed over possession of an agricultural land in the border village of Pakka Chisti late on Wednesday evening. It is learnt that Amanpreet Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Manjit Singh, Anakhpreet Singh and others were in the possession of about 20 acres of agricultural land in the village.

MES employee held for espionage
Ferozepur, October 13
Close on the heels of the arrest of two suspected spies in Faridkot, the Ferozepur police arrested another MES employee on espionage charges. Surjit Singh SSP said that the arrested person has been identified as Chuhar Singh, a resident of quarter number NP-7/3 W-1 zone near the Power House in the cantonment, who was working in the Military Engineering Services (MES).

Revenue staff relent, end water tank drama
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 13
All the 24 striking employees, including two women, of various Farad Kendras from various parts of the state, who at about 3.30 pm today climbed the overhead water tank, near the Rose Garden here, climbed down at about 9.50 pm. They were taken to the Civil Lines police station by the police.

State president of the striking employees’ association, Harpreet Singh and state media advisor Gurpreet Singh told TNS late at night that they had come to ask the protesters to climb down from the water tank as the SDM and the Tehsildar had assured them that a meeting with the Chief Minister would be fixed in a day or two.

Tehsildar Avtar Singh Makkar, however, denied giving any assurance to the protesting employees, regarding their meeting with the CM. He said the police had also taken all those who had climbed the water tank into custody, as the Public Health Department had written to the police that these persons had climbed their water tank illegally.

He also said that about 30 arrested girls had been released as they had tendered a written apology.

7 hurt in group clash over possession of agri land

Fazilka, October 13
Seven persons were hurt when two groups clashed over possession of an agricultural land in the border village of Pakka Chisti late on Wednesday evening. It is learnt that Amanpreet Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Manjit Singh, Anakhpreet Singh and others were in the possession of about 20 acres of agricultural land in the village.

On the other hand, Sukhwant Singh, Balbir Singh, Palvinder Singh and others claimed that they owned the land and had a valid revenue record about the ownership. The clash occurred when they went to take the possession of the land. After a verbal duel, manhandling and exchange of blows, both sides fired gunshots resulting in pellet injuries to Sukhwant Singh and Balbir Singh. However, they are stated to be out of danger.

Palvinder Singh, SHO, Police Station Sadar, Fazilka, said a .12 bore gun was used during the clash, adding that investigation was on. — OC

MES employee held for espionage
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, October 13
Close on the heels of the arrest of two suspected spies in Faridkot, the Ferozepur police arrested another MES employee on espionage charges. Surjit Singh SSP said that the arrested person has been identified as Chuhar Singh, a resident of quarter number NP-7/3 W-1 zone near the Power House in the cantonment, who was working in the Military Engineering Services (MES).

The SSP said the police rounded up Chuhar Singh from his house and recovered sensitive documents including maps of the strategic Army locations in Punjab and Rajasthan, three books related to Indian Army besides mobile phones from his custody.

A case under section 3/9 of the Official Secrets Act 1923 has been registered against the MES employee concerned at the cantonment police station. He has been sent to police remand till October 18.

The SSP said that as per preliminary investigations, it has come to notice that Chuhar used to send classified data pertaining to the Army units, their location, composition and contact numbers of Army officials to Pakistan- based agents in lieu of money which he received through hawala transactions. “Even his mobile SIMs were recharged by those agents,” the SSP said.

Sources said the security agencies were scrutinising the data in the diaries seized from his possession and the mobile call details.

The SSP said the arrested person belongs to Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. “He used to make and receive calls from across the border and his activities were under observation for some time,” he said.

RDX seized in Ambala
Cops conduct checking at Abohar railway station
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, October 13
The recovery of explosives and detonators from a car parked outside the Ambala Cantt railway station today prompted the police here to conducting checking at the railway station as a preventive measure.

The cops, led by Tejinderpal Singh Kapil, were seen frisking passengers and checking the luggage of those aboard passenger trains, this afternoon. Kapil said the drive shall continue till Divali.

Notably, GRP and RPF personnel were rarely seen at the platform during arrival or departure of trains. Even the street lights outside the GRP post and the goods office are lying dysfunctional.

Superintendent of police Virender Singh Brar said at a meeting that a flag march would also be organised besides carrying random checking at the bus stand and the railway station to ensure accident-free Divali.

The intelligence reports from Ambala suggested that the explosives were to be supplied to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). It was widely known that the BKI had preferred the Abohar route during the days of turmoil in Punjab.