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BSF ex-official accuses police of illegal detention, torture
Mining policy fails to achieve its goal
Power projects awarded in transparent manner: Badal
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BJP may weed out non-performers
PPP elects ‘experts’ for its general council
Manpreet Badal addresses mediapersons in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: S Chandan
Gobindpura row: Farmers allege police atrocities
Akal Takht takes note of birs’ sacrilege
AISSF to stop Advani’s rath from entering state
Residents’ help sought to check food adulteration
Coal stock dwindling with power utility
Amritsar man ‘kills’ sister, her mother-in-law
Sarabjit (L) & Harbhajan Kaur
Jilted girl throws acid on boyfriend
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BSF ex-official accuses police of illegal detention, torture
Chandigarh, October 15 Harprit Singh of Gurdaspur district — now detained in Amritsar Central Jail — has, in effect, sought the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s intervention in marking an inquiry to the Gurdaspur District and Sessions Judge into the allegations of illegal detention and third degree torture. Harprit Singh has alleged he was illegally detained and tortured from January 30 last year to February 2, 2010. Directions have also been sought for ordering a probe into the “conduct of the doctor, who medically examined the petitioner on February 3, 2010, and gave a false report on the petitioner having no external injuries at the time of his medical examination”. Taking up the petition filed through counsel Navkiran Singh, the High Court has already issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab and other respondents. Giving details, Harprit Singh has asserted that he was implicated in an FIR dated February 2, 2010, registered under the provisions of the NDPS Act at special operation cell, Amritsar. Prior to his “implication”, Navkiran Singh said the petitioner was taken in custody from his residence at Tharial village on January 30, 2010, by the Pathankot police. The information on his abduction was flashed to the state DGP the very next day by his father-in-law. His wife also shot off a telegram to the state Chief Minister. He added: “The petitioner was illegally detained by Batala police and was tortured and, thereafter, handed over to the special operation cell, Amritsar, which falsely implicated the petitioner by showing him to be in possession of 1 kg heroin”. Navkiran Singh asserted: “The complaint made to the Human Rights Commission would show how in a brutal manner the petitioner was tortured in illegal custody and how even the doctor who initially examined the petitioner joined hands with the police to give a fake certificate of the petitioner being in good health. “The case brings to light the sadistic manner in which the police behaves with the citizens and such illegal actions have been reprimanded by the Supreme Court and this Court… “But, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission failed to protect the human rights of the petitioner as enshrined under Article 21 of Constitution of India”. The case file BSF ex-Deputy Commandant Harprit Singh has alleged that he was framed in a case under the NDPS Act, illegally detained and given third degree torture Now detained in Amritsar Central Jail, he wants the HC to mark an inquiry to the Gurdaspur District and Sessions Judge for a probe into the allegations A probe has also been sought into the ‘conduct of the doctor who medically examined the petitioner and gave a “false” report on the petitioner having no external injuries’ For its part, the High Court has issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab and other respondents
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Mining policy fails to achieve its goal
Chandigarh, October 15 As a result, the policy has failed in its primary objective — that of ensuring that the prices of minor minerals, extracted from Punjab's riverbeds, are brought down. Rather, the prices of sand and gravel have shot up by almost Rs 400-Rs 500 per 100 cubic feet since the new policy came into force. This, even as the state government itself bore a loss in revenue by organising a controlled auction of quarries this year. So even as the state has borne the losses and the common man has to shell out more to buy this construction material, the only people happy about this policy are the mining contractors, mainly top politicians of the state. Not only did they get the legal quarries for much less as compared to last year, they are selling the extracted minerals for a much higher price. This year, all 246 quarries have been auctioned for Rs 8.23 crore (and in case a quarry is located on panchayat land, the panchayat gets some funds for development). Comparatively, the state earned Rs 38.50 crore through allowing mining on lease between July 2010 and January 2011. During this period (March-June 2011), the mines could not be auctioned because of legal hassles and quarries were given on lease to contractors by enhancing the lease amount by 10 per cent. Interestingly, the reason why the state government decided to have a controlled auction of these quarries this year was to ensure that the common man gets the construction material at a reasonable price. In fact, the new policy laid down the price at which these minor minerals would be sold in various parts of each district and that sale points in each district notify these government rates for the sale of sand and gravel. However, inquiries made by The Tribune reveal that in almost all 20 districts these sale points have not been created and the construction material continues to be sold at much higher rates than notified under the mining policy. For example, in Ludhiana, the mining policy lays down that sand can be sold at Rs 750 per 100 cubic feet and gravel at Rs 2,000 per 100 cubic feet. However, sand is available to consumers at Rs 1,030 per 100 cubic feet and gravel at Rs 2,500 per cubic feet. Similarly, in Ropar, the policy lays that sand and gravel be sold for Rs 560 per 100 cubic feet. But consumers in Ropar are getting sand at Rs 1,900 and gravel at Rs 2,400 per 100 cubic feet. Till May this year, the rate of sand and gravel in Ropar was Rs 1,700-Rs 1,800 per 100 cubic feet. When contacted, Tikshan Sud, Industries Minister, said the district administration should be responsible for effective implementation of the new mining policy and should ensure that the consumers get the sand and gravel at the prices notified in the policy. "But we are not aware that the construction material is available at such high rates, as nobody has come and complained to us. We will now get this thing checked in all districts," he said.
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Power projects awarded in transparent manner: Badal
Ghanaur (Patiala), October 15 Speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating the University College at Ghanaur, some 26 km from Patiala, Badal strongly refuted the accusations of awarding the projects in gross violation of the National Tariff Policy, framed under the Electricity Act, 2003. Without naming the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh, the Chief Minister categorically said, “If someone has objections pertaining to the awarding of the thermal power projects, he should challenge it in the court of law. I request the media not to believe what Capt Amarinder Singh says.” Commenting on the issue of the Peona thermal plant to be set up at Gobindpura village in Mansa district, Badal reiterated that as per their policy of land acquisition, the state government was not inclined to acquire even an inch of land without the express consent of the farmers. “The Gobindpura thermal plant is being set up in the village as villagers had given their consent for it. More than 95 per cent of the farmers have already accepted the compensation for their land,” Badal said. Answering a media query on why protesting farmers are cane charged every now and then, the Chief Minister said that whatever action was being taken by the police, it was only to maintain law and order. “In reality, local residents are not agitating, but people from outside Gobindpura are trying to blow up the issue with an ulterior motive to cause harm to the image of the SAD-BJP government,” he added. Badal alleged that Congress leaders had sabotaged the efforts of the state government to get a loan of Rs 750 crore from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) that was to be used for the development of cities. “The setting up of the Bathinda Oil Refinery, Borlaugh Institute of Agricultural Development at Ludhiana and Military Services Selection Board at Ropar are few examples of the efforts made by the SAD-BJP government to provide an impetus to the growth of the state,” he claimed. Meanwhile, during the programme, six Congress leaders from Ghanaur Assembly constituency joined SAD.
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BJP may weed out non-performers
Chandigarh, October 15 It has decided on a change in the party candidates to rejuvenate the party in the run-up to the assembly elections. Party sources say the BJP think tank is alarmed at reports writing off the party as a serious contender in the coming elections and has planned a slew of activities aimed at retaining the party’s core support group while reaching out to the urban voter on the development plank. An internal cleansing is on the anvil to weed out non-performers. The number of RSS units in the state have gone up in the past few years and the party is relying on them to disseminate information about the anti-cow slaughter Bill passed by the assembly. The Bill, which calls for punishment up to 10 years, is being touted as a major achievement. BJP Legislature Party leader Tikshan Sud said it was for the first time that an officer of the rank of DSP had been entrusted with the task of monitoring cow safety cells. The party hopes to cash in on the ‘Hindutva’ sentiment with party veteran LK Advani starting the Jan Chetna Yatra. The party is trying to ensure the yatra covers the maximum number of BJP constituencies. The saffron party has also made it clear that it will not deviate from its primary ideology as is evident from its stand on the Devinder Pal Bhullar case. The SAD’s plan to pass a resolution in the assembly demanding clemency for Bhullar fell through because the BJP made it clear it would not cooperate with its alliance partner on the issue. The BJP believes that development “visible” in towns and cities will pay the party reach dividends in the poll. Sud said the party would focus on various works, including the flyovers in Jalandhar and Amritsar, the underbridges and the provision of civic amenities like new sewerage and water lines. The BJP leader said the party would allot the ticket after assessing the winnability of sitting legislators. There is a feeling that a few veterans and non-performers should be changed to ward off the anti-incumbency factor. But Sud clarified that this would be a decision of the party parliamentary board alone. Meanwhile, the party has already conducted block-level training camps for its cadres and identified booth-level workers. The party is expected to get into the poll mode by November, holding a state-level rally to be addressed by party president Nitin Gadkari. poll mode Plans a string of activities to retain its core support group To reach out to the urban voter on the development plank RSS units in state to disseminate information about anti-cow slaughter Bill Hopes to cash in on the Hindutva sentiment with Advani’s Jan Chetna Yatra to cover most BJP constituencies
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PPP elects ‘experts’ for its general council
Chandigarh, October 15 The general council includes persons who have excelled in different fields. Talking to mediapersons here, PPP president Manpreet Badal said, “Besides excellence, these persons have impeccable integrity and character. The criteria for their selection are merit and reputation. Unlike other parties, we have steered clear of favouritism and nepotism.” The council has been divided into various categories and members have been selected according to their expertise. For example, general council (agriculture) includes Dr SS Johal, who is a renowned agro-economist. Other members of the general council (agriculture) include Daljit Singh Sardarpura, president of the Progressive Dairy Farmers Association, and member, Punjab State Farmers Commission. It also includes Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, who has won several awards for excellence in horticulture. The general council (governance reforms) includes Bharat Bhushan Thapar and Abhay Sandhu, nephews of martyrs Sukhdev and Bhagat Singh, respectively. The other members are former minister Raghbir Singh, Harnek Singh Garruan, Jagbir Singh Brar, Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, Kuldeep Singh Khose, Ranjit Kaur Bhatti, former MLA Raj Singh Kherri and Brig Harwant Singh. PPP’s general council for media and communication includes former media man and Doordarshan anchor Arunjot Singh Sodhi and Rajinder Singh Sandal. The general council for culture, society and sports includes noted artiste Bhagwant Mann and two international players Kuldeep Singh Cheema and Bhupinder Singh Binda. Former IRS officer Satpal, former MLA Nirmaljit Singh Nimma are members of the general council for minority group. Other sections in the general council include health, youth affairs, trade and industry, education, women empowerment, labour and employment, legal affairs, NRIs and environment. “The selection of members of the general council is critical because, in a lot of ways, it is the foundation of the party,” said Manpreet
Badal.
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Gobindpura row: Farmers allege police atrocities
Mansa, October 15 Farmer leaders said the workers were planning to hold rail traffic on October 29 to protest against the land acquisition and police brutalities. In addition, the farmers are planning to move the high court. Continuing their agitation, more than 200 farmers, including four women, were arrested by the police in Mansa today while they were marching towards Gobindpura village. Meanwhile, 16 farmers, including eight women, undergoing treatment for the past three days were released from Budhlada government hospital on the instructions of the Punjab Government. State president of the BKU (Ekta-Ugraha) Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan said that the health of Budhlada block president of Ekta-Ugraha, Joginder Singh Dyalpura, was deteriorating in Bathinda Central Jail. “The health of Dyalpura is worrisome following severe beating by the police after he was picked up from Gobindpura four days ago. He was kept in three different police stations of Mansa and was produced before the magistrate after severe beating,” said Sukhdev Singh. He said that a group of farmers today met Bathinda deputy commissioner and jail authorities to provide medical facilities to the farmer leaders lodged in jail. Kokri claimed that a large number of policemen had been deployed in Gobindpura village. He alleged that the police were not releasing the copy of the FIR registered against the farmer leader at Mansa. Mansa SSP SPS Parmar, denying allegation by Kokri and other farmer leaders, said they had got the medical examination conducted for every person who had been sent to judicial custody. “If the farmers have any claims, they may send their proofs of police atrocities to the seniors. The medical examination of a person before being sent to jail is not conducted by the police, but doctors,” he said.
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Akal Takht takes note of birs’ sacrilege
Amritsar, October 15 In a statement released here, the Jathedar has asked the SGPC and the DSGMC to check the antecedents of those availing the “birs” of Guru Granth Sahib and provide the “birs” as per the requirement only. He said there had been incidents of “birs” of Guru Granth Sahib getting burnt in the past which had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. He said it was the duty of the gurdwara management, granthis and the Sikh Sangat to ensure that no sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib takes place. He said if any such instance came to light in future, the management and the granthi of the concerned gurdwara would be held responsible.
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Unwanted hurdle
Moga, October 15 AISSF president Karnail Singh Peermohammad said in a statement here today: “In his book, My Country, My Life, Advani has taken the credit for having a hand in the Indian Government’s military action on the Golden Temple at Amritsar in June 1984, which resulted in the demolition of Akal Takht Sahib, leading to the death of thousands of Sikh pilgrims and subsequent wave of violence against Sikhs all across the country, which continued for more than a decade.” Keeping in view Advani’s historical past, Peermohammad said, they would not allow him to disrupt Punjab’s communal harmony. “In 1992, it was his rath yatra that caused the demolition of Babri Masjid and his party, the BJP, was also “responsible” for the killing of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 and the massacre of Christians in Orissa in 2008.
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unhealthy feast
Patiala, October 15 Talking to mediapersons here today, Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Varinder Singh Mohi said: "Food adulteration is a very common practice during the festival season and it is impossible to check it without the cooperation of the people. I request the city residents to inform us if they come across anything odd and we will try to nab the defaulters. We will also conduct raids on manufacturing units and shopkeepers. Tests will be conducted to check the quality of food items," he added. Throwing light on his other plans, Dr Varinder said he had decided to keep strict check on ultrasound centres as there were complaints that a few of them indulged in the practice of sex determination. "I have received complaints against a few defaulters that they were charging Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 for determining the sex of the child.” Interestingly, said he, it was not the economically backward people who indulged in this practice, rather it was the upper-middle class that was flouting the norms. “We will now carry out strict surveillance in the district to expose the medical practitioners who are involved in such cases and will ensure that they are punished," he added.
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Coal stock dwindling with power utility
Patiala, October 15 The coal stock at Punjab’s thermal plants was getting exhausted with each passing day as the supply had been restricted, they said. They said the situation had arisen due to incessant rain in Jharkhand, floods in Orissa and the Telangana agitation. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who holds power portfolio, today expressed his helplessness in this regard. — PTI
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HONOUR KILLING
Tarn Taran, October 15 Sarabjit’s brother Daya Singh began to suspect her character after the death of Nihal Singh. He had been trying to convince his sister for remarriage, a proposal that she used to turn down. Yesterday, as per the police, the accused accompanied by his cousin Ajit Singh landed at Sarabjit’s house and allegedly attacked her with swords around midnight. Harbhajan Kaur tried to intervene but she too was “attacked and killed”. Harbhajan Kaur’s other son Hardyal Singh, complainant in the case, was also attacked by the duo who fled after committing the crime. SP (Detective) Malwinder Singh Sidhu said a case has been registered against Daya Singh, a resident of Sanghanan village, and Ajit Singh of Chatiwind village, both in Amritsar district.
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Jilted girl throws acid on boyfriend
Batala (Punjab), October 15 Jagdish Kumar, who was having an affair with Dalbir Kaur of the same area, was supposed to get married next week, the police said. When Jagdish went to Dalbir's house, she allegedly threw acid on his private parts injuring him seriously. He was rushed to civil hospital here and from there he was shifted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar where the condition of Jagdish was stated to be critical, the police said. However, Dalbir denied the charges of throwing acid on Jagdish but said she had relations with him. She claimed they got married in a gurdwara a few months ago. Dalbir has been rounded up, Vidhya Sagar, SHO of Civil Lines area said. — PTI
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Punjab's new mining policy, meant to bring down the prices of sand and gravel, has no takers. 
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has claimed that all projects for thermal power generation capacity addition, awarded through the memorandum of understanding (MoU) route to private players, have been sanctioned in a transparent manner and in accordance with the prescribed norms.
The People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) has elected its general council. The first meeting of the council shall take place on October 17 in which it shall elect the central committee. Once the central committee is formed, it shall elect the political affairs committee (PAC).
In a suspected case of honour killing, a woman and her mother-in-law were done to death with sharp-edged weapons allegedly by the former’s brother and a cousin at Kadgill village, 8 km from here, last night. The deceased have been identified as Sarabjit Kaur (25) and Harbhajan Kaur (60). Sarabjit’s husband Nihal Singh was killed in a road accident last year.
