The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Villagers block Rajpura-Patiala highway Want land acquired by Punjab Goverment in 1994 for a private firm back Umesh Dewan Tribune News Service Patiala, November 29 Traffic remained disrupted on the busy Rajpura-Patiala highway today afternoon as inhabitants of various villages of Rajpura blocked the highway in protest against the non-acceptance of their request for reclaiming the land acquired by the Punjab Government in 1994 for a private firm. The protesters, both men and women, staged a dharna under the leadership of Prem Singh Bhangu, president, Kirti Kisan Sabha, Punjab. The protest started at about 12.45 pm and continued till 2.15 pm due to which the commuters had to face a lot of inconvenience. Talking to The Tribune, Bhangu said 1,119 acres of fertile land of several villages, including Khadoli, Sardargarh, Jakhran, Bhadak, Gandakheri and Damanheri, was acquired by the Punjab Government in 1994. "The compensation to the affected villagers were paid at the rate of Rs 1.75 lakh per acre notwithstanding the fact that the land acquired was prime land. As per the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the government and a private firm - Siel Chemical - it was mentioned that as many as 40,000 jobs would be provided to the affected villagers and if the land was not utilised for 10 years, the government could reclaim the un-utilised land. Giving details, Punjab Trade Union leader Prem Singh Nanwa said till date, Siel Chemicals had only provided job to about 600 villagers, which is a violation of the MoU. He further said, of the total land acquired, 488 acres had already been de-notified by the government. "After almost 16 years, presently 631 acres of land is with Siel Chemical, out of which they have only utilised 98 acres and the rest 533 acres is still lying un-utilised. Hence, we demand that the state government should take back the un-utilised land and the same should be returned to their original owners by taking 25 per cent of the amount paid to them as compensation", he said while addressing the protesters. Meanwhile, during the course of the protest, DS Guru, Principal Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister, got struck in the traffic jam. He interacted with the protesters and pacified them after which they lifted the dharna. "Guru has assured us that soon he would get a meeting fixed between the government officers and the affected villagers so that matter could be resolved amicably. However, in case the government fails to accept our demand, we will intensify our agitation and stage demonstration outside the premises of Siel Chemical, Rajpura", the protesters said.
	4 bridges to come up on Sutlej, Beas Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, November 29 The Punjab government is constructing four high-level bridges at River Sutlej and Beas in Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala and Ludhiana districts with a cost of Rs 210 crore. This was disclosed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the starting of construction work of a bridge, being constructed with a cost of Rs 67 crore, at River Beas in Dhanoa village, about 65 km from here, yesterday. Parkash Singh Badal said Rs 2,500 crore was being spent to save the river waters and natural water resources in state from pollution. He said the construction of above said bridges would be completed before April 24, 2013. In order to widen the existing road to this bridge, 57 acres of land in Mukerian sub division had been acquired for which compensation from Rs 18 lakh to Rs 21 lakh per acre had been given to the owners. With the completion of the bridges, Gurdaspur residents can travel to Hoshiarpur and Chandigarh with ease.
	1,289 cases settled in lok adalat Our Correspondent Phagwara, November 29 As many as 1,542 cases were taken up and 1,289 cases were disposed of by the three benches of special lok adalat organised at the Courts Complex here today. An amount of Rs 12,733,981 was awarded to the parties in the lok adalat. It was organised under the directions of the Punjab Legal Services Authority and was presided over by Additional Civil Judge Sr Division (Phagwara) Arun Aggarwal. He said the main object of the lok adalat was to settle the disputes between the parties amicably. He said a person seeking redress of his dispute through the lok adalat can contact any court in the district. Advocate Lokesh Narang and social activist Manoj Midha also attended the lok adalat as members. In the lok adalat of Justice Aggarwal 927 cases were disposed of. An amount of Rs 96, 53,290 was awarded to the parties concerned. On the other hand 151 out of total 231 cases taken were disposed of in the second bench, lok adalat of Judge Tejpartap Singh Randhawa. An amount of Rs 30, 80,691 was awarded. In the third lok adalat organised by Naib Tehsildar Raj Kumar Nanda in Tehsil Complex, 211 out of total 223 cases were settled.
	Woman cop’s death: Second autopsy ordered Our Correspondent Phagwara, November 29 A woman constable, Meena Kumari, posted in women cell, died here on November 23 under mysterious circumstances. The incident took an ugly turn on Sunday evening, when the relatives of the deceased saw injury marks on her body. The family spotted the marks before burial in her native village, Mand Kulan, Kapurthala. Janev, brother of the deceased, alleged that his sister was murdered by some unknown persons. He said the burial ceremony was stopped in midway and police was requested to investigate the matter. Some of her relatives contacted former SGPC Chief Bibi Jagir Kaur who rang up police officials and the body was again brought back to Phagwara for a second postmortem. SP Kamaljit Singh Dhillon when contacted confirmed the development and told The Tribune that the deceased was living alone in Phagwara and was suffering from a serious illness, due to which she lost her weight tremendously. However, when contacted Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Rajiv Gupta said though first postmortem was conducted by Dr Gurinder Singh on November 24, a three-member medical board is being composed to carry out the second postmortem. Dr Kamaljit Singh, Dr Balbir Dass and Dr HS Sethi are the members of the board. SP Dhillon said though police has registered a case, the section could be changed after getting the detailed report.
	Majithia misleading people on projects, says Randhawa Gurdaspur, November 29 Gurdaspur District Congress Committee President Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa claimed that the SAD (Youth) Chief Bikramjit Singh Majithia was misleading the masses by telling them that the Punjab government had brought in numerous projects in Majha region following which employment opportunities for the youth had increased. Randhawa asked Majithia to list even one project which had been given to Majha. Randhawa, who is also a former Minister, claimed that the SAD government had no moral right to speak on development projects initiated in the region as it had inflicted maximum damage to Majha. “In 2006 Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had announced various employment oriented projects for Majha but for some inexplicable reason all these projects were taken by Parkash Singh Badal to his Malwa area. The Advanced Institute for Textile Technology, which was to be set up in Majha, has also been shifted to Bathinda,” he added. — TNS
	Nine shops looted Batala, November 29 Thieves broke open locks and shutters of eight shops in Jai Shiv Shakti Market and ran away with cash and other valuables. The market is situated near the Gandhi Chowk where a permanent police picket is installed. In another incident thieves broke open the shutters of a shop and took away fans, electric motors and copper wire from an electric shop in Aliwal. A vehicle was used to carry the goods, said police. The police has registered cases against unidentified persons. While talking to media persons here today, SSP Gurkirpal Singh said the police was successful in tracing a few burglars involved in the crime. Rs 5 lakh snatched Phagwara: Four unidentified armed robbers struck near city police station and snatched more than Rs 5 lakh from a money exchanger, Ashok Kumar, near old Civil Hospital late yesterday night. SHO (City) Sarwan Singh Bal while confirming the incident said the robbers succeeded in escaping along with the snatched amount and an Activa scooter (No HR-4843) of the victim. Ashok Kumar was returning home along with another employee, when a car stopped them. The victim, who tried to resist, was attacked by two of the robbers, while the other two snatched the bag at pistol point. — OC
	Man dies, wife injured in road mishap Tarn Taran, November 29 Sukhwinder Singh (60), a resident of Amritsar, was killed while his wife, Manjit Kaur, was seriously injured in a road accident near Emma Kalan village, 20 km from here, on yesterday evening. The Chabal police has registered a case under Sections 304A, 279, 337,338 and 427 of the IPC against the driver of a three-wheeler. Police sources said Sukhwinder and his wife were coming back to Amritsar from Amarkot village on his bike (No PB-02 AC, 0973). A three-wheeler, which was also coming from the same side, overtook the bike and suddenly halted before the bike. The accident claimed Sukhwinder Singh’s life. Manjit Kaur has been admitted to Amritsar hospital. — OC
	Man held for defaming estranged wife’s character Nikhil Bharwaj Nakodar, November 29 The police has arrested Ferozepur-based Hardeep Singh for insulting his estranged wife. The police has also arrested one lady in this connection. The accused along with his accomplice, Rajni, had published posters terming his estranged wife, Pretty, as a dishonest and characterless woman. The police said the accused had pasted the posters outside the residence of Pretty and also distributed the same to defame her in the locality. Police confirmed that Hardeep got married to Pretty on March 2008 and they have a child also. She used to be tortured by her husband and her mother-in-law, Gurvinder, over dowry issues. The police has also registered cases under Sections 406 and 498A for subjecting her to cruelty a few days ago and the accused husband and his mother was already wanting in that case. On Thursday evening, police received information from Vimal Kishore of Jalotiyan Mohalla that the accused husband along with a woman Rajni, was roaming near his estranged wife’s residence and they were reportedly carrying posters (containing abusive remarks against her). Immediately on reaching the spot, police arrested the duo and recovered the posters.
	3 die in mishaps; one held with 3 kg of poppy husk Our Correspondent Phagwara, November 29 Three persons were killed in different mishaps. In the first incident, an unidentified middle-aged man was run over by a train near Phillaur railway station. The deceased was crossing the railway lines when the accident took place, police said. In another case, Jasbir Singh, villager from Bilga, Phillaur, accidentally consumed acid in place of wine at his house yesterday night. He was immediately admitted to Ludhiana Hospital, where he breathed his last. In the third mishap, Harneik Singh of Rehala village was crushed to death by a train near Chiherru railway station last night. Meanwhile, Phillaur police has arrested Jaswinder Singh of Dharan village and recovered 3 kg of poppy husks from his possession last night.
	Four booked for thrashing peer Our Correspondent Nawanshahr, November 29 The police has registered a case under Sections 324 and 34 of the IPC against four youth namely, Randeep Singh aka Honey, Inderdeep Singh, both residents of Baba Sri Chand Nagar, Sukhjinder Singh of Garley Dhahan village and Jeeti of Garhshanker. They were booked for allegedly assaulting Ram Tirath Singh and his younger brother Sukhjit Singh. Ram Tirath Singh in his complaint said that his younger brother, Sukhjit, was a student of local RK Arya College. He said at around 1.15 pm he was near a taxi stand at Banga Road when he received a phone call from his brother. His brother said that Randeep Singh and some youths have been abusing him. Ram Tirath Singh immediately reached the spot and asked them not to quarrel. He then took his brother to Banga Road. But, within few minutes the youth armed with iron rods and sharp-edged weapons reached there and assaulted them. The brothers were admitted to local Civil Hospital.