Industrialists to govt: Take special care of Amritsar while framing new policy
Amritsar, July 23
With the first meeting about the formulation of new industrial policy scheduled for tomorrow, city-based industrialists and economists suggested a string of measures to the government. Primarily, they felt that the government needs to take special care of this border district while framing the policy.

Four arrested for murder
Amritsar, July 23
The Amritsar rural police today arrested four persons for allegedly murdering Rajwant Singh (40) in October last. The beheaded body of Rajwant was found near Laaven village following which a case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered against unknown persons. The deceased used to run a private school in Hoshiarnagar village located on Amritsar-Attari road here.

Amritsar, July 23
There is no stopping residents and shopkeepers who do not think twice before destroying road dividers to create their own shortcuts. Built to prevent traffic snarls and head-on collisions, these very road dividers become a cause of accidents.

For instance, on the three busiest routes --- Lawrence Road, Majitha Road and the main road leading to Batala --- one can see broken dividers which often become the cause of accidents.

On Lawrence Road, it is observed that the shopkeepers are involved in breaking road dividers to make it easy for people to drop in at their shops.

Policemen are helpless in controlling the menace as they do not have the power to challan such commuters. “We have not been delegated to challan them. So, they hardly take notice of our presence. It is a known fact that the shopkeepers as well as the general public destroy the dividers to facilitate their way. Everybody here has ‘top’ connections and we too refrain from entering into any altercation,” a policeman said.

On Majitha Road, the police and the Amritsar Municipal Corporation had erected cemented road divider, but the residents have destroyed the dividers here too without realising its fatal effects.

Similarly, near Hussainpura Chowk, the dividers have been broken at many places and the authorities have never repaired them or deputed guards to man the traffic flow.

At present, due to lack of maintenance, the broken concrete slabs, scattered on the middle of the road, lead to accidents especially during the late hours.

BM Singh, a daily commuter on this stretch, said, “A biker knocked me down while attempting to jump over the broken divider here. The biker had no guilt or shame and least bothered about the policeman standing there. He sped away taking the wrong path.”

The same situation prevails near the MC office at Town Hall complex. Here too, the police has put barricades to divide the road temporarily. The commuters conveniently put them aside to create a shortcut on this one-way route while on their way to the Golden Temple or getting out of the Hall Bazaar.

We have urged the MC authorities to repair the broken dividers many a times, but repeated requests have borne no results. The Batala Road divider too has been destroyed. We now plan to launch a challan drive to discourage people from crossing over the divider from the wrong side~

— Karanjit Singh, Assistant Commissioner of POlice

Amritsar, July 23
Just a few days prior to the Municipal Corporation elections, residents of Ward 25 were delighted to have a new tubewell worth Rs 23 lakh in their area. They had no idea that this tubewell would add to their woes, rather than solving their problem of inadequate water supply.

Pertinently, a number of development works were initiated in this ward when Mayor Shwait Malik was scheduled to contest from this ward. Later, he was projected from an adjoining ward and all the works were left midway. This tubewell too was on the agenda then, which was bored without checking the quality of groundwater. The problem surfaced the very next day the tubewell was installed.

As a result, thousands of residents of the Ramanand Bagh area are compelled to drink stinky and muddy water since then.

Residents now fear outbreak of water-borne diseases. They alleged that several complaints in this regard were submitted with the Municipal Corporation, but in vain.

The water emits foul smell and it’s muddy, says a resident Jagdish Singh while showing a bottle of water collected from a tap.

“A large number of families are now dependant on other sources for drinking water or buy packaged drinking water. But how long can we carry on like this?” said another resident Jasbir Singh.

Iqbal Singh Sherry, secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress, and a resident of the area, said the problem had erupted after the tubewell was bored at a wrong place.

“The tubewell was bored at a place which had a ganda nullah nearby. The officials too did not care to check the ground realities then and got it connected with the domestic water supply line. I have repeatedly taken up the matter with the corporation authorities, but it bore no results”, he said.

AS Dhaliwal, Chief Engineer (O&M), Punjab, said superintending engineer Jaswinder Singh has been deputed to examine the situation on priority.

“I am aware about the problem being faced by Ramanand Bagh residents. There might be some technical flaw during boring. I have told the official concerned to look into the matter instantly,” he said.

Amritsar, July 23
The Amritsar rural police today arrested four persons for allegedly murdering Rajwant Singh (40) in October last. The beheaded body of Rajwant was found near Laaven village following which a case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered against unknown persons. The deceased used to run a private school in Hoshiarnagar village located on Amritsar-Attari road here.

Jasdeep Singh, SP (D) Amritsar rural police, said on October 22, 2011, Bakshish Singh, the victim’s father told the police that his son had not returned home from school. He said Rajwant had illicit relations with one Pardeep Kaur, who lived in the Krishna Nagar area in Chheharta. He said when they went to Pardeep’s home she revealed that Rajwant had not come to her residence. They later found his body near Laaven village.

Those arrested in the case are identified as Hardev Singh of Vadala Johal village, Jaspal Singh of Kot Mita Singh, Rajwinder Singh of Nava Pind and Jasbir Singh of Kirpa Nagar, Naraingarh.

“During investigations it was found that the Rajwant’s son Jeevan Jot had committed suicide as he was very upset with the illicit relations of his father with Pardeep Kaur. Following his suicide, the police has arrested Rajwant and Pardeep and sent them on a judicial remand. In jail, Rajwant had a spat with the above said accused who developed a grudge against him. After he was released on bail, the accused brutally murdered him by chopping his head,” said Jasdeep.

The police has also recovered the motorcycle and sharp-edged weapon used in the crime.

Amritsar, July 23
Let’s join hands. That seemed to be the common sentiment behind the play, Khooh Bolda Hai, which highlighted the grave danger posed by female foeticide to society. The play, staged by artistes associated with Punjabi Samvaad, an NGO active in promoting culture, focused on some important issues such as why all the happiness and festivities are reserved for the birth of a boy or every social restriction put on girls. Despite strict laws banning abortion and sex determination, the condemnable act of female foeticide is still being practiced without fear or guilt. The social drama had a strong message that was put across effectively thanks to commendable performances.

The event had a VIP audience with prominent names like Dr Gurbilas Singh, Kultar Singh Chawla, general secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Amrik Singh Gill, Teji Sandhu et al. The play was written by Jyoti Bawa and poetry done by Amit Bawa, patrons of Punjabi Samvaad.

The music that enthralled the audiences was composed by Bikramjit Singh Ranjha and the play was directed by Jaswant Mintoo.

“The play dealt with the grave issue with utmost sensitivity. It should be staged in schools, colleges and educational institutions across the city to make our young generation aware about such malpractices,” said Jatinder Brar, patron, Punjab Natshala.

Khooh Bolda Hai, a play highlights the grave danger posed to society. It was staged by artistes associated with Punjabi Samvaad, an NGO active in promoting culture

Amritsar, July 23
The Sadar police nabbed five members of a looters’ gang and seized arms and narcotic powder from their possession. The arrested have been identified as Ranjit Singh and Gurmeet Singh of Sandhu Colony, Ranit Singh of Guru Nanak Abadi, Verka, Vaneet Kumar of Shastri Nagar, Majitha road, and Sanjit Kumar of Sunder Nagar.

The Sadar police received a tip-off about the accused forming a gang involved in looting, snatching and dacoity. The sources revealed that the accused were hiding at a secluded place in Chawla Colony near Nivi ground and they were armed with sharp-edged weapons.

The accused were arrested with two country-made pistols of .12 bore along with two live cartridges, sharp-edged weapons and 520 grams of narcotic powder.

A case under relevant sections of IPC, Arms Act and NDPS Act has been registered against them in this regard. The police authorities said the gang had committed 18 such incidents.

Amritsar, July 23
A day after a youth was critically injured in a gang war, the city police today claimed to have arrested the kingpin of the gang who was responsible for the crime. HS Brar, ADCP (Crime), said members to two gangs also clashed in Jandiala on the same night when they shot at Vikramjit Singh, alias Vicky, of Guru Ka Khuh (Tarn Taran) at Simran Singh Colony, leaving him critically injured.

“After they injured Vikramjit, they escaped towards Amritsar-Jalandhar national highway. However, the opposite gang got the wind and they started chasing them. When they reached near Dhilwan in Jandiala, the two gangs clashed,” said Brar.

During firing, Mandeep Singh Manna, the kingpin of opposite gang sustained bullet injury. He was rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here where he was undergoing treatment. He said he was arrested by the police while a manhunt has been launched to nab the remaining culprits.

It is pertinent to mention here that the members of the Manna gang critically injured Vikramjit Singh in Simran Singh Colony on July 21 evening. He was rushed to a government hospital from where he was referred to a private hospital where his condition is stated to be critical. Vicky sustained three bullet injuries and he was also attacked with sharp-edged weapons.

Besides Manna, the Sultanwind police registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC, Arms Act against Honey, Money, Sikander Singh and two unknown persons in this regard. All the accused belonged to Tarn Taran. The police revealed that both the victim and accused were wanted in a number of criminal cases in Tarn Taran. Vikramjit had injured a member of the Manna’s gang which led to the incident.

The Khalchian police has also registered a case against the members of two gangs who had clashed near Dhilwan in Jandiala. Gurpreet Singh, SHO, Khalchian police station, that an attempt to murder case has been registered.

The three arrested in Amritsar on Monday. photo: vishal kumar

Amritsar, July 23
The Amritsar rural police today arrested three persons for allegedly stealing a truck laden with rice, which was lifted from a godown belonging to the Food Corporation of India at Bhrariwal. The truck (GJ-12-y-5547) laden with 315 rice bags worth Rs 18 lakh was stolen on July 10. The accused were identified as Sukhdev Singh of Bolewal village, Angrej Singh of Khajala village and Dalbir Singh of Jeevan Pandher village.

A case under relevant sections of the IPC has been registered against the trio while a case of stealing of truck had already been registered in the city area, he said. During investigation, it was found that the truck was meant to deliver the rice in Srinagar. However they stole the truck and were planning to sell it off when they were caught by the police.