B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Revenue accountant of PSPCL held for graft
Barnala, October 26
A team of the Vigilance Bureau, Barnala, today arrested Bhola Singh, revenue accountant (RA) in the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) here when he was allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 8,500 from one Amarjit Singh of Sekha village.

Molestation bid on health worker sparks protest
Faridkot, October 26
An alleged attempt to molest a woman health worker by the employees of a private company in Faridkot today led to a standoff after the police allegedly showed reluctance to act against the accused.

BSF recovers cache of arms
Ferozepur, October 26
The Border Security Force (BSF) today foiled a major bid by Pakistan-based elements to smuggle arms into Indian territory.

Revenue accountant of PSPCL held for graft
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

Barnala, October 26
A team of the Vigilance Bureau, Barnala, today arrested Bhola Singh, revenue accountant (RA) in the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) here when he was allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 8,500 from one Amarjit Singh of Sekha village.

DSP, Vigilance Bureau, Barnala, Devinder Singh said this evening that Bhola Singh, who was posted in the office of the sub-divisional engineer (PSPCL), Rural, at Sangherra, was caught red-handed while taking the bribe.

Devinder Singh said Amarjit Singh wanted to transfer the tube well motor connection of his uncle in his name and had submitted a file a fortnight ago in this connection. However, when Amarjit visited Bhola Singh the previous day to enquire about the status of his work, he demanded Rs 10,000 from him for doing the work. However, the deal was struck for Rs 8,500, he added.

The DSP said Amarjit was not interested in paying the bribe and approached the Vigilance Bureau. After his complaint, they laid a trap and caught him. The Vigilance Bureau had also recovered Rs 8,500 from his possession, he added.

The DSP said they conducted a search at his house here but no objectionable material was found.

Bhola Singh has been arrested under Section 7, 13 (2) 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He would be produced in the court of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) here tomorrow, he added.

Molestation bid on health worker sparks protest
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, October 26
An alleged attempt to molest a woman health worker by the employees of a private company in Faridkot today led to a standoff after the police allegedly showed reluctance to act against the accused.

The argument between the health workers and the cops began after a nursing staff in Pehluwala village complained to the Civil Surgeon's office alleging an attempt to outrage her modesty by an employee of a private company that is looking after the Rashtriya Suraksha Bima Yojna (RSBY) project in the district.

In the complaint, the nurse alleged that yesterday evening, when she was returning to Faridkot with an employee of the private company after preparing health insurance cards in Pehluwala village, the accused, Sanjiv Kumar, tried to molest her. It is alleged that the accused threatened to kill the nurse if she complained against him.

Irate women health workers today reached the residence of the accused and allegedly thrashed him up. Later, they went to the police station to lodge a complaint. It is alleged that the police showed reluctance in registering a case on the ground that the thrashing of the employee by the health workers could also land them in trouble. Upset with the alleged attempt of the police in shielding the accused, the health workers gave a call to boycott the RSBY project until the accused was arrested and the police officials concerned were shifted out. The health workers also submitted a memorandum to the DC and the SSP. Senior officials in the health department also took up the matter with the SSP.

Local MLA, Deep Malhotra, intervened and it led to the registration of a criminal case against Sanjiv Kumar.

As the health workers declined to work with the employees of the private company for the RSBY project, the private company reportedly expelled the accused and shifted all other members of the team outside Faridkot district.

The health workers alleged the private company staff force them to work till late in the evening with an ulterior motive.

BSF recovers cache of arms
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, October 26
The Border Security Force (BSF) today foiled a major bid by Pakistan-based elements to smuggle arms into Indian territory.

The firearms recovered by the BSF sentinels included .30 bore Chinese Mauser along with a magazine and 64 rounds, one Pakistan made Mark .32 bore revolver with 17 rounds, the ammunition of highly sophisticated AK 47, INSAS and 7.62 mm rifles.

Arun Kumar Dahiya, Commandant, 45 Battalion, said on a tip-off, the BSF launched a search operation this morning and recovered the cache of arms from an area in the alignment of border pillar 133/20 between the Zero Line and the cobra fencing near border outpost Kalsian.