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TOP STORIES

Manjit Singh GK new DSGMC chief
New Delhi, February 26
Manjit Singh GK, Delhi unit chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), was elected president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today by members who won the gurdwara elections on January 27.
Manjit Singh GK
Manjit Singh GK
Manjinder Singh Sirsa
Manjinder Singh Sirsa

GK lists top priorities
Delhi leaders to get due space in SAD

Five express trains for Punjab
Chandigarh, February 26
Punjab has got five express, one passenger and one DEMU (diesel-electric multiple unit) trains and at least a couple of new train routes in its share of the railway budget.



YOUR TOWN
Amritsar
Chandigarh


EARLIER STORIES



File photo of Jaspal Pardhan after he was made Patiala Mayor Death that saw Pardhan’s political demise
Patiala, February 26
In what seems like a filmy plot, Patiala Mayor Jaspal Pardhan was booked in a case of murder, following which he resigned from his post. It all started with the death of a woman. Following which his political opponents both within and outside the SAD started gunning for his ouster.
                                File photo of Jaspal Pardhan after he was made Patiala Mayor

Bogus billing delays VAT refunds
Chandigarh, February 26
The multi-crore bogus-billing scam has cast its shadow on the working capital available with the industry.

Wailing relatives of the victim in Jalandhar Robbers kill elderly woman in Jalandhar
Jalandhar, February 26
Unidentified persons allegedly suffocated an elderly woman to death with a pillow at her residence in Kishanpur Mohalla and decamped with cash and valuables worth lakhs of rupees yesterday.

Wailing relatives of the victim in Jalandhar. A Tribune photograph







COMMUNITY

The under-construction emergency ward of the Govt Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on TuesdayHospital renovation adds to patients’ woes
Patiala, February 26
A thirty-year-old man, Anurag Dhillon, from Bathinda was refused treatment at the Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, as he visited the hospital to get his leg injury treated. He had got injured in an accident.
The under-construction emergency ward of the Govt Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

In Muktsar, cops too are unsafe
Muktsar, February 26
Policemen in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's home district Muktsar are finding themselves unsafe from hooligans. In a span of three months, miscreants have attacked policemen thrice - once on the night of February 16 and twice in late December.

Century-old Sangrur library gasping for funds, staff
Sangrur, February 26
The century-old district library here does not seem to be on the priority list of the state government as it has been ignored by it for the past many years.

Bathinda college to build library with own funds
Bathinda, February 26
The construction of the unfinished library in the Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, will finally resume within a month.

Fatehgarh Sahib courts get video conference facility
Fatehgarh Sahib, Februray 26
A video conference room was inaugurated by Justice Rajiv Bhalla along with Justice Ranjit Singh, Justice RK Jain and Justice NK Sanghi, all judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, at Fatehgarh Sahib Judicial Court Complex here today.

Tighten security around ATMs, banks told
Bathinda, February 26
The banks have been instructed by the police to station guards outside all automated teller machine ATMs in the city to prevent cases of theft.


COURTS

lain ASI’s daughter Robinjeet Kaur Killed ASI’s daughter gives statement in court
Amritsar, February 26
Robinjeet Kaur, the key witness to the broad daylight murder of her father Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Ravinderpal Singh here on December 5, today narrated the sequence of events leading to the crime by accused Ranjit Singh Rana and his four accomplices. The eyewitness account was recorded in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge.

Slain ASI’s daughter Robinjeet Kaur

HC upholds conviction of two Pak nationals
Chandigarh, February 26
Eight years after Pakistani national Khurram Shahzad Ali alias Juned Aalam came to India for cricket matches between the two nations but stayed back to spy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the orders convicting him and his compatriot.

HC notice to state on cancer drug prices
Chandigarh, February 26
Taking suo motu cognisance of a letter seeking action against renowned pharmaceutical companies for looting cancer patients by printing inflated maximum retail price (MRP) on medicines, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today put the state of Punjab on notice.

SC seeks AG’s views on panchayats’ powers
New Delhi, February 26
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Attorney General GE Vahanvati seeking his assistance in deciding the powers of panchayats in Punjab to hold a trial in cheating cases, eliminating the role of regular courts set up under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

CRIME

Man held with narcotics in Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 26
The local police has arrested Ravinder Singh, for possessing 2,500 sedative tablets and 648 capsules. In another incident held Raj Kumar, Om Parkash, Sohan Pal and Rajinder for gambling.

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Manjit Singh GK new DSGMC chief
Tribune News service

New Delhi, February 26
Manjit Singh GK, Delhi unit chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), was elected president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today by members who won the gurdwara elections on January 27. The election was held in the presence of the Director of the Directorate, Gurdwara Elections, Delhi Government, Akal Takht chief Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and SAD’s Delhi affairs in charge BS Ramoowalia.

Before joining office, GK paid obeisance at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. The election process began at 11 am at the gurdwara committee office with the recitation of “ardas”.

Just as the Director of the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections, GP Singh, chose Kulmohan Singh as pro-tem chairman to elect the DSGMC president, senior Akali leader Avtar Singh Hit opened a sealed envelope sent by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal containing the names of the DSGMC president, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary, joint secretary and executive members.

Hit proposed the name of Manjit Singh GK for the post of president which was seconded by Surjit Singh Chandni Chowk. He also named Ravinder Khurana for the post of senior vice-president, Tanwant Singh for junior vice-president, Manjinder Singh Sirsa for general secretary and Harmit Singh Kalka for joint secretary. These names were seconded by Omkar Singh Thapar.

The executive members are Bibi Daljeet Kaur Khalsa, Kulwant Singh Baath, Jatinderpal Singh Goldy, Inderjit Singh Monty, Chaman Singh Shahpura, Amarjit Singh Pappu, Jasbir Singh Jassi, Tarwinder Singh Marwah, Harvinder Singh KP and Capt Inderpreet Singh.

Tarwinder Singh Marwah, Congress MLA from the Jangpura assembly constituency, who was elected from the Defence Colony ward in South Delhi on the Kendriya Guru Singh Sabha ticket, is the sole opposition member in the DSGMC. Two members of the Paramjeet Singh Sarna-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), Tejinderpal Singh Goppa and Harpal Singh, were also present during the election.

Immediately after being elected president, the House passed a resolution to make efforts to bring the Delhi Sikhs close to Akal Takht , to get the Akal Takht directions implemented, to improve the standard of education in the DSGMC-run institutions, to review court cases regarding gurdwara properties and to raise the salary of gurdwara employees.

The resolution appealed to the government to make an amendment in the Gurdwara Act to stop post-election defection.

New Office-Bearers

  • Ravinder Khurana Senior Vice-President
  • Tanwant Singh Junior Vice-President
  • Manjinder S Sirsa General Secretary
  • Harmit Singh Kalka Joint secretary

Executive members

Daljeet Kaur Khalsa, Kulwant Singh Baath, Jatinderpal Singh Goldy, Inderjit Singh Monty, Chaman Singh Shahpura, Amarjit Singh Pappu, Jasbir Singh Jassi, Tarwinder S Marwah, Harvinder Singh KP and Capt Inderpreet Singh 

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GK lists top priorities
Perneet Singh/TNS

Amritsar, February 26
After taking over as the new DSGMC president, Manjit Singh GK today announced the implementation of the amended Nanakshahi Calendar in New Delhi gurdwaras.

Talking to The Tribune, he said his first priority after taking over charge of the DSGMC would be to restore the Akal Takht supremacy in the national Capital and to put an end to divisive politics.

“Taking the first step in this direction, we have decided to implement the amended Nanakshahi Calendar which has been approved by the Akal Takht. We will organise a grand Kirtan Darbar to usher in the New Year as per the amended calendar on March 13.”

This move is on expected lines. The SAD-ruled SGPC is already following the amended calendar. The DSGMC under Paramjit Singh Sarna had been earlier following the original calendar. This had created confusion among the Sikhs in Delhi. While the shrines managed by the DSGMC were observing events as per the original calendar, the rest were following the amended version. This had become a poll issue during the DSGMC poll with the SAD projecting the same as “defiance” of Akal Takht by Sarna.

Listing his priorities, GK said the DSGMC was committed to bringing transparency in the gurdwara affairs, propagation of Sikhism and quality education to students in DSGMC-run institutions.

Apparently hinting towards the Gurdwara Bala Sahib row, he said they would get back the DSGMC land given to private parties. Efforts would be made to rehabilitate the riot victims.

Among the SAD poll promises were clean and transparent management, judicial commission for Sikh shrines, Guru Teg Bahadur University, free education for girls and books to boys securing over 75 per cent marks in Class X and Rs 51,000 as marriage allowance for daughters of DSGMC employees.

To woo the youth, the SAD had also promised Guru Angad Dev sports institute, five academies for Sikh students to help them prepare for medical, engineering and administrative examinations and a placement cell.

Meanwhile, former National Commission for Minorities Chairman Tarlochan Singh said the biggest challenge for GK was to keep the gurdwaras free of politics. “The focus should also be on transparent administration and professional staff.

“There is also a need to raise the standards of education in DSGMC-run schools and colleges, for which a panel of retired Sikh professionals should be formed,” he said.

Tasks Ahead

  • To implement amended Nanakshahi Calendar in Delhi gurdwaras
  • To bring transparency in gurdwara affairs
  • To undertake propagation of Sikh religion
  • To ensure quality education in DSGMC institutions

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Delhi leaders to get due space in SAD
Jangveer Singh/TNS

Chandigarh, February 26
The SAD, which unveiled its new leadership in Delhi today, will now move towards giving due space to its Delhi leaders in the parent party. The SAD (Delhi) led by Paramjit Singh Sarna had claimed that the SAD was wooing Delhi Sikhs solely for annexing the DSGMC and that it would give short shrift treatment to them once the elections were over.

Party sources said the SAD was keen to assimilate the Delhi Sikhs in the parent party rather than only treating them as a unit of its Delhi wing. They said this was in line with party president Sukhbir Badal's desire to unite the Sikhs in the country under the SAD banner.

In case the SAD gives due political space to Delhi Sikh leaders in the party, it would help assimilate the Sikh community into the SAD fold in other states as well. The party is keen to make its presence felt in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Revenue Minister and Youth Akali Dal chief (YAD) Bikram Majithia, when contacted on the issue, said Delhi Sikhs had come out and supported the SAD in a big way and that the party would involve them in the electoral as well as decision-making process. He said with new Delhi Sikh leaders emerging, more persons would be adjusted in the organisational structure of both the YAD and the party's national executive.

The SAD is keen to offset fears that the offerings collected from the Delhi gurdwaras would be used outside Delhi. This was also one of the poll issues raised by the SAD (Delhi). Majithia said the party was open to the use of SGPC funds in Delhi and that both bodies could collaborate on definite projects.

Meanwhile, the Manjit GK - Manjinder Sirsa (the latter defeated Sarna) team is being viewed as a Sukhbir-Majithia team. Manjit GK is a Sukhbir protégé while Sirsa owes his elevation to Majithia. Majithia had camped in Sirsa's constituency during the DSGMC elections and was instrumental in his victory.

Party sources said a similar mix of senior and youth leaders would be seen in the SAD executive to lay the ground for enlisting the support of the entire community during the Delhi assembly elections later this year.

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Five express trains for Punjab
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 26
Punjab has got five express, one passenger and one DEMU (diesel-electric multiple unit) trains and at least a couple of new train routes in its share of the railway budget.

A new rail route will be established via Takht Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) between Rama Mandi and Maur Mandi. Ferozepur-Patti-Amritsar rail link is another significant project announced for the state. The ministry has selected Pathankot as one of the 25 places in the country to set up a training centre to provide skills.

The express trains included: Amritsar-Lalkuan Express (weekly) via Chandigarh; Bathinda-Jammu Tawi Express (weekly) via Patiala, Rajpura; Chandigarh-Amritsar Intercity Express (daily) via Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), Ludhiana; Delhi-Hoshiarpur Express (weekly); and Una/NangalbDam-Hazoor Sahib Nanded Express (weekly) via Anandpur Saheb, Morinda, Chandigarh, Ambala.

A passenger train will run between Bathinda and Dhuri daily. A DEMU is proposed on the Taran Taran-Goindwal Sahib rail route. The Dapper-Chandigarh line will be doubled and rail routes on the Jakhal-Dhuri-Ludhiana and Rajpura-Dhuri-Lehra Mohabhat will be electrified.

Trains featuring in the list of increased frequency included: the 14037/14038 Delhi-Pathankot Express (from 3 to 6 days); the 19325/19326 Indore-Amritsar Express (from 1 to 2 days); and the18309/18310 Sambalpur-Hazoor Saheb Nanded Express( from 2 to 3 days).

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Death that saw Pardhan’s political demise
Patiala Mayor forced to quit post after merely 5 months in office
Aman Sood/TNS
Harpreet Singh, son of former Patiala Mayor Jaspal Pardhan, at the district courts complex in Patiala on Tuesday
Harpreet Singh, son of former Patiala Mayor Jaspal Pardhan, at the district courts complex in Patiala on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Patiala, February 26
In what seems like a filmy plot, Patiala Mayor Jaspal Pardhan was booked in a case of murder, following which he resigned from his post.

It all started with the death of a woman. Following which his political opponents both within and outside the SAD started gunning for his ouster. The police then formed a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the case. The secret life of the Mayor became public as he now faces allegations of having a live-in relationship with his friend’s wife.

The political journey of Pardhan saw several ups and downs. He started his career as an ordinary trader of imported goods. He went on to become a councillor and later got promoted to the coveted post of Mayor. His career hit a low with this murder case and his alleged act of bigamy.

In his initial days, he had a friend, Tirlochan Singh, who was his business partner. Tirlochan went abroad a decade ago, leaving behind his wife Paramjeet Kaur. Later, Pardhan and Paramjeet allegedly got close and they started living together. Pardhan reportedly did not marry her and instead married another woman with whom he has a son, Preetinder Singh.

Pardhan became a councillor in 2007. He was in the race for the Mayor’s post, but lost to Ajit Pal Singh Kohli. Pardhan’s relations with some real estate agents in the district, considered close to the ruling party, took him closer to Punjab Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra.

“Pardhan helped Rakhra in the 2012 assembly elections. The reward came in September 2012 when Rakhra helped him become the Patiala Mayor”, said a close confidante of the Rakhra family. However, things turned sour for Pardhan recently when he had some differences with Rakhra over some issue.

Meanwhile, Pardhan’s relations with Paramjeet allegedly continued. He reportedly kept visiting Toba Kashmira where Paramjeet lives with her son Harpreet Singh.

On February 23, Pardhan was informed by his son Preetinder about some happening in the other house. He rushed to the spot with Preetinder. By the evening, the Patiala police booked Pardhan along with Paramjeet and her son Harpreet on the charges of murder of Harpreet’s wife Parampreet Kaur.

Though Pardhan and other accused claimed that the victim had committed suicide, an FIR under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC was registered on the complaint of the victim’s father Amarjit Singh

The police said Parampreet was brought to the hospital in the afternoon where she was “declared brought dead”. The postmortem report reveals that the front part of the deceased’s neck had a strangulation mark and she might have consumed poison.

Soon after the registration of the case against Pardhan, his political rivals within the party played a crucial role in ensuring his ouster. After the media highlighted the issue, the state government asked the Mayor to resign on February 25. While the other two accused are in police remand for two more days, Pardhan is still evading arrest.

Pardhan claims he will come out clean from all allegations. “I have full faith on the police. I will come out clean”, he said, rejecting his relations with Paramjeet.

Pradhan now faces an uncertain political future.

Hectic lobbying

Party insiders say it is not yet clear whether the SAD high command will name a new Mayor before the SIT completes its probe into the matter. "The party leadership may wait for the inquiry report before taking a decision on mayorship," said reliable sources.

Among the front-runners for the post are former Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli, two-time councillor Amarinder Bajaj and Youth Akali Dal leader Harpal Juneja. They have started lobbying in right earnest. The recommendation of Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra and Education Minister and in charge of SAD's Patiala affairs Sikandar Singh Maluka will matter the most.

Past perfect

  • Pardhan was an ordinary trader of imported goods
  • In 2007, he was elected as a municipal councillor
  • He was in the race for the Mayor’s post, but lost to close contender Ajit Pal Singh Kohli
  • Later, he came close to Punjab Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra and helped the latter in the 2012 assembly elections
  • In return, Rakhra supported his candidature for Patiala Mayor

Present tense

  • In his initial days, Pardhan allegedly developed relations with Paramjeet Kaur, wife of his business partner Tirlochan Singh, who went abroad
  • Pardhan did not marry her and instead married another woman with whom he has a son
  • He reportedly kept visiting Toba Kashmira where Paramjeet lives with her son Harpreet Singh
  • On February 23, Pardhan was booked along with Paramjeet and Harpreet on the charges of the murder of Harpreet’s wife
  • He resigned from Mayor’s post on February 25

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Bogus billing delays VAT refunds
Industry’s working capital shrinks
Ruchika M Khanna/TNS

Chandigarh, February 26
The multi-crore bogus-billing scam has cast its shadow on the working capital available with the industry.

With the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department delaying the release of VAT refunds - to undertake four-stage verification of sales transactions of traders and to detect bogus billing to avoid payment of excise duty - the industry says that it is facing a crunch in the working capital and huge amounts remain stuck in VAT refunds.

It is estimated over Rs 300 crore are pending with the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department as VAT refunds.

Industrialists in the state say that most medium units in the state, already reeling under the economic slowdown, are finding it very difficult to fulfil their day-to-day working capital requirements.

A Ludhiana-based steel furnace owner informed The Tribune that VAT refunds on sales made by his unit before February last year had not been released.

He said that most industrial units in Punjab were not manufacturing to their optimum capacity due to low demand and severe shortage of working capital.

“Since the Punjab Government has been delaying VAT refunds, industry is facing financial hardships, which is having a bearing on the industrial production in the state,” he said. The Excise and Taxation Department had made it mandatory for industry, especially those dealing in steel scrap and knitwear, to get four-stage verifications done for the sales shown by them in order to claim VAT refunds from the department.

Badish Jindal, president of the Federation of Associations of Small Industries, said that they have already asked the Excise Department officials to undertake more rigorous checks on the new licencees approved by the department, but expedite the release of VAT refunds.

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Robbers kill elderly woman in Jalandhar
65-year-old suffocated to death with a pillow
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 26
Unidentified persons allegedly suffocated an elderly woman to death with a pillow at her residence in Kishanpur Mohalla and decamped with cash and valuables worth lakhs of rupees yesterday.

At the time of the incident, the victim, Usha Khanna (65), was alone at her home. Her husband Prem Khanna, who runs a provisional store, was at his workplace.

The police said the robbers scaled the boundary wall of the house and attacked the victim to seize the keys of her almirah.

Khanna told the police that the robbers had taken away Rs 2.50 lakh and 250 gm of gold. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sarbjit Singh claimed that some insider could be involved in the crime as the robbers knew that the woman was alone in the house.

Violent attack

  • Robbers scale the boundary wall of the victim’s house
  • Attack the victim and snatch almirah keys from her
  • Kill victim, decamp with Rs 2.5 lakh, 250 gm gold

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Hospital renovation adds to patients’ woes
Gagan K Teja/TNS

Patiala, February 26
A thirty-year-old man, Anurag Dhillon, from Bathinda was refused treatment at the Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, as he visited the hospital to get his leg injury treated. He had got injured in an accident.

The staff told Dhillon that he could not be treated there since the hospital was being renovated. Turning away patients is a common practice at the hospital. Even though Government Rajindra Hospital has got grants worth several crore rupees in the past few years, the hospital authorities have failed to provide basic emergency facilities in both main and paediatric emergency departments to a large number of patients.

These patients are referred to other hospitals on a daily basis and many have died in the process. The latest case being that of Jaspal Kaur, a swine flu patient from Dhanetha village, who was referred to Ludhiana and she died on the way.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had approved Rs 122-crore comprehensive plan for the overall development of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital almost a year ago. However, the authorities at Rajindra Hospital instead of buying equipment for the emergency departments are busy getting the hospital floor marbled.

The condition is so miserable in the Paediatrics Intensive Care Unit that the patients even have to purchase syringes, needles and spirit from outside. The ward does not have a functioning ventilator, CPAP, overhead warmers and pulse oximeters. Dr VK Sharda, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, could not be contacted. College Principal Dr KD Singh said of the 12 ventilators in the hospital, six were defunct and could not be repaired. “So, I have placed an order for six ventilators with the Controller of Stores. Moreover, we have been directed by Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Medical Education and Research Department, to prepare a list of equipment required for the paediatrics emergency department,” he added.

Shoddy affair

  • The hospital authorities have failed to provide basic emergency facilities in both main and paediatric emergency departments
  • Badal had granted Rs 122 cr for the overall development of the hospital a year ago
  • The authorities instead of buying equipment for the emergency departments are busy getting the hospital floor marbled

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In Muktsar, cops too are unsafe
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, February 26
Policemen in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's home district Muktsar are finding themselves unsafe from hooligans. In a span of three months, miscreants have attacked policemen thrice - once on the night of February 16 and twice in late December.

On February 16, some hooligans attacked a police party that had gone to inspect the site of a road mishap at Ghumiara village in Lambi Assembly constituency.

After reaching there, the police party, which included two head constables and a Home Guard jawan, started investigations and demanded the keys of both the vehicles.

Though the owner of a vehicle handed over the key, the owner of the other vehicle told the police to get the keys from his house where he allegedly detained them and assaulted them with sharp-edged weapons.

Head constable Rachpal Singh and Home Guard jawan Gurtar Singh sustained severe head injuries and were admitted to the civil hospital in Lambi.

Later, the police booked six persons: Gamdoor Singh, Sardul Singh, Sukha Singh, Nazar Singh, Kiranjit Singh and Gurvinder Singh, all residents of Ghumiara village, but they are still at large.

In December, some hooligans had allegedly passed lewd comments at a woman constable and tossed the turban of an assistant sub-inspector in full public view at Mallan village in Gidderbaha Assembly constituency.

The incident had taken place on December 23 during the recording of a cultural programme "Mela Melian Da" to be shown on a TV channel. A case in this regard was registered at Kot Bhai police station.

The next day, when the policemen went to arrest the suspects from their hideout near Bhalaiana village, they attacked the police party that included ASI Ram Singh whose turban was tossed into the air. Ram Singh again sustained injuries.

SSP Muktsar Surjit Singh said, "Such incidents will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against all those who take the law into their hands." 

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Century-old Sangrur library gasping for funds, staff
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, February 26
The century-old district library here does not seem to be on the priority list of the state government as it has been ignored by it for the past many years.

The library was set up as Jind State Public Library by Maharaja Ranbir Singh of the erstwhile Jind state in 1913. It now has over 60,000 books. A number of rare manuscripts in Persian, Urdu and Sanskrit and about a dozen rare and historical photo albums related to the erstwhile Jind state and its Maharajas form the library's collection.

Though the library has over 60,000 books, it is being run by just one woman restorer in the absence of the librarian for the past two-and-a-half years. She not only issues books but also does the entire clerical work of the library.

Apart from the restorer's post, which was introduced in the library in 2010, the only other permanent employee is a peon. Two posts - of librarian and attendant - have not been filled.

The library has no post of sweeper, watchman or gardener. For the library's maintenance, the administration has made arrangements with the assistance of some organisation. Due to shortage of staff, the reference section of the library has to be kept closed. Even the book section - that issues books - is opened only when a member comes to get a book issued.

The state government provides only Rs 13,000 per annum for the purchase of books, newspapers and journals while the monthly bill of newspapers and journals lies between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000. Due to the shortage of funds, the library is yet to pay the bills of newspapers and journals for the past four months. In such circumstances, one cannot think about the purchase of books for the library. The functioning of the library, having 5,350 members on its rolls, has been hit not only on account of staff shortage but also that of funds.

Sorry state

  • Two staff members - restorer and peon
  • Budget: Only Rs 13,000 per annum

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Bathinda college to build library with own funds

Bathinda, February 26
The construction of the unfinished library in the Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, will finally resume within a month.

The construction of the library began in 2008 when the construction had started with a grant of Rs 30 lakh.

The work, however, had to be stopped in March/April 2009 as the entire amount of the grant had been spent. The college will be using Rs 30 lakh from the funds of its Higher Education Institute Society.—TNS

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Fatehgarh Sahib courts get video conference facility
Our Correspondent
Justice Rajiv Bhalla inaugurates the video conference facility at Fatehgarh Sahib Court on Tuesday
Justice Rajiv Bhalla inaugurates the video conference facility at Fatehgarh Sahib Court on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Fatehgarh Sahib, Februray 26
A video conference room was inaugurated by Justice Rajiv Bhalla along with Justice Ranjit Singh, Justice RK Jain and Justice NK Sanghi, all judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, at Fatehgarh Sahib Judicial Court Complex here today.

The judges said the video conferencing system will improve the efficiency in the judicial system and help record the witnesses’ statements.

The judges said the remand process of the accused shall take place using the video conference facility at Fatehgarh Sahib and Amloh courts. He said the Naib courts of these courts had been directed to prepare the list of the accused in custody one day in advance from their date of appearance in the courts.

AS Dharni, president, District Bar Association, said video conferencing would save time, energy and money as the accused wouldn’t have to be taken from Nabha jail to Fatehgarh Sahib to appear in court.

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Tighten security around ATMs, banks told

Bathinda, February 26
The banks have been instructed by the police to station guards outside all automated teller machine ATMs in the city to prevent cases of theft.

Hi-tech thieves had decamped with Rs 7.80 lakh from a Punjab National Bank (PNB) automated teller machine (ATM) on Bibiwala Road on Sunday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ravcharan Singh Brar said, “We urge the banks to install CCTV cameras outside the ATMs. Had a camera been installed outside the PNB ATM on Bibiwala road, we could have got to know the registration number of the vehicle used by the thieves,” Brar said.— TNS

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Killed ASI’s daughter gives statement in court
Tribune News service
Main accused Ranjit Singh Rana at the Amristar court complex on Tuesday
Main accused Ranjit Singh Rana at the Amristar court complex on Tuesday. Photos: Vishal Kumar

Amritsar, February 26
Robinjeet Kaur, the key witness to the broad daylight murder of her father Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Ravinderpal Singh here on December 5, today narrated the sequence of events leading to the crime by accused Ranjit Singh Rana and his four accomplices. The eyewitness account was recorded in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge.

All the five accused, including Rana, were produced before the court. The court examined the authenticity of the murder weapon. A government employee, Manjit Singh, certified that the weapon was issued in Rana's name. Cross-examination could not be held after Rana urged the court to allow him to hire another counsel, said complainant Robinjeet's advocate Jagir Singh. The court then deferred the hearing for March 5.

Meanwhile, the Superintendent of the Amritsar Central Jail, has been summoned to appear with a reply on Rana's earlier plea that he should not be kept in solitary confinement. Sources said Robinjeet categorically told the court that she had faced constant harassment at the hands of the expelled SAD leader and his aides and had been cautioned by her father not to go out alone. Nevertheless, she continued to attend classes for IELTS. Robinjeet also told the court that two policemen from the Chheharta police station had accompanied her back to the spot where she was sexually harassed but the accused had vanished by then.

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HC upholds conviction of two Pak nationals
Saurabh Malik/TNS

Chandigarh, February 26
Eight years after Pakistani national Khurram Shahzad Ali alias Juned Aalam came to India for cricket matches between the two nations but stayed back to spy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the orders convicting him and his compatriot.

Shahzad Ali, along with co-convict Ali Mohammad Iqbal alias Qasum Mata, had moved the High Court separately through the Punjab State Legal Service Authority. The two had challenged the Trial Court judgment of July 30, 2008, convicting and sentencing them under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, the Foreigners Act, and Section 471 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Case

The FIR in the matter was registered after the police received information on November 9, 2005, that the two Pakistanis had entered India without passports. They were roaming around and conveying secret information on the Indian Army, ammunition dumps, location of airports and bridges in India to the “higher authorities” across the border.They were also e-mailing messages to Pakistan.

Acting on the information, Inspector Gobinder Singh and his team, accompanied by an Army Intelligence officer, went to the military hospital in Jalandhar Cantonment on November 19, 2005. They found Shahzad Ali coming with a bag hanging from his shoulder. Mohammad Iqbal was arrested the next day after Shahzad Ali, during interrogationn disclosed that he was waiting for him at Rama Mandi Chowk.

Implication Plea

Counsel for the appellants argued that the two were implicated in the case. Shahzad Ali came to India on a valid visa on March 24, 2005, to watch cricket matches. His visa was to expire on March 31, 2005. But he was taken into custody at Amritsar and falsely involved in the case. Mohammad Iqbal did not have a valid visa to visit India, but he too was falsely involved in the case, their counsel argued. During the trial, the prosecution examined 11 witnesses to prove its case.

The Verdict

Taking up the matter, Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Sabina asserted: “The prosecution has been successful in proving its case that Shahzad Ali was apprehended on November 19, 2005, without a valid visa, whereas Mohammad Iqbal was apprehended the next day without a valid visa in his possession. Further, the documents recovered from them were dangerous to the security, sovereignty and safety of India.

“The plea taken by the counsel for the appellants that Shahzad Ali had come to India on a valid visa but had later been arrested in Amritsar is not established from record”.

Before parting with the order, the Bench reduced their sentence under the Secrets Act from 14 years to eight of rigorous imprisonment (RI).

Bare facts

  • Khurram Shahzad Ali had come to India to watch cricket matches on a valid visa
  • Mohammad Iqbal, who did not have a valid visa, was arrested from Jalandhar
  • They were sending information on the Indian Army to "authorities” across the border
  • They were also e-mailing messages to Pakistan

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HC notice to state on cancer drug prices
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 26
Taking suo motu cognisance of a letter seeking action against renowned pharmaceutical companies for looting cancer patients by printing inflated maximum retail price (MRP) on medicines, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today put the state of Punjab on notice.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain issued the notice after taking cognisance of the letter by Faridkot-based Bhai Ghanaiya Cancer Roko Seva Society.

In its letter dated February 2, the society informed the Chief Justice that Guru Gobind Singh Medical Hospital, Faridkot, purchased medicines directly from pharmaceutical companies at MRP of Rs 19,800 whereas the original cost price of the medicine was Rs 1,738.

The society also enclosed bills from local chemists to show that the hospital purchased medicines at prices much higher than the rate at which these were available from local chemists.

Issuing notice of motion for March 21, the Bench also appointed advocate HC Arora as amicus curiae or the friend of the court to assist in deciding the PIL on merits.

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SC seeks AG’s views on panchayats’ powers
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, February 26
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Attorney General GE Vahanvati seeking his assistance in deciding the powers of panchayats in Punjab to hold a trial in cheating cases, eliminating the role of regular courts set up under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

A Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and JS Khehar passed the order after advocate RK Kapoor contended that the Punjab Police had no power to arrest or prosecute his clients, two residents of Mann village in Amritsar district, for their alleged role in a cheating case involving Rs 30 lakh.

In the order, the Bench also directed the police not to arrest the accused persons until further orders. However, they would have to report to the police, pending disposal of their plea.

The accused had allegedly taken Rs 30 lakh in 2010-11 from a person on the promise of making arrangements for sending his son to the US. But they neither kept their word nor returned the money.

Counsel Kapoor contended that under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, the offence of cheating “is exclusively triable” by gram panchayats and as such the police and regular courts had no role.

He said under Section 44 of the State Panchayati Raj Act, panchayats were to be treated as the criminal court for offences mentioned in Schedule II appended to the Act. There was a specific mention of Section 420 (cheating) in Schedule II. The Act was also clear that criminal offences covered by it would be excluded from the CrPC.

Asked how the panchayats could handle cheating cases involving huge amounts, Kapoor said the gravity of the offence had nothing to do with interpreting the Act. Also, the Act did not classify the criminal offences that would be tried by the panchayats.

The accused were denied anticipatory bail by the Additional Sessions Judge, Amritsar, in May 2012 and later by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 23.

Kapoor said the Panchayati Act had given complete powers to the gram panchayats to take cognisance of criminal cases, conduct inquiries, summon witnesses and pass orders of conviction. Further, the Criminal Penal Code (CrPC) was not applicable to the gram panchayats proceedings.

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Man held with narcotics in Fatehgarh Sahib
Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, February 26
The local police has arrested Ravinder Singh, for possessing 2,500 sedative tablets and 648 capsules. In another incident held Raj Kumar, Om Parkash, Sohan Pal and Rajinder for gambling.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hardial Singh Mann said a police team headed by Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Sukhdev Singh of Fatehgarh Sahib police station after receiving a tip-off laid a naka in the town where they nabbed Ravinder Singh, resident of Mandi Gobindgarh, with the drugs.

Mann said a case under Sections 22, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act had been registered against the accused at Mandi Gobindgarh police station and further investigation was on in the case.

Meanwhile, the police rounded up Raj Kumar, Om Parkash, Sohan Pal and Rajinder for gambling and recovered Rs 2,100 from them.

All the accused are natives of Agra, Uttar Pradesh and were residing near Sirhind Grain Market. A case under various sections of the Gambling Act has been registered against the accused.

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