J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

panchayat elections
Police crackdown on liquor, drug mafia
Gurdaspur/Pathankot, April 23
The Gurdaspur and Pathankot Police Districts are making a valiant attempt to check the flow of drugs and illicit liquor among villagers even as some politicians are giving protection to smugglers to ensure the flow of these narcotics in villages ahead of the elections to the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs).

Two SHOs transferred
Tarn Taran, April 23
The Station House Officers (SHOs) of police stations Chohla Sahib and Verowal have been transferred by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) here today.

Standing wheat crop on 12 acres reduced to ashes
Tarn Taran, April 23
Standing wheat crop on more than 12 acres and wheat residue on nine acres was reduced to ashes in Chabal and Thathi villages, 20 km from here, today in the afternoon. The joints efforts of the farmers and other residents could not control the fire and the fire brigade also failed to turn up on time.

panchayat elections
Police crackdown on liquor, drug mafia
Ravi Dhaliwal

Gurdaspur/Pathankot, April 23
The Gurdaspur and Pathankot Police Districts are making a valiant attempt to check the flow of drugs and illicit liquor among villagers even as some politicians are giving protection to smugglers to ensure the flow of these narcotics in villages ahead of the elections to the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs).

The police has upped its ante keeping in view two factors. One is the huge heroin seizures made recently by the BSF from near the India-Pakistan border while the other factor that has spurred the Police into action are the impending elections to the panchayat and the block samitis.

“Akalis derive their political power from villages. That is the reason they have already made arrangements to ensure their voters get liquor ahead of the panchayat elections. More and more villagers are resorting to establishing their own distilleries, which offer them cheap hooch as compared to the market prices,” admitted a senior SAD leader.

However, senior police officials were unfazed by the developments. Pathankot SSP SK Kalia, who holds the additional charge as SSP Gurdaspur, said the police had launched a special drive keeping in view the elections.

“Under the special drive, 99 cases were registered under the NDPS Act in Gurdaspur district while in Pathankot district, 46 cases had been registered. Special emphasis had been laid on people operating illegal distilleries,” Kalia said.

Liquor, drugs start flowing freely before elections Gurdaspur, Pathankot Police launch special drive to check manufacturing of illicit liquor Huge seizures made by the police

Two SHOs transferred
Our Correspondent.

Tarn Taran, April 23
The Station House Officers (SHOs) of police stations Chohla Sahib and Verowal have been transferred by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) here today.

According to the information, Inspector Charan Singh was made Station House Officer Chohla Sahib and Sub-Inspector Lakhbir Singh was made Station House Officer, Verowal.

Hardeep Singh, SHO Verowal, has been put under suspension after the controversy sorrounding the death of a Gujjar girl of Gaggrewal village, 30 km from here, a few days ago.

On the other hand, the SHO, Chohla Sahib, was under attack after a woman levelled allegations against him.

Standing wheat crop on 12 acres reduced to ashes
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, April 23
Standing wheat crop on more than 12 acres and wheat residue on nine acres was reduced to ashes in Chabal and Thathi villages, 20 km from here, today in the afternoon. The joints efforts of the farmers and other residents could not control the fire and the fire brigade also failed to turn up on time.

According to the information available, sparks from the combine harvester was the reason behind the incident.

More than eight acres of wheat belonged to Charanjit Singh of Chabal village while three acres belonged to one Madha Singh. Another acre belonge dto Jagir Singh, son of Madha Singh of Thathi village.

Wheat residue on seven acres belonged to farmer Gajjan Singh while two acres belonged to farmer Sukhdev Singh.

As soon as the farmers and the other people heard the news of the wheat crop catching fire, they immediately rushed to the spot and tried to bring the fire under control. The Chabal police has lodged a report in this regard.

Woman dies of burns
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, April 23
Following the death of Sarbjit Kaur of Bassi Kale Khan, the Bulhowal police last night booked her husband Gurmit Singh, father-in-law Tota, mother-in-law Banso and sister-in-law Parveen, all of Sham Chaurasi, under Sections 306 and 34 of the IPC.

According to police sources, Sarbjit Kaur succumbed to her burn injuries at the local Civil Hospital, last evening.

Sarbjit was married to Gurmit about a year ago. Since her marriage, Gurmit and his family members allegedly used to torture and maltreat her. On Sunday last, she sprinkled kerosene on herself and set herself ablaze.

She was seriously burnt and was admitted to the Civil Hospital where she breathed her last.