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Ludhiana ACP held for graft
Govt invites HC wrath over contradictory notifications
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Day 2: No end to stalemate at Attari ICP
Jails Dept told to press into service dogs of other depts
An injured BJP worker in Ferozepur on Wedneday. A Tribune photograph
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Former CM & Congress MLA
Treatment of cancer patients
Subsidy on potato cultivation, marketing hiked to 50 per cent
Linesmen lathicharged near Dhindsa’s house in Sangrur
Despite govt order, Education Dept fails to vacate building
Rs 71 cr for second phase of Khalsa memorial
WHO official in Patiala to check viability of welfare scheme
Students in fix over purchase of notebooks
Land grab: Panel to submit report in 2 weeks
Missing files: Details of reconstruction sought
Event judges shouldn’t have conflict of interest, assn told
Two arrested for raping 15-yr-old
Dalits beaten up in Fatehgarh Sahib
5 injured in firing over land dispute
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Ludhiana ACP held for graft
Ludhiana, April 24 Senior Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Satinder Singh said Chauhan was arrested from his office at Sherpur Chowk. The action came on the complaint of the scrap dealer, Rakesh Kumar, whose shop is located in Focal Point area. Rakesh had alleged that Chauhan had recently summoned him to his office through Pappu. Stating that his scrap business was “illegal”, the police officer had told Rakesh to either shut it down or cough up Rs 50,000 a month, the complainant alleged. Unable to arrange the amount, Rakesh approached the Vigilance officials, who laid a trap. After applying an invisible powder on the currency notes, the Vigilance team asked Rakesh to hand them over to Pappu. The latter was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting the graft amount. When his hands were submersed in water, they turned red (due to the reaction of the powder). Chauhan, who was due to retire in September, was arrested thereafter. A case has been registered under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Senior Superintendent of Police said a search was conducted at Chauhan’s office and also at his house in Patiala. Officer with shady past New modus operandi
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Govt invites HC wrath over contradictory notifications
Chandigarh, April 24 The scathing observations came after a Division Bench took note of two contradictory notifications issued by different departments of the State Government in just about a fortnight on the issue of including a village in Amloh Municipal Council limits. Rapping the government for not following a transparent procedure, and ignoring “the aspirations” of the residents, the Bench also directed Punjab Chief Secretary to step in. The case The indictment by Justice Surya Kant and Justice RP Nagrath came on a petition filed by Ikbal Singh and other petitioners through counsel Rajeev Anand. The issue hovers around the inclusion of Bir Amloh village (hadbast number 27) within the area of Amloh Municipal Council. While the Council and some residents of Bir Amloh village, including the petitioners, want its inclusion in municipal area, others, including some “religious persons”, want a separate gram panchayat. Punjab’s Local Government Department initially issued a notification on November 12, 2012, for increasing the municipal limits and calling objections for the same. But, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats issued another notification on November 26, 2012, forming a gram panchayat in the entire area. The observations The Bench observed four or five petitions raising claims and counter-claims on the issue of including or excluding Bir Amloh village from municipal limits have been filed. “The inclusion or exclusion of an area within municipal limits or constitution of a gram panchayat would not per se come within the ambit of a writ Court…. Keeping these limitations in mind, we have refrained ourselves from expressing any views on merits while directing the authorities to take an appropriate decision in the matter in accordance with law”. The Bench added: “It further appears to us that the state government/district administration has failed to take into consideration the aspirations or interests of residents of the area and apparently no transparent procedure was followed while issuing the notifications dated November 12, 2012, by the Local Government Department and November 26, 2012, by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats. “Both these notifications indeed demonstrate that left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. Since two contradictory notifications have been issued by two different departments of the state government, in our considered view, immediate remedial measures are required to be taken at the highest level in the state government. The orders The Bench ordered: “We dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, to immediately convene a meeting to be attended by the Secretaries of Department of Local Bodies and Department of Rural Development and Panchayats and other authorities concerned, ascertain the will of the residents of the area and then take an appropriate decision after giving opportunity of hearing to various stake holders, may be in representative capacity. Till such a decision is taken by the state government, both the notifications shall remain in abeyance”.
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Day 2: No end to stalemate at Attari ICP
Amritsar, April 24 A meeting between the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) officials and the protesters was held, but it failed to break the deadlock. Attari Porters Union chief Bhajan Singh said they walked out of the meeting as “justice was being denied to them”. Sources said at one point of time the porters had agreed to work on the existing rates, but the talks derailed when they got to know the traders were against paying them for the goods that were being unloaded mechanically. Another round of talks would be held tomorrow; the traders are also expected to participate in the meeting. The road ahead, however, does not seem to be that easy with the traders saying “the porters will only be paid for what they do”. They even have objections in paying labour charges to the porters at the time of export when they have to merely carry out random examination of a consignment and not do any unloading work. The strike particularly affected imports as the porters are primarily involved in unloading of goods. Only goods like gypsum, which are mechanically unloaded, were imported from Pakistan today. The CWC authorities, however, are somehow managing the exports as around 100 trucks crossed over to Pakistan today. Sources said the exports were managed with the help of the local staff and truck drivers. But as far as imports are concerned, only 27 trucks arrived from Pakistan today. Earlier, scores of porters converged at the ICP gate in protest, seeking a hike in labour charges. They also did not allow trucks to enter the ICP premises. They initially staged a dharna at the ICP gate, but the BSF later made them shift to another location. Narinder Singh, a porter leader, said they were promised last year that they will get Rs 5.50 for a load of over 40 kg, “but that didn’t happen”. The porters are stressing on increasing the labour rates for unloading cement, POP (plaster of Paris) and soda as these may lead to health problems.
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Low on funds, govt scraps prison dog squad project
Patiala, April 24 However, due to shortage of funds, the state government has rejected the proposal. It instead advised the department to "share" the dogs available with other departments. Sources said four months ago, the Jails Department had written to the Home Secretary to allow it to raise an independent dog squad for deputing trained dogs at all central jails. At present, the jail staff manually scan goods brought by relatives of inmates. Visitors are often caught smuggling smack, opium, capsules and other narcotics hidden in eatables and other items. The department had initially pegged the cost of project at Rs 42 lakh per annum. Eight dogs were to be procured and trained before deputing these at jails where habitual drug peddlers are lodged. The squad was to be strengthened to two dogs per jail in the second phase. "The idea was to get rid of manual frisking of goods and visitors. The project would have helped check corruption among jail officials," claimed Additional DGP (Jails) Rajpal Meena. "Though the proposal got a green signal from the Home Department, we have not received the final nod", he stated, adding Faridkot-like incidents could also be checked. Sources said the Finance Department did not clear the project, citing high operation cost of the dog squad. It suggested that the department should use dog squads available with the armed battalions and the district police. Confirming the development, DS Bains, principal secretary, Home, said though his department had cleared the project, the Finance Department did not find the project cost effective. "However, the rejection should not hinder the department from implementing the measure as dog squads of other departments could be pressed into service", he stated.
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Rival BJP factions clash in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, April 24 Both the groups had come to appear for an inquiry in an old dispute. The moment the two factions, reportedly led by Sarabjit Singh (Nannu group) and Gurbhej Singh (Kamal Sharma group), came face to face, they entered into an argument, which ended in a clash. A case has been registered against Sarabjit and a few unidentified persons. When contacted, Nannu said, “My supporters are being booked on flimsy grounds. The police is working under pressure from the people at the helm of the party affairs.” On the other hand, Kamal Sharma said, “Ours is a disciplined party and above any individual’s vested interests. Indiscipline cannot be tolerated at any cost.” Deputy Superintendent of Police Vibhor Kumar said the two groups entered into a brawl near Dasehra Ground and then they came towards the SSP office where the melee continued.
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Hang rapists of minors in public, says Bhattal
Sangrur, April 24 Bhattal said such cases should be tried in fast-track courts and the decision should be announced within a month. She was here today to pay tributes to Pawan Sharma Sohian, former member of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, at his bhog ceremony. Leaders cutting across party lines attended the ceremony. Bhattal claimed that the Congress would win the panchayat elections and that the party would thwart any efforts by the ruling SAD-BJP alliance to misuse the administrative machinery. Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar also attended the ceremony. Among others present on the occasion were Ajaib Singh (Minority Commission of India member), Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla and Congress leaders Jagmeet Brar and Brahm
Mohindra.
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CM invites Tata group to invest in state
Chandigarh, April 24 Cyrus P Mistry, chairman, Tata Sons Ltd, today held discussions with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here on the company's investment prospects in the state. Disclosing this, an official spokesperson said Badal had offered Tata group to initiate certain joint ventures in IT, skill training, agriculture and infrastructure with the state government. Responding to the offer, Mistry said a team of company experts would soon visit the state to explore the possibilities of setting up ventures in the state. He also expressed a keen interest in establishing a heavy commercial vehicle plant in the state. Mistry said his team would also study the aspects to set up a training and development centre in the state for strengthening the skilled work force for the industrial as well as agriculture sector. Mistry said the company was looking to set up a database to improve the agriculture sector of Punjab as a majority of the farmers were not aware of solutions to their problems. Tata group would like to establish a model in the state to provide an effective and timely help to the farmers, he added.
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Treatment
of cancer patients
Chandigarh, April 24 Sources said all government and semi-government organisations, MCs, improvement trusts, panchayati raj institutions would have to contribute at least 2 per cent of their income from the auction of their immoveable properties and vacant land to the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addition Treatment Infrastructure Fund. The government is expecting an annual contribution of Rs 25 crore to the fund. The management of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, is providing expertise and consultancy to set up the infrastructure. Besides, all societies and trusts set up by the government will contribute at least 2 per cent of their income twice in a year. All public sector undertakings, apex cooperative organisations, local bodies, improvement trusts and panchayati raj institutions will pay 2 per cent from their grant-in-aid. Certain share will be given to the fund from the income of tenders floated for projects worth Rs 50 crore or above. Besides, Rs 50 crore would go to the fund from additional tax imposed on cigarettes etc. For setting up diagnostic and treatment centres at Government Medical College, Patiala, and Government Medical College, Amritsar, a detailed proposal has been submitted by the Department of Medical Education and Research. In all, about Rs 180 crore will be required to set up radiotherapy and radio diagnosis units in both the medical colleges. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Minister for Medical Education and Research, said drug de-addiction centres would be set up at the medical colleges in Amritsar, Patiala, Faridkot, Bathinda and Jalandhar. He said Rs 5 crore would be spend at each
centre.
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Sidhwan Canal expressway may miss another deadline
Ludhiana, April 24 Interestingly, the project was "inaugurated" by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal before the assembly elections in December 2011. The state government had later justified that the Deputy CM had inaugurated only a part of the project. The foundation stone of the expressway was laid in 2009. The Rs 328.16-crore project involved the construction of a 26.9-km four-lane road with a carriageway on each side from Doraha to Ludhiana-Ferozepur road, providing a bypass for traffic going to Ferozepur. There are a total of nine bridges, comprising five canal bridges, two rail over-bridges (ROBs) and two flyovers. Initially, the state government had set February 2012 as the deadline for the completion of the project. It was later extended to October 2012. In August last year, the deadline was extended to March 2013. The latest deadline is June. Company officials admit that it is unlikely that the project will be completed by June as two ROBs, a bridge over Sirhind Canal, near Doraha, and an underpass on the Ferozepur road would still be left incomplete. The contractor claims the shortage of sand is the main reason behind the slow pace of work. "At the place where we are constructing an underpass on the Ferozepur road, we are managing to get just two truckloads of sand and that too at exorbitant rates. We wonder why sand is still being sold at such high rates when there is no ban on mining in the state," said Pardeep Kumar, project manager. The project is being awaited by city residents because it will provide a bypass to traffic from Ferozepur side and headed towards Doraha, Chandigarh or Delhi. Once the expressway is thrown open to public, it will help reduce traffic congestion in the city.
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Subsidy on potato cultivation, marketing hiked to 50 per cent
A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting with a deputation of potato growers here today. Badal told the delegation that the state had already initiated the process of setting up Indo-Dutch Potato and Seed Centre. The Chief Minister directed the Financial Commissioner to ensure the availability of quality potato seed by taking up the issue with the companies concerned. Badal assured the farmers that the government would chalk out the modalities to establish a tissue culture laboratory in Moga. He exhorted potato growers to adopt solar pumps for potato irrigation to save groundwater, besides establishing small processing units for their produce for which government could provide subsidy. On the demand of potato growers, the Chief Minister directed the power corporation to streamline the supply of electricity in all potato growing areas to ensure adequate daytime supply for a better yield. He said under the new diversification plan, the government was committed to save the rapidly depleting groundwater. He also offered the growers assistance in export of potatoes.
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Linesmen lathicharged near Dhindsa’s house in Sangrur
Sangrur, April 24 Harinder Singh, Station House Officer, city police station, Sangrur, said the police had not lathicharged the protesters, but just stopped them from breaking the barricade put up by the police near Dhindsa’s residence. Gurbakhshish Singh Chhanna, district president of the Berojgar Linesmen Union, Punjab, and Soma Singh Bharro, chief adviser of the union, condemned the police action. They alleged the police didn’t even spare elderly women. Earlier, raising slogans against the state government, they took out a march from the local bus stand to Dhindsa’s residence. The agitators sat on the main road and continued their dharna till 3 pm on an assurance that a meeting with Dhindsa would be arranged tomorrow. Chhanna said their protest would continue till the government issued appointment letters to the remaining 4,000 unemployed linesmen.
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Despite govt order, Education Dept fails to vacate building
Sangrur, April 24 The college authorities have taken up the matter with the state government several times in the past few years and the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department. Sources said after the order to vacate the building was issued, the Principal Secretary, Higher Education, ordered the District Education Officer (DEO) to hand over the building in 30 days to the college. Dr SK Kaushik, Principal of the college, said despite the state government’s order, the building had not been vacated by the Education Department. Kaushik said they needed the building to accommodate over 2,800 students studying here. Nirmal Singh Sohi, DEO (Secondary), Sangrur, said the authorities did not have any other venue where they could shift the training
centre.
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Rs 71 cr for second phase of Khalsa memorial
Chandigarh, April 24 A spokesperson said the Chief Minister had directed the Finance Department to release funds as per the funding schedule for the completion of the second phase in a time-bound manner. Badal also directed the Anandpur Sahib Foundation to spare a chunk of land measuring five acres for the upcoming
Baba Jiwan Singh Yadgar memorial at Anandpur Sahib. In another significant decision, Badal asked the authorities concerned to prepare a comprehensive plan for the setting up of a solar energy power unit with adequate power generation capacity to cater to the current need of Virasat-e-Khalsa. The Chief Minister also gave an in principle approval for the installation of a laser show and asked the department to prepare a detailed plan in this regard, besides a parking lot, near Virasat-e-Khalsa. Badal also reviewed the design of the second phase project, which was approved by the concept committee comprising eminent Sikh scholars and historians.
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WHO official in Patiala to check viability of welfare scheme
Patiala, April 24 Sources in the Health Department said she also interacted with a few private practitioners to find out why they weren't extending the benefits of the scheme to people.Private practitioners complained that the rates fixed for them by the government were very low. — TNS
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Students in fix over purchase of notebooks
Chandigarh, April 24 The Education Department will take action in a week’s time after getting the replies from the publishers regarding the errors in the notebooks on sale. The department had also mentioned that a special committee would check the errors. Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said, “The government has not entered into a contract with the publishers whose names have been forwarded. We suggested these publishers as it came to our knowledge that they were selling the notebooks at a third of the market price.” Publishers, however, contest that in the absence of clear instructions, certain education offices were forcing the schools to purchase the notebooks from particular publishers. Anil Goyal, spokesperson of the Punjab Publishers Association, said, “Several school principals showed us a circular, dated March 15, which stated if they didn’t buy the notebooks from certain publishers, action would be taken against them.” Clarifying on the bidding process, Maluka said, “As against the market rate of Rs 90, the publisher from Sangrur was approved as he had quoted a price of Rs 30 per notebook.” Rajinder Pal Mittal, Managing Director, JR Printing Press, Sangrur, which has been given the contract, said, “When the bidding process began, we were told that the market price of notebooks was Rs 90. We quoted a lower price and won the bid.”
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Land grab: Panel to submit report in 2 weeks
Chandigarh, April 24 Asked by the High Court to complete the probe by July 30, the panel is believed to be “working on it”; and is expected to handover another report to the Bench by mid-May. Available information suggests the panel is expected to refer to large chunks of land under unauthorised occupation in its second report as well. The High Court is currently monitoring the case; and has fixed April 29 as the next date of hearing. On March 26, the previous date of hearing in the case, the High Court had asked the State of Punjab to file its response to the first report submitted by the panel. The state may not submit its response on the date fixed, as so far it has reportedly not been able to lay its hands on the order's copy. Setting a four-week deadline for the purpose, the Division Bench headed by Acting Justice Jasbir Singh had on the previous date also asked the Tribunal to clarify its stand on land purchased by small bonafide purchasers in Nayagaon area. Already, the probe into land grab cases in Punjab has found faults with certain mutations in Kansal and Karoran villages in Chandigarh’s periphery. In Karoran, as many as 30,000 to 35,000 sale deeds may be affected because of the findings. The committee was constituted by the High Court to look into land grab cases not just in Nayagaon and other villages on Chandigarh’s periphery, but the entire State of Punjab. As its first step, the panel concentrated on “land within the periphery of Chandigarh”. Out of 360 odd villages, it has looked into the revenue records of eight villages, including Karoran, Kansal, Mirzapur and Mullanpur Garibdass. In its damning first interim report submitted to the High Court on the illegal acquisition of properties in Chandigarh’s periphery, Justice Kuldip Singh panel had minced no words to say “thousands of acres have either been grabbed or are in process of being grabbed”. The panel had further placed in dock directors and additional directors, consolidation, for passing illegal and fraudulent orders after entering into collusion with revenue officers and “right holders”.
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Missing files: Details of reconstruction sought
Chandigarh, April 24 A Division Bench of the High Court also ordered the Punjab Government to ensure the presence of former Under Secretary Yograj Sharma on April 30. The directions came during the resumed hearing of a PIL filed by advocate HC Arora. He was seeking directions to the Punjab Government to reconstruct 35 missing files containing chargesheets and inquiries against eight IAS officers and 27 PCS officers. Directions have also been sought for a CBI probe into the matter. Appearing before the Bench this morning, state counsel submitted an affidavit of Deputy Secretary, Personnel, Balwant Singh. But the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain declined to accept the affidavit after observing that at least a secretary-level officer should file it.
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Event judges shouldn’t have conflict of interest, assn told
Chandigarh, April 24 It has also expressed hope that the federation would avoid controversy over nomination of judges in future. The assertion by Justice Surya Kant and Justice RP Nagrath came during the hearing of an appeal filed by Zoravar Singh Thiara through Counsel Anand Chhibbar. The case The controversy hovers around judging Equestrian Championship held in 2009. Just 11 years of age at the time of filing the initial petition, Thiara had asserted “one of the judges judging the event was the father of a participant, who won gold and silver medals in the championship” Disposing of the petition on March 28, 2011, the Judge had asserted: “Mere presence of the father being a judge in the event, may appear unfair and gives an impression that the event was not judged fairly. “The apprehension expressed by the petitioner that he may suffer because of his present approach has also been shared with the secretary general of the federation, who has assured the court that any such consideration would never weigh with the federation. “Since the federation is being headed by a senior army officer, the court can assure itself that there shall not be any chance of a biased approach against the petitioner. The federation should be able to avoid such controversies and can be expected to behave fairly. There is no need to pass any further orders”. The order Taking up Thiara’s appeal against the order, the Division Bench asserted: “We do not find force in the apprehension of the appellant that in the future events, raising of this issue for judicial review, would bring any bias or prejudice against him for all the times because while judging such an event the excellence and talent of the participants as per norms is the primary guiding factor. At the same time, the Bench asserted: “We still hope that the federation would avoid such like controversies in future and must ensure that the person nominated as the judge in the event does not have any conflict of interest”. Referring to the judgment in the case of K Manjusree versus the State of Andhra Pradesh, which said a person could not be a judge for his own cause, the Bench added the principle had been laid down in cases relating to service mattes, “yet we find that the principle would always be fully attracted for every competitive event…. “We are quite sanguine that the federation, like any other public institution, shall respect the sentiments of the participants or their families… and shall ensure that the talent and excellence of the participants alone would obviously weigh in deciding such an event”.
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Two arrested for raping 15-yr-old
Ludhiana, April 24 The accused, Manjinder Aulakh of Jalandhar and Ranjit Kaumar of Kapurthala, were arrested by a team of Ladhowal police station from Bhattian village. The victim's aunt, Manjit Kaur of Rajowal village near Ladhowal, has also been arrested for allegedly conniving with the accused. The victim alleged that on April 21, she expressed her desire of visiting a shopping mall with Manjit Kaur. The victim alleged her aunt gave her Rs 100 and told her that Manjinder and Ranjit would meet her in Phagwara and take her to Jalandhar. The victim stated that instead of taking her to Jalandhar, the accused allegedly took her to Chintpurni and raped her. Additional Station House Officer Kamal Dutt said the trio would be produced in court tomorrow.
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Dalits beaten up in Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 24 Thereafter, the Dalits held a dharna near the district administrative complex and raised slogans against the police for its alleged failure to take action against the accused. Congress MLA Kuljeet Singh Nagra and Sarvjit Singh Makhan, senior leader of the People’s Party of Punjab also joined the protesters. After the protest, the police swung into action and registered a case against the four accused. Station House Officer (SHO) Devinder Attri said one of the accused had been arrested while a hunt was on to nab the rest. — TNS
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5 injured in firing over land dispute
Chamkaur Sahib, April 24 The injured, identified as Kuldip Singh, his accomplices Amarjit Singh and Jatinder Singh, from Ludhiana district, and Charanjit Singh and Amanpreet, from Fatehgarh Sahib, have been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Kuldip Singh alleged that Gulzar Singh, a resident of Sandhuan village, opened fire at him and his friends when they reached there to plough the land bought by him recently. Gulzar Singh, however, said, the land owned by his family was under litigation and could not be sold. Gulzar alleged that Kuldip tried to encroach upon his land today and when he protested, Kuldip and his accomplices attacked him with firearms. Chamkaur Sahib Deputy Superintendent of Police Wazir Singh said Gulzar Singh’s sister Jaswinder Kaur had reportedly sold her share of land nearing 3.5 acres in the family property to Kuldip Singh, a resident of Gahlewal village in Ludhiana district. The police has booked Gulzar Singh under Sections 307 of the Arms Act.
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A Vigilance Bureau (VB) team today arrested Ludhiana Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP-South) Baldev Singh Chauhan for allegedly demanding bribe from a local scrap dealer. An alleged aide of the police officer, Pappu, who used to operate as a middleman in Chauhan’s office, was also nabbed.
Amritsar, April 24
Sangrur, April 24
Sangrur, April 24
Chandigarh, April 24