B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Faridkot Jail search after violence
Cell phones, used syringes recovered
Faridkot, April 25
Three days after violence erupted in Central Jail, Faridkot, the recovery of a mobile phone from the nephew of a parliamentary secretary in the same jail has landed the police in a difficult situation. The nephew of the parliamentary secretary is lodged in Faridkot jail after he was arrested by the police for his alleged involvement in a murder case in Aulakh village of the district in January this year.

Punjab withdraws notification on auto-dippers
Moga, April 25
After a stiff resistance from the public and the auto dealers, the Punjab government has decided to put on hold a notification issued by the transport department to install auto-dippers in all motor vehicles, excluding 50cc two-wheelers.

Ex-CPS Nannu sits on dharna inside police station
Ferozepur, April 25
High drama was witnessed at the Cantonment police station late last night when former chief parliamentary secretary Sukhpal Singh Nannu, who was apparently miffed over the registration of a case against his supporters, handcuffed himself and sat on a dharna inside the police station as a mark of protest against the police action.

Moga man held for killing wife in Canada
Moga, April 25
India-born Canadian citizen Iqbal Singh Gill (49), who hails from Ghal Kalan village of Moga district, was arrested by the Canadian police early this week at Abbotsford town on the charge of killing his wife Kulwinder Kaur (40) in 2009 by crushing her under a pick-up truck. She hailed from nearby Maroor village of Zira sub-division in Ferozepur district.

2 yrs later, Fazilka gets civil surgeon
Fazilka, April 25
Fazilka district finally got a new civil surgeon after nearly two years of its coming into existence. As per the list released by Manmohan Singh, Under Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab, 19 transfers and postings have been made by the department in the state this evening.

16 held with narcotics
Bathinda, April 25
The Mansa police claimed to have nabbed as many as 16 narcotics smugglers in a day today. The smugglers were eyeing lucrative business in the run-up to the Panchayat elections.

 Faridkot Jail search after violence
Cell phones, used syringes recovered
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, April 25
Three days after violence erupted in Central Jail, Faridkot, the recovery of a mobile phone from the nephew of a parliamentary secretary in the same jail has landed the police in a difficult situation. The nephew of the parliamentary secretary is lodged in Faridkot jail after he was arrested by the police for his alleged involvement in a murder case in Aulakh village of the district in January this year.

After the incident of violence, in an intensive search of the jail, conducted by the district police, 20 syringes used to inject drugs were recovered today besides two mobile phones. While the Faridkot police registered a criminal case under the NDPS Act against some inmates after the recovery of the intoxicants, the nephew of the parliamentary secretary has not yet been named in the FIR for the offence of possessing a mobile phone in jail.

The police search resulted in the recovery of another mobile phone from another undertrial but there was no SIM in the phone. Besides verifying the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of both these sets, the police is collecting the record of incoming and outgoing calls on both these mobile phones.

Police has registered a case but the accused would be named only after completing the investigation, said the district police authorities.

“Strict action would be taken against those found guilty of supplying drugs to the jail inmates," said Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat.

 Punjab withdraws notification on auto-dippers
Kulwinder Sandhu/TNS

Moga, April 25
After a stiff resistance from the public and the auto dealers, the Punjab government has decided to put on hold a notification issued by the transport department to install auto-dippers in all motor vehicles, excluding 50cc two-wheelers.

The notification issued on February 27 had come into force on April 1 this year.

A senior official of the state government said the Union Government had issued a directive to revoke the notification as the state governments were not empowered to issue such directives by amending rules 106 (1) (c) and (d) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. Meanwhile, it was learnt that the state government has strongly opposed the Centre’s directive alleging that it should have taken into consideration the broader issue of saving thousands of human lives being lost in accidents every year. Auto manufacturers and dealers had come out openly against the Punjab government claiming that such instructions to install auto-dippers were issued in in 1998 also by the union government but it could not be implemented and these orders were withdrawn keeping in view the safety concerns.

Executive director of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers KK Gandhi claimed, “After extensive study and demonstrations, it has been found that the fitment of auto-dipper was not practical and could in fact have been dangerous.”

  Ex-CPS Nannu sits on dharna inside police station

Ferozepur, April 25
High drama was witnessed at the Cantonment police station late last night when former chief parliamentary secretary Sukhpal Singh Nannu, who was apparently miffed over the registration of a case against his supporters, handcuffed himself and sat on a dharna inside the police station as a mark of protest against the police action.

Two-time MLA Nannu, who also remained CPS (Revenue) during the previous tenure of the SAD-BJP government, had lost the last assembly elections to Parminder Singh Pinky of the Congress. Since then, he has been at loggerheads with the state BJP president Kamal Sharma. The differences between the two groups reached a flash point yesterday when their supporters clashed outside the office of SSP following which a case was registered against four persons.

Nannu today said he will take up the matter with the party high command and talk to the CM also as his men were targeted at the behest of the rival faction within the party.

Meanwhile, Kamal Sharma said Nannu does not abide by party discipline, adding that Nannu should refrain from giving political hue to a brawl between two factions as it was denting the image of the party.

SSP Varinder Pal Singh said a special investigation team has been constituted to look into the allegations being levelled by both the parties. “Till the time the SIT gives its report, we have deferred the arrest of the four persons who were booked for firing yesterday,” he said. — OC

 Moga man held for killing wife in Canada
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, April 25
India-born Canadian citizen Iqbal Singh Gill (49), who hails from Ghal Kalan village of Moga district, was arrested by the Canadian police early this week at Abbotsford town on the charge of killing his wife Kulwinder Kaur (40) in 2009 by crushing her under a pick-up truck. She hailed from nearby Maroor village of Zira sub-division in Ferozepur district.

Gill, who had a history of smuggling drugs, was arrested along with his co-accused Gurpreet Singh Atwal (26) and Jaspreet Singh Sohi (28) both of whom were also booked for murdering the woman.

Kulwinder was walking with her husband along a road in Abbotsford town when she was run down by a pick-up truck at about 7:35 pm on April 27, 2009. Her husband called cops and led them to a ditch where her body was found.

The Canadian police determined that this was a case of murder and collected enough evidence to support the charges against Gill and three others.

Iqbal Gill along with his two sons is also facing charges of drugs smuggling and unauthorised possession of firearms, a sub-machine-gun, an assault rifle, a hand gun, ammunition, 1,040 marijuana plants (prohibited), $4,000 in cash, a bullet-proof vest and a device for bypassing a BC Hydro meter to steal electricity.

When The Tribune correspondent visited his house at Moga on Wednesday it was found locked.

A neighbour said Gill had visited the place way back in 2009. He brought the ashes of his wife and performed her last rites here. It was learnt that he killed his wife to obtain her insurance claim.

DSP Gurdip Singh, after a perusal of his record and file maintained in the police station (rural), said Gill was a fundamentalist Sikh youth when he used to live here. He left the country in 1980s and since then visited home many a times. However, Gill did not have any criminal track record here.

 2 yrs later, Fazilka gets civil surgeon
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, April 25
Fazilka district finally got a new civil surgeon after nearly two years of its coming into existence. As per the list released by Manmohan Singh, Under Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab, 19 transfers and postings have been made by the department in the state this evening.

Dr Baldev Raj, civil surgeon, Barnala, has been posted as the first civil surgeon of Fazilka. He is expected to assume charge on April 27. District Health Officer, Ferozepur, Dr YK Gupta, who hails from Fazilka district, has been promoted and posted as medical superintendent, Mata Kikelia Hospital, Patiala.

 16 held with narcotics
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 25
The Mansa police claimed to have nabbed as many as 16 narcotics smugglers in a day today. The smugglers were eyeing lucrative business in the run-up to the Panchayat elections.

SSP Narinder Bhargav said the police recovered nearly 254 kg of poppy husk, 6,000 intoxicating tablets and 8,640 capsules from their possession. This is one of the biggest haul in a single day in recent times, the SSP said.