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Akali, Cong leaders jostle to mark their presence
Ignored in aid & jobs, spies cry foul
House resolution seeks impartial probe
Head injuries caused by blunt weapon: Autopsy
Sever diplomatic ties with Pak: Shahi Imam
CRPF wants security to Tarn Taran police assault victim withdrawn
Ban on outside
food items
280 doctors accept govt’s job offer
Seventeen absentee teachers dismissed
ZP poll: 478 booths to be set up in Fatehgarh Sahib
Sekhri is Fatehgarh Sahib DC
Local body poll: EC issues notification High Court dismisses petition challenging CPSs’ appointment
Six-year-old girl abducted
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Bhikhiwind, May 3
Nishan Singh said he had come on his cycle from Daliree village,10 km from here, to pay homage. Major Singh of Algo village said he had travelled 8 km to pay tributes. Banka Khurd sarpanch Gurdatar Singh and his supporters too attended the last rites. But Dalbir Kaur of Manochahal village said she was disappointed as she was not allowed to enter the school. Similar sentiments were expressed by Kulwant Kaur and Amarjeet Kaur who had come with their young children. Kulwant Kaur of Bhikhiwind said: “We have been here since morning but we are not being allowed in. We are proud to belong to the same village as Sarabjit.” Gurjeet Kaur, who travelled from Ferozepur, said her father Jagraj Singh, an Army man, was declared a “martyr” after the 1971 war. She claimed that they came to know in July last that he was alive and lodged in a Pakistan jail. She said her father was posted in the Ferozepur Sector at the time of the war. She said the Indian Government should make all efforts to get Indian prisoners in Pakistan jails released. Sects led by Baba Darshan Singh and Baba Daya Singh organised mobile ‘langar’ while village residents served sweet water to the visitors.
Sukhbir takes charge Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal stood out in the sun for nearly an hour to oversee the arrangements. From the gun salute to the order in which the wreaths were laid to the conduct of the last rites, everything was monitored by him. The last journey Sarabjit’s mortal remains were taken to the gurdwara as well as the village areas he would frequent before being taken to the cremation ground. Valtoha at forefront Khemkaran MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha was seen with Sarabjit’s family throughout. He accompanied the body from the Bhikhiwind school to the cremation ground. He helped Dalbir Kaur conduct the last rites.
Security in Ferozepur jail up; spy Raza Ullah lodged there
Moga: The Punjab Government today stepped up security for the eight Pakistani prisoners lodged at the Central Jail,
Ferozepur, after the attack on a Pakistani prisoner in Jammu jail and keeping in view the anger against Pakistan over the fatal attack on Sarbjit Singh in the Lahore jail. A senior official said that additional security personnel had been deployed outside the cells of the eight Pakistani and six Bangladeshi prisoners in the Ferozepur jail. Sources said Pakistani spy Raza Ullah was also lodged in the jail. At least 150 security personnel posted in the jail had been directed to keep a hawk’s eye on the prisoners’ movements.
— Kulwinder Sandhu
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Akali, Cong leaders jostle to mark their presence
Chandigarh, May 3 Even though Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur criticised the UPA Government for not doing enough to save her brother on her return from Pakistan, the Centre moved quickly to pacify her. Senior leaders met her in Delhi and assured her that the Union Government would do its best for the family. The Centre announced Rs 25 lakh for the family and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh proclaimed Sarabjit as a “brave son of India.” Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi met Sarabjit’s family in Delhi and attended his cremation today at Bhikhiwind. Punjab Congress leaders jostled with the Akalis to make their presence felt. The Akalis also moved swiftly to claim the family as its own.The state government announced a Rs 1 crore aid for the the grieving family and jobs for Sarabjit’s two daughters. Sources said one of them was likely to be appointed Naib Tehsildar. Anti-Congress slogans were raised during Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Bhikhiwind today. Sources said the atmosphere at Sarabjit’s bhog ceremony on April 11 was likely to be even more surcharged.
When contacted, he said: “Sarabjit’s family is in touch with me. They have been with me from the beginning and have supported me at the party level too.” Valtoha maintained that though the family was meeting all political leaders, Sarabjit’s sister had given vent to her “real feelings” on her return from Pakistan. He said the atmosphere in Bhikhiwind in the past few days had been tense with people openly blaming the central leadership for “failing” Sarabjit. Akali sources claimed that though there would be speeches at the bhog ceremony, it would be the party’s endeavour to avoid a blame game. Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira said it was unfortunate that politics was being played over a dead man. Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar said there were other Punjabi prisoners in Pakistan’s jails and that the government should extend help to their family members too. Public Relations Minister Bikram Majithia said the Punjab Government had tried to do its bit for Sarabjit’s family which staged a “heroic” battle to secure Sarabjit’s release. He said the Centre had failed to launch the necessary diplomatic initiatives to get the Punjabi prisoner released.
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Ignored in aid & jobs, spies cry foul
Bhaini Mian Khan (Gurdaspur), May 3 Relatives of Gopal Dass (50), whose sentence was remitted by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari two years ago, said his kin too should be given
jobs. They demanded that Gopal Dass, who spent 27 years in prison on espionage charges before being released in April 2011, be given employment. A dejected Gopal Dass, who was lodged at Kot Lakhpat Jail along with Sarabjit Singh during the fag- end of his term, alleged that the government was adopting double standards, one for Sarabjit and the other for "people like me." He claimed he had been sent to Pakistan by Indian intelligence agencies. So was Sarabjit Singh, Karamat Rahi of Fatehgarh Churian and several others. "If Sarabjit's kin can get government jobs, why not me and Karamat Rahi,” he asked. Gopal Dass, whose family runs a furniture business, said he had moved a petition in the Supreme Court, pleading “that he be given a job for performing a difficult job for the country.” Gopal Dass said that Karamat Rahi had moved from pillar to post after his release to get a job to earn a decent living. “Both the Central and Punjab Governments ignored his claims, forcing him to move the court. Endless wait for Ludhiana family Ludhiana: Sarabjit Singh’s killing in the Lahore jail has had 84-year-old Ajmer Singh Grewal’s family worried. The latter has been behind bars for 39 years in Pakistan. Grewal’s family lives in Model Town. One of his three daughters, Rashbir Kaur, said that like Sarabjit Singh, her father too was innocent. "In 1974, my father went to Amritsar to meet my uncle. He and his friend strayed into Pakistan. While his friend was shot by Pakistan Rangers, my father was arrested. We learnt about the incident nine years later." Rashbir Kaur said in 1999, the family was told by the police that Ajmer Singh would be released soon, but nothing happened. — Charanjit Singh Teja Living between hope and despair
Faridkot: The family of Surjit Singh, a BSF sepoy who is a prisoner of war (PoW) in Pakistan for the past 42 years, is living between hope and despair. His wife, Angrej Kaur and son Amrik Singh are worried at the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan. In April last year, Amrik Singh had sought Pakistan human rights activist Ansar Burney's help in tracing his father. The latter had assured all help to the family. "But with Sarbjit Singh's sister accusing Burney of demanding money to secure his release, we have lost all hope," said Amrik Singh. — Balwant Garg Amritsar: Pakistan Punjab’s Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif today sent 13 head of cattle as gift for Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. Sources in the Customs Department said three cows and a bull of the Sahiwal breed, four buffaloes and a bull of the Neeli Ravi breed and four sheep reached the Attari ICP this evening. With the Customs officials almost completing the formalities, the animals will be sent to New Delhi for quarantine after which they will be handed over to the Punjab Chief Minister and his deputy. — Perneet Singh
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House resolution seeks impartial probe
Chandigarh, May 3 The session witnessed passing of a resolution, terming Sarabjit as a ‘martyr’. Moved by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, it urged the Cente to build pressure for a probe by an impartial international agency into the reasons for the “martyrdom.” It also urged the Centre to initiate efforts to ensure the safety of Indian prisoners in Pakistan as well as other countries. The resolution was passed unanimously after Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar suggested that Sarabjit be mentined as “martyr of the country” and not “martyr of the community”. As the House assembled in the morning, obituary references were paid to Sarabjit, former minister RC Dogra, former MP Surjit Singh Atwal and singer Shamshad Begum and then adjourned for 20 minutes. The resolution was taken up immediately after the House re-assembled following which it was adjourned sine die. There was a palpable sense of relief in the treasury benches when the Opposition played on as per the government strategy. The Chief Minister approached the CLP Leader with folded hands immediately after the session was adjourned sine die. Even Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal exchanged pleasantries with Opposition members. Both posed for photographs with Congress members.
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Head injuries caused by blunt weapon: Autopsy Amritsar, May 3 The panel from Government Medical College said the victim suffered massive head injury caused by a heavy and blunt weapon. Dr Gurmanjit Rai, head of forensic medicine, said: “Sarabjit was hit with a heavy and blunt weapon on the left ear. The strike smashed his ear and fractured the base of the scull from left to right ear.” The jaw bone was also smashed but the vault of the scull (the top and back of head) was intact. “The attack was carried out with intent to kill and possibly involved three to four persons,” said Dr Rai. The doctors also found a few unstitched wounds on the back of the head. The panel observed that the injuries were caused six to seven days ago, which is consistent with the timing that Pakistan had reported. The first post-mortem was conducted at Jinnah Hospital in Lahore. During the second post-mortem at Patti, organs such as stomach, gall bladder, kidneys and heart were not found inside the body. “We presume these were removed as part of the standard procedure of autopsy and sent for chemical examination,” said Dr HS Sohal, another member on the panel. The doctors withheld the exact cause of death as chemical examination and histopathology reports were awaited.
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Sever diplomatic ties with Pak: Shahi Imam
Ludhiana, May 3 Addressing a press conference after the Friday prayers at Jama Masjid here, he said:" It is the responsibility of the Pakistan Government to ensure the safety of Indian prisoners. The gruesome killing of Sarbjit has exposed the evil designs of the Pakistan Government." The Shahi Imam said the Muslim community in the country was in grief over Sarabjit's death." Every member of the Muslim community condemns the barbaric killing in the strongest terms," he added.
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CRPF wants security to Tarn Taran police assault victim withdrawn
Chandigarh, May 3 Appearing before the High Court on behalf of the CRPF, advocate Onkar Singh Batalvi asserted the Supreme Court had directed the Chandigarh Administration to provide security to the girl and her family. Batalvi said the CRPF security was given to the girl as she was not having adequate security. But after the Supreme Court orders, the CRPF security cover was no longer required. Taking on record the plea, the High Court asked the girl and her family to respond to the application by May 8. The girl had earlier moved the High Court demanding police protection. Showing no faith in the Punjab Police, the girl had requested for security from any other police force. Taking note, the High Court had directed the CRPF to provide security to the girl. The case will now come up for hearing on May 8.
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PPP leader booked under Arms Act, party cries foul
Bathinda, May 3 Though the police denied any political link to the arrest, PPP district president Sukhdev Singh Chahal claimed the weapon was licensed. “It was in the name of his mother Karamjti Kaur who was traveling with him while he was arrested,” he said. He alleged the police was working under pressure as Lakhbir was quite popular in the area and could have dented the SAD candidate’s prospects in the upcoming local body elections. Chahal alleged the Akalis had resorted to vendetta after they failed to rope in Lakhbir into their party. He claimed the police went ahead with the registration of a case even though documents proving his mother had an arms licence were shown to them.
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Unpaid for 13 months, teachers burn effigy
Sangrur, May 3 The protesters have also been demanding shifting of 512 Hindi teachers working under CSS in government schools to the Education Department. They also demanded cancellation of a case registered against 83 teachers on May 1 in Bathinda and their unconditional release from the Faridkot jail. Union leader Rakesh Gupta said the state government so far had turned a deaf ear to their demands. He said without salary, it had become difficult for them to make both ends meet. Gupta said the protest would continue till their demands were accepted.
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Ban on outside
food items
Patiala, May 3 Sources said jail inmates already upset with the ban went on an indefinite hunger strike because of the non-availability of basic items at the jail canteen. “Patiala jail was the worst affected with over 1,800 inmates skipping breakfast and dinner on Thursday. By Friday, the word spread to inmates in other jails and they followed suit,” they said. Soon, some inmates in Sangrur got together and decided to boycott the food and observe a hunger strike. However, they postponed the strike as jail officials intervened and gave them an assurance. On the second day of the ban, some inmates in Bathinda threatened to go on a strike if the matter wasn’t resolved soon. On April 30, Punjab Jails Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur had ordered the ban to check the supply of drugs inside jails. “The jail authorities have been ordered to make available every essential item to the inmates in the canteens on the jail premises. The Jail Superintendent will be held responsible if any objectionable material is found supplied from outside,” Phillaur had said, following a meeting with senior jail officials. Sources said, after the ban was imposed, the jail staff failed to make the basic items available in the jail canteens. “My cousin needs a papaya as he suffers from high uric acid. When I was about to take one inside the jail, the jail staff stopped me, saying no outside items were allowed in the jail,” said an angry visitor. Inmates at the Patiala jail, however, called back the strike till Wednesday after the Patiala SDM assured them of stocking the jail canteen with all the essential items. Phillaur too said that the matter would be resolved soon and that the jail canteens would have sufficient stocks in a few days. “We want to cut the supply of drugs inside jails. Some teething problems are bound to arise,” he added. Making a point
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Undertrial’s death
Patiala, May 3 Sources confirmed the 27-year-old undertrial booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act had overdosed on smack which he consumed along with three other inmates inside the barracks. They said Inderpal was found unconscious in the morning and declared brought dead at the hospital. This incident closely follows the recent mysterious death of a terrorist lodged inside the maximum security jail in Nabha. The deceased’s family members are crying foul and seek a high-level probe. They allege that they were informed of Inderpal’s death in the afternoon while he had died early in the morning. They performed his last rites only after getting an assurance from Patiala Deputy Commissioner GK Singh that a probe into the incident would be conducted. “I have asked the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Patiala, to submit a report on the incident before May 6,” said GK Singh. A board of doctors had on Thursday conducted a post-mortem of the body and sent the viscera to be examined. “Though there were no external injury on the victim’s body, the exact cause of the death could be found out only after the post-mortem report comes in,” sources said, not ruling out any foul play. ADGP, Jails, could not be contacted. Another inmate dies
Ropar: A 26-year-old youth Sikandar Singh facing trial under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act reportedly died due to an illness at the district jail here today The deceased, a resident of Kainaur village near Morinda, was arrested by the Chamkaur Sahib Police on April 22 and was sent to judicial remand the next day. Soon he fell ill and was admitted to the jail hospital. Today, he got seriously ill and died on the way to the hospital.Jail Deputy Superintendent Rajiv Arora said Sikandar was a drug addict.
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280 doctors accept govt’s job offer Chandigarh, May 3 Of the remaining 30 doctors, at least 20 have sought “little extra time” to respond to the Health Department’s offer. All those who join would participate in a special training session commencing May 6 before they are posted in various hospitals across Malwa. The department has a sanctioned strength of 2,600 MBBS doctors and it is currently short of around 700 doctors, as per a recent report by Dr KK Talwar, Health and Medical Education adviser. With 280 doctors agreeing to join, the staff shortage would be redressed to a considerable level. Apart from appointing MBBS (fresh passout) doctors, a panel headed by Talwar had suggested augmenting the total strength of 4,500 doctors in the state (the rest being specialists). Health and Family Welfare Secretary Vini Mahajan said a separate induction programme for specialists was nearly complete. In fact, she said, the department had forwarded a communication to the Punjab Public Service Commission seeking clearance for additional posts. The issue assumes significance as more than 150 doctors, on an average, remain off-duty on account of their post-graduation. One of the main reasons for the fresher doctors not joining the services was the condition of compulsory four-year service in difficult areas or six years in rural areas for permission to pursue post-graduation. Mahajan said no changes had been incorporated in the earlier provisions. Government Doctors Association president Dr Hardeep Singh said, “The large-scale appointment of doctors is commendable. Now, the government needs to do its part for filling the vacant paramedical staff posts. Otherwise, the mismatch between the two wings will continue to ail the health services.”
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Seventeen absentee teachers dismissed
Ropar, May 3 Out of the 17 teachers, five are from the Lecturer cadre while others are from the Master cadre. The dismissed lecturers were deputed in schools at Ropar, Purkhali, Morinda, Kishanpura and Jhalia Kalan. The masters who were sacked were from schools at Kahanpur Khuhi, Jhalia Kalan, Kalitran, Nangal, Badawa, Bhauwal, Majholi Kalan, Kishanpura Makrona Kalan and Tajpura. Sources said a public notice was being issued before terminating their services. Many of these teachers have been absent for the last two decades. Last month, Punjab Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka had said over 600 teachers had been dismissed from service due to absenteeism. Director General Education School (DGSE) was also asked to prepare a master plan to deal with the absentee staff and teachers. Thereafter, a special cell was established in the office of the DGSE to scrutinise such cases on a routine bases after procuring information from all districts. Most of these teachers had taken a long leave and requested for an extension when their leave got over. They neither joined their duties nor tendered their resignation. Sources said under such circumstances the officials concerned felt helpless in replacing the absentee teachers. Missing from duty
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ZP poll: 478 booths to be set up in Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 3 Presiding over a meeting of election officers, Additional District Election Officer cum Additional Deputy Commissioner Baljit Singh Sandhu said candidates wishing to contest the lections could file their nominations by 3 pm on May 7. He said the district had been divided into 10 zones while Sirhind had been divided into five panchayat samitis, whereas Amloh, Bassi Pathana, Khamano had been divided into 76 zones. He said rehearsal for the elections would be held on May 10. Sandhu said out of the 2.89 lakh voters, 73,071 voters were registered in the Amloh block while 42,614, 57,585, 50,105 and 65,900 voters were
registered in Khamano, Khera and Sirhind blocks, respectively. He said the most sensitive polling booths in the
district had also been identified. Sandhu said the district police authorities had been directed to make elaborate security arrangements so that the voters could cast their votes without any fear or pressure. Assistant Commissioner (Complaints) Harjit Kaur, Sukhdev Singh Mahal, Sanjeev Kumar, Puja Syal, Amrinder Kaur, all the subdivisional magistrates and District Revenue Officer Jeevanjot Kaur, District Information Officer SK Banga were among those present at the meeting.
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Chandigarh, May 3 Ashok Kumar Sikka, Additional Secretary, Local Government has been appointed as Deputy Director, Local Government at Patiala. JC Sabharwal, joint secretary, Power has been appointed joint secretary, Local Government. Sekhri also held the posts of PSO to Chief Secretary and Special Secretary, Vigilance.
— TNS
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Patiala lad secures 31st rank in civil services exam
Patiala, May 3 His parents, Dr KK Aggarwal and Saroj, were ecstatic and celebrated their son’s success. His father is the Head of the Department of Forensic Science, Government Medical College, Patiala. Speaking over the phone, 25-year-old Dr Naveen gave the credit of his success to his family. —
TNS
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Leopard strays into village, injures two
Ludhiana, May 3 Those injured have been identified as forest guard Narinder Kumar (30) and Parmod Kumar (27), a labourer. The wild cat could be captured only after two veterinarians were called from the Chhatbir Zoo near Chandigarh. They said three tranquilisers were fired to control the animal. The incident came to light around 8 am when Parmod entered the farmhouse where the leopard was hiding. On hearing his shrieks, other labourers present at the farmhouse came to Parmod’s rescue and managed to scare away the leopard. An announcement was made in the village and the residents gheraoed the farmhouse. A posse of police and wildlife officials soon arrived at the scene and cordoned off the farmhouse. During the day, several attempts were made but the officials failed to bring the wild cat out of its hiding. It was only towards the evening that the tranquilisers had started reacting and the operation to capture was on till the filing of this report. The wildlife experts suspect the animal may have strayed from Ropar forest area and travelled along the Sidhwan Canal.
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High Court dismisses petition challenging CPSs’ appointment
Chandigarh, May 3 The case is just one of the 2-lakh cases pending before the High Court; and it is suspected that many of the cases turn infructuous over a period of time as the relief sought by the petitioner is either granted on its own or the petition loses its relevance or significance. In some of the cases, the petitioners, or even the respondents are no more there to pursue their grievances. When some of these cases are suddenly listed, the counsels are often at a loss in the absence of complete records or instructions. Attribute it to the shortage of judges, or filing of frivolous petitions, the fact remains that the delay tends to change the course of the outcome. The petition, challenging the appointment of 11 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Secretaries, was filed in 2004 against the Union of India and other respondents by the Lawyers for Social Action and another petitioner. As it came up for hearing before the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, “none for the petitioners” was present to argue the matter. Only the State was represented by Punjab Additional Advocate-General HS Sidhu. In its brief judgment, the Bench asserted: “Since their term is over, the present writ petition has become infructuous. Dismissed as infructuous.” The petition, otherwise, was one of the many filed in public interest on the issue. Hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the appointments of CPSs in Punjab and Haryana, the High Court only recently directed the States of Punjab and Haryana to furnish the rules under which CPSs have been appointed. The High Court asked the States to come out with a detailed report on the job chart of the CPSs, their salaries and perks paid to them. These petitions are still pending.
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Six-year-old girl abducted
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 3 The girl’s father Ram Lal Misra, a native of Sivrar district in Bihar, in his complaint to the police alleged the accused, a native of Pipra Pati, Bagh district in Nepal, abducted his daughter when he was playing outside his house. The victim’s father said Kartain would often visit their house. However, when the accused did not return, they searched Kartain’s house but could not trace him. A case has been registered and police has launched a manhunt to nab the accused. —
TNS
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The Government Senior Secondary School where the body of Sarabjit Singh was kept, saw a constant stream of visitors.
Chandigarh, May 3
Ludhiana, May 3
Bidding adieu
The Punjab Government has decided to bear the expenses on the bhog ceremony. A huge tented accommodation has been planned for the occasion. Khemkaran legislator Virsa Singh Valtoha is likely to be in the forefront at the bhog ceremony. 