The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Fazilka ill-equipped to tackle fire mishaps Praful Chander Nagpal Fazilka, June 3 The safety of more than four lakh urban and rural population in Fazilka district and about 120 factories in the event of a fire outbreak is in a state of uncertainty. The only fire tender available in the district is a ramshackle 26-year-old vehicle at Fazilka which is supposed to cater to the requirements in case of an accidental fire in three sub-divisions including Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar. In the home constituency of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, a fire tender was purchased by the Municipal Council, Jalalabad, about two years back but there is no staff to operate the fire tender that has been virtually rendered inoperative. Its functioning is displayed only on Independence Day and Republic Day and during the visits of the VVIPs. For these purposes, drivers are arranged on a temporary basis. "The process of recruiting the employees is already underway which would be completed soon," claimed Jalalabad MC president Raj Chauhan. In Abohar town, there are two non-operational fire tenders. According to official sources, both the fire tenders were purchased in 1983. But now they have virtually become defunct. The staff strength of about a dozen officials at Abohar is practically sitting "idle". The Abohar MC has also sought the permission to purchase two new fire tenders from the higher authorities but it is stated that following financial crunch, the proposal could not be take a practical shape. At Fazilka too, there is staff of 22 officials meant for operating the two fire tenders where as there is only one 1986 model ramshackle tender available. Sources point out that the Municipal Council has contemplated a move to purchase a second fire tender because of the growing need. "There is a constant threat to the lives of employees due to the possibility of a technical snag developing during an operation," said a senior official here. Fazilka district is dotted with 85 rice mills, mostly in Jalalabad and Fazilka sub-divisions. There are about 30 cotton factories in Fazilka and Abohar sub-divisions of the district. There are half a dozen more factories including that of plywood and solvent plants in the district. Fire often breaks out in cotton factories and rice mills. It poses a grave threat to the lives and property of the workers and owners. "They are by and large left to meet the fire accidents at their own level," said a leading cotton factory owner. Arvind Sandhu, Deputy Director, Local Bodies Department, Punjab, said, "The municipal councils are responsible for keeping themselves equipped with an appropriate number of fire tenders to meet the needs of the urban and rural populace and industry.
	Cops ‘steal’ fuel from mishap-hit truck Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, June 3 After a camera caught some cops stealing fuel from a vehicle damaged in a road accident, the Faridkot police today landed in a soup. The police officials claimed that the fuel tank of the damaged truck was emptied as there was a potential risk of the vehicle catching fire. But what caught the police on a weak wicket was that a camera not only captured the policemen emptying the fuel tank of the damaged truck but also showed cops pouring in diesel in their official vehicle. It is alleged that after a road accident between a bus and truck on the Faridkot-Kotkapura road this evening, many bus passengers sustained multiple injuries while the seriously-hurt truck driver was rushed to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot. The police party consisting of eight cops reached the accident site. While some of them were engaged in helping the injured and restoring the flow of the traffic on the Bathinda-Amritsar highway, others were busy emptying the fuel tank of the damaged truck in a canister and pouring the fuel in a police Gypsy, parked at some distance near the accident site. Narinder Singh, SHO, City police station, Faridkot, said the damaged truck was emptied of fuel as there was risk of it catching fire. "The fuel removed from the damaged vehicle is safely in the possession of the police. The exercise was aimed at the safety of the vehicles plying on the busy road," said the SHO.
	Cop held for forcing nursing student to have unnatural sex with him Our Correspondent Ferozepur, June 3 A head constable of the Punjab Police has been taken into custody by the police following allegations of forcing a 22-year-old girl to have unnatural sex after threatening her with dire consequences. As per the information, the incident took place on Saturday morning when a student of nursing college, who was doing her internship after completing the GNM course at a reputed private hospital here, was sitting along with her friend at Gandhi Garden in the highly secured cantonment area. While the duo was busy chatting in the lawn, a Punjab Police head constable, identified as Naval Kishore, who is posted as a wireless operator at the CIA staff headquarters, appeared on the scene and charged them with indulging in licentious activities in the public domain. The cop ignored all pleas of the couple and forced the girl to go with him to his quarter after sending away her companion. Later, after taking the girl to his dwelling, the cop allegedly molested the girl and indulged in unnatural sex with her. The cop then dropped Monika back to the hospital but not before warning her not to reveal the incident to anyone. Sources in the hospital revealed that the terrified girl after reaching the campus did not inform anyone about the incident. However, her friend who had borne the brunt of the cop’s fury later reported the matter to the police on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the girl was sent to her parental house in Dhaliwal with her elder sister in an apparent bid to hush up the matter. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varinder Pal Singh said as soon as the matter was reported, the police immediately swung into action and apprehended the head constable yesterday in the evening. The SSP said the girl was persuaded to come back and file a complaint about the incident which she reportedly refused but later agreed. “Following a formal complaint lodged by the victim yesterday in the evening, the head constable was booked under section 377 and 506 of the IPC,” the SSP said, adding that stringent possible department action would be initiated against the accused. Meanwhile, the medical examination of the girl was conducted here at the CiHil hospital today. DSP Vibhor Kumar said some more tests will be conducted at Government Medical College, Faridkot , tomorrow following which a final medical report would be prepared. The DSP said that the accused has been remanded in one-day police custody by a local court. Dr Richard David, medical director of the hospital, where the victim was doing her internship, said neither the victim nor the boy accompanying her reported the matter to the hospital authorities. " It was only when the police arrived at the campus did we came to know about the incident," he said, while denying allegations regarding any attempt hush up the matter.
	NRI slaps legal notice on ex-DGP, Moga DC Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, June 3 India-born Canadian citizen Jagdev Singh Gill, who was recently acquitted by the District and Sessions Judge Karamjit Singh Kang in the murder case of former Congress MLA Nachattar Singh Gill, has slapped legal notices on ex-DGP Paramdip Singh Gill, District Magistrate-cum-Collector of Moga Arshdeep Singh Thind and Bhupinder Singh SP (D), presently posted at Khanna for registering two false criminal cases of a similar nature against him with malicious intention. Demanding Rs 10 lakh as damages and compensation, the NRI, through his counsel Ramesh Grover, has alleged that two criminal cases of similar offence under Sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471, 120-B and 12 (D) of the Passport Act and Section 13 (2) and 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act were registered against him with malafide intention to keep him in long detention by the local police. After registering the first FIR, the NRI was kept in custody for 15 days. He was granted bail by a court but was again arrested by adding Section 467 to the offences during the investigations. He was again arrested but the court granted him regular bail. Not only this, another FIR under Section 13 (2) and 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against him on the same offence as mentioned in the previous case. However, with the intervention of the High Court, the District and Sessions Judge quashed the second FIR on merit. Interestingly, the then DSP (City) of Moga, Bhupinder Singh, now posted as SP (D) at Khanna, filed an affidavit before the High Court that he would file for cancellation of the second FIR in the trial court admitting that the offences were of a similar nature but later, refused the same in the trial court. Meanwhile, talking to The Tribune, Jagdev Singh Gill alleged that he was harassed by the local police. “I was unlawfully framed in the murder case of Nachattar Singh Gill who happened to be the father of Paramdip Gill." he added.
	Waterlogging Seechewal hopes projects will bear results by next year Abohar, June 3 Environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal said here today that agricultural farms spread over about 86,000 hectares had suffered as it had turned into marshy land in Fazilka and Muktsar districts of Malwa region in Punjab. During a visit to some of the waterlogged villages, including Dhaani Chiragh, Alamgarh located near the city bypass and Bhangala and Dharangwala, Seechewal was informed by farmers that the state government had given compensation against damage done by drain water fury in 2011 but it did not match even the actual cost of seed purchased by them. Seechewal hoped comprehensive projects funded by the Centre would emerge fruitful by the next year in checking waterlogging. — OC