Amritsar, November 15
The city police has arrested a head constable of the Government Railway Police (GRP) for allegedly raping a Delhi resident on pretext of helping her in getting an accommodation in a hotel.

The victim (35), a resident of Jawahar Park, Delhi, was sitting in a waiting room, along with her four children in the age group of three to 13 years, where the accused met her.

Following her statement, the Civil Lines police has registered a case under Sections 376, 380 and 506 of the IPC against him.

The accused, identified as Ajmer Singh, has been sent to one-day police remand.

In her complaint to the police, she alleged that the culprit, who was in the uniform, entered into a conversation with her.

“During the interaction, he assured me that I will get a hotel room. Around midnight, he came in a civil dress and took me to a hotel. After getting the accommodation, he took me and the children to the room and bolted the door from inside,” she told the police.

She alleged that immediately after entering the room his behaviour was changed. He started threatening her children to not to make any noise.

She added that the accused also threatened her that he would harm the children and after that he forcibly took her to bathroom and raped her. She alleged that the accused also took away over Rs 11,000 from her bag before fleeing in the morning.

Incidentally, she said his identity card fell in the room, which helped in nailing the culprit. She produced the same before the police while lodging the complaint.

Vijay Kumar, the investigating officer, said soon after lodging a complaint they arrested the accused and later produced in the court that sent him to a one-day police remand.

He said the medical examination of the victim was conducted at the local civil hospital and they were waiting for the reports.

The GRP authorities said Ajmer had been suspended with immediate effect while a department investigation had also been initiated against him.

Amritsar, November 15
The Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to stop further construction of 40 under- construction buildings for hotels and lodges in the walled city for not possessing required relevant NOCs, said MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda.

On behalf of the MC, the Municipal Town Planning Department conducted a survey after the Punjab and Haryana High Court cracked a whip on it for its failure to check unregulated growth of hotels, lodges and guest houses in the walled city.

Kharbanda said majority of these commercial establishments did not show license under the Serai Act, which is issued by the Police Commissioner. He added that since 110 hotels and lodges were operating for a long time, no action could be taken against these and they had been categorised as old hotels. While 40 fresh under construction buildings would not be allowed to proceed ahead.

He said the report of the survey would be tabled before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on November 25 and it would take a final call on the matter. He refused to divulge report of the survey as it was a subjudiced matter.

The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and judge Augustine George Masih, hearing a civil writ petition (CWP) - 14900-2010 - Sarabjit Singh versus state of Punjab and others, directed the MC Commissioner and its Senior Town Planner to personally appear on the next date of hearing on November 25. On the basis of information gleaned through the RTI, petitioner Sarabjit Singh said as per the Municipal Town Planner, there were 105 hotels, serais, guest houses in the walled city area on July 30, 2012.

He placed photographs as evidence to buttress his point that despite the high court orders dated July 20, 2012, directing the MC that no fresh building plan be sanctioned till further orders, several such establishments were being raised.

He mentioned that the authorities were not clear about the exact number of hotels around the Golden Temple and his fear came out as true.

“The APIO-cum-Licence Superintendent of the Municipal Corporation had said there were 14 hotels, serais, and guest houses in and around Galliara vide letter dated February 17, 2010. On the other hand, during the hearing of this petition the then Deputy Commissioner had stated in his reply that there are 21 hotels/inns in the area abutting on the Galiara and in the nearby lanes on May 23, 2013.

He said though notices were issued to many owners of under-construction buildings to stop violations, but these were not heeded to and now these illegal commercial buildings were near completion. He claimed that most of these buildings belonged to high-profile persons of Amritsar, including top political leaders.

Amritsar, November 15
In a major lapse on part of the Police Department, a notorious criminal managed to give a slip to a police party when he was being taken back to Ropar after the hearing of a case.

Gurdeep Singh, who is part of a notorious criminal gang headed by Sulakhan Singh, son of slain militant Seetal Singh Mattewal, was arrested by the Amritsar rural police during a police encounter in December last year at Mattewal village.

He was arrested in connection with a number of criminal cases, including attempt to murder, lootings and robberies.

The police has booked six police personnel who are associated with the Ropar police, including an ASI, in this connection.

Among those booked include Kulwinder Singh, ASI, and head constables Harwinder Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Rajan Kumar, Amandeep Singh and Subash Chander. They have been charged with dereliction of duty.

The Beas police authorities said Gurdeep, a resident of Bhagwanpur village, Gurdaspur, was brought by the police party for hearing in a criminal case registered under Sections 307, 399, 402, 419, 148, 149 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and 25/27/54/59 of the Arms Act following the Mattewal encounter.

The police party said he managed to dodge them near the Rayya-Baba Bakala turn.

All the accused police personnel had been released on bail while further departmental action had been initiated against them, said the officials.

In a similar instance, the Jandiala police has booked three police personnel under similar offences. Those booked were identified as Harjinder Singh, Gurdev Singh and Major Singh, all head constables.

Nazar Singh, line officer, Amritsar rural police, stated in his complaint that the above said accused had gone to produce Gurnam Singh of village Dhulka in the Kapurthala court in connection with a fraud case.

However, till late in the evening they did not report at the police lines. He said, when contacted, they came to know that the culprit had managed to escape from their custody near the Jandiala T-point.

Though they chased him, he fled away from the spot.

All the accused were absconding while a case under Section 223 and 224 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against them.

Amritsar, November 15
With 270 passengers on board, the inaugural Chandigarh-Amritsar Superfast Intercity Express chugged in at 12:30pm, 1.05 hours behind the schedule time of 11:25am. The train returned to Chandigarh at its scheduled time of 5:30pm.

Visibly upbeat passengers appreciated the second connectivity with the holy city as it offered them greater mobility to arrive here in the morning and return by the evening.

An engineering postgraduate, Sandeep Kaur of Landran village, was happy to have come to the city by enjoying the train journey.

She recalled that it was years ago she had visited the holy city. Her reason of avoiding travel to Amritsar was the absence of train connectivity and stress of studies. “I detest travel by bus. My family knows pretty well that prerequisite of any journey for me is the train connectivity.”

Narinder Singh from Gharuan village of Mohali said direct train connectivity had made the earlier bus travel, which used to take about six hours, a thing of the past.

He said earlier the natives of his village had to commute to Kharar and then take another bus for Amritsar from there.

“What irked the most was that bus drivers used to stop their vehicles at roadside dhabas for long, which gobbled up vital time,” he remarked.

A couple, Sant Singh and his wife Bhupinder Kaur, residents of Manakpur Kallar village of Mohali, said they specifically came to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple after getting information about the start of the train. The couple deliberately decided to travel during its inaugural run.

Gurbaksh Singh, an elderly passenger, said it was indeed comfortable to travel by train to Amritsar.

He said journey by bus did not give facilities like toilets, which were necessary for aged persons.

The Northern Railway had invited vice-chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Raj Kumar Verka to receive the train at Amritsar while guests of honour were MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, Local Government Minister Anil Joshi and Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and MLA OP Soni was the special guest on the occasion. Barring Verka, no other invited leader turned up to receive the train. However, many non-invited leaders made a point to receive the same.

Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Singh also came with his supporters on the inaugural train and went to pay obeisance at the Harmandar Sahib.

As many as 178 passengers made reservation booking for the return journey. Convenient departure time is expected to draw a good number of passengers travelling to Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

Earlier a Duronto train was introduced between Amritsar and Chandigarh on August 25, 2011, which did not find favour with passengers as it did not have stoppages en route. Later, its name was changed to Chandigarh-Amritsar Superfast Express and halts were given at Ludhiana and Jalandhar in September 2012.

Diverting the train to the newly laid Morinda-Sahnewal-Ludhiana section of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana track from April 19 reduced the travel time by 30 minutes. From a loss-making venture, all these steps made it a profitable one.

Amritsar, November 15
An employee of a cloth shop died while the shop owner's son was injured in a robbery bid this evening by three youths in Khilchian near here.

One of the accused was nabbed by the shopkeeper while two of his accomplices managed to escape from the spot.

According to information, three unidentified youths entered Pappu Shah Di Hatti, a cloth shop in Khilchian at about 7.30 pm. They asked the owner, Rajinder Kumar, to show some clothes.

However, a few minutes later they took out a pistol and demanded the cash kept in the cashbox.

Showing some guts, an employee of the shop, identified as Navpreet Singh, caught hold of one of the robbers. Panicked over this, one of the culprits fired at Navpreet who got critically injured.

He was hit in the left side of his chest and died on his way to the hospital. Rahul, owner's son, was also injured in the scuffle with the robbers.

Following the firing, people started gathering near the shop while a couple of accused managed to escape from the spot. Their third accomplice, identified as Satnam Singh, a resident of nearby Rattangarh village, was nabbed by the owner. He was later handed over to the police.

Confirming the incident, Jasdeep Singh, SP (D), said a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is being registered on the statement of Rajinder Kumar at the Khilchian police station. Raids were being conducted to nab the remaining two culprits, Jasdeep Singh added.

the case Three unidentified youths entered Pappu Shah Di Hatti, a cloth shop in Khilchian, at about 7.30 pm. They asked the owner, Rajinder Kumar, to show some clothes A few minutes later, they took out a pistol and demanded the cash kept in the cashbox. Navpreet, an employee at the shop, caught hold of one of the robbers Panicked over this, one of the robbers fired at Navpreet who got critically injured. He was hit on the left side of his chest and died on his way to the hospital Rahul, the owner’s son, was also injured in the scuffle with the robbers

Amritsar, November 15
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal said the Ghadarites never have imagined that a majority of people could be deprived of their fundamental rights once the British quit India.

He said this while delivering the valedictory address at the two-day national seminar on the Ghadar Movement. The seminar was organised by Guru Nanak Dev University in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of the Ghadar Movement.

As many as 50 scholars from various parts of the country participated and presented their research papers. He said the Ghadar Party was an organisation founded by Punjabi Indians in the United States and Canada with the aim to liberate India from the British rule. He said key members included Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Kartar Singh Sarabha and Rashbehari Bose.

He said the contribution of this movement was commendable and needed to be preserved and remembered by the youth. He said it was a distinct movement. 

Amritsar, November 15
The CPM along with various other organisations today carried out a flag march in different parts of the city besides rural areas to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the historic Ghadar Movement.

The main aim of the campaign, which would culminate on November 30, was to raise major issues like drug addiction and unemployment besides spreading the message of social and economic equality. After passing through various areas, the march culminated at Deputy Commissioner’s officer here.

A large number of activists, including farmer unions and communist organisations, carried flags and banners. They demanded appropriate retail prices for agricultural produce, continuation of farming subsidies, implementation of labour laws, putting minimum wages at Rs 10,000, increasing old-age pension to Rs 1000, implementing Shagun Scheme efficiently among others.

Rattan Singh Randhawa, a farmer leader, while addressing the gathering said due to anti-people policies of the Centre and the state government, education and health services had gone beyond the common man’s reach.

He said high rate inflation had made people’s lives miserable as the vegetable prices had touched the sky. He said there were about 45 lakh youths who were unemployed.

He said the sand mafia patronised by political leaders were looting people by charging rates as per their will.

Other farmer leaders drawn from various outfits urged to launch a movement against the anti-people policies of the Punjab and Central government.

Amritsar, November 15
All essential arrangements for the smooth conduct of semester examination of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), which are starting from November 26, have been completed.

GNDU Deputy Registrar (Conduct) Dr Rajesh Kalia informed this here today.

Kalia said 253 examination centres would be set up for 99,000 students to appear in these semester examinations. He said the students have been advised to download roll numbers and hall tickets from the university website, www.gnduadmissions.org , by logging in with deposit ID and password from November 15. —TNS

Amritsar, November 15
Following a complaint submitted by a local resident, the Sadar police has booked a youth for allegedly sexually harassing a girl, besides threatening to kidnap her.

The victim, a resident of Indira Colony in Mustafabad, in her statement to the police alleged that Heera Singh of the same locality used to tease her after stopping her while on way and would also threaten to take her away forcibly.

The victim further alleged that she requested the accused a number of times to restrain from this, but it proved to be no deterrent.

Apparently perturbed after repeatedly being harassed, the victim finally lodged a complaint with the police.

A case under Section 354-A, 341 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at the local police station in this connection. No arrest has been made so far, said the police.

Amritsar, November 15
Teen roller skater Chirag Gupta has done the city proud once again.

The 13-year-old roller skating champion and world record holder was honoured with the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement in the field of sports. He was conferred with the award by the Minister of state for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge), Krishna Tirath, at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi.

One among the 23 children selected for the prestigious award, Chirag was on cloud nine as he dedicated his achievement to his mother and grandmother who accompanied him.

“It was exciting as it came unexpected. I received the letter from the Ministry on November 11 and feel proud to receive it,” he said. He received a silver medal, certificate and a cash prize of Rs 10,000. Chirag is elder brother of Mehak Gupta, the nine-year-old national skating champion and a winner of the same award. The siblings have numerous records and achievements to their credit.

He is also the Guinness Book world record holder by dancing for 30 seconds on roller skates with smallest-ever wheels (exact size measuring 1.5mm in diameter and 7mm in width). He gives credit for his achievement to Mehak.

“She won her first medal in skating when she was three and went on to become a national champion and made to India Book of Records and Limca Book of Records. Watching her achieve so much with her dedication I too wanted to follow her.”

Both of them are currently preparing for the CBSE National Games. “I hope to continue my run at the games and win gold medal,” said the student of DAV International.

For his mother Anju Gupta, having two champions and national award winners in the family now means greater sense of pride.

“I feel lucky to have two exceptionally talented children who are focused on their goal. I support them truly in their efforts and believe in them,” she said.

Amritsar, November 15
Amritsar Public School organised its annual Sports and Athletics Meet on Children’s Day yesterday.

Students of different houses participated with enthusiasm. Ranjit House secured the first position with the highest points, Akbar House secured the second position while third position was grabbed by Porus House. All the committee members wished the students Children’s Day.