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Badal rejects MSP for rabi crops
Don’t poach Akali leaders, CM tells BJP
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Water dispute: Farmers block roads
Lovers poisoned to death
Vacant
MBBS seats
Six months on, state govt yet to act on quota for Jats
Govt doing little to educate SCs on quota policy: RTI
Land row: Dalits end dharna
Bhikhi case: Daduwal in custody of Mansa police
Eye on MC poll, govt may rationalise taxes
56 acres of encroached shamlat land freed
Residents refuse to pay for water
Reduce power cuts in Abohar: NGO
MC workers' strike enters 25th day
PSPCL staff strike work
MLA against maize purchase by Centre
Recall security to Ashutosh: PIL
Delhi HC upholds Moga MLA’s acquittal
Labourers protest sand mining ban, 5 booked
Three booked as rape video goes viral
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Badal rejects MSP for rabi crops
In a statement, Badal claimed the MSP was far lower than the prices suggested by the state government. He has demanded a hike in the MSP of wheat from Rs 1,450 (as recommended by CACP) to Rs 1,900 per quintal. He has also sought a revision in the MSP of barley from Rs 1,150 to Rs 1,517, gram Rs 3,175 to Rs 3,627 and rapeseed and mustard from Rs 3,100 to Rs 3,484 per quintal. The Chief Minister said even the National Farmers Commission had recommended a margin of 50 per cent over and above the cost of cultivation to make the MSP remunerative. He said the CACP had suggested an increase of only 3.6 per cent in the MSP of wheat, a major rabi crop in Punjab that occupied about 85 per cent of the cultivated area. Badal pointed out that the cost of agriculture inputs like fertilisers, seed, labour and diesel had increased significantly in recent years. He alleged that the CACP had made its recommendations keeping in view the interest of producers, consumers and its effect on other sectors of the economy. He said it was high time to look at the MSP from the viewpoint of a farmer. The Chief Minister, however, welcomed the Centre’s move to allow the states to directly market their products. He said the proposal was presently with the Union Ministry of External Affairs for granting permission to the states for opening trade desks in other countries. He said the Punjab farmers would be the biggest beneficiary of this proposal whose products would find new markets across the world. Badal said the Union Government had already asked Indian embassies across the world to provide space to the states to show their trade and commerce potential and facilitate exports. Jaitley, Uma urged to develop canals in border dists Badal has sought the intervention of Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitely and Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti for restarting the work on the canalisation of Sakki/Kiran nullah in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. The work was stopped following objections by the Army regarding the design of bridges that were to be built in border areas. The project is vital to prevent floods in the region and its cost has already increased four times. It was approved by the Centre in June 2006 and its estimated cost then was Rs 111.39 crore. A government spokesperson said Badal has, in separate letters to the Union Ministers, apprised them that this project would play a vital role in saving the border districts from floods. The Chief Minister said the project cost had now escalated to Rs 400.26 crore.
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Don’t poach Akali leaders, CM tells BJP
Ludhiana, August 28 He said the SAD and the BJP should refrain from poaching leaders of each other's party. The Chief Minister was talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a state-level programme to launch the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna. He said there was no tainted leader in the Punjab Cabinet. In June, state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa had slammed the Badal government for inducting into the Cabinet at least two ministers with controversial past. The Chief Minister declined to comment on the issue of snapping of ties between the Haryana Janhit Congress and the BJP. Answering a query on any initiative on his part to forge an alliance between the BJP and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana, he said forging any alliance was the internal matter of both parties. Asked to comment on Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi's statement that political leaders above 70 years should renounce active politics, the Chief Minister said Dwivedi's "sermon" was not binding on politicians. Urging the banking sector to fulfil their corporate social responsibility (CSR), he said the Punjab Government was willing to provide matching grants for welfare schemes that the banks initiated for the public as part of the CSR. He called upon the bankers to liberally sanction loans at low interest rate to the poor and economically depressed sections of society to ensure their financial autonomy. The CM handed over Jan Dhan Yojna kits to 50 beneficiaries on the occasion. The CM was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, his (CM's) Adviser Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Principal Secretary SK Sandhu, Special Secretary (Expenditure) Guneet Tej, MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali and Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal. Ropar: Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna in Rupnagar district today. The Central Government scheme aims at ensuring financial inclusion and providing every household with a bank account and an insurance cover. One hundred new bank accounts were opened on the occasion and account kits along with RuPay debit card were distributed.
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Badal’s photo on Jan Dhan Yojna kits
Bathinda, August 28 This is not the first time that the state government is trying to take credit for a scheme launched by the Central Government. Earlier also, the state government was mired in a controversy for claiming credit by using photograph of the CM in connection with Central Government initiatives like the Atta-Dal Scheme and the 108 Ambulance Service. The minister refused to comment when asked if the state government was trying to take credit for a scheme launched by the Central Government. She had taken credit for the schemes launched by the Congress-led Central Government while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections also. A plea challenging the use of the CM's photograph on ambulances was submitted in the High Court. The petitioner had pointed out that the Punjab Government was flouting directions issued by then Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad. He had directed all states to follow a uniform design for the free-referral transport system under the National Rural Health Mission and had set March 31, 2013, as the deadline to remove photographs. Taking cognisance, the court had issued a notice of motion to the Punjab Government. Newly elected Talwandi Sabo legislator Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu was among those present on the occasion.
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Water dispute: Farmers block roads
Abohar, August 28 Birdhi Chand, Chief Engineer, Water Resources, North Division, who met BBMB officials, said 12,500 cusecs of water would be released from the Ravi and the Beas during September 3 to 18. The water would be release through the Indira Gandhi canal. He said for the rest of the month, supply would be maintained at 9,800 cusecs. Chand said the arrangement would meet the requirements
of the farmers for the ongoing season. Unconvinced with the BBMB arrangements, the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh and Democratic Youth Federation of India went ahead with their plan and blocked Gharsana-Khajuwala, Gharsana-Anoopgarh main roads and link roads in Rawla, Srivijaynagar, Anoopgarh and Raisinghnagar segments. Bus services were affected and hundreds of commuters were inconvenienced. Anoopgarh former CPM legislator Pawan Duggal and several supporters were arrested near new Gharsana Mandi. Since Duggal, Satwinder Singh Sihag, Harwinder Singh Sandhu and Lal Chand refused to apply for bail, a court remanded them in judicial custody. Hundreds of other protesters, including Zila Parishad member Sunil Godara, were rounded up, but released later. With the arrest of several leaders, the “chakka jam” could not be enforced effectively. Superintendent of Police Hari Prasad Sharma toured six segments, where heavy police force was deployed. Sources said BJP legislators Shimla Bawri (Anoopgarh), Gurjant Singh Brar (Sadulshehar) and Rajinder Bhadoo (Suratgarh) yesterday told Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje that CPM outfits were planning to corner the government over the insufficient water supply in Gharsana. The area had witnessed violent agitations in 2004 and 2007. Thereafter, Raje reportedly asked a few members of the BBMB to release more water.
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Lovers poisoned to death
Amritsar, August 28 Both the victims were Mazhbi Sikhs and residents of Sainsara Khurd village. The Jhander police have registered a case against seven persons — Seeta (the girl’s brother), Babba, Lakhwinder Singh, Hira Singh, Sabbi, Jasbir Singh Fauji and Bitta — under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC. Lakhwinder Singh and Jasbir Singh have been arrested but Seeta, who is the prime accused, has absconded. Sources said the couple had eloped on August 25. They took shelter with the boy’s sister, Sharanpreet Kaur, who lived in Amritsar’s Gujjarpura area. On August 26, the girl’s father, Satnam Singh, lodged a police complaint and a case of kidnapping was registered. On August 27, Sharanpreet Kaur lodged a case under Section 364, alleging that Seeta, his uncle Babba and cousin Hira Singh had abducted the couple from her house. The SHO of the Jhander police station, Gurnam Singh, said the couple was probably forced to drink a poisonous substance. “There was no injury mark on the girl’s body. The boy’s body bore minor injury marks as he may have put up some resistance,” he said.
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Amid border tension, Retreat at Wagah gets more aggressive
Attari (Amritsar), August 28 The ceremony these days witnesses BSF personnel and Pakistan Rangers’ staff exchanging corrosive stares, fist gestures and stomping their feet with increased aggression. The aggressive posturing in the ceremony includes thumping of boots with full force, stomping on ground and making gestures like folding arms and twirling moustache. However, these gestures elicit cheers from the enthusiastic crowd that gathers on either side of the border to watch the ceremony as they prefer punch in the drill. Slogans of “Hindustan Zindabad” are equally matched by that of “Jeeve Jeeve Pakistan” from the other side as the security personnel of the two countries trade hostile looks and make customary handshake. MF Farooqui, BSF Deputy Inspector General, said, “Our staff mostly resorts to toned down drill at the border, but at times they become a bit aggressive as the atmosphere is electric with thousands of people backing them.” Efforts were made in the past to mellow down the drill. In 2007, the BSF took an initiative under which the aggressive shaking of head and violent clicking of heels had been replaced with softer gestures and tones. In October 2010, the two countries had agreed to end angry eyeball-to-eyeball exchange, thumping of boots and other aggressive gestures during the Retreat ceremony when the then BSF Director General Raman Srivastava had visited Pakistan. The decision was appreciated by peace activists from both the countries. Though the BSF had then toned down hostile gestures, Pakistan did a volte face within a week of agreeing to do so. “The Pakistan Rangers will continue their daily parade as part of the flag-lowering and hoisting ceremonies at Wagah in the traditional enthusiastic style without any change,” said a statement released by Pakistan Rangers’ Headquarters in early November 2010.
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Vacant MBBS seats
Faridkot, August 28 The Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) is waiting for an approval of the Medical Council of India (MCI) to allow 5 per cent relaxation in eligibility criteria to fill the seats in private and government medical colleges. While the Supreme Court has fixed September 10 as the last date for filling all vacant MBBS seats across the country, the BFUHS authorities are in a fix and are waiting for a response from the DMER. Seeking 5 per cent relaxation for NRI and SC category students, the DMER approached the MCI last month. As per the MCI rules, candidates who score a minimum of 50 per cent marks (general category) and 40 per cent (SC category) in the All India Pre-Medical Entrance Test are eligible for admission to medical colleges. As 84 SC quota seats are lying vacant in four medical colleges in Punjab, the state government has sought relief for students to fill these seats. A number of writ petitions have been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the government’s move. The petitioners have demanded that all vacant seats under various categories should go to the general category. While deciding one such petition recently, the High Court had said all vacant NRI quota seats would go to the general category. But the BFUHS is still indecisive in view of the state government’s move seeking relaxation for SC quota seats. Dr Tejbir Singh, Director, DMER, said they were waiting for a response from the MCI regarding their demand for relaxation for SC candidates. After the end of second round of counselling, the university had announced that 84 SC quota, two J&K, four Punjab Police and one riot-hit quota seats were vacant. Over 130 NRI quota seats are also lying vacant.
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Diarrhoea scare grips Moga village
Rania (Moga), August 28 At least 19 persons, including women and children, were admitted to the Civil Hospital at Badhni Kalan during the past 24 hours. Three patients were referred to the district hospital at Moga and one to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital at Faridkot. Village said two persons had died due to fever and dysentery over the past one week. CMO Dr Renu Mangla, however, said the deaths were not in her knowledge. Confirming that 19 patients had been admitted to the Civil Hospital at Badhni Kalan, she said all of them were not suffering from diarrhoea. Some of the patients might be running fever due to viral infections. The Health Department had taken all preventive steps to tackle the situation. A team of doctors, including an epidemiologist, had been sent to the village where diarrhoea outbreak had been reported, she said. "I have visited the village and the situation is under control," she claimed. The CMO said water samples had been taken from the affected locality and medicines distributed among the patients. Chlorine tablets were also distributed for water purification. Sarpanch Ajit Pal Singh and panchayat member Satnam Singh said the people had been suffering from fever and dysentery for the past three-four weeks. The people used to visit private doctors and take medicines. At least two persons died in the past week, they said. Adding that more than 24 persons reported of fever and dysentery last night, the sarpanch said they were taken to the Civil Hospital at Badhni Kalan immediately. At least 19 of them were admitted there for treatment. Villagers said this was for the first time that such a large number of suspected diarrhoea cases had been reported in their village. They said many people living in the Dalit locality had fallen ill due to prevailing unhygienic conditions that had also led to unbearable stench and filth. Balbir Kaur showed a photograph of her son Tarsem Singh (22) who fell ill on August 24 and died the next day. She said Tarsem was the only male bread winner in the family as her husband had already died about three years ago. Villagers said Roop Singh (40) also died due to fever and dysentery last week. His three daughters and two sons were now orphaned as his wife had already died a couple of years ago.
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CAs to audit panchayat grants, says Maluka
Mohali, August 28 Regarding MNREGA funds, he said these would be audited too. “Action will be taken against anyone found guilty.” Maluka said the state government had decided to put up display boards in villages regarding the grants sanctioned so that these were not misused. He claimed in the next two-and-a-half years, the villages would undergo a sea change. Streets would be paved and ponds cleaned. He said the government had decided that every MLA would adopt two villages every year for development purposes. Model villages too would be created. District-level cleanliness contests would be held in villages.The panchayat getting the first position would get Rs 5 lakh as prize money while those placed second and third would be given Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively. Besides, rural sports would be revived. These would be organised every year in November.
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Six months on, state govt yet to act on quota for Jats
Chandigarh, August 28 Six months down the line, the state government is yet to appoint a commission to look into the issue of providing quota to the Jats in government jobs and educational institutions. Sources in the Social Security Department told The Tribune that the
file on the appointment of a commission, to be headed by a retired judge, was lying with the Chief Minister's office. It was yet to be cleared. Once implemented, Jats will be the 69th community to be included in the BC category. It is believed that the Punjab Cabinet announced reservation for Sikh Jats after former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh attacked the Badal government for not taking up the Jat quota issue with the Centre, thus depriving the community of the benefit of reservation in central government jobs.
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Govt doing little to educate SCs on quota policy: RTI
Chandigarh, August 28 Manoj Bhushan, a research scholar with the Panjab University, had sought information from the Social Welfare Department on the number of circulars it issued for spreading awareness about the policy and how they were educating different departments of the government about it. Manoj said the Social Welfare Department was supposed to educate other departments on revised decisions, new rules and orders concerning the reservation policy but it was not being done.The RTI information revealed that the Social Welfare Department was rarely issuing circulars to other departments. He said this caused a lot of confusion in maintaining the roster registers for promotion, led to controversy over appointments as well as hassles during admissions under the reserved quota. Raj Kumar Verka, National Commission for Scheduled Castes vice-chairman, had pulled up the state government last month for keeping the employees in the dark about promotion and career growth opportunities under the reservation policy. It was found that the department issued two policy-related circulars in 2009, none in 2010, five each in 2011 and 2012 and only two in 2013.
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Land row: Dalits end dharna
Sangrur, August 28 Mukesh Malaud, member of the sangharsh committee, said that the rabi crop would be sown by the Dalits of Balad Kalan village on the panchayat land reserved for them. A written compromise in this regard would be signed in the presence of the district development and panchayat officer (DDPO), Sangrur, tomorrow. Another committee member, Bhupinder Longowal, said the auction of the panchayat land reserved for SCs at Namol village would be held on September 3.
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Bhikhi case: Daduwal in custody of Mansa police
Faridkot, August 28 The Mansa police obtained Daduwal’s custody on production warrants in an attempt to murder case registered against him and his 11 supporters on January 2, 2011, at Bhikhi in Mansa district. The police had reportedly procured the production warrants on August 26. The following day (August 27) Daduwal submitted an application to the jail authorities, saying he feared danger to his life. He said while in the custody of the Mansa police, he could be eliminated in a fake encounter at the behest of the state government. Kulwinder Singh Sekhon, Daduwal’s counsel, said the jail authorities sent Daduwal’s application to the District and Sessions Judge, Faridkot, who further directed the Faridkot police to provide adequate security to him. Today, a team of the Faridkot police accompanied Daduwal to Mansa. Gurmeet Singh, Daduwal’s father-in-law, alleged that the police were “desperate to eliminate Daduwal at the instance of the state government” only because he had supported the setting up of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. A large number of Daduwal’s supporters gathered in front of the judicial complex and staged a dharna. The police detained a number of Daduwal’s supporters from other blocks of Mansa district on their way to the judicial complex. The police claimed to have released 50 protesters later in the day.
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Kalam to visit Ludhiana schools today
Ludhiana, August 28 Afterwards, he would visit Sat Paul Mittal School, Dugri, Phase 11, and BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar. He would have an interaction session with students in all the three schools. On Kalam’s request, students of more than 10 government schools have also been invited to BCM school for interaction.
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Eye on MC poll, govt may rationalise taxes
Chandigarh, August 28 The elections to various municipal committees and councils and some corporations are due by the year-end. Since the ruling alliance had been rejected by the urban voters in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, both allies are now concerned and wanting to regain the lost ground among the urban voters. With this mandate, the joint coordination committee of the Akali Dal and the BJP that met today has decided to initiate changes in property tax, rationalise VAT rates, ensure quick clearance for real estate developers and colonisers and ensure easy availability of sand and gravel. The BJP demanded that property tax on vacant plots and houses measuring up to five marlas should not be levied. Sources said while the BJP raised these issues in the meeting, the Akali Dal representatives agreed that there was a need to remove “irritants” that were turning people away from the government. Both sides agreed that the urban voters were angry with them even though the property tax collections were lower than the house tax collections. (Earlier house tax was levied in Punjab, which has now been replaced by property tax). It was also discussed that VAT charged on iron and steel industry in the state is the lowest, but still these units are shutting shop, citing high VAT. There was thus a need to study what the industry wanted from the government. It was decided that in the next four days, the heads of various departments — Local Bodies, Excise and Taxation, Urban Development and Industries — will be called and their feedback sought on how people-friendly changes can be made. On September 2, the six-member committee will meet again and decide on how to go to the people and seek their suggestions on the changes in these taxes as suggested by department officials. The committee today first held a meeting with the Chief Minister and then discussed every issue threadbare. The Akali Dal was represented by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura while the BJP was represented by Ashwani Sharma, Rajinder Bhandari and Narrottam
Ratti.
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56 acres of encroached shamlat land freed
Fazilka, August 28 A team of senior officials of the district administration, led by Sub-divisional Magistrate Captain Karnail Singh, Superintendent of Police (Detective) Gurmeet Singh, Executive Magistrate DP Panday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Manjit Singh and hundreds of police personnel freed the land from the encroachers. The possession was handed to Chaudhary Kewal Krishan, the sarpanch of Salemshah village. Panday said the Rural and Panchayat Department served notices on the encroachers but to no avail. Thereafter, the District Development and Panchayat Officer, Fazilka, ordered the encroachers to hand over the possession to the panchayat. Krishan said the collector’s price of the land was Rs 15 lakh per acre and the market value of the
land was around 25 to 30 lakh per acre.
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MC workers' strike enters 25th day
Hoshiarpur, August 28 Ramesh Kumar, the Executive Officer of the MC, had yesterday claimed that the Safai Karamchari Union had agreed to end their strike. He said the decision was reached at a meeting between union leader Yashpal and MC Commissioner. On the other hand, Kulwant Singh Saini, General Secretary of Punjab Municipal Workers’ Organisation, claimed that the strike had not been called off.
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PSPCL staff strike work
Patiala, August 28 PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director KD Chaudhri said all thermal and hydropower stations functioned normally and the power supply position remained normal throughout the state.
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MLA against maize purchase by Centre
Jalandhar, August 28 Referring to the Chief Minister’s appeal to the Centre to allow NAFED to purchase maize, he alleged the state was running away from its responsibility. He said states such as Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar purchased maize from their farmers. “Why can’t Punjab do so,” he asked. The Congress leader said: “Badal should use his good offices to get funds from the Centre and procure maize on his own in the state”.
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Recall security to Ashutosh: PIL
Chandigarh, August 28 In the petition placed before the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu, Dilbagh Singh had earlier contended that Ashutosh Maharaj, head of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, Nurmahal, had expired more than seven months ago and was declared clinically dead in January 2014. But the ‘Z’ security provided to him continued till date. His counsel prayed that the State of Punjab be directed to withdraw the security cover. Already, Justice K Kannan has lambasted the Punjab government for its inability to end the impasse over the Maharaj’s body being kept in a freezer by his followers on the pretext that the spiritual guru was in ‘deep meditation’. Yesterday, during the hearing of a petition filed by the guru’s “son”, Dalip Kumar Jha, for handing over his father’s body for last rites, Justice Kannan said the government should not be sitting over the matter. He fixed September 2 as the next date of hearing when the dera management will make its stand clear.
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Delhi HC upholds Moga MLA’s acquittal
New Delhi, August 28 The Customs Department was unable to prove the case against Jain “beyond reasonable doubt,” Justice S Muralidhar ruled in a 23-page judgment, dismissing the government appeal. “There are too many unexplained facts and unanswered questions in the prosecution’s case which persuade the court to agree with the reasoning and conclusion arrived at by the trial court,” the High Court held. The trial court had acquitted Jain on September 29, 2006. Citing a Supreme Court verdict, the High Court said in a case of acquittal, evidence could be re-appraised on appeal only if the trial court verdict was perverse. This was not so in this case, it said. Jain had contended that the luggage from which the currency was recovered belonged to a co-passenger, Manohar Lal Grover, who was also travelling from Delhi to Hong Kong. Jain was also found to be travelling on a forged passport for which he was convicted but let out on probation as he confessed to the crime. The trial court had held that Jain’s claim that the bag did not belong to him could not be rejected outright. “Further, there was no explanation as to under what compulsion Jain had confessed the ownership of the suitcase when there was no evidence against him except the statement of Grover.”
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Labourers protest sand mining ban, 5 booked
Fazilka, August 28 The police said those booked were Jeet Singh, president, General Reta Mazdoor Union, Bakhtawar Singh Gharumi, president, Punjab Palledar Workers Union, Shakti Singh, Satnam Singh and Hansa Singh. They have been booked under Section 283 of the IPC (obstructing the highway) and Noise Control Act. “Jeet Singh and Bakhtawar Singh were nabbed, but released
on bail later. The other three accused are at large,” said a police officer. The members of the unions have been protesting outside the office of the DC for the last 27 days.
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Three booked as rape video goes viral
Abohar, August 28 The victim alleged she was sedated and raped by a distant relative Om Parkash in Suranwali village. She alleged the accused threatened to upload the video on the internet if she complained to the police. Thereafter, Mahabir phoned her maternal uncle and allegedly demanded Rs 10 lakh to destroy the clippings. The victim alleged the video went viral when her parents could only pay Rs 3 lakh of the total money demanded. The police said the accused were still at large.
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Chandigarh, August 28
Chandigarh, August 28