Arts Council in the dock
Leasing out premises to TARA channel
By Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — Tension in art circles is mounting with just a day left for the agreement between the Punjab Arts Council and the TARA Punjabi Channel to come into force. The Council is finding itself in the dock for executing the agreement with Tara Punjabi whereby the Sector 16 premises of the Council will be leased out to the channel for five years.

As the agreement which, in its present form, comes into force on December 1, a major portion of the Punjab Kala Bhavan building (which has been leased out to the Council by the President of India) will be occupied by TARA Punjabi, to the detriment of artistic activity therein.

High level resentment is thus prevailing among other members of the Council which is constituted of three bodies: the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi and the Punjab Sahit Akademi. While the agreement, the memorandum of understanding as it is called, with TARA Punjabi was executed here on November 14 between the Council through its Secretary-General, Mr H.S. Bhatty, and the channel through its CEO Kishwar Ahluwalia, the Punjab Cultural Relations Department was reportedly not taken into confidence.

The MoU mentions clearly: The licensee has approached the licensor for allowing it the permissive user not only the basement but also the built up five rooms, one glass room, two kitchens, one store and all toilets, on the first floor of the immovable property describable as Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16 A. The agreement will be in force for a period of five years from December 1, 2000 to November 30, 2005. As against the lease, the channel will pay an amount of Rs 1.5 lakh per month to the Punjab Arts Council.

While the officials who have executed the deal maintain that the same has been done in the interest of promotion of art and culture in this part of the region, highly placed sources in the Council are strongly resenting the move, saying the same may land the Council into trouble. It may be mentioned here that the Council has earlier lost about Rs 65 lakh on account of investment in PUNWIRE. It further feared that if a major area of the building is leased out to TARA Punjabi, the art promotion activity in the Bhavan will suffer to a great extent.

There is also reservation with regard to the fact that other members of the Council were not a party to the decision. According to sources, no representative of the government was present during any such meeting which was obviously called on an arbitrary basis. Said an office-bearer of the Punjab Sahit Akademi: “The deal is very much in violation of the Arts Council Constitution. The Punjab Kala Bhawan falls under the Punjab Cultural Affairs Department and its building is meant exclusively for carrying out activities related to various arts. They might raise funds but they have to do the same very safely.”

In this context it is relevant to point out that the agreement allows TARA Punjabi to use the exhibition hall of the Bin the basement for building up its studio. As and when the channel moves into the premises, no exhibitions will be held in the future. Another problem being pointed out in the agreement is that the office-bearers who have signed on behalf of the Council have a term of just two more years left. Said the chairman of one of the bodies constituting the Council: “How can they lease out the premises when they don’t have a full term to go. They are usurping the authority of the body which will come to power after two years when fresh nominations are made.”

What the government says?

The Director, Cultural Affairs, Punjab, Mr Inderjit Singh Sandhu, who was contacted today said that the MoU signed between the Punjab Arts Council and the TARA channel was not acceptable to the government in its present form. He said, “We want the Council to raise its own funds, but going by the past experience we have to take care before the building is leased out.” At a meeting held yesterday at the Punjab Secretariat between the office bearers of the Punjab Arts Council and the Principal Secretary, Culture, Punjab, it was decided that the deal must be legally sound before it comes into force. Said Mr Sandhu, “We have asked the Arts Council to incorporate the required safeguards and then show us the document again.” 

Plea on abatement of poll petition
From Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — Mrs Satwant Kaur Sandhu, Minister of Printing and Stationery, Punjab, whose election from the Chamkaur Sahib reserved constituency has been set aside, today sought a direction from the Punjab and Haryana High Court that in view of the death of the sole petitioner, Mr Sohan Singh, the election petition be declared as having been abated with effect from December 27, 1999.

The petitioner submitted that the judgement on the petition was reserved on December 14, 1999, and the petitioner, Mr Sohan Singh, died on December 27, 1999. The judgement in the case was pronounced on November 23, 2000. Therefore, in view of the provisions under Section 112 of the Representation of the People Act, the court should start proceeding under the Section.

Section 112 of the Representation of the People Act provides that any election petition shall abate only on the death of the sole petitioner or of survivors of several petitioners. Under the provision, the High Court has to issue a notice for someone to come forward within 14 days of such publication, to be substituted as petitioner.

Mrs Sandh also filed an affidavit to the effect that Mr Sohan Singh, the petitioner against her, had died on December 27, 1999. However, when asked by the Judge, counsel for the petitioner stated that he had no information about the death of the petitioner.

Mrs Sandhu in the second petition sought stay of the operation of the judgement pronounced by the Judge on November 23, 2000, against her.

It was submitted that the election petition abated on December 27, 1999, because of the death of the petitioner and therefore, the judgement could not be pronounced in the case. Secondly, it was urged that declaring Mr Sohan Singh as elected on the ground that all other candidates also belong to Ramdasia caste, was not correct because one Mr Bhag Singh, an independent candidate who contested the election, belongs to the Ramdasia caste. The petitioner added that where no corrupt practice has been alleged, the Supreme Court has held that stay should be granted so that the constituency does not go unrepresented.

Mr Justice Amar Dutt issued notice to the opposite counsel regarding the two applications for December 7, 2000.

Formation of dairy board complete
Tribune News Service

SANGRUR, Nov 28 — With the nomination of 14 non-official members by the Punjab Government recently, the Punjab Dairy Development Board now has come into existence. It will soon start functioning in a big way in the larger interests of the milk producers of the state.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Jagdip Singh Nakai, Chairman of the Milkfed, Punjab, said the board now had total 17 members including the Punjab Chief Minister as its chairman, and Cooperation Minister and Dairy Development Minister as vice-chairman. He said as the formation of the board now was complete it would help development of dairy sector in the state.

Mr Nakai added the non-official members of the board were a Dairy Development adviser, two representatives of Cooperative Milk Plants, three representatives of private milk plants, four representatives of reputed milk products, two representatives of milk consumers organisations and two representatives of the Punjab Dhodhi Union.

He said a dairy development fund had also been set up. In this fund, the state government would contribute Rs 11 crore while another Rs 9 crore would come to the fund by imposing a cess of 10 paisa per kg on milk.

Mr Nakai said the Milkfed had prepared project “vision-2004” to increase the number of milk societies by 20 per cent per year and membership of the milk producers. He said under the ‘vision-2004’, Rs 57 crore were being invested in the state through the National Dairy Development Board to increase quality and production of milk from 2000 to 2004.

Mr Nakai, while describing the WTO as a blessing for dairy sector in Punjab, said the Milkfed had received orders from South Africa for exporting 850 metric tonnes of milk powder. He said with the implementation of the WTO, export of Punjab’s milk would increase cattle would be available from abroad at cheaper prices. Milk producers would get coolers and machinery related to milk producing at lower prices, he added.

The chairman of the Milkfed said injections and other such items would be brought from abroad for increasing milk production and control the diseases of cattle.

The chairman said the cooperative milk plants did not only give actual price of the milk to the producers but also distributed profit among them at later stage.

Mr Kamalpur said there were cooperative milk societies in 6000 villages in the state. He said the Milkfed had a target to set up these societies in all 12,000 villages of the state in the next five years.

Mr H.S. Cheema, Managing Director of the Sangrur Milk Plant, said our country had five per cent per year dairy growth whereas major milk producing countries in the world has now zero per cent dairy growth as they had already reached saturation point in this direction.

Earlier, Mr Nakai also presided over a meeting of chairmen of Milk Producers Cooperative Union of several districts and directors of the Milkfed here. 

COMMUNITY

Bricks to cost more even if stir ends
From Lalit Mohan

ROPAR, Nov 28 — Manufacturing of bricks in kilns in Punjab may get delayed, even if the kilns decide to withdraw strike after a meeting with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, on December 1, 2000. The delay might be caused due to the fact that licences of most of the kilns in the state have not been renewed after June 3.

As per available data here there are 135 brick kilns in Ropar. Out of these the licences of 123 kilns lapsed after June 30, this year. The District Food and Civil Supplies Department renewed the licenses of only 12 kilns, which were given no objection certificate (NOC) from the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

The sources said that other kilns in the area could not start manufacturing till they are issued the NOC by the Pollution Control Board. The Pollution Board authorities on the directions of the court, issue the NOC only after the chimneys of the kilns are made according to its specifications and emission levels certified to be below the newly prescribed limits by board officials.

However, most of the kilns in the present state cannot fulfil the above laid norms of the Pollution Board. The sources said that kiln owners at a meeting with the Chief Minister would impress upon the government to extend the deadline for the enforcement of the strict pollution control norms in the state.

Earlier, also the kiln owners had lobbied successfully with the government to get the implementation of the pollution norms, extended. The Punjab government had relaxed the rule that the kiln should be set up away from the residential areas. Earlier as per the norms kiln could not be established within a distance of 750 metres from the residential areas in Municipal limits and at a distance of 500 metres from the rural areas.

The limit later was reduced by the Punjab Government to just 500 metres from any residential area. In 1998 a further relaxation to this rule was given and the old kilns were allowed to exist even closer to residential areas on the condition that they should adhere to Pollution Control Board norms. However, the kiln owners have also been successful in getting the implementation of the pollution norms delayed causing harassment for people living the vicinity of the kilns.

As reported in The Tribune, due to strike by the brick kiln owners, against the imposition of the royalty of Rs 43 per 1000 bricks by the Punjab Government, the manufacturing of bricks has been stalled in the state since past few months. The kiln owners who have sufficient stocks of bricks to last for a few months have hiked the price of bricks from a normal of Rs 1200-1400 per 1000 to Rs 1800 to 2100 per 1000.

However, if the impasse between the kiln owners and the government continues it would push up price of bricks further much to the chagrin of the customers. Various bodies of the consumers in the district have demanded that the government should get the pollution norms implemented by the brick kiln owners because it becomes an excuse of strike almost every year. In lieu of the strike they hike the price of the bricks in the market and thus exploit consumers.

Police seeks cancellation of FIR against Jathedar 
Tribune News Service

TALWANDI SABO, Nov 28 — The police has moved an application in the court of Mr Jatinder Pal Singh Behiniwal, Judicial Magistrate (Senior Division) here today for the cancellation of FIR registered against Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib, his son Mr Barjinder Singh and a close kin Joginder Kaur in a dowry death case.

Official sources said that the application was moved by Mr Chand Singh, SI, Station House Officer (SHO), Police Station, Talwandi Sabo when all three persons named in the FIR were found innocent in the police investigations.

Sources added that a dowry death case was registered against Giani Kewal Singh and his kin on the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The case was registered against the three allegedly for forcing his daughter-in-law Sharanjit Kaur to commit suicide. After failing to get any positive response. Sharanjit’s brother, Mr Amarjit Singh, a resident of Sirsa district of Haryana filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

A division bench of Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the then SSP of Bathinda to register a case against Giani Kewal Singh and his close kin. After the registration of a criminal case, Giani Kewal Singh and his kin were not arrested as the police started an inquiry into the case.

Official sources said that Mr Behiniwal, Judicial Magistrate had fixed a date in the second week of December to decide on the application after issuing a notice to the complainant on whose complaint the FIR was registered against the three on the direction of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Sources said that Sharanjit Kaur ended her life by jumping into sarovar of Likhansar Sahib gurdwara located here on June 18, 1997.

The application was moved by the SHO, Mr Chand Singh following the DSP and the SSP endorsed the inquiry conducted into this case.

Sikhs present memo to Advani
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Nov 28 — Close on the heels of Mr Lal Krishan Advani’s visit to Amritsar on Sunday, a Sikh deputation met the Home Minister yesterday in Delhi and presented a memorandum protesting against the ill-treatment meted out to the Sikh jathas at Attari.

The deputation was led by Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, Delhi.

The memorandum reminded the government about the agreements between India and Pakistan effected in year 1953, 1955 and 1974 for comfortable and free movement of pilgrims in the host country. However, the recent Sikh jatha, comprising 2500 pilgrims, had to face humiliation in their own country at Attari.

Expressing deep distress over Sikh jathas being discouraged to visit Pakistan by the immigration authorities at the behest of state authorities led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab ‘for his own partisan and selfish interests’ they noted that it was an attempt to harass his own community.

The deputation comprising Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, MP, Prof Joginder Singh, Dr Harminder Singh, Mr Baldev Singh Ranibagh and jathedar Gurcharan Singh Gatkamaster, sought a thorough inquiry into the humiliation of the jatha at the Indo-Pak border on November 6 and November 9.

They further demanded a special cell to be set up at the border for the Sikh pilgrims on the pattern of Muslim pilgrims visit to Mecca besides financial assistance and other amenities.

‘Sard Khana’ in ruins 
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Nov 28 — The rulers of Patiala called it “Sard Khana” (cool house) and used it to make the stay of their British guests comfortable. This building at the rear end of the Quila Mubarak complex, is now a pale shadow of its glorious past, and is almost on the verge of collapse. The roof of its main hall has collapsed and its facade with its unique architecture is also crumbling.

Three of the seven temporary brick pillars which were raised to support the roof of the verandah, collapsed a few months ago and have not been rebuilt yet, endangering the verandah. Archaeology and Cultural Affairs Department officials have not approved the latest estimate for the restoration of the pillars. If the roof of the verandah caves in, it will bring down with it not only the Roman pillars, but also damage irreversibly the entrances to the basement of the building.

The Sard Khana was built in two stages. The rear portion is built of Nanakashi bricks in Rajasthani style with basements which adjoin a deep well. Built by the early Rajas of Patiala around 1765 because they did not have any access to the hills to spend the summer, the Sard Khana was their summer residence. The adjoining well had outlets into the basement. The spill-over of the water created a draft which cooled the basement.

The front portion was built after 1857 by Maharaja Narinder Singh when Patiala had cordial relations with the British. The front portion has huge Roman pillars and majestic arches. It was used for the stay of British guests. An imposing hall and adjoining rooms formed its core.

At present, the Sard Khana is in need of urgent attention. It gives the appearance of a ruin as the main hall lies exposed to the elements ever since its roof caved in many years ago. Due to this it has become a home for bats and pigeons who have littered the entire building with droppings. The verandah is littered with rubble from the collapsed pillars. Twisted and rusted girders are supporting its roof.

However, even in this state, it stands out for its coloured marble floor and a beautiful, intricately carved fireplace in its middle. The fireplace looks stunning despite the weeds that surround it. In the corners lie some carvings in plaster of paris and one wonders what the original form would have been.

Art connoisseur and bureaucrat Rupinder Singh Randhawa, who was in charge of restoration of the Quila in 1995, said it had been envisaged to convert the building into an eatery serving Patiala cuisine under a heritage project. He said it was felt that the building could be retained in its present state by covering the hall with a fibre glass dome. He said this could still be done even if funds were not available for complete restoration of the roof. 

Postal staff threaten stir 
From Our Correspondent

DHURI, Nov 28 — A three-day circle-level conference of the National Union of Postal Employees, Class III (Punjab circle), concluded here last evening.

Mr Harbans Singh Sherpur, President of the National Employees Federation, presided over the convention. About 110 delegates and 25 members of central working committee (CWS) from various districts of Punjab participated in the conference.

The convention was addressed, among others, by Mr Jang Bhadur, President of the Punjab circle of the union, Mr K.L. Mehta, circle secretary, Mr B.D. Garg, Superintendent, Post Offices, Sangrur, and Bibi Parminder Kaur, General Secretary of the National Employees Federation.

All leaders criticised the Central Government for its failure to concede the long-pending demands of the postal employees. They urged the Central Government to accept their demands immediately to avert a national-level indefinite strike of postal employees from December 5.

The main demands of the postal employees include the removal of disparity in the pay scales of LSG, HSG and BCR employees, confirmation of the extra-departmental delivery agents (village postmen), and fixed medical allowance.

On a call given by the Postal Joint Council of Action, a confederation of three postal employee federations of India, the convention unanimously decided to support and join the indefinite strike from December 5, if their demands were not accepted by the Central Government.

The conference concluded with the election of the following office-bearers: president — Mr Jang Bhadur and vice-president — Mr Paramjit Singh Grewal and Mr K.L. Mehta, Mr Jagmail Singh Chohan, Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Janak Raj were elected circle secretary, organising secretary, assistant circle secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Irrigation Dept’s claims refuted
From Our Correspondent

ABOHAR, Nov 28 — The residents of Ghallu village, located on the Abohar-Fazilka road, have strongly refuted the claims of the Irrigation Department that canal water supply had been considerably improved in this region.

In a memorandum submitted to the district officials today, they said even though they had brought the real position to the notice of ministers, legislators and irrigation officials, false claims were being made to bluff the farmers. They said the villages located at the tail’s end of Arniwala Rajbaha (sub-canal) were facing shortage of drinking water. Those at the tails end were not even getting one-tenth of the required quantity of water from the canal.

The residents have threatened to stage a dharna and go on fast until death if their problems were not solved immediately.

Punjab declares half-holiday
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — The Punjab Government has declared a half-holiday on November 29 in all offices of the state government, its boards, corporations and educational institutions located in Chandigarh and SAS Nagar, according to a press note issued here today. 

The offices will remain closed in the afternoon, after the lunch break, on account of the nagar kirtan procession to be held in connection with the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur.

In Punjab, except SAS Nagar, the offices of the state government, its boards, corporations and educational institutions will remain closed after the lunch break on November 30.

Nagar kirtan today
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Nov 28 — A nagar kirtan is being organised here tomorrow by the Gurdwara Coordination Committee, in connection with the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.

Mr Joginder Singh Sondhi, president of the committee, said here today that the procession would start from Gurdwara Shri Kalghidhar Singh Sabha, Phase IV at 10.30 a.m. and after passing through various phases of the town culminate at Gurdwara Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib, Phase IX, at 6 p.m. 

Commuters’ appeal to Rly Minister
From Our Correspondent

ABOHAR, Nov 28 — The Railway Passengers Association (north zone), has urged the Railway Minister to redress grievances of passengers relating to purchase of tickets and computerised reservation in this area. In a memorandum faxed today the association alleged that erratic functioning of booking windows’ staff had forced passengers to miss trains or travel without tickets. 

Windows were not opened as per schedule, reservation counter was kept closed under one pretext or the other. The association regretted that the second booking window on outerside at Bathinda Railway station had been non-operative for the past few days. It might be closed. The association feared senior officers were not attending to complaints in this regard. The association demanded that second platform at Abohar Railway station be provided shed, cycle stand and STD PCO at the earliest.

‘Reading habits on the decline’
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, Nov 28 — Noted Punjabi writers, including Prof Piara Singh Bhogal, yesterday expressed concern over inadequate book culture in Punjab and decline in reading habits.

Assembled at Community Polytechnic, Palahi, for a discussion with Professor Bhogal, these writers stressed that though writing was not a profitable job, yet development of a taste for reading and writing was essential for progress of Punjab.

Professor Bhogal, who was authored around 36 books, addressed students and teachers present at the function. He said the art of writing was learnt by writing alone and that the real teacher of a writer was a book.

Professor Bhogal was later felicitated by organisers of the function.

Plea to review land allotment for Kumbh
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Nov 28 — The All-India Shatdarshan Akhara Parishad, representing 13 religious akharas, including Mahanirabni, Niranjani, Juna, Abhahan, Agni, Atal, Anand, Nirmohi, Degambhar, Nirbani and Nirmal Akhara, have urged the Union Government that land allotment during Kumbh fair be made to only four recognised Shankaracharyas.

These Shankaracharyas include Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati of Shri Gaubhardhan Peeth Jagannath Puri (Orissa), Swami Abhinav Bharti Tirth of Shrangari (Karnataka), Swami Swarupanand Saraswati of Dwarka Peeth (Gujarat) and Swami Vasudeva Nand Saraswati of Uttaranchal, Mahant Gobindnand, organising secretary of the parishad, said here yesterday.

He said the parishad would oppose land allotment to unrecognised Shankaracharyas. 

SGPC objection on “Mission Kashmir”
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Nov 28 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) in a press note today took objection to certain scenes in the movie ‘Mission Kashmir’ by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. According to Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan SGPC secretary the character of a Sikh was depicted in bad light. The Sikh character in the movie is seen to be scared while reciting ‘wahe guru’ he urinates in his pants. The fear and cowardly behaviour is against Sikhism” the note says.

Dr O.N. Shukla dead
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Nov 28 — Dr O.N. Shukla, a Reader of Political Science Department in the Department of Correspondence Studies, Punjabi University, expired following a heart attack yesterday evening.

Dr Sukhla is survived by his wife and two daughters. He was cremated at Rajpura Road cremation ground today.

Traffic jam 
From Our Correspondent

PATHANKOT, Nov 28 — Traffic on the national highway near Sujanpur could not move for more than an hour on Monday following a scuffle between a vehicle owner and men of the octroi contractor. The owner carrying goods alleged that the men of octroi contractor of the Sujanpur Municipal Council had charged more than the actual transit pass charges fixed by the state government. The contractor’s men reportedly tried to beat him.

ADMINISTRATION

Border area DCs told to prepare schemes for poor
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who reviewed the implementation of various schemes for the development of border areas here today, said the Union Government had given a special grant of Rs 16.10 crore for the development of these areas.

He said all Deputy Commissioners posted in border areas of the state had been told to prepare schemes for the uplift of poor sections of society within seven days and get these approved from the government. The Union Government had agreed to provide a package of Rs 50 crore for the development of border areas, he added. He said in every assembly constituency in the state, Rs 1 crore would be spent to develop the infrastructure in the current financial year.

CRIME

Drug peddlers change tactics
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Nov 28 — As the state police authorities have intensified efforts to arrest the menace of smuggling of narcotics to Punjab, the smugglers have changed their modus operandi to escape the police net.

The smugglers have discontinued the practice of narcotics in ordinary vehicles.

The Bathinda district police recently caught three persons — Kuldip Kumar, Gurmit Singh and Gopal Singh — bringing three bags of poppy husk from Haryana to Punjab in a vehicle which had a red light atop. The Ambassador car used by the accused carried the registration number CHK-8397.

The accused were arrested by the district police near Burj Thode village where it had laid a naka. Kuldip Kumar, the driver of the car, confessed to have transported a consignment of narcotics in the same vehicle earlier too.

Police sources said a few months back, a smuggler used a goods train to send 15 kg of opium from Rajasthan to Punjab. The matter came to light when a scooter, which was being transported from Madhopur (Rajasthan) to Bathinda, was searched and 15 kg of opium found under the petrol tank of the vehicle.

In another incident, poppy husk bags were found in the parcel office of the local railway station. The railway authorities have now become more vigilant and a watch is being kept on goods lying in all parcel offices.

The sources said a few months ago, the Punjab Police found that instead of using heavy vehicles to transport narcotics, the smugglers had started using small and fast vehicles like cars and motor cycles.

Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, when contacted, said the police had been able to frustrate the designs of the smugglers by organising nakas at different points. He pointed out that the quantum of narcotics being smuggled into this district was coming down.

Convict may have hand in killing
From Gurpreet Singh
Tribune News Service

MOGA, Nov 28 — A life convict on parole is likely to have been involved in the murder of senior Congress leader Harmesh Kumar Mukhija in Dharamkot on November 13.

Kewal Singh, a life convict, who is on parole from the Ludhiana jail, was booked for murder at the behest of Mukhija in 1993. His name figured during the interrogation of four suspects in the Mukhija murder case.

Although Gurbux Singh Kukku is the key player in the murder conspiracy, the police does not rule out Kewal Singh’s involvement.

Shortly after gunning down Mukhija, the suspected hitmen had assembled at Kokri Phoola Singhwala, the native village of Kewal Singh, and later shifted to Mullanpur Dakha. While his whereabouts are not known, there is a possibility of his being in police custody for questioning.

Both Kukku and Kewal Singh were booked in a double-murder case in 1993 at the behest of Mukhija. The latter had helped the son of one of the victims during the trial. While Kewal Singh was convicted, Kukku was acquitted of the murder charge.

Spate of robberies in Mandi Gobindgarh
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB,  Nov 28 — Panic has gripped residents of the industrial town of Mandi Gobindgarh and surrounding areas after a spate of robberies during the last 48 hours in which cash worth Rs 40,000 and goods worth Rs 20,000 were reportedly stolen.

According to police sources, a gang of robbers — three in number — travelling in a Tata Sumo No. UP-21-G 9719 descended on an octroi post on the Mandi Gobindgarh-Amloh road at night and snatched Rs 10,240 at gun-point. After that the looters struck the octroi post on the Amloh-Khanna road under Amloh City and decamped with cash worth Rs 2,700.

In a similar incident, a sum of Rs 25,000 was snatched from an industrialist of Mandi Gobindgarh. As per information available, he was proceeding to his residence at Khanna in a car when a Zen car bearing registration number PB-48-A 2423 blocked his car. Four unidentified youth snatched the cash at gun-point from him and fled.

Yet another incident occurred on the Khalsa School road where thieves broke into a TV repair shop and goods worth Rs 20,000 were stolen.

Vet caught for graft
From Our Correspondent

BATHINDA, Nov 28 — Dr Gurdas Singh, in charge of the Veterinary Hospital, Bhai Rupa, was caught today by Mr Mahal Singh, DSP (Vigilance), Faridkot for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 800 from Mr Gursharan Singh for conducting an operation his pigs.

This was stated by Mr Satpal Singh Sidhu, SP (Vigilance) Bathinda range, in a press note issued here today.

Rs 36000 looted from octroi post
From Our Correspondent

MALERKOTLA, Nov 28 — Four unidentified jeep-borne youths looted the octroi post on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road here last night.

According to sources four persons came in Tata Sumo at 11 p.m. and looted Rs 36000 from the octroi post at gunpoint.

EDUCATION

University teams win Bhangra contest
Tribune News Service 

Patiala, Nov 28 — Punjabi University teams took the honours in bhangra and classical dance events in the University Patiala Zone Youth Festival being hosted by Multani Mal Modi College which started here today .

In the gidhha event, Government Mohindra College team took the top slot. Shefali and Jyoti Sharma of GCG were adjudged first in classical instrumental (percussion) and classical vocal. In the non-percussion category, Gurdeep Kaur of Khalsa College took the top honours. In classical orchestra GCG was adjudged first.