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Jassi murder: approver killed in mishap
Ludhiana, October 30 The incident took place within a week of a Sangrur court’s order convicting seven persons, largely on the witness of the deceased, in five -year-old the contract killing case of an NRI girl, Jaswinder Kaur, alias Jassi. Johnny was a resident of Haibowal in Ludhiana and was provided with police security ever since he had turned approver in the case a few weeks after the murder. The Ludhiana police has claimed that the investigation so far did not indicate any foul play behind the road accident. But the police was not ruling it out either. The police was verifying the
sequence of events from the injured. The police has also ordered an inquiry into why the gunmen were missing. The SP (Detective), Mr Gurpreet Singh and the SHO, Haibowal, Mr Gurpreet Singh, said a pre-liminary investigations suggested it was a road accident only, but further investigations were underway. Regarding the gunmen who were missing, he said sometimes the protected person wanted to be on his own. The city police claimed that Johnny and his four friends were travelling in a Gypsy and
seemed to be in highly-inebriated condition at the time of the accident. Johnny was driving and he lost the balance over the vehicle which turned turtle near the marriage palace killing him and a close associate, Lattu. Another associate, Sheen, was stated to be out of danger while a cousin of Johnny had been admitted in a serious condition to the DMC hospital. Johnny was a member of the group of contract killers who had attacked Jassi and her husband Mithu near Sangrur in June 2000. Later, he had turned approver in the case and the police had cracked the case on the basis of information provided by him. He also had a history of crime activities and was a listed history sheeter in the police records. Johnny has been facing threats to his life ever since he turned against his former gang mates. In an interview with The Tribune in 2001, he had claimed that he was attacked by some persons while trying to save the guilty in the murder case. He had also expressed his regrets at being a party to eliminate the young NRI and her husband.
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Top cops face heat over ‘illegal’ occupation
Bathinda, October 30 While IG Rajinder Singh had occupied the PWD rest house for his office-cum-residence six months back when the office was shifted from Faridkot to Bathinda, the DIG office had been functioning from a PWD (B&R) building that was later transferred to PUDA. The Vigilance Department also figures in the list, as it has also occupied a Zila Parishad building for the SSP (Vigilance) office. Sources said one of the police officials also reportedly carried out changes like raising the height of the boundary wall as per his wishes. Sources said a few days back, PWD Minister Partap Singh Bajwa took up the matter of the department’s rest house in Bathinda with the Chief Minister and it set the alarm bells ringing for the Police Department. A Mandi Board building at the grain market had also been housing Kotwali police station for the past many years. Though the police station had been shifted to its new premises, the entire building was yet to be vacated. Meanwhile, sources said DIG P.S. Sarao had now urged the district administration to look for some alternative accommodation for him, while the SSP (Vigilance) had also requested for space in the mini secretariat. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Bhandari admitted that the administration had asked the Police Department to either legalise their accommodations or make alternative arrangements. The DC said he held a meeting with the SDM and other officials concerned regarding new accommodation for the DIG. He added that the police had already vacated a portion of Mandi Board building that housed Kotwali police station.
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Missing boy found dead in canal
Abohar, October 30 Mohit, a student of Greenland Public School, was a grandson of Mr Tara Chand Garg, a wholesale dealer in wooden material and jute. The parents said Mohit left the house located in Street 15 of the Nai Abadi locality on October 26 at 6.30 p.m. to buy sweets from a small shop. Search was initiated after half an hour. People were informed through public announcement but Mohit could not be traced. The parents informed the city police station but the authorities preferred to record the complaint as a DDR instead of an FIR. However SSP Sudhanshu Srivastava, along with SP (D) Harjinder Singh, visited the locality next day. The police questioned some migrant residents of the neighbouring streets but was not inclined to believe that it was a case of kidnapping. No telephone call for ransom was received. Some residents of Daulatpura village noticed the body floating in the canal this afternoon and informed Khuyiansarwer police station. The police recovered the body near Diwankhera village. The Garg family immediately identified it.
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SGPC member shot dead
Hoshiarpur/Jalandhar, October 30 Kuldip Singh Chakk, who had won as an independent candidate in the last SGPC elections and was said to have re-joined the SAD (after his election, was shot dead by the miscreants from point-blank range as he was about to enter his residence in his car at about 7 p.m. Before leaving for his village, he had a meeting of some Akali leaders of the area at Mukerian in the afternoon. Mr Paramjit Singh, DIG, Jalandhar, left for the village as soon as he got a message about the incident in the evening. Mr Lok Nath, SSP, Hoshiarpur, said though he was on his way to Mukerian and could not say anything at this juncture, information received by him pointed out that two motor cycle-borne miscreants had fired a volley of bullets at Chakk as the latter was entering his residence between 7 and 7.15 p.m.
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PCC chief against abolition of death penalty
Ludhiana, October 30 Talking to The Tribune here today, the PCC president also asserted that death sentence of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar should not be commuted as he had been found guilty of a heinous crime. He maintained that death penalty acted as deterrent against serious crimes against humanity. “If we do away with it, terrorist forces would strike with impunity and without any fear of getting severe punishment”, Mr Dullo observed. He observed, yesterday’s serial bomb blasts in Delhi had claimed sixty lives. “And once the culprits are nabbed and convicted some self-appointed custodians of the human rights would start pleading their cases”, he said, while condemning the overt and covert support of such organisations to the terrorist organisations. Lashing out at these organisations, he said, “most of these human rights organisation acted as overground operatives of the terrorists”. Mr Dullo pointed out, while these human rights organisations had always been crying hoarse over the pardoning of the terrorists like Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, they kept quiet on the yesterday’s bomb blasts. “Let me ask these self appointed custodians of the human rights why they go missing when innocent people get killed at the hands of the terrorists”, he asserted. The PCC president maintained that in Muslim countries there was less crime compared to that in India because the punishment was always severe there. He said, strict laws and sever punishment including the death penalty act as strong deterrent against the heinous crimes. He maintained that the Punjab Congress would always oppose abolition of capital punishment as it would only encourage terrorists and anti-national forces who are killing people with impunity. He asserted, “the terrorists and anti-national forces do not deserve any mercy”.
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PAU told to produce seed of hybrid varieties
Gurdaspur, October 30 However, there is hardly any area under these hybrid varieties because seed for these varieties was not available to farmers of the state. The PAU should make efforts to produce seed of breeder and hybrid varieties. It should leave production of seed of pure-line varieties to registered seed producers. The Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) was also providing grants to the state agriculture universities for hybrid seed production. Mr Randhawa has also written that in list of the hybrid varieties produced by the PAU, he did not find even a single instance where bio-technology was used. The use of bio-technology in developing new seed varieties should be increased. Pesticide residues in the food grains, fruits and vegetables produced in the state continues to be higher. Due to it these are unacceptable to consumers abroad. The PAU has been asked to develop integrated organic farming packages for important crops. The produce under these packages should be got certified as organic produced and exported at a premium price. The requisite draft for organic farming law, organic standards and certification agencies should be prepared and sent to government for action. Almost all Bt cotton hybrids released last year were developed by seed companies from south India. The PAU has been urged to enter into an agreement with Monsanto for use and Bt technology and cotton hybrid suited for conditions in Punjab. The university has also been urged to develop seed wheat varieties that are immune to Karnal bunt disease. The predominantly used varieties of wheat used in Punjab including PBW343 and PBW502 have low protein content. They cannot be used for making bread. Durum variety is high in protein content. However, the area under its cultivation was very low. There was no need to waste resources on varieties for rain-fed conditions. Instead varieties, resistant to diseases and high in protein content, should be developed. These varieties can be exported. The university has also been asked to submit a draft research and development plan for the next 10 years keeping in view the diversification and other needs of the state farmers.
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Akalis challenge development claims
Chandigarh, October 30 Former Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the Congress was running the government on borrowed money and the state debt had risen to an all time high of Rs 22,000 crore. The state was surviving on loans from Hudco, Nabard and State Bank of India. Former Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal challenged Captain Amarinder Singh to order an immediate general election to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to test his claims on his government’s credibility on corruption and development. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the ministers — Mr Jagjit Singh, Mr Surinder Singla and Mr Pratap Singh Bajwa — should tour mandis and see for themselves farmers waiting for weeks to sell their produce at below the minimum support price. The Finance Minister should speak to the traders and learn about delay in the refund of VAT. Mr Sukhbir Badal said he had failed to understand: “Why hundreds of crores worth of liquor auctions were hustled through in just 20 seconds? Why profit-making public sector concerns like the Punjab Tractors were sold for a song? Why a soft policy had been adopted against the Chief Minister’s son, Mr Raninder Singh, despite documents available to prove his involvement in international money laundering? What happened to the Ravi Sidhu case?
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Mayawati exploiting Dalits: Kainth
Phillaur, October 30 Addressing a district-level rally at Phillaur yesterday, Kainth alleged that almost all political parties, including the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, were politicising the Dalits’ issues only for their own selfish political interests. Alleging the Congress-led state government as an anti-poor government, Kainth alleged that the government could not protect the interests of the poor, Dalits,small farmers, traders, shopkeepers, employees, besides several other categories. Kainth appealed to all common people to come under the banner of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha to protect their interests. He alleged that atrocities on Dalits were increasing day by day, but neither the Congress nor the SAD were helping the Dalits.
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SAD(A) panel to probe Satlani case
Amritsar, October 30 Bhai Ram Singh, general secretary SAD (A) and Mr Harpal held a joint press conference here today. They said the two-member committee would comprise Mr Daya Singh Kakkar, District President (Rural), and Mr Sawinder Singh Kot Khalsa, District President (Urban). Bhai Ram Singh said the committee would submit its report within 24 hours and future course of action would be decided on the basis of report. Mr Harpal Singh said they had filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court besides approaching the Human Rights Commission and Home Ministry. He said Baba Satlani had no faith on district and police administration. He opined that only a CBI inquiry could bring the whole truth out. Meanwhile, the SAD (A) criticised Mr Parkash Singh Badal, SAD (Badal) chief, for visiting Dera Saidpura near Mehta. Bhai Ram Singh said Mr Badal and his family was promoting dera culture, which was against the Sikh tenets.
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SAD(L) postpones Delhi rally
Jalandhar, October 30 The “insaaf” rally has been postponed in view of the serial bomb blasts in the Capital.
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SAD postpones Nov 4 dharna
Chandigarh, October 30 Party chief Parkash Singh Badal said the blasts were an attack on the country. He also expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families.
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Delhi blasts cowardly act: SGPC
Amritsar, October 30 Criticising the dastardly act, Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, expressed condolence and sympathies for the dead and injured and urged the government for sufficient compensation to the aggrieved families. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) held a protest against the bomb blasts in Delhi. The effigy of terrorism was also burnt. Mr Kamajit Singh, state secretary of the ABVP, said the government should act strictly against the perpetrators of the crime. He demanded that security forces must be given additional powers to deal with the terrorists.
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Police vigil intensified
Batala, October 30 Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, appealed to the general public to keep vigil around their commercial establishments and avoid visiting congested places.
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Punjab to reward crime detectors
Chandigarh, October 30 The team that investigated the non-resident Indian (NRI) Jassi case, which led to the conviction of seven of 11 accused persons may be considered for such an award. Says the Director-General of Punjab police, Mr S.S. Virk, “Idea is to encourage professionalism in the force. Solving a case is not enough. Each investigating officer has to gather irrefutable evidence corroborating prosecution theory to get the accused prosecuted”. Attractive prizes, in cash or kind, and an elevation in the rank to both the best detectors and investigators, or substantial cash prizes make policemen in police stations more professional. There was a need to bring in a new police Act. The proposed Punjab Police Act should be in consonance with other states. On recruitments in the force, Mr Virk said that district selection boards would be set up and the district police chiefs would make the selections. We are also going to appoint at least one computer-savvy constable in each of 300-odd police stations in the state. All such constables will be required to give an undertaking for working in the range on computers for at least five years. On sportspersons quota, he said some posts of constable may be surrendered and posts of Deputy Superintendent, Inspector, Sub Inspector and Assistant Sub-Inspector created for outstanding sportspersons. “Outstanding sportsmen, who have suffered in the recent past because of technical flaws in their recruitment and promotions, will be duly recognised and rewarded.”
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Minister grabbed panchayat land, alleges ex-sarpanch
Bandala, October 30 He alleged in his complaint that the Excise and Taxation Minister had also got a fake case of murder registered against him (Sham Singh), which was later proved baseless. He had further said that Mr Sardool Singh had fraudulently transferred the Panchayat land but the police had been harassing his son. Mr Sardool Singh, however, said here yesterday that Mr Sham Singh, who is also a District Secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), had levelled baseless allegations against him. He said that no land had been transferred in his name or any other member of his family, including his wife and brothers. The minister said that the 40-kanal land about which false allegations were levelled against him was actually a pond and now being used as sewage by about 7,000 people living in the area. Commenting on the statement of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President SAD, demanding his arrest and sack Mr Sardool Singh said that Mr Badal was a seasoned politician and he should have first confirmed the facts before going public. He said that the Akalis were bent upon tarnishing the image of Congress party by levelling baseless allegation as it (SAD) had no agenda for the next Assembly elections.
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Rule of law missing in J&K: Mann
Phagwara, October 30 Talking to newsmen here, Mr Mann wondered at the anomaly of the ground realities in J and K. While India’s foreign and defence policies were
Kashmir-centric, yet the legislators of J and K did not have the legal and constitutional right to discuss and debate the Central policies in the state Assembly, he pointed out. After visiting the quake-hit areas, especially Sikh populated areas along the LoC and at an altitude of 14,000 feet, Mr Mann alleged that Sikhs were discriminated against both by Central and state governments in the matters of distribution of aid and relief since Sikhs were small in numbers. He particularly mentioned in this regard Tarboni and Sambalpora villages in Tangdhar area along the LoC.
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3 CMs to receive golden ‘palki’ for Nankana Sahib
Amritsar, October 30 The “palki” would be received by three Chief Ministers — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Capt Amarinder Singh and Mr Parvez Illahi of Haryana, Punjab and Pakistan Punjab, respectively. Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, president, talking to The Tribune said the “palki” would be installed on November 29 after traversing more than 700 km. The gold palanquin is being prepared by workers of Punjab and Benaras having long experience in gold plating and floral designs at many religious places. With a frame made of teakwood more than 15 kg of gold is to be fitted on it under the supervision of Baba Jagtar Singh.
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10-day crafts mela from Nov 7
Faridkot, October 30 The DC said craftsmen from 52 marketing centres, including Gangtok, Port Blair, Vijayawada, Agra, Jaipur, Rewari, Anantnag, Jammu, Panaji and Punjab would display their craft in the mela which is being held with the aid of the Union Textile Ministry. He said items like bedsheets, footwear, jewellery, sarees and leather goods would be available at the mela.
— TNS
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100 bags of DAP fertiliser seized
Ferozepore, October 30 Sources in the Agriculture Department revealed that the local farmers were purchasing the DAP fertiliser at a subsidised rate of Rs 467.50 per bag, which was then smuggled to Rajasthan and some other places where it was sold at much higher rate. In another case yesterday, the police arrested two persons and seized 203 bags of fake DAP fertiliser from their possession. According to the information, a team of the Agriculture Department noticed bags of the DAP being carried in a truck near Zira. The officials followed the truck and stopped it after a chase. When the team checked the bags, they found that the entire stock of DAP was fake. The driver of the truck said that he had brought the stock from the residence of Harjinder Singh, son of Teja Singh, of Ghod village, near Zira. The Agriculture Department officials, along with a police team, raided the place and found another consignment of 93 bags of fake DAP stocked there. A case was registered at Zira police station. Earlier, after a meeting held with the representatives from the Agriculture and Cooperative Departments, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.C. Thakur, had written to the Police Department to erect police barriers at places like Gumjal, Rajpura and Kalarkhera situated along the Rajasthan-Punjab border near Abohar to check inter-state smuggling of DAP fertiliser.
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3 held, 90 kg of poppy husk seized
Sangrur, October 30 Mr Harinder Singh Chahal, SSP, Sangrur, said here today that the Khanauri police had put up a naka at the Ghaggar, bridge, near Andana village, the previous day. During checking of vehicles, the police party seized 90 kg of poppy husk from an Indica car and arrested Ranjit Singh, Karam Singh and Jagsir Singh, driver of the car, all residents of Barnala and occupants of the car. The car was also taken in possession. A case under Sections 15/61/85 of the NDPS Act had been registered against them at Khanauri police station, the SSP added. Mr Chahal said that Ranjit Singh had been awarded 10 years’ imprisonment in a case under the NDPS Act in the past. He was on bail nowadays. The SSP said during the “anti-intoxicant drive” of the district police, the Malerkotla police had also seized 85 kg of poppy husk from Avtar Singh, a resident of Momnabad, some days ago.
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Gang of robbers busted
Phagwara, October 30 A press note today said that those arrested were in a stolen car and identified Sonu of Mule Chowk, Jatinder Kumar, alias Sonu Dilliwala, of Islamabad, Jaswant Singh, alias Bhaddar, Gurmit Singh, Gillanwali Gate (all of Amritsar) and Ashok Kumar of Sat Kartar Nagar, Chhehrata, in Amritsar district. The arrest was made during a naka in the Chaheru area by SI Inderjit Singh of the special staff and Lakhwinder Singh Mall, SHO, Sadar police station, Phagwara, on a tip off. They told the police that their leader was Sanjiv Kumar, alias Sikka, of Gillanwali Gate, Amritsar. Sikka was undergoing life term in Amritsar jail in a murder case.
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MG College shines in university zonal youth festival
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 30 The session was presided over by Dr Satinder Kaur Dhillon, Dean, Faculty of Education, Panjab University, member of the senates of all the three universities and Principal of Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh. Where as Dr S. Radha, Additional Director, Lincoln College of Law, welcomed the chief guest. Dr Dhillon appreciated the effort of the management, staff and students of the Lincoln college for organising this event. In group song competition, Government College, Mohali, came first, J.L.N. College for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh was second. In geet gazhal competition Government College, Mohali was first, Shivalik Institute of Education and Research, Mohali, was second. In giddha competition RIMT College of Education, Mandi Gobindgarh came first, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib was second. In classical instrumental percussion Government College, Ropar, stood first, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib was second. In classical instrumental non-percussion, Divya Shiksha Gurukul College of Education, Sitarpur and Government College, Mohali came first, Government College, Ropar was second. In classical vocal competition Lincoln College of Law, Fatehgarh Sahib was first, Government College, Ropar was second. In folk instrument competition, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib was first, Government College, Ropar stood second. In Collage making, Chandigarh College of Education for Women, Landran and Shivalik Hills College of Education, Anandpur Sahib was first, Doaba College of Education, Ghatour and Shivalik Institute of Education and Research, Mohali, stood second. In poster making Government College, Mohali and Lincoln College of Law, Fatehgarh Sahib was first, Divya Shiksha Gurukul College of Education, Sitarpur and Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib stood second. In cartooning competition Chandigarh College of Education for Women, Landran and Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib came first, Divya Shiksha Gurukul College of Education, Sitarpur and Government College, Mohali was second.
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Governor for quality education to poor
Nabha, October 30 Addressing the 45th Founders’ Day function of Punjab Public School here, General Rodrigues said 260 million people in the country were living below the poverty line and it was their responsibility to upgrade their lives. He said the bulk of students in public schools came from privileged sections and they did not get the chance to mix with children from the lower strata of society. General Rodrigues further said as per the latest analysis, India was growing into one of the world’s leading economies and other nations were looking at the country as a resource bank for a committed workforce. He said the country had a huge talent, potential and resources. He asked educationists to work with commitment, competence and new initiative to give India the knowledge edge. Emphasising the need for conducting a performance audit and continuous analysis of the record, he said the approach would help making schools progressive institutions.
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