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Murder case registered after 1 year, 9 months
Hoshiarpur, January 12 According to police sources, Mr Kabul Singh, a retired Inspector of Punjab police, stated that on April 16, Baldev Singh, son of Mr Tarsem Singh of Chuglan, telephoned his son Satnam Singh in the morning and invited him to his village. But he refused to go. When Satnam Singh went to the fields, Baldev Singh again telephoned him at about 8 am, and the call was attended by his daughter-in-law who told him that Satnam Singh had left for the fields for sowing maize. Baldev Singh came to the fields and took Satnam Singh with him. Kabul Singh further stated that thereafter a telephone call was received by his family members from the house of Patwari Jasbir Singh. They were told that something had happened to Satnam Singh. The caller further said that Satnam Singh suddenly cried and then fell on the ground. They called the doctor, who administered some injection. On hearing the message, he (Kabul Singh) instructed them to immediately shift Satnam Singh to Chopra Hospital. On his instructions Balbir Singh and Taresm Singh of Dhugal village shifted Satnam Singh to Chopra Hospital, where he was declared dead. He said the body of Satnam Singh was cremated the following day. After cremation he went to the village of Baldev Singh to ascertain the cause of the death of his son. The matter was discussed in the village panchayat, where Baldev Singh shifted his stand again and again. On August 17, 2004 Kabul Singh filed a complaint with the police. He alleged that his son, Satnam Singh, had illicit relations with some girl due to which the aforesaid persons killed him. After inquiry, the case was registered.
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Suicide threat: notice issued to Punjab Govt
Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, January 12 The story published in today’s newspaper had highlighted the decision of the families of the youths, all trapped in Kuwait and Iraq due to unscrupulous travel agents. The family members have threatened to commit mass suicide before the offices of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi or the Chief Minister of Punjab, if the government did not immediately take steps for the safe release of the youths and launch a crackdown on such travel agents. The youths were reported to be in a bad condition, with the news item also pointing out the fact that as per reports emanating from Kuwait, about 80 youths from Andhra Pradesh have already committed suicide this year and two youths from Punjab had ended their life yesterday. A telephonic conversation with the some of the trapped youths had revealed the extent of their desperation. Each youth had paid up to Rs 1.50 lakh to travel agents, who had promised them jobs in greener pastures. The same agents were now threatening them with dire consequences if they approached the police. After initially doing menial jobs for the US Army in Iraq, these youths managed to flee to Kuwait, where they are now trapped for want of legal travel documents, which are allegedly in the possession of travel agents. Today, the Division Bench comprising Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar and Mr Justice S.S. Saron, while issuing notice of motion to the respondents for February 17, asked the Punjab Government to inform the court about action, if any, taken by it to check the nefarious activities of the travel agents.
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CM takes up trapped youths case with Kuwait Govt Chandigarh, January 12 The Punjab Police today started action against the travel agents, who had duped these youth. The work to trace the agents has already started, a senior police officer told The Tribune tonight. In the morning, acting on newspaper reports, the Chief Minister asked the police to prepare a list of the 40 youths. The police provided the Chief Minister with all details like the passport details of each of the youths, their address in India and also the travel agents through which they had gone aboard. A news report in The
Tribune had highlighted that the kin of 40 youths who had been cheated by agents and were trapped in Kuwait and Iraq had threatened mass suicide outside the offices of Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and the Punjab Chief Minister’s office in Chandigarh. These youth had been promised lucrative jobs in Kuwait but they were cheated and taken illegally to Iraq where they were forced to do menial jobs for the US Army. These youths escaped from
Iraq but were now trapped in Kuwait for want of legal travel documents, which were allegedly in the possession of travel agents there. Most of these youths hail from Doaba and Majha regions in the state. Two youths from Punjab had ended their lives in Kuwait two days ago. It was revealed that they had given up to Rs 1.50 lakh to travel agents, who were threatening them with dire consequences if they approached the police or the media.
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SGPC begins “Singh Sajo Lehar” at Maghi Mela
Muktsar, January 12 Talking to The Tribune, the gurdwara manager, Mr Jarnail Singh, said all arrangements had been made for accommodating devotees, who had started pouring in for the three-day Maghi Mela. He said local residents had offered spare rooms for lodging pilgrims, adding that 150 SGPC employees were requisitioned for managing the event. ‘Langars’ were being held in two enclosures at the gurdwara, apart from Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib, he added. A number of ‘pandals’ for political parties’ conferences were being erected. The Sikh Students Federation and the Tarksheel Society would join the Maghi Mela this time. The Akhil Bharatiya Bawaria Samaj Sangathan and the Bahujan Samaj Party would also hold a conference.
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Three of family die in mishap
Ropar, January 12 The mishap took place around 10 am when the bus, which was on its way from Batala to Chandigarh, hit the Sumo coming from the opposite direction while negotiating other vehicles. Krish Toffer, Sumo driver, died on the spot, while two others — his mother Nargis and son Nanu — died on the way to a Kurali hospital. Five other family members were injured seriously. Two persons passing by were also injured in the mishap. The injured — Toffer’s wife Abhigaya, his sister Anita, other relatives Urmila, Kiran and Neha and two passersby Krishan and Dharminder — were taken to the Civil Hospital, Kurali, but were later referred to the PGI in Chandigarh. Thirty three-year-old Krish Toffer along with other family members was on his way from Kharar to Amritsar to drop his sister Anita at the airport there. She had to board a flight for England. Anita had come to India along with her daughter, Kiran, to meet her family members two months ago, said Ajay Massey, brother of Anita. Gurmail Singh, driver of the bus, fled the spot after the accident. The police has registered a case against the driver of the bus for causing death due to rash and negligent driving.
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Five killed in road accident
Amritsar, January 12 A Punjab Roadways bus had a head-on collusion with a Maruti car coming from Hardwar in which three persons, Janmeg Singh, of the Putlighar area, Ajay Kumar (driver) and one unidentified person, were travelling. All the three were killed on the spot. The accident occurred at 12 noon. However, the bus went out of control and hit an Esteem car in which a couple, Harcharna Singh (advocate) and his wife, Mohanjit Kaur, of Jalandhar were travelling, killing them on the spot.
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Woman ‘abducted’ for marrying against kin’s wishes
Ludhiana, January 12 The family members had allegedly planned the abduction as they were upset at the out of caste marriage of their daughter against their wishes. The case reflects that inter-caste marriage still is considered a cardinal sin. The couple married in the Punjab and Haryana High Court two months ago but social circle of the woman’s family was not accepting the relationship. Raids were on to trace the woman, Ramanpreet Kaur, the Salem Tabri police has registered a case against her mother, Amarjit Kaur a maternal uncle and several other persons for kidnapping the woman. They have been booked under Sections 364, 120-B, 148, 149 of the IPC besides Sections 3/4/5 of the SC -ST Act. SHO G.S. Bains said the police had established communication with the alleged kidnappers, ‘‘The woman is safe so far” he claimed adding that her family seemed to be trying to prevail upon her to the relationship. The FIR lodged on the complaint of Harbax Singh, a relative of the woman’s husband, NRI Paramjit Singh, stated that the accused had come in a Tata Qualis car and kidnapped the couple from Shivpuri market last evening. They later released the NRI man but took his wife to an unknown destination. The accused abused the NRI and his relatives and made casteist remarks. They were booked under the relevant Sections of the SC-ST Act for making those remarks.
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Amar Singh’s effigy burnt
Kharar, January 12 The protesters gathered at the Civil Rest House and then marched towards the bus stand, raising slogans against Mr Amar Singh and other leaders of the Samajwadi Party. At the bus stand, they burnt the effigy. The march was led by Mr Jaswinder Singh Jassi, general secretary of the PYC. Traffic was disrupted for some time due to the protest. The PYC members later met the SDM, Mr Darshan Singh Sandhu, and presented a memorandum which was addressed to the Prime Minister. They demanded that the activities of leaders of the Samajwadi Party be exposed a strict action be taken against the guilty.
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Nankana Sahib bus: CM, others oppose restriction
Chandigarh, January 12 He told reporters that the stand of the Punjab Government had been conveyed to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. Meanwhile, the Akalis, the Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Mr M.S. Gill, and cricketer-turned-MP Navjot Singh Sidhu have reacted sharply to the restriction. The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, objected to the condition imposed by the Ministry of Home. He said: “This condition is unwarranted, mischievous and aimed at tarnishing the image of Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular all over the world. By imposing such restrictions, the government wants to discourage Sikh pilgrims”. Mr Badal termed this is as another instance of injustice with Punjab at the hands of the Congress-led Central Government. He urged the Prime Minister to immediately intervene in the matter. The BJP MP from Amritsar, Mr Sidhu, shot off a letter to the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil. He said the move meant that the people of Punjab were under a cloud of suspicion. He asked the Home Minister to repose trust in Punjabis. Mr Gill said he had taken up the matter with the Prime Minister. He said if the state had been removed from the “disturbed area” list, imposing a restriction such as security clearance was wrong.
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“Free from TB” certificates for dhaba workers
Sangrur, January 12 Mr Husan Lal, Deputy Commissioner, presiding over a meeting of the District TB Control Society here yesterday, further said procurement of “free from TB” certificates would be beneficial for the workers as well as the general public because a worker infected with TB could spread the disease among those persons to whom he served eatables. The meeting was held to review the progress of the revised national TB control programme (RNTCP), aimed at controlling the spread of TB in the district. The Deputy Commissioner stressed upon the need for awareness about TB and the RNTCP among the masses, especially in slums and rural areas, as these areas mostly remained neglected. He also said public awareness seminars on TB would be organised in high-risk areas like factories, brick kilns, hotels and restaurants to educate the masses. Dr Nirpal Singh, Civil Surgeon, said TB patients should be motivated and compelled to complete treatment as an incompletely treated or untreated patient could infect between 10 and 15 healthy persons every year. Dr O. P. Khangwal, District TB Officer, emphasised on the need to rule out TB in all persons having persistent cough for more than three weeks or fever, loss of appetite, loss of weight or
vomiting of blood while coughing.
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Kenyan missionary refused entry into Pakistan
Wagah, January 12 Mr Zuma, after being sent back, said he was turned back because he told the Pakistani officials about the purpose of his visit that is attending the Ahmadiya conclave in Qadiyan. Otherwise, he said, there was no reason in refusing entry as the same passport was cleared by the Indian authorities. He said he had arrived in the subcontinent in an Pakistan airlines flight as well. A missionary with a charitable organisation in Nairobi, Mr Zuma happened to attend Ahmadiyan conclave by chance. "I was in Amritsar when somebody told me that the conclave was going on at Qadiyan and I should attend it". He said they (Pakistani officials) were harassing him without any reason. Ahmadiya is a persecuted community in Pakistan. Followers of the community are harassed by the fundamentalists and the state as well. Even their passports bear the mark of NM meaning
non-Muslims while they believe themselves to be a part of Islam.
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Protest against retrenchment
Sangrur, January 12 The workers were protesting the removal of 16 daily wage workers of Warehouse Centre II, Sunam, and the alleged non-payment of four month’s wages to the retrenched workers. The protesters raised slogans against the Warehouse management, demanding reinstatement of the workers and release of wages. The activists and members of the unions have also been observing a relay fast since January 3, in support of their demands in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here. On the 10th day of the relay fast today, Mr Kulwant Patran, Mr Bhajan Samana and Mr Jaipal observed fast. The union leaders warned to intensify the stir if their demands were not met soon. They also announced that the union would also oppose the visits of ministers and elected representatives to the town. Among others who addressed the rally include Mr Swapan Mukherjee, secretary of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Mr Raghbir Singh Jawandha, state secretary of the AICCTU, Mr Harbhagwan Bhikhi, state secretary of the Punjab State Warehouse Workers Union (AICCTU), Mr Bhagwant Singh Samao, state secretary of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, Ms Jasbir Kaur Natt, state secretary of the Democratic Employees Front (DEF), Mr Baljit Badrukhan, a leader of the Technical and Mechanical Services Union, Mr Sukhdarshan Natt, general secretary of the DEF, Master Tarsem Lal, district general secretary of the Democratic Teachers Front, Mr Sher Singh Farwahi, state president of the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha, and Mr Harbans Sonu, a leader of the Lok Sangram Morcha.
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Residents protest lack of basic amenities
Hoshiarpur, January 12 Mr Ganga Parshad, former Municipal Councillor of the area, said this mohalla, which comprises Ward Nos. 6, 16 and 17 and has a population of more than 8,000 consisting of mainly Dalit, Bazigar, Gujjar communities and migrant labourers, still lacked basic civic amenities. Though the area had developed into a residential colony about 25 years ago, the council did not bother to provide any civic amenity here. This indifference had turned the entire locality into a slum. In the absence of sewerage and proper drains, sewage water, emitting foul smell, of the area and from the adjoining localities of Fatehgarh and Rahimpur, overflowed causing a lot of inconvenience to the residents. The uncovered Ganda nullah, passing through the locality, was constantly posing epidemic threat. A young boy was drowned in this nullah about three years ago. He further said though 7 kanals had been left in the locality for the construction of a school for poor children about 10 years ago, but nothing had been done to set up even an elementary school. The council had not provided proper drinking water to this locality and the residents were dependent on non-potable water from hand pumps. He said the local Improvement Trust had established a residential colony adjoining Sunder Nagar mohalla. Similarly many other residents also aired their grievances. While pacifying them, Mr Ajay Mohan Babbi, president of the council, who was also present with the Executive Officer, and staff of the sanitation and engineering wings, suggested to form a mohalla committee to sort out the sanitation problem. He said the council would contribute Rs 1,000 and the residents would pay a similar amount to safai sewaks. Ms Santosh Chaudhry opposed this suggestion and did not allow Mr Pabbi to speak further. She said safai sewaks were being exploited in the name of mohalla committees. She spoke in favour of paying minimum wages to them. She also opposed contract sanitation system. She was accompanied by Dr Manjit Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Mr Avtar Singh, District Education Officer, and heads of various government departments.
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Protest against removal of workers
Sangrur, January 12 On the eighth day of the relay fast in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here, Mr Bansri
Singh, Mr Kulwant Singh and Mr Jaipal Singh Jawandha observed fast in support of their demands. Meanwhile, the union has also decided to organise a protest rally on January 12 in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here to compel the authorities to accept their demands. The union leaders on Tuesday also held meetings in different villages. The leaders of the union warned the government that if their demands, including reinstatement of 16 workers, who had reportedly been working in the godowns of the warehouse for the past several years, and payment of wages to the removed workers for four months, were not met soon, they would not remain silent and would continue their struggle to get justice for the removed workers.
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PSHRC wants report on
custodial death
Chandigarh, January 12 Taking cognizance of the reported custodial death, the commission asked the Home Department, the DGP (Railways) and the DC and the SSP of Patiala to submit reports by the next date of hearing-February 17. The Division Bench of the commission comprising Mr B.C. Rajput and Justice R.L. Anand directed the authorities to submit documents, including the inquest, magisterial inquiry report, detailed report of the SSP, Patiala, and a report regarding the cause of death. Meanwhile, a 12-member fact-finding committee of the SAD, led by Mr Nirmail Singh Jaula Kalan, an SGPC member, met at Derabassi today and reiterated its demand for a judicial probe into the circumstances leading to the death. Former Minister, Kanwaljit Singh was also present at the meeting. They demanded the registration of a case against the guilty police personnel under Section 302 of the IPC and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. The committee decided to announce the future course of action on January 15, the day of the bhog of the deceased. Meanwhile, the committee said the DC had assured the members that a magisterial inquiry would be ordered. Gurmail allegedly died in the custody of the
GRP. He was picked up by the police in connection with the finding of two bodies near the tracks at the Ghaggar railway station, near here, on December 31.
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Memorandum against Kashipur incident
Hoshiarpur, January 12 In the memorandum they demanded due compensation for the demolished houses of Punjabi Sikhs of Kashipur, their rehabilitation, withdrawal of false cases, release of arrested Sikh farmers and strict action against the administrative officers responsible for demolishing their houses.
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Students from J & K visit Golden Temple
Amritsar, January 12 Mr Shyam Mehta, Assistant Commandant, in charge of the tour, said the children would visit the Golden Temple, the Durgiana Temple and watch the retreat ceremony at the joint checkpost at Wagah. In the second phase they would visit Chandigarh, Agra, Gwalior, Allahabad, Lucknow,
Muradabad, Delhi and Jalandhar. Mr Mehta said that this was the first time they had stepped out of their villages. He said the basic aim of the tour was to get the students to know about the rich cultural diversity of India, besides apprising them of the progress made in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
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Newborn girls given shagun at Lohri function
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 12 Dr Lal said: “If we want a healthy society, we must provide all sorts of facilities to women. It is unfortunate that in the present era women have become the enemy of women and wombs are being converted into graveyards.” He said the sex ratio in Fatehgarh Sahib had reached an alarming point. He appealed to social, religious and other organisations to come forward and help eradicate this menace. He said to make women aware about their legal rights, the Swyam Sidha Scheme had been introduced in 15 blocks of eight districts of Punjab. He announced a grant of Rs 11000 for the CDPO, Khera, Rs 5 Lakh for drains and streets of the village Khera Rs 1.70 lakh for ETT School and Rs 1 lakh for a Dalit dharmshala.
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Plea for protection of Dalit family
Mohali, January 12 Mr Shamsher Purkhalwi, president of the manch, said here today that Gurmeet Singh had been given a small piece of land from shamlat area by the village panchayat on compassionate grounds about 35 years ago. After much hard work Gurmeet Singh was able to construct a house on the land given to him. He said as the property prices had gone up, some influential persons of the village now wanted to grab the entire shamlat land. As such, they wanted to remove Gurmeet Singh from the area. Even though the village panchayat had made a complaint to the Block Development and Panchayat Officer and the SHO concerned in November, no action had so far been taken in this regard. In a letter to the Ropar Deputy Commissioner, Mr Purkhalwi demanded that the affected family be provided the much-needed help.
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Financial aid for cancer patients
Bathinda, January 12 A cheque for Rs 60 lakh was also handed over to Public Health Department officials for waterworks coming up at Talwandi Sabo. The officials were told to complete its construction at the earliest to provide clean drinking water to the residents.
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Work on bridge begins
Mohali, January 11 “Bhumi pujan” was performed before the start of the work which was attended, among others, by the Kharar MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, and the SDM, Mr M.L. Sharma. The bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 86 lakh and the work is likely to be completed before the onset of monsoons.
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Rape of daughter: man in police remand
Bathinda, January 12 Sources said the accused, Lakhbir Singh, a resident of Bhai Rupa village, was allegedly sexually exploiting his minor daughter for the past some time. But when she threatened to spill the beans before other family members he reportedly electrocuted her on January 5 and cremated her in a hurry. Her family got suspicious of the circumstances under which she died and her brother finally lodged a complaint against Lakhbir Singh on January 10. He was booked on the charges of rape, murder and destroying evidence.
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VB nabs two railway employees for graft
Bathinda, January 12 The Vigilance SSP, Mr Amrik Singh Waraich, said the complainant, Mr Shashi Kant Sharma, a Bathinda-based contractor, had approached the Railways for the refund of Rs 40,000 that he had deposited as security prior to taking contract for a work, which got over in November, 2005. The accused, Mr Surinderpal Singh, sought a bribe of Rs 3,000 for getting his amount refunded. The deal was struck for Rs 2,500 and he asked the complainant to hand over the amount to supervisor Darshan Singh at his residence. The Vigilance laid a trap and a team headed by DSP Jagdish Mittar raided the spot where Darshan received the money from the complainant and passed it on to the accused. The section engineer and the supervisor have been arrested and a case has been registered against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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PTI accused of attacking scribe, suspended
Bathinda, January 12 As per the order, he would report at Government High School, Gumti Kalan, during his suspension period. Romana along with his aides allegedly assaulted Mr Bhullar at Mandi Kalan village on Monday when he was there to cover a Lok Suvidha camp of the district administration.
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1 killed, 4 hurt in mishap
Bathinda, January 12 Sources said that the driver of the Gypsy, Mukhtiar Singh, died on the spot, while four other seriously injured occupants of the Gypsy were the reader of the DIG and three policemen. They were shifted to the local Civil Hospital. The body of Mukhtiar Singh was handed over to his kin after a post-mortem examination.
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Accused escapes from police custody
Batala, January 12 The accused was in the police custody and was to be produced in court today. The suspended police officials have been booked under Sections 223 and 224, IPC.
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