Amritsar, July 26
Even as the early morning downpour brought cheers to the faces of city residents, it spelled doom for septuagenarian Bans Kaur of the Maqboolpura locality as the roof of her house collapsed here today.

Age and prolonged illness had already left her infirm and incapable of discharging even her daily duties. She resides with her only son, a rickshaw-puller, his wife and two grandchildren.

The widow had lost her two sons to drugs, which has consumed a large number of breadwinners from the locality in the past one decade. This made the locality receiving the infamous tag of a “locality of widows.”

After heavy rain, the roof of a room of the two-room house collapsed. Luckily, the family was in the other room when the incident took place.

Bans Kaur receives a meager monthly amount in the shape of old-age pension. The paltry daily earning of her son is hardly enough to arrange two square meals a day for the family.

Mr Parminder Singh, general secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), told this correspondent that the party would extend monetary help to the old widow under the drug de-addiction campaign of the PPCC, launched by Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, president, PPCC.

Mr Raman Bakshi, executive member, PPCC, and a local municipal councilor, said they would visit the family and provide financial support to it.

Chandigarh, July 26
Mr Ravi Kumar Mehrotra continues to hold an Indian passport, despite having the headquarters of his company in London. He is one of the few Indians who has been conferred the honour of CBE of the British Empire by the queen.

Mr Ravi Mehrotra started his career as a middle-level service engineer in an Indian shipping corporation. He has many achievements to his credit. He invested huge amount of money in buying a cruise ship which can accommodate 300 tourists. He plans to use the cruis ship to bring tourists to historical places in India, including Punjab. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, has given a favourable response to Mr Mehrotra’s initiative in the execution of his plans.

His will also be exploring the possibilities of developing India’s shipping industry in association with the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Based on his life-long experience he also plans to write books on shipping to encourage young entrepreneurs to take up shipping as a profession.

Mr Mehrotra was invited by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) to invest in Punjab. He along with a team of senior officials visited Punjab. He showed great interest in setting up a charitable trust for providing free medical treatment to the weaker sections of the society and an educational promotion trust for bright but financially poor students.

Badal (Muktsar), July 26
Shunned by their sons and daughters-in-law, Pritam Singh (name changed) and his wife, left their home to spend the twilight years of their lives in this village’s old age home.

However, they had little hope that a few months later their kids would greet them back with open arms.

While some have truly reformed, the fear of being socially ostracized has compelled others to bring back their elders.

The Tribune discovered three such cases at the old age home here. Harnam Singh (name changed), a resident of Bathinda, came to the old age home when his family was looking for a match for his grand daughter. His son feared that if the fact about his father staying at an old age home became known, nobody would marry his daughter. Thus, they persuaded Harnam Singh to return.

In another case, fed up with his drunkard son, Darshan Singh (name changed), a retired teacher from Muktsar, came to the old age home seeking peace. Interestingly, it worked wonders, as after only a couple of days his son came to him and apologised for his misdeeds. He also vowed never to touch liquor again and brought his father home.

The manager of the old age home, Gurbax Singh, says: “Though the elders residing here face no problem, but then there is nothing like living with your family.” 

Chandigarh, July 26
Leaders of various Akali factions today accused the Shiromani Akali Dal chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, of misusing Akal Takht for his personal political gains and announced their intention to form a Panthic coordination panel.

A formal announcement will be made on August 4 at Fatehgarh Sahib, said Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, while addressing a joint press conference of these leaders here. He said: “The first priority of the Panthic panel will be to uphold the principles of Sikhism that are now being ruined “. The political aspirations of the panel might follow, he admitted, when asked about its role in the coming Assembly elections in the state.

Mr Calcutta, who was recently expelled from the SAD, was accompanied by, among others, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, a former chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, a former “Khalistan” ideologue, Mr Daljit Singh Bittu, and Justice Ajit Singh Bains.

Mr Calcutta and Mr Sarna claimed that various Akali factions like those headed by Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr Ravi Inder Singh and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann were represented at the meeting held here today. The meeting was also attended by the Dal Khalsa headed by Mr Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, the Khalsa Panchayat headed by Mr Rajinder Singh and representatives of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode.

Explaining the need for holding an emergency meeting of Panthic organisations today, Mr Calcutta said it was to condemn the manner in which the Sikh high priests had invited all ex-communicated individuals, groups and sects to rejoin the mainstream. This was a serious threat to the Sikh community, said the organisations.

Mr Calcutta gave an example saying the Gurus had issued edicts against groups like the Dhirmalias and Ram Rayias. It was beyond the purview of the Jathedar of Akal Takht to undo that edict. He also asked how the Nirankaris could be brought back into the fold. “The hukamnama to excommunicate the Nirankaris was passed after a full-fledged meeting and was drafted after due deliberation. Now the high priests are inviting everybody back into the Sikh mainstream. How is this possible without taking the opinion of the Sikh sangat?” asked the leaders.

The organisations also objected to reports that the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Joginder Singh Vedanti, was summoned to a meeting with the BJP chief, Mr Rajnath Singh, and SAD leaders. He was pressurised to withdraw the edict against the RSS, alleged Mr Calcutta.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr Harjit Singh Grewal, has clarified that Mr Rajnath Singh did not attend any such meeting in Amritsar.

Separately, speaking on the allegations relating to the golden palki sent to the Nankana Sahib gurdwara, Mr Sarna said there was no formal information from the Pakistan Government about the actual gold on the palki. It was made by Baba Jagtar Singh and he had given a letter stating the weight of gold. The same was handed over to the Indian and Pakistani authorities. An individual made the donation for the palki and there were no donations from the public.

Chandigarh, July 26
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, today said the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had been resorting to a disinformation campaign against his political opponents because the Akali leader was feeling frustrated due to the poor political response to him from people in the state.

Mr Dullo said “lies being told by Mr Badal” would never become the truth because the people of the state were well aware who was honest and who was the most corrupt political leader in the state. Mr Dullo said the statement made against him by Mr Badal yesterday was politically motivated and based on gossip. He said no court had ordered the registration of a case against him or any other Congress leader. “But Mr Badal, who appears to have developed Congress phobia, is out to spread lies against senior Congress leaders”, said Mr Dullo.

Talking to The Tribune here, Mr Dullo said that Mr Badal remained the Chief Minister from 1997 to 2002. “If there was any charge relating to corruption or disproportionate assets, why did Mr Badal not take any action against me?”, asked Mr Dullo. “In fact, Mr Badal as Chief Minister tried his best to book me and other former Congress Ministers but he did not find anything against us”, asserted Mr Dullo.

The PPCC president said Mr Badal appointed his relative, Justice H.S. Rai, the Lok Pal, who “indicted” certain former Congress Ministers. “Justic Rai had indicted me also without providing me with an opportunity to explain my position”. However, the then Governor, Mr B.K.N. Chhibber, disagreed with Justic Rai’s report, arguing that it was against natural justice not to provide any opportunity to the defendant to present his case, said Mr Dullo.

Later, that report of the Lok Pal, which was sent by the Governor to the Punjab Assembly, remained in the Assembly during Mr Badal’s rule for five years, but he did not take any action because “there was no substance against me in the report”, claimed Mr Dullo. “When we challenged the appointment of Justice Rai, the court upheld our plea and declared the appointment null and void”, said Mr Dullo.

“We had taken the plea that Mr Badal had appointed Justice Rai the Lok Pal to fix former Congress Ministers”, said Mr Dullo. “Moreover, Mr Badal had taken legal advice from his close confidant, who is a senior advocate in the Bar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to take action against us. However, the legal adviser put a note on the relevant file that there was nothing against me in the Lok Pal’s report”, said Mr Dullo.

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 26
Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, SAD, while addressing a press conference at the residence of SAD leader Kirpal Singh Libra cautioned the people against the “nefarious” designs of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, who along with others wanted to “loot” the people. He said this coterie had “hijacked” the economy of the state and was now grabbing the land of small farmers. Mr Badal was here to address the rally organised to activate workers for the elections.

He said the government had spent Rs 300 crore on advertisements in papers and electronic media about development where as this money could have been spent on development schemes.

Later addressing the rally, he said every section of society was annoyed with the government as the Chief Minister did nothing for them. He said the government withheld all welfare schemes initiated by the SAD. He said he had constituted a manifesto committee, led by Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, which would talk to every section of society and prepare the manifesto.

Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP, who was present at the rally, termed the Chief Minister “liar”.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh, a former minister, Mr Didar Singh Bhatti, Mr Kirpal Singh Libra, Mr R.S. Cheema, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal also addressed the rally.

Barnala, July 26
The Dhanaula police has solved the Kulwant murder case. Paramjit Kaur, Kulwant’s sister, was allegedly involved in the elimination plan as her brother was opposed to her relationship with Baljit Singh, alias Beeta.

Mr S.K. Asthana, SSP, Barnala police district said, the alleged killers Baljit Singh, alias, Beeta and Devinder Singh, alias, Daddu, were arrested the day they committed the crime.

Mr Asthana said Paramjit Kaur was married to Nachhattar Singh of Aspal Kalan village about 15 years ago and had two sons. Paramjit developed illicit relations with Baljit Singh four months ago.

Her husband died under mysterious circumstances last month. Paramjit was planning to get married with Baljit. Kulwant Singh was opposed to her relations with Baljeet.

Paramjit with the help of her paramour hatched a plan to eliminate Kulwant who ran a medical shop in Dhadrian village.

Baljit Singh along with his friend Devinder Singh waylaid Kulwant and attacked him with swords when he was returning home on July 13. Kulwant succumbed to his injuries on way to Dhanaula Hospital the same day.

Paramjit was arrested on July 16 by the Dhanaula police. All three alleged accused are in judicial lock up.

Nawanshahr, July 26
The sex ratio in the district has improved from 808 to 903 girls per 1000 boys, since the launch of the “ Medical as well as Social Auditing of Pregnancies and Births” campaign and awareness drive by the administration in October. Aimed at curbing the menace of female foeticide the campaign has shown success as per recent surveys in the district.

As part of the campaign the ultrasound centres were strictly scanned as per the PC/PNDT Act.

Also, to ensure medical auditing, ‘Social Auditing of Pregnancies & Births’, was launched. A complete record of information about pregnant mothers including, details of the months of pregnancy , expected date of delivery, children, age, visits by ANMs, telephone numbers etc., was computerised into a specially designed software.

The expectant mothers are specially monitored during the time they enter the second trimester of pregnancy and their general well-being is enquired about. 

Governor’s intervention in Dimpy case sought
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 26
Unhappy at the investigations into the murder of gangster Prabhjinder Singh alias Dimpy, the Akali Dal (Amritsar) president, Mr Simranjeet Singh Mann, yesterday urged the Punjab Governor to review the case at the highest level and come out with a progress report on the same.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Mr Mann said that he would wait for three days for a significant breakthrough in the case, following which, he would make his views public. He said that though Dimpy was murdered on July 7, no arrests had been made so far. “Though the police has got some clues in the case, a major headway is still awaited,” he rued. He said that Dimpy’s widow and friends had urged him to intervene in the matter.

Bathinda, July 26
A man died of a heart attack after thieves decamped with cash and jewellery worth over Rs 1 lakh from his Ganesha Basti residence here on Monday.

Sources said the thieves gained access into Ashwani Kumar’s home when he and his family members had gone to attend a religious programme at their relative’s place.

The thieves gathered gold jewellery and some cash lying in the safe before fleeing. Sources said when he returned home at midnight he found his door locks opened. As he reached inside he spotted some thieves running away. He tried to chase them and suffered a heart attack. Already a heart patient, Ashwani Kumar died soon.

The police has registered a case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC against unidentified thieves.

Meanwhile, the police has arrested a proclaimed offender wanted in a case of fraud. He has been identified as Raj Singh of Bajuana village in Mansa.

He along with Kuldeep Singh and Sukhwinder Kaur had reportedly duped Baljinder Singh, a resident of Bathinda, of Rs 2.4 lakh under the pretext of sending him to Canada. A case was registered against them under Sections 420 and 34 of the IPC on June 7, 2003.

Raj was declared a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in the court after securing bail in the case.

Abohar, July 26
Three children of brick-kiln workers were drowned near Hathianwali village on the Abohar–Hanumangarh road on Tuesday.

According to a report lodged at Sadulshahr police station, Mr Krishan Lal, owner of the brick-kiln, near Hathianwali, Suman (12) and Kalu (9), sons of Jeet Ram, and Rama (12), a daughter of Manphool Bawri, slipped into a 6-foot-deep water tank. They reportedly were trapped in the silt and could not come out.

The subdivisional authorities on Tuesday sanctioned an ex gratia assistance of Rs 10,000 each to the bereaved families.

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 26
With the strengthening of panchayati raj system as per the 73rd amendment, a new era of development in rural areas as well as remarkable improvement has been recorded in the working of those departments which handed over to panchayats. This was stated by Dr Harbans Lal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, while addressing a function organised to distribute honorarium to 187 sarpanches belonging to Sirhind constituency at the BDPO office, Sirhind, today.

All sarpanches were handed over cheques worth Rs 1,800 each as honorarium of three months.

He said by giving honorarium to the sarpanches the Congress party had fulfilled its election promise.

Dr Lal said initially six departments had been handed over to panchayats and the desired results were very fruitful and now the government was planning to hand over another six departments to panchayats.

He said Chief Minister had directed to complete the process of handing over honorarium within 15 days and in future it would be distributed regularly.

He appealed to the panchayats to rise above petty party politics for the development of their areas. He said the government had ensured that eight-hour regular power supply by spending crore of rupees.

Addressing the gathering, Mr J.P.S. Cheema, DDPO, said within six months Rs 12.5 crore had been given to panchayats in the district for various development projects.

Mr Gurwinder Singh Dhillon, Chairman, Block Samiti, Mrs Manmohan Kaur, Chairperson, Block Samiti, Sirhind, Mr Sandeep Verma, president, Rajiv Gandhi Vichar Manch, also addressed. 

Chandigarh, July 26
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the Punjab Home Secretary, DGP, Punjab, ADGP (Prisons), etc for August 4 on a PIL which seeks directions to release 31 Pakistani nationals who have completed their prison term but are still lodged in Central Jail, Patiala.

The petitioner, Chandigarh-based World Human Rights Protection Council (WHRPC) through its chairman, advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal, has stated that 19 of these prisoners have even lost their mental balance, which requires immediate treatment at the hands of specialists. The petition refers to a letter sent to Mr Lakhanpal by one such prisoner, Abdul Hamid.

The petitioner has asserted that the jail authorities and the government has not released the prisoners even after the order of April 26 of the High Court, which had ordered the release of all such Pakistani prisoners who had completed the prison terms awarded by the courts.

Today, the Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice H.S. Bedi issued notices and adjourned the matter to August 4 for further hearing.

DCs told to issue voter ID-cards from Sept 1
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 26
Setting the ball rolling for the Assembly elections in Punjab, the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr N. Gopalaswami, today said all Deputy Commissioners in the state had been asked to start issuing voters identity cards from September 1 and ensure that all voters get the cards by December 31.

The Election Commission will also insist that a voter must possess an ID-card to cast a vote in the coming elections. “We will expect a progressive state like Punjab to issue ID-cards to all its voters”, said the CEC. If West Bengal can provide 93 per cent of its voters with ID-cards, there is no reason why Punjab, with better facilities, could not achieve 100 per cent, he said. As of now only 42 per cent of voters in the state had ID-cards and the target was to have 100 per cent coverage by December 31, said the CEC, while addressing a press conference here.

Hartron, an agency that makes such cards, had been hired and it would send a team to each of the 117 constituencies of the state. The agency will take just 25 minutes to produce an ID-card of the person whose name figures in the electoral rolls. For those living in outlying villages, a photography team should be sent that would take photos of voters and issue a card.

Following an extensive revision, the new electoral rolls should be published on August 31 this year and objections, if any, could be filed after that.

The CEC refused to comment on political estimates that elections in the state could be advanced and added that “elections will be held at the right time”. For the first time in the state, it had been decided to have Booth Level Officers. This officer would ensure that every voter figured on the electoral list and he or she had an identity card, he added.

When asked about the report of the Delimitation Commission identifying new Assembly segments in Punjab or redrawing the boundaries of a number of other constituencies, Mr Gopalaswami said the report would only come into force after the President of India gives his nod.”

Regarding the pending complaints from states on elected representatives holding office of profits, Mr Gopalaswami said they were hearing all such complaints. At present there were about 250 odd complaints before the EC, he added. The complaints against of Punjab MLA’s was also being heard.

Faridkot, July 26
The Faridkot police today claimed to have solved a murder case within 24 hours of its coming to light. Three persons, including the wife of the deceased, have been arrested in this connection.

Addressing a press conference here, SSP Arun Pal Singh said the Kotkapura police got an information on July 23 that the decomposed body of a youth was lying near Dera Baba Nihal Das.

DSP Randhir Singh Uppal and SHO Nek Singh inspected the spot and the body was sent for a postmortem examination to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot.

The deceased was identified as Kulwinder Kumar, a resident of street No. 5 of old city, Kotkapura. As per the post-mortem report, he had died due to strangulation and an injury caused with a sharp-edged weapon. A case was registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC.

Investigation revealed that the victim’s wife, Neelam Rani, was having an illicit relationship with Darshan Singh, a driver staying in the Prem Nagar area of the town. Kulwinder was against their relation and the couple often had a fight over the issue.

Neelam and her paramour hatched a conspiracy to eliminate him. On the night of July 21, she told her husband that she had found a bag containing money and hid it in bushes behind the dera. She persuaded him to accompany her to the place to collect the bag. As he reached there, Darshan Singh and Satnam Singh, who were hiding there, pounced on Kulwinder and strangulated him before stabbing him in the neck.

Barnala, July 26
A woman allegedly committed suicide on Monday night over illicit relationship of her husband with his “bhabhi”. The police arrested her husband Hardev Singh and his “bhabhi” on the basis of a statement given by Darshan Singh, brother of deceased Charanjeet Kaur.

Despite registering an FIR in the case, no arrest had been made till a large number of men and women demonstrated in front of the office of the SSP office toady.

Darshan Singh told the police that he received a phone call from Hardev Singh that Charanjeet Kaur had consumed poisonous liquor last evening. He, along with village sarpanch Gurmail Singh and other persons, went to his sister’s residence at Thekreewala village. When they reached there he found his sister had died. He came to know that she consumed pesticides, not poisonous liquor as told by his husband on the phone.

He alleged that Hardev’s illicit relations with his “bhabhi” drove his sister to the extreme step.

A case under Sections 306 and 34 of the IPC has been registered.

Patiala, July 26
The local police have arrested two persons in connection with the murderous assault on Mr D.I.S Brar, Principal of Mohindra College, today.

According to Mr Vimal Kumar, SHO, Kotwali Police Station, the police picked up Shera Pandit and Kala Mainwala today morning. It is pertinent to mention here that the police had registered an FIR under section 307 IPC against six persons on a complaint filed by Mr Brar.

Later in the afternoon, the police produced the two accused in the court of the Illaqa Magistrate who sent both the accused to police remand till July 27.

Apart from Shera Pandit and Kala Mainwala, the others named in the FIR are Sandy, Kuldeep, Jagga Boxer and Jassi.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Government College Teachers Association (PGCTA) has condemned the murderous attack on Mr Brar. In a press release signed by Prof Jaipal Singh and Dr Hardeep Singh, president and general secretary of the Teachers Association, respectively, it was stated that ‘It is highly painful that such a heinous crime has been committed in a prestigious institution and that too in the city of the Chief Minister’.

Dr Hardeep Singh added that boycott of classes in Mohindra College will continue till all the accused in the case were nabbed.

The general secretary of Punjab College Librarians Association, Mr Barjinder Pal Dhiman, has also condemned the brutal assault on Mr Brar.

In another press release, the Old Students’ Association of Mohindra College has also condemned the attack on the Principal. In a press note signed by Mr M.S Salh, general secretary of the association, it was stated that thousands of old students of this 130-year-old institution of Northern India, spread all over the country and abroad, feel greatly hurt and humiliated over the attack. The association appealed to the Chief Minister to instruct the police to arrest all the accused.