Jalandhar, September 14
Even as the leaders of a political party encroached upon a road right in front of the District Administrative Complex two days ahead of a rally without taking due permission, the local administration is taking a lenient view of the situation.

One side of the road was blocked by the leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar) last evening when poles for putting up tents were erected. Only two-wheelers could pass through the road, while four wheelers had to take the opposite lane.

This morning a temporary wall was constructed on the side of the lane with plastic sheets so that no one could pass through it. The huge pandal was set up for a rally to be addressed by the party president, Mr Devi Dass Nahar, at 2 pm tomorrow. The rally is being projected as a “historic and decisive rally by the poor” for which supporters from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are said to be converging.

Even as commuters are being forced to take the diverted route or the opposite lane, the administration and the police officials who have their offices right in front of the blocked road do not seem to have taken a note of it.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr A. Venu Prasad, when asked about it said that he was not sure whether permission had been taken in this regard. He said that his GA could be contacted for any details. The GA, Mr Rahul Gupta, said, “How can anyone be given permission for blocking the road? The political party leaders wanted to lodge their protest. We cannot stop them from expressing their feelings.”

The officials clearly seemed to be shirking their responsibility over the issue. But the commuters were unhappy. “How will we be able to go through this route or enter the administrative complex tomorrow when hundreds of supporters would jam the road with their trucks and mini buses?” an employee of the DC office asked.

Mr Gurpreet Sahni, a resident of Preet Nagar, asked, “If the administration or police takes a lenient view of it now, what will happen in the coming times with poll fever catching up fast?” He added that such a violation should be dealt with strictly or everyone would start encroaching upon a road for a function or a programme.

Mr Devi Dass Nahar, party president, when contacted, said that he was expecting a huge rush, and to accommodate the rush, huge tents had to be erected.

When asked about the road blockade, he said that one lane of the road had been left for passersby. He added that he never wanted to create any problems for residents.

Kapurthala, September 14
Ignoring the objections raised by the Taraksheel Society, the Army is continuing with the services of Sepoy Harbhajan Singh of 23 Punjab Regiment and even granting him ‘promotions’, though he had died 38 years ago. It is also ceremoniously bringing his ‘soul’ to his house at Kuka Talwandi village for two months’ leave beginning from September 15.

All this has been continuing for several years and the family members of Harbhajan Singh also wait anxiously for ‘his arrival’, said his niece Dalwinder Kaur.

She said that the ‘soul’ was being brought to Jalandhar by some Armymen travelling by Dibrugarh Express train. It is supposed that the ‘soul’ of Harbhajan Singh still patrols the border. The ‘soul’ has not only been given the rank of Honorary Captain but also the ‘soul’ is being sent on two months’ leave to the sepoy’snative village Kuka in Kapurthala district along with orderlies and with all military honours.

This practice has been going on for more than the past three decades and Sepoy Harbhajan Singh is now worshiped as Baba Harbhajan Singh. On October 4, 1968, North Bengal and Sikkim were having heavy rainfall. Sepoy Harbhajan Singh of 23 Punjab Battalion was accompanying a mule caravan when he fell into a stream and died.

His loss was reported, but search parties could not find him. On the fifth night of his disappearance, his colleague Pritam Singh had a dream whereby Harbhajan told him the exact location of his fall. 
When other officers also started having the same dream they searched in the areas told and found his remains.

A samadhi was constructed for him at Chhokya Cho. Harbhajan continued to appear in the soldiers’ dreams, warning them about various activities along the border. Chinese soldiers have also reported seeing him. The Indian Army, as a mark of respect, has built a gurdwara near his samadhi where he has earned the title of Baba. He was not struck off the rolls and was promoted as an Honorary Captain. He also enjoys two months of leave from September 15 to November 15. His orderly escorts him to the station where a berth is booked in his name.

He is still on the payrolls of the Army and every month his paycheck is sent diligently to his widowed mother Amar Kaur still living in the village with her other family members. He travels the Indian railways on a ticket booked for him. An attendant carries his belongings to be handed over to the regiment posted in his home town. And when his ‘spirit’ is rejuvenated by the smells and memories of his land, he is back at his post, sharp, alert and ready for duty, it is claimed.

The Taraksheel Society had taken a strong notice of the entire issue some time back, and its representatives stated that the whole issue was not only a matter of ‘superstition or faith’, it was also connected with the security of the country. They had demanded an inquiry into the whole matter to find out the truth.

The society had offered to pay Rs 1 lakh to anyone who could prove the identity of the ‘spirit’ of Sepoy Harbhajan Singh.

Phagwara, September 14
Tension prevailed near a college campus in the nearby Mehtan village on the National Highway No 1 last evening when two groups clashed. It is reported that there were a few outsiders supporting a group of the students.

It was also reported that the students of one group opened fire in the air to create panic.

One college lecturer and three students of the college sustained injuries in the group clash. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

According to reports received here today, a few students were celebrating the birthday party of a student and taking non-vegetarian eatables and intoxicants, when one student Deepak objected. He is reported to have opened the window of the college room. This infuriated the students of the other group that led to a scuffle between them.

It was learnt that after the closing of the college, the students came out of the college and the dispute took an ugly violent turn, when a few supporters of one group came in a Gypsy and opened fire in the air.

However, the Sadar police station SHO Lakhwinder Singh Mall, after recording the statements of both the groups, started the investigation into the incident. 

Phagwara, September 14
The Phagwara police headed by ASP, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, arrested a villager Mohan Lal of nearby Rehana Jattan village on the charges of cheating people in different districts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The accused was impersonating as a CBI officer and sometimes as the principal of a reputed college. He has been arrested under Sections 419/420/465/467/468/471/472/473/474 of the IPC.

The ASP, while confirming the arrest, said the police party had raided his house in the village and seized several fake documents, including fake identity cards of CBI, Punjab School Education Board, CBSE, UGC and even stamps used by some defence establishments. He said the accused was charging huge amount from the people to provide them fake degrees of different classes. He used to threaten them by posing as CBI officer and succeeded in getting huge amounts by blackmailing them.The gang of the accused was operating in Himachal Pradesh, and Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Kapurthala.