Pathankot, October 15
The PSEB authorities have finally woken up to the threat posed by buildings constructed adjacent to their 132 KV line. The electricity board authorities have now issued notices to owners of all the buildings constructed under the high tension lines. In the notices it has been stated that their constructions were illegal and legal action could be taken against them. The legal action could amount to demolition of the buildings.

Recently, a worker of the KD eye hospital in Pathankot picked an iron sheet that touched the 132 KV cable crossing the roof. The worker was electrocuted and his body suffered more than 95 per cent burns.

Despite the fact that construction under high tension lines was illegal, no action was taken against the violator. The PSEB authorities claimed that they had submitted a police complaint against the building owners. However, the police authorities denied receiving any compliant.

The 132 KV power lines come directly from the Shanan power project of the PSEB in Himachal. The line was laid in the area in 1954. At that time there was no construction in the area. Encroachment on the area under the power lines is so blatant that even the area at the based towers supporting the lines has been encroached upon.

Moreover, any damage to the high tension lines disrupts power generation at the Shanan power project. This leads to generation loss worth crores.

The notices, which appear to be an eyewash, have allegedly been issued following criticism in the media over the death of a few persons due electrocution by these cables.

Earlier, similar notices were issued by the authorities but no action was taken. If the PSEB takes action, it would have to demolish hundreds of buildings in Pathankot city.

PSEB authorities when contacted said that the notices would at least prevent further construction.

Abohar, October 15
Mr Arun Jaitely, former union minister, and General Secretary of the BJP, today offered support to the UPA government in wedging a decisive war against terrorism.

He said the BJP would stand by the government if the latter decided to bring a Bill like POTA to fight terrorism. During a brief chat with the newspersons here this afternoon, he ruled out any possibility of bringing Ms Uma Bharti back to the party.

Earlier, addressing the gathering at Nari Shakti Sammelan organised by the BJP Mahila Morcha at Government Senior Secondary School here, Mr Jaitely said the UPA had not made even a minute reference to terrorism in its common minimum programme as its constituents preferred vote-bank politics to the security of the nation. It was unfortunate that some senior leaders of the UPA advocated clemency for the accused in the Parliament attack case.

The government had failed in ensuring a balance in the economy, never before farmers had committed suicide in such big numbers.

Mr Jaitely alleged that revengeful implication of political opponents had been one-point programme of Capt Amarinder Singh. He also accused him of amassing money by bringing major changes in the excise policy and through the shady real estate deals.

Gurdaspur, October 15
SSP Paramraj Singh Umranangal today suspended and arrested Head Constable Ranjeet Singh, who allegedly kicked a pregnant woman, Puja, in her abdomen and hit her mother Kamlesh Rani on the head with a baseball bat in Pathankot yesterday.

The police took action in case after the matter was reported in these columns. The SSP said a case under Section 452 of the IPC had been registered.

An inquiry into the case would be handed over to a senior officer and if found guilty dismissal from the service could be recommended for the constable, he said.

As reported earlier, Ranjeet Singh and his family members had a fight with their neighbours over the construction of a temple in the locality.

In the fight, the constable hit the pregnant woman and her mother, injuring them seriously. He also beat up other family members. The victims had to be hospitalised and their condition was reported to be stable.

Mann for CBI probe into Bhadaur case
Our correspondent

Barnala, October 15
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has demanded a CBI probe into the Bhadaur case. SAD (A) President Simranjeet Singh Mann today visited Bhadaur.

Expressing concern over the police brutality against the common man, he demanded a CBI probe into the entire incident. About 154 persons had been lodged in jails and eight were still missing, yet the Chief Minister was justifying the police action, he said.

Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal accused the civil administration of its indifferent attitude towards the injured persons lodged in sub-jail, Barnala, after the clash.

SAD MLA Malkeet Singh Keetu, after visiting the jail today, said presently 154 persons had been lodged in sub-jail. Of them about 40 persons were injured and required immediate medical attention.

Sangrur, October 15
Mr S.K. Goel, Special Judge, Sangrur, today awarded 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment each along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh each to Kala Singh (Tohana), Pritam Singh (Samana Bahu, Karnal) and Sewa Singh (Tohana) in a case registered against them under Sections 15 and 25 of the NDPS Act at Amargarh police station on June 21, 2004.

As per the prosecution case, on June 21, 2004 during a nakabandi near Bhim da dhaba, situated on Nabha-Malerkotla road, the police received secret information that a truck, containing 22 bags of poppy husk, was coming from Nabha to Malerkotla. The police also got information that the owner of the truck was Sewa Singh while Kala Singh was driving the truck and Pritam Singh was sitting with Kala Singh in the truck.

On the same day a truck was spotted coming from Nabha side and the police stopped it with some effort. The truck driver revealed that his name was Kala Singh and the other person Pritam Singh. The police searched the truck and found 22 bags, containing about 30 kg of poppy husk in each bag, in the truck.

Kala Singh and Pritam Singh were tried under Section 15 of the NDPS Act while Sewa Singh was tried under Section 25 of the NDPS Act.

About Sewa Singh, the owner of the truck, the judge observed in his order that Sewa Singh had not disputed his ownership over the truck in question and it was also in the evidence that he allowed his truck to be used by Kala Singh and Pritam Singh for carrying the contraband and therefore he was liable to be punished under Section 25 of the NDPS Act.

EDUCATION

Jobless teachers burn CM’s effigy
Tribune News Service

Ropar, October 15
Members of the unemployed B.Ed Teachers Front today took out a protest rally in the city and also burnt the effigy of the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, against the failure of the government to fill over 60,000 teachers’ posts in the state. They threatened that if the CM did not assured them jobs, they would start protest during his roadshow from Nangal on October 24.

Unemployed youths alleged that the CM and the Education Minister continued to befool the youths by making false promises of providing them jobs. But in reality, the state government failed to resolve the problems of the unemployed B.Ed teachers throughout the state.