Nawanshahr, June 1
There is some bad news for those commuting between Phagwara and Ropar or Jalandhar and Chandigarh regularly. The journey will become a costlier affair by next month, for two new toll barriers are being constructed on the route.

Coming from Phagwara side, the first barrier falls less that 1 km before Behram and the second is located at Narain village between Kathgarh and Ropar. The toll booths for both the sites have already been constructed and these are currently undergoing finishing process.

Nawanshahr PWD executive engineer D.S. Shahi, confirmed that both the toll barriers would become functional by next month. He, however, did not divulge any information regarding the charges that would be levied at the two points.

Explaining the reason why it was being implemented, he said the road had been widened and strengthened last year by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) and now the responsibility of its upkeep was being passed on to a private company.

But opening up of too many toll barriers in the region has become a major point of discontent among the residents. “The government has not set up any new flyover or done four-laning on the route, then why are we being asked to pay toll tax when we are not getting any new facility on the same road?” asked Manish Singal, working as an area manager with a private firm.

The residents of Hoshiarpur have already been upset over the issue, for they already have three new toll barriers in their district and would have to pass through another one between Kathgarh and Ropar in case they need to go to Chandigarh.

Harpreet Singh, a businessman at Hoshiarpur, said: “I often have to tour around the region. Too many toll taxes have increased my expenses. For one-way tour to Chandigarh, I was already paying a toll tax of Rs 10 at Kurali for the past five months. From last month, I am paying Rs 29 as toll tax between Hoshiarpur and Chakran and another Rs 29 at Majari village before Balachaur. From next month onwards, the expenditure is bound to go up from Rs 68 that I am paying on the road.”

The problem assumes serious proportions for those commuting between Chandigarh and Pathankot as they will have to pass through five barriers at Kurali, Kathgarh, Majari, Chakran and another one between Dasuya and Hoshiarpur.

Batala, June 1
SDM-cum-administrator, Improvement Trust, Batala, Sandeep Rishi, has been summoned by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the contempt of court. He allegedly disobeyed the undertaking given in the court and disobeyed its orders. He has also been summoned for a writ petition filed by those displaced in Khajuri gate area. The peitioners had sought their rehabilitation in the year 2005 and the HC had ordered the same. The HC has also summoned him for not removing unauthorised rehri market from ‘Leek Wala Tank Scheme’ of the Trust despite HC orders. SDM Batala, Sandeep Rishi, said the matter of Khajuri gate scheme was sub judice before the Civil Court because of which displaced persons could not be allotted shops. 

Phagwara, June 1
Food inspectors of the Kapurthala health department raided sweets shops here today after receiving information that these shops were selling adulterated sweets prepared in unhygienic conditions.

The team of health officials led by senior food inspector Ashok Nayyar also took samples of various sweets items from these eating joints for lab tests. The results of these tests will be made public after finding out if these are adulterated.

Yesterday, director of health services S.S. Gill had through a public notice prohibited them from selling milk and milk products after samples collected from the premises were found to be highly adulterated by senior food inspectors Meena Agnihotri and Jagtinder Singh. — TNS

Phagwara, June 1
A threatening letter received by a media person here today, claiming that Phagwara railway station, Jalandhar railway station, Ludhiana bus stand and a religious place in Phagwara will be blown up on June 8, has sent the security forces into a tizzy.

The media person informed the railway authorities and the police about the letter. Although the veracity of the letter is yet to be ascertained, terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba has allegedly sent the letter.

The letter has been written in Hindi. "Kareem Ansari" of Jammu and Kashmir has signed it.

Besides the threat to blow up Phagwara railway station, the letter threatens to carry out similar acts at different places, including Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The letter had been handed over to police officials.

Two such letters were also posted to the Phagwara railway authorities by the same terrorist outfit last year.

Following the receipt of the letter, security has been beefed up at the railway station. After the letter was received, police officials thoroughly scanned the station to ensure that no untoward incident took place.

Senior railway officials said they were aware of the content of the letter. "The letter has been handed over to the police officials. Our work is on and there has not been any change," an official said. 

Jalandhar, June 1
The judicial remand of SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann was today extended for two more weeks in connection with an alleged dishonour of former Punjab CM Beant Singh’s statue. Mann reportedly hung the portrait of ex-CM’s assassin Dilawar Singh around his neck on May 14.

Mann appeared before judicial magistrate Amrish Kumar Jain. He alleged that he was being embroiled in an illegal case. “The first FIR registered in the case was altered to include the section 124-A, accusing me of treason. I had not spoiled the statue. I wonder why such a serious charge has been levelled against me,” said SAD (A) chief.

Mann even raised slogans in favour of Dilawar Singh in the court complex. Alleging that an inhuman treatment had been meted out to him during his previous hearing, he alleged that SP Satinder Singh and DSP M.S. Bhullar did not even ask him for a glass of water or food. Correlating the dera controversy with his case , he said, “Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh had also disgraced the image of Guru Gobind Singh by dressing up like him but no inquiry has been marked into the episode. No arrests have been made and no orders have been passed by the state to shut down his deras.”

Later talking to the mediaperson, he blamed CM Parkash Singh Badal, his wife Surinder Kaur and his MP son Sukhbir Singh Badal for playing with the sentiments of the Sikhs. Around 20 supporters of Mann, including party secretary Daljit Singh Bittu were also present in the court complex.