Phagwara July 15
Phagwara police has succeeded in busting an inter-district gang of ‘supari-killers’. A person, identified as Somnath has been arrested in this connection. DSP H.P.S. Khakh said a 12 bore country-made pistol and 2 live cartridges were recovered from the accused who was arrested near Panchhat T-Point here today.

The officer said during his interrogation Somnath confessed to his involvement in several crime cases in Phagwara, Banga, Goraya, Phillaur, Noormahal, Jalandhar and Nakodar.

It includes contract killing of one Buta Mohammad of Narur village in August last year. DSP Khakh said the other members of the gang have been identified as Joginder Singh alias Shinda, Mandip Singh a.k.a Deepa, Sonu a.k.a Langri, Satwant Singh alias Satta, Ram Lal, Chimani and Bittu. Somnath said his gang used to snatch vehicles, cash and jewellery from people at gun-point. — OC

Phagwara, July 15
Punjab police chief NPS Aulakh on Saturday said efforts were on to bring down the crime rate in the state. “Law and order would be maintained at any cost and no body will be allowed to disturb peace,” said Aulakh, while addressing mediapersons at DSP office here on Saturday. DGP, who was on inspection tour of Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts, disclosed that salaries of around 30,000 cops have already been released by the state finance department. The force has been directed to maintain round-the-clock patrolling in the cities. The department is awaiting funds from the Centre for upgradation of police stations and spruce-up of infrastructure, said Aulakh, adding that all police stations would be computerised. — OC

Dasuya, July 15
The acting president of SAD (B) Sukhbir Singh Badal along with minister for water supply and sanitation Bikram Singh Majithia inaugurated two water supply schemes at Beh Nangal village and Haler (Talwara), 80 km from here on Sunday. The schemes, costing around Rs 290 lakh, would provide potable drinking water to inhabitants of Beh Nangal, Beh Aata, Beh Dariya villages and Talwara town of Hoshiarpur district.

Citing details, Majithia said, “The water supply and sanitation schemes for 3,000 villages have already been prepared by the government. Out of the total expenditure, 90 per cent would be borne by the state government and the remaining by the village residents.

However, inhabitants of Kandi and Bet areas will have to pay only 5 per cent of the expenditure.”

The minister further said the World Bank promised assistance to the tune of Rs 1,280 crore for these projects. A portion of the money would be used for augmenting potable water supply schemes while the remaining would be utilised for providing sewerage facilities to more than 100 villages across the state. Apart from this, modern ponds would also be established in villages of the state, he added.