J A L A N D H A R

Seat Share
38-22: No real gains for BJP
Jalandhar, July 20
Even good performance by the BJP in the recent Vidhan Sabha elections could not fetch it a desired seat share in the forthcoming civic body poll in Punjab. Though fresh delimitation has increased the number of wards from 55 to 60 in Jalandhar, BJP has not managed to gain much in terms of percentage.

Akali and BJP leaders during a meeting in Jalandhar on Friday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Land not being acquired on Sutlej banks: Govt
Phillaur, July 20
Clarifying state government’s stand on the land requisition on the banks of the Sutlej River, Punjab chief parliamentary secretary Sarwan Singh Phillaur said no such process was initiated at any stage and it’s just a false propaganda taken out by the Opposition.

Hue and cry over Chahal: Ramoowalia raps Capt
Jalandhar, July 20
President of Lok Bhalai Party, B.S. Ramoowalia today said he was surprised at the way former CM Capt Amarinder Singh was making a hue and cry over the ‘maltreatment’ meted out to his media advisor BIS Chahal in jail.

Cops’ timely action averts group clash
Hoshiarpur, July 20
Timely action taken by the police averted a bloody clash between two groups over a plot of land at village Kattowal, here on Friday. According to police sources, Shiv Singh, resident of Mahilpur town along with his 22 accomplices, all equipped with sharp-edged and blunt weapons reached the village to take possession of a 5 kanal land from Jarnail Singh.

Kidnapped trader’s car recovered
Batala, July 20
The police today claimed to have recovered the cars of kidnapped Jalandhar-based trader Ashok Madaan and his kidnappers from different parts of Batala police district. District police chieif R.N. Dhoke said the police had recovered the abandoned car from the Batala bypass here.

Nullah a nuisance for residents
Nawanshahr, July 20
A nullah near the old grain market here is proving to be a great nuisance for the residents, courtesy apathy of the municipal council. The residents and shopkeepers allege that despite their repeated requests to the council, the nullah has not been cleaned.

Seat Share
38-22: No real gains for BJP
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 20
Even good performance by the BJP in the recent Vidhan Sabha elections could not fetch it a desired seat share in the forthcoming civic body poll in Punjab. Though fresh delimitation has increased the number of wards from 55 to 60 in Jalandhar, BJP has not managed to gain much in terms of percentage. The party’s seats have been increased from 35 to 38. An announcement in this regard was made by Akali leader Sewa Singh Sekhwan here at Circuit House today. He was presiding over a meeting of Akali, BJP MLAs.

The ward distribution is more or less clear. However, final decision on wards 2, 8, 26, 31, 35, 39, 47, 56 and 60 is still pending. Talking about the ward candidates, Sekhwan said, “Akali Dal candidates would contest from wards 1, 3 , 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 29, 37, 40, 41, 43, 45, 55 and 57. The rest are with the BJP.” Regarding the party’s poll campaign, Sekhwan said he and Gurdev Singh Badal would be the coordinators. The meeting was attended by MLAs, Sarabjit Makkar, Jagbir Brar and Avinash Chander, K.D. Bhandari and Bhagat Chunni Lal.

Land not being acquired on Sutlej banks: Govt
Our Correspondent

Phillaur, July 20
Clarifying state government’s stand on the land requisition on the banks of the Sutlej River, Punjab chief parliamentary secretary Sarwan Singh Phillaur said no such process was initiated at any stage and it’s just a false propaganda taken out by the Opposition.

He said the Congress party was raising the issue to mislead the farmers. As the state government has no plan for any project at the site so where does the question about requisition of the land arise, he asked.

Meanwhile, at the Sangat Darshan programme more than seventy complaints including non-implementation of pensions and shagan schemes went unsolved. All could Sarwan Singh do was to give assurance to the complainants.

He said the beneficiaries would get adequate benefits of these schemes and back log of the recruitment of the teachers will be looked into.

However, in a matter regarding a travel agent, he instructed the police to act against the travel agent who was not returning the money taken on the pretext of sending the complainant abroad. Later, the agent returned Rs 25,000 to the complainant.

Hue and cry over Chahal: Ramoowalia raps Capt

Jalandhar, July 20
President of Lok Bhalai Party, B.S. Ramoowalia today said he was surprised at the way former CM Capt Amarinder Singh was making a hue and cry over the ‘maltreatment’ meted out to his media advisor BIS Chahal in jail.

“He is pained at inhuman treatment given to Chahal while caring two hoots about the torture given to thousands of Punjabi youth languishing in foreign jails miles and miles away from their home. Chahal has not been looted. But these boys have first been duped of lakhs of rupees by unauthorised travel agents and then left at mercy in jails of Morocco, Algeria, Italy, Baluchistan and other countries,” he said. — TNS

Cops’ timely action averts group clash

Hoshiarpur, July 20
Timely action taken by the police averted a bloody clash between two groups over a plot of land at village Kattowal, here on Friday. According to police sources, Shiv Singh, resident of Mahilpur town along with his 22 accomplices, all equipped with sharp-edged and blunt weapons reached the village to take possession of a 5 kanal land from Jarnail Singh. The latter along with his supporters resisted the move and fired a shot in the air from his licenced rifle. However, before the situation could take an ugly turn, a police party reached the spot and rounded up Shiv Singh and his 12 aides. The rest managed to flee. Sources said the plot owner Resham Singh had asked a property dealer Anil Aggarwal alias Happy to sell his land. He had also reportedly handed over the power of attorney to Aggarwal. However, the possession of the land was with Resham Singh’s brother Jarnail Singh. The dealer sold the land to Shiv Singh and got the sale deed registered in his name. — OC

Kidnapped trader’s car recovered

Batala, July 20
The police today claimed to have recovered the cars of kidnapped Jalandhar-based trader Ashok Madaan and his kidnappers from different parts of Batala police district. District police chieif R.N. Dhoke said the police had recovered the abandoned car from the Batala bypass here which belonged to Ashok Madaan, a Jalandhar-based trader who was allegedly kidnapped from Jhandu Singha village under Adampur police station in Jalandhar district on the night of July 17 when three armed car-borne youths kidnapped him when he was coming from Hoshiarpur after collecting cash. He said the police also recovered another car from Nasar Ke village under Ghania Ke Banger police station this afternoon. He said a dog squad and the finger print bureau had been pressed into the service and lists of old criminals called for. The sketches of alleged kidnappers had already been released. He said that a red alert had been sounded in the district. — PTI

Nullah a nuisance for residents

Nawanshahr, July 20
A nullah near the old grain market here is proving to be a great nuisance for the residents, courtesy apathy of the municipal council. The residents and shopkeepers allege that despite their repeated requests to the council, the nullah has not been cleaned. The foul smell emanating from the place has made the life of the nearby residents miserable. Their woes are further aggravated during monsoons as the stream gets choked. “Though the town has been sanctioned mega projects to improve sewerage facilities, this part of grain market, is still deprived of basic amenities,” rued one of the residents. — OC