J A L A N D H A R

Poll fever: Day of VIP rallies in city

Jalandhar, August 3 As a huge cavalcade, led by acting president of the SAD Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali big shots with their individual securities, moved past the city roads for 10 election rallies today, not only did it result in the model code of conduct violations, but also much inconvenience to the commuters.

Huge cavalcade of vehicles caused great inconvenience to commuters. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Assault on DDPO: 4 held
Batala, August 3
The Batala police claims to have arrested four persons including one Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) of Amritsar-New Delhi Swaran Shatabdi express for allegedly injuring DDPO Ranbir Singh on July 21.

Building bye-laws take a hit
Jalandhar, August 3
Even as the MC authorities seem to be looking the other way, a Congress candidate here is flouting the building bye-laws that too for contesting in the forthcoming civic body poll.

The district police on Friday arrested a drug peddler and recovered one kg of opium from him. SHO of police station division number 4 Vibhor Kumar said a naka was laid near Sky Lark Chowk where Sukhwinder Singh was arrested with the contraband. The SHO said Sukhwinder had confessed to have supplied drugs to truck drivers.

Dullo not far behind, five to his credit
Jalandhar, August 3
Keeping pace with the Akalis, the Congress party held five major rallies in the city. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Shamsher Singh Dullo addressed rallies at Reru and Dakoha villages, as well as Charanjitpura, Avtar Nagar and Arjun Nagar areas in support of candidates from wards 3, 11, 28, 51 and 8.

142 new model schools on anvil
Phagwara, August 3
Punjab Government will open 142 model schools in the state and with one such school in each block. Punjab education minister Opinderjit Kaur said while talking to newsmen at Bullupur village on Friday. She claimed that for the first time prominent industrialists had offered to the CM Parkash Singh Badal to bear expenditures of Rs 500 Crores for one hundred such model schools. 

• COAS visits Kapurthala
• Blind man duped
• Woman dies

10 in a row by Badal Jr
Poll fever: Day of VIP rallies in city
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 3
As a huge cavalcade, led by acting president of the SAD Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali big shots with their individual securities, moved past the city roads for 10 election rallies today, not only did it result in the model code of conduct violations, but also much inconvenience to the commuters. Wherever Badal’s Innova moved, his convoy of four security vehicles, cars of adviser to the chief minister Daljit Singh Cheema, chief parliamentary secretary Avinash Chander, MLAs Jagbir Brar and Sarabjit Makkar along with their own security vehicles and a pilot Gypsy too went about blaring horns all the way.

In fact, the cavalcade moved past the busiest corners of the city starting from Maqsudan Sabzi Mandi, where a rally was held at 11 am. The rally received an average response. The Sabzi Mandi visitors, however, had a respite for the area had been exceptionally clean today. The convoy then reached Sodal Chowk where the junior Badal paid a visit to the residence of Santokh Singh Pilot, president of the Shiv Nagar Welfare Society, falling in ward number 20 from where Kamajit Singh Gandhi is contesting. Over 12 cars parked there jammed the traffic in the busy industrial area for a while. He then went to another house in just next lane to meet Gurmail Singh Saini, a Congress councillor, who had recently joined the party. Thereafter, he went to the house of Ranjeet Rana, vice-president of the Youth Akali Dal, who had been denied ticket in favour of Harsurinder Singh from ward number 8.

Thereafter, he addressed a rally at Lamma Pind and a press conference at Hotel President. Handouts of a five-year city development plan to the tune of Rs 5,215 crore for the Jalandhar municipal corporation were presented to mediapersons. As per the plan, Rs 50 crore would go for water supply lines, water tank and pumping machinery, Rs 300 crore for sewerage system with sewerage treatment plants, Rs 50 crore for storm water sewer, Rs 16 crore for BMC Chowk flyover, Rs 25 crore for Guru Nanak Mission Chowk flyover, Rs 52 crore for flyover from Football Chowk to HMV College, Rs 79 crore for railway overbridges on Chandan Nagar to Sodal Mandir, Hoshiarpur Road, DAV College and Domoria Bridge, Rs 14 crore for road widening of GT Road-Maqsudan-Bidhipur and to Kapurthala science city, Rs 3,800 crore for metro rail, Rs 13 crore for city vehicle emission management, Rs 520 crore for transport infrastructure, Rs 4 crore for solid waste management, Rs 95 crore for slum development, Rs 35 crore for streetlights, Rs 150 crore for parking at Model Town and Partap Bagh, Rs 7 crore for rainwater harvesting, Rs 5 crore for horticulture and Rs 50 lakh for pollution check.

The handout also mentioned web-enabling services like spot billing and collection, payment through ATM, cash and credit card. Badal then went to address a rally at the Hind Samachar ground, where too the roads were partially blocked due to cars parked around the area.

Rallies were subsequently held at all busy intersections, including Rama Mandi, Khurla Kingra, Ravi Dass Chowk, Urban Estate, Sodal Chowk and the 120-feet road. 

Assault on DDPO: 4 held

Batala, August 3
The Batala police claims to have arrested four persons including one Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) of Amritsar-New Delhi Swaran Shatabdi express for allegedly injuring DDPO Ranbir Singh on July 21.

In a press note issued here, Inspector General of Police, Border Range, Amritsar R.P. Mina said the accused have been identified as Jodh Singh, Param Sunil, Gurpreet Singh and Ranjit Singh, who is a TTE.

During the preliminary interrogation the accused named their other accomplice who have been identified as Sucha Singh, Amanpreet Singh, Satnam Singh, Gurdyal Singh, Gurjeet Singh, and two un known persons who arranged by Gurdyal Singh from Amritsar for the crime.

“Efforts are on to nab the other persons. After committing the crime the assailants went to Hemkunt Sahib where they spent a week,” he added.

Ranjit had arranged for the car, which was later disposed off. Police has also recovered the Indigo car (PB-02AE- 0795) and a motorcycle Hero Honda (PB-18J-7464) that were used by the accused in the crime.

It is pertinent to mention here around 12 armed persons had attacked and held DDPO Gurdaspur Ranbir Singh at gun point on the Dera Baba Nanak-Fatehgarh Churian road. The attackers also snatched DDPO’s mobile phone and wallet. — OC

Building bye-laws take a hit
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 3
Even as the MC authorities seem to be looking the other way, a Congress candidate here is flouting the building bye-laws that too for contesting in the forthcoming civic body poll.

Ward 48 candidate Major Singh has set up his election office in an under-construction shopping complex on the Model House road leading to Guru Ravi Dass Chowk. Scores of supporters of the candidate can be seen anytime in the incomplete building engaged in various election chores as the construction work continues.

Even as a huge hoarding has been erected outside the building, a floor of the building is being used for getting the publicity material ready. Flags, hoardings, posters, buntings and other goods were seen being arranged and packed up for being sent off at various areas falling under the ward. The office is also open for the visitors as tables have been put up and those coming for queries and being attended by a team.

A yet-to-be ready building meant for commercial purposes is also being used for serving tea, langar and other eatables to the visitors. When The Tribune team visited the office, it rather seemed too incomplete and unsafe. There were no edges made on the outer side and the ground floor being used was more than 12 feet above the verandah. This is happening right under the nose of the administration on the busy road just few days after a tragic incident in which four labourers died in an under-construction building in Civil Lines area of the city. While the candidate himself was not available, his brother did not want to respond to any queries. He just said that the building was being constructed in partnership with others.

MC Commissioner S.C. Talwar said he has not received any complaint. As per the rules, a completion certificate was necessary for it being used. “In any case, it at least has to be livable and safe to be used,” he said.

Dullo not far behind, five to his credit
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 3
Keeping pace with the Akalis, the Congress party held five major rallies in the city. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Shamsher Singh Dullo addressed rallies at Reru and Dakoha villages, as well as Charanjitpura, Avtar Nagar and Arjun Nagar areas in support of candidates from wards 3, 11, 28, 51 and 8.

Terming poll promises by the Akali-BJP combine as false, Dullo said, “Now people have realised that these were mere election gimmicks and they have lost faith of the ruling parties.”

Talking to mediapersons at the Congress Bhavan he said CM Parkash Singh Badal had announced sops such as the atta-dal scheme which is yet to be implemented. He alleged cards were being issued under the scheme only to those aligning with the SAD and BJP.

Citing recent incident at Jalbhe village, PPCC president alleged the government had contributed to disturbing peace in the state. “Instead of taking action against the culprits, the police attacked innocent villagers and meted out inhuman treatment even to women and the elderly at the behest of the government. Such acts by the police only speak of the government’s intention to create terror among the masses,”
he alleged.

Regarding the incident of ransacking of Congress Bhavan by party workers, he said the episode had not affected the morale of the workers. “We have got a case registered against those responsible for the incident and sent a report to the party high command,” he informed. He said the party had forwarded a schedule to Capt Amarinder Singh and he was to address rallies here but could not do so because he was suffering from acute back pain and had been advised complete bed rest.

142 new model schools on anvil
One in each block
Our Correspondent

Phagwara, August 3
Punjab Government will open 142 model schools in the state and with one such school in each block. Punjab education minister Opinderjit Kaur said while talking to newsmen at Bullupur village on Friday. She claimed that for the first time prominent industrialists had offered to the CM Parkash Singh Badal to bear expenditures of Rs 500 Crores for one hundred such model schools. These schools will provide education from nursery to ten plus two standard.

She said the state government will provide free land to industrialists for opening of these model schools.

The minister also claimed that 16,670 teachers would be recruited in the education department soon.

She said three government schools in each assembly constituency will be upgraded. 

COAS visits Kapurthala

Jalandhar, August 3
Chief of the Army Staff Gen J.J. Singh today visited 5 Maratha Light Infantry (5th Royals), which he had commanded from 1985 to 1987, at Kapurthala. Since he joined the post, it was third and perhaps his last visit. The General had come along with his wife Anupama Singh. — TNS

Blind man duped

Hoshiarpur, August 3
Two unidentified motorcycle-borne persons allegedly robbed a blind man. According to the police, Tarlok, a resident of Sandhra village, had gone to the PSEB office at Shamchaurasi for applying for an electrical connection with a file of requisite papers and Rs 1,300 in cash as the security fee on Friday. The accused took him in confidence and assured him to get his work done.

One of the accused took Tarlok’s file and Rs 1300 and went inside the office on the pretext of submitting the same while the other told him to accompany him on his motorcycle for getting a meter box issued. He took him to the Boharwala crossing and abandoned him there. — OC

Woman dies

Jalandhar, August 3
A middle-aged woman, riding pillion on a motorcycle, was crushed by a mini-bus near a railway crossing close to Sadar police station here. The deceased Sewa Kaur was returning home when the incident took place. — TNS