The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Body dumped into a well Teen killed by mother’s ‘lover’ Our Correspondent Nawanshahr, April 23 In a bizarre incident, Sukhjit Singh alias Raja (14) of nearby Lodhipur village was brutally murdered by a migrant labourer, Soma (26), in connivance with the mother of the victim, Seeto alias Palo (35), with whom he allegedly had illicit relations. His body was found in a well in the village on Wednesday. According to sources, the victim was missing since Tuesday afternoon. A search for him was made in the village and adjoining villages till late in the evening but to no avail. In the morning, when the father of the victim, along with some villagers was going to inform the police, they got the news that a body was found in a well. They rushed to the village again. Another migrant labourer informed them that when he reached the field at about 7.30 am, he saw some blood soaked bricks lying near the well. The brick wall of the well had blood stains on it too. The villagers were informed about it and they saw that the body of the boy had been thrown into the well. The police was informed and DSP, Satpal Singh Bhangu, DSP(D) Narinder Bedi and Sulakhan Singh, SHO Sadar, reached there. During investigation, the police got a clue that a migratory labourer, Soma, allegedly murdered the teenager by attacking him with the bricks. The police also got a clue that Soma allegedly had illicit relations with the mother of the victim, Seeto alias Palo and they were planning to elope. A case has been registered against Seeto alias Palo, the mother of the boy and her paramour Soma.
	Three held for selling NRI properties illegally Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 23 District police has nabbed three persons on the charge of selling properties of NRIs after preparing fake power of attorney documents. The accused have been identified as Kamal Kumar of Santokhpura, Dinesh Kumar of Gandhi Nagar and Manjit Singh of Babeli village in Hoshiarpur district. SP (HQ) Satinder Singh told mediapersons on Wednesday that the in charge of special staff Angrej Singh caught the trio from Deep Nagar locality on a tip-off. However, their another accomplice managed to flee. An FIR has been registered against them under different sections, including 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120 B of IPC at Jalandhar cantonment police station. The preliminary interrogation of the accused has revealed that they used to work for Dildar Singh of Bagga village, said the SP. Dildar, who is lodged in Jalandhar central jail, is already facing several cases of cheating. He would be brought under production warrant in the recent case for interrogation, he added. The three accused would be interrogated to know their involvement in other crimes. “We would also try to ascertain how many properties the gang has illegally sold till date,” he added.
	‘Eligible’ petrol pump seekers cry foul Kusum Arora Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 23 Agitated over the callous attitude of the ministry of petroleum and natural gas in allotting petrol pumps to the members of the Punjab State Petrol Pump LoI (letter of intent) Holders association, the members have demanded a strict action against the erring officials who fraudulently handed over the petrol pumps to some influential people in the state. The members of the association in an application written to union minister for petroleum and natural gas Murli Deora (copy of which is with The Tribune) maintained that there are as many as 35 corporation owned and corporation operated (COCO) petrol pumps of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited which were advertised on March 31 for allotment under the Corpus Fund Scheme. “It seems that the company officials have turned a blind eye towards our regular demands. As a result nothing has shaped up till date,” said a member of the association. The pumps were meant to be issued on labour contract for a period of one year and three years. But instead of handing over the pumps to deserving LoI holders, they were rather given to vested interests in connivance with the senior officials of the companiesin the state. Talking to The Tribune, president of the association Surjit Singh said though the allotment dates were published recently in March but it had been more than five years since any petrol pumps was allotted to them. “This is a sheer harassment. Nearly four years have passed since I was allotted a retail outlet dealership at Gurdaspur city and also issued a LoI but nothing has materialised till date,” he said, adding that rather the members of the association were running from pillar to post toget things done. In another similar case, general secretary of the association Major Singh Sandhu, who too was allotted a retail outlet dealership at Ghataron, near Nawashahr, on April 29, 2002, maintained that his repeated requests and letters written to the officials concerned fell on the deaf ears. Sandhu, a father of six, got the retail outlet dealership of IOCL in the name of his daughter Jasvir Kaur who was working as a lecturer in a college at Mahilpur at that time. “As per the contract my daughter left her job which resulted in more problems. She kept sitting idle at home. Above all I could not even get her married. And now it has almost become difficult for me to make both ends meet.” Though the members maintained that they had been writing applications to the ministries concerned for the past many years but of no avail. Even when this correspondent contacted Murli Deora, he said, “He is not concerned with the allotment of the petrol pumps and that he should be informed in detail through a letter.” According to the terms of the LoI, it was decided that a suitable plot of land duly developed as retail outlet with sales room, storage tank, pump and air facility would be given to the person concerned. It was also decided that the petroleum company would recover a licence fee as well. In another mandatory condition of the contract, it was decided that the person on whose name petrol pump was issued would have to resign from his or her previous employment as well. It is pertinent to mention here that the petrol pumps were meant to be issued to the reserved category of the SC/ST candidates of Punjab. The candidates were selected and issued LoI for installation of petrol pumps by various oil marketing companies under the Corpus Fund Scheme.
	Attack on son: Ex-councillor alleges police inaction Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, April 23 In a press conference here this afternoon, a known leader of the state Balmik community and ex-municipal councillor Mohinder Pal criticised the local police authorities for not arresting the real culprits responsible for a murderous attack on his son Rajinder Kumar on April 6, 2008. Though the city police has registered a case and arrested one of the accused, Sonu, who revealed the names of the conspirators, it failed in arresting the real culprits due to its working under the influence of some leaders of the ruling political party, alleged Mohinder Pal. Rajinder Kumar was seriously wounded and was admitted to the local Civil Hospital by the passers-by. He apprehended threat to the lives of his son and other family members from the conspirators and demanded security for all of them and addition of section 120 B of the IPC in the said case. A member of the national executive of Janta Dal (S) Balwant Singh Khera, who was also present at the press conference, said in case the police failed in taking any action in this case, activists of other opposition parties would launch a joint agitation to get justice to the family of Pal. SSP, Hoshiarpur, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill said he had already deputed DSP (special branch) to investigate the case. Strict action would be taken against the defaulters, he added.
	Residents allege park-grab bid Our Correspondent Amritsar, April 23 The residents of posh Garden Avenue and Joshi Colony have alleged that some unscrupulous persons backed by political heavyweights were trying to grab the prime land of a public park in the area. The Garden Avenue Welfare Society has written a letter to the deputy commissioner, municipal corporation commissioner and senior superintendent of police in this regard. The residents claim that the the park land comes under town planning scheme number 25 of 1957. “It is duly notified in the master plan of the city,” they added. The association has already taken injunction restraining the unscrupulous elements from usurping the land. “There was a rumour doing the rounds that some devious persons have entered into a sale agreement and wanted to take the possession of the land as soon as possible,” said a resident, pleading anonymity. He urged the authorities to keep strong vigil against these elements who have evil designs to sell off a public property. MC commissioner DPS Kharbanda said no one would be allowed to grab the corporation property. He said strict action would be taken against those who try to do.
	Attempt to kill HKD chief Jalandhar, April 23 A Kapurthala youth tried to kill president of the Hind Kranti Dal (HKD) Manoj Nanha near Sain Dass School playground this morning. Identifying the assailant as Gaggu, Nanha said he was talking to one of his friends Deepak near the playground after playing cricket at 7.30 am when a youth tried to shoot him from behind with a country-made pistol but probably the pistol failed to fire. Nanha said Deepak noticed Gaggu trying to fire at him and hit him with a wicket. Gaggu managed to flee from the spot, he added. The HKD president said he had no enmity with Gaggu. A case has been registered against Gaggu, the SHO of police station number one said. — TNS
	Bodies of 2 youths recovered from canal Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, April 23 Dead bodies of two youths, who drowned in the Kandi Canal near Namoli Bhatoli on Tuesday evening, were recovered from the canal on Wednesday. According to police sources, an anonymous telephone call was made to the Hajipur police station. The caller informed that two unknown youths accidentally fell into the Kandi Canal while they were washing their hands. Acting on the call, police got the supply of water in the canal stopped and recovered the bodies. The deceased were identified as Amarjit Singh and Joga Singh, both of Mian Da Pind. Their bodies have been handed over to their parents after the completion of the official proceedings.
	Couple booked for forgery Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, April 23 The first FIR was registered at the newly launched NRI police station by an NRI woman Surjit Kaur of Bakapur Guru PS Garhshankar here on Wednesday. The NRI police station had been set up and inaugurated on April 13 this year for the quick disposal of cases of the NRIs of the district. SSP, Hoshiarpur, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill stated in a press release here this evening that complainant Surjit Kaur who had been residing in the U. K. since long had come to pay a visit to her village. She alleged in her complaint that Malkiat Singh and his wife Rupinder Kaur had occupied the courtyard and path of her house. When she insisted them to vacate the same, they allegedly threatened her with dire consequences. Besides, during her absence they also allegedly forged her signatures on a receipt and received Rs 2 lakh from Gurbax Singh to whom she had lent money. Police is actively searching for the accused, who are still at large.