Abohar, July 18
The sale of undivided agricultural land, allegedly at the behest of the land mafia, led to the killing of three brothers in village Usmankhera in this sub-division yesterday night. The bodies of the victims were lying in a pool of blood at different locations when SSP Dinesh Partap Singh along with other officials visited the fields today morning.

As per information, one Jalaur Singh's family owned agricultural land in village Usmankhera located near Abohar-Sriganganagar road on NH-15. His sister Bhagwan Kaur had no son. Her daughter Manjit Kaur had one son but he died later. Manjit Kaur's daughter-in-law Rupinder Kaur is settled at village Gangasar near Jaitu town. It is said that as per an internal family arrangement, Jalaur Singh's grandsons Hazoor Singh, Ranjit Singh, Gurlal Singh and Gamdur Singh had been cultivating the undivided land for last so many years.

Sources said one Jagsir Singh who had earlier also come to limelight for land deals allegedly contacted Bhagwan Kaur and Rupinder Kaur and managed the sale of 12 kanal and 9 marla land in favour of one Dara Singh, a farmer of village Siyagawali in Sriganganagar last week. The deed was reportedly executed through naib tehsildar at sub-tehsil Khuyiansarwar.

The victims on learning about the sale deed reportedly met the naib tehsildar. They were accompanied by a former sarpanch Baldev Singh and others. While claiming that the "girdawri" of the land in question, that was regarded as most reliable document in revenue records, stood in their names, they urged the official to cancel the deed and file an application to prevent its "intqal" also. The official reportedly assured to make an on the spot investigation but the deed was allegedly handed over to the purchaser, Dara Singh, in the next 48 hours.

Last night when Jalaur Singh's grandsons went to irrigate the fields, about 50 persons were found camping there by putting up a tent, Gaganjit Singh and Gurpiar Singh, kin of the victim said. According to them, the culprits attacked their fathers with sharp-edged weapons killing Hazoor Singh and Ranjit Singh on the spot. Gurlal Singh succumbed to his injuries later.

Abohar, July 18
The Khuyiansarwar police registered an FIR against 11 persons in connection with the triple murder at village Usmankhera of the sub-division, sources said in the evening.

The FIR registered under sections 302, 336, 148 and 149 of the IPC and 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act on the basis of the statement of Gur Sahab Singh, son of one of the victims Ranjit Singh, who identified the culprits as Dara Singh and his brother Mohinder Singh, residents of village Syagawali in Sriganganagar district, Jagsir Singh, Balbir Singh, Kala Singh, Gurdial Singh, Manjit Singh, residents of village Usmankhera, Sukhwant Singh Tahta, Jaswinder Singh Chhinda, Happy and Lekh Raj, all from Lalgarh in Sriganganagar district.

Out of them, Dara Singh is under treatment in the civil hospital here and was virtually in police custody.

Meanwhile, cartridges reportedly found in the fields indicated that the culprits had indulged in firing also. 

Abohar, July 18
The triple murder in Usmankhera village last night over the sale of undivided immovable property has once again brought revenue department officials under the scanner.

The kin of the victims, who had reportedly protested against the controversial sale of land by two female relatives last week, alleged that the nambardar of the village was not present to identify the sellers whereas it was mandatory.

Besides, Pawan Kumar had reportedly signed as witness, but according to the complainants, no such person resides in Usmankhera village. The haste shown in handing over the registered sale deed to the buyer too raised eyebrows.

Well-placed sources further point out that in the past also there had been scores of such shady deals. The land mafia, which enjoys protection by funding politicians during the elections, vies for undivided and disputed properties.

In April 2004, the ADGP had ordered registration of a case against a dozen persons in such a deal and the then naib tehsildar was among the culprits. But till date, neither he has been placed under suspension nor any effort has been made to nab him. The NRI named as chief suspect in the FIR, managed to get the case scuttled, the sources added.

The municipal council had declared 27 colonies as illegal and submitted a report to the PUDA for further action but the same was still awaited. The developers had allegedly converted agricultural land into residential one without getting the requisite sanction from the authorities.

The revenue department was allegedly a part and parcel of the game plan, the complaints, which were made to the chief secretary, alleged.

Moga, July 18
Baldev Khosa, a Sikh MLA from Mumbai, that recently witnessed protests by the Sikh community following the death of a Sikh youth after reported firing by a security personnel of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief, has expressed concern over the continuing face-off between the Dera supporters and the Sikh community.

The actor-turned politician hailing from a small village Jhandeana near here, left Punjab in 1967 to try his luck in the film industry had landed in politics accidentally. He is presently the Congress MLA from Amboli (Andheri West, Mumbai), the richest assembly constituency of the country. He was elected from this constituency for the third time and earns the reputation of being an honest politician in the state.

Talking to The Tribune in an exclusive interview during his visit to his native village, last evening, Khosa said the Sikh community was peace loving and works hard outside Punjab to make both ends meet.

However, he felt that the younger generation of the Sikh community was not going on the right track to build their career. He said that the upcoming generation needed to concentrate on studies and work hard to compete in the world to get good jobs or to do business. "The Sikh youth need to build a sense of competition in their mind," he added.

When asked about the recent row over the murder of a Sikh youth in Mumbai by a security personnel of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Baldev Khosa, said that such incidents were unfortunate and not in the interests of the community.

He refuted media reports that Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray had warned the Sikh community to end their protest. Khosa said Raj Thackeray was not a mature politician.

Khosa, a product of the Film and Television Institute, Pune, made his first appearance in 'Satyakam' in the year 1970-71 with Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore. He played the role of a Sikh gentleman in the film. His popular Punjabi films include Mahi Munda, Vangaar and Put Jattan De. He himself produced the film Put Jattan De and also played the role of a hero in the film.

Baldev said he was very close to Sunil Dutt and entered politics in 1984. Khosa won from Amboli constituency in February 1985. 

Bathinda: The Orbit and Dabwali Transport Company (DTC) buses, owned by the chief minister’s family, were taken off the road. In Bathinda, a fleet of at least 20 Orbit buses were seen parked at the city bus stand fearing unrest. All bus drivers and conductors were ordered to cancel routes and halt the buses there.

When asked, the Orbit bus drivers and conductors said, “Anyone who has some grudge against the government or the ruling family, finds Orbit and DTC buses an easy target. It is just to prevent any unseemly incident that we have been asked to stay grounded and wait for further orders.” — TNS

Bathinda, July 18
A three-member central team today visited Bathinda to examine the feasibility of establishing a Central University in the district.

The team comprised Sunil Kumar, joint secretary and Renu Batra, joint secretary, UGC, along with eminent educationists.

The team accompanied by the officiating deputy commissioner, Bathinda, and other officers visited four sites to look for a suitable place where the proposed university would come up.

Highly-placed sources in the district administration said the team, after visiting Kapurthala for the same reason, landed in Bathinda in a chopper at the PSEB field hostel in the morning. Later, it visited Sardargarh-Karamgarh village, Ghudda, Gehri Devi Nagar, Gehri Bhagi, Kotshamir and finally, Tungwali village.

The district administration tried to convince the team to select the district for setting up the Central University here.

In addition, the team was informed that in Malwa and in the neighbouring districts of Rajsthan and Haryana, there is no university.

Expressing their concerns, the team members inquired about the feasibility, road approach and connectivity. The basic requirement for the university was 500 acres of land, which would be acquired by the district administration, after receiving funds from the state government. The university has not yet decided about the disciplines, staff and other infrastructure.

Confirming the facts, officiating DC Vijay Zade said, “We have tried our best to convince them about the sound prospects of a university in Bathinda.”

About the acquisition of land, he said, “The sites which we have shown them, are all in private hands, but there is no building on them. Soon after getting the nod about any particular site, the acquisition process would be initiated on a war footing.”

Bathinda, July 18
Devotees in thousands, braving the hot and humid weather, thronged the Dera Ram Tilla, at Maluka village, nearly 30 km from here, to observe the 39th death anniversary of a saint, Ram Singh, today.

People from all walks of life, including politicians and officials attended the function. To mark the occasion, Gurbani was recited throughout the day by renowned raagis, including Harbans Singh of Jagadhri, Baldev Singh of Faridkot, Gurnaam Singh of Rama Mandi, Ranjeet Singh of the dera and Iqbal Singh of Bhaini Sahib.

Speaking to TNS, Bawa Balwinder Singh, who heads the 70-year-old dera, said, “Respect and love for humans is my message to my followers as it is the only way to reach Him.”

Believers visit the dera and seek his blessings so that they could fight out the problems they are facing in their daily life.

When asked as to what were the main problems for which people come to him, the dera head said, “Parents complain that their children don’t obey them. The second major problem I attend to comes from ladies, who say that their husbands are drug addicts.”

How does he help them shun drugs, TNS asked? Balwinder replied, “I tell them to just remember God and do Simran. Recite His name.”

The head was of the view that drugs weakened a person physically, mentally and spiritually while Gurbani makes him strong.

“Don’t force the addicts to leave drugs, just convince them,” he added.

According to information, the dera conducts social welfare programmes, including tree plantation, medical camps and solemnising the marriages of poor girls.

Balwinder advises the followers to stay away from drugs and respect the women keeping in view the two major problems the state was witnessing. The dera head quoted Guru Nanak Dev, who held women in high esteem, to drive home his point. “We should give the love that our daughters deserve just like what we shower on our sons.”

Langar (community kitchen) and a medical camp were also held on the occasion.

Bathinda, July 18
Kin of Surjeet Singh of village Chak Hira Singh, who was allegedly shot dead on Thursday in the heat of Sarpanch elections, at village Daan Singh Wala, today lodged their protest, staging a sit-in outside the local civil hospital.

They accused the district police of ignoring their statements regarding the guilty persons and booking the Congressmen just for political vendetta.

Keeping the body on road, the protesters blocked the Bathinda-Mansa road for around two hours, outside the hospital.

After negotiations with senior police officers including SP (City) Narender Kaushal, they ended their protest. The police officers assured them of registering a fresh FIR against Kaka Singh, who allegedly fired a shot at him. — TNS

Kotkapura, July 18
An eleven-year-old Dalit girl, a student of VII class, was allegedly gang raped by three persons yesterday. The local police had booked all the three accused on charges of rape and abduction but were yet to make arrests when the news report was last filed.

Sources said that during the recess time in school, the victim was allegedly allured by one Taini, a native of her village, and was taken to Kotkapura where he offered her juice mixed with an intoxicant, the girl said in a statement recorded before the police.

The victim further stated to the police that she was later taken to an unknown place in the town, where two of his friends were already present. "Taini and two of his friends forcefully indulged into sexual intercourse with me," she further alleged in her statement.

Adding that all the three persons left her there itself and ran away, the poor girl stated that she went out of that place and wandered here and there in the town until one resident of her village recognised her and took her to their house, where she narrated the whole episode to her parents.

The parents of the girl brought this incident into the notice of the local police that took the girl to the civil hospital for a medical examination by experts.

It was confirmed from the medical report that the girl was sexually assaulted following which the police registered a case against the alleged persons on the charges of rape and abduction in the Sadar Police Station. 

Fazilka, July 18
Four minor children of the Government Primary School of village Katehra of this sub-divison were injured, while they were swinging on the school's main gate. The gate fell as the supporting pillar collapsed. The injured students have been identified as Priyanka (7), Seema (6), Anju (7) and Sher Singh (6), all students of class II and residents of the same village.

Parents of the injured children, who are all labourers, said that their children started swinging on the school’s main gate after the school got over for the day.

Since the brick pillar holding the gate had weakened due to the rains, it collapsed resulting in multiple injuries to the children.

Varinder Jayani, cousin of MLA Fazilka, Surjeet Kumar Jayani, along with school headmaster Pala Singh and teacher Lakhmi Chand shifted the injured children to the local civil hospital for treatment. According to the doctors, the condition of the kids is stable.