NEIGHBOURHOOD

Tipsy cop shoots at complainant, suspended
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Rajpura, August 9
An assistant sub-inspector, Pawan Kumar, deployed with the CIA staff here fired four gunshots and injured a local resident near Guru Nanak Nagar last night.

The police official was said to have been in an inebriated condition and was forcing the victim, who is a complainant in a case, to reach a compromise. The complainant had lodged an FIR against one of the friends of the ASI a few days ago.

The victim, Karamjeet Singh, was taken to the local civil hospital with a bullet injury in the stomach but was later referred to a Patiala hospital.

The relatives of the victims said the incident took place around 9 pm yesterday when Karamjeet along with two others, Narinder and Surinder Singh, were sitting outside the office of a property dealer in Guru Nanak Nagar.

Three persons — ASI Pawan Kumar, Jaswinder Singh and Sucha Singh — came in a car and told Karamjeet to reach a compromise with Jaswinder or face dire consequences. Karamjeet had earlier lodged a complaint against Jaswinder in connection with some property dispute. The two were also involved in a scuffle a few days ago wherein the police initiated action against both and released them with a warning.

Relatives and friends of the victim in their complaint to the police alleged that when Karamjeet refused to reach a compromise with Jaswinder, the ASI along with his two accomplices left the place only to return after a few minutes. The ASI then fired four gunshots from his service revolver and left the place in a car along with the other two. Interestingly, no one from the area came forward to help the victim.

Karamjeet was taken to a nearby hospital with the help of his relatives and some friends from where he was shifted to Patiala.

He was operated upon for around three hours and his bullet was removed from the stomach. His condition was stated to be critical till evening.

While no senior police official was available for comments, investigating officer Balwinder Singh said a case under Sections 307 and 120-B of the IPC and Sections 24, 54, 59 of the Arms Act had been registered against ASI Pawan Kumar, Jaswinder Singh and Sucha Singh, all residents of Rajpura.

He added that the ASI had been placed under suspension but no arrest had been made so far.

He said arrests would be made only after orders were received from seniors along with evidence against the accused.

The complainants in the case have demanded an immediate arrest of the accused, who, they feared, could further harm them.

Rajpura, August 9
LPG consumers of the city and adjoining villages have submitted a formal complaint against the Bharat Gas Agency, near Bhadak village, with the food department about the low weight of gas cylinders. They complained that the cylinders weigh 2 to 3 kg less than the required weight.

“Earlier we use to carry cylinders without weighing and its gas would finish in few days. Now, when we checked the weight of these cylinders it is 2.5 kg less than the approved weight,” said Shavinder Singh of Lohand village.

The weight of a cylinder is 14.2 kg and it must have 16 kg of gas in it. However, the owners take out the gas and befool a large number of consumers.

Karnail Singh of Sehadkheri village alleged that earlier also some consumers brought the matter into the notice of departments concerned in this connection, but no action was initiated in this connection.

The consumers also brought the matter into the notice of senior officials of the gas agency and sent a written letter to the assistant food and supplies officer (AFSO) concerned.

AFSO Sher Singh and the owner of the gas agency could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. However, food inspector of the area Pritpal Singh said that earlier also a similar complaint was received by their department and when verified it was found that the gas agencies were receiving less quantity of gas from their respective companies. “The agencies have brought the matter into the notice of their seniors and it would be sorted out in the coming few days,” he assured.

Chunni Kalan (Fatehgarh Sahib), August 9
The 40 per cent defaulting cooperative societies of Punjab would be revived soon by investing an amount of Rs 700 crore. Stating this here today, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab cooperation minister said the money has been provided by the Centre government.

These societies would soon start functioning with the huge investment. He was speaking during the inauguration of a new branch of Central Cooperative Bank in Chunni Kalan village.

He pointed out that these banks are doing a business of Rs 1.9 crores in Punjab. He further said the cash credit limit of farmers has been increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6 lakh for the betterment of people. “Now people need not go for private banks for various loans as it is available in cooperative banks,” he said.

He informed that milk productive cooperative societies would be formed in villages for which loans would be given to farmers to buy cattle. Loans for modern farming have also been given to various farmers under different schemes during the recent past, he said.

Health services have been started for the members of different cooperatives and their family members under which the members could get free treatment up to Rs 2 lakh in better hospitals. Nearly 3 lakh people would be able to get benefits under this health scheme, he said.

Markfed would form societies in villages to grow vegetables wherein it would also be ensured that they get good rates for their vegetables. Markfed would also sell milk bottle for Rs 10 in villages through these societies, he said.

Chairman of the Punjab State Cooperative Banks Jasjit Singh Bunny said that all the cooperative banks of the state would be upgraded with computers to connect them with Chandigarh headquarters. Besides providing good furniture to all the branches, efforts would be made to fulfil the vacant posts in cooperative banks, he said.

The managing director of Punjab State Cooperative Banks, Parmeshwar Singh Sidhu, said people should take loans at right time so that the borrowed money could be used properly.

Jagmohan Walia, district manager of cooperative bank, said it is the 25th branch opened today at this village. He said the cash amount in the bank has increased from Rs 17 crore in 1994 to Rs 142 crore this year.

These banks earned a profit of Rs 2.24 lakh last year and this year it is expected Rs 8 to 10 crore, he said.

Chairman of the cooperative bank Sukhdev Singh put forth the demand of computerisation of banks and staff shortage.

Kalka, August 9
The proposed project of setting up mini secretariat in Kalka has been hanging fire due to apathetic attitude of the district administration. Official sources revealed that the state government had taken an initiative to set up the mini secretariat on the Kalka tehsil premises two years back. And the then Panchkula deputy commissioner and other officials concerned had even visited the tehsil premises, but the project has not seen the light of day till date.

It is pertinent to mention here that Haryana deputy Chief Minister and MLA Chander Mohan had recently written a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda seeking the construction of the mini secretariat. According to Vijay Bansal, former secretary of state Congress, the letter mentioned that Kalka was in dire need of mini secretariat as the sub-division came into existence in 1992 and since then, most of its offices were functioning from commercial as well as residential buildings in different localities. Not only this, most of the buildings were in a deplorable condition and the offices functioning from there required immediate shifting due to safety concerns. There was sufficient land available on the Kalka tehsil premises where the possibility of constructing the mini secretariat could be explored. Bansal further said it had also been urged in the letter to carry out the construction during the current financial year as sufficient funds for the purpose were available with the department. Bansal added that the CM had also given an assurance to the deputy CM through a letter.

Chandigarh, August 9
Rock Rovers Club set title clash with DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, in the Chandigarh State Hockey Championship for junior boys under-14 being played at the Hockey Stadium, Sector 18, here today.

Kanwaljit played vital role in the victory of Rock Rovers, which routed St Stephen's, Sector 45, by 6-1 to pave way to the final match of the tourney. On the other hand, DAV team ended the challenge of Anne's Hockey Academy by beating them with a 5-1 margin.

Earlier, for Rock Rovers, Darshan Singh opened the account in third minute. After that, Kanwaljit struck thrice in the 6th, 15th and 30th minutes to consolidate the team’s position in the match.

The toothless St Stephen’s team tried hard to be in the match but the spirited forwards of the Rovers did not allow them to move their sticks. Jatin and Manjinder Singh contributed one goal each to give finishing touch.

Himanshu reduced the margin for Stephen in the 24th minute.

For DAV, Yatin and Parminder scored two goals each and Gurjinder completed the tally for his team. Harpreet scored the only goal for Anne's Academy in the 34th minute.

Results: Quarterfinals: Rock Rovers b Shivalik Public School by 4-0 (Harjinder Singh 5th min, Harinder Singh 7th min, Kanwaljit 11th min and Darshan Singh 22nd min).

In another quarterfinal match, Anne's Hockey Academy ousted Wanderers Club by 4-0. Sahil held the spotlight by scoring in the 3rd, 32nd and 44th minutes. Harpreet scored the fourth goal in the 17th minute. The final match will be played at 5 pm tomorrow on the same venue.

Chandigarh, August 9
It was certainly not Amandeep Johl's day. This 39-year-old Chandigarh golfer bogeyed five times on the return nine after double-bogeying on the second hole to finish 43rd from the overnight 17th slot in the $ 3,10,000 Worldwide Selangor Masters at Petaling Jaya in Malaysia today.

Gaurav Ghei finished tied fourth after he shot a solid four under 67 in the final round. Ghei had a tournament total of five under 279 and finished ten strokes behind the winner, Malaysia's Ben Leong.

Ghei's (69, 74, 69, 67) final round was his best of the tournament and helped him climb from overnight tied 17th. The Delhi golfer had a flurry of birdies on the second, fifth and sixth but then dropped a stroke on the ninth. On the back nine he made further progress when he birdied the 11th and sank an eagle on the par five 13th. His only blemish on the back nine was the bogey on the 15th.

Himmat Singh Rai (77, 66, 71, 73) was the next best Indian as he finished tied 30th at three over 287. Rai's final round 73 was punctuated by birdies on the 5th, 11th, 16th and bogeys on the 3rd, 6th, 7th, 17th and 18th.

Amandeep Johl (69, 73, 70, 77) finished tied 43rd at five over 289 and Harmeet Kahlon (71, 73, 75, 75) ended tied 53rd at 10 over 294.

Mohali, August 9
St Soldier's International, Sector 28, St Kabir School, Sector 26, St Xavier's School, Sector 44, and Shivalik Public School, Mohali, have reached into the semifinals of under-14 age group of the St Xavier's Six-A-Side Soccer Championship on St Xavier's School grounds, Sector 71, here today.

St Xavier's School trailed St Anne's Convent School, Sector 32, by 2-1 while Shivalik team beat Golden Bells’ team by 1-0 in a well-contested quarterfinal.

For Shivalik, Mohit (25th minute) was the sole scorer.

In other quarterfinal matches, St Kabir School also just managed to beat Saupin's School, Sector 32, by 1-0 whereas St Soldier's International School, Sector 28, ousted Chandigarh Baptish by 3-0 to remain in the fray. Vishwajeet netted two goals for the winners in the 10th and 25th minutes. Sumit was the other contributor with one goal in the eighth minute.

The u-12 and u-19 matches will resume on Monday at St Xavier's School in Sector 44, here.