Amritsar, October 8
Once again the Chheharata grain market has become a battle ground for Congress and BJP who were vying with each other for celebrating Dasehra there tomorrow.

Even though the district administration had refused permission to both parties to organise the function there in view of the paddy stocked by farmers in the mandi, Congress workers, led by Om Parkash Soni, MLA, and members of the Panchrattan Radha Krishan Temple Society, have decided to celebrate the festival at the grain market, come what may.

Last year too, the district administration had not allowed the Congress and temple committee members to celebrate the festival there.

To register their protest, Congress workers burnt the effigy of Ravana on the main Amritsar-Attari road after they were not allowed by BJP workers to carry the effigies of the three demons inside the venue.

Tempers had run high during the festival. However, the administration managed to avert the possible clash between workers of the two parties.

Meanwhile, a police team of Chheharta police station pulled down the stage prepared by the Congress and temple society.

At an emergency meeting called by the Congress and members of the temple society held on the temple premises here this evening, Soni alleged that the district administration was trying to sabotage their celebrations this year also due to political pressure from ruling alliance partner.

Without mincing words, he blamed BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu for the situation and called upon the workers to gather at the mandi in the morning.

Criticising the administration, Raman Bakshi, councillor of the area, said they had taken the prior permission of the administration to celebrate the festival and the police had also allowed them to construct the stage.

However, they were asked to invite Sidhu as chief guest by BJP leaders who last year performed “bhumi pujan” and celebrated the festival amidst tight security and strong protest from the opposite group.

He alleged that as they refused to accept the “condition”, their permission was cancelled and stage demolished.

Interestingly, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has also decided to support the Congress and temple committee over the issue.

Amarjit Singh Asal, district secretary, CPI, speaking on the occasion said the district administration had failed to take an independent decision under political pressure.

He said the temple committee had been celebrating the festival for the past four decades and this order had hurt the sentiments of the people of the area.

Meanwhile, Kahan Singh Pannu, deputy commissioner, said they had not given any permission to any party to hold the function at the grain market in view of the paddy stocked by the farmers in the market. He denied any political pressure.

Prof Gurvinder Singh Mammanke, Gurjit Singh Aujla, councillor, and Dharamveer Sareen also spoke.

Jalandhar, October 8
Members of the Residents Welfare Society, New Jawahar Nagar, are up in arms against the administration and MC authorities for allowing Dasehra celebrations to be conducted tomorrow in a public park of their colony.

A group of the residents has been lamenting that the celebrations would destroy the new plantations made recently in the park, besides creating air and noise pollution and a law and order problem for the residents around the colony.

Society president Ravinder Kumar Laroiya questioned, “When the Dasehra
celebrations are being held in Guru Gobind Singh Stadium just at a walking
distance from the colony where is the need to hold another function here.
Only two or three residents of the colony, who do not even live around the
park, are getting the programme arranged.”

“There are a number of grounds and vacant spaces available in the city where such celebrations can be conveniently and safely organised,” they pointed out.

A confrontation between the two groups in the park had begun recently when the same organisers wanted to conduct a jagran in the park.

The group led by Laroiya had said they were against destruction of environment.

“We have planted saplings and developed the park at a cost of over Rs 1 lakh at our own expenses. We do not want these plants to get destroyed,” they had said in a press conference.

Just a few days later, MC staff had come to the park and ‘destroyed’ landscaping.

The jagran was held despite opposition but it caused damage to the park, alleged residents. They said despite their repeated requests, the officials in this regard have failed to bear the desired results.

Commissioner Vinay Bublani, however, said he had not received any representation in this regard.

“If I get it now at the last hour, it will be problematic to get it resolved in
such a short time. The opposing group should have met us a few days prior
to Dasehra,” he said.

Amritsar, October 8
The district administration has fixed November 14 as the final date for receiving the claims and counter claims for the compensation for the kin of victims who were killed in fake encounters and police custody during the days when militancy was at its peak in Punjab.

There were 2,059 unclaimed bodies of victims which were cremated by the Punjab police out of which 657 hadn’t been identified.

The date for receiving claims has been fixed as per the orders of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Stating this in a release to the media, deputy commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu said those who had already filed their claims need not re-apply for the same.

He said if anybody or any organisation had any relevant documents which could help in identifying the victims, they should be submitted to the kin of the victims so that they could file their claims on specified proforma which would be submitted to the DCs of their respective areas.

The state government has constituted a committee to verify the claims under the chairmanship of N. S. Kang, chief secretary Punjab.

The other members of the committee are K. K. Garg, retired district and session judge, DIG border range, and deputy commissioner Amritsar as its convener.

Jalandhar, October 8
The flying squad of the Punjab Mandi Board has detected a massive tax evasion to the tune of Rs 3.48 crore by an Amritsar-based firm.

A penalty of Rs 69.63 lakh has been slapped on the ‘erring’ company which has also been issued an assessment notice.

The chairman of Punjab Mandi Board, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, said more than Rs 83.50 lakh would be recovered from the firm as market and rural development fee along with the fine.

Regarding the paddy season, Lakhowal said till date out of the 40 lakh tonne produce, which has arrived in different grain markets, over 26 lakh tonne has been purchased by procurement agencies and traders.

The government agencies have procured 17.74 lakh tonne, while other private agencies have lifted 8.52 lakh tonne.

He said 3.36 lakh tonne paddy is daily arriving in the markets. For the smooth procurement operations, as many as 1,628 centers have been set up in the state with all required facilities.

“Arhatiya community must ensure that they have elaborate storage arrangement like tarpaulins in their respective grains markets. The board may cancel the licences of those found violating the directions,” he said, adding that grain markets would remain open even on holidays for the benefit of farmers.

Ghai was rushed to the local civil hospital from where he was shifted to a
hospital in Amritsar.

The police have registered a case after getting the medico-legal report
from the hospital.