Bathinda, February 19
In the lure of becoming a billionaire overnight, an employee of the National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) has been duped of lakhs by a London-based woman and her accomplices through Internet. Following the report by the technical staff of the police, the Kotwali police today booked six accused under the Information and Technology Act.

As per the police report, the victim, Mukesh Kumar, was duped by self-proclaimed billionaire Kate Foster of London.

When contacted, the victim said he received an e-mail in August 2008, in which Foster said she was a widow and a cancer patient. She added that she had a deposit of 4.8 billion pounds with the Barclay bank in the United Kingdom. Expressing her wish to donate the amount, she asked him to help her in the noble cause. Further, she asked the victim to contact her advocate. She gave him the advocate’s phone number.

A few days later, on September 22, her advocate sent him an e-mail informing him that the lady had died leaving the money in the victim’s name. Mukesh was asked to contact the manager of the bank.

The bank account number was also given to him.

The victim added that when he could not operate the account, he sent an e-mail to the manager, who asked him to deposit an amount of Rs 34,000 to reactivate the account. Following the instruction, he deposited the amount but could not succeed in operating the account. Again on the direction of the bank manager, he deposited a transaction fee of Rs 75,000. When the manager was contacted again, the victim was told that the matter had gone to the United Nations (UN) and to get a clearance certificate, Rs 1.42 lakh was required, which he deposited.

The victim sensed a foul play only when the manager asked him to pay another Rs 6.25 lakh.

Besides the London account, the victim had deposited money with the Indian Bank at Delhi and Mumbai also. The Delhi-based account was in the name of Jai Bala Ji Industries and the Mumbai-based account was in the name of one Faigan Alam Khan.

The police have now booked Kate Foster, Ray MCYK and Steve White, all of London, besides Jai Bala Ji Industries, Faigan Alam Khan and Mavi Khan under sections 467, 468, 420 and 120-b of the IPC and 73, 74 and 75 of the Information and Technology Act. 

Bathinda, February 19
Admitting that the paucity of porters at stations has been proving to be a nightmare for passengers, the General Manager (GM) of the Northern Railway (NR), V.K. Sahai today claimed that the passengers’ ordeal would be over within two to three months.

The process to recruit porters has begun, Sahai said, adding that the NR had been asked to suggest and find out ways to recruit porters.

The GM was talking to media at the Bathinda station today afternoon during the inspection of the Sriganganagar-Bathinda section, excluding Sriganganagar and Bathinda.

Sahai said that the railway had accorded top priority to passengers’ amenities, safety and security.

About mishaps at unmanned level-crossing, the GM said there were several unmanned level-crossing under the NR jurisdiction. “The NR has been manning them but doing so simultaneously and also at one stroke is practically not possible,” he added and said therefore, alternative to avoid mishap, particularly involving kids, was required. “Like, counselling of vehicle drivers,” he added.

He said that for that purpose, cooperation from the transport department would also be sought.

He revealed that the Ambala division recently conducted a survey and found that drivers of vehicles carrying kids were flouting safety and MVI Acts. “For example, there are altogether 72 level-crossing which had been used by about 221 school vehicles everyday. During the survey, 39 drivers were found without licence,” the GM said.

The GM also said that the railway would consider the passengers’ demands, including introducing more trains between Bathinda-New Delhi, more rakes in existing trains, extension of trains, increasing frequency of trains, commissioning of new public reservation system and others.

He said the passengers’ demand to run the Udhyan-Abha Toofan Express only upto Agra to maintain punctuality would also be considered.

The GM also held talks with the representatives of the several committee and associations. The GM assured the delegation of the Pool Banao Sangarsh Committee, led by its president Vijay Kumar Sharma, that the construction of the Railway Under Bridge (RUB) would be completed in six months.

“A fresh tender for that purpose would be floated on March 17,” he said and added that the contractor who was constructing the RUB left the work midway due to rise in the steel prices.

All the head of the departments of the NR accompanied the GM during the inspection.

Bathinda, February 19
Just before Vivek Kumar Sahai, General Manager, Northern Railway, was about to depart from the Bathinda railway station by boarding his special train, a Railway employee drew attention of all present in an unusual way to send his complaint across to the general manager.

Visakha Singh, a senior goods clerk at the Bathinda cantonment railway station, alleged that he had been facing threats at the hands of some senior officials of the RPF for cases pending against him. He added that his promotion has been hanging fire for the past 10 years now. Visakha said his meetings with several officials in this regard, including divisional railway manager, Ambala division, proved to be futile.

He threatened of jumping before a running train if his complaint was not addressed to.

A visibly embarrassed Sahai took his complaint in writing and assured him of timely and considerate action. While talking to TNS later, Visakha said he was hopeful that the GM would not disappoint him. — TNS

Abohar, February 19
The general manager (GM) of the Northern Railway, Vivek Kumar Sahai, today ruled out the possibility of extending the Howrah-Delhi Lal Qila Express train to Sriganganagar via Bathinda-Abohar in the near future.

Notably former Union Home Minister Buta Singh during his recent visit had reportedly assured the passengers that the train would be got extended by end of this month.

Responding to the memorandum submitted by several associations, Sahai said that Sriganganagar falls in Bikaner division and they had not so far agreed for making washing and repair arrangements if the Lal Qila express is extended. The railways could consider extending the train to Fazilka on completion of the 42 km Abohar-Fazilka rail link, he said.

Interestingly, the GM expected that the rail link might be completed by December end whereas the engineering section officials told Hanuman Dass Goyal that they had asked the contractors to finish the work by June 30.

The GM was told by public representatives that the GRP and the RPF men had allegedly been facilitating ticketless travellers in express trains and sometimes forced the genuine passengers to vacate the berths. On this, the GM assured that he would get such erring cops booked through special teams. He also assured to increase the number of AC chair car in the Sriganganagar-Delhi Intercity and AC coach in 3008 Udyan Abha Toofan Express.

Former MP Virendra Kataria too had spoken to him on this. Regarding insanitation in Udyan Abha, he sought cooperation from the passengers as they are to be blamed equally he felt.

Sahai said survey to man the unmanned level-crossings was in progress. The Railways had decided to organise awareness camps in rural schools and get their vehicles checked by transport officials.

He said platform number - 1 here would be raised to check mishaps as many passengers had sustained injuries.

Regarding crowd on ticket windows, he said more ticket selling counters in the private sector would be opened to reduce rush at the official counters.

The Consumers Movement, an NGO, resented registration of case against Samaj Sudhar Sabha president Rajesh Gupta.

Moga, February 19
Kuldip Singh, sarpanch of village Hariewala under the Baghapurana sub-division, was allegedly killed by a panchayat member and former sarpanch along with his associates, late last night. A friend of the sarpanch was also seriously injured in the attack.

Kuldip was reportedly loyal to the ruling SAD.

The in-charge of Nathuwala police post and investigating officer ASI Darbara Singh said that the village sarpanch Kuldip was attacked by former sarpanch Judge Singh and three of his associates, last evening. The sarpanch was brutally beaten-up and then attacked with sharp-edged weapons leaving him unconscious. In a serious condition, he was rushed to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital at Faridkot where he succumbed to his injuries, late in the night.

Preliminary investigations had revealed that the main accused Judge Singh was the sarpanch of this village during the Congress government and he fought the last panchayat elections.

However, even after having been elected as a panchayat member he could not manage to prove the majority of panches in his favour in the numbers game. As a result of which, Kuldip Singh was elected as the new sarpanch of the village.

It has come to light that earlier also these two political rivals clashed with each other on many occasions. It was due to this reason that Kuldip Singh started living at Faridkot for the past many months and used to visit his village during the morning hours.

On Wednesday evening, when he left the village for Faridkot along with his friend Gurpreet Singh few persons including the former sarpanch coming from the opposite direction on a Scorpio car stopped them on Baghapurana-Mudki road. When Kuldip Singh came out of his car, the passengers in the Scorpio attacked him with sticks and sharp-edged weapons.

Gurpreet Singh came out and tried to save his friend from the attackers but he was also beaten up by them. The attackers ran away from the spot after this incident.

Local people of the nearby area rushed them to the medical college and hospital at Faridkot where the sarpanch succumbed to injuries late in the night while his friend was still battling with life.

The police had registered a criminal case under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC against Judge Singh and his associates Jagtar Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Roshandeep Singh in the Baghapurana police station and begun investigations into the incident.

No one was arrested till the filing of the report.

Mansa, February 19
"The foundation stone for a cancer hospital would be laid in Bathinda on February 22," said Sukhbir Singh Badal, deputy chief minister, while talking to media here today.

He said that the hospital would play a key role in treating cancer patients of the Malwa region.

Criticising the Congress governments, he said they had not undertaken the development of Punjab during its regime. He said the people of Mansa had a chance to choose the development of region and stagnation and this decision of the people would play a major role in deciding the result of the Lok Sabha election.

Sukhbir also laid the foundation stone for a girls college at Fafhre Bahike that would be run by the SGPC. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said nine schools would be started by the SGPC on April 1.

He further said that they had no controversy with the Dera followers and were only against the hypocrisy of the Dera chief.

Among others who addressed the public meetings were SAD general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhundar, district SAD president Harbant Singh Datewas, ex-MLA Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, SGPC member Manjit Singh Bapiana, Paramjit Singh Sandhawan and Jail Minister Hira Singh Gabaria.

Bathinda, February 19
Small traders of the state would soon get a relaxation from all documentary formalities by paying a lump sum as tax within the trade slab of Rs 5-15 lakh, stated D.P. Chandan, vice-chairman, Punjab Small Scale Traders’ Board. Chandan who was here today, said the board had been consulting various organisations and a cross-section of people before fixing the amount.

He added that the board was making its efforts to get some compensation for the traders allowed by the state government in case of a natural calamity.

When asked about the levy of luxury tax on hotel, restaurants and dhabas by the state government, he said that matter was being reconsidered.

Chandan visited Bathinda and Mansa districts to meet the traders and get an idea of their problems. Sharing it with the media here, he said they had been affected due to tax variation in the states.

Recounting the achievements, he said the turn over tax (TOT), which was one per cent, had now fallen to 0.25 per cent. — TNS

Bathinda, February 19
The Punjab Students’ Union (Shaheed Randhawa) held a protest rally against the Jallianwala Bagh incident at the ITI gate here today. Students said they were against the changes being made by the administration at the place.

Students said the police tortured the activists of the Bharat Naujawan Sabha, which was wrong.

Sarabjeet Singh, state committee member of the Union, said, “Jallianwala Bagh has a great historical importance. Making changes in its design is not acceptable. It would hurt the sentiments of many staying in Punjab.”

Students said the government was not promoting tourism at the places that needs attention. They said the Qila Mubarak here needs attention and revamping but the government was not doing anything about it. — TNS