Amritsar, April 11
Children of the Maqboolpura locality today urged the people not to cast their votes in favour of those who distributes liquor and drugs to people to garner their support.

Students of the local Citizens Forum Vidya Mandir, dedicated to providing free education and uplift kin of drug victims, were carrying placards, hoardings and banners and appealed to people to boycott the candidates who indulge in such illegal practices. They were accompanied by their teachers and staff.

Situated on the outskirts of the city, the area got the name of the “locality of widows” as more than 150 persons lost their lives due to rampant drug addiction. The children held a rally and shouted slogans like “Na vando daaro, na vando note... kite kamma lai mango vote”, “Say no to drugs,” etc. The rally passed through various bazaars of the area and city to spread awareness about drug abuse. They also paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Temple.

Brij Bedi, social activist and founder member of the school, made an appeal that people should come forward and launch a crusade to stop the distribution of drugs and intoxicants by anti-social elements backed by political parties so that foundation for a drug-free society could be laid besides ensuring good future for the next generation.

Ajit Singh, another founder member of school and a social worker, said such practices make bad impression on the minds of children. He urged the political leaders to resist from such anti-social practices. He said he along with other locality members would boycott elections if political leaders tried to woo voters with liquor, drugs and money.

Phagwara, April 11
The accumulated sewage on the Bhanoki road has made life hell for hundreds of residents for the past several days.

Fed up with the indifferent attitude of Phagwara Municipal Council, residents of the localities today blocked traffic on the road and raised slogans against the Punjab government and Phagwara Municipal Council.

Later, they approached Phagwara Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Amarjeet Paul’s office and submitted a memorandum to provide them relief from the situation.

The SDM assured them that their problem would be solved soon.

Hoshiarpur, April 11
Acting on a tip-off, the district police raided the area of Nara-Dada Rest House and got Jasmeen, daughter of Sudhir Kumar of local Vijay Nagar, released and arrested five of her abductors last evening.

The arrested persons were identified as Ajay Kumar, alias Bittu; Narinder Kumar and Pawan Kumar, alias Monu, of Manan village; Sunny of local Bahadurpur and Bhag Singh of Dukali PS Nangal (Ropar).

According to SSP Parmod Ban, Jasmeen was abducted at a filling station near Bajwara by-pass on the Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road in the morning of April 4, 2009. Following the incident, a case under sections 363, 366 and 506 of the IPC had been registered at the Sadar police station.

During patrolling in the area of Bajwara Kalan, the police was tipped-off about the presence of the girl with about eight of her abductors in a white coloured Maruti Swift car and a green coloured Maruti car on the Nara-Dada Rest House link road. A police team, led by DSP (R) Jasbir Singh Rai, raided the area and got Jasmeen released.

However, their three accomplices managed to flee in a Maruti car. Police also impounded a car (No. PB-10CE/Temp 2772) from them and traced the other car (in which the three accused had sped), the owner of which was found to be Ramit of Jahan Khelan. He was arrested and police recovered a car (No. PB 08 S 5472) from him. Jasmeen stated to the police that the accused took her to some village in the Nangal area and held her captive there.

Hoshiarpur, April 11
District & Sessions Judge SK Goel sentenced Gurbachan Singh of local Pur Hiran to life imprisonment and fined him Rs 5,000 under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, here today. 

Goel further sentenced him to one year imprisonment under section 324 of the IPC. Both the punishments would be continued simultaneously.

According to the prosecution report, Gurbachan, who was living abroad, was suspicious about the illicit relations of his wife Santosh Kumari with Vijay Kumar, a cloth merchant of the same locality, due to which he assaulted them on September 14, 2006. Vipan Kumar was killed and Santosh Kumari was injured in the assault. 

A case under sections 302, 324 and 34 of the IPC had been registered at the Model Town police station on the same day.

Amritsar, April 11
District Magistrate Bhagwant Singh here today imposed a complete ban on cutting of moist wheat crop in the district from 6 pm to 9 am by harvester combines.

The DM in a press release here today said he had issued the necessary direction in this regard using his powers under section 144 of the CrPC, which would remain in force till May 30 next.

He said the step has been taken to stop the volatile situation in the grain markets arising out of the conflicts between the farmers and the arthiyas as the latter would not pick the wet wheat crop.

The DM said he has already advised the farmers not to harvest their moist crop and wait for another two to three days till the crop became dry. He said that a publicity campaign would also be launched through the publicity van of the district public relations department and the copies of the order would also be pasted at important places like railway station and bus terminals to create awareness among the general public.

He said the copies of the order would also be put up on the notice boards in the offices of the Sub-divisional Magistrates, Tehsildars and Nagar Palika for implementation of the order issued today.