J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Three murders in two days
Amritsar, May 10
As many as three murders in the past two days in the city and adjoining rural areas have rocked this border district. Ramesh Kumar, resident of Sadar Bazaar in the Amritsar cantonment area, was killed by his neighbours Manu and Deepak in a minor dispute over a small drain passing through their area here today.

Battle lines drawn for Nurmahal byelection
Jalandhar, May 10
Battle lines have been drawn for the Nurmahal assembly byelection as Congress and SAD candidates filed their nomination papers before Jalandhar Development Authority (JDA) member-cum-returning officer Parveen Kumar here today.

The Congress candidate from the Nurmahal assembly constituency, Gurbinder Singh Atwal, files his nomination papers in Jalandhar. Photo: Suryakant

Industry banks on SAD-BJP for respite from suffering
Nawanshahr, May 10
“With a view to fulfilling its pre-poll promise, the SAD-BJP government has formulated a policy to mitigate the sufferings being faced by small entrepreneurs. The policy would be implemented shortly,” this was stated by Inderjit Singh Pardhan and Satish Dhanda, chairman and vice-chairman of Small Scale Industry Board, respectively.

‘Badal has abandoned Akali ideology’
Amritsar, May 10
Badal’s supporting BJP’s closed, communal and unitary polity would be suicidal for Sikhs and minorities and would be a grave danger to the unity and integrity of the country. Stating this in a press note issued here today, Manjit Singh Calcutta, senior Akali leader, said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had abandoned the Akali ideology and defines of its historically accepted policy and programmes.

If SAD performs poorly, Sukhbir should quit: Bhattal
Jalandhar, May 10
Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislative Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has asked Sukhbir Badal to step down from the post of Deputy Chief Minister and SAD President, if the SAD performs poorly in the Lok Sabha elections.

Surrogate advertisements under EC scanner
Nawanshahr, May 10
Taking note of the surrogate advertisements, the Chief Election Commissioner has directed to issue notices to candidates concerned in whose favour advertisements are inserted in the shape of news.

16 companies of paramilitary forces deputed
Jalandhar, May 10
District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Ajeet Singh Pannu today said the district authorities have deputed as many as 16 companies of paramilitary forces to conduct free and fair elections in Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency on May 13.

Tamils celebrate Pongal with fervour Amritsar, May 10 Members of the tiny Tamil community celebrated Pongal with religious fervour here. Various devotees, including women, with iron rods pierced through their tongues took part in the religious procession. Nearly 40 youths with their backs sliced by knobs dragged four wheelers and mini buses.
Tamil youths, with iron rods pierced through their cheeks, take part in religious procession on the occasion of Pongal in Amritsar on Sunday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Three murders in two days
P.K. Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 10
As many as three murders in the past two days in the city and adjoining rural areas have rocked this border district.

Ramesh Kumar, resident of Sadar Bazaar in the Amritsar cantonment area, was killed by his neighbours Manu and Deepak in a minor dispute over a small drain passing through their area here today. The Civil Lines police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC, while no arrest has been made as Manu and Deepak have been absconding.

According to information, the dispute arose over throwing of water in the drain, which led to heated exchanges between the two parties. Manu and Deepak then caught hold of the head of the victim and hit it on the wall. The victim fell unconscious and rushed to a private hospital where he was declared brought dead. Senior police official visited the spot to have firsthand information in the case.

In another case, Mohinder Pal Singh, a rickshaw-puller and resident of Navi Abadi, Faizpura, was brutally bricked to death by Tarsem Masih of the Karimpura locality.

Accoprding to information, Tarsem, who used to work as a chowkidar in a temple near Old Mental Hospital, was removed by the management of the temple on account of his suspicious character. Mohinder Pal was appointed watchman of the temple. Agitated over this, Tarsem used to argue and quarrel with Mohinderpal. On May 8 night, Tarsem came to the temple and started quarrelling with Mohinder Pal. In a fit of rage, he repeatedly hit the victim with bricks, which led to his death. The police has registered a case.

In the third incident, the police has booked Kashmir Singh of Mehta, falling under Amritsar rural police district, for allegedly killing Varinder Singh (55) and disposing the body in a village well.

As per the complaint lodged with the police on the statement of Rajinder Singh, brother of the deceased, the victim was last seen with Kashmir on May 8 evening. As Varinder Singh did not return to his house, his son came to him enquiring about his father.

He said they searched for the victim and found that some people had gathered near a well. When they reached the site, they saw Varinder’s body lying in the well with serious injuries.

Battle lines drawn for Nurmahal byelection
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 10
Battle lines have been drawn for the Nurmahal assembly byelection as Congress and SAD candidates filed their nomination papers before Jalandhar Development Authority (JDA) member-cum-returning officer Parveen Kumar here today.

The Congress fielded its previous candidate Gurbinder Singh Atwal. Whereas in an apparent attempt to garner sympathy votes, the SAD gave its ticket to Rajwinder Kaur, widow of late SAD MLA Gurdeep Singh Bhullar, who had been found dead in his room at MLA hostel in Chandigarh last year.

Both Atwal and Rajwinder filed their nomination papers separately on Saturday.

Rajwinder was accompanied by former SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar and BJP leader Vijay Sampla.

Rajinder Singh and Hardeep Kaur filed papers as covering candidates for Atwal and Rajwinder, respectively.

Hans Raj Pabwa, CPI (ML) candidate, also filed his papers on Saturday. Pabwa is already trying his luck from the Jalandhar (SC) parliamentary seat.

The CPI (M) candidate, Harbans Singh Uppal, filed his papers on Friday.

Last date for filing nominations is May 11, whereas counting will be held on June 1 after voting on May 28.

Industry banks on SAD-BJP for respite from suffering
Parmod Bharti

Nawanshahr, May 10
“With a view to fulfilling its pre-poll promise, the SAD-BJP government has formulated a policy to mitigate the sufferings being faced by small entrepreneurs. The policy would be implemented shortly,” this was stated by Inderjit Singh Pardhan and Satish Dhanda, chairman and vice-chairman of Small Scale Industry Board, respectively, while addressing a meeting of small industrialists, as a part of the poll campaign in favour of the SAD-BJP nominee, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, here at the Industrial Focal Point on Thursday.

While attributing the problem of frequent power cuts, under which the industry has been reeling, to the previous Congress government, the office-bearers of the Small Scale Industry Board, said the SAD-BJP government had initiated a visionary step to boost power generation.

The work of setting up four thermal plants is going on at a war-footing, for the purpose, they added.

Besides, reacting to the problems relating to the deplorable state of basic amenities like roads, street lights, sewerage and drinking water etc. in the Industrial Focal Points in the state, Pardhan and Dhanda said in the new policy, it has been proposed that the elected bodies of the Small Industrialists would be given autonomy in maintenance of the civic amenities at the Industrial Focal Points. The small entrepreneurs would be provided sufficient funds for the purpose.

Earlier, the small entrepreneurs - Subash Nayyar, Bharat Bhushan Jatwani and Tara Singh Shekhupur, Dr. Harmesh Puri, while narrating their tale of woes, said as the power supply of the local Industrial Focal Point has been disconnected from the Industrial Feeder, the small industrial units have to face double power cuts. Besides facing the industrial power cut, the industrial units have also been facing power cuts meant for the agricultural sector as it does not have a separate industrial power feeder.

Moreover, the small industrial units, especially the ones situated in Block E, have been facing the problem of pollution due to the Markfed Rice Mills situated nearby, they alleged.

‘Badal has abandoned Akali ideology’

Amritsar, May 10
Badal’s supporting BJP’s closed, communal and unitary polity would be suicidal for Sikhs and minorities and would be a grave danger to the unity and integrity of the country.

Stating this in a press note issued here today, Manjit Singh Calcutta, senior Akali leader, said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had abandoned the Akali ideology and defines of its historically accepted policy and programmes. He said due to this many Taxali Akali leaders who owned more allegiance to the ideology had decided to openly support Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who had made Sikhs and Punjabi proud by his achievements while successfully serving the country.

Calcutta said it was a great owner for the Sikh community that the Congress was contesting the elections in the name of Dr Manmohan Singh and as such it became duty of Punjabis to support him during the elections.

He urged the voters to ensure landslide victories for O.P. Soni and Rana Gurjit Singh, Congress candidates from Amritsar and Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively, to strengthen the hands of Dr Manmohan Singh. — TNS

If SAD performs poorly, Sukhbir should quit: Bhattal
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 10
Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislative Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has asked Sukhbir Badal to step down from the post of Deputy Chief Minister and SAD President, if the SAD performs poorly in the Lok Sabha elections.

She said the SAD was contesting parliamentary elections under his presidency and Sukhbir should take the moral responsibility if the party does not do well.

Bhattal cited her own example saying that she resigned from the post of PPCC President when the Congress lost majority of seats in the last Lok Sabha poll in 2004. However, this time she sounded quite confident that the Congress would do well in the elections.

Surrogate advertisements under EC scanner
Our Correspondent

Nawanshahr, May 10
Taking note of the surrogate advertisements, the Chief Election Commissioner has directed to issue notices to candidates concerned in whose favour advertisements are inserted in the shape of news, calling upon the candidate concerned to explain why the expenditure on the market rate of newspaper should not be calculated and booked in his/her account.

As per the directions of the CEC, the Commissoner, Jalandhar division, in an official communication, has asked the deputy commissioners and district public relation officers to dig out all such advertisements from the date of the model code of conduct coming into force. The copies of the rate lists of different newspapers have also been attached, with a view to ascertain the amount of expenditure on surrogate advertisements made by the concerned candidates.

Though the formula of inserting advertisements, in the form of news items, has been devised to mislead the public as well as the Election Commission, but now it has virtually become an open secret that the ‘one sided’ news items being published in favour of certain candidates, in fact, are paid cooked up stories. The issue is commonly discussed in public also.

“How far the formula of inserting advertisements in the form of news items is going to help the candidates, would become evident when the election results will be announced on May 16, but it has already put the credibility of media at stake. The candidates may win or lose but the media would certainly face a credibility crisis in the future”, opine intellectuals.

Intellectuals are of the view that the Election Commission, with a view to curbing the tendency of inserting surrogate advertisements, should come forward to initiate steps to impose a ban on such advertisements by candidates on the pattern of a ban on the telecast of exit polls by TV channels.

16 companies of paramilitary forces deputed

Jalandhar, May 10
District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Ajeet Singh Pannu today said the district authorities have deputed as many as 16 companies of paramilitary forces to conduct free and fair elections in Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency on May 13.

A meeting in this regard was held with the Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) and SSP R.K. Jaiswal, including the police officials at the Deputy Commissioner office.

Addressing the meeting, he said the district authorities have identified 342 polling booths as sensitive, 124 as highly sensitive and four as hypersensitive booths.

“Six of the nine assembly constituencies in the district will be observed by the DSP rank police officials while the remaining three will be supervised by the SP rank officials,” he maintained.

Besides this we have deputed 3,000 police personnel for the election duty in the district. “Almost 90 per cent of the force has reached Jalandhar while the rest will be here by tomorrow,” he added. — TNS

Tamils celebrate Pongal with fervour
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 10
Members of the tiny Tamil community celebrated Pongal with religious fervour here.

Various devotees, including women, with iron rods pierced through their tongues took part in the religious procession. Nearly 40 youths with their backs sliced by knobs dragged four wheelers and mini buses.

The procession started from Devi Mahamai Mari Amman Temple at Gwal Mandi Chowk and after passing through the G.T. Road and Puttalighar Chowk, and culminated at the temple.