Hoshiarpur, July 12
Criticising the Deputy Commissioner for his alleged false claims regarding making flood protection measures to save the people and property in the district during this monsoon season, former minister and senior state Congress leader Naresh Thakur said the localities of Bahadurpur, Dhobi Ghat and Nai Abadi were still under the threat of floods.

Talking to mediapersons at the site of the damaged siphon on a drain crossing the Kandi canal at the Bhangi Choe (seasonal rivulet) near Bassi Gulam Hussain village, Naresh Thakur said the siphon was damaged during the last year floods and caused heavy losses to the people of Bahadurpur, Dhobi Ghat and Nai Abadi localities in the city.

The district administration had failed to get it repaired for the smooth flow of flood water in the Bhangi Choe. The Deputy Commissioner had been making false claims of the plugging of breaches or gaps in guide bundhs on the choe and repair of the damaged siphon.

Congress councillors of the local Municipal Council (MC) Madan Gandhi, Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Krishna Saini, former president of the MC Ajay Mohan Babbi, sarpanch, panch and numberdar of Bassi Gulam Hussain village Narvir Nandi, Jagrup Saini and Sucha Singh, respectively, and president of the Hoshiarpur Welfare Council Amarjit Singh were present at the site.

They said about 400 feet-long and 55 feet-wide siphon was lying damaged and posing a serious threat to the residents of the adjacent localities of the guide bundh of the Bhangi choe.

On account of improper maintenance, the brick lining of the Kandi canal was being removed by some miscreants. The use of substandard material in the construction of the siphon was the cause of its damage, they alleged, demanded the checking of the entire construction work of the Rajiv Kandi Canal, phase second, from an agency of repute so that the guilty officials and contractors of the Kandi Canal could be brought to book.

They lamented that no compensation had been given to the people of the localities whose properties and household goods were damaged during last year floods, despite the claims of the state government as well as the district administration.

Deputy Commissioner Megh Raj said he had already instructed the Superintending Engineer of the Kandi canal circle to immediate get repaired the siphon to avoid further loss to the people of the localities and their properties.

The work for the strengthening and plugging of breaches and gaps in guide bundhs of the Bhangi Choe had already been started, which would be completed very shortly. Rs 65 lakh had been received for the distribution as compensation to all sufferers of the last year floods in the city and its surrounding areas. The compensation would be disbursed 
at the earliest.

Rs 1.55 crore had been given to the Drainage Department from the NREGA funds for strengthening the guide bundhs of the Sherpur Katcha, Noor Talai, Mehlanwali, Mukhliana and Badla choes by doing stone-pitching on either sides and raising studs adjoining them, etc.

Gurdaspur, July 12
Yadwinder Singh Butter, former member of the working committee, SAD (Badal), who had earlier raised a banner of revolt against Sewa Singh Sekhwan, the party’s candidate for the coming by-election of the Kahnuwan assembly segment of this district, today made a volte face as he announced the extension of unconditional support to him (Sekhwan) to ensure his victory. Butter announced his unconditional support to Sekhwan after consulting his supporters in the presence of Harsukhinder Singh, spokesman of the Youth Akali Dal (Badal).

Interestingly, Sekhwan did not attend the workers’ meeting organised by Butter in which he announced his unconditional support to him (Sekhwan).

Butter said he had announced unconditional support for Sekhwan as he was directed to do so by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

He added that Sukhbir Singh Badal had assured him that he (Butter), along with his supporters, would be given due place and honour in the party and the state government.

On July 7, in a meeting of workers organised by Butter at his village Butter Kalan, he decided to oppose Sekhwan in the coming by-election so that he might be defeated.

The workers led by Butter took that decision by leveling charges against Sekhwan that he (Sekhwan) had repeatedly humiliated the workers.

Harsukhinder Singh claimed that today’s development would prove a shot in the arm for Sekhwan.

A section of Akali workers (who were angry with Sekhwan), however, were not happy with the decision of Butter.

On the condition of anonymity they said either they would not vote for Sekhwan or they would vote for the Congress candidate. 

Jalandhar, July 12
The faculty of the local MGN Public School today justified the fee hike of Rs 200 per month per child in the wake of the implementation of the 6th pay commission. A group of teachers met the principal in this regard. Staff secretary of the MGN Public School, KS Randhawa said the school management has accepted the reasonable fee hike.

“The management has sacrificed 50 per cent of the increased salaries to reduce the heavy burden on parents. We have increased the fee to Rs 200 as compared to Rs 600 under the 6th pay commission,” he added. The faculty also maintained that the likely increase in the fee structure was already in the notice of parents as an undertaking was signed for the same. “The parents were told about the expected fee hike before the start of the session,” maintained Randhawa. — TNS

Hoshiarpur, July 12
To ensure the presence of government employees in their respective offices well in time, Deputy Commissioner Megh Raj on Friday made surprise checking in the offices of the District Transport Officer, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Zila Parishad and Sub-Divisional Officer, Tubewell Corporation at 7:30 am on Friday.

More than 50 per cent staff in these offices was found absent.

The Deputy Commissioner said he had recommended to all the heads of the offices to take departmental action against all those employees who were found absent during the checking.

The Deputy Commissioner instructed all government employees to come to their offices well in time to avoid any action against them.

The Deputy Commissioner had checked the offices of PWD (B&R), Provincial and Construction divisions, yesterday morning and found all Class III employees absent from their duties. Only Class IV employees in these offices were found present. The departmental action had been initiated against them, said Megh Raj.

Amritsar, July 12
Fear gripped residents of Pakharpura village, 27 km from here, after a former hockey coach, Harpinder Singh, alias Pinda, attacked his cousin Gurminder Singh, alias Goggi, 50, with a sword and killed him on the road last night.

Dispute over ancestral property is said to be the reason behind the murder. Even as Harpinder committed the crime in front of so many people, but nobody dared to intervene.

According to eyewitnesses, Harpinder attacked Gurminder with a sword resulting in a number of wounds on his body. Harpinder left the scene after confirming that Gurminder is dead.

Gurminder was going to his dhaba, located on the Amritsar-Pathankot highway, from his house when Harpinder attacked him.

The DSP, Majitha, Gursewak Singh, said Harpinder had already served a sentence in a case of murder. He said a case under section 302 of the IPC was registered against Harpinder, who was absconding.

Amritsar, July 12
Gurminder Singh (50) of Pakharpura village was stabbed to death by his own brother Harpinder Singh over a land dispute in Kathunangal area last evening.

The police today lodged a complaint on the statement of Harlab Singh, son of the deceased, in which he said his father was pulled out of his car and stabbed with sharp-edged weapons by the accused repeatedly. According to information, Gurminder, who died on the spot, was returning home after finishing his work at his Dhaba on the G T Road, Batala. Harlab alleged that accused, who is a Nihang Sikh, challenged his father while dragging him out of the car with intention to kill him. He attacked him and fled. — TNS