Bathinda, January 28
The Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Paramdeep Singh Gill today claimed that it was the prior intimation received from sleuths of the intelligence wing, which made the police defuse the threat of major mishaps in Punjab during the Republic Day celebrations.

“There were reports that some groups were chalking out strategies to create disturbance in the state by targeting the airports, but taking swift action, we did our best to make foolproof security arrangements, which enabled us to maintain peace throughout the state,” claimed the DGP.

The DGP was here to attend the annual function of the Police Public school. He also inaugurated the office of the traffic police and held a crime review meeting with the district police.

Talking to the media, the DGP admitted that the state police had been facing an acute shortage of manpower, vehicles and infrastructure, and added that the process for filling up the gap had been initiated.

When questioned about the problems of the state cops, who have to to face miscreants equipped with ultra-modern weapons, with their old and traditional weapons, Gill claimed that the state police would soon import latest arms and ammunition from other countries to equip its force.

“We have sufficient grants for the modernization, and by utilising them, hopefully, the basic requirements would be met,” said the DGP, adding that the state police would soon launch global positioning system (GPS) based police control rooms (PCR) to respond to complaints swiftly.

Speaking about the changes in the department, the DGP said, “Being a timely requirement, we are going to realign the system. To serve the people of the state in a better way, soon the DSPs would be posted in accordance with the jurisdiction of assembly constituencies.”

When questioned about the recent statement of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, who expressed his displeasure over the image of Punjab Police, Paramdeep Singh Gill said, “In some instances, we experienced that a part of our force was not up to the mark as many junior cops were illiterate. To tackle the situation, we will further consider only those candidates who have qualified 10+2 as the minimum eligibility.”

About the appointment of commissioners of police, he said that soon after the government notifies the commissionerates, commissioners, deputy commissioners and the other required staff would be appointed.

Replying to a query related to drug menace, the DGP said the state is being used as a point, otherwise, there was just a meagre percentage of its population indulging in drug consumption. The state police was committed to check the menace of transportation also, he added.

Terming the protests of farmers to get BKU (Krantikari) chief Surjit Singh Phul released as useless, Gill said that during the interrogation, Phul had admitted to being a Maoist. So he would have to face the proceedings, he added.

Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), January 28
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who today visited this town, asked the Bathinda deputy commissioner (DC) Rahul Tewari to prepare a master plan to develop this religious and historical town as a model city so that lakhs of pilgrims, visiting the town and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib every year, could not face any type of inconvenience here.

The CM also gave an assurance that there would be no shortage of funds for implementing the master plan.

During his visit to the town the CM inspected various on-going under construction projects which are being completed with the funds, to the tune of Rs 85 crore, provided by the Punjab government during Gruta Gaddi tricentenary celebrations. The projects include 100 percent water supply and sewerage system in Talwandi Sabo, beautification of surroundings of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) and others.

On the occasion the CM also held a discussion with the Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Balwant Singh Nandgarh about the beautification of surroundings of the Takht.

The Chief Minister also paid obeisance at the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib where he was presented with a 'siropa' by the Jathedar of the Takht.

Abohar, January 28
On the one hand, the state government is laying stress upon promoting drip irrigation under the save water campaign, and on the other, it has been able to release electricity connection to only six farmers during the past 20 years in the Khuyiansarwar sub-division of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

The farmers were keen to bid adieu to the flood water irrigation system. They can avail of 75 per cent subsidy on installing drip irrigation under the scheme funded by the Central government.

A perusal of the information provided under the RTI Act by the senior executive engineer at the divisional office of the PSEB at Abohar, indicates that as many as 4360 applicants were waiting for tubewell and 77 for drip irrigation connections. The farmers, who had applied for drip irrigation connection about 30 months back, were yet to get it.

The district soil conservation officer had recommended that three HP connections for drip irrigation be released to Jagdev Singh, son of Gurbux Singh of village Daulatpura. He applied for connection on April 23, 2008 but he has yet to get demand notice from the PSEB. Jathedar Modan Singh of village Daulatpura, patron of the circle SAD, had spent many days along with the SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal during the emergency.

His son Jagbir Singh applied for drip irrigation connection on April 30, 2007. However, test report was entered in the PSEB record on February 14, 2008.

Later, he along with two other farmers was asked by the authorities to transport poles from the PSEB godown located at Malout. Poles were installed, wires laid but connection has allegedly been delayed to Modan Singh’s family.

Other farmers have been released the connection. Most farmers had deposited Rs 25,000 or more as security for the drip irrigation connection with the PSEB long back but some of them had to later invest Rs 50,000 on installing diesel engine set to run the irrigation system. The PSEB has not prepared the seniority/priority list in accordance with the date of submission of the application but as per the date of filing of the test report that depends upon the issuing of demand notice by the sub-divisional office of the PSEB, the farmers resented. 

Barnala/Mansa, January 28
To promote technical education in a big way, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced that the legislation for 10 per cent reserved seats for the economically poor and bright students in all the private and government polytechnics, engineering colleges and newly opened multi-disciplinary would be strictly enforced in the state.

Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Government Polytechnic at Badbar in Barnala, Badal said, “A Central university at Bathinda, world class university at Amritsar and Sri Guru Granth Sahib University at Fatehgarh Sahib were coming up to offer varied opportunities in the field of higher education. Besides, seven high-tech government polytechnic colleges, 13 degree colleges and 21 model schools would be established soon.”

The CM announced to name the upcoming government polytechnic at badbar after Sant Baba Attar Singh. He announced to reserve five seats for students of Badbar village.

Besides Technical Education Minister Swarna Ram, former minister Sukhdev Singh Dhinds, PWD (B&R) minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, chairman Planning Committee Sangrur Gobind Singh Longowal, were present.

Later, at Bareta in Mansa district, Badal said the polytechnic college would be named after Victoria Cross and Veer Chakra winner Nand Singh who belonged to nearby village Bhadarpur. He also announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for the development of Bareta. SAD general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder, former minister Chiranji Lal Garg, former MP Chetan Singh Sammaon, SAD district president Harbant Singh Datewas and youth leader Gurpreet Singh Banawali were also present. 

Moga, January 28
The Moga police have arrested Xavier Vizgard, a travel agent from Goa, who allegedly managed to arrange a fake passport for the India-born Canadian citizen, Jagdev Singh, facing charges of allegedly murdering father of Paramdip Singh Gill, the present Punjab DGP, who went to the US and then to Canada in 1992. The police registered an FIR under sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC against the NRI and the travel agent on August 4, 2009.

The travel agent arranged a passport in the name of one Prashant Kumar Mohanti, a resident of New Pali village of Orissa to send Jagdev to the US and from where he went to Canada. Jagdev was also accused of submitting false documents to get a police clearance certificate to obtain Canadian citizenship in this case.

The police produced Xavier before the court of the CJM Karunesh Kumar Kakkar on Wednesday evening and the court sent him to three-day police remand till January 30 for further investigations. The police is now trying to find out whether this travel agent had changed the photograph of Mohanti to send Jagdev to Canada from the Delhi airport in 1992.

As per the FIR and the case file, Xavier Vizgard, ran a travel agency, Raj Travels at Mumbai in the early nineties when he allegedly helped Jagdev to go to Canada. Later, he shifted his business at Goa, a few years back.

In August, the police had sent the investigation team to Mumbai and later to Goa to record the statement of Xavier in connection with this case but did not arrest him. On information, provided by him, the police team also went to Orissa to find out Mohanti but no person by this name has so far been found by the police. The police also verified the record of the passport office of Bhubaneshwar but could not find anything related to this case.

Meanwhile, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the state government on Thursday reacting to a petition filed by Jagdev Singh demanding quashing of the FIR registered against him under sections 7, 13(2), 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act- 1988 in the third week of August, last year.

The petitioner had argued that the content of the FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 were the same as in the previous FIR registered against him under sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC.

Three policemen Jaswinder Singh, Ranjit Singh, Gurdial Singh and Hakam Singh, a retired policeman and Bittu, a local travel agent, were booked by the police on graft charges along with him. 

Bhisiana (Bathinda), January 28
Three persons, including a member of the SGPC, sustained injuries, when two groups in the business of supplying construction material on a contract basis indulged in a bloody clash outside the main gate of the Air Force station, here today.

According to information available, both groups were affiliated to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

On the one side, SGPC member Mohan Singh Bangi and Gurpreet Singh Maluka, son of former minister Siknder Singh Maluka were leading, while on the other, Bathinda truck union president Deepinder Singh Kala and Yadwinder Singh Yadi were aligned.

Eyewitnesses said the Maluka-Bangi group had come to supply six trucks of pebbles to the Air Force station for the construction of a runway for civil aviation. After unloading, they were sitting in their office located outside the Air Force station, when the other group reached in vehicles and opened two rounds of fire in the air and attacked them with rods and swords.

Finding themselves outnumbered, the Maluka-Bangi group rushed to a nearby house and retaliated by throwing stones and bricks at the assailants from the roof of the house. In the process, three of them, Sat Pal Singh, Kamaljeet Singh and Mohan Singh Bangi sustained injuries. Meanwhile, police reached the spot and controlled the situation after rounding up several people from the spot belonging to the Kala-Yadi group.

Giving his statement, Mohan Singh Bangi claimed that it was an issue related to share in the contract of supplying the raw material (pebbles and sand), which led to the clash. According to him, a SAD leader, Sarup Chand Singla, had recently resolved the dispute, fixing 45 per cent share to his group and 55 per cent to the Kala-Yadi group.

“The Kala-Yadi group wanted to capture the whole contract and in frustration, they assaulted us today,” said Bangi.

On the other hand, avoiding the queries of media persons, Gurpreet Singh Maluka slipped away from the spot.

When contacted, SHO Nehianwala Gurpreet Singh parried the query saying, “We are investigating the case. Moreover, when the injured present the medico-legal report (MLR), then we will take further action.”

Bathinda, January 28
Frustrated over the failure of his 'love' marriage, a man consumed poison and attempted to commit suicide at the women police station, here on Wednesday evening.

The man in question, Amarinder Singh of Dashmesh Singh Nagar, had married Mandeep Kaur of Siviyan village, against the wishes of family members a couple of months back.

Just after some time, the marriage turned sour and both started indulging in verbal duel. Finally, irked over it, Amarinder filed an application for divorce along with a complaint of dispute in the women police station.

Responding to the complaint, in-charge of the women police station, Harinder Kaur called both the parties for counselling on Wednesday. Amid the ongoing proceedings, Amarinder became exasperated and consumed some poisonous substances in the police station.

Observing his condition, cops rushed him to the Civil Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, acting upon the statement of his wife Mandeep Kaur, the police also booked him under section 309 of the IPC for attempting to commit suicide.

The doctors at the Civil Hospital today discharged the accused but the police was yet to arrest him.— TNS

Bathinda, January 28
Kotwali police booked a man for killing his tenant at Gopal Nagar locality, late on Wednesday evening.

Police sources informed that one Devi Lal of Bihar, after depositing some surety amount, had taken an accommodation on rent from one Sat Pal. For the past couple of months, both had been having an altercation. Sat Pal used to ask him to vacate the house.

The situation took an ugly turn, when both had a physical fight and Sat Pal hit Devi Lal on his head with an iron rod. The injured fell unconscious and later, doctors declared him dead.

Acting upon the report of the Canal Colony police post, Kotwali police booked Sat Pal under section 302 of the IPC but failed to nab him. — TNS

Talwandi Sabo, January 28
Members of the Communist Party of India (CPI), led by district secretary Jagjit Singh Joga, today staged a dharna in front of the SDM's office here against rising prices and for getting the NREGA scheme and social security schemes implemented in a proper manner.

Addressing the protesters, Joga alleged the prices were rising due to capitalistic policies of the Central government. He further said the government was also not sincere to control the rising prices as there was no shortage of food grains in the country but due to hoarding and black marketing of the food grains the prices were rising in a big way.

He also said that on March 5 the workers of Left parties and labour organisations would fill the jails through out the country in protest against the government's “anti-people” policies. He said before that they would stage dharna on February 5 at Nathana and on February 26 at Maur Mandi in Bathinda district.

The dharna was addressed among others by district president of Khet Mazdoor Sabha Harbans Singh, a leader of Istri Sabha Jasvir Kaur Sran, block secretary of the CPI Joga Singh, and a leader of Kisan Sabha Gulzar Singh Kalyan. 

Bathinda, January 28
Under the SC/ST Component Plan of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), a project for providing RO system purified cold drinking water in five primary schools of Bathinda was undertaken by Bathinda retail region of the corporation.

The project that would ensure safe water to about 2000 students of the schools situated at Sanjay Nagar and at villages Burj Mehyma, Nahianwala, Jida and Behman Diwana, was inaugurated by the ADC (D) C. Sibin at Government Primary School, Sanjay Nagar, Bathinda on Thursday.

The project was administered under the initiative and guidance of DC Rahul Tewari and the CGM HPCL, Bathinda P.K. Uppal. Area sales manager HPCL A.K. Bhardwaj, depot manager S.S. Dhani and others were present there. — TNS

Bathinda, January 28
A free medical check up camp for examining patients of cleft lip and palate, hip and knee joints, spine, and cancer etc will be organised by the Amandeep Hospital, Amritsar, on January 31 on the premises of Gurdwara Hazi Rattan Sahib here.

Giving this information here today, the manager of the hospital Harjinder Singh Goraya said a team from the hospital, led by Dr Avtar Singh, would examine the patients. He said the operations of cleft lip and palate patients would be conducted free of cost at Amandeep Hospital. Such operations were being performed through out the year free of cost at the hospital with the help of an America-based charitable organisation "Smile Train", he added.

Goraya said they had identified 50 children, suffering from cleft lip and palate problem, from the villages of Bathinda district. He also said "as per data one child after every 700 children takes birth with cleft lip/palate problem".