Fatehgarh Sahib, May 13
Sirhind Fateh March reached Fatehgarh Sahib today after covering a distance of 2,400 km from Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra.

Being held to commemorate 300 years of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s victory over Sirhind, the procession evoked a huge response from the masses. Men and women from all walks of life welcomed the march contingent at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial Gate.

A contingent of the Punjab police also saluted Fateh March. A Khalsa flag was hoisted near Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib where Baba Banda Singh Bahadur hoisted the flag to mark victory over Sirhind.

Braving scorching heat, devotees lined up since morning in large numbers and waited at roadsides to pay obeisance to Palki Sahib carrying Guru Granth Sahib and have a glimpse of the arms and other belongings of Banda Bahadur. Free calendars and literature on Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was also distributed among the devotees. Langar and roadside chabeels were also organised at a large number of places on way to Fatehgarh Sahib from Landran.

District authorities had diverted the traffic route in order to facilitate smooth flow of procession flagged off from Chappar Chiri.

Despite arrangements by the district administration, people were seen caught in a traffic jam in the city and long queues of vehicles were seen behind the Fateh March that reached Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial Gate at around 5 pm. It took the procession to nearly three hours to reach near Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup due to chaos and rush.

The march would conclude at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib late in the night.

Rajmeet Singh adds from Chhapar Chiri (Mohali): Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced that the state government would dedicate the world-class heritage memorial at Chhapar Chiri within a year to commemorate the victory of great martyr Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his brave soldiers.

Addressing a religious congregation here on the occasion of the tercentenary celebrations of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s Sirhind Fateh Diwas, the Chief Minister said the design of this prestigious project had already been selected from a panel of architects and it had been referred to the high-powered committee comprising eminent Sikh intellectuals and academicians for final approval. He said the state government had already given in-principle approval to give 20 acres of land at a cost of Rs 20 crore for the construction of a heritage memorial which would house Minar-e-Fateh, a museum, an open-air auditorium for light & sound programme to depict the life and philosophy of the great Sikh warrior besides beautification of the site.

Later, the Chief Minister sent off the Fateh March to its final destination to Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib by offering Siropas to the Panj Piaras. 

Mohali, May 13
Taking a serious note of reports of the eco-fragile Shivalik Hills in Chandigarh’s periphery being levelled to carve out roads, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has directed state Forest Minister Tiskhan Sud to take a strict action against those who were violating provisions of various forest Acts. He has also directed Mohali DC Prabhjot Singh Mand and SSP GPS Bhullar to assist the Forest Department in the registration of cases and taking further action.

Talking to mediapersons here, the CM said after reading about the reports, he directed all officials concerned to conduct a fair inquiry and provide justice to residents of villages, who have been complaining about wrongdoings.

On being asked about certain persons close to the Deputy CM being behind the illegal activity, the CM said no one, irrespective of the position, would be spared. “ I have already directed the officials to register cases,” he added.

Violators are using a heavy machinery to uproot hundreds of trees to pave way for access roads to farmhouse sites sold to “outsiders” in the area.

The hillocks being targeted are spread over the common village land in the Majri block comprising five villages - Bhagindi, Gurdha, Kasauli, Jyanti Majri and Karaundewala.

Earlier, the Mohali DC after visiting the levelled hillocks had confirmed in his report that the hills had been damaged to carve out roads.

The irregularity in changing the name in land ownership documents (girdwari) has also been pointed out in the report sent to the Chief Minister. Regarding the irregularity leading to change in land ownership documents, Mohali ADC Jaspal Mittal has been directed by the DC to submit his report within a week.

On the issue, state Principal Chief Conservator of Forests BC Bala said already two FIRs had been registered against the violators. “We have requested the state government to provide us police force on a regular basis so that such illegal activities could be curtailed. Earlier, there had been laxity on part of the police in taking a swift action against the violators,” he said, adding that more cases were likely to be registered against the violators.

Forest officials said in the two case registered last night, one refers to obstructing forest officials from checking the violation and a case under Sections 186 and 353 of the IPC had been registered against Sham Lal, sarpanch of Gurdha village, Gurjeet Singh Mali and Bhal Singh.

In the second case registered against Ram Gopal and Sham Lal under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Forest Control Act 1980, and Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, the Forest Department has mentioned that the case pertains to December 2009 regarding the carving of a road through the forest area.

Meanwhile, a forestor, Sunil Bali, has been placed under suspension by the Conservator, Shivalik Hills, for his alleged connivance with the violators.

Patiala, May 13
Amidst showering of flower petals and chanting of slogans, former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was given a rousing reception by the Congress rank and file at the Patiala Aerodrome, on his return to hometown, today morning.

The moment Amarinder, along with his wife and Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, stepped out of the plane at around 11.40 am, visibly excited Congress leaders and activists in large number accorded him a warm welcome.

During the road show, Capt Amarinder along with Preneet, in an open jeep, acknowledged the greetings of supporters with folded hands. Interestingly, it was after almost one year that Capt Amarinder and Preneet were spotted together in public. The road show finally concluded at his residence Moti Bagh Palace.

Speaking to the media, the former Chief Minister said, “The kind of response from Congress workers in Amritsar and Patiala is clear indication to the fact that Congress is all set to take on Akali’s.”

Earlier, he paid obeisance at the Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sahib and Kali Mata Temple. However, following the directions of the SGPC, he was not presented Siropa during his visit to the Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sahib.

Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla, MLA Rana Sodhi and Jeet Mohinder Sidhu, OSD to Amarinder Singh Karanpal Singh Sekhon and Major Amardeep Singh and Congress leader Arvind Khanna were among others, who came with Capt. Amarinder from Delhi.

Khera Kalmot (Nangal), May 13
Mining units doting the Majari-Khera Kalmot-Kahnpur Khui road have become constant source of pollution in the nearby villages. Mud extracted during the mining is being dumped in nearby fields, which has choked nullahs that carry rainwater.

These revelations were made in an extensive report sent to the Ropar Administration by Nangal SDM Lakhmir Singh. During his visit to Lower Majri, Khera Kalmot and Bathri Lower villages, which have 10 to 12 crushing units, the SDM found that rainwater nullahs were blocked with mud.

“People with low lying houses in villages ask these mining crushers to dump mud on their premises. Instead of piling neat heaps of mud, the crushing unit employees just scatter it,” villagers told the SDM.

Being in the foot of hills, these villages often remain inundated in the rainy season. The SDM has recommended that these nullahs be cleaned before onset of monsoons as it may cause discomfort to villagers.

The heavy vehicles plying on 8 km of this stretch had left road unmotorable and potholed. The villagers of Khera Kalmot said they had raised this issue with the MLA Ananpdur Sahib as well.

“Most of the trucks plying here are overloaded. Heavy vehicles have rendered the only road, connecting with the main Nangal area, unmotorable. In absence of proper connectivity, we are at times forced to use the temporary bridge over the Swan rivulet to go to the city,” pointed out village sarpanch Jograj Singh.

The SDM has recommended that road be immediately relaid. He has recommended that the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) be roped in to see the pollution effect, nullahs be cleaned under the NREGA scheme and connecting road be relaid.

Sirhind, May 13
Government schools and colleges are playing perfect host to the police and pilgrims on the occasion of Sirhind Fateh Diwas.

More than 2,000 cops took over schools without any intimation to school authorities. Schoolchildren and teachers were taken aback in the morning to see cops sleeping in classrooms. These cops have been deployed for security purpose in Fatehgarh Sahib in view of Sirhind Fateh Diwas.

A visit to Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Government Elementary School and Government Aided Ashoka Senior Secondary School for boys revealed that cops have occupied most of primary classrooms. Students arrived at school as usual in the morning, but were politely asked to leave.

Furniture was kept out of classrooms and cops were seen idling with menial jobs. While sub-inspectors were provided with facility of cots, their subordinates slept on carpeted floor.

“After performing eight hours’ duty, we don’t get even a decent sleep.

For the past three days we have been staying like labourers. We get ready at 4 pm to return at 12 in the night and this shift is exchanged later,” said a sub-inspector from Patiala, pleading anonymity.

Education Department officials said there were eight to ten such primary and senior secondary schools which are temporarily occupied by the cops in Sirhind.

Principals of most of these schools said they did not get any communiqué notifying stay of cops.

The DEOs, however, claimed that they had received no information in this regard from the office of Deputy Commissioner to accommodate cops in schools. These education officers admitted that studies of students suffer during such occasions.

Meanwhile, a section of students in Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College said that their exams for diploma courses would begin from May 15 and that of degree courses would commence from May 17.

“We too got disturbed over use of educational institutes during religious functions,” they said. 

Amritsar, May 13
The Fateh March from Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, birth place of great Sikh General Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, reached here in the wee hours today.

Devotees welcomed the Nagar Kirtan led by Panj Piaras with religious fervour, followed by Guru Granth Sahib placed in a decorated palanquin on a vehicle.

Upon reaching the Golden Temple, the holy Sikh scripture was taken to Akal Takht. Ardasiya Dharam Singh performed the ardas. Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh addressed the devotees. Subsequently, the scripture was brought out of the Golden Temple to be taken to the march, which proceeded to Fategarh Sahib to participate in the culmination ceremony.

En route, devotees organised langar, police and school bands played religious tunes.

The Fateh March is being held to commemorate the heroic deeds of Banda Bahadur, who took on the mighty Mughals. The march comprised hundreds of buses and other vehicles.

Sahnewal, May 13
The Punjab Government has sought the enhancement of police modernisation grant to Rs 200 crore per annum in the wake of emerging challenges on security front.

Talking to the media after alighting from the inaugural Delhi-Ludhiana alliance flight today, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal said at a meeting of state Home Ministers convened by the Union Home Minister recently, the state government had emphasised that besides equipping the police of Naxal-affected states, the Union Government ought to strengthen police force of potential target states of nefarious expansionist designs of Naxal elements.

“The Punjab Government is keeping a strict vigil on the situation and will not allow terrorism or Naxalism to raise its ugly head in the state. Moreover, there is no chance of Naxal elements to gain grounds in Punjab,” he added.

Claiming the credit for the resumption of commercial flights between Delhi and Ludhiana after a gap of 12 years, he said it was the culmination of three-year long sustained efforts of the SAD-BJP government. Choosing his words carefully, Sukhbir, however, said he was not here to enter into any “credit war” as people themselves were wise enough to judge as to who was behind this success story.

Later, interacting with mediapersons, Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari, who was also aboard the first flight from Delhi, agreed that the show of strength by the SAD and the Congress was undesirable.

Rubbishing claims of Sukhbir Badal, he said during the Lok Sabha elections last year, he had made a commitment (of commencement of commercial flight between Ludhiana and Delhi), which had been fulfilled within less than a year. He, however, agreed that issues of development should be above political considerations. “We can make better progress if the Centre and the state government supplement each others effort,” he said.

Asked about a demand for a special package by Punjab from the Centre to equip and modernise police force in view of threat perception from Naxalites and terrorists, Tewari said the track record of Punjab over utilisation of Central grants was poor.

Jalandhar, May 13
Punjab Congress leaders are issuing different statements on their stand regarding the forthcoming Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) poll.

Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had stated in Amritsar on Sunday that being a secular party, the Congress would not contest the forthcoming SGPC election; rather it would support those candidates who oppose Badal and his junta.

On the contrary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Mohinder Singh Kaypee made it clear the next day, while responding to queries of mediapersons at Thatta village in Sultanpur Lodhi sub-division of neighbouring Kapurthala district, that his party would neither contest nor extend support to any candidate in the forthcoming SGPC election.

Elaborating, Kaypee said the Congress was a secular party and party constitution did not allow interferance in any religious affairs. When his attention was drawn towards the views expressed by Capt Amarinder Singh, Kaypee said these may be Amarinder Singh’s personal views and not of the Congress.

At the same time, Kaypee said the Congress had submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to issue photo identity cards to the eligible voters to exercise their franchise in the SGPC election. The Election Commission should enforce it to check bogus voting. 

Ropar, May 13
Civil engineers of newly formed power companies Powercom and Transco, after unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), have now decided to move to court against alleged discriminatory notification issued by the Punjab Government for appointment of directors of these two companies.

In a statement today, the Secretary, Civil Engineers Forum said that no director (Civil) has been appointed on board of directors of Powercom and Transco. Nor a degree in civil engineering has been allowed in the basic qualification of directors. This is no less than disgracing oldest and one of best professions of the world, he stated.

Engineers said they had sent their representations to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Secretary Power to amend notification but the government did not take any initiative. “Now, we are left with no alternative but to knock the doors of the high court,” they said.

Jalandhar, May 13
In a record span of just 11 days from the conduct of the CET, Punjab Technical University managed to compile its results today. It is for the first time that university officials have been able to deliver the result in such a short time, that, too, even before any other engineering entrance result, including IIT-JEE and AIEEE, has been declared.

While 29,225 candidates had applied for the test, 28,895 candidates appeared for it. Of these, as many as 28,252 candidates were eligible for engineering test and 1,115 are eligible for pharmacy test.

Dean, PTU, Dr NP Singh, said the result would be uploaded on the Internet tomorrow morning.

Ferozepur boy Manav Garg has topped among those trying for entrance in the engineering stream. Despite the fact that there is a limited scope of getting good tutorials in the city, the son of a crockery shop owner has been able to make it to the top slot. Manav said that he aimed to do computer science engineering from a top college and later pursue MBA degree from an IIM.

Sukaran Singh of Ludhiana has stood second and Rohit Singla of Bathinda third. The subsequent position holders include Sandeep Singh Sandha, Navdeep Singh, Tejinderbir Singh, Karan 
Jindal, Chain Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Jaspreet Singh.

The top three pharmacy toppers are Sahil Kajal of Pathankot, Ditesh Kumar of Kharar and Kanav Garg of Kapurthala. Lakshay Aggarwal, Saurav Manchanda, Harneet Singh Ravala, Piyush Sharma, Akhil Kumar, Ankur Passi and Shruti are the others to make it to the top 10.

Kiratpur Sahib, May 13
A 23-year-old soldier, Sangat Singh, resident of Cheekan village, Kiratpur Sahib, got killed in a special operation in the Srinagar area on Tuesday night.

Sangat was the only earning hand in the house, having his mother and three younger sisters. As per the Kiratpur Sahib police officials, Sangat was posted at Ferozepur and had gone to Srinagar for a special operation, where he died fighting.

His family has not been told about the death so far. Till filing of the report, they were just informed that Sangat had got injured and was being brought to village for treatment.

Chandigarh, May 13
Harjinder Singh has escaped the gallows, but the CRPF deputy commandant will spend the rest of his life behind bars for “culpable murder” amounting to murder of his son.

Declining the murder reference for the confirmation of the death sentence, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has modified the sentence to “life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2 lakh, realisable as arrears of land revenue”.

The Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Jaswant Singh ruled: “Harjinder Singh shall not be released from the prison for the rest of his life and shall not be entitled to any remissions”. The other appellants, Manjit Singh, Satwant Singh and Harwinder Singh, were also sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 25,000. The amount collected by way of the fine will be paid as compensation to Harjinder Singh’s wife Charanjit Kaur.

“Though the offence is heinous as it is the father, who has killed his son by meticulously planning and executing a conspiracy, we find it is not a rarest of the rare cases, which may justify the imposition of death penalty on all convicts,” the Bench added.

The appellants had challenged the judgment of December 2007, vide which Manjit Singh, Satwant Singh, Harwinder Singh and Harjinder Singh were convicted for the culpable homicide amounting to murder of Baghel Singh. They had also thrown a challenge to the order of the sentence dated December 19, 2007, sentencing them to death

According to the prosecution, the victim was studying in Moga. On January 29, 2003, a cop informed Baghel’s mother that a headless body had been found. It was identified as that of Baghel Singh Harjinder Singh, during trial, moved an application that his wife Charanjit Kaur should not be examined, as she is schizophrenic patient. Charanjit Kaur denied the allegations and stated she suspected her husband Harjinder Singh is the murderer of her son.

On an application, the trial court passed an order on October 6, 2004, summoning Harjinder Singh and his alleged second wife as the additional accused.

The Bench asserted: “It is the conduct of Harjinder Singh before and after the occurrence, which leads to an irresistible conclusion that he alone is responsible for eliminating Baghel Singh. In fact, Harjinder Singh was distancing himself from Charanjit Kaur and his children since 1994, when matrimonial proceedings were initiated between the parties and Charanjit Kaur was branded as schizophrenic patient.

“The situation reached at flashpoint when departmental proceedings had been initiated at the instance of his wife’s family, including Baghel Singh. It is in the said background, the murder of Baghel Singh was planned and executed, “ the Bench added. 

Amritsar, May 13
The Tarn Taran police is yet to achieve any breakthrough in the killing of Gurleen Kaur and her mother-in-law, which took place in Bahmniwala village yesterday. The husband of Gurleen, Amarpreet Singh, was critically injured in the incident.

None of the alleged accused-Gurleen’s father Joginder Singh, her brother Guriqbal Singh, uncles Pritam Singh, Mohinder Singh, and cousins Hardev Singh, Lal Singh, Harpal Singh and another relative Sarvan Singh Samma-has been arrested.

SSP Preet Pal Singh Virk said they had detained two persons. “We are investigating the case. One of the accused pointed out by Amarpreet’s family has been in Dubai for the past one month. They have mentioned a number of people in an FIR indiscreetly,” he said.

On the other hand, family members of Amarpreet alleged that the accused were seemed to be too influential to be nabbed by the police easily. “We want nothing except their killers immediate arrest,” said a sobbing Baljit Singh, father of Amarpreet.

Though the bride’s family had given social recognition to the “court marriage” of Gurleen with Amarpreet, they were not happy with this relationship, since Amarpreet was a friend of Gurleen’s brother and cousins.

The accused had pounded over the victims after barging into their house in Bahmniwala village around 1 am yesterday. While they had killed Gurleen with sharp-edged weapons, her mother-in-law Kuljit Kaur was first attacked with swords and later shot dead with a double-barrel gun. They accused inflicted about 30 deep cuts on the arms and body of Amarpreet before shooting at him. In absence of any challenge, the attackers walked away from the spot easily while Amarpreet’s uncle Harpal Singh managed to save him. “Amarpreet is serious but he is stable now,” said a doctor attending on him.

Moga, May 13
Two Punjabi youths, both cousins, hailing from Moga district, were shot dead on the outskirts of Tagas town in the Legaspi province of Philippines on Wednesday.

Identified as Tejinder Singh (26), a resident of Dhudike village, and Balwinder Singh (38) of Rajeana village, they were running their own business of finance in Tagas town and were shot dead with automatic fire weapons when they were travelling on the highway in their car on the outskirts of the town.

A pal of gloom descended on their native villages this morning after one of their colleagues reported about the tragic incident on telephone to their family members, late last night.

Jasdip Singh, brother, and Randip Singh, nephew of Tejinder Singh, while talking to The Tribune at their house in Dhudike said that as per the report received by them, their kin were attacked with automatic fire weapons by some unidentified persons, suspected to be criminal elements, for looting them.

They said eight shots were fired at Tejinder and four at Balwinder and they died on the spot. A passerby on the highway reported the incident to the local police.

Tejinder, who was married a few months ago, went to Philippines about five years ago. After doing a job for about four years, he and his cousin, Balwinder, opened their own finance company at Tagas, last year.

Meanwhile, when this correspondent went to the house of Balwinder at Rajeana village in the Baghapurana sub-division of this district, his septuagenarian father, Ajaib Singh, who was in shock, could not speak properly. He said his son had left behind four children and his wife who were living with them.

The family members of both the deceased youths demanded from the Indian Government to contact the authorities concerned of the Philippines Government to bring back the bodies.

Normally, it takes at least two weeks to release the bodies after completing all legal formalities by the Philippine police. Most of the Punjabis living in the Philippines are reportedly doing the illegal business of money lending.

The killings of Punjabis started about six years ago and are still going on unabated. So far, more than 100 Punjabi youths have been killed by criminals in the island country.