Abohar, June 21
The local judicial complex, construction of which was started in 2008, is still far away from its completion due to various reasons and hence it has caused resentment among the members of the Bar Association, Abohar.

Moreover, the delay in completion of the judicial complex within the stipulated period has also increased its cost.

The original cost of the project was around Rs 12.5 crores. It has now gone to Rs 17.5 crores due to delay in its completion.

After having fed up with the inordinate delay being caused in the completion of the judicial complex, the Bar Association has taken up the matter with the district and sessions judge and urged him to intervene into the matter so that judicial complex could be completed at the earliest.

“About two years have passed ever since the construction of the judicial complex was started. The physical structure, which has come up so far at the site, shows that it would take many months to complete,” said Narinder Garg, president, Bar Association, Abohar, adding that they had no other option left than to take the help of district and sessions judge.

He said the Bar had also urged district and sessions judge to take up the matter with chairman, building committee, Punjab and Haryana High Court to ensure the expeditious completion of the project.

“The building was to be completed by September 30 last year. However, the deadline was extended to April 30 this year. However, the work could not be completed so far. The construction work has been going on at slow pace, which should be speeded up,” he pointed out. SS Bedi, Executive Engineer (XEN), PWD, when contacted, said the completion of the judicial complex had been delayed due to various reasons including delay caused in floating of tenders for laying underground sewerage system and execution of electric works by the wings concerned of the PWD and Public Health departments.

Besides, due to structure of land, where the judicial complex was being erected, construction was done on the piles based foundations, which became another factor for delay in completion and increasing in the cost of project.

He said a few days ago, district and sessions judge held a meeting of officials all the wings, which were involved in the project and all of them had been directed to complete the same by November this year. He said the efforts were on to complete the judicial complex with all the facilities by November 2010. 

Abohar, June 21
Miscreants damaged glass doors/panes of five ATMs of private as well as nationalised banks here last night, however, they failed to take away the currency, sources said.

Interestingly, the administration had promised better policing after the brainstorming session conducted on the maiden visit of the zonal IG of Punjab police here a few months back.

By targeting ATMs on the Police Complex Road, Circular Road and DAV campus, the miscreants have proved that the police was nowhere on the night patrolling.

Earlier, the miscreants had been indulging in smashing windows and front glass sheets of the cars that were parked in streets in the old city area, none of them had been identified so far by the city police.

The community policing system that had been launched with much of fan fair had already been dispensed with since neither funds could be arranged to pay them salary nor the system proved effective in checking the night-crime. None of the CCTV cameras installed by the police had yielded required result.

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the recently formed Police Public Coordination Committee on Monday, was flooded with complaints over poor policing. Councillors Vimal Thathai, Buta Singh, Kaushal Pihwal were joined by other members in expressing anguish over opening of the illegal liquor sale outlets on the main roads as well as in localities by the licensees.

The public representatives regretted that the traffic system had completely choked, the rehriwalas had again blocked each available inch of the railway road as well as Ghantaghar Chowk located in the heart of the town, footpaths too were encroached again. Cars with tainted glasses and two-wheelers with pressure horns remained unchecked.

Not a singly FIR regarding snatching of mobile phones and gold chains had ever been registered by the local police stations, the citizens resented. They were assured that some of the grievances would be addressed before convening the next meeting. 

Malout, June 21
Though the city boy Nandan Nagpal, who was kidnapped on Thursday allegedly for a ransom of Rs 3 crore, reunited with his family on Sunday morning, mystery still shrouds the case as police failed to substantiate any fact till late this evening.

In the absence of arrest of any of the alleged kidnappers, people smell rat in the police story that succumbing to police pressure the kidnappers released him without even receiving ransom.

At one side, a number of rumours are taking birth, on the other, one Beera Singh of Jheendwali, who was rounded up by police on suspicion of his active role in the crime, alleged that he was harassed due to the high links of Nagpal family.

Speaking over the phone, Beera said, “Even after two-night-long interrogation, police released me for want of any factual evidence. I had no role in the crime, still the police picked me up from my house on June 18 and released on June 20 after the boy got reunited with his family.”

“The police asked me a number of questions terming the incident a kidnapping but I suspect some foul play in the story concocted by them as rumours are in the air that the boy was a drug-addict and planned a conspiracy to extort money from his parents,” he alleged.

On his part, Malout DSP Mukhwinder Singh said, “We had not arrested him but detained him for interrogation as the call details of the mobile number used in the crime also showed a call received by Beera. After verifying a number of queries, he was allowed to go home.”

Meanwhile, the DSP maintained, “Beera had been booked for various crimes in the past too. Though we have freed him, if during the investigation his role in the crime was proved, we will deal him with a strict hand.”

Replying a query, the DSP said despite all efforts, police could ascertain no clue to nab the alleged kidnappers.

However, sources in the police informed about receiving a call from Hoshiarpur that the photograph of a suspected person, issued by the IGP (Bathinda zone), resembled to a notorious man of Hoshiarpur. Acting upon the information, the police launched an operation in that direction.

When contacted, father of the boy Raj Nagpal refuted the allegations levelled against his son, saying, “If somebody proves any of the allegations, I am ready to face any action. Neither he is a drug addict nor did he plan any such conspiracy.”

Meanwhile, speaking over phone, the SHO Dabwali (Haryana), in whose jurisdiction the case of kidnapping was lodged after the recovery of Nandan’s car, said, “As the kidnapping allegedly took place in Bathinda, we are completing the formalities to transfer the case there.”

Bathinda, June 21
Malwa’s long pending demand for another superfast train to the national capital is about to be fulfilled.

The two trains, the Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Sriganganagar and the Udhampur-Ahemdabad, as announced by the Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in the last Rail Budget, are likely to hit the tracks sometime in the next month, sources in the railway said, adding that preparations to run the trains were in full swing and the railway may run these probably on July 1.

Sources said the run of the superfast train between Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Sriganganagar would be a tri-weekly affair. The train number 2455 will run from Delhi Sarai Rohilla to Sriganganagar while the train number 2456 will run from Sriganganagar to Delhi Sarai Rohilla. The 2455 will reach Bathinda at 4.45 hours and will start its onward journey after five minutes while the 2456 will arrive at Bathinda at 00.30 hours, sources said.

The train between Udhampur and Ahemdabad will be a weekly one. Train number 5108 from Udhampur to Ahemdabad will arrive at Bathinda around 5.30 hours while train number 5107 on its return journey will reach Bathinda at around 7.30 hours.

Meanwhile, the timing of many trains passing through Bathinda station have also been changed from July 1, railway sources said.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, June 21
Even as the mercury soared at 47 degree and the minimum temperature was officially put at 39 degree centigrade in the Sriganganagar region today, hundreds of women participated in the rally that was organised by “Yuva Veerangana” an NGO in the highly sensitive border town Anoopgarh.

The metrological department predicted the highest temperature may further go up to 50 degrees on Tuesday, the humidity too was expected to nosedive from 11 to 8 per cent.

The rally was flagged off by the social activist Sukhwinder Singh from Gurdwara Gobind Dhaam located in ward number 20 and passed through the main roads.

While lauding the NGO for its efforts to bring awareness against the female foeticide, the rate of which was considered to be the highest in the district, councillors Kuldeep Kaur, Paramjit Kaur, former councillor Kusum Chawla, Harbhajan Singh and Ratan Lal Saraswat said by braving scorching heat coupled with mild dust storm the female volunteers had proved to be real Veerangana.

The rally was led by Suman Baghla, Sunita Jasuja, Kamaljeet Kaur, Manju Dhayana, Sukhjit Kaur, who carried banners conveying strong message against social evils besides giving a call for uplift of eunuchs and fight against the menace of drugs that haunted the border region badly. 

Muktsar, June 21
A property dispute turned ugly on Sunday when a man allegedly set his cousin ablaze at village Bhalaiana in this district. The victim, later, succumbed to his burn injuries.

According to police sources, Mangal Singh (60) had a property dispute with his cousin Sardool Singh for a long time. On Sunday, Mangal was in his agriculture field where Sardool met him.

After a brief verbal duel, Sardool poured some liquid fuel over Mangal and set him on fire. Leaving him palpitating, Sardool fled from the spot.

However, hearing the screams of the Mangal people from nearby field rushed towards him and doused the flames with a jute bag.

People rushed him to local hospital from where he was referred to the Government Medical College, Faridkot.

Acting swiftly, the doctors started his treatment but could not save him as he was severely burnt.

In his dying declaration recorded with the Kotbhai police, Mangal alleged Sardool for setting him on fire with a motive to grab his land. He added that Sardool had sold out his share in the past and now eyeing upon his land.

Acting upon the statement of the deceased, police lodged a case under section 302 of the IPC against Sardool Singh. However, till filing the news, the accused was at large.

Fazilka, June 21
Unidentified miscreant stole away Rs 2 lakh from a box of the scooter in broad daylight at the local sub-divisional administrative complex here today.

As per details, Vidya Verma, a resident of the local Gandhi Nagar locality, posted as clerk at the local Government Girls Senior Secondary School, withdrew Rs 2 lakh from the local branch of the State Bank of Patiala. Later, she went to the Treasury office situated at the sub-divisional administrative complex for official work and parked her scooter outside the office. As she returned, she found the box of her scooter broken and found Rs 2 lakhs missing.

She claimed ro have noticed two youths running away on a bike from the complex.

“The police have laid special barriers on all exit points of the town and efforts were on to nab the burglars,” claimed police station city SHO, Tirlok Singh.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, June 21
Three leading iron merchants from Mandi Gobindgarh (Fatehgarh Sahib) and two of their local conducts, including a history-sheeter, have been arrested for kidnapping the brother-in-law of a broker, Sriganganagar SP, Rupinder Singh said during Monday morning briefing.

As per details, a resident of Ashok Nagar, Kamla Devi, informed the Jawahar Nagar police on Sunday that some persons had kidnapped her son Raj Kumar in Ford Fiesta car and were noticed speeding away the vehicle to Punjab side.

The district police flashed message to all the patrolling parties and put nakas immediately.

The accused persons were nabbed along with the car as they were about to enter Abohar sub-division last night. Those arrested under section 365, 323 of the IPC have been identified as Azad Kochar, Ashish Sharma and Shankar Sharma, iron merchants of Mandi Gobindgarh, Nand Lal Sharma and Mohinder Swami, a history-sheeter of Sriganganagar.

Preliminary investigation indicated that one Pawan Sain, who had married the daughter of Kamla Devi, had been working as broker in the iron market of Mandi Gobindgarh for the last few years.

He had allegedly disappeared following some money dispute with the accused iron merchants. They rushed to Sriganganagar hoping that by kidnapping his brother-in-law, Raj Kumar, they would succeed in forcing Pawan Sain to surrender.

They are believed to have hired the services of the local conduits in locating Raj Kumar and forcibly put him in the car when he was returning home from a hair saloon last night. 

Bathinda, June 21
Subedar Balbir Singh Sidhu has been unanimously elected as state president of the Ex-servicemen Welfare Organisation during a meeting of ex-servicemen delegates from Bathinda, Mansa, and Faridkot district held at Pensioner's Bhawan, Bathinda on Sunday. During the last two years, Sidhu had been leading the struggle of ex-serviceman against the “anomalies” of the Six Central Pay Commission and also in support of the One Rank One Pension.

After his election, Sidhu named the members of the central executive committee of the body. Subedar Baldev Singh Sidhu has been made senior vice-president while Captain Sukhdev Singh Gill will hold the post of vice-president. Captain Dalip Singh Mann is general secretary, captain NS Sidhu has been made press secretary. Hav. HS Brar is the organising secretary and sub-major Balbir Singh Bhullar has been made cashier.