The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	4 cops booked for extortion P.K. Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 16 Six persons, including four policemen, have been booked for allegedly extorting money and hatching a criminal conspiracy for outraging the modesty of a woman. Those booked were identified as Sub-Inspector of Narcotics Cell of Amritsar rural police Balkar Singh, Head Constable Gurdev Singh, Constable Sukhwinder Singh, Constable Manjit Singh, posted with the 80-PAP Battalion, Raju, a bus conductor, and Paramjit Kaur, a resident of Baba Deep Singh Colony, San Sahib Road, Chheharta. Gurmeet Singh Chauhan, SSP (Amritsar rural police district), said he had sought a report from the SP (D) in this regard. “This is a serious offence and strict action would be taken against the erring police official,” he said. Complainant Rajbir Kaur, in her statement to the police, alleged that the accused forced their entry to her house introducing themselves as employees of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Powercom). She alleged as soon as she opened the door, the accused pushed her and started beating her and took her to rear room. She alleged that her mentally upset husband and two siblings were also beaten up by the accused. She said Paramjit Kaur, who lives opposite to her house, along with other accused wanted to make a nude movie and threatened to implicate her in a false case of possessing narcotics and running prostitution racket if she did not take off her clothes. She alleged when she pleaded to let her go they demanded Rs 50,000, which was later settled at Rs 20,000. She gave Rs 10,000 and promised to give the remaining amount as soon as she made arrangements. Paramjit Kaur asked to call her on her mobile number. Davinder Singh, SHO, Chheharta police, confirmed that four of the accused --- Gurdev, Manjit, Raju and Paramjit Kaur --- were arrested while Sub-Inspector and Constable Sukhwinder were still at large. Raids were being conducted to nab the remaining culprits, he added. A case under sections 384, 294, 120-B, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered.
	Independence Day celebrated Tribune Reporters Kapurthala, August 16 Several functions were held to celebrate the country’s 64th Independence Day across Doaba and Majha regions yesterday. Besides march past by contingents, cultural programmes by students was the main highlight. Punjab Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah hoisted the Tricolour at Guru Nanak Stadium in Kapurthala. He gave away eight stitching machines, seven tricycles and two wheelchairs to the needy on behalf of the District Red Cross Society. Langah honoured Captain Hazara Singh Shekhupur, Darshan Singh Tibban, Pritam Singh Nangal Lubana and Harnam Singh Begowal. Phagwara: SDM Amarjit Paul unfurled the National Flag in Shri Nath Palace as the venue had to be changed due to rainy weather. He said entire land records of Phagwara sub-division would be computerised by September 30. Nakodar: SDM Iqbal Singh Sandhu hoisted the Tricolour in Nakodar yesterday. Several social organisations, including the Rotary Club, celebrated Independence Day by planting saplings. Phillaur: Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sarwan Singh Phillaur hoisted the National Flag in Nagar Panchayat Goraya, while Phillaur SDM Pritam Singh unfurled the Tricolour at Phillaur. Nawanshahr: Technical Education Minister Chaudhary Swarna Ram accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh and SSP Narinder Bhargav unfurled the Tricolour and took salute from the contingents of the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Ex-Servicemen, NCC cadets, Scouts and Girl Guides at ITI Grounds here. The minister honoured 32 persons for their commendable service in community service, 26 freedom fighters and their families, 22 police athletes. He distributed sewing machines and tricycles among 20 poor and needy widows and 10 handicapped persons respectively. The minister announced a sum of Rs one lakh for Tara Singh Kahma Memorial Red Cross School for Special Children and a sum of Rs one lakh for the students who participated in the cultural programme. Hoshiarpur: Punjab Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation Ajit Singh Kohar unfurled the National Flag and took march past salute from the contingents of BSF, Police, Home Guards, Ex-servicemen league, NCC Cadets, Scouts and Girl guides. He said the entire record of the Revenue Department would be computerised before March 31, 2011. As many as 15 sewing machines, 10 tricycles, 5 wheelchairs, provided by the District Red Cross Society, were distributed on this occasion. Batala: Independence Day was celebrated here yesterday in Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Kahnuwan Road, Batala. Avinash Chander, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab, unfurled the Tricolour. However, the hot and humid weather took toll on children as seven NCC cadets fainted during the show. Pathankot: Laxmi Kanta Chawla Health Minister Punjab, unfurled the National Flag at a district-level function in Gurdaspur on Sunday. She distributed 14 sewing machines and 8 tricycles to widows and handicapped persons on behalf of the District Red Cross Society. Tarn Taran: Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike unfurled the National flag here in a district-level function on Sunday. Twentyone sewing machines and 15 tricycles were also distributed to the needy at the function.
	Senior citizens hold national protest day Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 16 Nearly 150 elderly people from the city observed Senior Citizens’ National Protest Day today. The senior citizens presented a copy of memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner for being forwarded to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The members wrote that their two main concerns were financial and health related as there were no health or social security schemes prevalent in the country. The members said various welfare schemes, including National Police for Older Persons (NPOP) and Old Age Social and Income Security Project (OASIS), had been framed since the past over a decade but there had been no implementation at the ground level. They pointed out that the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme had assured a minimum of Rs 400 per month pension but only a fraction of states had implemented it. “Even in these states, it has become an instrument of extending political favour and majority of eligible elderly persons are excluded,” regretted V.S. Jolly, vice-chairperson (north) of Bharat Central Pensioners Confederation. Amritsar: About 50 senior citizens today marched towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office to submit a memorandum to be forwarded to the Punjab Chief Minister for initiating steps to overcome helpless condition of majority of older people in the state. According to Dr DP Sanan, a member of Amritsar Senior Citizen Society, the delegates wanted the government’s intervention to redress the grievances of the elder people.
	Speeding bus leaves 2 dead, 4 injured Tribune Reporters Jalandhar, August 16 Two persons were crushed to death and four others were injured in a road accident near Rama Mandi on Sunday. The police said a speeding bus had knocked down six persons while on its way from Rama Mandi to the cantonment area. Critically injured Rashpal Singh, a resident of cantonment, and Jaggan Nath of Rama Mandi were rushed to a hospital while others were discharged after first aid. Rashpal Singh and Jaggan Nath succumbed to their injuries in the hospital on Sunday morning. The bodies were cremated after the post-mortem examination at local Civil Hospital, last night. Minibus mishap Hoshiarpur: Gian Kuar of Bahrowal (Mahilpur) died on the spot while 26 others were injured when a minibus (PB 07 M 2575) in which they were travelling, overturned near the SDM office, Garhshankar, today. All the injured were admitted to Civil Hospital, Garhshankar, from where Surjit Kumar of Lasara and Pushpa of Satnaur were referred to Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur, and seven people were discharged after first aid.
	‘Non-implementation’ Of MNREGS Cong starts relay fast Jalandhar, August 16 The District Youth Congress (Rural) started a relay fast outside the DC office here today against alleged improper implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). A batch of five Congressmen, led by DYC (Rural) president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, sat on a relay fast on the first day today. Other four Youth Congress workers included Gurmeet Monty Sehgal, Rakesh Aggarwal, Sandeep Chahal and Jaswinder Gill. Earlier, scores of Youth Congress activists gathered at DYC office and marched towards DC office shouting slogans against the SAD-BJP government. In a press-note issued here today, Chaudhary demanded unemployment allowance for all MNERGS workers registered since 2007 and were not been given jobs. — TNS
	Crime Zone Group Clash: 2 hurt in firing Tribune Reporters Jalandhar, August 16 Two persons were reportedly injured in firing when two groups clashed in Guru Nanak Pura on Sunday night. Twelve persons have been booked under sections 307, 427, 506, 148, 149 of the IPC and relevant sections of the Arms Act. The police said the groups, led by Vishal and Chander Shekhar, resorted to a clash after coming face to face in Guru Nanak Pura. Old rivalry is said to be the reason behind the clash. Members of both the groups opened fire at each other in which two persons were injured, the eyewitnesses claimed. The police has recovered a .12 bore gun and cartridges from the site. No arrest has been made so far. Minor raped Tarn Taran: Sonu, a resident of border township Bhikhiwind, 32 kms from here, has been booked under sections 376 and 452 of the IPC for raping a 13-year-old girl, residing in his neighbourhood. The sources said the victim in her statement to the Bhikhiwind police alleged that the accused forcibly entered her house when she was alone. The accused closed her mouth with a piece of cloth after which he raped her. The victim was medically examined at Patti hospital. Three duped Tarn Taran: Ashwani Kumar, Mohan Bhandari, residents of Dasuha, and Kanwarpal of Tanda (Hoshiarpur) have been booked by the Sarhali police for duping three persons of Rs 4 lakh on the pretext of recruiting them in the Army. Jugraj Singh, Shamsher Singh and Varinder Singh in their complaints said three months back the accused lured them with the promise of entry into the Army after they were declared unfit at the Army recruitment rally in Khasa on medical grounds. They added that the accused were in the Army uniform and were also in the military vehicle when they assured them to be recruited in the army. The accused demanded Rs 1.35 each from them, which they collected at township Sarhali and gave them admit cards. The victims were told to go to BRO, Jalandhar, with their admit cards. When they went to the authorities, the cards were declared fake. The victims tried to contact the accused on their mobile phone (98552-70237) but every effort proved futile. SSP Preetpal Singh Virk said raids had been conducted to nab the accused.