Beant Singh Case
Hawara could ‘motivate people to give up their lives’
Chandigarh, August 19
Punjab’s former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara could motive people to give up their lives in the name of “patriotism”, but was just not willing to get himself killed. He looked for “soft targets” and ensured his name never surfaced, while meticulously hatching the conspiracy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today heard.

Moga, August 19
In a fit of rage, a man has shot dead his teenage daughter and her lover, after seeing them together in his house at Chand Purana village in the Moga district late last night.

According to information, the youth, identified as Harjinder Singh (22), belonging to a Scheduled Caste family, went to meet his beloved Luvpreet Kaur (17), daughter of Jaspal Singh, a Jat-Sikh, at her residence last night.

The girl was sleeping inside a room, while the girl’s parents were sleeping in the front yard of the house. Harjinder jumped the boundary wall of the house, while all of them were fast asleep and straightaway went to Luvpreet’s room.

After sometime, Jaspal Singh woke up, saw a youth with his daughter and sounded an alarm. Realising himself in danger, Harjinder called-up his brother Kuljinder Singh for help, but the enraged father loaded his .12 bore gun and first shot at his daughter, who received pellets on her shoulder. She came out of the room and pleaded before his father not to kill her. Her father rushed towards the room and locked him inside and then again turned back and fired another shot at his daughter leaving her dead on the spot.

The youth, who possessed a sharp-edged weapon, tried to break the window to come out, but Jaspal Singh pulled him out and fired a shot in his chest. The youth died within minutes.

Meanwhile, Harjinder, brother of the youth, jumped over the boundary wall of the house with a sword in his hand and attempted to attack the father of the girl, but he was also shot at from a narrow range. Soon after committing the crime, the father of the girl fled away from the spot.

The villagers rushed the injured youth to the district hospital, from where he was referred to the DMCH at Ludhiana. His condition was still said to be serious.

The police has registered a case under Sections 302, 307 of the IPC, Sections 25, 27, 54 of the Arms Act and relevant Sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, in the Baghapurana police station.

SSP Sneh Deep Sharma said the deceased youth was earlier involved in a case of attempt to murder and was out on bail.

Anandpur Sahib, August 19
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) will open all spillways of the Bhakra reservoir on August 21 to maintain the rising level of water, ensuring its increase by a foot per day.

Revealing this, member irrigation, BBMB, MK Gupta, said by August 21, the level of water in the reservoir was expected to reach 1,670 feet. “In order to maintain the water level as well as ensure safety of the reservoir, we will open spillways (flood gates) in a controlled and phased manner,” he said.

He added that in any case water would not be increased beyond 55,000 cusecs in total, taking into account both the Satluj and Sarsa rivulet.Last time, the BBMB had opened floodgates in September 2008 leading to flooding in villages of Lodhipur and surrounding areas.

The water may flood around 30 villages of Anandpur Sahib. Already the administration has alerted villagers. SDM APS Sandhu said 35,000 cusecs more water would be released in the Satluj past Wednesday midnight from Nangal dam.

People from low-lying villages along the Satluj have been directed to move to higher places. Villages of Ananpdur Sahib include Burj, Lodhipur, Ballowal, Baddal, Haiwal, Mehndli Kalan, Nikkuwal, Chandpur, Gajpur, Kalyanpur etc, while those of Nurpur Bedi include Bhatouli, Mothapur, Jhinjhri, Majra, Gobindpur, Nangal, Madhopur, Kheri, Abiana Kalan, Abiana Khurd and others.

The SDM has already passed instructions to government departments to work round the clock and help people in every possible manner.

Youth clubs of villages have been asked to coordinate with the administration.

Meanwhile, Padamjit Singh, chairman, All- India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) said the BBMB should not panic as the present water level in the Bhakra reservoir at 1666.5 feet is much below the limit of 1,670 feet -- the assigned benchmark for August 15. “This year the forecast is normal, with the Bhakra level below the benchmark,” he said.

Also the BBMB has increased its generation to the maximum to take benefit of a rising water level. Bhakra powerhouses generated 296.56 lakh units on Tuesday and canal powerhouses produced 24.25 lakh units. However, even assuming mean or average inflows, the level is not likely to reach 1,680 ft by August 31.

Amritsar, August 19
In a renewed effort to step up their tirade against the SGPC, the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC-adhoc) has urged the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to facilitate formation of a separate gurdwara management committee for Sikhs of Haryana.

It was for the second time that the Jagdish Singh Jhinda-led HSGPC (adhoc) has raised the issue, even as the move was facing vehement opposition from the top SGPC and the SAD (Badal) leadership. They have been dubbing the demand as a “Congress-sponsored” ploy to sabotage unity of the Sikhs and as a direct interference of the Congress in religious issues of the Sikhs.

The HSGPC (adhoc), however, has been raising the issue at public platform time and again during past about 10 years accusing the SGPC of having adopted a “discriminatory approach” towards Sikhs of Haryana. The move has had alleged support of a section of the Haryana Congress.

A delegation of the HSGPC (adhoc), comprising of SGPC member from Haryana Avtar Singh Chakku, and other prominent Sikh leaders from the neighbouring state met the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh here today and submitted a detailed memorandum to him.

“The Sikh sangat of Haryana feels that they were being exploited by the SGPC. The SGPC has been taking away major share of the ‘golak’ money, which was neither being properly utilised for development of gurdwaras in Haryana, nor for propagation of the Sikh religion in the neighbouring state,” alleged Chakku and others. They further alleged that Haryana Sikh youths were heading towards “Patitpuna” mainly due to indifferent attitude of the SGPC towards Haryana Sikhs.

Giani Gurbachan Singh assured the delegation that the Sikh high priests would ponder over the issue. He however, said the demand for creation of a separate committee for Haryana was not seemingly feasible, as it would divide one of biggest organization of Sikhs-the SGPC. He also said the 11 members of the SGPC should ensure propagation of the essence of the Sikhism in its true spirit. 

Chandigarh, August 19
Punjab’s former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara could motive people to give up their lives in the name of “patriotism”, but was just not willing to get himself killed. He looked for “soft targets” and ensured his name never surfaced, while meticulously hatching the conspiracy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today heard.

As the appeals filed by the assassin and other convicts through senior advocate Baldev Singh came up for hearing before the Division Bench of Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Arvind Kumar this morning, the Central Bureau of Investigation gave an insight into the working of the assassin’s mind, and his style of functioning.

Portraying him as the “mastermind”, CBI counsel SK Saxena and RK Handa said Hawara motivated Dilawar Singh to become a “human bomb”, “but he himself was not ready to give up his own life”.

Describing him as “master of reading human psychology”, the CBI said he looked for soft targets --- Dilawar Singh and Balwant Singh. In fact, Dilawar Singh was told he would become a martyr, and now Balwant Singh too was becoming a martyr by confessing “everything” before the court.

Hawara and Balwant Singh are facing the death sentence. Three other convicts, Shamsher Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Lakhwinder Singh, have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The CBI also told the court Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) member Hawara monitored the entire operation and remained in full control from beginning till the end. He ensured his directions were followed and participation in the operation remained a closely guarded secret. “It all just shows a very clever and intelligent mind was working”, the CBI said.

He made arrangements for money and even places for the accused to stay. RDX and other material too were procured by him. Hawara’s intention was to destabilise the democratic system on the orders of Wadhawa Singh and Mehal Singh, both proclaimed offenders.

The case will now come up on September 8. 

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 19
Number of diarrhoea patients in Bhamarsi village is on rise. As many as 133 patients were examined today and 70 out of them were diagnosed with diarrhoea. Most of the ailing people are elderly, women and children.

Three patients, including a woman and child, with symptoms of diarrhoea were admitted in civil hospital. They were discharged in the evening.

Three others are still admitted. Their condition is stated to be stable. Many of the villagers have rushed their ailing family members to Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and other recognised hospitals due to the outbreak.

“As many as 70 out of 133 patients in the village complained of nausea and dysentery and were given medicines. None of them have complained of vomiting so far. Others are also been monitored continuously and the situation is under control,” said chief medical officer Reena Sandhu.

Five persons complaining of mild to moderate fever were administered intravenous glucose in the morning at civil hospital. There are many other villagers who are undergoing treatment. The doctors have been camping in the anganwari centre of the village.

Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan along with officials from various departments of Fatehgarh Sahib and Chandigarh have visited the village. The officials also visited relatives of Manjit Kaur and Paramjit Singh, who died of diarrhoea on Tuesday night.

A temporary laboratory has also been setup in the village for immediate testing of blood and other samples.

The Deputy Commissioner said efforts were being made to provide potable water to the villagers with mobile water tanks and the process of cleaning water pipes has also been initiated.

Minakshi Sharma, XEN, Quality Control Department, also visited the village and took samples of water.

Health officials said fault in the silver ionisation machine that purifies water in water tank has also been rectified.

The villagers, however, lamented that the health officials were informed about the failed water samples and faulty water tank machine about two months ago but no action was initiated in this regard. 

Kharar, August 19
A senior secondary school at Majatri village here has scripted a success story. With about 300 students, SBS Government Senior Secondary School was adopted by NRI Baldev Singh a decade ago. From a primary school being run from dingy rooms in 2000 to being a senior secondary school on sprawling 12,000 sq feet, the institute has covered a long and tedious journey.

Native of the village, Baldev Singh has been former deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha and MLA from Kharar. He moved to the US around four decades ago. He owns hotels and a 300-acre stud farm in the US.

“The roots beckoned and I came back to see my village’s school in a shabby condition. Till date I have spent Rs 2.5 crore on the school and spend another Rs 2 lakh per year,” says Baldev.

The school runs humanities classes for the senior secondary section. Baldev Singh wanted to start science and commerce classes too but did not get a positive feedback for the same. He started infusing life in school on turnkey basis. Besides raising infrastructure, drinking water facility, he also felicitates the achievers in academics and sports.

Baldev ran from pillar to post seeking appointment of a principal. “Fortunately, our requests were heard and we got a principal last month. If the state government becomes little more accommodative, more NRIs can pitch in for philanthropic work,” he says. Member (gold circle), Sikh Human Development Foundation, Baldev Singh also gives scholarship to 10 needy children. 

Chandigarh, August 19
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Mohinder Singh Kaypee recently demanded 50 per cent reservation in the Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali, for economically weaker sections whose fee, he said, should be paid by the state government.

When questioned that admission to the ISB was for those who were already serving in reputed companies, Congress spokesperson Parminder Pinky said some concession could have been given for Punjab candidates from weaker sections, since the government had given land free of cost to the ISB promoters.

Meanwhile, Kaypee said students from weaker sections could not pay Rs 17.50 lakh per annum fee. “Some regulatory mechanism must be evolved for the purpose as in the welfare state, the state government has to care for people at large and not just a few from the higher strata of society,” he added.

The PPCC chief said it was the Prime Minister, who had announced the setting up of a knowledge city of which this business school was a part, and as such, the Chief Minister should not project it as the achievement of his government.

Ferozepur, August 19
The Irrigation and Drainage Department authorities have started releasing about 7,000 cusecs of water towards Pakistan through the Sutlej from Hussainiwala and Hari Ke headworks to maintain the level of water in it and subsequently to avoid flood-like situation. Official sources said the authorities concerned had increased the volume of water being diverted towards Pakistan from 2,000 cusecs to 7,000 cusecs as level of water in Bhakra Dam had been rising every day and it was expected that it could touch danger mark within this month if the rains in its catchment areas continued.

The sources said the volume of water, which could be diverted to Pakistan, could be taken to 60,000 cusecs to 70,000 cusecs and if need arose, it would be done within few days. The Pakistan government would feed its Sulenmanki headworks with the water being released to it from Hussainiwala headworks.

In certain pockets, the demand of canal water was coming down due to continuous rains and hence, they had been finding it difficult to run the canals and distributaries to their maximum capacities. This had forced the authorities to store water at Hari Ke and Hussainiwala headworks and hence their level had been rising. “Though the situation is not alarming so far, I will hold a meeting of those connected with the execution of flood contingent plan tomorrow. Only after that meeting, I will be able to tell about the real situation,” pointed out DC KK Yadav, adding that he had urged the people living on the Sutlej banks to help the district administration in strengthening the embankments, wherever needed.

In case the situation becomes serious, the district administration would issue early warning to the residents.

Sangrur, August 19
There is no criminal case against the truck driver, Gurjant Singh, accused of bid to murder Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee. Gurjant’s report given by his domicile police station suggests that not a single criminal case has been registered against the accused.

The Chhajli police station authorities in a report to the visiting West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have certified that “the accused has never committed any crime in his life”. The CID team from West Bengal was here to ascertain whether Gurjant has a criminal record against him. The CID team also visited the family of the accused at his native village. Local police sources confirmed the visit of the CID officials from West Bengal this morning.

The investigating team will submit the report before the local court in Tamluk, West Bengal, which will hear Gurjant’s case on August 24. SSP, Sangrur, refused to comment on the issue. 

Patiala, August 19
After a 10-day ordeal, the family of Gurjant, truck driver from Mauran village of Sangrur district, has finally got some ray of hope of release of Gurjant from the custody of the West Bengal police. Congress MP from Sangrur Vijay Inder Singla has taken up the matter with Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and has also approached Sundar Singh, a prominent lawyer, who retired as the WB ADGP, to fight Gurjant’s case.

Today, Singla called upon Mamata at Parliament House and requested her to review the case. Speaking over phone from New Delhi, Singla told, “Mamata has assured me to look into the case sympathetically.” Singla further said during his meeting with Mamata, the minister said she loved poor people as well as Punjabis. He further said Mamata had told him that she was not the complainant in the case, but she would see how to help out the poor driver. 

Chandigarh, August 19
Taking senior Punjab police functionaries to task for shielding cops indicted for detaining and implicating a Hoshiarpur resident in a drug trafficking case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered the payment of Rs 50,000 as interim compensation to the victim.

Justice Surya Kant also directed the recovery of the amount from the salary or retirement benefits of the cops hauled up in an inquiry into the incident. A last opportunity was also given to Hoshiarpur Superintendent of Police to act in the matter on the basis of the inquiry report.

Justice Surya Kant asserted: “From the documents on record, including the inquiry report submitted by the police authorities, prima facie, there appears to be a calculated attempt by the senior police authorities to protect the high-handedness of SI Sarabjit Rai and ASI Gurpreet Singh.

“Despite having been found guilty of implicating the petitioner - Ravinder Kumar - under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and keeping him in custody for five months, they have been allowed to go virtually scot-free with an administrative suspension for a few days followed by a simple warning to them, which is nothing but administrative devise to hush up the matter”.