Nawanshahr, September 30
Karampal Goel, who has earlier been arrested by the police in a GPF scam worth crores of rupees in the district health department, has again been booked by the police under sections 406 and 420 of the IPC for allegedly committing a fraud worth Rs 1.12 crore in a land sale deed.

Giving details, SSP Narinder Bhargav said the case had been registered on the basis of an inquiry conducted by the SP (HQ) Jagjit Singh into the complaint lodged by Satveerpal Singh of Chandiani Khurd village (Pojewal) in the district with the DIG, Jalandhar Range.

In his complaint, Satveerpal Singh had stated that he had been working in PAU, Ludhiana, and Karampal Goel had been known to him for the past many years.

Last year, Goel borrowed Rs 50,000 for 10 days from him and when he demanded the money back, Goel expressed his helplessness, but offered to sell his property situated at Giaspura in Ludhiana district to him instead as he needed money.

Goel showed to him 470 shops and rooms constructed in a 470 square yard area.

He showed the property to his friends Suresh Kumar of Mandi Mullanpur (Ludhiana) and Joginder Singh of Bathinda. They also liked the property and a sale deed worth Rs 56 lakh was finalised on March 26, 2009, and Rs 54 lakh (including adjustment of Rs 50,000 borrowed by Goel) was paid in advance and the date for registration of the sale deed was fixed as June 25, 2010.

“After a few days, Goel again came to me and offered to sell his plot of 638 square yards, situated at Atam Nagar, Ludhiana. The plot was also shown to Rippon Sethi, Rajesh Kumar of Ludhiana and Jagdish Dutt of Barnala. The deal was finalised for Rs 60.38 lakh and Rs 58 lakh was given in advance on April 16, 2009. The date for registration was fixed for June 26, 2010,” said the complainant, adding that on the stipulated dates, Karampal Goel did not turn up at the office of the Tehsildar, Ludhiana, for the registration of the sale deed and they got their attendance marked in the office of the Tehsildar.

“A few days ago, Karampal Goel met me at Nawanshahr and when asked about not turning up for the registration of the sale deed, he started threatening to kill me,” further alleged Satveerpal Singh in his complaint.

Jalandhar, September 30
Keeping in view the Allahabad High Court’s verdict on the Ayodhya issue, the police organised a flag march in the city and its vicinity today.

The police had made elaborate arrangements to tackle any untoward incident but there were no reports of violence from any part of the city.

Earlier a peace march organised by the peace committee in the morning failed to draw crowd. There were certain local leaders and cops in the march.

Phagwara: The civil and police administration in Phagwara, Phillaur and Nakodar heaved a sigh of relief after announcement of the court’s verdict on the Ayodhya issue this afternoon.

In a statement issued here today, former Punjab BJP president Madan Mohan Mittal, said today’s ruling was a green signal to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya. He urged all Indians to forget the past bitterness.

He appealed to the people to maintain peace and communal harmony and said the verdict should not be celebrated in such a manner which could hurt the sentiments of any community.

Batala: Local leaders of Hindu organisations hailed the Ayodhya verdict.

J.N. Sharma, vice-president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Punjab, Davinderpal, convener of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Punjab, and Suresh Bhatia, president of the Bajrang Dal, Punjab, welcomed the verdict and said the judgement had vindicated the stand of the Hindus.

Hoshiarpur: The police has further intensified the patrolling throughout the district this afternoon to avert any untoward incident.

Flag march by police contingents were staged at many places in the town, Mukerian, Dasuya and Garshankar to boost up the morale of the public. SSP Rakesh Aggarwal said law and order situation in the district was normal and quite under control. Security at all religious places, including temples and mosques, had been tightened.

Deputy Commissioner Dharam Dutt Ternach appealed to the people to extend their cooperation for maintaining peace, harmony and brotherhood.

Tarn Taran: The police has made tight security arrangements in the border district.

The district administration has imposed ban on holding processions and marches and gathering of more than five persons at public places to maintain law and order, an official press note said here today.

A meeting of the district authorities was held under the presidentship of Khushi Ram here, in which the security arrangements were discussed. SSP Preetpal Singh Virk said all SPs and DSPs were having close watch on the law and order situation . The DSP (Subdivision), Ashwani Kumar, led a police march in the town.

Amritsar, September 30
A three-member committee headed by Dr Jaswant Rai of department of pharmacology has been constituted to probe the chopping of age-old trees near girls hostel on the Government Medical College premises.

Dr S.S. Shergill, Principal, GMC, confirmed that the committee was asked to submit its report within three days. The other members of the investigating team are Dr Satpal, professor of medicine, and Dr Mridu Gupta, hostel superintendent.

A controversy has erupted over the alleged chopping of age-old trees near girls hostel on the Government Medical College premises here.

While Forest Department officials termed the incident as illegal, Dr Shergill refuted the charges saying that trees were “pruned” as these were creating hindrance, besides damaging the hostel building. Dr Shergill said only the damaged branches were pruned.

But logs of woods lying near the hostel complex have raised many eyebrows. The role of hostel warden Dr R.S. Sidhu has also come under scanner.

The incident came to light when a tractor-trailer coming out of the medical college premises was reportedly spotted by a forest official passing through the road on September 26 evening. He immediately called the official concerned of the department and asked the security guards not to let the tractor leave the college complex.

Capt Sajjan Singh (retd) of the security wing stated that the security staff on duty took away the keys of the tractor but the driver started it by igniting the electrical wires. He said Dr R.S. Sidhu had opposed the security guards and helped the driver and other persons to flee from the spot. He said he informed the Medical Superintendent and lodged a complaint with the Majitha police chowki.

Block Forest Officer Jagtar Singh maintained that even if it was an attempt to prune the trees, it had to be done before seeking permission of the department.

Dr Sidhu refuted the allegations and said that pruning was done on the directions of Dr Shergill. He claimed that the Forest Department officials had trespassed the medical college complex.

Meanwhile, after the incident the medical students also raised slogans against Medical Superintendent Dr R.P.S. Boparai who appealed them not to get involved in administrative matters. He said the hospital authorities could not allow unauthorised activities in the college complex.

Jalandhar, September 30
Old rivalry and fight for pride claimed the life of a drug peddler based in Kazi Mandi, a locality known for its drug peddlers, last night.

Drug peddler Dharma was reportedly stabbed to death by over a dozen men of Satnam, a resident of Nurpur.

ADCP S.K. Kalia said that one of the daughters in-law of Dharma had eloped with Satnam almost six months ago, following which both of them were grinding their axes against each other.

After being in the jail (in a case under the NDPS Act), Dharma was on bail and had been receiving threats from Satnam and his men. The Satnam group struck the area last night and stabbed Dharma with sharp-edged weapons. He died of profuse bleeding.

The body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination at the Civil Hospital this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the police today arrested two persons - Sunil Kumar and Vinod Kumar - for their involvement in the murder. The police has launched a hunt for the main suspect Satnam and over 10 members of his gang. A case has been registered. — TNS