Phagwara, November 12
The Vigilance wing of the Local Bodies Department impounded records of the local Nagar Council in its custody after retired bank official Arvind Gupta complained against NC President Balbhadhar Sein Duggal of allotting contracts of municipal works to a construction company owned by his brother.

Chief Vigilance Officer A.K.Kansal told The Tribune that we had got the NC records. A detailed inquiry would be completed within next five days, he added.

Replying to a question, Kansal said though contents of the complaint were specific, more thorough enquiry was the need of the hour as the complaint was against elected councillor-cum-NC President.

When contacted, NC President Balbhadhar Sein Duggal said he had done nothing wrong and hadn’t violated the municipal rules. He claimed that he was working in a complete transparent manner.

On the other hand, complainant Arvind Gupta while talking to newsmen, alleged that NC President has violated municipal rules by allotting contracts of various municipal works worth Rs 89.62 lakh to Punjab Construction Company, which had received payments of Rs 74,33,322 from February 19, 2008 to May 10, 2010.

Gupta had demanded immediate action against NC President Duggal under the Punjab Muncipal Rules 1979 and cancellation of the membership of Duggal from the post of the municipal councillor and remove him from the post of NC President.

Gupta sent written complaints to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Secretary, Director Local Bodies, and Chief Vigilance Officer on October 11.

Interestingly, Deputy Director Local Bodies AK Parbhakar when contacted hesitated to open his mouth on the issue saying he had taken charge only one and half month back.

Gupta said Duggal was elected from Ward 12 and his brother Inderjit is running “Punjab Construction Company” in partnership with another person.

The construction company succeeded to take benefits from NC headed by the brother of a partner, alleged Gupta.

He said he had collected detailed information under the RTI Act from the NC and Taxation Department, which made surprising disclosures.

Jalandhar, November 12
The civil engineering branch of the Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) has been given a grant of Rs 1.1 crore for the purchase of sophisticated machinery for characterisation of the concrete.

After a proposal sent in this regard by the professors here, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has sent its approval for the purchase six machines, five of which will have to be imported. Various government civil departments, including the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, have been depending on the institute for quality testing of the materials used in construction of bridges, roads and buildings.

Professor of the department Dr S.P. Singh said, “We had sent a proposal which is to be completed in five years. The material which we are going to purchase will augment PG teaching and research facilities at the institute.”

He said, “We have also got permission to buy an air-permeability tester for concrete and water absorption. This equipment is very important, for it tells us about percolation of water and oxygen into the deeper layers of newer types of materials, thereby helping us analyse its durability and decaying because of corrosion.”

He added, “We will also buy a non-destructive tester which will enable us to test the material used at the site itself without causing any destruction to the constructed part. Though the tests conducted by it are not very accurate, it gives a fair idea of the quality of the material used.”

Giving details of the other technical stuff, he said, “We also have got approval for temperature and humidity control chamber which will help us conduct tests in controlled conditions and give more accurate results. Besides, we have sanction to buy laser granulometer, servo-controlled actuator and multi-channel data acquisition system.”

Jalandhar, November 12
Founder of the Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shanker visited Lovely Professional University today for an interactive session with the students and staff. The theme of the session was “Life is joy, life is love, life is enthusiasm”.

Answering to most of the questions, he was primarily of the opinion,“A youth is one whose smile never disappears, enthusiasm never dies and who never loses an opportunity to excel. It is a great mixture of emotions and reasons to form a healthy nation.”

He gave great message to the students: “Carry your enthusiasm, create your own positive environment of belief and confidence. Be always on the driving seat to steer the way. Awake, arise and take up the leadership of the country for betterment casting aside all ills, misconducts and unethical means.”

He answered questions related to studies, love, marriage, family problems, memory power, failure, food and strength on positive notes and suggested them to follow the Indian values of yoga, meditation, herbal power and other ethics.

Hoshiarpur, November 12
Balwinder Kaur, wife of Rajesh Kumar of Chack Gujran village, who was married on August 4, 2010, committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling of a room at her house yesterday following her alleged beating by her husband on objecting to his illicit relations with her widow sister Jaswinder Kaur.

According to police sources, deceased Balwinder Kaur’s mother Mohinder Kaur, wife of Sital Ram of Harike Patan (Tarn Taran), said her elder daughter Jaswinder Kaur was married to Balwinder Singh, elder brother of her son-in-law Rajesh Kumar about eight years ago. Balwinder Singh died after some time of the marriage. She alleged that Rajesh Kumar had developed illicit relations with Jaswinder Kaur. One day Balwinder Kaur witnessed her husband Rajesh Kumar and her widow sister Jaswinder Kaur in a compromising position.

When she tried to stop her husband from discontinuing his illicit relations with her widowed sister, he, along with his brothers, allegedly beat up Balwinder Kaur which resulted in her committing suicide.

The Bulhowal police has booked Rajesh Kumar, Ravi Kumar, Balram, all sons of Raj Kewal, and Jaswinder Kaur under sections 306 and 120-B of the IPC. — OC

Jalandhar, November 12
The district police today claimed to have solved the mystery shrouding the looting incident by a tenant in an old couple’s house at Maqsudan on October 2.

The ADCP, S.K. Kalia, today claimed that the police had arrested a couple, Ravi Kumar and Sonia, from Hoshiarpur in this context. Perhaps eyeing to loot the house of the old couple, the tenant, Ravi, was said to have fled the same night during which he had walked into the house. For the same reason, he had come with barely a folding bed and the minimal household stuff in a handbag, he claimed.

“The major issue before us was that it was a blind case with absolutely no antecedents known about the culprit. We did not have his permanent address, phone number or even his picture. We simply had a sketch on the basis of which a Hoshiarpur-based informer contacted us and we managed to round up the accused,” Kalia said, adding that the man had changed several locations in the recent past, including Jalandhar cantonment, Rama Mandi, Hoshiarpur and Phagwara.

Kalia said a case was registered under Section 460 of the IPC. Ravi had been remended in police custody till November 15.

The truck driver has been arrested. In the second incident, a pedestrian, Sonu (25) of Maqsudan was hit by a truck near Suranussi. Sonu died on the spot. — TNS