Jalandhar, January 25
Highlighting that the Punjab election office has registered 1.85 lakh youth in the age group of 18-20 years as voters, state Governor Shivraj V. Patil said today that the youth should ensure that their voter photo ID cards were made and they exercise right to vote to make the world’s largest democracy.

The Governor said it was the responsibility of the youth to check that their names were enrolled in the electoral list and look forward to a country of their dreams. While the election officials should ensure that the voters list were correct in all respects.

The Governor was here to attend a state-level function on National Voters Day, which was held at the Red Cross Bhawan here today.

He said the Punjab election office had registered 4,16,000 new voters, while the total number of voters that had been registered till date are 1,67,12,797.

The Governor also distributed voter photo ID cards to five newly registered voters each in the age group of 18-20 years from the nine constituencies of the district. “The youth should understand the power of voting as it makes them powerful enough to change their own destiny through democracy and make or mar the governments,” he said.

Talking about the role of the Election Commission of India, the Governor said it had been one of the pillars of the Indian democracy since its inception. “The Election Commission of India has been the backbone of our democratic system making it an example to follow across the world. It is owing to this reason that it has been often asked to share its experience of conducting the elections with other countries in the world,” the Governor said.

Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Raj Kamal Chaudhary said the Punjab election officials reached out to the Deputy Commissioners, colleges and universities to ensure that youth above the age of 18 years were enrolled as the voters.

Chief Secretary, Punjab, S.C. Aggarwal spoke about the voter turnout in the rural and urban areas in the state. He appealed to the youth to caste their votes in the ensuing Assembly elections to be held in 2012. “It is a bad trend that the educated urban people turn up in less number as compared to the rural people to exercise their votes. The youth should take the lead in filling this gap,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, a special documentary highlighting the journey of the Election Commission of India and its role in conducting elections over the years was also shown to the audience. The documentary also focused on the role of media during the elections, as a mass medium.Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner S.R. Ladhar read out the message of Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu. Among others present on the occasion were Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti, ADC (D) Sarojini Gautam Sharda and other senior officers.

Tarn Taran: As many as 6,22,108 (98.33 per cent) voters out of the total 6,32,649 have been issued photo Voter Identity Cards in the district. The remaining 10,541 voters would be issued photo cards soon. The information was given by Deputy Commissioner Khushi Ram while addressing a district-level programme organised on the National Voters’ Day here today. The DC said the photo I-Card could be considered as a residence proof. The function was attended by the newly registered voters, besides others.

Nawanshahr: “Right to vote empowers the common man to decide about the government in the democracy and if you do not exercise your right to vote then you do not have the right to criticise the government.” Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh said this while presiding over a district-level function today at Shivalik Public School to mark National Voters’ Day.

She exhorted the voters, especially the newly registered ones, to realise the importance of right to vote to decide the fate of the country.

Nawanshahr, January 25
Shamsher Singh Shera of Baguwal village, who along with his brother Harvinder Kumar was allegedly assaulted by his opponent gang led by Narinder Bhoda, near Makhupur village on January 17, has died at PGI, Chandigarh today.

The police had got Shera and his brother admitted to PGI, Chandigarh, for immediate medical aid. On the basis of the statement of Harvinder, a case under Sections 307, 323, 324, 148 and 149 of the IPC was registered at the Pojewal police station against four persons - Narinder Kumar alias Bhoda, Chaman Lal alias Tony, Naresh Kumar alias Guru and Ajay alias Ajju. The police had already arrested the two accused namely - Chaman Lal and Naresh Kumar. The other two accused are still absconding. Shera came into limelight about two months ago when his parents while accusing the Balachaur police of keeping their son in illegal custody had expressed apprehension that their son might be killed by the police in a fake encounter.

Tarn Taran, January 25
Kabal Singh (25) of Jawande Kalan village, 15 km from here, was beaten to death late last night at his native village by four persons.

The Patti police has booked the four accused, including three brothers of a family, of the same village under Sections 302, 452, 427 and 34 of the IPC. The accused have been identified as Satnam Singh, Sahib Singh, Partap Singh (brothers) and Chanan Singh.

Kabal was watching TV in his home last night when the accused forcibly reached there and dragged him out in the street from his house and beat him severely. Kabal was admitted to Community Health Centre, Kairon, in a serious condition from where he was referred to Civil Hospital, Patti. Later, he succumbed to the injuries.

Rajwant Kaur, sister of the deceased, said her family was planning to open a passage in the common place for which their family had won the legal battle but the accused were objecting the move. Meanwhile, SSP Preetpal Singh said raids had been conducted to nab the accused.—OC 

He said he had dismissed a Naib Tehsildar of Mukerian, Amarjit Singh, from his service today, who was convicted by a judicial court and was accorded six-month imprisonment on the alleged charges of tampering of revenue records. — OC