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REWARI MASSACRE
1 more killed by Manila mafia
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Flesh-trade racket spread over 3 cities busted
‘Pro-Khalistan’ Hoardings
The police arrests former MP and chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal
(Khalistani) Atinderpal Singh in Jalandhar on Saturday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh
Sukhbir’s ‘hotel venture’
Seat sharing with SAD
Foreign Contributions
Lahore court allows Sarabjit’s lawyer to meet him in jail
MCI checking medical colleges for malpractices
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India Shiv Kumar Sarin addresses students at the convocation of the DMCH, Ludhiana, on Saturday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma
Pakistanis feel India flourishing due to its broad-minded approach
Efforts on to locate missing girls: DGP
RTI Act ‘tool to end corruption’
Pakistan Rangers refuses to accept bodies of intruders
City Centre Case
State signs MoU with UNESCO
4 killed in mishap
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1 more killed by Manila mafia
Ferozepur, February 26 Though no kin of Mohinder Singh could be contacted despite repeated efforts, it is learnt that Mohinder Singh was shot at from a close range by the assailants while he was going to his work place from his house in Manila town yesterday. Though he was taken to a nearby hospital in Manila immediately, he was declared brought dead by doctors, who attended on him. Mohinder was married to daughter of Tara Singh of Chanded village. He along with his wife, son and daughter, who are grown up, was living in Manila town for the past 13 years and was doing business over there. Mohinder was perhaps the sixth resident of Bathinda, Ferozepur and Moga district, who was killed by the mafia operating in Manila town in the past about one year. Earlier, Gurmail Singh (42) of Kot-Bhaktu village of Bathinda district was killed in the last week of January 2011 and Harvir Singh, alias Jimmy, of Ronta village of Moga district was done to death on January 31, 2011. Balwinder Singh of Rajeana village and his cousin, Tajinder Pal Singh, of Moga district were shot by assailants in Manila on May 11 last year. In the first week of April 2010, Sandeep Singh of Bhamba Landa village of Ferozepur was shot dead in Manila by some goons. Most of the Punjabi people, who were shot dead in Manila in the past one year or so, were involved in finance business and had been lending money to other people on interest. Meanwhile, the body of Mahinder Singh, who would live in his in-laws’ house at Chanded village whenever he came to India, was expected to arrive today from Manila.
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Flesh-trade racket spread over 3 cities busted
Patiala, February 26 The police had received a complaint some days ago about a missing girl from Patiala from Majithia Enclave, whose father had levelled serious allegations. “During investigations, we got to know about the deeds of Vajinder Singh, son of dismissed DSP Gurjit Singh, along with his brother Maninder Singh and some other family members,” they said. SHO, Passiana, Aman Pal Singh, told TNS that the accused was running a sex racket from a beauty parlour in Bathinda where the parlour caretaker, Sarbjeet Kaur, lured girls to befriend Maninder and Vajinder,” he stated. “The duo took the girls to secluded houses in Patiala and Bathinda and developed physical relations with them after giving them drug-laced drinks. They allegedly filmed these girls and then blackmailed them to join the flesh trade,” he added. Senior police officers in Patiala confirmed to The Tribune that numerous short films and MMS clips, related to many unknown girls, have also been found. “Meanwhile a girl from Ludhiana has also levelled similar allegations against the accused and we are awaiting medical reports to substantiate her claims in the case,” they added. Sources said that many high-profile people from Bathinda, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Patiala could be involved in this sex trade, wherein they paid money to these accused to have sex with the girls involved in this high-profile sex racket. The police has arrested Maninder Singh and Sarabjeet Kaur, while the other accused are yet to be arrested. Those booked in the case include dismissed DSP Gurjit Singh, PO in a murder case, his two sons, Vajinder, Maninder, and wife, Jaspal Kaur. Gurjit was dismissed some years ago after the registration of a murder case.
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Ex-MP, wife arrested
Dharmendra Joshi/TNS
Jalandhar, February 26 Though an FIR has been registered against them under various sections of the IPC, their preventive arrests were made under Sections 107/151 of the CrPC to maintain law and order. The MP and his supporters, including Waryam Singh, Amandeep Singh and Jagtar Singh, were arrested a few minutes before their plan to address mediapersons at the local Press Club at 12.30 pm. According to sources, the MP was a member of the Khalistan Liberation Organisation. Later, he set up the Shiromani Akali Dal (International). A few years ago, he had constituted the Shiromani Akali Dal (Khalistani). Meanwhile, ADCP (City) SK Kalia said the MP and his supporters had been arrested as a preventive measure, as a case of sedition registered against them was being investigated. The arrests might be made under serious sections of the sedition charge after the outcome of the investigation, he added. Sources said they would be produced before the DCP tomorrow.
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Cong questions source of funds
Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 26 Besides Khangura has also questioned how the head of the SAD, a religious party, can justify to the people and Akal Takht his promotion of “the country’s only exclusive Cigar lounge”, in a hotel promoted by him and his family. Khangura has alleged that the Oberoi, Gurgaon, is opening on March 1 and is a collaborative venture of the Badals. A hotelier himself, Khangura has claimed that the hotel has been built on the land allotted to the Badals by the late Deputy Prime Minister, Devi Lal. “A resort was built on a part of this land earlier and now the new hotel with 202 rooms is built on nine acres of land. ” Despite several attempts Sukhbir Badal could not be contacted. He was stated to be in Delhi. But neither he nor anyone else took the calls from The Tribune till the filing of this report. Sources close to the family, however, confirmed that the Badals have a stake in the hotel.
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Seat sharing with SAD Manvinder Singh/TNS
Ludhiana, February 26 The matter was raised by party leaders in an ongoing meeting of the state executive here on Saturday. At the meeting in which former and present district presidents, general secretaries and other office-bearers took part, the issue was raised before the in charge of state affairs of the party and former Union Minister Shanta Kumar. The leaders said at the time when the agreement was finalised with the SAD, the conditions were entirely different and the BJP also didn't have much of a base in state. But, they said, now the party had developed a good base among the public, so a fresh accord needed to be finalised with the alliance partner in the coming state Assembly elections. The leaders also demanded that party leaders should be accommodated immediately in vacant posts of various boards and corporations of the state government. Shanta Kumar directed Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia, who was also present at the meeting, to take up the issue related to the accommodation of BJP leaders in boards and corporations with the Chief Minister. Kalia denied that this issue was raised at the meeting.
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Foreign Contributions Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 26 Khanna said since the case was sub judice, he did not want to elaborate much on it and had full faith in the judiciary and respect for the investigating agency. He said, “I have been through a number of investigations over the last few years and come out clean and I reiterate that I have full faith in the Indian judicial system.” However, he said, since he was a public figure having been working for the people of Punjab for past 16 years, he needed to set the record straight and clear public perception. He said the money was received by him officially through his saving bank account and everything was above board and this was also confirmed by his father in writing. The former MLA said the Income Tax Department had already accepted that this was a gift given by his father to him out of love and affection. He said, if he had any intention to circumvent the law, he would never have got the money into his saving bank account and brought it on record. He said the court was yet to take cognisance of the charges and he would make his point properly, once it comes for trial. Quoting the CBI press release, he said “the public is reminded that the above findings are based on the investigation done by the CBI and evidence collected by it. Under the Indian law, the accused are presumed to be innocent till their guilt is finally established after a fair trial”.
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Lahore court allows Sarabjit’s lawyer to meet him in jail
Lahore, February 26 Awais Sheikh had filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking permission to meet Sarabjit. Sheikh said he was Sarabjit’s counsel and had visited his family in India, adding that he needed to meet his client in the jail, but the prison’s authorities were not allowing him to do so. He had requested the court to issue directions to the jail administration to allow him to meet Sarabjit. After hearing arguments yesterday, the court accepted Sheikh’s petition and allowed him to meet Sarabjit. Sheikh has also written to President Asif Ali Zardari and requested him to take a compassionate view of Sarabjit’s case as it was a “typical example of mistaken identity”. The Pakistani authorities indefinitely put off Sarabjit’s hanging following the intervention of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in 2008. Officials have said only Zardari can decide on granting clemency to Sarabjit. — PTI
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MCI checking medical colleges for malpractices
Ludhiana, February 26 Dr Sarin said 900 assessors were carrying out detailed investigations in medical colleges and all discrepancies would be highlighted in the report. He said the assessors were provided comprehensive training on the subjects to be taken into consideration while evaluating them academically and ethically. Dr Sarin is a renowned gastroentrologist and is currently the Head of the hepatology department and the Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi. He said the MCI had received 19 applications for the opening up of new medical colleges in 2010, whereas 84 applications had already been received this year. Speaking on medical colleges with a tainted image, Dr Sarin said the MCI did not believe in the closure of the medical colleges, instead the council was working in the direction of removing incongruities and making improvements to bring about a positive change. Later, awarding degrees to 53 medical graduates of the 2005 batch of MBBS, Dr Sarin called upon graduates to practise honesty while making full use of the talent in meeting the challenges in the medical profession.
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Pakistanis feel India flourishing due to its broad-minded approach
Ludhiana, February 26 Pakistanis believe that the reason India was flourishing recent years was due to its broad-minded approach where in Pakistan, people still felt suffocated. There was a social gap between the two countries, but it was “created” and “fabricated” by fanatics. Talking to The Tribune, Sohail, a young artiste from Lahore, said by and large, the fanatics (be in India or in Pakistan) had been exposed. “The younger generation is certainly not going to live in a suffocated atmosphere. They will bridge the gaps. I believe that countries can grow and prosper if they do not adopt a rigid approach. I am happy to see that all are independent individuals here. There is more interaction and liberalisation in India,” he said. Dr Asma, a researcher at Oriental College, Lahore, and Dr Nigad Khurshid, a writer said India was like another home to them, not much difference between the two cultures. “We are here to promote Punjabi-the rich language of both the Punjabs. We are members of theatre groups- Lok Rahas, Lok Sangat and Lok Sujag, all in promotion of Punjabi, its rich traditions and culture,” said Dr Asma. The two plays, ‘Chog Kasumbe Di and Sammi Di Vaar’, will focus on social evils like gender discrimination, economic exploitation and atrocities on women by society. Saima (30) accompanied by her two sons Sachal (6) and Saanwal (4) said her husband was the director and she was assisting him. “We are so happy to be here. I saw girls driving cars and two-wheelers, they are so independent. I like the Indian curries and kebabs,” she said. The invitation to Pakistani troupe was extended by the Punjabi Naat Academy and the Indo-Pak Drama Festival will be held at two city colleges.
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Efforts on to locate missing girls: DGP
Patiala, February 26 The Punjab police has failed to register FIRs in the majority of the cases. Replying to an RTI application on the missing girls, the police has accepted to their failure to register FIRs, as they claimed that their domain was limited to lodging a DDR. Sources in the police confirmed that usually an FIR was avoided by the SHO concerned to keep the crime chart down. “Sometimes even complainants in cases pertaining to missing girls avoid lodging an FIR,” they said. “A DDR is lodged as soon as we get any information from the family or relatives related to the missing girl. An FIR is lodged only if there is a kidnapping or any complaint,” Gill said. On the issue that no help from the Centre was not taken, Gill said help from neighbouring states was also taken to locate the missing girls. “In such cases, the registration of an FIR is not the main thing. But locating the girl is important,” he said. “Every such case has an investigating officer who is supposed to follow such cases. Efforts are on till the time the girl’s body is recovered or there is any concrete complaint with us,” he said.
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RTI Act ‘tool to end corruption’
Patiala, February 26 The college had hosted a seminar on the topic “Right to Information Act; Social Empowerment”. Speaking on the sidelines of the function, Singh said the masses were not fully aware of their legal rights but a gradual consciousness and growth of democratic values among them had brought a realisation among administrators that people had their legal rights. He emphasised the need for digitisation of the official data for instant availability of information. Dr MR Garg and Prof Taniya Mander from Rajiv Gandhi National Law University, Patiala. also spoke on the occasion as guest speakers. District Revenue Officer S Jatinder Singh highlighted his personal experiences while dealing with the applications seeking information under the Act. The college Principal, Dr Sudeep Bhangoo, welcomed the chief guest and other speakers. More then 200 students along with the faculty attended the seminar.
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Pakistan Rangers refuses to accept bodies of intruders
Jalalabad, February 26 Official sources said the Pakistan Rangers had agreed to accept the bodies when an offer was made to them by the BSF authorities yesterday immediately after the two were shot dead. The bodies have been lying in the Fazilka Civil Hospital since yesterday. The BSF authorities were hoping that the Pakistan Rangers would agree to accept the bodies on humanitarian grounds. “Now we will make arrangements so that the bodies can be disposed of as per the rites of their religion,” said Vimal Satyarthi, DIG, BSF (Abohar sector). He said the bodies would be handed over to the municipal council authorities for doing the needful. He said sim cards, which had been recovered from the intruders, were being examined to find out if they were in touch with anti-social elements. A case has been
registered in police station concerned.
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Bids were ‘not tampered with’
Rajneesh Lakhanpal Our Legal Correspondent
Ludhiana, Feburary 26 Showing some documents placed on record by the VB itself, the defence lawyer, Deepak Sibal, said there were the signatures of representatives of all the respective companies, when the bids were opened. If there would have been any sort of tampering with the seals, which were opened in their presence, they must have raised an objection. But this was not done. All this clearly shows that the bids were opened in their presence and held peacefully. There was a bid of Rs 371 crore from the side of consortium companies relating with Today Homes, whereas the second bid was of Rs 344 crore. If the bids were not tampered with, then no motive could be attributed to the accused, he said. Capt Amarinder Singh was not present in the court during the hearing. He was away
to Bangkok.
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State signs MoU with UNESCO
New Delhi, February 26 On one end of the cultural spectrum of the state are the archaeological remains of the 5,000-year-old Indus civilisation and on the other end is the modern capital of Chandigarh. Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, who was present at the signing of the MoU, said the ancient silk route and the grand trunk road enriched the state with its rich philosophy, poetry, spirituality, crafts, artistry, music, cuisine and multifold traditions. The state government aims to complete the project within 18 months. Archival heritage has been identified as a major strength of the state and efforts are also being made to preserve and conserve these by adopting modern and scientific techniques. The Government of Punjab on the basis of the recommendations made by UNESCO will engage the lead consultant ream.
— TNS
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4 killed in mishap
Ferozepur, February 26 The deceased have been identified as Gurnam Singh, the driver of the jeep, Soma, Koshilaya and Jeeto Bibi. The incident took place when all the occupants of the jeep were returning from Fazilka after attending the engagement ceremony of the son of one of the occupants. The SHO of the Guru Harsahai police station said the accident took place when the driver of the jeep lost control over the steering and the vehicle collided with the tractor-trailer. He said a case had been registered against Joginder Singh, the driver of the tractor-trailer. However, Jalalabad SDM Rajiv Prashar said the exact reason for the accident could not be known so far as the driver of the tractor-trailer, who also sustained serious injuries, was not in a position to tell anything. Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubhaya has announced that Rs 1 lakh would be given to next of kin of the deceased. He said the injured persons would be given treatment free of cost.
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Ferozepur, February 26
Jalandhar, February 26
Ludhiana, February 26
