The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Army plans documentary to take on touts
Kusum Arora
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 8
The Army is planning to make ‘anti-touting’ documentary, which would be screened at the grass-roots level across the country to create awareness among the youth against touts.

This was disclosed by Brigadier Vinod Raizada, Deputy Director General (Recruiting) Headquarters Recruiting Zone (Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir), Jalandhar Cantonment, during the Army Open Recruitment Rally held at Punjab Armed Police (PAP) ground, here.

Brigadier Raizada said he would soon discuss this plan with senior Army officers as the problem was grave. “There is a dire need to educate the youth as well as their parents regarding the fake claims of the touts to ensure recruitment in the Army. Though we have introduced fool-proof methods for recruitments but still some youth fall prey to touts,” he said, adding that the Army authorities have been propagating the message ‘Stay away from touts’ through the FM channels and other media.

Last month the military intelligence busted a gang of touts during a recruitment rally at Ferozepur. The touts, including an ex-serviceman, had fleeced money from the youth by asking them to tick a certain set of answers during their Common Entrance Exam.

Further, Brigadier Raizada expressed a deep concern over a lukewarm response to the rally. “This time the response was not good as a total of 9,828 youth turned up for the rally out of which only 800 were selected, which is less as compared to the previous years. Probably one reason could be that a majority of the youth had just appeared for the board exams and awaiting results while others must be preparing for competitive exams. We will analyse the shortcomings”, he said.

The army recruiting authorities also highlighted that the response from Jalandhar was virtually poor. However, Hoshiarpur outshined other districts as a whopping 4800 youth turned up for the rally. “Being an NRI belt and owing to a spate in drug addiction the youth from this district is least interested in joining the armed forces. This is a sad trend”, he said.

Brigadier Raizada also highlighted that Uttar Pradesh was the only state across the country from where they received an overwhelming response. “Uttar Pradesh remains at the top as far as the youth turnout is concerned. Even states like Jammu and Kashmir have shown wonderful results. Recently during a recruitment rally at Jammu & Kashmir in the month of February as many as 35,000 youth turned up. Even at Srinagar around 8,000 plus youth appeared for the rally”, the officer added.

Controversial mandir issue given a quiet burial
Ravi Dhaliwal/TNS

Gurdaspur, May 8
The Mai Wala Talab Mandir issue, which over the past one week had acquired the contours of a major controversy pertaining to the ownership rights of some commercial property located within the precincts of the temple, was given a quiet burial following some deft handling by the Gurdaspur police and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

It is pertinent to mention here that in the recent weeks the issue had threatened to snowball into a major controversy with the Mandir Bachao Sangharsh Committee members yesterday resorting to a protest rally in front of the Gurdaspur city police station. They also blocked traffic and threatened to call a bandh in the town-a development which clearly rattled the administration and cops.

Sensing that the situation could turn volatile, SSP Varinder Pal Singh asked the SP (Headquarters) Charanjit Singh and SDM JP Singh to smother frayed tempers. Tension was thick in the air as the SP and SDM convened a meeting of the sangharsh committee members and the owners of the disputed property at the formers’ office today.

Sources revealed that intelligence reports had also suggested that the matter could go out of hand if remedial measures were not taken soon. Middle-rung politicians, cutting across party lines, too had jumped into the fray making residents a bit edgy. Residents, by and large, wanted the imbroglio large, wanted the imbroglio to be settled as soon as possible.

The SP and the SDM asked the sangharsh committee, which included its president Kedar Nath Sharma and Secretary HS Lakhanpal, to abide by the court’s decision. The court has granted a stay on any type of construction within the temple’s premises.

The committee members were assured that till the court vacated the stay, the administration would not allow any type of construction within the temple complex.

In the same breath, the SP warned that if anybody played foul, he or she would be dealt with strictly. “I will not allow the situation to deteriorate and anyone taking advantage of any loophole in the agreement will be dealt with according to the provision of the law,” said Charanjit Singh. The district administration and police heaved a sigh of relief once the agreement was brokered.

Main Facts

* Dispute was over the ownership rights of some commercial property located within the precincts of Mai Wala Talab Mandir

* SP and SDM handled the matter deftly

* Mandir Bachao Sangharsh Committee members took out a protest rally on Saturday

* The administration assured the committee that it would not allow any type of construction within the temple complex

Foreign students visit citrus estate

Hoshiarpur, May 8
Under the Know India Programme, a delegation of 25 students from the US, Fiji, South Africa, France, Israel, Peru, Tanzania, Surinam and Trinidad and Tobago visited Hoshiarpur, known for kinnow cultivation, on Saturday.

The delegation, visiting Punjab since May 4, was taken to Chhawni Kalan citrus estate here.

The programme is conducted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India, in partnership with the state government.

Deputy Commissioner Dharam Dutt Tarnach and SDM Karnail Singh accompanied the delegation.

Horticulture Development Officer Dr Avtar Singh informed about the five citrus estates being run by the Punjab Government.

He said tractors, implements and spray pumps were given to marginal farmers on rent from citrus estates which help them earn a reasonable income.

The students showed interest in horticulture and enquired about organic farming. Some members also enquired about women members involved in horticulture.

Later, the delegation visited VVRI Sadhu Ashram and went to the museum that housed epic grants Ramayana, Mahabharata besides Quran and handwritten manuscripts. — OC

CRIME
3 held for murder

Nakodar: Three persons have been arrested for the murder of a woman, identified as Komal, for dowry. Deceased’s mother Chand Rani, in her complaint, alleged her daughter was tortured even since her marriage with Sunil Kumar in 2002. Though they (deceased’s family members) did their best to keep her in-laws happy, the hunger for dowry saw no end. They had given Rs 1.5 lakh to Sunil but that did not change the in-laws’ attitude towards the Komal, she further alleged. A few days ago, Komal called her up and told about the beating she received from her mother-in-law Dalbir Kaur and brother-in-law Money at her residence. She also told her mother that her husband, instead of stopping them, stood like a mute spectator. “I visited her in-laws’ house on that day itself and requested them not to torture her daughter. I even gave them Rs 5000 and told them I will arrange more money,” the mother said. But when she reached home, she came to know that Komal was found dead at her residence. The police has registered a case against Sunil, Dalbir Kaur and Money under Sections 302 and 120 (B) of IPC, said SHO Surinderpal Singh. — OC

Newlywed ends life

Tarn Taran: Just after two months of marriage, Baljit Kaur (21) could not take the harassment, meted out to her by the in-laws over dowry, anymore and ended her life at Palasaur village on Saturday. Baljit’s husband Mandeep Singh, his father Mehnga Singh, mother Gopal Kaur and brothers Sukhdeep Singh and Kuldeep Singh have been booked under Sections 306 and 34 of the IPC after deceased’s father Gopal Singh lodged a complaint in this regard. The accused were absconding, said SSP Preetpaul Singh Virk. Gopal Singh of Dode village, falling under Chabal police station, in his statement to the police alleged that in-laws had been torturing his daughter for dowry since the marriage. According to the father, the in-laws brutally tortured Baljit over their demand of a car and Rs 50,000. The police has sent the body for the post-mortem examination at the local civil hospital. — OC

Bystander shot dead

Amritsar: Paramjit Kaur, a bystander, had to pay with her life following a dispute between two groups at Faqeer Colony on Saturday night. According to information, a minor dispute occurred between Babaljit Singh and Survinder Singh during the marriage of latter’s cousin, Kanwar Kumar, a resident of Faqeer Colony, at a marriage party at Chherhata. Though the matter was resolved at the party, Babaljit, also of Faqeer Colony, kept a grudge against Survinder. He along with other accomplices reached the residence of Kanwar, where his relatives had gathered, and fired at Survinder. But the bullet struck Paramjit Kaur, also a relative of Kanwar, killing her on the spot. A case has been registered in this regard. — TNS

Watchman found murdered

Amritsar: In yet another incident of coldblooded murder, a watchman in an industrial area near Sultanwind was done to death by unidentified persons on Saturday night. The incident came to light when Avtar Singh, deceased’s son Balkar Singh, went to serve him tea in the wee hours today. His hands and legs were tied and was stabbed to death. His body was lying in pool of blood. Manjit Singh, SHO, Sultanwind police, said a case had been registered and investigation launched. — TNS

Advocate ‘thrashed’

Amritsar: The Amritsar Bar Association has strongly reacted to the alleged thrashing of an advocate, identified as Deepak Bhandari, by the ADCP (crime). The incident happened on late Friday night when Deepak and his friend were returning from a marriage party on a bike. The police version, however, has no mention of beating. According to police authorities, the duo was found drunk when stopped at a naka near Ratan Singh Chowk. There they allegedly misbehaved with ADCP (crime) Inderbir Singh and other policemen on duty. Following the incident, a case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered against the advocate for obstructing government officials to perform their duty. They were later released on bail. Condemning the incident, Pardeep Saini, president, Amritsar Bar Association, alleged that ADCP Inderbir Singh beat up the advocate on a minor issue of not wearing a helmet besides registering the case. They were also put behind the bars by the police. However, he said the case was cancelled only after the intervention of Deputy Commissioner of Police Amar Singh Chahal. He, however, demanded an inquiry into the whole episode. “The DCP has assured us to mark an inquiry in this regard. If the police dithers on holding a probe, we have no other alternative but pursue legal course of action,” said Saini. Chahal, however, claimed that the matter was sorted out and the advocate was released on bail. — TNS