Bathinda, May 28
A criminal complaint was filed in the court of duty magistrate KK Singla here today for holding a trial of the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, under Section 295-A (maliciously insulting the religion or the religious beliefs of any class) of the IPC. The complainants also prayed to the court to summon the Dera head for trial. The court has fixed June 4 as the next date of hearing.

The complaint has been filed by Jaspal Singh Manjhpur (Dasuya) and Hardip Singh (Wadde Guru Sar, Lehra Mohabbat) through their advocates, including Navkiran Singh (Chandigarh) and Jatinder Roy Khattar (Bathinda).

Navkiran Singh said here today that though an FIR had been registered against the Dera head on May 20, 2007, on the complaint of Rajinder Singh Sidhu under various sections of the IPC, including 295-A, at the Sadar Police Station, Bathinda, the police had neither presented a challan nor applied for cancellation of the case in the court so far.

He said the complaint was related to the incident that occurred on April 29, 2007, when Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh held a congregation at his Dera in Sirsa and wore a dress similar to the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, besides calling himself "Sacha Patshah" and administering "jam-e-insaan" as "Amrit" to his followers.

Navkiran Singh further said in the case, the police had to present the challan in the court in three years but it had not presented the same even as four years had elapsed, so they had prayed to the court to extend the limitation period while exercising its powers under Section 473 of the CrPC.

In the complaint filed today, the complainants alleged that the Bathinda police had been helping the Dera head due to political pressure as he had a huge vote bank in Punjab. For this reason, the police had not submitted the report in the case to the court under Section 173 of the CrPC.

Barnala, May 28
A day after The Tribune highlighted the maltreatment meted out to the students by the college authorities of Guru Nanak Dev Nursing Institute in Barnala as they could not deposit their fee, the district administration has swung into action and has assured to take immediate action.

Giving details, Paramjeet Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Barnala, said he has summoned the college authorities, students and their guardians on Monday to discuss the matter. He added that the matter would be resolved after listening to the versions of both the sides.

The DC said it is unfortunate and illegal, if the study of the students has been stopped by the college authorities.

He assured that the studies of the students would be started immediately.

Meanwhile, advocate Naresh Kumari Bawa, Provincial President of Savitri Bhai Phule Women Welfare Society, Punjab unit, criticised the ill-treatment.

The Tribune in its Edition of May 28 carried a news item titled 'Nursing students allege torture' wherein ill-treatment meted to 25 nursing students undergoing GNM course in the Guru Nanak Dev Nursing Institute for not depositing the college fee was highlighted.

Bathinda, May 28
Death of Sukhminder, a sewerman engaged by the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) on contract basis, after being run over by a speeding car on the Bathinda-Goniana road late last night, triggered a traffic jam and protest by employees of the local Municipal Corporation (BMC) and activists of other organisations today.

A large number of employees working in the sanitation wing of the BMC and the activists of the Valmiki Chetna Manch, Punjab, blocked the Bathinda-Mansa road near railway over-bridge (ROB) here and also staged a dharna in front of the local Civil Hospital demanding a strict action against the driver of the car.

Due to the blockade, the vehicular traffic was diverted to alternative routes. A sizeable number of people, who were to go to the Civil Hospital for treatment, also faced inconvenience.

Pardeep Kumar, the driver of the car, mowed down about five sewermen on the Bathinda-Goniana road late last night while they were desilting the sewerage pipes. Sukhminder died on spot while Rajbir, Sonu and Pappu suffered multiple injuries. Pardeep was accompanied by two other persons also and was allegedly under the influence of liquor. All of them fled from the spot leaving the vehicle behind.

The injured were shifted to hospital by volunteers of a local social organisation.

Balwant Rai Nath, president of the Valmiki Chetna Manch, who was leading the agitation, said the district's civil and police administration came into action only after they jammed the road traffic, which was unfortunate.

The protesters lifted the blockade after BMC Commissioner Uma Shankar promised them that their demands would be fulfilled.

Uma Shanker said a resolution would be moved in the MC house for giving permanent jobs to those sewermen, who had suffered injuries and to the wife or any other eligible family member of the deceased. He added that the BMC authorities would also recommend that family members of Sukhminder must be given monetary compensation.

Raghbir Singh, SHO, city police station, said a case had been registered against Pardeep and two others under Sections 304-A and 279 of the IPC. They would be arrested soon.

Bathinda, May 28
A man was brutally murdered allegedly by four assailants in broad daylight in the Phul town of this district on Thursday.

The assailants beat up Rajwinder Singh alias Pantali by using the handle of a hand pump, sticks and other weapons at a shop located in the main 'bazaar' of the town on Thursday. He was taken to the Civil Hospital at Rampura as he suffered multiple injuries in the attack. However, doctors there stated his condition to be serious and referred him to a big hospital. He was rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh, but could not survive the injuries.

Rajwinder's is the fourth murder in the politically-important district in the past 12 days. Earlier murders took place on May 16, 17 and 20.

Rampura DSP Vinod Chaudhary said the murder was committed by four residents of the Phul town. They had been identified as Jalaur Singh, Jagga Sohi, Rinku and Deep Dhillon. So far, none of the assailants had been arrested, he added.

Rajwinder was attacked by the accused when he was sitting in the shop of Sanjay, a washer man. He added that on seeing the four assailants approaching his shop, Sanjay managed to escape.

The DSP said a case under Sections 302, 449 and 34 of the IPC was registered in the Phul police station against the four accused on the statement of Sandeep Singh, a resident of Phul.

The police parties had been pressed into service to nab the accused, he added.

Bathinda, May 28
With the arrest of three persons, the police claims to have cracked the mystery behind the blind murder of Rajesh Kumar, a young washerman, that took place in April 2009.

A partially nude dead body of Rajesh with multiple wounds inflicted by a sharp-edged weapon was found lying in pool of blood in the partially built house of noted Punjabi singer, Balkar Singh Sidhu, at Patel Nagar locality of this town on April 28, 2009. A blood-stained sword was found lying nearby.

Preliminary interrogation of the accused, who are closely related and have been identified as Shushil Kumar, Santosh Kumar and Bidesar, revealed that they committed the crime when Rajesh was sleeping in the house on the night of April 27. Two swords and a knife were used in the crime.

SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill told TNS that the accused murdered Rajesh to teach him a lesson for having illicit relations with Babita, wife of Shushil. Santosh, brother of Babita, and Bidesar, co-brother of Shushil, were also involved in the crime. The three accused worked as labourers and used to live in Patel Nagar. Shushil had confessed to the crime.

The SSP added that a special team under the supervision of Jatinder Singh Benipal, SP (D) and comprising ASP Vikram Bhatti and CIA in-charge Rajinder Kumar, investigated in scientific manner, to trace the perpetrators.

To escape the police, Shushil shifted to Ludhiana and started living there under a fictitious name of Vinod Kumar. Santosh shifted to Baba Farid Nagar of this town and started living under a fake name of Vijay Kumar. Gill said Bidesar, however, did not leave the place. He added that cops grew suspicious on learning that Shushil and Babita had left the locality immediately after the murder. Working on this lead, the special team arrested all the accused from the house of Bidesar today. The police was yet to recover the sword and the knife used in crime.

Fazilka, May 28
Some members of the gang of wood thieves allegedly assaulted the forest range guards today when the latter tried to refrain them from axing the standing Forest Department sheesham trees. Two injured forest range guards Krishan Lal and Avinash Chander have been admitted to the local civil hospital. The guards have also alleged that the accused have torn the government documents, which they carried with them.

Fazilka DSP Karamjit Singh said the police have impounded fully wood loaded tractor-trailer on kucha path near village Raniwala. The DSP has deputed police post Kheowali Dhab in-charge Beyant Singh to investigate into the matter.

On the other hand, Punjab Non-Gazetted Forest Officers Union, Ferozepur Division, President, Balwinder Singh, in a statement has flayed assault on the forest guards and has demanded stern action against the culprits.

Badal, May 28
Jagmeet Brar today visited Badals to express his condolence to them over demise of Surinder Kaur Badal. Brar, permanent invitee, Congress Working Committee (CWC), also conveyed the condolences of Sonia Gandhi, chairperson, UPA and President, All India Congress Committee (AICC) to Badals.

Jagmeet Brar met both Badals after a gap of about 11 years. Brar appreciated Bibi Badal’s role in the overall development of the area particularly Malout assembly segment.

He also dubbed Bibi Badal as the main pillar of strength for CM Badal. Brar said Badal disclosed him that the Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh had called him up twice, first when Bibi Badal was undergoing treatment in the US and secondly to express his condolence when Bibi Badal died a few days ago.