The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Faridkot gets high-tech jail
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, November 6
De-congesting the overcrowded sub- jail in Faridkot, 560 inmates and prisoners from this over 60-year-old sub-jail has been shifted to the first ultra-modern and high-tech new jail in Faridkot today.

This new jail, spreading in 72 acres and double-storey structure with many ultra-modern security system is to be formally opened by Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal on November 8.

But after getting the directions from the Home Department and the Chief Minister office, we have shifted all 560 prisoners and inmates in the old jail to the new jail and full-fledged security system has been put in to effect in the new jail, said Raj Mohinder Singh Dhaliwal, the jail superintendent Faridkot.

With 13 barracks, the new jail, constructed at the cost of over Rs 112.44 crore, has the capacity to house 2,072 inmates. Based on a Spanish model, the jail has a provision of one ceiling fan for each bed, while washrooms and toilets will be right next to the barrack. It has its own power system, an inbuilt video- conferencing system, a water treatment plant, eight sheds where jail inmates will be imparted skills, a library, a kitchen, a 50-bed hospital and one dispensary, said Dhaliwal.

The foundation stone of this new jail was laid by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in January 2009 and in the last two years the CM visited this new jail for two days to supervise the construction work.

Every time during his visits, the CM called for a comprehensive recast of the state policy on jails and jail inmates, he said that prisons should be treated not as punitive centers but as schools for reform.

"I have a special romance with jails and I doubt if anyone in the country knows about jails more intimately than me", said the CM, three month back when he visited the jail for supervision.

The Omaxe Ltd., India's leading real estate developers, was given the contracts by Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIBD) and Punjab Public Works Department (B&R Department) for the construction of Faridkot jail. "The construction of Faridkot jail is a landmark in terms of security with ample facilities making it a modern project of international standards", said Rohtas Goel, CMD, Omaxe Ltd.

The jail would also have educational facilities, fire fighting system, solar water heater system, rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment plant, dual water supply system, and a large green central court with every ward.

These premises also have Temple, Gurdwara, etc and there is parking for visitors near the entrance gate, inmates will get drinking water through an RO system and there would be family quarters and rooms for the staff in the hostel. The new jail would also have latest security arrangements like CCTV, mobile jammer, X-ray scanners, access control system, prison management system and visitor management system, said Dhaliwal.

The highlight of this jail are the 96 quarters, of which 48 will be used by the families of jail inmates coming to meet them.

A family will be allowed to stay with the jail inmate for a week. The rest of the quarters will be used by the police personnel posted here. According to officials, the outer wall of this jail is about 26 feet high while the watch towers stands 85 feet tall.

Indo-Canadian boy disappears
Kin want wife’s deportation from Canada
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, November 6
Violating Canada’s immigration law, there are many cases of foreign fetish with Punjabi girls and boys entering a marriage of convenience or paper marriage just for migrating to Canada. And there are also umpteen stories of Punjab girls in foreign lands facing harassment at the hands of the NRI in-laws.

But in a departure, two weeks after a young Indo-Canadian boy went missing, the family of this NRI and the Punjabi diaspora in Canada has started a signature campaign, asking the Canadian government to deport the wife of the missing youth. It is alleged that 19-year-old girl from Punjab married the missing boy, Gurdeep Saroya just to get permanent residency in Canada.

Gurdeep’s sister Raj Rajvinder in Surrey said that her brother married Harmanjit Kaur Dhami in Punjab on February 11, 2011. After eight month of the marriage and clearance of the immigration documents by Canada Marriage Immigration system, Harmanjit arrived in Canada on October 12. A day after her arrival in Canada, Harmanjit want to move to Toronto to her one uncle. Despite disapproval by my brother, Harmanjit moved to Toronto and emotionally wrecked, Gurdeep jumped off the Pattullo Bridge on October 17, killing himself, alleged the sister.

“Harmanjit Kaur used her marriage with Gurdeep only to get to Canada and later, she deserted my brother, abetting him to commit suicide,” alleged Raj Rajvinder Kaur, the sister, over the phone from Canada.

Awaiting the recovery of the body while the Canadian police are yet to confirm the death, Gurdeep’s family and many Punjabi NRIs in Canada have started a signature campaign to deport Harmanjit Kaur under the marriage fraud laws of Canada.

In the last six days, 409 NRIs have already signed the ‘petition online Canada’ a website demanding the deportation of Harmanjit Kaur, claimed Raj Rajwinder Kaur.

However Harmanjit denied the allegations. She said her marriage was arranged and her family spent a huge sum of money. “But once I reached Canada, my in-laws started harassing me and I informed my one uncle in Toronto. As my uncle wanted me and Gurdeep to visit him to resolve the differences, so we were going to book our tickets on October 17. But on the way, Gurdeep attempted to strangulate me. So, I called the police on 911 and they took me to the hospital. “I didn't know what happened later,” said Harmanjit

Expected price eludes cotton farmers
Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, November 6
Farmers producing cotton are witnessing a slump-like situation in the Fazilka cotton market which is one of the largest in the state. The cotton farmers are “unhappy” as they are not getting the expected price of their produce.

The fluctuation in the price of raw cotton has further tempered their spirits as the prices which had risen to about Rs 5,000 per quintal has now come down to about Rs 4,200 per quintal in the last one week.

“We were expecting higher prices for cotton as during the peak season last year, it had gone up to Rs 7,000. But now, the chances of its increasing seems to be bleak,” said farmer Prem Chand of village Shajrana who had come to sold his produce in the cotton yard here today.

This is despite the fact that the arrival of cotton is quite low this season. As per official sources, so far, the arrival of about 60,600 quintals of cotton has been recorded in the Fazilka market as compared to 1,15,800 quintals for the corresponding period, last year.

Another significant factor for the low cotton price is cautious business and trading by cotton traders, cotton mill owners, ginners and textile millers. “The textile and cotton mill owners had suffered considerable financial losses due to purchase made by them at higher rates to around Rs. 7000 per quintal during the last year,” says cotton mill owner and expert Vijay Chhabra.

Notably, the MSP of cotton is Rs. 3100 per quintal.

As per a section of cotton experts, the financial crunch ridden factory owners and traders keen to make up the previous losses, are making cautious and less purchases.

Besides this another factor is that exporters have not entered for purchase in the Northern Indian markets so far. Yet another reason for comparatively low price is that flash floods in rural border belt of Fazilka and Abohar subdivisions, which damaged the standing crops to some extent resulting in slightly low quality of early variety.

A large number of farmers were interested to grow cotton during this years as the producers got the highest ever price of cotton upto maximum Rs. 7000 per quintal during the previous season. This prompted the farmers to grow more cotton. Hence according to official sources, the area under cultivation of cotton in Fazilka block has increased from 22900 hectares last year to 25720 hectare this year.

"Despite all the factors, the hopes of the farmers have dashed into ground as there are rare chances of increase in rate in future also as compared to previous year's price", said agriculture expert Satish Dhingra.

Despite the increase in area under cultivation the arrival may not be increased from previous year's total arrival of 4,28,893 quintals, as per the opinion of experts.

Nagar Kirtan organised
Tribune News Service

Dhulkot (Muktsar), November 6
To mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, a Nagar Kirtan was organised with religious fervour from historic Gurdwara Guptsar Patshahi Dasmi, Chhateana, today that culminated at Gurdwara Tutti Gandhi Sahib, Muktsar, in the evening.

Flower petals being showered on the procession from an aircraft near Dhulkot village during Nagar Kirtan on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Gurdwara Mehdeana Sahib, Mukh Sewadar, Baba Zora Singh performed the flagging off ceremony of Nagar Kirtan procession in the morning led by Panj Payras (beloved ones) today at Gurdwara Guptsar Sahib.

The Nagar Kirtan was organised by Nirol Sewa Organization (NSO), a non-profit registered organisation dedicated to promoting the Sikh religion, culture and history, besides creating awareness on social evils like drug addiction and female feticide.

Rare Palki (palanquin) brought from Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, which was donated by the Sikh philanthropists of USA, Gatka parties and special band escorting the procession added colour to the massive procession.

Flower petals were showered on the procession from an aircraft near Dhulkot village.

NSO president Jagdeep Singh Kala Sodhi, said that the organisation has been spreading the preaching of Sikh Gurus to bring a socio-religious awakening among the Sikhs by holding religious programmes. Besides distributing literature on the Sikh Faith to enlighten the younger generation of Sikhs as well as non-Sikhs, performing Kar sewa of historic Gurdwars and organsing religious tours to acquaint the people to rich Sikh history.

Another aim of the organisations is to take the holy Birs to Gurdwara Goindwal Sahib for their last rites as per the tenets of the Sikh religion, he added.

Trader killed in Ferozepur

Ferozepur, November 6
In another case of murder which rocked this border town today, an elderly trader was allegedly killed in his house late last night.

According to the police sources, Jang Singh (62) was resident of Sirki Bazar outside Bansi Gate in the city where he used to stay along with his two sons, Daler Singh and Kashmir Singh. Police sources said that while Jang Singh used to stay in an accommodation behind his shop on the ground floor, his two sons stayed on the first and second floor respectively.

In his statement before the police, his elder son Daler Singh said that yesterday night at around 1 am when he came down, he found the body of his father lying in the pool of blood. Daler said he immediately informed the police, adding that the cash, gold ring and mobile phone of his father were also missing.

SSP Surjit Singh the interrogations were in the final stage as the police was very close to solving the case. — OC