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Power Corp engineers to resume statewide stir
Protesting linemen face khaki wrath again at CM’s function
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Iran keen on strengthening ties with Punjab
Manpreet’s Sanjha Morcha is ‘B team’ of Congress: Badal
Won’t let you loot shrines, Amarinder tells Sukhbir
‘SAD desperate, looking for nondescript allies’
Tongues wag as Cong MLA meets Ramdev
Manpreet Badal asks state MPs to lobby for Punjab package
Ramoowalia defers decision on pre-poll pact
Power Corp inks purchase pact with Delhi firm
Vivekananda Express reaches Patiala
Clerks protest against PSSB’s selection
criteria
Junior doctors on strike from today
Anganwari workers want job regularisation
Book on farmers’ suicide released
University appointments put on hold
Another controversy rocks women kabaddi
HC quashes plea seeking shifting of school from fort
HC: Police did bundle Dhanaula into a car
Two Moga residents held for cyber crime
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Power Corp engineers to resume statewide stir
Patiala, November 8 “While the proposed Mukerian Project is being delayed unnecessarily ever since the PSPCL mooted the proposal in April this year, the state government is giving a nod to the proposals of private investors for setting up of thermal projects at a supersonic speed”, rued Bedi. As per the schedule of the protest agitation given by the Association, the engineers working with both the power utilities of Punjab would stage a two-hour walkout on November 17, from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm and will stage a state-level protest demonstration at Patiala on November 22. Furthermore, in case the government still fails to settle the issues, all the power engineers will proceed on one day mass casual leave on November 30. The general secretary of the association, Bhupinder Singh, said that it was promised by the Chief Managing Director of PSPCL that by October 31, the necessary notification for the grant of the promotional scales would be issued but nothing has been done so far. “It was also assured that the employees provident fund trust will be made operational by October 28 by putting in an initial amount of Rs 250 crore in the fund. The employees’ provident fund trust has been created but Rs 250 crore, as promised, has not been put in the account”, he claimed. Power less engineers Feel betrayed that approval letter to set up 1320-MW thermal plant Mukerian project not issued
Will stage a two-hour walkout on November 17, from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm
State-level protest demonstration at Patiala on November 22 All the power engineers will proceed on one day mass casual leave on November 30 |
Protesting linemen face khaki wrath again at CM’s function
Faridkot, November
8 The police snatched the cameras ond cell phones of mediapersons to prevent them from taking pictures of the protesting linemen being beaten in the presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal. Punjabi Tribune reporter Jaswant Jass was manhandled, bundled into a jeep and taken to the police station. He was released after mediapersons held a protest dharna at the Chief Minister’s Sangat
Darshan. Several sarpanches at the function complained of police misbehaviour at the instance of Akali leaders who suspected that they (sarpanches) were supporters of Manpreet Badal’s Punjab People’s
Party. It was after over two hours of dharna that the police budged from its stand and SHO Gursher Singh and constable Bohar Singh booked for wrongful confinement of the reporter. “The SHO and the constable have been suspended”, said Sat Pal Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of
Police. Distributing cheques to village panchayats, the Chief Minister sought their support for the coming assembly elections. Senior Akali leaders, including a former legislator faced criticism for “bullying” the locals with the help of the
police. The Chief Minister inaugurated a modern jail constructed at a cost of Rs 122
crore. |
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Iran keen on strengthening ties with Punjab
Chandigarh, November
8 “Iran has strong cultural and trade links with Punjab. It is why I have chosen the sacred Eid festivities to cement the bonds further,” said Aliabbadi on his first-ever visit to Chandigarh and Punjab. “I am here on the invitation of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to attend the second Kabaddi World Cup tournament. Besides, I am also looking for opportunities to strengthen bonds with
Punjab.” More trade would be beneficial for both Punjab and Iran, he said. Iran was also exploring the possibility of better educational, cultural and agricultural exchange programmes with Punjab. Of the 10,000 Iranian students in India, nearly 1,000 were in
Punjab. Aliabbadi, who is President of the National Olympic Committee of Iran as well as the Olympic Council of Asia, is likely to sign a memorandum of understanding with India in the sphere of sports, particularly training and
coaching. “We hope to invite President of the Indian Olympic Association to Iran to sign an MoU so that expertise available in both India and Iran can be used for producing better teams for international
competitions. “We are also exploring the possibility of helping the Punjab Government set up its State sports institute in
Jalandhar,” said Aliabbadi. Accompanied by Shahrokh Shahnazi, President of the National Olympic & Paralympic Academy, Parvinder Singh
Chandhoke, a Tehran-based NRI, and A. Saeid S. Moulemi, Minister Counsellor in the Iranian Embassy in Delhi,
Aliabbadi, held discussions with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal last night. |
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Manpreet’s Sanjha Morcha is ‘B team’ of Congress: Badal
Faridkot, November 8 Badal said, “Both Surjit Singh Barnala and Manpreet Singh Badal have stabbed their own party in the back by joining hands with the Congress in a clandestine manner." He termed Sanjha Morcha, floated by Barnala and Manpreet, as a "pack of power-starved opportunists who want to to grab power in the state by hook or by
crook". Badal was addressing a gathering here during a Sangat Darshan programme. Earlier, he inaugurated the modern jail constructed here at a cost of Rs 122 crore. — PTI |
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Won’t let you loot shrines, Amarinder tells Sukhbir
Amritsar, November 8 Addressing a public rally here today, Amarinder said, “You have looted and robbed Punjab all these years and now you are trying to do the same with the gurdwaras, which I will not let you do…. You should better be content with sand, gravel, transport, cable and liquor and spare God’s place at least.”
Referring to the Rs 24 crore deficit in Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, the PPCC chief ridiculed Sukhbir’s statement that it (deficit) in gurdwaras should not be politicised. “Should that mean, we allow the loot go unchecked?” he asked
Sukhbir. Amarinder said gurdwaras were not run for profits, but they could not be allowed to be “looted, robbed and plundered” by anyone, including the Badals. He pointed out it was for the first time in history that Darbar Sahib was running into deficit and asked the Badals, “who were controlling it”, to explain where did all the money go despite massive
offerings. The Punjab Congress chief pointed out how the Akalis had “destroyed and devastated” Punjab and it was on the verge of bankruptcy with debt touching Rs 1.72 lakh crore. He said the ruling coalition created such a situation that the big investors like Mukesh Ambani of the Reliance preferred to withdraw from here. He said if Ambani would have been allowed to continue with his farm to fork project, it would have changed the agriculture economy of the state as more investors would have felt encouraged. “But the Akalis sabotaged the project just because they thought the farmers, who would have got benefited with it, might turn towards the Congress, which they already have,” he
said. Party incharge for Punjab Gulchain Singh Charak, claimed only the Congress could provide a good government in the country and the state. CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal lashed out at the Akalis for "being most corrupt and not even sparing the gurdwaras for their greed". Among those present were PPCC general secretary Arvind Khanna, Congress leaders Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Tarlochan Singh, Sardool Singh, Lali Majithia and Harpartap
Ajnala. Makkar dubs it as ‘bundle of lies’ Reacting to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh's remarks on deficit in gurdwaras, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar today dubbed it as a "bundle of lies". In a statement released here, Makkar said, "Capt's remarks are far from truth. He is making such misleading statements to gain cheap publicity." He said the SGPC affairs are totally transparent and its audit is being done by government auditors. |
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‘SAD desperate, looking for nondescript allies’
Nadala (Kapurthala), November
8 Amarinder, who was addressing a public rally here, was referring to Badal’s statement regarding an alliance with anti-Congress parties. He said Badal had become nervous after watching the “massive public response” to his Punjab Bachao
Yatra. Referring to his alleged used of “unparliamentary” language against the Badals, the state Congress chief said, “From now onwards, I will address them as ‘Buddha Chor’ and ‘Jawan Chor’ or just ‘Chor Ji’ instead of
‘chors’.” Amarinder Singh reiterated that the Badals, after allegedly looting Punjab, had now turned to gurdwaras, a fact vindicated by the Rs 24 crore deficit at the Harmandar Sahib.
On Badal looking for new allies, he said, “Now, Badal is looking for partners like Lok Bhalai Party chief Balwant Singh Ramoowalia or those from the Sant Samaj for his survival. He (Badal) should remain sure that it is the Congress that is coming to power. So, no alliances will work.”
Amarinder also challenged Sukhbir to hold a rally at such a “massive scale” as that of the Congress. “Akalis have become so desperate that they are now resorting to semi-nude dances to draw crowds. Instead of political rallies, Sukhbir is now turning to kabaddi matches. The people of Punjab want development and not semi-nude dances,” he
quipped. Among others leaders present at the rally were MP Partap Singh Bajwa, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Gulchain Singh Charak, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Arvind Khanna and Maj Amardip Ram Lubhaya. Sekhri denies getting show-cause notice Gurdaspur: PPCC vice-president Ashwani Sekhri today said that he has not been issued a show-cause notice by the PCC chief for the poor turnout at the Punjab Bachao rally in Jalandhar a few days ago. In a Press note, Sekhri said Capt Amarinder Singh had only asked him to submit a report as to what had gone wrong since he was the coordinator of the event. "The report will provide details of preparations of the rally and the performance of various leaders," he said. Sekhri also said he was present at the Kalanaur rally yesterday where he had met Capt Amarinder Singh at the helipad. He said he had to return to his native town of Batala where he was scheduled to attend some functions. "I took permission of the PPCC chief before I drove back to Batala." Amarinder vows not to let Alam win Nadala (Kapurthala): PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday not only blamed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the Operation Bluestar but also vowed not to let former DGP Izhar Alam win Malerkotla seat. Alam, Amarinder alleged, was involved in the killing of hundreds of Sikh youth during the militancy period. "It was Badal who had been criticising former DGP Izhar Alam and Vigilance chief Sumedh Singh Saini for years for killing Sikh youth and now he is honouring them with top positions and even "siropas". People still remember those black days when the bodies of murdered Sikh youths were found floating in the Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind canals. We will see how Izhar Alam wins the polls from Malerkotla," he said. — TNS |
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Tongues wag as Cong MLA meets Ramdev
Moga, November 8 Ajay Sood, a social activist, said that Baba Ramdev was a confused person because on the one hand he was talking of bringing back black money stashed in foreign banks and on the other had met Jain facing a case regarding the smuggling of foreign
currency. The Customs Department had recovered foreign currency worth more than Rs 16 lakh from Jain at the Delhi international airport on January 28, 1988, when he was caught trying to travel to Bangkok on a fake
passport. Two FIRs under Sections 417, 419 of the IPC, Section 12 of the Passport Act and Sections 132, 135 (1) (a) of the Customs Act:1962 were registered against Jain the following day. After he was elected MLA in the last assembly elections, Jain was detained by the local police under COFEPOSA and he remained in jail for two
months. Jain said that being the local MLA, it was his duty to welcome Baba Ramdev to the town. “I addressed the gathering in the presence of the Baba to apprise him of the large-scale corruption by the SAD-BJP leadership in the state,” he explained. |
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Manpreet Badal asks state MPs to lobby for Punjab package
Chandigarh, November 8 Speaking to The Tribune, he said the Centre had selected three states, West Bengal, Punjab and Kerala, for a financial bailout. A committee was set up by the Union Finance Ministry on the
issue. Whereas West Bengal had been given a package of Rs 21,614 crore some months ago, the Centre was now preparing an additional package of Rs 19,000 crore for the state. “As Punjab is facing a serious fiscal crisis like West Bengal, it should also be give a similar package”, said Manpreet. He urged all Members of Parliament from the state to lobby with the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for the same. “See, how hard West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party MPs lobbied at the PM level to secure the package”, he remarked. “ I did my best to secure a package as Finance Minister. But, my efforts were nullified by forces working against me.
They wanted to deny me any credit for the package”, said Manpreet Singh, indirectly hitting at senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Da l headed by Sukhbir Singh
Badal. Morcha attacked on SYL issue Chandigarh,: The Shiromani Akali Dal lashed out at the Sanjha Morcha for including the construction of the SYL canal in its common minimum programme. “By doing so, PPP President Manpreet Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) leader Surjit Singh Barnala and other leaders of the morcha have betrayed Punjab,” said SAD secretary Dr Daljit Singh Cheema in a statement here
today. Dr Cheema said the morcha had mentioned in its CMP that the issue would be resolved as per the Rajiv-Longowal accord. Dr Cheema said the accord had been rejected by Punjabis long time back. In addition, the Punjab Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed the Termination of Agreements Act-2004 to cancel all water pacts.
Rebutting the statement of PPP leader JS Brar, he said it was Parkash Singh Badal who had in 1979 issued a notification for acquisition of land for the SYL canal — TNS |
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Ramoowalia defers decision on pre-poll pact
Jalandhar, November 8 Ramoowalia had said that he would announce his decision on the matter today. A Press note by the general secretary of the party Ramandeep S Bharowal said the opinion of various office-bearers was being elicited. “It had been decided to consult leaders from 62 assembly segments where the party has its base. The party men will be taken into confidence before reaching any decision. Segment-wise reports regarding the political scenario will be prepared and a meeting held”, the Press note said. |
Power Corp inks purchase pact with Delhi firm
Patiala, November 8 The PPA was signed at the PSPCL Patiala headquarters by the Director (Distribution), PSPCL, Arun Verma, on behalf of the PSPCL and Karan Aggarwal, authorised signatory on behalf of the Sam India Hydro Power Private Limited, Delhi.
"The project is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 13 crore and will generate employment in the area and facilitate harnessing of clean and renewable energy. The project will be commissioned in December 2012," said PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director KD
Chaudhri. Meanwhile, notwithstanding the claims made by various industrial associations criticising the PSPCL for failing to meet the power requirement, Chaudhri said barring a few weekly off days, supply to the industry was much better in comparison to previous years. |
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Vivekananda Express reaches Patiala
Patiala, November
8 Director of Thapar University, Abhijit Mukherjee, inaugurated the exhibition. The express is touring India to commemorate the 150th birth centenary of Swami
Vivekananda. A large number of city residents, including schoolchildren, reached the station to catch a glimpse of the train which has special exhibits and write-ups of the sage.
Members of the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Seva Samiti gave detailed information about various paintings and works of Swami
Vivekananda. On this occasion, the Patiala coordinator of the Samiti, Dr RL Mittal, said that this train was touring India with a view to apprise youngsters about the life of Swami Vivekananda and motivate them to emulate him. He said that the train would be stationed at the Patiala railway station for four days. |
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Clerks protest against PSSB’s selection
criteria
Mohali, November 8 The candidates under the banner of New Clerks PSSB association staged a protest stating that after clearing the written test and figuring in the merit list, the PSSB changed the criteria of the Punjabi typing test. Initially, it was stated that the test has to be cleared had to be cleared within an year, now the condition has been changed to clearing the Punjabi typing test ahead of the
appointment. They were of the view that the condition is not only arbitrary but would deprive many eligible candidates of the chance to get the appointment. The Chairman of the PSSB assured the candidates that he would take up the case with the Chief Minister. |
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Junior doctors on strike from today
Patiala, November
8 President of the Junior Doctors’ Association Dr Ashish Jangir said: “The stipend for junior residents in the state is very less. The existing pay of junior residents is Rs 16,200 plus DA whereas the Centre’s new pay commission has placed them in the pay scale of Rs 15,600 to Rs 39,100 with a pay grade of Rs 5,400 and NPA, Transport Allowance and HRA,” he
said. “Despite repeated reminders in the past two months, no substantial action has been taken. We will hold a token strike on Wednesday from 11 am to 1 pm. If we do not get a response from the authorities, we will be forced to go on an indefinite strike,” Dr Ashish
warned. Meanwhile, on the call of the Punjab State Pharmacists Association, pharmacists throughout Punjab remained on leave on November 8 and 9. Gurkamal Singh Gill, district press secretary of the association,said protest rallies were held outside the district headquarters today. |
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Anganwari workers want job regularisation
Patiala, November 8 One of the representatives said that earlier they used to get a fixed pay of Rs 2,300, including Rs 1,500 from the Centre and Rs 800 from the Punjab government which was later doubled to Rs 4,600, but it was still
insufficient. “While we have been given so much work and extra duties, our salary is not even on a par with the clerks of the Punjab government. Therefore, we are demanding the implementation of the pay scale for anganwari workers and the government should fix the scale of helpers on a par with Class IV employees and workers at par with the clerical staff,” she added. |
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Book on farmers’ suicide released
Chandigarh, November 8 Inderjit Singh Jaijee, who has co-authored a book titled “Debt and Death in Rural India, the Punjab Story”, says that 40,000 to 60,000 farmers and landless labourers have committed suicide in the state during the past two decades. The book is based on the doctoral research of his daughter Aman Sidhu who died in an accident a few years ago. Aman had worked on farmers’ suicide after doinh her post-graduation in International Business from South Bank University, London.
“Various farmer organisations claim that 90,000 farmers have committed suicide since 1990. The Punjab Police puts the number at seven (from 2001 to 2008) and the Revenue Department at 232,” says
Jaijee. “If we go by the data collected by Punjab Agricultural University in two districts, the total number of suicides in the state will be 28,000”, he says, adding that the state had been concealing the data. “In fact, it did not admit for years that farmers under debt were committing suicide,” he said.
Commenting on the book, Dr Sucha Singh Gill and Dr Ranjit Singh Ghuman, eminent economists said: “The authors deserve appreciation for documenting the issue in a scientific manner. There can be difference of opinion on the number of suicides but the way they have projected the crisis in agriculture is commendable”. The book was released by SS Boparai, former Vice Chancellor. |
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University appointments put on hold
Chandigarh, November
8 The Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Rajiv Narain Raina also issued notices to former Vice Chancellor SS Boparai along with incumbent VC Jaspal
Singh. The directions came on a petition filed in public interest by Santosh Kumari and four other unemployed persons qualified for appointment as
lecturers. They are seeking directions to Punjabi University to fill teaching and non-teaching posts in the university occupied by “backdoor appointees”, recruited without inviting applications from eligible candidates through advertisement. The High Court had earlier taken serious note of the fact that all 922 employees working on contract/ad hoc basis against permanent posts in Punjabi University,
Patiala, were appointed without following the process of issuing advertisement for inviting
applications. An affidavit was filed through Registrar Prof Manjit Singh giving the list of 922 persons working against regular posts on an ad hoc and contract basis. |
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Another controversy rocks women kabaddi
Ludhiana, November
8 The team has already been announced, but a seven-member selection committee will hold a meeting in Bathinda on November 10 to decide on which player is to be dropped to make way for one Virpal
Kaur. Virpal Kaur was found positive during the first dope result announced by NADA and could not make it to the Indian
squad. But the second dope result was found negative following which she lodged a complaint with the cup organisers. A SAD leader stood in her support and vociferously advocated her inclusion into the squad. There was confusion at Guru Nanak Stadium as the Indian women kabaddi team was asked to assemble amid word that selection trials would be held again. The announcement led to heated arguments between players and
selectors. A player alleged that efforts are on to help Virpal Kaur obtain a “backdoor entry.” Sikandar Singh
Maluka, general secretary of the organising committee said selection committee chairman Shivdev Singh and Balwinder Singh would have the final word on the matter. The inaugural match of the women’s kabaddi cup is to begin in Amritsar on November
11. Meanwhile, a day after Jatinder Kaur was announced captain and Harwinder Kaur vice-captain, the selectors re verted the decision today.
Now, Priyanka of Haryana and Jatinder Kaur from Hoshiarpur have been named captain and vice-captain. Selection committee to hold a meeting in Bathinda on November 10 to decide on which player is to be dropped to make way for international player Virpal
Kaur Virpal Kaur was found positive during the first dope result announced by
NADA After the second dope result was found negative, she asked the cup organisers for inclusion in the
squad A SAD leader vociferously advocated her inclusion in the squad |
HC quashes plea seeking shifting of school from fort
Chandigarh, November
8 The directions by the Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Rajiv Narain Raina came on a petition filed by the “Payal Division Welfare Association” and “Shopkeeper Association, Payal” against the State of Punjab and other
respondents. The petitioners were seeking directions to the respondents not to shift the Government Girls High School, Payal, running in “Qila Payal” for the past 35
years. Directions were also sought for quashing the order dated December 21, 2009, passed by Punjab Director Archeology and Museum Department, declaring that the “Qila” was a protected monument and “encroachment was required to be removed as per the directions issued by a Division Bench of this Court in Munshi Ram versus the State of Punjab case decided on October 4,
2008”. The Bench asserted: “It has not been disputed that the Qila was declared a protected monument by the Government of Punjab, Department of Cultural Affairs, Ancient and Historical Monument and Archaeology, vide notification dated March 16,
2009….” “It has also remained undisputed that the school was housed in the Qila and being run from there. It was virtually encroachment of a protected monument, which was declared as such under the 1964
Act. “The directions issued by the Division Bench were also binding. Accordingly the respondents in compliance with
the directions issued by this Court have shifted the school in question to Government Senior Secondary School, Payal, on April 19,
2010. “We are of the view that once the Qila at Payal has been declared protected monument under the 1964 Act, mandamus issued by a Division Bench of this Court for removing any encroachment from the monument has to be complied
with. “It is well settled that a mandamus issued by a writ cannot be nullified by another direction as is well settled by an authoritative pronouncement of the Supreme Court rendered in the case of Naresh Shridhar Mirajkar versus the State of Maharasthra and another. Moreover, encroachment in a historical monument like Qila at Payal would not be justified. Therefore, the instant petition does not merit admission and is thus liable to be dismissed”. |
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HC: Police did bundle Dhanaula into a car
Chandigarh, November
8 Dhanaula was “arrested” by the Punjab Police, despite orders directing the issuance of a five-day pre-arrest notice. Even as Dhanaula’s counsel ML Saggar has alleged non-compliance of the orders, the Punjab Police is refuting the
allegations. As the case came up for hearing this afternoon, Justice MMS Bedi observed the the court’s previous order contained two directions - issuance of a five-day pre-arrest notice and directions against his arrest. But when Dhanaula appeared on November 5 to join investigations, he was arrested. “The order is on the investigation file. You cannot deny it,” Justice Bedi verbally observed after going through the case
record. Justice Bedi also observed that the original notice, purported to have been served on Dhanaula, was still on the file. State counsel Anupinder Singh Grewal, on the other hand, contended that a copy of the order was served on Dhanaula and the original retained. Moreover, the High Court orders against arrest were applicable to a fresh case. The case will now come up on November 16. Dhanaula had unsuccessfully contested the SGPC poll on the Panthic Morcha ticket. |
Two Moga residents held for cyber crime
Mohali, November
8 In her complaint to the police, the girl (whose name is being withheld), who also hails from Moga, said she had given her laptop to the accused, Kamaljeet Singh and Harmandeep
Singh. The accused, the complainant alleged, managed to secure her photographs and uploaded them on her fake Facebook
account. Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, State Crime Branch DIG, said the accused even used the Facebook account to chat with the girl’s friends and used obscene language with a motive to tarnish her
image. A case has been registered under various sections of the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code. |
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