J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Influential persons grab land worth crores, allege residents, councillors
Mukerian, November 22
Enjoying political patronage, a lobby of certain influential persons in connivance with the officials of the local Municipal Council (MC) have been allegedly grabbing a chunk of Shamlat Deh (3 acre land) located at a prime location in Tikhowal Mohalla, here.

Construction work goes unchecked on the disputed land at Tikhowal Mohalla in Mukerian. A Tribune photograph

3 arrested in murder case
Hoshiarpur, November 22
With the arrest of three persons, the district police today claimed to have solved the blind murder case of Kuldip Singh, Inspector of Kartar Bus Private Ltd, Dasuya, who was found murdered near Kulian village on the evening of May 15.

2 killed and 7 injured in road mishaps
Phillaur, November 22
Two persons were killed while seven others sustained serious injuries in three different road mishaps around Phillaur and Phagwara last night. Reports received here said that two persons, including a motorcyclist and a Tata Safari driver, were killed on the spot as both the vehicles collided with each other near Haripur village.

In-laws booked for molestation
Tarn Taran, November 22
A woman, resident of Thakarpura village, 30 km from here, has lodged a case of molestation against four members of her in-law’s family, including father-in-law and mother-in-law. Patti police said the accused have been booked.

Woman ends life
Phillaur, November 22
In a shocking incident a newly married woman, identified as Kiran Bala (22), reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself with the ceiling fan in her-in-laws house in nearby Rurrka-Kalan village last night.

Woman dies, son injured in accident
Hoshiarpur, November 22
Jaswinder Kaur, wife of Kuldip Singh of Talwandi Dadian, died on the spot and her son, Jagrup Singh, was seriously wounded when a truck hit their near Monika village last evening.

Influential persons grab land worth crores, allege residents, councillors
Bipin Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service

Mukerian, November 22
Enjoying political patronage, a lobby of certain influential persons in connivance with the officials of the local Municipal Council (MC) have been allegedly grabbing a chunk of Shamlat Deh (3 acre land) located at a prime location in Tikhowal Mohalla, here. The land is said to be worth crores of rupees as it is located in the heart of the town.

The lobby has resorted to round-the-clock construction even though 12 municipal councillors of the local civic body had lodged their protest against the approval of construction by the executive officer. The councillors had even submitted their resignations after an emergency meeting of the house in September.

The councillors associated with the BJP and the SAD parties, under the leadership Komal Jain, MC president, had taken the step after the executive officer Adarsh Kumar, allegedly passed the plans submitted by Dilbagh Singh, chairman of a committee of Punjab Agricultural Development bank, Mukerian, and wife of the Chairman of Mukerian Block Samitti.

The councillors had asked the EO not to pass their plans as the accused do not have registration numbers of their plots, said Komal Jain.

Turning a deaf ear toward the councilors’ protest, the EO allegedly approved the plans under the influence of a ‘land mafia’ active in this area and enjoying political patronage.

Though the protesters and certain other affected parties, including Achha Singh Ramgarhia, had knocked the doors of the local court and also brought the issue to the notice of the Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner. Yet the construction work at the ‘disputed’ site is on.

Komal Jain said they have submitted their resignations against the illegal approval of the buildings by the EO. “The land grabbers, who are well connected with certain influential political leaders here, are active in the township. The mafia is grabbing the land (including village common land) in a well planned manner,” said Davinder Ramji, a councillor of ward no six.

Terming the approval legal, Adarsh Kumar, EO, said the building plans were legal and he was unaware of any court case. He termed the house’s protest motivated.

Dilbagh Singh and Kaushal said they have started construction after getting approval from the municipality.

Residents of the areas, however, have demanded a high-level inquiry in the alleged cases of land grabbing by a ‘politicians-property dealers mafia’.

3 arrested in murder case
Remanded in police custody till November 23
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, November 22
With the arrest of three persons, the district police today claimed to have solved the blind murder case of Kuldip Singh, Inspector of Kartar Bus Private Ltd, Dasuya, who was found murdered near Kulian village on the evening of May 15.

Hoshiarpur SSP Balkar Singh Sidhu told The Tribune that out of the four murderers police has arrested three, identified as Gurbhupinder Singh, aka Bhindu, Hardip Singh, aka Happy and Kuldip Singh.

The fourth accused, identified as Neel Kumar Adia, aka Laddy, was still at large and efforts were being made to nab him.

Hardip Singh had an illicit relation with a girl and the deceased Kuldip Singh was well aware of it. He warned Hardip to discontinue the relations and which annoyed Hardip.

Gurbhupinder Singh wanted to occupy the deceased post. Hardip Singh and Gurbhupinder Singh long with bus conductor Kuldip Singh and driver Neel Kumar Adia hatched a conspiracy to eliminate the inspector.

On the evening of May 15, they called Kuldip Singh at a place near his village where they assaulted him with sharp-edged weapons. He died on the spot. After murdering him, they took Rs 26,000 cash and mobile phone from his pockets and fled on his the motorcycle. They divided the booty among themselves. Neel Kumar took Rs 2,000 cash and the motorcycle and Hardip Singh took Rs 10,000.

2 killed and 7 injured in road mishaps
Our Correspondent

Phillaur, November 22
Two persons were killed while seven others sustained serious injuries in three different road mishaps around Phillaur and Phagwara last night. Reports received here said that two persons, including a motorcyclist and a Tata Safari driver, were killed on the spot as both the vehicles collided with each other near Haripur village.

In the second incident, five persons, including four members of a family sustained serious injuries, when a tractor trolley was hit by a speeding car near Thalla village near Phillaur last night. The injured trolley driver, Navjeet Singh, car occupants Ajit Singh, his wife Monica, daughters Ritika and Ramandeep were admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

In another incident, two motorcyclists were injured in a road mishap between Phagwara and Goraya last night.

In-laws booked for molestation
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, November 22
A woman, resident of Thakarpura village, 30 km from here, has lodged a case of molestation against four members of her in-law’s family, including father-in-law and mother-in-law. Patti police said the accused have been booked.

The accused have been identified as Amrik Singh (55), the father-in-law, Amarjit Kaur (53), mother-in-law, Bhagwan Singh, brother-in-law, and his wife, Raj Kaur.

The incident took place about a month back, but the victim remained quite as her husband, who was an army personal, advised her to wait till his arrival. No arrested has been made so far.

Woman ends life

Phillaur, November 22
In a shocking incident a newly married woman, identified as Kiran Bala (22), reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself with the ceiling fan in her-in-laws house in nearby Rurrka-Kalan village last night.

The deceased was married to Dharam Pal on August 31. Husan Lal, the deceased’s father, has alleged that his daughter was being tortured by her-in-laws for more dowry. The police has registered a case against Dharam Pal, deceased’s father-in-law Mohan Lal and mother and sister-in-law. — OC

Woman dies, son injured in accident

Hoshiarpur, November 22
Jaswinder Kaur, wife of Kuldip Singh of Talwandi Dadian, died on the spot and her son, Jagrup Singh, was seriously wounded when a truck hit their near Monika village last evening.

According to the police sources, truck driver along with his vehicle fled from the scene after the accident. Injured Jagrup Singh was admitted to Civil Hospital, Tanda. — OC