Amritsar, January 2
The General Railway Police today seized a huge quantity of poppy husk from platform number 2-3 of Amritsar Railway Station late last night. As many as 25 bags having a total of 9.73 quintals of the contraband were seized when it was unloaded from Sialdah Express train that arrived from Madhaya Pradesh. The contraband was unloaded to when the bogies of the train were being washed.

GRP jawans on patrol duty at the platform following the arrival of the train got suspicious of the bags lying unattended at the platform.

Dharminder Kalyan, in charge, GRP police station, said we immediately informed the higher ups and opened the bags in the presence of Hardeep Singh, DSP GRP. “We were shocked to find such a huge quantity of poppy husk. Preliminary investigations reveal that the contraband was meant to be delivered at Sealdah in Kolkata,” said Kalyan. It arrived here and we are investigating the source of the poppy husk and its owner. The bags were loaded from Neemach district in Madhya Pradesh, he added.

Amritsar, January 2
The CIA staff claimed to have arrested four robbers in two cases today. They were allegedly involved in vehicle theft as well as several snatching incidents in various parts of the city.

In a press release issued here, the police authorities said Rajwinder Singh, a resident of Jagatpura villge in Tarn Taran and Amrik Singh of Kot Khalsa here were caught at a naka laid at Chowk Chhatri wala on Ram Tirath Road.

The police also seized a country-made pistol and a live cartridge of .315-bore gun besides 150 gm of narcotic powder from the accused. The motorcycle (PB-02-temp-8062) on which the accused were traveling was also found to be have been stolen from outside a resort.

During interrogation, the accused admitted to have stolen eight motorcycles from outside Celebration resort, Celebration mall, Khalsa College, Ranjit Avenue, Shivala Bhaiya temple, Pannu International palace etc. On the basis of their disclosure, the police has recovered all the vehicles from their possession.

Vikas Sharma, in charge, CIA staff said they will be produced in the district court here and will be taken on a police remand for further investigations. A case under Section 379, 472, 411 IPC, 25, 54, 59 Arms Act and 22/61/85 of the NDPS Act at Cantonment police station here.

In another incident, acting on a tip off the police nabbed Surjit Singh of Dhakka Colony, Khandwala (Chheharta) and Maan Singh of Gali Murrabbewali, Tarn Taran road from near Gujjarpura. The police has also recovered six mobile phones from Maan Singh and seven more mobile phones from Surjit Singh. On their admission, the police recovered seven more mobile phones from Surjit Singh.

The accused have confessed that they had snatched these mobiles from Rani Ka Bagh, Gawal Mandi Chowk, Kabir Park, Batala Road, Chheharta Road, Khandwala areas etc. The motorcycle on which they were traveling was also found to have been stolen.

Sharma said a case under Section 379, 379-B, 411 IPC has been registered at C-division police station in this connection. The accused were produced in the court, which sent them on police remand. Further investigations were in progress, he added.

Amritsar, January 2
In an early morning swoop down, the excise and taxation department today destroyed an illegal distillery, used to manufacture illicit liquor which was to be allegedly distributed during elections.

P Kumar, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said as per instructions of the District Election Officer, a raiding party headed by ETO (X) comprising inspectors and other staff members conducted raids at various places in Ajnala Excise circle.

During a raid conducted at Nasar village, the ETO team destroyed a distillery, which was being illegally run. The 200-litre capacity vessel used to store the liquor was also impounded and emptied. The owner of the distillery Angrej Singh was nabbed from the spot and handed over to the police. A case under relevant sections of the Excise Act has been registered against him.

An empty tank with a capacity of 750 litres was also impounded from near spot which was used to manufacture liquor.

In another incident, an excise party conducted a raid at Nangal village and Fatehwal village in Ajnala. They recovered six empty and unclaimed drums - one from Nangal and five from Fatehwal area, respectively. Besides, two cans were also impounded from Fatehwala area.

Following the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India to check the menace of drugs and liquor being distributed during the elections to woo voters, the Excise department has been directed by the authorities concerned to remain on their toes and check the illegal sale and manufacturing of liquor especially in the rural areas.

Amritsar, January 2
While alleging police inaction, Satinder Kaur, wife of the kidnapped trader Taranjit Singh, today feared that her husband might have been killed by the abductors.

“For the last three days, I have no contact with my husband. I don’t know where he is and what his condition is. The accused may have killed my husband,” a weeping Satinder Kaur said in a press conference here today.

Taranjit Singh was allegedly abducted at gunpoint by several unidentified persons from inner circular road at the Chatiwind Gate area on the evening of December 31. Two days have lapsed since then but the police has achieved no breakthrough in the case.

Satinder Kaur alleged that the accused came on three vehicles, thrashed her and her husband Taranjit while they were going to see a commercial property they owned, which the accused had tried to grab on December 30. She said the armed accused, led by TS Pannu, his two sons Gursher Singh, both residents of Mohali came on three SUV vehicles (two of them bore the numbers CH-01-AG-8055 and PB-6C-0020). The C-division police has booked TS Pannu and his son besides unidentified persons in the case.

“They put a gun on my husband’s head and also dragged me towards the vehicle. However, people in the area gathered at the spot. Seeing this they fled the spot and pushed me down,” she explained.

She alleged that the police has not initiated any action to trace her husband and added that the accused were threatening to eliminate her and her family.

Answering media queries, she said it was under the influence of vested interests and political pressure that a fraud case has been registered against my family and we had to leave Amritsar to save our lives and thus the police has declared us proclaimed offenders, she added.

RP Mittal, Police Commissioner, Amritsar, said, “As we were busy due to the visit of PM and VVIPs to the city, I have asked the victim’s family to explain their side of the story. However, instead of coming to me, they preferred to go to media first, he said.

“I have been told by police officials that Taranjit was also a proclaimed offender in a fraud case. But if he is innocent and as per the family’s claims that a false case was registered against them, they should have come to me to explain their side when I asked them to,” he said. Although we are investigating the case and every step is being taken to trace Taranjit Singh, I also invite the family to come to me and explain the entire incident,” he added.

Amritsar, January 2
Even as the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue isued directions to the Road Transport Officer to check overloading of goods trucks at the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP) yet violations of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act go on here with impunity.”

Levelling this allegation, the Greater Amritsar Goods Transport Operator Union today warned that if the authorities concerned did not implement the permissible loading limit and rationalise the passage of trucks then they will block vehicular traffic on the Amritsar-Attari road.

Union president Manjit Singh alleged that gross violations were being committed from both sides of the border. He said they lodged a protest with the Customs department through a communication on July 9, 2011. In response, the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate wrote to the RTO, Amritsar, on the premise that “the subject pertained to MV Act and rules made thereunder, the same is forwarded to your office for further necessary action at your end”.

The communiqué from the union stated that apart from allowing passage to trucks from this side of the border “the Customs at the JCP was loading trucks with goods imported from Pakistan and Afghanistan well above the permissible weight limit”. It added that a government agency in clear violation of mandate of Section 113, 114 and 194 of the MV Act, 1988.

Manjit Singh said as per norms no truck could carry load above 25 tonnes. He claimed that in contravention to the law trucks carrying over 50 tonne of goods were being permitted to cross over allegedly in connivance with the officials. He said unable to get justice from the authorities, the Union wrote to Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal twice on December 19 and 29 to highlight the violations.

Amritsar, January 2
The Election Commission increased the cash carrying limit from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh till the mode code of conduct remains in force, but the traders are not happy.

The Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has written to the Chief Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, for drawing attention on the issue.

PPDA president JP Khanna said his association, a representative body of 2000 dealers of Punjab, said 70 per cent of the filling stations were being run on the outskirts of cities. He said due to high cost of petrol and petroleum products, station owners have to bring daily sale proceed to their houses. He said many times sale proceeds exceed more than Rs 4 lakh.

Besides, he said, as per the new rules, all filling station owners are to deposit the amount in advance for procuring petrol and petroleum products. He said this amount is deposited under the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) facility, which is available in selected branches of the banks.

He said there have been instances when dealers have been harassed by checking parties even after they showed the credentials of petrol pumps.

He urged the Election Commission to issue directives to the authorities concerned to take PPDA identity cards as a valid proof.

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Amritsar Zone Convener Jaideep Singh said many of their members have complained of harassment while distributing salary to employees and procurement of material.

Amritsar, January 2
The CPI and CPM, the constituents of Sanjha Morcha headed by People’s Party of Punjab, kicked off their campaigns from Amritsar (East) and Amritsar (West) constituencies, respectively, here today.

The leaders of Left parties said their main thrust would be on health sector, education, employment generation, and agriculture reforms. They said their major focus would be to uplift the poor strata of the society, which had completely ignored by the consecutive governments of the Congress and SAD-BJP alliance.

“Punjab has been facing rampant corruption, unemployment, inflation. Moreover, the rural community which is already under the debt stress, has been suppressed for a long time. The state is facing financial crisis due to the wrong policies adopted by the Congress and SAD-BJP regimes,” said Dr Joginder Dyal, national executive member, CPI.

He said the Sanjha Morcha, which has been formed on the principles of secularism, is committed for the development of the country and improvement of law and order situation. It would bring the Vigilance Department under the Lokayukta and its members would be taken from outside Punjab, he said. He said corruption could not be controlled until and unless the corporate sector is brought under the Lokpal Bill.

The SAD-BJP and Congress governments adopted same economic policies in Punjab which resulted in the price rise and it thus widened the gap between the rich and poor. The number of BPL families is on the rise, he said.

Amarjit Singh Asal, CPI candidate from Amritsar (West) speaking on the occasion said the Sanjha Morcha if comes to power would create at least one lakh jobs to eradicate the rising unemployment in the state, besides building at least 20 higher educational institutes, which would be run by the government.

In the health sector, the Sanjha Morcha would launch health insurance scheme where patients suffering from critical diseases such as cancer, heart ailments, would be covered and provided Rs 3 lakh, he said.

“For the revival of industry in Punjab, we would impress upon the Central Government to give subsidies and industrial package on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh, besides waiving of debt of the farmers,” said Vijay Mishra, CPM candidate from Amritsar (East).

In order to stem the problem of female foeticide, every newborn girl child would be given FDRs till they attains the age of 20-years, he said. 

Amritsar, January 2
At a modest 5 ft 8 inches tall, he is a giant in the world of marathon history. For someone who couldn’t barely walk at the age of five, running a marathon and breaking world records at the age of 100 is a feat worth celebrating.

But Fauja Singh takes it as a pleasant ‘surprise’. “Every day I feel surprised at my feats and wonder how I was able to do it?” If that’s not being humble then his recently released biography, Turbaned Tornado by Khushwant Singh, is a must read. The British centenarian marathon runner of Indian origin, Fauja Singh is not just a sportsperson but an inspiration world over.

In Amritsar on a personal visit to International Fateh Academy, the running sensation, a marathon runner for all seasons and turbaned tornado (all his popular nicknames) shared doses from his life and his biography. “I was quite weak in my childhood and could barely walk. People used to call me ‘stick’ and never in my life I had thought that I would become famous,” says the marathoner, who survived on nothing but faith and positivity. That’s why he mentions in his biography, “Perhaps it was the Almighty's way of preserving my legs for later years.”

Running started as an escape for him after the loss of his wife and son. At 90, he set the world record for the men's over-90 marathon run in five hours and 40 minutes, which shot him to international fame and later repeated the records in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m. Recently this year, at 100, he created another astonishing human legend by successfully completing the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon running the 26.2-mile marathon in 8 hours 25 minutes and 16 seconds. With this he entered the Guinness World Record in his age category as the first human being to accomplish the gruelling feat. What motivates him? “I run while talking to God.”

For someone whose enthusiasm for life, running and healthy living is infectious and a model for all, Fauja Singh doesn’t even remember most of his feats. But one thing he sure knows, “I take care of my health. My trainer Harminder has put all his efforts to keep me going.” He runs 10 miles a day, loves gorging on alsi ki pinni, milk and kanak da parshad twice a day (which he says is his secret to fitness) and stays away from junk food. Also, “I don’t feel I am that old. I have friends who are as young as ten years old, and I am happy that I have my peace of mind,” says the runner who could go for a ten mile run even at 2 in the morning.

He has proved his mettle world over but Fauja Singh is yet to run a marathon in India. “I would love to participate if invited.” Being a Punjabi, he finds himself in a tight spot when asked about the status of sports in Punjab, “We have such talented sportspersons, but the lack of promotion and drug abuse marr their core. I don’t have an answer to it.”

Meanwhile, he keeps himself busy running for himself and his humanitarian causes. 

Jalandhar, January 2
A 30-year-old youth was allegedly shot dead by a group of armed miscreants near Rama Mandi Chowk in the cantonment area here this afternoon. Old enmity is said to be the cause behind the murder. The deceased has been identified as Suresh Kumar, alias Billa, son of Rajinder Kumar, local fruit seller and resident of Dakoha, near here.

The deceased was a small money lender and is also a nephew of former councillor Jagidish of the Dakoha locality.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the incident occurred at 2 pm when Suresh along with his friend Manish was going home on his motorcycle. Both stopped outside a taxi stand near Rama Mandi and Manish went to buy cigarettes from a nearby vendor.

Five motorycles-borne armed youths stopped their bikes near Suresh and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. One of the youths also took out a gun and fired two shots at Suresh. One bullet hit Suresh in the chest and he fell down.

Passersby called an ambulance of the National Highway Authority, which rushed Suresh to a nearby private hospital. The victim was declared brought dead by doctors at the hospital.

Sources said Manish recognised one of the assailants. Manish said a few days back Suresh had a brawl with the same youths.

Meanwhile, the body was taken to the mortuary of the Civil Hospital.

Jalandhar, January 2
The police arrested a Rajasthan-based smuggler and recovered 5 kg of opium from him here early this morning. He was on the way to supply the contraband in the nearby areas of the city.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Yurinder Singh Hayer told mediapersons that a sub-inspector of the Special Staff during patrolling near Alawalpur Chowk intercepted a person and asked him to stop for checking, but the person tried to flee. Policemen caught him and on search recovered the contraband. The smuggler was heading towards the Kishangarh area from Alawalpur.

The smuggler was identified as Gobind Ram, resident of Kanwani village of Rajasthan, the SSP said. A case under Sections 18, 61 and 85 of the IPC was registered against him at the Adampur police station.