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Sukhbir pitches in for ex-DGP in Moga
Moga, January 23
With just a week left for polling in Punjab, in his eagerness to mobilise public opinion on the development agenda, the president of SAD and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal has appealed to the people to repeat the mandate in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance, promising to carry forward this agrarian state on the path of development.

Cops check Dy CM’s chopper

Moga, January 23
On the directions of the Election Commission, the cops deployed on poll duty carried out a checking of the helicopter of the SAD president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, who holds the portfolio of the Home Ministry in Punjab, when it landed on the grounds of a government college at Samalsar village in Moga district on Monday.
Security personnel check Sukhbir Badal's helicopter at Samalsar in Moga on Monday. A Tribune photograph

EARLIER STORIES

	Babbal claims his expulsion from Congress incorrect January 23, 2012
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	Dy CM attacks Capt January 21, 2012
	CM plays ‘panthic’ card in Ferozepur January 19, 2012
	SAD veteran to slug it out against ‘Kaka’ in state polls January 18, 2012
	Cong manifesto a bundle of false promises: Sukhbir January 17, 2012
	‘People won’t give Capt a chance’ January 16, 2012
	Rebel plays spoilsport for Jassi January 15, 2012
	Elections a low-profile affair this time January 14, 2012
	High voltage political drama confuses supporters January 13, 2012

	Sukhbir pitches in for ex-DGP in Moga Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, January 23 With just a week left for polling in Punjab, in his eagerness to mobilise public opinion on the development agenda, the president of SAD and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal has appealed to the people to repeat the mandate in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance, promising to carry forward this agrarian state on the path of development. Sukhbir was addressing public meetings at Nihalsinghwala, Baghapurana and Moga in favour of the SAD candidates, Rajwinder Kaur, Mahesh Inder Singh and former DGP Paramdeep Singh Gill, on Monday. Adding that the people of Bihar were wise enough to repeat the mandate for the NDA government, he said the same was expected from the wise electorate of Punjab. "Our party workers should go to every household in all the localities in the cities, towns and villages to consolidate positive votes for the SAD-BJP alliance to ensure a clean sweep," he said. Taking a dig at the Congress, the junior Badal said that the PPCC president Captain Amarinder Singh is finding it hard to counter the development work done by the SAD-BJP government. Therefore, Amarinder was launching false and negative publicity against the election manifesto brought out by the ruling parties, he added. "We are focusing on development and progress of our state but the Congress leadership is playing the dirty game of vendetta politics trying to divide the people of the state at the time of elections for vested political gains," Sukhbir alleged. He dared Amarinder to compare his regime's achievements with the achievements of the SAD-BJP government and spell out his future agenda for development in the state. He appealed to the locals to vote in favour of the SAD candidates, Rajwinder Kaur, Mahesh Inder Singh and Paramdeep Gill, saying it would help the SAD-BJP form the government again in the state. Describing the party manifesto as innovative and an inventive approach for further development in the state, Sukhbir claimed that the SAD-BJP government had implemented almost all the commitments it had made in its previous manifesto. The senior party leader Jathedar Tota Singh also addressed the gatherings. Cops check Dy CM’s chopper Moga, January 23 On the directions of the Election Commission, the cops deployed on poll duty carried out a checking of the helicopter of the SAD president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, who holds the portfolio of the Home Ministry in Punjab, when it landed on the grounds of a government college at Samalsar village in Moga district on Monday. Confirming this, a senior official of the district administration said the briefcases kept in the helicopter were also thoroughly checked by the cops but nothing objectionable was found. — TNS
	Cop suspended for beating up woman Megha Mann Tribune News Service Mansa, January 23 The Punjab police today suspended a head constable and initiated a departmental inquiry against the station house officer (SHO), Bareta, for beating up a woman in her early twenties. The video shows a male cop mercilessly beating up a woman on the orders of the SHO Bareta within the police station's premises on Sunday. The victim is a 20-year-old girl from Khudal village who was accused of committing theft. A video exhibiting the mercilessly rained blows has been doing the rounds in the media. The voice of the SHO Bareta encourages the head constable in action to beat up the woman even more. As all this happened, the female staff stood by and watched the episode. According to the rules of the Punjab police, male police cannot handle the female accused. DIG, Bathinda, Paramraj Umranangal said that following the video footage, the HC Balwan Singh has been immediately suspended and a departmental inquiry initiated against him. An inquiry has also been initiated against the Bareta SHO, Sikandar Singh. Umranangal said that the woman is part of an organized gang that was involved in lifting vehicles. The woman and her accomplices had stolen a truck and a canter. "While one of the female gang members and a man named Gurnam Singh were arrested a few days ago, this woman was arrested on Sunday. When the SHO asked her name, she answered wrongly," Umranangal said. DIG Umranangal would visit Mansa tomorrow where he would look into the matter. It is learnt that MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has also taken a serious notice of the incident. MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has also taken a serious notice of the incidence. In a statement issued here today, Harsimrat said the onus of such incident falls on indiscriminate transfer of police personnel by the Election Commission and its inaction on SAD's complaint against Amarinder for inciting the people to violence. Badal said that CM Parkash Singh Badal already requested to the EC that transfer of police officials without taking elected government into confidence may have its bearing on the law and order situation. “In Mansa, both the DC and SSP had been transferred by the EC recently,” she added.
	Pinki, Babbal supporters clash in Ferozepur Anirudh Gupta Ferozepur, January 23 The supporters of Congress candidate from Ferozepur (Urban) Parminder Singh Pinki and Congress rebel Ravinder Singh Sandhu aka Babbal (ex-MLA) who is contesting as an independent candidate, clashed during an election debate being organised here today in the evening. According to the information available, a private TV channel had organised an election related discussion in a Housing Board colony in the city when supporters of both Pinki and Babbal entered into heated arguments with each other which took an ugly turn. It was pandemonium all around as the supporters of the two sides started throwing chairs at each other following which fisticuffs were exchanged. Several persons have been reportedly injured in the clash. Even the cameras of some media persons were damaged in the melee.
	Intruder held Ferozepur, January 23 The BSF apprehended a Pakistani intruder, who had allegedly ventured into Indian territory after crossing the Zero Line in the New Gajniwala area close to Mamdot. Giving details, the BSF officials said the intruder has been identified as Muddasar Iqbal. Sources disclosed that seven SIM cards, one memory card and a Pakistani voter’s identity card has been recovered from Iqbal. BSF officials said that the accused would be send to the Joint Interrogation Centre, Amritsar for further investigations in this matter. — OC
	Mini-bus operators to support Cong Tribune News Service Bathinda, January 23 The mini-bus operators union today announced its support to the Congress in view of the lackadaisical attitude of the Punjab government while dealing their problems. Addressing a press conference, members and president of the Punjab Mini Bus Operators Association said that they have now decided to vote for Congress and oppose the SAD. State president of the association, Harinder Sharma said that there are 5,300 mini-buses in Punjab and the bus operators have more than 7 lakh votes. He claimed that the small- scale district bus operators are also with them and have assured to extend a helping hand to them. The state president pointed out that the operators held seven meetings with the top officials of the Punjab government during the tenure of the SAD-BJP government but nothing has been done in this regard. “We would highlight the wrong deeds of the Punjab government and will soon start campaigning in the favour of the congress party,” Sharma said. He alleged that the government has done nothing to improve the deteriorating condition of the transport industry of Punjab. “Instead, the government suppressed their voice and captured the entire transport industry by formulating policies against private transporters,” said Sharma.