Amritsar, January 28
As many as 3,200 jawans of central paramilitary forces and Punjab Police would guard 282 polling stations falling in the city during the assembly elections slated to be held on January 30. These polling stations have been categorised as critical, hyper sensitive and sensitive.

Giving details, Police Commissioner RP Mittal said out of the total, 32 polling booths have been identified as critical, 98 hyper sensitive and 138 sensitive.

"All the critical booths would be guarded by paramilitary forces. These central forces would also guard 32 hyper sensitive booths. Remaining booths would be guarded by the police deputed from the city and the rural police district," said Mittal.

Mittal held a meeting with the various police officials today and briefed them about the total security layout plan. He directed them to not to leave the polling booths in any case till the elections are over. He also asked them to inform the senior police officials on their mobile if they find any discrepancy during polling.

Meanwhile, as many as 41 companies of paramilitary forces besides over 2,700 jawans of Punjab Armed Police have been deployed in police districts falling under the jurisdiction of Amritsar border zone in view of the forthcoming assembly polls.

Paramjit Singh Grewal, IG Border Range, said there are 20 assembly constituencies that fall within the ambit of Amritsar border range which comprises of Amritsar rural police district, Tarn Taran, Batala police district, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot and all the companies have been deputed at their designated stations.

Out of these, seven constituencies of Gurdaspur, Qadian, Dera Baba Nanak, Ajnala, Majitha and Tarn Taran have been declared as highly sensitive constituencies. He said sensitive and highly sensitive identified polling stations would be guarded by paramilitary forces in association with the Punjab Police.

About 500 history sheeters have been arrested or taken into preventive custody during the past one month.

"Over Rs 3.68 crore of unaccounted money has been confiscated besides five pistols, five revolvers, a rifle and other illegal arms seized in the past one month. Huge quantity of narcotics was also recovered," said Paramjit Singh Grewal, IG Border Range.

He said during the past one month various police districts have seized 13,650 litres of country-made liquor, 1,139 litres of illicit liquor, 62,450 kg of lahan and destroyed about 32 illegal distillery units operating in villages.

"The police also managed to confiscate heroin, smack, habit-forming drugs and opium in huge quantity," he claimed. As per the instructions of the Election Commission, 90 per cent of the licensed arms had been deposited by the arms holders, he added.

He said a DSP-level official had been appointed in every constituency in order to maintain law and order during the polls while an SP-level officer has been deputed as nodal officer at all district headquarters. He said an election cell-cum-control room has been established at every SSP office in respective police districts.

Amritsar, January 28
In an attempt to supply liquor to voters, politicians have devised innovative ways to escape the attention of the Election Commission.

To lure the urban boozers, politicians give 'paper slips', bearing code words for various brands and type of IMFL, to voters. Sometimes, they also scribe the liquor code on voter's hands.

Even a candidate, it has been learnt, prescribes liquor doze to voters on currency notes of particular series.

Persons with the slips with code words go to the designated liquor shop to get the desired quantity and brand of liquor.

Insiders associated with these political leaders said interesting terms have been coined such as 'one milk patti' meaning a bottle of whiskey, 'one tea' meaning a bottle of rum and one 'Limca' meaning a bottle of gin.

Similarly the new currency notes of Rs 10, bearing a particular series are distributed to voters. Quantity of liquor would be indicated on the note itself but would be hard to trace. Police personnel preferring anonymity said this was the new method which was being witnessed in these elections only.

"Even if we know about this modus operandi, it is hard to prove that the currency note is being utilised for conveying some message at the liquor shop," he said.

In yet another method, apparently inspired from the Central Jail norms wherein the security personnel stamp a code on the hands of visitors, the ones sponsoring candidates write some codes on the hands of the voters.

These codes could be interpreted only by a particular liquor vendor.

"This method seems to have been copied from the jail manual. Even this code written with ink pen would be different on each day, just as done by the jail staff," said another policeman.

Police sources said a number of makeshift distilleries in dingy places have cropped up in the entire rural belt of Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts.

Reports revealed that over 12,136 litre of illicit liquor, 4.72 lakh bottles of country-made liquor, 82 quintals of lahan, 8580 kg opium, 63 kg heroin and about 2 kg of smack have been seized from different pockets of the state during the ongoing elections campaign. 

Amritsar, January 28
The District Electoral Officer (DEO) has issued notices to candidates who have canvassing through SMSes without permission.

With the EC being strict this time over poll expenditure, the candidates resorted to services like SMSes or social network sites to reach out to voters.

The candidates, in order to avoid the wrath of the election officials, have replied back within 24 hours.

It has been learnt that various mobile service providers have devised special SMS packages ahead of the ensuing Assembly elections. The candidates have submitted the details about the SMS packages they have been availing and further sought permission for spending between Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 for the purpose.

Ironically, it was for the past over one month since these messages were being flashed on the mobiles on behalf of the candidates, but it did not drew the attention of the electoral officer. Poll officials got to know about the practice when one such message was received on the mobile phone of a DPR official.

Deputy Commissioner cum DEO Rajat Aggarwal confirmed that various candidates have been served notices for not furnishing their SMS expenditure details and thereby violating the model code of conduct.

“We have received the expenditure details from the candidates’ side. These details would be sent back to the mobile service provider concerned to ascertain whether the amount furnished by the candidates commensurate with their package terms or not? Once we received clarification from their side, the expenses would be accounted in the candidates’ poll expenditure”, he said.

Amritsar, January 28
Two-time councillor, the BJP candidate from Amritsar West constituency, Rakesh Gill is indeed fighting a tough and tiring battle. Considering the fact that people of the constituency had chosen a Congressman as its MLA during the previous three terms, Rakesh is going an extra mile to woo the people.

Rakesh Gill claims that his prospects have improved a lot after the delimitation. He says, “The areas as Haripura, Islamabad and Nawi Abadi were excluded from the constituency after the delimitation. These areas were considered the strong Congress bastions.” Sounding more like a candidate of the opposition than that of the ruling alliance, Rakesh Gill claims that the constituency has not seen any development during the past five years.

He blames the Congress for lack of development in the constituency. He says, “How could the government make funds available when the elected representative of the people from the constituency failed to project area’s demands. It is the MLA who is responsible for the lack of development and not the SAD-BJP rule.”

Claiming lack of development as his poll plank, Gill is assuring people that if the SAD-BJP returns to power, the needy people will be given pensions and blue cards.

Sitting on a chair outside his office near Kabir Park, a visibly-tired Rakesh Gill claims he attends 20-22 public meetings daily.

Amritsar, January 28
Almost all parties gave a raw deal to women while allotting party tickets for five Assembly seats in the holy city.

The BJP is the only party that has given ticket to a woman candidate, which went to its MP Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu. In total there are only four women out of 48 candidates contesting Assembly polls from five urban seats. The rest of the three candidates are contesting independently. They are Simarpreet Kaur from Amritsar East, Ramanbir Kaur from Amritsar South and Monika Mahajan from Amritsar North.

Simarpreet, a house wife, had to join politics after her husband Harpal Singh Bhatia, a Congress leader, died in a road accident last month. The Congress first granted party ticket to Simarpreet Kaur from the same constituency. However, due to the party’s wrangling she was replaced by Mayor Sunil Dutti.

Ramanbir Kaur is a little known leader while Monica Mahajan claims to be once associated with the Shiv Sena.

BBK DAV College for Women Principal Neelam Kamra said adequate women representation in legislature is a necessity that would ensure representation of their grievances. She added that the Women's Reservation Bill had been a political raw nerve and was seen causing heated debates in the Parliament and outside.

She said gender bias in any form should not be prevalent in the political system. Tickets should be allocated to deserving candidates, irrespective of male and female considerations. She felt that reservation would help women to gain more seats.

In political history of the city, only two women leaders went up to the legislature. These women leaders were Community party’s Vimla Dang, wife of Communist leader Satpal Dang and BJP’s Lakshmi Kanta Chawla.

Kirandeep Kaur, a house wife, said women were excelling in various fields. “Be it education, aviation, medical, corporate sector or science, women are leaving their footprints. But the political parties seem to be least interested in them. She said political parties accommodate women leaders only at higher echelons only to increase its mass appeal. 

Gender bias

l There are over 7.4 lakh electorates, including 3.5 lakh women

l The BJP is the only party that has given a ticket to woman candidate

l Simarpreet Kaur from Amritsar East, Ramanbir Kaur from Amritsar South and Monika Mahajan from Amritsar North are contesting as independents

Amritsar, January 28
BJP President Nitin Gadkari addressed two public meetings on his mobile phone today after he got stuck at Sri Guru Ram Das International Airport as poor visibility at Pathankot forced his chartered aircraft to land here.

According to media in charge of Punjab BJP Vineet Joshi, Gadkari was scheduled to address a public meeting in Pathankot at 2 pm for which he was supposed to land there at 1 pm. However, due to poor visibility in Pathankot, his aircraft landed at Amritsar airport at 2.05 pm. He then thought of getting a chopper from Chandigarh, but the flying time of 1 hour 15 minutes from Chandigarh to Amritsar dissuaded him to do the same, as by the time they would have reached Pathankot on chopper the rally would have been over. The BJP chief also mulled to take a chopper from Amritsar to Chandigarh but could not do that too due to landing permission issues. He then decided to address the public meetings at Pathankot and Rajpura on his mobile phone. Joshi said after addressing these rallies on mobile Gadkari left for Nagpur on his chartered flight from Amritsar airport.

Amritsar, January 28
Most of the candidates from major political parties would not be able to support their own candidature by exercising their voting rights. No, it is not a new guideline issued by the Election Commission.

It is because most of the candidates are not contesting from their home turfs-the constituency in which they are registered as voters.

Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu is registered as voter in Amritsar North but she is contesting from Amritsar East constituency on BJP ticket.

The BJP candidate from Amritsar West, Rakesh Gill, too is technically an outsider as he is registered as voter in Amritsar North constituency. The Congress candidate from Amritsar West, Raj Kumar, is from Amritsar Central constituency.

The Congress candidate from Amritsar Central, OP Soni, is actually from Amritsar West constituency.

Former MC mayor Sunil Dutti is from Amritsar Central whereas he is contesting from Amritsar East constituency. Another Congress candidate from Amritsar South constituency, Jasbir Singh Dimpa, is registered voter from Amritsar East.

The Amritsar North seems to be the only constituency where candidates from both the parties; Karamjit Rintu of Congress and Anil Joshi of BJP would be able to vote in their favour.

The PPP and other parties, including independent candidates have chosen to contest from their home turfs. Rakesh Gill said, “The rules do not debar a person to contest from a constituency other than the one where he or she is a voter. Candidates have been nurturing the constituencies from where they are contesting for years. It won’t be justified to term them as outsiders.”

Amritsar, January 28
The candidates in all five urban constituencies of the city went out today to woo the voters for the last time before the elections. They resorted to all sorts of measures from holding road shows to showering pamphlets from chopper only to garner support ahead of the polling day on Monday.

Both the Congress and BJP are banking on star power to make an impact up on the people on the last day of campaigning. The Congress succeeded to rope in film actor Raza Murad to support candidates OP Soni and Jasbir Singh Dimpa. The BJP, on the other hand, wasn’t as lucky. Its star campaigner Shatrughan Sinha failed to make it on time. He was to address a rally in support of the BJP candidate from Amritsar East Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu.

A majority of the candidates preferred to hold road shows in their respective constituencies. Among them were BJP’s Anil Joshi from Amritsar North, BJP’s Rakesh Gill from Amritsar West, BJP’s Tarun Chugh from Amritsar Central, and SAD’s Inderbir Singh Bolaria from Amritsar South. The Congress candidates, including Karamjit Singh Rintu from Amritsar North, Raj Kumar from Amritsar West and Sunil Dutti from Amritsar East, took out a march in their areas in a bid to cover as much area as possible. These leaders were seen shaking hands with public enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, SAD rebel from Amritsar South Gurpratap Singh Tikka adopted a novel way to catch the voters’ attention. He hired a chopper to shower pamphlets in his Assembly segment that soon became talk of the town.

Out of the five urban constituencies, there is a crucial contest in Amritsar North and Amritsar South while Amritsar East is also hogging the limelight due to the presence of BJP MP Navjot Sidhu’s wife in the poll fray. In Amritsar South Jasbir Singh Dimpa of the Congress, who move out of Beas post-delimitation, would face SAD’s Inderbir Singh Bolaria. SAD rebel Gurpartap Singh Tikka’s entry into the electoral arena has spiced up the contest here. In Amritsar North, the last minute change in the Congress candidate has turned the contest exciting, as the sitting BJP MLA Anil Joshi is facing a challenge from the Congress’ Karamjit Singh Rintu. Sidhu’s wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu is also locked in a triangular contest against Congress’ Sunil Datti and Congress rebel Simarpreet Kaur Bhatia.

Amritsar, January 28
Rakesh Kumar Mahajan aka Rocky, an independent candidate, is fast gaining popularity due to his unique ballot symbol - a crown.

Contesting from Amritsar Central, Mahajan and his supporters caught public notice while campaigning with crowns and dholi.

Mahajan said being an independent candidate the toughest challenge was to make his symbol recognisable and popular among the electorates. He equates it to brand building. “After all, candidates have to press button against the symbols,” he said.

Out of 48 candidates in poll fray 18 are independents. These independents have been allocated poll symbols, which are gaining popularity.

A resident of Sehaj Enclave, Navnit Kumar, said varied objects used every day have been adopted as election symbols. He said he came across symbols like telephone, television, kite, ceiling fan and many more. He added that it usual makes him laugh, which was better than bloodshed usually seen during elections.

Amritsar North has the maximum candidates. There are 13, including five independent. Names of the five independents are: Ashok Kumar Bhatia, 59, telephone; Sukhdev Singh, 33, ceiling fan; Nirmal Singh, 31, chess board; Monika Mahajan, 36, crown and Vipan Kumar, 32, air conditioner.

Besides, there are three candidates from little known parties with equally interesting symbols. Bhartiya Gaon Taj Dal’s Surjan Singh, 67, has a bat as party symbol, Sarvajan Samaj Party’s (D) Samsan Masih, 43, has candles, Bhartiya Chaitanya Party’s Bal Krishan, 51, has television as party symbol.

Sewing machine of SAD (A) and kite of the PPP are also interesting symbols. Amritsar South is another segment with ten candidates, including four independents. Names and symbols of independents are: Akali rebel Gurpratap Singh Tikka, 40, television; Jasvir Singh, 50, bat; Yadvinder Singh, 40, crown and Ramanbir Kaur, 43, electric pole.

There are nine candidates, including four independents, contesting from Amritsar Central. These independents and their symbols are: Om Prakash, 66, ring; Narinder Shekhar Luthra, 36, bat; Baldev Bhardwaj, 48, television and Rakesh Kumar, 40, crown.

From Amritsar West there are eight candidates with two independents. They are: Jaspal Singh, 46, chess board and Manjit Singh, 37, ceiling fan. National Congress Party’s Surinder Kumar Khosla, 44, has gained attention due to his party symbol- clock.

Amritsar East has seen eight candidates, including three independents. Names and symbols of independents are: Simarpreet Kaur, 37, television; Diyal Chand, 62, candles and Mohinder Singh, 62, letter box.

A resident of Rani Ka Bagh Blajit Singh said electorates tend to draw meaning and sincerity out of the names and symbols of the candidates.

Amritsar, January 28
Real Estate business has taken a back seat as majority of real estate company proprietor and agents are involved in the election campaign.

Consequently, the real estate business is passing through a rough phase.

Since the announcement of election Kirhan Kumar Sharma, a leading real estate businessman, has been relegating his work. His company is running two projects namely SG Enclave and SG Heights, at Majitha road and Global City, Vallah.

Associated with the Congress party, he said many real estate agents were involved with various political parties and people from other professions were also supporting parties and candidates of their choice. Prospective customers were also holding back, he added. Sharma said people believe that the Congress government would help in improving business scenario in the state.

However, some customers complained that property dealers were deliberately trying to scare people by telling them that property prices would rise if the Congress came to power.

A small time real estate agent Sunil Samsung admitted that unlike other professions, real estate dealers or businessmen were more vigorously involved in the poll process. He said his only wish was that a candidate of the ruling party should win the election from their area. He said majority of the colonies, which were legalised recently, in Majtiha and Batala roads were without sewerage, street light and proper roads.

Another real estate agent Harpinder Singh Walia, who is campaigning for the BJP candidate in Mall Mandi area, said that association with a political party was an individual’s choice.

Amritsar, January 28
Two persons lost their lives while another person sustained injuries in two road accidents at Sangatpura and Vairoke villages here late last evening.

One Kulwant Singh, a resident of Mohan Bhandaria village, died on the spot when his car rammed into a static tractor trolley on Amritsar-Fatehgarh Churian road.

Jagdip Singh, the deceased's son, alleged that they were going to Fatehgarh Churian in the car when it rammed into the trolley due to darkness and absence of dipper in the trolley. The trolley's driver, identified as Tarsem Singh of Sangatpura, fled from the spot. He has been booked in a case under Section 304-A and other relevant sections of the IPC.

In another road accident, Joginder Singh, a resident of Vairoke village, was crushed to death by a speeding truck. The truck hit Joginder's motorcycle when he along with Manjit Singh were going to Preet Nagar. The Lopoke police has registered a complaint in this against unidentified truck driver in this connection.

Dayal Singh, a deceased's relative, in his complaint said Joginder and Manjit were going to Preet Nagar on their motorcycle. Joginder Singh died to the spot and Manjit Singh sustained serious injuries. The driver of the truck sped away with the vehicle.

Amritsar, January 28
A woman was beaten to death allegedly by her husband yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Shanti Devi, in her early 40s. The police said her husband, Chhote Lal, was an alcoholic.

They were residing in demolished shops at the old vegetable market near the Hall Gate area here.

They originally hailed from Uttar Pradesh and had been residing in the place for last over one and half month. Both of them used to work as ragpickers.

The incident came to light when one Sagar Kumar and Ram Rattan, both shopkeepers in the area, went to the said building and found Shanti dead. They informed the police. A case has been registered in this connection at Kotwali police station.

Sagar said at about 11.30 pm, they heard the cries of Shanti Devi, who was being beaten up by the accused. “We decided to went to the place and advise him not to repeat such an act. But we were shocked to see Shanti Devi dead,” said Sagar.

The police said the accused hasn’t been arrested yet.

Amritsar, January 28
The city police finally managed to arrest Nandanjit Kaur, who had allegedly poisoned her husband and son to death in September 2009.

The police had booked her on murder charges on the complaint of Manjit Kaur, her mother-in-law.

Manjit Kaur, a resident of the New Azad Nagar area, had alleged that Nandanjit had poisoned her husband Hardeep Singh and two sons Jobanjit Singh and Manvinder. They were rushed to hospital where Hardeep and Robin died while Manvinder survived.

Sukhwinder Singh, SHO B-division, said the accused was nabbed from Sultanwind Road following a tip off. He said she had been evading arrest for last couple of years after she was booked in the case. She had been taken on two-day police remand, he added.

According to details, it was the second marriage of Hardip Singh with Nandanjit Kaur. Manjit Kaur had alleged the accused committed the crime to grab the property of her son.

Amritsar, January 28
The CIA staff has arrested two persons allegedly involved in various snatching and robbery incidents in the city.

The police also recovered eight mobile phones, narcotic powder, two laptops, a stolen motorcycle and a pistol from their possession.

Those arrested are Jatinder Singh of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, Sultanwind Road, and Partap Singh of Rupowali Khurd village. A case under Sections 379 and 411 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the accused.

In a statement issued here today, the police said the duo was arrested at a naka laid near Gujjarpura T-point.

The police team stopped two motorcycle-borne persons who were driving without a number plate. The police claimed that the two admitted to have stolen the motorcycle from outside the Kot Khalsa branch of the Punjab National Bank. The police also seized narcotic powder from their possession.

The accused admitted that they had snatched a laptop worth Rs 48,000 from Manish Kumar, a resident of Maqboolpura, after throwing red chilly in his eyes on December 11, the police claimed.

A country-made pistol, two live cartridges and two laptops and eight mobile phones besides two cameras were also recovered from their possession. The accused were presented in the court and sent in police remand.