B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Residents protest police ‘inaction’ in murder case
Kotkapura, February 18
The death of a youth, who was attacked with sharp-edged weapons some two weeks ago, in the hospital today triggered a protest against the police in Kotkapura town of Faridkot.

Residents block the Ludhiana- Muktsar road in Kotkapura on Saturday evening in protest against the alleged police in action of a murder case. A Tribune photograph

Schoolboy run over by tractor-trolley
Ferozepur, February 18
In a tragic incident, a five years old schoolboy, identified as Mankirat Singh Virk, was run over by a tractor trolley near village Khadoor Sahib under Makhu police station when he was returning home from the school.

Rifle stolen from bank
Abohar, February 18
Unidentified persons intruded the Fazilka Central Cooperative Bank building in village Kundal of Balluana segment last night.

Residents protest police ‘inaction’ in murder case
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Kotkapura, February 18
The death of a youth, who was attacked with sharp-edged weapons some two weeks ago, in the hospital today triggered a protest against the police in Kotkapura town of Faridkot.

Hundreds of residents of the town took the body, carried it through the streets and blocked the traffic on Ludhiana-Muktsar road by placing the body in the middle of the road.

The protesting residents raised slogans against the police for allegedly taking no action against the accused under political pressure.

The blockade was removed and the deceased was cremated after the senior police officers reached the spot in the evening to pacify the protesting residents, ordering the suspension of the erring ASI and giving assurance of arresting all four accused in the case.

The deceased Raju Gulati was allegedly attacked by four youths on February 5 when he was returning home from Ludhiana after getting his son treated.

While the severely injured Raju was admitted in the hospital, the police registered attempt of murder case against four persons. But two weeks down the line, the police allegedly arrested no accused in the case.

But today in the afternoon when Raju succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, instead of cremating him, a large number of residents, including the deceased's relatives, protested.

After over two hours of blockage on Ludhiana-Muktsar road led to big traffic problem and some senior police officers reached the spot to pacify the agitating residents.

Manohar Lal Chhabra, a close relative of the deceased, alleged that some BJP leaders of Kotkapura were protecting the accused.

To express his solidarity with the protesting residents, Ripjeet Singh Brar, Congress MLA from Kotkapura also reached the spot where the body was placed.

After assurances by the police officers, the residents agreed to lift the blockade and cremate the body.

Schoolboy run over by tractor-trolley
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, February 18
In a tragic incident, a five years old schoolboy, identified as Mankirat Singh Virk, was run over by a tractor trolley near village Khadoor Sahib under Makhu police station when he was returning home from the school.

In complaint lodged with the police, Lovepreet Singh, cousin of the deceased boy alleged that Mankirat died due to utter negligence of the driver of the school van who left the kid unattended along the roadside rather dropping him near his home.

Following the incident, resentment prevailed among the relatives and friends of the deceased child who today descended onto the school campus and damaged the school property including the buses, labs, offices and other costly equipment.

Pratap Singh, father of the deceased, alleged that the school authorities were responsible for the incident as despite their plea to them to drop the child near home, the school bus dropped the child on the national highway due to which he was hit while crossing the road.

“We had not send the child to the school for the last fifteen days just because the van was not dropping the child near home but after assurance regarding the same the child was send to the school again,” said Pratap Singh while demanding that strict action shall be taken against the concerned authorities.

On the other hand, Dr Subhash Uppal, director Doon Valley Cambridge School, said that the driver of the school bus tried his best to caution the child when he ran towards the road but in vain.

Dr Uppal said though the school had been closed today as a mark of condolence, over 200 people came on the premises and smashed the valuable school property whatever came their way.

Meanwhile, the police has booked Rajinder Singh, driver of the school van besides unidentified tractor-trolley driver.

Rifle stolen from bank

Abohar, February 18
Unidentified persons intruded the Fazilka Central Cooperative Bank building in village Kundal of Balluana segment last night.

SP (H) Balbir Singh and Balluana DSP Gurpreet Singh were said during the site inspection today that the miscreants removed a window to enter the building and decamped with .12 bore rifle along with eight live cartridges as they failed in removing the safe vault. The bank had purchased the weapons for security guard. — OC