J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Court stays sale of MC library building
Gurdaspur, February 18
A local court granted a stay order on the sale of Municipal Council’s (MC) library building here today. The court stated that the MC was only acting as a trustee of the property and it has no right to sell it. The MC on March 29 last year sold the building for Rs 1.05 crore to a firm called Surinder Kumar and Company. This infuriated a section of residents who claimed that a senior functionary of the MC had purchased the building in the name of Surinder Kumar and Company.

Bhikhiwind Murder Case
BJP demands strict action against accused ASI
Jalandhar, February 18
The Cultural Cell (Sanskritik Prakosht) of the BJP today demanded strict action against ASI who allegedly killed a Rama Mandi-based DJ Balvir Singh, aka Babbi, during a wedding function at a marriage palace in Bhikhiwind. The accused ASI allegedly fired at the DJ during the function.

Two killed, two injured in road accidents
Pathankot, February 18
Prem Chand (55) was killed when a car hit his bicycle near Kath Ka Pool on Pathankot-Gurdaspur road here late last evening. Police said the deceased was a resident of Bharoli Kalan village and was coming back from work when the accident took place.

Wife booked for murder
Hoshiarpur, February 18
The Dasuya police has booked Mandip Kaur under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly killing her husband, Harnam Singh, on September 2011. The police booked the accused five months after Harnam Singh’s death.

Court stays sale of MC library building
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, February 18
A local court granted a stay order on the sale of Municipal Council’s (MC) library building here today. The court stated that the MC was only acting as a trustee of the property and it has no right to sell it.

The MC on March 29 last year sold the building for Rs 1.05 crore to a firm called Surinder Kumar and Company. This infuriated a section of residents who claimed that a senior functionary of the MC had purchased the building in the name of Surinder Kumar and Company.

Following the controversial deal, a local resident Ashish Mahajan filed a case in the court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Gurdaspur. He contended that the 2,140 square feet building was donated by Nagar Mal Mahajan in 1941 to the MC with the condition that the property would be used for the welfare of society. He also argued that the MC was only acting as a trustee and it has no right to sell it.

Mahajan also filed an RTI with the MC asking for the status of Surinder Kumar and Company, but failed to get a reply. He also said the entire amount of Rs 1.05 crore was paid in cash to MC and that it was illegal as the MC cannot accept cash of such a huge amount.

Mahajan, while addressing a press conference here today, said the property was donated by Nagar Mal Mahajan and it stood transferred to the MC vide resolution no 61 in 1941. “The MC was managing the building as a trustee so long and the ownership rights were never transferred following which the MC cannot sell the building,” said Mahajan.

Meanwhile, Santosh Riar, president of the MC, said Ashish Mahajan has no locus standi and that it was just a ploy to delay the transfer. She said the MC accepted the judgement but it would fight the case in higher courts. However, she denied that she had any stakes in Surinder Kumar and Company.

Bhikhiwind Murder Case
BJP demands strict action against accused ASI
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 18
The Cultural Cell (Sanskritik Prakosht) of the BJP today demanded strict action against ASI who allegedly killed a Rama Mandi-based DJ Balvir Singh, aka Babbi, during a wedding function at a marriage palace in Bhikhiwind. The accused ASI allegedly fired at the DJ during the function.

The BJP has also demanded compensation for the aggrieved family and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar. Addressing a press meet in Jalandhar today, Vir Bahadur, the president of the cell said, “When the protectors of the common man themselves start killing them, then who will be their saviour? The accused ASI should be given the strictest possible punishment so that in future no police personnel do the same.”

“Till now, the accused has been booked under Section 304 (culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code but we demand that he be booked under Section 302 (murder charges) of the IPC,” he added.

The cell members demanded that the family of the victim be given a compensation of at least Rs 10 to 15 lakh and jobs be given to his family member.

They also demanded cancellation of the license of the marriage palace where the incident took place. They said that stricter norms should be implemented in marriage palaces so that such incidents could be avoid in future.

Cell members, vice president Om Prakash, general secretary Gurdial Singh, among others, were also present on the occasion.

Two killed, two injured in road accidents
Our Correspondents

Pathankot, February 18
Prem Chand (55) was killed when a car hit his bicycle near Kath Ka Pool on Pathankot-Gurdaspur road here late last evening. Police said the deceased was a resident of Bharoli Kalan village and was coming back from work when the accident took place.

He was killed on the spot. The driver of the car fled from the spot. The police has registered a case and has started the investigations.

Two youths sustained injuries when their motorcycle was rammed into a roadside tree near Dhobra village on Pathankot-Amritsat-Jalandhar road here today.

Sources said Sandeep Kumar and Surinder Kumar, both residents of Taragarh, were on their way home. As they reached near the railway crossing road, Sandeep lost control over his vehicle while trying to avoid hitting a jeep coming from the opposite direction and rammed into a roadside tree.

They were rushed to a nearby private hospital at Sarna where the condition of both was stated to be out of danger.

Phagwara: A cyclist identified as David Maseeh of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar was killed on the spot when a bus hit him near Khatti village on Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road last night. The bus driver sped away after hitting the cycle. Police has registered a case and sent the body to local Civil Hospital for postmortem.

Wife booked for murder
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, February 18
The Dasuya police has booked Mandip Kaur under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly killing her husband, Harnam Singh, on September 2011. The police booked the accused five months after Harnam Singh’s death.

The father of the deceased said he suspected that someone has killed his son. During an inquiry it was established that Harnam Singh was strangulated to death.