Amritsar, May 23
In a shocking incident, a woman was set ablaze by her sister-in-law and brother-in-law in Shamnagar village near here after a minor dispute between them late last evening. The accused wnated her to leave her husband’s house and live with her parents.

The victim identified as Keso was admitted to Guru Ram Das Hospital in Uthia village with over 90 per cent burn injury. She succumbed to her injuries today.

Her husband was not at home at the time of the murder.

Before her death, she recorded a statement in front of the duty magistrate in which she held her sister-in-law Kamlesh and brother-in-law Sabi as responsible for her death.

In her statement, the deceased alleged that the two accused started quarrelling with her when she was alone at home. She said they started throwing her belongings out of the house. She said she resisted their attempts saying that her husband Rakesh Kumar was not at home.

“Instead of listening to me, Kamlesh and Sabi poured kerosene oil over me and set me ablaze,” the deceased told the police.

Hearing her heart rendering screams, her husband and his other younger brother reached the spot and took her to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries today.

Jagwinder Singh, investigating officer said the victim lived at her parents house and had recently come back to Shamnagar to live with her husband.

As the family belongs to the poor section of the society, her return became a cause of financial concern and Keso and Kamlesh began to quarrel frequently. They wanted her to go back to her parents’ home.

On the day of the incident, Kamlesh and Keso had another quarrel over the issue, the police said.

The accused fled the scene after the incident and raids were being conducted to arrest them, the police said.

Amritsar, May 23
In a tragic incident two persons were choked to death because of poisonous gas inside a sewerage manhole in Bhagtanwala today. The victims had entered the manhole to clean the sewer. Three others fell conscious while trying to save their co-workers. The incident occurred at 2 pm when Dharminder Singh Gauri entered the manhole to clean it. When he felt discomfort he called for help after which Charanjit Singh entered the manhole but was trapped inside.

In the meantime, two more workers Nishan Singh and Vicky inhaled the gas while trying to save the duo. Presently admitted at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Nishan Singh said he informed a colleague Rehbar working nearby over the phone. He came and saved them. Rehbar too was rushed to the hospital.

The other workers present at the spot said the victims had entered the manhole after two and hour hours of its opening it up. "This is how it is usually done. The manhole covers are opened well in advance so that the gas inside leak. Unfortunately it did not work for Dharminder Singh and Charanjit Singh," said Goldy Singh, a worker. Eyewitnesses said the fire brigade was called in but they were hesitant to enter the manhole as they were not equipped to deal with such a situation. The firemen did not have any masks. Doctors at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital said the three workers were out of danger.

Agitating workers gathered outside the hospital and complained that the Municipal Corporation was insensitive towards the plight of the sewermen. The MC has employed 190 of sewermen on a contractual basis, they said. 

Amritsar, May 23
The Municipal Corporation has revoked trade licences of six hotels located in the vicinity of the Golden Temple for violating building bylaws.

These hotels are out of 24 hotels and lodges, including three sarais (inn), which were served notices by the Municipal Town Planning (MTP) department in October last.

MCA Commissioner Dharam Pal Gupta said these hotels and inns were issued licences under Section 343 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act-1976. However, Municipal Town Planner in its letter number 284 dated May 14 communicated to the MC that these buildings were not constructed as per the provisions of the municipal bylaws and hence it violated the 347 (2) clause of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act.

The MC acted against these hotels, lodges and inns after the Punjab and Haryana High Court took serious notice of the matter while deciding on a PIL filed by Sarbjit Singh in 2010. The next date of hearing is on May 24.

He said owners of these hotels and even inns, constructed by spiritual heads, illegally raised the height of buildings to over 50 feet as against the norms of 38.5 feet, which mar the skyline around the Golden Temple.

Municipal Town Planner Shakti Bhatia said these commercial complexes had no parking space within their premises, as a result of which the visitors of these buildings park their vehicles on the road which leads to traffic chaos.

Sumit Singh, chief executive officer of CJ International hotel, whose licence was revoked, said his hotel was registered under the Sarai Act in 2001. “The hotel annually pays Rs 8,000 as conservation tax and commercial house tax to the MC,” he said. He said the walled city does not have separate residential and commercial areas. Hence, being a mixed use area the land could be used for commercial purpose.

Surinder Singh, president, Hotel and Restaurant Welfare Association, said when about 2,200 hotels, lodges and guest houses could function in old Delhi, then why not here.

He said similarly there were over 150 hotels in the walled city and a majority of them were constructed on less than 150 square yards area and they have been regularly paying commercial house tax, conservancy tax, water supply and sewerage taxes to the MC. Besides, they pay luxury tax to the state government.

Amritsar, May 23
Akali leader Ranjit Singh alias Rimple along with his associates has been booked on charges of attempt to murder a day after the shoot-out between two liquor groups. The Kamboh police in Amritsar rural police district have booked Akali leader Ranjit Singh alias Rimple along with his associates on attempt to murder charges.

Besides Rimple, those accused include Balli, Lalit Kumar, Sukhdev Singh, Gurpreet Singh and 10 other persons who are yet to be identified.

A case under Section 307, 506, 427, 148, 149 IPC and 25/27/54/59 Arms Act has been registered against them on the basis of the statement of Om Parkash, a resident of Fazilka, who was injured in the incident.

This is the second case of attempt to murder registered against Rimple and his accomplices within a week.

Earlier, they were involved in a firing incident at posh Basant Avenue area on Maqbool Road where the office of the rival group is located.

The two incidents were a fall out of the ongoing tussle between the two groups over the sale of liquor.

In his statement, Om Parkash who sustained bullet injury on his left foot alleged that the accused intercepted them near Ganda Nallah near Mahal village and fired indiscriminately at them. They also shouted that they will teach them a lesson for getting a case registered against them, he alleged.

Jagjit Singh SHO, Kamboh police station, said the accused were on the run and raids were being conducted to nab them.

Amritsar, May 23
A man allegedly opened fire at the employees of the revenue department when they were doing demarcation of the land in Bal Saran village falling under Beas police station here last evening.

The victims saved themselves by hiding themselves behind the tractor. The police has booked Massa Singh who is absconding since the registration of the case under Section 307, 427 IPC and 25/27/54/59 Arms Act against him. Karam Singh, the complainant in his statement to the police alleged that he along with Gurdev Singh and Parveen Kumar, both revenue department employees hailing from the village, were engaged in the demarcation of land during which a pavement came in the area belonging to the accused.

He said Massa Singh did not agree to give his land for construction of the pavement and went home. However, after a few hours he came back with his .12-bore rifle and began firing at the revenue department team indiscriminately. He said those present at the spot ran helter-skelter to save themselves and the employees hid behind a tractor. 

Amritsar, May 23
In a reshuffle in the health department, eight officials in the district have been transferred.

The Health and Family Welfare Department in its orders appointed Dr Balwinder Kakkar, currently posted at Civil Hospital, as Assistant Civil Surgeon. The post was vacant since the retirement of former ACS Dr Arjun Dhawan.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Pradeep Singh Kahlon has been transferred to Tarn Taran district, while Tarn Taran DHO Dr Ashwani Sondhi has been transferred to Amritsar.

Dr Sushma Sondhi has been transferred to the Civil Hospital here from Community Health Centre (CHC) in Kairon, Tarn Taran.

Dr Ashwani Naaj has been transferred from CHC Majitha to the Civil Hospital, Baba Bakala.

Dr Lakhwinder Singh was transferred from Community Health Centre, Lopoke, to the Civil Hospital, Ajnala; Dr Kamal Khanna from the Civil Hospital Ajnala to CHC, Mehta; and Dr Ranbir Kaur from CHC Mehta to CHC Lopoke.

Amritsar, May 23
Sadar police has arrested three members of Malkeet gang allegedly involved in several cases of crime in the area.

Those accused include Amit Kumar alias Meeta of Kirpal Colony, Majitha Road, Harjit Singh and Babaljit Singh of Mohkampura area.

The police has also seized a country-made pistol of .12 bore, two live cartridges, a dagger (sharp-edged weapon), a motorcycle (PB-02-BK-2158) and 300 gram of narcotic powder from their possession.

Vavinder Kumar, SHO Sadar police station said the accused were wanted in several criminal cases, including attempt to murder and lootings. Recently, they had opened fire at Tungbala.

Malkeet Singh, the kingpin of the gang was arrested on March 26. Malkeet and Ghoni gangs have been involved in a gang war.

The police has registered a case under Section 22/ 29/ 61/ 85 of the NDPS Act besides 25/54/59 of the Arms Aact against them.

Amritsar, May 23
Majority of the areas in Ward number 5 don't have basic civic amenities like safe drinking water, sewerage, concrete roads and streetlights.

The ganda nallah passing alongside the bypass road makes it miserable for inhabitants. The dirty drain, which is a breeding ground of mosquitoes, flies and insects, may also lead to contamination of groundwater.

Residents say the governments come and go, but their plights see no end.

With monsoons ahead, they fear for the terrible days when they will have to wade through the knee-deep dirty water to reach their houses.

Majority of these colonies are illegal. Residents say when people living in these colonies pay house and development tax, then why is the administration silent on development projects in the area. 

Councillor's Profile
Area councillor Gurjit Singh Aujla, who won on a Congress ticket, is a graduate. He is a member of the PPCC's Public Relations and Information Committee. Before becoming a councillor in 2007, Aujla was appointed market committee director in 2005. For a brief period he also remained a non-official visitor in the jail committee. 

Councillor speak
People are agitated in the ward. What do you have to say on that?

I admit that the ward has many problems. In the past five years, I being a Congress councillor did not get any help from the MC and the government to improve conditions in the ward. Only 10 tubelights were released in all these five years. Though bricks were laid on two streets at Sahibjada Jhujjar Singh Avenue at a cost of Rs 30 lakhs, but it was done without consulting me. The Central project on water supply and sewerage under JNURM had a provision to provide these facilities at a cost of Rs 70 crore in my area, but the Centre did not release the amount as the state government and Municipal Corporation failed to deposit their share. It is a matter of concern that now the same works would require at least double the amount.

What are your achievements?

I managed to bring 700 aged and widows under pension cover. As many as four government schools fall in my ward. My family funded the construction of entire building of a government primary school. Besides, I distribute school dress among students once a year. I distributed 30,000 saplings in the area under the Go Green campaign.

What's your plan as the seat has been reserved for women?

I will not contest the election this time. My goal will be to strengthen the party.

residents speak
Staying in the ward for the past 17 years, I am still waiting for basic civic amenities. Even a drizzle brings in trouble for inhabitants

— Tarsem Singh, former Squadron Leader

Law and order is a big problem in the ward as there is no arrangement of streetlights

— TS Gill

As there is no sewerage system, residents have been compelled to dig septic tanks. Construction of underground septic tanks outside the houses leads to narrowing of roads

— Wazir Singh Gill

Gunda nullah passing along the four-lane road and airport road is a major threat to health hazards. I am living here for the past one and a half decade, but I have never seen any cleaning activity

— Baldev Singh

As there is no check on wild growth, we feel insecure. Even snakes are spotted frequently in the areas. Many a times, snakes enter our houses

— Avtar Singh Randhawa

Amritsar, May 23
The BJP today came out with a list of 32 candidates for the elections to the Amritsar Municipal Corporation. And as expected, leaders who joined the BJP from other parties were duly rewarded with a party ticket.

Leading the list of such leaders was Simarpreet Kaur Bhatia, wife of late Congress leader Harpal Bhatia, who died in a road accident prior to the Assembly elections. She would be BJP candidate from Ward number 20.

Simarpreet's father-in-law Ajit Singh Bhatia was associated with the Congress for over four decades. As she got a 'raw' treatment from the Congress, she contested the Assembly elections from East constituency as an independent candidate against Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu.

Other names which found place in the BJP list of candidates included former Amritsar Youth Congress vice-president (Lok Sabha) Damandeep Singh and former Akali leader Pargat Singh Bhullar. They both joined the BJP recently. Damandeep Singh would contest from Ward number 19 and Pargat Singh Bhullar from Ward number 34.

The list was released by the State Election Committee of BJP Punjab at party's state headquarters in Chandigarh.

Local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu said candidates for six more seats would be declared soon. 

Six more names soon

Local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu says candidates for six more seats will be declared soon

Amritsar, May 23
As soon as the news of petrol price hike of Rs 7.5 per litre broke in, city residents started queuing up at the filling stations to full tanks of their vehicles to escape momentarily from the steep hike, which would come into effect from midnight.

A businessman, Satish Gupta said the hike is sharp and won’t be good for the trade, industry and business. He anticipated that its impact would be visible in all spheres of life as manufacturers and traders would raise the prices of various commodities.

Kewal Chabbra

Kewal Chabbra was stunned with the steepest hike in petrol price ever.

Ritika

Flaying the hike, he said with petrol prices touching Rs 80 from midnight, he would have to leave travelling on a car.

Satish Gupta

A housewife, Ritika said prices of all commodities especially essential items would increase. She felt that it would bring in more trouble for economically weaker families.

Paramdeep Kaur said it is high time that scientists and technologists invent new and alternate fuels.

Amritsar, May 23
The online admission process of the Guru Nanak Dev University for all undergraduate and some postgraduate courses would commence from tomorrow and would go on till July 23.

Dr Rajinderjit Kaur Pawar, Dean, Academic Affairs, said additional counters have been set up at the computer centre of the university for the submission of online application forms for various courses.

For all undergraduate courses and postgraduate courses including MBA (five-year integrated course) and MCA (five-year integrated course), the online submission of application forms would be accepted from May 24 to June 15.

Dr Pawar said the admission forms for postgraduate courses such as B.PEd and B.Lib and Information Science can be submitted from June 7 to June 29. For M.Tech, M.Arch and Master in Planning (Infrastructure) courses, the application forms will be accepted from June 21 to July 4.

Similarly, for MD sports medicine course, the online admission forms can be submitted from June 7 to June 24. For M.Phil course, forms can be submitted from July 5 to July 23.

Dr Rajinderjit Kaur Pawar said for PhD courses, separate advertisements would be published shortly.

The more information can be sought from the university websites www.gndu.ac.in and www.gnduadmissions.org.