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Mystery shrouds woman’s death
Petrol stations witness huge rush of customers
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MC polls: SAD releases candidates’ list
MC POLLS
Snatchers turn more cruel toward victims
allegation & counter allegation
Wards reserved for women go to councillors’ wives
Black film: Over 3,000 vehicles challaned
Two held for forging documents
Five injured in brawl
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Mystery shrouds woman’s death
Jalandhar, May 23 The deceased’s mother-in-law Harvinder Kaur and brother-in-law Sarabpreet Singh were booked by the police under Section 304-B (dowry death) of the IPC. The police has launched a hunt to nab the accused, who are at large. The deceased’s parents said Prabhjot got married to Satnam Singh (who lives abroad) 11 months ago and soon after her marriage her in-laws started torturing her for bringing less dowry. Though Prabhjot’s parents alleged to the police that she had been strangled to death, but police officials said they had not found any injury marks on the deceased’s throat. “When we reached the spot, the body was lying on a cot and the police didn’t even get any circumstantial evidence, which indicated towards strangulation,” Kuldip Singh, Investigating Officer, said, adding that the exact cause of death would be known only after postmortem of the deceased. Meanwhile, the deceased’s in-laws alleged that Prabhjot had committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling of a room. |
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Petrol stations witness huge rush of customers
Jalandhar, May 23 A long queues of vehicles were seen at the petrol stations where the residents were jostling for getting the oil tanks of their vehicles filled at the old price. Sahil Sharma of Thapran Mohalla, who came to a petrol station near BMC Chowk to get the oil tank of his motorcycle filled, flayed Dr Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for the hike in petrol prices. Dr Ajay Sharma of Madhuban Colony, who was waiting for his turn for getting petrol filled in the oil tank of his car, demanded that the Punjab Government should now provide relief to its citizens by reducing VAT on petrol. The rates of petrol are highest in Punjab as currently over 33 per cent state taxes have been imposed on it. Interestingly, an owner of diesel car, Satnam Singh, resident of Model Town, was happy over the increase in petrol rates as he was felling proud of his decision of buying diesel car last year. On the contrary, Baljinder Singh of Urban Estate, Phase II, who owns a petrol car, suggested that the government should make some arrangements for lifting subsidy on diesel, especially for those persons who owned luxury cars, and provide some subsidy on petrol. “The government should find some system to provide subsidy on diesel only to farmers by providing them a card or so,” he added. A petrol station owner said, “The petrol is now Rs 72.24 per litre and it will cost more than Rs 80 after midnight and the exact rate will depend only on how much VAT is imposed on the hiked amount.” Meanwhile, after 9 pm most of the filling stations in the city refused to give petrol to the customers saying that they have run out of the fuel. |
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MC polls: SAD releases candidates’ list
These include Parminder Kaur Pannu, sister-in-law of MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment Pargat Singh, from Ward 60 (reserved for women). She will be the candidate from the ward, whose councillor Ram Simran Singh Makkar (SAD) has been behind bars on the charges of murder of hotelier Gurkirat Singh Gikki. A veterinary doctor based in Model Town, Dr Sukhrajpal Singh Bhatti, has been made the party’s nominee from Ward 55. A former BSP worker’s wife Sneh Lata gets ticket for Ward 6 (reserved for SC). Another newcomer Rohit Kumar Vicky from Ward 13 is said to be a relative of sitting Congress councillor Bimla Rani Dakoha. The other new faces in the list are those of Narinder Kumar (Ward 1), Jasbir Kaur (Ward 8), Gurmej Kaur (Ward 12), Rajinder Singh Bhatia (Ward 37), Piare Lal Bobby (Ward 54), Manjeet Kaur (Ward 56) and Gurpreet Singh (Ward 57). Repetition
The sitting councillors, who have been asked to repeat, are Balbir Singh Dhillon from Ward 11, Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljit Singh Bhatia from Ward 45, Manjit Singh Titu from Ward 47 and Deputy Mayor Parvesh Tangri from
Ward 50. Some sitting councillors have their spouses this time as is with Davinder Kaur, wife of Paramjit Singh Reru, from Ward 3, Dalwinder Kaur Gandhi, wife of Kamaljit Gandhi, from Ward 21, Arvinder Kaur Oberoi, former councillor and wife of Kuldip Singh Oberoi, from Ward 29, Jaspal Kaur Nagra, wife of Gurdip Singh Nagra, from Ward 39, Gurpal Singh Takkar, husband of Davinder Kaur Takkar, from Ward 40, and Pritam Singh, husband of Surjit Kaur, from Ward 43. The only losing candidate to be repeating this time is Simarjit Kaur Dhindsa from Ward 10. The process of filing of nomination paper will begin tomorrow. The six Returning Officers will accept papers on May 24, 26, 28 and 29. Each Returning Officer will have candidates from 10 wards. |
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MC POLLS
Jalandhar, May 23 In the Mandi Fentonganj area of the ward, there are little garbage dumps at every step and a big dump near the water tank, which lets out a bad stench. A little park in the Gobindgarh area was children’s paradise till recently, but about 10 days ago, the placement of a transformer there (on the instructions of the councillor) blocked its already small ground. Near the park’s broken boundary wall also lies a hideous, smelly dump, which is a pain for the
residents. On a half a kilometre patch in the Railway Colony area (on the back of the Gobindgarh locality), a smelly drain runs through, carrying loads of garbage and muck. Blocking sewers and emanating a bad smell into the railway quarters and the Gobindgarh locality, the drain has been tormenting residents for years, but nothing has been done about it. A patch of road in Prem Nagar has been such a pain for residents that they plan to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard since complaints to the councillor have gone unattended. Like other wards, the lack of green cover and parks is also a problem in the ward. Some residents also allege that the councillor has favoured his kin in the development works carried out in the last five years and has ignored other areas. Drugs and railways
The unkempt railway station area falls under the jurisdiction of both the Railways and the councillor, which has been unfortunate for the area because on many issues the Railways and the councillor have been passing the buck. The proximity to the Qazi Mandi area and the presence of the railway station also ensures that the area has pockets where addictions and shady elements thrive. Areas in ward
Mohalla Gobindgarh, Prem Nagar, Arjun Nagar, Railway Colony, Mandi Fentonganj, Rishi Nagar and Brahm Nagar. Amount spent
Councillor Kamaljit Kaur says Rs 75 lakh have been spent in the ward so far. A tubewell has been sunk in the Sain Park to do away with water woes. The work of interlocking tiles worth Rs 20 lakh has been carried out on Partap Road in Brahm Nagar. Rs 20 lakh more have been spent on tar roads in Partap Nagar. Concrete work has been carried out in Arjun Nagar and four to five streets have been re-layed in Gobindgarh. Tenders worth Rs 40 lakh regarding work of laying roads and tiles in various areas have already been passed. Prospective candidates
A ward reserved for women last year, this year the ward has been made a general ward. Arjun Pappi, who’s wife Kamaljit Kaur is presently the councillor, will be contesting from the ward this year. From the Congress, seven contenders have applied, who include Daljit Singh Billa, Sunil Sharma and Daljit Singh Bunty. |
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Snatchers turn more cruel toward victims
Jalandhar, May 23 Since April more than 70 snatching incidents have been reported in the city and in the majority of the cases, the snatchers have showed their dreadful behaviour. Sources say dozens of women have sustained serious injuries during snatching incidents. Despite tall claims, the city police efforts to curb snatching incidents has not showed any positive results. Even the toll-free Crime Victim Relief Helpline (1091), launched by the police to curb snatching incidents and nab the criminals as soon as it gets calls from the victims, has not got good response from the residents. Among the injured women include Deputy General Manager of a bank, college lectures, non-resident Indian, schoolteachers and elderly women. On May 21, a girl fell off from a running rickshaw, when two auto-rickshaw-borne youths attempted to snatch her purse near the Model Town area. The victim, Rajni, resident of the Maqdoompura locality, sustained severe bruises on her face and lost her two teeth. On May 15, two motorcycle-borne youths robbed two college lectures Nidhi Sharma and Heena Goyal of gold jewellery at gunpoint. While committing the crime, they pulled an earring from Heena and wounded her ear. On May 13, an elderly woman, Joginder Kaur, resident of Maqsoodan Chowk, sustained serious injuries when some car-borne youths snatched her earrings and pushed her on the road near Bhagat Singh Colony. In another incident, motorcycle-borne miscreants snatched earrings from Satyawati, resident of New Vijay Nagar, when she was on her way to a gurdwara. Satyawati sustained severe wounds on her ears. On the same day, Shanti Devi of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar was robbed of her gold earrings, while she was sitting outside her house. Her ears were also wounded in the crime. On May 4, Krishna, Deputy General Manager of a bank, got serious head injuries when she was
targeted by snatchers. When snatchers attempted to snatch her purse, she fell down from the
running vehicle. On May 3, a woman fell from a running rickshaw when two motorcycle-borne miscreants attempted to snatch her gold chain. She sustained severe injuries on her limbs. |
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allegation & counter allegation
Jalandhar, May 23 Activist Harcharan Singh, while talking to The Tribune, said they saw a child working at a tea stall at Ladowali Road and informed the police by dialling 100. The PCR came within some time and took the said child and the stall owner to the Baradari police station, The BBA activists also accompanied them to the police station. After recording the statement of the child, the police asked the activists whether they had any authority letter on the basis of which they made the complaint. Activist Harcharan Singh said, “The employer of the child sat right there as the police continued to treat us like criminals. We were asked questions like who we are, on what authority we complained and etcetera. We were asked to show our I-cards. We felt intimidated. We were not allowed to leave the police station for at least one-and-a-half hour. We had seen the child working at the stall yet under pressure we had to write that the child was only drinking tea at the stall.” “The child, who was from Parsia village in Jharkhand, told the PCR officers in front of us that he was getting a salary of Rs 2,000 per month from the stall. He said he was brought to the city by a relative, who was also working at Jalandhar, but the police disregarded these facts,” he added. “When we asked does a common man have to possess an authority letter to complain to the police? the officials said we were not common men but special people since we were associated with an NGO. Under pressure we had to write that the child was only drinking tea at the stall. If activists like us are treated this way, what hope does the common man have?” Harcharan questioned. When contacted, Baljit Singh, sub inspector at the Baradari police station said, “The complaint made by the said activists was false. The child was just having tea at the stall.” When asked why the police had intimidated them and asked for their authority letter and/or I-cards, the sub inspector said, “They are not common people. They are special. They are associated with an NGO. The SHO questioned them. He just took their statement. But I know that they were not intimidated. Only their statement was taken.” The activists were returning from the DC office today when the said complaint was made. While they could not meet the DC, they handed over a memorandum to his office staff. They demanded action as per the Bonded Labour Act against factory owners, who employed 12 children. The children were rescued on May 11. Harcharan also said the police also kept a copy of the memorandum addressed to the DC without explaining why they were doing so. |
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Wards reserved for women go to councillors’ wives
Jalandhar, May 23 Parveen Sharma, who had been trying from Ward No 38 against state secretary and sitting councillor Ravi Mahendru, said she has today forwarded her resignation from primary membership from the party to the state chief Ashwini Sharma. “I faxed my papers today as I was disillusioned for being denied of my right. I have whole-heartedly worked for the party since the past 20 years, but the party has not recognised my work,” she said. Sukhraj Kaur, a Mahila Morcha member and who was trying from Ward No 2, said she, too, had decided to quit. She said, “Our leaders speak women workers as their strengths but in reality, they take our help to pull in a gathering during rallies and other party activities.” “Our leaders have made a mockery of the 33 per cent reservation of women by giving out seats to the wives of the sitting councilors. Instead of choosing the women who have been active in social and political circles, they have chosen the housewives, who act as puppet in the hands of their husbands,” she added. The only women leader to have made it is Sulekha Bhagat from the SC women category, Ward No 23. Sources said she was given credit as her husband, Jatinder Jind, is the circle president. Urmil Vaid, District Mahila Morcha president, said she had recommended quite a few names of women leaders from the party as a member of the Local Selection Committee. “I will take up the matter with the state BJP. The BJP is also facing opposition from within party in Ward No 27 where Minta Kochhar has been given the ticket. The candidature of ex-Congress worker Surmit Singh Happy is also facing opposition by the party leaders. Pending list
The BJP has so far failed to resolve the fight between Suresh Marwaha and last term losing candidate Ashok Gandhi, both demanding a ticket for their respective wife from women reserved Ward No 14. The party has so far not been able to find a candidate for Wards 26 and 33 (reserved for women), where Jimmy Kalia and SD Chugh had been candidates in the previous elections. The party has also not been able to find any candidate for Ward No 34 after Sushma Gautam turned her affiliation to the Congress. |
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SAD, BJP burn effigies of Nagar Council members
Phagwara, May 23 The protesters, including BJYM state secretary Gurdeep Deepa and local BJP secretary Pankaj Chawla, held Duggal, former councillor Tej Pal Basra and others responsible for filing a writ petition in High Court against the formation of Phagwara Municipal Corporation. When contacted, Tej Pal Basra said they were not against the formation of the corporation. But it should be done according to the norms. The corporation should be formed only after the expiry of the term of present Nagar Council i.e 14 months later, he said. The councillors of Nagar Council do not want the change as their terms would expire in 2013. The BJP led Nagar Council was upgraded to Municipal Corporation on July 26 last year. But the president of Nagar Council, Balbhadhar Sein Duggal, and his supporting councillors belonging to BJP, Congress and BSP opposed it. They moved the High Court and the court stayed the notification of the Local Bodies Department, Punjab. The Nagar Council was revived on November 2 last year. The state government contested the case and ultimately the High Court dismissed the writ petition on May 8. Satish Kumar again took the charge of the Municipal Corporation last week. Now, the same petitioners have again filed ‘Letter-Patent Appeal’ before double bench of the High Court, which has fixed its hearing on Monday. The petitioners said the state government has violated the rules required to constitute a Municipal Corporation. Moreover, the elected councillors of Nagar Council are deprived of their constitutional rights as their terms would expire in 2013. The common citizens wanted all-round development of the town and are in favour of the formation of the MC. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Local Bodies Som Parkash, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Satish Kumar Singla could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) have jointly criticised those who opposed the formation of the Municipal Corporation. Activists of SAD headed by District SAD President Jarnail Singh Wahid appreciated the efforts of Phagwara MLA-cum-Chief Parliamentary Secretary Som Parkash and for the initiative taken by him to provide Municipal Corporation in Phagwara for its all round development. |
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Black film: Over 3,000 vehicles challaned
Jalandhar, May 23 Talking to The Tribune, ACP (traffic), Jasbir Singh said more that 500 violators were challaned for offences like drunken driving (25), use of black film (220) and other offences. “Today our focus was on riders without helmet, zebra crossing jump and use of black films. We intercepted two-wheeler riders and verified their documents. They were told not to masks
their faces while riding,” the ACP said. The city police had already launched ‘Road Safety-10’, a pilot project of the World Health Organisation, to bring down the death rate due to over speeding and drunken driving. Moreover, the apex court’s directions against use of black film on the vehicles gave much boost to the project. The police has launched drive against motorists for violations like over speeding, drunken driving, seat belts, use of black films, use of red and blue beckons, apart from various other offences. |
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Two held for forging documents
Jalandhar, May 23 Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, an NRI, had filed a complaint of alleged fraud in April. He told the police some villagers have made false documents of his father’s property. A case under Section 465, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC was registered against six accused, said Assistant Sub-Inspector Surjit Singh Padda. Their partner-in-crime, Charan Das, had been arrested by the police a few days ago. However, the remaining three accused Karamchand, Pavitar Singh and Kulwinder Singh were still at large. The police said they had already launched a manhunt to nab those accused. |
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Five injured in brawl
Phagwara, May 23 They were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. As per information a minor dispute has been the caused the incident, the police said. A case has been registered in this regard, said the police officer. |
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Jalandhar, May 23