J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Valmikis seek action against publisher
Amritsar, July 18
A large number of activists of Bhagwan Valmiki Kranti Sena, headed by its state president Sarvan Gill, today blocked the national highway, near Jandiala Guru, and raised slogans against the state government and the police. They were protesting against the alleged objectionable remarks by former Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti on Valmiki in his book “Barah Mah Majh”.

Policemen try to remove the tyres, which were set afire by an agitating mob, on the national highway at Jandiala Guru near Amritsar on Wednesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

State Appellate Authority sets aside sealing of fertility centres
Hoshiarpur, July 18
The State Appellate Authority has set aside the sealing of local Saini IVF Centre and Vansh Fertility Centre and has directed the Civil Surgeon to unseal the centres with immediate effect.

2 houses burgled in Phagwara
Phagwara, July 18
Two houses were reportedly burgled in Phagwara on Tuesday. In the first incident, a house of NRI Amandeep Singh was reportedly burgled in local Mohalla Kaulsar here last night. The burglars took away a laptop, three mobile phones, 100 g of gold jewellery, when he was sleeping on the roof of his house. The police has registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC in this regard.

VB arrests warehouse inspector on bribe charge
Tarn Taran, July 18
Bharat Bhushan an inspector of the Punjab State Warehouse Corporation was attested by a team of the Vigilance Bureau allegedly while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a commission agent here today.

Man killed in accident
Batala, July 18
One man died in an accident near Dalla village here on Wednesday. The deceased, identified as Kuldeep Singh, was riding a motorcycle which was hit by a truck. A case has been registered against the truck owner. No arrest has been made so far. OC

Accused flees from court
Nawanshahr, July 18
An accused Parminder Kumar of Payal in Ludhiana came to surrender in the court, but fled when the court started its proceedings against him. Parminder Singh was wanted by the Banga police in a case registered under Sections 384, 385, 380, 120-B of the IPC in November 2004. A case under Section 224 of the IPC has been registered against him, said Vinod Kumar, SHO (city). OC

Objectionable remarks in book
Valmikis seek action against publisher
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 18
A large number of activists of Bhagwan Valmiki Kranti Sena, headed by its state president Sarvan Gill, today blocked the national highway, near Jandiala Guru, and raised slogans against the state government and the police.

They were protesting against the alleged objectionable remarks by former Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti on Valmiki in his book “Barah Mah Majh”.

The highway traffic remained suspended for about two hours.

Gill said though the police had registered a case, no arrest had been made in this regard.

He said if the publisher and the translator of the book were not arrested, they would hold statewide protests.

The protest was suspended after senior police and administrative officials reached the spot and the agitators submitted a memorandum to them.

Amritsar rural SSP Preet Paul Singh Virk said a case was registered against the accused in Kapurthala about three months ago and three persons were also arrested in this regard.

State Appellate Authority sets aside sealing of fertility centres
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, July 18
The State Appellate Authority has set aside the sealing of local Saini IVF Centre and Vansh Fertility Centre and has directed the Civil Surgeon to unseal the centres with immediate effect.

The Indian Medical Association has welcomed the orders of the State Appellate Authority and asked the district authorities to desist from misusing the powers granted under the PC-PNDT Act.

In a press release issued here today, Dr Naresh Gulati, president, IMA branch, Hoshiarpur, Dr Kuldip Singh, past state president IMA, Dr Rajender Sharma, Chairman Action Committee IMA, Punjab, Dr Naresh Sud, past President IMA, Hoshiarpur and Dr Pawan Kalia alleged that immediately after taking over as Civil Surgeon, Hoshiarpur, Dr Avtar Singh Jarewal verbally threatened to seal these centres and even gave press statement to this effect.

Following which an IMA delegation met the Civil Surgeon and apprised him of the fact that at present there is no law in India under which the IVF centres are to be registered and their members should not be victimised. They even asked for the guidelines if any for the registration of such centres.

The Civil Surgeon allegedly failed to provide any law or guidelines but instead sealed these centres by an order on June 1, 2012 without giving any show-cause notice. After this illegal and arbitrary action the IMA Hoshiarpur upped its ante. The affected centre owners made an appeal to the State Appellate Authority under the PC-PNDT Act.

Dr Shiv Dutta Gupta, State Pressident IMA Punjab pleaded with the State Appellate Authority against the arbitrary and illegal action of Civil Surgeon.

The State Appellate Authority after detailed deliberation decided that this action of the Civil Surgeon was illegal and unjustifiable and ordered immediate unsealing of both the centres.

Civil Surgeon Dr Avtar Singh said he had sealed the centres under the Act. “I have filed an appeal to the Director, Health Services, Punjab, against the setting aside of my sealing orders,” he said.

2 houses burgled in Phagwara
Our Correspondent

Phagwara, July 18
Two houses were reportedly burgled in Phagwara on Tuesday. In the first incident, a house of NRI Amandeep Singh was reportedly burgled in local Mohalla Kaulsar here last night. The burglars took away a laptop, three mobile phones, 100 g of gold jewellery, when he was sleeping on the roof of his house. The police has registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC in this regard.

In another incident, the house of a Jagtar Singh was reportedly burgled at Nangal Khaira village last night. The burglars entered the house after breaking the grills and decamped with Rs 14,000, gold karra, one chain and a pair of earrings. The police has registered a case.

In third incident, a barber shop was reportedly ransacked by some assailants in local Gobindpura last night. The assailants attacked and wounded an employee Kuldip and took away Rs 21,000 from the shop, said shop owner Pardip Mahi. The police has registered a case.

VB arrests warehouse inspector on bribe charge
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, July 18
Bharat Bhushan an inspector of the Punjab State Warehouse Corporation was attested by a team of the Vigilance Bureau allegedly while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a commission agent here today.

DSP Vigilance Bureau, Manjit Singh, heading the Vigilance Bureau team said a case under Section 13/7 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, has been registered against the accused.

The DSP Manjit Singh said the accused had been demanding a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Gulwinder Singh, a resident of Kairon village, a commission working at Tarn Taran, Kairon and Patti grain markets to release him a cheque of Rs 8.46 lakh against labour commission.

Gulwinder Singh agreed to give him Rs 10,000 for the cheque.

DSP Manjit Singh said Gulwinder Singh approached the Vigilance Bureau and wherever Gulwinder Singh gave Rs 10,000 to Bharat Bhushan at his office here.