J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Bharat Bandh: Sud leads protest in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur, Septembr 20
Life was paralysed in most parts of the district today because of Bharat Bandh. All commercial establishments, including banks and markets as well as private schools remained closed.The attendance at government offices was thin.

Dowry death case triggers protest
Nawanshahr, September 20
The registration of a case against local resident Deepak Sahni under Sections 498A, 302 and 120-B for allegedly harassing his wife Leena for dowry and murdering her triggered a protest by local residents today. Sahni’s family members, including his parents, have also been booked.

Woman cheated by NRI
Hoshiarpur, September 20
The Chabbewal police last night booked Sukhdev Singh, his father Harnek Singh, sister Sonu, all residents of Gunachaur in Banga, Gurnek Singh, his daughter Sarabjit Kaur, both of Tuto Mazara, Balwinder Singh of Nariala and one Major Singh under Sections 376, 420, 494 and 120-B of the IPC.

Boy’s Kidnapping
Tantrik quizzed
Kapurthala, September 20
The district police has failed to trace the whereabouts of 21-month- old Jaspreet Singh Abhi who disappeared from his house in Ramgarh village near Bholath on Tuesday.

All set for Guru Nanak’s marriage anniversary
Batala, September 20
The steel town of Batala has geared itself to celebrate the 525th marriage anniversary of the first Guru of the Sikhs — Guru Nanak Dev — slated to be held here on Saturday.

Bharat Bandh: Sud leads protest in Hoshiarpur
Our Correspondent

Dowry death case triggers protest
Irate residents block traffic for hours
Our Correspondent

Nawanshahr, September 20
The registration of a case against local resident Deepak Sahni under Sections 498A, 302 and 120-B for allegedly harassing his wife Leena for dowry and murdering her triggered a protest by local residents today. Sahni’s family members, including his parents, have also been booked.

The residents, led by leaders of various political parties, including local Congress MLA Gur Iqbal Kaur Babli, District Congress president Satvir Singh Palli Jhikki, Municipal Council president Rajinder Chopra, former MC chief Lalit Mohan Pathak, SAD leaders Param Singh Khala, Harmesh Kumar Puri, Manjinder Singh Walia and Mohinder Singh Bajaj, CPM leader Balbi Singh Jadla, CPI leader Charanjit Kaur and CPI(ML) leader Kulwinder Singh Warraich blocked traffic at Chandigarh Chowk.

They claimed the case against the Sahni family was false and baseless. The irate residents raised slogans against the police and demanded that the case be cancelled.

Dharam Pal, in his complaint to the police, had stated that his daughter, Leena ( 29), who was married to Deepak Sahni in April 2005, was tortured by her in-laws for more dowry who also wanted her to claim a share in her parental property.

He said at 4 pm yesterday, he received a call from his daughter alleging that she had been poisoned. Leena later died in a private hospital.

The protest dharna continued till late in the evening. An 11-member committee comprising members of different political and social organisations was constituted to negotiate with the police officials.

Raj Kumar, Station House Officer (SHO), when contacted, said the police would act in an impartial manner.

Woman cheated by NRI

Hoshiarpur, September 20
The Chabbewal police last night booked Sukhdev Singh, his father Harnek Singh, sister Sonu, all residents of Gunachaur in Banga, Gurnek Singh, his daughter Sarabjit Kaur, both of Tuto Mazara, Balwinder Singh of Nariala and one Major Singh under Sections 376, 420, 494 and 120-B of the IPC.

A woman of Kalewal Bhagtan told the police that she was married to Sukhdev Singh on September 14, 2012. Balwinder Singh, Gurnek Singh and Sarabjit Kaur acted had acted as intermediaries.The day after the marriage, Sukhdev Singh took her to Amritsar where they stayed in a hotel. There she came to know that Sukhdev Singh was already married.

When she confronted Sukhdev Singh on the issue, he said he was an NRI and could have two wives. He said he would divorce his first wife if asked to do so. When the deceived woman complained to her in-laws, they advised her to keep mum, saying she would be compensated by being sent to Italy. When she refused to do so, she was sent back to her parents’ house. — OC

Boy’s Kidnapping
Tantrik quizzed
Dharmendra Joshi/TNS

Kapurthala, September 20
The district police has failed to trace the whereabouts of 21-month- old Jaspreet Singh Abhi who disappeared from his house in Ramgarh village near Bholath on Tuesday.

The police is questioning some suspects, including a “tantrik”.

It is believed that either the child was kidnapped by a tantrik or he fell into a nullath near his house.Police sources prima facie ruled out the possibility of kidnapping for ransom as the family is not too well-off.

Abhi was found missing by his mother Manpreet who left him playing at the main door while she went to the first floor for some errand.

Bholath Station House Officer (SHO) Bhupinder Singh said the police was searching for the boy and the case would be solved soon.

Former Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira, who also belongs to Ramgarh village, visited Abhi’s house today.

All set for Guru Nanak’s marriage anniversary
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Batala, September 20
The steel town of Batala has geared itself to celebrate the 525th marriage anniversary of the first Guru of the Sikhs — Guru Nanak Dev — slated to be held here on Saturday.

Nearly 2 lakh pilgrims are expected to take part in the festivities which over the years have earned the sobriquet of Babe-Da-Viah.