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TOP STORIES

Vital links missing in ASI’s murder case
 Ravinderpal Singh Amritsar, December 9
The police seems to be treating the sensational killing of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ravinderpal Singh as an open and shut case. But, there are still some vital links missing. The most significant question doing the rounds is who did the slain ASI call for help while he stayed at the crime scene for about 20 minutes even after being shot at by the accused. Eyewitnesses said the ASI made several calls from his mobile phone before Ranjit Singh Rana returned and shot him dead.

Ashwani Kumar tells CM to rein in law violators
Amritsar, December 9
Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar with slain police official Ravinderpal Singh’s father at the deceased’s house in Rampura village of Amritsar on Sunday. Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar has ruled out the Union Government’s intervention in Punjab affairs.

Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar with slain police official Ravinderpal Singh’s father at the deceased’s house in Rampura village of Amritsar on Sunday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal



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Chandigarh


EARLIER STORIES



News Analysis
Mr Sukhbir, time to walk the talk on good governance
Drawing flak for politicisation of police
Chandigarh, December 9
The SAD's political strategy of keeping its rank and file "satisfied" by handing over informal administrative control of police stations and district-level police officials to its legislators or designated area leaders has come back to haunt the party.

Mr Sukhbir, time to walk the talk on good governance





Cash transfer an uphill task in Punjab
Chandigarh, December 9
The government may not be able to achieve its ambitious target of implementing the direct cash transfer of various subsidies under the Aadhar scheme in three districts of Punjab by January 1. With the Aadhar enrolment still being slow and bank linkage of Aadhar cards being abysmally low, it may be an uphill task to start the direct transfer of subsidies in the next 23 days.

Uncertainty looms over Indo-Pak trade via rail
Armymen take a break at the Attari station which otherwise remains deserted these days. Amritsar, December 9
Though India received 19 wagons of rock salt from Pakistan and exported 34 wagons of goods to it earlier this week after almost a month, uncertainty looms large over the bilateral trade via the rail route which has come to a halt after Pakistan traders stopped cement export in view of heroin seizures in rail cargo.


Armymen take a break at the Attari station which otherwise remains deserted these days. Photo: Vishal Kumar

POLITICS

5 SAD-BJP constituency incharge cut to size
Gurdaspur, December 9
Five powerful SAD-BJP leaders who have been designated halqa (constituency) incharge of the very Vidhan Sabha seats they had lost to their Congress rivals in the Assembly poll have been relegated to the background by the state government. They have not been adjusted as guests of honour for the kabaddi world cup matches slated to be held here on December 10.

COMMUNITY

A kinnow grower shows a fruit-laden tree at his farm in Fazilka. Kinnow growers taste success
Bathinda, December 9
The loss to Nagpur’s orange crop has come as a gain for kinnow growers of Punjab with their produce fetching almost double of last year’s price. Middlemen and retailers are also minting money. Sources say more than 15 per cent of the orange crop in Nagpur was first damaged in a hailstorm and then a fungus attack (about 30%-50%) because of incessant rain in August. Kinnow growers in Fazilka district, including parts of Abohar, are selling their produce for anything between Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kg as against Rs 7 to Rs 9 per kg last year. However, the retailers are selling the fruit at an exorbitant Rs 40 a kg. There are more than 4,000 kinnow orchards spread over 22,157 hectares in Fazilka bordering Pakistan.

A kinnow grower shows a fruit-laden tree at his farm in Fazilka. A Tribune photograph

Low potato yield to hurt consumers
Chandigarh, December 9
The low prices fetched by potato growers last year and the escalating cost of fertilisers have led to a decline in the crop’s production this year. As such, consumers will have to continue shelling out more for potatoes with prices expected to remain around Rs 20 per kg. Last year, high potato yield had led to a glut-like situation with prices coming down to as low as Rs 2 a kg. With the government refusing to intervene and help the growers, farmers dumped their crop on the roads as a mark of protest.

Stuck mining projects: CM seeks PM’s intervention
Chandigarh, December 9
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allow approval of mining projects in Punjab, saying the alarming scarcity of construction material could lead to a law and order problem in the state.

Dharmendra wanted to use his land for school
Ludhiana, December 9
Veteran film actor Dharmendra had planned to construct a school for poor children on his ancestral land at Ajit Nagar in Haibowal here that has been encroached upon by the land mafia. Dharmendra's father Kewal Kishan Singh Deol was a headmaster in Lalton village. He later taught at a school in Sahnewal where the actor had spent his childhood.

Conducting cancer survey costs Patiala students dear
Patiala, December 9
Hundreds of nursing students are paying out of their pockets to conduct the state government’s ambitious door-to-door cancer survey that will last for over a month. The students have to find out how many people are afflicted with cancer and also need to apprise them about the various symptoms of the disease.

Groom, his family locked in marriage palace over dowry
Bassi Pathana, December 9
A bridegroom and his family were detained by the bride’s family at a marriage palace after the groom’s family allegedly asked for dowry during the wedding ceremony. The police had to intervene in the matter.

High-speed internet in all villages soon
Ludhiana, December 9
To provide access to high-speed internet facility at the village-level, panchayats in the state will soon be connected with optical fibre-based broadband.

Seminar on human rights held in Sangrur
Sangrur, December 9
A local NGO, Sahara Foundation, today organised a seminar on human rights at the district administrative complex here. Baljinder Singh Thakur, a member of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission was the chief guest.

Paddy lifting
Punsup official held captive
Tarn Taran, December 9
Krishan Kumar, a Punsup Inspector, was allegedly held captive by commission agents at the Naushehra Pannuan grain market today due to his "partial attitude in lifting paddy". The inspector was freed after intervention of the Sarhali police and his assurance to the commission agents to lift paddy systematically.

Van to raise awareness on Saanjh Kendras
Sessions judge Gurveer Singh flags off a mobile public-police relations van at Mansa on SundayBathinda, December 9
Mansa today became the first district in Punjab to introduce a mobile public police relations van that would move from village to village to make people aware about the services being offered by the police in its Saanjh Kendras. The sessions judge Gurveer Singh flagged off the van at Mansa in the presence of the Senior Superintendent of Police Narendra Bhargava.

Sessions judge Gurveer Singh flags off a mobile public-police relations van at Mansa on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

COURTS

Shruti case: Panel to move court against DIG for releasing photos
Faridkot, December 9
A day after DIG (Border range) Paramraj Singh Umarangal was suspended, members of the action committee formed to get justice for minor rape victim Shruti have planned to move the High Court against the police official for releasing Shruti’s photographs to the media.

CRIME

1 killed, 11 injured in bus-canter collision
Sangrur, December 9
The overturned canter (left) and the mangled bus lay on the roadside near Sangrur after the mishap on Sunday. Canter cleaner Rahul Kumar (21) was killed while driver Anuj Kumar and 10 bus passengers were injured in a bus-canter collision in Mehlan village on the Sangrur-Patran road, over 10 km from here.

The overturned canter (left) and the mangled bus lay on the roadside near Sangrur after the mishap on Sunday. Tribune photo: Sushil Goyal

Flesh trade racket busted
Pathankot, December 9
Police today claimed to have busted a flesh trade racket with the arrest of four persons, including two women from a residential colony near Sujanpur Railway station, about 15 kms from here.



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TOP STORIES

Vital links missing in ASI’s murder case
PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 9
The police seems to be treating the sensational killing of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ravinderpal Singh as an open and shut case. But, there are still some vital links missing. The most significant question doing the rounds is who did the slain ASI call for help while he stayed at the crime scene for about 20 minutes even after being shot at by the accused.

Eyewitnesses said the ASI made several calls from his mobile phone before Ranjit Singh Rana returned and shot him dead. The dismissed Station House Officer (SHO) of the Chheharta police station, Ashwini Kumar, claims Ravinderpal Singh neither called him nor the Chheharta police station.

Gharinda police station SHO Sikander Singh also denied having received any call from the ASI. “I came to know about the incident from a common friend,” he said.

A police team from Gharinda where the ASI was posted had reached the crime scene before the Chheharta police.

The police is also yet to identify two policemen, who, according to eyewitnesses, were with the ASI at the time of the incident. They had allegedly fled the scene when things took an ugly turn.

Preet Paul Singh Virk, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Amritsar rural police (under whose jurisdiction the Gharinda police station falls), said no policeman from Gharinda had accompanied him at the time of the incident.

“ASI’s daughter Robinjeet Kaur has told the police that a policeman was present, but he was not from Gharinda. His identity is yet to be ascertained,” said the SSP.

Police Commissioner Ram Singh said the department was trying to identify the policemen present at the Chheharta Chowk and the Chheharta police station. “Responsibility of all those officials who failed to perform their duties will be fixed and disciplinary action initiated against them,” he said.

Mahila Congress to raise issue with NCW

Punjab Mahila Congress president Malti Thapar addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Sunday.Punjab Mahila Congress president Malti Thapar visited the bereaved family of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ravinderpal Singh on Sunday. Thapar said she would take up this case in particular and rampant eve-teasing instances in general with the National Commission for Women.


Punjab Mahila Congress president Malti Thapar addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Sunday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal

Crime eyewitnesses counter SHO’s claim

Though the dismissed Chheharta SHO Ashwani Kumar denied having received any call from the slain ASI, several eyewitnesses claimed that they had called the SHO on his mobile phone as well as at the Chheharta police station’s landline number. But, their calls were “not answered”. A shopkeeper said his friends called the SHO on his mobile phone, but the latter did not respond.

Officials tightlipped on suspension

Local police officials are tightlipped over the suspension of Deputy Inspector-General, Border range, Paramraj Singh Umranangal in the case. He was transferred from the Ferozepur range a couple of months ago following the alleged inept handling of the Shruti abduction case. He is the first senior police official to be suspended after the ASI’s killing. Principal Secretary (Home) DS Bains and IG, Border range, RP Mittal could not be contacted for their comment.

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Ashwani Kumar tells CM to rein in law violators
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 9
Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar has ruled out the Union Government’s intervention in Punjab affairs. He instead called upon Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to “rise to the occasion” and check the “deteriorating” law and order conditions in the state.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar and party’s MP from Gurdaspur Partap Singh Bajwa had sought the Centre’s intervention in reining in the rising incidents of violence in the state.

The Union Minister, however, hit out at the SAD-BJP government over the broad daylight murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ravinderpal Singh allegedly by SAD leader Ranjit Singh Rana and his three accomplices. “When law enforcers are not safe in the state, there must be some serious shortcomings in the administration,” he said.

But, the Centre can’t interfere in Punjab affairs as law and order was a state subject, said Kumar, addressing mediapersons here today on his maiden visit to the holy city after assuming charge of the Law and Justice Ministry. The Minister also visited the slain police official’s house in Rampura. He also flayed yesterday’s incident in Gurdaspur where an Akali leader allegedly assaulted a Home Guard personnel in front of a senior police official.

On the need for enacting a stringent law to curb eve-teasing, he said the available provisions were strong enough. To a query on death penalty, Kumar said individually he was against capital punishment “but, as per law, it needs to be given in rarest of rare cases”. Regarding the huge backlog of legal cases, he said his ministry was working on a proposal for setting up block-level courts. “The Centre has extended Rs 5,000 crore to states for holding evening courts. As a result, 6 lakh pending cases have already been resolved.”

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News Analysis
Drawing flak for politicisation of police
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9
The SAD's political strategy of keeping its rank and file "satisfied" by handing over informal administrative control of police stations and district-level police officials to its legislators or designated area leaders has come back to haunt the party.

One after the other, several incidents have proved that this system is against the essence of good governance, a pet project of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the Home portfolio.

The SAD's insistence on subjugating the state police to its rank and file has already become a political issue and could have an adverse impact on the party in the next parliamentary elections.

Senior Akali leaders are agitated that the actions of certain leaders, including Ranjit Singh Rana who allegedly shot dead ASI Ravinderpal Singh recently after the latter objected to his daughter being "eve-teased", would reflect badly on the party.

In a similar case earlier, a serial law-breaker, Nishan Singh, allegedly enjoying the backing of the ruling party, had abducted a Faridkot girl, Shruti, in broad daylight.

The issue also came up for discussion during a meeting of the party's core committee and it was suggested that the antecedents of all SAD office-bearers, especially youth leaders, be screened by the state CID.

Sukhbir had tried to set the tone for the administration by taking stern action against Border Range DIG PS Umranangal, who has been suspended. Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister had transferred two police officers, including Umranangal, in the Shruti abduction case after they released photos of Shurti's alleged marriage with the accused to deflect attention from the abduction.

Earlier this week, action was taken against three SP-rank officials for malpractices, including reporting drunk on duty.

Sources said while these actions could send a message to the force that it must give justice to the common man, this could not be achieved in true sense as long as legislators and area leaders decided on the posting of Station House Officers and even DSPs. The sources said nothing moved in the police station without the recommendation of the local Akali leader and that people got even simple complaints "approved" by the area leaders before approaching the police.

Though the Home Department has tried to give an impression that postings are being done on merit, reports from the field indicate otherwise. What is even more disturbing is that while security has been scaled down across the state, many Akali leaders who would otherwise not qualify under the present stringent norms have been provided security.

The Punjab Congress had made the control of the district police machinery by Akali 'jathedars' an election issue in the recent Assembly elections as well. The party is likely to take up the issue again in the next Assembly session. But this time its focus of attack will be Sukhbir. Now, it is up to Sukhbir to walk the talk and make genuine reforms in the state police rather than handing it over the force to his party leaders on a platter.

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Cash transfer an uphill task in Punjab
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9
The government may not be able to achieve its ambitious target of implementing the direct cash transfer of various subsidies under the Aadhar scheme in three districts of Punjab by January 1. With the Aadhar enrolment still being slow and bank linkage of Aadhar cards being abysmally low, it may be an uphill task to start the direct transfer of subsidies in the next 23 days.

Three districts of Punjab-Nawanshahr, Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdaspur have been chosen amongst the 51 districts across the country, where the UPA government’s project is to be rolled out in the first phase, from January 1 this year. However, till date the Aadhar enrolment is yet to be 100 per cent in these districts, and less than just four per cent of the total Aadhar cards have been linked to a bank account.

The UPA government is moving towards a system of transferring cash benefits directly to the poor. By using the Aadhar card number of the beneficiaries, several social security pensions like old age pension, scholarships and MNREGA benefits will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries. This will ensure that the role of middlemen is done away with and the beneficiary gets the entire benefit.

Data collected by The Tribune shows that as many as 5.17 lakh people have been enrolled under Aadhar in Nawanshahr, and 21,000 people’s Aadhar cards have been linked to their bank accounts. Whereas the number of social security pensioners in the district is 53,000.

This means that just 4.06 per cent of the Aadhar cards have so far been linked to bank accounts in Nawanshahr. Similarly in Fatehgarh Sahib, just 3.6 per cent of the Aadhar cards have been linked to bank accounts, with 3.30 lakh enrolments and 12,000 cards linked to bank accounts. The number of social security pensioners here is 42,000.

On the other hand, while Gurdaspur has seen the highest number of Aadhar enrolments (1.22 crore), the bank linkage is abysmally low at 2,200 cards. The number of social security pensioners who stand to benefit by getting direct transfer of cash subsidy in Gurdaspur is 2.11 lakh.

Sources in the Punjab State Level Bankers Committee, which is working to ensure that all Aadhar cards are linked to a bank account, said that there were still 21 lakh families in the state that did not have a bank account. Though bankers in the state are working overtime to ensure a smooth roll out of the scheme by January 1, it remains a difficult task as besides linking the Aadhar cards to those beneficiaries, who already have a bank account, new bank accounts have to be opened. These accounts need to be made operational for the financially-excluded social security pensioners in these three districts. While Punjab National Bank has been allotted the task of linking Aadhar cards to bank accounts in Nawanshahr and Gurdaspur, the State Bank of Patiala has been allotted the work in Fatehgarh Sahib.

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Uncertainty looms over Indo-Pak trade via rail
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 9
Though India received 19 wagons of rock salt from Pakistan and exported 34 wagons of goods to it earlier this week after almost a month, uncertainty looms large over the bilateral trade via the rail route which has come to a halt after Pakistan traders stopped cement export in view of heroin seizures in rail cargo.

Talking to The Tribune, Attari Station Master SK Madaan said 19 wagons loaded with rock salt arrived from Pakistan while 34 wagons loaded with bird feed and chemicals were sent to the neighbouring country on Wednesday.

He said this was the first time in the last one month that Indian wagons crossed over to Pakistan. He, however, said, it could not be termed as return to normal rail traffic until Pakistan resumed cement export after which the movement of goods from both sides would pick up.

The traders too are not satisfied. Jaspal Singh, a trader, said export of a few wagons of goods did not mean return to normalcy. "Unless there is a regular flow of goods to and from Pakistan the trade will not return to normal." He said the Indian Railways' move to provide wagons at irregular intervals would not resolve the issue.

He said goods continued to pile up at the Amritsar rail cargo facility. The Railways needed to provide 70 wagons on a daily basis to clear up the exports which were piling up with each passing day, he said, adding the trade was suffering a loss of Rs 3.5 crore daily while the Railways too was losing revenue worth Rs 5 lakh every day.

Jaspal said a leading oil firm had stopped taking further orders from Pakistan after the movement of goods on the rail route came to a halt.

Manav Taneja, another trader, said his goods worth Rs 40 crore were lying in the rail cargo for the past many days. The trading community is suffering huge losses, he said, adding their payments worth Rs 600 crore were stuck due to this reason and the Railways must step in to save the trade from further losses.

The trade between the two countries got derailed after cement import from Pakistan dropped to zero as a result of which goods train movement between the two nations stopped. To add to the woes, the Indian Railways failed to provide wagons for the export of goods.

Negligible trade: The trade via the rail route has come to a halt after Pakistan traders stopped cement export in view of heroin seizures in rail cargo. India on Wednesday received 19 wagons of rock salt from Pakistan after almost a month

Other hurdles: One of the major hurdles in the trade is insufficient wagons provided to the traders by the Indian Railways. At least 70 wagons are needed on a daily basis to clear up the exports

The loss: The trade is suffering a loss of Rs 3.5 crore daily while the Railways too is losing revenue worth Rs 5 lakh every day. The trading community is suffering huge losses. Their payments worth Rs 600 crore are stuck.

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POLITICS
 

5 SAD-BJP constituency incharge cut to size
Not made guests of honour for kabaddi matches to be played in Gurdaspur today
Ravi Dhaliwal/TNS

Gurdaspur, December 9
Five powerful SAD-BJP leaders who have been designated halqa (constituency) incharge of the very Vidhan Sabha seats they had lost to their Congress rivals in the Assembly poll have been relegated to the background by the state government. They have not been adjusted as guests of honour for the kabaddi world cup matches slated to be held here on December 10.

As a result, these five leaders, including former Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon (Fatehgarh Churian constituency), former Cabinet Ministers SS Sekhwan (Qadian) and SS Langah (Dera Baba Nanak), former legislator LS Lodhinangal (Batala) and BD Dhuppar (Dinanagar), have been left sulking.

So far, these halqa incharge had been ruling the roost in their respective constituencies, enjoying a say in all official works, including appointments of police officials.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal will be presiding over the function as chief guest whereas Parliamentary Secretaries GS Babbehali, Des Raj Dugga and Pawan Kumar Tinu have been adjusted as guests of honour.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Abhinav Trikha said invitations had been extended to these leaders. But, a senior official in the district administration said these were just ordinary invitations. “We cannot adjust them as guests of honour as none of these five leaders hold any official position. Though senior Akali Dal leaders have passed verbal instructions to us to help them whenever the need arises, adjusting them as guests of honour is not possible,” he said.

Congress leader and Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, “Our system is such that officials will be in a bind if at all they do not invite these politicians as guests of honour.”

But, these halqa incharge are not the only ones who have been extended a cold shoulder by the district administration. Sportspersons too are feeling peeved at being left out from these matches.

Residents feel that since Gurdaspur is known for producing top-drawer woman gymnasts, a few of them should have been invited to the kabaddi matches.

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COMMUNITY
 

Kinnow growers taste success
SP Sharma & Praful Nagpal
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 9
The loss to Nagpur’s orange crop has come as a gain for kinnow growers of Punjab with their produce fetching almost double of last year’s price. Middlemen and retailers are also minting money. Sources say more than 15 per cent of the orange crop in Nagpur was first damaged in a hailstorm and then a fungus attack (about 30%-50%) because of incessant rain in August.

Kinnow growers in Fazilka district, including parts of Abohar, are selling their produce for anything between Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kg as against Rs 7 to Rs 9 per kg last year. However, the retailers are selling the fruit at an exorbitant Rs 40 a kg.

There are more than 4,000 kinnow orchards spread over 22,157 hectares in Fazilka bordering Pakistan. Surinder Kumar, a kinnow trader of Abohar, said many new markets had opened up this season. He said he was sending truckloads of kinnow to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi and various other wholesale markets everyday. “A box of 10 kg of kinnow is being sold in the wholesale market in Delhi at Rs 250 to Rs 300,” he said.

He said the cost of transporting the fruit had increased sharply due to the hike in diesel prices and he was paying Rs 5.50 per kg as freight. A truck carrying 15 tonnes of kinnow was charging Rs 80,000 as freight for Bangaluru against Rs 60,000 of last year.

Kinnow pluckers have also doubled their labour charges to Re 1 for every kg of fruit plucked. Those engaged in packing the fruit in grading houses are charging 50/kg of kinnow. The fruit is packed in corrugated sheet boxes.

Prem Babbar said that in the days to come when plucking reached its peak, kinnow was expected to touch the price of Rs 30 per kg in the wholesale market.

The Deputy Director of Horticulture, Jagnandan Brar, said kinnow orchardists were expected to earn handsome profits this season.

Fruitful venture

  • There are more than 4,000 kinnow orchards spread over 22,157 hectares in Fazilka bordering Pakistan
  • Kinnow growers in Fazilka district, including parts of Abohar, are selling their produce between Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kg as against Rs 7 to Rs 9 per kg last year
  • Retailers are selling the fruit at an exorbitant Rs 40 a kg

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Low potato yield to hurt consumers
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9
The low prices fetched by potato growers last year and the escalating cost of fertilisers have led to a decline in the crop’s production this year. As such, consumers will have to continue shelling out more for potatoes with prices expected to remain around Rs 20 per kg.

Last year, high potato yield had led to a glut-like situation with prices coming down to as low as Rs 2 a kg. With the government refusing to intervene and help the growers, farmers dumped their crop on the roads as a mark of protest.

The bitter experience forced several potato growers in the state to shift to other crops, including wheat, where a minimum support price is assured.

The area under potato crop is down by 10 per cent this year: around 77,000 hectares as against 85,000 hectares earlier.

Sukhjit Singh Bhatti, a potato grower in Jalandhar, said so far the potato prices had remained high because of low production in the previous crop cycle that ended in March.

“A sizeable quantity of crop was ruined because of excessive rainfall in January. As a result, potato production went down by 15-20 per cent. Potatoes currently available in the market are from cold storage. The new crop has just started trickling in, which has led to some price correction,” he said.

Potato prices had zoomed to Rs 25 a kg a fortnight ago and have now stabilised at Rs 20 a kg.

But, it seems unlikely that potato prices will see a further correction. At this time of the year, the prices generally used to be Rs 10-12 a kg.

Potato growers said because of over 30 per cent hike in the prices of both DAP (diammonium phosphate) and NPK (nitrogen phosphorous and potash) — most commonly used fertilisers — and a fall in production, the growers will continue to sell these at higher prices.

Prices of DAP have gone up from Rs 905 per 50-kg bag last year to Rs 1,200 this year while NPK prices have shot up from Rs 820 to Rs 1,115 per bag.

Pawanjot Singh, another potato grower in Jalandhar, said high cost had forced a low usage of fertilisers, which has gone down by almost 30 per cent. This, he said, could affect the total potato production adversely. As a result of the high input costs and low production, the wholesale price of potato (new crop) is Rs 9 a kg as against Rs 5 a kg in March.

Factors at play

  • Potato crop fetched poor prices last year due to high production
  • As prices came down to Rs 2 a kg, farmers were forced to dump the crop on roads
  • Government refused to intervene or help growers
  • Costs of fertilisers have gone up this year

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Stuck mining projects: CM seeks PM’s intervention
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allow approval of mining projects in Punjab, saying the alarming scarcity of construction material could lead to a law and order problem in the state.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister of Punjab facing a critical situation due to unavailability of construction material, which, he said, had adversely impacted construction activity in the state due to pending issues with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

The Chief Minister reiterated that an Expert Appraisal Committee of MoEF be directed to consider the case for granting environmental clearance regarding 95 mining projects under category ‘A’, which were submitted to the ministry more than four months back.

Badal requested the Prime Minister to advise the MoEF to empower the state authorities for considering the environment clearance of the minor mineral projects irrespective of their area by amending the schedule to the Ministry’s notification dated September 14, 2006. Besides, all mineral projects on an area less than 5 hectares should be considered in B-2 category projects so that their environmental clearances could be obtained in minimum possible time, he said.

Likewise, Badal also recommended exemption from obtaining environmental clearance for minor mineral projects of ordinary earth and brick-earth wherein depth of mining did not exceed six feet.

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Dharmendra wanted to use his land for school
Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 9
Veteran film actor Dharmendra had planned to construct a school for poor children on his ancestral land at Ajit Nagar in Haibowal here that has been encroached upon by the land mafia. Dharmendra's father Kewal Kishan Singh Deol was a headmaster in Lalton village. He later taught at a school in Sahnewal where the actor had spent his childhood.

Dharmendra had thought opening a school for the poor would be a befitting tribute to his father, said Ravinder Sood, the caretaker of Dharmendra's property.

The actor had sent Sood to check the status of his ancestral land. "When I reached here, I was shocked to find that the land had been encroached upon. I informed Dharmendra about the development. We pursued the matter and finally, 12 persons were booked. Property dealer Rohit Kapila and his aide Jaswant Singh were arrested," said Sood.

He said the development had caused mental agony to the film actor. "Dharmendra told me that in reel life he stood for the poor and thwarted attempts of land grabbers. But in real life, he could not save his ancestral land from encroachers".

Dharmendra, who is expected to visit the city next week, will visit Sahnewal and Ajit Nagar in Haibowal.

Sood said during his previous visit, Dharmendra had carried soil from Sahnewal to his home as a mark of respect to his motherland. "What have we (city residents) given him in return? The man who brought laurels for Ludhiana had almost lost his ancestral land to fraudsters," said Sood.

Despite the arrest of two property dealers, the Vigilance Bureau has failed to make any headway in the case. The main culprit, patwari Balwinder Singh, is still on the run.

Sources said Rohit had paid Rs 1 lakh to Balwinder, kanungo and storekeepers for changing the land records.

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Conducting cancer survey costs Patiala students dear
Gagan K Teja
Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 9
Hundreds of nursing students are paying out of their pockets to conduct the state government’s ambitious door-to-door cancer survey that will last for over a month. The students have to find out how many people are afflicted with cancer and also need to apprise them about the various symptoms of the disease.

A nursing student Manpreet Kaur said since the students were not provided with a conveyance, they ended up spending at least Rs 50 per day from their pockets.

"Forget about paying us for meals, the government has not even bothered to pay us transport expenses. It is not our duty to do such surveys and if we are being asked to do it, we should be paid for it. We were given Rs 75 per day during the pulse polio camps," she said.

One of the doctors, requesting anonymity said, "Students are not qualified enough to find out the symptoms of cancer and since any particular problem can be due to multiple reasons, it is very difficult for them to ascertain whether or not someone is suffering from cancer. This data can be highly misleading. Rather, the government should hire some private agency of qualified health professionals, who can carry out the survey with accuracy," he said.

Officiating Civil Surgeon of Patiala district Dr Purshottam Goyal confirmed that these students were not being paid. "This decision is taken at the state level, we cannot do anything about it," he said.

Meanwhile, the ASHA workers have also refused to be a part of the survey since the government decided to pay them only Rs 200 for the entire survey.

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Groom, his family locked in marriage palace over dowry
Tribune News Service

Bassi Pathana, December 9
A bridegroom and his family were detained by the bride’s family at a marriage palace after the groom’s family allegedly asked for dowry during the wedding ceremony. The police had to intervene in the matter.

The bride was later married off to one of the boys present at the wedding. The groom’s family, who had come from Chandigarh, had to return empty-handed.

The police said the father of the bride, Madan Lal, refused to marry off his daughter to Vikram Singh, a resident of Sector 30, Chandigarh, as the latter and his father demanded dowry. Thereafter, both the parties got into an argument and the bride’s family locked the main gate of the Century Marriage Palace and informed the police.

The police reached the site and took Vikram Singh and his father Pritam Singh along with other relatives to the police station. Both the parties reached a compromise after the groom’s father handed over a cheque to compensate the bride’s father for the amount spent on the wedding.

Members of various social organisations present on the occasion criticised the groom’s family and appreciated the bold step taken by the bride’s family.

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High-speed internet in all villages soon
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 9
To provide access to high-speed internet facility at the village-level, panchayats in the state will soon be connected with optical fibre-based broadband.

The facility will be made available in more than 12,000 panchayats in the state and about 2,50,000 panchayats in the country.

“High-speed 100 mbps fibre optic lines will be provided to the panchayats. This is a Central Government scheme to connect all panchayats through broadband connectivity. The work is already underway. A survey is being conducted to gauge the amount of optical fibre required," said CS Bhanot, Senior General Manager, BSNL Ludhiana. The work is expected to be completed by next year, he said.

He said though the penetration of internet in cities was increasing by the day, it was much lesser in villages mainly due to lesser reach of the technology as well as the lack of computer literacy.

“The internet facility will improve computer literacy and give rural youth an access to online educational content. The facility will go a long way in transforming life in villages,” says Gurbir, from Phullawal village in Ludhiana district.

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Seminar on human rights held in Sangrur

Sangrur, December 9
A local NGO, Sahara Foundation, today organised a seminar on human rights at the district administrative complex here. Baljinder Singh Thakur, a member of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission was the chief guest.

In his address, Thakur said the commission had formed a five-member committee that presented its reports to the Commission on human rights violations in the state. He said that due to seminars, which were being held to spread awareness on human rights, the number of complaints regarding human rights violations had increased in the state. Until now the Commission had settled 1,85,000 complaints, he added. — TNS

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Paddy lifting
Punsup official held captive

Tarn Taran, December 9
Krishan Kumar, a Punsup Inspector, was allegedly held captive by commission agents at the Naushehra Pannuan grain market today due to his "partial attitude in lifting paddy". The inspector was freed after intervention of the Sarhali police and his assurance to the commission agents to lift paddy systematically.

Sources said a huge quantity of paddy was yet to be lifted from the market. The arhtiyas were forced to keep a round-the-clock watch on the stock.

When the inspector started the lifting process today, the arhtiyas, led by Subash Sood, Chairman, Block Samiti, Naushehra Pannuan, held the former captive in a room of the market committee. Shamsher Singh, Station House Officer, Sarhali, reached the spot. The inspector was freed after he agreed to be impartial.— OC

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Van to raise awareness on Saanjh Kendras
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 9
Mansa today became the first district in Punjab to introduce a mobile public police relations van that would move from village to village to make people aware about the services being offered by the police in its Saanjh Kendras.

The sessions judge Gurveer Singh flagged off the van at Mansa in the presence of the Senior Superintendent of Police Narendra Bhargava.

He said that the van would carry audiovisual equipment that would be used to inform people about the services offered at the Saanjh Kendras.

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COURTS
 

Shruti case: Panel to move court against DIG for releasing photos
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, December 9
A day after DIG (Border range) Paramraj Singh Umarangal was suspended, members of the action committee formed to get justice for minor rape victim Shruti have planned to move the High Court against the police official for releasing Shruti’s photographs to the media.

The DIG was suspended for “not performing” his duties efficiently when an ASI was killed in broad daylight in Amritsar. Earlier, when Shruti was abducted, Umarangal had cast aspersions on her character and released her photographs to the media from police email ID on October 8. The act was a violation of the law under Section 228-A of the Indian Penal Code, which defines that disclosure of the identity of rape victims was an offence, punishable by up to two years of imprisonment. This also showed how the police treated rape victims, said NK Jeet, advocate for Shruti’s parents in the case. The ASI’s killing in Amritsar has once again angered those people who have been working to get justice for Shruti.

The action committee dubbed Umranangal’s suspension as a “face-saving” exercise by the state government as the DIG was already facing charges of shielding the accused in the Shruti abduction case.

Yesterday, the action committee members had travelled to Amritsar to express solidarity with the family members of the deceased ASI.

“Had the state government taken action against the DIG two months ago, the Amritsar incident would not have occurred,” said Swaran Singh, a member of the action committee.

“Despite clinching evidence that the DIG made desperate attempts to tarnish the minor rape victim’s image and emailed her photographs to the Press, no action was taken against him. After a lot of hue and cry from the public, he was just shifted from Faridkot to Amritsar,” said Ashok Kaushal, a member of the action committee.

Still angry over the deteriorating law and order in the state, members of the Action Committee today tore posters and boards wishing Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal happy birthday on Saturday.

Fall from grace

  • The suspended DIG had released rape victim Shruti's photographs to the media, thus, sullying her image
  • This act is also a violation of the law under Section 228-A of the IPC and punishable by up to two years of imprisonment

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CRIME
 

1 killed, 11 injured in bus-canter collision
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, December 9
Canter cleaner Rahul Kumar (21) was killed while driver Anuj Kumar and 10 bus passengers were injured in a bus-canter collision in Mehlan village on the Sangrur-Patran road, over 10 km from here.

The canter overturned on the road after colliding with the bus that later rammed into a tree. The bus was going towards Patiala from Mansa while the canter, loaded with iron rods, was headed to Gurgaon from Ludhiana.

The injured were admitted to the local civil hospital while three seriously injured persons namely Jaskaran Singh (30), Ravinder Singh (30) and Gurjit Singh (21) were referred to Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. All three were from the Mansa district.

The canter driver Anuj Kumar (21) from Asalpur village in Farukhabad (UP) was shifted to the orthopaedic ward of the civil hospital

Geeta from Sirsa, Kusam Lata from Raman Mandi, Abhimanu Sodhi from Kalka and Rupinder Singh from Mansa district, were discharged on their request.

However, Rahul Kumar from Asalpur village was reportedly brought dead to the hospital.

The in charge of the Mehlan police station Hardayal Dass said the bus driver Sukhraj Singh had fled from the spot. He said on the statement of the canter driver, the police had registered a case against the bus driver under Sections 279, 337, 427 and 304-A of the IPC.

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Flesh trade racket busted

Pathankot, December 9
Police today claimed to have busted a flesh trade racket with the arrest of four persons, including two women from a residential colony near Sujanpur Railway station, about 15 kms from here.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided the residential quarter of one of the woman and arrested four persons, who were found in a compromising position, Pathankot DSP Jagjit Singh said.

The accused arrested under Immoral Trafficking Act were identified as Anita, who was running brothel from her house, Kulwinder Singh, Shubhash Kumar and Neeta.

Kulwinder and Subhash were serving Army Jawans belonging to 246 Army Medium Regiment based at Basoli in J&K, police said. — PTI

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