B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Maghi Mela crucial test for parties
Muktsar, January 3
After the state assembly elections, Muktsar has again become the hotspot of state politics with senior leaders of various political parties visiting the town every day to mobilise their party workers for the Maghi Mela conferences to be held on January 14 here.

PPP chief Manpree Singh Badal with his party workers in Muktsar. The leaders were in town on Thursday to oversee arrangements for their public meetings. Tribune photographs

Cong ex-MLA seeks CBI probe into Shruti kidnapping case
Faridkot, January 3
Former Congress MLA and senior party leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira today demanded a CBI investigation into the Faridkot minor girl kidnapping case to expose the involvement of political leaders and some police officials who patronised the main accused and made desperate attempts to save him.

Court of inquiry ordered into jawan’s death
Abohar, January 3
A court of inquiry has been ordered into the alleged suicide committed by Naib Subedar Jarwal Sajan Sandhu (39) at Sadhuwali cantonment.

Dental college students held for eve-teasing
Abohar, January 3
Khushdeep Singh and his brother Sarabjit Singh of village Maujgarh in Abohar sub-division along with Gulab Singh (Sriganganagar), Nishantdeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh of Sirsa have been arrested by the Jawaharnagar police at Sriganganagar for eve-teasing. All are students of a local private dental college.

Man dies after being assaulted
Fazilka, January 3
A resident of a nearby village, Sureshwala Senia, identified as Madan Lal Jhinja (46), was allegedly assaulted to death by miscreants on the Fazilka-Abohar road in the afternoon today. Madan Lal was going to bring his children, who study in the local Sarv Hitkari Senior Secondary School, in his car.

Fazilka civic body invites admn’s ire
Fazilka, January 3
Pulling up the Municipal Council, Fazilka, for not taking up the issue of encroachment seriously, the district administration has written to the higher authorities that if the lackadaisical attitude of the civic body continues, the entire A class land belonging to the Municipal Council would be encroached upon in connivance with the civic officials.

Muktsar cops begin year on a high note
Muktsar, January 3
Muktsar police chief Surjeet Singh has claimed that the year 2012 proved successful for the district police, as a number of heinous crimes were solved and a number of accused were arrested during the year.

Injured in blast
Muktsar, January 3
A garage shop owner sustained multiple injuries today in an accidental explosion in an air compressor tank in Malout. The injured, Malkit Singh, was working at his garage this morning when the tank suddenly exploded.

Maghi Mela crucial test for parties
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Congress leaders at the meeting organised to assess the preparations for the Maghi Mela conference to be held on January 14

Muktsar, January 3
After the state assembly elections, Muktsar has again become the hotspot of state politics with senior leaders of various political parties visiting the town every day to mobilise their party workers for the Maghi Mela conferences to be held on January 14 here.

It was a politically hectic day in Muktsar today, as senior leaders of the Congress and the PPP-led Sanjha Morcha were present in the town. These leaders even termed the Maghi Mela conference and the Moga by-election as crucial tests for them.

The Congress meeting was chaired by the member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) Jagmeet Singh Brar, the party's Mela in-charge Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, local MLA Karan Kaur Brar, Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Warring 'Raja', ex-MLA from Malout Nathu Ram, ex-MLA from Muktsar Bhai Harnirpal Singh 'Kuku', ex-MLA from Faridkot Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, ex-MLA from Jalandhar Jagbir Singh Brar and others.

The Congress leaders sounded aggressive, claiming that the Maghi Mela conference was a prestige issue for them this year, as the conference would be a platform for them to sound the parliamentary poll bugle in Punjab.

Addressing the gathering, Jagmeet Brar said, "Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal would be our chief guest, and we would request him to start a direct train to Delhi and to some more stations from Muktsar."

On the other hand, PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal was also present in the city and addressed his party workers at the residence of his relative, the party's district in-charge Jagjit Singh Honey Fattanwala, accompanied by a number of Left party leaders.

Addressing his party workers, Manpreet not only appealed to them to try their best to mobilise the maximum number of people for their conference but also reminded them about the party's huge gathering during the Maghi Mela conference held in 2011.

The SAD leaders were also busy in meeting their activists and making arrangements for their political conference. They even held a number of meetings with their workers in the villages. Regarding the conference, they have held two meetings in the town. The SAD has even installed a number of hoarding in the city, appealing to the people to be a part of their political conference.

It may be mentioned here that in 2011, the main tie was between the SAD and the PPP, as at that time the the Congress had reportedly failed to organise an impressive show.

Cong ex-MLA seeks CBI probe into Shruti kidnapping case
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, January 3
Former Congress MLA and senior party leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira today demanded a CBI investigation into the Faridkot minor girl kidnapping case to expose the involvement of political leaders and some police officials who patronised the main accused and made desperate attempts to save him.

Reacting to the girl's statement recorded before the police, which is now part of the charge-sheet produced in the court here, Khaira said the police investigation was unfair and shoddy. In her statement to the police recorded on December 22, the girl had said that she was terrorised, molested, beaten up and kept under lock and key in Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa and Kharar.

"The police investigation into the case failed to bring many facts to light like who had shielded the main accused Nishan Singh and gave him shelter while leaving Faridkot for Goa. Due to his proximity to the leaders belonging to the ruling party, he went scot-free after the kidnapping incident and even senior police officials and Akali leaders were shielding him by painting the kidnapping case to be an instance where the girl had eloped with the accused," Khaira said in a statement issued to the media today.

"The Congress terms the police investigation as farce, an eye-wash and rejects it. The party also demands a CBI inquiry into the episode so that police officials and politicians who have been sheltering him could be brought to book," said Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

Court of inquiry ordered into jawan’s death
Our Correspondent

Abohar, January 3
A court of inquiry has been ordered into the alleged suicide committed by Naib Subedar Jarwal Sajan Sandhu (39) at Sadhuwali cantonment.

As per the available information, Sandhu took the extreme step after responding to a call that was received on his cell phone during the QRT training yesterday. Ten Army jawans reportedly noticed him attending the call during the training. He reportedly sat down on a wood log and pressed the trigger of his sophisticated weapon. The mobile phone kept ringing as Sandhu was being shifted to the military hospital.

Army officials said they will cooperate with the police in the investigations.

It is learnt that Naib Subedar Sandhu had availed of superannuation under the voluntary retirement scheme after completing 15 years of service. The jawan had attended a farewell party also and was expected to leave for his native town Aurangabad after a fortnight.

Dental college students held for eve-teasing
Our Correspondent

Abohar, January 3
Khushdeep Singh and his brother Sarabjit Singh of village Maujgarh in Abohar sub-division along with Gulab Singh (Sriganganagar), Nishantdeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh of Sirsa have been arrested by the Jawaharnagar police at Sriganganagar for eve-teasing. All are students of a local private dental college.

The court of the sub-divisional magistrate turned down their plea for bail and sent them to judicial custody.

As per another report, acid was thrown on a 14-year-old girl as she was leaving for tuitions at 8.30 on Thursday morning in Suratgarh. The girl who belongs to a minority community, suffered burns on her hand and returned home immediately. The police has taken footage from the CCTV cameras installed on the road. Notably, such cameras have been installed in all the main markets in Suratgarh.

Meanwhile, private schools affiliated to the Punjab School Education Board remained closed in Abohar responding to call given by the civil society for observing a bandh against incidents of rape and murder.

Man dies after being assaulted
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, January 3
A resident of a nearby village, Sureshwala Senia, identified as Madan Lal Jhinja (46), was allegedly assaulted to death by miscreants on the Fazilka-Abohar road in the afternoon today. Madan Lal was going to bring his children, who study in the local Sarv Hitkari Senior Secondary School, in his car.

He was reportedly hit by the assailants and injured seriously along with his companion Pawan Kumar. Jhinja was rushed to the local Civil Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries late in the evening.

It is stated that deceased was carrying some cash in his car. According to unconfirmed reports, old enmity is stated to be cause of the murder. Two of the assailants have reportedly been arrested.

Fazilka civic body invites admn’s ire
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, January 3
Pulling up the Municipal Council, Fazilka, for not taking up the issue of encroachment seriously, the district administration has written to the higher authorities that if the lackadaisical attitude of the civic body continues, the entire A class land belonging to the Municipal Council would be encroached upon in connivance with the civic officials.

The district administration has recommended suitable action against the officials concerned for dereliction of duty and also for its failure to provide the desired information sought under the Right to Information Act (RTI).

Holding the MC authorities directly responsible for the encroachment in the Anni Dilli area, Additional Deputy Commissioner Charandev Singh Maan has passed stringent remarks.

As per official sources, RTI activist Amar Nath Chetiwal, informed the MC authorities on April 20 this year that a beneficiary was allotted 18'x30' plot at a lower price as per the MC decision.

But the beneficiery encroached upon land that was three times more in area than what was allotted to him and started construction. Chetiwal repeatedly cautioned the authorities in black and white about the encroachment, but to no avail.

At last he sought the information from the local MC authorities and the district administration about the action taken against the encroachment. But the MC authorities reportedly failed to respond satisfactorily.

Following a complaint filed by Chetiwal and a clarification sought by the Deputy Commisioner’s office, Fazilka, the executive officer, Municipal Council, reportedly clarified their stand vide letter No. 1640, dated November 6, stating that the council has asked the legal advisor to file a case against the encroacher.

Dissatisfied with the reply, ADC Charandev Singh Maan, in a letter to the Principal Secretary and Director, Local Self- Government, said that the MC authorities have reportedly shown negligence in checking the encroachment. He has recommended suitable action against the officials concerned.

Notably, the council remained embroiled in controversies earlier also regarding encroachments in other areas of the town.

Muktsar cops begin year on a high note
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 3
Muktsar police chief Surjeet Singh has claimed that the year 2012 proved successful for the district police, as a number of heinous crimes were solved and a number of accused were arrested during the year.

Giving details about the achievements of the district police, he said 29 vehicle lifters were caught during the year and nine Bolero jeeps, one Optra car and 17 motorcycles were recovered from their possession. Besides, stolen property worth nearly Rs 1.9 crore was recovered during the year.

The SSP further claimed that nearly 23 kg opium, 21 quintals of poppy husk, one kg smack, around 5 lakh sedative tablets, 5.5 kg sedative powder, 4.16 kg of sedative fluid and 2,715 sedative cough syrups had also been seized.

The traffic police also issued 8,398 challans for traffic violations in the district and collected a fine of nearly Rs 47 lakh.

The police also claimed that the grievance redressal cell solved 3,543 complaints of the 4,263 complaints received in the year. The women cell also solved 185 complaints of the total 334 complaints received.

Apart from these, a number of persons were caught while smuggling illicit liquor. Eight pistols, one revolver, 320 cartridges, two rifles, one gun, two magazines and two knives were also recovered under various sections of the Arms Act.

Injured in blast

Muktsar, January 3
A garage shop owner sustained multiple injuries today in an accidental explosion in an air compressor tank in Malout. The injured, Malkit Singh, was working at his garage this morning when the tank suddenly exploded.

It even damaged the garage’s roof. — TNS