B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Former Akali sarpanch’s murder
SAD MLA’s nephew among 3 arrested
Faridkot, January 17
Nearly 60 hours after a former Akali sarpanch in Aulakh village of Faridkot was killed, the protest by the villagers and his family members forced the police to arrest all three accused, including the nephew of Akali MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Mantar Singh Brar, today in the evening.

One killed in blast at junk dealer’s shop
Ferozepur, January 17
Panic gripped the town after a person died on the spot while others sustained minor injuries in a bomb blast that took place in a junk dealer's shop near the CIA staff headquarters in the cantonment area here today.

DC Manjit Singh Narang along with Army and police officials at the site of the blast. A Tribune photo

Fair over, hoardings still dot Muktsar roads

Muktsar, January 17 The political conferences on Maghi Mela were held here on January 13 but the illegal hoardings of political parties still dot the roads in the town. The Municipal Council (MC) not only failed to remove the hoardings but has also refrained from imposing any penalty against the violators of the rules. Hoardings put up by political parties to greet residents on the Maghi Mela are yet to be removed in Muktsar. Photo by writer

Father of abducted Bathinda girl held
Abohar, January 17
The Sriganganagar police has arrested Sheyodaan Singh of Mansa Road, Bathinda and Ram Singh of village Shergarh (Sangria) in connection with the kidnapping of a Bathinda girl, Pinky.

Three booked in dowry case
Fazilka, January 17
The Sadar Police, Fazilka, has booked three members of the in-laws' family of a newly-married girl of Fazilka for allegedly torturing her for dowry. As per the FIR lodged with the police, Kirna, a resident of village Ganjuana Hasta of Fazilka sub-division, was married to one Parmjit Singh of the Mamdot area in Ferozepur district on June 15, 2012.

Car looted at gunpoint
Abohar, January 17
One Aashirwad Sachdeva of new Suraj Nagari was robbed of his Tata Safari van at gunpoint by three miscreants last night. Sachdeva told the police that he along with two friends had parked the vehicle outside a banquet hall, when three armed miscreants threatened him to surrender the keys of the vehicle.

Former Akali sarpanch’s murder
SAD MLA’s nephew among 3 arrested
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, January 17
Nearly 60 hours after a former Akali sarpanch in Aulakh village of Faridkot was killed, the protest by the villagers and his family members forced the police to arrest all three accused, including the nephew of Akali MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Mantar Singh Brar, today in the evening.

Angry residents of Aulakh village, including women, staged dharna in front of the Mini-secretariat.

They said they would not cremate the dead until the accused were arrested.

The protesters alleged that the police was intentionally not arresting the prime accused Kuldeep Singh as he was a close relative of the SAD (B) MLA and CPS Mantar Singh Brar.

The protesters alleged it was not the first time that the police were soft-pedalling in cases involving those who are politically well connected. Earlier, the police took no action on May 26, 2012 when an attempt to murder case was registered against the accused. Rather, the police officials reportedly exerted pressure on the victim's family to reach a compromise. As the accused failed to reach a compromise, so the former sarpanch, Sukhmander Singh, was killed in front of his house on Tuesday morning.

However in the evening today, the residents of Aulakh village agreed to lift their dharna after the SSP, Faridkot, assured them of arresting the accused in the next two hours. In the evening, the police showed the arrest of the three accused.

The angry residents of Aulakh village had also blocked vehicular traffic near the main chowk in Kotkapura town, thus disrupting the flow of traffic to Rajasthan.

One killed in blast at junk dealer’s shop

Ferozepur, January 17
Panic gripped the town after a person died on the spot while others sustained minor injuries in a bomb blast that took place in a junk dealer's shop near the CIA staff headquarters in the cantonment area here today.

The blast was so intense and powerful that some portions of the deceased's body were found scattered a few metres away from the spot.

Deputy Commissioner Manjit Singh Narang along with police and military officials rushed to the site and took stock of the situation.

Vibhor Kumar, DSP (Headquarters), said a person had come to a junk dealer's shop owned by one Sukha alias Sarpanch in the morning. He had brought some old abandoned bombshells to sell them them in junk. When the junk dealer showed his reluctance in accepting the bomb-like articles, the man reportedly tried to break them into pieces with a hammer.

Eyewitnesses said the action triggered a huge blast in which the body was torn off.

The area was immediately cordoned off by the police and the Army authorities.

The DC said the blast was accidental and had nothing to do with any acts of terrorism or violence. The Army officials said they were investigating into the matter.

A bomb disposal squad was summoned which reached here in the evening to defuse the remaining bombshells. The deceased has been identified as Matoshi, a jawan in the Assam regiment of the Army. — OC

Fair over, hoardings still dot Muktsar roads
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, January 17
The political conferences on Maghi Mela were held here on January 13 but the illegal hoardings of political parties still dot the roads in the town. The Municipal Council (MC) not only failed to remove the hoardings but has also refrained from imposing any penalty against the violators of the rules.

It may be mentioned here that Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had recently issued directions that a criminal case be registered against all those installing illegal hoardings anywhere across the state.

It was mentioned in the orders that residents can install hoardings and billboards only on authorised poles and nowhere else. But here, a number of hoardings are still installed on Kotkapura road, Bathinda road, bus stand and at many roundabouts in the city.

At some places, the posters have been pasted on government buildings including schools.

When contacted, Mitt Singh Brar, president, Municipal Council, Muktsar, said, "We will definitely take action against those who violated the rules. A number of boards have been removed from the roadsides and those left would also be removed soon."

Executive officer Gursewak Singh was not available for his comments, as he was unwell.

Father of abducted Bathinda girl held

Abohar, January 17
The Sriganganagar police has arrested Sheyodaan Singh of Mansa Road, Bathinda and Ram Singh of village Shergarh (Sangria) in connection with the kidnapping of a Bathinda girl, Pinky.

A case was registered under Sections 365, 452, 323, 341, 147, 148 and 149 of the IPC on January 2. Pinky was initially abducted allegedly by Raj Kumar of Sriganganagar who claimed that he married her in a temple later. Her stepfather Sheyodaan Singh along with 15-20 armed persons recovered her from “in-laws” house and detained her at her maternal uncle’s house in Agra. The police had recovered her on January 6. — OC

Three booked in dowry case
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, January 17
The Sadar Police, Fazilka, has booked three members of the in-laws' family of a newly-married girl of Fazilka for allegedly torturing her for dowry. As per the FIR lodged with the police, Kirna, a resident of village Ganjuana Hasta of Fazilka sub-division, was married to one Parmjit Singh of the Mamdot area in Ferozepur district on June 15, 2012.

In her statement recorded with the Sadar police, Kirna alleged that her husband, his mother and other relatives started harassing her mentally and physically for more dowry just a month after their marriage.

SHO, Sadar police station, Fazilka, Barjinder Singh said the accused have been booked under Sections 498-A, 406,323, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Car looted at gunpoint

Abohar, January 17
One Aashirwad Sachdeva of new Suraj Nagari was robbed of his Tata Safari van at gunpoint by three miscreants last night. Sachdeva told the police that he along with two friends had parked the vehicle outside a banquet hall, when three armed miscreants threatened him to surrender the keys of the vehicle.

The miscreant sped away in the Tata Safari and could not be nabbed even when the police had been informed immediately. — OC