J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Demand for Nawanshahr-Amritsar railway service gets stronger
Nawanshahr, February 20
Demanding direct rail service from Nawanshahr to Amritsar, two social workers — Balraj Singh and Nirmal Singh Rehal — belonging to Kariha village have launched a signature campaign in the district.

Dismissed ASI among three held for murder
Jalandhar, February 20
A city-based money changer, Hari Om Garg, who had been missing since Monday, was found murdered in Haripur village near Nakodar this afternoon. The police said it had tracked the calls on the victim’s cell phone and arrested three persons, including a dismissed Punjab Police employee, and recovered a pistol, ammunition and Rs 6.50 lakh from them.

The three accused in the money changer kidnapping and murder case in police custody in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

One more arrested in rape case
Hoshiarpur, February 20
The Bulhowal police has arrested another accused, who was allegedly involved in abducting and raping a young girl of Burewal Jattan village, on February 25 last year. The accused, identified as Surinder Singh of Patiari PS Hariana, was arrested under Sections 376, 366, 323 and 34 of the IPC.

Dowry cases registered
Hoshiarpur, February 20
Two cases for torturing and maltreating wives by members of their in-laws families for bringing dowry from their parents have been reported in the district since last evening. Police said Mamta Devi, daughter of Amar Singh of Purikan, said she was married to Gurmail Singh, son of Narinder Singh of Ward No 5, Garhdiwala, on April 27, 2008.

Burglary thwarted
Hoshiarpur, February 20
A tenant, staying in house at Budh Ram Colony, reportedly thwarted a burglary on Tuesday night. The house belonged to Janak Raj, a retired veterinary doctor. Jai Kishan, who stayed at the house as a tenant, woke up after he heard some noise at about 12:15 am.

Treat polluted water or face action, admn tells MCs
Tarn Taran, February 20
The district administration has taken a serious note of two Municipal Councils of Tarn Taran and Patti discharging polluted water in Kasur Nullah. The administration has instructed the MCs to discharge water only after its treatment or face action.

Strike in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur, February 20
On the call of 11 central trade unions, employees of banks, insurance companies and government transporters went on a two-day strike today against the UPA government for it’s anti-people policies, including its failure to check price hike of essential commodities, employment generation, halting disinvestment in public sector enterprises and implementing labour laws.

Demand for Nawanshahr-Amritsar railway service gets stronger
Parmod Bharti

Nawanshahr, February 20
Demanding direct rail service from Nawanshahr to Amritsar, two social workers — Balraj Singh and Nirmal Singh Rehal — belonging to Kariha village have launched a signature campaign in the district.

Balraj and Nirmal have not only contacted political leaders from different parties, social, religious, educational and trade organisations, the duo is in the process of getting resolutions passed from villages panchayats for the purpose. They have also begun door-to-door campaign to mobilise public on the issue.

The duo felt that the direct rail service from Nawanshahr to Amritsar would not only facilitate devotees to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir, but would also boost trade.

"Though the Nawanshahr Railway Station was established way back in 1914, rail links and services have not been extended in the past century. Now, it is for the first time that Pawan Kumar Bansal, a Punjabi MP, has assumed the charge of the Railway Minister. Hence, the people of Punjab are expecting extension and augmentation of rail services in Punjab,” they said.

They would bring the sentiments of the people into the notice of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal through MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and Avinash Rai Khanna, they said.

Besides direct rail service to Amritsar, the local residents have been demanding extension of rail links, including Rahon-Machhiwara-Ludhiana and Garhshanker-Anandpur Sahib-Ropar-Chandigarh to ensure trade and industrial growth of the district.

Dismissed ASI among three held for murder
Bipin Bhardwaj/TNS

Jalandhar, February 20
A city-based money changer, Hari Om Garg, who had been missing since Monday, was found murdered in Haripur village near Nakodar this afternoon. The police said it had tracked the calls on the victim’s cell phone and arrested three persons, including a dismissed Punjab Police employee, and recovered a pistol, ammunition and Rs 6.50 lakh from them. The suspects were known to Garg.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sarabjit Singh said Gurmeet Singh, resident of Urban Estate Phase-I, his brother-in-law Ranjit Singh, a dismissed Assistant Sub-Inspector, and Nishan Singh of Garha area had been arrested for kidnapping and killing Garg. Son of a police inspector, who died fighting terrorists in Amritsar, Ranjit Singh was inducted into the Punjab Police but was dismissed for "unsatisfactory service record". He was residing at the Jalandnar Police Lines with his mother.

The DCP said Gurmeet Singh and Ranjit Singh hatched a conspiracy to rob Garg of his money. Gurmeet Singh called up Garg on the pretext of exchanging dollars worth Rs 8 lakh. He picked up Garg from the Capital Local Area Bank and drove towards Nakodar in a Skoda car. They were joined by Ranjit Singh and Nishan Singh near the Urban Estate. The latter strangled Garg with a rope. Taking him to be dead, they dragged him into a farm-shed where they found him gasping for life. They then shot Garg with a revolver in the temple.

To destroy evidence, the killers dug up a trench inside the shed and buried the body after sprinkling salt on it. The body was exhumed in the presence of area tehsildar Gurmit Singh this evening. A case has been registered.

One more arrested in rape case
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, February 20
The Bulhowal police has arrested another accused, who was allegedly involved in abducting and raping a young girl of Burewal Jattan village, on February 25 last year. The accused, identified as Surinder Singh of Patiari PS Hariana, was arrested under Sections 376, 366, 323 and 34 of the IPC.

The police had already arrested Manvinder Paljit Singh, a resident of Sarih Pati Jai Chand, Jalandhar district, whereas their two more accomplices Gurdip Singh and driver were still at large.

They bundled the said girl into their car while she was standing at Adda Bure Jattan. Later, they beat and raped her.

The girl made a representation to the police on February 26 and after conducting an inquiry, an FIR was registered against him on March 10.

Dowry cases registered
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, February 20
Two cases for torturing and maltreating wives by members of their in-laws families for bringing dowry from their parents have been reported in the district since last evening. Police said Mamta Devi, daughter of Amar Singh of Purikan, said she was married to Gurmail Singh, son of Narinder Singh of Ward No 5, Garhdiwala, on April 27, 2008.

Her husband Gurmail Singh, father-in-law Narinder Singh, mother-in-law Surjit Kaur and brother-in-law Ganesh Dutt used to torture, maltreat and beat her for bringing dowry from her parents since her marriage. The Mukerian police has booked the accused under Sections 498 A, 406 and 323 of the IPC.

In another case, the NRI police station has booked Mukesh Kumar, his father Parshotam Lal, mother Nirmal Kaur, residents of Nangal Majha, PS Sadar, Phagwara under Sections 498 A and 406 of the IPC for torturing and maltreating Satwinder Singh, daughter of Gurmail Singh of Rasoolpur.

The police said Satwinder Kaur was married to Mukesh Kumar on February 13, 2009. After marriage her husband went to Dubai for earning livelihood. Parhsotam Lal and his wife Nirmal Kaur in connivance with their son Mukesh Kumar tortured and maltreated her for bringing dowry from her parents.

Burglary thwarted
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, February 20
A tenant, staying in house at Budh Ram Colony, reportedly thwarted a burglary on Tuesday night. The house belonged to Janak Raj, a retired veterinary doctor. Jai Kishan, who stayed at the house as a tenant, woke up after he heard some noise at about 12:15 am.

When he came out of his room, he saw a man trying to break the lock of the adjoining room. Jai had caught hold of the thief, but two other accomplices of the criminal freed him and fled.

Treat polluted water or face action, admn tells MCs
Gurbaxpuri

Tarn Taran, February 20
The district administration has taken a serious note of two Municipal Councils of Tarn Taran and Patti discharging polluted water in Kasur Nullah. The administration has instructed the MCs to discharge water only after its treatment or face action.

An official-level meeting in this regard was held on Tuesday. Besides Deputy Commissioner Harmesh Singh Pabla, who chaired the meeting, officials from Punjab Pollution Control Board, Health, Irrigation, Wildlife, Agriculture departments were present in the meeting.

The DC instructed officials to check the quality of water of the Beas and the Sutlej and find out whether it was potable for birds and animals or not.

The Municipal Councils of Tarn Taran and Patti were reportedly discharging sewage water into Kasur Nullha passing through the towns.

Vikas Manch, Punjab, a social organisation, had been highlighting the issue for years. It even submitted a complaint to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission.

Dr Sukhdev Singh Sandhu, Chief Agriculture Officer, said vendors washed vegetables, which they sell in the open market, in the polluted water of the nullah, which was a big health hazard.

The DC has instructed the departments to get the water of the rivers and the other townships checked within 15 days.

Strike in Hoshiarpur
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, February 20
On the call of 11 central trade unions, employees of banks, insurance companies and government transporters went on a two-day strike today against the UPA government for it’s anti-people policies, including its failure to check price hike of essential commodities, employment generation, halting disinvestment in public sector enterprises and implementing labour laws.

Activists of various trade unions staged a mass rally at Shaheed Udham Singh Park and blocked vehicular traffic at local bus stand crossing.