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Property registration to be outsourced
SGPC protests against Sajjan’s acquittal
Cong nominee’s house raided, party cries foul
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It was a planned murder, says Sukhraj's family
punjab
Going tough for Cong in Gurdaspur
No Cong candidates against prominent SAD leaders
‘Saada Haq’ to be screened today
Officials loath to join election duty
polldigest
Drug addicts to be shifted out of overcrowded jails
Marathon against drug addiction on May 12
Policy for acid attack victims soon, HC told
Millers protest against FCI
PEDA attracts Rs
2,500 crore investment
Cong men lift dharna on SSP’s assurance
Unauthorised use of generator sets banned
Police ‘tortures’ Cong man's son
JE held for taking bribe
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Property registration to be outsourced
Chandigarh, May 9 Inspired by the manner in which TCS (Tata Consultancy Service) has been entrusted the responsibility to conduct the process for issuing passports at Chandigarh, the state government is in the process of hiring consultants who will give suggestions on how to create a new system for registering properties. The system, when implemented, will do away with the practice of “commission” to officials involved in the registration of properties. The “commission”, a euphemism for bribe, is charged on the value of the property. It may vary from two to three per cent of the value of the property. The government has made efforts to end the practice by listing registration rates and urging the people not to pay any bribe. But this has not yielded any results. Sources said even where a complaint was filed, during inquiry the complainant invariably took back his complaint and nothing could be done against corrupt officials. Also, the government is finding it difficult to promote tehsildars who often refuse promotion for obvious reasons. Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, when contacted, said the new system had been given the go-ahead and consultants hired. He said the private party selected for providing the service would function from a well-equipped facility.The entire registration process would be time-bound. The government would not be burdened financially as the private provider would charge for the service from the public. Besides making the registration process transparent, the government is keen to audit registration work which has been computerised. There are reports that mistakes in filing of codes are resulting in losses to the state exchequer. Giving an example, Majithia said in case construction on a piece of land was “mistakenly” or deliberately not shown as such by wrong filing of a code, it led to a loss to the exchequer. The government had decided to hire four consultants who would audit the system and make corrections where necessary, he added.
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SGPC protests against Sajjan’s acquittal
Jalandhar, May 9
The protesters, dressed in black and carrying black flags, gathered at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Model Town and proceeded towards Guru Nanak Mission Chowk.The march concluded at BMC Chowk where Sajjan Kumar’s effigy was burnt. The SAD district urban chief, Gurcharan Singh Channi, MLA Pargat Singh,and SGPC members Kuldeep Singh Wadala, Shingara Singh Lohian, Kulwant Singh Manan, Ranjit Singh Kahlon, Paramjit Singh Raipur, Baldev Singh Kalyan, Dawinder Kaur Kalra and Gurmeet Kaur Bhatnura led the march. Among the protesters were a sizeable number of women activists who were led by SAD councillor Parminder Kaur Pannu. Wadala alleged that Sajjan Kumar had been acquitted at the Congress-led UPA Government’s behest to “protect the name of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.”
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Cong nominee’s house raided, party cries foul
Mohali, May 9 Mohali MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu termed the repeated police raids at Jassi’s house unlawful. He said the government was using the police to put pressure on Jassi to withdraw his candidature on the last day of withdrawal. “The zone in question is a Congress-dominated area which is why we think these raids are politically backed,” alleged
Sidhu. The police, however, said they wanted to question Jassi regarding a theft case. The area Station House Officer
(SHO) Kulbir Singh said the police had been questioning Jassi as the latter’s friend, who is a local SAD leader, has been involved in the case. “We have confiscated two stolen vehicles from the SAD leader who is absconding now,” said Kulbir Singh while refuting the allegations of Congress activists. Sidhu said he had apprised Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa of the development and also sent a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner of the state. “We will stage protests if the police doesn’t mend its ways,” said
Sidhu.
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It was a planned murder, says Sukhraj's family
Patti (Tarn Taran), May 9 The victim’s father, Ajit Singh, who sustained injuries in the attack, said: “A day before the attack, the local Station House Officer (SHO) forcibly took away our weapons. Only Congress workers are being told to deposit their arms.” Ajit Singh said the family was at a religious congregation when attacked. “As Sukhraj sat down to pay obeisance, he was shot from behind. I foiled their attempt to fire another shot.They then attacked Sukhraj with sharp-edged weapons to make sure he was dead.” Sukhraj is survived by his parents, wife, a four-year-old daughter and a nine-month-old son. Denying that the attack was a result of personal enmity, Ajit Singh said: “We have enmity with none. My son fell to goondaism in politics.” Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar said: “The local SHO took away Sukhraj’s weapons a day before the planned attack to render him (Sukhraj) defenceless. We demand that the role of police officials be probed.” He said Congress leaders would be meeting the Governor to apprise him of “lawlessness” in the state. He alleged that the government machinery was being used by the ruling alliance to strike fear in its opponents. “If the police officials were fair, the murder would not have occurred. It is strange that Akali activists were carrying guns at a religious place while their opponents had been deprived of their arms.” In a statement, Pradesh Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa condemned the “political murder”. He alleged that Akali leaders were directly involved in Sukhraj Singh’s murder as well as the attack on Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Congress MLA from Guru Harsahai. Sources close to Bajwa said he had apprised Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde of the law and order situation in Punjab. Congress leaders Om Parkash Soni, Harminder Singh Gill, Tarn Taran DCC president Dharmvir Agnihotri, Ramanjit Singh Sikki and Punjab Youth Congress president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary visited the bereaved family. When contacted, Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajjeet Singh said: “Five persons have been booked for Sukhraj Singh’s murder. One of them, Harcharan Singh, was arrested today.” He denied the police had confiscated weapons of Congress workers alone. “More than 600 weapons have been taken away from both SAD and Congress activists,” he said.
Congress leaders blame police As Sukhraj sat down to pay obeisance, he was shot from behind. I foiled their attempt to fire another shot.They then attacked Sukhraj with sharp-edged weapons to make sure he was dead. — Ajit Singh, deceased's father The local SHO took away Sukhraj's weapons a day before the planned attack to render him (Sukhraj) defenceless. We demand that the role of police officials should be probed. — Sunil Jakhar, CLP Leader Five persons have been booked for the murder. One of them, Harcharan Singh, was arrested today. More than 600 weapons have been taken away from both SAD and Congress activists. — Rajjeet Singh, SSP Akali leaders are directly involved in Sukhraj Singh's murder as well as the attack on Congress MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi. — PS Bajwa, PPCC chief
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punjab
Muktsar, May 9 Neither the SAD nor the BJP candidates withdrew their nominations from Khapianwali, Goniana, Muktsar rural and Malout village zones. As per the lists procured from the district administration, Jaspal Kaur of the BJP and Lakshmi Aggarwal of the SAD, Pawandeep Kaur of the Congress and Surinder Kaur, an Independent, are in the fray from Malout village zone. Similarly, from Khapianwali zone, Pala Singh of the BJP, Balwinder Kaur of the SAD and Amarjit Kaur of the Congress are contesting the elections. From Goniana zone, Swaran Singh (BJP), Dhakkad Singh (SAD) and Sukhjinder Singh (Congress) are pitted against each other. In Muktsar rural zone, BJP's Jarnail Singh, SAD's Balraj Singh and Congress' Bohar Singh are contesting the elections. The district administration has even allotted election symbols to them. Rakesh Dhingra, district president, BJP, said: "We had demanded some seats from our alliance partner, but its leaders refused to relent. So, we fielded our own candidates. We had hoped for a compromise, but the Akalis did not approach us. One of our candidates Satpal Singh has already won the panchayat samiti poll unopposed from the Burj Sidhwan zone." SAD MLA from Malout Harpreet Singh said: "I have learnt that some BJP candidates are contesting elections against SAD candidates. I am trying to sort out the matter". Meanwhile, the local BJP workers held a meeting today to discuss their strategy for election campaign. Earlier, a state-level joint committee of the SAD and the BJP, headed by Daljeet Singh Cheema and Tikshan Sud, was formed to allocate the seats between the two parties.
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Going tough for Cong in Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur, May 9 The BJP is planning and executing its political moves deftly. The party high command has asked cine star and former Union Minister Vinod Khanna to campaign for the party candidates. "I will stay in the town till the campaigning comes to an end on May 17. I have chalked out a plan to canvass for party candidates," he said. Industrialist Swaran Salaria, who like Khanna, is also a ticket contender for the Gurdaspur parliamentary seat, has already started his campaign in the three assembly seats of Sujanpur, Bhoa and Pathankot. Educationist SK Punj, whose is close to Deputy Speaker Dinesh Babbu. has also started campaigning in Sujanpur. The Congress is depending on PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa to kick start the party campaign. The party will find it tough to garner support in Sujanpur. Gurdaspur District Congress president Sukhjinder Randhwa admitted that the Congress had a tough fight ahead.
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No Cong candidates against prominent SAD leaders
Muktsar, May 9 Four SAD candidates, Gurbakhshish Singh Middukhera from Bhullarwala zone, Jaspal Singh Marar from Marar Kalan zone, Paramjit Kaur from Seerwali zone and Mithu Singh from Bodiwala Kharak Singh zone have thus been elected unopposed in the panchayat samiti elections. Similarly, one zila parishad candidate of the SAD, Avneet Kaur from Malout village zone, has been elected unopposed. Though Tajinder Singh of the PPP had filed nominations against Gurbakhshish Singh of the SAD from Bhullarwala zone in panchayat samiti elections, he withdrew his nomination today. District Congress president Gurdas Girdhar said: "In some zones, nobody was willing to contest the elections. Since the ruling party's members had pressured our aspirants, the latter were reluctant to oppose the SAD candidates". Meanwhile, Congress's zila parishad candidate from Fatehpur Mania zone Hans Raj withdrew his nomination, which led to unopposed election of Akali candidate Sahib Singh as no other candidate had filed his nomination against him. Similarly, SAD got three more panchayat samiti seats, all from Malout block - Jandwala Charhat Singh, Virk Khera, Shamkot - after Congress candidates withdrew their nominations.
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‘Saada Haq’ to be screened today
Jalandhar, May 9 The film was earlier banned by the state government due to apprehensions that the film based on the life of former Chief Minister Beant Singh's assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara could flare up sentiments of certain communities. ADCP-1 Naresh Dogra along with his team visited a multiplex this evening. He said that the SHO concerned and police constables would be on guard in and around the mall. Parminder Singh Bhandal, ADCP-II, he had also asked the theatre managers to ensure that they had proper private security at various corners to keep an eye on cinemagoers and frisking each of them. RP Sharma, manager, Sarb Multiplex, said over 12 private security personnel would be on guard. "We have also been assured of proper security by the ADCP," he said. — TNS
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Officials loath to join election duty
Patiala, May 9 A number of them have either submitted a fake marriage invitation or a medical certificate to skip the election duty on May 19. With the shooting incident in Patti, where Punjab Youth Congress block president Sukhraj Singh Bhagupur was shot dead, the poll staff members are trying their best to stay away from the entire poll exercise. Offices of the district magistrates and additional deputy commissioners are flooded with such applications. Sources said officials, particularly women, were more reluctant to go for poll duty fearing law and order problem. In one such instance, an executive engineer today approached the office of a senior officer and submitted a marriage invitation card to seek exemption from poll duty for his wife. "I became suspicious as the card was of poor quality. When I told the XEN that I will file a cheating case against him if the invitation card is found fake, he accepted that the card was indeed fake", said the officer. Several officers are presently busy exploring their connections to ensure that their relative's name is not on the poll duty list. "We are scrutinising the applications. We have already detected several applications with fake testimonials. It is strange that a large number of employees are suffering from chronic mental illness," said ADC (D) Anindita Mitra. Interestingly, medical certificates citing mental and stress related diseases top the list. "If all the certificates are scrutinised minutely, 95 per cent of them would turn out to be fake," said a senior IAS officer. A government official who has applied for exemption from poll duty on medical grounds said: "There is no insurance or social security. Violence is a regular feature in these elections. We cannot risk our lives".
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polldigest
Muktsar: Jaspal Singh Marar, son of former Muktsar MLA and SGPC member Sukhdarshan Singh Marar, has been elected unopposed as member of panchayat samiti from Marar Kalan zone.
Ravinder Bansal, Tehsildar, Muktsar, said: "Nobody filed a nomination against SAD candidate Jaspal Marar. After a scrutiny of nominations today, his form has been accepted and he has been elected as a member of panchayat samiti. A formal announcement will be made later". Similarly, nobody filed nomination against SAD candidate from Seerwali panchayat samiti zone Paramjit Kaur. — TNS health staff resent duty back to ballot paper
sensitive booths in Ludhiana
31 in fray from Tarn Taran BJP leader’s depot raided
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Drug addicts to be shifted out of overcrowded jails
Chandigarh, May 9 All the 23 jails in the state are already bursting at the seams housing more than 25,000 inmates against the capacity of 18,000. Kapurthala jail alone received more than 450 drug addicts during the special drive, said reliable sources. Minister for Jails Sarwan Singh Philaur said: “Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal has asked us to look for alternative venues for housing the drug addicts.” He said the addicts were not “normal” prisoners and needed special care. The minister said the Chief minister had asked the Health Secretary to chalk out a special programme for the drug addicts in jails. “An addict comes along with a plethora of problems associated with withdrawal symptoms like hysteria,” said a senior official. The Comptroller and Auditor-General’s report tabled in the Vidhan Sabha in March this year had said that the jails were facing a shortage of doctors and warders. A senior police officer said: “A separate staff cell will be created for handling drug addicts. Merely keeping the addicts in jails will not serve any purpose.”
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Marathon against drug addiction on May 12
Chandigarh, May 9 As many as 42 villages in Sangrur have passed resolutions, urging their villages be made liquor-free. Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla has awarded Rs 2 lakh each to these
villages to encourage other villages also to become part of the “liquor-free village” movement. Now, the Sangrur District Athletic Association has decided to start an extensive drive against drug addiction. Stating this here today, Association President AK Sharma said the drive would start with a marathon race slated for May 12. He said more such events would be held at the subdivision level and that the association would build gymnasiums for rural youth and chalk out sports programmes to keep them away from drugs. Sharma said the marathon would include national and international sportspersons besides senior citizens. He said it would be flagged off by Vijay Inder Singla from Kali Mata Mandir near War Hero Stadium in Sangrur town and would culminate at the stadium later. Association general secretary Sanjay Kumar said they would also hold camps where they would counsel parents and relatives of youth on the ill effects of drugs. He said the association would also launch its website on the occasion.
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Policy for acid attack victims soon, HC told
Chandigarh, May 9 The assertion came during the hearing of a PIL filed by advocate HC Arora for directions to the state of Punjab and Chandigarh to frame a policy for free medical treatment to acid attack victims and also for providing them financial assistance. Additional Advocate-General JS Puri informed the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain that the Chief Minister had approved the draft policy. Earlier, the High Court had expressed annoyance over the delay on part of the Punjab Government in deciding the issue of giving free medical treatment to the victims. The court had expressed its anguish by observing that "acid attack victims were not beggars, if you cannot frame the policy for their free medical treatment, we may have to exercise our powers to frame such policy ". In another development, the High Court also issued notice to the State of Punjab and Chandigarh on an application filed by petitioner HC Arora. He was seeking the issuance of directions to regulate and restrict the sale of concentrated hydrochloric and sulphuric acid in the market.
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Millers protest against FCI
Moga: Tension between the rice millers and local authorities of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) came to the fore at Moga on Wednesday over the allegations of corruption and rude behavior of an FCI official with an employee of a rice miller.
Hundreds of millers and their employees gathered at a storehouse of the FCI and raised slogans. — TNS
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PEDA attracts Rs
2,500 crore investment
Chandigarh, May 9 The bids, which were held after PEDA made a policy for the same on the suggestions of Non-Renewable Energy Minister Bikram Majithia, saw major players, including Moser Baer, India Bulls, Azzure Power, Lanco Solar Energy and Punjab Lloyd, bidding for solar projects in Punjab. The bidding process, which saw 270 mw of the total 300 mw of solar projects being bid by companies, is the single largest investment coming into the state in recent years. It will see the creation of more than 7,000 jobs. Majithia said more than 30 companies participated in the bidding.
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Cong men lift dharna on SSP’s assurance
Ferozepur, May 9 Earlier, the Pradesh Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, Karan Brar, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Tript Rajinder Singh, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Darshan Brar and Hans Raj Jossan gathered inside the SSP’s office and staged a sit-in for five hours, demanding that the Akali leaders and workers involved in Tuesday’s attack on Rana Sodhi and his PA, Naseeb Singh, be booked. All this while, hundreds of Congress workers kept squatting outside the SSP’s office. After hours of parleys and closed-door negotiations, Bajwa finally came out. An elated Bajwa, who was escorted by Rana Sodhi, announced the outcome of their meeting with the SSP to the workers assembled outside the police secretariat. He said SSP Varinder Pal Singh had agreed to lodge an FIR in the case by 12 noon tomorrow. He said the police had also assured stringent action against the guilty after the special investigating team (SIT) formed to ascertain the veracity of facts in the matter submitted its report. Terming it as a “strategic triumph over the rivals”, Bajwa said the police had agreed to get the medical examination of Sodhi’s PA done at the PGI, Chandigarh, instead of the local Civil Hospital. He said the issue of assault on Rana Sodhi would be taken up with the privileges committee of the Vidhan
Sabha.
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Unauthorised use of generator sets banned
Mohali, May 9 At a meeting of officials and representatives of market associations, Parveen Kumar Thind, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), said, here today, that the directions of the National Green Tribunal on air and noise pollution would be implemented. Thind said the teams would include a Tehsildar, an Executive Officer of the civic body concerned, representatives of Punjab Pollution Control Board, the police and the market associations. Thind asked the SDMs and Executive Officers to put up notices about the ban on the use of unauthorised diesel generator sets in their offices. He also directed the pollution control board officials to expedite the survey of markets so that a report in this regard could be submitted at the earliest. The National Green Tribunal, Delhi, prohibited the use of diesel generator sets that were violating the prescribed norms of air and noise pollution in markets here. It had ordered the constitution of a committee to inspect these areas and submit a report to it. The Principal Bench of the tribunal had directed the District Magistrate, the state Pollution Control Board and the SAS Nagar Development Authority to ensure there was complete compliance of the order.— OC
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Police ‘tortures’ Cong man's son
Tarn Taran, May 9 When area residents protested, senior officers constable Pritpal was placed under suspention and an inquiry initiated against another policeman. — TNS
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JE held for taking bribe
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 9 Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Balwinder Singh said Kapil Kumar, owner of the flour mill, had complained to the bureau that Ajit Singh sought Rs 13,500 bribe to sanction a power connection for the mill. Balwinder Singh said Rs 5,000 was to be given as advance. They noted the serial number of the currency notes and coloured these before handing the money to the JE, the DSP said. He said once the money was accepted by the JE, they nabbed him in the presence of witnesses Praveen Kumar, Deputy District Education Officer (DEO), Nagender Singh, Senior Assistant DEO, Inspector Iqbal Singh, The police has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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The family of Youth Congress leader Sukhraj Singh, who was shot dead last evening, has alleged that there was a political conspiracy to kill him and that the police was hand in glove with the killers. Senior Congress leaders attended Sukraj's cremation today.
Muktsar, May 9
After an assurance by the district police chief on registration of an FIR against Akali leaders and workers who allegedly attacked Congress MLA from Guruharsahai Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi near Chaupati village two days ago, protesting Congress workers today lifted their dharna from outside the SSP’s office here.
