Assault on policemen: Brothers acquitted of charge after 16 years
Amritsar, July 7
Arjuna Award winner Raghubir Singh Bal and international hammer thrower Sukhwinder Singh Bal, both Deputy Commandants in the CRPF, were arrested by the police on December 31, 1997 for allegedly breaking the police cordon and assaulting policemen on duty.

Presiding officer booked for fraud
Amritsar, July 7
The Beas police has booked a presiding officer Kanwarjit Singh for cheating and helping a group with affiliations to a political party during the panchayat elections which were held on July 3.

Families irked over pension delay 
Amritsar, July 7
Despite the launch of an online system for transferring monthly pension directly into the bank accounts of family members of militancy victims by the Punjab government, many beneficiaries are yet to get their pension.

Forum penalises Punjab State Power Corporation
Amritsar, July 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Punjab State Power Corporation to issue letters demanding an option under the Accelerated Release of Tubewell Connections (ARTC) scheme for the release of tubewell connections within one month to the complainants in two cases.

Ajaydeep Singh of Khalsa College adjudged best camper
Amritsar, July 7
Ajaydeep Singh from Khalsa College, Amritsar, was adjudged the best camper and Sachin Bharti from Guru Nanak Dev University, Regional Campus, Jalandhar, was declared second best camper at the youth leadership camp, a hiking and trekking training camp, organised by GNDU at Dalhousie.

Amritsar, July 7
Even as the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) had recently cracked a whip against those who defaced the public places and properties with a view to introducing the state government’s outdoor advertisement policy in an ‘intensive manner’, the rules become a casualty when it comes to putting up posters of political parties.

The civic body had even registered an FIR against as many as 10 individuals and firms which installed posters and hoardings for advertisement purpose in an illegal manner.

But ironically enough, scores of hoardings welcoming BJP president Rajnath Singh in the city were put up at the historic Town Hall building from where MC office is run. Every nook and corner of Company Bagh and the Hall Gate were dotted with posters.

Majority of these hoardings contained message as “Released by city Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora” many of them were installed on behalf of senior local BJP leaders.

There is a provision of awarding one-year imprisonment and penalty of Rs 50,000 under the Punjab Prevention of Pubic Property Defacement Act. In violation of the High Court orders, the BJP leaders went overboard to make their presence felt by putting up hoardings and banners to welcome their party president Rajnath Singh.

These huge posters were installed right at the city’s main entry gate from GT Road and also the key roundabouts. The officials remained tightlipped when asked about the hoardings installed by the BJP.

The High Court had given clear directions about putting up of hoardings on the roadside as it diverts the drivers’ attention and could cause mishaps.

Huge billboards depicting pictures of Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and other key BJP leaders were spotted at Queen’s Road, Crystal Chowk and the busy Bhandari Bridge. Even electricity poles and the entry and exit area of the elevated road too were not spared. Officials said they had a list of locations where putting up of hoardings or posters wass legally allowed but the veracity of the list could not be ascertained.

Brij Bedi, a city-based social worker, said, “The government's outdoor state advertisement policy has been reduced to papers only. Political leaders and the city Mayor themselves are bent upon spoiling the city’s grace."

Amritsar, July 7
Arjuna Award winner Raghubir Singh Bal and international hammer thrower Sukhwinder Singh Bal, both Deputy Commandants in the CRPF, were arrested by the police on December 31, 1997 for allegedly breaking the police cordon and assaulting policemen on duty.

The two brothers still remember the torture they were put through by the Punjab Police.

A local court yesterday dismissed the police case against them and sentenced three senior police officials to three years of imprisonment on the basis of a private complaint by the Bal brothers in the local CJM court.

The court has convicted DIG (Border Range) SS Bhullar (retired), Inspector (Civil Lines) Balbir Singh and then DSP (Civil Lines) RK Bakshi (now SP).

"We felt that these three have not got the punishment they deserved. Our whole life changed after the incident," said Raghubir Singh, adding that the CRPF denied them promotions as they were implicated in a case by the Punjab Police.

The brothers later retired as Commandants from the CRPF. "Many of our juniors went on to become DIGs and even further. But this case put full stop on our promotions," said Sukhwinder Singh Bal. The two have now decided to approach the Union Home Ministry as the case against them has been dismissed.

Sukhwinder recalled that on the fateful day they had came to Lawrence Road like many others who were celebrating the New Year. "We were not allowed to enter the road while we saw two other vehicles which were allowed to pass. The policemen said those vehicles had family members of senior police officials.”

“We asked them to allow us too as we too were officers," said Sukhiwnder, adding that this was enough to annoy the police officials.

Sukhiwnder said they were taken to police station with their arms tied behind their backs.

"We were thrashed like we were petty criminals. Even the police did not register an FIR on our complaint and instead a case was made against us," said Sukhwinder Singh. 

Amritsar, July 7
The Beas police has booked a presiding officer Kanwarjit Singh for cheating and helping a group with affiliations to a political party during the panchayat elections which were held on July 3.

A case was registered following a complaint filed by Returning Officer (RO) Harsharanjit Singh in this connection.

Harsharanjit complained that on June 3 once the polling was over, he received information that the polling staff of a booth in Sherobaga village was illegally detained by the villagers who were protesting against them.

He said when he reached there, the residents of the village demanded recounting of the votes. He said during recounting, around 20 more ballot papers were found than the total number of votes polled. Similarly, more ballot papers were found in the ballot box for a panchayat member. He alleged that someone had placed these ballot papers in the boxes in connivance with the polling staff.

Sukhdev Singh, investigating officer, said the Returning Officer had filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner who had directed the police to register a case. He said a case under Section 420, 166, 167 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Public Representation Act had been registered against the accused.

Amritsar, July 7
Despite the launch of an online system for transferring monthly pension directly into the bank accounts of family members of militancy victims by the Punjab government, many beneficiaries are yet to get their pension.

For the past six months, they have been making rounds of the officials concerned but in vain. The family members complained that they never received pension on time.

“We generally get the pension after a delay of minimum two months while at times it takes four to six months. We feel helpless and the clerical staffs in the government offices avoid responding to our grievances,” said Gurmeet Kaur, one of the victim and resident of Rasulpur Kalar.

Veero, another victim, said she faced a lot of problems in getting her payments.

All India Terrorist Victims’ Association chairman BR Hastir alleged that the victim families were being subjected to harassment due to the indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned.

The online system was introduced in the treasury department by the government so that the families do not have to make rounds of the offices for the payments. With the online system, the monthly pension can be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. However, he said the clerical staff bothered a least to send the mandatory details to the treasury department.

“The clerks concerned have to send the details of pension beneficiaries to the district treasuries. They failed to do so which led to the delay in the release of the pension,” he said.

The association warned that it would be forced to take agitation if the authorities fail to make necessary correction in the system.

“If the pensions are not paid to the beneficiaries within seven days, the families affected will be forced to gherao the SDMs’ offices all over the state,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal said he did not have any knowledge about the problem, but he would enquire into the issue from the SDMs and solve it soon. He said there might be some technical problems due to the recent launch of the online system.

Amritsar, July 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Punjab State Power Corporation to issue letters demanding an option under the Accelerated Release of Tubewell Connections (ARTC) scheme for the release of tubewell connections within one month to the complainants in two cases.

The corporation has been directed to pay Rs 2,000 as litigation expenses to each of the complainants, Joginder Singh, a resident of Bhakna Kalan and Harmeet Singh, a resident of Chiddan village.

Joginder Singh had complained that he had applied for a tubewell connection by depositing Rs 270 on November 2, 1998. He regularly visited the opposite party for the release of the tubewell connection, but the opposite party delayed the matter under one pretext or the other.

Harmeet Singh also had applied for a tubewell connection in May, 1997, but failed to get the same after which he approached the consumer forum.

In Joginder Singh’s case, the power corporation stated that the name of the complainant was not entered in the CD due to an error occurred while preparing the seniority list of pending applications. Thus, the option letter under the ARTC scheme could not be issued to the complainant.

In Harmeet Singh’s case, the officials stated that the name could not be entered in the service register due to the clerical negligence.

The forum observed that the option letters, which were required to be issued for getting the option from the complainants for the release of their tubewell connections under the ARTC scheme, were to be obtained till December 12, 2011. But because of non-issuing of the letters by the opposite party, the complainant could not avail the opportunity to give option under the ARTC scheme, and it amounts to deficiency of service.

Amritsar, July 7
Ajaydeep Singh from Khalsa College, Amritsar, was adjudged the best camper and Sachin Bharti from Guru Nanak Dev University, Regional Campus, Jalandhar, was declared second best camper at the youth leadership camp, a hiking and trekking training camp, organised by GNDU at Dalhousie.

A team of Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, and a team of Khalsa College, Amritsar, have bagged the first and second spot, respectively in the best disciplined team category.

The seven-day camp was concluded recently at the University Students Holiday Home, Dalhousie and it was organised by the Department of Youth Welfare of the University.

GS Dhillon, Principal, DPS, Dalhousie, was the chief guest at the valedictory function. Dr Johra, Director Youth Welfare Panjab University, Chandigarh, was the guest of honour. Dr Jagjit Kaur, Director, Youth Welfare, welcomed the chief guest and others. S Hardial Singh Aman, Chairman, Hazrat Sai Mian Mir, International Foundation, Ludhiana, was also present at the function.

Dr Kamla, an agriculturist, presented her views on the role of youth in society, respect of labour, right of information-2005, drug addiction and value of time at the camp.

Dhillon said such camps play an important role in the overall development of the students. He said every student should achieve their goals by dedication and hard work.

Amritsar, July 7
A procession for environment awareness from the Golden Temple to the Company Bagh and inauguration of zero disposal parks (ZDPs) marked the third and final day of the Amritsar Foundation Day celebrations here on Saturday.

Braving rainy conditions, scores of citizens and schoolchildren participated in the march that was flagged off by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh in the morning. 

The procession waded through inundated roads at places to reach the Company Bagh where an interfaith meeting of citizens was presided over by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajat Agarwal.

Representatives of Durgiana Mandir, Shivala Bhayian, city mosques and churches were also present. All India Pingalwara Charitable Society Chairperson Bibi Inderjit Kaur, and members of CII, Chief Khalsa Diwan, Khalsa College Society, Voice of Amritsar, Khudai Khidmatgaran, Lions and Rotary Clubs, Amritsar Club, Amritsar Vikas Manch, and Art Gallery also attended the event.

Representatives from Nanhi Chaan distributed 1,100 saplings to children supported by the SGPC. Addressing the gathering, Eco-Amritsar chairman Gunbir Singh said, “This beginning is a blessed one. Today, we have goals to achieve, assess and create impact in the holy city till the next Foundation Day. Today’s procession has raised our confidence manifold.”

Amritsar, July 7
Reacting to the protests by a few radical Sikh organisations on the Jallianwala Bagh Road widening issue, former Cabinet Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla has requested all to not to give religious or political hues to the issue as it concerns livelihood of hundreds of families.

Chawla had irked the organisations with her statement issued yesterday that the state government should not displace shopkeepers.

These outfits have accused Chawla of creating bottlenecks in the project for beautification of the Golden Temple complex.

Chawla in a statement issued today said, “These governments can fight for verdicts against terrorists given by the Supreme Court, but would displace poor shopkeepers reasoning that it is a court decision.”

She said people should not give political or religious colour to the issue as it concerns families who would bear the brunt of displacement and would lose their source of livelihood. 

Amritsar, July 7
Local girl Binny Sharma, who first grabbed eyeballs with her performances in reality show Dance India Dance’s season 2 and later charmed the Indian television audience with her shows “Sanjog Se Bani Sangini” and “Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna”, was in the city to be a part of Dancing Star, a talent show. The event organised 
by choreographer duo Pankaj and Preeti has provided a platform to many aspiring dancers to showcase their talent.

Binny graced the event as a special guest and enjoyed going back to the stage to show some moves. “I love dancing because that’s what I have been doing since I was six. It gave me the confidence, passion and strength to pursue my dreams,” says the dancer-actor. Calling Amritsar a talent powerhouse, she quips, “The city has much to prove. I am visiting Amritsar after 12 years and I have already found it different. It has developed a lot.”

Binny, got her first break with the DID season 2 and has never looked back. “The DID was my first step towards my goals. I feel blessed to have been a part of something special. I believe that after Boogie Woogie, the DID was the only show on television that brought international and innovative concepts of dancing for the Indian audience. As a dancer, I never knew some of these styles of choreography but post DID experience, I think my skills have been polished thoroughly.”

Binny is eager to be a part of another reality show, “I was offered to be a part of Nach Baliye but I couldn’t because I do not have a “baliye”. May be the next time, but till then I am open to do anything interesting,” she shares.

As far her acting career is concerned, Binny is busy working on a few scripts. “I have completed my second show Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna and am currently doing theatre. I want to do good work, whether in dancing or acting.” Ask her to choose between the two and she is quick to reply, “Both are inherent to me. I love dancing but acting too is a strong pillar in my life. I want to be true and honest to both. But I believe that I can achieve more through dancing, as an actor might have a short shelf life, but dancing is forever.”

She advises dancing to those who want to break free of their inhibitions. “Dancing gives you a free mind and a fit body. It sets you free,” she says.