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Bathinda refinery fails to propel growth
Gruesome killing of teenaged boy |
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State to get power boost of 1,360 MW this year
CM: Slashing of petrol prices a gimmick, major hike in offing
Sanjha Morcha meeting on poll strategy soon, says Manpreet
Storage tariff hike halts imports at ICP
To fight dissent, Congress leaders go into a huddle
Over 35,000 apply for regularising colonies
Pak national dies in Amritsar jail
Kidnapped child freed in two hours in Guruharsahai
Moga millers fail to deliver rice worth
Rs 120 crore
Bhagwant Mann spares none in his new CD
Hospital parking staff overcharge visitors
Unemployed youth take to beekeeping in Sangrur
Eight more dengue cases reported
Punjab has failed to generate enough revenue: Expert
Bajwa betrayed farmers: Majithia
Expedite filling posts in labour wing: HC
SC bars Jalandhar, Pathankot colleges from MBBS admission
BSF constable among 2 held with 19-kg heroin
Policeman held for extortion
Cop among 3 held for extortion
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Bathinda refinery fails to propel growth
Bathinda, October 1 Guru Gobind Singh Refinery spread over 2,200 acres began operations in March 2012. Former Finance Minister Surinder Singla of the Congress claims that it was he who conceived the project in the 1990s. But the Akalis claim credit for pushing the project through. Both claim that the refinery has triggered unprecedented development in the region. This is far from the truth. It will be quite some time before the refinery will aid growth in the area. Ancilliary units missing It was claimed that a number of ancillary units would come up after the refinery started functioning. Not a single unit has come up so far, 18 months after the refinery became operational. The government has signed MoUs for setting up two firms for manufacturing plastic products. The refinery provides raw material like poly propylene which is used for making plastic furniture and car dashboards. The proposal to develop a "plastic park", where the two firms were to set up base, remains on paper. The industrial growth centre appears an abandoned piece of land, with a broken boundary wall of a manufacturing unit and wild growth all around. A similar park near the Panipat refinery is growing fast. Raw material from the Bathinda refinery is transported to the manufacturing units there. Transportation It was claimed that the transportation of sulphur, petro chemicals and polypropylene would also result in jobs. An estimated 300 trucks ferry such material from the refinery. Deepinder Singh, president of the Bathinda Truck Union, says of these about 100 are owned by local truck operators and the rest by those outside the state. Real estate Other than boosting rental business, the refinery has not resulted in new colonies. The rental business is also on the decline with a residential complex of the refinery coming up nearby. Most employees reside in Bathinda and travel more than 40 km daily for work. Hence, rental business in the city boomed initially. But with house owners adding more floors to put these on rent, this business too has seen a decline. Pollution Pollution caused by the refinery is a cause of concern. Already, residents of a Kanakwal village are being shifted to a safe location. No jobs generated It was promised that the refinery would boost the local economy, generating jobs for skilled and semi-skilled workers. However, most of the skilled workforce has been recruited from other states. Refinery officials claim that qualified staff is not available locally and that 50 students from polytechnics in Bathinda, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar have been recruited recently. But this number is too less. The refinery has failed to jack up industrial growth in the region. No ancillairy units have come up. The state government is to blame for choking industrial growth with new taxes. The new industrial policy has been of no help The Bathinda airport has come up and new train services have been introduced because of the refinery officials. The project has brought work to contractors, transporters, auto-mechanics and electricians
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Gruesome killing of teenaged boy
Malerkotla, October 1 Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani met family members of the victim at the PWD Rest House here this afternoon. He announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh from his discretionary fund for raising a memorial to the deceased. He told the bereaved family that the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of the local Civil Hospital would also be transferred if found guilty during the course of investigation. Satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, the family members gave their consent to cremate the body after a post-mortem examination. While shopkeepers in Sangrur, Sunam, Malerkotla, Dhuri, Bhawanigarh, Lehragaga, Moonak, Khanauri and Barnala observed a complete bandh today, porters held protest rallies, demanding the arrest of the killers, who burnt Vidhu Jain alive. At Dhuri, angry protesters blocked rail traffic for at least an hour. The post-mortem examination was conducted at the Civil Hospital by a board of doctors headed by Dr Gurbir Singh amid heavy police deployment. The body was cremated in the evening. The Health Minister and Member of Parliament Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa were among those who attended the last rites. Earlier in the day, protesters staged a dharna at Chhota Chowk. At about 11.30 am, they moved to Jarag Chowk on the Sangrur-Ludhiana road and blocked traffic for more than five hours. They raised slogans against the Punjab Government and the police. Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla participated in the dharna. Amargarh MLA Iqbal Singh Jhundan met the protesters at the dharna site. Jayani claimed that the killing was a conspiracy to create a misunderstanding between communities. He said he would ask the Chief Minister to order a judicial inquiry into this murder. Besides Jayani, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Farzana Alam, Commissioner of Patiala Division AS Pannu and Inspector-General of Police Ishwar Singh remained stationed at the PWD Rest House throughout the day. Damage Control
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State to get power boost of 1,360 MW this year
Jalandhar, October 1 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal are expected to preside over the inaugural ceremony. The Rajpura Thermal Plant inaugural ceremony has been fixed on December 8, the CM’s birthday. With these two units getting operational, the power generation capacity of the state will be augmented by 1,360 MW. Ever since the 420-MW Lehra Mohabbat Thermal Plant was commissioned in 1998, the state has only managed to add power generation capacity of 500 MW when it commissioned Lehra Mohabbat Stage-II in 2008. At present, the state generates 2,630 MW. Meanwhile, the first unit of the supercritical Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant in Mansa district that missed numerous deadlines will soon be commissioned. The Power Purchase Agreement between the Power Corporation and M/s Sterlite Energy Ltd was signed on September 1, 2008. The first unit of the plant was supposed to be operational by August 31, 2012, but it was revised to November 2012 and later April 2013.
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CM: Slashing of petrol prices a gimmick, major hike in offing
Fatehgarh Churian (Gurdaspur), October 1 “The Union Government and the oil companies have been deceiving the common man. Yesterday’s decrease in prices is only a publicity stunt. Actually, the ground is being prepared for a substantial hike in the next few weeks. This will not augur well for the common man as it will put an intense pressure on their monthly budget. Agriculture inputs too will be hit, which in turn means that there will be an overall increase in the prices of essential commodities,” the Chief Minister said. Speaking on the sidelines of a Sangat Darshan programme here today, Badal said the state government had already acquired land at Mullanpur, near Chandigarh, to establish a hospital on the lines of the Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, which will specifically cater to the needs of cancer patients. “I do not know why so much of time is being wasted by the Union Cabinet on giving its approval. All the formalities have been completed and once the Cabinet gives its nod, work for constructing the hospital will start immediately. It had become necessary on the part of the state government to construct such a hospital because the number of cancer patients is increasing with every passing day,” he remarked. Badal said the Prime Minister, on his recent trip to Chandigarh, had assured him that all clearances would be sanctioned soon. Observers gave a political touch to the proceedings with many SAD leaders claiming that the Chief Minister was indirectly helping the former Speaker’s son to gain a foothold in his father’s assembly segment. “Kahlon lost the last assembly elections by a wafer-thin margin of just 800 votes. Now with Badal holding a three-day Sangat Darshan in the backyard of the Kahlons, the results will surely show in the General Election. If the SAD-BJP candidate gets a lead from Fatehgarh Churian seat, it will be a big moral victory for Ravi Kiran Kahon who is being groomed as the heir apparent by the SAD,” claimed a former Akali Minister. For the second day running, the proceedings were conducted by Kahlon and his son Ravi
Kiran.
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Sanjha Morcha meeting on poll strategy soon, says Manpreet
Chandigarh, October 1 Talking to The Tribune, he said he would try to bring all Opposition parties on a single platform. “Whereas the total vote strength of the ruling SAD-BJP alliance is about 40 per cent, the remaining 60 per cent votes belong to the Opposition. If the Opposition is united, it will give a tough fight to the SAD-BJP candidates in all constituencies,” Manpreet said. He said if his unity efforts failed, the Sanjha Morcha would contest the parliamentary elections on its own. A meeting of the constituents of the Morcha would be held soon to work out an election strategy. Asked if he would contest from Bathinda, as was being speculated, he said this would become clear after a meeting with all Sanjha Morcha constituents. There are reports that the Congress, with which the PPP may enter an electoral alliance for the ensuing parliamentary elections, may not offer Manpreet the Bathinda seat. As of now, there are two strong contenders in the Congress, former Finance Minister Surinder Singla and former MLA Harmander Singh Jassi, for the Bathinda seat. Reliable sources say that the Congress may offer the Ferozepur seat, not the Bathinda seat, to Manpreet. Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, has repeatedly said at various fora that his party is in favour of an electoral alliance with like-minded secular parties, including the PPP. However, considering the rift within the Congress, it may be difficult for Bajwa to strike such an alliance. Besides, he would have to obtain the approval of the party high command for any such alliance.
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Storage tariff hike halts imports at ICP
Amritsar, October 1 A spokesperson of the Confederation of International Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CICCI) said the gypsum traders too had decided to stop imports from October 10 following a meeting here this evening. He said cement and gypsum importers had intimated Pakistani exporters not to send any fresh consignment. The CICCI also warned that the traders of other commodities like dry fruits too will be forced to stop the trade from October 10 if the LPAI authorities failed to revisit new tariff regime in consultation with the chamber members. All India Cement Importers Association president MPS Chatha said the unwarranted hike in storage tariff will further hit the bilateral trade, which is already reeling under the effect of a weak rupee over the last few weeks. “The devaluation of rupee has led to a decline in cement import by over 50 per cent, but this hike in charges will completely bring the trade to a halt." He said they had told cement traders to stop imports from Pakistan and several of them had stopped placing fresh orders. He said the cement traders were already a harried lot. “We had shifted our trade from rail route to road route in view of non-availability of wagons in the aftermath of repeated seizures of contraband in rail cargo from Pakistan. However, now it seems we can't do the trade through road route as well." Cement importer Pawan Arora said the old storage tariff was Rs 4 per tonne for the first three days and Rs 20 per tonne for the next four days. However, as per the new rates, the storage tariff will be Rs 4 per tonne for the first two days and Rs 150 per tonne for the next three days. It means there was over seven-time increase in storage charges, he said. "It takes two days for unloading and customs clearance of our consignment while our trucks enter the ICP on the third day. The loading of imported goods actually starts on the fourth day," he said. Apart from storage tariff, they also pay demurrage and service tax, he said. Indian Importers Association vice-president Pradeep Sehgal said, “The LPAI authorities didn't even bother to hold talks with the trading community, which has caused resentment among them. We've also sent them two memorandums, but there has been no response. They simply issued orders to implement revised storage tariff from October 1. It seems they want to disturb the trade without any valid reason." Augment infrastructure, demand traders A CICCI spokesperson said they had time and again demanded augmentation in the existing infrastructure at the ICP with the construction of paved and cemented platforms and additional storage space, besides repairing the leaking godowns, but nothing was done. “On the contrary, they have now implemented exorbitant tariff increase, which will kill the trade,” he said. The spokesperson said the unloading of gypsum in the open during rains this year had resulted in huge losses to the importers and they were now going to seek compensation from the LPAI for the damages.
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To fight dissent, Congress leaders go into a huddle
Chandigarh, October 1 They urged senior leaders to make sustained efforts to ensure unity in the party rank and file, lest things turned more serious. A cold war has begun between the PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa and former CM Capt Amarinder Singh camps. Already Rajasansi MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, considered close to Amarinder Singh, has written to the party high command to re-appoint Amarinder Singh to the top party post in the state. The Bajwa camp has sought Sarkaria’s expulsion for demanding so. Quizzed on the issue, Bajwa indicated that a disciplinary committee may be set up to maintain discipline in the party. Speaking to mediapersons, he said: “I don’t want to comment.The party high command is seized of the matter and will take a call on it”. Bajwa said he had twice tried to meet Sarkaria. “I went to meet Sarkaria at his residence following reports that he was not happy. Sarkaria did not share his concerns with me. But he can meet me any time if he so desires,”
he said. Party office-bearers, MLAs and DCC presidents attended the meeting. Among them were Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Congress Legislature Party (CLP)Leader Sunil Jakhar, OP Soni, Tarlochan Singh Soond, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Malti Thapar,president, Punjab Mahila Congress. The meeting passed a resolution thanking AICC vice- president Rahul Gandhi for opposing the ordinance on tainted leaders. Bajwa said Rahul Gandhi would visit Punjab on October 10 and address a public meeting at Sangrur. He said the third phase of the Congress’ mass contact programme would be launched next month. He claimed that the drive to enrol jobless youth with employment exchanges had received an overwhelming response in all constituencies. The PPCC, he said, would approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court with a data on unemployed youth to seek directions to the Punjab Government to pay unemployed allowance to them as promised. The SAD-BJP alliance in its election manifesto had promised to pay an unemployment allowance of Rs 1,000 per month. Bajwa said more than 65 lakh youth in Punjab were without a job. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and in charge of Punjab Congress affairs Shakeel Ahmed has asked CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar to look into the issue of Sarkaria writing to the high command and expressing dissatisfaction at the PPCC chief's functioning. He has been asked to submit a report by October 5. Sarkaria summoned by high command
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Over 35,000 apply for regularising colonies
Chandigarh, October 1 For the facilitation of applicants, offices of PUDA and GLADA would remain open on Saturday and Sunday as well, an official spokesman said. He clarified that there would be no extension of deadline beyond October 7. Ludhiana, with approximately 9,000 applications, led in the number of applications received followed by Amritsar (3,000) and Jalandhar (2,000). The state government has deputed nodal officers for every illegal colony. Awareness camps are being organised under the supervision of Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and tehsildars. "The state may take legal action against errant colonisers, promoters and developer under the PAPR Act: 1995," the spokesman warned.
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Pak national dies in Amritsar jail
Amritsar, October 1 The 28-year-old Pakistani national was caught by the Ferozepur police on September 20, 2007, for entering the Indian territory without any valid documents. He was shifted to the Amritsar jail on January 22, 2010. Since his home address in Pakistan could not be ascertained through records available with the jail authorities, the matter was conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs. Deputy Jail Superintendent RK Sharma said: “ We have informed the External Affairs Ministry about the death and are awaiting a reply.The ministry will coordinate with its Pakistan counterparts to ascertain his whereabouts. If this proves futile, we will bury him as per the Muslim rites.”
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Kidnapped child freed in two hours in Guruharsahai
Ferozepur, October 1 The police, however, managed to rescue the child, Dhruv, son of Sanjeev Vohra, within two hours even though the kidnappers are yet to be arrested. Deputy Inspector General Manish Chawla said the accused introduced herself as the family’s domestic help at the child’s school and took him away in a car around 12:30 pm. The accused then called up the child’s grandfather, Ashok Kumar Vohra, and demanded a ransom of Rs 70 lakh. The family approached the police, which sealed all exit points from the town. The phone number from which the call was made was also put on surveillance. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manminder Singh said the kidnappers also seemed to be keeping track of the police action. He said when the accused noticed that the police had launched a massive manhunt, they abandoned the child at an isolated location on the town’s outskirts. The police later rescued the child and handed him over to his family. The SSP said efforts were on to arrest the accused.
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Moga millers fail to deliver rice worth
Rs 120 crore
Moga, October 1 The extended milling period expired on September 30. Initial estimates suggest the rice is valued around Rs 120 crore, which has probably been siphoned off by the 50-odd rice mills. No legal action has been initiated against the defaulting mills so far. Instead, their owners have reportedly been lobbying to get fresh paddy for milling during the current season. An official in the FCI said 17,973 tonnes of paddy allotted by the Punjab Agro-Food Corporation (PAFC) to various rice mills was pending for delivery to the central pool from last year’s crop. Other Punjab agencies, including Markfed (10,973 tonnes), Punsup (7,023 tonnes), Punjab Warehousing Corporation (6,849 tonnes) and Pungrain (1,819 tonnes) also have rice pending for delivery to the central pool. There are over 300 rice mills in the district and most of the defaulting mills are located in Dharamkot, Nihalsinghwala and Baghapurana sub-divisions.
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Bhagwant Mann spares none in his new CD
Chandigarh, October 1 On the recent controversy regarding schoolbooks carrying objectionable material, Bhagwant, in his inimitable style, says that time is not far when questions in exams will read thus: write a detailed note on “ehna ve na dope shope maria karo”, "main pind nanke rehanda see, te uh bhua kol pardi see, "marjani paundi bhangra…" In his latest satire, Bhagwant spares none. Attacking claims on a “power surplus Punjab”, he says power is supplied in Punjab before breakfast, after lunch and while going to bed, much like a doctor's prescription, with the power authorities announcing a two-hour cut in the morning, another after lunch and the third in the evening. He narrates the woes of Punjabis, especially the elderly, living in Canada, the US and the UK. On flourishing private transport operators and the poor state of Punjab Roadways, he says state buses are now of use only to protesters who set these on fire to express their ire. Some Punjabi singers who have been promoting vulgarity have especially been targeted by Bhagwant and so have those smearing the image of Jats by portraying them as violent and rebellious.
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Hospital parking staff overcharge visitors
Patiala, October 1 While the government rate for parking cycle, scooter and car is Rs 1, 2 and 5, respectively, the operators are charging more money from the visitors, i.e. Rs 5 for cycles, Rs 10 for scooters and Rs 20 for cars. Moreover, for multiple entries, they are charging Rs 20 from scooter and Rs 40 from car owners. Moreover, there have been instances wherein on refusal to pay the hiked amount, contractors have manhandled the visitors. Secretary of the forum HS Arora said charging extra parking fee from visitors was a common problem at Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. “If the visitors ask for proper slips, the parking operators misbehave with them. Despite repeated complaints with the authorities in this regard, no concrete action has been taken so far,” said Arora. The Rajindra Hospital Bachao Action Committee has held several meetings with Government Medical College and Hospital representatives in this regard in the past, but the authorities said they were unable to solve the problem. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr VK Sharda, said he had already warned the contractors but to no avail. Therefore, they had formed a committee that would submit a report to the higher authorities, seeking removal of the contractor. “We have got boards displayed with the original rates and have also issued them parking slips. But during surprise checks, it has come to light that they are not giving the slips issued by us and are rather charging much higher parking fee. We have already formed a committee and will be submitting a report to the office of the Director, Research and Medical Education, seeking immediate cancellation of the contract of the contractor if the practice continues,” he added.
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Unemployed youth take to beekeeping in Sangrur
Sangrur, October 1 At the Krishi Vigiyan Kendra (KVK), Kherri, Sangrur, training is imparted in beekeeping four times a year. For every batch of 35 that is trained for six days, an equal number of people are on the waiting list. Under a scheme of the National Horticulture Mission, new beekeepers are given 50 per cent subsidy on every bee colony (box) that cost around Rs 3,000. There are over 100 beekeepers in Sangrur district, who produce more than 5 lakh kg of honey every year from more than 22,000 bee colonies. Malerkotla has the maximum 41 beekeepers, followed by 21 in Ahmedgarh, 15 in Sangrur, 10 in Dhuri, 9 in Sunam, 4 in Bhawanigarh and 2 in Sherpur. A young beekeeper Sukhwinder Singh from Gaggarpur said he extracted around 20 kg of honey from a bee colony in a year that he sold for Rs 70 to 80 per kg. As the seasons change, the beekeepers in state take their bee colonies to Uttar Pradesh (UP), Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to maximise their produce. In November and December, they go to UP and Rajasthan where coriander and mustard crops are grown. They bring the bees to Punjab in March when eucalyptus flowers bloom and later sunflowers in May and June.
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Eight more dengue cases reported
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 1 Surinder Kaur of Mandi Gobindgarh recently succumbed to the disease. Of the 41 cases reported, 24 were men, 15 women and two children. Even though the department is holding seminars to raise awareness on the disease, the number of cases has been on the rise. District Health Officer Dr Kulwinder Singh said every time a case comes to light, the area is fogged to check the spread of disease.
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Punjab has failed to generate enough revenue: Expert
Patiala, October 1 Professor Tapas K Sen, National Institute for Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi, said this at a special lecture on ‘State finances in India with special reference to Punjab’ jointly organised by Centre for Development Economics and Innovation Studies and Planning Commission Chair at Punjabi University here yesterday. He also highlighted the fact that many states in the country had overcome financial imbalance caused by various factors, including revision of pay grades, liabilities/debts to be paid by the state. —TNS
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Bajwa betrayed farmers: Majithia
Ludhiana, October 1 He criticised Bajwa for encouraging farmers to go to the national capital to seek a special package but failing to arrange a meeting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Majithia said the “plain refusal” of Sonia to meet the farmers’ delegation showed the Congress’ “apathy” towards the community. Majithia, who is also the president of the Youth Akali Dal, claimed that Bajwa had failed in leading the Congress at several Youth Akali Dal (YAD) rallies.—TNS
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Expedite filling posts in labour wing: HC
Chandigarh, October 1 The directions by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Mahesh Grover came on a petition filed in public interest by the Punjab General Mazdoor Federation against the State of Punjab and another respondent. The federation sought directions to the state and the other respondent to fill the posts of Assistant Labour Commissioners, Labour-cum-Conciliation Officers, Labour Inspectors Grade-I and Grade-II of the labour wing as well as posts of Deputy Director of Factories, Assistant Director of Factories, Assistant Director of Factories (Medical) and Assistant Director of Factories (Chemical) of the factory wing. The petitioner told the court that the posts were lying vacant for the past couple of years “affecting essential rights of the workers” in cases filed under the Industrial Disputes Act, Employee’s Compensation Act, Payment of Gratuity Act, Payment of Wages Act and Minimum Wages Act. The federation counsel told the court that a representation was submitted last year, but without response. Claiming that another representation was made on August 14, the counsel further submitted there was no paucity of funds as a 1 per cent cess was imposed on construction activity. The cess, he said, was meant for the benefit of workmen. Taking up the matter, the Bench directed: “We call upon the State of Punjab to take necessary action to fill the posts as early as possible to make the provisions of different Acts beneficial to the workmen". Fixing December 6 as the date for informing the High Court on compliance of the orders, the Bench added: “The continued absence of incumbents of these posts is resulting in adverse repercussion on the workmen”.
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SC bars Jalandhar, Pathankot colleges from MBBS admission
Jalandhar/Patiala, October 1 The Supreme Court has upheld the decision announced earlier by the Medical Council of India and the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Both the colleges, Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Jalandhar, and Chintpurni Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), Pathankot, have 150 seats each. Another interesting factor is that the two colleges, run through societies, are being headed by politicians belonging to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance. The Jalandhar institute is run by PIMS Medical and Educational Charitable Society. Its chairman is Surjit Singh Rakhra, senior Akali leader and a Punjab Cabinet Minister. The Pathankot college is managed by the Chintpurni School Educational Society, with BJP leader from Gurdaspur Swaran Salaria as its chairman. Sources said paucity of funds has brought PIMS, once a premier institute of the Doaba region, on the verge of closure. From non-payment of salaries to snapping of power connection, the college has been in the news mostly for wrong reasons in recent past. Sources said certain members of the society had not even pooled in their share of money for running the college. Another reason, said sources, was the tussle over ownership, though Rakhra denied there was any such struggle. The Pathankot institute too has been into a financial mess and an ownership wrangling between Salaria, a Mumbai-based businessman, and former chairman Sunil Joshi, a liquor baron. Amid vested interests, it’s the medical aspirants who have suffered the most. They had gathered at the colleges yesterday when the Supreme Court decision decided on the matter. Ironically, September 30 was also the last day of admission to Punjab medical colleges, which are governed by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. The Doctors Federation of India (The Docsfed) has demanded that the Punjab Government should take over the reins of the PIMS, which were handed over to the society a few years ago.
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BSF constable among 2 held with 19-kg heroin
Amritsar, October 1 Among the accused is a serving BSF constable, Gurpreet Singh of Chuslewar. The other accused is Gurwinder Singh of Ramuwal village. The kingpin, Rachpal Singh of Ramuwal village, had been arrested earlier. On a tip-off received from Rachpal, the police and the SSOC laid a trap for Gurwinder, who was to meet Gurpreet. Raj Jit Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Tarn Taran, said the district police thereafter listed out the main smugglers and charted the trafficking routes. “Rachpal was in touch with Pakistani smugglers Abad Ali of Sharinwala in Lahore and Zulfikar of Sehjra, who supplied him heroin. Rachpal has also disclosed the identity of other Indian smugglers and an operation has been launched to nab them,” he said. Raj Jit pointed out that Rachpal also had links with certain other BSF officials, who helped him get the consignments of heroin from across the border.
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Policeman held for extortion
Patiala, October 1 Rajpura SHO Rajan Parminder Singh said Sudhir Kumar, a Haryana resident, had registered a complaint at the city police station that he was lured by two women, Darshana and Rani, who took him to the former’s house. Sudhir alleged that when he reached her house, Darshana called two men and havildsar Swaran Singh, who threatened him and demanded Rs 20,000 from him. The two men said they would get a rape case registered against him if he did not pay up. Since Sudhir had only Rs 15,000, he was asked to hand over the remaining money by the evening. The accused also took his mobile phone away. However, Sudhir Kumar filed a complaint with the Rajpura police station that a Punjab policeman and two women, who allegedly run a prostitution racket, were blackmailing the victim. The Rajpura police has arrested Swaran Singh, Darshana and Rani under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code.
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Cop among 3 held for extortion
Patiala, October 1 Rajpura SHO Rajan Parminder Singh said Sudhir Kumar, a Haryana resident, had registered a complaint at the city police station that he was lured by two women, Darshana and Rani, who took him to the former’s house. Sudhir alleged that when he reached her house, Darshana called two men and havaldsar Swaran Singh, who threatened him and demanded Rs 20,000 from him. The two men said they would get a rape case registered against him if he did not pay up. Since Sudhir had only Rs 15,000, he was asked to hand over the remaining money by the evening. The accused also took his mobile phone away. However, Sudhir Kumar filed a complaint with the Rajpura police station that a Punjab policeman and two women, who allegedly run a prostitution racket, were blackmailing the victim. The Rajpura police has arrested Swaran Singh, Darshana and Rani under relevant sections of the
IPC.
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Fatehgarh Churian (Gurdaspur), October 1
Amritsar, October 1
Sangrur, October 1
Amritsar: Following his outburst against Pradesh Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa, the Congress high command has reportedly summoned Rajasansi MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria to New Delhi. When contacted, Sarkaria said he was yet to receive a formal communication in this regard though he had been intimated by a senior Congress leader. Sarkaria had shot off a letter to AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Sunday, accusing the PPCC chief of failing to win the trust of party leaders and workers and seeking the re-appointment of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to the key post. Sarkaria had alleged that the Punjab Congress was being run as a corporate in which traditional Congress workers had no say. He had charged Bajwa with failing to take everybody along. A day after his outburst, Punjab Congress leaders had demanded Sarkaria's expulsion from the party. But some leaders dissociated themselves from the issue soonafter. — TNS
