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State Lokpal lacks teeth to check graft
Ex-Speaker Kahlon acquitted in JCB scam
Yet another cut in property tax
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Free 108 Sikh detainees in state jails first, Capt to CM
In poll gear, Badals descend on Bathinda
Bajwa: PPCC list any time
Faridkot docs allege attack, observe strike
NAPA demands CBI probe in Devyani case
Sikh groups approach UN on Khalsa issue
Day 4: Suwidha services remain
paralysed
SGPC identifies gurdwara for displaying Guru’s relics
Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan begins today
Will join protest if wages not paid, Pargat Singh tells PIMS staff
Punjab’s platter soon to have home-grown exotic vegetables
The saplings of high-breed brinjals are ready in the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Kartarpur. Tribune photo
Pollution behind Lehra Mohabbat plant’s tripping
Students protest over teacher’s transfer
ETT teachers’ agitation enters Day 4
10 yrs for French national held with RDX
Attacker of elderly Sikh sent to mental hospital
‘Killer’ of ex-MLA’s brother held
Sarpanch among 9 booked
Gunman held for using foul language against SDM
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State Lokpal lacks teeth to check graft
Chandigarh, December 19 In Punjab, restricted jurisdiction of the state Lokpal has, in fact, rendered it ineffectual to deal with corruption cases; and has taken the sting out of the movement aimed at “proper investigation” of complaints against public men and “thereby ensuring eradication of corruption”. Limited jurisdiction Punjab Lokpal Justice Jai Singh Sekhon himself admits limited area of control and authority of the Lokpal office in the state. “The objective of the Punjab Lokpal Act is to secure proper investigation of inquiry against public men. Public servants are still not under its purview,” he acknowledges. A look at the Act makes it clear that a “public man" means a person who holds or has held the office of a minister, a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the state, the chairman and a member of a Board constituted by or under the state or Central Act or otherwise. It also includes chairman of a government company; and chairman and member of non-statutory committee nominated by the state government. The term “public servant” under the Act has the same meaning as Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and includes Judge, every officer of a Court of Justice, juryman, assessor, or member of a panchayat assisting a Court of Justice or public servant. It is believed that a substantial number of complaints received by the Lokpal’s office are against the government employees. But the Lokpal office lacks powers to investigate such complaints. Changed scenario Justice Sekhon also believes that the passing of the Lokpal Bill by the parliamentarians will bring about a change; and the authorities concerned in the state will have to bring about some alterations in the existing scheme of dealing with issues of corruption and sleaze. “Immediate fallout of the passing of the Lokpal Bill by Parliament will be a comparison of the effectiveness of the Lokpal at the national level and at the state level; and the contrast will bring out lacunae and insufficiencies in the battle against dishonesty at the state level through the Lokpal’s office,” he says. Losing battle As of now, the Lokpal in the state is not fighting a winning battle. Established to deal with complaints against functioning of politicians and other public men, Punjab Lokpal virtually has nothing to take in hand. Available information suggests that over the last decade, the office has dealt with an average of only four complaints a year, even as its annual budget registered a steep hike from Rs 1.53 crore to Rs 20.34 crore. Human Empowerment League of Punjab general secretary Parvinder Singh Kitna says information received under the Right to Information Act shows that the Lokpal office did not receive any complaint from 2003 to 2005. Between 2006 and 2012, it received only about 40 complaints. In his initial four months in office from November 17, 2012, Justice Sekhon did not receive any complaint Things have only improved with the amendment carried out in the Punjab Lokpal Act to authorise the Lokpal to look into complaints of corruption against chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of zila parishads, mayors, senior mayors and deputy mayors of municipal corporations, and presidents and vice-presidents of municipal committees. Justice Sekhon says the efficacy of the institute to wage honest war against dishonesty has increased. But lot is still required. Justice Sekhon believes that staff is adequate to deal with the complaints it was now receiving; but would need more manpower if its purview is to be increased. The office currently has one Inspector-General rank police officer, along with four constables and head constables to look into complaints. Dynamic body Additional Solicitor-General of India Mohan Jain says the Lokpal needs to be made independent. “The office of the Lokpal depends upon the state government to provide it with infrastructure and other facilities. To begin with, it should be made completely independent just like the High Courts,” he asserts. Former Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court Justice RS Mongia says the only way to make Lokpal a more potent body is to model the Lokpal Bill on Karnataka Lokayukta Act. Elaborating, Justice Mongia says the institutions of the Lokpal in Punjab and Haryana enjoy recommendatory powers. They can only make recommendations to the government to initiate action against the erring public men, but cannot direct the registration of an FIR, or initiate contempt of court proceedings. The Karnataka Lokayukta Act, on the other hand, has been effective in addressing issues related to corruption and maladministration. The Act not only empowers the institution to recommend but also straightway lodge
FIRs.
Low complaint rate
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Ex-Speaker Kahlon acquitted in JCB scam
Mohali, December 19 The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Dilbagh Singh Johal acquitted Kahlon, JS Kesar, former Principal Secretary, Panchayats; Baldev Singh, the then chief engineer; Anil Bhatia, deputy general manager (sales), JCB; Anil Sood and Kamaljit Singh. The Rural Development Department had purchased 103 JCB machines for Rs 14 crore in 2002. The machines were allegedly bought at a much higher price. A case was registered under Sections 13 (1) D read with Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, besides Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC. The prosecution had presented 74 witnesses while the defence counsel 12. After the verdict, Kahlon alleged that he had been a victim of political vendetta. He said he had full faith in the judiciary. Earlier in 2011, the former Speaker was acquitted in a scam involving the recruitment of 909 panchayat secretaries.
About the case
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Yet another cut in property tax
Chandigarh, December 19 The tax on rented residential property is to be slashed from 7.5 per cent to 3 per cent and on commercial property from 10 per cent to 7.5 per cent. The agenda for lowering the tax will be taken up during the Punjab Cabinet meeting scheduled next week. Once the go-ahead from the Cabinet comes, the Local Bodies Department, which is collecting the tax, will be issuing a related notification. Confirming the development, Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi told The Tribune that the decision to lower the tax on these two sectors had been taken so as to provide maximum relief to assesses who were now in the process of depositing the tax. Though approval from the Cabinet is yet to come, Joshi said he had already issued directions to all municipal corporations and municipal councils that they collect tax as per the new slab. The government move has come following large-scale dissent among people over the tax. The step is also being seen as an attempt by the SAD-BJP alliance to keep its urban vote-bank intact. Till date, the government has collected Rs 170 crore as property tax, the highest amount coming from Ludhiana. Sources said tax collection from commercial property was low as compared to residential units. Joshi said the protest against the tax was unjustified as it, after the latest cut, was quite less as compared to house tax. This is the third time the government is diluting the property tax. The government is already giving a rebate of 10 per cent to all those who are depositing the tax before December 31.
New slab
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Free 108 Sikh detainees in state jails first, Capt to CM
Mehraj (Bathinda), December 19 Talking to the media after addressing an impressive gathering in his ancestral village here this afternoon, he claimed that 108 such detainees were lodged in the state jails. He said he would do his bit to ensure the release of these detainees. “The Badals have supported Gurbaksh Singh’s demand for the release of Sikh detainees. The CM’s son holds the Home portfolio, yet he has done nothing to see these detainees in state jails are freed,” he said. He said there were 280 Sikh detainees in the state of which 108 were political prisoners. “The Chief Minister can put pressure on other states, especially Rajasthan where the BJP has formed the government. But he will not do so. He has also ignored the plight of Sikh farmers, who may lose their land in Gujarat, where BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is Chief Minister,” Amarinder Singh pointed out. To a query, he said, “Sonia Gandhi asked me in March this year if I was interested in being an MP or in holding a position at the Centre. I told her I would want to work for Punjab alone.” On an alliance with Manpreet Badal-led People’s Party of Punjab, he said Manpreet was media’s creation and the Congress did not need his support. He claimed the state Congress stood united and would win the coming Lok Sabha elections. Amarinder Singh was in the village for a bhog ceremony. Though leaders owing loyalty to PPCC chief Partap Bajwa, including former MLA Harminder Jassi, a ticket aspirant for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, stayed away, a number of sitting and ex- MLAs from Bathinda, Faridkot and Muktsar were present at the rally. Sitting MLA Ajaib Bhatti drew Amarinder Singh’s attention to the plight of 40 persons in Rampura who had taken ill because of spray of pesticides. Claiming that at least seven affected persons had been killed, he said the CM had promised to give Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and bear the expenses of those under treatment. But not a penny had been received so far.
Beant’s kin say...
The family of the late Chief Minister Beant Singh today said it would not object to the release of Sikh detainees who had completed their jail term. “For us, peace in the state is most important,” said a family member. Ravneet Bittu, MP, Gurkirat Kotli, MLA, and Gurkanwal Kaur expressed anguish at the ‘inhuman’ treatment meted out to the detainees who have served their terms. Lakhwinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Shamsher Singh have been in jail for more than 18 years for their
role in Beant Singh’s assassination.
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In poll gear, Badals descend on Bathinda
Lambi (Muktsar), December 19 Harsimrat has been regularly holding
Sangat Darshan in Bathinda and Mansa districts. Her husband, Deputy CM Sukhbir
Badal, joined her in the exercise two weeks ago. Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal began a two-day Sangat Darshan programme in the Lambi segment, despite
the inclement weather. Earlier this month, he had held Sangat Darshans in
villages in Lambi and Gidderbaha. Top officials have been told to prepare lists
of public demands. Asked about his functions in the Lambi assembly segment,
the CM said: “Since most of the area in this constituency is hit by
waterlogging, the government is focusing on the area.”
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Bajwa: PPCC list any time
Chandigarh, December 19 The proposed list has names of more than 260 members with at least 158 in the executive committee, 12 vice-presidents, 25 general secretaries and 53 secretaries. The PPCC president said the final list should be out before the weekend. On the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra
Modi, he said: “Those in Punjab who are in a minority should not expect anything from Modi because he is hell bent on pleasing the
RSS.” Bajwa said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) victory in Delhi was an important development but the party did not have a future and that the party was “definitely not” for states like Punjab.
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Faridkot docs allege attack, observe strike
Faridkot, December 19 This morning, doctors and paramedical staff of the Cancer Department closed the OPD and refused radiotherapy and chemotherapy services to the patients. Doctors in other departments followed suit. Members of a voluntary organisation, which has been demanding action against certain doctors for their alleged role in the sale of substandard cancer drugs at exorbitant rates, barged into the Cancer Department on Wednesday evening and “manhandled’ the staff. Gupreet Singh Chandbaja, president of Bhai Kanahiya Cancer Roko Society, alleged the doctors were creating ruckus to stop the society from “pursuing the drug scandal involving doctors and higher-ups.” HP Yadav, head of the Cancer Department, alleged the doctors were attacked without provocation. Dr SS Gill, VC, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and Administrator of the medical college, said the assailants were heard saying that some doctors had “kidnapped a complainant” in the scandal, which was ridiculous. Patients and their attendants today sat on a protest dharna in front of the medical college, blocking the main road, demanding that the doctors resume work. As senior police and civil officers reached the college and assured the doctors of action against the attackers, the doctors ended their strike in the evening. They agreed to treat cancer patients even after closing hours. The Faridkot SSP said the police had registered a case against some persons for allegedly manhandling doctors.
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NAPA demands CBI probe in Devyani case
Jalandhar, December 19 Satnam Singh Chahal, NAPA executive director, in a statement, hailed the arrest of Devyani but condemned the manner in which she was arrested. “This is just another case of blatant abuse of power by Indian diplomats in the US. Our association had two meetings in New Delhi with the Indian Overseas Minister and Minister of state for External Affairs to apprise them about the corruption allegedly prevailing in Indian embassies in the US,” Chahal said.
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Sikh groups approach UN on Khalsa issue
New York, December 19 In a complaint and appeal to Malick Sow, Chair-Rapporteur for UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions, and Ivan Šimonovic, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, the Sikh groups have urged the UN to push India and secure the release of Sikh “prisoners of conscience” and save the life of activist Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa. UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions was established by resolution 1991/42 of the Commission on Human Rights to investigate cases of deprivation of liberty imposed arbitrarily and in violation of international standards set forth in the Universal Declaration of HumanRights. The mandate of the Working Group provides that it may intervene in cases where “it is clearly impossible to invoke any legal basis justifying the deprivation of liberty (as when a person is kept in detention after the completion of his sentence or despite an amnesty law applicable to him).” Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa is on hunger strike since November 14 to secure the release of Gurmeet Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Shamsher Singh, Lal Singh, Wariyam Singh and Gurdeep Singh Khaira who have been languishing in prisons even though they have completed their sentences as per conviction records. Urging the UN to secure the release of Sikh detainees, the complaint to the Working groups states that “the actions of the Indian Government related to continuous arbitrary detention of Sikh prisoners of conscience violate every norm of democracy, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international laws.” — PTI
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Day 4: Suwidha services remain
paralysed
Jalandhar, December 19 With Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam on Tuesday issuing orders that applications be filed directly with the departments concerned, the DTO office was thronged with applicants. Other services such as issuing marriage certificates was severely hit since the Suwidha Centres alone have the holograms that are pasted on the certificate. Services at the 10 Suwidha Centres in Amritsar remained paralysed. Meanwhile, the Punjab Health Department Clerical Association has come out in support of the protesting employees. President Tajinder Singh Dhillon said, “The contractual system is an exploitative system and we support their cause.” In Faridkot, hundreds of applicants were seen in serpentine queues. Mohan Lal, Additional DC, said the people could file their applications directly with the departments concerned.
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SGPC identifies gurdwara for displaying Guru’s relics
Patiala, December 19 Residents of Nabha have expressed satisfaction over the court decision, claiming that the relics originally belonged to Nabha and should be kept in the town. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said though they wanted to keep the relics and other historic artifacts at some other location, they would abide by the court’s decision. “We have identified Gurdwara Dera Baba Ajaypal Singh where all these relics would be displayed for public,” he said. Makkar said the relics would soon be shifted there once the government apprised the court of its decision. A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih, had yesterday given a month to the state to identify two gurdwaras. Four of the 12 relics are with the ruling family of Nabha in Delhi while eight are preserved at Qila Mubarak in Patiala. Before this, these were kept at Hira Mahal for over 240 years. Kept in a dingy room inside the Qila Mubarak, the eight relics belong to Guru Gobind Singh. These comprise a choga (cloak) given to Baba Triloka, handwritten “bani” (manuscript), comb with hair and turban (given to Syed Pir Budhu Shah of Sadhaura after the Battle of Bhangani in appreciation of his loyalty) and three swords with inscriptions in Punjabi. The government had initially decided to shift these to Virasat-e-Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib for public display, but Nabha residents and some NGOs had opposed shifting of the relics outside Nabha.
Hindu jatha leaves for Pak
Amritsar: A 175-member Hindu jatha today left for Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah land route for a pilgrimage to historic Katasraj Temple. Shiv Pratap Bajaj, Kendriya Sanatan Dharam Sabha North India chief and pilgrimage coordinator, said the jatha would remain in Pakistan till December 24.
About the relics
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Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan begins today
Jalandhar, December 19 Seven years after the ambitious Harivallabh Bhawan project was first envisioned, it lies stalled. No funds were allocated after the initial two years of construction. The Harivallabh Committee has been waiting for funds to the tune of Rs 33.5 lakh which were promised to it by politicians and the government. Members of the Harivallabh Sangeet Mahasabha, which organises the festival, are finding it difficult to manage the affairs. In 2012, Rs 24 lakh were promised, but only Rs 6 lakh were sanctioned. Chief Parliamentary Secretaries KD Bhandari and Pawan Tinu had promised Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively. Though Bhandari fulfilled his promise, Tinu released only Rs 1 lakh. Similarly, Cabinet Minister Bhagat Chunni Lal had announced Rs 10 lakh for the society, but gave nothing.
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Will join protest if wages not paid, Pargat Singh tells PIMS staff
Jalandhar, December 19 Pargat Singh advised the employees not to politicise the matter as the government was in the process of resolving
the issue in a couple of months. Sources said the Principal Secretary, Health, Vini Mahajan, had sought Fortis files from the government-appointed director of the PIMS Society. Fortis had been a bidder when the government allotted the PIMS on a public, private partnership (PPP) mode to the PIMS Medical and
Education Charitable Society in 2010. The society headed by Surjit Singh Rakhra, Rural Development Minister, Punjab, was given the institute on a 99-year lease for Rs 131 crore on certain conditions. Sources revealed that the PIMS Medical and Education Charitable Society had raised a loan of Rs 140 crore from five banks — Andhra Bank, State Bank of India, State Bank of Patiala, Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India. The fund-starved society, that has failed to pay salaries worth Rs 10 crore to its employees in the past six months, has to pay back the bank loan and an electricity bill worth Rs 55 lakh before surrendering the institute to the government. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already announced to shift the PIMS into private hands. Doctors claim that their sole concern is salaries and are not interested in the power tussle.
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Punjab’s platter soon to have home-grown exotic vegetables
Jalandhar, December 19 The 15-acre centre will be inagurated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on December 24. The building is getting the last-minute touches. The centre is one of the 30 such facilities being set up across the country under the Israel-India collaboration. The Kartarpur centre will be the first in the state that will demonstrate farming of exotic vegetables such as red, green and yellow capsicum, brinjal, and cherry tomato, besides imparting training to farmers. “The focus of the centre is not only to provide farmers disease-free vegetable seedlings, but also to impart them training as to how to get maximum yield from small landholding and by employing fewer resources. Farmers will be trained in batches,” Dr Satbir Singh, Deputy Director (Horticulture), Punjab, told The Tribune. Seedlings would be provided to farmers from December 24, he said, adding that to ensure quality of plants, seedlings were being prepared in a sterlised atmosphere. According to horticulture experts, the centre will revolutionise agriculture, particularly that of vegetables, in the state. “After adopting the Israeli technology, farmers will get more yield as a result of introducing controlled farming in vertical layers in poly-houses. Vegetables grown in controlled atmosphere need almost 30 per cent less water and fertiliser,” Satbir said. Project in-charge Dr Daljit Singh said seedlings would be provided to farmers round the year as per their demand. “Since we will be able to control temperature, seedlings will be provided to farmers according to their need,” he said. Other features of the centre are rainwater harvesting and solar-energy-backed power facility. “The 24-lakh-litre water tank will get harvested water during rains. Instead of resorting to normal fertilisation process, emphasis will be on the use of fertiliser in liquid form, thus saving on fertiliser consumption,” Satbir added.
Another Centre of Excellence in making
The Centre of Excellence for Citrus Fruits is coming up at Khanaura in Hoshiarpur district. Its building is complete. “The 15-acre centre will facilitate the introduction of new varieties of citrus fruits to Punjab farmers. The focus is on introducing kinnow, as its juice has more shelf life,” Satbir said.
Project highlights
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Pollution behind Lehra Mohabbat plant’s tripping
Bathinda, December 19 The thermal power plant shares a boundary wall with UltraTech Cement unit. The grinding unit of the cement factory is located near the grid. Sources said the trees between the two structures were covered with cement-like powder. “The cement unit emits cement-like powder that settles on the insulators. Due to fog and water, it forms a thick layer of cement. Since the dust (cement-like powder) has water-carrying capacity, it becomes conductive. In this case, it caused flashing of insulators and tripping of units. Since there was dense fog, the units could not be resumed at once,” sources in the thermal power plant said. Under the supervision of engineers, the staff was put to manually clean dust settled on the insulators. Of the four units, two have been resumed. The cement factory uses fly ash, produced from the thermal power plant, for manufacturing purpose. Though fly ash is transported in pipes, there seems to be a problem with the of cement unit, which spews out cement-like powder as a pollutant, leading to tripping, sources said. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) Director (Generation) GS Chhabra said the cement factory had emitted cement-like powder in the summer, but no problem arose then. “The foggy weather created a problem, leading to tripping and subsequent losses.” Chhabra said the thermal power plant authorities had been directed to click photographs of the insulators covered with a layer of cement-like powder as well as prepare a report. “We will take up the matter with UltraTech Cement authorities, requesting them to curb pollution level. We, too, will remain careful now,” he added.
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Students protest over teacher’s transfer
Fazilka, December 19 As a result, classes could not be conducted in the school. The All-India Rai Sikh, Mahatam and Sikriband Students’ Union led the protest. Union president Saraj Singh, in a memorandum to the ADC (Development), alleged that Kumar was vicitimised and transferred at the behest of influential people of the village in spite of discharging his duties with dedication. The protesters threatened that if Kumar’s transfer was not revoked by Monday, they would launch intensify the agitation. District Education Officer (DEO) Sandeep Dhuria said Kumar was shifted temporarily to nearby village Mohar Sona on the basis of a complaint by village numberdar and panchayat members.
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10 yrs for French national held with RDX
Amritsar, December 19 The trio, Pal Singh (French national), Makhan Singh and Gurmukh Singh, were pronounced guilty two days ago in the case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The police had initially booked five persons. While Kulwant Singh died during pendency of the case, the trial against Narain Singh Chaura is yet to begin as he was arrested late. The police had first arrested Kulwant, of Varpal village, and Gurmukh, of Pandori Mehma in Amritsar, after recovering the arms from the vehicle they were travelling in. Their interrogation led to Pal Singh’s arrest from Dhandowal village in Jalandhar along with the RDX. He is a French citizen and had stayed there from 1978-99. The convicts are stated to have links with Sukhdev Singh Chira, who was arrested in June 2010 for stationing an RDX-laden vehicle in a busy market opposite the Amritsar railway station.
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Attacker of elderly Sikh sent to mental hospital
Washington, December 19 Judge W Kent Levis of the Fresno County Superior Court has ordered that Gilbert Garcia Jr (30) be sent to Atascadero State Hospital in California until he is determined to be legally competent to stand trial, The Fresno Bee reported on Wednesday. Garcia has been charged with attempted murder and elder abuse after he attacked Piara Singh, an 82-year-old Sikh man, with a steel rod outside the Nanaksar Sikh Temple in southwest Fresno in central California on May 5 in what the prosecutors have called a hate crime. Following judge Levis's order, Garcia will be required to take anti-psychotic medication in the state hospital. The court order said Garcia would have to remain in the hospital until he was competent to stand trial, but his stay could not be more than 15 years. Normally, inmates spend less than a year in a state hospital before their competency is restored. Garcia approached Piara Singh on a bicycle outside the Sikh temple just after 7 am on May 5 and without saying a word started beating the victim on the head with a rod. Singh was left with broken ribs and head wounds. Members of the Sikh community had expressed outrage at the act. —IANS
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‘Killer’ of ex-MLA’s brother held
Jalandhar, December 19 Changing names and switching identity, the 50-year-old Babbar Khalsa activist involved in 11 criminal cases could not be nabbed by the Punjab Police despite the fact that a three-member SIT was formed under Additional DCP, Crime, Harpreet Singh Mander last year to nab him. The SIT members had visited Kanpur where they were told that the police was searching for “Bau”, another name assumed by the terrorist. They had then tried to track him near the India-Nepal border after information that he was engaged in drug smuggling. But they could not find him. A resident of Sheikhan Bazaar here, Mintu’s family had submitted before the police that he was dead. On January 22,1987, Surinder Makkar was reportedly gunned down in his house at Guru Gobind Singh Nagar. Rajinder Kumar Sharma, SHO, said Mintu would be brought here on production warrant. “Since he will not be freed in the NDPS case for at least six months, we have enough time to prepare our case afresh,” he added.
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illegal mining
Ropar, November 19 The police, however, did not name an SGPC member and a BJP leader in the case despite having traced machines and vehicles used in illegal mining to their crushers. During a raid, the accused taking advantage of fog fled, abandoning their machines and vehicles at nearby crushers. Drivers Harpal and Kulwant were booked.
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Gunman held for using foul language against SDM
Bathinda, December 19 On a complaint of SDM Sucheta Ashish Dev, a case was registered against head constable Sukhdev Singh under Sections 294, 309, 452 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The accused was arrested from the SDM’s house last night. Investigating Officer Hargobind Singh said the accused, in an inebriated condition, created a ruckus at the SDM’s official accommodation last night. Police sources said the head constable was on leave and when told to report to duty, he told the SDM that he had been transferred.
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Nirmal Singh Kahlon, former Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and five others were today acquitted by a local court in a case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the purchase of
JCBs.
Former Pradesh Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to release Sikh detainees lodged in Punjab jails.
Talking to the media after addressing an impressive gathering in his ancestral village here this afternoon, he claimed that 108 such detainees were lodged in the state jails. He said he would do his bit to ensure the release of these detainees.
With the Lok
Sabha poll round the corner, the Badal family has started holding Sangat
Darshan programmes in the assembly segments in the Bathinda constituency
represented by Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Harsimrat has been regularly holding
Sangat Darshan in Bathinda and Mansa districts. Her husband, Deputy CM Sukhbir
Badal, joined her in the exercise two weeks ago.
Medical services at the state-run Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital,
Faridkot, were paralysed today with more than 400 doctors going on a strike.
They were protesting against the alleged manhandling of their colleagues in the Radiotherapy Department by members of a voluntary organisation last night.
Punjab’s people will soon taste home-grown exotic vegetables almost round the year as the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables is set to be opened in Kartarpur near here.
The 15-acre centre will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on December 24. The building is getting the last-minute touches.
A local court today sentenced a French national and his two Indian accomplices to 10 years in prison for possessing two AK-47 rifles, large amount of ammunition and 15 kg of
RDX. The trio, Pal Singh (French national), Makhan Singh and Gurmukh Singh, were pronounced guilty two days ago in the case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
