Amritsar, December 27
An auto-rickshaw driver, Brahgmjit Singh, was allegedly kept in illegal detention and subjected to third-degree torture by the Sultanwind police.

The victim has submitted a complaint against the police officials with the National Schedule Caste Commission. The commission today directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bikrampal Bhatti, to investigate the case and submit a report to it within five days.

Rajkumar Verka, vice-chairman of the commission, while terming the incident shocking and brutal, asked the DCP to register an FIR against the accused police officials. He directed the SDM concerned to get the medical examination of the victim conducted.

Brahmjit (25), while appearing before the commission, alleged that on December 12, a theft incident had taken place near his residence. On Christmas eve, a police team from the Sultanwind police chowki visted his residence and asked him to reach the chowki. He said, he along with his family members, went to the chowki where the in charge of the chowki Major Singh, ASI, said they would leave him only after the investigation was over.

He said the police officials subjected him to third-degree torture. He alleged that the SHO of the Sultanwind police station, Arun Sharma, directed the police officials to torture and pressurise him to confess the crime.

He said the Sultanwind police detained him in a canter and later took him to the police station. He said the next day when his family members reached the police station; they were shocked to see his condition and asked the police officials to release him.

The DCP said he would personally conduct the investigation.

Amritsar, December 27
The MC has failed to launch its web portal, to facilitate the residents to deposit their property tax online, despite the official announcement. The dedicated desk of depositing the property tax through banks too was nowhere in sight, claimed the residents.

This move was taken keeping in view expediting the collection of property tax dues as the long queues at the collection centres had dejected most of the residents and they refrained from depositing their dues, despite having intention to clear it before the stipulated period. On the other hand, Local Bodies Minister today announced that no grace period would be given for depositing the property tax. The last date with 10 per cent rebate is December 31.

There would be no rebate between January 1, 2014 and January 31, 2014. Thereafter, 10 per cent penalty would be imposed, which could further increase.

Amritsar, December 27
Yesterday's instance of clash among jail inmates at Amritsar Central Jail has once again brought to fore lapses in security at jail. During the clash, a jail inmate was attacked by his fellow mate with a spoon, sharpened as a knife.

The jail authorities are grappling with shortage of staff and facing tough time to keep a check on such instances.

Earlier on July 26, Malkiat, an undertrial, had an altercation with another undertrial Dharminder Singh. Before the jail guards could intervene, they had already thrashed each other. On July 20, an undertrial Ravinder Singh got into a quarrel with his fellow mates. Later, he became violent with the Deputy Superintendent RK Sharma and jail warden Jagdev Singh. Following the incident, a case under Sections 295-A, 298,353,186 of the IPC has been registered against the undertrial. He is already facing murder charges under Section 302 of the IPC. On June 6, two undertrials Amritpal Singh and Ashish Kumar got into an argument and started thrashing each other. When the jail authorities tried to intervene, they started banging their head against the wall. On May 21, two undertrials Prabhpal Singh and Lakhwinder Singh had a clash on the jail premises. This clash took serious turn when Prabhdyal Singh assaulted Lakhwinder with sharp-edge weapon, which was a spoon sharpened to give it the shape of a knife. Lakhwinder was later saved by the jail authorities.

Jail Deputy Superintendent RK Sharma said, "Such quarrels among the inmates occur over petty issues. These instances are staged frequently just to misguide the authorities."

Amritsar, December 27
Encroachments on roads, omission of traffic logistics, unaltered limited width of roads, manifold increase in traffic and giving two hoots to the traffic norms have made the roads of the holy city a deadly plot where human life has little value. In two road accidents, from December 24 to December 26, two persons were killed while two others sustained injuries.

A resident of The Mall road, Moti Khurrana, said: "Vehicles are being driven at a very high speed on the congested city roads with impunity. The authorities have failed to implement the speed norms. There is a need to declare speed limit of these roads and implement the same to curb fatal accidents."

Citing the example of road between Hathi Gate to Lohgarh gate and up to BK Dutt gate, he said: "At some places, the road is wide enough, which entices motorists to accelerate their speed. The motorists need to check their speed or any miscalculation could result in accidents."

He said timing of traffic lights at various city intersections, including Lohgarh crossing needs to be revised. He said the authorities must review these minute factors to efficiently run the traffic.

In a road accident on December 24, a man was killed while his two relatives were injured. In another accident, a teenager, Gagandeep Kaur, was killed by a private Bus near the Cantonment police station on December 26. Earlier, Amandeep Kaur, a student of SR Government College for Women, died when a speeding bus hit her near the Verka bypass in May.

A resident of New Amritsar, Vivek Goel, said: "The authorities need to take actions like providing zebra lines, traffic islands and deployment of traffic police at relevant places. Each area and its roads have peculiar problems which must be addressed to make the road safer."

Jasbir Singh, another city resident, said all roads connecting the bypasses to the city experience a heavy rush. "High flow of traffic takes place on the stretch outside Hall Gate. Private air-conditioned coaches are parked there to pick and drop passengers which results in road congestion," he said.

The worst affected areas are Bhandari Bridge, Hall Gate, inter-state bus terminus, Hussainpura Chowk, Crystal Chowk, Court Chowk and Lawrence Road, Majitha Road, Sheranwala Gate, Sultanwind Chowk, Chatiwind Chowk, Tarn Taran road, Putlighar, Islamabad, Nawan Kot, Chheharta Chowk.

The number of traffic personnel to deal with the severe traffic problem is inadequate. On an average, 50,000 new vehicles get registered with the District Transport Office every year. Several residential areas have been converted into commercial ones over the past decade, adding to the problem of traffic congestion. The majority of these buildings lack the necessary parking facilities due to which residents park their vehicles on the road.

Amritsar, December 27
The Police Commissioner has banned the holding of protest rallies, dharnas and processions in the city.

The order will remain in force till February 22, 2014.

Ishwar Chander, officiating police commissioner, said it had been learnt that various organisations, including political and farmer, used to organise protests in various parts of the city causing inconvenience to the public. Sometimes, it also caused damage to government properties and a law and order problem.

Keeping this in view and using his magisterial powers, the Police Commissioner banned such rallies and protests under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure from today.

In other ban orders, District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat has banned the digging up of soils from link roads, banks of canals and river beds.

He pointed out that the orders were passed in view of land owners digging up lands from sides of the link roads which not only led to damage to roads but also road mishaps.

The orders would remain in force till February 19, 2014.

Amritsar, December 27
The Jain community here welcomed the approval by the Law Ministry to grant national minority status to the community. They have been demanding to be recognised as a separate religion for the past over four decades.

Shri All India Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Conference senior leader Amrit Lal Jain welcoming the move said it would recognise the community as a separate religious entity which had its origins in the ancient India. He said the move would help the community to safeguard and preserve its religious places, culture, customs and history. The minority community has its presence in as many as 13 states across the country.

He informed that former Chairman of the National Commission of Minorities, Wajahat Habibullah, during his tenure had favoured the grant of minority status to the Jains. He appealed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to grant the minority status before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

He added that 24th and last Tirthankar (Guru), Bhagwan Mahavir, was born about 2,612 years ago and before him 23 Tirthankars had enlightened the World with the message of peace and harmony.

He added that followers of the Jainism in the state were very happy at the development. He said the community had been contributing in the development of the country in various categories, especially trade and industry, besides contributing through charitable hospitals and educational institutions.

Earlier, the SAD-BJP government granted the minority status to the Jain community in Punjab in April.

Amritsar, December 27
The Sadar police today claimed to have arrested a drug peddler involved in selling heroin in the Majitha Road area.

The Sadar police with the alleged drug peddler in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal

He has been identified as Jaspal Singh, a resident of Gulmohar Avenue. He was produced in the court of Duty Magistrate, which sent him to one-day police remand.

The police recovered 70 gm of narcotic powder, besides a .32 bore country made revolver, one cartridge and a stolen motorcycle from his possession. A case under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against him.

Vavinder Mahajan, SHO, Sadar police station, said the accused was part of a big gang involved in selling drugs in various parts of the city. His interrogation had revealed several names involved in drug trafficking. He said further investigations were underway to unearth the nexus and raids were being conducted to nab the peddlers whose name had been figured during the accused’s interrogation.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested four persons for allegedly possessing narcotics and illicit liquor in separate instances. Among those who were arrested included Harpal Singh of Kot Baba Deep Singh, Hardeep Singh of Anngarh (70 bottles of illicit liquor), Sawinder Singh of Gumtala (20 bottles of illicit liquor) and Dharam Singh of Saido Patti (Tarn Taran), with 5 gm heroin.

The Amritsar rural police have nabbed five persons for drug peddling and bootlegging in separate instances. Ranjit Singh of Chhajalwaddi and Gurbhej Singh of Meharbanpura, were arrested with 500 gm and 120 gm of narcotic powder, while Vikas of Rajasansi was held with 5 gm heroin. Harjit Singh of Khanpur and Kulwant Singh of Khasa were arrested with 18 litres and 7.5 liters of illicit liquor.

Amritsar, December 27
With the onset of the winter the destitute and homeless people are on the edge. A couple of unidentified persons died due to severe cold that is sweeping the region especially during the wee hours and in the evenings.

According to information, two unidentified persons were found dead due to extreme cold conditions in the Sultanwind and Fatahpur areas. The police initiated an action under Section 174, CrPC. The police said both the deceased were destitute and used to live on the roadside. With the temperature expected to dip further in the coming days, the homeless residing on roadside and near religious places, the death toll may further increase. A number of migrants arrive here and live on the alms. The Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Gurdwara Shaheedan Sahib, Hall Gate Dargah, Panj Peer Dargah etc are the common places where most of the homeless could be found. Though the district administration has made elaborate arrangements at ‘Raain Basera’, a home for destitute and beggars, but there are only a few takers of the help. The Raain Basera is established in the defunct building of Old Karam Singh Ward, while an official is permanently deputed by the Red Cross Society at the ward for looking after the inmates.