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Vigilance seeks CM’s nod for proceeding against Garg
Sikh groups warn against reverting to Bikrami calendar
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Explain UK’s role in Bluestar, say SAD, BJP
Cong asks Joshi to step down
Booking for Panj Takht train begins
More than 12,000 patients on cancer registry
Despite govt efforts, no decline in AIDS patients
State govt sitting on
Rs 40-crore grant to PU, despite reminders
Six die in 2 mishaps in Ludhiana
Power engineers to meet Scindia today
RMP’s death: Residents
protest police inaction
Schoolteachers to meet Maluka on February 7
Cops implicating daily wagers: Farm union
Residents of Government Seed Farm hold a protest in Abohar on Wednesday. Tribune photo
BSF hands over Pak intruder to police
anti-sikh riots
HC notice to Principal Secy, Health
Man gets 10-yr jail for rape
Moga DTO staff held in road tax scam
Faridkot schoolgirl abducted, assaulted
Patiala police nab four car thieves
Khanna shootout third in 3 months
Mastermind behind
Rs 10 lakh ATM theft held
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Vigilance seeks CM’s nod for proceeding against Garg
Chandigarh, February 5 Sources in the government told The Tribune that the case file had been sent to the Chief Minister for approval. The officer has been found to be involved in the illegal sale of 6,000 square yards of prime government land in Patiala, valued at Rs 250 crore. Th Vigilance Department had sent the file to seek sanction for Garg’s prosecution in May last year. However, no action was initiated, giving the impression that the
state government was in no hurry to proceed against the officer. In 2012, the IAS officer, then posted as Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, is believed to have facilitated the sale of prime government land in Patiala, which houses several government offices, including that of the District Town Planner,
Civil Surgeon and Education Officer. During the inquiries conducted by the state government, Garg maintained that the land was private property, allotted in the name of Kanwar Barjinder Singh, and that the sale was not illegal. A Vigilance probe was ordered against Garg in July 2012 on charges of dereliction of duty and failure to prevent loss to the government. He was first indicted by Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar. Later, an inqury by the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, NS Kang, also held him guilty of facilitating the sale of prime government land. This probe did not recommend punishment for Garg. It is learnt that the government was to review Garg’s suspension (it is mandatory to review such cases of suspension every six months) this week.
But the meeting has been postponed.
About the case * Vikas Garg (in pic), a 1998-batch IAS officer, has been indicted for dereliction of duty and causing loss to the state exchequer * In 2012, the officer, then posted as Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, is believed to have facilitated the sale of prime government land measuring 6,000 square yards and valued at Rs 250 crore * Garg has been arguing that the land was private property, allotted in the name of Kanwar Barjinder Singh, and that the sale was not illegal
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Sikh groups warn against reverting to Bikrami calendar
Amritsar, February 5 Expressing concern over the possibility of further changes in the Nanakshahi calendar, the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) urged Akal Takht to take all the Sikh organisations, including the AGPC, into confidence before taking any decision. Talking to The Tribune, AGPC coordinator Pritpal Singh alleged that efforts were on to completely do away with the Nanakshahi calendar “under the influence of the RSS”. They said such a move would not be acceptable to the Sikh Panth. The US leaders said Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh must convene a meeting of the Panth and seek the opinion of all concerned before taking any decision. “We will not allow the SGPC to do away with the Nanakshahi calendar,” he said, adding that they had already adopted the original calendar. Former Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Kewal Singh, who met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh today, advocated the need to implement the original Nanakshahi calendar. Radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa also submitted a memorandum to the Jathedar in this regard. Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said the Nankshahi calendar was the manifestation of distinct identity of the Sikhs. He said Sikhs had been striving to get honourable recognition to their separate identity since long and reverting to the Bikrami calendar would be a setback for their just struggle. He said no such decision was expected from Akal Takht that would create further divisions among the Sikhs. He castigated the Akali Dal and the SGPC for “killing the letter and spirit of the original Nanakshahi calendar through amendments”. Noted Sikh scholar Ashok Singh Bagrian said the Nanakshahi calendar was the necessity arising out of independent Sikh identity and the need for fixed dates for Gurpurbs for the Sikh diaspora. He opined that the absence of any calendar of the Sikhs of their own would be counter to the Sikh demand of amending the Article 25 of the Constitution and would adversely affect the Sikh identity case pending before the Supreme Court.
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Explain UK’s role in Bluestar, say SAD, BJP
New Delhi, February 5 Lodging a protest inside and outside Parliament, Akali MPs led by Harsimrat Kaur Badal demanded that the role of the British Government in the Army action be disclosed. BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna joined the protest outside the main gate of Parliament. Veteran AkaIi leaders Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Naresh Gujral, both Rajya Sabha members, carried placards reading, “Shame, Shame”. Earlier in the day, the Akali-BJP members stormed proceedings in the Lok Sabha, demanding full disclosure of the communication between then PM Indira Gandhi and Britain on Operation Bluestar and a day-to-day hearing of riot cases against Congress leaders Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish
Tytler.
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Cong asks Joshi to step down
Amritsar, February 5 In a statement issued here, Congress leaders OP Soni, Sardool Singh, Rajiv Bhagat Gurjit Aujla, Karamjit Singh Rintu, Anil Datta and Virender Sharma said Joshi had no moral right to continue in his post after allegations of enrolling as voter at two places were “found true”. They demanded registration of criminal cases against Joshi under sections 420, 468 and 120 of the IPC for fabrication of documents. They also demanded legal action against Deputy Commissioners of Amritsar and Tarn Taran under Section 201 of the IPC for “destroying evidence”. The leaders alleged the Deputy Commissioners, in their capacity as Returning Officers, had given report to the EC that documents submitted by Joshi were not traceable. They said Joshi had filed a false affidavit that he was enrolled as voter at one place only. Since the vote on the basis of which Joshi had contested the assembly poll from Amritsar (North) had “become null and void”, the EC must take steps to unseat him, they added.
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Booking for Panj Takht train begins
Amritsar, February 5 SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar hailed the move, saying it would be of immense benefit to the devotees, who wish to pay obeisance at all the five Takhts. He said the special train would facilitate comfortable travel, particularly for women, the elderly and children. NS Gabarhia, a local resident, said with the launch of this train, the devotees would find it easier to travel to the Takhts that are located in three different states. Moreover, they will get an opportunity to offer prayers at all five Takhts in a single tour. The Indian Railways will start Panj Takht Special Train, connecting all the five Takhts of Sikhs, on February 16 at 10 am from the Dhuri railway station, 15 km from here. The Panj Takht train that is to be flagged off from Dhuri on February 16 will connect Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Amritsar), Sri Kesgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib), Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo), Sri Patna Sahib (Patna) in Bihar and Sri Hazoor Sahib (Nanded) in Maharashtra. The train will complete its first journey in Dhuri on February 25.
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More than 12,000 patients on cancer registry
Chandigarh, February 5 Dr Manjit Singh Bal, Head, Pathology Department, Government Rajindra Medical College, said what was worrisome was the patients turning to babas and quacks for treatment. — TNS
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Despite govt efforts, no decline in AIDS patients
Bathinda, February 5 From 15 deaths reported in 2007, the number of AIDS deaths rose to 608 in March 2013. Data obtained from the State AIDS Control Society, Chandigarh, shows an expenditure of Rs 19.82 crore was incurred on eradicating AIDS. From 1,106 patients in March 2007, the number of registered HIV/AIDS patients at Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centres increased to 4,897 in March-2013. Experts say sharing needles for intravenous drugs, unsafe sex, transmission of unsafe blood, multiple sex partners and lack of awareness are the main reasons for the spread of the infection that has taken 3,192 lives since 2007. The existing number of AIDS patients in Punjab is 16,926. In all, 15 deaths were reported in 2007, 238 deaths in 2008, 322 in 2009, 417 in 2010, 560 in 2011, 578 in 2012 and 608 in 2013. NGOs working with AIDS patients say the situation on the ground may be even worse. The Additional Project Director of the State AIDS Control Society, Manpreet Chhatwal, denies there has been a rise in the number of AIDS patients in the state. “The prevalence of AIDS at the national level is 0.27 and in Punjab 0.18 because of awareness campaigns and the opening of Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC),” she said.
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State govt sitting on
Rs 40-crore grant to PU, despite reminders
Chandigarh, February 5 As per the budget report of 2014-15 that will be tabled during a meeting of the PU’s Board of Finance (BoF) to be held tomorrow, a grant of Rs 40.78 crore is yet to be released by the government. A senior official said a number of reminders had been sent by the university to the Punjab Government, but in vain. A senior official, requesting anonymity, said that on March 10, 2010, a committee of the Union HRD Ministry intervened when the Punjab Government was not releasing Centre’s annual grant to PU on time. During the meeting, it was decided that the state would give a fixed amount of grant to PU annually and Union Government would pitch in with the remaining amount. The official said that for the past many years, at every BoF meeting, the university had taken up the matter with the government, but no action was taken. Of the Rs 20 crore grant fixed by the Punjab Government for the current financial year, Rs 10 crore was sanctioned before November and Rs 5 crore was released after December. A PU spokesperson said the remaining amount (Rs 5 crore) had been sanctioned and the government would released it soon. One of the members of the BoF said that at the meeting tomorrow, a proposal will be mooted, asking the government to release the quarterly grant of Rs 5 crore, to avoid inconvenience to the university.
Financial blues * The grant that is pending is for the period 2000-09 * For the current financial year, the state released ~10 crore before November and Rs 5 crore after December
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Six die in 2 mishaps in Ludhiana
Ludhiana, February 5 The woman’s three-year-old son sustained serious head injuries. The three were riding a motorcycle. The victims have been identified as Mohammad Israr Alam and Khushnuma. Khushnuma’s son Armaan was admitted to a multi-speciality hospital. Local residents blocked the highway after the incident occurred. They demanded that the accused be booked for murder. The dharna was lifted following the assurance of a senior leader. However, the blockade left thousands of commuters stranded. The investigating officer said the truck driver left the vehicle and fled the spot. Later, the police booked Gora of Gulabi Bagh Colony in Basti Jodhewal for reckless driving. A pall of gloom descended on the victim’s house in Muslim Colony near Sherpur Chowk. Khushnuma's husband Ikrar, a native of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, runs a bakery. In another accident late in the evening, a motorcyclist, a cyclist and two pedestrians were crushed to death by an overspeeding pickup truck near Sherpur Chowk here. A fifth person was injured grievously. Shepur police post in charge Pavitter Singh confirmed the casualties. The victims have been identified as Charan Singh (40) of Shakti Nagar, Harjinder Singh (44) of Adarsh Nagar, Sukhdev Singh (58), Charan Singh and Ram Ji Shah (30) of Sherpur village. The truck driver abandoned the vehicle and fled. Angry family members of the victims blocked the NH-I, demanding the arrest of the driver.
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Power engineers to meet Scindia today
Jalandhar, February 5 The federation has been opposing unbundling of the state electricity boards and “usurping” of distribution and other operations of the boards by private companies. While power supply has already gone in the hands of private companies in New Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat, the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) was unbundled and replaced by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). “Five members of the federation will meet Scindia on Thursday. We will persuade him to stop the ongoing unbundling of the state power boards as privatisation of the power sector is neither in the interest of the consumers nor the government,” said Raj Kumar Chaudhary, Finance Secretary of the federation. Besides privatisation of the power sector, the delegation would discuss their long-pending demands, including uniform pay scales and service conditions for the power engineers. “Since power sector is an important entity and has lakhs of employees working all over the country, we will urge the minister to ensure our representation in the Seventh Pay Commission,” Chaudhary added.
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Need to translate documents on Ranjit Singh’s rule, says Pak historian
Patiala, February 5 “During course of research for my book that traces the history of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule through the careers of three Muslim brothers, I came across voluminous court records of Ranjit Singh lying in Anarkali’s Tomb,” he said during a seminar on his book titled “The Resourceful Fakirs: Three Muslim Brothers at the Sikh Court of Lahore” at Punjabi University here today. Aijazuddin is a descendent of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s most trusted courtiers at the Sikh Durbar of Lahore — Fakir Azizuddin, Fakir Imamuddin and Fakir Nuruddin. “The Punjab Civil Administration in the Punjab State Archives has preserved the documents in the tomb, but they cannot be scanned. If we can find people for the apt translation of the documents, they would be of help to historians and others,” he said. The art historian said he found references for his book from the letters and 640 pages of Roznamcha (daily record) written by Fakir Azizuddin, Maharaja’s indispensable spokesperson and trusted negotiator in all dealings he had with neighbours surrounding his kingdom, including the British. “They were written on behalf of Maharaja and provide an insight into the personality of the great Sikh ruler. I am not saying the Sikh ruler has been an underwritten subject, but there are many more things about him that the available documents can provide,” Aijazuddin said. He said: “‘The Resourceful Fakirs’ traces the history of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule, under which Punjab was unified for the only time in its tumultuous history, and the role played by the three Muslim brothers. The book talks about Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s coterie and the relationship he shared with the three brothers.” In addition to creating pen portraits of the three brothers, the writer has included portraits, engravings, maps and period photographs.
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RMP’s death: Residents
protest police inaction
Muktsar, February 5 Sources said 32-year-old Mohan Lal of Suraj Nagri was yesterday beaten to death by a few persons in an altercation over kite-flying on Vasant Panchami. Madan Lal, brother of deceased, said, “Our neighbour Kala Singh and his brother Sheela beat up my brother after his six-year-old son cut their kite yesterday. We immediately took Mohan to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead.” He said though the police had registered a case in this regard, no arrest had been made so far. The protesters demanded the accused be put behind bars. They lifted the dharna when the police assured them of arresting the accused. A case under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered.
About the victim Mohan Lal (32), a registered medical practitioner at Malout Civil Hospital, was allegedly beaten to death by a few persons in an altercation over kite-flying on Tuesday
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Schoolteachers to meet Maluka on February 7
Nawanshahr, February 5 They are also opposed to shifting of male staff from girls’ schools and holding of Department Promotion Committee meeting for promoting headmasters as principals before fixing
90 per cent quota for lecturers for promotion as principal. The Government School Lecturers Union at a meeting presided over by its state president Hakam Singh has decided to take up these issues with state Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka on February 7. “The minister will be apprised of facts and figures to strongly put up our demands. If the meeting fails to yield the desired result, the union would start a massive stir in the state,” said Amrik Singh, general secretary, district Government School Lecturers Union.
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Cops implicating daily wagers: Farm union
Abohar, February 5 The protesters staged a dharna on the main road and raised slogans against the police for “falsely” implicating a resident under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. They said the police had
detained Gurnam Singh, charging him of snatching a mobile phone from somebody but later he was booked under the NDPS Act. They alleged a police team had also misbehaved with women and booked Gurnam’s brother Harbhajan Singh under Sections 186, 353, 323 of the IPC. Zamhoori Kisan Sabha members alleged that instead of nabbing big fish responsible for drug trafficking, the police have been implicating daily wagers of Government Seed Farm to mislead higher officials. As many as 80 such cases were registered against residents, including women, a few months ago under the NDPS Act, they said. The protesters threatened to intensify their stir if the “false” cases were not withdrawn. The police, however, rubbished the allegations and claimed that Harbhajan had attacked a police team.
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BSF hands over Pak intruder to police
Fazilka, February 5 Official sources said Maqsood Ahmed (24) had strayed into the Indian territory on Sunday night. Maqsood is said to be mentally unstable. They said only a packet of cigarettes was recovered from him. The BSF handed over Maqsoon to the police for legal proceedings against him. — OC
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anti-sikh riots
New York, February 5 Judge Brian Cogan of Manhattan federal court turned down the request for a 21-day extension made by a lawyer on behalf of the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The SFJ was given time till February 6 to “investigate” whether or not Gandhi was in the city between September 2 and September 9, 2013, and file its opposition to her motion to dismiss the human rights violation lawsuit due to insufficient service of summons. Gandhi had submitted a new declaration on January 13 to the US court in support of her motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In the declaration, Gandhi stated that she has “not been to New York or to the United States during the period of September 3, 2013, through September 9, 2013”. — PTI
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HC notice to Principal Secy, Health
Chandigarh, February 5 A notice for April 25 has been issued to the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, and the Food and Safety Commissioner on the petition filed by RTI activist Kuldip Singh Khaira of Ludhiana. Khaira has argued that a designated officer has to be appointed on a whole-time basis in every district under the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011. But the District Health Officers, appointed vide a notification dated August 8, 2011, were only given additional charge of these posts for a year.
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Abohar, February 5 The girl was found after the accused was nabbed in Mohangarh village of Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan on June 24 last year. The police exonerated Radhey Shyam whereas the court acquitted Sukhdev, who was arrested in September. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Kalu Ram. In another case, the court sentenced Sunil Kumar to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on him for raping a minor girl in his neighbourhood in Arya Nagar here last year. — OC
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Moga DTO staff held in road tax scam
Moga, February 5 Preliminary investigations revealed that three clerks of the DTO’s office, Jatinder Singh, Balbir Singh and Dalbir Singh allegedly siphoned off Rs 1.10 lakh. They got this amount from people seeking registration of their vehicles through agents, but did not deposit it in the government treasury. An FIR was registered against them at Ferozepur on November 29. All the three had been evading arrest since then. The Vigilance Bureau today nabbed Jatinder Singh. Dalbir Singh was recently retired from the service.
Taint on DTO * October 2013: The Faridkot police booked an employee of the Moga DTO office, two of the suvidha centre for allegedly preparing fake registration certificates of stolen cars * April 2013: The Vigilance Bureau arrested Moga DTO Gurtej Singh for allegedly accepting a bribe from a transporter * 2009 and 2010: The Moga police registered two cases of corruption against few employees of the DTO office and few agents
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Faridkot schoolgirl abducted, assaulted
Faridkot, February 5 The girl was kept in illegal confinement, blindfolded. She was repeatedly assaulted and dropped near a public school the following day. The girl with multiple injuries was treated at the Civil Hospital here. A complaint was lodged with the police today and a case under Sections 365, 323, 341, 506, and 34 of the IPC registered. The police say it is possible that the attackers were known to the victim. Nobody has been arrested so far. The police have stepped up patrolling in the city. Terrified residents recall the daring kidnap of a local girl by a gang of eight youths led by Nishan Singh about 16 months ago. “We will arrest the accused in a day or two,” said Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varinder Pal Singh.
Crime against women * She was abducted while returning home from tuition on February 3 *
Was taken away in a car by some youths * Was kept in illegal confinement, blindfolded *
Was assaulted and dropped near a public school the following day * The girl suffered multiple injuries
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Patiala police nab four car thieves
Patiala, February 5 Patiala Superintendent of Police HS Mann said Charanjeet Singh alias Channi of Nihal Nagar in New Delhi, Ramjeet Singh of Ram Tilak Nagar, New Delhi, Harpreet Singh and Krishan Kumar would drive the stolen cars to Ambala, change the number plates and then sell these for Rs 70,000 each. “The vehicles were dismantled and transported to different places where these were re-assembled and re-sold," the SP said. He said the four car thieves were in a stolen Verna car when they were nabbed. They were found to be carrying a .315 pistol, a gas-cutter and a master key. The police recovered dismantled windows, bonnets, seats, headlights and bumpers from them. "They were working in connivance with scrap dealers. Police teams are searching for these dealers. We expect to recover more items in a day or two,” Mann added.
How the gang members operated * They stole cars from Patiala, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mohali, Panchkula, Ambala and Karnal * They drove the stolen cars to Ambala, changed the number plates and sold these for Rs 70, 000 each * The cars were dismantled and transported to different places and re-assembled for sale * The thieves worked in connivance with scrap dealers
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Khanna shootout third in 3 months
Ludhiana, February 5 Khanna Youth Akali Dal (Rural) president Yadwinder Singh Yadu and Jatinder Singh alias GP, an Akali sarpanch of Kauri village, are among 10 persons booked for the shootout. Last month, two chemists were shot dead in the city. The police are yet to identify the culprits in the murder of the chemists. Residents say the killings point to the deteriorating law and order in the area. On November 26 last year, unidentified assailants shot dead shopkeeper Pardeep Chahal on Samrala Road.
Khanna SSP said there was no common motive behind the three murders.
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Mastermind behind
Rs 10 lakh ATM theft held
Hoshiarpur, February 5 The police said the accused, identified as Mohit Sharma of Uttar Pradeh, was considered to be the first one to find a technique to cut the ATM with gas cutter, without harming the cash within. Addressing a press conference here, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Narinder Bhargav said Mohit had confessed to having robbed an ATM at Bhagta Bhai in Bathinda district, in which they had decamped with Rs 10.53 lakh. He also told the police about their several failed attempts to rob ATMs in Punjab and Rajasthan. The SSP said Tanda Station House Officer (SHO) Satinder Chadha, while patrolling around 3 am this morning, saw the accused near an ATM of Punjab National Bank near Adda Cholang. He was rounded up and during his search, a .315-bore pistol, three bullets and a bike was recovered from him. An FIR under Sections 25, 54, 59 of the Arms act was registered against him. During the interrogation, Mohit said there were seven members in his gang, including him, and they had met in various jails where they were lodged for various crimes.
Modus operandi The police said the accused, identified as Mohit Sharma of Uttar Pradesh, was considered to be the first one to find a technique to cut the ATM with a gas-cutter, without harming the cash within.
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After almost a year, the state Vigilance Department has finally sought the state government’s permission to prosecute former Patiala Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg, a 1998-batch IAS officer. Various probe committees have indicted Garg for dereliction of duty and causing loss to the state exchequer.
A
day after British Foreign secretary William Hague told the British Parliament
that a Special Services adviser was sent to New Delhi to offer military advice
to the Indira Gandhi Government on Operation Bluestar, the Akali Dal-BJP
alliance today demanded answers from the Central Government, asking it to come
clean.
A 50-year-old man and his 26-year-old daughter-in-law were crushed to death under a speeding truck near Tibba Road Chowk on National Highway-I here today.
The woman’s three-year-old son sustained serious head injuries. The three were riding a motorcycle. The victims have been identified as Mohammad Israr Alam and Khushnuma.
Hundreds of residents of Government Seed Farm, under the banner of Zamhoori Kisan
Sabha, today held a protest
outside the city police station here.
The Patiala police claim to have arrested four robbers who stole cars in Punjab and Haryana and sold these at Ambala for Rs 70,000 each. They would steal cars from
Patiala, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mohali, Panchkula, Ambala and Karnal. Patiala Superintendent of Police HS Mann said Charanjeet Singh alias Channi of Nihal Nagar in New Delhi, Ramjeet Singh of Ram Tilak
Nagar, New Delhi, Harpreet Singh and Krishan Kumar would drive the stolen cars to
Ambala, change the number plates and then sell these for Rs 70,000 each.
