|
|
|
|
|
‘Gunda tax’ to blame for high sand prices in state
HC tells SIT probing illegal mining to file report
Badal village remains immune to model code
|
|
|
Battlelines drawn for Bathinda, Harsimrat launches campaign
Bathinda seat ‘super sensitive’
Local CPI to back Manpreet
Voters will reject unprincipled politics: SAD gen secy
BJP disapproves of Anil Joshi’s move
Manpreet leaves Morcha in disarray
Bajwa, Bhatti worked hard to seal Congress-PPP deal
Bhagwant dares rivals to an open debate on issues
Two Padiala aides to join SAD
Ashutosh Maharaj’s former driver moves High Court for CBI probe
Takht chief releases calendar
Anganwari workers end relay fast
Squall flattens wheat crop in parts of Doaba belt
A farmer inspects the damaged wheat crop after heavy rain in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh
Ferozepur-Chandigarh train chugs off
Kalianwala Khu: State names panel members
‘Faulty’ industrial policy affecting Bathinda units
3 Abohar minors breached, crops damaged
‘Poor quality’ gunny bags being used
HC: Can’t use bedroom talk against wife
3 youths get life term for murder
Acid attack: Seven chargesheeted
Heroin worth Rs 205 cr seized
YAD leader booked
Khanna shootout: 3 more held
Jilted lover kills newlywed, her mother
Police rescue kidnapped boy, two held
|
‘Gunda tax’ to blame for high sand prices in state
Chandigarh, March 11 An investigation by The Tribune has found that it is the sand mafia who have jacked up the prices. Mining contractors across Punjab have been allegedly charging “gunda tax” on sand and gravel, over and above the royalty they are allowed as per rules. The “gunda tax”, in fact, is the “protection money” that the musclemen deployed by these contractors charge from truckers. The amount is further passed on to the retailers and then the buyers. As the mining operations in Punjab are largely controlled by politicians, most of them “owing allegiance” to the ruling SAD-BJP coalition, various government departments, including the police, have failed to initiate any action against those charging “gunda tax”. The Punjab Minor Mineral Rules state that a contractor can charge royalty at Rs 30 per tonne on sand and gravel. But, the musclemen are forcing all trucks that ferry the construction material from stone crushers to retailers to pay Rs 5 per square feet as “gunda tax”. In case sand is mined from the riverbed or private land, the musclemen, deployed along all state and national highways surrounding quarries in Punjab, are forcing the truck drivers to pay Rs 12 per square feet as “gunda tax”. Each tipper can ferry 750 square feet of sand and gravel. While a truck carrying sand is forced to pay Rs 9,000 as “gunda tax”, the amount for gravel is Rs 3,750 per tipper. The Rs 30 per tonne royalty, otherwise, comes around Rs 900 per tipper. During a visit to villages in Bhanuha, Algaran and Saidpur in Nurpur Bedi block of Ropar district today, The Tribune Team found that the musclemen were not allowing any truck driver to cross the road without paying the “gunda tax”. At Bhanuha village on the Bhangla-Khera road, the musclemen had constructed a hut on the roadside and put up a cot near it. On being contacted, some truck drivers confirmed they paid Rs 5 per sq ft apart from the royalty and Rs 12 per sq ft for the material excavated from the riverbed. When The Tribune approached a few musclemen while they were collecting the "gunda tax", most of them rushed towards adjoining fields, leaving their notebooks and a cot behind (see picture, left). One of them said, “We have been charging royalty for the last two months for Ballu, a contractor. While several drivers deposit money in cash, a few others have an account and we keep their record in our notebook. But, no money is charged from drivers bringing material from Himachal Pradesh.” He said more than a hundred trucks deposit “royalty” at Bhanuha alone daily. Ballu, the contractor, when contacted over the phone, initially refused to comment. He called back after some time but refused to entertain a query on why he was charging “gunda tax”? Dinesh Chadha, an advocate and RTI activist, who has been holding protests against “gunda tax”, said a complaint had been lodged with the police last week, but to no avail. On the contrary, he claimed, he was receiving threats from the sand mafia. “I have now brought the matter to the notice of the Punjab Home Secretary,” he said. Industries and Mining Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said he had issued strict directions to his department to check illegal mining or collection of any protection money. “If we find any indiscretion on the part of our officers, we will initiate action against them,” he said.
|
|
HC tells SIT probing illegal mining to file report
Chandigarh, March 11 The directions came after the Punjab Government informed the Bench that several FIRs had been registered in the matter. The developments took place during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation seeking directions to the government and the Centre to put on auction mining areas with environmental clearance in a transparent and time-bound manner to curb illegal mining in the state. The High Court, on a previous date of hearing, had taken a serious view of apparent indifferent attitude adopted by the SIT constituted by the Punjab Government to look into illegal mining in the state. The court had also asked the state counsel to seek instructions and specify the government’s stand on the issue. The court had in a previous hearing observed that the SIT had failed to reach at any conclusion in the matter. The court had also rapped the Punjab Police for their failure to act against those involved in illegal mining. The court had further expressed its dissatisfaction over the SIT report. Stating that nothing significant was there in the report, the court had asserted: “The SIT report does not highlighted the names of persons such as bureaucrats, politicians and police officers indulged in the menace”. The Bench had further sought details of FIRs registered against the particular persons.
Calling for action *
The court had observed in a previous hearing that the SIT had failed to reach any conclusion in the matter *
The court also rapped the Punjab Police for their failure to act against those involved in illegal mining *
The court had further expressed its dissatisfaction over the SIT role
|
||
|
Badal village remains immune to model code
Badal (Muktsar), March 11 In violation of the code, large photos of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal are fixed on a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plant located next to the CM’s house. However, none from the department concerned has removed the hoardings painted in SAD’s trademark yellow and blue
colours, which reads as “Assi chukkya tuhadi naroyi sehat da jimma (We took the responsibility of your good health)” and
SAD-BJP government’s slogan “Raaj Nahi Sewa (Service, not rule)”. People feel that if the district administration had failed to remove the hoardings of the ruling party, how it would ensure free and fair elections. The situation was similar in other villages, they said. Earlier, the hoardings of some politicians were found on the
Fazilka-Delhi national highway in Malout after the enforcement of poll code. Meanwhile, the district administration has set up an election control room and a helpline number 01633-262757 to lodge election-related complaints.
Code violation *
Since the district administration has failed to check violation of model code, how it would conduct elections in a fair manner, people ask *
The administration
has set up a helpline 01633-262757 to lodge poll-related complaints
|
||
|
Battlelines drawn for Bathinda, Harsimrat launches campaign
Bathinda, March 11 The Congress and the PPP had together polled 1.20 lakh votes more than those polled by the SAD during the last assembly elections. Manpreet has already got the blessings of former CM Capt Amarinder Singh and PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa. He has also met leaders of the Brahmin Sabha. Harsimrat is scheduled to hold a rally in Lambi tomorrow. The Akalis have divided the constituency, covering Bathinda, Muktsar and Mansa districts, into various parts, each headed by an MLA or a local leader. The future of these leaders will be determined on the number of votes they get for the party candidate from their areas. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already begun targeting Manpreet. Addressing a gathering in Budhlada today, he spent more time criticising Manpreet than the Congress. He claimed that Manpreet chose to form his own party even though all demands put forth by him had been accepted. He said Manpreet was making a “grave blunder” by joining hands with the Congress. The defection by Talwandi Sabo Congress MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu a few days ago, necessitating a bypoll in the constituency, may prove a blessing in disguise for Manpreet. The new Congress candidate for the seat will need his support as much as Manpreet needs the Congress votes.
|
||
|
Bathinda seat ‘super sensitive’
Bathinda, March 11 Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh, interacting with the media here today, said tight security had been planned for the constituency. “The polling booths will have any of the four monitoring facilities, such as paramilitary forces, micro observers, digital cameras and web-casting,” he said. On the Talwandi Sabo assembly seat falling vacant, he said the Vidhan Sabha would have to issue a notification on the matter after which the election office would take a decision. “We have not received any such notification yet,” he said. On 300 voters in Talwandi Sabo mentioning a religious head as their father, he said this had been done on religious grounds and the Election Commission had no objection to the electoral rolls of constituency submitted earlier. On the Atta-Dal Scheme cards with the photo of the CM having been issued just before the poll code on March 5, the CEO said the election office had not received any complaint in this regard. He said since 2009, between 30 lakh and 40 lakh new voters had been registered.
|
||
|
Local CPI to back Manpreet
Bathinda, March 11 Senior CPI leaders said the party would not support AAP candidates. “AAP leaders do not seek anyone’s support. So there is no point in extending support to them,” they said. — Jupinderjit Singh
|
||
|
Voters will reject unprincipled politics: SAD gen secy
Chandigarh March 11 Dismissing the alliance as a non-event, SAD general secretary Harcharan Bains said the alliance between a “rag-tag Congress and the “dwindling” PPP did not disturb the SAD-BJP alliance as each would destroy the other. “The people are certain to teach a lesson to such unprincipled politics,” Bains said. He said by joining hands with the Congress, Manpreet had proved that his talk of “value-based politics, honesty, simplicity and the determination to change the system was a mere sham to befool the people of the state.” The SAD leader said that Manpreet had taken a pledge at Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s samadhi at Khatkar Kalan in March 2011 never to join hands with the “corrupt” Congress. "Manpreet's cycle of betrayals has come full circle. He first betrayed his party and his leader and mentor... Then, he betrayed all those who had staked their political careers for him. Now, finally he has betrayed the nation's greatest martyr,” Bains added.
|
||
|
Maheshinder hangs up boots
Badal (Muktsar), March 11 "I have made up my mind not to contest in future, but will continue supporting the Congress in all elections,” he said. He said his decision had nothing to do with the Congress pact with Manpreet
Badal. “I will support him and abide by the high command’s decision." Asked if he would address public gatherings in support of
Manpreet, he said: “I will seek public support for my party, not any individual." Sources said Maheshinder does not have a good rapport with PPCC chief Partap Singh
Bajwa.
|
||
BJP disapproves of Anil Joshi’s move
Amritsar, March 11 Joshi left for New Delhi last evening after holding a press conference here, demanding that Jaitley be allotted the party ticket. It was not clear if he had been summoned by the party high command. Sources in the BJP say Joshi’s move to garner the support of local party leaders in raising the demand has not gone down well with the party leadership that sees it as an act of indiscipline. It feels state leaders cannot be allowed to publicly air their views on the party’s nominee from any seat. “It is the prerogative of the BJP’s central parliamentary board to decide and announce the names of party candidates after following the due process,” said a BJP leader. But Joshi claims the party leadership is not annoyed with him. He says he has committed no indiscipline by seeking the party ticket for Jaitley, and that everybody has the right to express his views. Joshi, along with Punjab BJP vice-president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, general secretary Tarun Chugh and Amritsar Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, had at a press conference yesterday demanded that Jaitley be fielded from
Amritsar.
|
||
|
Manpreet leaves Morcha in disarray
Chandigarh, March 11 Morcha’s other constituent, the CPM, said it would have no truck with the Congress and would contest the Sangrur, Anandpur Sahib and Ludhiana seats as an ally of three other Left parties. The CPI is yet to take a decision with regard to the Congress’ offer of Faridkot seat. Morcha’s fourth constituent SAD (Barnala-Longowal) will support Manpreet in Bathinda and will work for the defeat of SAD-BJP candidates in other constituencies. The Sanjha Morcha was constituted before the last assembly elections. It was polled 6.15 per cent of the total votes. With all its constituents pulling in different directions, the Morcha’s fate now hangs in balance. Charan Singh Virdi, secretary, state unit of the CPM, said Manpreet had taken an opportunistic decision. “He has betrayed our trust. The CPM will form a front along with the CPI, the CPM (Punjab-Pasla Group) and CPM (ML-Liberation) to contest the elections. We will announce our candidates soon,” he said, adding there was no question of supporting the Congress. The CPI Executive Committee will meet here tomorrow to take a final decision with regard to the elections. Baldev Singh Mann, secretary general, SAD (Longowal-Barnala) said the party’s main aim was to defeat the SAD-BJP combine.
|
||
|
Bajwa, Bhatti worked hard to seal Congress-PPP deal
Chandigarh, March 11 Bhatti left for New Delhi on the evening of February 19 and held three meetings with Bajwa on February 20. Bajwa discussed the issue with Shakeel Ahmed and Harish Chaudhary, AICC general secretary and secretary besides Ahmed Patel, a confidant of Sonia Gandhi. When Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi came to Chandigarh on February 24, Shakeel Ahmed and Harish Chaudhary, in charge of party's Punjab affairs, briefed him on the talks. The Congress agreed to leave one seat each for the PPP and the CPI. Manpreet returned on February 25. Shakeel Ahmed arranged a meeting between Manpreet and Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi on February 27. On February 26, Manpreet's aide Bhagwant Mann asked him to merge the PPP with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) but Manpreet declined the offer. Bhagwant parted ways with Manpreet and joined AAP. Manpreet called on former CM Capt Amarinder Singh today to seek his support. “Amarinder Singh assured Manpreet that he would spend at least one week in the Bathinda constituency and campaign for him,” said
Bhatti.
|
||
|
Bhagwant dares rivals to an open debate on issues
Sangrur, March
11 He said an open debate was a must so that people could know what these leaders had done for the common man. He said he had not quit the People’s Party of Punjab rather the party deserted him as its supremo Manpreet Singh Badal had compromised with party’s principles to shake hands with the Congress. He said he would contest the election under the leadership of Sangrur district convener of
AAP, Dr AS Mann. He urged the people to vote for “jhadu” which was a symbol of “cleanliness in politics”. Mann said AAP would include environment in its agenda for which they would approach environmentalists like Balbir Singh
Seechewal. Mann also warned political parties against distribution of liquor and drugs during the elections saying AAP’s sting operation teams would keep a close watch on such activities.
|
||
|
Mohali, March 11 Their close associates claimed they were now miffed at a similar treatment meted out to them by the Congress leadership. Padiala is likely to join the SAD party on March 16. “Chandumajra and BS Ramoowalia have promised Sohana and Kumbhra that they will be given due respect in the party,” said sources. — TNS
|
|
Ashutosh Maharaj’s former driver moves High Court for CBI probe
Chandigarh, March 11 The petition came less than a month after Justice MMS Bedi of the High Court made it clear to Puran Singh that he could approach the police station concerned for remedy, if he felt Ashutosh Maharaj had died an unnatural death. Puran Singh’s latest petition, expected to come up for hearing on Wednesday, is based on the ground that the police authorities refused to intervene even after he approached them. Puran Singh has all along been contending that Ashutosh Maharaj was clinically dead as per the status report of Punjab Government and certificate of doctors. He was hale and hearty and his alleged sudden death due to cardiac arrest raised suspicion. The post-mortem was imperative so that “the real cause of death may come to light”. Puran Singh had also filed a habeas corpus petition for Ashutosh Maharaj’s release. In his order, Justice Bedi had asserted: “From the report of the doctors, it is apparently clear that alleged detainee at the time of presentation of the petition was clinically dead”.
|
||
|
Takht chief releases calendar
Amritsar, March 11 Releasing the amended Nanakshahi Calendar for 2014 here today, he said suggestions by various Sikh organisations from across the world were being considered by the Sikh high priests. The calendar issued by the Dharam Parchar Committee of the SGPC would be followed by the Sikhs till any further decision was taken on the issue. The SGPC officials said a Gurmat Samagam would be held at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in the Golden Temple complex on March 13. Meanwhile, the SGPC has announced that Gurgaddi Diwas of Guru Har Rai will be celebrated as Environment Day. Saplings will be planted in SGPC-run gurdwaras, educational institutions and hospitals on the occasion. — TNS
|
||
|
Anganwari workers end relay fast
Sangrur, March 11 State union president Usha Rani said the state Chief Secretary yesterday had assured them of meeting their demands. However, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said he could not announce anything at this stage due to the model code of conduct. Usha said the government had told them that their arrears from April 2013 to October 2013 had been cleared
|
||
|
Squall flattens wheat crop in parts of Doaba belt
Jalandhar, March 11 The agriculturists fear the untimely rain would not only check the quantity of the crop but
also affect quality. Balwinder Singh of Saroopwal village in Jalandhar said wheat crop on 20 acres out of the 150 acres had been flattened. A farmer from Haibatpur village demanded that the government should conduct a survey and announce compensation for the affected villagers. Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Suttantar Kumar claimed though the rainfall “had not been that heavy”, it could cause a disease called ‘arnal bunt’ as the wheat crop is on a flowering stage.
|
||
|
Ferozepur-Chandigarh train chugs off
Ferozepur, March 11 Goyal said the train for now had been launched for only a month, but they would run the train on a regular basis if it got a good response. Prominent among those present on the occasion included local legislator Parminder Singh Pinki. He along with his supporters also boarded the train. Pinki said that hundreds of daily commuters, including government officials and businessmen, would benefit immensely from this service. The train will start from Ferozepur at 7 am daily and reach Chandigarh via Moga and Ludhiana at 11:05 am. It will begin its return journey at 7:30 pm and reach Ferozepur at 11:30 pm.
|
||
|
Kalianwala Khu: State names panel members
Amritsar, March 11 Punjabi University Vice Chancellor Prof Jaspal Singh will be the chairman of the committee that comprises of historians Pirthipal Singh Kapoor, Prof Harish Sharma, GNDU, Prof Mujjafar Alam, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, Delhi, Dr GN Srivasatva, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India, and local historian Surinder Kochhar. SS Channy, Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, said the decision had been taken after his visit to the site at Ajnala on March 8 and subsequent brief given to the Chief Minister. He said the excavated human skulls, bones, Victoria Service medals and coins were of great importance to the people. He said the responsibility for these articles rested with the government for which action would be taken. Channy said the other demands of the society, including the memorial, had been made part of the scope of the Concept Committee.
|
||
|
‘Faulty’ industrial policy affecting Bathinda units
Bathinda, March 11 Industrialists say the reason behind the sorry of state of affairs is their inability to pay the power bills. But digging deeper, they say that the state’s faulty industrial policy was to blame as many units moved to nearby states that provide incentives. Raman Watts, president of the Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said apart from the anti-industry policies of the state government, the Centre was responsible for the downfall. “The incentives to J&K, Himachal and other states by the Centre boomeranged on the Punjab industry,” he said. The data revealed that though the industrial units in Mohali, Jalandhar and Ludhiana managed to function amid the sorry state of affairs, the most affected industry was in and around Bathinda. “Unlike manufacturers of Ludhiana or Mohali, Bathinda manufacturers did not sell their products outside the state and, due to this, most of the industrialists became victims of anti-industrial policies,” Watts added.
|
||
|
3 Abohar minors breached, crops damaged
Abohar, March 11 Farmers Balkaran Singh, Buta Singh and Lakhwinder Singh said the Irrigation Department had not removed hyacinth in the Panjawa minor (sub-canal), Bazidpur minor and Defence Road
minor along the Abohar-Hindumalkot road. Village panchayats want the state government to get the minors repaired as breaches in the past two years have caused heavy losses to farmers. But the local authorities say they have received no funds for the same. The overflowing water has damaged the national highway which was widened three years back. The overbridge was inaugurated in 2012. Labour has been deployed to plug the breache, say
officials.
|
||
|
‘Poor quality’ gunny bags being used
Moga, March 11 When this correspondent visited the anaj mandi today, several gunny bags were found torn to shreds with rice scattered on the platform.
Nirmal Singh, a local leader of the labour union, alleged that the FCI was apprised of the problem many times, but to no avail. “If poor quality gunny bags are used, there are chances of foodgrain pilferage,” he said. At one point, the labourers stopped loading the trains. At this, S
Sadiqui, FCI assistant manager, reached the spot to pacify the agitated
labourers. The FCI official claimed that there was no problem with the gunny bags. “The problem occurs when bags of rice are stocked on wooden crates,” he said. But investigations made by The Tribune brought out a different story. The state procurement agencies are supplying poor quality gunny bags to the
FCI. to transport rice
|
|
HC: Can’t use bedroom talk against wife
Chandigarh, March 11 “A married woman too has a valuable right to her privacy of speech with her husband in the confines of the bedroom. Couples speak many things with each other unwary that every word would be weighed one day and put under the judicial scanner,” the High Court has asserted. The progressive ruling came in a case where a husband recorded a conversation with his wife to show her reluctance to establish a physical relationship with him. After the closure of evidence, the husband moved an application before the trial judge for producing additional proof in the form of an audio CD. He claimed that the CD contained conversation recorded in January, 2009, in Kasauli to show that his wife had refused to establish a physical relationship with him. The intention behind producing the CD was to seek divorce after showing that the marriage had not been consummated. Justice Rajiv Narain Raina ruled: “The computer age is a dangerous one. The mobile phone or electronic gadgets should not be readily allowed to be used as an instrument of torture and oppression against a wife in a matrimonial action, unless the court in satisfied that it might tilt the balance between justice and injustice in its cumulative judicial experience, wisdom and discretion in decision making…. Justice Raina also asked the courts to be cautious. “In a private matter between couples, the court should not permit dirty linen to be washed openly in court in the name of evidence. That is not the business of the court. Such requests should normally be discouraged, especially when the plea is not taken at the outset, unless compelling reasons are found by court and the interest of justice so demands…. “Courts should be very circumspect in such matters before allowing such applications as presented in this case. The courts cannot actively participate in approving mischief and invite invasion of privacy rights not called for in deciding a case, where parties are free to adduce evidence….” Refusing to allow the production of a CD as additional evidence, Justice Raina added: “A husband recording conversation surreptitiously of the kind placed in transcription before this court would appear to be the handiwork of a person collecting evidence beforehand to be used or misused later, in case required. “If he was gathering evidence in advance, he should have been diligent enough to produce the audio CD at the appropriate stage of the trial when his evidence was being recorded. This is clearly an afterthought….”
The case * The ruling came in a case where a husband recorded a conversation with his wife to show her reluctance to establish a physical relationship with him *
The husband moved an application for producing an audio CD
|
|
|
3 youths get life term for murder
Ropar, March 11 Gurvinder Singh (21) of nearby Majri Jattan village was stabbed to death at the local Government College on August 28, 2012. He was a former student of the college.
|
|
|
Acid attack: Seven chargesheeted
Ludhiana, March 11 The accused are Amritpal Kaur, Parvinder Singh, Sanpreet Singh, Gursewak Singh, Ashwani Kumar, all residents of Patiala; Jaspreet Singh of Ragera village of Fatehgarh Sahib; and Rakesh Kumar alias Premi of Bhaddal Dhua village of Fatehgarh Sahib. The court adjourned the case for recording evidence of prosecution witnesses on March 21. Sources said charges were framed under Section 302 (murdering Harpreet Kaur), Section 307 (attempt to murder by throwing acid on employees of beauty saloon) and under other sections
of the IPC. Harpreet Kaur of Barnala was attacked with acid in a beauty saloon at Sarabha Nagar on December 7 last year. She later succumbed to her injuries in a hospital in Mumbai on December 27. Two women employees of the saloon had also
suffered burn injuries in the attack.
Looking back * Harpreet Kaur of Barnala was attacked with acid in a beauty saloon in Ludhiana on Dec 7 *
She was to be married in a couple of hours * She was hospitalised but succumbed to her injuries on December27
|
|
Heroin worth Rs 205 cr seized
Amritsar, March 11 In first such incident, troops at Rattan Khurd border outpost observed suspicious movement in the early hours. As they challenged the suspects coming from across the border, the latter opened fire. Ajay Kumar Tomar, Inspector General, BSF, Punjab Frontier, said when the jawans fired in retaliation, the suspects fled towards Pakistani territory. “During a search, we found 40 packets of contraband weighing around 1 kg each, a pistol, three magazines and 18 rounds of ammunition and a mobile phone along with a charger”, he said. In another incident, during a search along the border fence at the Daoke border outpost, the BSF seized a packet of heroin, said MF Farooqui, DIG, BSF. He said the total value of the contraband seized today would be Rs 205 crore in the international market. With today’s seizure, the BSF has so far seized 137.730 kg of heroin, 10 weapons, 14 magazines, 148 rounds of ammunition and eight Pakistani mobile phones since January.
BSF seizures in 2013 Heroin: 322.011 kg Weapons: 23 Magazines: 28 Hand-grenades: 2 Poppy husk: 246 kg Opium: 443 gm
|
|
|
YAD leader booked
Abohar, March 11 Police sources said Aman rang up Station House Officer (SHO) Jitender Singh and sought that he be allowed to speak to Lawrence Bishnoi, wanted in 10 cases in Chandigarh, Mohali and Abohar under Section 307, and Javed Jhinjha. Aman reportedly told Lawrence that he had approached top police officers who had spoken to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and that he would not be quizzed further. The
SHO, who recorded the call, informed Kuldeep Singh Chahal, SP, who rubbished the YAD leader’s claim and ordered that he booked for trying to influence investigations.
|
|
|
Khanna shootout: 3 more held
Khanna March 11 Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harcharan Singh Bhullar said the police on a tip-off, arrested three youths, Harjit Singh and Mandeep Sharma of Khanna and Jatinder Singh Gipi of Kauri village, near Springdale Public School on Malerkotla Road. The youths were remanded in police custody till March 20.
|
|
|
Jilted lover kills newlywed, her mother
Fazilka, March 11 Parvinder reportedly used to adore the victim, Kuldeep Kaur (20). But before he could win her over, the girl’s parents married her off a month ago to a youth of Bandiwala village in Fazilka sub-division. When the girl came to meet her parents on March 5, Parvinder reportedly asked her to leave her husband and elope with him. The offer was rejected by Kuldeep. He again wooed the victim on March, 6 but she remained adamant. Infuriated, Parvinder allegedly entered the girl’s house when all her family members were asleep. He sprinkled kerosene on Kuldeep and her mother and set them ablaze. The girl’s brothers, Angrej Singh and Kala Singh, students of Class VIII and Class V, who were asleep near the victims, tried to chase the accused, but he managed to escape. While Jasbir Kaur succumbed to her injuries on March 9, Kuldeep died while being shifted to Ludhiana last night.
|
|
|
Police rescue kidnapped boy, two held
Hoshiarpur, March 11 The boy’s father, Ajay Kumar, complained to the police that the accused — Vipan Kumar and Ram Kumar, both from Moga — kidnapped his son (whose name is being withheld because he is a minor) from his house in the morning. The kidnappers told Ajay to get his son from Parbhat Chowk in exchange for money. Ajay informed the police about it. “Vipan was arrested from Parbhat Chowk. The boy, who was in Ram’s custody, was recovered from a dhaba on the Jalandhar road,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sushil Kumar said. The accused were booked under Sections 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), he added.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
A squall that hit several parts of the Doaba region over the past 24 hours has flattened the wheat crop in many places, causing anxiety among the farmers.
Among the areas that have been affected the most are Jamsher, Jandiala,
Nurmahal, Nakodar, Shahpur, Malsian, Kartarpur and Adampur Bhogpur.
The much-awaited
Breaches in three minors today inundated standing crops over hundreds of acres, partially damaged the Abohar-Fazilka road near Military Station and endangered the railway overbridge (ROB) near Dangarkhera village on NH-10.
Farmers Balkaran Singh, Buta Singh and Lakhwinder Singh said the Irrigation Department had not removed hyacinth in the Panjawa minor (sub-canal), Bazidpur minor and Defence Road
minor along the Abohar-Hindumalkot road.
Labour unions engaged in loading special trains with foodgrain have alleged that the gunny bags containing rice are of poor quality. They said the poor quality bags not only affected the quality of
foodgrain, but also made it difficult for them to load them in trains. When this correspondent visited the anaj mandi today, several gunny bags were found torn to shreds with rice scattered on the platform.
The BSF today seized 41 packets of heroin, besides arms and ammunition and a Pakistani mobile phone from the India-Pakistan border in two separate incidents.
In first such incident, troops at Rattan Khurd border outpost observed suspicious movement in the early hours. As they challenged the suspects coming from across the border, the latter opened fire.
Bajwa argued that the joint Opposition votes (55%) against the SAD-BJP alliance would ensure the defeat of the SAD-BJP nominee. Talks with the PPP were discontinued in the first week of February after a section of senior Congress leaders opposed these. Manpreet Singh left for the UK in the third week of February. He gave his consent to Bhatti to revive the talks. He told Bhatti to ask for at least two seats.
As per information procured under the RTI Act, Amritsar leads the ignominious pack with 1,142 units losing their electricity connections in the past five years, while 2,208 units have been declared defaulters. The next on the ladder is Bathinda. In all, 603 industrial units have lost their power connections, while 385 units are in the list of defaulters. The data showed that the industrial units in other districts was under debt ranging from ~10 lakh to ~2 crore.