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Lambi residents corner CM with ‘kundi’ demand
Phoolka alleges code violation by Akali Dal, approaches EC
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Unkept election promises have Bajwa on back foot
Fearing dissent within, Akali Dal defers induction of 3 Cong MLAs
‘Gunda tax’ is royalty, say crusher owners
Hundreds of wheat bags rot in rain at Moga’s Kot-ise-Khan
We won’t be bribed this time: Brick kiln workers
CEO forces Cong to cancel Hola Mohalla conference
EC mulls free transport on polling day
Mum’s the word in Badal village
Six burnt to death in R’sthan vehicle crash
Mangled remains of vehicles involved in an accident in Sriganganagar district on Thursday. A Tribune photograph
Copying not allowed, student’s
relatives thrash woman teacher
Trouble for Singla as ex-MLA plans to contest as Independent
UK body comes to aid of illegal migrants
Representatives of the Sikh Council, UK, at a press conference in Jalandhar on Thursday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh
Rajasthan Sikhs accuse Jathedar of ‘violating’ edict
Forest Dept to crack down on timber mafia
Parents protest SAD leader’s bid to take school’s possession
Students and parents protest the vacation of a school in Ferozepur on Thursday. Tribune photo
HIV-infected mothers to get lifelong treatment from April
Toll on Fazilka highway under HC scanner
Man cleared of kirpan attack charges in UK
Man in NZ held guilty of rape
Serial killer gets life term for murder, sodomy
Woman patwari caught taking bribe
Youth murders woman, attempts to end life
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Lambi residents corner CM with ‘kundi’ demand
Lambi (Muktsar), March 13 “Tuhade CM hon da ki fayda, je asi bijli da bill hi dena hai. Ek vaar Modi sahib di sarkar aa jaave, fer taan saanu hor kundiyan laaun di manjoori ho jaaugi (If we have to pay the electricity bills then what is the advantage of you being the CM? As soon as Modi will form the government, we will get permission to set up more illegal power connections)”, said a resident. Visibly irate over this demand, Badal said: “Your demand is not genuine and can’t be fulfilled. Already I am paying the bills for your illegal connections. Raise any genuine demand, which I can fulfill”. SAD supporters, however, assured the residents saying that they would continue to get power through illegal connections under the SAD-BJP Government. Addressing the gathering, Badal asked residents to “teach a lesson” to Manpreet by defeating him with a huge margin. In her address, Harsimrat Kaur also targeted Manpreet. She said: “Manpreet has raised questions over my NGO Nanhi Chhan a number of times. He too had started an NGO, which is totally defunct. He has nothing to speak against me”.
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Phoolka alleges code violation by Akali Dal, approaches EC
Chandigarh, March 13 The complaint reads: “The SAD has pasted more than 5 lakh posters on market walls, homes and public buildings. In addition, more than 50,000 hoardings of size ranging from 10ft x 5 ft to much larger size have been installed across the constituency. As a matter of fact, there is hardly any colony in the entire constituency that has not been defaced by the SAD’s campaign material.” The complaint further read that campaign material had not only been pasted on private buildings, shops, houses and hoardings, but also on public places and property. “Even religious places have been targeted. Huge hoardings of the SAD have been put up outside major gurdwaras of the city and posters have been pasted on gurdwara walls.” The CEO, VK Singh, told the media the defacement of public property would invite Election Commission’s ire. I-T Dept sets up helpline The Department has set up a round-the-clock helpline 1800-1800-690 so that people can complain about the transportation of cash and valuables during elections. Report on violation today The CEO said the report on placing order for bicycles under the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme was expected by tomorrow. The Chief Secretary’s office has been entrusted to inquire into the matter. MP Vijay Inder Singla had alleged that Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Indu Malhotra had a role in placing order for the bicycles carrying the pictures of Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal.
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Unkept election promises have Bajwa on back foot
Gurdaspur, March 13 When Bajwa beat former Union Minister and cine star Vinod Khanna in 2009 to get elected as an MP for the first time, he had promised the voters was that he would convince Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to come to his constituency to inaugurate developmental projects within 100 days of getting elected. Another promise he made was to establish a rail coach factory on 1,600 acres of panchayat land at Kalanuar. He had also vowed to get the Qadian-Beas rail link completed. None of these projects has taken a concrete shape. “Bajwa failed to fulfill any of his promise even after five years,” said Rajinder Bitta, former chairman of the Punjab Forest Corporation. Sources in New Delhi claimed that Bajwa was trying to impress upon his bosses that he was not in a position to contest as that would leave him with no time to campaign for party candidates in other parts of the state. But his opponents had been working against him and wanted the party leadership to ask him to contest. “Being the PPCC chief he should lead from the front. He is trying to play safe,” claimed a senior Congress leader. The MP’s dream of establishing a rail coach factory at Kalanaur remains a pipe dream. Though Bajwa has blamed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for playing a spoilsport, sources said the project was shifted to Sonepat in Haryana due to efforts by its Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The sources said people were also sore that the MP had spent 70 per cent of his MPLAD funds on his wife’s assembly constituency of
Qadian.
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Fearing dissent within, Akali Dal defers induction of 3 Cong MLAs
Chandigarh, March 13 Not wanting to face a bypoll for any assembly seats that would fall vacant with the defections and fearing a rising dissent in its own party cadre, the SAD is not likely to take on these three MLAs before the Lok Sabha elections are notified on April 2. Sources in the SAD said the three Congress MLAs - two from the Malwa region and one from Majha - have now been told to wait before the party takes the final call on their induction. The three MLAs have reportedly held closed-door meetings with the SAD top brass and their formal induction in the party was expected after the Budget Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. In fact, the resignation and switching over of the Talwandi Sabo MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh to the Akali camp was supposed to be the first in a line of many. However, the party is not ready to go in for any bypoll simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. Even in case of Talwandi Sabo, the government does not want a bypoll on April 30. It is for this reason that the government is delaying sending information of this assembly seat falling vacant till the election process in Punjab starts. Once the elections are notified on April 2, the bypoll cannot be held along with the Lok Sabha elections. Another Congress MLA from Malwa region, considered close to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, whose name was also doing the rounds for defecting to the SAD, has reportedly had a change of heart. Refusing to bite the bait, this MLA is learnt to have been stopped by the former Chief Minister himself from switching his loyalty. The MLA reportedly had a grouse that the top leadership of the Congress party was inaccessible, but after Capt Amarinder finally managed to get the MLA an audience with the top leadership, he has had a change of heart. Moreover, party insiders say that it is not advisable for the party to induct Congressmen in the party’s fold at this stage. “The sitting Congress MLAs will join the SAD only on the assurance that they will be fielded again by the SAD in the bypoll. The party could support Joginder Pal Jain, and may even support Jeet Mohinder Singh. But the party cannot be supporting so many Congress MLAs at the cost of its own leaders and workers. With the Lok Sabha elections on, the party cannot afford dissentions in its rank and file,” said a senior Akali leader.
Waiting to defect *
Of the three Congress MLAs, two are from the Malwa region and one is from Majha *
The three have reportedly held closed-door meetings with the top brass of the SAD *
Their formal induction in the party was expected after the Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha got over. BJP candidates to be announced on March 18 Chandigarh: The decision on candidates for the three Lok Sabha seats for Punjab to be contested by the BJP would now be taken by the party's central election committee on March 18. The party was expected to announce the names of candidates to be fielded from Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur on Thursday. Sources said the list of candidates from Punjab was not taken up and the candidates from states going to polls in the initial phases were decided on Thursday.
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‘Gunda tax’ is royalty, say crusher owners
Ropar, March 13 The crusher owners said earlier they had to pay royalty on raw materials, of which at least 20 per cent was wasted. Karandip Singh from Agampur crusher zone said this time after the auction, mine contractors agreed to charge royalty on finished goods. Ropar-based advocate Dinesh Chadha had last week protested against ‘gunda tax’, alleging that collecting royalty on the roads was a cover-up for illegal miners in the district. He had alleged since the contractors weren’t issuing any receipt on royalty paid to truck drivers, it was not possible to keep a record of the total material being sold in the market. — TNS
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Hundreds of wheat bags rot in rain at Moga’s Kot-ise-Khan
Moga, March 13 The district authorities of the corporation had marked a departmental inquiry to see if there was any lapse on part of the local officials/caretakers, who are in-charge of the storehouse. Vipin Singla, district manager of the PAFC, today visited the storehouse located on the Daata road in Kot-ise-Khan town for an on-the-spot verification. Many bags of wheat stored in the open were found damaged, he confirmed. During the preliminary findings, at least 100 bags of wheat had been found spoiled in the recent rains. The food grains stored in these bags had been found unfit for human consumption, said the official. Meanwhile, investigations made by The Tribune revealed that the caretakers of the storehouse did not cover the stacks of wheat lying out in the open during the unprecedented weather conditions, causing damage to the grains. Moreover, there were reports that the initial assessment of losses to the PAFC was much less and an attempt was being made by the officials at the local level to cover-up the issue. Insiders in the corporation revealed that hundreds of bags of wheat were missing from the storehouse, but no official was willing to comment on it. One could also see hundreds of decomposed empty gunny bags lying on the premises of the storehouse spreading foul smell in the area. Gross negligence * Over 100 bags of wheat have suffered damage in the recent rain *
The damaged wheat hasbeen found unfit for human consumption * Sources have revealed that the caretakers of the storehouse did not cover the wheat lying in the open during rain *
Besides, hundreds of wheat bags have gone missing from the store
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We won’t be bribed this time: Brick kiln workers
Sangrur, March 13 Addressing workers at the railway station here, Jodhan sought their support in his campaign. At this, the workers raised their hands in unison, indicating their resolve to rally behind Jodhan. “To aware the brick kiln workers against accepting poppy husk, liquor and money in lieu of votes is the need of the hour. They must vote without any influence,” the former MLA, who is the general secretary of the Lal Jhanda Punjab Bhatha Mazdoor Union, told The Tribune. He said that in the coming weeks, the campaign would be intensified throughout the state. Jodhan alleged that in every election, 5 per cent to 7 per cent of youths were hooked on to drugs. Jodhan lashed out at the ruling alliance leaders for imposing “gunda tax” on sand in the state, due to which people were unable to buy the construction material. Later, the workers took out a march from the railway station to office of Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) to ask the officer to accept their demands, including increase in wages, implementation of labour laws at the brick kilns, arrangements of pure drinking water and first-aid facilities at the brick kilns.
Show of assertion * Former legislator Tarsem Jodhan launches a campaign to urge brick kiln workers not to accept liquor, poppy husk and drugs distributed
by politicians * The workers resolve not sell their votes * They demand increase in wages, implementation of labour laws at the brick kilns, arrangements of pure drinking water and first-aid facilities at the brick kilns
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CEO forces Cong to cancel Hola Mohalla conference
Ropar, March 13 CEO VK Singh had yesterday issued directions that no political rally or conference would be allowed in the gurdwara complex at Anandpur Sahib during Hola Mohalla. Rana KP, chairman, Congress organising committee, Hola Mohalla conference, said the party would abide by the CEO’s directions. SAD spokesman Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, however, said the party would hold a political conference on a ground rented by the SGPC as per schedule. He said they would also respect the model code of conduct. Sources say the Congress decided to cancel its conference due to infighting in the Ropar district unit.
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EC mulls free transport on polling day
Chandigarh, March 13 B.
Purushartha, Additional CEO, Systematic Voter Education and Electors Participation, said: "We have not received any response from the department. We have sought the concession so that voters turn out at the polling stations in big numbers." The Additional CEO said: "Punjab recorded about 80 per cent polling in the last assembly elections and more than 70 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. For keeping up the tempo, we are trying to involve more first-time voters." The election office has written to all government offices asking for a commitment from all employees and their family members to cast their ballot. They have been told to sign "voter promise sankalp
patras" for fair voting, the official said. Members of the NCC, NSS and Nehru Yuva Kendras have been asked to work in close coordination with registering first-time voters, he added
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poll pot
Badal (Muktsar): While the electoral contest between Harsimrat Kaur Badal (SAD) and her brother-in-law Manpreet Badal (PPP-Congress) has become a hot topic for discussion in Malwa, nobody is ready to speak on the issue in the duo's native Badal village. Fearing the wrath of either of the families, the voters are silence on who would they be supporting in the elections to the Bathinda parliamentary constituency. Harsimrat is the sitting MP. When commoners are asked about their political views, they refuses to anything. "Vadde gharaan di ladayi vich gareeb banda hi marda hunda hai, eis layi asi kuch nahi keh sakde. (In the fight between two well-off families, the poor always becomes the victim. So we can't give our views about political developments in the village)." –
TNS
Gonyana Bathinda (R) Cong working chief Bathinda: The Congress has appointed Avtar Singh Gonyana as the working president of its Bathinda (Rural) unit, relieving Gura Singh Tungwali of the charge. Tungwali was seen close to former Talwandi Sabo MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, who switched over to the SAD a few days ago. –
TNS Cops on their toes to check drug supply Bathinda: Inspector General (Bathinda range) PS Umaranangal on Thursday reviewed security arrangements in the Malwa belt. Umaranangal said the border with Rajasthan and Haryana would be sealed to check the flow of drugs into the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He presided over a meeting of the police chiefs of Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Muktsar, Faridkot, Ferozepore and Moga districts. He said jails would be inspected too as some criminal conspiracies were recently hatched behind bars. – TNS
Leaders find it hard to woo women Patiala: The candidates for the Patiala seat are having a tough time in wooing women voters. Sources said the thin presence of women during campaign meetings was a cause for concern. All candidates are drawing strategies to reach out to the women, who form about 50 per cent of the electorate in Patiala. The main contenders for the seat are AAP’s Dharamveer Gandhi, Congress’ Preneet Kaur and SAD’s Deepinder Dhillon. Preneet depends on her daughter Jayainder Kaur and daughter-in-law Reshma who to woo women. Dhillon said his sisters and wife would hold the fort for him. As for Gandhi, his team ensures that women are present during his campaign
meetings. — TNS Encouraging voters in colleges, varsities Phagwara: The Election Commission has launched a programme in colleges and universities to increase youth participation in the elections. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Assistant Returning Officer, visited Lovely Professional University on Tuesday and appealed to the students to cast their vote. The programmme, YUVA (Youth United for Voter Awareness), has been launched in various educational institutes. – OC
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Six burnt to death in R’sthan vehicle crash
Abohar, March 13 The driver of a pickup van was also killed, while both of its passengers were critically injured. The driver and cleaner of the third vehicle, a trailer laden with bricks, sustained minor injuries. The police said a truck driver informed them about the mishap an hour later. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kartar Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Sharma and tehsildar Ved Parkash Aggarwal visited the scene with a rescue team. A water tanker was pressed into service to douse the fire that engulfed the Bolero jeep. The occupants of the Bolero have been identified as: Jaswinder Singh, Manga Singh, Raman Singh, Sunil Bishnoi, Sita Ram Bishnoi and Sanjay Khichar. All were aged 24-30 years. The pickup van driver has been identified as Kailash Jat (40). Pickup van passengers Om Parkash and Thakur Ram Jat (aged about 35) were shifted to Gharsana, from where they were referred to a Bikaner hospital. Preliminary investigation suggested that two of the six deceased had been charged with abducting a girl, who was sent to Nari Niketan at Bikaner by a court. They had hired the jeep to meet the girl besides visiting a relative under treatment at a hospital. Their bodies were cremated at Kalyan Bhoomi in Gharsana. A case has been registered.
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Copying not allowed, student’s
relatives thrash woman teacher
Faridkot, March 13 The teacher has been admitted to emergency ward of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital here. Principal Jagjit Pal Singh said the teacher was assaulted when she objected to cheating in the school’s examination hall. When the student reported the incident to his parents, his family members reached the school and allegedly assaulted the teacher, said Jagjit Pal. District Education Officer Sukhchain Singh said the school authorities had lodged a complaint with the police for necessary action against the student and his relatives. Senior Superintendent of Police Varinder Pal Singh necessary action would be taken against those who assaulted the teacher. Following several similar incidents and threat issued to invigilators by students and even the managements of private schools, the police had provided security to some supervisory staff. A teacher said apart from students and their relatives, the managements of private schools, the owners of some of which are connected to politicians, interfere in school examination. Such interference has reportedly increased of late. So much so that if supervisory staff does not toe the line of students or private school managements, they have to be prepared to face the consequences.
Unfair means * Several such issues have come to light in Faridkot district of late *
The managements of private schools also indulge in such acts * Flaunting their political connections, school owners try to force teachers to toe their line
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Trouble for Singla as ex-MLA plans to contest as Independent
Sangrur, March 13 Dhiman won as an Independent from the Dirba assembly seat in 2002. He again won the seat in 2007 on Congress ticket. In the last assembly poll, he unsuccessfully contested from Amargarh as a Congress candidate. Sources say Dhiman's move may create problems for the sitting MP and Congress candidate Vijay Inder Singla. Dhiman alleged he was being ignored by the party. He said he would not resign as he would prefer to wait for the party's response to his decision. Dhiman said he had taken this decision on the demand of his supporters who wanted to see him in the poll fray. Earlier on January 5, Dhiman had resigned from the executive committee of the Pradesh Congress Committee, alleging that seniority in the party had been ignored.
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UK body comes to aid of illegal migrants
Jalandhar March 13 Under the scheme, the council arranges air tickets, coordinates with the British Government and gets the identification of immigrants done from the Punjab Government. Balwinder Kaur, head of operations, told The Tribune that a large number of Punjabis were living in the UK illegally. “The council is assisting people who wish to return voluntarily. We are also identifying such people who are living in abject poverty and convincing them to return to their country,” she said. Gurmail Singh, council secretary, said: “We have noticed that there were several Punjabi girls, who came to the UK on a study visa and later declared illegal migrants. No business establishment gives employment due to the fear of heavy penalty. Such girls are being forced into prostitution”. The council has so far received 180 inquiries from Punjabi migrants wanting to return home since the scheme was started in November last year. “We have already sent 30 migrants to Punjab at our expense. Of these, 10 girls were rescued from a prostitution racket,” he said. Documentary on Punjabis’ plight The council has also made a documentary “Broken Dreams”, which highlights the plight of Punjabi students and illegal migrants living in the UK in abject poverty. The film shows how Punjabis are sleeping underneath bridges in freezing temperatures. Though some gurdwaras have offered help, the rising number of such people is adding to the problem.
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Rajasthan Sikhs accuse Jathedar of ‘violating’ edict
Amritsar, March 13 The Jathedar has, however, refuted the allegations. Group leader Hardeep Singh said the Jathedar had termed eight members of an educational trust associated with Gurdwara Budha Johad in Rajasthan as guilty of religious misconduct early this year. He stated the Jathedar had declared them “tankhaiya” under “immense pressure from the Sikh Sangat" on January 27 and had fixed February 13 to decide on the matter, but later no action was taken against them.
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Forest Dept to crack down on timber mafia
Chandigarh, March 13 Following large-scale smuggling of the forest produce, especially khair wood and timber, the forest officials of Punjab (Hoshiarpur Forest Division) and Himachal Pradesh (Hamirpur Forest Division) held a meeting chaired by Hamirpur Forest Conservator Pradeep Thakur recently. The meeting decided unanimously that the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) will mention their names, mobile phone numbers, email accounts on the export permit, which should accompany a document named “purcha hamrahi”, signed by the Forest Guard concerned. The export permit is a must to transport wood from one state to another. The involvement of police of both the states was a must to tackling cross-border smuggling of the forest produce. Some startling facts came to light during the meeting. The Department is ill-equipped to curb smuggling and faces shortage of adequate vehicles for patrolling. In addition, it doesn’t have mobile phone or walky-talky sets to communicate.
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Parents protest SAD leader’s bid to take school’s possession
Ferozepur, March 13 The children were forced out of the school and the furniture was dumped into a truck. However, before Pallah and his men could take the possession of the building, agitated parents and some local residents arrived and protested Several protesters assembled outside the school and raised slogans against the state government, following which the police had to intervene. Principal Veera Kaur said Pallah, along with court representative and some other persons, came to the school and asked them to vacate the premises. The panic-stricken children had to stand on the road during the incident. Later, DSP Vibhor Sharma reached the spot and pacified the agitated protesters. He said the police were not informed about any court orders, neither was the Education Department aware of any such development. Pallah justifed his move, saying the land on which the school was situated belonged to his family. He said they had won the court case from the sessions court as well as the high court following which they had come to take the possession. DEO (elementary) Amritpal Singh said the department would move the Supreme Court now.
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HIV-infected mothers to get lifelong treatment from April
Ludhiana, March 13 Dr US Sooch, project officer of the PPTCT, Ludhiana, said HIV-positive expectant mothers were given a single dose of nevirapine at the time of labour. Their newborns were also given the same dose immediately after birth. "But under the lifelong treatment programme, we will be giving lifelong treatment to the infected mother and the baby will be treated for one and a half years. After that period, there is no possibility that the child will be HIV positive," said Dr Sooch. The project officer said there were more than 4,000 integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTCs) in the country. Most of these were in government hospitals. Of these, 502 were located in obstetrics, gynaecology departments and maternity homes. “With the
programme, there will be only 2-5 per cent chances that a baby will be HIV positive. Earlier, only one dose was administered to the mother and the baby and the chances of the later getting the virus were 20-40 per cent. Since the inception of the
programme, we have done 65 deliveries and all babies were HIV negative," added Dr
Sooch.
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Toll on Fazilka highway under HC scanner
Chandigarh, March 13 In a petition, Parmod Chaudhary and his brother Vikas Chaudhary of Jalalabad have not only sought directions against charging double the amount, but have also sought directions to the concessionaire to abide by the agreement for development and maintenance of the 84.425-km-long Ferozepur-Fazilka road on build-operate- transfer basis. The counsel for the petitioners, CM Munjal, claimed that the State of Punjab, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board and Chetak Enterprises Private Limited entered into Ferozepur-Fazilka road concession agreement in March 2006. Munjal said Rs 92 was being charged, instead of Rs 46, for the entire highway.
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Man cleared of kirpan attack charges in UK
London, March 13 The incident happened near Sunnyside Road, Ilford, in November 2012. Singh insisted that he had acted in self-defence. The prosecutor, however, argued that the elderly man stabbed the victim repeatedly. The court heard that Pritpal Singh had been drinking in South Park and he became quite aggressive after hitting his leg on a metal pole. The court also heard that his friends tried controlling him but he said that he would hit the next person he saw. The group was on Sunnyside Road when Pritpal Singh attacked Bagicha Singh who, in his defence, retaliated, the court heard. "He (Pritpal Singh) was hitting me on my face and everywhere and trying to snatch my kirpan," Bagicha Singh was quoted as saying. He was cleared of one count of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and another of committing unlawful and malicious wounding. The Sikh community has praised the verdict, arguing that the case against Singh should have never been filed. "I'm really pleased with the verdict. If they had found him guilty it would have been a travesty of justice," Balvinder Saund, a representative of the Sikh Council UK, was quoted as saying. "He was just a man of 60 minding his own business, talking on the phone as he walked by himself, so the idea of him attacking strapping big lads was just unbelievable. It was almost as if the kirpan was on trial," she said. —IANS
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Wellington, March 13 The jury spent more than four hours deliberating Tuesday and Wednesday before returning guilty verdicts on eight charges and a not guilty verdict on one charge. The court heard that the man kept a 45-cm long knife by their bed to intimidate and force his wife into having sex. He also physically abused and threatened to kill her, the court heard. His wife came to New Zealand from India after marrying the man in an arranged Sikh marriage. Police detective Rob Parker said the case showed that domestic violence and abuse "exists in all facets of the society, it doesn't matter the culture or the demographic". — IANS
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Serial killer gets life term for murder, sodomy
Hoshiarpur, March 13 The victim, Sumit Badhan, of Bhim Nagar area went missing on June 9 last year. During investigation, Kumar had confessed that on June 9, Sumit entered his house after being afraid of a stray dog. He called the boy inside his house and sodomised him. Later, he killed him and buried the body in a deserted plot near his house. Assistant District Attorney TS Garewal said, “The case was presented before the court and it took only 27 days to decide the matter. The accused, Pardeep Kumar alias Monu, is sentenced to life term.” The counsel for the complainant, Navin Jairath, said: “It is an exemplary punishment that the convict will have to stay in jail till his death. We are satisfied with the verdict.” The victim’s father Dr Sukhdev Singh said, “Nothing can compensate my family’s loss, but the judgment has come like a balm to our loss.” Kumar faces another trial in the case of murder and sodomy. The case is pending.
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Woman patwari caught taking bribe
Abohar, March 13 Having paid Rs 5,000 on Tuesday, he was called to pay the second instalment today. After verifying the complaint, the ACB team, led by the ASP and DSP Anand Parkash, laid a trap at her house. She told Mohinder to put the money in a bag at her room. The team recovered chemically treated currency notes immediately and found that another employee, Shriram Sharma, had assisted the
patwari in collecting the bribe. Rajpal Kaur, however, refuted the allegations and said it was a
conspiracy.
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Youth murders woman, attempts to end life
Abohar, March 13 He has been referred to PBM Hospital, Bikaner. SHO Rajesh Sihag said Kale Khan (32) allegedly forced himself into Gurjant Singh's house on Wednesday and fired at his daughter, Sandeep Kaur (23). The woman had died by the time the police reached the spot. Kale Khan had been arrested under Section 306 of the IPC for abetting the suicide of his wife. He was released on bail in December last year.
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Hundreds of wheat bags stored in the open at a storehouse of the Punjab Agro Foodgrains Corporation (PAFC) at Kot-ise-Khan town in Moga district had got damaged in the unprecedented rains that lashed the region a couple of days back.
Six occupants of a Bolero jeep were burnt alive after their vehicle caught fire in a mishap involving three vehicles near Rojari village, 20 km from
Gharsana, in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan today. The driver of a pickup van was also killed, while both of its passengers were critically injured. The driver and cleaner of the third vehicle, a trailer laden with bricks, sustained minor injuries.
The Sikh Council, UK, has started a “voluntary return scheme” to rescue illegal Punjabi immigrants in the UK. It has already rescued 30 such persons since November last year.
Under the scheme, the council arranges air tickets, coordinates with the British Government and gets the identification of immigrants done from the Punjab Government.
Armed with court orders, senior SAD leader Harbans Singh Pallah, along with his supporters, today tried to take possession of Jubilee Primary School situated near the Zira Gate here.
The children were forced out of the school and the furniture was dumped into a truck. However, before Pallah and his men could take the possession of the building, agitated parents and some local residents arrived and protested
