|
|
|
|
|
IndiaVotes 2014
Battleground patiala
Battleground gurdaspur |
|
|
Battleground bathinda
Punish Majithia for blasphemy: Capt to clergy
Amarinder’s is a case of majestic isolation: Jaitley
CEO didn’t respond to all complaints
No govt aid for super-model booths
Doors of these houses open in
Haryana!
Youth Brigade: PAu
On poll duty, Ropar docs won’t vote
Drugs, liquor worth hundreds of crores seized
Over 28,000 jail inmates won’t cast their vote today
Punjabis stuck in riyadh
Licencees ‘forced’ to deposit arms
10 rocket launchers, IED, AK-47 found in Ludhiana
Court staff in dock for misplacing police report
Bridge collapses in Ferozepur
Farmers in CM’s village rue delay in lifting wheat
Villagers denied work under job scheme for 30 months
Labourers up in arms against brick kiln owners
Need to curb drug menace, says HC
Police spare Akali MLA in farm fire case FIR
Five drug peddlers nabbed
|
IndiaVotes 2014
Amritsar, April 29 Anti-incumbency sentiment against the Congress-led UPA Government over inflation and corruption is evident in certain urban areas. However, local issues, especially in the rural belt, dominated the election debate. People blame the SAD-BJP Government for the drug trade in the state. They are angry with the police for failing to curb the menace. In the rural Assembly segments, there is a strong anti-incumbency sentiment against the SAD-BJP Government. But this may not necessarily work to the advantage of the Congress. The voters are exploring other options like AAP. Noted farmers' leader Rattan Singh Randhawa, too, is in the fray. “The high-handedness of Akali workers and the police will go against the ruling alliance,” said Harbhajan Singh, a farmer from Majitha village. Disenchantment with the main political parties, Congress, SAD and BJP, is widespread. “We have seen both parties rule the state from time to time. But, this time we will vote for a third alternative,” said Makhan Singh of Rajatal village. In several villages, it all boils down to political affiliations. Octogenarian Kartar Singh, a resident of Avaan Lakha Singh village, said he would vote for the ruling alliance. “We have always voted for the SAD, come what may,” he said. Amritsar is likely to see a nail-biting finish. High stakes The stakes are high for both the SAD-BJP alliance as well as the Congress. A win in Amritsar will revive the political fortunes of Capt Amarinder Singh, who was removed as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief following two successive defeats in 2007 and 2012. On the other hand, if Jaitley wins, it will raise SAD’s stature. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has held more than 12 rallies for Jaitley in the Amritsar constituency. Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Jaitley's campaign in charge, has also addressed several rallies. While Amarinder only once ventured out of the constituency for a few hours to campaign for Ambika Soni in Anandpur Sahib, Jaitley, BJP’s key poll strategist, could not visit Delhi even once. The ruling SAD-BJP alliance had hoped that it would be a cakewalk for Jaitley. But Amarinder's candidature has made the contest tough.
|
|||
|
Battleground patiala
Patiala, April 29 Nevertheless, Preneet is confident of retaining her seat. "We will sail through. More than AAP, I see greater competition from the SAD, which is a more experienced party," she says. "This time, campaigning was different because of the emergence of AAP," she accepts reluctantly. Her son Raninder Singh claims that the Congress victory margin this time would be higher than in 2009. The SAD-BJP candidate, Deepinder Dhillon, once a Preneet confidant, and AAP's Dharmvir Gandhi, wrapped up their campaign with impressive roadshows yesterday. "Touring the length and breadth of Patiala, I realised that three-time MP Preneet Kaur has failed on all fronts," says Dhillon. On the emergence of AAP, he says: "People know that Modi will be the next PM. Hence, they will vote for the SAD-BJP alliance." Dr Gandhi says Preneet Kaur did little for the people in the past 15 years. " She did nothing and will get nothing on April 30," he says, claiming that AAP is not a spoiler but a credible alternative. The AAP strategy to focus on villages in the last days of campaigning may prove fruitful. Congress insiders fear that the urban vote may swing in AAP’s favour. All three candidates claim that the results will be astonishing and the victory margin big. Facts & figures
—Gagan K Teja
|
|||
|
Battleground gurdaspur
Khanna is banking heavily on senior SAD leaders, designated as halqa chiefs, to see him through the SAD-dominated areas of Fatehgarh Churian, Qadian, Batala and Dera Baba Nanak. He claims he will win the seat by more than 50,000 votes. Unlike the elections in 1998, 2004 and 2009, when several Bollywood celebrities canvassed for him, Khanna's campaign this time was a low key affair. Only his son Akshay Khanna campaigned for him. Bajwa has worked hard to woo the 2,00,000-strong Rajput voters as well as serving and ex-servicemen whose number is 90,000. The Rajput community held a rath yatra in Bajwa's support in the assembly seats of Sujanpur, Bhoa, Dinanagar and Pathankot on Monday. It was on Rajput leader Capt Kunwar Vikram Singh's insistence that the religious head of the Rajputs, Dr Shiv Swarupanand Maharaj, has issued an edict to the community to vote for Bajwa. Bajwa claims to have been in the forefront in getting the "one rank, one pension" scheme implemented. Chhotepur's campaign got a big boost when AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal visited the constituency in the second week of April. The latter canvassed door to door. "I am banking on the support of 57,000 new voters,” he says. Vote bank
|
|||
|
Battleground bathinda
"I appeal to the vote to listen to their conscience and not sell their precious vote to the drug mafia or get intimidated," Manpreet says. Harsimrat claims that the people's response has been overwhelming. "I have done my best to raise Punjab' issues in Parliament. I have outlined my future course of action, which includes houses for the poor, jobs for the youth, better education and health facilities and revamping of the irrigation system in my constituency. I will also try to get the property tax revoked," she says. "I have yet to make up my mind. Lok Sabha elections are not about local issues. As responsible voters, we should contribute to a stable government at the Centre," said a local college teacher. Vinod, a local businessman says: "I'm in a dilemma. I am not happy with the state government's witch-hunt of their rivals.The government has imposed more taxes on urban residents than those living in villages. But opinion polls claim that Narendra Modi is set to be the next PM. In that case, voting for the Congress may not benefit us," he says. In cities, the voters want to punish a government that has burdened them with taxes. They do not know whether or not to trust the ruling alliance that has promised to revoke the property tax post-elections. "I will vote against the SAD-BJP Government. But my brother says he will give them another chance as some taxes have been imposed on the directions of the Centre," said Sunil, a shopkeeper, his brother seated next to him. A section of voters are weighing the option of voting for AAP. They are fed up with both the Congress and the Akalis. "I will not vote for either the Akalis or the Congress. These parties have robbed us all these years. I will vote for AAP," says Rashmi, a housewife. SS Chahal, a local resident, said he would not vote for the SAD. "They imposed an unofficial curfew in the city during Modi's rally. That day, they lost my support," he said.
|
|||
|
Punish Majithia for blasphemy: Capt to clergy
Amritsar, April 29 Addressing mediapersons here, Amarinder said, “He has perpetrated a highly condemnable act. How can he be let off? What message it will send across to the community? What will be the credibility of those who will let him go scot free? The entire community is upset with his sacrilegious speech. I can only plead that it is a serious offence and the Sikh clergy will have to give it a serious thought.” Replying to a query, he said he could not spell out as to what action should be initiated against him as it was for the clergy to decide. “The focus of all the Sikhs across the globe is now on the high priests over the issue of Majithia's blasphemous speech,” he said. Targeting Majithia yet again over drugs issue, he said “he should be tried for murder”. Amarinder alleged that the SAD-BJP alliance had been resorting to money power to lure the voters: “We had lodged a complaint about their money being transported in a police vehicle, a TV van and even an ambulance in the past.” He alleged that they were trying to buy voters on the eve of polling for which a BJP leader from New Delhi was here. He said it was a “futile gesture, which showed how desperate they were”. He, however, said he could not give any evidence to corroborate his charge. The Congress leader also targeted Punjab Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi, saying they had got some information about his alleged involvement in some land encroachment scams, “which we will pursue once the elections are over”. He, however, declined to share any information on it. Expressing gratitude towards the Election Commission for acting against Majithia and Amritsar (rural) SSP, Amarinder said the EC had made security arrangements to ensure free and fair polls. “I have come to know that only paramilitary forces will be deployed within and outside the polling booths. Besides, they have made a provision of mobile patrols, which is also appreciable.” Amarinder won’t vote for wife in Patiala While Amarinder's wife Preneet Kaur is locked in a keen triangular poll battle in Patiala, she will not get her husband's vote on Wednesday as he has chosen to be in Amritsar on the polling day. “I will be staying put in my constituency, keeping a close watch on the polling process, particularly in Majitha Assembly segment, the home turf of Bikram Singh Majithia. As a result, my wife will have to do without my vote,” he said. Takht yet to summon Bikram Majithia The Akal Takht has clarified that it had not summoned Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on May 1 regarding his blasphemous speech row. A spokesperson said the Sikh clergy will discuss Majithia’s apology and other religious matters during its meeting on May 1. The Akal Takht Jathedar also said it was a sensitive issue, which was under their consideration and, therefore, the people should restrain from exploiting it for political gains.
|
|||
|
Amarinder’s is a case of majestic isolation: Jaitley
Amritsar, April 29 Talking to the media here today, Jaitley said: “No Congress leader came to his support during his campaign. He should not feel bad when my party leaders and workers came out in large numbers to support me.” He stated this while replying to a query over Amarinder’s allegation that BJP treasurer Piyush Goyal is coming to Amritsar to lure voters with money power. “Amarinder is most suited to be a gutter inspector as that is his mindset. Piyush has visited Amritsar six times ever since I landed here. He is a Rajya Sabha member and the closest friend of mine.” He alleged Amarinder was in a habit of concocting falsehood and lies. “To me he has come out to be a lightweight candidate. His hollowness and lack of knowledge was clearly evident.” On Captain’s allegation of BJP exploiting money power, Jaitley said he was looking for alibis for a certain defeat in the elections. On his charge about Narendra Modi not visiting the Golden Temple, he said Modi had been to Darbar Sahib more frequently as compared to Amarinder. “The Congress has run out of ideas. Captain decided to deal with me the way he has dealt with the Akali Dal through his career by being rude and discourteous and by fabricating allegations. Unfortunately for him he was dealing with a different kind of campaign. My campaign was issue-centric,” he said. Rumours of switch-overs A day ahead of the polling, Amritsar remained abuzz throughout the day with rumours of political leaders switching to other parties. The strongest rumour was about Amritsar-Central MLA OP Soni’s nephew and Youth Congress leader Vikas Soni joining the BJP as the people even received his photograph on WhatsApp along with BJP candidate Arun Jaitley. However, it turned out to be a morphed photograph. OP Soni refuted the rumour, terming it a BJP mischief which, he said, was on a “weak wicket” in the constituency. BJP candidate takes to tea politics A day after a month-long hectic poll campaign came to an end, Jaitley started his day with a cup of morning tea at a famous tea stall in the holy city. He relished tea along with steaming "kachoris" while chatting with visitors to the stall. He also posed with them for photographs. "Feeling relaxed after culmination of the poll campaign, I ventured out for a morning walk and just thought to refresh myself with a cup of tea here." Accuses Congress of ‘manufacturing’ issues Arun Jaitley has said the Congress ended up “trivialising” its campaign and was now “manufacturing issues”. He said, “The Congress’ campaign was a textbook lesson of how not to organise an event. Terming “Jairams and the Sibals as God’s special gift to the Congress”, he said they decided to “manufacture a new “toffee campaign” and then clapped like a child thinking it was working”.
|
|||
|
CEO didn’t respond to all complaints
Chandigarh, April 29 Sukhpal Khaira, PPCC spokesperson, said: “It is ridiculous that a number of complaints to the CEO went unheeded. We will have to have a mechanism in place or complaints will have no meaning at all”. There have been contradictory reports on allegations of distribution of liquor during a SAD rally addressed by Deputy Chief Minister Suhkbir Badal at Ghanaur in Patiala on March 20. While the first inquiry by the DC gave a clean chit to the SAD, another probe later indicted state minister Gulzar Singh Ranike’s son and Excise and Taxation Inspector Bhupinderpal Singh. There has been no response to a complaint on the CM allegedly asking for funds for party candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu while addressing industrialists in Jalandhar. The Election Commission had sought a CD to verify facts. There has been no official reaction to Bathinda PPP-Congress candidate Manpreet Badal seeking the transfer of Bathinda Zone IG (Intelligence) Jatinder Jain and Bathinda SSP Gurpreet Bhullar for supporting the SAD. The CEO took no action against a private TV channel for "unjustified" promotion of the SAD. A senior officer said: “We will have to sort out more than 70 cases of poll violation identified by the CEO's office.”
|
|||
|
No govt aid for super-model booths
Muktsar, April 29 A number of teachers said they were told to make special arrangements at the polling booths, though there was no allocation of funds. “We have been told to welcome first five voters by presenting them a bouquet, laying red carpet at the entrance, mats inside the booth, arranging nearly 20 chairs and erecting a tent outside. Besides, some students have been told to work as volunteers. This kind of arrangements can be made only by spending Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 but nobody is willing to provide money,” a government official said. Himmat Singh, Government Teachers’ Union president, Malout, said, “This surprise move has come as a trouble for the government staff. How can one spend from his own pocket? Further, some schoolchildren have been told to work as volunteers at polling booths.” A senior official said the teachers not willing to spend money from their own pockets were now relying upon the village sarpanch concerned to make these arrangements. In Muktsar district alone, 82 super-model polling booths are being prepared. These even include the polling booths of the Badals, including the CM’s family and Manpreet, at Government Primary School, Badal village. Preparations are on to give a new look to this polling booth, which otherwise looked ordinary in the past. Key features
|
|||
|
Doors of these houses open in
Haryana!
Lambi, April 29 The street is located on the Punjab-Haryana border. Sources said some of the residents even have votes in both the states. When asked, the residents said their houses were situated in Punjab, but they had entrance from the Haryana side too. A government employee, having one such house, said: "Our house is connected with two streets, one in Punjab and the other in Haryana. We have doors on both the sides, but formally we are residents of Punjab." He said he and his family members had their votes in Punjab and they would use vote on April 30. Another resident said they had purchased the house in 1998 and were now planning to become permanent residents of Haryana. "The major problem here in Punjab is sanitation, which is much better in Haryana. Secondly, the Haryana government offers Rs 1,000 as old age pension, which is Rs 250 here in Punjab and that too is disbursed after some interval." One more resident of this street said, "The price of such plots is also high in comparison to others. It gives one special status to enjoy as he or she owning a plot here becomes resident of two states and that too without obtaining any permission." There were some more houses, which only shared their back wall with the houses located in Haryana. Asked whether they face any problem during sale or purchase of property, they replied, "We don't face any legal hurdle in doing such kind of activities, as our plots fall in Punjab, but due to their special location these even touch the boundary of Haryana. We only go to Punjab Government's offices to pay the power bills and do other government works." Mandi Killianwali has the status of a gram panchayat and its other side is Dabwali town of Haryana. An inter-state 'naka' is always there on the barrier at national highway to keep a check on illegal activities like smuggling of goods. Santa Singh, sarpanch of Mandi Killianwali, too said there were some houses, which shared their boundaries with
Haryana.
|
|
Youth Brigade: PAu
Ludhiana, April 29 These days, canteens, cafes and hostels on the PAU campus are hotspots of highly charged political debates. For them, matters that matter are expensive higher education, unemployment, drug menace, inflation, women’s safety, crime and pathetic condition of roads. Narjit Singh, an M Tech student, says that students discuss politics at newspaper stands and hostel mess, besides, of course, social networking websites. And what do they dwell on? “Shrinking employment opportunities worry us. I will vote for the party that will work to ameliorate the situation. Women’s safety and the youth hooked on drugs are other important issues of discussion.” For Jaspreet Singh, a B Tech student, the main concern is the unsecured future of students. “Students are concerned about the deteriorating quality of education because of scarcity of funds and shortage of faculty in universities and colleges. The institutes do not have funds for research and to hire the field staff,” he says. His views find an echo in the contention of Manohardeep Singh, a B Tech third-year student. “Unemployment and punishing working conditions in the private sector force students to go abroad. We need job security and better conditions to work. But all this is a distinct dream as our education system is not upgraded,” he says. Another student Isha says, “As students do not get jobs, they get depressed. They cannot opt for sports as a career option because of poor sports infrastructure.” For Himanshu, another student, the poor quality of roads is a key issue. “Roads are re-carpeted just before the elections. Since poor material is used to re-carpet the roads, they are damaged soon.” He adds that students are fed up with corruption and devious plans of politicians to win elections. Kirandeep Kaur, a fourth-year biotechnology student, says, “The youth that constitute more than 50 per cent of the country’s population play an important role in deciding the political future of India. Of the past six decades after Independence, this decade is the most important in terms of who must lead the country.” On the importance of the youth, Gurinder Singh Aanchla, a student of B Sc (agriculture), says: “The youths’ increasing involvement in issues of importance will change things for the better and prove to be fruitful,” said. Neha Seth, another student, says: “Students do not believe in caste and religion-based politics. They are more concerned about development.” Santhok Singh Aujla, professor of political science, says the mobile phone applications and social networking websites play a vital role in the political awakening of the youth. “At the same time, unaddressed core issues and concerns of society force them to discuss politics. The need is to be awakened, otherwise they will falter.”
|
||
|
On poll duty, Ropar docs won’t vote
Ropar, April 29 Though the doctors and paramedical staff were informed of their election duty on April 25, no efforts were made to tell them about the procedure of obtaining the election duty certificate, which would have enabled them to cast their vote at the place of duty. Piqued at the circumstances, the doctors have decided to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission. — TNS
|
||
|
Drugs, liquor worth hundreds of crores seized
Chandigarh, April 29 Punjab Director-General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora said the seizures included 155.75 kg of heroin. This alone accounted for Rs 780 crore in the international market. Other drugs seized were poppy husk (18,577 kg), opium (97kg), smack (2.49 kg) and drug powder (42.93 kg). Capsules (1.44 lakh), tablets (nearly 2.16 lakh) and syrups (3,799 bottles) were also recovered. Illicit liquor (1.46 lakh litres), country liquor (2.28 lakh bottles) and 60,000 kg of lahan (raw material for making liquor) were also seized, the DGP said. He said Rs 27.11 crore in cash was seized during the period. — IANS Seizures since March 5
AAP fears bogus voting Amritsar: Dr Daljit Singh, AAP candidate, on Tuesday claimed to have detected a large number of bogus votes during a random scrutiny of poll rolls by independent observers. He blamed the District Returning Officer-cum-DC for the “lapse” and urged the EC to either suspend the poll process or ensure the scrutiny of poll rolls during polling. Bogus votes, if polled, would derail the democratic process, Dr Daljit said.—TNS Ramdev's effigy burnt Phagwara: Activists of the Ambedkar Sena, Punjab, blocked the highway and burnt an effigy of yoga guru Ramdev here. They were protesting against the derogatory remarks made by him against the Dalits. They were led by sena state president Surinder Dhadhey. The protesters, demanding that Ramdev be arrested, threatened a state-wide bandh if this was not done. — Ashok Kaura
|
||
|
Over 28,000 jail inmates won’t cast their vote today
Chandigarh, April 29 It has been learnt that they do not have the constitutional right to vote, rather their right is of statutory nature that cannot override laws under which they are imprisoned. “There is no provision in the law which allows jail inmates to cast their vote,” VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, told The Tribune. The number of inmates in the state can easily match the population of a small township, while the inmates in the entire country (nearly 4
lakh) can constitute an electorate of a big city. More than 28,500 prisoners are lodged in 26 jails in the state, including the lone high-security jail in
Nabha, seven central jails and nine district jails. “Each central jail in
Kapurthala, Ludhiana and Amritsar accommodate more than 3,500 inmates,” says Lakhminder Singh
Jakhar, DIG (Jails). At modern district jails in Faridkot, Patiala,
Bathinda, Ludhiana and Gurdaspur, the number of inmates vary between 2,000 and 3,000. Additional CEO Raminder Singh said neither an undertrial nor a convict had the right to vote. “None of the persons lodged in any of police stations can cast their vote,” he clarified. As per Section 62 (5) of the Representation of People’s Act: “No person shall vote at any election if he or she is confined in a prison whether, under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise, or is in lawful custody of police…” The guideline indicates that not only undertrials or convicts, but also hundreds of others who have been detained under prohibitory orders in police stations across the state, are barred from voting. “The detainees cannot cast their vote,” Raminder Singh said, adding that there was no provision of postal ballots for jail inmates. “We have already checked with the Eelection Commission (EC) in this regard.” “The fact is form number 12 or ballot papers cannot be provided to any jail inmate,” the CEO said. “Since the law is very clear on the issue, we have not made arrangements for jail inmates, whether they are convicts or
undertrials, to cast their votes.” RD Bawa, a Chandigarh-based advocate in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, said jail inmates should be armed with the right to vote. “Why not? If they have the right to contest elections, what is the harm in according them the right to vote? They should at least be allowed to cast their vote via postal ballot system or booths could be set up on the jail premises,” he said. The Punjab election authorities are learnt to have assured the EC that there would be at least 80 per cent turnout in this Lok Sabha elections against nearly 70 per cent witnessed during the 2012 Assembly polls. But with no provision allowing jail inmates of the state to cast their vote, it remains to be seen whether or not the state would witness the turnout assured to the EC. Barred from voting
|
||
|
Punjabis stuck in riyadh
Hoshiarpur, April 29 Earlier, seven youths returned to the country. In all, 22 Punjabi youths were stuck in the Riyadh, the capital of the Gulf nation. The company that allegedly forced the youths into bonded labour issued the five youths exit cards. They boarded the flight around 6 pm and would reach India after midnight. They include Gurdev Singh, Himmat Singh, Arjun Singh and Jagdeep Singh, all from Gurdaspur district. As per the bailout package, the company had agreed to send back all 22 youths. Talking to the Tribune from Riyadh, one of 10 youths still stuck in the Gulf nation, Jorawar Singh, said the company officials took their identity cards about a month ago and assured that the process to issue them exit cards was on. “I called a company official, Mounuddin, to ask him about the status of our exit cards. He said the documentation was underway and the company would initiate the process of return within a week,” Jorawar said. One of them faces health problem One of the boys still stuck in Saudi Arabia, Sharanjit Singh of Tangra village in Amritsar district, is having a tough time. He has pain in his chin due to which he is unable to eat properly. “I feel pain under my chin and finding it difficult to move my jaw. Due to the pain, I cannot eat properly. An X-ray image revealed that there is a cyst there which needs to be operated on immediately. I do not have enough money to get the surgery done here. For the past 23 days, I have not had a proper treatment. I have not eaten enough due to this problem for these days. I am passing time by taking money from one of my relatives working in Riyadh,” Sharanjit told The Tribune.
|
||
|
Licencees ‘forced’ to deposit arms
Jalandhar April 29 As per the police record, of nearly 3 lakh licensees, 2.72 lakh have deposited their weapons. The remaining licence holders are being coerced into doing so, failing which they are being threatened that they would be booked under the Arms Act. As per the ECI guidelines for depositing licensed arms after the elections are announced, the District Magistrate and the Police Commissioner have to make a detailed and individual review of every licence holder. Among cases which may need a review are the arms licences of three categories of persons — those released on bail, those having a history of criminal offences and those previously involved in rioting at any time, especially during elections. Against the forceful manner of depositing arms, the Bombay High Court has also laid down guidelines that are now binding. Under this, a screening committee will be formed in every district and commissionerate area which will be headed by the Superintendent of Police and the Commissioner of Police, respectively. After identifying the three categories of persons, the licence-issuing authority will issue a notice before the last date of withdrawals to such licensees for depositing the arms and inform the prosecution under Section 188 of the IPC on the failure to deposit the arms. However, contrary to the guidelines, the police screening committees are dormant in the state. They are not issuing notices to persons falling under the three categories. The licensees take the ground that they have got weapons for their safety, but the police are forcing them to deposit the firearms. When Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh was asked whether every weapon was required to be deposited, he said it was good to have a high deposit rate.
|
||
|
10 rocket launchers, IED, AK-47 found in Ludhiana
Ludhiana, April 29 Among the weapons are 10 rocket launchers, an IED (bomb), an AK-47 and two other rifles, besides carbines, six magazines, and a country-made bomb, seized from the bed of Abohar Branch Canal yesterday. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (III) Satvir Atwal said some of explosives were still active. “The weapons, which have gathered rust, are suspected to have been dumped about five years ago, perhaps by terrorists or their sympathisers. There is a sticker of ‘Raj Karega Khalsa’ on one of the weapons,” Atwal said. The incident came to light yesterday when Hakam Singh, a diver, who had jumped into the canal to collect coins thrown in the water body to perform rituals, found the weapons from the canal bed. “These weapons were not going to be used in elections as these were submerged for years. We cannot rule out the possibility that there could be more weapons lying at the canal bed. We have arranged more divers to conduct the search,” said Atwal. The arms have been sent to a forensic lab in Chandigarh to find out the details about their origin and age. Recovery of carbine raises eyebrows The recovery of a carbine, bearing the marking of SSP (Division-6), has raised eyebrows of the police department. The police are suspecting that the terrorists may have got hold of the carbine after killing or injuring a cop during the dark days of terrorism and later dumped the weapons in the canal. Not for the first time On December 25, 2010, a retired veterinary pharmacist, Pritpal Singh of Gujjarwal village, found an earthen pot containing grenades and cartridges buried in his plot. The recovery was a reminiscent of militancy days. The accidental recovery was made while he was constructing his house in the village. Two hand grenades, 132 cartridges (9mm) and 52 cartridges (7.65 mm), covered in polythene sheets, were found.
|
||
|
Court staff in dock for misplacing police report
Chandigarh, April 29 A complainant in the case, Raman Uppal, has filed a complaint in the court in this regard. It has been alleged that one of the accused in the case managed to get access to the cancellation report with the court remaining oblivious to the entire happenings. Seeking legal and disciplinary action against the court staff of JMIC Anil Kaushik, the complainant has alleged that the employee deliberately misplaced the report filed by the Chandigarh Police in January. A copy of the report was also given to Narinder Singh, an accused in the FIR, with the objective of subverting the judicial process, it has been alleged in the complaint (a copy is with The Tribune). The complainant had filed an application on April 26 before the court of Anil Kaushik, JMIC, Chandigarh, requesting for directions to trace the file as regards cancellation report filed by Chandigarh Police in January 2014. “I first became aware of the cancellation report having been filed when the bail application of one of the accused (Itinderjit Singh) was being argued before the court in February. We ran for pillar to post from one court to another since the last two months looking for the report but to no avail,” said Uppal.The file was traced on April 26 following court's intervention. A court official said they have received the complaint and it is being examined. The case which was cancelled and report misplaced
On September 16 last year, the Chandigarh Police had booked Congress MLA from Talwandi Sabo Jeet Mohinder Singh and seven others.
|
||
|
Bridge collapses in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, April 29 The existing bridge was removed in August 2011 which was to be replaced with a concrete one. However, various controversies marred the project, following which the Army built this temporary bridge in March 2012. Manjit Singh Narang, Deputy Commissioner, said the administration would make efforts to complete the concrete bridge. — OC
|
||
|
Farmers in CM’s village rue delay in lifting wheat
Badal (Muktsar), April 29 A visit to the Badal-Mann village road today showed that wheat was lying in the cremation ground as the “mandi” itself had no space left. A government official sitting there said that since April 17, nearly 43,000 quintal wheat had arrived in the mandi, of which 34,500 quintal had been purchased, but only 15,700 quintal wheat was lifted. Randhir Singh, a farmer, said, “It has happened because of shortage of trucks. We are facing a lot of problems and in the coming days, they will increase as no work done will be done on April 30 due to elections and May 1 is the Labour Day.” Iqbal Singh, Inspector of Markfed, said, “I have informed the higher-ups about the situation. Officials attached with the Chief Minister have also been apprised of the matter. The problem occurred due to the shortage of trucks for lifting.” Badal village’s grain market accommodates the produce of three villages — Badal, Mann and Gaggar. Some farmers from Lambi, too, come here to sell their produce. Sources said officials of procurement agencies went to the fields or houses of big landlords in these villages for procurement as their produce cannot be accommodated in this small mandi. Farmers’ woes
|
||
|
Villagers denied work under job scheme for 30 months
Abohar, April 29 District Collector PC Kishan was told during his visit yesterday evening that the Panchayat Samiti too had issued wrong job cards. The affected villagers had made several representations to the district manager and Director, Panchayats, but to no avail. The District Collector pulled up panchayat secretary for not rectifying the error. The Zila Parishad chief executive officer had not been informed by him, inquiries indicated. Some women told the District Collector that they had four to five girl children and their source of income, too, was meager but their names did not appear in the list of below poverty line families. Villagers alleged that funds for the lining of canal water courses were deposited in 2009 but the Zila Parishad was yet to begin work. They said at least 1,000 villagers had been consuming poppy husk when only 100 had got permits. The District Collector took into stock poor health and drinking water services in Alayki village. 218 persons affected
|
||
|
Labourers up in arms against brick kiln owners
Abohar, April 29 They were protesting non-payment of wages for the past fortnight by 400 brick kiln owners. The workers, who had gone on an indefinite strike on April 25, alleged that they were also denied electricity supply and potable water at residential quarters. Leading the demonstration, trade union activist Harkewal Deep Singh said thousands of workers were not supplied kerosene oil through fair price shops for the past few years under various pretexts. He said the wheat supplied at Rs 2 per kg under the Food Security Act scheme had not been found fit for consumption. Since it was “chemically treated”, physicians had advised them to use it after washing as there had been “complaints of food poisoning”. The protesters dispersed after submitting a memorandum to Additional District Collector Vasudev Malawat. He assured the protesters that he would look into the matter.
|
|
Need to curb drug menace, says HC Chandigarh, April 29 The observation, on a bail plea of a medical store owner, comes at a time when the drug menace in Punjab is an election issue. Already, the ruling combine candidates are facing uneasy questions over the alleged involvement of leaders in the distribution of drugs. Punjab former DGP Shashi Kant, too, has claimed that drugs worth more than ~60,000 crore are smuggled annually in the state. The observations by Justice Mehinder Singh Sullar came on a petition filed by Amit Thaman against Punjab. He was seeking a regular bail in a case registered on June 28, 2012, on the allegations of committing an offence under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985. He was booked at the police station division number five, Ludhiana. The case was registered after the police received a tip-off that “the petitioner, taking benefit of his medical store, used to illegally sell intoxicating tablets, capsules and bottles of drugs to students, including young girls”. During a raid, drugs were seized from him and he did not have a licence or permit to sell them. Justice Sullar asserted: “Very serious and direct allegations are assigned to the petitioner that he used to illegally sell the narcotic drugs to the students, including young girls. “It cannot possibly be denied that the tendency and frequency of selling such narcotic drugs to ruin the lives of students, including young girls, by such accused to earn ill-gotten money, have been tremendously increasing day by day, which is adversely affecting the social fabric of society. It needs to be curbed with heavy hands. Dismissing the petition, Justice Sullar added: “Taking into consideration the pointed recovery of heavy commercial quantity of drugs from the possession of the petitioner, to my mind, prima facie, the case for the commission of offence under the NDPS Act is made out against him.”
|
||
|
|
Police spare Akali MLA in farm fire case FIR
Faridkot, April 29 In his complaint to the police, Harish Gandhi, a tiller, had accused the Akali MLA, his five supporters and 14-15 unidentified persons of setting his 24-acre wheat field afire. He had alleged that they had done this in a bid to take forcible possession of the land, which is embroiled in litigation over its ownership. The fire spread to the adjoining fields and destroyed crop on a total of about 90 acres of land, worth over Rs 35 lakh. However "using their discretion, option and latitude in nominating the accused in the FIR", the police nominated five persons as accused but did not name the MLA in the FIR. Paramjit Singh, the investigating officer, said his preliminary investigation prior to the registration of the FIR found that the MLA had nothing to do with the crime. Moreover, the MLA “did not participate” in the crime as per the statement of Harish Gandhi, he said. Harish said, “In all cases except those of matrimonial and family disputes, commercial offences, medical negligence and corruption, the registration of an FIR is followed by police investigation. But, in this particular case, as the MLA was named as the prime accused, who hatched the conspiracy to set the field afire, the police gave him a clean chit before registration of the FIR.” The 24-acre land in dispute is owned by an NRI, Hari Chand, who reportedly “agreed to sell this land to his nephew Harish Gandhi” on September 11, 2009. An agreement to sell was written, it is claimed. However, later some members in the family of Hari Chand allegedly objected to this agreement, which was followed by clashes between the two families. Uma Gandhi, wife of Hari Chand, got a case registered against Harish Gandhi for the alleged offence of attempt to murder. Another FIR was registered against Harish for the alleged offence of cheating and forgery. Harish filed a civil suit against his NRI uncle, asking the court to get the ownership of the land on the basis of the agreement. While these legal cases were pending, some persons close to the Akali MLA allegedly got a power of attorney from the NRI to defend these cases in Faridkot. Earlier on April 19, Harish Gandhi lodged a complaint with the Kotkapura police, accusing the MLA and his supporters of attempting to take forcible possession of the land. At that time too, the police spared the MLA while registering the case, stating his name was being dragged unnecessarily into the matter.
|
||
|
Five drug peddlers nabbed
Abohar, April 29 The police said 35 kg poppy husk was seized from Sukhdev Singh of Hindumalkot and Shakuntala Devi of Kheowali Dhab village and Paramjit Singh of Fatehgarh and Pamma of Jhuggelal Singh village on different roads. Seed Farm resident Hardev Singh was arrested with 50 gm smack.
|
|
| 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 | |
Chandigarh, April 29
Ludhiana, April 29
Chandigarh, April 29
Ferozepur, April 29
Badal (Muktsar), April 29
Faridkot, April 29
I am cent per cent confident of a victory. I can see Jaitley running back to Delhi or Gujarat once the poll results are
announced
I have faith in the electorate of Amritsar and I am sure they will contribute to forming a strong NDA government at the Centre under Modi
I have done my bit by making people aware of important issues. It is now for the voter to make a wise choice on the
polling day
Gurdaspur, April 29
Bathinda, April 29
