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Badal seeks fresh probe into 1984 riots
CM’s demand baffling, says Phoolka
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pollution unabated in punjab’s holy river
Extra coal to help pvt plants generate cheaper power
Police under scanner after jail inmate's death
Provide counselling schedule in recruitment ads, HC to state
Traders cheer as Badal promises to reopen route
Akalis a liability for BJP: Bajwa
Mansa villages yet to receive irrigation water supply
Admissions set to start, but colleges await MCI nod
The rail cargo facility in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Arvind Khanna fails to appear before Speaker
Last rites of Kallianwala martyrs on Aug 1
Abohar residents to protest delay in bridge’s construction
Varsity gets nod to set up campus in Kenya
Akali faction ‘hired’ contract killer for
Rs 5 lakh
3 of family crushed to death by train
Four of marriage party killed in accident in Abohar
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Badal seeks fresh probe into 1984 riots
New Delhi, June 13 He said "dedicated courts" should be set up to expedite cases in which FIRs had been registered and challans submitted. Badal was with Modi for more about 40 minutes. He submitted a memorandum on demands pertaining to the state and the Sikh community. Badal said the inquiry commission should be told to complete its investigation within six months. He urged that cases be re-opened and reviewed. He also sought a rehabilitation package for the riot victims. The Chief Minister expressed resentment at the Haryana Government's move to set up a separate Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, which he termed as "dangerous." He urged that Parliament enact a legislation to ensure SGPC supremacy in areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.
On Sehajdharis Regarding the voting rights of Sehajdharis, Badal sought the Centre's intervention for "corrective measures." He said the NDA Government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee had issued a notification denying voting rights to the Sehajdharis that was nullified by the court on the ground that such an amendment could not be brought about by a notification. But the court had upheld the right of the legislature to lay down the eligibility criteria for the voters.
Chandigarh's transfer He urged that Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas be transferred to Punjab "in the spirit of the policy which guided the reorganisation of the state on linguistic basis in 1950". On the riverwaters, he alleged that the state had been treated unfairly and denied its legitimate share of riverwaters as per the riparian law. Badal also urged Modi to ask Pakistan to allow a corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib (in Pakistan) to enable Sikh pilgrims to visit the shrine.
Sops for industry He sought concessions to Punjab industry on a par with those those granted to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, a financial package for the holy city of Amrtisar on the lines Varanasi (from where Modi has been elected to the Lok Sabha) and a special debt relief package for Punjab farmers.
Clearance for 26 mines New Delhi: The Union Environment Ministry has given clearance to 26 mines in the "A” category and will clear 13 more in Punjab. This will ease the supply of sand and gravel in the state. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has consented to release funds for the Budha Nullah.
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CM’s demand baffling, says Phoolka
Amritsar, June 13 Phoolka said: “The Home Minister is empowered to constitute an SIT to re-investigate 237 riot cases which were closed by the police and not sent for trial. However, the Home Minister is not empowered to order that the SIT must be monitored by the Supreme Court. It is surprising why Badal is trying to complicate the issue. “It appears either the Chief Minister has nor been properly briefed or he is trying to befool the public.” — TNS
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pollution unabated in punjab’s holy river
It was only yesterday that the Union Government decided to treat the Sutlej, considered sacred by the Punjabis, on par with the Ganga in the national mission for the cleaning of rivers across the country. The decision was taken by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti after a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Delhi. The river enters Punjab from Himachal at Nangal (near Ropar) and exits into Pakistan near Harike (in Ferozepur). Starting from class ‘B’ at Nangal, the water quality deteriorates to class 'D', which is unfit for human consumption, due to the discharge of the wastewater once it reaches near Harike. Though Badal has sought a special package from the Centre for cleaning of the Sutlej, the government would face a daunting task to tab the domestic waste in its towns and villages. While several towns have set up wastewater treatment plants, the failure to connect all the inhabited areas to these plants and shortage of funds to manage them is a cause for concern. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) monitors the quality of the river’s water quarterly and has recently prepared a detailed report on the issue. As per the report, the quality of the Sutlej water at Nangal is class 'B'. As soon as it flows downwards, the quality of water starts degrading from class 'B' to 'C' and 'C' to 'D'. “The government’s failure to ensure proper functioning of the wastewater treatment plants is one of the primary reasons behind the untreated waste flowing into the river,” a senior official confirmed. The quality upgrades to class 'C' due to self-purification at Harike Head Works, said officials. They said it was imperative to plug the pollution sources so as to provide potable water to the residents and clean water for irrigation. The areas that have been shown polluting the Sutlej in the PPCB report are: Nangal, Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, Kurali, Phillaur, Machhiwara, Ludhiana, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Banga, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur Road, Pholriwal Road, Kapurthala Road, Ludhiana Road, Hoshiarpur, Moga, Makhu, Dharamkot, Zira, Talwandi Bhai and Ferozepur. “We can plan things and tell the government to take remedial steps provided it ensures funds. Until that happens, the Sutlej will continue to flow polluted,” a senior PPCB official said. Strict check on industry However, the government has taken stern measures to check the flow of industrial waste into the Sutlej. “In Ludhiana, the electroplating and dyeing units, which discharge their wastewater into the Budha Nullah (further leading to the Sutlej), have to first treat their wastewater at common effluent plants,” said the senior PPCB official. Industries such as NFL (Nangal), PACL (Naya Nangal) and the Ropar Thermal Plant have installed their own treatment plants and only treated water is discharged into the river. “The only exception is Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant, which generates effluents from floor washing and leakages that are discharged into the Ghanauli drain, leading to the Sutlej,” the PPCB report reads. PPCB chairman Ravinder Singh confirmed the report was to be submitted to the government. He said efforts were on to ensure the entire industry complied with the pollution norms. “We have managed to check the flow of industrial waste. Now, our focus is on regular monitoring,” he said. On domestic waste, he said the government had been apprised of the matter and the problem would be solved soon. Strict check on industry
However, the government has taken stern measures to check the flow of industrial waste into the Sutlej. “In Ludhiana, the electroplating and dyeing units, which discharge their wastewater into the Budha Nullah (further leading to the Sutlej), have to first treat their wastewater at common effluent plants,” said the senior PPCB official. Industries such as NFL (Nangal), PACL (Naya Nangal) and the Ropar Thermal Plant have installed their own treatment plants and only treated water is discharged into the river. “The only exception is Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant, which generates effluents from floor washing and leakages that are discharged into the Ghanauli drain, leading to the Sutlej,” the PPCB report reads. PPCB chairman Ravinder Singh confirmed the report was to be submitted to the government. He said efforts were on to ensure the entire industry complied with the pollution norms. “We have managed to check the flow of industrial waste. Now, our focus is on regular monitoring,” he said. On domestic waste, he said the government had been apprised of the matter and the problem would be solved soon.
Main polluting areas in Punjab Nangal, Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, Kurali, Phillaur, Machhiwara, Ludhiana, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Banga, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Pholriwal, Kapurthala, Ludhiana Road, Hoshiarpur, Moga, Makhu, Dharamkot, Zira, Talwandi Bhai and Ferozepur (Source: PPCB report)
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Extra coal to help pvt plants generate cheaper power
Another plant in the private sector at Goindwal Sahib, which had been facing shortage of coal, is expected to start commercial production in another three weeks. The three state-owned thermal plants at Bathinda, Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat have been generating power only through the domestic coal. But for the new thermal plants in the private sector, Coal India Limited was ready to give coal from the domestic sector only up to 80 per cent of utilisation. For the rest, they would have had to make do with imported coal. “But now if the Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo plants get 100 per cent domestic coal, the power generation cost will come down, which will benefit the consumers,” said PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director KD Chaudhri. Though Coal India Limited had assured to provide 80 per cent domestic coal, there were talks of cutting the limit further to 65 per cent due to the coal crisis. Chaudhri said, “Imported coal is costlier than domestic. The transportation cost (from the port to the destination) is also more in case of imported coal. Hence, power generation through imported coal is costlier, which results in higher power tariff.” At a meeting with Union Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal yesterday, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had sought increase in coal linkage to the Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo plants. “The capacity of the Talwandi Sabo project has been increased from 1,800 MW to 1,980 MW whereas that of the Rajpura plant has been increased from 1,200 MW to 1,400 MW. As such, the coal linkage should be increased so that these plants can run on their optimum capacity,” Badal had told the Union Minister.
But will people benefit?
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9 days after rape, accused yet to be arrested, say kin
Sanaur, June 13 The girl is being treated at the Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. A reluctant police filed an FIR on June 12 under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC, eight days after the incident. In her complaint to the police, the girl said that she had to quit school as Gurtej Singh would rape her and threaten to eliminate her family if she complained. Raped again on June 4, she confided in her parents who informed the police. "The police officer summoned us and the accused to the police station. The ASI on duty told us that the accused had some pictures and a video-tape that could give a bad name to our daughter," alleged the victim's mother. She said even after her daughter was hospitalised, the police did not register a complaint. "It was only after former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh intervened and took up the matter with senior police officers that a case was filed," she said. Refuting the charges, Sanaur Station House Officer Aman Pal said the police received a complaint of sexual harassment on June 9. He said they summoned the girl's family and the accused to the police station on June 12, but the latter did not turn up. The same evening, the girl was hospitalised. When contacted, Bir Devinder said: " Instead of helping the minor girl and arresting the accused, the police now claim that it was not rape but sex by mutual consent. I tried to contact SSP Hardyal Mann on his official number last night, but in vain." Mann said he had ordered a probe by a DSP-rank officer. "Let the girl give her statement before the court. we will act accordingly," he said.
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Police under scanner after jail inmate's death
Kulwinder of Bathwala village was allegedly picked up by the police from his shop of spare parts and 1.5 kg poppy husk was "recovered" from his possession. The police denied having “picked” him from his shop and claim that he was arrested during a naka laid near Gaznipur village on the Kalanaur road. His suicide had sent shivers down the spines of senior police officers, who were quick to wash their hands of the incident. However, the spotlight is back on the police for but all the wrong reasons. Residents say that the police, on a daily basis, nab addicts and claim that “intoxicating powder” was recovered from their possession. A senior criminal lawyer questioned,“The Gurdaspur police have recovered 60 kg of this powder till June 10. We want to know where this powder comes from, what its composition is and whether it is consumed orally or inhaled by the addict.” A police officer, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Powder has taken the place of capsules ever since some variants of the latter were banned by the Union Government. Spasmo Proxyvon was a capsule that was popular among youth. With this variety going out of stock, we had to bring in intoxicating powder to ensure that we got an addict convicted. If we confiscate more than 250 gm of powder, we can make a non-bailable offence against the accused. This infringement ensures a minimum 10-year punishment for the addict." However, even he could not tell from where a large quantity of the powder was flowing in this district. Lawyers also claim that Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was being flouted. This act states that a police officer can search a person only in the presence of either a Gazetted Officer (GO) or a magistrate. “However, neither a GO nor a magistrate is present at the time of conducting a search. The police force a person to sign a blank paper, which is later got signed by some GO to give the ‘search’ a legal sanctity,” claimed another criminal lawyer. An officer said the police had been put under tremendous pressure to make recoveries of drugs as some SAD leaders felt that drug menace was one big factor that led to the loss of face for the ruling government. “We are not against the drive but the modus operandi adopted by the police is flawed. They surround villages in the wee hours and start conducting raids. Recently, the Gurdaspur police sealed Dida, Awankha, Saraspur, Bariar and Gandhian villages and conducted raids. What they managed to get is yet to be made public,” said a former minister. Moreover, no arrangements have been made in jails for rehabilitation of addicts. The Gurdaspur central jail can house 750 inmates but
currently, over 1,500 prisoners, mostly “addicts” nabbed in the ongoing drive,
are lodged there.
On the wrong foot?
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Provide counselling schedule in recruitment ads, HC to state
Chandigarh, June 13 Justice Rajesh Bindal has also ruled that the process of recruiting medical laboratory technicians in Punjab was unfair as the gap between notification of counselling schedule and declaration of result was two years. The ruling came on a petition by Ajay Chabbra. An advertisement for recruiting medical laboratory technicians was issued in July 2011. The written test was held in December 2011; but the result was declared only in December, 2013. The counselling was scheduled fixed from January 2, 2014, to January 13, 2014. The petitioner’s contention was that he remained unaware of the counselling schedule, as he met with an accident on January 4, 2014 and was advised bed rest for 10 days. Justice Bindal asserted: “It has been noticed in many cases pertaining to selection that process takes years together. Sometimes, it is difficult for the candidates to keep track thereof. The schedule is either notified in the newspaper, limited in number, or uploaded on the website. “It cannot be disputed that more than 60 per cent of the population in Punjab lives in villages and consequently the candidates are from rural areas, where availability of newspapers and internet facility is limited, besides the resources of the candidates. “If under these circumstances, on account of unavoidable reason, a candidate is not able to appear in the counselling, he can lose opportunity of employment. The suffering is more in case it is found that the candidate is high up in the merit on the basis of marks secured in the written test and may not get employment only for the reason that he could not appear in the counselling. As a result, the candidates, who are less meritorious, may get opportunity of employment…. Directing the notification of a fresh date for candidates who missed counselling, Justice Bindal added: “Keeping in view the factors and limited number of job opportunities available, in my opinion, it would be appropriate if the state frames a policy for providing tentative schedule in the advertisement itself pertaining to various steps in the process of selection so that none of the candidates, who may be more meritorious, misses the opportunity only because of lack of knowledge…. One of the modes for communication to the candidates can be by sending SMS by making it mandatory for them to furnish mobile number in the application form for the process”.
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Traders cheer as Badal promises to reopen route
The border was closed after the 1971 India-Pakistan War. Border residents’ hopes had brightened when Pakistani Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif attended the Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. The traders too have welcomed the initiative taken up by the Chief Minister and urged the Indian
and Pakistani governments to discuss the issue in the forthcoming bilateral talks. In a memorandum submitted to state BJP chief Kamal Sharma here, the traders said that the reopening of Hussaniwala border was the only way to revive the economy of the district. Sharma said the Modi-led NDA Government was keen to open new trade routes. Earlier, the Pakistani Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaj Sharif had also strongly advocated the need for reopening the trade route to foster better economic ties between the two nations. “Shutting down the land route for trade via Hussainiwala border was economically irrational,” said Pakistan-born industrialist Arif Shakar, who
along with other NRIs had visited the border some time ago. Even several economists from PAU have emphasised the need to connect Malwa with Pakistan to increase bilateral trade with Pakistan. The Hussaniwala border is only 11 km from Ferozepur and 9 km from Kasur in Pakistan. Until 1971, this land route was the lifeline of the traders dealing in dry fruits, vegetables, clothes and fruits. Industry experts say the state can export large amounts of cotton to
Pakistan through this trade route. “At present, most of the trade between Punjab and Pakistan takes place through Mumbai or Dubai, which means a considerable increase in freight costs. Perishable goods including vegetables cannot be shipped,” said Ashwani Mehta, president, Beopar Mandal. He further said besides onions and potatoes, there was a great demand for green chilies and ginger in Pakistan, which can be easily sent through
Hussainiwala.
Untapped potential
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Akalis a liability for BJP: Bajwa
Chandigarh, June 13 He said it was ironic that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal continued to dictate terms to the departments held by the BJP ministers, especially the Local Bodies and Industries and Mining. The Deputy Chief Minister had directly and indirectly blamed the BJP for property tax and illegal sand mining in the state after the elections, Bajwa said. “People have been angry about property tax and sky-rocketing sand prices. I am glad that the mid-level BJP leaders have asked state party chief Kamal Sharma to pull out of the alliance and not take the blame for the wrongdoings of the Akali leaders,” Bajwa said. He said senior party leader and now the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, had a firsthand experience of Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia’s style of functioning. Despite a Modi wave, Jaitley lost the elections due to the SAD’s poor reputation. Bajwa said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had “obliquely admitted” that Majithia had become a burden on the party by divesting him of the NRI Department. He said the Punjabi NRIs had backed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that bagged four seats in the state. Had it not been for AAP, the Akali Dal-BJP alliance would have been totally wiped out. The people vent out their anger against the Akali leaders’ jungle raj. “That Sukhbir Badal did not invite the BJP ministers to the meeting while taking decisions regarding their departments on June 9 shows that he continued to dictate terms to the BJP. The Badals are only concerned about their support base in rural areas,” he added.
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Mansa villages yet to receive irrigation water supply
The Mussa and Urrat distributaries of Bhikhi branch are still running dry forcing the farmers to use tubewells, which pump out not very healthy underground water. The Malwa belt is infamous for poor water quality unfit for human consumption and can cause a fertile field barren due to its alkaline and saline contents in few years if heavy nutrients are not used. Villages fed by the two distributaries and especially like Narinderpura, Barnala, Phapre Bhaike, Chakerian and Nangal Khurd -all of which had voted more for Cong-PPP-CPI candidate Manpreet Badal are without water . Manpreet led by 42, 407, 429, 247 and 124 votes from these villages respectively. A farmer not wishing to be quoted said they feel they are suffering because of not voting for the Akalis. Manpreet had got a lead of over 22,000 votes from the Mansa Assembly constituency under which most of the villages fall. Though villages like Bire Wala Jattan, Baje wala, Gharngna and Dehle had given lead to the sitting MP, they are also suffering for the absence of water supply. The number of such villages is less than those compared to the ones having voted for Manpreet Badal. However, officials sources in the Irrigation departments denied there was any relation between voting and irrigation water supply. They said water would be released soon and reiterated the reason for delay was incomplete cleaning of the canal beds. They said all villages along the two distributaries have been affected.
Paddy growers left high and dry
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Admissions set to start, but colleges await MCI nod
Chandigarh, June 13 The applications of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital Faridkot , Government Medical College and Hospital Chandigarh and Sri Guru Ram Das institute of Medical Sciences and Research Amritsar to renew their licence is still pending. These institutes were allowed to increase their seats last year. The applications of Government Medical College, Amritsar, and Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Chintpurni Medical College, Gurdaspur, Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, and Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, for an increase in seats have been turned down. The applications of Governmnet Medical College, Patiala, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, and Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Jalandhar, are still under process. The MCI cited acute shortage of faculty as the major reason for turning down the pleas of the institutes. It also said there were not enough patients in the OPDs; hostels were lacking; and libraries did not have enough journals. Academician Dr Arvind Goyal said, “The WHO recommends the doctor patient ratio to be 1:1100, while the present ratio in our country is around 1:1800.”
Bone of contention
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Paucity of wagons hits trade with Pakistan
Amritsar, June 13 "At times, we are provided wagons only once a
week. This is not enough. We have a huge stockpile of goods at the rail cargo facility in Amritsar." Jaspal Singh, a clearing agent, said there was a backlog of 350 wagons. He said they were being provided 52 wagons every week, which was insufficient for the trade. He said that with imports from Pakistan almost nil, no goods train was coming from Pakistan. Items such as red chillies, polymers, tyres, spices, dyes and chemicals are exported to Pakistan via the rail route. Jaspal Singh said the goods wagons attached with the Samjhauta Express were being utilised for items like bananas and cardamoms. He said they had met top Railway officials, including Chief Freight and Transport Manager V Shankar. The traders were now hopful that their grievances would be addressed soon. In December last year, 22 kg of heroin was found in a goods wagon of the Samjhauta Express that came from Pakistan. It was not the first time that heroin was found in the rail cargo. More than 150 kg of heroin was seized from a rail cargo from Pakistan in 2012.
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Phillaur’s son fails to turn up before ED for questioning
Jalandhar, June 13 Damanvir’s associate Chunni Lal Gaba, a Goraya-based industrialist, appeared before the directorate at 3 pm. He was questioned for three hours. Damanvir has evaded ED summons thrice. The directorate has been questioning Gaba on the charges of supplying pseudoephedrine (used for making ICE) to druglord Varinder Raja, who in turn would supply it to foreign countries. Gaba owns a pharmaceutical unit in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. Damanvir and Gaba were named by druglord Jagdish Bhola, a former Punjab Police DSP who is under arrest, for their involvement in the drug racket. During investigations, Bhola had told the ED that Damanvir had introduced Raja to Gaba. Three drug smugglers held Ferozepur: Three smugglers, Balwinder Singh of Ludhiana, Gurmit Singh and Shingara Singh, were arrested on Friday. Gurpreet Singh Toor, SSP, said a truck carrying onions was stopped. A search yielded 35.35 quintals of poppy husk worth Rs 60 lakh. YAD leader Bhola’s aide arrested Jalandhar: The Jalandhar-Rural police has nabbed a confidant of senior vice-president of the Youth Akali Dal (YAD), Gurmail Singh Haripuria alias Bhola, with 110 gm of drug powder. Bhola was recently interrogated for suspected involvement in drug peddling. The arrested peddler has been identified as Manjit Singh of Nangal village in Phillaur. Sources said Bhola’s whereabouts were not known. Bhola is believed to be close to SAD leader and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander. The latter had described him as a "loyal soldier" of the party when he was in the eye of the storm. The Punjab YAD president, Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, described Bhola’s disappearance as a well-planned strategy to save political "bigwigs owing allegiance with the SAD-BJP alliance." — Nikhil Bhardwaj Athlete held with smack Abohar: Shiv Pratap Singh (35), an athlete who has participated in national and international events, has been arrested by the Sriganganagar police under the NDPS Act. Sources said Shiv Pratap was a railway employee and was posted in Patiala as ticket checker. He was arrested along with Virender Bishnoi. The police claimed to have seized 4.270 gm of smack from their possession. — OC
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Arvind Khanna fails to appear before Speaker
The Speaker said Khanna had sought more time to hand over his resignation to him. “I cannot say anything till I meet him in person and he signs the resignation letter.” Khanna could not be contacted for comment. He did not respond to calls on his phone. The Dhuri Congress office in charge, Jagroop Singh, said: “He is not in town. We do not know where he is." Reliable sources said Khanna was reconsidering his decision to quit the Congress in the wake of AAP candidate Bhagwant Mann's spectacular performance in the Dhuri Assembly segment which forms part of the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat. Mann had trounced Congress candidate Vijay Inder Singla with a huge margin. The election results make it evident that it will be no cakewalk for Khanna, even if he contests the byelection on the SAD ticket. The Akali candidate, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, had trailed Bhagwant Mann by more than two lakh votes. Finding himself on the crossroads, Khanna is now reluctant to appear before the Speaker, the sources said. Khanna is seen close to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. He also has family ties with Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh. The latter stays in his house in Sector 10 whenever he is in Chandigarh. Amarinder is learnt to have advised Khanna not to quit the Congress.
Having second thoughts?
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Last rites of Kallianwala martyrs on Aug 1
Amritsar, June 13 Surinder Kochhar, member of a committee formed by the state government to preserve the remains of the martyrs, today said that he had submitted a memorandum in this regard to NS Randhawa, Director, Cultural and Archaeology. The Punjab Government had formed a committee, comprising members of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the state's Cultural Affairs Department and forensic experts from Panjab University, to preserve the remains. Those badly damaged were kept with Guru Shaheed Ganj Management Committee. Kochhar said they had invited the President, the Prime Minister, Army officers and social activists for the last rites on August 1. He said the Centre should urge the British Government to release the names of soldiers who were brutally killed by the British officials during the mutiny. Guru Shaheed Ganj Management Committee urged the government to provide an appropriate site for the last rites of the martyrs at
Ajnala.
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Abohar residents to protest delay in bridge’s construction
Abohar, June 13 "Hundreds of people will organise a protest march and stage a dharna at the railway station,” Durgiana Market Association president Bhim Chachan and former councillor Prem Kalra said after a meeting. They said it was decided that a comprehensive agitation against the state government would be held if funds were not released before July 7. — OC
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Varsity gets nod to set up campus in Kenya
Fatehgarh Sahib, June 13 Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, SGPC General Secretary and Vice Chancellor Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia said the initial cost of the project, spread over 75 acres, would be Rs 20 crore. They said that SGPC would spend Rs 2 crore annually after signing an MoU with the Kenyan authorities. Dr Walia said teaching exchange programmes would be held as there was an acute shortage of academic staff in Kenya. — TNS
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Akali faction ‘hired’ contract killer for
Rs 5 lakh
Faridkot, June 13 Davinder Singh was hired by the supporters of a Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) at a cost of Rs 5 lakh to eliminate their two opponents in Sewewala village of Faridkot. As part of this contract, on March 30, 11 members of Davinder's gang allegedly killed Sukhpal Singh (42) and his nephew Maninder Singh (24). The deceased, supporters of a former Akali minister, had an old-time rivalry with Ranjit Singh, a supporter of a senior Akali CPS. On April 9, last year, this rivalry led to the murder of Ranjit Singh when he was undergoing treatment in Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot. To take revenge, family members of Ranjit allegedly hired Davinder to eliminate Sukhpal
and Maninder. When Ranjit was murdered, Davinder was lodged in Central Jail, Faridkot, in connection with another murder case. After he was engaged to work as a contract killer, on September 4, 2013, he managed to escape from police custody with the help of a friend and executed this contract of killing two persons, police sources said. Davinder, who is from Babhihiya Bhai village of Moga, is involved in 10 criminal cases, including four murders and three murder attempts. On the basis of the interrogation, the Faridkot police have recovered two fire weapons and over 80 cartridges from Sewewala village, said SS Kahlon, Senior Superintendent of Police, Faridkot. He said Davinder headed a gang and took contracts for killing people. After executing every crime task, the gang members stayed outside the state for some days and once the dust settled, they returned to hit their next target. The gang members had access to many modern and imported fire weapons and they were well-trained shooters. On June 11, the Faridkot police arrested Davinder after there was an exchange of fire at the busy Ferozepur Road in Ludhiana. A Czechoslovakian pistol and 21 bullets were recovered from him.
The contract
About the killer
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3 of family crushed to death by train
Muktsar, June 13 They said Palo Bai was going to hang washed clothes for drying when she saw the girls playing on the track and a train coming towards them. She rushed to save her granddaughters but the train crushed the trio. Gurmej Singh, a neighbour of the deceased, said though the train driver applied the brakes, it stopped only after crushing them. The children's parents are farm labourers and they had gone to the fields when the incident occurred around 11 am. The police began investigations under Section 174 of the CrPC. — TNS
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Four of marriage party killed in accident in Abohar
Abohar, June 13 Mala Ram Khileri of Jaitsar, Mahal Chand of Gusainsar and Het Ram Sharma died instantly. Mam Raj Sharma died at a private hospital. All the victims were aged 20-30 years, the police said. — OC
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Patiala, June 13
Jalandhar, June 13
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Bathinda, June 13
Chandigarh, June
13