P U N J A B

Not paid, college heads threaten shutdown
Jalandhar, June 28
Members of the Principals' Association of Non-Government Affiliated Colleges (Guru Nanak Dev University) today said if the government failed to release their salaries as per the grant-in-aid scheme, they would be forced to close colleges and "hand over the keys to the Chief Minister within a week".

Patiala MP readies wish list, to meet ministers
Chandigarh, June 28
Patiala MP Dharamvir Gandhi will take up the setting up a rail link between Mohali and Rajpura, upgrading of the National Institute of Sports and taming the Ghaggar with the respective union ministers.

‘Ancient artefacts’ found in Bathinda
Bathinda, June 28
Ancient artefacts were reportedly recovered from a shop in Bathinda last evening. Though the material used in the making of these artefacts is yet to be ascertained, experts from Chandigarh said a mixture of gold, copper and iron could had been used to make these.

SGPC panel to meet on June 30 over Haryana move 
Amritsar, June 28
Following the Haryana government's move to set up a separate gurdwara panel in the state, the SGPC has called an emergency meeting of its executive committee in Chandigarh on Monday. SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh has issued letters to the SGPC executive committee members, intimating them about the meeting. As per a release issued here today, the single-point agenda of the meeting is to deliberate on the Haryana government move which "is aimed at weakening the premiere Sikh organisation and challenging its jurisdiction".

SAD leader accuses SGPC of taking over Takht land
Ropar, June 28
A fortnight after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) lodged a police complaint alleging that SAD general council member Jagtar Singh Bhaini fraudulently sold land belonging to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, the latter today accused the SGPC of illegally taking the possession of the said property here today.

DSGMC ex-chief for probe by former judge
New Delhi, June 28
Former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Paramjit Singh Sarna has sought a probe by a retired judge of the Delhi High Court to look into allegations levelled against him by his rivals, including the incumbent DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK.

Kin of youths in Iraq to meet Sushma again
Amritsar, June 28
Dissatisfied with the response from the Union Government, the family members of abducted Punjabi youths in Iraq will have another meeting with Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

41 remanded in judicial custody 
Sangrur, June 28
Forty-one persons, who were arrested after a clash between members of the Dalit community and the police at Bhawanigarh yesterday, were today remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. They have been lodged in the Sangrur district jail.

Waiters clash over tip, one dead
Batala, June 28
Two local waiters allegedly killed their colleague over the distribution of tip yesterday. Batala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bikram Pal Singh Bhatti said the accused would be nabbed within the next 24 hours and teams had been formed to trace their whereabouts.

Victim recently escaped murder bid by Akali men
Moga, June 28
In the Moga shootout case, it has come to light that a few days before the incident, an attempt was made to kill Sukhdev Singh and grab his land by a group of 15 to 20 persons on June 17.

Not paid, college heads threaten shutdown
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 28
Members of the Principals' Association of Non-Government Affiliated Colleges (Guru Nanak Dev University) today said if the government failed to release their salaries as per the grant-in-aid scheme, they would be forced to close colleges and "hand over the keys to the Chief Minister within a week".

As many as 136 total grant-in-aid colleges in the state (58 under Guru Nanak Dev University) are finding it difficult to run the affairs due to the non-receipt of salary grants for many years.

Association president BB Sharma, principal, DAV College, Jalandhar, said, "A total of 95 cent grant-in-aid has not been released for 25 months, 19 months, 16 months and 13 months in different colleges. Almost 90 per cent of the college managements are not in a position to pay staff salaries."

Members said despite the Supreme Court orders that the salary should not be withheld, the government hadn't paid heed to it. A request letter for urgent release of grants was also sent to the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal but no response has been received till date.

Patiala MP readies wish list, to meet ministers
Tribune News Service

Dr Gandhi will start meeting the ministers on Monday along with a team of experts on each of these subjects. He said he had sought the help of experts to prepare a blueprint on dealing with each of these problems which would be presented to the minister concerned in Delhi. The team would also demand that a special Shatabdi train be started from Fazilka to Delhi via Muktsar thrice a week and for four days from Sriganganagar/Ferozepur via Patiala to Delhi.

‘Ancient artefacts’ found in Bathinda
These will be sent to a lab for detailed analysis
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 28
Ancient artefacts were reportedly recovered from a shop in Bathinda last evening. Though the material used in the making of these artefacts is yet to be ascertained, experts from Chandigarh said a mixture of gold, copper and iron could had been used to make these.

The artefacts recovered from Bathinda. Photo: Vijay Kumar

The artifacts found are idols of Lakshmi and Vishnu, a pot, a stamped brick and earrings. The idols that are around 6 inches tall weigh around 100 grams each; the pot weighs around 500 grams; and the earrings around 100 grams.

On a tip-off, the local police zeroed in on the shop not far from the ancient Bathinda Fort. The police said the shop had been dug-up around 10 feet deep and 10 feet wide. Though it is illegal to carry out any kind of construction or digging without permission within a radius of 300 metres of the fort, no action has been taken against the shop owner.

Archeological Officer Rajinder Singh Bath of the Cultural Affair Archaeological and Museum Department, Chandigarh, said that preliminary reports suggested that more such artefacts could have been lying with the shop owner. Kotwali Station House Officer (SHO) Mahesh Saini and Bath took possession of the artefacts. The artefacts would be sent to laboratory in Chandigarh for a detailed analysis. Preliminary examination reveals that the artefacts are around 200 to 400 years old.

The shop has been sealed and the authorities of the Archeological Survey of India have been told to submit a report in this regard. 

SGPC panel to meet on June 30 over Haryana move 
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 28
Following the Haryana government's move to set up a separate gurdwara panel in the state, the SGPC has called an emergency meeting of its executive committee in Chandigarh on Monday. SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh has issued letters to the SGPC executive committee members, intimating them about the meeting. As per a release issued here today, the single-point agenda of the meeting is to deliberate on the Haryana government move which "is aimed at weakening the premiere Sikh organisation and challenging its jurisdiction".

However, it is not yet clear as to what the SGPC intends to do by holding this meeting. Sources said it was also seeking legal opinion on the matter. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar had earlier accused Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda of "playing dirty tricks and resorting to votebank politics through his stooges" ahead of the crucial assembly elections in the state.

Khaira ‘justifies’ separate gurdwara panel

Chandigarh: Former Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira today justified the demand for a separate SGPC for Haryana, alleging that the demand was fallout of gross misuse of this religious body by the Badal family.

In a statement issued here today, the PPCC spokesman said no Sikh would dare to question the ideology of “Miri Piri” (religion politics) initiated by Guru Hargobind, but the Guru would have not visualised “such gross misuse of religion for personal and political gains”. He alleged the degeneration of the SGPC had begun a long time ago when the Akalis started misusing to promote their vested political interests.

SAD leader accuses SGPC of taking over Takht land
Tribune News Service

Ropar, June 28
A fortnight after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) lodged a police complaint alleging that SAD general council member Jagtar Singh Bhaini fraudulently sold land belonging to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, the latter today accused the SGPC of illegally taking the possession of the said property here today.

At a press conference, Bhaini alleged that members of the task force intruded into the said property yesterday and demolished the building with JCB machines, taking forcible possession of the land.

Showing documents, Bhaini claimed that he was the owner of the property and the SGPC had no stake in it.

It was on June 9 that Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib manager had filed a complaint in this regard with the police alleging that Bhaini had sold the land belonging to the gurdwara for about Rs 3 crore.

Bhaini, however, alleged that an SGPC member and the manager was conspiring against him.

He alleged that the SGPC member was involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining. 

DSGMC ex-chief for probe by former judge
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 28
Former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Paramjit Singh Sarna has sought a probe by a retired judge of the Delhi High Court to look into allegations levelled against him by his rivals, including the incumbent DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK.

Sarna has shot-off a letter to Manjit Singh GK suggesting that Justice (retd) RS Sodhi be asked to probe allegations against him such as selling the land of Bala Sahib hospital, transferring the parking of Bangla Sahib to the government, besides others.

Sarna alleged GK had won the DSGMC elections by making false charges against him. He said during electioneering GK had promised to investigate all allegations and bring out the truth within 15 days of taking over.

Kin of youths in Iraq to meet Sushma again

Amritsar, June 28
Dissatisfied with the response from the Union Government, the family members of abducted Punjabi youths in Iraq will have another meeting with Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

Talking to The Tribune, Gurpinder Kaur, sister of Manjinder Singh from Bhoewal village, said: "It has been 12 days since we last met the minister in Delhi. However, there has been no breakthrough yet. We will ask the government as to what efforts have been made by them. We will also ask them why they are not changing their strategy if their efforts are not yielding desired results."

She said there were around 20 families from different parts of Punjab who would meet the minister tomorrow in New Delhi. Sources said SAD MP Naresh Gujral, DSGMC chief Manjeet Singh GK and general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa would accompany these families during the meeting.

41 remanded in judicial custody 
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, June 28
Forty-one persons, who were arrested after a clash between members of the Dalit community and the police at Bhawanigarh yesterday, were today remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. They have been lodged in the Sangrur district jail.

The Bhawanigarh police had registered a case against a number of persons, including Mukesh Kumar Malaud, Jarnail Singh Panch, Satwant Singh Katron, Gurpreet Singh Kherri and Sanjiv Kumar Mintoo.

All accused were booked for attacking policemen and obstructing them from performing their duty under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353, 186, 355, 332, 120-B, 148 and 149 of the IPC.

Besides arresting 41 persons, the police had also arrested three women, Parminder Kaur, Hamir Kaur and Savitari Kaur, as a preventive measure under Sections 107 and 151 of the CrPC.

Gurpreet Singh Dhindsa, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sangrur, said the arrested persons were produced before a duty magistrate who sent them in judicial custody for 14 days.

He said one of the main accused, Sanjiv Kumar Mintoo, a leader of the Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union, was yet to be arrested.

The DSP said the three arrested women were granted bail by Sangrur SDM Poonamdeep Kaur.

The clash had taken place near the office of the block development and panchayat officer (BDPO), Bhawanigarh, where the auction of 478 bighas of panchayat land of Balad Kalan village (reserved for SCs), was in progress. The protesters were seeking their participation in the auction. They had demanded that the auction price should be kept low since the land was reserved for SCs and they (Dalits) could not pay high rates.

What led to showdown

* The auction of 478 bighas of panchayat land of Balad Kalan village (reserved for SCs), was in progress

* The protesters were seeking their participation in the auction

* The Dalits had demanded that the auction price be kept low since they could not pay high rates

Waiters clash over tip, one dead
Tribune News Service

Batala, June 28
Two local waiters allegedly killed their colleague over the distribution of tip yesterday. Batala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bikram Pal Singh Bhatti said the accused would be nabbed within the next 24 hours and teams had been formed to trace their whereabouts.

Sikandar Masih of Prem Nagar Bohra Wala and Kaka Masih of Sagarpura attacked Sikander with a sharp-edged weapon in the town, killing him on the spot. They had recently gone to Jammu to work at a wedding, where they had a disagreement over the distribution of tip.

Bhatti said Sikander's body had been kept at the Batala Civil Hospital, where a postmortem would be conducted. He said both Saba and Kaka Masih had been booked. 

The trigger

* Sikandar Masih of Prem Nagar Bohra Wala and Kaka Masih of Sagarpura attacked Sikander with a sharp-edged weapon, killing him on the spot

* They had recently gone to Jammu to work at a wedding, where they had a disagreement over the distribution of tip

Victim recently escaped murder bid by Akali men
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, June 28
In the Moga shootout case, it has come to light that a few days before the incident, an attempt was made to kill Sukhdev Singh and grab his land by a group of 15 to 20 persons on June 17.

The local police had registered a case against Tirath Singh, Akali sarpanch of Singhawala village, besides 12 identified and a few unidentified persons. Sukhdev had alleged that the assailants were armed with automatic fire weapons.

Sukhdev along with his gunmen Inderjit Singh Gora was shot dead by the Chandigarh Police on the outskirts of the city on June 25.

Sources said Tirath enjoyed friendly relations with Akali leader Gursewak Singh Gholia, chairman of the Baghapurana Block Samiti. They said Gholia in turn was a close relative of Inspector Ranjodh Singh, in charge of the crime branch of the Chandigarh Police.

The sources said a thorough probe might reveal that Sukhdev was not present at the shootout spot coincidently where he was hit with 14 bullets. He was not even named in the case registered by the Chandigarh police.

Another fact has come to the fore that Inspector Jasbir Singh, in charge of the cyber crime branch of the Chandigarh Police, was also officiating as SHO of the Sector 17 police station last week. It was under his supervision an FIR regarding a robbery was lodged on the complaint of Harpinder Singh against Gurcharan Singh Rinku of Channuwala village, Sukhpal Singh alias Khuspinder Singh of Sangatpura village and few others.

It has also come to light that Jasbir was brought on deputation by the SAD leadership before the 2012 assembly elections as SHO of the Mehna police station where the UT cops gave information about the raids they were likely to conduct to arrest the wanted youths.

Jasbir reportedly helped his colleague Ranjodh Singh to keep a track on the movement of the youths by monitoring their mobile phone numbers. Jasbir also visited Moga the next day after the shootout.