Bathinda, September 26
After three and half years of trial, the Court of Judicial Magistrate first class, Pushpa Rani, today acquitted a man accused of acid attack on a 22-year-old girl. The accused, Daljinder Singh, 27, was booked by the police under Sections 326, 382, 511 and 34 of the IPC at the Cantonment police station after he allegedly threw acid on his sister-in-law.

The attack left the girl with a completely disfigured face with more than 80 per cent damage to her nose, one ear, skull and eyes.

Daljinder, a resident of Mohi village in Ludhiana, was named in the FIR by the victim and her family members. Criminal proceedings were initiated against him after registration of a police case. The accused was married to victim’s sister.

A complaint was made to the police by the victim’s (Amanpreet Kaur) family members whose face was completely damaged. Kirtan Singh, victim’s father, stated that the accused is his son-in-law who threw acid on his daughter. Some droplets of the acid also injured the victim’s mother but she escaped unhurt.

Counsel for the accused, advocate Mohinder Sidhu, said the court acquitted the accused as the opposition failed to produce any vital evidence against on record during the trial in court. “Though the accused was booked by the police and was arrested consequently but the complainants failed to produce on record any vital clue which could prove him guilty,” the lawyer said.

Kirtan, however, rued that his daughter was returning from her beauty parlor and was attacked near a street of their house on the Power House Road.

He said the accused, taking advantage of the darkness during a winter evening, fled away after pouring a mug full of acid upon her head. The complainant alleged that the accused was accompanied by another unidentified co-accused on a mobike and managed to flee.

Kirtan, expressing his displeasure over today’s pronouncement in the case, said despite making repeated pleas and spending huge amounts for contesting the legal battle. “Not only I spent money on case against the culprit, but I also spent over Rs 30 lakh medical expenditure for numerous surgeries,” Kirtan said.

He pointed out that despite tall claims of the Punjab government to grant aid to the acid attack victims, they only managed to get Rs 25,000 and that to after making repeated requests and rounds of the government offices.

“My daughter is yet to undergo four more surgeries for which we require at least Rs 10 lakh. These surgeries would be performed on her nose, ear, eyes and skull, that were disfigured due to the acid,” Kirtan said.

* An FIR was lodged against Daljinder Singh on January 31, 2011, for pouring a mug full of acid on the head of a 22-year-old girl, Amanpreet Kaur, who was returning to her home after day’s work in her beauty parlour.

* The accused was arrested by the police on April 11, 2011, and was granted bail on November 12, 2011.

* He was acquitted by the court of Judicial Magistrate first class on September 26, 2014, due to lack of evidence.

* Family members of the victim announced their displeasure over the verdict and have decided to move a higher court against the decision of acquittal of the accused.

Bathinda, September 26
Tension mounted in Kikar Bazaar area of the city today afternoon when shopkeepers of the market stopped and gheraoed a vehicle of the Municipal Corporation that had come to remove the encroachment in the market.

After stopping the vehicle, the shopkeepers staged a dharna in front of the vehicle and alleged that the MC employees had harassed them by taking their stuff lying outside their shops. While The MCB employees stated that the shopkeepers had kept their stuff outside their shops illegally, which occupy a lot of space and leave no space for people to walk. Members of the Kikar Bazaar Association, staging protest, also started shouting slogans against the Municipal Corporation. Seeing the issue intensifying, the Municipal Corporation, Assistant Commissioner, along with other officials and employees reached the spot. In the meantime, the police also reached at the spot.

Leaders of the Kikar Bazaar Association, Jiwan Goyal and Vinay Gupta, said employees of the MC keep on harassing them by taking away their stuff kept outside their shops. They also alleged that they had kept their stuff as they had no option as the parking issue is the biggest reason behind it. As whenever, anybody comes to the market, they park their vehicles just outside the shops due to which their goods are not visible from outside.

They also asked that who would buy their stuff, if it will not be visible and with festive season round-the-corner, they have to keep their stuff outside. They also alleged that even any customer keeping their stuff outside started looking for a rickshaw, these MCB employees take away their stuff too.

They demanded that the MC should resolve the parking issue on priority first and then they object their stuff kept outside the shops.

Municipal Corporation employee Kulwinder Singh said they were giving relief to the public only and they were removing the stuff that was lying illegally outside the shops and today, when they were removing the encroachments in the Kikar Bazaar, shopkeepers of the market started protesting.

With an attempt to disrupt the government work, the gathered shopkeepers staged a protest in front of their vehicle. He stated that with their material lying outside the shops, it affects the smooth movement of the public. He also stated that the MC officials had written a complaint to the police for disrupting the official work.

The dharna continued till late evening and the shopkeepers demanded strict action against the MC employees and apology.

MCB Commissioner, Dalwinderjit Singh, said when the officials go to remove the encroachment anywhere; they face public protest many a time. The police have been informed about the matter.

SHO, Kotwali, Mahesh Saini, said he was going to the spot and would look into the matter.

Bathinda, September 26
Acting on the instructions of Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Dr Basant Garg, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), general, Dr Sumit Jarangal today conducted surprise checking to see cleanliness of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

During the drive, the ADC pulled up government officers who had failed to maintain proper cleanliness of respective designated areas in the complex. The sweeping and cleanliness drive was also initiated in the DAC to ensure that Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan is implemented properly and visitors to the complex get clean arena.

Accompanying him were the IAS under trainee, Vishesh Sarangal, Assistant Commissioner (General) Narinder Singh Dhaliwal, Assistant Commissioner (Grievances) Charumita and other officials.

The Bathinda district is observing the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan under which the Deputy Commissioner has designated ADC (General) to ensure hygiene in urban pockets and today’s checking in the DAC was a part of the programme. Jarangal said clean houses and cleaner surroundings only could ensure a successful Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and the district administration had taken up cudgels to keep the complex clean.

The officials of the PWD Department at complex were directed to ensure that all leakages in bathrooms are plugged so that employees or visitors to the DAC do not face any problem. The officials of the JITF Urban Limited, entrusted the job of keeping complex clean, were asked to pull up their socks and ensure that no garbage is dumped in or around the complex.

He also visited the underground parking as well as open parking spaces to ensure that vehicles are parked properly and that the visitors do not face any difficulty in crossing through the area. He also visited the canteens in complex and said the hygiene, quality and standard of food served at the DAC eateries should not be compromised at any cost.

He ordered that the building material dumped outside the government offices should be immediately lifted. He appealed to the NGOs to join hands with administration to make Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan a successful campaign.

Bathinda, September 26
In violation of norms, a private organisation today held a blood donation camp under the nose of the district health authorities and allegedly gave the blood to private blood banks of Janadhar, Ludhiana and other districts of Punjab, besides their own private blood bank in Ganganagar.

The donors were lured with ration and health insurance cover, however, a large number of donors could not get what was promised.

The private organisation registered as Samridhi Jiwan Foundation with its head office in Pune, Maharashtra, organised the blood donation camp at Teachers’ Home here.

It has been alleged that among the private blood banks who took away the blood were DMC, Ludhiana, Kidney Hospital’s blood bank, Jalandhar and Purohit Blood Bank, Ganganagar.

Private NGOs in Bathinda raised their voice and reported the matter to the police but the police refused to take action and register any complaint.

Naujwan Welfare Society president Sonu Maheshwari said, “There was no special van to carry the blood. None of the blood donors was being checked for haemoglobin and weight. The authorities taking blood were not even checking the blood pressure of the donors. Police officials refused to register the compliant following which, we sent the complaint through registered post to the Bathinda SSP and SDM.”

Blood bank in-charge Inderdeep Singh Sran said, “The blood bank of Ganganagar and DMC, Ludhiana had submitted their papers for verification, on basis of which they had reached here. We have formed a committee to inquire into the matter.”

Bathinda, September 26
Parents of schoolchildren today protested against the administration of a private school in Bathinda for providing contaminated water to students. It has been alleged that a lizard was found some days ago in the water tank of Guru Harkrishan Public School.

Earlier, parents had alleged that 12 students had suffered from water-borne diseases, including jaundice, as they were allegedly provided with contaminated water at 
the school.

Sukhdeep Singh, father of a Class XII student, said, “Students at the school are being provided with contaminated water. A lizard was found in the water tank of the school around two weeks ago but the school administration failed to take any action. The school principal had claimed to provide potable water by installing reverse osmosis system at the school but no action has been taken in this regard. Earlier, about a dozen students had fallen ill due to jaundice and were admitted to private hospitals.”

“Among the 12 students who are suffering from water-borne disease, two are serious and had been admitted to the DMC, Ludhiana for treatment. The school authorities have learnt no lesson and are trying to save their skin by shirking all responsibility,” he said.

However, school principal Jatinder Kaur said, “There is nothing wrong with the drinking water facility at the school. All students drink the same water. It is correct that a few children have fallen ill but for that the drinking water facility cannot be held responsible. The students are inclined to have junk food available on the streets that could have caused the harm. The contaminated food and water consumption is responsible for jaundice.”

“If the water in the tank was contaminated then all the students should have fallen ill instead of a few. Parents should themselves take care of their children’s eating habits. The school authorities should not be held responsible for this,” she added.

Bathinda, September 26
Farmer organisations under the banner of Sanjha Morcha continued to hold their ongoing protest (from September 22 to 26) for the final day today outside the BDPO offices of Bhagta Bhaika, Rampura, Talwandi Sabo and Bathinda blocks.

They submitted their charter of demands to the Chief Minister through the officials concerned.

Dihati Mazdoor Sabha leaders Mahipal and Mithu Singh, Kul Hind Khet Mazdoor Union leaders Gurcharan Singh and Harbans Singh, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union leaders Zora Singh and Master Sewak Singh, Pendu Mazdoor Union leaders Darbara Singh and Balveer Singh said their first phase of the agitation had completed today and soon they would announce the next course of action in their next state-level meeting.

They said their protest under the name of Sanjha Morcha would go on until the poor landless dalit mazdoors’ demands are fulfilled.

They condemned the silence of the state government and announced that they would respond by intensifying their agitation in the coming days.

The leaders announced that the landless rural workers would take part in the Malwa rally scheduled to take place at Barnala on October 1 in protest of the ‘black law’.

Earlier, protests were lodged at Phul on September 22, at Nathana on September 23 and at Sangat on September 24 outside the BDPO offices.

Bathinda, September 26
The District Bar Association (DBA), Bathinda, today observed a strike after holding a meeting of the association members. DBA secretary Kanwaljit Kuti said the issue pertaining to the attack on a lawyer in Mansa and other issues related to Phagwara and Muktsar were discussed at length during the meeting.

Kuti said it was decided to observe the strike after the meeting. Vice president Lakhwinder Khokhar said a lawyer from Bathinda was attacked in Mansa but the Mansa police failed to take any action in this regard following which, they announced to observe the strike. 

Bathinda, September 26
Members of the Aggarwal Sabha organised the 5138th jayanti of Maharaja Aggarsain at MSD School near Hanuman Chowk yesterday.

Swami Surya Dev of Goniana Ashram participated in the function as the chief guest. ML Goyal conducted the stage and Bachan Lal Jindal recited the life history of Maharaja Aggarsain. Former minister Chiranji Lal Garg and advocate PD Goyal also addressed the audience.

Other prominent persons present on the occasion included Amrit Lal Bansal, Mohan Lal Goyal, Amrit Lal, Satpal Jindal, Suresh Goyal, Jagdish Bansal, Vishwanath Kansal, Amrit Lal, Naresh Mittal, Sham Lal, Pawan Kumar, Ashwini Kumar, Fakir Chand, Yashpal Bansal, Anita Goyal, Pushpa and Arna. — TNS

Mansa, September 26
Fighting tooth and nail, Sawarn Singh Virk of Dalelwala village in Mansa, brought laurels to the country by winning the bronze medal in rowing event during the 17th Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea.

As the rowing events ended at the ChungjuTangeum Lake International Rowing Centre, Virk won another bronze medal. Residents of Dalelwala in Mansa are cheering over his victory.

Naik Subedar in the Sikh Regiment, Sawarn Singh Virk, put up brave effort and clinched the bronze covering the 2,000 m distance in 7 minutes and 10.65 seconds despite suffering from ‘back pain’. Sawarn had been on bed rest earlier and had started his practice in August only after his coach Ismail Baig, a Dronacharya Awardee, motivated him, claimed Sawarn.

Earlier, Sawarn had won the gold in the 2013 Asian Championship in China at 7 minutes 31.88 seconds while he had also performed at the London Olympic Games in July 2012 with time wise 7minutes 29.66 minutes.

A 24-year-old Sawarn Singh is 1.89 metres tall and weighs 88 kg. His father is a marginal farmer, Gurmukh Singh, having around four acres. Sawarn joined the Army in 2008 and started participating in rowing in 2009 and then won the gold medal in the national games held in Ranchi in Jarkhand. He secured 17th place in September 2011 in the Rowing World Cup organised in Germany. Sawarn was a volleyball player before joining the Army, but never got the chance to adopt volleyball as the career. Poor economic conditions forced him to join army and his physical fitness made him successful in rowing and reaching Olympics.

Virk, in Incheon, reportedly put in towards the end when he tried to ward off the challenge from South Korean rival Kim Dongyong, who secured the silver. He claimed to have fallen off the boat into the water, and was fished out by the rescue team of the ambulance.

“I am happy with the medal but I would have done much better than this if hadn’t loss my time for training for around two months. I started training only August,” said Sawarn. “I am glad with the medal but I would have done much better than this if hadn’t loss my time for training for around two months. I started training only August after my coach and physio Ismail Baig motivated me. I am happy but I am dedicated to get the gold next time. I am thankful to my father Gurmukh SINgh and mother Surjeet Kaur.” said Sawarn.

Bathinda, September 26
Close associate of circle president, Youth Akali Dal, Chamkaur Mann, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), leader Shivkaran Singh, and his close associate, Gurvinder Singh, has been booked for sexually harassing a girl, resident of Surakhpeer road in the city.

According to the complaint registered, the accused were continuously teasing her and on Thursday, they molested her when she objected to their eve-teasing. They allegedly thrashed her and her father openly in the market when the victim and her father resisted to molestation.

The victim said for the last two years, the accused Gurvinder Singh had been teasing her and earlier also, she ha given a complaint to the police, but the police didn’t register any case and had resolved the matter verbally by giving a warning to the accused.

“This boosted the morale of the accused who started teasing me everyday whenever I would go to my tuition at Ajit Road,” said, the victim.

“Everyday, he used to stand outside my school at the time and would tease me. But yesterday, the accused crossed all the limits and around 2 pm, he came and held my hand besides using obscene language. I resisted and called my father who reached immediately. At this, the accused called his known Shivkaran Singh, who is said to be having a strong back,” added the victim.

Sources said Shivkaran along with his goons reached at the spot and started brandishing his arms and then thrashed my father and brother, who had resisted against the accused, Gurvinder Singh. They hit my father’s head with a gun and threatened,” recalled the victim.

She also alleged that Shivkaran Singh also tore her clothes, beat her up badly, abused her by using vulgar comments and even threatened her too that he will kidnap her from her house. “More than one day has passed but the police had failed to arrest the accused who have strong political back.”

She stated that after registration of the case, the family members of the accused came to their house and requested them to withdraw the case for which they would give them Rs 10 lakh. “But we declined their offers as we want justice and there is no price for dignity.”

Investigative officer, Raghbir Singh, said on the statement of the girl’s father they have registered a case under Section 354s (Molestation), 354 A (Sexual harassment), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 341(Punishment for wrongful restraint), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 140 (Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier) of the IPC and 25, 27 and 54 of Arms Act against the accused Gurvinder Singh and Shivkaran Singh, both residents of Bir Road along with four to five unidentified persons.

In another incident, the police have arrested a resident of Phul for teasing a girl on mobile phone. In a complaint to the police, the victim, a resident of Dhipali village, stated that the accused Rajan Goyal called her on her mobile phone and used vulgar language. He even threatened her that he would kidnap and kill her.

Investigative officer, Baljit Pal, said they have registered a case under Sections 354, 354 (a) and 506 against the accused on the statement of the victim girl.

Bathinda, September 26
An accused in a theft case fled away from the Cantonment police station this morning.

As per information, the accused, Sukhjinder Singh, a resident of Deon village, had gone to toilet with a police official, from where he succeeded in dodging the police. SHO, Cantonment police station, confirming the incident, said the accused fled away from the police station this morning.

He said they had registered a case against the accused under Section 224 of the IPC and have started searching for him.

Sukhjinder was arrested two days ago in a case of theft from near the thermal power plant with the help of the social networking site WhatsApp while his other associate is still at large.

On September 14, two unidentified persons had stolen two Samsung mobile phones from Raman Electronics, a shop located on Ajit Road.

The owner of the shop, Ramandeep Singh, had filed a complaint with the police. He had submitted the CCTV footage of the incident to the police.

When the police failed to make any headway in the case, Raman forwarded the picture of the accused taken from the CCTV footage to all his friends on WhatsApp.

Some days ago, the accused went to a shop belonging to his friend in Malout. The shop owner recognised the accused as he had seen his photograph on WhatsApp and informed Raman about it. Later, it was found that the accused was a resident of Deon village and was the son of a carpenter. — TNS