Amritsar, October 11
Though six months have passed, the Amritsar rural police have yet to arrest the prime accused involved in the killing of two unknown migrants in a stage managed car mishap near Manawala on the national highway in January this year. The victims were charred to death after the car they were travelling in accidentally caught fire.

However, after over a month long investigations it was found that the whole incident was enacted only for claiming crores of rupees of insurance. The fact came to light after the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) brought the conspiracy angle in the case.

A special investigating team of the CIA (Amritsar rural) later cracked the double murder case. A case was registered against 10 persons under Sections 302, 364, 420, 426, 115, 120-B and 201 of the IPC at Chatiwind police station. Seven persons including Jasbir Kaur, Sulakhan Singh, Sarabjit Kaur, Sahib Singh were arrested by the police while prime accused Surinder Singh of Maqboolpura, Surinder Singh of Tarn Taran and Balwinder Singh are yet to be nabbed.

The probe had pointed out that Surinder had many insurance policies in his name and he had also helped Sahib Singh to get similar deals. They kidnapped two labourers after luring them for some work and later forced them to consume liquor. They later took them to Manawala in a car and set it ablaze. Sahib Singh was however traced alive by the PHRO.

The local court has declared Surinder Singh of Maqboolpura, Surinder Singh of Tarn Taran and Balwinder Singh, proclaimed offenders while separate proceedings have been initiated for the extradition of Surinder’s two sons, said Sarabjit Singh, an activist of the PHRO and a witness in the case. He was instrumental in highlighting the case. Surinder is reportedly known to have fake identities and several cases of frauds were pending against him.

SSP Jasdeep Singh while confirming that the prime accused were still at large, said special instructions had been given to officials for arresting the culprits.

Amritsar, October 11
Several clubs and hotels in the city arranged activities for the day to keep women busy.

Women observe Karwa Chauth fast inside the Central Jail in Amritsar on Saturday

Women at a Karva Chauth function in Amritsar on Saturday. Photos: RK Soni

Women thronged stalls lined up in bylanes of the walled city and outside. Young girls buying colourful bangles was a common site.

There were few events to distract the women folk from food. VLCC organised a special Karva Chauth event at Holiday Inn, where fasting was done in a style. There were several competitions like Karva Chauth Queen, which recognised the efforts to dress up for the day. “We did a fashion show where all our guests walked the ramp and were judged for our Karva Chauth queen. Also, we had activities like tambola and other interactive games to keep them away from food,” said Monika Kashyap, head, VLCC, Amritsar. There was separate contest for women below the age of 35 years and those above the age group. Vandana won the title for Karva Chauth Queen in above 35 years category. Shruti Dhawan was crowned Karv Chauth Queen in below 35-year age group. “It’s better to be a part of some event and grand celebrations as the day passes quite easily. Also, we can spend quality time together,” said Shruti after winning the title.

Many clubs in the city too celebrated Karwa Chauth with a difference. Tambola, cards, tarot reading and games accompanied by prizes to a lucky few marked the event. Alpha One too put up specific makeover stalls and offered gift vouchers to make the women feel special.

Amritsar, October 11
The employees of the state government are annoyed over notifications denying ex-gratia to those recruited after January 1, 2004 and change in their classification.

A young employee, who has been working in the district administrative office for the past five years, on condition of anonymity, said they were being denied social welfare benefits gradually. He said previous employees enjoyed all these benefits. It showed that the government was withdrawing benefits under the social welfare one by one to bring down its expenditure, he added.

“However, similar austerity measures are not applied when it comes to the political class itself. These legislators are being offered plush cars, high salary, and other direct and indirect monetary benefits,” an employee of the Health Department said.

Meanwhile, the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union has taken a strong notice of the development. General secretary of the union Jagdish Thakur said they would be forced to observe “Black Diwali” and launch a state-wide stir in case the government did not take back its orders.

He urged the government to issue two installments of dearness allowance (DA) to employees before Diwali to provide them relief from the escalating inflation. He said denial of ex-gratia to employees, who were recruited after January 1, 2004, and change in classification of workers had lowered their morale.

The state government must take back all anti-employee decisions to provide a conducive environment for the staff members to perform their duties wholeheartedly, the general secretary said.

Amritsar, October 11
A five-member police team was attacked by a liquor smuggler and his accomplices, when it went to raid their residence located at Gali No. 1 of Sudarshan Nagar area late last evening.

The accused allegedly threw bricks and pelted stones on the police party before they managed to rescue their accomplice, who was held by the police. The accused manage to flee from the scene. The incident occurred in Sudarshan Nagar area falling under B-division police station. The police have registered a case under charges of attempt to murder (307), obstructing government servant from discharging his duty (353) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Among those booked include Ravinder Kumar alias Aatu, his brother Rajesh Kumar alias Soni and Rahul, besides six unidentified persons.

Head constable Gurjit Singh, posted at the Sultanwind police station, said the accused manhandled the police party. He alleged that the accused caught him from his collar and obstructed him from discharging his duty.

The police said the accused were notorious liquor smugglers, who used to smuggle liquor from rural belt and later sold it in city areas, in violation of the norms. They said the accused were wanted in many cases of liquor smuggling. Yesterday, the police raided their residence in the Sudarshan Nagar area, situated on 100-feet Road, following a tip off. SHO of the B-division police station said there were several houses in the Gali No. 1, who were involved in selling liquor illegally. He said raids were being conducted to arrest the culprits.

Amritsar, October 11
Experts were unanimous in their opinion of accelerating the pace of work on conserving the heritage of the holy city in a seminar held on “Dialogues on legacy conservation-Tangibles”. The seminar was organised by Dilbir Foundation at Bhai Vir Singh Museum.

Speaking on the scenario in Punjab, Namita Jaspal discussed her conservation work at the Golden Temple during the last nine months. Earlier, she scientifically restored the holy robe of Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru, placed at Chohla Sahib Gurdwara.

Another conservationist Gurmeet Rai speaking on policy barriers versus legacy saviours: Solutions thereto, shared her experience of the present conservation scenario. She stressed on the need of generating awareness among the masses about conserving and valuing the heritage.

President of the Dilbir Foundation (DF), Gunbir Singh, said the message of organising the event at the residence of Bhai Veer Singh was to showcase the preservation of his orchard with organic means. “This venue now is a place to bring school students in order to connect them with nature,” he added.

He said a community, a state or a nation stands to gain by caring for their assets as tangible or intangible heritage. “Punjab has an incredible wealth of tradition and values that is simply dissipating.

Fortunately there are still vestiges of our ancient existence still visible at places. The frescos, the Idgahs, the serais, the relics and the archaeological evidences are still heartening,” said Gunbir.

“In tangibles programme, our foundation wishes to work in these areas. Our dialogue today aims at identification and creating roadmaps for restoration and conservation. We have to do our duty as inheritors, and adopt the mission to protect our cultural assets as a fundamental right of our existence,” he added.

Gunbir said the foundation had also alluded to making a restoration plan of Bhai Vir Singh Niwas as a key deliverable of these dialogues.

Amritsar, October 11
Amritsar Auto Rickshaw Union has called for a day-long strike on October 13 against the alleged anti auto-rickshaw policies of the SAD-BJP government.

The Union is headed by Ram Sharan Pal, a leader of Manpreet Singh Badal-led PPP.

“All auto drivers would converge at an open ground adjoining Hartej Hospital on the Airport Road at 2 pm on Monday and the plan for next course of action would be drawn there,” said Pal.

Pal, who had earlier been in the BSP and the Akali Dal, alleged that the decision was taken to protest against the anti-auto rickshaw driver policies initiated by the state government.

He said the government was deliberately targeting auto drivers as they had voted against their candidate Arun Jaitley in the Lok Sabha elections.

“The defeat of Jaitley has placed the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in an awkward position at the Narendra Modi-led government. Now the state leaders want to punish auto drivers for the same,” Pal added.

Pal alleged that the city bus service was introduced to pocket the grant of the Union government adding that the private company, which was allowed to run the city bus service, was being patronised by a minister of the Akali-BJP government.

“The city buses were introduced in all major cities of the state, but all were undergoing heavy losses. Instead of looking for the causes of their being under losses autos were being held responsible,” added Pal.

Amritsar, October 11
A team of six women of the NGO “We for We (Women Empowerment)” came to the holy city. Led by their global leader Diana Arena, the team visited the city as part of their NGO’s initiative to support women empowerment and education.

With global representatives of the NGO, from countries like Romania, Serbia, Latin America and their international relations coordinator Jennifer Shell, the team was joined by Gagandeep Singh, financial advisor and coordinator for We for WE and Amrik Singh, vice president for its India operations.

Sharing their collective measures and initiatives across the globe for empowering women with education and self-reliance, the representatives were quite happy touring India, this year’s host country.

“India’s is becoming one of the most influencial countries on the world map but yet the status of women in the country is not what is supposed be. Their share in education, development and other important areas is significant but needs a fair share,” said Diana.

The team has been touring cities to hold conferences and take note of the issues regarding women. Right from free education, to female feoticide, and crime against women, We for WE targets all aspects of the problem.

Sarabjeet Singh (SSP, Punjab Police), We for WE, president in India said “We are the host country this time, and Amritsar is the first city in the state we started our tour from. We will be holding a conference on health issues of women at the Science City and further visit other cities and towns. The NGO believes in making action-oriented impact rather than emphasising on words. We also provide micro finance services to the needy women to start their own small business.”

Amritsar, October 11
AAP’s Punjab Convenor, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, today asked the BJP star campaigner and three-time MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu to tell his wife to resign from the Punjab cabinet if he sincerely felt that the SAD had backstabbed the BJP in Punjab.

He dared him to speak in similar language against the ruling SAD headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal as he did in Haryana while campaigning for the BJP.

Sidhu was missing from the political scene since the Lok Sabha polls wherein the party leadership handed over the party ticket for Amritsar to Arun Jaitley.

Earlier, Bhagwant Mann, MP, had made similar remarks against him.

Chhotepur was here to address a volunteers’ meet of the Amritsar unit of the party. He called upon the people and party workers to expose the SAD-BJP government and its hollow claims of prosperous Punjab.

“The state has been going through its worst period with economic condition of the state going from bad to worse. The law and order problem in the state is very bad wherein common man is feeling insecure” said Chhotepur.

Amritsar, October 11
The city police have arrested three persons in three separate incidents in the past 24-hours and confiscated over 1kg of narcotic powder from their possession.

Those arrested have been identified as Satwinder Singh and Jagtar Singh of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar and Kulwinder Singh of Ghumanpura village.

The police seized 500 gm, 450 gm and 100 gm of narcotic powder from their possession respectively. Separate cases under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act have been registered against the accused at Sultanwind and Chheharta police stations.

Amritsar, October 11
Bringing the Chic Wall art movement to his hometown, Amritsar born international entrepreneur Mike Gauba opened the Digital Art Exhibition at Alpha One. The exhibition promises to be one-of-its-kind, with over 300 paintings covering various aspects of life forms and art genres. From tribal art to highlights of traditional Punjabi culture, cartoons to abstract religious portraits, the paintings reflect contemporary art culture.

Mike is an art lover and has developed his passion for the art as a growing movement to make high end art of the finest artists available to the masses at a price that they can afford. “Chic Wall offers paintings that give “life” to the walls through creativity and makes homes and offices more livable places,” said Mike. “The idea is to decorate our walls with art that is worthy and not out of our reach. Taking the works of contemporary artist into mainstream, I had been toying with this idea for long. I consider this exhibition as a launch for Chic Wall in India,” added Mike.

The Indian Australian chose the holy city to launch his work as being his hometown, he believes that people here are connected to the art personally. “The city respects its culture and has a soft corner for art. Also, I want people to not just see the art but buy it, take it home and let it be a part of their lives” said Mike.

The exhibition has modern influences with paintings capturing human expressions, figures of the Lord Krisna and Lord Shiva depicted in abstract forms, tribal art from Africa. Gauba promises absolute original pieces of art with fine details. The paintings, done by a group of international artists working in association with Gauba, have been produced on a special medium. “The canvas used for these paintings has been imported from Japan and is being used for the first time in the country. The media gives depth to the painting and encourages the colours to stand out. I don’t source these paintings instead work with the artists,” he said.

The exhibition is on till October 12.

Amritsar, October 11
The Amritsar rural police will organise police-public meetings at its three Saanjh Kendras to solve the problems being faced by the residents.

The meetings would be held at Saanjh Kendras at Majitha, Baba Bakala and Jandiala on October 16, 22 and 30 respectively.

“The idea behind organising these meetings is that public could approach the police officials directly, rather than approaching third persons, who, sometimes, fleece innocent public by claiming that they have good contacts in the department,” said Jasdeep Singh, SSP, Amritsar rural police.

“The meetings are aimed at settling long-pending disputes and avoid the harassment which the public face in making rounds of the police stations to get their problems solved. It would help in creating a congenial atmosphere and a bond of trust between a common man and the police,” added the SSP.

The SSP further said anyone having problem, which invite the involvement of police, could approach the police station concerned at the designated places and time. Police officials would try to resolve their issues on the spot.

Amritsar, October 11
After a long gap, the Diwali Tournament, which was once considered a nursery for budding players before the Partition of 1947, got off to a colourful start at Khalsa College here today.

In the three-day competition, more than 40 teams with over 200 top players from all over Punjab will be competing for titles in hockey and handball. The tournament was inaugurated by president of Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC), Satyajit Singh Majithia, in presence of Olympians Brigadier Harcharan Singh, Balwinder Singh Shammi and national cricket team (women) member Sushma Devi. Speaking on the occasion, Majithia said Punjab needs to pull up socks to encourage sports. He said, “Hockey has always been the sport of the masses. We need to bring back focus on this sport though other games also need encouragement.”

It was appreciable that one of the oldest sports events was being revived at the college, added Majithia. Director, sports, Guru Nanak Dev University, HS Randhawa, who was the guest of honour, also lauded the efforts made by the college to revive Diwali Tournament. KCGC honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina and others honoured Olympians and sportspersons during the inauguration of the event. The winning teams in the tournament would be awarded titles on Monday, said Principal Dr Mehal Singh, who revived the event. He said over 200 players would be competing in various games to be played in the next three days.

In his vote of thanks, Chhina said it was a matter of pride that Khalsa College had produced a number of international level players and such tournaments helped them polish their skills. Members of the Khalsa College Governing Council, Principals of various Khalsa institutions, head of the Department of Physical Education, Dr Daljit Singh, Prof Sukhbir Singh, Prof Gurdev Singh, Prof Satnam Singh and Prof Malkinder Singh were also present among others on the occasion.