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Chargesheet against Cheema has no mention of crime cases
subsidy scam
BJP launches membership drive in state
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Security up to facilitate trade at Attari
Chugh: Bajwa trying to divide Punjabis
Cong asks Sidhu to put record straight
Generation at Bhakra 20% above target
Diesel VAT hike irks BJP, petroleum dealers alike
First mega food park to open in Fazilka next month
3 ministers turn up for showroom inauguration
Post-clash, IG meets dera followers, Sikh organisations
Gurpurb on Jan 7
Sikh high priests at a meeting at Akal Takht Secretariat in Amritsar on Monday.
Tribune photo: vishal kumar
Ambika adopts Ghanauli village
Cong workers protest delay in sewerage project
Nawanshahr to get its first biomass power plant soon
Unpaid teachers of aided schools hold protest
MCI team inspects Patiala college
Various posts lying vacant in dispensaries
Horticulturists fret as kinnow fetches low price
Muktsar residents boycott SAD halqa chief
Members of the Punjab Palledar Union hold a procession in support of their demands in Fazilka on Monday. Tribune photo
Lala Lajpat Rai remembered
‘Peach King’ Didar Bains honoured in California
Seven relatives among 8 killed in car-truck collision near Dirba
The damaged Innova and the Canter that met with an accident at Mauran village near Dirba in Sangrur on Monday.
Tribune photo
Talwandi Sabo shootout
Drug racket busted in Faridkot jail, three officials arrested
Five of arms smuggling gang held
Thieves target ATM in Abohar
Two booked for rape
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Chargesheet against Cheema has no mention of crime cases
Chandigarh, November 17 The chargesheet, prepared by the Punjab Police Department and sent to the Home Department for approval and finally issuing it to him, mentioned the reason for him being chargesheeted as “being absent from duty”. There was no mention of the FIRs registered against him. Sensing trouble, the Home Department has now sent a demi official letter to the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Administration, MK Tiwari, asking why the FIRS registered against him for different heinous crimes had not been mentioned in the chargesheet. Sources said the letter was sent to the Police Department today itself. Since the official buzz doing the rounds was that efforts were now on to save Cheema, it now remains to be seen whether or not the Police Department would issue a fresh chargesheet against him, mentioning all the other crimes for which he has been booked. Cheema continues to remain under suspension since October this year. He was earlier booked by the Mohali police on September 1 on the charges of trespass, voluntarily causing hurt, abduction, wrongful confinement, obstructing public servant in discharge of duty, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. He along with three others was accused of abducting a proclaimed offender from the Phase 1 police station in Mohali in August, and thrashing him in front of the wife of his accomplice in a nearby hospital. Two days after this case was registered, another FIR accusing Cheema of molesting a woman, realtor Davinder Singh Gill's wife, was registered. These two FIRs were registered after a land fraud allegedly involving Gill came to light. Once this scam in New Chandigarh was busted, the realtor’s wife lodged several complaints against Cheema, a friend-turned-foe of the realtor. Cop’s brush with law
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Bhakra on terror radar
Chandigarh, November 17 “Though there are no specific inputs on any possible attack, the threat perception exists and intelligence agencies have issued alerts over the dam being targeted through underwater means,” AB Agrawal, Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) chairman, said here today. Sources in the security establishment confirmed that an assessment of underwater threat was the result of the recent arrest and interrogation of several terrorists, who had been active during the days of terrorism in Punjab and some of whom had been residing abroad for the past many years. A senior BBMB functionary said consequent to the alerts, imported sonars had been installed at strategic places to detect and track any underwater movement, besides steel meshes being erected to prevent close access to the dam. In addition, the number of Himachal Pradesh Police personnel deployed on security at Bhakra has been doubled over the past few months. The BBMB controls three dams in Himachal, Bhakra, Pong and Pandoh, and about 800 police personnel have been deployed for their security. Owing to its strategic nature, the threat perception for Bhakra is very high and alerts about the dam being a target of terrorist activity, including that by Kashmir-based terrorist groups, have been issued in the past. Located on the Sutlej, the Bhakra has an installed capacity of about 1,500 MW and stores about 93 million cusecs of water. Damage to the dam would not only disrupt power generation, but also cause extensive damage to downstream parts of Himachal, large-scale floods in Punjab and effect water supply for domestic and irrigation purpose in the region. The BBMB management had sought deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force to protect its dams, water channels and power houses. But state governments concerned where the establishments are located preferred deploying their own personnel as the costs involved were several times lower than that of requisitioning central forces.
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subsidy scam
Patiala, November 17 But the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Rajinder Aggarwal, convicted three persons. These are Swarn Singh Dhillon, Managing Director, Modern Agro Chemical Industry; Rajinder Singh, Joint Director; and Mangaljit Singh, Additional Development Officer. Their sentence would be pronounced on November 21. Raj Khurana’s counsels Kundan Singh Nagra and Deepak Sood said the Vigilance Bureau could not establish that Khurana was serving in the firm when the fraud took place as he had already resigned. Moreover, no fake bill was found by the probe team, they claimed. “The detailed version of the verdict will be available after the court announces the sentence on November 21,” said Sood. An FIR was registered at the Vigilance Bureau police station in Patiala on April 30, 1998, under Sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record), 212 (harbouring offender) and 120-B (conspiracy) of the IPC and various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The vigilance probe had earlier found that the subsidy meant for poor farmers was usurped by officials of the Agriculture Department and Modern Agro Chemical Industry of Jalandhar. As per the chargesheet, filed in the court in 2001, officials of the Agriculture Department misappropriated subsidy by showing fake supply of super phosphate to the farmers to the tune of Rs 49.77 lakh between 1993 and 1995. About the case * An FIR was registered at the Vigilance Bureau police station in Patiala on April 30, 1998, after complaints of bungling of subsidy fund amounting to ~49.77 lakh *
The vigilance probe had revealed that the subsidy meant for poor farmers was usurped by officials of the Agriculture Department and Modern Agro Chemical Industry of Jalandhar *
As per the chargesheet, the officials misappropriated subsidy by showing fake supply of super phosphate to the farmers between 1993 and 1995
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BJP launches membership drive in state
Jalandhar, November 17 Prominent among those who joined the party include freedom fighter Sukhdev’s maternal grandson Vishal Nayyar, retired DGP of the 1967 batch Samar Vijay Singh, chairman of Avon Group of Companies Onkar Singh Pahwa, Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s niece Rosy Bhattal and yesteryear’s actor Sunil Dutt’s niece Mamta Dutt. State BJP chief Kamal Sharma said the state unit would achieve the target of making 25 lakh members in Punjab. Local party leaders ensured that members of various communities including Rai Sikhs, Namdharis, Bhagats and Jains were present at the launch ceremony. The party also inducted people from various professional groups including industrialists, traders, educationists, doctors, realtors and retired police personnel. Nadda said the party had streamlined the process. He said a person desiring to be a party member could make a call at a toll-free number. An SMS would be generated which would give the caller his membership number indicating the number of people in the country who had joined the party before him. He said the person would then be approached by a booth-level member. He said the drive would continue till March 2015. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla and State Cabinet Ministers Chunni Lal Bhagat, Anil Joshi and Surjit Jyani were present.
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Security up to facilitate trade at Attari
Amritsar, November 17 The Customs has now introduced two-tier rummaging for the Samjhauta Express and goods train coming from Pakistan. The Pakistani trucks crossing over to India are being checked at the Customs picket in the new Joint Check Post (JCP). “The Pakistani trucks are first checked at the Zero Line before the officials check them again as per the existing procedure,” said Customs Commissioner SK Sawhney, adding that they are also vigorously pursuing the matter of installation of full-truck scanner with the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) and the Union Home Ministry. As far as passengers from Pakistan and vehicles carrying them are concerned, they are first checked by the Customs staff. Narcotics and explosives dog squad has also been deployed to check the baggage. Besides, arrangements are also being made in coordination with the BSF for using X-ray machine and frisking of passengers at the Swaran Jayanti Gate. Buses and other vehicles carrying passengers are thoroughly rummaged at the Zero Line by a Custom team dedicated for the purpose. Attari border witnesses a significant trade and passenger traffic every day. More than 200 trucks of goods are imported and exported between the two countries every day, though at times the number is even more. The issue of full-truck scanner at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Attari has been hanging fire for the last couple of years, though Pakistan has two such scanners on its side. Similarly, a number of passengers also cross the Attari border daily. Besides, Delhi-Lahore and Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus services, many people from both the sides opt to cross the border on foot. Earlier, the BSF too had initiated a series of measures to boost the security for the retreat ceremony at the border which draws thousands of tourists from across the country daily. It had even postponed its ‘Day Tourism’ project in which the people were to be allowed to visit the border during the day. It had also restricted the number of tourists in the spectators’ gallery for the retreat ceremony with an aim to avoid any untoward incident, though it had to backtrack within a couple of days in view of the huge turnout for the retreat.
Measures put in place following the recent bomb blast *
The Pakistani trucks crossing over to India are being checked
at the Customs picket in the new Joint Check Post * As far as passengers from Pakistan and vehicles carrying them are concerned, they are first checked by the Customs staff *
Narcotics and explosives dog squad has also been deployed to check baggage. The BSF is also using X-ray machines at Swaran Jayanti Gate
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Chugh: Bajwa trying to divide Punjabis
Chandigarh, November 17 Reacting to Bajwa’s statement in Amritsar asking his party cadres for a face-off with the RSS, Chugh alleged the Congress leader wanted to create disturbance in the state ahead of the local body elections. “Bajwa is doing this only to please his masters in Delhi. Though he seems to give an impression that he is doing so to revive the Congress in Punjab, he is putting the hard-earned in Punjab peace at stake for his own survival as the state unit chief. Everybody knows that the Congress infighting is at its peak and a campaign to dislodge Bajwa is gaining ground by the day,” he said. Referring to Bajwa’s claim of forming a Congress government in the state in 2017, Chugh said “it reflected poorly on the political wisdom of the Congress leader, who seemed to be unaware of the mood of the common man in the country”. — TNS
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Cong asks Sidhu to put record straight
Chandigarh, November 17 Partap Singh Bajwa, PPCC chief, said earlier when the Congress had raised the drug issue, it was dismissed by the SAD as a political campaign. “But Sarwan Singh Phillaur had to resign from the Cabinet after his name surfaced in the Bhola drug racket. Now, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander is under the ED scanner. The BJP too has started talking about the menace of drugs,” said Bajwa. He did not name Jalandhar Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary whose name has figured in the diary recovered from Goraya-based businessman. “Badal has once again started shifting blame on the Centre, seeking greater vigilance on the border. The entire border is fenced and guarded by the BSF. Does he suspect the involvement of the BSF in smuggling,” he asked. Bajwa asked the BJP to take a clear stand on the issue.
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Generation at Bhakra 20% above target
Chandigarh, November 17 AB Agrawal, BBMB chairman, said here today that with high pond water levels at present, the BBMB would be able to meet the demand for water till the repletion period. While the Bkakra reservoir is “almost” full, the water level at Pong dam is still low. The water level at Bhakra stood at 1,671 feet as compared to 1,656 feet on the same day last year while that at Pong was 1,373 feet compared to 1,351 feet in 2013. The water level being about 5 per cent less than the reservoir’s normal capacity is no big issue, he said. Agrawal said that higher power generation had been achieved despite the age of the power plants, which were 35 years old, and certain manpower issues. The manpower at BBBM has been reduced by 1,113 persons, leading to a work force which is leaner by about 25 per cent. There is also a problem of getting technical manpower from states like Punjab and Haryana since these states are associated with thermal power generation and not hydropower. Persons having background of thermal power generation had to be re-trained and oriented for hydropower generation, he said. On the issue of two posts BBMB members lying vacant for the past two months, Agrawal said that it was for the state governments to send the panel of candidates to the Union Government, which is the appointing authority. Pointing out that the BBMB had no role in the appointments, he said that since the role of the members was largely advisery, routine functioning had not been affected. The board consists of nine members.
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Diesel VAT hike irks BJP, petroleum dealers alike
Chandigarh, November 17 The VAT has been raised from 9.75 to 11.25 per cent. If the surcharge is included, the VAT comes out to be 12.3 per cent against 10 per cent earlier. The BJP leaders allege that they were not taken into confidence by the Akali Dal before increasing the VAT. The petroleum dealers in the state have threatened not to buy any diesel from the three oil marketing companies on Friday (November 21) as a mark of protest. On Saturday, the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department had raised the VAT charged on diesel on the pretext that its rapidly falling prices had led to a loss of Rs 225 crore in VAT collection. This is the second hike in VAT on diesel by the state government in just two months. The diesel retail price has fallen by Rs 5 per litre in this financial year. JP Khanna, Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association president, said due to high VAT rate, the diesel in the state was costliest in the region. It sells from Rs 53.14 to Rs 53.16 a litre. “The VAT charged in Punjab is the highest. Since other states have lower retail sale price of diesel, there is rapid diversion in sale of fuel. The people in the districts bordering Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh have been buying cheaper fuel from the surrounding states. The measure to increase VAT collection is a short-term gain. It will have a long-term adverse effect on fuel retail sales in Punjab,” he said. The Punjab BJP leadership, too, has expressed concern over the decision. State unit president Kamal Sharma said the Akalis had consulted them (in the joint coordination committee of the two parties) before increasing the VAT on diesel in October, but the alliance partner chose the other way round this time. “I will take up the matter with the Akalis. We have been demanding that since the diesel prices have come down, the government should lower the bus fare, as per the new transport policy,” said Sharma. Fuelling furore * The VAT has been raised by 1.5 per cent per litre, the rate up from 9.75 to 11.25 per cent *
If the surcharge is included, the VAT comes out to be 12.3 per cent against 10 per cent earlier *
The move would ensure the Punjab Government a gain of Rs 225 crore in VAT collection
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First mega food park to open in Fazilka next month
Bathinda, November 17 Earlier, the ministry had only one official at the state headquarters. Harsimrat said the state government had designated Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADC) as nodal officers to facilitate setting up of projects. She said Punjab was among 11 states that had applied for mega food parks. The Union Government had received 79 applications for 17 mega food parks across the country. “We are working on relaxing some norms. I will be inaugurating the first mega food park at Fazilka next month. The Punjab Government too is setting up a food park near Ludhiana. At least one more park near Ludhiana and another near Mohali are on the cards,” Harsimrat said. The minister said that Bathinda would get “Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology” for research in grain processing, value addition, byproduct utilisation through bio-processing and product development.
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3 ministers turn up for showroom inauguration
Patiala, November 17 Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and Water Supply and Sanitation and Higher Education Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra reached the venue one after the other in a cavalcade of vehicles. Armed security guards accompanied the ministers. The area around the showroom was cordoned off. Maluka was the first to reach the venue. He described BJP leader Navjot Sidhu’s remarks as frivolous. He left at about 10 am. Rakhra and then Dhillon followed him in quick succession. Ghanaur MLA Harpreet Kaur Mukhmailpur and former minister Harmail Singh Tohra and his wife, SGPC member Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, were also present at the ceremony. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had recently instructed ministers to remain in office from 9 am to 5 pm on the first three days of the week. A police official at the venue said that while police stations did not have fuel to run official vehicles, ministers were misusing state resources to “grace the inauguration ceremony of a bike showroom”. Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi said while the fund-starved Punjab government did not have money to pay its employees on time, its ministers were wasting public resources. “Ministers have no business attending opening of showrooms. They should not use ministerial privileges while on a private visit,” the MP said. But Cabinet Minister Dhillon said the ministers too had certain obligations to meet. “We are always at the service of the people and in our offices in Chandigarh most of the time. However, we too have personal engagements and cannot skip these.”
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Post-clash, IG meets dera followers, Sikh organisations
Moga, November 17 The IG said: “I have directed the SSPs of Ferozepur, Moga and nearby districts to keep a vigil at vulnerable places to prevent further trouble.” The IG, accompanied by senior police officials, visited Jogewala village to ascertain what had led to the clash. Umranangal said the warring group members had been booked for attempt to murder, rioting and other offences. Dera followers blame Zira DSP Hardev Singh Boparai for the clash. They want the authorities to take disciplinary action against him. “When we started ‘naam charcha’, we were not informed by the police that radical Sikhs too had gathered at the village gurdwara. Had the police issued an advisory, the clash could have been prevented,” they say.
Child buried Faridkot: The body of one-year-old Rajvir was laid to rest in Devi Wala village on Monday evening. During the clash between dera followers and activists of Sikh organisations in Jogewala village on Sunday, the child had slipped from her mother’s lap. Harjeet Singh Sandhu, SDM, and Baljit Singh Sidhu, Kotkapura DSP, consoled the bereaved family. The latter has not filed any police complaint. — TNS
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Gurpurb on Jan 7
Amritsar, November 17 Addressing mediapersons, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said: “We have directed the SGPC and the Sikh Sangat to celebrate Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary on January 7 instead of December 28.” He said those who wished to celebrate Gurpurb on December 28 could do so. The Tenth Guru’s birth anniversary falls on January 5 every year as per the original Nanakshahi Calendar. But as per the amended calendar, the date changes every year. The SGPC is following the amended calendar. The Sikh clergy awarded ‘tankhah’ to SGPC member Magwinder Singh Khaparkheri for using tables to serve langar at Gurdwara Chheharta Sahib. The Jathedar said Khaparkheri had apologised for the offence. The SGPC has already initiated action against the gurdwara manager. The Jathedar said a local trader had been awarded ‘tankhah’ for keeping religious literature in his godown. The All-India Sikh Conference chief, Gurcharan Singh Babbar, who had used objectionable language for the clergy, had apologised and had been pardoned, he said. They cautioned the Sikh Sangat against the RSS activities in rural areas. Objecting to ‘gatka’ being projected as a stunt, they said the martial art must be practiced as per the Sikh ‘maryada’. On the clash between Dera Sacha Sauda followers and Sikhs in Ferozepur, the high priests said they had had a word with police officials and the matter would be resolved soon. On Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa resuming his stir to seek the release of Sikh detainees, the Akal Takht Jathedar said they had forwarded his letter to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir
Badal.
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Ambika adopts Ghanauli village
Ropar, November 17 The MP said she had adopted the village as the residents of the area had extended her unconditional support during the last parliamentary elections. Soni said residents of Ghanauli had told her that the SAD-BJP government was biased against the village and no development had been carried out in the last 7 years. “I will focus on building roads, sewerage, and improving health care in the village,” she said. Soni said she would take care of other issues after consulting with village residents.
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Cong workers protest delay in sewerage project
Sangrur, November 17 Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal laid the stone on February 28 last year. Had the project been set up, everyone would have had had access to sewerage facilities. A sewage treatment plant would also have been set up in the city. Sibia said Sukhbir had betrayed the people by laying the stone without arranging funds for the project. He demanded that funds for the venture be provided by the state government immediately. He warned the SAD-BJP alliance that the people would teach them a lesson in the upcoming municipal elections. Among others present were advocate Gurtej Singh Grewal, former municipal council president Harbans Lal, former municipal councillors Ravi Chawla and Darshan Kangra, state general secretary, Punjab Youth Congress, Poonam Kangra, and a leader of Mahila Congress, Balbir Kaur
Saini.
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Nawanshahr to get its first biomass power plant soon
Jalandhar, November 17
Deputy Commissioner Anindita Mitra said of the energy generated by the plant, 4 MW would be consumed by the mill and 11 MW would be consumed by the state. She said Saraya Industries that was setting up the plant had completed 65 percent of the work. She further said the power plant would generate power from the crushed sugar cane during the season and paddy and wheat straw in the off season. Kanwaljit Singh, General Manager of the mill, said the plant would generate revenue of Rs 3 crore per annum with the company’s share being 5.5 percent. He said the annual maintenance cost of the boilers and turbines was Rs 60 lakh and human resources cost Rs 1 crore. — TNS
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Unpaid teachers of aided schools hold protest
Hoshiarpur, November 17 The delegation, led by Principal Anil Handa, told the officer that the government had failed to release their salaries even though they filed an affidavit in this regard at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He said, “The state had filed an affidavit in a contempt proceeding in the HC, stating that the arrears would be released in August 2014. Though the government released the grant, it stopped the payment.” He said even though they had submitted budget proposals as per the High Court directions, the government didn’t release their salaries. Principal Arun Kumar said the aided school employees were going through a tough time as they had not got their salaries for the past one-and-a-half months. The delegates warned that if their demands were not met, they would intensify their agitation.
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MCI team inspects Patiala college
Patiala, November 17 The MCI has already increased 50 MBBS seats in the college, taking the total number of seats from 150 to 200 this academic session (2014-15). It will be carrying out annual inspection for the next five years till the first batch with 200 seats passes out to make sure that the college is fully equipped to make them competent doctors. The medical body can refuse to increase the seats permanently if it finds flaws during the inspections. The team visited various departments of the college and checked their records and facilities available. They summoned academic and other official records of all doctors and other supporting staff for verification. The team will submit its report to the
MCI authorities.
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Various posts lying vacant in dispensaries
Sangrur, November 17 As many as 22 posts of the 34 of Ayurvedic Medical Officer (doctor) are lying vacant at the Government Ayurvedic Dispensaries in the district. Moreover, seven posts out of 13 of doctor have also been lying vacant in Ayurvedic dispensaries under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Sources said nearly half of the total number of government dispensaries need urgent repair. The District Ayurvedic Officer is also not provided with a vehicle. So the authorities have trouble collecting samples from pharmacies. Sources said since no doctor was posted at 22 dispensaries in the district, these dispensaries were being run by Up Vaids (pharmacists). The villages, where a doctor has not been posted, are Malerkotla, Ugrahan, Dhadhogal, Katron, Sherpur, Toorbanjara, Bakhora Khurd, Bhai ke Pishore, Churral Kalan and Rampur Gujran. The posts of doctor lying vacant at dispensaries run by NRHM are in Nadampur, Mullowal, Dirba, Chhajli, Manvi, Mehlan and Gaggarpur villages.
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Horticulturists fret as kinnow fetches low price
Fazilka, November 17 “The kinnow plant was infected by a fungal disease due to the heavy rain during peak blooming season in September. The stagnant water in the orchards resulted in the infection spreading rapidly,” said Prem Babbar, who has been awarded several times by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). Babbar said dry weather was essential to grow kinnow. JS Bhatti, Deputy Director, Horticulture, said, “The fluctuating weather and big difference in the temperatures in the day and night led to the kinnow falling prematurely. This is called pathological drop.” The arrival of about 2,200 quintals of unripe and small kinnow is being recorded daily in the district these days. “The kinnow is fetching Rs 6 to 8 per kg as compared to Rs 10 to 12 per kg last year in the wholesale market,” said horticulturist Yash Pal of Nihal Khera village. “The other reason for kinnow fetching a low price is the prolonged arrival season of another citrus fruit malta. Nagpur orange that is also known as “Ambia Bahar” has also hit the market,” says Babbar. Bhatti said kinnow of good quality is yet to arrive in the market. “Horticulturists should wait for another month to get a remunerative price for their produce,” he advised. Harnek Singh of Muradwala Dalsingh Wala village demanded that Punjab Agro Juices Limited (PAJL) should start processing kinnow in Abohar to ensure remunerative price for the fruit. Bhushan Garg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PAJL, said the plant would start functioning from December 15.
Reasons for poor yield * The kinnow plant was infected by a fungal disease due to the heavy rain during peak blooming season in September *
The fluctuating weather and big difference in the temperatures in the day and night led to the kinnow falling prematurely
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Muktsar residents boycott SAD halqa chief
Muktsar, November 17 The banner reads, “The sewerage of this street has been lying choked for a long time, but officials of the department concerned have been neglecting the problem. Even the SAD’s halqa in charge visits only during the elections to seek votes, thus we boycott him.” During a visit to this area, residents narrated their grievances and showed streets filled with sewage water overflowing from drains. “This ward belongs to the former president of the municipal committee. He excuses himself from taking any responsibility by saying his term as councillor has expired. When we approach the officials of the water supply department, who are responsible for the sewerage, they don’t pay heed to our grievances. Similarly, Rozy too failed to fulfill his promise made during the General Election that the sewerage would be repaired. Irked by this, residents of the street decided to put a banner, hoping it would bring ruling party leaders and officials to shame,” said Pohla, a resident of the street. Similarly, Shamsher Singh, who works as a carpenter, said, “We are living in a pitiable condition and nobody is bothered about us. The foul smell of sewage has made our life hell. The area has become a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes. Though political leaders pose for photographs for the PM’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the reality is far from it.” Residents further claimed that during the elections, the drains were cleaned but they choked again and no permanent solution was found by officials concerned. Amrik Singh, executive engineer, water supply department, said, “We have sent a proposal to upgrade the sewerage that got damaged in some areas of the town.”
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Labourers hold protest march
Fazilka, November 17 A delegation led by Bakhtawar Singh
Gharumi, vice-president of the state unit of the union, submitted a memorandum of demands to
the District Food and Supply Controller. The leaders demanded that the government should ensure stipulated wages for labourers and formulate policies that would ameliorate their condition. The protesters also demanded scrapping of the contractual labour system in the state procurement agencies on the
pattern of Food Corporation of India.
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Abohar, November 17 Former Sub-Divisional Magistrate BL Sikka talked about Lala Lajpat Rai’s link with the town. He said the great freedom fighter had announced appointment of local resident Chandi Ram Verma as in charge of the anti-British movement for Punjab. However, the visitors regretted that the civic body had not been able to maintain the memorial. — OC
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‘Peach King’ Didar Bains honoured in California
"It's an honour and a privilege to be here," Brown told some 2,000 Sikhs who came from as far away as Los Angeles to the West Sacramento gurdwara. Brown talked about his own family's immigrant history. "What builds California and America is not one group or any bureaucracy... it's individual families," Brown said. "My ancestors from Germany came across the plains looking for a better life." Amar Shergill, a Sikh activist and attorney, said: "The Sikh community is at a turning point that many immigrants go through. We're no longer looking inward. We're politically active, and the governor recognises this." Brown signed into law two legislative bills - Assembly Bill 1964 and Senate Bill 1540 in 2012. — IANS
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Seven relatives among 8 killed in car-truck collision near Dirba
Sangrur, November 17 All the deceased were travelling in an Innova and were going to Delhi from Malerkotla to participate in the cremation of a relative. The vehicle collided with a Tata Canter coming from the opposite directions. Seven of the deceased were residents of Malerkotla while the Innova driver was from Naushehra village (near Malerkotla). The deceased are Nand Lal (60), his wife Krishana Devi (55), Amar Chand (60), his wife Kanta Devi (55), Prem Chand (50), his wife Manju Rani (48), Soni (34) and Kashmir Singh (driver). Kanta and Manju were Nand Lal’s sisters. A case has been registered at Chhajli police station on the complaint of Gaurav, Amar Chand’s son, against the Canter driver who fled the spot. The complainant alleged that the Canter was being driven rashly. The post-mortem of four bodies was conducted at the Civil Hospital in Sangrur while that of the remaining four was done at the Civil Hospital in Sunam. The eyes of six of the deceased, including two women, were donated by their families to Poojneeya Mata Kartar Kaur Ji International Eye Bank, Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa. Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at Malerkotla during the crematorium of the seven relatives. Nand Lal dealt with the sale-purchase of scooters and motorcycles at Malerkotla while Amar Chand was a medical practitioner. Prem Chand was an iron trader.
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Talwandi Sabo shootout
Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), November 17 Local residents stated that more than 100 rounds were fired during the gun battle that lasted for over two hours and led to the death of Nachhattar Singh and Balveer Beera of Kothi Wala Rah. The incident took place when Nachhattar’s son was hit by the side mirror of a Skoda car driven by one Manpreet Singh. Following an exchange of heated arguments between the two, some youngsters armed with sophisticated weapons reached the spot and opened fire indiscriminately. Nachhattar Singh’s brother Malkit Singh alleged while one group was associated with the Congress, but after their leaders switched loyalties to the SAD, they too were forced to the Akali Dal. Jasvir Singh whose brother Angrez Singh was injured in the incident said only three of the nine accused were arrested. “The police had assured us to nab all the accused, but we have learnt that the opposite party is trying to register a counter case against us using their political links,” he said. Gurpreet Bhullar, Senior Superintendent of Police, said all accused would be arrested at the earliest.
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Drug racket busted in Faridkot jail, three officials arrested
Faridkot, November 17 Drugs wrapped in plastic bags and concealed under some vegetables were allegedly being smuggled inside the jail on a daily basis with the connivance of the jail officials. A tea stall owner who was providing vehicles for the transportation of vegetables to the jail too was involved. The accused also roped in some jail inmates. After arresting Surjit Singh, Assistant Jail Superintendent, Virpal Singh and Adarsh Kumar, a special investigation team looking into the case has started looking into other aspects of the case. The police got a tip-off of this scandal a few days ago after recovering 100-gm heroin from Rakesh Kumar alias Sonu, the man running the tea stall near the jail. The police found out that five inmates in the jail in connivance with the staff and Sonu were selling narcotic drugs to other prisoners and undertrials. These five inmates were already in jail for the offence of drug smuggling. Family members of these inmates living in Amritsar, Muktsar and Abohar were also part of this illegal cartel. According to an FIR lodged today, Hargobind Singh Sodhi, an undertrial, was supplying drugs to the addicts, the payment for which was received in the bank account of his son, Jaskaran Singh Sodhi, in Amritsar. During an inspection of the jail today, the Faridkot police have also recovered five mobile phones from a washroom. The police believe these mobile phones were dumped in the washroom minutes before the inspection began. “We are gathering the details of all incoming and outgoing calls made on these mobiles phones with the help of SIM cards and IMEI numbers,” said Sukhdev Singh Kahlon, Faridkot SSP.
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Five of arms smuggling gang held
Gurdaspur, November 17 They have been identified as Paramjit Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Mohini Masih, Malkit Singh and Harjit Singh, all of whom belong to border villages. Pakistani SIM cards and mobile phones and a .30 bore pistol were seized from their possession. The accused have been booked under the Arms Act, NDPS Act and the Official Secrets Act. Gurpreet Singh Toor, Senior Superintendent of Police, said acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Rajinder Kumar, in charge of the CIA staff, raided Pakkiwa village where the accused had assembled to plan their next move. — TNS
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Thieves target ATM in Abohar
Abohar, November 17 Earlier, some persons noticed that the ATM installed by Axis Bank near a hotel had been removed. They informed Abohar-based Superintendent of Police (SP) Harjeet Singh, who along with other police personnel rushed in and called Axis Bank branch manager Manish Kumar. After few minutes, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Swapan Sharma, Superintendent of Police (D) Gurmeet Singh, Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) Jagdish Bishnoi
and Jasbir Singh also reached the spot. Preliminary investigation based on CCTV cameras outside the hotel reportedly indicated that about half a dozen persons alighted from an Innova car at 3 am, some of them sprayed black fluid on CCTV cameras inside the ATM cabin, removed the cash box in about five minutes and fled using the car. Bank officials and contractor’s staff reportedly told the investigating team that Rs 19 lakh had been put in the trays on Saturday at 2 pm, the balance cash was Rs 15,600 and Rs 3.80 lakh was in the trays till midnight. No security guard was on duty even when bank officials had been told to ensure so after filling heavy cash in ATMs, the police said. Also, sufficient number of lights had not been installed outside most of the ATMs. A guard, who was on duty at a neighbouring ATM of another bank, reportedly said he was sleeping inside his cabin last night and knew nothing about the incident.
No guard was deployed * Preliminary investigation based on CCTV cameras indicates that six persons came to the ATM in an Innova at 3 am on Monday *
They sprayed a black fluid on CCTV cameras in the ATM cabin, removed the cash box in about five minutes and fled *
The cash trays reportedly contained ~3.80 lakh
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Abohar, November 17 They reportedly tried to throw her in a water tank in the field when she warned them that she would tell her parents about the crime. The accused fled when her parents reached there, she said. The girl has been admitted to Civil Hospital for examination. — OC
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Following a deadly suicide bomb attack at Wagah in Pakistan early this month, the Indian Customs Department has reviewed security measures and further strengthened the procedure at Attari border with an aim to augment the security.
The Customs has now introduced two-tier rummaging for the Samjhauta Express and goods train coming from Pakistan. The Pakistani trucks crossing over to India are being checked at the Customs picket in the new Joint Check Post
(JCP).
The Sikh clergy today decided to celebrate Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary on January 7 instead of December 28. The Martyrdom Day of the four Sahibzadas also falls on December 28.
Congress workers, led by former MLA Surinderpal Singh Sibia, today protested the delay in the commencement of a multi-crore sewerage project in Sangrur city. Party workers gathered near the stone of the sewerage project laid outside the zila parishad complex and raised slogans against the
SAD-BJP government.
Eight persons, including three women, were killed in an accident on the Sangrur-Patran road at Mauran village near
Dirba, 18 km from here, today. All the deceased were travelling in an Innova and were going to Delhi from Malerkotla to participate in the cremation of a relative. The vehicle collided with a Tata Canter coming from the opposite directions.
Sidhu a frustrated man, says Majithia
New York, November 17