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A 14-year-old girl from Kolkata was allegedly raped by two Army jawans inside a compartment of the Howrah-Amritsar Express on Monday. Third jawan who allegedly compelled her to consume alcohol has already been arrested from Madhupur railway station in Jharkhand. Sources said the jawan is posted in Kolkata at the Eastern Command headquarters. <!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>
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Two engineers of a private road construction company were on Sunday shot dead by unidentified two motorcycle-borne assailants in Darbhanga District. The deceased project engineers were identified as Brajesh Kumar and Mukesh Kumar.<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>
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There were a total of 349 incidents in 2013, 404 in 2012 and 504 in 2011, the booklet detailed.
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It’s pretty much obvious that a few select, perhaps just a couple of, parties are holding up the proposed implementation of the GST. The BJP cannot really maintain a holier-than-thou attitude as they blocked the passage when they were in opposition.
The political situation in India is so disastrous that whether the Congress wins or the BJP wins, the nation seems to loose. And there really is no ideology involved in this particular issue – not that I believe either party really cares about one.
To the citizen, the petty issues and the quid-pro-quo between these parties do not really matter. What counts is speedy implementation and resolution of economic issues that determine the nation’s progress.
PM Modi and Sonia Gandhi. IBNLive
As I see it, there is no political solution to the deadlock – and just as BJP stalled the implementation for the last 5 years, the Congress can easily do the same for the next five. At this point, it really doesn’t matter what Jaitley or Modi say or do – when all they did was mindlessly object when they were in the opposition. Where did their sense of nationalism go then? As you sow, so shall you reap.
The question then really is not what the BJP should do to get the bill passed, but how do we save the nation from the BJP and the Congress?
I would suggest a very different apolitical approach and it’s up to Modi to take this forward. If “India First” is his religion and something more than just a political slogan, there is no reason why he shouldn’t take this approach and throw down the gauntlet to the Congress.
On issues such as crucial economic bills such as the GST and Land reforms bill, let the President refer it to a three member non-partisan “Economic Resolution Panel” committee appointed entirely by him with no political interference whatsoever. The decision of the 3-member panel can be a binding one on both parties purely through public pressure. Let Modi put forth the proposal and see how the Congress responds.
But the real question is, would Modi be willing to cede control to an undemocratic, and more importantly, an independent panel? I am sure his advisors would advise him against it. But then for starters, Jaitley himself is an unelected authority. If election results are deemed to mean what they superficially indicate, citizens of Amritsar thought Jaitley unfit to represent them in parliament. How then can such a person be trusted to decide the economic future of a country?
The ways of democracy are quite bizarre and so Modi has to forget those “democratic excuses” and look forward – in fact, he has done that earlier in choosing his FM and there’s no reason why he cannot do it again.
What about the panel itself? I think we have to leave it entirely to the President’s discretion and hopefully he will nominate not the Sens or the Panagariyas with political leanings, but citizens who have spoken out on issues without much botheration other than national interests at heart. I can certainly think of names like Deepak Parekh, NRN etc., but I am sure there are plenty of other Indians who would fit the bill. There’s no reason why the nation would not trust these men with stellar credentials when we have lived with the decisions of people with dubious and questionable character, not to mention competence.
Here are 5 reasons why Modi should do it.
1) This would be setting a precedent and a great one at that truly reflecting issue resolution through a competency based approach rather than a political give-and-take one.
2) Since it’s up to the President to choose the panel and nobody knows upfront the decisions of the panel, it would be hard for the Congress not to agree with the approach. A few election cycles down the line, when the Congress is in power, they would benefit through the same process.
3) Modi has often been accused of too centralized an approach. While I do not want to go into the truths of such arguments, this is certainly one way of him demonstrating that he is willing to let go off the decision making to competent individuals.
4) What better way to demonstrate the nation’s commitment on economic reform to foreign investors? I am sure, foreign investors would feel a lot more comfortable when they realize the systems we are putting in place to resolve important issues in a fast and efficient manner.
5) What reason can Sonia or the Congress possibly give for not accepting the approach? As it is, the stand of the Congress looks silly but what saves the day for them are the past mistakes of the BJP on the same issue. If Modi is willing to let go of his “my GST architecture” or none, it would be very difficult for the Congress not to make a similar climb down. Will Modi do it?
I don’t know, but rephrasing Armstrong this would truy be “A small step for Modi & Sonia, but a giant leap for India”. But as a good friend of mine put it “Only a hopeless optimist can expect two hardened politicians to accept an apolitical forum”. Let’s see.
The author is the founding director of Benchmark Advisory Services – an economic consulting firm. He is also the India Economist for the World Money Analyst, a monthly publication of Mauldin Economics. He can be contacted at [email protected]
Asserting that the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ was a religious congregation, he said, Sukhbir by trying to accuse all those who attended it as ‘Khalistanis’ (people demanding separate Sikh homeland) was hurting the religious sentiments of people and trying to project an entire community as anti-national.
Amarinder Singh
Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday snubbed Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and rejected his demand for action against Congress leaders attending ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (congregation of sikhs) at Amritsar on November 10.”You better mind your own business than meddle in our party affairs”. “It is like devil quoting scriptures”, he remarked. The PCC President asked Sukhbir and his father (Parkash Singh Badal) that before raising an accusing finger on the Congress leaders, who attended the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ purely as true Sikhs, they should better take action against SAD sitting MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha who boasts himself as a “terrorist”.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Before resorting to such neurotic breast beating about threat to peace in Punjab and trying to blame Congress for it, why don t you ask your father Parkash Singh Badal as what made him to pronounce the then chief minister Beant Singh assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana as ‘Zinda Shaheed’ (living martyr) and bring back another life convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar to Amritsar and treat him as a state guest”, Capt Amarinder asked Sukhbir.Ridiculing Sukhbir s “day dreaming” of ruling for next 15 years, the PCC president asked him, “forget about next 15 years, better start worrying as what will happen after 15 months from now when you will be running for cover and you will no longer have hundreds of security personnel to protect you”.Asserting that the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ was a religious congregation, he said, Sukhbir by trying to accuse all those who attended it as ‘Khalistanis’ (people demanding separate Sikh homeland) was hurting the religious sentiments of people and trying to project an entire community as anti-national. “Do you mean that those who had come there to protest against the desecration of Holy Guru Granth Sahab were all Khalistanis?” he asked Sukhbir to clarify while adding, “and do you mean that every Sikh who raised his voice against desecration and rightly blamed you for it, is a Khalistani?”
Punjab Congress chief Pratap Singh Bajwa and state CLP leader Sunil Jakhar resigned on Thursday, amid suggestions that former chief minister Amarinder Singh may become the new state unit chief.
AFP
Punjab Congress chief Pratap Singh Bajwa and state CLP leader Sunil Jakhar resigned on Thursday, amid suggestions that former chief minister Amarinder Singh may become the new state unit chief.Assembly polls in Punjab are scheduled in 2017 and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has held a series of consultations in the past few months on how best to tone up the organisation in the state where its prospects appeared to be bright.AICC General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed said that Bajwa and Jakhar have tendered their resignation to party chief Sonia Gandhi and she has accepted the resignations.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Ahmed who is in-charge of party affairs in Punjab did not specify when the reconstitution of the PCC will take place, but the talk in party circles was that it could happen in a couple of days.Reports had it that Amarinder Singh, a former Chief Minister, looked set to become the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief.Last week Rahul Gandhi had led a delegation of party leaders from Punjab, including Amarinder and Bajwa, to President Pranab Mukherjee to project unity in the state unit.Amarinder and Bajwa have been at loggerheads for long.In the last Assembly polls, Gandhi had projected Amarinder as the Chief Ministerial candidate.Congress, however, failed to succeed in the polls with AICC later putting the blame to the “overconfidence” of the Amritsar MP.
Replying to a specific question about Rahul Gandhi taking over the reins of the party, he said, “Of course time has come for him to take the lead.”
File photo
Commending Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his “understated” role in the victory of the Grand Alliance in Bihar polls, Amritsar MP Amarinder Singh on Monday said time has come for Rahul to take over the reins of the party.Talking to reporters during National Press Day celebrations here today, Amarinder said Rahul had proved his leadership skills in Bihar where not only did the Congress make massive improvements over the 2010 tally, but also made immense contribution to the Grand Alliance’s impressive win.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Replying to a specific question about Rahul Gandhi taking over the reins of the party, he said, “Of course time has come for him to take the lead.”He noted that Rahul’s role in cementing together of the Grand Alliance and its eventual impressive victory in Bihar was “understated”.Pointing out that Congress has presence across Bihar with significant percentage of votes in all the constituencies, he said the entire Congress vote was transferred to the Grand Alliance thanks to the active role Rahul played there.”The result is before all of us and Rahul duly deserves the credit for the same,” Amarinder asserted.
Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh in his address asked Sikhs to remain vigilant against “anti-panthic forces”.
Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh (above) assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht
File Photo
Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh’s customary address on the occasion of Diwali drowned in the din on Wednesday amid slogan shouting by Sikh hardliners, even as parallely “appointed” jathedar of Akal Takht also managed to address the gathering but was arrested soon after. Amritsar Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh said,”Dhian Singh Mand, a former MP of SAD(A), was arrested this evening from inside the Golden Temple.”Yesterday, Sikh hardliners had convened ‘Sarbat Khalsa’, a grand assembly of Sikhs, here and appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht. Since Hawara is in prison, Mand was to take charge as jathedar of Akal Takht, as per the hardliners. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh in his address asked Sikhs to remain vigilant against “anti-panthic forces”. On the other hand, Mand sought Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s social boycott. Mand delivered his address in front of the Darshani Deodi (entrance of the Golden Temple). He gave an appeal for social boycott of Badals.Meanwhile, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar appealed to people to maintain peace. Sikh protesters brandished swords and waved black flags in Golden Temple complex. However, no one was hurt in the melee.Gurbachan in his address said that “what the Sikh gathering did yesterday at Chhaba village has hurt the sentiments of the community and shaken it deeply.” “These forces have created an unrest among the community,” the Akal Takht head said.Speaking on the incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, Gurbachan said that the state government must ensure round the clock surveillance of Sikh shrines. “Sikh warriors imprisoned since long must be released forthwith,” he demanded while asking the Centre to take a decision on the issue at the earliest.Mand, however, asserted that Badals’ political influence over Sikh institutions must be ended. He alleged that Badals have eroded the sanctity of Sikh institutions. Earlier, several leaders of hardline Sikh groups were detained here ahead of their proposed march to Golden Temple to address Sikhs on Diwali, a day after they had “appointed” Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht.Apart from Akal Takht, which is the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, the yesterday’s congregation (Sarbat Khalsa) also “removed” jathedars of two other Takhts– Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib. In a preemptive move, police took into custody Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and United Akali Dal leader Bhai Mokham Singh. Both of them were the key organisers of ‘Sarbat Khalsa’.
The protesters were also demanding recovery of stolen ‘bir’ (religious scripture) of Guru Granth Sahib from village Burj Jawahar Singhwala on June 1 at Faridkot, arrest of real desecrators and of those cops who had fired at protesters killing two Sikh activists and injuring several others at Behbal Kalan village last month and making their names public.
Sikh community people take out a march with black flags to protest against the desecration of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Punjab firing incident in Amritsar on Tuesday.
PTI
Carrying black flags and placards, Sikh activists of various outfits, including radical groups, on Tuesday staged peaceful protests at various places in Punjab against the desecration of holy book last month, with demands for time-bound probe by CBI.The protesters were also demanding recovery of stolen ‘bir’ (religious scripture) of Guru Granth Sahib from village Burj Jawahar Singhwala on June 1 at Faridkot, arrest of real desecrators and of those cops who had fired at protesters killing two Sikh activists and injuring several others at Behbal Kalan village last month and making their names public. They also demanded scrapping permanently the case registered against two brothers Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, who were arrested earlier but released yesterday with police saying there was not sufficient evidence.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The protesters, including women, formed a human chain adjacent to roads, including National Highways and state highways criss-crossing the state without disturbing traffic, police said. Chanting ‘Satnam Waheguru’, the protesters were supported by representatives of dalit and muslim communities at various places in the state.Both the India-Pakistan cross-border Sada-e-Sarhad buses, plying to and fro New Delhi and Lahore, passed through Phagwara normally, police said. The protesters were agitating against sacrilege incidents of Holy Guru Granth Sahib at different places in the state last month. Some of the placards propagated the November 10 ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (congregation of Sikhs) convened by radical Sikh outfits at Amritsar, police said.Apprehending that the CBI probe into the desecration incidents could meet the fate of 1984 riots, the protesters demanded a time-bound probe by the investigating agency.”If the CBI probe into the desecration cases is to go the anti-Sikh riots way where nothing came out even after 31 years, then the inquiry into incidents of desecration should be handed over to United Nations(UN)”, demanded the protesting Sikh Sangat, Sikh bodies, Gurdwara committees, Women Wing Societies, Dalit and Muslim representatives.
According to sources, the enhanced compensation amount of Rs 5 lakh every affected family will be distributed to an estimated 2,600 families affected in the riots within the first week of November, without waiting for the Centre to release financial assistance to the state.
AAP chief and Delhi CM Kejriwal
With an eye on the Punjab elections slated to be held in 2017, the AAP government has readied a plan to disburse a compensation of Rs130 crore out of its own kitty to the families of the 1984 anti-sikh riot victims.According to sources, the enhanced compensation amount of Rs 5 lakh every affected family will be distributed to an estimated 2,600 families affected in the riots within the first week of November, without waiting for the Centre to release financial assistance to the state. So far, only 143 riot-affected families have received the compensation amount.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>In October, 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led union government had decided to dole out an enhanced compensation to each of the 3,325 victims of the 1984 riots that followed then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination, over and above the funds received by the families so far received from the government.Last December, union home minister Rajnath Singh had distributed enhanced compensation cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to 17 families of riot victims in west Delhi’s Tilak Vihar. Another 16 cheques were released before the February 15 assembly elections. Other cheques were distributed by the deputy commissioners.Punjab being a crucial state for AAP, the party had already started a thorough groundwork to expand its base in the upcoming state assembly elections. In the 13 seats it contested in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the party won four.Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had recently visited the Golden Temple Amritsar to offer prayers in the wake of the violence that erupted with the desecration of the Sikh holy book.
Bhagwant Mann, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Sangrur MP, has denied that he arrived drunk at a bhog ceremony in Faridkot for two youths who were killed in police firing during protests against the desecration of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Indian Express reports that Jagtar Singh, the former granthi of Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, confronted Mann when he found him to be emitting a ‘foul smell’ on stage. Singh then reportedly told Mann to leave the ceremony and the politician did so immediately. As he was walking away from the venue, a few youths accosted him and accused him of being drunk. A video of this harassment went viral online.
File image of Bhagwant Mann. IBNLive
However, Mann claimed that he was not drunk at the ceremony. In a post on his Facebook page, Mann wrote that this news was completely false and was an attempt to defame him. He added that he could not ever imagine doing such a thing and it was an attempt to divert attention away from the real issues of the people. “Mai sache dilon loka de haq Di ladai Jari rakhanga (I will continue the fight for people’s rights with a true heart),” he wrote.
An Australia-based website that covers the Sikh community, The Singh Station, reports that Mann clarified on Facebook that he left the stage for other reasons.
Firstly, he reportedly found out that Punjab Convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur would be the only one speaking on behalf of the AAP. Secondly, the stage host repeatedly announced that there were too many people on stage and it was likely to crash, so those who have already spoken or are not going to speak, should please step down. Thirdly, he was also worried that he was being watched by a few suspicious persons.
A few youth even came over to him and asked him why he had not raised the issue of Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa. Since he did not have any security cover, he felt it was prudent to leave the venue.
Surrounded by supporters and local residents, Kejriwal sat with and spoke to the families of those hurt in the violence that followed the desecration, and of the two who died in the ensuing police firing.
Arvind Kejriwal pays his respects at the Golden Temple
PTI
Aam Aadmi Party leader and New Delhi chief minister made his presence felt in Punjab, as he spoke out against the recent outbreak of violence over the desecration of the Sikh holy book. He called on the SAD-led state government to take responsibility for the situation, even as he visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar to pray for the “return of peace”, and the family of the those affected by the violence in Faridkot.”What happened was very wrong. The government should catch those responsible for desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib,” he told the press.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Surrounded by supporters and local residents, Kejriwal sat with and spoke to the families of those hurt in the violence that followed the desecration, and of the two who died in the ensuing police firing.”Since the government could not catch those who committed this act, the unrest spread in different parts of Punjab and people protested. In Faridkot too, people were protesting peacefully. The boy who died had only come to give langar to the protesters when he was shot, ” said Kejriwal. “Even though there is a rule that in a protest, if the police needs to fire, they will only aim at the feet.”At the Golden temple, though he reportedly refused to answer too many questions from the media, Kejriwal again brought up government responsibility, and said that “false cases” must not be slapped on those participating in the protests.Then, he went inside with all other devotees, shunning the VIP entrance, as is his wont.”The Golden Temple has great spiritual power and I prayed before the Almighty for early peace and normalcy to get rid of current turmoil in Punjab,” he said after praying.This visit assumes great significance given AAP’s national ambitions. It is Kejriwal’s first since he came to power in Delhi, and Punjab is widely thought to be the other bastion of strength for the party. It is also next on their electoral agenda, with the Assembly polls looming ahead in 2017. AAP has already started work on the ground, strengthening and overhauling its state unit, something which recently caused some inner turmoil in the party.All four of AAP’s MPs are from Punjab, however, it recently suspended two, Dharamvir Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa, for “anti party activities”.
Police detained two MLA brothers from Ludhiana Simrajit Bains and Balwinder Singh in Ludhiana when they were proceeding to Chandigarh to gherao the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, police said.
Amritsar: BSF and Punjab police personnel take out flag march to instill a sense of security and safety among residents of holy city Amritsar on Tuesday.
Punjab on Wednesday continued to simmer over incidents of sacrilege with Sikh activists blocking key roads at many places and paramilitary forces taking out flag marches in sensitive areas.Police detained two MLA brothers from Ludhiana Simrajit Bains and Balwinder Singh in Ludhiana when they were proceeding to Chandigarh to gherao the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, police said.While Simarjit was detained at Katanikalan, his brother Balwinder was detained at Vardhman chowk. Along with them, 21 of their supporters were also detained.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>In the wake of the sensitive situation prevailing in the state after a spate of sacrilege incidents, paramilitary forces have been deployed in four districts -Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Tarn Taran.A report from Phagwara said several Sikh activists blocked Phagwara-Banga-Nawanshahar road near Mehlimudhali village, causing inconvenience to commuters.In Amritsar, protesters blocked a road at Amritsar-Jalandhar bypass and Harike in Tarn Taran, demanding action against those who indulged in the sacrilege.Some persons also blackened the poster of SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar at Lahorigate, police said.Yesterday, Punjab Police had arrested two brothers in connection with an incident of sacrilege.The two identified as Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, of Panjgrain village of Faridkot were arrested in connection with the first incident of sacrilege in the state in Bargari village in Faridkot, where a violent clash between police and Sikh protesters left two persons killed.
Sahota said the two brothers, identified as Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, of Panjgrain village of Faridkot, were arested in connection with the first incident of sacrilege in the state in Bargari village in Faridkot, where a violent clash erupted between police and Sikh protesters in which two persons were killed.
Punjab police on Tuesday claimed to have cracked one of the seven cases of sacrilege of holy books in the state with the arrest of two brothers, who committed the offence in connection with “someone in Australia”.A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under ADGP IPS Sahota consitituted after the sacrilege incident in Bargari village gurudwara in Faridkot and later at six other places in the state, concluded that “the accused became soft targets of anti national forces due to greed and ambition of becoming rich”.Sahota said the two brothers, identified as Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, of Panjgrain village of Faridkot, were arested in connection with the first incident of sacrilege in the state in Bargari village in Faridkot, where a violent clash erupted between police and Sikh protesters in which two persons were killed.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Police took them into custody after intercepting their mobile calls between October 14 to 16,” he said.He also read out the transcripts of the calls between the two brothers before media here.”The brothers were in touch with someone in Australia,” he said, adding that police was trying to trace the person abroad.The ADGP said more details of the investigations, including the foreign links, would be detailed in a couple of days as Punjab Police was finding the missing links and identifying persons operating from abroad and also their local conduits.Sahota did not give out details of the accused abroad, saying “by doing so we will compromise with the investigations”.A total of six persons have so far been arrested in connection with five of the seven incidents which took place in the districts of Faridkot, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Tarn Taran besides Bhatinda and Ferozepur where the police is expecting a breakthrough soon.The perpetrators behind Amritsar, Ludhiana and Tarn Taran incidents had already been arrested, which included a woman, taking the total number of those arrested to six.”They all are working in the gurudwaras… some of them are granthis,” he said.On the Korian village sacrilege issue in Sangrur, he said that the Sikh shrine sewadar Hardev Singh had himself confessed to the crime.On the Behbal Kalan village firing incident in which two persons died, he said the case is being separately probed.He said that both the brothers are baptised Sikhs and had links with several organisations.He ruled out involement of followers of Dera Sacha Sauda behind the incidents of sacrilege.He said police is probing the incidents at Ferozepur and Bathinda and assured that culprits will be caught soon.Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds Home portfolio, described the incidents as “unfortunate” and assured strictest punishments to the culprits and also asked people to do prayers.Punjab is on the boil due to series of incidents of sacrilege of ‘birs’ (scriputres) of Guru Granth Shib at seven places in the past one week which led to protets by Sikh organisations who blocked traffic at various places.
A total of six persons have so far been arrested in connection with five of the seven incidents in Punjab.
The two were arested in connection with the first incident of sacrilege in the state in Bargari village in Faridkot (File photo of protests)
PTI
Punjab police on Tuesday claimed to have cracked one of the seven cases of sacrilege of holy books in the state with the arrest of two brothers, who committed the offence in connection with “someone in Australia”. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under ADGP IPS Sahota consitituted after the sacrilege incident in Bargari village gurudwara in Faridkot and later at six other places in the state, concluded that “the accused became soft targets of anti-national forces due to greed and ambition of becoming rich”. Sahota said the two brothers, identified as Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, of Panjgrain village of Faridkot, were arested in connection with the first incident of sacrilege in the state in Bargari village in Faridkot, where a violent clash erupted between police and Sikh protesters in which two persons were killed. “Police took them into custody after intercepting their mobile calls between October 14 to 16,” he said. He also read out the transcripts of the calls between the two brothers before media here. “The brothers were in touch with someone in Australia,” he said, adding that police was trying to trace the person abroad.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The ADGP said more details of the investigations, including the foreign links, would be detailed in a couple of days as Punjab Police was finding the missing links and identifying persons operating from abroad and also their local conduits. Sahota did not give out details of the accused abroad, saying “by doing so we will compromise with the investigations”.A total of six persons have so far been arrested in connection with five of the seven incidents which took place in the districts of Faridkot, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Tarn Taran besides Bhatinda and Ferozepur where the police is expecting a breakthrough soon.
Sikhs in the Indian state of Punjab have enforced strikes and blocked roads in the past week. What caused the protests and why now?
BSF Deputy Inspector General of Punjab Frontier R S Kataria said Pakistani attempts to smuggle heroin into India have been foiled by the alert jawans.
BSF jawans displaying 14 kilogram of heroin, which was seized near Border Out Post Chanmulla near Amritsar on Saturday.
PTI
The BSF has registered a sudden spike in the volume of heroin being smuggled into India from Pakistan through Punjab border with the seizure of on an average 5.5 kg of the drug everyday for the last 10 days.According to the data, 54 kg heroin worth Rs 270 crore in the international market has been seized from Amritsar and Ferozpur sectors between October 8 and 17, BSF Deputy Inspector General of Punjab Frontier R S Kataria said. He said that they seized heroin everyday except on October 9, 13 and 16.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Katariya said Pakistani attempts to smuggle heroin into India have been foiled by the alert jawans.The senior official said that till now this year the BSF has recovered around 248 kg heroin worth Rs 1240 crore in the international market along the International Border area from across the state.
The SAD-BJP government has been facing ire from several quarters over the alleged incidents of desecration of holy book.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday submitted an emotional letter, expressing his deep pain over the current events, to Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh. He submitted the letter after paying obeisance at Golden Temple in Amritsar.In the letter, Badal said, “in the last few days, bad incidents occurred in Punjab… are highly painful which hurt sentiments deeply and emotions of Punjabi brotherhood caused deep pain in hearts. Unexpected happenings in Punjab taking worst turns which may further worsen the situation in the state”.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Being the administrative Head of the State, I understand and realize the present situation. For the past long time, I have been putting my best efforts to serve my duty whole heartedly with honest attention and full physically strength. I led my whole life with patience and according to religious customs,” he said.”Sometime while serving duty with sincerity, some things happen unexpectedly which is beyond expectation as a reason one has to undergo severe mental agony which shakes human being deeply form inside which also shakes the soul internally. When all such happens, one strongly feels to go for repentance. Presently I am experiencing deep pain from inside,” the chief minister said.The SAD-BJP government has been facing ire from several quarters over the alleged incidents of desecration of holy book. Punjab continued to “boil” after the alleged incidents of sacrilege with Sikh activists holding protest at various places in the state, demanding action against those who indulged in this “heinous act”.
Congress sources said Rahul met four leaders of Congress from municipal corporations of Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar and asked them about ways to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Amid ongoing consultations on restructuring of the party’s Punjab unit, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday met leaders of Opposition in Municipal Corporations in four major towns of the state.Congress sources said Rahul met four leaders of Congress from municipal corporations of Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar and asked them about ways to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.The sources said Rahul wanted to seek the opinion of all elected representatives of Congress in the state before taking a final decision on the party’s restructuring. This move, party insiders, say is also aimed at bringing in democracy in the party.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Rahul has already met party MLAs and has sought their opinion on party restructuring as also who could lead the state Congress. He has also met former chief minister Amarinder Singh as well as former deputy chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, besides PCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa.Former Union ministry Preneet Kaur, the wife of Amarinder and a Congress MLA from Punjab, also met Rahul on Thursday to discuss the restructuring issue. Rahul is now slated to meet Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmad to discuss the matter.
Due to Sikh organizations’ call for ‘Punjab bandh’, several areas of the state were mostly or partly shut down. Schools and colleges are closed in several districts including Bathinda, Amritsar, Muktsar, Moga and Faridkot, reported Aaj Tak.
ANI
With Sikh organisations calling for ‘Punjab bandh’, several areas of the state were mostly or partly shut down on Thursday. Schools and colleges are closed in several districts including Bathinda, Amritsar, Muktsar, Moga and Faridkot, reported Aaj Tak.According to the report, the authorities of these schools and colleges decided to shut down as soon as they heard about the call for ‘Punjab bandh’ early in the morning. Most of the students across the state couldn’t be notified about the same and they only became aware of the situation when they came to their schools; many alone and many with their parents.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A day long bandh has been called for to oppose the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib as well as police-violence like firing and lathicharge on Sikhs.Punjab police has deployed its forces in several areas of the state to ensure law and order during the bandh.Earlier, Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal announced a reward of Rs one crore for turning in people who were involved in the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib. Badal appealed to the Sikh community to maintain peace and promised to give exemplary punishment to the culprits.Sikh protestors have been agitating against the same for the last four days. It took an ugly turn on Wednesday when two people were killed and 90 injured including several policemen. Also read: Punjab government orders probe into desecration of holy book
Sidhu has been a two-time former MP from Amritsar constituency in Punjab.
Navjot Singh Sidhu
BJP leader and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is undergoing treatment for acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is making steady recovery, doctors at a city hospital said on Thursday.”He is being treated by our team of experts and is making steady recovery,” said a statement issued by Indraprastha Apollo Hospital authorities. They said no surgery or intervention is being planned for now and that Sidhu is medically stable.51-year-old Sidhu was admitted to the hospital with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a life threatening condition if not treated in time. DVT is caused by a blood clot in a deep vein which hinders the normal blood flow. The symptoms may include swelling, pain, and tenderness, often in the legs.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Sidhu has been a two-time former MP from Amritsar constituency in Punjab.
New Delhi: BJP leader and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was on Tuesday admitted to a private hospital in New Delhi and is undergoing treatment for acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Navjot Singh Sidhu. PTI
“Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals Delhi today evening with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a life threatening condition if not treated on time,” hospital authorities said.
“Mr Sidhu has been put on blood thinners and has been recovering well. His condition is said to be stable as of now,” said a statement issued by Indraprastha Apollo Hospital authorities.
DVT is caused by a blood clot in a deep vein which hinders the normal blood flow. The symptoms may include swelling, pain, and tenderness, often in the legs.
Sidhu later tweeted saying, “Down but Not Out! Life threatening disease (DVT) With God ‘s Grace will recover. Life is Fragile, handle with Prayer.”
Sidhu has been a two-time former MP from Amritsar constituency in Punjab.
PTI
As many as 12 trains will be diverted on October 9, including Amritsar-Bilaspur Express, Amritsar-Nanded Express, Kalka-Shirdi Express, Chandigarh-Madurai Express, Jammu Tawi-Madras Express and Bilaspur-Amritsar Express.
Representational Image
A day ahead of Punjab farmers’ ‘Rail Roko’ protest, Railways on Tuesday announced cancellation and diversion of several trains due to non-interlocking work being carried out at Asaoti in Delhi Division. Railways announced cancellation of six trains and diversion of nine on October 7 and 8, an official release issued said.Among the trains which were cancelled are Amritsar-Indore Express, Ferozpur-Mumbai Central Express, Indore-Chandigarh and Mumbai Central-Ferozpur Express. Among the diverted trains are Amritsar-Bilaspur, Nanded- Amritsar and Bilaspur-Amritsar Express, it said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Railways have also announced cancellation of 7 trains, including Chandigarh-Indore Express, Ferozpur-Mumbai Central Express, Kochuveli-Amritsar Express and Yasvantpur-Chandigarh Express on October 9 and 10, it said.As many as 12 trains will be diverted on October 9, including Amritsar-Bilaspur Express, Amritsar-Nanded Express, Kalka-Shirdi Express, Chandigarh-Madurai Express, Jammu Tawi-Madras Express and Bilaspur-Amritsar Express.
The Pakistani delegation, which had reached Delhi last evening via Amritsar, includes officials of Sindh Rangers, the country’s interior ministry, Survey of Pakistan, anti- narcotics force and immigration department, among others.
India and Pakistan on Thursday began a three-day DG-level border dialogue here with the host nation set to flag the “most important” issues of ceasefire violation and cross-border infiltration, weeks after parleys between the NSAs of the two countries was called off.Amidst escalating tensions and continuing cases of ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, with two fresh instances reported yesterday, a 16-member Pakistani delegation today reached the Border Security Force headquarters here for the talks that are being held between after a gap of over one-and-a-half years.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Talks between the two sides were last held in December, 2013, in Lahore.Pakistan Rangers Director General (Punjab), Maj. Gen. Umar Farooq Burki, who is leading his country’s delegation, was accorded a guard of honour at the BSF headquarters and later welcomed by BSF DG DK Pathak and other senior officers prior to the formal commencement of the deliberations.The Pakistani delegation, which had reached Delhi last evening via Amritsar, includes officials of Sindh Rangers, the country’s interior ministry, Survey of Pakistan, anti- narcotics force and immigration department, among others.Led by Pathak, the 23-member Indian side is is expected to raise issues like ceasefire violations in J-K, including sniper attacks on BSF personnel, and cross-border infiltration.It is the first high-level interaction between the two countries after the National Security Adviser (NSA)-level talks scheduled in Delhi on August 23-24 were cancelled due to differences over the agenda.According to sources here, extra stress would be laid on the “most important” issue of ceasefire violations in J-K, which have led to the loss of lives of civilians and soldiers and “unprovoked” firing by the Rangers along the International Border (IB).The issue of “no response” by the other side when BSF raises the ‘white flag’ that is used to indicate suspension of firing to allow a meeting of on-ground commanders of the two sides will also be taken up, the sources said.”The talks will also endeavour to focus on positive issues like different levels of communication, more simultaneous coordinated patrolling and other confidence-building measures,” according to a BSF statement.BSF said it will also take up the issue of intrusion into the ‘Harami Nallah’ area in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, smuggling of contraband from across the border and illegal movement of suspects up to the ‘zero line’ area along the IB.Meanwhile, a Punjab Rangers spokesman had said that the issue of frequent armed exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary would be on the top of the agenda for the Pakistani delegation.
On Saturday, AAP suspended its two members of Parliament Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa, both elected from Punjab – the only state where the party was able to open its account during Lok Sabha poll 2014 with four seats. Both MPs have been accused of anti-party activities and allegedly joining hands with the state’s ruling parties SAD-BJP. In an interview with Jyotika Sood of dna, Gandhi talks about their expulsion and how Punjab is going to respond to these wind of change in AAP.
Excerpts:
Q You were expelled from the party by AAP’s political affairs committee on the charges of anti-party activities. What do you have to say in your defence?Ans This is untrue and rubbish. How can I join or support ruling SAD-BJP or Congress – two political parties against which I have been fighting for past 40 years. Till Friday night I was supporting Yogendra Yadav and suddenly on Saturday when I met AAP suspended volunteers I become a stooge of SAD-BJP. This is non-sense. The concept of expulsion in AAP has been introduced by Delhi AAP members to silent voices of dissent, but I’m not going to keep quiet. If I don’t agree with something, I would put it forward. The party is becoming dictatorial which is not good.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> Q Was any show-cause notice or an inquiry ordered where you were asked to present your defence before issuing expulsion order?Ans I was on my way from Amritsar to Patiala in car when I got call from the media persons informing me about my expulsion. There was no call, no fax, no email or information from the party office. I was taken aback! How could you take a decision without giving someone chance to present his side of view. As far as Mr Khalsa is concerned, he tried to meet Kejriwal twice but was refused any hearing over sms. And what is anti-party activity? We are party MPs from Punjab and had gone to Amritsar to attend a meeting of 5,000 AAP volunteers, including those suspended, who were very angry with the party activities. As elected representatives it was our duty to listen them as they were the building blocks for AAP in Punjab. Q How does this expulsion affect you?Ans Punjab was the only state which gave four Members of Parliament to AAP and yet none of these elected representatives were ever given any opportunity to take part in parties political activities or decisions. None of us was either on Political Affairs Committee (PAC) or any other AAP committees. So this expulsion really doesn’t affect as we were hardly given any role in party. We were working as Parliamentarians for our constituencies and we continue to do that. Q Do you think AAP has seen a transformation since its inception till now?Ans Definitely. A party whose virtue was Swaraj, alternative politics and intra-party democracy has been now reduced to few hands in Delhi who take all decisions which is dangerous. Take example of Punjab. Ignoring the building stones of AAP in Punjab like Daljit Singh and Manjit Mann who have been suspended, Delhi AAP has appointed its 60 people across the state. This has caused a huge resentment. Why would Delhites control Punjab? The way Delhites are for Delhi, similarly it should be Punjabis for Punjab as they know the local issues much better. This is what the idea was behind AAP – grassroot base and politics. Changing foundations is dangerous. Q Do you still want to continue with the party?Ans Off course! Electing us was a decision of people of Punjab and it was a mandate for AAP party and not a specific person or handful people. People of Punjab showed a lot of trust and pride in electing us and its our duty to meet their expectations. If the party is deviating from its core values, I feel its my duty to fight against the changes and do my best to stick to the rationale on which it was based. Q How do you see AAP’s future in Punjab?Ans AAP won four seats in Lok Sabha and lost seven seats with margin of less then 25,000 votes. This shows the kind of support and faith people of Punjab have shown in party. Now if the party changes it values it should be prepared for the consequences. People are witnessing everything and will decide accordingly.
He also reiterated that Punjab will remain his priority.
He also reiterated that Punjab will remain his priority.
Stating that Punjab remains his priority Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Amarinder Singh on Saturday cautioned people not to vote for “wrong people” in the next state election. Addressing a rally in support of local Congress MLA, Singh, Amritsar MP and a former Punjab Chief Minister, cautioned people to be careful at the time of casting their votes in 2017 state election “lest they end up voting for the wrong people and wrong party.” He also reiterated that Punjab will remain his priority. However, he added “that does not mean I will not fulfil my responsibilities as an MP”. Talking to the reporters, Amarinder said he had told Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the time of General Elections in 2014 that he was not interested in national politics as Punjab was his priority. The Congress President had also agreed and even assured him that he could resign at the right time to serve Punjab, he said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The former chief Minister, a known detractor of Punjab Congress president Pratap Singh Bajwa, also said that the selection of the PCC chief was the prerogative of the party President. Referring to the delay in implementation of one rank one pension scheme by the BJP government at the Centre, he said, “If the Prime Minister can announce Rs 1.25 lakh crores for Bihar and Rs 1 lakh crore for Kashmir, why he could not sanction Rs 9,100 crores for the OROP for the people who had given their life for the nation.”
For the Independence Day celebration in Amritsar, Punjab Cabinet Minister not only unfurled the national flag upside down but also delivered his speech through the “goof-up”.
Punjab Cabinet Minister, Bikram Singh Majithia unfurled the national flag during the Independence day celebration in Amritsar upside down.
File Photo
In a goof-up, Punjab Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majitiha on Saturday unfurled the national flag upside down during a flag hoisting ceremony in Amritsar on Independence Day.Presiding over Independence Day ceremony at Guru Nanak Auditorium, the cabinet minister hoisted the flag upside down. Majithia along with Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat and Commissioner Amritsar Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh even saluted the national flag upside down.The flag continued to fly upside down even when Majithia delivered his speech and it was hoisted into the right position when function was going to conclude. Later, when media asked about the “goof-up”, Majithia said it is the district administration which should answer how it has happened.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>
Special security arrangements have been made in border districts in Punjab, where terrorists carried out an attack in Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur nearly a fortnight back.
Ahead of the 69th Independence Day, security has been tightened across Punjab, especially in border districts in the wake of Gurdaspur terror attack last month, besides Haryana and Chandigarh. Security forces are on high alert, officials said on Wednesday.Security has been strengthened at the venues where dignitaries will unfurl the Tricolour and important railway stations including Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Panipat, Ambala, besides key interstate bus terminals and other vital installations, the officials said.Special security arrangements have been made in border districts in Punjab, where terrorists carried out an attack in Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur nearly a fortnight back.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Besides, paramilitary has been deployed in the border areas to strengthen the security.Pathankot’s Senior Superintendent of Police R K Bakhshi today said that foolproof security measures had been put in place.Asked that some locals in the border district of Pathankot, in the past few days claimed to have noticed some suspicious movements after the Gurdaspur attack, he said, “We cannot ignore any information that we are getting.” Notably, three days ago, acting on inputs from locals that some suspicious movement had been noticed in Pathankot’s Dhar Block area, the Army and police had jointly launched a massive operation near Ladeti village, under the supervision of Inspector General-Border Range-Lok Nath Angra, though nothing was found.All entry and exit points of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pardesh, which border Pathankot district, have been sealed and checking of vehicles has been intensified.Meanwhile, police across Punjab, neighbouring Haryana and Chandigarh have asked operators of guest houses, cyber cafes, telephone booths and taxi services to keep a watch on their customers and report any suspicious persons.Police and other security personnel have intensified checking of vehicles in the two states and Chandigarh.Barricading and checking had also been intensified at the inter-state borders.
New Delhi: Gita, a 23-year-old hearing and speech-impaired Indian woman stranded in Pakistan for the past 15 years, will be brought back to India and efforts are on to locate her family, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday.
In a series of tweets, Sushma Swaraj said the government was completing the “necessary formalities to bring Gita back to India”.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. AFP
Sushma Swaraj tweeted that during the past few days, “four families from Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand and UP have claimed Gita as their daughter” and that she has requested the chief ministers of the respective states to “verify and report”.
“Gita conveyed to the Indian High Commissioner by gestures that they are seven brothers and sisters. She also conveyed that she had visited a temple with her father. Then she wrote down ‘Vaishno Devi’.”
“With these details, please help locate Gita’s family,” the minister tweeted.
Gita’s story has the elements of recent Bollywood blockbuster ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ in which actor Salman Khan crosses the border to escort a six-year-old mute Pakistani girl back to her village.
Since her story hit the limelight earlier this week, four families have come forward to claim that Gita was their long-lost daughter.
A family from Uttar Pradesh and one from Jharkhand came forward on Friday.
Ramraj and Anara Devi, who hail from Dhamohan village in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district, claimed Gita was their daughter Savita who went missing from an ashram in Bihar 11 years ago, according to media reports.
The couple approached the authorities after seeing TV news reports and pictures of Gita, who they say is one of their six children who went missing at the age of nine.
A couple from Bokaro in Jharkhand claimed Gita was their fourth child Kokia Kumari who went missing more than a decade ago.
Earlier, another couple from Amritsar claimed Gita was their daughter Pooja, who they used to call Guddi.
Rajesh Kumar and Ram Dulari are also hearing and speech-impaired. Ram Dulari bears a strong resemblance to Gita.
They said the girl went missing more than a decade ago while they were out begging at the Amritsar railway station.
also see
But Gita denied the couple’s claim. When a private TV channel in Pakistan showed her a picture of the couple, the girl couldn’t recognise them. She said her mother used to wear sari, but the woman in the picture was wearing salwar kameez.
On Tuesday, Sushma Swaraj had announced that the government will bring Gita back to India after Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan met the woman at the Edhi Foundation, a well known charity in Karachi where the woman has been staying for the past few years.
Sushma Swaraj had requested the envoy to go to Karachi to meet Gita.
Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney, who has been closely pursuing Gita’s case, had travelled to India in October 2012 with photographs of the woman but was unable to make progress.
In 2003, Gita — then 11 years old — was spotted by the Pakistan Rangers in Lahore, after she strayed across the border.
The girl was handed over to the Edhi Foundation, a social welfare organisation in Pakistan. Bilquis Edhi, who runs the Edhi Foundation, named her Gita.
According to reports, Gita is a vegetarian and has set up a small ‘mandir’ in her room at the Edhi Foundation where she prays to Indian gods and goddesses. She also observes fast during Ramadan.
IANS
He said this project would further be launched at tehsil level with a view to making Punjab the country’s most clean and litter-free state.
Sukhbir Singh Badal
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today inaugurated the first of its kind mechanised cleanliness project in the state and announced the same will be replicated in all five corporation cities by October this year. While inaugurating this mechanised cleanliness project from Mohali, he said Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Patiala will be brought under this project within one and half months. He said this project would further be launched at tehsil level with a view to making Punjab the country’s most clean and litter-free state.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Deputy CM also announced that after including five corporation towns, the newly made corporation towns would also be part of this project. He said by the end of December all the major towns of the state would have mechanised cleanliness system. Clarifying that their would be no adverse affect on the employment of already working safai sewaks, he said there would be proper distribution of areas in B and C roads including internal roads.The safai sewaks will get 87 kilometer and 307 kilometer of B and C category roads to ensure proper cleanliness, he added. He said these roads would be divided into beats so that complete mechanised and manual cleaning is ensured. The sole purpose of launching this mode of cleanliness was to provide basic amenities to the residents of the state besides ensuring 100 per cent cleaning of streets and roads, he said. The work to be done under this system would be world class, paving a way to make Punjab most clean and beautiful state, he added. On the issue of cross border infiltration, he said he would speak to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and would urge him to install ultra modern gadgets on the border to check infiltration. On claims of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Navjot Kaur Sidhu regarding discrimination with her constituency, Sukhbir refuted all allegations and said the government had incurred more than the promised amounts in her constituency while the development works worth Rs 2,400 crore were going in Amritsar.Meanwhile, he also visited Mohali International Airport to take stock of the situation. He also announced that this airport will also be dedicated to the people of country very soon.
New Delhi: Pakistan will be releasing 164 Indian fishermen on 3 August, a decision taken at the highest level there in pursuant to the Ufa Joint Statement.
Representational image. AFP
“A Decision has been taken at the highest level of releasing 164 Indian fishermen on 3 August in pursuant to the Ufa Joint Statement.
“Pakistan has always kept the humanitarian issues close to its heart, especially in India-Pakistan relations,” a source in the Pakistan High Commission said today, noting that the Ufa joint statement also addressed the question of fishermen.
After a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa in Russia earlier in July, the two countries agreed on a joint statement which outlined number of steps to take forward the relationship including release of fishermen in each other’s custody, along with their boats, within a period of 15 days.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commission has approached the External Affairs Ministry seeking details and the factual position of the reports about alleged Pakistani woman in the custody of the Indian authorities in Amritsar.
PTI
Analysis of the two GPS machines recovered from the three slain terrorists showed that the details of the routes and targets had been fed into these on July 21, sources in Punjab Police said.
Special Investigation Team along with local police inspecting and collecting evidences from the site of encounter, at Dinanagr in Gurdaspur district on Tuesday.
PTI photo
The terrorists who attacked Gurdaspur in Punjab on Monday had crossed over from Pakistan on July 26-27 night using Ravi river and they had more targets, the probe has found even as images surfaced today showing three heavily-armed men in Army fatigues walking on a road.Analysis of the two GPS machines recovered from the three slain terrorists showed that the details of the routes and targets had been fed into these on July 21, sources in Punjab Police said.”The initial data gathered from Global Positioning System (GPS) shows that the three terrorists started from a safe house in Gharot in Shakargarh, Pakistan on late Sunday night and crossed over to Bamiyal town in Pathankot, which is close to the international border,” a source said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The terrorists entered India on the intervening night of July 26 and 27 and used Ravi river to cross over, the sources said. “This route of rivulets along the border was used by them as the security apparatus here is inadequate,” the source said, adding from Bamiyal, they walked down to Amritsar-Jammu highway.Punjab Police chief Sumedh Singh Saini said the terrorists had taken the route from Dhussi Bandh (Ravi river) right along the International Border to the railway track where they planted bombs and then came to Dina Nagar. The bombs were detected on time and defused.”As per their GPS system, they first planted bombs on railway track before snatching a car from a civilian and then gained entry into the police station of Dina Nagar,” he said.Sources said the GPS analysis showed that the terrorists’ targets included Dina Nagar, the railway track, SSP, Deputy Commissioner and the Army unit in Gurdaspur.Sources in Delhi said the tracking point of one of the two GPS systems showed Talwandi point, Parmanand village and Dina Nagar as targets while the other system had Gurudaspur Civil Lines, implying that area was also the target.He said 11 unused bombs had been recovered and five of them had been defused. Three AK-47 rifles, 17 magazines, 55 cartridges, one Rocket launcher, three hand grenades, bullet proof jackets, night vision device and heap of unused bullets were recovered from the site of the encounter, he said.The terrorists were, however, caught on some CCTV cameras whose footages surfaced today.In one of them, a 14-second video shows three men, wearing Army fatigues, having big backpacks and carrying AK assault rifles, walking away from the camera on a road at 4:55 a.m, about half an hour before the attack on police station.The images were captured by a CCTV camera placed at a shop at Taragarh intersection in Dinanagar area, just before they entered this Punjab town bordering Pakistan, SSP Gurdaspur G S Toor said today. There were some more videos, one of which showed a moving car but it was not clear whether the terrorists were in it.DGP Saini said “Inspection of the bodies show they were Muslims”, implying that they were not Khalistani terrorists. Chinese-made weapons and GPS had been recovered from them, Punjab police DGP, Sumedh Singh Saini had earlier said.All the three militants were killed in the 12-hour-long gun battle with the police and elite commandos of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).The stretch of 15 kms from the point of crossing into India was covered by the terrorists on foot before they planted five Improvised Explosive Devices on Talwandi-Amritsar railway track, they said.”These terrorists planted five live bombs on the railway track of Amritsar and Pathankot and each bomb had one kilogram of RDX but due to loose wiring and vibration of the track the bombs could not explode,” the source said.A night vision device was also recovered from the railway tracks, they said.The terrorists, this time, have made every attempt to hide their identity and had even removed tags on their clothes including underwears.The terrorists were not carrying any food items except for some loose dry fruits. The terrorists were carrying three AK 47 rifles, several Chinese-made grenades, besides 10 magazines with more than 200 rounds of ammunition. Sources in Punjab Police said the terrorists had chosen Gurdaspur as it was a “soft target”.The attackers possibly had conducted recce of the area as they placed bombs on the Amritsar-Pathankot track, some five kms from Dina Nagar and it takes time. Besides one has to know the movement of trains. They also knew where the police station is located as they snatched the car and then straight away drove there and opened fire, the sources said.The terrorists used the same modus operandi which they do in Jammu and Kashmir to target security installations, which which is a worrying factor, the sources said.During the interrogation of militant Jagtar Singh Tara, lodged in a jail, it had come to light that the sikh terrorists were in touch with their Jammu and Kashmir counterparts and planning attacks in the state, he said.”They (militants from Punjab) themselves have failed to revive terrorism in Punjab, so they are in touch with their counterparts in J and K”, he said.
Other three trains have been partially cancelled.
Three civilians, four police personnel and two militants have been killed until now in the attack.
AFP photo
Six trains running on the Amritsar-Pathankot route have been cancelled after the police recovered bombs on the railway tracks following the Gurdaspur terror attack.Three civilians, four police personnel and two militants have been killed until now in the attack.According to a press release, the Amritsar-Pathankot Ravi Express (14633), Amritsar-Pathankot DMU train which was scheduled to depart from Amritsar at 12.20 pm and Pathankot-Jalandhar City DMU train scheduled to depart at 05.25 pm today have been cancelled.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Other trains like 74673 Amritsar- Pathankot DMU train, 54614 Pathankot –Amritsar passenger train scheduled to depart from Pathankot at 08.00 a.m., 14634 Pathankot –Amritsar Ravi Express train scheduled to depart from Pathankot at 02.20 pm remain cancelled too. The following trains remain partially cancelled too:-The 54611 Amritsar-Pathankot passenger train will remain partially cancelled between Gurdaspur- Pathankot .-The 54613 Amritsar-Pathankot passenger train will remain partially cancelled between Batala- Pathankot .-The 54612 Pathankot-Amritsar Passenger train will remain partially cancelled between Jakolari-Amritsar.Meanwhile, security has been enhanced across Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the attack, which has so far claimed the lives of 10 people, including six civilians.Security has also been beefed up at the North and South Block.The Special Forces team has reached the location of the terror attack, which has been cordoned off.(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi: Muslims across India on Saturday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Tight security arrangements were made at many places to ensure that the festival passed off peacefully, but protests broke out in Jammu and Kashmir in which a few people were injured.
Muslims offered prayers at mosques, greeted each other and relished the ‘seviyan’ sweet dish.
From Gujarat to Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala, Eid festivity gripped areas with sizeable Muslim populations.
“On this day, we pay obeisance to the almighty and thank him for his blessings. People come together and celebrate the festival with love and unity,” the Shahi Imam of the 17th-century Fatehpuri mosque in Delhi, Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmad, told IANS.
Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit also offered prayers at the mosque and greeted people.
However, border guards of India and Pakistan — the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers — did not exchange sweets at the Attari-Wagah joint check post near Amritsar.
Pakistan once again violated the ceasefire agreement by firing at Indian positions along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, on a day people were celebrating Eid.
President Pranab Mukherjee greeted citizens, saying “on this day, let us forgive and forget our differences”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people and said the festival epitomised brotherhood in society.
“It is an occasion to spend time with the family. As per tradition, the head of the family gives alms to the poor,” said Faraz Ahmad, a resident of south Delhi’s Gulmohar Park area.
AP
Danish Aslam, a resident of Daryaganj, said the festival continues for around three days. “We meet all our relatives and friends and also exchange sweets, especially seviyan (sweet vermicelli) and kheer (sweet rice pudding)”.
Attired in new clothes and wearing skull caps, thousands of Muslims offered prayers at Eidgahs and mosques in Hyderabad and Secunderabad and in other towns of Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
In Uttar Pradesh, the state with the highest Muslim population, thousands of women offered prayers at a mosque in Meerpur in Kanpur. Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited the Aisbagh Eidgah in Lucknow and mingled with the crowd.
In Kerala, where Muslims comprise 24 percent of the 33 million population, the biggest crowds were witnessed in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kochi and state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
In Maharashtra, lakhs of Muslims dressed in their finery offered prayers at the 600-plus mosques. Eid was celebrated in important Muslim pockets of Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Aurangabad, Pune, Nashik, Beed and other places.
The Muslim community was joined in large numbers by Hindus, Christians, Jains, Parsis to meet, greet and celebrate in Mumbai’s suburbs like Bhandup, Kurla, Bandra, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Santacruz and Bandra.
However, in Kashmir, protests erupted in some places after Eid prayers. Youths pelted stones at police and paramilitary personnel, who in turn used batons and tear smoke canisters to disperse the protesters. At least three people were injured.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Yasin Malik remained under house arrest as the authorities did not allow them to join the congregational prayers.
In West Bengal capital Kolkata, a large number of Muslims gathered at the Nakhoda Masjid, while the sprawling Indira Gandhi Sarani saw over 40,000 devotees on rugs to offer namaaz.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi greeted the people on the occasion of Eid and the Rath Yatra.
The new millennium’s first Nabakalebar Rath Yatra commenced from the Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, on Saturday.
Muslims across Himachal Pradesh, braving rain, took part in the prayers.
In Rajasthan, hundreds celebrated Eid in Ajmer, where the Dargah Sharif of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is located.
“We offered prayers for peace and harmony in our country,” Khalid Usmani, the chief qazi of Rajasthan, told IANS.
While Muslims in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh celebrated Eid, the tradition of exchanging sweets and greetings at the Attari-Wagah check post was broken on Saturday following ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu sector.
“No exchange of sweets took place between both sides today (Saturday) on Eid,” BSF Deputy Inspector General (Amritsar sector) M.F. Farooqui told IANS.
“This time, the matter was discussed but we did not get any positive response from that (Pakistan) side. We also did not pursue the matter,” he said.
The Hindi film fraternity, led by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar, Rishi Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Alia Bhatt, among others, took to micro-blogging site Twitter to wish their fans and asked them to spread “love and happiness”.
IANS
Chandigarh: With ceasefire violations increasing border tension between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control in Jammu, no exchange of sweets and greetings took place between both sides on the occasion of Eid on Saturday at the international border check post at Wagah.
Officers of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers did not follow the tradition of the past few years to offer sweets to each other.
The tradition was broken once last October but sweets were exchanged on a couple of other occasions.
Representational image. AFP.
BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Amritsar sector, MF Farooqui told IANS: “No exchange of sweets took place between both sides today (Saturday) on Eid.”
Farooqui said the exchange of sweets is decided at a meeting of officers of both border guards. “This time, the matter was discussed but we did not get any positive response from that (Pakistan) side. We also did not pursue the matter,” he said.
However, on March 23 this year, the Pakistan side offered sweets to their Indian counterparts on the occasion of Pakistan Day. Elsewhere in Punjab and Haryana, thousands converged at mosques to offer prayers and celebrate Eid.
In Chandigarh, hundreds of Muslims converged at the Sector 20 Jama Masjid and other mosques to mark the occasion and greet each other. In Punjab, the Muslim population is concentrated in the Malerkotla area near Patiala, 110 km from here, and in Gurdaspur district.
In Haryana, Mewat district in south Haryana has sizeable Muslim population.
IANS
Meawhile, the BSF did not offer any sweets to their counterparts along the International Board as a mark of protest against the ongoing spate of ceasefire violations along this frontier and also the Line of Control (LoC).
Amid the prevailing tension between India and Pakistan over ceasefire violations along their border, Pakistani Rangers today refused to accept the sweets offered by the BSF on the occasion of Eid.Border guarding forces of the two countries have been following a tradition of exchanging sweets on festivals at the International Border in Jammu and along the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar in Punjab.Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General in Amritsar, MF Farooqui, told reporters that their gesture of giving sweets on the occasion of Eid was not reciprocated from the other side along the Attari-Wagah border.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”We give sweets on Eid every time. The Rangers have not accepted it today. We always want to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border,” he said.However, the BSF did not offer any sweets to their counterparts along the IB. A senior BSF commander at its headquarters in Delhi told PTI that the force did not “offer” Eid sweets along the IB to Rangers as a mark of protest against the ongoing spate of ceasefire violations along this frontier and also the Line of Control (LoC) which have claimed few lives and injured many in the last few days.In the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani Rangers, India has warned Pakistan of “effective and forceful” response to unprovoked firing and cross-border terrorism.
New Delhi: An Air India aircraft, carrying former prime minister Manmohan Singh along with other passengers, flew from Amritsar to Delhi with one of its landing gears not retracting.
The airline, however, said there was no harm to any passenger and that operations procedure as per checklist was followed by the crew before the take-off.
Former prime mnister Manmohan Singh. AFP
The incident happened on 12 July when the flight, a Boeing 787-800 (Dreamliner) plane, was flying to Delhi from Amritsar.
Air India said that the flight landed safely at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
“AI 113 (ATQ-DEL) of 12 July, call sign VT-ANV with Dr Manmohan Singh on board. After take-off from Amritsar, the pilot noticed a gear disagree message of left landing gear,” Air India said in a statement.
“Operations procedure as per checklist was followed by crew and aircraft landed safely without any problem in Delhi,” the airline said.
The “drag brace actuator” was replaced, as suggested by aircraft maker Boeing, after the incident, it said, adding that the plane is now in operation without any glitch.
Air India would like to reiterate that it strictly adheres to standard, laid down safety procedures and all actions were well within approved parameters,the statement said.
PTI
An Air India aircraft, carrying former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with other passengers, flew from Amritsar to Delhi with one of its landing gears not retracting.
Getty Images
An Air India aircraft, carrying former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with other passengers, flew from Amritsar to Delhi with one of its landing gears not retracting.The airline, however, said there was no harm to any passenger and that operations procedure as per checklist was followed by the crew before the take-off.The incident happened on July 12 when the flight, a Boeing 787-800 (Dreamliner) plane, was flying to Delhi from Amritsar.Air India said that the flight landed safely at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”AI 113 (ATQ-DEL) of 12 July, call sign VT-ANV with Dr Manmohan Singh on board. After take-off from Amritsar, the pilot noticed a gear disagree message of left landing gear,” Air India said in a statement.”Operations procedure as per checklist was followed by crew and aircraft landed safely without any problem in Delhi,” the airline said.The “drag brace actuator” was replaced, as suggested by aircraft maker Boeing, after the incident, it said, adding that the plane is now in operation without any glitch. Air India would like to reiterate that it strictly adheres to standard, laid down safety procedures and all actions were well within approved parameters, the statement added.
The Centre has cleared the proposal for setting up of six IIMs at Visakhapatnam, Bodh Gaya, Sirmaur, Nagpur, Sambalpur and Amritsar.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday slammed the Centre for not including Assam in the list of proposed six new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), saying the NDA government is paying only “lip sympathy” to the state.”Before coming to power, BJP made tall promises for the northeast. However, the manner in which Assam is left out from the recent announcement is another example of NDA’s neglect of the state,” Gogoi said in a statement.He said the state government had made repeated requests for setting up of an IIM in Assam. “This is another example of how the BJP-led government at the centre is paying only lip sympathy to the state,” Gogoi said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Centre has cleared the proposal for setting up of six IIMs at Visakhapatnam, Bodh Gaya, Sirmaur, Nagpur, Sambalpur and Amritsar. The statement further said, “The chief minister disapproved of the BJP-led government at the Centre for its sinister motive of destabilising the state governments in northeast.”Contrary to its Act East Policy, the Centre had deprived the region of special category state status thereby dealing a blow to all development activities, including generating avenues for employment in the region, he charged.
New Delhi: The 1993 Delhi bomb blast case convict Prof Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar was on Friday shifted to Amritsar Central Jail from Delhi’s Tihar Jail after being brought by road from the national capital amidst tight police security.
“He went in an ambulance at around 4 am and was escorted by teams of armed Delhi police,” a senior Tihar jail official said, adding he was taken by road to Amritsar under heavy security cover.
Devinder Singh Bhullar. PTI
Bhullar first underwent thorough medical checkup at Swami Dayanand Hospital in Delhi’s Shahdara city on Thursday before being brought to Punjab on Friday.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Parmpal confirmed the arrival of Bhullar.
On reaching Amritsar Central Jail, he was immediately referred to Government Guru Nanak Dev Hospital to undergo fresh medical examination besides checkup at the hospitals’ Psychiatric ward, the DCP said, adding that by evening he could be taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.
All formalities regarding his transfer were completed after Delhi government approved the case and the Punjab government agreed to lodge Bhullar in Amritsar prison.
Bhullar’s wife Navneet Kaur had sought his shifting citing the convict’s poor health. Navneet Kaur, who had migrated to Canada with her in-laws in 1994, has her parental house at Ranjiv Avenue in Amritsar.
All necessary arrangements in the jail and civil hospital were finalized for Bhullar. He is scheduled to be lodged in a barrack that would be cordoned off by special jail staff as assistant superintendent of jail has been given responsibility to oversee the arrangements, the DCP said.
Bhullar is said to be quite unwell, both physically and mentally. A ward in the jail hospital has been kept reserved for him. he said.
A jail authority said that doctors will be going through the medical history of Bhullar to decide whether he would be lodged in the jail barrack or to be admitted to jail hospital for his treatment.
He is reportedly suffering from schizophrenia and has a disturbed state of mind.
Behind bars for the past two decades following his conviction in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case, Bhullar is undergoing life imprisonment after the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence. Bhullar was sentenced to death by a designated TADA court on August 25, 2001
The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government had cleared the request for Bhullar’s transfer recently.
PTI
A jail authority said that doctors will be going through the medical history of Bhullar to decide whether he would be lodged in the jail barrack or to be admitted to jail hospital for his treatment.
The 1993 Delhi bomb blast case convict Prof Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar was shifted to Amritsar Central Jail from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Friday after being brought by road from the national capital amidst tight police security.”He went in an ambulance at around 4 am and was escorted by teams of armed Delhi police,” a senior Tihar jail official said, adding he was taken by road to Amritsar under heavy security cover.Bhullar first underwent thorough medical checkup at Swami Dayanand Hospital in Delhi’s Shahdara city on Thursday before being brought to Punjab.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Amritsar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Parmpal confirmed the arrival of Bhullar.On reaching Amritsar Central Jail, he was immediately referred to Government Guru Nanak Dev Hospital to undergo fresh medical examination besides checkup at the hospitals’ Psychiatric ward, the DCP said, adding that by evening he could be taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.All formalities regarding his transfer were completed after Delhi government approved the case and the Punjab government agreed to lodge Bhullar in Amritsar prison.Bhullar’s wife Navneet Kaur had sought his shifting citing the convict’s poor health. Navneet Kaur, who had migrated to Canada with her in-laws in 1994, has her parental house at Ranjiv Avenue in Amritsar.All necessary arrangements in the jail and civil hospital were finalized for Bhullar. He is scheduled to be lodged in a barrack that would be cordoned off by special jail staff as assistant superintendent of jail has been given responsibility to oversee the arrangements, the DCP said.Bhullar is said to be quite unwell, both physically and mentally. A ward in the jail hospital has been kept reserved for him, he said.A jail authority said that doctors will be going through the medical history of Bhullar to decide whether he would be lodged in the jail barrack or to be admitted to jail hospital for his treatment.He is reportedly suffering from schizophrenia and has a disturbed state of mind.Behind bars for the past two decades following his conviction in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case, Bhullar is undergoing life imprisonment after the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence. Bhullar was sentenced to death by a designated TADA court on August 25, 2001The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government had cleared the request for Bhullar’s transfer recently.
According to police, the incident took place as members of the SGPC’s Task Force resorted to lathicharge on a group of 22 Sikh youths who were raising pro-Khalistan slogans on the periphery of the temple near Akal Takht.
Image Courtesy: ANI Twitter
Five youths were injured in a clash inside Golden Temple in Amritsar on Saturday when people had gathered there to mark the 31st anniversary of Operation Bluestar.According to police, the incident took place as members of the SGPC’s Task Force resorted to lathicharge on a group of 22 Sikh youths who were raising pro-Khalistan slogans on the periphery of the temple near Akal Takht. Five of the protesting youths were injured in the action with two of them sustaining head injuries.Deputy Commissioner of Police Parmpal Singh said that trouble started as the group of 22 people raised pro-Khalistan slogans and were joined in it by some Sikh youths who had come to the temple. That prompted the SGPC Task Force members to disperse them and the slogan-chanting youths were forced to move outside Golden Temple, where all 22 of them were taken into preventive custody by police. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar said the incident was the handiwork of some “suspicious elements” who raised separatist slogans while brandishing naked swords.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>SGPC further said the incident act has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community as it alleged that many of those who had created the disturbance inside the Golden Temple premises were clean shaven and had come just to disturb the sanctity of the holy place. Earlier, in the morning, slogans referring to Khalistan (a separate Sikh Home land) were raised amidst brandishing of sword at Akal Takht by SAD (Amritsar) supporters, who were led by former MP Dhian Singh Mand.President of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and former MP Simranjit Singh Mann could not be present at Akal Takht due to ill health. But in his absence, Mand led the party’s activists, including a sizeable number of youths who brandished swords and raised pro-Khalistan slogans. Policemen in plainclothes were present inside the premises of Golden Temple along with a heavy deployment of SGPC’s Task Force.
Pro Khalistan slogans were raised inside the Golden Temple and there was clash between two groups.
Image Courtesy: ANI Twitter
Clashes broke out between two Sikh groups inside the premises of Golden Temple on 31st Anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The situation is currently under control, and the miscreants have been handed over to the police. Pro Khalistan slogans were raised inside the Golden Temple and there was clash between two groups. Police intervened on time and broke up the fight. Some were hauled up for questioning. Earlier, supporters of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), led by former MP Dhian Singh Mand, assembled at Golden Temple and raised ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans besides brandishing swords. As many as 25 Sikh youths were detained, police said.Tight security arrangements were made by Punjab police to prevent any untoward incident. Policemen in civil dress along with SGPC task force were present on premises of the Golden Temple, officials said.Heavy barricading was done by the SGPC officers around Akal Takht to prevent entry of any suspicious element to disturb peace, police said.SAD President and former MP Simranjit Singh Mann could not reach Akal Takht because of ill health.On the occasion, the family members of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale were honoured by Akal Takht Jatehdar Giani Gurbachan Singh. Addressing the gathering, Jathedar Akal Takht said, “Sikh community will, all over the world, remember the unhealed wounds of Operation Bluestar.” Memorial made in the memory of those killed during Operation Bluestar in 1984 witnessed sizable footfall of devotees today.Radical Sikh group Dal Khalsa has called for Bandh here in the memory of those killed during the Operation in June 1984 in Punjab. Security forces in Amritsar and other areas of the state were asked to remain on alert ahead of the anniversary.Punjab Police personnel conducted a flag march in Amritsar on June 4 in areas leading to the Golden Temple Complex where the Operation Bluestar was undertaken in 1984 to flush out militants. Punjab Police sources had said that the security personnel in the districts have been asked to remain extra alert in view of the killing of a Sikh youth during protests in Jammu yesterday against the removal of posters of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. With agency inputs
Several trains were delayed in Punjab after Congress workers led by the party’s state unit chief Partap Singh Bajwa staged a ‘rail roko’ in several parts of the state, protesting against the “deteriorating” law and order situation and “tardy” procurement of wheat.
Several trains were delayed in Punjab after Congress workers led by the party’s state unit chief Partap Singh Bajwa staged a ‘rail roko’ in several parts of the state, protesting against the “deteriorating” law and order situation and “tardy” procurement of wheat.Bajwa along with his supporters squatted on the Amritsar-New Delhi railway track at Sirhind and protested against the alleged “lawlessness” in the state. “The deteriorating law and order situation is part of the ‘rail roko’ agitation,” he said. Ludhiana MP Ravnit Bittu along with Congress MLAs Surinder Dawar and Bharat Bhushan, accompanied by Congress supporters sat on the rail track in Ludhiana and stopped several trains including Shatabdi.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Congress supporters were also protesting against the “tardy” procurement of wheat from grain markets in the state, accusing the SAD-BJP led government of its failure in ensuring smooth and hassle-free purchase of crop.Railway officials said that because of the ‘rail roko’ agitation, about 15 trains got delayed. Officials said that the impact of ‘rail roko’ was visible in Ludhiana, Beas, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Ajitwal and Ferozepur, among other areas.”There has been an adverse impact on the movement of 10-15 trains because of the agitation,” Northern Railways, Divisional Railway Manager (Ferozpur), Anuj Prakash said. The Railway official appealed to the Congress protesters not to stop trains as it causes great inconvenience to passengers, besides causing national loss.Meanwhile, a report from Phagwara said a large number of Congress activists of Kapurthala district, led by DCC President and MLA Navtej Singh Cheema, today squatted dharna on the rail tracks there as part of their statewide programme of ‘rail roko’. PPCC General Secretary Joginder Singh Mann, party’s Doaba Zone President and MLA Tarlochan Singh Soondh, Spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira, also joined the dharna and addressed protesters along with Cheema.The protesters sat on track from 12 noon to 1 pm. They raised anti-government slogans during their agitation and also carried placards mentioning, “Badal-Modi, Kisan Virodhi, Dalit Virodhi” (Both PM Narendra Modi and CM Parkash Singh Badal are anti-farmer and anti-dalit).They also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal for the Moga bus incident in which a teenage girl was killed after being allegedly molested and thrown off with her mother from a moving bus, belonging to the ruling Badal family in Punjab.”Since the Orbit Aviation company was owned by Sukhbir Badal, he and its other owners should be interrogated in the same way as the officials of Uber Taxi service were questioned in connection with the alleged rape by a cab driver in New Delhi sometime back,” they demanded.
Attari (Punjab):Three Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were injured in cross border firing from the Pakistan side in Amritsar sector of Punjab, BSF officials said on Saturday morning.
Representational image. Reuters
The injured troopers were rushed to hospital, officials said.
BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) R.P.S. Jaswal told IANS that the troopers were injured in an exchange of fire with smugglers from Pakistan side early on Saturday.
He said the firing took place at the Daoke Border Out Post (BoP), about 5-6 km from Attari border check post.
BSF officials said the area was being searched following the incident.
The troopers are always on high alert along the sensitive India-Pakistan border in Punjab.
The border, which has an electrified fence inside the Indian territory, is used by Pakistani and Indian smugglers for heroin smuggling.
The BSF has recovered nearly 125 kg of heroin along the Punjab border with Pakistan this year. Nearly 65 kg was recovered in the Amritsar sector.
The BSF had recovered over 361 kg heroin, its highest ever seizure, along the border last year.
IANS
Amritsar: Two suspected Pakistani intruders were shot dead here by security personnel in the early hours today as they were trying to smuggle in heroin worth Rs 60 crore into India, a day after 24-kg of the contraband was seized following a similar operation near the border.
Confirming the killing of two intruders at border outpost Rattan Khurd, Border Security Force (BSF) DIG RPS Jaswal said that an AK-47 assault rifle, too, was recovered from the intruders along with 12-kg of heroin.
Representational Image
Jaswal said that the duo were challenged by BSF personnel and were repeatedly asked to surrender, but they ignored the warnings and kept marching towards Indian territory while firing at the troops. That invited retaliation from the jawans and, during the exchange, the intruders were shot dead, he said. Thereafter, after undertaking a comprehensive search at the spot, BSF recovered the drugs and the weapon from near the bodies of the two intruders, who are yet to be identified.
BSF said it may investigate who the Indian contacts were for whom the intruders had brought the drug consignment and
the rifle. A Pakistani smuggler carrying 24-kg heroin was yesterday shot dead by BSF troops near Ajnala village on the Indo-
Pakistan border in Amritsar. The intruder had tried to enter Indian territory near a border outpost at Majhmian, Jaswal had said, adding that 24-kg heroin with a street value of Rs 120 crore was recovered from near his body.
PTI
Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh today joined the nation in celebrating the 66th Republic Day amid tight security arrangements.
Contingents of police, home guards and NCC among others participated in the Republic Day parades held at various district headquarters in the two states and their joint capital Chandigarh.
School students presented colourful programmes while tableaux were taken out depicting the overall development of the states during these parades, which were held under cloudy conditions at most places in the region.
An Indian paramilitary soldier closes a barricade set at Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard for Republic Day parade, leading to the war memorial India Gate, background, in New Delhi. AP
Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki unfurled the national flag at Karnal. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar took salute at Mohali and Kaithal respectively.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal unfurled the tri-colour at Jalandhar.
In Chandigarh, Adviser to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Vijay Kumar Dev unfurled the tri-colour and took the salute. The functions to mark the Republic Day were also organised at other district headquarters in Punjab and Haryana including Jalandhar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Amritsar, Ambala, Gurgaon, Karnal, Rohtak and Hisar.
There was no report of any untoward incident taking place in any part of the region, officials said.
Tight security arrangements were put in place in the two states and UT Chandigarh to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the Republic Day celebrations.
PTI
Nineteen flights were delayed and nine cancelled on Wednesday due to dense fog in the capital.Dense fog conditions prevailed at Dwarka, Palam, Faridabad and the adjoining areas.However, no fog and no delays were reported at the Amritsar airport or areas around Punjab.
The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday staged a dharna against the drug menace in the state near the International Border and pitched for “greater awareness” and “vigilance along the border with Pakistan”.The “awareness” dharnas were held close to the Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadiqi check points in Amritsar, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts respectively situated near Indo-Pak border.Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister and SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal along with other senior leaders like Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Tota Singh, Sikander Singh Maluka would be addressing the two-hour dharna at all the venues.The Punjab government has been receiving flak over the drug menace in the state, while the SAD leaders have been busy in mobilizing support for the dharna.The sit-in was announced by the party to “pressurize the Border Security Force to stop entry of drugs into the state from Pakistan side”.However, in a climbdown from its earlier stance, SAD later said the proposed sit-in was “to create awareness about drugs rather than to pressurize the BSF to stop entry of drugs from Pakistan side”.The party had also blamed “some inimical forces” for tarnishing the image of Punjabis by branding them as “drug peddlers.”Besides seeking sealing of International Border, SAD has demanding Centre to put a ban on “cultivating narcotics” in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to eliminate the drug abuse.Notably, SAD’s ally BJP is also scheduled to launch its own campaign against drug menace. BJP chief Amit Shah would start his party’s campaign on the issue from Amritsar on January 22.Meanwhile, opposition Congress staged a separate sit-in at the district headquarters today demanding dismissal of the Punjab government for allegedly “inciting people against the security forces”.
The ruling party in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal will hold a sit-in near the international borders on Monday pitching “greater vigilance along the border with Pakistan” to stop flow of narcotics into the state. The two-hour dharnas will be held near the Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadqi check points in Amritsar, Ferozepur and Fazilka border districts respectively starting from 12 pm.Punjab Congress too had announced yesterday to stage sit-in on January 5 at the district headquarters demanding dismissal of the Punjab government for allegedly “inciting people against the security forces” but later said it would not hold proposed dharna at district headquarter of Fatehgarh Sahib and Muktsar.Earlier, SAD had announced that it will organise protests on the international border on January 5 to “pressurise the BSF” to stop entry of drugs from “Pakistan side”. But later took a U-turn saying that the sit-in near the border was only to “create awareness against the drug menace” With Congress strongly criticising the SAD by describing its sit-in as “highly demoralising” for the force and demanding slapping of sedition charge against SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal later clarified that the proposed dharnas should not be misconstrued against BSF or any other government agency.Badal on Sunday pitched for the joint effort by the Union and state governments to tackle the drug menace in Punjab, saying that it was the need of the hour for making the state free of drugs eradicating the drug menace in the state.Besides seeking sealing of international borders, SAD has also been demanding from the Centre to put a ban on other states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for “cultivating narcotics” in order to eliminate drug abuse.Sukhbir Badal will lead the campaign at Attari in Amritsar while MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, cabinet ministers Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Tota Singh will participate dharna proposed at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur.At Sadiqi in Fazilka district, senior Akali leaders Balwinder Singh Bhunder MP and cabinet minister Sikander Singh Maluka will join the dharna, said Punjab Education minister and SAD spokesman Daljeet Singh Cheema on Sunday.”Country should know that Punjab is a victim of drug abuse. We are rice and wheat producing state unlike states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh that draw huge economic gain of Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore by cultivating narcotics. How can a country have two laws that allow cultivation of drugs in one state and food grain in another,” questioned Sukhbir Badal on Saturday in Bathinda.
