Church burnt: sabotage suspected

CHENNAI, Oct 31 (UNI) — A Church, belonging to the Church of South India (CSI) at suburban Muguipair in the city, was completely gutted in a fire this morning.

Police and fire service sources said the ST. Paul’s Church, built in an area of 2100 sq feet with a thatched roof, was functioning since September last. Besides furniture, several copies of the Bible and a piano were destroyed.

While the police claimed that a spark from the nearby 30-kv transformer or an electrical short circuit because of loose wiring could have caused the fire, the church authorities discounted both possibilities.

A Chief Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, who visited the scene, denied emission of sparks from the transformer but said loose wiring could have caused an electric short circuit, resulting in the fire.

However, Rev Samuel Kumar, in charge of the Church, said the wiring was hardly a year old. He believed this could have been an act of sabotage.

It may be recalled that a prayer hall was set on fire at Nagercoil recently.

Giani Kewal Singh booked
Tribune News Service

TALWANDI SABO, Oct 31 — The local police has booked Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, his son, Baljinder Singh and a relative, Joginder Kaur, in connection with the death of Sharanjit Kaur, daughter-in-law of the Jathedar.

Police sources said a case under Section 304-B was registered at the local police station following a directive of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the SSP on September 1.

Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, on a petition of Mr Amarjit Singh Sandhu, brother of the deceased, had directed the SSP to register a case and order an inquiry by an officer, not below the rank of DSP, into the death of Sharanjit Kaur under mysterious circumstances.

The police has failed to arrest any suspect so far. It also took about two months to register the case. Giani Kewal Singh is a close confidant of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

Police sources said that Sharanjit Kaur was married to Baljinder Singh in 1996. Her body was found in the sarovar of Takht Damdama Sahib on May 18, 1997.

The brother of the deceased approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court when the DSP, Mr Darshan Singh Sandhu, who conducted a preliminary inquiry, did not record his statement.

Mr Justice Chalapathi had also directed the SSP that the inquiry should not be entrusted to the DSP concerned.

Police sources said DSP B.S. Romana would conduct further investigation.