Phagwara, January 25
Another blind murder came to light yesterday night here when some unidentified persons threw the body of a Nepali youth, who had been strangulated, on the Phagwara-Jalandhar National Highway. The body was noticed around 7.30 pm and the Sadar police station was informed about the body.

The SHO Bhupinder Singh, along with other police personnel, reached the spot. Later, ASP, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, also visited the spot.

The police took the body in its possession and sent it to the local Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The ASP said the body might have been thrown there between 6.30 pm and 7 pm, as some police personnel were present there till 6 pm.

The condition of the body, however, indicated that the victim had died some days ago, said the ASP. It is suspected that the body was thrown after killing the man. However, a case has been registered under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code, instead of lodging a case of murder under Section 302 of the IPC. The ASP said if the post-mortem report indicated murder, an FIR under the relevant section would be lodged.

In the past also, three bodies were recovered from the same spot. Only a few days ago, an unidentified body of a murdered youth was found  dumped in a deserted room in a field in Chaheru along the GT Road. The body of an unidentified woman had also been recovered from 
this area earlier. The Phagwara police is still clueless about these blind murders.

Earlier, the Mehtan-Mehli bypass used to be the “haven” for killers who dumped the bodies there, but now the GT Road seemed to have become a favourite place for the killers to dump the bodies, say observers.

Jalandhar, January 25
Even as none of the members of the Central NRI Sabha have openly declared their candidature for the post of the president in the elections scheduled to be held on February 3, at least four members of the sabha are likely to be in the fray.

While all three candidates have been active in the sabha, two of these candidates have already served as presidents of the sabha.

Mr Pritam Singh Narangpuri, the last president and ex-NRI from the US, seems to be showing a keen interest. His opponents are likely to be Mr Resham Singh Hayre, also a former president and an ex-NRI from the UK, and Mr Major Singh Sahota, an ex-NRI from Canada.

Though Mr Hayre and Mr Sahota are from the same group, both seem to be interested in the post of the president. Mr Jasbir Singh Shergill, who had contested against Mr Narangpuri in the previous elections, is also likely to be in the fray.

Mr Sahota is said to have been close to Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, Minister for NRI Affairs and one of the patrons of the sabha. His candidature as the president of the sabha (without conducting elections) is said to have been given a recommendation by Mr Samra about two years back when the polls were not held. But Mr Avtar Singh Henry, also a patron of the sabha and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, had then reportedly rejected the same proposal.

Interestingly, while Mr Samra is said to have been in favour of Mr Sahota, Mr Henry still has not projected his candidate, which most people interested in the sabha politics are looking forward to.

While all elections held for the post of the president during the previous four terms have been conducted unanimously, most members still seem to be in favour of the system. “It is always good to avoid polls, but there does not seem to be any candidate who can win the support of all the members,” said one of the staff members of the sabha.

The sabha has almost 7,000 members on the rolls, of which 4,700 members hail from Jalandhar alone. The ADC, Mr Ajoy Sharma, who is also the executive director, has said that at least 10 per cent of the members or their nominees must be present during the poll scheduled to be held at Desh Bhagat Yaadgaar Hall.

The candidates are also wary of any new amendment to the constitution of the sabha by bureaucrats or politicians.

Mr Hayre, who has been keeping well for quite some time, said he was ready for a comeback on the demand of hundreds of members of his circle, but “only if the election was unanimous.” He alleged that the sabha had become defunct in the last few years.

Mr Sahota, however, is said to be away in Toronto. Mr Shergill also could not be contacted.

Jalandhar, January 25
Newly-appointed member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Tejinder Bittu today exhorted the ward-level committee members of the party to work hard and reach out to people at the grassroots level for the forthcoming assembly polls in the state.

Mr Bittu was speaking at the Congress Bhawan after being facilitated by party workers for his appointment.

The leader also asked Congressmen in the district to pull up their sleeves to ensure a Congress victory in the forthcoming polls.

Mr Bittu was recently appointed to the AICC by Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Addressing Congress workers here, he said that time had come when all party workers should venture out of their homes and educate people about achievements of the Congress.

Describing the newly acquired membership of the AICC as a big achievement for Mr Bittu, Mr Sanjay Sehgal and Mr Anil Vashist, both senior DCC (I) office-bearers, said efforts should be made by workers to strengthen the hands of Mr Bittu.

PPCC Secretary, Mr Manjinder Johal, and Congress councillors, Mr Kuljit Babbi, Mr Rajinder Berry and Mr Harkishan Baba, were also present on the occasion. Earlier, Mr Bittu visited the Devi Talaab Mandir here.