J A L A N D H A R

Court directs Kapurthala SSP to probe Pooja’s death
Kapurthala, February 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the SSP of Kapurthala to look into the facts and circumstances pertaining to the death of Pooja, a resident of Sheikhupur village here.

Consumer forum asks PUDA to pay compensation
Jalandhar, February 4
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Punjab Urban Development Authority to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to a resident of Dada Colony.

Man sentenced to 10-yr RI
Jalandhar, February 4
Prem Singh, a resident of Ganganagar in Rajasthan, was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.K. Aggrawal, here today for carrying 11 kg of opium.

Spectre of ‘gas leakage’ revisits Rama Mandi
Jalandhar, February 4
Panic once again gripped the residents of the Rama Mandi locality on the outskirts of the city today, as the news of “leakage of ammonia gas” from the Ram Ice Factory, which had become the centre of attraction after yesterday’s gas leakage incident, spread.

Vedanti’s car meets with accident
Jalandhar, February 4
The pilot Gypsy of the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, met with an accident at Lama Pind Chowk flyover this evening. The Gypsy collided with a stationary tempo-traveller at the place. However, Jathedar Vedanti escaped unhurt.

Court directs Kapurthala SSP to probe Pooja’s death
Arun Sharma
Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, February 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the SSP of Kapurthala to look into the facts and circumstances pertaining to the death of Pooja, a resident of Sheikhupur village here.

A petition in this regard was submitted in the court by a resident of Sheikhupur Colony on January 20 last.

Pooja had died under mysterious circumstances on September 29, 2005. She had lodged a complaint with the police on August 17, 2005, that Achhar Pal, a resident of Sheikhupur, had married her on June 22, 2005, in a gurdwara situated at Mukerian. The marriage had been solemnised in the absence of their parents and relatives, she had claimed.

But after spending one night with her at the place of one of his relatives, her husband had ditched her, Pooja had alleged. Achhar Pal and some of his relatives had threatened to kill her after she had reported the matter to the police, she had alleged in her second complaint lodged with the police on September 23, 2005.

The local police had closed the file after the death of Pooja on the pretext that her family members did not intend any investigation in the case.

Mr Rajeev Ahir, SSP, Kapurthala, said the family members of the deceased had not suspected any foul play in the death of Pooja. On the contrary, they had stated it was a natural death, claimed the SSP.

The court has asked the SSP to look into the matter and take appropriate action in accordance with the law and pass a “speaking order” within two months.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahir, when contacted, claimed that he had got no such directions from the High Court till now.

Consumer forum asks PUDA to pay compensation
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 4
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to a resident of Dada Colony. PUDA has also been directed to pay Rs 2000 as the litigation cost, give a no-due certificate for a commercial plot that the complainant, Mr Kanwalpreet Singh, had bought near Ladowali Road here.

According to the complainant, he had bid for one shopping booth number 68-C, measuring 34.58 sq yards, which was allotted to him. He said that the auction price was Rs 5,44,013 towards which he had deposited Rs 54,402 as 10 per cent earnest money with PUDA as per the terms of the auction. The complainant said he had also paid Rs 81,602 as the next 15 per cent of auction money to PUDA.

Mr Kanwalpreet said he had been issued an allotment letter on July 22, 2004, a clause of which mentioned that a rebate of five per cent should be given to an allottee in case the balance of 75 per cent was paid as lump sum within 60 days of the date of issue of the allotment letter. Accordingly, he said that he had paid a lump sum of Rs 3,87,609 to PUDA, vide pay orders of Rs 1,93,609 on August 28, 2004, and Rs 1,94,000 on August 30.

The complainant had pleaded that his 75 per cent due was Rs 4,08,009 and after deducting five per cent rebate, it was Rs 3,87,609 that he had paid to PUDA. He alleged that when he had applied to PUDA for issuing a no-due certificate for the issuance of the conveyance deed, it refused to issue the same. He alleged that he was told to pay more auction money and interest which amounted to “unfair trade practices”.

The complainant had asked for Rs 90,000 as damages and Rs 5000 as the cost of litigation. In its reply, PUDA had said that some formalities by the complainant were pending which he had failed to accomplish.

In its judgment, the forum quashed the demand of PUDA for further money for interest. It directed the authorities to give a no-due certificate and take steps for issuing the deed. It imposed upon PUDA a compensation of Rs 10,000 for undue demand and delay in issuing certificate, while also asking PUDA to pay Rs 2000 as the litigation cost. 

Man sentenced to 10-yr RI
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 4
Prem Singh, a resident of Ganganagar in Rajasthan, was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) by the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.K. Aggrawal, here today for carrying 11 kg of opium.

A fine of Rs 1 lakh has also been imposed on Prem Singh, and in case he failed to deposit the fine, he would have to undergo imprisonment for another one and a half years, said the court order.

The court has, however, acquitted another accused in the case, Inderjit Singh, for want of “sustainable evidence”, sources said.

Prem Singh was arrested by a police party led by ASI Harjit Singh. He was intercepted at a naka laid near a bridge on the Phillaur-Tihang Road on June 24, 2002, while he was on a scooter along with another person.

The other person, the pillion rider, however, had managed to escape as the scooter was signalled to stop.

The subsequent search of the scooter, according to the prosecution, had yielded 11 kg of opium.

During the police investigation, Prem Singh had reportedly revealed that the pillion rider was Inderjit Singh, a residence of Pasla village near Nawanshahr, and both were booked under Section 18 of the NDPS Act.

The court, however, ruled that the evidence against Inderjit Singh, did not carry much weight as it was merely based on the statement of Prem Singh.

“The statement of the co-accused is not much relevant,” Mr Aggrawal said, while handing out the judgement.

Spectre of ‘gas leakage’ revisits Rama Mandi
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 4
Panic once again gripped the residents of the Rama Mandi locality on the outskirts of the city today, as the news of “leakage of ammonia gas” from the Ram Ice Factory, which had become the centre of attraction after yesterday’s gas leakage incident, spread.

The Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Quick Reaction team (NBC) of the Indian Army reached the Rama Mandi area immediately after getting the information that the gas had once again leaked from the factory and that the residents of the area were running helter-skelter.

A team of district administration officials, led by the SDM, Mr Bhupinder Singh, also rushed to the spot after they received the information about the “gas leakage” at 7 p.m today.

Preliminary investigation revealed that there was no major leakage from the factory and that it was just the smell, which had emanated from one of the pipes.

“We are going to investigate the matter. No one would be spared if gas has leaked once again,” Mr Ashok Gupta, the Deputy Commissioner, said.

Vedanti’s car meets with accident
Tribune news service

Jalandhar, February 4
The pilot Gypsy of the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, met with an accident at Lama Pind Chowk flyover this evening. The Gypsy collided with a stationary tempo-traveller at the place. However, Jathedar Vedanti escaped unhurt.

The tempo-traveller owner and his helper who were trying to replace the punctured tyre of the vehicle, and the gunmen of Jathedar Vedanti were learnt to have suffered minor injuries in the accident.