The distressed widow, four daughters and a son of deceased farmer Kashmira Singh who ended his life due to heavy debt on his head. — Photo by writer

Machhiwara, May 11
A debt-ridden 40-year-old farmer, Kashmira Singh, resident of Dhanoor village, committed suicide today by consuming some insecticide. He is survived by a wife, four daughters and a son.

According to information given by his father Jagir Singh, he was mentally disturbed due to the heavy debt on his head. The father said his son had to repay a loan of Rs 1.40 lakh of a cooperative society, Rs 50,000 remaining from tractor’s instalments, Rs 5 lakh, which he had borrowed from an arhtiya and Rs 1.5 lakh borrowed from relatives.

Kashmira Singh, who owned just 2.5 acres of land, used to cultivate 40 acres of land on lease. But the successive loses incurred every year compelled him to take the extreme step.

The body of the deceased was handed over to his family after postmortem and the police has registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC.

Expressing concern over the incident, Jathedar Bhajan Singh Dhanoor has urged the state government and Punjab Mandi Board to grant maximum possible aid to the members of the family of the deceased.

Ludhiana, May 11
They struggled in their youth to bring up children and during the twilight of their life, one of their three sons got angry over the division of land and allegedly started making false complaints to the police demanding their arrest in one case or the other.

The elderly couple, Dalbari Ram (65) and Bidya Devi (60) of Kutbewal Rayya village are left to make rounds of various offices of administration and prove that they are not guilty and their son was just settling a score with them.

They are another unfortunate parents of a village in the district like a PAU professor who was reported to be abandoned by his son when he was suffering from prostrate cancer.

Narrating the sequence of events, Dalbari Ram said he had inherited an acre of land and he himself purchased two acres after working day and night as a carpenter. He divided it among his three sons. But his youngest son, Mehar Chand did not like the division.

‘‘He did not like the piece of land that came to his share. Though my elder son was given an infertile piece, he did not complain but the youngest one took his anger too far. Every now and then he goes to police station complaining against us. Even if he gets hurt on his own he claims me to be responsible, ’’ said Dalbari Ram.

Too unhappy at the unfolding of events, Bidya Devi, his wife said things had come to such a pass that the police was summoning them after every alternate day. ‘‘I did not know that the son I loved the most would hate us so much that he would want us to be prosecuted on false complaints. It is better that he kills us himself and be at peace. At least we would not suffer like this,’’ she said while cursing the day she had given him birth.

The couple said that this was the time for them to rest but they were forced to make rounds of police stations.

‘‘We were never involved in any criminal activity throughout our life. We spent it peacefully not even picking a small argument with anyone. And now he is claiming that we hit him and he gets hurt,’’ said Dalbari Ram, adding that he was disowning him now against the wishes of his wife.

‘‘She is more broken that I am. The agony of a son turning into enemy affects a woman more. I wish he was never born to us,’’ said this father, struggling to control his tears. 

Ludhiana May 11
It was the gate, whose closure cost a vice-chancellor his job, literally. Ultimately, the Punjab Agricultural University has decided to open Gate No: 6 towards Kitchlu Nagar. The concrete wall that had been erected there has already been demolished and a gate is being set up. The PAU authorities disclosed that the gate would be open for the public within a few days.

The gate had been closed down after the employees and teachers of the university had appealed to the then vice-chancellor, KS Aulakh, for its closure. They had argued that unscrupulous elements would enter the university through this gate. Even there had been a spate of thefts inside the campus and it was being attributed to the opening of this gate.

However, once the gate was closed, residents of the Kitchlu Nagar raised a lot of hue and cry. Since quite a number of residents used this gate for entry to the university. They made several representations to the then VC and even the former Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh. But Aulakh remained firm in not opening it up.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 11
Contradicting the findings of its Women and Child Security Cell, the senior superintendent of police, Jagraon, has directed the SHO, Sudhar, to register a case under Sections 406 and 498 A of the IPC against three members of a family of Manki village on the complaint of a bride, charges levelled by whom could not be proved.

The head of the Manki family is the widow of an ex-serviceman. Accusing the Sudhar police of acting on the behest of certain SAD leaders of the Raikot constituency, she has urged the higher authorities to order a probe into the case.

However, denying the charges levelled against the police, Sukhvir Singh, investigation officer at Sudhar police station, claimed that case had been registered after taking legal opinion from the authorities concerned. He maintained that the main accused was arrested in the presence of witnesses from an area near Mullanpur town on May 6 and not from his houses on May 3 as alleged by the complainant.

Manjit Kaur, widow of ex-serviceman Ajaib Singh of Manki village, has alleged that the Sudhar police allegedly acting on behest of a former MLA and SAD leaders from Raikot had registered a fake case against her, her son Jagdeep Singh and daughter Tejinder Kaur. She alleged that the police had picked up her son from her house on May 3 and kept him in illegal custody for three days.

Narrating story of her woes, Manjit Kaur says that her elder son Manjit Singh had been betrothed to Balbir Kaur, daughter of Gurcharan Kaur Singh of Sudhar, on May 1, 2005 and the marriage was scheduled to take place on July 13, 2005. Though Manjit was injured seriously due to an accidental fall in about an 80-foot deep well, the parents of the girls insisted on an early marriage and the same was performed at Hissowal on October 23, 2005.

"Though Jagdeep was not fit to be married, we agreed to keep our promise. But the parents of Balbir Kaur, instead of letting her live peacefully with us, continued instigating her and ultimately took her with them in March last year," said Manjit Kaur. She added that the complaint filed by Balbir Kaur had been decided in their favour by the official in charge of Women Cell Jagraon.

A perusal of records revealed that Amar Jit Kaur, in charge Women Cell Jagraon, had concluded that charges levelled by Balbir Kaur had not been proved. "The complainant being a bitter-tongued woman, shored up by her father had been creating problems and insisted on living separately from her mother-in-law. The groom’s family did not agree to the proposal. Hence, unilateral action cannot be initiated against the suspects and both parties are asked to seek intervention of a court of law," read the report submitted by the official in charge of the Women Cell.

Interestingly, the SSP of Jagraon (now SSP Ludhiana Rural), who had ordered the closure of the case on the basis of the findings of the Women Cell, has directed the Sudhar Police to book Manjit Kaur, Jagdeep Singh and Tejinder Kaur for allegedly harassing Balbir Kaur to bring more dowry on April 12, 2007. Manjit Kaur claimed that the SSP, acting on an application presented by her (Manjit Kaur), had directed the SHO of Sudhar to stop harassment to her family.

"But contrary to the assurance given by Shiv Kumar Verma, then SSP Jagraon, the Sudhar police has been harassing us on one pretext or the other. As it had earlier picked us from our house to stop us from harvesting wheat crop we have taken refuge with some of our relatives. We have now urged senior officials, including the chairman of the Punjab Human Rights Commission, to probe the case and initiate action against erring officials," said Manjit.

She alleged that the police had picked up her son form Manki village on May 3 and tortured him for three days before presenting him at a court on May 6. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 11
Cutting across party lines, eight out of 15 councillors unanimously elected Jagwant Singh Jaggie, an office-bearer of the district unit of the SAD, vice-president of the local municipal council at a meeting held at Town Hall yesterday.

Seven councillors, including three SAD-BJP leaders, did not attend the election meeting.

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP and secretary-general of the SAD, and Mann Singh Garcha, senior vice-president of the SAD had urged councillors to elect Jaggie.

According to Mukesh Sharma, executive magistrate, Jagwant Singh Jaggie was unanimously elected vice-president at a special meeting convened by Jaspal Singh Jassie, SDM, Malerkotla, yesterday.

Though the post had fallen vacant much before the assembly election, the administration had not preferred to arrange the meeting for political reasons. Even after the formation of the present government, the local bodies department called the meeting twice but it was postponed as the BJP-SAD leadership of the constituency could not arrive at a consensus about the candidate.

Yesterday’s development besides bringing an end to political stalemate that had kept the post of the vice-president vacant for more than six months, exposed factionalism among the local leaders of the Congress, BJP and SAD.

Out of three SAD leaders, Ashootosh Vinayak, former president, Bhartia Yuva Morcha, and Jaswinder Singh Sodhi were on one side and Jagwant Jaggie was the candidate for the post. There were two women councillors owing allegiance to the BJP. Veena Puri supported the move and Raj Rani remained away from the meeting.

Similarly, Jatinder Bhola, president, Kishori Lal Badhan, Mohamad Yaseen, Mohinder Multani and Chiter Rekha Sharma, all owing allegiance to the Congress, favoured the move partly.

Rajnish Sharma Guddoo, former OSD to former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhathal, Santosh Rani, former vice-president, Harpal Fauzi and Jaswinder Lally (all Congress-supported councillors) did not attend the meeting.

Though none of the councillors announced the boycott of the meeting, it is presumed that the “absentees” opposed the candidature of Jaggie.

Ludhiana, May 11
The arrival of local supplies has reduced rates of fruits and vegetables by 10 per cent to 20 per cent within a week. The impact on the retail market, however, is yet
to show. Those in the trade say the decline would continue for around a month till the marriage season arrives.

While a weakened wholesale market started recording a decline almost a fortnight ago retailers are yet to pass on the befit to consumers.

"Due to local supplies, the demand supply gap has narrowed as a result of which prices have declined. This trend would continue till demand rises, which is expected in a month or so," said Amarbir Singh, general secretary, Punjab State Fruit and Vegetable Commission Agents Association.

In wholesale markets, the per kilogram price of potato was Rs 8-9, of tomato Rs 10-11, that of onion was Rs 7-8 while lady finger was available for Rs 15-16, gourd Rs 6-7, pumpkin Rs 2-3, tinda (squash gourd) Rs 15, cucumber Rs 5, spinach Rs 3-4, brinjal Rs 7-8, green peas: Rs 20-22, bitter gourd Rs 10-12, cabbage Rs 7, capsicum Rs 8 to 9.

Steep decline occurred in rates of tinda, which was priced at around Rs 35 per kilogram, ladyfinger that was available for 20-25 around a week ago.

However, retail prices have recorded only a minor decline and are still significantly high.

"This is because retailers take time to pass on the benefit to ultimate consumer. Perhaps in a week or so, the consumer would also start getting the benefit of reduced prices," said Singh.

In case of fruits too, except for apple and banana which remained stable, the prices have recorded a fall.

Mango, that was available in the wholesale market for over Rs 400 per box a week ago, is now priced around Rs 300 per box. Water melon is now available for Rs 10 per kilogram, musk melon declined from Rs 35-40 to Rs 10-15, while a box of apricot that was available for around Rs 100 is now priced around Rs 70.

Ludhiana, May 11
The seventh biennial conference of the Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association (NZIEA), held here today, condemned the government's proposal to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent.

Addressing the conference, A.K. Bhatnagar, general secretary, NZIEA, said the government was planning to increase FDI cap, stating that increasing this limit would help generate additional capital for better technical knowhow.

"The argument of the government is absolutely false and previous experience with 26 per cent FDI has proved that it failed to fulfil the aspirations set earlier," he said.

Quoting a report by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA), he said total FDI in private insurance companies at the end of the last financial year was Rs 1,386 crore, which is less than 30 per cent of $ 1 billion. Not only was this a small amount, the impact has been disastrous on employees.

Bhatnagar also said that LIC was contributing significantly towards social motive while private companies were focussing only on profit motive. "Even today LIC holds 95 per cent of market share in the field. The 16 private insurance companies are concentrating only on unit linked business which is not fulfilling the motive of increasing insurance penetration in the country."

A.C. Chauhan, vice-president of the association, criticised the "anti-employee" policies of the government and said that despite high growth in number of insurance policies recorded by the LIC of India, the number of employees had significantly reduced.

"LIC has increased recorded an increase from seven crore policies to 21 crore policies within the last decade but the number of employees has reduced by over 16,000. The government must recruit additional Class II and Class IV employees," he added.

Jatinder Pal Singh, vice president, Centre of IndianTrade Unions (CITU), B.L. Bhatia, secretary, Pensioners Association, Ludhiana, R.C. Bali, ex-divisional secretary, Surjit Ram, divisional secretary, Ved Kumar, divisional president from Jalandhar also participated in the conference.

Jagraon, May 11
In what could come as a major relief for the residents of Jagraon and surrounding areas, who were reeling under the scare of a serial killer on the prowl for over a month now, latest police investigation asserts that four of the alleged seven incidents cannot be treated as a handiwork of only one person.

The existence of the serial killer, however, cannot be ruled out. SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar revealed to Ludhiana Tribune that the three remaining incidents seem to be the perpetrated by one person only. He made the claims on basis of his own investigation in each of the seven cases.

The SSP has formed seven different Special Investigation Teams (SITs) for tracking each cases. Though some of them come under the purview of the Government Railway Police(GRP), the SSP said he won't mind solving the case and handing over the accused to the GRP.

The SSP said he personally visited the spots and investigated each clue to claim that four murders were different and apparently caused due to individual reasons. He said the murders of rickshawpuller Karam Singh and of Shankar, migrant labourer, besides attempt to murder of another labourer Harbans Singh were inter-linked. They were all attacked while answering the call of nature.

The new line of police investigation focuses on going backwards from this day to the day of crime.

He said the murder of Sohan Singh, a tailor, who had left home went to buy vegetables cannot be termed as handiwork of a serial killer as he was not defecating when murdered.

Similarly an unidentified labourer found in pond on Malik road was also killed in different circumstances. Jaswinder Singh alias babu , another murdered person was found dead wrapped in a blanket in a pond and Amarjit singh whose mutilated body was found near railway tracks seemed to have killed in vengeance.

He said seven teams have been formed to study and follow each case and for speedy investigation. “It wasn't possible for one team, to solve all the cases.”

The police had already released a sketch of the alleged serial killer on the basis of the description provided by Harbans Singh, who survived injuries suffered allegedly at the hands of the killer.

SSP Bhullar said the sketch stands and the force was alert to catch the person.

Jagraon, May 11
The local police with the arrest of a person, in the area of Malak village, claim to have solved two theft cases of motorcycle and a auto-rickshaw.

Gurprret Singh Bhullar, ASI, district Ludhiana (rural), and Rajbir Singh, incharge of the PP Bus Stand, Jagraon, checked vehicles near bridge drain on the road leading from Malak to Jagraon. They intercepted one motorcyclist, who could not show the relevant documents of the vehicle.

He was identified to be Varinder Singh, alias, Sonu of Mohanke district.

The local police registered the case under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC.

The police, on his search, found a slip pertaining to motorcycle parked at Lal Palace here. Varinder Singh has also handed over a auto-rickshaw to Sukhdev Singh, mechanic, near Lal Palace.

Ludhiana, May 11
In the course of the ongoing drive against unregulated sale of intoxicating drugs and other addictive substances, the drug control authorities conducted raids on a number of chemist shops in the Mundian Kalan locality on the periphery of the city last evening.

Giving this information here today, district drugs inspector Sanjiv Garg said stocks of medicines and documents were inspected on three chemist shops, from where five samples of medicines, suspected to be substandard or spurious, were seized and sent to the Government Laboratory for analysis.

In addition, 2000 capsules, more than 1500 tablets of different formulations, stocked without proper license, along with bottles of cough syrup, were seized during the raids.

According to Garg, the seized stocks of medicines would be produced in the court for seeking legal custody and initiating action against the defaulting chemists.