IEP Chandigarh, December 14

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the State, on Wednesday arrested a Panchayat Secretary Rajinder Singh posted in gram panchayat Hawara, block Khamano, district Fatehgarh Sahib for misappropriating funds to the tune of Rs 37,55,000.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the VB said in this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered at VB police station Patiala after investigation of a complaint.

          He added that the gram panchayat had received development grants to the tune of Rs 37,55,000 during the tenure of Baldev Singh former Sarpanch. During the probe it was found that this amount was misappropriate by the above said accused Panchayat Secretary in connivance with Gurdeep Singh, Junior Engineer (JE), Panchayati Raj Khamano and former Sarpanch Baldev Singh.

          The VB team has also found that Gurdeep Singh JE did not make any entries of the said grants in the measurement book (MB) of the gram panchayat. Out of the above said grants, the Bureau has made assessment of Rs.19,05,000 but the same were not entered in the MB book.

He further informed that during the investigations it has also came to light that after misappropriating the said grants, Gurdeep Singh JE signed the utilisation certificate in this regard and get them issued from BDPO Khamano.

          The spokesperson further informed that action would be taken against the accused Gurdeep Singh, JE and Baldev Singh former sarpanch besides others responsible for this embezzlement after carrying out the investigation. The further probe in this case was under progress.

IEP CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR, December 14:        

With the arrest of three accused persons from Bathinda, the Punjab Police have successfully solved the double murder case of a Nakodar-based Cloth Merchant and his Personal Security Officer (PSO) Mandeep Singh on December 7, 2022 with the arrest of three shooters masterminded by US-based Amandeep Purewala alias Aman, a native of Nakodar, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.         Those arrested have been identified as Khushkaran Singh alias Fauji of village Nangla in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda; Kamaldeep Singh alias Deep of Vehan Diwan in Bathinda; and Manga Singh alias Geeta alias Bicchu of village Jassi Poh Wali in Bathinda. The Police teams have also recovered one .30 bore Pistol used in the crime and a Safari Car used to conduct recce from the possession of arrested persons.         On December 7, 2022, at about 8.30 pm, five unknown persons shot dead Cloth Merchant Bhupinder Singh alias Timmy Chawla, while, his PSO Constable Mandeep Singh, who also received bullet shots, later succumbed to the injuries at Capitol Hospital in Jalandhar. Notably, on November 3, 2022, Jalandhar Rural Police on the complaint of Timmy Chawla, who stated that he received threat calls for extortion of Rs 30 lakhs, had registered a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 387 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station Nakodar City and two security personnel were immediately provided to the protectee.         DGP Gaurav Yadav, while addressing a press conference at Punjab Police Headquarters in Chandigarh, said that Police have also identified the two main conspirators as Amrik Singh of Bathinda and Gurinder Singh alias Ginda of Malri in Nakodar, who conducted recce, arranged shooters and weapons on directions of Amandeep Purewal, besides, identifying the remaining two shooters— Satpal alias Sajan and Thakur. “Police teams are on a manhunt to arrest the absconding shooters and both conspirators,” he said.         The DGP, while ruling out the association of Amandeep Purewal with any other gang or gangsters, said that the mastermind Amandeep Purewal, in a bid to float his new gang to create terror in the border state has made Timmy Chawla as his first target and made extortion calls to him while in the US. “Later, Amandeep Purewal along with Amrik Singh and Gurinder Ginda hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Timmy Chawla, and arranged five shooters, who opened fire at the victim and his PSO in the evening of December 7,” he said, adding that the Punjab Police have successfully nipped this gang in the bud.        DGP Gaurav Yadav reiterated that Punjab Police is committed to making Punjab a safe and secure state as per the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.           Disclosing more details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jalandhar Rural Swarandeep Singh said that the district police acted swiftly by constituting separate teams to work on different angles, some inmates were brought on production warrant from various Jails for questioning, and, technical investigation was conducted by analysis of CCTV footage and data from mobile service providers, which revealed some important clues which were further developed and led to the arrest of the accused. The perpetrators have no previous police record. Further investigation and searches are being conducted to apprehend the remaining accused shooters and conspirators who provided logistics, he added.         A separate case FIR no. 144 dated 08.12.2022 had been registered under sections 302, 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 25 of the Arms act at Police Station City Nakodar in this regard.

IEP Chandigarh, December 14

A delegation of Punjab Marriage Palaces and Resorts Association met Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO here today regarding government fees for road access in the state. During the meeting the Minister said to pay the current year fee without any delay and submit a written proposal regarding the old penances which would be considered.          Earlier  a delegation of Punjab Marriage Palaces and Resorts Association under the chairmanship of President Sukhdev Singh Sidhu and General Secretary Manwinder Singh Goldy, briefed the Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO regarding the notices given to Marriage Palaces and Resort owners for depositing the road access fee. The delegation briefed the Minister that notices regarding non-payment of fees for the last 8 years had been served to them.          In this regard, with the consent of the delegation of Punjab Marriage Palaces and Resorts Association, it was decided that this year’s fee should be paid without delay and a written proposal should be given regarding the dues of the remaining years, which would be considered.

IEP Chandigarh, December 14

On the lines of Punjab Government departments, online system will be implemented for the approval of leave of officials and employees in Punjab State Power Corporation and Power State Transmission Corporation. Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO issued directions in this regard during a meeting with senior officials of both the corporations here today. Taking an important decision to ensure the attendance of employees in the offices of the Power Corporation, the Power Minister ordered that an online system should be implemented for applying and approving leave of employees in both the corporations.

          The Power Minister said that it has become a common practice that most of the employees keep their leave applications in the offices in advance without entering the date, which is not recorded in the attendance register. He said that to stop this practice it has been decided to bring an online attendance system. Along with this, the power minister issued directions that no officer or employee should go on leave without prior approval.

          Taking another important decision with the aim to stop Public harassment in the Power Corporation offices, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, issued instructions that the people should be treated with ease and courtesy on priority. He also said that Public work should be done without any delay. At the same time, he said that action should be taken against the employees and officials who are arbitrarily and deliberately tarnishing the image of the government.

          The Punjab Power Minister issued orders that the senior officers should go to the field to check the offices on a regular basis and personally ensure physical verification of the works. In order to prevent loss of human life due to loose electric wires hanging over the roads and open boxes, directions were issued by the Minister to lift the height of electric wires on the national and state highways and close the electric boxes properly.

          Prominent amongst present in the meeting included Tejveer Singh Principal Secretary Power, Baldev Singh Sran Chairman Power Corporation, Directors, Chiefs and other senior officials of PSPCL and PSTL.

IEP Chandigarh, December 14

Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has set a target for the concerned departments to reduce the mortality rate in the accidents by 50 percent.Presiding over an important meeting of Punjab State Road Safety Council here, the Cabinet Minister informed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had already opined the department to reduce the mortality rate as each life matters. He said that 14 deaths are daily happening in road accidents in the state, on which the Chief Minister had expressed great concern and said that stern action on a priority basis should be taken to reduce the death rate.”Three out of 10 lives can be saved directly through fast and up-graded emergency medical care services”, said the Cabinet Minister directing the officials of health department to further improve emergency and trauma care services across the state. He said that five level-II trauma care centers have already been set up at Khanna, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka through which road accident victims’ lives could be saved after fulfilling the vacant posts.Apart from this, it was also decided that all the emergency response services in the state such as NHAI (1033), Transport Department (112), Health Department (108) etc. will be brought on one platform through an app to make it public friendly.Likewise, the Transport Minister instructed the officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department, Punjab Mandi Board and Local Government Departments to rectify the black spots on priority basis. It was also decided that a special 15 day training course will be conducted for civil engineers of all concerned departments to evolve new ways to overcome the situation.It was decided that all the road owning agencies such as NHAI, PWD, Punjab Mandi Board and Local Government Department will install road signages on entry and exit points on highways, especially at road accident prone areas during next two months and the action taken in this regard will be reviewed by the Transport Minister.Cabinet Minister directed ADGP (Traffic) Mr. Amarjit Singh Rai to ensure the implementation of traffic rules besides sensitizing vehicle owners/drivers carrying straw about Ill-effects such as occurrence of accidents etc. Instructing Transport department officials to write to all the SDMs to keep check on violators, the Cabinet Minister said that installation of under-run iron bar behind heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying steel bar should be ensured. He also directed to launch a special campaign to install reflector tape on tractor-trolleys, three and two wheelers in this foggy season. All the SDMs and traffic police officers will participate in this special campaign.The Transport Minister directed Secretary Transport Mr. Vikas Garg to write to all Deputy Commissioners of the state to honour good Samaritans, who help victims of road accidents, on the occasion of Republic Day on January 26.The Minister asked the Local Government Department to give utmost attention towards construction of footpaths and cycle-tracks along the roads in the cities complying to the directions of the Supreme Court of India.DigiLocker documents should be recognised: Transport MinisterTransport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar instructed the ADGP (Traffic) that the presentation of the DigiLocker documents of the driver, this should be recognised. He said that keeping in view the delay in issuance of chip based smart card licenses and registration certificates due to shortage of chip at a global level, traffic police should recognize online documents kept in government DigiLocker.During the meeting Secretary Transport Mr. Vikas Garg, Director General Lead Agency Mr. R. Venkat Ratnam, State Transport Commissioner Mr. Moneesh Kumar, ADGP (Traffic) Mr. A.S. Rai and NHAI, PWD, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab Mandi Board, School Education officials were also present.  

IEP Chandigarh, December 14

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to 28 Section Officers in the Finance Department during a brief but impressive function held here at Vit Te Yojna Bhawan.

On this occasion, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab government has been taking sound financial management and employee-friendly welfare initiatives to bring transparency and efficiency in the system. He said that newly appointed Section Officers would be deployed in various departments for effective financial management and proper monitoring of expenditure being incurred on various schemes.

Finance Minister further added that recruitment for other vacant posts of Section Officers has been under process. He said that notification of S.A.S examination and advertisement regarding direct recruitment has been issued and other vacant posts of Section Officers would also be filled as soon as possible through the transparent selection process.

Stressing on the Punjab Government’s mission of providing maximum employment opportunities to the youth of the state, Finance Minister said that the vacant posts which are directly related to the services being delivered to the common people and bringing transparency in the work were being filled on priority. On this occasion, the finance minister also instructed all the newly appointed section officers to perform their services with honesty and dedication while putting in their every effort for the welfare of the people and the development of the state.

Special Secretary (Expenditure) Mohammad Tayab and Additional Director (Treasury and Accounts) Simarjit Kaur were also present on this occasion.

IEP SAS Nagar December 14, 2022

Acting swiftly the SAS Nagar Police nabbed both the accused involved in attempt to rape case, the crime which was attempted on intervening night of 13,14-12-2022.

 Disclosing this Mr. Sandeep Garg, SSP SAS Nagar said that an incident was reported regarding attempt to rape by a victim while traveling in auto that she boarded from phase-6 traffic lights on intervening night of 13,14-12-2022. In auto, apart from driver, another man was sitting on rear seat who started molesting, assaulting her and also attempted to rape her. She struggled back and jumped from auto near Rayat Bahara Hospital on kharar-kurali road. After receipt of information regarding this incident, case FIR no. 251 dated 14.12.2022 U/s 376,354A,3548,342,324,323,511,506,34 IPC was registered at PS Sadar Kharar, S.A.S Nagar. Under the Supervision of Sh. Sandeep Garg, IPS, SSP SAS nagar, Sh. Amandeep Singh Brar, SP (D), S. Navreet Singh Virk SP (R), Rupinderdeep kaur sohi DSP Kharar-1, Gursher Singh DSP(D), insp Shiv kumar incharge CIA and S.I Bhagatveer Singh SHO Sadar kharar, separate teams were constituted to nab the accused at the earliest. In a significant breakthrough, with in a span of 12 hours, the crime was traced and both the accused persons were arrested and the vehicle (Auto) used for crime has also been recovered. Details of accused persons are as follows:-

1) Malkeet singh @ Bunty S/o Seva Singh R/o village radiala now at near stadium kurali age-24 years

2) Manmohan Singh @ mani s/o Baljit Singh r/o village singhpura near nanaksar gurudwara kurali age-29 years

Further investigation is being carried out to reveal more details.