HT LIVE Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 22 2006

THE SELF-Styled chief of Tarna Dal, Nihang Ajit Singh Poohla was sent to judicial custoday till May 31, after the UT Police, acting on court orders, arrested him under the NDPS Act.

The UT police had moved an application before the judicial magistrate to take the fingerprints of the accused and the magistrate gave his consent. Poohla was produced before the UT judicial magistrate after reinvestigation into the NDPS Act case, which had been pending against him since March 2004.

The action followed representations made by the complainant, Col G.S. Sandhu, chairman of Majha Ex-Serviceman Human Rights front and NGO Aapna Punjab, before the governor, Punjab and UT Admistrator Gen S.F. Rodigues (retd). The complainant sought a fresh, impartial enquiry regarding Poohla's involvement in the case.

The case dates back to March 7, 2004 when Nihang Ajit Singh Poohla's name figured in an FIR lodged in Sector 39 police station. The FIR accused Poohla of growing poppy on the premises of Sector 39-C gurdwara complex.

Police had arrested Poohla's accomplice, Harjinder Singh (80) on March 8, 2004. He was later released on bail. Poohla was also given a clean chit due to supposed lack of evidence.

According to the compainant, no one questioned Poohla because of the clout he wielded.

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Harbans case: Women's panel asks for report

HT Correspondent

Chandigrah, May 15 2006

THE PUNJAB State Commission for Women has sought a report within two days from the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar and Tarn Taran SSP on the action taken on the representations of Harbans Kaur, a Harijan widow of Khemkaran living in an Army bunker since November 2005.

Harbans Kaur had been beaten up along with her family and her house was razed and fields forcibly occupied.

The Commission swung into action after Apna Punjab, an NGO run by Col. G. S. Sandhu (retd), represented her case.

Harbans and her 22-year-old daughter have been living in an Army bunker on the Defense Drain. Col Sandhu said 'khasra girdawari' and 'jamabandi' were in the name of Harbans Kaur's husband Mohinder Singh.

Harbans Kaur alleged that on November 30, 2005, armed men allegedly under the command of Raj Singh Pattu, president of Municipal Committee, Khemkaran, razed the house and cattleshed. The women were dragged by their hair and Rajha Singh, Harbans Kaur's son, was tortured, it was alleged.

Though an FIR was registered, relevant provisions of law, including SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 and Section 354 of IPC, were not incorporated while revenue authorities were also not helping the family.

Harbans Kaur claimed the accused got the 'girldawari' transfered in their name in connviance with revenue officials.

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