Haven for addicts, ‘chitta’ flies off shelf in Daulewala

Easy drugs in Moga village bring it under EC scanner

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Daulewala (Moga), Nov 3

Motorcycle-borne youngsters, mostly in their teens or early 20s, zip through the kutcha roads of this village. It’s noon, and all shops in the village except one are closed. The lone open one has a thick iron grille with a small window, big enough only to let out a hand from inside. It’s here that half a dozen vehicles are parked and scores of youngsters are queuing up. At first, it seems that the shop is selling items of daily use, but a closer look reveals that on sale is “samaan”, known as “chitta” (drugs) in common parlance.

As one moves around the village, one sees youngsters huddled together, consuming drugs. Used syringes are seen strewn in every nook and cranny of the village. On a small plot, two youths are lying, heads down, apparently in an inebriated condition. A girl in her early twenties, who says that she is from Galoti village, near here, begs for Rs 200, saying that it’s important to save her life.

A six-foot-tall man, who was once a hotelier with a happy family in Harike, sits dejected, waiting for someone in the village to keep last night’s leftover food before him, even as he waits to regain his senses. Once sober, he recalls how a regular customer at his hotel got him addicted to drugs.

This village, where at least one-fifth of the residents are involved in the drug trade – particularly smack and heroin — has been on the radar of the Election Commission (EC). Daulewala and the nearby village of Nurpur Hakima have gained notoriety as the “drug capital” of Malwa. At a recent meeting with an EC delegation, the district civil and police officers pointed out that these villages needed to be kept under vigil because of the rampant drug supply from here.

The drug business is brisk here, even as there are no cops around. Some of the residents who spoke to The Tribune said most of the village women were also involved in the drug trade, especially now that their men had been arrested. A few months ago, the police were deployed here, but a raid by a senior officer at night found the cops in an inebriated condition, themselves offering to sell “chitta” to the officer. The next day, the deployment was withdrawn. Since then, the village’s infamy has spread, with many youngsters from Ludhiana coming here in swanky cars to buy contraband.

This has also became a law and order issue for the administration. Several villages in Dharamkot have reported incidents of snatching by addicts. Jaswant Singh of Badduwal village says that women no longer wear jewellery while going out of the house. He alleges that even LPG cylinders are stolen.

A government official posted in the village, requesting anonymity, told The Tribune that there had been several instances in which little children had mistakenly consumed smack lying in their houses and died. “The village is thronged by addicts, but the villagers themselves are peddlers. They are in the drug trade because there is no economic development here and they have no source of income. With drugs coming from across the border, which is just 40 km away, these villagers have found it an easy way to earn a livelihood,” he says.

A dera in the village tried to wean the people away from the drug business. Its head, Baba Avtar Singh, said their anti-drug campaign met with stiff resistance from the peddlers. “Even local MLA Tota Singh has often tried to make people shun the business, but no one minds making a quick buck,” he says.

Economic development a must: DGP

DGP Suresh Arora, who recently launched an anti-drug campaign in the village, said the police were making efforts to curb the drug trade. “In the past two months, we have arrested 80 people here and registered 70 cases. But the only long-term solution is to ensure economic development, which will help people quit the drug trade,” he added.

Sorry state

My family deserted me and I sold off my hotel. But I can't kick the habit. That's why I have come to Daulewala, where I can easily get drugs. Even the police don't bother us here. –An addict
Most villagers are in the drug trade because there is no economic development here and they have no source of income. –A government official

Framed AAP MLA at cops’ behest, alleges key accused

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, November 3

Vijay Kumar, the main accused in the Quran desecration case that took place on June 24 at Malerkotla, today alleged that the Punjab Police was forcing him to implicate Naresh Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Delhi, in the case.

Otherwise, the police were threatening to book him for murder, he claimed.

Earlier news: Malerkotla: Police say AAP MLA ‘mastermind’

Talking to mediapersons after appearing in the court of Additional Sessions Judge KK Singla here today, Vijay Kumar said that they had enough evidence to prove in court that they were innocent and they had neither desecrated the Quran nor insulted any religion.

On why he had said earlier that they had committed the crime on Yadav’s instructions, Vijay said he had given the statement due to the pressure exerted by the police.

AAP MLA Naresh Yadav said Vijay’s statement today had exposed the SAD-BJP government’s designs to defame the AAP in view of the upcoming Assembly elections. “I have been saying all along that it is a political conspiracy hatched by the SAD-BJP government,” Yadav said.

Naresh Yadav, Vijay Kumar, Nand Kishor Goldy and his son Gaurav, all accused in the case, today appeared in the court of Additional Sessions Judge KK Singla here. The court fixed December 1 as the next date of hearing.

Harpal Singh Cheema, counsel for Naresh Yadav, said that they had today moved an application in the court to provide them a copy of the statement of co-accused Vijay Kumar, recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC. Besides, they have also demanded the phone call details of the accused that had been collected by the police during investigation.

Cheema said that on their application, the court has directed the state to give its reply on December 1.

Liquor vend favouritism caused Rs 2-crore loss: HC

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 3

In an embarrassment to the Punjab Government, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today held that the state suffered a loss of more than Rs 2.27 crore by cancelling the process of allotting a liquor vend in Bathinda district “with a view to favouring some persons”.

Setting aside the allotment in favour of three successful applicants, a Division Bench also rapped the state for its attempts to mislead the court by producing fabricated record. The conduct of the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner for producing fabricated record would be examined by the competent authority, Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Darshan Singh ruled.

“If the manner in which the authorities conducted themselves in the process of cancellation of allotments, re-grouping and fresh allotments is examined on the touch-stone of the law laid down by the Supreme Court, it can safely be opined that the same suffers from unreasonableness and arbitrariness. There was discriminate application of the rules as well as the policy, apparently with a view to favour some persons...

“As in the entire process, the state suffered loss on account of adjustment of application fee, non-deduction of processing fee and non-forfeiture of allotment money paid by the successful allottees who defaulted, an inquiry shall be conducted and responsibility fixed,” the Bench added.

Allowing with Rs 1 lakh costs the petitions filed by Harish Kumar Aggarwal through counsel HS Brar, the Bench added that the state would be at liberty to recover the amount from the guilty officer/official on fixing responsibility.

Aggarwal was seeking the setting aside of order dated March 29, vide which the allotment in his favour was not approved. A direction was also sought to allot the liquor vend in Kotfatta to him.

The court was told that the petitioner was successful in the draw of lots held on March 27 for group number 11, comprising Kotfatta. But the department had “certain other motives in mind”. Raising the plea of chaos, the process was stopped and suspended on the ground that three of the earlier successful applicants for groups eight to 10 had not deposited the fee and had run away from the spot with money.

The Bench held the process continued for all districts, even after earlier allottees failed to deposit the licence fee. Exception was carved out only in Bathinda district by raising the issue of chaos.

The Bench added the application fee was neither refundable nor adjustable. “By taking a decision apparently with a view to favour some of the persons by cancelling the process of allotment, the State in fact, suffered loss of Rs 2, 27, 85,000 received as application fee.

“Everything was done in such a hurry that the department decided to adjust the entire application money received, whereas even in the eventuality of cancellation of allotment procedure, Rs 2,000 per application were to be deducted as processing fee….

“The allotment of liquor vends in favour of three respondents is set aside. The competent authority is directed to re-allot vends for the remaining period strictly in terms of the Rules and the policy”.

What the court said...

As in the entire process, the state suffered loss on account of adjustment of application fee, non-deduction of processing fee and non-forfeiture of allotment money paid by the successful allottees who defaulted, an inquiry shall be conducted and responsibility fixed.

2,500 personnel guarding 900 VIPs, police tell EC

Many IG, DIG-level officers getting security above sanctioned limit

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 3

Around 900 persons in the state, a majority of them politically active and connected, are guarded by over 2,500 personnel of the state police.

This is the official figure as mentioned in a list prepared by the police and submitted to the Election Commission. Sources, however, say unofficially at least 4,000 police personnel are deputed on such duty.

As per the police, over 10 per cent of the police force is protecting VIPs instead of maintaining law and order. Many IG and DIG-level officers, many of them retired, are getting security over and above their sanctioned limit.

Amritsar tops the list with 212 policemen deployed on security duty. It is followed by Jalandhar 209 and Ludhiana 152.

“On an average, a police district has 1,200 to 3,500 personnel on its rolls, of which officially 10 per cent is deployed on the security of VIPs. Unofficially, another 5 per cent of the force is given to self-styled VIPs,” said an SSP-rank officer.

“Sometimes we have a few men to run a police station effectively, while these self-styled VIPs approach our seniors in Chandigarh through their political bosses and manage to get security. We are left with no option in such cases,” he said.

As per norms, the Z+ category comprises over 36 guards, Z 22 and Y 11. At least, 36 VIPs fall in these three categories, while several lesser-known leaders in every district continue to avail security ranging from one to 12 personnel.

VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, said they had sought a complete list, but “it does not mean that the police need to prune the security cover immediately”. “Once the election code of conduct comes into force, we will decide every case on merit,” he said.

On the authenticity of the list, VK Singh said: “We believe that the SSPs will not keep us in the dark and submit a factual list. We have means to check the authenticity of VIPs availing security”.

Despite repeated attempts, no senior police officer was willing to comment on the issue. Additional DGP (Security) BK Bawa could not be contacted.

Madan Mohan Mittal, 81 SAD

B Y THE WAY Loves books, from religious to fiction genres

Constituency: ANANDPUR SAHIB Education: Law graduate Assets declared in last polls: `2.8 cr

Electoral record

2012: Defeated Congress candidate Kanwar Pal Singh by 7,886 votes 2007: Lost to Cong’s Kanwar Pal Singh in Nangal; this seat came up later in delimitation

ASSEMBLY RECORD

Minister for industry POWER PUNCH A BJP veteran known to be close to SAD power centres too WHAT NEXT Wants son Arvind Mittal to get the ticket this time

HOW HE PERFORMED

During his 2012 election campaign, Mittal used to say, “Press the button [on voting machine], and a minister will come out!” That turned out to be true as he got a cabinet berth. But he failed to check illegal mining that is rampant in the area. He regularly meets people from his constituency, but his temper is what many people fear. He failed to provide basic supply of drinking water to 24 villages of Changar area. A few tubewells were installed but there is no electricity connection for these. He, however, claims to have solved the problem of lack of clean drinking water in the constituency by installing tubewells. His focus was to ensure each village is connected with road, and that urban areas have streetlights, on which he got some success.

Daljit Singh Cheema, 54 SAD

BY THE WAY Strict about grammar, even in file notings

Constituency: RUPNAGAR Education: MBBS Assets declared in last polls: `67.3 lakh

Electoral record

2012: Defeated Congress candidate Romesh Dutt Sharma by 8,882 votes 2007: He did not contest; Sant Ajit Singh won the seat for SAD

ASSEMBLY RECORD

Minister for education POWER PUNCH Is part of the SAD top circles; also spokesperson WHAT NEXT Keen on contesting again, but says party will decide

HOW HE PERFORMED

A first-time MLA but senior nonetheless in the SAD, the doctor is among the more educated members of the cabinet. He got the education portfolio after Sikander Singh Maluka came under fire for some scams in the department. He makes sure that no calls on his phone go unattended, with a staff member noting down all numbers even when he is busy, so that he can call back. He got funds for water supply and sewerage works, a long-pending demand. A project for revamp of the Pinkcassia Tourist Complex was given to a firm, but that failed to take off. Even the promise of a new bus stand hangs fire, though the town has seen works such as a bypass, strengthening of roads, and upgrade of schools.

Charanjit Singh Channi, CONG

BY THE WAY A fan of Gurdas Maan’s songs

Constituency: CHAMKAUR SAHIB (SC) Education: LLB and MBA Assets declared in last polls: `10.2 cr

Electoral record

2012: Defeated SAD candidate Jagmeet Kaur by a margin of 3,659 votes 2007: As independent candidate, defeated SAD’s Satwant Kaur by 1,758 votes

ASSEMBLY RECORD

87 Questions asked: 17 Call attention moved: POWER PUNCH A Dalit face and CLP leader, has access to high command WHAT NEXT Likely to contest again from the segment

HOW HE PERFORMED

Recently, he made headlines after climbing a pole and restoring power connection of some panchayats that had been disconnected over non-payment of dues. He has been regularly raising issues and holding protests, though people say his performance dipped after he was made Congress legislature party (CLP) leader. Despite being in opposition for both his terms, he has been able to make a mark by getting sewerage and lighting works done. A long-pending demand of repair of the road connecting Chamkaur Sahib with Morinda is hanging fire. He led many agitations for it. He is known to be accessible and uses social media well. Also, he has been connecting with the youth by distributing sports kits.

Jagmohan Singh Kang, 65 CONG

BY THE WAY Hardcore believer in attending bhogs and weddings

Constituency: KHARAR Education: MA, LLB Assets declared in last polls: `12.1 cr

Electoral record

2012: Defeated SAD candidate Ujjagar Singh by 6,779 votes 2007: Lost from Morinda; Balbir Singh won this seat for the Congress

ASSEMBLY RECORD

78 Questions asked: 7 Call attention moved: POWER PUNCH Known for proximity to top leaders; three-time MLA WHAT NEXT Likely to again get the ticket

HOW HE PERFORMED

He has been taking up issues and sitting on dharnas to press for residents’ demands. But being a legislator of the opposition, he has not been able to make much change due to lack of funding. He did succeed in getting done the construction of a causeway at the Khanpur bridge, bringing much relief from traffic jams there. He counts this as a prime achievement of his tenure. Most of the development works carried out in Kharar have been through SAD leaders, thus Kang has not got credit. He says that despite having worked hard to get supply of water to Kurali and Kharar from the Kajauli water works, it remains one of his major projects that could not be completed.