The Tribune – Polls challenging for BSF too

Ruchika M. Khanna, Tribune News Service

Hussainiwala (Ferozepur), January 17. The elections in Punjab are not just a testing time for the politicians in the state, the Border Security Force (BSF), guarding the 553-km border that Punjab shares with Pakistan on its west, too, is putting in extra efforts to curb smuggling of drugs, fake currency, arms and Pakistani SIM cards.

Top BSF officials informed The Tribune that over the past one month, the number of attempts by people from across the border to smuggle in drugs and fake currency along the Ferozepur and Tarn Taran sectors had increased substantially. “Though we have managed to thwart these attempts and seizures of smuggled items have seen a rise, there have been two glaring attempts at sneaking in items in Ferozepur and three attempts in the Tarn Taran sector.

As a result, we have increased our deployment substantially along the border,” said the official.

In the past one month, the BSF has seized four pistols, two revolvers, an Italian gun, Rs 13 lakh fake currency and over 6 kg of heroin. Officials said each consignment meant for their Indian counterparts here also had a few Pakistani SIM cards (of Pakistani telecom service providers Jazz, Mobilink, Telenor and Wahid).

“Though security regulations in India do not allow the telecom service providers to set up their towers near the border, many villages in these two sectors, located within 2 km of the border, receive signals from the Pakistani side. So the smugglers send in SIM cards with each consignment, which will help them stay in touch with their counterparts on the Indian side,” said the official.

The BSF has also arrested two persons in the last fortnight, who were trying to sneak in the Indian territory in the Tarn Taran sector. They are now being interrogated by the local police. The 553-km border that Punjab shares with Pakistan has fencing all along and a patrol route. To aid night vigilance, the entire border has floodlights, besides observation posts. BSF officials said in spite of this, they had seen glaring attempts from the other side to smuggle items by just throwing them from across the Pakistani side into the area between the fencing and the International border.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120118/punjab.htm#7

The Tribune – Sikh American is Mayor of historic US city

Washington, January 17. Satyendra Singh Huja, a Sikh American, has been unanimously elected as the mayor of Charlottesville, a historic city in Virginia. Huja, who originally comes from Nainital in Uttarakhand, was elected Mayor of Charlottesville early this month.

Incidentally, Huja is the only Sikh resident of Charlottesville, nearly 120 miles south west of Washington, having a population of 43,000.

The other Sikhs in this city are students of the Virginia University.

Notably, Charlottesville is home to three American Presidents – Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe.

“It says a great deal about our community that someone like me can become mayor. Our community appreciates diversity,” Huja was quoted as saying by the local The Daily Progress.

“As the mayor, I will work with City Council for a future agenda for the community,” said Huja who has been elected for a two-year term.

“I will listen to the desires and concerns of the citizens, residents and businesses. I’m accessible 24/7 to hear your concerns and ideas. As mayor, I will work my very best to protect the interests of our community. I will work to enhance the quality of life and the environment, so that Charlottesville can be a great city, a great community for all of its residents,” he said. (PTI)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120118/main7.htm

The Asian Age – Gujarat high court upholds appointment of Lokayukta

Ahmedabad, 18 January 2012. In a setback to the Narendra Modi government, the Gujarat high court, in a majority decision, on Wednesday upheld the appointment of Lokayukta by the governor while dismissing the plea of the state challenging it.

Justice V M Sahai, who was given the task of hearing the petition challenging the appointment of Lokayukta following the split verdict of a division bench, said, “I could not agree with Justice Sonia Gokani of the division bench on the points of difference, which were referred to me.”

In his verdict, he said, “I concur with the views of my brother judge Akil Kureshi.” Kureshi had upheld the appointment of Lokayukta calling it as ‘constitutional’. Hence, the government petition is dismissed”, the court said.  Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal had appointed retired Justice R A Mehta to the post of Lokayukta on August 25, last year. The post had been lying vacant for eight years prior to that. (PTI)

http://www.asianage.com/india/gujarat-high-court-upholds-appointment-lokayukta-315