Rail security in Jammu reviewed
Jammu, Jan 15: Ahead of the Republic Day, the railway security in Jammu region was reviewed on Monday and police were directed to remain alert to avoid any untoward incident, officials said. Senior Superintendent of Police (Railways), Jammu, Mohan Lal Kaith, chaired a high-level meeting and discussed operational preparedness of police at assets of railways in the region, they said. According to the officials, security measures taken for rail tracks, bridges, tunnels, trains and other installations were discussed in view of prevailing security scenario and forthcoming Republic Day. “All the officers were asked to remain alert to avoid any untoward incident in view of the Republic Day function on January 26,” an official said. The SSP (Railways) stressed upon augmenting the security measures on ground and remaining extra vigilant and alert. In the meeting, it was emphasised that round-the-clock patrolling be conducted jointly by officials of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) so that it becomes more effective, the officials said. (PTI)
Ex-Punjab minister held
Chandigarh, Jan 15: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday arrested Congress leader and former Punjab forest minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot under the anti-money laundering law in an investigation linked to an alleged forest scam in the state, official sources said. The agency took the 64-year-old politician into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Jalandhar. The ED had raided the premises of Dharamsot, another forest minister of the state Sangat Singh Giljian, some forest department officials and others in November last year. The investigation pertains to charges of “bribery” in the state forest department against the issuance of permits for tree felling and for transfer/posting in the department, among other allegations. Dharamsot has been a five-time MLA and was also arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau last year in a case linked to alleged possession of disproportionate assets. He has represented the Nabha assembly seat while Giljian has been an MLA from Urmar seat in Hoshiarpur. (PTI)