On migrants arrival Patiala administration, police, politician, PSPCL’s failure comes to fore; residents planned to stage dharna at DC office
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ October 19,2024
Patiala is famous for its hospitality. After the 1947 partition, the descendents of Patiala city founder, Yadwinder Singh had welcomed the migrants and adjusted them in periphery of the city. Those migrants were needy, part of community and had played a decisive role in the development of the city.
But, now after 77 years of partition, Patiala administration seems to be in that state of mind. They welcome the migrants without checking their antecedents for best known reasons to them. Today’s migrants came from which part of the country is still a mystery to the residents and administration, police, politicians ignore their arrival for reasons best known to them.
As per rumors, available information (not confirmed by royalpatiala.in) a truck came with migrants before Navratra’s, dumped these migrants at famous Mall Road and went back. Nobody knows who bring these migrants, from where they came.
From that day, these migrants have made Mall Road their residence. In the evening they sleep on the footpath outside Punjab state power corporation limited (PSPCL) head office and opposite the powercom office. In the morning they pack their belongings (bed sheets, blankets, pillows, cloths) and put them out the wall of Malwa Theater, adjoining a religious place.
What City Residents Says
Social activist Vinod Sharma said “there are around 30 families with 200 children; members have made Mall Road their residence. We have already met MLA Ajit Pal singh Kohli, DC, MC no action be taken by the administration. The only way is to stage a dharna in the office of deputy commissioner.”
Another city resident and social activist HPS Lamba said “ I have failed what is the compulsion of administration and why they are hesitant in removing them.”
Dr Sachin Kaushal said “the administration must act tough and drop them from where they had come. If we can’t control the situation now, these young children might be criminals of future as administration has no information about them. These young children in coming 2-3 years will start snatching, robbing, pick-pocketing and spoil the peace, harmony of the city and will become a headache for the police. ”
Gurpreet a school, teacher said “to meet the admission target, it will not be a shock for residents that the district administration might enroll these young students to government schools in the coming academic session. Now days the government school teachers were given targets to enroll new students in schools. To avoid the wrath of minister, director, DEOs the school teachers enroll migrant children to schools to meet the target irrespective of checking their antecedents. “
Sehaj a resident said “how can we expect something from a politician, administration when the Patiala urban MLA Ajit Pal Singh Kohli himself fails to remove the migrants from the footpaths just opposite to his residence. These migrants are living outside wall of a government residence enmarked for a DIG Patiala range.”
Gulshan a city businessman said ” how the Punjab state power corporation limited is unaware about this menace. The migrants are living outside their boundary wall and they don’t even know. PSPCL has a DGP rank officer as its security head. They don’t even taken up this matter with the administration, strange.’
Gurbhajan Singh Gill a senior resident said “administration should handle the situation firmly, in the interest of public.”
Kulwant Singh Gill another resident said “ Dharnas are call of the in Punjab. However this one is for good purpose.”
Patiala District Administration Aadhar Card Scam
Few months ago, Punjabi News Channel PTC has reported that how these migrants have got their valid Aadhar Card made in Patiala right under the nose of district administration and became residents of Patiala. All questions were remained unanswered and till date the administration failed to check from where they had come, who made their aadhar card, from where they made their aadhar card, what documents they had submitted for making their aadhar card, the antecedents of these migrants who are now residents of Patiala. The adress of these migrants were same C/o Kishore , Gugga Marri, Kali Mata Mandir, Patiala (147001) Punjab. Few of the photos of those migrants, who are now Patiala residents are:
(All above four photographs are of PTC News. Photo courtesy- PTC News)
Past Major Crime by Migrants in Patiala
In August 2022, a child allegedly escaped with Rs 35 lakh from State Bank of India branch at The Mall road, Patiala branch.The police during investigation has found that the theft of cash from the bank was made by members of interstate ‘Kadiya Gang’ of Madhya Pradesh. The gang used to train children for shaping their crime and get them involved in committing crimes.
Many snatching, robbing case were not even reported in the police due to harassment and feeling that nothing is going to happen and police will not trace the real culprit.
What Administration Says
When contacted the Patiala (Urban) MLA Ajitpal Singh Kohli, on this issue he said “I have knowledge that they came before the beginning of the Navratars. At that time we didn’t remove them as a religious colour might had been given to this issue. After that the issue skipped from my mind. Now, we will definitely sort this issue and remove them by next week. ”When asked the administration might remove them from here and dumped them some outer localities, he said “ I will ensure that they are not skirted but removed from the city.”
When contacted the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Patiala Nanak Singh, he said “Patiala police’s special cell, intelligence wing is efficiently working 24X7 . They have all information about the movement, who so ever came in the city and are starting living illegally in the city.” When asked do Patiala police have information, antecedents of these newly migrated families, he said “ I can’t divulge you the details about their checking.” When informed that few years ago a migrant had taken a bag full of cash from State Bank of India, The Mall Road branch, Patiala, snatching, robbing incidents are reported almost daily, he said “don’t worry. Patiala is safe.”
When contacted the CMD of the Punjab state power corporation limited Baldev Singh Sra, he said “he don’t know anything about this that migrants stay outside the powercom head office. He has no information about this”. When asked will you take up this matter, he said I don’t know with whom I would take up this matter.”
When contacted the Patiala municipal corporation commissioner Rajat Oberoi, he said” you are the first one who is bringing this issue to my knowledge. We will check their antecedents, who are they, from where they have come. Even we will talk about this with the district police. After that we will discuss what we can do.”
Meanwhile deputy commissioner Preeti Yadav ” the matter is in my knowledge. The administration remained busy in panchayat elections. Now ill look into it. I’ll ask the corporation (MC) to look into it and sort out the issue.”
