LONDON: A team of Scotland Yard detective is to visit Punjab in connection with the inquiry into the murder of Tarsem Singh Purewal, the Editor and owner of a local Punjabi weekly Des Pardes, who was gunned down by unidentified persons outside his office in South all, on January 24. 1995.

The detectives were investigating the motive behind the killing and have been working on the political aspects of the case.

The team visiting Punjab would also ascertain the political links of Purewal, who was known to be a Sikh activist, Detective Hardingham said.

Superintendent

Meanwhile, Purewal’s family has announced a reward of 10,000 pounds for information leading to the arrest of the killer. According to reports, defectives have taken note of a claim by a man who telephoned a newspaper office, owning responsibility for Purewal’s murder.

The anonymous caller claimed to be a member of the First Panthic Committee, said to be a combination of several groups supporting the demand for Khalistan Purewal was also a member of the First Panthic Committee

Detectives have also revealed that a man was reportedly seen running away from the scene shortly after the killing. The man was described is an Astan aged 25-30 and wearing a turban.

But there was no evidence linking him to the murder and the man must come forward so that he could be eliminated from the inquiry the detectives Said

Rao announces new Ministers

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister, PV Narasimha Rao, effected the long-awaited expansion of his Council of Ministers inducting three Cabinet rank ministers and three Ministers of State

Two ministers – G Venkataswamy and PA Sanga – were elevated to the Cabinet rank.

With this, the strength of the Rao Ministry has gone up from 51 10 57 including the Prime Minister.

The Cabinet ministers sworn in by the President, S.D. Sharma are Buta Singh, Ajit Singh and Madhavao Scandin The three new Ministers of State are P. Chidambaram, who will have independent charge. Matang Singh and Mrs Urmila Chimanbhai Patel.

After the swearing-in ceremony, the Prime Minister told media persons that he would be going in for another expansion shortly to give adequate representation to states like Maharashtra, Bihar, Karnataka and Orissa

The minister’s portfolios were you to be announced.

The ministry now has 18 Cabinet ministers, 38 Ministers of State

The last time that no expanded his ministry was on February 17, last year.

Prior to that, Rao had undertaken a major reshuffle of the ministry in January 1993 when as many as 17 ministers were dropped and 14 were inducted Those who were dropped included ML Fotedar, M.M. Jacob, P) Kurien; Ashok Gohlou. Mrs Mamta Bannerjee and Dr Girija Vyas, Dinesh Singh. Pranab Mukherjee. N.K.P. Salve and A.K. Antony were inducted as Cabinet ministers

In the past two months, five vacancies had arisen in the Union Council of Ministers. Arjun Singh, A.K. Antony, Rameshwar. Thakur. Kalpnath Rai and B. Shankaranud, resigned from the ministry for varying reasons

Article extracted from this publication >> February 17, 1995