Bathinda, January 25
Close to the heels of the petrol and food scams in the army in Jammu and Kashmir, senior army officers based here have detected a possible scam of pilferage of petroleum products in Punjab and Rajasthan. This has rung alarm bells in the army set-up here that controls various formations in Punjab and neighbouring Rajasthan.

Sources told this correspondent here today that a senior officer of the Army has detected tampering of the anti-pilferage equipment in the tankers owned by those awarded the carriage contract.

The main outlet in petroleum tankers was bypassed to pilfer petrol and diesel en route the destinations in Punjab and Rajasthan.

When contacted, a senior officer did not rule out nexus between officials of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and the private tanker operators. Oil is supplied to the army from the terminals of the IOC.

He said that incidents of pilferage of petroleum products by bulk petroleum carriage operators from the IOC terminals without proper checking have come to notice. There is no check whether the petrol and the tankers as per specification laid down by IOC transported diesel. The Army has intercepted a large number of tankers carrying bulk petroleum supplies and found several irregularities.

The malpractices indulge in by tanker lorries included modifications in the rear valve box and compartments to bypass the security features installed by the IOC, alteration in sealing system to enable the compartments to be opened without breaking the seals installed by the IOC.

In some cases, the rod locking the compartments with the bottom valve box were found broken, thus facilitating the opening of box without tampering with the seal. The intercepted vehicles on their way from Salawas included RJ 07G 2323, RJ 19G 6621, RJ 19G 9125, RJ 19G 5070, RJ 27G 9814 and RJ 04G 1727, he said.

The IOC has taken the samples of the products of the Bharat Petroleum Limited to check if there was any adulteration or not.

An investigation into the matter is underway.

Bathinda, January 25
The three-year-old son of a Chandigarh-based businessman was allegedly kidnapped by two unidentified persons in a white car from outside their house in the Model Town area of Bathinda, today in the evening. The boy had turned three years old on January 21.

Eyewitnesses said that Garry, the four-year-old cousin of the kidnapped boy told the police that Gappu alias Amrajveer Singh was riding a bicycle outside his house, number 181, in Phase II of Model Town, in the evening. Two unidentified persons came in a white colour Maruti 800 car and the driver pointed towards Gappu. They took him away in the car and fled at high speed.

Confirming the kidnapping, SSP Naunihal Singh said, “No ransom call has been received so far by any member of the family. The police in all neighbouring districts have been alerted and special nakas have been set up.”

Relatives of family members said that the father of the kidnapped boy, Raghwinder Singh, deals in property from his office in Sector 40, Chandigarh. The family had no enmity with anyone, they said.

Baljinder Singh, whose son Garry, eyewitness in the incident, is the elder brother of Raghwinder Singh and runs a travel agency in Bathinda. The younger brother of Raghwinder Singh is an NRI, who came to the city only a couple of months back. Raghwinder was on his way to Bathinda from Chandigarh, when contacted on his mobile phone. He ruled out enmity with anyone. The mother, Poonam, was inconsolable. It may be mentioned here that just two days back, the district police had claimed to solve a case of abduction and murder case involving a 25-year-old student.

Bhucho (Bathinda), January 25
“Sukhbir Badal, the acting president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is only trying to bluff people with his plans for mega projects,” said Captain Amarinder Singh, the former chief minister of Punjab.

Amarinder, who was here to attend the wedding of the son of Nathana MLA, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, took time off to speak to media persons while on his way back to Patiala.

Singh accused the Badal family of using political power to put pressure on witnesses who had raised their voice against them in corruption cases. He further alleged that fearing a backlash, the witnesses had turned hostile.

Taking CM Parkash Singh Badal to task for financial mismanagement, he said that Badal had announced the sale of 13,413 properties to raise money. But it is against the interests of the people as these properties belong to the people and not the CM and his family, he said.

“Sukhbir has been announcing mega crore projects, but he and the CM also speak of a financial crisis. People will soon come to know about the reality as the ruling party has not been successful in generating revenue,” he alleged.

When the former CM was asked about the lukewarm attitude of Congress workers in the state, Singh passed the buck on to PCC president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and said it was for her to take a serious view of it.

About his involvement in corruption cases, he said, “Badal has been doing this just for vendetta.”

“I have all the certificates in black and white to prove that the Badal family indulged in corruption. But due to lack of support, I have no means to produce them,” he added.

When the Captain was asked about speculations about Sukhbir becoming the CM, he said it was an internal affair of the SAD, but hastened to add that if Sukhbir became the CM, then the government would collapse.

Amarinder charged that people were discontented with Badal as CM and accused the family of promoting nepotism.

Captain Amarinder Singh was accompanied by his wife, Pernet Kaur, who is a Member of Parliament and their son Raninder Singh.

Faridkot, January 25
With a aim of providing medicines at subsidised rates to the patients, the state would offer shops in all civil hospitals of the state to private players and non-government organisations (NGOs) after a competitive bidding. Health minister, Punjab, Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, informed this during a state-level function held to observe Anti-leprosy Day in Nirog Bal Ashram at Kotkapura near here today.

She said contractual shops would be offered to those bidders who would quote lowest price for the medicines.

The minister informed that as many as 100 MBBS doctors would be recruited during the current fiscal and majority of them would be posted in Malwa as the region was facing acute shortage of doctors.

Lauding the services of the Ashram, she stressed the need for more such institutions in the state. She said in recognition of its services towards the society, a Centre-sponsored Rs one crore project would be extended to the Ashram.

She announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for its school to procure computers. On the occasion, an exhibition highlighting the causes, symptoms and cure of the disease was also organised.

Mansa, January 25
Family members of farmers and labourers in Mansa district, who had committed debt-suicide, are leading a miserable life.

Many families who came to participate in the dharna, staged in front of the deputy commissioner’s office by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) on Thursday, handed over applications to the deputy commissioner related to their pitiable condition and demanded waiving of loans.

State President of BKU Joginder Singh Ugrahan and district president Ram Singh Bhainibagha said at the dharna that after 1990, several farmers and labourers had committed debt-suicides but government had not been admitting the fact. They threatened to launch struggle for loan waiving of poor farmers.

Pal Kaur, resident of Joga, said that her husband Lakhvinder Singh had committed suicide by self-immolating due to poverty. She was reeling under poor economic condition, she added.

Another woman from Joga, Paramjeet Kaur, said that her husband Atma Singh had committed suicide by consuming salfas.

A child Satgur Singh, resident of village Gurathli is living with his grandmother because his father committed suicide due to economic stress and after that mother has been gone missing.

Another resident of Gurathli, Manjeet Kaur, also narrated her pitiable condition. She said that her husband Gurcharan Singh consumed pesticide to end his life.

Amarjeet Kaur, who also belongs to Gurthali, said that her husband hanged himself to death due to economic stress. The family has sold land and now they have no resource for a living.

Bathinda, January 25
Conceding the demand of the residents of Bhucho Mandi and adjoining areas, the railway has decided to resume the stoppage of two trains at the Bhucho Mandi station from January 26.

The two rains, namely the Bathinda-Delhi Express (4731) and the Sriganganagar-Haridwar Express (4711/4712) would stop at the station, sources in the railway said. The decision would be effective for three months on an experimental basis, the sources added.

The sources also said that the decision of extending the halt of these trains at the station would be taken after three months, considering economic viability, to be precise, the sale of tickets.

Meanwhile, the Sangharsh Committee, under the aegis of which the residents had staged agitation to press their demand, has welcomed the decision.

District president of BJP (Rural), Dayal Sodhi, members of the committee, Pawan Bhola, Narottam Das and others, have hailed the decision.

It may be mentioned that residents of the areas had staged an agitation to press their demand and stopped the Sriganganagar-Haridwar Express (4712) at the station on two days last week. 

Bathinda, January 25
Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Power Plant (GNDTP) has stated that a lot of spadework has been done to reduce the ash particles going with the smoke through chimneys.

A press release from the PSEB informed that ESPs have been modified by increasing the number of fields from 10 to 14 in case of unit number 1 and 2 during renovation. In case of unit number 3 and 4, liquid ammonia is being used to control the ash particles released in the atmosphere.

The PSEB has also said that the GNDTP achieved a record generation of 2795 lakh units in October 2007, which is the highest monthly generation during the last 20 years. A press release from the PSEB informed that the Bathinda thermal plant has also generated 2326.74 MUs against a target of 2144 MUs up to the month of December 2007 and has contributed power higher than the target. Plant load factor achieved during this period is 78.61 per cent against 60.11 of the previous year.

Bathinda, January 25
A newly-born baby girl died of asphyxiation because of the carbon monoxide emitted by the coal in the fireplace. The parents of the child too fell unconscious. According to available information, the incident took place in the house of Bhola Singh, a sepoy in the Army, who lives in a rented accommodation in Preet Nagar on Powerhouse Road.

To beat the chill, his wife Jaswinder Kaur lighted a fire. After a short while, they fell asleep. When the mother awoke past midnight, she was feeling suffocated. She opened the door and called for help. While the parents were unconscious, the five-month-old child, Ramanpreet, was in a serious condition. They were admitted to the Army hospital but the child could not be saved. —TNS

Abohar, January 25
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), taking a suo motu notice of the report published in these columns during last year, has directed the principal secretary of the education department to submit an action taken report (ATR) on lack of amenities in Adarsh School by March 3, sources here confirmed today.

The Commission in a full bench reference, while quoting The Tribune news, had expressed concern over the reported denial of basic amenities to nearly 2,000 students and teachers in the Government Adarsh Senior Secondary School for Boys here.

It was pointed out that the school’s northern boundary wall was broken which resulted in free entrance of animals near the classrooms. Portable drinking water supply had been disconnected few years back. The toilets, too, were not operational. The PSHRC has directed the department to provide classrooms besides ensuring basic amenities to the students and the staff of the school. The compliance report must be presented by March 3 in person by an officer of not less than the state education services rank, the Commission has conveyed.

Principal Ajinder Singh informed the circle education officer (CEO) Sukhminder Kaur Brar during her visit to the school today that the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) had generated funds to provide drinking water besides getting the renovation work of the toilets done.

He also informed the CEO that an estimate of about Rs 40 lakh had already been submitted through the district authorities for the construction of additional classrooms and the eastern boundary wall.

The CEO assured that the matter relating to the instructions given by the PSHRC would be taken up.

Bathinda, January 25
Star performers of local Malwa College of IT and Arts in national and inter-state sports meets and academics were honoured at the annual prize distribution function at the college here today.

Member of Parliament, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, who was the chief guest at the function, distributed prizes among the winners. S. Jagdeep Singh Nakai, chief parliamentary secretary was the guest of honour at the function that was presided over by Sarup Chand Singla, in-charge of SAD in Bathinda.

Malwa College, established two years back, has made rapid strides and its achievements in the field of sports within a short span are laudable.

Those honoured included international athletes like shotput thrower Om Parkash Singh, Mandeep Kaur and Gurwinderpal Singh along with Kamaljeet Kaur, Sukhjit Kaur, Pawan Kumar and Kamaldeep.

Abohar, January 25
Educational institutions here have started warming up for the Panjab University Zonal Competitions slated for next month as the DAV College of Education here today organised ‘Skill in teaching’ and ‘On the spot preparation of teaching aids’ competitions .

Winners of the ‘Skill in teaching’ competition: Nidha (English), Ravi (Social Studies), Jatinder Kumar (Hindi), Prabhjot Kaur (Punjabi), Ankit (Science), Anju and Lakhbir (Economics) and Ashok Kumar (Physical Education). Winners in the ‘On the spot preparation of teaching aids’: Supreeti (Social Studies), Jagdish Kumar (Mathematics), Navneet (English), Prabhjot Kaur (Punjabi), Dheeraj (Hindi), Harjinder (Physical Education), Bhupinder (Science) and Sukhwinder (Economics).

Principal V. Singh said the Zonal contest in Science, Math and Physical Education would be hosted by the college on February 23. — OC

Bathinda, January 25
The forest department has geared up to nab tree fellers. But the method is based not on some technical principle but on ‘physical fitness’, which the conservator of forests, Ferozepur circle, Parveen Kumar, has launched so that his staff can help in conserving forests.

“It was shameful as a tree cutter managed to flee along with the stolen wood. That incident inspired me to check the physical fitness of the staff and during the examination, many of them were found to be physically unfit,” said Kumar.

When the TNS team surveyed the ground of the Thermal Colony on Thursday morning, around 25 officials of the forest department, including the conservator of forests, district forest officer, forest rangers, block officers and forest guards were seen jogging to keep themselves fit.

According to the chart prepared by the medical examiner, persons below the age of 30 would have to run for four km. For those in the 30 to 40 age-group, the run would be 3 km long while those in the 40 to 50 age-group would have to run two km. Those above this age-group would have to run for 1.5 km.

It is learnt that at the time of appointment, forest guards have to prove they can run 14 km in one-and-half hours while senior officials have to pass the test by running 25 km in four hours. But now the department has apparently adopted the new criteria of checking physical fitness at the time of promotion.

“Guards would also be advised to move on foot or on bicycles instead of scooters and motorcycles. Due to their slower movement, they would be able to keep a check on the damaged plants and trees in a better way,” said Kumar.

The conservator of forests told TNS that after analysing the results of the fitness camp here, similar tests would be carried out at Muktsar, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Moga, Amritsar and other parts of the state.

It may be mentioned that earlier, the district police had begun a similar physical fitness programme to improve the physical fitness of the cops.

Abohar, January 25
Former BJP MLA Ram Kumar Goyal, who had been elected convener of an action committee formed by the District Kumhar Sabha to lead an agitation on the infamous Choohriwala Dhanna case, announced today that the demonstration scheduled for February 1 at Fazilka has been deferred.

The decision was based on the telephonic information received from the state BJP secretary Kamal Sharma that the district authorities had agreed to withdraw the cases registered against some residents of Choohriwala Dhanna village for attacking the cops on the Diwali night.

Kamal Sharma had yesterday held a meeting with the complainants here. She later informed the party high command at Chandigarh about their grievances.

Barnala, January 25
Expressing concern over the poor condition of the Punjabi language in the state where the language was originated, Likhari Sabha, Barnala, urged the state government to formulate a suitable policy for the promotion and the development of the language.

The writers’ body demanded that the state government must make necessary amendments in the state language policy to ensure that the language was used in the government offices.

The members of the Sabha held a meeting here today to discuss the present status of the language, the hurdles in its promotion and the means to make it popular among the youth. The meeting was presided over by Pritam Singh Rahi.

Jagir Singh Jagtar, vice-president of the Sabha informed that many writers were of the view that the state government should appoint a separate minister for the language. 

Bathinda, January 25
The Vidhan Sabha Estimate Committee today visited the city to check the progress of various development projects at the local bodies level.

The committee comprised of Harmohinder Singh, MLA Raikot, Gurdeep Singh Bhaini, MLA Jagraon, Harchand Kaur, MLA Sherpur, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, MLA Dhuri, Love Kumar Goldy, MLA Garhshankar and Jagbir Singh Brar, MLA Jalandhar Cantt.

The chairman of the committee, Captain Balbir Singh, could not make it reportedy due to some domestic compulsion. When Municipal Corporation Commissioner K.K.Yadav was contacted on phone, he said, “It was introductory in nature. There was nothing special to discuss as there was nothing on the agenda. The replies to their queries, already filed, were deemed sufficient.”