Bathinda, January 28
After a long wait of three days, it was a happy reunion of the kidnapped boy Amrajveer Singh alias Gappu with his parents here today. The three-year-old boy was kidnapped from their Model Town residence on Friday last.

Raghuwinder Singh, father of the child, confirmed that he paid some ransom to the kidnappers for release of his son. The SSP, Naunihal Singh, said that he would give further details of the incident tomorrow.

Poonam, mother of the boy, hugged the child when he was restored to her in the evening. She had spent three sleepless nights in his absence.

Narrating the whole incident, Raghuwinder Singh told TNS, “A rickshaw puller delivered a piece of paper bearing a mobile phone number to me at my house this afternoon. I called up at the number and the person told me to wait for some time before he again calls me up. In the evening the kidnapper rang me up and immediately handed over the phone to my son who was desperately crying and asking me to retrieve him”.

“Then the kidnapper asked me to follow his instruction and reach a place near Model Town Phase III, with some amount of money (which I can not disclose). The kidnapper asked me to come alone. Following his instructions, I reached the spot with the money without disclosing anything to police, ” he added.

Raghuwinder Singh said, “It appeared as if the kidnapper was keeping an eye on my movements as he was giving me instructions to turn left and right on the road. He asked me to halt near a vacant plot. The kidnappers were two in number and were sitting in a white Maruti car, whose number was illegible. They asked me for the bag containing the money. When I asked them for my son, they asked me to wait for ten seconds after which they handed over the child to me and escaped from there”.

The atmosphere at their home after return of the boy was festive as their relatives and friends turned up there to congratulate the family members. His mother was overjoyed as she welcomed the visitors.

When contacted, Naunihal Singh said that the boy’s father had paid ransom for his release. But he feigned ignorance about the amount of money paid to the kidnappers. 

Bathinda, January 28
Mansa and Amritsar maintained their lead in boys and girls by 15 and 8 points respectively on the second day of the Punjab State Panchayat Tournament at the Sports Stadium here, today.

Village panchayat of Brjihari, Bhikhi and Tamkot of Mansa won gold in boys Shot Put, long jump and 200 metres, where as in Girls category Village panchayat of Majitha and tarsika of amritsar won gold and silver in Shot Put.

In the hockey finals of boys, Village Shaven of Hoshiarpur will face Jarkhar of Ludhiana as in the Semi finals Shaven (Hoshiarpur) outplayed Khurd Sahib of Tarntaran by 3-1, where as Jarkhar ( Ludhiana) Beat Phool Khurd of Ropar by 2-1.

In the volleyball girls’ semi finals, Lande Rode (Muktsar) beat Birjaour (Ropar) and Molewal Khera (Jalandhar) beat Kalsian (Ludhiana) to enter the finals.

While in the volley ball boys saemi finals, Amargarh ( Sangrur) outplayed Fatehpur (Patiala) and Malakpur (Ludhiana) beat Bhokhra ( Bathinda) to enter the finals.

Minister Sports and Youth Services Punjab, S. Gulzar Singh Ranike will be the chief guest on the concluding day (January 29) of the three-day event and would give away the prizes to the winners.

In the boys Volleyball Quarter finals

Malakpur (Ludhiana) beat Lalpura (Tarntaran), Fatehpur (Patiala) defeated Sainimajra (Ropar) and Amargarh (Sangrur) outplayed Swara (Mohali) to enter the semi-finals.

In the Girls Volleyball quarter finals Kalsian (Ludhiana) outplayed Roadgarh (Patiala), Lande Rode (Muktsar) beat Kaurian (Sangrur), Malewal Khera (Jalandher) defeated Lamini (Gurdaspur)and Bajur (Ropar outshined over Bhinder Kalan (Moga) to enter the semi-finals

Gold winners on Day 2

Girls 200m -Ekamjot Kaur of Village Kalalmajra (Ludhiana)

Girls 400m - Ramanjit Kaur of Village Jakhepal (Sangrur)

Girls Shot Put - Ketli of Village Majitha (Amritsar)

Boys 200m - Sneh Inder Sharma of village Bhikhi (Mansa)

Boys 400m - Satnam Singh of village Dargabad (Gurdaspur)

Boys Shot Put - Manjot Singh of village Tamkot (Mansa)

Boys Long Jump - Khushwinder Singh of village Burjhari (Mansa)

Boys High Jump -Vikas of village Karima (Ferozpur)

Dhudike (Moga), January 28
Even as the Punjab government has announced ‘girdawri’ to ascertain the loss of potato crops due to persistent frost in the state, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today assured the affected farmers that he would speak to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to get aid from the Central government as well.

He disclosed this while participating in the 143rd birth anniversary celebrations of the legendary freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai, born in this village.

The Chief Minister said that the deputy commissioners of all the districts of the state had been directed to carry out Girdawari (assessment of loss) following persistent misty condition in the state. He assured that relief would be given as soon as the assessment report arrived.

Describing the losses of farmers as a natural calamity, he felt that the Centre must provide succour to the affected farmers.

In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab government was not involved in the sale of any land and that its financial condition was in good health.

He blamed rival parties for disseminating rumours in order to create confusion among the people of the state with regard to the efficiency of the present SAD-BJP coalition government.

The Chief Minister said that the PUDA, nagar councils, municipal corporations and other concerned agencies could only procure and sell the public land.

He added that the state government could, however, donate land for welfare projects.

Badal informed that the state cabinet would consider the names of outstanding sports persons and that the sports department had been asked to prepare a list of the outstanding sportspersons who triumphed at national and international arenas and brought laurels to the state.

Earlier, the Chief Minister arrived an hour before the schedule that resulted in confusion among the police and the district officials as a number of senior officials were yet to arrive at the venue.

He paid floral tributes at the statue of Lala Lajpat Rai.

Addressing the gathering, Badal said that the sacrifice made by Lalaji was matchless as it inspired his contemporaries to wage war against the tyrannical imperial rule.

He also gave away the prizes to the winners of the three-day sports festival held at Government College here. The event was organised by Lala Lajpat Rai Sports Committee.

He announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Committee and the village Panchayat for undertaking various developmental works, including construction of dharamsalas for those who belong to the Schedule Castes besides cleaning of pond, repair of roads and improving sanitary conditions in the village.

Bathinda, January 28
The Panjab National Bank celebrated the birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai here on Monday. Ajit Jaitly, senior regional manager, while taking about the freedom fighter, said that he established various educational institutions and contributed in the economic development of country by opening the first pan-Indian bank -The Panjab National Bank in the year 1895.

She further said that honest work by employees of the bank was the greatest tribute to this leader of the freedom movement.

After an indepth analysis of the social, political, regilious and financial scenerio prevailing in the pre-independent India, Lala Lajpat Rai laid the foundation of an independent, democratic, free and civilised nation, she added.

Jasbir Singh, an employee, thanked Lala Lajpat Rai in verse. 

Ferozepur, January 28
After the completion of the tenure of block samiti members, DC Bhagwant Singh has assumed the charge of Zila Parishad as an administrator, and appointed Baljeet Singh, district development and panchayat officer (DDPO), as the manager of block samitis till the time the new members are elected.

The DC said the tenure of chairman and members of around 10 block samitis got over on January 27, hence Baljeet Singh, DDPO, had been appointed as manager till the next elections were held.

About the elections, DC said that the amendment in the voters’ list for the election of block samitis and members of Zila Parishad had begun.

He further informed that the first voters list was published on January 14, 2008 and thereafter, objections and claims had been received till January 28, 2008.

The decision regarding the objections and claims would be settled by February 4, 2008 and the final voter list would be published on February 15, 2008, he added.

The DC clarified that earlier, there were 22 zones of Zila Parishad in this district, but now on the basis of increased population, the same had been increased to 25 zones.

After assuming the charge today, the DC took stock of the various schemes initiated under Zila Parishad and informed that this district had received Rs 922.13 lakh under the Rural Employment Scheme, out of which 50 per cent was directed to panchayats, 30 per cent to panchayat samitis and 20 per cent of the amount was sanctioned from Zila Parishad.

He informed that the Rural Employment Scheme was closing on March 31, 2008 and in its place, the Central government had started the National Rural Employment Scheme, which would commence from April 1, 2008.

He announced that an amount of Rs 152.56 lakh had been received for the construction of houses for the people living below the poverty line. With this amount, 472 houses would be constructed and Rs 12,500 each would be given for the repair of the houses.

The DC informed that Rs 25,000 would be given to each beneficiary for the construction of the concrete houses.

Ferozepur, January 28
The rural folks do not need to go to towns for banking requirements anymore. In the first of its kind initiative in the state, the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) has launched a pilot project to provide banking services in the far-flung areas of Punjab.

The first such centre was recently inaugurated at village Bhawra Azam Shah near Mamdot block where Colonel (Retd.) Sudhir Singh gave the demonstration to the villagers how to avail banking services right at their doorstep.

AGM T.S. Bagga while talking to The Tribune told that this project should be shortly started at other villages in this district.

Bagga said that in order to implement this project, the bank had outsourced the services to the Mumbai based Zero Mass Company.

He informed that the technology used in this rural banking scheme would be based on radio frequency identification (RFID) in which biometric scanning of finger impression of customers would be taken.

Bagga further told that in this technology, a chip was used which was developed by the European semi-conductor company, NXP (Nokia & Philips).

The AGM informed that this chip was programmed by a special software, which enabled the data communication between mobile phone and biometric contactless smart card, which should be issued to all customers in villages for the routine banking operations.

He said by using this card, the rural folks would be able to withdraw and deposit the money within 24 hours.

Bagga told that the residents of Bhawra Azam Shah village showed keen interest in the demonstration and appreciated the efforts made by the bank in this regard.

Director Hardeep Singh and manager Birbal Chaurasia also addressed the gathering and talked about the importance of the system.

Sarpanch Balwinder Kaur thanked the bank authorities for starting such services in their village. With the implementation of this project in the rural areas, no one would be required to go to the banks at far off places for banking operations.

Kotkapura (Faridkot), January 28
Indigenously developed as energy supplement of wrestlers, Dhodha sweet is being exported to as many as nine countries, which has earned fame for this tiny town located on Faridkot-Bathinda road.

The Vig family, holding the secret recipe of the dietary supplement, is behind popularising this nondescript town all over the world.

The fourth generation of young entrepreneurs, Vipin Vig and Varun Vig, has introduced the sophisticated techniques and approach to carry forward the legacy of nearly a century old dietary sweet.

It was their great grandfather, Lala Hans Raj Vig, who invented the energy booster sweet in 1912. Settled in Khushab village of Sargodha district, now in Pakistan, Lala Hans Raj was a wrestler of repute in the surrounding villages. His desire was to prepare a dish, which would instantly replenish the lost calories, protein and carbohydrates of a wrestler’s body.

Hence, each 100 gm sweet contains fat (12.35 gm), saturated fat (3.37 gm), cholesterol (0.02 mg), Sodium (0.3 mg), carbohydrates (27.15 gm), dietary fibre (8 gm), sugar (24.05 gm), which amounts to total 241 calories.

It received tremendous response following its commercialisation. Soon its credibility and flavour spread far and wide. People used to throng the shop and even named the street after the sweet.

However, the partition of the country dealt a big blow to the family and their venture. The migrated family settled down here and resumed their business after a lull.

The fourth generation was presently handling the affairs of the shop and preparation of the dish but they have not tinkered with its original flavour.

This has gone down well with generations savouring brown colour dish with silver foil covered by cashews.

It is evident from the fact that it is a tradition for the residents of the area, who are settled abroad, to carry Dhodha along with them.

Named Royal Dhodha Sweet, it is patented and an ISO 9001:2000 company and certified with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).

Recipe of the sweet is kept secret, which is passed from one generation to another. The royal Dhodha sweet has its outlets in New Delhi, Ghaziabad and Ludhiana.

The local outlet exports nearly 1,500 kg of sweet to various countries including, New Zealand, England, Canada, USA, Australia and others.

However, Vipin Vig divulges ingredient of the sweet, which is made from milk, cream, glucose and dry fruits. It takes 12 hours to prepare about 1000 kg of sweet, which is supplied to almost all northern states of the country.

Bathinda, January 28
Dhyan Singh Mand, senior vice president of the SAD (A), today accused the members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of having become “puppets” in the hands of the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Talking to media persons here, Mand said, that the SAD (A) will organize a march from Lambi, Badal’s home village, to the Akal Takhat on February 27 to expose Badal and certain members of the SGPC.

The SAD (A) leaders accused the Jathedars of taking a lenient view of the objectionable acts of a senior functionary of the SGPC.

Another SAD (A) leaders, Ram Singh, said the move of the government to dispose more than 13,000 public properties was unjustified. The prime properties should not be sold to private persons just to raise funds. The SAD(A) will consider challenging the government’s decision in the court.

The SAD(A) leaders demanded compensation for the farmers whose potato crop was damaged due to frost.

On the issue of tussle between Iqbal Singh, Jathedar Takht Patna Sahib and president of the administration, Takht Patna Sahib, Mahinder Singh Romana, all the SAD (A) worker remained tightlipped. They announced that the Birthday of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale would be celebrated at Fateh Garh Sahib on February 12.

Gursewak Singh Jawaharke, general secretary of the SAD (A), Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wale and many other district level activists were also present.

Fazilka, January 28
Renowned neurologist Jagjit Singh Chopra, founder ex director-cum-principal of the Government Medical College, Chandigarh, who has been awarded for the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award on this Republic Day, has his roots in Fazilka.

Born in Lahore, Jagjit is son of Mohan Singh, an eminent qualified Medical Practitioner of Fazilka.

He did his early schooling from Primary School No-1 here. He graduated in medicine from Medical College, Patiala and completed his Ph.d from Chandigarh in 1967.

Jagjit served as head of the Neurology department of PGI Chandigarh. He was the founder director-cum-principal of Government Medical College, Chandigarh from 1991 to 1995. He submitted 235 scientific papers referred in 48 chapter of books. He also submitted 89 research projects, 54 monographs and presented papers in 145 global conferences on neurology.

In addition, Jagjit held the editorial responsibilities of 10 International Generals and published books on Tropical neurology.

He is emeritus professor of PGI Chandigarh and National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He is deemed to be first Indian Neurologist honoured in United States.

Jagjit is the third prominent personality from Fazilka to get the Padma award.

Bathinda, January 28
With several national and state awards to his credit, 20-years-old Om Prakash Singh has his eyes set on Olympic gold in shot put. He finished fourth at the Asian Grand Prix Championship held in Bangkok last year and sweating it out to win the gold in Indoor Asian Games being held at Doha from Feb 15 to 18.

Motivated to adopt shot put throw as his main sport by Army coach Sukhwinder Singh in 2004, seven feet six inhes tall Om Prakash proved his coach right by excelling in the game during past three years.

Resembling Arnold Schwnegewar in physique ,Om Prahash, has been throwing shot put with such an ease that the 7.226 Kg iron ball looked like a tennis ball in his hands. He hogged the limelight by winning bronze in National school games in 2004 and adding another feather to his cap by bagging the gold medal in CBSE National championship with record throw of 15.75 mts.

There was no looking back for Om after initial success and he was adopted by Salwan Throws Academy on the recommendations of Dr Banot, secretary,Athletic Federation of India. He benefited from the services of Russian coach at the academy and honed his skills to have competitive edge over his rivals.

He created a fluttter by a record throw of 19.36 mts at the Junior National Games in 2005 and represented India at Junior World Championship at Beijing.

Sports was not a career for Om Prakash, who wanted to be an engineer but destiny drove him to sports.

Son on ex-armyman from Gurgaon, Om proves the famous saying that “behind every successful man there is a women” and attributes his success to blessings of his mother.

“ No doubt hard work is key to success but I firmly believe in destiny”, says a humble and ground to earth, Om Prakash. He has no qualms about his meteorological rise and consider his success as a part of the game.

Impressed by his talent DLF Managing Director, Praveen Kumar Jain, has already started a monthly scholarship of Rs 20,000 per month for him.

A student of B.A final year, he practices for 5 hours a day and has already achieved a throw of 19 metres against Asian game record of 18.70 metres. It is the continuously improving perfermonce of Om Prakash, which is raising hopes of a gold in Asian games, and later 2012 Olympics. His promoter K.P.S Brar is confident that he will win gold in the Asian Games and also bring honour to the nation in 2012 olympics.

There is no dearth of talent in the country but no facilities to spot the talent at young age and groom it.

Abohar, January 28
Sandeep Rinwa retained his top position in the singles event this year by winning the De-addiction Cup Badminton Championship-2008.

The badminton tournament was organised by the local Badminton Association at the Nehru Stadium here on Sunday night.

Pankaj Sachdeva was declared runner-up in the singles event. In doubles event, Pankaj Sachdeva and Sunny Verma stood first while Sandeep Rinwa and Parampal Singh were the first runners-up.

Sub-divisional Magistrate N.S. Brar, while giving away the prizes, applauded the cooperation extended by the Non-government Organisations and the sports associations for bringing awareness against the drug menace by organising tournaments at regular intervals.

Deputy superintendent of police Parampal Singh said that such tournaments would be organised in every villages in the area.

About 70 players participated in the two-day events.

Barnala, January 28
The ‘Shri Maha Shiv Kanwar Sangh’ organised fourteen mass marriages of the poor girls at the Aggarwal Dharmshala here today.

Giving this information, Ashok Kumar Cheema, president of the Kanwar Sangh, said that this was the ninth consecutive year they were orgainsing marriages of the poor and needy girls irrespective of their caste or religion. So far they have orgainsed a total of 72 marriages.

Cheema said that every girl had been given required household articles. Piara Lal Raisar, a patron of the Aggarwal Sabha, Barnala, donated Rs 5,000 on the occasion, while former MLA Malkeet Singh Keetu gave Rs 2,100 as ‘shagun’ to the married couples.

Cheema informed that the marriages were orgainsed with the donation of the general public and particular cooperation of the BalaJi Trust and the Jai Durga Langar Committee.