Goniana, January 29
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced that a college would be built in the memory of Bhai Tirath Singh Ji Seva Panthi of Goniana, who passed away recently.

The CM also assured that the proposal of the education committee and the followers of the Tikana Sahib, the dera of Bhai Bhagta ji, for the college would be approved.

He disclosed that Bhai Tirath wanted to contribute to the field of education in the area. Badal further spoke at length about the contribution made by the saint in the field of education, society and religion.

The Chief Minister was here to express his condolences to the newly-appointed successor of Bhai Tirath Singh, Bhai Kahan Singh Ji. The Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Avtar Singh also shared his feelings with Bhai Kahan Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Avtar Singh announced that an eye hospital would be set up in the area to honour the memory of Bhai Tirath Singh Ji.

The SGPC chief also anounced a contribution of Rs 10 lakh for the cause.

People were also informed on the occasion that the bhog ceremony of the saint would be held at the Assa Singh Girls College here on January 31.

Abohar, January 29
The Railway Passengers’ Association (North Zone) today urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to clear the hurdles in the way of the Abohar-Fazilka rail link project. Badal was here to console the family of a former SGPC member, Inderjit Singh, who had died yesterday at Gaddandob village following a brief illness.

He also discussed problems of the area with SAD (B) workers. Hanuman Dass Goyal, joint secretary of the association, in a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, said that the 42.25-km long railway track project would link Jaisalmer (via Sriganganagar) with Udhampur (via Jammu). Not only would the business community but the defence forces would also benefit from the rail link project. The link would be instrumental in boosting foreign trade at Kandla sea port in Gujarat, said Goyal.

“At present, trucks are being used for transportation to and from Kandla which takes a lot of time. The rail link would also result in increasing the revenue of the state as it would help in promoting inter-state business,” Goyal said.

Quoting official reports, Goyal said that the Railway ministry had released compensation worth Rs 19.20 crore to the state government for acquiring land for the Abohar-Fazilka rail link project. But the state government was yet to give the physical possession of 45 acres of its seed farm land.

Goyal said that some SAD (B) activists had been claiming that the Chief Minister had agreed to provide compensation at the rate of Rs 1 lakh per acre to the illegal occupants of the government land. But Badal was yet to make any announcement on this complicated issue.

The foundation stone of the rail link was laid by the then railway minister about a decade ago but its completion was still awaited, he said.

Official sources said the Chief Minister and his younger brother Gurdas Singh Badal, a former MP, condoled the family of Inderjit Singh at their Gaddandob residence. They also spoke to them about the contribution of the deceased worker in the upliftment of the party.

Bathinda, January 29
To ensure the development of sports in the state, the Punjab government is giving 
final touches to the much-awaited new sports policy. Giving this information, Punjab Sports and Youth Services Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, said here today that the first-ever comprehensive policy for sports would be implemented soon.

The minister was speaking to the TNS on the concluding day of the three-day Punjab State Panchayat Tournament for U-16 boys and girls, which was organised at the Sports Stadium, here.

Ranike also said that the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had decided to allocate Rs 2 crore in its budget for sports in the institutions run by it. “The Punjab government would also double the sports wing seats in government schools and colleges,” he said

“In this regard, a meeting has already been held and another one would be convened soon. A high-level committee of experts, formed for the purpose, had submitted its report and the government is considering the report minutely before adopting the same,” Ranike said.

The minister said that the sports equipment in the entire state would be upgraded to achieve better results at the national and international levels. “We would provide good stadiums in the rural areas and the government has also decided to revive the previous scheme of providing block-level stadiums at a cost of Rs 25 lakh each,” he added. “This scheme was abandoned by the previous government. And now these stadiums would be constructed in those villages, which are holding famous sports tournaments,” Ranike alleged.

He also said that an Olympic gold medallist from the state would also pocket Rs 1 crore, Rs 50 lakh would be given to the silver medallists, while a bronze medallist would get Rs 25 lakh. “Cash awards would be given to those sportspersons from the state who excel in recognised national and international sports competitions, under the new sports policy being formulated by the state government,” Ranike added.

Ranike said that at present, the international veteran sportspersons in the state were getting a pension of Rs 1,000 per month, while those who had excelled at the national level were getting Rs 600 per month. “There are altogether 126 such sportspersons in Punjab. In our state’s sports policy, which would match the national one, Rs 3,000 per month would be provided to international sportspersons and Rs 2,000 to national sportspersons. They will also be given jobs,” the sports minister claimed.

Bathinda, January 29
The son-in-law of an SHO had planned and perpetrated the sensational kidnapping of the three-year-old, Amrajveer Singh alias Gappu, the police claimed today while unravelling the kidnapping incident, which had stunned the city.

The police also arrested six persons, including the alleged mastermind of the crime and his maternal aunt. “The accused have been arrested and the amount of Rs 8 lakh, paid by way of ransom, has also been recovered,” police officials said.

According to reports, the main accused in the kidnapping case, Sukhdeep Singh alias Sandeep, a resident of 26/3, Ajit Road, is the son-in-law of SHO, Civil Lines police station, Ranjit Singh. He was reportedly experiencing financial difficulties and the lure of easy money had made him resort to kidnapping in which his friend Ramu and maternal aunt Surjeet Kaur were accomplices.

It may be recalled that Gappu was kidnapped while playing in front of his house in Model Town, Phase II, on Friday evening. On the basis of the statement made by his cousin and his paternal uncle Baljinder Singh, a case had been registered at the Kotwali police station.

Claiming to have cracked the case, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Naunihal Singh said that the father of the child, Raghuwinder, was asked to pay Rs 10 lakh for the safe release of his son. But the deal was later settled at Rs 8 lakh. The car involved in the crime, a white Maruti bearing the number PB-04D-0399 has been recovered. An amount of Rs 6 lakh was recovered from Sukhdeep, Rs 1 lakh from Ramu and Rs 91,650 from Surjeet Kaur. Thus, out of the total amount of Rs 8 lakh paid as ransom, Rs 7,91,650 has been recovered, the SSP said.

The accused, Sukhdeep, was reportedly a kabaddi player and had toured England in 2003. Later, he played for various clubs. He had some financial difficulties ostensibly because of the amount spent on the construction of his house and marriage.

After investigating the case, the police found that the mobile phone used by the kidnappers was activated on the basis of fake identity proof and the persons involved in preparing the fake documents, Amit Gupta, Amit Misra and Kewal Krishan, had also been arrested. Amit Misra of Goniana admitted to the police that he had been continuously attesting the fake documents with fake stamps.

Refuting rumours regarding some personal rivalry between the boy’s family and the accused, the SSP said, “The boy was made a target just for easy money and there was no rivalry. The accused were in search of some rich family and unfortunately, they kidnapped Gappu.”

Regarding the role of SHO Ranjit Singh, the SSP praised him for his cooperation.

Earlier the father of the boy, Raghuwinder Singh had told the TNS on Monday evening: “A rickshaw-puller delivered to me a chit bearing a mobile number at my house this afternoon. When I called up at the number, the person told me to wait and said that he would call me up. In the evening, the kidnapper rang me up and immediately handed over the phone to my son. Then the kidnapper asked me to follow his instructions and reach a place near Model Town Phase III, with the ransom. Following his instructions, I reached with the money without disclosing anything to the police.

“It appeared as if the kidnapper was keeping an eye on my movements as he was giving me instructions where to turn on the road. The kidnappers were two in number and were in a white Maruti whose number was illegible. After getting the bag of money, they released my son,” Raghuwinder added.

Bathinda, January 29
The proposal to shift the Government Rajindra College, a premier educational institute of Malwa region, to a place outside the city and to set up a college for girls at the site, has irked a section of the students.

According to sources, the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) has chalked out a plan to shift the college to a vacant plot at the Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology at Dabwali Road following orders from the acting president of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Sources said a team of architectects has visited the city to review the proposal. It has been reported that the engineering college has 165 acres of the land, of which only 50 acres have been used by the institution and the rest has been given for farming on lease. Now the authorities have chalked up a plan to use that vacant plot of land.

When the SAD, halqa in-charge, Sarup Chand Singla was contacted, he said, “It would benefit girls in the city as there is no separate college for girls and the plot of land lying vacant at the engineering college would be best utilised if the scheme gets the approval.”

On the other hand, the activists of the Punjab Students Union (Shaheed Randhawa) today lodged a protest against the proposed shifting of Rajindera College. Raising anti-government slogans, the activists alleged, “The authorities concerned do not think about the welfare of the students. They have some ulterior motive.”

“If the college is shifted to some other place, the land mafia will capture the site for commercial purposes. The proposal to set up a college for girls is just an attempt to veil the self-centered policies of the authorities concerned.”

The general secretary of the students union, Manpreet Singh, said that the PSU has begun a protest for the rollback of the proposal. 

Bathinda, January 29
Ludhiana lifted the overall trophy of the first Punjab State Panchayat Tournament for U-16 boys and girls by winning 17 points on the concluding day of the three-day tournament at the Sports Stadium, here today.

Tarn Taran and Mansa shared the podium for the second place with 10 points each whereas Bathinda stood third with 9 points to its credit.

Gulzar Singh Ranike, Minister of Sports and Youth Services, Punjab, who was the chief guest on the occasion, gave away the prizes to the winners along with Pargat Singh, director (sports). The minister also declared January 30 as a holiday in all the schools of Bathinda district.

Results:

Boys:

100m: 1. Ranjit Singh (Ferozepur) 2. Charanjit Singh (Ropar) 3. Vinod Kumar (Ludhiana).

Discus throw: 1. Agyapal Singh (Tarn Taran) 2. Ramandeep Singh (Ferozepur) 3. Harpreet Singh (Ludhiana).

Javelin throw: 1. Vir Devinder Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib) 2. Amarbir Singh (Amritsar) 3. Manjot Singh (Mansa).

3000m: 1. Sukhjinder Singh (Gurdaspur) 2. Gurjant Singh (Ferozepur) 3 .Gagandeep Singh (Gurdaspur).

Girls:

100m: 1. Ekamjot Kaur (Ludhiana) 2. Jaspreet Kaur (Tarn Taran) 3. Amandeep Kaur (Hoshiarpur).

High jump: 1. Suman Devi (Muktsar) 2. Kulbir Kaur (Tarn Taran) 3. Parneet Kaur (Sangrur).

3000m: 1. Navneet Kaur (Sangrur) 2. Rajvir Kaur (Sangrur) 3. Kamalpreet Kaur (Gurdaspur).

Fazilka, January 29
To check female foeticide, a local pre-natal determination team led by Y.K.Gupta, senior medical officer (SMO) at the civil hospital, Fazilka, visited two ultrasound scan centres in the town today.

Raj Kishore Kalra, president of the Social Welfare Society, an NGO, also accompanied the SMO.

After conducting the inspection, Gupta said the entire record of these scan centres was found to be correct and these centres were functioning according to the law. The SMO informed that the society would organise a seminar on the theme “Female Foeticide- A Curse” at the local Government Girls Senior Secondary School next week to create awareness about female foeticide that has been rearing its ugly head in the region.

Fazilka, January 29
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Fazilka branch, with the cooperation of the health department arranged a special workshop today to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by involving private medical practitioners in this project. Narinder Kumar Sethi, secretary of the IMA, Fazilka, disclosed this here today.

K.K.Bansal, technical consultant of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), Punjab, S.S.Walia, civil surgeon, Ferozepur, Anup Singh, district TB officer, Ferozepur, Y.K.Gupta, SMO, civil hospital, Fazilka, and Davinder Kumar Bhukkal, medical officer RNTCP Fazilka block, V.K.Mujral, president IMA, and about 50 doctors from different private hospitals and clinics participated in the workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, Bansal announced that under the joint venture programme worked out by the IMA and the health department, free medicines for TB would be made available at private clinics under the RNTCP.

Directly Observed Treatment Strategy (DOTS) centres would be set up in these clinics where TB patients could get free medicines supplied by the health department.

He said that even microscopic centres for checking the sputum of TB patients would be set up at these private clinics. The health department would provide all the equipment for conducting the tests for TB patients.

The technical consultant further revealed that to involve more private sector hospitals and clinics in this programme, any doctor referring a TB patient to the government hospital or health centre would get an incentive of Rs 250 per case subject to completion of the treatment and cure of the patient.

Civil surgeon S.S.Walia, while addressing the gathering of doctors, said setting up of the TB centres in private hospitals would go a long way in eradicating the TB.

He said it would also help to dispel the fears of the common people as the medicine for the treatment of the TB conformed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards and had proved to be effective for patients.

All the doctors present on the occasion showed a keen interest in the new project and took a pledge to eradicate TB.

Y.K.Gupta, V.K.Mujral, Anup Singh and G.S.Dhillon, all doctors, addressed the workshop and maintained that the joint effort would to be a ray of hope, particularly for the poor and needy, in the treatment of tuberculosis. 

Abohar, January 29
The increasing trend of encroaching upon a 200 feet prohibited strip on both sides of the national highways in the region remains unchecked notwithstanding the concern repeatedly expressed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, indicates a survey conducted by The Tribune.

Huge stacks of cotton waste wood stored by the roadside pose a threat to agricultural farms and orchards besides increasing chances of road mishaps. A central team on plant protection had recently visited the sub-division to assess the losses incurred by cotton growers due to attack of the deadly pest, Mealy bug.

Agricultural experts, during an interaction with this correspondent here during last quarter of the
year 2007, had admitted that they had not apprehended the trouble. So, the question of suggesting any certified insecticide did not arise.

Even the managing director of a globally renowned insecticide manufacturing company during a meeting with the media here had conceded that only trial and error method was suggested to tackle the menace as it virtually took seven to eight years to complete research work on a new pest and it involved an expenditure which runs into millions of rupees.

The central team on finding Mealy bug inside the cotton wood stacks near village Balluana on the NH-10 had asked the agriculture department to create awareness among the farmers. Accordingly the district magistrate, sub-divisional magistrates and agricultural officials had asked the village panchayats besides all government departments to launch a campaign to eradicate the Mealy bug menace.

As many as eight vehicles loaded with loudspeakers were flagged off by the SDM N.S. Brar last fortnight to make announcement in the villages. The sound system of gurdwara in most of the villages was also used to appeal to farmers not to stack cotton wood waste near the fields or greenery. The officials had started a vigorous drive to get weeds and other unwanted growth uprooted from the link roads, schools, cremation grounds, dharamshalas etc. with the help of panchayats and schools.

But the way the farmers had stored the cotton wood waste, used as fuel, on the both sides of the Abohar-Sriganganagar road (National Highway) is alarming.

Importantly, the authorities responsible for maintaining the national highways had in 2005 launched a drive against the encroachments. Some houses in Khuikhera village besides dwellings raised by the migrant farm workers near Dangarkhera village on the sub-canal in between Abohar and Fazilka were demolished.

Some action was taken at the city bypass also but the encroachers apparently succeeded in stalling the drive as it proceeded to the Abohar-Sriganganagar road (NH-15). Since then, more and more encroachments have become visible outside village Khuyiansarwar, Gidderanwali, Kallarkhera etc. It is now difficult to find even a metre of space available in between the markets and the highway at some places.

Sources in the administration confirmed that road mishaps on this stretch of the highway had been maximum in the region during the last year.

The district officials, when contacted, simply reiterated that action under the law would be taken.

But the circumstantial evidence indicates that it might prove to be a long wait.

Fazilka, January 29
The marriages of two poor girls were solemnised by the Baba Ram Dev Sewa Samiti and the Bodiwala Pitha chief Bhagat Kuldeep Sahu as a sequel to his mass marriages campaign launched by the samiti.

These marriages were held in the City Garden marriage palace here on Sunday. Both the brides hailed from Fazilka and got married with grooms belonging to other towns.

The newly-wedded couples were blessed by SDM Rajiv Prashar and other prominent citizens of the town including Davinder Kumar Sachdeva, municipal councillor, Davinder Singh Sawansukha, sarpanch of village Chananwala, Rakesh Nagpal and Lila Dhar Sharma.

The newly-weds were gifted gold and silver ornaments, furniture, sewing machines, household goods, et al. The marriage party was well attended. It is pertinent to mention here that Bhagat Kuleep Sahu has so far solemnised more than 400 mass marriages of the poor and needy girls in different programmes indicating the success of the programme.

Abohar, January 29
The employees of the rural regional banks (RRBs) would stage a dharna on January 31 in front of the head offices of their respective banks, said A.P.S. Brar, state president of the All Punjab Gramin Bank Officers Association here today. 

Brar further said the call for the dharna had been given by the All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association in support of the demands which include, formation of National Rural Bank of India by incorporating state-level rural banks, parity in pension benefits and other allowances with commercial banks-- in compliance of the settlement reached in 1993-94, proper manpower planning, promotion and recruitment, appointments on compassionate grounds, negotiating forum and representation to workmen or officers in the board of management in the regional rural banks.

Informing that one such dharna would be staged outside the head office of the Punjab Gramin Bank in Kapurthala, Brar regretted that even when the RRBs had completed 32 years of successful working, there was no negotiating forum. Representation to the workmen/officers was denied in the board of directors. Pension and other benefits were also not offered.

The RRBs had attracted people from the rural areas to banking but the government was not prepared to reward the employees for their contribution, he said.

Mansa, January 29
Following a call by the Joint Struggle Committee, farmers boycotted the convention organised by the district administration to solve the problem of pollution that would emanate from the thermal plant to be established at Banawala village.

The district administration, through the convention, wanted to know the views of the people regarding the pollution. However, farmers, labourers and youths blocked the Mansa-Talwandi Sabo road and held a rally today. Addressing the rally, president of the committee Malkeet Singh said the district administration held the convention overlooking the farmers and their demands.

Ruldu Singh Mansa, president of the Punjab Kisan Union, said that their demands included a reasonable price for the acquired land and 80 per cent job guarantee to the children of farmers and labourers of Banawala and other nearby villages.

Among others who addressed the rally were Rajwinder Rana, state secretary of the CPI (ML), Bhagwant Singh, state secretary of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, Mithu Singh, Darshan Singh Raipur, Mahinder Singh, Karnail Singh Mansa and Balkaran Singh Balli.

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case against protesting farmers following a controversy that arose between the farmers and the sarpanch of a nearby village.

Bathinda, January 29
Their “stance” and their “glance” may drive one crazy and one could easily be bowled over by their style too. This is not a ‘silly point’ that one is seeking to make. It is about a ‘gentlemen’s game’ that has been mastered by these girls. And what is more important is that the achievement of being able to wield the willow is a positive sign in an area that has also borne the stigma of female foeticide.

Meet the women cricketers of the Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, who after breaching another, hitherto, male bastion, are dreaming of taking up cricket professionally.

Stuck in studies and kitchen chores, they never had the chance to take up ‘gulley cricket.’ But Kulvir, Lakhvir, Sandeep and others held the bat for the first time in the college which introduced them to the game.

Sisters, Kulvir and Lakhvir, from Gurusar Sanewala village in Bathinda district, hail from an agricultural family. It was never easy for them to ignore traditions. But thanks to their parents, they mustered the courage to ‘duck’ the remarks of their fellow villagers. As a result, Kulvir today delivers deadly leg-spins and Lakhvir never misses stumping chances.

Though a spinner, Kulvir likes to blow like a gale just like her idol Zaheer Khan. And Lakhvir too is very clear about her preferences. “I emulate Dhoni,” she says, flaunting her mane, which is longer than the Indian wicket-keeper.

Another ‘Pind di Kudi’, Sandeep, who is doing her Masters in political science, has been giving a tough time to the bowlers for the last five years. “In the first year, it was difficult to manage studies along with cricket, but now we are used to it. Four hours of training is a must,” she said. She complains about sledging by neighbours, but has now learnt how to duck it and not take offence like the Men in Blue have done while touring Down Under.

Kamaljeet, Kanika and Madhavi too have made their pitch. They have been selected for the inter-university cricket camp.

When asked whether they would continue playing the game even after getting married, they nodded in the affirmative. They, however, admit that there are ‘certain problems’ for women. These eves may still have a long way to go as far as the game is concerned, but it cannot be denied that they have taken the guard to begin a new innings in life.