Dera Baba Nanak, April 24
In order to facilitate devotees to catch a glimpse of the historical Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara located in Narowal district of Pakistan, the Border Security Force (BSF) has constructed a beautiful viewing area.

Located on the banks of the Ravi, the gurdwara is at the place where founder of the Sikh religion Guru Nanak Dev (1469 -1539) spent the last years of his life as a humble farmer.

Interestingly, the gurdwara is just 4.5 km away from the viewing point and is clearly visible with the naked eye on clear days. Besides, the personnel at the border observation posts too are helpful and willingy to lend their binoculars to the devotees who cannot afford to visit the place.

Over the years, the demand to have a corridor to the shrine has gathered momentum. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated his desire to have a corridor to the holy place so that devotees can visit it without any restrictions.

Talking to The Tribune, Baba Sukhdeep Singh Bedi, who claims to be a descendant of Guru Nanak Dev, said he had shouldered the responsibility so that sangat could offer prayers easily. Earlier, the devotees had to sit at the Dhussi Bandh and there were no facilities of any kind at that place. The conditions used to worsen in case of inclement weather, he pointed out. Baba Bedi said, “A sum of Rs 20 lakh had been spent so far and the project would be inaugurated by the BSF IG in the first week of May.”

Commenting on the project, he said the BSF authorities were kind enough to allow the construction that was initially objected by the Pakistani rangers. “It was due to efforts of the BSF only that work was initiated,” he said, adding that a waiting room was also being constructed for the devotees.

He said the viewing area comprises a spacious cabin for visiting dignitaries and a roofed stand for general public. In addition to it, binoculars would be provided to the visitors so that they can have a closer look. Funding had never been a problem since devotees have offered their help regularly. All the material had been procured keeping the aesthetic beauty of place in mind, Bedi added. The BSF officials said they tried their best to help the devotees and had improved the road network in the area with the help of Border Area Development Funds.

An official said when the BSF told the Pakistani Rangers that some trees block the view of the historic gurdwara from India’s side, the later pruned those trees to give a better vision.

Amritsar, April 24
Vimal Kumar Setia, additional commissioner, Amritsar municipal corporation and Shakti Sagar Bhatia MTP have been appointed as the returning officer and assistant returning officer, respectively, for the byelection of the Amritsar south constituency to be held on May 22.

Kahan Singh Pannu, deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer stated this while addressing a meeting of representatives of various political parties and concerned officers at the circuit house here on Thursday.

It is pertinent to mention here that the by-election to the Amritsar south constituency was being held due to the death of SAD MLA Raminder Singh Bularia.

Pannu announced that there are 1,32,172 voters which include 51 service voters. He said for the smooth conduct of the polling, about 140 polling stations would be set up in the area, which include 13 auxiliary polling stations. He said nomination for the elections would start from April 28 and the last date for this was May 5.

He said verification of the nominations would he held on May 6 and the last date of withdrawal is May 8. The counting of votes would be held on May 25 and the whole election process would come to an end on May 27.

Amritsar, April 24
A woman allegedly died after an illegal abortion by a nurse (midwife) in the Bhikhiwind area about 50 kilometers from here on Thursday. The abortion was conducted in the house of the deceased.

The police has registered a case under section 314 of the IPC at the Bhikhiwind police station on Thursday against the accused nurse named Bholi, on the statement of Lakhwinder Singh, the husband of the woman.

In his complaint lodged with the police, Lakhwinder, a resident of the Pahuwind village said he was married to Kindar Kaur of Mari Theh village about five years ago and they had two children. He said his wife had gone to her parent’s house for taking medicine. The victim’s mother had called her a village nurse there on Thursday to get the child aborted.

The police said the accused midwife went underground after the registration of the case. However, investigations were on to find her. 

Hoshiarpur, April 24
The Garshankar police booked three persons, including two women, for duping a widow of her property on the pretext of sending her to Canada. The accused have been identified as Balbir Singh, Vijay Kumari and Vidya.

Victim Surjit Kaur of Badoan Sardullapur village said after her husband’s death she decided to visit her relatives in Canada. When she told the accused about her desire they demanded Rs 30 lakh to help her.

She said, “I told them it was not possible for me to arrange such a huge amount. So they took “jamabandi” of my three acre land from the patwari and asked me to sign the papers of land possession.” She alleged that the accused took possession of her land forcibly and did not keep their promise of sending her to Canada. — OC