Moga, May 8
The sudden demise of Baba Santa Singh, Jathedar of Baba Budha Dal at the Rajindra Medical College and Hospital, Patiala, this evening may land Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal in trouble.

A couple of days back, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued a notice to the CM reacting on a writ petition filed by the deceased Baba’s nephew Surinder Singh Babbar who feared that the Badal government may eliminate his ailing uncle under the garb of medical treatment within the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab to capture the fifth Takht, Damdama Sahib.

Just two days after the court notice was served to the CM through the Advocate-General’s office, Baba Santa Singh breathed his last. In his writ petition, Babbar had demanded that the ailing Baba be shifted either to the PGIMR Chandigarh or AIIMS New Delhi for better treatment.

Talking to The Tribune on telephone, Babbar said that he would be filing an application before the High Court tomorrow demanding the registration of a criminal case of murder under section 302 of the IPC against Badal.

He alleged that Badal was indirectly behind the death of his uncle, a great saint, who had kept the traditions of Nihangs alive. He said that Badal was already supporting one Balbir Singh who had illegally captured the takht and property of the Baba with support from the state government.

Since, Baba Santa Singh had never compromised politically with Badal throughout his life, the CM always had the desire to capture the fifth takht and divide the Nihangs for his vested political interests, Babbar further alleged.

He said that Baba Santa Singh, before his death, had nominated Baba Joginder Singh as acting chief of the Dal and Jathedar of the fifth Takht due to his poor health condition but Balbir Singh, by manipulating with Badal after a few of his family members were shot dead, six months back, captured both the positions forcibly.

Political observers were of the view that the row over the reins of the takht was likely to worsen in the days to come as the loyalists of Baba Santa Singh had already started joining hands together to take back the possession of their properties and religious bodies. They were already fighting legal battles for this purpose.

There could be a possibility of a clash between the two groups to take possession of the dead body of the Baba.

There were reports that the CM had already asked the senior authorities of the police to block all the roads leading to the main dera of the deceased Baba at Patiala that was presently under the control of Balbir Singh, supported by the state government.

Meanwhile, there were reports that Baba Joginder Singh had called an emergency meeting of the mahants of various gurudwaras at an undisclosed location tomorrow morning to chalk out their future strategy. This was confirmed by Babbar who had also been invited to attend the meeting.

Fazilka, May 8
Lightning that followed a strong dust-storm, struck a labourer, Joginder Singh (29), in Khui Khera village, who was carrying a pool of harvested wheat crop for loading in a thresher. He sustained burn injuries on the lower part of his body and died soon after.

In another incident in the same village, members of a labourer family comprising Veeran Bai (60), her son Prithvi Raj (40), daughter-in-law Krishan Rani (38) and grand-daughter Sunita (10) were filling wheat straw in a trailer in their fields. As the dust-storm and lightning appeared, the family sat below the trailer for shelter.

The wheat straw in the trailer caught fire and Veeran Bai, Prithvi Raj and Krishana Devi fell unconscious. They were immediately rushed to the local civil hospital where Veeran Bai was declared brought dead.

Muktsar: One person was killed while five sustained injuries due to lightning in Gidderbaha sub-division area. Five cattles, including three goats were also were killed due to nature's fury.

Sources in the village Husnar said, one farmer Balkaran Singh alias Gora (32), was collecting dry fodder when lightning struck him. Four persons, who were working with him, sustained injuries, rushed to the Civil Hospital, Gidderbaha.

Abohar: High velocity dust-storm, assisted by rain and hailstorm, affected recently sown Bt cotton in about half a dozen villages, including Khuyiansarwar, Daulatpura, Telupura, Sappanwali and Kikkarkhera.

In village Jandwala Hanwanta, five sheep were electrocuted during the heavy showers. In Patre Wala village, one farmer, Ravinder Singh, died while working in fields, as lightning struck him.

Bathinda, May 8
The Congress campaigners for the grassroots level Zila Parishad and Block samiti elections in Punjab have developed cold feet as the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has not obliged them by issuing a directive to his followers to vote for their candidates.

The Congress swept the Assembly election last year particularly in the Malwa belt as the Dera chief openly came out in support of the party. He has considerable following in this belt.

However, his silence during these elections on May 12 has upset the calculations of the Congress leaders who expected him to become a key factor.

A Congress MLA, who did not want to be identified, told this correspondent today that the pro-Congress spirit among the dera followers was lacking this time. Most of the dera followers have told the Congress campaigners that they will cast their vote by taking into account the performance and reputation of the candidates.

Senior Congress leaders were disappointed over the “unexpected” attitude of the dera chief who was facing a series of cases in the court.

A Congress leader said these elections were of local nature and as such issues pertaining to the respective areas would come to the fore.

Sources said that certain emissaries of the Congress recently visited the dera to seek support of Gurmeet Ram Rahim, but they were reportedly told that it was not an opportune time to meddle in political matters.

The local MLA of the Congress, Harminder Jassi, is closely related to the dera chief, but he could not be reached as his mobile phone was switched off.

It is worth mentioning that several incidents of the dera followers being targeted by certain Sikh groups have been reported in the Malwa belt after the Assembly elections.

The common people were not interested in precipitating the things further. Another Congress leader claimed that although the dera chief has not issued any directive, but his followers were participating in the Congress campaign.

Interestingly, the first anniversary of the Dera-Sikh clashes here falls two days after polling for these elections on May 14.

The Congress was trying to take benefit of the ire of the farmers against the SAD-BJP combine government on the issue of delay in lifting of wheat crop and also failure of the government to eliminate the arhtiyas from the grain procurement process.

They have also taken up the issue of frequent power cuts particularly in the rural areas where the farmers were unable to run tube wells.

Bathinda, May 8
A day after two IPS officers in the state, the SSP Batala and Sangrur went on leave ahead of the rural bodies’ elections, a similar development was reported at a junior level here today,

As many as five SHOs in the district have gone on leave till the end of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, fuelling speculations. Sources in the ruling party said that police officials who were not complying with the orders and were adamant” had been sent on leave till the elections.

The list procured from the police department mentions that SHO Balianwali, SHO Phul, SHO Nathana, SHO Raman and SHO Bhagta are in the list of those who have been sanctioned leave.

When contacted on the official phone number of the SHO Balianwali, the 
newly appointed sub-inspector Gulzar Singh, who has been sent from the EOW branch, Bathinda, said that SHO Kuldeep Singh is on leave till May 13 due to some personal work.

Further, additional SHO Phul, Sukhchain Singh, cited the same reason for the SHO Sukhdev Singh. SHO Nathana Sarabjit Singh said that SHO Harnek Singh has been sent to the Police Lines, Bathinda, and that after the elections, he would get a new posting.

SHO Raman, Amarjeet Singh, who has come from Sardoolgarh in Mansa district and joined on May 1, said SHO Ranbir Singh Pahlwan has cited his mother’s illness as the reason before leaving.

The in-charge of Bhagta police post, Gurbeer Singh, said that on May 4, Rajinder Singh has gone on a leave for 10 days. So, he had been posted from the Civil Lines police post in Bathinda.

On being asked about the actual reason, they said, “The reason is well known to the media and even the people, but we all have joined on the orders of the higher authorities.”

When contacted, the recently posted SP (H) Manminder Singh said, “They all submitted their applications citing “urgent work.” So, the leave was sanctioned. The rest is known to everyone.”

Denying any political pressure from the ruling party, SSP Bathinda Naunihal Singh said, “Only one SHO came to me with the request it was genuine. About the rest, I am not aware.”

Ferozepur, May 8
Altogether 121 students — out of 123 — of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mahianwala Kalan (Zira), who had fled from school hostel late on Wednesday night, have been traced. Two students are still missing.

According to sources, irate over the alleged poor facilities at the hostel, the students took the step.

Police launched an extensive search operation after the school principal reported the matter to the police at around 10:30 pm on Wednesday. They failed in their endeavour in the night.

Later, when the matter was reported to the district administration, the ADC (General) Jaskiran Singh along with other officials left for Zira early in the morning. Eventually, 121 students were found at village Gurudwara in Jamitpur Deru, some 37 kms from the school.

ADC said that the students first went to Dana Mandi in village Sher Khan and Kulgari and in the end took refuge in Gurudwara at Jamitpur Deru. He said that they did not follow any main road and kept walking from village to village to escape the attention of police or school authorities.

ADC said that students took the extreme step as they had some problems related to food being provided in the mess and they also had grudge with some staff members. ADC counselled the students and later ferried them back to the school in buses.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner, Megh Raj, who is the chairman of the governing body of the school, has constituted an inquiry headed by the ADC Jaskiran Singh to ascertain the reasons behind the incident.

DC said that any one found guilty would not be spared and all measures shall be taken to solve the genuine problems of the students.

It is pertinent to mention that earlier in the year 2002, same problem had happened when 34 students from this school had ran away from the hostel citing somewhat similar reasons.

When contacted, ADC Jaskiran Singh said that he had started inquiry into the episode, and the same was likely to be completed by tomorrow. ADC said that the students were not satisfied with certain arrangements regarding mess, medical aid; all of those things are being looked into.

While talking to media persons, the students said that they were not getting proper food in the hostel mess. Students also alleged that the behaviour of hostel management and certain staff members were not good.

Few students complained about poor electricity and potable water facilities in the school. The school principal was not available for his comments.

Ferozepur, May 8
At an emergency meeting held here today, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Ferozepur chapter, resented the registration of case against two doctors, Naresh Khanna and Saroj Khanna under section 304-A in connection with death of a patient, Harbhajan Kaur, who expired after abdominal hysterectomy was performed on her at the Khanna Nursing Home.

In a press release, V.P. Rangbulla, president IMA, said that the patient was suffering from fibroid uterus and the operation was carried out successfully. However, after the operation, the patient developed cardiac problems and later expired due to a heart attack.

IMA members while expressing condolence to the family members of the deceased said that the doctors were not at fault. Hence, there was no need to register a case against them. Moreover, as per the court rulings, no case should be registered unless a committee of senior doctors constituted by the civil surgeon proves the negligence of the doctor, rued the IMA members.

A senior medical consultant demanded that the FIR should be immediately cancelled and a committee should be formed to investigate into the matter according to the provisions of the law. Meanwhile, the doctor accused was granted bail in connection with the case.

Mansa, May 8
The controversy involving district administration and workers over a Samlat land at Dalel Singh Wala village, which was occupied by workers yesterday, has been sorted out today.

State secretary of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha Bhagwant Singh said that the district administration had given an assurance to the workers that after the completion of election processes, plots would be provided to them for construction of houses.

It may be recalled that workers of Dalel Singh Wala village yesterday occupied the four acre land and installed their tents there. The district administration later removed them from there and also arrested nearly 25 persons.

Today, after a compromise, all arrested persons were released. Tehsildar Baljeet Singh Sandhu said that the controversy was resolved.

Meanwhile, workers under the banner of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha also tried to occupy the five-acre Samlat land of Klana Village near Budhlada.

Tension prevailed when the sarpanch of this village reached the spot with his men and tried to prevent the workers from doing so. District officials reached the spot and assured the workers of resolving problem of plots after the elections.

Mansa, May 8
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched its campaigning to garner support for its candidates who are contesting the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls.

The district president of BJP, Suraj Kumar Chhabra, Balwinder Singh, district president Kisan Morcha, Sukhdev Singh Farmahi, state committee member of BJP and Prem Singh Bakshi Wala addressed meeting at villages, including Sher Khan Wala, Ghandu Kalan, Ghandu Khurd, Ghami Wala, Boha, Tall Wala, Lakhi Wala, Uddat Saidiwala and Alampur Mandran.

The BJP leaders sought votes for party candidates, including Mukhtiar Kaur contesting for the Boha Zila Parishad seat, Anju Bala for the Bakshi Wala Panchayat Samiti seat and Brahamdev Mangla for the Boha Panchayat Samiti seat.

Congress district president and Sardoolgarh MLA Ajitinder Singh Moffer today visited different villages, including Fatehpur, Mohda, Chekewala, Bhamme Kalan, Kort Dharmu, Joga, Musha, Talwandi Akalian, Tandiyan and Jourkian.

Abohar: Congress MLA Sunil Jakhar today addressed several meetings at Panniwala Mahla, Jandwala Hanwanta, Usmankhera, Diwankhera, Killianwali and Sayyedwala villages to mobilise support for Congress candidates including Suman, Jaipal Singh Siyag, Saroj Rani, Anita Rani, Harpal Kaur, Diwan Chand, Sukhjinder Singh Jakhar and Gora Devi.

Barnala, May 8
SSP Bathinda Naunihal Singh, who has been given the additional charge of Barnala, addressed his first press conference here today.

He said that there were a total of 427 election booths in the district and out of these, 125 were sensitive and 202 non-sensitive.

No election booth had been declared as hypersensitive. About 270 security personnel of the rank of NGOs, SPOs and OR have been approved for the district.

Ferozepur, May 8
Irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon refuted news item, which appeared in a certain section of media.

It said hundreds of farmers led by BJP leader and president Punjab Mahila Morcha, Vijay Luxmi Bhadu, blocked his vehicle and raised slogans against him regarding the poor irrigational facilities in their villages.

Sekhon had yesterday gone to Seeto Gunno village in Abohar to attend a private function at the residence of Akali leader, Sanjiv Godhara.

Bathinda, May 8
The municipal corporation today initiated digging for foundation to raise a wall around the traditional water body “Sanjay Nagar Toba” here, despite objection from residents.

In the morning, some MC officers under the leadership of superintending engineer, BD Singla, with the help of JCB and other equipment went to the place to construct the covering wall around “Sanjay Nagar Toba”.

When the MC staff was about to start the work, people started raising anti-establishment slogans. They even threatened to hurl stones at the officers.

Sensing the tense situation, the staff called up the police, who reached late due to poll rehearsal. Meanwhile, municipal commissioner K.K.Yadav along with SDM, tehsildar and some senior police officers reached the spot.

The commissioner also had a verbal duel with a local councillor for his “uncalled for interference” in the work. After a round of negotiations, the MC official succeeded in digging up the foundation for the wall.

Interestingly, just after the work began, dust-storm and rainfall forced the labourers to stop the work.

When contacted, K.K. Yadav, MC Commissioner, said, “The wall is a part of Rs 40-crore project and it is needed now because people have been encroaching rapidly. It was pre-decided to raise the wall and in this regard we had served a notice to the Waqf Board.”

“During the negotiations, we have allowed two to three people, whose houses were in the periphery of the water body, to raise their structure close to the wall and made them agree to allow the work to continue. Foundation work has been started and within a few days, the wall will be constructed,” he added.

Bathinda, May 8
After witnessing heavy rainfall, followed by hailstorm in some parts, temperature in Bathinda came down by five degrees Celsius and lowest temperature of Punjab and Haryana was today recorded here.

According to Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station (PAURRS), Bathinda, today the temperature here was recorded at 38 degrees Celsius as compared to 42 ° C on Wednesday.

According to Indian Meteorological Department, Chandigarh, temperature in Amritsar was the hottest city with a temperature of 40.2 ° C, followed by Patiala recording 40.1 °C, Ludhiana recording 39.9 ° C, and Chandigarh 38.4 ° C. In Haryana, Hisar was the hottest city with a temperature of 41.4 °C, followed by Bhiwani at 40.4 °C, Karnal at 39 °C and Ambala 38.6 °C.

Yet the agriculture experts feel that this rainfall is not good for the already sown cotton crop, as it would lead to crust formation on the crop.

Bathinda residents, who have been reeling under hot temperature for the past 20 days, today, witnessed dust storm, followed by hailstorm and then heavy rainfall.

Due to rising temperature, Bathinda had also witnessed two deaths on May 5. On May 3 and 4, the maximum was recorded at 44 degrees Celsius.

The city temperature crossed 40 ° C mark on April 21, when the maximum temperature of the day was 40 ° C. Then it rose to 40.5 ° C on April 25 and 41 ° C on the very next day.

Gurmit Singh Buttar, director, PAURRS, said, “Cotton crop will be affected due to this untimely rainfall. Cotton sowing has already been late due to the closure of canals. Now, the sowing will be delayed further. Due to rain, the germination of the already sown cotton crop will be affected due to crust formation on the crop. In some places, where the rainfall has been more, farmers will have to re-sow the cotton crop, which would increase their cost of cultivation due to the costly Bt cotton seed.”

Bathinda, May 8
The Nehianwala police today arrested two youths, Kewal Singh of Amargarh and Kuldeep Singh of Romana Ajit Singh, who allegedly attempted to outrage the modesty of a lady assistant sub-inspector, Jaswinder Kaur, posted at Crime Against Women Cell on April 19.

In her complaint, she had said that she was coming from Nehianwala, where she was deputed on the day, and her colleague arranged for a lift from one of his acqiauntances in a car for Bathinda.

But on the way, the accused diverted the car towards Amargarh and tried to do molest her. When she threatened, they stopped the car and fled.

Bathinda, May 8
The World Red Cross Day with “Working together to combat climate changes” as the theme for this year, was celebrated with much fanfare jointly by the Punjab Red Cross and United Welfare Society at the local Red Cross office here today.

Rahul Tewari, Deputy Commissioner. Bathinda, and president, Red Cross Society, was the chief guest at the felicitation function to commemorate the 180th birth anniversary of Sir Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross movement.

Speaking on the occasion, Tewari stressed upon the need for voluntary blood donation. He said that there existed a great gap between the blood needed and blood collected in one year. He appealed the people to work unitedly for the welfare of the poor and the downtrodden.

Handicapped persons and widows were also presented with tricycles and sewing machines respectively by the Deputy Commissioner.

United Welfare Society, Bathinda, organised a blood donation camp in which 13 units of blood was collected.

Those felicitated on the occasion included J.R Goyal, secretary, Punjab Red Cross Society, Vijay Bhatt, president, United Welfare Society, H L Bansal, national awardee, Brig Bant Singh, executive member, Red Cross Society and Naresh Pathania, training officer.

Dr Indu Bhushan Aggarwal, acting civil surgeon and Manish Kumar, DTO, besides life members, executive members and patrons, Red Cross Society, were also present.