Bathinda, July 22
To prevent any untoward incident during the Punjab bandh called for on Wednesday, the district administration is learnt to have made strict security arrangements.

Officiating deputy commissioner, Bathinda, Vijay Zade said the administration had made all arrangements to maintain law and order during the bandh. "All sensitive points have been identified and duty magistrates along with heavy police force have been deployed over there," he said.

"In the city, four duty magistrates would be deputed. The SDMs would be the over all in-charge of the administrative arrangements in the sub-divisions. Besides, a number of officers would be available for receiving memorandums from the Sikh protesters," he added.

Replying to a query, he said that no official order had been received from the state authorities regarding the closure of government institutions during the day.

Speaking about the security arrangements, SSP Bathinda, Ashish Chaudhary said that all deras of the Sacha Sauda sect had been cordoned off and adequate number of policemen had been deployed to keep vigil.

Meanwhile, leaders of various Sikh organisations have announced that while marriages and ambulances would be beyond the purview of the bandh, movement on the road would remain disrupted.

Medical institutions like hospitals would be allowed to remain open but business establishments would be asked to down shutters.

These organisations have also chalked out a programme for staging dharnas at various places in the district.

Speaking over the phone, Baljeet Singh Dadu Sahib Wale, convener of the Sant Samaj, said that in Bathinda city, four places have been identified for staging dharna. These are Bibi Wala chowk, Liberty chowk, Sadhbhavna chowk and Bhai Kanhaiya chowk. Meanwhile, dharnas would also be staged in other towns of the district.

He said a meeting had been scheduled at 8 am in Qila Mubarik after which a minimum of 51 members would sit on dharna at these four selected places. Senior religious leaders would be on the move to oversee the arrangements and also to ensure that the protest is being held in a peaceful manner.

Speaking further, he disclosed that followers of Sikhism had been ordered to keep their customary weapons inside the sheaths. Carrying of all other weapons, including lathis, would not be allowed.

He said that throughout the day, only two slogans would be raised, "Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal" and "Sirsa Dera Wale Nu Giraftaar Karo."

He also claimed that various Hindu organizations would cooperate in the staging of dharnas.

Bathinda, July 22
In the absence of proper management of traffic flow, motorists and pedestrians are having a harrowing time negotiating the Bathinda-Goniana road in the city.

Due to the ongoing work, one side of the Bathinda-Goniana road has been almost closed for traffic while the second part is also in a poor condition, creating hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic.

The worst affected is the Hanuman Chowk, the busiest location in the city. Besides being located centrally, it also forms the junction where the Mall road and the road from the side of the stadium converge.

Apparently ignorant of the problem that city residents are facing on account of it, the police has deputed only two-three traffic cops there to regulate the flow of vehicles. But mostly, when traffic is at its peak during the afternoon, only one cop remains present, for whom controlling the situation is an uphill task.

During a visit to the Hanuman Chowk today, the TNS team observed chaos on the street in which an ambulance and school bus were found stranded. As the vehicles were not moving in a single file, it took the ambulance more than 10 minutes to find its way despite sounding the emergency hooter.

Subhash Kumar, a two-wheeler rider, whose wife was on the pillion, said because of the heavy flow of traffic, it took them over five minutes to cross a stretch of a few metres, that too in the scorching heat.

The driver of an autorickshaw ferrying schoolchildren, Harsh Pal Singh, rued, “We have to tackle two problems. On the one hand, children start crying in this heat, and on the other, we have to negotiate this chaos.”

“You can well imagine the condition of a man who is regulating this unending queues in the scorching heat,” said the only traffic policeman deputed over there.

When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bathinda, Ashish Chaudhary, said, “For some days now, the police force has been deployed to maintain security in view of the call for Punjab bandh on Wednesday. But there is a plan to overhaul traffic management after that.”

Bathinda, July 22
Mealy bug, a pest, that has troubled farmers in the region has again become a cause of worry for the farmers of Malwa. During a visit to some villages in Bathinda and Muktsar districts, farmers were found spraying pesticides on small cotton plants to prevent it them from getting infected by the bug.

When asked, Jagtar Singh, a farmer of Jodhpur Romana village in Bathinda district, said, “We sowed the cotton crop two months back. The plants have not even grown properly but the pest has attacked.” “This is the first spray of Profenophos, a pesticide, which we use to check crop damage,” he added.

Mealy bug is not a new phenomenon for farmers in Malwa. According to agricultural experts, with the introduction of Bt cotton, the earlier problem of Bollworm has decreased. But mealy bug, which was a secondary pest earlier, has now become a primary one. Because of the mealy bug, the growth of the cotton plant is stunted and the cotton balls remain small in size. Moreover, it sucks the sap of the plant.

As per the agriculture department, the crop was sown on 6.48 lakh hectares of land in Malwa last year. But the authorities presume that it would decline this year. The reasons given are the high MSP for paddy and last year’s severe mealy bug attack.

Director, regional station, PAU, Bathinda, G.S. Buttar said, “Due to frequent rainfall this season, the pest has arrived. Though the problem is not serious now, but farmers must take precautions.”

As a precautionary measure, PAU authorities advise the use of pesticides like Carbaryal 50 WP, Thiodecarb 75 WP, Profenophos 50 EC, Quinalphos 25 EC, Acephate 75 SP and Chloropyrephos 20 EC, which can be used by rotation.

Bathinda, July 22
A man was run over by a train on the Bathinda-Ferozepur line near village Chandbhan today.

According to sources in the GRP, Bathinda, the victim was identified as Rup Singh, son of Bikkar Singh, a resident of village Bishnandi.

Sources said that according to brother of the deceased, Teja Singh, Rup had gone for a stroll in the morning and while crossing the railway tracks, he met with the accident. He died on the spot. Workers of Sahara Jan Sewa brought the body to the civil hospital, Bathinda.

Moga, July 22
The former sarpanch of Ramuwala Kalan village, Harnek Singh, who is facing charges of sexually exploiting a woman, today refused to cooperate in getting a DNA test conducted to verify the paternity of the child born to the victim.

Assistant sub-inspector, Jaswant Singh, investigating the case had moved an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Tarsem Lal Mangla through the prosecution on Monday demanding a DNA test of the accused who was presently out on temporary bail (arrest stay) till July 31, this year. Reacting to the request, the court had issued a summon, instructing the accused to appear in person in the court, today.

Additional public prosecutor Lakhvir Singh said that the CJM, while turning down the demand of the police, had given an advice to the investigating officer to use his own influence under section 53, 53 (A) and 54 of the CrPC to conduct the DNA test of the former Sarpanch in the due course of investigation in this case.

As per section 53 (A) of the CrPC, 'examination shall include the examination of blood, blood stains, semen, swabs, in case of sexual offences sputum and sweat, hair samples and finger nail clippings by the use of modern and scientific techniques including DNA profiling and such other tests, which the registered medical practitioner thinks necessary in a particular case'.

It may be mentioned that the Harnek Singh was booked by the police on charges of sexual exploitation and rape two months back, reacting to the complaint of a woman of Badhni Kalan village. Interestingly, the complaint was made by the woman in March 2004 but the FIR was registered by the police after more than two years, probably under the pressure of a local influential politician.

After the registration of the FIR, Harnek Singh's arrest was stayed by the court. He had also filed an application before the Punjab and Haryana High Court for granting a regular bail in this case. The High Court had fixed July 31 as the date of hearing on his bail application.

Meanwhile, the investigating officer had applied for seeking copies of the latest 'zimni' orders of the CJM's court so that the police could oppose the regular bail of the alleged accused person in the High Court on the pretext of conducting a DNA test, which was quite necessary to substantiate the facts of the allegations of sexual exploitation.

Since, Harnek Singh was out on temporary bail it had legally become difficult for the police to get him into custody for conducting the DNA test. 

Barnala, July 22
Putting all speculations to rest, Parmjeet Singh Dhillon, a SAD municipal councillor, has been elected as the president of the municipal committee (MC) here. In a house of 25 councillors, 16 voted in favour of Dhillon. Nine councillors did not participate in the elections. Teja Singh from ward number 3 was elected as vice-president. ADC Harjeet Singh supervised the elections.

BJP district president and municipal councillor from ward 5 Dheeraj Kumar Dadahoor and two SAD councillors were conspicuous by their absence. SAD councillors Bimla Jaggi and Iqbal Singh, both believed to have the patronage of senior Akali leader Bhola Singh Virk, also remained absent.

Surprisingly, Shinder Kaur Dhillon, mother of senior youth leader and former vice-president of the MC Ravinder Dhillon, also boycotted the elections.

Meanwhile, MLA Malkeet Singh Keetu has criticised Dadahoor and the two SAD councillors for staying away from the elections.

Talking to media persons, he said that he would raise the matter with the SAD high command and demand strict disciplinary action against them.

Commenting on the boycott of elections and oath taking ceremony by the BJP district president, Keetu said it was against the coalition dharma. "This has brought disgrace to the alliance." He also alleged that Dadahoor had danced to the Congress tune by boycotting the election.

Earlier, Parmjeet succeeded in securing a majority in the house. It would be his first term as president of the municipal committee. He took the oath of secrecy and transparency and promised to work for the overall development of the city.

After the elections for the post of president, Parmjeet took out a victory march through the main markets.

Fazilka, July 22
"Murder of Sikhs during their clash with Dera Sacha Sauda followers is unfortunate even as BJP is not against naam charcha by the dera premis," said Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia here today. He appealed to the dera premis and Sikhs to maintain peace and harmony.

The BJP stalwart was here to know the views of BJP municipal councillors on the election of civic body's chief. The president would be elected by ascertaining the views of local legislator Surjit Kumar Jyani, BJP district president Mohinder Pratap Dhingra and newly elected municipal councillors, he added.

Kalia was accompanied by the party's state general secretary Kamal Sharma and D.P.Chandan, a senior leader.

The minister informed that the name of the president-elect would be announced tomorrow. He also informed that the vacant posts, including that of executive officers, JEs, SDOs, and sanitary inspectors, would be filled up soon and the process for the same would start in October this year.

Taking the Congress to task, Kalia said although the Congress ruled the country for 45 years after independence, the people were still deprived of basic amenities.

Replying to a query regarding the power shortage that the state was facing, Kalia said that in coming years, three thermal units would be installed to generate 6000 MW of electricity. Thereafter, Punjab would become a power surplus state, he added.

Abohar, July 22
Eleven newly-elected BJP members of the local municipal council who had gone to Shimla along with Shiv Raj Goyal, a strong contender for the post of president, returned home during the wee hours on Tuesday.

Shiv Raj's father Ram Kumar Goyal, a former MLA who was under treatment at a Mohali hospital, accompanied them. Though he had been advised bed rest but the political situation here prompted him to return, well placed sources said.

The BJP has got 16, SAD (B) 1 and Congress 12 members in the 31 member council. There are two independents who successfully contested against the official alliance candidates. Election for the post of president and vice-president will be held on Wednesday morning.

As per sources, the eleven BJP members during a visit to Chandigarh met state party president Rajinder Bhandari and other senior leaders.

Minister for Local Bodies Manoranjan Kalia and state secretary Kamal Sharma have been asked by the high command to hold a meeting with BJP councillors here and supervise the election tomorrow, sources added.— OC

Fazilka, July 22
Abohar sector headquarters won the overall trophy of the BSF inter-sector wrestling, boxing, judo, weight lifting championship by bagging 16 gold, five silver and six bronze medals.

As many as 139 athletes from Punjab participated in the competition that was organised at the headquarters of the 30 Battalion, BSF, in the adjoining town of Jalalabad. Gurdaspur sector headquarters was declared runners-up.

The results of the individual events with respect to first, second and third positions are-- Judo: Abohar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur sector headquarters; Wrestling (Graeco-Roman): Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Amritsar; Wrestling (freestyle): Amritsar, Ferozepur and Abohar; Boxing: Abohar, Ferozepur and Amritsar; and  Weightlifting: Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Amritsar.

DIG, BSF, Abohar, V.K. Sharma, who was the chief guest, distributed trophies and medals to the winners.

S.P.S. Sandhu, commandant of the BSF's 30 Battalion, Rajesh Kumar, deputy commandant and D. Thomsang, assistant commandant, were also present on the occasion.

Fazilka, July 22
In a joint statement issued here today, Ravinder Luthra, chairman of the coordination committee, Para Medical and Health Employees, Punjab, and Shashi Kant, president of the Punjab State Pharmacists' Association, district Ferozepur, said that on the call given by the coordination committee, Punjab, the paramedical employees of the state health department would stage a dharna before the office of the Director Health Services, Punjab, at Chandigarh on July 24.

After the dharna, the protesters would march towards the Punjab Civil Secretariat.

Luthra and Kant said it was the second phase of their agitation against the non-acceptance of their long-pending demands and the adamant attitude of the state health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla.

Moga, July 22
Two persons found guilty of selling poppy husk have been sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment each by the sessions court here today.

Agreeing to the plea of the prosecution, B.S. Sandhu, additional sessions judge, found Gurmej Singh and Amarjit Singh guilty of keeping 71 kg of poppy husk in their possession for illegal business and sentenced them to ten years of rigorous imprisonment, which would run concurrently.

Sources said that both the convicts were arrested by the police on November 15, 2006 and 71 kg of poppy husk packed in two bags was recovered from their possession.

An FIR under sections 307, 34 of the IPC and 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS ACT was registered against them. A sharp-edged weapon was also recovered from their possession. Since then, these persons were in judicial custody and had been kept in the local jail. 

Bathinda, July 22
R.S. Kalaria assumed charge as chief of the Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bathinda circle. Earlier, he was serving as AGM at the Zonal Inspection Office of the bank in Agra.

It may be mentioned here that the Bathinda circle of the PNB comprises 56 branches situated in Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala and Sangrur districts. — TNS