Talwandi Sabo/Bathinda, July 23
To make the Punjab bandh successful, besides various Sikh and Hindu organizations, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also played an important role with its workers blocking roads and staging dharna, here today. Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib, burnt an effigy of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh at Talwandi Sabo.

Dera Salabatpura, the headquarters of the Sacha Sauda sect in Punjab, along with four other deras of the sect in the district, were cordoned off to avoid any untoward incident.

As per the details, except for hospitals, chemist shops and railways, life came to a grinding halt here. Schools, colleges, petrol pumps, private banks and other business establishments remained closed today. A complete disruption of road traffic was observed today as no vehicle was allowed to enter or leave the city. Moreover, the national highways leading to Chandigarh and Delhi were also barricaded.

The police which was deployed in large strength for maintaining law and order stood as mute spectators even as some incidents of stray violence took place.

Making mockery of all security arrangements, some protesting youths thrashed a girl student and manhandled a boy at the MGDAV College, where a distant education university was conducting an examination for the M.Sc. final year. As per the details available, a number of youths barged into the college at around 2 pm and after protesting against the opening of the college, smashed window panes and notice boards. After the incident, university authorities postponed the examination for August 13.

In addition to this, more than 200 two-wheeler riders brandishing swords forced shops to close shutters. They also attacked some dhabas and shops while on the move, whose goods were also damaged in the process.

To make the bandh a complete success, Sikh and Hindu organizations under the leadership of Sant Baljeet Singh Dadu Sahib Wale, held a meeting in the morning and as per the schedule, four sites were allotted to different groups. One of these groups was of the SAD (B) and its activists including Rajinder Singh Sidhu, SAD councillor and Bhola Singh Gillpatti, officiating district president of the Youth Akali Dal. They blocked the road leading to Goniana, Malout and Muktsar from the canal bridge near the thermal power plant.

On his part, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, general secretary of the SAD (B), said, “It was a common cause. So, our party men also participated in the bandh. But I had requested everyone to observe the bandh in a peaceful manner.”

When contacted, Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib, said, “We burnt the effigy to bring the matter to the notice of Central government. Our sole demand is to get the Dera chief arrested.”

Officiating deputy commissioner, Bathinda, Vijay Zade, said, “The day passed off peacefully as no report of violence was received.”

Abohar, July 23
The police used force to disperse the two factions of the Sikh community as they clashed over allowing some tourists from Goa to proceed on the NH-15 in this sub-division while observing Punjab bandh.

Eye witnesses said members of some Sikh organisations from different villages had blocked traffic by placing tyres near Khuyiansarwar village on the Sriganganagar-Abohar section of the NH 15. Meanwhile, the vehicle of some tourists, including women, from Goa was stopped. Showing sympathy, an agitator from Panjawa Mandal village allowed the vehicle to pass. But agitators from Dalmirkhera village objected to the act. The verbal duel turned violent and to disperse the warring factions, the police exercised a mild cane-charge.

Sikh organisations adopted new methods to make the bandh a success. They put up tents on crossings as well as at the strategic T-points on all main roads and sat on dharnas reciting hymns.

Barnala: Sikh organisations held a protest march here today. The bandh was a success here. Activists of some Sikh organisations took out a protest march.

Fazilka: A curfew-like situation prevailed here as a complete bandh was observed today in an answer to the call given by different Sikh organisations. The streets wore a deserted look as the residents hesitated to come out of their houses. About 30 members of Sikh organisations carried out a peace procession under the leadership of Mohinder Singh Khalsa, president of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha here.

Ferozepur: All business establishment and educational institutions remained closed. The entire town wore a deserted look as if curfew had been clamped. Minor scuffles were reported from Zira and Talwandi. However, situation remained peaceful. 

Bathinda, July 23
Besides causing problems for the commuters, the Punjab bandh today resulted in losses to the tune of Rs 50 lakh for the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) as the protesters did not allow a single bus to ply during the bandh.

As per the information, the Bathinda depot of the PRTC has been the worst hit after the Dabwali incident on July 18, when Dera supporters and Sikh activists clashed. The PRTC, which has a monopoly over the Bathinda-Dabwali route, has been incurring losses as no bus entered the Dabwali bus stand.

The bandh put Bathinda PRTC depot back by Rs 7.50 lakh. Neither local nor interstate buses could ply till evening when the bandh effect finally began to wear off. Buses belonging to Rajasthan and Haryana, which cross through Bathinda, had to be cancelled due to the bandh.

Sources said PRTC buses ply on around 1,000 routes covering 3.28 lakh km throughout the state in a day.

Talking over the phone, PRTC managing director M.S. Sidhu said only some of the buses could ply and that too early in the morning or late in the evening.

Highly-placed sources in the Bathinda depot of the PRTC said that the depot gets an earning of Rs 25 per kilometer through buses plying on the Bathinda-Dabwali road. But due to the ban on entry in Dabwali city, buses return from the Doomwali barrier, resulting in an earning of just Rs10 per kilometer.

The bandh affected 143 buses of the Bathinda depot.

Confirming the facts, general manager, PRTC, Bathinda, Iqbal Singh said, “Due to the bandh, the bus stand remained closed today and 1,385 routes of private and 400 routes of PRTC buses were affected.”

Bathinda, July 23
The advisory committee of the Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), Bathinda reviewed the activities being run by the kendra in the district at a meeting held here today. The officiating deputy commissioner of Bathinda Vijay Zade presided over the meeting.

The assistant director of the kendra, Kawaljeet Singh Sidhu, said that various youths clubs formed at village level in the district should work in tandem in the fight against social evils like drugs, dowry, female foeticide and others.

The clubs should also make efforts to create awareness about the ill-effects of these social menace among people as youth participation in the eradication of social evils was crucial, he added.

The district youth coordinator, Sukhdev Singh Sandhu, informed that the state government had sanctioned Rs 2.94 lakh to carry out youth activities in the district.

Besides organising several sports tournaments at block-levels, youth clubs would also plant 10,000 saplings, he said and added that the clubs would also hold camps to create awareness about AIDS.

He said about 100 clubs in the district would be selected and would be provided with Rs 1,000 each for purchasing sports kits.

He informed that sports tournaments would be organised at Mandi Kalan on August 3 and 4. Sports kits would be given to 50 clubs on the occasion, he said.

Sidhu also informed that the 15th National Youth Festival would be organised at Amritsar in January 2009. Around 10,000 youths from across the country would take part in the fest, he said adding that 25 youths would be selected for the National Youth Awards.

Abohar, July 23
Shiv Raj Goyal (26) has been elected as president of the “A” class municipal council here today. Shiv is the son of former MLA Ram Kumar Goyal. He is the youngest president of the 80-year-old council. His swearing in was “boycotted” by Congress members.

Fazilka SDM Rajiv Prashar, who had been appointed as returning Officer (RO) for the election first invited newly-elected members to take oath.

Finding that seats reserved for the Congress members were lying vacant, some relatives of the BJP councillors besides lensmen from the local media occupied the chairs in the front row.

The first to take oath was Gurmeet Kaur. She along with another rebel Buta Singh had last night joined the BJP. Others who took the oath of office included Manjit Kaur Sidhu, Ravi Makkar, Jamuna Devi, Shiv Raj Goyal, Kaushal Kumar Pihwal, Buta Singh, Swaran Lata, Ved Parkash Nirania, Kamal Nagpal, Rajinder Chaudhary, Geeta Chaudhary, Poonam Mittal, Ramesh Dhaulpuria, Suwarsha Narang, Thakar Dass Siwan (all BJP) and lone SAD (B) member Vijay Nagpal.

Hundreds of BJP workers who had thronged the municipal town hall to watch the ceremony were also surprised, like the media, when Kaushal Kumar Pihwal and Swaran Lata were proposed for the office of senior and junior vice-presidents, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to challenge the election to the posts of president and vice-presidents of the local municipal council in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, besides raising the issue in the Assembly through local legislator Sunil Jakhar.

Leader of the opposition Vimal Thathai told newsmen that scores of Congress workers who marched with 12 party councillors carrying party flags were prevented by the authorities from entering the town hall where the first meeting of the new house was being held.

They were told that only the councillors would be allowed to enter but after a few minutes, hundreds of BJP workers who accompanied the 19 members of the alliance were not only permitted to enter the same venue but also offered chairs. This forced the Congress councillors to abstain from the very first meeting. They had not taken oath. 

Abohar/Ferozepur, July 23
The Ferozepur police on Tuesday apprehended three inter-state drug peddlers and recovered 35 kg opium from their possession.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dinesh Partap Singh said police had laid a barrier near village Himmatpura under the jurisdiction of Sadar Abohar police station. He said that the checking team intercepted a jeep bearing no. RJ-34U-0124 coming from Rajasthan and during search in the presence of Rachpal Singh, DSP Fazilka 35 kg opium were found inside the jeep. Police arrested three persons sitting in the jeep. The persons were identified as Kesar Ram alias Keshav and Dial Nath alias Diala, both resident of Rajasthan and Sant Lal, a resident of Ellanabad in Haryana.

A case NDPS Act has been registered against the accused at Sadar Abohar police station.

SSP said that during preliminary interrogation, the accused confessed that they had brought the consignment from one Bhimgarh, a resident of district Dhitorhgarh (Rajasthan) at cost of Rs.65, 000 per kg. The alleged head of the gang, Kesar Ram said that they had brought the consignment to deliver it to a customer in Punjab on instructions of their “boss”. SSP said that further investigation is in progress and more recovery of opium was expected. 

Moga, July 23
A student of the ITI, Shahkot, in Jalandhar district, was killed on the spot, while four of his classmates sustained injuries, when the car they were travelling in rammed into a truck about 7 km from here early this morning. The deceased was driving the car.

Police sources said due to the state-wide bandh, the public and private transport systems had come to a halt. The students were going to the ITI as they were to appear for their examinations. They were travelling in a Ceilo car bearing registration number CH-0I-P-2222, which rammed into the truck bearing number PB-29-C-9224.

The driver of the car, identified as Jagdeep Singh (20), son of Gurdip Singh and a resident of Bughipura, died on the spot. His classmates, Mandeep Singh, a resident of Dhaleke, Luvpreet Singh, Gursewak Singh and Palwinder Singh, all residents of Moga town, were injured in the accident.

They were rushed to the civil hospital for treatment. However, parents of Palwinder got him shifted to a private hospital here. — TNS