Bathinda, August 30
The move by the Railways to throw open its gate to the recruitment of coolies as gangmen has hit the commuters hard at the Bathinda railway station, as they are forced to carry their luggage in the absence of adequate number of coolies.

Des Raj (68), a coolie said, "Out of the 15 coolies at the railway station, the Railways selected 10 for the recruitment to the post of gangmen. However, three of them missed the bus in later stages due to weak eyesight." Those who were not considered for recruitment were overage, he added.

The shortage of coolies has left the passengers high and dry. The shortfall of coolies has become all the more evident during the summer vacation when lakhs of people arrive here from various parts of the country to visit their near and dear ones.

While one can still find a coolie or two during the daytime, the passengers travelling at night bear the brunt of the move, as not a single coolie is available during those hours.

Kailash, another coolie in his 60s, says, "Most of the coolies left are above the age of 50. We can't work much in the twilight years of our lives. My eyesight is weak and my body doesn't allow me to work beyond a limit in this sweltering heat."

There was not a single coolie on Platform No 6 in the afternoon today. "Me and my wife lifted two suitcases each while my two kids also carried small bags, as we could not find a coolie right from the rickshaw stand to the platform," lamented Mukesh Jindal, a resident of Delhi.

The elderly too were a harried lot. "We could not carry our luggage all the way to the platform. We have been looking for a coolie for the past 15 minutes, but to no avail. I don't know how we will manage to catch our train with so much luggage," said P.S. Dhawan, a retired bank official who was here along with his wife.

"Though we appreciate the decision of the Railways to appoint porters as gangmen but the authorities should also think of the thousands of passengers who disembark at the station daily and recruit more coolies at the earliest," said Sampooran Singh, another passenger.

On the other hand, "apathetic" to the passengers' plight, the railway authorities are not showing any urgency in recruiting a fresh batch of coolies. "We have not heard anything about the fresh recruitment of coolies," said Des Raj and Kailash.

However, Railway authorities informed that the department had recently invited fresh applications for the recruitment of coolies and the process was likely to be completed by the end of the year. 

Bathinda, August 30
Members of the Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) have charged the state government with causing monetary loss to he industrialists.

They alleged that the government had failed to allot plots to industrialists even though the earnest money for 26 plots had been deposited more than two-and-a-half months earlier.

Representatives of BCCI stated that it was for the first time that 26 existing and new entrepreneurs had applied for the industrial plots to set up their units under the "off the shelf scheme" launched by the state. Among the applicants many were B. Tech while some were diploma holders.

It had been more than two-and-a-half months since they had deposited the earnest money to the tune of 1.5 crore to Udyog Sahayak, but neither a single allotment was given to them nor the date for interview of entrepreneurs had been finalised, they added.

According to information available, there are nine firms in the 5000 square yard category, and nine each in the 2500 and 1000 square yards categories.

President of the BCCI, Raman Watts rued that the state government keeps on inviting the NRIs and the entrepreneurs from other states for setting up industries in Punjab and also assures quick availability of land. But on the other hand, the cabinet minister, who holds the industries portfolio, had been taking no pains to ensure the allotment of the plots to the applicant entrepreneurs.

Presenting a copy of the notification of department of industries and commerce, Punjab, M.R. Madaan, industrial consultant, said that in the "off the shelf scheme", the Governor of Punjab had mentioned -- with a view to accelerate the pace of growth of industry in the state and provide quick availability of land to the entrepreneurs, he had notified the policy.

But the state government was apparently ignoring the word "quick availability", as the Bathinda Industrial Growth Centre has 400 vacant plots of various sizes measuring 250, 500, 1000, 2500 and 5000 square yards. There were only about 28 small-scale industrial units running while rest were lying vacant since 1998, he added.

The BCCI representatives further mentioned that the number of meetings and telephonic calls made to industry minister Manoranjan Kalia had proved to be futile as he had never taken satisfactory action except for giving assurances about looking into the matter.

Despite repeated attempts, the TNS could not contact the minister. 

Malout, August 30
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has said the state government had taken steps to improve the intra-state and inter-state connectivity. "Four- lane and six-lane road projects have been initiated in the state. A number of air routes and air strips have also been sanctioned," he told TNS here. "We are also trying to build a state-of-the-art infrastructure so that we can attract investment in the state," he added.

When asked whether he would deliver the plethora of promises made, he said "Whatever I say, I remain commited."

Sukhbir parried a query regarding friction among the SAD and BJP candidates over allocations of tickets in Muktsar MC polls. He, however, maintained that efforts were on for amicable solution.

About the problem of waterlogging, he said, "During his tenure, Captain never paid attention towards the cleaning of channels due to which people in the state have been facing floods."

About Congress rally slated for September 1 at Lambi, he said, "The total area of their rally is less then one parking lot for the SAD rally on September 2."

When asked why the Congress had opted for Lambi, he replied, "Amarinder and his party men have a phobia about the Badal family. He is just trying to console his supporters in this way."

He also refuted allegations that the administration was trying to make the rally a damp squib saying it was a private show, so the party workers should make efforts rather expecting help from government agencies.

Sukhbir was here to lay the foundation stone for the Rs 7.75 crore road project. He also laid stones for water supply and sewerage revamping projects in the city.

DC Muktsar Rajat Aggarwal and ADC Varum Roosam, were also present on the occasion along with other dignitaries.

Bathinda, August 30
Harminder Singh Jassi, local Congress MLA. visited the Dhobiana Basti today where hundreds of people were rendered homeless in a recent demolition drive carried out by PUDA authorities. Jassi hit out at the SAD-BJP combine calling the demolition ''a political drama''. He also criticised PUDA's action against the residents. The homeless threatened not to leave the place until they were given alternate sites. They also demanded all the basic facilities, including water and temporary tentage, at the demolished site.

Heart-rending scenes were witnessed during the visit of the Congress MLA with men and women milling over each other requesting Jassi to assign an alternative site to them.

However, the Congress MLA assured the residents that they would be rehabilitated soon with an alternate site and he would urge the local administration to implement a rehabilitation policy for the migrant labourers. They would not be shifted from their current locations, he added.

Bathinda, August 30
The Punjab Cotton Factories and Ginners Association has criticised the state government for imposing one per cent more cess on cotton, increasing it to two per cent.

The association has demanded immediate rollback of the hike in cess from two per cent.

An emergency meeting of the association unanimously condemned the decision of the government to impose cess on cotton. The decision is repressive and derogatory as far as cotton traders' community in the state is concerned, said

Bhagwan Dass Bansal, president and Kailash Kumar, executive member of the association respectively, while addressing the members.

They also said that the Punjab government had imposed one per cent cess on cotton in 2005 and they were asked to pay cess arrears which had run into crores. The cotton ginning traders had been facing rough weather due to recession in business and they were not in a position to pay hefty arrears. They further stated that the U-turn from the promises made during the previous Congress regime will be opposed and a call would be given to all the associations of cotton ginners in the state to fight such repressive measures unitedly.

Harsh Garg, managing director, Jagdish Cotton Factory, Goniana and Ashwani Kumar, Kailash Cotton Factory, Bathinda, also flayed the state government for imposing one per cent more Punjab infrastructure development cess on all cotton factories. They said that they were already paying four per cent market fee and RDF, besides four per cent VAT.

They said that the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had issued notices to some cotton factories asking them to install noise control devices, though the board did not have a design of any such device. They urged the authorities concerned to reconsider and review the decision of the government in this regard.

Bir Raoke (Moga), August 30
A 24-year-old mentally challenged youth kept in chains allegedly by his parents for the past over 13 years was rescued by an NRI Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal and few social activists from his house here, this evening.

The NRI has announced to bear the cost of treatment of the youth.

Sukhdev Singh father of the youth told The Tribune that his son was born a normal child but after nine years, he suddenly lost the mental balance.

Earlier, he used to go to the school but after losing mental balance he started behaving abnormal, therefore, he was dropped out from studies, he added.

The victim's mother Karnail Kaur said that she gave birth to two children. Her daughter was normal and studied normally till high school. "I do not know what happened to my son", she said.

When asked about why he was kept in chains, she said in a sobbing tone that her son use to run away from home.

He had on many occasions run away and did not come back for days, until unless, someone brought back after recognizing him, she said.

"No matter, he is mentally challenged but being a mother I can't lose him at any cost", she added.

The NRI and social activists of the village had assured the family members of the youth that they would try their level best to treat him at the Baba Farid Medical College, Faridkot.

When this correspondent tried to talk to the victim, he first hesitated and did not utter any word but after recognizing the NRI, he said in a low tone, 'Veere mainu vi Canada lai ja' (Brother, take me also to Canada).

Some people of the village revealed that he recognize some people of his village but speak very less.

Meanwhile, many blotches were seen on the leg of the youth from where he was tied in the chain.

The matter has not been reported to the police as the villagers had decided that it was not required keeping in view of the facts and circumstances prevailing in their family.

Abohar, August 30
The sadar police station here has registered FIRs in connection with last night's violence in village Seetogunno under various sections of the IPC against nearly 150 persons. Some of them, including women, have been identified in the FIRs, sources said this evening.

This follows investigation by SP (D) Harjinder Singh Pannu, who reportedly arrived here past midnight. Scores of circle SAD office-bearers were found camping till late in evening at the police station in support of their controversial colleague who figured prominently in the incident.

Meanwhile, some new facts have come to light. The villagers alleged that Dhaani Kular resident Gagan (nephew of SAD (B) leader Rajesh Kular) had been removing clothes to tease women, who returned from the fields in the evening for many days.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that the police had fired some rounds in the air besides using lathicharge to disperse the mob last night.

In FIR number 183, Jagdip Singh of village Bishanpura and Bimla Rani (wife of Rana Partap, a member of Seetogunno village panchayat), stated that Gagan came in a jeep last evening, used objectionable language for women and indulged in obscene actions in their presence.

The FIR number 184 has been registered against 106 persons on the statement of the Seetogunno police post in-charge Pritpal Singh and some residents of the village.

Some of those identified in the FIR are Rana Partap (member of panchayat) and his wife Bimla Rani besides Bhup Ram, Om Parkash, Jagdish and Subhash Chander.

In FIR number 185, a case has been made on the basis of the statement of Vijay Kumar of village Sukhchain against Ram Swarup, Om Parkash, Manu, Vinod, Kalu, Hanuman, Bhup, Jagdish and Subhash. The complainant said Gagan was related to his family. As they advocated his case and tried to refute the allegations, these persons attacked them causing pandemonium.

As Bhupinder Singh, a former sarpanch, also rushed for safety, he suffered cardiac arrest and died on the spot.

The villagers alleged that SAD leader Rajesh Kular had reached the police station on a car bearing the number PB-15-D 0787 to help Gagan while the mob insisted on his arrest, which was not done by the police.

As the mob resorted to stone pelting, the police reportedly used lathis and fired in the air to disperse the mob. 

Fazilka, August 30
A report of gruesome murder of a youth by his inebriated father has come to light at Pakke Kalewala village of nearby Jalalabad sub-division today.

Denial of money for alcohol to his idle father is being cited as a reason that cost the son his life. The accused is absconding.

The heart rending incidence occurred in the wee hours today when Sant Lal Singh allegedly hit his son Gurpreet Singh (28), a labourer, with a baton while he was asleep.

The police has registered a case against Sant Lal on the statement of Ramandeep Kaur, wife of the deceased.

According to the FIR, Gurpreet and his wife lived separately in the same street of the village where his father lived. Sant Lal had been idle for long and used to drink heavily. He allegedly used to borrow money from people for alcohol.

It is stated that on Friday evening, Sant Lal asked his labourer son to give him some money which the latter refused. Gurpreet also advised him to work and give up his drinking habits. But Sant Lal was not convinced.

At midnight, he reached the residence of his son, pushed the door and started inflicting injuries with a baton on his skull. The seriously injured son was immediately rushed to the civil hospital, Jalalabad, from where he was being shifted to a hospital in Muktsar but he succumbed to his injury on the way.

Fazilka, August 30
The city police have booked five persons, including a woman, on the charges of preparing fake documents and stamps to capture a government land.

Giving details, SHO (City) Baljit Singh said that one Harjit Singh of Gulam Rasool village complained to the SDM Fazilka that two months back Fauza Singh, his wife Veero Bai, Jagga Singh and Arjun Singh, all residents of village Mohar Jamsher, along with Dalip Singh of village Gulam Rasool allegedly got a government land transferred on their name by using fake documents and stamps.

Taking cognisance of the complaint, the SDM reported the matter to the DC’s office at Ferozepur. The complaint was further forwarded to the SSP. The SSP’s office, after taking legal opinion, directed the city police to register a case against the accused. 

Fazilka, August 30
The city police booked six persons for running illegal lotteries on Saturday.

According to SHO (City) Baljit Singh, the police got information that some persons were selling lottery tickets carrying a motor cycle, a refrigerator, a bicycle and a dish TV on three rehris. They were running these lotteries without permission. The police have booked the vendors, Vijay Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Pankaj Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Sonu and Mohinder, all residents of Fazilka, under sections 294 and 420 of the IPC. — OC

Mansa, August 30
The Punjab Istri Sabha, district Mansa, has demanded that the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, should be implemented in the state seriously.

Rekha Sharma, district president of the sabha, in a statement here today, said for proper implementation, a protection officer was required, who could remove the grievances of women related to domestic violence. — OC