Bathinda, November 23
Inspired by ‘success’ of the neighbourhood watch scheme in other districts of the state, the Bathinda police has launched the ‘Neighbourhood Watch Scheme’ in the city.

The scheme is aimed to enhance security in the residential areas and commercial establishments by securing cooperation of the public.

The shopkeepers and businessmen were advised to install security gadgets in their establishments.

The businessmen were advised to remain careful after withdrawing cash from banks.

It must be mentioned here that a large number of cases of theft of money from vehicles have been reported.

While launching the scheme, Aashish Chaudhary, SSP, said the police alone cannot provide security and participation of people was required for it. Due to a shortage of police personnel, the city was witnessing a spate in chain snatching, cases of vehicle lifting. Because of this, police in the city have made a clarion call to the residents in the respective areas to help make the scheme successful.

The police has already distributed pamphlets several times in the city under different police stations calling people to participate in the scheme for their own betterment, besides creating awareness in police-public meetings. However, still there was a lukewarm response.

The SSP told TNS that the police stations falling within the city reported chain-snatching and car lifting incidents regularly.

He revealed that basically, under the scheme, the residents were required to keep a watch on the neighbourhood, especially in the absence of the neighbhour. The shopkeepers were also required to keep a watchman after every ten shops in the market. Similar is the case with residents who will be required to keep a watchman after every 10 houses and instal proper locks on the vehicles parked outside.

Some residents who had done rendered valuable contribution in helping the cops will receive commendation certificates from the police. This scheme has worked extremely well in countries like Singapore, Japan and England and has helped in developing excellent relations between the police and public.

Bathinda, November 23
The site for the proposed central university in Bathinda has finally been decided, it is learnt. The move comes months after the government had announced that Punjab had sent a proposal to the Union Human Resource Department Ministry for setting up a Central university in the state.

A team from the higher education and human resource department had visited the city around two months back to conduct a survey and decide on a site for the university campus. The team that had come, is learnt to have given its nod for constructing a sprawling campus at the Khudha village on Badal road. The university would be built on 550 acres of land.

Before deciding, five sites were seen by the team including Sardargarh, Gehri Devigarh, Khudha, Kotshmir and Tungwali. The reason for Khudha being finalised might be due to the Badal family having a personal interest in the university coming up near their native village. Khudha is close to Badal village.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari said, "The government has decided to set up the university at Khudha village. We have got no information about when the construction would begin. The revenue department has sent the maps and related documents of the selected site to the government."

Village sources said the land being acquired by the government for constructing the university is not fertile. The people of Khudha village had told the SAD government that they would have no problems in giving land for the university. The team decided upon this site only after the villagers gave a go-ahead in this regard. Sources also added that a temporary campus was also in the pipeline before the actual campus comes up.

People of this area felt that due to the university coming up in this area, the students of surrounding villages will have better educational avenues. Residents of Khudha village felt property prices are already high in the area and the coming up of this university would make the prices sky-rocket. 

Bathinda, November 23
Jaipalgarh village today witnessed the grand finale of the Virasat Mela, which was celebrated with unprecedented enthusiasm and exuberance at the Sports Stadium here today.

The mood was upbeat with the public enjoying themselves at the festive and jubilant celebrations. To add to the gaiety, the Malwa Heritage Foundation had invited Punjabi folk singers Sarbjeet Cheema, Satwinder Bitti and Sukhwinder Sukhi. The entire village was decorated beautifully, celebrating rural Punjab, complete with the village well, chakkis, chattis, madhanis and phulkaris. With Sukhi and Bitti singing their popular songs at this mela celebrating Punjabi culture, few could resist dancing merrily to the peppy music or clapping to the beat.

Satwinder Bitti and Sarbjeet Cheema were ushered into the sports ground in true Punjabi style, amidst thunderous applause. The entire village reverberated to the vigorous beats of the dhol, as the singers belted out one hit song after another at the village.

Painting exhibition, plays, qawaali performances by Pakistani Mehar Ali were part of the attempt made to re-enact the village culture in the three-day heritage festival. "We are feeling great and had tried all possible means to uphold the Punjabi culture so that it did not die and its popularity spreads worldwide. The next generation is forgetting tradition and customs which are exquisitely displayed in the fleeting homes," said one of the participants.

Punjabi girls attired in purely traditional and fabulous outfits such as suits and lehangas, and wrapped in phulkaris and ornaments, tikka, kalira, churha and glittering bangles, enriched the entire village decorated in the hues of rural Punjab. The fair was a promotion of the dying arts, traditions and sports. The kabaddi and wrestling events were an attempt to draw attention to the beauty of rural sports.

Speaking on the occasion, H.S. Khalsa, founder-president, Malwa Heritage Foundation, stressed upon the need for celebrating festivals associated with Punjabi culture to keep the rich traditions of the state alive. He congratulated Satwinder Bitti, Sukhwinder Sukhi and Sarabjeet Cheema for promoting the rich and vibrant culture of Punjab. Various stalls of food items and games added to the merry scene. The stall which drew the maximum response was, 'Main Punjab Bolda Haan', with a disc jockey (DJ) in tow.

Virasat Mela rounded off with the colourful and spirited performance of traditional gidha and bhangra, with the village dancing to the beats of the dhol.

Bathinda, November 23
Political big-wigs and others made an appearance at the much hyped Virasat Mela and that is the reason why the sports stadium used for organising the mela was taken for granted.

According to a government ruling, if any outside party wishes to organise a sports related event on the premises of any property belonging to the sports department of the state, then the organising party has to pay Rs 50,000 per day to the sports department. If any other event apart from sports is to be organised, then the fee doubles. Going by the ruling, the organisers should have paid Rs 3 lakh for the three-day long mela but the authorities did not know what to say when the TNS asked them about the deposit.

Director of sports, Punjab, Pargat Singh, when contacted, said, "I have not received any request from the organisers for conducting the mela. I had told the District Sports Officer of Bathinda to send me a formal request but I have not received it yet. He had called me up on Friday but it was late in the evening and the office had already closed down by then."

Sukhwinder Singh Buttar, District Sports Officer, had a different story. Buttar stated, "The mela authorities concerned had asked us to exempt them from paying the deposit. We had asked them to send a request for organising the mela but they asked for exemption.”

“One of the organisers, Harwinder Singh Khalsa, had asked me for the exemption. We have not received any advance and the mela would conclude today. When we insisted upon the heritage department for sending us a formal request, they sent it on Friday, after the mela began. We had forwarded the application to the director, sports, on Saturday. But due to holidays, we got no response. I am a government official and can not stop anything being organised by the government top brass. Without any deposits, it becomes difficult for us to maintain the stadium where the mela was organised. The organisers get a lot of money for the mela, I don't understand why can't they pay the deposit. Last year also, it was the same story, we did not get any deposit. The organisers leave the stadium in a mess and we have to ask our men to clean up the place," Buttar elaborated further.

Harvinder Khalsa, when asked about deposit, said, "I do not know anything about the deposit. We give the application to the president of the society concerned and he forwards it to the sports department. We gave the application to M.L. Nayyar, Commissioner of Income Tax. I don't know whether it was forwarded or not."

Nayyar, when contacted, stated, "We have already paid the deposit to the sports department." But he contradicted his statement by adding that the mela is a people's show. "It is not a private function that a deposit should be paid for organising it. We are not organising a marriage party or someone's birthday party. This mela promotes Punjab's culture, then why should we pay a deposit for promoting it. Government infrastructure is for promoting culture and activities like sports etc. No one is getting benefited personally by this mela," Nayyar said.

Another issue was the electricity being used. Khalsa said, "The mela is an annual event and this is the fifth year when it is taking place in Bathinda. For this, we got a permanent electricity metre installed. We pay a monthly bill of Rs 200-500. Once the mela concludes, the electricity department would inform us about how much power was used during the event and we would pay the bill accordingly."

Bathinda, November 23
Smoking, obesity and high cholesterol are known high risk factors for heart diseases but recent studies indicate that environmental pollution is also a major contributor towards the disease.

Interacting with media persons here today, Dr V.R. Rahgav, a renowned cardiologist from Escorts Hospitals, Delhi, said environmental pollution had been found to be another cause for heart ailments.

"The very fact that a day after Diwali, we had double the number of patients with heart problems proves that environmental pollution is also a contributory factor," he said.

With industrial effluents polluting water sources, there was a higher risk of the disease afflicting people now. The observation assumes significance in the light of the problem being acute in the Malwa region. Pollution of groundwater and air due to the presence of fly ash are already reported to be causing many health problems to people.

Dr Raghav said the cost of treatment being high and resources limited, there was an urgent need to focus on preventive steps. "The burden of heart diseases in the world is the highest in India and by the year 2020, the situation will be grim if preventive measures are not taken," he said.

He said as compared to the Americans, the South Asian ethnic community, including Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis were four times more vulnerable to heart diseases.

Dr Raghav said stress, especially among Indian women, being one of the causes for heart attacks and related ailments, was a disturbing factor.

"Being a victim of dual stress due to the workload at office and at home, they are highly vulnerable to heart problems and we have patients as young as 25 years old," he informed.

He gave details of special facilities available at their institute in Delhi and said there was a special package for the people of Punjab. "We are empanelled by the Punjab government. So the patients can get reimbursement," he said.

Bathinda, November 23
Press photographers in Bathinda today condemned the alleged attack on a photojournalist by some miscreants at a gurdwara in Partap Nagar when he was taking shots of a gurdwara following ruckus over the alleged rape of a minor by the granthi of the gurdwara today in the afternoon.

The granthi reportedly took a nine-year-old girl inside the gurdwara and when they did not come out for some time, people out of suspicion, informed the photojournalist of a vernacular daily.

The police arrested the granthi later.

A delegation of mediapersons, including representatives from various newspapers, TV channels and  journalists’ organisations, met SP (City) Davinder Singh and demanded registration of a case against the hooligans.

The photojournalist concerned also submitted a complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police.

He alleged that some supporters of Fauja Singh,  a granthi at a gurdwara in Partap Nagar, obstructed him taking shots of the gurdwara.

The supporters of the granthi have been identified as Darshan Singh, Gulshan and Jaspal Singh.

While obstructing the journalist from taking pictures, the miscreants broke one of his cameras and snatched the other.

A case has been registered against the accused.

Ferozepur, November 23
In order to mobilise the Akali cadre for serving “ langar” at the Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today visited the historic Gurudwara Jamni Sahib, Vajidpur, 12 kms from the district headquarters, where she addressed a huge gathering comprising Akali leaders, office-bearers and workers belonging to Ferozpur block.

On the occasion, she emphasised the significance of serving the “Guru Ghar”, saying that one should rise above the vested interests and serve the God, which gives immense eternal satisfaction.

She said that her purpose of visiting here was purely religious and had nothing to do with politics, rather she wanted that the lessons of faith and belief which she has learnt from the Gurus should be propagated to all.

Bibi Badal furher said that “Sri Harmandir Sahib”, the foundation stone of which was laid by a Muslim saint, Sai Mia Mir, was the centre of faith for all human beings irrespective of cast, creed and religion as all hues of people bow their head at this sacred place.

She further advised the Akali workers to rise above the materialist things in life and contribute a part of their earnings for serving “ Langar” at the Golden Temple.

Bibi Badal was accompanied by the Irrigation Minister, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sukhpal Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Sukhdev Singh Theh Gujjar, Satpal Singh, Bibi Davinder Kaur and all members of SGPC, besides galaxy of senior Akali Dal leaders.

Bibi Badal said that every block in the state has been allotted a particular date for serving “ langar” at the Golden Temple, and in that series, the Ferozpur block shall extend service on December 4 next month.

Bibi Badal also visited Gurudwara Akalgarh Sahib, Ferozpur City and then proceeded to Zira.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, November 23
The Election Commission (EC) has decided to follow the Gujarat pattern to ensure free and fair elections in Rajasthan, election observers informed the micro-observers during a training camp held in Shiv Mandir cinema hall at Hanumangarh on Sunday.

EC observers V. Umesh and Jyanti Shrinivasan said the observers were to submit their report to the EC and not to the state government.

Similarly, the micro-observers should keep a close vigil on each polling station to ensure peaceful, free and fair election, they added. “The micro-observers must learn working of the EVM for polling and counting of votes. They should have patience coupled with devotion and wisdom to meet the expectations of the EC,” Umesh and Shrinivasan said.

Meanwhile, DC Mugdha Sinha asked the micro-observers to follow the guidelines in letter and spirit. She informed that the EC had allowed the voters without voter-ID cards to exercise their franchise subject to the condition that they carried along any other substantial proof of their identity.

Mahabir Bhaskar, Madan Lal Purohit, Sumer Singh Shoran, Arvind Bishnoi and Sudershan Kumar discussed in details about electronic voting machines (EVMs), postal ballot papers, payment of travelling expenses etc.

District collector-cum-district returning officer Mugdha Sinha today issued notices to 13 micro-observers for not attending the training camp that was addressed by the EC observers in Shiv Mandir Cinema hall today.

Official sources said the notices were issued to Jaspal Singh (Post and Telegraph department), Niranjan Dass, Sukhdev Pandey, Dinesh Prasad, Navin Kumar, M.L. Sharma, B.L. Meena and Satya Narain (Railways), Pankaj Kumar (LIC), Anil Bansal (New India Insurance Co.) and Kamlesh Kumar (Income Tax).

They may face action under section 134 of the Peoples Representatives Act, the sources added.

Abohar, November 23
The DAV College here last evening organised an extension lecture by Prof. Kuldeep Sharma of Riyat College of Law to discuss William Shakespeare’s play “Merchant of Venice” in the seminar hall.

Sharma, an alumni of the host institution said the number of spoken words in “The Merchant of Venice,” according to the Complete Public Domain Text is 26,885. The most important characters in The Merchant of Venice are Shylock, Antonio (The Merchant of Venice) and Portia. The quotes from the play are amongst Shakespeare’s most famous including ‘All that glitters is not gold’ and ‘Dislike me not for my complexion’. “Superfluity comes sooner by white hair, but competency lives longer.” “The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.” “Dislike me not for my complexion, the shadow’s livery of the burnished sun.” “Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.”

He further said that in Shakespeare’s time, English law continued to forbid Jews from living in England, but a few hundred survived in London and other cities in the guise of Christians. Anti-Semitism in England increased around 1190 after non-Jews borrowed heavily from Jewish moneylenders.

King Richard I (1189-99) put a stop to Jewish persecution, but it returned in the following century during King Edward, who reigned from 1272 to 1307.

The government required Jews to wear strips of yellow cloth as identification, taxed them heavily, and forbade them to mingle with Christians.

In 1290, Edward banished them from England. Only a few Jews remained behind, either because they had converted to Christianity or because they enjoyed special protection for the services they provided.

In Shakespeare’s time, 300 years later, anti-Semitism remained in force in England.

However, the character of Portia, Sharma said, had its distinction and could be compared with the present scenario around us since it is a combination of goodness and evils.  

Principal B.B. Sharma, vice-principal, Anil Makkar and teachers of the English Department honored Sharma by presenting him a memento.

Abohar, November 23
A physically-challenged man was killed as a Bolero van hit his tricycle on the Seetogunno bypass here on Saturday night.

Sources said a Bolero van carrying members of a marriage party from Sirsa overturned as its driver tried to prevent the mishap with the cyclist, who was reportedly crossing the road in darkness.

All the eight persons travelling by the van sustained minor injuries while the cyclist was injured grievously.

He was rushed to the civil hospital. However, he could not survive his injuries and died after few minutes.

The victim belonged to village Ramsara, preliminary reports said.

Meanwhile, one Beer Singh of Jammu Basti here, who was undergoing treatment after a road mishap, succumbed to his injuries last night, sources confirmed today.

Abohar, November 23
The PSEB team is out of the 20-20 National Open Cricket Tournament being held at the Nehru Stadium here since November 9. In a nail-biting match, the team lost to the Sandhu XI, Ludhiana by six runs in the quarter-final that was played on Sunday.

The Ludhiana team chose to bat first and scored 135 at the loss of six wickets. Kolkata league star Jaswinder Jassi, while batting for the Sandhu XI, scored 36 runs off 29 deliveries in the last match of the Pool D. Kai and Gautam while bowling for the PSEB took two wickets each.

In reply, the PSEB could manage to score only 129. The Sandhu XI’s Sunny picked up four wickets for 19 runs while Ranjit took three wickets for 21 runs.

Fine bowling helped the team from Ludhiana win by six runs. Ranjeet, who scored 16 runs and claimed 3 wickets, was declared as the man of the match.

The Sandhu XI would now face the Abohar XI while the Kings XI is pitted against the Patiala XI in the semi-finals to be played on Monday, organising secretary Rajinder Girdhar informed.

Mansa, November 23
The Democratic Employees’ Front has criticised the DEO office for not checking the experience certificates of teachers and service providers properly at the time of their selection.

Releasing a statement on Saturday, state general secretary of the front Sukhdarshan Singh Natt and state committee member Jaspal Kokhar said the departmental selection committee had released an advertisement on September 5, 2007 for the appointment of 14,000 teachers. Following this, candidates were interviewed on March 24 this year.

They said now some candidates, who were also interviewed, have alleged that experience certificates submitted by some candidates were fake.

They alleged that members of selection committee had committed many mistakes during the scrutiny of certificates.

Leaders of the Front have demanded an inquiry in the selection of teachers in Mansa and other districts.

Mansa, November 23
Punjab and Chandigarh unit of Students Federation of India (SFI) has decided to hold its 22nd state level conference at Sunam on February 4,2009. Informing about this state general secretary of organization Swarnjit Singh Dalio said that this decision was taken during the state committee meeting, which was held at Patiala recently.

Nearly 200 delegates from all districts would participate in the conference, he added. National president of SFI P.K. Beeju would inaugurate the conference and national secretary R.B. Banerjee would also be present on this occasion. Organization also decided to inform the district conference before January 25.

Student leader pointed out that the major issues related to students such as problem of bus pass, privatisation and commercialization of education would be discussed in the conference. Demand would be raised to hold election for student bodies in the educational institutions of Punjab. It is notable that election for the student bodies has not been held since 1983 in Punjab.

Mansa, November 23
During a meeting held here the Mini-bus Operators’ Association has decided to support the strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress on December 20.

State president of the association Harinder Kumar Sharma said though international crude oil prices had dropped the Indian government had not decreased the oil prices. He alleged that even Parliament members from the state did not raise voice against it.

The meeting was attended by Harvinder Singh Ladi, Hakam Singh Bhatia, Madan Lal Arora, Sukhdev Singh Mofar and Gurdeep Singh Maan.

Mansa, November 23
A man, farmer by profession, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Ram Nagar Bhattal village here on Saturday.

According to information available from the police, Harcharan Singh, son of Jagga Singh, committed suicide in the village by hanging himself from a tree. Family members of the deceased said he was mentally upset due to some domestic problem. The police has registered a case on the statement of the deceased’s uncle Gurmail Singh, a resident of the same village. — OC

Mansa, November 23
Two persons were drowned as the van they were travelling in fell into a canal at Burjharike village on Saturday. The deceased were siblings and were on their way to Mansa in a Bolero van when it went out of control and fell into the Kotla branch canal.

They were identified as Kuldeep Singh, son of Bhajan Singh, and his sister Swarn Jeet Kaur, wife of Baldev Singh and a resident here.

On getting the information about the accident, villagers assembled and fished out the bodies from the canal. However, Rajinder Singh, who was also travelling along, saved his life as he swam out of the canal.

Mansa, November 23
Five persons were injured in a road accident in Mansa today. According to information available, a tractor-trolley, coming from Sardulgarh side to Mansa was hit by a canter, coming from the same side.

In this accident, the two vehicles were damaged and the tractor driver Swarn Singh and his companion Tara Singh were injured. Tara Singh, son of Kour Singh, resident of Jatana Khurd village, was referred to PGI Chandigarh due to his serious condition. Police has registered a case against canter driver Sukhvinder Singh, son of Nand Singh, a resident of Abohar.

Meanwhile, another accident occurred near Gurne Kalan village on Budhlada-Bikhi road today. In this accident, a tractor collided with the car. Three persons who were travelling in the car were injured and later admitted to civil hospital Mansa.