Bathinda, September 15
In the backdrop of the nasty Chandigarh protest where farmers reportedly cocked a snook at the law-enforcing agencies on September 8, the Bathinda administration today remained extra-alert while dealing with a farmers’ rally outside the Mini-secretariat here.

The police was on toes since Monday so as to make all arrangements fool proof.

All roads leading to the city were cordoned off with the police installing barricades at two to three points on the way. According to details available, the police tried to search the vehicles of farmers to ensure that the protesters did not carry along any weapon. But the farmers warned the cops against making any such attempt saying it could lead to some unlike situation.

Fearing outbreak of violence, the SSP Bathinda himself visited the venue of the rally and directed the cops to remain extra-vigilant. Acting upon guidelines, the police with the help of Bathinda Municipal Corporation staff had got removed the bricks and stones lying at the protest venue.

The police was deployed in strength around the venue till the rally was in process. As the farmers moved towards the Bathinda branch of the Sirhind canal to carry out a protest march, the police followed them. Even after the farmers concluded the rally and went about leaving the city, the police accompanied them till they reached the city outskirts.

To ensure a peaceful rally, the district administration passed an order that all liquor vends in the city would remain closed till the rally ends.

However, except a few, majority of the liquor vends flouted the order.

Muktsar, September 15
In an incident, which sent shock waves among the residents of this town, a strapping 26-year-old was waylaid, shot at and later robbed of Rs 7 lakh in broad daylight in the busy Guru Gobind Singh park area here on Tuesday, barely 100 yards away from the Muktsar city police station.

Anup Kakkar and his accomplice Jatinder Pal Singh, employees of a private security agency, were carrying cash from the LIC office located on the Railways Road to HDFC bank on KK road when they were waylaid by two motorcycle-borne unidentified persons. Sensing danger, Jatinder Pal sidestepped his way while Kakkar, who was carrying the cash laden bag, found himself face-to-face with the assailants. According to the eye-witness reports, initially, Kakkar made an effort to scare away the robbers but later his resistance melted when one of the robbers fired a shot from point blank range. Apprehending danger, the assailants managed to flee taking advantage of the intricate by lanes of the area.

A profusely bleeding Kakkar was rushed to the civil hospital. Showing alacrity, the cops rushed to the spot and started investigations. Muktsar SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill, who was camping in the nearby Sarai Naga village, too rushed to the spot. There was a heavy police presence at the civil hospital where Kakkar is recuperating. He is stated to be out of danger.

The SSP said an FIR would be registered after preliminary investigations were over.

Bathinda, September 15
Mercury is likely to go north in the next three to four days in the region as there is a possibility of monsoon taking a break in the period.

Change in the mood of monsoon has been apparent in and around Bathinda during the last four days. The mercury started rising after Friday last when the region witnessed one of the peaks of monsoon activity of the season.

As far as the mercury’s behaviour is concerned, it ranged between 23 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees at maximum level during the last four days, as per the Agro-Met advisory service, PAU regional station, Bathinda. With no apparent signs of rainfall in the coming three days, mercury is expected to rise further.

According to the weather forecast made by the IMD, Chandigarh, for Bathinda on Tuesday and received by the Agro-Met advisory service here, weather is expected to remain clear and dry in the next three to four days in the region. There is a little possibility of rainfall in the period.

While the maximum temperature in the period is likely to remain between 35 degrees Celsius and 38 degrees, the minimum would range around 21 degrees Celsius to 26 degrees, the weathermen said, adding that the humidity would be between 45 per cent and 87 per cent.

Bathinda, September 15
The Guru Ram Dass Institute of Engineering and Technology today celebrated the Engineers’ Day in the memory of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.

September 15 is a memorable day for the engineering fraternity in the country in general as Sir Visvesvaraya, the towering personality in the history of Indian engineering, was born on this day 147 years ago. In recognition of his monumental services towards the cause of engineering, Sir Visvesvaraya was conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955.

On the occasion, Dr Buta Singh Sidhu, director at Yadavindra College of Engineering, Talwandi Sabo, and a noted engineer delivered a guest lecture to the B. Tech. first-year students to inspire them in the filed of engineering.  “Our country needs innovative engineers who can develop new products for benefit of mankind,” he said.

Dr H.S. Saini, director of the institute, apprised students about the Engineers’ Day while Prof. Amolak Singh Sekhon honoured the invited guests. — TNS

Bathinda, September 15
In the memory of Baba Sheikh Farid, a 12th century saint, ‘Sheikh Farid Aagman Purb’ would be organised at Faridkot from September 19 to 23.

Deputy commissioner of Faridkot V.K. Meena today said the five-day event would have an array of programmes for which the preparations were almost made.

A cultural exhibition, seminars, state-level painting competition, cricket, football and volleyball tournaments, national hockey gold cup would be organised during the three day event. A ‘qawwali’ programme would also take place.

‘Tarksheel mela’, shooting ball championship, wrestling contest, ‘kavi darbar’, ‘kirtan darbar’ and folk dances of various states are also lined up for the five-day event.

Famous Punjabi singers Nachattar Gill, Satwinder Bhatti and Harbhajan Mann would be the star attraction and would regale the audience during the event.

Fazilka, September 15
Allotment of the official residence of the Civil Surgeon, Ferozepur to Commissioner, Ferozepur division, has virtually created a stand-off between civil and health administration in Ferozepur.

According to details available, the civil surgeon's residence located at 35, Mall Road, Ferozepur, which has been occupied by the civil surgeons for several decades since pre-partition days, was allotted by the executive engineer PWD B&R (Works) to the commissioner Ferozepur division vide his order on September 14. The order was reportedly served upon Dr Dalip Kumar, civil surgeon Ferozepur, late in the evening on Monday. He has been alternatively allotted house no. 3 in the Canal Colony.

This order caused resentment amongst the officers and employees of the health department. Scores of members of the co-ordination committee, Para Medical and Health Employees Ferozepur, led by the district convener Lokesh Rai Talwar, staged protest rally on Tuesday.

Ravinder Luthra, state chairman and Shashi Kant press secretary, co-ordination committee Para Medical and Health Employees Punjab, Kulwant Singh Lahri, senior vice-president, Punjab Sub-ordinate Services Federation have in statements condemned the action of the civil administration and its attempt to forcibly vacate the residence of the civil surgeon, Ferozepur.

The Health Department Clerical Association has warned of protest at the district headquarters on September 21-22. They would also stage a dharna before the DC office on September 23.

Meanwhile, Dr Dalip Kumar, civil surgeon, confirmed the order and said he has taken up the matter with health minister, principal secretary, health, and director health services, Punjab, and would follow their advice.

Executive engineer Daljit Singh, after initial hesitation on the row, confirmed that he had allotted the civil surgeon residence to the commissioner Ferozepur. He, however, hastened to add that he had not directed to vacate it immediately. DC Ferozepur could not be contacted for his views.

Abohar, September 15
Realising that they were fighting a losing battle against their eviction from the ancient Mud Fort area, over 250 residents have started demolishing the houses that they had built with their own hands during the past couple of years.

Hundred of Rai Sikh families had found shelter in the makeshift refugee camps near Fazilka and Jalalabad area and later shifted to Abohar after the partition and communal riots that followed it. Initially, they had been working as farm labour and gradually the migrants started building kuchcha houses levelling a part of the Mud Fort area.

Interestingly, leaders of all political parties had extended support to the action committee formed by the illegal occupants to oppose eviction. But no deputation had so far met the CM, the residents rued. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has fixed barbed wire at some vacant places along with the notice boards that warn the occupants that they can be sentenced to imprisonment for three months besides a fine up to Rs 5,000 for encroaching upon the ancient monument land.

One Gurjinder Singh said civil officers along with cops visited and asked the residents to demolish houses on their own otherwise the locality will face action by September 24. The HC deadline on this is September 30.