Mansa, September 20
As many as 3,850 children of Mansa district, falling in the age group of 0-14 years, are suffering either from physical or mental disability. Among the total, 2124 children are victim of impairment above 40 per cent. Out of the total 3,850 detected cases, 185 children are suffering from multiple disabilities, 50 are mentally retired, 26 children are victim of heart ailments and two are battling cancer.

As per the block-wise details available, 590 special children have been detected in Bareta, 649 in Jhunir, 784 have been in Sardulgarh and 848 in Budhlada, while Mansa block has the biggest numbers with 979 children.

The data has been collected under the recently conducted survey under a special component of the Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan (SSA)-the Inclusive Education for Disabled.

All such details could be compiled after monthlong efforts of one special educator, five block level educators and 35 volunteers. At present, 2204 special children have been enrolled in district schools. Under the component, special teachers and volunteers have also been appointed in cluster wise resource rooms situated at the block/district level.

In this district, about 34 resource rooms have been established, where 417 special children in the age group of 6-14 have been enrolled, where teachers try their best to give them basic education.

In an attempt to provide them support to help them be on their own feet, about 200 children are being given vocational training like candle making and book binding. Besides, observing the incapability of 236 children to attend school, teachers and volunteers visit them personally to provide home-based education.

Moreover the children, categorised under five kinds of disability are being provided artificial limbs, tricycles, wheelchairs, ear aids, spectacles, blind canes and calipers, as per their requirement.

Speaking over the issue, District Project Director of the SSA, Darshan Singh Dhillon, said, “Under the project, we are making our best to cover almost every special child for providing at least the basic education.

Earlier, children used to drop out due to one or the other reason but now, we are sensitising their parents to understand the policy and the need of the hour. Besides, we have been maintaining a child tracking system, where the data of each such special child is with us on the computer."

Bathinda, September 20
In a daring act, some unidentified persons pumped several rounds of bullets and killed a 26-year-old youth Gurpreet Singh of village Pakhi at Gurunanak Colony in Faridkot, late this evening.

According to information available, five unidentified persons in a white car intercepted him near his house, when he was riding a motorcycle. The accused came out of the car and beat him up inflicting severe injuries upon him. The youth somehow managed to escape and fled to a nearby street.

The accused chased him in their car and shot a bullet from distance, which injured him in his arm. After sustaining the injury, he fell onto the ground.

Sources informed that there were five persons in the car, while only two came out and first hit him with blows and kicks, then pumped about five bullets in his chest and other parts of the body. Only after ensuring that he had succumbed to his injuries, did they leave the spot. Meanwhile, police attempted to chase them but they managed to flee from the spot after their car collided with another vehicle.

Senior officials reached the spot but refused to comment saying the matter was very sensitive so details would be disclosed only after proper investigation. No case was registered till the filing of the news.

Some neighbours of the deceased informed that about a year back, Gurpreet Singh had solemnised love marriage with a girl of the same village against the wishes of their families. At that time, he had taken along persons who had impersonated as his in-laws. His actual in-laws, meanwhile, after receiving the information that they were getting married, had brought the police to the Gurudwara Singh Sabha, where the marriage was being solemnized.

About a couple of months back, facing some problems in the village, the couple shifted to Gurunanak Colony in a rented accommodation. The boy was planning to go abroad.

Meanwhile, it was also informed that Gurpreet had personal rivalry with a local group of notorious youths.

When contacted, SSP Faridkot, Surinder Singh Sodhi said, “I am out of station so I do not have the proper details of the incident.”