B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Mahatma Gandhi remembered
Tributes paid to martyrs
Bathinda, January 30
To pay tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatama Gandhi and the Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country, a two-minute silence was observed at the mini secretariat here today. A contingent of the police reversed arms to salute the martyrs.


A student offering flower petals on the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi during a function at Abohar. A Tribune photograph

Lance Naik attains martyrdom
Bathinda, January 30
Lance Naik Jagdish Singh of 11 RR Rajput unit, a resident of village Deon in Bathinda district, sacrificed his life for the country in Kishtwar area of Doda Sector in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. He reportedly attained martyrdom while fighting against the militants.

Students of the SSD Women's Institute of Technology, Bathinda, participating in ‘Virsa’ programme held at the institute on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Detention of ETT teachers
Dharna enters second day
Mansa, January 30
Several political and other organisations started an indefinite dharna in front of the Bareta police station against the detention of Jammu ETT unemployed teachers, who were arrested during the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal rally at Bareta on January 28.

Bid to loot ATM in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, January 30
In an unsuccessful attempt, two unidentified youths tried to rob the ATM machine of the Ferozepur cantonment branch of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) during the wee hours on Friday. As per the information, the robbers managed to break the shutter of the ATM and tired to take the cash out.

Hike in VAT Fazilka traders to go on strike
Fazilka, January 30
Traders of Fazilka have decided to protest against the decision of the state government to increase VAT from 4-5 per cent and surcharge along with the entry tax on certain other items. The traders have decided to observe half-day strike on Tuesday and would protest with black flags during the visit of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Local Body minister during their visit to this area.

Student killed in road mishap
Bathinda, January 30
A student of class-XII was killed in an accident occurred on the Bathinda- Dabwali road on Friday night. As per sources, the mishap took place when two youths were travelling on a motorcycle. On receiving information, the workers of the Sahara Jan Sewa reached the spot.

Sham Lal Bansal is chief of Bathinda BJP (urban)
Bathinda, January 30
Sham Lal Bansal was unanimously elected as district president (Bathinda urban) of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) at a meting here today. Kewal Kumar, secretary, Punjab unit of the BJP, conducted the election as district returning officer and declared Bansal as district president of Bathinda (Urban).

Sham Lal Bansal

CD depicts plight of Indian Hockey
Bathinda, January 30
A local educational institution, Brills Institute, on Saturday released a video CD, depicting the plight of Hockey in the country, having a song in favour of the Hockey. Director of the institute, Ashok Sadiora, said that this CD was being distributed among people free of cost.

Mahatma Gandhi remembered
Tributes paid to martyrs
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 30
To pay tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatama Gandhi and the Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country, a two-minute silence was observed at the mini secretariat here today. A contingent of the police reversed arms to salute the martyrs.

On the occasion additional deputy commissioner Sharuti Singh also paid tributes to the martyrs and urged the gathering to take pledge to work for the unity, integrity and development of the country. She also asked the people to contribute a lot in taking the country ahead in spheres.

Abohar: Realising that “simple living and high thinking” preached by the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi is the right formula to meet the situation created by the skyrocketing prices, hundreds of students and teachers today resolved to avoid luxuries. The pledge was taken during the meeting organised by the Punjabi Sabhyachar Manch commemorating martyrdom day of Gandhi Ji at Sawan Public School here on Saturday.

Representatives of different organisations including Jamuna Devi Chawla president of Arya Mahila Propkarini Sabha, KK Sidana state secretary Non-teaching Employees association, Des Raj Kamboj president Shaheed Udham Singh Club, Romesh Middha of Well Wishers Club, Manch president Gurcharan Singh Gill, Savita Ahuja headmistress of the host school and social activist Renu Bhutana were joined by teachers and students in offering flower petals to the portrait of Gandhi.

The proceedings were conducted by Suman Sachdeva. She also spoke about the life and ideals of Sant Ravi Dass. — OC

Lance Naik attains martyrdom
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 30
Lance Naik Jagdish Singh of 11 RR Rajput unit, a resident of village Deon in Bathinda district, sacrificed his life for the country in Kishtwar area of Doda Sector in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. He reportedly attained martyrdom while fighting against the militants.

The body of the martyr will reach his native village by tonight. He will be cremated tomorrow in the village, sources said. 

Detention of ETT teachers
Dharna enters second day
Our Correspondent

Mansa, January 30
Several political and other organisations started an indefinite dharna in front of the Bareta police station against the detention of Jammu ETT unemployed teachers, who were arrested during the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal rally at Bareta on January 28.

Police arrested 24 candidates who held demonstration and sent them to judicial remand till February 11. Various organisations started dharna on January 29 that continued today to get the ETT candidates released.

The organisations that staged demonstration included CPI, CPI (ML), Bhartiya Kissan Union (Dakoda), Bhartiya Kissan Union (Ugrahan), Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, Democratic Teachers Front, Inqlabi Kendra and Veopar Mandal.

Leaders of the demonstrating outfits announced that dharna would continue until all the detained Jammu ETT candidates were released. 

Bid to loot ATM in Ferozepur
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, January 30
In an unsuccessful attempt, two unidentified youths tried to rob the ATM machine of the Ferozepur cantonment branch of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) during the wee hours on Friday. As per the information, the robbers managed to break the shutter of the ATM and tired to take the cash out.

However, they failed to do so. The bank manager, Anil Sood, informed the cantonment police station. The police team reached the bank and checked the footage of the CCTV cameras.

The ATM had a cash of Rs six lakhs at the time when robbery was attempted. Meanwhile, the Police have registered a case against the two unidentified persons and a hunt has been launched to arrest the youths.

Hike in VAT Fazilka traders to go on strike

Fazilka, January 30
Traders of Fazilka have decided to protest against the decision of the state government to increase VAT from 4-5 per cent and surcharge along with the entry tax on certain other items. The traders have decided to observe half-day strike on Tuesday and would protest with black flags during the visit of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Local Body minister during their visit to this area.

A meeting of Beopar Mandal Fazilka was held on Friday at the local Sundar Asharam in this regard. Addressing the meet, Beopar Mandal president, Ashok Gulbadhar said the government had assured the traders to withdraw VAT on pulses but instead it has been increased now. Chief of the Beopar Mandal maintained that in the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi VAT is not applicable on pulses.

Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal, secretary, Satish Dhingra, warned that the traders would not tolerate the government decision to raise the tax rates. Chemists Association, Fazilka, president Sandeep Bhusari, Artiya Association, general secretary, Roshan Lal Bharti, traders leaders, Ravinder Nagapal, Ashok Jain and others also flayed the government decision. — OC

Student killed in road mishap
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 30
A student of class-XII was killed in an accident occurred on the Bathinda- Dabwali road on Friday night. As per sources, the mishap took place when two youths were travelling on a motorcycle. On receiving information, the workers of the Sahara Jan Sewa reached the spot.

They found one youth dead there while another sustained serious injuries. The workers informed the police about the incident. The deceased was identified as Gurjeet Singh, a student of Class XII.

Sham Lal Bansal is chief of Bathinda BJP (urban)
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 30
Sham Lal Bansal was unanimously elected as district president (Bathinda urban) of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) at a meting here today. Kewal Kumar, secretary, Punjab unit of the BJP, conducted the election as district returning officer and declared Bansal as district president of Bathinda (Urban).

Sham Lal Bansal had already been performing duties of the district president (Bathinda urban) of the BJP since August 1, 2009.

Ramesh Garg was unanimously elected president of Central Mandal of Bathinda.

CD depicts plight of Indian Hockey

Bathinda, January 30
A local educational institution, Brills Institute, on Saturday released a video CD, depicting the plight of Hockey in the country, having a song in favour of the Hockey. Director of the institute, Ashok Sadiora, said that this CD was being distributed among people free of cost.

He said that in the CD they had appealed to the people to help the Hockey players financially. — TNS