Bathinda, February 11
Expressing a grave concern over the adulteration in food items and drugs, Punjab health and family welfare minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla today favoured capital punishment for the “erring” persons, who manufactured adulterated/ spurious food items and drugs, and sold the same to general public in the market.

The minister further said the Department of Health, Punjab, was serious about checking the adulteration in food items and drugs, so it had written to the Union Government to amend the Food Act and the Drugs Act. The Department had sought addition of stringent provisions in these Acts that called for awarding exemplary punishment to the adulterators.

She said that to check adulteration or impurity, a laboratory was being set up at Patiala to test Ayurvedic medicines. She claimed that the laboratory would start functioning by March end. After that, no Ayurvedic medicine would be sold in the state without being tested, she added.

Chawla was here today to inspect the arrangements of a four-day “Arogya” mela, being organised by the department of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and industry (FICCI) on the premises of the Government Rajindra College here. The fair is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Chawla stated that during past 27 years, no government had paid attention towards the Department of Ayurveda in Punjab, thus keeping this department “sick”. For example no Director, Ayurveda, had been appointed during this period. She said now, the state had Director, Ayurveda, while a joint director, Homoeopathy, was being appointed.

She also said the state government was taking up matter with the governments of Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala and Gujarat to reserve seats for the in-service Ayurveda doctors of Punjab, so that they could do post-graduation in Ayurveda from there. She said it was a need of the hour to promote Ayurveda in the state.

The health minister also stated that there was no shortage of Ayurvedic medicines in the Ayurveda dispensaries as the state government had already purchased medicines worth Rs 2 crore while more medicines worth Rs 2 crore were being purchased.

She said the government Ayurvedic pharmacy was now functioning eight hours a day while the government would make arrangements to run this pharmacy round-the-clock. 

Bathinda, February 11
To implement the Tobacco Control Act-2008 in an effective manner, a meeting was held under the chairpersonship of ADC Shruti Singh here last evening.

At the meeting, the officers of the Health Department said they had issued challans to 49 persons for smoking at public places. Besides, they had also received fines from them.

They also said if a college principal wanted to check smoking on the college campus then he or she could be authorised to issue challans and receive fines.

The health officials said the provisions of the Act were also applicable to the hotels and dhabas having capacity of 30 seats. So, the owners of dhabas and hotels would have to make a special chamber for smokers.

The meeting also decided to remove cigarette shops and kiosks from near the colleges and schools and aware the general public about the ill-effects of smoking.

Muktsar, February 11
Succumbing to the pressure from the state government, activists of the ETT teachers’ union deferred their state level “Badal Vaada Pura Karo rally”, which was scheduled to be held in Lambi, the home turf of CM Parkash Singh Badal, on Friday.

Changing the strategy of the protest, the activists declared they would burn the effigies of the state government at all district headquarters on Friday (February 12).

Despite getting information about the fresh move of the protesters, the district administration was reluctant to withdraw the security personnel, deployed in the village, till late this evening. Moreover, senior civil and police officials of the district kept calling media persons throughout the day to collect information about the fresh move of protesters.

The administration was anxious to prevent the assembly of protesters and all roads leading to Lambi were cordoned off and the village was turned into a fortress.

All high buildings, including water tanks were cordoned off with barbed wire and cops in tow, apparently, to avoid a replication of the Kapurthala like incident.

Meanwhile, terming the protest to be a baseless action, deputy commissioner Muktsar had imposed section 144 of the CrPC to ban the assembly of protesters and declared their demands as unconstitutional.

If the ETT teachers are relied upon, the state government did its best to foil the scheduled rally, as about 100 activists of the union were arrested from various corners of the state, many of them were sent to judicial custody till February 15.

Further, the police kept on conducting raids in the wee hours of Wednesday-Thursday to nab the remaining leaders.

Talking to TNS, a leader of the union, Swaranjeet Singh Bhagta said that surrendering to transport officials, all transporters had cancelled the bookings and returned the advance amount, which they had paid to hire buses to reach Lambi. “They could not even arrange taxis and canters to reach the destination as all drivers and owners were warned of being issued tickets (challan), if they ferried us to Lambi.”

Confirming the development, Jaswinder Singh, state president of the ETT teachers’ union said, “Though the administration kept harassing us till the evening, the call of rally gave sleepless nights to officials concerned throughout the state.’

Adding that all schools running under the Zila Parishad remained closed for today as a mark of protest, he said if the government did not accept their demands, they would start an indefinite strike from Monday, when all such schools would remain closed.

Jaswinder said, “For once, we have deferred the Lambi rally, but we will surely hold it in the near future. The next time, everything would be arranged in a secret manner.”

Bathinda, February 11
Bathinda Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rahul Tewari ordered issuance of show-cause notices to three executive engineers (XENs) of the Water Supply and Sewerage Board, as none of them attended a meeting of the district development committee presided over by the DC here today.

The DC took a serious note of their absence, as he wanted that every meeting of the committee should be attended by all officers concerned.

Talking to TNS, the DC said the show-cause notices seeking the reason for remaining absent from the meeting would be issued to the XENs by him in a day or so.

The DC also warned that if any employee was found absent from duty, especially in villages, the district head of the department/office concerned would be held responsible.

Tewari said 45 inspection teams had been formed in the district to check the offices, schools etc. Each team inspected at least one village in a month. He said the employees found absent from duty by the teams in the past had been charge-sheeted while in some cases, amounts deducted from their salaries for the period they had remained absent.

The DC said in future, he would also personally check schools, hospitals, anganwari centres, veterinary dispensaries etc in villages. The SDMs of Bathinda, Phul and Talwandi Sabo sub-divisions would also make surprise checking. 

Bathinda, February 11
The computerisation of work of offices of the district transport officer (DTO) here and at Mansa is on the cards, as some work has already been completed after the receipt of computers.

Sources told this reporter on Wednesday that some computers had been made available to the DTO’s office here by the Department of Transport, Punjab, under a Government of India scheme. The process related to local area networking of the computers has also been completed with active support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

The formal installation of the computers in the office will be done soon with the help of the NIC, as it will load the required software for the computerisation work. Initially, the process of preparing registration of certificates (RCs) of vehicles and driving licences will be computerised. These will be issued by the office of the DTO itself. At present, these are being issued through the “Suvidha Centre” here by the DTO’s office.

However, only new record will be available on the computers. Once the office is computerised, separate windows will be set up in the DTO’s office to deal with different jobs.

Besides, the computerisation of office of the Mansa DTO will also be done soon. According to information, the office of Mansa DTO has already received computers for the office work and local area networking has also been done. The Mansa DTO’s office may also be computerised simultaneously. 

Moga, February 11
A local travel agent Satinder Pal Singh alias Bittu has alleged that the local police was harassing him at the instance of PS Gill, the present DGP of the Punjab Police, pressurising him to become approver against Jagdev Singh, NRI, allegedly facing the trial of murder of DGP’s father, Nachhatar Singh, who was a former MLA from this constituency.

In a telegram addressed to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana last evening, he has alleged that the inspector Jaspal Singh, sub-inspector Shamsher Singh and ASI Tajinder Singh were threatening him to involve him in any false case.

His name already figures in two FIRs registered against Jagdev Singh under Sections 7, 13(2), 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and under sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC.

Meanwhile, the police today filed an application before the court of additional sessions judge, SK Aggarwal, intimating that the investigating officer had added the charges of corruption Act in the first FIR registered under sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC, thereby, paving the way for the cancellation of the separate FIR registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

This has been intentionally done by the investigating officer after Jagdev Singh approached the HC that the contents and allegations levelled against him were same in both the FIRs.

Now, the police was trying to make this travel agent as an approver in this case. The police had raided his house several times and also picked him up once exerting pressure to become approver but he plainly refused to do so, alleged Bittu.

He further alleged that his name had been falsely and intentionally dragged in this case to put pressure on him to become approver against Jagdev Singh.

His legal counsel Ramesh Grover while talking to The Tribune said his client would file a petition before the HC tomorrow against the DGP and local authorities of the police seeking blanket bail and justice.

On the other hand, a local court had stayed the arrest of both Bittu and Jagdev Singh in the fresh additions of charges against them in a case, in which, they had already got regular bails. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, February 11
The Rajasthan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (RSGPC) has sought the intervention of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil to get the Anand Marriage Act restored as it had been enacted and implemented by the British government in 1909 for the welfare of the Sikh community.

In the two-page memorandum faxed to the President today, the RSGPC said Sikhism has no confrontation with its contemporaries but it cannot be denied the status of a separate religion since it is not a by-product of any other religion.

The Sikh religion is based on truth as Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had said, “Na hum Hindu na hum Musalman.” But contrary to this, Sikhs were termed as a part of Hindu religion under Article 25-B of the Constitution.

This had brought the Sikhs under the Hindu Marriage Act.

Claiming that the Anand Marriage Act, recognising anand karaj by Sikh families, remains applicable in its original form in Pakistan and Bangladesh till date, the RSGPC said the same Act has now been adopted in some European countries also.

The memorandum further points out that the Constitution Reforms Committee had in 1999 was convinced that Sikhs are a separate religion.

It will be thus better to accept the truth and get the Anand Marriage Act restored to strengthen the sovereign image of India, the RSGPC said.

Mansa, February 11
A head constable who was placed under suspension for being absent for duty for more than three months by the Police Line Mansa, has been dismissed from service.

As per the information, a case had been registered against head constable, Davinder Singh, under section 384 of the IPC at the Sadar police station in Mansa.

He reportedly did not appear for investigation, sources said. The head constable had allegedly threatened a Mussa village resident and received Rs 50,000 from him.

SSP Hardyal Singh Maan said that Davinder Singh had been absent from duty without informing or any reason. So, he was dismissed.

Ferozepur, February 11
In a function organised to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Sham Singh Attari at his native place in Fatehgarh Sabraon yesterday, Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla, health minister, along with Avtar Singh Makkar, president SGPC, Rattan Singh, Ajnala, MP, paid tributes to the gallant Sikh warrior of the freedom struggle, who fought against the might of the British.

Chawla said that the sacrifice of the gallant martyrs like Sham Singh Attari will continue to inspire the generations to come and instill a spirit of sacrifice in them.

She said that Punjab was the first state to open Jan Aushadhi centres at all the district headquarters where the poor patients can get medicines at subsidised rates.

In his address, Makkar criticised the Congress for unnecessary interfering in Sikh affairs. He lauded the contribution of Sham Singh Attari in waging a war against the oppression of the British, adding that had Sikh generals like Lal Singh, Teja Singh and Gulab Singh not deceived him, the British would never be able to step into Punjab.

On the occasion, Avtar Singh Minna, chairman, Punjab Cooperative Bank, Manjit Singh Rai, chairman, Planning Board besides scores of other SAD-BJP workers were also present.

Ferozepur, February 11
The students of the local RSD College today held a demonstration against the non-cooperative attitude of the private mini-bus operators whom the students alleged that they do not allow the students any concession notwithstanding they have students pass issued by the roadways department.

The students led by Kanwaljit Singh, president, SOI blocked the Ferozepur-Mallanwala road and later submitted a memorandum to the college principal.

The students demanded that private bus operators should cooperate with the students and those who have passes issued by the transport department should be given concession in the fare.

The students said that earlier also, they have submitted a memorandum to the district officials but to no avail.

Abohar, February 11
The SAD-BJP alliance government came under heavy fire, during a rally of the NREGA workers today, for not utilising 2,522 lakh out of the funds received from the Central government for NREGS in the state. Women too were present in a large number.

While addressing the rally at Nehru Park here, legislator Sunil Jakhar said the neighbouring state Rajasthan had utilised 504720 lakh out of 588805 lakh allotted to it under the NREGS and 354391 lakh out this was paid to unskilled workers.

However, Punjab utilised 9910 lakh out of 12432 lakh allocation and 3199 lakh out of this was spent on purchasing material and recurring expenses.

The unskilled workers were paid only 6385 lakh. There were complaints that most of the job cardholders had got work for less than a month even. Punjab has registered 674138 job cardholders.

The MLA alleged that a major part of the NREGA funds had been siphoned off in Punjab by the officials concerned in connivance with workers of the ruling parties.

The government had not employed requisite staff in scores of development blocks for the last three years.

The NREGA workers led by the legislator marched in a procession, raised slogans against the state government and submitted a memorandum to the SDM Amit Dhaka at the sub-divisional administrative complex. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, February 11
The body donation call given by the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh during a spiritual 
discourse at his native village Gurusar Modian in Sriganganagar district a few months back is emerging as a movement.

One of his followers Reshama Devi was also among hundreds of followers, who had signed pledge forms to donate body after the death. She died yesterday at her G-block residence in Sriganganagar.

To fulfill her last wish, the family informed the Green Social Welfare Force, a wing of the Dera, and requested to make arrangements for donating the body for medical research.

Lakhjit Singh in-charge of Rajasthan state youth wing informed that local chief of the Green Force, Ram Chander Chopra contacted Maharaja Ganga Singh Dental College and arrangements were made accordingly.

A large number of men and women joined the funeral procession. About a dozen bodies have so far been donated in the region. Notably, the medical colleges earlier had shortage of bodies for medical research. 

Feroezpur, February 11
Thieves looted a government cooperative bank at village Khosa Dal Singh and decamped with the cash lying in the safe after breaking the locks with the help of a gas cylinder.

As per the information available, when Yugraj Singh, working as peon reached the bank today in the morning, he found the locks broken. Yugraj immediately informed Himmat Singh, the cashier of the bank, who in turn informed the police.

The police led by the DSP Wazir Singh reached the spot and took fingerprints from the spot. Even the sniffer dogs were pressed into service. However, the culprits could not be traced.

Himmat Singh said that when he left the bank yesterday, there was an amount of Rs 1,47,227 in the safe. Some of the cash got burnt due to the use of gas cylinder and the rest was stolen by the robbers, he added.

The robbers left the entire gadget including gas cylinder, sharp weapon, cutter and an axe on the spot while leaving the bank.

The DSP said that the police was working on some leads and he expected to arrest the robbers soon.