Moga, February 18
Hundreds of people including farmers, trade union leaders and the local villagers attended the cremation of kisan leader Sadhu Singh Takhtupura, organizing secretary of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) at his native village at Takhtupura in Moga district on Thursday.

He was brutally murdered in broad daylight with iron rods and swords in the border village of Bhindian Saida in Amritsar district on Tuesday.

The 68-year-old Sadhu Singh retired as a teacher in 2000 and has four sons. His elder son passed away recently leaving behind four children.

A senior leader of the BKU Sukhdev Singh Kokri told The Tribune that they had planned to donate Sadhu Singh’s body to a medical college but the doctors refused on the grounds that the police had kept the body for more than 30 hours in their custody without proper care. As such, the body was of no use to them. They had to cremate the body then as per the rituals, he added.

Meanwhile, the kisan union had lodged an FIR at Lopoke police station in Amritsar district in which they had named four suspects including former SAD MLA Veer Singh Lopoke, his son-in-law and SHO Rachpal Singh, sarpanch of Sorian village Kulwinder Singh and chairman of the Block Samiti Sarbhjit Singh Lodhinanagal.

Kokri had alleged that their union was struggling for farmers’ rights in this belt of the state in the Majha region for a long time and these people had clashed with them many a times in the past few years.

Expressing his faint hope of getting justice from the state government, Kokri, while addressing the gathering announced that had decided to launch a state-wide agitation from February 24 onwards. “We will hold massive rallies at all district headquarters across the state demanding the arrest of the culprits,” he said.

It may be mentioned that Takhtupura, on the behalf of BKU, had recently organised a big rally at Ajnala against the police for allegedly killing a youth in custody.

Abohar, February 18
Hundreds of NREGA workers including a large number of women gheraoed the Block Development and Panchayat office of Khuyiansarwar block, located near the terminus of Abohar-Fazilka and Abohar-Hindumalkot road here today.

They staged dharna and shouted slogans against the BDPO alleging apathy towards implementation of the NRGS in a fair manner.

While addressing the protesters, Sarabjit Singh, Jagtar Singh, Bhagwan Dass and Harjit Kaur alleged that only 28 working days for the NRGS were left but the BDPO was not inclined to accept forms from the applicants. The office insisted that each applicant should submit the form individually while the NREGA Workers Union suggested that they should be allowed to submit forms in group of 10 persons to expedite the process.

The union leaders also lambasted the state government for not utilising the NREGA funds that had been released by the Central government long back. The union leaders informed the media in the evening that the agitation would continue until and unless the officers mend their ways.

Fazilka: About 500 workers of the NREGA Mazdoor Union, Fazilka, gheraoed office of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) here today to protest against non-issuance of the job cards to them.

The agitating workers alleged that the department is not accepting their application forms for issuing job cards. They have demanded that their applications for job cards be accepted and receipts be issued to them.

The agitating workers laid a seige on all the three entry and exit gates of the office of the BDPO. Upon this, Paramjit Singh Sindhwan, OSD, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was here today to listen to the grievances of the residents of Jalalabad, the home constituency of Deputy CM assured the agitating workers that their demands would be looked into immediately.

Mansa: Labourers of Nandgarh village yesterday started an indefinite dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office for not getting payment of work under NREGA scheme. They alleged that irregularities were taking place. Addressing the dharna, state secretary of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha (MMM) Bhagwant Singh Sammaon said the administration and some panchayats were not doing justice in providing work and payment under the NREGA scheme.

Abohar, February 18
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has started encircling the ancient Mud Fort area spread over eight acre with barbed wire.

The ASI is keen to complete fencing work before March 13 when the petition by 64 families for permanent stay against dispossession is listed for hearing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The houses of the petitioners had not been demolished as they had got an interim stay.

During a visit today, this correspondent found a dozen workers involved in installing pillars around the vacated area for fixing wire.

Notably, hundreds of houses, developed during the past six decades by dismantling a major part of the Mud Fort, were razed to ground by the administration using the JCB machines under heavy security cover on September 26 last year.

The ASI had come under heavy fire thrice in the Parliament for not getting ancient monument vacated. Mud Fort was the only monument that figured in the list for Punjab.

Intriguingly, majority of the families, who were rendered homeless due to demolition of houses, belonged to the Rai Sikh community.

They had relied upon assurances reportedly given by some political leaders including Sher Singh Ghubaya (SAD MP) during separate visits here. “They had promised us a moon during the Lok Sabha election as well as Vidhan Sabha bi-election in Jalalabad but none turned up later,” rued one Balwinder Singh.

The ASI has fixed fresh warning boards declaring the Mud Fort as a prohibited and regulated area.

This was necessitated following reports that tractor-trolley owners who had been indulging in mining at the Panj Peer mound for last few months were now targeting the Mud Fort land.

Bathinda, February 18
To provide relief from the raining ash, renovation of the unit number III of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) is in full swing, claimed Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) authorities here today.

After the renovation of two units — I and II in 2006 and 2007, respectively — the units III and IV were said to be the major sources of air pollution in the city, as these were emitting fly ash much beyond the specified norms of the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

Paying heed to the woes of Bathinda residents, the PSEB authorities finally made the authorities of the Bharat Heavy Electricity Limited (BHEL) initiate the renovation of the remaining two units.

According to information collected from the PSEB authorities, the process of dismantling unit III was initiated on January 14 this year with the target of completing the same in nine months. It has been informed that once the renovation of unit III is completed, the BHEL authorities would take up the job of renovating unit IV.

During the process, boilers, turbines and coal mills would, reportedly, be replaced with new ones and the whole process would cost about Rs 465 crore to the PSEB.

It may be mentioned that all the four units of the GNDTP were being run even as these have completed their lives. Finding no other option, the authorities decided to renovate all to keep them functioning.

Giving information, Member (Generation) PSEB GS Sran claimed that once the renovation of the units III and IV was completed, not only would the pollution be brought under check but the generation capacity of both the units would also get increased by 10 MW each.

As the fly ash problem had emerged as a major issue in the last Lok Sabha polls, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal brought the matter to the notice of Union Minister for Heavy Industries Vilasrao Deshmukh.

She had pointed out that they had to face public outrage due to high-level of air pollution in the city. To take an account of the renovation process, Harsimrat Badal today visited the GNDTP and urged the officials to complete the job within the announced time period.

Bathinda, February 18
Under the Centre-sponsored “National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)”, the Punjab Government today released Rs 1.66 crore as its 10 per cent share in the scheme to six districts of the state.

In a communiqué sent today to the deputy commissioners and additional deputy commissioners (Development) of Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Gurdaspur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshehar) and Hoshiarpur districts, the Commissioner NREGA & Special Secretary, Government of Punjab, stated that the Governor of Punjab had sanctioned Rs 1.66 crore as 10 per cent state share in the Centre-sponsored scheme, the NREGS, for six district rural development agencies (DRDAs).

Out of this, an amount of Rs 20.87 lakh has been released to Bathinda district while Rs 34.63 lakh and Rs 3. 82 lakh has been released to Muktsar and Mansa districts, respectively. A sum of Rs 39.20 lakh has been released to Gurdaspur district, Rs 15.97 lakh to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Rs 51.88 lakh to Hoshiarpur district.

The authorities have been asked to spend the funds according to the Government of India’s guidelines and send the utilisation certificates after completion of works.

Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has released Rs 2.36 crore, the Centre’s share, to Bathinda district as next installment for implementation of the NREGA during the current financial year 2009-10. The authorities have been asked not to deviate from the provisions of the permissible guidelines of the NREGS while spending the funds. They have also been asked to utilise the funds for approved items of works, subject to the conditions laid under the NREGA guidelines.

As per the information available, the district has received Rs 13.23 crore so far from the Centre as well as the state under the NREGS during the current financial year.

Bathinda, February 18
Protesting against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their demands, Patwaris from all parts of the Bathinda tehsil, led by district president of the Revenue Patwar Union Kaur Singh, today staged a dharna at the Tehsil office here.

District patron of the union Sham Lal Grover said their main demands had been ignored by the state government for a long time, for which they had to resort to agitation. He said their main demands included Rs 1,000 a month as special allowance to assistant office kanungo, Rs 1,000 a month office allowance to each Patwari and Rs 1,500 a month as travelling allowance. He added that Rs 500 per month as stationery allowance, Rs 500 as Basta (record keeping bag) allowance and technical grade were other demands.

Among others present or addressed the protesters included Jagnandan Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Mota Singh, Darshan Singh Teona, Surinder Pal and Darshan Singh Gidderbaha.

Bathinda, February 18
To promote the spirit of adventurism as well as to commemorate the XII Arty Re-Union, the Medium Regiment will be undertaking the Chetak Cycle Expedition from Bathinda to Suratgarh via Fazilka and Bikaner along the international border from February 18 to March 5.

The cycle rally was flagged off today by Lt Gen Surendra Nath, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps.

The expedition team, comprising one officer, one junior commissioned officer and eight jawans led by Captain Suhaas Pal Singh, will cover a distance of nearly 824 km along the international border in the rugged hinterland of Rajasthan.

Apart from familiarising the troops with the civilian populace residing in close proximity of the international border, the team would also obtain a first hand account of certain unexplored facets of the region. The expedition will also put the team through test of endurance, adaptability and mental robustness.

The remote sand swept hinterlands of Rajasthan have always attracted tourists from all over the world. Aiming to promote the spirit of adventure activities, the team will be traversing through these remote areas which once were witness to be Rajputana grandeur.

Bathinda, February 18
Ramandeep Singh and Pinki stole the show in the boys and the girls category, respectively, during the opening day of the 57 Annual Sports Meet of the Rajindra College, Bathinda, today.

Both the athletes bagged two gold medals each during the annual track and field carnival of the college.

Earlier, chief parliamentary secretary Jagdeep Singh Nakai, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the sports meet that would see fierce fight for the top prizes in several events, including 100 m run, high jump and others.

Addressing the students, Nakai announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh to the college for the development of sports.

Principal of the college Sukhchain Rai Garg delivered the welcome speech while head of the physical education of the college Surjeet Singh made the gathering aware about the college’s track record in sports.

A cultural programme was also performed by the students to mark the occasion.

First place holders on the Day 1:

Boys:

800 m run: Parmanand

Long jump: Ramandeep Singh

Javelin throw: Hardeep Singh

Three leg race: Mandeep and Kulvinder

1500 m run: Rajvinder Singh

Triple jump: Ramandeep Singh

Girls:

400 m run: Pinki

Discus throw: Madhu

Three leg race: Navdeep and Manjeet

1500 m run: Pinki

Tug of war: Bhagat Singh House

Bathinda, February 18
Members of the Diploma Engineer Association, Muktsar accused a Panchayat member of Kauni village of threatening their colleague Balwinder (junior engineer) with life.

Issuing a press note, Tarsem Chand Sharma, president of the association said Balwinder nabbed the accused when he had been stealing power through an illegal connection. Despite lodging a complaint with the police, no action had been initiated against the accused. Irked, the association activists held a meeting and passed a resolution to go on strike if the police did not take legal action against the accused.

Abohar, February 18
Deepa, a student of BSc (III) was declared the best athlete among girls during the golden jubilee athletic meet of the DAV College here last evening. She topped in 100 meter, 200 meter and relay race and was runners-up in some other events.

Surinder Kumar who had topped in 800 meter and 5,000 meter race was adjudged the best athlete among the boys.

Arjuna awardee hockey Olympian Ajit Singh honoured the winners. Principal Dr BB Sharma welcomed the distinguished guest who was accompanied by his wife Baljinder Kaur.

Sarabjit Singh, head of the physical education department, listed the achievements of the college during the current academic session.

BP.Ed student Seema Rani who had won a gold medal in javelin throw during the Panjab University sports meet was among those who were also honoured on the occasion.

National hockey player Rajinder Singh Jakhar was among those present.

The students mesmerised the gathering by performing power yoga and rhythm yoga. Notably, the college team last year topped at the university level.

Fazilka, February 18
The residents of Jalalabad observed a complete strike to protest against the shortage and alleged black-marketing of the domestic LPG. The call for strike was given by different NGOs of the town. Hundreds of people after taking out protest march from the town bazaars, blocked traffic on the Fazilka-Ferozepur highway and staged dharna on Udham Singh Chowk.

The chemists also participated in the strike. The shopkeepers of the grain market also observed a complete bandh. Meanwhile, SDM Rajiv Prashar took notice of the strike. He along with DSP Parmjit Singh held negotiations with 15 representatives of the Sangharash Committee and gas agency owners.

The SDM and the DSP after negotiations with the gas agency dealers assured that the LPG supply would be ensured within 30 days. In case black marking of LPG comes to light, strict action would be taken, he added.

Abohar, February 18
Claiming that the undivided Ferozepur district had produced maximum number of Olympians in Punjab since the independence, Arjun award recipient hockey Olympian Ajit Singh said Ferozepur and Abohar had been the hubs of this game.

Speaking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the golden jubilee athletic meet at the DAV College here yesterday, he informed that the state government had sanctioned upgradation of the stadium at Ferozepur by equipping it with astro turf.

“Abohar deserves similar facilities to promote hockey. We would speak to the director, Sports, Punjab, Pragat Singh as well as Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal,” he said.

While commenting on the revolt by hockey players during national camp at Pune, he said it was unfortunate but the persons at the helm of affairs must introspect and ensure fair treatment to sportspersons in all streams.