Bathinda, April 3
Taking a serious note of the ongoing indefinite hunger strike since March 31 outside the Mini-secretariat here by a woman of local Mehna Basti, Malkiat Kaur, the administration today swung into action to convince her and other protesters to end the protest, as in case the health condition of the woman deteriorates it may cause problems to the administration.

Local SHO Gurjit Singh Romana besides a doctor from the Civil Hospital visited the dharna site last night while local Tehsildar Avtar Singh visited the place today.

Malkiat Kaur’s indefinite hunger strike entered its fourth day today while the dharna by the affected residents in support of their demands entered its sixth day. The protesters are demanding adequate compensation and allotment of 100-yard plots to the residents of the Mehna Basti, whose land had been acquired for a bypass.

While the woman is not ready to break her indefinite hunger strike, the protesters too were adamant against lifting the dharna till their demands were accepted.

General Samaj Party founder Suresh Kumar Goyal, under whose leadership the agitation is being carried out, today said the SHO visited them the previous night and asked them to persuade her to end her strike. But they told the SHO that the woman would break the hunger strike only when the administration would accept their demands.

Goyal said local Tehsildar Avtar Singh also visited the protesters today and asked them to submit applications for increasing the compensation.

Meanwhile, the Tehsildar told TNS that on the instructions of the local SDM, he visited the site where he told the protesters that re-assessment of the compensation could be done, for which they had to submit applications. Regarding assurance of plots, he said the administration had not made any such commitment.

The SMO of local Civil Hospital Dr Vinod Garg said after receiving instructions from the administration, he had sent Dr Parminder Bansal the previous night to examine the woman. He said the doctor checked her blood pressure and pulse and also took a sample of her blood for testing sugar content. He stated that her blood sugar was normal and she was in good health.

However, Suresh Goyal told TNS that they might intensify their agitation from Monday if the administration did not pay heed to their demands. 

Bathinda, April 3
It was not the last minute withdrawal by the Norway Kabaddi team - as claimed by the sports department Punjab, in fact, “ego tussle” between the two groups of players prevent them to form a team for participating in the World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab-2010.

As per the information gathered by The Tribune, there are two main groups of Kabaddi in Norway—the Tikka group and the Padda group. And both groups carry a two-year-old internal tussle.

Confirming the issue, vice-chairman of the organising committee of Kabaddi World Cup, Sikander Singh Maluka said, “We put our best to help them to reach at some settlement between the groups and constitute a team, but our every effort went in vain.”

Maluka added, “I along with director sports, Punjab, Pargat Singh kept on calling them for four consecutive days (March 28-31). Meanwhile, we also took the help of kabaddi players of UK, but all efforts proved futile.”

“After long negotiations, Tikka group had somehow agreed to bend but Padda group flatly refused to make a joint team with them, as of result, the players will have to face a major loss as they have lost opportunity to gain name and fame at the world level,” Maluka said.

Replying a query, Maluka said that Norway had many kabaddi players but the only hurdle was the condition that all players, representing the country, must be its permanent residents.

“Most of the kabaddi players in Norway have work permit only. These two groups had only five-six permanent residents each, so none could form the team and finally, failed to be part of the Kabaddi World Cup,” informed Maluka.

Bathinda, April 3
Volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva, an NGO, found two decomposed bodies of a boy and a girl at a secluded place on the Bibiwala road near the ITBP campus here today.

The boy was identified as Gagan Deep Singh of Pedhni Kalan village (Sangrur). He was a student of BBA-III of the Bhai Gurdas Institute of Management and Technology, Sangrur, while the identification of the girl could not be ascertained.

On receiving information, the police and media reached the spot and found the bodies that were by then devoured by stray animals.

The cantonment police suspected it to be a case of suicide as an empty bottle of pesticide (monocrotophos) was lying beside the bodies. The cops also collected a gold ornament lying on ground, which seemingly belonged to the girl, and a mobile from boy’s pocket.

The kin of the deceased boy reached Bathinda in the afternoon. In a police statement, they claimed that the boy was missing since Monday. Gagan Deep had left the house to deposit his college fees but did not return, they stated.

SHO of the Cantonment police station Jagdish Singh said, “The cause of death is yet to be ascertained. We have initiated inquest proceedings after recording the details under section 174 of the CrPC.”

Ferozepur, April 3
Making a mockery of the government's order, a section of officials of the rural development and panchayat department, Punjab, have allowed vested interests to possess the pieces of land belonging to the Panchayat of village Bagge Ke Hithar of this district in an illegal manner.

Over 300 acres of land belonging to the Panchayat of the village has been under illegal occupation for the past more than four decades. Though the state government was enabled by the Punjab and Haryana High court to get this land evicted from the illegal occupants, officials of the rural development and Panchayat did not take proper steps to do the same.

The officials concerned including the gazetted officer of the rank of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) also went to the extent of granting pieces of the Panchayat land to those residents of the village, who were to be evicted from the same as per the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

JP Singh, deputy director of the department, said that these facts came to light when he was asked to probe the misconduct of Vir Singh, sarpanch of the village in connection with handling of the Panchayat owned land (shamlat) by him.

He said that what the officials of the department had done was that they had leased out more than 100 acres of Shamlat to those persons, who were already in illegal possession and were bound to be evicted from the same as per the orders of the High Court.

As per the policy of the state government, the officials including BDPO, SEPO, two Panchayat secretary and others of Jalalabad block were bound to hold an open auction of the Shamlat land, which they got vacated from the illegal occupants as per the orders of the High Court, to lease out the same to different persons.

Instead of holding an open auction of the land after getting it vacated from the illegal occupants, the officials of the department issued lease orders in the name of illegal occupants names by charging token money from them without seeking prior approval for the same from higher authorities of the department. Hence, these officials had facilitated the vested interests to possess more than 100 acres of land in an illegal manner.

As per the inquiry report submitted to the director of department by the deputy director Singh, these officials also failed to file suits in the court of collector for getting the Shamlat land evicted from the illegal possession of unscrupulous elements despite the fact that they were repeatedly asked to do the same.

Information gathered by TNS revealed that though Vir Singh, sarpanch of the village, had been placed under suspension by the authorities concerned, however, no action has been taken so far against the officials, who were found involved in the scam. 

Ferozepur, April 3
Tarsem Lal, a resident of this district, was killed while seven others sustained injuries in a road mishap as the bus by which they were travelling collided with a truck parked alongside the road near village Markhai on the Ferozepur-Zira road in the wee hours on Saturday.

Police sources said that Tarsem Lal and others were going to the Radha Soami Dera at Beas. Sources added that the accident took place due to lights flashed by a vehicle coming from the opposite direction as the driver of the bus could not see the truck parked alongside the road and hit it from behind.

All the seven injured were admitted to different private hospitals of the area. A case in this connection has been registered, police sources said. 

Abohar, April 3
After having closed-door marathon meeting at the new grain market here, the senior functionaries of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) conceded today that compensation from a private company had been received against the loss suffered by scores of farmers in this sub-division due to sowing of sub-standard BT cotton seed.

Three-member sub-committee has been formed to screen the applications received during the cotton season and accordingly distribute the amount of compensation, Bhupinder Singh Maheshari state general secretary said.

State vice-president Gurjant Singh Rampura, Sukhpal Singh Buttar and Balwinder Singh Zira have been named as members of the sub-committee.

Interestingly, Rampura had signed the press note after presiding over an emergency meeting here recently denying that any compensation was received from the seed manufacturer.

The breakaway group had levelled allegations against some office-bearers and threatened of getting the alleged scam investigated by the Vigilance officials.

The group had also reportedly sought a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister to apprise him of the episode, it is learnt. Taking up other issues during the media briefing, the BKU general secretary Maheshari said there had been serious complaints alleging discrimination in distribution of canal water in Abohar canal division.

About low-lying electricity transmission lines, the BKU leaders feared this could result in sparking. If the wheat crop is burnt due to negligence of the PSEB officials, they would be held accountable, the BKU leaders warned. 

Khan Singh Wala (Ferozepur), April 3
The Pakistan-based wrestlers, who took part in the wrestling championship held in this village, advocated that such sports competition must be organised frequently to bring the people of two countries closer to ease out tension prevailing between India and Pakistan.

“Sports have become a major tool to generate goodwill and harmony between India and Pakistan,” said Mohammad Usman, a Pakistani wrestler.

About eight Pakistan-based wrestlers along with their coach Mohammad Anwar participated in the III Karnail Singh Memorial Wrestling Championship, which took off to a colourful start here late last evening. Sher Singh Ghubhaya, MP, Kartar Singh, former wrestler and senior functionary of Punjab police and other leaders of Ferozepur were present on the occasion.

“I find no difference between India and Pakistan,” claimed Zahid Shejad, another Pakistani wrestler.

“Though we cannot remove some physical and territorial barriers prevailing among the subjects of both the nations, we can generate love and affection for each other through such event,” he added.

“The kind of treatment given to us and type of atmosphere prevailing in the village where the championship is being held has made us to forget our country for once,” said both Usman and Shejad.

“Wedding of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik would also help bring Pakistan and ndia closer,” they said adding that it was up to Sania Mirza to take decision from which country, she would like to play after her marriage.

Meanwhile, Indian wrestler Parminder Doomsheri fetched the title of Rustem-e-Hind after knocking down Zahid Shejad. Pakistan wrestlers Mohammad Khurm, Mohammad Hashid and Mirza Shakat defeated Sukhchain Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Mandeep Singh (Indian wrestlers) respectively. Pardeep Manohar, Indian wrestler defeated the Pakistani wrestler Ali Junior.

Ferozepur, April 3
Non-gazetted forest officials are up in arms against the transfer of Mohinder Singh, who was ostensibly shifted from Ferozpur circle to Mansa circle as he prevented so-called Land mafia to usurp valuable forest land in reserve forest area of “Chak Sarkar” in Mamdot situated along the Indo-Pakistan border.

As per the information, “ Chak Sarkar” measuring around 1,000 acres is the only reserve forest area in this district. Certain elements owing allegiance to the powerful political leaders have been trying to grab this land allegedly in connivance with revenue officials.

Mohinder Singh, block forest officer (BFO), who was in-charge of this reserve forest area, said that he has been fighting against the sinister designs of certain people who wanted to take over a portion of the forest land.

He said that the people were successful in even getting the mutation executed in their name, however, when they applied for the electricity connection from the PSEB, he dashed off a letter to the SDO PSEB Mamdot and DFO stating that the electricity connection cannot be given without NOC from the forest department as per forest conservation act 1980.

Due to his timely intervention, the PSEB refused to grant power connection for the land.

Infuriated over his role, the Land Mafia using their resources allegedly got Mohinder Singh transferred to Mansa.

Thereafter, Mohinder Singh wrote to the senior forest officials about the sequence of events demanding cancellation of his transfer orders. ADGP Intelligence also wrote a letter to secretary, Forest, who further wrote to principal chief conservator to look into the incident involving encroachment of forest land.

Subsequently, his transfer was stayed by DFO.

Mohinder Singh told that notwithstanding instructions to stay his transfer orders, he has now been suddenly relieved of his charge purportedly to pave way for the Land Mafia to execute their plans and get the electricity connection for running motors in this land.

In a meeting held today, in which representatives from Punjab Subordinate Service Federation and Punjab Non Gazetted Forest Officer Union, besides scores of other employees union from education, irrigation, revenue and other departments participated, they demanded that the posting orders of Mohinder Singh be cancelled and rather he should be honoured by the government for taking the offenders to task.

Bathinda, April 3
To create awareness about eye donation, body donation and blood donation, the Elders Service Society (ESS) organised a special function at health centre of the society in Sadiq. Principal of the Guru Govind Singh Medical Hospital, P.S. Sandhu was the chief guest at the function while president of the society Jagmohan Singh presided over the programme.

 Nearly 50 persons donated blood during a camp organised on the occasion. Dr Rahul Chaudhary was given the Dr Purn Singh Award during the function. 

Fazilka, April 3
“Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” night was celebrated on the second day of the Fazilka Heritage Festival being organised by the Graduate Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) in association with the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board. On the occasion, deputy inspector general of the Border Security Force (BSF) Vimal Satyarthi and the NCC colonel Dilbagh Singh were honoured for their meritorious services in their respective fields.

Notably, for remarkable contribution to the force, the DIG Satyarthi was decorated with president’s police medal for meritorious services on the Republic Day 2008. “Satyarthi and his team has also the credit to expose the smugglers network for transporting heroin and fake currency into the Indian territory from across the fencing in this area during the recent days,” said GWAF secretary Navdeep Asija.

Besides, the progressive farmers Capt MS Bedi of village Lalowali, Vikram Ahuja of village Karnikhera , Narpinder Jhinja of village Beganwali and Vinod Jyani of village Katehra were honoured. — OC

Abohar, April 3 
The residents of Idgah Basti located on the Johari Mandir road are opposing the proposed installation of a mobile tower. In a memorandum faxed to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board and others regretted that the local municipal council had not taken action even when the SDM marked the complaint on March 29. 

Now, two persons had reportedly signed an agreement with a mobile service provider to install tower that was otherwise not permissible under the directions issued by the Apex court, they asserted. — OC