Fazilka, April 4
The activists of Congress party along with representatives of various local organisations including a section of lawyers would launch an agitation on Monday to lodge their protest against the change of physical character of this sub-division by the ruling SAD-BJP alliance of Punjab.

In the first step, the Congress workers would stage a dharna in front of the local Tehsil office to pressurise the state government to restore the old glory of Fazilka sub-division, which was one of the biggest sub-division of Punjab, when the country was partitioned in 1947.

Mohinder Singh Rinwa, former Congress minister said that if the state government led by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal failed to take necessary steps, the agitation would be intensified and the mode of agitation would also be changed.

Talking to TNS here today, he said that first Muktsar, Abohar and Jalalabad were carved out of Fazilka sub-division, which was famous for its wool trade with Karachi.

Now 46 villages of Fazilka sub-division had been attached with Arniwala police station of Jalalabad sub-division and Abohar sub-division and hence this sub-division had become one of the smallest sub-divisions of Punjab.

He added that the Punjab government and local elected representatives had played a mischief with the people of this sub-division by reducing its physical boundaries despite the fact that residents had been fighting for getting status of district for this sub-division.

He pointed out that as per the reorganisations of police stations as per the physical character of assembly constituencies, this sub-division had left with two police stations.

On the other hand, Jalalabad sub-division and Abohar sub-division, which had been carved out of this sub-division, had four and five police stations respectively.

At the time of partition, Mansa, Fazilka, Batala and Barnala were four sub-divisions of Punjab, which were the biggest in the whole state.

While both Mansa and Barnala had been elevated to the district level, Fazilka was given maltreatment. Even Muktsar, which was once carved out as sub-division out of Fazilka, had also been elevated as district.

He said that this was the right occasion for those who claimed themselves to be the representatives of the SAD-BJP alliance in this town must come forward and ask Badal that why Fazilka was being maltreated time and again. 

With sheer hard work and determination, a local lad Siddhant Satija has done the town proud by developing a software through which even a layman can design social networking sites on the lines of Facebook, Yahoo and G-mail. Siddhant claims to have customised an open source “php-script” named “Drupal”, through which web and online application can be designed. It does not involve much of coding and can be easily integrated with free services available such as Youtube and Flickr,” says Siddhant.

He has customised some modules and patches and deployed the “php project” on the Java server by which the browsing speed becomes directly double.

His research was selected as one of the top researches of the year at national level by the CSIR following his 30 minutes presentation held at SPSU, Udaipur. “When I went to Delhi to pursue degree in computers, I found many youths hooked on to social networking sites to which I also got addicted to as it is the best way to stay connected with friends,” he said adding that he has now started his own company named as “RitSan Technologies” that offers dynamic web development and social media marketing strategies. “He is coming up with another research project named “Project Agya” a social networking site for career awareness in the defence forces, he said. “I want to encourage youths to join armed forces and my upcoming project named after my grandmother Agya is aimed only at that,” he revealed

Currently at Amity University, Noida, Siddhant is the core team member of Amity Sun Technology club and he frequently conducts workshops wherein he guides the students regarding the field of web strategies implementation and open source technologies.

While talking to The Tribune about the spurt in incidents related to cyber crime in India, he said that he is working on strong measures that can be implemented to stop cyber crime.

— Anirudh Gupta

Rishi Rai

AKI workshop on food articles

Rai, grandson of eminent music director Shiv Nath Rai, was among the 25 entrepreneurs who participated in the Indo-US Agriculture Knowledge Initiative (AKI) workshop on “Entrepreneurship development for formulated and functional foods using extrusion-coking” at Bhopal recently.

Rishi had earlier got a platform to express his views during the Global Agro Industries Forum that was jointly organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, International Fund for Agriculture Development, Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Government of India last year.

Veteran agricultural scientists Dr Nawab Ali, Dr Pitam Chandra and Dr SD Kulkarni were the presiding officers at the three-day workshop organised by the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering. CIPHET director Dr RT Patil and local in-charge Dr RK Gupta had recommended Rishi’s participation keeping in view success story in promoting soya products in the region.

— Raj Sadosh 

Ferozepur, April 4
A local youth identified as Rajiv Bhalla who had gone to Delhi for an interview in some company was found dead under mysterious circumstances near the Jind railway station.

As per the information, Rajiv had left for Delhi on Friday by train. He gave a call to his father in the night that he has reached Jind.

However, the next morning, his father Chaman Lal got a call from the Jind police that his son has been found dead.

His body was traced along the railway track. Relatives said that apparently it seems that someone must have robbed him as he had some cash with him and later thrown him out of the train.

Electrocuted:Meanwhile, in two separate 
incidents, two persons reportedly died following electrocution.

A labourer identified as Channa while working at an under construction marriage palace received electric shock due to technical snag.

Later, he died while he was being taken to the civil hospital.

In yet another incident, Ranjeet Kumar, a migrant worker, also got electrocuted while he was switching on the transformer at village Lakho Ke Behram.

Abohar, April 4
The unexpected presence of Mehar Mittal, the uncrowned comedy king of Punjabi movies, not only amused the guests but also prompted the persons with disabilities to forget their problem for a while today.

Mittal arrived here to perform a social obligation and suddenly chose to grace the 14th free medical camp that was organised by Seth Shankar Dass Daulat Ram Nagpal Charitable Trust at Jay-Cee Palace. He joined Kamal Kishore Yadav, DC Ferozepur, and Varun Roojam, DC Muktsar, in lauding the efforts made by octogenarian Jagdish Chander Nagpal in serving the humanity besides conducting laughter session.

Notably, Nagpal is the recipient of national and international awards. He informed that 180 physically disabled persons were examined by experts from Bhai Mahavir Viklang Seva Samiti, Ambala, during the last camp while 25 were referred to Jaipur for upper limb fixation.

An equal number of patients were referred to Udaipur for operation and 31 have been provided with lower artificial limbs. A cancer check-up camp has also been planned, he said. 

Abohar, April 4
Shock waves hit the region as it was found on Sunday that water supply had actually been suspended in the canal system for a fortnight to facilitate construction of regulators in the Malukpura distributary to divert more water to the home turf of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, sources said.

The media persons who rushed to the site along with senior functionaries of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti including Tejwinder Singh Aulakh and Kulwant Singh Sandhu today learnt that a regulator was being constructed on war footing at burji number 21 of the distributary to feed Gurusar Jodha sub-canal (minor) that irrigates more than 2,000 acres of land in Lambi segment.

The sub-canal has got 6.70 cusecs flow capacity. Intriguingly, the oversized outlets from burji number 1-20 too supplies water to the turf of the CM, the Samiti leaders alleged.

Farmers from villages falling under Balluana and Abohar segments have started thronging the site. Sandhu said that he has contacted the senior officials including the chief engineer on phone and warned that the irrigation department would not be permitted to create drought like situation in two lakh acres of land of Abohar sub-division.

Construction would not be allowed come what may. The Samiti has flashed SMS to the farmers to rush in for staging indefinite dharna at the regulator. Sensing trouble engineers of the irrigation department have been asked by their seniors to report at the site by tonight.

Police have also been rushed. Meanwhile, former parliamentary secretary Sunil Jakhar lambasted the state government for constructing the regulator. This is going to ruin the agricultural economy in Abohar and Balluana segments of Vidhan Sabha and we are not going to allow it, he said over the phone in the evening. Tail-end villages of Abohar have been deprived of water even for drinking and the CM is contemplating to make the situation disastrous, he alleged. 

Abohar, April 4
The agreement signed with Russia-based company PhosAgro recently by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) and Indian Potash, India’s biggest importers would help in improving availability of the DAP fertiliser and grain production subsequently hoped Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, former cooperation minister and vice-president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.

Addressing a gathering after lighting the lamp to inaugurate the seventh free eye check-up and operation camp organised under the aegis of the IFFCO Kisan Sewa Trust in his native village Maujgarh on Sunday, the former minister said that PhosAgro is expected to supply 20 per cent of the 6.6 million tons of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) that India needs to import each year. 

Abohar, April 4
SAD general council member and district general secretary of the party Surinder Saluja has complained to the State Information Commission that officials of the horticulture department were concealing the facts to downplay the ‘scam’ in disbursing millions of rupee that had been received under the Centrally sponsored National Horticulture Mission.

Saluja said he had sought information related to funds released to farmers for developing new orchards in district Ferozepur. However, two officials in Balluana and Seetogunno circles replied that the relevant record was with one Bihari Lal who had died without handing over the charge to them. Interestingly, the deputy director had issued the no-due certificate in favour of the deceased. — OC 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, April 4
Members of the Bar Associations in Sriganganagar suspended work on Saturday to express resentment over “selective” registration of FIRs in connection with the clashes that had taken place between advocates and traders inside the city police station yesterday.

They took out a protest march, shouted slogans against the police and later staged a dharna at the office of Superintendent of Police.

Bar president Sajjan Singh and another senior advocate Bhura Mal Swami criticised the authorities for not booking constable Dharamveer even when specific complaint had been lodged against him.

The Bar also demanded suspension of the constable and warned that complete strike would be observed in all the courts by advocates in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts on Tuesday if the erring constable was not sacked by Monday.

As per the information available, the trouble emanated following minor clash between a rehriwala and a trader in iron market on Friday. 

Fazilka, April 4
Located in the close vicinity of the Indo-Pak border, this small town famous for its wool market and 'juttis' (foot wears), became first town of the country where the eco-cab rickshaw named as 'Nano' has been introduced today by the Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF).

The GWAF has already introduced eco-cab under its 'Dial-a Rickshaw' project, last year and it has been running successfully. The introduction of Nano rickshaw is done under the concept of modern transportation system in the city.

Navdeep Asija, secretary (Administration), GWAF, while talking to TNS today said that Nano rickshaw had been fitted with number of features to make it attractive, comfortable for the commuters and puller, road friendly and safe. He added that within a few months, the lanes and by-lanes Nano rickshaw of the city would be flooded with Nano rickshaw, exclusively produced by the GWAF.

He pointed out that design of Nano rickshaw was prepared by Kirti Dixit, a student M. Tech in the Industrial Designing of School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. The model of Nano rickshaw from that design was prepared by him along with Bhupinder Singh, retired professor of IIT, Roorkee.

The Nano rickshaw is light in weight weighing around 55 kilograms as compared to 85 kilograms weight of normal rickshaw. It was fitted with roofs for saving the pullers and commuters from blistering sun and rains. The rickshaw was made of iron pipes instead of wooden sheets to increase its durability and to decrease its weight.

There would be enough space in the Nano rickshaw to keep luggage of the commuters. The ride on the rickshaw would be so comfortable that commuters could read while travelling on the same. The Nano rickshaw was fitted with reflector, which would make it safer on the roads.

The floor level of Nano rickshaw had been lowered than the floor level of normal rickshaw to enable the elderly people to climb on it with ease. The rear side of this rickshaw would be used for displaying the advertisements for business houses on rent basis.

Talks were going on with a Delhi-based bank to make arrangements for the soft loans for the rickshaw pullers of this town, who were now using wooden rickshaws made in Meerut and other parts of the country, to purchase Nano rickshaws.

He said that formal launching of Nano rickshaw would be done tonight. 

Bathinda, April 4
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bathinda zone, Rohit Chaudhary suspended the SHO Kotwali (Faridkot) Gurjant Singh, on the charges of dereliction of duty and misusing authority for giving benefit to a person accused in a assault case.

Besides, the IGP issued a show-cause notice to the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Faridkot, Seva Singh and initiated a departmental inquiry against an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Baldev Singh, after finding their alleged dubious role in the above case.

According to details, the action initiated on the complaint of one Pashmeen Kaur of Faridkot, who had lodged a complaint against all three officials to the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, PS Gill.

In the complaint, Pashmeen Kaur had mentioned that it was a property dispute among her family, due to which his paternal uncle Baldev Singh along with other associates assaulted her brother Kulwinder Singh on November 26, 2009.

They ran from pillar to post but the SHO Kotwali (Faridkot) allegedly did not let the complaint get lodged. She met the DSP Faridkot and urged them to look into the matter but he too did not respond to the application.

Finally, when she started approaching senior officials, the SHO lodged an FIR against her uncle and others under sections 325, 323 and 34 of the IPC on January 6, 2010 (with a delay of 40 days after the incident took place).

Further, instead of taking action against the accused, cops allegedly start building pressure upon the complainant to make compromise with the accused party.

She, later, lodged a complaint with the DGP, who asked the IGP, Bathinda zone, Rohit Chaudhary to probe into the matter. To ascertain the facts, the IGP marked a detailed investigation to SP (D) Ferozepur.

Receiving the report, which confirmed that SHO Gurjant Singh was favouring the accused party, the IGP suspended him.

Further, the probe suggested role of the DSP and investigation officer (IO) in the case, who was the ASI as dubious. Taking action, IGP issued show cause notice to the DSP and initiated departmental action against the ASI.

Confirming details, IGP, Rohit Chaudhary stated that he had directed all six SSPs of districts falling under the Bathinda zone to ensure justice to all, that too at the earliest possible.

Bathinda, April 4
The performance of Guru Hargobind Thermal plant (GHTP) at Lehra Mohabbat for the year 2009-10 not only remained the best amongst the thermal plants in the state but throughout the country. It was stated by the GHTP officials in a press note today.

Annual plant load factor (PLF) of the GHTP during 2009-10 remained 96.44 per cent against the last year PLF of 95.99 per cent, which was maximum among all state sector stations in India.

A total of 75,152 lakh units were produced during the year 2009-10.The plant generated 7,065 lakh units of electricity during March 2010 at a PLF of 103.21 per cent. The previous highest PLF in a month was 102.06 per cent in March 2008.

All the four units of GHTP are running continuously without any tripping for the last 58 days since February 4 and are generating more than their rated capacity.

General manager of the GHTP GS Chhabra congratulated all the engineers, employees and workers of the plant for the achievement and called upon them to further improve the performance of the plant so as to serve the power-starved state in a better way. — TNS

Bathinda, April 4
The Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research today organised a free physiotherapy camp at urban health centre, Bhucho. About 100 patients were given free consultation and treatment along with blood tests.

Principal of the physiotherapy college, Dr Kavita Kaushal enlightened the patients with physiotherapy, terming it a treatment without medicine. Emphasising on such camps, she maintained that patients in rural areas could get great benefit, so these would be organised at various villages. — TNS

Fazilka, April 4
Women were called upon to fight against the menace of female foeticide on the third day of Fazilka Heritage Festival on Saturday. The Festival is being celebrated by the Graduates Welfare Association.

Different speakers including Social Welfare Society Fazilka president Raj Kishore Kalra, Istri Arya Samaj president Sudesh Kumari Nagpal, DC DAV Senior Secondary school principal Manjula Sehgal, Holy Heart Day boarding School principal Ritu Bhusari, Municipal Council vice- president Kamlesh Chugh and others spoke on the occasion.

Raj Kishore Kalra also appealed to the large gathering to come forward to make eye donation a mass movement. The Social Welfare Society has so far provided light to 188 curable blinds. A local resident Navdeep Jassi who participated in the Reublic Day parade in Delhi this year was honoured with special award of ‘Daughter of Fazilka’ by the GWAF patron Dr Bhupinder Singh. 

Abohar, April 4
Even when over 15 lakh NGOs enjoyed registration in Punjab, the rating of this state in social services, has nosedived to ninth from 26, said Bhavna Sawhney, chief project director of the Building Bright Generation Social Welfare Society.

Speaking to the media during inaugural session of the vaccination camp today, the Rashtrapati Award recipient social activist Bhavna said her NGO had so far organised camps on preventive vaccination against Hepatitis-B and typhoid.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Ramesh Verma inaugurated the camp at the Ashram today. The chief sewak Madan Lal Bhalothia welcomed the visitors. — OC