Bathinda, September 6
A ‘new way’ of protest was witnessed here on Monday when agitation against alleged delay in repair of two roads took an ‘unusual’ turn as agitators using a JCB machine dumped stone chips in front of the office of the assistant divisional engineer (ADEN), Northern Railway, Bathinda, to “draw attention of the indifferent railway authority” towards the plight of residents.

Annoyed over the delay in repair work of the Thandi Sadak and the Railway Hospital Road, which fall in railway area here, over hundreds of men under the banner of Sangarsh Samiti first took out a motorbike rally from Paras Ram Nagar chowk here to the office of ADEN, Northern Railway, Bathinda.

When the rally reached Thandi Sadak, the protestors carried stone chips using a JCB machine and later dumped the same in front of the office of the railway official. The ADEN MP Singh was not in the office at that time. They also began a demonstration there and raised anti-railway slogans.

Following the information, post commander, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Bathinda, MK Panwar, along with his team reached the site and tried to persuade the agitators.

A police team from the Canal police post also reached there.

Later, a meeting of protestors with the railway official was arranged to sort out the issue. The demonstration ended following assurance from the ADEN that a tender concerning repair work would be opened on September 28.

Former councillor Vijay MC, who led the protest, told TNS that the Thandi Sadak and the Railway Hospital road were in bad shape and had developed big potholes which were causing inconvenience to the users besides being the reason for many minor accidents. He said they had to take such step as several protests staged in the past demanding repair work had been in vain.

Vijay MC also said they would not allow the railway official to use roads in the civil area if the process to repair the roads did not begins.

ADEN MP Singh told The Tribune that the procedure to carry out repairs was already in progress. A tender of Rs 64 lakhs for the project would be opened on September 28. The protestors might not be aware of the tender concerned, he added.

Bathinda: The reason for the dilapidated condition of the Thandi Sadak is apparently due to the fact that it has been failing to find a caretaker. Sources said railway believed that since the road is used by all, it was the duty of the BMC or the district administration to look after it. Sources added that the district administration had been of the view that since these roads were in the jurisdiction of the railway, so the responsibility for its repairs also falls on the Central government undertaking. — TNS

Fazilka, September 6
The project of the Improvement Trust of Fazilka to construct a shopping complex near the mini-secretariat came to a grinding halt recently following objection raised by the land collector of the Wakf Board, Fazilka.

As per the details, the Trust had approved the scheme to construct a shopping complex on the prime land opposite the mini-secretariat complex on the Fazilka-Abohar road under Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Vikas Yojna. The Trust on the directive of its chairman Mohinder Dhingra started construction recently. Riaz Ahmed, collector, Wakf Board, Fazilka, raised objection to the construction on the plea that the Wakf Board is the owner of the land.

Chairman of the Trust Mohindra Dhingra alleged that as the construction activities were in progress recently, the Wakf Board land collector allegedly carried away the construction material. He has lodged a complaint with the local city police.

It may be recalled that there was a long-pending litigation between the Wakf Board and the municipal council authorities over the ownership issue which continued for over two decades. According to Mohinder Dhingra, the court had maintained that the alleged disputed land was in the absolute control of the municipal council, Fazilka.

Following this, the council had transferred the land to the Trust for the development of a shopping complex. Thereafter, the Trust decided to raise a commercial shopping complex with 50 shops in it. The scheme ran into rough weather with the Wakf Board collector maintaining that the issue of the ownership is still undecided in the court. He said this land (about 45 kanal 12 marla) belongs to the Anjuman Islamia School property. 

Abohar, September 6
As most of the educational institutions had remained closed on Sunday, the Teacher’s Day was celebrated by them here today.

The Youth Services Club felicitated principal Dr Venita Singh during the function held at the DAV College of Education. The function at the Sardar Patel Medical Institute was presided over by Puneet Bajaj. In the LRS DAV Senior Secondary School, principal Kusum Khungar led the teachers in taking a pledge to follow the ideals of Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.

Guru Nanak Girls College, principal Virender Grover was the chief guest at the Teacher’s Day function in the Sutlej Public School.

In Swami Keshwanand Memorial College, Teacher’s Day was celebrated by organising a cultural programme. University merit-list holder students including Ankita, Sonia and Chandani were honoured on the occasion. 

Bathinda, September 6
Teacher’s Day was celebrated at the Dasmesh Girls College of Education, Badal, on Saturday. An ‘Art Competition’ for teachers was organised in the college premises. All the teachers including college principal Dr SS Sangha participated in it. Students acted as the judges. Simerjeet got the first prize while principal Dr Sangha bagged the second prize. Dazy stood third.

Sriganganagar, September 6
Around 600 scientists, researchers and academicians converged from different states in Gyan Sarovar, Mount Abu for the four-day conference on ‘Convergence of Science and Spirituality for World Renewal’ organised by the SPARC (Spiritual Applications Research Centre) wing of the Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation.

Dr VK Saraswat, scientific adviser to the Defence Minister, Director General, DRDO and secretary, Defence (R&D) inaugurated the conference.

The session included an audio version by Ramesh Shah, chairperson (SPARC).

Dadi Ratan Mohini, joint chief of the Brahma Kumaris, RB Mathur, general manager, Indira Sagar Power Station, NHDC Ltd, Madhya Pradesh, BK Ambika, national coordinator, SPARC wing, BK Geeta, senior Rajyoga teacher also spoke on the occasion.

Bathinda, September 6
In favour of their demands, the workers, who were employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in various villages of the Maur block of this district, will block the Bathinda-Mansa road on September 9.

Their demands included implementation of the MGNREGS in true spirit; registration of case under appropriate sections of the IPC against the persons, who had allegedly made a ‘murderous attack’ on the MGNREGS workers at Ghuman Kalan village; and withdrawal of the case registered against the MGNREGS workers of Ghuman Kalan village.

A press note issued here today read the decision was taken at a convention of MGNREGS workers belonging to 15 villages of the Maur block.

Addressing the convention, the speakers, including state executive member of the CPI Jagjit Singh Joga, district general secretary of the Khet Mazdoor Sabha Harbans Singh Bathinda and district general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Sabha Jasvir Singh Aklia, said despite assurances by officers concerned, justice still eluded the workers.

Bathinda, September 6
A man, in connivance with his woman friend, allegedly killed his 27-year-old employee at his residence in Deep Singh Nagar late on Sunday night.

It is learnt that Satish Kumar alias Sainfi was employed by Ranjeet Singh as truck driver. After some time, Ranjeet asked Satish to share the accommodation with him. Ranjeet used to live with his woman friend Sukhpal Kaur.

On Sunday, Sukhpal complained to Ranjeet that Satish approached her with malafide intentions. Irked over it, Ranjeet decided to kill him. He shot at Satish on Sunday night when he reached home.

To avoid suspicion, Ranjeet himself rushed Satish to the Civil Hospital and termed the incident as a case of suicide.

However, the police smelled a rat and launched an investigation. The cops visited the house where the incident had taken place and found it locked. By then, both Ranjeet and Sukhpal had fled.

Later, kin of the deceased lodged a complaint against Ranjeet and Sukhpal and accused them of killing Satish. Acting upon their statement, the police registered a case. During search, the police recovered the .12 bore gun, which was used in the crime, from the spot. The police was conducting raids to nab the accused duo.

In yet another case, a 28-year-old youth hanged himself to death in Railway colony near Paras Ram Nagar. Canal colony police initiated the inquest proceedings. Police informed that the deceased was unmarried and youngest in family. He is survived by his mother, five brothers and a sister. — TNS

Barnala, September 6
A man and his daughter sustained serious injuries after the car by which they were travelling hit a speeding truck-trailer near the Geeta Thread Company on the Barnala-Bathinda road near Handyaya here today in the morning. The injured were rushed to Dayanand Medical College (DMC) in Ludhiana.

Police sources said Jagtar Singh of Bhadaur and his daughter Dilpreet Kaur were on their way to Handyaya Chowk when the indica (CH03L-7797) rammed into a speeding truck-trailer. A worker Shakti Nath Mishra from Baliya in UP and his wife rushed to the spot and informed the police. — TNS

Ferozepur, September 6
Famous Punjabi singer Amarinder Gill along with other co-artistes including Amardeep Singh lyricist, Prince KJ Singh, Harinder Bhullar and Karaj Gill from his coming film ‘Ek Kuri Punjab Di’, today visited various colleges here and interacted with the students.

Later, Gill enthralled the girls with his soul stirring Punjabi numbers, ‘Je Mile Oh Kuri’ and ‘Dildarian’. He visited the Dev Samaj College for Women and the DAV College for Women in the cantonment. Principal Dr Madhu Prashar appreciated Amarinder Gill for his contribution to the Punjabi music and film industry. Dr Pushpinder Walia, principal, DAV College said Gill has been able to awaken people on female feticide. Gill was also lauded for his song ‘Madhanian’.