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THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Mohali meet rekindles hope of opening Hussainiwala JCP
Reviving cross-border trade in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, March 28
Whenever the Prime Minister or any minister from the Government of India or Pakistan visits each other’s country, the hopes of residents of this district get revived in connection with the opening of the Hussainiwala joint check-post (JCP) to begin trade and vehicular movement between the two countries.

BSF on alert ahead of cricket match
Seven-layer security at Indo-Pak border
Abohar, March 28
The BSF sleuths have been put on extra alert to prevent any mischief by the anti-India elements during the encounter between India and the Pakistan teams at Mohali in the semi-finals of the ICC World Cricket Cup on March 30.

Fighting drug abuse
It does not need much of an effort to get drugs in Barnala
Barnala/Sangrur, March 28
It does not need much of an effort to get medical and other drugs in the Barnala town of the Malwa region of Punjab. An investigation by the correspondent in Barnala reveals that if one knows the town well, one can easily get medical drugs such as Carisoma, Proxvyvon, Spasmoproxyvon, Lomotil, Lomofen, Rexcobs, Fencidril, Corex, sedatives, and also intoxicants like Bhukki.

First Anglo-Sikh war pillar at Sobraon needs repairs
Sobraon (Ferozepur), March 28
A war pillar erected by the British in 1868 after the Army of the British East India Company secured victory over Khalsa Army in the famous battle of Sobraon, the last concluding battle of the first Anglo-Sikh war, fought on February 10, 1846, at this village and which changed the course of the history of Khalsa Raj, is lying in a state of utter neglect in its neighbouring village Rodewala. The war pillar that has witnessed killings of over 10,000 Sikhs besides members of the British Army and conversion of Sikh state in north western India under the British rule, is decaying and if corrective measures are not taken by the authorities concerned, this relic will not be there for posterity in the years to come.
The war pillar of the battle of Sobraon. A Tribune photograph

Two pistols used in Anglo-Sikh war, stolen in 2006, yet to be traced
Ferozeshah (Ferozepur), March 28
The four battles which the Sikhs fought with the British East India Company Army at Ferozeshah, Moodkee, Sobraon and Chellianwala in quick succession during the era of the first Anglo-Sikh war at various places, located near the Sutlej river in 1845 and 1846, were known for their exemplary display of bravery.

Body of drowned lawyer recovered
Bathinda, March 28
Three days after an advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had reportedly drowned in the Rajasthan Feeder Canal near Gidderbaha, his body was found floating nearly four km away this morning.

Bravehearts

Paramotor adventurists check details while getting ready for take off at Sadhuwali near Sriganganagar on Monday. Photo: Raj Sadosh

Project to reduce maternal deaths in Punjab begins
Bathinda, March 28
Under the National Rural Health Mission’s ‘maternal death review’ programme, the health authorities have started counting maternal deaths with an aim to reduce the number of maternal deaths from the existing 192 per one lakh live births to 100, by 2012 in Punjab.

Edu institute triggers row
Warring factions to appear before Akal Takht today
Sriganganagar, March 28
The warring factions claiming control over the Shri Guru Nanak Khalsa College and School, supreme educational institutions of the Sikh community in the state, have been asked to appear before the Akal Takht at Amritsar on Tuesday.

Staff found absent during surprise check
ADC orders action against health staff
Faridkot, March 28
The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the Faridkot district Mohan Lal has asked the authorities of the Health Department to take departmental action against the entire staff including the doctors posted at the dispensary and primary health care centre situated at village Sukhanwala in the district.

A scene from a play ‘Wrong number’ that was staged at the Teachers’ Home in Bathinda late on Sunday evening. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Female foeticide
NGOs urged to come forward to fight menace
Abohar, March 28
Prema Cariappa, chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board, today urged the state government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to come forward to fight female foeticide. Cariappa presided over the state-level seminar held at a local banquet hall today.

Man sets wife ablaze
Moga, March 28
A man allegedly burnt his wife to death at village Gholia Khurd in the Moga district on Sunday. As per the details, Paramjit Singh, son of Jai Singh, suspected that his wife Paramjit Kaur had illicit relations with someone else. They had strained relations for the past couple of years. They got married 15 years back and had two children.

Dictionary of state’s history, culture being translated into Hindi
Jalandhar, March 28
To promote Sikh history and culture at the national level, a comprehensive encyclopaedic dictionary of Punjab’s history and culture, “Guru Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh”, written by the legendary scholar and lexicographer, Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, is being translated into Hindi.

	Manpreet’s party is just another splinter group: Kalia Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 28 The minister for Local Bodies, Industries and Commerce, Manoranjan Kalia, who is also the leader of the BJP in the Vidhan Sabha, today claimed that the political survival of Manpreet Badal, after snapping ties with the ruling alliance, had reached close to its end. Flatly refusing to accept the theory that Manpreet’s party — the People’s Party of Punjab — will emerge as the third front in Punjab, Kalia termed it as just another splinter group. He mentioned, “A number of groups have, at times, separated from the ruling Akali Dal but hardly any of them could maintain their identity. I visualise the similar fate for Manpreet in the coming days.” “We live in a multi-party system. So, the launch of Manpreet’s party does not make any difference to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance. Moreover, the voter is well aware of the development approach of the government, so they would themselves show him the real picture in the coming Assembly polls,” said Kalia. Kalia was here to lay the foundation stone of a 12-storey housing project, DD Mittal Tower, which is being developed by the Mittal Group. In reply to the controversy over the MLAs not getting tickets for the semi-final match between India-Pakistan in the cricket World Cup, Kalia said, “We all must understand that it is not a routine match as top dignitaries of both the countries are expected at the venue of the semi-final. Keeping the security concerns in mind, we must be patient on the issue.” Highlighting a series of development works, he maintained that the SAD-BJP government had doubled the infrastructure development fund in comparison to the previous Congress regime. “Besides development, we have put focus on transparency in the system. So, all work above Rs 10 crores has been directed to be allotted through e-tendering,” he mentioned. About former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s objection over fresh sops to the Rs 19,000-crore Guru Gobind Singh Refinery, also called Bathinda refinery, Kalia claimed that the state government was just going by the provisions of the deed finalised during the previous Congress regime. When asked about the resentment among the farmers over surrendering their land to the government for development projects, Kalia clarified, “If the state wants development, some hard decisions are necessary. So, the land would be acquired for the projects.” Earlier, Kalia handed over letters to regularise the services of 90 sweepers of the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, (BMC) during a function organised in the city. Kalia was accompanied by various SAD-BJP leaders, including Neeraj Tayal, Sham Lal Bansal, Baljeet Singh Birbehman, Mohan Lal Garg, Sarup Chand Singla, Dyal Dass Sodhi and Tarsem Goyal.
	Mohali meet rekindles hope of opening Hussainiwala JCP Reviving cross-border trade in Ferozepur Chander Parkash Tribune News Service Ferozepur, March 28 Whenever the Prime Minister or any minister from the Government of India or Pakistan visits each other’s country, the hopes of residents of this district get revived in connection with the opening of the Hussainiwala joint check-post (JCP) to begin trade and vehicular movement between the two countries. Last year, the people of this district had hopes from the visit of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on October 22. Chidambaram had come to lay the foundation stone of the viewers’ gallery at the Hussainiwala JCP. However, the things remained as usual as the authorities concerned did not take up the matter with the Pakistan government. Notably, Chidambaram had made an announcement during his speech delivered at few yards away from the Indo-Pak Zero Line on October 22 last year that efforts would be made to open Hussainiwala for the Indo-Pak trade. Now, the hopes of the residents have been rekindled as both Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and Yusuf Raja Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, will meet at Mohali as they watch the clash between their two sides on March 30. “We have decided to submit a joint memorandum to Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and Gilani at Mohali urging them to make arrangements for the opening of Hussainiwala border for trade and vehicular movement so that the era of economic prosperity can be initiated on both the sides of Radcliffe line,” said Parminder Singh, general secretary, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC). He said the memorandum would also include the demand of residents that Pakistan government must take necessary steps to prevent the flow of effluents and other waste materials of leather tanneries, situated in Kasur district of Pakistan, into the Sutlej river. Karan Singh Dhaliwal, Secretary, Border Area Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, said though they would not be able to meet both the dignitaries, they hoped that both the Prime Ministers would spare a few minutes to think for improving the plight of the border area residents, who were living in hell-like conditions. He said the people in the border area also hoped that the development of cordial relations between India and Pakistan would make the Border Security Force (BSF) to relax its conditions, which they had imposed on the farmers, tilling the lands, situated across the cobra fencing erected on the Indo-Pak border over 20 years ago.
	BSF on alert ahead of cricket match Seven-layer security at Indo-Pak border Tribune News Service Abohar, March 28 The BSF sleuths have been put on extra alert to prevent any mischief by the anti-India elements during the encounter between India and the Pakistan teams at Mohali in the semi-finals of the ICC World Cricket Cup on March 30. The seven-layer security alongside the Indo-Pak border, which has been fenced with cobra barbed wire, was deployed a few weeks ago. Due to the seven-layer security arrangements, contrabands were seized in the border pockets of the Ferozepur district on March 24 and March 27. Vimal Satyarthi, DIG, BSF, Abohar sector, speaking to TNS here today, said that two kilograms of heroin, worth Rs 10 crores in the international market and fake Indian currency notes worth Rs five lakh were recovered at a point located inside 15 metres of the Indo-Pak Zero-Line at the Bishambar Border Observation Post (BOP). Besides, the bushes and elephant grass in the close vicinity of the Indo-Pak border had been removed to provide a clear view of the border to the sleuths. The BSF DIG added that the number of observation towers, the Kisan guards and security personnel including women guards at the gates of the cobra fencing had also been increased.
	Fighting drug abuse It does not need much of an effort to get drugs in Barnala Shariq Majeed Tribune News Service Barnala/Sangrur, March 28 It does not need much of an effort to get medical and other drugs in the Barnala town of the Malwa region of Punjab. An investigation by the correspondent in Barnala reveals that if one knows the town well, one can easily get medical drugs such as Carisoma, Proxvyvon, Spasmoproxyvon, Lomotil, Lomofen, Rexcobs, Fencidril, Corex, sedatives, and also intoxicants like Bhukki. The Tribune used the service of an addict, Binder Singh (name changed), of Baja Khaana road in Barnala for the purpose. The research had suggested that with slight effort, drugs can be easily had from near the bus stand area, especially Sainsi Basti, and also from the tempo stand near the Ram Bagh area. After the addict took Rs 50 from The Tribune team, he went inside the Sainsi Basti from where he got a packet of Bhukki while the team waited for him in a car outside the Basti. “It is easy to get Bhukki and medical drugs from Sainsi Basti and other areas near the bus stand as also tempo stand near the Ram Bagh area. I can get you a kg of standard Bhukki for Rs 2,500 even as the average quality Bhukki is available for Rs 2,000 also. Though the police know the places well but they hardly act against the drug traffickers,” said the addict, pleading anonymity. “When the pressure on the police increases from the higher authorities, they arrest some drug peddlers just for a formality,” he said. After getting the Bhukki from Sainsi Basti near the bus stand area, the correspondent gave the addict Rs 100 to get the medical drug from a chemist shop. Within 20 minutes, the addict got two strips of Carisoma (commercial name: Carisoprodol) with the printed rate of Rs 31.50 on each strip. The addict claimed that every type of medical drug is available to the addicts, if they know the ‘right’ medical shop. SSP Barnala, Gurpreet Singh Toor, said he will look into the matter. “The area of Barnala district is too large and we have to keep vigil everywhere to check the menace of drug abuse. As part of our special campaign against drug abuse, on an average, in a month we are registering 12 cases under the NDPS Act and arresting 20 drug peddlers,” the SSP said.
	First Anglo-Sikh war pillar at Sobraon needs repairs Chander Parkash/TNS Sobraon (Ferozepur), March 28 A war pillar erected by the British in 1868 after the Army of the British East India Company secured victory over Khalsa Army in the famous battle of Sobraon, the last concluding battle of the first Anglo-Sikh war, fought on February 10, 1846, at this village and which changed the course of the history of Khalsa Raj, is lying in a state of utter neglect in its neighbouring village Rodewala. The war pillar that has witnessed killings of over 10,000 Sikhs besides members of the British Army and conversion of Sikh state in north western India under the British rule, is decaying and if corrective measures are not taken by the authorities concerned, this relic will not be there for posterity in the years to come. After securing victory in the battle that started in 1845, the British occupied Lahore, the capital of Khalsa Raj and entered into the treaty of Lahore with the Sikhs in March 1846. The Sikhs were made to leave Kashmir to the British and accept a British resident in Lahore after the battle. The war pillar, also called as victory pillar, which has also been declared as a state monument, is placed around the area, where the British lines were drawn just prior to the battle, south of the village of Rodewala. The monument is made as a column. The plaques commemorating the battle at the bottom of column are either missing or in bad shape. One can decipher the name of Sobraon written in Urdu, Punjabi and English. Some of the plaques are missing. Brickwork at the top of the column is in bad shape. The plasterwork from the top of the column has come off. A part of brickwork at the base of column is also missing. The war pillar stands alone without any boundary wall and caretaker. Though the Punjab government sanctioned funds over Rs 31 lakh to the Punjab Tourism and Heritage Development Corporation last year to preserve the monument by September 2010, the work for its preservation is yet to start in real terms. Only trenches have been dug up so far around it to raise a boundary wall around it. Besides, the department has erected a red coloured board on which ‘Sobraon Memorial’ is written. Interestingly, the authorities concerned have failed to erect boards in connection with the war pillar on different main roads, which lead to village Rodewala. The successive state governments have also failed to make a metalled road linking the spot where the war pillar has been erected with the main road of village Rodewala despite the fact that great Sikh warrior, General Sham Singh Attariwala, the General of Army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, took control of the Khalsa Army and died here while fighting the British Army. Kulbir Singh Sidhu, former commissioner, Ferozepur division, said he was surprised as to why the authorities had failed to preserve the monument when a move was initiated by him in that connection in 2005-06.
	Two pistols used in Anglo-Sikh war, stolen in 2006, yet to be traced Chander Parkash Tribune News Service Ferozeshah (Ferozepur), March 28 The four battles which the Sikhs fought with the British East India Company Army at Ferozeshah, Moodkee, Sobraon and Chellianwala in quick succession during the era of the first Anglo-Sikh war at various places, located near the Sutlej river in 1845 and 1846, were known for their exemplary display of bravery. The valour shown by valiant Sikh soldiers of the Khalsa Army under odd, inhospitable and unfavourable circumstances during the battles, which got huge appreciation and recognition from the then officers of the British Army, who fought battles and the English historians, who recorded the battle proceedings, also got them important places in the annals of the Indian history. Though the Khalsa Army lost these battles, they made the English Army flee from the battlefield many a time. The people of Punjab are disappointed as the authorities concerned have failed to trace the two pistols, which were used during the Anglo-Sikh war and were stolen from the local museum, a few years ago. The Punjab government established a museum, in connection with the relics of the Anglo-Sikh war, on the bank of Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder canal, located a few kilometres away from the spot where the British Army and the Khalsa Army fought Ferozeshah battle to perpetuate the memory of the brave Punjabis. A large numbers of hand weapons including swords, firearms, muskets and other war gears, belonging to the Anglo-Sikh wars, have been preserved in the museum for posterity. A criminal case was registered under sections 409, 380 and 120-B of the IPC against Pritam Singh, Balwinder Singh, residents of Faridkot and Moga districts, respectively, in Ghal Khurd police station on June 4, 2006, in connection with theft of the two pistols, made of metal, from the local Anglo-Sikh war museum, on the written complaint of the then Director, Cultural Affairs, Punjab. A challan in connection with the case was presented in a Ferozepur court on December 20, 2007 against Pritam, Balwinder, Bikkar Singh, Balbir Singh and Jagsir Singh by the police authorities concerned after they were found involved in the theft of these relics. Though the accused were still being tried in the court, the authorities could not recover the pistols, used in Anglo-Sikh war, which changed the course of the Indian history and facilitated the British to set up their command at Lahore Durbar so far. The weapons were donated by the Punjab government to the Anglo-Sikh war museum from its museum at Patiala. Though no senior functionary of Department of Cultural Affairs, Punjab, could be contacted for their comments despite repeated efforts, SSP, Ferozepur, Kaustab Sharma, said that he would check the status of the case first and then would make efforts to trace the pistols accordingly. A senior official of the Punjab government, pleading anonymity, said the functionaries of the Departmnet of Cultural affairs had also shown little interest in the case and hence, the recovery of relics could not be made.

	Edu institute triggers row Warring factions to appear before Akal Takht today Our Correspondent Sriganganagar, March 28 The warring factions claiming control over the Shri Guru Nanak Khalsa College and School, supreme educational institutions of the Sikh community in the state, have been asked to appear before the Akal Takht at Amritsar on Tuesday. Notably, one of the faction is led by the Rajasthan Shiromani Akali Dal president and SGPC member Surjit Singh Kang. Senior leaders of both the factions have left for Amritsar to appear before the Akal Takht at 10 am, sources said. Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj activists led by Jeet Singh Lakhian and Tejinderpal Singh Timma, chief sevadar of Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee are also leaving for Amritsar to present their viewpoint. Some Sikh leaders had apprised Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh of the situation during his recent visit to Buddha Johad Gurdwara and sought his immediate intervention. The battle took a serious turn on Monday as the faction led by Maninder Singh Mann alleged at a press conference that the ‘most wanted’ criminals from Punjab, killed by the Haryana police during an encounter on the Padampur-Raisinghnagar road last week, were given shelter in a residential quarter owned by the Khalsa institutions. Maninder Singh Mann alleged that a member of the opposite faction had offered Rs 5 lakh to the criminals for killing him and Rs one lakh was paid as advance. Fortunately, he had to go to Jaipur on that day, he said.
	Staff found absent during surprise check ADC orders action against health staff Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Faridkot, March 28 The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the Faridkot district Mohan Lal has asked the authorities of the Health Department to take departmental action against the entire staff including the doctors posted at the dispensary and primary health care centre situated at village Sukhanwala in the district. The ADC issued the orders after he found the entire staff of both the offices absent on duty on Monday. As per the details, Mohan Lal, along with other officials of the administration, conducted surprise checks. The ADC found a schoolboy Akashdeep along with some of his friends waiting for the health staff to get medical aid on the premises of the health centre. The boy was hurt in the school while playing and had come here for first aid. The child and his friends waited for over an hour but there was no doctor or pharmacist to attend them. While recommending action against the entire staff, the ADC felt the situation was ‘appalling’. earlier, the Faridkot DC too had conducted checks at PHCs.
	Female foeticide NGOs urged to come forward to fight menace Abohar, March 28 Prema Cariappa, chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board, today urged the state government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to come forward to fight female foeticide. Cariappa presided over the state-level seminar held at a local banquet hall today. A large number of women, activists of various social and NGOs, members of self-help groups, officials of different departments of the state government including Ferozepur SSP Kaustab Sharma attended the seminar. Vijaya Laxmi Bhadoo, chairperson, Punjab State Social Welfare Board, TR Sarangal, principal secretary, Department of Social Security, Punjab, also spoke on the occasion. — TNS
	Man sets wife ablaze Tribune News Service Moga, March 28 A man allegedly burnt his wife to death at village Gholia Khurd in the Moga district on Sunday. As per the details, Paramjit Singh, son of Jai Singh, suspected that his wife Paramjit Kaur had illicit relations with someone else. They had strained relations for the past couple of years. They got married 15 years back and had two children. On March 25, they had a quarrel. After setting his wife ablaze, Paramjit Singh fled from the spot. The family members tried to save her. They rushed her to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital at Faridkot where she succumbed to her burns yesterday. However, before her death, while undergoing treatment, she recorded her statement with the police alleging that her husband had set her ablaze. The police had lodged an FIR under section 302 of the IPC against the husband of the accused, who was eluding arrest till the filing of the news report, said police sources.
	Dictionary of state’s history, culture being translated into Hindi Amaninder Pal Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 28 To promote Sikh history and culture at the national level, a comprehensive encyclopaedic dictionary of Punjab’s history and culture, “Guru Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh”, written by the legendary scholar and lexicographer, Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, is being translated into Hindi. The state government has assigned the task of translating the four volumes of the encyclopedia into the national language to the Department of Punjabi Development, Punjabi University, Patiala. Earlier, the department has also translated the two volumes of the encyclopedia into English. The encyclopedia traces the roots of over 64,000 words, phrases, concepts and phenomena popular in the contemporary Punjabi society. Besides detailed information of the origin and development of Punjab’s cities and villages and places of worship, the encyclopedia also comprises myths.