B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

7 Nihangs get life term for killing rival group chief’s aide
Bathinda, April 22
Seven Nihangs of the Baba Surjeet Singh group were today awarded life imprisonment for killing a 25-year-old Nihang, who was a close associate of Baba Balbir Singh, the chief of the Baba Budha Dal. The verdict was announced by Additional District and Sessions judge, Bathinda, Manju Rana.

Squall disrupts road traffic, power supply
Bathinda, April 22
A squall, which hit this region for about two hours late last evening, uprooted electric poles and trees apart from bringing the wheat harvesting operations to complete halt. The visibility was also reduced hitting the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

Workers of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited clearing off an electricity pole, which was uprooted after squall that hit the region on Thursday, from a road in Bathinda on Friday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

PMET now on June 8
Faridkot, April 22
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) has fixed June 8 as the new date for conducting the Pre-Medical Entrance Test (PMET) for admission to the medical colleges in the state.

7 Nihangs get life term for killing rival group chief’s aide
Rajay Deep/TNS

Bathinda, April 22
Seven Nihangs of the Baba Surjeet Singh group were today awarded life imprisonment for killing a 25-year-old Nihang, who was a close associate of Baba Balbir Singh, the chief of the Baba Budha Dal. The verdict was announced by Additional District and Sessions judge, Bathinda, Manju Rana.

The murder is believed to be an outcome of a rivalry among the two groups for the coronet, as both — Baba Surjeet Singh and Baba Balbir Singh — had claimed their right to be the chief of the Baba Budha Dal.

It is learnt that Nihang Balwinder Singh and his brother Nihang Sikander Singh were sevadars of Baba Balbir Singh. Their proximity to Baba Balbir Singh used to irk the members of the Baba Surjeet Singh’s group.

As per the police statement of Sikander Singh, members of the Baba Surjeet Singh’s group used to pressurise him and his brother to avoid the company of Baba Balbir Singh. “Failing in their attempts, they started threatening us. When we flatly refused to switch our loyalty, they said they would teach us a lesson,” Sikander Singh alleged.

He further stated that on June 23, 2008, Balwinder Singh was returning from the Baba Ji’s ‘chhavni’ (permanent camping site) located near Takht Sri Damdama Sahib when seven Nihangs, namely Kuldeep Singh, Mandeep Soni, Karamjeet Singh, Harbant Singh, Sukhbir Singh Mithu, Jafarjang Singh and Baljeet Singh alias Kala, all belonging to the Baba Surjeet Singh’s group, intercepted him in the main market of Talwandi Sabo.

In broad daylight, they assaulted him with swords and killed him on the spot.

A case was registered at Talwandi Sabo police station under various Sections, including 302 and 34, of the IPC.

It is learnt that every time the two rival factions came to attend the legal proceedings of the murder case, the atmosphere in the district courts complex here used to remain tense.

Confirming the facts, the counsel for complainant, advocate Mahinder Singh Sidhu, said after thorough proceedings, the additional district and session courts today announced life imprisonment to all the seven accused and sent them to jail.

Squall disrupts road traffic, power supply
Chander Parkash/TNS

Bathinda, April 22
A squall, which hit this region for about two hours late last evening, uprooted electric poles and trees apart from bringing the wheat harvesting operations to complete halt. The visibility was also reduced hitting the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

Due to uprooting of electric poles, the supply of electricity of various pockets of Bathinda and its surrounding areas remained disrupted for a considerable time. The tin made roofs of eating joints (dhabas) located on various roads of this region also got blown up in the squall. The tents pitched by a religious organisation for holding a congregation in the city were also uprooted forcing the organisers to shift the venue.

Information gathered by TNS revealed that no loss of standing what crop was reported due to the squall. The agriculture officials, who visited different pockets of Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar and Faridkot districts reported that loss was negligible. They added that some incidents related with wheat straw or standing wheat crop catching fire was reported from these districts.

“Had the squall accompanied by hailstorms hit this region, there could have been a colossal damage to standing wheat and other crops, claimed Paramjit Singh Sandhu, Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Bathinda, adding that wheat crop in entire region had almost ripened.

Officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited said efforts were being made to erect the electric poles, which were uprooted last night so as to restore the power supply.

PMET now on June 8
Tribune News Service