Bathinda, July 11
The stretch from the Teenkoni till the Sirhind canal in this developing city has become a tipplers’ paradise.

In the absence of any check by cops, liquor is consumed in the open with impunity. It is not only against the rule of law but visually unpleasant for the passersby too. The unlawful activity becomes all the more objectionable when witnessed by women or kids, who have impressionable minds.

As the sun sets, tables are laid out in the open in front of hotel and dhabhas for boozers to get a high. Notably, there is hardly any check on the encroachments by commercial units in the city.

Furthermore, many boozers buy bottles of their choice from the liquor vends and consume the same sitting inside their cars parked by the roadside. There are as many as four liquor shops on a kilometre-long stretch.

Hotel, restaurant, dhabhas and taverns dotting the area play a perfect host to the Bacchus lovers. Vendors selling ‘pakoras’ and boiled eggs provide accompaniments to their hard drinks. Then there are others who take quick shots of their regular evening dose at the vendors’ place itself.

Vends selling tobacco products also facilitate young and old in love with spirits.

When apprised of the situation, Ajaib Singh, SHO Kotwali, said the police could act only if someone complains about it.

However, he assured of taking action against anyone found indulging in the prohibited practice.

While the action that the cops will take to stop the unlawful activity from taking place is yet to be seen, empty bottles of intoxicants littered on the streets are testimony to the fact that the problem is not limited to liquor only.

Bathinda, July 11
Nearly one-and-a-half years ago, the state Forest Department, finding the upkeep of animals and birds exorbitant, launched the Animal Adoption Scheme (AAS) for all five zoos and deer parks in the state and placed all of their inhabitants for adoption.

However, despite the nominal rates of adoption and various privileges offered to the adopters, the authorities failed to achieve the success that they expected at any zoo or deer park across the state.

Ironically, the department got the worst response to the scheme at the Bir Talab Deer Park in Bathinda, where the scheme has remained only on paper. The staff hasn’t found even a single philanthropist to adopt any of its inhabitants till date.

During a review meeting in this regard, senior officials of the Forest Department had reportedly directed the Deer Park authorities to visit industrial houses and NGOs urging them to support the cause of wildlife conservation and adoption of zoo animals. Acting on the directions, the staff of the Deer Park, including the Divisional Forest Officer and Range Officer, launched a publicity operation.

However, despite their efforts, the scheme could not take off.

According to the information available, about a year ago, the deer park staff even approached the functionaries of the multi-crore Guru Gobind Singh Refinery (Bathinda refinery) and asked them to contribute to the cause.

The officials promised to help, but even after visiting the Deer Park, they adopted no animal/bird.

Confirming the details, the range officer Gurpal Singh, who is incharge of the Bir Talab Deer Park, said the adoption process was simple and inexpensive.

He said, “You just select an animal of your choice. Then choose a level of support, fill a form and submit it to the zoo/deer park authorities. One can also (virtually) gift an adopted animal to others.”

“Besides displaying the adopter’s name near the animal’s enclosure, the adopter’s family is given free entry passes. Plus, the help rendered may be used to avail exemption from Income Tax,” he added.

The Bir Talab park houses a variety of animals and birds, including, sambar, deer, ducks, monkeys, owl, parrots, budgerigar, red munia, parakeets and peacocks.

Barnala, July 11
Barnala police has arrested a five-member gang including a woman involved in robbery and anti-social activities.

SSP Barnala Gurpreet Singh Toor said the CIA staff received the information on July 9 that members of gang moving in a Maruti car had stopped near a village in the Handiaya area. He added that during the checking, police found that the occupants of the car were carrying illegal weapons and were planning a robbery in the area.

The SSP added that the CIA staff Barnala arrested these people identified as Rajwinder Singh of Barnala, Harjinder Singh of village Saidoke in Moga, Gurjeet Singh of Barnala, Baljeet Kaur of village Lakh in Barnala and Jasvir Singh of village Sanghera, Barnala. Police also recovered two .315 bore pistols and six live cartridges from the culprits. The car they were travelling in was also seized.

Farmer electrocuted: A farmer, Surjit Singh, suffered electric shock while pressing the button of the electric motor in his fields at village Gurm near here today. The farmer was later shifted to the Barnala Civil Hospital where doctors declared him dead. An enquiry probe is on, said Tejinder Singh, SHO Sherpur. — TNS

Bathinda, July 11
Dozens of residents of Paras Ram Nagar and Hans Nagar today accused the police of shielding the killers of Nathu Ram and staged a demonstration outside the SSP office.

Nathu was killed on June 22 in an alleged gunfight that took place at Bhucho Mandi.

Demanding the arrest of all those booked in a criminal case registered in connection with the killing, the kin of the the deceased raised slogans against the police. They blocked the road between the Mini-secretariat and the district courts for about an hour.

Later, the representatives of the agitators met the SSP. Listening to their grievance, SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill assured them of speeding up the process and promised an impartial inquiry. — TNS

Moga, July 11
A 20-year old recently married woman was allegedly murdered by her husband and in-laws for dowry at village Chuhar Chak in the Moga district on Monday morning.

The police registered a criminal case under sections 306 and 498 of the IPC against the woman's husband Gurdeep Singh, father-in-law Ranjit Singh and sister-in-law Paramjit Kaur at the Ajitwal police station.

Preliminary investigations revealed that she was given some poisonous substance in her food. However, it could be established only after the chemical examination of her viscera, which was taken after the post-mortem examination by the doctors at the district hospital here, this afternoon, said Barinder Singh Gill, SHO.

As per the details available, the woman identified as Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Manjit Singh, hailing from Baba Nand Singh Nagar of Moga town, was married to Gurdeep Singh at Chuhar Chak village on September 30, 2010.

The parents of the girl, in a statement recorded before the police, had alleged that the in-laws of their daughter used to harass and beat her, the father of the girl stated that they were demanding cash due to which Harpreet came back to live with them three months back.

He stated that it was on July 4 that she again went back to her husband's house on their assurance that they would not harass her.

Today, she started vomiting and when her condition deteriorated, a neighbour called her brother Bablu and informed him about his sister's condition. Her parents immediately rushed to Chuhar Chak and brought her to a private hospital at Moga. The private doctor referred her to the district hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Moga SSP Sneh Deep Sharma has asked the SHO concerned to minutely investigate the case to determine the exact cause of Harpreet’s death. 

Fazilka, July 11
Breaking away with traditions, the eldest daughter lit the pyre of her mother, offered shoulder during her funeral procession and performed the ritual of her mother at the cremation ground along with her three younger brothers in village Ghallu of the Fazilka subdivision.

As per information, on the passing away of their mother Parkash Rani, her sons, Prem Kumar, Surinder Kumar and Rajinder Kumar, set an example for society when they decided to get the last rites of their mother performed by their married elder sister Veena Rani. When the villagers saw that Veen Rani offered shoulder during the funeral procession of her mother, they came out of their houses and joined the procession to witness the last rites of Parkash Rani.

Interestingly, other women members of the family also participated in different ceremonies in the cremation ground.

Surinder Kumar, the son of the deceased, said his family is a follower of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect and they had also donated the eyes of their mother after her death. 

Abohar, July 11
Trends are changing as evident during the ongoing admission session in the degree colleges here. As many as 175 students have turned up to seek admission in B.Sc (Agriculture) that was introduced by the DAV College here with allocation of 40 seats by the Panjab University last year.

Most of the admission seekers revealed that they belonged to the neighbouring twin districts of Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. The Punjab School Education Board had not been able to recruit teachers in the rural-based senior secondary schools for the last few years to teach agriculture as vocational subject.

A perusal of the admission chart reveals that less number of students have sought admission to biotechnology whereas there are 360 in fray for 146 seats in B.Com and 45 for 15 seats of M.Sc IT. B.Sc (NM) has this year attracted the largest number of students. BA (I) has regained strength that was on the decline for the last two years.

Girl tops PU: Anjali Makkar of Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College has topped in BA-II exam conducted by the Panjab University this year, Principal Dr Neelam Arun Mittu said. She obtained 84.56 per cent marks. Another student Manpreet Kaur got third position in the university by getting 83.06 per cent marks. 

Barnala, July 11
The railway overbridge (ROB) being constructed at a cost of Rs 24 crore near the SD College here will be ready by November this year. Principal Secretary to the CM Darbara Singh Guru made this announcement while reviewing development projects in the city.

Guru also said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will lay the foundation stone of the district complex of Barnala on July 13. He added that this 42 crore five- storey project will be completed within this financial year itself. 

Abohar, July 11
Circle SAD general secretary Chanan Singh has died of drowning. Family sources said he had gone alone to irrigate his fields at 10 am as the farm workers had proceeded on leave.

The family got worried after he did not return. Search initiated in the morning led to recovery of the body from a sub-canal near village Ramsara. His father Jathedar Bagicha Singh of village Kattianwali has been a close associate of the Badal family. — OC