B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Just after four days, sewer tragedy revisited
Two more labourers asphyxiated
Bathinda, May 26
Just four days after two labourers died while carrying out repair work in a chamber of the main sewer line of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation's sewerage project near the TV tower, two more labourers were feared drowned today while opening the newly-laid sewerage project at the Lal Singh Basti in the evening.

Rescue operation to find out the workers in progress at Lal Singh Basti in Bathinda on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Dera chief files plea for passport
Bathinda, May 26
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, through his counsel, today put up an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Harjeet Singh for releasing his passport, which was impounded by the court after the Dera-Sikh controversy erupted in the state in 2007.

SDKL DAV students excel in CBSE class X exam
Bathinda, May 26
The students of the SDKL DAV Senior Secondary Public School, Mansa shone in the recently announced CBSE class X results.

Man booked for killing grandmother
Fazilka, May 26
A man allegedly killed his grandmother and seriously injured his mother following a dispute over the possession of a room in their house.

Property ‘fraud’ surfaces in Abohar
Abohar, May 26
A property “fraud” involving a prominent family of the town has surfaced here, sources said.

Just after four days, sewer tragedy revisited
Two more labourers asphyxiated
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 26
Just four days after two labourers died while carrying out repair work in a chamber of the main sewer line of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation's sewerage project near the TV tower, two more labourers were feared drowned today while opening the newly-laid sewerage project at the Lal Singh Basti in the evening.

The incident took place at around 6:15 pm, when the labourers, hired by a private contractor, were opening a portion of the sewer line. Immediately, after a labourer, Varun (30) of Bihar, opened the sewerage, the toxic water and gases emitting from it left him unconscious and he fell inside. When the other labourer, Mukesh (35), tried to save him, he also got asphyxiated and fell inside.

Sources said the labourers were not wearing safety kits, which resulted in the tragedy.

Meanwhile, the followers of the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda along with some locals started a rescue operation, but till the filing of the report, the labourers could not be found inside the sewer line.

However, the private contractor of the firm Garga Associates, to whom the job was assigned by the Sewerage Board, said he had not directed the labourers to open the sewerage project.

Uma Shankar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB), said, "The incident took place due to the negligence of the private contractor and the sewerage board officials. I am suspending all the contracts given to this private firm."

"After the bodies are found, providing compensation to the families of these labourers would be considered."

Meanwhile, the BMC authorities suspended an S.D.O. and a J.E. of the sewerage Board. Besides, an explanation has been sought from the department engineers.

Dera chief files plea for passport
Archit Watts/TNS

In view of he hearing of the case related to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, security was beefed up in the district court complex in Bathinda on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Bathinda, May 26
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, through his counsel, today put up an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Harjeet Singh for releasing his passport, which was impounded by the court after the Dera-Sikh controversy erupted in the state in 2007.

In the plea, Dera chief's counsel, a senior advocate from Chandigarh, SK Garg stated that he had fixed an appointment with a doctor in Nepal for some treatment, from June 18-21.

Considering the application, the CJM fixed the date for next hearing on June 1. He also asked the advocate of the Sikhs, who had been contesting the case for getting the Dera chief penalised for hurting the religious sentiments, to come up with their submission on the issue on the same day.

Meanwhile, in the second case, the proceedings of which were initiated on the Dera chief's application for revision filed against the CJM court's previous decision to summon him for appearing in person before the court, the additional sessions judge DS Johal, after finding the complainants, namely, Rajinder Singh Sidhu, Jaspal Singh Manjpur and Hardeep Singh, present in the court, adjourned the case till August 4, fixing it for arguments.

Earlier, rejecting the cancellation report filed by the Bathinda police, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Harjeet Singh, on April 2 had summoned Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to appear in person before the court on May 10 to apply for his regular bail. Reacting swiftly, the Dera chief, through his counsel, had filed a revision in the sessions court, which had put a stay on further proceedings by giving a fresh date in the case for May 26.

Speaking to the media persons, Jatinder Roy Khattar, who is pleading the case for the Sikhs, said, "The court should not release Ram Rahim's passport as passport is not required for visiting Nepal."

As per the case history, the Dera chief is accused of dressing up like the tenth guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, and offering "Jaam-e-Insaan" during a congregation held at Dera Salabatpura in Bathinda district in May 2007.

SDKL DAV students excel in CBSE class X exam
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 26
The students of the SDKL DAV Senior Secondary Public School, Mansa shone in the recently announced CBSE class X results.

As many as 12 students, Meenal Goyal, Himanshi, Aarzoo Garg, Himanshu Garg, Arshdeep Singh Dhaliwal, Kanik Singla, Ravjot Singh, Vivek Singla, Geetika Bajaj, Kanupriya and Vishali Gupta, secured CGPA 10.

While the school recorded 100 per cent results, as many as 68 students secured A1 grade in Punjabi while 56 students got the A1 grade in maths, 36 got the A1 grade in social sciences, 34 in Hindi, 25 in science and 24 students got the A1 grade in English.

Regional director Dr BB Sharma, manager Dr Satwant Bhullar and principal Sudhir Singh Thakur congratulated the students.

Man booked for killing grandmother

Fazilka, May 26
A man allegedly killed his grandmother and seriously injured his mother following a dispute over the possession of a room in their house.

As per FIR registered with Sadar police, Fazilka, Om Parkash hit his mother Mohindero Bai, with a brick over the possession of a room. When Haro Bai (mother of Mohindra Bai) tried to intervene and save her daughter, Om Parkash allegedly assaulted his grand- mother also with the same brick. Haro Bai later succumbed to her injuries. Police said Om Parkash and his elder brother Makhan Singh have been booked under Section 302,323,120B of IPC. — OC

Property ‘fraud’ surfaces in Abohar
Our Correspondent

Abohar, May 26
A property “fraud” involving a prominent family of the town has surfaced here, sources said.

As per the available information, a landlord and his son residing in street number 13 allegedly managed to sell the joint prime commercial property situated in street number 2.

This was reportedly done by the suspects after making a forged "will" in the name of his grandmother setting aside the legal and registered will of the grandfather.

Dr Alok Ahuja and Sanjay Krishan Ahuja, presently residing at Chandigarh, said they have been affected by the forged will. They submitted a complaint to the Punjab DGP and the Financial Commissioner (Revenue).

Some local municipal councillors of the ruling parties have also been named in the complaint for helping in carrying out construction work at the disputed site despite the stay orders granted by a court.

Today, they faxed their complaints to the Punjab Governor and the Chief Minister seeking independent investigation by an agency of repute.

Notably, the local tehsil complex has been in the news in the past also for preparing forged "wills" by inserting fake signatures/thumb impressions of heads of the families even after their deaths. Such "wills" are registered by getting published public notices in small vernaculars, previous investigations had indicated.