B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Land dispute between communities
Tension brews in Rampura
Bathinda, August 26
The ongoing controversy over the ownership of 12 acres of land in Maari Seekhan village near Rampura town escalated today again when members of the Bhullar community, wanted to celebrate the tenth day of the Full Moon at the village gurdwara.
Cops were deployed in strength to avert any untoward incident at Rampura in Bathinda district on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

BJP’s young brigade told to gear up for early LS polls
Bathinda, August 26
Forest and Wild Life Minister and senior BJP leader Surjit Kumar Jiyani today said the Congress party was responsible for all ills in the country. He was addressing a rally organised by the BJP Yuva Morcha at Gol Diggi in the city this evening.
Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani (third from right) along with senior leaders of the BJP during a Yuva Morcha rally held in Bathinda on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Couple among 4 held in Moga passport scam
Moga, August 26
The special investigation team set up to probe the Moga passport scam has arrested a couple and two travel agents for duping two sisters of Rs 4.5 lakh on the pretext of sending them to Malaysia. A case has been registered against five persons at the Baghapurana police station in the district. One accused is still at large.

Neighbour shoots man to death
Fazilka, August 26
A man was shot dead by his neighbour over a land dispute in village Hasta Kalan of the sub-division late on Saturday evening. As per Boor Singh, he and his family members including his son Balwinder Singh were laying the roof of their under-construction house.

Special medical camps held in Bathinda villages
Bathinda, August 26
The Nanhi Chhaan Foundation, in association with the Health Department, today organised two separate medical camps at Kotshamir and Nathana to provide on the spot treatment to the cancer patients and those suffering from other diseases.

Land dispute between communities
Tension brews in Rampura
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 26
The ongoing controversy over the ownership of 12 acres of land in Maari Seekhan village near Rampura town escalated today again when members of the Bhullar community, wanted to celebrate the tenth day of the Full Moon at the village gurdwara.

However, the police citing prohibitory order, prevented them from marching to the gurdwara situated on the land under controversy.

Agitated members of the Bhullar community, who claim they have been worshipping at the gurdwara since generations and hosting festivals at the land in question, sat on the railway crossing on the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway alleging that the police was allowing the members of the opposing Sidhu community and the SGPC members to visit the religious place.

Road and rail traffic were affected for nearly two hours near Rampura town due to the dharna. Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav and SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill had to pacify the agitators. They have called a meeting of the warring parties on August 28 to find a peaceful solution.

Besides the Bhullars, who have a sizeable population in the region, members of the Sidhu community, who claim to have a majority in 22 villages in the vicinity and the SGPC, have staked claim to the ownership of the gurdwara and the 12 acres of land.

Representatives of the Bhullars claimed the police allowed only five members of their community to offer Ardas at the gurdwara today.

However, these five members saw over 20 members of the other community at the religious place, who allegedly raised slogans also.

This, sources said, angered the community which first laid siege to the Mehraj-Rampura road and later, squatted on the railway crossing blocking both road and rail traffic.

BJP’s young brigade told to gear up for early LS polls
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 26
Forest and Wild Life Minister and senior BJP leader Surjit Kumar Jiyani today said the Congress party was responsible for all ills in the country. He was addressing a rally organised by the BJP Yuva Morcha at Gol Diggi in the city this evening.

Jiyani said the Congress has no locus standi to rule the country and sought the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Senior national vice-president of the Yuva Morcha, Pawan Khajuria, blamed the Congress for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Congress was soft on separatists in the state.

Jiyani and other leaders called upon the young workers of the party to gear up for the Lok Sabha elections, which may be held sooner than its scheduled year of 2014.

Harjesh Honey, president, BJP Yuva Morcha, said the rally was organised with the slogan of “Congress Bhajao, desh bachao”. He said the young workers of the party would spread further awareness against the “misdeeds” of the Congress party.

Couple among 4 held in Moga passport scam
Kulwinder Sandhu/TNS

Moga, August 26
The special investigation team set up to probe the Moga passport scam has arrested a couple and two travel agents for duping two sisters of Rs 4.5 lakh on the pretext of sending them to Malaysia. A case has been registered against five persons at the Baghapurana police station in the district. One accused is still at large.

SSP Surjit Singh Grewal said a retired army official, Subedar Charan Singh, had complained to the police that Monika and her husband Jaspal Singh, both residents of Baghapurana, along with two travel agents and a mediator duped him of Rs 4.5 lakh on the pretext of sending his two daughters to Malaysia on work permit.

The accused had deserted the sisters in a hotel in New Delhi after taking away their passports. 

Neighbour shoots man to death
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, August 26
A man was shot dead by his neighbour over a land dispute in village Hasta Kalan of the sub-division late on Saturday evening. As per Boor Singh, he and his family members including his son Balwinder Singh were laying the roof of their under-construction house.

Boor Singh informed the police that his family members were engaged in the construction work at 9.30 pm yesterday when their neighbour Jeet Singh, along with his son Nachhatar Singh, cousin Inder Singh, accomplice Hansa Singh and some other unidentified persons reached the site on a tractor-trailer.

Jeet Singh reportedly opened fire with his .12 bore pistol. The bullet hit Balwinder Singh (40) resulting in his death on the spot. The accused fled from the scene after committing the crime.

According to the deceased’s family members, the dispute arose because Jeet Singh suspected that Boor Singh was constructing the house on his land.

Sadar police station in-charge Chhinder Singh said Jeet Singh and his accomplices have been booked under sections 302, 148 and149 of the IPC.

Fazilka DSP Sukhdev Singh Brar said police teams have been sent to conduct raids on possible hideouts of the accused and they would be arrested soon. 

Special medical camps held in Bathinda villages

Bathinda, August 26
The Nanhi Chhaan Foundation, in association with the Health Department, today organised two separate medical camps at Kotshamir and Nathana to provide on the spot treatment to the cancer patients and those suffering from other diseases.

These camps were an initiative of the Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Doctors from the US and medical teams of the health department diagnosed the patients and provided free medicines.

Dr Samrina Kahlon and Dr Gagan Kahlon from America and experts from the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, checked those suffering from diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, paralysis, cancer and cardiac diseases.

Appreciating the initiative taken by Harsimrat for the cause of people’s health, Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav urged the people to take benefit of these camps.      

Dr Samrina Kahlon said lack of awareness was the root cause behind several chronic diseases.

As many as 443 people came for medical check-up or to get the advice of medical experts at Kot Shameer. Similarly, a large number of people of the area also came to the medical camp at Nathana. — TNS