Bathinda, January 4
While widespread protests are being staged after the brutal rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi and concern is being voiced over the safety of women, the number of false complaints lodged by women to settle scores too is on the rise and is worrying the police

After receiving some false allegations of rape and written complaints in this regard, senior police officials have issued fresh instructions and guidelines to thoroughly investigate such cases to determine the truth.

Inspector General of Police, Bathinda zone, Nirmal Singh Dhillon and DIG Parmod Ban today admitted that there has been a rise in such complaints and said instructions have been passed down the line for in-depth investigations to bring out the truth pertaining to crime against women.

"We have passed orders not to spare the guilty but if a man is found innocent after the investigations, then the complainant levelling the false allegations will have to face the music. We are bound help every woman but at the same time, if someone tries to take advantage of the ongoing tide of sympathy against women facing criminal activities, then it will not be tolerated," the IG said.

Sharing some facts regarding the false complaints received by the police recently, the IG said two women have been booked by the police for trying to blackmail a Raman-based arhtiya after lodging a false rape complaint.

A girl from Naruana village of Bathinda too lodged a false rape case against a man. After the investigations, it was found that the girl had consensual physical relationship with the man for a long time and there was no truth in the allegation.

Similarly, investigation into a case from Muktsar is on to determine the veracity of the rape charge, the IG said. The investigation pertaining to such cases takes time and the policemen are told to deeply study such cases so that they can reach the conclusion without any bias.

"Our endeavour is to provide impartial justice to all and lay special emphasis on crime against women and to give special attention to such cases so that they are disposed of at the earliest. The aim is also to ensure that such cases do not occur again," the IG added.

He pointed out that the police would immediately get the FIRs cancelled if these are found to be incorrect but if found correct, then the priority of the police would be to nail the guilty without any delay.

Bathinda, January 4
Even as the deadline for the registration of vendors under the Food Safety and Standards Act is inching closer, the work is yet to gain fillip.

The last date for registration under the Act is February 4 but only a handful of people have got registered.

"Time and again, we have requested the people to get registered on time to avoid the last minute rush, but to no avail," said the District Health Officer Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa.

Of the 60,000 small vendors, dealing in eatables in the district, only 2,400 have registered themselves with the health department so far.

Of the 4,000 big traders, having an annual income of more than Rs 12 lakh per annum, only 400 have sought licences so far.

Earlier, the state government had fixed August 3 as the last date for the registration, which was extended by six months, till February 4.

If anyone, dealing in any kind of food items, is found working without the required licence, they can be penalized.

However, the government is yet to fix the slabs for penalisation, which will come into effect soon.

Officials in the Health Department said there was no intimation from the government regarding an extension of the last date, which has put them in a piquant situation. "We are repeatedly asking the people to get registered to save time and prevent last minute chaos," the health officials said.

The employees of the Health Department added that as per the rules, traders with an annual income of more than Rs 12 lakh have to acquire the licence.

However, not all traders falling in the category are opting for the licence. Many of these have applied in the category of small-scale unit traders.

Bathinda, January 4
Doctors in the city are upset over the rising cases of vehicle theft at the Civil Hospital and in other areas of the city, including Mittal Mall.

The doctors today raised a hue and cry after a new Maruti Swift car belonging to one of their colleagues was stolen from outside the Mittal Mall.

Press secretary of the Punjab Civil Medical Service Association, Dr Gurmel Singh said Dr Arun Bansal, deployed as medical officer, Ghudda, found his car missing today in the afternoon outside the Mittal Mall. An FIR in this regard was lodged with the police.

Dr Gurmel Singh said earlier too, theft incidents have been reported from the Civil Hospital in Bathinda where doctors have lost their cars and two-wheelers.

Dr Gurmel Singh said his car keys too were stolen by someone just a few days ago from the Civil Hospital.

The doctor, however, said his colleague failed to obtain a parking slip while parking his vehicle near the mall.

Police and security personnel at the mall have already warned people not to park their vehicles outside the mall without taking the parking slip.

In view of a large number of vehicles being lifted from outside the mall, security personnel have asked the people to park their vehicles in the underground parking at the mall or to get a slip before parking their vehicles outside. But most people tend to ignore the advice, resulting in cases of vehicle theft at the place. 

Bathinda, January 4
Taking their cue from the successful protest organised by the Special Trainer Teachers in Bathinda over the last two months, ETT trained teachers today took out a protest march in the city.

The city police also seemed to have learnt its lessons well from the numerous protests held last year. The police swung into action as soon as the members of the ETT union were preparing to take out a march today.

The Education Guarantee Scheme teachers, who have also cleared the ETT course, organised a protest lead by the head of the union, Kulwant Kumari. More than 200 members of the union assembled in the city from across the state.

Accusing the police of not allowing the union to raise its voice, Kulwant Kumari said the police did not let them take out a march and stopped them at Nehru Park.

"The police did not even let us stage a peaceful protest. If we demonstrate at Teachers' Home, police restricts us there and today, they stopped us at Nehru Park," she said.

The union has been demanding that ETT trained teachers be given jobs in the schools in the state. The union also alleged that Education Minster Sikander Singh Maluka did not pay any attention to their demands.

A deputation of the union met the Deputy Commissioner today and submitted their charter of demands. They also expressed their wish to meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to discuss their problems. The deputation was given the assurance that a meeting with the Chief Minister would be fixed soon and the union would be intimated about it.

Kulwant threatened that if the state government did not heed their demands, the union would not hamper the Republic Day celebrations across the state.

Bathinda, january 4
Member of Parliament from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal today called upon society to play a major role in improving the condition of women by according them the respectable position that they command.

She called upon the people to resolve in the New Year that they will celebrate the first Lohri of their girl child the way it is done for male children.

Harsimrat was addressing a gathering during her visit to the Maur assembly constituency. She visited the areas of Rampura, Gill Kalan, Jethuke, Buggaran, Chotian, Krarwala and nearby villages where she distributed grants for development worth `1.05 crore.

She inaugurated the RMSA block of Government High School and RO as well as a shed constructed in the building of the cooperative society at village Gill Khurd. She listened to the problems of the people and gave instructions to the officials to solve the same.

She said the police and administration were putting in efforts to ensure the safety of women. She called upon the people to raise their voice against dowry, female foeticide and take initiatives to root out this social evil.

Later, talking to the media persons, she termed Congress policies as anti-people. “Repeated hike in the price of diesel have 
hit the farming sector 
hard. Government has turned a blind eye to the rising cost of input in the farming sector. There is a vast difference between the input and output achieved, which has forced farmers on the path of penury,” she said.

She added that people had become fed up with the policies of the UPA government and hence, were now looking forward to a change in the next Lok Sabha elections.

Irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, DC Kamal Kishore Yadav, SSP Ravcharan Singh Brar, SDM, Rampura, Bhupinder Singh, district transport officer BM Singh, district development and panchayat officer Rajinder Batra and others were also present at the event.

Bathinda, Janaury 4
While the national outrage over the gang rape and subsequent death of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi is yet to subside, cases of crime against women are being registered in the state.

The Talwandi Sabo police today booked a resident of village Lehri for trying to outrage the modesty of a woman from his village.

The accused has been identified as Manpreet Singh, alias Gaggu.

In her complaint to the police, the woman stated that on the afternoon of January 3, Manpreet entered her house and tried to outrage her modesty.

The woman alleged that apart from molesting her, Manpreet also abused her and passed lewd comments at her. Taking cognisance of her complaint, police acted swiftly and arrested Manpreet.

Bathinda, Janaury 4
Group Captain RK Obheroi assumed the command of Air Force Station Bhisiana today. He took over the command from outgoing Air Officer Commanding Air Commodore V Gaur at an impressive ceremonial parade held at the station. Bhavana Obheroi took over as the president AFWWA (local) from Sonali Gaur.

Air Commodore V Gaur, VM, who played a pivotal role in elevating the station to the newer heights during his tenure; expressed a sense of satisfaction on the overall progress of the station and inspired the personnel to strive for excellence in all spheres.

Group Captain RK Obheroi was commissioned in Indian Air Force on 13 June 1987 in the flying branch as a frontline fighter pilot.

He is an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College and has held various key appointments in India and abroad in his career spanning 25 years.

After assuming the command, Group Captain RK Obheroi and Bhavana Obheroi interacted with the station personnel at various levels and exhorted them to continue the good work.

Bathinda, january 4
Continuing with its pledge to take up a social issue every year, Baba Farid Group of Institutions has decided to dedicate the year 2013 to the cause of ‘Woman Empowerment’.

As part of its campaign, the institute has announced to give 50 per cent concession in fee for girls who are the only child in their families.

BFGI had dedicated the year 2009 to ‘social welfare’, year 2010 to ‘youth development’, year 2011 to ‘placements’ and year 2012 to ‘live green’.

Addressing the media here today, BFGI managing director Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal pointed out by saying that despite talks about equality, women continue to be treated as unequal in our male dominated society. He pointed out that although men may hail the idea of making the society egalitarian; they fail to accept a woman as their equal.

Emphasising that although the government had taken many steps to empower women, it was also the responsibility of educational institutes make the coming generations aware of the consequences of behaving badly with women.

Debunking the social stigma attached to the rape victims, he said whenever any harm or injustice is caused to a woman, she is not the only one who gets affected; one or more families are also affected by that because a woman is somebody’s mother, sister, daughter or wife.

Talking about the Delhi gang rape case, he wondered if the culprits did not have any women in their own families. “Were they not the son, brother or husband of anyone? How could they be the perpetrators of such atrocities?” he asked.

He argued that only by making laws, staging protests, or the fear of police will not improve the status of women in the society.

Under the campaign, BFGI would also discussions, seminars and workshops on women empowerment.

Also present at the conference were Dr Sardool Singh Grewal, vice-president, director admin. Paramjit Kaur Dhaliwal, director (finance) Paramjit Kaur Gill, Gurmeet Singh and Hemraj Sharma, director, Baba Farid Group of Institutions.

Bathinda, january 4
RBDAV Senior Secondary School held a seminar on teacher as counsellor today.

Dr Mohinder Paul Sharma, former counsellor at PGI Chandigarh spoke to teachers on topics of child care, development and behaviour in the class. He also highlighted the symptoms of fearful, emotional and anxious behavior of children in this stress ridden world and the ways to curb it.

Certain phobic tendencies like fits, breathlessness and heart racing in the form of aggressive and violent behavior of the children were discussed. Dr. Sharma discussed methodical way of diagnosing problem of the students, first by indentifying disorders and then coming to the solution.

Dr Sharma emphasised the importance of parent-teacher meeting and also said students’ behavior could be improved when teachers and parents work as a team.

He added that the child’s curiosity needs to be fed through proper communication. He gave solutions like rewarding child through reinforcement chart to promote his positive behavior.

He advised teachers to adopt a democratic strategy along with being positively authoritative. He expressed that the need of the hour was to minimise the gap between ideal self and real self of the students.

The question answer session was held at the end of the seminar where the queries of teachers regarding social and psychological development of students were answered.

Bathinda, january 4
The authorities of the Bathinda Central Jail recovered mobile phones from the possession of the inmates here today.