B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Narcotics seized from Fazilka sub-jail
Fazilka, February 7
Officials of the district administration today seized narcotics and other banned articles from two barracks of the Fazilka Sub-Jail during a scheduled checking. The seized items include 20 grams of opium, 200 grams of poppy husk, large quantity of tablets, a mobile phone with charger, Rs 13,580, one scissor, nine razors, five blades, lighters, cigarettes and matchsticks.

Fazilka SSP Amar Singh Chahal, ADC Charandev Singh Maan and SP (H) MK Sharma interact with inmates of the Fazilka sub-jail. A Tribune photograph

Install CCTV cameras at entry points, edu institutes told
Fazilka, February 7
The district police has now decided to take additional precautionary measures with help of electronic devices to check crime against women and to ensure their welfare as well. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Fazilka, Amar Singh Chahal, at a meeting with the heads of the colleges and schools, directed them to install CCTV cameras at entry points.

Conference held ‘Change in public mindset must for women’s safety’ Abohar, February 7 Former Punjab minister and BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla has said that the amended law might not prove to be effective in curbing crime against women until and unless the law enforcing agencies as well as society change its mindset.

Former minister Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla along with convener Dr Venita Singh at a conference organised in Abohar. A Tribune photograph

BJP’s Abohar unit chief lashes out at dissident municipal councillors
Abohar, February 7
The infighting in the BJP became deeper as the city unit president Mukhtiar Singh Soni lambasted the dissident councillors of the ruling BJP-SAD alliance for spearheading a campaign against the Municipal Council president Shiv Raj Goyal.

Ex-servicemen apprise CM of their demands
Barnala, February 7
A deputation of the ex-servicemen wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his residence recently. A former president of the wing, Gurjinder Singh Sidhu, today said they asked the Chief Minister to set up a martyrs' memorial in front of the district administrative complexes.

Narcotics seized from Fazilka sub-jail
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, February 7
Officials of the district administration today seized narcotics and other banned articles from two barracks of the Fazilka Sub-Jail during a scheduled checking. The seized items include 20 grams of opium, 200 grams of poppy husk, large quantity of tablets, a mobile phone with charger, Rs 13,580, one scissor, nine razors, five blades, lighters, cigarettes and matchsticks.

The search was conducted by a team of officials, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Charandev Singh Maan, SP(H) Manmohan Sharma and a medical team in the presence of Deputy Superintendent of Police (Jail) BS Ghuman.

Fazilka SSP Amar Singh Chahal also reached the jail.

The checking began at 10 am and continued for about three hours. The recovery of contraband and banned articles has raised a question mark over the functioning of the jail. A television set was also installed in one of the two barracks, which are designated as "VIP barracks" where affluent and influential inmates are lodged. These inmates numbering 12 are being offered special facilities, including packaged drinking water.

Ghuman said during a routine checking yesterday, no incriminating material was found. He said there was no proper arrangement for drinking water in the jail, so packaged water was being given to the inmates.

As many as 93 inmates are lodged in the jail that has a capacity to house 48 inmates only. The watch and ward staff that has a strength of 22 is on duty round-the-clock. Most inmates are facing trial under the NDPS Act.

Finding irregularities in the functioning of the jail, ADC Charandev Singh Maan has recommended shifting of the entire jail staff. He has also recommended to the DGP that strict disciplinary action be taken against the officials concerned.

Install CCTV cameras at entry points, edu institutes told
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, February 7
The district police has now decided to take additional precautionary measures with help of electronic devices to check crime against women and to ensure their welfare as well. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Fazilka, Amar Singh Chahal, at a meeting with the heads of the colleges and schools, directed them to install CCTV cameras at entry points.

Besides, flex boards mentioning the women police helpline numbers and the e-mail address of the district police should also be displayed inside and outside the buildings, he said.

"The head of the institution should organise the programmes to educate the girls for self-defence," appealed the SSP.

The SSP asked the District Education Officer Sandeep Dhuria to deploy night watchmen in schools to prevent thefts of computers which have increased manifold.

"The administration is concerned over the security of ATMs in the district," said the SSP. He also held a meeting with the bank officials of Fazilka district and directed them to increase the number of guards outside the ATMs and the banks to offer secure services to the customers.

He also said the emergency numbers be displayed outside the banks.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Charandev Singh Maan, Assistant Commissioner (General and Grievances) Rajpal Singh were also present at the meeting.

Conference held
‘Change in public mindset must for women’s safety’
Our Correspondent

Abohar, February 7
Former Punjab minister and BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla has said that the amended law might not prove to be effective in curbing crime against women until and unless the law enforcing agencies as well as society change its mindset.

In her inaugural speech at a conference organised by the DAV College of Education here today, Chawla observed that erosion in moral values, exposure of women and ineffective working of the law enforcing agencies are primarily responsible for the situation.

Reminding the would-be-teachers of their important role in nation-building, Chawla,asked them to become independent.

The former minister said incidents in Punjab had exposed the style of functioning of the Punjab Police.

Chawla was earlier joined by Panjab University senator Sanjeev Kumar Arora and other dignitaries in lighting the traditional lamp to inaugurate the conference.

HS Walia, former secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, councillor Suversha Narang, educationist Ruchi Somani and former SDM BL Sikka were the other speakers.

Principal Dr Venita Singh welcomed the dignitaries.

BJP’s Abohar unit chief lashes out at dissident municipal councillors
Our Correspondent

Abohar, February 7
The infighting in the BJP became deeper as the city unit president Mukhtiar Singh Soni lambasted the dissident councillors of the ruling BJP-SAD alliance for spearheading a campaign against the Municipal Council president Shiv Raj Goyal.

In a statement issued here, Soni said the voters would teach the dissidents a befitting lesson.

Nine dissidents of the ruling alliance in the Municipal Council (MC) had yesterday alleged a nexus between the president and CLP leader Sunil Jakhar.

The dissidents had been demanding the resignation of Goyal, blaming him for the choking of sewage system besides "encouraging corruption" that had let the ruling alliance down.

The dissidents had also expressed lack of trust in the president in the meeting held on September 5 last year.

The Congress councillors had endorsed the move.

Ex-servicemen apprise CM of their demands
Tribune News Service

Barnala, February 7
A deputation of the ex-servicemen wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his residence recently. A former president of the wing, Gurjinder Singh Sidhu, today said they asked the Chief Minister to set up a martyrs' memorial in front of the district administrative complexes.

The delegation also asked for the construction of modern centres in seven new districts to provide all facilities and services under one roof to the ex-servicemen.

Sidhu said the Chief Minister assured them that their demands would be fulfilled.