The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Dera chief’s hearing on Feb 22 Bathinda turns into fortress SP Sharma Tribune News Service Bathinda, February 20 As the decision of the court was awaited on the application of the Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim for exemption of his personal appearance in a local court on February 22, the district authorities in a precautionary measure today put the Army on alert and have summoned para-military forces for maintaining law and order. Such steps have also been taken in the other six districts of Malwa region where the Dera Sacha Sauda enjoys considerable influence and had witnessed violent incidents in 2007 between the Dera supporters and groups of Sikhs. Chief Judicial Magistrate Harjit Singh is expected to take a decision tomorrow on the Dera chief’s application. He has been summoned to the court here in connection with a case of allegedly hurting the sentiments of Sikhs in 2007 by wearing attire similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh. Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav said the administration was keeping its fingers crossed but precautionary measures were being taken to meet the situation in case his application is rejected tomorrow and he is ordered to appear in the court of the CJM. Yadav held a high level meeting this afternoon to discuss the situation while the IGP, Bathinda zone, NS Dhillon also discussed the matter at meeting of police officials of the area. The authorities have decided to close all schools for three days from tomorrow as a precautionary measure. The school buildings will be utilized for lodging the large number of para-military forces and armed police personnel from the Majha and Doaba regions who have started arriving here. The authorities were facing a piquant situation as the law and order machinery was currently focused towards the high profile case.
	DGSE’s diktat Teachers fund annual function in primary schools Archit Watts Tribune News Service Muktsar, February 20 The recent diktat of the Director General of School Education (DGSE) to hold the first ever annual function in all government primary schools in Punjab proved to be costly for the teachers today. The reason for this is that the DGSE had ordered that an amount of only Rs 800 would be utilized for this from the funds of the school management committee (SMC). However, the DGSE made it mandatory to distribute prizes to the participants, invite reputed people of society as well as the parents of the students. Following the order, though all schools celebrated the annual function, yet the teachers spent money from their own pockets to generate the funds. A visit to some government schools in the district revealed that a majority of them had erected tents, installed sound system and hired chairs. Besides, they served sweets, snacks and tea among the students and the audience to make the event a success, which might have cost the school heads much more than the Rs 800 sanctioned. The teachers also accepted that they had contributed money from their pockets because they were unable to defy the orders. "It was a wonderful experience to celebrate the annual function in a government primary school, which had never happened before. Though the amount sanctioned for organising the event was meagre yet the decision proved to be good. We contributed money from our own pockets to make the event successful. The students really enjoyed the function and displayed their talent,” said Harbhajan Kaur, the head teacher of the Government Primary School at Dera Bhai Mastan Singh in Muktsar. She said there were five teachers in the school and each contributed Rs 1,000 from the salary. Jagsir Singh, head teacher of the Government School at Chak Bir Sarkar in Muktsar said, “We have not yet calculated the total amount spent on the annual function held today, but the teachers contributed money from their own pockets. The amount sanctioned for this purpose was much less, but the decision is laudable.” A teacher of Government Primary School at village Rukhala in Gidderbaha sub-division said, “It was not even possible to distribute prizes among the participants with the sanctioned amount of Rs 800. There were 11 categories of competitions organised, in which 50-60 students participated. We were left with no other option but to contribute money ourselves.” District Education Officer Davinder Kumar Rajoria also accepted that the teachers had contributed money. “The teachers followed the orders in letter and spirit. Though the sanctioned amount proved to be less, yet the head teachers of primary schools arranged the money and organised the annual function properly. We hope the senior officials will increase the amount from Rs 800 to at least Rs 8,000 next year,” Rajoria said. He said the DGSE had ordered holding of annual function to raise the standard of government schools and increase the interest of children in studies.
	Mansa police arrests ‘dead’ terrorist Jupinderjit Singh/TNS Mansa, February 20 A gangster arrested by the Mansa police yesterday has been identified as a former terrorist. He was shown dead in police files. If police records are to be believed, 65-five-year-old Ajaib Singh Mander was killed by the Punjab Police in an encounter in Mansa on July 26, 1993. The police confirmed the identity of 65-year-old Ajaib Singh Mander today. The elderly former terrorist had surfaced in 2000 when he appeared before the Punjab and Haryana High Court revealing his real identity. After embarrassing the state police, especially six cops, including a former SSP, Bathinda, who got promotion for the alleged encounter, Ajaib Singh went underground only to hog limelight now again. In a joint operation, the Delhi and Mansa police nabbed him yesterday after yet another encounter in Sardulgarh on Monday evening. Along with him, the police nabbed Sukhinder Nikku, personal assistant to an Akali leader of Sardulgarh. The third arrested accused was identified as Rajwinder Singh, an ITBP deserter. Mansa SP (Detective) Pushkar Mandal said Ajaib Singh Mander, who has been arrested, was the same ex-terrorist involved in the controversial encounter. Ajaib was living under the assumed name of Makhan Singh as a Sewadaar at a religious place in Sardulgarh. He is charged as being a close aide of Surinder Neetu of Delhi. The Delhi police had planned the operation on the basis of a tip-off about Neetu being in Sardulgarh. Neetu carries a cash reward of Rs 7 lakh. He could not be arrested in the joint operation. Mansa police claims Ajaib was not just one of the alleged members of the Neetu led inter-state gang of extortionists, contract killers and kidnappers. The gang is also accused of killing some cops in Delhi. Ajaib was allegedly recruiting and training young members in the alleged gang. Reliable sources revealed that Mander was an expert in conducting recce of an area where the gang planned to strike. The gang was allegedly planning to target some politicians and businessmen of the region. A fourth member of the gang, identified as Dayanand, was injured in the shoot-out in Sardulgarh. He was admitted to a hospital in Rohtak.
	Car looted at gunpoint in Abohar Our Correspondent Abohar, February 20 Four masked miscreants looted the car of a businessman at gunpoint last night in the Azeemgarh locality of the sub-divisional town. This is the fourth such incident in less than a year here. Chander Shekhar, who runs a communication centre in Bazaar No. 4 here, informed the police that four bikers, with their faces covered, were noticed chasing his car as he drove through deserted roads to his residence in Street number 3 in Azeemgarh, which is located on the college road. As he parked the car outside his house, three of the four miscreants snatched the keys along with Rs 50,000 in cash and three mobile phones from him at gunpoint and sped away in the Swift car. Superintendent of Police Varinder Singh Brar, deputy superintendent of police Raj Kumar Jalhotra and in-charge of the city-II police station rushed to the spot. All exit points were sealed but the miscreants managed to flee. A case under section 382 of the IPC and sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered. The complainant is believed to have told the police that three bikers had chased him about two months back at night but he escaped the bid.
	Fair price shop owner booked for illegal kerosene trade Our Correspondent Fazilka, February 20 The Sadar Police has booked four persons including a fair price shop owner for allegedly selling and purchasing kerosene illegally in village Sabuana of the sub-division. The accused have been identified as Sandeep Kumar, the owner of the depot, Nirankar, Modu Ram and Manohar Lal, all residents of Sabuana village. They have been booked under Section 7 of Essential Commodities Act and Sections 420 and 120 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Investigating officer Balwinder Singh said the police raided different locations and seized 1085 litres of kerosene illegally stored. It is stated that Sandeep Kumar had sold the kerosene meant for supplying the poor at subsidised rates. The purchasers were to reportedly sell it at a higher price in black. Modu Ram and Manohar Lal have been arrested by the police while the other two accused, Sandeep Kumar and Nirankar, are still at large. The accused were produced before the magistrate who remanded sent them to two days in police custody, said Balwinder Singh.