Bathinda, April 25
In an expression of solidarity, lawyers in Bathinda today went on strike to protest against the police raid at the house of a senior advocate in Phul. The police also registered an FIR against the lawyer's son after conducting the raid.

Following the police action, lawyers in Phul went on strike yesterday and gave a call to suspend work at various courts of Punjab, including Bathinda. The protesting lawyers demanded the cancellation of the FIR and immediate suspension of the cops at the Phul police station who conducted the raid.

The advocates alleged that the policemen searched the house of a senior advocate without any search warrant, misbehaved with the family members and used derogatory language during the raid.

This is for the second time that the lawyers have locked horns with the police since January this year.

Earlier, on January 9, the son of a senior lawyer and an SGPC member, Gurdarshan Bahia, was allegedly beaten up by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Patil Ketan Baliram who was subsequently transferred to Amritsar after continuous protests by the lawyers.

This time, the advocates practising in Phul, have accused the policemen of registering a case on the basis of a complaint filed by a person who had already been booked at the Phul police station a day before the raid.

The lawyers alleged that the person on the basis of whose complaint the case was registered was himself an accused in an offence that was non-bailable. Instead of arresting the accused, the police had slapped a case on the basis of his complaint against the lawyer's son, they said.

Surinderpal Sharma, the president of the Bar Association, Phul, said they had received support from all the district courts of Punjab and the Bar Council, Chandigarh, on the issue.

He said a meeting of the lawyers was held today in the evening with Rampura DSP Randeep Mann and Bathinda SSP Ravcharan Brar. The police officials had assured that the matter would be re-investigated and if the complaint was found to be incorrect, the FIR would be cancelled.

Surinderpal said the police had registered a case under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 379 (theft), 148 and 149 of the IPC against Navjeet Kukki, son of advocate Satnam Singh Mander,and two other persons, Rakesh and Vipin.

The advocates said that they would continue their strike till the FIR lodged against the advocate's son is cancelled by the police.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Randeep Singh Mann said the advocate's son was booked after excise officials seize 54 bottles of liquor from a man. It was suspected that the liquor bottles had been bought inside a rice sheller and a raid was conducted by the police, but nothing was found inside the sheller.

Vipin, a friend of the lawyer's son, who is the son of the rice sheller owner, was allegedly beaten up by liquor contractors. A case was registered against the liquor contractors for wrongful detention of Vipin and assaulting him. Later, the liquor contractors also got a case registered against Vipin, Rakesh and the lawyer's son, Navjeet Kukki.

Meanwhile, president of the District Bar Association, Bathinda, Mahinder Sidhu while condemning the incident and extending support to the Rampura lawyers, said the police raid on somebody's house, without any complaint or registration of case, was unacceptable.

Sidhu also demanded immediate suspension of the accused policemen and cancellation of the FIR against the lawyer's son.

Fact file Lawyers in Bathinda have gone on strike in protest against the police raid at the house of a senior advocate in Phul. The police had also registered an FIR against the lawyer’s son following the raid. The protesting lawyers want cancellation of the FIR and immediate suspension of cops at the Phul police station who had conducted the raid.

Bathinda, April 25
The ongoing work on delimitation of municipal wards to adjust the increase in population and to re-carve the existing wards geographically may delay the elections to the general house of the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB), which will complete its first term on July 9.

Political factors apart, the de-limitation is a time consuming process that is still in its early stage. Officials of the State Election Commission have been visiting Bathinda for the de-limitation. Recently, a team was in the city to assess the population in the new areas that have now come under the municipal limits.

"After the de-limitation is complete, the state government will notify a committee that will hear all the objections and suggestions with regard to the procedure. It may take some time," said senior MCB officials.

With the objections and suggestions dealt with, voters' lists will be revised. Objections would be sought for these lists too.

Neither the ruling SAD-BJP nor the Congress can afford to go for elections under the present ward system. As per the reservation policy, the wards of Mayor Baljit Singh Birbehman, Senior Deputy Mayor Tarsem Goyal and councillor Master Harmander Singh would be reserved making it impossible for the three candidates to contest the elections. Similarly, the Congress municipal councillor Jagroop Singh Gill's ward would also be reserved.

Senior Deputy Mayor Tarsem Goyal of the BJP said the elections might get delayed.

During the period when there would be no public representative (municipal councillor) the municipal commissioner would be appointed as the administrator.

"Instead of giving reigns of the entire local body system in one hand, the government should ensure speedy de-limitation and timely revision of the voters' list," said Tarsem Goyal.

Congress councillor Jagrup Singh Gill said the wards should be rationalised to ensure that "party specific pockets" were not formed on the basis of population inhabiting these wards.

Meanwhile, Mayor Baljit Singh Birbehman claimed that the work on de-limitation was going on in full swing. "The survey to identify the new population has been completed. It will be superimposed on the MCB's map to get the new picture of the limits of the civic body. The revision of voters' lists and other works would not take more than three months and we will have elections in July," he claimed.

Bathinda, April 25
A 'Pension Adalat' was organised by the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), Allahabad, at the Takshala Hall in the Bathinda Cantonment here today.

Brigadier Manjit Singh (retd), director, Defence Services Welfare Department, Punjab, who was a special invitee at the court, interacted with the PCDA officials and senior Army officers of the Chetak Corps.

He reviewed the elaborate arrangements made for the Pension Adalat and appreciated the efforts put in by the 81 Sub Area HQ and the PCDA, Allahabad.

The director of the Defence Services Welfare Department also interacted with the ex-servicemen and heard their grievances. He assured them that every effort would be made by the Directorate of Defence Services Welfare, Punjab, to sort out their problems.

He also interacted with war-widows, widows of ex-servicemen and their dependents at the office of the District Defence Services Welfare, Bathinda. He informed them that every effort would be made to coordinate at all levels of different departments so as to bring maximum welfare schemes to them.

Brig Manjit Singh (retd) added that the Directorate of Defence Services, Punjab, was committed for the welfare of the ex-servicemen.

He explained various welfare schemes and made a special mention of the incentive grant of Rs 1 lakh to the officers joining defence forces training academies, an increase in the grant to the gallantry awardees by 20 per cent and an increase in old-age pension from Rs 1,000 per month to 2,000 per month.

The Brig (retd) also promised that the department would make all efforts to ensure that the welfare schemes benefit everyone.

Bathinda, April 25
The police has registered a case against four medical representatives and 20 to 25 unidentified persons for allegedly assaulting and injuring the area manager of a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company.

In a complaint to the police, Inderjit Singh said he was attacked by some medical representatives working in different pharmaceutical companies. He alleged that these medical representatives had formed a union to circumvent the rules and regulations framed by the company.

The members of the association, on the other hand, accused the officials of the company of imposing stringent rules that in their view was against the norms.

Secretary of the Punjab Medical Representatives Association Rajinder Singla said the company had shown the door to two of its employees for joining their association.

"The company asked its officials to increase the working hours, which is a violation of the norms and we were opposing it. Yesterday, we went to meet the senior officials of the company to submit a memorandum but they entered into an altercation with us," Rajinder Singla said.

Around 100 medical representatives today gathered outside the Civil Lines police station to protest against the registration of a case against them.

Senior regional manager of the company, VK. Sharma, while talking to TNS over the phone from Chandigarh, accused the members of the association of enforcing their own rules and regulations against the norms set by the company. "We refused to work as per the norms set by the association. The association asked us to send a telegram before visiting the respective areas of the medical representatives and to seek their permission to meet the doctors, which is impossible," he said.

SHO, Civil Lines, U. Cee Chawla said a case has been registered in this connection against Harmeet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Hardeep Singh, Rajinder Singla and 20 to 25 unidentified persons under Sections 323, 341, 506 and 149 of the IPC. No arrests have been made so far.

Bathinda, April 25
Taking cognisance of various reports of school buildings being unsafe, the Director General of School Education (DGSE) today shot off a letter to the heads of all government schools directing them to make a list of the rooms and buildings on the premises of their schools that have been declared unsafe by the B&R Department.

The lists are to be submitted with the junior engineer of the block concerned by April 27. — TNS

Bathinda, April 25
Bathinda and Abohar branches registered 49.72 per cent voting on Day I of the railway union election. Out of the total number of 2,371 votes for the two branches, 1,179 were cast on Day I alone. The election will go on till April 27. The elections are being held across all railway divisions in India.

As many as six unions — Northern Railway Men's Union (NRMU), Uttar Railway Mazdoor Union (URMU), Northern Railway Employees Congress (NREC), Northern Railways Employees Union (NREU), Railway Mazdoor Union (RMU) and Uttar Railway Karamchari Union (URKU) - are in the fray to wrest the control of the railway union. NRMU, the defending union and the URMU are being considered as the leading contenders.

To ensure that the votes are cast peacefully, personnel of the Railway Protection Force, General Railway Police and Punjab Police have been deputed to keep an eye on the activities inside and outside the polling booths.

For the Bathinda and Abohar branches, three centres were turned into polling booths. These included the Railway Institute and the office of the Assistant Executive Engineer in Bathinda and one in Abohar. A polling booth was also set up in Barnala which comes under the Bathinda branch.

A maximum number of 458 votes were cast at the Railway Institute, followed by 436 votes cast at the office of the assistant executive engineer, 160 at the polling booth in Barnala and 125 votes cast at the Abohar polling station.

While Nand Kishor Tripathi has been appointed as the observer for the polling booth at the Railway Institute, Anil Kumar is the observer for the polling booth at the AEN office and Om Prakash is the observer for the Abohar booth.

To avoid any wrongful activity, the presiding officer of the Ambala division, Pramod Kumar, passed orders to seal the office of the NRMU for the three days during which the votes are to be cast.

The counting of votes for the railway union elections will begin on May 2 and the results are also expected to be declared by evening on the same day.

fact file Bathinda and Abohar branches registered 49.72 per cent voting on Day I of the railway union election. Of the total number of 2,371 votes for the two branches, 1,179 were cast on Day I alone. The election will go on till April 27. Six unions are in the fray to wrest the control of the railway union. NRMU and URMU are being considered as the leading contenders. For Bathinda and Abohar branches, three centres were turned into polling booths. These included the Railway Institute and the office of the Assistant Executive Engineer. One polling booth each was set up in Abohar and Barnala, which is a part of Bathinda. The maximum number of 458 votes were cast at the Railway Institute, followed by 436 votes cast at the office of the assistant executive engineer, 160 at Barnala and 125 votes at the Abohar polling station. The counting of votes will take place on May 2 and the results for the railway union elections will be declared the same day.

Bathinda, April 25
Police has arrested a migrant for killing his father. The accused, Anuj Kumar, a native of Uttar Pradesh, presently residing in Mehraj Basti, beat up his father with sticks for not giving him the money to buy liquor.

The younger brother of the deceased, lodged a complaint at the Rampura city police station and a case under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC was registered against the accused.

Investigating officer Gurjant Singh said the father and son were living in Mehraj Basti and had been making brooms to earn a living.

The father used to nag his son, who was hooked to drugs, to earn some money. The son used to demand money to buy liquor from his father.

The son beat up his father on Sunday evening after heated arguments and injured him seriously. Gurjant said the accused was the only son of his parents and his mother had died a few years ago.

The duo was residing in Mehraj Basti for the last eight years.

Police said the accused got his father admitted to a government hospital at Rampura and left the hospital saying he would come back after arranging money.

He failed to return to the hospital to se his father making people suspicious.

CASE history Anuj Kumar, aresident of Mehraj Basti, beat up his father with sticks for not giving him the money to buy liquor. The younger brother of the deceased, lodged a complaint with the Rampura police. Investigating officer Gurjant Singh said the father used to nag his son, who was hooked to drugs, to earn some money. The son used to demand money to buy liquor from his father. The son beat up his father on Sunday after heated arguments.

Bathinda, April 25
Bathinda secured seven points defeating Kapurthala by an innings and 141 runs on Day II of the inter-district Under-16 cricket match played at the Police Public School ground here today.

On Day I, Kapurthala had won the toss and elected to bat first. Bathinda bowlers bundled out the visitors for 79 runs in 49 overs. Bathinda also looked to be tottering initially after it lost two players for only 19 runs and at one stage were reeling at 71 for 5.

Manmohan Singh and Balwinder Singh steadied the innings and at the close of the first day's play, the hosts were 254 for six.

On Day II, hosts Bathinda resumed the play and declared the innings at 306 for seven in 68 overs.

Balwinder Singh, who was not out overnight, scored an unbeaten century.

Kapurthala's show remained the same in the second innings as well and all its batsmen went back to the pavilion with a meagre score of 86 in 37.4 overs. OD Sharma, honorary secretary of the Bathinda Cricket Association, said the hosts have so far secured 13 points from four matches and are second in the points tally. Amritsar tops the points tally so far.

Bathinda will now play its last match against Ferozepur on April 27-28.

Bathinda, April 25
The meritorious students who emerged successful in the scholarship test 2013 were honoured by the Guru Kashi University (GKU), Talwandi Sabo. The test was held on February 19 and the results were declared on the university website a day later.

The test was held to grant scholarships to the students of the region. As many as 150 students were given mementos. Chairman of the university, Gurlabh Singh Sidhu, vice-chancellor SK Ahluwalia and other dignitaries gave away the mementoes to the meritorious students.

The vice-chancellor said a personality development and soft skill course 'Charisma' will be organised free-of-cost on the campus from May 13 to June 14.

Officials of the university said the scholarship test is part of the initiative taken to take education across the rural hinterland of Malwa by providing access to educational avenues to students in what was regarded once as amonng the backward areas of Punjab.

Bathinda, April 25
The city is fast turning into a favourite ground for stores selling organic products to venture into. The image of Malwa as a disease-prone region with high groundwater contaminationlevel, is also making these stores sense good business opportunity.

While the Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) and the Ambuja cement Foundation had already made a foray into the aena, it is now the turn of another store, Ayush Organic Outlet (AOO), to woo the customers in the city with its promise of chemical-free food.

While the Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF) is running an organic vegetables store on Mela Ram Road, the NGO Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) has also been selling organic products in the Bathinda market. The AOO has launched its outlet in Bharat Nagar.

The ACF and KVM ventures have taken up the cause of the local and regional farmers, helping them by providing a market to sell organic products.

The ACF has around 325 big and small organic farmers associated with them whose produce is sold at their store. The ACF has also lent around 100 of its farmers to the AOO from villages like Mehma Sawai, Mehma Balahd, Mehma Sarja, Buladhewala and Nehianwala, said the ACF officials.

Similarly, the KVM too has a number of farmers associated with it and now has plans to re-launch the products. Earlier, KVM used to sell organic vegetables weekly at the taxi stand market on Amrik Singh Road. "Now, instead of limiting ourselves to one zone, we will move around in a van and sell our products," said KVM director Umendra Dutt.

The Ayush Outlet claims to sell certified products to underline their genuineness. The proprietor of the store, Gyan Prakash Garg, said the products have been certified by three agencies and have then been put for sale.

"The Malwa belt has fallen victim to early signs of ageing and poor health due to the extensive use of chemicals in farming. Giving a healthier option to the people, we have launched the store," he said.

Though most organic products are priced higher than the conventional products in the market, Gyan Prakash said it covers the overall cost.

Organic sugar is available at double the price, while cereals and pulses cost almost 30 per cent more.

Similarly, the organic dry fruits, which are out of the reach of the common man, are available at a higher price. "But the use of organic turmeric is much less than the ones laced with chemicals, which compensates for the high rates," said Jaspal Singh Jassi, who is Garg's friend.

Fact file Interestingly, both the ACF as well as the AOO have displayed a list of ill-effects of the chemicals in diet outside their respective shops to educate the people. They mention that chemicals like urea adversely affect the mental and physical growth of children. Even the costliest of fruits and vegetables come laced with chemicals in one form or the other, the list says.