B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Wait for farmers gets longer as agencies yet to make up their mind
Faridkot, October 2
Two days after the official start of paddy procurement in Punjab, the farmers in the area are yet to get a glimpse of the officials of the procurement agencies to sell their produce.

Thapar pays tributes to Gandhi, Shashtri
Moga, October 2
President of the Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Malti Thapar today paid glowing tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shashtri on their birth anniversaries here today.

4 Dera followers die in road accident
Abohar, October 2
Four persons, including three minors, were killed and eight others injured when the three-wheeler they were travelling in collided head-on with a truck near Kainchian village, 8 km from Sriganganagar, around 9 pm. The deceased have been identified as Rani (27), Manju (17), Meenakshi (16) and Laxmi (8).

Couple ends life
Abohar, October 2
A farm worker, Ram Kumar, and his wife were found dead in their room in a farmhouse in Killianwali village here today.

Examinee booked in impersonation case
Fazilka, October 2
The city police has registered an FIR in connection with a suspected case of impersonation on September 25. A boy had reportedly escaped from the examination centre at Government Girls Senior Secondary School as his photo affixed on the roll number slip did not match with the signature chart sheet displayed by the Punjab School Education Board.

Vehicle-lifters arrested
Abohar, October 2
With the arrest of five persons, the CIA staff claims to have busted a gang of vehicle-lifters. The gang is involved in cases related to lifting of two wheelers in the region.

Wait for farmers gets longer as agencies yet to make up their mind
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, October 2
Two days after the official start of paddy procurement in Punjab, the farmers in the area are yet to get a glimpse of the officials of the procurement agencies to sell their produce. While the paddy arrival in the mandis is picking up, the government agencies are yet to start the purchase because of the high moisture content, discolouration of paddy and their stand-off with rice millers..

Because of the poor quality of paddy that has so far arrived in the mandis, the procurement agencies are being highly restricted in making any purchase. So it is the private traders who are making the purchase, offering the farmers price below the MSP.

The private traders have purchased 28,372 MT of paddy in the district so far but no purchase has been done by the government agencies.

Today, the farmers were forced to sell their paddy up to Rs 50 per quintal below the MSP in Kotkapura and Faridkot mandis in the absence of any purchasing by the government agencies.

While the private traders are at liberty to fix the paddy prices as per the quality of the produce, the government agencies have no such liberty. These agencies are bound to pay the MSP without any quantitative parameters.

"So, instead of getting involved in any argument with farmers over the quality of the paddy they have brought to the mandis, we have decided to restrict the purchasing until the improved quality of paddy starts arriving," said a senior official of the Warehouse Corporation.

Besides being burdened with poor quality paddy, the procurement agencies are facing another problem. This is the stand-off between the rice millers and the procurement agencies.

As the rice millers in Punjab are on strike, the agencies could not make agreements with the rice millers for the milling of the paddy and its storage after the lifting of the procured grain.

While paddy procurement has already started on October 1 across the state, the rice millers have not yet entered into an agreement with the foodgrain agencies.

The rice millers are applying pressure on the foodgrain agencies to accept their long-pending demands which include the extension of time for milling the paddy and withdrawing the notices issued by the state government which ask the rice millers to make payment for the "bardana" (empty bags to store paddy) lying with them and return the levied paddy.

The food grain agencies had asked the rice millers to return the levied paddy which is worth around Rs 5,000 crore in Punjab. So, the rice millers are asking the state government to withdraw these notices before they enter into an agreement to mill the paddy.

If the millers stick to their decision, it will become very difficult for the farmers as the procurement agencies will not be able to procure large quantity of paddy from the grain markets, lacking in space to store it and do the milling.

"We shall not accept the paddy for milling unless our demands are accepted," said Harpal Singh Sandhu, president, rice mills association, Faridkot.

Thapar pays tributes to Gandhi, Shashtri
Tribune News Service

Moga, October 2
President of the Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Malti Thapar today paid glowing tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shashtri on their birth anniversaries here today.

Addressing a gathering, Thapar said Mahatma Gandhi had dedicated his life to the nation and fought to eradicate untouchability, violence and other social evils from society. She said the path shown by Gandhi and Shastri had become even more relevant in the present era.

She urged the people to follow their principles saying, "Gandhiji had revealed to the entire world the strength of non-violence. Shastriji had always kept his principles and moral values on top in his political career and his personality. The works of these great leaders will always be an inspiration for all."

She said that Shashtri had laid emphasis on self-reliance in agriculture, which has inspired the Congress-led UPA government to bring in food security bill ensuring food for all in the country.

A special prayer was also organised to mark the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.

Dr Thapar said the people should be prepared to defend the motherland and follow the path shown by the great leaders. 

4 Dera followers die in road accident

Abohar, October 2
Four persons, including three minors, were killed and eight others injured when the three-wheeler they were travelling in collided head-on with a truck near Kainchian village, 8 km from Sriganganagar, around 9 pm. The deceased have been identified as Rani (27), Manju (17), Meenakshi (16) and Laxmi (8).

A police officer, Dinesh Rajora, said the victims were returning after attending a spiritual congregation in Gurusar Modian, the native village of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He had reached there to monitor the construction of a sports stadium last evening.

The injured were shifted to the District Civil Hospital at Sriganganagar. Witnesses said the impact of the collision was such that the victims fell off the highway road.

Meanwhile, the administration has intensified the vigil to monitor traffic as the dera chief is expected to stay in the village for the next few days.— OC

Couple ends life
Our Correspondent

Abohar, October 2
A farm worker, Ram Kumar, and his wife were found dead in their room in a farmhouse in Killianwali village here today.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the couple had consumed an insecticide as an empty bottle was found near their bed. Earlier, the farmhouse owner, Vimal Kumar, informed the police about the incident. The couple had reportedly migrated from Uttar Pradesh about 30 years ago and had been working at the farm since then.

The bodies have been shifted to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The landowner told the police that the deceased woman was suffering from paralysis and the couple might have been upset because of it.

In a separate incident, Sumit Kumar (25) of Malukpura village reportedly ended life by jumping in front of a train near the village today.

Examinee booked in impersonation case
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, October 2
The city police has registered an FIR in connection with a suspected case of impersonation on September 25. A boy had reportedly escaped from the examination centre at Government Girls Senior Secondary School as his photo affixed on the roll number slip did not match with the signature chart sheet displayed by the Punjab School Education Board.

As per the available information, centre superintendent Sandeep Khunger had informed the police that in the compartment exam for Plus Two class of sociology, the photo of an examinee, Gurmukh Chand of village Ahal Bodla, appearing under Roll No. 3407105, did not match with the photo carried in the signature sheet. The student reportedly had escaped when questioned over the genuine credentials.

The police has now registered a case under Sections 419, 420, 465 and 471 of the IPC and arrested Gurmukh Chand whereas the unidentified boy impersonating as Gurmukh Chand is absconding.

Vehicle-lifters arrested
Our Correspondent

Abohar, October 2
With the arrest of five persons, the CIA staff claims to have busted a gang of vehicle-lifters. The gang is involved in cases related to lifting of two wheelers in the region.

Those arrested have been identified as Gurmeet Singh, son of a Punjab Police head constable, Mandeep Singh of Geetanjali Colony, Rahul Nagpal of Sidhu Nagari, Manpreet Singh of Kala Tibba village and Navjot Singh of Dhaani Thakur Singh. They have been booked under Sections 379, 411, 471 and 472 of the IPC.

Two bikes and some accessories have been recovered from them. They had been remanded in police custody for three days for further interrogation, sources said.