Bathinda, March 27
A doctor was beaten up at the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital today. A youngster, identified as Praveen Kumar from Pratap Nagar, hurled abuses at Dr Gurmail Singh and thrashed him. The people standing nearby intervened, rescued Dr Gurmail Singh and handed over the accused to the police. However, in the presence of the police, the accused kept abusing Dr Gurmail.

Earlier, some people had misbehaved with doctors in the emergency ward. The incident took place at around 2 pm. Volunteers of the NGO Sahara Welfare Society had reached the hospital with a patient named Maan Singh, who was injured in an accident. Maan Singh’s relatives, too, reached the hospital. Praveen Kumar accompanied the patient's relatives.

Dr Gurmail Singh said he was in a room of the emergency ward and was checking the files. Suddenly, Praveen Kumar entered Dr Gurmail’s room and started misbehaving. When Dr Gurmail asked Praveen to leave the room, Praveen allegedly abused and thrashed him.

The other hospital staff reached the spot and tried to pacify Praveen. The policemen at the hospital’s police post were informed about the incident. SMO Dr Satish Goel and the SMO, Women and Children Hospital, Dr S S Romana, also reached the spot. All the doctors at the Civil Hospital gathered in the emergency ward. The doctors demanded action against the accused. President of the district PCMS Association Dr Beant Singh Mann said the association would not tolerate such a incident in future.

Dr Beant Mann said, “This is not the first incident when a doctor on duty had to bear with the uncivilised behaviour of a patient's attendants. Despite repeated requests, the security in emergency ward of the hospital has not been stepped up. If the hospital administration fails to find a solution to this problem, we will be forced to launch an agitation.”

Bathinda, March 27
The Bathinda unit of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) on Thursday accused its opponents of carrying out a ‘malicious propaganda’ against the party. The party said the rivals were misguiding people by claiming that AAP had entered a poll pact with another political party and not announcing a candidate from Bathinda due to this.

The district general secretary of the party, Blas Chand Gupta, said the rival parties were spreading rumours that AAP had joined hands with a national party in Bathinda. “Though there is a delay in the announcement of the candidate for Bathinda, there is no truth in the reports of reaching a poll pact with any of the rival political parties," Gupta said. He added that their rivals were claiming that AAP would not announce a candidate from Bathinda.

“We will clear the doubts in the next 24 hours and announce the LS candidate for Bathinda," the general secretary said. He denied having any remote idea about the identity of the candidate to be fielded from Bathinda. A section of the party workers, however, said they were hoping for a prominent figure as a little time had been left for campaigning.

“I am in touch with the national leaders and they have assured to declare the candidate by late in the evening or by tomorrow," Gupta said. Meanwhile, party workers said they had been campaigning in urban and rural areas of the constituency for long and had roped in a large number of people.

“Shopkeepers, middle class and lower middle class people have got themselves registered as members of the party," said Honey, a shopkeeper and a AAP supporter.

As per reports, Shashi Kant, former DGP, Prisons, is likely to be fielded from Bathinda by AAP. 

Bathinda, March 27
Political parties will not be allowed to hold political conferences during the Baisakhi celebrations on April 13 as the election code of conduct is in force.

Earlier, during the Hola Mohalla celebrations, confusion prevailed over holding of political conferences at Anandpur Sahib. The State Election Commission had issued notification at around 9 pm on March 15, barring political parties from holding political meetings on March 16.

However, SAD had held a conference with Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal participating in it but Akali leaders did not make political speech. However, Badal has said that politics and religion go hand-in-hand in Punjab, hence various functions will be held during the Baisakhi fair.

District Election Officer Kamal Kishore Yadav said as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), political meetings would not be allowed.

“At Anandpur Sahib, the political parties were conveyed the message late. Now, we have received clear guidelines regarding this,” Yadav added.

On March 28, the district administration will hold a meeting to look into the arrangements for the Baisakhi celebrations at Talwandi Sabo.

"The political parties have been asked to adhere to the code of conduct,” he added. It is pertinent to mention here that all political parties hold political conferences on religious occasions like Hola Mohalla and Baisakhi. 

Bathinda, March 27
It is a great time for booze lovers as liquor prices came down today. With general election round the corner, people are making rounds of liquor vends in and around the city.

As liquor prices came down from 30 to 50 per cent, people were seen in long queues outside liquor vends.

The maximum rush was witnessed near the bus stand, railway station, Tinkoni, Rose Garden.

“Though as per the excise policy, a person cannot carry more than the prescribed number of bottles, people are purchasing liquor in bulk," said a liquor contractor.

Excise and Taxation Officer BS Gill said people carrying more than two bottles would invite trouble, especially during the election time.

“Excise officials usually ignore the person carrying three or four bottles but if a person carries a carton or more than that, it is not acceptable," Gill said.

Another excise official said the authorities considered it normal to carry a large number of liquor cartons in view of the renewal of liquor vend licences.

“The liquor vend licences are renewed after March 31 and the liquor stock lying at liquor vends is seized by the state government after March 31. To dispose of the entire stock, liquor contractors offer rebate to booze lovers," said an excise official.

He added that even if they registered cases ahead of March 31, they failed to prove it in the court.

SSP Gurpreet Bhullar said he would look into the matter after consultation with Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav and the excise authorities. 

Bathinda, March 27
As many as six students of Class X were caught cheating during their English examination today. As many as 133 centres had been made in the district and 1,100 teachers were deputed to keep a watch on 20,944 students. As many as 3,573 students are appearing under the open system. 

In Bathinda, 25 centres had been made for 5,859 students. While two students were caught cheating at Arya School in Mandi Phul, one was caught cheating at Lalal Kasturi Lal Sarv Hitkari School. One student was caught cheating at a government school in Ghanda Banna village, one at a government school in Nathana and one at the Kalyan Sukha government school. — TNS 

Bathinda, March 27
The first stage randomisation of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) was conducted today in the presence of representatives of various political parties at the district election office.

The randomisation was done using the software the Election Commission of India (ECI) has provided to the district election office. District Election Officer Kamal Kishore Yadav said as many as 1,762 control units (CU) and 2,242 ballot units (BU) will be used in the six constituencies of the district, including Bathinda urban, Bathinda rural, Talwandi Sabo, Maur, Rampura Phul and Bhucho.

All the representatives of the political parties present were given copies of the randomisation conducted.

Yadav said the second stage of randomisation would be conducted on April 18 in the presence of observers appointed by the ECI . 

Bathinda, March 27
ETT teachers, deputed at schools under the Bathinda Zila Parishad, will stage a dharna outside the office of zila parishad tomorrow. They are demanding release of their salaries for the past two months. 

The teachers had earlier planned to stage a dharna on March 25 but were called for a meeting by Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav who assured them that their salaries would be released within two days. Aman Datewasia, press secretary of the union, said the district administration had failed to keep its promise. — TNS

Bathinda, March 27
A woman missing from the Mal Godam Road area was found from Teona village after five days. The woman, Identified as Laxmi, had been living at a temporary night shelter home of the Sahara Welfare Society with her husband Danny and newly born son for some time.

The President of the NGO Jan Seva Sahara, Vijay Goel, said Danny had come to Bathinda 12 days ago with his wife and son.

Danny used to live in Jaipur where he worked at a dhaba and had married Laxmi a year ago.

Laxmi delivered twins at a government hospital in Bikaner but one of the children died.

With Laxmi and his son, Danny left Bikaner for Ganganagar where he wanted to work at a hotel. However, Laxmi suddenly fell ill and the couple ended their journey at Bathinda instead of going to Ganganagar.

At Bathinda, they approached the NGO and they offered them to stay at their temporary night shelter . But five days ago, Laxmi went missing from the shelter home.

Sahara volunteers started hunt for Laxmi. Later, they got information that a woman was found at a dera in Teona village.

When Sahara volunteers reached the village, the woman was found to be Laxmi.

Visibly upset, she told the volunteers that some people tried to harass her. She was united with her 25-day-old son and husband Danny.

Liquor vends to remain closed on April 5

Liquor vends in and around Maiserkhana village will remain closed on April 5 due to the religious fair at the Maiserkhana temple.

DC Kamal Kishore Yadav said storage or selling of liquor on April 5 was strictly prohibited. 

Bathinda, March 27
The names and locations of the polling booths have been changed in the Rampura Phul and Bhucho assembly constituency.

District Election Officer Kamal Kishore Yadav said the location of four polling booths, falling under Rampura Phul constituency and two under Bhucho, had been changed. At the same time, the names of five polling stations have been changed in the Rampura constituency.

Yadav said the polling booth numbers 9 and 10, which were earlier housed in Dharamshala Gurusar have now been shifted to government elementary school east and to the west of Gurusar village. Similarly, polling booths number 122 and 123, which were earlier located near TPD Malwa College on Phul Road have now been shifted to government elementary school primary wing Mandi Phool (stadium) towards east and west.

Also at the Bhucho constituency booth number 14 and 15 which were located in government elementary school, Kothe Kehar Singh (Mehma Sawai), have now been located in government elementary school east and west side.

Yadav said the names of five polling booths of Rampura Phul had been changed. Booth number 71 located in government senior secondary school primary branch (towards west side) in Bhai Rupa village has been renamed as government elementary school for boys (west side). Polling booth number 73 located in government senior secondary school primary wing (south side) has been renamed as government elementary school for boys (south side). Booth number 98 located in government elementary school Harnam Singh Wala has been renamed as government elementary school (middle wing Harnam Singh Wala. Booth number 107 located in government senior secondary school Aalike village (east side) has been renamed as government high school (east side) and booth number 108 located in government senior secondary school (west side) Aalike has been renamed as Government High School (west side). 

Bathinda, March 27
Mechnovation-14, a technical fest, was organised by Mechnoclique, a society of the Mechanical Engineering students of Giani Zail Singh Punjab Technical University campus, recently.

Pradeep Singh, Senior Superintendent Engineer, GNDTP, Bathinda, was the chief guest at the morning session. Prof Surinder Singh, coordinator of mechanical engineering department, welcomed the guests. The campus director Dr Jasbir Singh Hundal inaugurated the fest by lighting the ceremonial lamp.

The chief guest explained the working of thermal plant and the importance of materials for its smooth functioning. He told the students not to run after money, rather to work with passion and the money will automatically follow.

The evening session was dedicated to Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The chief guest at the evening session, Prof Chaman Lal of the Department of Languages, Central University of Punjab, narrated the events related to the martyr's life.

Krishan Lal Sharma, an alumnus of the campus, was the guest of honour. He has also written books in Hindi and English poetry. He exhorted the students to dream and then work towards converting the dreams into reality.

Students staged a play, Spartacus. A large number of students also participated in various technical events such as Mad for Cad, technical quiz and project exhibition. Literary events such as debate, press conference, power point presentation, image perception, quiz, emotional attyachar were also held. 

Bathinda, March 27
The police today arrested four thieves with five stolen bikes. Gurpreet Bhullar, SSP, said all the accused were below 30 years of age. Two of their accomplices were still absconding and would be arrested soon.

Those arrested have been identified as Anil Kumar of Sivia Road, Arun Kumar, Parwinder Pal Singh and Ramesh Kumar, all residents of Gopal Nagar.

The two absconding who have been identified as Akash Reddy and Jagjit Singh. Five motorbikes recovered from their possession are Yamaha, Glamour and Honda Splendor.

The accused admitted to having stolen the bikes from various city areas. A case has been registered in this connection.

Motorcycle stolen

A black-coloured motorcycle PB 03 X 1400 was stolen from near Mittal Mall. In a complaint to the police, Baljit Singh from Nandgarh village stated that on March 7, his son had parked the motorcycle outside the Mall.

However, when he returned, he found the two-wheeler missing. The police have registered a case.

Seven held for gambling

The Kotwali police arrested seven people in two different incidents of gambling on Wednesday . In the first case, four accused who were arrested have been identified as Bhojraj, a resident of Malviya Mohalla, Bharat, a resident of Ahata Niaz Mohammad, and Kala Ram, a resident of street number 7, Janta Nagar, while gambling and recovered Rs 2,130 from their possession.

In the second such incident, the Canal Colony police arrested four people for gambling and recovered Rs 18,000 from their possession.

The police arrested Rajnish Kumar, a resident of Lal Singh Basti, Gopal, a resident of Paras Ram Nagar, Pawan Kumar, a resident of SAS Nagar and Deepak Kumar, a resident of Ganesha Basti.

Two held for illegally transferring LPG

The police arrested two people for illegally transferring LPG from cylinders to their car kits at the Bhatti Road near the Barnala Bypass Chowk.

The accused have been identified as Raj Kumar, a resident of North Estate and Ashu Kumar, a resident of Gidderbaha. Both were taking out gas from the domestic cylinders illegally, which could have caused an accident, said sources.

The police have recovered two LPG cylinders and equipment used to transfer the gas.

Laptop, cell phones stolen

A laptop and cell phones were stolen from street number 3 of Nai Basti area. In a complaint to the police, Prince Goel, a resident of street number 3, Nai Basti, stated that someone stole a laptop and two cell phones on the night of March 25. The police have registered a case.

Poppy husk recovered

The Raman police arrested a man and recovered 57 kg of poppy husk from his possession. The accused was identified as Lakhi, a resident of Kailebandar village. Lakhi was arrested from near Kotbakhtu village for carrying the intoxicant in his Indigo car.