Talwandi Sabo, July 20
More than 150 members of the Unaided Staff of Aided Schools Front (Punjab) were rounded up by the police as the teachers proceeded to take out a protest rally in Talwandi Sabo today. The teachers were protesting in favour of their demands outside the Dasmesh Public School in Talwandi Sabo.

As many as 400 members of the union had assembled from Patiala, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ropar, Nawanshahr, Mansa, Bathinda and several other parts of the state to stage a rally in the city. “We had asked the district administration to allow us to take out a peaceful rally in Talwandi Sabo in favour of our demands but the administration didn’t allow us to do so,” said Jaspal Singh, state president of the union.

He added that after a large number of teachers assembled, it was decided that the union will stick to its plan of following up their dharna with a protest rally. “As we were about to take out the rally, a large number of police personnel reached the venue and began manhandling the teachers and rounded them up,” said Jaspal Singh.

While the teachers claimed they were dragged and slapped by the police personnel, the police denied doing so and stated that whatever manhandling happened was a result of the defiant attitude of the teachers.

High drama entailed as the teachers who had not been arrested blocked the Bathinda-Talwandi Sabo Road demanding that the teachers be unconditionally released and a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister be fixed within the next seven days. The teachers relented only after the arrested teachers were released and a deputation of teachers was allowed to meet the Tehsildar and submit their memorandum of demands.

Bathinda, July 20
A stepfather has been booked by the police for allegedly raping his minor stepdaughter. The victim was as a 12-year-old girl. The incident occurred in the Guru Nanakpura area of the city.

In a statement to the police, the victim reported that her real father had died six years ago and after that, Kullu Ram, a resident of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, started living with her mother as her second husband. She stated that the accused used to keep an eye on her and used to rape her in the absence of her mother by threatening her.

As per police sources, the accused Kalu Ram had been staying with her mother for the last two years. The accused had been committing the crime for the last few months. Some days ago, when he was raping the victim, her mother suddenly arrived and the accused ran away.

The police said they are searching for the accused. A case under Sections 376,506 of the IPC and 3, 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, has been registered.

Bathinda, July 20
The thermal police have registered a case against four persons, including a property dealer and an Asistant Sub Inspector (ASI) In a youth’s murder case that took place in 2012 following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The police have started probe into the matter.

As per the information, Gurdip Singh, a resident of Kothe Amarpura, filed a case in the court and had stated that on June 2, 2012, the body of his son Lakhwinder Singh was found from the lake in Bathinda. It was claimed that he had not died due to any reason but it was a pre-planned murder. He also alleged that his son’s body was not even given to them after the postmortem and they had not got justice even after a complaint.

After filing a complaint with the SSP, SP (City) and appeals to the Human Right Commission, the victim Gurdip Singh filed a case and the court ordered registration of a case against ASI Roop Singh, property dealer Rajpal Raju, resident Balla Ram Nagar, Bheem Chand, a resident of National Colony and unidentified persons, the thermal police station has registered a murder case against these accused.

When the accused Assistant Sub-inspector Roop Singh was contacted, he said at that time they had kept the body of the deceased for 72 hours and after that no relative had come to take the body after which action under Section 174 had been taken and the body was given to a social organisation, which performed the cremation as per the necessary rituals.

After the relatives were found, they alleged that they suspect that Raju and Bheem Chand had murdered their son.

Bathinda, July 20
Urban power consumers have been complaining more about the power pangs and cuts than their rural counterparts. While the urban feeders receive up to 300 complaints every day, the number is dismally low for the rural consumers who prefer fixing problems with their own jugaad (innovations).

With the maximum number of complaints pouring in from the urban areas, the rate of problem resolved too is quite low in the urban areas.

“The rural populace will request us to cut the power supply to rectify fault on their own or with the help of local electricians. They will then call up to resume the power supply, once the fault is rectified,” admitted a senior Powercom official, requesting anonymity.

He said the reason behind self-service by the rural area residents is due to the staff shortage. He pointed out that one feeder has 60 to 70 transformers and the authorities require at least one Junior Engineer (JE) for one feeder. “But in reality, there is only JE for 10 feeders,” he said.

With the aim of ensuring accountability and to redress complaints, toll-free numbers are issued to the public for redressal of their complaints. Enquiries made to these centres reveal that the number of complaints shot up to 300 per day during the rainy or windy days, but otherwise at least 20 to 30 complaints are received every day.

“But people are still not aware of these toll-free numbers and are calling at landline numbers of Ludhiana. I was not aware of the fact that the toll- free number complaint centres are now based in Bathinda as well,” said Gurwinder Mann, a resident of Ajit Road.

He pointed out that the central officials of Powercom submitted his complaint after repeated and long phone calls. “Once, I lodged a complaint and made repeated phone calls to various persons but nobody turned up actually to fix the problem,” Mann said.

When contacted, XEN, Hardeep Singh Sidhu, said the authorities have adopted a foolproof system of complaints and there is not even a little margin for error. “Neither any complaint goes unreported nor is there any scope for a complaint going unattended as there are numerous check upon the functioning of the complaint centres,” he said.

Bathinda, July 20
To destroy the seized liquor, the Excise Department today siphoned off 125 boxes of liquor, containing nearly 9 litres each, in the sewerage pipes in the District Administrative Complex (DAC).

It is worth mentioning that some days ago also, the department had destroyed many liquor boxes and dumped them into the sewerage pipes.

The authorities said a process is adopted by them to destroy the seized liquor. “Either we simply drain it into the sewerage pipes or put them into the drains or spill them on to the dry surface. To escape the eyes of the drunkards and unscrupulous elements, we usually destroy the liquor in such a manner,” said Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) BS Gill.

The officials said they would destroy the liquor only on holidays, Sundays or on Saturdays.

The officials were seen emptying the liquor bottles into a bucket and then pouring it into the sewerage pipes of the DAC.

Bathinda, July 20
The Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) seems to have woken up from the deep slumber and applied a white coat of paint on the recently built speed-breakers in Model Town Phase-I. The speed-breakers were creating trouble for the motorists, especially the two-wheelers, as riders fell off due to lack of any signs on the humps.

“We failed to notice the humps and our vehicle would cross them at a high speed. My four-wheeler was damaged due to the humps. Since nobody is aware of the humps due to the missing white strips, many people have fallen on the stretch,” said Mohit Awasthi, a resident of Model Town Phase-I.

He said now these speed breakers are visible from quite a distance and the commuters slow down their respective vehicles.

Bathinda, July 20
Government Rajindra College, which opens its gates to thousands of students every year, is shockingly, highly dependent on its temporary teachers. As per the data available, the number of guest faculty lecturers and part-time teachers is almost equal to that of permanent teachers in the college.

Against the total number of 73 sanctioned posts for professors and lecturers in the college, there are only 37 regular teachers. The college has eight part-time teachers and 28 guest faculty lecturers whose contract is renewed every year.

“Time and again, we have written to the government to begin the recruitment process for getting permanent teachers for the college but nothing has been done in the direction,” said college principal Vijay Kumar Goyal.

It is pertinent to note here that the guest faculty lecturers of the college had joined the statewide protest of guest faculty lecturers in favour of their demands including a hike in their salaries. The strike had hit the studies in the college hard since the 28 teachers had stalled classes for more than a month.

Of the 28 guest faculty lecturers, three are in the English Department, six in Punjabi, two in political science, one in history, three in economics, two in geography, one in psychology, one in chemistry, two each in physics, botany, zoology and commerce and one in computer science. These teachers are paid a consolidated amount of Rs 10,000 as monthly salary which is subject to 10 per cent annual hike.

The salary of the guest faculty lecturers is paid through the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Fund. Unable to shoulder the burden of the salaries, the college resorted to increasing the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fund charged from students from Rs 900 to Rs 1,500 this admission season.

During the stir, the lecturers had also demanded that their salaries be paid from the state treasury and not from the PTA funds of the colleges since it directly affected the students.

Of the eight part-time teachers in the college, three are in the Punjabi department and one each in political science, economics, psychology, chemistry and physics. These teachers are paid a basic salary of Rs 15,600, grade pay of Rs 6,000 and dearness allowance as per the pay scale commission rules.

Starting this academic session, the college is all set to begin offering five new courses. The college has begun admissions for MA (history), MA (philosophy), MA (mathematics), MSc (physics) and BCom (Professional). Apart from this, the college will also begin courses in hotel management starting this academic session.

Considering the fact that no new recruitment process has been initiated to bring in more teachers to handle the added courses, the college is all set to face shortage of teachers.

Despite repoted terror threats, Bathinda railway station has an inadequate surveillance system. The metal detector installed at the entry point is a mere showpiece.

The platform does not have the required number of CCTV cameras. Some cameras are lying defunct. The authorities have not deployed adequate staff for checking the lady passengers. Beggars move unchecked at the platform. They respond to the call of nature in the open.

Mansa,July 20
A complete bandh was observed in Budhlada town of Mansa district on Sunday to protest against the Jammu and Kashmir government for not taking action against the persons involved in a clash with operators of community kitchen (langar) on the Amarnth yatra route.

It is pertinent to mention that three NGOs from Budhlada had the permission to serve the langar during the Amarnath Yatra. With a number of people injured in the clash at Baltal base, many persons providing community kitchen returned home.

The yatra was suspended on Friday when more than 20 persons were injured and 50 tents were damaged in the ensuing clashes at the camp site. The yatra from the Baltal route was suspended after a ponywala Nayib Ahmad was attacked by a non-local langar owner. The attack turned into violent clashes between the locals and the non-local community kitchen owners.

Shiv Shakti Sewa Mandal and Shri Shiv Shakti Sewa Mandal are returning home while the Har Har Mahadev group is still there to serve the langar.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Mansa, Bhupinder Singh Khattra said, “Today they observed a bandh and a protest march was held against the incident that happened in Jammu and Kashmir two days ago.”

Bathinda, July 20
Max Super Speciality Hospital (MSSH), Bathinda has introduced the next generation patient-specific knee replacements, the first in Malwa region on Sunday. The technique requires a patient to have an MRI scan of the affected leg prior to the surgery. Through this scan, a three-dimensional image of the patient’s knee is developed. These images are then sent to the knee lab in the USA, where they use a specialised technology to develop patient-specific knee implants, which are delivered to the hospital.

“Till now, surgeons had to pick and choose the implant from a tool box and see which would fit a particular patient. But with the advent of this new technology, the implant could be custom designed as per the anatomy of the patient.

“At the time of surgery, much less instrumentation was required than what was required in a traditional knee replacement. Unlike traditional knee replacement, no instrumentation was placed into the thigh bone and hence there is less blood loss.” said Dr Dilveer Brar.

“ This technique has eliminated about 22 surgical steps of traditional knee replacement and thus was quicker and more precise. Being a short duration surgery of less than 30 minutes in most cases, it reduced the risks of infection and deep venous thrombosis (DVT),” added Dr Brar. 

Mansa, July 20
Soft tissue balancing through computer navigation in total knee replacement (TKR) surgery has revolutionised the lives of patients undergoing knee replacement.

Dr Harsimran Singh, the director of Joint Replacement at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, claimed that knee replacement surgery had seen commendable advances in terms of surgical techniques and the quality of knee implants.

The surgeon was recently honoured by the managing director of B Braun Medical India Private Limited, Anand Apte, for performing the highest number of navigated computer-assisted total knee replacement surgeries in India.

“The currently available zirconium coated knee implants have shown to have more than 30-35 years of life in lab studies. The benefits of modern implants are supplemented by the accuracy in surgical techniques provided by computer navigation. Computer navigated total knee surgery leaves no margin for error, which is always present in conventional surgical technique,” Dr Harsimran said.

The surgeon said, “Computer assisted knee surgery uses a computer software programme to calculate angles of knee, enabling the surgeon to conduct surgery with greater accuracy and precision to the tune of 1mm variation.”

The current principle in knee replacement surgery is to re-surface just the damaged portion of the knee and avoid replacing the entire knee in cases where only a limited portion of the joint is diseased, the surgeon said.

Hence, people who have partial knee arthritis are treated by unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement, he added.

Patients requiring TKR are given the benefit of ligament preserving surgery wherein an attempt is made to preserve as much of the normal knee ligaments available. This makes the surgery painless, bloodless and offers fast recovery with little need of physiotherapy.

Due to smaller incision, there is minimal trauma to the soft tissues, muscles and tendons. All this helps in faster recovery and the patient bounces back to his or her daily routine comfortably.

It helps in soft tissue balancing, which results in perfect knee bending. Most patients can now comfortably sit cross-legged after the knee replacement surgery.

Arthritis is a widespread problem throughout the world with many people experiencing some form of the disease or the other. Every three persons out of five in 65-years age group are victims to arthritis and the ailment now even targets youth. 

Bathinda, July 20
Raj Kumar Mehra has been unanimously elected as president of the Residents Welfare Association of Vishal Nagar, Phase I, during a general body meeting held at community park on Sunday.

Rakesh Garg has been elected as the vice-president, JP Goyal as secretary, Vinod Goyal as joint-secretary, Krishan Goyal as cashier and Parveen Goyal as the co-cashier.

The executive committee includes MR Madan, Ravinder Garg, Devinder Singh, Tek Chand Arora, Shiv Kumar Vohra, Shiv Singla, Om Prakash Bansal, Satish Bansal, Surinder Tayal, Vipan Mehta and Sanjeev Singla. 

Bathinda, July 20
People living in trans-railway line areas are going to celebrate Teej festival using crane machines, instead of trees, to swing at. Artificial rainfall and snowfall would also be made to highlight the importance of disappearing green cover.

Former Municipal Councillor Vijay Kumar said volunteers and residents were being roped in for 
the purpose.

“The five-hour programme would be held on July 23 starting from 4 pm at Partap Nagar Dussehra Ground”, he said, adding that the event is chiefly meant for the newly-wed.

“The entry will be free and 15 to 20 volunteers would apply mehandi and nail-polish withthout charging any fee”, he said.

People visiting the venue would be made aware of depleting green cover and the traditional Punjabi culture.

Earlier, newly married women used to visit their paternal homes during Sawan (fifth month of the traditional Vikrama calendar coinciding with July and August).

During this time the women swing, dance, play and sing amidst pleasant weather. “We will also try to replicate the same in this function wherein women could participate in such activities. The artificial rain will make the visitors feel about rain after specific intervals till the end of the event,” said Vijay. 

Bathinda, July 20
The numbers of road accidents appear to be increasing day-by-day in the city. Today itself, eight persons were reportedly injured in various road mishaps in the city.

Four persons were injured in a collision of one motorcycle with two scooters on Bathinda-Dabwali Road near Sirsa railway crossing. Volunteers of the NGO Sahara welfare society reached the spot and rushed the injured to the Civil Hospital. The victims have been identified as Iman, Manjit Singh, Manjit Kaur and Mukand.

In another incident, one person was injured after his motorcycle was hit by a car near National Fertiliser Limited (NFL) Colony. The victim has been identified as Ramesh Kumar, 35, a resident of Goniana.

In another incident, a pedestrian was hit by a car near Janta Nagar in the city. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital by the volunteers of the NGO Sahara Jan Sewa.

Two other motorcyclists were also injured in two different mishaps in the city. They have been identified as Rakesh Kumar and Baldev Singh.

With these accidents today, the toll of injured persons in the road mishaps in the city has crossed 80 persons this month. It is worth mentioning that yesterday, Senior Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Sukhdev Singh Chahal was also been injured in a road mishap near Nanaksar village between Kotkapura and Jaitu.