Batala, July 4
Concerned over the increasing number of crime incidents in the town, especially during the night, the Batala police has launched a scheme under which crime prevention officers (CPO) would be deployed to patrol the streets.

In the first phase, as many as 115 CPOs would be deputed to man the commercial areas. The patrol would be extended to residential areas with deployment of 100 more CPOs in the second phase. The scheme was introduced by IG of border zone, Amritsar, R.P. Meena IPS, in a function held at police lines, here on Wednesday.

According to police sources, the department had conducted a series of meeting with the residents before launching the scheme. The recruitment, training, deployment has been done by a Ludhiana-based private security agency. The supervision of CPOs will be done by the local police. “With the introduction of the scheme, the crime rate is expected to come down,” said the IG, emphasizing on the need for giving proper training to the CPOs. “They will serve as a link between the police cops and public. It’s a good initiative. We have got extra hands to beef up security and the youth have got jobs,” he added.

R.L. Bhagat, DIG, border range said the scheme would be extended to the other districts of the range. Batala police chief R.N. Dhoke special care would be taken to ensure proper discipline among the CPOs.

Kapurthala, July 4
The district administration has identified 122 villages as flood sensitive during the ensuing monsoon.

In a press note issued here today, the district revenue officer said out of these 122 villages, 66 were in Sultanpur Lodhi, followed by 32 in Kapurthala and 24 in Bholath subdivisions.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner J.M. Balamurugan said all precautionary arrangements had been made in the sensitive villages and minister Dr Upinderjeet Kaur would visit some of them on Thursday.

Meanwhile, to review the flood protection measures in Hoshiarpur, deputy commissioner D. K. Tiwari convened a meeting of the various departments here on Wednesday. He directed the officers to get the drains cleared and strengthen protection bandhs on choes at the earliest. Executive officers of the municipal councils were especially told to put water-clearing arrangements in place. He also instructed health officials to ensure choloronisation of drinking water and cleanliness in their respective areas to avoid spread of diseases. The DC said a flood control room (telephone no. 220412) had been set up at the mini-secretariate of Hoshiarpur. It would function round-the-clock. 

Jalandhar, July 4
The oldest Army Service Corps (ASC) officer of the district, Major Puran Singh Hothi (97), who died on Tuesday owing to illness, was cremated with full honours at his native Ballan village on the Pathankot road here. Over 25 retired ASC officers from Jalandhar, serving Army personnel, NCC air wing personnel and his kin attended the cremation. The body was taken from his residence at Ranjit Nagar here in an Army vehicle.

Major Hothi had retired from the Army almost 44 years back. He was commissioned in 1943 and participated in the World War-II Burma campaign. His son Air Vice-Marshal S.S. Hothi, deputy director-general of the NCC in Delhi headquarters, performed the last rites.

All three sons of the deceased have served the three wings of the defence forces. Eldest son Davinder Singh was with the Indian Navy and youngest one Inderjeet Singh has served the Army like his father. Air Vice-Marshal Hothi said: “His father had been quite active till the end. His lifestyle was completely regimented. He did a lot of social service post-retirement.”

Col Sansar Chand, an elderly neighbour, pointed out to a park in front of the house saying: “It was being taken away for demarcating plots by some land mafia. Hothi fought the case for 16 years and won it. During the course, people even tried to bribe him, but he did not succumb to any pressures for the sake of the welfare of the residents. His contribution for setting up a gurdwara at Ranjeet Nagar and Ballan village will also be remembered for long.”

Major Hothi’s daughter, Satwant, administration officer of 1 Pb Air Sqn NCC, Sqn Ldr Sachin Arora, and members of the Retired ASC Officers Association, bid a tearful adieu to the officer.

Nawanshahr, July 4
Ten-year-old Jacky was kidnapped on Tuesday by his father Rajesh Kumar’s friend Sikander who allegedly demanded a ransom of Rs 10,000.

Sikander, a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh, seems to be a lovelorn as he had also made another demand to Jacky’s father of getting his brother-in-law’s daughter along with the ransom money.

According to sources, Sikander had taken Jacky with him on the pretext of visiting Phagwara where Rajesh Kumar’s in-laws live. But he came back alone from Phagwara and disappeared from the scene after handing over a letter to Jacky’s mother. In the letter, Sikander had asked for the ransom and daughter of Rajesh’s brother-in-law.

Rajesh Kumar is a labourer and works at a brick-kiln near Bharta Kalan village. Meanwhile, the matter has been reported to the police and a case registered at Rahon police station.