Bathinda, December 2
The location of a petrol pump in a congested market area here and its possible fire hazard perception is becoming a subject of controversy. Situated on the Mall Road, between Fire Brigade Chowk and the railway station, the area which is adjacent to ‘Gol Diggi Market’, houses more than160 shops.

The petrol pump owner and local shopkeepers and residents are aware of the threat looming large but have somehow got used to it.

The Keshar Ram Pashupati Nath petrol pump was installed way back in 1954 when the market was small but now, it is surrounded by shops and other buildings with large quantities of inflammable material which has made it prone to fire risks.

Initially, the pump had the facility for filling of both petrol and diesel, but in 2003, the diesel pump was shifted to Gurusir Senawala, 12 km away. Further, the filling of petrol in heavy vehicles here has been stopped to check traffic congestion and parking near the petrol pump is also not allowed.

These measures suggest that the pump can be a potential fire hazard, but the authorities are yet to take the threat seriously. Moreover, no-smoking signs are missing from the pump and there are only two fire extinguishers there.

Most business outlets in the area are hotels, restaurants, dhabhas and eating joints where stoves, gas cylinders and other fuel are stored and even a spark can cause havoc. Another point to worry here is the rehri walas who use LPG cylinders for cooking purposes.

The petrol pump owner, Mahesh Chand, says he has raised the matter with the authorities to remove the shops from the vicinity but to no avail. The shops have come up in due course of time and the town planning and municipal authorities should have checked the mushroom growth of shops and houses in time, he argued.

On the other hand, residents and shopkeepers in the area, want the petrol pump to be relocated to some other place and admit that it is a major fire risk. The owner of Goel Homeopathic Store, Bharti Goel, says they have become used to the threat. Another restaurant owner, speaking on the condition of on anonymity, said the pump is centrally located in the market and even fireworks poses a risk.

AFO Bathinda, Baldev Singh claimed that the fire brigade office is well equipped to meet any eventuality. The ADC (General) could not be contacted for comments.

Bathinda, December 2
The park at the civil hospital here has been lying in a state of neglect thanks to the apathy of the officials.

Constructed in 2006, the park is more of a misnomer mostly because of the waste lying scattered there. Bare joints of underground electric wires, weeds, rusty swings and vacant benches only symbolise its present state of affairs.

The foundation stone at the gate of the park was laid by the then civil Surgeon H. S. Dhillon. It also mentions that the park was constructed under the leadership of the then Senior Medical Officer, J. S. Sandhu.

The park was constructed to give relief to patients, doctors and staff residing in the hospital premises. A motor pump is learnt to have been installed there to water the grass, vegetable and plants, but it is now missing.

The swings installed for the entertainment of children have become rusty and cement benches are languishing due to poor upkeep.

The park has now been used as a dumping ground for waste material. A visit to the park revealed that garbage had been dumped at the foundation gate of the park.

Harjot, a student of class IX, who lives in a staff quarter at the hospital, said, “We all have jointly paid and and worked to maintain the park. But officials have not shown much concern. Flowers, that were sown, have now disappeared.”

On his part, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Charanjeet Garg said, “One cannot even maintain the lawn of one’s house. So, how can the hospital staff be expected to maintain this huge park.”

“We have been facing a funds crunch and the number of staff in the hospital is also not enough to help take care of the park,” he added.

Bathinda, December 2
Having earlier released CDs and audio cassettes against drug abuse, deputy inspector general of police (DIG), Jitendra Jain, has come out with yet another innovative idea of printing the catchy slogan “No Drugs” on T-shirts to strengthen the campaign against the menace that has taken into its clutches, particularly the Malwa region of Punjab.

These T-shirts are being distributed to the youth to motivate the addicts to shun drugs. Awareness against drugs is the backbone of the campaign, says Jain.

He says that the slogan on T-shirts will have a visual effect and create awareness against drugs. Initially, those engaged in the campaign are being given these T-shirts and in the second phase, these will be presented to others. This was part of the strategy to tackle the menace of drugs.

Jain, who heads the Faridkot range of police, has already released CDs, audio cassettes and booklets in English, Hindi and Punjabi against drug abuse. He has also launched a signature campaign against the menace in schools and colleges. The target is to collect 3 lakh signatures. Girls have pledged not to marry an addict. The markets here are flooded with different types of drugs that are smuggled from the neighbouring Haryana and Rajasthan.

The campaign has been given the name “IDEA” in which each alphabet has a meaning. Alphabet “I” stands for initiative of all, “D” stands for de-addiction, “E” for enforcement and “A” for awareness, Jain explains.

School and college teachers have actively been involved in the campaign to prevent the youth from falling in the trap of drugs.

The police has adopted one of the worst affected village, Behman Deewana, near here for the de-addiction drive.

Jain points out a survey conducted by the department of social security development of women and children that has come out with the figure of 60 per cent rural households in Punjab having one drug addict.

The Malwa belt consisting of Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa, Muktsar, Sangrur, Ferozepur and Patiala is known for the rampant use of poppy husk, opium, smack and synthetic drugs, while the Majha and Doaba belts, consisting of Amritsar and Jalandhar, are in the grip of smack, synthetic drugs and opium as major addiction.

Bathinda, December 2
Harry Potter mania was conspicuous by its absence at the Bathinda book fair. J.K.Rowling was nowhere to be seen as the likes of Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Rasool Hamjatove and Balwant Gargi rose to life again.

On its second day today, the Bathinda Book Fair had a busy date with avid readers as people here did not want to miss out on the first-ever such opportunity.

Draped mostly in Gurmukhi, the fair also found its patrons in Hindi, English and Urdu. T.S. Bagga who bought around 20 books worth Rs 3,200, cherished ‘Gaata Jaye Banjara’ by Sahir Ludhianvi the most.

Economics, History, Commerce, Political Science, bio-medical sciences, music, dance, Gandhi, poetry, fiction, non-fiction— a wide range of topic were arrayed on the stands. But Amandeep of class VI was looking for books on magic and Akwinder Kaur, a working woman, was pining for ‘Birha Tu Sultan.’

Baba Bulle Shah and Waris Shah have their eternal value. As Harjinder Singh, a school teacher, while turning the pages of ‘Mera Dagistan’, said, “It is the soul of literature.” Bhagat Singh’s posters had its takers too. Dictionaries and grammar books found more customers, claimed Ashok Madaan, a Patiala-based distributor.

Such fairs are very encouraging for writers as they provide a platform to interact with readers and enable publishers and booksellers to reach the customers.

Sumeet Gulati of Chetna Prakashan, said, “Punjabis are everywhere. Punjabi book fairs are popular even in Canada. And here, we have done more business than what we did at the Jalandhar book fair.”

But professional writers in vernacular languages are nowhere. Jaspal Man Khera of Punjabi Sahitya Sabha admits, “Nobody can sustain on writing here. You need to do something else too to support your interest.”

The fair did not see a large number of youngsters. Ankit, who was expecting books and magazines on motorbikes and cars, was disappointed. The young generation may read books, but it is mostly those prescribed in syllabus or bestsellers.

Knowledge is important but how much will enlightenment score!

Faridkot, December 2
The Red Cross Disability and Rehabilitation Centre here will soon introduce ‘supported guardianship’ and will have a Respite Home under the Samarth Scheme launched by the National Trust, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice.

Respite Home has a comprehensive plan for the welfare of those suffering from mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism and multiple disabilities. It has a sanctioned strength of 30. It offers two kinds of assistance to patients suffering from these diseases: prolonged stay and care for short period. In a way, these endeavours ensure assistance not only to the patients but also to parents and their families.

Under the prolonged residential care, patients could stay for a longer period. However, if a family is not able to take care of a patient for a certain period owing to some unavoidable reasons, they could admit the patient for that period.

To kickstart the Respite Home plan, this centre has got an initial grant of Rs 10 lakh. Out of this, Rs 4 lakh will be spent on teaching material and equipment. A grant of Rs 6 lakh will be released under the national scheme.

The Supported Guardianship scheme has been revived after a period of about two years. Under this, 10 poor families will receive a monthly financial assistance of Rs 500. Earlier, the scheme remained in existence as a pilot project from 2001 to 2005.

Obviously, the scheme could not be run successfully without the help of adequate, dedicated and experienced staff. A medical graduate from either medicine or psychiatry or paediatrics would be hired. Besides, an educator, a warden, special educator, an activity in charge, a caregiver, two cooks and two attendants will be appointed. All of them would be paid an honorarium. 

Bathinda, December 2
It was a rare spectrum of rich folk dances from different parts of India at the annual day function of Sanawar - An Institute for Children, here this evening.

The cultural items presented by the students ranged from the famous bhangra of Punjab, dandiya of Gujarat, Rajasthan folk and western dances, depicting the theme of unity in diversity.

The folk dances kept the audience spellbound and drew a thunderous applause but it was the dandiya and bhangra performances that stole the show. Surjeet Singh Bhatti, principal, Adesh Institute of Engineering and Technology, Faridkot, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp .He lauded the efforts of the students and exhorted them to excel in every field.

The annual day function started with ‘Saraswati Vandana’, followed by a welcome song and impressive performances by tiny-tots from LKG. English play and Christmas carols were the other highlights of the day. The choreography and dance sequences were fascinating and moved the audience. The students also presented the annual report highlighting the achievements of the students.

Western performances by the students kept the spectators captivated, who could not hold clapping with each passing moment.

Ravinder Kaur, principal of the school, presented the vote of thanks and gave a brief account of the achievements and activities of the institution. She said that kids are the future of tomorrow and should be nuturedin the right way. The function concluded with the rendering of the national anthem.

Bathinda, December 2
Gifted with an exceptional photogenic memory, Abhik Rai Jindal is a wonder child at the tender age of three. He is yet to begin formal education but distinctly remembers the national flags of more than 125 countries.

Show any flag to him and he will immediately name the country or ask him to describe the flag of any country, and he will do it instantly. His memory is so sharp that he can give a vivid description of colours and designs of the flag of any country like a computer.

He developed interest in the flags of different countries during the cricket World Cup when he got attracted to flags of all the 16 participating countries. His parents were quick to spot the genius in him and fuelled his interest by providing him pictures of flags of different countries.

Within no time, he remembered the flags of all the countries and the reflection of the visual impact of the flags on his mind was amazing. Interestingly, this child is not fully aware of the English alphabets but pronounces the names of countries like Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and Portugal with ease.

This wonderkid is not only fond of flags but is also crazy about cars. He loves cars and his scrapbook of memory has models and designs of all types of cars ingrained in it.

Abhik, who wants to buy a Maruti SX 4, is quick enough to describe the model of any car from a distance. How he does it is a mystery for all, including his parents.

Besides passion for flags and cars, he has great passion for dance and music also. He loves dancing to the tunes of popular songs and also keeps humming his favourite melodies. ‘Dela shauk da nawane goriye’ remains his favourite number.

Hailing from a middle class family, Abhik is a resident of Veer Colony in Bathinda. His grandfather, Kulwant Rai Jindal, who wants him to become an IAS officer someday, is his inspiration. He not only encourages him but also hones his talent.

Ferozepur, December 2
The police registered a case against two persons including the mother of the child, Tushar, and a nursery student who had gone missing from the school under mysterious circumstances yesterday morning.

According to the police sources, Tushar’s mother had allegedly developed an illicit relationship with one Kulwant Singh of Kotwal village, who often visited their house. It is believed that when it came to the notice of her husband, Ramesh Kumar, he objected to Kulwant’s frequent visit to their house.

The police officials said that the entire kidnapping drama was in fact a well thought out plan purportedly hatched by Kulwant Singh to gain the sympathy of Ramesh Kumar by some means so that his visits to their house was not detested.

Under the plot, Kulwant would take away the child from the school and later, come to the rescue of the parents by helping them in tracing the child, the police added.

However, the police got to know about this plan, which was allegedly planned in connivance with the boy’s mother, revealed sources. The police have now reportedly arrested both Kulwant Singh and the boy’s mother and the child has been handed back to the father.

Abohar, December 2
Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Muktsar, was killed as an overloaded truck reportedly hit the car that he was driving on his way back to home on Saturday.

Family sources said Gurpreet arrived here to drop his wife in connection with a marriage in the family at Dhaani Chirag on Friday evening. The driver of another vehicle found the contact numbers while searching the pocket of the victim, who had received multiple injuries, and informed his aunt. But it was too late. Gurpreet had succumbed to his injuries by the time his relatives reached the site on Hindumalkot road. The police said today that a case against the truck-driver, Ram Chand, a resident of Dhaani Maseet, had been registered under sections 304A and 279 of the IPC.

In another incident, a Maruti car crushed a three-year-old girl to death in the Purani Abadi locality of Sriganganagar, 40 km from here on Saturday. Tek Chand reported to the police last evening that his daughter Priyanka who was standing outside her residence was crushed by a Maruti at around 6 pm. The driver of the car fled. The police impounded the vehicle and registered a case.

One Sultan Singh (54) was also killed when the tractor he was driving, overturned in the Tibbi area, the police said. 

Moga, December 2
In connection with the infamous sex scam here, the local police reportedly recorded the statements of several persons, including Congress MLA from Moga assembly segment Jopginder Pal Jain and Makhan Singh Brar, son of senior Akali leader Tota Singh, former education minister, here today.

According to police sources, summons was issued to several persons to get their statements recorded. Bhupinder Singh, DSP (Baghapurana) is carrying out the inquiry.

The persons, who were called upon to record their statements, come from all walks of life, including, businessmen, traders, legal experts and politicians, who are in majority.

Jain claimed said that names of Congress leaders and workers have been unnecessarily dragged into the controversy to extract political mileage, sources disclosed. He charged that the Congress and municipal councillors sympathetic to the party had been pressurised to extend support to the ruling party in the council on one pretext or the other.

A majority of the persons alleged that they had been falsely implicated in the case. Some of them alleged that money was extorted from them.   

The sex scandal has its genesis in a rape case registered on April 18. Interestingly, the complainant in the rape case, Manpreet, along with Manjit, lodged another case with the Baghapurana police against six persons, including Ranjit, alleging that the accused attempted to kidnap her out of vengeance as she had named her in the rape case.

However, following an inquiry, it was found that the case was false.

After much efforts, the police managed to arrest Manjit Kaur and Manpreet Kaur. To the embarrassment of the police, its own officials were found to be hand in glove in the case. Hence, Inspector Amarjit Singh was arrested in the racket and sub-inspector Raman Kumar was dismissed from service.    

Mansa, December 2 
“The condition of children below 14 years of age is pathetic in Mansa.  Although the government has passed a law forbidding the employment of children, the government has not taken the pains to create infrastructure for implementation of the law in favour of children,” said Rekha Sharma, president of the Punjab Istri Sabha.

She said that parliament and legislature were passing laws without providing the machinery and spirit for their implementation. Thus, a majority of laws relating to children and women have become ineffective, she added. 

“Children can be seen working in hotels, tea stalls, dhabas, fields etc.  Even they are bound to work annually on a half-yearly basis because their parents labour charge for the work done in one installment,” she said. 

She demanded that the government should provide infrastructure for the implementation of the laws for the welfare of children and women.  For this purpose, vocational institutions might be started so that poor children can become self-sufficient.  She asked the administration to check child labour strictly.

Barnala, December 2
There is a famous saying in Punjabi, “Kaun kahe rani agga dhakk”. It means no one can question the queen and tell her to respect the rules. Ironically, the same appeared to be true today when the chief minister arrived to attend the marriage ceremony of the daughter of an employee.

The VVIP movement resulted in traffic snarls as vehicular traffic was blocked to ensure the safe passage for the visiting dignitaries. Senior civil and police officials themselves were present to oversee the supervision and illegal power connections (kundis) were all too visible on the occasion.

The marriage ceremony of one of CM Parkash Singh Badal’s employee’s  (manager, transport) daughter at nearby Handiaya village hogged the limelight because the head of the state and SAD acting president Sukhbir Singh Badal were gracing the occasion.

Both the dignitaries arrived by separate choppers at a difference of 30 minutes. The district administration was stretched, right from making arrangements for the marriage to the arranging of formation of stage, construction of helipads, and lighting the sites for helipad with over 50 big halogen lights that obtained power from a transformer through kundis in the grain market of Khudi Kurd and Handiaya.

Even some trees that were seen as causing obstruction in the safe landing of choppers were also chopped off. A police party headed by a senior police official escorted the baraat (groom’s traditional arrival party).

Xen Suburban, Dalbir Singh Sidhu, when contacted denied that any illegal power connections were used to obtain power for the marriage ceremony. “If any violation comes to our notice, action would be taken,” he added.

Abohar, December 2
The Congress is gearing up to retain its control over the class 1 municipal council, having the highest annual budget.

Local MLA Sunil Jakhar, last evening presided over a crowded meeting of party workers convened by the city Congress president Banwari Lal Nagpal in the new grain market here.

During his address, Jakhar blamed the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bhartiya Janta Party alliance for “fooling” the voters in the last Assembly elections by promising the ‘atta-daal’ scheme on subsidised rates to the families below the poverty line (BPL). Fifty five per cent cut had been imposed on supplies to fair price shops designated to distribute the subsidised ‘atta-daal,’ he added.

Jakhar warned the SAD-BJP regime, “We know how to retaliate if they dare to gag the municipal elections slated for the next half of the year.”

Well-placed sources said the Congress was putting up show as a united force but the main contender for the municipal corporation, the BJP, still remained a divided house. The ruling partner has yet to complete the process for organisational elections at the block and district level. Recently, the city party president had not reportedly been taken into confidence while promoting defections from the Congress in the vegetable market.

Factions are not only keeping their fingers crossed but are also not reluctant in bringing the differences out in the open. Intriguingly, none of the parties had taken much interest in revision of electoral rolls recently.

Mansa, December 2
The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) M.F. Farooqi said that illegal activities would not be tolerated in this area.  Sale and smuggling of drugs would be stopped and strict action would be taken against the anti-social elements. 

Following this campaign against the anti-social elements, the Mansa police captured 15 kilograms of poppy husk, 11 gm smack and 61 bottles of illegal liquor in the last week.  In this connection, 16 cases were registered and 17 persons arrested.  Informing this, the SSP said 22 cases were registered that related to different crimes. 

The counting of those cases according to different police stations is three in Budhlada, four in Bhikhi, one in Mansa city, two in Jhunir, five in Sadar Mansa, one in Joga, four in Boha and two in Jaurkian.