Bathinda, January 22
As most parts of northern India remained in the grip of an intense cold wave with the mercury hovering around freezing point, Bathinda, on Monday, experienced the coldest night in a decade.

As per the data received from the Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station (PAURRS), Bathinda, on Monday night, temperature in the city dipped to -2 degree Celsius. On January 20 and also on January 3, Bathinda, believed to be among the ‘not-so-cold’ areas of the state, recorded a minimum temperature of -1 ° Celsius whereas Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of -2.2 ° C on Sunday night.

As per experts, this dip in temperature is due to snowfall in the upper ranges coupled with northwesterly winds in the region. The current occurrence of frost has broken the records of the past three decades

According to Gurmit Singh Buttar, director, PAURRS, “The dip in temperature in Bathinda started from the night of January 18, when the city recorded 1.5 ° C.

It further went down to 0.5 ° C on the night of January 19. On this New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2007), the minimum temperature in city was recorded at 0.2 ° C, which also happens to be the minimum temperature of 2007.”

Highlighting the weather outlook for crops, he said, “Frost is likely to adversely affect a number of crops including potato, chillies, capsicum, tomato, winter maize, sugarcane, peas and tender vegetable nurseries. However, the weather is expected to be beneficial for wheat and oilseed crops, as it will promote tillering and suppress the insect-pests and diseases due to extremely low temperature. The farmers should apply light irrigation in the evening to protect the crops against frost.”

Dr Gurmeet Singh Bains, head, Department of Agricultural Meteorology, PAU, said that in January this year, till date, Punjab has received the maximum frost. So far, there were 12 frosty days as against five considered to be normal for the month, he added.

Kulwinder Kaur Gill, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana said, “As per the data received from the Indian Meteorological Department, Pune, the cold wave is likely to continue in Punjab till January 25. The minimum temperature is expected to drop further by at least two degrees and the maximum temperature by 3 degrees.”

Bathinda, January 22
The Bombay Stock Exchange’s melting down for the second consecutive day was a big jolt for city investors. In fact, investors were tense when the fall went beyond 2,000 points on Monday, the biggest so far on any single day.

The Sensex caught the American flu that floored the bulls and allowed bears to nibble away crores in market capitalisation within minutes when trading resumed today.

Jaspal Singh, former chairman, Ludhiana Stock Exchange, said, “Finally, the market recovered a bit and closed at 17,605 points on Monday. But it was expected as the US markets too are heading southwards. Long-term investors have nothing to worry. But those who invested on margins in future and options category have been wiped off.” Govind Mohan, a financial advisor, said, “This is the time for long-term investments aiming at company portfolios.”

Kanwardeep Tuli, an investment consultant at the Standard Chartered Bank, said, “The trend is likely to continue. Moreover, crores have been blocked in the Reliance power IPO and the market will react once the issue opens. The RBI policy is also expected next week. So, one should wait and watch before making new investments.”

Bathinda, January 22
Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti has summoned SGPC member Jagroop Singh Dhillon before the Akal Takht on February 5.

The summon issued to Dhillon reportedly accuses him of indulging in anti-Gurmat activities and creating a nuisance at Takht Damdama Sahib.

The summon is being seen as new chapter in the tussle between Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh of Takht Damdama Sahib and Jagroop Singh Dhillon.

Nandgarh said he had received a faxed letter in this regard.

He added that the five Sikh Sahibs would be there to adjudicate in the matter.

It may be mentioned that Jagroop Singh Dhioon was summoned at the Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, on January 7 where he appeared with a number of supporters. Following this, Nandgarh had accused him of creating nuisance there.

The issue, which created a row, was related to the recital of Akhand Path at Ghandabana village on December 30 last.

The matter snowballed into a controversy because the place where the path was performed was believed to belong to a dera, where some religious activities had been performed, which is prohibited according to the tenets of Sikhism.

It has been reported that the members of Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj and Malwa Granthi Sahib had forbidden Jagroop Singh Dhillon from performing the akhand path at the place in question, but he allegedly ignored their advice.

“I had not performed the akhand path there. I just bowed my head in before the Guru Granth Sahib when I visited the place,” said Dhillon.

When he was asked about the summon, he said, “I will appear before the Sikh Sahibs alone and will explain my point of view.”

Nandgarh also said that on the same date, the matter of Daljeet Singh Bedi, ex-secretary of the SGPC, whose alleged ‘moral turpitude’ was highlighted by a section of the media, would also be discussed.

He added that the issue of sending ‘saroops’ (Guru Granth Sahib) in containers abroad by the Delhi Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee was also on the agenda for discussion on February 5.

Faridkot, January 22
The district office of the Punjab State Education Board (PSEB) ordered a departmental inquiry against the computer teacher of Lance Havildar Parminder Singh Senior Secondary School, Tehna Village, 5 km from here, today.

The infuriated villagers manhandled Manish Kumar, the computer teacher at the school named after the Kargil war martyr, for whipping the students of Class X. Earlier, they locked the school gate preventing entry into the school.

According to Karmajit Singh, sarpanch of the village, the teacher had thrashed the students of Class X with sticks on Monday morning. That the students could not pass a test was the reason behind the punishment. He added that the students’ hands still bore the impressions of the whip lash handed by the teacher.

The angry villagers were assuaged only after the teacher tendered an apology and the education department assured them of an action against the teacher.

Manjit Singh, DEO (Secondary), announced that an inquiry would be carried out and appropriate action would be taken against the guilty.

Barnala, January 22
Convener of the Kiranjeet Kand Virodhi Action Committee, Surinder Singh Jlaldewal and co-convener Narain Dutt have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision in the Kiranjeet Kaur abduction and rape case that took place at Mehalkalan.

Jlaldewal informed that the apex court upheld the life imprisonment to the four accused awarded by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Meanwhile,  Kiranjeet’s father, Darshan Singh, who is physically challenged, has also expressed satisfaction over the verdict.

It may be recalled that on 29 July, 1997, Kiranjet Kaur, a minor, was returning on bicycle from school to her home in Mehalklan. She was abducted, gangraped and then brutally murdered.

Her body was recovered from the fields of the accused 11 days after the incident took place.

An action committee was formed to ensure that the guilty are brought to book.

The sessions court on August 16, 2001, awarded life imprisonment to the four accused. The sentence was upheld by the high court. The accused had then approached the Supreme Court.

Mehalkalan residents used to observe Kiranjeet’s death anniversary on a large scale in August, to keep the spirit of struggle alive.

Mansa, January 22
Prof. Ajmer Singh Aulakh, president of the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, was discharged from a hospital in Delhi where he was admitted for treatment of cancer and he has reached his house here at Mansa.

According to the information available, Ajmer Singh Aulakh was operated for cancer and the operation was successful.

He was at his house and was feeling comfortable. His house witnessed many visitors today.

His daughter Supandeep Kaur informed that Aulakh was recovering quickly and that he would visit the doctors again for a recheck on January 31.

She thanked all the organisations and individuals, who came forward to provide help to her father.

It is worth mentioning here that the Punjab government on Monday had promised to provide the playwright with an aid of Rs 5 lakh.

Moga, January 22
The ongoing controversy over the turban issue in France has not had a cascading effect on Siks living in Germany.

Basant Singh Ramoowala, a Punjabi writer settled in Germany, who has been highlighting issues related to the Punjabi diaspora in general, said this was because lawmakers in Germany follow the example of England where Sikhs do their work without any such controversy.

Ramoowala was speaking at a function where he, along with Jagsir Singh, a Toronto-based NRI, was honoured by the president of the Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) Balwant Singh Ramoowalia here today.

Discussing the effects of the French ban on religious symbols in schools on the rest of the Europe, Ramoowala said France enacted the law banning the wearing of visible religious symbols in state schools in 2004.

However, the author felt that racial discrimination was visible in Germany, particularly in East Germany, because of widespread unemployment.

He cited an instance where nearly 50 Germans assaulted eight Punjabi youths during a village fair in August last year.

He had a word of caution for the youth in Punjab, eager to make their way to greener pastures abroad, telling them to check details before going abroad.

He also said that Germany had over 40 lakh unemployed people and it was because of this that they were intolerant about people of other nationalities coming there for jobs.

Born at village Ramoowala Kalan, nearly 11 km from here, the author migrated to Germany about 28 years ago but contributes articles for leading Punjabi dailies.

Patiala, January 22
The Lehra Mohabbat-based Guru Hargobind Thermal Power Plant has earned the distinction of being the cleanest in India from the environmental point of view. The plant recorded the lowest suspended particulate matter (SPM) emission in the country.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has fixed the emission limit of 150 mg per Newton cubic metre (mg/Nm3). The SPM level of unit-I of the plant is 21-54mg/Nm3 and of unit-II 22-89 mg/Nm3 in 2005-06, whereas the same has been 25-87 mg/Nm3 for unit-I and 30-59 mg/Nm3 for unit-II in 2006-07.

Abohar, January 22
The income tax authorities, during a meeting with the senior representatives of the Beopar Mandal and other trade organisations, informed that a team would be soon visiting the local markets to get form 45-D filled by those who have not so far got their PAN number and whose annual income was exceeding the exemption limit.

The tax payees would be asked to provide a copy of their annual income tax return for the year 2006-07 to the visiting officials. This will help in bringing more traders into the ambit of tax payers.

The Beopar Mandal representatives, while consenting to the official plan, reportedly said only 20 per cent of the traders had been carrying business with their own capital while others were indebted to the wholesale suppliers, private financers and banks.

Even when most of the banks had thought it fit to bring down the NPA level to zero, complying with the instructions of the Reserve Bank, immoveable properties mortgaged by some of the leading businessmen still face a threat of auction by the financial institutions.

Well-placed sources indicated that the income tax team which recently carried out a survey in Sadar Bazaar and the old Kesarganj market had succeeded in unearthing evasion of tax by three leading business houses. There were reports that there had been a spurt in the real estate business during the recent past as was evident from development of some new colonies.

Abohar, January 22
A deputation of the Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan would meet the deputy commissioner, Ferozepur, to press for their demand to drop the plan for thermal power plant in the region.

While informing this, the BKU block president, Sukhmander Singh, today said that Abohar was fast emerging as the California of Punjab because of the favourable weather conditions for fruit cultivation. Almost 75 per cent of the total area surveyed for setting up of a 1100-MW thermal plant comprises acquiring 2,050 acres of two-crop pattern highly fertile land, which was under fruit cultivation now, he added.

The state government had persuaded the Central government to set up a vegetable and fruit processing unit at a cost of Rs 30 crore near the town and had promised to promote diversification in the crop pattern by increasing the area under vegetable cultivation also, the president said. But on the other hand, a proposal for a 
thermal plant, which would emanate fly ash across the town, was being mooted, he added.

A meeting of the office bearers of the BKU and village-level struggle committees here today urged the government to shelve the proposed plan for power plant and mull over some other project to provide relief to the debt-ridden farmers.

Abohar, January 22
A woman of Panjpeer locality was admitted to the civil hospital here after acid was thrown on her.

Veena Rani reportedly informed the police that her husband had been intimidating her, as she could not bear a child even 15 years after their marriage. She had undergone a miscarriage once and later gave birth to a baby boy who did not survive. Since then, her husband had been torturing her on one pretext or the other, she alleged. The woman further alleged that on finding her alone, her husband poured acid on her. But she raised an alarm and people rushed to her rescue because of which she escaped multiple burn injuries. The police is investigating the case.

Barnala, January 22
One person was killed and five persons were injured when two cars collided near a petrol pump at Tapa today.

According to information available, a Maruti Zen bearing the number PB-03Q-8196 was going to Bathinda from Ludhiana while another car, bearing number HR-26C-1331, was on its way from Bathinda to Barnala.

Anil Kumar (36), Ramesh Gupta and his wife Prem Lata, who were travelling in a Maruti Zen, were injured while Parmjeet Singh, travelling in the other car, died on the spot.

Paramjeet’s minor son, Jassa Singh, and his co-passenger, Narinder Singh, were seriously injured.

A rescue team of the Mini-Sahara club with two ambulances reached the accident site and took the injured to the local hospital located at Tapa.

As Jassa Singh’s condition was critical, he was referred to another hospital by the doctors at the local hospital.

Abohar, January 22
Bitten by love-bug, several local youths approached a self-proclaimed ‘Tantar Mantar Samrat’, having ‘mastery’ in matchmaking. The youths, later, learnt that the ‘tantrik’ was a fraud and wanted to dupe them. But by then, it was too late.

A group of cheats, who posed as ‘tantriks’ had fled after duping hundreds of persons, mostly youngsters, who were seeking help of the alleged impersonators to win over the girls of their choice for the last one month.

The self-proclaimed ‘Tantar Mantar Samrat’ and his accomplices had opened ‘shops’ on several places, including Kandhwala Road, Bus Stand Market and Fazilka road, with much fanfare.

In order to create awareness about their ‘problem-solving prowess’ among the public, they launched publicity campaigns through some local newspapers, wall paintings and handbills.

They had hired a room in the Nai Abadi locality. The neighbours said that young boys had virtually sought a prior appointment with the alleged gang members.

Many had reportedly paid money in advance and were assured of sparkling results. But all the three shops were found to be closed.

Their room in Nai Abadi locality too was found unlocked and vacant, sources confirmed.

Bathinda, January 22
Around 10 lakh bank employees would go on strike on January 25, the Union Force of Bank Union, informed in a press release today.

Ashok Sharma, president of the State Bank of Patiala Employees Union, said that pension and vacant posts were the key issues. If the government didn’t respond positively, bank employees would go on strike again on February 25 and February 26, he threatened. — TNS

Bathinda, January 22
The Kotwali and Civil Lines police, in a joint effort, arrested seven persons, allegedly involved in pasting of fake tags on water gysers from Navi Basti, here 
on Tuesday. The arrests folowed a complaint by Amit Joshi and Rishi Kul Shreshth, representatives of a private company, the Bajaj Limited.