Abohar, February 20
The members of the municipal council endorsed the action taken by president Tulsi Ram to initiate action against the sale of the prime valued land, within the old water-works premises here. He had also asked the executive officer to challenge the sale-purchase in judicial and civil forums on February 12.

According to the available information, the council had developed water-works about hundred years ago, when total population of this town was less than 35,000.

At present, it is about 1.75 lakh. Later, to meet the increasing demand, another water-works was developed close to the Malukpura distributory on the Abohar-Hanumangarh bypass. The council proposed to abandon the old water-works to acquire 25 acres of land to expand the new water-works. The funds were to be raised by auctioning old water-works land in a phased manner, sources said.

The council had constructed an enlarged canal water reservoir in the old water-works some 40 years ago, but its floor got damaged due to waterlogging as well as the poor quality of construction. The Army had to occupy the unused land in this complex during the 1971 war with Pakistan to locate its Army Supply Corps (ASC) unit. The council had only recently regained possession of land as all the units of the Army shifted to the military station.

The Congress-led council had last month fixed the auction of a part of the old water-works complex and hoped to fetch crore as the market value of the area was increasing after the creation of the new road that linked Sadar Thana road with the state highway. But members of the SAD (B)-BJP alliance protested against it and managed a stay.

As per the information gathered by the council, two locals with proximity to the powers that be, tried to execute the deal. They reportedly purchased a piece of land within the water-works complex cheaply. However, a perusal of the girdawari record maintained by “halqa patwari” confirmed that water reservoirs had been in existence on the land in question since 1986. The standing counsel of the council reportedly informed the authorities that he had filed an objection over the land deal with the local revenue office.

Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), February 20
In Punjab, the “land of five rivers”, it is shameful to see farmers committing suicides due to the failure of pumps and neighbours in farms killing each other over quarrel for irrigation water. This is the story of the fast depleting underground water in the state.

To check the depleting underground water table, Agriculture Minister, Sucha Singh Langah today said the area under paddy cultivation should be decreased so that the depletion stops. “Farmers should shift to other crops like pulses that require less use of water.” “To produce just one kg of paddy, 4,500 litres of water is required and one can imagine the pace at which the water table is depleting. The situation is more worrisome in Malwa region, but it is deteriorating in rest of Punjab too,” Langah told TNS.

Due to the depleting underwater table, re-digging a bore well and making it operational costs around Rs 1 lakh, which is not possible for a small farmer to afford. A large number of suicides by farmers have taken place in Malwa region and were related to water crisis.

“In 1984, there were 53 blocks as dark zones, in 1995 the number was 84 and in 2005, the figure went up to 108 out of a total of 141 blocks. The worst affected is central Punjab, where depth of water is below 30 feet in 95 per cent of the area,” said Langah.

Talwandi Sabo, February 20
Ruldu Singh, a farmer in his mid 60s from village Ghudda, has suffered a loss of more than Rs 2 lakh due to the pest Mealy bug, which destroyed more than 75 per cent of his crop this season. Similar is the case of 55-year-old Kamikkar Singh of village Behman Deewana, whose entire crop was destroyed by the bug.

They were a part of the 5,000 odd farmers, who had come to participate in a state level function, held on the launch of a three-day awareness rally called ‘Kheti Chetna March’.

This rally was launched by the government to educate people in this cotton belt about the Mealy bug menace, here today. This is the first of its kind awareness rally organised by any state government for the eradication of a particular insect or a pest.

Mealy bug has already damaged the cotton crop in Malwa, with production likely to dip by almost four lakh bales (22 lakh bales this year). There were reports around Bathinda of the Mealy bug attacking certain varieties of flowers like marigold as well. Speaking to TNS, Sucha Singh Langah, state agriculture minister, who was here to inaugurate the rally, said, “This season, the area under all kinds of Bt varieties in Punjab increased to 5.57 lakh hectares from 3.84 lakh hectares last season. Even the area under cotton cultivation this season has increased to 6.48 lakh hectares from 6.07 lakh hectares last season. Last year, 26 lakh bales were received in Punjab mandis and this year, arrival has gone down to almost 22 lakh bales.”

“As a result, farmers in the state suffered huge losses and some of them even committed suicide. So this is the time to educate farmers about this deadly bug so that it does not surface in the next season,” Langah added. He also urged the farmers to check the proliferation of weeds like Congress grass (Parthenium hysterophorus), which mainly grows in or around cotton fields, banks of water channels and wastelands and is a major host of the pest. “If the farmers want to eradicate the mealy bug menace, this weed should be removed from in and around the fields. Even the weed, which stands in vacant government and private land, will be removed by the state government.”

Bt cotton protects the crop only against one pest and cotton is attacked by almost 165 pests. This raises the chances of a resurgence of secondary pests and farmers end up spraying the same quantity of pesticides on their crop as they did earlier. The emergence of the mealy bug as a Bt cotton pest in Punjab also appears to be a case of secondary pest resurgence, and no amount or type of pesticide has been able to control it.

Barnala, February 20
The students of class V are finding themselves in a fix as a major part of the final paper on Punjabi language held today was out of syllabus. As per experts, about 70 per cent of the paper was beyond the purview of the syllabus, but the Board authorities admitted that it was only to the extent of 34 per cent. The students as well as parents have demanded the cancellation of the exam, but the Board authorities appear to be in a mood to hush up the matter by awarding grace marks to the candidates.  

The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) held the exam for the first language Punjabi today, in which around six lakh students across the state appeared. The PSEB had changed the book for the subject during the session of 2007-08. The book contained 25 chapters and was published by the PSEB itself and contained only two lessons from the earlier book.

There are three types of schools being run in the state under the Punjab School Education Board—the government schools, aided-schools and affiliated schools. The Board has a different pattern for all these schools. The PSEB itself conducts the exam and marking of class V students of the government and aided schools but as far affiliated schools are concerned, they conduct the exam with the PSEB question paper, but marking of exams is done by the schools themselves. Due to this disparity, the merit list of affiliated schools may go higher as the school authorities could try to give extra marks to their students.

PSEB chairman Dalbir Singh Dhillon said a committee has been formed today to look into the situation. Presently, it has decided to award 34 grace marks to the students, but he refused to entertain requests regarding cancellation of the exam.

Mansa: According to information available, 107 centres were set up to conduct the examination for 13,284 students of class V in district Mansa. Harcharanjeet Kaur Brar, DPI, Elementary, said this was a negligence on the part of the Board and the paper would be held again on the basis of the new syllabus. She added that the education minister of Punjab had issued directions to the PSEB in this regard.

Bikker Singh Ralla, leader of the Democratic Teachers Front, Hardeep Singh Siddhu, district president of the ETT Teachers Union and Darshan Singh Dhillon, convener of the District Education Committee, criticised the Board for its slackness.  —OC

Bathinda, February 20
The case of abduction in Bathinda of the three businessmen hailing from Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) turned murkier today as the Faridkot police registered a case under the NDPS Act against the kidnapped youths on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The case has now been transferred to the Mansa police for further probe. The involvement of an ASI, Sukhpal Singh, in the whole episode has also put the police force under a scanner.

On receiving the complaint regarding the abduction of the three— two of whom were brothers— the Bathinda police had registered a case on Tuesday evening at the Thermal police station. And during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, a report was received that the Faridkot police has arrested the three ‘abducted’ persons from its jurisdiction for possessing 400 gms of smack.

These conflicting facts had put the police in both the districts in a dilemma.

Clarifying the facts, SSP, Faridkot, L.K.Yadav said, “We intercepted the youths travelling in an Indica car at a special check-post near Sekhonwala in Faridkot district and recovered 400gms of smack from their possession. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the three.”

About the abduction case registered in Bathinda, Yadav said, “The facts are not clear yet. We have doubts over ASI Sukhpal Singh, who was in the team that intercepted the car in which the three were travelling. Chances of his involvement in the case are more.”

“The apolice has come to know that the ASI and one Saheb Singh of Rajasthan, who is a smuggler and has a dispute with the three, had been mates in jail. And this very fact puts the ASI under scanner. We suspect that they might have cooked up a conspiracy to indict the youths in a false case,” he added.

Giving details, DIG, Faridkot range, Jitendra Jain said, “The whole case has been transferred to a special investigating team comprising SSP Mansa, M.F. Farooqui, SP (Detective), Mansa and ASP (City), Bathinda. Meanwhile, sub-inspector Gurcharan Singh and ASI Sukhpal Singh, both under suspicion, have been suspended. The team has been further directed to present the report within a fortnight.”

Confirming this, IGP, Patiala zone, G.S.R. Reddy added: “For the time being, no formal arrests would be made and they would be released after their statements in the case are recorded.”

When contacted, SSP Bathinda, Naunihal Singh, said, “We had registered a case following the complaint of abduction. We are not guilty.”

On Tuesday, the three businessmen — Sanjeev Kumar, Manoj Kumar and Gaurav Bansal — were kidnapped from the court complex here and whisked away in a white Indica car bearing number HR-25-B-2051, in which they had come to appear before the court in a rape case.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness reported that the car reached Lake Number 3 on the Bathinda-Goniana road where five persons in a green coloured Innova, bearing a Faridkot number (which could not be clearly traced), were waiting for the Indica and with the help of a single-star policeman, dragged the youths and drove towards Goniana.

After recording the statements, the police had registered a case of abduction.

Bathinda, February 20
It was a unique mix of joy and sorrow at the investiture ceremony here with war widows receiving medals on behalf of their husbands, posthumously. Pride was writ large on their faces but the thought that these gallant soldiers would never come back again brought a sense of wistfulness among those present.

While the audience was lustily cheering the great soldiers when the citations were being read, their widows could not help nostalgia from overwhelming them.

Lance Naik Raj Kanwal Singh of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was conferred the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for displaying extraordinary courage and sense of duty by laying down his life to free three civilians, who were held hostage by the terrorists in a house at Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir, on August 7, 2006.

Singh was a member of the team engaged in a combing operation. During the mission, it was found that the terrorists had held three civilians hostage in a house and when the team reached the house, the terrorists opened fire. The fire was returned, the encounter continued and the hostages were taken out safely. The terrorists continued firing, which was returned by Singh, who died after receiving a bullet injury. His widow, Devinder Kaur, who received the medal, said she was proud of her husband, who sacrificed his life for the country.

Another war widow, Anita Devi, burst into tears when asked how she was feeling after receiving the medal. She could not hide her intense feelings and the joy of receiving the medal was drowned in tears.

Her husband, Rifleman Mukesh Kumar of the 57 Rashtriya Rifles, was killed in a cross-fire while encountering terrorists at Bandipur in J&K on September 3, 2006. The terrorists resorted to heavy firing and flung grenades to repulse the security forces. Mukesh and his fellow soldiers returned the fire. One of his companions sustained injuries in the firing and while trying to evacuate his wounded comrade, Mukesh received a bullet and succumbed to his injuries later.

Sapper Harpal Singh also lost his life in the same operation and fell to bullets while flushing out the terrorists.

His wife, Manjeet Kaur, said her husband had set an example and added that she would send her only son to the Army as a tribute to her late husband.

Bathinda, February 20
They accord top priority to their duty than their life; they are the jewels in India’s crown; they are the country’s pride; they are the brave soldiers of the Indian Army.

The Army, acknowledging their valuable service and loyalty to the nation, their courage and initiative, handed over the honours to them, which they duly deserved, at the investiture ceremony held at the Bathinda Military Station today.

The memorable and proud moments for the Armymen began when Lieutenant-General P.K. Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C), South Western Command, reached the Helipad Ground and four roaring helicopters showered flowers to pay respects to the bravehearts.

The Lieutenant-General gave away the honours to 37 awardees, including three posthumous awardees.

Seventeen Sena Medals (Gallantry), one Bar to Sena Medal, four Sena Medal (Devotion to duty), seven Vishisht Seva Medal and four Unit Appreciations were awarded after a spectacular parade, which included contingents from seven infantry regiments, two regiments of Armoured Corps, Army Aviation Squadron and the Military Bands of the Grenadier Regimental Centre and Sikh Light Infantry Regimental Centre. The ceremony was witnessed in large numbers by soldiers’ families, JCOs, jawans, ex-servicemen and civil dignitaries.

The unique feature of the ceremony was that it was for the first time in the newly-raised South Western Command that an investiture ceremony was held as a parade in the open, on the lines of the Army Day parade in New Delhi.

The entire function was conducted by the Chetak Corps under the stewardship of Lieutenant-General R.S.Sujlana on behalf of the South Western Command. (See also P4)

Bathinda, February 20
“The glamour of MNCs can never match the pride of the uniform as it is love for the country and not the fat salaries that motivate the youth to join the Army,” General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South-Western Command, Lt-Gen P.K. Singh said here today.

P.K.Singh, who was here for the investiture ceremony, told the TNS team, “The moment I see myself in the mirror wearing the uniform, an intense feeling of pride and duty runs through me and I feel that it is not a job but a symbol of dedication and service to the people and the country.”

“Young people do not join the Army only for salary. There is a feeling of nationalism that drives them to seek a path of service,” he said when asked about the hike in the pay-scales of the armed forces.

He narrated a recent incident of dedication where a jawan died after being shot while saving his senior and said that such acts of bravery were not witnessed anywhere else.

The Lieutenant-General said the dignity and honour attached to the uniform was a life-long asset. “Once a soldier, always a soldier,” he stated.

“Quality of life, respect and love of countrymen and oneness are the factors which encourage one to join Army,” he added.

“The sense of duty and discipline was important to a soldier, whether in service or retired, and he remains part of this family even after his retirement,” he added.

When asked about the increasing number of suicides among soldiers, Singh said such incidents should be viewed in the context of society. It was generally societal pressure and other factors that drive one to commit suicide. However, in case of the Army, they get highlighted, he observed.

The GOC-in-C did not share the general perception that youths were not willing to join the Army today.

General Singh also said that the Army was contributing to civil society in its own humble way and the civil society was also making great contributions to the Army.

Bathinda, February 20
The Railway Board has decided to extend the cancellation of some important trains between some stations till further orders.

According to sources in the railway, the 4723/4724 Kalindi Express would be suspended between Kanpur Central and Delhi while the 4217/4218 Unchahar Express would not be moving between Allahabad and Chandigarh.

The 3111/3112 Lal Qila Express would be cancelled between Mughalsarai and Delhi and the 3007/3008 Udhyan-Abha Toofan Express would not run between Mugalsarai and Agra while the 4307/4308 Mughalsarai-Bareilly Express would be suspended between Mughalsarai and Allahabad.

The 3039/3040 Janta Express would also be suspended between Mughalsarai and Delhi till further orders, sources said.

It may be mentioned here that considering the prevailing weather conditions in January last, the railway had decided to suspend the movement of these trains between the above-mentioned stations till February 15.

Reviewing its previous decision at a meeting on February 16, the Railway Board had decided to extend the cancellation, sources said, adding that this time the rail authority had not given any specific reasons for its decision.

President of the Railway Passengers Welfare Association, Bathinda, A.K. Garg has demanded the withdrawal of the suspension of the movement of these trains. 

Bathinda, February 20
The Department of Political Science at the local DAV College would organise a national conference on ‘Judicial Activism’ on February 22 at the college campus. According to college principal, J.S. Anand, “Income Tax Commissioner, Bathinda, H.S. Sohi will be the chief guest on the occasion while eminent political scientists from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh would present their papers.

Inderjit Singh Sethi, head, Department of Political Science, Punjabi University, Patiala, will deliver the keynote address.”

Vishisht Seva Medal

Maj Gen Narendra Singh, SM

Maj Gen Kamal Kishore  Upadhyaya (Retd)

Maj Gen Joginder Singh Ghumman (Retd)

Brig SP Menon (Retd)

Brig Balwinder Singh

Brig MA Devaiah (Retd)

Col Adil Mahmood

Col Mahesh Kumar Singh

Bar to Sena Medal

Col Anil Kumar Samantara, SM

Sena Medal

Col Rajesh Tyagi

Col Rajinder Pal Singh

Col Atul Kumar Singh

Col Sunil Kumar

Lt Col Shailendra Solankey

Mak Krishna Siddu Belkud

Maj Kamaldeep Singh  Salaria

Maj Abhishek Singh

Maj Girish Parthan

Maj Aditya Pratap Singh

Maj Rajesh Kumar Sharma

Capt Pradeep Kumar Thapa

Capt Pranay Padmakar Pawar

Lt Jonathan Alexander

Sub Nirmal Singh

Nk Rajendra Kumar

Nk Rajesh Kumar

L/Nk Raj Kanwal Singh (P)

L/Nk Mahendra Singh Yadav

Rfn Mukesh Kumar (P)

Rfn Ravindra Kumar

Rfn Sanjay Kumar

Spr Harpal Singh (P)

Ptr Rakesh Chandra

Unit Appreciation

Col Dinesh Sharma

Sub Maj Ved Prakash

Col Sudeep Singh

Sub Maj (DS) Vijay Kumar K