Barnala, March 28
The much-talked Trident land acquisition issue took its final shape with the implementation of June 2007 agreement held between the state government and the farmers union.

With the farmers of three villages accepted the compensation cheques worth Rs 8 crore, the Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) termed it a major victory for the outfit.

As many as 102 cheques worth Rs 8 crore of the enhanced 70 per cent price to the original cost were distributed among the farmers of the three villages of Sanghera, Dhaula and Fatehgarh Channa by the district administration here today.

Land acquisition collector Sanjay Popli and deputy commissioner R.L. Mehta jointly gave away the cheques to the farmers at the DC court here today evening.

Sanjay Popli told TNS that these cheques were of the enhanced price while the cheques of the original land cost were already lying with the state treasury. Those cheques would be distributed among the farmers on April 5. At the same time 10 farmer families of the Sanghera village received Rs 1 lakh per family as additional compensation in the agreement as they claimed that the Sanghera land falls in urban periphery now. Meanwhile Rs 50 lakh had been distributed as compensation to superstructures comprising trees, tube wells or other means in the acquired land.

DC said that the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had made a special appeal to the farmers sitting on dharna to call off the agitation, as it is the harvesting season. He assured the farmers that any remaining compensation would be paid to them by all means. He appealed them to return to their work. The fax regarding this message has been received by the deputy commissioner office here today.

Joginder Singh Ugrahan, state president Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) has expressed his satisfaction over the development. He said their union struggled a lot to achieve this victory. This victory had send clear signals to the industrialist that now it was no more easy for the industrialist to forcibly acquire the land.

Earlier, it was a hectic day for the tripartite as every body was busy in bustling his own tune.

After the adjournment of the special Lok Adalat on Thursday, the district administration remained on its toes to resolve the issue.

DC, SSP and land acquisition collector called a special meeting of farmer union activists and Trident officials to discuss the latest situation yesterday evening.

Earlier, BKU Ugrahan blocked the road traffic and staged a dharna at Bazakhana road here today for two hours in the afternoon which caused inconvenience to buses as well as commuters. This dharna sent the alarming signals to the administration that farmers were now adamant to get the agreement implemented come what may so this accelerate the government efforts to bring out consensus between farmers union and Trident land officials.

Bathinda, March 28
Irked over the ill-treatment and abusive behavior of the Bathinda police, the media persons today submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate, addressing the Governor of the state, demanding the suspension of six accused police officers including a lady and two deputy superintendents of police, within 72-hour.

In the memorandum the media persons mentioned that during the seminar at Civil Hospital, lady police along with a number of male officers, manhandled the protesting Anganwari women workers and dragged them out of the pandal on the pretext of disruption in Chief Minister’s speech.

The situation took an ugly turn, when the media persons intervened in the matter and a lady police officer, Madhu Bala threatened to implicate them in a false case of molestation.

In the incident, in charge CIA, Ranjit Singh, a sub-inspector Balwinder Singh and in charge of the Community police resource committee, Sanjeev Mittal roughed up the media persons and used abusive language against them. The police even stopped lens-men from clicking shots of the incident. During the incident, the DSP Talwandi Sabo, Parminder Pal Singh and DSP (rural), DS Brar misbehaved with the pressmen.

Frustrated over the issue, the media persons appraised the CM Parkash Singh Badal about the matter, who rejected the demand for immediate action and suspension of the accused police officers, which led to the boycott of coverage of the function. The media persons also turned down the offer of Badal to hold an enquiry into the episode.

Now in the memorandum, the newsmen including the electronic, print and lens men unanimously sought the suspension of all the accused police officers within the 72-hours. The media persons also decided to boycott the district police and the chief minister till their demands are not met.

The District magistrate, Rahul Tewari, while accepting the memorandum said that an inquiry had been marked to bring out the facts and urged the media community not to take such step.

Meanwhile various organizations even the leaders of the ruling party condemned the act of the police. The office bearers of Dalit Sena, district congress committee, Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Panch Pardhani) issued press releases, criticizing the attitude of the police with the media and assured for cooperation.

In a written document, Gurpreet Singh Maluka, general secretary of the youth Akali Dal alleged the Bahinda police for its atrocity. Even the Akhil Bhartiya Vidharti Parishad Bathinda Unit issued a press release condemning the act of police. 

Abohar, March 28
Convener of the Lok Sangram Manch, Punjab, Baldev Singh has condemned the Bathinda police for thrashing and dragging Anganwari workers by hair on Thursday.

He said, “Parkash Singh Badal had categorically stated after taking oath of office as Chief Minister last year that women would not be summoned to police stations during his regime but he had concealed the other part that they would be beaten up in his presence by the men in khaki.” He also said that even the Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla was a silent spectator to the merciless thrashing of women by male constables.

A day earlier the police had beaten up landless peasants including women and children in the home district of the Chief Minister for daring a procession to meet him at Lambi, Baldev Singh said.   

He said that the one-year rule by the SAD (B) –BJP alliance had clearly indicated that this government was also anti-people and had no respect for human rights besides the freedom of the Press.

Barnala: The Punjab and Chandigarh Journalist Union and the Progressive Press Club, Barnala have criticised the maltreatment done with newsmen in Bathinda. Jagir Singh Jagtar, patron of the club, said that union had passed a resolution condemning the incident. —OC

Mansa: CPI (ML) Liberation today criticised the incidents of thrashing of the Anganwari workers and the agriculture workers who were raising their demands in the presence of CM at Bathinda and Lambi.  State secretary of the party, Rajvinder Singh Rana, said this act of police had disclosed the policies of the government. —OC

Moga, March 28
Standing by her husband and in-laws, Ramneek Kaur rubbished the allegation of her parents that she was held captive in the Philippines. She also refuted the allegation that any money was paid to her husband.

Addressing media persons here today, she said her parents made unfounded allegations against her husband and in-laws. She approached the officiating district police chief Ashok Baath with her statement who in turn forwarded it to Badhani Kalan police station.

Ramneek's father Harchand Singh flanked by Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) chief B.S. Ramoowalia had made their allegations public by holding a press conference in Jalandhar on March 20. Her father had alleged that his son-in-law Ranjit used to threaten them that if they did not send him more money, he would get their daughter eliminated.Harchand had claimed that till date Rs 18 lakh had been paid to Ranjit.

This put the LBP and its chief in an embarrassing position. Soon, the revelation reached Ramneek's parents and leaders of the LBP. Later, her parents in the presence of Sukhwinder Singh Brar, vice President, LBP, held a press conference. Harchand maintained that he still stood by his allegations, adding that the truth could come out only if police separated her daughter and assured her security.

He asked that if there was no such thing then why Ranjit had left their one-year-old daughter to him. Harchand also claimed that he had sought more money.

Bathinda, March 28
Consumer rights are being violated blatantly at the local bus stand. To buy eatables or other packed products and the much-in-demand items at the bus stand, one has to shell out much more than the actual cost of the product.

“Biscuits, toffees and chips are sold at prices far exceeding the MRP. If anyone objects, the shopkeeper picks up a fight,” says a regular commuter. “Even chewing gum like Center Fresh, with the MRP of Re one, is sold for Rs 1.25,” he adds.

“Overcharging is common here. You feel as if you are being cheated. If customers object, he has to face unpleasantness. Something needs to be worked out so that those who complain receive justice,” said Vipan Gupta, a passenger from Mansa, waiting at the bus stand.

“Despite an advertisement campaign on television, radio and newspapers, passengers and passersby are fleeced openly at the bus stand as they have no option. Everyone at the bus stand is in a rush and there is not much time to argue over the issue, much to the benefit of unscrupulous shopkeepers,” says another passenger.

“I used to oppose overcharging till some time back, but I don’t mind to pay extra any more. I was subjected to verbal abuses over the rate of a packet of ‘Lays Chips’ that normally costs Rs 20 and for which Rs 22 were being demanded. My wife was with me and I was embarrassed,” said Jatin Sharma, an IT professional working at Ferozepur. “They are all working in tandem.”

All have their share in it, be it the local administration officials, police or shopkeepers,” alleged a rickshaw-puller at the bus stand.

When contacted, an official of the PRTC at the bus stand said he had not received any complaint about such malpractices. “Consumer forums are working for the purpose, and you should talk to them,” he said. 

Abohar, March 28
Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana today presented a cheque for Rs one lakh to the family of Jaswinder Kaur (35) who had reportedly died after taking meals prepared allegedly with the wheat issued to her children under the Mid-day meal scheme in village Kandhwala Hazarkhan.

Jaswinder Kaur, her mother and four children had fallen ill after taking meals on March 15. All were admitted to the civil hospital at Fazilka where Jaswinder Kaur died on March 17. Others were referred to the medical college hospital at Faridkot. Her mother Sammi Bai later died there. The children have now reached their home after regaining health. Ghuriana said he had called on the patients and offered cash assistance earlier.

On the last working day of the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha he requested the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to sanction grant for the bereaved Bazigar family. The CM office issued Rs 1 lakh cheque for the kin of Jaswinder Kaur, same amount would be paid by the CM himself to kin of Sammi Bai who belonged to Lambi area.

Mansa, March 28
The farmers, whose lands have been acquired for the 1800 MW Talwandi Saboo Thermal Plant, are facing the blockage of cheques of payments due to various reasons. 

Some farmers belonging to Banawali, Raipur and Peron villages said that the district administration had been “blocking” their cheques because of common ownership of land and some land which was out of Land Ceiling Act.

Payment of farmers who had pledged their land under different banks for loan had also been blocked. 

State president of Punjab Kissan Union Ruldu Singh and district president Balkaran Singh Balli said that nearly 2300 acres land of 1100 farmers were acquired and nearly 200 farmers had been facing the blockage of payment. Kissan leaders demanded the release of payment through solving the concerned problems.

ADC (General) Sukhwinder Singh, who has been conducting the cases of payment, said that some controversial cases had been sent to civil courts for the proper division and ownership of land. On the issue of bank loan, he said they were waiting for the government notification about the loan waiving of farmers. — OC

Abohar, March 28
The Rashtriya Suraksha Samiti (RSS) has resented that there had been no increase in the monthly pension for the families affected by terrorism in Punjab during the last twelve years. 

RSS state secretary Sita Ram Sharma and divisional convener Rakesh Raheja said here on Friday that the government had in 1996 decided to give Rs 2,500 per month to the families who had lost their bread earner due to terrorism. Since then none of the governments had cared to revise the amount even when there had been five-time price rise. They said that there had been no revision in Rs 25,000 financial assistance for marriage of daughters of these families.

The organisation demanded that the affected families should be allotted residential plots free of cost besides interest-free loan under the self-employment scheme. They should be issued free travel pass, subsidised ration, electricity, drinking water and other facilities. —OC

Barnala, March 28
A two-day workshop aimed at creating awareness about the Revised National T.B. Programme among health workers concluded here today. 

Civil surgeon, Barnala, Balbir Singh said that tuberculosis was easily curable and under this programme, the government provides the complete medicine for the patient totally free. State T.B. Control society communicator facilitator Jagdish Rai described the disease, its symptom, preventive measures at length. District T.B. Control officer Navjot Pal Bhullar was also present. — OC

Bathinda, March 28
After the cotton belt of the state suffered huge losses due to spurious Bt cotton seeds, the Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB), the company selling Bollgard Bt cotton seeds, today launched an anti-illegal seeds awareness campaign to educate farmers.

“The campaign with a slogan ‘Har Bar Haq Se Maango, Pucca Bill’ urges the farmers to buy Bollgard Bt cotton seeds only on a genuine bill. It also aims at educating them about pesticides and how to make high yields,” Arunava Chakravorthy, regional sales manager (north), MMB informed.

On the cotton scene of the state, he informed, “Punjab has 15.7 lakh acres under cotton cultivation. In 2007, farmers cultivated genuine Bollgard Bt cotton seeds on 7.24 lakh acres and illegal cotton seeds on approximately 4.24 lakh acres. Thus, illegal cotton seeds were the major deterrent to high cotton yield”

Chief agriculture officer Paramjit Singh Sandhu said, “Main reasons for the sale of illegal seeds can be attributed to their lower prices and easy availability through unscrupulous traders and unsuspecting farmers.”

“The state government would soon finalise a plan to appoint an agency who would deliver Bt cotton seeds directly to the farmers so that they are not cheated. I appeal the farmers to buy the seeds only on a pucca bill,” he added.

Surinderpal Singh, a farmer from Tungwali village said, “Fake Bt cotton seeds come either through seed traders or our relatives, whom we trust.