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Jan Tantra or gun
tantra?
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Heavy turnout, 70 pc polling reported
Confident, says SAD leader
Panchayat polls: Filing of papers from today
Counting on Wednesday
SAD state of affairs for village democracy
Jugraj Singh, a supporter of SAD (B), attacked by SAD (A) workers, undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital in Moga. — Tribune photo by Kulwinder Sandhu Polls not peaceful
Contestants serve meals on pretext of ‘langar’
6 injured in clashes
Firing in Mansa: 3 injured
75 pc polling in Bhucho Kalan
Punjab Mail stopped
Traders observe bandh
Nursing care
Dance, contest mark celebrations
Students presenting a skit on the Nursing Day in Abohar on Monday.
—A Tribune photograph
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Jan Tantra or gun
tantra?
Bathinda, May 12 The critically injured BJP workers include D.P. Chandan, a recently appointed vice-chairman of Small Traders Board and having the status of a minister of state, Naveen Singla, district general secretary and Amanpreet Singh Robin. They have been admitted to the localcivil hospital, with serious head injuries. According to doctors, their situation is critical. Others, who were beaten up by SAD workers include Mohit Gupta, state executive member, Sunita Gautam, vice-president, Mahila Morcha Punjab, Bhushan Jain, general secretary, Mandal Rampura, Vinod Garg, district president, BJP youth wing, besides many others. Taking a serious note of the whole incident and hinting at withdrawal of support to SAD, Manoranjan Kalia, minister for local government, industries and commerce, while visiting the injured at the local civil hospital, said, “It is a very unfortunate incident and it should not have happened. In a democracy, all citizens have the right to contest elections. But the SAD has acted in a very undemocratic manner and has murdered democracy. I have apprised BJP president Rajnath Singh and L.K. Advani about the incident.” When asked that whether the BJP would take back its support to the SAD, he said, “After the incident, now all options are open for the BJP. But yes, it is one of the options we are thinking of. Now, we have called a meeting of our core committee tomorrow morning at Chandigarh, which would be chaired by Balbir Punj, in-charge of Punjab affairs for BJP. Further course of action would be decided at the meeting.” Mohit Gupta, state executive member, who was also injured in the clash, said, “More than 300 SAD workers, led by Bhura Singh, president, Truck Union, Rampura, gheraoed the BJP workers and critically injured them with swords and sticks. Earlier in the day, when I met Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Jagdeep Singh Nakai, at village Bhundar in Mansa district and apprised him about the hooliganism there, he held me by my collar and insulted me in front of BJP workers.” The BJP workers had gathered in large numbers at the civil hospital and were raising slogans against CM Parkash Singh Badal, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, state government and the police. DC Rahul Tewari, said, “An FIR will be registered against all the accused as per law.” Charanjit Garg, senior medical officer, Bathinda, said, “D.P. Chandan has injuries on his whole body, whereas Naveen Singla has serious head injuries. Amanpreet has a fracture in the arm besides other internal injuries.”
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Heavy turnout, 70 pc polling reported
Bathinda, May 12 The turnout of voters was heavy as 70 to 75 per cent of the rural electorate cast their votes to elect 44 Zila Parishad and 141 Block Samiti members. As many as 734 booths were set up for polling and in all, 356 candidates were in the fray. 44 candidates contested for the 14 zones of Zila Parishad. The number of candidates from SAD was 15, Congress 14, BJP 4, CPI 1 and independents 8. As many as 313 candidates contested for the 8 Block Samiti seats. SAD fielded 126 of them, Congress 113, BJP 13, CPI 6 and the independent numbered 55. The polling started on a dull note with 10 to 15 per cent voters exercising their franchise in the first two hours but it was brisk in the noon and touched 50 to 55 per cent mark by 2 pm at different places. The heavy trend of voting continued in the last leg and 70 to 75 per cent polling was reported. As per the official reports, polling was 70 per cent in Bathinda, 80 per cent in Maur, 74 per cent in Phul, 73 per cent in Rampura, 66 per cent in Talwandi Sabo, 75 per cent in Bhagta, 67 per cent in Nathani and 73 per cent in Sangat. The turnout of women voters was quite impressive and large queues of women voters were seen at the polling booths in the afternoon. The rancour and bitterness of a fierce electoral battle was visible at several places as supporters of the candidates of political parties gave vent to their feelings in an aggressive tone. One-third seats were reserved for women candidates and there was great enthusiasm among the women voters in these areas. The District Returning Officer has sought reports from the presiding officers regarding clashes and allegations of rigging and a repoll is not ruled out. |
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Confident, says SAD leader
Harirai Pur, May 12 There were reports of rigging by the ruling SAD at village Burj Mehma, where a Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) polling agent named Gurjant Singh was arrested by the Nehianwala police because Gurjant is a government employee who works with the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). In most areas, the Congress, BJP and independent candidates alleged that the names of several voters had been deleted and the names of fictitious persons had been included in the electoral rolls. However, the SAD leaders refuted these allegations. In Bhagta block, there was a direct contest between SAD candidate Harwinder Kaur Dhaliwal and Congress candidate Kuldeep Kaur Bhagta for the Bhagta Bhai constituency. In Burj Tharor constituency, the contest was between SAD’s Gurpreet Singh Maluka, Rachhpal Singh Raju of the Congress and the BJP’s Sukhjit Kaur Kotha Guru. At village Gumti Kalan, around 65 per cent votes were polled. In village Jalal, polling was 70 per cent, at village Neyor, 80 per cent, at Kotha Guru 63 per cent, at Hamirgarh 83 per cent and at Bhai Rupa 67 per cent. Sikandar Singh Maluka, district in-charge of SAD, said, “Election was peaceful at Burj Tharor constituency in Bhagta block. I am confident that our candidate from this constituency. At village Burj Gill of Phul block, there was a very unfortunate incident, where the SAD and BJP workers clashed.” “I already had a meeting with the BJP leaders and have assured them that the election should be peaceful. I would have given them the seat had they demanded. The problem there started when the BJP leaders went inside the polling booth and the other candidates objected to it. The Congress is not contesting from there and they are supporting the BJP candidate there,” Maluka alleged. Maluka also said that in the Bhagta block, his party is confident of winning 14 out of 15 seats and 10 out of 15 seats in Phul block. MLA Nathana, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, said, “The SAD indulged in rigging at Janda Wala, Nehianwala, Badiala and Chauke villages. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Jagdeep Singh Nakai led a group of 200 odd peopl, who indulged in hooliganism in different villages.” |
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Panchayat polls: Filing of papers from today
Bathinda, May 12 Nomination papers can be withdrawn by the candidates till May 19 by 3 pm. The elections will be held on May 26 from 8 am to 4 pm and the counting will |
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Counting on Wednesday
Bathinda, May 12 For Bathinda block, counting will be held at Government Polytechnic College, for Nathana at BDPO office, Nathana, for Sangat block at BDPO office, Sangat, for Maur block at Government Senior Secondary School, Maur Kalan, for Talwandi Sabo block at Dashmesh Senior Secondary School, Talwandi Sabo, for Phul block at University College Neighbourhood Campus, Phul, for Rampura block at Dev Samaj High School, Mandi Phul and for Bhagta Bhai Ka block at Government Senior Secondary School, Bhagta Bhai Ka. —
TNS
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SAD state of affairs for village democracy
Badal/Lambi (Muktsar), May 11 The percentage of polling was 67 in Muktsar district, the home turf of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his nephew, finance minister Manpreet Badal, but ironically, neither the CM nor SAD chief Sukhbir Badal chose to cast their ballot. Manpreet Badal also did not turn up to cast his vote. Irregularities were reported from a number of villages in the district namely, Midhu Khera, Ghagga, Lambi, Badal, Panjawa, Jhorarh, Mehna, Kotli Devan, Ghumiara and Madir. Sources in villages Kotli Devan and Lambi in Muktsar district said that SAD activists fired shots in the air to create terror among the opponents. Various incidents of booth capturing and assault were also reported from the area. An injured Baljinder Singh Mann of village Ghagga, lying in Gidderbaha civil hospital, alleged that SAD activists put red chilli in his eyes and assaulted him with a sharp-edged weapon. He had a severe gash in his arm and doctors had to apply ten stitches. Also at the same hospital was a 16-year-old Jagdeep Singh of village Madir who had suffered a head injury. Jagdeep alleged that a local SAD leader had assaulted him with brick because he had heard of his “gameplan.” A Congress candidate for the Block Samiti from Ghumiara, Dharam Singh alleged that the SAD activists, in connivance with the policemen deputed at the booth, cast bogus votes and no one paid heed to his repeated requests to stop it. According to sources, at village Ghumiara, Kotli Devan, Madir and Jhorarh in the district, polling was interrupted for an hour allegedly due to a clash between the SAD and Congress workers. Reports of the polling staff being thrashed by SAD workers also filtered in. At village Lambi, the home turf of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, reports of gunshots being fired poured in. Here, two journalists of national dailies were made captive for an hour and it was only after repeated requests that they were allowed to leave. A Punjabi daily photographer was assaulted leading to a fracture of arm and leg. Congress leader Mahesh Inder Singh Badal was also allegedly roughed up. In village Badal, reports of people casting their vote without any identity proof and vehicles with stickers of SAD pasted on them were reported to be moving freely. The presence of a large number of musclemen was observed at all booths in the district. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, Vikas Garg, said, “All these incidents took place outside the polling booths. For this, the police would be held responsible. We are also investigating the irregularities.” Despite repeated attempts, SSP Muktsar Gurpret Singh Gill could not be contacted for his comments.
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Ferozepur, May 12 At village Kalianwali, brawl took place between the Akali and Congress workers, in which scores of workers got injured. Some incidents of booth capturing have also been reported including that at polling booths at Basti Swaroop Singh, Rukna Bodra and Boongi in Guruharsahai. In Suba Qadim, the villagers boycotted. Overall, around 62 per cent polling was reported in the district. — OC
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Contestants serve meals on pretext of ‘langar’
Alamgarh (Abohar), May 12 Supporters of some candidates had defaced even the main gate of the polling station: the government high school: with publicity material and they were found ferrying voters right up to the gate using vehicles. About 200 electorates had thronged the polling station about half an hour before the schedule time. A former-sarpanch Ratan Lal was among them but he could retain the decade old distinction of being the first to cast his vote in the village. His son Rajveer Singh, who was to exercise his right to franchise for the first time, won the toss and preceded his father in polling the first vote. One Sukh Ram (85) collapsed as he came out after casting the votes and died in the school complex. A former block Congress president and councillor Amrik Singh Thind alleged that some workers including women of the ruling coalition had tried to dominate the polling exercise by harassing pro-Congress voters in the beginning but the Congress workers did not loose tamper and tactful handling by the government staff on duty averted a clash. In village Killianwali also the police had to take a tough posture in the beginning of the polling as SAD (B) – BJP workers, who had thronged the polling station, allegedly tried to intimidate their opponents. In village Sayyedwala political activists were found canvassing inside the polling station with some women who still were not aware what was the difference between Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.
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Mansa, May, 12 According to the information, first incident occurred at Bainiwal village when some unidentified persons attacked villagers. In this incident, one Rajan was injured, who was admitted to the civil hospital, Mansa. SSP Mansa, M.F. Farooqi said police had registered a case. Another firing incident occurred at Doolowal village in which three persons got injured. Injured villagers- Buta Singh, Naranjan Singh and Beant Singh, were admitted to Mansa’s civil hospital. Additional district electoral officer Baljit Singh Sandhu informed that although some firing incidents occurred during the polling, but there was no disturbance at all polling booths. He informed that nearly 78 per cent polling in Sardoolgarh, 76 per cent in Jhuneer, 71 per cent in Mansa, 73 per cent in Bikhi and 65 per cent in Budhlada was recorded.
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75 pc polling in Bhucho Kalan
Bhucho Kalan (Bathinda), May 12 Barring a stray incidents of alleged irregularities, the elections passed off peacefully. The BJP and Congress levelled allegations of rigging by the SAD. They alleged that the names of several voters were deleted and fictitious persons had been included in the electoral rolls. The heaviest polling was recorded at Tungwali village where 78 .4 per cent votes were cast and the lowest turnout was at Bibiwala village where 68.8 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise. There was heavy polling in Bhucho Kalan and Tungwali villages although many people had gone out because of the three-day holiday. About 25 per cent people had cast their votes by noon. It picked up later and about 68 per cent votes were cast by 3 pm. About 78.4 per cent polling was recorded at Tungwali village, 72 per cent at Lehra Mohabbat, 68.8 per cent at Bibiwala and 70.4 per cent at Chak Fateh Singhwala. As many as 44 candidates are contesting the elections. The SAD and the Congress have fielded their candidates from all the 16 seats while the BJP is contesting on four seats. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Wednesday. Reports of minor brawl between supporters of different candidates were received from Lehra Mohabbat and Bibiwala. The ADC-cum-returning officer, Upjeet Singh Brar, said no untoward incident had been reported. Senior leaders of the ruling SAD, Congress and BJP went around supervising the polling. Some residents of Tungwali village complained that their names had been deleted from the rolls.
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Punjab Mail stopped
Ferozepur, May 12 Sekhon said that the police had not rounded up any Congress worker; however one Meher Singh Ex-Chairman Market Committee was arrested as the police had recovered Rs 96000 meant to be distributed amongst electorate and 500 grams opium from his possession. The Minister said that the demonstration of the Congress and blocking the train was totally uncalled for as it caused distress and harassment to the public. Earlier, the Congress workers lifted the blockade at around 1:30 am after the senior police officials reached the spot and persuaded the enraged Congress workers to allow the train to move.
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Traders observe bandh
Barnala, May 12 The representatives of Beopar Mandal took out a protest march in the main bazaars of the city, including Sadar Bazar, Handiaya Bazar and Pharwahi Bazar. They were demanding cancellation of the FIR registered against Toti under section 302 of the IPC. A delegation of Beopar Mandal also met police authorities to cancel the FIR describing Toti as innocent. Anil Naana, president Beopar Mandal said that the organisation would fight for the cause of traders. |
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Nursing care
Bathinda, May 12 With skewed patient-nurse ratio in the local civil hospital, nurses are being compelled to cope up with care of over 10 patients even as they should be looking after just four. The resultant stress on nurses is telling. A nurse, on request of anonymity, at local hospital here, says, “If I am in the ICU—hospital’s most critical area—I should be looking after not more than two patients at a time. However, the shortage is so acute that I have to rush from one bed to other collecting samples, monitoring equipment, giving injections and medicines to at least eight patients. The hospital is facing manpower crunch of the worst kind. There
are 25 nurses as against the requirement of over 75 nursing staff. Things have taken a turn for the better in the hospital with the help of under training nurses. “The patient-nurse ratio is still skewed. We are short of nurses even in the emergency ward. But things have improved after additional hands
have been hired,” a senior nursing staff member told The Tribune. Shortage of adequate hands has resulted in overall deterioration of health standards in the hospital. “Beyond a point, overworked nursing staff gets immune to the patient’s distress calls. She takes her own time doing
things and since she knows she cannot possibly cater to so many demands put on her, she stops even trying. That is why we have people complaining that despite repeated calls, the nurses do not respond which in turn has an adverse impact on the patient care,” said a representative of the nursing staff at civil hospital. |
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Dance, contest mark celebrations
Abohar, May 12 Chief guest Faquir Chand Goyal and presiding officer Vimal Thathai, both former members of the municipal council, were joined by Gauri Shankar Mittal and Sita Ram Sharma, chairman and managing director respectively of the institutes, in lighting the lamp before the portrait of Bharat Mata. The principals of the institutions, Jayashree Dass and Bharti, spoke about the qualities of an ideal nurse. The students who presented a variety of cultural items including a skit were—Karamjit Kaur, Naveen, Sumitra, Suman, Sandeep, Ramandeep and Meenakshi. They tried to convey message on literacy, female foeticide and other social evils. Dances based on the Punjabi folk songs enthralled the audience. A teacher, Deepinder, spoke about the life of Florence Nightingale. Manpreet, Shakuntla and Nirmal won first, second and third prize respectively in chart-making contest during the function. |
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Akalis, Congmen cross swords
Abohar, May 12
