Bathinda, May 15
On Thursday, the penultimate day for the fiing of nominations for the panchayat elections in the district, only a few candidates had filed their papers.

For the village panchayat elections, altogether 20 returning officers (RO) have been deployed under the headship of the sub-divisional magistrates (SDM), who are also the sub-divisional electoral officers.

For a zone of every 15 villages, one RO has been appointed. The SDM Bathinda will have nine ROs, SDM Phul will lead six ROs and SDM Talwandi is supposed to lead five ROs. The number of ballot boxes will be around 800.

In the notified list procured from the DC office, the post of sarpanches in 70 villages have been reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, 49 for the Scheduled Caste woman (SCW) candidates, 65 posts for women while 139 posts would come under the general category.

The details for the reservation of the offices of sarpanches of village panchayats of the district would be as follows:

Bathinda block: 16 seats for SC, eight for SCW, 14 seats for women and 28 seats for general category candidates.

Bhagta Bhai Ka bock: 7 seats for SC, 4 seats for SCW, 6 seats for women and 14 seats for general category.

Maur block: 7 seats for SC, 4 seats for SCW, 7 seats for women and 16 seats for general category.

Nathana block: 8 seats for SC, 5 seats for SCW, 7 seats for women and 15 seats for general category.

Phul block: 7 seats for SC, 4 seats for SCW, 6 seats for women and 13 seats for general category.

Rampura block: 6 seats for SC, 4 seats for SCW, 6 seats for women, 14 seats for general category.

Sangat block: 9 seats for SC, 5 seats for SCW, 8 seats for women and 18 seats for general category.

Talwandi Sabo block: 10 seats for SC, 15 seats for SCW, 11 seats for women and 21 seats for general category.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari said the notification was released on Wednesday (May 14). However, the printed date on the notification was May 9. The DC said the time lag could have been because of factors related to printing etc. 

Bathinda, May 15
In the recently held Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, where the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has literally won all the seats in the Malwa heartland, the Congress leaders feel that the infighting amongst their top leadership is the main reason for this defeat.

They also allege that ‘all kinds of unfair means’ used by SAD during the entire election process was also among the reasons for their victory.

“The tussle for power amongst Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and former Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh is one of the major reasons for our defeat. As a disciplined Congress worker, we always look up to our senior leaders for seeking guidance on almost all issues. But when our leaders are fighting amongst themselves for their own personal reasons, how can they expect the workers to be together?” rued Congress workers.

“These leaders have forgotten the cause of common man and are busy amongst themselves. If they do not mend their ways before the parliament and municipal corporation elections, the same results can be expected then also,” a Congress worker requesting anonymity said.

When contacted, MLA Nathana, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, he said, “I cannot rule out the possibility of the infighting among senior leaders leading to our defeat to some extent. All Congress workers are fully aware of these facts and feel sad about the whole issue. But still, people are with us. SAD has registered wins only because they used all kind of unfair means during voting.”

When asked why Bhattal did not visit the Malwa area even once before the elections, whereas BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia visited the city for quite some time, Bhatti said, “Our PPCC president is busy in the Amritsar byelection and that is why she did not visit the Bathinda area. And Capt Amrinder Singh has been sick and has been advised rest by the doctors.”

MLA Rampura Phul, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, said, “All top leadership of the Congress is busy in the Amritsar bypoll and today, even we have been called there to help our candidate. Moreover, infighting at the local level amongst local leaders further affected the results here.”

“On election day, Punjab was literally turned into Bihar, even worse than that. During the counting of votes, we saw that seals of ballot boxes were either broken or tampered with. When the ballot papers were being taken out of the ballot boxes, they were in the form of bundles. Now, how can a ballot paper form a bundle inside the ballot box? Just one polling agent of the Congress was allowed inside the counting centre whereas the SAD workers were present in large numbers,” Kangar alleged.

Abohar, May 15
“The SAD (B) leadership, by creating a Bihar like situation in the recent PRI elections in Punjab, has shattered the faith of millions of people in democracy,” said Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, vice-president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.

Talking to The Tribune over phone today in the evening, he said the reports that appeared in the media indicated the ruling big brother of the saffron party had no respect for democracy. Even some senior BJP workers had been targeted by the hooliganism led by senior SAD (B) functionaries on the home turf of the chief minister. This could never be without his consent, Jakhar observed.

It was unfortunate that scribes were not only made captive but subjected to physical and mental abuse. Even Ranjeet Singh Virk, a photo journalist of a Jalandhar-based Punjabi newspaper, was assaulted for taking pictures of violence unleashed by the Akalis.

Unfortunately, the administration turned out to be a puppet in the hands of the ruling party, and had illegally declared some losers as winners by misusing the power for recounting, he rued.         

Jakhar said the Congress workers shouldn’t feel demoralised and prepare well for the May 26 Panchayat elections.

The Congress committees at the grassroots level should also gear up for the urban bodies elections, which were expected to be held by next month, he said. 

Ferozepur, May 15
Amidst alleged charges of rigging and misuse of official paraphernalia, the ruling SAD-BJP alliance made a clean sweep in the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, the final results for which were declared here today.

In a total of 25 zones of the Zila Parishad in the district, the SAD candidates won 15 seats where as its coalition partner in the state, BJP, bagged six seats. The Congress had to satisfy itself with three seats only. In case of zone number 12, the result could not be declared as re-polling had been ordered at three booths following reports of booth capturing. 

In the Block Samiti elections, out of a total of 10 blocks in this district, the SAD supported candidates emerged winner with comfortable margins in six blocks, whereas the BJP made its presence felt with a majority in two blocks.

In Ghal Khurd block also, the SAD-BJP combine grabbed all 22 zones with SAD winning 20 of them. The Congress performed relatively well in Abohar and Guruharsahai blocks, at both the places sitting MLAs belongs to Congress only.

While talking to The Tribune, district president (SAD), Janmeja Singh Sekhon, termed the SAD’s victory as people’s stamp on people friendly policies and public welfare initiatives mooted by CM Parkash Singh Badal. On the other hand, Congress MLA from Guruharsahai, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, called the elections as murder of democracy in the state.

The block -wise results of the Block Samiti polls are as follows:

Block Ferozpur (19 zones): SAD (2), BJP(15) Congress (1) Independent(1).

Block Mamdot ( 15 zones):  SAD(9), BJP (1), Congress (5).Block Ghal Khurd (22 Zones): SAD (20), BJP (2)

Block Abohar (25 Zones): SAD (9), BJP (3), Congress (10), Independent (1).Block Khuiyan Sarvar (25 Zones): SAD (3), BJP (14), Congress (6).Block Makhu(15 Zones): SAD ( 15).Block Fazilka (25 Zones): SAD (12), BJP (6), Congress (5), Independent(2).Block Zira (17 Zones): SAD ( 17).Block Jalalabad (24 Zones): SAD (20), BJP (1), Congress (3).Block Guruharsahai (22 Zones): SAD (13), Congress (7).

Mansa, May 15
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has registered a thumping victory in the Zila Parishad (ZP) and Panchayat Samiti elections in Mansa district. Besides winning 10 ZP seats out of 11, the SAD also bagged 75 Panchayat Samiti seats out of 87.

From Raipur zone of ZP, Dilraj Singh of SAD defeated his independent candidate Baldev Singh, from Jhanda Kalan zone Inderjeet Singh defeated Congress candidate Jeevan Das Bawa, from Jhuneer zone Charanjeet Kaur of SAD defeated Jasveer Kaur of Congress, from Nangal Kalan zone Sawran Singh SAD defeated Congress candidate Tarsem Singh, from Bhaini Bagha zone Sukhdev Singh of SAD defeated Congress candidate Gurcharan Singh, from Boha Gurmail Kaur of SAD defeated Congress candidate Banso, from Kulrian Zora Singh of SAD was declared elected against Jarnail Singh of Congress, from Budhlada zone Congress candidate Ranjit Singh was elected against Gurcharan Singh of SAD, from Borawal zone Karamjeet Kaur of SAD candidate defeated Congress candidate Karamjeet Kaur, from Dalel Singh Wala zone Jasbir Kaur of SAD defeated Congress candidate Sinderpal Kaur,

In the Panchayat Samiti, in Mansa block SAD bagged 14 seats and Congress 3, in Budhlada block SAD won 19 seats while Congress 5 and CPI won one seat, in Bhikhi block SAD bagged 12 seats, Congress won two and independent 1 seat, in Jhuneer block SAD captured all the 15 seats and in Sardoolgarh block SAD also got all 15 seats.  

Abohar, May 15
The SAD (B) and its belligerent alliance partner BJP succeeded in giving a crushing defeat to the Congress in the PRI elections.

What was the mantra for the success? This correspondent tried to find out by contacting people in the area.

Bhupinder Brar, a progressive farmer in village Daulatpura, feels the Rs 600 crore Atta-Dal subsidy scheme paid a heavy dividend to the ruling alliance candidates. “The size of the crowd in the meetings organised by the Congress during campaigning was certainly higher than the alliance meetings but most of those present were farmers, who did not show any swing towards the candidates of the alliance,” he observed. Brar said the major issues concerning the farming economy also stood defeated in the election results.

A winning SAD (B) candidate, while beginning his poll canvassing in village Gidderanwali, had told this correspondent last fortnight that the Dalits and BPL families would overwhelmingly support the alliance. Interaction with many people residing in the colonies developed under the Indira Awas Yojna endorsed the impression that they had been influenced much by the Atta-Dal Yojna.

Contrary to the results received from other blocks in the Malwa the principal opposition Congress has faired well in the Abohar block. The SAD had eight members in the previous Panchayat Samiti but had claimed that the Congress would be wiped out this time.

The BJP has improved its position in the Panchayat Samiti elections in the Khuyiansarwar block, the results announced after recounting of votes in three zones today indicated. The BJP winners in the Khuyiansarwar block included, Kuldeep Singh (Bakayanwala), Balwinder Singh (Azamwala), Wazir Singh (Ghallu), Atma Ram (Choohriwala Dhanna), Krishna Devi (Katehra), Chawli Devi (Bodiwala Pitha), Praveen Kumari (Dharampura), Atma Ram (Dalmirkhera), Lubhaya Ram (Diwankhera), Radhey Ram Jakhar (Maujgarh), Bhagwanti (Jandwala Hanwanta), Poonam Rani (Panniwala Mahla) and Maina Devi (Sayyedwala).

The SAD (B) winners are: Charanjit Singh (Nihalkhera) and Rajinder Pal Singh Brar (Daulatpura).

In the Abohar block most of the SAD (B) winners are non-Sikhs: Babu Singh (Kikkarkhera), Pinky Kherwa (Dhaani Mandla), Rohtash (Bazidpur Bhoma), Vipan (Kular), Kanta Rani (Ramsara), Bimla Rani (Amarpura), Shakuntla (Jhurarkhera), Sukhdev Singh (Rajpura), Pyara Lal (Chanankhera), Shivraj Singh (Burj Hanumangarh), Meera Devi (Dharangwala) and Mandeep Kaur (Burjmuhar). Winners on the Congress symbol are: Balbir Singh (Jandwala Meera Sangla), Ved Parkash (Bareka), Sampuran Singh (Patrewala), Gurdeep Singh (Panjkosi), Vidya Rani (Haripura) and Harpal Kaur (Gumjal).

Winning Congress candidates are: Sheokaran (Rampura), Gurvinder Singh (Khubban), Lila Devi (Seetogunno), Sadhu Singh (Dutaranwali), Baldev Singh (Bahadurkhera), Fateh Singh (Rajanwali). 

Bathinda, May 15
At least 52 water samples taken from different schools in the city have failed the test of the health authorities, saying that the water was unfit for human consumption.

Sources at the senior level in the district health department had collected 215 water samples from various schools across the district since April this year.

At least 52 samples out of the total 215 were found impure for drinking.

Gurminder Pal Dhillon, District Education Officer (Primary), said, “So far, we have not received any report from the health department regarding the water samples. We do not know from which schools the water samples were collected. We have not been provided the list of schools from where the water samples have been found impure. Precautionary measures can only be taken after receiving the list of the schools.”

Last year, 59 water samples out of the total 519 were found unsafe for human consumption. Health officials say these are worrying signs as the summers are on and there is a threat of water-borne diseases among the students.

However, there is a complete lack of communication between both departments. The officials of the education department have said they have no information regarding this matter.

Kasturi Lal, district health officer, while talking to The Tribune on phone, said, “All government schools across the district have been provided potable water and stored water is used for the lavatories and cleaning purposes. Necessary measures will be taken and pure water will be provided to these schools, he added.

According to sources in the health department, harmful bacteria have been detected in the water samples taken from the government and private schools.

Bathinda, May 15
The initiative of the Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) has won appreciation from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) working group member, Sadhu Ram Kulsa, for successfully tracing the courier services agencies providing test kits used for pre-natal sex determination test.

In a letter addressed to the chairman of the commission, Kulsa said that this act of the Punjab police which managed to trace three courier services centres in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar, involved in fetching test kits fir determination of sex of the foetus for their customers from foreign countries including the US and Canada should be appreciated by all. Kulsa said that he had invited the attention of the NCPCR chairperson towards the menace of sex determination through the help of several websites and test kits made available to all and sundry through the Internet. He urged the commission to pass strict instructions to the states also to carry out a similar exercise so that the agencies involved in this illegal trade could be identified and penalised under section 2(1) (K) and section 4 of the PC PNDT Act.

He said necessary instructions be passed to chief secretaries of all states and union territories to identify the people, whom such tests kits have reached and take strict action against them under the relevant law.

It is worth mentioning here that Punjab has the leading number of cases of female foeticide in the country. 

Bathinda, May 15
The Additional Sessions Judge (Special Court) J.S. Kular on Wednesday sentenced one Mewa Ram to rigorous imprisonment for three years and slapped a fine of Rs 3,000 on him in a case of poppy husk smuggling and acquitted his accomplice Chet Ram for lack of evidence.

According to reports, on October 24, 2005, Nachchattar Singh, SHO of Talwandi Sabo police station, had put up a naka at Behman Jassa Singhwala village. The police had signalled a scooterist to stop for routine checking of vehicles. The scooterist, on seeing the police, fled the spot on his vehicle (PB08G 5695) along with the pillion rider. But the alert police nabbed Mewa Singh after a brief chase while his accomplice managed to flee.

The police, during the search operations, recovered a bag containing 33 kg of poppy husk from the boot of the scooter and arrested him. During interrogation, he revealed his name as Mewa Ram, a resident of Harnam Singhwala village and his accomplice as Chet Ram of the same village. Later, Chet Ram was also arrested by the police.

The court found Mewa Singh guilty of the crime and sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3,000. In case of non-payment of fine, the imprisonment period would be extended by another three months. The court acquitted Chet Ram for lack of evidence. 

Ferozepur, May 15
Over 32,000 cantonment residents would exercise their franchise to vote after 12 years, as polls to elect eight members of the cantonment board are slated to be held this Sunday. In all, there are 54 members in the fray from eight wards of the cantonment.

The ward wise candidates are as follows-

Ward no.1: Joginder, Ladu Chaudhary, Prem Chand, Rakesh Kumar.

Ward no. 2: Hemlata, Joshi Bimla, Lajwanti, Sharma Raj, Sheela, Uma Devi.

Ward no.3: Bansal Rajni, Harminder Kaur, Indu, Meenu, Usha.

Ward no. 4: Amanjot, Asha Rani, Gupta Kanta, Jasbeer Kaur, Lali, Meera, Murti Devi, Neha, Nirmala Rani, and Rekha Rani

Ward no. 5: Deepak, Jagjit Singh, Radhe Sham son of Anand Lal, Radhe Sham son of Banwari Lal, Ranjit, Sanjeev, Soi Ravi Kumar, Vijay.

Ward no.6: Sham Lal, Tarlok Singh, Zora Singh.

Ward no. 7: Bedi Jaspal Kaur, Dalbir Singh, Dharminder, Haleem Nasri, Madhu Sudan, Raj Kumar son of Lal Chand, Raj Kumar son of Nand Kumar, Sharma Brij Kishore, Sodhi Captain Agiakar Singh.

Ward no. 8: Aggarwal Hans Raj, Albert, Anthony, Hukam Chand, Jain Sandeep, Mohinder, Sebastian Ray, Sodhi Captain Agiakar Singh and Vergis. According to the information, ward number 1 is reserved for SC/ST candidates, whereas ward number 2, 3 and 4 are reserved for women candidates.

CEO Cantonment Board, A.Sekhar Babu, said that all arrangements to conduct the elections in free and fair manner had been made. He said that ADC (General) Jaskiran Singh had been appointed as returning officer (RO) by president, cantonment board, Brigadier S.S. Bhatia, station commander.

Last time, the elections were held in 1997, but as its term expired after five years, fresh elections were not announced, and the board was declared as void by the Ministry of Defence. 

Abohar, May 15
The Punjab Mandi Board chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal made it categorically clear that no liquor shop would be allowed to function in grain markets and rural purchasing centres.

Talking to newspersons in the Kisan Bhawan here after a meeting with officials, Lakhowal said deputy commissioners were being approached to contact deputy excise and taxation commissioners to get licences of all these shops cancelled. They must ensure that the liquor mafia was not permitted to run their illegal branches at purchasing centres. Farmers and labourers had got united over this contentious issue for the sake of their families.

The officials would be held morally and administratively responsible if tension grips the markets due to protest by daily wage earners and farmers against such shops, he warned.    

Lakhowal informed that 70 per cent of the market fee collections would be spent on rural development. The board was taking up repair of old link roads, but sanctioning new roads would remain the prerogative of the CM. The board was concerned over the denial of health service facilities due to paucity of funds besides, other reasons in villages, and had offered to provide funds for improving the same. He had also told the CM that funds for strengthening the rural education infrastructure could also be provided by the board.

Confirming that they were willing to develop market terminals separately for vegetable and fruits at some important places including Abohar, Lakhowal said AC containers could also be provided to transport the produce to the proposed international airport at Mohali. However, the board has not so far received a nod from the state government to develop a market of international standards near Mohali to felicitate exports.  

Sharing his concern over the supply of contaminated canal water to farmers in the region due to release of effluents by the Ludhiana based industries and Buddha Nalah, mandi board chief said the state government must implement the directions given by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in letter and spirit.

Nearly 25 km length, out of a total of 58 km of the drain, had been cleared with the assistance from the state government in the past but much work needed to be done, he observed.

Addressing farmers here later, Lakhowal emphasised the need of diversification in the crop pattern to ensure sowing of such crops, which needed less water. He advised the community not to purchase uncertified seed from quacks in the market.

Ferozepur, May 15
The Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested a patwari posted at Muktsar on graft charges.

SSP Vigilance, Rajinder Singh, said the official had allegedly demanded Rs 15,000 in lieu of executing the mutation of a 25 years old registry. He said that the complainant had earlier given Rs 5,000 to the patwari and today, when he was giving the remaining Rs 10,000, the vigilance team arrested him red-handed from an area close to naka number 2, Sadar Bazaar, Patwarkhana, Muktsar. The SSP said that a case had been registered under the relevant laws at Ferozepur.