Bathinda, June 5
Travelling by the state-owned transport system in Punjab will become costlier as the government is proposing to hike the bus fare in the wake of hike in diesel prices. The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) today urged the Punjab government to give permission to hike bus fare being plied by it or give one time grant of Rs 30-crore to meet its liabilities.

Apart from it, the PRTC authorities have also demanded that the formula to fix the fare should be linked with the prices of diesel and a regulatory commission on the pattern of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission should be set up to work out the structure of the fare.

Mandeep Singh, director, transport department, while talking to TNS here today, said the PRTC had incurred a loss of Rs 10 crore in the past financial year due to unprecedented hike in prices of diesel. The PRTC management proposed a hike of eight paise per km in the fare but the Punjab government was for the hike of four paise. This was one factor, which led to financial loss.

He said the PRTC had demanded one time grant of Rs 30-crore from the Punjab government on the same pattern that was being used by it (Punjab government) for helping the Punjab Roadways. He further said the PRTC was in need of special grant because of the fact that hike in the prices of diesel had upset its budget.

He claimed that though there were financial constraints, the PRTC, which had added about 200 buses to its existing fleet of about 1,000 buses, would added another 250 buses in the current financial year to provide better and convenient travel to commuters.

Singh pointed out that gradually the PRTC had been making progress. “We have been plugging leakages, curbing corruption and reforming the operation system to save money. By making travel on the PRTC buses more attractive, we have been able to earn Rs 20-crore more revenue in the past year,” he claimed.

He added all operations were being computerised in phases through outsourcing to make them more efficient and economical.

The director said all bus stands being owned and managed by the PRTC were being upgraded. The Bathinda and Patiala bus stands would be on the lines of modern bus stands and work on it would start shortly, he added. 

Barnala, June 5
To lodge their protest against the rise in the price of diesel, the Punjab Truck Operators’ Union has given a strike call to the truck operators of the state that would be observed on June 7.

Unions’ state president Malkeet Singh Keetu appealed to all the truck operators’ unions to make the strike a success so as to send a strong message to the government.

In a press communiqué issued here today, he said the increased price would end up increasing the transportation charges and ultimately enhance the prices of essential commodities.

He demanded from the state government to grant relaxation in the price of diesel by revising the tax structure.

Keetu warned that if their demands were not met, they would not hesitate to intensify their protest.

Bathinda, June 5
After the Congress party, a few days back, issued a list of members of the campaign and candidate selection committee formed for the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, a new updated list was issued here today.

Issuing the list, Rupinder Singh Bindra, press secretary, District Congress Committee, said, “PPCC working president Mahinder Singh Kaypee has been appointed the committee chairman, along with Barnala MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon as convener and Bathinda MLA Harminder Singh Jassi as co-convener. The committee also includes Inder Singh Sahni, general secretary, PPCC, ex-minister Surinder Singla, Sukhdev Singh Chahal, Jagroop Singh Gill, Ashok Kumar, Jeet Mal, KK Aggarwal, Krishan Rai Aggarwal, Chhote Lal, Niranjan Singh Bhola, Iqbal Singh Dhillon, Paramjit Kaur Brar and Bimla Garg.”

“It also includes MLA Dakala, Lal Singh, MLA Guruharsahai Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, MLA Malerkotla Razia Sultana, Congress Working Committee member and ex-MP Jagmeet Singh Brar, former deputy speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and PPCC chief spokesperson Bir Devinder Singh, former minister Jasbir Singh, MLA Barnala Kewal Singh Dhillon and Tehal Singh Sandhu,” Bindra informed.

According to party sources, this new list has been issued because the party felt that representatives of some sections of society were left out. “And after the party’s defeat in the PRI elections, the Congress was in no position to leave anyone behind.”

Party sources also informed, “There is a lot of infighting amongst DCC members and that is why, the party has nominated someone from outside the city as the chairman and convener. Our party has already suffered due to infighting and we don’t want to repeat those mistakes.”

This committee would prepare a final report of the candidates and send it to the PPCC chief. On its basis, tickets would be allocated to the candidates and will be announced on June 8.

Bathinda, June 5
MLA Barnala, Kewal Singh Dhillon, who has been appointed as the convener of Campaign and Candidate Selection committee by the PPCC, today interviewed over 150 applicants for the Bathinda Municipal Corporation elections.

After attending the Moga rally, Dhillon reached the city by evening. The prospective candidates were then interviewed at the party office. “We got a positive response. On an average, we had 5-6 applicants from each ward. Even the women applicants came in large numbers,” Dhillon said. “And tomorrow, after a meeting with PPCC president, we will shortlist candidates from each ward. Then a final list will be prepared, which will be announced on June 8,” Dhillon informed.

Political observers informed that in many wards, Congress was not finding ‘capable’ candidates the main reason being that workers were afraid of the hooliganism unleashed by SAD workers during the PRI polls. Dhillon, however, dismissed it as baseless.” MLA Bathinda, Harminder Singh Jassi, said, “Soon, all our party leaders will be visiting the city. And at least seven days prior to the election, our leaders will camp in the city so that the ruling SAD does not indulge in any hooliganism. All our party workers are charged up and on the election day, atleast 10 Youth Congress workers will be on duty at every polling booth.”

Bathinda, June 5
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today released the first list of its 13 candidates for the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated for June 22 here today.

The following is list of candidates: Gurinderpal Kaur Mangat, Ward No. 1, Parshottam Gargi, Ward No. 6, Arvind Kiran Cheema, Ward No. 13, Inder Lal, (SC) Ward No. 17, Mithu Ram Gupta, Ward No. 18, Mandeep Kaur, Ward No. 19, Tarsem Goyal, Ward No. 20, Shanti Jindal, Ward No. 22, Ashok Bharti, Ward No. 24, Simran Biswal, (SC woman) Ward No. 34, Rajinder Kaur, Ward No 46, Mohan Lal Garg, Ward No. 47 and Basant Bhatia, Ward No. 48.

Bhai Bakhtaur, June 5
Kin of the two Congress men Hargobind Singh and Swaran Singh of Ghasokana village, who were reportedly killed, alleged that police was trying to convert the case into an accident and for that purpose, the driver of a peter rehra was being “tortured” to take the blame for it. They alleged that the postmortem report said that the bodies of Hargobind Singh and Swaran bore 14 and 11 injury marks respectively. Despite that, the police was trying to convert it into a case of accident.

Baljeet Singh, cousin of deceased Swaran, who claimed to an eyewitness, alleged, “Kotfatta police has rounded up the driver of a peter rehra, Kala Ram of village Bhai Bakhtaur, who had seen Swaran lying on the road. Now, the police has been torturing him to say that the motorcycles on which the deceased were travelling, was hit by his vehicle causing death.”

Manjit Singh, a villager, said that an investigation team comprising experts from forensic science laboratory of some other district on Wednesday visited the spot and inquired about the facts.

Meanwhile, demanding a fair inquiry and the arrest of all nine accused, villagers, including women, blocked the Bathinda-Mansa highway and the Bathinda-Delhi railway track from morning to evening.

A railway official deputed at railway crossing B-227, said, “We have informed the senior officers about the track blockade and the trains have been shifted diverted.” He confirmed that the trains 341 Up and 342 Down from Delhi to Ferozepur and Ferozepur to Delhi, respectively, have been diverted. Meanwhile, the road traffic was diverted from Kotfatta village.

When contacted, DSP (D) Surinder Pal Singh and SHO Kotfatta police station, Gurdev Singh Bhalla, who were present on the spot, along with an anti-riot vehicle and police force, said, “The case is under investigation and till then, we can not disclose anything.”

It may be mentioned that in the first FIR, considering the incident as accidental death, the Kotfatta police registered a case under sections 304-A, 279 and 427 of the IPC. But after a strong protest on May 31, the police brought the case under sections 302, 148 and 149 of the IPC. 

Abohar/Moga, June 5
The Akhil Bharatiya Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha organised a seminar on the eve of the World Environment Day at the Bishnoi Mandir near the Sahitya Sadan complex here today.

Chief guest SDM N.S. Brar gave a call for a massive tree plantation on the land owned by gram panchayats and NGOs. He advised heads of educational institutions to bring awareness among students by organising declamation contests, poetical symposiums and other events after summer vacations.

Educationist Kusum Khungar, who presided over the function, endorsed the views of the chief guest and said pollution posed a serious threat to our environment.

Other participants included, national vice-president of the Sabha Ramesh Bishnoi, state president Ram Kumar Delu, vice-president Viplesh Bhadoo, district president Vijay Karagwal, tehsil president Vishnu Chhatarwal and block president Rajinder Poonia. The guests also planted saplings in the temple complex.

The Natural Resources Protection Organisation observed the World Environment Day by organising a function in Moga today.

While presiding over the function, Sant Balbir Singh Sichewal, a renowned environmentalist of the state, said water and air were precious for the survival of the living beings on Earth. Therefore, these natural resources should be used judiciously.

He advocated strict action against the industries polluting water and air and appealed to the NGOs and other social organisations to come forward and work with a missionary zeal to protect the environment.

Earlier, while inaugurating this function, the district magistrate of Moga, Satwant Singh Johal, expressed his concern over the irrational use of pesticides in the fields.

He added that the farmers should take care that water was not wasted while they cultivate paddy.

General secretary Dr. Harnek Singh Rode, who conducted the function, gave a brief description of organic farming and its benefits.

Abohar, June 5
After about three months, some hope for the resumption of construction work of railway overbridge revived today as forest department started axing trees, which had stalled the work partially in the month of February, and completely by the last month. However, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) is yet to initiate the shifting of electricity poles

The poles and trees posed problems in the construction of the long awaited railway over-bridge on Abohar –Hanumangarh highway. Daily wage earners had resumed work facing high power electricity transmission lines at the risk of their life last month but later found it almost impossible to continue the same.

Even during the visit of Punjab PWD minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa in April, the officials had replayed the rhetoric of “very soon” but no one started the work. The contractors and monitoring engineers from the railways had said that the completion was likely to take more than the prescribed time as the administration lacked interest in removing the hurdles in its way.

The bridge was initially planned in 1996 and its cost was estimated at Rs 2.5 crore. But the proposal could not be materialised as municipal council and improvement trust failed in depositing their share (20 percent each) with the railway authorities.

The proposal for an over-bridge here was approved for college road, which forms a part of Abohar-Hanumangarh highway. More than 5,000 students have to wait at railway crossing 12 times in a day for carrying out studies in three colleges and number of schools.

Besides, the town has grown rapidly on the other side of the railway crossing. Interestingly, the estimated cost of the bridge has gone up to Rs 12 crore now.

Captain Amrinder Singh, as chief minister, laid the foundation stone for the 800-meter long bridge, which would be having 12-meter width, in December 2006 but its construction could be started after de-watering process in October 2007. The contractor is bound to complete his work by the end of this year.

Sources in the sub-divisional office of the PSEB had stated in February that the performa for floating tenders was routed through the divisional office to get the poles shifted. The PSEB is not having its own labour network for the shifting of the poles.

Barnala, June 5
The Sherpur police here today arrested two persons, the accused in a murder for dowry case. However, another accused is still absconding.

Bant Singh, father of Manpreet Kaur, the deceased, has complained before the Sherpur police that his daughter was married to Balbeer Singh, son of Mukhtiar Singh, two years ago at Bhaini Fatta village. But soon after marriage, her in-laws started torturing her for bringing more dowry.

He alleged that Balbeer lived with his maternal uncle and aunt at Kheri Chahal village in Sangrur. Fed up with the daily demands made by her in-laws for bringing more dowry, Manpreet returned to her parents home and started living with them.

However, with the intervention of the panchayats of the two villages recently, a patch up between the couple was done and thereafter, Manpreet started living with her husband. A few days back, her husband and his family demanded Rs 50,000 from her, which she refused to accede.

And in the morning on Thursday, he came to know that his daughter committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan. They rushed to Kheri Chahal only to find her dead body.

In his complaint to the police, he alleged that his daughter had been murdered.

The body was handed over to the parents after conducting the post-mortem examination and a case under section 302 of the IPC was registered.

The police arrested Balbeer and his maternal aunt Manjeet Kaur.

However, his maternal uncle Shyam Singh is still absconding. Raids were on to arrest him.

Bathinda, June 5
A joint inquiry by the Cantonment police and the Army intelligence paid off today as they succeeded in nabbing the driver of a vehicle, who had hit an Armyman grievously on June 2 before fleeing.

Sources in the Army intelligence informed that Lance Naik Kamal Singh of the 10 Dogra had come to Bathinda on temporary duty. He was attached to the 10 Core HQ. On the fateful day, he was hit by an unknown vehicle near Chetak Park here and died on the spot only to be shifted by the activists of the Sahara Jan Seva. Led by SHO Kuldip Singh, the team made efforts to track down the absconding driver, who was arrested today and identified as Gurmeet Singh, 45, a resident of Hans Nagar here.

He was driving a Santro, number PB 03 K 2525, when he hit the Lance Naik. The car belonged to Satish Kumar of Sirki Bazaar here. The driver was arrested and released on bail later, added the sources.

Bathinda, June 5
The alleged attempt of SHO Nathana Harnek Singh and his three aides, including two women, to earn easy money has landed them in trouble.

According to police sources, a few days ago, Narinder Singh of village Kotfatta in a complaint to the SSP Bathinda said Harnek duped him of Rs 40,000 with the help of three others, including two women, on May 14.

Sources said that Narinder Singh allegedly had a relationship with accused Raj Kaur of Poohla village. One day, she told him that Kuljit Kaur of Nathana wanted to meet him. Later, as per plan, when Narinder and Kuljit were in a compromising situation, Harnek reached the spot. He sought a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from him to dispose of the case. With the help of Randhir Singh, a friend of Harnek, the matter was settled at Rs 40,000.

After paying the amount, Narinder disclosed this to his friends. Harnek learnt of it and out of fear retuned the money to Narinder. In an inquiry, DSP (R) DS Brar found the accused guilty. ASP PK Yadav, too in his report, found that the inspector was having a liaison.

“A case has been registered at Nathana police station. We have been conducting raids to arrest the accused but no one could be arrested till today,” Yadav said.

It may be mentioned that Harnek Singh was sent on leave during the recent Block Samiti and Zila Parishad due to some undisclosed reasons.