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Maluka
attacked, guards open fire
A vehicle damaged due to stone pelting by Congress activists on a SAD procession at Phul in Bathinda on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
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29th
Raising Day of Chetak Corps Skydivers steal the show Bathinda, July 1 It was a rare mix of adventure, excitement, fun and fervour at the closing function of 29th raising day celebrations of Chetak Corps, marked by many firsts.
J-K stir echo in Bathinda
Acknowledging service
Election of MC office-bearers
Civic woes return after civic polls
Counselling for students
Sarpanch elected
Bike, mobile snatched at gun point
Another Bathinda boy cracks top medical test
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Maluka attacked, guards open fire
Bathinda, July 1 Maluka escaped unhurt, but about 7 others received minor injuries. Glass panes of three vehicles were smashed in the attack. The police personnel attached with Maluka for his security fired in the air when stones and other missiles were heavily pelted on the procession at Phul.
Maluka, who is the Bathinda district chief of SAD, took shelter in a house. SAD activists exchanged stones and brickbats with Congressmen and there was virtual chaos in the area. Later, policemen allegedly ransacked the houses from where stones were being pelted. They mercilessly beat the inmates and the innocent persons who came in their way. Maluka described the attack as a “pre-planned conspiracy” of the Congress that was jittery on losing the election. Congress had accused Maluka and his son of capturing booths and rigging the elections for local bodies and the Bathinda Municipal Corporation. He is the right hand man of the SAD chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, here. Police said that the attack came suddenly while Maluka was leading the procession of the councillors who had won yesterday’s election. The SAD-BJP swept 16 of the 17 seats of the municipal council. Maluka was standing in an open jeep waving to the people standing on both sides of the road. Security personnel whisked him into a house as soon as stones started coming towards him. The Congress activists suddenly appeared on the scene and started pelting stones on the cavalcade of
Maluka. Five of the attackers were taken into custody on the spot and search was on for others who fled from there. Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh said that additional police force has been rushed to the spot. Maluka alleged that the local police had failed to anticipate the attack and sought action against the guilty policemen. He claimed that supporters of Congress first did the firing and
his bodyguards retaliated in self-defence.
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Protests fall on deaf ears in Abohar
Abohar, July 1 Psychiatrists here have confirmed that the number of patients suffering due to noise and air pollution was increasing. The OPD at the civil hospital as well as private clinics had majority of persons complaining of depression, hypertension, besides respiratory diseases, sources said. The residents of the affected localities have been protesting against the functioning of small-scale industrial units, alleged to be illegally licensed by the local municipal council, in residential areas thereby causing pollution. The Punjab State Electricity Board had released connections irrationally, the residents rued. Ice candy and confectionery units have been working in congested lanes of Prem Nagar, Thakar Abadi., Ram Dev Nagar, Nanak Nagari, Azeemgarh and other localities in the slum areas here for many years. The residents complained that cracks had appeared in their buildings and the waste of the units had blocked the drains. The exercise by health department teams was more of an eye-wash, the residents alleged. Interestingly, the department has not so far reprimanded any person here for selling dirty ice, unhygienic candies, cut fruits, sugarcane juice or saccharine mixed soft drinks. The municipal council had developed a waste depot to dump the garbage opposite the main post office, touching the boundary wall of Nehru Stadium. Scores of pigs and cattle can be seen rummaging the garbage. The project to link Arya Nagar sewer through railway land with the new sewer channel on the abandoned Bhawani Cotton Mills road was held up for last six years due to paucity of funds. Residents of the Nai Abadi pass through the link passage adjoining the Railway Colony where a pool of dirty water stinks due to presence of sewage. Noise pollution is at its peak in this town. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued instructions to check the use of loudspeakers but the authorities here did not bother to enforce restrictions. The orders issued by the district magistrate had virtually become a cosmetic exercise. More than 30 religious places here had fitted six to eight megaphones at the top of the buildings forcing people to listen to the pre-recorded cassettes during the wee hours and after the sunset. Announcement through speakers fitted on the rickshaws, without getting permission from the SDM, too was a big nuisance, a house wife said. Protests lodged by some educational institutions against the publicity system adopted by cinema houses only fell on deaf ears.
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Stink scares away Maur residents
Maur Mandi (Talwandi Sabo), July 1 Residents revealed that the sewerage of the whole of Maur Mandi, has been allowed to flow here as the authorities say they do not have any other option. Sukhdev Singh’s plot, worth an estimated Rs 60 lakh, has been turned into a swamp. “Sewerage is just outside my home. Earlier, they used to dump it in far away plots and fields, but now, they have allowed it to inundate areas around our homes and shops. It has been stinking like this for the last five-six months,” he said. His son Rinku Singh, who runs a welding unit there, alleged that the earlier committee was dominated by the Congress. That’s why the Akalis didn’t release any money for the disposal of sewerage. Rajan Bala’s children had battled malaria and water-borne diseases recently. Her husband is a labourer. “I have to shell out Rs100-150 as the doctor’s consultation fee as my son is still unwell,” she said. Another resident, Phool Chand’s, two children are suffering from stomach disorders. “No one is listening to us. Now I have to turn to the MC candidates.” Phool Chand earns only Rs 3,000 per month, which is quite meagre to pay the doctor’s fee. Surinder Goyal runs a rented shop of gunny bags along the road. He has been suffering losses since the sewerage spilled on to the road. “Customers don’t come here. The stink scares them away. And these rains have spilled the sludge on to a larger area.” Similar is the story of other small shops located along the road where passersby cross pressing a handkerchief on their noses. When asked why don’t they protest, Rinku said, “We tried to attract the CM”s attention last month when he came here, but nothing happened.” Sukhdev Singh said the Talwandi Sabo SDM had visited the area twice. “They come and ask us to bear with it for some months more. But the end doesn’t come. Our children are not able to sleep at night,” he said. When SDM Talwandi Sabo, Anil Garg, was contacted, he admitted that the sewerage had spilled on to the road, as there was no other way of disposal. He further said that the state government had announced setting up of treatment plants, where the sewerage would be treated and used for irrigation further. When asked how much time it would take, he replied that the project was ready and only the finances were awaited.
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29th Raising Day of Chetak Corps Bhanu P. Lohumi Tribune News Service
Bathinda, July 1 The release of special cover by GOC-in-Chief on the occasion of "Chetak Philex 2008" stamp exhibition and dare devil feat of sky divers were main highlights of the celebrations. While the philately exhibition, organised for the first time by Army Postal Service of 10 Corps, delighted the visitors and afforded them an opportunity to have a glimpse of rare collection of stamps, the acrobatics by sky-divers of parachute regiment forced them to hold their breath. There was great excitement among the people as such an exhilarating and exciting spectacle was rare for the local people and in fact first in their memory. Three skydivers each from three helicopters jumped out one after another from a height of 10,000ft and made amazing figures in the air defying gravity. The stunning acrobatics display was followed by an equally exciting and thrilling demonstration by sky divers who meticulously executed a pinpoint landing amidst enthusiastic cheering and thunderous applause. The closing day events commenced with solemn but impressive Wreath laying ceremony and Lt-Gen R.S. Saujlana, GOC, laid a wreath to pay homage to the martyrs at the Yodha Yaadgar The culmination of Chetak cycling rally which commenced on June 21 from Sri Ganganagar was another event which added to ecstasy. The rally which was led by Major Bhanu Pratap Singh reached Bathinda Military station pedalling nearly 500 km thought the interior villages of Punjab and Rajasthan. Besides achieving the basic aim of displaying sense of adventure and love for nature of Indian soldiers, the rally, also made an endeavour to spread awareness about drug abuse, women empowerment and AIDS by interacting with the locals of remote villages and towns.
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J-K stir echo in Bathinda
Bathinda, July 1 Terming revocation of transfer of forest land to the Amarnath Shrine Board as “anti-Hindu”, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti and other bodies today said they would support the all India bandh call on July 3. Expressing resentment over the alleged anti-Hindu policies of the Kashmiri dominated government in J&K, the representatives warned that no interference in Hindu religious affairs would be tolerated. When the Hindu majority in other parts of the country does not interfere in the religious affairs of the Muslim community, the government in J&K had no right to humiliate the Hindus who were in minority there, they said. These organizations demanded scrapping of the article 370 of the Indian Constitution providing special status to J&K, re-allotment of the land in question to the shrine board, closing down the Haj houses all over the country, revocation of subsidies being given for the Haj, handing over the arrangement of the Amarnath pilgrimage to Hindu organizations and deploying of the army in Jammu and Kashmir. The leaders described imposition of the registration fee on the Amarnath pilgrims as “Jazia” that was charged during the Mughal period. “We have appealed to everyone to support the bandh, so that the protest could be successful,” said
Harpreet Singh Gill, vice-president, VHP, Punjab. When asked about the logic behind damaging the J&K transport bus, which was on its return journey to Jammu from Anupgarh last night, Sukhpal Singh Saran, secretary VHP, Punjab, said, “It was just a symbolic act to protest against the action of the Congress-led J&K government”. On the other hand, SP (H) Bathinda, Manminder Singh said, “Those who attacked the bus have been identified and a case against them has been registered for damaging the bus and causing injuries to the passengers. They all will be taken into custody soon,” he added.
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Acknowledging service
Bathinda, July 1 At a function, organised at Nova Heart Institute and Research Centre here to mark Doctors’ Day, a plantation drive was launched and a free medical camp was organised. A team of doctors comprising Dr G.S. Nagpal, Dr H.K. Nagpal and Dr Sukhdev Singh examined the patients for diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiac ailments at the free medical camp. The camp was held in coordination with the Punjab Medical Representatives Association. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nagpal lauded the role of the medical fraternity in creating health awareness among the public while saying that it was the duty of the doctors to go to the people. He also stressed upon the need to strengthen doctor-patient relationship. Dr Sukhdev Singh, a cardiologist, said the association would launch a health awareness drive for the protection from the infectious seasonal diseases like dengue and gastroenteritis. More than 100 patients were examined at the camp and facilities of free ECG and other laboratory tests were provided at the centre. Addressing the function, former IMA president Dr Amrit Sethi, highlighted the plight of the medical community. In this context, he mentioned the ruling of the apex court, which provided that no doctor could be booked under criminal penal code. He demanded that the proposed special committees to look into the matter of medical negligence at district level, which was initiated during the previous regime, be given a practical shape. On the occasion, the local branch of the National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) organised its 33rd free diabetes detection and diabetic neuropathy screening camp at Chhabra Clinic here. According to NIMA secretary Parminder Gupta, nearly 50 persons were screened for diabetes and 80 detected with high blood sugar level were further checked for blood pressure, urine test. Tributes were paid to B.C. Roy, on whose birthday the day is celebrated all over the country.
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Independents hold the key
Mansa, July 1 The SAD–BJP combine could win only seven seats while they had fought for 16 seats. Some candidates supported by the combine were also defeated in the elections. The Congress party won four seats, while it fought on five seats. It is notable that some main leaders of the SAD and Congress preferred to fight as Independents to get the votes of Dera Sacha Sauda followers and Sikh community, both. These factors played a key role in the voting. Two wards of the city, ward 14 and ward 18 were important as the SAD and the BJP were supporting Independent candidates, Shieopal Pala and outgoing president of the MC, Narottam Singh Chahal, who were defeated. This situation shows that people had faith in individuals rather than parties for the welfare of the city. — OC
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Civic woes return after civic polls
Bathinda, July 1 Further, the development work on the Bathinda-Goniana road has also started moving at a snail’s pace. The pile of stones, bricks and pebbles lying on the road cause hurdles in the movement of traffic and disrupt the business of shops in vicinity. To aggravate the problem, if rain water gets accumulated in the open ditches, dug up for laying underground wiring and pipelines, then injuries to passersby remains a potent threat. It may be mentioned here that the Improvement Trust had assured of completing the Bathinda-Goniana road project by the end of August. Basant Kumar of Naamdev Nagar alleged, “During his frequent visits to the city, Sukhbir Badal used to mention the development work of the road, but just after the elections, the department concerned has become careless.” When contacted, X-En, Improvement Trust, Parmod Sharma, said, “Some shopkeepers on the road were creating hurdles in the project, for which a formal complaint has been lodged with the police. Within two days, the work will be started with the help of the police force.” On the other hand, narrating woes arising out of power cuts, a housewife, Rita Berry, a resident of Panchvati Nagar, said, “It is just a week after the SAD-BJP’s victory in the BMC elections that the power cuts have returned. The power supply remains suspended from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and then from 3 pm to 5 pm.”
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Counselling for students
Barnala, July 1 Giving this information, principal Mukand Lal Bansal said a two-hour counselling session will be held at the college campus and experts in various of the Punjabi University would advise students about various courses being managed by the university. He appealed to all students of the district to attend the session to choose the right course. Mansa: Career guidance counselling programme would be held at Nehru Memorial College, Mansa, for class XII students, who got first division in the exam. This programme would be held on July 3 at the college complex. District guidance counsellor R.S. Dhaliwal said nearly 1,450 students, who got first division in the class XII examination would participate in the programme. DC S.S. Dhillon would preside over the function while professors of the Punjabi University would provide information on career options. Charanjit Singh, principal of the college, and DEO Harbans Singh Sandhu are the in-charge and coordinator respectively of this project.
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Sarpanch elected
Barnala, July 1 After the declaration of Gajjan Singh as sarpanch, all panchayat members reached at the PWD rest house here today, where SAD assembly in-charge Malkeet Singh Keetu honoured the sarpanch with siropa and promised to facilitate grants from the state government for the development work of the village. It may be recalled that the election to this panchayat was held separately on June 22.
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Bike, mobile snatched at gun point
Bathinda, July 1 According to a complaint registered by the victim, the incident took place when he along with his elder brother was going to Thermal Colony on his bike. When they reached a dimly lit place near the under-construction City Mall, motorcycle-borne miscreants, suddenly intercepted them and snatched the bike and mobile at gun point. One of the criminals was wearing a white kurta-payjama while others had covered their faces. After perpetrating the crime, they fled towards the SSD Girls College. Police has started a probe.
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Another Bathinda boy cracks top medical test
Bathinda, July 1 Son of B. S. Gill, Rajvinder had got 14th position in Punjab PMT test and was ranked 617 in All India test conducted by CBSE. He also cleared the Manipal, BHU and AFMC pre medical entrance tests. Aspiring to become a surgeon, he loves watching television, reading books and surfing net.
— TNS
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Bodyguards
of SAD leader Sikendar Singh Maluka fired in the air when Congress
supporters pelted stones on the victory procession of the newly
elected SAD-BJP municipal councilors of Rampura that was led by him
this afternoon.
Bathinda, July 1
