Bathinda, October 3
In a gross display of apathy on the part of the official machinery, the drowning of a 13-year-old boy in the Sirhind canal remained unnoticed by the official machinery even eight hours after the incident.

While the administration remained blissfuly unaware of the incident, it was two NGOs from the city, who without any support from the authorities concerned, reportedly conducted the search operations since 11.30 am till the filing of the report late in the evening.

According to information available, the boy, Monu, the son of a labourer, was diving in the canal from the bridge near the Rose Garden chowk in the city.

He jumped into the canal at 11.30 am to grab a coconut that was thrown into the canal by a devotee performing the Navratra. Unfortunately, he was swept away by the current and reportedly drowned.

His mother, Sheela Devi and father Khela Ram, were found crying, sitting near the embankment of the canal.

Making their best efforts to rescue the child, volunteers of Sahara Jan Seva and Naujwan Welfare Society, two NGOs, kept on the search for at least seven hours. During the search operations, they went so far as the villages Beer Talab and Behman Deewana, but in vain.

Talking to this correspondent, Vijay Goyal of Sahara Jan Seva and Rohit Garg of the Naujwan Welfare Society alleged that they had hardly got any support from the district administration. They mentioned that their teams were deployed in the search operations soon after getting the information.

At around 7.30 pm, when the officials were called up to ascertain the situation, their versions were queer.

Karnail Singh, Naib Tehsildar, said, "I am unaware of the incident." Savita, Tehsildar, Bathinda, said, "I did not get any information till now, but now I will ask my subordinates about the mishap."

Expressing his ignorance, sub-divisional magistrate, KPS Mahi said, "No such report has come to me."

Finally, when contacted, Bathinda deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari said, "We can know only if some one tells us. Moreover, the police control room did not give any such message to me."

Bathinda, October 3
The animals in the deer park at Bir Talab near here are surviving on feed that is being borrowed from local traders as the budget for this purpose has yet to come from the top brass of the forest department.

This is the condition of the deer park for the past about five months when control was transferred to the Bathinda forest division from the wildlife division, Ferozepur.

Not only the animals, but also the staff of the zoo is facing a similar fate as the seven daily wagers, who really run the show, are without wages for the past five months. This is how the Wildlife Week that began today, is being observed in the deer park.

The park has 92 animals of different species, besides a large number of birds. It has 65 Black Buck huddled in two cages, 19 Cheetal and 8 Sambars for whom half a bag of animal feed is required daily. Green feed is also given to them.

On the condition of anonymity, an official said that an amount of about Rs 18,000 has to be paid back to the traders from whom animal and bird feed was lifted on loan during the past four months.

The shopkeepers have now started calling up the zoo staff for payment of the accumulated money.

The three members on the permanent staff were, however, released their salary from here, but the seven daily wagers were feeding their families by borrowing rations for the past five months.

Charge of the deer park has frequently been shuttling between Ferozepur and here resulting in mismanagement.

The Punjab government was planning to develop the deer park into a full-fledged zoo for which some money has also been earmarked by the Centre. This is perhaps the only place for recreation, particularly for children, near the town.

Many students of the nearby schools visited the deer park today as the government has waived the entrance fee during the Wildlife Week.

Malout (Muktsar), October 3
Employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) today greeted the chief minister Parkash Singh Badal with black flags when he reached his home district to hold Sangat Darshan at Malout.

While talking to the TNS, the employees of technical services union alleged that the protest was against the unbundling of the PSEB. In the protest, activists from Abohar, Malout, Badal, Muktsar and Gidderbaha divisions of the PSEB took part.

Later, during the Sangat Darshan, a number of district officials were found absent. Taking serious note of it, the CM instructed his additional principal secretary (APS) to submit a detailed report on the issue.

According to sources, the CM had been reported a number of times that district heads of various departments did not attend his Sangat Darshan programmes.

Today, the CM himself, finding a number of the officers in question absent, ordered his APS Daljeet Singh Cheema to call the officers in question and inquire about the reason for their absence before submitting the report.

The CM accompanied by his wife, Surinder Kaur Badal was on his Sangat Darshan tour of eight villages, where he granted various development projects worth Rs 15 crore including water works, RO plants, repair work of drain channels, link roads and kuchha houses, installation of the electricity transformers and metalling of the streets and roads.

Speaking about the importance of Sangat Darshan programmes, he said, “Getting frustrated with the people-friendly policy of Sangat Darshan, rival Congress activists had filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, terming all this a mere wastage of money. The court has given its report in favour of SAD-led government.”

Further, the CM ordered officials to install boards in every village, with information about ongoing development jobs, projects in pipeline, name of the agency doing the job, cost of the projects and the time limit for work completion.

Abohar, October 3
One of the local pilgrims going to Salasar in Churu district of Rajasthan was crushed to death while three others sustained injuries as an unidentified truck hit them near Pallu in Hanumangarh district early in morning, sources said.

Over a thousand devotees had left the town on the first Navratra ceremonially to cover more than 300 km distance on foot to pay obeisance at the historic temple of Salasar Dhaam.

Some of the ‘padyatris’ informed on phone that a group of six devotees left Pallu at about 4.30 am today.

An unidentified truck hit them in the area falling under jurisdiction of police station Bhanipura. The driver fled with the vehicle taking advantage of the darkness.

Balwinder Singh of Kandhwala road locality here died on the spot while Ashish Kumar (18) and Pawan Kumar (22) were referred to the state hospital at Bikaner.

The police, after recording Ashish’s statement, registered a case against the driver of the unidentified vehicle for negligence in driving. Another injured pilgrim was identified as Pawan Kumar.

Bathinda, October 3
The fourth day of Navratras brought a spur of activity in local markets, as happy traders expected sales to pick up with the season.

From jewellers who have been witnessing a slump for quite some time, all have geared up to cater to the expected rise in supply.

"The season started just today and we are hoping for a better customer turnout this time. In case of jewellery, demand picks up as marriage season begins," said Vineet Mittal of Super Jewellers.

From apparels, gift items, household gadgets to utensils and food items, attractive discounts are being offered to lure the customers.

"We are expecting our sales to increase by at least 40 per cent. However, keeping competition in mind, we are also offering discounts," said an apparel shop owner in Post Office Bazaar.

The coming days, said traders, would witness heavier discounts on a wide range of items like cars and two-wheelers, home financing, household appliances, etc.

Restaurants too came out with attractive offers. "Navratra Special" thalis and ice-cream at attractive rates have already begun attracting customers.

"As a large number of people observe fast these days, they want to have food that is delicious. The trend has begun in recent years only but picked up well. Entire families come to have Navratra special food these days," said Amit of Cool Fun Ice Cream on Amrik Singh Road. Prices of fruits and vegetables have increased.

Bathinda, October 3
Acting upon a tip-off, sleuths of the Vigilance Bureau (VB), Bathinda, nabbed a Patwari of Lehra Mohabbat while he was receiving bribe today.

Giving details, DSP (VB) Des Raj said the accused, Gamdoor Singh of Lehra Mohabbat, now residing at North Estate, Bathinda, demanded Rs 10,000 from one Gurcharan Singh to register a piece of land.

Following negotiations, the deal was struck at Rs 5,000. Gurcharan informed the VB about the deal.

A team, lead by the DSP, comprising official witnesses, raided the spot and nabbed the accused red-handed while he was receiving the amount.

A case under sections 7, 13(2)88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at the VB police station, Bathinda.

Bathinda, October 3
Lt Gen M.L. Naidu, vice-chief of the Army staff, visited the Bathinda Military Station (BMS) today.

He visited one of the brigades in the station, which he had commanded as a brigadier. The officer was introduced to the officers of the brigade by the commander and interacted with the troops.

He also presented the Lt Gen Milan Naidu trophy, instituted in his name, to the best battalion of the brigade for the year 2007-08.

The vice-chief later interacted with the General Officer Commanding of the Corps before leaving the station.

Mansa, October 3
Farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) blocked rail traffic today to protest against the alleged snatching of the tractor of a poor farmer in Moga district.

Addressing the farmers, district president of the union Ram Singh Bhainibagha said wrong policies of government were responsible for the poor condition of farmers.

He demanded that the commission agent, who had snatched the tractor of farmer Karnail Singh, should be arrested immediately and a criminal case should be lodged against him.

He alleged that police was not arresting the commission agent as he enjoyed support of leaders of ruling party.

Bhola Singh, Mahinder Singh, Inderjit Singh, Darbara Singh, Punjab Singh and several others also addressed the farmers.

Barnala, October 3
To ensure timely procurement of paddy in the district, deputy commissioner R.L. Mehta has made special arrangements.

He has directed the food agencies of the state as well as Food Corporation of India (FCI) to make timely procurement and directed the Mandi Board officials to keep the mandi neat and clean. The DC has directed the farmers not to harvest at night between 7 and 10 pm.

Earlier, a deputation comprising representatives of various food agencies met the deputy commissioner to apprise him of the problems being faced by the field staff during paddy procurement.

Jagtar Singh Bains, convener of the district coordination committee of food agencies, informed that the deputation has told the DC that the Mandi Board officials did not suggest farmers to bring dry paddy in the market.

Wet paddy delays procurement process, they added. The coordination committee requested the district administration to check the cutting of green paddy.

The delegation also said that they faced political pressures to purchase wet, non-clean paddy which was against the specifications laid down for procurement.

The purchasing officials said that the food purchase agencies were facing shortage of the staff so the food staff could not stay in the field for long. So, the bags should be filled properly after proper weight. The “kachha arhtiya” should be held responsible for the proper weight of the paddy bag.

When contacted, the DC said that he had assured the deputation to look into the problems being faced by the purchasing staff.

He made it categorically clear that district administration would put no pressure on the food officials while purchasing the paddy.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, October 3
Ramlila continues to attract people despite mushrooming of satellite TV channels. Ramlila managing committees are working hard to update their daily shows.

They are not only inviting social activists and philanthropists but also making amendments so as to add glamour to the performances on stage.

The stages have seen a significant change. Most of the Durga Mandirs in and around Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh district headquarters as well as on this side of the inter-state border are being thronged by hundreds of devotees due to Navratras.

The temples wear crowded look not only in the morning but till late night. Still, the security arrangements were not up to the mark, some devotees complained.