Bathinda, October 17
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP coalition government seems to have bid good-bye to the focal point scheme by allowing liquor vends to be opened in the cluster shops that were supposed to store commodities of daily use for the farming community.

One such liquor shop has come up in the focal point at Chak Fateh Singh Wala, that is the native village of the in-laws of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. None of the four shops in the cluster stores commodities connected with agriculture.

While one is a liquor shop, the other is a tea stall and the two others were being used as shelters by labourers.

The focal point scheme was launched by Badal during his earlier tenure as chief minister in 1978 to benefit the farmers who could purchase commodities related to agriculture from the shops that catered to a cluster of villages.

However, reports indicate that most of the focal points were now in a bad shape and the shops have been allowed to be used for purposes other than for which these were built.

During a visit to the Chak Fateh SinghnWala village today, farmers waiting for the authorities to lift their paddy produce said that the liquor shop that was temporarily functioning in one of the focal point shops has now been regularised as a vend.

Balwinder Singh, a farmer, said that he has to go to a nearby town to fetch his agricultural requirements as a teashop and liquor vend have been opened in the focal point. Interestingly, a person closely related to the Badal family is the village Sarpanch who is supposed to ensure proper utilisation of the focal point.

As many as 30 focal points were established in eight blocks of Bathinda district, but with the passage of time these were being misused.

Liquor shops have reportedly also come up in the focal points at Mehma Sarja, Raike Kalan and Malkana. However, the shop at Malkana was recently shifted elsewhere.

A barber's shop has been opened in the focal point at Chanduke in Rampura block.

Ghandur Singh, Sarpanch of the Chowke village said that the focal point in the area has become a source of headache for the panchayat, as it did not have the funds to maintain it.

Ferozepur, October 17
With the purchase of 9,29,492 MT paddy till date, the district recorded the maximum procurement in the state, stated Jagjit Puri, secretary, Tourism, who was specially deputed by the state government to oversee the procurement arrangements in the district.

Puri toured various markets along with deputy commissioner Megh Raj today and expressed satisfaction over the procurement arrangements.

He said 81 per cent of the procured paddy had been lifted from the markets and 92 per cent payments amounting to Rs 665.67 crore had been made to the farmers.

Meanwhile, during the checking of the grain market in Jhoke Harihar village, the DC found that certain commission agents were using sub- standard and torn gunny bags for storing paddy. The paddy was also of inferior quality.

The DC has ordered ADC Jaskiran Singh to conduct an inquiry.

He added that Balkaran Singh, an official recording the auction, was also found absent.

The Punjab Mandi Board had been asked to initiate action against him, said the DC. Meanwhile, the sadar police has registered a case against two commission agents, one auction recorder, and a Markfed officer for bungling during procurement under section 420 of the IPC.

Mansa, October 17
Principal secretary for local government bodies D.S. Bains visited the markets here on Friday to inspect the purchasing arrangement for paddy and cotton. He visited the purchasing centres at Bhikhi, Khiala Kalan and Hamirgarh Dhepai and expressed satisfaction over the purchasing arrangements.

A total of 89,000 MT of paddy has arrived in the markets of this district and 49,000 MT has been purchased by government agencies. — OC

Bathinda, October 17
Protesting against the alleged delay in the procurement of cotton, hundreds of farmers under the banner of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) (Lakhowal) today staged a protest outside the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) office on the Mall Road here.

Addressing the protesters, the union general secretary, Bhupinder Singh, said the dilly-dallying by the government agencies in procuring cotton had taken its toll on the sowing of wheat in the region. He said the farmers, who were still awaiting the purchase of their cotton, could not procure wheat seeds for the next season. He sought swift procurement of cotton by the government agencies.

The farmers were demanding that the government take immediate steps to ensure that the rates do not fall below the MSP of Rs 2,800 and Rs 3,200 per quintal fixed for different varieties.

Kamal Kant, accounts officer, CCI, said, "We are following the Central government's instructions and making commercial purchase at the MSP. About commission deduction from MSP, he said, "We have not received any such complaint. But, if received, it would be probed."

Abohar, October 17
Purchase of cotton in the afternoon session remained suspended in the new cotton yard here today. Even then out of the total arrivals recorded at 9,000 quintal, about 6,200 quintals had been sold out.

As per information gathered from different sources, the CCI officials said they would be in a position to limit purchase up to 3500 quintals only, due to limited resources. They also reportedly refused to succumb to political pressure for purchasing cotton at the MSP.

Agitated farmers rued that the private traders did not offer remunerative rates. The purchasers alleged that some farmers led by a senior functionary of the SAD (B) abused them because of their inability to buy sub-standard cotton for more than Rs 2700 per quintal.

Apprehending confrontation, secretary of the market committee Harpal Singh had to inform the civil authorities besides the police today morning, when the farmers stalled the auction of cotton. Some of the agitators were about to harm traders and employees physically, the secretary confirmed.

He regretted that the farmers were not ready to get their cotton tested free of cost to determine the quality and instead insisted on purchase at the MSP.

In-charge of CCI in Punjab zone V. P. Nagpal said the Corporation had within a few days purchased 3.5 lakh quintals of cotton by last evening in 21 markets. The staff was not at liberty to offer MSP for inferior quality, he added. As the major responsibility was with the CCI, efforts to sort out the problems are being made, Nagpal said.

Sources said that a revenue official who had taken over charge here today, tried to negotiate with the representatives of farmers, traders and CCI in the evening.

However, the traders said they cannot allow the farmers to humiliate them and would resume purchase only on Monday.

Bathinda, October 17
The women prisoners of the Central Jail here clad in colourful attire performed the rituals on the occasion of Karva Chauth inside the jail premises today. They observed fast praying for the long life of their spouses.

Apart from them, several women came from distant places to meet their husbands lodged in the jail.

The women prisioners were in tears and wished they had been with their husbands. They regretted that their kids were deprived of their love. Some of them said they were not guilty, they had been falsely implicated and there was no one to take care of their family.

S.L. Latika, regional director of the DAV Schools, brought for the female prisoners fruits and sweets in the form of Sargi. She gifted the Bhagwad Geeta to them and exhorted them to follow the teachings of the holy book.

Captain L.S. Jakhar, superintendent of the jail, who was also present on the occasion, motivated the prisoners and consoled them.

Gurjeet Singh and Kuldeep Kaur, a couple, are undergoing life-imprisonment in a murder case. Kuldeep was shifted to the special women jail at Ludhiana. Gurjeet remembered his wife on the day.

Rameshwar Dass, a prisoner, met his wife in the jail for the first time as she visited him today. She said she had to raise her two daughters but does not have any source of income. 

Moga, October 17
The local court has sent the three accused youths allegedly involved in the acid attack on a Dalit woman of nearby Ghal Kalan village on a day’s police remand.

Lakhvir Singh, additional public prosecutor of the district, said the accused youth, Soni, who also sexually harassed the victim four months ago, and two of his accomplices Nita and Jita were produced before the duty magistrate Anantdeep Singh at his residence this afternoon. He added that the duty magistrate sent the accused youths to a day’s police remand for further investigations. They would again be produced before the court on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police R.P. Mittal visited the victim at the district hospital where she was undergoing medical treatment. A police official said the victim narrated her woes to the DIG, who assured her of all help so that she gets justice.

On the other hand, local DSP Bhulla Singh went to the Ghal Kalan village and recorded the statements of some villagers in connection with the case.

It was learnt that most of them gave statements against the victim. However, no police official has confirmed the same as the matter was being investigated by the special team constituted by the police department.

It may be mentioned that apart from the local courts, the case was also pending before the state human rights commission.

The victim had recently demanded from rights panel to take stern action against those police officials, who were trying to protect the accused.

She alleged that the special team inquiring the incident of acid attack on her was just eyewash and the team was recording the statements of the people of her village against her to protect the alleged culprits.

The victim further alleged that the police was likely to hush up the case and give clean chit to the alleged accused youths on the basis of this inquiry.

She demanded that the State Human Rights Commission order a judicial probe into the incidents of sexual harassment, acid attack on her and the biased role of the local police.

Bathinda, October 17
To avail a better future as an officer in the armed forces, coaching classes for NDA and CDS examination will be conducted at the District Sainik Welfare Office, Bathinda, from December 1 to January 30 next year.

As per the press release of the DSWO, candidates desiring for admission for the said courses can register their names with the DSWO, Bathinda, by November 25.

Bathinda, October 17
In the finals of the Inter-zone Cricket Tournament held at Rajindra College, Bathinda, Baba Farid College, Bathinda zone, beat SBS College, Kotkapura by 80 runs. In the allotted 30-over match, Baba Farid College scored 159 runs while SBS College were bundled out for 80 runs.

Title for St. Xavier’s: In the 54th Punjab School Games held from October 11-15 at Ferozepur, St. Xavier’s School, Bathinda, secured the first position in the under-17 (girls) handball event. In the under-17 (boys) handball event, the team from the school got third position. Seven girls and three boys of the school have been selected for the national handball tournament to be held in December in New Delhi. — TNS