Bathinda, November 4
The city roads would no longer wear a deserted look during nights, especially during the crime-prone hours of midnight to 4 am thanks to the massive night domination exercise started in the wake of the recent spurt in crime incidents, said Aashish Chowdhary, SSP, Bathinda, in a ‘Face to Face’ programme here today.

“Not only during the daytime, cops would patrol at night too. In fact, the number of cops on duty would be more at night,” asserted Chowdhary.

With the city witnessing a series of crime incidents and the confidence of the residents in the police shaken up, the cops have virtually come out on roads to keep the crime graph in the city under check.

To provide the residents a peaceful sleep, Chowdhary, along with other senior police officials, are personally supervising night domination work, delivering pep talks to the police control room (PCR) cops, checking nakas and police stations to keep the force on its toes. The officials are also conducting surprise checks.

The officials are also in the process of infusing a new life into the PCR motorcycle squad, which is termed as the lifeline of the city police. At any given time, 17 motorcycles, with two cops on each bike, would be plying on the road so as to increase police presence and boost public confidence.

This correspondent was on roads past midnight to catch the cops’ preparedness to meet the latest challenge thrown by criminals, who have committed several robberies and murders in the previous fortnight. At different check-up posts within the city limits, the contingents of the PCR-police control room motorcycle squad were found being given pep talk.

“Of late, we have drawn flak due to the sluggish work of our department. We need to pull up our socks now and man the city in such a way that it does not provide a haven to criminals anymore,” said the SSP to one such contingents.

“We are aiming to take the PCR squad to a new high,” he informed TNS. The SSP claimed that the presence of PCR squad on road would help in regaining the confidence of the residents besides discouraging criminals.

Narinder Kaushal, SP (City), revealed that the SHOs of the police stations and those in the charge of chowkis would conduct surprise checks and set up nakas.

He added that the PCR cops would be provided with walkie-talkies and mobile phones. The telephone lines at the control room had been increased, the SP said.

Bathinda, November 4
The small exporters of the state today urged the government to nominate one of its members to the upcoming three industrial trade and development boards in the state.

Jeewan Garg, president, Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters, in a memorandum, urged chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to hold district-wise meetings with the representatives of the export houses of the state before setting up the three boards.

He said nomination of their representative in the said boards would help in solving the problems of the trade and industry along with the export houses of the state.

Garg said by doing so, exports from the state would increase manifold, especially when the exporter chambers and export houses had knowledge and international experience in the field of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

It would also help to generate employment, attract NRI-FDI participation, upgrade technology and face global competition considering the cost and quality competition that China was giving to the Indian industrial set-up, added the president.

Earlier, Garg welcomed the state government’s policy to set up three separate boards for the promotion and growth of trade and industry in the state.

Bathinda, November 4
About 25,000 migrants, mostly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, performed the ‘Chhath puja’ this evening by offering ‘arghya’ to the setting sun along the waters of Sirhind canal here.

It was learnt that this time, political bigwigs had approached the local administration officials yesterday to ensure safety and comfort for the devotees in order to win over the migrants, as ‘Chhath’ is one of the biggest festivals for these migrants.

A fair-like atmosphere prevailed at the canal. The devotees burst crackers, illuminated their houses and organised langars. Some youths regulated the traffic on the way to the canal.

Even Punjabis have taken a fancy for this festival of migrants. They took part in it, some out of political compulsions and others just out of curiosity. Some of them brought trolleys loaded with radish while others donated boxes of apples. Some Punjabi women also observed the ‘Chhath’ fast.

‘Chhath’ is marked by rigorous fastings for two days. Even water is prohibited to the one observing the fast. It is harsher than the ‘Karva Chauth’ — fast observed by married women in Punjab. Married women perform ‘Chhath’ for the welfare of their children, especially sons.

Ashok Pandey and Varinder Pandey, Bihari brothers, while talking to TNS, disclosed that the real name of the festival was ‘Ravi Khashti Vrata’, which meant a fast for sun, and was observed six days after Diwali. They traced the origin of this fast to the days of Mahabharata and claimed that even ‘Kunti’ used to observe it.

After offering ‘arghya’ to the setting sun, a religious ceremony called ‘kosi’ would be held in homes with ‘puja’ and ‘Chhath’ hymns, they informed. Then, ‘arghya’ would be offered to the rising sun tomorrow, after which the fast would be broken.

However, despite the ban imposed by the local administration on throwing ‘puja’ material into the canal, a sea of devotees assembled on the banks of the canal and performed ‘Chhath puja’. They not only took a holy dip but also performed ceremonies, immersing ‘puja’ material in the waters.

A visit to the canal revealed that devotees performed rituals by offering flowers and ‘puja’ material to the Sun God. Flowers, fruits, grains, ‘diyas’, straw baskets and ‘hawan’ material were found floating in the canal.

P.K. Goyal, president, Bathinda Environment Society, said the ‘puja’ material end up in polluting the water with growth of micro-organisms in the water body. Pollution depletes dissolved oxygen in the water and suffocates the organisms.

Since a large number of ‘diyas’ are placed on the surface of the water, the oil in the ‘diyas’ leaks into the canal. It forms a thin layer on the surface of the water thereby obstructing the atmospheric oxygen from dissolving into the water.

“There is need to spread awareness about the pollution. As the administration cannot stop the devotees to perform rituals, it can ask them to do the same in an environment-friendly manner,” Goyal added.

Bathinda, November 4
For 22-year-old Sharvan, a native of Samastipur district in Bihar, performing ‘Chhath puja’ in Punjab is just like observing the festival in his native state.

“I find no difference as far as the ambience and convenience during the festival are concerned. It may be because people of this state are religious-minded and cooperative. That is why, Punjab is termed as second home of Biharis,” Sharvan told TNS while offering ‘dand pranam’ to the Sun God at the Sirhand canal here on Tuesday evening.

Not only Sharvan, almost all migrants, mostly from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, who perform the four-day long and the most sacred festival of their state in Punjab, feel and echo similar sentiments.

“Every article concerning the rituals of the festival is available in the markets of Bathinda, be it ‘soop’ or fruits,” Sharvan said, adding that perhaps the decades-old association with the migrants had made the locals understand their requirements.

“Earlier, we used to bring the articles concerning rituals from Bihar,” Sharvan said.

Shankar of Dharbhanga says that his mother has been performing the ‘puja’ for the past eight years in Bathinda and he also does not find any difference in Bathinda and Dharbhanga, especially on the occasion of ‘Chhath’ at the bank of Sirhand canal.

“You would witness thousands of devotees, mostly women clad in yellow ‘saris’ with vermillion on their foreheads, offering ‘arghya’ to the Sun God in the knee-deep waters in evening and morning at the bank of any water bodies in Bihar. The scene is almost identical here today,” he said, adding, “You would also witness children bursting crackers at the banks of water bodies amid chanting of religious songs and hymns while balloon sellers doing brisk business. The scene is also being replicated at the bank of this canal,” he added.

“Actually, Bihar comes up in Bathinda on the occasion of ‘Chhath’ at the bank of canal. And we enjoy the festival as we used to enjoy it in our village,” Kavita, also of Dharbhanga, said while lifting the ‘daura’ (basket) to start a return journey.

“We will come tomorrow morning to offer ‘arghya’ to culminate the four-day-long festival. Devotees will break the fast and distribute ‘parsad’ among all,” she said and joined others to sing a religious song.

Bathinda, November 4
The ongoing tiff between the students and the private bus operators has finally been resolved with a mutual decision, accepted by both the parties. Four bus operators, Sra Bus Service, Golden Bus Service, Brar Bus Service and Baba Kala Bus Service, had stopped bus services to some villages that caused inconvenience to the daily commuters.

The 15 students presided over a meeting yesterday evening, over the same issue, along with the owners of the four bus services and the president of Mini Bus Service Union. Kuldeep Singh, SHO of the Nehianwala Police Station, was also present there. The SHO wrote a letter that listed conditions to be followed by both the parties. Both the parties accepted the conditions and signed the letter.

The letter stated that the students would not be allowed to take half ticket. The half ticket facility would be available only to the regular students and not to those who travel for taking tuitions and prepare for IELTS or other courses. Students had alleged that cheap music was played and vulgar quotes were written inside buses.

The SHO passed orders to remove such quotes and ordered not to play music in the buses. The students also demanded that no extra staff of the company operating the bus would be onboard. The police passed instructions that except for a driver, conductor and a helper, no one else belonging to the bus service would be allowed inside the bus.

“Both the parties were made to write that they accept the conditions stated by the police and those violating them will face action,” the SHO said. He further said they avoided taking any action against the students, keeping their future in mind but now appropriate action will be taken against every student found violating the stated instructions.

Abohar, November 4
Madhya Pradesh Governor Bal Ram Jakhar regretted that most of the officers and elected representatives forget what they had solemnly affirmed and declared while occupying the office of responsibility and service.

Speaking at the prize distribution function of Bhag Singh Hayer Khalsa College for Women in village Kala Tibba, five km from here on the Seetogunno road, today Jakhar complimented Harbaksh Kaur Hayer for developing one of the finest girls college in the region by donating 29 acre of prime land and Rs 2 crore in cash in the cherished memory of her husband Bhag Singh Hayer.

"The nation survives because of such noble persons. Bhag Singh Hayer was one of the most influential progressive farmers who served as chairman of the local market committee also. I learnt from him how to behave nicely even when one is well placed and affluent besides respecting what your wear. Later, when I entered the Parliament and served as Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had also once reiterated — A man who is shabby in attire will also be shabby in conduct and thoughts," he said.

Realising that the dwindling leadership of the present times was unable to fight the dowry and female foeticide menace, Jakhar exhorted youths to rise to the occasion and emerge as torch bearers to save society. "Regretfully, people think if they survive with petty gains only then the nation would survive. We should take a pledge to be Indians in letter and spirit by shunning hatred on the basis of caste, creed, language and religion. Punjabi and Urdu need more respect in the present society also as these have their own significance and historical importance. All that was happening in Maharashtra can not be termed fair for any democracy. Every Indian should be respected in each corner of the country," he said.

The Governor while handing over prizes to the students for bringing laurels also exchanged pleasantries with them while asking about their parents and villages. The recipients included Manju Rani, Sheenam Priya, Sheenu, Sunita, Chander Kala, Gurmeet Kaur, Ramandeep Kaur, Jyoti Bishnoi, Manvinder Kaur, Devinder Kaur, Gursimran Kaur, Poonam and Renu.

Earlier, the students regaled the gathering by presenting folk dances of East and West Punjab. Manvinder Kaur virtually stole the show with her hard hitting satire on the working of Punjab police while performing histrionics. Principal Parminder Sharma and a trustee Rajinder Singh Jakhar delivered welcome speeches while SDM NS Brar welcomed the Governor on behalf of the administration. Local legislator Sunil Jakhar said educating girls to high standards for professional career and making them self-dependent was more important than empowering them politically.

Vivek Chhabra kept the gathering busy in clapping by a poetic compeering at the gala function.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, November 4
A live bomb that was found in Suratgarh area of Sriganganagar district today caused panic among residents, sources said.

As per the available information, some women who had gone to pick pieces of wood during the morning hours noticed the bomb lying under the shrubs. They informed the police through the councillor of their area. The police confirmed that the bomb that was more than 3 feet in length was a live one. The military police later cordoned off the area but was still waiting for the squad from some other cantonment to defuse it, sources added. The locals said this was the third such incident in less than a year. It was assumed that the bomb might have dropped from an army vehicle during the movement for an exercise in some other region.

Barnala, November 4
Expressing concern over the poor sewage and sanitation facilities, a city resident has appealed to all the municipal councillors to take stock of the situation. He alleged that the municipal committee authorities, in connivance with the private safai contractors, embezzles money while providing these facilities to the people.

He claims that his figures are correct and challenged the municipal committee authorities to prove it wrong.

Kewal Krishan, a resident of Sekha road here, has written separate letters to all the councillors in which he has appealed them to be conscious about the sanitation and sewage facilities in the city so that people can live in a healthy and hygienic atmosphere.

In his letters, Kewal Krishan has said that for collecting the garbage in the city, two tractor-trolleys are used in the city. Their rent is Rs 600 per day, which includes the cost of diesel. But the committee has shown on paper that four trolleys run on the roads.

Out of 25 wards the cleaniing of wards in the outer ares is done on a contract basis. The contractor shows that about 100 workers cleans one area at the rate of Rs 100 per day. But in reality, less than 50 safai sewaks do the cleaning. He appealed to the councillors to check the actual number of safai sewaks, maintain a special register and get regular attendance marked. The less number of safai sewaks are unable to properly clean the roads and drains.

In the committee office, about 100 employees are on daily wages but in reality, only 80 employees are working. The salaries of the remaining 20 is shown on paper only.

Kewal Krishan has written that this practice has been going on for the last many years resulting in wasteful expenditure shown on wrong heads. So, he has appealed to the councillors to raise their voice if they really want to serve the public.

Iqbal Singh, municipal councillor from ward 2, while talking to The Tribune said that sanitation facilities in the city are really poor. The actual number of sweepers who are working is about 80. Out of them, about 10 -15 workers work at the residence of various officials of the committee but receive salaries from the committee account . But in reality, the committee pays the salary of 100 temporary sweepers at the rate of Rs 3,000 per person. In this way, the salary of about 30 person worth Rs 90,000 is put in the committee account which is a fraud.

Parmjeet Singh Dhillon, president, municipal committee, when contacted admitted that he has received similar complaints also. He said he would enquire into the matter.

Executive officer, Barnala municipal committee, Tejinder Singh, when contacted said he has joined recently and so far no one has approached him personally on this matter. If any councillor or member of the public comes to him in this regard he would look into it and do the needful, he assured.

Ferozepur, November 4
Alarmed over the rise in the number of dengue cases in the district, deputy commissioner Megh Raj today convened a high-level meeting of the district officials to take stock of the situation and review the remedial measures being undertaken by the municipal and health authorities.

The meeting was attended by the ADC Jaskiran Singh, M.P. Singh SDM, Balvir Singh, civil surgeon, Rakesh Sikri DHO and others.

The DC said that to prevent further spread of dengue in the district, it was imperative to speed up cleanliness drive and create awareness about the requisite precautions among the public. The DC said that those municipalities which do not have fogging machines should immediately purchase the same.

The DC said that treatment for the disease was available in civil hospital where platelet-counting machines had also been provided.

CMO Balvir Singh said that there were around 17 patients admitted to civil hospital suffering from dengue and none of them was critical.

Abohar, November 4
One person was killed and seven others were injured, three of them seriously, in two separate accidents near this town today.

According to sources, a camel cart (rehra) was pulling farmer Sohan Lal of village Sayyedwala, who was killed when a truck hit the cart on Abohar-Sriganganagar road today. Madhya Pradesh Governor Bal Ram Jakhar halted his motorcade while coming to the town there and consoled the uncontrollable members of the bereaved family. The Khuyiansarwar police later registered a case under section 304-A, 427 and 279 of the IPC against the driver of the truck identified as Jagmail of Lakshmangarh area of Sikar district in Rajasthan.

Seven persons including some members of a religious singers’ group were injured as the car they were using to return to Abohar skidded and hit a tractor trolley near the city bypass at about 2.45 am. They had gone to participate in the “jagran” at the house of one Gurdeep Singh in village Bahawalbassi near here.

The highway traffic police ambulance shifted the injured persons to the local civil hospital. Later, three of them identified as Sardul Singh, Ekattar Singh and Sonu were referred to hospitals elsewhere as they were in a serious condition. Bharat Bhushan, Rinku and Kala Singh are being treated.

Abohar, November 4
The Sadar police has registered a case against unidentified persons who had fled after axing trees of the forest department near village Gobindgarh about 6 km from here last night.

Sources said that a farmer Pargat Singh noticed some persons axing trees when he went to irrigate his fields past midnight. He informed another farmer Jasbir Singh using a cellphone. Both challenged the culprits but the latter fled leaving behind the camel cart which was to be used to take away the stolen property.

A team from the forest department visited the village today in the morning and found the cutters used by the culprits besides some other material.

However, the villagers alleged that the wood mafia were in connivance with the employees of the department and urged the police to break the suspected nexus.

Bathinda, November 4
Additional Sessions Judge R.S. Rai sentenced a poppy husk smuggler to rigorous imprisonment (RI) for 10 years along with a fine of Rs one lakh.

According to reports, Paramjit Singh, ASI of the Sadar police station, recovered 10 sacks of poppy husk, weighing about 3.5 quintals, from Baljinder Singh of Rakhriya village, Malout, on June 10, 2002. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against the accused.

During the case proceedings, the court found Baljinder guilty and sentenced him to 10 years of RI and a fine of Rs one lakh. In case of non-payment of fine, the convict would have to undergo RI for another year.

Bathinda, November 4
Computer and IT department of Government Polytechnic College (GPC), Bathinda, in collaboration with NIIT, organised a seminar on “IT opportunities in today’s scenario”. The main objective of the seminar was to enhance the technical skills of the students. Convener and the head of department, R.K. Chopra, while addressing the gathering, stated the importance of the seminar.

He thanked officiating principal Yadwinder Singh and DS Sidhu, head of department and appreciated the faculty members and the students for their support and enthusiasm.