Bathinda, November 11
The schools of the Punjab government in the Malwa belt today slept on the orders for celebrating the National Education Day to mark the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was not only the first education minister of the country but also a great freedom fighter.

This was for the first time that the union human resource development ministry had decided to observe his birthday as the National Education Day and orders to this effect were sent to all state governments. However, not a single school here followed the instructions and the day passed off without organising any function to remember the freedom fighter.

The education minister, Upinderjeet Kaur, was unaware of the Central government’s instructions as she was touring her Sultanpur Lodhi constituency. A senior officer of the education department here said he would check up with the branch concerned in the directorate of education, Chandigarh.

It is worth mentioning that Azad was instrumental in setting up the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Meanwhile, the History Association of the local Government Rajendera College observed the day by organising an inter-class quiz competition and paper writing.

The Kendriya Vidyalayas in the Bathinda cantonment and Barnala Air Force Station, which come under the human resource development ministry, celebrated the day by organising debates, poem recitation and lectures on the contributions of Azad in the field of education.

This is not for the first time that the Punjab government forgot to observe an important day. The New Punjab Day on November 1 and the National Cancer Awareness day on November 7 went unobserved here.

Ironically, the authorities in utter disrespect to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, allowed many liquor vends to do usual business and hotels served liquor here even on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) while it was observed as dry day throughout the country.

Abohar, November 11
Educational institutions in Abohar and different towns of Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts in the neighboring region celebrated the birth anniversary of Maulana Azad as National Education Day.

In Abohar, Anurag Asija, director of the Maharishi Dayanand College of Education, threw light on the importance of the day with reference to the programmes launched by Maulana to improve standards of education. Sat Pal, Renu Bala and Raj Kamal bagged first, second and third prize respectively in the declamation.

The Kenway College of Education organised slogan competition during the celebrations. Suman topped with her slogan "Vidya padha de babla, bhawein devin na daaj vich gehne" (Papa, get me educated even if I don't need ornaments in dowry). Harmeet Kaur and Amandeep Singh stood second and third respectively by displaying the slogans against drug addiction.

In the "one minute thought" competition Gurjeet Kaur, Anuradha and Ved Parkash got top positions. Vipul Narang, Pooja and Paramjit Kaur formed the panel of judges.

Ramesh and Ripsy conducted the function that was organised under the guidance of R K Narayan and Pooja.

In Hanumangarh, the day was celebrated in many institutions including SGN Khalsa Public Senior Secondary School. Director Dinesh Juneja and headmaster Uma Shanker spoke about the works and philosophy of Maulana Azad. Another function was held in Saraswati Kanya Uch Madhyamik Vidyalya.

Headmistress Usha Sharma was the key speaker. 

Bathinda, November 11
Even after the passing of a year, the construction of the International Cricket Stadium and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal’s district office, foundation stones of which were laid by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, has not started.

The sources in the party revealed that the plan to launch the district-level party office here was a vision of Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, SAD (B). After the construction of the party’s head office began at Chandigarh, Sukhbir had planned to open district head quarters that would be inter-connected.

The CM had laid the foundation stones on his birthday (December 8, 2007) in the presence of Sukhbir and other dignitaries of the party. Ironically, at one side the stadium project was hung up while on the other, the pathetic condition of the lone foundation stone of the party office, covered with wild growth, itself is a question mark on the planning of the SAD (B).

When contacted, Sikander Singh Maluka, district president of the SAD (B), said the office project had been delayed as the party planned to give the same shape to all the offices in the state, adding that the architect, who was to prepare the model, was busy.

Bathinda, November 11
With the onset of winters, residents of the city have started feeling the shortage of cooking gas cylinders. It is reported that the cylinders are being sold anywhere between Rs 400 and Rs 500 on black market. The issue is of concern for the fact that this time around, the cylinders are being sold on the black market even when the shortage is not so acute. The reasons are many, but apparently not strong enough to wake the authorities concerned from their deep slumber.

“Those running LPG agencies are not only indifferent to the woes of their customers but also indulge in black-marketing of cylinders themselves and harass the consumers by making them wait for supply,” says Mamta Jindal, a retired principal.

Endorsing the views, R.K. Goyal, a government official, maintains that the deliverymen employed by gas agencies often sell cylinders to tea-vendors or dhabawallahs for an additional amount.

“Many a time, the regular consumers are left with no other alternative but to purchase cylinders on the black market,” says Minakshi, a housewife. A number of other residents also complain about the long waiting periods between the booking and delivery of the cylinders.

It has also been reported that instead of supplying cylinders on the doorsteps of consumers, certain LPG agencies illegally stock cylinders in residential areas and deliver the same on showing booking receipts. Due to lack of any check in practical, the practice is unabated.

On the other hand, the persons running gas agencies cite increased consumption during winters and receiving less supply of the LPG cylinders as reasons for the shortage.

Paramjit, in-charge of operations at a local agency, admits that some deliverymen indulged in illegal trading of the LPG cylinders, but hastens to add that steps were being taken to curb the practice.

Meanwhile, the use of LPG to run vehicles and gas geysers has also increased the consumption manifold. Even some regular customers belonging to the lower middle class sell their cylinders on black to taxi drivers or others.

Despite inconvenience caused to general public, the officials concerned hardly take any concrete steps to prevent the unauthorised use of LPG cylinders, due to which the illicit trade is thriving.

Atinder Kaur, district foods and supplies controller, when contacted, said no such case had come to her notice, adding that her department would take action against those selling the LPG cylinders on black market.

Bathinda, November 11
“The hospitality, we have been receiving from our Indian brothers, is a sign of development of cordial relationship between the two countries,” said players of Pakistan’s Kabaddi team, who were here this evening for a night stay. They will take on India at Muktsar on Wednesday.

While talking to TNS, players said, “Though most of us have been here many times, still we have a charm for visiting gurdwaras, temples and markets of this country.”

Karamat Maqbool Rana, in-charge of the team, sharing his experience said, “Today I visited my ancestral village, near Ludhiana. The warm welcome that I received from the villagers cannot be expressed in words.”

“At Ludhiana, our players visited markets and bought garments and jewellery for their family members,” he added.

Players said, “Though shopkeepers did not offer any discount, the respect they gave us was really admirable.”

When players were asked about the reason for losing two out of the three matches of the Indo-Pak Kabaddi series, they accused the Indian players of doping and greasing.

Further they alleged that the composition of their team was same from the day one while members of the Indian team changed with every match. “We have been injured, but Indians are fresh. We have been asking for players’ list, which the organisers of the Indian team are not providing. Since we do not want to create of any scene, we are playing with a good spirit,” they added.

Coach of the team, Muzzaffar Ahmad Bhatti, said he came with 16 players, namely Imtiaz Alam (captain), Akhtar Khan, Kashif Riaz, Tajamal Iqbal, Shafaqat Ali, Zia-ur-Rehman, Amir Ishtiaq, Amir Ismail, Muhammad Ishtiaq, Mohsin Naseer, Musharraf Javed, Muhammad Kashif Khan, M.Charagh, Ghulam Murtaza, Yasir Arafat and Yaseer Javed.

“This time we could not practice adequately as our visas were confirmed very late. However, next time, we will come with full preparation and just to win,” the players added.

When contacted, Sikander Singh Maluka, president, Punjab Kabaddi Association, refuted the allegations of doping and greasing. Further, he said, “When we go to Pakistan, they too never provide us the list of players. And it was but natural that if we have healthy players, why would we play with injured players.”

Rampura Phul, November 11
Health authorities today confirmed four cases of dengue in the sub-division. Around 15 suspected cases are under treatment at various hospitals and clinics here. The patients suffering from fever and low count of blood platelets are pouring in from Rampura village and other localities here. Meanwhile, some cases have also been referred to the hospitals at Ludhiana and Chandigarh.

The health department has deputed a team of doctors to the affected areas of the village, where a makeshift camp has also been set up for the purpose.

This afternoon, four members of Grewal family in Rampura village were confirmed of having the tropical viral disease. Both are under treatment at a private hospital in Ludhiana.

Mohan Lal, a schoolteacher, Saroj Aggarwal, a bank employee, and Manjit Kumar, a shopkeeper, are in the special isolation ward of a private hospital.

It is reported that number of people with high fever was increasing in the area. A dengue patient named Kewal Krishan has been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Tejwant Mann, senior medical officer, said only eight cases of suspected dengue were under observation. He, however, put the number of confirmed cases at four. Mann said contingency measures, including creating a special dengue cell in the civil hospital, were being taken to accommodate the patient turnout.

“Our casualty services are equipped to cope with the increased load of patients. We have also taken a decision to curtail the admissions to accommodate dengue patients,” he added.

The official had asked the Rampura Phul Nagar Council authorities to intensify the anti-mosquito fogging in all the sensitive areas and ordered to carry fogging during the night. Meanwhile, Nagar Council authorities said all efforts would be made to control the dreaded fever in the sub-division.

Bathinda, November 11
Those who have attained 18 years of age by January 1 can get themselves registered in the voters’ list, a press release by the election registration officers of Bathinda urban and rural Assembly constituencies said.

In addition, those having any objection or want to make clarification may either submit their requests through specified application forms from November 10 to 25 with the election registration officers or with the booth level officers on November 16 and 23 during a special drive.

Meanwhile, the General Samaj Party leaders have urged the DC, Bathinda, to take action against those who ‘mischievously’ get the names of genuine electorates removed from the voters’ list. — TNS

Sangrur, November 11
The Punjab unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has decided to form a front of Left and democratic parties to defeat the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress party in the ensuing Lok Sabha (LS) elections. This decision has reportedly been taken by the CPI keeping in view the on-going alleged communal danger and terrorist activities in the state.

The CPI has also decided to contest Bathinda and Faridkot Lok Sabha seats, for which the names of the party candidates will be announced in a few days.

Talking to The Tribune today, a member of the national executive, CPI, Dr Joginder Dayal, said CPI and CPM leaders would meet soon to form the alliance.

Dr Dayal said the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Lok Bhalai Party and other Left groups would be considered for forming the alliance.

He said the CPI would also explore possibilities of contesting more LS seats by holding consultations with some of its district units. — TNS

Hanumangarh/Abohar, November 11
Arch rivals Vinod Kumar (Congress) and Ram Partap (BJP) today further intensified their election campaign in different pockets of Hanumangarh constituency. Ram Partap's wife Tara Devi Sahu and Zila Parishad member Rukma Devi were seen campaigning along with Mahila Morcha activists in some villages. Both the candidates had already toured most of the villages even when their candidature was not made official. Both belong to the same Jat community.

Interestingly Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje Scindia has this time given preference to the Jats in finalizing the list for general category segments in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts that too at the cost of other communities. Sources pointed out that the CM has tried to please the well-populated Jat Sikh community in the region neighboring Punjab by fielding Gurjant Singh Brar in Sadulshehar. Ram Partap Kasnia (Suratgarh), Abhishek Matoria (Nohar), Damyanti Beniwal (Sangria), Jaideep Doodi (Bhadra) are all Jats who will contest with Lotus symbol.

Most interesting is the candidature of Abhishek Matoria, son-in-law of Abhay Chautala. He had been installed by the Congress as president of the Rawatsar municipal council and applied for the party ticket from Nohar constituency. As the Chautala family came to know that the Congress was again going to accommodate Suchitra Arya, Abhishek was reportedly advised to quit Congress and join BJP on November 6. Just three days after he was declared as the BJP candidate.

Ram Partap Kasnia today addressed BJP workers meeting in Suratgarh where the Congress was yet to finalise its candidate. Importantly the BJP has replaced its deputy chief whip in the Assembly O.P. Mohindera by announcing the name of another Sikh Harnek Singh Kaler as its candidate for Anoopgarh (Reserve) constituency.

The political scene is going to warm up on November 14 further when hundreds of Congress workers led by Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar will be arriving for boosting Vinod Kumar's campaign. Vinod Kumar has decided to file his nomination papers on November 14.

As the BJP remained undecided on Sriganganagar seat there were rumours that candidature of a former dissident Congress legislator was also under active consideration by the party high command, well informed sources 
indicated.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, November 11
Medical services in government as well as private hospitals remained paralysed for second day on Tuesday in protest against the failure of the police in nabbing the culprits who had assaulted Dr Amarjit Chawla and Dr Renu Chawla.

The call for district-wide strike was given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Dr Paras Jain, Dr B.K. Chawla, Dr B.K. Gupta and Dr Ravi Trehan while briefing the newspersons in the evening said the state government on June 9 had issued a notification for taking stringent possible action against the persons who indulge in assault on the medicos or cause damage to the property of the health department. But the district police was reluctant in taking action against those who attacked Dr Renu Setia in the Bombay Hospital on September 15 and again attacked Dr Amarjit Chawla in the government hospital on October 29.

The medicos had registered protest by wearing black badges on November 6 and 7 besides observing pen down strike and proceeded on mass leave the next day. They were forced to go on strike yesterday and today by the apathy of the police.

The IMA warned of indefinite strike if the culprits nominated in the FIR are not arrested.

District hospital in charge Dr S.S. Khosa claimed that emergency health services were kept running today.

Bathinda, November 11
On the inaugural day of the two-day-long district boxing championship, Lokesh Bains of the local sports stadium defeated Vijay Parshad of the SSD College, Bathinda, in the Group B (42-44 kg category) here on Tuesday.

Other winners were: 36-38 kg: Suraj Kumar (Bathinda); 40-42 kg: Sukhchet Singh (Talwandi Sabo), Suresh Kumar (Bathinda); 42-44 kg: Inder Singh (Talwandi Sabo), Gagan Deep Singh (Bathinda), Anil Kumar (Talwandi Sabo); and 50-52 kg: Tarsem Kumar (Talwandi Sabo).

Bathinda, November 11
The Directorate of Field Publicity (DFP), Jalandhar unit, has earmarked Rs 1.76 crore to develop the social infrastructure of rural areas under the Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign, said Lajpat Goel, assistant governor, Rotary International, after inaugurating the campaign on its second day here today.

Goel said under the campaign, plans were being made for rural roads, rural telephony, rural irrigation, rural water supply, rural housing and rural electrification.

Dharam Pal Singh and Parmeshwar Singh, agriculture experts, gave informative lectures to farmers on diversification of crops and its marketing.

They said keeping in view the competition, modernisation of agriculture production was the need of the hour.

The agriculture experts also appealed the farmers to adopt the new farming techniques of the agriculture department.

Earlier, Usha Rani, media and communication officer, PIB, welcomed Goel as the chief guest.

Moga, November 11
A youth was allegedly brutally thrashed by some miscreants in the presence of policemen at village Daudhar near Badhni Kalan under Nihalsinghwala sub-division, this morning.

After the incident, he was rushed to a local primary care health centre from where he was referred to the district hospital. He was undergoing treatment, here.

Talking to The Tribune, Parminder Singh (27), who had suffered multiple injuries, revealed that the miscreants were in the impression that he was an informer of the police and had informed about their wrong doings to the police.

While denying that he had ever informed about their wrong doings to the police, he alleged that the miscreants had a previous history of crime and some of them were involved in many criminal cases. He said that they were illegally collecting money from the local traders and transporters of the area for quite some time and he at one point of time had opposed them.

He said that few days back, these miscreants were called by the police but set free immediately probably under political pressure. "Yesterday, I brought into the notice of the local police about threats being received from them but no action was taken in this regard", he alleged.

Parminder further said that when he was coming to Moga this morning along with one Vicky, he was abducted by the miscreants and taken to the nearby fields where they brutally tortured him. "They kept me in their captivity for more than two hours and kept on thrashing me with sticks and punches during this time", he said. He said that some policemen came on the spot and witnessed the whole incident but did not arrest them.

Parminder revealed that he had already brought the incident into the notice of the police but at the time of writing the news report no police man had come over to the district hospital to record his statement and register a case of abduction and torture against the miscreants.

An official of the concerned police station when contacted said that this incident was in their knowledge and they had dispatched a team of policemen to record his statement.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, November 11
The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) today arrested constable Hasta Ram of the Sadar police station in Hanumangarh as he was allegedly accepting illegal gratification of Rs 1200 from Lal Chand of the village Behlol Nagar, sources said.

A police officer Kanshi Ram Solanki while confirming it said that Hasta Ram had allegedly demanded Rs 1700 from Lal Chand to delete his name from a case related to an assault whereas the complainant had been falsely implicated in that. The ACB team asked Lal Chand to hand over chemically treated currency to the constable which the latter accepted and was nabbed on the spot.

Moga, November 11
A 70-year-old woman was found dead in mysterious circumstances at her house in village Marhi Mustafa in Baghapurana sub-division, yesterday. Ear rings of the deceased and certain household items were also found missing from the house.

The police had initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC, however, it was suspected that it could be a case of murder and robbery.

Police sources said that the old woman identified as Gurdial Kaur was found dead on her bed while her husband Sarvan Singh was not at home. The granddaughter of the deceased, Baljit, first noticed her and called her grandfather who called the police.

The police reached the spot and took the body into custody. The post-mortem of the body was conducted at the civil hospital here, this morning. Since, no visible marks of injuries on the body were found, the doctors took samples of her viscera for a laboratory test to ascertain the cause of death.

The aggrieved husband stated to the police that her wife's earrings weighing about 15 grams were missing from her ears. Some household items, including clothes were also missing. He suspected it could be a case of robbery.

In another incident, a 62-year-old person identified as Gurbhej Singh had also died under mysterious circumstances at village Mangewal in this district, yesterday. He was a bachelor and living with his nephew for the past many years.

In a statement recorded before the police, Birsa Singh, brother of the deceased, had suspected foul play. The deceased owned five-acres of cultivable land that could have been the root-cause of the death, he added.

The police had initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC into the incident. 

Fazilka, November 11
A 15-year-old girl of village Dhani Munshi Ram allegedly committed suicide by consuming poisonous substance on Monday when the repeated threats given by her 'alcoholic' father to "sell her off" became unbearable to her. The police has arrested father of the deceased after registering a case against him under section 306 of the IPC.

The deceased, Chander Kanta, was a student of class IX.

According to the FIR lodged with the Sadar police by Nirmala Rani (40), mother of the deceased, she was married to Khanda Ram some 17 years back. Khanda, who turned alcoholic after one year of the marriage, had been beating her in inebriated condition. He also forced her to bring money from her parents. In the meantime, Nirmala became mother of three children, namely a daughter Chander Kanta, and two sons Akshaya Kumar (12) and Sanjeev Kumar (10).

Nirmala further stated in the FIR that as her kids grew up, they tried to stop their father from indulging in such act but Khanda did not pay any heed to them and instead sold two-acres of their ancestral land out of 3 acres and squandered the entire money.

Nirmala alleged that Khanda also used to threat her daughter Chander Kanta to sell her.

On November 9, Khanda Ram again came home in inebriated condition and started abusing and beating them. When Chander Kanta tried to stop him, he rebuked her and said that he had settled a deal for selling her and would do so next morning.

Scared by the threat, Nirmala along with her children decided to go to her parental house at village Diwan Khera of Abohar sub-division. On November 10, when they were going to bus stand of the village Behak Khas, Khanda Ram allegedly followed them and instructed them to return home. In the meantime, Raj Kumar, son of Jai Chand, a brother of Khanda Ram, reached there.

Chander Kanta and her mother Nirmala sat on the bike of Raj Kumar and returned home.

After reaching home, Chander Kanta immediately consumed insecticide lying in the house. Before dying, she reportedly told Nirmala that she was tired of daily beating by her father and his threat to sell her off. Hence, she was getting rid of her miserable life by ending herself.

According to Nirmala, they were shifting unconscious Chander Kanta to Muktsar for treatment but she died on the way.