Bathinda, March 3
Just a day later, when ruling SAD councillors were busy distributing the blue 'Atta-Dal' cards meant for below poverty line (BPL) families, an elderly SAD loyalist has come under the scanner for purchasing 12 bags of subsidised wheat from a ration depot located adjacent to his mill at Lal Singh Bast, here.

After completing four terms as councillor, Sobha Singh had recently projected his daughter-in-law, who is now a SAD councillor. Sobha Singh runs a flour mill at Lal Singh Basti, adjacent to the ration depot, allotted in the name of Sukhdev Sharma, under licence number 94.

Facing protests from residents and the entitled beneficiaries of the ration depot, the district food and supply department, today sealed the ration depot and searched the flour mill but failed to find the bags in question.

According to the agitated residents of the locality, the shutter of the depot was found open early in the morning. Getting suspicious, one of them, Jagjit Singh, kept an eye over the activities. He chased a rehri, which after carrying 12 bags of subsidised wheat from the depot, unloaded it at the flour mill, but not before making a round of the colony to remove any suspicion.

As per the allegations, the mill was running full strength at that time, and the wheat was immediately converted into flour.

People informed the police, who nabbed the rehriwala. The rehriwala, Gurjant Singh, in a written statement accepted that he had performed the job on the orders of Sukhdev Sharma, the depot holder and Anoop Singh alias Laddi, husband of the SAD councillor.

When asked, Brij Bhushan, inspector, food and supply office, who was on the spot, said, "I reached the spot and surveyed the flour mill but failed to find the wheat bags there. The depot was found closed and now after receiving orders from the authorities concerned, I have sealed the depot and tomorrow, the licence of the depot would also be cancelled."

On his part, the flour mill owner, Sobha Singh, refuted the allegations and said he had only those bags of wheat, which he had purchased from the market. Sukhdev Singh, the ration depot holder, could not be contacted, despite repeated attempts.

Bathinda, March 3
Showing gross indifference, the district administration today appeared to be least bothered in taking action against a gas agency accused of supplying underweight domestic LPG cylinders.

In protest, the consumers of the gas agency blocked the railway station road for around seven hours but lifted the stir in evening even though their pleas went unheard.

As per the details available, the problem began at around 8 am, when consumers, after receiving cylinders from the Sidhu Gas Service, located at the railway station road, found most of them underweight by at least three kilograms.

After an hour of agitation by the consumers, police reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters, who were demanding registration of a case against the gas agency owner and its staff.

Finding that they were not in a mood to calm down, a DSP reached the spot and the LPG cylinders were weighed. Finding ten cylinders underweight, police took them in its possession. A food supply inspector and an inspector of Bharat Petroleum also reached the spot, but except for an assurance to investigate the case, did nothing.

Later, talking to TNS, they said, "This callousness was never expected from the district administration. Now, the ruling party leaders would have to face the music when they come to us to seek votes."

Bhupinder Bansal, a leader among the agitators said, "We have decided to humiliate the Deputy Commissioner and SDM at every function. We would also give a memorandum to Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, who is now projecting his wife as the Lok Sabha candidate from here."

On her part, manager of the gas agency, Ravinder Kaur said, "I accept that some domestic LPG cylinders were found underweight. Though the agency was not at fault, we offered to replace all cylinders but the consumers did not agree. I or any of the staff found guilty will not be spared."

When contacted, ASI Gurjit Singh, the investigation officer, said, "Till now, no case has been registered. It will be done only if the food and supply department ask us to do so in writing."

District food supply controller, Parveen Vij said, "The mater comes under the preview of the gas company whose official visited there and hopefully, sent his report to the company for action against the gas agency holder."

Bathinda, March 3
Agitating ETT teachers in Punjab have reached a compromise with the government. They had started a 'Log jagao, school bachao' campaign in and around Patiala after organising a mass rally in Bathinda. This information was given to The Tribune today. Under this campaign, they visited around 12 villages where clippings of the government making a statement in favour of the ETT teachers were shown.

"We had visited several villages and had planned to expand our campaign to the whole state. Teachers, mainly from the Malwa region, were active participants in this campaign and we were getting a good response from the villagers. But we have reached a compromise with the government of late," Jagseer Sahota, an ETT teacher said.

Sources in the ETT union said Chief Secretary, Punjab, Ramesh Inder Singh had called them to meet regarding their demands and the ongoing campaign. "When we met the Chief Secretary, he said that the Zila Parishad, which manages us, is not under the state government. 

It was under the Central government and its activities could not be altered. He said the ETT teachers would be considered state government employees and would get all the benefits that a government employee gets. He also said that civil service rules would be made applicable to the ETT teachers. "We were also promised that our promotions, which were stuck up for long, would take place soon," another teacher added.

The sources stated that some conditions would be laid down by the government for recommending ETT teachers for further promotions when the education department would start filling up posts through promotions.

"Appointment letter to an ETT teacher was given by the ADC (D) of a district but from now on, the Chief Secretary would give us the letter and we would be under the state cadre. Singh told us that the working of the Zila Parishad can not be altered but we will get all benefits applicable to an ETT teacher," Sahota added. After meeting the Chief Secretary, these teachers were taken to the Chief Minister's house where Parkash Singh Badal had signed a file in which a compromise and acceptance of some demands of the ETT teachers were mentioned, sources added.

Sources also said that the responsibility of giving everything in black and white to the agitating teachers was given to Sukhbir Badal, deputy chief minister of Punjab.

The teachers clearly stated that they would not end their dharna till the government does not give everything in writing but their campaign 'Log jagao, school bachao' has been stopped with immediate effect. A mass rally was planned at Bathinda on March 23 where all other unions were to support the ETT teachers. Even that has been put on hold. 

Sriganganagar/ Abohar, March 3
The administration and political parties in the border district of Sriganganagar are gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections. Former Union Home Minister, Buta Singh had recently reiterated that he wishes to contest Lok Sabha election on Congress ticket from this constituency.

The Congress workers feel buoyed over the recent inclusion of Srikaranpur MLA, Gurmeet Singh Kunnar in Ashok Gehlot led cabinet. Kunnar had won as rebel but was instrumental in giving majority to the Congress in forming the government.

In Suratgarh, legislator Ganga Jal Meel organised the first meeting of the Congress workers to draw strategy for campaigning.

Meanwhile, the Collector-cum-Returning Officer Rajiv Singh Thakur, explained that new development work could be sanctioned in any part of the district. Thakur informed that notification for the election will be issued on April 11, inviting nominations till April 18.

The withdrawals are to be completed by April 20. Polling has been slated for May 7. Counting of votes will be done in Guru Nanak Khalsa College at Sriganganagar on May 16.

While putting a blanket ban on government employees seeking leave, the DC directed that none of the officers will be spared, if they leave the headquarter without prior permission. Not only the government staff but employees of the cooperative societies and far price shop owners have been debarred from participating in polll campaign. 

Bathinda, March 3
Members of Aggarwal Sabha, Bathinda, recently held a meeting, where they discussed about the proceedings of November 20, 2007, which was held in the office of SDM on account of fixed amount of Rs 500 to be paid to eunuchs on various occasions. 

All present members of the Sabha were asked to comply with strictly. In the meeting, it was also decided to issue identity cards to eunuchs on basis of list supplied by Santosh Mahant.

Bathinda, March 3
Two youth who acused each other of poisoning, died under mysterious circumstances, here this evening.

According to sources, Parminder Singh (22) of Kaljharani village and Amrit Pal (28) of Kaile Bandar village, had consumed a substance at the bus stand here in the evening. After consuming the substance, they left each other's company.

Later when the condition of both the youths deteriorated, they were brought to the Civil Hospital. While being taken to the Civil Hospital, both started blaming each other for making them consume the poisonous substance. After a few minutes, both of them died and foam was noticed coming out of their mouth.

Civil Lines police post in-charge Sandeep Singh said, "As both of them were accusing each other and none of them has survived, so we registered a case under section 174 of the CrPC and initiated inquest proceedings."

Mansa, March 3
A woman has been arrested today for killing her husband. The police has also arrested the alleged paramour of the accused in this connection.

According to police, Boota Singh, son of Sandhu Singh, a resident of village Khokhar Kalan had been missing since February 14. His body was found from the canal distributory on February 22.

Police said that Ranjit Kaur, wife of the deceased had confessed that she along with her partner Raghbir Singh, a resident of village Makha, had killed Boota Singh and threw his body in the canal distributory.

The Mansa sadar police arrested both the accused under sections 302 and 201 of the IPC.