The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Assault on Dera followers, two hurt Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 4 Two followers of the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sustained injuries when activists of the Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj armed with weapons assaulted them at Maur Mandi this evening. Taking immediate action, police arrested one of the accused. As per the details available, a large number of Dera followers had assembled at the house of one Nachhatar Singh to distribute ration among the poor. After the distribution, they had scheduled a meeting. After attending the meeting, Major Singh and Bhola Singh, the two Dera followers, were returning to their village Jodhpur Pakhar on a motorcycle, when a group of assailants, riding a motorcycle and a car, intercepted them near Peerkhana located on the outskirts of Maur Mandi. After assaulting Major Singh with a sword and injuring Bhola Singh, the accused fled. The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital, Maur Mandi where doctors referred Major Singh to Civil Hospital in Bathinda. Dera followers, meanwhile, started assembling here at the hospital. SP (D) Ajay Maluja said, "A case under section 308, 323, 341, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered against Paramjeet Singh, Gurjeet Singh, Balkaran Singh and five unidentified persons." "All the accused belong to Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj. It was observed that they assaulted Dera followers as their gathering irritated them.Paramjeet has been arrested. We are trying to nab the other accused."
	Cong councillor, PHRC allege bungling by BMC Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 4 If one goes through the proceedings of the general house meetings of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC), it is apparent that the authorities concerned have not bothered about the directions issued by the vigilance cell of the department of local government. In the fifth general house meeting of the BMC, which took place on February 10, agenda number three is one example where the rules were carelessly flouted. The memo, number 25690-876 dated 22.9.95, issued by the principal secretary, local government, clearly stated that while preparing estimates, it should contain detailed justification for the need of the project. Further, it shall also reflect the location, existing facilities, proposed facilities, design criteria, specifications, rates, time limit and source of funding etc. The letter mentions that the directions were issued after analysing vaguely prepared estimates leaving a large scope for manipulation and misuse of public funds. Here in the agenda list, various jobs were mentioned along with the estimated expenditure, leaving the matter vague. The sub-head number 1 of the agenda number three, states construction of DB paving in various parts of the city, at a cost of Rs 28 lakh. Further, sub-head number two mentioned the estimate for providing and fixing road sign boards on main roads of the city, costing Rs15 lakh. Some vague topics are like supply of drinking water in water tanks (Rs 14.60 lakh). Rs.27.51 lakh has been allocated for linking Ajeet road with ring road and for the development of Mehna Marg but no development was placed at that meeting. At the meeting, the issue was raised by a Congress councillor, Jagroop Singh Gill. He even asked to write a dissenting note on the matter. Now, the Punjab Human Rights Committee (PHRC), accusing senior officials of the BMC of bungling crores in connivances with ruling party leaders, has raised its voice against the issue. PHRC general secretary Ved Parkash Gupta today issued a press release informing that bringing the matter to the notice of the Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the local bodies minister, he has sought a CBI probe into the matter. When contacted, Jagroop Singh Gill levelled more allegations of mismanagement by the BMC. On his part, Manish Kumar, BMC Commissioner, said, "I took charge recently and the matter is an old one. I will look into the matter and then file my reply."
	Ticket for member of Jakhar family sought Our Correspondent Abohar, March 4 Hundreds of persons, who occupied all the available space in the spacious Sethi Palace here on Wednesday sought to convey to the Congress high command through its observer Anil Thakkar, chief parliamentary secretary from Haryana, that the party can remove the 20 years old stain only by giving ticket to a member of Bal Ram Jakhar's family. Thakkar, who had been appointed observer for Ferozepore and Faridkot Lok Sabha constituencies, was profusely garlanded by slogan-raising workers on reaching the venue. Those who spoke during the meeting included city Congress president Banwari Lal Nagpal, rural Congress president Balbir Singh Danewalia, district Youth Congress president Sandeep Jakhar, former chairman of the Zila Parishad Rajinder Rinwa, Mahila Congress block president Veer Bala Nagpal, youth wing presidents Varun Verma and Shailender Shalu, senior Councilor Vimal Thathai, Beopar Mandal secretary Vinod Sharma and district president of the Anti- Corruption Bureau, Yudhishthar Gakhar. The workers were so keen to express their views that they violated the protocol and spoke even when Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, former minister and PPCC vice-president had finished his speech. Most of the speakers lamented that Bal Ram Jakhar had won from this constituency (Ferozepur) with a record margin of 2.90 lakh votes in 1980. After that, the Congress lost all the parliamentary elections because of choosing wrong candidates. Without naming G.S. Dhillon, Santokh Singh Randhawa and Jagmeet Singh Brar, the speakers said none of the loosing candidates had ever tried to maintain rapport with the party workers after the defeat. The party high command needs to be informed that only legislator Sunil Jakhar or any other member of the family can lead the Congress to victory now, they exhorted. However, PPCC vice-president, Sajjan Kumar Jakhar said, "The party is above any family, whosoever is given the ticket, and all of us must support him to ensure that Congress wins." Observer Anil Thakkar said two-year misrule has washed off electorate’s love for the SAD-BJP alliance. “These rulers must have learnt a lesson from the fate of the British regime and realise that people cannot be pushed by lathis forever. The alliance is bound to taste crushing defeat in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. A billion people look forward again with faith and confidence towards the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, who had refused to be the Prime Minister even when there was no opposition within. Rest assured, I will convey the feelings of this mammoth gathering to the Congress high command. But we all should work religiously for the candidate, whosoever is given the ticket,” he exhorted. Interestingly, not only doctors, advocates and other professionals were a part of the crowd but also some leading functionaries, who worked hard for SAD-BJP alliance last time, were seen present at today's meeting.
	DAV college teachers begin indefinite dharna Anjali Singh Deswal Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 4 The students of DAV colleges had to go without classes today because teachers sat on an indefinite dharna from today in Bathinda. The dharna took place on the college campus in front of the principal's office. The reason cited by teachers sitting on the dharna was suspension of three professors of DAV College, Chandigarh, Prof Anil Sarwal, Avninder Chopra and A.K. Taneja, president, secretary and staff secretary, respectively, of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union. Teachers of DAV colleges all over Punjab and Chandigarh started dharnas and demanded revoking of suspension orders with immediate effect to preserve the academic atmosphere in the colleges. "We want the suspension orders revoked. There is no reason for them to be suspended. They had staged agitations against the managing committee because they demanded provident fund to be deducted on full salary and encashment of earned leaves. Now, we have started getting encashment of earned leaves but those who initiated it have been suspended by the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi," Prof N.K. Gosain, member of the DAV College Coordination Committee, Punjab, said. Sources stated that the three suspended teachers had had a tussle with their principal. Teachers said that the students of all colleges would suffer as the dharna would continue till the three teachers are taken back in DAV College, Chandigarh. Sources in DAV College, Bathinda, said around 30 regular teachers sat on dharna from 10 am to 12 pm. "This would take place daily and no classes would take place before 10 am and after 12 pm," a teacher said. The teachers also stated that the practical exams are about to begin soon and they would boycott the practicals if their demand is not met. This would affect the students. "The teachers who got suspended were representing a cause and that is why they are being victimised. We are agitating against the dictatorial attitude shown by the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi. We would boycott the practicals and if need be, then the upcoming exams also," Prof Gosain added. The sources stated that a meeting of all DAV college teachers would take place in Chandigarh on March 6 and the further course of action would be decided. The dharna would affect the students studying in DAV colleges all over Punjab because their exams are approaching and teachers are ready to boycott exams. The teachers sitting on dharna belong to Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union. Prof P.K. Verma and Prof Satish Grover also addressed the dharna in Bathinda today. OC adds from Abohar: PCCTU president Prof Iqbal Singh Sandhu has said that the suspension was ordered by the managing committee. The principal had alleged that the lecturers had manhandled him in the staff room a charge which the lecturers vehemently denied, Sandhu said.
	Electronic tickets on PRTC buses Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 4 The days of punching tickets on buses are likely to be over soon with the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) under the kilometre scheme and its AC buses introducing electronic ticketing machines (ETMs) for passengers travelling in its fleet of 1,075 buses. Giving details, Iqbal Singh, general manager, PRTC, Bathinda depot, said a ticket coming out of the machine would contain the serial numbers of the driver and the conductor on it, besides time of issue, the destinations covered by it, the number of seats booked, fare and total money taken. He informed that the new machine will help save on both time and manpower, and ensure speedy preparation of ticketing accounts, resulting in reduced costs. "The machine will also enable single ticket user for multiple destinations, even as it will help group travellers obtain one single ticket for the entire group," he added. He further added that the corporation, in its second phase, has also planned to introduce ETMs in Bathinda and Chandigarh since 65 ETMs, including 25 in AC buses, were being used in the Patiala depot of the corporation. He said the corporation had taken this cue from Karnataka. By introducing ETMs in Patiala depot of the PRTC in its first phase, the project turned out to be a big success. "The ETMs would help check drain of revenue,” Iqbal Singh said.
	BSF builds two pontoon bridges on Sutlej at border Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Kassuke (Ferozepur), March 4 The Border Security Force (BSF) has constructed two pontoon bridges at Kassuke and Momdiwala villages across Sutlej on the Indo-Pak border to facilitate the easy movement of the troops for patrolling and for the farmers whose thousands of acres of land is across the river inside the fencing. Commonly known as balloon or floating bridge, the total length of these two bridges is approximately 300 metres, revealed Vimal Satyarthi, Commandant of the BSF, posted here. He said that the construction work was executed under the guidance of M.L. Wasan, DIG of the BSF, through the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in consultation with the engineers of this security force. He said that these bridges are floating on river water supported by barge-like pontoons to support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. These bridges are temporary structures and would be used till the onset of monsoon. During the monsoon, these bridges would be suspended from anchored piers to prevent them from washing away keeping in view last year's floods. The BSF commandant said that apart from facilitating the easy movement of troops these bridges would also help at least 2500 people visit their fields. "It will help the people to take their tractors to their fields," the commandant said. He claimed that three loaded tractors could cross the river at one time from one side of the pontoon bridge. He further said, "Special care is taken to protect these pontoon bridges from being damaged as it can be dislodged or inundated whenever the load limit of the bridge is exceeded". A pontoon bridge could also become overloaded when one section of the bridge is weighted down much more heavily than the other parts. The bridge could be induced to sway or oscillate in a hazardous manner due to the regular stride of a group of soldiers or from other types of repeated loads. Drift and heavy floating objects could also accumulate on the pontoons increasing the drag from river current and potentially damaging the bridge. More than 20 villages are situated across Sutlej on the right side of Hussainiwala where at many points the span of the vigorous river is more than half a kilometre that often extends during the monsoons making things worse for the people living at the border and the troops patrolling the international border. During most part of the year, people use boats to cross the river to reach their fields and nearby villages. After every two or three odd years, Sutlej also change its course in this area and causes heavy devastation in the form of soil erosion, damage to crops, houses and cattle.