Rajeana (Moga), May 28
Former Akali MLA, Sadhu Singh Rajeana, who died of prolonged illness on Wednesday evening was cremated with state honours here at his native village in the district, this afternoon.

The Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, his son SAD President and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, senior Akali leaders including Gurdev Singh Badal, Jathedar Tota Singh, Congress MLAs, Joginder Pal Jain, Darshan Singh Brar and many other leaders of all the main political parties were present at the time of the cremation.

The CM while expressing profound grief and sorrow over the untimely demise of their former MLA said that Rajeana's passing away has caused a colossal loss to the party as it has become devoid of an honest and dedicated leader, who was committed to the party's philosophy to ensure overall development of the state.

The CM said, "Jathedar Rajeana being a grassroot leader was fully seized of the problems of the disadvantaged sections of the society and his outstanding services for the welfare of lower strata would be ever remembered by one and all."

Both the senior and junior Badals expressed their heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to give strength and courage to them to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the departed soul.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the district administration said that the jawans of the Punjab police fired five shots in the air and saluted to the mortal remains to pay tributes to the departed soul before the cremation.

The commissioner of Ferozepur division BS Sudan, District Magistrate of Moga, Satwant Singh Johal and senior officials of the police were also present on the occasion.

It may be mentioned that Rajeana was elected to the State Legislative Assembly from Baghapurana Assembly constituency in the years 1997 and 2002 for two consecutive terms.

Bathinda, May 28
Around a dozen drug addicts laced with arms and sharp-edged weapons entered a house to take possession forcibly firing three rounds of which a bullet reportedly injured the woman residing in it while her son was attacked with sharp-edged weapons at Partap Nagar late tonight.

According to details available, Gurjeet Singh of Sidhu market, Bathinda, sent the gang of goons to take possession of the house located in street number 35 at Paras Ram Nagar from the aforesaid woman and her son. Gurjeet Singh claimed to have purchased the house at a cost of Rs 11 lakh from its owner Dhanwant Singh, about six months back.

Dhanwant and his wife Gurmel Kaur have obtained divorce and Gurmel was in the possession of the house along with their three children, including two daughters and a son. Some portion of the house was also sublet to someone else on rent.

Gurmel Kaur claimed to have sustained bullet injury while her son Ramandeep Singh was injured in the face. She accused Gurjeet Singh of sending the goons to get the house vacated and take forcible possession from them.

The complainant Gurmel Kaur said the goons entered the house when they were about to sleep and started thrashing them. Meanwhile, they opened fire and thrashed even her pregnant daughter.

Till the time police reached the spot, the goons had fled but the cops nabbed Gurjeet Singh. Gurjeet accepted that he had sent the goons after paying them Rs 5,000.

SHO Kotwali Harmeek Singh Deol also reached the spot along with his force. He assured that the goons would soon be arrested.

“During the prima facie investigation, we have observed that the case is fit to be registered under the sections related to attempt to murder along with other crimes,” he added.

Meanwhile, the daughters of Gurmel Kaur lodged a complaint with the police in front of media saying they tried to contact police helpline number (100) but no one attended the call. The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital for treatment and medico-legal examination.

Bathinda, May 28
Though Bathinda is being projected as one of the quickly developing cities of the state, around 18 localities in the city could not be provided with the adequate supply of potable water till date.

During a survey of the city, this correspondent observed various colonies living under the drastic scarcity of potable water supply. Most of the residents of these localities depend upon highly-contaminated underground water.

People in some colonies said following regular protests by residents, the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities started providing water through tankers.

A high drama was witnessed at Lal Singh Basti, where on seeing a water tanker people thronged the area around the tanker with plastic cans, buckets and utensils. The scene was a grim reminder of the long past, when such scenes were common.

Salochana Rani of Balraj Nagar said, “Seeing the tanker we run towards it like anything. The tanker comes to our locality twice a day. It is unfortunate that in a city where dreams are being advertised, people have to live under such a pathetic situation.”

Residents, particularly women, were quite frustrated while narrating their plight. Some of them even used derogatory language against the BMC officials. “Politicians come, make promises, seek votes, win and forget. It is unfortunate that in this democratic country, there is nobody to address our pathetic condition,” an elderly woman, Shila Devi of Kothe Kame ke where not even the water pipes have been laid, expressed her anguish.

During the survey, it was observed that there are around 10 localities, where the pipelines have been laid but the pressure was so poor that hardly a drop comes out of the taps. These localities are Dhobiana Basti, Power House road, Hazi Rattan road, Deep Singh Nagar, Balraj Nagar, Lal Singh Basti, Awa Basti, Multania road, Harbans Nagar and Naruana road.

Ironically, pipelines have not been laid in five localities within the BMC limits, namely Udham Singh Nagar, Kothe Kame Ke, Dhillon Basti, Mehna Basti and Kothe Godara.

Irked over the problem of water, BMC councillors recently lashed out at the officials concerned during the BMC’s general house meeting. A councillor had even threatened to resign if the locality he represented did not get adequate water supply.

As per an official statement, the city requires around 120 lakh gallons of water per day, while the BMC was able to provide only 75 lakh gallons. Moreover, the BMC has been spending Rs 14.5 lakh per annum on the transportation of water tankers.

Bathinda, May 28
The Punjab government’s notification regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the 5th pay commission on Wednesday has left the teachers unhappy.

Some teachers said there was a typing error in the pay commission’s initial report which was submitted to the Punjab government. Teachers across the state had then protested and resorted to hunger strike. Following this, a letter accepting the error was issued by the pay commission which had termed the error as a clerical mistake. The error was rectified and according to the corrected figures, the pay band of ETT teachers then stood at Rs 10,300 to Rs 34,800 and grade pay was Rs 4,200.

Today, the teachers told The Tribune that the pay band of the ETT teachers was being shown on the internet as Rs 5,910-Rs 20,000 and grade pay at Rs 3000 instead of the rectified figures.

Jaswinder Singh, state president, ETT Teachers’ Union, said he spoke to Ramesh Inder Singh, Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, on Wednesday and the latter told him that they had made applicable the report submitted by the pay commission. Whatever was given by the pay commission has been considered, he had added. Jaswinder also said the 32-page report does not confirm the DA since 2006 that left the teachers guessing.

Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh, when contacted today, said, “We had incorporated the corrected figures only and if there is a problem in the report then no one has brought it to my notice. I will check up with the finance.”

Earlier, the teachers had said they had met the chief secretary on May 6 to apprise him of the issue. Then, the official had assured them that they would get the corrected pay for which a report was sent to the audit department.

The teachers are still clueless about what the report was about as Ramesh Inder did not divulge the details of the report.

Sources said the pay commission report was not applicable to the 14,000 teachers recruited in 2008 by the Punjab government.

Fazilka, May 28
On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the local administration has deployed the police personnels today to check the alleged illegal mining of sand in Fazilka sub-division.

It is pertinent to mention here that village Salemshah Panchayat of Fazilka sub-division had filed a writ petition in Punjab and Haryana High court, highlighting that the illegal mining of sand is resorted by some persons. The panchayat had demanded the court to get this mining stopped immediately. On Wednesday, Justice Ranjit Singh issued the directions to the district administration to compliance the orders of the court.

Fazilka SDM Charandev Singh Maan, DSP Hargobind Singh, District Mining officer RL Bagga, Block Development and Panchayat Officer Saroj Kaushal today visited the sand mining areas at village Salemshah and deployed the police personnel there so that the directives of the court could be implemented.

While talking to the correspondent, Maan said that the mining of sand was being carried out in 268 acres at village Salemshah, about 100 acres at village Miani Basti and in some areas of village Badha.

Police guards have been posted in these areas to stop illegal mining. The court has fixed May 30 as the next date for hearing in the case.

Mansa, May 28
Mansa police arrested the leaders of Punjab Kissan Union, who were supporting the struggling labourers regarding the possession of panchayat land in various villages.

State president of Punjab Kissan Union Ruldu singh Mansa, district president Balkaran Singh Balli and women leader Jasbir Kaur Natt were arrested. Against the arrest of the leaders of MMM and CPI (ML) labourers courted arrest on Tuesday in the district court Mansa. Police arrested them as they were demanding to release the arrested leaders and plots.

Jagdev Singh Khudal Kalan and Kuldeep Singh Tamkot led the protesting labourers. Labourers rued that the SAD-BJP had promised them plots but did not fulfill the promise. But when the labourers had taken the possession of the plot on the panchayat land, police have taken strict action against their leaders on the instructions of the state government, they said.

Mansa, May 28
The Civil Hospital, Mansa, is undergoing staff crunch including doctors, staff nurses and lab technicians. As per the information, there were no doctors for anaesthesia and radiologists. Though the post of pathologist has been filled up but the doctor was on long leave. Besides, the BTO officer for blood bank also needs to be appointed. As there is only one lady doctor for surgery, many patients have to go to private hospitals.

Nearly 50 per cent posts of staff nurses have been lying vacant. There are only 13 staff nurses out of a total of 26 posts. Posts of lab technicians are also lying vacant. Due to increase in dispute cases, doctors have been spending more time in the courts, said Mansa resident Rekha Sharma and Dr Baldev Sharma.

Many cancer patients, for most of the time, could not find any doctor and medicine for treatment in the hospital. For emergency services, only two ambulances are available for the patients. Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Rupinder Kumar also admitted to the problem of staff shortage. He said considering the rush of patients, sufficient number of staff members and regular doctors are required. Ex-MLA Buta Singh and Rajinder Sharma, an advocate, demanded the appointment of doctors and other staff in the hospital.