The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Ex-follower alleges threat to life from Dera head Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, June 2 Once again, an ex-follower of the Dera Sacha Sauda has accused the Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and his subordinates of intimidating him, threatening his life and confining his mother inside the Dera premises. The complainant, a cloth merchant by profession, Beant Singh of Dabwali Mandi, claimed to have served the controversial Dera chief as his gunman and cashier. Holding a press conference in Bathinda today, he accused the Dera chief of being involved in a number of illegal practices. He said earlier, he had raised a voice against the sale of all commodities inside the Dera without bill to evade tax and it would be in crores. “Since that day, the administrators of the Dera started harassing me. They even tried to assault me inside my house at Dabwali. I am running from pillar to post to save my life. As a precaution, I had to shift my residence to a secret place,” he alleged. “Earlier, I was treated badly at the Dera. When I informed my family members at Ghudda village, they managed to get me out but not my mother,a follower of the Dera. Now, she is sick but they are not allowing her to leave the place as she is being used to suppress my voice against the Dera.” “I have been threatened if I open my mouth, my mother would be killed. Even some Dera followers have been issuing threats to kill my son and daughter. On the one hand, my mother is in confinement and on the other, my kids have been living under continuous threats,” Beant Singh said. Replying to a query, he said, “Earlier, I was provided with a gunman by the Bathinda police but a couple of months back he was withdrawn on the pretext of official re-shuffling.” When asked why he approached the media instead of the police chief, he said, “Earlier, I had approached police but before it could take action, some Dera followers came to me and threatened me with dire consequences if I contacted the police again. I sent a written complaint, the reply of which is still awaited.” On the other hand, Ram Singh Insaan, member of the 25-member main committee of the Dera, talking over the phone from Delhi, refuted all the allegations. “The Dera is not involved in such illegal practice, we account for everything. The allegation of confining a woman is baseless. I doubt that the person levelling the allegation must have been paid to malign the image of the Dera and its chief,” he said. Despite repeated attempts, Aditya Insaan, spokesman of the Dera, could not be contacted for his version.
	PSEB merit list Girls outshine boys in district Tribune News Service Bathinda, June 2 Girls of this district have outshone boys again by securing more positions in the merit list of class X of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), Mohali. Bathinda students have secured 22 positions in the list and 18 of them are girls. The PSEB declared the result today and the result gazette would be out tomorrow by 4 pm, sources in the PSEB informed. The topper in the district as mentioned in the PSEB list is Kulwinder Kaur of Dashmesh Public Senior Secondary School, with 771 marks. She is ranked 24th in Punjab. Manpreet Kaur of Dashmesh Public High School, Goniana Mandi, is ranked 72nd in the state with 763 marks. Ramandeep Sra from Rampura Phul with 760 marks is ranked 97th. Vishal Singla from Maur Mandi also secured 760 marks. Niteeka from Maur Mandi has secured 758 marks; Komal Preet Kaur of Little Flower School, Bathinda, is ranked 128th in Punjab with 757 marks; Ramandeep Kaur of Lala Kasturi Lal Sarv Hitkari Mandir, Rampura Phul, secured 757 marks; Perneet Kaur of Baba Farid Senior Secondary Public School got 755 marks; Esha of Bharatiya Model Senior Secondary School, Rampura Phul, scored 754 marks, Ramandeep Kaur of Lala Kasturi Lal Sarv Hitkari Mandir, Rampura Phul, got 753 marks, Mamata Rani of Dev Samaj Girls’ High School, Rampura Phul, scored 751 marks; and Shivangi of MSD Senior Secondary Public School, Bathinda, scored 749 marks. According to the information provided by the PSEB authorities, a total of 3,16,200 students had appeared in the exam, out of which a 2,67,596 had passed while as many as 931 managed to secure positions in the merit list. Meanwhile, students kept thronging the cyber cafés in the city to know their result. Rohit Garg, a cyber café owner in the city, said, “Students are coming to me for the past four days to enquire their result. I have been keeping a constant check on the result but nothing has been uploaded on the PSEB website. The chances are that the result would be available past midnight.” The result can be checked at the website pseb.ac.in.
	Four killed in mishaps Tribune Reporters Moga/Fazilka, June 2 Four persons were reported killed in different mishaps in Moga and Fazilka today. In Moga, three persons died in different incidents during the past 24 hours. As per the details available, Resham Singh, son of Dhir Singh, was buried alive while working in a bore-well when a a large chunk of the soil fell on him at Bhaloor village in the district, last evening. Meanwhile, a youth identified as Tarsem Singh, son of Budh Singh, a resident of Marhi Mustafa village, was crushed under a tempo as the scooter he was driving, rammed into it at about 9 pm last night. He was referred to the district hospital here due to his serious condition. He later succumbed to his injuries. The police after recovering the bodies initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC into both the incidents. In yet another incident, Baldev Singh, son of Sarvan Singh, a resident of Mehron village, was electrocuted on Tuesday morning. According to police sources, when he was on his way to the fields, an electricity wire fell on him. He was rushed to the district hospital in a serious condition, where he was declared brought dead by the doctors, who attended on him. The police registered a criminal case under section 304-A of the IPC against Devinder Pal Singh, a junior engineer of the State Electricity Board, who was responsible for the maintenance of the electricity wire. In Fazilka, Bittu Singh (36), a resident of village Banwala Hanuwanta, who was allegedly hit with a sharp-edged weapon by his brother-in-law Jeet Singh on May 30, after a wordy duel, succumbed to his injuries yesterday at a private hospital in Bathinda. According to the FIR lodged with the Sadar police in Fazilka by Charanjit Kaur, wife of the deceased, their relative Sandeep Kaur had come to meet them. Jeet Singh, a maternal uncle of Sandep Kaur, came to their residence and reportedly insisted on taking her back at about 10 pm on May 30. Charanjit Kaur stated in the FIR that Bittu Singh reportedly resented the proposal of Jeet Singh and pleaded that she be taken the next morning instead of midnight. A wordy duel between the two ensued, following which Jeet Singh allegedly hit Bittu Singh with a sharp-edged weapon on his head resulting in serious injuries. The injured Bittu Singh was rushed to the local Civil Hospital, from where he was shifted to the medical college in Faridkot. Later, keeping in view his critical condition, his relatives took him to a private hospital in Bathinda. He succumbed to injuries yesterday. Police today registered a case against Jeet Singh. The post-mortem was conducted at the civil hospital. It may be mentioned that four people were killed in a road accident on the Bathinda-Mansa road late on Monday night.
	State will witness change: Harsimrat Our Correspondent Mansa, June 2 Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Lok Sabha member from Bathinda constituency said that discussion are being held with the Central minister and departmental secretaries to bring more development schemes for Punjab. Speaking to the correspondent on phone from Delhi, she said there are many development schemes for the rural and poor people, which could be brought by making sincere efforts. She said that sewerage and water supply plans of the Central government could be more helpful for the development of rural areas. Speaking on the issue of women and children’s welfare, she informed that discussion was held with the officials for their welfare. To provide houses to the poor people on cheaper rates, funds would be managed soon, she assured. She spoke to the Union petroleum minister Murli Deora regarding the completion of Bathinda refinery. Bathinda refinery would play a key role in the development of the states and particularly in Malwa region, she mentioned. She assured that the Bathinda constituency will soon witness a change in terms of development in the days ahead.
	Homeless labourers CPI leader for free plots to labourers Our Correspondent Mansa, June 2 National executive member of the CPI Dr Joginder Dayal has said that all the arrested leaders of the labourers, who have been struggling to get plots should be freed and plots of five marla should be provide to the homeless people. Speaking to this correspondent, Dayal said that the government has been ignoring the need to provide the poor people with the basic amenities. He expressed concern for the homeless labourers and demanded five marla plots for them. The CPI leader criticised the government for not providing plots to the homeless people. He demanded interest-free loan for the people from poor economic background as well. The communist leader further said that housing problem is not just limited to this particular area but exists across the country. The CPI leader also exhorted the labourers to seek the support of all the progressive forces to get their housing problem resolved.
	Arrest liquor baron: BJP Our Correspondent Abohar, June 2 While serving an ultimatum to the police, the BJP today formed a 17-member action committee to fight against the "reign of terror" allegedly unleashed by a group of liquor and wine traders here. The party demanded the arrest of a liquor baron under section 307 of the IPC, besides, quashing of "false FIRs" registered at his behest against a BJP councillor and kin of two other councillors. A joint meeting of both the urban units was held at the residence of former MLA Dr Ram Kumar Goyal today. District president Mohinder Partap Dhingra was the special invitee. The meeting strongly condemned the alleged attempts allegedly made on the life of some BJP councillors and their kin by goons of the liquor mafia. "The younger brother of a councillor was kidnapped and fired at. Such kind of lawlessness and excesses cannot be tolerated. None can be allowed to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of this sub-divisional town. BJP-SAD coalition government is committed to ensure security and justice for all. Those, who had indulged in unlawful activities and harass the citizens must be brought to book," the meeting resolved. The action committee, formed today, will be headed by the district party president Mohinder Partap Dhingra. The party warned that an indefinite dharna will be started outside the Nehru Park from Friday if the police fail to arrest the head of the so-called liquor syndicate besides, quashing the FIRs against the BJP councillor Ravi Makkar.