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TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Polling to elect president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Arorvansh Trust
Tight security in Sriganganagar
Sriganganagar/Abohar, June 13
The district administration has decided to deploy heavy police force under the supervision of an executive magistrate and a deputy superintendent of the police to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling for the office of the president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Arorvansh Trust, the largest representative body of the Arora community in North India, in Sriganganagar tomorrow, official sources said.

B.Ed student hangs self to death
Bathinda, June 13
A B.Ed student was today found hanging from a ceiling fan at the PG accommodation in Guru Ki Nagari where he was staying for past one month. He is reported to have committed suicide fearing poor results in exams he had given.

City first to have plastic surgery facility in Malwa
Bathinda, June 13
Residents of Bathinda and adjoining districts would not have to go to a big city for getting a plastic surgery done as the facility is now available in the city and that too at a lesser fee than that charged by hospitals in Ludhiana and Chandigarh. The facility would be a boon for those with cleft lip, acute burns and other deformities.

Fake currency recovered, 4 held
Barnala, June 13
The CIA staff in Barnala have arrested four persons in connection with manufacturing fake currency and also recovered fake currency worth Rs 2 lakh. Police produced the accused in the court of CJM Barnala and the court sent him on remand in the police custody till June 15.

Admn honours officials, meritorious students
Ferozepur, June 13
The district administration today organised a thanksgiving function during which all the government employees who had discharged their duties honestly during the Lok Sabha elections, procurement and flood relief work were honoured.

Ferozepur DC KK Yadav honouring a government official in Ferozepur on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Farmers, workers stage dharna
Abohar, June 13
The main gate of the office complex of the deputy superintendent of police, housed in the controversial Abohar Club opposite Government Model High School, was closed as workers of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), Technical Services Union, Rural Majdoor Union and Lok Sangram Manch staged a sit-in (dharna) and held a demonstration here on Saturday.

Youth falls in bore well, rescued
Abohar, June 13
Volunteers of the NGO, Green-S welfare Force, rescued a youth, who had been pushed by an animal in a 45 feet deep bore well in Sadulshehar on Saturday.

Rai Sikh community members stage protest
Abohar, June 13
Scores of members of the Rai Sikh community, including women, staged a dharna today at the city police station here to express anguish over the failure of the police in recovering the minor daughter of a former sarpanch, who had allegedly been fleeced in April.

Two boys booked in rape case
Mansa, June 13
A sixteen-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two boys in Mansa. Police has registered a case against the accused today.

‘Drive against power theft launched’
Mansa, June 13
To prevent power theft, chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board HS Brar, has warned of initiating strict action. Speaking to this correspondent, he said that power thieves would be punished severely and would also be fined.

Illegal liquor seized, two arrested
Bathinda, June 13
In a surprise checking, excise and taxation department officials nabbed the two accused kin along with 16 Punjab Made Liquor (PML) and nine Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) bottles in their possession from their residences in Naamdev Nagar, here today.

Boy drowns in canal
Mansa, June 13
A ten-year-old child was drowned in a canal distributory today when he was taking bath. According to police sources, Gurpreet Singh, son of Sardara Singh, a resident of ward number 18 here, went to take bath in the canal along with another child. Gurpreet entered into the water and was drowned.

	Racial attacks on Indians abroad Badal urges Centre to take effective steps S.P. Sharma Tribune News Service Muktsar, June 13 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Centre to take effective steps to prevent racial attacks on Indians abroad. Badal said it was a cause of concern that Indians were now being targeted in Canada after such incidents in Australia. The centre should intervene and take effective steps to protect life and honour of Indians living abroad. The CM, who toured about six villages of Lambi in the Muktsar district during his 'Sangat Darshan', released a cheque of Rs 2 crores for the repair of village lanes and schools. He ordered the deputy commissioner to issue job cards to the villagers so that they could be benefitted under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Badal asked the people to keep the villages pollution free and clean. He thanked the people for voting in favour of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, his daughter-in-law, during the recently held Lok Sabha elections.
	Awareness rally on World Blood Donor Day eve Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, June 13 The importance of donating blood in order to save lives was highlighted through a rally taken out by various non-government organisations (NGOs) today, on the eve of the World Blood Donor Day, observed every year on June 14. After the rally concluded at the Subhash Market, the NGOs and eminent blood donors of the district were honoured with certificates and garlands. The rally was flagged off from the Government Rajindera College premises by the SDM, Dalwinderjeet Singh and Civil Surgeon Neelam Bajaj. The rally covered various city markets, where people had set up sweet water stalls. At many points, the volunteers were felicitated with garlands and flower petals. The fervour among the volunteers made it look almost like a festive occasion. Some booksellers even presented notebooks and pen to express their joy over the activity. Addressing the gathering, speakers recalled the contribution of Karl Landsteiner, who gave the modern system of classifying blood groups in 1901, whose birthday on June 14 is celebrated as the World Blood Donor Day. Vijay Bhatt, president of the United Welfare Society, under whose patronage 41 NGOs of the district have reportedly been carrying out the blood donation drive, said, “The mission is being run since 1992. On an average, we arrange 100 blood donation camps a year and collect about 3500 units of blood in a year.” Sharing his experience, Raj Kumar Joshi of Rampura Phul, who was honoured for donating blood 75 times, said, “I donated the first unit when it was required for my friend’s wife in 1979. It was then that I observed the importance of donating blood. Since then, it has become a habit to donate blood at an interval of 90 days.” Another donor, Saroj Shahi, also of Rampura Phul, said, “All four members of my family regularly donate blood. Till date, I have donated 58 units of blood and would try to keep doing so till the last day of my life.” Setting an example, Jaspal Singh of Gillpati village, who is physically challenged, said, “I may not be of much use as I cannot move my legs. But I try to do my bit for mankind by donating blood. Till now, I have donated 24 units of blood. After every three months, I keep calling the NGOs to donate blood.” Besides the SDM and the Civil Surgeon, assistant civil surgeon IB Aggarwal, SMO Charanjeet Garg, district secretary of the Red Cross society JR Goyal and senior journalist Hukam Chand Sharma, were among others present on the occasion.
	Polling to elect president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Arorvansh Trust Tight security in Sriganganagar Our Correspondent Sriganganagar/Abohar, June 13 The district administration has decided to deploy heavy police force under the supervision of an executive magistrate and a deputy superintendent of the police to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling for the office of the president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Arorvansh Trust, the largest representative body of the Arora community in North India, in Sriganganagar tomorrow, official sources said. The returning officer, Rajesh Jagga, had made a request for such arrangement, apprehending violence as tension between the warring factions was mounting up. More than 8,000 members of the community will be allowed to cast their votes by showing the identity proof, as it was applicable during the recent Lok Sabha elections. The electioneering, grossly polluted by mudslinging on each other, gained significance as Virender Rajpal, son of the local legislator Radhey Shyam, who had been elected on lotus symbol to the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha from Sriganganagar constituency after defecting from Congress abandoning four decade long association, is locked in a grim battle for the post of president with comparatively young candidate Ajay Nagpal, popularly known as Sonu. The latter is being backed by most of the arch-rivals of Radhey Shyam within and outside the saffron party. Interestingly, the campaign managers of both the front runners are believed to have hired services of some noted scribes to prepare and transmit publicity material twice in the day to the regional media, sources said. Meanwhile, Ramesh Makkar, a former chairman of the trust confirmed that a list of about 250 voters, had been submitted to the district administration alleging that they had been listed in the electoral roll twice. There were more than 300 voters, who sought intervention of the administration, to allow casting of vote, on the basis of any genuine document proving identity. Ajay Nagpal assured the electorate that he will get Arorvansh Dharamshala constructed in the Purani Abadi area, if elected. Some of the senior community leaders including Ved Parkash Mehta, Kashmiri Lal Jasuja and Arjun Dass Kalra strongly criticised the local legislator and levelled some allegations. Another meeting, presided over by veteran social activist Gobind Ram Punyani in Shyam Satsang Bhawan today, extended support to Sonu. Virender Rajpal did hectic campaigning but had to spend most of the time in offering explanations over the allegations being levelled against his father Radhey Shyam and his family.
	B.Ed student hangs self to death Tribune News Service Bathinda, June 13 A B.Ed student was today found hanging from a ceiling fan at the PG accommodation in Guru Ki Nagari where he was staying for past one month. He is reported to have committed suicide fearing poor results in exams he had given. The deceased, Sunil Kumar (22) of Dharampura village near Abohar, was a student at the Mastermind College near Gehari village. Balkaran Singh, Gurnaib Singh and Mandeep Singh, classmates of Sunil, told TNS, “Sunil was of a reserved nature. He was tense for some time as he could not do well in the ongoing examinations. He told us that by getting less marks, he would not be able to get a job and it would make his family unhappy.” “We were to have lunch, so we called him up to join us. But he did not respond. Getting suspicious, we peeped into the room from a ventilator and found him hanging from a ceiling fan. We immediately informed the owner of the PG house, who called up the police before breaking open the door of the room,” they added. Paramjeet Singh, the PG owner, said, “Although I did not interact with him much but he seemed to be a normal student. He was staying here for about a month.” Even after passing of a couple of hours, the body remained hanging. When sub-inspector Balwinder Singh, investigation officer, was asked about the reason, he said, “The family of the deceased has been informed. After they arrive, the body would be pulled down. The post-mortem would be conducted tomorrow.” He added, “We have searched the room and did not find anything objectionable. However, the tone of his brother, on getting the information about the incident, was a bit doubtful.” Till the filing of the news, the kin of the deceased had not reached the spot. The PG owner is a cop posted at the Nehianwala police station. He denied having informed the district administration about any of the accommodated students. “I purchased the house just six-seven months back and it is built on the Waqf board’s land. I am aware of the direction of the administration. But, I did not inform them fearing its consequences,” Paramjeet said. It may be mentioned that in the past fortnight, it is the second incident in the city where a student committed suicide.
	City first to have plastic surgery facility in Malwa Tribune News Service Bathinda, June 13 Residents of Bathinda and adjoining districts would not have to go to a big city for getting a plastic surgery done as the facility is now available in the city and that too at a lesser fee than that charged by hospitals in Ludhiana and Chandigarh. The facility would be a boon for those with cleft lip, acute burns and other deformities. Dr Rajesh Badyal of the Badyal Hospital, while talking to TNS today, said, “We have introduced the facility as patients with 50 per cent burns had to go to Ludhiana or Chandigarh for treatment. A special unit has been developed to treat burn cases in our hospital. We would offer 50 per cent discount to patients who cannot afford the cost of surgery.” Dr Zafar Aqueel, who is an M.S, M.Ch (plastic surgery), has been roped in from Delhi for performing the plastic surgeries at the hospital. The facility is the first of its kind in the Malwa region. “Dr Aqueel, an expert surgeon, joined the hospital on June 7 and has been operating upon at least two patients a day,” Dr Badyal said. Facilities that would be available in the hospital under the expertise of Dr Aqueel are treatment of cleft lip, palate and other facial deformities. Apart from these, genital organ deformities, non-healing ulcers, pressure/bed sores and burns would also be treated. Facilities for micro vascular surgery and cosmetic surgery would also be available. To make people aware about the facility, a free check-up camp is being organised at the hospital on June 14. Dr Aqueel would examine and suggest treatment to the patients at the camp.

	Farmers, workers stage dharna Abohar, June 13 The main gate of the office complex of the deputy superintendent of police, housed in the controversial Abohar Club opposite Government Model High School, was closed as workers of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), Technical Services Union, Rural Majdoor Union and Lok Sangram Manch staged a sit-in (dharna) and held a demonstration here on Saturday. The demonstrators alleged that about 36 houses were razed to ground under heavy police protection last evening at village Dharangwala by an influential farmer, who had allegedly forged documents, to get eviction of the inmates implemented, despite strong protest by those, who had been residing there for more than 20 years. Morcha convener Bal Krishan, an ex-serviceman, lamented that no notice for vacating the houses was served. Inmates including women and children were allegedly dragged out before throwing their valuables outside the houses. BKU spokesman Jagjit Singh and TSU circle president Baldev Singh said the SAD-BJP alliance government in Punjab had befooled people during the elections by claiming that all the landless people were being given 5 marla plot each. — OC
	Youth falls in bore well, rescued Our Correspondent Abohar, June 13 Volunteers of the NGO, Green-S welfare Force, rescued a youth, who had been pushed by an animal in a 45 feet deep bore well in Sadulshehar on Saturday. Giving details an eyewitness, Naresh Sethi, said that one Pokhar, son of Ashok Rajput, was standing near a deep well in the fields of Jagir Odh. All of a sudden, a roaming buffalo pushed him in a 45 feet deep well. Sukhdev, who happened to notice it immediately, rushed and informed Ghanshyam Insan, Raj Kumar, Sunil Insan and other volunteers of the NGO Green-S Welfare Force. They acquired services of the experts including Rimpy, Inderaj Nayak and Pappu Ram and launched a rescue operation in the presence of scores of farmers and members of Rajput family. Finally, they succeeded in pulling him out safely and got Pokhar admitted to the Civil Hospital. The doctors described his condition as stable.
	Rai Sikh community members stage protest Abohar, June 13 Scores of members of the Rai Sikh community, including women, staged a dharna today at the city police station here to express anguish over the failure of the police in recovering the minor daughter of a former sarpanch, who had allegedly been fleeced in April. The protesters, while shouting slogans against the local police said that FIR No. 109 was registered by the city police on April 10, on the complaint of Mangat Singh, former sarpanch of village Pucca Seed Farm, located on the outskirts of the town, in connection with the fleecing of his daughter Rekha (13). Those named in the FIR included Magha Singh, his wife Veero Bai, Gurmeet Singh, Chhinderpal Singh member gram panchayat, Amrik Singh, Gurmail Singh and Sukhchain Singh of Dhaani Kadaka Singh and Pucca Seed Farm areas. The protesters stated that the police had rounded up Chhinderpal Singh, Amrik Singh and Gurmail Singh. But they were freed under political pressure as the leaders of the ruling alliance in the state required their services for the Lok Sabha election campaign. — OC
	Two boys booked in rape case Our Correspondent Mansa, June 13 A sixteen-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two boys in Mansa. Police has registered a case against the accused today. According to sources, the incident happened on the night of June 7 when the girl was sleeping in her house. The two boys, Satish Kumar and Raju , both residents of Mansa, entered her room forcibly and perpetrated the crime. Family members and the mother of the girl were sleeping on the roof of house and the girl was sleeping in the room while the father of the girl was out of the station. The girl informed about the incident to the police today when her father returned home. Police has registered a case against the accused under sections 376, 452-34 of the IPC on the statement of girl.
	‘Drive against power theft launched’ Mansa, June 13 To prevent power theft, chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board HS Brar, has warned of initiating strict action. Speaking to this correspondent, he said that power thieves would be punished severely and would also be fined. "Theft detection teams and flying squads had already gone in the field and results of this move will come to light soon," he informed. He further said that the teams have been divided according to zones. Anti-power theft teams of the PSEB will work under the supervision of Member, Generation, and get directions depending upon the situation. Chief engineers would also lead the flying squads related to power theft. The move has been launched in the interest of the common people to ensure the proper supply of electricity, he mentioned. — OC
	Illegal liquor seized, two arrested Tribune News Service Bathinda, June 13 In a surprise checking, excise and taxation department officials nabbed the two accused kin along with 16 Punjab Made Liquor (PML) and nine Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) bottles in their possession from their residences in Naamdev Nagar, here today. The accused, Surinder Singh and Gagan Deep, are in police custody and will be presented in the court on Monday. Police has booked them under section 61 (a) of the Excise Act. Confirming the details, excise inspector (city), Balwinder Singh said, “We had received a tip-off that they get the IMFL from Chandigarh and PML from some village. They used to sell it at a cheaper rate. We have arrested them. We would also try to nab the persons who illegally supply this liquor to them.”
	Boy drowns in canal Our Correspondent Mansa, June 13 A ten-year-old child was drowned in a canal distributory today when he was taking bath. According to police sources, Gurpreet Singh, son of Sardara Singh, a resident of ward number 18 here, went to take bath in the canal along with another child. Gurpreet entered into the water and was drowned. Another child (8), went to the house of Gurpreet and informed his family about the incident. The body of the kid was recovered from the canal and handed over to the kin after the post mortem examination.