Bathinda, August 21
As many as 17 public transport companies have come under the scanner of the District Transport Office for not paying their motor vehicle taxes, earlier known as special road tax, regularly.

With due taxes from transport companies amounting to Rs 18 lakh in this region, the DTO even impounded buses of some companies, which were later released.

The District Transport Office named 17 transport companies that have been considered as defaulters — four being operating companies while rest were non-operating. Out of these, five were the main defaulters, namely the New Hemkund Transport Company, the National Transport Company, the Jalal Harijan Bus Service, the Jai Gurudev Bus Service and an independent owner named Surinder Kaur, wife of Manjit Singh.

Though the Jai Gurudev Bus Service is not of Bathinda but the DTO has sent a letter to the secretary, Regional Transport Authority (RTA), to take action against the company.

The Jalal Harijan alone has to pay Rs 14 lakh to the DTO. The New Hemkund, which had to pay Rs 3 lakh, paid Rs 1 lakh after its bus was impounded by the authorities.

Manish Kumar, District Transport Officer, Bathinda, while talking to this correspondent, said that a campaign was started to ascertain whether the transport companies were paying their motor vehicle taxes according to the number of kilometres registered with the RTA or not. Finding that some transport companies were at fault, the authorities decided to take action against them. The official said there were more than 40 transporters, who run their buses in this city.

The buses should ply as per the timetable set by the RTA and the violators have to face action, he added.

As far as taxes were concerned, the official said that for ordinary buses it was Rs 2.25 per kilometre; for AC buses the rate was Rs 1 per km; and for integral coaches (Volvo buses), the tax to be paid was 50 paise per km.

Bathinda, August 21
Reigning supreme in the wushu ring on the opening day of the state-level contest here today, Bathinda girls outplayed their rivals in the sub-junior category to go away with altogether five gold medals.

While Satnam Kaur won gold in the 20-24 kg weight group, Simran Rani and Geeta Rani clinched the same in the 28-32 kg and 36-40 kg groups, respectively. The host challengers, Manu Rani and Jatinder Kaur, grabbed gold in the 42-44 kg and 44-48 kg weight groups.

Out of the seven weight groups in the sub-junior (U-14) category, Bathinda girl challengers got second position only in the 32-36 kg weight group as Vishavjot lost to Amrit Pal Kaur of Sangrur while in the 24-28 kg weight group the district contender Sunita Rani could manage only bronze.

Earlier, DIG Faridkot Range Jatinder Jain inaugurated the 4th Invitational Punjab State Wushu (Open) Championship at the local DAV College here.

The District Bathinda Wushu Association (DBWA) is organising the three-day tourney in which nearly 400 challengers, including 100 girls, from the 16 districts of Punjab are vying for the top slot in the several weight groups under three categories – sub-junior (U-14), junior (U-17) and senior (above-19).

Officials of the association, including vice-president Gurmeet Singh DSP (H), joint secretary G.S. Sidhu, executive member Rajinder Singh Sidhu and others, besides guests Rupinder Singh, Harnek Singh, AEO (sports) and others were also present during the opening ceremony.

Wushu is a combination of martial arts - boxing and judo, said Pradeep K. Sharma, general secretary of the DBWA.

Results: Sub-junior (girls) according to weight groups — 20-24 kg: Satnam Kaur (Bathinda) – gold. Satnam got a walk over.

24-28 kg: Kanish (Gurdaspur) – gold; Sukhmani (Faridkot) – silver and Sumandeep Kaur (Jalandhar) and Sunita Rani (Bathinda) – bronze.

28-32 kg: Simran Rani (Bathinda) – gold; Ramandeep Kaur (Faridkot) – silver; Vanshika (Bathinda) and Pradeep Kaur (Mansa) – bronze.

32-36 kg: Amrit Pal Kaur (Sangrur) – gold and Vishavjot (Bathinda) – silver.

36-40 kg: Geeta Rani (Bathinda) – gold; Lakhvir Kaur (Bathinda) – silver; Manpreet (Sangrur) - bronze.

42-44 kg: Manu Rani (Bathinda) – gold; Manpreet Kaur (Ferozepur) – silver and Ramandeep Kaur (Bathinda) – bronze.

44-48 kg: Jatinder Kaur (Bathinda) – gold and Damanpreet Kaur (Ferozepur) – silver. Till the filing of the news report matches in sub-juniors (boys) category were on.

Bathinda, August 21
To resuscitate the dying tourism in the state, the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board has decided to help tourists in visiting destinations of religious importance besides other tourist places within the state of Punjab. Tenders have been called for air-conditioned buses while some selected ‘dhabas’ are being given a facelift.

Officials from the Tourism Department, Chandigarh, today told this correspondent that the aim was to make tourists visiting Punjab aware of its religious heritage including gurudwaras, temples and mosques, besides other places of interest for tourists.

The destination routes have been divided into three circuits, stated the officials. The first circuit would be Chandigarh-Fatehgarh Sahib-Sirhind-Chamkaur Sahib-Ropar-Anandpur Sahib-Nangal-Chandigarh. The second circuit would be Chandigarh-Patiala-Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo)-Muktsar-Chandigarh while the third would be Chandigarh-Amritsar-Khadoor Sahib-Baba Bakala-Sultanpur Lodhi-Kartarpur-Chandigarh.

Surinder Bajaj, deputy director, Tourism Department, Punjab, said, “We had planned to start the scheme this month, for which we had invited tenders. But the two tenders received earlier did not meet our criteria, so we have invited fresh tenders. The minimum requirement is that a transporter should have at least 10 AC buses with video-audio facility.”

Apart from starting AC buses, some ‘dhabas’ (roadside eateries) have also been identified in the state to cater to the needs of the tourist. Those working at these ‘dhabas’ are being educated so that they meet the international standards of hospitality. Confirming this, the deputy director said ‘dhabas’ were an important part of Punjab’s culture and the scheme was being given shape in collaboration with the Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management, Landran.

The official added that main focus was on hygiene and upgrading the standard of washrooms at ‘dhabas’ apart from guiding the waiters how to serve dishes and attend to the needs of tourists.

Bathinda, August 21
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, SAD MP, released cheques worth Rs 95 lakh for development works during her tour to nine villages of this district today. She also presented pension papers to 72 persons.

The MP released grants for repair of houses, water supply and development works in these villages. She criticised the Central government for increasing the MSP for paddy by only Rs 100 and demanded that it should be linked with the rise in prices of essential commodities.

Among the villages she visited were Lulbai, Jandian, Gudda, Jangi Rana, Raike-Kalan, Bandi and Kaljharani.

Dangarh (Barnala), Aug 21
The ninth martyrdom anniversary of Brigadier Balwinder Singh Shergill was today observed here. Brigadier Shergill had sacrificed his life for the country on August 21, 2000, in the Kupwara sector in J&K. Rich tributes were paid to the martyr by Barnala DC HS Sidhu, VC of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot Dr SS Gill, chairman, Sangrur district planning committee Gobind Singh Longowal and ex-chairman, Barnala Improvement Trust, Paramjit Singh Mann. — TNS

Ferozepur, August 21
Eight persons including a constable of the Punjab Police and three Home Guard jawans were booked under sections 302, 148, 149, 365, 120 B of the IPC following the death of a person identified as Karnail Singh, who was being taken to the police station, Guruharsahai, in connection with a complaint filed by his brother-in-law Sohan Singh.

As per information, Sohan Singh, who was married to Karnail's sister, Sheelo Rani, had some differences with his wife and brother-in-law. Due to this, Sheelo Rani had left her husband's house and was staying with her parents in village Hazarsingh Wala in Mamdot.

Thereafter, Sohan Singh had filed a compliant against Karnail Singh at the Guruharsahai police station in connection with a monetary dispute.

Today in the morning, Sohan Singh, accompanied by a police party including head constable Tirlochan Singh and four Home Guard jawans came to the house of Karnail Singh and picked him up in connection with the complaint filed by him.

Later, Karnail, 45, died on the way before reaching the police station. Sheelo Rani, sister of the deceased, alleged that her brother was beaten up by the police personnel, due to which he died. On the other hand, police sources claimed that Karnail was unwell and he died due to nervousness before the police could carry out any investigation.

Meanwhile, DSP Jasbir Singh said the police has registered a case against the police personnel concerned, Sohan Singh and his two relatives. Further investigations were being carried out to ascertain the veracity of the case.

Abohar, August 21
The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has finally recognised and registered the local Bar Association under sub-section 4 of Section 14 of the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Act 2002.

Senior advocate Sukhpal Singh Sidhu, president of the Association, displayed the certificate issued under the signatures of the Bar Council chairman BK Goel and honorary secretary during the general body meeting in the Bar Room here on Friday afternoon.

He claimed that 103 practising lawyers had been enrolled as members. They will be entitled to the benefits under the Act. Their applications were endorsed by him and former president Devi Lal Bishnoi.

While thanking the Council for settling the matter, Sidhu extended an open invitation to other lawyers (of dissidents group) to join the main stream by following the procedure laid down by the Council. He also informed that the Association had received a cheque of Rs 25,000 from the Bar Council under the library fund.

Commenting on the meeting held by the other faction earlier today, Bishnoi said there cannot be two Bar Associations in a town now. “The Council had acknowledged our claim and accorded recognition. We will serve the fraternity with fairness,” he said.

Notably, warring factions had taken up the matter to higher level but the Bar Council has cleared the clouds.