Fazilka, October 5
Hundreds of activists of Beopar Mandal and other social and political organizations wearing black badges staged a protest dharna at the clock tower chowk here today to protest against unscheduled power cuts being imposed on Fazilka residents by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

The representatives of NGOs led by Beopar Mandal president Ashok Kumar Gulbadhar, state general secretary Satish Dhingra, Manav Ekta Manch president Dharm Pal Chawla, senior Congress leader and councillor Davinder Sachdeva, Social Welfare Society president Raj Kishore Kalra, Consumer Association president Harmeet Singh, Northern Railway Passengers Samiti president Dr Amar Lal Baghla, Sewa Bharti general secretary Surain Lal Kataria and others took out a protest march through the town bazaars. They also presented a memorandum to PSEB XEN Kuldeep Verma demanding an end to unscheduled power cuts.

While addressing the gathering at clock tower chowk, these leaders said that the SAD-BJP government had promised to provide uninterrupted power supply in its election manifesto to the residents of the state but had failed to do so. They called the statement of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as unfortunate in which the latter had stated that power was not like a box of sweets which he could distribute easily. They rued that if Badal can not provide basic amenities to the people of Punjab then he should quit the office of the Chief Minister.

"With unscheduled and long power cuts, daily life here has been hampered and the business of traders has been adversely affected," said Ashok Gulbadhar, president of Beopar Mandal.

It has been stated in the memorandum that besides imposing a total ban on unscheduled power cuts, the timing of scheduled cuts should be minimized as promised by the officials of the department a few days back. It has been demanded through the memorandum that facility of free power supply be abandoned forthwith and theft of power should be checked with an iron hand.

It has been further stated in the memorandum that the telephone of complaint office and grid stations are often switched off and the behaviour of the officials supposed to attend the telephone is often arrogant. Due to this, the residents are deprived of the exact information regarding power supply.

These leaders have warned the department that if the unscheduled power cuts did not end, the NGOs would compel to launch a massive agitation. 

Mansa, October 5
"Efforts are on to ensure environmental preservation and safety of animals and birds," said Punjab Minister for Forests Tikshan Sood while speaking to the media at Budhlada today.

Sood said that nearly one crore and 14 lakh sapling would be planted during the current season by state government with the help of religious and social organizations. He expressed concern over the changing environment and also stressed upon the need for tree plantation which would be helpful in controlling climatic changes. Felling of trees was the main reason for the deteriorating environmental conditions, he added.

Speaking on the missing varieties of animals and birds, the minister informed that efforts were on to ensure their safety. A high-level meeting would be held on October 7 at the Chattbir zoo in this regard, he said.

The minister was in Budhlada today to inaugurate a new temple of the Shri Krishna Besahara Gaushala .

District BJP president Suraj Kumar Chabra, BJP leader Krishan Kumar Bansal and municipal council president Balbir Kaur were also present on the occasion. 

Barnala, October 5
For the convenience of residents of 24 villages of Dhanaula Kanoongoi and Kaleke Kanoongoi, a Lok Suvidha Camp was today organised at Dhanaula, about 10 km from here.

Addressing the camp, secretary general of the Shiromani Akali Dal and former Sangrur MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa asked the administration to provide justice to the people in a big way. He also asked the people not to put pressure on the administration to do their wrong work. He also distributed cheques worth Rs 1.30 lakh, among six thresher victims and others on behalf of the Market Committee.

On the occasion, 325 learner's driving licences, 85 death and birth certificates, 25 caste certificates, 15 rural area certificates, 35 OBC certificates and 11 Scheduled Caste certificates were prepared. Besides, 300 old age pension cases, 25 widow pension cases and 55 disabled pension cases were also sanctioned.

Deputy Commissioner Harkesh Singh Sidhu said the administration was doing all official work in a transparent manner so that people should not depend on any middleman. He said the administration was always ready to do people's genuine work. Barnala SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar assured the people that the police would not do injustice to any one and would help the people round-the-clock.

Among others who attended the camp were Bhadaur MLA Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas,

ex-minister Gobind Singh Kanjhla, ex-minister Gobind Singh Longowal, ex-MLA Malkeet Singh Keetu, SGPC member Sant Baba Tek Singh Dhanaula, ADC Harjit Singh, ADC (Development) Balwant Singh Shergill and Barnala SDM Amandeep Bansal. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, October 5
The nursery of the Rajasthan forest department located near RD 29-D of the Anoopgarh branch canal was gutted in a devastating fire that broke out late on Sunday evening.

Witnesses said one Kamal Bishnoi, who first noticed the high flames, informed the police on cell phone. A contingent from the Raziasar police station led by ASI Harish Sharma rushed in but finding that the situation was going out of control, the Army was called in.

As many as 400 jawans and officers of the Army who were coincidentally camping near the area swung into action. Three fire tenders from the Suratgarh super thermal power plant were requisitioned. Tehsildar Harshvardhan Singh and other civil officials too reached the site to monitor the fire extinguishing operation.

Meanwhile, a progressive farmer Lal Chand Bishnoi had provided water sprinkling system to the staff for effective control. The fire that had spread over seven acres of land could be controlled only after about three hours. 

Ferozepur, October 5
The health department has seized huge quantities of alleged adulterated dairy products from a storehouse located on the outskirts of the town here on Monday.Acting on a tip-off, District Health Officer (DHO) Rakesh Sikri raided the cold storage of a storehouse allegedly stacked with adulterated dairy products and seized as much as 60 quintals of 'khoya' and other sweets.

This 'khoya' was recently transported on a train from western Uttar Pradesh by the local sweets shop owners to meet the demand due to the coming festival season.

Although, no case has been registered by the health department but samples had been taken by summoning some of the sweets shop owners on the spot. These samples had been sent to Chandigarh for laboratory tests.

As per the report compiled by the health department, 231 tins of 'khoya' and 30 tins of 'angoori petha' belongs to Bhagat Sweets, 25 tins of 'khoya' of Kasuri Halwai, 25 tins of 'khoya' of Baba Sweets, 6 tins of 'khoya' of Lakshmi Sweets, 51 tins of 'khoya' and 2 tins of 'rasgulla' of Ram Pal Sweets and 20 tins of 'khoya' of Ramu Halwai. The health authorities said that the laboratory tests report would come within 48 hours and action would be taken accordingly.

It may be mentioned that the state government has of late launched a drive against food adulteration and unauthorised storage of foodgrains and other essential commodities across the state to check the spiralling prices. 

Moga, October 5
A minor girl was gang-raped by three youths at village Daulatpura Nivan in Moga district, last night.The victim a student of Class IX, in a statement recorded with the police, had stated that when she came out of her room to lock the outer door of the house from inside, three youths of the village abducted her and took her away to a nearby house where they sexually abused her.

The police after recording her statement got a medical examination at the district hospital on Monday.

An FIR under sections 376, 366 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered at the police station (rural) against the three youths, Thana Singh, Sandip Singh and Satnam Singh, all residents of the same village.

The investigating officer ASI Basant Singh said that the accused were eluding arrest even as a hunt has been launched to nab them. 

Mansa, October 5
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has started procurement at seven centres in Punjab and the process would begin at other centres soon, said Punjab head of the CCI RC Sarkar while talking to this correspondent.

Sarkar said moisture had come down to 13-14 points . The CCI would start purchasing at other centres when moisture comes down below 12 point. He assured that the agency would continue its procurement process till the end of the season.

According to officials, nearly 4,60,800 quintals of cotton arrived in the markets of the state and private traders had purchased 4,57087 quintals of cotton and the CCI procured 4000 quintals of crop.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Punjab Kisan Sabha Butta Singh and BKU (Ugrahan) leader Mohinder Singh Romana demanded that the government agencies should start purchasing at all centre. — OC

Moga, October 5
Three persons including a woman died in two road accidents during the past 24 hours in the Moga district.Sources said, a woman fell down from the motorcycle when her husband who was driving the bike was overtaking a tractor-trailer near Kot-ise-Khan, late last evening. 

The woman identified as Parminder Kaur (50), wife of Pritam Singh, a resident of Sharaf Alisha village of Makhu (Ferozepur), was crushed to death under the tyres of the trailer. She died on the spot.

In the second incident, two youths identified as Balbir Singh (30) and Ranjit Singh (20), both residents of Daroli Bhai, travelling on a motor-cycle, hit the side wall of a bridge near village Balkhandi late last night. Ranjit died on the spot while Balbir was admitted to the district hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning.

Youth ends life: One Vinod Kumar (22), a resident of Parwana Nagar, Moga, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan on Sunday. He was working as a tailor and was said to be disturbed for the past few months due to poor financial conditions. Police had initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC. — TNS

Abohar, October 5
Editors of local newspapers along with correspondents of daily newspapers and TV channels met the deputy superintendent police (DSP) here on Monday to express resentment over the "false" implication of the chief editor of a local newspaper through an FIR that had been registered under sections 452, 506, 148, 149 of the IPC on the complaint of an employee of former MLA Dr Ram Kumar Goyal.

The delegation termed the act as an assault on the freedom of the press and demanded cancellation of the FIR besides action against the complainant under section 182 of the CrPC. 

Bathinda, October 5
Protesting against the ‘inefficient’ working of the Punjab government, the District Congress Committee (urban) organised a rally at the crowded Gol Diggi here today.

The protest, like all other political events, started nearly two hours behind the schedule but picked up momentum after Bathinda MLA and former minister Harminder Jassi arrived at the venue.

Lambasting Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Jassi said the CM was in the habit of ‘hijacking’ the schemes initiated by the Central government. He said the Central government released massive grants to the states for starting rural development projects. However, Jassi added, the CM would hoodwink the rural masses by telling them that it was his government that was releasing grants and not the Central government.

Jassi, a staunch supporter of former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, said the Indira Awaas Yojna was one such Centre-sponsored scheme aimed at providing houses to people living below the poverty line (BPL). “However, the CM, in his address to rural masses, always tells them that this scheme has been planned and is being executed by the state government.”

Later, the protesters moved towards the Mini-secretariat where they handed over a memorandum, addressed to the Punjab governor, to Shruti Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development).

During the protest march, senior Congress leaders were seen urging the protestors to move in a disciplined manner. Preet Mohan Sharma, senior vice-president of the DCC (Urban), was seen exhorting protesters not to raise slogans that were in bad taste.

Among other demands in its 24-point charter, the DCC highlighted the failure of the Punjab State Electricity Board in providing round the clock power supply to residents.

Removal of corruption in government offices, provision of a local bus service in Bathinda, setting up a multi-speciality hospital in the city and resuming construction of the ring road also figured in the charter.

Prominent among those present included Ashok Kumar and Ashok Bhola, President and Secretary of the DCC (urban), respectively, and Tehal Singh, Secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).

Bathinda, October 5
Hundreds of BKU (Sidhupur) activists staged a dharna outside the Mini-secretariat here today to protest against the “government’s indecisiveness on direct payments to farmers.”

Various leaders at the dharna lashed out at the Punjab government saying that the Chief Minister did not have the political will to make direct payments to farmers.

Hardev Singh Jaisinghwala, vice-president of the Punjab unit of the BKU (Sidhupur), said the previous government, led by Capt Amarinder Singh, wanted to pull the farmers out of the deadly clutches of commission agents, but later the former CM too put the issue on the backburner keeping in view the exigencies of the 2007 Assembly 
elections.

Jaisinghwala said that now the Badal government, sensing political fallout that could severely hit his government, had decided to keep away from the “burning” issue. He added that the axe would fall on the commission agents if the government agencies made direct payments to farmers.

He claimed that the commission agents were bleeding the farming community white, adding that farmers were committing suicides for they could not bear the whimsical attitude of the commission agents.

Bathinda, October 5
With Diwali approaching, the vigil has been stepped up across the city to avoid any untoward incident happening around the festival.

SSP Ashish Chowdhary said police teams would now increase patrolling at the crowded places, especially markets where Diwali goods were put on sale.

Checking of bus passengers has also been taken up at the bus stand here today. “Baggage of strangers or suspected faces would be checked. Two wheelers and four wheelers are also being searched at various places,” said Gurjeet Singh Romana, SHO, Kotwali.

Barricades have been set up at various entry points in the city and the vehicles entering Bathinda were being checked. Dhabas in the vicinity of the Bathinda railway station have also been told not to stay open after 12 midnight..

“DC Rahul Tewari ordered the closure of dhabas post midnight. According to the Shopkeepers’ Act, shops that do not sell essential commodities have to be shut down at 11 but dhabas being in close proximity to the railway station, which functions round the clock, have been given an hour’s relaxation. Shops selling essential commodities have been told to shut down by 9 pm,” Romana said. 

Bathinda, October 5
Two students and a teacher sustained injuries and had to be hospitalised in a clash with a group of boys opposite local bus stand on Sunday night.

Navsangeet, a physical education teacher at the Government Elementary School, Gurusar Sehenewala village, was returning by a bus from Amritsar. He got involved into an argument with a group of boys travelling along that resulted in the brawl. The group of boys called up their friends to the Bathinda bus stand.

As the bus reached the bus stand, the boys gheraoed Navsangeeet besides Chuspinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, who had come to receive him.

The group of boys then thrashed them up and fled from the spot taking advantage of the dark.

Sanjeev Mittal, SHO, Police Lines, said an FIR against Prabhdeep Singh, Charanjeet Singh, Deputy, Jassi, Bablu and five unidentified persons was registered under sections 308, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC and 25 54/59 of the Arms Act on the basis of a statement given by Gagandeep Singh from Tungwali.

No arrests have been made in the case so far. The police said the investigations were on.

Bathinda, October 5
Three persons were killed while four sustained injuries in separate mishaps in Bathinda district during the last 24 hours. Sources said that in an accident involving a motorcycle and a cycle on Bathinda-Goniana road, one Sham Lal (35) who was driving the ill-fated vehicle was killed while the cycle rider, Veeru, suffered injuries.

In another mishap, an elderly woman, Dalbir kaur, was ran over by a bus at Talwandi Sabo bus stand on Sunday night.

In another accident involving a jeep and a pickup van on Bathinda-Kotkapura road, the driver of the jeep, Sukhdeep Singh (22), was killed. Three persons, namely, Guradita, Chet Singh and Jaspal Singh sustained injuries in the mishap. — TNS

Bathinda, October 5
The 55th edition of the Punjab school games commenced at the sports stadium here today.The games, which will witness competition in just two disciplines — kho-kho (under-19) and Taekwondo (under-14, under-17 and under-19) — were inaugurated by former power minister Sikander Singh Maluka amid a colourful opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony got off to a colourful start which included traditional Punjabi dances. But the sultry heat was somewhat of a spoilsport both for the spectators and the participants.

The most sought after item for the sportspersons was a water-tanker stationed inside the stadium by the Bathinda Market Committee. With the sun providing no respite, players were seen crowding around the water-tanker. There were hundreds of thirsty buds around throughout the two-hour-long ceremony and the water-tanker turned out to be a fulcrum around which all activity in the stadium revolved.

As it happens in such meets, in an attempt to fill up the stadium, the organisers made schoolchildren sit on the stadium steps. These youngsters were not so lucky as compared to the dignitaries sitting on the dais which had a temporary roof to prevent the sizzling sunshine.

Surinderpal Kaur Sidhu, District Education Officer (Secondary) was also present on the occasion.

For the record, the march past was led by state awardee Raghbir Chand Sharma. In the kho-kho event for Under-19 boys category, Kapurthala downed Ferozepur in a sloppy encounter while on the distaff side, Ludhiana eves steamrolled their way past a hapless looking Takhatgarh wing 18-8.