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Legality of shopping complex to be probed
Not being consulted while making plans: Councillors
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Healthcare facilities in dist suffering due to staff shortage
MC polls: Campaigning gains momentum in twin dists
Abohar college to host national meet on physics
Stand removed
Man gets 5-yr RI for rape bid
Murder at Rampura
Sibling rivalry over property claims life
Workers to get smart cards
Teachers Club honours students
Woman dies of asphyxiation in Moga
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Legality of shopping complex to be probed
Bathinda, November 16 The meeting, which took place on September 18, was adjourned due to the protest by some SAD councillors, who had accused Mayor Baljeet Singh Birbehman of misusing his powers while passing some items on the agenda in anticipation of the approval of the house. Later, it was termed as a ‘pre-planned’ move by the councillors to remove Birbehman from his post. The issue generated so much heat that Sukhbir Badal had to summon a group of SAD (B) councillors and order them not to violate party discipline. Meanwhile, the Mayor was also asked to perform considering the expectations of party colleagues. To comply with the orders, the Mayor had called the meeting today after a gap of two months. Some prominently vocal speakers at the meeting included two former presidents of the BMC, Bhupinder Singh Bhullar (SAD) and Jagroop Singh Gill (Congress). The Zero Hour apparently proved to be uncomfortable for a BJP leader and his associates as some of his party colleagues, through SAD (B) councillors emphasised upon the Mayor the need to mark an inquiry into his ‘illegal’ shopping complex located near Fauji Chowk. The inquiry has been marked to the BMC commissioner Ravi Bhagat and a report has been sought within seven days. Earlier, SAD councillor Rajan Garg was vocal over the issue. He alleged that the building in question was illegal. He along with some others accused the BMC officials of turning a blind eye towards the building despite serving of notices for demolition. Garg alleged that out of the 48 shops in the double-storeyed market, most had been sold and ironically, the BMC officials had been approving the sale-purchase deeds of the illegal structure. “All documents related to the building should be presented in the house within a week. If any BMC official is found guilty of shielding the accused, the house will penalise him,” said the Mayor. Despite some heated arguments, the meeting was normal in general. The agenda had 53 items listed and on the request of some councillors, about 17 items have been kept pending for the next meeting. |
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Not being consulted while making plans: Councillors
Bathinda, November 16 The issue gained momentum when a copy of the supplementary agenda, having an item related to the Blue Fox complex located near the Rose Garden, was handed over to them. In the item listed on the agenda , the BMC officials had sought the nod of the house for Rs 80 crore worth expenditure plans to be filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court claiming it was a mere formality to get the amount released in lieu of the expected sale of Blue Fox, which was transferred to the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) for the purpose. At the time of the transfer, it was said that the value recovered from its auction, would be spent for the development of the city only. Meanwhile, the BMC authorities borrowed Rs 40 crore from the PIDB, estimating the value of the property at Rs 120 crore. However, before the land could be auctioned, someone filed a PIL in the high court. What made the councillors object was the ‘pre-settled’ expenditure plan. The councilors said they had not been consulted. Seeing the resentment, Mayor Baljeet Singh Birbehman also expressed his position saying he too was not consulted on the issue. After hour long efforts, BMC commissioner Ravi Bhagat managed to get their nod saying their dissent might create hurdle in the release of the fund. He assured that a substantial amount would be kept for spending as per their demands. Then again, almost every councillor objected the imposition of tax in their wards. Despite repeated efforts, the BMC officials could not satisfy them over the issue. Finally, the Mayor formed a seven member committee to investigate it in detail and submit a report. Among other issues, water supply, sewerage project, roads, streets, traffic related arrangements were approved. The councillors also approved an item on the agenda related to the dismissal of a clerk, which was ordered by the court. Meanwhile, the house appointed councilors Krishan Kumar Garg and Rajwinder Singh as members of the house tax assessment committee, which was formed in compliance with the orders of the state government. Before adjourning, the meeting brought smile on the faces of for women councillors as senior deputy Mayor Tarsem Chand Goyal raised their demand for a vehicle to ferry them to their houses, which was immediately accepted by all. |
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Healthcare facilities in dist suffering due to staff shortage
Bathinda, November 16 As per information available with this reporter, five posts of SMO, 42 posts of MO, 10 posts of dental surgeon, four posts of radiographer, 74 posts of staff nurse, 35 posts of laboratory technician have been lying vacant in the government hospitals and health centres of this district nowadays. Besides, an important post of deputy medical commissioner (DMC) has also been lying vacant at Bathinda. Not only the medical posts, some other posts, like two posts of office superintendent, one post of superintendent (statistics), two posts of clerk, two posts of driver are also vacant in the office of civil surgeon. Besides the vacant posts of medical staff in the rural areas, several posts have also been lying vacant in the Bathinda Civil Hospital, including medical officer (one), matron (one) and staff nurse (seven). In the children’s hospital at Bathinda, seven posts of the MO, a post of dental surgeon, a post of matron, 18 posts of staff nurse, a post of radiographer, two posts of clerk and 18 posts of class IV employees have also been lying vacant. The posts of SMO have been lying vacant in the Civil Hospital at Rama and Maur, primary health centre (PHC) at Ballianwali, community health centre (CHC) at Nathana and the CHC at Mehraj. Interestingly, along with the post of SMO, all five sanctioned posts of MO, a post of dental surgeon, a post of radiographer have also been lying vacant at Ballianwali village's PHC. There are some other health centres in the villages where there is only one sanctioned post of the MO, but everywhere it is vacant nowadays. These villages are Ghudda, Jodhpur Pakhar, Natheha, Dhapali, Bhodipura, Dayalpura Mirza. The sanctioned posts of dental surgeon are vacant at Civil Hospital in Rama and Maur, CHC at Sangat, sub-divisional hospital at Talwandi Sabo, PHC at Ballianwali, CHC at Nathana, Mehraj and Bhucho Mandi. The posts of radiographer are vacant at the sub-divisional hospital in Talwandi Sabo, the CHC in Bhagta, the PHC in Ballianwali and the Children's hospital in Bathinda. In these circumstances, when there is a shortage of medical staff, one can easily assess the prevailing healthcare services in the district. People ask the state government whether it will open its eyes towards providing proper healthcare services to them or will restrict its propaganda regarding healthcare for all only to gain publicity. |
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MC polls: Campaigning gains momentum in twin dists
Sriganganagar/Abohar, November 16 Polling is scheduled for Nov 23. MP Bharat Ram Meghwal inaugurated the election office of engineer Banwari Lal Meghwal who is contesting the direct election of president for the MC in Suratgarh as Congress candidate. Election offices of congress nominees in the wards were inaugurated by local legislator Ganga Jal Meel. Ten candidates including engineer Ashok Aseri of the BJP are in the field as presidential candidates while 129 have been left to contest in 30 wards. Aseri's election office was inaugurated by former MC president Aarti Sharma. In Sriganganagar the district BJP last night recommended expulsion of three rebels Mahesh Periwal former president of the municipal council, Naresh Munna and Sanjay Moondra as they had refused to withdraw nominations that had been filed against party's official presidential candidate Manmohan Sharma, district president Bahadur Chand Narang confirmed today. Periwal said it was expected and blamed the saffron party leadership for ignoring the sentiments of the hard core workers. Notably his wife Seema Periwal had served as chairperson of the improvement trust during the BJP rule. Zila Parishad CEO cum returning officer Shankar Lal Sharma today allotted election symbols to 265 candidates for 50 wards. Opening of election offices was almost completed in Hanumangarh where none of the six candidates for presidential election had withdrawn nomination. Bhavna alias Bhanu Bhadoo daughter in law of veteran Congress worker Ghanshyam Bhadoo and Surjit Kaur wife of former district BSP president Jaspal Singh (BJP) are main contenders. 174 contestants are left for 45 wards in Hanumangarh. The presidential candidates have launched high tech campaign and are sending SMS message to the electorates. The Election Commission has prohibited fixing of cut outs of the candidates during the elections. |
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Abohar college to host national meet on physics
Abohar, November 16 Briefing newspersons today, principal Dr BB Sharma, conference convener Rajesh Khatri and organising secretary Paras Aggarwal said the conference will be jointly sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). The aim of the event that coincides with the golden jubilee celebrations of the college is to serve the objective of promoting research aptitude among the participants. Best oral presentation will be given young scientist award. BSF DIG Vimal Satyarthi will inaugurate the conference on Wednesday morning. More than 200 delegates from different states have so far confirmed participation. The resources persons will include Prof Ratnamala Chatterjee, associate professor of IIT New Delhi, Prof KK Raina, Deputy Director, Thapar University, Prof Avinash C. Sharma, Director, Indraprastha University, Prof Sham Kumar, chairman department of Physics Kurukshetra University, Dr K Tankeshwar, Director, Computer Centre, Panjab University, Dr SK Tripathi and Dr Sunita Srivastava of PU, Dr Ashish Aggarwal of Guru Jambheshwar University, Dr Anami Bhargava of Government Dungar College, Bikaner and senior CSIO scientist Dr Inderpreet
Kaur. |
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Stand removed
Fazilka, November 16 It has been stated in the memorandum that they had been allotted space for the rickshaw stand about three decades back by the then municipal council president Kashmiri Lal
Kataria. With the removal of the stand by the MC from its existing venue, the rickshaw pullers feared the move would affect their livelihood adeversely and they would not be able to earn two square meals for their family. The agitator rickshaw pullers attempted to burn the effigy of MC president Anil
Sethi. However, the effort was foiled by the city police. The rickshaw union president Asok Kumar has in a statement here today demanded that they should not be dispossessed from the existing space failing which all 750 rickshaw pullers of the town would resort to an agitation means to seek justice. On the other hand, Tilak Raj Verma, executive officer of the municipal council maintained that the rickshaw stand is
unauthorised. No licence fee is deposited for using this space, he said, adding that the municipal council also proposed to utilize the space for constructing an urinal for the shopkeepers of the busy cycle, hotel bazaar and clock tower crossing. The executive officer further maintained that the alternative arrangement for a rickshaw stand can also be made for the rickshaw pullers. |
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Man gets 5-yr RI for rape bid
Bathinda, November 16 According to details gathered, one Sarabjit Kaur of village Gobindpura had accused Jaggu Singh alias Jagsir of attempting to rape her daughter. In her police complaint, Saranjit stated that she and her husband both were working as labourers and the couple had three children, out of which the girl was her second child. She stated that in front of their house, the paternal uncle of her husband, Karamjit Singh was residing, where Karamjit’s brother-in-law Jaggu Singh of Kotli Ablu used to visit. The victim’s family was also on visiting terms with the accused Jaggu Singh, who taking advantage of the relationship, entered their house on October 23, 2008, when the parents of the children were away. He took the baby girl to Karamjit’s house. Meanwhile, Sarabjit Kaur returned and his son said that Jaggu had taken the girl to Karamjit’s house. Getting suspicious, she ran towards the house and heard cries of the girl. She found the accused in an objectionable position with her daughter. Witnessing the incident, she raised an alarm and her husband also reached the spot. However, the accused managed to flee after thrashing the parents of
the girl. After receiving the complaint, police got the girl medically examined at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, where the forceful attempt was reportedly proved. Jaggu Singh was booked under sections 376 and 511 of the IPC at the Cantonment police station. Considering all facts and circumstances along with the gravity of the offence, the district and sessions judge Kuldip Singh today awarded five years’ imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 2,000 to the accused. |
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Murder at Rampura
Bathinda, November 16 As per the details available, the GRP staff, Bathinda, found a body on the railway track in Rampura on May 22 and initiated the inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC. Meanwhile, Amarjeet Kaur of Rampura, the mother of deceased Satpal, lodged a complaint against four youths namely, Mani Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Parwinder Singh and Kewal Singh, accusing them of killing her son. She added that all four accused were friends of her son and worked at a workshop in Rampura. They took her son from their house and
after sometime, his body was found on the railway track. The post-mortem examination report suggested that the death took place due to a
poisonous substance. The police investigated the case and on the basis of the findings, all four accused were booked under sections 302, 201, 120-B and 34 of the IPC. Confirming the details, the Rampura police said it arrested three of the accused today and would present them in the court on Tuesday. Kewal Singh of Kotli Ablu was still at large, the police added. |
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Sibling rivalry over property claims life
Moga, November 16 As per the details available, Sohan's elder brother Jarnail Singh died 10 years back leaving behind a 15 marla plot that was transferred on the name his wife, Amro, who started living in her parental house with her parents. This plot in her husband's village was lying vacant for the past many years. On Sunday, Amro came to her husband's village and asked her husband' other two brothers Karnail Singh and Malkiat Singh to help her clean the plot where solid waste was being dumped by the villagers. Amro told them that she wanted to transfer this plot on the name of Sohan, which irked the other two brothers. Karnail and Malkiat objected to it and demanded their share, said police sources. The village panchayat also intervened into this dispute but could not solve the issue. Late in the evening, Karnail, Malkiat and two others attacked Sohan Singh with sharp-edged weapons. He died on the spot. The local SHO Jagtar Singh reached the spot and took the dead body into custody. The post-mortem of the body was conducted in the district hospital here, today. The police had registered a criminal case under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC against Karnail Singh, Malkiat Singh, Lavi and Major Singh on the statement of Jeet Kaur wife of the deceased person. The accused are yet to be arrested. |
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Workers to get smart cards
Sriganganagar/Abohar, November 16 The district administration had on August 26 organised the first function in border village Fatuhi to provide smart cards to NREGA workers with the help of Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) and a private company Fiono. More than 60 per cent of the workers are women. District Collector Ashutosh AT Pednekar said the workers having smart cards do not have to line up at the cash windows in the bank to draw wages or deposit money in their saving accounts. The card bears name, photo and account number of each worker and the account is operated after verifying the fingerprint of the holder.
— OC |
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Teachers Club honours students
Abohar, November 16 Asserting that people judge us by our actions and not by intentions, chief patron of the representative body of teaching fraternity Captain SK Dutta (retd) informed that the members of the organising committee had started visiting different schools that hosted the competitions since October 26. The competitions were convened by the head of the respective school. Special competition in poem recitation, folk singing etc was held for the physically impaired children, Manju Rani of Government High School village Kerakhera was adjudged the best performer. He informed that Singh Sabha Kanya Pathshala topped in folk dance and shabad singing contests. |
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Woman dies of asphyxiation in Moga
Moga, November 16 Sources said the leaking gas made it difficult for her to breath and she fainted in the bathroom. When she had not come out for about an hour her parents knocked the door but she did not respond. Finally, they broke the door and found that she was lying unconscious on the floor. She was rushed to the hospital where she was declared brought dead by the doctors. |
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