Bathinda, November 25
Viraasat Mela organised here every year would bear a more authentic look this time. Giving information about the annual fair, Harwinder Khalsa, the organiser of the event, said unlike previous occasion, a real wedding would be held at the fair showcasing the Punjabi culture.

The three-day mela is scheduled to begin from December 4. With barely 10 days left for the mela to begin, preparations are in full swing. A procession would begin from Hazi Rattan dargah on December 4 for the venue of the heritage fair. ‘Baraat’ for the wedding at the fair would also be a part of the procession. Tableaux depicting Punjabi culture would be brought out by various groups with young boys and girls clad in traditional clothes.

Sufi singers from Pakistan have also been called to perform at the mela. Mohamad Aslam Lohar, Abdul Salam Rajput, Sabar Hussain Dule Khan, Akbar Husnain, Kurbaan Niyaji and Ali Sher would present ‘sufi kalaams’ at the heritage fair. Famous Punjabi singers Amrinder Gill, Maasha Ali and Parminder Sandhu would perform on the last day. A five-member committee has also been formed that would be responsible for performance of local singers.

Comedian Bhotu Shah would also entertain the audience.

To spread awareness about blood donation, the United Welfare Society would carry out a tableau showing physically-challenged persons donating blood. The donors would also make people understand that if they can donate blood for the sake of mankind the able-bodied can surely do it.

Moga, November 25
A 15-day-old girl of a poor migrant couple, working on a brick kiln allegedly died for want of medical care, this morning.

The couple protested outside the office of the district magistrate by carrying the body of their child in the presence of former CPI (M) MLA Tarsem Jodhan, supported by a few local labour organisations.

While talking to The Tribune, Narinder, father of the deceased, hailing from Kalarpur village of Muzaffarnagar district (UP), alleged that he and his wife were kept as bonded labourers by the brick kiln owner after the death of his brother, who was also working in the same kiln.

“Lakhan, his brother, had also died for want of proper medical care,” said Narinder.

However, when contacted, Atul Kumar, owner of the brick kiln, talking to The Tribune, refuted all the allegations and said that he had spent more than Rs 4,000 on Anju and her child right from her pregnancy till the birth of her child. “I also gave money for the treatment of the child,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SDM of Moga, Ajay Sood said he had discussed the incident with the SP (D) Lashkar Singh, who had summoned the SHO concerned of Dharamkot police station to come here and record the statement of the aggrieved couple for appropriate legal action.

At the time of writing the news, SHO Bhupinder Kaur, reached the district headquarters and was in the process of recording the statement of the couple.

Moga, November 25
A woman died under mysterious circumstances at village Rauke Kalan in the Moga district on Tuesday night. The post-mortem was conducted in the district hospital here on Wednesday.

Preliminary investigations by police revealed that the deceased Manjit Kaur, 27, daughter of Gurmail Singh, was mentally disturbed for the past few months after her divorce. On Tuesday night, Manjit vomited after dinner. She was rushed to a private hospital at Badhni Kalan wher she died. The police initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of CrPC.

Abohar, November 25
The North Zone Railway Passengers Association has urged the Railway Board to run special trains from Sriganganagar to Beas on the occasion of spiritual congregations (Bhandaras).

Vice-president, Hanuman Dass Goyal, in a memorandum faxed to the additional GM stated that lakhs of Radhasoami followers are expected to attend the Bhandaras on December 6, 13 and 20 from different areas of the northern India.

Regretfully, the railways had never run special trains for the devotees in this area and neighboring districts of Rajasthan for Beas in the past.

Goyal suggested that the first special train should leave Sriganganagar on December 4 in the morning to reach Beas by the evening via Abohar, Bathinda, Dhuri and Ludhiana.

Moga, November 25
Hundreds of people today protested outside the office of the district magistrate against the local police for allegedly trying to protect the main accused in the case of the murder of a Dalit youth Jeewan Singh who was murdered after a row over loud music at village Chuhar Chak on November 4 in Moga district.

Anguished over the role of the police, various labour organizations led by former CPI (M) MLA Tarsem Jodhan demanded from the state government that the main culprit be arrested. The police had already arrested three people in this case but the main accused Dhanna Singh was still at large and eluding arrest.

It may be mentioned that a villager Gopi belonging to a rich family used to play vulgar songs at very high volume on his tractor and pass through their street daily in the evening. Jeewan objected to it but he was killed over this petty issue.

The member of the SC Commission Dalip Singh Pandhi had already intervened in the matter and sought a reply from the police through the DGP.

Moga, November 25
A labourer (35) was allegedly found murdered by some unidentified persons at Lopo village in the Moga district on Wednesday. Sewak Ram, father of the deceased, Gurjit (35), in a statement recorded to the police, had said that his son went out of the house on Monday evening and did not turn up till date. A hunt was launched by the family members to trace him. Today, his body was found lying on the banks of a canal between Daudhar and Badhni Kalan villages.

Preliminary investigations made by the police, revealed that he suffered multiple injuries caused by sharp-edged weapons, which might have led to his death. The police had also recorded the statement of Amarjit Kaur, mother of the deceased, and registered a criminal case under section 302 of the IPC against the unknown persons.

Bathinda, November 25
Members of the Safai Karamchari Union, Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, led by the union’s president Veer Bhan, today began a three-day strike in support of their demands. They also staged a dharna and held a rally in front of the office of the Municipal Corporation here.

They raised slogans in favour of their demands and against the Badal government. All speakers criticised the state government for not accepting their demands. Veer Bhan also announced that they would continue their agitation throughout the state till the state government accepted their demands.

Their demands include regularisation of services of daily wage employees, part time and mohalla sudhar committee safai sewaks, implementation of pension scheme, recruitment of new employees, scrapping of contract system in municipal councils and corporations and promotions to educated safai karamcharis without any condition.

Among others who participated in the protest included patron of the union Rajesh Kumar, chairman Pawan Nath, general secretary Mangat Singh, secretary Ram Charan and joint secretary Sukhdev Singh Vaid.

Fazilka, November 25
The cricket team of Uttar Pradesh won the under-16 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Championship, which concluded here today. Uttar Pradesh defeated West Bengal by five runs in a close encounter.

The week-long tournament was organised by the Fazilka Twenty-20 Cricket Association with co-operation of the Indian Twenty-20 Cricket Federation, in which, five cricket teams from different states participated.

While giving the details of the final match Fazilka Twenty-20 cricket association, Fazilka general secretary, Pankaj Dhamija said that Uttar Pardesh won the toss and decided to bat. The UP batsmen made 100 runs in 20 overs.

Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Krishna contributed maximum 20 runs in 19 balls. West Bengal medium pacer Tyagi bagged three wickets while conceding 13 runs in four overs.

On the other hand, West Bengal players were able to make only 95 runs in stipulated 20 overs loosing seven wickets.

Tushar made 21 runs in 27 balls from the side of West Bengal. UP batsman Krishna was declared the man of the match.

Tushar (West Bengal), was declared batsman of the tournament while Piyush (Chandigarh) the best bowler, Akashdeep (Punjab) the best fielder and Tarun (West Bengal) was declared the best wicket keeper of the tournament.