Abohar, December 23
The slow pace of construction of the railway overbridges on Abohar-Malout road and Abohar-Fazilka road, forming part of the National Highway 10, as well as incomplete rail track indicates that the long awaited Abohar-Fazilka rail-link may not become functional by March 31, 2010.

Cement concrete sleepers were still lying stacked at some places when this correspondent visited the rail track on Wednesday. The construction of the bridge near village Dangarkhera on the NH 10 appears to be much behind the schedule.

Notably, while laying the foundation stone of the Abohar-Fazilka rail link at Fazilka on February 2, 2004, the then Railway Minister Nitish Kumar and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had brought cheers to millions of faces by promising that the long awaited link will be completed latest by March 31, 2007. The actual cost of the 42-km rail link is likely to go up to 175 crore from Rs 86.44 crore now.

A survey indicates that most of the 47 small bridges on the sub-canals and water courses in 16 km stretch had been completed. The railway authorities have raised wall on both sides of the abandoned manned level crossing that linked college road with rest of the town following completion of the Railway overbridge at a cost of Rs 816 lakh.

However, masons on Wednesday constructed a stone-pillar near the entry point to the bridge at the state highway indicating that inauguration of the ROB by the CM or his son is on the cards now.

This would at least give relief to hundreds of families residing in the Suraj Nagari and adjoining localities that had been facing traffic jams at the Thakur Abadi level crossing for the last two years, said Bhanwar Lal Khatri, former president of the Lions Club Abohar Greater. 

Ferozepur, December 23
On the basis of intelligence inputs by the CID and MI sleuths, the local police have busted a nexus involving some local businessman dealing in dairy products and military dairy farm officials responsible for selling sub-standard milk to Army personnel. In a clandestine manner, the milk packets meant for the consumption of Army personnel was allegedly being sold to a local dairy.

According to the information, the police have registered a criminal case in this connection against the erring dairy farm officials, Gulshan Uppal, who is the owner of the dairy and the truck driver, who used to bring the milk packets to Ferozepur.

Though the dairy owner and the dairy farm officials are yet to be arrested, the police have taken the truck driver identified as Gopal Singh and his assistant Gurjant Singh besides some dairy workers into custody. Gobinder Singh, SHO Ferozepur City, said that on the basis of intelligence information, the police raided the dairy located in the city, where they found that the milk packets meant for consumption of army personnel were being unloaded.

Sources said that the milk had come from Bathinda. However, after delivering some quantity at the dairy farm, the truck driver brought the rest of amount to the local dairy.

Sources said that the milk brought to the dairy from Bathinda was of high quality, whereas after processing, cream was taken out from the same, and then the sub-standard milk was routed back to the dairy farm. 

Abohar, December 23
While terming the ‘corporal punishment’ that was reportedly given to two sub-divisional engineers by the Technical Services Union workers as a serious case of violation of human rights besides insubordination, junior engineers of Abohar division of the Punjab State Electricity Board observed strike on Wednesday.

They were joined by colleagues from Fazilka, Malout and Gidderbaha besides some former engineers in staging dharna and organising demonstration outside the office of the executive engineer here.

They shouted slogans against the XEN for not protecting SDO Surinder Singh Behal and additional SDO Jagdev Sokhal when they were forced by the TSU activists on Tuesday to keep standing within the circle drawn by the agitators under threat.

Jai Inder Maheshwari and Pawan Kumar Makkar convener and secretary respectively of the Council of the PSEB Junior Engineers led the dharna that was also addressed by engineers Amarjit Singh, Ramesh Gumber, Ranga Singh, Ram Kumar, Vijay Aneja and VK Dhuria.

They demanded that the office order that was illegally issued giving additional charge of sub-division number 1 should be withdrawn immediately. They resolved to go for work to rule before intensifying the agitation, if their security during service is not ensured. — OC

Ferozepur, December 23
Members of the Dalit Welfare Sabha today held a protest in front of the BDPO office against the alleged apathy of certain officials, who they alleged were not providing them with work under the NREGA scheme.

Earlier, the Dalits gathered in front of the Civil Hospital and then proceeded towards the BDPO office on Malwal road in the form of a rally.

The Dalit protesters even blocked the traffic in front of the BDPO office for some time. Prominent among the protestors included Kewal Krishan, Harjit Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Bagga Singh, Daulat Dass, Jassa Singh, who rued that under the NREGA scheme, the official should provide them with at least 100 days of guaranteed employment. However, some officials concerned were not even accepting their application for those jobs. The protestors alleged that BDPO officials refused to accept their form under NREGA scheme on the pretext that the union government has not allocated sufficient funds for the project whereas the reality was otherwise. — OC

Ferozepur, December 23
The Congress has launched drive to enroll National Students Union of India (NSUI) volunteers in Punjab.

Amita Dhawan, national general secretary, NSUI, on Wednesday, held a meeting with the student leaders, during which, she exhorted them to enroll maximum students with the NSUI. Dhawan said that during the last few years, in the absence of any structured set-up, the activities of the NSUI could not be arranged.

However, now under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, general secretary AICC, the organisation was being revamped again, she added. Dhawan further said that as compared to the SOI (Students Organisation of India), the student wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the enrollment was less in the NSUI during the last few years.

However, now the membership drive has gained momentum in Punjab. On the occasion, Gurbhej Tibbi thanked Dhawan for guiding the students and assured her of maximum enrollment from the district. — OC

Bathinda, December 23
A swine flu positive patient from Gidderbaha (Muktsar) Sharanjit Kaur (30), who was admitted for the past some days in the Adesh Medical College, Bathinda, today died after delivering a dead baby this afternoon. She was pregnant for seven months.

This is the second death in Muktsar district with swine flu. Earlier, on December 21 Jaswinder Kaur (29) from Doda village (Gidderbaha), 12 km from Muktsar, had died with swine flu. Jaswinder had died 10 days after delivering a baby while Sharanjit died after delivering a dead baby on the same day.

Talking to The Tribune the district health officer (DHO) Dr Dharampal Singh Sekhon said this evening that after the delivery of seven-month baby, the condition of Sharanjit Kaur started deteriorating due to certain complications and she died.

One more case from Bathinda has been tested positive for swine flu. He is Nitin Singla (24), a resident of Rampuraphul who runs a cloth shop at Bathinda. His test's report was received by the district health authorities here last night from the PGI, Chandigarh, where Nitin is admitted and under treatment.

Dr Sekhon said they had also received the test report a local MBBS doctor, whose samples had been sent for swine flu test to the PGI the previous day. As per the report, the doctor tested negative for swine flu. He was admitted in an isolation ward of the local civil hospital the previous day, but as he had been tested negative, he had been discharged from the hospital today. However, he had been advised to take preventive measures, the DHO added.

Dr Sekhon further said the result of the sample of another suspected swine flu patient Lakhbir Singh was still awaited though his sample had also been sent with doctor's sample the previous day.

To create awareness about swine flu among the masses a drama team today staged a play at two places in the city.

The team staged a show in the local civil hospital while the other show was performed at Vardhman colony. Through the play, the artists educated and informed the masses about the symptoms of swine flu and the preventive measures to check the swine flu menace. 

Bathinda, December 23
As part of a campaign against the house tax defaulters the authorities of Bathinda municipal corporation (BMC), led by superintending engineer (SE) of the corporation B.D. Singla, today sealed a shop on the GT road here while they recovered house tax arrears from six alleged "defaulters" on the spot when they visited their premises to seal the buildings today.

On Tuesday the BMC authorities had announced that they had identified 29 buildings, which would be sealed tomorrow as the owners of these buildings had not been depositing their house tax arrears with the corporation despite the issuance of notices to them.

However, an owner of a local hotel today protested against the action of the BMC authorities on some grounds, but later he reportedly deposited house tax for one year with them.

Talking to The Tribune this evening the SE B.D. Singla said the BMC authorities today collected Rs six lakh from 14 house tax defaulters. Eight persons deposited house tax arrears by visiting the BMC office today while six others paid when they visited their premises to seal the buildings, he added.

The SE further said however they sealed one shop on GT road here today as the owner was an old defaulter, who had not deposited the house tax to the tune of about Rs 2 lakh. He said in the case of a hotel, the owner (who had protested) had deposited Rs 43,000 as house tax for the year 2008-09 on the spot.

The SE also said that the BMC authorities would not succumb to any pressure in the case of recovery of house tax arrears as they would continue their campaign against the tax defaulters even in the days to come. He said in the first phase they had identified big house tax defaulters while they would initiate action against others also.

Bathinda, December 23
St. Xavier's, Bathinda, took the initiative of organising a Christmas Fest on Tuesday. The main objective of the function was to make contribution towards the Bal Niketan - a house for the underprivileged, run by the Society of Pilar, across the country.

The chief guest on the occasion was senior Superintendent of Police Ashish Chaudhary. The event was chaired by Rev. Fr. Amaro Martins, manager of the school, Rev. Fr. Ivo Dias, principal of the school, and rev. Fr. Remy Cardozo, the vice-principal.

In his message, the chief guest reminisced about his fun-filled school days and wished the children a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. The principal lauded the students for their hard work and mentioned the importance of the festival that teaches love, brotherhood, compassion and acceptance of universe as aone family.

The major attraction for the kids was the splendid décor at the gates of the 'Alma Mater' welcoming new-born Jesus.

The winners of the inter-school dance competitionwas also organised on the occasion. In Western dance, St. Xavier's, Rampura Phul, came first followed by St. Xavier's, Bathinda. In carol singing, St. Joseph's, Bathinda, came first followed by St. Xavier's, Rampura Phul. In bhangra, DPS, Bathinda, came first, St. Joseph's, Bathinda, came second and Guru Kashi came third.

The event concluded with a dance and music show. — TNS

Abohar, December 23
Even when they are believed to have got no endorsement for the border district Ferozepur on the visas issued in connection with a festival that concluded recently at Faridkot, the four Pakistan nationals led by Mian Mohammad Akram Betu, a former judge of the Lahore based Punjab High Court, visited three villages of Abohar and Fazilka sub-divisions including Jandwala Meerasangla that is located near the international border, sources said.

Earlier, another group led by Justice Betu, including his son, had also visited his ancestral village of Chanankhera, 12 km from Abohar a few months after the formation of the present alliance government in Punjab.

His son is a practising advocate in the High Court at Lahore. This time the group visited Jandwala Meerasangla and Patrewala besides Chanankhera and was warmly greeted at all the places.

The Pak nationals, who this time accompanied Justice Betu included Mian Shah Nawaj Khan advocate from Pakpattan, the sacred land of Sufi Saint Baba Farid.

He was keen to visit ancestral village Jandwala Meerasangla in addition to Faridkot.

The family of another visitor Mian Mohammad Khan had also migrated to Malka Haans area of Pakpattan from this region.

Hundreds of Hindu families hailing from Malka Haans and Pakpattan had settled at Abohar and Fazilka areas after the partition.

All these nationals had actually accompanied eminent folk singer Rana Manjoor Ahmad, who had been invited for cultural festivals in Punjab.

The group led by Justice Betu was received by an active SAD worker at village Chanankhera.

Overwhelmed with the affectionate welcome accorded to him for second time in less than three years Justice Betu said that he was yet to start primary school education when his family had to migrate to West Punjab province.

His grand father Chanan Khan owned more than a thousand acres of agricultural land and was founder of village Chanankhera while the neighboring village Balluana was founded by his maternal grand father.

Ruing that India and Pakistan had lost much due to wars in 1965 and 1971, he hailed the thaw that developed following high-level talks at Prime Ministers level a few years back.

While advocating scrapping of visa system, he hoped people can come closer socially, if permitted to visit their ancestral places besides opening the borders for trade.

This, he felt would also help in bringing down prices of essential commodities in the sub-continent.

Justice Betu touched the place of his birth when told that the haveli of his grandfather now stands allotted to a former official of the Indian Army.

Fazilka, December 23
The administration is now making efforts to drag its feet on the ‘controversial’ visit of three ‘prominent Pakistan nationals’, who visited Fazilka and Abohar areas allegedly violating visa norms.

This is despite the fact that some police officials had accompanied these dignitaries. Hazi Mohammad Akram, retired Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Shahnawaz Karhia, an advocate, and a folk singer Rana Manzoor Ahmed had visited the border village of Jandwala Mirasangla of Fazilka sub-division allegedly in violation of visa norms on Tuesday.

As per the visa conditions, the Pakistan visitors had been permitted to visit Delhi, Chandigarh, Faridkot and Amritsar by the Indian government.

These Pak nationals had landed at Abohar where they were reportedly received and further accompanied by the Punjab police personnel. Besides Jandwala Miransangla, they also visited Abohar and villages of Chanankhera and Patrewala. Yesterday, Fazilka police officials had denied having met them.

Sources point out that the Pak nationals were also accompanied by an ex-Army Medical Course (AMC) soldier. The presence of the soldier with visiting trio has raised eyebrows in the intelligence services.

Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur, when asked about the issue of the visit of Pakistan nationals, said he had directed the SSP Ferozepur to verify the antecedents of the visitors. But when the SSP Ferozepur SS Parmar was contacted in this regard, he denied having received any instructions from the Deputy Commissioner and maintained that he has come to know about the visit of the Pak nationals through media reports only. 

Ferozepur, December 23
In yet another incident involving attack on police official, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of police was beaten up by a group of people on the outskirts of the town here yesterday.

Earlier, some traffic constables were beaten up in a crowded market in Faridkot and a police official was thrashed in Mansa. This incident is the third in the series of such unsavoury incidents involving attack on police personnel.

As per the information, ASI Harbhajan Singh, posted as chowki in-charge at Bhagat Singh Colony, was conducting routine checking on the Ferozpur-Mallwanwala road when he signalled some person driving a motorbike to stop.

On being asked about the documents related to the bike, the youths started arguing with the ASI and called their associates for help. Later, they thrashed the ASI, who had to be admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

On the basis of the statement of the ASI, police has registered a case under sections 307, 452, 323, 353, 186, 148, 149 of the IPC and sections 25,27,54,59 of the Arms Act against the accused.

The ASI said that around 7 pm on Tuesday in the evening, he signalled some people on a motorbike to stop. They were identified as Harvinder Singh, son of Kabul Singh, Karamjit Singh, son of Raj Singh, both residents of village Sodewala, Amrit Kalra, son of Harish Kalra, a resident of Kasuri Gate and Gurmit Singh.

The ASI said when he asked them about the documents, they called some more persons including Baba Balwinder Singh, who attacked him. After getting the information, the city police reached the spot and brought the ASI to the Civil Hospital for treatment. No arrest has been made so far. 

Mansa, December 23
City police in Mansa on Wednesday recovered drugs in large quantity during a raid at a medical store. Police raided Super Medical Store along with the drug inspector, Vinay Jindal. SHO Sulakhan Singh informed that 6,570 tablets were recovered from the medical store.

Later, nearly 30,000 tablets of different salts were recovered from Bhupesh, son of Hari Singh, the owner of the medical shop. Police booked Bhupesh under the NDPS Act. Meanwhile, drug inspector Vinay Jindal said all the drugs recovered have been sealed and a written intimation has been sent to the department concerned for further action. — OC 

Bathinda, December 23
It was a run glut at Rajindra college ground with Meerut University plundering 305 for 2 against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi in the North Zone Inter University cricket match here today.

In a one sided match, Meerut beat JNU by 208 runs to notch up the biggest victory margin of the tourney so far.

JNU were hit by a blitzkrieg of sorts as opener Gaurav Upadhaya struck 104 off 69 balls while the other opener Ashish Sharma piled up 93 off 70 balls.

JNU must be ruing the dropped catch in the very first over when medium pacer Ashutosh bowled a delivery which took a fine edge of Gaurav's bat only to be grassed by the wicket keeper. Gaurav, on the verge of playing in the UP Ranji trophy squad, mesmerised the attack with his superb stroke play.

On the other hand, Ashish Sharma used the long handle effectively and notched up his 50 in 27 balls.

It was a tired looking and jaded JNU team which took the field as they found themselves chasing the massive target. Medium pacer Hitesh Tyagi removed both the openers with the score board yet to register double figures and also sliced through the fragile middle order with his intelligently bowled pacers. He mixed the slower ball to good effect and managed to scalp two wickets when he trapped two batsmen LBW with slower one's.

Scores: Meerut University: 305 for 2 (Gaurav Upadhaya 104, Ashish Sharma 93, Hitesh Tyagi 43, Naman Sharma 54, Ashutosh 1 for 50)

JNU, Delhi : 97 all out (Abhishek 34, Hitesh Tyagi 5 for 34, Arun Kumar 2 for 14)

In the other match, Amity university, New Delhi reached the next round when Jammu University failed to turn up.