Bathinda, February 27
A number of furious Dera Sacha Sauda followers torched a PRTC bus at Goniana village in the district, this evening. Besides, they ransacked another PRTC bus and the post office and Block Development and Panchayat Office in Talwandi Sabo sub-division.

Sources informed that a group of Dera followers attacked the post office at Talwandi Sabo. They tried to put it on fire but the intervention of local people averted the incident. The furious Dera followers then moved towards the BDPO office, after damaging the window panes, they poured kerosene on the building but the residents and police managed to prevent the arson.

Meanwhile, another group of Dera followers stopped a PRTC bus, which was en-route from Sardulgarh to Talwandi Sabo (bearing number PB11H 9837) at Jaga Ram Tirath village. They hurled stones and damaged the glasses with lathis and swords. The miscreants were about to set the tyres of the bus on fire. However, the driver managed to drive the bus away.

Later, some Dera followers, raising slogans, attacked an AC bus of the PRTC (PB11AP 8909) on the outskirts of Goniana Mandi, when it halted briefly at a bus stop. Hurling abuses at passengers, they started damaging window panes.

The panic-stricken passengers alighted from the bus and the miscreants then set it on fire.

Soon after the reports of the building tension started coming in, the police started carrying out flag march in the district. Meanwhile, the bus stand was sealed and other public places including government offices were cordoned off.

Though the police control room confirmed the incidents, no senior police office could be contacted.

Barnala: Infuriated over the CBI registering a murder case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, his followers on rampage damaging government property and setting ablaze passenger buses at various places in Barnala districts.

The followers also tried to set ablaze SDM Office complex, telephone exchange and damaged property at Tappa railway station.

Sources said Dera Premis went on rampage in Tappa, Sahajra, and Ram Garh area of Barnala district this evening.

They added that at Tappa, the Dera Premis tried to set ablaze SDM office complex, telephone exchange and damaged property at railway station.

The sources added that Dera premis set three buses, two belonging to a private transport company and one to the PRTC at Tapa, Sahajra and Ram Garh area. They added that after setting the buses on fire, the Dera Premis fled the spots.

SSP Barnala Harcharan Singh Bhullar said the miscreants set on fire three buses, two of the private operators and one of PRTC, on fire at Tappa, Sahajra and Ramgarh areas. He added that the trouble creators also smashed the window panes of one of the rooms of SDM office complex, Telephone exchange and railway Station in Tappa area. He further added that no arrest has been made into the incidents of violence. The SSP added that situation has been brought under control.

Muktsar: Brandishing weapons and firing several rounds in the air, a number of youths, with their faces covered and believed to be Dera Sacha Sauda followers, torched a 66 KV grid sub-station of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) at village Madhir in Gidderbaha sub-division of the district, this evening.

Sources in the village informed that a number of youths who were in three cars and a jeep reached the grid sub-station and pointed gun at a watchman posted there. Meanwhile, another guard, who attempted to come to his rescue, was also held by the furious miscreants.

They then blatantly poured petrol over the equipment, threw tyres and set it on fire. After the arson, they again fired in the air and fled.

Then a huge caravan of cops and civil officials reached the spot. They did not confirm the quantum of loss but said an alert was sounded through out the district. With the damage to the sub-station, power supply to about 7-8 villages got suspended.

Another report said some Dera followers attempted to set on fire the agriculture office, located on the outskirts of the city, at Bathinda road. However, the timely intervention of police and people averted the incident.

SSP Muktsar Inder Mohan Singh said, "I was out of station on leave but now I am on my way back. I am not fully aware about the incident and only after reaching the city will I be able to give the exact details."

MANSA: A government bus was burnt near Fattamaloka in the district on Friday evening. Some persons stopped the bus and asked the passengers to alight. Thereafter, they torched the bus. Police personnel reached the spot and controlled the situation. In another incident, the telephone exchange at Mansa was also damaged by some unidentified persons. Window panes of the telephone exchange were damaged and the customer care centre was set on fire. Security guard at the exchange Darshan Singh said that some persons in Maruti cars and on motorcycles reached the gate and started beating hi m up. When he took his rifle, they started to go back. SDO, telephone exchange said that the gate and windows were damaged and some documents lying in customer care centre were burnt in the fire. The fire brigade reached the spot and controlled the flames. Police officials did not confirm any arrests. SSP Mansa Hardyal Singh Maan said situation was under control and the police was vigilant. Meanwhile, District Youth Congress president Gurpreet Singh Vicky condemned the registering of case against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

FARIDKOT: Two bogeys of 4FKB Fazilka-Bathinda train were burnt by pouring petrol by a mob at Romana Albel Singh railway station about 7-km from Kotkapura town in Faridkot district on Saturday night. Although the driver of the train tried to carry away the train by speeding up but the mob stood on the railway track forcing the train to stop. The agitated mob took out the driver Ram Dulara and guard Om Prakash from the train and beat them up with sticks. Station Master Arun Kumar who rushed to save his colleagues was also beaten up by the mob. They were not serious and suffered minor injuries. Then the mob poured petrol on two bogeys of the train and burnt it. However, there was no other incident of violence reported from other parts of the district when the news report was last filed, confirmed AK Mittal SSP, Faridkot.

FEROZEPUR: Tension gripped the town following incidents of violence involving Dera Sacha Sauda followers who tried to damage two buses. However, swift action by the police authorities prevented any major violence. Meanwhile, the railway cancelled all main trains going out from this place including the Ferozepur-Mumbai Punjab Mail. Shopkeepers rolled down the shutters in anticipation of violence. Heavy police force has been deployed and senior police officials are making rounds of the sensitive areas. There were some reports regarding the Dera followers getting together at a particular place in the city to lodge their protest. The police advised the people not to believe in any specious reports in view of the rumours being spread regarding the violence.

FAZILKA: Reports from Fazilka said that the miscreants tried to set fire to the Arniwala tehsil office in the sub-division. However, barring damage to come computers and chairs, not much loss was reported. Shops remained closed, however, the local administration described the situation as being under control. (Inputs from Rajay Deep, Shariq Majeed, Parmod Mehta, Kulwinder Sandhu, Chander Parkash, Anirudh Gupta & Praful Chander Nagpal)

Bathinda, February 27
Train traffic in Bathinda and its adjoining areas remained disrupted on Saturday evening following violent protest staged reportedly by the followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda.

Sources in the Railways said that taking precautionary measures, the Railways decided to stop several trains at stations to avoid any untoward incidents.

Railways sources said the news related to violence at Tapa station under the Ambala division and also another similar incident at Romana Albel Singh station in the Ferozepur division prompted the railway authorities to stop the train at several places en route.

Meanwhile, security at stations and around has also been beefed up following reports of such incidents.

Sources in the railway said that agitators set the Tapa station on fire on Saturday evening. “Enormous damage was done to the station property.” sources said. No casualty was reported till the filing of the news, sources said, adding that however, railway staff had a narrow escape.

Tapa is an important station on the Bathinda- Dhuri route after Bhuccho and Rampura Phul.

Railway sources also said that agitators also set a coach of a passenger train 4SKB on fire near Romana Albel Singh station that falls in Ferozepur division.

The Haridwar-Sriganganagar 4711 has been stopped at Dhuri station.

The railway was also running the 2481Delhi-Sriganganagar Inter City Express taking security aspects into consideration. The train reached Bathinda late and railway was preparing to depart the train from Bathinda station at around 8.30 pm about 2 hours behind the schedule following news of some let up in the protest.

Mansa, February 27
Panic-struck rail passengers were today stranded for nearly two hours at the Mansa railway station when the Delhi-bound Dainik Express was searched after information that a bomb had been reportedly planted in it.

According to information from railway and police officials, the Dainik Express that was going from Sri Ganganagar to Delhi was stopped at 9:25 am after receiving information from the Delhi control room that a bomb was lying in the train.

For the purpose of searching, train was stopped at the Mansa railway station. The railway police, Punjab police and anti-bomb squads searched the train but no explosive material was found.

Inderjit, the station master at Mansa, said that they had received information about a bomb in the Dainik Express and the train was searched subsequently. However, no such object was found during search, he added.

After conducting the search, the train left for Delhi at 11:20 am. Passengers of the train faced inconvenience due to the bomb scare and the search operation.

However, the passengers were not scared and opted to continue their journey by the same train after it was confirmed that there was no bomb in the train. 

Bathinda, February 27
The finance minister, Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal today disclosed that the focus of the Punjab budget 2010-11 would be on increasing allocation of funds for education, health, power, roads and inclusive growth in rural areas.

Manpreet was here today to attend a prize distribution function at Government Rajindra College, where he delivered a motivating speech that had the audience spellbound. He also announced to release a grant of Rs 60 lakh for the college.

Speaking about the previous budgets of the state, Manpreet said, “During the first year of this ,government the budget was Rs 5100 crore, next time, it was Rs 6300 crore and the last time, it was Rs 8600 crore. Observing the cent per cent compliance of the budget targets, I wish to double the budgetary allocation this time.”

Accusing the union budget of being anti-Punjab, Manpreet said the state could get nothing in the budget but had learnt a lesson that except for standing on its own feet, the state had no other way to run the economy and other affairs.

“It is the bad luck of the country that every year, whosoever presents the budget, only focuses on the development of his/her state. It is because of this that the union finance minister did not use the word Punjab even once during his long budget speech,” he alleged.

Terming Punjab as the food bowl of the country, Manpreet said if the union government does not lend a helping hand to the state in agriculture, the effect would be seen at the national level.

Lodging his resentment against the recent recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission, Manpreet said, “Despite paying a major chunk of taxes to the central pool, we have been getting just 1.4 per cent of the total funds.”

When asked about the unnecessary expenditure incurred by ruling party leaders by moving in a huge cavalcade, he quipped, “I can’t comment on the issue as I do not know whether the leaders are fond of such huge cavalcades following them or they have a threat to their life. But I can say that I never move in a caravan.”

Terming the expenditure of lakhs on foundation stone laying ceremonies as an unnecessary burden on the state exchequer, Manpreet said, “If I were to have my way, I will never allow such ceremonies.”

Ferozepur, February 27
A delegation of Punjab Congress including members of Parliament (MPs) and senior functionaries would meet the Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh within this week or so to press him for imposing president rule in the state to save it from its worst under the ‘misrule’ of the SAD-BJP combine government.

The delegation would hand over a dossier in connection with the Congressmen allegedly killed by ruling politicians in the past three years, state properties being sold by the government for a song and pushing the state towards its financial bankruptcy by it by sheer fiscal mismanagement to the Prime Minister.

Parminder Singh, general secretary, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC), said that the situation in Punjab deserved president rule so that people could get rid of the worst they had been facing under the chief ministership of Parkash Singh Badal.

The delegation would also demand that investigation of all cases registered in connection with political murders of Congressmen in Punjab must be handed over to the CBI or any other independent agency.

Disclosing that state Congress president, Mohinder Singh Kaypee and MP, Anand Pur Sahib, Ravinder Singh Bittu were perturbed over the situation in state, he alleged that Punjab had been facing economic crises as former NDA PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee extended special concession to industries in Himachal Pardesh at the cost of Punjab.

The Congress leader further alleged that both Badals (Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal), who had been ruling Punjab like a private limited company, had been befooling the people on account of their claims over development project in the state.

Bathinda, February 27
The newly-appointed IGP of the Bathinda-Ferozepur range, Rohit Choudhary, says the first thing he has ordered was mapping of criminals, their crime pattern and locations. This would help curbing crime in the area.

He told TNS that his stress would be on introducing “proactive policing” rather than reacting to crime in this core Malwa belt of Punjab.

He said in coordination with respective police stations, a study of gangs operating in the area would be conducted. Data pertaining to drug peddlers would be prepared.

Choudhary warned that the policemen found to be involved in drug peddling or helping the drug mafia would be dismissed from service and a disciplinary action would also be taken against the SHO of the police station concerned. The SHOs will be asked to identify the cops who had connections with the drug mafia.

NGOs would be involved in checking the drug menace that has engulfed the Malwa region, he said.

The IGP said peace committees would be set up in sensitive areas to maintain peace and tranquility and also to identify the mischief mongers, who would be isolated. He said his effort would be to involve the stakeholders in policing activity.

Choudhary is visiting each district headquarter under his jurisdiction to get a firsthand information of law and order situation.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, February 27
A team of the district police has been dispatched to the tribal region of Jharkhand to probe the racket involving purchase of girls from economically poor families and their subsequent sale in the border areas of Sriganganagar district, sources said.

There were reports that the number of girls purchased from Jharkhand and Bihar may exceed two dozen. Four girls have so far been identified. This has rung alarm bells for intelligence agencies as the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has already sounded an alert over activities of anti-national elements and recent spurt in intrusions from across the border in the region.