Bathinda, March 5
Intensifying their days-long protest against the non-implementation of the agreement, reached between the state agriculture minister and the farmers, in connection with the faulty paddy planters, five elderly activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) began a hunger strike, here today.

Warning the government, the agitators announced that if the government did not implement their demands by Monday, all the five BKU members sitting on hunger strike would intensify the protest by going on fast-unto-death.

The BKU activists had been staging a dharna since March 3 outside the office of the chief agriculture officer (CAO). Finding the government and bureaucrats insensitive towards their demands, they came to the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), located on the National Highway, in a number of vehicles, here roday.

Lodging an hour-long protest there, they partially blocked the road and raised anti-establishment slogans. Speaking over the issue, the agitators said the agriculture minister had reached a compromise with them on July 20, 2009, where it was undertaken that the government would pay Rs one lakh each as subsidy on paddy planters, Rs 50,000 as compensation to farmers for the damaged crop due to the use of faulty paddy planters along with returning the excess amount charged by the manufacturing firm including repair of the faulty paddy planters.

They said that the original price of the paddy planter (as decided by the agriculture department) was fixed at Rs 1,99,999, while the seller allegedly duped 38 farmers (including 22 of Bathinda, nine of Sangrur and seven of Barnala) by selling the paddy planters for Rs 2.50 lakh each.

Talking to the TNS, district president of the BKU Baldev Singh Sandoha said repeated talks with the chief agricultural officer, Bathinda, to resolve the matter had failed.

Firm on fighting till the acceptance of their demands, Sandoha and others said the government has been duping farmers by not implementing the promise, and police is also shielding the manufacturer of the faulty paddy planters, against whom, the farmers had to lodge protests before he was booked in a criminal case.

The five on hunger strike are Karnail Singh of Gidder, Nazar Singh and Boga Singh of Rajgarh Kubbe, Balvir Singh of Chauke and Bhola Singh of Bhunder village. 

Bathinda, March 5
With regard to giving training (for starting own ventures) to those unemployed youths, whose loan cases have been recommended to the banks by the District Task Force Committee, headed by ADC (Development), a training programme will start from tomorrow on the premises of office of the District Employment Generation and Training here.

This training programme will make them eligible for procuring loan amounts from their respective banks to start their own ventures.

The training will be imparted by the Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Chandigarh, for 12 days to those who want to set up their own industrial units and three days' training to those who will enter service sector, like plumber/electrician job works. However this training will be imparted to the youths free of cost.

Training in-charge Harsimrat Kaur told this reporter today that several resource persons would deliver lecturers and impart training to the unemployed youths, with regard to starting their own ventures. During this period, they would tell the trainees, how to apply for procuring VAT number and PAN card, banking linkage system, marketing of the products etc, she added.

Harpal Singh, deputy director, Bathinda District Employment Generation and Training, said some unemployed youths today got their names registered for training while several more youths were expected to get their names registered by tomorrow. He said, however, the resource persons would start imparting training from tomorrow.

The deputy director also said that participation in this training programme was necessary for those unemployed youths, whose cases had been sanctioned by the banks, as the banks would disburse loan amounts only to those who would attend the training programme and procure certificates from the Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Chandigarh in this regard.

These youths had been inspired for adopting self employment ventures by the office of District Employment Generation and Training by organising motivation camps at several places in the district, he added. 

Chandigarh, March 5
The Punjab government today announced major changes in the building bylaws.

Addressing a press conference here today, Minister for Local Government Manoranjan Kalia said the urban estates, which were transferred to the local bodies, would be covered under the new modified building bylaws.

He said in order to facilitate more openness around the buildings, there would be no restriction of height subject to air safety regulations, traffic circulation and fire safety norms. According to the existing specifications, a residential building could be constructed up to a height of 38 feet, but now it could be raised up to 50 feet, said Kalia.

There would be no restriction of density of the number of dwelling units per acre which at present was restricted to 60 per acre, it would increase the supply of affordable housing, said the minister.

Clubbing of plots for the purpose of constructing one unit with provision of rain water harvesting system and provision of underground water storage tanks to ensure proper water pressure for supply to upper floors would be permissible, he added.

He said the excess constructions in the existing buildings would be considered for regularisation in case these confirmed to the new provisions.

To facilitate the owners to start construction work immediately on residential plots in the schemes of improvement trusts and the residential plots in urban estates, industrial focal points or schemes prepared under any other Act which stands transferred to the municipal authorities, henceforth, a self certification scheme has been introduced under which sanction order from the municipal authority in the form of a building permit would not be necessary and the building plans would be deemed to be sanctioned on the basis of a certificate from an architect registered under the Architect's Act, 1972, stating that the building plan is in conformity with the applicable rules. 

Mansa, March 5
Director General of Police, Punjab, Paramdeep Singh Gill has said that anti-social elements would be dealt with strictly to ensure law and order in the state. Addressing media persons at Bhikhi today, he asserted that stern action would be taken against those who had damaged public property during the last days on the issue of registering a case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief by the CBI. Speaking on the issue of modernisation of police force, he assured police force would be raised with modern facilities.

Sincere efforts were being made to stop smuggling of drugs from other states, the DGP claimed. There was a proposal to launch drug de-addiction centers in the districts, he said.

On the occasion, state police chief was accompanied by the IG Bathinda range Rohit Chaudhary, DIG Faridkot range Nirmal Singh Dhillon and SSP Hardyal Singh Maan. Informing about achievements of Mansa police, he said an inter-state gang of vehicle thieves was busted by police and 25 luxury cars were recovered.

In this connection, the police had registered a case against Ashok kumar, a resident of Fathiabad from Haryana, Ashwani, a resident of Ratia from Haryana, Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Reondkalan, Buta Singh, a resident of Dalelwala and Shiv Shanker Sharma, a resident of Mansa at the Budhlada police station. The gang had established relations with employees of various DTO offices for making illegal documents of vehicles. A truck loaded with plastic fibre worth Rs 24 lakh that was stolen from Rama Mandi was also recovered by Sardulgarh police.

Meanwhile, Mansa police also captured 12 illegal arms.

Bathinda, March 5
A head constable of Punjab police, Amrik Singh reportedly shot himself to death with his official gun at the Police Lines, here today.

Police sources said Amrik was mentally disturbed for the past couple of months and was recently deployed with the water cannon section of the Bathinda police. After senior officials inspected the spot, the Kotwali police initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC.

Attempted suicide: Irked over the suspected extra-marital affairs of her husband, a woman Pooja Rani of Gopal Nagar set herself on fire on Thursday night. Volunteers of Sahara Jan Seva rushed the injured to Civil Hospital, Bathinda, where doctors termed her condition as critical as she had sustained more than 80 per cent burn injuries.

Staff at the Canal colony police post said they had recorded the statement of the injured lady. No FIR had been registered till the filing of the report.

Drug peddler held: Meanwhile, acting on a tip-off, Kotwali police nabbed a notorious drug peddler along with his mother and seized intoxicants and habit-forming drugs from their house near old Birla mill colony, here on Thursday.

Investigation Officer (IO) Balwinder Singh said the accused Sandeep Singh Kohli and his mother Asha Rani were notorious drug peddlers and were already facing several cases. "Acting upon the tip off, we conducted a raid at their residence and nabbed the accused with several intoxicants and habit-forming drugs, including smack, opium, capsules and tablets, worth about Rs two lakh."

The IO added that during the raid, one of their accomplices fled but from his wallet recovered, he had been identified as Surinder Singh Matharu of Rampura, who had illicit relations with the accused Asha Rani. The arrested man and his mother have been booked under sections 18, 21, 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act.

Ferozepur, March 5
In a shocking incident, Malkit Singh, a youth of this town, killed himself after killing his girl friend identified as Rupali, at the spot located near tubewell motor room in his farm, situated at village Peerwala today.

Information gathered by TNS revealed that Malkit Singh and Rupali had an affair for the past many years and both were desperate to get married. However, the kin of Rupali was against their marriage.

Information revealed that Malkit Singh who had .12 bore double barrel gun, shot Rupali dead as he had come to know that Rupali was getting married to someone else within a week or so. After killing Rupali, Malkit Singh shot himself dead.

Information revealed that Rupali along with her sister Maneesha went to the farms of Malkit Singh today in the morning. Jatinder alias Jeendu, a friend of Malkit Singh was also present at the farm. Both Rupali and Malkit Singh started exchanging arguments over their marriage.

When Rupali confirmed the fact that she would be married off to someone else, Malkit Singh fired one shot in her stomach and she fell on the ground.

Though Maneesha and Jeendu rushed Rupali to the civil hospital, she was declared brought dead. The body of Malkit Singh was brought to the civil hospital by a police party, which reached his farm after getting the information about the incident.

Harjit Singh Pannu, SP (D), when contacted, said that a case in this connection had been registered against deceased Malkit Singh under section 302 of the IPC and section 25 of the Arms Act. The case was registered on the statement given by Jeendu to the police.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, March 5
An uneasy calm prevailed in village Peerkamdia in Hanumangarh district even today due to the firing incident exchanged between two groups of the same minority community yesterday. SHO Ram Partap Bishnoi said Shaukat Ali was referred to Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur due to serious injuries.

A case had been registered under various sections of the IPC and 27 of the Arms Act against 14 persons.

The police today arrested Noor Mohammad and his sons. They were produced in a court which remanded Noor to the judicial custody while his sons have been remanded in the police custody for three days. — OC