Ferozepur, July 17
Even as a section of farmers of village Khunder Hitad, Khunder Uttar and its neighbouring villages falling in Mamdot area of this district alleged that their paddy crops had suffered losses after coming under deep water following a breach in the Laxman distributary early in the morning today, the irrigation department official has reported the matter to the police suspecting foul play into the same.

Jagtar Singh, SDO, irrigation, Eastern Canal division, who reached the spot, said the breach was about 10 to 15 feet wide and it was apparent that some vested interests had caused it to fulfil the requirement for irrigating their fields. He claimed that the bank of the distributary was strong enough where the so-called breach had taken place.

He said that as per his estimate, water had entered into about 60 acres of land where the farmers of the area had grown paddy. When he reached the spot, he found that paddy crops were safe and a section of the farmers were arranging material to drain out water from their fields.

He claimed that this area had witnessed less rains and the farmers might have punctured the bank of the distributary to draw water for their paddy fields in an unauthorised manner. The police would investigate who were behind it, the official said.

On the other hand, the farmers alleged that the breach had taken place as the banks of Laxman distributary were weak.

They added that instead of recommending payment of compensation to those who had suffered losses on account of damage caused to paddy crops, their involvement was being suspected in the breach.

They added that the moment they came to know about the breach in the distributary in the morning today, they pressed their tractor-trailers into service to plug the same. They toiled hard and helped the officials of the irrigation department to plug the breach within a few hours.

They pointed out that some of the affected farmers had taken agriculture land on lease to the tune of Rs 35,000 per acre for carrying out agricultural operations.

With this loss, they would not be able to earn enough to pay the lease money to the land owners. 

Abohar, July 17
Standing crops in an area exceeding 800 acres were inundated as Ghaggar water hit Tibbi area of Rajasthan in Hanumangarh district after wreaking havoc in Jiwan Nagar and Kariwala villages of Ellenabad-sub division on Saturday.

Officials confirmed that water touched RD 629 of the Indira Gandhi canal near village Nai Wala and Surewala at about 7 am today. It later proceeded to burji number 616 washing away standing crops in 500 acre land within the periphery of village 1SRW.

An eyewitness Prabhu Ram said it was 3 to 5 feet deep till afternoon. After 2 pm, the water further proceeded to village Chak 9CDR inundating another 300 acres of agricultural farms. Then it made an U-turn to village Bani in Haryana boundary. The administration quickly rescued the villagers to safer places. A breach in Bani- Surewala road has resulted in suspension of vehicular traffic. Hanumangarh DC Dr Ravi Kumar along with SP Mohan Singh Nitharwal and senior officers of the water resources department visited the affected area. Police has been deployed there. More than six officers are camping to monitor the situation. The farmers said Indira Gandhi canal had again emerged as ‘Maru Ganga’ (Ganges of the Desert) for the region as its banks have checked further the movement of the gushing flood waters.

Ferozepur, July 17
Hundreds of farmers belonging to about half a dozen villages located on the Ferozepur-Muktsarroad today jammed vehicular traffic for hours together and raised slogans against the SAD-BJP alliance to lodge their protest against the acute shortage of canal water being faced by them to irrigate their paddy fields.

The residents of villages Gulamiwala, Mohrewala and others came on the Ferozepur-Muktsar road near village Jhoke Harihar and blocked vehicular traffic by squatting on the road.

Most vehicles, trapped in the jam, managed to get out of the same after using the link roads of villages to reach their respective destinations. It was virtually free for all for the farmers on the road as no official came forward to hold talks with them to make them withdraw their agitation.

The protestors alleged that their main problem was that irrigation minors criss-crossing their areas did not carry enough water which could fulfil their sanctioned requirement for irrigating the paddy fields which had started drying up in the absence of water.

They alleged that on the one hand, they were being denied canal water in adequate quantity by the irrigation authorities despite the fact that state irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon belonged to Ferozepur district, and on the other, the Punjab government had failed to supply them eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to run their tubewell motors to draw underground water for irrigation purposes.

"We have been left with no choice but to shell out money to buy diesel to run tubewells despite the fact that this has been causing them huge economic hardships and pushing farmers into the vicious cycle of debt," pointed out Kulwinder Singh, a farmer.

Jaswinder Singh, another farmer, said if the Punjab government could not take care of farmers' interests despite the fact that agriculture was the mainstay of state's economy, how it could take care of interests of other sections of society. He demanded adequate compensation for those farmers whose paddy crop had been suffering losses in the absence of canal water.

The farmers, who managed to finally submit a memorandum to the district administration and lifted the blockade, said they would have to intensify the agitation if the authorities concerned failed to make the canal water available to them in adequate quantity.

Meanwhile, some officials of the irrigation department pointed out that water in irrigation minors had been flowing at a low level due to choking by hyacinths. They added that now silt had also started accumulating on the bed of the irrigation minor, distributaries and canals, and thus reducing the flow of water. 

Barnala, July 17
Barnala police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disrupt the activists of Ek Noor Khalsa and SAD (Mann) after they tried to stop the Samagham organized by Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) and pelted stones at police men at Thikriwala in Barnala this morning. Police has registered a case against about 12 activists of Ek Noor Khalsa and SAD (Mann) group for violating the orders of the District Magistrate under section 144 and preventing police from doing its duty.

Police sources said the trouble started after the activists of the Ek Noor Khalsa and SAD (Mann) tried to stop the Samagham being organized by followers of Dera Sacha Sauda who had secured prior permission for the same, at Thikriwala village in Barnala. They added that police had to resort to a mild lathicharge to stop the activists of Ek Noor Khalsa and SAD (Mann) after they tried to stop the Samagham and pelted stones at the police men.

Confirming the arrests, SSP Barnala Harcharan Singh Bhullar told TNS that about 12 activists of Ek Noor Khalsa and SAD (Mann) have been arrested and booked under relevant sections. "Police resorted to a mild lathicharge. However, the Samagham passed off peacefully even as the activists of these organizations tried to disrupt the proceedings," the SSP said.

Bathinda, July 17
“Money Mantra” the flagship programme of investor education launched by Computer Age Management Services (CAMS), a leading mutual fund registration company, was held here today.

Kamal Vij, senior faculty, NIIT, Institute of Finance Banking and Insurance (IFBI), gave a detailed presentation about the fundamentals of investing in mutual funds. His presentation touched areas ranging from why, where and how of investing to answering the queries of investors.

Vijay Raj Jindal, centre head, CAMS, Bathinda, said mutual funds were the easy option available to common investors, who don’t have time to keep a track of their investments.

C.M. Ruby, a mutual fund investor, claimed that the programme cleared many doubts about investing in mutual funds. — TNS

Bathinda, July 17
A mother of three and her paramour, who too had three children, committed suicide on Friday by consuming a poisonous substance at Bandi village of this district.

The deceased, Mukesh Kumar of village Bandi and Puja Rani of local Dhobiana Basti, were in their early thirties.

According to information available, Mukesh Kumar married a girl of Dhobiana Basti (Bathinda) about 12 years back. Meanwhile, one Rajinder Kumar of Dhobiana Basti married Puja Rani of village Bhagi Bandar. Both couples developed proximity and started visiting each other frequently. Gradually, Mukesh and Puja Rani started liking each other and later, developed physical relations.

About two weeks back, the families came to know about their extra-marital affair and took the matter to the panchayats of Bhagi Bandar and Bandi villages. The matter was then reported to the Talwandi Sabo police but the Mukesh and Puja pleaded forgiveness and assured not to meet each other in future.

However, they did not end their relationship and left their houses some days back. Consuming a poisonous substance, they reached village Bandi and disclosed to Mukesh's family that they were going to end their lives for the sake of "love".

Kin of Mukesh rushed both to the Civil Hospital, Dabwali. However, doctors there declared Mukesh as brought dead and referred Puja to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, as they found her critical. However, she died in few minutes.

Confirming the facts, Rajinder Kumar, the bereaved husband of Puja Rani, said, "Even after knowing about her extra-marital affair, I and my three children used to love her but she did not care for us and took this extreme step."

Investigation officer Subeg Singh said, "The bereaved families did not accuse each other and stated that the persons, who were at fault, have ended their lives. We have recorded their statements and are deciding upon the future course of action."

Bathinda, July 17
A Parents Orientation Day was organised at the Millennium School, Bathinda, today to acquaint them to the Millennium learning system that is the modern system of learning.

The occasion was marked with an informative presentation about techniques and strategies being adopted by faculty of the Millennium School here that is part of the prestigious chain having schools at Mohali, Panipat, Noida, Lucknow, Meerut, Jalandhar, Kurukshetra etc.

Principal Beena Rao gave details of the scheme. — TNS

Fazilka: In a bizarre incident, an old man reportedly bobbitised himself. According to available details, the 70-year-old, a resident of a village on Fazilka-Abohar road did this in desperation as his spouse is slated to be much younger, around 45 years. It is believed that the old man had a tense relationship with his ‘wife’ due to the age difference. 

The old man was brought to hospital. The doctor on duty after providing first aid referred him to Government Medical College Faridkot. Khui Khera police post in-charge Beant Singh said he was unaware of the incident. — OC

Moga, July 17
The Municipal Council of Moga has decided to provide space for setting up five 'Apni Mandis' in this town, on pattern of Chandigarh, where farmers could come and sell vegetables, fruits and other eatable products directly to the customers.

Barjinder Singh Brar alias Makhan Brar, president of the local body said the concept has been visualized to provide essential commodities to the residents at an affordable price by minimizing the role of mediators who are making huge profits and putting financial burden on people.

Brar said that talks have been held with the local Mandi Board officials and five locations have been identified. Some of the locations identified for 'Apni Mandis' include near Bulleh Shah Complex on GT Road, backside of City (1) police station, Railway Road, near Geeta Bhawan and one or two locations in the outer areas of the town, he said.

He said it would help create awareness among small farmers of nearby villages to adopt horticultural practices and sell their produce directly in town for profit. "I will also speak to officials of the horticulture department to provide technical know-how,” he said.