Ferozepur, July 22
Crops on hundreds of acres in 60 villages of the district came under water due to the overflowing of drains, even as a number of breaches occurred in the Phida drain today.

Residents of Gajni Wala village started finding safer places in their village only after water started entering their dwellings in the morning and within no time they were in knee-deep water.

A section of officials of the Drainage Department, while expressing their surprise over the unprecedented high level of water in almost all drains in this district said if the rains in the Moga and Jagroan areas, from where the water was coming to the Ferozepur area through the drains, were not stopped, the situation could become bad.

“Though we can’t dub it as a low-flood situation, the farmers of about 60 villages located on the Ferozepur-Moga border have suffered heavy losses as paddy and other crops in about 1,870 acres of land have been damaged. Efforts are on to get special girdawari of these areas done to assess the quantum of loss to the crops,” said DC KK Yadav, who has been touring the flood-prone areas of the district since morning.

“The main problem in some pockets of Ferozepur district is that water has been coming from Moga side and hence, we have to make arrangements to drain out the same quickly to avoid any ugly situation,” he pointed out.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that tension started building up between the residents of Moga and Ferozepur district, when a section of farmers of Moga district tried to drain out water towards Ferozepur side without taking the fact that it would aggravate the situation in Ferozepur district.

The situation was about to turn ugly after the residents of Moga district made a cut in Manawa minor to drain out water stagnating in their field into same and thus making the Ferozepur villages to suffer on account of flow of more rain water to its fields when Commissioner, Ferozepur division, Raminder Singh intervened into the matter.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that almost all the 89 drains running in different parts of the district had been running to their brims, as the hyacinths had considerably chocked their flow. The Phida drain had breached at three points at Ali Ke Jhuggia, Shajadiwala and Lohama and thus, bringing the fields located adjacent to it under knee-deep water.

Instead of flowing down to the drains from the fields through the outlets made by the farmers concerned, the water had started flowing to fields from the drains as the level of water into the same had gone up very high in certain pockets.

Information revealed that Shekhwan village, falling in Zira subdivision of the district, had also witnessed its fields coming under deep water with no way out to drain out the same. The authorities concerned were planning to make a temporary outlet by drilling a big hole under the Zira-Talwandi Bhai stretch of main road, so that its water could be drained out in a nearby drain.

To bring the situation under control, the officials of the Drainage Department along with labourers and residents of affected villages had been coordinating their efforts to plug the breaches at the earliest. About eight digging machines had been pressed into service to remove the hyacinths from the drains so that water flow could be smoothened.

Moga, July 22
Clouds poured heavily in the entire Moga district on Thursday, throwing life out of gear and damaging standing paddy crop in at least 15,000 acres of land in many villages. Most of the drains were overflowing, posing danger to the surrounding areas.

The district administration has sounded an alert and asked all officials of the district administration to remain in their stations of posting and be prepared for any emergency situation. “No leave will be granted to any officials under this situation,” said Satwant Singh Johal, district magistrate of Moga district.

With some of the canals flowing above the danger mark, villagers have started patrolling along the banks of canals and the Sutlej.

Johal said he along with officials of the administration had visited more than 30 affected villages. “We have set up round-the-clock control rooms to keep a watch on discharges in canals even as in most of the areas heavy rainfall in certain pockets has created a deluge-like situation,” he said.

President of the local municipal council Barjinder Singh Brar visited five villages and many localities within the town to assess the situation that arose due to heavy rains.

Brar said the paddy crop in 500 acres in Saleena village, 100 acres in Dagru, 1500 acres in Mangewala, 800 acres in Baghewala and 400 acres in Korewala village has been submerged. “A drain has reportedly overflowed in Mangewala village and the authorities have taken the services of the local people to tackle the situation,” he said.

Reports from the Ajitwal area of the district revealed that many houses of the rural folk had been damaged. Mahinder Singh, watchman of Kili Chalan village, said his kutcha house collapsed last night and he along with his family members had a narrow escape.

Many other people of the village had left their houses fearing the fury of the rain.

The DM, however, has claimed that no residential house has been damaged by the rains. “I have reports that some kutcha dwellings being used to store fodder have got damaged”, he added.

Meanwhile, heavy rain today threw life out of gear in the town. In many localities, water was seen standing in the streets even after the rain stopped late in the afternoon. Several low-lying areas in Dashmesh Nagar, Gobindgarh Basti, Nanak Nagri, main bazaar and some parts of the new town are still waterlogged.

“We have pushed in our men and machinery to drain out the water from the streets of the town and if does not rain again at night, we will be able to clean all streets tonight,” Brar said. 

Amritsar, July 22
An alert has been sounded in the Ajnala subdivision, following the release of 1.5 lakh cusecs of water clogged in the Jammu and Kashmir sector due to the incessant rains in the region.

According to the Ajnala administration, this water flow would be routed through the Ounch darya, a subsidiary of the Ravi flowing along the border districts of Gurdaspur before touching Ajnala. The residents, especially those living on the banks of the river, have been alerted and told to move to safer places with their essential belongings.

In a damage-control exercise, both the Ajnala and Amritsar administrations have established control over the Dhusi Bundh constructed along the Ravi, said Subdivisional Magistrate, Ajnala, MS Kang.

The most sensitive rural areas falling in the Ajnala subdivision included Bhurewaal and Darya Mansur, he said. The teams of different wings of the Amritsar administration have been issued directions to deal with the situation. Amritsar DC Kahn Singh Pannu said the administration were in contact with the Ajnala governing teams. 

Bathinda, July 22
The restoration work of the 1800-year-old Bathinda Fort has suffered a setback with the collapse of the 50-foot-long portion of the recently repaired wall due to two days of heavy rain here.

A major portion of the wall, 3 feet wide and 20 feet high, collapsed yesterday when most parts of the town were flooded with rainwater. The wall had started crumbling with the first downpour on Tuesday.

This portion of the wall was restored about 7 months ago and the total loss is estimated at Rs 5 lakh. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is engaged in restoration of the fort, which has been declared a national monument, and has so far spent about Rs 1 crore on the job.

Jalandhar, July 22
All sections of society, including women, minorities, Scheduled Castes and youth, would be given due representation in the Congress party organisation in the state. This was decided today at a meeting held by Usha Thakkar, who has been deputed by the Congress high command to conduct organisational elections in Punjab.

Sources said women, especially from the Dalit community, would be given adequate representation in the organisation keeping in view the 33 per cent reservation factor.

Thakkar held a lengthy meeting at Chandigarh with PPCC president Mohinder Singh Kaypee and others concerned. It was also decided to give due representation to those who have enrolled substantial number of people as members 
of the party.

Some Christian and Muslim leaders would also be accommodated. Those youth Congress leaders who have crossed 35 years of age would also be given due space in the organisation. The party high command also wanted young blood in the organisation. Thakkar was urged to appoint assistant returning officers (AROs) from within the district where organisational elections would be conducted.

Ucha Pind 
(Fatehgarh Sahib), July 21
Excavations of historical importance are learning tools for historians, students and foreign tourists in Sanghol but local residents and the administration are not even aware about its rich legacy.

A professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, JNU, Dr Himanshu Prabhakar Ray, who has been struggling to get permission for excavation at Sanghol village (situated on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana road), said there was lack of vision among the residents and the government.

“Though the Punjab Government has granted the permission, the ASI has been dilly-dallying the matter since long, ” she told The Tribune from Delhi.

Ray is scheduled to visit Sanghol before September if all goes well. Author of a recently released book “Sanghol and Archeology of Punjab” published by Aryans Book International, Ray, said there was no other place like Sanghol.

“It is valuable not just for Harappan and post-Harappan periods but also for pre-historic, medieval and ancient period,” she added.

Harappan antiquities like potteries, bangles, terra-cotta cakes, stones, copper chisels micro beads of gold, human figurines, three stupas of Mahatma Buddha at Sanghol have become an attraction for the tourists.

As villagers dump garbage along its boundary and there is a cremation ground adjacent to it, excavations will yield no result until the residents are not apprised of its importance, she added. More stupas could be excavated but due to callous attitude of the administration, nothing had been done so far. She said the excavation began in Sanghol after repeated efforts of retired warrant officer of the Indian Air Force GB Sharma in 1953, who was the owner of land.

Sharma, who is now 83 and resides in Panchkula, said he handed over ancient coins to the Punjab Government in 1953, as no department concerned existed then. ASI officials said besides the exploration work, excavation would begin after monsoons at Asandh near Karnal.

“Asandh has a big mound in the shape of Buddha Stupa and the department has protected the site,” Ray said.

Ray said the major discovery was a hoard of 117 pieces of sculptures of Kushana period, which too were excavated with his help. These are in the form of 69 pillars, 13 copingstones and 35 cross bars. It is for the first time that such a large hoard of sculptures belonging to the Mathura school of Indian Art lying in stake were discovered.

Teja Singh, an ASI attendant at Sanghol, excavated Gautam Buddha’s stucco head in 1985 and it took three days with small knives and brush to excavate it. Bricks of Stupas are as old as 2,000 years, which are now conserved by the ASI.

Un-inscribed cast-coins of Kushana Kings Vima Kadaphises, Kanishka, Huvishka, Vasudeva, Late Kushana Gold coin of Samudra-Gupta standard type, gold coins of Vasudeva-11 and Kidar Kushana are also put on display in Sanghol Museum.

Chandigarh, July 22
Justice RS Sodhi (retd) has come to the aid of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna and his brother Harvinder Singh Sarna, blaming Harvinder Singh Phoolka, counsel for the victims of the 1984 riots, for making a mountain out of a molehill.

“Fighting a case has nothing to do with politics and Harvinder Phoolka at the highest is representing a client in this case. Prosecution of cases should not be converted into a political arena nor should he ruin the case which is at a crucial stage,” said Justice Sodhi.

“I am also surprised at the reaction of Akal Takht calling the President of the DSGMC on the issue that has no relevance to the religious cause. The Sikh sangat seeks guidance on religious issues from Akal Takht. Household and personal matters are not to be entertained by Akal Takht. I do hope that Jathedar Sahib will reconsider his decision,” Justice Sodhi added.

While Justice Sodhi held that the DSGMC chief “has all the right to ask for accounts for money spent and there is nothing wrong in that”, a former general secretary of the DSGMC, Kulmohan Singh, backed Harvinder Singh Phoolka, saying he did not even charge the expenses incurred by him during the Nanavati Commission hearings between 2002 and 2004.

Harvinder Singh Sarna said he did not know why he and his brother had been summoned at Akal Takht. “What is their motive? Why do they want both of us to appear at the Takht? How come a letter written by Harvinder Singh Phoolka is acknowledged and summons are issued to us within hours of the issuance of the letter through the Press?” rued Harvinder Singh Sarna.

He maintains that in his book Harvinder Singh Phoolka has appreciated the role of Paramjit Singh Sarna. “Who has been bearing all the expenses in fighting the cases? Who has signed the court papers? It is all by the DSGMC. How come suddenly we are accused of distracting the counsel in a case that is being fought on behalf of the DSGMC? Harvinder Singh Phoolka is welcome not to represent us but in this case he has been fighting for the DSGMC and the victims of the 1984 riots,” adds Harvinder Singh Sarna.

Harvinder Singh Sarna also maintained that now when the Union Home Ministry is considering cases of Afghan Sikhs as well as of reviewing the “black lists” of Sikhs overseas, an attempt is being made to sabotage all such efforts.

Tracing the background of the case, he said Harvinder Singh Phoolka had sent a letter to the DSGMC to file a report against Kamal Nath maintaining that the draft of the complaint had been discussed and approved by Justice Kuldip Singh and Justice TS Doabia. Justice Doabia, however, maintained that he never approved the draft of the complaint.

This happened on the day the DSGMC delegation had taken up the case of the Anand Marriage Act with the Home Ministry.

Afterwards, Harvinder Singh Sarna alleged Harvinder Singh Phoolka had been criticising the DSGMC, him and his brother, Paramjit Singh Sarna. 

Patiala, July 22
Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) today announced the new date for the Punjab State Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination-2009. Now, the examination would be held on November 28, 2010.

Following a meeting of the commission, held at PPSC headquarters here today, the new date for the examination was announced. Earlier, the examination was scheduled for July 11 this year, but in wake of the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders that the government employees, whether employed in Central or any other state government services, including the Punjab Government, would be eligible for relaxation of age up to 45 years for appearing in the PCS (Executive) examinations, the PPSC had postponed the examination on June 21, 2010.

Thereafter, the fresh advertisements were given in the newspapers for the candidates, who could not apply because of the age limit criteria.

Meanwhile, preparations for the Punjab Civil Service (Judicial) examination 2010 to be conducted jointly by the PPSC and Punjab and Haryana High Court for recruitment to 85 posts of Punjab Civil Service (Judicial), on coming August 8, were also complete. 

Chandigarh, July 22
The Punjab financial commissioner has virtually been censured by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for “interfering in the independent and impartial functioning of a quasi-judicial” body.

“The financial commissioner has grossly exceeded his jurisdiction,” Justice Surya Kant has ruled, while annulling the instructions practically directing a tribunal to vacate stay granted in favour of Bathinda-based “deed writers” against the cancellation of their licence.

The gross violation of “the principles of fair and just play” was brought to Justice Surya Kant’s notice by deed writer Mohan Lal Bansal and another through counsel Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia.

Justice Surya Kant observed: The petitioners were granted licences as deed writers in the tehsil complex at Bathinda. The DC, Bathinda, in purported compliance to some instructions issued by the state, revoked the petitioners' licences against which the petitioners preferred statutory appeals before the commissioner, Faridkot.

“The appellate authority passed ad-interim stay orders in their favour on April 30. Thereafter, the financial commissioner to the state government issued the impugned instructions dated May 24, 2010, virtually commanding the appellate authority to vacate the ex-parte stay order”.

Justice Surya Kant asserted: “The petitioners have challenged these instructions. Meanwhile, the commissioner, Faridkot, Faridkot-cum-Appellate Authority has vacated the ad-interim stay on June 2, 2010, and fixed the appeal for arguments.

“Apparently, he has acted under the direct pressure mounted upon him vide the impugned instruction. In my considered view, the financial commissioner has grossly exceeded his jurisdiction by issuing the impugned instructions, thereby, interfering in the independent and impartial functioning of a quasi-judicial tribunal, namely, the appellate authority prescribed under the statute. The instructions tantamount to imposing the command to decide the interim say matter as well as the appeal itself in a particular manner, irrespective of the view that may be formed by the appellate authority. “It shall be appreciated if the appeal is decided preferably within a month from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order. The appellate authority shall be obligated to decide the appeal in accordance with law, uninfluenced of the observations made in the impugned instructions issued by the financial commissioner”. 

Chandigarh, July 22
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today showed its disinclination to go into the “politics” behind the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment of medical officers’ case.

As two petitions filed in the matter by PPSC Chairman Sanjit Sinha and Punjab’s former police chief KPS Gill came up for hearing this morning, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ajay Tewari categorically asserted the court was primarily concerned with the purity of public administration, and not the “politics”.

Sinha is seeking an independent probe into the allegations against the commission in the selection of medical officers. He is insisting the Vigilance Bureau has no authority to look into the commission’s functioning.

Gill, on the other hand, is seeking directions to the state of Punjab and other respondents to constitute a special investigating team; and for directing the state government to place before the high court the Chief Secretary’s inquiry report.

The assertion by the Bench came after Sinha’s counsel Himmat Singh Shergill made attempts to build up a case on political grounds by saying the commission has to perform functions “independent of the government of the day”.

Sinha has already accused Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of attacking the commission’s independence, while demanding a probe by the CBI, or a retired high court judge. Shergill, on his behalf, has all along been asserting that Badal, under a deep-rooted conspiracy, has “put the commission under the scanner of an official, who is directly under his control, thereby violating the constitutional safeguards, which the commission has been granted by the Constitution of India”.

The case also saw counsel for the former top cop KPS Gill assert the commission cannot claim constitutional immunity. He said the Supreme Court in a Haryana matter has already decided the controversy. Elaborating, he said the apex court had held that the commission was duty bound to cooperate with the Vigilance Bureau.

As the case came up for hearing, Shergill objected to intervention by Gill’s counsel saying the “hero cop” was not a party to Sinha’s petition. Taking note of his assertion, the Bench said if Shergill would give an undertaking that the orders in his case would not affect Gill’s matter, it would sustain the objection. Shergill showed no inclination to make any such statement, and sought time to file a rejoinder to Gill’s reply to the petition. The case is now adjourned to August 25.

Khanna, July 22
The police arrested a 75-year-old man for raping a 5-year-old girl.

The accused has been identified as Bakshish Baba, a resident of Kishangarh village near Khanna.

In his complaint to the police, the father, a migrant, of the girl alleged that Bakshish raped his daughter when he and his wife were not present in the house on Tuesday.

The family members and area residents tried to hush up the case due to the fear of social stigma, however, the police got the information when the girl was admitted to the Khanna Civil Hospital last night.

A case was registered against the accused under Sections 323, 376 and 506 of the IPC. Sources in the police said the accused had been arrested. — TNS

Ludhiana, July 22
An ISI spy, who was living in India for the last five years, was arrested from Ludhiana railway station last night.

The Pakistani national, Nizam Baksh, hails from Khanewal district in Multan. Working as a contractor in the city, he identified himself as Sandeep Singh of Shahkot, Jalandhar.

ADCP Harsh Bansal said Baksh, an active member of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, was sending crucial details to his leader in Pakistan.

The police seized a bag from the spy and recovered a driving licence, maps containing military information and other documents considered 
serious from the national security point of view.

Sources said the police had also recovered four sim cards and two mobile phones -- one a blackberry -- from the spy.

The arrest took place after an intelligence alert about a Pakistani ISI member who was sending out sensitive information about the deployment of units of the Indian Army, their location and other vital details by calling duty officers, control rooms and telephone operators of various civil and defence establishments by posing as a 
defence officer.

Bansal said the police was probing how the Pak spy managed to sneak into this side of the border and even managed a driving licence from Jalandhar. Police sources, however, said the accused had entered India from Nepal.

The spy’s five-year stay in the border state has raised questions on the working of the intelligence agencies.