Bathinda, July 31
A young life was snuffed out on a road in Bathinda on Friday. Thirty-year-old Manish of Adarsh Nagar fell prey to maundering stray cattle when he was retuning home on a motorbike near Ghaniya Chowk. His bike collided with stray cattle and he suffered critical injuries which became the reason for his death.

On Saturday, two scooterists sustained injuries when some stray animals came in the way of two-wheelers at the Multania overbridge.

These are not sporadic incidents. Actually, not a single day passes of late without reports of accidents, particularly road mishaps, involving stray animals.

As stray cattle has become a part of traffic on the streets and roads in Bathinda, accidents caused by bovine movement are frequently reported from several parts of the city everyday.

The prowling danger has not only made the vehicles prone to mishap, kids have also become vulnerable to injuries due to the stray cattle menace.

Residents, while complaining about the spurt in the number of bulls and cows, said stray cattle could be found in any street and road in the city. Even the main roads, including Bathinda-Goniana Road and Mall Road, are not an exception, they said.

Raj Mehra of Welfare Society, Vishal Nagar, said stray cattle not only block traffic but also try to maul passers-by many a time. Many accidents were reported at night when drivers failed to notice dark-coloured cattle, which camouflage with dim light. Further, cattle in groups could be found squatting in the middle of roads, Mehra said, adding that they not only block the road but also apparently just refuse to respond to the sound of horn.

Naresh Kumar and Anil Kumar also of the Welfare Society, Vishal Nagar, said kids had given up playing in the evening after they were chased by bulls or cows several times. Many senior citizens have also quit enjoying their morning and evening walk as they found themselves incapable of avoiding lurking dangers. They said that one could not predict cattle's behaviour, it could come in front of vehicles in no time.

Pappu Chidiya and Binod Kumar of Trinetra Welfare Society, Partap Nagar, said that they receive many complaint concerning stray cattle maundering in streets and causing inconveniences to residents. Vegetable vendors could also be found running for cover from the stray cattle, they added.

Commissioner of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) Ravi Bhagat said that steps had been taken to control the number of such cattle. CCTV cameras were also put in use to notice the movement of the cattle from outside. Besides, gaushalas had also been roped in to maintain and look after the stray cattle, he added.

The BMC commissioner said complaints concerning stray cattle causing inconvenience could be lodged with officials concerned at the municipal corporation. The BMC would take immediate action, he added.

Ferozepur, July 31
Simranjit Singh Mann, president, SAD (Amritsar), while urging the Central and Punjab governments to explain why narcotics, weapons, explosives and fake currency was being pushed to India from across the border, asked whether any action against the Army or BSF official was taken for their failure to stop such smuggling.

Mann talking to the TNS on phone said he was surprised over the fact that when the Centre had made foolproof security arrangements on the Indo-Pak border and Punjab Police was alert enough to curb the activities of smugglers then how heroin, smack, weapons, explosives and fake Indian currency had been finding their way to Punjab.

He said instead of fixing the responsibility for such failures on the officials concerned, the government agencies were trying to paint Sikhs as terrorists as was being reflected from the media reports, which had been appearing in various newspapers for the past many days.

He said in certain media reports, it was alleged that Shingar cinema blast in Ludhiana was carried out by Sikh terrorists, who were trained in Pakistan in handling the explosives. Some other stories had painted Sikhs as killers of innocent people.

He said these claims were not true as to kill innocent people would not serve any purpose for anybody. The killing of innocent people would not even serve any purpose even for those fighting for Khalistan, he said.

“I fail to understand as to why Sikhs would get training from Pakistan in handling of arms and ammunition, which they have inherited from their masters,” he pointed out.

Fazilka, July 31
Chairman, Punjab Backward classes Land Development and Finance Corporation, Baldev Singh Mammujoin, chief guest and others paid floral tributes to the great martyr Udham Singh here on Saturday in a special programme organised by the Baba Bhuman Shah Welfare Society, Fazilka. Besides Mammujoian, Improvement Trust, Fazilka, chairman Mohinder Pratap Dhingra, Municipal Council president, Anil Kumar Sethi, PPCC secretary, Davinder Sachdeva, Police station Sadar in-charge, Baljit Singh, sub-inspector CID Raj Kumar, former chairman, Panchayat Samiti Puran Chand Batti garlanded the martyr’s statue.

Abohar: Faridkot-based Circle education officer Dr Harbans Singh Chahal was joined by former SDM BL Sikka, Jamuna Devi Chawla, president Mahila Paropkarini Sabha, block primary education officer Shyam Sunder Sharma, veteran social activists Chiman Lal Wadhwa, Ravinder Dhaka, K K Sidana, Kulbhushan Hiteshi, district scouts trainer Darshan Lal Chugh offered tributes to the martyr at Sawan Public School. — OC

Ferozepur, July 31
Chief parliamentary secretary (revenue), Punjab, Sukhpal Singh Nannu today rushed to Chandigarh to move a complaint against district police chief in privilege committee of the Vidhan Sabha and to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

He alleged that he was misled by latter in matter connected with the arrest of a local shopkeeper Vijay Kumar against whom a criminal case was registered a few days ago on the complaint of Mulakh Raj Sethi.

Nannu alleged SPS Parmar, district police chief, made the staff members of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrest Vijay despite the fact that Parmar assured him a few days ago that an inquiry would be conducted in the case before arresting him.

“Parmar said lack of communication with different wings of police department led to arrest of Vijay. He assured within two days, he would get the inquiry completed,” Nannu said.

Meanwhile, Devinder Kapur and Ashwani Grover, MC, said they would move a formal complaint against the cops, who had abused them. They added that if action is not taken against the police officials, they could launch an agitation

Ferozpur, July 31
The local media persons along with inmates of the Home for Blind organised a cultural programme recently. On the occasion, the district public relations officer (DPRO), Ashok Handa, who superannuated this week was also accorded a warm farewell.

Ramesh and Saurav, inmates of the blind home presented old Hindi songs. Harish Monga, secretary, Home for the Blind, thanked the media. DPRO Ashok Handa advised the media to organise their monthly meeting in the Home for the Blind, as a mark of solidarity with the inmates.

Bathinda, July 31
The Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, today organised a talk on ‘Helicases: an essential enzyme for malaria parasite growth and survival.’

The talk was delivered by Dr Renu Tuteja, an eminent scientist from ICGEB, New Delhi. Welcome note was delivered by Prof P. Ramarao and vote of thanks was extended by Dr Felix Bast.

Dr Nirendra Tuteja of ICGEB New Delhi, Dr Jagmohan Singh of IMTECH Chandigarh and Dr Vanita Kumar from GNDU Amritsar were also present. — TNS