Bathinda, August 21
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today accused the Congress-led UPA government at the centre of lending support to miscreants for creating communal disturbance to scuttle the pace of development in Punjab. He was here to inaugurate a multi-crore shopping mall.

Addressing the gathering at the event, Badal blamed the union government for all the woes of the state. He alleged, “We put our best so that the state witness all-round development but the union government has been supporting some anti-social groups for creating communal disturbances in the state.”

“Though our neighbouring states are facing the heat of communalism that affects us also, we try to protect our people from all odds,” he added.

Unfolding the plans to develop the state, Badal promised that within the next 18 months all towns of the state would be equipped with the four basic amenities, namely sewerage, water, roads and streetlights.

Further, he disclosed that he was going to give some gifts to Bathinda, which included Rs 10-crore Deer safari that would be spread on about 150 acres. The city would have a two-km-long cycling and jogging stretch for which a Gurgaon-based company had been hired to check the feasibility and prepare an estimate of cost.

“We are putting in a lot of efforts to change people’s perception that the SAD focuses on villages only,” he said.

Speaking further, Badal named the under-construction multi-crore oil refinery, super-specialty hospital, which would also have cancer treatment specialty, Adarsh schools, Central university and college as the ruling SAD’s contribution in developing Bathinda.

Earlier, Badal had round of various locations in the city and enquired about the feasibility of launching new projects. Inspecting a police station located at Model Town, he asked the department concerned to construct an SHO house also.

During the visit, he pulled up Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Ravi Bhagat, who is also the chief administrator of the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), for performing duty below the expectations. Meanwhile, he asked Bhagat to submit a detailed report of all properties that were lying unused because of litigations.

Ferozepur, August 21
Pooran Chand, driver of the school van, that crushed a school boy Sahil Gumber to death on May 12 in the city, committed suicide last night. A criminal case has been registered against the father and paternal uncle of Sahil for forcing Pooran Chand to take this extreme step today.

Besides, a large number of residents including Pooran Chand's kin and acquaintances staged a dharna and blocked the traffic at the Udham Singh Chowk.

The protesters alleged that they had been harassing Pooran Chand since Sahil’s death in the road accident. They demanded the immediate arrest of the father and paternal uncle of Sahil.

The dharna was lifted when two officials of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police includung Joginder Singh and Jasvir Singh assured them of action against the accused.

Pooran Chand, who had consumed poisonous substance last night, died subsequently in the hospital.

He had left a suicide note alleging that he was under constant harassment by KK Gumber and Babu Gumber, Sahil's father and uncle, respectively.

Information gathered by the TNS revealed that a case under section 304 A of the IPC was registered at the police station after he crushed Sahil, the only son of his parents, to death on May 12.

However, Pooran Chand managed to get bail from the court in that case.

A few days ago, the police authorities converted the offence made out against him under section 304 A (death due to negligence) to section 304 of the IPC (culpable homicide).

After this, the police parties started raiding his dwelling to arrest him. Finding him out of their reach, a section of the policemen picked up his elderly parents and misbehaved with his wife a few days ago.

Information further revealed that the court concerned declined his bail application on Friday, which was moved by him to secure bail. After rejection of his bail application, he committed suicide last night.

DSP Joginder Singh said action would be taken against the policemen, who allegedly misbehaved with the wife of the deceased, if a complaint was received in this connection.

SHO, city police station, Sampuran Singh said a case under section 306 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the accused on the statement of Subash, Pooran Chand’s brother. However, no arrest has been made so far.

Bathinda, August 21
In its attempt to combat financing of terrorism, the Union Ministry of Finance has come up with a new set of norms for small savings schemes of post offices.

To have close eyes on money transactions for the purpose, the ministry has attempted to make small savings a transparent act and also open for monitoring by the authorities concerned.

With the new norms concerning investments with post offices, the government is also aiming at thwarting the designs of money laundering.

In April 2010, the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, issued guidelines for the introduction of anti-money laundering (AML) and combating of financing of terrorism (CFT) norms in small saving schemes.

“Following the guidelines, the postal department, Bathinda has started implementing the norms from May 2010,” said Post Master Bathinda City Makhan Lal Mangal.

“With the introduction new norms that have made handling of small savings - depositing and withdrawing money – to follow guidelines that seek production of identity proof, address proof, PAN card and even proof of source of income as required for nature of savings from investors,” he added. “Nature of proof will vary from quantum of money involved,” the post master said.

As per the new norms, the post master elaborated, anyone wishing to open new account with below Rs 50,000 has to produce residential proof and three photographs. For savings of Rs 50,000, above Rs 50,000 and below Rs 10 lakhs, the investors have to produce Permanent Account Number (PAN) card, Mangal added.

Further, for savings above Rs 10 lakhs, production of proof of source of income has been made mandatory, the post master said.

Similarly, some new norms have also been formed for existing account holders, the post master said, for depositing and withdrawal of sum above Rs 50,000, they have to furnish PAN card or From 60.

Bathinda, August 21
Saturday remained a hectic day not only for the police and media persons but also for the common man.

On the one hand, the administration was on toes as the chief minister was in the city and on the other, a group of unemployed multi-purpose health workers, who were demanding employment, climbed atop an overhead water tank, located near Gol Diggi.

Firm in their decision to defuse the protest, police arrested about a dozen of the protesters who were raising slogans on the streets. Police also hired some migrant labourers to pull down the agitators from the water tank.

Allured by the promise of getting a reward of Rs 500 each, about a dozen labourers without even caring for their safety hurriedly climbed atop the water tank and brought down all the agitators.

Another drama unfolded when the police took all the protesters into custody and left the spot without fulfilling the promise made to the labourers. Feeling deceived, the labourers started lodging protest against the police. They blocked the road, which forced the SHO Kotwali to reach the spot and sort out the matter.

Meanwhile, hundreds of activists of the Education Volunteer Teachers Union, Punjab, who were holding a protest rally at the grain market, reportedly gave a call to block the main gates of the bus stand that put the cops on their toes again.

Taking a hurried step, a large number of senior police officials rushed to the spot and directed the authorities of the bus stand as well as the drivers and passengers to leave the bus stand, immediately.

The move created panic and took the shape of a rumour that the police was asking all to leave the bus stand as it had received some bomb call.

Within minutes, after the bus stand was cleared, the administration bowed to the demands of agitators to release their three activists, who were arrested on August 16 for raising anti-establishment slogans at Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s rally.

After they were released from the Central Jail here this evening, the union leaders gave them a warm welcome and termed it as a victory of their sense of unity.

Expressing his anguish, a senior police official, assigned the duty to get the bus stand vacated, said, “This is a unique democratic system where we are pressed to do everything except for policing. It is not that we are incapable of handling a handful of protesters who leave us in the lurch to highlight their grievances. It is a system where we are the victims of circumstances.”

Hussainiwala (Ferozepur), August 21
It was altogether a different scene at this joint check-post (JCP) of the Indo-Pak border when the jawans of the Border Security Force (BSF) took a pledge to protect the women against all evils when a section of girls of the local DAV College tied rakhi on their wrist in a simple but impressive ceremony.

The jawans of 143 Battalion of the BSF, who guard the JCP and also participate in the parade being held daily during the retreat ceremony, turned emotional on this emotional affair.

“We are blessed enough as these girls have made us feel that we are not alone on the border as our sisters are around. Though we are deployed far away from our places, these girls have provided us with homely atmosphere by tying rakhis on our hands,” said the jawans.

The jawans also gave the girls attractive gifts. The girls were also served with refreshments.

Second-in-command, 143 Battalion, Kamal Kumar said tying of rakhis on the wrist of jawans was always an emotional affair.

He said the BSF, which was known for its sacrifices made for the honour of the country, was also dedicated to the protection of women.

Abohar, August 21
More than 53 per cent of adolescents prefer watching violence-oriented programmes on the TV, the research done by Dr Venita Singh, principal, DAV College of Education,here indicates. While presenting her paper during the two-day national media seminar at the Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College here on Saturday, she said the violence screened by different TV channels was eventually resulting in a deterioration in the quality of life.

Dr RK Sharma, head of the department, Public Administration, Panjab University, and member of senate, said the common man suffers due to the cut-throat competition that is on among TV channels owing to commercialisation.

Dr Ramesh Mohan, principal, Swami Parmanand College, Mukerian, said the media trial of some sensitive cases had done an irreparable loss not only to the affected families but to society as well.

Advocating the need for a value-based media, Dr Kamal Dixit and KC Mouli from the MLC National University said the media can assist in building the nation. Decline in development content in the media was alarming, they said.

Vijay Sehgal, former editor, Dainik Tribune and Madhukar Dwivedi, veteran journalist from Madhya Pradesh, said positivity, social anal national interests need to be given more attention.

Principal Dr BB Sharma and a number of other educationists besides students from the Panjab University and colleges of different states were among those present. Divya Narang shared her experience of working in leading TV channels. The programme was conducted by Usha Ranade and Aarti. Local college managing committee chairman, Dev Mittar Ahuja and convener Dr Neelam Arun Mittu honoured the dignitaries.

Bathinda, August 21
A cooperative awareness camp was organised by the PUNCOFED, Chandigarh, at Nandgarh village, about 25 km from here, yesterday. Deputy Registrar (DR), Cooperative Societies, Bathinda, Harbant Singh Jatana presided over the camp.

Jatana said to reduce the agriculture costs incurred by farmers, cooperative societies had been made agriculture service centres, from where farmers could hire modern agriculture implements instead of purchasing the same.

Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Bathinda, Dalip Kumar gave information to the farmers about the schemes of the Housefed. A representative of the PUNCOFED Baldev Krishan Goyal said the PUNCOFED was holding such programmes in villages to impart knowledge to the farmers about various cooperative schemes. Field Manager, IFFCO, Harmail Singh Sidhu gave technical knowledge about agriculture to the farmers.

Trees were also planted to mark the Vanmahotsav celebrations. The PUNCOFED also distributed literature related to cooperative movement.

Fazilka, August 21
To ensure the quality of eatables during the ensuing festival season, the samples of 18 food articles have been taken in the district, informed District Health Officer (DHO), Ferozepur, Dr YK Gupta, while talking to the media here today.

The samples have been taken on the directive of the Punjab health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla and civil surgeon (Ferozepur) Dr Kanwaljit Singh Kakkar.

Dr Gupta held a meeting with the office-bearers of the local halwai union, which was represented by their president Daulat Ram Kathpal, secretary, Om Parkash Arora, treasurer, Raman Grover, vice-president, Ramesh Bansal and others.

He clatified that the samples of the eatables would be taken regularly and no laxity would be tolerated.

Dr Gupta further disclosed that despite the clear instructions of the Punjab government, manufacturers of the food articles, particularly the sweet-sellers, had not secured a licence from the health department so far in the entire district. Now, he has given instructions to get the licences under the provisions of the Pure Food and Adulteration Act 1954.

The DHO was accompanied by the food inspector Manwinder Singh Dhillon, Punjab State Pharmacists Association district Ferozepur unit president Shashi Kant and the sampling team.

Ferozepur, August 21
The NSS volunteers of the DAV College for Women organised a ‘Van Mohatsav’ in the college premises. SDM Gurjit Singh presided over the function.

Principal Dr Pushpinder stressed on the need to plant more trees in order to save the ecology and protect the environment.

The SDM honoured NSS volunteers and appreciated their efforts. He said it was imperative to ensure that more and more trees are planted to save the earth from global warming. More than 200 saplings were planted on the occasion.

Barnala, August 21
Ten persons including nine women working in a medicine factory sustained injuries after the tempo, by which, they were travelling overturned to avoid a possible head-on collision with a tractor-trolley at Nai Wala Road in Barnala today.

The driver of the tempo received severe head injuries and was referred to the Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, by the doctors at the civil hospital, Barnala.

The tempo was on its way to the factory when the accident took place. The injured were rushed to the civil hospital, Barnala.

Bathinda, August 21
Six children sustained injuries today after an outer wall of an old house located in Beant Nagar here fell over them.

The volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva, who brought the injured to the Civil Hospital, informed that the children were sitting adjacent to the wall when it collapsed.

The injured were stated to be out of danger. — TNS