Bathinda, September 21
Thirteen days after a constable of the Bathinda police disappeared along with his official weapon, the district police today arrested five persons including four of his in-laws' family and claimed that he was killed on the very day of his disappearance.

It is learnt that the constable in question, Rashpal Singh of village Chathe Wala in Bathinda district had been missing since September 8.

According to the complaint lodged by his wife, Rashpal had left the house on September 8 in the morning and served duty at Police Lines in Bathinda but did not return in the evening. Suspecting foul play, she along with other family members started searching for him but failed.

Acting upon the information, the police initiated the investigation and got some vital clues from the call detail of his mobile phone.

Meanwhile, suspecting a woman of Gidderbaha and her family members of kidnapping the constable, his wife Daljeet Kaur lodged a complaint with the police against them.

Acting upon the complaint, Civil Lines police booked Upinderjit Kaur, her husband Sukhwinder Singh aka Seera Khan and her father-in-law Gurmel Singh of Gidderbaha under section 365 and 120-B of the IPC.

However, smelling a rat, SSP Bathinda, Sukhchain Singh Gill marked the investigation to the CIA staff. During the probe, the officials found that the brothers, mother and sister-in-law of the complainant Daljeet Kaur had killed the constable.

Collecting evidence of murder, the Bathinda police arrested the deceased's brothers-in-law Harpreet Singh and Gurdarshan Singh, mother-in-law Gurmeet Kaur, sister-in-law Maninder Kaur and one of their family friends Amarinder Singh.

Giving details, the SSP said the constable's in-laws killed him in revenge as he used to beat up his wife and even beat up his mother-in-law once. Irked, the accused chalked out a conspiracy and called him from duty to a place in Muktsar, where they offered him liquor and after he was in an inebriated condition, they assaulted him with iron rods and beat him to death.

They then removed his clothes and put the nude body in their Alto car bearing number PB 22B 7503 and threw it in the Gang canal, near village Sammewali in Muktsar district.

After their arrest, the police recovered the car and iron rods used in the crime and also the official pistol of the constable, from their possession.

It has also been informed that the police was further analyzing the possibility of the role of the complainant (deceased wife) in the crime. Meanwhile, a separate team was deployed to trace the body from the canal.

Bathinda, September 21
A few days after splitting into two groups, the leaders of the AIE Teachers’ Union and the AIE Teachers’ Front indulged in a physical skirmish at the Teachers’ Home here today.

According to information available, the activists of the AIE Teachers’ Union were holding a meeting at the Teachers’ Home where the president of the union Swarna Devi was refuting the allegations levelled on her recently that she had cheated the union members of lakhs of rupees.

Meanwhile, a group of the activists of the AIE Teachers’ Front reached there and started raising slogans against her.

The Front activists also tried to get on to the stage, which the union activists denied and both the groups indulged into a verbal duel.

The situation took an ugly turn when Swarna Devi manhandled secretary of the Front Sudhir Kumar. A free for all then ensued.

During the scuffle, clothes of Swarna Devi were torn off partially. On the other side, the Front’s president Dhiraj Kumar and secretary Sudhir Kumar sustained bruises.

On receiving the information about the ruckus at the Teachers’ Home, a large number of police personnel, including women cops, reached the spot and rounded up a number of persons and brought them the police station. However, till the filing of this report, no case was registered.

Bathinda, September 21
For the first time, the Punjab Government has released an amount of Rs 7.77 lakh to all districts of the state for holding functions to observe the International Senior Citizens' Day at district headquarters as well as at tehsil headquarters.

The day will be observed on October 1 at district headquarters and from October 2 to October 8 at the tehsil headquarters. The state-level function will be held at Ludhiana on October 1.

The government has released funds to the tune of Rs 1,98,000 for Ludhiana district; Rs 49,000 to Sangrur; Rs 41,000 each to Ferozepur, Patiala and Jalandhar; Rs 33,000 to Amritsar; Rs 25,000 each to Bathinda, Muktsar, Moga and Mansa; and Rs 17,000 each to Barnala and Faridkot. Besides, other districts would also get funds to organise functions in their respective districts. An amount of Rs 9,000 has been allotted for organising functions at each district headquarter and Rs 8,000 for each tehsil headquarter.

The Directorate of Social Security and Women & Child Development, Punjab, has issued guidelines to its district offices to observe the day. Functions would see senior citizens honoured for their contribution to society. Besides, senior citizens above 100 years of age and first five beneficiaries of old-age pension scheme in the district would also be honoured. The day would be observed by organising children's visit to old-age homes, free health check-up, distribution of hearing aids and spectacles etc among needy senior citizens and discussions on good health.

Bathinda district social security officer Rajwinder Singh Gill said they would organise tehsil-level functions between October 2 and October 8 at Talwandi Sabo and Phul as per the approval of the deputy commissioner Gurkirat Kirpal Singh. He said a senior citizen would be made chief guest at both district and tehsil-level functions.

Gill further said lectures on healthcare would be delivered by doctors at the functions. Besides, they would also organise awareness lectures on Senior Citizens' Act-2007, he added.

Gill said that to identify senior citizens above 100 years of age, old-age homes and senior citizen welfare associations were being contacted. These elderly persons would be honoured at functions, he added.

Meanwhile, Muktsar deputy commissioner Varun Roojam has said that Malout and Gidderbaha tehsils in the district would hold functions on October 1 itself.

Bathinda, September 21
A talent hunt competition was organised by the Government Rajindra College on its campus here today. More than 50 students took part in several competitions, including song, ghazal, group shabad, gidha, collage making, rangoli making and fine arts.

Mayor of Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, Baljit Singh Beer Behman was the chief guest while Bathinda constituency in-charge of the Shiromani Akali Dal Sarup Chand Singla presided over the function. Principal of the college Sukhchain Rai Garg was also present.

Punjabi sufi singer Hakam Sufi, who was present at the function, was honoured by the college.

Youth coordinator of the college Prof Gurjeet Singh Mann said they had short-listed the participants of today’s competition, who would take part in the three-day Punjabi University Zonal Youth Festival (Bathinda Zone) to be held at Mata Sundri Girls College, Dhade village near Rampura, from October 7 to 9.

Bathinda, September 21
The Art of Living is organising a five-day ‘Sri Sri Yoga’ course from September 23 to 27 at the Government Rajindra College ground here. The course will be held from 5.15 am to 7.15 am.

Savita Sharma, coordinator of the course, said here this evening that the course would help the participants in gaining concentration, memory, immunity, spiritual growth and better relationship while it would also help them recover from chronic diseases, asthma, weight loss, diabetes etc.

Bathinda, September 21
A five-member action committee was today constituted to chalk-out measures for promotion of tourism in Bathinda region.

The decision to set up the committee was taken during a meeting of the Tourism Promotion Society that was presided over by deputy commissioner Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.

The committee would suggest measures to put the historic Bathinda Fort on tourism map and facilities for the visitors. Within three weeks, it would also chalk out measures to provide transport and other facilities to pilgrims visiting the Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo and the Maiserkhana temple.

It was also decided to upgrade facilities at the deer park at Bir Talab near here where several tourists and school students visit everyday.

Members of the committee include president of the Hotel and Resort Association, manager, Takht Shri Damdama Sahib, and chairman, Maiserkhana Temple Management Committee.

Bathinda, September 21
In a joint operation, the Canal Colony police and the sleuths of the Excise and Taxation Department today recovered 50 cartons of Punjab Medium Liquor (PML) brand Motta Santra from the possession of a woman.

According to police sources, the accused, Balwinder Kaur of street number two, Multania road, used to run a vend of illegal liquor from her house. Acting upon a tip-off, the officials conducted a raid at her house and arrested the woman in possession of liquor.

However, no case was registered till the filing of this report. — TNS

BATHINDA: An extension lecture was delivered on 'Right to Education' (RTE) by Dr Raminder Singh, assistant professor, College of Education, Punjabi University Regional Centre, at the Baba Farid College of Education, Deon.

He motivated the students to be aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding the ‘Right to Education’.

Principal Dr Prabhjot Kaur said such brainstorming sessions were a must for students. Managing director G.S. Dhaliwal thanked the guest for enlightening the students. — TNS

Rampura (Bathinda), September 21
Cultivating three acres of turmeric in the heart of the cotton belt of Punjab, a progressive farmer of this village, Harjeevan Singh, has not only surprised all but also set an example for other farmers trapped in the traditional circle of agriculture, to take a step towards crop diversification.

Turmeric is said to possess characteristics helpful in resisting diseases like cancer, a serious problem in the Malwa region. Its sowing is being seen as a step in the right direction.

After harvesting the wheat crop in May this year, Harjeevan converted three of his seven acres of agricultural land into a turmeric field. The inspiration came from his son Gursharan Singh, a research scholar at the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.

Ignoring people who termed his initiative as a high risk venture, he purchased 21 quintals of seed of two varieties of turmeric — Punjab-I and Punjab-II — at a cost of Rs 3,000 per quintal from Gurdaspur and sowed the same.

Though the crop will yet take a couple of months before it is ready for harvesting, people have started visiting Harjeevan’s fields asking him about the pros and cons of coming out of the conventional circle of sowing wheat, cotton/paddy and cultivating turmeric.

Speaking to The Tribune, Harjeevan said, “Those who were criticising me earlier, are now bringing people to see the turmeric crop. They even express their willingness to sow the same and are waiting for the final produce of my crop. I am sure a number of farmers in the region will go for it.”

This progressive farmer feels pride in answering the queries of those visiting him these days.

He convinces them by saying it is not only lucrative but also helps in balancing the disturbed ecology.

Turmeric — the golden spice of life — is one of the most essential spices used as an important ingredient in culinary delights all over the world. The turmeric powder is obtained from dry rhizomes, which are yellowish-orange tuberous juicy stems. It has multiple usages like cosmetics, medicine, dyeing and colouring.

Claiming to be well aware of its usefulness, Harjeevan disclosed that he had been cultivating the crop with natural manure and not using any chemical spray in order to keep it purely organic.

Expecting a yield between 108 and 122 quintals per acre, the confident farmer is now planning to set up his own processing unit, for which he is not only visiting the units already running in Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur districts but also trying to convince the department concerned to grant him loan as well as subsidy on the required machinery.

Meanwhile, he urged the officials of the agriculture department to visit his field and advise him on the precautions he should take for a healthy and bumper yield.

Baghapurana (Moga), September 21
Expressing concern over the rising cases of cancer in the Malwa belt of Punjab, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has demanded from the Union government allocation of special funds to the state under the National Rural Health Mission to control this deadly disease.

He was talking to the media here today after distributing grants to 17 panchayats of the Baghapurana assembly constituency.

The junior Badal revealed that he along with his father, CM Parkash Singh Badal had already met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh requesting him to set up an AIIMS-like cancer diagnostic and treatment centre in the Malwa belt. “We at our own level have set up special ward and diagnostic facilities in the Baba Farid Medical University at Faridkot and a separate cancer hospital is also being set up in collaboration with the Max Group in the Malwa belt,” he said.

Demanding special allocation of funds from the Union government, he said as a preventive measure, the state government has installed reverse osmosis (RO) system in as many as 500 worst affected villages. “The rest of the affected towns and villages will be covered within next 12 months,” he claimed.

Claiming that the SAD-BJP government was committed to the development of remote rural areas, he said the CM himself would visit each assembly constituency in the next couple of months to distribute funds for construction/repair of rural link roads and other development works.

Later, Sukhbir laid the foundation stone of a 7th e-health point to provide 400 types of medicines, 75 basic diagnostic tests and consultation through tele-conferencing with specialists at a cost of Rs 40 only.

About terrorism or Maoist activities. “Our forces are well prepared to face any situation,” he added.

He also listened to the grievances of the local people and asked the authorities concerned to redress them on the spot. Prominent among those who were present on the occasion were local MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, chairman of the district planning board Tarsem Singh Ratian, former ministers Jathedar Tota Singh, Gurdev Singh Badal and local party leaders Jagtar Singh Rajeana, Mahesh Inder Singh, Nirdharak Singh Brar and others.

Barnala, September 21
Following protests by employees of the Municipal Council, Dhanaula, police today lodged a criminal case against an undertrial municipal councillor and two police men, his accomplice, for allegedly beating up two employees of the council.

Sources said that Dhanaula police has registered a criminal case against municipal councillor Gurmeet Singh Kalamaan aka Kala Dhanola and two unidentified police men for allegedly beating up two employees of MC Gurmeet Kaur and Jagjeet Singh on Saturday. They added that the accused is already serving a sentence in a criminal case in Barnala jail and had been taken by police to be produced before a local court in Sangrur. On return, he beat up two employees of Dhanaula MC where he is a municipal councillor.

Giving details, sources said that Kala Dhanola who is serving a sentence in a criminal case was taken by police to Sangrur for producing him before a local court in connection with a case. On return from Sangrur, Kala Dhanola along with two police men went to the Municipal Council office at Dhanaula. Sources further said that Kala Dhanola then asked two of the employees to give him the attendance register so that he can mark himself present but they opposed his move.

They added that in a fit of rage, Kala Dhanola and the two unidentified policemen attacked the employees and even threatened to kill them. Sources added that the two employees were admitted to a hospital in Dhanaula. They added that after the other employees of Dhanaula Municipal Council came to know about the incident, they lodged a protest by staging a sit-in outside the council office forcing the police to lodge a criminal case against the notorious gangster.

SSP, Barnala, Gurpreet Singh Toor, told media persons that police has registered a case against Gurmeet Singh Kalamaan and the two unidentified policemen under sections 353, 323, 186, 166, 506 and 34 of the IPC in connection with the matter and has started investigations.

Ferozepur, September 21
The issue connected with the allegations levelled against David, a Congress municipal councillor of Guru Harsahai town of this district by a beauty parlour owner, took a new turn today.

While David claimed that the beauty parlour owner, a divorcee, had levelled allegations against him at the instigation of his political opponents to malign his image at a time when the next Assembly elections were approaching, she could not come out with a convincing reasoning to rebut the claims of David.

She alleged yesterday that she was raped by David and his brother Karan at their poultry farm on September 15. She also came to the SSP office here with a vial of poison and held out a threat that if the police denied her justice, she would commit suicide. David, while talking to TNS over the phone today, said she had also been trying to extract ‘undue benefits’ from him by levelling serious allegations against him. “I know that a section of people, who are his political opponents, have been playing mischief in this case as they have also been using that woman as a tool against him,” alleged David.

He added that she must tell how she came in contact with his brother Karan. On being asked about the claims made by David, she alleged that she was raped by Karan only. David started threatening her when approached the police.

When asked why she levelled allegations of rape against David yesterday, she said she was confused as she had been receiving threats from the accused and hence could not make her statement to the media properly. Meanwhile, David denied the allegation and a high-level inquiry would reveal the truth.

Abohar, September 21
Having nosedived from Rs 4450 to Rs 3950, cotton price recorded an improvement in the local market since the buyers offered Rs 4180 per quintal for selective quality of Bt cotton as the Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal agreed to slash the market fee and rural development fund (RDF) by 1 per cent each.

SAD national council member and president of the Abohar Cotton Factories Association Vijay Nagpal feels that the Haryana traders would no more be in a position to purchase cotton from the neighbouring markets of Punjab.

Punjab had reduced taxes etc on cotton from 12.5 to 8.5 per cent with immediate effect while it stands unchanged at 10 per cent in Haryana. Though Rajasthan was charging 7.6 per cent tax but after bearing transportation charges, buying cotton from Abohar will be not viable for the traders there, he added.

Speaking to this correspondent, Nagpal confirmed that the Punjab CM had during the eighth round of meetings with representatives of the Punjab Cotton Ginning Factories Association agreed to slash the market fee and the RDF on raw cotton from two per cent to one per cent during the cotton procurement season 2010-11.

The state government had already given Rs 150 crore relief by withdrawing its decision to enhance the special cess on cotton from two to one per cent, he claimed.

Those present along with Nagpal at the meeting included Bhagwan Dass and Naresh Pal Bansal, president and vice-president respectively of the Punjab Cotton Factories Association and Rajinder Garg and Jagdish Kamra from Malout, the home turf of Badal.

Fazilka, September 21
Following a call by the State Electricity Board Employees Joint Forum, Punjab, the employees of suburban sub-division and urban division, Fazilka, observed a strike and organised a joint protest rally.

While addressing the rally, the protestors have alleged that the Punjab government has been backtracking on its earlier agreed demands including implementation of recommendation of wage board formulation committee and to continue their services on old rules after setting up of Powercom in Punjab. — OC

Faridkot, September 21
At the ongoing Aagman Purb celebrations of sufi saint Baba Sheikh Farid at Faridkot, a ‘kavi darbar’ was organised by the literary forum here, last night. The vice-chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Dr SS Gill, chairman of the Baba Farid Society Inderjit Singh Khalsa and a noted Punjabi poet Surjit Patar were special guests. It started with the poems of Tarlochan Lochi followed by the poetic recitations of Jaswinder, Sukhwinder Amrit, Barjinder Chauhan, Prof Jaspal Ghai, Dr Shamsher Mohi, Darshan Buttar, Harmeet Vidyarthi and Harminder Singh Koharwala.

On the occasion, Barjinder Chauhan was conferred with Sheikh Farid Literary Award- 2010 and Harminder Koharwala was given the late Chand Singh Chahal Award- 2010. Besides, in the 19th All India Baba Farid Gold Cup Hockey tournament, BSF defeated the team of north-west group of institutes 2-0 in a thrilling match held today. Both the goals were scored in the second half. BSF now secures a position in the semi-finals. In the women’s hockey match, SGAD Women’s College Khadoor Sahib defeated DAV College Bathinda 7-1. — TNS

Ludhiana, September 21
Travel by Punjab Roadways buses is all set to become dearer with the state Transport Department deciding to effect a hike in fares by 10 paise per km.

This was stated here today by the Transport Minister, Master Mohan Lal, who said passengers would have to pay 66 paise per km instead of the earlier 56 paise. The minister said hiking the fares was a compulsion as Punjab Roadways was suffering losses.

“We are aware of the fact that it is the common man's transport and for them every paisa matters. Still we have decided to effect a minimum increase so that it does not burn a hole in their pocket,” said the minister. He said the fare increase would be able to make up for the loss of at least Rs 10 crore.

Fazilka, September 21
Business magnet and philanthropist Sandeep Gilhotra has been unanimously elected the president of War Memorial Committee Asafwala (Fazilka) in its election held here today in the evening.

This prestigious post of the president had fallen vacant after the demise of its founder president Dr Rattan Lal Thakral a few days back.

His name was proposed by senior member Amar Chand Bhateja and seconded by former SDM BL Sikka, which was accepted unanimously. Gilhotra has been authorised to nominate his team of office-bearers.

The War Memorial Committee has been looking after one of the best privately managed war memorial of the country in a decent way since 1972.

The visitors who visit Sadiqi joint check-post to see the retreat ceremony also pay their obeisance on way to this war memorial of the 1971 Indo-Pak war heroes who had laid down their lives defending the motherland.

Since then, the indebted residents of this area including former president of Municipal Council and Market Committee chairman late Seth Munshi Ram Gilhotra, senior advocate Gokal Chand Kukkar, Pt Uma Datt Shastri, Dr Rattan Lal Thakral, sarpanch Piara Singh, Master Mool Chand Verma, Mohan Lal Paruthi, late Raj Karan Dhuria and others had raised a war memorial there to pay respect to the martyrs which was unveiled by the erstwhile Chief Minister of Punjab Giani Zail Singh.

Gilhotra said he would try to carry out the legacy of his father Seth Munshi Ram Gilhotra who was the instrumental in setting up this memorial and shall strive for all-round development of the monument.