Chandigarh, November 8
Hopes of 67 Indian boys facing death sentences in various cases of bootlegging and murder walking free have brightened as settlements and compromises with the families of the victims are being placed before various courts in the UAE for the final approval.

The UAE law permits compromise or settlement in case those facing death sentences are forgiven by the next of kin of the victim or the deceased on the payment of ‘diya’ or blood money. These boys will, however, have to undergo minimum mandatory sentences for bootlegging, arson and violence, inflicting grievous injuries and murder as the case may be.

Dubai-based businessman Surinderpal Singh Oberoi of the International Punjabi Society, who has been pursuing all cases involving Indian boys, hopes that the appeal courts in Sharjah and Dubai would convert most of the death sentences into lighter punishments. While the society is paying 2,500 Durham every month to 17 Indian boys in the Sharjah jail, Oberoi has been doing the running around to trace the next of kin of the victims, some of whom were never ever identified.

One of the victims was a Punjabi boy, Mandeep Singh, whose parents had till now no information that he had been murdered in 2009. Incidentally, the man who was convicted for murder of Mandeep was Sandeep Singh of Phagwara, who incidentally was his Camp Boss. Sandeep pleaded innocence in the case.

He maintained when he reached the camp, Mandeep was already dead. The appeal court waived death sentence. Next hearing in his case has been fixed for December 13.

Besides the case of 17 Indian boys - 16 from Punjab and one from Haryana - facing the death sentence on the charge of murdering Pakistani boy Mishri Khan, there are nine other cases where both Indian and Pakistani boys have been convicted and sentenced to death in identical bootlegging-cum-murder cases.

While there are chances that all 17 Indian boys would be acquitted in the Mishri Khan murder case, he is hopeful of settlement with parents of the Pakistani boy who was killed in a clash between two groups allegedly involved in bootlegging in Sharjah. Of the 10 boys convicted and sentenced to death, eight - Sachin Kumar Sharma, Rashwinder Pal, Sukhpal Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Hardev Singh, Charanjeet Singh and Amarjeet Kumar - are from India. The appeal court has given a month’s time to the defence to reach settlement with the parents of the deceased.

Talwinder Singh and Parminder Singh, both from Punjab, are also facing death sentence for the murder of an unidentified boy from Hyderabad. “We have been able to trace the parents of the boy and trying to convince them for a settlement,” says Oberoi revealing that the next hearing in the case had been fixed for November 23. Jaswant Singh and Harbhajan Singh, also of Punjab, have been sentenced to death in yet another bootlegging-cum-murder case. The settlement is in the final stages, says Oberoi.

Thirteen Punjabi boys, two Pakistanis and one from Bangladesh, are facing death sentence for the murder of a boy from Kolkata, Ashok Kumar. After initial trial, the court declared six of the 16 suspects innocents.

In September, the court gave the defence time to go for settlement with the family of the deceased. All documents of settlement have been submitted to the court through the Foreign Office, says Oberoi hoping that at the next hearing on November 11, the court would approve the settlement.

In another case, 13 boys - 12 from Indian Punjab and one from Pakistan - were convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of an Indian. Among the charges laid against the accused were of drinking alcohol, bootlegging, murder and concealing body. Witnesses, however, turned hostile. The next hearing in the case is on December 6. In another case before the Dubai court, 11 Indian boys are facing death sentence. December 12 has been fixed as the date for the closing of evidence. 

Amritsar, November 8
Taking a strong note of the recent instructions of US Federal Transportation officials to physically frisk the turbans of Sikhs at American airports, SGPC chief Avtar Singh today said the turban was a symbol of honour and self-respect for Sikhs and special screening of the turban was not only a matter of bias against Sikhs but was also tantamount to their humiliation.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the SGPC president said, “As the head of the state, as well as a Sikh, the Prime Minister should convey the emotions of the Sikh community to the visiting US President, Barack Obama.” He said the US authorities’ latest move would hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs. He said as far as hiding explosives was concerned, these could even be concealed in clothes worn by common people. “Why it is being only associated with the Sikh turban,” he wondered. He further said that when Sikhs pass through full-body scanners, then there was no logic behind separate frisking of the turban. He felt that the move would project a violent image of the Sikhs in the world, which would be sad for peace-loving and law-abiding Sikhs. He said the US authorities were well aware of the culture and religious traditions of Sikhs who lived there in large numbers. Referring to the ongoing visit of Obama, he said the timing of issuance of fresh instructions had made the move all the more hurting. He said the Prime Minister should take up the issue with Obama seriously and make sure that these instructions were withdrawn.

Sri Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh also said that the turban was an integral part of the Sikh religion and it should be given due respect. He said the move for additional frisking of the turban was not apt and amounted to its sacrilege. He said the Prime Minister should evince special interest in the issue and take it up with the visiting US President.

Meanwhile, the SGPC chief has also appealed to the Prime Minister to ensure the safety of Sikhs living in Anantnag, Baramulla and Tral districts of Kashmir valley. 

Kharar, November 8
The only veterinary hospital of the district, which caters to a large number of small and big dairy animals, is being run from a dilapidated building. Situated near the Kharar Police Station, the office of the veterinary department of the Mohali District, depends on Ropar and the Guru Angad Dev University of Animal Sciences, Ludhiana for fulfilment of needs during emergency.

The entire department has been packed into a two-room building, which belongs to the district board office set-up right after Partition of India in 1947. District boards were similar to the zila parishad, which exist today.

“Over the years, the building has become ramshackle due to the apathetic attitude of the Punjab government. With no renovation being taken up in last six decades, a large part of the building has been declared unsafe for use,” he pointed out. Locals say building was earlier referred to as ‘slottar khana’ (building meant for treatment of bulls and horses).

Deputy director animal husbandry Mohali Dr RP Singh said the building did not have an operation theatre, labs and other scientific instruments needed for advanced animal treatment. Since the Verka Milk Plant was situated in Mohali, which made the city an epicentre of milk production the absence of a well-equipped animal hospital was conspicuous.

“We have no option but to refer the ailing animals to Ludhiana or Ropar. The new building for the polyclinic being constructed at Balongi will soon be functional,” he said. He added that the building at Kharar was being renovated to establish a block-level polyclinic at the cost of Rs 49 lakh. The polyclinic coming up at Balongi was being constructed at whopping Rs 1.58 crore and was supposed to cover the entire district. A large portion of the construction work has been completed and the building awaits inauguration by a politician. The animal clinic has been constructed in an area, which has human migrant population of around 45,000 but not a single medical dispensary is available for them. The nearest medical dispensary is at Daun, while the nearest hospital is the Mohali civil hospital.

“The Daun dispensary has few OPD patients. We have repeatedly asked the government to either shift the Gharuan dispensary here or provide us with a new one,” pointed out area lambardar Tarlochan Singh Mann.

Ferozepur, November 8
In a case of suspected honour killing, two teenagers, belonging to the Scheduled Caste community and residents of Nurpur Sethan village of the district who were having an affair for the past many years, were done to death by unknown assailants today.

The bodies of victims, identified as Rakesh and Pooja, were lying in a pool of blood in a fodder crop field in Kotwal village on the Ferozepur-Zira road. The bodies were spotted in late evening today by a farmer, who was irrigating his farm, adjacent to the field where the bodies were lying. Police sources said Rakesh and Pooja were having an affair. As the family members were resisting their affair, both ran away from their houses about one and a half months ago.

However, both were brought back to Nurpur Sethan village after they were persuaded to come back by their family members and other kin. After coming back to the village, Pooja was sent to her cousin’s place by her father Sukha, a labourer at a brick-kiln.

Yesterday, Rakesh went to drop one of his kin at the bus stand in the afternoon and never returned to his house. Though his kin made efforts to find him, they did not succeed. Today, the bodies of both Rakesh and Pooja were found in the fields.

Ferozepur, November 8
Members of the family of the late Ferozepur MP Zora Singh Mann, who was a close confidant of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has decided to support Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Badal in the hour of crises.

Vardev Mann, a member of the SGPC and the elder son of Mann, took this decision after he was persuaded by the Badals and Bikram Jit Singh Majithia not to leave the party at a meeting at the CM’s official residence today. Badals and Majithia also held a series of meetings with Vardev at different places in the past few days.

Vardev Mann, his kin and supporters were angry at “blatant ignorance” shown by the party leadership, including Sukhbir Badal, towards the late MP, who remained in the Lok Sabha for three consecutive terms and stood by the Chief Minister during the period of militancy.

A few days ago, anger prevailing among members of Mann’s family and his supporters went in favour of Manpreet Badal, who has launched a campaign against the SAD-BJP government, when they (Mann’s family) decided to support Manpreet and announced that they would hold a rally in Manpreet’s support in Chak Suhele Wala village on November 12.

Vardev and his kin even started getting a huge response from people belonging to all sections of society for the rally, which was to be addressed by Manpreet and his associates.

However, Sukhbir has managed to rope in members of Mann’s family, including Vardev, in the party fold again.

Vardev said he, along with his family members, would stand by the party as long as its leadership would give them due respect. He said the party did not consist of a few individuals and hence all its members must be given due recognition and respect by the party leadership.

Jalandhar, November 8
To give a fillip to the self- employment scheme and imparting entrepreneurial skills among students, the CBSE may introduce vocational courses from class X-XII from the coming session.

This was stated by CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi, who was here today to attend a conference on Continuous Comprehensive Examination, the grading system introduced by the CBSE to do away with examination system. The workshop was organised by Cambridge International School for Girls and over 125 principals participated in the meet.

The courses would not be introduced uniformly across the country but in coherence with the nature and demand of industry based in the particular region. “For example, vocational courses of hosiery would be introduced in the schools situated in Ludhiana and surrounding region. Similarly, courses related to foundries and manufacturing of hand tools and sports equipments would be introduced in schools of Batala and Jalandhar region, respectively,” Joshi added.

He further stated that the board was even mulling over to introduce such courses from class IX onwards. “However, the debatable issue is whether replacement of all other subjects, except languages, with a package of vocational courses, would be favourable for overall personality development of under matriculation students”, he added.

On the single girl child scheme introduced in 2006, Joshi said after litigation by managements of some schools, the scheme had been reframed and now its implementation depends only on the discretion of the school management concerned. 

Moga, November 8
The Agriculture Department has initiated a campaign in Moga district to train farmers for testing germination ability of wheat seeds so as to enhance production and improve quality of foodgrain.

Last week, demonstrations were carried at Bir Charik, Sandhuan Wala, Singhan Wala, Kahan Singh Wala, Kokri Phula Singh, Rode and other villages. The campaign would go on till November 15, stated Jaswinder Singh Brar, agriculture development officer.

He has asked the farmers to go in for germination test to assess seed quality, viability and to predict performance of seeds and seedlings in the field because various factors like diseased seed, old seed, mechanically damaged seed, seed stored under high moisture or excessive heat, fungus and insect/pest-damaged seed during storage could affect the germination process leading to less production.

Apart from this, some firms from non-wheat growing states are also selling seeds at lower prices than the prevailing market rates. Under such situations, germination test could help the farmers get better results.

Brar said the test could be performed at home at least one week before sowing the crop. “It’s simple and by assessing the seed quality one can increase the production by up to 10 per cent without any extra cost,” he said.

He also stressed upon the need of fungicide seed treatment as it protects germinating seed and young seedlings from diseases.

Ludhiana, November 8
Educational institutions and social organisations may be generating a lot of awareness among the masses to save electricity but the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) has done a remarkable job to promote the cause. About 200 units of electricity (per day) are generated through the recently started biogas plant at the animal varsity and latter has been able to save up to Rs 1,000 daily. This biogas plant runs for about eight hours in a day.

Vice-chancellor Dr VK Taneja is the brain child behind the plant. It saves Rs 1,71,000 a month in the form of electricity, slurry and carbon dioxide. Talking to the Ludhiana Tribune, Dr VK Taneja said, “ The plant was set-up during the month of April to curb environmental degradation and add valuable products back to the environment as the raw dung is being used as a fertiliser. In Kerala, animal owners install digesters to produce electricity through dung, sufficient to run their houses. In Punjab, mostly farmers have animals, they can utilise the cow dung by installing digesters and power can be generated. GADVASU has been saving Rs 30,000 (per month) on electricity, Rs 1,35,000 on slurry (per month) and Rs 6000 (per month) on carbon-dioxide.”

“Besides, the biogas is used as a domestic fuel, for street lighting and for the generation of electricity. The plant reduces burden on forests and fossil fuels, helps in controlling air-pollution, provides a nutrient rich nitogen/phosphorus) manure for plants and controls water pollution by decomposing sewage, animal dung and human excreta,” the VC added. The effluent from the digester can be returned to the fields as a source of nutrient. 

Rajpura, November 8
The farmers sitting on hunger strike against the state government over the setting up of the IT Park in 1,369 acres of land, had heated arguments with the MLA parliamentary secretary Raj Khurana today.

In his bid to pacify the agitating farmers, Khurana met them in the morning and claimed that thousands of area residents would be employed after the establishment of the IT Park.

Farmers argued that government had acquired 1,200 acres of land in same manner to setup a factory a few years ago. “The factory was setup on 25 acres area and rest of the land is now used to grow trees. There are hundreds of nilgai (a bovine) that damage crops in the nearby areas,” said one of the protesters Gurcharan Singh. He added there was hardly any financial benefit to the farmers after setting up of the factory, which was being run by an influential Delhi-based businessman.

Farmers said though the land acquired for the IT park land belonged to panchayats of the six villages but farmers of these villages had made the land fertile during the past few decades.

“The entire land is given on lease to farmers by the respective panchayats and the money collected is being spent on the development of villages,” said Satnam Singh.

There were a number of incomplete projects in the area which the government had not completed. Instead of completing the projects politicians had been busy minting money by acquiring the land for new projects, farmers alleged.

Rajpura tehsildar and the police officials were seen trying to pacify the agitating farmers but to no avail. Farmers said they would not lift the dharna till the government did not announce a rollback against the setting up of the IT and knowledge park on the agricultural land. Meanwhile, Rajpura MLA Raj Khurana termed the agitation as politically motivated and said some local politicians, on behest of senior opposition leaders, were instigating the farmers to protest against the government. Farmers from Aakar, Aakri, Sehra, Sehri, Takhtumajra and Pabra villages were protesting against the setting up the IT and knowledge park on the fertile land of these villages.

Patiala, November 8
There has been a sharp rise in the number of quack doctors in the city lately. As per information gathered by The Tribune, apart from the Patiala city, the number of quacks, operating in the rural and semi-urban areas, too, has gone up considerably in the recent past.

Though there is no official data available about the exact number of quacks but the fact that quackery is on rise can well be ascertained from the fact that one or two quacks giving medicines to people, mainly illiterate, can be spotted in almost every city area and village.

According to the physicians, quacks, popularly known as Jhola Chaap doctors are not competent enough to diagnose the root cause of symptoms like cough, fever or pain in the body and give dangerous medicines, which can cause lowered resistance and even make the patient diabetic or raise his/her blood pressure. As TNS team met one quack, sitting under a tree in Patiala’s Chhoti Baradari, he offered treatment for all types of diseases, whether fever, gastroenteritis, jaundice, typhoid and that too at nominal rates. However, when asked to give prescription for viral fever in writing, he refused and offered some red coloured tablets instead.

Speaking to The Tribune, chairman of In-Service Doctors Wing (ISDW) of the state branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr DS Bhullar said, “It is ridiculous that on one side the government wants to enforce the Clinical Establishment Bill to regulate the private hospitals and clinics across the country and on other side, quacks, who are openly playing with life of people, are not taken to task.”

“After working as compounders under qualified doctors, unemployed youth start their own practice, which is totally illegal. Quacks are increasing because illiterate people fell prey to them,” said a health department official, while preferring anonymity. A Patiala-based senior physician Dr OPS Kande said, “Due to failure of the administration to tighten the noose around these self-styled doctors, the business of quacks is mushrooming day by day.”

“Unfortunately, the number of these bogus doctors is on the rise and many of them could be seen outside railway station, bus stand, slum areas and even sitting on flyovers exhibiting their medicines and other equipments for dental, ear and other treatments,” added Dr Kande.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that in the wake of the reports that menace of quackery has acquired alarming proportions during the recent past, top brass of the administration and the Health Department have swung into action. During the Health Advisory Committee meeting held recently, Patiala DC Dipinder Singh had instructed the health authorities to initiate major crackdown on the quacks in the district.

Ludhiana, November 8
With an eye on Guinness Book of World Records as many as 2,100 students from various schools and colleges from all over Punjab will come together on a stage to perform Bhangra during the concluding day of Art of Living supremo Sri Sri Ravishankar's discourses being held here from November 10.

The students, hand-picked by the Art of Living devotees from all over the state, will perform during an event on November 11 at Kisan Mela ground of Punjab Agriculture University. Giving details, Rajat Sood, media coordinator, Art of Living organisation, said, “The aim of the event is to promote Punjabi culture.”

“Our aim is to involve youth in promoting the rich cultural heritage and legacy of Punjab. The performance will be one-of-its-kind as never before have so many people come together on a stage to perform Bhangra," said Sanjay Singla, bhangra coordinator, Art of Living. Singla added that it would be an added feather in the cap if the performance makes it to the Guinness Book of World Records. “It will be a very proud moment for Punjab if the students manage the feat of entering into the world record,” he said.

Sood further informed that the last world record was created by nearly 800 persons who performed Bhangra in Ontario, Canada. “But performance of this magnitude will be held for the first time ever,” he said.

Singla informed that for the event, students from different schools and colleges from Ludhiana, Mandi Gobingarh, Moga, Bathinda, Faridkot, Abohar, Fazilka, Muktsar, Jalalabad, Sangrur, Barnala, Rampura Phul, Sapura, Nangal and Khanna would participate. “Preparations are in full swing all over Punjab and I am personally monitoring them. The students are all charged up for the D-day and look very promising,” remarked Singla.

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 8
Some party workers of the SAD (B) led by the Sirhind MLA have demanded expulsion of Sirhind Market Committee chairman Sarabjit Singh Makhan, who has invited expelled former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal at his residence and extended support to him.

A meeting of the SAD leaders and workers was organised by Sirhind MLA Didar Singh Bhatti wherein party workers and leaders sought expulsion of Makhan. Members of block samitis, panchayat members, sarpanches of the area and others participated in meeting. However, absence of SAD district president Jagdeep Singh Cheema and few other prominent leaders remained conspicuous.

The members said the party gave chairmanship of market committee to Makhan and he had now maligned its image by inviting Manpreet. 

Amritsar, November 8
The preliminary probe into the row surrounding ex-communicated former Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Darshan Singh being reportedly given siropa at Sri Harmandar Sahib has found that he was given the siropa after he made cash offering at the shrine.

According to sources, the SGPC authorities could not get the video footage of the live telecast of the Gurbani made on Sunday, as the channel airing the same does not keep the recording of it until and unless there is some major event. Darbar Sahib manager Harbans Singh Malhi said the SGPC employees on duty on Sunday morning, when the former Jathedar visited the Golden Temple, told them that Prof Darshan Singh was given a siropa after he made a cash offering at the shrine. If the statements given by the SGPC staff are to be believed, then there was nothing wrong in giving siropa to the ex-communicated Jathedar, as anyone making a cash offering at the shrine gets the same.

Meanwhile, SGPC chief Avtar Singh said he was yet to receive the probe report on the matter. He said though they could not stop anybody from paying obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum, a person ex-communicated from the community should not be given any special treatment. Sri Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said if Prof Darshan Singh was given a siropa because he made the offering, then it was okay. 

Amritsar, November 8
Sri Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh today announced that the Martyrdom Day of Guru Teg Bahadur, which falls on November 24, will be observed on December 10. However, the move has not gone down well with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) which has made it clear that it will observe the event on its original date.

The Jathedar attributed the announcement to phone calls and e-mails received from Sikh Sangat across the country regarding their dilemma to observe the event which was falling merely within three days of Guru Nanak Jayanti which is to be celebrated on November 21. He said the decision to observe the event on December 10 was reached after consultations with the SGPC chief and other Sikh high priests. “Both the events see holding of Nagar Kirtan and Kirtan Darbars and it would have been difficult to organise them in quick succession. In view of the sentiments of the Sikh Sangat, the date for observing martyrdom day of the ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib, has been put off to December 10,” he averred. According to him, this is not the first time that such a change has been made. He also admitted that they need to find a way out to deal with the situations where dates of two events are clashing with each other.

On the other hand, DSGMC chief Paramjeet Singh Sarna said they would observe the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur on November 24 only. He said that they were not taken into confidence by Sri Akal Takht or SGPC over the matter. “There is a gap of three days between the Guru Nanak Jayanti and the martyrdom day. The Sikh community in Delhi observes the event with great fervour and we have no problem in doing so on Nov 24. We have made all arrangements for it and even the Delhi government has declared November 24 as a dry day,” he said.