Bathinda, November 23
A large number of persons, including students, thronged the two-day ‘Army mela’, which began on the premises of Government Rajindra College here today. A veteran rally was also organised, in which verterans and ‘Veer Naaris’ from this district took part.

The fair was divided into different sections: Artillery guns and equipment, Air defence guns and equipment, Infantry weapons and equipment, and Engineer equipment. Multi-barrel rocket launcher, various types of guns, a reporter radar having a range of 40 km, a guided missile, a rocket launcher, AK 47, mechanical mine layer, assault track way, motor grader etc were displayed at the sections.

However, fly catcher, a kind of radar, remained the centre of attraction at the fair. It could keep a watch on and fire at flying objects up to 32 km.

The visitors were observed to be keen on updating themselves about weapons and equipment displayed while the Army personnel on guard answered to their queries politely.

Meanwhile, Major General Sanjeev Anand, Chief of Staff, 1 Core, was the chief guest at the veteran rally organised by the Sarvada Agrani Brigade.

Veterans and ‘Veer Naaris’ from far-flung rural areas of the Bathinda district took part in the rally.

In his address, the chief guest asked the ex-servicemen to motivate their wards to join the Army. He also urged them to re-associate themselves with the Army.

He said the Army was making welfare schemes for them and appealed to them to avail of the benefit of the schemes already in place.

The chief guest honoured 10 disabled ex-servicemen, who were given modified scooters. He also honoured about 30 ‘Veer Naaris’.

On the occasion, three stalls were put up to provide information about recruitment in Indian defence forces and the NCC. Military personnel also sung songs to regale those present.

A grievance cell was set up by the local civil administration to address the post retirement problems of the veterans. A medical camp was also organised.

Bathinda, November 23
The total number of dengue cases today rose to 304 in Bathinda district during the on-going dengue season.

District Malaria Officer Dr Malkiat Singh Gill said they had received a report about 16 new dengue positive cases of Bathinda district from the DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, today.

Dr Gill said they also conducted 13 Mac Elisa tests on suspected dengue cases from Bathinda district at the Sentinel Surveillance Hospital (SSH), situated on the premises of the Civil Hospital here today. However, all the 13 cases tested negative, he added. 

Abohar, November 23
The NCC cadets from DAV College, Bhag Singh Hayer College for Women and Gurunanak College, who participated in the NCC week celebrations, motivated the people to save energy, Lt Col KL Bishnoi, commandant of the second Punjab Independent NCC Company, said.

Save Energy bicycle rally was flagged off in the DAV campus by principal Dr BB Sharma while similar rally from Bhag Singh Hayer College for Women was flagged off by principal Dr Parminder Sharma. The girl cadets distributed CLF lamps to housewives in the rural area to save energy.

Thirty cadets visited old-age home in village Badal to serve fruits to the inmates. During the closing ceremony, Dr Rishi Kaushal delivered a talk on the save energy theme. The cadets also showcased a cultural programme on the occasion.

Bathinda, November 23
With the nip in the air, the quilt makers in Bathinda could be seen busy nowadays making quilts and mattresses, expecting brisk business in the coming days.

The rate of single cotton quilt is ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 600 as per the quality of the cotton and the cloth while a double (cotton) quilt will cost somewhere between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,100. Notably, the rates of a single fibre quilt and double fibre quilt are also 
similar to the cotton quilts.

The quilt makers also repair the old quilts by processing the old cotton. They charge Rs 50 for filling cotton and sewing single quilt and Rs 100 for double quilt.

Jabbar Khan, a quilt maker, said that they were making quilts from cotton as well as fibre. The young generation liked fibre quilts while the elderly still prefer quilts, purely made of cotton, he added.

Jabbar, who is in the quilt-making business for the past about 25 years, also said the business was not much lucrative. Despite employing five persons of his family and close relatives they could not earn big amount in a season while during summer, he and his relatives had to opt for other business, like selling of sugarcane juice at the rehris.

When asked whether he sold quilts or mattresses in wholesale also, Jabbar replied in negative. He added that quilt makers in some other parts of the city, however, sold quilts in wholesale. He said there were over 35 quilt making temporary or permanent shops in the city which cater to the requirements of Bathinda city and nearby areas.

Moga, November 23
A youth was shot dead by his two friends over an affair on a dusty village road near Samalsar in Baghapurana sub-division of the Moga, late last night. Another youth sustained serious injuries in the attack. Police sources said Amrik Singh, a resident of Bambiha Bhai village, had an affair with a girl studying in a private college at Dhudike village in the Moga district.

However, relations between them soared a few months back. Amrik’s friend Harpreet Singh, a resident of Jeoonwala village (Faridkot), developed relations with her.

However, Amrik warned Harpreet against it, he did not listen to him.

On Monday, he called Harpreet to sort out the dispute. Amrik was accompanied by his friend Davinder Singh while Harpreet Singh was accompanied by his friend Navdeep Singh. They had a verbal duel. Amrik Singh suddenly took out a pistol from his pocket. He had stolen his father’s licenced pistol. He shot at Harpreet Singh and Navdeep Singh and fled from the spot

Navdeep called Harpreet Singh’s parents, who took them to a hospital at Kotkapura where Harpreet Singh was declared brought dead while Navdeep Singh’s situation was stated to be critical, police sources added.

The police had registered a criminal case under various sections of the IPC and Arms Act on the statement of Navdeep Singh. However, they were yet to be arrested when the news was last filed. 

Bathinda, November 23
The Maur police has registered a case under various sections of the IPC, including 307, and sections 25/27/54/59 of the Arms Act against five unidentified persons for injuring one Raja Singh of Chak Ram Singh Wala village on November 21.

The complainant Raja Singh stated that the persons opened fire on one Rama Singh at Buraj Sema village but the bullet instead hit his left arm. The assailants allegedly had an old enmity with Rama Singh. — TNS