Bathinda, January 5
Inspector General of Police (Bathinda zone) Nirmal Singh Dhillon today disclosed that the state police was tying up with the police forces of the adjoining states of Haryana and Rajasthan to plug the gaps in checking the menace of drug peddling in Malwa.

“As the state government has waged a war against drugs, the police has been acting on the issue with interest. After collecting reports and analysing them, we have found that the major routes for drug peddlers in the region are the villages located along the borders of Haryana and Rajasthan,” said the IGP.

He further said, “We are in the process of chalking out a consolidated programme with the neighbouring states.”

Interacting with the media at his office, the IGP said the police force in the Bathinda zone, which comprises six districts, namely Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Faridkot and Moga, had set a five-point resolution for the year 2011.

Divulging details, he said the first step, which he had planned, would be direct control over all 84 police stations of the zone to ensure the dignity of person visiting there and quick and proper redressal of his grievance.

“For this purpose, we are going to install boards in each police station mentioning that if anybody has any complaint regarding the official concerned at the police station, he can directly lodge a complaint at his office over a helpline number (0164-2240180).”

Further, the IGP said the zonal police would speed up crime mapping in the year 2011. It means that after proper survey and study, the pockets would be identified according to the nature of crime taking place there. Once the mapping is done, police would plug the escape routes and take steps to prevent the crime beforehand.

Dhillon said the police would not only check the sale of drugs but also make efforts to improve the affairs at the de-addiction centres for which efforts were on to tie up with major industrialists and other eminent personalities.

Following the direction of the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in letter and spirit, the IGP said he had initiated a process to nab the proclaimed offenders (POs) in the zone.

“We are in the process of forming district-wise committees, headed by the SP (D), to monitor the activities of the POs and to nab them at the earliest. A monthly review of the progress has also been scheduled,” said the IGP.

He also mentioned that regulation of traffic was also on his agenda for the year.

Bathinda, January 5
The Jago Punjab Yatra of former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal today received a rousing welcome in the villages of the Lambi Assembly constituency, which is the home turf of the Punjab chief minister and his uncle Parkash Singh Badal.

Earlier, when Manpreet was part of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the villages were reportedly being looked after by his father Gurdas Singh Badal for the CM, who is his brother. But today, Gurdas Badal was accompanying his son and asked people to support him for the betterment of the state.

Their convoy was welcomed in several villages with dhol beats and raising of slogans in Manpreet’s favour.

Attacking the ruling party, Manpreet said despite the best efforts of the state government, people were joining him and assuring of lending every possible support in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections.

He urged all to make his Maghi Mela conference a success as it was a test for him to prove whether the issues he had raised were being adopted by the masses or not.

Addressing the gathering, he said, “It is because of the wrong policies of the parties ruling the state that while the Punjabis are achieving success abroad, they are unemployed in their own state. While Punjab has lost its top position, our neighbouring states have developed a lot as the leaders here are deeply involved in corruption,” he alleged.

Later, while speaking over the phone, Manpreet alleged that the government had done its best to pre-empt his rallies today, adding that, “Wherever we visited today (in the Lambi constituency), Sarpanches and bureaucrats were already present and holding camps to distribute cheques for the welfare schemes.”

“At some villages, they had even called auto-rickshaws to supply domestic LPG cylinders at the time we were holding our rally. When they failed in their attempt, they used public address system of the gurdwaras to call the villagers to get their cheques,” he alleged.

Sriganganagar, January 5
The long wait following the announcement of new AC superfast train by the Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee during her rail budget speech last year was over as the flower-bedecked 16-coach rake of the special train arrived here today in the morning.

Senior functionaries of the Zila Rail Road Yatri Seva Samiti including president Baldev Nagpal, vice-president Amarjit Singh Jolly, general secretary Gurprasad Behal, secretary Pawan Aggarwal and patron Gurbachan Singh Wasan garlanded former MP Virendra Kataria (ex-president of the PPCC), the first listed passenger, who had held a series of meetings at the Rail Bhawan in connection with this train.

Speaking to the media at the residence of Gurprasad Behal, Kataria ruled out the possibility of getting ordinary sleeper coaches lamenting that it was not technically viable. However, he assured that the Railway Board chairman will be requested to restore the 13007/13008 Udyan Abha Express in its original format. The train was introduced long back by the then Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar. It served the people of this region well until it was merged with the Howrah-bound Toofan Mail. It should be run only between Sriganganagar-Agra via Delhi now to ensure punctuality, he demanded.

Expressing gratitude to the railways for launching the 12455/12456 Delhi (Sarai Rohila)-Sriganganagar AC superfast tri-weekly train, he said it should be run daily by arranging a second rake.

He assured the members that efforts to get the Kisan Express extended from Bathinda to Sriganganagar would also be made.

He will also take up the matter with the Rail Bhawan for running the Nanded Sahib-Sriganganagar train at least on bi-weekly basis besides introducing Sriganganagar-Jaipur express via Bathinda-Sirsa-Rewari, he assured.

Abohar, January 5
Hundreds of representatives of more than two dozen NGOs organised a demonstration by blocking the rail traffic today in the morning at the local railway station to express resentment over the non-stop run of the 12455/12456 Delhi (Sarai Rohila)-Sriganganagar train on the Bathinda-Sriganganagar route.

Since the train in question had left the Abohar railway station during the wee hours on its inaugural run, the protesters detained the Delhi- bound Intercity Express amid shouting of slogans.

The railway authorities had made strong security arrangements by requisitioning cops from Bathinda and Ambala.

However, president of the coordination committee of the NGOs Pramil Kalani explained that their protest was symbolic today since former MP Virendra Kataria had informed that executive director Mukesh Nigam and other senior officials in the Rail Bhawan had assured him that the stoppage of the train at Abohar and Malout would be taken into consideration.

It has been conveyed to the authorities concerned that more stoppages would help commuters from Fazilka, Abohar, Muktsar and Malout undertake night travel to the national capital and the journey onwards.

The official sources had verified that the railways earn about Rs 7 crore as annual revenue from this region. After the completion of the Fazilka-Abohar rail track, more passengers from Fazilka would also prefer to board the superfast train at Abohar.

The 13007/13008 Udyan Abha Toofan Mail that stands suspended as of now had been running late by more than 6-7 hours, so the AC superfast train could have attracted more passengers, he lamented.

The protesters warned that they would resort to blocking the rail traffic for a full day, if the stoppage of the new AC train was not sanctioned this month itself. 

Abohar/Sriganganagar, January 5
Most of the private schools have defied the state government order to extend winter vacations till Sunday. Parents of scores of students faxed a memorandum to the chief secretary and principal secretary of the education department today in this regard.

The auto-rickshaws were told by the heads of these institutions to ferry the kids well before the morning prayers, they rued. Notably, the state governments of Punjab and Rajasthan declared on last Sunday that winter vacations had been extended for a week due to the severe chill and fog. Sriganganagar DC Subeer Kumar said he has warned the heads of the schools against flouting the order and action would be taken against them. — OC

Abohar, January 5
The Punjab State Social Welfare Board celebrated Lohri for the newly-born female babies to mark the beginning of the two-day workshop on the ‘Right of the girl child and future implications of imbalanced sex ratio’ at the local DAV College, today. Gifts were also distributed on the occasion.

However, neither TR Sarangal, principal secretary, department of Social Security Women and Child Development (Punjab), nor Ferozepur DC KK Yadav could attend the function. In their absence, Jasdeep Singh Aulakh, SDM, Abohar, attended the function.

Vijay Laxmi Bhadu, chairperson, Punjab State Social Welfare Board, said the Board had decided to hold 250 camps for women in the state. The government had released Rs 50 lakh for it, she said. The sex ratio in Punjab was 793 women for every 1000 men, which was the lowest, she said. She said the Board had undertaken programmes like Swawlamban vocational training programme, family counselling centres, and others to give the benefits of various welfare schemes to women.

The Board secretary AK Ranga also spoke. A medical check-up camp was also held. The workshop was sponsored and funded by the Central Social Welfare Board. A play on female foeticide was also enacted by Naginder and party. Principal of the DAV College BB Sharma welcomed the participants and other guests. — TNS

Ferozepur, January 5
The Congress got a shot in the arm when about 55 families of Aku Wala village, which were henceforth supporting the ruling SAD (Badal), today decided to join it in the presence of general secretary, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee Parminder Singh.

Talking to the TNS, Parminder said these families decided to join the Congress after they were apprised of the policies of the party at a function organised at Aku Wala village. Most of the families were fed up with the politics of vendetta, pursued by the ruling SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab, he said.

The PPCC secretary claimed that the families were agitated as the present ruling set-up had failed to develop their village despite the fact that it was located close to Ferozepur. They were also disappointed as they felt neglected by their elected representatives, he said.

He claimed that today’s development had also marked the beginning of the era where the Congress would form its government in Punjab in 2012 with effective majority and people would get rid of the misrule of the SAD-BJP. 

Abohar, January 5
The Punjab police officials here came under heavy fire during the inaugural function of two-day workshop that was organised by the Punjab State Social Welfare Board to discuss the ‘Rights of the girl child and future implications of imbalanced sex ratio’.

The chairperson of the Board Vijaya Luxmi Bhadu, former state president of the BJP Mahila Morcha, resented that no security arrangements were made by the police.

Even the phone call made by the SDM Jasdeep Singh Aulakh to the local police officials had elicited no response, she claimed. The function was to be addressed by the Deputy Commissioner and a principal secretary rank official but not even a single policeman was deployed.

“I will meet the Chief Minister and the DGP with a demo-official letter at Chandigarh seeking transfers of such police officials,” she said. 

Ferozepur, January 5
Hundreds of people comprising relatives and supporters of the deceased municipal councillor Kulwant Maggo, who was shot dead in front of his house around four weeks ago, owing to some personal enmity, today gathered near the octroi post number 7 on the main Ferozpur-Moga GT road.

They blocked the traffic and held a demonstration to protest against the inability of the police to arrest the alleged killers of Maggo.

The nine-year-old son of Maggo accused the officials of shielding the culprits. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits. DSP Joginder Singh assured the protesters that the police was trying its best to nab the accused. However, their whereabouts could not be ascertained till date.

The father of the deceased MC Hira Singh and others warned of intensifying the stir if the accused are not arrested soon.

Ferozpur, January 5
Superintendent of Ferozepur Central Jail, LS Jakhar, has said the release of radical Sikh preacher had been taken following instructions from the higher authorities.

Sources said the government took the decision to release them after it received intelligence inputs that keeping them behind the bars for a longer time could create law and order problems.

Reports also reportedly indicated that a section of those subscribing to the ideology of Sikh hardliners were planning to hold a demonstration in front of the Central Jail and hold a rally to mobilise support for Daduwal’s release. — TNS

Chandigarh, January 5
The Punjab Government today transferred six IAS officers with immediate effect.

Tilak Raj Sarangal becomes Principal Secretary, Department of Social Security, Development of Women and Children; R. Venkat Ratnam will be the new Secretary, Department of Welfare of SCs and BCs; Hussan Lal goes as Secretary, Department of Tourism, and in addition Director, Tourism, and also holds additional charge of Managing Director, PTDC, and state Transport Commissioner; Sirra Karuna Raju becomes Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda; Balwinder Singh goes as Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot, and Gurkirat Kirpal Singh is the new Director, Social Security, Development of Women and Chidlren. — TNS

Bathinda, January 5
Lashing out at the SAD-BJP government, the Congress MLA from Bathinda, Harmindar Singh Jassi, said today that the government was misleading people on the development works in the state. He attributed all the development works, done during past four years in the state, to the Congress-led UPA government.

Jassi alleged that the Badal government had even failed on the health front as hundreds of persons had been suffering from jaundice in Bathinda city alone. He alleged that the government had failed in providing even clean drinking water to people thereby spreading jaundice in the city.

Jassi is holding street corner meetings in the city these days to hear the problems of the residents and is also addressing gatherings.

The Congress MLA asked people to participate in the Maghi Mela conference of the Congress, to be held at Muktsar on January 14.

Bathinda, January 5
Due to rise in jaundice cases in three weeks past, the district health authorities collected seven water samples from different parts of the city today.

Three water samples were collected from the RO plants located at Paras Ram Nagar, Patel Nagar and Hazura Kapura colony. A sample was collected from the water treatment plant of the NFL colony while three samples were collected from schools at Paras Ram Nagar, Kamla Nehru colony and near the Sports Stadium. The samples will now be sent to the State Public Health Laboratory, Chandigarh, for testing.

Meanwhile, three new jaundice cases were today reported at the local Civil Hospital and two at the local Women and Children’s Hospital. — TNS