Jajjal/Giana (Bathinda), February 4
The World Cancer Day, observed on February 4 to create awareness about the deadly disease and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment, has no meaning for the residents of Jajjal, Giana and Malkana villages of Bathinda district.

For over three decades now, the residents are fighting the curse of cancer. These three villages have become so infamous due to the scourge of cancer that the residents do not want anyone to touch their raw nerve. Ironically, people fear visiting their relatives settled in these villages.

Now, the residents are facing an altogether different but a serious problem. The youth here are finding it difficult to enter into matrimonial alliances as their villages have earned a bad name of being cancer-ridden.

When this reporter asked for drinking water, the residents of Jajjal village said, “It is surprising that you are visiting Jajjal and asking for drinking water. Whosoever visits here, including our kin, brings their water bottles along as they fear that a single drop of water consumed from this village would make them a cancer patient.”

Though they were quite vocal in expressing their feelings, the pain of losing their kin to cancer was visible in the eyes of the elderly, who had gathered at ‘Sath’ (a common place where villagers sit together and chat to pass their time).

The elderly villagers said, “People here keep the medical reports of cancer patients confidential as they fear it would create a problem in the marriage of their children. Moreover, if the patient comes to know that s/he is suffering from the deadly disease, s/he may lose heart and her/his condition would deteriorate.”

Sharing his grief, one Jangir Singh said when his brother Baldev Singh came to know that he was suffering from the disease he got depressed and died within a few days.

Asked if they had heard about the World Cancer Day or its relevance, the villagers said, “It could be just another day for newspapers to carry our sad story. It does not mean anything to us as the day (February 4) comes and goes but no help has ever reached us. A majority of us are under debt that we raised to pay medical bills.”

Similar was the reaction at the Malkana and Gyana villages as villagers lamented that they had lost all hopes of receiving a helping had from the government.

One Harbans Singh Nambardar of Giana village said, “I have lost my father, mother and two paternal uncles to cancer. I don’t know how many else will meet the similar fate. Till date, the village could not even get a supply of potable water from water works.”

When asked about the number of cancer patients, these villagers said, “We do not want anybody to ask us about our pain, as it hurts a lot.”

“As the government has closed its eyes and ears towards our plight, we plead that the media should also forget us. Let us live on the God’s mercy. Whatever happens to us, we shall accept it,” said an elderly Tek Singh, whose daughter-in-law Rani Kaur had also died of cancer.

Bathinda, February 4
Tension that erupted at the Makbara Meera Sahib Peer Khana on Thursday after two groups confronted each other claiming their right over the management of the place of worship continued on Friday.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, a large number of cops were deployed on all roads leading to the Peer Khana and the area was cordoned off throughout the day.

It may be mentioned that there are two committees, namely, the Committee Makhbra Baba Nikka Shah (regd) Peer Khana (led by Muslims) and the Makbra Meera Sahib Peer Khana Committee (led by Hindu-Sikhs), which have been making claims over the management and the donation of the Peer Khana for long.

The atmosphere turned tense when yesterday, Sukhpal Sran, the officiating president of the Makbra Meera Sahib Peer Khana Committee, asked the members of the other committee to leave the place and surrender their rights to the committee headed by him. Irked, the members of the Committee Makhbra Baba Nikka Shah (regd) Peer Khana had a verbal duel with him.

Finding the two groups guilty of creating tension, the police recorded a daily diary report in this regard and cordoned off the area as a preventive measure.

After the police did not allow members of the committee led by Hindus and Sikhs to enter the Peer Khana today, they held a meeting at the Bangla Wali Dharamshala in the city. The meeting was attended by the representatives of various Hindu-Sikh organisations. Taking an exception to the offering of Namaz by the members of the minority community at the Peer Khana, they passed a resolution to evict them from there.

After the meeting, the committee members submitted a memorandum to the SSP with an ultimatum that if within 48 hours, the police failed to maintain their (committee's) possession over the Peer Khana, they would be forced to take aggressive steps. They also accused Nagina Begam and Sukhdev Khan, who were heading the Muslim group, of attempting to create communal tension.

Speaking to the media, Sukhpal Singh Sran said, "We have fixed a meeting for Sunday in which all Hindu-Sikh organisations as well committees of the Peer Khana across the state have been invited to take part. If the administration does not accept our demand, we will give a Bathinda bandh call for Monday."

On the other hand, Nagina Begam refuted the allegation and accused Sukhpal Sran of creating tension.

Senior officials said a two-member committee comprising the SDM and DSP had been formed to settle the issue amicably.

Efforts were on to negotiate with the members of the Makbra Meera Sahib Peer Khana Committee till the filing of the report.

Jalandhar, February 4
Following threats to the life of a Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) from poachers, the ADG (Security) has provided a security cover to him to continue his operations against the violators of the law in the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary.

Official sources said that Sanjiv Tiwari, a young officer, who is at present posted at Ferozepur, had received threats to his life from some powerful gangs of poachers, having patronage of some politicians. The gangs had been operating in the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the internationally recognised wetland, with objective of hunting down rare species of birds and also to catch fish. The Harike sanctuary, one of the sites most preferred by migratory birds, is known as a habitat of some of the world’s rare bird species. It is said to be a habitat of more than 400 bird species.

A few years ago, some dolphins were also sighted in the Harike wetland area.

Sources said that acting tough against gangs of poachers, Tiwari had seized about 60 nets, impounded about 15 small boats and one large boat. He had stopped the illegal entry of vehicles, including tractors, etc, in the sanctuary area. Upset due to the tough stance adopted by Tiwari, poachers started issuing threats to him. Not only has Tiwari acted against poachers, but he has also shown courage to deal with those engaged in encroaching some parts of the sanctuary spread over several miles. “As Tiwari reported to me regarding the threats to his life, the issue was taken up with the ADGP (Security), who directed the authorities concerned to provide him a security cover”, said Gurbaz Singh, Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab.

His case had been recommended for appreciation to the authorities concerned. 

Bathinda, February 4
The Bathinda police today claimed to have busted a gang of vehicle lifters, which used to sell the stolen vehicles on fake documents.

Addressing the media, Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said the police had arrested two of the three members of the gang and recovered four vehicles from their possession.

The staff of the Anti-narcotics Cell had received a tip-off about the presence of the accused and their plan to sell the stolen vehicles, said the SSP. Conducting raids, the staff nabbed the two accused identified as Gurdas Singh of Kothe Sukha Nand Wale and Sukhraj Singh of Maanwala and recovered three cars/jeeps — Alto, Scorpio, Verna — and a Farmtrac-made tractor.

Th SSP said the police was conducting raids to nab the 'kingpin' of the gang Sukhdarshan Singh of Bhai Rupa. — TNS

Bathinda, February 4
Taking an exception to a fraud case lodged against the district president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr Shiv Dutt Gupta, the association members today held an emergency executive meeting.

Saying that a false case was registered against Dr Gupta to tarnish his reputation, the IMA members demanded a high level inquiry to probe the circumstances leading to the registration of the case.

In a press release, the IMA members stated that they had sought from district officials to quash the 'false' FIR against Dr Gupta. They mentioned that in case it was not done before Monday, the IMA would chalk out further course of action.

It may be mentioned that Dr Shiv Dutta Gupta is also the president of the Trust Mandir Sri Ram Chander Ji. He was booked along with an employee of the trust for forging the signatures of the cashier of the trust to withdraw Rs 1.30 lakh from the bank account of the trust on Wednesday. — TNS

Bathinda, February 4
Raninder Singh, son of president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Capt Amarinder Singh, will attend a meeting of the party to be held here on February 7 to take stock of the arrangements being done for the successful organisation of the Congress rally scheduled to be held on February 11 at Rampura Phul. Coordinator of the rally Amritsar MLA OP Soni will also participate in the meeting.

Capt Amarinder would address the rally. He will be visiting the Bathinda district for the first time after becoming the president of the PPCC.

President of the District Congress Committee (Rural) Narinder Singh Bhuleria said today that the February 7 meeting would be held at the Bhaana Mal Trust building here. Besides Raninder and Soni, all Congress MLAs from this district would also participate in the meeting, he said. 

Mansa, February 4
Three unidentified persons, including a woman, allegedly snatched a four month old Dalit boy from his mother at Bhamme Kalan village this evening. The woman, Kulwinder Kaur, was returning from fields after answering the call of nature when unidentified persons came close to her in a car and snatched the child before fleeing.

Kot Dharmu SHO Gamdoor Singh Chahal said, "The woman is not in a condition to give statement. So, no case has been registered yet but investigations have been launched into the matter." — TNS