Ludhiana, February 6
In a major development the local police booked a former station house officer (traffic), Pardeep Sandhu, in a land grabbing case here today following a complaint filed by a nonresident Indian, Bhupinder Singh. The latter alleged Sandhu, an accomplished cyclist turned Punjab police cop had forcibly taken possession of his land measuring 1,200 square yards. The action follows an inquiry into the matter held by city police commissioner Ishwar Singh.

High drama was witnessed in the Vishal Nagar locality when the Sarabha Nagar police went to return possession of the land to Bhupinder, who currently resides in Canada. The former SHO had reportedly put a lock on the gate of the disputed plot and parked his car in front of it.

A team led by Sarabha Nagar SHO Dharampal towed Sandhu’s vehicle to the police station and a case was filed against the cop, said Bhupinder while thanking Ishwar for “restoring the confidence of NRIs in the law of the land”.

Sandhu was recently sent to Police Lines after Bhupinder brought the matter to the police commissioner’s notice and reportedly sought justice.

Narrating the land grabbing episode, Bhupinder stated he sold his house measuring 600 square yards located in Vishal Nagar to Sandhu in 2002. "I also owned a 1,200 sq yd vacant plot located adjacent to the house that I had sold to Sandhu. But little did I know the cop was having evil designs on this piece of land and would eventually take unlawful possession of my property," he said.

Sandhu reportedly took possession of the vacant plot when Bhupinder was away in Canada. The cop was later sent to the Police Lines and told to resolve the matter amicably. However, he did not budge and refused to return possession of the land to Bhupinder.

The matter was then brought to the notice of director general of police PS Gill, following which the police registered a case of criminal trespassing and criminal intimidation against Sandhu under sections 447 & 506 of the Indian Penal Code. The police has not yet arrested him till the time of filing this report. Despite repeated attempts the suspect was not available for comments.

Confirming the development police commissioner Ishwar said: "Yes, we’ve filed a case against Sandhu based on prima-facie allegations made by Bhupinder and have begun investigations. No one is above the law, even if he happens to be a cop”.

Ludhiana, February 6
Stung by criticism after the death of a seven-year-old boy after falling into a manhole, the municipal corporation (MC) authorities will deploy patrol vans in the city from tomorrow to ensure that broken manhole covers are replaced promptly to prevent mishaps occurring due to open manholes.

Criticism of the working of the civic body and repeated news reports regarding its failure to cover open manholes in the city seems to have given a wake-up call to officials of the civic body.

MC officials have told MC Commissioner AK Sinha that patrol parties have failed to keep a tab on the over 40,000 manholes in the city and some special effort needs to be done to ensure that proper monitoring of manholes.

Officials of the operation and maintenance (O&M) branch have suggested to the MC Commissioner that as the area within municipal limits is too extensive, efforts must be made for mobile patrolling along with manual patrolling.

They have suggested that at least one patrol van having a staff of more than four sewer men be deployed in each zone so that there is proper monitoring. Accepting the proposal, Sinha has asked them to start the process with two patrol vans, which will be expanded gradually.

Sources have revealed that two vehicles of the MC will be converted into patrol vans and would be functioning from tomorrow. The sources say each van will have a crew of three sewer men, besides driver, and will carry five manhole covers.

The mobile vans will be connected to the MC complaint office with mobile phones. As soon as a complaint regarding a missing manhole cover is lodged, the team will move to the spot to place a cover.

Additional MC Commissioner Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar has said patrol vans will act on complaints both from the control room and the general public. She has said the move will be helpful in preventing mishaps. “We will ensure proper monitoring of these manholes, for which senior officials will be deputed,” she has added.

Kila Raipur, February 6
Though with the bullock cart races remaining the major attraction of the Kila Raipur games, the fad of owning bulls takes a feverish pitch every year. But this year, the farmers went a step further by seeking loans from banks to buy bullocks.

The bulls that were earlier used for ploughing had virtually lost their importance after the mechanisation of agriculture took place in the state. But all of a sudden, an increase in rural sports festivals in the state have increased their demand.They prove to be a major source of income for the people apart from being a major-eye catcher in these type of sports festivals.

Sidelights l Malwai giddha by a team of Punjab Police led by Rajvir Singh revived the folk culture at the Grewal Stadium today. Participants and spectators were seen dancing to the beats of drum when cops dressed in colourful attire presented various themes highlighting elements of culture and heritage of the state. l Organisers had to stop all games in the stadium when eight cops mounted on horses performed rare feats. Tent pegging and group dance by horses enthralled all. ASI Jaswinder Singh led the equestrians. l Stunts by a biker from the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation, Patiala, were also applauded by all. He left spectators spellbound when he drove his motorcycle with three National Flags and a ladder on it. Many spectators gave him cash prizes too. l Though the organisers had arranged seats for VIPs in special galleries, many of them were seen sitting with common spectators. RS Gill, former DGP, was one of those who preferred watching games and feats closely than sitting in the VIP gallery. — Mahesh Sharma

Especially the Killa Raipur games that has preserved the entity of rural sports, the prices of award-winning bulls have already touched a new high and they are sold roughly at a price ranging between Rs 5 to Rs 10 lakh. Since their prices have touched a new high, they have even gone out of the range of affluent sports lovers and so they have started seeking loans from banks of the area to fulfil their desire.

Jasbir Singh, a resident of Dehlon village confirmed that they had approached various banks of the area to get loan for purchasing the bull. He said that the main reason for getting an award-winning bull was that it could fetch a large income. “Roughly an award-winning bull costs between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh but this amount is nothing before the huge returns that a bull can give” he added.

Similarly, Bagga Singh of Sayal Kalan village also said that the major reason for applying for such loans was the huge returns that one could get from them. “Out of the prize money one could buy commodities like motorcycle and even cars’ he added.

Magghar Singh, a resident of Rurka Kalan, also said that as bulls had become very costly, he had applied for loans but the banks seemed to be hesitant in giving them the loan. “If the banks start giving such loans then there will be no shortage of people seeking such loans and the banks will get maximum returns ’ he added.

No provisions for such loans

On the other hand, banks are hesitant to give such loans at this point of time but they are not averse to the whole concept. Talking to Tribune, RK Bhagat, the manager of State Bank of India, Dehlon branch, said that though they were getting a number of queries regarding such loans, they still had no provision regarding such loans. However, he asserted that they were going to send a proposal to the higher authorities to consider such loans.

Ludhiana, February 6
The Kila Raipur games once again concluded with an amazing display of Punjab sportspersons’ spirit as the participants enthralled spectators with their heroic performances.

The main attraction of the games was the mare’s dance and bulls race. Apart from these, the traditional rural game of Kabaddi also earned a lot of appreciation.

Nihangs with their martial art and daredevils left the spectators spellbound.

The excitement among the games lovers could be gauged from the fact that even Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal had to stop midway during his speech when the tractors race was under way. Village youth could be seen interacting with foreigners.

Cultural dance performances in the evening were also liked by all as the audience could be seen dancing to the tunes of the dance numbers. Events presented by differently abled persons were appreciated.

A large number of NRIs showed up with their families. The games witnessed a huge turn out. 

Kila Raipur, February 6
Threat to life due to accidental fall from running horses did not deter disciples of Baba Maghar Singh, chief of the Sawa Karorie Foundation, Mastuana Sahib. Gurjant Singh Jantta, who was run over by two horses while he was riding, not only took blessings from his chief after getting up, but dared to ride the same horses once again in the packed Grewal Stadium today.

“One can not become a successful rider without falling from a horse,” argued Maghar Singh stating many of his disciples were injured seriously while performing feats during various sports fairs.

Showing marks of injuries on his arm and leg, the chief said he himself had fallen from horses many a time in the past. Accusing members of another group of Nihangs of trying to dishearten his followers, Maghar Singh alleged they (rivals) had attacked Gurjant Singh in presence of a large number of spectators shortly before the commencement of today show.

Claiming that some cops on duty had rescued Gurjant from the clutches of assaulters, the Nihang chief said the police had assured him that action would be taken against the conclusion after the conclusion of the fair.

CP Ludhiana (west) Narinder Singh Ruby said he had directed the Dehlon SHO Harvinder Singh Cheema to investigate and verify allegations levelled by Maghar Singh.

Ludhiana, February 6
In the crowd of hundreds at the stadium in Kila Raipur, a 78-year-old Sikh in the VIP gallery watched the games with much excitement, not only because his father was the man who had started this games way back in 1933, but also because it reminds him of their rich heritage.

Born in the year when the games had been started, Baldev Singh is the son of Joginder Singh PT, the man who was the founding member of the games, at this village, about 25 kilometres from Ludhiana.

But since 1940, Baldev has not missed a chance to watch the games at his village despite all his schedules and busy life at a village in Sangrur district. Though a lot has changed since the games were started, Baldev feels that it is the spirit of Punjabi culture due to which the games have completed 75 editions.

He is quite disappointed when he says the games were not held thrice due to politicking. But to him, the games are like worshipping his father’s contribution to sports. “I do not have words to express my happiness when I hear the name of my father the world over,” says Baldev.

With a shine in his bespectacled eyes, he adds that the game have covered a long way since inception. He says earlier the games were held on village roads and uneven stadiums, but now, the stadium at the village showed that a lot of development had taken place.

In a similar manner, he feels that the crowd has decreased, mainly because games are now being held in almost every village. He feels that degeneration has taken place as far as the quality of players is concerned. “The youth of today is addicted to drugs, due to which there are no high-quality players,” he adds.

Asked about the reason for drug addiction, Baldev attributes it to politicians, adding that they exploit the youth for their own benefits. Crediting the forefathers at his village with the success and fame of the games, he asserts that they cannot be repaid for what they have done for the state.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 6
“We want sports and are not bothered by who holds stage,” say sports enthusiasts of the region, who do not even know who the office-bearers of the association organising the Kila Raipur games are.

They have urged veteran sports enthusiasts, senior members and kin of founders of the event to keep the show running and save the pride of the area from falling prey to politicisation and commercialisation.

They are also glad that timely intervention of senior functionaries in the administration and former office-bearers of the Grewal Sports Association had enabled the organisers to conduct the platinum jubilee of the event successfully.

They were earlier upset over the alleged factionalism among organisers of the games, popularly known as the rural Olympics. Uncertainty about organising the games had prevailed for many days preceding its commencement on Thursday.

As some office-bearers, including Jasbir Singh Khangura, MLA from Kila Raipur and chairman of the association, belongs to the Congress, the faction owing allegiance to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had tried to oppose the organisers.

Feeling sandwiched between two factions, the administration had appealed to a senior police officer and former chairman of the association, to put to use his influence in resolving the issue.

Kila Raipur, February 6
Diwana and Makhan, camels from Panche ka Tila in the Jaisalmer region of Rajasthan, acrobatics of which fascinated all at the Grewal Stadium here, were not taught the  tricks overnight.

It took three years for Goshu Khan Master to enable the camels to perform rare feats. Unlike man, the teacher-taught relationship is maintained in its original form as the ‘tutor’ never goes to ‘pupils’, but the latter go to his ‘school’.

Walking in a peacock gait, imitating being dead, holding a kettle, picking up currency and handing it over to its master, giving a hand as a token of love and bowing to someone’s feet to pay respect are some of the activities which thrilled spectators during the Kila Raipur games this year.

“Just like a schoolteacher, we have a syllabus and start imparting training in a phased manner. Simpler actions are taught in the first year and commands and responses keep becoming more complex during the years to follow,” said Goshu Khan. He claimed that he had trained about 100 camels by now.

The master of the camel pays Rs 15,000 per year as fee to the trainer. Claiming that some of the farmers of this area had approached him for giving training to their bullocks, Goshu Khan said he had politely turned down their offer.

“I had to tell them that I had more camels at my training centre, which needed my attention. Training animals is not only my means of livelihood, but also my passion. I wanted to enjoy my hobby among my own people,” he said.

Mohammad Khan and Karam Deen, masters of Diwana and Makhan, said the pair had exhibited feats during the Pushkar fair in Rajasthan. Though the environment was different at various sports fairs, the camels obeyed their commands, they said.

The camels were able to comprehend articulated speech of their masters, besides following body language. Contrary to common belief, physical signals were not necessary for telling the camels to perform a particular act.

Ludhiana, February 6
Responding to a call given by central committees of the two left parties, the activists of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPM) today took out a protest march from the railway station to the Clock Tower Chowk here today against inaction on the part of the union government over unprecedented increase in the prices of essential commodities, especially food items.

Demanding immediate action to rein in hoarders, black marketeers and speculators to check rising prices, various speakers at the rally maintained that food inflation had gone up to 20 per cent and the basic necessity to sustain life - food, had virtually gone out of the reach of poor people and working classes.

The leaders of CPI and CPM termed the earlier claims of the government as inflation having gone negative, as a big fraud which was evident from the unprecedented level to which prices of food items had risen during the past couple of months.

The speakers crtiticised the government for repressive and anti-poor policies as they had turned a blind eye to the plight of the low-income groups.

"Condition of the working people has become miserable with the rise in price, they said."

Among speakers at the rally were Dr Joginder Dayal, Kartar Singh Bowani, Dr Arun Mitra, Sukhwinder Sekhon, DP Maur, OP Mehta, 
Jatinder, Jagdish, Gulzar Goria, Ramesh Ratan, Vijay Kumar, Gurnam Sidhu, Gurnam Gill, Avtar Gill, Mewa Singh Raikot and Raghbir Singh Benipal.

Ludhiana, February 6
The Punjab Bank Employees Federation today held an extended central committee meeting in the city. Gurudas Dass Gupta, general secretary, All-India Trade Union Congress, presided over the meeting.

While addressing bank employees, Gurudas Dass Gupta said after the federations’ successful strike on September 7, 2010, a march to Parliament would be organised to protest against price rise, huge job losses, large scale disinvestment in public sector, rampant violation of labour laws and lack of adequate protection to unorganised workers.

“Prices of all essential commodities have been increasing day by day and the living conditions of workers have become miserable. The government has failed to check prices.”

He said the wrong policies of the government had resulted in such a situation.

“The petrol prices are hiked periodically. Workers continue to lose their jobs and are facing huge layoffs and retrenchments. Employers are violating all labour laws and the government is not taking action against the employers,” he added.

CH Venkatachalam said the government did not mind spending crores of rupees on the Commonwealth Games, but it was serious in selling the public sector to cover the deficit financing. “We will organise more than 25,000 bank employees from all over the country to join the march,” he said. The bank employees said merger of public sector banks, disinvestment in public sector banks and outsourcing in banks should be stopped. They added that licenses to industrial houses should not be issued, World Bank should give loan to capitalise public sector banks, all private banks should be nationalised and stringent action against bank loan defaulters should be taken.

Ludhiana, February 6
The death of a woman after surgical procedure for removal of uterus at a private nursing home in Madhopuri here has led to a protest, with residents, led by BJP leaders, charging the owner of the nursing home and surgeon with negligence.

While the post-mortem examination conducted by a board of four doctors at the Civil Hospital here yesterday cited haemorrhage and shock as the possible cause of death, the protesters demanded the registration of a criminal case against the doctors.

Sunita, a domestic help and resident of Madhopuri, was admitted to the Raja Maternity Nursing Home for hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus) on January 27 and was operated upon on February 2. The next day, the condition of the woman started deteriorating when doctors at the nursing home shifted her to the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), where she died after a few hours.

The protesters, led by Gurdip Singh Neetu, BJP councillor, and Ramesh Bangar, president of the Active Anti-Corruption Group, alleged that the surgeon and doctors at the private nursing home were negligent.

Refuting the charges of negligence, Dr Jasbir Kaur, owner of the nursing home, said the woman had low level of haemoglobin and was kept at the nursing home for a couple of days, during which blood was transfused, in addition to management for improvement in haemoglobin level.

“She was operated upon on February 2 by a skilled surgeon in the presence of an anaesthetist. The next day, her blood pressure started dropping and we decided to shift her to the CMCH,” she said.

One of the doctors among the board of four, who performed the autopsy, disclosed that the death occurred around 26 hours after surgery, apparently due to haemorrhage and shock.

Kila Raipur, February 6
A youth, Amandeep Singh, working as a security guard at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, grabbed the attention of thousands of spectators at Kila Raipur with his indigenous mouth gun.

Amandeep Singh shows his skills with a mouth gun at Kila Raipur on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Equipped with an arrow, the mouth gun is made of a 6. 2 feet tall iron rod, which is hollow from inside. It was on display on the last day of the rural Olympics.

While demonstrating his daredevil feat, Amandeep Singh claimed that he could throw the arrow as far as 100 yards, equivalent to a hockey stadium.

This 29- year- old man from Sanaur village, near Patiala can hit the target in the range of 40 yards.

He said, “When I used to study in school, I used to fire small stones by placing it into hollow-bamboo shoots. I left my studies and opted for a job, but my craze for firing a stone with a blow of my breath did not subside. Finally in 2007, I manufactured the gun made of a hollow iron rod. I designed the arrows which could travel long distance,” said Amandeep.

He added that he always wanted to exhibit his talent amongst crowd. “What else can be better then Kila Raipur. My happiness knew know bound when I saw people glued to their seats to watch my performance and applauded when I hit the arrow at a distance of nearly 80 yards,” He said and added that due to strong wind blowing he could not exhibit his skills properly.

Kila Raipur, February 6
Raju, a champion horse of the Pashudhan Mela organised recently at Mukatsar, along with its mate Chiti Kabootari emerged masters of the ceremony when everybody present in Grewal Stadium here applauded the “couple dance” performed by them on the beats of drum today.

Harvinder Singh Dhaliwal makes one of his horse dance to the tunes of music. Tribune Photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Harvinder Singh of Sirige Wala village in Bhagta Bhie Ka region, owner and trainer of the pair, is all praise for them because besides fetching him a handsome income, they have also brought laurels to his clan.

Harvinder did not pursue his dreams to become a teacher, as he was contended coaching his ‘pupils’ whose performance attracted attention of thousands of spectators in a day.

“As we had ample resources to run our family, I decided to devote my time to training our horses,” said Harvinder Singh adding he had been rearing horses for the past 20 years.

Harvinder said good quality and well-trained animals could not be purchased with money. These could be reared only.

“Like many other organisers of stables, my parents had also bought some trained horses but they did little while in our possession. Only then I decided that I would train my horses myself,” argued Harvinder.

Kila Raipur, February 6
Making a mockery of the national AIDS programme, children were seen thronging the stall of Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) Lifecare during the Kila Raipur games here today.

HLL Lifecare in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) put up a stall at the Kila Raipur sports festival to spread awareness about safe sex. A six-member team led by Paramjit Singh presented skits and magic shows to attract the youth.

The elderly lot showed thumbs down to the initiative of the company.

Employees spreading awareness were caught in a tricky situation after children visiting the stall were seen asking all types of questions related to safe sex.

A team led by Sumdeep Singh, Simranpal Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Jatin and Bhupinder Singh was seen shooing away the children.

“What shall we do, for how long can we shoo the children away? No matter how hard we try they keep returning to the booth,” complained Gurmeet Singh after he failed to stop the children from visiting the stall. Paramjit stated that they had been given strict guidelines, not to impart sex education to people below 18.

“As rural youths are most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS. Our motive was to educate them about safe sex,” said Paramjit. Women kept a distance from the stall and some looked the other way while crossing the booth put up by NACO and HLL.

The children frequenting the stall were thrashed by their parents. “These kids have made our life tough. As soon as we bring out a condom in order to give demonstration. These children start screaming at us. They not only embarrass us, but also have put us in an awkward situation,” said one of the volunteers.

Kila Raipur, February 6
As many as 57 noted sportspersons residing in the state, who had played for the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (Powercom) for five years, are running from pillar to post to get their services regularized. Pointing out all other company officials who had been employed on contract basis along with them had been regularized months ago, they have now urged the government to save their careers. 

In a memorandum presented to Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal here Sunday, the sportsmen led by Amrinder Singh accused PSEB officials of “misleading” them about their career prospects in the department. Badal assured them he would look into the matter. The players apprehended that the department would utilize their services and talent till they performed well and shunt them out after a few years.

The petitioners include Raj Kumar, an outstanding physically challenged sportsperson who was recently honoured by the government.

Ludhiana, February 6
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed the demand of Rs 14,88,278 raised by the Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, terming the same to be illegal.

Earlier, PUDA authorities charged fee for sanctioning the building plan. Later, the MC authorities raised the demand for getting the building plan sanctioned from them. The forum observed that a consumer could not be taxed twice for approval of the building plan.

Coming down heavily on the MC authorities, it remarked that the MC has resorted to unfair, arbitrary and illegal means amounting to deficiency in service, negligence and unfair trade practice.

Pronouncing the order, forum president TN Vaidya and its member Priti Malhotra also ordered the MC to make the payment of Rs 25,000 as compensation for causing harassment to the consumer and Rs 4,000 as litigation expenses.

The forum also directed the MC to refund the amount of Rs 71,955 with the observation that the consumer cannot be taxed twice for approval of building plan.

The orders came on a complaint moved by Meenakshi Sharma of Vishav Karma colony, Ludhiana.

She had submitted that she purchased one plot measuring 4847.56 square yards at Ansal Bachhittar Enclave, Bhamia Kalan, Chandigarh road, Ludhiana, for setting up an educational centre. She approached the MC authorities for sanction of the building plan, who advised her to approach PUDA, as the plot was falling in the colony approved by PUDA.

Then she moved to PUDA and got the building plan approved. She paid Rs 97,960 in July 2005 and Rs 24,000 in the next month. PUDA sanctioned the plan for the ground floor.

In August 2008, she raised boundary walls. Due to the financial problem, the construction work was stopped. In December 2009, the construction work was again started. But MC officials stated that the area now falls within the jurisdiction of the MC. She showed the building plan approved by PUDA and requisite charges paid to them. But they stopped the construction work and compelled to seek the sanction from the MC.

She, accordingly, moved to the MC for sanction of plan for semi basement, ground floor and first floor after depositing Rs 2,58,282 in April 2010. They insisted for depositing Rs 14,88,278 as requisite fee, as condition precedent to issue the letter of sanctioning the plan.

But the forum held that the approval and sanction by previous body (PUDA) would be binding on the successor body, MC.