Bathinda, February 12
The beginning of construction of the Central University of Punjab (CUP) at Ghudda — the ancestral village of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal — seems to be on the cards.

The university has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) Ltd., a Government of India enterprise, for the construction of the boundary wall of the main campus of the university at village Ghudda.

Giving details, the university authorities today informed that they had paid in advance nearly Rs three crores to the RITES Ltd. for the construction of the eight-km-long boundary wall at an estimated cost of Rs 9.5 crore.

According to the MoU, the RITES Ltd has to complete the construction of the boundary wall in nine months.

It may be mentioned here that the Punjab government had acquired about 562 acres of land at Ghudda to set up the main campus of the university. Since the construction would have taken time, the university authorities took on lease the premises of the Bathinda Integrated Cooperative Spinning Mills Limited (Bacospin) in July 2008 to use it as the transit campus for initial five years at a monthly rent of about Rs 1.36 lakh.

Completing the make-shift arrangements and equipping the Mill premises with required facilities, including hostels, the university authorities started some courses at the transit campus about a year ago.

The Chief Minister had recently given an assurance that the CUP would be shifted to the main university campus at Ghudda within three years.

Muktsar, February 12
After evading arrest for nearly seven years, an accused of committing an embezzlement of Rs 50 lakh in the District Transport Office surrendered at the judicial courts here today.

As per the information available, the accused, Pushpinder Singh, was an employee of the DC office but was deputed at the DTO in 2004 when he was booked for the fraud. Being a close confidant of the then DTO Rajiv Prashar, he was posted at the fee collection window. The crime came to light when a team of the audit survey found the embezzlement of nearly Rs 50 lakh. Following a report of the survey team, the then DTO lodged a police complaint against Pushpinder. The accused was booked under Sections 409, 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC.

However, evading police action, the accused managed to flee abroad. From there, he claimed that he was innocent and accused the then DTO of forcing him to commit the crime for personal favours.

The department did not rely upon his claim and finding him absent for a long time, it terminated his services. The court, meanwhile, declared him as a proclaimed offender (PO).

Surprisingly, the accused today turned up at the court of the JMIC Kamaldeep Singh along with his advocate Babu Singh Sidhu. Accepting his plea for surrender, the court sent him on a police remand till February 14.

On the behalf of his client, advocate Babu Singh Sidhu alleged that Pushpinder had not fled abroad to avoid legal action but he was afraid of his senior officials, who could have harmed him in some manner as he had sufficient proofs to expose their “misdeeds” in the court.

“Now, we would fight the case,” said Sidhu.

Abohar, February 12
Buoyed over more defections in the ruling SAD in this sub-division, the Jago Punjab Yatra leadership yesterday predicted that the former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal will form the next government in Punjab.

Manpreet’s father and former MP Gurdas Singh Badal, who was in the past known as think tank of Shiromani Akali Dal and had been avoiding making speeches during the Jago Punjab rallies, on Saturday unfolded his family’s agenda for the first time during a meeting held at village Bhangala. While welcoming senior SAD activists over their joining hands with the Jago Punjab campaign, Gurdas Singh Badal launched a scathing attack on the ruling coalition government as well as the Congress-led UPA government.

Those, who bid adieu to the ruling SAD during the meeting yesterday included former sarpanch Sukhdev Singh, nambardar Raja Singh and some former members of the village panchayat.

Gurdas Badal exhorted people to reach Khatkar Kalan on March 23 hinting that the Jago Punjab rally being held there would be a turning point in the political history of Punjab. Former member SAD national council Surinder Saluja also addressed the meeting and predicted that Manpreet will form the next government in Punjab.

Bathinda, February 12
Much to the surprise of spectators, the team of differently-abled players from the local MGD Deaf and Dumb School defeated the ‘normal’ players of the Shivalik Public School, Jaitu, by 106 runs in the Ist Cricket Rolling Championship organised by the Bathinda Brotherhood Club (BBC) at the Civil Lines Club here today. Phool Chand, a special child, was declared the man of the match for his unbeaten 56 off 31 deliveries.

DC S. Karuna Raju, SDM KPS Mahi and president of the BBC Kamaljeet Singh Mehta and other officials were among the spectators of the 12-over match and encouraged the special children to clinch the trophy.

Winning the toss, the Shivalik Public School, Jaitu, elected to bowl first. The team of differently-abled players scored 140 for five wickets in the given 12 overs. While Phool Chand hit an unbeaten 56, Gagan Deep and Manjot Singh made 26 runs in 11 balls and 23 runs in 10 balls, respectively.

The target of 141 runs did not appear tough to the young chaps of the Shivalik Public School, as the team opened its account with a six on the very first delivery.

However, the special players did not get disappointed and planned a strategy in the sign language. The fielding positions were rearranged before they started making efforts to mount pressure on the batsmen. The strategy proved successful as the bowlers Vikramjit Singh, Balkar Singh and Pargat Singh started claiming wickets one after another while ceding marginal runs. The trio bagged three wickets each to wrap up the Shivalik team at 34 runs in eight overs.

The DC, the SDM, joint director of the Employment Generation and Training (retd) Harpal Singh and secretary of the District Red Cross Society JR Goyal congratulated the winning team, its coach and the school staff for lifting the trophy.

On the occasion, Club president Kamaljeet Singh Mehta announced that observing the interest of the special children, they would hold such matches every month.

Bathinda, February 12
A 22-year-old youth reportedly committed suicide in a room of a hotel located near railway station here this morning.

On receiving the information, cops and volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva reached the spot. On the basis of evidences collected from the spot, the police officials found it to be a case of suicide, committed by swallowing an excessive quantity of sedative capsules and tablets, as the empty strips were lying beside the body.

After post-mortem examination at the Civil Hospital, the body was handed over to the bereaved kin.

The deceased was identified as Pardeep Kumar of local Railway Colony. His family members denied any foul play. Acting upon their statements, the Kotwali police initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.

The incident brought the hotel authorities under scanner as they did not have on its records an identity proof of the deceased. The address of the deceased, as per the hotel's records, was of Mohali that proved to be fake.

The police was investigating the matter.

Ferozepur, February 12
Mohinder Singh, a resident of village Sucha of this district, along with three others attacked the wildlife guards, while they were patrolling the Hari Ke wetland bird sanctuary area yesterday.

Mohinder was arrested last month for his alleged involvement in killing common teals. He was released from the jail a few days ago. Gora, a wildlife guard, was taken to civil hospital, Makhu. He was discharged after his condition was found stable, said Sanjeev Tiwari, district forest officer (wildlife), Ferozepur.

Gurpreet Singh, SHO, Makhu police station, said a complaint was lodged against the accused. Probe was on in the matter.