Bathinda, March 5
Tension between two groups, led by two communities, at the Makbara Meera Sahib Peer Khana resurfaced today after the head of the Committee Makhbra Baba Nikka Shah Peer Khana Gyano Begam (92) died of an ailment.

The committee wanted her body to be buried on the Peer Khana premises claiming that it was a graveyard and all of Gyano’s kin were buried there as per their religious rituals.

On the other hand, 100-odd delegates representing the Makbra Meera Sahib Peer Khana Committee staged a dharna there and warned the administration against allowing the burial to take place inside the Peer Khana.

Sensing that the situation may grow tense, the district administration sealed the entire area and to thwart any untoward incident, a large number of cops were deployed around the Peer Khana.

Adamant on burying the body inside the place of worship, the committee concerned placed the body at the main gate and raised anti-establishment slogans. “The administration is hurting our sentiments by not allowing us to perform the last rites of our chief, who devoted her whole life to the Peer Khana. It is to please a particular group,” alleged a kin of the deceased supported by the activists of the committee.

Meanwhile, a member of the Punjab State Minority Commission Abdul Shakoor Mangat reached the spot and asked the executive magistrate to resolve the matter. Later, a number of Muslim leaders from Malerkotla also reached the city to sort out the matter.

On the other hand, the Hindu-Sikh group led by state secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Sukh Pal Sran made a public announcement in the city 
markets that some anti-social elements were giving an Islamic colour to the whole matter and wanted to create disturbance, which they would not allow at any cost.

After holding a sequence of meetings, the administration managed to make the Muslims relent, late in the evening. Following this, they lifted the body from the main gate of the Peerkhana and buried it at the Hazi Rattan graveyard.

Executive magistrate Avtar Singh said, “To bring a permanent solution to the problem, both the parties have been called for a meeting on Sunday.”

It may be mentioned that on February 3 this year, both the committees had confronted each other claiming their right over the donations and the management of the Peer Khana. Later on February 8, the district administration took over the Peer Khana and an executive magistrate was appointed as the receiver of its donations and income.

Malout, March 5
Justice Ranjit Singh, chairman, Building Committee, Punjab and Haryana High Court, laid the foundation stone of a sub-division-level judicial court complex here today. He was accompanied by Justice Arvind Kumar, administrative judge (sessions division, Muktsar), JS Kular, district and sessions judge, Muktsar, and other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Justice Ranjit Singh said the court complex would be established on eight acres at a cost of Rs 12.44 crore. Three courts would function from the judicial complex. It would also have facilities for advocates and judicial staff, including separate chambers.

The complex would be constructed by the PWD keeping requirements of the next four decades in mind.

Speaking further, the judge said the complex would be well-equipped with various ultra-modern facilities.

Replying to a query, he said a video conferencing facility at the complex was also being considered by the High Court.

Ferozepur, March 5
Justice LN Mittal, judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court and administrative judge, sessions division, Ferozepur, today said all the culprits, involved in setting the record room of the court of the additional sessions judge on fire here a few days ago, would be arrested soon.

Justice Mittal, addressing a function held here in connection with the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new district judicial court complex, said the record was being reconstructed. Some unidentified miscreants set the record room of the court of the additional sessions judge Jatinder Kaur, located adjacent to the DC office on fire a few days ago. The judicial complex would be completed within 18 months, he added.

DC KK Yadav said all the hiccups had been overcome. The project was being taken up by the Public Works Department (PWD). All the judicial, civil and police officials of Ferozepur including Jaspal Singh, District and Sessions Judge, Kaustab Sharma, SSP and KD Syal, president, District Bar Association, Ferozepur, were also present.

Bathinda, March 5
The Bathinda district unit of the Indian Dental Association (IDA) will celebrate the World Dentist Day here tomorrow.

Treasurer of district unit Dr Jatinder Singh said the Day is celebrated on March 6 every year to create awareness about dental health.

He said the IDA organised continuing dental education programmes, workshops and seminars to update dentists about various developmental programmes to improve dental health of masses. Besides, it also holds free dental check-up camps and dental awareness programmes to detect early dental diseases and oral cancer, he added. — TNS

Moga, March 5
The Moga police have arrested two persons and seized Rs 16,500 in fake currency from their possession. An FIR under sections 489-B and C of the IPC has been registered in this connection at the Kot-ise-Khan police station in the district.

The arrested persons identified as Sukhdev Singh of Reharwan village and Tarsem Singh of Kaila village, were taken into custody at a special check-point set up on the link road between Dharamkot and Kot-ise-Khan, last evening.

During the search, counterfeit notes of Rs 500 denomination amounting to Rs 16,500 were recovered from their possession, a police officer said.

Preliminary investigation had revealed that the two alleged accused were in contact with counterfeit currency smugglers of Amritsar and Tarn Taran, who get their fake currency supplies from Pakistan. Further investigation is in progress.

Ferozepur, March 5
Rising Star Corps Troops team won the Western Command Football Championship by defeating Tiger Division team 1-0 yesterday. The championship concluded in the local cantonment on Friday.

The final match of the Western Command Football Championship, held by the Golden Arrow Division under the aegis of Vajra Corps here, attracted a large gathering including officers and other ranks of the Army. A total of 13 teams from different division of the Western Command participated in the 10-day championship. Maj Gen Rajan Bakshi, GOC, Golden Arrow Division, who was the chief guest at the closing ceremony, gave away the running trophy to the winners and individual medals to the winners and the runners-up.