Bathinda, May 20
Tarsem Chand, a retired government employee and a resident of Bharat Nagar locality, was crushed to death by a speeding vehicle on the busy Bibiwala road yesterday in the morning.

Amandeep Singh, a youth, died after his motorcycle was hit by a car near Kot Shamir village of the district yesterday in the afternoon.

Today, the driver of a bus was critically injured after his vehicle collided with a truck near Gurusar Sainawala village on the Bathinda-Dabwali road today.

A Flight Lieutenant of the Indian Air Force (IAF), his wife and their two-month-old son, were killed in a road accident on April 14 in the district. Six members of a family of Kalyan Sukha village of the district were killed in a road accident, which took place on the Bathinda-Chandigarh road a few months ago

These are not isolated incidents. Bathinda district, which boast of having Asia's biggest cantonment, has started witnessing a jump in the number of road accidents, claiming human lives, in the last few years.

Though successive state governments made attempts to create the required road infrastructure in the district for smooth flow of vehicular traffic, the number of road accidents have been rising every year and have become a common occurrence.

As per the information collected from district police authorities, on an average, about 19 road accidents have been taking place in a month since 2006. These road accidents have been claiming 11 human lives in a month and leaving 13 persons severely injured or maimed.

Information revealed that from January 1, 2006 to May 19, 2011, about 715 persons had died in road accidents. About 902 persons had suffered serious injuries and about 1270 road accidents had taken place in this period.

The main and anterior roads in this burgeoning district, where an oil refinery is under construction, have been finding it difficult to accommodate the rush of vehicle, which have been going up. The absence of bypass roads in almost all the cities in the district have made the traffic chaotic and prone to accidents.

Vijay Goyal, President, Sahara Jan Sewa, said in the last few years, driving under the influence of intoxicants, using mobile phones while at the steering have become major factors for road accidents.

He added that in certain parts of the urban areas, road accidents had also been taking place as the authorities had failed to fix reflectors on the road dividers and curves.

Sukhchain Singh Gill, SSP, said road accidents could be prevented to a large extent if the drivers started taking extra care. He said certain guidelines had also been issued to traffic personnel for better management of vehicular movement to minimize the number of accidents.

Interestingly, the district traffic police wing, which has been taking care of the traffic management, rarely issued challans for drunken driving in the last few years. 

Goniana (Bathinda), May 20
In what has turned out to be another gory incident in the spate of murders that have rocked Bathinda of late, residents here found the defaced body of a middle-aged man lying on the Bathinda-Faridkot railway track, on the outskirts of the town, early this morning.

Panic gripped the town and the railway police hurriedly rushed to the spot and took the body in its custody to ensure that it did not get mutilated under a speeding train.

The deceased was identified as Krishan Lal of Nehianwala village. He was working as a class IV employee of the Municipal Council, Goniana.

The incident rocked the district as it was the third murder in a sequence to have taken place within a week. Though the police claimed to have cracked the mystery shrouding the previous two murders that took place on May 16 (in Bathinda city) and May 17 (near Rama Mandi), the frequency of such incidents has put the district police in a spot.

According to information received about today's incident, the GRP staff, during its preliminary investigation, suspected that the deceased Krishan Lal was killed at a distant place but the accused then dragged the body to the railway track and placed it there in the hope that it would get crushed under a train, with the alleged intention of misguiding the police about the cause of the death.

SHO, GRP, Bathinda, Banarsi Dass informed that multiple injuries inflicted by sharp-edged weapons were noticed on the body. The face of the deceased also had deep cut marks that made it tough to ascertain the deceased's identity, he mentioned.

The body was taken to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, for postmortem and a case under sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC was registered against unidentified persons.

Sources informed that a joint team of the Nehianwala police and GRP staff visited the house of the deceased and found a pair of spectacles and blood stains on the floor there that led them to suspect that the murder had taken place at his house itself.

It was also learnt that Krishan Lal was alone at his house last night as his family was away to attend some function and some unidentified persons had visited him in the late hours. 

Bathinda, May 20
A large number of activists of farmer and other organisations today held a 'Zabar Virodhi' rally and staged dharna outside the Mini-secretariat here in protest against the atrocities, allegedly committed by police on the villagers of Selbrah village (near Rampuraphul), and arrest of several villagers on May 2.

They also protested against an alleged attack by some persons on the residents of Kotra Kaura village for opposing the liquor shop in their village.

The protesters demanded the release of the arrested villagers of Selbrah and cancellation of the FIR registered against them.

They also demanding sought registration of cases against the policemen, who allegedly committed atrocities, and those indulging in illegal sale of liquor in Selbrah village.

It may be recalled that the arrested persons were held on May 2 on the charge of attacking a police party on April 30 evening after a clash had reportedly taken place between the police and the villagers over the issue.

State general secretary of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha Punjab Bhagwant Singh Samao said they were demanding registration of cases against those police officials who had committed atrocities on the villagers and opened fire on them, and the person who had indulged in illegal sale of liquor in the Selbrah village.

Those present at the dharna included state president of the BKU (Krantikari) Surjit Singh Phul, state president of BKU (Dakonda) Buta Singh Burj Sill, senior vice president of BKU (Ugrahan) Jhanda Singh Jethuke, state president of Kirti Kisan Union Nirbhey Singh Dhudike, state secretary of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union Lachhman Singh Sewewala, state president of Punjab Kisan Union Ruldu Singh Mansa, a state-level leader of Technical Services Union Gurdip Singh, a leader of Dehati Mazdoor Sabha Mithu Singh Ghudda and a leader of the Naujwan Bharat Sabha Raminder Patiala. 

Bathinda, May 20
The much awaited summer vacations in schools are finally here. This time around, students do not have to worry about the traditionally burdensome homework handed out for the vacations as the state education department has decided to make the pattern more creative and lively to help develop knowledge skills among the children.

This summer vacation, the holiday homework is expected to be more 'open-ended' with the inclusion of topics related to children's hobbies to send the message across — holidays are fun, and so can homework be.

The Director General School Education (DGSE), Punjab, has directed all district education officers to instruct the school staff to convey to the students that whosoever would have written qualitative poems, stories or read informative books and prepared models/projects related to academic or social/environmental issues, would be honoured in the morning assembly after the schools reopen.

Besides enjoyment, the education department wants that the students should improve their handwriting and learn tables during the summer vacations, and teachers have been asked to motivate them.

To develop the habit of reading among students of primary schools, teachers have been asked to issue story/poem books to students from the reading cells in the schools before the vacations start.

Aiming at giving meaningful but not burdensome homework, environmental topics have been shortlisted by the state education department, which include the collection of petals, leaves, seeds etc. and then pasting them on a register.

For the students of secondary classes, the education department wants that the students must hone their skills in science and prepare charts and small model/projects with the help of their subject teachers.

Besides, the teaching staff has been directed to inspire the students to develop newspaper reading as a hobby.

Some topics are being introduced for gaining knowledge. While going on a trip, kids will be asked to collect details about that place, including its topography, types of soils, culture and occupations in trend.

Their reports will be appreciated in the schools after the vacations are over.

Bathinda, May 20
The work on the setting up of a deer safari on an area of 115 acres at Bir Talab, Bathinda, is likely to start in June as all the estimates, sent to the Punjab government by the Forest Department, are in the final stages of approval.

According to information, in the first phase, besides the construction of a four-kilometre-long boundary wall, a chain-link fence will also be erected to keep a large number of deer inside on 115 acres while the remaining 30 acres will be utilised for developing a new mini zoo that will house various species of birds and other public facilities. However, the sheds and structures of the existing mini zoo, accommodating various bird species, will be dismantled.

Range Officer, Forest Department, GS Dhillon told this reporter today that the approval of the Central Zoo Authority was a must for dismantling the existing structure of the mini zoo. He said as the process of approval was in the final stage so it was expected that the approval would be granted by the Central Zoo Authority this month.

At present, the existing deer park has parrots (20), black buck (78), sambar (10), chital (17), 3 parrah (hog deer), peacock (5), monkey (9), partridge (13), budgerigar (100), red munia (12), brown fish owl (1) and duck (22).

During a visit to the deer park, it was observed that the condition of the sheds of the birds was not up to the mark though water and food for the birds and the deer were available. However, this reporter noticed that no new development work had been initiated by the government during the past several months.

An employee at the deer park said steps for improvement were not being initiated in the deer park as the work on setting up of the deer safari here was going to start in a month or so. He said in these circumstances, even if a shed was dismantled to construct a new one, then it would amount to wastage of money at this stage. 

Ferozepur, May 20
To provide basic amenities and set up other facilities for the residents in almost all the towns falling in the border district, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sanctioned Rs 34.5 crores.

Badal has sanctioned funds as a major portion of almost all the towns were devoid of basic amenities including streetlight, paved roads and water supply. Badal allocated Rs 7 crore for Abohar, Rs 5.75 crore for Ferozepur, Rs 5.50 crore for Guru Harsahai, Rs 3.25 for Zira, Rs 3 crore for Talwandi Bhai and Rs 2 crore each for Ferozepur cantonment, Makhu, Mudki, Fazilka and Mallanwala.

Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav said the decision to allocate funds was taken by Badal while presiding over a series of meetings to review the ongoing development projects in the Ferozepur district.

He added that development works in the rural areas of the district were already going on with the funds, which were available under the Border Area Development Plan (BADP) and from Rural Development Fund (RDF).

Most of the towns were lacking necessary facilities for the citizens. With the funds, almost all the municipal towns of the Ferozepur district would have paved streets fitted with lights, underground water supply and sewage facilities.

He disclosed that Badal had directed the officers of the state government to initiate strict action against those erring private executing agencies, who were causing inordinate delay in the implementation of developmental works across the state. Badal also emphasised the need to maintain the quality norms in the ongoing developmental projects. Badal had also asked the officers concerned to ensure proper monitoring of the ongoing projects.

The meetings were attended by Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation minister, Tikshan Sud, local government minister and Sher Singh Ghubhaya, MP, Ferozepur besides senior functionaries of the Punjab government. 

Bathinda, May 20
The PSEB Engineers’ Association has decided to launch an agitation in June to lodge their protest against the failure of the state government and the managements of power companies to resolve various issues concerning power engineers.

The Association today issued a notice of agitation to the state government and the managements of power companies saying it would hold a protest on June 2 at Bathinda, on June 14 at Jalandhar and on June 28 at Patiala.

KS Mann, vice-president, HC Kamboj, joint secretary and Baldev Singh, executive member of the Association, in a press note issued here alleged that the state government had failed to implement the tripartite agreement, which was signed between Punjab government, management of Power companies and various trade unions/association after the unbundling of the PSEB.

Till date, the agreement had not been notified without which it had no legal sanctity. Also, power companies had failed to fulfill its commitment with respect to employees’ provident fund/pension funds.

The companies and the State Government guaranteed the employees and officers that at least Rs 250 crores would be in the general provident fund (GPF) account and all future deductions from employees' salary would be credited to this account. However, the companies were still using employees’ money for their business which was against company law, they alleged.

They added that association was also unhappy over state government’s failure to fulfill its promise to construct at least one thermal plant under state sector. Punjab was the only state in the country which was relying entirely on private sector to meet its future power generation capacity addition requirements totally ignoring the state sector.

With the commissioning of all the future thermal projects under the private/central sector, the state’s share in the generation capacity would come to 15 per cent from the present around 50 per cent, which would jeopardize the state’s control on generation schedules, they added.

Abohar, May 20
While seeking blessings at the historic Basant Mata temple at village Dangarkhera, Surjit Kumar Jyani, Minister for Transport, Industrial Training and Technical Education, said the Fazilka sub-depot would be upgraded as an independent depot by the Punjab Roadways in compliance with the long-pending demand that had not been accepted by the successive government.

Eighty new buses, 20 of them AC deluxe, would be provided to the new depot.

The passengers would be able to board buses at Fazilka for all important religious places in the state as well as neighbouring regions.

Jyani visited the village along with Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana. Balluana MLA Ghuriana sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for the construction of temple gateway.

Jyani announced that Rs 30 lakh would be spent on renovating the road that links the bus stop with the government school. The market committee has been directed to install streetlights on the road with a budgeted cost of Rs 4 lakh. 

Fazilka, May 20
The new Minister for Transport and Technical Education Surjit Kumar Jyani, on his maiden visit to his home constituency last evening was accorded a tumultuous welcome by the party workers and residents. 

Jyani said he was confident of getting district status for Fazilka. He said Tikshan Sood, who has replaced Manoranjan Kalia in the Sukhbir-Kalia committee, has agreed to the proposal on declaration of Fazilka as a district very shortly.

Ferozepur, May 20
Joginder Singh Bharti, District Education Officer (Elementary), today directed all the the heads of the schools to ensure that the students from class I to VIII are given uniforms of good quality, failing which, they would be taken to task.

In a press note issued here today, he said the uniforms were being supplied to the students under Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan (SSA) programme of the government. He said he had received verbal complaints that some heads of schools were supplying uniforms of sub-standard material. The complaints could be inquired into by a district-level inquiry committee, which would be set up soon.

Raj Sadosh adds from Abohar: Balluana legislator Gurtej Singh Ghuriana distributed uniforms in the government elementary schools with just a day left for the beginning of the summer break. He visited some schools including Kundal and Dharangwala villages to distribute uniforms.

Ghuriana made it clear that free uniforms would be provided to all the students to promote more admissions in the governments schools.

Barnala, May 20
The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum (Barnala) has slapped a compensation amount of Rs 25,000 on the Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) for not providing tubewell motor connection to a farmer.

As per the complaint, Dharampal of Sekha Village filed a complaint before the District Forum that his grandfather Chet Ram applied for a tubewell motor connection about 21 years ago on 21-2-1990, after which he died.

He added that 17 years after his grandfather's death, the PSPCL asked his father late Des Raj to deposit Rs 29,705 after giving a demand notice to him.

The complainant said following the receipt of the demand notice, his father deposited the amount on 14.3.2007. Despite depositing the fee four years ago, the PSPCL failed to provide the connection, he added.

The DCDRF ordered the PSPCL to pay nine per cent interest on the amount of Rs 29705 from 14-3-2007 till the installation of the motor connection.

Furthermore, the Forum ordered the PSPCL to pay Rs 25000 as compensation and also directed to recover the compensation amount from the erring officials of the department.

Muktsar, May 20
Tarsem Singh, a resident of village Kanyawala of the district, was murdered by his wife with the help of her paramour and three contract killers after the deceased came to know about the illicit relations of his wife with one of the assailants.

The assailants murdered Tarsem Singh last night in his house and later threw his body into a drain, passing near Lubaniawali village of this district to destroy the evidence. Police sources said the murder of Tarsem Singh surfaced when his body was found lying in the drain by some persons of that area.

Inder Mohan Singh, SSP, Muktsar, said Arashdeep and Kulwinder planned to kill Tarsem to live together.

Lucky hired three persons, Jinda, Gurpreet and Gurmeet, belonging to Gilzewala village of the district, for killing Tarsem in lieu of Rs 10,000.

He said a case in this connection had been registered under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC at the police station concerned. The police parties had been despatched to nab the assailants. 

Ferozepur, May 20
Two youth riding a motorcycle snatched a polythene bag, containing Rs three lakh, from one Manjit Singh, a resident of the city, while he was coming to his house after withdrawing money from the local branch of the State Bank of India, today.

Police sources said Manjit Singh was carrying the bag containing money in his hand while driving the motorcycle. Two youth, snatched it a some yards away from the bank. A case in this connection was registered at the city police station. — TNS