Bathinda, August 2
The top leadership of the Congress in Punjab is standing divided on the issue of the ongoing farmers' agitation against the acquisition of fertile land for setting up a thermal power plant at Gobindpura in the Mansa district.

The three top leaders of the party, Captain Amarinder Singh, PPCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, leader of the Congress legislature party and Jagmeet Brar, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), have come out in support of the agitation separately but have failed to put up a united show.

Bhattal, during a camp against cancer on July 28 in Mansa, declared that the acquired land would be restored to the farmers if the Congress was voted to power in the assembly elections next year. A day later, a team of seven MLAs dispatched to Gobindpura by Captan Amarinder Singh was detained by the police and not allowed to reach there because of the prohibitory orders.

Thereafter, Jagmeet Brar and his younger brother Ripjeet Brar, a sitting Congress MLA, organized their own show. Jagmeet somehow dodged the police force and managed to sneak into the Gobindpura village in the wee hours. However, he was taken into custody in the morning.

Jagmeet ensured that the credit of his visit did not go either to the Captain or Bhattal when he announced that he was sent to the village by the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi to look into the problem. He said that he would send a report on the issue to Sonia and Rahul.

Although the BJP, a coalition partner of the ruling SAD in the state, has not spoken about the agitation but a fact-finding team of the party's Kisan Morcha was yesterday not allowed to reach the village.

The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal is yet to come out with its strategy to control the damage that the agitation has caused to it particularly in the Mansa district that is part of the Bathinda parliamentary constituency which is represented by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of the Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal.

She had defeated the Congress candidate Raninder Singh, who is the son of Amarinder Singh, with a large majority of the votes.

Bathinda, August 2
The announcement made by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to renovate two state-of-the-art sports stadiums before October 26 to host the prestigious Second World Cup Kabaddi and World Cup Hockey has kept the administration on its toes, as merely three months are left to meet the deadline.

Following this, the renovation work at these two stadiums-Sports Stadium and Government Rajindra College Stadium-which started on February 17 by the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) and the Punjab Mandi Board have been completed by almost 40 per cent.

A visit to these under-construction stadiums revealed that the labourers and engineers were busy in giving it a new shape, so that the residents of Malwa region can enjoy the hockey and kabaddi World Cup.

Heavy and modern machinery is being used to complete the renovation work on time and pillars have also been erected to install searchlights.

At present, the work for making sitting arrangements is being carried out as the steps have been built and the construction work on the pavilion's canopy is also going on.

If the officials are to be believed, the total facelift would be completed on its scheduled time, as the pace of work is getting faster day by day and these two stadiums would be ready to host the prestigious World Cups.

In a recently held meeting of the contractors and the administration, they were directed to increase the manpower, so that there is no delay.

Pawan Chhabra, SDO, Punjab Mandi Board, said, "We have completed the foundation work, which was a tough and time consuming job. Now, the work on the pavilion's canopy and slabs is left, which is expected to be completed by September 30."

"We are also planning to start construction work in night shifts."

Meanwhile, the officials of the Bathinda Development Authority claimed that the renovation of the Sports Stadium would be completed before the given deadline.

It may be mentioned here that the teams from countries like India, Canada, Pakistan, USA, Australia, Afghanistan, UK, Iran, Italy, Norway, Spain and the Irish Army are expected to take part in these tourneys.

Bathinda, August 2
Unchecked underage driving and weak policing is taking its toll on young two-wheeler drivers in the city. Only one underage driver has been issued a challan since January this year and it speaks volume about the weak traffic policing on the roads. Traffic in-charge Bharpur Singh has challaned the lone underage driver near Fauji Chowk.

With the number of agents plaguing the District Transport Office, facilitating easy issuance of driving licences, there is no check on these unlearned drivers.

SP Traffic Sukhdev Singh claimed that underage drivers are intercepted but let off on humanitarian grounds. He added that not only the police, but parents are also responsible for giving two-wheelers to children. Parents, however, justify it saying they do it for their children's future.

They said that the burden of tuition classes scheduled one-after-another is proving too much for the underage drivers to bear. In their bid to reach tuition classes on time, children resort to speeding up their vehicles, caring two hoots for their own and road safety.

On Monday, a promising young life was cut short due to road accident. Sixteen-year-old Arshpreet Kaur, who had secured 97 per cent marks in class X at Guru Harkrishan Public School, was killed in the accident while on her way to attend tuition classes on the 100-feet road. A truck rammed into her two-wheeler killing her on the spot.

Her inconsolable father Amarjit Singh Virdi said that indeed, at times, her tuition classes were scheduled one after another. "If children request tuition teachers to change the timings, they (teachers) simply refuse saying that they already have full batches running," he added.

Bathinda, August 2
Despite the warning issued by the traffic police and the regional transport office to all school managements and the operators of school buses, overloading in school buses goes unabated in Bathinda district.

The buses ferrying kids to schools are flouting rules with impunity, as neither the owners nor the operators are ready to follow the norms and listen to the authorities.

For their benefit, a number of schools are not only playing with the lives of kids but also posing danger to all commuting on the roads. Interestingly, the private school owners here have formed a strong group which is reportedly backed by politicians and senior bureaucrats. Enjoying the "unethical" support, they are now taking the rules and the authorities for a ride.

In a recent incident, when the officials of the district transport office impounded a school bus for violating the norms, the association of school bus operators and owners of schools jointly staged a demonstration and created much hue and cry. Finally, they managed to get their vehicle released without any penalty.

Though the parents of children are also worried about the dangerous practice of the bus operators and school owners, in the absence of any other option of transportation to school, they send their kids in these overloaded buses.

"We have complained a number of times in the school that the driver and conductor often overload the bus but they are yet to take any action against violators," lamented Jagmohan Singh, whose daughter studies in a SGPC- run school at village Kotshamir.

Bhupinder Singh, DTO, Bathinda, said, "We are trying our best and have warned the school managements and their bus operators to follow the norms or the buses found violating the norms would be impounded."

Bathinda, August 2
Three hundred teachers employed with the education department under Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) would get their salaries this week.

Employed in February this year for Rs 16,500 per month, salaries of these teachers was increased to Rs 18,000 in April as per a DGSE notification.

While other districts have timely disbursed the salaries of teachers from the same cadre, Bathinda education department has given salaries of only February, March and April.

Meanwhile, teachers lamented that it has become very difficult for them to manage without salaries. "How could I keep my kitchen running? We are reduced to mere paupers without salaries," said a teacher pleading anonymity.

"This month, there have been many sangat darshan programmes. We did not get the time to prepare the salaries. There was some delay on the part of teachers also who suffered because of hectic VIP exercise," said sources.

Sources said that the code of conduct imposed in the wake of SGPC elections has come as a breather for the department.

District coordinator, SSA, Bathinda, Gurbachan Singh said some teachers have not furnished details of bank accounts, while others have not given records of their attendance leading to the delay. Within a week, salary of May would be released followed by June and July, he added.

Mansa, August 2
In yet another blot on khaki, an ASI and a head constable had tried to molest a female cop deployed during the various nakas at Mansa during the ongoing farmers’ agitation on Monday.

The female cop, recently recruited in the police force, was temporarily deployed near Gobindpura village. An ASI had been eying the recruits since their deployment and had allegedly been passing vulgar comments. In their complaint to senior officials yesterday, the female cops alleged that ASI Jagdev Singh and head constable Gurmeet Singh had been calling them up with wrong intentions.

The female cops called one of them yesterday and reportedly beat him with the help of other female cops. They had beaten him up near Dyalpura village where the the female cops were camping at night. They tore off their uniforms and brought the matter to the notice of senior police officials.

While head constable Gurmeet Singh could not be contacted, ASI Jagdev Singh refuted allegations and blamed the delay in dinner last night as the reason behind the complaint.

“It was the deployment of female cops for the entire day on duty and delay in dinner till 12.15 am which instigated them to complaint against us. We are yet to receive the orders of suspension,” claimed the ASI.

Ferozepur, August 2
In another incident of crime related to extra-marital relations, the Ferozpur police has arrested a woman identified as Sukhpreet Kaur in connection with the murder of her husband Gurvinder Singh.

Her suspected paramour Jaskiranpreet Singh with whom she was allegedly involved is still absconding. The police had earlier registered a case against both Sukhpreet and Jaskiran on the basis of the statement of Sukhminder Singh, the father of the deceased, who had accused her of killing his son with the help of Jaskiran.

SSP Ferozepur Surjit Singh, while confirming the arrest of Sukhpreet, said both had an affair before marriage which they continued even after her marriage to Gurvinder, who was a resident of village Bhure Kalan under Mamdot police station. The wedding had been solemnized on February 23 this year, the SSP said.

Jaskiran often used to visit their house on some pretext or the other, due to which her husband and in-laws suspected her of having an illicit relation with him. However, Sukhpreet always vehemently denied the charge.

The SSP said that Sukhpreet used to give sleeping pills to her husband and in-laws mixed in milk so that she could talk to Jaskiran on phone during the night.

Sukhminder, the father of the deceased, told the police that last Monday, they found Gurvinder lying unconscious on his bed. “We rushed him to the hospital but he was declared brought dead,” he further said. Initially, the family thought that Gurvinder has died a natural death and was cremated.

However, Gurvinder’s wife Baljit Kaur overheard Sukhpreet talking to someone on the phone saying she had collected enough jewellery and cash from the house and was ready to elope that the family realised the truth and lodged a complaint with the police.

A case was registered a case against Sukhpreet and Jaskiranpreet at Mamdot police station. While Sukhpreet had been arrested yesterday evening, Jaskiran was still absconding.

Ferozepur, August 2
Scores of relatives and sports enthusiasts converged at the residence of Ronjan Sodhi at ‘The Mall’ in the cantonment to congratulate the parents after he was crowned with World No 1 ranking by the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) on Monday.

Ronjan’s parents, Malwinder and Geetanjali Sodhi thanked all the well-wishers on behalf of Ronjan, who has been sent to Italy by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs as part of the training to prepare him for the London Olympics.

Malwinder being an ace shooter had also worked hard on Ronjan’s training all these years. He said he was grateful to the Almighty for his son’s success. “I would like to make a special mention of Russell Mark,” he added. He also thanked Mittal Champion Trust, Sahara Group and Samsung Electronics for their monetary help and sponsorship besides the Sports Ministry also helped Ronjan for arranging his training sessions abroad. Ashok Sharma, secretary, Sports Association of Ferozepur (SAF), said, “Let him come to Ferozepur, we would organise a massive public reception in his honour.”

Abohar, August 2
A total of 17 students from Assumption Convent School visited NASA Space Centre at Houston and Kennedy Space Centre. They remembered the Commander Neil Armstrong, who became the first man on July 20, 1969, to land on the moon and also the Indian-born American astronaut and space shuttle mission specialist Kalpana Chawla.

The students interacted with the scientists and astronauts. This was the first group from the area to participate in an International Camp at NASA, teachers Sunil Sharma and Navneet said.

The unique programme was designed to provide the participants knowledge about the latest developments in science and technology.

All the participants were awarded certificates from Kennedy Space Center and souvenirs from the astronauts. After conclusion of the programme at Kennedy Space Center, the group had the opportunity of visiting Orlando and New York City. Principal Sr Lucy welcomed the group on its return.

Faridkot, August 2
A 1990-batch IAS officer R Venkataratnam has assumed the office of Commissioner, Faridkot division, as an additional charge.

He is also the commissioner of Ferozepur division. Earlier, he has served as district magistrate of Moga, Muktsar and Bathinda districts.

On his arrival here at Faridkot, the district magistrate Ravi Bhagat, ADC Mohan Lal, SDM Nachattar Singh Brar and other officials of the district administration welcomed him.

Venkataratnam was also presented a guard of honour by the local police.

Moga, August 2
Rakesh Gupta, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Moga, today issued bailable warrants against Jagmohan Singh, former SP (H) of Moga, who has recently been transferred to Kapurthala for having failed to record his evidence in a criminal case pending before the court.

As per the case file, an FIR under various sections of the IPC and the Arms Act was registered against Jarnail Singh Duneke, Sukhdev Singh Mangewala and one Paramjit Singh of Ludhiana on March 29, 2003 at the city police station after an inquiry by Jagmohan Singh, the then Moga DSP, on the directions of the state human rights panel

Later, during the course of trial, charges were framed against Jarnail and Sukhdev only under Sections 447, 458, 427 and 506 of the IPC. All other charges were dropped while Paramjit was discharged by the court.

There were allegations that these persons forcibly entered an old woman’s house on the Amritsar road and demolished it to construct shops. “She could not bear the shock and subsequently died of cardiac arrest,” alleged Aman, her son, who had lodged the FIR against them. — TNS

Abohar, August 2
Ruing that the Abohar constituency area remains neglected as there was none to raise the voice of the people, SAD circle presidents have urged the CM and Deputy CM to nominate candidate for the SGPC elections from the area. A memorandum was given to the CM during his recent visit in this connection.

Notably, the CM and Deputy CM have been already authorised by the core committee of the SAD to select candidates for the elections. It is worth mentioning that ticket for the SGPC elections in the past was given to the party workers from Jalalabad or Fazilka only.