B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Faridkot farmers up in arms post SC ruling
Faridkot, October 6
A day after Supreme Court held that the land acquired by the government for a specific public purpose can not be changed and transferred, as many as 122 farmers in Faridkot are up in arms against the state government and gearing up to challenge the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA)'s move to establish a residential colony on 86 acres of the land in the town.

Dussehra celebrated with fervour and gaiety
Ferozepur/Abohar, Oct 6
The festival of Dussehra conveying the message of victory of good over the evil was celebrated at several places in this border town with enthusiasm and gaiety today. The effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran were burnt at five different places at sunset.

BSF seizes fake currency, pistol and ammunition
Ferozepur, October 6
The Border Security Force (BSF) has foiled yet another bid by the Pakistan-based agents to push arms, ammunition and fake Indian currency notes (FICN) inside the Indian territory and recovered fake currency, pistol along with ammunition.

Sale of crackers at stadium opposed
Abohar, October 6
The sportsmen and consumer activists have again made a strong plea to the district administration against converting the Nehru Stadium into a make-shift “Patakha” (fire-cracker) market on Diwali.

Faridkot farmers up in arms post SC ruling
To challenge PUDA move to set up residential colony
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, October 6
A day after Supreme Court held that the land acquired by the government for a specific public purpose can not be changed and transferred, as many as 122 farmers in Faridkot are up in arms against the state government and gearing up to challenge the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA)'s move to establish a residential colony on 86 acres of the land in the town.

The land was purchased/acquired by the Department of Medical Education and Research, Punjab in 1997 to establish a medical university. A total of 158 acres of land was purchased at an average rate of Rs 4.5 lakh per acre.

But 13 years down the line, the university was not constructed on this land but the land prices rose to about Rs 2 crore per acre.

Out of this total of 158 acres of land, last year, the state government started work to construct a central modern jail on 72 acres and the remaining 86 acres was transferred to PUDA.

So two month back, when PUDA started the process to construct a residential colony, inviting applications for the allotment of 561 plots at the rate of Rs 5,000 per square yard, it left 122 farmers, the original owners of the land, livid.

With manifold increase in the price and the land not being used for the specific public purpose — establishing the medical university — the farmers want back the possession of their land, if not all the 158 acres then the 86 acres that which was transferred to PUDA to raise a residential colony.

"There is no logic in making forcible acquisition of farmers’ land at throwaway prices and now selling it at market rates by cutting it into residential plots," rued Jarnail Singh, one of the 122 farmers.

“On the basis of the SC order, we have the right to get back the possession of our land as the land was not used for the specific purpose (establishing medical University),” said Tarsem Singh, another farmer.

But the Revenue Department in Faridkot and PUDA officials claim that the farmers are unnecessarily raising a hue and cry.

"The land in question was never acquired but the Department of Medical Education and Research, Punjab, purchased this 158 acres of land as a routine buyer in the private market. There were routine 'agreement to sell' and then the farmers sold their land to the Medical Department by getting a sale deed registered, like an individual private buyer-seller dealing", said RK Jain, a revenue officer who was the registrar and attesting authority for most of these sale deed.

It was not the acquisition by the state government but a routine and direct purchase by the Medical Department from the farmers and the sale-purchase prices were negotiated that time with the land owner, said a senior PUDA officer.

Like an individual, the Medical Department was the exclusive owner of the land. So, it is at full liberty to use or dispose of its property the way it wants, said the PUDA officer.

Dussehra celebrated with fervour and gaiety
Tribune Reporters

Ferozepur/Abohar, Oct 6
The festival of Dussehra conveying the message of victory of good over the evil was celebrated at several places in this border town with enthusiasm and gaiety today.

The effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran were burnt at five different places at sunset.

The Sanatan Dharm Sabha organised the Dussehra mela at the Ram Bagh grounds where Sukhpal Singh Nannu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary was the chief guest. JV Singh, CEO, Cantonment Board, presided as the guest of honour.

At the Kumhar Mandi ground, the event was organised under the aegis of the Ferozpur Dramatic Club where Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, burnt the effigy.

At the Dussehra ground outside the Zira Gate, the celebrations were held by the “Chhurra” group where Vikramjit Gakhar was the chief guest.

In Housing Board Colony, Parminder Singh Pinki, the Congress leader, presided over the Dussehra celebrations organized by the Mahabir Dussehra Committee whereas at Shitla Mata Mandir ground, former minister Pandit Balmukand Sharma torched the effigies during the function organized by the Shiv Shankar Ramleela Committee.

SSP Surjit Singh said that the festival went off peacefully and no untoward took place in any part of the town. Stringent security arrangements were made at all the venues where Dussehra was celebrated, the SSP added.

Meanwhile, in Abohar, all the roads leading to the Dussehra ground, a part of the Governmment Senior Secondary School, wore a festive look as the shopkeepers and residents decorated the buildings with colorful Chinese lights. Nearly 40 feet tall effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna along with models of Lanka were consigned to the flames using remote gadgets.

Chief guests, Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg, BSF DIG Vimal Satyarthi and SSP Rajinder Kumar Sharda ensured punctuality in reaching the ground. They were warmly greeted as the Fauji band enthralled the gathering. They were initially given a reception by the elite of the town at Swami Keshwanand Senior Secondary School.

The veteran guests released pigeons in the air to spread the message of peace and tranquility.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC Dr Basant Garg and the BSF DIG Vimal Satyarthi said Vijay Dashmi inspires one to work for peace, unity and well-being of the country and strengthens the spirit of harmony and oneness.

Others present included Dr Ram Kumar Goyal, former MLA. The veteran guests were escorted to the dais measuring 1800 square feet by Mohinder Bathla, Ankur Garg and Titu Chhabra, president and secretary of the Dussehra Committee.

The procession carrying the tableaux of episodes related to Ramayana entered the ground at 5 pm. Elaborate arrangements for about 25,000 gathering were made by involving the NGOs and scouts led by district trainer Darshan Lal Chugh. Hundreds of people watched the spectacular function.

BSF seizes fake currency, pistol and ammunition
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, October 6
The Border Security Force (BSF) has foiled yet another bid by the Pakistan-based agents to push arms, ammunition and fake Indian currency notes (FICN) inside the Indian territory and recovered fake currency, pistol along with ammunition.

Giving details, Rajesh Gupta, DIG, BSF sector headquarters, Ferozpur, said that yesterday at night, the BSF sleuths observed some movement through their night vision devices across the fencing near border outpost JN Mohhamed.

The DIG said the jawans spotted two persons who had come close to the fencing towards the Indian side. The jawans challenged them and opened fire in that direction. "We fired five shots and thereafter those persons retreated back towards Pakistan under the cover of standing crops," the DIG said, adding that the BSF troops conducted a search today during which FICN worth two lakhs besides a pistol with 20 rounds and three magazines were recovered from that area near border pillar 174/8 ahead of BOP Tapu.

The DIG said persons who had come towards fencing had most likely thrown the consignment before running away. The FICN is in denomination of Rs 500 notes, he further informed.

Sale of crackers at stadium opposed
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, October 6
The sportsmen and consumer activists have again made a strong plea to the district administration against converting the Nehru Stadium into a make-shift “Patakha” (fire-cracker) market on Diwali.

While submitting the memorandum to Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg during a function here, Cricket Welfare Association general secretary Dr Rajinder Girdhar, also principal of the Homeopathic Medical College, requested that the administration should not give a nod for this. The “patakha market” will bring sports activities to a halt for about a month, he said.

The association said that the stadium had been renovated about six years back without availing of funds from the state government. Different associations had organized cricket, football and basketball tournaments, besides races and archery championships here.

Dr Girdhar said the administration had allowed the use of the stadium for developing a temporary “patakha” market during the past two years resulting in heavy damage to the ground.

The Netaji Subhash Chander Bose Charitable Trust and the District Football Association had worked hard to organize the first-ever inter school tournaments last year.

Consumer Movement and District RTI Association chairman Satpal Khariwal said shopkeepers had last year flouted the norms that had been laid down by the district administration. Bicycles, two-wheelers and cars were allowed to enter the stadium and were also parked close to the stalls. The Municipal Council had been collecting more than rupees one lakh by allotting space to the wholesalers and retailers at the stadium but did not spend even ten per cent on the maintenance of the stadium. The state government had never released funds for renovating the stadium. A sports sub-centre was promised here but it is yet to come up, resented Rama Goyal, an organiser of a cricket tournament here.