The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

J A L A N D H A R E D I T I O N

Chhat Puja from today, canals still full of garbage
Phagwara, October 30
A view of a dry and dirty canal in Phagwara. Photo by writer Chhat Puja, a tradition of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, has become a visible and elaborate festival in Punjab due to the migration of population from these regions. It is performed on the sixth day after Diwali, every year.

A view of a dry and dirty canal in Phagwara. Photo by writer

3 youths drown in canal
Batala, October 30
Bodies of three young men were recovered from the different parts of a canal distributaries here. Baba, alias Sunil Kumar, and Paramjit Singh have gone to Aliwal to take bath in the canal, but unfortunately drowned in the canal there.

Drunken cop fires in air
Tarn Taran, October 30
The DSP Patti, Ram Parkash, after drinking wine with his friends at his residence at Patti, 25 km from here, fired 14 shots in the air on Saturday night, which created panic in the neighbourhood. Although no causality was reported, the DSP was served a notice by the SP (Detective), Malwinder Singh Sidhu. Authority concerned demanded an explanation from him within two days.

EARLIER STORIES

	Farmers protest against land acquisition policy October 30, 2011
	BSP blocks highways over tearing of banners October 29, 2011
	Undertrial escapes, two cops booked October 28, 2011
	Heroin worth Rs 15 crore seized October 26, 2011
	3 passport seva kendras thrown open for public October 25, 2011
	Heroin worth Rs 15 crore seized October 24, 2011
	Sidhu threatens protest over garbage dump yard issue October 23, 2011
	Police to issue lookout circulars against runaway NRI grooms October 22, 2011
	Dengue grips Gurdaspur district October 21, 2011
	PIL can’t be used to settle political scores: High Court October 20, 2011
	Patient’s kin blame hospital staff of dereliction in duty October 19, 2011

Chhat Puja from today, canals still full of garbage
Ashok Kaura

Phagwara, October 30
Chhat Puja, a tradition of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, has become a visible and elaborate festival in Punjab due to the migration of population from these regions. It is performed on the sixth day after Diwali, every year. Devotees worship both the rising and setting sun at nearby canals or rivers during the festival.

The Tribune team visited some of the canals near Phagwara and Nakodar, they found that these canals were in flithy conditions. “A person cannot stand near the canal in Phagwara due to the bad smell emanating from the garbage thrown in by the people,” said Shanti, a Bihari migrant who observe Chhat Puja.

The Tribune also found illegal encroachments on the canal lands, despite repeated announcements made by the State government to remove illegal encroachments from the lands of the Irrigation Department. The Tribune team when visited the canal saw some migratory laborers engaged in cutting the grass from the banks of the canal to facilitate the devotees.

When contacted, Phagwara SDM Manpreet Singh said the Irrigation Department has been instructed to make arrangements for the release of water in canals and Nagar Council Phagwara Executive Officer has been instructed to make adequate arrangements for cleaning the canal well before the Chhat Puja festival, which will be held between October 31 to November 2.

What devotees do on Chhat Puja

n Day one: Devotees observe ‘Naha-Kha’ or bath and eat. They would take a dip in a canal or river water and carry home the holy water to prepare the offerings. They would take one meal on this day.

n Day two: The day before the formal Chhat Puja the devotees would fast the entire day. Rasiao-kheer, puris and some fruits are distributed among family members and friends. The devotees would offer ‘Aragh’ to the setting sun by standing in the water.

n Day three: On the final day, the devotees would go to riverbanks before the sunrise in order to make offerings (Aragh) to the rising sun. The festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the devotees.

3 youths drown in canal
Our Correspondent

Batala, October 30
Bodies of three young men were recovered from the different parts of a canal distributaries here. Baba, alias Sunil Kumar, and Paramjit Singh have gone to Aliwal to take bath in the canal, but unfortunately drowned in the canal there.

The police have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination and registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC. The police has also recovered Lovepreet Singh’s body from the canal near Gujjarpura village. After the post-mortem examination the bodies were handed over to the relatives.

Gurdip Singh, SSP Batala, said so far no foul play has been traced regarding the death of three youths. On The other hand, the relatives of Sunil Kumar and Paramjit Singh requested for a thorough investigation regarding the drowing of the three youths.

Drunken cop fires in air

Tarn Taran, October 30
The DSP Patti, Ram Parkash, after drinking wine with his friends at his residence at Patti, 25 km from here, fired 14 shots in the air on Saturday night, which created panic in the neighbourhood. Although no causality was reported, the DSP was served a notice by the SP (Detective), Malwinder Singh Sidhu. Authority concerned demanded an explanation from him within two days.

When contacted, Ram Parkash has categorically denied the incident. According to the information, the DSP and his friends consumed wine for more than tow hours. Then the DSP suddenly took his service revolver and fired four to five shots in air. He then ordered his gunmen to take him his private rifle from which he fired six shots. He then took service SLR and fired more shots in air.

He fired 14 shots in the air, which created panicky in the area. — OC

Chohla Sahib decks up for International Kabaddi Cup, gets Rs 50 crore
Ministers, officials put full effort to beautify the town and stadium for the tournament starting from November 7
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, October 30
The district administration is leaving no stone unturned in making all necessary arrangements for the Second International Kabaddi match to be organise at Chohla Sahib township on November 7.

Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab, being the MLA of the area was himself supervising the arrangements. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, would also attend the match.

The Sri Guru Arjun Dev Sports Stadium in Chohala Sahib, a stadium that spreads over more than ten acres of land and has the capacity of more than forty thousands spectators, is given a new look. A team of officials from the Panchayat Department is renovating the stadium, besides, providing drinking water and temporary toilet facilities.

The Punjab Mandi Board is helping the Panchayat Department to beautify the township by erecting arches and gates and also by cleaning the township. There is a Gurdwara that was built in the memory of the fifth Sikh master here, who lived here for many years.

The State government had already released a special grant of Rs 50 crore for the overall development of this township. Satwant Singh Johal, Deputy Commissioner (DC), has visited the township for a number of times.

The SSP, Manminder Singh, said the township has been divided into sectors and DSP ranked officer had been given the responsibility for the security.

Eight hurt in mishaps

Phagwara, October 30
Eight persons, including two women, were injured in two different incidents in nearby Domeli and Bhabhiana village on Saturday. In the first incident, four armed assailants attacked and wounded four persons with sharp-edged weapons in Bhabhiana. Davinder Pal, Harmesh Lal, Meena Rani and Shadi Ram were injured and were admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

In the second incident, four persons, including a woman, sustained severe injuries in a violent clash in Domeli village. The police said clash took place over water sharing issue. — OC

Two die in road accident
Ashok Kaura

Phagwara, October 30
Two teenaged persons of Anheer village, identified as Akshya Kumar and Gurdip Kumar, died in a road mishap on Saturday afternoon. Their motorcycle (PB-37E-5867) hit an iron gate while they were on their way to Gurre village. Gurdip died on the spot, while Akshay succumbed to his injuries on the way to Ludhiana Hospital.

The accident occurred when the motorcyclist lost the control of his vehicle, police said. Later hundreds of villagers attended their funeral