Bathinda, October 31
The sports stadium here has been turned into a citadel with the deployment of 2700 policemen ahead of the dream project of the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal — World Cup Kabaddi.

A flurry of activity was witnessed around the stadium today where Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan will perform.

Punjab government is spending a whopping Rs 5.74 crore rupees on the opening and closing ceremony of the event despite criticism by the opposition and the residents in an election year.

The district administration has formed 12 different committees to make the event a success.

With the entire police force and officials of the district administration working round-the-clock for the Kabaddi Cup, government offices and police stations wore a deserted look today.

Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav, SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill and Director, Sports, Pargat Singh briefed the media about tomorrow's event.

The DC said that no stone had been unturned to make the programme a success and all the civil and police officials had been working round-the- clock for over 15 days for the success of the event.

He said special arrangements have been made for the spectators and even minute details have been discussed at length.

"Our initiative is to help the people in watching the international event with ease. The entire city will be sealed tomorrow and parking lots have been earmarked a few kilometers ahead of the venue," he said.

There are seven entry gates. Entry for the general public will be free. Entry with passes (only for the VIPs and VVIPs) will be allowed at gate number one and six. Yellow passes will be for gate number one and green passes for gate number 6. The general public may enter from gate numbers 4, 7, and 8.

There will be separate parking for the two-wheelers and four-wheelers. People coming from Rampura Phul, Mansa and Muktsar may park their vehicles on way to the stadium.

Every movement on every entry gate will be recorded where a duty magistrate would be deployed.

Nobody will be allowed to carry any bags or packets except their mobile phones.

The function would start at 5.30 pm and will continue till 9 pm.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal will inaugurate the stadium. 

Bathinda, October 31
The second edition of the World Cup Kabaddi would be a fiercely fought battle this time with past winner India and the teams of Pakistan and Canada in good nick this time.

These teams have got experienced players confident of winning the cup.

The players said that in 2010, the World Cup Kabaddi was announced in a jiffy leaving just a few days to prepare. Seeing the response from the public last year, the players of all these teams are enthusiastic this time.

"This year, we had plenty of time to practice. We have picked the best of players, who will perform to the hilt. Being the last year's winners, we have public trust on our side," said the coach of the Indian team Harjit Singh Baba.

Baba added that Canada and Pakistan would pose a challenge to India. These two teams are in their best form and have practiced during the 15-day camp.

The Canadian team has many key players who have played at the national and international level. Similarly, seeing the Pakistan team play would be a treat for the sport lovers.

Sukhbir Sarawan will lead the Indian team while Hardavinder Singh Dulla Surakhpuria would be his deputy. Five key players of last year's champion kabaddi team, namely Sukhbir Singh Sarawan, Hardavinder Singh Dulla, Gulzar Singh Moonak, Mangat Singh Mangi Bagga and Narinder Kumar Bittu Dugaal have been retained, while nine new players including Gurlal Ghanaur would represent India for the first time.

Sikander Singh Malooka, President of the Punjab Kabaddi Association, said that the 14-member Indian kabaddi team comprises of seven raiders and defenders while four more players have been retained as standbys.

Besides Baba, the coaching staff of the Indian kabaddi team includes Dalbir Singh Bittu and Harbans Singh, while Gurdeep Singh Malhi has been designated as the team manager.

Other members of the Indian kabaddi team include Sandeep Dirba, Gagandeep Singh Gaggi Khiranwal, Talwinder Singh Sonu, Sikander Singh Kanjhli, Ekam Hathoor, Narinder Nindi Benra, Jagdeep Singh Kaka Ghaniwal and Gurwinder Singh Kahlwan. Besides, Vicky Ghanaur, Talwinder Singh Tinda, Yadwinder Singh Kotli and Gurpreet Singh Maheru are the standby players.

Baba today said that the main focus was on the fitness of the players during the three-week long training camp organized at Bathinda. Technique will also play an important role besides experience. He said that raiders Sukhbir Singh Sarawan, Dulla Surakhpuria and Gulzar Moonak besides defenders Bittu Dugaal and Nindi Benra were in great form and he was fully confident that the Indian team would defend its title. He added that besides India and Pakistan, teams from Canada, England, Australia, Spain and Italy were also in good form.

Bathinda, October 31
Massive cleanliness drive launched in the city today is not due to the widespread dengue fever and other diseases but for the VIPs and VVIPs visiting the city ahead of the Kabaddi World Cup.

The government servants were seen supervising the restoration of broken railings, streetlights, power cables. Besides, the roadside garbage has also been removed. This is being done following the orders of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal in view of the opening ceremony of the World Kabaddi Cup-II in Bathinda tomorrow. The orders from the top most officials trickled down to the sweepers,

“We have nothing to do with the Kabaddi Cup. We are following the orders of the politicians," said a sweeper blowing the roadside dust near the rose garden.

“Such cleanliness drives were never launched even during the time of the outbreak of severe diseases. Since the ruling party has its own interest, they have launched a cleanliness drive,” said Manoj Kumar, a shopkeeper on the Bibiwala road.

Officials of the district administration and Municipal Corporation said they have launched the cleanliness drive in view of the VIP and VVIP visits during the inauguration of the Kabaddi cup. “Shah Rukh Khan, kabaddi players, top brass of the Punjab Government, senior-most government functionaries are visiting and the city must get a facelift for such occasions,” said a senior official of the district administration, pleading anonymity. 

Bathinda October 31
To avoid any untoward incident during the inauguration of the multi-crore mega event of the World Kabaddi Cup-II, the Fire Department in Bathinda district as well as fire brigades of the adjoining districts have been directed to remain alert. Besides, the fire brigades employees as well as fire-tenders have been called to the stadium.

Two fire-tenders have come from Mansa and Faridkot districts each and one has come from Muktsar. There would be a total of seven vehicles with four-five firemen deployed for the show. Two fire-tenders would remain in the stadium and the rest would be positioned along the boundary walls.

Extensive arrangements have been made by the administration for the World Cup, in which around 25,000 spectators and all the VVIPs and bigwigs of the state would arrive. Sub-fire officer Jaswinder Singh Brar said, “Our department would remain attentive and remain on its toes for two days as it is the biggest event organised in the city. Though we are prepared, however, in case of any emergency, we can call for more fire-tenders from the National Fertilizer Limited (NFL), Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) and the Army Cantonment and even from the Air Force Station of Bhisiana with whom our fire-station has a mutual link.” On the other hand, in the VVIP section, which is a closed glass compartment, a total of 10 fire-extinguishers have been installed and five to six fire brigade employees would be on duty there.

The Additional Divisional Fire Officer (ADFO) Baldev Singh said the event would witness a lot of fireworks for which they need to be extra vigilant and fire extinguishers would also be installed on the fire-prone areas where the generators are fitted and near the stage where the artists would perform.

He said Bathinda Deputy Commissioner (DC) KK Yadav had given the instruction to call two fire-tenders from the adjoining districts of Mansa, Muktsar and Faridkot so that adequate arrangements are in place in case of an emergency.

Bathinda, October 31
While seven medical teams along with ambulance vans have been formed to meet any exigency on the inaugural day of the Kabaddi World Cup, the patients being treated by them will be deprived of their services as these doctors will be on duty from 9 am on Tuesday till the ceremony ends.

The doctors in the medical teams have been drawn from the local Civil Hospital and the community health centres (CHCs) besides other hospitals of the district.

Each medical team will have two doctors, a pharmacist, a driver and a Class IV employee. The teams have been provided with a well-equipped ambulance, having an oxygen cylinder, a suction machine, a splinter, medicines and bandages.

A district-level health officer said there would be other doctors available to check the patients in the hospitals and the CHCs. A team has also been formed for sampling the food. This team will be present near the VVIP block at the stadium. Another team has been formed for sanitation. This team will also scrutinise pure drinking water at the venue.

To deal with an eventuality like stampede, the district health authorities have also made the local Civil Hospital a 'Referral Hospital' so that the victims could be brought there directly as the police will have specific information about it. A special room is being prepared on the ground floor of the emergency wing at the Civil Hospital for the staff of the referral hospital. A surgeon, a medical specialist, an anaesthetist and supporting staff would be deployed there.

A team with an ambulance will be at the VVIP gate. The second team will be at the players' gate, the third inside the stadium at Block-B, the fourth at Block-E, the fifth at Hanuman Chowk, the sixth at Ghanahaya Chowk (near the lakes) and the seventh team at Bibi Wala Chowk. All these teams have been arranged from Bathinda, Rampura, Goniana, Talwandi Sabo, Bhagta and Mehraj. 

Bathinda, October 31
Had the government spared even a crore for the dengue patients, the situation in Bathinda could have been different. This is the predominant view among the residents here. Echoing this, senior BJP municipal councillor Krishan Kumar Garg said while the government is busy spending Rs 17 crores on kabaddi, it did not provide enough funds for the dengue patients in the city.

While the officially confirmed dengue cases are 537, the actual number could be much higher as many cases do not get reported at all.

Presently, every patient is spending around Rs 1,000 for dengue tests conducted at private labs. Garg suggested that the government should hold massive dengue screening camps wherein tests be conducted free of cost.

"Holding celebrations at a time when hundreds are down with dengue, sounds absurd. Even Diwali was sombre this time. Then why can't the Kabaddi Cup be toned down? The extravaganza is ironical as the city does not even have enough government hospitals and doctors,” he added. Garg suggested that doctors from other districts, not affected by dengue, should have been sent here on deputation.

On priority basis, the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) should have convened an emergency meeting to deal with the epidemic. But it did not do so. The BMC House has not met since June 24.

Members of the NGO, Citizens' Welfare Society, also felt that things could have been better. Its chairman Manohar Lal Bansal said the administration is a mute spectator to the fleecing of dengue patients by private doctors and laboratories. "The visits of politicians to the Civil Hospital will not serve any purpose unless orders passed on such visits are made practical,” he said.

Bathinda October 31
For the inaugural ceremony of the Kabaddi World Cup-II, the city has witnessed a heavy influx of police personnel, which has brought a boom in the businesses of small food vendors. From all the districts, around 200 police personnel have been deployed for the mega event.

During the lunch hours, the policemen were seen occupying space in various small food joints on the road from the National Sports Stadium where the ceremony is to be held till the Mall Road.

Ramji runs a small shop near the Hanuman Chowk, where he provides food from 9 am till 3 pm. He said, “Due to the World Cup ceremony on Tuesday, as many as 60-70 policemen came here to have their lunch. We hope the same rush on the days of the matches too.” On any plans to extend the timing for today, he said that once his stock gets finished, he will have to leave.

A small vendor of snacks, Pankaj was in high spirits as his ‘kulcha’ and ‘tikki’ were selling like hot cakes in the afternoon. He was stationed near the petrol pump near the Hanuman Chowk.

As a routine, he has to wait for the customers. But today, he had no time even to reply to his customers as his vend was totally occupied by the men in khaki, as it is the nearest destination approached by the policemen. “Many police personnel have arrived here today and I have no idea about their exact numbers. Even some women cops have come to have their meals here,” he said.

On the other hand, the higher ranks chose to have their meals at the big restaurants.

Hotel Sweet Milan had the order of food for 45 persons including the gazetted officials from Bagapurana in Moga district.

The manager of the hotel said they had two more functions lined up in the halls of the hotel. However, they have somehow managed to provide food to the police personnel. 

Bathinda October 31
For the second time, the Baba Farid College, Deon, has become the champion of inter-zonal cricket tournament', which was organised at the Baba Farid College.

A total of four teams participated in the tournament. The first semi-final was played between Patel College (Rajpura) and Baba Farid College (Deon) while the second semi-final match was played between the Punjabi University (Patiala) and Mata Gujri College (Fatehgarh Sahib). The final match was played between Baba Farid College and Punjabi University, in which, the former team scored 144 in 20 overs and won the match. Karan, captain of the winning team, was the best performer with 45 scores.

The Baba Farid Group of Institutes (BFGI) honoured the team with a cash prize. Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal, MD, BFGI, applauded the team on their victory and motivated the students for more such achievements in their life. Dr Pardeep Kauda, associate director and all the faculty members congratulated the champion team.

From the winner's team, nine players have been shortlisted for the university camp, in which the players would be coached to play for the JP Attre trophy.

Bathinda, October 31
The 27th death anniversary of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was observed as 'Balidan Divas' by the District Congress Committee (Urban) here, today.

Local Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi and several other Congress leaders including district Congress president Ashok Kumar, a delegate of the Punjab Congress KK Aggarwal, Iqbal Singh Dhillon and Rattan Rahi paid tributes to her. The Congress workers observed a two-minute silence to pay respects to Indira Gandhi.

Meanwhile, the Rajiv Gandhi Lok Bhalai Manch, Punjab, under the presidentship of its chairman Dr Satpal Bhathheja also observed the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi here. Vice-chairman, Manch, Ranjit Singh Grewal and president Tehal Singh Sandhu also paid tributes to the late Prime Minister.