Bathinda, November 26
In protest against the non-acceptance of their demand, the members of the Unemployed Multi-purpose Health Workers (Male) Union, Punjab, led by state president Surjit Singh, today took out a protest march from the local Teachers' Home to the railway overbridge (ROB), situated near the Civil Hospital, raising slogans against the Punjab government.

Later, the protesters blocked traffic on the ROB for about half-an-hour, leading to great inconvenience to the commuters.

However, for causing inconvenience to the people by blocking the road, the police rounded up about 30 protesters to clear the way. The police took them to an undisclosed place, and later let them off.

They were demanding their recruitment in the Health Department on a regular basis.

They were alleging that the Chief Minister had assured them that an advertisement would be published in the newspapers to fill the 976 vacant posts of the multi-purpose health worker, but nothing had been done so far in this regard.

They said that despite their agitation for the past several months, no attention was being paid by the government to fill the vacant posts.

The protesters also gave a warning to the state government that in case their demand was not met soon then they would start dharnas through out the state from November 30 to compel the government to issue advertisement for filling the vacant posts.

Tehsildar-cum-executive magistrate Avtar Singh Makkar said that the administration had to initiate action against the protesters as they were adamant to continue the blockade on the ROB. State president Surjit Singh said the police took them to Sangat in a vehicle and later let them off.

Bathinda, November 26
The number of HIV positive cases detected in the district has registered an alarming rise of 25 per cent against the previous year.

Over 200 HIV ((human immunodeficiency virus) positive cases have so far been detected from Bathinda district this year while the number was 150 in the entire 2010.

According to the information gathered, so far, as many as 210 HIV positive cases have been detected from the district in this calendar year. The Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC), Bathinda, has detected 179 HIV positive cases.

Further, hospitals and health centres situated at Bhuchho, Nathana and Goniana have reported seven cases to the ICTC, Bathinda.

Besides, 21 cases and three cases have been detected by the ICTCs situated at Rampura and Talwandi Sabo, respectively.

In 2010, over 100 HIV positive cases were detected at the ICTC, Bathinda, while the centres at Rampura and Talwandi Sabo reported 24 and 18 cases, respectively.

Besides the detection of HIV positive cases, three deaths of the HIV/AIDS patients have also been reported by the ICTC, Bathinda, in the current calendar year 2011 so far while three deaths have also been reported by the ICTC, Rampura.

In contrast, five deaths were reported in the district in 2010, two from Rampura area and three from Talwandi Sabo area.

It is learnt that since September 2010, the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre, which provides treatment to HIV positive cases and is situated at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, has registered over 930 cases.

However, it is providing medicine to about 540 patients these days.

Sources said there could be many other HIV positive patients in the district, who could not be detected so far as they have not been facing any health-related problem yet.

Persons contract HIV due to unsafe sex, use of infected syringes, blood transfusion and from parent to child.

However, the transmission of virus from parent to child can be prevented by giving medicine to the mother during pregnancy and labour, and to the child within 72 hours of birth.

It is reported that after taking medicines, eight HIV positive mothers in the district delivered HIV negative babies in the recent past.

Bathinda, November 26
The police has arrested a person with 10 kilograms of marijuana from near the Sainik guest-house. The accused has been identified as Lalit Kumar, a resident of Chatar Ghan village of Khagaria district in Bihar.

The complainant, sub-inspector Nirmal Singh, who is also the investigating officer in the case, said the accused was under suspicion for carrying the contraband. Police officials said a large number of youngsters and ascetics had been consuming marijuana in the city. The addicts usually sell the same at places surrounding the vegetable market, railway station, bus stand and other public places in the city.

A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against him at the Civil Lines police station.

Meanwhile, the police claimed to have arrested one Rattan Kumar, a resident of Guru Ki Nagari, for selling medicines without any prescription and licence.

Head constable Raghubir Singh, the investigating officer, said the accused had been selling drugs to youngsters of the area by posing as a qualified doctor.

A dummy customer was sent to him on the Naruana road and he was caught red-handed while selling drugs. As many as 85 vials of a drug has been recovered from his possession. A case under Section 15 of the Indian Medical Act 1956 and 420 of the IPC has been registered against him. — TNS

Bathinda, November 26
The interviews scheduled for December 2 for the recruitment in the Punjab Police have been postponed to December 4. SSP Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill said the interview had been postponed due to organisational reasons. “The candidates, who were called on December 2, will now have to come on December 4 at 7 am at the Police Lines in Bathinda," he said. — TNS

Bathinda, November 26
One hundred and sixty eight cases were resolved during the monthly Lok Adalat held today under the district and sessions judge SK Aggarwal. The court awarded Rs 1,76,80,210 in these cases.

Speaking on the occasion, district and sessions judge SK Aggarwal said that the Lok Adalat is held on the last Saturday of every month at Bathinda, Phool and Talwandi Sabo and on the last Friday of every month, the Lok Adalat is held at the Laboor Court, Bathinda.

“The basic aim of the Lok Adalat is to provide speedy justice to litigants in order to save their time, energy and money. It also helps to reduce enmity between two factions. Except for the serious criminal acts, Lok Adalat deals with all kinds of cases. Even disputes not pending with the courts are resolved in the Lok Adalat. Such cases will have to give an application to be a part of Lok Adalat,” he said.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Harjit Singh said the Lok Adalat delivers instant justice and no appeal could be filed against this decision.

Prominent among others present on the occasion included the additional district judge Gurbir Singh, additional district sessions judge Dilbagh Singh, additional district judge Lachhman Singh, additional district judge HS Lekhi, additional civil judge, senior division, KK Singla, civil judge, junior division, Karan Garg, special judicial magistrate HL Kumar, assistant district attorney R K Sharma, president bar association Rajan Garg, advocate Lalit Garg and others.

Bathinda, November 26
The NGO, Triveni Welfare Club, distributed woollen clothes to 71 students at the MHR School in Ganesha Basti on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, the president of the club, Anil Kumar Mittal said that soon, a free medical check-up camp would also be organised for the needy.

Mittal said the organisation will also be holding such student-friendly welfare programmes in future.

Ashwini Malhotra, an office-bearer, said a free eye check-up would also be held wherein children with weak eye sight would be provided with spectacles. Required medicines would also be provided to them, he added.

Bathinda, November 26
A resident of Railway Colony, Bathinda has been booked for beating a resident of Sirki Bazar.

In his complaint to the police, Parkash said that he was on his way to Lal Singh Basti on Wednesday when Teetu along with an unidentified man thrashed him. The accused took away Rs 4,040 from his pocket and also snatched a gold chain of five tola, a silver ring.

They also threatened the complainant with dire consequences. A case under Sections 382, 506 and 34 of the IPC has been registered in this regard at the Canal Colony police station.

Four persons, including a resident of Gidder village and his two sons-in-law, have been booked by the police for beating up a widow and her son over a property dispute.

In her complaint to the police, Manjeet Kaur alleged that Buta Singh, his two sons-in-law and an unidentified man attacked her and inflicted injuries upon her and son on Tuesday night.

The accused have been booked under Sections 452, 324, 323 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Nathana police station.

No arrests have been made by the police in this regard so far.

Bathinda, November 26
The annual day function of the Saint Paul's High School, Adarsh Nagar, was held today with gaiety and fervour. Children of the school presented scintillating dance items that regaled the audience. The highlight of the day was a dance drama by the students titled 'World Peace-Humanity's Ultimate Goal'. A Punjabi play highlighting the skewed sex ration was also staged. It laid stress upon the need to value a girl child.

Rajinder Mittal, managing director, Bathinda Chemicals, was the chief guest while the Deputy Mayor of Bathinda Gurinderpal Kaur Mangat was the guest of honour. Principal of the school AK Lawrence presented the school's annual report and thanked the guests.

Bathinda, November 26
The Delhi Public School, Bathinda organized its annual prize distribution ceremony today.

Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav, was the chief guest at the ceremony while Dr Avtar Singh Dhillon, SMO, Civil Hospital, Goniana, was the guest of honour.

As many as 494 students were honoured for their academic and co-curricular excellence. Sixty-one students received Scholar Blazers for achieving academic excellence in three consecutive years.

To motivate the students to do their best, prizes were given to students who had shown improvement in their grades. To motivate the students to come to school regularly, special prizes were given to those who did not miss the school ever for a day.

The vote of thanks was proposed by senior mistress Paramjeet Kingra. — TNS

Bathinda, November 26
The Indian Medical Association, Bathinda, organised a CME on Friday evening at Hotel Sepal.

The topic was "Intervention in neurovascular disorder-a new era". Noted speakers from Medanta, the Medicity Institute of Neurosciences, Gurgoan, Dr Vipul Gupta and Dr Karanjit Narang, enlightened the members of the IMA. — TNS