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Polling booth in Bhagwanpura declared vulnerable
Unaccounted Rs 5 lakh seized from city resident
Crime nosedives as forces deployed in strength in city
Poll observer directs decking up of booths
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Punjab Mail to hit Rajpath on R-Day
Best news received, say Punjab Mail drivers
Admn to check gun houses randomly
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Bhupinder Singh Rai, at a meeting with the arms dealers of the district in Bathinda on Wednesday. A tribune photograph
Rajindra College
abuzz with activity
Volunteers donating blood at the blood donation camp organised in the college in Bathinda on Wednesday. photo: Bhupinder Dhillon
Notices issued to eight independent candidates
Harsimrat lashes out at Cong
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member of Parliament from Bathinda. a file photograph
Unemployed linemen to burn effigy on Jan 22
Three injured in road
accidents
Railway police arrests four CST plate stealing thieves
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Polling booth in Bhagwanpura declared vulnerable
Bathinda, January 18 District Election Officer KK Yadav said the booth had a history of dispute between the SC population and general population living in its vicinity. “In mid-2010, the two factions had a major dispute over some panchayat land. Following the orders of the Election Commission of India (ECI), we notified the booth as vulnerable,” he said. Since 2010, the two parties have been entering into dispute time and again, which could prove harmful for the electorates. Four persons in the area have been rounded up under Sections 107 and 151 of the IPC while 11 families have been identified that can face threat on the day of polling. The emphasis is now on conducting confidence building exercises in the area through flag marches. This would aim at bolstering the electorate’s confidence in the administration’s preparedness to hold free and fair polls. The area returning officer and the DSP have already visited the place, while a CRPF unit is also being sent. In the next few days, the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP shall also visit the place. There are 929 polling booths in the district. Besides notifying one booth as vulnerable, 31 have been declared critical (which have history of re-polling or violence), 363 as sensitive, 248 as hyper-sensitive and 286 as ordinary polling booths. Paramilitary forces, micro observes and video cameras would monitor the vulnerable and all critical booths while at 518 polling locations micro-observers have been deployed. These micro-observers would be either Central Government or bank employees, who will report directly to the observer. What is vulnerable polling station...ay The ECI orders dated Oct 12, 2007 prevention of intimidation to voters of vulnerable section of electorate states: “Taking a due cognisance of the role being played by the muscle power in elections and taking into account certain prevailing socio-economic realities of electoral politics, the commission has decided to issue a set of instructions to curb the menace of threat and intimidation during elections. For this, locations within a polling station area that are vulnerable to such threats and intimidation have been identified. These booths are identified as vulnerable booths.”
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Unaccounted Rs 5 lakh seized from city resident
Bathinda, January 18 Officials compiling the reports on a daily basis said reports of the recovery of drugs and the unaccounted money are being sent to the senior functionaries of the Election Commission. These reports are sent daily after every few hours till 10 pm. A naka was laid by the police and officials of the flying squad of the static surveillance team headed by Gurmeet Singh. District Revenue Officer Amandeep Bhatti said the money recovered has been handed over to the officials of the income tax who are investigating the source of money. They are enquiring about the reason behind the carrying of such a huge amount by the person. “The income tax officials would enquire into the matter and if satisfied, they may return the money or it will be seized till the owners of money submit all the documents pertaining to the money,” Bhatti said. Today, the money was recovered near Rose Garden Chowk from Vinod Pant, a resident of Bibi Wala Road. The officials on election duty said that so far, Rs 1.03 crores have been seized from different places at the nakas in the district. Apart from the money, 96 litres of illicit liquor, more than 2800 bottles of country-made liquor, 15 boxes of beer, eight boxes of whiskey have also been also recovered by the police. Police have registered cases in this connection and more than a dozen people have also been arrested during the past one month. The seized drugs also include 313 kg poppy husk, 1 kg ganja, 69 grams smack, 2 kg opium and 900 intoxicating tablets. Apart from the seizure of drugs by the police, bottles seized by the Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC) has seized 6292 bottles.
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Crime nosedives as forces deployed in strength in city
Bathinda, January 18 It is after a long time that no case has been registered at the police stations. A section of the policemen, while talking to TNS, said there are many factors responsible for the diminishing crime in the city. Most of the already police force, already facing staff crunch, has been deployed on election duty and only a few policemen are deployed at the police stations. Those present at the police stations fail to get the cases registered until there is some heinous crime in their respective areas. Admitting shortage of force, an SHO deployed in the city, while talking to TNS, said that apart from a decline in the number of cases registered, the routine work at the police stations too have been affected due to the deployment of policemen on election duty. The doctors on emergency duty at the Civil Hospital said that they have also witnessed a decline in the number of routine incidents of quarrels among the people, especially from the rural areas. Neither has any snatching incident been reported in the city for the past few days nor any theft incident has been reported in view of the round-the-clock patrolling by the police and paramilitary forces. “We have got some respite from the crime but we are lagging behind in pursuing the pending criminal cases. There has been a sudden decline in the smuggling of narcotics, theft and snatching incidents, but the pendency is also piling up”, said the SHO of Civil Line police station, Pritpal Singh. Residents, especially the shopkeepers, adjoining the old bus stand where a large number of theft incidents were reported in the last few months, said they now feel secure with round-the-clock deployment of the police. “The police vehicles remain parked around the roundabouts in the city till late at night. Also, the drug addicts creating a din in the city too have disappeared, though temporarily, due to the deployment,” said Rippie, the owner of a gift store near Jujhar Singh Nagar. He pointed out that some drug addicts used to stray around his store, driving vehicles at breakneck speed. But they are not coming now due to the deployment of the police force. “Though this is a temporary relief but we expect the police to remain vigilant even after completion of the poll process,” Rippie said. SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts. |
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Poll observer directs decking up of booths
Bathinda, January 18 During a visit to the polling locations in the district, the election observer noted that in the government schools, the polling booth numbers have not been written clearly. Besides, a number of other discrepancies were noted at these polling stations. The observer brought this to the notice of the District Education Officer (Secondary) who has issued letters to the heads of all government schools where these polling booths are located. The heads of schools have been directed that the numbers on polling stations should be written clearly. It has also been directed that proper cleanliness and tidiness at the booths should be maintained. On the day of the polling, January 30, children would be seated inside the school premises on their respective pieces of furniture. It has been strictly directed that students should not be seated outside their classes, even on the mats. |
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Punjab Mail to hit Rajpath on R-Day
Bathinda, January 18 The pride of Malwa, Punjab Mail, is going to be a part of the prestigious Republic Day parade as the Railways decided to showcase the train that runs between Ferozepur and Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus via Bathinda, New Delhi and other stations to commemorate the 100 years of this first train on the broad gauge network. The replica of the train would be part of the R- Day tableau, sources in the railway said, adding that a troupe of artistes, including bhangra, would also be performing. Meanwhile, the development drew a controversy in the election season, which the railways sources termed unwarranted as it may not violate the code of conduct, as reported in a section of the media. Sources in the railways said they decided to showcase the train at the Republic Day parade in December before the announcement of the election schedule. Upbeat over the railways' decision, passengers and railway officials in Bathinda have thanked the railways for bringing Malwa in its plan and showcasing the pride of Malwa in the R-Day parade. The train number 12137/38, running from Ferozepur to CST has altogether 24 coaches. The train, during the journey, covers 1930 km, touching 54 stations in about 34 hours. Fact file *The pride of Malwa, Punjab Mail, will participate in the prestigious Republic Day parade. *A replica of the Express train will be part of the Republic Day tableau. *Passengers and railway officials in Bathinda have thanked the railways for bringing Malwa in its plan and showcasing the pride of Malwa in the R-Day parade. |
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Best news received, say Punjab Mail drivers
Bathinda, January 18 Such is the enduring enigma of the men who drive the locomotives connecting men and destinations in the country. More so for Kanwal Narayan, a loco pilot mail, stationed in Bathinda, who was to drive the 12138 Punjab Mail till New Delhi on the night of January 18. For him, the news about the Punjab Mail being displayed in the coming R-Day parade, is one of the best he has received in the recent past as the information came to him at a time when he was about to board the train, but not as a passenger. Talking to the Bathinda Tribune, just before stepping into the cabin of the Punjab Mail on Wednesday evening, Kanwal said he had been one of the pilots of the train for the last four years. He said that he was quite happy after getting the news and considered himself fortunate of having the opportunity to serve the passengers of the train. He termed Punjab Mail as one of the best trains built to provide a comfortable journey to its passengers. Kanwal along with assistant driver Murli Dhar Meena was to take the train from Bathinda up to New Delhi on Wednesday night. The recent news about the Punjab Mail has made happy the railway drivers besides infusing a sense of joy in the railway fraternity in Bathinda. Kuldeep Singh, who had been a part of the crew of the Punjab Mail for about five years till 2010, said he had several wonderful memories related to the trains. Being part of the Punjab Mail had been an interesting and good experience for him. Rajinder Kumar, who was an assistant driver between 2006 and 2009 of the Punjab Mail, said that serving the passengers of the train would be a memorable experience for him. Besides many things, the train would also always be remembered by its passengers for its punctuality, he said. Expressing happiness over the development, the ATM Bathinda, SP Singh Bhatia, said, "We feel proud to be associated with the train along with the entire Indian Railway and Ambala division." |
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‘It was 1942, a love story’
Bathinda, January 18 This is how, seventy four-year-old Pritam Kaur Bhatia described the situation that used to unfurl whenever the “lifeline” of that time of the region– the Punjab Mail— reached the station. Pritam Kaur, a retired principal and resident of Ferozepur, while recollecting the memories associated with the Punjab Mail, told Bathinda Tribune on Wednesday that she felt proud to be one of the witnesses of that occasion. Pritam Kaur got the opportunity as her father Bakshi Singh Bhatia was a railway employee, and served the British Railway and the Indian Railway during his tenure with the department. Bakshi Singh, who retired from service in 1957, was a station master at that time in Ferozpur City. Pritam said that the Ferozepur City station used to be a place of importance at that time due to the Punjab Mail. She felts sad that the city station is not a very happening place nowadays from the passengers’ point of view as only a few passengers trains touch the station. “As a child, I along with my friends used to go to the station to relish the food at the station at the time of the arrival of the train,” said Pritam Kaur, adding that people from the nearby places also thronged the station at the time as some food stalls came up during those moments. She remembered two food stalls for different communities. “I waited for the train many times just to enjoy the ambience,” she disclosed, adding that many economic activities revolved around the Punjab Mail, which indirectly provided a source of income for many at the station. “I had the privilege to come close to the train, being the ward of a railway staff as many railway staff recognised me,” she said. “Seeing the British sitting in first class compartment was the reason why many went to the station,” she said, “I have numerous things to talk about the train.” I am happy that the train would be part of the R-Day parade, said a nostalgic Pritam Kaur. The timeline * When started on June 1, 1912, the train was known as the Punjab Limited Express and was owned by the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. *
It ran between Ballard Pier Mole and Peshawar (now in Pakistan). * The purpose to run the train was to carry British officials and their families coming from South Hampton port to go to several places during the colonial rule. *
The fare of train was included in the tickets given to ship passengers. *
In 1914, the train started originating from the Bombay VT. * In British era, it was the fastest and most luxurious train with all the first class coaches having the facility of restaurant car. *
In 1930, a third class coach was introduced in the train. * The first air-conditioned car was introduced in 1945. *
After the partition, the train started terminating at Ferozepur. Current status: *
The train no. 12138 Ferozepur-CST reaches Bathinda at 11.25 pm and departs after a 10-minute halt. *
The crew or drivers of the train are replaced in Bathinda and the team with guard take the train up to New Delhi where a new team takes over. *
On its return journey to Ferozepur as train no. 12137, the Punjab Mail arrives at Bathinda at 3.40 am and leaves the platform after 10 minutes. *
The train has 24 coaches. Out of these eight are air conditioned — five III-AC, one II-AC, one II & III AC and one I & II AC coaches. The train covers 1,930 km touching 54 stations in about 34 hours. |
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Admn to check gun houses randomly
Bathinda, January 18 The checking is necessitated as a large number of arms licence holders have deposited their weapons in the gun houses in the wake of the upcoming Assembly elections. According to the information available, there are over 18,500 arms licence holders in the district. Over 12,000 weapons have been deposited with the police and the owners of the gun houses in the district so far. However, there are thousands of arms holders, including military personnel and police personnel, who are exempted from depositing their weapons. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Bhupinder Singh Rai, who held a meeting with the arms dealers of the district here today, while speaking to Bathinda Tribune, said the dealers had also been asked to get from the arms owners the details in writing concerning the weapons received for repair purposes. As many as 16 arms dealers (14 from Bathinda, one each from Rampura Phul and Maur) attended the meeting today. The ADC said he had also asked the arms dealers to ensure the security and maintenance of their gun houses. He had also asked the dealers not to deposit weapons more than the storage capacity of their gun houses. The arms dealers have also been asked to make available by today evening the number of arms deposited by them in their gun houses. District administration has directed the owners of weapons to deposit their arms with either the police stations or the private gun houses before the polling day. Meanwhile, as per the new instructions, the new fee for depositing a weapon in a gun house has been fixed at `50 while it is `75 for two weapons. Earlier, `6 were charged as fee for depositing a weapon. Fact file * There are over 18,500 arms licence holders in the district. Over 12,000 weapons have been deposited with the police and the owners of the gun houses in the district so far. * Arms holders, including military personnel and police personnel, are exempted from depositing their weapons. * The new fee for depositing a weapon in a gun house has been fixed at Rs 50 while it is Rs 75 for two weapons. Earlier, Rs 6 were charged as fee for depositing a weapon.
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Rajindra College
abuzz with activity
Bathinda, January 18
The blood donation camp was inaugurated by the college principal, Vijay Goyal. Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Kamal Kishore Yadav was also present on the occasion and encouraged the donors. Although as many as 100 volunteers had registered themselves for donating blood, after medical examination, 61 volunteers were declared physically fit to do so. Vice-principal of the college, Prof Malkit Singh Gill, gave away certificates to the volunteers. The Deputy Commissioner also presided over the voter awareness campaign. Speaking to the students about the importance of voting, he told them how it was not only their right but also duty to cast their vote to strengthen the democracy. “Special efforts are being made to encourage the youth in the age group of 18-25 years to exercise their right to franchise,” he said. “In the last assembly elections, 75 per cent of the Bathinda residents had cast their votes. This year, our target is to have 100 per cent votes. To ensure an increase in the number of women casting their votes, the Election Commission has issued instructions that women will be given priority while casting of votes,” he added. Also present on the occasion were Kumar Amit and coordinator of the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA), Mandeep Singh.
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Notices issued to eight independent candidates
Bathinda, January 18 In the notices issued by him, the Rampura Phul RO has stated that his office had informed the candidates that on January 18 the expenditure and general observers would inspect their expenditure registers. The candidates were required to be present with the records of expenditure, being incurred by them during the elections, and the expenditure registers. But neither these candidates nor their representatives today presented themselves, along with the expenditure records in his office at the scheduled time. Now these candidates have been asked to produce the expenditure records on January 20 at 11 in the morning, otherwise action will be taken against them under the Section 77 of the the People’s Representation Act – 1951. The notices have been issued to Manjit Singh, Jaswant Singh, Amarjit Singh, Parveen Kumar, Manjit Kaur, Paramjit Singh and Harinderjit Singh. Likewise, the RO for Talwandi Sabo constituency has also issued notice to an independent candidate, Ajaib Singh, for not producing the expenditure record. Ajaib Singh has been asked to produce the record on January 19 before 4 in the evening to evade any action.
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Harsimrat lashes out at Cong
Bathinda, January 18 Addressing the people at various gatherings in the Talwandi Sabo area, Harsimrat asked the people why they should believe Amarinder who could not fulfill even a single promise made to them in his earlier manifesto. She said Amarinder had discontinued free power for 36 months and questioned the sincerity of the Congress party towards its manifesto. She said it was public knowledge that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and vice-chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, have made it clear to the Punjab Congress unit that it should not include these subsidy-oriented schemes in the party manifesto. She challenged the Prime Minister to announce on the stage, during his visit to Amritsar and Ludhiana, that free power to farmers would continue and the government would give wheat to the poor at `1 per kg and the union government would bear the budgetary constraints incurred by these consessions. Calling upon the people to reject the Congress, a party that was not sincere, Harsimrat said Amarinder will hardly be accessible even to his party MLAs.
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Unemployed linemen to burn effigy on Jan 22
Bathinda, January 18
In a press note issued here today, the district advisor of the union, Jagjit Singh, said resentment prevailed among the unemployed linemen against the state government as the ‘defects’, detected in the special leave petition (SLP) filed in the Supreme Court by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), had not been rectified so far. The SLP was filed for getting vacated the stay, granted by the High Court on the recruitment of linemen. Jagjit said as part of the agitation programme, the union would burn the effigy of the state government in Bathinda on January 22. He also said if their demand was not met, then they would oppose the SAD candidate in the elections by visiting door to door in the Lambi constituency. He also appealed to all the unemployed linemen to participate in the January 22 effigy burn programme.
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Three injured in road
accidents
Bathinda, January 18 In another road accident, a rickshaw puller was seriously injured after being hit by a speeding car. The accident took place on the railway road. The victim has been identified as Ravi, who is undergoing treatment at the emergency ward of local hospital.
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Railway police arrests four CST plate stealing thieves
Bathinda, January 18 Each plate weighs 40 kg and the cost of both the plates is `4,000. Duty magistrate Karan Garg sent them to judicial remand till February 1. RPF officials said the thieves were drug addicts and had been stealing the plates to arrange money.
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Electrocuted
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May I have your attention, please!
The train number 12138 Punjab Mail is all set to arrive on the Rajpath in New Delhi on January 26!
Sounds unusual but true!
During the current Assembly elections, the district administration has decided to conduct random checkings of the gun houses in the district.
Bathinda, January 18
Bathinda, January 18
