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Moga mills yet to deliver pending rice to central pool
Moga, February 9
The central and state agencies have tightened the noose over many rice mills in the Moga district, which are yet to deliver 32,788 MT of rice, pending for the year 2010-11, to the central pool through the FCI, against the paddy procured by the state agencies.

Mentally challenged minor Dalit gang-raped
Faridkot, February 9
A minor mentally challenged poor Dalit girl was gangraped by four youths in Changa Rai Uttar village under the Guruharsahai assembly segment last night. The girl was admitted to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital here today in the morning in a critical condition.

Petrol pump ransacked, one arrested
Muktsar, February 9
Four armed youngsters late last evening ransacked a petrol pump on the Bathinda-Malout national highway at Gidderbaha. Later, the accused also attempted to loot another petrol pump in Lambi area of the district. However, the petrol pump staffs were able to nab one of them.

Harassed by pvt bus operators
Residents seek trains, extensions of routes
Kotkapura, February 9
Harassed at the hand of private bus operators, the residents of Faridkot, Muktsar, Fazilka, Jaitu, Kotkapura and Ferozepur have demanded that the Union Railway Ministry should extend two existing trains and start two new trains to provide a major relief for the area.

EARLIER STORIES

	Govt depts default on power bills in Moga February 9, 2012
	Minor boy run over by speeding truck in Fazilka February 8, 2012
	Stray animals trouble border town February 7, 2012
	15 stray cattle run over by train February 6, 2012
	State polls: Betting business gets bigger February 5, 2012
	Egoism hits functioning of political parties in Ferozepur February 4, 2012
	PMET scandal: 19 accused still at large February 3, 2012
	High polling keeps analysts guessing February 2, 2012
	End of polling brings peace of mind but anxiety palpable February 1, 2012
	Sarpanch caught bribing voters in Faridkot, booked January 31, 2012
	Political leaders court Dera on poll eve January 30, 2012

	Moga mills yet to deliver pending rice to central pool Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, February 9 The central and state agencies have tightened the noose over many rice mills in the Moga district, which are yet to deliver 32,788 MT of rice, pending for the year 2010-11, to the central pool through the FCI, against the paddy procured by the state agencies. The extended time period for milling has expired on January 31 this year. The state had already sought extension thrice from the union government for the delivery of rice. One rice miller has been booked by the police on Wednesday for embezzlement of paddy worth Rs 17.40 crore procured by Markfed in the year 2010-11 while the Deputy General Manager (Quality Control) of the FCI, AS Arunachalam, collected samples of rice from the local depots of the central agency on Thursday. As per the details available, the police had registered a criminal case under sections 406, 409, 120-B of the IPC and section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act against a rice miller of Baghapurana and some officials of the Markfed for embezzlement of paddy worth Rs 17.40 crore. The state agency had stored paddy for the year 2010-11 at Avtar Rice and General Mills, Baghapurana. As many as 338 wagon loads out of a total of 465 wagons were found missing during a physical verification, after which, a case has been registered in the scam. Meanwhile, Dr Sona Thind, the local District and Food Supplies Controller (DFSC), while talking to The Tribune, revealed that many rice mills were yet to deliver 32,788 MT of rice, pending for the year 2010-11 to the central pool against the paddy procured by the state agencies. "The mills have not delivered 1127 MT rice procured and stored by Pungrain, 18814 MT of Markfed, 3149 MT of Punsup, 2561 MT of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation and 7137 MT of Punjab Agro Corporation," she revealed. A total of 7,81,922 MT of rice was to be delivered to the FCI for the year 2010-2011, out of which, 7,49,134 MT has been delivered to the FCI in Moga district, the DFSC added. On the other hand, a team of the quality control wing of the FCI from the state headquarters, Chandigarh, headed by DGM AS Arunachalam, collected four samples of rice from the local storehouses of the FCI and the process was still continuing till the filing of this news report. Talking to The Tribune, Arunachalam said it was a routine exercise of the FCI to ensure the delivery of quality rice by the millers.
	Mentally challenged minor Dalit gang-raped Tribune News Service Faridkot, February 9 A minor mentally challenged poor Dalit girl was gangraped by four youths in Changa Rai Uttar village under the Guruharsahai assembly segment last night. The girl was admitted to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital here today in the morning in a critical condition. As per information, the 15-year-old girl was raped by the youths who entered her house by scaling the boundary wall. The daily wager father and the mother of the girl were away to collect green fodder when the incident took place. The mother alleged that the accused fled from the scene once she entered the house. After the mother reported the incident to the residents in the village, the girl was taken to a doctor for medical aid. Falak Singh, the village sarpanch, said the girl was raped when she was alone in the house. Later, in view of her critical condition, she was refereed to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot. Senior Superintendent of Police Hardyal Singh Mann acknowledged the incident and said that the statement of the girl was being recorded following which the law would take its own course. Amarjit Singh, assistant sub-inspector of police, the investigation officer in the crime, said the police were waiting for the medical report before registering a case against the accused. The family members have reportedly identified only one of the accused.
	Petrol pump ransacked, one arrested Tribune News Service Muktsar, February 9 Four armed youngsters late last evening ransacked a petrol pump on the Bathinda-Malout national highway at Gidderbaha. Later, the accused also attempted to loot another petrol pump in Lambi area of the district. However, the petrol pump staffs were able to nab one of them. Police said the first incident took place at about 7:45 pm yesterday. The accused came in a white Alto car, which had a fake registration number and decamped with nearly Rs 18,000 and a few other articles from the pump staff at Gidderbaha. Later, they went to another petrol pump in Lambi at about 10 pm, where they first filled the tank with fuel worth Rs 1,000 and then attempted to ransack the pump at gunpoint. However, the pump owner, who was sitting atop the roof of the pump, saw some men pointing gun at his staff and opened fire in the air. Then the accused tried to escape in their car, but met with an accident after colliding with a tractor-trolley coming from the opposite direction. Meanwhile, the pump staff chased them and caught one Vishal Deep, a resident of Malout. Later, they handed him over to the Lambi police which further handed him over to the Gidderbaha police for investigation. A case has been registered against the loot accused under various sections of the IPC and the Arms Act at Gidderbaha police station. Ranjeet Singh, SHO, Gidderbaha, said, "An accused, identified as Vishal Deep, has been arrested while the three others are still at large. An air pistol and a knife have been recovered from his possession." He further said that the Alto car, which was used to commit the crime, bore two different numbers. "In the front, the car had a registration number plate of PB-30-3097 and at the rear, the number plate had PB-30-2097 written on it," added Ranjeet.
	Harassed by pvt bus operators Residents seek trains, extensions of routes Tribune News Service Kotkapura, February 9 Harassed at the hand of private bus operators, the residents of Faridkot, Muktsar, Fazilka, Jaitu, Kotkapura and Ferozepur have demanded that the Union Railway Ministry should extend two existing trains and start two new trains to provide a major relief for the area. Demanding the extension of Kisan Express and Bathinda-Delhi express train up to Ferozepur, the residents, in a letter sent to the General Manager, Northern Railway and Railway Minister, said the Kisan Express reaches Bathinda at 10.20 pm and at that time, there is no further train link from Bathinda to Ferozepur. The residents said that if the train is extended up to Ferozepur, via Sirsa-Hisar route, it would be highly beneficial and generate more revenue for the railways. Demanding the extension of Bathinda-Delhi express train up to Ferozepur, the residents said there was no direct train for the passengers of the area to go to Barnala, Dhuri, Nabha, Rajpura, Patiala and Ambala. Though all degree colleges of the region come under the Punjabi University, Patiala, and the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) office is also situated at Patiala, there is no direct link for Patiala, despite a good passenger potential. Keeping in view the religious sentiments and expansion of trade in the area, the residents have sought two new trains: from Ferozepur to Haridwar and from Ferozepur to Howrah, said Raj Kumar Aggarwal, a local resident.
	Public hearing on tariff plan gets lukewarm response Megha Mann Tribune News Service Bathinda, February 9 The public hearing on electricity tariff 2012-13 drew a dismal response from the masses where officials of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) outnumbered the members of the public. Only six representatives from the public were present at the meeting, including three businessmen and two former employees of the power department, who now run their own ventures. PSERC ex-officio members, Virinder Singh and Gurinderjit Singh Ghuman, presided over the public hearing that was meant to discuss tariff plans for the year 2012-13 against the 55 per cent hike that the PSERC has proposed. All the five public representatives raised the issue of thin public presence at the hearing to which the PSERC officials reasoned that they had floated ads in various newspapers of the region. “But when we are supposed to pay even Rs 100 as fine, the power department official comes to our door to collect it. We should have been informed about the meeting through the respective XENs and SDOs with whom we are in touch daily,” said Narain Dass from the Bathinda Rice Millers Association. Highlighting the lack of communication between the department and the industrialists, Narain Dass said that around 20 owners of rice shellers in the district waited for three hours on Wednesday as they were informed that the meeting was scheduled for February 8. Similarly, Rajinder Garg from the Jindal Agencies added that the PSERC needs to strengthen its system of popularizing such important meetings. Industrialists Garg and Dalip Saini from the Mahashakti Industries and agriculturist Sukhwinder Singh raised the issue of subsidies being granted in the state. Emphasising upon the need to have continuous power supply to stop the exodus of industry from the state, Dalip Saini said industrialists were ready to pay higher tariff for the peak hour load whereas Garg demanded that instead of imposing cuts in installments, the board should impose power cut at length. Entrepreneur and former PSEB employee SS Khurmi voiced his concern saying that such annual meetings prove to be redundant when the issues raised are not addressed within a year. None of the members, however, raised the issue of domestic power supply and its rates. People did not talk about the proposed 55 per cent hike in tariff also. Meanwhile, member Virinder Singh said that all the proposals and objections are duly listed and taken up for discussion.