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To regain glory, begin with schools
Senior leaders fume at Capt’s remarks
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Bhattal blames PCC chief for party’s defeat
Paddy Scam
Record output at Lehra plant
Revised electricity tariff order soon
CM: Centre restricting Punjab’s growth
Improved gender ratio
Bt cottonseed rates slashed
CBI files charges against Khurana
Bathinda Zila Parishad best in state
3 arrested with heroin worth Rs 25 crore
Border areas see spurt in smuggling cases
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To regain glory, begin with schools
To regain the lead position it held in sports in the country two decades back, Punjab will now have to build ground up, for the entire machinery that churned out excellence stands broken.
Catching up fast, Haryana has stepped into the void created by Punjab as the new sports power in the country.
While its athletes have been winning medals not only in Asian or Commonwealth games but also in Olympics, Punjab has been relegated to the “also ran” slot because of the lack of attention of the state government and its sports officialdom. With drugs eating into the youth, sports find few takers in Punjab. The result is the state's share in national teams has been on the decline. Haryana has been recognising its sportspersons with incentives, including cash awards, as well as employing them in keeping with their achievements. To name a few, World Cup hero Jatinder Sharma; hockey drag flicker Sandeep Singh, centre-half Sardar Singh or former captain of the women's team Surinder Kaur; and boxer Vijendar Kumar, all have been made Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs). On the other hand, many sports stars of yesteryear working in Punjab Police have had anxious times, apprehending a drop in rank after donning the uniform of DSP or inspector. No new appointments were made, resulting in a constant drain of talent to other states and Central organisations such as the Oil and Natural Gas Commission, banks and the Railways.
Infrastructure, staff
Punjab has also lagged on the infrastructure front, and there have been no recruitments in the Sports Department since long. Training centres thus stand virtually deserted. Unless people are hired, the department will be left with no coach of its own by the end of next year. Besides upgrading infrastructure, there is also the need to ensure its optimal utilisation as well as maintenance. Only piecemeal efforts have been made to resuscitate the dying department, activating training centres and helping the State Sports Association in holding off-season and pre-competition training camps. There has been no consistency in felicitating performers with cash awards for their good showing in National, Asian, Commonwealth or Olympic games. Select few have been honoured in an ad hoc manner.
Drug menace
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal during the last tenure took certain major steps to revive sports in the state, yet the state has far to go. Besides manifold increase in the budgetary allocation for sports, youth welfare and youth services, Punjab cannot do without zero tolerance for drug addiction. Doping is another problem. Recent tests conducted by dope control agencies — especially during the second World Cup Kabaddi for men and the inaugural World Cup for women — have sent out an effective message. These events were marred by a high percentage of sportsmen using banned substances.
Catch them young
Educational institutions, especially schools, without playfields should be de-recognised. A cross-section of experts say sports, and not “physical education”, should be made compulsory by introducing it as a daily period. Actively engaging the youth in constructive activities can go a long way. Providing gyms in villages was a good step, but then the rural youth also have to be encouraged to form sports clubs. Revival of sports activity in schools coupled with rural sports clubs would also help keep the younger generation away from drugs. The state government has to keep pace with the contemporary sports scenario. Holding events under floodlights is the new mantra. In that direction, Punjab has done well in building new stadia with floodlights.
Sports administration
The state needs to reorganise its sports administration. Bringing the Sports Wing and the Directorate of Sports under a unified command while retaining their independent identities should be a top priority. The state sports associations and the State Olympic Association, too, need to reactivated. They have to play an active role in organising competitions at the district and state levels. The State Sports Festival, too, should be made compulsory. To get the youth enthused, Punjab has to get back its status of being a major organiser of international sporting events. For that, it will have to look beyond kabaddi to sports such as hockey, football, volleyball, basketball, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, basketball, tennis, badminton and handball.
Immediate priorities
PROJECTS PENDING Cricket stadium at Bathinda (under PIDB) Projects at different stages of completion Ultra-modern multipurpose stadium at Mohali Guru Nanak Stadium, Amritsar Gandhi Ground, Amritsar Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana Prithipal Memorial Hockey Complex at PAU, Ludhiana Brajendra Stadium, Faridkot Sports Schools in Majha, Doaba and the Malwa regions Punjab Institute of Sports at Jalandhar EXPERTSPEAK
Project completion
—Pargat Singh, Olympian, MLA and former Director of Sports, Punjab
Expand base
After expanding the base of sports by taking youngsters from the classroom to the playfield, Punjab has to scout for talent, give the performers access to centres of excellence, and then retain them by giving them employment in keeping with their achievements. —Teja Singh Dhaliwal, secretary, Punjab Basketball Association
Implement plans
The gap between policy and implementation needs to be overcome. Besides taking sports to schools and reviving clubs in villages, training facilities in rural as well urban areas need to be augmented. Advanced training centres should be set up in each of the three regions of the state. —Sukhvir Singh Grewal, former coach of Indian Olympic hockey team
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Senior leaders fume at Capt’s remarks
Chandigarh, April 1 The PCC chief had in an interview yesterday claimed that leaders accusing him of being inaccessible had been lobbying for ministerial berths for themselves and their kin prior to the announcement of the assembly election results.
Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa said the PCC president had crossed the “Lakshman rekha” by criticising his colleagues. He said Amarinder had lied by alleging he (Bajwa) had visited him to lobby for a ministerial berth for his wife Charanjit Kaur. “As for lunches and dinners, I visited him (Amarinder) on his invitation. Was I expected to lunch or dine with Parkash Singh Badal? " Bajwa claimed the party high command had accepted seven recommendations made by him for the Gurdaspur assembly segments and the party had won five of these seats. Two seats were lost because of the rebels perceived close to the PCC chief, he maintained. Former legislator Sukhpal Khaira denied he had held dinner for the PCC president or sought a ministerial berth. Terming the assertion by the PCC president as “false and a piece of trash,” Khaira challenged Amarinder to disclose the venue, time and date of the said dinner. The former MLA claimed he had been the most vocal supporter of the PCC president when he was down after the Congress lost the assembly elections in 2007. Despite this, Amarinder had failed to attend the bhog ceremony of his father who had passed away in July 2010. Khaira said he stood by his allegations against Amarinder that he was inaccessible and a “captive of a coterie”. He alleged that Amarinder’s poor working capacity had resulted in losses for the party in all three regions of Malwa, Majha and Doaba. “You (Capt) lost 26 out of the 34 reserved seats and your son lost in your home district”, he said, adding it was high time that Amarinder stepped down. Amloh legislator Randeep Singh Nabha said it was unfortunate that the person who had been urging leaders to exercise restraint was himself breaking party discipline by targeting senior leaders. He said the PCC president’s claim that he had repeatedly sought an appointment with him only proved his assertion that Amarinder was inaccessible to his colleagues. He claimed he had met the PCC president only once during the past one year. “Once an appointment was given, but it did not materialise. I was made to wait outside the gate of Dhuri legislator Arvind Khanna’s residence in Sector 10”, he said. He said his only appointment with the PCC chief lasted three minutes. He urged Amarinder to resign from the PCC president’s post gracefully. Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari, reacting to Amarinder’s accusation that senior party leaders had failed to ensure a win for candidates recommended by them, said the statement was unfortunate. He said this was not the time for recriminations but introspection and he would not want to dignify the averments with a reply.
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Bhattal blames PCC chief for party’s defeat
Bhattal accused Amarinder of working against several leaders of his party at the behest of his coterie to ensure they were defeated so that ministerial berths could be given to his loyalists in case the party turned victorious. She accused him not only of anti-party activities but also casting aspersions at his fellow Congress men in the media, thereby violating party discipline. Bhattal questioned Amarinder’s integrity, saying “there are reports that a sum of Rs 300 - Rs 500 crore was received towards party funds. He should voluntarily disclose as to where did that money go. If he does not, then the Congress executive should seek an explanation from him. If that does not work, the party high command should order an inquiry”. She said there were moles in the Congress working for Sukhbir Badal and the “Congress president knew about it.” Bhattal went on to say that a sum of Rs 1 crore was given by one of Amarinder’s confidant to a candidate contesting against her. Accusing Amarinder of making false statements against senior leaders, she said this was an attempt to “run away from the municipal elections that have been announced.” Bhattal said “Amarinder’s coterie would issue passes and only those workers with passes could meet him. And this demoralised the party workers.” Bhattal said Amarinder chose to celebrate his 70th birthday at a time when the party workers were demoralised and they needed him around to console them. Bhattal said there was unanimity on the names of candidates for 70 seats. Amarinder had his way on 34 seats and she on 13 seats. Of the 34 seats, Amarinder could ensure party’s victory on only two -Talwandi Sabo and Dhuri. On the other hand, nine of the 13 candidates recommended by her had won in Amritsar (W), Sultanpur Lodhi, Ludhiana (N), Ferozepur, Patiala(R_, Amloh, Bhadaur, Gidderbaha and Fatehgarh Sahib. Captain Speaks Amarinder, when contacted said if Bhattal had a list of donors, she should submit it to the AICC who can then order an inquiry. He disputed Bhattal’s claim over ticket allotment, saying that Fatehgarh Sahib and Gidderbaha had gone to the Youth Congress quota, Amritsar West was RL Bhatia’s choice, Bhadaur was Kewal Dhillon’s choice and Amloh was decided by the Congress president herself.
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Paddy Scam
Moga, April 1 Even as two years have passed since as many as 1,92,973 bags of paddy belonging to the Pungrain were reportedly sold to rice millers in Ferozepur, Moga and Faridkot districts by kingpins of the scam, the probing agencies have failed to recover it. One of the kingpins, Gurbhej Singh, who was arrested by investigating officer Jaipal Singh SP (Crime), Patiala Range, appeared before former Director General of Police (DGP) Anil Kaushik on February 28 and demanded transfer of the probe. Reacting to the office memo of the DGP, the Additional Director General of Police (Crime) has ordered the investigation of the case be got conducted from the Ferozepur Superintendent of Police (D). After registering the FIR at the Ferozepur (Rural) police station, the investigation was handed over to the CIA staff, Ferozepur. On January 11, 2010, the Chief Secretary ordered an investigation by the Vigilance Department. But on January 22, 2010, the Chief Secretary issued orders to conduct the probe by the crime branch of the state police. However, the local police did not hand over the case file to the crime branch and continued with the probe. The then District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFSC) of Ferozepur Sukhdev Singh, who exposed the scam and lodged the FIR, was arrested along with many other officials of the department. The police presented the challan in the case on February 26, 2010, which was approved by the district attorney. But, the Bathinda Range DIG, in his report, found 12 flaws in the challan and sought permission from the trial court for reinvestigation. Thereafter, a three-member special investigation team headed by the SP (H) of Moga was constituted. Later, the investigation was handed over to the IG, Bathinda Range, and then to the crime branch. The crime branch arrested many bigwigs of the area, including Jora Singh, a member of the Ferozepur Cantonment Board, Gurbhej Singh, sarpanch of Bahadur Wala village, Sukhdev Singh, a rice miller, and many others and submitted a challan against them in the court so that the trial could begin. However, the DGP has now again changed the investigations. The then DFSC, Sukhdev Singh, claimed that the crime branch has already given a clean chit to him and the application to discharge him from the charges was pending before the trial court. The change in investigation was likely to hamper the trial of this case, he added. Irregularity decoded
Arrests so far
Jora Singh, Ferozepur Cantonment Board member Gurbhej Singh, Bahadur Wala village sarpanch Sukhdev Singh, a rice miller
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Record output at Lehra plant
Bathinda, April 1 The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), in a statement, said the average monthly generation at the plant remained more than 100 per cent of its capacity for the last six months of the year. The PSPCL said the lowest ever (1.90 per cent) planned maintenance was done on the plant's various units in the last fiscal. The oil consumption remained at 0.369 ml/KWH while the auxiliary consumption remained at its lowest ever value of 7.87 per cent, which is also the lowest ever auxiliary consumption amongst all thermal plants under the
PSPCL.
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Curfew relaxed, Gurdaspur limps back to normalcy
Gurdaspur, April 1 It was on Thursday that the curfew was clamped on the town following clashes between two communities. An 18-year-old youth, Jaspal Singh, was killed as the police opened fire to “disperse” the mob. The death resulted in the suspension of Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varinder Pal Singh and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Manpreet Singh whereas Deputy Commissioner Mohinder Singh Kainth was transferred elsewhere. Also, a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against DSP Manpreet Singh who had led the police party which resorted to firing. The government orders came as the victim’s relatives refused to cremate the body until action was taken against the “guilty” officials. The action is also being attributed to sustained pressure put up by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode and other members of the Sikh clergy who had been camping at the deceased's native village Chour Sidhwan since Friday. Both the SSP and the DC, who left for Chandigarh today, refused to comment on their respective exits. Kainth found himself cold-shouldered when he was handed over his transfer orders even though he had played a key role in brokering peace between the two communities. On the other hand, the decision to suspend the district police chief has been criticised by the junior police officials who claimed the SSP had no direct role as far as the imposition of curfew was concerned. He has been told to report to the Chief Secretary, who would decide his next place of posting. Sources said the SSP too had to pay the price for the “covert actions of politicians at whose behest the situation had turned from bad to worse on Thursday”. Later, she also visited Pandher village, the native place of Ranjit Singh who was seriously injured in the firing. He is recuperating at the Amritsar Civil Hospital where his condition was stated to be stable. Pathankot Deputy Commissioner Siben. C, who is also holding the charge of Gurdaspur, said a meeting of the Peace Coordination Committee would be held tonight where a decision would be taken on whether to lift the curfew completely tomorrow or to relax it in phases. Gurbachan Singh led the negotiations with the state government on behalf of the deceased's family. He had threatened that he would resign as Akal Takht chief if no action was taken against the erring officials. The DC's transfer has come as a surprise to many as his role did not come under the scanner in the deliberations between the representatives of the Sikh bodies and the government.
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Illegal miners have field day as Ropar admn looks away Mining in the Sutlej is illegal. Only 13 quarries in Ropar have been allotted mining permit by the state government - at Aaspur, Kakrala, Nanowal, Dela Dhiani, Bhanam, Sassowal, Brahmpur, Bhangal, Mianpur, Anandpur Sahib, Burj, Chakk and Sahota - none of them near the Sutlej. Surprisingly, while mining in these auctioned quarries is almost negligible, illegal mining of minor minerals in the villages along the Sutlej is now rampant and has gone unchecked. In the past three months, at least 20 new stones crushers and screening plants have come up in these two villages. Locals here insist that these new illegal crushers and screening plants have been set up by politically well-connected mining contractors from Haryana. With mining in the neighbouring state having been suspended by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, these mining contractors have shifted base to Ropar. With the local administration looking the other way, some former Punjab bureaucrats and former top cops too have allegedly put up their crushers here. A visit to the area by The Tribune team revealed that the topography of most villages along the Sutlej, which have become a safe haven for illegal miners, has seen a drastic change. Once the abode of migratory birds because of its location at the Shivalik foothills, the river bed is now lined with huge screening plants and stone crushing machinery that work continuously to extract sand and gravel. Mining is also being done near the bridges that have been built over the river thereby threatening these structures. As over 35 trucks (25 filled with gravel and 10 with sand) start out from the river every day from each of these illegal crushers, the clean village air has been replaced by huge clouds of dust. Residents here said that as many as 600 trucks ferry sand and gravel from the illegal mining sites on the Sutlej riverbed as well as the Kheda Kamlot area where hillocks are being levelled to get minor minerals. With sand being sold at the rate of Rs 1,800 per truck (500 cubic ft) and bajri (aggregate) at the rate of Rs 2,400, this illegal business here is worth Rs 4.5 crore per day. Interestingly, these illegal miners too have to pay “royalty” to the mining mafia that has set up its base office near each illegal mining site and provide them patronage to carry on their clandestine operations. Each filled truck has to pay a royalty of Rs 1,800 and get a “receipt” before it can leave the area. A team of strongmen man these illegal checkposts to ensure that no truck gets away without paying “royalty”. Residents of these villages have been on the warpath with the district administration urging it to put an end to this illegal mining. In Nakkiyan village here, a harried Harminder Singh told The Tribune that three new illegal crushers have come up in the village. “Villagers have staged dharnas and resorted to road blockades in the past week, but the administration is unable to control illegal mining.” When contacted, GK Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, admitted that he had been receiving complaints about rampant illegal mining, especially from villages in Kiratpur Sahib area. “I have now formed a committee under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner and comprising an SDM, District Forest Officer, District General Manager, Industries, and District Development and Panchayat Officer to look into illegal mining on panchayat land, forest land and on the Sutlej riverbed. “This committee has been asked to submit weekly reports. I have also written a letter to Principal Secretary, Industries, apprising him of the problem and telling him how more than 100 stone crushers are operational in Ropar district, though the area on which mining is allowed is just 30 acres. “This reveals
that most of these crushers are getting stones from illegal mining sites. I am also starting night vigil with the help of the local police to check illegal mining at night,” he said. Booming Business
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Revised electricity tariff order soon
Patiala, April 1 PSERC Secretary PS Jindal said public hearings for objections to the ARR were over and the tariff petition was ready. He said: "The tariff order got delayed because of multiple reasons, the assembly polls being one of these. Besides, there were other procedural issues that were to be taken into account". He said the tariff order was expected soon. Notably, a few months ago, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had applied for a 55 per cent hike in the power tariff as well as fixed and variable tariff structures, in its Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) report for 2012-13 to the PSERC. In the ARR, the Power Corporation had mentioned that Rs 16,310 crore is the estimated revenue for the fiscal 2012-13, whereas the total revenue requirement is of Rs 20,415 crores. Subsequently, the PSERC posted the details of the ARR on its website so that anyone who want to file objections can do the same in 30 days time. The PSERC has clarified that till the time new order comes into effect, the old tariff would be levied on the power consumers. "But once the new Tariff Order comes, it would be implemented with effect from April 1, 2012, and the power bills would be revised accordingly", added the authorities. power shock
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CM: Centre restricting Punjab’s growth
Tohra (Patiala), April 1 Badal said raising slogans of hatred and adoption of warpath could not be termed as Panthic agenda. Mincing no words against the Congress-led UPA government, Badal exhorted the SAD rank and file, the BJP and the people of Punjab to prepare themselves "to throw out the corrupt government from the Centre". Accusing the Congress of making repeated attempts to meddle in the affairs of Sikhs, Badal said: "The anti-people policies and lack of visionary approach of the successive Congress governments at the Centre have left the prosperous and progressive agrarian state of Punjab lagging behind in many sectors". Badal said a state-of-art memorial dedicated to freedom fighters from Punjab would be constructed in the Doaba region. Paying tributes to Tohra, the Chief Minister said Tohra was a multifaceted personality who had contributed to every field, be it religious, political, social or educational. "Tohra played a significant role in the formation of successive Akali governments in the past," he added. Prominent among those present on the occasion included State Minister Surjeet Singh Rakhra, Rajya Sabha MP and SAD general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder, former Punjab Minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal, former Punjab Minister Hira Singh Gabria, senior Akali leader Harmail Singh Tohra and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.
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Improved gender ratio
Bathinda, April 1 Sixty-five-year-old Kheta Singh of Bhagu village said he had three granddaughters and a seven-year-old grandson, but the family never opted for sex determination or female foeticide. Bhagwan Kaur (75) said the villagers did not believe in female foeticide due to which the number of girls as compared to boys had increased. Gursewak Singh, sarpanch of Bhagu village, said in his village, people did not indulge in female foeticide. He said with the prize money, they would construct a room in the high school so that it could be upgraded to senior secondary. Baldev Singh, sarpanch of Kotguru village, said the panchayat always monitored pregnancy cases and created awareness among the people against female foeticide. Sadha Singh of Kotguru said he had four sons who together had eight daughters and four sons, but they never thought about sex determination tests.
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Bt cottonseed rates slashed
Chandigarh, April 1 “If the government has reduced the price by Rs 50 to Rs 70 per kilo of seed, how can the Akalis claim to be the well-wishers of the farmers? The prices should not have been raised in the first place”, he observed. The area under cotton cultivation in the state is likely to go down by 60,000 hectares in the coming kharif season-to 5 lakh hectares from 5.6 lakh hectares last year. Jakhar had said in the Vidhan Sabha that the BT cottonseed was being sold at Rs 50 to Rs 70 more than in the neighbouring states, causing a burden on the farmers. Agriculture Minister Tota Singh, in consultation with the CM, has now fixed the price at Rs 1,000 per kilo for this year. The CLP leader had also demanded that the government ensured the seed was not sold on the black market during the sowing season from April to May. Against a demand for 25 lakh packets of Bt cottonseed, 26 companies have assured a supply of more than 35 lakh packets of the seed. It has been decided that to ensure fair distribution, Punjab Markfed, a marketing federation of over 3,000 societies, will distribute nine lakh packets to the farmers through co-op societies.
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CBI files charges against Khurana
Khurana was arrested on May 4 last year from his residence in Sector 39 for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1.50 crore from a member of the Punjab Automobile Mechanics Association for closing a complaint case against the association. The bribe was recovered in the shape of Rs 15 lakh cash and in nine blank cheques of Rs 15 lakh each from the boot of Porsche car of Davinder Singh Gill, another accused in the case. The CBI claimed that Gill was an official of the registrar, firms and societies, Punjab. The CBI arrested the duo after a complaint was received by the investigative agency from Manpreet, general secretary of the association. The complaint had accused Davinder of demanding Rs 1.5 crore bribe allegedly to be given to senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia through Khurana “for closing” a complaint against office-bearers of the association. Both the accused were arrested from the spot. During investigation, the role of Bhag Singh, personal secretary to the then Minister, Technical Education, Social Security, Women and Child Welfare, Punjab, also emerged. He was arrested during the investigation.
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Bathinda Zila Parishad best in state
Bathinda, April 1 The award is based on the parameters of accountability and efficient and transparent functioning. The amount of Rs 25 lakh has been released by the Ministry to the state government while the state government will transfer it to the Bathinda ZP within 15 days. The amount will be utilised by the ZP for undertaking the development activities within its jurisdiction. When contacted, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bathinda ZP-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Dr Abhinav Trikha, said it was a matter of honour for the Bathinda ZP that it had been adjudged the best performer in the state. He said after the receipt of `25 lakh, the ZP would chalk out the modalities to spend the same on development works. The Deputy CEO of the ZP, Rajinder Singh Batra, said earlier, the state government had shortlisted two ZPs of Mansa and Bathinda districts, but later, the name of the Bathinda ZP had been recommended for the award to the union ministry.
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3 arrested with heroin worth Rs 25 crore
Ferozepur, April 1 Addressing mediapersons at the BSF headquarters here today, Deputy Inspector General (BSF) Rajesh Gupta said the arrests were made during a naka laid at Tindiwala village, around 15 km from here. Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police Hardial Singh Mann said the action came following a tip-off as the accused escaped from the spot. Around 11 pm last night, the BSF jawans spotted a few persons moving near Kassoke border outpost. On being challenged, the Pakistani smugglers opened fire. The BSF too retaliated but after a few rounds of firing, both Pakistani and Indian smugglers retrieved back into their respective areas taking shelter of the long standing crops. The Border Security Force personnel alerted the Punjab Police and the trio was arrested from the naka. They have been identified as Daler Singh (alias Dara), Raniit Singh, both residents of Mehndipur village in Khemkaran area of Tarn Taran district, and Bikramjit Singh (alias Vicky) of Arifke village. During interrogation, the SSP said, Daler Singh revealed that they were in touch with two Pakistani agents, Tahir and Daula, who handed over the consignment to them.
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Border areas see spurt in smuggling cases
Amritsar, April 1 "In fact, our strength has increased with 1,400 new recruits having been put on duty along the international border in Punjab. Now, every border post has additional manpower of five to six jawans," said Aditya Mishra, IG, BSF. Although this was a routine recruitment, it had helped in enhanced vigilance along the barbed fence, he added. At present, the BSF has over 11,000 jawans in 12 battalions deputed along the Punjab border. It is however due to reduced deployment of Pakistani rangers across the fence that the attempts of smuggling of narcotics and arms have increased. The BSF has increased surveillance by pressing hi-tech surveillance equipment, including handheld thermal imagers, into service to check anti-national activities. Battlefield surveillance radars have also been deployed at strategic locations to check human movement. The BSF has so far foiled numerous smuggling attempts and recovered as many as 114 kg of heroin this year. This is also for the first time that seven Pakistani smugglers and an Indian smuggler were gunned down by alert jawans in two months. Two Pakistan nationals and four Bangladeshis were also nabbed. Meanwhile, as the harvesting season is approaching, the BSF authorities have increased a check on the farmers who go across the border fence for harvesting their crops. There are intelligence inputs that the smugglers lodged in various jails came out on parole on one pretext or other to indulge in smuggling during this season on fake identity on the pretext of harvesting crop. "We have circulated the pictures of notorious persons to the jawans so that they (smugglers) cannot across the barbed fence in any case," said Mishra. recent seizures List of recoveries made this year by the Border Security Force at Attari and Ferozepur Sectors. Attari Sector: January 18, 2012: 17 kg heroin, Rs 9.68 lakh fake currency at Beropal border outpost February 4: 10 kg heroin at Goga border outpost February 15: Rs 2.73 lakh fake currency; two Indian smugglers nabbed March 29: 10 kg heroin, two Pakistani and an Indian smuggler shot dead Ferozepur Sector: January 6, 2012: Seven pistols, 36 cartridges at Border outpost Waan January 21: 14 kg heroin February 2: 13 kg heroin February 20: one pistol February 23: 13 kg heroin, Rs 5 lakh fake currency, one Pak smuggler shot dead February 24: Rs 1.99 lakh fake currency March 18-19: 22 kg heroin, three Pakistani smugglers gunned down
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Patiala, April 1
Tohra (Patiala), April 1
The Punjab Government in its last term came out with a sports policy, which is in different stages of implementation. Bringing the Sports Wing and Sports Directorate under one umbrella setup is the foremost task. Physical education teachers have to be better utilised, and completion of new infrastructure at the district headquarters would be high on our priority.
Chandigarh, April 1
Agampur/Suhara (Ropar), April 1
Chandigarh, April 1