B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Grid collapse not state’s fault
Muktsar, August 1
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today accused the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of discriminating with Punjab while announcing a Rs 1,900 crore package for the rain-deficit states.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal at a sangat darshan programme in Muktsar district on Wedneday. A Tribune photo

Govt employees savour new timings
Muktsar, August 1
Interpreting the order regarding the change in office timings which came into force from today, the "overworked" babus working in the government offices have discovered that it might give them a temporary relief from their hectic schedule.

DC blows hot over use of ACs
Faridkot, August 1
Facing acute power crisis, the state government had issued directions to stop the use of ACs in government offices. But since the fiat did not yield the desired results, it is the deputy commissioners who have threatened strict action if the staff in government offices defies the government’s directive.

Passport scam trial transferred from Faridkot to Moga
Moga, August 1
Justice Ritu Bahri of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana has transferred the trial of the infamous Moga passport scam from the Faridkot sessions division to the Moga sessions division.

Red Cross funds: ADC to probe
Moga, August 1
Even as a two-member commission comprising retired High Court judges is probing the misuse of funds in Red Cross societies across the state, financial irregularities have surfaced in the District Red Cross Society at Moga.

Mansa village takes pride in Olympian’s success
Mansa, August 1
A sepoy in the Indian Army from Dalelwala village in Mansa brought cheers to his village after qualifying for the quarterfinals in rowing at the London Olympics.




Swaran Singh Virk is a sepoy in the Army.

Tribune Impact
Admn bans overloading of school vehicles in Faridkot
Faridkot, August 1
After the publication of a report in these columns on school vehicles flouting rules in Faridkot, the district administration yesterday woke up to the dangers posed by such modes of transportation for schoolchildren.

Youth kills mother overt illicit relations
Bathinda, August 1
A 20-year-old youth murdered his widow mother following her alleged illicit relations with a village tailor and dispute over property. Police said the son was irate over the relationship of his 42-year-old mother with the 31-year-old tailor. He was also upset as she had not given a chunk of her four kanal land to any of the children. The woman had three children including two sons and a daughter. All the children were married.

Alert staff helps avert rail mishap
Muktsar, August 1
The alertness of a railway employee today averted a major train mishap on the Gidderbaha-Malout route, after he found a gas cylinder lying abandoned on the tracks at around 11am.

‘Dead’ convict falls into police net
Faridkot, August 1
More than one-and-a-half months after convict Gurjinder Singh, lodged in the Faridkot Central Jail, escaped from police custody and was later “killed” in an accident, he has been arrested by the Pojewala police in Nawanshahr district.

Grid collapse not state’s fault
MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal says Haryana & UP were getting more power
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 1
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today accused the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of discriminating with Punjab while announcing a Rs 1,900 crore package for the rain-deficit states.

During her sangat darshan programme in Gidderbaha assembly constituency, she said the state government was taking every step to save the farmers from facing a drought like situation, but the Central Government was reluctant to provide any help to the farmers of the state who contribute more than 60 per cent foodgrain to the central pool.

Lashing out at the Centre for this "discrimination", Harsimrat said, "The state government has so far spent nearly Rs 1,600 crore to save the paddy crop. But the Central Government is levelling allegations that the state was getting more power supply than its allotted share from the northern grid."

"Before leveling the allegations, the Centre should modernize its existing grids, which are regularly collapsing. It was not Punjab but the Congress government in Haryana and Samajwadi Party government in UP that were getting more power supply than their allotted share from the northern grid," she added.

Meanwhile, replying to a query, she also termed PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal as an agent of the Congress. Mincing no words while criticizing him, she said, "After losing the recently held assembly polls, Manpreet has realized that it is not possible for him to run the PPP. So, he is trying his best to merge the PPP with Congress with the help of Priyanka Gandhi."

During her day-long tour, she also distributed free sewing machines to 55 girls and handed them certificates upon the completion of their course.

Govt employees savour new timings
Say it will allow them to spend time with their families, de-stress themselves
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 1
Interpreting the order regarding the change in office timings which came into force from today, the "overworked" babus working in the government offices have discovered that it might give them a temporary relief from their hectic schedule.

Most employees working in the District Administrative Complex (DAC) here said the order has made it mandatory for them to leave the offices by 2 pm, which means they can get some extra time to spend with their families.

The state government has stated that the order shall remain in force till August 31 or till further orders, to save power. As per the new timings, the offices have to remain open from 8 am to 2 pm without any lunch break.

As the clock struck 2 pm today, the DAC complex wore a deserted look and most of the employees were seen coming out with an unusual smile on their faces.

"The government's decision has brought some good cheer. In its earlier order, the government had banned the use of air-conditioners in all government offices. Now, we would be able to go home well on time and avail of the benefits at home with kids and other family members," said a staff.

Similarly, an employee at the Suvidha Centre said, "My children always had a complaint that I reach home late in the evening. Now, I would be able to spend more time with them after my office hours."

A group of four employees, who had even arranged a car to go to Bathinda to watch a movie in a multiplex there, said, "We have been under stress for past because of the acute shortage of staff. So, this is the right time to avail the opportunity."

On the other hand, the commoners who had come from distant villages carrying files in their hands to get their work done had to face some problems as most of them were not aware about the change in the working hours at the offices.

DC blows hot over use of ACs
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, August 1
Facing acute power crisis, the state government had issued directions to stop the use of ACs in government offices. But since the fiat did not yield the desired results, it is the deputy commissioners who have threatened strict action if the staff in government offices defies the government’s directive.

In a letter to the heads of all offices of the state government, Boards and Corporations today, Faridkot Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said the head of the department would be responsible for any violation of the state government's directive. No negligence would be allowed and the departments should ensure that no fan is left running after the office hours, said the DC. The district Nazar has been given the task to ensure that no gadget is running unnecessary after the closure of the office.

Passport scam trial transferred from Faridkot to Moga
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, August 1
Justice Ritu Bahri of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana has transferred the trial of the infamous Moga passport scam from the Faridkot sessions division to the Moga sessions division.

Revealing this, advocate BS Bhalla, counsel for the petitioners, Gurpiyar Singh and four other persons named as alleged accused in the scam, said the trial of the case was being heard by the sessions court at Faridkot because there was no sessions division at Moga when the trial of the case began two years back.

With these orders, the case file would now be transferred to the district and sessions judge at Moga on or before August 4, the next date of hearing in the case.

It may be mentioned that an FIR under sections 420, 465, 468, 471 of the IPC, section 2/8 of the Passport Act and sections 13 (2), 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against three cops — the kingpin Jaswinder Pal Singh and two others Ranjit Singh and Gurdial Singh — along with many others in 2009, besides many subsequent FIRs registered at Moga and Faridkot districts.

At least 100 people including these cops, an employee of the passport office, NRIs and travel agents had been arrested in this scam and a look out certificate had been issued against as many as 400 persons for making passports on forged documents.

Red Cross funds: ADC to probe
Kulwinder Sandhu/TNS

Moga, August 1
Even as a two-member commission comprising retired High Court judges is probing the misuse of funds in Red Cross societies across the state, financial irregularities have surfaced in the District Red Cross Society at Moga.

In an instance, one Mukesh Kumar was given a computer training centre of the Red Cross Society on lease in the year 2006-07, initially, at a sum of Rs 40,000 per year.

But only Rs 31,750 were deposited in the accounts of the Red Cross Society in four installments during the first year leaving a balance of Rs 8,250 against him.

As per the terms and conditions of the contract, he was supposed to deposit the whole amount of the previous year pending against him before entering into a fresh agreement for the next year.

But in the year 2007-08, the contract was renewed for Rs 44,000 per year but only Rs 25,000 were deposited in the accounts of the society leaving a balance of Rs 19,000 against him. During the preliminary findings, it has come to light that the connivance of an employee could not be ruled out. Mukesh Kumar has given a statement that he used to pay the amount as per the installments in cash but never knew that the money was not being deposited in the accounts.

ADC Joram Beda admitted that a financial irregularity has come to light and said he was looking into it.

Mansa village takes pride in Olympian’s success
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Mansa, August 1
A sepoy in the Indian Army from Dalelwala village in Mansa brought cheers to his village after qualifying for the quarterfinals in rowing at the London Olympics.

Sepoy Swaran Singh Virk booked a berth in the quarterfinals after completing a distance of two kilometers in 7:00:49 minutes.

The son of a farmer, 23-year-old Swaran opted for rowing in 2009, a year after joining 10 Sikh Regiment in the Army. Presently deployed in Dalhousie, he lives with his parents and a brother in Dalelwala village. Both the brothers are unmarried and his elder brother Lakhwinder, 24, is a constable with the Punjab Police.

Talking to TNS, Lakhwinder said it took 7:00:49 minutes for Swaran to complete the 2-km distance at the Eton Dorney Rowing Centre on Sunday. Earlier on Saturday, he had clocked 5:54:04 in the heats, he said, adding South Korean Kim Dongyong clocked 7:03:91 to finish second.

Lakhwinder had a word with Swaran after completing the race. "He got confused during the heats while taking off but was in high spirits and said he would try his best to win gold."

His said Swaran do not know about rowing before joining the Army and it was all because of the encouragement that he received in the Army that he could make it to the London Olympics.

"My brother got selected for the Republic Day parade where his over six feet height was noticed by the Army officers and he was sent to Pune to learn rowing. After training for a year, he got a gold medal in the 34th National Games held in Jharkhand. He got the 17th position in the World Rowing Championship held in Germany. He also got the first position in the qualifying tournament for the Olympics in Korea," said Lakhvinder.

His brother, however, said the district administration and the local sports department failed to encourage the family or Swaran despite being selected for the Olympics. "We went to meet a senior sports department official in Mansa after Swaran was selected for London Olympics to send a proposal to the state government but the officer expressed his helplessness in sending any such proposal," the brother alleged.

He said because of the costly diet, the entire salary of the sepoy went into providing for it. His physical trainer Avtar Singh said Swaran is hardworking and he was thrilled at his achievement.

Tribune Impact
Admn bans overloading of school vehicles in Faridkot
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 1
After the publication of a report in these columns on school vehicles flouting rules in Faridkot, the district administration yesterday woke up to the dangers posed by such modes of transportation for schoolchildren.

Exercising his power under Section 144 of CrPC, the Faridkot Deputy Commissioner today banned the overloading of school autos.

The DC has asked the heads of all schools in Faridkot district to report the matter to the police and transport department authorities if any autorickshaw or school van, carrying the schoolgoers, was found violating the Motor Vehicle Act.

Youth kills mother overt illicit relations

Bathinda, August 1
A 20-year-old youth murdered his widow mother following her alleged illicit relations with a village tailor and dispute over property. Police said the son was irate over the relationship of his 42-year-old mother with the 31-year-old tailor. He was also upset as she had not given a chunk of her four kanal land to any of the children. The woman had three children including two sons and a daughter. All the children were married.

Canal Colony SHO UC Chawla said the deceased, Karamjit Kaur, was found murdered in a rented accommodation at Parasram Nagar at around 7.30 pm. He said preliminary investigations revealed that the man, Baljinder Singh, had allegedly murdered his mother. He along with two others entered the house when the woman was alone. He slit the throat of his mother and then repeatedly attacked her in the chest with a scissor. The SHO said that the woman had taken the house on rent a week back. — TNS

Alert staff helps avert rail mishap
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, August 1
The alertness of a railway employee today averted a major train mishap on the Gidderbaha-Malout route, after he found a gas cylinder lying abandoned on the tracks at around 11am.

Sources said a railway keyman, Ram Sanjiwan, found a gas cylinder on the track and stopped the moving Bathinda-Sri Ganganagar passenger train after showing a red flag to its driver. The train left only after the cylinder was removed, almost a delay of 35 minutes. Sources further said the cylinder still had some gas in it. Railway police began its probe into the incident.

‘Dead’ convict falls into police net
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, August 1
More than one-and-a-half months after convict Gurjinder Singh, lodged in the Faridkot Central Jail, escaped from police custody and was later “killed” in an accident, he has been arrested by the Pojewala police in Nawanshahr district.

Gurjinder was believed to have died in a road accident near Ambala on May 27, hours after fleeing from police custody. To mislead the police, the wily Gurjinder had dropped his handcuffs near the body of the accident victim.

Later, the Faridkot police learnt that Gurjinder was alive. He was arrested near Singhpura village while he was travelling in a stolen car, said Ram Ji Dass, SHO, Pojewal.