B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Ghost of Abohar snatching case resurrects, cops in tight spot
Abohar, August 11
The confessions believed to have been made by two criminals of Sriganganagar have put the Abohar police in a tight spot. 

Inquiry into death of two Army jawans begins
Abohar, August 11
An inquiry has been initiated into the death of two Army jawans during an exercise in the Mahajan field range, well placed sources said. 

Rain god’s blessings turn into curse for commuters
Ferozepur, August 11
While the sudden downpour brought relief to the residents from the scorching heat and humidity, it also brought along problems as the heavy drizzle inundated several parts of the town due to which the residents, especially the commuters, had a tough time.
Rainwater accumulated on a road in Ferozepur is causing inconvenience to the commuters. A Tribune photograph

Guv to attend ‘Sanskritik Yatra’
Ferozepur, August 11
A presentation of rich colourful folk performances from across the country, “Sanskritik Yatra”, will be organised at the Hussainiwala border outpost on Monday. The programme is being organized by the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF).

Ex-min takes a dig at SAD-BJP leaders
Bathinda, August 11
The Punjab Pradesh Aggarwal Sabha, led by former Punjab minister Chiranji Lal Garg, while appreciating the solidarity shown by the SAD-BJP leaders towards the victims of firing at Oak Creek Gurdwara in Wisonsin, USA, has lamented the dual standard shown by these leaders.

Week-long I-Day celebrations begin in Abohar
Abohar, August 11
To kick-start week-long Independence Day celebrations, the Punjabi Sabhyachar Manch chose Dangarkhera that boasts of having produced highest number of government school teachers among the villages of the region.

Labourer killed in road mishap
Fazilka, August 11 In a tragic incident, a newly-married labourer, who was going to arrange money for the delivery of his wife, was killed in a road accident on the intervening night of August 10 and 11 near village Beganwali, some 8 kilometres from here.

Ghost of Abohar snatching case resurrects, cops in tight spot
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, August 11
The confessions believed to have been made by two criminals of Sriganganagar have put the Abohar police in a tight spot. The police had on August 4 claimed to have busted an inter-state gang involved in the snatching of a luxury car owned by real estate dealer Satish Sharma outside a beer bar in Abohar. Sharma had told the police that five arms-wielding persons forced him to part with his recently purchased car along with Rs 30 lakh on July 19.

The CIA staff had arrested Amarveer Singh alias Lali, a resident of village Busowal in district Kapurthala and Sandeep Singh alias Sonu, a resident of village Shekhupura in Fatehabad district in Haryana and recovered an Innova car besides an unlicensed .32 bore pistol from their possession.

The culprits were quoted as having revealed that the purse found in the car carried Rs 1,500 only whereas Satish Sharma had stated that he had left Rs 30 lakh in the luxury car.

The police claimed the crime had been committed by the members of the notorious gang of Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha and Bawa, who were also involved in snatching.

The then SSP had said besides being involved in murder cases, the notorious inter-state Sukha gang had so far stolen 10 luxury cars and looted six petrol pumps.

Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, who is still at large, was lodged in Central Jail at Nabha on charges of murder. When he was being brought to the court on June 6, he managed to escape from police custody by dodging the cops with the help of his accomplices, Lali and Mani, near village Rakhra in Patiala district.

It is stated that at that time, he was not handcuffed. “He has committed serious crimes after fleeing from police custody,” maintained the SSP.

But the Bikaner police have said that Keshav and Pathan of Sriganganagar have been arrested in connection with looting a jewellery shop in Champavat segment. During the interrogation, they reportedly revealed that they along with Shailender had looted the Innova luxury car at Abohar. They denied that Sukha or Bawa had any hand in the loot.

SHO Subhash Chander said the gang was also responsible for a series of other crimes in Punjab. The Abohar police have been informed of the details.

Inquiry into death of two Army jawans begins
Our Correspondent

Abohar, August 11
An inquiry has been initiated into the death of two Army jawans during an exercise in the Mahajan field range, well placed sources said. As per the available information, a report has been lodged with the Mahajan police station on the NH-15 by Subedar Rajesh Kumar under Section 174 of the CrPC.

Preliminary investigation indicated that Havildar Hari Singh, Naiks Anil Kumar and Sanjay of the Guards Regiment, had gone to sleep in their tent at the eastern camp of the Mahajan field range after finishing their dinner at the mess. They were there in connection with an important Army exercise.

At about 3.30 am, they developed some medical problem and were shifted to the field medical camp. Later, they had to be shifted to the military hospital at Suratgarh as their condition showed no improvement.

During the treatment, Anil Kumar (35) of Titani in district Bhiwani and Sanjay (30) of Vijroha in district Jhajhar (Haryana) died. Their bodies were sent to their native places in Haryana by special carriers for cremation.

The police said no injury marks were found on the bodies. The doctors at the Suratgarh hospital said the viscera would be examined at the forensic lab by the experts.

The investigating officer has decided to get the samples of the food served at the mess examined. However, none other had complained of any medical problem after taking the meals at the same mess earmarked for the other ranks.

Rain god’s blessings turn into curse for commuters
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, August 11
While the sudden downpour brought relief to the residents from the scorching heat and humidity, it also brought along problems as the heavy drizzle inundated several parts of the town due to which the residents, especially the commuters, had a tough time.  

Thanks to the faulty planning on part of the municipal authorities, at many places, rainwater accumulated on the roads posing serious risk to the lives of the commuters.

At several places, owing to the faulty sewerage, the stinking water even entered the dwellings of the residents. Many roads which had been re-carpeted recently, were also damaged causing a major loss to the state exchequer.

Several streets became a pool of slush which added to the woes of the people who have been crying themselves hoarse about the poor sewerage management in the town.

The Malwal road in front of the Shahnai Palace has been damaged and its condition is worse than before. The condition of the newly constructed Katcha Zira road in front of Guru Nagar is equally appalling where the overflowing sewage coupled with the rain water poses a tough challenge to the motorists.

Rainwater also accumulated on the railway road in the cantonment besides areas like Gobind Nagari, Basti Shekhan and Piranwala Mohalla. Several parts in the interior of the city were equally affected making it extremely difficult to commute on these roads.

Guv to attend ‘Sanskritik Yatra’
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, August 11
A presentation of rich colourful folk performances from across the country, “Sanskritik Yatra”, will be organised at the Hussainiwala border outpost on Monday. The programme is being organized by the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF).

As per the information, Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab, shall be the chief guest on the occasion while Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Minister for Cultural Affairs, will be the guest of honour.

The programme is part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the establishment of various zonal cultural centres across the country. It is for the first time that such a cultural event is being held along the border in the district.

Ex-min takes a dig at SAD-BJP leaders

Bathinda, August 11
The Punjab Pradesh Aggarwal Sabha, led by former Punjab minister Chiranji Lal Garg, while appreciating the solidarity shown by the SAD-BJP leaders towards the victims of firing at Oak Creek Gurdwara in Wisonsin, USA, has lamented the dual standard shown by these leaders.

Garg said that while the SAD-BJP leaders had gone to a great length to show support for the victims of firing in the US, none of them had raised their voice to protest against the plight of the Hindus in Pakistan, who are facing oppression.

Garg, who joined Congress after ending his long association with SAD, said it was indicative of the hollowness of the conviction of the SAD-BJP leaders in their ideology and beliefs. — TNS

Week-long I-Day celebrations begin in Abohar
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, August 11
To kick-start week-long Independence Day celebrations, the Punjabi Sabhyachar Manch chose Dangarkhera that boasts of having produced highest number of government school teachers among the villages of the region.

During the function, attended by thousands of men, women and children, Colonel Dilbagh Singh was joined by former sub-divisional magistrate BL Sikka and octogenarian social activist Jamuna Devi Chawla, in honouring veteran teachers Ranjeet Ram and Naurang Lal who had put more than 25 years of service in the local government school.

They are the most revered “gurus” of 81 government school teachers, 25 engineers/doctors, 5 advocates, 15 revenue department staff and 30 army/security forces personnel. All of their successful pupils used to play in the dusty streets and had to sit in few classrooms that had no desk then.

After superannuation of service, both the teachers led the campaign to renovate cremation ground and their school.

Notably, the village was adopted by the UK-based Roko India for identifying cancer patients after a dozen deaths in a short span, highest in number in the region.

Manch president Gurcharan Singh Gill and youth wing president Gurmeet Singh said free sewing and stitching centre for women has been set up here. The first batch of 40 trainees was issued certificates at the function.

The NGO has also launched awareness campaign against foeticide, dowry, drugs and other ills that plague society.

Protecting environment is also on its agenda. The students of Dreamland Public School mesmerised the huge gathering by presenting a choreography and folk dances based on fight for freedom.

Outstanding students of the Government Senior Secondary School were also honoured. Some of them displayed science model at the entrance of the pandal.

The organisers also honoured Market Committee former chairman Sohan Lal and others who had made valuable contribution in making Dangarkhera one of the most developed villages in the recent past.

All were presented with portraits of great freedom fighters.

Labourer killed in road mishap
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, August 11
In a tragic incident, a newly-married labourer, who was going to arrange money for the delivery of his wife, was killed in a road accident on the intervening night of August 10 and 11 near village Beganwali, some 8 kilometres from here.

His wife is admitted to the local Civil Hospital for the delivery of their child.

As per sources, Kuldeep Singh (22), a resident of village Tahliwala Bodla, had admitted his wife Palo Bai to the hospital on Friday night.

Kuldeep, along with his sister Surjit Kaur and cousin Harpal Singh, left for village Khui Khera on a bike to arrange money from their sister Tejo Bai for the treatment. As their motorcycle reached near village Beganwali at midnight, a tractor trailer, overloaded with paddy husk, coming from the opposite direction, hit him head-on. As a result, all the three occupants of the motorcycle fell on the road. They sustained serious injuries and were shifted to the Civil Hospital where Kuldeep succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer fled from the scene.

There is resentment among the residents here over the plying of overloaded vehicles with impunity. These vehicles are considered to be the main cause of road accidents.

But the authorities have failed to check the problem despite the issue being at different platforms several times by the locals.