The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Major Gen Atma Singh remains unsung hero in Punjab Family demands a war memorial in his memory Kusum Arora Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 11 Punjab, popularly known as the warrior state of the country, might have earned accolades for sending a large number of its men to the armed forces, but it failed to acknowledge the heroic deeds of one of its hero- Major General Atma Singh, the first Indian General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Tiger Division. Gen Atma Singh remained a little known name in his home state all these years as consecutive governments ignored him. The officer had served Jammu Division, which later became 26 Infantry Division, from May 1948 to 1949. While the Army honored Gen Atma by installing his bust and a memorial at Satwari Cantonment in Jammu, Punjab failed to honour him for his heroic deeds in Jammu region during 1948 operations. The officer had met with a fatal jeep accident in Satwari Cantonment on September 22, 1949. The bravery of Gen Atma came to fore through Major General GS Sohi (retd), who approached the former Deputy Director of District Sainik Welfare Board, Lt Col Manmohan Singh, in this regard. The Tribune spoke to his family in Jalandhar who demanded that the state government should construct a war memorial in the memory of Gen Atma Singh, preferably at Jalandhar or across the state. His son Atamjit Singh said, “A visit to Satwari Cantonment in Jammu is enough to learn about the bravery of my father. But, sadly his heroism never got the limelight it deserved in Punjab.” He said the state government should recognise the contribution of Gen Atma, as he was the first GOC of 26 Infantry Division. “Major General TCG Heywood was the first GOC of Tiger Division in 1942. Later, the first Indian to head that division was my father. People in Jammu speak volumes about the role of my father during those days of turmoil. He had become an officer with mass appeal during his tenure,” he said. The family also showed the rare copy of The Tribune dated September 27, 1949, which carried a front page picture of Gen Atma Singh with a senior Army officer. “Not just The Tribune, many other newspapers of that time carried full page reports of my father when he died a sudden death. His funeral procession was attended by who’s who from the Indian government including the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, and the Army chief,” family members said. It is pertinent to mention here that 26 Infantry Division has a rich military heritage. It was raised on March 20, 1942, during World War-II at Barrackpore. The Division was initially known as Calcutta Division and then re-designated as 26th Indian Division on May 1942. In October 1947, Pakistan-supported tribesmen invaded Jammu and Kashmir. After Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of Accession, the Army rushed in forces to the help of the princely state. “These forces were organised under an ad hoc division known as JAK Division. On May 4, 1948, the JAK Division was split into SRI Division with Headquarters at Srinagar under the command of Major General KS Thimayya and JA Division at Jammu under the command of Major General Atma Singh. The officer was instrumental in bringing peace in Jammu during the days of conflict,” said Gen Sohi.
	As town stinks, MC official asks DC to appoint administrator Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Batala, September 11 Just ahead of the Babe Da Viah celebrations held to commemorate the marriage ceremony of Guru Nanak Dev on September 22, this steel town seems to be full of filth and squalor prompting the Executive Officer (EO) of the Municipal Council (MC) to write a letter to the Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner (DC) asking him to appoint an Administrator to ensure that garbage heaps are cleared and other developmental works are carried on. It is pertinent to mention here that Jatinder Kalyan, leading a splinter group of the BJP, was made the President of the MC after Halqa in charge and former Qadian MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal divided the 20-member BJP and managed to garner the support of as many as eight councillors. The MC has a total strength of 33 councillors out of which 20 are with the BJP, 6 with the SAD and 7 belong to the Congress. The Batala MLA Ashwani Sekhri, who also has a vote in the House, was also present during the meeting. Following this development, which did not stand scrutiny with the District Administration on technical grounds, the DC Dr Abhinav Trikha declared the meeting as null and void. However, after the meeting was declared a virtual ‘non event’, an incensed Kalyan, backed by Lodhinangal, filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the DC’s order. The District Administration will be giving its reply in the Court on November 6 to the Notice of Motion issued to it. Sans a President or Administrator, all major developmental works in the town, bustling with activity ahead of Guru Nanak Dev’s marriage anniversary, have come to a halt. The worst part of it, claim residents, is that the headless MC does not even care to clear garbage heaps scattered all over the town despite the fact that a solemn and pious ceremony is just around the corner. Taking cognisance of the situation, the EO has now written to the DC to appoint an Administrator so that important developmental works can be initiated. “Once the state government issues a notification, the DC will appoint the Batala SDM as the MC Administrator,” claimed a senior officer. Social activist Dr SS Nijjar said under the present circumstances, the MC can neither float tenders and nor can it utilise funds frozen in a nationalised bank to undertake any major initiative. He added that garbage heaps could be seen near Thathiari gate and Gurdwara Kandh sahib, where a major part of the festivities will be held. “In the area in front of the bus stand, where thousands of pilgrims are expected to arrive, filth and squalor is all what can be seen. The DC should act promptly and ensure an Administrator is appointed,” Nijjar added. Harinder Singh, BJP councillor from Ward no 18, has also urged the DC to act promptly otherwise the town will earn a bad name for itself during the celebrations.
	ICAR member explores agriculture management for progressive farmers Tribune News Service Batala, September 11 Amardeep Singh Cheema, Vice Chairman, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and member of the general body of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), visited one of the prestigious agricultural institutes in the country --- the Hyderabad-based MANAGE (National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management) --- to look into the possibility of getting short duration specialised training on agriculture management for progressive farmers from Punjab. He also explored the possibility of taking cue from large-scale farming initiatives in foreign countries keeping in view the global competitive scenario of agriculture, fast changing climate changes and dwindling land resources in Punjab. A detailed presentation was made by MANAGE to detailing ways and means to improve agriculture management in Punjab by cashing in on the global opportunities available in view of the large-scale bilateral agreements of Government of India with various countries. Cheema addressed the MANAGE faculty and shared his views on utilising the potential of Punjabi farmers who played a major role in the success of the first Green Revolution in the country in the mid-seventies. He expressed the hope that by getting certified training from MANAGE, the farmers of Punjab would learn techniques relating to farm management, ethical farming, financial and logistical management of farming.
	Union Minister visits Integrated Check Post Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 11 Union Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran today visited the Integrated Check Post (ICP) on the Attari-Wagah border and held meetings with officials of the BSF and other agencies. He was welcomed by State Animal Husbandary Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike. After the review meeting, the Union Minister inspected the border fencing and the floodlights installed there. It is learnt that a delegation of local traders met the Home minister to apprise him about the difficulties that they faced in importing cement and other articles from Pakistan through the ICP . Others present on the occasion were Himmat Singh, Additional Director-General of Police (BSF), Supreet Singh Gulati, Additional Deputy Commissioner and Preet Pal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural).
	Man commits suicide, five booked Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, September 11 The Chabbewal police has booked Charan Dass, his daughters Reena Chopra and Lovely Chopra and sons Dinkar Chopra and Jagdeep Chopra, all of Banga, under Section 306 of the IPC for allegedly abetting Satnam Singh of Bassi Kalan to commit suicide. Police sources said Satnam Singh along with his wife Lovely Chopra was running an IELTS coaching centre and Lovely Chopra handed over all their income to her father Charan Das. Later, Lovely applied for a petrol pump which was sanctioned to her. When Satnam Singh demanded his money from Charan Das, all the accused allegedly insulted him instead of giving his money. Under frustration, he committed suicide.
	Six booked in two dowry cases Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, September 11 On the complaint of Baljinder Kaur of Kaloya village, the NRI police station has booked her NRI husband Hardev Singh Panesar, father-in-law Manohar Singh and mother-in-law Samtosh Kaur, presently residing in the UK, under Section 498 A of the IPC for torturing and maltreating her for dowry. Baljinder Kaur alleged that she got married to Hardev Singh Panesar on February 25, 2004. All the accused including her husband allegedly used to torture and maltreat her for bringing Rs 10 lakh and dowry from her parents. In a similar case, the Sadar police has booked Surjit Singh, his father Mohinder Singh and mother Gurbaksh Kaur, all of Mehlanwali, under the Section 498 A of the IPC for torturing and maltreating Raj Kumari of New Colony, Chohal. Raj Kumari was married to Surjit Singh on April 8, 2011.