B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

SAD leaders want back compensation
Moga, December 6
The local leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demanded back the compensation money given to some farmers of Kili Chahal village from whom land was taken on rent for holding a mega rally to kick-start the party’s election campaign on December 18 last year.

Central team takes stock of PDS supplies
Ferozepur, December 6
In order to check some alleged anomalies in the public distribution system (PDS) of food and other supplies, a high-level central vigilance committee, led by its secretary SC Rawal, today visited various offices belonging to the food and supplies department, the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, and the National Informatics Centre ( NIC).

NGOs protest against inadequate medical facilities in Jalalabad
Fazilka, December 6
Nearly a half a dozen NGOs of Jalalabad, which have been agitating since a long time seeking adequate medical facilities in the town, today started a chain hunger strike. As many as 24 members of the NGOs observed the strike on the first day.

Keetu murder case
Moga police arrests close aide of assailants
Moga, December 6
The Moga police today nabbed a close associate of the nephews of former SAD MLA Malkiat Singh Keetu and recovered a .12 bore gun from his possession. The SAD leader was allegedly murdered by his nephews and some of their associates on October 29, this year.

One killed, 4 hurt in road mishap
Abohar, December 6
Mahabir Prasad of Jawahar Nagar (Sriganganagar) was killed while his nephew Vikas was seriously hurt as the Maruti Zen car they were travelling in collided head on with a Scorpio near Khairpur village on the Abohar-Seetogunno road today.

SAD leaders want back compensation
Farmers’ land used for election rally
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, December 6
The local leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demanded back the compensation money given to some farmers of Kili Chahal village from whom land was taken on rent for holding a mega rally to kick-start the party’s election campaign on December 18 last year.

The farmers alleged that using the influence of the district administration, SAD leaders were creating undue pressure on them to get back the money given to them as compensation.

The BKU general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri held a meeting with the farmers today and assured them of extending every help to secure their financial interests.

The SAD district president Tirath Singh Mahla, while talking to TNS, said the party had taken 260 acres for holding the rally, out of which, 40 acres were reserved for parking of vehicles. However, since the land reserved for parking was wet, it was not used and instead another 50 acres of land were taken on rent. "We gave Rs 20,000 per acre in advance to the farmers for using their land for the rally,” he said.

The farmers owning the 40 acres had got Rs 6 lakh as compensation in advance. During an inspection by party leaders and the district administration the land was not found suitable for parking vehicles. "Then, these farmers had promised to return the money since their land was not used by the party. But later, they backtracked,” Mahla said.

He said the sarpanch of the nearby Chuhar Chak village had disbursed a sum of Rs 20 lakh from his pocket.

The party recompensed him except for the controversial 40 acres since its owners promised to give back the money directly to the village sarpanch.

Now, Kuldip Singh, the village sarpanch, has complained to the local administration seeking recovery of the money that he spent from his own pocket. "Several meetings were held with the farmers and they always promised to return advance received on the arrival of paddy crop. But when I demanded the money a few days back they totally refused,” he said.

Gurnam Singh, a farmer, alleged that the charge of wet conditions at the venue was baseless because the PSPCL had disconnected the power connections to their fields a month prior to the rally and hence, it was not possible for them to irrigate the fields.

Central team takes stock of PDS supplies
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, December 6
In order to check some alleged anomalies in the public distribution system (PDS) of food and other supplies, a high-level central vigilance committee, led by its secretary SC Rawal, today visited various offices belonging to the food and supplies department, the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, and the National Informatics Centre ( NIC).

During the visit, officials of the departments concerned gave an overview of the entire PDS process being followed by them. The team checked the stock and took data related to the distribution of kerosene, wheat, sugar and pulses provided under the PDS system.

Later, the team also met depot holders and NGOs, and listened to the grievances aired by beneficiaries. On the occasion, the depot holders demanded that the reduction in quota of kerosene for the state should be rolled back.

Meanwhile, the police has registered a case under the Essential Commodities Act-1955 against Surinder Kumar, who owns a ration depot in Basti Tankan Wali area, for allegedly selling the wheat meant for the PDS quota at higher prices to those who were not entitled for the same.

NGOs protest against inadequate medical facilities in Jalalabad
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, December 6
Nearly a half a dozen NGOs of Jalalabad, which have been agitating since a long time seeking adequate medical facilities in the town, today started a chain hunger strike. As many as 24 members of the NGOs observed the strike on the first day.

Jalalabad, the high-profile area of Fazilka district and the Assembly constituency of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, has about 45,000 residents, who are agitated over pitiable state of affairs at the local "Civil Hospital".

According to official records, the nearly five-decade-old hospital is in fact a 20-bed Community Health Centre (CHC). However, a board displayed at its entrance reads "civil hospital".

The government medical facility has been facing shortage of specialists. The post of senior medical officer (SMO) had been vacant for the past two months after the promotion of SMO Dr Baldev Raj as the Civil Surgeon. Dr Baldev Raj too had a brief stint.

Dr Hans Raj Malethia assumed the charge of the SMO this afternoon.

Ironically, the hospital has a surgeon without an anesthetist and an ambulance without a driver. A blood bank is yet to come up even as a building for the purpose was constructed a decade ago.

The hospital is deemed to cater to the medical needs of urban and rural populace of around one lakh people, but it works only as a "first-aid post" because most of the patients have to be referred to hospitals at other places.

"The patience of the patients and residents of the area has exhausted. They have been seeking basic health facilities and are now compelled to resort to tread the path of agitation," said Ranjiv Dahuja, the president of the NGOs Co-ordination Committee, Jalalabad.

During the agitation today, the protesters raised a slogan "jago Sukhbir jago".

Dahuja, who is leading the agitation, warned, "The NGOs have decided to greet their area representative Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal with black flags during his scheduled visit to the town on December 9, if their demand of upgrading the CHC to a civil hospital and providing specialists and other basic facilities was not fulfilled."

While talking to The Tribune, Civil Surgeon Dr Gurdit Singh Sodhi claimed that "the higher authorities have been apprised of the prevailing situation and the demands would be met soon".

Keetu murder case
Moga police arrests close aide of assailants
Tribune News Service

Moga, December 6
The Moga police today nabbed a close associate of the nephews of former SAD MLA Malkiat Singh Keetu and recovered a .12 bore gun from his possession. The SAD leader was allegedly murdered by his nephews and some of their associates on October 29, this year.

While revealing this to The Tribune, SSP Surjit Singh Grewal said the arrested youth had been identified as Beant Singh, a resident of Manuke Gill village of Nihalsinghwala sub-division. A .12 bore gun has also been recovered from his possession. As many as 18 bullets have also been recovered from him, he said.

However, the SSP clarified that the arrested man was not involved in the murder of Keetu but was a close associate of the slain Akali leader's nephews.

“He belongs to the same gang,” he said.

The investigating officer produced him before a local court, which sent him to a two-day police remand for further investigations.

A criminal case under various sections of the Arms Act has been registered against the accused at Badhni Kalan police station.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Beant Singh has been booked in at least six criminal cases registered at various police stations in the state in the recent past.

During preliminary investigation, Beant revealed that he borrowed the .12 bore gun from Harpreet Singh, one of the nephews of Keetu.

Harpreet is presently under judicial custody in Keetu’s murder case.

One killed, 4 hurt in road mishap

Abohar, December 6
Mahabir Prasad of Jawahar Nagar (Sriganganagar) was killed while his nephew Vikas was seriously hurt as the Maruti Zen car they were travelling in collided head on with a Scorpio near Khairpur village on the Abohar-Seetogunno road today.

The Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital authorities confirmed that Harpreet Singh, Harpinder Singh and Baljit Singh, all residents of Bathinda who were in the Scorpio, were also admitted to the hospital. The collision had left both the vehicles badly mangled. — OC