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Rising thefts
Law & order on the decline: Jassi
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Unable to walk but spirits running high
Abduction victim under constant fear as main accused on the run
Contests mark concluding day of youth festival
Five theft cases reported
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Rising thefts
Bathinda, March 19 The protesters alleged that the law and order in the city was worsening day by day. Incidents of theft were rising due to which the traders were feeling insecure, they said. The electronic gadgets, including 11 computer sets, three printers, a scanner, an inverter and other gadgets, were set on fire by thieves. The thieves managed to take away two new computers from the café, Garg-e-Point, situated in the Street number six of the Nai Basti. The culprits allegedly set the café on fire in a bid to destroy the evidence recorded by the CCTV camera installed there. The café owner, Amit Garg said the thieves had tried to steal gadgets in the past too, following which they had installed CCTV cameras. The incident came to light at around 4 am and fire tenders were pressed into service to douse
the flames. “We have no idea who is behind the crime. All we knew is that material worth Rs 10 lakh has been completely damaged," said Amit Kumar, a relative of the café owner. He claimed that an air conditioner, a water dispenser, a recently-purchased photostat machine, five sets of speaker, 25 pen drives and some other electronics kept in the café were gutted. The shopkeepers termed the theft as fallout of the dilapidating law and order situation in the city. “The police has become a toothless tiger and the criminals are aware of this fact. The police has nothing to do except for pleasing their political masters and remaining at the service of influential people," alleged Ashok Kumar, one of the shopkeepers. The shopkeepers said the police failed to crack theft, snatching and other criminal cases as they remain busy discharging VVIP duties and controlling protesters. Senior police officials, including SP (City) Dharampal and DSP Gurmeet Kingra, reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters with an assurance that the thieves would be arrested soon. A case was being registered in this regard. It may be mentioned that a large number of thefts have already been committed at shops situated on the Ajit Road, near Ghorewala Chowk and Fauji Chowk. The police said a rising number of drug addicts, their involvement in thefts and consequent bails from the courts had been proving hindrances in curbing the menace. |
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Law & order on the decline: Jassi
Bathinda, March 19 “Despite road deaths, the state government is bent on increasing the number of liquor vends and making people addicted to intoxicants," said the former Congress MLA. Jassi, who was accompanied by District Congress in-charge Kushaldeep Dhillon, presided over a meeting of the Congress workers held here today. Dhillon asked the workers to attend a function to be held in Chandigarh on March 23 wherein Gurdaspu MP Partap Bajwa would formally take over as president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Advocate Rajan Garg, Congress (urban) president Ashok Kumar, Lala Jeet Mal, Mohan Lal Jhumba, Bhagwan Das, Nand Lal, Ashok Bhola, Kuljeet Gogi, Dr Mukesh, Surinder Jeet Sahni, Master Parkash Chand, Seeta Sain, Jaswinder Kaur, Varinder, Duli Chand, Jaswant Goldi, district general secretary of the party Rupinder Bindra and others were present on the occasion. |
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Unable to walk but spirits running high
Bathinda, March 19 Much against the wishes of his family, Hardeep joined the Army in 2004. “Like most of the parents in our country, my parents too did not want their eldest son to join the Army. But I wanted to do something for my country,” recalls Hardeep. As part of the 8th Sikh Regiment, Hardeep was posted in Assam. All was fine till the fateful day. “I was part of a patrolling team which was ambushed by militants. A bullet hit my head in exchange of fire. I was bed-ridden in an hospital for a year and a half. All the while I didn’t let my family know how badly I was hurt. I kept telling them that I had sustained minor injuries," he adds. As if the shock of having their eldest son in the Army wasn’t enough, Hardeep’s parents learnt that their son was badly injured and had a little sensation left in both his legs. However, Hardeep, supporting a never-say-die spirit, says, “Everyday people get badly hurt in road accidents. They lose their limbs and some lose their lives as well. I could have fallen from stairs at my home and got injured. At least, I was injured in the line of duty." “In the other case, I would have been sitting at home doing nothing and earning nothing. Right now, I am getting pension and supporting my family. All is not lost yet. I am a student of BA (Part I) and hopeful of getting a government job in future,” he adds, his undaunted spirit ringing clear in his voice. “And yes, although I am walking with the help of crutches right now, doctors say that I may regain sensation in my legs by undergoing physiotherapy. My brother helps me exercise,” he adds. Hardeep has two younger sisters and a brother. Ask him if he would let his younger brother join the Army if he wanted to, pat comes the reply: “I would encourage him if he wishes to don the olive uniform. If every youngster will fall for the comforts of a corporate office, who will join the Army and safeguard the nation?” asks Hardeep. |
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Over 2,000 attend ex-servicemen rally at Bathinda military station
Bathinda, March 19 The Chetak Corps, espousing the theme ‘We care for our ex-servicemen’, had organised the rally at the camping ground of the Bathinda Military Station. Lt-General Ghei was the chief guest on the occasion. Over 2000 persons, including ex-servicemen and their kin from six tehsils of the Bathinda
and Mansa districts, attended the rally. Major-General Kamal Chauhan, GOC, Sub-Area, welcomed the guests. A fly-past by helicopters and a cultural programme was also organised on the occasion. The cultural programme included a display by the military band and a bhangra performance. Addressing the gathering, Lt-General Ghei acknowledged the contribution of brave soldiers from Punjab, their dedication towards the nation and the countless sacrifices that they made in the line of duty. He also exhorted the youth of the state to join the Armed Forces. To assist the visitors, stalls were set up by the offices of Records, Recruitment, Rehabilitation and Welfare, the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), the Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). A medical camp was also held on the occasion. Besides, the Defence Pension Disbursing Officer (DPDO) and District
Social Welfare Officers (DSWO) were present to address the queries of the visitors, who were also provided with Aadhaar card registration and Canteen Stores Department
(CSD) facilities. Various state departments like agriculture, health, fisheries, electricity, irrigation, water supply and police had also set up their stalls at the rally to assist the ex-servicemen. |
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Abduction victim under constant fear as main accused on the run
Bathinda, March 19 “Since they have threatened to attack again, our family is living under a constant fear,” the victim said. Sharing his harrowing tale of nine-hour abduction, Dinesh said the kidnapping haunts him to this day and he had been spending sleepless nights even three months after his abduction. Dinesh had 24 stitches in his head and is yet to recover completely from the injuries in his fingers and head. “I became the kidnappers' target when I inadvertently promised a scrap seller that I could arrange Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh in a day to make payment against purchase of scrap,” Dinesh claimed. "The main accused, an engineer employed near Bhisiana airport, used to visit my shop on the Barnala road. I had readily agreed to buy the scrap lying near the Bhisiana airport for Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh. I could have arranged the money from city-based arthiyas," Dinesh said. The engineer (identified as Bahadur) took him to a secluded house near the Thermal lakes at around 9 am on December 28 last year to show the scrap that he intended to sell. “I grew suspicious when the accused's driver turned the Tata Indica car towards the Goniana road instead of the Malout road. The engineer casually offered to show some scrap lying in a nearby house," Dinesh said. “Once I entered into the dilapidated house, two unidentified persons attacked me with bricks, tied my hands and gagged me,” he added. The kidnappers assaulted their victim with bricks and administered him sedatives. They made him talk to an arthiya without showing any signs of pain and arrange for money. “I called up various arhtiyas and family friends the entire day long to collect Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. He arranged for Rs 10 lakh by the evening and the money was kept at his shop. One of the kidnappers went to the shop and brought the money, Dinesh said, adding that they were demanding Rs 2 lakh more but till 6 pm, his condition had deteriorated and the person on the other side of the phone could have suspected he was being forced to speak. “I tried hard to remain awake as my head and nose were bleeding. I could have died if i had dozed off,” Dinesh said. He added that the kidnappers left him in a pool of blood thinking that his body might be recovered after a couple of days. However, Dinesh managed to come out of the house and asked some passersby to call his family members who were searching for him. The matter was brought into the notice of the police and during the course of investigation, four accused were arrested. The main accused in the case were still at large. “We are regularly meeting senior police officials but to no avail”, Dinesh said. He said he had installed five CCTV cameras at his residence and shop after the kidnapping. Demanding an immediate arrest of the accused at large, he said his family members were afraid for him as the main accused had threatened to attack again if the matter was brought into the notice of police. Apart from Rs 10 lakh, the kidnappers also took away his gold chain, mobile phone and Rs 50,000 in cash. Dinesh had taken Rs 50,000 along to give it as token money in case the deal with the engineer matured. The police officials investigating the matter said they had arrested Gurjeet Singh, Kulwinder Singh, Dimple and Raj Kumar in this connection and efforts were on to nab the other culprits. |
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Street play brings to fore environmental concerns
Bathinda, March 19 As many as eight artistes of the Natyam Manch made the public aware of how we are damaging our environment by cutting down trees, increasing air, water and land pollution, and using pesticides on crops. “We wanted to show the people that the day is not far when life on the Earth will end,” said
Kirti Kripal, director of the play. Today was the last day of the presentation of street plays. Starting Wednesday, plays will be staged at the Open Air Theatre in Rose Garden. The first play to be staged is the 100-year-old play “Suhag”, which was written by the veteran IC Nanda. “The staging of the original play will be followed by the staging of the remake of the play, which has been penned by Dr Pali Bhupinder Singh, said Kripal. The plays will be staged by the Satya Theatre Group
from Ludhiana. |
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Contests mark concluding day of youth festival
Bathinda, March 19 Addressing the participants, Sidhu asked them to keep alive the culture of the state. Pawan Shastri was the programme officer. On Day 1 of the mela, competitions like kavishri, lok geet, lok saaz and bhangra were organised. On Day 2, debate, traditional attire, handicraft making, gidda and mono acting competitions were held. As many as 200 participants from Bathinda, Shri Muktsar Saheb, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts attended the mela. On the concluding day, Bathinda Mayor Baljitg Singh Beerbehman was the chief guest. He asked the youngsters to stay away from drugs and work towards their goal. The guest of honour on the concluding day was Dr Ravindra Singh Mann, principal of Dasmesh Public Senior Secondary School, Bathinda. Also present on the occasion were Narinder Kumar Bassi, Kulwinder Singh, Gurmail Singh, Raghuvir Mann, Darshan Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Gurjeet Singh, Rohit Sharma, Jagdeep Pal Singh, among others. In the debate competition, Manpreet Kaur of GGS Degree College won the first prize. In the traditional attire competition, the first position jointly went to Prabhjot Kaur of Guru Harsahay, Ferozepur and Ramandeep Kaur of Gidderbaha. In the gidda competition, the first prize jointly shared by the teams of HKL Nursing College, Ferozepur
and GGS Degree College, Gidderbaha. In the mono acting competition, Sarabhjeet Kaur of GGS Degree
College, Gidderbaha, bagged the first prize. In the basket weaving competition, Ramandeep Kaur of Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, was adjudged the winner. THE WINNERS
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Five theft cases reported
Bathinda, March 19 The Canal Colony police has arrested one Kuldeep Kumar for stealing scrap and other material from near Nachhattar Singh Nagar. The complainant in the case, Baljinder Singh, said the accused had
stolen the material from outside his shop. The police has booked the accused under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC. Naresh Batta, a resident of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, said some unidentified person had stolen his bike worth nearly Rs 15,000 from outside his house. A case under Section 379
of the IPC has been registered in this connection at the Cantonment police station. As many as 70 mobile phones worth nearly Rs 1.21 lakhs have reporedly been stolen from a shop in Goniana Mandi. The complainant, Manjit Singh, stated that the thieves entered his shop by breaking open the iron shutter. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered in this connection at the Nehianwala police station. Sony Kumar, a resident of Amarpura Basti, said some unidentified persons decamp with dairy products and cash from the Verka booth near Jodhpur Romana village. He claimed that the loss amounted to nearly Rs 41,000. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered at Kotfatta police station. |
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