B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Chief Secretary visits Bathinda villages
Kanakwal (Bathinda), April 17
Kanakwal and Phulokhari villages may become the first ones in the state to be relocated due to pollution by industrial units. A week-long dharna by residents against the Bathinda Refinery and a LPG bottling unit forced Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to undertake a tour of the area today.

A view of the Bathinda Refinery. A Tribune photo

Jail staff attacked as inmate dies
Faridkot, April 17
After the death of a 24-year-old undertrial in Central Jail, Faridkot, today, angry prisoners reportedly attacked the jail staff. While the jail authorities called extra police force to control the situation, some inmates reportedly went on hunger strike to register their protest.

Sobrajjit Singh’s death case
DMCH doctor booked
Barnala, April 17
Following the registration of a case against a doctor of the DMCH, Ludhiana, in the death case of Sobrajjit Singh (21), the action committee held a victory rally here today after withdrawing the call for Barnala bandh, given by it and the Beopar Mandal for today.

Chief Secretary visits Bathinda villages
Announces committee to study pollution levels
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune news Service

Kanakwal (Bathinda), April 17
Kanakwal and Phulokhari villages may become the first ones in the state to be relocated due to pollution by industrial units. A week-long dharna by residents against the Bathinda Refinery and a LPG bottling unit forced Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to undertake a tour of the area today. He saw houses damaged by the impact of blasts in the refinery and also met some asthma patients.

After meeting villagers, the Chief Secretary asked refinery and pollution control board officials to upgrade pollution and safety norms.

He announced a committee to study and report within two weeks if the pollution was serious enough to warrant relocation of Kanakwal and Phulokhari residents.

The refinery officials announced that a pollution monitoring mobile van would be stationed in the area till permanent pollution monitoring units were installed in the villages. The officials agreed to put up sensors along the boundary wall of the refinery to detect gas leak.

Another team from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, will study if the pollution is causing damage to crops. The Chief Secretary ordered that a skin specialist be posted at the village dispensary.

He announced that the process to make a draft proposal on the relocation of the villagers had been initiated. The Bathinda district administration would submit a report on financial implications of the exercise and the probable site for relocation.

The refinery officials admitted that certain shortcomings had led to some blasts in the refinery. Three international agencies had been called to ascertain the cause of the blasts.

The two villages had blocked the rail and road route to and from the refinery earlier this month compelling the Chief Minister to ask the Chief Secretary to visit the area.

A section of villagers said that relocating the villages would benefit the refinery that needed over 1,000 acres for expansion. Prabh Das, refinery CEO, said they did have expansion plans but “right now our target is production stability and safety.”

Measures initiated

• Refinery and pollution control board officials told to upgrade pollution and safety norms
• Refinery officials announce that a pollution monitoring mobile van will be stationed in the area 
• Agree to put up sensors along the boundary wall of the refinery to detect gas leak
• A team from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to study if the pollution is causing damage to crops
• Refinery officials admit shortcomings, say 3 international agencies called to ascertain cause of blasts

Jail staff attacked as inmate dies
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, April 17
After the death of a 24-year-old undertrial in Central Jail, Faridkot, today, angry prisoners reportedly attacked the jail staff. While the jail authorities called extra police force to control the situation, some inmates reportedly went on hunger strike to register their protest.

Jail Superintendent SP Singh said the situation was now under control. The protesting prisoners alleged that the inmate, Karnail Singh, died due to the negligence of the jail staff because they did not provide him with medical help despite being informed that he was not well. Soon after his death, angry inmates roughed up the jail staff and extra police force was called to control the situation.

The deceased belonged to Jalandhar district and was facing seven criminal cases including attempt to murder. His condition started deteriorating in the evening yesterday after he was brought back to jail after his appearance before a court in Patiala.

Besides an increased number of suicides, the recent death of prisoners in Faridkot Central Jail which houses over 1,800 inmates, has shocked the police and jail authorities.

On April ,8 while a prisoner ended his life by hanging himself in the jail hospital, another woman inmate attempted suicide. There have been three deaths and five suicides in the jail in the last one year.

The jail authorities claimed that drug addiction was a major cause for the increase in the number of deaths and suicides in recent times.

After the jail authorities increased the vigilance to check the flow of drugs, many jail inmates suffered from acute withdrawal symptoms.

Sobrajjit Singh’s death case
DMCH doctor booked

Barnala, April 17
Following the registration of a case against a doctor of the DMCH, Ludhiana, in the death case of Sobrajjit Singh (21), the action committee held a victory rally here today after withdrawing the call for Barnala bandh, given by it and the Beopar Mandal for today.

Succumbing to the pressure by the agitationists to seek justice for Sobrajjit Singh and his family, the Barnala police registered a case under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC against the DMCH doctor Harish Matta yesterday.

Sobrajjit Singh, son of Sohan Singh, secretary of the Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), Barnala, had met with an accident on January 28 at Barnala. He died at the DMCH on February 6.

The victory rally was addressed at Chhata Khuh Chowk, Sadar Bazar here by the convener of the action committee Gurmail Singh Thuliwal, president of Beopar Mandal Anil Bansal, state leader of BKU (Dakonda) Manjit Singh Dhaner, president of Inqulabi Kendra Punjab, Narayan Dutt, a BKU (Ugrahan) leader Bukan Singh Saddowal and Hem Raj Steno. — TNS