Bathinda, April 29
The members of Special Trainer Teachers Association, who were detained and released yesterday, resumed their protest outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today. As many as 85 of them were rounded up again and taken to various police stations.

The police had to resort to using force to detain the protesters which led to minor injuries to many of them, including women.

Around 100 teachers were rounded up from the Rose Garden yesterday and were released in the evening. Immediately after they were released, they had announced to hold the protest again.

Since the teachers had kept the entire police force on tenterhooks on Sunday, the police was prepared to deal with the protesters with an iron hand today.

One of the union leaders Gursewak Raunta said their state president Devinder Singh Muktsar received injuries while the protesters were being detained. He said nearly 200 teachers, including 100 females, were protesting against the termination of services of 1,894 teachers across the state.

Raunta said the teachers were engaged under the Central government's scheme, the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Some of the teachers were engaged three years ago, he added.

He said the government announced that for paucity of funds, it could not continue the scheme and hence, their services were terminated on March 31 this year.

Raunta said the teachers were engaged to teach school drop-outs and other poor children in government schools at different villages across the state.

Raunta claimed that many special trainer teachers were MA, double MA and B.Ed as well.

DSP Gurmeet Kingra said the number of teachers rounded up was 85, including females.

He said a case might be registered against them for creating chaos and raising anti-government slogans outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

Fact file Members of Special Trainer Teachers’ Association resumed their protest outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner here. Around 100 teachers were rounded up from the Rose Garden on Sunday and were released in the evening. Immediately after they were released, they had announced to hold the protest again. One of the teacher leaders Gursewak Raunta said their state president Devinder Singh Muktsar received injuries while the protesters were being detained. He said nearly 200 teachers, including 100 females, were protesting against the termination of services of 1,894 teachers across the state. DSP Gurmeet Kingra said the number of teachers rounded up was 85, including females. He said a case might be registered against them for creating chaos and raising anti-government slogans outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

Bathinda, April 29
Almost one month into the new academic session and the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is yet to provide books of some subjects to the students of government schools. Notably, the first formative assessment examination is scheduled to take place in May.

Under the Right to Education Act, books of all the subjects are provided free-of-cost to the students of classes VI-VII. For the students of classes IX-XII, books are given free-of-cost to the students belonging to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and other reserved categories.

Students of class VI are yet to receive books of social science, science, Punjabi, home science, 'kheti-baari' (farming) and drawing. Students of class VII have not been provided with the books of social science, science and drawing. Students of class IX have not been given textbooks of English, social science, maths, science and Punjabi so far while students of class X are awaiting textbooks of maths, science, and English literature.

The Director General of School Education, Kahan Singh Pannu, said the PSEB had assured that books of all the subjects would reach the students by May 7. “We are aware that there has been a delay in the delivery of books. We had discussed the issue with the PSEB and were told that the books will reach the students by May 7. We are continuously monitoring the progress,” he said.

District Education Officer (Secondary Education), Harkanwaljit Kaur said, “We have been taking up the issue with the PSEB and have been following it up with them. By the time the books are made available, the students are being taught with the help of books of old students.”

District Resource Person (textbooks) Bhupinder Singh said the Education Department was not to be blamed for unavailability of books. “The PSEB has been telling us that books of all the subjects will be sent to the schools by the first week of May. The board will start publishing new books only when it is clear about the number of books required otherwise it will be left with no other option but to dump surplus books.”

“The first formative assessment tests are to be held in May and students are still coming to school without books. How are we supposed to prepare them for the exams,” asked a teacher.

Actor Jimmy Shergill during the promotional tour of his upcoming film, Rangeeley, at a multiplex in Bathinda on Monday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Bathinda, April 29
"If not an actor, I would have certainly been a politician," said actor Jimmy Shergill, who was in the city to promote his upcoming film 'Rangeeley'.

Elaborating on his alternate career choice, he said, "After I did 'Dharti', a film with a political setting, my desire to be a politician was stoked."

When asked if he was dissatisfied with the current political system and if politicians were merely doing a lip-service, he said, "It is not dissatisfaction. My blood boils when I read about rape cases. How could one indulge in an inhumane act and go to the extent of physically exploiting a five-year-old? I know so many young politicians who are dedicated to their work. I would have been satisfied if I were a politician and do something concrete for the society."

Talking about his career in films, he said he was quite happy with the way it was moving. "I am upbeat about my role in the Saif Ali Khan, Sonakshi Sinha-starrer 'Bullet Raja'. I am happy that I get time to do Punjabi films as well."

When asked what as an actor was more satisfying for him, serious roles that he does in Bollywood or the fun roles that he does in Punjabi films, he said, "Frankly speaking, I get slightly bored with the kind of serious roles that I do in Punjabi films. It is in Punjabi films that I get to do roles that have action, drama and comedy and all the other elements of a complete 'masala' film. Sometimes I think that instead of doing one Punjabi film in a year, I should do more."

He also expressed his happiness that many Bollywood actors and actresses were taking up roles in Punjabi films. "Earlier, I was always asked when Punjabi film industry would start making films that would be hits. I am happy that now people exclaim about the number of Bollywood actors and actresses moving to Punjabi films. This is in itself a parameter to gauge the success of the Punjabi film industry."

Jimmy's female lead in the film, Neha Dhupia, was also scheduled to be in the city today but she could not make it.

"She is very busy with her Bollywood projects and whatever little time she can take out from her schedule, she does. She had expressed her desire to do a Punjabi film when we did 'Delhi Heights' together. She also asked me why she was not cast in 'Dharti' and I had to explain to her that the role of the female lead in the film was not big enough for her to do."

"We would also like to see some popular comedians playing a part in Punjabi films. But comedians like Kapil Sharma, who are doing great on television, are so committed to the small screen that they will not be able to take out time to shoot for a film," he added.

Bathinda, April 29
After a deceased inmate's family members alleged that he was beaten up in the jail and it led to his death, the police has lodged a DDR and assured them of getting the matter investigated.

More than 150 protesters, including women and children, had gathered outside the premises of the Bathinda Central Jail at around 7.30 pm on Sunday and continued their protest till 2.30 in the morning.

Family members of Gamdur Singh (31), the deceased jail inmate who was under trial for the last 10 months, protested against the jail staff by placing his body at the entrance of the jail on Sunday evening.

The number of protesters swelled as a large number of females and children too joined them after midnight. The protesters had decided to hold a march in the city while carrying the body but were senior police functionaries prevailed upon them following which they shifted the body to outside the entrance of the Police Lines.

Senior Superintendent of Police Ravcharan Brar accompanied by some officials of the district administration talked to the protesters at 2 am and assured them of every possible help in probing the matter. After the assurance of an impartial probe and lodging of a DDR at the Civil Lines police station, the protesters took the body to their village, Bhodipura, in the wee hours.

The deceased's uncle, Jaspal Singh, said they had learnt about Gamdur being beaten up from some persons in the jail. "We were formally informed about the death at 9.30 am but the doctors at the Civil Hospital had declared him dead at 6 am," Jaspal said.

He said they would highlight the plight of the jail inmates living under inhuman conditions and allegedly beaten up and intimidated like animals.

The deceased's family members have demanded registration of a case against the two jail employees, who allegedly thrashed Gamdur Singh without any provocation.

Denying the allegations, Deputy Jail Superintendent Balvir Singh said, "About 15 to 20 persons booked under the NDPS Act are brought to the jail everyday. Most of them are hooked to one form of drug or the other. When they fail to get drugs inside the jail, they fight with each other over trivial issues."

"On Saturday, Gamdur fought with others. He was provided with medication but he could not survive", the jail official said.

DSP (City) Gurmeet Kingra, who was present at the site of the protest, said the deceased's family members were assured of justice and further action would be initiated after the magisterial probe.

Fact file The deceased jail inmate's relatives and a large number of villagers protested outside the Bathinda Central Jail. The inmate, Gamdur Singh (31) was an undertrial facing a charge under the NDPS Act after 175 kg of poppy husk was recovered from his possession. The deceased’s family members have demanded registration of a case against the two jail employees, who allegedly thrashed Gamdur without any provocation. Denying the allegation, Deputy Jail Superintendent Balvir Singh said, “About 15 to 20 persons booked under the NDPS Act are brought to the jail everyday. Most of them are hooked to one form of drug or the other. When they fail to get drugs inside the jail, they fight with each other over trivial issues. On Saturday, Gamdur fought with others. He was provided with medication but he could not survive.”

Bathinda, April 29
An 18 year old boy was killed while his father, a lab technician at the Civil Hospital, was seriously hurt in a road accident on the Bathinda-Barnala road this evening.

Volunteers of the Sahara Jan Sewa, who shifted them to a hospital, said that Balwinder Singh and his son Bittu were on their way to Handiaya in Barnala district on a Honda Activa scooter when an unidentified two-wheeler hit them near Bhucho.

The police reached the spot on getting the information. Further investigation in the case was on.

Bathinda, April 29
The Sarkari School Sikhya Bachao Manch today met the District Education Officer (Secondary Education) and submitted a memorandum of demands. The Manch is demanding that the Education Minister should review the rationalisation policy once again.

The Manch said the policy looked as it if it favoured a particular category of teachers. The teachers argued that the policy mentioned that the counting of students of science and commerce be recorded as on April 20, 2013 and that the counting for the students of arts be done as on September 30, 2012.

The policy says that in case the number of science and commerce students is less in one school, the group be shifted to another school while the teachers can stay on in the same school and teach the middle classes.

"This implies that the lecturers will have the responsibilities of a master cadre teacher. When some lecturers were made in-charge principals, the Supreme Court had ruled that they be paid extra for higher responsibility. Now that they would work as master cadre teachers, will they be paid less?" questioned the Manch.

The Manch also pointed out that while the Right to Education Act states that the teacher student ratio should be 1:30 in middle schools, the rationalisation policy 2013 goes against the Act and states that it should be 1:35. In high schools, the ratio should be 1:40 and in senior secondary classes, it should be 1:50, the policy states. The Manch said the policy had digressed from its aim.

Fact file The Manch say the rationalisation policy favours a particular category of teachers. The teachers say the policy mentions that the counting of students of science and commerce be recorded as on April 20, 2013 and that the counting for the students of arts be done as on September 30, 2012. According to the policy, in case the number of science and commerce students is less in one school, the group be shifted to another school while the teachers can stay on and teach the middle classes.

Bathinda, April 29
Additional District Election Officer-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Mohammad Taiyyab today passed instructions to returning officers and assistant returning officers to complete all the formalities pertaining to elections for the Panchayati Raj Institutions. The elections for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti are to be held on May 19.

Nomination papers for these elections would be accepted between May 3 and May 7 from 11 am to 3 am. Scrutiny of the nomination papers would be done on May 8. Those who wish to withdraw their names may do so on May 9 between 11 am to 3 pm. Those left in the fray would be allotted election symbols. Counting of votes would take place on May 21 and the result would be declared the same day. Tayyab said as per the instructions of the Election Commission, ballot boxes would be used for polls.

Fact file The elections are to be held on May 19. Nomination papers would be accepted between May 3 and May 7 from 11 am to 3 am. Scrutiny of the nomination papers would be done on May 8. Those who wish to withdraw their names may do so on May 9 between 11 am to 3 pm. Counting of votes would take place on May 21 and the result would be declared the same day.

Bathinda, April 29
The Safai Mazdoor Union today began a protest outside the office of the Municipal Corporation. State president of the union, Nathu Ram Neelkanth, besides other leaders of the union, were present during the protest.

The protesters accused the Punjab Government of imposing restrictions upon the safai mazdoors that prevents them from earning their livelihood in a proper way.

The union said the labourers are continuously being exploited by the municipal committees, contractors and private companies who deploy them and mint money by giving them less salary.

The workers, who have completed two years of service by March 1, 2013, should be offered Rs 6,495 per month as salary, the workers demanded, and added that welfare schemes like EPF and PF should be extended to them. The workers demanded that they should be given safety kits as they work with bare hands without wearing any mask or taking adequate safety precautions. This can result in tragedy, they said.

The protesters said they would soon stop the work of cleanliness throughout the state if the government fails to listen to their grievances.

Leaders of the safai Mazdoor Union including Ashok Sardulgarh, Pawan Mansa, Manoj Goniana, Ajay Maur, Pinki Devi Faridkot, Rakesh Barnala, Arti Devi Tapa, Krishan Fazilka, Ravi Talwandi, Nirmal Rama, Karamchand Bhikhi, Suresh Sarvan, Om Parkash and others were also present on the occasion.

Bathinda, April 29
World Dance Day was celebrated at Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo. The programme was organised in collaboration with the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala.

Dancers from Rajasthan and Haryana displayed their talent in Kalbalia, Bhawai and Ghoomer dance forms. The Bhawai dancer surprised the students by balancing seven pitchers on her head and dancing on glasses and swords.

Vice-chancellor of the university, SK Ahluwalia, thanked the director of the North Zone Cultural Centre, SDS Saroya and his team.

A book 'Glimpses of Indian Classical Dances', written by Dr Aarohi Walia, was also released by managing director Sukhraj Singh Sidhu.

Bathinda, April 29
Police has arrested two persons for gambling. The accused, identified as Pawan Kumar and Thakur Dutt, have been booked under sections 13-A,3 and 67 of the Gambling Act and section 420 of the IPC at the Canal Colony police station. Police said the accused were arrested for betting on cricket matches. The police also seized Rs 2,300 in cash and an LCD from them.

One held for breaking naka

Police has arrested a resident of Raiya village for breaking a police barricade and injuring a cop who was laying naka on the Bathinda-Barnala road. The complainant, head constable Bikramjit Singh, said the accused was driving a Tata Sumo and was signalled to stop during a naka. Instead of slowing down his vehicle, he tried to escape by hitting the iron barricades and trying to flee. A police vehicle was pressed into service and the accused was chased and arrested. The accused was brought to the police station where a case under sections 279 and 427 of the IPC was registered against him.

Investigating officer in the case, Sukhdev Singh, said the accused tried to flee as he did not have the documents of the vehicle. A policeman was injured as the vehicle hit an iron barricade.

Insurance literacy programme held

United India Insurance Company organised a five-day programme under the leadership of Anil Kumar Jain, regional manager and Gobind Aggrawal, senior divisional manager. The programme was conducted under the Insurance Literacy Programme on the campus of Lord Rama Public School in Bathinda. The programme concluded today.

President of the managing committee of the institution, Rajan Garg, secretary KK Garg and director Suraj Setia were among those present on the occasion.

Bathinda, April 29
Police has arrested three residents of Rampura for various criminal activities including loot, theft, assault, carrying illegal arms, criminal intimidation, drug peddling, attempt to commit robbery and other offences.

The accused have been identified as Gurpreet Laddi, Guriqbal Singh and Rakesh Kumar. Police said the accused are notorious for their criminal activities. A case has been registered against them at Rampura city police station.

Police recovered 100 grams of smack, a motorcycle without registration number and an air gun from them. The accused were arrested near the canal bridge at village Mehraj. — TNS