B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

So far, no takers for govt policy in Muktsar district
Muktsar, July 19
The policy of the state government to regularise unauthorised colonies is apparently not finding a favour in Muktsar district. The PUDA has not received any application in this regard even as nearly half of the time allowed to colonisers to get their unauthorised residential colonies regularised have passed.

Jobless linesmen hold protest
Muktsar, July 19
A large number of unemployed linesmen lodged a protest demonstration here today. They demanded job for the wife of their colleague Sarabjit Singh of Tarn Taran district, who had committed suicide on July 12, and Rs 10 lakh compensation for his family.

RPF constable suspended for torturing commuter
Abohar, July 19
Gopi Ram, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, has been placed under suspension and dispatched to the Police Lines here for allegedly torturing Sanjeev Sharma of Indira Nagari at the RPF post in Malout. A case under Section 323 of the IPC was also registered against him.

Pakistan national strays into Indian territory
Fazilka, July 19
The 51 battalion of the Border Security Force caught a Pakistani national in Fazilka sector today. According to BSF sources, Shah Nawaz (62), resident of district Okara in Pakistan, crossed over to the Indian territory at 10.50 am near the border observation post Chack Khiva.

So far, no takers for govt policy in Muktsar district
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 19
The policy of the state government to regularise unauthorised colonies is apparently not finding a favour in Muktsar district. The PUDA has not received any application in this regard even as nearly half of the time allowed to colonisers to get their unauthorised residential colonies regularised have passed. The government had allowed 60 days for the purpose. As a result, the officials concerned have now started holding awareness camps in towns to make the colonisers aware about the conditions framed under the policy.

The last date of giving application for compounding/regularisation of colonies is August 25.

As per the official figures released by the PUDA, there are 158 unauthorised colonies in the district. Of them 57 are in Muktsar, 74 in Gidderbaha, 11 in Killianwali, nine in Malout, five in Mandi Bariwala and one each in Doda and Lambi villages.

The PUDA officials in association with the district administration organised an awareness camp at Malout tehsil office yesterday and held a camp at the Red Cross Bhawan in Muktsar today. Colonisers were apprised of the terms and conditions as well as documents required for regularisation of a colony.

However, the policy apparently did not go down well with the colonisers. They raised anti-government slogans after the camp.

The colonisers claimed that the state government was charging a hefty amount under the policy.

“The state government has been charging a huge amount from the colonisers to regularise the colonies, which they had sold years ago. We are ready to go to jails, but cannot pay the fee. The state government must regularise the colonies as done in nearby states of Haryana and Delhi,” said Narinder Bansal, a coloniser.

On the other hand, MP Singh and JJ Kumar, nodal officers appointed by the PUDA for Muktsar district, said, “As of now, no application has been received from any coloniser to compound or regularise a colony.”

They said the policy would be applicable for a period of one year from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. Only unapproved colonies or the buildings constructed before April 1, 2013 will be considered under this policy, they added.

If any coloniser failed to apply within the stipulated time limit, legal proceedings would be initiated against him. If individual plot/building owners do not apply under the scheme the registration of their plots will be annulled and power, water supply, sewerage connections will be disconnected.

Jobless linesmen hold protest
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 19
A large number of unemployed linesmen lodged a protest demonstration here today. They demanded job for the wife of their colleague Sarabjit Singh of Tarn Taran district, who had committed suicide on July 12, and Rs 10 lakh compensation for his family.

Pirmal Singh, state president, Unemployed Linesmen Union, said: “Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on January 14, 2011, had advertised 5,000 vacant posts of linesman, but only 1,000 were recruited and the remaining posts were left vacant. The High Court issued a notification saying there was no ban imposed on the fresh recruitment on February 2, 2013. However, the PSPCL authorities have yet to provide employment to the linesmen.”

He said the state government should provide a job to Sarabjit’s wife.

Besides, the government should release the merit list of the the remaining linesmen to give them employment, Pirmal added. 

RPF constable suspended for torturing commuter

Abohar, July 19
Gopi Ram, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, has been placed under suspension and dispatched to the Police Lines here for allegedly torturing Sanjeev Sharma of Indira Nagari at the RPF post in Malout. A case under Section 323 of the IPC was also registered against him.

Gopi Ram, who was not in uniform, found Sanjeev smoking yesterday while they were travelling to Malout in the same compartment in a Bathinda-bound passenger train.

Sanjeev alleged that the policeman slapped him and forced him to alight at the Malout railway station. “He took me to the RPF post and tortured me there,” he alleged.

There were only two RPF personnel on duty. However, Sanjiv alleged that he was tortured by four persons.

Sanjeev’s family members escorted him from Malout to Abohar and approached the local Civil Hospital for treatment but the doctor on emergency duty allegedly refused to treat him. They told his parents to take the patient to Malout as he had received injuries there. After a protest by some local residents, two other doctors examined him. — OC

Pakistan national strays into Indian territory

Fazilka, July 19
The 51 battalion of the Border Security Force caught a Pakistani national in Fazilka sector today. According to BSF sources, Shah Nawaz (62), resident of district Okara in Pakistan, crossed over to the Indian territory at 10.50 am near the border observation post Chack Khiva.

It is stated that Shah Nawaz inadvertently strayed into the Indian territory.

"Nothing objectionable has been recovered from his possession," said Deputy Inspector General, BSF, AK Sharma.

The Pakistani national does not seem to be mentally alert. He would be repatriated to Pakistan if nothing suspicious was noticed during his interrogation, added the DIG. — OC