B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Jaitu SHO shifted after protest over thrashing of youths
Faridkot, August 2
Thrashing of three youths by cops at a ‘naka’ in Jaitu led to a dharna on the Amritsar-Bathinda road for four hours and ultimately, transfer of Jaitu Station House Officer (SHO) to the Police Lines, Faridkot.

Illegally transported fuel seized
Abohar, August 2
The Sriganganagar district police has seized an oil tanker that illegally carried 20,000 litres of diesel from Bathinda.

Trader-friendly policy soon
Barnala, August 2
Punjab will announce a businessman-friendly trade policy this month to give major relief to the trader community in the state.

Hardeep Kaur is Nihalsinghwala panchayat samiti chief
Moga, August 2
Hardeep Kaur was unanimously elected chairperson of the Nihalsinghwala panchayat samiti here today.

Schools warned against use of plants, animals for teaching purposes
Faridkot, August 2
After complaints of some government and private educational institutions using specimens of plants and animals for teaching and learning purposes, the Education Department has issued warning to all schools to desist from the practice as it invites rigorous punishment that is up to 7 years of jail and fine.

Jaitu SHO shifted after protest over thrashing of youths
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 2
Thrashing of three youths by cops at a ‘naka’ in Jaitu led to a dharna on the Amritsar-Bathinda road for four hours and ultimately, transfer of Jaitu Station House Officer (SHO) to the Police Lines, Faridkot.

Two hours after the Jaitu police in Faridkot were reprimanded by a senior police officer for poor implementation of traffic rules in the town yesterday, the police allegedly thrashed three youths for the offence of triple riding late on Thursday evening.

To express their resentment against the behaviour of the police, residents of Jaitu town today blocked the traffic on Amritsar-Bathinda road for over four hours demanding suspension of all guilty police officials and registration of a criminal case against them. Succumbing to the pressure, the district police chief ordered the transfer of Jaitu SHO Gursher Singh.

The police has also started an inquiry into the incident.

Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police GS Randhawa said the Kotkapura DSP was directed to conduct an inquiry into the incident and take necessary action against guilty officials.

While the residents lifted the traffic blockade, the injured youths are recuperating at the Civil Hospital, Jaitu.

According to the details available, a senior police officer was passing through Jaitu town on Thursday evening and got irritated over the traffic chaos. The officer reportedly rapped the Jaitu police for its poor implementation of traffic rules.

The police stirred into action and reportedly put up a 'naka' on the Bajakhana road. Varinder Bansal, Ajay Singla and Yogesh Gupta, who were on a bike returning home after watching a movie at a theatre, were stopped at around 11 pm. It is alleged that the police officials at the 'naka' were in an inebriated condition while on duty and thrashed the youths. The injured youths were admitted to the Civil Hospital.

When their parents approached the police to lodge a complaint in this regard, the police allegedly misbehaved with them also.

When residents of the town learnt about the incident, they gathered and blocked the traffic on the Bathinda-Amritsar road in front of Jaitu bus stand at around 10 am in protest against the police.

Attempts by senior police and administrative officers to pacify the protesters proved futile until at around 2.30 pm, Jaitu SDM Rajesh Kumar Tripathi informed them that the SHO Jaitu has been shifted to the Police Lines, Faridkot, and an inquiry was ordered into the incident.

About the case

• Three youths, who were riding a bike, were stopped at a police naka in Jaitu town on Thursday night.
• Cops, who were allegedly under influence of liquor, thrashed them up for violating a traffic rule. The youths had to be admitted to the Civil Hospital.
• On learning about the incident, residents of the town gathered in the morning and blocked the Bathinda-Amritsar road seeking action against the guilty police officials.
• Jaitu SHO Gursher Singh shifted to the Police Lines. Inquiry into the incident ordered.

Illegally transported fuel seized
Our Correspondent

Abohar, August 2
The Sriganganagar district police has seized an oil tanker that illegally carried 20,000 litres of diesel from Bathinda.

As per information, the oil tanker was intercepted after a tip-off by a team led by district food and civil supplies officer Subhash Chaudhary and enforcement officer Sandeep Gaur last evening.

The police has arrested the driver, Ranjeet Singh, and his helper Satish Kumar. It also took the samples of the confiscated diesel. A case has been registered against Chandagi Ram, owner of the vehicle and a resident of Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan, under the Essential Commodities Act.

Officials said diesel was cheaper by Rs 5 per litre in Punjab compared to Rajasthan. Petroleum products were not supplied to Rajasthan from Bathinda, only Jaipur and Jodhpur-based depots were authorised for the supplies in the state.

Trader-friendly policy soon
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

Barnala, August 2
Punjab will announce a businessman-friendly trade policy this month to give major relief to the trader community in the state. Stating this here last evening, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said under this policy the trader community would not maintain account books as the state government would impose a lump sum tax on commodities and goods.

Besides, the government would also impose tax on commodities and goods at the factory level, like refrigerator factories, he added.

Sukhbir said the state government would refund amounts of VAT to traders on the pattern of income tax refund system so that traders could be saved from making rounds of sales tax offices. Besides, the state would also honour a trader every year from each district, who would deposit the maximum VAT, he added.

Sukhbir Badal was addressing a gathering at a programme, organised by Trident Group chairman Rajinder Gupta, at Trident Factory in Sangherra village near Barnala last evening. Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia were among those present.

Sukhbir said the Cabinet would review the government’s policy related to regularisation of unauthorised colonies at its next meeting. He said in the future the work relating to development of colonies would be done at the district level. Besides, PUDA would develop its colony in every big city.

Sukhbir also flayed Congress leaders and former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal for making propaganda that Punjab had been passing through a financial crisis. He said this was a “false propaganda” to defame the state as it had taken loans just for development purposes.

Sukhbir also announced that he would change the look of Barnala in three years by spending Rs 100 crore or more on sewerage, water supply and roads. He promised to set up a government college, upgrade of the local civil hospital and completion of the stadium.

With regard to the issues of Gujarati farmer Sikhs, he said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would talk to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. If needed, he would go to Gujarat to resolve the matter.

Earlier, various residents representing different organisations while interacting with the Deputy Chief Minister apprised him of the problems and demands of the city. He gave a patient hearing to their grievances and promised to solve several of them.

Hardeep Kaur is Nihalsinghwala panchayat samiti chief
Kulwinder Sandhu/TNS

Moga, August 2
Hardeep Kaur was unanimously elected chairperson of the Nihalsinghwala panchayat samiti here today.

There had been hectic lobbying for the post by supporters of the local MLA Rajwinder Kaur and senior Akali leader Tota Singh.

The SAD district president, Tirath Singh Mahla, and Baghapurana MLA Maheshinder Singh were among those present on the occasion.

Tota Singh proposed that Gurbax Singh be made vice-chairman. This was unanimously accepted. Panchayat members alligned with the Congress and the CPI also supported Gurbax Singh’s name.

Earlier in the day, the anti-Rajwinder Kaur group managed to rope in the support of at least 13 members in a House of 21 members. But Tota Singh, after consultations with PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, decided on a secret ballot which was accepted by the local leadership.

Poll postponed

Moga SDM Bhupinder Singh postponed the elections to the post of chairman and vice-chairman of the Moga-I panchayat samiti. These will now be held on August 5. Local MLA Joginder Pal Jain had decided to field his confidant Harnek Singh Ramoowala for the post of chairman. This was being opposed by his opponents within the party-factions led by former state police chief PS Gill and Tota Singh.

Schools warned against use of plants, animals for teaching purposes
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, August 2
After complaints of some government and private educational institutions using specimens of plants and animals for teaching and learning purposes, the Education Department has issued warning to all schools to desist from the practice as it invites rigorous punishment that is up to 7 years of jail and fine.

In a letter (No. 10/113-13 SS-6) issued to all District Education Officers (DEOs) on July 22, the Circle Education Officers (CEOs) in Punjab wrote that under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, no school can have specimens of any plants or animals. But Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is repeatedly bringing into the notice of the authorities that some schools still possess some of the prohibited exhibits. For any violation, the Head of the School/college concerned shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to the proceeded against. The schools are advised not to use threatened animals or plants (such as corals, shark, frog and starfish) for teaching. Instead virtual images or models may be used, advised the CEOs while giving reference of a letter received from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

The CEOs letters to DEOs also give reference of a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) letter written to all heads of institutions in the country stating that some CBSE-affiliated schools were keeping live/captive animals as exhibits for the students. As keeping an animal for exhibition is not allowed by the Central Zoo Authority, so these be removed immediately. The prohibited animals include guinea pigs, rabbits, ducks, hamsters and white mice.

“Acquisition of wild animal which are specified in Schedules 1 to VI of the Act without the prior permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state is an offence against the Act,” said Vinod Kumar, assistant secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

Sources in DEO office Faridkot revealed while the use of animals and plants for teaching and learning purpose in government schools is negligible but some private schools and educational institutions are in practice of using these plants and animals in their labs.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest has also issued directions to vice chancellors of all universities to stop the practice.