Bathinda, August 23
A 35-year-old man was found murdered in a hut at the Uria Basti situated along the Sirhind Canal and close to the boundary of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant here today.

The deceased is identified as Dhanpat, also known as Uday Mantri, who worked as a mason and a resident of Uria Basti. The badly mutilated body was found lying on a cot inside the hut.

Though there was a string of huts in the locality, nobody knew about the murder and the body had been lying in the hut for two days.

The murder came to light when a passerby noticed stench emanating from the hut. He went in and found the body lying in a pool of blood.

The police was informed. Apart from the Thermal police station SHO, ASP Alka Meena and SSP Ravcharan Brar also inspected the spot.

The police said the body appeared to be lying unnoticed for the past more than 24 hours. It said the body, which was found on the cot with face down, had injuries in the neck and the back of the head. The throat was slit with a sharp-edged weapon.

Residents of the locality said Uday had been living in the 'basti' for around 15 years but nobody knew anything about his relatives. Some said he belonged to Fazilka while others said he was from Rajasthan. They said Uday had been helping the poor residents of the 'basti' by getting their various official works done and people used to call him 'mantri' for his efficiency and interest in helping others.

Volunteers of the Naujawan Welfare Society, an NGO, were asked to shift the body to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination.

It is pertinent to mention here that last year too, the body of a man was found near dense bushes adjacent to the boundary wall of the thermal power plant and it appeared that the body was more than a week old.

The police said a case has been registered in this connection and efforts are being made to trace the perpetrator.

FAct file The deceased has been identified as Dhanpat. He was also known as Uday Mantri and worked as a mason. He was a resident of Uria Basti. Though there was a string of huts in the locality, nobody knew about the murder and the body had been lying in the hut for two days. The murder came to light when a passerby noticed stench emanating from the hut. He went in and found the body lying in a pool of blood. The police said a case has been registered in this connection and efforts are being made to trace the perpetrator.

Bathinda, August 23
Construction in the periphery of the Bhisiana Air Force Station has been banned for a period of three years due to security reasons.

The district collector, Kamal Kishore Yadav, said under the Works of Defence Act 1903, any kind of construction in the notified areas lying in the periphery of an Air Force station has been completely banned. "The already constructed houses will not be interfered with, but new constructions have been completely disallowed," he said.

Yadav said the Union Ministry of Defence issued a letter on May 22, 2007, directing the Board of Officers of all the Air Force stations and units to ensure that area of 900 metre around aerodromes and installations should be identified and a ban on construction be imposed.

The Board of Officers identified areas around the Bhisiana Air Force Station and recommended the same under the provision of the Act, vide letter dated January 16, 2009. The district collector issued an order on August 16, 2013, imposing a complete ban on construction activity. The order will affect areas of Bhisiana and Virk Kalan villages. The villagers, who have incurred losses due to the ban, can apply for compensation under Section 9 of the Works of Defence Act-1903 within the next 45 days. The compensation will be awarded as per the DC rates. The appeal in this connection has to be submitted to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Bathinda.

Meanwhile, the Air Force Station also has expansion plans for which it has sent a proposal to the district administration for acquiring 128 acres of land in Virk Kalan village.

"We have received the proposal of the Air Force authorities and work has been started on making the related land records available. We will soon give the revenue records to the Air Force," Yadav said.

Once the land records are provided to the Air Force, the government may issue a notification for acquisition of the land sought by the Air Force.

Virk Kalan residents already know that their land is to be acquired.

Dr Gurcharan Singh, a villager, said the owners of the land, which is being included in 128 acres, were anticipating notices any time soon.

It is pertinent to mention here that Virk Kalan village houses a domestic air terminal, which has failed to take off despite attempts by the state government. Villagers of Virk Kalan are now upbeat over inclusion of their land in defence works.

Bathinda, August 23
The MC Workers' Union has announced support to the municipal commissioner with regard to the alleged threats issued to him by a senior Akali leader.

A meeting of the members of the union was held here today. Besides, extending support to municipal commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta, they demanded that Rajinder Singh Sidhu, the Akali leader, tendered an apology. They threatened to go on strike if the issue was not resolved and an action was not taken against Sidhu.

The sweepers, octroi employees, sewermen and water supply staff today threw weight behind the municipal commissioner saying that the episode has created a sense of insecurity among the other MCB employees as well.

"A government employee has to follow instructions religiously. The unauthorised shops on the Wakf Board land in the grain market were razed as per the orders of the government. No government employee can defy the orders and the commissioner did what he was required to do," said the general secretary of the union, Ranjit Singh.

"We undertake works of demolishing structures, recover taxes and serve notices. If no action is taken against Sidhu, people will think that one can go scot-free even if he meddles with government work," the employees said.

Bathinda, August 23
The building maps for plots in planned and sanctioned colonies can now be self-certified by qualified architects or the ones empanelled with the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB).

The move of the state government is aimed at reducing the workload of local bodies as well as saving people from the harassment in getting their building maps passed.

Presiding over a meeting of the qualified and empanelled architects today, assistant municipal commissioner Kamal Kant Goyal said as per the self-certification scheme, architects can pass the building plans for plots in areas of the Improvement Trust development schemes (residential), urban estates, industrial focal point and areas handed over to the MCB.

"After getting the building maps passed, people will have to deposit the requisite fees with the MCB and can start construction as per the plan within the next 15 days. The architect concerned can get the construction completed in the framework of the existing building bylaws without tweaking them," he said.

At the meeting, architecture firms, including M Architect, Shelter Architos, RK Setia and Munish Kumar were present. All the architects were elaborately explained the new scheme of the government. They were asked to lay special emphasis on inspiring people to build houses with margin for expansion and plenty of space for parking vehicles.

He added that the scheme would end the rounds that people had to make to the office of the MCB to get their building maps passed.

Bathinda, August 23
A woman accused of murdering her neighbour with the help of her paramour and another person is awarded life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000 by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Avtar Singh.

Her paramour is also sentenced to imprisonment for life with Rs 5,000 fine while the third accomplice is ordered to undergo double life term with Rs 10,000 fine.

A case under Sections 120-B, 364 and 302 of the IPC was registered in this connection against the three accused at Dyalpura police station in February last year. Advocate Jasdeep Singh Walia pleaded the case for the complainant in the court.

In her complaint, Jasvir Kaur, wife of deceased Sikandar Singh, a mason, stated that her husband had been objecting the illicit relationship between Harbans Kaur and Gurmel Singh, who had been visiting the latter’s house situated adjacent to the deceased’s house.

The complainant further stated that Gurmel also entered heated arguments with her husband over his repeated visits to the woman’s house.

Another resident of the village Gurcharan Singh, a witness in the case, stated that the woman, her paramour and another village resident conspired to eliminate Sikandar for raising objections over Gurmel’s visits to the woman’s house.

The third accomplice, Ram Singh, concocted a story regarding building a wall in his house and took Sikandar with him on February 17 last year fro the same.

Another witness, Balwinder Singh spotted Ram going with Sikandar. Gurmel was also spotted going towards the bridge of Canal Minor on Gumti Road the same day.

Sikandar did not turn up and his body bearing injury marks was found after six days from canal near Jandan Wala village. The body was later identified by his wife at the civil hospital, Bathinda.

During investigation, the Dyalpura police also recovered the weapon-an iron kappa (indigenous dagger)-used in the crime. The weapon concealed by the paramour was recovered by the police from fields near the village where her paramour was working.

Bathinda, August 23
Police today claimed to have arrested six accused involved in an incident of loot and snatching. One of the accused involved in the crime, already lodged in Bathinda jail, has also been interrogated by the police. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ravcharan Brar said that Kulvir Veera, undergoing imprisonment in a criminal case, is the mastermind behind the loot.

Police said that last month, six persons looted gold, diamond jewellery and Rs 45,000 in cash from one Sandeep Kumar of Ghudda village and also injured him near Naruana village. A case under sections 382, 341, 323, 427, 148 and 149 of the IPC was registered in this connection at the Sadar police station. Police claimed to have arrested the accused during a naka near Bir Talab village. The accused have been identified as Antarpreet, Avtar Singh, Charanjit Singh, Dhalwinder Singh and Sandeep Singh. Police also claims to have recovered the looted gold jewellery and cash. They added that two of the accused, Jagmit and Jagmohan, have been absconding and efforts are on to nab them.

In another incident, police said they have identified the youths who fired gun shots and injured a PRTC driver near the bus stand in February last year. The youths had entered into heated arguments with the bus driver over the issue of entering the bus stand first. Police said efforts are on to nab the accused youths.

Bathinda, August 23
Bathinda zone II defeated Bhucho Mandi zone in handball Under 14 boys’ category with score of 6-3 at the 59th district-level games of handball, football and circle kabaddi events. In the same event, Bathinda zone I defeated Talwandi Sabo 11-8.

In the Under 17 boys’ category, Talwandi Sabo zone defeated Bhucho Mandi 8-5 and in the Under 17 girls’ category, Goniana zone defeated Bhucho Mandi 6-3. In the Under 19 girls’ category Bathinda zone II defeated Sangat 6-4, in the boys’ category, Bathinda Sangat defeated Maur Mandi 14-3 and in the girls’ category Sangat zone defeated Bhucho Mandi 6-4.

In football Under 19 girls’ category, Sangat defeated Bhagta 4-0 and in Under 17 girls’ category, Bathinda II defeated Maur Mandi 2-0.

In football Under 14 boys’ category, Talwandi Sabo zone defeated Sangat 2-0 and Maur Mandi defeated Bathinda II 1-0.

In the under 14 girls’ category (football) Mandi Kalan zone defeated Maur Mandi 3-2, Bathinda I defeated Mandi Phool 4-2.

In kabaddi circle, under 19 boys, Talwandi Sabo zone defeated Bhagta 36-27 and Mandi Kalan zone defeated Bathinda II 33-26. In kabaddi circle style, in the Under 19 girls’ category Mandi Phool defeated Mandi Kalan 18-12 score and earned the first spot in district.

Bathinda, August 23
The Chetak Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) celebrated its Raising Day at the Bathinda Military Station today.

A special central family welfare meet was organised to mark the occasion. Regional president of the AWWA, Chetak Corps, Manpreet Ghei was the chief guest.

The ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp followed by an AWWA song representing inner strength of women.

The “Veer Naris” of Bathinda and Mansa districts were felicitated along with awardees of the AWWA Award of Excellence, both of the South Western Command and the Chetak Corps, for their contribution towards the Family Welfare Organisation. Bhangra by special children of Chetak Asha School, songs by Army Public School, Bathinda, choir were presented on the occasion. A movie was screened for the families. Later, prizes were distributed among the participants.

The event concluded with the address of the regional president AWWA, Chetak Corps, who emphasised upon the role of a lady as a wife and mother in the Army. In addition, a number of health- related programmes were organised, which included cervical cancer screening camp for the families and healthy baby competition.

Bathinda, August 23
A one-day camp on keeping the surroundings clean was held under the National Service Scheme (NSS) at Lord Rama School and MSD Senior Secondary School for students of Classes XI and XII.

As many as 96 students of Lord Rama Public School and 93 students of MSD Senior Secondary School participated in the drive.

MSD Sabha president Rajan Garg and joint secretary Jatinder Kumar Goyal inaugurated the camp. Garg encouraged students to come forward for service of the nation and concern for poor and to follow the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa.

Principal of MSD Senior Secondary School Suraj Setia highlighted the importance of the NSS and motivated students to actively participate in camps organised on various projects. The camp was organised under the guidance of programme officers Meena, Manisha Sharma, Harnek Singh and Gobind Singh.

Bathinda, August 23
As many as 22 students of the MBA from Baba Farid College of Management and Technology (BFCMT) completed a live project with Big Bazaar at Mittal Mall.

In a press statement issued here, Director-Principal, BFCMT, Manish Bansal, said 22 students of the MBA second year took part in the project while stationed at different sections of the retail chain for one week. The week from August 9 to August 15 was observed as “sabse saste chheh Din” at the Big Bazaar, Bathinda.

Dr Bansal said during the project, students were engaged in customer dealing, customer relations management, store operations and back-end processes. “The company was impressed with the zeal and eagerness of students to learn. All students were given certificates for successfully completing the live project. Out of the 22 students, five were honoured by Big Bazaar officials for their performance,” he added.

The officials offered another opportunity to MBA faculty and students to give their inputs for redesigning the apparel section.

“Though the live project was of a short duration, impact would be long-lasting in terms of learning,” he added. — TNS

Bathinda, August 23
A talent hunt competition was held at Guru Gobind Singh College of Education, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo. Around 100 college students participated in the event and presented different cultural events. Students in traditional attires presented giddha.

Speaking at the event, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Kashi University NS Malhi said the need of hour was to preserve the rich Punjabi culture and heritage.

Director, Planning and Development Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill and Registrar Satish Goswami motivated the students to take part in such activities with enthusiasm. Principal Arun Kansal, Director, Campus, Narinder Singh and Dean, Academics, BS Dhaliwal were among those present. — TNS