Bathinda, December 7
Kotwali SHO and an ASI landed up in a soup after a murder accused managed to get bail. The policemen had ‘advertently’ did not present a challan in the court yesterday which facilitated the bail of one of the accused in a case of murder.

SHO, Kotwali, Karamjit Singh, and an ASI, Sukhram Singh, have been placed under suspension till further orders by the SSP, Gurpreet Bhullar, for their ‘negligence’ in presenting the challan in the court.

Five persons had allegedly fired gun shots in the busy Mehna Chowk market last year on September 5 in a broad-day-light killing Simarjit Maur of Bathinda over some enmity. Another person, Gurlal, a friend of the deceased, had received injuries in the firing. The deceased along with three others had come to get their licensed gun repaired from a gun house in the market.

Rajinder Mann, cousin of the deceased, alleged that the policemen had pocketed money to delay the challan which went into the favour of the accused in the court who managed to get the bail.

Sources said that the main accused in the case is Gurwinder Bindu, who along with Rana Bhupinder, Goldy and Bablu and Ramandeep Rimmi, had executed the plan to kill Simarjit.

While Gurwinder Bindu had fired the gun shots, two of the accused, Goldy and Bablu, were on the motorbike to help the shooter in identifying the victim and his presence inside a gun house, said victim’s cousin.

Interestingly, Bindu had received injuries in the firing and was rushed to a hospital from where he was taken into custody by the police. He, however, planned his escape from the jail with the help of some outsiders and got himself admitted to the Civil Hospital from where he fled after putting red chilly in the eyes of the policemen three months after the murder.

Bablu and Bindu are still at large while Rana Bhupinder and Goldy are in the jail.

Rajinder alleged that neither the police confiscated passports of the accused, nor did they recommend the cancellation of their licence of weapons. Bindu, he said is in Hong Kong and they have proofs to support their claim. But the policemen are bent on releasing all accused one by one.

In view of the delay in challan, one of the accused, Ramandeep, had managed to get the bail yesterday from the court.

Bathinda, December 7
A couple was killed in a road mishap on the Bathinda-Malout road near Kali Mata temple. The victims have been identified as 48-year-old Balwinder Singh and his wife 46-year-old, Manjit Kaur, residents of Gondara Basti.

Sources said that the motorcycle they were riding, rammed into a car, killing them on the spot.

Two NGOs, Sahara Welfare Society, Naujawan Welfare Society and the police authorities reached the spot. Both the bodies were taken to the hospital for the postmortem examination.

The car driver, Balwinder Singh, a resident of Jalalabad, was arrested and his car was impounded. — TNS

Bathinda, December 7
For the next four days, more than 80 senior officials from various departments of the district administration and the police will be busy with the preparations for organising four matches of the 4th World Cup Kabaddi in Mansa district. These officials and police personnel have been made part of the 23 committees which have been formed to look into the arrangements for the matches to be held on December 10.

While Punjabi singer Satwinder Bitti will entertain the audience with his performance, matches between the women's teams of Mexico and Pakistan are expected to be the centre of attraction for the kabaddi lovers on the day.

To make sure that all the four matches are organised successfully, the district administration and the police department of Mansa have come together to form as many as 23 committees to look into the arrangements for the matches.

Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, Amit Dhaka and Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh Khatra visited the multipurpose sports stadium of the Nehru Memorial College to review the arrangements being made for holding the matches.

Directing the in-charges of the 23 committees, he exhorted them to make sure that all the arrangements are in place before the matches begin and that officials and in-charges of all the committees work in tandem. He instructed the committees to make all the necessary arrangements for the eight teams which would be arriving in Mansa to participate in the matches. He stated that as many as four matches — Denmark vs Scotland (men), Argentina vs USA (men), Canada vs England (men) and Mexico vs Pakistan (women) — will be played in Mansa.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khatra stated that the police was leaving no stone unturned to make the stadium and the surrounding areas secure. He instructed the officials to tackle unruly behaviour and mischievous activities by the audience strictly.

He added that a large number of police personnel have been deputed across the district and near the venue and special arrangements were being made to take care of the parking problems.

Bathinda, December 7
While Punjab is yet to become a power surplus state, the authorities here have been (mis) using the power to lit the stadium nine days before the World Cup Kabaddi matches.

Notwithstanding Rs 1.5 lakh power bill of the floodlights last time, the authorities are using these lights to lit the stadium much before the kabaddi match slated on December 11.

Though the matches, this time, are to be held during day yet the authorities have begin using the flood lights nine days before the matches citing security reasons.

Earlier, the matches were to be held during night hours but a fax message yesterday revealed that the kabaddi match would now start at noon.

“The floodlights are used so that someone may not barge into the stadium at night to put something obnoxious or harmful,” said a policeman deployed at the stadium. None of the public, sports officials, sportspersons or the media is allowed to enter the stadium and all the entry and exit points have been sealed.

While last time the floodlights were used continuously for many days without any requirement, this time they are being used for ‘security purpose’.

“The actual purpose of the lights is to lit the stadium during matches. But little power is used for the matches and more for the security and arrangements before the matches,” said Tarwinder Singh, a resident of Aggarwal Colony and daily walker at the stadium.

Tarwinder added that the entry of daily walkers was already banned three days ago by locking all the entry points of the stadium by the 15 Punjab Police commandoes inside the stadium.

He said despite the deployment of policemen, securing all the entry points the floodlights are also been used as a tool to secure the area.

Last time, the sports department authorities had refused to pay the Rs 1.5 lakh bill and had asked the DC office to foot it. This time, the sports department officials are sitting cross fingers and expect to receive little more bill as compared to that of the last time.

“Floodlights were used without any requirement and ultimately the sports department officials had to snap the power connection during the previous World Kabaddi Cup. This time too, they are planning to snap the connection immediately after the matches,” said official, pleading anonymity.

DSO (District Sports Officer), Karam Singh, when contacted said that most of the arrangements at the stadium are direct under the control of the district administration.

Bathinda, December 7
Punjabi singer, Balkar Sidhu, will present a cultural programme at the Multipurpose Sports Stadium in Bathinda on December 11 before the beginning of semifinal matches of the fourth World Cup Kabaddi at the stadium. The announcement was made by the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, Kamal Kishore Yadav, during a meeting convened here regarding the preparations for organising the matches. SSP, Bathinda, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, ADC (D), Sonali Giri, ADC(G) Rajiv Parashar, SDM, Damanjeet Singh Mann, SDM, Maur Dalwinderjeet Singh, among others were present in the meeting.

He stated that Bathinda would host all the four semifinal matches-two each for men and women. He instructed that the seating arrangements for the spectators should be done in such a manner that the get unhindered and clear view of the matches.

He also directed the officials concerned to ensure proper arrangements for barricading, parking, security, traffic routes and entry and exit points of the stadium.

He asked the members to arrange for stage setting, barricading, accommodation of players and guests, potable water, medical help, security, transportation and traffic flow in the city.

He also collected details from the members of the protocol committee, refreshment committee, venue committee, transport committee, media committee, accommodation committee, barricading committee and finance and other committees.

Bathinda, Dece0mber 7
The Education Minister, Punjab, Sikander Singh Maluka has called upon all Punjabis to popularise their mother tongue. He said this while addressing a gathering during the concluding ceremony of the Punjabi Saptah being organised by the Language Department, Government of Punjab, at Rampura Phul.

Stressing that keeping one's mother tongue alive was important, he said no civilisation has survived after it alienated itself from its language, culture and traditions. Reminding the youth of Punjab that the future of the state was in their hands, he stated that no matter how many foreign languages they learn and where they stay, they should keep their mother tongue alive and use it frequently to maintain their individuality.

He added that the Punjabis are known for safeguarding their country and making it self-reliant in food grain production but they should also be known for keeping their culture and language alive.

Expressing his thoughts about how the Language Department of Punjab needs to strive harder to keep the language alive, he asked the senior officials of the department to fill the vacant posts in the department as soon as possible.

Aiming to encourage budding writers and boosting the morale of the veteran writers, he also announced that from next year onwards, the language department of Punjab would felicitate 21 authors instead of 15 and also that the reward would be increased from Rs 21,000 to Rs 31,000.

He also announced that the state government would soon christen new roads and other public places after the names of writers and poets who contributed to propagating the Punjabi literature.

Maluka also felicitated the authors chosen for the annual literature award. On the occasion, eight Punjabi writers, three Hindi writers and two Urdu writers were felicitated for their contribution to literature. The authors were given a cash prize of Rs 21,000, a memento and a shawl.

In the category of Punjabi language , Gurmukh Singh Musafir Puraskar would be given to Dr Manmohan Singh Dawoo for the work "Shayar Sagar", Bhai Veer Singh Puraskar to Ninder Ghungayanwi for "Wadayan di sath", Principal Teja Singh Puraskar to Sarabjit Singh Virdi for "Geetan Da Kafla", Dr Atar Singh Puraskar to Atma Singh Randhawa for "Shabad Sidhant" and "Sanwaad", MS Randhawa Puraskar to Prof Harpal Singh Pannu for "Art Ton Bandgi Tak", Ishwar Chandar Nanda Puraskar to Dr Sahib Singh for "Khamban Di Talash" and Sri Guru Harkrishan Puraskar to Dr Gurminder Singh Sidhu for "Chand Di Barfi".

In the category of Hindi works, Giani Sant Singh Puraskar would be given to Dr Shashi Prabha for "Bahut Kuch Anutrit", Giani Gian Singh Puraskar to Yashpal Bangian for "Varishat Nagrike Adhbud Adhbudh" and Bal Sahit Puraskar to Vijay Kumar for "Upkar Ka Mulaye".

Fayaz Farukhi has been selected for the Sahir Ludhianvi Puraskar in Urdu segment for his work "Nazam Thora Sa" and Dr Mohamad Iqbal for Mahmood Sarani Puraskar for his work "Tanki -O-Taoosar".

Bathinda, December 7
The Bathinda Civil Hospital is all set to get an Opioid Substitution Therapy Centre (OST) meant for the injectable drug users (IDU) to help them quit drugs.

The Punjab State AIDS Control Society (PSACS) will run the project, which is supposed to be inaugurated in the next three months. Hospital psychiatrist, Dr Nidhi Gupta, who is also the in charge of the UNODC-run Methadone Centre, had applied for the OST to PSACS. OST Centres, funded by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), are already being run successfully in 10 districts with Tarn Taran being a model for the others to follow.

The centre will have a dedicated staff of around four to five people, including nurses, paramedics and data entry operator. The centre will come up in the existing methadone centre. The OST model has provision of an NGO partnering with the Civil Hospitals in the project with an emphasis on bringing the IDUs to the centre.

The Ambuja Cement Foundation is already attached with the PSACS and works with sex workers and drug users in Bathinda. The foundation is running a project among the IDUs and provides them unused needle for drugs usage to contain spreading AIDS and other diseases by needle sharing. The main function of the foundation will be motivating the IDUs and bring them to the centre for treatment as well as keep a tab on them.

Working like methadone, a drug given to the drug addicts wherein the addicts are weaned away from synthetic drugs, given methadone and then methadone dose is tapered off-the OST centre will use buprenorphine tablets. The dosage of tablets will be fixed as per the patient’s requirement.

When contacted Dr Nidhi Gupta said entire paper work of the OST Centre has been completed and submitted to the PSACS. “We don’t know when the approval will come. But when started, it will surely prove to be a boon for the injectable drug users,” she added.

Amritsar, December 7
The ASHA workers and ASHA facilitators held a protest here in support of their demands.

Speaking on the occasion, the leaders said the ASHA workers were working at a meagre remuneration of Rs 250 per month and were not responsible for the implementation of important central and state government schemes.

Association president Jarmanjit Singh said even as the state government has spent crores on inviting Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra for the inauguration of world kabaddi cup, they are not ready to pay to its employees.

The association demanded that ASHA workers should be provided a minimum wage of Rs 6,475 as per the minimum wages for workers under the labour laws and ASHA facilitators should be given a minimum of Rs 10,000 per month. — TNS

Bathinda, December 7
Two snatching incidents were reported in the city here today. In the first incident, a resident of Muktsar, Seema Rani, reported that she had come to the city and was waiting to board a bus at the bus stand near the Sirhind canal. Suddenly, two motorcycle-borne men came and snatched her purse. The purse contained Rs 1,500 and a mobile phone.

In other incident, Richa, a resident of the Green Avenue, reported that her purse was stolen from near Mittal Mall in the afternoon. The purse contained Rs 2,000 and a mobile phone.

The police have registered cases in both the incidents.

Earlier on Friday, a purse was snatched from a woman at the Bhagu Road around 1:15 pm.

Bathinda, December 7
The CIA staff have arrested two people — a man and his would be mother-in-law — and recovered 32 grams of gold from their possession.

In a press statement issued here today, the police stated that it arrested Sanju Singh alias Kakka from Danga Peedit Colony for stealing a gold locket weighing 3 grams and a ring finger weighing 4 grams. Sanju was a habitual offender and was on parole in a case of theft and attempt to murder.

On being arrested, he told the police that he had given a portion of the stolen material to one Seema Rani from Danga Peedit Colony whose daughter Shabnam he wanted to marry. Seema asked Sanju to get Rs 2 lakhs for the marriage, which was to be solemnised on December 17. Police arrested Seema Rani and recovered a gold chain weighing 10 grams and a pair of ear rings weighing 15 grams.

The accused Sanju had stolen the belongings from the house of Shyam Kumar Sharma, a resident of Model Town phase I.

Bathinda, December 7
Smile Garg, a student of class X of Silver Oaks School, Bathinda, bagged the first position in science essay writing competition organised by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology. Her topic was 'Genetic Engineering in Food Production'.

The essays were submitted in July 2013 and Smile secured the first position at the district level. Subsequently, she appeared for the interview round at the state level held at Chandigarh on November 28 where she secured the first position again.

Smile Garg was awarded a cash prize of Rs 1,500 along with a merit certificate.

Director of Silver Oaks School, Malvinder Kaur Sidhu and principal Neelam Verma, lauded her efforts and congratulated Smile on her win.

Amritsar, December 7
A refresher course in Indian and foreign languages, literature, translation and journalism started at the Academic Staff College, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), here yesterday. As many as 21 teachers from various higher educational institutes across the country are attending the course, which will conclude on December 23.

Eminent linguist and former director of the Academic Staff College, Prof Gurupdesh Singh, inaugurated the course. In his inaugural address, he shared relevant but lesser known points about the origin of the literature. While tracing the origin of literature, he linked it with various disciplines like religion, rationalism, philosophy, morality, aestheticism and history.

Bathinda, December 7
The lawn tennis championship organised by the Bathinda Lawn Tennis Association at Police Public School, Bathinda, was inaugurated today by the chief guest Gurpreet Singh Maluka, chairman of the Zila Parishad, Bathinda. The guest of honour on the occasion was Prof NK Gossain, dean, Malwa College.

As many as 40 students from various schools participated in the championship. In his address, Maluka advised the students to actively participate in sports apart from paying attention to their studies. Being engaged in sporting activities develops qualities like tolerance, sympathy, brotherhood and discipline in an individual, he added.

General secretary of the association, KPS Brar said all out efforts were being made to promote and popularise sports in the region. He added that a coaching camp will be organised for the budding players during the school vacations. Monika Singh, principal of the Police Public School thanked the organisers and proposed a vote of thanks. The guests were presented with mementoes by the organisers.

In the Under-18 category for boys, Ravshan Singh of DPS beat Karan Garg of DPS 6-0, Gagan of Police DAV Public School beat Parneet of DPS 6-0, Arshpreet Singh of DPS beat Abhishek Arora of DPS 6-0. In another round, Ravshan beat Sujjan Jaura of St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School 6-1, Gagan beat Arshpreet of DPS 7-5 and Gurfateh Singh of DPS beat Abhi Goyal of DPS 6-0.

In the Under-14 category for boys, Sanjit Sidhu of St. Joseph's School beat Anhad of DPS 6-1, Tanveer of St. Paul's School beat Aryan of DPS 6-1, Nittin Mittal of DPS beat Kind Uday Pratap Singh of Police DAV Public School 6-1, Navjot of DPS beat Sanjit of St. Paul 6-0 and Sachin Sethi of DPS beat Naman Pathak of St. Joseph's School 6-4.