Bathinda, January 13
Government Sports School, Ghudda, a school known to be close to heart of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ever since its inception has been in the eye of a storm for some time now. After the incident of students' protest in October, a couple of outsiders reportedly entered the school premises on Thursday, created a ruckus and also allegedly beat up a few students.

Sources said the intruders not only smashed the windows panes but also threatened students with weapons. Hearing the commotion, the villagers assembled outside the gate of the school and called in the police.

The villagers alleged that when they tried to enter the school premises, the police lathicharged them. They also alleged that some of the policemen had reached the school in an inebriated state.

Accompanied by senior police personnel, Deputy Commissioner, Kamal Kishore Yadav, also reached the school and assured the villagers of not tolerating any anti-social activity inside the school.

On Saturday, ADC (D), Sonali Giri, reached the school and took stock of the situation. Giri heard the students' version of the incident and assured that the guilty would be brought to book.

Talking about the incident, SHO of the Nandgarh police station, Bhupinder Singh, said, “I went to the school on Thursday night and controlled the mob of students and villagers outside the school. They were threatening to stage a protest in the middle of the night. The reports of lathicharge are false. As far as catching the culprits is concerned, an inquiry is being conducted by the SDM and the ADC."

Protesting against the 'police inaction and its failure to arrest the culprits' students and villagers, supported by volunteers of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, blocked the road outside the school for some time.

Meanwhile, director of the school, Colonel (retd) Arun Chopra said in fact, a couple of students misbehaved with the labourers who were engaged in construction on the school premises.

“On Thursday evening, the contractor took my permission to let the labourers eat dinner inside the mess as it was getting late. The students apparently insinuated by some coaches, switched off the light of the mess and threw salad at the labourers. The boys then assembled outside my residence, raised slogans and also pelted stones. That's when I called in the police," the director said.

He added that in the meantime, a few coaches, who stay outside the campus, gathered the villagers and brought them to the school. "By 9 pm, a 200-strong mob had assembled outside the school. The SHO had to call in for more personnel to handle the mob," he said.

He further said a couple of coaches and other staff members were annoyed with him since he was a disciplinarian and was bent on setting things right. "In December, the contract with the warden of the girls' hostel was not renewed. Warden's husband, who is the warden of the boys' hostel, had threatened me. His contract is also due for renewal this month. There are several other disgruntled employees," the director added.

The director said he had conducted a surprise checking and had caught three boys with mobile phones. This action could have also led to the unrest among the students, he added.

Bathinda, January 13
Chairman of the Bathinda Zila Parishad, Gurpeet Singh Maluka, today conducted a surprise checking of three elementary schools, a veterinary hospital and a dispensary in the Bathinda district.

At the Government Elementary School, Kothe Lal Singh, the performance of the students of Class V was found to be satisfactory. On the contrary, Maluka found out that the teachers of junior classes were regular with checking the notebooks of the students.

He also found out that the notebooks which had been checked didn’t bear the date of checking and glaring spelling mistakes had been overlooked by the teachers. He also objected to the fact that despite having a store on the school premises, scrap material was lying littered inside some of the classrooms.

Teachers were also pulled up for attributing the bad performance of students to the fact that none of their family members was educated enough to teach them. He also directed the headmistress of the school to make sure that the school management committee held regular meetings and that the school also interacted with the parents regularly.

At the Government Elementary School, Mehma Bhagwana, the Zila Parishad chairman was shocked to spot glaring mistakes in notebooks checked by the headmistress of the school. The headmistress was warned that if she continued to neglect her duties, she would be dismissed.

Maluka instructed the schoolteachers to have charts with the National Anthem written on them displayed in all the classrooms to make sure the students learn it by heart. He also directed the teachers and headmistress of the school to refrain from holding classes in the open despite having enough classrooms. He also asked the headmistress to maintain a playground in the school.

At the elementary school in Kothe Sandhuaan, he gave out general instructions regarding the maintenance of the school and conducting the classes properly.

Maluka also conducted checking of the Government Veterinary Hospital and Public Dispensary at Deon village. He instructed the village administration to clear the encroachment on the land of the veterinary hospital and enquired why most commonly referred medicines were in shortage supply at the public dispensary. 

Bathinda, January 13
As many as 1,781 units of blood have been wasted at the government-run blood banks in Amritsar, Patiala, Barnala, Moga and Mansa. An information attained under the Right To Information (RTI) Act revealed that these units had got wasted due to technical reasons as well as not being used within the prescribed shelf-life.

An NGO, Naujawan Welfare Society’s, president, Sonu Maheshwari, had sought information under Right To Information Act pertaining to units of blood wasted at these blood banks.

“The government had increased charges of blood units last year, which has hurt the voluntary blood donation movement in the state. We wanted to check if the blood unites collected at the blood banks were judiciously used or not. The RTI query was meant to get an answer to these questions,” said Maheshwari.

Information procured revealed that from April 1 2007 to July 31 2013, 56 units of blood were wasted at Amritsar civil hospital. Of these 56 units, 24 have expired and the 32 units have got damaged because of haemolysis (change in color of blood).

Similarly, district Patiala’s Rajpura Government Hospital’s blood bank lost 263 units. 144 of these units have expired, 31 units got haemolyzed and 88 units were less than the required quantity. Similarly, civil hospital Nabha wasted 206 units that got expired.

Mansa district’s government hospital lost 58 units. Of these 36 units had got expired and 22 units were lesser than the required quantity.

At the blood bank of the Barnala Civil Hospital as many as 577 units got wasted. One hundred and sixty one units got expired, 181 got haemolysad, 199 units got damaged due to change of colour and one unit got leaked from its pouch. Under the directives of State Health Department, the Jalandhar Civil Hospital had sent its additional 35 units of blood to Barnala authorities, which was found to be expired.

Besides, at the Moga Civil Hospital, 404 units were lost as they got expired, 109 units were less than the required quantity, 75 units had got haemolysed, 14 units got damaged due to low temperature, 11 units were damaged due to clotting and two units due to some technical reason

Maheshwari said that the government should ensure that the precious blood units do not go waste.

Bathinda, January 13
SSD School management have expressed their displeasure over the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) not giving them any water and sewer bills for the past 33 years and has now declared them among top defaulters in city.

SSD School president, Ashok Gupta, said after a period of 33 years, the MCB served a bill of Rs 39,000 to school’s branch located atn Pujjan Wala Mohalla. “In the past 33 years, we did not receive any sewer and water bill. Few days ago, the MCB team came calling at our SSD Boys Senior Secondary School opposite to Gole Diggi with a bill of Rs 21,000,” he said.

Gupta claimed that for the past 33 years not even a single bill had been served to the school management. “Instead of SSD Sabha, the MCB should be declared as a defaulter in its failure to dispose its duty on time. We were neither given any show-cause notice nor any prior warning. The MCB team threatened us of disconnecting the connection if we did not pay the bill immediately,” he said.

The SSD Sabha office and SSD Moti Ram Kanya Vidyalaya, located on the same premises at SSD Boys Senior Seocndary School, too have received bills of Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively.

Lodging its protest against the MCB, Gupta said under the article 63 of Indian Limitation Act, if a payment is not made within three years, it cannot be claimed. “I am ready to do whatever it takes if the MCB proves that it has sent even one bill in the past 33 years. By putting us in the list of defaulters, the MCB has defamed an institute which was established in 1923 and is a premier educational institute,” he said.

Bathinda, January 13
The fight to get ticket for the Aam Admi Party (AAP) in the coming Lok Sabha elections hots up as more and more candidates are applying to be the candidate of the AAP in Bathinda.

While there seems hardly any political activity among the party workers or leaders of the other political parties, flurry of activity is witnessed everyday in AAP.

The party leaders are confident of giving quite a tough fight to their opponents as the AAP seems to have been spreading a ripple effect all over the country with epicenter in New Delhi.

During the free registration driving in Bathinda parliamentary constituency, more than 5,000 people got themselves registered in the past three days.

The local AAP unit however, today announced that they will not support any candidate paragliding without the consent of the local leadership.

“We have been working hard for the past many months and anyone landing in our constituency without our consent will not be accepted,” said Amrit Lal Aggarwal, one of the nine executive members of the AAP in Bathinda.

“We don’t think that the party cadre will decide over the issue of giving the ticket for the general elections to someone without their consent,” said AAP general secretary, Bilas Chand Gupta.

He too, reiterated that no leader would be accepted without the consent of the local leadership.

“Even if someone is given the ticket, he will not get our support in any manner. It is our team which is burning the midnight oil to garner support and spread the message among the people,” Gupta said.

Gupta said he has come to know about applying for the ticket by more than 20 people online after e-registration over the AAP website. “Though people are approaching us over the party ticket, we have been asking ticket seekers to either apply online or approach the party high command in Delhi,” Gupta said.

Bathinda, January 13
Two illegal structures were demolished by the civic body in the city today. A team of Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) demolished a commercial building on the Power House Road near street number 6/3. The MCB officials said the building plan of this structure was not sanctioned. Despite being served notice couple of times, the owner of the building did not demolish it and added roof to the building overnight. The MCB team smashed this structure using a JCB machine.

Similarly, a shop in the Krishna Market area was also demolished. This commercial place was being illegally constructed. SDO Kishore Bansal, Gurpreet Singh, JE Rajinder Kumar and others were among the 
MCB team.

The process of removing illegal structure on the Power House Road could have proved damaging for the area residents, who shared wall with the illegal structure. When the lintel of this building was removed, its material fell on the house located in neighbourhood. The owners of the neighbouring house Gurmeet Singh and Gurvinder Singh Chahal were at home when the incident took place. No one was hurt in the incident. The MCB team pacified the area residents by removing the debris from the house. 

Bathinda, January 13
The PSEB Engineers' Association convened an emergency meeting in Patiala condemning the proposal of the Punjab Government to change the age and qualification for the post of chief managing director, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and directors of PSPCL and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL).

In a press statement issued here, association president Baldev Singh Sra said during the unbundling of the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) in April 2010, the Punjab Government held detailed discussions with the PSEB Engineers Association. It was decided to follow the central public sector model of age and qualification for the posts of CMD/directors of PSPCL and PSTCL to ensure professionalism in the power sector in Punjab, which had yielded satisfactory results, he said.

PSEB Engineers’ Association supported the restructuring process and the transition was very smooth. Subsequently, the Punjab Government notified the transfer scheme, which included age and qualification of the CMD and directors, and signed an agreement with various trade unions and associations not to alter the transfer scheme, experience and qualifications of CMDs/directors and other criteria without consulting the association.

“Now, there is a move to change the age and qualification of CMD PSPCL and directors of PSPCL/PSTCL by altering the transfer scheme and thus violating the agreement. There is reportedly a proposal to enhance the age of superannuation from the present 62 to 64 years and give extension to the present incumbent,” the members said.

They added the association viewed this as a breach of trust by the Punjab Government.Such age extensions are not given in central organisations like the Army and other PSUs to maintain a chain of managerial talent for the overall organisational development.

The association appealed to the Chief Minister to honour the agreement which he had personally assured not to violate at the time of unbundling of the PSEB. 

Bathinda, January 13
The women and children hospital authorities today celebrated lohri of one-day-old 25 baby girls extending a warm gesture to the new mothers.

Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni, SMO Dr SS Romana and District Family Welfare Officer Dr Ravanjit Kaur distributed packets of groundnuts and reori to the new mothers. Among these mothers two were blessed with twin baby girls. Paediatrician Dr Satish Jindal said from Jan 12 morning till Jan 13 afternoon, 35 babies were delivered that included 25 females and 10 males.

Grandmother of one of the twins lit the bonfire. The mothers honoured were Rupinder Kaur, Amandeep Kaur Makha, Chinik Rani, Manjeet Kaur Pathrala, Amandeep Kaur from Talwandi Sabo, Veerpal Kaur from Shergarh, Karamjit Kaur, Veerpal Kaur Sekhon, Gurjit Kaur, Binder Kaur, Sarabjit Kaur, Aarti, Karamjit Kaur Majuke, Amandeep Kaur Talwandi Sabo, Manpreet Kaur from Siriyewala, Parveen from Pyori village (Muktsar), Riya Rani from Gidderbaha and Kuldeep Kaur Pinki.

Dr Vineet, Dr Alka, Dr Neelam, Dr Dheera Gupta, Dr Manpreet and Dr Preet Maninder, staff nurses and Deputy Mass Media Officer Harjinder Kaur were also present on the occasion. 

Teachers and students of Government Rajindra College celebrate Lohri in Bathinda on Monday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Bathinda, January 13
The festival of Lohri was celebrated with gusto at Government Rajindra College here today. Principal Vijay Kumar Goyal, Prof Ramesh Chander Pasrija, Dr Gurjeet Singh Mann and Prof Satwinderpal lighted the bonfire. This was followed by a cultural programme presented by the students.

Addressing the students, the principal spoke on the importance of the festival. He urged the students to keep pace with the fast-moving era. He also asked the students to burn the feelings of hatred against others on the ceremonial fire and start afresh.

Prof Sukhdev Singh, Prof Jyoti Prakash, Prof Seema Gupta, Prof Sukhdeep Singh, Prof Paramdeep Kaur, Prof Manoneet Kaur, Prof Harjeet Kaur, Prof Balvir Kaur and others were present on the occasion.

Girls honoured at BFGI

Baba Farid Group of Institutions organised a function to celebrate ‘Lohri Dheeyan Di’ on the campus. The chief guests of the function were 73 girls, who were the only child of their parents. The college management honoured these students.

Renowned Punjabi singer Sherry Mann regaled the gathering during the function. Students of BFGI also presented several cultural performances during the function. The students presented solo dance, skit, choreography, songs, mimicry, Malwai gidda and other cultural items.

Addressing the students, chairman of BFGI, Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal, congratulated all on the festival and spoke about the achievements of the institutions and promised that the institution was nearing towards guaranteeing campus placements to all its students.

Tiny tots celebrate Lohri

Students of the Little Kingdom Nursery School celebrated the Lohri festival with full fervour. The tiny tots came dressed in traditional Punjabi attire for the celebration. The school was decorated with kites and drums. Folk songs related to the festival were played while the teachers and students danced to the beats of the drum at the school lawns.

Principal of the school Shuchita Grover spoke on the importance and various aspects of the festival. She urged the students to respect the natural elements of fire, wind, water and earth. She also told them about the belief that the night of the Lohri festival was the longest and the days start getting longer after Lohri. 

Bathinda, January 13
The police today arrested four snatchers and recovered one motorcycle, a purse containing Rs 1,500 and 5 mobile phones. All the four accused are associated with the medical and are either assistant of doctor or sell medicines.

The accused are identified as Darshan Singh of Chandbhan village, a graduate and working as an assistant of a doctor, Rajwinder Singh, and a resident of Gurusar village and works in a medical store, Gurtej Singh of Mehma Sarja village and works as an assistant with a city-based doctor and Inderjit Singh of Lal Singh Basti who sells herbal products.

SSP Gurpreet Bhullar said the accused were arrested after a team of police was formed to look into the complaint of a woman who accused some unidentified youth of snatching her purse near Rose Garden a few days ago. Rani Kaur of Sucha Singh Nagar also complained that she was robbed of her purse containing Rs 1,500. A case was registered at Kotwali police station. — TNS

Jalandhar, January 13
Incidents of cutting ATMs with gas-cutters continue to haunt the police of the Doaba region, as about a dozen such incidents have been reported in the region since January last year.

However, the Punjab Police have failed to get lead even in a single such case.

The latest target of robbers now has been an ATM of Punjab National Bank in Roawali village on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, it has exposed the slow pace of the investigation by the police in the robberies of the same kind.

Despite the same modus operandi of using gas-cutters in all past incidents, the shrewd robbers managed to dodge the police once again during yet another episode of the kind in Jalandhar reportedly on Monday night.

Station House Officer of the Maqsudan police Pyara Singh said as per the CCTV footage, the robbers (faces covered) after entering the ATM booth put down the ATM’s shutter and made a hard attempt to cut the machine’s cash box with a gas-cutter. However, they remained unsuccessful in their attempt.

“We have seen the CCTV footage which clearly showcased how two robbers put down the ATM’s shutter and used a gas-cutter to open the cash box. The shrewd robbers had covered their faces with a piece of cloth, hence half the face of robbers was left for the police to get their identification,” the SHO said.

Past incidents

September 24: An ATM of the PNB broken at Tarn Taran.

November 16: An ATM of the State Bank of Patiala broken at Phillaur, Rs 8 lakh.

December 17: Burglars strike at two ATMs of the PNB in Hoshiarpur district and decamp with cash to the tune of over Rs 23 lakh.

December 23: Miscreants looted Rs 18 lakh from two unguarded PNB ATMs at Dadwindi village and Talwandi Chaudhriya village in Kapurthala district.

January 12, 2014: Unidentified miscreants made an attempt to cut a PNB ATM with a gas-cutter.