Bathinda, September 24
Much to the dismay of hundreds of commuters visiting the District Administrative Complex (DAC) everyday, the local police have taken control over the entire parking space alongside the boundary walls of the complex, evidently to fetch extra profit for the parking and canteen contractors.

Apart from the iron barricades of the traffic police and tight ropes, the traffic policemen, too, have been deployed to ensure that nobody parks his vehicle on either side of the road. Earlier, at least 150 to 200 cars were being parked everyday outside the complex.

In view of the parking area encroached upon by the traffic police, most of the vehicles were seen parked alongside the boundary wall of the court complex.

While the canteen contractor had reportedly complained that his profits had dipped due to the roadside vendors who park their temporary eating joints alongside the boundary wall of the DAC, the parking contractor had also complained about parking of vehicles outside the complex leading to less profit.

While people fume at the move, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Bhullar said he was unaware of the barricades installed outside the boundary walls of the complex and would enquire into the matter.

Those visiting every day alleged that they had been parking their vehicles outside the complex. But they had never witnessed such indifference on the part of the authorities.

The traffic cops deployed to keep the visitors’ vehicles at bay, too, regretted that they were unable to comprehend the move of blocking the huge parking space which was utilised for the parking of vehicles and were quite upset over the wastage of their energy for the useless task of keeping the vehicles away from both sides of the road.

“This is an illegal task accomplished by the police as the road belongs to the Municipal Corporation and the policemen cannot encroach upon both sides of the road. The land blocked with barricades is at least of 10-foot width on both sides of the road which was used for parking vehicles,” said Bakhtaur Singh, a daily visitor and a resident of Patel Nagar.

Swaran Singh said the move of placing barricades has led to utter chaos as the vehicles parked inside the DAC are parked haphazardly and one fails to find space to park their vehicles, especially the four-wheelers. “Moreover, there is dense shade of trees alongside the boundary wall and one could easily park the vehicles without disturbing the parking at the complex,” he said.

The daily visitors have also written a complaint in this regard to the Municipal Commissioner, Bathinda, and said that the matter would also be brought to the notice of the local MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.

Bathinda, September 24
The city police today detained nearly two dozen workers, including three women of various religious organisations, that were going to plan “rail roko” protest in the city. The protestors were demanding death punishment for the accused arrested recently in case of cow slaughter at Malerkotla.

It is pertinent to mention that on September 10, a cow slaughtering incident came to light at Malerkotla, which was opposed by the religious organisations.

As per their agitation, the organisations had to stage rail-roko’ protest on September 24. In Bathinda, the ‘rail-roko’ protest was headed by the Shiv Sena (Hindustan) and Hindu Kranti Dal.

Today in the morning, workers of various religious organisations gathered at Sirki Bazaar gaushala. In view of the protest, the police beefed up security to stop them from disrupting the rail traffic. When the police got to know that the protesters were gathering at Sirki Bazaar, teams from various police stations headed by the DSP City Gurjit Singh Romana reached the spot.

The organisations had planned to carry out a protest march from Gaushala to the Patiala railway crossing where they had planned to disrupt the rail traffic. When the protestors started marching toward the Patiala railway crossing, the police detained the agitators and put them in their vehicles. They were taken to the Canal Colony police station.

The protest was headed by the Shiv Sena (Hindustan), president, Sunil Kumar Jindal and Hindu Kranti Dal leader Pankaj Kumar. These leaders were taken into custody along with Bimla Rani, Rita Rani and many others.

Speaking on the issue, Sushil Jindal said they strongly condemn the cow slaughtering incident. The police had arrested the accused in the case but the protesters are demanding death penalty for the accused.

The protesters also threatened that if the incidents of cow slaughter did not stop or the government did not take steps to prevent it, the religious organisations would again came on to a single platform and begin a stir.

DSP (City) Gurjit Singh Romana said workers of various religious organisations who were going to disrupt the railway traffic were detained and later released in the evening.

Bathinda, September 24
To attract more visitors to the Bir Talab Mini Zoo, the Forest Department has submitted a revised Master Plan to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). As per the revised plan, new features, including introduction of wild animals, setting up of a modern nature interpretation centre and a tiger safari have been proposed.

At present, the specials on display at the zoo include rhesus monkey, blackbucks, spotted deer, sambhar and parakeet. Apart from the tiger safari, wild dogs, injackal, wolf, leopard and bear too would be brought to the zoo. Modalities in this regard are being chalked out by officials of the Forest Department who are likely to meet the Central government officials in Delhi the next week.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Dr Sanjeev Tiwari said funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore are being awaited for the interpretation centre while the cage for the tiger and other big animals require modifications in the existing infrastructure.

“The interpretation centre would be the first in Punjab which will be based on a US national park,” Tiwari said.

The DFO has recently returned from a 10-day official trip from the US where he visited the national park and other similar places to learn and replicate the same in Bathinda.

He said various animal models will be put on display for the visitors who could also listen to the animals’ sounds with a press of the button. He said the building of the interpretation centre, situated on the zoo premises, is almost complete and the furnishing is being done.

“The process of installing the animal models, trophies, dioramas and arcades will not take more than a month and half once the funds are released by the government,” he said.

He added that the models would be prepared at the Centre for Environmental Education (CEE), Ahmedabad and the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. To support the pictorial support, posters and brochures too would be kept at the interpretation centre. Educational movies based on wildlife will also screened with the help of a small theatre at the centre.

It will be equipped with separate sections on animals including herbivores, carnivores, birds and aquatic life. The centre would also have a library and children’s activity room. Children can paint, draw and learn about wildlife in the activity room, the DFO said.

Bathinda, September 24
An accused in a theft case was arrested today from near the thermal power plant with the help of the social networking site WhatsApp. Ten days ago, on September 14, two unidentified persons had stolen two Samsung mobile phones from Raman Electronics, a shop located on Ajit Road in the city.

The owner of the shop, Ramandeep Singh, filed a complaint with the police. He also submitted the CCTV footage of the accused committing theft to the police.

When the police failed to make any headway in the case, Raman forwarded the picture of the accused taken from the CCTV footage to all his friends on WhatsApp.

Some days ago, the accused went to a shop belonging to his friend in Malout. The shop owner recognised the accused as he had seen his photograph on WhatsApp.

Raman's friend informed him about the incident. After the investigation, it was found that the accused was a resident of Deon village and the son of a carpenter.

Mandeep Singh, brother of Raman, said when they went to his village today, he fled but was later nabbed near the Guru nanak Dev Thermal Power Plant (GNDTP) on Muktsar Road. The accused has been handed over to the police. Further investigation in the case is in progress.

Bathinda, September 24
Students performed with full vigour and zest on the second day of three-day Regional Youth Festival being held at Gian Jyoti Girls College, Gurhthadi, near Sangat Mandi in Bathinda district. Around 59 colleges of the Bathinda zone are taking part in the festival.

The chief guest on the second day was the BFGI managing director-cum-chairman, GS Dhaliwal.

Western and solo singing along with western and solo instrument competitions attracted the audience more than any other event. Students attended the shabad gayan event with decency and composure. Baba Farid Group, Bathinda, bagged the first position and Barjindra College, Faridkot, got the second position in Western group singing. In Western solo instrument, Government Rajindra College, got the first position.

In classical instrument event, Baba Farid Group of Institutions bagged the first position while Government Barjindra College got the second position.

In classical instrument event, Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, got the first position while Brijindra College, Faridkot, got the second position.

In cartoon making contest, Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, bagged the first position while Malwa College, Bathinda, got the second position.

In poster making competition, University College, Jaitu, got the first position and University College, Ghudda, got the second position.

In the mimicry event, Rajindra College, Bathinda, and Baba Farid College, Bathinda, got the first and second position respectively.

In the photography event, Yadvindra College of Engineering, Talwandi Sabo, begged the first position and Baba Farid Institute, Deon, Bathinda, got the second position.

Bathinda, September 24
A one-day NSS camp was held today at Government Senior Secondary School, Bhokhra, Bathinda. The camp was inaugurated by the principal of the school. Around 70 NSS volunteers, including girls, participated in the camp, which included tree plantation besides other activities.

Principal Krishan Kumar Gupta and NSS programme officer-cum-lecturer Raj Kumar said volunteers participated in activities such as sweeping of school besides the other activities.

These camps make the children learn many things about life, which no other activity can teach, he said.

Children learn equality on the one hand and the spirit of serving society on the other.

A quiz competition was also organised in the school. Later, refreshments were offered to the volunteers. Besides, all the teachers and staff members of the school co-operated in the programme. — TNS

Bathinda, September 24
The district Congress unit has taken stand against a senior Congress leader and former minister Surinder Singla. After convening a meeting of the local party workers, the district president (urban), Mohan Lal Jhumba, minced no words in speaking against Singla.

He accused Singla of speaking against the party president and the local leadership.

“Surinder Singla is issuing statements against our leaders at the behest of the senior Akali leaders. He came to demoralise the Congress party workers who are gearing up for the coming Municipal Corporation elections,” said Mohan Lal Jhumba.

He pointed out that Singla came to know about the strong wave in favour of the Congress party in the Bathinda district ahead of the MC elections and had come to dishearten the party workers.

The district president of the Congress party was accompanied by secretary, Balvir Singh, local leaders Vijay Kumar, Ashwini Goyal, Sikandar and press secretary Rupinder Bindra.

Congress leaders unanimously decided to take up the matter with the party high command by writing a letter in this regard.

“We will inform the senior leaders about the statements issued by Surinder Singla against the state party president and also against other leaders who were instrumental in strengthening the congress party,” Jhumba added.

He said a separate demand would be raised for strict action against such leaders to refrain them from giving statements against senior leaders in future.

Bathinda, September 24
The district administration, Bathinda, today held a seminar on drug de-addiction and skill development wherein the chief guest of event Divisional Commissioner, Ferozepur and Faridkot division, VK Sharma, called upon the youngsters to stay away from drugs.

He said drug addiction leaves its victims pauper in terms of physical health, mental health and economic status and hence, there was an urgent need to stay away from it.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal-led state government was dedicated to root out this evil from society for which de-addiction and rehabilitation centres were being introduced in each district. The addicts would be treated and helped to start their lives amid a new beginning. Appealing to the people, Sharma said the need of the hour is that every section of society should step ahead so that a healthy and drug-free society could be formed.

Deputy Commissioner Basant Garg also appealed to the youngsters to stay away from drugs. He said the district administration will maintain its momentum against drug de-addiction so that long term positive results could be achieved. He said around 82,000 people have visited government hospitals for de-addiction but such a large number is a cause for concern.

Earlier, Divisional Commissioner, VK Sharma, had started a signature campaign against drugs by being the first person to sign it. SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar was also present with him.

During the seminar, Dr Indivir Kalra, a psychiatrist, informed about various diseases that arise from addiction. He motivated the people to boycott drugs and go for de-addiction.

Bathinda, September 24
The Railways has initiated a drive to remove the encroachments which have been made by slum dwellers for the last many years. Railway police officials today removed the structures meant to sell fish and other products near the Patiala railway crossing on the land belonging to the Railway Department.

The Engineering Department of the Railways is acting on the instructions by senior officials of the department to remove the encroachments on the land of the Railways.

Some days ago, railway officials along with the GRP, carried out a demolition drive in the Thandi Sadak area and removed the structures raised by slum dwellers on the land belonging to the department. Many people were rendered homeless after the removal of encroachments.

After the slums were razed, slum dwellers started living in the same area in the open.

Slum dwellers said for the last many years, the Railways had not told them anything but suddenly, the officials had demolished their shops and shacks.

In the Gopal Nagar area, some shacks were demolished while others were not. The officials let off many with a warning.

Railway Police Force (RPF) in-charge Rajesh Kumar said the Engineering Department of the Railways was removing the encroachments on the land of the department and this drive was going on ceaselessly for some time.

He said 16 kiosks in which fish, chicken and other stuff were being sold for the last many years had been removed near the Patiala railway crossing today.

They were removed as they were made on the land that belongs to the Railway Department, he said.