Bathinda, October 16
With the festival of lights around the corner, security at the railway station has been intensified. Police officials today conducted a special checking and search operation at the railway station to ensure foolproof security and to control the crowd thronging the station.

The city railway station could be seen abuzz with intensified security checks these days as the rush on the platform has increased manifold.

As Bathinda has a major chunk of migrant population hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other parts of country, when some major festival approaches, migrants return to their native places for celebrations. The railway authorities have also introduced special trains to cater to the huge rush.

The police are keeping a close check at the bus stand and the railway station with a special drive going on with sniffer dogs and metal detectors.

The Punjab Police commandos' barricading is already underway in the city. They are keeping a close eye on the movement of the traffic and bad elements at various points in the city. They are checking the vehicles and penalizing traffic rule offenders along with traffic police.

Government Railway Police (GRP) SHO Bant Singh said a joint team of GRP and RPF today conducted search operation at the railway station. He said this operation was taken up as a security measure ahead of Diwali and this will be done regularly till the festival.

Bathinda, October 16
The police have arrested the four accused who had beaten a trader to death at Rama Mandi on Tuesday night. The police has also seized a baseball bat with which the deceased was beaten up.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Mahaveer Prasad Singla, a resident of ward number 6 of Rama Mandi, had registered a complaint. In his complaint, he stated that he along with his son Puneet Singla was returning home after closing his shop. His son stopped at some kiosk to buy something after which he went to the store to keep it. Their store is near their house and his wife and daughter-in-law Mamta Rani were sitting outside. His son was closing the store at around 8:40 pm, when four unidentified persons with their faces covered with cloth started beating him up badly with the baseball bat. His son started shouting and fell down. Seeing this, he and his daughter-in-law came and started shouting for help.

Seeing this, the accused fled from the spot and residents of the colony gathered in large numbers. They rushed their son to Bharat Brain Hospital in Bathinda, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Rama police have registered a case under Sections 302, 34 of the IPC against four unidentified persons. To solve this blind murder case, the police have constituted an investigation team under SP (D) Swaran Singh Khanna, CIA in-charge Jagdish Kumar and SHO Rama police station.

The team worked on various theories in the case and worked into details and succeeded in arresting Vijay Kumar, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhraj Singh and Bharat alias Jungli, all residents of Rama Mandi from near the water works on a secret tip-off to the CIA department.

After the arrest, Vijay Kumar revealed that they had hidden the baseball bat near the telephone exchange, which was later recovered by the police.

During the interrogation, they had stated that on October 13, the deceased, Puneet, had beaten up a sadhu, which was opposed by the accused Charanjit Singh Channi, who was passing by at that time. In a fit of rage, Puneet had also beaten up Charanjit and due to a huge gathering of the people, Charanjit fled from the spot at that time. To take revenge on Puneet, Charanjit called his friends and planned an attack. He said an accused, Samuel Masih, was still at large.

Bathinda, October 16
Keeping in view the security of people during the festive season, the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda Dr Basant Garg has designated four sites for sale of crackers in the city. Sale of crackers will be allowed at the Multi Purpose Stadium, Government Rajindra College, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant Stadium and Railway Dussehra Ground Stadium.

The DC said that the SDM Bathinda has been directed to set up stalls at these four designated sites. The SDM Bathinda will also be responsible for allotting stalls to the applicants.

He has been directed to ensure that the stalls are not made of inflammable substance and should be strong enough to not let anyone scale its walls and get inside it. The stalls should be at least three meters apart from each other, no two stalls should face each other, no cracker should be displayed within 50 m range of the stall and the site should have proper fire fighting arrangements. He said no one should be allowed to use oil lamp, gas lamp or candle in and around the stalls and it should also be ensured that all electricity wires are properly insulated. The SSP of Bathinda has also been directed to ensure security around the designated places. The SDMs of Rampura Phul, Talwandi Sabo and Maur too have been directed to identify similar pockets and designate the same for putting up fire cracker stalls. —TNS

Bathinda, October 16
The District Congress Committee (Urban) president Mohan Lal Jhumba, who has been sitting on a fast-unto-death since Wednesday, today refused to be examined by the doctors from the Civil Hospital. The doctors, directed by the district administration, came to examine him twice but he turned down the appeal.

"I wonder why the district administration is worried about my health now that I have decided to sit on a fast-unto-death. Why didn't the district administration act when I, accompanied by the party workers, was demanding justice for the misbehavior by Gurpreet Singh, SHO of the Canal Colony Police Station? If it wasn't interested in heeding my demands earlier, I don't wish to undergo the medical examination at the hands of the doctors designated by them to do so," said Jhumba.

As per the workers, Jhumba had started "feeling weak and had difficulty talking due to throat infection". Jhumba added that he would fight against the odds to get the district administration and police department give in to his demands. He further stated that if need be, he would get examined by a private medical practitioner.

Dr Ramandeep from the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, first visited the protest site outside the police station but was sent back by the Congress workers stating that Jhumba didn't wish to be examined. The doctors then returned after some time accompanied by SP Narinder Pal Singh and tehsildar Jashanjit Singh who tried to convince the leader to undergo the medical examination to ascertain his health condition but in vain.

"The tehsildar had visited the dharna site on the first day as well and I had explained to him the entire issue but he failed to heed the demands pertaining to the transfer of the SHO who misbehaved with me. If they are not concerned about our problems, then why are they concerned about my health?" asked Jhumba.

He also refused to submit a written complaint with the police department as demanded by DSP Gurjit Singh Romana. "I have explained the issue to the police officials several times then why do they want me to give it to them in writing? This is a tactic that the police department has adopted to delay the issue and put the blame back on Congress and claim that they could not heed the demand since a written complaint was not lodged with the department," he said.

Bathinda, October 16
No reader is availing the facility of borrowing or reading a book in the government district library, near the Zila Parishad office, after the restorer retired in 2010. No one even drops in to read the seven daily newspapers.

Working under the department of higher education, the library was established in 1974 and had lost its librarian in July 2000 when he was transferred to Government Rajindra College.

After that not even a single book was issued to any reader. The library has a big treasure of rare and presently out of print books but all have failed to serve the purpose.

One of the old card holder readers, Labh Singh said,'' the library, now, looks more like a museum. Books are for readers and not meant not be placed in almirah as showpieces. I travelled to the place regularly after it was closed down, however, with time all readers have accepted the fact that public library was not on the priority of the concerned authorities".

Presently, there are only two class four employees working. None of them is competent to issue any book or even newspaper. Infact, no new book has been purchased by library since the time it was closed. Surjit Singh, sevadar, told that he will retire after three months leaving Dalip Chand, (second sevadar) to sit alone. No budget is coming for the office expenses.

Confirming no issuing books from the library to general readers, Vijay Kumar Goyal, Principle of Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, said "We have only DD powers to withdraw the salary of the two employees of district library and this Library comes under DPI (colleges) of Education Department, Punjab."

Bathinda, October 16
The Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Bathinda, Dr Basant Garg, today said, "The work on revision of voters' lists is being conducted from October 15 to November 10 allowing the electorates to file their claims and objections."

Electorates can enroll themselves to get their names or addresses changed and add or delete their votes. In a press statement issued here today. Dr Basant Garg said the primary voters' list has already been published on October 15. The final voters' list would be published on January 1, 2015. He said, "The voters' lists are available at the offices of District Election Officer, election registration officer concerned, municipal councils and booth-level officers."

The Deputy Commissioner said to include names in voters' list to be revised from October 15 to November 20 the person needs to fill in Form VI with a coloured photograph, an NRI will have to fill in form 6 A, for deleting name form VII has to be filled, for making changes in the name form 8 has to be filled and for changing the residence address form 8 O has to be filled.

Dr Basant Garg said those voters, who would have attained age of 18 years on January 1, 2015 or are elder, can submit their claims and objections through requisite proforma and submit the same at the office of election registration officer or booth level officer from October 15 to November 10.

He said besides this, a special campaign would be held for voters on October 19 (Sunday) and November 2 (Sunday) wherein the booth level officers would be available at respective booths and will receive these proformas. He appealed people to be a part of the democracy and get enrolled as voters.

Bathinda, October 16
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Ekta Ugrahan and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union today condemned the registration of a false case against their three leaders Motha Singh, Niranjan Singh and Gora Singh along with 150 unidentified persons, who had protested against the state government demanding compensation for their farmers who had committed suicides outside the Mini-Secretariat on October 16.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Ekta Ugrahan state secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union secretary Lachman Singh have demanded the police to cancel this case registered against their workers.

They have stated that with this once again the anti-people, anti-farmer and anti-democratic face of the SAD-BJP ruling combine has been exposed. They stated that the district administration should have distributed the compensation cheques of the victim family instead of implicating them in false cases.

They have stated that if the government fails to fulfill the demands of the farmers and doesn't provide compensation to the affected families, they will intensify their protest. The Central government has released funds for the farmers but the state government is not distributing them.

Bathinda, October 16
Tension prevailed at the Bhagu road as the police confiscated the tractors allegedly involved in illegal mining in the city.

SHO of the Cantonment police station Mohal Lal said they received a complaint that illegal mining of sand was going on. When they reached the spot, they found an empty tractors parked there, but the residents stated that they were illegally taking the sand from here.

He stated that he had confiscated the tractors and started the investigation.

Talwandi Sabo, October 16
The NSS unit of Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, organised a cleanliness campaign. NSS coordinators, Gurpyar Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Parveen Kaur and Daizy, guided the students during this camp.

Dean students' welfare Dr DR Godara stated that around 50 volunteers were involved in this camp. During this camp they cleaned the pantry, dining area, rooms, corridors, lawns and indoor activity halls.

Dr NS Malhi, Vice-Chancellor, appreciated efforts of dean students' welfare and the NSS unit for regularly carrying out the cleanliness activities under the Swachh Bharat Abhyan campaign. "The frequent activities relating to cleanliness is also developing good habits among the students, will also prevent them from various diseases," he said.

Bathinda, October 16
A blood donation camp was organised by the NSS unit of Giani Zail Singh PTU Campus, Bathinda, today.

The camp was inaugurated by the chief guest Prof Gursharan Singh along with the NSS volunteers and a team from the Blood Bank, Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

It was supported by Aasra Welfare Society and Red Cross Society, Bathinda. Also present during the camp were Ramesh Mehta, Vinod Goyal, Vijay Grover, Vinod Bansal, Basant Bhat and Deepak Singla who presented mementos to blood donors along with the District Red Cross Society, Bathinda.

Prof Gursharan Singh welcomed the guests present during the camp and motivated the young donors and NSS volunteers.

The total number of 90 boys and 40 girls got themselves registered before the commencement of the camp but actually the number crossed more than 150 including faculty and staff of the campus.

The programming officer and in-charge of the event was Dinesh Kumar and the co-in-charge was Atinderpal Singh who worked along with the NSS student volunteers Akaash, Sukhpreet Kaur Bhullar, Saavan, Pradeep, Amanpriya, Palak, Ajay Paudiyal, Dishank Goyal, Baljinder Singh and Sampda Bhatnagar.

Bathinda, October 16
Dr Satwant Kaur Bhullar, had been named as one of the two coordinators in Punjab of Project Udaan by the Central Board of Secondary Education. Principal of the RBDAV School, Bhullar, will be coordinating with other CBSE affiliated schools, girl students, their parents and other channels to give higher education of girl students a shot in the arm.

The project aims to address the teaching gap between school education and engineering entrance and also to enrich the teaching and learning of science and mathematics at school level. The project will provide free online resources to girl students of classes XI and XII for preparation for admission test for the premier engineering colleges in the country.

The project will also address the low enrolment ratio of girl students in these institutions and will make endeavors to enable girl students receive special incentives and support so that they can join these institutions and go on to take leadership roles in the future.

Mansa, October 16
Demanding security at the emergency services in government run hospitals the PCMS Association of Mansa district today held a meeting in Mansa where all the doctors participated and rectified the decision.

The association also demanded that at least five doctors who are Medical Officers should be provided in all the government run hospitals having the facility of emergency services.

They claimed that doctors have to give more than twenty four hour services while in some cases the doctors are giving 48 hour regular service that would adversely affect the public at large receiving emergency services.

Dr Nishan Singh Kuldhar said, "A meeting of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) of Mansa district was held under the presidentship of district president Dr Harpal Singh Sran. The State Government should provide the security of doctors and paramedical staff round the clock in emergency service so that better services can be provided to patient."

Dr Manoj Mittal, general secretary and Dr Pankaj Kumar, cashier, demanded that hospital providing emergency services should have at last five emergency medical officers to provide proper services more number of EMo's should be deputed.

Bathinda, October 16
A play, 'Khetan Da Putt', by renowned artiste Rana Ranbir brought the curtains down on the week-long fourth theatre festival organised by Natyam Group at Balwant Gargi Open Air Theater in Rose Garden, Bathinda.

Deputy Commissioner Basant Gar was the chief guest and Avtar Singh Wanhwala, Personal Assistant to Deputy CM, Punjab, was the special guest on the last evening of the theatre festival.

The play based on the life and writings of famous Punjabi poet 'Pash' and written and acted by Rana Ranbir succeeded in bringing a people to the Balwant Gargi Open Air Theatre. It is a solo play that depicts the thoughts and life’s struggle of Pash. It was the overall 12th presentation of Khetan Da Putt on stage and was dedicated to late Surjit Singh Gill.

It was the last act of Natyam's fourth theatre festival, which was started on October 9 with the performance of a street play in different parts of the city. The stage play performances were started on October 11 with Sudesh Sharma's play “Sandhya Chaay”.

The sitting arena of the open air theatre was full of audience, who came to watch the show. Many officials from the district administration came to watch the show. Many famous literary and artistic personalities of the city like Amardeep Singh Gill, Attarjit Kahanikar, Amarjit Singh Painter, Tony Batis, Jaspal Mankhera, Jagdish Singh Ghai were present at the place. Director of Natyam, Kirti Kirpal thanked all the guests and sponsors for their support and help.

Bathinda, October 16
The team of Sports School, Ghudda, logged win by 42-17 over the team from Fatehgarh Sahib in the ongoing 60th Punjab State School Games (U-14 basketball event for boys) at Khalsa Senior Secondary School in Bathinda.

Bathinda defeated Mansa 37-31, Sri Muktsar Sahib defeated Jalandhar 38-29, Fatehgarh Sahib defeated Patiala 39-23, Amritsar defeated Mohali 29-21 and Ferozepur defeated Moga 23-18.

Deputy Director, Physical Education (sports), Sarabjit Singh Tur, state organiser (physical education) Raghvir Singh Bhikhi, District Education Officer Dr Amarjit Kaur Kotfatta and District Education Officer (sports) Pavittar Singh got this event conducted smoothly.

Deputy DEO Sukhbir Singh, principal Karamjit Singh, Randhawa Singh, head master Balkar kusla, Sher Singh, Jasvir Singh Jaggu, Sukhjinder Pal Singh, Sukhjinder Singh Manshahia, Kuldip Singh Bangi, Radhe Shyam Chanarthal, Gursewak Singh Gulabgarh, Surjit Singh and others too contributed in holding the event.

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