Barnala, October 19
The three farmer unions lifted the dharna today, after 24 hours. The future course of action would be chalked out very shortly, they added.

The BKU Ekta (Ugrahan), Kisan Sangrash Committee and Zameen Bachao Morcha is protesting against the non-implementation of the agreement in the Trident land deal.

Before calling off the dharna, union president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said they would not sit back till the agreement was implemented. Apart from enhanced compensation, the union was demanding withdrawal of cases registered against farmers, fincial assistance to the tune of Rs 25,000 each to the injured farmers during the struggle, writing off the debts of three farmers who had died during the struggle and jobs to one of their family members.

He said 19 farmers were still awaiting financial assistance.

Bathinda, October 19
In the wake of the alleged threat by terrorist organisations, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in association with the GRP here has launched an intensive anti-sabotage checking drive here.

Stepping up security arrangements at the Bathinda station, which comes in A-category, the RPF and the GRP have taken measures to avoid any untoward incident.

Post Commander/RPF, Northern Railway, Bathinda, Deep Chandra Arya, said security had been beefed up at the station.

According to railway sources, duty hours of the security personnel here had been increased and security personnel in plainclothes had also been deployed at the station. The district police administration has also provided an anti-sabotage team with a dog squad. 

Amritsar, October 19
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC chief Jathedar Avtar Singh today held closed-door meeting at Golden Temple here at which the issue of sending Birs to Canada by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) was reportedly discussed.

Though the details of the meeting could not be obtained, it is believed that both leaders expressed surprise over the “studied silence” of Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti over the booking of 100 Birs for their shipment from the Mumbai port to Canada. Though the SGPC chief had already stated that the committee would lodge a complaint with the Takht against the DSGMC, the Jathedar of Akal Takht has not received such missive so far.

The SGPC and SAD are of the view that Jathedar Vedanti should have taken suo motu notice of the attempt to send Birs in a container from Mumbai port.

Meanwhile, the SGPC chief has sent two senior functionaries, including Dalmegh Singh and Roop Singh, secretary and additional secretary of the committee, respectively, to Mumbai to hold an on-the-spot inquiry into the matter. The SGPC has already constituted a five-member fact-finding committee in this regard.

President of the DSGMC Parmjit Singh Sarna said the committee would make all arrangements for publication of Guru Granth Sahib in various countries, especially England and Canada by establishing own (DSGMC’s) Publication houses. These Birs would be published with the negatives to be provided by the DSGMC to avoid 
any misprint or distortion.

Meanwhile, the SGPC chief and chief of the Damdami Taksal Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa held a meeting at Chowk Mehta.

Ludhiana, October 19
A high-level team of experts and police officials from Hyderabad have reached here to explore the common links between the recent terror attacks in Hyderabad, Ajmer and Ludhiana.

Another police team is investigating the role of Jagtar Singh Tari, who is still absconding and is an accomplice of Babbar Khalsa terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara, in the Shingaar blast. Both had been listed as the prime conspirators in the 2005 Delhi cinema blasts, which they plotted and executed after their daring escape from Burail jail. While Hawara was arrested after the Delhi blasts, Tari is said to be hiding in Nepal or Pakistan. Intelligence reports pin him as the possible mastermind using his expertise in targeting cinemas.

A team of local police is also being sent to Ajmer to study the blast site and the investigation reports for exploring the possible link between the two incidents. The main link explored so far by the police is that a time bomb was used in the Shingaar cinema blast akin to the ones used in Hyderabad twin blasts.

Chandigarh, October 19
The union government must take concrete steps to hold accountable members of security forces who killed, or were responsible for the “disappearance” of youth besides having allegedly tortured Sikh youth during counter-insurgency operations in Punjab, demands a new report released by a human rights watch, Ensaaf and human rights lawyer R.S. Bains.

The government should establish a commission of inquiry, a special prosecutor’s office, and an extensive reparations programme.

The 125-page report, “Protecting the killers: a policy of impunity in Punjab, India,” examines the challenges faced by victims and their relatives in pursuing legal avenues for accountability for the human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated during the government’s counter-insurgency campaign. The report describes the immunity enjoyed by officials responsible for these alleged violations and the total failure of India’s judicial and state institutions to provide justice for victims’ families.

The report admits that in the beginning of the 1980s, Sikh separatists in Punjab committed serious human rights abuses, including the massacre of civilians, attacks upon Hindu minorities in the state, and indiscriminate bomb attacks in crowded places. It goes on to say that during counter-insurgency operations in Punjab from 1984 to 1995, human rights abuses were committed against the Sikhs. None of the key architects of this strategy have been brought to justice.

A key case discussed in detail in the report is the Punjab “mass cremations case,” in which the security forces are involved in thousands of killings and secret cremations throughout Punjab to hide the evidence of wrongdoing. The case is currently before the National Human Rights Commission, a body specially empowered by the Supreme Court to address this case. However, the commission has narrowed its efforts to merely establishing the identity of the individuals who were secretly cremated in three crematoria in just one district of Punjab. It has rejected cases from other districts and has ignored the intentional violations of human rights perpetrated by India’s security forces.

For more than a decade, the commission has failed to independently investigate a single case and explicitly refuses to identify any responsible officials. “The National Human Rights Commission has inexplicably failed in its duties to investigate and establish exactly what happened in Punjab,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The report discusses the case of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a leading human rights defender in Punjab who was kidnapped and then murdered in October, 1995 by government officials after being held in illegal detention for almost two months. Despite credible eyewitness testimony that police chief K.P.S. Gill was directly involved in interrogating Khalra in illegal detention just days prior to Khalra’s murder, yet nothing was done in this regard. 

Chandigarh, October 19
President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Rajinder Kaur Bhattal will meet workers and leaders of the party at the Punjab Congress Bhawan here on all working days from 11 am to 2 pm, whenever she is in Chandigarh.

According to a press statement issued by the PPCC Bhattal will visit Dera Bassi on October 20, Ludhiana on October 21 and Jalandhar on October 25. A programme is scheduled at Sirhind on October 27. — TNS

Tarn Taran, October 19
Prof Virsa Singh Valtoha, Akali MLA from Valtoha, today accused minister for health and family welfare Laxmi Kanta Chawla for the dismal health services in the border area.

Speaking in the presence of Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal at a religious function organised at Bhura Kona village, on the occasion of the 75th birth anniversary of late Sant Kartar Singh Khalsa Bhindrawale, the 13th head of Damdami Taksal, Professor Valtoha highlighted the apathy of minister.

He alleged that Chawla was occupied with her political battles with leaders of the SAD-BJP alliance and this was affecting the health facilities in the area.

When contacted, Chawla said she could not comment as she was unable to comprehend the question while travelling. Appreciating the role of Sant Kartar Singh against the imposition of Emergency in the country by spreading awareness in the state, Badal said the role of such leaders eventually forced the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to lift Emergency.

The Chief Minister said the state government had taken up Valtoha as a model project for carrying out micro-planning. Once Guru Nanak Dev University came out with its report on Valtoha, the same model would be replicated across the state. He assured to take steps to improve health and educational facilities in the area. 

Chandigarh, October 19
The bumpy and uncomfortable drive through 12 km of narrow road from Bharatgarh to Kiratpur Sahib in Ropar district on the National Highway 21 connecting Himachal Pradesh is a motorist’s nightmare.

As one enters Punjab from the Himachal Pradesh side, the potholed road gives such a bumpy ride that it not only rattles the vehicle but also tests the driving skills of the motorist.

While driving close to Kiratpur Sahib from the Himachal border, clouds of dust follow you.

The entire stretch is dotted with large potholes and the road is virtually non-existent at a number of places. Heavy vehicles move like seesaws as they cross big craters, some even up to the size of a shallow grave.

When this correspondent took out his camera, a truck driver asked him in a lighter vein: “Are you measuring the crater?”

“Like many drivers, I have also learnt to negotiate potholes with great coolness,” said Jaspal Singh, the truck driver of the Dhameta Union, Bharatgarh, who is regularly travelling on the stretch.

He said the government was only interested in collecting taxes and least bothered about improving roads in the area.

Another truck driver, Ram Singh, said a number of accidents had taken place on this stretch. Two persons lost their lives recently on this stretch.

“Such roads damage vehicles to a great extent,” said Gurmeet Singh, a mechanic at Kiratpur Sahib.

An official of the PWD, Punjab, said the four-lane project of the Chandigarh-Kiratpur Sahib had been cleared and it would start soon.

Bathinda, October 19
A piece of land measuring 300 square yards in Urban Estate, Phase III, of Bathinda, which was allotted by PUDA in 2001, has caused a controversy.

The piece of land is located between two roads, one 60-foot wide and the other 45-foot wide. The widening of the 45-foot road has lead to the present situation.

When the road was widened adjacent pieces of land retained their original size. But, two pieces of land, located at the farthest end of the road, ended up losing their specified area by 10 or 12 feet. Now, their owners have acquired the land meant for parking and green belt to make up for the loss of land.

Today, when construction on one of the pieces was started by Niranjan Singh (owner of plot number 1164), he was asked by members of the Welfare Association, Phase III, and later by PUDA officials as well to stop laying the foundation of his house. The original piece of land measured 60’X22.5”.

Interestingly, PUDA is learnt to have passed the construction plan of Niranjan’s house.

Niranjan said he had bought the piece of land from PUDA in 2001. “As per the PUDA rules, a plot has to be constructed within three years. Due to some reasons, we were not able to construct it. I have also paid a fine of nearly Rs 40,000 in the past two years. We started the construction of our house today so that we can complete it before December 31, 2007, to avoid further fine. 

Kharar, October 19
Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Nilabh Kishore visited the disputed 100 acres of land in Nayagaon where two parties and trying to take posession of the land.

Patiala IG M.K. Tiwari entrusted the inquiry of the dispute to Kishore. Nilabh gave a patient hearing to Kuldip Singh and Jasbir Singh Sandhu, the persons fighting for the land. He also checked the land records and ordered that the demarcation and measurement of the entire area would be carried out from Monday.

For this, the revenue departments of both SAS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib will be deployed.

Jasbir Singh Sandhu, a resident of Chandigarh, had allegedly tried to forcibly take the land of Nayagaon-resident Kuldip Singh last month.

Following this, the Nayagaon police arrested Sandhu and five of his accomplices.

Later, both the groups levelled allegations against each other. Kuldip Singh had also alleged that IG Sanjeev Gupta was involved in the issue with Sandhu as his stooge.

Kuldip then shot off representations to the Punjab Governor, Vigilance Bureau director and the Punjab DGP, seeking an immediate high-level probe into the matter and seeking the suspension of Gupta.

He had also demanded police protection for himself and his family fearing a threat from Gupta.

Bathinda, October 19
The Civil Hospital here may soon undergo a facelift. The hospital, where the common people rush for treatment, is now in a bad shape because of its cracked walls, stinky toilets, leaking roofs and poor quality of drinking water available there. The lawns are poorly maintained and garbage is littered all around.

But all this may soon be a thing of the past.

“The hospital had been sanctioned Rs 60 lakh for repair-work during the tenure of the previous government. But it failed to materialise after the elections were announced. Now, we have again applied in writing to the Municipal Corporation, and fresh sanctions will be made. The corporation has agreed to pay Rs 20 lakh, while Rs 10 lakh will be paid by the hospital authorities from the building funds”, a senior medical officer Charanjit Garg said.

The hospital also had a mess that served food to doctors and patients, but it now remains locked. As a result, patients now have to take their meal and tea from dhabas, rehris and tea stalls from outside the hospital.

As of now, the hospital has only two ambulances because two others remain grounded. The condition of the emergency ward is also of great concern to the staff and patients visiting this hospital.

Pointing to the cracks in the wall, a sweeper at the hospital said, “We are not sure as to when it may crumble.” “It is due to the indifference of the authorities that things have come to such a pass,” said a doctor.

Gurdaspur, October 19
Over 3,000 families of Dhar block will get potable water supply from the Ranjit Sagar Dam reservoir with the setting up of water-lifting schemes by the government. The Department of Water Supply and Sanitation will set up such schemes at Hardosharan Pattan and Fagota Pattan to meet the potable water demand of nine villages, besides 18 “tikkas” of the area.

With the setting of the scheme, the problem of water scarcity in this remote area of the district, including Hardosharan, Jhaloa, Kakret, Fagota, Saati, Mangla, Jhamrod and Ucha-Thara, will be solved.

Principal secretary to the department J.R. Kundal said the project, costing Rs 7.31 crore would be completed within 16 months. The issue was raised by scores of villagers of the area before Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in June.

With the assistance from the World Bank, the government has plans for setting up a number of water supply schemes to provide potable water to over 3,000 villages.

The principal secretary added that the panchayats, which would give land for waterworks projects, would be covered under the new water supply schemes on a priority basis. The public could avail itself of the facility in short period by sharing 10 per cent of the scheme expenditure while people belonging to the SC and BC could take benefit by paying 5 per cent of the total cost, said Kundal.anitation, Punjab, J.R. Kundal.

Barnala, October 19
The 29th Prof Mohan Singh Memorial Sawachark Mela kicked off here today with enthusiasm. The 11member delegation from Pakistan reached here to encourage brotherhood and share the rich heritage, and hoped for peace and cooperation between the two countries.

Rana Amir Ahmed Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Citizen Council and Additional Advocate-General of the Pakistan Supreme Court, came here to participate in the festival. He prevailed upon his Indian counterparts to follow the ideals of Guru Nanak, Shah Hussain and Baba Farid to serve the humanity. He said since Independence, both countries had spent billions of rupees on wars, but nothing had been achieved so far. The continuous tension between the two countries was a big hindrance for the development of both nations. So, we must begin for a fresh era full of love and communal harmony.

Earlier, the two-day mela started with the remembrance of noted Punjabi poet Prof Mohan Singh at the Kala Mehar Sports Stadium. PPCC vice-president and local MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon honoured the delegation.

Kapurthala, October 19
Illustrious is a small word for the family of musical geniuses Shafqat Ali Khan belongs to. Inheritor of the famous Sham Churasi gharana, named after the village of his forefathers in Hoshiarpur, Shafqat was here to perform at the 6th Kapurthala Heritage Festival.

He lifts his shoulders when asked how he feels coming here.“My forefathers are buried here, my roots are here, my mother belonged to Dinanagar and people ask me why I come here,” he says simply. The feeling is overwhelming as he says, “As I entered the area I felt as if some loving hands were touching me,” sums up why he had tears in his eyes as the sense of belonging overwhelmed him.

Yes, he is bonded to centuries of musical brilliance his grandfather Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan, his father Salamat Ali Khan and uncle Nazakat Ali Khan produced over the centuries.

The Sham Churasi gharana, known the world over for the most ancient and difficult form of classical singing dhrupad, was nurtured by the family which took up the khayal form of singing when the style began gaining popularity. “My father believed in changing with the times, flowing with the wave of the river of time, but without leaving ones roots,” he says. He recently sang for Punjabi film “Mannat” and with “Red Swastik”.

From dhrupad to khayal to thumri and now ghazal, he does not see the various forms adopted by his family as a dilution in any way of the glorious classical tradition, but change to become more versatile without leaving behind the roots. “My lineage has only added a greater sense of responsibility in me whenever I sing,” says Shafqat.

Game for experimenting with musical instruments of the West, Shafqat whose work with western artistes in creating east-west fusion music has been highly appreciated says, “I wanted to add ragas to the beats of western instruments and the result was appreciated,” says Shafqat. “Music is the language of the heart and touches everyone, be it people in the West or anywhere,” says Shafqat who taught music at Berkeley University in California.

Making classical music reach out to the youth is the work he has cut out for himself. “Through reality shows or otherwise, attempts must be made to bring out classical talent among the youth,” he believes.” The new breed needs such pushing he says being a member himself. 

Bathinda, October 19
Performance of garba and dandia, famous folk dances of Gujarat, in Bathinda sounds strange, but the tradition has been continuing in the town for the past several years and has now become a unique symbol of unity in diversity.

The ritual that started seven years back with the initiative of 15 Gujarati families here, has today become the most-awaited event of the year. This year, the festival, being celebrated at Moti Ram Kanya Vidyalaya, has witnessed a viewership of over 4, 000. 

Chandigarh, October 19
Pawandeep Kaur, the wife of former militant-turned-police cat Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking protection by the CRPF or any other agency.

Taking up the petition, Justice M.M.S. Bedi today issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab and other respondents. The petition will now come up for hearing on November 22.

In her petition, Pawandeep Kaur has also challenged the raid carried out at her residence in Jalandhar earlier on September 9 by the state Vigilance Department.

The return of articles allegedly taken away by the raiding team have also been sought by the petitioner.

The team had carried the raid at Sukhi alias Harjit Singh Kahlon Mota Singh Nagar house in connection with a case registered against Punjab’s former DGP S.S. Virk.

Though Sukhi was not found at his residence, the VB sleuths, it may be recalled, seized several documents during the search of his house in the presence of his parents and Pawandeep Kaur. Sukhi is already facing allegations of making attempts to obtain a fake passport.

The case was registered in this regard under Section 420 of the IPC on the complaint of the regional passport officer Amarjit Singh.

Sukhi was reportedly rehabilitated in the name of Harjit Singh Kahlon after showing him dead in the police records. 

Chandigarh October 19
The Punjab government has decided to allow reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by the state government employees and pensioners on treatment of three more complicated chronic diseases as outdoor patients.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of chief secretary, Punjab, recently.

A circular to the authorities concerned has included hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C and hyperthyroidism in the list of complicated chronic diseases.

With the decision, the number of diseases for reimbursement of expenses on outdoor treatment has been increased to 27.

Kharar, October 19
One labourer was killed and two seriously injured as earth caved in while sewerage work was in progress at Randhawa Road, here this evening. Ten labourers were working on the spot.

While Mahesh Lal (30) died while being taken to the Kharar Civil Hospital, Vinod and Raju, both in their twenties, are seriously injured. The rescue operation took around an hour. Floodlights were installed around the area to facilitate rescue operation and JCB machines were pressed into action.

According to officials at the Mohali fire department, they received a rescue call at 7.50 pm. But the same was cancelled a minute later. “The caller said our assistance was not needed as a JCB machine had been summoned,’ said an official of the department.

Kharar DSP Joginder Singh said action would be taken against the contractor who was in charge of the work.

Kharar, October 19
A resident of Rolu Majra, Chamkaur Sahib, was killed in a road accident, yesterday evening. Ranjit Singh, the deceased, and his nephew Baljinder Singh were travelling in a three-wheeler when the accident took place.

The duo was travelling from Mohali to Kharar when an unidentified bus rammed into their three-wheeler near the Desu Majra bus stand. While the auto-rickshaw driver and Baljinder sustained minor injuries, Ranjit sustained serious head injuries. He died while being taken to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Sangrur, October 19
The local District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Malerkotla Municipal Council to either get the site plan of the shop of complainant Paras Kumar Jain sanctioned in due course or refund Rs 3 lakh to him within 45 days, failing which the MC shall be liable to pay interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from July 13, 2006, till realisation.

In his order, president of the forum M.D. Sharma has also directed the MC to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation on account of mental tension and harassment and Rs 1,000 as litigation expenses to Paras.

As per the case, Paras had purchased a plot for constructing a shop near the truck union office here in an open auction for Rs 2,78,300. The sale deed was executed on October 4, 2001, in his favour. The original sale deed, along with site plan and physical possession of the plot, was handed over to him.

According to Paras, he had applied for the approval of the site plan for the shop, but it was not done despite several requests. 

Chandigarh, October 19
Less than a month after former policeman Gurjant Singh set himself and his family on fire after being “harassed by the police”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion to Punjab on a public interest litigation seeking the handing over of the probe into the matter to the CBI or any other independent agency.

In its petition taken up by Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Mohinder Pal, the World Human Rights Protection Council through its president Ranjan Lakhanpal had contended that Gurjant Singh was declared a proclaimed offender in a case registered at the behest of the “opposite party”.

Filing the petition on the basis of news reports, the petitioner had stated that the opposite party had been harassing the petitioner and his family one way or the other through the local police. Action against the erring officials was also sought in this regard.

Daburji (Rupnagar), October 19
Yielding to the call of their ailing soil, seven farmers of the nearby village of Lohgarh Phidde have gone organic. Started in a small piece of land initially, their first crop of organic maize is ready for marketing.

“It’s been a tardy process. After all shifting from chemical farming to organic farming is not an easy task,” says Ranjit Singh, who grew maize in one acre of his land organically. Ranjit and his friend Ujagar Singh have got almost equal yield compared to chemical farming, but Niranjan Dass has not been so fortunate. Not even a single grass has grown in his four beegha. “I was ready for it. It takes time for the effects of chemical fertilisers to wean off from soil. I may not have been as fortunate as others, but this won’t deter me from moving ahead,” he said.

Making a shift from the usual NPK fertilisers, these farmers sprinkled jeevamrit (consisting of cow urine, cow dung, jaggery and gram flour) in their fields instead of the usual chemicals. The soil has started rejuvenating like before, said the farmers, adding that now they have undertaken wheat production organically.

These farmers are working under the guidance of Kheti Virasat, headed by Surinder Singh and the Ambuja Cement Foundation. The foundation has decided to assist these farmers in marketing their organic produce, maize.

Project coordinator Vishal said the foundation had contacted all 500 families of Ambuja Cement in North India through its intranet system. All families had been apprised of the organic maize available and 700 kg of it had already been sold to these families.

“We conducted a crop economics survey in this area for the maize growers. Cost of input and output were calculated and we observed that farmers are not earning even Rs 35 per acre daily from their land. Their wages were not even one-third of the minimum wages recommended for labour by the Punjab government. This prompted us to move ahead with the idea of organic farming,” he added.

The foundation then collaborated with an NGO Kheti Virasat, which imparted technical expertise and knowhow to the farmers. After having succeeded in convincing these seven farmers, the NGO now plans to approach others as well and increase the number to at least 50 by this season.

Fatehgarh Sahib, October 19
An undertrial created quite a sensation at the district court complex when he jumped from the second floor in a bid to flee from police custody. He, however, was unable to get up after falling down and was nabbed.

Nirmal Singh, the accused, who is facing charges of assault and attempt to murder, was brought here from the Patiala central jail to be produced before the CJM. As the CJM was on leave, Nirmal was taken to the court of duty magistrate S. K. Sachdeva, which is on the second floor. As soon as the accused’s handcuffs were removed, he pushed aside the policeman accompanying him and jumped from the second floor.

A case has been registered against the accused for trying to flee from police custody. He was later taken for medical examination.

Banur, October 19
Swami Vivekanand Institute of Information and Technology (SVIET) opened a stitching centre and a rural computer cell for villagers of Ramnagar, here today.

While the stitching centre was opened in Ramnagar, the information cell has been set up in the SVIET campus itself. Patiala deputy commissioner D.S. Grewal inaugurated these projects.

The centres will offer training free of cost to the poor villagers of the district. The cost of running these projects is being borne by the SVIET. The stitching centre will provide 20 stitching machines. After the course, the women will be able to earn for themselves.

Two batches of 20 women each will be trained during a three-month course.

The computer centre has 20 computers and will function as a training and information centre. While the training centre will impart basic computer and internet knowledge, the information cell will provide information on the weather, crop varieties, current market rates, agriculture news, new government schemes and policies, and details on biotechnology crops.

Rajpura SDM Gurtej Singh, SVIET chairman Ashwani Garg and SVIET CEO Manmohan Garg were among those present on the occasion.