Fifth Guru to be remembered

The district is all set to observe the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev, fifth Sikh Master, which falls on June 17. The day will be marked by all sections of society as a number of organisations have set up ‘chhabils’ to serve sweetened water and other eatables across the district. Devotees in large number, as usual, are expected to come to the local Darbar Sahib to pay obeisance, take a holy dip in the sarovar besides listening to Gurbani kirtan. 

Born on 15 April, 1563 in Goindwal Sahib, Guru Arjan Dev was martyred on May 30, 1606 for his refusal to alter Gurbani at the wish of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Tarn Taran was established by him.

Tussle goes on

The farmers of Dall village, who have been up in arms against the BSF for not allowing them to go to their fields across the fence, say that they will not relent. A group of farmers staged a protest at the BSF’s Baba Peer post recently, following which seven of them were booked for creating hindrance in the functioning of the force. The farmers say their struggle will go on. According to them, the BSF doesn’t allow them to go to their fields across the fence. Besides, there are a number of gates installed and most of them are kept closed permanently by the BSF, forcing farmers to cover a long distance to go to their fields, say leaders of farmers’ unions.

Meanwhile, the BSF says that farmers can’t be allowed as the state government has prohibited transplantation of paddy until June 20.

Though the fencing has been done to keep a check on anti-national activities, such as smuggling of drugs from across the border, such activities go on unabated as smugglers from the other side of the border use plastic pipes to drop drugs on the Indian side. Besides, a considerable stretch hasn’t been fenced. A total of 3,332 km border line is not fenced.

Bank branch sans staff

The Kisan Sanghrash Committee (KSC), Punjab, has taken a serious note of the shortage of staff at the State Bank of India’s Sarhali Khurd branch. The KSC says that it causes a great inconvenience to customers. Sawinder Singh Chutala, leader of the KSC, wrote a a letter to the bank higher authorities, mentioning that besides the branch manager, there is only one employee to deal with people. Chautala said that due to the staff shortage, customers had to wait for hours for their turn at the branch.