SC dharamshala for Jakhar's village
ABOHAR: Dharamshalas for the Scheduled Castes are generally in a poor condition for lack of supervision and substandard construction, but Panjkosi panchayat has set an example by getting a dharamshala built at a reasonable cost without compromising on quality.

Thousands throng Dugri for Hola Mohalla
LUDHIANA, March 3 — Thousands of people belonging to all age groups and different religions thronged Dugri Urban Estate here to celebrate Hola Mohalla in the age-old traditional style by organising mock battles, gatka, a horse riding show as well as a number of games. The sprawling open ground between HIG and MIG flats of Phase-2 as well as the green belts adjoining Gurdwara Sukhmani Sahib were full to their capacity.

Advani to visit Amritsar
AMRITSAR, March 3 — Union Home Minister L.K. Advani would pay a day-long visit here on March 6 to lay the foundation stone of a visitors' gallery and the golden jubilee gate at the Wagah check post.

Relaxation in paddy milling ‘shortly’
BATHINDA, March 3 — The Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, today said relaxation for the rice shellers for the milling of paddy procured in the last season would be announced shortly.

Hospital's SOS to remove stray animals
PATIALA, March 3 — Faced with an emergent situation of increasing population of stray animals on its premises, the Rajindra Hospital authorities has sent an SOS to the Municipal Corporation for immediate removal of these animals.

3 killed, 6 hurt in mishaps
PHAGWARA, March 3 — Three persons were killed and six others injured in three separate accidents on the GT road during past 24 hours.

Demand to restore Dorangla block
GURDASPUR, March 3 — All efforts of residents of Dorangla and its surrounding villages to restore Dorangla as a development block have been an exercise in futility so far. Dorangla remained a development block from 1962 to 1993 when the then MLA, Dinanagar, got it merged with Dinanagar block.

• SGPC resolution on admissions
• Stitching centre inaugurated
• Consumer pumps' NOC cancelled

• Teams formed to check traffic rules' violation
• Case against 25 for ransacking
  
  

Woman's death: HC orders probe by SP
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, March 3 — The story of Pinky, alias Sneh, a housewife, who died under mysterious circumstances near Kotfatha town in this district on November 6, 1998, took a new turn when the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Bathinda police to register a case of murder and entrusted the investigation to an IPS officer under the direct supervision of Additional Director-General of Police (Crime).

Mr Subash Goyal, husband of Pinky, had claimed that she died in an accident while they were going to his in-laws house at Chandigarh and cremated her body before her parents could reach Bathinda.

Mr S.L. Gupta, father of Pinky, had alleged that his daughter had been murdered.

The Bathinda police after delaying the registration of an FIR, booked Mr Subash Goyal, his parents and friend when the Punjab and Haryana High Court made specific order in this regard.

Mr Justice K.K. Srivastva also directed that an IPS officer would investigate the matter under the direct supervision of the Additional Director-General of Police (Crime).

In his complaint to the police, Mr S.L. Gupta alleged that for the past over one year Pinky was being harassed by her husband and other family members on one pretext or the other.

He said on November 6, 1998, he received an anonymous call informing him regarding his daughter's death in an accident. He added that suspecting a foul play, he rushed to Bathinda in a car but his daughter had been cremated before he could reach there.

Yatra to commemorate Netaji's memory
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, March 3 — The West Bengal Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker and senior leader of the All-India Forward Bloc, Mr Anil Mukerjee, has said that law and order situation in Bihar was definitely but the imposition of President's rule there was not justified. "If any state where President's rule is required was Uttar Pradesh where law and order situation is worst and then comes Maharashtra and Delhi. Bihar is far below in crimes," he added, while talking to newsmen here in the Circuit House here last evening.

Mr Mukherjee who visited Amritsar to preside over the meeting of the All-India Forward Bloc State Organising Committee held in Circuit House said that the organising committee discussed the programme of the forthcoming "Netaji chetna yatra" being taken out from Jammu to Delhi passing through Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and prominent Punjab and Haryana towns and villages.

The yatra will be one of the five such yatras being taken out from Moirans in Manipur, Kanyakumari, Mumbai, Calcutta and birth place of Netaji, Chatak, aimed at educating the countrymen about the ideas of Netaji and their relevance in the present day India and to apprise the countrymen about the circumstances surrounding Netaji's disappearance since they did not believe that Netaji died in the air crash.

Mr Mukherjee said that All-India Jai Hind Parivar which will be coordinator of this yatra demanded a third inquiry commission appointment to probe into the circumstances leading to the disappearance of Netaji. The Jai Hindi Parivar had further sought from the Government of India to make make public all documents relating to Netaji and write to the government of other countries like Russia, England, America, Germany, Japan and Taiwan to get all documents relating to Netaji which are in their archives.

He said that all rallyists would reach Delhi on March 22 and would hold a massive rally at Netaji Subash Park on March 23 which is the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

The rally from Jammu to Delhi would also halt in Khatkal Kalan to pay tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh on March 20.

Quacks playing with human lives
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, March 3 — Melo, an illiterate woman, battling for life at Rajindra Hospital here, is the latest victim of quackery in the district.

Mother of two, Melo was in the family way for the third time. However, due to some complication in the third month she was rushed to a 'doctor' in her village last week. The doctor advised her to go in for abortion.

The doctor, it is alleged, was a quack. While performing the operation she took out the intestines of patient and ruptured her uterus. When the bleeding did not stop Melo was rushed to Rajindra Hospital here.

Narrating her tale of woe to this correspondent in the surgery ward of Rajindra Hospital on Monday relatives of Melo said her life had been saved but she continued to be in a serious condition. All this while Melo was crying in acute pain.

Doctors at the hospital had to remove her uterus, repair her intestines and had to open a colostomy.

Dr O.P.S. Kande, chairman, legal cell and anti-quackery cell, Indian Medical Association (IMA) Punjab, who highlighted the pitiable case of Melo in a press statement said it was unfortunate that even though laws had been enacted against practice by quacks still ignorant patients like Melo were falling prey to these unqualified medical practitioners. Listing anti-quackery laws, Dr Kande said that the government had recently issued instructions to the Station House Officers to check practice by quacks in their areas but the orders had not been implemented yet.

The statement said that the IMA had written to the Deputy Commissioner, the Civil Surgeon and the SSP here to take up the case of Melo and register a case against the alleged doctor.

He said the IMA had formed this new anti-quackery cell to highlight the non-implementation of the legislations against quackery.

SC dharamshala for Jakhar's village
From Raj Sadosh

ABOHAR: Dharamshalas for the Scheduled Castes in a majority of the villages are in a poor condition for lack of supervision and substandard construction, but Panjkosi panchayat, under which the village of Dr Bal Ram Jakhar, former Lok Sabha Speaker falls, has set an example by getting a dharamshala built at a reasonable cost without compromising on the work quality.

Dr Jakhar had been sarpanch of the village till 1972. His son, Mr Surender Kumar Jakhar, worked as sarpanch till last year and avoided recontest as he was elected chairman of Asia's prime cooperative organisation, IFFCO. During this period the construction work of the SC dharamshala was completed. The members of the panchayat were keen to get the building inaugurated by Dr Jakhar.

For this they had to wait for 15 months as Dr Jakhar had a busy schedule in the country and abroad. The village went to extent him moral support when he contested Lok Sabha election from Bikaner, they also reminded him of the invitation for the inauguration ceremony. He obliged them last week.

The village has been given a facelift. All streets and drains were cleaned and flags put en route to the dharamshala, lime lining was done on the road to be used by the VIP. On that momentous day, hundreds of men assembled in the neat and spacious compound, women were traditional bagri costumes and children were made to sit outside their homes waving the tricolour.

Dr Jakhar on arrival was profusely garlanded, folk singers and school boys presented songs was delighted. He became emotional while responding to the reception from his fellow villagers who had worked with him for decades.

The dharamshala has two big rooms, a store, two separate toilets, 15 beds and lawns. The young sarpanch, Mr Rai Singh Poonia, has promised more facilities. Mr Surinder Kumar Jakhar said IFFCO would donate a water cooler for the dharamshala.

Dr Jakhar said no resident of this village had ever gone to the police station to solve a problem when he worked as sarpanch. He recalled his school days when students had to take gunny bags from their homes as the school did not provide chairs. They used to study under a peepal tree. There was no link road, electricity, nor any drinking water arrangement then.

When he was elected to the Vidhan Sabha, he first thought of providing such a facilities for every village of the subdivision but was now pained to see that the present government had not cared to maintain even the basic amenities. People had started going to police station for petty disputes. The Scheduled Castes were harassed in some villages but Panjkosi panchayat provided pucca streets, drains, street lights, drinking water connections from the waterworks. For providing these facilities, the panchayat had been adjudged best in the state two decades back.

He was critical of the state government for not weeding out corruption, particularly in rural development and recruitment. He cautioned people of their moral responsibilities towards children, who needed better education and health care. He stressed discrimination in development must end, and equal opportunity provided to all.

Punjab rice millers call off strike
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 3 — A delegation of the Punjab Rice Millers' Association met the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, here today.

The association president, Mr Tarsem Saini, in a statement said millers were assured that whatever was required to be done by the state government would be done right away.

As the matter concerning refixing of "rice specifications" was to be done in New Delhi, Mr Badal has sought time from the Prime Minister. The two will meet in Delhi on March 5.

The delegation was accompanied by the Minister for Education, Mr Tota Singh. The Minister for Food and Supplies, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, was also present. Earlier, millers had met Union Food Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, who informed them that the note on the subject was awaiting the Cabinet's approval.

Meanwhile, the Director Food and Supplies, Mr A.S. Chhatwal, was asked to expedite the arbitration cases pending since 1994-95. These will be decided upon at the respective district headquarters on dates mutually acceptable to the millers and the government officials concerned.

The schedule for arbitration cases agreed upon are as follows: Moga, March 9 and 10; Sangrur, March 11; Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib (at Patiala) on March 12; Ferozepore, March 15; Muktsar and Faridkot (at Faridkot) on March 16.

As a goodwill gesture, the rice millers have decided to call off their on-going strike and "jail bharo andolan" for the time being. The millers will not, however, operate as milling is not viable at present.

Meanwhile, Mr Mittal informed them that government would waive the release order for free sale of rice.

Thousands throng Dugri for Hola Mohalla
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, March 3 — Thousands of people belonging to all age groups and different religions thronged Dugri Urban Estate here to celebrate Hola Mohalla in the age-old traditional style by organising mock battles, gatka, a horse riding show as well as a number of games. The sprawling open ground between HIG and MIG flats of Phase-2 as well as the green belts adjoining Gurdwara Sukhmani Sahib were full to their capacity.

According to Mr Gobinder Singh, president, and Mr Jasbir Singh, general secretary, Khalsa Sajna Purab Committee, Dugri, three resolutions were passed on this occasion. These included launching a signature campaign to press the Punjab Government to ban smoking at public places and regulate the sale of tobacco in the city, particularly the Dugri area.

The committee expressed its concern over the increasing number of khokhas for selling tobacco, pan masala, gutka. The committee also exhorted the residents to build a happy and healthy society free of evils like intoxicants, casteism etc.

In another resolution, the committee has decided to exhort the residents of Dugri Urban Estate to donate blood in the hour of need to fellow residents of Dugri.

Next month, from Baisakhi a list of residents with their blood groups will be prepared and they will serve as ready donors instead of donating blood in the blood banks. A movement for donation of eyes will also be launched.

The committee has also set up a tercentenary scholarship fund to provide monetary aid to students of needy families by sponsoring their tuition fees, books etc. For this purpose, a committee of eminent Gursikhs, academics and industrialists is being set up.

During the eight-hour-long Hola Mohalla celebrations, the gatka show by Dashmesh Akhara, Jamalpur, attracted maximum crowds. More than 40 youths were dressed in traditional colourful styles. Among the games, the complex of musical chair was decorated tastefully with Nishan Sahib furling all around. Women and elders enjoyed the game.

Advani to visit Amritsar
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, March 3 — Union Home Minister L.K. Advani would pay a day-long visit here on March 6 to lay the foundation stone of a visitors' gallery and the golden jubilee gate at the Wagah check post.

According to the DIG BSF, Mr R.S. Gill, the Home Minister had accepted their proposal to build a visitors' gallery for the convenience of large number of people visiting the check post on the Indo-Pak border to witness beating the retreat ceremony held every evening.

Mr Gill added that the minister would arrive by a special BSF plane at Rajasansi airport at 2.30 p.m. and drive straight to Durgiana Temple for participating in the kar sewa. He would be accompanied by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

Later, the Home Minister would address a sainik sammelan at the BSF headquarters at Khasa and address a public rally at Attari before proceeding to Wagha for laying the foundation stone and to witness beating the retreat ceremony.

Relaxation in paddy milling ‘shortly’
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, March 3 — The Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, today said relaxation for the rice shellers for the milling of paddy procured in the last season would be announced shortly.

Talking to newspersons, he said relaxation in discolouring, damaged and broken elements in the paddy as proposed by the Punjab Government to the Centre Government had almost been approved by the Union Food Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, and the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee.

He said the case was now with the Cabinet sub-committee and it would be processed within a day or so. He added that all problems of paddy milling had now been solved.

He claimed there was no shortage of space for wheat in the grain markets. He said meeting with officials of procurement agencies were being held for arranging adequate space for the expected bumper wheat crop.

When asked whether the state government was planning to export wheat to Pakistan, he said it was the prerogative of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to take a decision in this regard.

He claimed wheat flour was being sold at a fixed affordable price to everyone in the state through the fair price shops as well as private shops. He added the state government had made foolproof arrangements to check any inflation in the prices of wheat flour.

Hospital's SOS to remove stray animals
From Jupinderjit Singh

PATIALA, March 3 — Faced with an emergent situation of increasing population of stray animals on its premises, the Rajindra Hospital authorities has sent an SOS to the Municipal Corporation for immediate removal of these animals.

Sources at the hospital said stray dogs and buffaloes had become a headache for the Rajindra Hospital. Not only were they roaming freely in corridors, but some even ventured into the wards subjecting the patients and visitors to harassment. Many of these animals had made the hospital premises their permanent place of dwelling as they have been encouraged by food offered by relatives of the patients and the left-over thrown by them.

The Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Ravinder Singh, when contacted confirmed the urgency of the situation. He said hospital staff had tried their best to drive away the animals but success had eluded them. Dr Ravinder said that with the hospital having open verandas, the animals, especially, the dogs found a convenient way into the hospital.

They make the surroundings unclean and defecate anywhere. Besides, there is always danger of spreading the disease. He said a religious feeling of feeding a buffalo drove relatives of patients to offer left-overs to the animals who, encouraged by the availability of food, visited the hospital daily.

The hospital staff and patients' ordeal will, however, have to continue as the corporation has expressed its inability to fight the menace. An official of the corporation said there was shortage of staff and equipment to drive away the animals.

3 killed, 6 hurt in mishaps
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, March 3 — Three persons were killed and six others injured in three separate accidents on the GT road during past 24 hours.

Two scooterists Ranbir Kumar and Jasbir Singh were hit and killed by two buses in two accidents near Mauli and Chachoki villages on the outskirts of Phagwara.

Meanwhile, Paramjit of the local Bhagatpura locality died and six others were injured when their truck and a tanker collided near Beas.

Demand to restore Dorangla block
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, March 3 — All efforts of residents of Dorangla and its surrounding villages to restore Dorangla as a development block have been an exercise in futility so far. Dorangla remained a development block from 1962 to 1993 when the then MLA, Dinanagar, got it merged with Dinanagar block.

According to Mr Maidan Singh Maidan president of the Border Development Area Committee, said residents of the area met Mr Sucha Singh Langah, State Minister for Industries, when he visited Dorangla on January 13 and demanded restoration of the Dorangla development block. He said Mr Lengah keeping in view the genuineness of the demand directed the district officials to prepare their case and send it to the government.

Mr Maidan said as many as 52 villages formed part of the erstwhile Dorangla block. A detailed list preparing the case in favour of the block was made by the district officials for approval of the government. The seriousness of the authorities in this regard can be gauged from the fact that the file has not moved beyond the office of the district development and panchayat officers so far.

Mr Maidan said Dorangla had the infrastructure needed to restore it as a development block. Dorangla had a high school, a post office, a primary health centre and in addition the old development block building also. More than 50 sarpanches of the area have represented their case to the government several times but in vain.

SGPC resolution on admissions
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, March 3 — The Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and the Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Dental Sciences and Research have decided to make admissions on the all-India basis.

In a press note issued here today, Mr S.S. Cheema, Director-Principal of the institutes, said the decision was taken following a unanimous resolution passed by the medical trust of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Teams formed to check traffic rules' violation
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, March 3 — Four teams comprising a medical officer, an executive magistrate and a gazetted police officer have been constituted by the district administration.

Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Punjab Minister for Food and Supplies, Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Harnek Singh Sran, SSP, while addressing a press conference here today said these teams would check the traffic rules' violation by drivers of heavy vehicles under the influence of liquor.

They said medical examination of a driver would be done on the spot and if found guilty his or her licence would be suspended and a case registered against him.

They said all these teams would remain mobile in the district and would do random checking of vehicles. They said these steps were being taken as a number of valuable lives were being lost in accidents.

Mr Ladhar said for checking the menace of stray animals a plan to open gaushalas in the rural areas had been sent to the central government. All village panchayats would be provided with requisite funds for this task.

He said he was also planning to take dairies out of Bathinda city so that traffic congestions in the city could be eased and drainage system made efficient.

He disclosed the district administration was also making efforts to make parking spaces at the busy spots of the city.

Stitching centre inaugurated
Tribune News Service

ROPAR, March 3 — A stitching and embroidery training centre was inaugurated at Maujpur village by the Good Shepherd Social Service Centre of Kotla Nihang village near hear. The sarpanch of the village inaugurated the centre.

As many as 20 girls from the nearby villages have taken admission at the centre.

The centre will grant certificates to the candidates after they successfully complete the course. Besides the stitching and embroidery training centre, the Good Shepherd Social Service is also running a balwadi in the village.

The Good Shepherd centre was started in 1991 at Kotla Nihang village and is running 50 balwadi centres, 30 mahila mandals, 15 small saving and credit societies and youth clubs in Ropar district. Acknowledging the dedicated and selfless service of the centre in rural areas to uplift the weaker sections of society, the Government of Punjab entrusted the Sohana Circle of Kharar ICDS block to it. The Sohana Circle consists of 16 ICDS centres.

Case against 25 for ransacking
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, March 3 — The local police today registered a case against 25 persons in connection with the ransacking of the town hall in the municipal corporation office on Monday morning. The case has been registered under Sections 452, 427, 148 and 149 of the IPC. Most of those named are women, police sources disclosed here.

The case was registered following a complaint lodged by corporation executive officer J.S. Punia. Those named in the FIR include Surjit Kaur, Asha Rani, Kanta Rani, Maya Devi, Salma, Leelawati, Roma, Darshna, Harpal Kaur, Sudon, Kusam, Laxmi, Pushpa Rani, Neelam, Nandrani, Neelam, Neetu Rani, Nirmala, Sudhan and Dayal Singh.

It may be recalled that on Monday morning a mob of irate women protesting against erratic water supply had stoned the corporation office and smashed the window panes of the town hall.

Consumer pumps' NOC cancelled
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, March 3 — Mr S.R. Ladhar, District Magistrate, Bathinda has cancelled the no-objection certificate (NOC) granted to Panchvati Motors private consumer pump and Oriental Automobiles consumer pump for indulging in unauthorised sale of petrol and diesel to general consumers.

According to a press note issued here on Monday Mr Ladhar said that consumer pumps to these business establishments were sanctioned by the Indian Oil Corporation as an integral part of their respective workshops for supply of petrol and diesel for consumption of small quantity of fuel for the vehicles ready for testing or delivery.

An enquiry conducted by District Food and Supply Controller had revealed that these pumps had indulged in unauthorised sale of fuel to general consumers.

For violating the instruction, the NOC of these establishments had been cancelled. The case had been sent to the IOC authorities for necessary action.