Hoshiarpur, October 22
The ongoing dispute of the Dera Fattu Shah Bibi Sahiban Temple of Sri Rameshvaram Mahadev of local Mohalla Rahimpur between Mahant Suraj Prakash and residents of Mohalla Rahimpur has become a headache for the district administration of Hoshiarpur.

Keeping in view the adamant attitude of both the parties, the SDM of Hoshiarpur has imposed section 145 of the CrPC in the dera complex and appointed tehsildar Vijay Sharma as its receiver on October 12.

BSP activists, who had been continuing the relay fast since September 21 adjoining the mini-secretariat here, has given an ultimatum to the district administration either to install the idols of Guru Ravi Dass and Maharshi Balmiki in the Dera complex before October 24, failing which activists of the BSP from all over Punjab would place the idols on that day.

It has become a serious problem for the district administration. In case BSP activists try to place the idols that day, there is every likelihood of a clash among the police and both the groups. SSP Anita Punj told media persons here this evening that efforts were being made to defuse the situation. She said the administration had appealed the BSP leaders, including their state president Avtar Singh Karimpuri, to drop their plan to place the idols, but all efforts were in vain. She had already discussed the matter with senior police officers.

Keeping in view the proposed installation, tight security arrangements would be made to meet the situation. She appealed to the public, including leaders of political parties and religious heads to extend their support to the district administration in maintaining law and order, peace and harmony in and around Hoshiarpur city.

Phagwara, October 22
Despite best efforts by senior leaders of the SAD and the BJP, all is not well between the two parties as has been proved by the controversial statements issued by some of the leaders, including SAD president Parkash Singh Badal and Punjab BJP chief Rajinder Bhandhari.

Punjab BJP affairs in charge Balbir Punj said the series of confrontations were started by Akali leaders like Sukhbir Badal and Manpreet Singh Badal by raising some issues in the media which were later talked about by some BJP leaders as well.

Punj stressed the need for more coordination between the alliance partners and said none of the leaders of the parties should go to the media to express their views. When asked about the statement of the Chief Minister on the relations between the two partners, which was published in the Press today, Punj refused to comment saying Badal was a very senior leader and he had full regards for him.

When asked whether the BJP was demanding the post of deputy CM, Punj said he never raised the issue as better coordination between the two parties and welfare of the state was the main agenda of the alliance. Answering a question about the hike in power tariffs in the urban areas, Punj said he met the CM on Saturday and discussed several issues amiably. 

Kapurthala, October 22
A woman, Sukhwinder Kaur, resident of Miani Bahadur village, falling under Sultanpur Lodhi police station, committed suicide by consuming poison after giving the same to her two children today.

While her three-year-old daughter Mehak Preet died, her three-month-old son has been admitted to a private hospital in Jalandhar where his condition is reported to be critical, said Sultanpur Lodhi police station SHO Lakhwinder Singh.

The SHO said the woman committed suicide as her husband Suba Singh was a drug addict and her in-laws, including Suba’s father Kashmir Singh, mother Biro and brother Manga, did not persuade him to leave the habit.

An FIR under sections 306 and 34 of the IPC was registered against Sukhwinder’s in-laws on the complaint of her father Variyam Singh, said the SHO, adding that no accused could be arrested so far.

Nawanshahr, October 22
The municipal council’s dilly-dallying approach to provide alternate land to shop owners whose units were demolished in April last year by the district administration has taken a political turn.

The Bahujan Samaj Party has served a 15-day ultimatum on the authorities to provide land to the evacuees, otherwise the party would launch an agitation.

The district administration has taken the step with a view to ensuring smooth flow of traffic as well as to beautify Ambedkar Chowk situated near the bus 
stand here.

BSP leaders, including Hargopal Singh (state general secretary and former MLA), Vinod Kumar Ganger and Nachhattar Pal (district BSP president), while addressing a press conference here on Saturday, issued the ultimatum and said the party 
would not hesitate to help the owners to “take possession” of the land evacuated by them in public interest.

Divulging details, the BSP leaders said the shops owned by Ram Parkash and Navjot Kumar were demolished overnight by the then deputy commissioner on the promise that they would be allotted alternate land by the municipal council. 

Jalandhar, October 22
Indian wrestlers will be taking on their foreign counterparts in an international wrestling championship to be held here on October 26. Addressing mediapersons, former world wrestling champion Tiger Jeet Singh said the aim of the event, “India versus the rest of the World,” was to revitalise the passion of the Punjabi people and bring them closer to the game. The idea was to bring dignity and glamour to the great sport just like it used to have in the olden days, he added.

Such events were also the need of the hour given the increasing drug abuse among the youth today. Such championships would make Punjab a healthy and drug-free state where the youth would devote more time to physical fitness, he pointed out.

Globally acclaimed stars like Tiger Ali Singh, Sonjoy Dutt and Playa from the Himalayas would take on wrestlers from the world like The Giant, Killer Pane, Yokozuna, Wolfgang, Steve Corino and Muscleman Nikita. The women wrestlers included Xena, Pussy Cat, Kacey, Jenny and Misty Heaven.

A high point would be the open challenge posed by Wolfgang who would pay Rs 10 lakh to any wrestler who would throw him over 4 feet, he added.

Phagwara, October 22
Residents of Phagwara will elect 29 councillors instead of the present 27 in the coming municipal elections. This was decided at an important meeting of the delimitation committee of wards held under the chairmanship of the Phagwara SDM-cum-chairman of the committee here on Monday. Deputy director of local bodies Vinay Bublani, nagar council president Malkiat Singh Ragbotra and executive officer Paramjit Singh, besides representatives of all political parties, including the Congress, the BJP, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party, were present.

SDM Amarjit Paul said an EO had been deputed to assess the situation. — OC