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‘Ghost scare’ delays construction at bir talab
Auction of 22 unipoles postponed yet again
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speaking out
greening punjab
Educational institutions take up the cause of environment
Lift offer costs woman earrings
Woman held for posing as doc
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‘Ghost scare’ delays construction at bir talab
Bathinda, July 26 On June 8, a breach in the Sirhind Canal had led the villagers to knock down the newly-constructed boundary wall of the deer safari fearing that the water may enter their fields. Since then, the forest department has been trying to arrange for funds to initiate the construction of the wall. However, the work may not find many takers. “Earlier too, the project was completed after a lot of problems. Labourers working here, who spent a couple of nights at the safari, complained of ghosts,” said sources in the forest department. For two months, work on the project remained stalled as no labourer was ready to work in the “ghost-infested” area. They complained of hearing strange noises and a sense of panic prevailed in the after-dark hours. “That was the most difficult time for us. We informed the public works department officials of the hitch and requested that the deadline for the project be extended by two months,” said contractor Tarsem Kumar, who wrote an official letter mentioning ghosts as the main cause of delay in the work. The contractor then had to arrange for temporary hutments for the labourers around three kms away from the safari. The land was taken on rent from a farmer and labourers were ferried daily in tractors. None of the labourers worked after it turned dark. “The work was completed by May 30 and we heaved a sigh of relief,” added Tarsem. With the wall collapsing again, the department is now arranging for funds and soon tenders would be invited for constructing the wall. “We don’t expect contractors to take over the work willingly. It is a cumbersome task to employ labourers who believe in superstitions,” pointed out another forest official. Meanwhile, the divisional forest officer, K Kannan, said he was aware of the hearsay. “There are no ghosts but a few anti-social elements that do not want development work to be initiated in the area. Since the area has wild trees and shrubs, it makes for an ideal hideout for these anti-social elements,” he said. Fact file
Bir Talab is infamous for distilling of illicit liquor. Many a time, police teams have unearthed illegal distilleries. SHO Gurjit Singh Romana, who has worked extensively on stemming the rot in the area, said it must be the quirky anti-social elements that are creating the “ghost scare” so that their illegal activities remain under cover. |
Auction of 22 unipoles postponed yet again
Bathinda, July 26 Embroiled in controversy, this is the second time the auction had to be put off owing to protest by the bidders. Earlier, the bidders under the banner of Bathinda Outdoors Advertisers Association had boycotted the proceedings on July 12 demanding that the illegally-installed hoardings be removed first. Today, four bidders participated in the auction. While three bidders had deposited the `10 lakh earnest money, the fourth bidder had deposited only half of the amount. The fourth bidder, however, made an excuse saying he be allowed to participate as his friend was on way with the rest of the earnest money. “We argued that either bidding be delayed till the money of the fourth bidder arrives or he shouldn’t be allowed to participate in the bidding at all,” said Rajiv Bansal, one of the bidders. The other bidders were bidding at `15,700 per unipole per month when the fourth bidder raised the amount to `18,000. The other three bidders opposed this and staged a boycott of the proceedings. Other bidders objected to the process saying the earnest money cannot be taken while the auction was in process. The bidders even accused assistant commissioner Kamal Kant of favouritism. An infuriated Kamal Kant left the meeting in between. Senior Deputy Mayor, Tarsem Goyal, who is also a member of the advertising committee, tried to intervene and pacify the bidders, but to no avail. When contacted later, Tarsem Goyal said the auction had been postponed owing to issues with the bidders. “Last time, bidders had demanded that the earnest amount be reduced from `10 lakh to `5 lakh. We discussed this but did not issue any notification about decreasing the amount. The fourth bidder, presuming that the earnest money had been halved, brought `5 lakh only. He later deposited another `5 lakh, which the other bidders objected to,” he added. Besides the assistant commissioner and the senior deputy mayor, municipal councillor Raju Sood and MCB officials were also present at the meeting. Unipoles are to be installed at:
Fact file
Last year, the corporation auctioned each unipole for `28,000 per month to Adcraft Advertising Company. However, the company could not pay the entire amount and hence, was declared defaulter around 2 months ago. |
On professional tax imposed by Punjab govt
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, july 26
- PP Maheshwary, former president, District Tax Bar Association
- Satish Arora, president, Bathinda Hotels, Resorts and Restaurant Association
- Kartar Singh Jaura, chairman, Punjab Pradesh Vyapar Mandal (Kapoor)
- Pankaj Arora, tax consultant |
Sportsman turns snatcher, held
Bathinda, July 26 Gagandeep (35), who belongs to a middle class family residing in Model Town Phase-1, has a Certificate in Physical Education from the Kurukshetra University. Unable to get any employment after completing the certificate course, he apparently decided to put his physical fitness to use and opted for snatchings. He also allegedly got hooked to various habit-forming substances. Kotwali SHO, Jaspal Singh, said the accused started snatching bags from people putside the State Bank of Patiala (SBoP). Elaborating on Gagandeep’s modus operandi, Singh said he used to keep a watch on women withdrawing money from the bank and used to chase them on his bike and snatch their bags away. Narrating the incident which led to his arrest, Singh said on July 20, Paramjit Kaur had withdrawn `3.5 lakh from the Civil Lines branch of the SBoP. She was accompanied by her nephew who stepped out of the car to buy stationary from a book store. Losing no time, Gagandeep inched closer to the car, opened the driver’s door and sped away after snatching Paramjit’s bag. A case was registered in this regard at the Kotwali police station. The nephew, Kulwinder Singh, saw the snatcher roaming in the area today and brought the matter to the notice of ASI Narinder Kumar, investigating officer in the case. The policeman arrested the suspect and brought him to the police station where he was interrogated on charges of snatching the bag containing `3.5 lakh. During interrogation, he admitted that he had snatched Paramjit’s bag. He also shared details of three other snatchings that he had done outside the bank. He admitted that earlier, he had snatched `8,000, `20,000 and `25,000 from three women after they withdrew money from the bank. A case under various sections of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Kotwali police station. |
Blue beacon makes police see red
Bathinda, July 26 With no specific guidelines available either with the office of the District Transport Officer or the traffic police, those who use the blue beacon to flaunt their proximity to the powers that be, are having a free run. Traffic police officials said they failed to find even a single offender using a blue beacon during the last six months. While residents complain that many people are using blue beacons without any authority, even youngsters could be seen driving such vehicles in the city at various places. City traffic in-charge Ranjit Singh said the list of gazetted officers authorised to use the blue beacon is very long and so far, the traffic police has failed to find even a single offender in the last six months. When asked about those who are authorised to use the blue beacon, he said the list includes the SHOs, SDMs, first class judicial magistrate, tehsildar and executive magistrates, among others. He said those who have been authorised may also use the blue beacon on their private vehicles. "Blue beacon on a vehicle has now become a status symbol and many people, no matter whether they are authorised or not, are using the blue beacon. Though the police is cracking the whip on traffic rule violators, many vehicles fitted with the blue beacon are moving on city roads without any check," said Tarsem, a local resident. The blue beacons are also fitted on vehicles used in emergencies and ambulances. City traffic officials said they would soon launch a drive against the illegal use of blue beacons and would issue challans to the violators. |
4 lakh saplings to be planted
Bathinda, July 26 Officiating deputy commissioner Ravi Bhagat said this while planting a sapling of Gulchain tree near the district administrative complex. He said industrial houses, businessmen and educational institutes have joined hands to make this campaign a success. Divisional forest officer K Kannan said the forest department is preparing reports regarding the same wherein it would be ensured that the 4 lakh saplings are tended to and well cared for. Prominent among those present on the occasion included ADC (Development) Mohammad Taiyyab, SDM Ramvir, DDPO Rajinder Batra, Tehsildar Kuldip Singh and others. — TNS |
Educational institutions take up the cause of environment
Bathinda, July 26 Under the Haryali project initiated by the Punjab government, 350 saplings were planted by Sadabahar Eco Club in association with the Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Bathinda, at the Government Middle School, Phoos Mandi. Showering praises on the initiative, sarpanch Lakhwinder Jeet Singh Happy planted the first sapling. A teacher at the school, Kulwinder Singh, said 400 saplings had already been planted in the campus. Aiming at spreading awareness about the need to take care of the environment for healthy living, teachers and students of the SSD Girls' College planted saplings in the college campus today. |
Lift offer costs woman earrings
Bathinda, July 26 The victim, Paramjit Kaur, a resident of Sangrur, said the accused offered her lift in their car, which was being driven by a man. The complainant said the moment she refused to sit in the car, the accused snatched her gold earrings weighing nearly 7 grams and worth Rs 14,500. The incident left her injured. The complainant was rushed to a nearby hospital where the police recorded her statements and registered a case under sections 356 and 34 of the IPC at the Cantonment police station. — TNS |
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Woman held for posing as doc
Bathinda, July 26 Diyalpura resident arrested with poppy husk
Police have arrested a resident of Diyalpura village for possessing 2.5 kg of poppy husk. The accused, Seera Singh of Diyalpura village, was found carrying the contraband near Sivian village. Police have registered a case under sections 15, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act against the accused at the Thermal police station. Illicit liquor recovered, one arrested
Police arrested a resident of Bir Talab for preparing illicit liquor in Basti Number 1 of Bir Talab. The accused, Surjit Singh, was arrested along with the material used to prepare the liquor. Over five litres of illicit liquor, one quintal of “laahan” (country-made liquor) and other material was recovered from the possession of the accused. A case under sections 61, 1, 14 of the Excise Act has been registered against the accused at the Sadar police station. One arrested with opium
Moti Ram, a resident of Khandol village of Rajasmand district in Rajasthan, has been arrested with over 3 kg of opium. Cops from the Sangat police station arrested him from near Doomwali village situated on the Punjab-Haryana border. The accused was brought to the police station where he was booked under sections 18, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act. Miscreants steal Sikh holy book from gurdwara
In a bizarre incident, three unidentified miscreants stole the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib from the gurudwara of Kalian Malka village. The priest at the gurudwara, Roop Singh, lodged a complaint with the police. Investigating officer Sadhu Singh said that as per the complainant, three unidentified persons entered the gurudwara and stole the holy book in the evening at around 4 pm on Tuesday. Efforts are on to nab the culprits, he said. A case under sections 295-A, 380 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Nathana police station. Man booked for cattle theft
Sona, a resident of ward number 4 of Rampura Mandi, has been booked for stealing a buffalo worth Rs 35,000. He has been booked on the complaint of Balwant Singh of Rampura Mandi under section 379 of the IPC at the city Rampura police station. No arrests have been made so far. Three booked for beating man to death
Police have booked three persons for beating a man to death. The accused, Mohar Singh, Gora Singh and Guddo of UP were booked under sections 302, 324 and 34 of the IPC at the Talwandi Sabo police station for beating Neelu Kumar which lead to his death. One booked for beating
Rajinder Singh of Rajgarh Kubbe has been booked for beating up his neighbour over the issue of sharing the bricks of a common wall. Rajinder has been booked under sections 324 and 323 of the IPC on the complaint of Mahinder Singh at Maur police station. The complainant said the accused inflicted serious injuries upon him using a sharp-edged instrument. Faridkot resident booked for rash driving
Baljit Singh of Bambiha Bhaika village has been booked for driving his truck rashly and injuring a Mansa resident. The complainant, Amrik Singh of Dariapur Kalan village of Mansa, said the accused was driving his truck at high speed when he was on way to Mansa from Bathinda. The victim received serious injuries and was taken to a hospital by an NGO. Police have registered a case under various sections of the IPC at the Kotfatta police station. |
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