The Tribune.

B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N Man found dead in mysterious circumstancesBathinda, December 30 The body of a man believed to be in his mid fifties was found lying under mysterious circumstances in a vacant plot on street number 1, Mela Ram road, here on Sunday morning. The police staff investigating at the spot of murder in Bathinda on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph Council MeetSenior citizens vow to donate eyes   Bathinda, December 30  Members of the senior citizens council, Bathinda, held an internal meeting to discuss various subjects and their objectives at the Ambedkar Bhawan, here on Sunday evening.  Captain Navpal Singh remembered Abohar, December 30 The fifth Balidan Diwas of Captain Navpal Singh Sidhu was observed with due solemnity at his memorial in his native village 40 RB, about nine kilometres from Padampur on the Raisinghnagar road in Sriganganagar region today. Senior Army officers salute to martyr Captain Navpal Singh Sidhu on the Fifth Balidan Diwas function in his village 40 RB on Sunday. — Photo by Raj Sadosh

EARLIER STORIES Badal’s largesse for Bathinda December 30, 2007 Drama at MC office; self-immolation bid foiled December 29, 2007 Farmers urged to become eco-friendly December 28, 2007 GNDTP air pollution may end by 2009 December 27, 2007 2007: Challenges kept cops on their toes December 26, 2007 Highs and lows marked political scene here December 25, 2007 Lehra Mohabbat unit to be operational by Dec 31 December 24, 2007 Education system in villages has failed, says Atwal December 23, 2007 Army’s daring bikers on adventure trip December 22, 2007 School principal sacked December 21, 2007 Plant trips, power woes continueDecember 20, 2007

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Sufferings of Malwa girls portrayed Abohar, December 30  The Sparsh Theatre Society here had hit the headlines by staging “Jinney Lahore Nahin Vekhya” some two years back by borrowing a good script from the neighboring country. A scene from the play ‘Chandan de Ohle’ that was staged in Abohar. —Photo by Raj Sadosh           City Waits For New Year A bird’s eye-view of the Bathinda city from the historic Qila Mubarak. Bathinda is caught in the throes of change with major projects being unveiled for its development that could well may change its skyline in the year ahead. — A Tribune File Photo NCC volunteers listening to a woman at an old-age home in Bathinda on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Kulbir Beera The wait seems to be a long one for rickshaw-pullers outside the Bathinda railway station as people are rushing to catch trains to be with their family members for the New Year celebrations. — Photo by Kulbir Beera MP demands compensation for farmers in border areas   Ferozepur, December 30  Farmers having land holdings across the cobra fencing along the Indo-Pakistan border should be adequately compensated by the central government, said SAD MP ( Rajya Sabha) from Punjab, Varinder Singh Bajwa, while interacting with media persons here today. Myanmar nationals shifted to dist jail   Abohar , December 30  Sriganganagar district magistrate Bhawani Singh Detha finally gave his nod for shifting the 36 Myanmar nationals to the district jail last night, sources said on Sunday. Virat Hindu Sammelan: 16 buses flagged off  Fazilka, December 30  Sixteen busloads of ‘devotees’ were flagged off amidst chanting of religious hymns and slogans to participate in the Virat Hindu Sammelan in New Delhi to protest against the dismantling of Setu Samudram.  Action against rice mill owners sought   Barnala, December 30  The class IV government employees union, Barnala branch, has criticised the beating up of two warehouse employees by some rice mill owners. Kamboj sect fair held at Tahliwala  Fazilka, December 30  A two-day annual fair was held at the monument of Baba Bhuman Shah, teacher of the Kamboj sect in Tahliwala Bodla village. The fair concluded with a religious-cultural programme. It was sampling season for health department  Bathinda, December 30  Conducting raids throughout the year, the district health department took 154 samples of various consumable articles. Of this only 31 failed to pass the test while the remaining 123 samples passed muster at the laboratories. PPCC leader plays Santa, distributes aid among poorFerozepur, December 30  With a few hours to go before the year 2008 sets in, general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Parminder Singh Pinki played ‘Santa Claus’ by venturing out into the town on a blanket distribution spree on Saturday night.  PPCC general secretary Parminder Singh Pinki distributing aid to the needy. — A Tribune photo Incident-free year for railway Bathinda, December 30  The year 2007 could be termed as a good year as it remained an year free from accidents and derailments for the railway. Not only this, the year also witnessed several measures being taken for the upgradation of technology and passengers’ amenities. Passengers at the Bathinda railway junction on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph RPF’s efforts bring in positive results   Bathinda, December 30  The efforts of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Bathinda, for ensuring security to the passengers and their belongings as well as railway property have produced good results this year. Insurance cos urged to have cancer policy  Bathinda, December 30  To help the people living in the cancer affected Talwandi Sabo area, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Anil Garg has urged the insurance companies to formulate a `cancer policy’ and the authorities of Guru Gobind Singh Refinery to come forward and adopt villages in the area. Bill woes: Councillor sits on hunger strike   Bathinda, December 30  To lodge protest over notices served to the residents of various colonies in the city by the municipal corporation to clear dues relating to water and sewerage, Vijay Kumar, a municipal councillor, sat on a day-long hunger strike at Paras Ram Nagar under the banner of Sangharsh Committee, here on Sunday.