The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

DC’s warning ignored
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 12
Even as the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, had asked the cinema owners to remove obscene film posters, many such posters were seen in many parts of the city even today.

The Deputy Commissioner had issued a warning in this regard on April 5 and had asked the cinema owners to remove the posters by April 12 failing which an action was to be initiated against them.

A survey by a Tribune team today revealed that while many posters had been removed by the cinema owners, some of these were still displayed in many parts of the city including Sunder Nagar, Railway Station area, Gaushala Road, Circular Road and on the Chandigarh-Samrala Road.

Rickshaws, advertising about films on various city roads, were also seen carrying huge obscene posters today. Mr Pawan Kumar Sharma, president of Shiv Sena, Ludhiana, said that they were keeping a close watch and they would be protesting against these posters on Wednesday.

He said that the DC had issued the warning after they had submitted a memorandum to him some days ago. The warning was issued during a meeting of the cinema owners with the Deputy Commissioner in wake of protests by the political organisations. In the meeting, the DC had expressed concern that some of the cinema owners were displaying indecent and obscene posters, ignoring their social responsibility which was spoiling the atmosphere in the city.

The DC had stated that no such posters should be allowed to remain on display near the educational institutions, especially those exclusively for girls. After expiry of the deadline, if any indecent or obscene poster was found displayed anywhere outside a cinema in the city, strict action was to be taken against the owner of the cinema under the Punjab Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.

The DC said that under this Act, there was a provision of punishment of imprisonment up to a term of six months. Action would also be contemplated under Section 292 of Indian Penal Code, which prohibited the circulation of pamphlets etc, which tend to deprave and corrupt persons who were likely to read them. Mr Verma added that in such cases suspension and cancellation of license of the cinemas would also be considered.

Mr Verma appealed to the general public to bring to the notice of the Subdivisional Magistrate concerned if they found any obscene or indecent posters after April 13. He also directed the Subdivisional Magistrates that they should conduct surprise checks in the various areas of the city after the expiry of this deadline. This checking should also be done by the Executive Magistrates concerned, he added.

Sewage in Oswal Street
Our Correspondent

Sewage on a street of Nirankari Mohalla, near Old Oswal, in Ludhiana on Monday.

Residents of Kucha No. 16 hold a dharna over insanitary conditions prevailing in the area in Ludhiana on Monday. — Tribune photographs

Ludhiana, April 12
Residents of Oswal Street on Gill Road are living a miserable life, thanks to the indifference of civic administration and the Telecom Department towards them. For the past about one week, several uprooted telephone poles and dangling power and telephone cables have virtually blocked the entry to the street. Moreover, the dangling power cables not only pose a permanent threat to residents’ lives but also result in frequent power failure.

A choked and overflowing sewer line has caused water logging in almost the entire street.

A resident, Mr Vijay Kaushal, said repeated complaints lodged with the Telephone Department to remove the uprooted poles and repair the dangling cables, have evoked no response. The PSEB officials had also failed to mitigate the suffering of the area residents, who had to withstand repeated tripping and power failure.

He held the area councillor, Mr Bhupinder Singh, responsible for a little or no development work in the area and failure to take necessary steps for improving the sewerage system in the locality. Mr Kaushal said it was unfortunate that the ward, as well as the assembly segment of Ludhiana East, under which the ward fell, were represented by the ruling Congress but nothing worthwhile had been done by the administration to improve the infrastructure in the area.

Meanwhile, the residents of Kucha No 16 in the Field Ganj area also held a demonstration here today against choked drain and insanitary conditions in the locality. They demanded that work for desilting and cleaning of the drain be taken up immediately and sanitation services be improved in the area to save the residents from falling prey to diseases.

Power cuts belie PSEB claims
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 12
With the temperature soaring, the frequent power cuts imposed by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) on all categories of consumers have affected the life in this mega city.

Till the end of March, the PSEB authorities here claimed that the urban feeders were subjected to a power cut of half an hour duration in the day. Residents in many localities had a different story to tell. They had to go without power many times during the day. Reasons were: power cut, shut down or tripping. Senior PSEB officials had assured that the transmission system was being strengthened to withstand the additional load during the peak of summer.

For the past one week, power cuts on the urban feeders took place four to six times during the day with each cut ranging between 20 and 45 minutes.

In particular, the power failure during early morning or during the scheduled water supply hours of the day deprives residents of water supply. At times, they are unable to fill the overhead water tanks. The erratic power supply and unscheduled power cuts had also adversely affected the water pressure in the main line in many localities, claimed the residents.

The unscheduled power cuts has brought down industrial production. According to Mr Inderjit Singh Pardhan, president, Chamber of Commercial and Industrial Undertakings (CICU), the excuse of the PSEB that coal shortage had led to the prevalent power situation was baseless because it was the duty of the PSEB management to arrange for adequate coal supplies for the thermal power stations in Punjab.

Mr Pardhan further observed that the PSEB management would do well to stand by their commitment that no power cut would be imposed on any category of consumers in the wake of the industrial sector already facing a crisis due to a hike in the prices of the basic raw material and stiff competition in the global market under the WTO regime. He called upon the PSEB to take immediate steps to procure coal for the thermal power plants and to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the industry and other sectors, lest the consumers in general and the industry in particular should be forced to resort to an agitation.

Lack of resources threatens 20-year-old bride’s life
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, April 12
Jaspreet Kaur (20), who got married three months ago, has been struggling for life at Christian Medical College and Hospital here. The parents and in-laws of Jaspreet have dried up all their resources and already spent lakhs of rupees on Jaspreet’s treatment. Still about Rs 1.5 lakh are required for her complete recovery.

According to the attending doctor, Dr Kunal Jain, Jaspreet was admitted to the CMCH on March 2 with Landry Guillain Barre syndrome. She needed ventilatory support and was kept in the ICU. She was given IV Gamma Globulins and has been on antibiotics for nosocomial infections. “She has shown symptomatic improvement. Till now, her relatives have spent about Rs 2 lakh to meet the expenses and further need Rs 1.5 lakh more”, said Dr Jain.

Daughter of a daily-wage earner, Mr Bhagat Singh, Jaspreet got married three months ago to Gurpreet, working at a shop here. Ms Harjeet Kaur, Jaspreet’s mother, said all of a sudden, Jaspreet had an attack and the family took her to the CMCH. “She has got nice in-laws. They have spent about Rs 1.5 lakh on her treatment and medication, but now even they are not in a position to spend more money”, claimed Ms Harjeet Kaur.

Jaspreet’s parents, too, have spent Rs 80,000 on her treatment, but now the family has no means to clear the outstanding bill of the hospital and to continue with the treatment. “We have got four daughters. Two of them are married while two others are studying. My husband is the only bread-winner in the family and with a meagre monthly income, we cannot continue the treatment. Her stay charges in the hospital are Rs 5,000 per day. But according to her doctors, she is showing improvement and we cannot leave her in a lurch”, said Harjeet Kaur with tears rolling down her cheeks.

A resident of the LIG Flats near Samrala Chowk, Ms Harjeet Kaur has appealed to the masses to come to her daughter’s rescue. “I am her mother. She is just 20 years old and I cannot see her dying like this. She is married and both the families have to share an equal responsibility. Whatever best we can do, we will do and the rest depends on God”, she said in a helpless manner.

Dowry victim alleges bid to murder
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 12
The division number 7 police yesterday registered a case under Sections 498-A, 406, 354, 323, 307, 511, 148 and 149 of the IPC on the statement of Ms Gurpreet Kaur, a resident of Kishore Nagar mohalla on Tajpur Road, against of her husband, Vijay Kumar, father-in-law, Surjit Kumar, and other members her in-laws family Harbhajan Ram, Toshi and Paramjit, residents of Shahpur village falling under the jurisdiction of Phillaur police station in Jallandhar district.

Mr Gurpreet Kaur had stated that the accused used to torture her mentally and physically to get more dowry. She further alleged that the accused also used to beat her up and they even tried to kill her by sprinkling kerosene on her and setting her afire. She managed to inform her parents, who rescued her from the clutches of the accused. No arrest has been made so far.

5 Congress workers join Lok Bhalai Party
Our Correspondent

Doraha, April 12
Even as the Congress and Akali candidates for the Ludhiana Lok Sabha Assembly seat are intensifying their campaigning, the candidate of Lok Bhalai Party, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia is leaving no stone unturned to win the public in the favour of his party.

Mr Gurjant Singh Panjeta, general secretary of Lok Bhalai Party, Sahnewal told this newsperson that five of the Congress workers had joined the party and assured their support to Mr Ramoowalia. These five workers are Mr Jashan Pal Singh Pinka, Dr Ramesh Kumar, Mr Bhola, Mr Paramjit Singh and Mr Rajeev Kumar. The general secretary claimed that many more would join as people were now fed up with the Akalis and the Congress and wanted a change for the better.

Addressing a rally at Khanpur village, Mr Ramoowalia exhorted to vote for him. “A government that is swamped with scams and scandals and has failed to satisfy its rural populace, should not be allowed to rule any more,” he said.

Mr Ramoowalia, Lok Bhalai Party candidate today visited a dozen of villages, including Ramgarh, Katani Kalan, Katani Khurd, Kot Gangurai, Sanga, Upplan, Bhaini Sahib, Barwala, Sahnewal Bir, Soodanwal and Kanech.

Manish Tiwari seeks lawyers’ vote
Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 12
Congress candidate from the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, Mr Manish Tiwari, gave an assurance to lawyers here today. If voted to power, all young lawyers would get chambers, he said. He would raise the issues of big units for the industrial city in Parliament.

He said this speaking to lawyers at District Courts, here today. Welcoming Mr Tiwari, the District Bar Association president Mr B.K.Goel, said that the lawyers were thankful to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who made it possible for lawyers to have chambers in the courts complex.

Mr Dharamjit Singh Khera, chariman, Congress Legal Cell, Mr Ashok Bhakri Convenor, Mr P.D.Sharma, Mr Rana Harjasdeep Singh, general secretary of legal cell, Ms Amrit Varsha Rampal (councillor) urged the lawyers community to support Mr Tiwari.

Wheat worth Rs 2 lakh destroyed

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 12
Wheat worth lakhs of rupees was gutted in fire in Chapaar village here today. A labourer set the straw ablaze and the fire spread to nearby fields of six farmers. The ripe crop in 65 bighas and straw in 100 bighas of land was reduced to ashes within minutes. The labourer was working in the fields of Mr Manjit Singh.

The farmers said that they had suffered a loss of Rs 2 lakh in the incident.

Those farmers who have suffered loss include Kirpal Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Harvinder Singh, Omar Din, Fakir Mohammed and Sarah. They have complained to the local police to register a case against the labourer and the farmer. The police is yet to register a case.