Jalandhar, November 14
Gearing up for the Vidhan Sabha poll almost a year ahead, the two main political parties today simultaneously outlined their poll plans. These plans included bringing about major changes in the constitution of their parties, holding conventions and encouraging the party members to mingle with the masses for garnering maximum support for the coming times.

The two parties — the BJP and the District Youth Congress (I) — announced their plans in separate meetings that were held today. Earlier in the day, Mr Shiv Dyal Chugh, District President, BJP, announced that the party was planning to hold a major convention in the first or second week of January in which each and every member from the wards would be allocated duties in view of the forthcoming elections.

He said the party’s major programme included holding a series of rallies and dharnas against the ruling party. The programme would focus on “high-handedness” of the top brass of the ruling party that was “giving a clean chit” to their members in various cases, including the recently submitted Volcker Committee Report, he added.

Mr Chugh said a dharna would be held outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday. He said a rally would be organised prior to the dharna. The rally would be addressed by prominent members of the party, including Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, MP, and Mr Swarna Ram, former minister, who would be demanding resignation of Mr Natwar Singh as a member of the cabinet, he added.

The BJP District President said a series of dharnas would follow the Wednesday’s rally to protest against the “lack of focus” of the ruling party on various pending developmental projects in the city. He said the “unfulfilled promises” of the previous manifesto would also be highlighted during such dharnas. He added that the ruling party leaders would be urged to hold a debate on development brought about in the state in the past four years.

The members of the District Youth Congress (I) announced their programmes during their meet. Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Sethi, District President of the party, said he had planned to dissolve the existing committee and reconstitute a new committee comprising 27 office bearers, nine block presidents and 57 ward presidents. He said the photo I-cards would be issued to all new office-bearers.

Mr Sethi said that in the process of the reconstitution, many party workers who had failed to perform could be shunted out and promotions could be given to encourage the past performance. He said the grassroots workers with mass following would be given priority.

He said the opinion of MLAs, MPs, ministers and senior leaders would be taken before deciding about the formation of the new body. 

Jalandhar, November 14
Barely two years of age, Tanya had started showing signs of puberty. A hormonal imbalance in her body had led to the disorder forcing her parents to move from pillar to post to get their only child treated.

More than a year down the line, Tanya is still under treatment and her parents, both working as daily wage labourers, are finding it hard to bear expenses of the treatment which has to be followed for another ten years. While the family hails from Dasuya in Hoshiarpur, the trio has to visit a private hospital in Jalandhar for the course of the treatment.

Tanya’s parents revealed their agony during their visit to the city here today. Her mother, Ms Paramjit Kaur, said that Tanya was just two years old when she had started getting her menstrual cycles. “I was shocked to see this happening at such a tender age. At that time, I was not even aware that there could be such a disorder. She has not just matured early, she has even started showing behavioral problems as she gets too angry and impatient at times,” she said.

“We took our daughter to various hospitals but everyone has suggested that she be administered an injection every month till she is 13. The cost of one dose of injection is Rs 5,500. We have already spent thousands of rupees for her treatment and we do not have enough resources to meet any more expenses. The tests, being conducted by laboratories based in Mumbai, are also proving too expensive,” Tanya’s inconsolable mother said.

“We are being told that in case our daughter does not follow this treatment, the growth of her body could be adversely affected. We have also been told that once she starts taking her first dose, she could not miss it even once. So we are just looking for donations before we proceed for the treatment,” the parents explained.

Dr Ajay Bagga, Pharmacologist in Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur, said, “Owing to ignorance, Tanya’s parents had delayed the treatment initially. They were misguided and told that the disorder was some kind of adversity of nature. So, they started visiting quacks. When the case came to our knowledge, we suggested them that they must visit an endocrinologist in Jalandhar to take the treatment.”

Dr Vipin Talwar, endocrinologist, Modern Hospital, said that Tanya was suffering from Idiopathic Precocious Puberty and the condition was not rare though it was relatively uncommon. He said that in case the treatment was started at the right time, there would be no problem in her development and she could lead a normal life. 

Phagwara, November 14
Six two-wheelers got entangled in a shunting goods train at the local Satnampura railway level-crossing here this morning.

However, no injury to any person was reported in the accident.

According to eyewitnesses, the railway barrier was closed when the shunting train was reversing in order to go into the railway yard. However, reckless pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of two-wheelers were crossing the track as usual.

The driver of the train frantically whistled to warn those crossing the track and those standing very close to it. However, the two-wheeler drivers ignored the warning. Consequently, a scooty was hit by the train, resulting in a chain reaction with all other two-wheelers standing nearby also getting hit.

The Railway Police Force took into its possession a scooty and a scooter which were left behind by their drivers after the accident. Other vehicles, including two scooters and two motorcycles, were carried away on rickshaws by their owners, who fled before the police arrived, according to eyewitnesses.

Meanwhile, the officials of RPF have said that action would be taken against the owners of these vehicles after tracking them down.

Jalandhar, November 14
Even as the bank robbers’ own mistake of leaving behind their shirt at UCO Bank proved to be their nemesis, the ease with which all three robbers crossed the inter-district borders and managed to reach safely their homes in Batala and Majitha police districts puts a question mark on the efficiency of the police. That the robbers crossed over on their scooters with the looted booty of Rs 67 lakh in spite of the red alert has raised many a question about the efficiency of the police.

Another baffling question is why all 11 earlier cases of robberies, allegedly committed by the gang involving Charanjit Singh Tinka and Jagdev Singh, residents of Udho Nangal village of Majitha district, Manjinder Singh Laadi from Marhianwala village in Batala, Shamsher Shera and Sakattar Singh, both residents of Mehta village in Doaba region of Punjab, remained unsolved for over four years.

Though the gang members went on operating with ease — looting banks and even killing bank employees — no tab on their activities was kept either by the police or the intelligence agencies.

Even after committing the Rs 67-lakh robbery in Jalandhar on November 10, the robbers simply headed for their respective villages without any interception midway.

Ironically, red alert was sounded by the Punjab Police immediately after 3.25 pm, the moment when the robbers left the bank after being there for about 20 minutes. Prior to their arrest on the evening of November 11, they had reportedly taken liquor and were even said to have been under the influence of some intoxicants when they were arrested on the basis of the “open lead” provided by the shirt of one of the robbers.

Had there been no shirt or the sticker on it, would the case have been solved? It would have been very difficult for the police to nab the culprits, and the robbers could have committed yet more robberies, admit senior police officers.

The fact that the robbers reached their homes on scooters indicates that they were not checked at any naka on their way to Batala and Majitha from Jalandhar. How they managed to cross the borders of Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Amrtisar districts, and give a slip to police officials remains an unsolved mystery.

The laxity of the Punjab Police seems to be enormous, if the confession of the robbers that before striking the targeted banks they used to make a recce of the banks for about eight days, is taken into account.

Jalandhar, November 14
Lieut-Gen Daljeet Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, visited the Vajra Corps here today.

During his maiden visit after assuming the charge, the GOC-in-C, and his wife, Ms Mohini Daljeet Singh, were received by Lieut-Gen Mandhata Singh, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, and his wife, Ms Sneh Prabha Rajawat, President, Vajra Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA).

The Army Commander held discussions with Lieut-Gen Mandhata Singh and introduced him to various formation commanders and staff officers of the corps. Ms Mohini attended the AWWA meet and interacted with ladies of the Vajra AWWA. She was briefed about various projects being undertaken in the Vajra Corps related to vocational training and welfare of the families. She visited the Vajra Vocational Training Institute where wards of soldiers are trained for self-employment, and Asha School, where 33 physically and mentally challenged kids are being educated and trained. 

Jalandhar, November 14
Students of Lala Jagat Narain DAV School held Children’s Day celebrations in the auditorium of the DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology here today.

The programme began with the lighting of ceremonial lamp by Dr C.L. Kocher, Principal, DAVIET, and Ms Puran Prabha Sharma, Principal of HMV College. The students performed a cultural show that began with a welcome song by the tiny tots. The students showed their artistic skills while performing in dance, theatre and music items.

Students of KMV School also celebrated the day with Charu Chadha of Class V throwing light on the significance of the day. Pre-primary kids participated in a solo dance contest. An inter-house fancy dress show was held for the students of primary wing. A drawing contest was also organised in which students drew scenes depicting various seasons. Ms Usha Pandey, principal, appreciated the efforts of the students.