Amritsar, June 15
Mohammad Aziz Rafi, nephew of legendary singer Mohammad Rafi, is living a life of penury and oblivion.

Though he rendered some songs to a couple of Punjabi movies under the tutelage of his Mamu jaan, the association did not last long as Rafi passed away when he was merely 12.

Currently, he along with his wife Suman and 12-year old daughter Soniya resides in a rented accommodation at Sultanwind village. To earn a living, he is working for a measly monthly salary of Rs 2,500 at a shop in Katra Jai Mal Singh.

Adverse financial and domestic conditions had not diminished his passion for singing. His desire is to get that elusive chance to sing in the Bollywood industry which could re-establish his ties with the tinsel town.

Apart from that, 42-year-old Aziz wanted to provide best of the education to his only daughter Soniya. Studying in Class V in a private school, she is the only hope for the family.

His anguish is perceptible with the hundreds of groups of Mohammad Rafi’s fans and societies organising programmes in his memory. He said a Mumbai-based group dedicated to Rafi had been inviting him to participate in his birth anniversary celebration on December 24 in Mumbai for the past three years. He participated in them with his family.

However, no society had ever supported me to overcome financial constraints and I am not even given a chance to offer a song from the podium, said dejected Aziz.

It was sometime in 1970 when Rafi, who was at the peak of his career, had come to Amritsar. Aziz claimed that “Mamu Jaan had handed over him to his close acquaintance Saudagar Singh of his native village (Kotla Sultan Singh) for upbringing. Saudagar was a watchman of the village.

Mohammad Rafi was so helpful to the needy was proved by the fact that he invited his nephew Mohammed Aziz Rafi back from Amritsar only to train him in music under his baton at Rafi Mansion in Bandera in Mumbai and introduced him to Bollywood through some Punjabi films.

However, luck chose to elude Mohammed Aziz Rafi, as he was forced to leave Rafi Mansion immediately after the death of Mohammed Rafi on July 31, 1980. Circumstances even made him stretch further and pull rickshaw for some time in Mumbai till he returned to his native place Amritsar, where he was to do menial jobs to make both ends meet.

“Rafi Sahib was benevolent enough to take me to Rafi Mansion where he trained me in classical music for a year before his death. I was amazed to see his skill as a kite flyer and as a badminton player. Rafi used to play badminton for over one hour daily. At the same time, he ensured to spare some time for flying kites especially on weekends,” recalled Mohammed Aziz Rafi, who is now a small-time singer and sings at ‘jagratas’. He, along with his actor wife Suman, lives in Amritsar.

During his one-and-a-half year close association with Rafi he had got chance to sing two songs each in two Punjabi films namely Punjabi Munda and Jatt Yamla. During the period he also got the opportunity to train under his Mamu.

Unable to find much success, Aziz returned here in 1990 and married Suman, an actor, in 1996. With a view to try luck, both of them went to Mumbai. Suman performed a role of sister of Shahrukh Khan in Mirch Masala, directed by Surinder Sharma. He sang a solo and was also a participant in chorus of qawwali.

He rued that completion in the setting up of the library, made as a mark of remembrance for the ace singer, perturbs him. He lamented that the construction of the library is the only bid to erect a memorial in the memory of the singer.

Son of a village barber, Rafi (who was informally referred to as Pheeko) had a fairy tale rise from rags to riches, thanks to his golden voice, which regaled and still entertains music lovers. His father Hajji Ali Mohammad lived in the village with six sons and two daughters.

The two sisters were Noora and Salma. Aziz claimed that he was the son of Noora, who was married to Abdul of Jajeyani village in Majihta subdivision. His parents passed away when he was not even two. Majority of the family members had gone to Pakistan following the Partition.

Amritsar, June 15
The All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society (AIPCS), which has been offering services to the shelterless, to the ailing and mentally challenged, has now taken up the cause of organic farming to help farmers go the natural way.

The society would hold a three-day workshop on zero budget natural farming at Pingalwara from June 16, said its head Dr Inderjit Kaur.

She informed that founder of the Natural Farming Subhash Palekar would teach farmers of the region and Haryana techniques to cultivate their land without using chemicals and pesticides requiring minimum investment.

She said the workshop would be held at Pingalwara’s 32-acre organic farm near Manawala on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road. She said the farm had given record produce and was a benchmark for the farmers of the region to emulate.

The Society is already running a school for deaf, a special ward for tuberculosis patients, Bhagat Puran Singh Adarsh School for Classes XI and XII and an old-age home.

The President of the Society said society founder Bhagat Puran Singh was himself a great environmentalist and strived to have a pollution-free environment. In order to achieve his goal, the society took up the cause of educating farmers to adopt and pursue fertiliser and pesticide-free cultivation.

She opined that these methods had done more harm to soil and water table. She said it was not right to adopt these methods for monetary gain of shorter period.

It may be mentioned here that Bhagat Puran Singh in 1947 had established the centre to take care of sick, disabled and forlorn persons. Whatever money and financial resources he could gather he used it to establish this institute.Initially it had few discarded patients. However, inspired with his greater cause more and more people from different walks of life joined him.

Amritsar, June 15
There are 31 Indians, who are facing death sentence in Sharjah jail for killing a Pakistani national instead of 17 as reported earlier, claimed members of International Human Rights Organisation while addressing media here.

A delegation of the organisation had visited the Indian prisoners in Sharjah jail from June 8-11 and on their return alleged that they were being tortured and are living in pitiable conditions. Revealing this Jaspreet Singh, president, and Upinder Kalsi, vice-chairman, along with several family members of the victims said the UAE Government later took 11 more youths into custody in connection with the murder while three others who used to bring food for their Indian counterparts were also arrested.

They alleged that the Indians were facing inhuman treatment while their heads have been shaved and having stitches on their heads due to continuous interrogation. “There were about 240 Indians lodged in various jails in the UAE and most of them are yet to face any trial. One of them is suffering from tuberculosis. But the irony is that he has got no medical help,” said Jaspreet Singh. “The UAE has provided an Arab advocate to Indian prisoners but due to language problem he failed to put up their case properly. The Indian prisoners have urged the government to provide an advocate having the knowledge of English, Punjabi and Arab language,” said Upinder Kalsi.

The delegation members said according to rules of the UAE Government, these prisoners could be released if they provide ‘blood money’ as compensation to the victim’s family. “As per their rules if the accused Indians provide 1.25 lakh Dirham (Rs 16 lakhs) to the family, the prisoners could be saved from punishment,” they said urging the state and central government to initiate immediate steps for providing the compensatory amount.

Amritsar, June 15
To bring in more transparency in its functioning, the police has installed complaint boxes in prominent parts of the city.

These complaints would be opened up by the Police Commissioner who would have direct access to these complaint boxes.

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier too such steps were taken by the then Senior Superintendent of Police Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh and later Inspector General of Police R P Meena, but the initiative later fell flat as soon as these officials were transferred.

“Besides bringing in transparency in the system, the step would also help in bridging the gap between the people and the police,” said Varinder Kumar, Commissioner of Police.

Different parts of the city where these boxes have been installed are bus stand (near police post), Town Hall, Hall Gate, Putlighar, at GND University gate, Chheharta Chowk, Basant Avenue Market, Ratan Singh Chowk, district shopping complex at Ranjit Avenue and near Sakhi guest house in the Green Avenue area. The police has urged the people to drop their complaints regarding any grievances or problems they are facing.

Amritsar, June 15
Sparing a thought for the students belonging to rural strata of the state, an educational society has taken an initiative to chalk out an exclusive education package, in collaboration with the Punjab Government.

Students from rural Punjab, after their matriculation examination, have to undergo a state-level entrance test, out of which top 50 would be able to avail this package.

Named as Progressive Educational Society, headed by Prof A.S. Brar, the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, with other prominent functionaries from education and the administration, the society would extend this package for those students who genuinely belong to rural area of Punjab and their parents’ income from all sources does not exceed Rs 4 lakh per annum.

The candidates having passed Class X examination 2010 with at least 60 per cent marks or above or obtaining Grade of at least 6.32 out of 10, according to CBSE evaluation pattern, from a school of Punjab or Chandigarh would be eligible to sit in the entrance test.

The aspirant would have to provide evidence of being living in the rural area of the state by submitting photocopy of voter ID card of their parents.

The entrance test fee of Rs 500 would have to be deposited in the form of demand draft drawn in favour of Chairman, Progressive Educational Society, payable at Amritsar, along with the application form.

The selected candidates would be privileged enough to avail free boarding, lodging, books, study material and other requisite facilities. The students would be provided quality education at 10+1 and 10+2 classes for All-India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) and would be simultaneously given special training for preparation of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), in the specially chalked out evening schedule.

The entrance test, to be conducted on July 25, would be based mainly on the subjects of science and mathematics according to the syllabus of Class X of Punjab School Education Board. There would be 100 multiple choice questions: 50 in mathematics and an equal number in science.

The entrance form would be available from June 17 onwards and the last date of submission has been kept as July 1. The classes under the programme would get start from August 2. Candidates can also download the application form through GNDU’s official website www.gndu.ac.in.

It has been learnt that the Punjab Government has already released a grant against this package. The top 50 students, both boys and girls, after cracking the entrance test will be formally admitted to Khalsa College Public School, GT Road, Amritsar for quality education from specialised faculty and their boarding and lodging arrangements would be looked after by the management of Khalsa College in appropriate hostels.

Confirming this, Prof AS Brar, who took the initiative for the scheme, told that the idea was conceptualised and put forth to the government for approval, after having observed that IIT had remained a dream for many students belonging to underprivileged rural areas.

Amritsar, June 15
Do you have a weapon registered in your name or have changed your place of residence and your weapon licence has been issued at the older address? If any of these queries are applicable to you, then you must submit the requisite details to the Licensing and Registration Branch at CPRC Building, McLeod Road, Amritsar by July 10.

Complying with the regulatory powers under the Arms Act and Arms Rules, the Office of Police Commissioner, Amritsar, has issued fresh orders for registration of arms licences, issued prior to March 5, 2010.

Otherwise, the rules demand that any outside licensee, who stays in Amritsar for more than 30 days or changes his place of residence to Amritsar, has to intimate this office within a period of 30 days and produce his license for necessary endorsement and registration to the Office of Police Commissioner, Amritsar.

Confirming this, Police Commissioner Varinder Kumar said it has been observed that approximately 2,350 licensees have filed the self-declaratory forms, which have been sent to their respective police stations for further verification.

“However, as per the information received from the previous licensing authority, a large number of licence holders have yet not submitted the information as desired within the stipulated period, therefore we have issued fresh communiqué in this direction, which is a mandatory exercise”, he added.

Nevertheless, those who are holding valid licences issued by the District Magistrate, Amritsar or any outside licensing authority, but now residing in any part of the city falling under the jurisdiction of the 14 police stations have been ordered to file their particulars, after obtaining the verification form, which would be available free of cost. They would have to submit the photocopy of the license and coloured photograph of the weapon(s) endorsed on the licence, showing the weapon number etc. by July 10.

It is evident to mention that failure to fill-in the Verification Forms by the stipulated date will result in denial of services. “ The failure to submit the particulars will result in contravention of the provisions of Arms Act 1959 which may result in denial of license renewal, endorsement, addition or even deletion of weapon etc. to such License holders”, said the police commissioner.

Further, the said failure to submit the particulars will invite action under Section 25/26 of the said Act, where in apart from revocation of the license, criminal proceedings may be launched against the defaulters.

Amritsar, June 15
With the arrest of a person, the police today claimed to have busted a gang of highway robbers. A truck laden with stolen iron bars was also seized. The police has identified four members of the gang said Gurmeet Singh Chouhan, Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar Rural Police.

Bachiter Singh of Vairoke was arrested while Narinder Singh of Joura Phatak managed to escape taking cover of darkness. Two other members were identified as Baljinder Singh of Kala Sarkala in Sri Hargobindpur, and one Pagga.

About the modus operendi, SSP Chouhan said, “The culprits used to stop the trucks posing as sale tax officials. The moment the driver gets down from truck, they bundled him in their car after making him unconscious using chloroform and ran away with the vehicle and material with them.”

In a similar incident, driver Balkar Singh of Kherabala Chak was looted by four unidentified highway robbers in the intervening night of May 28-29. The victim, who was coming to Amritsar from Mandi Gobindgarh, was stopped near Khalchian by the accused and decamped with about 13 tonnes of iron bars and truck. They threw Balkar Singh near the bus stand. A case under section 392, 328 and 34 of the IPC was registered in this regard.

Seeing the gravity of incident, the SSP formed a special investigating team under Harjit Singh Brar, SP (D). During investigations, the team zeroed in on four accused. A naka was laid near Kohali Bridge and nabbed Bachitar Singh while Narinder Singh managed to escape.

The police recovered 20 quintals of iron while 11 tonnes of iron was seized from near his residence. A truck numbering HR 31-E-6245 was also recovered from them. During interrogation, he disclosed that Bachitar Singh stole the truck with Baljinder Singh from Jind (Haryana).

All the accused were wanted in many criminal cases, revealed the SSP adding that manhunt has been launched to nab the remaining culprits. He said the police team was checking the antecedents of all the accused involved in the crime.

A boy performs in Panthers Stadium in Amritsar cantonment. Photo: Vishal Kumar

About 3,500 students participated in the competition. Susharsh, Akansh, Onkar, Gurleen and Mehak were the other achievers.

Merit positions

Students of B.Com (I) of the BBK DAV College for Women secured 12 merit positions in the Guru Nanak Dev University examination.

Isha Soni earned the second position, Anumeha (fifth), Deepali Mehra (sixth), Divya Aggarwal (seventh), Hitashi Trehan (eighth), Nitika Khera (12th), Payal Singhania (13th), Gayatri Talwar (15th), Cheena Talwar (16th), Pragati Arora (18th), Sahiba Singh (25th) and Heena Bharbutta (31st).

Grading insights

The faculty of Delhi Public School, Amritsar, got valuable insights into the implementation of the new grading system CCE by the CBSE board for students of class X at a workshop on the school premises.

The workshop focused on the implementation of the CCE and the methods of grading the students effectively, Principal Sangeeta Singh said.

DAV workshop

About 200 participants from within and outside India are participating in the five-day workshop under progress on the premises of DAV International School.

The school, in collaboration with the Rope Skipping Association, Punjab, kicked off the workshop on from June 14.

Training camp

About 470 junior and senior wings girl cadets would participate in the two-week annual training camp to be held at Police DAV Public School from July 1. The camp would be organised by the first Punjab Girls Battalion NCC.

Amritsar, June 15
The Health Department seized a huge quantity of medicines worth Rs 13 lakh from an illegal godown situated at Fateh Singh Colony, near Gate Hakima, here today.

Kanwal Kishore, owner of the godown, could not produce the requisite documents and bills to the raiding party. He runs a wholesale shop in the Katra Sher Singh area.

It was chance recovery by the Health Department when a police party stopped a rickshaw-puller carrying boxes of medicines. The police team immediately informed the Health Department.

While confirming, Dr Chandanjit Singh Kondal, Civil Surgeon, said, “The raiding party seized 16,000 syrups, 1.80 lakh tablets, 10,000 capsules and 25,000 injections from the godown.” However, there were not any intoxicants recovered from the building.

The raiding party included Karun Sachdev, Dinesh Gupta, Amandeep Verma, Sanjiv Garg and Kulwinder Singh, all drug inspectors from Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Jalandhar, respectively, besides Dr Sanjiv Kohli, pathologist from the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital here. The medicines would be produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate tomorrow, said the Civil Surgeon. — TNS