The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	all’s not well in amritsar jail 2 days after clash, prisoner dies mysteriously G.S. Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 It seems the Amritsar Central Jail would soon be bereft of its tag of ‘high security jail’ if one after the other undesirable incidents occurring in the jail premises is any indication. Two days after a brutal clash between two groups in the jail claimed the life of a prisoner and left several others injured, a prisoner in the jail died mysteriously today which again testified that all is not well in the jail. Though the jail authorities claimed that it was a natural death, jail sources said prisoner Harpal Singh committed suicide by hanging himself in the jail premises after leaving a suicide note against the authorities. According to the Jail Deputy Superintendent, Harpal Singh suffered a severe heart attack while he was in the bathroom at about 11.15 am. He died before he could be taken to a hospital. Nevertheless, the duty magistrate has been appointed to conduct the proceedings under Section 176 of CrPC to ascertain the reason for his death. Earlier, Vikram Sharma, in charge, Sadar police post, who investigated the matter, said death caused due to heart attack couldn’t be established as yet. “The exact cause would be known only after the post-mortem examination. It would be done tomorrow in the presence of the duty magistrate,” he said. Harpal Singh (28) and his second wife Gurmeet Kaur had been serving a jail sentence for murdering their eight-year old daughter (out of Harpal’s first marriage), under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC since September 21 last. Deputy Commissioner KS Pannu said he had shot a very strong letter to the state government for overhauling the whole administration of the jail. “I have recommended that the whole administrative staff of the jail should be changed and the staff strength should be made commensurate with the number of jail inmates,” he said. Nevertheless, the jail had been in the news for wrong reasons. It is pertinent to note that almost identical incident had happened in October last, when an undertrial Vijay Pal (23) had ended his life by hanging himself with a turban in a bathroom. The jail authorities had then remarked that he committed suicide due to depression. Just yesterday, a fatal clash had occurred between two groups which claimed the life of prisoner Balwant Singh and injured several others. This was probably the fourth such incident which occurred in the jail premises within a span of few months. Nevertheless, this time, it was Balwant Singh, an undertrial, who died after the supporters of his rival Karaj Singh attacked him with sharp-edged weapon. Balwant was taken to the jail hospital. The intensity of the jail norms could well be gauged from the fact that Karaj Singh’s supporters continued to beat him up when he was being taken to hospital. Karaj Singh also received injuries during the clash. Just two months ago, inmate Navtej Singh, serving trial in Nihang Tarna Dal chief Ajit Singh Poohla’s murder case, alleged that he received bullet injuries on his shoulder while walking in the jail premises. Though, the jail authorities claimed that it was an enacted drama whereas two days later a pistol was found in the jail. In February last, a scuffle took place between two notorious gangs, Jagtar Boxer and Ankur Likhari, in which Amandeep Motu of the Likhari gang was seriously injured.
	Raids in govt institutions 60 employees found absent Absentees included teachers, medical officers of health centres Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, December 6 As many as 60 employees and officials were found to be absent from duty during surprise raids in schools, hospitals, veterinary dispensaries and other offices of different departments in the district here today. Certain other irregularities and lapses were also detected. Deputy Commissioner Khushi Ram and other district heads of different departments led 23 teams formed for the purpose. The raids were conducted on the directions of the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in the recent meeting of Deputy Commissioner held at Chandigarh two days back. In an official press release issued here today, it was said that the maximum of absentees were the medical officers of health centres. According to the information, the whole staff of civil health dispensaries Baghiari, Gandiwind and Sarai Amanat Khan besides the vet dispensary of Dhunda near Goindwal Sahib was found to be locked. The Medical Officer (MO), Pharmacist and the ANM of Health Centre, Sheron, besides Dr Dinesh Gupta, MO at PHC Naushehra Pannuan, Dr Dilbag Singh, Dr Monika and Dr Sandeep from Community Health Centre, Sarhali, and Dr Ritu Singh from Health Centre, Narli, were found to be absent. The whole staff of civil dispensary of Dyalpur and a teacher Manjeet Kaur from the village school were also found absent from their duties. Dr Jaswant Singh, MO of Rural Health Centre, Dehra Sahib, Dr Amandeep, Dr Jatinder Kaur and Dr Navpreet, respectively, from health centre Assal Uttar, Bhura Kona and Chackwalia were also absent from their duty. Dr Jagjit Singh and Dr Ashok Kumar from Gandiwind and Marhana, respectively, were also found to be absent. Hardev Singh, Avtar Singh, Rajesh Arora and Baljinder Singh, lecturers of Government Secondary School, Tur, were also found to be absent. Further information revealed that mandi supervisor Ashok Kumar and Satnam Singh besides auction recorder Amarjit Kaur, clerks Jagdeep Singn and Jasbir Singh from the market committee, Patti, were also absent. DC Khushi Ram said action would be taken against the absentees. Letters were being written to the departments concerned in this regard. The DC also said raids would be continued as it helped in bringing improvement in the functioning of departments. Local SDM Bakhtawar Singh said the residential quarters of vet dispensary, Baghiari, was found encroached by a villager. Sarabjit Singh Walia, District Development and Panchayat Officer, (DDPO), said in the checking of anganwari centre, Dehar Sahib, food distributed to the children of the Centre was found to have crossed the expiry date. He said in the packets of the diet, it was mentioned to use the product within 90 days of the date of manufacturing which was 27 August, 2010.
	Girl blackmailed BSNL engineer for three years, caught Ravinder Sud Hoshiarpur, December 6 The police arrested two persons, including a girl, for blackmailing a BSNL employee for the crime which was never committed. Giving details to the media here today, DSP (D) Amrik Singh Dhami said according to Dharampal, Divisional Telecom Engineer in BSNL, Dasuya, and a resident of local Rahimpur Road, he met Anita, a resident of Alahabad village, in 2007. She told him that she was employed with Bajaj Insurance Company and her office was at local Railway Mandi. She insisted him to accompany her to his office which Dharampal accepted. When they reached the office, Anita allegedly started molesting Dharampal after which he immediately left her office. Later, Anita came to the office of Dharampal and started blackmailing him. She said she would publish news that he had molested her. She, claiming to be a press reporter of Punjabi vernacular, Punjab Aaj Tak, would defame him in the eyes of his office staff and relatives if he did not give money to maintain silence in the matter. Under fear, Dharampal gave her money on different occasions. In 2009, one Parshotam Lal of Chakhiara, PS Adampur, joined Anita and both started extorting money from Dharampal by threatening him of dire consequences. On December 24, 2009, Dharampal gave a cheque of Rs 25,000 in the name of Anita. They extorted Rs 1.5 lakh from Dharampal in total. On December 4 this year they again demanded Rs 10,000 from Dharampal and the latter informed the police about the matter. The police laid a trap to nab the duo and caught them red handed while they were accepting Rs 10,000.
	Garbage woes: Residents rise up against MC in protest Parmod Bharti Nawanshahr, December 6 Protesting against garbage dumping by the Municipal Council, irate residents of Mohalla Nai Abadi, situated on Musapur Road, prohibited MC employees to unload the garbage trolley at the dumping ground here today. Narrating their woes, residents along with the principal of DAV Public School, said they had been urging the MC authorities to shift the garbage dumping place as it had made their lives a virtual hell. “The smell emanating from the dump especially when wind blows or MC employees set it on fire makes their life miserable,” said Krishan Kumar, Charanjit and Kala, residents of Mohalla Nai Abadi, and Ravinder Bhasker, principal of the DAV Public School. Disease threat also looms large over the residents and schoolchildren. Local municipal councillors Manjit Kaur and Pirthi Chand were also present there to express solidarity with the agitators. The MC authorities, when contacted, said there was only single garbage disposal ground in the town. The proposal for alternative disposal site of the garbage would be prepared soon for the convenience of the people.
	Bittu holds Akalis responsible for pollution Dharmendra Joshi Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 6 In what may evoke strong reaction from the ruling SAD, Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) president and Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Singh Bittu blamed Akalis for the severe air, water and noise pollution in the state. Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of his ongoing Nav Inqlab Yatra in Jalandhar on Monday, Bittu said he noticed during his on-foot yatra that Punjab was not the same as he had read in the books and heard from the elders. Effluents have left no river untouched which is why Punjab doesn’t have clean potable water in most of the areas, he said, adding that this contamination has led to deadly diseases like cancer in Punjabis. Interestingly, when asked how much the previous Congress governments in Punjab are responsible for the deteriorated environment, he blamed only Akalis for the pollution as they ruled over the state for a considerable period. So much so, this is the fourth term of veteran Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal as Chief Minister, he added. Further clarifying, he said the previous Congress governments could not pay much attention on minimising pollution as they remained busy in solving problems created by successive Akali governments. Giving example of his grandfather Beant Singh’s government, Bittu said he had concentrated on eradicating militancy, for which Akalis were responsible. However, he failed to present any policy for minimising pollution if the Congress forms government after Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in February 2012. On this occasion, Congress general secretary and in-charge of PYC affairs Vikas Upadhyay said they were preparing data regarding the problems being faced by Punjabis after first-hand experience during the yatra.
	No move to curtail Punjabi syllabus, says GND University Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 Taking a serious note of news reports published in a section of media that the university plans to reduce Punjabi syllabus in BSc courses, the Guru Nanak Dev University today denied any such move. A university spokesperson clarified that the principals of some colleges had raised the issue of excessive syllabi in BSc courses and the same issue was discussed in the meeting of the College Development Council where it was said that the syllabi should be rationalised. Accordingly, the Dean was instructed to look into the matter. He emphasised further that the university did not aim at curtailing the content of any particular course or paper. The spokesman said thereafter the matter did not go to any academic body and neither any committee was constituted for the purpose. He said the “entire propaganda is aimed at maligning the name of the GND University by vested interests.”