Amritsar, December 21
Personal enmity between two families took an ugly turn today.A youth, identified as Dharminder Singh, was brutally attacked and injured while his wife was raped by Dharminder’s maternal uncle, idenitified as Piara Singh, and his three sons.

On the statement of Dharminder’s wife, the police has registered a case under Sections 364, 376, 307, 323, 324 of IPC and Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act against Piara Singh, his three sons Pampi, Pappu, Nikka and Joginder Singh and his wife Jeeto, all residents of Ajit Nagar situated on Sultanwind Road.

The incident took place when the couple was going to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh in the wee hours. The accused kidnapped the couple at gunpoint and took them to a secluded place where they committed the crime.

Dharminder Singh is a resident of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar.

Dharminder’s wife in her complaint said the armed relatives hit their motorcycle with their car when they were going to pay obeisance at the gurdwara. She alleged they brutally beat her husband and took them to a forest area after covering their eyes. Dharminder fell unconscious after he was thrashed by Piara Singh and his sons. They then raped her repeatedly, she alleged.

“I somehow managed to call up my relatives when the accused fled from the scene after committing the crime,” she said. Dhaminder was rushed to a government hospital where his condition is stated to be stable. Balwant Singh, SHO of Sultanwind police station, said the police was working on various points and medical examination of the victim girl was conducted.

He said according to preliminary investigations that Dharminder had killed a son of Piara Singh for which he underwent life imprisonment and got released only three years back.

However, he added that it was too early to say anything and further investigations were under progress. 

Amritsar, December 21
A marble stone standing amidst weeds and thick grass speaks volumes of the ‘who cares’ attitude of the Amritsar Improvement Trust.“340-acre Vikas Scheme de wich parkan di beautification de kamma da udghatan” (the inauguration of beautification of parks under 340-acre Vikas Scheme) is inscribed on the stone, which was installed in one of the community parks of the housing wings located in New Amritsar in 2006.

The trust had conceptualised the idea of developing New Amritsar as a replica of city’s posh area Ranjit Avenue. But it was not to be.

The moment you enter the New Amritsar gate, the awful conked out roads will give you a bumpy ride.

People of the area believe that the trust can generate revenue by leasing out New Amritsar roads to motor companies to test the shock absorbing capacity of their vehicles.

The condition of roads is such that when it’s rainy season, the residents find it a Herculean task to negotiate the foot-long deep pits to reach their home gate. Those riding two-wheelers are more prone to accidents because of deplorable road conditions.

Another noticeable fact is that Gammon Engineering Company, which has undertaken the flyover project on the GT Road, has established its store on large chunk of land falling in New Amritsar. The trucks which transport the huge concrete slabs for the flyover project pass through number of times from this route and damage the roads.

Similarly, the parks in almost all the wings of housing complexes cry for immediate attention of the authorities. Dejected by the authorities’ indifferent attitude, the residents have initiated to clean up the area falling around their houses.

“We have hired labour privately to cut this wild grass because no civic authorities ever bothered to get them timely trimming. It is the job of the authorities concerned to look after but we have to do their jobs”, said Ramesh Bali, a resident. 

Tarn Taran, December 21
Government staff in large number was found absent in different offices during surprise checks conducted by as many as 14 teams of the district administration.Those found absent included teachers from different schools.

In a press note issued by the administration, the Vet Dispensary in Goindwal Sahib was found to be locked.

Partap Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Harjit Kaur, teachers of Government Senior Secondary School, Bhalaipur Dogran, 30 kms from here, were found to be absent since the last many days.

Sarwan Singh, a teacher of Government Elementary School, Pindian, Kanwalpreet Kaur, a teacher of Government Elementary School, Siwian, and Rajwinder Kaur of Government High School, Dalake, were also found absent from their duties.

Sharanjit Singh, clerk of Government Secondary School, Aladinpur, besides Kuldeep Kaur, Sawinder Kaur, Inderjit Kaur Satpal of Civil Dispensary, Dhotian, were also found absent.

The staff in large number from Rural Civil Dispensary, Takhtuchak, and its vet dispensary and the staff of vet dispensary, Gandiwind were also absent from their duties.

The DC said the report would be sent to the higher authorities of the department concerned for action to be taken against the erring officials and employees.

Amritsar, December 21
Panchrang, a group of painters, has come a long way in its five-year long existence. It had a humble beginning with just five painters and today the number stands at 60.An exhibition by the artists, displaying as many as 20 paintings, is underway at Thakur Singh Art Gallery here since December 18. It will conclude on December 24.

Panchrang earned the national fame when 11 of its members figured in the list of 51 painters, selected from across the country to exhibit their creations at Maharaja Art and Craft Gallery, Gurgaon.

A local artist and teacher by profession, Mala Chawla, said members of Panchrang were all set to approach the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to help in building an art gallery named after the group.

Membership of the group is restricted to postgraduate people with proven skills in painting. All its 60 members are life members.

However, the group has enlarged its scope by absorbing the training part of the budding artists. Mala said presently there were about 500 students belonging to different schools of the city associated with the group.

Each student has to pay an annual sum of Rs 200. In return, they are trained in nuances of varied branches of painting and take part in many contests organised by Panchrang.

The group is expected to come up with its first booklet containing pictures of the creations of its members early next year.

Usually artists are known for secluded lifestyles, painting their imaginations in various colours and hues in remote corner away from the prying eyes.

It was in 2005, Mala conceptualised the idea of floating an organisation of the painters. She shared her idea with four colleagues, who readily agreed to join the venture. Thus was born ‘Panchrang’, an organisation of painters, devoted to enlarge the sphere and influence of art.

Other four founding artist-members were Atul Mehra, Dharmendra Sharma, Kulwant Gill and Bhupinder Singh Nanda.

Panchrang organises joint exhibitions, workshops and seminars from time to time.

Mala displayed her creations in various exhibitions during her about two and half a decade long eventful painting career. Her paintings have drawn applause from the Punjab Lalit Kala Academy, Chandigarh; Vijay Information of Art Centre, Hyderabad; Art Exhibition by Camlin, Mumbai; and by Wisdom Society of Creative Art, Delhi.

In its effort to reach the common people, they held a show at Jallianwala Bagh annually to pay tribute to the martyrs. She recalled that on one such occasion an enthusiastic youngster from Jalandhar drew a picture of Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation, and presented it to Panchrang.

The artists’ organisation provides a much-needed platform to budding artists to learn intricacies from senior artists painting along with them.

Amritsar, December 21
The police today released sketches of suspected snatchers who looted Rs 6.2 lakh from Pardeep Kumar Sharma, an accountant of Khanna Paper Mill yesterday.The armed miscreants forcibly intercepted Sharma when he was going to the mill after disbursing money to the party and fired at him before snatching the money.

The police urged the people to give information regarding the three suspected persons to police officials. He had withdrawn a cash amount of Rs 7 lakh from a bank in Ranjit Avenue. A case under Sections 394 and 34 of the IPC has been registered at Sadar police station in this regard.

Amritsar, December 21
The annual art and craft exhibition was held in the premises of DAV Public School, Lawrence Road. The theme of the exhibition was ‘Going Beyond the Books’ in which the work of small children from Play class to Standard III was exhibited.

Principal Neera Sharma said, “As the name itself suggests that learning is not only confined to the text books but there are various other activities which form an integral part of the curriculum to develop various skills in children. The English junction gave a glimpse to the various concepts used in language teaching in an inter - active way , whereas the parents and children were enthralled to see the Maths Land created with craft items. The cityscape set up gave environment friendly messages.

Tarn Taran, December 21
Bringing ahead the improvements in the jail administration of the state, the State Government has decided to recruit 500 jail wardens, besides already recruited 24 assistant jail superintendents.

This was said by Heera Singh Gabria, Minister for Jail and Tourism, Punjab, while talking to newsmen here yesterday.

The minister was here today to address the district level Grievances Redress Committee.

Besides, Deputy Commissioner Khushi Ram, heads of different departments and representatives of all political parties participated in the meeting.

The minister further said the state government had earmarked an amount of Rs 1,100 crore for the overall development of towns under the ‘Town Development Fund’ with which all the civic amenities would be provided in the urban areas.

As many as 23 complaints were on the agenda in the meeting, out of which 15 issues were resolved on the spot.

Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, former chairman Markfed and Chander Aggarwal, chairman local Improvement Trust, were among the others who brought the problems of the area to the notice of the minister.

Strict instructions regarding traffic were issued by the district administration.

Amritsar, December 21
Sedentary lifestyle and improper postures have contributed to rise in the number of persons complaining of backache and other ailments, pushing physiotherapy to expand its ambit.

In this sphere, manual therapy is a comparatively new entrant as it hardly uses machines, said Dr Shubhkarman Kaur at the opening of physiotherapy clinic here.

A majority of physiotherapy units employ machines to offer services. However, as per this technique, emphasis is on hands-on treatment rather than leaving clients for extended periods on machines. She said she strove to be the pro-active interface between the health and fitness industries, delivering high quality care.

The focus was on restoring wellness and a return to full participation in sporting and recreational activities, unrestricted ability to work and achieving desired lifestyle goals.

She said manual therapy constituted pain management, orthopaedics, exercise therapy, manipulative therapy, rehabilitation, remedial massage, gym facilities, group exercise sessions and lectures on “no lift manual handling”. 

Amritsar, December 21
NGO Mission Aagaaz, dedicated to environmental issues, today urged the Municipal Corporation, district administration and forest department to organise baby and flower shows in the holy city.

“Earlier, these shows used to be organised annually in the memory of noted writer Bhai Veer Singh by the MC. But it was discontinued in 2000 for the reasons best known to the administration,” said Gurbhej Singh, general secretary of the organisation.

The organisation also urged MP Navjot Singh Sidhu to initiate appropriate steps in this regard as it would go a long way in spreading awareness against pollution and violence that have increased leaps and bounds in the region. He pointed out that flowers, which are a symbol of love, will surely be helpful in creating an environment of peace and tranquility.

Deepak Babbar, executive director, Manjit Jangra, CEO, and K.S. Takkar, president of the organisation, have decided to plant flowers in the memory of those who lost their lives in any kind of violence, especially in the 1984 Sikh massacre and Bhopal Gas Tragedy. — TNS

Amritsar, December 21
It is a myth that the energisers help in stimulating the sexual instincts whereas it actually helps in toning up the whole body, says Anil Rahi, Area Sales Manager of Pentavox Herbals, a Ludhiana-based Ayurvedic medicine company, which participated in the Arogaya mela that culminated here today. Interestingly, a number of stalls have come up in the mela where the companies have displayed such medicines.

A number of people are thronging these stalls, claim the owners of these stalls.

Unlike, earlier times the people especially from rural areas are openly coming up by shedding their hesitation to consult their problems. “The quacks and various companies are allegedly exploiting the people by describing these medicines as improving the sexual powers,” said Rahi while adding that the basic purpose of these medicines were to make a person healthy, developing stamina, improve the immune system and energize the whole body.

“The western countries are adopting Ayurveda very fast while as compare to our citizens who were forgetting our rich traditional way of treatment,” said Rahi.

Devinder Bhatia of Keshav Herbs said that in earlier times the people used to manufacture these drugs in their homes which not only cure the problem but also make a person healthy. “Ayurveda can cure various diseases like diabetes which even allopathic way of treatment failed to heal till now,” said Bhatia.

Meanwhile, Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Punjab Health Minister while addressing the valedictory function said that more than 2 lakhs people visited during the four day mela. She said that Arogaya have succeeded in its purpose of connecting the people with traditional way of treatment that include Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and Homeopathic way.

She said a large number of people took advantage of the mela by purchasing medicines and getting free consultations of various experts for the different diseases they are suffering from.

R K Talwar, Home Secretary, at the valedictory function, congratulated the Health Department and said more than 70 companies involved in manufacturing Ayurvedic and Homeopathic medicines participated in the mela.