Jalandhar, June 7
Agitated over the “dilly-dallying” attitude of the Jalandhar (Rural) police on the issue of a pending inquiry into the alleged false cases slapped against the persons opposing the illegal sale of liquor in Nurpur village, residents of Nurpur and surrounding villages held a protest in the front of the SSP (Rural) office here today.

Owing to his vocal opposition against the liquor mafia, members of the gang operating illegal liquor business allegedly beat up Hari Mittar Badhan, a resident of the village, on May 15.

After the villagers sounded alarm, he was recovered with grievous injures and a broken leg by a police team from the house of one of the members of the liquor mafia, named Meiji, around 4 pm.

Later, on the basis of the statement given by Meiji’s wife immediately after the incident, the police officers concerned, who were hand in glove with the liquor mafia, had registered almost similar cases against Badhan and five of his friends, alleged Raj Rani, Badhan’s wife and a panch of the village.

The protesters alleged that on the behest of liquor mafia-politician nexus, the police was deliberately delaying the inquiry into the case, in which a “false” cross case had been registered against Badhan and five of his friends on the basis of a false complaint given by Meiji’s wife.

“In the last 20 days, the inquiry into the case was handed over to three different police officers. The rapidly shuffling of inquiry from one police officer to another proves that the police doesn’t want to complete the inquiry into the cross cases registered against Badhan and other anti-liquor activists,” she alleged.

She alleged that immediately after the incident, the inquiry was handed over to the SHO, Kartarpur, and then to an Inspector-level officer of the CIA Staff, Jalandhar. “However, when the officer just begun with the inquiry, it was shifted to another DSP-level officer. Politicians of the area want to delay and influence the inquiry. Otherwise, who can be behind this shuffling?” she questioned.

Sukhwinder Pal Singh, resident of the village, alleged that despite the repeated complaints given by the villagers, the liquor mafia was still active in the village.

The protesters demanded that those involved in the illegal sale of liquor in the village should be immediately booked.

Ashish Chaudhary, SSP (Rural), said he was not in the city and was not aware of the protest.

Jalandhar, June 7
Aimed at implementing and evaluating effective road safety interventions on risk factors like “drinking and driving and speeding”, NGO ArriveSAFE held a day-long workshop on “Engaging in road safety” here today.

The workshop, which was held in association with the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), highlighted the “Road Safety (RS) 10” pilot project, under which city-based NGOs, educationists, leading industrialists and the district traffic police took part.

From educating the select gathering about causes of accidents to the rapid action of the health teams at the accident sites, the workshop was an eyeopener for many. The RS 10 pilot project would be implemented within a month in the city and if successful it would be implemented in the entire state.

President of ArriveSAFE Harman Singh Sidhu said local NGOs played a very important role in implementing this project successfully in Jalandhar. “Earlier during the first workshop held in February we had taught the traffic police as how to check ‘blood alcohol concentration’ in human body. It was decided to issue special health kits to the traffic police,” he added.

Harman Sidhu was accompanied by adviser of the GRSP Cessie Sylvia Petchi, Commissioner of Police Gaurav Yadav and ACP (Traffic) Diljinder Singh Dhillon.

Gaurav Yadav assured of every possible help from the police in taking this project to the masses. He also spoke about enhancing the knowledge and capacity of the NGOs to make the pilot project a success.

Talking about the causes of accidents due to not wearing helmets and seat belts while driving, Dhillon said, “This is a good development that Jalandhar has been selected for the pilot project besides Hyderabad in the country. We would be starting this pilot project within one month and now the real enforcement of this project lies in our hands as well as that of the local NGOs and educationists,” he quipped.

ACP Dhillon also released data regarding the number of fatal accidents which took place due to not wearing of helmets and seat belts in the city during the past one year. “Last year we implemented some strict traffic rules in the city, which led to positive results. We witnessed 35 per cent decrease in fatal road accidents in the city as compared to 2009. The reason was that a majority of the road accidents victims died due to severe head injuries and the usage of helmets and seat belts brought this number down,” he said.

Even the NGOs who participated in the workshop expressed their willingness to reach out to the grass-roots level in the city to make this project a success. Professor Lakhbir Singh from NGO Pahal said although a bit tedious and difficult but the project could surely bring about a major change in the traffic safety scene in the city. “The masses as well as the youth might find it difficult to accept a change in the traffic system, but this project will go a long way in changing the system,” he said.

Anup Vatts from the Citizens Welfare and Protection Council, Jalandhar Cantonment, said, “The World Health Organisation (WHO)-funded project has clearly defined the role of the NGOs and it is time that we reach out to schools, colleges and the local people on the roads to educate them.”

Phagwara, June 7
Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Harkesh Singh Sidhu has appointed District Revenue Officer Rajbir Singh to investigate the complaint and allegations of former councillor Kusum Sharma and submit a detailed report in one week.

This was stated by Phagwara Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Amarjit Pal while talking to mediapersons here today.

Former councillor Kusum Sharma had sat on a fast unto death seeking justice  in a case of her land and the fast could be ended only after the assurances of the administration to investigate the matter soon.

Jalandhar, June 7
A 10-member team of Apeejay School, including Ravneet, Nahmeet, Saisha, Jasmine, Manjot, Aditi, Shresht, Rishabh, Parminder and Priya, accompanied by a teacher, Pooja Patial, attended the International Space Development Conference held at Huntsville, Alabama, USA.

The students visited the US Space and Rocket Centre, Propulsion Centre, University of Alabama, Huntsville, and learnt about rocket launching and space exploration. They met many rocket scientists, and astronauts, who shared their experiences with the students.

They also got an opportunity to watch planets through astronomical telescopes in Sidewalk Astronomy along with the Planetarium Show.

Jalandhar, June 7
City resident Harbinder Singh received the first Apple iPhone-4 at the Aircel showroom in Model Town here today.

Vikas Kapoor, Zonal Business Manager, handed over the set to him and with this customers can buy the gadget at company’s exclusive showrooms in Chandigarh, Amritsar and Ludhiana.

iPhone-4 features a five mega pixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording, retina display, Apple’s A4 chip, iOS 4 and more. It also allows you to access more than 500,000 apps from the App store.

Nakodar, June 7
Hundreds of inhabitants of Dhandowal village in Shahkot, led by a Congress leader, burnt an effigy of sarpanch Baldev Singh accusing him of playing a part in selling an already sold house.

They also submitted a memorandum to the reader of the Shahkot SDM.

Congress leader Surinderjit Singh Chatha, leader of Punjab Rangeta Dal Joginder Singh Tiger and panchayat member Baldev Singh alleged that Resham Singh had sold his house to Kashmiri Lal of Shahkot and it was further sold to Balwinder Singh of Dhandowal village for Rs 4 lakh.

The alleged role of Baldev Singh came to fore when Paramjit, son of Resham Singh, who firstly owned the house, again sold the property to NRI woman Naseeb Kaur by showing it a plot instead of a house and the sarpanch officially testified it. The sarpanch even wrongly verified the ownership details of the property.

When contacted,Baldev Singh said he was not aware that there was a fully furnished house instead of plot. He said Paramjit, who sold the house to the NRI woman, gave him wrong information. He said though registry of house has been done, he has informed the naib tehsildar about the foul play. — OC

Jalandhar, June 7
The men and women of Jalandhar have a fascination for clothes. But save for the travelling types, mostly kitsch and gloss rules in the city while there is a dearth of those who might understand understated, minimalist or ‘thinking’ fashion.

If there is a difference between blindly following fashion trends and exploiting contemporary fashion to make creative personal statements, Jalandhar doesn’t understand it.

The recent upsurge in independent shows and visits of prolific designers at exhibitions in the city, however, has given fashion enthusiasts a lot of hope (though they admit it’s mostly about the economics).

With many upcoming malls and the city’s growing fashion keenness, trade pundits predict more designers might be on their way to the city but most entrepreneurs chose to stay tight lipped about it.

Presently, there are only three designer franchises in the city and they are crucial in determining the city’s perception about designer fashion. A look at the role they play:

Ritu Kumar: The franchise of Ritu Kumar was set up in October 2010, and the proprietors (they don’t wish to be named) say is doing extremely well.

The entire Ritu Kumar collection here is handpicked by us, they say. We know Jalandhar’s concern of being taken non-seriously. But we knew the pulse and knew it wasn’t devoid of people with A-grade choices. We got the very best for them.

Ritu Kumar has a prêt line, formal party wears and bridals marked by classic elegance. And if we believe the owners it is doing extremely well.

USP: Traditional formals, works rich in Zardozi and Odi workmanship. We have examples of finest workmanship and outstanding finish.

Jalandhar and fashion: There is a strata that understands fashion and there is another that doesn’t. Fashion is generally on an upswing in the city. We see the reflection in our customers and their choices.

Study by Janak: An all men’s collection, it came to Jalandhar three years ago and is proof that the city’s men are as keen on fashion as the women. Grooms love their wedding line and their Italian linens with custom fits are a rage among the corporate class.

Their vibrant casuals collection for the season is much loved.

Bina Chopra, who runs the Study by Janak franchise at Jalandhar, says what’s surprising is the extraordinary interest of rural masses in their clothes.

USP: Italian fabric, interesting cuts and unbeatable collection for grooms.

Jalandhar and fashion: There is awareness and people know a lot more than they knew a couple of years ago. The recent Study by Janak show was received really well. Some years ago the audience responded differently.

Satya Paul: The first to be established in Jalandhar. Franchise owner Roopali has fought quite a few odds. One of Satya Paul’s marketing guys had visited her boutique’s workshop (that she still runs side by side) three years ago and popped the question: would she like to run a Satya Paul franchise?

It was a big decision but it has paid off. In the beginning very few people knew about it and those who even did took some time in understanding things from a fashion perspective.

But lately the local customers are pouring in and business is much better. The middle-aged women love our saris while the younger generation prefers trendy dresses, tunics and halter necks or other blouses.

USP: Quality of fabric and printing. Vibrant saris.

Jalandhar and fashion: Things are getting better but still only 10 per cent of the people buy things while fully understanding the fashion viability of it.

Jalandhar, June 7
The Punjab Congress has demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged unconstitutional allotment of over 644 acres of land at throwaway prices to Baba Ramdev in Uttrakhand.

Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira said the BJP government had flouted norms to allot land to the Baba around his yoga headquarters in Haridwar twice in 2008 and 2010. The shady deal warranted an enquiry by the apex investigative agency to expose the collusion of the state government and the Baba, he pointed out.

Interestingly, the land in question had been donated by the erstwhile Patiala rulers to the then Punjab Government to house the destitute and poor children in the holy city, he revealed.

In addition to this, the yoga empire had come up on a land forcibly acquired from various villages of the area and no legal procedures were followed while doing so, he alleged.

“How can a person whose Yogpeeth had allegedly evaded stamp duty in 16 different cases and has been fined for such acts of omission and commission can even claim to fight corruption in the country, let alone go on a so-called satyagraha?” he questioned.

The Congress leader said although his party appreciated and supported the crusade by non-political people like Anna Hazare to fight the menace, it strongly criticised exploiting the issue by Ramdev to further his political ambitions with the blessings of the BJP and the RSS.

On Union Minister of Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay, he said the minister had actively promoted Ramdev’s Patanjali Food and Herbal Park in Haridwar when he was holding the portfolio of the Food Processing Ministry.

In fact, the party should take strict action against the minister if his involvement with the Baba was established, he added.