The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Cops swoop down on resort-cum-gambling den Late night raid leads to recovery of Rs 7.5 lakh, says official figure PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 Raids conducted by the police at a resort at Fatehgarh Churian road bypass last night revealed large-scale gambling activity being conducted under the banner of a charity organisation. Senior police officials led the raid. Several couples, belonging to well off families were caught gambling during the raid, according to sources. Sources claimed that the police recovered more than Rs 80 lakh during the raid but the police officials pegged the amount at Rs 7.50 lakh only. The couples caught during the raid were later released on bail. As many as 125 couples were part of the programme who had procured tickets at the cost of Rs 5,500 each, sources said. They had been invited for a dinner and drinks party. A police party raided the resort at 2.30 am. Seeing the police party, the couples ran helter-skelter to evade arrest. The police had a tough time when they were taking the accused couples, a majority of them young and belonging to elite business class families and wards of politicians, as their family members reached the spot when they came to know about the raid, claimed the sources. The Sadar police has registered a complaint under relevant sections of the Gambling Act against Bikramjit Singh Bhinder along with several other unidentified couples. Police Commissioner, Amritsar, R P Mittal, said the police recovered Rs 7.40 lakh from the spot. Information that more than Rs 80 lakh had been seized is not true. He said any information regarding such activities would be looked into and a thorough probe would also be conducted. Sohan Singh, SHO Sadar police station said the case was registered on specific information that Bikramjit Singh Bhinder who had taken the resort on rent used to organise gambling at the venue. Net gain Official figures put the amount recovered at Rs 7.40 lakh. As many as 125 couples were part of the programme who had procured tickets at the cost of Rs 5,500 each. They had been invited for a dinner and drinks party. The main accused who had taken the resort on rent and couples caught gambling have been booked. Those arrested were later released on bail. official speak The police recovered Rs 7.40 lakh from the spot. Information that more than Rs 80 lakh were seized is not true. Any information regarding such activities would be looked into and a thorough probe would also be conducted — RP Mittal, Police Commissioner, Amritsar
	Come Diwali, city turns into a gamblers’ paradise Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 Call it entertainment of the rich or a vice, the tradition of playing cards on the festival of Diwali has grown manifolds. Many hotels, resorts, and houses in the walled city and in posh localities indulge in gambling to extract as much money as possible. Rough estimate suggests that gambling, which starts at least a month before Diwali, registers transactions worth crores. Wrapped in tradition, gambling has now become a well-administered illegal trade in which not only commercial establishments but also families get involved to secure as big a pie as possible. It has taken the shape of a well-entrenched business of which everybody, including the police and the district administration know but prefer to overlook for the same would vanish along with the Diwali festivities. Some believe that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, smiles upon those who play cards on Diwali night. However, in the lust to mint money many houses are turned into gambling dens as it would not arouse much suspicion. A large number of cars parked outside their residences may point to something going on. These house owners also wield their influence over the police officials, sources say. Traditionally in most homes people used to invite their friends and relatives over to play cards. However, with commercialisation, some people have turned it into a seasoned business. Players seek legitimacy for their unusual pastime by referring it to the tradition. Flash, rummy and koda, a game played with shells, are played on Diwali with rummy being the most popular one. A large number of hotels and resorts also offer to allow people to play cards. Majority of these hotels have managing partners, either belonging to some political party or the Police, thus putting a question mark on their seriousness for the implementation of rules. In return, they charge four folds rent for rooms used for gambling. This also ensures sale of their food and liquor. A majority of these organisers hold gamblimg sessions in the name of kitty parties and use coloured plastic chips round in shape called counters to play. Each colour is specified for a value. For example red denotes Rs 10,000, black Rs 5,000, green Rs 1,000. Busting such network thus becomes tough for the police. official speak We will take action against gamblers. Officials of all police stations have been directed to keep a close watch on any such activity and strict action will be taken against the accused. — RP Mittal, Police Commissioner, Amritsar
	Tiring paperwork pushes farmers into arms of private procurement agencies Farmers settle for low rates; moisture levels too high, say govt agencies GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 The private procurement agencies seem to be a favourite with the farmers here. They are opting for private agencies despite the fact that these agencies pay them less money as compared to government agencies. The reason is the unending and tedious formalities to be completed to sell their crop to the government agencies. The officials claim that the government agencies have liberalised their policy and are lifting the paddy at rates prescribed by the government. The private agencies have bagged paddy to the tune of over 25,000 quintals whereas the government agencies could get only 7,600 quintals, on Friday. The government has fixed Rs 1,110 per quintal for permal quality of paddy and Rs 1,080 for the coarse variety, but the farmers here were asked to sell the permal variety for between Rs 1,000 and 1,080 by private agencies. Despite the cost difference, the farmers agreed to bear the loss of Rs 110 per quintal of paddy rather than face the formalities required by the government agency inspectors. At Bhagtanwala grain market, PUNSUP procured 1,350 quintal, Pungrain 2,100 quintal, Punjab Agro 5,150 quintal, whereas Markfed is yet to jump into the fray. The high moisture level than the prescribed limit is the reason why the government officials cannot accept their crop. District Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Paramjeet Singh Sandhu said the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Rajat Aggarwal, has issued instructions to the farmers not to use the combine machines during late evening hours and the non-compliance of the orders would land them in trouble. “Yet they do it. This has resulted in the permissible moisture levels not being maintained,” he said. “This time, the moisture contents was recorded at 19. We have directed farmers not to use combine machines before 10 am or after 7 pm to maintain the prescribed moisture level. Violators may have to face police action. What they do generally is that in order to have more area covered in lesser period they operate the combine machines during late hours, whereas they seldom realize that it disturb the moisture level of their produce. Consequently, they would not get the desired price for their produce. The minimum support price for ‘A’ grade paddy crop is Rs 1,110 per quintal and for the IR 8 variety the price is Rs 1,080 per quintal. Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Rajat Aggarwal said, “The situation is not so grim. Private players outplayed the government agencies only before October 1, apparently, due to the refusal of government inspectors to lift the paddy. The situation is back to normal now and the government agencies are picking the paddy at the prescribed rate. The only condition is that the farmers have been told to maintain the stipulated moisture level. Also, with the opening up of export policy of rice, the government agencies have liberalised their policy and the lifting is picking up.” official speak The situation is not so grim. Private players outplayed the government agencies only before October 1, apparently, due to the refusal of government inspectors to lift the paddy. The situation is back to normal now and the government agencies are lifting the paddy. The only condition is that the farmers have been told to maintain the stipulated moisture level. Also, with the opening up of export policy of rice, the government agencies have liberalised their policy and the lifting is picking up — Rajat Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar This time, the moisture content was recorded at 19. We have directed farmers not to use combine machines before 10 am or after 7 pm to maintain the prescribed moisture level. Violators may have to face police action. To cover more area in less time, farmers operate the combine machines during late hours — Dr Paramjeet Singh, District Chief Agriculture Officer, Amritsar
	Two arrested for making fake driving licences, vehicle registration cards Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 Kotwali police today arrested two persons allegedly involved in making fake driving licences and registration cards. The two accused work with a private firm, according to the police. The police has registered a case under Section 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B of the IPC. According to the police, the accused include Shashi Mohan Chopra, a resident of Brahm Nagar, Lawrence Road, Inder Mohan, his daughter Isha and a servant Avtar Singh besides other employees of the firm. Inder Mohan and Avtar Singh have been arrested while other managed to escape from the spot, according to the police. According to the police, the accused used to make fake registration cards and driving licenses after faking the signatures of the previous and current District Transport officers. During the raid conducted by the police today, the police team also recovered as many as 12 fake stamps of clerks besides 40 vehicle Registration Certificates and as many driving licenses, according to the police.
	3 booked for making fake passports Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 Sadar police has registered a case of fraud against three persons, including a woman for allegedly preparing fake passports using fake addresses and false affidavits, according to the police. Deputy Director of Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, Government of India, in a complaint to the police has alleged that Balwinder Kaur of Raipur Kalan village, Baldev Singh of Nagina Avenue and Harbans Singh Ranjit Avenue were involved in preparing fake passports. According to the police, a case under Section 420, 467, 468 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered in this connection while no arrests have been made so far.
	pages of history Two-member ASI team visits historic Panj temple PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 A two-member team of the Archeological Survey of India from Chandigarh visited historic Panj Temple at Fatehgarh Churian, 27 kilometers from here today. The visit was aimed to take stock of the present conditions of the temple. Dr A Kaushik and Dr Garima Kaushik spent more than two hours in the temple and also interacted with the residents. They observed the temple premises and its unique style of tombs and splendid murals. They were impressed with the unique style of architecture of the Panj temple. The more than a century and a half temple was built during the reign of legendary Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh and has been a rich treasure trove of resplendent frescoes of Hindu deities besides Guru Nanak Dev along with his two disciples Bala and Mardana. Panj temple comprises four small temples of lord Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha and Surya in as many corners with the main temple of lord Krishna and Ram situated at the centre. The invaluable frescoes have been decaying due to a lack of knowledge among the area residents while the lower portion of the walls, which were adorned with priceless frescoes, of the three of the four temples, have been whitewashed by the caretakers of the temple. A small temple-like structure situated opposite to the temple lies closed and is in a shambles. The team did not reveal their findings. They would soon send a report to the higher authorities, said Rajneesh Khosla, who is known for his love for the preservation of handwritten manuscripts. He said he had written to the Director, ASI, and the Ministry of Culture to preserve the temple. The poor condition of the temple, which has a rich heritage, was highlighted in columns of The Tribune. Following this a team of Cultural Affairs, Archeology and Museums, Punjab, had also visited the historic temple. The temple has a very unique structure and is a blend of various arts styles, including Mughal, Hindu and Sikh Architecture and is not found anywhere in the region. The domes constructed on the top of the temple are not found in any other temple, the team had pointed out at that time. The pattern of the floors at the historic temple complex is similar to what was found during the conservation of historic Ram Bagh, Gurudwara Baba Atal Rai and Pul Kanjri sites. Etched in time The temple was constructed by Rani Chand Kaur of Kanhaiya Misal who was married to the elder son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The temple has a very unique structure and is a blend of various arts styles, including Mughal, Hindu and Sikh Architecture and is not found anywhere in the region. The pattern of the floor is similar to what was found during the conservation of historic Ram Bagh, Gurudwara Baba Atal Rai and Pul Kanjri sites. The aim of the visit was to observe the condition of the temple complex Panj temple comprises four small temples of lord Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha and Surya in as many corners with the main temple of lord Krishna and Ram situated at the centre. The invaluable frescoes have been decaying due to a lack of knowledge among the area residents while the lower portion of the walls, which were adorned with priceless frescoes, of the three of the four temples, have been whitewashed by the caretakers of the temple. The team would send a report about their visit to the higher authorities.
	Safai karamcharis call off strike, resume work GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 With the state government and safai karamcharis reaching a compromise, following talks between the CM, Punjab, and the safai karamcharis at Ludhiana, today, the city is likely to get rid of the piling garbage soon. The safai karamcharis suspended their strike and resumed their duties in the city today. They resumed work in the presence of Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) Commissioner Dharampal Gupta and City Mayor Shwait Malik. Representatives of safai karamcharis held deliberations with the AMC Commissioner and city Mayor over their demands pertaining to the regularisation of clerks and Class IV employees, release of arrears as per the Sixth Pay Commission etc. Meanwhile, another round of talks between the Chief Minister and the representatives of the safai karamcharis is scheduled to be held at Chandigarh on October 21 to discuss their remaining demands. Vinod Kumar Bitta, president of Safai karamcharis Mazdoor Union, Amritsar, said the cleanliness work would start from the Hall Gate this evening. The union had demanded the release of 40 per cent arrears due to 4,000 employees at the earliest and for faster avenues for promotions. "The AMC Commissioner and the Mayor had agreed to meet our demands and we have decided to call off the strike till October 21, the day our representatives would hold talks with the CM. Meanwhile, it has been unanimously decided to start the cleanliness work from Hathi Gate from today," he said. AMC Commissioner Dharampal Gupta said their demands on the local level have been accepted but other demands which fall under the prerogative of the state government need to be taken up by Punjab government.
	Remove tainted officials from key posts, says ex-soldiers’ body chief Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 While alleging that the state government has given key police posts to tainted officials, criminal cases against whom are pending in the court, Majha Ex-servicemen Human Rights Front has urged for them to be transferred immediately to other positions and appoint honest police officers in their place. Col (retd) GS Sandhu, chairman of the Front said under the Right to Information Act, the ADGP police administration has provided a list of 45 police officials who were facing various criminal charges pending in the court and ironically, all these officials are holding key posts in the department, he alleged. "Successive governments in the state follow a stick and carrot policy and only pliable police officers and bureaucrats were appointed on sensitive and prized posts. They then work as per the whims and fancies of their political bosses resulting in vendetta politics," Sandhu alleged. He said even the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the police department to remove such police officials facing criminal charges from important and key posts. However, the state government and the police department are in a denial mode and use these officials as per their convenience and interests. He alleged that this has resulted in poor law and order situation and transparency in the functioning of the department. He said as per the information acquired under the RTI Act, a senior IPS official Sumedh Saini, who has been holding the key post of ADGP (Vigilance), has been facing a case in a Delhi court. Col Sandhu urged that Sumedh Saini along with other 45 police officials should be removed from sensitive posts without any further delay and also called for the appointment of honest officials in their place.
	For this artist doctor small is beautiful Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 Think big, create small. City-based artist Harwinder Singh Gill seems to be working on the mantra. For this artist, his art must be small in size but big in impact. Specializing in making miniature sculptures from wood, also called Netsuke art form, Harwinder has not only carved out brilliance but also a niche in the field of art in Amritsar. “I began making miniature sculptures as a hobby but my quest turned it into my passion,” says the artist who is a dental hygienist by profession. Hailing from Madhopur village, his earliest inspiration was his dedication towards his culture and Punjabi virsa. "My early works were objects symbolising Punjabi culture, like manja, kirpan etc. When I started getting noticed, I used them as tools to promote culture for youngsters," says Harwinder. Over the years, both his medium and means have grown more interesting. These include cutting a discarded walnut wood tray into miniature sculptures, making a diya out of a nail, turning eggshells into his masterpieces by just drilling multiple holes, his best one has more than 10,000 holes. He has made what he claims to be the world’s smallest denture and has already earned a spot in the Limca Book of Records four times and his latest muse is pencils. "I have been carving pencil tips into alphabets, shapes and forms. I am now trying to make a record the fifth time using pencils to create my next piece of art. Just like his creations, his tools are also interesting. “I have my own set of miniature tools like dental grinders, files etc.” “Most of the times I end up destroying the entire sculpture. Like in eggshells, it is very difficult to drill holes with precision as 8 out of ten eggshells break while doing so. But over the time I have developed my technique,” says the artist. Like all artists, he too has carries social responsibility on the shoulders of his art. "I have taken up issues like female foeticide, water conservation and drug abuse to convey a message through my art. I dedicated a sculpture of the World Trade Centre at the tenth anniversary of 9/11 attacks. “I always try to do something different, which means, I can always make them smaller,” he says.
	Bhangra artistes win hearts at CII expo Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 The CII expo has become a venue for entertainment of residents. The four-day expo organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) showcased the cultural heritage of Punjab through a series of cultural performances. The main attraction was of course bhangra. One entertaining and cultural evening after another planned at the event, the programmes had a variety of acts, including bhangra performances by various teams from the city, musical acts and some adventure in the name of entertainment as well. The first events of the day was organised by Avon Cycles, which is exhibiting its latest range of sports cycles at the expo. The event saw some dare devils performing stunts with bicycles. It saw some young volunteers from the crowd as well. "The stunts were performed under supervision and felt good to be able to show off some guts in front of a live crowd," says Sahil Saini, a Class XII student who performed some tricks with a bike. A city-based artist Sameer Diwan added to the flavour of the occasion with his rap music performance. The second day was an instant hit with the Khalsa College team giving an electrifying bhangra performance with a dose of entertaining stunts in between. "The main aim to hold Destination Punjab entertaining cultural nites was to promote Punjabi culture and heritage. When in Punjab, what better entertainment than swaying to the beat of the dhol and enjoy bhangra," said a CII spokesperson. Also, several other professional teams from city schools and colleges gave folk dance performances like jhoomar and sang some traditional Punjabi songs to an enthusiastic audience. The live musical performances too reminded of the rich heritage of the region with instrumental music using folk instruments like chika, sapp, tumba, algoja, chimta etc.
	State needs tourism infrastructure Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 Panelists at a seminar on "Investment Opportunities in Tourism", held as part of Destination Punjab, organized by the CII were unanimous in their opinion that full potential of tourism in the state is untapped. To identify potential tourist sites in the state, a group of citizens of Punjab, NGOs, including, the World Wide Fund for Nature, CII, Intach, Progressive people from hospitality and aviation sectors today launched the Punjab Tourism Outreach programme. Former CII Punjab chairman Gunbir Singh said the pilot programme would be first implemented in Amritsar. He said the state was home to three rivers, canal network, wetland eco-systems at Harike, Kanjli, Kansal and Ropar. However, they largely remained untapped due to lack of vision and planning on part of the government as well as infrastructure. He said there were no tourist resorts and jetties for water sport near these water bodies. He said eco-tourism could be promoted in shape of nature walks, bird and animal watch activity and offering of camp sites. Similarly, he said, village lifestyle showcasing verdant green space, festivals and fairs of the state, including, Holla-Mohalla, Basant, Baisakhi,b Pashu melas, Maghi at Muktsar and Chappar mela could boost tourism in the state. He said before these there was a need to put in place waste management system, provide sanitation and cleanliness, traffic management, involve youth in the promotion for tourism. Amritsar, Airport Director, Sunil Dutt, also spoke in the benefits of international connectivity to the city and the state.
	Workshop on first aid organised Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 9 Dr Ganesh of the Lifesupporters Institute of Health Sciences, Mumbai, conducted a workshop on first-aid training attended by the NSS volunteers and NCC cadets at the NSS camp today. The camp was organised by BBK DAV College for women. The ace doctor gave three-hour interactive session on first-aid techniques to the volunteers and cadets. He briefed them on burns, fits, cuts, coma, heart attack, CPR, rescue breathing, artificial respiration, chest compressions and choking. Dr Ganesh also imparted knowledge on how to deal with injuries like soft tissue wounds, typical bruises, cuts and scrapes, along with spurting cuts and amputations. Focusing on the importance of first-aid, he said it should be the priority of every individual to stay safe and be prepared for any situation. The NSS coordinator, Harpeet Dusanjh, said first-aid classes were important to give tips on saving lives and minimising pain.