J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Separate ministry should be created for senior citizens: Tandon
Jalandhar, October 9
A separate ministry should be set up both at the Centre and in states to deal with the grievances of the senior citizens.

Former minister Balramji Dass Tandon addresses a press conference in Jalandhar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh

Adulteration: Offenders will not be ‘spared’
Jalandhar, October 9
With the festive season on his mind, Punjab Health Minister Satpal Gosain today clearly stated that offenders playing with the lives of the common man would not be spared this season.

Hoshiarpur youth dies saving girl in Paris
Hoshiarpur, October 9
A youth of Dumana village, Hoshiarpur, Rajinder Singh, scarified his life while saving a girl in Paris. He made his country and particularly Punjab proud when on October 2 he tried to stop four Arabian youths from molesting a girl near Balini city, Paris.

Punjab Pollution Control Board seizes 95 kg polythene
Pathankot, October 9
Shopkeepers and stockists, dealing in wholesale items, in the city and the adjoining town of Dinanagar were in for a surprise today when the officials of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) raided their establishments following complaints that banned polythene bags were used.

Suspected ISI spy in police net
Faridkot, October 9
Two persons including a plumber in the Military Engineering Service (MES) wing of Faridkot cantonment were rounded up by the police yesterday for their alleged links with Pakistan’s Inter-service Intelligence (ISI).

55 gastroenteritis cases reported
Phillaur, October 9
Fifty five persons, including 21 children and 10 women, fell ill due to gastroenteritis in two Dalits colonies of Bilga in Phillaur. The supply of contaminated water was the cause of spreading gastroenteritis, said the Health Department officials.

Murder case solved, 2 held
Nawanshahr, October 9
Dr Narinder Bhargav, SSP, in a press release issued here today said that the police had solved the murder case of Kamal, alias Kaka, of Rahon within 24 hours. They have arrested two brothers, Joginder Pal, alias Laddi, and Jaswinder Kumar, alias doctor. Giving further details, Bhargav said during investigation it came to light that the victim Kamal Kumar had developed illicit relations with Jasvir Kaur, wife of Joginder Pal.

2 held, 7 vehicles recovered
Tarn Taran, October 9
The District police has busted a five-member gang of vehicle lifters by arresting two of its members and recovering seven vehicles.

Two injured in firing over land dispute 
Batala, October 9
A woman and few others were injured in firing here when two groups started fight over land dispute.

Separate ministry should be created for senior citizens: Tandon
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 9
A separate ministry should be set up both at the Centre and in states to deal with the grievances of the senior citizens. Demanding this during his visit here today, a former Punjab minister and national convener of the BJP Senior Citizens Cell, Balramji Dass Tandon, said the population of senior citizens in the country was at present over 17 crore.

The number of senior citizens had increased over a period due to better health facilities after Independence in general and in the recent past in particular, he added.

Presiding over a meeting of the district conveners of the cell in Punjab, Tandon said the number of grievances of senior citizens too had increased with the increase in their population and changing system of society, so it was the need of the hour to create separate ministries.

Tandon said the cell had already prepared a charter of demands relating to the senior citizens of the country after consulting their various NGOs.

The charter of demands included their concern about security, healthcare, pension, travelling facilities, bank interest, income tax, court cases and placement of senior citizens in the committees.

Elaborating, Tandon said a system should be created to dispose of court cases of senior citizens within a stipulated time. Foolproof security of the citizens living alone should also be ensured and a senior citizen should be paid minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month, he added.

Adulteration: Offenders will not be ‘spared’
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 9
With the festive season on his mind, Punjab Health Minister Satpal Gosain today clearly stated that offenders playing with the lives of the common man would not be spared this season.

In the city today to inaugurate a physiotherapy centre at a private hospital, Gosain said this season those found indulging in the illegal practice of selling adulterated khoya and/or sweetmeats to people would not be spared. He especially talked about initiation of strict action against people bringing in consignments of adulterated food material from outside the state.

Talking about the drug menace that had been hounding the youth of the state, he said instructions had been issued to health officials to keep a check on the sale of intoxicants at chemist shops. He said strict action would be initiated against the offenders in this regard. His rather diplomatic retort on the issue of the many ongoing protests by various medical employees of the state was that a protest was not a way of sorting out problems on such serious issues.

Hoshiarpur youth dies saving girl in Paris
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, October 9
A youth of Dumana village, Hoshiarpur, Rajinder Singh, scarified his life while saving a girl in Paris. He made his country and particularly Punjab proud when on October 2 he tried to stop four Arabian youths from molesting a girl near Balini city, Paris.

According to the family, Rajinder Singh (27) went to Paris about seven years ago to earn a living. He was working in a restaurant at Balini city. On 2nd October when he was returning home by metro, he saw four Arabian youths molesting a young Paris girl. He intervened and tried to stop them. The four assaulted and beaten him mercilessly and threw him out from the moving train. Some of the passerby saw him laying on the railway track. He was admitted to the nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Commissioner Jalandhar, Anurag Sharma, along with Deputy Commissioner Hoshiarpur, Dipinder Singh, and other officials went to the deceased family yesterday. They appreciated Rajinder’s bravery and said every Punjabi was proud of him. Kulwant Kaur, the mother of the deceased, lamented that she wanted to see her son settle down.

The officers assured they will bring the body of the deceased to India for performing last rights. They also assured to construct a gate in the memory of Rajinder at the entrance of Dumana village. The family said that the France government had declared Rajinder Singh as the hero of Balini city.

Punjab Pollution Control Board seizes 95 kg polythene
Tribune News Service

Pathankot, October 9
Shopkeepers and stockists, dealing in wholesale items, in the city and the adjoining town of Dinanagar were in for a surprise today when the officials of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) raided their establishments following complaints that banned polythene bags were used.

A three-member team led by the Hoshiarpur Regional Office Executive Engineer, Sandeep Bahl, seized 95 kg of plastic carry bags during the raids. Bahl urged the shopkeepers and wholesale dealers to hand over their stocks of polythene products to their respective Municipal Councils which will dispose them off as per the norm of PPCB.

Bahl held an impromptu meeting of scores of residents and shopkeepers and told them polythene was not a biodegradable product and if it was dumped in the soil it would cause immense harm to plant and the environment. The team members informed the public that polythene threatens life in the water bodies as well.

“The chemicals in polythene affect the survival of flora and fauna of the aquatic and marine eco-systems. Polythene often clogs drain which leads to flooding due to the interruption in the free flow of water,” said Bahl.

The Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), Pooja Sharma, said if a polythene was burnt in open air hydrogen cyanide is released, which is carcinogenic (cancer causing) in nature. The team members warned that they would continue with their surprise raids.

Suspected ISI spy in police net
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, October 9
Two persons including a plumber in the Military Engineering Service (MES) wing of Faridkot cantonment were rounded up by the police yesterday for their alleged links with Pakistan’s Inter-service Intelligence (ISI).

The 45-year-old plumber was taken into custody following a tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the military officials.

Terming the matter as highly sensitive, police authorities chose to remain tight- lipped about the custody of the plumber but unofficial sources revealed that the plumber, who was posted for over 25 years in Faridkot cantonment, was working as a spy for the ISI. He was providing important military secrets related to the Faridkot cantonment to the Pakistan agency on his mobile phone.

A DSP level police officer has been deputed for the interrogation of the plumber and the details of the case would be discussed after a thorough probe and questioning of the plumber, said Sat Pal Singh Sidhu, SSP Faridkot.

The prima facie investigation and the interrogation of the suspected spy revealed that he was passing on the secret information to the ISI for over 18 months, said sources in the police. 

55 gastroenteritis cases reported

Phillaur, October 9
Fifty five persons, including 21 children and 10 women, fell ill due to gastroenteritis in two Dalits colonies of Bilga in Phillaur. The supply of contaminated water was the cause of spreading gastroenteritis, said the Health Department officials.

Everyone was admitted to Bilga, Noormahal and Phillaur Civil Hospitals. The SDM, along with health officials, visited the hospitals to enquire about the health of the patients. Free medical treatment would be provided to all admitted in different hospitals, said SDM. — OC

Murder case solved, 2 held
Parmod Bharti

Nawanshahr, October 9
Dr Narinder Bhargav, SSP, in a press release issued here today said that the police had solved the murder case of Kamal, alias Kaka, of Rahon within 24 hours. They have arrested two brothers, Joginder Pal, alias Laddi, and Jaswinder Kumar, alias doctor. Giving further details, Bhargav said during investigation it came to light that the victim Kamal Kumar had developed illicit relations with Jasvir Kaur, wife of Joginder Pal.

A few days ago, Joginder came to know about it and had an altercation with Kamal and warned him also. But Kamal continued meeting Jasvir in his absence and Joginder, too, kept a close watch on them.

At around 11 pm on Thursday, when Kamal came to Joginder’s residence, he along with his brother, Jaswinder, and Jasvir, beat Kamal to death. Then they put the body in a gunny bag and threw it on Rahon-Nawanshahr road. Both the arrested accused had confessed to the crime. The police is investigating the case further to ascertain the involvement of the other accused in the crime.

2 held, 7 vehicles recovered

Tarn Taran, October 9
The District police has busted a five-member gang of vehicle lifters by arresting two of its members and recovering seven vehicles.

Makhan Singh, SP (Headquarters), said on Saturday that the arrested gang members have been identified as Sehajpreet Singh of Ludhiana and Sukhpreet Singh of Faridkot. Amandeep Singh, Ranjit Singh and Gurmit Singh were the three accomplices who managed to escape. On a tip-off the police had held a naka on the bridge of Bhullar canal. Sehajpreet and Sukhpreet Singh were arrested with a Zen and a Verna car. — OC

Two injured in firing over land dispute 

Batala, October 9
A woman and few others were injured in firing here when two groups started fight over land dispute.

Hazara Singh, the complainant, from Marrianwala village stated that their family had seven canals of land in the village since 1998. Balwinder Singh Chattha along with Davinder Singh, Shamsher Singh, Gollu, Googi, Kashmir Singh, Manohar Lal Sharma, and 14 to 15 other unidentified persons tried to take possession of their land.

At the spot, Balwinder Singh Chattha used fire arms and sharp-edged weapons to injure Satnam Singh and his mother Sukhwinder Kaur.

The police apprehended Balwinder Singh and Davinder Singh, both resident of Alowal village, at the spot while the other accused managed to escape. Hazara Singh alleged that the police was siding with the accused as they allowed the culprits to run away from the spot. He also accused that Manohar Lal Sharma, a close confident of a local MLA, is behind the whole occurrence.

On the other hand, the DSP (city) Sakattar Singh said the police would not show any laxity in the matter and will apprehend all those involved in the incident. The police has registered a case. — OC