Amritsar, December 21
Joining hands with the protesting pharmacists, the PCMS doctors at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital today took to protest for three hours in support of their demands. Later, the pharmacists and doctors burnt the effigy of Health Minister Satpal Gosain outside the office of Civil Surgeon.

The strike by doctors put the general public to a lot of inconvenience as the Out Patients’ Departments (OPD) remained closed during the time. Many patients left without meeting the doctors.

Ujagar Singh, an attendant with a patient said, “We have been informed that the doctors are on a strike and so they would not see the patients. The people have no option but to wait for doctors. We cannot afford treatment in private clinics.” Even the registration counters are lying vacant because of the protests, he added.

Harwinder Kaur, another visitor at the hospital, said, “We have come from far away. Now I think we would have to come again. It has been more than a month that we are witnessing protests by employees. The government must do something,” she said.

Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar, president, PCMS Doctors Association, said, “We feel sorry for the inconvenience caused to the general public. However, it is the government that has pushed us against the wall and forced us to go on protest.” Dr Buttar said they are the last employees to go on protest after waiting for a long time for the government to respond.

The association has planned to continue with the three-hour daily strike till the problem is finally solved. “We may proceed on an indefinite strike if the government continued to be indifferent.” He said it is a “blatant breach of trust” on the part of government to backtrack after assuring doctors on their demands.

Amritsar, December 21
Despite grabbing headlines for all wrong reasons in the last few months, the high-security Amritsar Central Jail has failed to draw the attention of the state government.

The jail houses hardcore criminals, gangsters, notorious smugglers and others almost three times its capacity. Moreover, the jail staff strength is no match to overcrowded cells.

Grappling with acute staff crunch, there are just 158 policemen, including officials, to guard the high-security jail which has 2,800 undertrials and convicted prisoners against a capacity of just over 1,000 prisoners.

However, as per the sanctioned strength, a Central Jail should have 400 police jawans.

Out of the total policemen, some of them accompany prisoners to courts or hospital.

According to the jail norms, at least three guards should be kept with a jail inmate admitted in a hospital for treatment.

On many days there are just 120 policemen present in the jail to guarding around 2,700 prisoners.

Being the border district, a large number of prisoners languishing in the jail are either hooked to drugs or are notorious smugglers who continue to run their business as usual from inside the jail.

The alleged political patronage to a number of notorious criminals, gangsters and smugglers have made matters worse for the police jawans, who often become the victim of manhandling or threat. Though these jawans lodge complaints with their officials, nothing happens after that. The officials making requests to the ministry and authorities concerned don't work.

Several instances of clash among jail inmates, recovery of mobile phones and drugs, inmates thrashing doctors on duty have been reported in the past few months.

Last year a Pakistani prisoner Nayamat Ali went missing from the jail. Later, the then Deputy Commissioner in his report pointed out that he escaped due to the alleged negligence and connivance of the jail officials.

Rashpal Singh, Superintendent Jail, said he had already written to the Deputy Commissioner, Police Commissioner besides the government apprising them about the staff shortage. He admitted that verbal dual and attack of policemen or doctors had been reported in the recent past.

Amritsar, December 21
It’s the year end and time to relax, enjoy and welcome the New Year the way you want. The time of the year when Christmas festivities and winter holidays make room for some quick getaway. Take time off and travel with friends and family to the hottest tourist destinations.

December is the month for some fun and Amritsaris are preparing for holidaying at their favourite destinations around the globe. The wanderer in them at its peak, globe trotting is the thing to do this New Year’s eve for them. The city travel agencies have their hands full with bookings, some even six months in advance.

“It’s the best time of the year to holiday with schools off for winter vacations and Christmas providing ample weekends to spent time travelling. This year the hottest destinations are south-east countries, with ideal locations and beach resorts. Top on the list are Bali, Macau, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Thailand,” says Gunbir Singh from Divine Destination. Most of the south-east countries have the highest tourist flow in this season.

“The European and western countries have cold climate, low temperature during this season. So people prefer the warm, humid climate of the South Asian countries. This season is apt for a beach holiday,” Gunbir adds.

Well, the beach holidays need not be international as Goa is an all-time favourite among the tourists who want to celebrate the New Year in their country. “Given that the Christmas festivities are in full swing at Goa and it comes alive during the season, it is the number one choice for anyone who wants quality holiday in India,” says Gunbir.

Another favourite on their list is Dubai. “It has the perfect climate and calling for a dream holiday destination. It is already known for its shopping festivals and architectural marvels. Also, it has an exotic feel to it. Back home, Kerela, too, is one of the top destinations with its Ayurveda centres and divine natural beauty,” shares Vinod Gupta from Bhumika Travels.

Goibibo, too, has holiday packages on offer, spending New Year camping at Corbett, Sariska National Parks or enjoying a traditional bonfire at Chokhi Dhani and Neemrana Resorts in Rajasthan. If you are the one to celebrate the winter chill, then Goibibo holidays packages for Nainital and Bhimtal are up for grabs. They are also offering exotic holidays to Goa and Kerala this season.

With the rising inflation world over, the expenditure on a exotic holiday has increased, but doesn’t seem to have any effect on Amritsar’s globe-trotters. “People have to spend 20-25 per cent more this year on holidaying given the increased flight fares and other expenses, but still we are doing a better business than last year,” says Vinod. “Gradually, people are realising the need to travel and holiday as a part of regular break from their busy lives. So, we have increased tourist outflow,” adds Gunbir.

Amritsar, December 21
Big claims of the government and civic administration notwithstanding, disappointed residents of Gurnam Nagar area located on Sultanwind Road have decided not to cast their votes in the forthcoming Assembly polls to lodge their protest against indifferent attitude of the political leaders towards their locality which is grappling with the problems like broken roads, poor sewerage etc.

The residents alleged that their repeated requests over the last five years have been ignored by the leaders while saying that the development works would start soon.

"For the past four and half years, we have received only hollow promises in the name of development and that too when the councillor and MLA of the area belong to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal," said Harpreet Singh Chahal, president of Gurnam Nagar Welfare Society.

As the administration has miserably failed to meet their promises, we have decided not to cast our votes during the ensuing Assembly elections.

The residents put up banners outside their residences with slogans "Vikas Nahi Ta Vote Nahi, Vikas Karo Ta Vote Lavo" (no developments works no votes) written on it.

Criticising the continuous indifferent attitude of the political leaders, the inhabitants of the area said they would cast their vote only in the favour of those politicians who would initiate development projects such as correcting the faulty sewerage system and re-carpeting of broken roads. During rains, the water gets accumulated on the streets due to faulty sewerage system and uneven streets.

"We have to replace the faulty streetlights from our own pocket while repeated requests to civic authorities fell on deaf ears," said Harjinder Singh, another resident of the area.

"Our 'worthy' MLA had laid foundation stones for development of the only park that caters to many adjoining areas in 2008, but till date no work was done while the condition of belt has deteriorated over the years," said Gurdeep Singh Dhunna, senior vice-president of the society.

Amritsar, December 21
A youth, involved in an illicit relationship, was found murdered on Tuesday. The Chheharta police has booked five persons for the murder of Gurdip Singh. Those booked are Jasbir Kaur, her son Shera and three unidentified persons. Gurdip Singh allegedly had illicit relations with Jasbir Kaur. A case under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC has been registered on the statement of Balwinder Singh, a resident of Indira Colony, Kot Khalsa area.

Balwinder Singh told the police that Gurdip resided with him for last 15 years before moving in with Pappu, husband of Jasbir and a mason, two years back.

He said residents told him that Gurdip’s body was lying near the brick-kiln of Sardari Lal in the area. He rushed to the spot along with his son Sukhpreet Singh.

“We observed that Gurdip was hit on his head by some blunt weapon which had led to heavy bleeding,” he told the police officials, who reached the spot to investigate the case.

The police authorities said during preliminary investigation, it was found that Deepu had developed illicit relationship with Jasbir Kaur which had become a main cause of enmity between Shera and Gurdeep.

Senior police officials said raids were being conducted to nab the culprits who were on run since the registration of case.

Amritsar, December 21
With the cold wave tightening its grip in the region, inmates of Ran Basera, a house for the homeless, have been hit by infrastructure blues. Setting up of a stay house for destitute was a laudable step of the district administration, but 35 inmates complained of poor facilities at the Ran Basera. Window panes, doors and toilets are in poor condition at Ran Basera.

Rickety doors and missing glasses of window panes provide no help from the biting cold. The inmates have been provided mats to sleep, but these are insufficient to tackle the condition.

Suresh, an inmate, said each of them has been provided with a mat and a blanket, but that is not sufficient to help us. He said their only relief is that they can go to the rooftop of the building to warm themselves up under the sun.

Dharampal, caretaker of Ran Basera, said there was enough stock of duries and blankets. He added the inmates were provided with new ones from time to time. He said many of the inmates did not use these materials.

He said number of the inmates kept fluctuating and they were allowed to go out for work in the day and return to stay in the shelter at night.

Amritsar, December 21
The truck drivers, stranded at Attari-Wagah joint checkpost, today blocked traffic near the border and sit on a dharna in protest against the police and highhandedness of employees of a private parking lot owner at Attari near here.

The incident occurred when one of the truck drivers was injured by an employee of the private parking company over parking of a truck.

Jeet Pal Singh, the injured driver, said his truck was parked on the roadside near the joint checkpost when the parking lot employees asked him to park the truck inside their parking lot.

He alleged that when he refused to park the vehicle, an employee attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon hitting his left arm. When the Kahangarh police failed to act on their complaint, the drivers raised slogans against the police and parking lot owner.

Gursharan Singh and Shamsher Singh, both drivers, alleged that they had been stranded at the joint checkpost since December 6, but still they were waiting for their turn to transfer goods to the other side of border.

They urged the senior police officials to arrest and register case against the employees of private parking lot owner besides taking action against the policemen. Jagjit Singh, DSP, Attari, said though the incident occurred, the matter was later sorted out.

He said basically the situation erupted due to huge rush of trucks at the border post. He said now five policemen have been deputed at the point who would streamline the whole process of movement of trucks at JCP.

Amritsar, December 21
Members of the Joint Welfare Forum Ranjit Avenue (JWFRA) has issued a deadline to the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) to roll back its resolution of handing over an acre of land to the Bharatiya Janata Party to open its office in posh Ranjit Avenue E-block failing which they would hold a sit-in in front of the AIT office on December 26.

JWFRA president Sukhwinder Singh Dhanjal said the AIT earmarked the same land for community centre for the inhabitants of entire Ranjit Avenue scheme. He said same found mention in the maps of the AIT. He wondered that the AIT was now breaking its own rules.

He recalled that earlier also the AIT had tried to hand over the same piece of land to another organisation but it had to roll back its decision following protests by residents of the scheme.

The JWFRA on a written note alleged that that “AIT chairman Sanjiv Khanna was instrumental in getting the resolution passed in favour of his political party BJP to open its office here.”

JWFRA general secretary Gurdev Singh Kang said the land belonged to residents of entire scheme. He said moreover E-block was a residential colony and office of any political party would not gel well to its environment. On the other hand, it would add nuisance and would disturb its inhabitants.

He said if their dharna fails to move the AIT, then members of the association would campaign against the BJP in the forthcoming assembly election.

Amritsar, December 21
Members of Pakistan’s Punjab Bar Council today visited Amritsar on an invitation by the lawyers’ fraternity here. The Amritsar Bar Association organised a function to welcome the lawyers from Pakistan.

Bar Council of Punjab secretary Harpreet Singh Brar said, “The lawyers of the two nations should take an initiative to improve the bilateral relations. This is a step in that direction.”

The delegation of the Pakistan’s Punjab Bar Council, headed by Lehrasib Khan Gondal, would also be visiting the Bar Councils of Chandigarh, Agra and Delhi. Addressing the lawyers’ fraternity, Gondal said, “During the previous year we had visited Chandigarh for the Harmony Cricket Cup. We hope that lawyers and journalists from both the nations would continue to visit each other.”

President of the Nankana Sahib Bar Association, Hak Nawaj, said, “The two nations must improve their relations to emerge as stronger players in the international sphere. He also extended an invitation to the Amritsar Bar Association members to visit Nankana Sahib.

Amritsar Bar Association president Pradeep Kumar Saini welcomed the guests