The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Speeding car mows down 5 Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 16 As many as five persons were killed and five others were injured seriously in an accident near Marhana village, 32 kilometers from here, this afternoon. A speeding car ran over the victims when they were waiting for some vehicle outside Romana Palace, Marhana after attending a wedding function. The victims were waiting to catch some pubic transport vehicle to go back home. The Micra car (number PB-41C- 2803) allegedly responsible for the accident was coming from Amritsar and after over taking some bus ran over the victims. Besides, the ambulance belonging to Uddan Trust and another ambulance of 108 (health department) and another vehicle was arranged to rescue the victims. Two persons died on way to the Community Health Centre, Sarhali, while two more died on way to the Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran, and one died on way to a hospital in Amritsar. Dr Karanjit Singh, Civil Surgeon, said only an injured Naresh Kumar of the nearby village has been been identified. The deceased have not been identified so far. SHO Harike Tarlok Singh said a case under Section 304A, 279 of the IPC has been registered against the driver of the car who fled from the spot.
	Former cop woos voters on a bike in Nakodar Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 15 He is the former policeman who likes to start things right from the grassroots level. A rebel, a fighter and a man who knows a thing or two about survival, he is one person whose spirit is what got him a party ticket. Impressed PPP president Manpreet Badal took him into the party fold when he heard his success story. Kanwaljit Singh Kakra is known in his constituency for his unique campaigning methods and eventful past. A constable with the police department, he gave up his job (that paid Rs 50,000) sick of the out of turn promotions that he saw happening in his department. “Both me and my friend Sandhu were recruited as ASIs in 1989. When we were sub-inspectors, guys who had joined with us had been promoted to DSPs. We questioned the disparities but no one had an answer to our questions.” Sandhu gave up the job and took to selling water melons (a move that drew mockery from colleagues in the department) then he took to driving his own taxi. His story soon found favour with Manpreet Badal who fielded him as a candidate at Nakodar. With assets of nearly Rs 7 lakh (much of them in the form of immovable assets) help from friends and well wishers funds his campaign. He campaigns mostly on his motorcycle or on foot, using his taxi rarely. He says he is touched when people whose he door he knocks on show extraordinary kindness. “We have got 1000 pamphlets printed on our funds but do not have money for more. An NRI supporter is funding some. But the other day a voter at Bilga village offered to get 1000- 1500 pamphlets printed just in the first meeting with me.” He and his friend Rajinder Sandhu (who was formerly posted as ASI at Jalandhar and gave up his job for the very same reasons) actively campaign in the Nakodar assembly constituency. “We have covered 157 villages and are looking for more. We walk about 20 to 25 km per day.” His poll plank - “Of course the reason for which I gave up my job - a better police system. Education and employment come right next. We would like to see a developed constituency where a sense of justice prevails.”
	Awareness drive for voters from today Nawanshahr, January 16 The district administration in collaboration with NGOs, educational and religious institutions has chalked out a programme to launch an awareness drive for voters. The drive would encourage people not to take money or liquor from groups who intend to influence their voting preferences. Awareness seminars in the three Assembly segments would be organised from January 17 to 19 at RK Arya College, Nawanshahr, Sikh National College, Banga, and BKM College of Education, Balachaur. Banners stating “Your Vote, Your Voice” would be distributed in education institutions. People would be asked not to cast votes under influence of money or liquor. — OC
	Disciples pay musical tribute to beloved teacher Aparna Banerji /TNS Jalandhar, January 16 While teachers often say that respect for gurus is an attribute that is on the wane these days, students of a local college have set an example by organising a special commemorative event for their beloved teacher here on Saturday. Fifteen students of local Apeejay College of Fine Arts held this event to pay tribute their teacher Dr Geeta Dutt, a lecturer in the department of music. While the students wanted to hold the event as early as 2010, they never had enough money to do the same. However, this year with the help of some local music foundations and contribution of Rs 1,000 from each of the students they were able to realise the dream of paying musical tribute to Dr Geeta Dutt. Monika, a student at the college, said, “I was not her student but I got to know her through my dance teacher, who was her student. Her kind nature and amiable semblance won all heart.” Bhupesh Komal, a student, said, “I was fascinated by her teaching and used to sit through her classes to learn music. She taught all eager students and took pains for her disciples. A student once told her he couldn’t give his exam because he did not have money to pay fees. She took out Rs 8,000 from her purse at that very moment and gave it to him. She appreciated what we sang and corrected us. She touched many students’ lives.” The event, Shraddha Suman, held in her memory last night saw eminent musicians of Punjab gathering to pay homage to her. Jalandhar-based Sparc Foundation (Dr Dutt was one of the founding members) and the Saigal Memorial Hall authorities also contributed for the event. The event saw performances by veteran artistes like Pt Ramakant (tabla), talented young sitarist Deepsankar Bhattacharya among others. Other performers were Arihant Sharma, Tausheen, Shashi Subhash, Dr Neeraj Gandhi and Sukhdev Sagar. Special Guest Talented sitarist Deepsankar Bhattacharya played Raga Kirwani and Pahari during the event. It was Dr Dutt who invited him to the Harivallabh for his 2007 performance. After that they met in Delhi earlier that year and since then he held her in high esteem. “The news of her demise reached me when I was at Europe. I couldn’t believe it. Since then I wanted to visit her home. I was in touch with her students and they wanted to do something since 2010.They weren’t getting financial help from any quarter, which was sad.” I am happy that I finally could pay homage to her. Deepsankar, who says Jalandhar is like a second home to him, has been tutored by his father Pt Harashankar Bhattacharya and Dadaguru Padma Bhushan Abdul Haleem Zafar Khan in the sitar for the past 20 years. A trained Indian classical sitarist, the Kolkata-born musicians also likes fusion music and improvisations with his friends whenever possible. He said, “Classical music is food for the soul but to keep the youth interested, fusions in sitar and drums or keyboards are always a goof idea. I have just one condition. The composition should be mine.”
	Rs 41 lakh seized Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 16 Local administration and police seized Rs 41 lakh during a checking near Singla Resorts between Phagwara and Goraya today, said SP Kamaljit Singh Dhillon. He said, “Gurmukh Singh of Atti village was travelling in a Tata Indigo car (PB-07w-0193) which was stopped us and the amount was recovered from him.” SP Dhillon said this is the third incident of money seizure in the recent time. Police has so far seized Rs 68 lakh. The motive behind carrying the amount was yet to be cleared. During checking of vehicles to prevent the anti-social elements to take advantage of poll process, police headed by SHO (City) Sarwan Singh Bal has arrested two drugs smugglers and recovered 200 gm of heroin worth Rs 1 crore from a motorcyclist identified as Rakesh Kumar of Jalandhar. The accused was nabbed near local Chahal Nagar Chowk here today. He said total twelve were booked for violating poll codes, while 1,097 out of 1,151 licensee weapons were deposited in police station.