Poor quality food dished out by big names leaves a bad taste 
Amritsar, February 23
A day after the health wing of the Municipal Corporation conducted raids and ordered suspension of six major food joints of the city, more such erring joints are likely to face MC ire. After closing down big names like Crystal, Beera Chicken, Kesar Da Dhaba and The Brothers’ Dhaba, the health officer with the MC, Dr Yogesh Arora has promised more strict action against the offenders.


The Brothers’ Dhaba and Crystal have been served notices by the Municipal Corporation. Tribune photos: Sameer Sehgal

Three snatchers, as many POs in police net
Amritsar, February 23
The police has arrested three snatchers allegedly involved in various snatching incidents and three proclaimed offenders (POs).





The accused in police custody in Amritsar on Thursday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Students turn teachers
Amritsar, February 23
It's payback time for 58 students belonging to poor families who cracked the Joint Entrance Test (JET). They are now helping more students like them to crack the same exam, the same way few kindhearted teachers had helped them last year.

Participants at the free JET coaching camp in Amritsar on Thursday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal 

Varsity prof is general secretary of sports body 
Amritsar, February 23
Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Dean, Faculty of Sports Medicine of Guru Nanak Dev University has been re-elected as secretary general of Asian Federation of Sports Medicine (AFSM) for a four-year term.

DAV College hosts athletics meet 
Amritsar, February 23
The DAV College organised its sports and athletics meet at its sports complex in Shastri Nagar here today. The inauguration ceremony was performed by former MP OP Soni.




Students take part in an athletics meet at DAV College in Amritsar on Thursday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal

Hindu jatha returns from Pak

Amritsar, February 23
The authorities at the Institute of Mental Health (Government Mental Hospital) here are finding it tough to stop an attempt of encroachment on the land belonging to the institute allegedly by a police official posted at Tarn Taran.

The encroachment bid was detected on February 13, after which information about the same was sent to various police and civil administration officials.

Director of the institute Dr BL Goel wrote on February 17, “A police inspector demolished the intervening boundary wall between his house and the mental hospital and has made unauthorised additional encroachment on the hospital land by constructing concrete pillars and plans to construct a house on this land.”

The letter was sent via email and posted to the Director General of Police, Managing Director of Punjab Health Systems Corporation, Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar and SHO of Police station Majitha road.

“I have tried to stop the construction activity, but the official resumes the same at odd hours, whenever he finds that the site is not under observation," Goel said in the letter.

Around five to six acres of the land owned by the institution has already been encroached upon for construction of houses on the right side of the hospital. The hospital has so far failed to get the alleged encroachers evicted from the property.

Even today, the director wrote a letter to the SHO Police Station Majitha road to inform that the construction activity is going on unabated. “It is therefore requested that immediate steps should be taken to stop this illegal construction,” Goel wrote.

Dr Goel said, “We have informed the authorities about the situation. I have talked to the person, but he has not stopped the activity." He said the hospital authorities have also made a complaint to the police.

Surinder Singh, SHO, Majitha Road police station, said, “Work on the site has been stopped. We had asked the person to do so after receiving a complaint in this regard. The person, against whom the complaint was made, claims that the land belongs to him.” He said the police are investigating into the matter.

Amritsar, February 23
A petrol pump in the district again became an easy target of looters. Employees of Kisan Service Station, located in Buttarkalan village, falling under Mehta police station in Amritsar rural district, were held at gunpoint and robbed of Rs 12,000 cash.

The incident happened late last evening. The police has registered a case under Section 379-B of the IPC in this regard. Hari Ram, a petrol pump employee originally hailing from Rajasthan, told the police that the armed looters came on a motorcycle and asked for washrooms. The looters seemed drunk, he added.

As soon as a filling station employee accompanied an accused towards the washroom, other accused demanded a matchbox to light cigarettes. When the employees refused, the accused brought out a pistol and put it on the head of an employee, identified as Vikram. Looters snatched all the money from employees and locked them in the washrooms. Interestingly, Buttarkalan police post is located just few metres away from the spot.

With the police failing to crack these cases, petrol pump dealers are a worried lot as such incidents are increasing with each pasing day. They have raised their concern with the state government and law enforcing agencies from time to time, but to no avail.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Amritsar rural) SPS Parmar said the department is working on these cases.

“Yesterday, we busted a gang of robbers and more such gangs were on our radar, which will soon be behind bars,” said Parmar. He said the DSP (D) has been deputed to handle the robbery cases at the petrol pumps.

Amritsar, February 23
The police arrested four members of a robbers’ gang and seized a country-made pistol, sharp-edged weapons and 500 g of narcotic powder from them. Three other members of the gang, however, managed to escape.

Those arrested were identified as Prabhjit Singh, Manbir Singh, Sunny of Jandiala Guru and Mandeep Singh of Nangal Guru area. The absconding members were Kuldeep Singh of Jandiala Guru and Jaimal Singh and Satta of Nangal Guru.

A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Arms Act has been registered against the seven.

A police party, which was on duty on Jandiala Guru-Tarn Taran bypass road, received a tip-off that a gang was planning a robbery near Devidass Pura village.

The police raided the spot and nabbed the seven, said Jaspal Singh, SHO Jandiala Guru police station.

The police seized 500 g of narcotic powder from Sunny and Mandeep Singh. A sharp-edged weapon and country-made pistol were seized from Prabhjit Singh and Manbir Singh. A stolen motorcycle was also recovered.

The accused were produced in the court and sent to police custody.

Amritsar, February 23
A day after the health wing of the Municipal Corporation conducted raids and ordered suspension of six major food joints of the city, more such erring joints are likely to face MC ire.

After closing down big names like Crystal, Beera Chicken, Kesar Da Dhaba and The Brothers’ Dhaba, the health officer with the MC, Dr Yogesh Arora has promised more strict action against the offenders. “As part of a regular check on hygiene and quality standards at various city food joints, we have already ordered six close downs and issued show-cause notices to various others. The drive has been carried out with direct orders from the Municipal Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.”

The above mentioned food joints are among the oldest food establishments in the city and have been featured in international travel shows as well. The officials found kitchens lacking in proper storage facility, no fire extinguishers or proper hygiene standards. Their licences have been suspended till February 26 under Section 347 (2) of the MC Act.

The MC officials also conducted raids at Kanha Sweets, Bansal Sweets and Bakery, Novelty Sweets and other prominent places on Thursday. “Novelty had maintained quality standards while shortcomings were detected at all others. They have been issued show cause notices for now, and in case of further violations they will be ordered to shut down permanentally,” said Dr Yogesh.

On the owner’s part, the decision came as a major disappointment. “We had followed all the guidelines laid down by the MC under the maintenance of quality standards. Objections raised on the installation of proper water purification system and storage facility were also taken care of. We had also replied to MC’s show-cause notice within the stipulated time period, notifying upgrade of the shortcomings mentioned. Even then our licences were suspended,” said a spokesperson of Cystal restaurant. Considered a part of proud traditions of the city, the restaurants were rated among the best. “It’s appalling to serve bad quality food when you are charging three times the service. Crystal has always been a very elite fine dining restaurant and follows a very loyal clientele. It’s shocking to know they had compromised with quality standards at the cost of the health of their guests,” said Ripudaman Singh Aulakh, a businessman from city.

Amritsar, February 23
The police has arrested three snatchers allegedly involved in various snatching incidents and three proclaimed offenders (POs).

Police Commissioner RP Mittal in a statement issued here today claimed that during special nakabandi near Randhawa Hospital on the Mall road, the Civil Lines police arrested Popli, a resident of Shakti Nagar and also seized a stolen motorcycle from his possession.

During interrogation, he revealed that he along with two of his accomplices identified as Gaganbeer and Anu Mental, had stolen this motorcycle from Lohgarh area on February 15. They were also involved in looting of a mobile phone from Shivam Nanda near Midnight Hotel in Ranjit Avenue area few days back. Mittal said a manhunt has been launched to arrest Gaganbeer and Anu Mental who have been absconding.

In another case, the police has arrested Jagjit Singh alias Laddi and his brother Harpreet Singh, both residents of Dhaul Kalan village from near Company Bagh and seized a stolen motorcycle besides 50 gram of narcotic powder from their possession. During investigations, the accused admitted to have snatched a purse from a woman on Lawrence Road on February 17. They also confessed of a snatching attempt from the Police Lines area. They were presented in the court today and sent in police remand, said Mittal.

The police has also arrested three proclaimed offenders wanted in two forgery cases registered at the Civil Lines police station here. The accused have been identified as Sukhdev Singh of Krishna Nagar, Ashutosh and Ashish Kumar, both residents of Delhi.

Amritsar, February 23
It's payback time for 58 students belonging to poor families who cracked the Joint Entrance Test (JET). They are now helping more students like them to crack the same exam, the same way few kindhearted teachers had helped them last year.

These students were part of the first batch of the free JET coaching initiated last year by Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir School in Maqboolpura and run by social activists Brij Bedi and Ajit Singh.

Maqboolpura is known as the locality of widows because of a large number of deaths because of drug abuse.

All belonging to the economically-weaker sections, these 58 students who have now decided to act as pupil-teachers (student teachers) are pursuing their three-year diplomas at the various government polytechnic colleges.

A student from last year's batch, Jass Singh, who is pursuing his diploma in garment technology at Mai Bagho Polytechnic College, said, "Had it not been for these kindhearted teachers, who helped us without charging any fee, we could not have dreamt of changing our lives."

The preparation for the JET at private coaching institutions, which is held every year for around 28 various kinds of diploma courses at the government institutions, costs nearly Rs 12,000. Most of the students from government schools fail as they cannot afford to pay for their tuitions.

"Many like us will fail to achieve our goals in life if we are not given a helping hand. Our teachers helped us and we will help more like us," said Jass Singh. Another student Gursevak Singh, pursuing a diploma in computer engineering from Government Polytechnic College, Bhikhiwind, said, "After attending the coaching classes we will help the students in their studies. We will concentrate on every student who comes here."

They said they had been visiting government schools in the villages to create awareness among the students for the course.

He said, "We tell the students that they can do these diplomas which are sponsored by the government after Class X." The practical and job-orientated education can help students from the economically weaker sections, said he added.

Ajit Singh said, "Last year, we had only 58 students and all of them were successful. This year our target is to coach at least 500 students." He said many of the retired teachers have joined the initiative. "We also welcome more retired teachers who want to be a part of this endeavour," said Ajit Singh.

Former GND University Vice Chancellor Dr Harbhajan Singh Soch attended a formal inauguration function of the new batch today.

Amritsar, February 23
Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Dean, Faculty of Sports Medicine of Guru Nanak Dev University has been re-elected as secretary general of Asian Federation of Sports Medicine (AFSM) for a four-year term.

He was re-elected by the Council of Delegates of Asian Federation of Sports Medicine, representing all the Asian countries, which met during the International Congress of Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine in Kish Islands free zone on February 21. The university released a press note in this regard here today. As per official announcement, the secretariat of the Asian Federation of Sports Medicine will function from the Department of Sports Medicine of GND University.

Dr Sandhu delivered a keynote address at the event and also conducted an international seminar on sports injuries in Gulf Medical University of United Arab Emirates.

He has also been nominated as the patron of the Indian Association of Sports Medicine for his contribution towards development of sports medicine in India.

Amritsar, February 23
The DAV College organised its sports and athletics meet at its sports complex in Shastri Nagar here today. The inauguration ceremony was performed by former MP OP Soni.

Students also took part in the march past. Events such as 100 meters race, tug-of-war and musical chair were organised for the teachers.

Principal Dr KN Kaul said the sports and physical education department has done a remarkable job by motivating students to compete in sports. He said the students are required to tak part in sports activities besides concentrating on their studies. Head of the Department of Physical education, KL Godara said, “The DAV institutes have a track record of having produced a large number of eminent sports personalities of national and international fame.”