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Passage to schools remains a risky ride
Residents annoyed over MC's proposal to build SCOs along heritage site
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Drug smugglers get innovative to dodge police
Drug peddler held with contraband drugs, currency
Man robbed of SUV
Violation of building bylaws irks residents
Turpentine oil scam
Brawl at High Court: Bar Assn to continue protest
One held for raping minor
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Passage to schools remains a risky ride
Amritsar, March 6 A lack of follow-up to rein in the errant bus and autorickshaw operators coupled with a callous attitude of the school authorities has made the passage to schools quite unsafe. The Tribune team took a round of the city only to find that the Supreme Court guidelines are hardly being adhered to. Even the police school bus that ferries children was without windowpanes and specified yellow colour as directed by the apex court. Many buses were found without conductors. Though the SC guidelines prohibit the speed limit beyond 40 km per hour, drivers were found driving rather rashly. Students were either standing in the alleys or sitting on others while some were even spotted standing near doorways. A number of buses did not have mandatory horizontal grills on windowpanes, first-aid box or fire extinguisher. In many cses, TATA Magic, a goods carrier, is being used for ferrying schoolchildren. Children are packed inside auto-rickshaws in violation of the SC guidelines, according to which, only six children can be ferried in an autorickshaw at a time. Schools located on busy roads
A number of prominent schools are located near busy roads such as the Mall Road, GT Road, McLeod Road and bypasses including Fatehgarh Churiyan, Verka, Jalandhara. Students are made to board or alight school buses on the main roads only. Most of the schools in Amritsar do not provide bus transportation to students thus forcing parents to rely on pick-up vans and auto-rickshaws. Social activist Naresh Johar said, "It is strange that semi-literate drivers are being held responsible for violations while school managements escape the law by outsourcing transportation to private hands." DCP (traffic) Ketan Patel said, "Basically it is the job of the District Transport authorities to see if vehicles ferrying schoolchildren comply with the norms. We can only issue traffic violation challans which we have been doing." District Transport Officer (DTO) Angrez Singh said, "It is for the traffic police to keep tabs on school vehicle offenders. We only realise the challaning amount varying between Rs 1,000-3,000 depending upon the gravity of offence. As far as the vehicle's safety is concerned, we have been quite firm before giving annual clearance to them. District Education Officer (Secondary) Rasal Singh Malhi said before seeking affiliation, it was mandatory to submit an affidavit by the school management concerned to give details about means of transport, registration number, valid permits and fitness certificates. Sources said such affidavit was submitted as a mere formality as most of the schools had outsourced transportation. Violations galore
Rules to be followed
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Residents annoyed over MC's proposal to build SCOs along heritage site
Amritsar, March 6 Those opposing the move contend that besides adding to the traffic congestion on the stretch, it would also lead to hampering the significance of the historical gates. The MC is all prepared to go ahead with its plan to auction the 1,750 square yard stretch. The proposal for making provision for 46 SCOs has been finalised by the Municipal Town Planning Department. The bids were invited on February 20 for cleaning up the debris lying over the site to pave way for the project but it could
not take place after court stay orders. Even as the MC temporarily withdrew the move to avoid any legal hurdle, insiders said it was going to hold auction again very soon as the earnings from this would be to the tune of Rs 30 crore from the project. "The stay orders were valid till February 22 only. The MC had withdrawn the move but it is going to float fresh auction bids for the site soon," he said. The entire inner circular road has been encroached upon by shopkeepers from Hall Gate to Ram Bagh and to Maha Singh Gate. Most of these are deal in iron products and vegetables. These shopkeepers and visitors will have no choice but to park their vehicles in the middle of the road as there will be no space left for parking Naresh Johar, a resident, said the area needed to be made encroachment free as the stretch could serve the purpose of bearing extra load of the main circular road that runs parallel to it. "The new MC proposal will add to the congestion besides spoiling the heritage site," Johar said. Jagdish Singh, another resident, said there was no need to raise shops here, especially when there was were a lot of shopping lots starting right from the entrance of the Hall Gate. "It is nothing but a money minting exercise of the MC at the cost of the convenience of residents,"
Jagdish Singh said. MC Commissioner Bhupinder Singh said, "The congestion factor on the stretch is very much in our mind. We have drafted the proposal after having made provision for extra parking space. Once this project gets through, it will solve the prevailing parking mess." Contention
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Drug smugglers get innovative to dodge police
Amritsar, March 6 This came to the fore during the interrogation of notorious cross-border smuggler Sukhjinder Singh who was arrested by the counter intelligence wing of Punjab Police, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), on February 21. Probe revealed that besides using Pakistani SIM cards for executing drug trafficking bids, these smugglers were taking link roads connecting various villages. “They are doing this to avoid police checking. Link roads connecting various villages with cities are a favourite among drug peddlers as these roads are less frequented and there is hardly any police checking,” said an SSOC official. “Even this consumes longer time, it suites them,” sources said. Sukhjinder revealed during the investigation that he along with his accomplice Malkeet Singh would smuggle consignments using Pakistani mobile SIM cards which cold not be traced by Indian telecom companies. After receiving drug consignments from Pakistani side, he further revealed, they would pass through various link roads along Attari to reach Jhabal road towards Tarn Taran and then enter the main
GT Road. Modus operandi
Revelation
The matter came to the fore during the interrogation of notorious cross-border smuggler Sukhjinder Singh who was arrested on February 21. He revealed that he along with his accomplice Malkeet Singh would smuggle consignments from Pakistani side and would pass through various link roads along Attari to reach Jhabal road towards Tarn Taran and then enter the main GT Road
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Drug peddler held with contraband drugs, currency
Amritsar, March 6 The police recovered about 500 gm intoxicants, cash worth Rs 3.90 lakh besides Rs 10,000 counterfeit currency notes from his possession.
Sanjiv Sharma, in-charge, Narcotic Cell, said 20 notes of fake Indian currency of Rs 500 denomination were purportedly manufactured in Pakistan. Sharma said Kumar had sold contraband worth Rs 3.90 lakh to someone. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused was arrested on similar charges in 2011 and was presently out on bail. The Narcotic Cell in-charge said a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances had been registered against the accused at the Kamboh police station. Chandan has been sent to two-day police remand and further investigations are on in the case.
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Man robbed of SUV
Amritsar, March 6 Thereafter, they fled with his vehicle, he informed. A case under Section 392 IPC, 25/54/59 of the Arms Act has bee registered against unidentified persons. Purse snatched
Unidentified motorcycle-borne youths snatched a purse from a Chandigarh resident when she was traveling in a rickshaw near the Sakatari Bagh area. Minni Bagra, the complainant, said the accused came on a black motorcycle and snatched her purse containing Rs 12,000 and a mobile phone besides other valuables.
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Jail staff living in grimy conditions
Amritsar, March 6 The dirty water that spills over from the drains located along their houses accumulates at the approach roads itself and water gets accumulated at the entrances of their houses, while exposing them to various diseases. A visit to the spot revealed that it was difficult to pass through the dirty water ponds filled up with stagnant water in the jail complex, without putting handkerchief on the nose. Even the waiting hall located at the entrance gate was found to be surrounded by wild weeds and water was stranded on all sides making it uncomfortable for the visitors to sit. These dirty water ponds have become breeding ground for the mosquitoes. The basic problem is that the place is located about one-and-a-half-foot below in comparison to the main road passing along the jail. The wall which separates this area from the main road is found to be
broken and the sewerage passing through is chocked with sullage. Consequently, the rain water gets in and keeps accumulating inside the complex. Since there is no passage through which the water can drain out, the whole complex gets flooded with water and filth. The family members of the jail staff said during the rains, it would be a Herculean task to reach their homes as the whole stretch leading to their houses would be swamped with water subsequently leaving it muddy and sticky. "It is quite discerning that we have been living under such unhygienic circumstances but the MC authorities have turned a blind eye," said residents, who informed that several representations have been made to the corporation that at least they should make arrangements for regular cleaning of this stretch, but in vain. Official Speak
The problem is in my knowledge. A few days back, we had drained out the stagnant water but all efforts went waste because of untimely rains. The moot problem is that there is blockage in the rain water drainage passage. I will get it done on priority. As an immediate measure, the water accumulated in the jail premises would be sucked out tomorrow positively — Bhupinder Singh, AMC Commissioner
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Violation of building bylaws irks residents
Amritsar, March 6 Residents said due to the blind corner, chances of accidents were frequent, thus creating difficulties for the vehicles. “When the Municipal Corporation is initiating action against the hotels and other commercial buildings which are constructed against the norms, then why the authorities could not see the clear violations in the residential areas. Why they are silent when they have already been informed about this,” said Dr Rakesh Sharma, an inhabitant of the area. In a letter to the Municipal Corporation commissioner, the residents alleged that the unauthorised constructions were being raised in connivance with the officials in the building department of the MC. He alleged the owner had encroached upon a portion of the road by putting up iron grills. He urged the commissioner to immediately stop the illegal construction work as per the law. Bhupinder Singh, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation said he had received a complaint and ordered the MTP Department to look into and take the appropriate action if there was any violation.
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Turpentine oil scam
Amritsar, March 6 The District Food and Civil Supply Department has initiated a probe in this regard and many heads of ration depot holders, who have come under scanner, are likely to roll in the case. The blue colour kerosene is meant for the economically weaker section of society which is distributed through the ration depots. The seizure of huge quantity of the blue kerosene has baffled the Police Department as well as the District Food and Civil Supply authorities which wasted no time in the initiating a probe in the regard. The Police Department had also sealed another haul of kerosene from a storehouse a few days back. The Kotwali police raided such storehouses and seized about 18,000 litre of kerosene and adulterated turpentine oil. The raid was conducted after a tip off from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Punjab police. In the two raids conducted by the police, three persons have been booked, including Ved Parkash, Raj Kumar and Rajiv Mahajan. However, sources in the department said it was not possible for gathering such a huge quantity from Amritsar alone. They said the ration depot holders from the neighbouring districts such as Amritsar rural areas, Batala and Tarn Taran might also be involved in this case. But they quickly added that it was matter of investigations and only police officials could ascertain these facts. “This is a very serious issue. The blue coloured kerosene is surely meant for public distribution system and it seemed that the accused involved in this illegal trade are also hand in gloves with several ration depot holders, who have been pilfering the oil meant for the poor families,” said Dr Rakesh Singla, District Food and Civil Supply officer. He said anybody found responsible for pilferage would not the spare and dealt strictly. “Yes, there is a strong possibility that the kerosene found from the storehouse was smuggled from ration depot holders. We are investigating into the matter,” said Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa, SHO, Kotwali police stations, while adding that raids were being conducted to nab the culprits who have been absconding.
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Students enthral audience at annual function
Amritsar, March 6 He took the opportunity to elaborate upon Dr Hundal's multi-faceted personality and especially on how Dr Hundal finds solutions to all issues, merely through a calm and deeply introspective approach. Dr Mehal Singh presented the annual report and emphasised on how had acquired a huge strength of almost 2,000 students. The function commenced with the ceremonial Gurshabad "Shubh Karman Te Kabhu Na Taron." The cultural items like the traditional Mirza added gusto to the already charged event. Plays depicting social themes like addiction, corruption etc were enacted. Daljit Kaur and her group presented a vibrant action song. Comic items stole the show. The students also presented Gidda and Bhangra towards the end. Meritorious students, both in sports and academics, were awarded medals, trophics and certificates. Almost 250 students had participated in the blood donation camp and were honoured for their active participation. Daljit Kaur bagged the student of the year award while Ritu Bhagat was chosen for the coveted Prof Poonam Sehgal Award. Dr Hundal congratulated the winners. The college co-ordinator, Dr Sukhmaninder Pal Singh thanked the guest. Dr Manjit Kaur conducted the stage. All the college teachers performed their duty with utmost dedication. The programme thus, turned out to be huge success. The chief guest applauded the efforts of the staff and appreciated their team effort. Prize distribution function
Sarkaria Model Senior Secondary School, Mathua, organised its annual cultural and prize-distribution function today. Guru Nanak Dev University Registrar Dr Inderjit Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. As many as 70 students were awarded in the fields of education, religion, culture and sports by the chief guest. Founder of the school and former professor of the English Department of Khalsa College, Dr HS Boparai, chaired the function. Principal Malwinder Kaur Sarkaria elaborated about the achievements of the school while honorary director of School BS Sarkaria extended warm thanks to the parents and teachers at the end. Dr Inderjit Singh stressed that parents should not think that after admitting their children to the school their responsibilities were over. Students participated in choreography, social and religious theme based plays which added gusto to the already charged event. Others present on the occasion included SGPC assistant secretary Gurcharan Singh Karinda, Dr Shameer Singh.
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Brawl at High Court: Bar Assn to continue protest
Amritsar, March 6 The association has decided to extend its strike for two more days. Association president Pradeep Kumar Saini said the decision had been taken after the Punjab and Haryana Bar council's meeting today. Saini said the advocates would continue the protest till the FIRs registered against advocates in Chandigarh were quashed. Meanwhile, the litigants which had visited the district court complex from far-off areas, were harassed as advocates refused to participate in hearings. Instead of the advocates their munshi's accompanied the litigants to court rooms, where they managed to procure another date for hearing of the cases. Jagtar Singh, a litigant said, "It already takes years for a court to decide on a case, the strikes of the kind further delay the process." He said he was not aware of the strike by the advocates and thus feels that his entire day was wasted. Bar Association general secretary Gurpreet Singh Panesar while justifying the strike said, "The legal fraternity is expected to stand by all aggrieved in the legal cases and how could it not support its members, who were aggrieved in this case." He said the police had falsely implicated advocates in Chandigarh.
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One held for raping minor
Amritsar, March 6 Tarsikka police station SHO Gurvinder Singh said that a case under Section 376 of the IPC has been registered in this regard.
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