Brother, sister duo skate their way into record books
Amritsar, March 9
The city’s own roller-skating little wonder, Mehak Gupta, has done it again. The nine-year-old national skating champion has proved that if you have the guts, you are bound to succeed.

House burnt, one hurt in group clash 
Amritsar, March 9
Following a clash between two groups in the Noori Mohalla located near Bhagtanwala, a group allegedly burnt a house. One person was reportedly injured in the clash.

Two booked for minor’s rape
Amritsar, March 9
The Lopoke police has booked two persons for allegedly raping a minor girl at Bhilowal Pakka village.

HIV patients shy away from registration
Amritsar, March 9
Social stigma has been keeping away HIV patients from registering themselves for the Antyodaya Ann Yojna (AAY).

Amritsar, March 9
With the arrest of a man, the city police today claimed to have solved the blind murder case in which a youth's body was found buried in Sandhu Colony, located on the Majitha road, on January 25.

The body was found by a labourer, who was digging the floor of a residential building which was lying closed for the past six months. The Sadar police station had initiated the action under Section 174 of the CrPC after exhuming the body.

The police had arrested one Nirmal Singh, alias Nimma, a resident of Anandpura village, Tarn Taran, who had been living in Bakarkhana, Kapurthala.

It was chance arrest by the Kotwali police which nabbed him with 100 intoxicant capsules. A press release issued by the city police claimed that Nirmal was arrested by the police when he was coming from the Akal Takht side near Golden Temple. Following this, a case under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was registered against him.

During interrogation, he revealed that he had killed the labourer, identified as Rakesh Kumar, after a dispute between them over the payment of his daily wages.

He said he used to work as a mason and was doing the job of laying floor tiles. He said on October 26, 2012, he brought Rakesh Kumar, a migrant labourer from Tungbala Chowk on the Majitha road. He said he did not give any wages to him after work, as they had started drinking. He said at this, Rakesh Kumar entered into a brawl with him and started using abusive language. Enraged at this, Nirmal Singh attacked him with a hammer-like equipment on his head and face. Rakesh died on the spot. He then buried his body in the dug-up floor and fixed the floor tiles on it and fled. He told the police that during this period, he remained involved in construction work at one place or the other.

The police authorities said a case under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC had been registered in this regard.

Schools should take the responsibility for providing safe transportation of the kids. Being a mother of two school-going kids, I have to keep a check on their safe pick-up and drop-off myself. But hearing about such incidents, I agree that parents are always worried and it's become risky sending the kids to school. Schools should ensure that drivers of the school vans are disciplined and safe on road
— Muskaan Vermani, housewife

It’s such a callous attitude towards innocent lives that was responsible for the death of 13 schools kids in Jalandhar, and the city is no better. One such incident has brought to light many loopholes in providing safe school transportation. With such high fee structures and claims of a better education for your child, it becomes the responsibility of the school to at least care for child safety
— Kuljeet Singhl, advocate

I think it’s highly condemnable that such reputed institutions show such neglect towards innocent lives. The authorities should take possible action against any flouting of road safety, especially with school transportation
— Amanpreet Singh, businessman

It’s a problem common to most schools in the city. Parents take a risk in sending their kids in school vans, as most of the time, the drivers indulge in drunken or rash driving, irresponsible behaviour and late drops-offs. But they have no option since transportation becomes necessary on a daily basis. It’s a sad fact that some well-known established educational institutions are least concerned to provide safe school transportation
— Jyoti Kapoor, housewife

Amritsar, March 9
The city’s own roller-skating little wonder, Mehak Gupta, has done it again. The nine-year-old national skating champion has proved that if you have the guts, you are bound to succeed. Already having numerous records and awards to her credit, the skater has added yet another feather in her cap by making a new record in the India Book of Records.

This one, though, is a bit off the mark than her previous feats. Mehak has become the first to touch her elbow with her tongue for a minute, a feat deemed impossible by many.

She touched her elbow with the tongue for 140 times in a minute, creating a new record in the India Book of Records at the Record Breaker’s festival held in Delhi in February. She practised for six months to make this happen. "I was asked to do it 80 times in a minute but managed to do so 140 times,” says Mehak. And she was joined by her elder brother, Chirag, in the record books, as he, too, made a record by dancing for 30 seconds on the roller-skates with the smallest-ever wheels, measuring 1.5mm in diameter and 7mm in width.

“An average roller-skate has a wheel measuring 74mm in diameter, but for this feat we had the customised smallest possible wheels. Chirag practised for over an year to achieve this record," says his mother Anju Gupta. The 13-year-old, too, has 
taken a cue from her younger sister Mehak, who has won two gold medals in the CBSE National Skating Championship earlier.

As for the young Mehak, who clinched her first bronze medal at the age of three, the record comes as a great encouragement. “I want to do special things and make my parents feel proud. I never thought I would be able to break records.” And now the little wonder wants to go a step ahead and create another record. "I am planning a journey from Amritsar to Lahore on the roller-skates,” she says. Though it may sound quite challenging, for Mehak the only hiccup is to get permission. “We have been trying to get permission from the Pakistani authorities regarding this trip and some sponsors, but till date, there has been no response," says her mother Anju.

Besides, Mehak had earlier made a record of covering 30-km stretch from Company Bagh to the Attari-Wagah border in 80 minutes on skates. This challenging task was registered by the Indian Book of Records and even as this task was to be completed in 200 minutes with three halts of five minutes each in between, Mehak covered the distance in just 80 minutes without taking any break. 

Amritsar, March 9
Following a clash between two groups in the Noori Mohalla located near Bhagtanwala, a group allegedly burnt a house. One person was reportedly injured in the clash.

Soni, a resident of the area, said there was a dispute between Sethi and Raju Pardhan, both neighbourers, over some minor issue a couple of days ago. The matter came to the police which registered a cross case in this regard.

He said last night, Raju, along with Sunny, Bill, Rambo, Ravi and Pandoo, attacked Sethi at his residence and burnt his house. Sethi was reportedly injured in the incident and his house was badly damaged.

The police said it was investigating the case and action would be taken accordingly.

Amritsar, March 9
The Lopoke police has booked two persons for allegedly raping a minor girl at Bhilowal Pakka village.

The accused were identified as Jasbir Singh and Bagicha Singh, both residents of the same village.

The victim, in her complaint to the police, alleged that the accused kidnapped her and took her to a tubewell room located in the fields and raped her on March 7 night. She had gone to answer the nature’s call when the accused committed the crime.

The police said a case under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC had been registered against the accused in this regard. He said no arrest had been made so far as the accused were absconding.

Amritsar, March 9
Social stigma has been keeping away HIV patients from registering themselves for the Antyodaya Ann Yojna (AAY).

Meant for the poorest of poor families, the Central Government-sponsored scheme was launched during the NDA regime in 2000 and was extended to the BPL families of the HIV patients over three and a half years ago. Till now, just only 285 patients have enrolled themselves for the scheme.

Under the Centre’s ambitious project, the poorest of the poor families who cannot even manage two square meals are provided foodgrains at subsidised rates. The scheme was extended to the BPL families of the HIV patients in June 2009 and was launched in the district in 2010.

However, fearing social stigma and subsequent discrimination, people suffering from the deadly HIV virus have been dithering on registering themselves with the District Food and Civil Supplies Department to take advantage of the scheme.

Lack of awareness, besides insufficient efforts on part of the department to advertise the scheme to the HIV patients, has also contributed towards less registration.

As per the data available, the Punjab State AIDS Control Society (PSACS) Amritsar has the highest 9,000 number of AIDS patients.

Dr Rakesh Singla, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller, said very poor families of the HIV positive patients were provided wheat at Rs 2 per kg, while rice was given at Rs 3 per kg. He said the patients recommended by Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and the NGOs associated with the project were given the ration cards.

The government launched the scheme after a sample survey found that only 5 per cent of the total population of the country sleeps with food which comes under the category of the poorest of poor families.

Finding that the families of the HIV patients also suffered discrimination due to the stigma attached with the disease in our social set-up, the scheme was extended to the families of the HIV patients also.

Dr Singla said social stigma had been keeping away the families of AIDS patients.

“For the past one and a half years when I took charge of the department, only 15 patients have approached the department,” he said.

He said the department had informed the GNDH and NGOs associated with the PSACS in this connection. 

Amritsar, March 9
Punjab Industry & Commerce Minister Anil Joshi today inaugurated the project comprising construction of footpaths and parking lots at the Ranjit Avenue, a shopping complex here. Joshi said Rs 1 crore would be spent on the beautification and development of the shopping complex. The development projects in city were being undertaken as per the Master Plan and Rs 5 crore had already been released for it, the minister said. He said the government was keen on beautifying the roadsides and parks in the city.

Addressing a gathering, Joshi said parking would be made free for shoppers and shopkeepers by June this year. He also urged the residents to keep their surroundings clean and work for city’s beautification.

Joshi later inaugurated the annual athletic meet at Government Polytechnic College, Chehharta. Speaking on the occasion, he said the government was constantly trying to woo industrialists to set up their plants in the state so that the unemployed youth could get more jobs. The new industrial policy for the state would be announced by March 31, he said. 

Amritsar, March 9
Finding prime facie guilty of criminal trespass and causing damage to the property belonging to lawyer Vaneet Mahajan, the local court has summoned Industry and Commerce Minister Anil Joshi, former Municipal Corporation commissioner Dharampal Gupta and other officials of the Municipal Town Planning Department.

Mahajan along with Congress leaders Sandeep Gorsi and Gurinder Rishi in a press conference today said among others summoned included Des Raj, Municipal Town Planner, Narinder Sharma, ATP and Randhawa, an inspector with MTP department. Vaneet Mahajan along with another lawyer Sandeep Gorsi and Congress leaders had opened a frontal attack against Anil Joshi over dual voter cards.

Shilpi Gupta, Judicial Magistrate, in her order observed, “I am of the considered view that a prima facie case has been made against all accused under Section 447, 427, 506, 120-B, 148 and 149 of the IPC.” She has summoned all the accused for trial on March 15.

Mahajan said the JMIC issued the order in connection with the demolition attempt by the MTP officials at the behest of the cabinet minister.. —TNS

Amritsar, March 9
The students of government and aided private schools will start getting weekly iron and folic acid supplement from next month. The decision was taken in a meeting between the officials of the health department and principals and teachers of various schools in this regard.

Dr Nidhi Sharma, in-charge, School Health Programme, said students of Class VI to XII would get weekly supplements under the programme. She said the teachers would provide iron tablets to students on every Wednesday.

"The iron is to check anemia among students, especially girls. The Government of India's figures reveal that around 40 per cent of the country's population is anemic and it is a cause of concern," she said.

She said meetings with the education department officials were being held frequently so that a plan to implement it successfully was devised before the programme begins.

A tablet for de-worming would also be given after every six months, she added. She said senior medical officers and block extension educators of the department would train ASHA facilitators and ASHA workers for the programme.

The ASHA workers and facilitators with their wider reach in rural areas would educate the public about balanced diet to avoid anaemia and necessity of wearing shoes while walking to avoid intestinal worms.

The department under the School Health Programme gets the medical checkup of the school students conducted twice a year. It also offers help in treatment of thalassemia, cancer and congenital heart diseases among children.

Adolescent clinics for schoolchildren are also being run at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital and government hospitals at Baba Bakala and Ajnala. 

Amritsar, March 9
A jail inmate facing life imprisonment today tried to commit suicide by hanging himself in the bathroom of the jail factory.

Daljit Singh (38), a resident of Adliwal village, is a convict in a murder case.

He was awarded life imprisonment in October last. He was lodged in the jail in 2009 under Section 302, 307, 364 of the IPC.

Sources said he was under depression after his family had rebuked him for selling ancestral land. He had a dispute with the family members who had come to meet him in the morning.

RK Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Jail, confirmed that Daljit hanged himself with a string in the bathroom located in the factory on the jail premises.

“He had gone for toilet at about 12.10 pm. But when he did not return, the jail staff looked for him only to find him hanging. He was immediately brought down and rushed to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where he is undergoing treatment,” Sharma said.

A case under Section 309 of the IPC has been lodged at the Cantonment police stations in this regard, the Deputy Superintendent of Jail said.

Amritsar, March 9
About 500 students were given awards for excellent performance in academics and around 250 students were honoured for outstanding performance in co-curricular activities during the 44th Annual Awards Day of BBK DAV College for Women, held today.

College principal Dr Neelam Kamra in the college’s annual report highlighted the achievements in academics and co-curricular spheres. She said in the session 2012-13, the college won 317 merit positions, including 51 first, 43 second and 33 third positions.

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal, who was the chief guest, released a news bulletin of the college.

Amritsar, March 9
The Government Medical College Alumni Association and the Surgeons Society, Amritsar, today jointly organised a function in memory of old teachers in Amritsar.

The function, organised at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, was attended by renowned surgeons, physicians and old students of the college.

Those who delivered lectures on the occasion were Dr SS Shergill, Dr HS Sandhu, Dr Harsharan Kaur, Dr Daljit Singh and Dr Amarjit Singh Chahal.

Dr Santokh Singh, Dr HS Nagpal and Dr Gurjit Singh were among present on the occasion.

Amritsar, March 9
As many as 492 students of various disciplines were awarded prizes, certificates and college colours in academics and co-curricular activities at the 57th award presentation ceremony of DAV College held on the college campus here today.

Principal Dr KN Kaul read the annual report of the college and highlighted its achievements in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities. Besides, he also highlighted the achievements of various departments and the faculty members.

As many as 378 students were awarded prizes and certificates for academic excellence and co-curricular activities.

DAV Colleges Managing Committee, New Delhi, director, Satish Kumar Sharma, appreciating the achievements of the college, said, "The college was among the best colleges under the DAV management." He said the DAV management would soon open DAV University at Jalandhar, where courses had been designed keeping in mind the needs of the industry.

Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna was the chief guest on the occasion. He congratulated the students for achieving excellence in academics, sports and social activities. He motivated them to work hard and contribute towards the development of the country. He stressed the need for the youth to come forward and fight against the social evils.

Sudharshan Kapoor, chairman, Local Managing Committee, Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and alumnus of the college, Tarun Chugh, were also present on the occasion.