Jalandhar, October 7
Even as cases of snatching have significantly gone down in the last one-and-a-half month in the city, about half a dozen much-publicised unsolved cases, including the murder of a middle-aged woman at Bachint Nagar, are still posing headache to the police here.

Interestingly, the period coincides with the tenure of Commissioner of Police (CP) Ram Singh since he joined in Jalandhar on August 23 after his posting in Amritsar for about a year. Residents have been heaving a sigh of relief with a drastic decline in snatching cases, which are reduced to one-third of such incidents that occurred during the corresponding period last year.

Only 12 snatching incidents took place from August 23 to October 6 whereas as many as 36 such cases occurred during the same period in 2012.

The Commissioner of Police has reportedly made several changes in the police system for streamlining its working to minimise the crime rate.

He is learnt to have been making efforts to make policing proactive by visiting various parts of the city in both uniform as well as in plain clothes in a private vehicle to get a first-hand experience of the ground realities.

A 1994 batch IPS officer, Ram Singh’s decision to make an optimum utilisation of about 3,000 personnel by integrating the police control room (PCR) teams with the 14 police stations falling under city commissionerate with their command under SHOs concerned has yielded results.

Besides, his decision to give power of checking to traffic police personnel, streamlining the nakas by relaying them as per requirement and making the SHOs, ACPs and ADCPs more accountable by giving them certain extra powers and holding nakas during the early hours of day to keep tabs on snatchers targeting morning walkers has also paid dividends.

Talking to The Tribune, Ram Singh said, “I ensured more visibility of police on roads and zero tolerance to crime which worked as deterrent.”

“I have ensured alertness on part of the police by asking the SHOs, ACPs and ADCPs concerned to personally check the nakas in their areas for at least a couple of hours in a day depending upon the requirement and availability of time. The ADCPs and ACPs (Headquarters and Crime) have also been asked to make special nakas checking for four hours a day,” Singh further said.

Prior to his posting as Amritsar Commissioner of Police, he was posted as SSP of Kapurthala and Mansa besides commandant of 7th Battalion at PAP headquarters.

“Positioning of nakas and deployment of a number of police personnel have also been changed as per the need. I found 18 personnel at naka near Paragpur on highway adjoining Kapurthala police district area during my visit and directed to deploy only three to four personnel there and make use of the rest at other places,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police said he has ensured a naka at the BMC flyover during night as there was no personnel on nearly half a kilometre stretch. Similarly, timings of nakas near the railway station have been synchronised with the arrival of various trains including the Shatabdi. Deployment of personnel is ensured at BSF chowk, Defence Colony and Garha Road where earlier no regular naka was laid.

Earlier there were no nakas during the early morning. But the Commissioner of Police ensured holding nakas from 3 am to 7 am for the safety of morning walkers, especially women. The police personnel deployed at these nakas have been given special instructions to focus on bikes and cars driven by youngsters as a preventive measure.

About the unsolved cases, including the murder of a woman at Bachint Nagar, robbery at Punjab and Sindh Bank, GPO robbery, killing of Mahant Sunita and share broker Parveen, the CP said, “Officials have been asked to study each case minutely to ascertain where the police failed to collect clues in its investigation. We have taken up files of each unsolved case and hopefully they will soon be solved soon.”

The police is closely monitoring the anti-social elements at Qazi Mandi and other colonies.

Jalandhar, October 7
Up in arms against the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) management, over 50 employees of this premier healthcare institution today suspended work against non-payment of salaries for the past three months.

The protesting employees said they would observe an indefinite strike till their demands were met.

Though the strike hampered the functioning of X-ray rooms, laboratories and other general functioning, the there was a minimal affect on the working of out-patient department.

Over 50 employees, including technicians, lab assistants, clerks and non-teaching staff, assembled at the main entrance of the OPD and raised slogans against the hospital management. They said the management failed to pay their salaries and other dues for the past three months as a result of which they were unable to maintain their household expenses. —TNS

Jalandhar, October 7
Even after a week of the foundation stone-laying ceremony, the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation (JMC) has failed to start reconstruction work on Guru Nanak Pura Road that has been proving a nightmare to commuters for the past many years.

MC officials on October 2 had organised a brief function in which the area MLA and former cabinet minister Manoranjan Kalia laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction and re-carpeting of the road that is in a pitiable condition.

The officials had even resorted to patchwork but as the ceremony ended, it was suspended.

Since then, there is no sign of repair work and the condition of this road has further worsened. No bitumen is seen as gravel has been dotting the entire stretch.

Apani Mandi was not shifted on Monday from the site to some suitable place keeping public convenience in mind.

Residents have demanded early repair and reconstruction of the road.

A Jalandhar Municipal Corporation official said the work would be started soon as there were some formalities to be completes in this regard.

Jalandhar, October 7
If you pull the velvety turf at the Surjeet Hockey Stadium a little, you will find the sham hidden for years by the Surjit Hockey Society, which is being run by top bureaucrats of the state for the past 30 years.

The society in response to an RTI query filed by the RTI Activist Federation, Jalandhar, has acknowledged the fact that it has destroyed all its records before 2010 and is unable to provide any information prior to this period.

The State Information Commission of Punjab has now issued a notice of hearing to the society for today.

As the tournament is bring run by top-notch bureaucrats of the state with fatty sponsorships, 100 per cent cash transactions and without any dedicated or salaried staff, it raises suspicion on the functioning of one of the most coveted sports promotion society which claims to promote the national game.

"We do not have regular staff or a proper office. So it is very difficult for us to maintain records pertaining to the past so many years. After taking a unanimous decision by all society members, we recently destroyed all the records for the past 10 years. But we have maintained the final audit reports of these years. Also, since we do not come under the Public Records Act, 1993, and Public Records Rule, 1997, it is not mandatory for us to maintain records for years," said Iqbal Singh Sandhu, SDM and Organising Secretary of Surjit Hockey Society.

Sandhu said that according to the society's law, they would only maintain records for three years.

Also, in a reply given by the society, it was revealed that more money had been spent on the VVIP refreshments as compared to the players in the year 2009-2010.

Whereas only Rs 52,400 were spent on the refreshment of players, around Rs 2,03,680 were spent on the refreshment of VVIPs. Also, the society since the beginning is doing all the transactions in cash without any voucher entry or mentioning the purpose of withdrawal or name of the withdrawing authority.

Around 70% of money (approximately in lakhs) is paid as imprest cash to Harkamal, the computer operator, and Surinder Singh, the Chief Public Relation Officer of the society.

"Harkamal and Surinder Singh are dedicated members of the society and they are reimbursed for all the miscellaneous work given to them from time to time," said Sandhu.

The registration details provided by the society are also incorrect and incomplete. The society so far does not mention its registration number or the Act under which it is registered in any of its communication material such as a letter head, invitation card or press release.

Shockingly, the society on its website has stated that it is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1908, whereas in its reply to the RTI query, it has stated that it is registered under the Societies Act, 1860.

"There is no provision in law that states that the registration number or the Act under which the society is registered should be mentioned in all the correspondence. But we do mention our PAN No. AAFTS-8134A in all the correspondence regarding the remittance of sponsorship money," claimed Sandhu.

He said the society was having more than Rs 88 lakh as fixed deposit in its bank account.

"The tournament is not being run as a business. People are supporting it (tournament) as friends and not as corporate sponsors," said LK Nayyar, the president of the society.

The tournament, being run for the past 30 years, has the Chief Minister of Punjab as its patron and the Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar as chairman. 

Jalandhar, October 7
With just 24 hours left for the commencement of Surjit Hockey Tournament, the arrangements for the event are running against time as many things have not been done so far.

The company flags and the banners of Indian Oil, the main sponsor of the tournament, displayed at the venue are all crushed and faded. In some of the banners, the name of the company is not even visible.

The main VVIP entrance of the stadium is yet to be cleared of thick shrubbery grown all around the place. Inside the stadium, the main wall which would hold the national flag has not been painted and is in a dilapidated state. The main glass of the commentary room is also broken and not been repaired so far.

Many bulbs in floodlights are broken and have not been replaced for reasons best known to the society.

“We still have time. Everything would be in place before the tournament begins. These are last minute repairs and will be done on time,” said Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Organizing Secretary, Surjit Hockey Society. 

Jalandhar, October 7
The Pakistan women hockey team will finally participate in the 30th edition of the Surjit Hockey tournament to be held from October 9 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Polytan Turf in Burlton Park here.

The Indian embassy at Pakistan finally issued the team visa on Monday but it has still not granted visa to the men's hockey team. Hafiz Atif Malik, the renowned international umpire from Lahore, has also been granted visa and declared as the official umpire for the tournament. Former Olympian hockey umpire Tarlok Singh Bhullar from Canada will be the Technical Director for the tournament.

"This is great news but it would be better if the Indian embassy also issues visa to the men's hockey team. Now, a three match series will be played between the Indian and Pakistani women hockey teams, said Surinder Singh, Chief Public Relations Officer, Surjit Hockey Society.

Also, there are clashes of dates between Surjit Hockey tournament and the National Women Hockey Selection Camp which will also be held from October 9-30 in New Delhi. Most of the top women players have left for the camp and will not be able to participate in the tournament. —OC

Jalandhar, October 7
As children sit in a dimly-lit ground to watch Sita's swayamvar in one part of the city, in another, rehearsals for a fashionable Dandiya Raas are being planned at a five- star hotel.

Festivals define our identity and are cultural celebrations through which we keep revising our age-old traditions. While two parallel worlds breathe simultaneously in our crowded, concrete-infested cities, the expression of these celebrations differ in these two little universes.

People across the city are steeped in deep celebrations of the Navratri festival in the city. While somewhere the crowds take precious lessons in history and religion as the Ramleela is being staged in various city localities, others celebrate the festival with dance and yet others savour choicest fast goodies in high-end restaurants.

Sr Nirmal Singh who is the chairman of the committee responsible for organising Ramleela in the Railway Colony area every year, is commended for the spirited and secular celebrations his committee is popular for.

During the Navratri nights, the famous railway Ramleela keeps people from areas like New Railway Colony, Guru Nanak Pura, Sant Nagar, Preet Nagar, Bashirpura, Kamal Vihar, among other areas.

He says, “ We have been holding the celebrations for the past 15 to 16 years. It started with little child actors. The same children are now grown up and are lauded as the team of veteran Ramleela artists. We have a chock-a-block pandal at night and we are blessed that our Ramleela has been showered by love.”

A wholesome expression of the Navratri fervor, the Railway Ramleela is both watched by people across religions. It is also lauded for being safe because the organisers are very particular about keeping the women safe.

“After the Ramleela ends each night, we send the women home first and the men later. Whole-hearted cooperation by authorities (who provide security) personnel is also a big help for us and makes our ramleela a success,” Singh said.

Most of the artists are employees and the growing success of the Ramleela has also made it one of the most sought after Navratri events in the city.

While a number of other Ramleela’s are also on in various parts of the city, the special Navratri plans this year also include grand Dandiya Raas to be held on October 11 at the Radisson Hotel in collaboration with Radio Mantra.

Vinod Zutshi, Manager, Radisson Hotel, said, “We are planning Dandiya Raas in the city like has never been witnessed before. Couple as well as singles entries will be invited and entry shall be by invitation.”

“Performer and choreographer Gaggun Bedi and model Seep Taneja shall be the stars of the event. It shall also be accompanied by a lavish vegetarian food court where all kinds of vegetarian cuisine would be served. Grand prizes like air tickets, gold rings, free holiday stays shall be in store for the guests,” he said.

Meanwhile, choreographer Gaggun Bedi, who is busy rehearsing for the gala event, is also holding his own quaint Navratra events at his studio which are marked by Mata pujan, Durga pujan and kathas being held for every day of the Navratras.

He said, “Dandiya isn’t merely a celebratory dance but is also marked by feelings of spirit and purity. I have always believed both the dance and the celebrations should reflect it all. The Dandiyaa Raas will be a grand and memorable event for all who are part of it,”said Bedi.

As the performers, actors and artists busy themselves with the festive performance part, various hotels also busy themselves with treating citizens to culinary delights, introducing special festive thalis and cuisines.

Raj Kumar, manager of Maya Hotel says the Hotel has started a special food festival Billu Da Dhaba with the festive season in mind. The special Navratri fast offering includes a thali - including items like puris made with singhare ka atta, aloo jeera, vrat rice, sabudana phirni and papad, curd, fruit and lauki ki sabzi - which is selling like hot cakes with both fasting zealots and those willing to try a different Navratra special delicacy. 

Kapurthala, October 7
A cricket series between the teams of Afghanistan University, Sunshine, and Lovely Profession University (LPU), was drawn at 2-2 because of rain.

Five one-day and three 20-20 matches were played between both the teams during the series.

Chancellor Ghulam Rasoul Nabizada of Afghan University, Sunshine, and Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Zarif Aminyar and Vice-Chancellor (Administrative) Mohammad Bayan encouraged the players.

During the final show match, Afghan team won the toss and elected to bat.The team scored 146 runs by losing all wickets in 33.5 over. LPU scored 147 runs for 8 wickets in 34 over, and won the final- show match by 2 wickets.

Trophies were provided to both the teams. Best batsman, best-bowler and other illustrious players of the series got the medals.