Amritsar, October 2
Yet another prisoner has made good his escape from Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) here. The GNDH is becoming a popular escape route for prisoner.

In the latest instance, Prem Kumar, an inmate of Kapurthala jail, who was reportedly undergoing 10-year imprisonment, dodged the police party on the intervening night of September 30 and October 1. He was admitted to the medicine ward number 5 a couple of days ago. Interestingly, the police team deputed to keep an eye on him also fled without informing anyone about his escape.

Call it a lacuna in the system or laxity on the part of the police teams guarding the prisoners, there is no let- up in the incidents of prisoners escaping from the hospital premises. The prisoners, by hook or crook, got themselves admitted to the hospital where they befriended the guards and later gave them a slip on one pretext or the other.

Ironically, the hospital authorities did not bother to inform the police officials concerned till this evening.

Gagandeep Singh, in charge, Majitha road police chowki, adjoining the hospital, said he was not aware of the fact that the prisoner had escaped. He said no official had informed the police station adjoining the hospital about the incident.

However, Paramjit Singh Sandhu, Superintendent, Jail, at Kapurthala, confirmed that Prem Kumar had escaped from the GNDH.

Though instances of prisoners escaping from the hospital complex are happening repeatedly,, the hospital authorities never bothered to implement the mandatory provisions issued by the Ministry of Health, which direct construction of a separate medical ward for the jail inmates. They expressed their helplessness in providing designated ward for the inmates while pointing out that they didn’t have enough funds for providing a separate ward to the jail inmates. Lack of security arrangements in the hospital also made the prisoners’ task easy.

Amritsar, October 2
A function to kickstart Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the city was held at Company Bagh here today. The function was presided over by Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi. Municipal Corporation mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and MC Commissioner Pradeep Sabbarwal were also present.

Joshi flagged off a march by students to create awareness about the need to maintain cleanliness. He said all residents must take a vow to keep their surroundings clean and should encourage others also to observe such a vow.

Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat presided over a function at Deputy Commissioner’s office complex to administer the oath of cleanliness to all employees working in the complex. Later, he visited various offices to inspect the progress of the drive.

The cleanliness drive was also initiated at all other government departments in the district. The employees of the Police Department also took a pledge to participate in the national campaign. IG Ishwar Chander Sharma, DIG Arun Kumar Mittal and various other officials participated in the ceremony.

The Health Department also initiated a campaign today in this regard. The Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajiv Bhalla, said the cleanliness campaign would continue till October 14 at all health institutions in the district.

Students of Government Nursing College here also initiated a drive for cleanliness of the campus today.

Amritsar, October 2
While politicians and administrative officials posed for newsmen as they held brooms in their hands when the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the city was kicked off today, there is still no stopping the trend of burning garbage on the roadsides.

Even today a heap of garbage inside Government Medical College was seen burning while at the same time Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi was presiding over a function to kick off the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Along with holding the portfolio of the Local Bodies Minister, Anil Joshi is the Minister for Research and Medical Education under which Government Medical College comes.

The MC employees responsible for lifting and disposing of garbage often set it on fire to get rid of it. The smoke that emits from such heaps causes trouble in respiration besides polluting air.

As local leaders of the ruling party organised functions at various places in city today where the media was invited, the unauthorised garbage dumps at the usual places remained untouched.

A garbage heap near the entrance of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital remained as it was earlier. Another one near the Employees State Insurance Hospital’s employees’ quarters was also not lifted.

Even a garbage heap near CPS Inderbir Singh Bolaria’s residence was not touched by anybody. The MC employees created a new garbage heap near old Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital after lifting garbage from other areas.

“Even if the political leaders do not pick up brooms, if they make those who are responsible for lifting garbage work, the problem of garbage can be solved,” said a prominent citizen.

Former Health Minister and senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla issued a written statement requesting politicians not to convert the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan into a ‘photo abhiyan’. She stated that all politicians must tackle areas where there is a problem of garbage.

Amritsar, October 2
Even though the SGPC had openly expressed its displeasure with the Municipal Corporation authorities over the state of cleanliness around the Golden Temple and had announced to take the responsibility in its own hands, there was no follow-up action on the SGPC’s part after that.

Garbage strewn by the roadside near the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Thursday. Photos: Vishal Kumar

However, the hue and cry raised over the matter had an impact on the Municipal Corporation, which seems to have pulled up its socks to maintain sanitation around the holy shrine.

A visit to the Golden Temple and its surrounding areas showed that though there was an improvement in the scenario, a lot needs to be done to make its vicinity neat and clean.

An Amritsar Tribune team spotted garbage heaps by the roadside and waste material spilling out of a refuse container.

Talking to Amritsar Tribune, MC Commissioner Pradeep Sabharwal said they had deployed extra staff and machinery to ensure that the surroundings of the Golden Temple remain clean.

“We have deputed additional 30 employees and four tractor-trailers, besides handcarts for cleaning and lifting garbage from the residential and commercial areas located near the shrine,” he said while admitting that more effort was required to be made.

He said the MC staff were working in two shifts of eight hours each —- 6 am to 2 pm and then 2 pm to 10 pm —- in the area. According to him, the cleanliness work in the night shift from 10 pm to 6 am is being carried out by the volunteers of Baba Kulwant Singh from Ajnala and Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale.

He said the Tourism Department, which holds the Heritage Walk in the walled city had also tied up with these Babas and would also provide them equipment for maintaining cleanliness.

They would intensifying the effort under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ that was launched in the city today, he added. He disclosed that they would also undertake an awareness drive to sensitise people on cleanliness.

Earlier, in its executive committee meeting on August 23, the SGPC had stated that the MC had “failed to ensure proper cleanliness” around the Golden Temple and therefore the SGPC would make special arrangements to keep the vicinity of the holy shrine neat and clean.

However, the SGPC’s drive, which was to be launched on September 1, was postponed, though SGPC officials did have a meeting with the MC in this regard.

Later, the SGPC got involved in carrying out the rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

Amritsar, October 2
With the government health institutions facing an acute shortage of wheelchairs and stretchers, the attendants of patients can often be seen manually taking the patients inside the wards. This practice poses a serious health risk, particularly if the patients are expecting mothers, elderly or those having suffered serious injuries.

“There should be someone at the entrance to help the patients, who are not in a position to walk. However, the reality is that the attendants themselves have to find wheelchairs or stretchers,” said a visitor, Gurnam Singh, at the emergency ward of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

The attendants complain that in case a patient admitted to the hospital is advised a few tests by the doctor, they have to wait for long hours before a ward boy turns up to shift the patient to the designated laboratory.

“People have to often pay some money to get the workers ready for work,” said an attendant of a patient admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

In case patients need to be shifted to another ward on another floor, the attendants have to do it all by themselves.

Patients say ward boys of the hospital should be easily available to assist them and wheelchairs and wheeled stretchers should also be provided near the entrance.

“At private hospitals, usually employees rush to receive the patients during emergency arrivals. But at government hospitals, the attendants of patient look confused,” said Balkar Singh, a visitor to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

He narrated that how a young lady carrying a child with her was seen pushing the stretcher on which her ailing husband was lying. “Even as hospital employees were roaming all around, nobody cared to help her,” he said.

Amritsar, October 2
Over 12 armed persons barged into a house in Jahangir village, falling under Kamboh police station in the Amritsar rural area here, and brutally thrashed a family and fired at them.

Balwinder Singh, one of the family members and a complainant in the case, sustained injuries caused by the splinters of a bullet. He sustained injuries on his face and head. Though the incident occurred on September 7, the family members lodged a complaint with the police only last evening when the village panchayat failed to sort out the matter after the accused reportedly refused to reach a compromise.

The police have booked the accused on charges of attempt to murder besides criminal trespass and under the Arms Act. Among those booked include Mandeep Singh, Sandeep Singh, Surjit Singh, Laddo, Ladda and around nine unidentified persons from outside the village.

Gurmeet Singh, investigating officer, said Mandeep Singh used to tease the wife of the complainant, Balwinder Singh. Initially, she ignored his misbehaviour, but when the accused started crossing his limit, she narrated the story to her mother-in-law and husband, Balwinder Singh. Balwinder Singh objected to this and complained to Mandeep Singh’s family. However, instead of relenting, Mandeep Singh entered into a quarrel with him. Even villagers, including panchayat members, warned him of stern action if he continued with his nefarious activities.

He said on the same night, Mandeep Singh along with his accomplices attacked his house and fired several shots. They brutally thrashed the women of the family before the villagers converged on the spot and resisted them. Later, they fled from the spot while threatening the victims.

Gurmeet Singh said a case under Sections 307, 452, 427, 506, 148 and 149, IPC, and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act had been registered against the culprits and raids were being conducted to arrest them.

Amritsar, October 2
In a shocking incident, a woman lodged a complaint against her father-in-law while alleging that he tried to rape her when she was alone at home. The incident occurred in Kakkar Kalan village that falls under Lopoke police station here.

In her statement to the police, the victim said her husband used to work as a truck driver, so he remained outside home most of the time. She alleged that her father-in-law, Subeg Singh, pulled her by her arm and took her to his room where he tried to rape her.

The police have registered a case.

Amritsar, October 2
The Panther Division celebrated its golden jubilee here today to mark 50 years of its raising. The division had played a stellar role in defending Amritsar and Gurdaspur sectors during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars.

The event was attended by a number of former General Officers Commanding of the formation and war veterans.

The celebrations commenced with Akhand Path at the Golden Temple on September 29. The formation organised various events to reminisce about the past glories and honour the veterans.

A wreath laying ceremony was held at the Panther Inspirational Area to pay homage to the valiant soldiers, who laid down their lives for the country.

The division was raised at Clement Town, Dehradun on this day in 1964, under World War-II veteran, Major General Niranjan Prasad.

The Panthers became fully operational in March 1965 and they moved to Amritsar in April 1965. The Panther Division achieved battle glories in the fierce battle of Dograi in 1965 and in the battle of Dera Baba Nanak and Fatehpur Burj in 1971.

The Panther Division has continued the finest traditions of elite warriors. The division continues to excel in the fields of operation, training and military- social responsibility.

The division has always displayed the highest possible standards of professional competence and desired degree of operational preparedness.

Amritsar, October 2
He taught us self-reliance, non-violence and the path of Satyagraha. He gave us khadi and the mantra of simple living and high thinking. He inspired individuals, nations and revolutions. We do celebrate and remember the father of our nation every year on Gandhi Jayanti but his ideology and principles seem to have been lost in the annals of history.

Mahatma Gandhi was not just an individual but a thought-process. While living in the exuberance of globalised and capitalist system, people wonder where Gandhi’s principles fit in today’s world.

Amritsar, October 2
GNDU College, Verka lifted the A Division Overall Championship Trophy, SR Government College for Women, Amritsar was the runners-up and NJSA Government College, Kapurthala got the third position in the zonal youth festival held at Guru Nanak Dev University.

In the B Division, the overall championship trophy was lifted by Government College, Ajnala while SGAD Government College, Tarn Taran bagged the second position and Government Arts and Sports College, Jalandhar got the third position in the Zonal youth festival of government colleges, constituents colleges and associated institutes affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University.

Overall Championship Trophy of Associated Institutes went to Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar while Sant Avtar Singh Yadgari College, Seechewal bagged the second position and Punjab College of Engineering, Jalandhar got the third position in the zonal youth festival.

Jatinder Brar, dramatist and founder of Punjab Naat Shala, Amritsar was the chief guest on the valedictory function.

Prof Gurjit Singh, Dean, faculty of law of Guru Nanak Dev University, was the guest of honour. He along with Prof Gurjit Singh and Dr Jagjit Kaur awarded the trophies and certificates to the winners. — TNS

Amritsar, October 2
Around 1,600 patients were examined during a free camp organised by Punjab Pharmacists’ Association at Issapur village near here. Experts from all medical specialties were available for the patients, who were given free medicines by the association.

Specialists shortlisted 45 patients, who need different kinds of eye surgeries. The association, apart from holding the annual camp, also helps people who need eye surgeries.

Association leader Kishore Sharma said, “The patients who need surgeries of eyes will be taken to the Civil Hospital on October 17. All the expenses, including medicines, will be taken care of by the association.”

He said in the previous year, they had helped 53 patients in getting their eye surgeries done.

Association’s convener Shamsher Singh Kohri said, “The camp was organised in memory of Gurmej Singh Randhawa, a noted social worker and association leader who died 18 years ago.” — TNS