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Punjab bandh: Trains run behind schedule
Operation Bluestar
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Gunshots at Jail Supdt’s residence
Police slap another case against gangster Jaggu
Fashion scene brightens up as city students hog spotlight
Prevent foot amputation, docs caution diabetics
Lowering of fuel prices welcomed
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Punjab bandh: Trains run behind schedule
Amritsar, November 1 The bandh hampered the movement of trains and buses, there were lesser footfalls in the main wholesale markets and banks, post offices and other public offices. Passengers remained stranded at the railway station as major trains got delayed due to the bandh call. The schedule of as many as 10 trains was affected and they were running behind the schedule. Chhattisgarh Express, Howrah Mail, Howrah Passenger, Tata Moori and Amritsar-Chandiagrh Superfast arrived late at the local railway station. Similarly, departure of Barauni, Paschim Express, Superfast, Dadar and Amritsar-Pathankot Passenger trains was late. Rajesh Mehta, a passenger waiting at the local railway station, said his family made vacation plans a couple of weeks back and booked tickets. He arrived in Amritsar from Jammu yesterday. “Tickets of the entire family were booked for today to return to their home district Karnal”. He said they were shocked to find the trains running late. However, they had no other alternative but to wait for the arrival of the train. Like the Mehtas, many families and passengers were waiting for their trains at the railway station. A heavy rush of passengers was visible. Similarly, buses were off the roads and a majority of them were seen parked at Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra Inter-state Bus Terminus. Some families caught in the bandh in between their journey were seen waiting for buses at the bus terminus. However, these passengers left the bus terminus after finding buses non-operational. Already a majority of the educational institutes had announced holiday for today, apprehending lack of transportation for
the students. All major markets, including those of grain, spices, dry fruits and textiles, remained closed. These markets were Katra Jai Mal Singh, Katra Ahluwalia, Main Sewa Wala Bazar, Guru Bazar, Bhandiyan Da Bazaar, Swank Mandi and Majith Mandi. Police personnel were seen guarding
closed shops. Though government offices with public dealing, including banks,
post offices, and others, were open, a small number of visitors visited these offices. Activists of the Aam Adami Party (AAP) held a candle march to pay their respects to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims in the holy city. AAP district presidnet Harinder Singh stated that the march was to criticise the denial of justice to the families of the victims of the riots. He demanded that the
culprits should be brought to book.
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Process to allot shops moves at a snail’s pace
Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 1 The infamous Operation Bluestar displaced these shopkeepers and they have been fighting a legal battle to protect their rights for the past three decades during which around 40 of the 133 traders died. Some of them died after contracting diseases during adverse circumstances that prevailed after the tragedy while some committed suicide in view of their deteriorating financial condition. One of the leaders of these shopkeepers, GS Arora, said, “Our shops were taken over by the government after these were damaged and the merchandise burnt during the military attack on the supreme Sikh shrine.” He rued that they were never compensated for the loss of the trade material. He stated that the Galiara beautification scheme was initiated in 1986. At that time, many tenant shopkeepers were rehabilitated at the IDH market and at the Pink Plaza at a land rate of Rs 1,000 per square yard, whereas the then collector rate was Rs 4,000. Arora said demanding the same treatment, they went to the court and were awaiting the verdict. However, in view of the long, agonising wait, they decided to accept the offer. He said the shopkeepers were holding meetings among themselves to arrive at a unanimous decision. Amritsar Improvement Trust Superintending Engineer Bharat Bhushan Sharma said as per the Land Disposal Rule, the improvement trusts in the states cannot dispose of commercial property either by allotment or free of cost. It is empowered only to sell commercial property in open auctions. In this case, the state Cabinet has given special approval to allocate shops at collector rate, which is Rs 38,000 per square yard. Sharma anticipated that the market rate at the site would be above Rs 60,000 per square yard. He said about 25 persons out of 133 had submitted applications and the trust would soon call a draw of lots to allot the shops. Meanwhile, the AIT has already zeroed in on a nearly four-acre site in the Mall Mandi area on the GT road. In all 145 plots, each measuring 27 square yards with 10’x25’ (width x length), would be carved out of the earmarked area. Of these, 133 plots would be reserved for the affected shopkeepers for their rehabilitation while the remaining 12 would be auctioned. The shopkeepers would have to construct their shops. He elaborated that the trust would develop the area and provide the site complete with a parking place, a green belt, a footpath, sewerage, water supply, streetlights and other amenities.
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Gunshots at Jail Supdt’s residence GS Paul Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 1 The police’s theory was that a clash had occurred among the inmates on the jail premises some months ago. Those involved in the clash developed enmity with the Superintendent and used their outside links with Jaggu. Sources in the Police Department said the bullet shells recovered from Sharma’’s car were identical to the .315 bore bullet, which Jaggu had fired outside the GNDU Verka College around a month ago. Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said, “It was certainly Jaggu. He was among the miscreants who had opened fire at the Jail Superintendent’s house to create panic. We are interrogating some notorious criminals and interrogating them,” he said. Jaggu was allegedly involved in shooting down another gangster, Sanjeev Nayyar, alias Babba, some weeks ago outside a resort when he was coming out with his family after attending a wedding. Babba was on parole then. Despite raiding his hideouts thrice, Jaggu could not be caught. “We will arrest him shortly. More revelations will be made then,” said Aulakh. Negating the police theory, Sharma said Jaggu could not be involved in the firing incident at his residence. “I do not agree with the police’s presumption about Jaggu’s involvement in the firing incident. I refute it and do not foresee any basis for this theory. In my opinion, the real culprits are still out of reach,” he said. On Wednesday, at around 9.20 pm, when Sharma was sitting in his room with his family members, the sound of gun shots was heard outside his house in Guru Arjun Dev Nagar, Dilwari Gate, Putlighar.
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Police slap another case against gangster Jaggu
Amritsar, November 1 This time, he along with seven others have been booked for cross border smuggling of narcotics, fake currency, arms and ammunition and for having links with Pakistan-based smugglers. The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) has lodged a complaint under Sections 81, 20, 21, 22, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act, 414, 411, 489-A, B, C and D, 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act, 3, 34, 20 of the Indian Passport Act and 14 of the Foreign Act at the Cantonment police station. Besides Jaggu, among others who have been booked, include Ankul Kumar alias Pandit of Mehta, Sangam, Bobby, Rock, Satnam Singh of Gilwali Gate, Mannu of Pandori village and Jobanjit Singh of Bal village. Surjit Singh, in charge, CIA staff, had stated in the complaint that the accused had made a gang, which had links with Pak-based smugglers. The gang used to smuggle arms, ammunition, heroin and fake currency from the other side of the barbed fence, he added. He alleged that the accused were also involved in robbing innocent persons at gun point. Jobanjit also accompanied Jaggu during firing incident on Guru Nanak Dev University College Campus at Verka a month ago. The police have also zeroed in on his role in the firing incident at the residence of Amritsar Central Jail Superintendent RK Sharma on Wednesday night. His involvement was also suspected in the sensational killing of another gangster, Sanjiv Nayyar alias Babba, who had come out of jail on parole. He was gunned down by unidentified armed assailants outside a marriage resort. Sanjiv along with his family members was coming out of the resort after attending the marriage of a relative, when he was shot dead. A senior police official said the intelligence reports confirmed that it was Jaggu and his associates, who had fired gun shots at the residence of Jail Superintendent while his role in the smuggling was also much clear.
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Fashion scene brightens up as city students hog spotlight
Amritsar, November 1 Riding on a cool light breeze of innovation with confidence, a bunch of fashion students from the INIFD are defining the possibilities that Amritsar as a fashion hub promises. The team of eight students shortlisted for the GenNext category at Lakme Fashion Week have added to the otherwise average numbers with style. Playing with concepts traditional as well as contemporary, keeping all the fashion basics in mind, these students have designed a range of casual and formal wear collections. From going tribal chic with junk jewellery and earthy tones to neons and plastic dresses, this year’s batch offers something different. “It’s quite exciting to be a part of something so big in fashion industry, but it also means the pressure to deliver. Though our designs will be displayed in the GenNext category along with other amateur designers, it still means putting in you best efforts,” said Nikita Kapoor, whose collections cashes in on Boho chic and tribal art. Already seen behind the scene acts during fashion weeks, Nikita says, “Most senior designers played with rich textiles, silhouettes and figurative prints. The younger ones had constructive designs and quirky concepts. So, one has to bring in that freshness in design as well as an element of awe.” The number of young designers shortlisted for the premier fashion week in India, too, has increased significantly, establishing the city’s young designers as among the best. Earlier, two students or at the most four students made it to the big league. But this time it’s eight students, two of them going for solo shows, which is quite an achievement for them,” says Neelu Malik Gauri, head,
INIFD.
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Hospital to function from donated land
Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 1 Earlier in 2007, a local court had ordered the hospital to vacate the land donated by Ram Lal Suri. He had opened an eye and ENT hospital at Majitha Road in 1927. Later in 1952, the family had donated the hospital to the Government Medical College by forming a trust. According to the conditions laid down by the trust, the land and hospital could neither be used for any other purpose nor be sold. In 2000, a few trustees had filed a case in a local court demanding from the hospital to vacate the plot. The complainants had alleged that the land was being used for other purposes and the government had violated the terms of donation. Dr Karam Jit Singh, nodal officer, appointed by the college for pursuing the case, stated that two judges of the High Court, Satish Kumar Mittal and Tejinder Singh Dhindsa, conducted a surprise inspection at hospital on June 7 this year. Both the judges expressed satisfaction over the working of the hospital. The judgement was delivered yesterday. Principal of the medical college, Dr Santokh Singh, said, “It is a matter of great satisfaction that the court has allowed the institute to continue from the donated land. We have not been able to make any improvements at the place as the matter was pending in the court.” Dr Santokh said around 5,000 eye and 2,200 ENT surgeries were conducted at hospital during the previous years. He said the hospital had one of the best eye centres in the region and the college was committed to improve services for patients.
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Prevent foot amputation, docs caution diabetics
Amritsar, November 1 “We have been trying to raise awareness regarding diabetic foot. This is another such initiative so that people can benefit from advancing medical science. Earlier, we released a book on diabetic foot care,” said Dr Jindal. Warning against the conditions that lead to foot amputation, he said black toes in diabetics may not only be the onset of gangrene leading to foot amputation, but may also be the indication of heart ailments. Dr Jindal said, “In India, 41 million people suffer from diabetes and the number is expected to increase to 79 million in 2030. Apart from the high incidence of diabetes, age at which it occurs in the local population is a cause of great concern.” Around 40,000 limbs were amputated every year because of diabetes related foot complications, he added. He said amputation due to diabetic foot could be prevented in 90 percent of cases with proper education and timely treatment. Dr Jindal, said if not treated on time, patients would have get either foot or leg amputated. This carried a huge morbidity and mortality as these patients also had associated heart diseases.
— TNS
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Lowering of fuel prices welcomed
Amritsar, November 1 Negligible drop
Crude prices have fallen by about 20 per cent in the international market, but in India the downward revision is not more than 3 per cent. Keeping this in view, the price drop is negligible. The union government has de-controlled the rates of fossil fuel, but at the same time it must watch and implement the fall in rates in league with the global prices. However, the reduction is otherwise a welcome step as the running cost has gone down. Raman Gupta, industrialist Good signal
Slashing of fuel prices is a good signal and we welcome it. However, it will be complete and meaningful only when its impact is visible on essential commodities. Vegetable, grocery and other traders do not hold back from raising prices of the essential commodities following the hike in the fuel prices. They blame scaling up of petrol/diesel rates for rise in prices of daily use items. Rita Gupta, house wife Lower transportation cost
Any fall in prices of petrol means that my means of transportation cost will come down. Around Rs 3,000 of my salary goes for buying fuel. It being one third of my entire salary matters a lot for me. Mine is a field job, which requires visiting clinics across the district. Sudesh Kumar, employee Prices will come down
Much of the ready made dress material comes here from Ludhiana and Delhi. Fall in prices of diesel means lower freight charges. It will provide more room for traders to ease off prices of raw material to lure more buyers. Shekhar Devgan,
trader
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Preserve historical sites
Around 9 km from Chheharta township, towards Baba Budha Sahib Gurdwara, is located the historical Kasel village. Its history can be traced back to the pre-Ramayana period. It is said mother of Rama, Mata Kaushalya, belonged to this village. In those times, the village was called Kaushalpuri. The village is located on a high mound, which indicates that it might have come up on the ruins of some previous habitation. Villagers believe that if the Archaeology Department undertook systematic excavation of the site, it may reveal invaluable historical facts. There is also a Shiv Mandir in the village, where people from far off places come for worship. History says that the temple was built by King Vikramajit in 2050 BC. It is amongst the four most important temples in the country. Others are located in Kashi, Kalanaur and Kaba. It is said that when Maharaja Ranjit Singh fell ill seriously, the water from this temple’s well cured him. Later, he paid obeisance and also fixed a jagir for the temple. He also constructed a pond with baradaris on all the four sides, just in front of the temple. The pond can still be seen, but is in ruins. Such villages and places need to be designated as heritage sites. They should be protected for the future generations. Surinderjit Singh,
Amritsar Stray dog menace
The menace of stray dogs in the city has reached an alarming proportion. The authorities concerned and dog lovers have an attitude of negligence. These pet lovers have no remorse when stray dogs attack and maul the sick. Owners of high breed dogs often use parks to take their pets out for defecation. Owners must be made liable for nuisance caused by their pets. Cruelty to dogs is not a solution, but some way must be found to safeguard the people. People can adopt street dogs instead of splurging hefty amounts on pedigrees. Sympathy for the canines should not become a curse for residents of the city. Societies like PCA, PETA should also take humans sufferings into account. LJS Panesar, via gmail
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