Bathinda, November 23
A woman from Bucho Mandi has written a letter to Prime Minister Narender Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh demanding justice in a molestation case.

In a letter she has written that SAD leader Ram Kumar Garg along with Bhushan Kumar Bansal, Deepa, Jugnu Mittal, Manish Kumar, Amanmeghwal, alias Bharti, Mintu Bijliwala, driver Bittu and five to six unidentified persons entered their house on November 6 around 12 noon. She along with her sister in-law were present at home at that time.

Divulging details, she said they entered their house by breaking the door and after entering Bhushan Kumar Bansal and Ram Kumar Garg held her both hands and Deepa holded her mouth and started asking her about the whereabouts of her husband stating that they wanted to kill him.

They forcibly threw her to the bed and started molesting her. Amanmeghwal and Jugnu Mittal snatched her gold chain weighing 30 grams and tore her clothes.

She added that she along with her sister-in-law started shouting. Hearing their cries, the nearby people rushed to their rescue and saw her being molesting. Seeing a large number of people, the accused left from the spot threatening that they would kill her husband or implicate him in some false cases.

She also said that she immediately reported the matter to the Bucho Mandi police post, but officials did not listen to their grievances and for the next two days, she continuously kept visiting the Bucho police post and Nathana police station but nobody written her complainant. It was on November 8 that she registered a complainant, but no action has been taken so far. While the accused reportedly roaming freely and are threatening them.

The victim also stated that the reason of the conflict between them was that the daughter of accused, Bhushan Kumar, has a love marriage and her husband had also done inter-caste love marriage with her. The accused have wrong illusion that her husband had helped her daughter in getting married. Due to which they had molested her.

She further said that the accused are highly influential persons of the town due to which the police were not initiating any action against the accused in this case.

She had demanded that immediate action as per legal terms should be taken against them after the registration of the case.

She had also written a letter to Chief Minsiter Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Saini, Chairman of Human Rights Commission, Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court, chairman, PSC for Women, IGP Bathinda, Paramraj Singh Umranagal, DIG Bathinda, Amar Singh Chahal , National Commission for women and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar to demand justice.

A separate letter was also written to SAD, president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, stating them to suspend SAD leader Ram Kumar Garg from the party. They have stated that keeping a person with such a bad repute only tarnish the image of the party.

An official of the Bucho police post said that they had not received any complainant from the victim so far.

Bathinda, November 23
The Bathinda police appear to have started arresting and registering cases against drug smugglers on secret tip offs only without any recovery of narcotics from their procession. As the police today booked three accused under Sections 15/61/ 85 of the NDPS Act at the Dayalpura police station. The police registered a case on secret tip off that the accused sell poppy husk. While no recovery and arrest has been made so far. Those been booked are Pargat Sin gh of Kotha Guruka, Gora Singh of Akalia Jalal and Seera, alias Jagsir Singh, of Jalal.

Investigation officer SI Mahinderjit Singh said they have registered a case on a secret information. They had also raided the area to arrest the accused but we were not able to find the accused or recover anything.

While in another case one day ago the police have booked 15 persons under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS). The local police on secret information raided Nathana village but failed to recover any drug. However, the police have arrested three women accused, Janko, a resident of Gobindpura, Gurdip Kaur of Poohla and Gurmail Kaur of Gobidnpura.

The other accused who have been booked are Jarnail Singh of Bucho Mandi, Balwinder Singh of Burj Kahan Singhwala, Bhola of Bucho Kalan, Jangi of Bucho Khurd, Rajiv Kumar of Chak Fateh Singhwala, Seera Singh of Tungwali, Lachman Singh of Lehra Mohabat, Melo of Kalayana Khurd, Mela Singh of Bijoyana, Raj Rani of Poohla, Nela Singh of Poohla and Joga Singh of Nathana.

Investigation officer, Gurparvinder Singh, saidd the police party on tip off raided the village where they arrested three accused. The police sources added that despite the arrests, 12 other accused in their group were still absconding and would be nabbed soon.

The Bathinda police are trying to get more information from the arrested accused during the interrogation of persons involved in drug trafficking and are trying to break the chain of those involved in the sale and purchase of contraband.

Bathinda, November 23
The Bathinda Police have commenced investigations into ‘Aadhaar’ cards being used to secure fake mobile connections. The fake connections are being used in illegal activity, including faking identity in making prank calls for threatening and even harassing young girls.

Taking up the case of a young girl, being harassed by an unknown caller, in the immediate context, DIG, Amar Singh Chahal, has directed the SSP office to enquire and take necessary action at the earlies.

A father approached the police and reported that his son, a student, was facing police harassment as a phone bought on his identity was being used for making calls to girls, one of whom had complained to the police. The police, while following the complaint, had traced the identity of this boy from a mobile shop, in the city, from where the phone had been purchased. It was found that the particular caller card had been purchased on basis of the ‘Aadhaar’ card of the boy whose father approached the police.

Talking to TNS, DIG Chahal said: “We have taken up the case for investigation because there have been more complaints with similar background of undelivered ‘Aadhaar’ cards being misused.

Using someone else identity was understandable for selfish reasons, however, the bigger question was as how do the vendors involved in sale of caller card were openly flouting the safety norms openly without verifying the identity of the call purchaser.

DIG Chahal said: “There is always a threat of SIM cards purchased on fake identity being used in heinous crime as well. These connection card sellers were only engaged in meeting their connection targets.”

A caller card seller, requesting anonymity, said, “The government had become very strict in ensuring identity on sale of mobile connections more than a year back. We are asked to ensure through authenticity of the identification papers before issuing the connections cards. There were random checks also, however, situation has relaxed, these days and many of card sellers took exception to law by accepting manipulated identity papers before giving out cards.”

Bathinda, November 23
In a focus on prevalence of asthma that is on increase among the children in the country, a workshop was organised in Bathinda by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics on Sunday where pediatricians from Delhi had also come to attend this workshop.

Dr Gaurav Sethi and Dr Vipul Jain from Delhi presided over the workshop as chief guests that was held from 3 pm to 8 pm at a hotel in Bathinda where doctors from various parts of the country had reached to discuss about the asthma among the children.

Although it is relatively easy to diagnose and manage, there are no diagnostic tests that can definitely clinch the diagnosis, said Dr Gaurav Sethi.

Dr Gaurav Sethi said, “Even though there are many concerns about asthma in children, confusion prevails among parents of the children who sometimes confuse childhood asthma with the adult form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma represents reversible airway obstruction whereas adult COPD is an irreversible and progressive condition but this distinction is sometimes missed by families and they become fearful of the disease and its treatment, said Dr Sethi.

It’s noteworthy that in a study, the PGIMER, too, had last year, found 10 per cent increase in asthmatic cases among the children in Chandigarh city.

The experts in childhood asthma explained that there are several misconceptions about inhalers and inhalation therapy, but scientific research has proven that this is the safest and most effective form of treatment in childhood asthma. All other medications are less safe and also less effective.

There are numerous myths attached to the disease and parents sometimes do not allow their child to participate in sports and other games and events fearing an asthma attack but the children with asthma who take appropriate treatment can lead a normal life.

Dr Satish Jindal, pediatrics at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, said, “There has been an increase in urban hospitals and rural dispensaries suffering from asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis followed by distress and difficulty in breathing. The allergic bronchitis and allergic asthma are affecting children more than anything else followed by allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and eye allergies.

Stubble burning can also become a reason for growing asthma among the people especially children. Symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, frequent nasal symptoms, wheezing and asthma during this period of time. The physical condition of the children has an adverse effect on their ability to study and play.” There is a need to create awareness among the masses about asthma to get clear the misconception about asthma in children and for this lectures should be delivered in hospitals among the masses.” added Dr Jindal.

Dr KK Bajaj, Dr Anjali, Dr Pratik Kapila, Dr AS Dhillon, Dr HS Narang and others were also present at the occasion.

Bathinda, November 23
In a bit of relief to infants and their parents from pain, now, the Punjab government will introduce the ‘pentavalent vaccine’ that was available earlier only in a few states, including the neighbouring Haryana.

Pentavalent vaccine prevents against five infections namely diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Hib is being introduced in Punjab as a part of universal immunisation programme. It will reduce the number of injections required for vaccinating children at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age.

Currently, an infant receives six injections (three doses of DPT, diphtheria, and three of hepatitis B). However, with the introduction of pentavalent vaccine, infants will now receive three injections instead of six injections and will also be protected against Hib infection in addition. This vaccine has already been available in the market for the last many years and it costs from Rs 500 to 700 per dose.

In India, Hib disease is leading cause of meningitis and pneumonia among children. It contributes to 40 to 50 per cent of all meningitis and 25 to 30 per cent of all pneumonia cases in children under the age of five years. It leads to 10 to 30 per cent deaths amongst these cases. According to the WHO (World Health Organisation) estimates 72,000 deaths (4 per cent of all deaths under 5 years of age) occur annually due to this disease in India. It spreads through droplet of saliva from one child to other child. Children in the age group of 4 to 18 months are more at risk. Most of the Hib infections can be prevented by Pentavalent vaccine. All children should receive this vaccine as part of routine immunisation at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age.

Pentavalent vaccine has already been introduced in eight states in 2013 and is now being introduced in 12 more states, including Punjab. Awareness is being created among the caregivers and community for successful introduction of pentavalent vaccine.

Workshops and training for health care providers at state and district levels are being organised for effective implementation of this programme. State-level workshops have already been done and district level workshop will be held on November 25.

Bathinda, November 23
In order to contribute to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Human Rights Protection, a local NGO, today started a cleanliness drive in all the leading markets with the cooperation of shopkeepers and residents.

The drive started from Fire Bridge Chowk and ended up at the bus stand after crossing Arya Samaj Chowk and Mehna Chowk.

Bharat Jindal, president of the NGO, said they would continue to hold the drive in future as well.

Bathinda, November 23
A resident of Lelaena village has been booked under the SC/ST Act for passing on ‘derogatory’ remarks and beating up a person.

In a complaint, Jagroop Singh, a resident of Lelaena village, has stated that the accused made caste remarks on him and assaulted him on November 19. He alleged that the accused has threatened to kill him.

The Rama police station has registered a case against the accused under the SC/ST Act.