Jalandhar, November 28
Two dengue patients have lost their lives within past one month even as the district health authorities have been caught napping.

12-year-old Aryan and 18-year-old Sandeep Kumar lost lives to dengue within 15 days of each other in the Kot Ramdas locality of the district and many patients in the area also currently lie affected with jaundice or typhoid.

While Aryan lost his life on November 3, it was after on November 14, merely a week after his demise that Sandeep Kumar also lost his life. However, as per residents of the Kot Ram Das area, it was over 25 days after the first death, yesterday that the health authorities first visited the area and sprayed medicines at the residence of Aryan. Sandeep's home hasn't even been visited so far and health authorities did not even officially acknowledge the second death's cause as dengue.

However, a visit to the family proved otherwise.

Aryan (12) got fever on November 2 and was taken to various local hospitals where his condition kept deteriorating. Finally he 
was referred to DMC where he breathed is last on November 3.

Aryan's father Kuldeep said it was only yesterday that the health teams finally visited our home, before that, for the entire season, there have neither been any awareness measures from the health department. Aryan is also survived by his elder brother, mother Urmila and grandmother Baksho.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Sandeep Kumar was stayed ill for three to four days and was taken to a private hospital after his condition deteriorated. While his illness was identified as Dengue, he died on November 14.

Out of school, Sandeep had started pursuing daily labour about a month ago. His father Raj Kumar, who himself is a daily wage labourer, said so far no teams of the health department have come to their home or even in the street.

Raj Kumar said while for the first few days Sandeep was treated by a doctor in the locality, he was taken to a private hospital after his situation worsened. "At the private hospital, he was diagnosed to be suffering from Dengue. Now I'm the only bread winner left in the house but so far there has been no initiative from the government or health authorities to even spread awareness on the issue, leave alone treat other patients."

Even today, residents claimed at many of the homes in the area regularly get dirty water with worms and insects trickling in at times. Paramjit Kaur, whose son Vicky was recently diagnosed with jaundice said they regular get muddy and worm infested water at their home.

Other patients suffering in the area include—Harpreet (6) and patients suffering from typhoid include Gian Kaur (60), Baljit Kaur (55), Suman Kaur (24), Rajni Kumari (22), Sandeep Singh (27), Jyoti (15) and Sunny (28) among others.

Meanwhile, health teams also today toured the Basti Bawa Khel and New Gautam Nagar areas where teams found two patients suffering from jaundice, tablets were also distributed among the area residents.

Civil Surgeon Dr RL Bassan said, “The current outbreak is a routine matter.” While refusing to acknowledge dengue as the cause of death of Sandeep, he said the health teams had carried out spraying in other areas. He said teams had also visited the Gautam Nagar and Basti areas where few patients were found.

"Only two new jaundice patients have been found which is routine in this season. However, we are carrying out drives to distribute medicines among affected areas," said Dr Bassan.

Jalandhar, November 28
The vigilance sleuths today nabbed ASI Kamaljit Kaur red-handed while she was accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 at the Bhargav Camp police station.

The ASI had demanded bribe from a person for copy of divorce, the latter had achieved in panchayat.

Shiv Dyal of Basti Bawa Khel had complained to the Vigilance Department that the ASI had been demanding Rs 5,000 for a copy of divorce, but the deal was finalised at Rs 3,000. He had been running from pillar to post and even pleaded before the ASI, to get copy of divorce so that he could apply for divorce in the court, but the latter was demanding money.

After deal was finalised at Rs 3,000, the ASI called Shiv at the Bhargav Camp police station. The vigilance sleuths under the leadership of DSP Gurpreet Kaur Purewal accompanied the complainant. The moment, ASI received money, vigilance sleuths caught the police official red handed.

A case under Section 13(2) of the PC Act, 1988 has been registered against the ASI. Arrested ASI had joined the Punjab police as constable in 1985 and was promoted to ASI in May 2014.

Jalandhar, November 28
So much for the promises of yummy, healthy, picture-perfect food, the reports of worms having been found in Subway sandwiches on Wednesday night has left a bad state in every fast food junkie's mouth.

After allegations of worms being found in sandwiches of Subway surfaced yesterday, health teams today raided the premises of the local Subway outlet in Model Town.

Health teams took four samples - two sauces and two sandwiches - on the occasion.

Notably, on Wednesday evening, a customer who bought a sandwich from the outlet had complained that worms were found in the sandwich. The sandwiches bought from the outlet were returned within half an hour of the purchase. The issue was taken up by the health authorities today who visited the outlet to conduct health checks and carry out sampling.

District Health Officer Balwinder Singh said, "After receiving news of worms being found in the Subway sandwiches, we inspected the establishment to check whether everything was in order. The samples taken from the same outlet March this year had also come out to be substandard. But the premise was largely found to be clean and all food items were found to be hygienically kept. We have taken four samples of food items which shall be checked for quality and the results of the latest samples will be out in a fortnight."

When asked what the plans of the health authorities were in the coming days given frequent reports of falling standards at establishment selling junk foods, the DHO said regular sampling at outlets was being carried out and would continue in coming times. "In the months preceding Diwali and after it, hectic sampling has been carried out in the city. Chaupatis and other fast food outlets have also been raided and any outlet selling bad food won't be spared," he said

"We also request customers to call us immediately. If the said customers had reported to us yesterday, we would have raided it then," he DHO added.

Jaswinder Singh owner of the Model Town Subway outlet, while talking to The Tribune said, "On Wednesday night some customers came back to the outlet with sandwiches they bought half an hour ago and asked us to refund the money. While we did not see any worms in the sandwiches, the money was refunded nevertheless since we believe the customer is always right. We make everything in a sterilised manner and all the food is cleared from the company. The outlet has been running for 10 years and we have never received a complaint like this. It is basically a conspiracy to malign our name. The standards of the food served on our outlet are very high."

Jalandhar, November 28
Members of the DAV College Managing Committee, Delhi, today visited the DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jalandhar, amidst complaints made to the committee regarding allegations of forgery against the institute principal.

Committee members, JK Kapur, secretary, Mahesh Chopra, treasurer, Ravinder Talwar, secretary, today visited the institute and interrogated staff members, including the complainant on the matter regarding the allegations. Allegations made by Kavinder Kapoor from Gobind Agencies (who was given the work order for the paint work of the institute in 2011), include alleged demand of bribe from him as well alleged tampering of the original quotations (on the basis of which the work order was given) to him. While a case under Section 420 of the IPC was also registered earlier this year, on a complaint by Kavinder Kapoor, the matter was expedited after the Jalandhar police wrote to the DAV College Managing Committee last month demanding the documents of the quotations.

As per Kavinder Kapoor, the institute is yet to pay him Rs 3 lakh of the total Rs 50 lakh paint work he did for the institute in 2011. He has alleged the Rs 47 lakh payment was also received after much delay—by December 2012—even though the bills had been given a long time ago. Kapoor has also alleged that principal Dr Al Sangal and staff member Dr Sanjeev Naval had asked him to let go of Rs 3 lakh from the total payment as a bribe to them, but he refused the same.

While Kapoor first made a complaint to the police commissioner on 26 December 2013, a review petition was also sent by him on the basis of which an FIR was registered. ADCP crime Jalandhar J Elanchezian recently also wrote to the DAV managing Committee asking for the documents present with them regarding the case.

Sources in the enquiry committee which visited the institute today, said the details and outcome of the enquiry would be clear only once the final report is made public by the DAV College Managing Committee itself and so far the enquiry does not denote any serious action being initiated by the committee.

ADCP Crime J Elanchezian said, "We have started investigations into the matter and I had also asked the DAV Managing Committee to send me the original documents regarding the case. So far there is no response from them on the matter. We have also not heard from the committee visiting the institute today. The investigation will reach its next course only once we get the documents sought from the managing committee."

After repeated attempts principal Dr AL Sangal could not be contacted.

Jalandhar, November 28
After the ongoing tussle between the representatives of the leather industry over constituting the new management for the Punjab Effluent Treatment Society reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, directions have been issued to the principal secretaries of Industry and Environment departments to remain present in the court in the next hearing on December 12.

The process of elections had started last month with nominations for the post of the office-bearers of the society getting filed on October 27. The elections were to be held on November 18 for which Amandeep Sandhu of Amson Leather Industries and Parveen Kumar of Raghu Exports had chosen to contest for the post of CEO. In the meantime on November 7, an attempt was made to straightaway nominate Parveen Kumar over which the aggrieved party moved the court and the elections were withheld.

The court on November 25 announced, "The unfortunate tussle to take over the management of PETS, which was constituted under the directions of the court for setting up and to run common effluent treatment plant for leather industries at Jalandhar, between the present chief executive of the society (Steven Kler) who is slated to be the brother of sitting MLA (Avinash Chander) and Col JS Paul, who is the president of the Punjab Leather Federation, has led to a situation where a part of the treatment plant has become defunct, thereby reviving the unexplainable miseries of the residents of the area."

In such a situation, where general public is the real stake-holder, the issues assume more importance, the court said. "We are inclined to extend the scope of the appeal and treat it as a PIL also, to ensure that both the groups are ousted and the CETP is entrusted to some person/ institute of proven integrity, competence and capability. The parties shall be at liberty to suggest the names of such persons/institute for our consideration", the orders of judges Surya Kant and Raj Mohan Singh read. The court also ordered that the principal secretaries of the two departments to be present on the next hearing.

Earlier, on October 11, the High Court had ordered, "The bylaws regarding elections would remain unchanged. The process of election shall be carried out in the manner contemplated in the bylaws." The bylaws of the society read, "The directors nominated by the PLF shall remain in the office for a period of one year in the first instance. Thereafter, one-third of the directors nominated by the PLF are liable to retire every year at the annual general meeting by rotation. The retiree director will retire at the first annual general meeting. The director who has already availed the term of two years can be re-nominated after a gap of two years."

In pursuance of the same, director of industries and commerce-cum-chairman PETS Raminder Singh quashed the nominations made by the PLF on November 7. The leather industrialists in the complex are also upset over the ongoing tussle and have been alleging that the PPCB had been sealing their drums owing to improper functioning of the CETPs. The untreated discharge is also making way to Sutlej via Kala Sanghian drain flowing close by, thus causing leading to environmental pollution and serious health hazards.

Jalandhar, November 28
A local court today sentenced a man to seven years of imprisonment in an abetment to suicide case of his wife. In another case of firing at a wine shop, the accused has been acquitted by the court.

Sources said Dharampal of Rurka Kalan had married to Kiran in August 2011. After the marriage, Dharampal and his family started extending physical and mental torture to Kiran for bringing meagre dowry. After the routine clash between the husband and wife crossed the limits, kin of Kiran took her to parental house. Later, a compromise was sought between the parties and Kiran was again taken back to her in-laws house.

After the compromise, Dharampal again started pressurising Kiran to bring an amount of Rs 50,000 and started torturing her. The accused demanded the money because he wanted to go abroad.Harassed over the daily torture, Kiran had hanged herself to death at her in-laws house in November, 2011. Following the incident, Dharampal was arrested and after a three year trial, he was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment by the Jalandhar courts.

In another judgement, the court of Arunvir Vashista, Additional Districts and Sessions Judge, a former terrorist Kulwant Singh alias Valatia was acquitted from the charges of opening firing at a wine shop. Sources said in August, 1986, Kulwant was charged for opening firing at wine shop in Adampur area in which one person was injured. Kulwant was later arrested in 2011. Today, he was acquitted by the court from the charges as his involvement in the crime was not proved.

Jalandhar, November 28
One of the India’s leading brand in education conference management, 'Indian International Model United Nations (IIMUN)' having organised the Asia’s largest youth conference in Mumbai amongst the many other conference is now ready to organise MUN from November 28 to 30 at Cambridge International Foundation School.

The Jalandhar chapter of the Indian International MUN was inaugurated today at the Cambridge International School co-ed amongst 3,500 students and in the midst of luminaries such as the Founder President of IIMUN, Rishabh Shah, official mascot and singer-composer, Lesle Lewis, Author and Consulting Editor Day – Night News Channel Khushwant Singh, Director General Police of Punjab –SK Sharma apart from various principals and academicians from across the country. The remaining two days of debate shall take place at the sister concern school of Cambridge – Cambridge International Foundation School for Girls.

Being a conference for the youth by the youth, it is run completely by students in age group of 16-25 years. It is the first MUN in Asia to have its own procedure.

Priyank Vasani, Director, Indian International Model United Nations explained, “With India touted to be one of the leading candidates to become the next super power by the pundits, there has never been more need for young leaders. At IIMUN, we organise simulations of local bodies, the Indian Parliament and the United Nations where students don the hats of diplomats and try to solve local, national and global issues.”

This conference which began in the year 2012 in its 1st year went on to host a record 1,078 delegates which made it India’s Largest Model United Nations Conference.

Jalandhar, November 28
Hope Trust, an organisation working at Hyderabad for the (established 2002), is on a tour of the state this month to spread awareness about proper treatment of methodologies. Rahul Luther and Rajeshwari Luther, Directors of Hope Trust, told the media here today.

They said their team was interacting with doctors, psychiatrists, counsellors, social workers and visiting some rehabs and seek a like-minded local partner to set up rehabs in the state.

“The Hope Trust has an experience of thirteen years in the field of de-addiction and wants to tie-up with de-addiction centres and hospitals in the region,” said Rahul Luther.

“Lately, the media has given an increased attention the Punjab drug epidemic. This is not a new problem, but the things are getting worse as almost a whole generation of youngsters is being lost to drugs,” added Luther.

“The extent of drug addiction in Punjab is alarming. Near border areas the rate of heroin abuse among youngsters falling in the age group of 15 to 25 year is 75 per cent. The percentage is 73 per cent in other rural areas throughout the region,” he said

A Department of Social Security Development of Women and Children suggested that as many as 67 per cent of the rural household in Punjab will have at least one drug addict in the family. Every third student in the state is an addict. At least one death occours due to the drug overdose each week in the region. Heroin is now widely used by youth in urban areas.

Hope Trust has collaboration with leading treatment providers worldwide and works with government agencies in the country and abroad. The track record and international reputation of the facility attracts clients from all over the country. It also has clientele in Australia, Dubai, Bangladesh, Maldives, Malaysia, Sultanate of Oman, Singapore, the USA and the UK.

Jalandhar, November 28
Following the arrest of a Swift car gang by the Jalandhar rural police yesterday, the police have recovered two toy pistols and drug powder from the accused.

Notably, the Jalandhar rural police had busted a ‘Swift car gang’, which had orchestrated over two dozen robberies in the city. The accused were identified as Jagsir Singh of Model Town Moga, Gurvinder Singh of Bagha Purana, Moga, and Jaswant Singh of Kairowal, Moga.

The Police have also recovered a white colour car (PB10 DE 7992) from the accused.

Police sources said 33 gm of drug powder was recovered from Jagsir, 170 gm of drug powder from Gurvinder and 150 gm of drug powder from Jaswant during interrogation.

The police said, the accused were drug addicts and were involved in the drug trade. The accused had told the police that they had been revceiving drugs from a smuggler of Kapurthala.

“Now we have launched a manhunt to nab the kingpin, who is reportedly living in Kapurthala. If the said kingpin is arrested, then the police can reach out to several other drug suppliers and drug supply chain can also be busted,” said a senior rural police official.

Jalandhar, November 28
The Government Railway Police today nabbed a person with drugs and looted gold ornaments. Accused used to loot train passenger by offering them poisonous eatables.

The accused has been identified as Satyawan, a resident of Hisar.

The Government Railway Police said they had been conducting routing checks at the city railway station and during one such operation, on suspicion; a youth was frisked from whom 350 gm of drugs was recovered.

During preliminary investigation, the accused confessed that he was a member of a gang that have been looting train passengers by offering them eatables laced with poisonous substance. On his disclosures, the police also recovered four gold rings which the accused had recently looted from a woman, Shalu Sharma.

About the modus operandi, the accused revealed that their gang members, first gets befriended with the train passengers and later offer them eatables laced with poisonous substance. "After passengers turn unconscious, our gang members used to loot them of valuables," accused told the police.

The police said remand of the accused would be sought during which they would try to inquire the whereabouts of his other gang members.

Phagwara, November 28
A mobile shop was burgled on Phagwara-Palahai Road here last night.

Shop owner, Aman Verma, said he noticed the burglary when he went to open the shop this morning and saw the shutters of the shop broken.

The burglars decamped with one laptop, twenty new mobile phones, one tablet, and cash amounting to Rs 6,000.

The police have registered a case in this regard.