J A L A N D H A R

Studying amid stench of urine
Jalandhar, July 9
The sorry state of affairs at government schools can be gauged from the fact that students of the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School at Fantom Ganj here have to every day bear the stench emanating from open public urinals constructed on its boundary wall.

A view of an open public urinal outside the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School at Fantom Ganj in Jalandhar. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Two devotees killed in road accident
Raipur (Jalandhar), July 9
Two devotees, including an 85-year-old woman, were killed and nearly 12 others injured when the tempo-traveller, in which they were travelling, dashed against a roadside tree near here on the Jalandhar-Pathankot GT road this morning.

Commuters wait for buses in Jalandhar amid a downpour that lashed the region on Sunday providing respite from days of sweltering heat and humidity. — Photo by S.S. Chopra

Man kills wife, arrested
Kapurthala, July 9
A woman today succumbed to her injuries she sustained during a clash with her husband, who had allegedly attacked her with a sharp-edged weapon following an altercation over a petty issue, at their residence in Toti village falling under Sultanpur Lodhi police station.

Police seize poppy husk
Phagwara, July 9
The Phagwara police seized 40 kg of poppy husk at a check post set up near Rawalpindi village last night. During a search operation, the police found a bag containing the poppy husk in a car, according to the ASP, Phagwara.

Akshar claims to be president of union
Jalandhar, July 9
Mr Akshar Kumar has claimed that he was still the president of the Punjab State Warehouse Field Employees’ Union and has not been removed from the position during its meeting held at local Desh Bhagat Yaadgaar Hall here last evening.

Studying amid stench of urine
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 9
The sorry state of affairs at government schools can be gauged from the fact that students of the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School at Fantom Ganj here have to every day bear the stench emanating from open public urinals constructed on its boundary wall.

The problem assumes serious proportions since the classrooms and the urinals are separated by a distance of less than two metres — the difference between the school’s boundary wall and the wall of the classrooms.

Windows of the classrooms facing that side of the boundary have been permanently closed. But the stench sneaks in from the ventilators, the students said.

The girls also find it embarrassing to pass by the urinals every morning and afternoon as they enter and leave the school.

“It has become a routine listening to those silly comments men pass as they ease themselves on the wall”, one of the girls said.

The students said they had complained about the matter to the teachers. “But they couldn’t be of much help,” a girl said.

The open urinals, 20 metres away from the school’s gate, are used by people coming from the railway station and shopkeepers from the NG Road.

Men were seen easing themselves not just in the urinals, but also anywhere along the school’s boundary wall, in case the urinal was full.

The corporation officials recently got constructed 12 closed toilets for men and women on BOT basis in the city and another 12 are on the anvil.

A teacher said the school authorities had requested the Municipal Corporation officials to get the public toilet shifted but to no avail. “When the corporation is constructing closed toilets in other parts of the city, why is it still open here and that too so close to the school?” she asked.

The open urinals are also a problem for people going to the railway station, Domoria Bridge or old city areas.

Ms Mamta, a resident of Kishanpura, said the area was known for the presence of miscreants and open urinals on the roadside. “It often becomes difficult to pass around this area in the night,” she said.

When the MC Commissioner, Mr S.S. Johl, was contacted, he said he had not received any complaint in this regard.

He added that he would get the matter checked and if need be, he would get it shifted or covered.

Two devotees killed in road accident
Tribune News Service

Raipur (Jalandhar), July 9
Two devotees, including an 85-year-old woman, were killed and nearly 12 others injured when the tempo-traveller, in which they were travelling, dashed against a roadside tree near here on the Jalandhar-Pathankot GT road this morning.

The driver reportedly lost his control over the speeding vehicle, which subsequently rammed into the tree.

The deceased have been identified as Kesar Kaur, 85, a resident of Dasuya and the vehicle driver Balwinder Singh, a resident of Passi Bet village near Dasuya.

The accident took place at about 8 a.m. when nearly 20 devotees, hailing from Dasuya and some nearby villages, were heading for Bhaini Sahib in Ludhiana district.

According to police sources, the cause of the accident could be sudden loss of control over the vehicle by its driver Balwinder Singh, who died on the spot along with Kesar Kaur.

The devotees, who have sustained injuries in the incident, have been identified as Maan Singh, Sukhwant Kaur, Amarinder Singh, Parwinder Kaur, Jugraj Singh, Harshdeep Singh, Jasmit Kaur, Rajwant Kaur, Harshpreet, Jaspreet Singh, Balbir Singh, Soma Devi and Amarpreet Kaur. All of the them were admitted to Pathankot Chowk-based Janata hospital, where their condition was stated to be out of danger.

A case has been registered.

Man kills wife, arrested
Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, July 9
A woman today succumbed to her injuries she sustained during a clash with her husband, who had allegedly attacked her with a sharp-edged weapon following an altercation over a petty issue, at their residence in Toti village falling under Sultanpur Lodhi police station.

According to police source, the dispute broke out between Lahori Singh and his wife Charan Kaur yesterday evening after the latter sold a truck for just Rs one lakh whereas it had been purchased at the cost of Rs four lakh.

In a fit of rage, Lahori Singh allegedly attacked Charan Kaur with a sharp-edged weapon, the sources said.

Charan Kaur was taken to Sultanpur Lodhi Civil Hospital, where she succumbed to her severe head and neck injuries today.

Lahori Singh had been arrested and an FIR under Section 302 of the IPC was registered against him, the police said.

Police seize poppy husk
Tribune News Service

Phagwara, July 9
The Phagwara police seized 40 kg of poppy husk at a check post set up near Rawalpindi village last night.

During a search operation, the police found a bag containing the poppy husk in a car, according to the ASP, Phagwara.

The occupants of the car were identified as Harvinder Singh, a resident of Banga in Nawanshahr district and a proclaimed offender, and Gurdip Singh, a resident of Rehana Jattan village in the Phagwara sub-division.

The duo used to supply poppy husk at various places in Punjab and Haryana.

Ten cases of smuggling narcotics were registered against the two. A case has been registered at the Sadar police station.

Akshar claims to be president of union
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 9
Mr Akshar Kumar has claimed that he was still the president of the Punjab State Warehouse Field Employees’ Union and has not been removed from the position during its meeting held at local Desh Bhagat Yaadgaar Hall here last evening.

He also claimed that some aggrieved members of the union had formed a separate group under the presidentship of Mr Kuldip Singh from Moga, but he was still the president of the “main” faction of the union. He further claimed that most of the office-bearers were still supporting him.