Jalandhar, August 23
It was a moment for the residents of Authaula village here to cheer.

More than a month after reports that Sanjiv Kumar, working with the KGL in Kuwait, had gone missing and later arrested in Iraq, his family heaved a sigh of relied late last night after they received his phone call.

The family members received a call from Sanjiv after three months. They said Sanjiv told them that he was lodged in an Iraq jail, but now he was back at his house in Iraq.

He also reportedly told the family that he along with his friend Gurvinder Singh from Gurdaspur, were kept in inhuman conditions and it was like a rebirth to be free.

Sanjiv’s elated wife Sandeep Kaur said, “We were all sleeping when the phone bell rang at 11 pm yesterday.

He talked for a few minutes and said that he would call up again in the morning. He called up again today at 10 am and discussed at length various sufferings he bore.

He told me that he had never believed that he would be out and able to get back to us”.

She said that there had been many visitors since morning as the word spread in the village.

On July 15, when reports of the two youth having gone missing appeared in the media, the Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) had been spearheading a campaign to press for their hunt and quick release.

LBP leaders Ramandeep Singh Bharowal and Avtar Singh Mullanpuri, had blocked roads, dharnas and rallies to pressurise the government. 

Jalandhar, August 23
People were made aware about consumer rights in an unusual way today.

A 21-member troupe of artistes of the Song and Drama Division of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Shimla rendered, “Saavdhan oh bhaia rehna…,” a song on consumer awareness during the ongoing ‘Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign’ at Bajwara village in Hoshiarpur.

The campaign aims at highlighting the efforts being made by the UPA government for development of villages, particularly in the field of rural telephony, roads, housing, irrigation and electrification.

Besides, the troupe also presented a group song, “Aao hindio ral chhoiye…,” on national integration, and a Sufi kalaam. Mr Manak Ali rendered a solo song.

Artistes also came out with “Tuti bajo bandh ki dor…,” on communal harmony and “Sir te klkip gut fashion daar…,” a song from Himachal Pradesh amid thunderous applause from the audience.

Another Punjabi song on national integration by Mr Inderpal Chabbra was also well received.

Mr Bhushan Kumar, Assistant Project Officer (Monitoring) of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) said the Central government had sanctioned nearly Rs 15 crore under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

“The programme has already been launched in Samundra block of the Garshankar sub-division,” Mr Bhushan Kumar said. He was speaking on the third day of the campaign.

Jalandhar, August 23
Physiotherapists Association of India has sent a memorandum to the Punjab Chief Minister and Punjab Governor demanding a rollback of the qualification criteria for Master’s degree passouts in Sports Physiotherapy (MSPT).

Stating this in a press note, Dr M.S. Sachdeva, senior vice-president, said Guru Nanak Dev University had de-recognised its own MSPT degree and played havoc with scores of eligible lecturers who had passed this two-year course after paying “exorbitant” fees.

Dr Sachdeva said that while the course was started in 1995, the university changed the qualification rules on June 16, 2001, debarring scores of members of the association for the post of lecturer in physiotherapy institutes of Punjab.

He added that while the candidates with MBBS with MSPT and BAMS with MSPT degrees were refused jobs, those with a combination— Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and MSPT— were only considered as eligible.

He said since MBBS and BAMS candidates had also been admitted to the course, they should also have been considered for the jobs.

Convener of the newly-formed action committee, Dr Sachdeva said when Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) came into existence, there was no faculty of physiotherapy in any university of Punjab except the Guru Nanak Dev University.

So the changed qualifications for the post were transferred to BFUHS, he added.

The association members said they had given several representations to the universities and concerned government departments, but to no avail.

They added that a meeting was also held with Minister for Medical Education, Secretary for Medical Education and Registrar of BFUHS in which consensus was in favour of the association.

But they said no positive decision had come out till date. 

Nawanshahr, August 23
Centuries-old Baradari Garden in the town is likely to be restored to its original glory. It had been lying in a state of neglect for the past several decades.

Work for the ancient garden’s beautification has already begun, even though the district administration is yet to receive an estimated grant of Rs 82 lakh for the purpose.

Landscaping of the open area at the far end is on and new pathways around the circumference of the garden are being set up.

Low lamps have also been erected all along the pathways. Several units of colourful swings and slides have also been put up to attract children. But the entrance of the garden is still not inviting.

Owing to the bad condition of the gate, the boundary wall and the path, with overgrown vegetation around, the garden does not get many visitors.

The garden was once famous for its mango trees and its 12 gates. But it no longer manifests the original charm.

Its beauty was further marred after residential quarters for officials of the Panchayat Samiti were constructed right near the its entrance a few decades back. It happened after the garden’s ownership was passed on to the civic body.

The place will now be rechristened as ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh Garden’, since he is said to have visited the garden in 1831.

Historians believe that Jamadar Khushal Singh, a prominent minister in his court, constructed or renovated the Baradari.

They claim that large utensils had been discovered in the cellar under the old building, indicating that soldiers of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army might have stayed there.

Another conjecture says Baba Mohammad Sadiq, an administrator of Nawanhshahr, got the Baradari constructed during his reign.

There are speculations that the Baba also got constructed a tunnel— from the old building to his home in Ummaton Mohalla.

Old-timers in the town claim to have seen the tunnel. Some say that it passes right under their houses.

It is believed that Maharaja Ranjit Singh used the old building for relaxation, holding meetings and doing official work.

The garden, in the heart of congested Nawanshahr, falls on way to the historical township of Rahon. It was once a hub of activities, since Mughal rulers as well as silk and shoe traders from Afghanistan and Delhi on their way to Rahon, used to halt in the garden.

The area around the garden is now overcrowded.

But it can serve as a lung for the town if the disarray is done away with.

The restoration work began in July last year when Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, visited the garden.

Nawanshahr’s Deputy Commissioner, Mr Krishan Kumar, said Rs 61 lakh had been sanctioned for the garden’s restoration work and Rs 21 lakh would come for the construction of a community hall there.

He added that the domes in the garden would be spruced up and Nanakshahi bricks would be used to repair the boundary wall to impart an original look.

He said after the sanctioned grant was received, the project could be completed in two months. 

Phagwara, August 23
As many as 15 sacks of poppy husk were seized by the Phagwara police from a truck intercepted near the Government High School in Maheru village yesterday.

The police team, led by ASI Inderjit Singh and Chaheru police post in-charge Sikander Singh, nabbed three smugglers, identified as Gidda Singh, Ladi Singh and Sukhbir Singh.

The consignment was being brought from Rajasthan to the city for sale to drug peddlers operating in the periphery, police sources said.

A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the trio at the Sadar police station.