Jalandhar, April 3
The harassment of Taru Anand, a first year student of Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) at St Soldier College of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Khambra, by her senior has made it clear that the demon of ragging continues to torment students of city’s professional colleges.

Notably, Amit Kumar Sahai, a first year student of Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) here had ended his life after being allegedly sexual harassed by his ten seniors in October 2005. At that time a lot of hue and cry was raised over the incident. But gradually the issue was relegated to backburner.

The Taru episode clearly shows how the administration and college authorities have failed to stem the menace. The girl in her complaint had claimed alleged that a second-year student Rakesh had misbehaved with her in December 2006. She also alleged that instead of taking any action against the accused, the college authorities had suspended her for three weeks for filing a complaint. It was only after her parents complained to VC of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, the accused was suspended. Apart from Taru, four other girl students of the college -- Monica Mahay, Ujala Sonia, Jyoti Anup Singh and Chander Rekha -- have also levelled allegations of sexual harassment, but no proper probe has been initiated to look into the matter.

The story in other professional colleges is no different. Ankush, an MBA (Marketing finance) final year student of A Pee Jay College, admitted that despite ban ragging continues in their institution. Similarly, a student of Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT), pleading anonymity, disclosed that the freshers were still being ragged in the institute.

Interestingly, in Taru’s case, the college management had initially ruled out the possibility of any such incident. However, after The Tribune highlighted the girl’s plight, chairman of St Soldier Education Society Anil Chopra admitted yesterday that Taru was harassed. The episode had left the girl mentally disturbed and she had even contemplated suicide at one point. Her parents said the entire family was suffering for no fault of theirs. “Our girl is in a mess. And her younger brother’s studies are also suffering,” said Raj Anand, Taru’s mother told The Tribune. She also alleged that the HoD had made indecent remarks against her daughter. Meanwhile, Taru has sought HoD’s sacking for her callous behaviour to serious allegations of sexual harassment.

The role of cops has also come under the scanner in Taru case. While SSP Jalandhar Arpit Shukla claimed that the police were not trying to hush up the matter, students who had levelled harassment allegations claimed that DSP Jagmohan Singh Kang, who is heading the panel formed to look into the charges, was forcing them to reach a compromise. One of the students alleged that when they tried to hand over Kang a copy of fresh complaint on Monday, he did not receive it.

When asked, Kang rubbished the charges. Prof Kamlesh Singh Duggal, HoD of Mass Communications at Regional University Centre, said: Ragging is going on in some of the professional colleges. The managements should handle the complaints seriously and if they are found genuine, stern action should be taken against the guilty.

Jalandhar, April 3
A one-hour Punjabi film, “Sanjh Dilan Di”, based on a love story, was released here today.

The film has many local connections. The protagonist, Gulshan Sachdeva, is a local lad based at Avtar Nagar. Director Chander Mohan too is a local man having acted and directed many programmes for Jalandhar Doordarshan. The film has scenes shot in villages around Jalandhar. Riya Singh, who plays the role of Gulshan’s lover, hails from Chandigarh.

Accompanied by his wife at a press conference here, Sachdeva seemed quite excited as he said that this was his first movie in which he had played the lead role. He said that he had played side role in many Punjabi movies and serials. He explained that it was a complete family movie touching various social angles. The DVD of the movie was released by Dr H.S. Mann, a radiologist, at Punjab Press Club today.

Jalandhar, April 3
Students from the Apeejay Institute of Management have been offered high packages by various companies for placement in their finance, marketing, human resource and IT sections. Head of training and placements Gauravdeep Singh Madaan said that some of the annual packages offered to its students were Rs 4.25 lakh by the Centurion Bank of Punjab, Rs 3.71 lakh by ICICI Bank, Rs 3 lakh by Google and Rs 2.7 lakh by Asian Paints.

Three B.Tech students in their pre-final year at the DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology have been placed with Persistent Systems, a leading IT company. The students who would join the company in June, 2008, have been offered Rs 2.7 lakh per annum.

Jalandhar, April 3
Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya set a record after bagging the Guru Nanak Dev University Overall Sports Championship 2006-07 with 155 points.

Jalandhar, April 3
The department of economics and business of the Kamla Nehru College for Women, Phagwara, organised a seminar on “moral rights of copyright holders”. Dr Ravinder Vinayak from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, said that digital technology had become a major challenge for protection of copyright holders. Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate Balram Gupta said that copyright holders must be given justice for which the police should be given proper training. Another lawyer J.D. Jain said that piracy had become more common in literature and music.

The college organised a farewell party for the final-year students of postgraduate courses. The function was a rich display of talent. A beauty pageant was organised in which Ritu was crowned Ms Farwell, while Jyoti Anand and Navneet were declared first and second runners-up, respectively.

Jalandhar, April 3
They have lost their election battle but it seems the former MLAs and ministers are unfazed by their defeats. They are almost as busy as they were when they were in power.

Contrary to their hopes and aspirations, defeat had greeted a number of top ‘political guns’ of Doaba region of Punjab in the assembly poll this time. They include, former ministers Avtaar Henry, Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Gurkanwal Kaur (Congress) and Balbir Singh Miani (Tanda).

But, interestingly, defeat does not mean that they are lying low or have lost their hearts. They still work like busy bees and meet people from early in the morning till late in the night.

The Tribune checked up with them as to what they were doing these days. “Poll outcome has brought no difference at least for me. I start my day at as early as 6 a.m. with exercise. People of my constituency start descending my residence at about 8 a.m. From then onwards I remain busy in solving problems of people. I enjoy working with people as ever. There is no holiday for a public man,” says Avtaar Henry, who, had lost the Jalandhar (North) seat after a hat-trick since 1985.

Mohinder Singh Kaypee, a former minister who, represented the Jalandhar (South) constituency for twice before his poll debacle this time, remains busy from 8 a.m. till about 11 p.m. He has been nominated as the party observer for the forthcoming UP elections by the Congress high command.

“There is no laxity in my schedule after my loss in the poll. Besides, meeting workers and people, I have to attend ‘bhogs’, marriages and other public functions like earlier. After all so many people have been voting for me and have supported me this time also. Sundays are even more heavy as people know that I would be home and it would be more easier for them to reach me. Victory or no victory, I have to work,” says Kaypee.

The case of Balbir Singh Miani, a former minister and a senior akali leader from Tanda in Hoshiarpur district is slightly different.

Though, he has lost the poll after representing the Tanda constituency for twice, he has made it a point to visit villages in his area daily on rotation basis.

“Now, I have even become busier as it is our government which, is in power. After exerting on my jogger in the morning, I go to villages and meet people.

Besides, I meet 100-150 people daily at my residence at my native Miani village,” says Miani.

For Gurkanwal Kaur, former Punjab minister and daughter of late Beant Singh, loss in poll is some gain at personal front.

“Now, I am more relaxed as I can come out of my place at my will. There are no compulsions now.

As president of the Mahila Congress I have to remain busy, but, there is no burden. Since, I am president of the state unit of the Netaji Subhash Chander Bose Foundation, I am doing my bit to set up the organization in the state. I have to look after my two homes. One in Jalandhar and one in Chandigarh,” quips Gurkanwal.

Jalandhar, April 3
Mild tremors of earthquake were confirmed in the city today with the ringing of an earthquake alarm devised by a scientist at Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology here.

K.S. Nagla, inventor of the alarm and lecturer in the Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering, said that he was just outside his department at 9:10 am when he could hear the alarm ringing. He said that till the time, he sounded everyone the alarm stopped ringing.

The siren was developed by the scientist six years back and he has applied for the patent of the same.

“It does not ring in advance but sounds an alarm only when the quake comes. Since many people do not immediately realise the earth shaking, it can help quickly evacuate the building to avoid any loss of life”, he explained. Nagla’s patent of alarm is now order to grant.

Jalandhar, April 3
Outgoing Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner A. Venu Parsad, who has been appointed Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Punjab, was given a warm send-off by senior officers today. Addressing senior officials and staff in the District Administrative Complex here, Parsad said that he attained a valuable experience during his 10-month stay in Jalandhar as Deputy Commissioner.

Additional Deputy Commissioners S.P.S. Marar and Vinay Bublani, Assistant Commissioner (General) Rahul Gupta and SDMs D.S. Kharbanda and Bhupinder Singh were present on the occasion.