Amritsar, December 28
The district police has busted three gangs of snatchers and vehicle thieves operating in city and adjoining areas.

Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, SSP, in a press note issued here said the police had arrested three persons who were involved in snatchings and used to operate in the Civil Line, Islamabad, Goalbagh and Vijaynagar area of the city.

Those arrested were identified as Narvinder Singh Kala of Fateh Singh Colony, Fatahpur, Sandeep Singh of New Azada Nagar and Gobind, resident of Sultanwind road, Amritsar. Narvinder is a son of a retired Army officer and was involved in three similar cases.

The police recovered a motorcycle, scooter, jewellery and other articles from them. The SSP said the accused used different bikes in every incident of snatching. They even used to hire bikes for the purpose.

The gang mostly used to target women going on foot as well as on rickshaw in markets. The gang had confessed to have committed 18 snatchings in the recent past. Some more recoveries were expected after thorough interrogation, he added.

Meanwhile, another gang of vehicle thieves was busted during a naka by the Verka police at Chowk Milk Plant, Verka Bye Pass. Kunwar said the police party intercepted two persons, identified as Som Dass of Gali Banke Bihari, Mustfabad, and Gagan Kumar of Vishal Vihar, Mustafabad, coming on a motorcycle.

During questioning they revealed that the motorcycle they were riding was stolen by them from Nehru Shopping Complex. During investigation the police also recovered four other stolen motorcycles.

The third gang, including a woman, was nabbed during a raid on the Gurnam Nagar area after a tip off that the gang was planning a dacoity.

Those arrested included Vijay Kumar of Fatehabad, falling under Tarn Taran district, Jaidev, Gurjit Kaur, Sukhwinder Singh, Raj Bahadur Pandey, Santosh Kumar, Preet and Resham Singh.

Vijay Kumar was the king pin of the gang. The police recovered sharp-edged weapons from them besides gold jewellery, three televisions, three CD players, cameras, stereos, etc, worth Rs 1 lakh.

The SSP added that the accused confessed to have committed seven burglaries and snatchings in various areas of the city.

Amritsar, December 28
National Students Union of India (NSUI) has decided to constitute college units in order to strengthen their mother party, Congress, at the grassroots level.

For the purpose, a ‘college unit programme’, was launched by Ragini Nayak, All India General Secretary of the union here.

She said the move has been initiated as per the directions of Rahul Gandhi, general secretary, All India Congress Committee (AICC) who wants some fresh blood to be inducted in the party.

Nayak said under the program ten-member committees would be constituted at all government aided, non-aided and UGC- affiliated colleges in the country.

The details of the members of these panels along with their photographs, contact numbers and e-mails address would be sent to Rahul Gandhi who would keep a close vigil on the activities of panels.

She said there were 138 colleges in the state, out of which 21 were in Amritsar and its neighboring areas where the union proposes to expand its base.

She said the union would also fight for 33% representation for girls in political arena. Nayak said the president of state unit of NSUI was likely to be declared by January end.

Ragini, who is also convener of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh said the reports regarding the possible presidents have been sent to the high command and the final decision is likely to be taken soon.

She said there were four other states where the presidents were to be nominated.

Ragini said there was not much activity of the union in Punjab due to absence of state president which could not be announced for the last three years.

The reasons are manifold, the most important being non-existence of student councils in colleges and universities of Punjab.

About various activities of union, she said the body was planning to organise seminars and debates on relevance of Gandhian ideology.

She said the union has also decided to felicitate students for their outstanding performances in various areas.

Amritsar, December 28
The countdown for the New Year
has begun and the thought of shaking a leg as well as making an impressive style statement not only fills the air with enthusiasm, it also leaves one anxious on how to plan the perfect evening.

As you scratch your head, thinking how to go about the big night, we spoke to celebrities from the city to find out what are their celebration plans.

Popular Punjabi pop singer Amrinder Gill of “Dildarian” fame says since he would be performing the entire week, including on January 1, 2008, he had decided to take a break on the New Year’s Eve and spend some time with his wife and two kids at his house in Amritsar.

“For a change, I would sit back and watch others perform on my TV set with my family. I have not accepted any offer to perform on December 31,” he smiles.

Singer Lakhwinder Wadali, however, prefers to ride high on the success of his latest album on the big night as well.

“I have a show scheduled in Jalandhar for the New Year’s Eve. But as soon as it is over, I will rush back to Amritsar to catch up with my friends for a private party,” he says.

“I have also decided on the outfit and would be sporting a navy blue suit on the occasion,” says Lakhwinder.

Neeta Mohindra, recipient of the best actress award from Punjabi Academy in 1994, says the assassination of former Pak Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had dampened her spirit.

“Still I wish for artistes from the city to get together for a New Year bash, I would plan out something exciting with my family. Black being my all-time favourite colour, I have already picked up a beautiful outfit for the celebration,” she says.

Noted comedian Sudesh Lehri says he is looking forward to having a get-together of family and friends on the year-end.

“Wherever I go, I give the message that people should not indulge in nuisance in the name of New Year celebrations,” he says.

“I always read a couplet, Navein saal di lakh lakh wadaiyan…doston ghar aa ke le leo rajaiyan…warna kootan gian bharjaian. Though every night is special as it brings with it a new day, December 31 has its own significance,” he says.

Jasmine Madaan, owner of Tanishq franchise in Amritsar, says every year, she goes to the Golden Temple to pay obeisance on the New Year’s Eve.

“I try to be there when the clock strikes 12 so that God blesses each day of the coming year. I have been following this for several years now and plan to do the same this year as well. Like me, hundreds of other devotees from the city also line up at the Golden Temple on the occasion,” she says.

Amritsar, December 28
Those looking forward to special New Year offers at the city’s popular showrooms would be disappointed on taking a round of the city.

Unlike the massive hype surrounding Christmas, even the best known brands are not offering much for the year-end celebrations.

The only exception, however, are the gift shops in the city, which are already abuzz with youngsters lining up to grab a gift for someone special.

Even though there are no particular New Year gifts, funny gifts and musical cards are already selling like hot cakes.

Rajiv Kapoor of Bharti Gifts and Greet in Rani Ka Bagh says funny masks, key rings with Dracula’s voice and a host of other items which would shock your friends by springing a surprise from a box are a hit this season.

“The customers are going in for something interesting instead of the traditional decoration pieces or utility stuff. The sale of Chinese gift products have also picked up,” he says.

Simarpal Singh of Chawla Gift Gallery in Hall Bazar says contrary to the general perception that greeting cards are out of fashion, musical cards are the in-thing this season.

“These cards start from Rs 80 onwards. Even though they do not come with a popular brand logo, customers find them impressive enough,” he says.

Amritsar, December 28
The state government should provide pension to the freedom fighters who had participated in the Goa Liberation Movement (GLM) as is being given to their counterparts in other states, including New Delhi and Haryana.

Stating this in a press note, Surinder Singh Sandhu, secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Swatantrata Sangram Sainik Sangh, lashed out at the state government for its unpatriotic and discriminatory attitude towards freedom fighters and for failing to exercise its constitutional duty.

He said he failed to understand why political conferences were being organised by political leaders to mark the martyrdom of Karnail Singh at his native village Issru on August 15 every year if they did not have any regard for his companions in the sacrifice.

He said though the state government had also given recognition to the Goa Liberation Movement vide memo No Fair 28/8911/91 dated October 10, 1991, but the state government was yet to announce any pension for the freedom fighters of the movement.

Sandhu said though the central government had enhanced the pension from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per month to be paid to freedom fighters in October, 2006, but the Punjab government was yet to implement it in the state.

He said he had also made a representation to the President of India for directing the state government for redressing their grievances but he was yet to receive any response.

Bhaur lauded Dr Neki for his selfless service to the society. Dr Neki had donated blood 24 times, besides supplying free medicine.

He has to his credit 24 national and international fellowships and 59 publications in medicinal journals.

Amritsar, December 28
A three-week refresher course in Commerce and Management was inaugurated by professor emeritus Dr. D.R. Singh, an expert in business management at Academic Staff College, GNDU, on Wednesday.

In his inaugural address, Dr Singh, presently director, GNA Institute of Management and Technology, Phagwara, laid stress on education, research and practice in management.

He highlighted corporate reporting, corporate governance, financial engineering, and supply-chain management as major thrust areas in research.

He also laid stress on rural areas and entrepreneurship. Mushrooming of institutions, lack of qualified and good teachers, load of teaching work, lowest priority to research work were creating problems, he said. He said the internet, though useful, had ruined original research work.

Dr Singh stressed on the importance of good research work and suggested the need to improve academic performance of teachers.

Industrial experience and job training were the basis to acquire knowledge in the field, he added.

He was offered the fellowship during his visit to university of Colombo, Sri Lanka as external examiner for the first post-graduation degree in the field of sports medicine conducted by the Post-Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Private Medical University, Salzburg, Prof Eric Meullar of University of Salzburg and Prof Karl Sudi of University of Graz.

The Department of Sports Medicine of the University would be conducting conjoint researches in the field of sports medicine and allied fields.

Prof Norbet Bachl of the University of Vienna is also the executive board member of International federation of sports medicine.