Amritsar, March 18
Dr Kuldip Rai Arora, who was arrested for allegedly raping his helper Jyoti (name changed) on March 15, would be discharged soon as the real culprit, Gurdhiraj Singh, who has admitted to crime, has been arrested by the police.

The SSP in a press note said here today that during interrogation the police managed to trace the real culprit and it decided to discharged Dr Arora from the case. Action would be taken against the girl and the others under section 182 of the IPC for giving false statement to the police.

Some other suspects along with Dr Kuldip had been arrested and later let off following preliminary investigation. The parents and relatives of the girl had mobbed the “hospital” of Dr Kuldip.

In her complaint, the girl had alleged that while all employees had left the “hospital,” she was stopped for a while by the doctor on pretext of some urgent work. He gave her tea laced with a sedative. When the victim reached home at Kot Khalsa in the wee hours the next day, she told her parents that she was in the hospital and came to home after regaining consciousness. She told the police that when she woke up in the morning she found herself physically abused/raped by the doctor.

The district police chief said Gurdhiraj, who was also working in the same hospital as a helper, had developed illicit relations with the girl and they managed to dupe the police in believing the rape story concocted by them.

Amritsar, March 18
The objective of education is not limited to getting employment or earning wealth but to produce educated, intelligent and civilised citizens so that they contribute more to the national development as compared to the ordinary citizens.

V.S. Kokje, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, stated this while addressing the students and staff of DAV College during the 52nd award presentation ceremony held here yesterday.

Stressing on the need for value-based education, Kokje said it would be a tragedy of unimaginable magnitude if man does not stick to the centuries-old values and in this context our basic approach to system of education needs to be reoriented.

He said unfortunately the youth today have linked education with income generation and seek knowledge in pursuit of wealth and aim at lucrative careers.

But the real intent is that along with giving due importance to curricula, development of human personality and higher values must be sought, he added.

Kokje, while exhorting the youth to follow the career as per their aptitude and not for minting money, advised them to emulate West in a different way, rather than aping their food and dances.

He said they should develop a spirit of adventure like the westerners and indulge in adventurous feats like trekking, mountaineering, etc.

Speaking on the occasion, D.R. Gupta, director (colleges), DAV Management Committee, New Delhi, advised students to equip themselves with latest knowledge and devote time in research work.

Earlier, V.K. Sharma, principal, DAV College, read the annual report of the college and informed that 547 students of the college had excelled in various academic and co-curricular activities.

Amritsar, March 18
As part of the ongoing demolition drive, the municipal town planning (MTP) department demolished various encroachments and other structures constructed in the Mall Road and Lawrence Road shopping area today.

Talking to The Tribune, municipal town planner S.S. Bhatia said unauthorised parking lots outside showrooms on Mall Road were not suitable for parking and forced commuters to park vehicles on the main road. He said a police party was accompanying the MC teams and the demolition process went on peacefully.

Amritsar, March 18
Family members of Harmandeep Singh, who committed suicide on March 8 for delay in police probe besides registration of a case against a travel agent, have urged the Punjab Chief Minister and DGP for registering a case of inciting suicide against 
the accused.

Ranjit Singh, brother-in-law of the victim, talking to mediapersons here said the police had registered a case against the travel agent on March 10. Had the police registered the case earlier, the victim would not have taken the extreme step. He said the police should also register a case against the accused under section 306 of the IPC. Harmandeep had committed suicide by consuming poison. The victim in his suicide note had alleged that the travel agent, Jaskaran Singh, and his five associates were responsible for his death as they had refused to refund Rs 2 lakh given to them by him for sending Ranjit to New Zealand on April 26, 2002. The accused had also beaten him after he had gone to claim his money back and had lodged a complaint with the police in this regard.

However, SSP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh told The Tribune that the inquiry had already been order into the case and the aspect of delay in the case would also be looked into. — OC

Amritsar. March 18
The steep hike in the iron and steel prices has rung alarm bells for packaging machinery manufacturers, who are already reeling under power shortage and entry tax burden.

KS Khuranna, general secretary of the Printing Packaging and Allied Industries Association, has urged the central and state governments to take firm action to control the rising price of iron. “The hike of Rs 15 per kg is a massive one. The industry is in a dire strait. We cannot even wind up the units due to heavy debts. Besides, it would also render thousands of workers jobless,” he rued.

President of the assciaton P S Kalsi, president said despite the fact that input cost has doubled, the central government, in its budget, has not increased the excise exemption limit for small scale industry (SSI). He said the holy city is a border district and the freight cost on incoming raw material was considerably high, which escalates the cost of the finished product. He urged the government to increase the excise exemption limit to Rs 10 crore. The association urged the government to grant a special package to SSI, failing which many establishments would be forced to shut down their units. Among others present were TR Mahajan, Sukhdev Gupta, Onkar Singh, Kartar Singh, Paramjit Singh, and Parminder Singh. — OC

Amritsar, March 18
Impressed by yoga and the traditional Indian system of medicines like ayurveda and Unani, an Australian citizen, Mark Williams, is in India to imbibe knowledge about these traditional systems of medicine. Talking to The Tribune, Mark said he was amazed by the Indian traditional system of medicines, especially yoga, through which he had been able to make him self happy and be in sync with his body.

He said there was need to make innovations to provide medicines for dreaded diseases like cancer and AIDS.

A student of the Australian College of Naturo Medicine Muscle Therapy, William said ayurveda was a wonderful science and he was trying to learn the composition of the ayurvedic and Unani medicines available in various parts of India.

He said he was also trying to learn various yoga exercises which helped in keeping the body fit, besides helping in staying away from various ailments.

Williams said he had come here on the invitation of his friend Dr Naveen Arya to help him in promoting the ayurvedic medicines during the Aroyaga fair organised by the department of AYUSH, ministry of health and family welfare, Government of India.

Talking about future plans in Australia, Williams said whenever he would be able to generate funds he would open an ashram there because this would give a calming effect to the lives of the people who were leading their lives at a fast pace. He said it would also help them in loving mother earth, besides removing the negativity in them.

He said he had visited various places in India such as Benaras, Rishikesh, Agra, New Delhi and Goa. He said he would also visit Dharamsala, Chandigarh and Kolkata before leaving for Sydney.

Amritsar, March 18
The Indian hockey team’s debacle at the Olympic qualifiers was not a surprise because the required changes in the playing pattern were not made as per the world standards.

This was revealed by former Olympian and Arjuna awardee Harmeek Singh at the valedictory function of the First South-Asia Universities Hockey Championship which concluded at Guru Nanak Dev University here today.

Harmeek said earlier hockey was considered as the game of the poor but with the changing scenario it is being associated with the rich. Everything in hockey has changed. Astroturf has replaced grassy ground and new equipment had become part of the game. Besides, the entire rules of the game had been changed.

Talking about the degradation in the game, Harmeek said India had to work at the grassroots level in order to excel in hockey at the world level by providing good coaches, best facilities, scientific training and modern equipment in schools, colleges and universities.

Earlier, vice-chancellor Dr Jai Rup Singh said the university would try its best to promote and develop sports. The university had already taken a number of steps for the purpose, he added. 

Amritsar, March 18
The stalls put up by Ayurvedic companies displaying medicines for slimming and rheumatic pains drew large crowds as young obese patients and old people thronged these to find cure for their ailments.

The companies, which were exhibiting medicines for getting slimmer within days, attracted the youth, especially girls, who were overweight and could be seen getting free consultation from the doctors provided by these companies. Heavy rush was also witnessed at the stalls of Ayurvedic companies which were providing medicines for getting rid of rheumatic pains.

The Confederation of Indian Industries had also set up clinics for people to get treatment for their ailments. Long queues could be seen at these clinics and people had to wait for long duration for getting free consultation from doctors.

Another major attraction was the “bodygrow” stalls put up by herbal companies as young boys showed lot of interest in their products and could be seen purchasing these to give themselves a macho look besides toning and building their muscles.

The four-day health fair on Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, siddha and homoeopathy, “Arogya,” which started on March 15 and inaugurated by Nirmal Singh Kahlon, speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, concluded here today. The district administration and police had made elaborate security arrangements for the people visiting the air-conditioned halls at the fair.

Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Punjab health and family welfare minister, who had been at the helm of affairs for organising such a mega even under the aegis of the department of AYUSH, union ministry of health and family welfare, had hoped that the fair would prove to be a health boon in the lives of the people of the border region as the traditional medicines would help them to keep away from many common ailments. The fair would create awareness among them about the advancements made in clinical practices, research and documentation, manufacturing and the process involved in these systems of medicine and also the medicinal plants sector, she added.

Chawla said the fair was organised to gauge the strength of the Indian traditional medicinal system and propagate Ayurveda and other systems in the state. She said the new mantra was to use the old Indian system to cure many chronic ailments. The health department was working out a comprehensive plan to recruit two doctors each from Ayurvedic and homoeopathic systems at all civil hospitals in the state to promote the traditional medicines.

Besides various private Ayurvedic, Unani and homoeopathy companies, various government departments had also put up their stalls at the fair. The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune, National Institute of Siddha, Chennai, and National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata, were among those who had put up their stalls to educate the general public about the advances made in the traditional medicines and their benefits.

Yoga experts from Morarji Desai institute and Acharaya Ram Dev’s ashram in Haridwar also trained people in various yogic exercises for different physical ailments like pains in knee and shoulder joints and for reducing weight.

People also showed interest in herbal and medicinal plants displayed at the fair. They could be seen enquiring from the exhibitors about the benefits of these plants.

Amritsar, March 18
As many as 125 students, who got vocational training in 17 different courses under science and technology and entrepreneurship development (STED) project, were conferred with certificates at a function organised at Bachat Bhavan here on Friday.

Out of the total 380 persons getting training in various courses under this project, certificates were distributed to about 125 persons by deputy commssioner, Kahan Singh Pannu. About 10 persons were trained in computer hardware maintenance, 11 in beauty parlour course, 47 in honey beekeeping and as many were trained in stitching.

Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KMIC) gave away modern gadgets for making pots to 10 poor potters for increasing their production.

Speaking on the occasion, the deputy commissioner said vocational and job oriented training courses enable the youth to become self dependent. While appreciating the steps taken by KMIC in collaboration with Indian government for providing training to the rural youth for developing the rural industry, he asked the concerned authorities to provide training to the village youth as per modern need.

He said they should also be awakened bout various marketing skills for their products besides various loan schemes of banks for starting their new ventures.

Meanwhile, A K Garg, KVIC assistant director, along with Dr B K Gupta, development officer, Rural Engineering Industry gave details about the various training courses besides financial assistance being provided by the government for proper marketing and exhibitions in foreign countries.

Amritsar, March 18
Guru Nanak Dev University’s department of botanical and environmental sciences organised a competition on “Seed collection and display” in the botanical garden of the campus today.

The competition was held as a part of the national environment awareness campaign (NEAC-2008) and was jointly sponsored by the Punjab state council for science and technology, Chandigarh, and ministry of environment and forest, government of India.

As many as 580 samples, classified according to different categories, were displayed during the event. The first and second prizes were won by Ranjit and Mrinalini, respectively, while Ashutosh, P. K. Pati and Gurjinder, Aashiq Hussain and Muddasir shared the third prize.

Programme coordinator Dr Adarsh Pal Vig highlighted the need of seed collection to protect plant biodiversity. He said the seed collection would be displayed in the museum of the department of botanical and environmental sciences.

Meanwhile, Society of Botanical and Environmental Sciences also organised a one-day “shram daan” camp in the botanical garden, which is rich in biodiversity and spread over 25 acre. The event was organised by head of the department Dr A.S. Soodan and faculty advisor Dr Jatinder Kaur. The department’s students, research scholars, teachers and non-teaching staff undertook the de-weeding process during the camp.

Among others who participated were dean students’ welfare A K Thukral, Prof G S Virk, Prof Avinash Nagpal, Dr Renu Bhardwaj, Dr Saroj Arora, Dr Adarsh Pal Vig, Dr Satwinderjit, Dr P K Pati, M S Bhatti, Rajinder Kaur and Bhupinder Pal Singh.

Amritsar, March 18
The juxtaposition of playful animal figures with embroidery motifs drawn from “phulkari” in paintings at the art exhibition titled “Mind Games” denoted extinction of beauty. The artists - Daphy Brar and Sonal Singh - said though both of them preferred using two different mediums, yet each of the 12 paintings mirrored the “mindscape.” While Daphy explores the purity of oils, Sonal Singh celebrates acrylics.

Daphy says, “I have used coloured blocks for the embroidery motifs drawn from phulkari, which make a wonderful combination with the animal figures drawn from my imagined world.”

“The animals are native to my land (Malwa region of Punjab) and have found a place in the phulkaris, the traditional embroidered textile of Punjab. Another companion of my childhood was “Champak” magazine where “Chamtaka” and “Doob Doob,” a fox and a crocodile, were her imaginary friends,” she says.

Sonal adds, “I love the purity of colours and loves to use tube after tube. I draw my references from the colour palette of the French Fauves, particularly Matisse. It is apparent in the generous use of the colours and thick paint. There are no Indian references either in composition or in style, perhaps in the use of elements.”

“The making of these paintings was in itself an enriching experience. The rendering of each line, dot, beads, spirals here and there, addition of each element and the whole process was of celebration. I paint only when I am happy,” says Sonal Singh.

Amritsar, March 18
Jagraj Singh Saran, a UK based NRI, on Friday, donated about Rs 4 lakh to a pingalwara.

London-based Heathrow Estates Company owner Saran and councillor Poonam Dhillon jointly gave the draft for Rs 3.93 lakh to the authorities of pingalwara for the welfare of the poor children.

He said the amount has been collected by organising a dine and dance show in which various singers, including famous Punjabi pop singer Juggy D sang popular numbers. He said the company was collecting money every year so that Indians living there could be motivated for this cause.

He also urged the people residing across the world to come forward to help the poor people by donating generously for this social cause.