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Central jail is peddlers’
paradise
Pak Hindus fight for an Indian existence
Pakistan-based Hindu families at Gandhi Camp in
Jalandhar. Photo: Suryakant |
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Referral of TB & addiction cases just 2-3 per cent
Mahay’s zeal for cricket lives on
Know Your Artiste: Sarvjeet Kaur
Sangeeta Chopra, vice-president of St Soldier Group of Institutions, distributes sweets among special children at Pingla Ghar in Jalandhar. Photo: Suryakant
Onset of summer makes cold drinks dearer
Excise officers threaten black-badge protest
City gets organic clothing outlet
Three youths held for sodomy
Car check-up camp on
Sitar maestro enthrals audience
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Central jail is peddlers’
paradise
Jalandhar, March 19 The jail authorities came to know about the incidents of drugs being thrown into the jail premises over the boundary wall adjoining Luxmi Narayan Temple Road after violence broke out among prisoners on January 7 and March 30 last year. Then Jail Superintendent Gursharan Singh Sidhu had brought the matter to the notice of then Jalandhar SSP Arpit Shukla and requested him to make adequate security arrangements near the wall to check the throwing of drugs into the jail. Subsequently, the patrolling of the PCR team was intensified along the wall but the supply of drugs into the jail continued which became clear through a recent incident wherein a prisoner, Naresh Kumar, was caught with a packet containing 700 capsules of Proxyvon on Monday evening. The consignment containing seven small packets of 100 capsules of Proxyvon each was thrown into the jail from the road. Taking serious note of the incident, Jail Superintendent S.P. Singh requested Jalandhar SSP R.K. Jaiswal to make proper security arrangements on the road to curb the menace of drugs being supplied into the jail. Terming these incidents as a serious matter, SP c(City-I) Gurpreet Singh Toor said adequate police personnel in uniform as well as in plain clothes would be deployed on Luxmi Narayan Temple Road to get rid of the problem and to nab the peddlers. Apart from this, secret information would also be developed to nab the drug peddlers from other parts of the city, he added. Saying that the incidents of throwing drugs usually happened on the border, Toor said the district police had succeeded in nabbing Vijay Kumar (the drug peddler who had allegedly thrown the Proxyvon capsules into the jail on Monday night) within days. The police caught him after carefully reading the visitors’ register and the background of the visitors to the jail in the recent past. Subsequently, Vijay was caught from Thaleta village and a case, under sections 22/61/84 of the NDPS Act, was registered against him on Wednesday. Vijay himself had remained in jail for some time in another case registered against him under sections 22/61/85 of the NDPS Act at Goraya police station on April 9, 2008. He was discharged on bail in that case, the SP added. According to sources, the peddlers were mostly people who had already served terms in the jail and knew it well geographically. It may be recalled that soon after violence and arson on January 7 last year, the then acting Jail Superintendent Sat Pal said, “The prisoners were annoyed with me since I had caught six of them using mobile phones and seized smack from two inmates. I had also seized over 100 capsules.” The Jalandhar Central Jail was built in the 19th century during the British time. At that time, the jail was located on the outskirts of the city but gradually the jail has now become the central part of the city and daily thousands of residents use the road adjoining the jail. The Punjab Government is already constructing a modern jail at Theh Kanjla village in Kapurthala district. The construction of the new jail is likely to completed by 2010.
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Pak Hindus fight for an Indian existence
Jalandhar, March 19 Recently a group of Pakistan Hindu families met Jalandhar (South) MLA Bhagat Chuni Lal to apprise him about their problems and long pending demand of voter I-card. “Governments came and went by but nobody took up our issue. We raised our problem during the previous assembly elections as well but nothing has changed. We have been running from pillar to post but things are actually a mess. In Pakistan we Indians are known as ‘Kafirs’ (Gypsies) and it seems we will die the same status”, maintained Sheela who is earning a living by stitching footballs. Living in penury with bare minimum resources, however they are happy for one thing, a life full of freedom in India. “We know what does it mean to live life under constant fear and taboos. In India things at least you have the freedom of expression”, said Raj Kumari, a Sialkot-based Hindu. Problems cropped up for these migrant families when they were not able to access the basic facilities available to a common man. “We cannot expect any progress in the absence of Indian domicile status. It has been more than 10 years since I shifted to Jalandhar from Sialkot. Life is full of hardships as we have no support from the government,” said Hans Raj, another resident of Gandhi Camp. With no voter I-card, these families are facing common problems, which might sound frivolous to many but have become a nightmare for them. “With no ration card and proof of our existence we are not even able to avail kerosene from the depots. While the rest of the citizens are purchasing kerosene at a price of Rs 10 per litre we are procuring it at Rs 30 per litre. We cannot even avail an LPG connection. It has been years and till date we don’t have a bank account as well. Life is virtually meaningless,” maintained Sita Rani, who has a large family to feed. Another resident Ashok Kumar, who too came from Sialkot and is presently working with a sports goods manufacturing company, maintained, “A majority of the young girls who came with from Sialkot with us have now become over age, they cannot even get married. In fact some of the girls are now 35 plus and they are also facing the same plight. These families cannot even avail a mobile phone connection as the very problem of identity proof comes to fore. “We have taken mobile phone connections on the name of Indian citizens who lend a helping hand seeing our problems,” said Ratan Lal, a daily wager. This time again with Lok Sabha elections round the corner these families are knocking the doors of the higher authorities. Despite these hurdles they are hopeful to see a change. And ask them how was life back home? Prompt came the reply. “Mazhab ki dikkat thi”. “We use to long to wear bangles and bindi. Even at the weddings it was hard to find ‘Chuda’ and ‘Kalire’ a customary Punjabi ornaments for the bride. We use to make ‘Rakhis’ at home as there was none available in the market. There was no religious freedom as the country always remained in fear destruction. Our very existence was in problem,” said Pushpa Rani. |
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Referral of TB & addiction cases just 2-3 per cent Bipin Bhardwaj Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, March 19 These facts came to the fore at a meeting of the District Health Society held at the mini-secretariat here today. While presiding over the meeting, Jalandhar Civil Surgeon Dr S.S. Walia claimed that the number of referral cases of patients had been going down rapidly every year. In an effort to eradicate TB, the government has now introduced a fresh procedure under the National TB Control Programme in which a person with a cough problem for continuous two weeks would now be observed for symptoms of TB. The duration earlier was three weeks. Instead of three sputum examinations, there would only be two examinations to confirm the disease, he added. Dr Walia revealed that the new schedule of the programme would strictly be enforced from April 1, 2009. Earlier, stress was also laid on the rising cases of substance abuse among the youth in different parts of the district. The doctors also laid stress on popularising voluntary blood donation for a noble case. Experts advocated a strict ban on professional blood donors because of their poor health. Stress was laid to rope in more and more educational institutions, religious places, clubs, welfare associations and corporate houses in voluntary blood donation campaigns.
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Mahay’s zeal for cricket lives on
Jalandhar, March 19 Meet international cricketer Kulwinder Mahay, a local lad, who represented India at an under-19 contest against the West Indies captained by famed cricketer Brian Lara in early 1980s. Mahay had represented Jalandhar and Chandigarh and got several opportunities to play with cricketers who earned their names in the international level. The list includes much-acclaimed Yuvraj Singh, his father Yograj Singh, Vikram Rathore, Pankaj Dharmani, Bhupinder Sr and Bhupinder Jr, Harvinder Harru and Gagandeep. He also remained a member of the cricket team of the Punjab State Electricity Board for several years. And he might be among few cricketers in the history of the game who has played with any father-son duo. “I played with Yograj in 1986 when he was about to retire from cricket and with Yuvraj in 1998 when I was about to retire from the game in the domestic circuit,” said Kulwinder. “For about four years, I shifted to Chandigarh from Jalandhar and played as an opening batsman along with Yuvraj Singh for the city beautiful team,” he said. Against Yograj, I played in inter-district tournament as a member of the Jalandhar team. “As a member of the Jalandhar team, I used to open the innings along with Vikram Rathore, another talented cricketer who unfortunately failed to do well at the international level despite getting several opportunities to show his worth,” said Kulwinder. “I consider myself lucky one who got the chance to play with talented cricketers though unfortunately Yograj was unable to achieve the fame earned by his son,” he claimed. Kulwinder had his schooling in Amritsar where his father G.R. Mahay remained posted as assistant commissioner (Income Tax). He later joined DAV College at Jalandhar. Now, the ex-cricketer has shifted gears. He has become a professional radio and TV cricket commentator. “I learnt the art of commentary from cricket coach Rajinder Singh,” said Kulwinder. “I do commentary for All India Radio and Doordarshan,” he said, adding, “Recently I teamed up with Charu Sharma, Salil Ankola, Sabba Karim and Susheel Jangira and others for doing commentary for the final round of Gali-cricket tournament at Surat, Jalandhar and Luhdiana. In 2007 World Cup, I did off-tube commentary of 24 matches for an FM radio.” “I love my new job”, said Kulwinder, who has forwarded his passion for the game to his son and budding cricketer Sahil
Mahay. |
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Know Your Artiste: Sarvjeet Kaur Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, March 19 Brought up at Jalandhar, she picked up music attending music concerts accompanied by her father and listening to Hindi movie songs. His father’s friend, singer Charan Das Safri, heard her at the annual function of her school when she was 14 and made her audition for radio. There was no looking back for her after that. A few years on, she was married to Ravi Sharma, the group director of the songs she used to sing at radio’s Yuv Vani programme. She reached new heights with each passing day leaning from Safri and Master Satish along the way. She attributes her first big break to Bhag Singh who gave her the “Ghodi”. “That was a huge transformation. No matter what I have achieved in the course of all these years, nothing can be compare to ‘Ghodi’ and the success following it.” With her husky, heavy, full-throated voice being the perfect match for Punjabi songs, she went on to sing in about 46 Punjabi movies like “Badla Jatti Da”, “Anakh Jattan Di”, “Tabahi”, “Gabhru Punjab Da”, “Kee Banu Duniya Da” and “Uccha Dar Babe Nanak Da” where she lent her voice to Tanuja. She received awards like the Parkash Kaur award, Shaunki award and the Sur Shehzadi award besides the Kalashree award which she received from none other than Raj Kapoor. A very difficult phase of her life came when she was divorced by her husband. “Those were the militancy days. The state was already scared and on top of all this I suddenly had the responsibility to take care of my children - son Amit and daughter Meenakshi - single handedly. It’s difficult being a single woman in the industry,” she says. But she received the support of her children as they grew up and things changed for the better. A lover of ghazals, for which she received appreciation from the masses, Sarvjeet says, “I was doing a show with another renowned songstress at Ropar. I was scared because it was evening and there were too many stories of militants doing the rounds in those days. Noorie sang on the stage while I waited for my turn sitting on a chair. A man shrouded in a shawl suddenly came close to me and said ‘Eh jo marzi ga lave tere vargi vaaj nai ho sakdi’. I had almost mistaken him for a militant.” Narrating an incident of the best compliments she has received so far, she says, “A fan gifted me a pair of very costly ear-rings in Canada. I was reluctant to accept but I did when he said he had looked for a koka in the city but couldn't find one.” Talking about the present status of the Punjabi industry, she says, “I can just say that there are a few people left to understand real, deep music." Sarvjeet is currently working on an untitled album of hers which will be released soon. She will also be receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at the PTC award function.
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Utkansh starts with a bang
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, March 19 Varsity high flags Students of Guru Nanak Dev University College have bagged the first five positions in the first semester of MBA (five-year integrated course) at the university level. Radhika has got the first rank, Parminder second, followed by Amandeep, Angad and Manjot. Educational visit MBA students of St Soldier Management and Technical Institute, Kapurthala Road, Jalandhar, visited DCM Engineering, Ropar, under the guidence of chiarman Anil Chopra. HR managers of the DCM Anil Kaushik and Vikas Puri told the students about the prospects and challenges of competitive world and shared with them the possible measures to tackle the consequences of the present global meltdown. A power point presentation and an interactive session to solve the queries and doubts of students were organised. Experts talk An expert talk on “entrepreneurship” was organised at the DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology. General manager of District Industry Centre Balvinder Pal Singh shared his views and thoughts with the final-year students of engineering and MBA. He cited several success stories where the people started from a very small venture and today are among the top-notch industrial houses of the country. He explained the procedure to set up an enterprise or a small industrial housing. He apprised students of the government policies and loan facilities available for the same. “Entrepreneurship is made for enthusiastic young minds who are willing to take calculated risks,” he added. World Disabled Day The St Soldier Group of Institutions observed World Disabled Day at the local Pingla Ghar. Vice-president of the institution Sangeeta Chopra distributed clothes, toys and sweets among disabled children. Dance competition An inter-college dance and poetry recitation competition was held at the local St Soldeir College of Education. Eleven B.Ed colleges from the city participated in the competition. |
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Onset of summer makes cold drinks dearer
Jalandhar, March 19 Right from the presumed thirst-quenching Coke to Pepsi, Fanta, Mirinda, Limca and Mountain Dew there has been a upward increase in the price of cold drinks. Retailers at various outlets maintained that the collective change in the prices of the cold drinks is due to the onset of summer. “It has been a week since the prices of all brands of cold drinks changed and probably it will remain the same,” said Rajan Kumar, a retailer. And keeping in mind the approaching summer, the cold drinks manufactures have now introduced a refreshing lemon juice under the name of “Nimbooz” by the 7Up brand. The juice is available in a pack of 200 ml for Rs 10 each. Following the line is another flavour of apple juice by Fanta, which is available at a price of Meanwhile, the prices of vegetables did not witness any hike in its prices compared to their previous rates. However, green peas witnessed a steep hike of Rs 30 per kg against the previous price of Rs 22 per kg. On the other hand, potato is still bearing the brunt of bumper production and was available at a low price of Rs 4 per kg. “The prices of potato will probably be all the more low as the yield is more and there is no space to store the excess crop,” said a vendor. However fruits like apple, which is being supplied from stores these days, is available at an increased price of Rs 65 per kg. Oranges are available at
Rs 60 per kg. Meanwhile, there was no change in the prices of refined oils and flour. |
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Excise officers threaten black-badge protest
Jalandhar, March 19 President G.S. Bal said the association members would express their resentment by wearing black badges during the allotment of liquor vends on Friday. The association has also decided to send a delegation to meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to request him to review the action of the bureau. Condemning the action of the VB, Bal said ETO Surinder Singh Ruby was falsely implicated in the case by Sukhwinder Singh, alias Sukha. He alleged that Sukha was a notorious character and was involved in several criminal cases. He alleged that recently some consignments of liquor, owned by him, were seized by the Lambra police and he was pressurising Ruby not to recommend the case of imposing a penalty and to return the seized liquor. When Ruby had refused to accept the proposition, Sukha played a trick and dragged him in a false case, he alleged. The association had condemned the bureau for not verifying the facts before taking the action. Meanwhile, the suspected ETO Surinder Singh Ruby, who was arrested by the VB red handed while taking bribe of Rs 30,000 yesterday, was today produced before a local court and was remanded to police custody for two days. |
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City gets organic clothing outlet
Jalandhar, March 19 Group chairman Anil Jain has used his vast experience to introduce India’s first certified organic cotton clothing brand UV&W (Unique Value and Wears). Organic cotton clothing is of tremendous benefit to the customer in terms of safety and comfort, hence the punch line of the brand is “good for the skin and the earth”. Grown without the use of any synthetic pesticides and chemicals, organic cotton cultivation leaves no toxic residues. This natural form of cotton was processed into safe and skin-friendly
garment, Jain said. — TNS |
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Jalandhar, March 19 The case came to light when Hari Ram, grandfather of the boy, complained to the police alleging that three boys, Navjot, Honey Kumar and Dalip Kumar of the same locality, allured his minor grandson and committed the crime after taking him to an isolated place. On the complaint of Hari Ram, the police conducted a medical examination of the boy and registered a case of sodomy against the three at Maqsudan police station. — TNS
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Car check-up camp on
Jalandhar, March 19 Parveen Ahuja and Raghav Ahuja, managing directors of the outlet, said the customers could avail themselves of the chance of getting their vehicles serviced with state-of-the-art machines, including the G-scan technology from Korea, for their cars. Other benefits included free washing and 80-point general check-up, 20 per cent discount on labour, 20 per cent discount on value added services, 20 per cent discount on extended warranty, 5 per cent discount on spare parts, besides other mega prizes. Technical specialists from Hyundai will monitor the camp, which will continue till March 29.
— TNS |
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Sitar maestro enthrals audience
Phagwara, March 19 Renowned classical singer Ajay Chakraborty’s disciple Anjuna Nath also performed on the occasion. Earlier, Special Secretary (Finance) J.M. Balamurugan formally inaugurated the festival by lighting the lamp. LPU chairman Ramesh Mittal, sabha president and SDM Amarjeet Paul and its senior vice-president Shiv Chopra were also present on the occasion. — TNS |
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The 500-metre long and 15-foot high boundary wall of the overcrowded Jalandhar Central Jail is being used by drug peddlers to supply drugs to prisoners inside the jail for the past several months.
For scores of Pakistan-based Hindu families, who migrated to India years back, life is yet another battle here.
Young World
The product range includes organic cotton T-shirts, polo shirts, lounge wear, bermudas, inner wear, sweat shirts, sweaters and thermals for men. There is a range of inner wear for kids. The range of outerwear and inner wear for women is expected to be launched soon.