The forces are a vulnerable group as most of the times the personnel stay away from their families. Out of these, the maximum number of HIV positive cases have been reported from the North-Eastern part of the country. But now the disease has spread its tentacles in almost every part of the nation. — Major General  Mandeep Singh Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Jalandhar, April 4
The approximate 12-lakh strong Indian armed forces have as many as 0.6 per cent HIV positive personnel, majority of whom have acquired the disease through sexual transmission.

The disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the Army and the second most prevalent reason of death in the Navy.

This was stated by Major General Mandeep Singh, Additional DGAFMS (Medical Research), during the inaugural session of the three-day workshop on ‘HIV/AIDS: Its Treatment and Care’.

The workshop was held to bring to fore the scenario of HIV/AIDS and policies of the AIDS control programme in armed forces.

Highlighting the causes behind this trend, the officer said the armed forces are a vulnerable group as most of the times the personnel stay away from their families.

“Out of these, the maximum number of HIV positive cases have been reported from the North-Eastern part of the country. However, now the disease has spread its tentacles in almost every part of the nation”, he added.

He maintained that the armed forces swung into action when the first ever case of infection was detected in a jawan who returned from the UN Mission in 1991. “This led to the formation of the AIDS Control Organisation (ACO) at AFMC, Pune in 1992”, the officer said.

However, at present, all the armed forces personnel, proceeding to or returning to India after one month of stay in a foreign country, are examined well on time.

“And once detected, the individual is placed in a low medical category as per the army rule”, he added.

The armed forces witnessed the spread of the disease in three phases - the first phase from 1991 to 1998, second from 1999 to 2003 and third phase from 2004 onwards.

“The period from 1999-2001 witnessed a sharp increase in the infection detected among the voluntary blood donors initially from 0.34 percent to 1.3 percent and then declined from 2002 onwards”, the officer stated.

Earlier, the G-O-C of Vajra Corps, Lt-Gen VS Tonk also spoke on the issue. A panel discussion was also held in which the audience members, comprising serving officers from army, air force and navy, including MNS officers, took part.

Amritsar, April 4
Appearance of communist leader Prakash Karat’s photograph on billboards along with the BJP and SAD leaders yielded guffaw and laugher from the onlookers.

It became a talk of the town and added flavour of laughter to the otherwise insipid and serious nature of contest being fought among the candidates of various political parties.

As many as three hoardings with photographs of top BJP and Akali leaders were planted at GT road near Guru Nanak Dev University.

A resident of nearby locality Kabir park, Surinder Kaur said she was astonished to see photo of Karat along with the BJP leaders as they are poles apart. She said, “It seemed a prank which was natural to come since the hero of famous laughter shows Navjot Singh Sidhu was contesting.”

When the mediapersons brought the anomaly to the notice of visiting BJP leader Balbir Punj, he expressed his ignorance and the local BJP leaders were seen making excuses to him. Soon photos of Punj were superimposed over Karat’s pictures.

On top of the billboard there were photographs of seven Akali and BJP leaders. From right side photographs began with the cheerful face of former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee followed by L.K. Advani, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his son and Deputy Chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, BJP President Rajnath Singh, Communist leader Parkash Karat and BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

The billboard had poll slogans in Punjabi. It announced that ‘to carry out development of Amritsar’, ‘support SAD-BJP’. Besides, it also has photographs of Navjot Singh Sidhu addressed as “Guru Nagri Da Sewak” (servant of the holy city) and councilor of the area Sukhdev Singh Chahal.

Hoshiarpur, April 4
A teenaged girl was abducted by three armed youths at a filling station near Bajwara bypass on the Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh Road today.

The girl, Jasmeet Kaur (18) of local Vijay Nagar, was on her way to Gurgaon with her aunt Shashi Kad in a Qualis, when the latter stopped the vehicle for getting diesel filled.

According to police sources, it was around 7 am when a white-coloured Swift car (No PB-07-0181) suddenly appeared at the filling station.

Two youths came out of the car and knocked at the windowpane on the side of the Qualis where Jasmeet was sitting.

When Jasmeet was moving the windowpane down, her aunt stopped her which infuriated the youths. One of them threatened Shashi with a wedge and the other opened the door handle by putting his hand inside the vehicle.

Later, they bundled Jasmeet Kaur into their car and sped away towards the Phagwara bypass.

As soon as the passersby witnessed the event, they rushed towards the filling station to rescue the girl. Some of them even tried to chase the car, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, the abductors from their mobile phone (No. 9780972849) called up Jasmeet Kaur’s father Sudhir Kumar on his mobile (No. 98720 49949) and informed about the abduction.

SSP Parmod Ban said various police parties had been dispatched to locate the girl. The police had got a clue about the abductors and they would soon be nabbed, he added.

Meanwhile, the Sadar police has registered a case under sections 363, 366 and 506 of the IPC in this connection.

Jalandhar, April 4
A person died and two others were injured in an accident here on Saturday when an autorickshaw (no. PB08 AH6791) overturned. According to Nirmal Singh, SHO police station no. 4, the autorickshaw driver lost control over the vehicle in an attempt to save a street dog. One of the passengers (unidentified) of the auto died on the spot while the driver - Rajinder Singh, resident of Lamma Pind - and the other passenger have been injured.

Meanwhile, in another accident, a girl Manisha died as a truck ran over her. Manisha rode pillion on a motorcycle driven by her brother Varinder Pal, resident of new Rajan Nagar, Basti Peer Daad, when a speeding truck (no. PB08 A1488) first hit the motorcycle and then ran over Manisha, who had fallen down. The driver of the truck is absconding.

In another accident, which took place near the Doaba House at the Nakodar Road, one Dharamjeet Singh of Navjyoti Colony was injured when he was hit by a Maruti car (no. PB08 3490). Dharamjeet has been admitted to the Civil Hospital.

Jalandhar, April 4
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has suspended its three officials who were caught taking bribe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, revealed FCI Senior Regional Manager Saravjit Singh.

The three officials are Jalandhar District Manager Sunil Verma, Quality Control Manager Suman Seth and Technical Assistant Lakhwinder Singh.