The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Forced into drugs by quacks As sedatives turn into addiction, couple take rehab route Chander Parkash Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, August 20 This couple became a victim of quacks, who with their lengthy courses of sedatives left them addicted. After years of suffering, they finally decided to get rid of their dependence on drugs. Sarbjit Singh and his wife Baljit Kaur, belonging to Hoshiarpur and married for 10 years, have voluntarily admitted themselves to the local Red Cross De-addiction Centre for treatment. Narrating their sad tale to The Tribune, Sarbjit says about 11 years ago when he was suffering from pain on account of stones in his kidneys, he went to an unscrupulous medical practitioner, who gave him sedatives for years together. Same was the case with his wife Baljit Kaur, who was hooked to drugs, after she was given sedatives for her abdominal pain about three years ago. When the couple came to know about the fact that they both were hooked to drugs, they started consuming the intoxicants together. The wake-up call The couple forced their way to the de-addiction centre for treatment after knowing that few youths living in their village and surrounding areas had died in the past few months after becoming drug addicts. According to the husband, neither of them was willing to let the drugs devour their lives. “Moreover, both of us were worried about the future of out three children, hence we decided to get ourselves de-addicted through treatment,” adds the wife. They say after treatment they will launch a campaign against addiction and would motivate their near and dear ones to shun this evil. Romesh Mahajan, Project Director, Red Cross De-addiction Centre, claims that Sarbjit and Baljit have become the first couple of the country, who have volunteered to come to de-addiction centre for treatment. Mahajan says the couple has been responding to treatment and will be normal in due course of time.
	Who will repair this road? Parmod Bharti Nawanshahr, August 20 It seems that the private road construction companies are more concerned about collection of toll tax at the barriers and pay less attention to its responsibility of proper upkeep of the roads as well as the safety of the road users. This could be gauged from the prevalence of big potholes on the Nawanshahr-Jalandhar main road here. In a small stretch of the road, passing through the town from the local Chandigarh Chowk to Ambedkar Chowk, two big potholes could be seen, which have been causing a lot of inconvenience to road users. A truck carrying vegetables today overturned due to the pothole near the local Sabzi Mandi. Traffic police constables got the pothole filled temporarily with bricks and sand. Ajit Pal Brar, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), Central Divisional Works, Mohali, when contacted on phone, said it was the responsibility of the private construction company to repair the road. When asked which government agency was liable to monitor the functioning of the private construction company, the Executive Engineer said the PWD (B&R) was responsible for it and added that he would look into the matter and get the road repaired.
	World Police Games Two of PAP team go missing in Canada Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 20 Two players of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) who were part of a contingent participating in the 13th World Police Games at British Columbia, Canada, have gone missing. This development came to light after only three of the five players reported for duty at Jalandhar after the completion of the games. Sources said departmental action has been initiated against the personnel. According to sources, five players - ASI Amritpal Singh (long jump), Bikram Sharma and Gurvinder Singh (wrestling) Ranjodh Singh (athletics) and Navjot Kaur - had gone for the games. However, Ranjodh Singh and Gurvinder Singh went missing and did not return with the team. Both of them were serving as constables with the 80th battalion of the PAP and did not even take part in the games. While Ranjodh Singh left the team in Vancouver, Gurvinder Singh went missing in Toronto. The players who returned have won two gold and two silver medals in their respective fields. Officials confirmed the disappearance of the duo and said they had initiated departmental proceedings against them. It is pertinent to mention here that the authorities and the Delhi Police are on the lookout for SI Lakhwinder Singh, who is accused of human trafficking. He had taken Rs 12 lakh each from four Punjabi youths for taking them to Canada as a part of the basketball team. The immigration authorities detained the four just before they could board the flight. They spilled the beans and said the SI had procured visas showing them as members of the team. However, he managed to escape the police at the IGI airport following which a look out circular has been issued by the Delhi police. He is said to have managed to reach Canada but the police is investigating the entire matter.
	Akshay Urja Divas celebrated Our Correspondents Hoshiarpur, August 20 The 65th birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was observed with great enthusiasm here today. A function was organised under the presidentship of Chaudhary Ram Rattan, a veteran Congress leader at the office of the District Congress Committee (DCC). The women wing of the DCC organised a separate function to observe the birth anniversary of the Late Rajiv Gandhi. Local leaders including Taranjit Kaur Sethi, district President of the Mahila wing paid floral tributes to the late former Prime Minister. Meanwhile, a district-level function was organised by the district administration at the local Government College in connection with the celebration of the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas today. Presiding over the function, Deputy Commissioner Megh Raj emphasised on the need to use solar energy to save the energy being generated from petrol, diesel and coal as only limited stock of them was available now. A painting competition and declamation contest of school children on the Askhya Urja Diwas were also organised. A drama depicting preservation of energy was also staged by the school students. Nawanshahr: An awareness rally, in which school students participated, was flagged off by Deputy Commissioner Nilkanth Avhad at the Baradari Garden to mark the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Divas here today. The rally, after passing through the main bazaars of the town, culminated at Shivalik Public School, where a seminar and an essay writing and a painting competitions on the need and importance of renewable energy were organised by the district administration in collaboration with the Punjab Energy Development Agency( PEDA). The Deputy Commissioner presided over the concluding session and gave away prizes to the winners.