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Ward no 5 in neglected zone
Amritsar, November 10
A view of the Ganda Nallah alongside the area of ward number five in Amritsar. Even though the district and civic administration talks big on making Amritsar an international city, availability of safe drinking water and sewerage system is a distant dream.

A view of the Ganda Nallah alongside the area of ward number five in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Auto-rickshaw menace
Adding to the road chaos 
Amritsar, November 10
The auto-rickshaws outside the bus stand block the passage for commuters. The dirty wrecked road stretch, unmanned directionless traffic, thoughtless roadside... ‘on road’ parking of vehicles, especially auto-rickshaws, barricade blockades, unstoppable blow of pressure horns, high-beam night traffic.
The auto-rickshaws outside the bus stand block the passage for commuters. Photo: Vishal Kumar


EARLIER EDITIONS


Pak wrestlers for abolition of visa restrictions
Mahommad Ali (left) and Mahommad Anwar during the International Wrestling meet at Gol Bagh Wrestling Stadium in Amritsar.Amritsar, November 10
The wrestlers of India and Pakistan wrestled to end the visa restrictions and political divide between the two hostile nations through traditional “dangal”, as they call it in chaste Punjabi.The Pakistani contingent was in the city to participate in the Indo-Pak-Iran International Wrestling Meet, organised by the Punjab Wrestling Association, at the Gol Bagh Wrestling Stadium here. Ten wrestlers from Pakistan and eight from Iran participated in the meet.

Mahommad Ali (left) and Mahommad Anwar during the International Wrestling meet at Gol Bagh Wrestling Stadium in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Police owns MC Rs 2 cr as house tax
Amritsar, November 10
The police might have been nabbing criminals and defaulters but at least in the eyes of the Muncipal Corporation it has become a defaulter.

Traffic awareness programme ends
Amritsar, November 10
The Punjab Police’s month-long traffic awareness programme in collaboration with NGOs ended today.

DreamCity offers carrots to attract customers 
Amritsar, November 10
DreamCity, promoted by AIPL Ambuja, would offer 10 lucky customers to buy a plot in the township at Rs 9,000 per square yard as against the company price of Rs 11,000 per square yard, said a press release of a company.

Ensure paddy msp and curb private menace
Farmers protest against government apathy 
Farmers under the banner of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha stage a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner office in Amritsar on Tuesday.Amritsar, November 10
Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Punjab, today the asked the state government to buy paddy through its own agencies in order to stop the menace of private guys, who give low price for the produce.While protesting against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards farmers’ woes, the activists of sabha today sat on a dharna at the office of the Deputy Commissioner here.

Farmers under the banner of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha stage a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner office in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

DPS organises brain creativity training programme 
Amritsar, November 10
A workshop focusing on teachers as “whole brain creativity training programme” was organised in Delhi Public School in collaboration with “WOW factors”, an SA organisation devoted to cause of brain profiling for optimum results. Two international trainers from South Africa (SA), Karen Hodges and Liesl Schoonwinkel, addressed the participants.

A child holds a placard during a protest by BJP activists against price rise in Amritsar. MLA leads protest against price rise 
mritsar, November 10
BJP MLA Anil Joshi,along with his supporters, set on fire the effigy of the Central government at Hall Gate here yesterday. He also handed over a memorandum to the district administration to be forwarded to President Pratibha Patil.The BJP activists raised slogans against the Union government being run by the UPA for failing to control the spiralling prices of essential eatables and vegetables. 

A child holds a placard during a protest by BJP activists against price rise in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Dharna at DC office
Tarn Taran, November 10
Hundreds of employees under the banner of the Mulazam Sangharash Committee held a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner in support of their demands regarding removal of anomalies in the pay commission report.

Brief Takes
Attending complaints of potable water
Amritsar : The District Advisory Committee for Potable Water in a meeting decided to include officials of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation and Sewerage Board while attending complaints pertaining to water from the city. Additional Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh, who chaired the meeting, said the decision was taken with a view to solve all complaints of potable water.

Minor girl raped
Amritsar, November 10
A 14-year-old girl of Dhariwal Kaler village was allegedly raped by a youth of Nepal village and a migrant after kidnapping her.

3 nabbed with stolen bikes
Amritsar : The police nabbed three persons, Ravail Singh of Maqboolpura, Gagandeep Singh of Bhali Lalo Ji locality and Sonu Singh of Focal Point, Mehta road, for allegedly stealing two motorcycles.

Vying for intl venue status
Gandhi Ground being spruced up for the Ranji Trophy match to be played here. Amritsar, November 10
The successful conduct of proposed four-day Ranji match between Punjab and Tamil Nadu at historic Gandhi Ground here from November 17 would consolidate the claim of the Amritsar Games Association (AGA) to hold international matches at the venue.

Gandhi Ground being spruced up for the Ranji Trophy match to be played here. Photo: Vishal Kumar

‘Conserve Himalayan ecosystem to ensure food security’
Amritsar, November 10
Special attention must be given to conserve Himalayan ecosystems in order to sustain flow of ecosystem services required for agriculture, food production.

Man crushed by combine
Tarn Taran, November 10
Harjit Singh (35), a resident of the local Bath road, was crushed by a fast-moving combine machine on the Jandiala bypass.The police registered a case under sections 304-A and 279 of the IPC against the driver of the combine who fled after the accident.Harjit was returning to his home on his motorcycle after work when the fast-moving combine machine hit him. 

Club distributes aid among 500 students
Tarn Taran, November 10
The local Sher-e-Punjab Club, in its 9th annual function organised here yesterday, distributed stationery and other aid to 500 students of different elementary schools of the town. Dr Dharamveer Agnihotri, senior Congress leader, was the chief guest on the occasion, while Janak Raj Arora, a social worker, presided over the function. 

Science Gets Boost
GND varsity to set up two advanced research centres
Amritsar, November 10
Guru Nanak Dev University would soon set up two advanced research centres in the disciplines of science and biological sciences besides upgrading its laboratories with latest equipments and sophisticate instruments for quality research.

Firing incident near DAV College
Amritsar, November 10
Panic gripped the city this afternoon when a firing incident occurred outside the Punjab National Bank branch near DAV College for Boys.

Use free legal service, inmates told
District and Sessions Judge Bhupinder SIngh delivers a lecture to women inmates of Amritsar Central Jail. Amritsar, November 10
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) held a seminar on free legal service available to convicts on National Legal Literacy Day at Central Jail here on Monday.Addressing women inmates of the prison, District Session Judge Bhupinder Singh said they could utilise the service and even get advice for their near and dear ones living out of the prison.

District and Sessions Judge Bhupinder SIngh delivers a lecture to women inmates of Amritsar Central Jail. Photo: Vishal Kumar

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Ward no 5 in neglected zone
P.K. Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
Even though the district and civic administration talks big on making Amritsar an international city, availability of safe drinking water and sewerage system is a distant dream for the residents of ward number five, situated on one side of the road leading to the Amritsar international airport.

The Ganda Nallah passing outside the ward along side bypass road virtually makes life hell for inhabitants with underground water becoming unsafe for consumption and the nallah becoming a breading ground of mosquitoes, flies and insects.

Even the areas situated in the interiors of the ward san sewerage and drinking water facilities. “All these years, the political leaders just made only fake promises,” said Dalbir Singh, a resident of Tabbowali village located in the interior of the ward.

Harbhajan Singh, a resident of Gumtala, one of the oldest villages in this ward, said the government was totally apathetic towards this ward. He said many governments came and went but their plight remained miserable. He said during rains it’s even difficult to reach one’s home and wade through the knee deep dirty water.

It is pertinent to mention here that after acquiring the status of international airport to the Rajasansi, there was tremendous upsurge in property and land prices besides mushrooming of residential and commercial sites.

Besides regularly PUDA approved colonies, a number of illegal colonies have also sprung up.

A resident of Jhujar Singh Avenue pointed out that when the people living in the colonies in the ward were paying house and development tax then why the administration was silent on the development projects in the area. He regretted that all wards in the city were allocated funds for the roads, sanitation etc but this area had remained totally neglected.

What does the councillor say?

Area councillor Gurjit Aujla, who won on Congress ticket, says his ward was being discriminated by the SAD-BJP-led government. Admitting the plight of the populace of his ward, he alleged that the municipal corporation failed to provide necessary funds to his ward. He said whatever funds had come they were used by representatives of the opposition. The central government aided ambitious project of laying water supply and sewerage under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission has been hanging fire as the state government and municipal corporation failed to deposit their share of funds till now. Aujla said he had already given 20-day time to civic administration after which they would resort to agitation to get their demands fulfilled. 

Mayor Speak

First citizen of the city, Mayor Shawet Malik said process of laying sewerage and water supply system is under process under Rs 360-crore project for which Japan Bank Industrial Corporation (JBIC) had already agreed to finance and fund the project. He said the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the nodal agency appointed by the state government, would handle the project. He said three sullage and sewerage treatment plants would be established in different locations of the city to treat the water, which would be recycled. He said the survey has already been completed by the JBIC in this regard and it was on verge of tendering and is likely to be started from March month next year.

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Auto-rickshaw menace
Adding to the road chaos 
G.S. Paul
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
The dirty wrecked road stretch, unmanned directionless traffic, thoughtless roadside... ‘on road’ parking of vehicles, especially auto-rickshaws, barricade blockades, unstoppable blow of pressure horns, high-beam night traffic, if you come across these situations, you are rightly entering the vicinity of holy city Amritsar.

It would not be exaggerated to say that this milieu which starts absolutely from the main entrance gate of this town persists throughout the city, which incidentally, is being projected as international holy city.

With a view to decongest the traffic, an ambitious elevated road project was conceptualised three years ago but due to official rigmarole and apparent paucity of funds, this project is yet to see the light of the day.

Driving on this pothole-full road and clouds of dust emanating out of construction material piled up alongside has become a Herculean task.

And top of all, it is the auto-rickshaw drivers, who take it as their right to stop anywhere in the middle of the road reminding the famous dialogue from Amitabh Bachchan starrer movie ‘Kaalia’, “Hum jahan khade ho jaate hain, line wahan se shuru hoti hai”.

The curvature-shaped traffic lights, installed adjacent to the under-constructed elevation, does not mean anything to them. It is irony that most of the time this stretch, full of heavy moving traffic is left unmanned.

No sooner did the Inter-State Bus Terminal gets nearer, the situation becomes ‘worst’ to ‘extremely worst’, especially at entry and exit points of buses.

Here, the width of the road gets choked due to road blockades put up due to under-construction bridge project. While finding no open space, auto rickshaw drivers, not only park their prized possessions just in the middle but try to outdo each other to catch a customer for their “already overloaded autos”. So does the cycle rickshaw pullars.

Another school of thought is that in the absence of any alternative mode of transport, the administration too seemed to be helpless to tighten the noose around these auto-wallas and the administration is hesitant to take action against them because if they went on strike the pubic transport system would be disrupted.

A senior official said after an exercise of two years, the administration had almost finalised the alternative source of transport by running buses, but the judgment of the high court about allowing only CNG or LPG run transport, stalled the project.

“Now the problem is that CNG pumps are hardly available in Punjab and non-viability of LPG run commercial vehicles in the market. It would take another three years to solve the situation,” he opined.

Questions are being raised that if the new projects got entangled in the official rigmarole, at least traffic ethics and some norms should be framed to regulate the traffic. It is to mention that there are over 20,000 autos running in the city, which has a capacity to bear the burden of not more than 10,000 such vehicles.

Official Take

Kahan Singh Pannu, Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar: Agree that the city has no capacity to bear such number of autos. The overloaded autos too remained ignored because of absence of another mode of transportation in the city. As far as regularisation of traffic is concerned, extra traffic squad would be put in and special drives would be planned for regulating the auto drivers but taking holistic view, we are into planning other source of public transport too. The condition of roads too would be looked into on priority basis but inconvenience is there because of under-construction over bridge, but the work is being expedited.

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Pak wrestlers for abolition of visa restrictions
G.S. Paul
TNS

Amritsar, November 10
The wrestlers of India and Pakistan wrestled to end the visa restrictions and political divide between the two hostile nations through traditional “dangal”, as they call it in chaste Punjabi.

The Pakistani contingent was in the city to participate in the Indo-Pak-Iran International Wrestling Meet, organised by the Punjab Wrestling Association, at the Gol Bagh Wrestling Stadium here. Ten wrestlers from Pakistan and eight from Iran participated in the meet.

Before departing, Pakistan wrestler Rustam-e-Gujjranwala Mohammad Ali and the group manager Mohammad Anwar shared their feelings with The Tribune.

Nevertheless, the competition, which witnessed bouts of different age and weight categories, was an initiative to build cordial relations between the two countries. Thrilled over the warm reception received here, the Pakistani grapplers demanded that visa restrictions should be lifted, peace restored and relations between two countries strengthened.

“Everything can be resolved but the political leaders from both sides apparently do not want to take initiative. We believe, perhaps, the governance of both sides hesitate to put the first foot forward. So, we thought, the sports might attract their attention,” said Mohammad Ali.

Ali, the South Asian wrestling champion, also see India as his second home. “I have never been scared to come here. It’s like my homecoming visit. I can never forget the honour I received when I won the bout during 300 years’ Centenary Games, held at Anandpur Sahib here. I also got prize of Rs 1 lakh,” he said.

It is relevant to mention that Mohammad had also fought against Beijing Olympics bronze medalist Sushil Kumar in Delhi but lost.

About the state of wrestling in Pakistan, Mohammad instantly retorted, “It’s the cricket only there too, which has suppressed all other sports, just like as it happens in India. Our earlier government honoured me adequately when I won the title during the SAF Games held in Islamabad,” he expressed.

The team manager, Mohammad Anwar, said the borders were artificial barriers and creations of vested interests and political mindset. “No one can stop us from spreading the message of peace and harmony. I will act as a messenger and depict the real picture of India. The way we were treated here and the affection showered on us is appreciable. This never made us feel that we are away from our homes,” he said.

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Police owns MC Rs 2 cr as house tax
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
The police might have been nabbing criminals and defaulters but at least in the eyes of the Muncipal Corporation it has become a defaulter.

All 10 police stations, office and residence of the Senior Superintendent of Police and Police Lines on the Rai Bahadar Prakash Chand road housing the police quarters are to pay nearly Rs 2 crore to the Municipal Corporation on account of the house tax.

As per the document in possession of The Tribune, the district court and SSP office were to pay the house tax of about Rs 1.40 lakh for the period 1991-1992 to March, 2009. Police Lines was to pay Rs 2.55 lakh from 1995-1996 to March, 2009. The residence of the SSP at The Mall was to pay Rs 39,647 from 1989-1990 to March, 2009.

Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, D.P.S. Kharbanda said though the backlog of the House Tax on the police stations, its quarters and quarters of its employees had increased manifold but they were optimistic that it would be cleared. He said the government made budgetary allocation to the police department annually.

If the government allocated the fund then it would be easier for them to recover the MC dues.

Superintendent, House Tax, Sushant Bhatia confirmed that these offices and residential quarters of the police had not paid their taxes.

President of the All-India Youth Association Ravinder Sultanwind said the MC initiated sealing campaign against defaulters of the House Tax.

Teams of the House Tax Department, escorted by policemen, had been sealing the establishments of the defaulters. He said minor defaulters, who were to pay 
Rs 8,000, were not even being spared.

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Traffic awareness programme ends
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
The Punjab Police’s month-long traffic awareness programme in collaboration with NGOs ended today.The IG (Traffic), R.P. Singh, had initiated the awareness programme by involving NGOs in six leading cities of the state. Under the programme, a chief warden (traffic) and 15 traffic martials were appointed in each city. They along with traffic policemen stood guard at the busiest intersections of the cities checking vehicles, their papers and advising violators to obey traffic rules.

The local chief warden (traffic), Brij Bedi, also president of the Citizen Forum, said under the programme they checked papers and interacted with drivers of 10 buses and mini-buses. During the course of checking, they were shocked to find that nine of them did not have any documents at all. They did not possess driving licenses. He got them to write an apology on a paper.

Traffic martials M.J Gulati and Surinder Pal Singh attained altogether different experience while checking and educating public on the road. They said during the past one month they found that the majority of the persons did not have basic papers for driving like licences and vehicle papers.

The drivers were found to be casual in following traffic rules. They were invariably eager to jump the red light and were not aware of traffic lines on roads. Wearing badges they used to stand on intersections twice a week from 10 am to 12 noon.

Bedi siad he rang up Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal to direct DTOs to go on roads to check the papers of buses. He said these anomalies could prove fatal.

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DreamCity offers carrots to attract customers 
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
DreamCity, promoted by AIPL Ambuja, would offer 10 lucky customers to buy a plot in the township at Rs 9,000 per square yard as against the company price of Rs 11,000 per square yard, said a press release of a company.

To lure more people, the company has also offered to give a free luxury car to the first five bookings in each category of villas. The cars would be given away from range of Honda Accord to Honda Jazz.

Strategically located on National Highway 1, contemporary designed township contains everything from immaculately designed luxury villas, independent floors, condominiums, hospital, commercial complexes, school and a luxury hotel.

The company offers a total of about 900 residential units which included over a hundred premium villas, high-end DC floors and plots. India’s first Bharti Wal-Mart has already commenced its operations on an area of over three acres in it.

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Ensure paddy msp and curb private menace
Farmers protest against government apathy 
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Punjab, today the asked the state government to buy paddy through its own agencies in order to stop the menace of private guys, who give low price for the produce.

While protesting against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards farmers’ woes, the activists of sabha today sat on a dharna at the office of the Deputy Commissioner here.

The farmers raised slogan “Sone wargi basmati di sarkari kharid shuru karo, Basmati da samarthan mul ailaan karo”.

They demanded that they should be given the minimum support price for the paddy. “On the pretext of discussing matter with the Centre, the state government is shirking to listen to our cause.”

“How can it be a Centre’s affair only, Punjab can have its stand when it alone is producing around one-fifth of the total wheat the world produces. The state government should rather strengthen its own domestic market, which is being deteriorated by the private agencies by exploiting the poor farmers”, questioned Satnam Singh Ajnala, president of the sabha.

The farmers demanded that the state government, after buying their produce at minimum support Rs 3,500 per quintal for PUSA 1121 and other varieties for Rs 4,000 per quintal, should establish its own market on national and international platform.

“It is pity that instead of thinking about our cause, the state government has adopted dictatorial attitude by framing anti-farmer policies for discoloured and broken paddy. This would not be tolerated any more”, said Rattan Singh Randhawa, a sabha leader.

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DPS organises brain creativity training programme 
Shivani Sharma

Amritsar, November 10
A workshop focusing on teachers as “whole brain creativity training programme” was organised in Delhi Public School in collaboration with “WOW factors”, an SA organisation devoted to cause of brain profiling for optimum results. Two international trainers from South Africa (SA), Karen Hodges and Liesl Schoonwinkel, addressed the participants.

Explaining the working of the brain, the experts touched upon the area of “thinking preferences” among students developed due to working combinations of four parts of the brain - left and right sides and the top and bottom of each side that develops specific learning skills amongst us all.

Based on these, the experts explained, “It is critical for us to understand the uniqueness of the child and using different techniques to address different types, we can help them achieve their full potential and further groom them for global fields.”

They identified that a “left top brain” person is seen to be logical, emotionless, rational, correct, exact, etc while a “left bottom brain” person is methodological, time-conscious, meticulous, result-driven and habitual.

A “right top brain” would be simultaneous, undisciplined, day-dreaming, flexible, unorthodox while a “right bottom brain” person would be sensitive, playful, people’s people, empathic, cooperative, friendly. Human preferences come due to a combination of these portions of the human brain.

School Principal Sangeeta Singh said, “Each child has unique abilities, and parents and teachers often fail to recognise or notice these and celebrate their strengths. The fact is that many parents and educators lack critical knowledge of the human brain and the learning process. However deep research in the working of the brain shows that each student has the abilities in coordination to the concentrated working of a specific side of their brain. Various techniques can be successfully used to enable children to help with learning and recall of academic material.” The workshop targeted at faculty in schools, which, besides 60 teachers of host school, was attended by a number of teachers from various other schools in the city.

While Liesl created successful models in business sector, Hodges has adopted a farm school in Durbanville, SA, and has been teaching children from disadvantaged backgrounds using creative thought processes.

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MLA leads protest against price rise 
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
BJP MLA Anil Joshi,along with his supporters, set on fire the effigy of the Central government at Hall Gate here yesterday. He also handed over a memorandum to the district administration to be forwarded to President Pratibha Patil.

The BJP activists raised slogans against the Union government being run by the UPA for failing to control the spiralling prices of essential eatables and vegetables. They marched from Hall Gate to the office of the Municipal Corporation and then returned to the starting point where the rally was terminated.

Some of the agitators, including women, were wearing garlands of vegetables in order to register their protest. They condemned Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for issuing statements causing fear and panic among the countrymen and alleged that it contributed to rise in prices of essential items. Joshi said the Agriculture Minister had stated that the prices would remain high for the next six months.

He said the Congress had made a mockery of the people by coming to power on the promise of governance for the aam adami and now hardly taking any pain to relieve them of the burden of skyrocketing prices.

Joshi said it also gave the impression that the Union government was deliberately pushing public in perspiring to secure two meals a day in order to cover up its inability to control terrorism and other anti-national activities.

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Dharna at DC office
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, November 10
Hundreds of employees under the banner of the Mulazam Sangharash Committee held a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner in support of their demands regarding removal of anomalies in the pay commission report.

Dharam Singh Patti and other employee leaders condemned the state government for its alleged anti-employee policies. They said that due to the policies of the state the increased salaries in the pay commission report would be reduced insignificant in the coming three years.

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Brief Takes
Attending complaints of potable water

Amritsar: The District Advisory Committee for Potable Water in a meeting decided to include officials of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation and Sewerage Board while attending complaints pertaining to water from the city. Additional Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh, who chaired the meeting, said the decision was taken with a view to solve all complaints of potable water. Officials from the Water Supply and Sanitary Department and the elected members from various wards of the officials took part in the meeting. — TNS

District courts turn 100

Amritsar: The district courts would celebrate 100 years with the district administration organising a function on December 12. District Session Judge Bhupinder Singh said a number of judges from the Supreme Court would come. On the occasion, a free medical camp, blood donation camp, an exhibition depicting history of Amritsar and saplings would be planted. — TNS

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Minor girl raped
Tribune news Service

Amritsar, November 10
A 14-year-old girl of Dhariwal Kaler village was allegedly raped by a youth of Nepal village and a migrant after kidnapping her.She had gone to the market to purchase some household item when she was bundled into a car by one of the accused identified as Karaj Singh of Nepal village falling under Lopoke police station in Amritsar (Rural) police district.

She was taken to Sukhharpreet Marriage Palace in Ajnala where Uday Raj, a resident of Uttar Pradesh was present.

The complainant in her statement to the police stated that she was forcibly dragged into the changing room of dancers at the marriage palace and was raped by both the accused. After committing the crime the accused then left her near Terdi village in their car (DL-4-LC-4432).

She somehow reached home where her family was shocked to see her condition. They immediately reported the matter to Ajnala police station where a case under sections 363, 366-A, 376 and 120-B, IPC, has been registered against the accused after conducting the medical examination of the victim.

The police said the accused had absconded after the crime and police parties had been sent to nab them.

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3 nabbed with stolen bikes

Amritsar: The police nabbed three persons, Ravail Singh of Maqboolpura, Gagandeep Singh of Bhali Lalo Ji locality and Sonu Singh of Focal Point, Mehta road, for allegedly stealing two motorcycles.

According to information, the police team laid a naka near Focal Point and signalled the trio coming on a motorcycle to stop. They failed to produce any documents of the vehicle. During investigation, it was found that the trio had stolen the vehicle and later on another motorcycle was recovered from them. The police also recovered a dagger from them.

A case under sections 379, 411, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC and sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered. — TNS

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Vying for intl venue status
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
The successful conduct of proposed four-day Ranji match between Punjab and Tamil Nadu at historic Gandhi Ground here from November 17 would consolidate the claim of the Amritsar Games Association (AGA) to hold international matches at the venue.

To achieve this goal, the AGA has renovated the ground with ample funds and incorporated more infrastructure and new gadgets to bring it at par with international standards.

AGA secretary Mohit Khanna said the forthcoming Ranji match would prove its worthiness for conducting international matches.

The Ranji match between two state teams, which have produced many international cricketers, is expected to offer a good game to the cricket aficionados. The first class match would have international faces while it could be a turning point for youngsters as first class matches are keenly watched by the representatives of the BCCI to spot talented cricketers.

The visiting team would be led by Dinesh Kartik while notable players like Badrinath, Balaji, M Suresh would pose a tough challenge to the home side. Meanwhile, the home team would be represented by players like Manpreet Goni, Pankaj Dharmani, Sunny Sohal and Harmeet Singh.

Both the teams would reach here on November 14 and would hold practice sessions on six nets. Three pitches have been prepared out of them two are green top and the remaining is normal.

Incorporation of new gadgets

The historic ground, with nearly 25,000 sitting capacity, has got eight cabins each earmarked for a particular functioning. Meanwhile, following the guidelines of the BCCI a separate cabin has been prepared for umpires’ coach. The incorporation of cabin for the umpires’ coach with state-of-the-art facilities has brought nearly eight-decade old ground to match with contemporary international cricket grounds. The cabin would have television sets relaying direct views caught by six cameras. He informed that permanent position of cameras have been decided besides ensuring uninterrupted power supply.

The AGA has rollers, super soaker which could turn the ground in play worthiness condition within an hour in case of rain. Besides, the BCCI is sending one more power roller and an aqua soaker. The AGA would soon make a request to the PCA to make arrangement of a bowling machine from the BCCI.

Nine groundsmen are deployed for maintaining the ground with their leader armed with a walky-talky. Besides, match referee, secretary AGA, score board handler and official scorer of the BCCI would be holding walky-talky. All of them would remain in touch to smoothly conduct the match.

Khanna commending the PCA said it was supporting the AGA logically, financially to come up to the level of international ground. He said the AGA has two AC buses to ferry the players besides selecting the best hotel located near the ground.

He added that security men have been deployed in good strength. After consulting physiotherapists, dieticians and trainers, the menu for players of the teams have been decided. 

History of the ground

The historic ground was established in 1932 with the generous donation from Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala and the then Punjab government of undivided India. Spread on 22 acres, it was then known as Alexandra ground. Subsequently, Guru Nanak Stadium, badminton hall, AGA Club, Cosmo Club, Virsa Vihar and others were formed out of it. The cricket stadium is now limited to nine acres.

The first notable match was played between India XI versus MCC in 1933. The Indian cricket team was led by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh while other famous players were Lala Amarnath, Col CK Naidu and Surjit Sinhg Majithia.

The cricket ground has hosted several international matches including against West Indies, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom. The Indian cricket team had played against Sri Lanka in 1983. The North Zone cricket team had played against West Indies in 1984.

Players produced:The historic ground has produced top players like Mandan Lal, Mohinder Amarnath, Bishan Singh Bedi, Surinder Amarnath, Sarandeep Singh and Harvinder Singh.

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‘Conserve Himalayan ecosystem to ensure food security’
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
Special attention must be given to conserve Himalayan ecosystems in order to sustain flow of ecosystem services required for agriculture, food production.

This was stated by Dr Golam Rasul, head, Economic Analysis Division, and Director General, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal, during two-day national seminar on Food Security and Sustainability in India inaugurated at university premises here.

The seminar was organised by Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies in collaboration with ICCSSR, ICAR, NABARD and Punjab School of Economics, Guru Nanak Dev University here.

While elaborating, Dr Rasul pointed out that long-term agricultural sustainability and food security of South Asia is heavily depended on the water and other ecosystem services from the Himalayas.

He said although the Himalayan ecosystem was the main source of water in south Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, the linkage between food production and Himalayas was hardly given any consideration till now.

Dr Sunita Raju from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, pointed out that government policies should be aimed at ensuring food accessibility as per requirement in every household. She said the number of hungry people increases per day.

She hoped that the consensus brought out during the end of the two-day seminar would be helpful for the policymakers of the country to tackle vital issues of food security and its accessibility.

Dr G.S. Kainth, director of GAD Institute said food and nutritional security were the foundations of a decent life, sound education and indeed the achievement of all the millenniums development goals. However, over past two years, volatile food prices and other resultant economic crisis have put a question mark on the food security and sustainability.

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Man crushed by combine

Tarn Taran, November 10
Harjit Singh (35), a resident of the local Bath road, was crushed by a fast-moving combine machine on the Jandiala bypass.The police registered a case under sections 304-A and 279 of the IPC against the driver of the combine who fled after the accident.Harjit was returning to his home on his motorcycle after work when the fast-moving combine machine hit him. 

As a result, Harjit fell down on the road and the combine overturned on him. He died on the spot. The post-mortem examination of the body was conducted at the local Civil Hospital. — OC

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Club distributes aid among 500 students

Tarn Taran, November 10
The local Sher-e-Punjab Club, in its 9th annual function organised here yesterday, distributed stationery and other aid to 500 students of different elementary schools of the town. Dr Dharamveer Agnihotri, senior Congress leader, was the chief guest on the occasion, while Janak Raj Arora, a social worker, presided over the function. As many as 150 students presented colourful items and were honoured. Sanjay Arora, president of the club, presented a vote of thanks. — OC 

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Science Gets Boost
GND varsity to set up two advanced research centres
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
Guru Nanak Dev University would soon set up two advanced research centres in the disciplines of science and biological sciences besides upgrading its laboratories with latest equipments and sophisticate instruments for quality research.

Disclosing this, Prof A.S. Brar, Vice-Chancellor of the university, while inaugurating the 16th National Symposium on Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs) and their applications, said the university would also start new MSc courses with latest syllabus so that the students could get explore their talent for high quality research.

Elaborating further, Dr Brar said for revamping the evaluation system, the university has constituted a high-level committee for implementation of the credit system in Science, Engineering and Technology Departments. He said the new evaluation system would start from the 2010-2011 session.

Meanwhile, Prof R.H. Iyer, former Head, Radiochemistry Division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, said nuclear tracks find applications wherever solid state damage occurs.

He said apart from direct applications of far-reaching consequences in nuclear physics, other areas as diverse as biomedical sciences, cosmic rays and space physics, environmental research, geological sciences, material science, micro analysis, mine safety, nuclear technology, uranium prospecting etc.

The three-day national symposium is being organised by the university under the aegis of its Department of Physics in collaboration with the Nuclear Society of India (NTSI).

Dr. R.C. Ramola, secretary of the NTSI, spoke about the current status of NTSI.

The symposium is sponsored by the UGC, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, Board of Research and Nuclear Sciences, Mumbai, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Mumbai, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi and Defence Research and Development Organisation, New Delhi.

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Firing incident near DAV College
P.K. Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
Panic gripped the city this afternoon when a firing incident occurred outside the Punjab National Bank branch near DAV College for Boys.

After probing the matter no concrete reason was found of the grievous incident which could otherwise have been fatal keeping in the mind the busy bazaar of the walled city.

According to information, the incident took place when two groups clashed over a minor dispute. Witnesses said it was an altercation over the turn in the bank queue which led to first verbal dual and then ended up in a firing incident.

On the other hand, the police declined of accept any such firing incident while admitting that a fight took place between Jaskaran Singh of the Tahli Sahib area and Bobby of Krishna Square. They said that the accused were under custody and the situation was under control.

The witnesses said when the heated exchange turned violent the two called their friends in support which led to a group clash.

They were reportedly armed with sharp-edged weapons. Jaskaran, his father Ravinder Singh, Nishan Singh and a police jawan sustained minor injuries.

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Use free legal service, inmates told
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) held a seminar on free legal service available to convicts on National Legal Literacy Day at Central Jail here on Monday.

Addressing women inmates of the prison, District Session Judge Bhupinder Singh said they could utilise the service and even get advice for their near and dear ones living out of the prison.

He said it has been noticed that sometime relatives of the convicts do not receive proper funds or denied property rights. He said in this situation the convicts could approach jail superintendent who would write to the DLSA.

When the plight of inmates, whose dates of the cases in court clash with the visit of VVIPs in the city, was brought to the notice, Jail Superintendent G.S. Sidhu accepted that it delay the cases but also added that there was a well laid out mechanism to manage the affairs.

He said as per the rules, the police informs the jail authorities in writing for its inability to spare force busy in VVIPs duty. Further, the prison authorities inform the court for seeking new dates.

Assistant District Attorney (Legal Services) Manoj Kumar said the DLSA has organised 25 lok adalats so far this year. He said in all 1,321 cases were resolved and more than Rs 8 crore was given as compensation.

He said the office of Assistant Legal Attorney (Legal Aid) had provided legal advice and amicably resolved 347 cases of people from economically weaker families this year. Meanwhile, the quarterly joint inspection of the central jail also held on that day. The joint inspection team comprising heads of judiciary, police and district administration visited the central jail and directly interacted with the inmates to hear their grievances.

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