SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Every Wednesday and Friday

Phoren dreams: Lost on way to a ‘better’ life
Jalandhar, January 5
Joginder Kaur and Jeet Kaur hold photographs of their sons, with parents of other boys, who went missing en route to Spain in 2004 “He wanted to go abroad to rescue us from the quagmire of poverty, but couldn’t even reach his destination. Five years have elapsed; there is no word from him.”

Joginder Kaur and Jeet Kaur hold photographs of their sons, with parents of other boys, who went missing en route to Spain in 2004. 

Running health campaigns gets IMA boost
Jalandhar, January 5
The Jalandhar branch of the Indian Medical Association today decided to offer an ancillary professional support to already running state and national level health campaigns and programmes in the district.


EARLIER EDITIONS



Young World
LPU students’ campaign for wastage-free hostel
Jalandhar, January 5
Students of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, organised a drive in hostels to reduce wastage of food, citing the prevalent problem of starvation and malnourishment in various parts of the world. Pictures, slogans and visual presentations were created and display the insensitivity of food wastage, when millions die of hunger.

Woman alleges harassment by in-laws
Jalandhar, January 5
Allegedly harassed by her in-laws, a Maqsudan resident has been making rounds of the district police for registering a criminal case against them. Neeta (29), who was married to Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Noida, has complained to the Noida police and the Jalandhar police in this regard.

Electronics goods worth lakhs stolen
Jalandhar, January 5
Thieves broke into a showroom of electronic goods in Rattan Towers at Namdev Chowk and decamped with goods worth lakhs of rupees last night. Finding locks of the entrance to the showroom Samsung Plaza broken, the sweeper, Tinku, informed the owner, Sudarshan Lal Khanna, about the theft.

People huddle indoors to beat the chill
Jalandhar, January 5
The intense cold and foggy conditions continued unabated across the region with people shivering indoors all daylong. Expecting a respite from the ongoing cold wave from the past week, people were disappointed to wake up to another day of freezing temperature.

Fog woes: Trains running behind schedule
Phagwara, January 5
Most of the mail and express trains are running half an hour to three hours behind schedule due to poor visibility caused by thick fog in the region today. The 9224 Jammu Tawi-Ahmedabad Express train was running three hours late, while the 9223 Jammu-Ahmedabad train was running two hours behind schedule .

Plan to get Kala Sanghian drain rid of polluted water
Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal on a visit to the Kala Sanghian drainJalandhar, January 5
If all goes well, the entire belt of villages situated around the Kala Sanghian drain will get rid of polluted water. In a new plan, which is the joint efforts of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, Sewerage Board and Municipal Corporation, polluted water of the drain will be diverted to the already established Sewerage Treatment Plant.

Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal on a visit to the Kala Sanghian drain. A Tribune photograph 

Changes in Nanakshahi calendar will divide Sikhs: Dal Khalsa
Jalandhar, December 5
Contesting the views expressed by the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh, that the changes in the Nanakshahi Calendar would unite the Sikhs, the Dal Khalsa observed that instead it would further divide the community. The radical Sikh group has taken exception to the manner the Akal Takht Jathedar ratified the decision of the SGPC to dilute the Nanakshahi calendar without calling a meet of the Jathedars of the five Takhts.

Theft in temple
Phagwara, January 5
Some miscreants entered the Chaurra Khu Mandir in Bazaar Bansanwala here and took away a silver snake installed near Shivaling this afternoon. Temple caretaker Ashok Kumar said the miscreants took advantage of his absence and took away the offering of silver snake from the temple. — OC

 





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Phoren dreams: Lost on way to a ‘better’ life
Riva
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 5
“He wanted to go abroad to rescue us from the quagmire of poverty, but couldn’t even reach his destination. Five years have elapsed; there is no word from him. I just pray to God that he is alive. We don’t want any money, just our son back,” said Joginder Kaur of Nangal Lubana, Kapurthala, with tears in her eyes.

Gurpreet Singh (then 18) had left Punjab in 2004 by paying Rs 7 lakh to a travel agent, Naranjan Singh, who promised him a safe passage to Spain.

“We didn’t have the slightest of idea about the tragedy awaiting us. If we did, we wouldn’t have left our son in Satan’s hands. The last memory we have of him is when he called up from Mali in Africa in December 2004 to tell that he would be travelling to Spain through the sea route. We have been running from pillar to post to find his whereabouts, but to no avail,” added Joginder Kaur’s husband Harbhajan Singh. This is not an exceptional case. There are thousands who have met the same fate.

The recent episode where one of the 37 youths of Punjabi origin, who had gone missing five years ago, briefly contacted his family, has once again brought to the spotlight the widespread menace of human trafficking prevalent in the state.

As many as 37 youths had left the country for Spain in 2004, but never reached there. On December 31 midnight, a boy Jaswant Singh called his uncle Sukhdev Singh of Jalal Nangal, Hoshiarpur, saying the duped boys were languishing in the Moroccan jail for the last five years. The call, made from a landline, was surprisingly traced not to Morocco but Plitoria in South Africa. “The Morocco High Commission has apprised the Indian counterpart that there are only three Indians boys in the jail. We fear that the youngsters could be trapped in the web of some organised mafia. We appeal to PM Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson to take up the matter with the governments concerned and try to trace and bring back these unfortunate young men,” said Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA from Bholath.

“The boys, who were promised a safe passage to Spain in Europe, were instead taken to Mali in Africa in November 2004. The last call that the parents of Arun Kumar, one of the boys, received was on December 24, 2004, who disclosed that the agent had promised to take them from Mali to Spain in a boat. Thereafter, the parents of these men lost touch with them and gradually lost the hope too,” he added.

It is learnt that nine of the missing youths are from Bholath, while the rest are from areas of Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and adjacent areas.

A deputation led by Khaira, along with the parents of 37 boys, yesterday handed over a memorandum to Minister of State External Affairs Parneet Kaur to take up the matter urgently. She has assured a probe and appropriate action.


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Running health campaigns gets IMA boost
Amaninder Pal
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 5
The Jalandhar branch of the Indian Medical Association today decided to offer an ancillary professional support to already running state and national level health campaigns and programmes in the district. The IMA will provide professional expertise by adopting at least one village and different slums in the city and deliver both primary and secondary healthcare services to the inhabitants of these areas.

While announcing the newly constituted executive team of IMA Jalandhar for the year 2010, IMA President Dr Sanjeev Sharma said, “Not only implementation of national health missions, we will also request to develop a new old age home with round the clock general medical facilities to the inmates free of cost. IMA emergency helpline numbers will be displayed at all city entry points and two ambulances from the local Member of Parliament will be demanded.”

Newly elected body of the IMA also promised that a disaster management cell comprising 20 experts from streams of neurosurgery, surgery, orthopaedics, plastic surgeons and anaesthesiologists will soon be forwarded to the district administration.

“A Public Grievances Cell will be formed to address the problems, complaints and suggestions of general public regarding the healthcare delivery. Eco-friendly initiatives and health awareness drives will also be the focus areas for this year,” said Dr Sharma.

Meanwhile, the IMA President also announced chairpersons of committees to deal with the issues of Medical Ethics, PNDT, Legal Cum Action affairs, assault on doctors and academic affairs. Selection of the members is based on the discretion of the chairperson. Dr Tarlochan Singh Randhawa was elected as Honorary Secretary of IMA Jalandhar for 2010, Dr Rajiv Sharma as Finance Secretary and Dr Anirudh Kapur as Press Secretary.


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Young World
LPU students’ campaign for wastage-free hostel
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 5
Students of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, organised a drive in hostels to reduce wastage of food, citing the prevalent problem of starvation and malnourishment in various parts of the world. Pictures, slogans and visual presentations were created and display the insensitivity of food wastage, when millions die of hunger. The activity had such an impact that the subsequent day witnessed a reduction of 80 per cent wastage in all the hostels of the university. Use of eco-friendly products was also a thrust area, wherein the use of plastic was discouraged and stress was laid on saving paper and water.

Gurpurb celebrated

A programme - Mera Kalagiyanwala was organised on the eve of the birthday of Shri Guru Gobind Singh at St. Soldier Divine Public School, Kapurthala Road. Principal, teachers and students paid homage by offering flowers to the Guru’s portrait. It was followed by the recitations of shabads by senior students of the school.

Conserving the environment

As world leaders and distinguished environmentalists deliberated on environment issues in Copenhagen; students of LPU took steps in conserving the environment. The students blazed off a campaign titled ‘Go Green’ with a motive to inculcate in people, traits and practices aimed at generating concrete actions towards the conservation of the environment.

More than 300 students of the school dressed up in green, to express their concerns about the fast deteriorating environment, primarily due to the destructive tendencies of man, driven by his selfish interests. Many activities were carried out by students as a part of the programme, of which the most predominant was plantation of 200 trees across the campus and the region adjoining it. The event was inaugurated by Director General, Er. HR Singla planting a tree in the midst of the campus. Mahogany, Amaltas, Gulmohar Rosewood, Poplar, Eucalyptus etc. were the major varieties of trees which were planted.

Teams from various departments contested an environment-based quiz, where questions pertaining to melting of glaciers, greenhouse effect, Copenhagen Summit, Rising sea levels and natural catastrophes were posed to the contestants. A street play was also played by the Go-Green campaigners, which showed how little actions by individuals can snowball into a massive step towards the conservation of the environment.


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Woman alleges harassment by in-laws
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 5
Allegedly harassed by her in-laws, a Maqsudan resident has been making rounds of the district police for registering a criminal case against them. Neeta (29), who was married to Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Noida, has complained to the Noida police and the Jalandhar police in this regard.

In a complaint to the Jalandhar police chief, Neeta alleged that Jaswinder Singh, his father, mother, sister, brother (all residents of Noida) and two residents of Hoshiarpur harassed her for dowry just days after her marriage. She also accused them of beating her and keeping her in illegal confinement, besides taking her jewellery in their possession.


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Electronics goods worth lakhs stolen
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 5
Thieves broke into a showroom of electronic goods in Rattan Towers at Namdev Chowk and decamped with goods worth lakhs of rupees last night. Finding locks of the entrance to the showroom Samsung Plaza broken, the sweeper, Tinku, informed the owner, Sudarshan Lal Khanna, about the theft.

The owner subsequently informed the police.

ASI Harjinder Singh, investigating officer, said that taking advantage of the inclement weather the thieves broke into the showroom and took away electronic goods like laptops, cameras, LDC, LED, plasma TV sets, home theatres and other valuable items.

The police also pressed a dog squad into service. A team of forensic experts was called for finding clue to the theft. The police has registered a case under sections 357 and 380 of the IPC against unidentified persons in this regard.

Thieves had broken into an industrial unit located in the Sainpur area and taken away semi-finished goods and raw material worth lakhs of rupees on Sunday night.


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People huddle indoors to beat the chill
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 5
The intense cold and foggy conditions continued unabated across the region with people shivering indoors all daylong. Expecting a respite from the ongoing cold wave from the past week, people were disappointed to wake up to another day of freezing temperature.

With no relief from the weather, the district authorities have been forced to extend the holidays of the government primary schools until January 11.

The worst affected were daily wagers and those indulged in petty jobs as there were no work. Similar was the case of rickshaw pullers who found no commuters as people mostly preferred to stay indoors.

The markets in the city too wore a deserted look with a few opting to shop in such conditions. A positive aspect was that the stores selling woolens and thermal innerwear reported a marginal increase in sales.

Office goers and others who ventured out on two wheelers could be seen bundled in woolens to beat the cold.

On the other hand, the farmers welcomed the weather, as such conditions prove a virtual godsend for them. The wheat crop is growing and this is an ideal time to irrigate it. Potato and vegetable growers too have reason to cheer as such weather is good for their crop.

Sweetmeat shops, especially those selling crispy fried eatables, did a brisk business. Similar was the case with the shops selling groundnuts and gachak.

While the city folk could afford to beat the chill with multiple layers of clothing, the poor had to warm themselves at roadside tea stalls or by lighting small bonfires.

The cops too are doing their bit to create awareness among commuters to drive in such foggy conditions. The Weather Department has opined that the weather is likely to continue in the coming days.

Fog woes: Trains running behind schedule

Phagwara, January 5
Most of the mail and express trains are running half an hour to three hours behind schedule due to poor visibility caused by thick fog in the region today. The 9224 Jammu Tawi-Ahmedabad Express train was running three hours late, while the 9223 Jammu-Ahmedabad train was running two hours behind schedule .

Railway sources said that 2925UP Deluxe Express, 4049 Flying Mail, 2715 Sachkhand Express and 2203 Garib Rath Express were running 8, 3 and 8 hours late, respectively. The sources said railway employees bursted crackers on tracks to give clearance signals from “fog signal posts” installed near all railway stations for smooth running of the trains during foggy weather. — OC


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Plan to get Kala Sanghian drain rid of polluted water
Amaninder Pal/Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 5
If all goes well, the entire belt of villages situated around the Kala Sanghian drain will get rid of polluted water. In a new plan, which is the joint efforts of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, Sewerage Board and Municipal Corporation, polluted water of the drain will be diverted to the already established Sewerage Treatment Plant.

About 11 km-long sewerage pipeline is being laid by the Sewerage Board. This sewerage channel will cover polluted contents generated by nearly all industrial hubs and some major suburban pockets. This pipeline, which will cover industrial areas like Sports and Surgical Complex, Focal Point and Leather Complex, will be completed in the next two months. Nearly 8 km of pipeline has already been laid. The total cost of the project is around Rs 18 crore.

“We are planning to divert polluted water generated by industries and in domestic areas of the city to already established sewerage channels. After traversing through the channels, the water will be eventually treated at Sewerage Treatment Plant in Pholariwal. Water form these areas will be diverted through 11 different sewerage inputs,” said a senior official of the PPCB.

In addition to this, a sewerage treatment plant with capacity of 5 MLD, worth Rs 12 crore, is expected to be completed by March end. The amount of polluted water in the Kala Sanghian drain will reduce further when this plant starts working. Currently, a sewerage treatment plant with capacity of 1.5 MLD is working to treat polluted water generated by the industry situated in Leather Complex.

Meanwhile, Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal visited the Kala Sanghian drain along with member secretary of the PPCB Babu Ram. Baba Seechewal gave ultimatum that the drain would be blocked if the drainage of polluted water into the Kala Sanghian drain would not be stopped by March 31. 


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Changes in Nanakshahi calendar will divide Sikhs: Dal Khalsa
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 5
Contesting the views expressed by the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh, that the changes in the Nanakshahi Calendar would unite the Sikhs, the Dal Khalsa observed that instead it would further divide the community. The radical Sikh group has taken exception to the manner the Akal Takht Jathedar ratified the decision of the SGPC to dilute the Nanakshahi calendar without calling a meet of the Jathedars of the five Takhts.

In a press note, party chief H.S. Dhami and spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said the ratification by Giani Gurbachan Singh would definitely lead the Sikh community into another round of internecine struggle with the whole community vertically divided in two groups - those in favour of the original calendar and those who have prevailed upon the SGPC and SAD leadership to tamper with it.

Accepting the challenge posed by the SAD that runs the SGPC, the Dal Khalsa has decided to take the issue of Nanakshahi calendar to the general masses.

Taking SGPC chief to task for befooling the Sikhs by claiming that “there was no tampering with the calendar”, they said the executive committee of the SGPC had killed the letter and spirit of the calendar. The SGPC chief and Sant Samaj were telling lie to hide their blunders, they alleged.

“Contrary to bringing the community closer, the changes has further deepen the gap.” Lambasting the SGPC chief for not listening to the voices of those who were opposed to the changes, they said the SGPC had drastically changed now. “It has become the extension counter of the SAD,” they pointed out. 


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