Jalandhar, May 22
Playing with the lives of the public, unscrupulous elements are artificially ripening fruits with poisonous substances like calcium carbide and acetylene, the gas which is used for welding iron and in the steel industry and its use in eatables is responsible for numerous disorders of the digestive and nervous system.

Before being supplied to the market, 90-95 per cent of fruits like mangoes, papaya, cheeku and banana, are treated with a banned compound - calcium carbide - which releases the poisonous acetylene gas that speeds up the ripening process.

The glut of such fruits in the market and their consumption often leads to mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrohea, indigestion and gastric pain.

But the most worrisome aspect is that having such fruits can also cause damage to the nervous system besides causing cancerous lesions in the body.

“No research has been conducted in Punjab regarding the harmful effects of such compounds. However, as per some foreign health journals, disturbances related to the digestive system, adverse effects like headache, food poisoning, mood disturbances and dizziness are have also been reported after the consumption of such fruits,” said Dr Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Professor, Department of Food Technology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana.

Even according to the reputed “Journal of American Academy of Emergency Medicine”, acetylene can also cause neurological disorders like memory loss and seizures.

In addition to this, toxic substances like arsenic, which possesses potency to cause lung, liver and skin cancer, is also present as an impurity in calcium carbide.

“The fruits ripened with carbide are reported to cause even food poisoning. The chemical is so reactive that it causes blisters if touched with wet hands. You cannot measure the exact range of adverse effects as it all depends on the quantity of carbide used during artificial ripening”, said Dr BVC Mahajan of Punjab Horticulture Post Harvest Technology Centre, Ludhiana.

“The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has approved the use of ethylene 
gas for the purpose. However, the low price of carbide results in its indiscriminate use in fruits”, he added.

Dr LS Brar, Director, Horticulture, said owing to dearth of ethylene-based treatment units in Punjab, the quantity of treated fruits may even exceed the figure of 90-95 percent.

“Commissioning of ethylene-based unit costs around Rs 12-15 lakh and contractors and arhtiyas save on this expense at the cost of people’s health, said Brar. The use of calcium carbide is banned in India under section 44 (AA) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. However, the Health Department has failed to implement the ban till now.

“A large number of samples of fruits were failed in a special campaign launched few months back. However, I cannot recollect even a single case registered against those involved in artificial ripening under the act,” said a senior health official. 

Amritsar, May 22
The police arrested Harsh Gosai in connection with his wife’s death after the post-mortem report received by the police confirmed the death of 24-year-old Manpreet Kaur as cold-blooded murder.

Manpreet was found hanging with the ceiling fan at her residence in Ahata Satvi Girir, Haveli Mahantan near Tunda Talab here on February 14. She was living with her husband and had two-year-old daughter.

Kulwant Singh, girl’s father, in his statement to the police had alleged that she was killed by Harsh Gosai, a recovery agent who had illicit relations with another woman. The police initiated the investigations after recording the statement of the Kulwant under section 174 CrPC at that time.

“We received the post-mortem report only couple of days back in which it was confirmed that Manpreet was strangulated and later hanged with the ceiling fan,” said Harpal Singh, SHO D-division police station, where a case under section 302 of the IPC has been registered against Harsh Gosai.

Incidentally, it was their love marriage that turned sour soon after Manpreet came to know about Harsh’s illicit relationship, said the father of the deceased.

He said his daughter was married to Harsh in 2006. When Manpreet objected to the illicit relationship, Harsh thrashed her, said the father. He said on February 14 the family received a call that his daughter had hanged herself.

Double Murder Honour killing ruled out

The police has ruled out honour killing in a double murder case. Pardeep Gabbar and Kiranjot Kaur of Chabal village were found dumped in the ganda nullah near Mulla Behram village in Khasa yesterday.

SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan, Amritsar Rural Police District, said, “We have got some vital clues and accused would soon be behind the bars.” — TNS