Rajpura/Samrala, June 29
The Rajpura police today arrested three men whom it described as “hardcore criminals” after exchanging gunfire with them near Chahlan village in Samrala. Two cops and one of the suspects received bullet injuries during the firing.

Those apprehended have been identified as Dimple alias Dimpy of Amritsar, Balram, a resident of Ferozepur and Sandeep alias Sandy of Kapurthala. Two other suspects managed to flee the scene.

Rajpura City SHO Bikramjeet Singh Brar said after receiving a tipoff about five “criminals” moving in two vehicles - a Mahindra Xylo MPV and a Suzuki Swift car - in Patiala the police launched a chase to nab them. “However the suspects didn’t halt anywhere and reached Ludhiana, where the police team tailing them failed to stop them due to the dense traffic on the streets”, he added.

“We kept on following them in the city and they came back towards Samrala where we blocked their way near Chahlan village”, Brar said. He added all the eleven cops were in plainclothes except for one. “After spotting his uniform they (suspects) opened fire”, he stated.

According to Brar the suspects were not aware of the fact that the police was chasing them. “However, when they were eventually forced to stop on a road they fired gunshots and a bullet hit the leg of one of the head constables”, he said.

The injured cops were later identified as head constables Sher Singh and Balwinder Singh. Dimple, who fired gunshots, received injuries in the exchange of fire that followed, but is said to be now out of danger.

The suspects who managed to flee were identified as Aslam, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, and Rahgu of Ferozepur. They escaped in the Suzuki Swift.

Police officials said the Xylo had been stolen by the suspects in Amritsar. “They are all hardened criminals and are facing various criminal charges in different police stations in Punjab. Efforts are on to nab the other suspects”, they added.

Raikot, June 29
Three children of a migrant worker were killed after a wall of an ancient ‘haveli’ (private mansion) collapsed in a hailstorm today morning in Tajpur village near here.

Ramesh Chander, a labourer from Rajpur Garhi village near Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was living in a rented house with his wife and six children.

During the hailstorm four of his children including son Rohit, 14, a class 8 student, and daughters Kamlesh Rani, 10, Monika, 17, and Soni, 15, were sitting on a cot lying near the wall to avoid from the strong winds.

Suddenly the ‘haveli’ collapsed and the children were trapped under the debris.

On getting the news village residents arrived at the scene and took out the children

from the rubble but by that time all except Monika had died. Monika was taken to the Raikot Civil Hospital but doctors there referred her to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Raikot SDM Mukand Singh announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 50,000 each for the dead from the CM’s Relief Fund and free treatment for the injured.

The three-storied ‘haveli’, built about a century years ago, is owned by Wazir Singh, who was education minister when Gurnam Singh was the chief minister of Punjab. It was abandoned by his family members over two decades ago and was in ruins. The villagers had urged the family on several occasions to demolish the dilapidated structure saying it could pose a threat to surrounding houses. However their pleas were ignored.

Ludhiana, June 29
The denial of the DMCH to accept will forms of 28 senior citizens willing to donate their bodies has come as a shock to the medical fraternity here.

New Hope, an NGO working for the cause of donation of bodies, has submitted the wills of 607 persons to the hospital in the past.

But the hospital authorities have now refused to accept any other will, citing unavailability of enough space as reason. NS Nanda, president of the NGO, felt it was illogical. “How can the hospital authorities deny the will forms on such flimsy grounds as all the people will not die on the same day and there is always a scope for using the body for therapeutic purposes, surgical procedures and medical research,” he said. This when the DMCH has been promoting cadaver organ donation.

Dr Gurdial Singh Gora and his wife Surinder Pal, who were among the donors, said they had taken pride in coming forward for the noble cause, but refusal by the DMCH, had come as a humiliation.

“We took the initiative to break the shackles of religious dictates by volunteering

for the noble cause, but our efforts were in vain,” said Dharampal Jain, another donor.

A general surgeon stated that human-to-human transplantation of organs had been accepted by doctors worldwide as the best line of treatment and often the only one for a wide range of fatal diseases such as end stage renal disease.

He stated that a living person could donate organs after natural death or brain death. After natural death only a few tissues like cornea, bone, skin and blood vessels could be donated whereas after brain death about 37 organs and tissues could be donated, including critical organs such as kidneys, heart and liver.

Ludhiana, June 29
A day after it was opened to the public, the Jagraon Bridge ramp witnessed traffic chaos today. The clutter and confusion that earlier used to be seen under the elevated road choked the bridge and sent traffic cops into a tizzy.

As the day wore and the situation progressively worsened, the cops expressed their helplessness to handle the traffic jams, saying they were short staffed. The police termed the design of the ramp a ‘‘major engineering disaster’’, which, they said, instead of easing vehicular flow had led to chaos.

Said a police officer deployed at the bridge: "Vehicles were seen colliding with each other on the ramp. Traffic coming from the elevated road was moving straight towards Vishkarma Chowk while vehicles coming from the old city were seen turning towards Bharat Nagar Chowk, which resulted in a gridlock”.

"They (municipal corporation) have created the mess and we’re paying the price," said a cop miffed over the situation.

Traffic ADCP Varinder Brar said: "We need more manpower to manage the traffic on Jagraon Bridge. Installing traffic lights isn’t a permanent solution”. He added the traffic police would make “alternative arrangements” during the rush hours to maintain smooth flow of vehicles.

It is learnt the traffic cops informed police commissioner Ishwar Singh about the traffic mess. Later, MC commissioner AK Sinha and mayor Hakam Singh Gyaspura went to the scene to take stock of the situation.

Ludhiana, June 29
"We don't know whether we belong to Karnail Singh Nagar or Passey Nagar. But one thing is clear - we are a dejected lot, trying to find our geographical identity", says Amarjeet Singh, former ‘sarpanch’ of Sehora village (Payal), who has built a house in the city near Passey Nagar.

Although about 60-70 families residing in the area have constructed their houses after getting the architectural maps passed by the municipal corporation, they still have not been provided basic civic amenities including water supply and roads.

The area came under the MC’s jurisdiction in 1993. "We have got nothing to do with the matter of whether our colony has been approved or not, but we should be provided with the basic facilities . If the MC can lay sewerage lines here why cannot potable water be supplied? We feel we are nobody's children", rued Amarjeet.

The locality in question is surrounded by Karnail Singh Nagar and Passey Nagar, which are fully developed with carpeted roads, regular water supply and sewerage lines. Residents asked why had civic officials issued TS 1 certificates to certain households if it was an “undeclared” colony.

Harvinder Singh Kular, another resident, complained every time construction work began in the area MC inspectors created hurdles.

"Once their palms are greased they don't bother any more. Had the locality been unauthorised, maps could not have been passed. What is more disturbing is that we are very much confused. We don't know which colony we belong to. After some area residents visited the MC’s drawing department today, one of the official told us the colony was authorised and we needn’t worry", said Kular.

The residents also stated ward no 60 area councillor Tehal Singh Gill had always told them they were inhabitants of an authorised colony and their problems would be soon sorted out. Gill said: "This area comes under the MC limits and it is an authorised colony. I had gone to the MC office today to resolve the residents’ problems. The construction works have been passed and roads and water supply will soon be made available". Photo P4

Ludhiana, June 29
Dr Hari Mohan Saxena, professor of immunology and head of veterinary microbiology department at GADVASU, Ludhiana, has been awarded with Global Health Travel Award funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to attend the Keystone Symposium on Immunological Mechanisms of Vaccination to be held at Seattle, Washington, USA.

The symposium is scheduled between October 27 and November 1. The prestigious award covers the full expenses for participation in the meeting. Dr Saxena has been invited to present a paper at the conference.

Keystone Symposia serve as a catalyst for the advancement of biomedical and life sciences by connecting scientists within and across disciplines at conferences and workshops for information exchange, generation of new ideas, and acceleration of applications that benefit the society.

Global Health Travel Awards are to assist attendance of scientists from countries where the meeting topic health problems are indigenous. The conference on Immunological Mechanisms of Vaccination will bring together an interdisciplinary group of scientists in immunology, virology, systems biology and vaccinology, to address critical advances in these fields and their implications for vaccinology.

The meeting will be addressed by some of the leading immunologists of the world, including Dr Anthony Fauci, director, National Institutes of Health, USA, and Nobel Laureate Dr Peter Doherty, University of Melbourne, Australia. The conference is expected to attract about 250 participants from around the world.

Ludhiana, June 29
The up-ramp connecting city with the Jagraon Bridge, which was inaugurated by Minister for Local Bodies and Industries Manoranjan Kalia here yesterday, was inspected by Municipal Commissioner AK Sinha, Commissioner Police Ishwar Singh and Mayor Hakam Singh Gyaspura today to observe the movement of the traffic. For about half-an-hour they were trying to reason out the slow movement of the traffic was slow.

Giving details about the heavy flow of traffic, AK Sinha told The Tribune that it would be absolutely wrong to state that there was problem with the design of the up-ramp. The design had been prepared by the engineers, who were technically sound. Besides, the design was also approved by the F and CC. “We are facing initial hiccups, which will be cleared within two-three day,” he added.

On serpentine queues, Sinha said the traffic here was being regulated manually. “Once traffic lights are installed, everything will be streamlined. The main reason behind the jam on the ramp is that being more convenient, almost all commuters coming from city, including Clock Tower, Raikhy Cinema, Railway Station, Mata Rani Chowk have started taking this route to reach the Jagraon bridge”, Sinha added.

He further added that to ease-out the traffic congestion, both police and the Municipal Corporation had decided to divert auto-rickshaws to the same old route i.e. through Field Ganj for the time being. The ramp would be opened for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Autos will have no problem in reaching the Jagraon bridge through Field Ganj as that entire road was also carpeted recently. “This step will definitely ease-out the traffic choking on the ramp”, he added.

Reena Malhotra, a commuter, coming from Brown roadside, who drove on the up-ramp for first time, said it had definitely saved my time. Though there was rush as people preferred to reach the Jagraon bridge through the ramp, still the traffic kept on moving. “Once lights become operational, driving will be more easy here,” she added.

Ludhiana, June 29
The Directorate of Ludhiana and Jalandhar would jointly host the recruitment rally for the Army from July 9 to July 25 at Guru Nanak Stadium here. Addressing a press conference at Army recruitment office Sharad Dhindaw, Director (Recruitment), said at least 40,000 youths from eight districts, including Ludhiana, Moga, Rupnagar, Mohali, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahar and Hoshiarpur would participate in the recruitment rally.

The recruitment for the post of a soldier would be conducted from July 9 to July 14, while the selection for the technical, nursing and clerical posts would be conducted from July 15 onwards.

Dhindaw said medical examination of the remaining candidates and attestation of their documents would be conducted from July 16 to 18. A common entrance examination (CEE) for soldiers and technical candidates would be conducted on July 25.

Ludhiana, June 29
Harnimar Singh (17) has made the city proud. Chosen from among thousands of NCC cadets, Harnimar was among the four cadets to visit Singapore as a part of a youth exchange programme and the only one from the North India out of 1,200 participating cadets.

Fresh from his Singapore visit, Cad Sergeant Harnimar of the 4 Pb Air Squadron NCC shared with The Tribune, his experience and his tryst with the NCC.

“I was chosen from among a large number of cadets for this programme. The selection procedure included an interview by officers of the rank of brigadiers besides a performance evaluation based on drills and camps etc,” said Harnimar, a Class XII student of Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar. He added, “I went to Singapore earlier this month on a 14-day youth exchange programme along with three other cadets from different parts of India.”

“It was a fun trip but very educative. We met the Prime Minister of Singapore as well as the NCC Commandant. We got to know a lot about the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The best part, however, were the joy rides in the air force aircrafts,” he added.

The trip was a fully paid-for by the Government of India, informed Harnimar, adding that in Singapore, he enjoyed adventure activities like kayaking, fly foxing besides “shopping to my heart’s content”.

Sharing his experience with the NCC, Harnimar said: “I have been associated with my unit 4 Pb Air Squadron NCC since 2008. Though initially reluctant to join the NCC, I decided to join it in

2008 when during a camp held at Dhanansu, I was chosen the best cadet. That was perhaps the turning point,” says Harnimar.

Harnimar was motivated by his ANO 4th Officer Sudheer Kumar Karan. “I was also encouraged and supported by my unit commandant Wg Cdr HS Gulati. It was he who gave me the first opportunity to participate in the Republic Day parade at New Delhi this year, due to which this exchange programme fell in my lap,” remarked Harnimar. Aspiring to join the IAF, Harnimar loves to listen to the music and chatting with friends and given an opportunity, “I would love to do something for my nation and make my motherland proud,” he added. 

Ludhiana/Khanna, June 29
Unlike many others who fall prey to tall claims of developers of illegal colonies in the city and surrounding areas, a large number of people from different walks of life chose to invest their hard-earned money to build a dream home in “Country Homes”, a PUDA approved colony on the Rahon road of Khanna town in this district.

But their fate is no different from the inhabitants of hundreds of unlawful colonies, as basic amenities like feeder roads in the colony, streetlights, overhead reservoir for water supply, electricity connections, main entry gate and round-the-clock security, promised by developers of the colony, still remain elusive. As if to add to the misery of the suffering residents, the regulatory authorities are also turning a blind eye towards the defiant coloniser.

The colony has been carved out by Astra Colonisers Private Limited after obtaining a license from the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) under the provisions of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995.

The municipal council, Khanna, had approved the town planning scheme and a notification was issued by the department of local government, Punjab, on March 9, 2007 under which the colonisers were authorised to set up the colony in a total area of 119 kanal - 11 marlas.

KK Sharma, a resident of the colony and a college lecturer by profession, says: “On the basis of sanctioned plan by the department of local government (read state government) we had purchased plots in the said colony and constructed our houses with the hope that promised amenities will be provided by the coloniser within a reasonable time. However, the residents of colony are still not getting electricity connections, main entry gate of the colony has not been constructed, and work on pucca roads, streets, water reservoir and streetlights is still incomplete.”

Sharma and several other residents of the colony said as the coloniser failed to respond to their repeated pleas for providing all amenities promised to them at the time of sale of plots, they were left with no choice but to lodge complaint with the Principal Secretary, local government, Punjab, with copies forwarded to Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Chief Town Planner, local government, Punjab, Deputy Director, local government, Ludhiana, municipal council, Khanna and District Town Planner, Ludhiana.

Jagjit Singh, executive officer of municipal council, Khanna, who is the regulatory authority for the town planning scheme, told The Tribune that on the basis of complaints received from the residents, a show-cause notice had been issued to the coloniser on May 13, followed by another reminder a couple of days ago.

“If the coloniser fails to respond to the notice, penal action as provided under the relevant law will be taken,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Engineer of Khanna circle of Punjab State Power Corporation, Karanjit Singh Khaira, confirmed that electricity connections were not being provided in Country Homes as the developers had, till now, failed to obtain mandatory no objection certificate from the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

Ludhiana, June 29
City residents having political patronage of the men in power are openly violating Supreme Court’s order and have installed red and blue beacon atop their vehicle.

Notably, the city police has not challaned a single vehicle for installing unauthorised red beacon in last six months.

Highlighting the lax attitude of the police in challaning such vehicles, Gursimran Singh Mand, general secretary of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Sangathan, Punjab, has filed a written complaint to the commissioner of police, Ishwar Singh. Mand has stated that Bibi Surinder Kaur Dyal, who was working as a schoolteacher in Baddowal, has installed red bacon atop her red Toyota Innova, (PB- 10- BP- 3113).

In his complaint Mand has stated that along with the red beacon, the teacher had installed a hooter also.

He said the teacher flaunts the red beacon and was taking undue advantage of her position.

Surinder Kaur Dyal is a member of general counsel of the SAD. Despite repeated attempts the teacher was not available for comments.

Ludhiana, June 29
Up in arms against the Clinical Establishment Bill, the doctors in Ludhiana will observe ‘Doctors’ Day’ as ‘Black Day’ on July 1. A protest march will be taken out in Ghumar Mandi, Ludhiana, against the unilateral decision of the Centre government.

Clinical Establishment Bill is against the Supreme Court directions of letting the doctors work in peace, observed Dr Rakesh Vig at a meeting organised here today. “Providing specialised treatment to the patients coming to small clinics is against the medical ethics as a simple MBBS is not the right person to handle cardiac emergency,” pointed Dr Vig while citing an example.

Dr Narotam Dewan, district IMA president, demanded to rollback the process of implementation of the Bill adding that the National Council, which is proposed to be the governing body as suggested in this Bill, would comprise of persons drawn from unani, siddha, ayurveda, nursing and paramedical backgrounds.

“The governing body will not be competent to check the standards of clinic care which are functional under the allopathic system. Out of the total of 18 members of National Council only three will be medical graduates (one from the MCI, the second from the IMA and the third will be the director general, health).”

Terming the move as suicidal for the healthcare services in India, Dr Hardeep Singh, district general secretary, IMA, said the Bill, if made an Act, would open doors for unqualified person to get registered under the guise of yoga, unani, siddha, nursing, pharmacy. “This move will promote quackery as having got their registration the quacks will call themselves doctors, which will confuse the illiterate masses of India thereby putting their lives to risk,” Dr Hardeep Singh observed.

Dr Satish Nauhria, senior vice-president of the IMA and president of the Hospital and Nursing Home Association, said the medical fraternity was already bound to follow at least 40 Acts and ethics imposed on it. There was no need for this stringent bill.

Raikot, June 29
A father of a girl shot at a youth who was bothering her for quite some time.

The deceased has been identified as Gurpreet Singh Grewal, an NRI.

The girl, who was taking IELTS coaching from Pandori village in Barnala district, was being stalked by the boy.

The girl complained the matter to her father Gurmail Singh, who took her on his scooter to Raikot.

When the father-daughter were returning from Raikot, the boy tried to stop the scooter.

Soon they entered into an altercation and Gurpreet started abusing Gurmail. When a passerby tried to intervene, a shot from Gurmail’s gun accidentally went off.

The police has summoned both the parties.

No case was, however, registered against anyone till the filing of report. 

Phillaur, June 29
Ten persons, including six women, three girls and a Tempo driver sustained serious injuries when the Tempo (PB-08BH-8463) in which they were travelling was hit by a speeding Indica car (PB-5YA-0003) near Gannapind village on the Phillaur-Talwan road today.

Jagraon, June 29
The Sadar police today arrested two persons and recovered 700-kg poppy husk from their possession. The poppy husk was packed in 20 gunny bags. The police has also impounded a truck used for transporting the poppy husk.

The SSP Ludhiana (Rural) said the truck (HR-24D-2451) was intercepted near the bridge on the drain of Dalla village and recovered 20 bags of poppy husk (700 quintals) and arrested two of its occupants identified as Parnam Singh, alias Bagh of Toti village near Sultanpur Lodhi, and Baldev Singh of Harika in Taran Taran district, for peddling.

Both accused have been booked under Sections 15, 25, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. The contraband is worth Rs 8 lakh in the international market.

There numerous cases of poppy husk peddling pending against Parnam Singh. According to the SSP, he was arrested in 2005 and 50 bags of poppy husk was seized by the Sultanpur Lodhi police. He, however, jumped the bail. He was arrested by the Kapurthala police in 2008 and 22 bags of poppy husk was seized from his possession. He, once again, jumped bail and was declared a proclaimed offender.