The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Mid-day Meal: Centralised Kitchen Runs Into Controversies 18 complaints in 9 days Ashok Kaura Phagwara, August 11 The privatisation move of the state government to engage private companies to prepare and provide mid-day meals to the primary and upper primary students in the government and government-aided schools has run into controversies just after nine days of starting a centralised kitchen in Phagwara. It is learnt that 18 complaints regarding supply of unhygienic food (on an average two in a day) were received from different schools in Phagwara during the first nine days. The complaints ranged from half-cooked rice, halwa and dal, meals with fungus and supply of rat feces-mixed rice. Prabhcharan Singh, General Manager, Mid-Day Meal, Punjab, said Director General School Education Krishan Kumar has summoned a meeting of all officials concerned besides representatives of all four non-governmental organisations --- Shade-India Society, Jan Chetna Jagran Society, People Welfare Society and Istri Shakti Society (all Delhi-based bodies) at Chandigarh on August 13 to take stock of the situation of the development and working of these NGOs. He said no complaint was being received from Nawanshahar and Firozepur districts for the last one and half year, but some complaints were being received from Phagwara and Sultanpur Lodhi, as these prestigious schemes are being opposed by some elements, working with their vested interests only. He expressed his wonder that more than 50,000 school students are being provided mid-day meal in Phagwara, Sultanpur Lodhi and Mansa As many as 18,569 students of 177 schools in Phagwara, 20,000 students of 199 schools of Sultanpur Lodhi and more than 10,000 students of 86 schools of Mansa are being provided food but not even a single student fell ill, he said. It may be mentioned here that complaints of supply of unhygienic food were reported from Phagwara, Chiherru, Khurampur, Bhabhiana, Rampur Khalian, Bhularai, Chiherru, yesterday, and from Chack Hakim, Hardasspur, Bazigar Basti, and Hadiabad of Phagwara sub-division today. Meanwhile, Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary today constituted a six members committee, including ADC Kapurthala Gurmail Singh, Phagwara SDM Amarjit Paul, CDPO Phagwara, District Education Officer (Primary), Block Development Officer Phagwara and Senior Medical Officer Dr Rajiv Gupta, to investigate the complaints and find out the truth. The committee members today visited schools, including schools of Bhabhiana and Bhularai villages, checked the food, talked with the students and staff, recorded their statements and inspected the procedure of food preparations in the centralized kitchen on Phagwara- Hoshiarpur Road this afternoon. SDM Phagwara Paul had again instructed the Food Manufacturer and Supplier Company to adopt all necessary precautions and preventive measures and ensure fresh and hygienic supply of mid-day meal. He said stern action would be taken against the carelessness of each responsible as nobody would be allowed to play with the health of students. He said the committee headed by ADC would soon submit its report along with its recommendations to Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala. He said these private companies would have to deliver fresh and hygienic meal in each school before 11 am daily. It may be mentioned here that the state government has been working to implement a comprehensive plan in more than 7,000 government and government-aided primary and middle schools to provide mid-day meal to more than 23 lakh students of the state and the food would be prepared in the centralised kitchens of each sub-division of every district of the state so that the students could get more hygienic food and the teachers could focus on teaching only.
	Dalit worker’s death Cong protest leads to suspension of two SHOs Tribune News Service Kapurthala, August 11 SSP Ram Singh placed Dhilwan SHOs Sukhwinder Singh and Charanjit Singh under suspension and ordered departmental inquiry against ASI Surinder Singh for dereliction of their duties. They were suspended soon after a strong protest by Congress workers at the local Civil Hospital on Wednesday. The Congress workers, led by Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, lodged a protest against the Dhilwan police for delay in registration of an FIR against the two accused responsible for the death of a Dalit Congress worker Nek Singh of Bijli Nangal village, in an accident. Interestingly, the police acted swiftly, in registering the FIR and suspending the erring policemen, when it came to know that agitating Congress workers were planning to place the dead body at the district courts complex after its autopsy. SP (Security) SK Agnihotri, along with other police officers, came to the civil hospital where the body was brought for postmortem examination and listened to the grievances of Congress workers and announced the suspensions of the police officers concerned. According to information, Nek Singh (55), who was selling earthen utensils on his bicycle, was seriously wounded when two motorcycle-borne youths, allegedly under the influence of some intoxicants, hit the deceased on his back near Bhullar Bet village on August 7. He was admitted to Civil Hospital Dhilwan, from where he was taken to a private hospital in Jalandhar. Nek Singh’s relatives informed the Dhilwan police about the incident on the same day and identified the accused, but the police did not register any FIR. The deceased succumbed to his injuries at a charitable hospital at Jalandhar in the wee hours today. One of Nek Singh’s relatives, Sukhchain Singh said that he had visited the police station several times for the registration of an FIR but the police allegedly demanded bribe for taking action against the accused. Khaira gave cash of Rs 10,000 for the cremation of the deceased on seeing the poor economic condition of the family. He demanded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the victim’s family. Police has registered a case under section 304 A of the IPC against Tarsem Singh of Bhullar Bet village and Jaswinder Singh of Randhawa village. However, no arrest has been made so far.
	Reappointed for fifth time, NC EO transferred Our Correspondent Phagwara, August 11 In a significant development, Paramjit Singh, Executive Officer of the Phagwara Nagar Council, who was reappointed for the fifth time here on August 5, was today transferred to Noormahal within six days. The transfer orders were received by the Nagar Council staff through fax this afternoon. The Tribune has learnt that seven of the total nine BJP councillors were strongly opposed to the reappointment of Paramjit Singh, who had taken charge from former Executive Officer Adarsh Sharma on August 5. Sharma could work only for 25 days as he joined in Phagwara on July 9 and was transferred on August 4. The councillors were demanding the transfer of Paramjit Singh. A tug of war was going on between the supporters of Paramjit Singh and Adarsh Sharma as Paramjit Singh was being supported by Nagar Council president Balbhadhar Sein Duggal, while seven of the total nine councillors were supporting Adarsh Sharma. Different deputations of BJP councillors and leaders were meeting BJP and RSS leaders, including Punjab BJP president Ashwini Sharma, in support of their demand. The Tribune has also learnt that seven BJP councillors had submitted their resignations to the party high command against the reappointment of Paramjit Singh as EO of Phagwara. It was also learnt that Adarsh Sharma was transferred from Phagwara to Mukerian on August 5, but he had not taken charge till Wednesday.
	2 hurt in firing incidents Tribune Reporters Amritsar, August 11 Gurdev Singh, reader of the DSP, Jandiala, was booked for firing indiscriminately following a tiff between his son and his classmates in the Vallah area here this evening. Bystander Avtar Singh was injured the process. The police has registered a case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and other sections of the IPC and Arms Act against Gurdev and others. Both groups had gathered outside a historic gurdwara in the area for a compromise. But the adamant attitude of Gurdev’s son Prabhjot Singh, who refused to feel sorry for his conduct, led to the unsavoury incident. Meanwhile, Avtar was rushed to a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable and out of danger. Eyewitnesses said when Prabhjot refused to bow down and challenged the opposite group - Amritpal and his father Gurvail Singh - it was then that Gurdev Singh shot at them, but they somehow managed to escape unhurt. Ravinder Kumar, SHO, Mohkampura police station, said the accused were at large after the incident. He said children of both sides are classmates at a local college where they had a minor dispute couple of days back. The matter came to the knowledge of their parents, who were called for a compromise. Hoshiarpur: Pavitar Singh of Attowal sustained minor injuries after he was shot at by two motorcycle-borne youths, identified as Amandeep of Bhate village and Ghora of Chack Gujran. Metal balls of the bullet hit his feet. Pavitar and his friend Sukhwinder Singh of Sahari were standing at the village bus stop, Attowal, at about 9 am when the incident happened. Pavitar Singh was admitted to the local Civil Hospital. According to the police sources, the accused fired six shots from the pistol and metal balls of one bullet hit the feet of Pavitar Singh. According to SHO of Mehtiana police station, the accused borrowed the above said pulsar motorcycle from Sukhwinder Singh about two-and-a-half months ago. When Sukhwinder and Pavitar today stopped them and insisted to return the motorcycle, they first scuffled with them and later opened fire. The Mehtiana police has registered a case under section 307 of the IPC and sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.
	Abusive father-in-law forces woman to kill self, child Batala, August 11 Unable to cope up with her abusive father-in-law, Rajwinder Kaur (30) ended her life along with her son Manjit Singh (6) by consuming cellphos tablets at their residence in Bure Nangal village. She also gave the tablets to her daughter Amanpreet Kaur (4), who is battling for her life at the local Civil Hospital. Rajwinder Kaur was married to Hardev Singh and had three children. Her father-in-law Mangal Singh was alcoholic. When drunk, he used to abuse Rajwinder and her children. She could not take the abuses any longer and decided to take the extreme step, said SHO Rangar Nangal police station, under which the village falls. After conducting the post-mortem examination, the bodies were handed over to the relatives. The police has registered a case under section 306 of the IPC. — OC
	Youth stabbed to death Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 11 A youth was stabbed to death by the family of a girl with whom he allegedly had illicit relations. The police has registered a case under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC at Gate Hakima police station on the statement of Jaimal Singh, father of the deceased. The accused were identified as Deba (father of the girl) and his two brothers, Bunti and Shera, besides Gurmukh Singh, all residents of the same village. Jaimal Singh, in his complaint to the police, stated that his son Sandeep had gone to the fields when he was attacked by the accused with sharp-edged weapons. Sandeep died on the spot, he added. The police said raids were being conducted to nab the culprits.