Nawanshahr, March 5
The suicide by a B.Tech (1st year) student of IITT College of Engineering, Pojewal, has triggered angry protest by the college students, who have accused the management of failing to provide timely medical aid to the victim.

Yogesh Ranjan (19), a student of B.Tech (ECE 1st year), hanged himself with the ceiling fan in a hostel room on Friday evening. He allegedly took the step out of frustration after the declaration of the result of the first semester examination.

The irate students raised slogans against the college management, held a dharna and even indulged in altercation with the principal.

Had the facility of ambulance been provided to the victim to take him to the nearby hospital, his life would have been saved, said the students while demanding a probe into the incident and adequate compensation to the family of the victim.

“Though the management claims various facilities in the prospectus at the time of admission but virtually there is no proper arrangement of power supply, food and medical aid in the college for the students,” complained engineering students --- Ishan, Alok, Kavita and Rohit.

The students, who complain about the lack of basic facilities, were fined and were given low marks in internal assessment, they alleged. Besides, they also attributed the prevailing frustration among the students to the alleged faulty evaluation system of the PTU.

Yogesh was a hardworking student. Even though he was good at studies, he got reappear in as many as four papers of the first semester, said the students.

After the declaration of the result, Yogesh was quite upset and in frustration he took the extreme step.

Principal KK Goyal and PRO Kuldip Singh, while denying the allegations said the police was immediately informed and the student was rushed to the nearby hospital by the college authorities but unfortunately he could not be saved. The parents of the victim had also been informed timely. The college had made arrangements for taking the body to Patna via air for cremation.

Gurdial Singh, SHO, Pojewal, said the police had registered a case under Section 174 of the IPC. However, Punjab Students Union leaders --- Karam Singh Sekhan and Onkar Singh Asmanpur --- have demanded the registration of a case under Section 302 of the IPC against the college management.

Nawanshahr, March 5
Open manholes have been posing a grave threat to the residents of various colonies on Rahon Road, Chandigarh Road and Garhshanker Road in the town.

Davinder Singh, a resident of Vikas Nagar and a lecturer at Government College, Ropar, was injured when his scooter fell into such a manhole today.

Under the Satlej Action Plan, pipes were laid for the extension and augmentation of the sewerage facility in these areas. “A number of manholes have been constructed in the locality under the plan. Though about a month has passed but neither manholes have been completed nor covered,” alleged Bahadur Singh Rana, father of the victim.

He added the residents had brought the issue into the notice of municipal councillor RachnaChhabra but nothing has happened. Daviner Singh said due to uncovered manholes, the residents were facing great difficulties. The recent heavy rains in the town further aggravated the problem.

Hasrbhajan Bhawra, general secretary, Vikas Nagar Welfare Association has urged the Deputy Commissioner to take immediate steps to ensure proper execution of the laying of sewerage pipes and construction of manholes. While demanding strict action against the persons showing carelessness in execution of the plan, Bhawra said compensation should be paid to the affected lecturer.

Amritsar, March 5
Kanwarjit Singh (20), a resident of Patel Nagar, Jandiala, was shot dead, while his friend Jiwanjot Singh of Model Town was critically injured by eight persons when they were on their way to Guru Arjun Dev College at Tarn Taran.The incident took place pear Bandala, where the assailants fired indiscriminately at them. Jiwanjot sustained two bullet injuries, while Kanwarjit died on the spot.

A case under Sections 302, 307, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against Gopi of Gunowal Hawelian village, Karan of Nandwala village and Vicky of Mahabali Club (Tarn Taran), besides five other unidentified persons.

Phillaur, March 5
One person was killed and 20 others, including women and children, were injured in a head-on collision between two trucks near Nagar village on the Phillaur-Nawanshahr road today. The injured were admitted to Phillaur and Ludhiana hospitals.

In another mishap, an unidentified middle-aged person was killed after being run over by a train near Phillaur Railway Station today.

Tarn Taran: Sarwan Singh (40), a resident of Jallupur Khera village, died and his wife Rajwinder Kaur was injured in a road accident near Mallha village, 18 kms from here, last evening. Sarwan, along with his wife and kids, was going to Dao village on his motorcycle when it was hit by another motorcyclist Rashpal Singh of Mallha village. Sarwan was admitted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Amritsar, March 5
Members from the Christian community, under the banner of United Christian Forum for Human Rights in India, today held a protest at Attari-Wagah joint checkpost against the recent killing of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan minorities minister, by the radicals. They raised slogans against the Pakistan government.

They urged the Pakistan government to ensure the safety of various minority communities living in the country. 

Jalandhar, March 5
It will be a busy day for the traffic police in the city and outskirts as two mega events are scheduled for tomorrow.

While the Congress workers from across the state will converge at Dasehra Ground in Jalandhar Cantonment around noon for a massive public rally to be addressed by PPCC chief Capt Amrinder Singh, the closing ceremony of the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games, which will be a star-studded affair, is also scheduled for tomorrow evening.

While traffic management within the city only would not be a problem, the pouring in of people in huge numbers from surrounding areas will also be a big headache for the police personnel. Further, the ongoing six-laning project of the National Highway Authorities would has also left narrow lanes for the traffic to pass through at some points.

Even as traffic jams at Rama Mandi and PAP Chowk have become a routine problem, emerging of people from outside in the form of convoys could also add to the hindrance. However, ACP Traffic Diljinder Dhillon said that strength of his staff deputed along the road had been doubled for the same purpose.

Within the city, he said that no traffic diversions had been given anywhere for either of the two events as it could lead to inconvenience for the local residents. “There will be short diversions only around the periphery of the Burlton Park,” he added.

He said ample parking space had been provided at both the venues. “Parking for VIPs, mediapersons and common people has been segregated from in front of Gate No 1 and 2 of the park. For the Congress rally, six parking lots in cantonment area have been earmarked along all directions”, the ACP informed.

“While those coming from Bhogpur and Hoshiarpur will enter cantonment via Rama Mandi, the ones coming from Nakodar side will enter via 66-feet road and Sansarpur side. People coming from Phillaur will enter from the Deep Nagar side. Local residents would be able to make it through cantonment road ahead of Defence Colony or via Garha Road,” Dhillon added.

A marathon being organised by CT Institute is also scheduled for tomorrow.