Amritsar, May 11
The recent crime incidents have forced local MP Navjot Sidhu to intervene to bridge the gap between the police and public.

Sidhu, during a joint interaction session with Police Commissioner Parampal Singh and Deputy Commissioner of Police Amar Singh Chahal today, announced to spare two days (Wednesdays and Thursdays) in a week to meet people regarding any crime related issues at his residence.

Showing concern about the rising episodes of fake incidents about abduction or kidnapping of young girls in the city, Sidhu stressed that the persons behind spreading such rumours should be nabbed.

It is pertinent to mention that for the last few days, there has been continuous rumours about the kidnapping, rape or molestation of young girls to create panic among the general public. “Even some scrupulous elements have been involved in sending fake SMSes, whereas there is no truth in it. I appeal to the general public to come forward to help us nab such nefarious minds, who are bent upon disturbing peace and tranquility of the city. The identity of such helping hands would in any case be kept secret”, assured Police Commissioner Parampal Singh.

DCP Amar Singh Chahal said, “All officers and SHOs have been alerted to keep close watch over the anti-social elements of their areas and have been instructed to take preventive steps.” 

Jalandhar, May 11
The family members and relatives of a youth, who was missing since May 8, held a demonstration against the police and blocked traffic at busy Kapurthala Chowk on Tuesday.

The protesters alleged that the youth was allegedly picked up by the police and was neither produced in court nor has been shown arrested by the police. Having been failed to get any satisfactory answer from the police authorities, the protesters jammed the roads leading to Kapurthala Chowk around 7:30 pm in the evening.

The protesters alleged that Inderjit Singh, son of Sukh Ram, was picked up by the police from Gulab Devi road locality on the intervening night of May 8. However, when the family members and relatives contacted the nearby police station, the officials failed to give any satisfactory reply to the family and maintained that the police did not arrest Inderjit.

Sources confirmed that the family members of missing youth became apprehensive when somebody told them that their son was lodged in the police station division VI. However, when they did not find Inderjit there, they went on to hold protest.

When contacted, Kuldeep Singh Chahal, SHO, PS division IV, confirmed that the family members of the missing youth had come to the police station. “However, Lakhwinder was not in police station. I had even let them to see the entire premises of police station for the sake of their satisfaction,” claimed Chahal.

DCP Arun Pal Singh and ADCP Dr SK Kalia were not available for comments. 

Tarn Taran, May 11
Health services were badly affected in the government-run hospitals and other centres on Wednesday as auxiliary nurses and midwives (ANMs) and paramedical staff observed a strike to protest against the maltreatment meted out to an ANM of sub-centre, Chheena Bidhi Chand by the village sarpanch and her husband on Tuesday.

Though the Chabal police has registered a case under Sections 353, 186, 354, 385, 500, 506 and 509 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against the accused, no arrest has been made.

The ANMs and paramedical staff organised a dharna at the Civil Surgeon office here today. They also marched to the office of the SSP and submitted a memorandum. The employees served a warning to the district administration that in case the accused were not arrested immediately they would be forced to intensify their agitation on the state-level.

According to the FIR lodged with the police, ANM Kulbir Kaur was beaten up and threatened on pistol point by Balwinder Singh, husband of the village sarpanch Gurjit Kaur, on Tuesday.

The ANM had gone to withdraw money, released as VHSC funds to be distributed among the ASHA workers and other employees, lying with the sarpanch.

It was a joint bank account and after withdrawing the amount, Balwinder demanded to give him the money back but Kulbir Kaur refused.

Sarpanch Gurjit Kaur too beat her up, she alleged.

The district police authorities assured the health employees of justice.

Lakhwinder Kaur Johal, district president of the ANM Union, while addressing the employees at the dharna site, said the agitation may take any shape in case the authorities failed to give justice to the victim.

Leaders of different employee organisations have extended their support to the ANMs.

Hoshiarpur, May 11
The Christian Front, Punjab, has threatened to impose a blockade on the GT Road in Mukerian on May 17 in case the police failed to take action in a case of a missing youth.

Vimal, son of Father Rufas Pal, priest of CNI Church, Mukerian, had been missing since February 16.

In a press release issued here, front president Lawrence Chaudhary said the Mukerian police, which even showed reluctance in registering an FIR in this connection, had not taken action or interrogated two youths, identified as Romi and Amandeep, both of Chhangla village, who had taken Vimal along with them.

The Hoshiarpur SSP could not be connected.

Gurdaspur, May 11
Pensioners of Gurdaspur Municipal Council have not been paid pension for the last three months because of the non-payment of funds by the state government.

Nearly 900 pensioners of Amritsar region, which comprises municipal councils and corporations of 19 towns, are yet to receive pensions for February, March and April.

Romesh Gupta, president of the Gurdaspur Municipal Council Employees Union, said he had written to the state government to release special funds so that the employees could be paid their dues.

Gupta added that he had also written to the Local Bodies Minister to enhance funds that were given to the MC by the state government to tide over the present problem. At present all councils and corporations across the state were paid 10 per cent of the total VAT amount collected by the Punjab Government.

However, council leaders claim that this amount should be enhanced to 20 per cent of the total VAT collections. “In this way, not only the pensioners’ problems will be solved, but also other financial problems being faced by all councils in Punjab can be solved. Earlier, we used to get a hefty amount from octroi collections and we were not dependent on the state government for funds to run the affairs of the municipal councils. The amount given by the government to councils from its VAT collections is too meagre to run our affairs.”

A pensioner claimed that he had no money to buy daily need essential items. “For the past three months I have gone with a begging bowl to various money lenders to get money. They give money but at a high rate of interest which we cannot afford.”

Romesh Gupta, who is also the secretary of the Punjab Municipal Council Employees Union, said if the pensions of the retired employees were not paid within the next 15 days, his union would be left with no alternative but to hold a protest rally in front of the Local Bodies Minister’s house.