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17-year-old boy injured in Acid attack
Maiden flight connecting Europe-Amritsar lands in city
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Seven of flesh trade racket arrested
Amritsar, October 2 
Acting on a tip off, the Kotwali police has booked nine persons under the Immoral Trafficking Act and arrested seven persons, including two women and a teenage girl.
ACP, Central, Jaswant Singh Gill, said the police received information that a flesh trade racket was being run under the garb of a paying guest from a house.The accused in police custody. A Tribune photograph Different strokes
2 doctors challaned for conducting sex-determination tests
GND teachers’ body president removed from dept head’s post
Drive launched to curb sale of adulterated food products
Tributes paid to Mahatma Gandhi, Shastri on birth anniversary
Panel formed to fight TB spread
PCCTU defers rally
76 designers come together at shopping fest
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17-year-old boy injured in Acid attack
Amritsar, October 2
Ironically, the two accused, one of whom was dressed in the attire of Lord 'Hanuman', fled from the spot on a black colour Bajaj Chetak scooter. No one could note the registration number of the scooter used in the crime. A case has been registered at the Kotwali police station. No arrest has been made so far. According to victim's father Tarsem, who runs a juice stall in Sakandri Gate area, his son was returning home at 11 pm on a cycle-rickshaw on Saturday when two scooter-borne persons intercepted him near Mochi Gate. “Since the Langoor Mela is on, no one could judge their intentions and they conveniently escaped through the narrow lanes in the area. My son told me that the accused were carrying something in a small bucket-like container. Before he could understand anything, the accused threw the liquid on him. The rickshawala brought him to us and we rushed him to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for medical aid. In the morning, we got him admitted to a private hospital here,” he said. Police Commissioner, Amritsar, RP Mittal, said a search is on to nab the culprits. “It is a shocking incident and calls for extra vigil during the Langoor Mela days because some unscrupulous elements can easily vanish from the spot after committing crime as has been done in this incident. We have deputed extra force in the area surrounding the Durgiana Temple and in the Walled city area to prevent any untoward incident," he said.
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Maiden flight connecting Europe-Amritsar lands in city
Amritsar, October 2
Another passenger Rajinder Singh Purewal said after the withdrawal of the AI’s Amritsar-London-Toronto flight from October 31 last year, the NRI community in Europe in general and in the UK in particular wanted a direct flight from the UK. He said the introduction of the Vienna-Amritsar flight had offered them the opportunity to come directly to Punjab. A UK resident Satnam Kaur said the flight offered them a chance to visit the holiest shrine of the Sikhs and visit their relatives and friends across Punjab as well. She said after the Air India discontinued its flight last year, her family had to come from London via Delhi and take a bus from there to come to Punjab. There was not enough time to book train tickets causing them great inconvenience, she said. Karanjit Singh from Birmingham, UK, said a majority of the four lakh Sikhs living in the UK who have their roots in Punjab want a direct flight to Punjab to reach home early. The plane has the capacity to seat 220 passengers. Member Parliament from Amritsar, Navjot Singh Sidhu said occupancy proved that the route had a tremendous potential for a spurt in trade and business once the flight became regular. He said it would boost the tourism industry in the holy city. He claimed that 1.25 lakh tourists visited the Golden Temple everyday. He said the tourism potential of the city could be harnessed to its optimum if the flight was also connected with the tourist circuit of Jammu (Vaishno Devi) and Himachal Pradesh.
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Seven of flesh trade racket arrested
Amritsar, October 2 During a raid, the police team arrested seven persons, including two women and girl besides the manager of the paying guest facility. A case under Section 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of the Immoral Trafficking Act has been registered against the accused. The police claims to have arrested the alleged kingpin of the racket. Those arrested include DC Thakur, manger, Sunil Sharma, assistant manager, Rattan Kumar, receptionist, Varinder Kumar, besides the two women and a 17-year-old girl. Two of their accomplices managed to escape. Gill said when the police raided the complex, the receptionist informed the accused who were in the top floor of the house. He said the police has arrested the kingpin of the gang.
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Different strokes
Amritsar, October 2 "It was a pleasure performing for an enthusiastic and energetic city audience. This city has a vibrant young crowd that appreciates rap and hip hop music. Guess it comes with our Punjabi blood," said the singer. The artiste performed at Ambala, Pune and Jalandhar before coming to the holy city and will proceed to Agra and Lucknow as part of six city tour. The artiste who made a debut in the Indian music industry after becoming the first successful female British Asian R&B singer, Hard Kaur has done it all from her run up to the finals at Jhalak Dikhla Ja, anchoring IPL Rockstars to giving over 20 hit records in past two years in Bollywood. But she finds her acting debut quite amusing. "While playing the role of Akshay's simple, "seedhi-saadhi" Punjabi girl wasn't very difficult as I too came from a closely-knit Punjabi family. It was amusing as even my mother couldn't tell it was me," she said. Being an entertainer in real life, to being comfortable wearing track pants on the stage and giving electrifying performances doesn't quite match up to her on-screen persona in the film. Another high point of the movie was Akshay Kumar, "It was fun working with him and he is like an elder brother now," she says. She is looking forward to working in more movies though. "I might act again but it has to be something exciting." Singing remains her priority. Having collaborated with international stars like Rishie Rich and Eminem's group D12, she is busy with her rising Bollywood career and music albums. For now, she is happy that her mother, who she calls the real Hard Kaur, is proud of her. "She has been my inspiration all along. In a community where families don't support their girls even to take their own decisions, let alone choose a career as a rap star, I got constant support from her," which explains the "I-give-a-damn" attitude of the singer. With nothing to stop her from doing her thing, she sure is a hard nut to crack!
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2 doctors challaned for conducting sex-determination tests
Amritsar, October 2 The team led by Civil Surgeon, Dr Avtar Singh Jarewal, had alleged that the machine was used to conduct sex-determination tests. The team had also caught a pregnant woman, Rekha from Gurdaspur, who had claimed that she had come to the hospital to get a sex determination test done. The health department has moved the challan against the owner of the hospital, Dr Anil Kalia and another doctor Mohanpal Singh. The CJM has issued notices to both the doctors for October 22, Jarewal said. During the raid, the person managing the ultrasound machine had fled. The team had also seized equipments and medicines allegedly used to conduct abortions from the hospital.
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GND teachers’ body president removed from dept head’s post
Amritsar, October 2 The move has raised eyebrows as Balwinder took over the department as its 'head' only six months ago. He cannot be held responsible for any discrepancy before he joined, sources add. Faculty members have Balwinder's removal as a vindictive and politically-motivated step. As a protest, they have decided not to take up the post falling vacant after the removal. Varsity Registrar Inderjit Singh said Balwinder has been removed as the department head so as not to affect the inquiry proceedings owing to his earlier position. "We have not issued an official letter in this regard. It will be sent to him by tomorrow. Yet, a unanimous decision was taken by the Syndicate members to initiate an inquiry into the attendance procedure being adopted under his supervision. Till then, he would not hold the post of the head of the department. This has been done keeping in mind that a fair and transparent inquiry should be conducted over the issue," he said. According to sources, Balwinder invited the wrath of the varsity authorities because he did not oblige in case of one of the students of the department, who is the son of an influential politician and fell short in his attendance and was detained as a result. “I did what the rules and university calendar demanded. Moreover, the discretion to forego the minimum requisite attendance criteria rests only with the Vice Chancellor. He asked me to follow the rules in the case. Thereafter, apparently under political pressure, fingers were raised over the sanctity of the attendance procedure. I am ready to face any inquiry," he said. Meanwhile, the teachers association would conduct a general house tomorrow to decide on the further course of action.
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Drive launched to curb sale of adulterated food products
Amritsar, October 2 Due to an increase in the demand for milk, milk products and sweets during the season, the sweet makers allegedly use adulterants to keep up with the demand. District Health Officer, Dr Pardip Singh Kahlon, said, "The department has started taking samples of milk and milk products." The department took two samples of milk powder from milk dairies in Ghah mandi area here yesterday. "We have sealed 3,000 kg of powdered milk. The samples have been sent for the tests. The reports of the tests of the samples are likely to come in 30 days," he said. He said if any sample fails, the sealed milk powder would be confiscated and destroyed. Earlier, on Wednesday the department officials took three samples of Khoa from shops in Gheo mandi area. The department had also taken two samples of milk. A dairy owner near Khalsa College on the condition of anonymity said, "Washing powder, ammonia, urea and sub-standard milk powder are the most common adulterants used in such cases." He said powdered white stones and substandard vegetable oils are used in making Khoa, he alleged. Satinder Jeet Singh, a resident said, "The department needs to take stringent action against adulterators. The health of the city residents is at risk because of the adulteration in sweets." Dr Kahlon said adulterators can be taken to task under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, which was enacted to protect public from poisonous and harmful food, to prevent the sale of sub-standard food and to protect interests of the consumers by eliminating fraudulent practices. Under the PFA Act, guilty could be punished with imprisonment for a term, which would not be less than six months and up to three years, and with fine up to Rs 1,000, as per the law.
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Tributes paid to Mahatma Gandhi, Shastri on birth anniversary
Amritsar, October 2 He said people should dedicate themselves to nation building in accordance with the teachings of the two leaders. He said elimination of evils like communalism, gender-bias, poverty and illiteracy would mean the realisation of their teachings. He also urged the people to shun materialistic approach and follow Gandhi's ideal of simple living and high thinking. He added that the Ganghiji's moral and spiritual values were eternal-transcending age, time space or country. They were relevant today as they were in his life time, he said. Later, all present took an oath to resurrect the India of Mahatma Gandhi's dreams. Among others, district officials Neelam Kamra, Principal, BBK DAV College, Neera Sharma, Principal, DAV Public School and Mala Chawla from Government Senior Secondary School, Mall Road, were present.
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Panel formed to fight TB spread
Amritsar, October 2 Named ‘Rogi Adhikar Manch’, the forum has two persons who were cured of the disease as its members. The main aim of the forum is to spread awareness among the patients and communities - especially people belonging to the rural and slum areas, said Rajeev Chaudhary, project coordinator, Axshya project for control of TB. The forum would carry out advocacy activities to influence policy changes for accessible, affordable, supportive, health and TB-services to the entire population with a special focus on the poor and vulnerable groups, he added. Deepak Babbar, convener of the forum, said it would ensure that TB patients get quality and free of cost treatment at government hospitals and other institutions. He said a weekly meeting of the forum would be held to address public grievances and review the TB control programme in the district.
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PCCTU defers rally
Amritsar, October 2 The PCCTU state general secretary Prof HS Walia said Education Minister, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, had invited the PCCTU leadership for the talks on the same day. Prof Walia said the demands include, inter-alia, implementation of pension and gratuity scheme, lifting of ban on the recruitment of teachers, regular disbursement of grant meant for salaries, extension of the date to complete refresher courses as per the UGC norms, security of service for the teachers working against un-aided posts, etc.
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76 designers come together at shopping fest
Amritsar, October 2 "We have over 76 designers from across Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata showcasing their finest collections here. Keeping the festive season in mind, we have tried to cover food, clothes, accessories and home décor solutions. Also beauty, wellness and travel too are added in the list," says Anamika Mahajan who along with Binti Kumar is the organiser of the thrice a year event. With an impressive display, the exhibitionists offer a great variety to Designers from the region are also making their presence felt as a Phagwara-based design studio is offering both traditional and vintage designs, incorporating ethnic Punjabi embroidery in their designs. The options are more traditional rather western keeping in sync with the festival season. Accessories steal the show with designer bags, footwear and imitation jewellery on display here. Virsa Mantra from Amritsar has presented a fine collection of antique and heritage items for the living room spaces as well as a personal collection in silver.
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In a shocking incident, two unidentified persons allegedly threw acid on a passer-by in the walled city area late on Friday evening. The victim has been identified as Rinku, a 17-year-old student of DAV College.
It was jubilation writ large on the faces of the passengers of the maiden flight of Comtel Air from Europe which landed here today.
Officials of the district administration paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahudar Shastri on their birth anniversary at the Circuit House here today.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Baljit Singh, called upon the people to follow the ideals and principles propagated by Mahatma Gandhi.
The city got a taste of the best in designer wear, accessories and home furnishings at the ongoing wedding and fashion exhibition at hotel Grand Legacy here. The two-day extravaganza organised by the Wedding Mantra brought prêt and couture, fine jewellery and antique items all under one roof.
According to the doctors, the exact percentage of the burn injuries would be declared only after 72 hours. The victim received serious injuries on the right side of his face, neck, chest and arms received in the incident.
Charanpreet Kaur Sohal, hailing from Jalandhar and living at Birmingham in UK said the flight had given her a chance to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple before proceeding to her native place. Sohal who is here with her husband and children said they grabbed the opportunity to see their family when they got to know that the flight was being launched. She said the ticket was also cheaper than being offered by other airlines helping her save 100 pounds per ticket. 
