Jalandhar, January 5
At last, there is some relief to the common man as prices of vegetables and fruits have gone down. Reason: Dip of 0.42 per cent in the food inflation and arrival of local vegetables in the market.

Seasonal vegetables are now available between Rs 10 and Rs 20 per kilo in the market. Fruits like kinnow and banana are also available at a reasonable price.

A random survey by Jalandhar Tribune revealed that consumers were a happy lot following the decline in the prices. Onion, potato and tomato, which are considered must haves in the Indian kitchen, are available at Rs 12, Rs 5 and Rs 20 per kg, respectively. At some places, potato was available at Rs 2 to Rs 4 per kg, courtesy the recent potato glut witnessed in the state.

Mohan Singh, a local vendor near Model Town market said: “Almost all vegetables are available locally these days, hence there is a decline in the prices. Moreover, this is a common trend that during peak season, vegetable prices always witness a dip.”

He said: “I think this has nothing to do with the food inflation right now. The decline was expected in the peak winter season. The prices of cauliflower for instance would be somewhere between Rs 5 and Rs 8 per kg as compared to Rs 15 in the coming days.”

Kavita Sachdeva, a homemaker, who bought a variety of vegetables for just Rs 150 said: “It seems that the prices have gone down due to the seasonal produce. However, if it has actually taken place owing to food inflation, it is indeed good news. Earlier, I used to spend anywhere between Rs 300 and Rs 400 for buying at least two days’ vegetables.”

Another vendor Sita Ram who was selling carrot at Rs 12 per kg and radish at Rs 5 per kg said: “Owing to a sharp decline in the prices, people prefer to buy seasonal vegetables,” he added.

At a local vegetable market on Garha Road, a group of housewives said: “Winters are the best time to enjoy good eatables and delicacies. Thankfully, the prices have gone down. Starting from soups to sweet dishes like ‘gajar ka halwa’ to the traditional breakfast pranthas of cauliflower, potatoes and radish, one can easily look forward to good options, hence the consumption is also more.”

Jalandhar, January 5
Holding the ruling SAD-BJP combine and the Congress responsible for ignoring a handful of demands of ex-servicemen, members of the All India Defence Forces Pensioners’ Welfare Association, Jalandhar, have decided to vote and support only those candidates who will ensure action instead of lip service.

A meeting of the ex-servicemen will be held in the city on January 7, which would be attended by a large number of retired senior Army and Air Force officers from across the state.

At present, there are around 8 lakh ex-servicemen voters in the state, who had been looking forward to the consecutive governments to provide them their rights.

The ex-servicemen who had been supporting Anna Hazare also maintained that they would prefer to utilise the power of ‘49-O’ instead of voting for a wrong candidate in the assembly elections. Clause 49-O of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, gives voters the right to exercise their franchise and yet not vote, if they don't find any of the candidates suitable. The voter can take this decision at the last moment.

The demands of job quota in the state government, facilities for the war widows and upkeep of Sainik Boards have been ignored by successive governments, following which they have joined hands against ‘corrupt’ leaders.

Talking to Jalandhar Tribune, one of the members of the association Squadron Leader YS Nijjar (retd) said during the meeting they would decide on ‘whom to vote in the assembly elections’. “The decision makers understand the language of vote bank only,” he said.

Sq Ldr Nijjar said that since 1986, ex-servicemen had remained a neglected lot and suffered at the hands of the both the SAD and the Congress. “We had also spoken to social activist Anna Hazare’s key associate Arvind Kejriwal pertaining to our long list of demands, which was neglected by the successive governments in Punjab,” he said. “As Anna Hazare is not keeping well, we could not pursue our case. But very soon, one of our association members Col KS Grewal (retd) from Patiala would be meeting him to decide the future action,” he added.

Sq Ldr Nijjar said PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh too had approached Col Grewal assuring him of full support to the ex-servicemen in the state. “As Col Grewal also hails from Patiala, he was able to meet Capt Amarinder and put forward the demands of our community,” he said.

Taking a dig at the SAD-BJP government, the ex-servicemen said the government stopped gun licences which used to help them for the job of security guards. “Recently, the state government had released 67,000 tubewell connections, but that too went to the SAD supporters and the ex-servicemen quota was ignored. War widows are waiting for 10 acres of promised land and cash to each widow.

Jalandhar, January 5
The District election office has plans to hire 350 digital cameras for recording polling scene at 1,769 polling stations to be set up in the district.

Almost each of the nine returning officers has been asked to hire over 30 cameras each for the election day in their respective constituencies. While a few cameras would be roving for recording polling in three stations, certain more violence prone areas would even have a dedicated camera team.

The election office is in the process of re-classifying the polling stations into three categories this time - vulnerable, critical and sensitive, with specific instruction of each category. The district officials have been asked to send the classification list by January 10 for the purpose.

Each RO has already hired five camera teams for daily surveillance which does recording for cash or liquor seizure. With nominations and rallies to pick up now, more cameras are likely to be used even on daily basis for following all candidates.

Giving details, ADC Praneet Singh said CCTV cameras will be used at the time of storing EVMs till the time of counting. “The video coverage will ensure that nothing goes unnoticed and there will be check on miscreants. We are waiting further directions on this,” he added. 

Jalandhar, January 5
Robbers struck at a house in Lamba Pind and decamped with cash and valuables worth lakhs in broad daylight.

The police, however, claimed that the complainant has concocted a story of theft to implicate his relatives following a property dispute.

ASI Mulakh Raj, who is investigating the case, said the suspects have been asked to report in the police station, Division No, 8, on a complaint of Harpreet Singh.

Earlier, Preveen Kaur, a resident of House No 1473, Lamba Pind, had alleged that three youths barged into her house at about 8.45 am and looted her of cash and jewellery.

The trio entered the house when she was alone. One of the suspects put a dagger on her neck while the other directed her to handover the cash and valuables, she added. They allegedly took the keys to the safe from her and took away gold, silver jewellery and cash, the complainant added.

The investigating officer said that from preliminary investigations, it seemed the family had concocted a story to implicate the youths.

The victims even do not know from where the suspects came and how they escaped after committing the crime. Moreover, no one in the surroundings heard any scream of the woman. The women even did not discuss the incident with her neighbours, the ASI added.

Meanwhile, the police has initiated investigations. No case has been registered. 

Jalandhar, January 5
Even as it has been nearly a month-and-a-half since five-year-old Nepalese boy Sagar had died after falling into a manhole at Basti Peer Daad Colony here, the inquiry report has still not reached the office of the MC Commissioner for necessary action.

The incident took place on November 25 when the boy fell into an open manhole on the road. An inquiry was conducted by chief vigilance officer VP Singh, but no action has been taken.

Since then, the file seems to have been lost on the tables of the secretary, director or other officials of the local bodies department as a copy of the report is yet to come out.

It is perhaps because the victim was the son of a daily labourer that no social body or welfare organisation has raised a voice on the matter to ensure justice for the poor family. MC Commissioner BS Dhaliwal confirmed that he had not yet got any report. Sources in the local bodies department, however, revealed that officials had recommended show-cause notices against two sewer supervisors, two JEs (one of B&R and other of O&M), and one SDO for dereliction of their duties. They said that notices were likely to be issued in a week’s time.

The show-cause notice is also likely to be issued against B&R as the manhole cover had got broken during road construction work in Kutcha Kot locality there. The sources also revealed that notices would come with fresh instructions that after completion of any B&R project, a report would have to be submitted by the concerned officials about the status of the manhole covers in the area or that they need to be raised upto the road level.

They revealed that from next time, the SEs and the XENs would be held responsible for they would have to ensure that regular patrolling for checking the manhole covers was being done.