Bathinda, May 26
Out of 42 intravenous drug users (administer drugs with injections), as many as 36 have been tested negative for HIV during the tests, conducted on them at the integrated counselling and testing centre (ICTC).

The remaining six persons are yet to be tested for HIV as they are new entrants to the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Centre, situated at the Drug De-addiction Centre at the Civil Hospital here.

These persons have been getting treatment at the centre as part of the ‘Methadone Maintenance Treatment Project’ that was launched on February 15 for the treatment of intravenous drug users.

Methadone hydrochloride is an oral concentrate which is effective in controlling the craving and reducing the risk of relapse in drug users, especially the intravenous drug users. Its starting dose is 2.5 ml while it can be raised up to 12 ml.

Since February 15, 51 intravenous drug users had started recaeiving treatment at the centre. Out of them, nine gave up the treatment midway and the centre was left with 42 persons who are still getting regular treatment. The Methadone doses are given to them orally daily to check the risk of HIV infection in future.

In the month of February, 24 persons had started taking Methadone doses while 12 more persons started taking medicine in the month of March. In April, six new intravenous drug users and in May, nine new intravenous drug users came to the centre and started undergoing treatment.

An official at the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Centre told TNS that as all the 36 intravenous drug users had been found negative for HIV during tests, it was a matter of happiness for them. He expressed the hope that with the starting of treatment, these persons would remain safe as many of them had given up administering injections while remaining would follow them soon.

When contacted, in-charge of the centre, Dr Nidhi Gupta, MD (Psychiatry), said it was a matter of satisfaction for her that even after administering injections for several years none of them had tested positive for HIV.

She said during interaction with these persons, it had come to light that they had no history of needle sharing. This was the main reason that they had managed to save themselves from the deadly disease so far, she added.

Dr Nidhi said all persons, receiving treatment here, would be tested regularly during the one-year span. She said many of them were now leading improved lives and had started paying attention to their households as well while earlier, they used to spend their time at secluded places. There was a lot of change in their behaviour, she added.

Bathinda, May 26
Nathana police has booked a couple from Behman Diwana village for allegedly duping a number of persons after assuring them permanent government jobs with good salaries and taking a huge amount to do the same.

The police said a case of fraud had been registered against Balvir Singh and Bhinder Kaur, who duped a number of persons of lakhs of rupees, on the complaint filed by one Baljinder Singh of Bhucho Mandi. The complainant alleged that the cheaters took `2.5 lakh from him on the promise of providing a government job to his son, but failed to do so.

Talking over the phone, the complainant, Baljinder Singh said, “The cheaters took `2.5 lakh from me on the promise of providing a job to my son in the Fire Brigade department, but even after almost two-and-a-half years they failed to do so. Whenever I approached them, they repeatedly assured that they would return the money in a few days, but did not.”

“After they failed to return the money, I filed a complaint against them last month. Acting upon which, the police first investigated the matter and now registered a case against them," added Baljinder.

He also claimed that the accused man is a government employee and is presently working at the local power thermal plant.

Asked how the couple came in contact with him, Baljinder said, “We came in contact with each other through one Manpreet Kaur, a relative of the accused, who has also been cheated of `4 lakh. She has good relations with us.”

Meanwhile, the police, during its investigation, came to know that the accused had collected a huge amount from a number of job aspirants after assuring them government jobs.

The list of victims is too long and those identified are Gurdarshan Singh of Gill Khurd who had given Rs 1 lakh, Gurtej Singh of Khuddi Kalan who had paid Rs 3 lakh, Manpreet Kaur of Gill Khurd who had paid Rs 4 lakh, Sukhdev Singh of Gill Khurd who had given Rs 2.5 lakh.

Investigating officer, inspector Malkit Singh, at Nathana police station said that a case under the sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC was registered against the couple and efforts were on to nab them.

Bathinda, May 26
The initiative taken by the traffic police, in association with the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB), to streamline the traffic by installing plastic boulders for use as dividers seems to have failed. The recently-installed plastic boulders on city roads have been damaged.

A lot of money was spent on these boulders, but a day after their installation, most of them have fallen and are failing to serve any purpose.

The situation has taken a turn for the worse and the boulders installed to regulate the traffic are now becoming hurdles for the commuters.

At Namdev Gate, near Teenkoni, these plastic boulders have fallen, just because these were not installed properly.

Shopkeepers near the Namdev Gate told The Tribune News Service that the boulders, which were installed only a few days back to demarcate separate lanes for vehicles, had fallen and were causing injuries to the commuters.

“The boulders have fallen and are blocking the road. A number of commuters riding two-wheelers have fallen here since morning. But neither the traffic police nor the MCB officials have so far visited the site to check the condition of these boulders,” said a shopkeeper.

When contacted, ASP (Traffic), Kuldeep Singh, said, “I will immediately ask the MCB officials to check the condition of the plastic boulders installed in the city. If somewhere the boulders have been damaged, these would be replaced and then installed again.”

Bathinda, May 26
Punjab School Education Board announced an extension of the last date to submit forms for admission to the open schools.

In an earlier circular, the PSEB had announced that students seeking admission to the matriculation and senior secondary courses under the Open School Education System for the academic session 2012-13, would have to submit the fully filled admission forms by May 15. Those missing the last date could still submit the forms with a late fee amount of `250 by May 31.

In a circular released recently, PSEB has stated that the admission forms will be accepted without the late fee amount till June 15. The forms will be accepted, along with the late fee amount of `250, till June 30.

Bathinda, May 26
Members of the Bathinda Association of NGOs (BANGO) and other organisations took out a rally to create awareness against the dengue disease in the city last evening.

The rally was flagged off by Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Vinod Garg at Baglewali Dharamshala (Post Office Bazar). The rally passed through the Dhobi Bazar and the Fire Brigade Chowk before culminating at the Hanuman Chowk.

On the occasion Dr Vinod Garg told the people about the dengue menace in detail. He also asked the people to initiate precautionary measures to protect themselves from the dengue mosquito during the ensuing months.

In this rally, members of various organisations, including Bathinda Vikas Manch, Aasra Welfare Society, Naujwan Welfare Society, Grahak Panchayat, Rahat Foundation, Lok Sewa Samiti, Civil Defence Warden Club, Beopar Mandal, United Welfare Society, Sri Hanuman Sewa Samiti, Sahara Jan Sewa, Sathi Welfare Society, Ek Noor Welfare Society, and Waheguru Welfare Society, took part.

Founder president of the Aasra Welfare Society Ramesh Mehta said such efforts by the BANGO would continue in future also to create awareness among the masses.

Bathinda, May 26
The Mazdoor Mukti Morcha (MMM) Punjab has asked the government to get the work of cleanliness of the drains done under MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), in place of the contractors.

The MMM said the step would ensure work for the rural workers and utilization of the central funds.