Women targeted

* A person on a scooter snatches the purse of Jasleen Kaur. She had Rs 4,700 cash and a mobile phone in the purse

* Two motorcycle-borne youths snatch the gold chain of Aruna Prabhakar

Residents flay policing

City residents are angry as the police has miserably failed to curb the incidents of snatching. “After this incident, who will dare to nab the snatchers? They are now armed with pistols and sharp-edged weapons. They don’t hesitate in physically assaulting persons and even kill them if they resist their attempt,” said Surjit Kumar, a resident of Guru Arjun Dev Nagar near the Putlighar area where a number of cases of snatchings have been reported in the recent past.Gurjit Singh, a resident of Naraingarh area, said the area has become vulnerable to such crime.

Amritsar, July 15
The police has nabbed seven persons from different parts of the city and rural areas for possessing narcotics. The CIA staff arrested Suraj Kumar and recovered habit-forming drugs from his possession. He was caught near Gujjar Pura when he was trying to throw a polythene bag containing 2,100 capsules of intoxicant drugs. Investigations revealed that he used to sell drugs to addicts at various places.

The Kotwali police nabbed Satnam Singh and Kulwinder Singh of Kiampura village and recovered 300 grams and 260 grams of narcotics powder, respectively, from them. The police seized 350 grams of narcotics powder from another drug peddler, identified as Bikramjit Singh, a resident of Panjwar village, Tarn Taran.

Joga Singh, SHO, Kotwali, said they used to sell the drugs to their designated clients in various parts of the city. He said this was for the first time that they have been arrested. He said more recoveries are likely to be mace.

The Jandiala police (under Amritsar rural police district) has nabbed Dhanraj Singh of Rajasthan and recovered 1 kg of opium from his possession. His accomplice, identified as Gurpreet Singh of Jandiala, managed to escape from the spot.

The police authorities said the accused used to smuggle opium from Rajasthan to various parts of Punjab. They said raids were being conducted to nab Gurpreet while further investigations are under progress.

The Jandiala police has also arrested Sawinder Singh of Sukhewal village and Abad Hussain of Delhi with 5 gm heroin each.

Separate cases under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have been registered against the accused.

In the police net

* Suraj Kumar arrested with 2,100 capsules of habit-forming drugs
* Satnam Singh and Kulwinder Singh nabbed with 560 g of narcotics powder
* Bikramjit Singh nabbed with 350 g of narcotics powder
* Dhanraj Singh of Rajasthan held with 1 kg of opium
* Sawinder Singh and Abad Hussain held with 10 gm heroin

Amritsar, July 15
The Shiromani Akali Dal today attacked Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh for making allegations of rigging during Dasuya bypoll. In a statement issued here today, Revenue Minister and Youth Akali Dal president Bikram Singh Majithia said the state Congress chief has gone berserk after repeated defeats at the hands of the SAD-BJP combine.

Questioning the logic given by the Congress party, Majithia said, “It’s surprising that during the recently held corporation elections, the Congress had claimed that had the elections been held under the Election Commission, the Congress would have won hands down. And now the same party is making allegations of rigging the election which has been conducted by the same Election Commission”,  he said.

Majithia viewed that by doing so the Congress leaders were undermining the constitutional authority of the EC.

“The Dasuya verdict has testified that the Congress has miserably failed to match the development oriented policies of the SAD-BJP alliance. The state Congress leaders have unleashed the false propaganda against the SAD-BJP combine only to hide the failures of their own government. The only achievement of the Congress-led UPA government is unprecedented hike in the prices of essential commodities and world record breaking corruption with its mega scandals”, he said.

Amritsar, July 15
The garbage collection system in the holy city is certain to collapse as over 1,000 safai karamcharis, who have not been paid salaries for the last four months by the MC, have warned to proceed on a strike from the coming week.

For the last four months, the MC safai karamacharis have been forced to lead a hand-to-mouth existence.

They have submitted a memorandum to Dharampal Gupta, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, and threatened to go on a strike if the authorities did not pay their dues in the current month.

It is learnt that the salaries of safai karamcharis could not be disbursed as the MC could not conduct its meeting in the past due to elections (first Assembly elections and the MC elections).

Till the new MC House is constituted, no house meet is likely to be conducted.

Surinder Tona, general secretary, Municipal Corporation Workers Union, Amritsar, said as many as 1,300 safai karamcharis including Mohalla Sudhar Committee employees and those who were employed under the DC rate scheme, have not been paid salaries for the past four months.

“We have given an ultimatum to the authorities. The MC Commissioner has assured us to clear the dues on priority as the corporation is expecting an amount of Rs 15 crore soon. But if it turns out to be an excuse, then we will have no choice but to go on a strike,” he said.

“Being only earning member of the family, I am under great pressure. I do not have money to pay school fee of my children. But the MC officials don’t lend an ear to our problems,” said Balwinder Kumar, deputed at division no 5, here.

Mohinder Pal, Ramesh Kumaar and Antony, deputed at Civil Lines, Batala road, said their regularisation of services were just a political move. “Our regularisation was nothing but a political stunt. MC officials too have become puppets in the hands of politicians. We were given a ‘lollypop’, just prior to the corporation elections whereas the corporation does not have funds to pay our salaries,” they resented.

Amritsar, July 15
Now, think twice before violating traffic norms in the city. With the state government considerably enhancing fine on various traffic offences, the city traffic police has launched a special drive to act tough against the offenders.

The holy city has been witnessing worst traffic scenario for the past one decade owing to illegal parking and encroachments.

In past two months, the traffic police has issued as many as 19,000 challans under various categories. Majority of these violations are of black films, not wearing helmets and jumping red light. The traffic police has collected Rs 10.65 lakh as fine in the past two months.

It is pertinent to mention here that as per the new notification issued by the state transport department, the minimum fine has raised from Rs 100 to Rs 300 to a maximum of Rs 3,000 while it would be doubled if a person commits the same violation for the second time.

“If you are jumping red light, driving without licence, seat belt, riding without helmet, smoking while driving, triple riding, wrong parking, you will have to shell out minimum Rs 300. Using mobile phones while driving and unauthorised black film on windowpanes will attract a penalty of Rs 1000 which would be doubled for repeating the violation,” informed Karanjit Singh, Assistant Commissioner Police (Traffic).

Violators beware

* The state government enhances fine on various traffic offences
* The traffic police issues 19,000 challans in May, June
* Collects Rs 10.65 lakh as fine

Amritsar, July 15
At a time when there is clarity on the city bus service, the partially built bus stand at Mall Mandi, exclusively meant for the project, is already in a shambles. Ironically, the bus stand complex has become a haven for drug addicts. Empty bottles of whiskey, cigarette butts, burnt tin foil strips at the complex give proof in this regard.

A broken power meter.

In the absence of any check, iron gate, doors and window panes of all the seven rooms in a row have been stolen. The electricity meter, switches on the power board, too were found missing.

And there is nobody to control the growth of weeds and congress grass in the portions demarcated for the greenbelt. Moreover, sand contractors have encroached upon the entrance of this bus stand.

A temporary hedge of bricks has been erected in the place of the stolen iron gate and missing windowpanes.

Residents said in the absence of proper boundary wall, miscreants use this place for their nefarious activities.

Bottles of whiskey lie scattered in one of the rooms in the bus stand in Amritsar. photos: sameer sehgal

“The proposed bus stand for the city bus service is in a shambles. The partially built structure has become a favourite place for drug addicts who have taken away iron grills and doors,” said Naresh Johar, a resident.

Dharampal Gupta, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, was unaware about the sorry state of affairs at the bus stand complex.

“It is really a matter of concern. I will inform my team to visit the place. A regular vigil would be kept there,” he said.

The low-floor city bus service was planned four years ago and after failing to meet three deadlines, it could not take off.

Ward 57
Name: Sarbjit Singh Latti
Party: Congress

"Inadequate water supply and dilapidated sewerage system in my ward need immediate attention. There are only two tubewells in my ward which cater to 12,000 residents. I will try to get at least two more tubewells installed. Barring some areas like Gurbaksh Nagar, Mehanpura, the sewerage system is not in good condition. I will tie up with our area MLA OP Soni to initiate some development works. An MLA has got powers to release development funds from his quota for public utility projects"

Ward 55
Name: Gurpreet Singh
Party: Independent

"Three major problems faced by residents of my ward are inadequate water supply, power supply and dilapidated road infrastructure. I know that the absence of these facilities give hard times to a common man. I have won the people's mandate independently and I will leave no stone unturned to get residents relief from these shortcomings. For water supply, I will try to install at least two new tubewells. Similarly, my ward needs an extra transformer for uninterrupted power supply. The internal lanes in my ward are in a mess. I will get them mended on priority"