The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Loot by Red Cross rehab inmates; people see red Inmates accused of looting passers-by at night Police interrogates four inmates, watchman Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, July 22 Tension brewed on the outskirts of Janer village in Moga district when the people of the nearby villages protested outside the drug de-addiction centre being run by the district Red Cross Society alleging that the addicts admitted to the centre, loot the people passing through the area at night, allegedly in connivance with the watchman. The Red Cross authorities denied the allegations but the police has taken into custody at least four inmates undergoing treatment and also called the watchman for questioning. They were still at the police station when this news report was last written. As per the details available, a commission agent, Kuldip Singh, was on his way to Moga from Kot-ise-Khan in a jeep on Saturday night. When he reached outside the drug de-addiction centre on the highway, one of the wheels of a small carrier attached to the jeep, separated from the axle and rolled into the nearby fields. Having failed to locate it due to the darkness, he called his associates, Ramesh Kumar and Pardeep Kumar, for help. When they were looking for the wheel, some addicts undergoing treatment at the centre, came out after the watchman opened the main gate and allegedly started beating them with sticks. They also allegedly snatched `13,000 in cash and a gold chain from them and again went inside the centre. Ramesh Kumar was injured in the attack and was admitted to the district hospital here. They complained about the incident to the local police. Initially, when the Red Cross authorities did not open the main gate of the centre last night, the cops from at least four nearby police stations were summoned by the senior authorities on Sunday. The local people from Kot-ise-Khan and other nearby villages protested outside the centre after which the district administration had the gate opened. At least four drug addicts, undergoing treatment, had been taken into police custody. The police had recorded the statements of the injured and further investigations were in progress. On the other hand, the Secretary of the Red Cross Society, Ashok Handa, while denying the allegations, said it could be case of mistaken identity. "The drug addicts undergoing treatment at our centre are not allowed to come out and that too at night," he added. District Magistrate Arshdip Singh Thind could not be contacted over the phone. It was learnt that pressure was being applied on the commission agents by the administration to reach a compromise. Bare facts A commission agent along with his associates was allegedly thrashed and looted outside the de-addiction centre by its inmates on Saturday night. Four inmates of the centre were picked up by cops for interrogation. Secretary of the Red Cross Society denies the allegation against the inmates of the centre.
	Sewage nibbles at newly-constructed road Anirudh Gupta Ferozepur, July 22 Causing utter loss to the state exchequer, a portion of the newly-constructed state highway from Ferozepur City to Zira has been damaged within a few days of its reconstruction allegedly due to flawed sewerage connection. People from the nearby villages, including schoolchildren, have been affected by the appalling condition of the road which poses a danger to the safety of commuters. Several mishaps during the last few weeks have already been reported. However, the authorities are yet to wake up. As per the information, the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) had laid the sewerage line on this road near the grain market following which the PWD department had renovated the road from Zira Gate to Ferozepur-Zira road. However, within a few months of its restoration, a portion of the road has withered away due to the flow of sewage. Large potholes have come up on this stretch of the road which acts as death traps for the commuters. Manpritam Singh SDO (PWD) said the department was unable to repair the road as sewage was still spilling over in the area. He said some colonizers, without taking any no-objection certificate (NOC) from the department, have allegedly connected their sewerage with the main line due to which the problem occurred. “Not even the road cutting charges have been deposited with us till date,” he said, adding that several letters have been sent to Municipal Council (MC) to rectify the problem but in vain. “We have not been able to even settle the final construction agreement with the road contractor just because of this stretch of road,” he said. Executive engineer, PWSSB, ND Bawa said the department had laid the sewerage line in the area which was later handed over to the MC. “Any problem which has now occurred has to be taken up by the MC authorities as we have already handed over the sewer line to them,” he added. On the other hand, Ashwani Grover, president, municipal council, said the entire waste of the Mandi Board was being pumped into this sewerage line due to which it has started overflowing. Grover said he will ensure that the problem is rectified at the earliest. Ironically, there is a primary school located opposite this stretch of damaged road which causes a lot of hardship to the schoolgoing children and the daily commuters.
	Now, demand for express train between F’pur, Sriganganagar Our Correspondent Fazilka, July 22 The activists of the Sanjha Morcha who spearheaded a 45-day-long agitation recently demanding the opening of the Fazilka-Abohar rail track have reiterate their demand for an express train between Ferozepur and Sriganganagar via Fazilka and Abohar as the track has now been thrown open for rail traffic. In this year’s railway budget, the proposed train had been announced. Besides, during the inauguration of the Fazilka-Abohar track last week, the Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa had announced that the train between Ferozepur-Sriganganagar would run soon. The Sanjha Morcha organized a special prgramme today to felicitate the representatives of those organizations who sat on dharna during the agitation. Sanjha Morcha office-bearers, Dr Amar Lal Baghla, Raj Kishore Kalra, Shakti Singh, Raj Pal Gumber and Sushil Gumber, president of the Bar Association, Fazilka, presented certificates of commendation to the representatives of 45 organisations who joined the chain hunger strike from June 1 to July 16. President of the Northern Railway Passenger Samiti, Dr Baghla, demanded that a new train from Sriganganagar to Delhi via Abohar, Fazilka, Muktsar and Bathinda should be started to enable the passengers have a direct link to the national capital. They also demanded that the route of the Sriganganagar-Nanded Sahib Express be diverted via Fazilka and Muktsar. With this, the two historical religious places of the Sikhs, Muktsar and Nanded Sahib, would be directly connected. “The train number 14731-32, intercity express, running between Delhi and Bathinda, should also be extended up to Fazilka via Muktsar,” demanded Baghla.
	Four of family hospitalised for food poisoning Moga, July 22 As many as four people belonging to the same family, hailing from the nearby Rauli village, were admitted to the district hospital at Moga on Sunday morning in a semi-unconscious state after they reported of suspected food poisoning. Doctors who attended to them said they were out of danger and their condition was improving. Although the exact cause of food poisoning could not be ascertained, the doctors say it could have happened due to the spray of pesticides on vegetables or due to the unhygienic cooking of food. Interestingly, the patients who were admitted to the hospital did not either complain of vomiting or diarrhoea. They became unconscious, which raised doubts. The police was also informed of the incident and investigations had begun into the incident. A 62-year-old widow Surjit Kaur, after gaining consciousness, said she and daughter Kuljip Kaur, also a widow, along with her 14-year-old son Arshdip Singh and daughter Kuldip Kaur, had breakfast together at about 9 am on Sunday. About an hour after eating, they became unconsciousness, she said. They were rushed to the district hospital by their relatives. — TNS
	Army jawan goes missing, mobile phone switched off Abohar, July 22 Hardeep Singh, a jawan of the Jat Sikh regiment, who was presently posted in Alwar, has gone missing while on way to Birdhwal (Sriganganagar) where he was to attend a camp. As per the information available, Hardeep Singh, 24, had left Alwar on July 17 and reached Jaipur the next day. He informed his seniors that he was leaving for Birdhwal (Suratgarh) by passenger train from Bikaner at 2.30 pm. Two jawans were dispatched to Birdhwal railway station to escort him but he did not turn up. His mobile phone gave "switched off" response after July 18. His relatives joined the Army in launching the search operation. Surprisingly, his bag was spotted at the Suratgarh railway station on July 19. An FIR has been lodged with the GRP. — OC