Amritsar, August 4
Sonu, a young woman, was found murdered at her home on the Batala road on Friday. She wa sin her early 20s and ran a tea kiosk along with her brother opposite Sun City amusement park.

Residents approached the police when she did not open her kiosk. Residents found her lying in a pool of blood inside her hut and informed the police control room after which senior police officials, including ACP Gurnam Singh reached the spot.

SHO Sadar police station Vavinder Kumar Mahajan said during investigations it was found that two cylinders and a colour television set were missing from the hut and thus it seemed to the handiwork of the robbers. “Sonu may have noticed the robbers while stealing their belongings and must have opposed them. The accused attacked her on her head with bricks after which she died on the spot,” said Mahajan.

Her brother Ashok Kumar was arrested by the police a few days ago on charges of loafing at Loharaka Road, said Mahajan. He said the body was sent for the post- mortem examination which would be handed over to her sister Neetu later.

A case under Section 460 IPC has been registered against unidentified robbers, the SHO said.

Amritsar, August 4
The Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) has imposed a fine of Rs 4.8 lakh on Antony Waste Handling Cell Private Ltd, hired for lifting garbage, for breach of contract. The AMC has communicated its legal branch to initiate proceedings against the firm. The firm had entered into a contract with AMC in 2009 to lift garbage before dumping it to designated site at Bhaktanwala till 2016.

As an alternate measure, the AMC also plans to buy its new fleet of garbage lifting machinery, besides inviting bids on a short-term basis from private parties to hire trolleys to lift garbage.

It’s been over a week when the company had stopped its garbage lifting operation. Even as the company officials said this development was an outcome of non-payment of their dues by the AMC, yet the latter countered it by stating that the public utility service could not be stalled under any circumstances and that the company was liable to bear the penalty.

The AMC officials maintained that the company is paid a consolidated sum after every quarter and the crisis occurred only during the last quarter period when the state government could not release the funds.

It has been learnt that the Centre has sanctioned the funds to the state head but the same have not been transferred to the AMC account so far. Outstanding bills of the company add up to Rs 1.25 crore.

MC Commissioner Dharampal Gupta said the situation became grim as the employees of the company went on a strike demanding minimum wages. “Even if there was delay in payments, it was not proper for the company to withdraw its operations abruptly,” he said.

There were reports that the drivers and other helping staff of the Mumbai-based company were on a protest for having been denied wages according to the collector rates, bonus and proper uniforms and remained off work. It was only after the intervention of the AMC officials that the issues between staff and management were resolved. 

AMC health officer Dr Yogesh Arora said the move of the company to put residents at the receiving end could not be forgiven. The manager of Antony waste Handling Company Anil Chandala said, “We were forced to stop garbage lifting operation because our dues to the tune of Rs 1.6 crore were not paid. We have already brought it to the notice of the management at our headquarters in Delhi,” he said.

Amritsar, August 4
Harpal Singh, a jail inmate, died at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital after a brief illness today. His family members have alleged irresponsible attitude on part of the jail authorities as the reason.

Harpal Singh was lodged in Amritsar Central jail eight months ago on charges of theft and was awarded two-year imprisonment.

The doctors diagnosed him with Hepatitis-B. On the request of his family members, he was shifted to GND Hospital a week ago, where he breathed his last today.

His brother Raja alleged that it happened due to negligence on part of the jail authorities which did not refer Harpal to the hospital in time. “When I went to meet him in jail, he was suffering from fever. I kept asking the jail authorities to get him shifted to the hospital, but they did not take me seriously. It was only when his condition deteriorated that the jail authorities got him admitted to the hospital, but he could not survive,” he alleged.

When I went to meet him in jail, he was suffering from fever. I kept asking the jail authorities to get him shifted to the hospital, but they did not take me seriously. It was only when his condition deteriorated that the jail authorities got him admitted to the hospital, but he could not survive, says victim’s brother Raja.

Amritsar, August 4
The City police has arrested a conman for allegedly duping many unemployed youths on the pretext of providing them jobs in the education department. The accused wielded influence claiming he had close relations with the ruling party ministers besides the Director General of School Education (DGSE) Kahn Singh Pannu and Secretary Education Husn Lal.

He was exposed when several victims met Pannu and apprised him about it. He contacted the local police and asked them to register a case.

The accused has been identified as Satnam Singh Sekhwan, a resident of Chheharta. A case has been registered against him on charges of fraud at Chheharta police station.

The accused took between Rs 50,000 and 1 lakh from the victims. He assured that he would provide them government jobs as teachers and against other vacant posts. However, but neither provided jobs nor returned the money.

Bhajan Singh, a resident of Baba Bakala, said Satnam Singh took Rs 2.5 lakh from him on the pretext of providing jobs to his son-in-law Varun, granddaughter, Jaskirat Kaur and grandson Dharamveer Singh.

“He told us that he belonged to the SAD and claimed he had very close relations with the Cabinet ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Sikander Singh Malooka and Bibi Jagir Kaur besides other leaders of the ruling party as well as senior officials of the education department. He demanded Rs 1 lakh per job but kept saying that the appointment letters would be issued soon," he said. Another victim, Prem Singh of Azad Nagar, said he left his job as a driver after the accused assured him and his wife of providing jobs in the education department.

Kahn Singh Pannu said the victims approached me with the complaint against Sekhwan. "I called the police and I appeal to the people to approach if anybody cheats them in the name of jobs in the education department. Such people should be brought to book," he said.

Satpal Joshi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, said a case of fraud has been registered. The victims alleged that earlier, the police was not taking any action against the accused saying that the matter had been “sorted out” as he had returned the money to the victims.

Amritsar, August 4
The Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) has engaged Chaman Lal and Sons for the construction of a multi-storey commercial complex in Durgiana Temple complex.

This commercial complex will be built at the cost of Rs 3.5 crore. As many as 53 shops will be demolished in the first phase to widen the galliara of the complex.

Superintending Engineer, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, said, “The firm was chosen after financial bids were opened yesterday and the firm had bid the lowest. It is estimated that the proposed commercial complex would be completed within oner year,” he claimed. “Those displaced in the process have been compensated as per the Land Acquisition Act norms. We would offer as many shops to the owners or the tenants on reserve price,” he said.

Sharma said Rs 28 crore had been sanctioned as compensation to acquire the land required for the beautification project and the remaining Rs 22 crore would be spent to create infrastructure for tourists, devotees and pilgrims.

The AIT would raise a four-storey parking lot to accommodate 400 cars and over 150 two-wheelers. An auditorium, open-air theatre, joda ghar and information centre would also be constructed. He said 72 per cent of the land would be an open area, which would include the greenbelt.

Later, the AIT may also offer battery-operated cars to the temple committee to ferry handicapped and aged visitors to the temple.

Amritsar, August 4
An organic sugarcane farm managed by Pingalwara Charitable Society has won the prize for record production of sugarcane given by the Sugarcane Development Office.

The farm recorded a yield of 398 quintals of sugarcane per acre using the technique of sowing sugarcane at a spacing of 11 feet.

The farm manager Rajbir Singh said, “Using the traditional method of sowing sugarcane the farmers are able to get a yield only up to 265 quintals."

He said the produce at the farm was weighed in the presence of officials of the Sugarcane Development Office.

The farm has also got a certificate along with a cash prize of Rs 7,500.

Rajbir Singh said difference of 11 feet is kept between two lanes of sugarcane. He said the society's farm grows all the crops organically.

“The entire crop produced by the society is consumed by the inmates of the Pingalwara ashram. The surplus is sent to the community kitchen at Golden Temple. We have never sold a single grain of any crop," said Rajbir.

He said the need of the hour is to grow crops organically in Punjab. "The system would help farmers cut down on their input expenditure. Besides we have proved that production does not decrease instead it increases,” said Rajbir Singh. The farmers can always visit the society's farm to seek guidance.

The Sugarcane Development Office has decided to give a subsidy of Rs 3,600 to the farmers wanting to follow the Pingalwara model. A jubilant Rajbir Singh said, “Next we are working on an organic model to grow Poplar trees used as timber. We have planted only 80 saplings over an acre of land as against the agriculture department's advisory of 210 plants.”

The remaining space is being used for other crops, he said.

Next we are working on an organic model to grow Poplar trees used as timber. We have planted only 80 saplings over an acre of land as against the agriculture department's advisory of 210 plants, says farm manager Rajbir Singh.

Amritsar, August 4
Teams of the district administration today issued challans to hotels, eating joints and a shopping mall for not displaying warning against smoking at public places.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Supreet Singh Gulati said inspections were conducted in view of the proposal to declare holy city as a smoke-free city by August 15.

A press release issued by the administration said hotels, including Crystal, Khyber, Ista, besides Alpha One Mall, Café Coffee Day, Bharava Da Dhaba, Friends Dhaba and Angreji Dhaba were penalised for not displaying warning boards.

Gulati said a team of PGI experts would visit the city on August 6 to check its readiness in getting smoke-free status. He said the team would stay in the city for four days and is expected to inspect around 250 establishments.

Gulati hoped that the residents of the city would cooperate with the administration in making the city a smoke free city.

Amritsar, August 4
With no fear of getting challaned, cigarette vendors and smokers make light of anti-smoking norms as soon as the sun sets and the health department teams are off for the day.

Vendors know that the health department teams carry out the challan drive only during the office hours.

The same cigarette vendors, who do not dare to provide a match box to customers for fear of a health department team waiting in plain clothes, happily start lighting the cigarette for their customers after the sunset.

The department challans the vendor as well as the smoker in case he is seen smoking at a cigarette shops.

“Most of the customers are in the habit of lighting the cigarette at the shop itself. However, because of the fear of punishment, we have stopped lending the lighter or match stick,” said a vendor.

City residents said the department should devise a method to check blatant smoking at public places during the evenings at least during the initial days of the campaign to instill a habit among smokers.

Kalpana Sharma, a student, said, “We have seen that when it starts getting dark, people smoke at public places without any fear. It seems that people are more afraid of the punishment instead of the harmful effects on their bodies.”

Civil Surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said, “We will construct special teams to keep a vigil during the evening hours.”

He said the general public could report about violations on phone numbers given at warning posters displayed at various places.

He said the team from the PGI would come on Monday to check the readiness of the city in obtaining the smoke-free status.

Amritsar, August 4
The activists of NGO Mission Aagaaz and several residents strongly condemned the chopping off century-old trees by the Durgiana Mandir committee.

NGO activists has filed an application with the district courts under Section 295-A.

During a meeting, Mission Aagaaz activists discussed how the four pipal and banyan trees were axed without considering any alternative mechanism, which could have saved these trees.

“We swung into action as soon as we received a call from a woman resident of the area and sought judicial, administrative and political help, but in vain. It seemed to be a part of major conspiracy,” said Gurbhej Singh, general secretary of the NGO.

The Amritsar Improvement Trust had decided to get these trees transplanted and the Punjab Government had given it a go-ahead on July 19.

Members of NGOs claimed that office-bearers of the Durgiana Temple committee abused them when they went to save these trees. “They had even deputed some women who attacked the people with lathis and used inappropriate language against us”, alleged Deepak Babbar, an NGO activist.

Harish Taneja, spokesperson of the Durgiana Temple committee, maintained that proposal of transplantation was scrapped keeping in mind its low success rate. “It was necessary to chop off these trees, as a new commercial complex has been proposed to be built over there. And as per HC directions, the displaced shopkeepers would have to be rehabilitated. We have planted equal number of trees in the Gol Bagh area. Moreover, a wide green belt with over 40 trees is part of the Durgiana Mandir Beautification project”, he said.

Amritsar, August 4
The Pingalwara Charitable Society today organised an exhibition of handicrafts and artefacts made by the inmates. The exhibition was organised to observe the 20th death anniversary of its founder Bhagat Puran Singh.

Society’s president Dr Inderjit Kaur said inmates are taught various skills during their stay so that after they go home, they are able to make a livelihood for themselves.

The society also runs a vocational training centre where the inmates are taught various skills like chair canning, weaving, candle making, sewing, embroidery etc, she said.

The society also pays special attention to the individual requirements of the mentally-retarded children. A painting competition for these children was also organised today.

The inmates exhibited their skills in front of dignitaries and general public. Artificial limbs made by experts associated with the society with the help of inmates. Inmates are also imparted special training in the field.

Dr Inderjit Kaur said competitions were organised in candle making, weaving, hand fan crafting, embroidery and painting.

Amritsar, August 4
Teachers associated with government-aided schools today urged the government to absorb them in government-run educational institutions which face staff crunch.

Members of the Punjab State Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union, Amritsar, viewed that the government has already been paying 95 per cent grant in aid to aided schoolteachers, but has not been filling up vacant posts of aided teachers since 1987.

“Around 50 per cent of the aided school staff has attained superannuation till now. But the government has not made any fresh recruitment against these posts. It will have been a wise step to get us engaged with the government schools on the same pattern that has been adopted in neighbouring states like Haryana, Himachal and Rajasthan,” said President Raj Kumar Mishra.

Union secretary Jagjit Singh Gujral said if the government accepts our demand, it would serve dual purpose. “First, the shortage of teachers in government schools would be over, and secondly, there would be no burden on the state exchequer as we are already being paid through the grant-in-aid scheme. So, our services can be utilised in more efficient ways,” he said.

The union thanked the government for reviving the pension scheme which was discontinued since 2003. 

Amritsar, August 4
To celebrate the van mahotsav, students along with teachers of Delhi Public School planted saplings in the school campus.

Principal Sangeeta Singh said saplings of ashoka, bael, banana, neem, bamboo, gulmohar, bottle-brush trees and sacred shrubs like tulsi were planted.

“The idea was to inculcate a sense of affection and appreciation for plants among students,” she said.

Amritsar, August 4
The Amritsar Obstetrics and Gynecological Society inaugurated the two-day North Zone HIV Conference at Government Medical College (GMC) here today. The stress was on the prevalence of HIV among pregnant women and their handling at the time of delivery and treatment.

A workshop on occupational exposure protection was held in which the health employees from all over North India participated.

Dr Amrit Pal Kaur, secretary of the society, said 0.9 per cent of women in Punjab are infected with HIV. She said the state is on the verge of entering high prevalence area from low prevalence area. An area with a total infectious person count of above one per cent is termed as high prevalence area.

She said health employees are at a constant risk of getting infected if proper precautions are not taken. Dr Kaur said of the 34.2 million people infected with HIV in the world, around 3.4 million are Indians.

She said the district has highest number of injectable drug users.