Woman crushed to death
Amritsar, August 10
A 32-year-old woman was crushed to death when a speeding truck hit her scooter near Sultanwind Chowk here on Thursday. She died on the spot.

Show of Strength
Robust Punjab youth conquer Army fitness standards
Amritsar, August 10
Tough fitness tests cleared by the youth during the Army recruitment drive held at Khasa Army Cantonment centre here belie concerns over the deteriorating health of the youth of Punjab. The fitness level of Punjabi youth was above average.

Amritsar, August 10
As there is no significant breakthrough in the sensational murder of a young trader, Munish Khanna, in Rishi Vihar locality on Monday, Amritsar Police Commissioner Ram Singh has taken over the investigation and has been holding meeting of the investigating teams on a daily basis.

Special investigating teams --- comprising two SP-rank officials, Deputy Commissioner of Police and CIA staff --- have been put on the job to crack the case and nab the culprits.

Police sources said a number of persons having criminal background and gangsters have been taken into custody to identify the two accused, who are absconding.

“Though the police has taken a number of persons into custody for the investigation, but there are no definite clues about the culprits who have perpetrated the crime,” said sources.

• Munish Khanna was killed by robbers on August 6

• The Police Commissioner has been holding meeting of the special investigating teams, comprising two SP-rank officials, DCP and CIA staff, daily.
• A number of persons having criminal background and gangsters have been taken into custody to identify the two accused, who are absconding

Conceding to the demand of traders and business community, the Police Commissioner has deputed a permanent team of nine policemen headed by an ASI rank official at Shastri Market.

During a meeting with the Police Commissioner, the traders expressed their grave concern regarding the absence of police security in the high profile Shastri Market, famous for cloth trade. The traders pointed out that there was no policeman deputed for security in the area, which is very vulnerable to such lootings and robberies. For the last two days the shopkeepers in the market have shut their shops in protest against the murder of Munish Khanna.

The Police Commissioner immediately deputed a police team, headed by an ASI, to guard the area.

Ram Singh said, “A six-member team will guard the area in day hours while three policemen will be deputed in the evening.” These teams would work directly under the supervision of the Station House Officer concerned, he added.

A team of six policemen would remain present in the Rishi Vihar. The area which is considered a posh locality has residences of traders and affluent class people and is vulnerable to snatchings and lootings.

Amritsar, August 10
On the assurance of the police administration, traders and businessmen of Shastri market and surrounding areas today called off their shutter-down strike till Monday.

The traders are agitated over the killing of trader Munish Khanna, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his residence on August 6. The robbers decamped with a bag containing lakhs of rupees.

SK Wadhwa, general secretary, Shastri Market Association, said members would wait for their demands to be fulfilled till August 13. He said demands of the agitating traders include arrest of the culprits, Rs 20-lakh compensation to the family and a job to the next of the kin of the deceased. He informed the members of the association would hold a meeting on August 13 to review the next course of action.

Amritsar, August 10
Amritsar Police Commissioner Ram Singh today suspended two Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) for dereliction of duty.

ASI Rajinder Singh was put under suspension because he was found absent from duty during a surprise check conducted by the Police Commissioner. Rajinder Singh was deputed at a naka in the Hall Gate area. When the Police Commissioner visited the spot, he was not present there while the police party was standing idle at one side. When he asked for the naka in-charge, the policemen present on duty could not give a satisfactory reply.

In another case, the Police Commissioner suspended ASI Jasbir Singh of the traffic police who was deputed near Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gurdwara. The Police Commissioner found the ASI absent from duty in the middle of utter traffic chaos. Vehicles parked in the no-parking zones created hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic.

He issued orders of suspension while instructing the ACP and the SP concerned to clear the traffic by towing away vehicles and issuing challans.

I was getting frequent complaints about traffic bottlenecks due to illegal parking of vehicles. ASI Jasbir Singh was deputed near the gurdwara to regulate traffic.

— Ram Singh, Police Commissioner

Amritsar, August 10
Uncertainty prevails over the decision to ban gutka in the city from August 15.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Health, had made an announcement in this regard, but the district health authorities are yet to receive any official communication from the state government in the matter.

Though the district is most likely to be accorded smoke-free status on August 15, the health department is practically 'handcuffed' to do anything against the chewing tobacco sellers.

Civil Surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said, "We have not received any such guidelines from the government. But anyhow we have issued clear instructions regarding sale of such things to minors."

In order to get the district ready for the smoke-free status, the administration had started its drive to create awareness and challan smokers a month back.

Earlier, CPS Sidhu had informed the media that the state government had plans to announce a ban on sale of gutka in two districts --- Amritsar and Ropar --- from August 15 onwards. Alike Amritsar, Ropar too is getting ready to attain the smoke-free status.

City residents had hailed the announcement regarding a ban on sale of gutka.

But vendors are clueless about the decision. "Though we have seen officials issuing challans to smokers, nobody has ever talked a word about gutka," said a vendor.

The Voice of Tobacco Victims had earlier initiated a campaign seeking a ban on sale of gutka, which is considered a major cause of cancer in the mouth. Activists had even got a pledge signed from Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.

A resident, Davinderpal Singh said, "The government must ban the sale of gutka. There should be no confusion. And if there is any, senior state officials must make the situation clear."

Amritsar, August 10
A 32-year-old woman was crushed to death when a speeding truck hit her scooter near Sultanwind Chowk here on Thursday. She died on the spot.

The driver of the truck, identified as Mangal Singh of Bahadur nagar, Valtoha fled the scene leaving the truck (RJ-13 BG 7252) behind.

The Sultanwind police has registered a case under Sections 304-A, 427 and 279 of the IPC against the driver on the complaint of Chander Kumar, brother of the deceased and a resident of Kot Baba Deep Singh area. The driver has been absconding since the accident.

Sarwan Singh, investigating officer, said the incident took place when the victim had just come on the main road from her locality. As the truck hit her, she fell before the truck and her head was crushed beneath the tyres. He said raids are being conducted to nab the driver. — TNS

Amritsar, August 10
Tough fitness tests cleared by the youth during the Army recruitment drive held at Khasa Army Cantonment centre here belie concerns over the deteriorating health of the youth of Punjab. The fitness level of Punjabi youth was above average.

As many as 40,000 aspirants from Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts appeared for the hi-tech recruitment test.

Around 3,000 candidates have cleared the physical examination and are eligible for a written examination, said Col Sanjeev Sirchi, Deputy Director General, Punjab and J&K Recruitment Board.

As many as 4,000 candidates from Pathankot went through the scrutiny. Sirchi said maximum candidates (7,149) appeared from Gurdaspur district.

"I refute the general perception that the health standards of Punjabi youth is declining. I think we can have the best lot from here to join the Army," said Col NA Seethi, Director, Recruitment, Amritsar.

Col SK Malhotra said Punjabi youth is well built and stout.

"In comparison to J&K youth, the Punjabi youths are used to physical labour, that is why their fitness level is very good and their keenness to join the Army is heartening," he said.

The screening of candidates hailing from all districts except the above mentioned districts (soldier tech and outsiders) would be held tomorrow and those selected would have to undergo a Common Entrance Examination on August 26.

Amritsar, August 10
Emotions ran high at local Dr Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Health, when the family of Kamal Sarkar met him after almost nine years of separation. Sarkar, who went missing from his residence in Baasulia village falling under Bankura district in West Bengal in 2003, was mentally deranged when he was caught by the Tarn Taran police near the Indo-Pak border in 2005. The police later admitted him to the mental hospital for treatment.

His brother Dilip Sarkar and son-in-law Shibu Shikdar were among those who came from West Bengal to take him along with them.

Shibu Shikdar, who knew Hindi, informed that Kamal Sarkar went missing from his village in 2003 and all the efforts to find him proved futile. Earlier too, he had disappeared from the residence, but he used to return after a few days. However, this time it took years. “As the family members failed to locate him, they assumed him dead. Suddenly, we got the news that Kamal is alive and currently recuperating in a mental hospital in Amritsar. The family was elated after hearing the news,” Shikdar told mediapersons.

But at the same time, the family looked worried. Being economically weak, the family expressed their helplessness for continuing his treatment at their native place. “We do not have enough resources for continuing his treatment. Family owns a small chunk of land and it was very difficult for them to make both ends meet,” said Shikdar.

However, Dr BL Goel, Director, Dr Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Health, took up the issue with the Secretary, Health, West Bengal, for his free treatment at a government hospital in the state.

“We have given medicines for a month to the family for continuing the treatment. The West Bengal Government has also assured to provide all possible help and further treatment to Sarkar,” said Dr Goel.

Dr Goel said after undergoing treatment for seven years, Sarkar revealed about his residential address a few days ago as he regained his senses. We immediately contacted the Secretary, Health, West Bengal, to trace Sarkar’s residence, he said.

However, Sarkar could not recollect where he spent his three years before being captured by the Tarn Taran police near the border. His mental condition was very bad when he was brought to the hospital. He used to tell that he was a Bangladeshi. It is really very heartening to see such patients recovering and reuniting with their families, he said.

Amritsar, August 10
The Department of Commerce and Business Management of Guru Nanak Dev University has received a grant of Rs 31 lakh from the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Development Assistance for Upgradation of Existing and New Management Departments for the year 2011-12 during XI plan.

Dr Balwinder Singh, the department head, said the UGC grant would enable upgrade of equipments, procurement of latest journals and books and providing best of teaching and academic provisions to the budding managers of the department.

He said Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and several other companies are carrying out placement drives.

He said the department had also obtained a coveted accreditation from Tata Consultancy Services for placement. “The accreditation is definitely a rare feat in view of stringent and thorough procedures followed by TCS,” he said.

Talking about research projects granted by the UGC to faculty members in the current session, he said Professor Dr Subhash Sharma and Dr Aparna Bhatia were granted a project for ‘Corporate Social Reporting in an Emerging Economy- A study of Indian Companies’ worth Rs 7,84,600.

The UGC granted Rs 6,12,200 for another research project of Dr Mandeep Kaur for ‘Service Quality: Customer Satisfaction and Customer Retention in Tourism Sector- A study of Punjab’.

Dr Jaspal Singh got a research project in the area ‘Soliciting Enhanced Income Tax Compliance-Individual Self Employed Assessee Perspective’ and got a grant of Rs 3,82,000 from the UGC.

The UGC grant will enable upgrade of equipments, procurement of latest journals and books and providing best of teaching and academic provisions to the budding managers of the department.
— dr balwinder singh, head, department of commerce, gndu

Amritsar, August 10
The District Leprosy Society has decided to organise street plays to create awareness among the general public about the disease.

Civil Surgeon, Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai, said five street plays would be staged at Verka and Lopoke blocks.

He said plays would be enacted by the team of Performers Association, Punjab, headed by Dr Amardeep Bhogal. The first play would be staged at the primary health centre at Verka on August 13 and the second at Lopoke on August 14. Dr Ghai said the plays aim to create awareness about the signs, symptoms and treatment of Leprosy.

District Leprosy Officer Dr AS Sachdeva said during this year 37 new cases of leprosy were reported. He said 40 per cent of the cases were reported from urban areas. A total of 74 patients are undergoing treatment for leprosy in the district, said Sachdeva. — TNS

Amritsar, August 10
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar will inaugurate Sri Guru Harkrishan Bhawan in Mumbai on August 12, according to a press release issued here today by the Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society.

The building was constructed on the land donated by Mata Laj Kaur and is centrally-located in Mumbai.

The seven-storey building in Andheri East is near the airport.

Structure and feature layout of the building are in consonance with Sikh architecture.

The area has a good transport system. The building also has two most-modern elevators.

The bhawan also offers spacious and functional meeting rooms, community rooms ideal for seminars and conferences, the statement added.

Amritsar, August 10
Van mahotsav was celebrated at Dasmesh Parivar International School here today. School director Dr Manjit Singh and Secretary Jaswant Singh Khalsa planted saplings along with the staff and students of the school.

Dr Manjit Singh said when life is impossible without plants why not make them a friend. Hence, every child must plant and take care of that plant to see grow. Greenery is also required to get rid of global warming and less monsoons is a direct consequence. The programme was organised to encourage the students understand the importance of environment.