Jalandhar, August 31
A pall of gloom has descended on Idgah Mohalla ever since Mini (not her real name), a BA-I student of SD College, committed suicide after she was publicly humiliated by the police and photojournalist on Thursday.

She jumped before a moving train to end her life. She reportedly took the extreme step after she was ‘caught’ with her boyfriend by the police in the presence of photojournalists. Her boyfriend was allegedly made to do sit-ups publicly by the police on Railway Road. And photojournalists clicked her pictures against her wishes.

She was the youngest of daughter of Rakesh Kumar, who runs a tailor shop, and Veena Rani. The parents were still in a state of shock when The Tribune team visited the deceased’s house.

At first, the family was reluctant to speak, but they were ready to talk after a little persuasion.

They alleged that the police and photojournalists were responsible for their girl’s death and strict action should be taken against the guilty.

“My sister was sensible, introvert and conservative. She could not bear the torture and humiliation,” alleged Karan, deceased’s brother.

The brother said the Inspector did not pay heed to her sister’s pleas.

Had the police and photojournalist had acted sensibly, she would have been alive today, said Karan.

Tarun, a cousin of the girl, said, “One of my friends, who witnessed the scene, called me up and told me to reach the spot as the police was harassing her unnecessarily. We reached the spot, but she was not there. We also searched her at her college and then at the bus stand, but to no avail.”

Later, we got to know that she had committed suicide, he claimed.

Jalandhar, August 31
Following the suicide of a girl in Jalandhar on Thursday, Facebook users termed the media and police as ‘overzealous’ and ‘reckless’.

Facebook, a social networking site, became a common platform for many to share their thoughts on the tragic suicide case, which took place following the ‘overzealous’ approach of the police and the media.

While many compared the incident with the brutality of the Taliban in Afghanistan, others demanded registration of a case against those responsible under Section 306 of the IPC.

Facebook users emphasised the need of ‘soul searching’ for both the police and the media.

Many users pointed out the flaws and the ‘haste’ with which the media usually covers such incidents.

“Disgusting (act) of the police and the media…instead of catching criminals and stopping hate crimes and helping people….they took lives of the people”, posted Amanpreet Kaur.

Another user lambasted the role of media and wrote: “The media just cannot put one’s life at stake for the sake of a news item.”

Geetika Sharma posted: “Can anybody explain…how come a meeting between a boy and a girl is news for the media? This was not a case of ‘eve-teasing’ that the police and the media had to cover it anyway! Sorry to see the state of affairs”.

Harinder Pal Singh wrote: “Psychology and other experts and professors from local reputed universities, colleges and industry should teach the police and the media about the moral, ethical values, behavioural science and personality development”.

Some users also highlighted that following this incident, the ‘Punjab Press Club, Jalandhar’ was going to hold a seminar on the role of media and police in this context.

“Does our law permit us to humiliate somebody in public?” wrote Rajat Kumar Mahendru, another Facebook user.

Jalandhar, August 31
The interrogation of an international drug trafficker, Ranjit Singh, alias Raja Kandola, today led to recovery of 1.2 kg heroin, an SUV, .12 bore gun (made in USA) and some property documents from his native Hapowal village near Nawanshahr.

The value of the heroin is said to be worth Rs 5 crore in the international market.

Meanwhile, the police remand of Kandola was extended by four days by a local court. Inderjit Singh, Inspector, Kartarpur police station, said Kandola’s interrogation also revealed that he had spread his smuggling empire in Goa, Gujarat, Gurgaon and Delhi. He added the police would carry out search operation at these places.

The police had arrested four members of an international gang of drug peddlers, run by Kandola, and recovered over 34-kg methamphetamine and 19-kg ephedrine, also known as ‘ice’ or ‘rave party drug’, worth Rs 200 crore, from them in June.

Besides Kandola, the rural police has nabbed over 18 persons who had been active in drug trafficking.

Jalandhar, August 31
The last meeting of the outgoing MC House on Friday evening was perhaps the one to start on the most discordant note.

The moment Mayor Rakesh Rathour entered the meeting hall, the Leader of Opposition Jagdish Raja said angrily, “You have no right to conduct this meeting. Instead you should have waited for the new councillors to take oath and join in.”

As the Mayor tried to respond, Raja burst out, “You did not even circulate agenda copies 72 hours prior to the meeting. This act of yours is illegal. You are not capable to be in the chair”.

At this, Mayor who in the last five years is always seen to have maintained his cool, too was seen time and again raising his voice, “You have used an unparliamentary language against me. This is not acceptable. You need to take your words back before we proceed.” As the exchange of arguments went on, all councillors from the ruling as well as opposition parties pitched in. This further flared up the matter.

Green Park issue

The matter took another turn when the Mayor said Raja was siding a land mafia that was allegedly trying to grab a huge chunk of land earmarked for a park in Green Park colony. “I will drag you to the court”, he said while showing records of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (which had originally developed the area).

He claimed that by sending the ditch machines at the site last month, he had just tried to save the government land from being encroached and that too after cross-checking everything with the JIT.

Those claiming that they own the land had long been compensated by the Trust and they have been provided another piece of developed land, he said.

The Mayor said, “Since the matter is in the court, the law will take its own course. I have made up my mind to present the factual position in the court and fight the case strongly. I will also ensure that a departmental action be initiated against all those officials found guilty by approving the building plan for houses at the site. I announce the forming of a committee to probe the matter.”

Since Raja had also alleged that Mayor had personal interest in the matter as his close relations were involved, Rathour counterclaimed saying, “Yes, my in-laws reside close by. But they are not a party. I feel it is my moral duty to act on the matter and not allow the government land to get usurped.” He banged the table shouting, “Shame! Shame!” for the Opposition leader. He also announced that the committee formed for the purpose would also have a Congress leader as a member.

No zero hour

Seeing the furore, the Mayor soon started getting all agenda items passed without much discussion. The councillors started claiming that there should be a zero hour. The Mayor kept on telling them that there would be a discussion at the end so that the councillors remained glued to their chairs. After getting all items passed and even getting more items added and cleared, the Mayor left the meeting. All the councillors having much to say were left gazing.

Streetlight issue

Almost all councillors expressed dissatisfaction over the functioning of the streetlights. BJP councillors Darshan Lal and Joginder Tony complained that the streetlight points were being installed not at their discretion. Congress councillors Balraj Thakur and Surinder Kaur said certain areas where lights were required were without points or lying defunct. BJP councillor Ravi Mahendru complained that the contractors, who had been awarded the contract for maintenance, neither painted any streetlight posts nor cleaned them. The Mayor ordered forming of a committee on the matter.

Meeting ends cordially

The episode took another turn intermittently as both Rathour and Raja started calling each other their brother. The Mayor lauded the role of the opposition during his entire tenure claiming that they had a very constructive approach. He even extended them a salute for this. He asked the participating councillors who had lost polls and would no longer be a part of the House after September 9 to continue to strive for the betterment of their areas and give time to MC activities.

Dinner invitation

Three days prior to his term, Mayor Rakesh Rathour has hosted a dinner party at Hotel Country Inn. During the meeting today, the Mayor extended invitation to all councillors for a dinner on September 6 evening.

Nakodar, August 31
The unmanned railway crossing at Mouwal village could not be manned as the survey conducted by the Railways found that the daily vehicular traffic at the crossing is much less than the required limit.

NC Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozepur division, said the Railways could man only those unmanned railway crossings where daily vehicular traffic was around 6,000 vehicles (including two and four wheelers).

But in this case, the survey conducted by the Railways found that the daily vehicular traffic on this crossing was 1,200 vehicles only, he added.

However, he said for a precautionary measure, the road alongside the railway track would be metalled soon.

The demand for manning the railway crossing grew stronger after there was an accident between a DMU and a car. One died and two others were injured in the accident on Tuesday.

Immediately after the accident, villagers blocked the rail tracks for four hours demanding manning of the crossing.

In a similar incident on September 12, 2011, three schoolchildren of Malawi Devi School in Nakodar were killed when the van in which they were travelling was hit by the DMU train heading from Lohian to Ludhiana at the same unmanned railway crossing at Mouwal village.

Then also the villagers had staged a dharna on this railway track demanding immediate manning of the crossing.

Jalandhar, August 31
Relatives of Harvinder Kaur, a resident of Buta Mandi, today raised slogans against the doctor of the National Kidney Hospital here alleging that he had carried out a faulty kidney transplant operation on Harvinder.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Jaswir Singh, husband of Harvinder Kaur, said his wife was receiving dialysis treatment from the hospital for the past nine months.

Jaswir’s sister Kuldip Kaur agreed to donate her kidney to Harvinder for a transplant.

He said Harvinder was admitted to the hospital more than a month ago and on August 14 her kidney transplant operation was carried out.

“Two hours after the operation, the doctors told us the kidney of my wife had stopped working. Earlier, we wanted to get my wife operated at PGI, but the hospital doctors pressed us to get her operated here. We had also received cross-matching approval for the kidney from Amritsar,” Jaswir Singh said.

“My wife bled continuously for four days after the operation. She bled so much that sometimes even at nights we got up and got her sheets changed,” Jaswir Singh alleged.

“While they were earlier asking for Rs 5 lakh for the operation, we have spent Rs 12 to 13 lakh for the operation alone and in total we have spent Rs 30 lakh for her entire treatment,” he alleged.

“I have a small shop and I incurred huge debts to ensure my wife’s treatment. My sister lost her kidney and my wife too will now have to go back to dialysis. On top of it, the doctors told me to take my wife to the PGI Chandigarh,” he said.

“They offered me Rs 50,000 to take my wife to the PGI, but I want justice. I need all my money back,” he said.

Dr Sanjiv Mittal, who operated upon Harvinder, termed all the allegations baseless. He said, “The transplanted kidney was rejected by the patient’s body and that is causing complications. There was no shortcoming on our part. In 10 per cent of kidney transplant cases, the patient’s body rejects the kidney.” 

Following the footsteps of the debate team and the girls basketball team, the boys basketball team of DPS won the inter-DPS zonals, hosted by DPS Ambala and will now play the nationals to be hosted by DPS Aligarh in November.

Glorifying Olympics

In the wake of London Olympics, a special morning assembly was conducted in Police DAV Public School. The motive was to glorify sports and their value. A story was narrated in the form of a poem with an enactment. An oath was taken by the students to be the global citizens while respecting their own country and forgetting narrow parochial values. In her message, Principal Dr Rashmi Vij exhorted the students to aim for global citizenship. Various other competitions like creative writing, poster-making, collage of news about Olympics were also held in this connection.

Freshers’ party

A freshers’ party of tiny tots was held at St Soldier Kids Paradise, Kapurthala Road. Students danced on the tunes of ‘Brazil’, ‘Zoobi Doobi Zoo’, ‘Hathi Jaisi Chaal’ and ‘Kolavari Di’.