Jalandhar, September 7
Amarjit Singh, an ex-serviceman, could not have imagined the plight of his 23-year-old son Rajwinder Singh, who has been rendered totally disabled.

On way to the USA, his son faced torture for months in various countries, and when he returned home last week, his parents’ dreams were completely shattered when they noticed him on a wheelchair.

The victim father is blaming two Punjab policemen, whom he allegedly paid Rs 21 lakh to send his son to the USA. The victim is now writing to the Director-General of Police (DGP) to seek action against the guilty policemen, who misled him.

Talking to The Tribune, Amarjit, a resident of Jaswant Nagar, alleged that he had struck a deal with these policemen to send his son abroad in a legal way, but these persons, instead of arranging legal and direct visa for him, forced him to cross the Mexico border illegally and, in the process, his son sustained severe fractures on his limbs.

Now Rajwinder will not be able to move on his feet for years and will have to use a wheelchair due to these disabilities, the father regretted. “Actually, when the deal was struck, the said agents had assured him to send his son to the USA through a direct flight from Delhi, but, in reality, my son was made to cross forests and hilly areas on foot and then even forced him to jump from the border,” he alleged.

Rajwinder recalled that on February 20 the agents (policemen) told him that they had arranged his direct flight to the USA, but in reality, the flight was only up to Kenya. “I was made to live in a dingy place with insufficient food. After living here (Kenya) for about two months, I was sent to Bolivia and then to Mexico,” he added.

After crossing miles of forest area in Mexico on foot, when he reached near the Mexico-USA border, there was a 25 feet high boundary wall and the agents, who accompanied them till the border, asked him to jump from the wall, if he wanted to reach the USA.

“When I refused to jump from the wall, the agents accompanying me forcibly pushed me down the wall, resulting in severe fractures to me. After spotting me, the US army took me to hospital, where I had to undergo two 15-hour-long surgeries.” Rajwinder said after five months’ long treatment, he was sent to India by the US government.

Now he only wants stringent action against these fake travel agents so that innocent youths are not duped.

Jalandhar, September 7
Addressing a meet regarding the uplift of medical services at the Civil Hospital here today, the Civil Hospital authorities maintained that no negligence had taken place at the hospital as far as the recent cases (of baby death and delayed treatment of an mother carrying a dead baby in her womb) were concerned.

But even as they were in a denial mode, the hospital authorities did say that exercises in ensuring greater care for patients by staff members would be speeded up.

Talking to mediapersons at the Civil Hospital, Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr RL Bassan maintained that the recent death (of the baby of rickshaw-puller Satish) had taken place because the baby was premature and could not have been saved.

Also denying the delayed treatment given to patient Jyoti, who had been left untreated even days after her ultrasound results declared her baby was dead, the CS said, clinically, the hospital staff took the appropriate steps as the case demanded.

He termed a low haemoglobin and less fluid in her womb as some of the reasons for the baby’s death. The CS said since the mother was very weak, the baby could not have survived.

Even as the staff clearly showed a lack of sensitivity and presence of mind in most cases - CPS Navjot Sidhu had also recommended a training programme for the staff - the staff’s behavior with patients has continued to be rude as has been seen recently.

But the hospital authorities maintained that meetings would be held with staff members on a regular basis as an exercise in training to ensure better medical services for the patients at the Civil Hospital.

Jalandhar, September 7
Like many roads in the city, the road near the BSF chowk has developed huge and deep potholes. The situation has been like this for the past several months, but the MC authorities have not paid heed to the problem.

The condition of the road, which was already bad, turned worse after the recent rains in the region.

“I have been witnessing this potholed road for the past one and half months and many a time, I have even seen two-wheeler riders stuck in these potholes. Still the authorities concerned did not initiate any patch work,” Robin Khurana, a resident near the chowk alleged. During the rains, the commuters were subjected to a lot of difficulties, as the potholes remained filled with water, leading to a bumpy ride.

Another daily commuter, Raghav Sharma, alleged that commuting on this road during night often becomes more difficult and many a time, due to faulty lights on the road, riders often have to face great difficulties while crossing this potholed stretch. “We had a narrow escape recently as my motorbike skidded on the road and we fell. Thankfully, the vehicular traffic was less at that time and we were saved,” he said. He urged the MC officials to initiate immediate patchwork on the road to prevent accidents.

Jalandhar, September 7
On the call given by the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC), scores of the District Congress Committee (DCC) members and party workers staged a dharna in front of the main gate of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here today.

They were protesting the imposition of various taxes by the state government.

Holding party flags and raising slogans, the protesters reached the venue in a large number and disrupted traffic on city roads.

Addressing the dharna, various Congress leaders criticised the Punjab Government for putting extra burden on the common man by imposing punitive taxes. The leaders demanded a rollback of the taxes.

Raising anti-government slogans, the protesters flayed the ruling SAD-BJP combine for its failure in curbing crime, price rise, generating employment, bringing diversification in agriculture sector, ensuring welfare of Dalit and BPL families, promoting trade and industry and ensuring surplus power.

In the past over six months of the second tenure of the combine, the overall development has come to a standstill and the law and order situation has worsened to a great extent, they alleged. Those who joined the dharna included Chaudhari Jagjit Singh, Santokh Singh Chaudhari, Amarjit Singh Samra and Avtar Henary, all a former ministers, AK Walia, President, DCC, Kamaljit Singh Lali, president DDC (rural) and many others.

Later a delegation met Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti and handed over a memorandum of demands to him.

Jalandhar, September 7
It is an established fact that cerebral palsy does not have a cure. But the dramatic results that a New Zealand-based boy got during treatment from a Jalandhar-based doctor has dramatically changed his life, bringing things to near normal for him.

His story is an inspiration for the less fortunate.

Some years ago, Gaurav Sainy’s parents had been told that he would never be able to lead a normal life.

But after six months’ of treatment from a doctor here, and the family is not so sure about those claims anymore.

A cerebral palsy patient, Gaurav spent school bullied, cornered, forced to live in the shadow of an overpowering physical condition.

A bright student at the Tauranga Boys’ College, Tauranga (New Zealand), in college, too, the shadows chased him.

Based in New Zealand, Gaurav (19) had been receiving treatment for cerebral palsy in New Zealand, and he had also been operated twice.

“But after the surgeries, my parents were told my state cannot improve any further,” said Gaurav.

Unwilling to give up, Gaurav’s grandfather brought him to India, determined to find a doctor who could treat his deformities.

In India, while Gaurav first started getting treatment at Amritsar in 2009, not entirely satisfied with the treatment, they soon started to look for a better option.

“I took treatment for five months, then went back to New Zealand to return after some time,” said Gaurav.

Gaurav’s grandfather was told about Dr Lovepreet Saini by an acquaintance and on February 4, 2012, he started treatment at his physiotherapy clinic.

Within six months of the treatment from the said doctor, Gaurav has seen results, which have astounded his family.

“When I joined the clinic, I could not walk without swinging one of my feet, couldn’t raise one arm, couldn’t sit on floor or even a stool, but I am able to do all that now,” says Gaurav.

While one of his hands was severely stiffened, his gait and standing posture wasn’t straight, he also walked on the toes of one of his feet.

But today as he walks into a room, he looks as normal as any other person walking down the street.

In college those who knew him, respected him for being bright and being the courageous kid who fought on despite odds. Sadly, others did not understand his problem.

Seniors bullied him and commonly called him “that kid”. But as Gaurav looks back, he cherishes the lessons rather than harbouring a grudge against the less understanding.

Friends encouraged me to talk back.

One day, I told the bullies they were the funny ones, not me and picked back on them just as they had picked on me.

Since the treatment, the negative vibes have gone from people’s stares. I feel free.

Presently in Form six (Indian plus two), Gaurav wants to be a chartered accountant and is extremely thankful to Dr Saini and his wife, who have gifted him his freedom.

Talking about the treatment part, Gaurav says, “From the difference in treatment I now gauge that doctors were overmedicating me and giving me too much of electrical therapy.”

While he was earlier taking 40 milligrams of medicine, these have now been reduced to 10 milligrams. He isn’t receiving any electrical treatment.

Gaurav also says that some doctors were wary of causing him any pain. But here to improve my stiffened bones and muscles, Dr Saini insists that I have to undergo pain. And that has worked wonders to improve my condition.

Talking to The Tribune, a proud Dr Saini says, “His improved condition gives me immense happiness. If his condition had improved by 35 per cent earlier, after coming to us, there has been an 85 per cent improvement. We are working on the remaining 15 per cent.”

“Lingering treatment and lack of exercise are a very big problem in some forms of treatment. Treatment should be determined depending on whether the patient’s muscles are stiff or flaccid. Exercise is also a vital part of the treatment which some doctors miss out on. But many patients are kept in the dark about these things as has been seen by us,” he adds.

“We have seen patients coming to us after receiving years of wrong treatment. There are patients who need years and some who can get fine within months. Sometimes doctors stretch out treatment just to keep the money flowing in. Quacks abound and strict regulations need to be in place so that patients are not misled,” Dr Saini says.

Jalandhar, September 7
A head constable of the Punjab Police was killed in a road accident after his bike was hit by an unidentified vehicle last night on the Nakodar-Kapurthla road near Nakodar.

The victim was identified as Malkit Singh, a resident of Suhanihal village. He was working as a head constable in the Naib Court in Kapurthla.

Last night when the victim was returning home after completing his duty, his bike was hit by an unidentified vehicle. The victim sustained severe head injuries in the mishap and died on the spot.

Jalandhar, September 7
Lovely Professional University (LPU) organised its second convocation to confer M.Phil, postgraduate, and graduate degrees and diplomas on over 7,600 students here today.

Among those who received the degree were the 2011-batch students of both LPU and Lovely Institutes. Chief guest of the day was Prof Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, UK.

The event was presided over by LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal.

Twentyseven students were awarded gold medals, 86 batch toppers got academic honours and 60 students got M.Phil degrees. An academic procession, constituting 200 academicians of the university, was taken out.

Delivering the convocation address, Prof Borysiewicz inspired the students, “Celebrate your achievements as you are embarking on the new chapter of your life.” Clearing the concept of education to the students, he said, “The real concept of education is to support others through what you have learnt. Use your ability to serve the society.”

Dr Ramesh Kanwar, Vice-Chancellor, Lovely Professional University, read the annual report where he mentioned, “LPU faculty relentlessly strives in instilling ethics and good human values in our students so that they become globally competitive professionals and good citizens of the society to solve 21st century problems of the world dealing with water, food, energy, health, infrastructure and sustainability.”

Jalandhar, September 7
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, UK, Prof Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said today that even as the craze for pursuing technical courses was increasing, the humanities stream must be given a rightful place.

Addressing the media shortly after the convocation ceremony at LPU, he said, “In Cambridge, we invite 50 per cent admissions from students in arts stream. And I find no reason why the number of seats need to be cut down. Even though medical sciences is my own domain, I firmly believe that all disciplines matter. Arts is one stream that embraces a wide spectrum of fields.”

Known for having developed a vaccine to combat cervical cancer, he said, “We need arts and technological courses to work in sync. If a biologist like me develops a vaccine, I need a person from the humanities who can increase its acceptance in the population.”

The VC is to address a seminar in Delhi on Monday on the same issue.

He said it was his fifth trip to India and this time he had specifically come to visit Mumbai and Bangalore looking for a scope on developing ties in India for education collaboration.

Asked as to what were the newer fields that were getting popular in the UK, he said these were drug discovery, nanosciences, life sciences catering to problems of ageing population, changing nature of diseases - both chronic and infectious kinds.

He said, “A well-educated population is the biggest asset of a nation. I also have a robust stand against the government to impose curbs on immigration as exchange is very important in education.”

Jalandhar September 7
On the occasion of the closing ceremony of a week-long Insurance Week, the LIC of India (Unit-3) Pucca Bagh, today organised a sapling plantation programme at Government High School in Pooranpur here. A team, headed by Yugal Kishore Sharma, Assistant Administrative Officer, initiated the programme.

Schoolteacher Neena Sharma welcomed the LIC team. While addressing the students, Yugal Kishore Sharma said their purpose was to make younger generation aware of the growing need for plantation and saving older trees for the sake of environment. Saplings of neem, amaltas, guava, ashoka, alstonia, etc, were planted on school premises.