Woman killed, daughter hurt in road accident
Amritsar, October 17
Davinderjit Kaur, a resident of the Green Field area, died in a road mishap, while her six-year-old daughter, Jasina, escaped with minor injuries, here today.

Amritsar, October 17
Even as the Punjab and Haryana High Court has banned the excavation of sand, mafia continues with its nefarious activities if the recent raid by the district administration is anything to go by.

The administration today claimed to have seized as many as 19 trucks and two tractor-trailers from Raipur Kalan village in the Ajnala area, which were stationed there for allegedly transporting the sand dug out from the riverbed.

While two drivers - Dilbagh Singh of Guru Ki Wadali and Jani Masih of Chhota Haripura - of the tractor-trolleys were arrested, the driver of the remaining vehicles fled the scene after seeing the raiding party headed by Ravinder Singh, SDM, Ajnala, and Dharampal Bhagat, district mining officer.

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal said following the specific information that several persons were illegally mining the sand, administrative officials, headed by the Ajnala SDM, raided the spot and seized the vehicles involved in transporting the sand.

He said out of these vehicles, two trucks were laden with sand, while the remaining vehicles were waiting for the loading of sand.

The Deputy Commissioner immediately directed the police to register an FIR against the accused persons indulging in illegal sand mining. Following this, a case under Section 379 of the IPC and Section 21 of the Mining Act - 1957 has been registered against the accused persons.

While appealing to the people to restrain from illegal mining, he directed the Revenue Department to carry out a demarcation in the area in order to stop the illegal practice.

Meanwhile, residents of Rajpur Kalan, Sarangdev and Khanwal villages, headed by Akali leader Baldev Singh Sirsa, today handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and apprised him of the damage being caused to the ‘Dhussi bandh’ due to the excessive excavation of sand.

Sirsa said the miscreants had dug up earth from 30 feet to 40 feet. He alleged that this was being done with the connivance of officials of the Mining Department.

Amritsar, October 17
In yet another reshuffle, Police Commissioner Ram Singh has changed the whole staff of the Kot Mit Singh police chowki following the complaints of corruption against them.

Earlier, the Police Commissioner has changed the entire traffic wing by transferring as many as 136 traffic policemen out of the total 176 staff. He has also shifted the staff, including the in charge, of the Galliara police chowki following the similar type of complaints.

He had also suspended five traffic policemen for indulging in corrupt practices.

However, the senior police functionaries, while confirming the shifting of Kot Mit Singh police chowki staff, said the step was taken as a ‘precautionary’ measure following the corruption complaints against them, but the charges were yet to be verified.

Amritsar, October 17
A section of Amritsar Central Jail inmates lodged a protest with the jail authorities against the denial of their parole span, the period of time during which a released prisoner remains on leave outside. The matter was later sorted out after interacting with the DGP (Jail) Office in Chandigarh.

Jail Superintendent Amrik Singh Waraich said it was not a protest but a request which came from the inmates that some of them could not avail their parole facility on time.

“When I, along with Deputy Superintendent RK Sharma, went on a routine round of the jail today, some of the inmates complained that their parole process is being hampered, which prevented them from availing the leave. Soon, the issue was intimated to the Chandigarh Headquarters and everything was streamlined later,” he said.

The inmates who are entitled to avail this facility could have 14 days’ leave for casual purpose, 42 days leave for agriculture-related activities or construction of house.

Amritsar, October 17
Davinderjit Kaur, a resident of the Green Field area, died in a road mishap, while her six-year-old daughter, Jasina, escaped with minor injuries, here today.

The woman was returning from the Rajasansi area after attending the marriage of a relative. As soon as she turned her vehicle towards the Majitha road while returning home, a truck hit her from side.

Investigation officer Davinder Kumar said the woman was critically injured in the accident, while her daughter sustained minor injuries. Davinderjit was immediately rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where doctors declared her dead.

The police has arrested the driver of the truck. A case under Sections 304-A, 279, 427 of the IPC has been registered against him at the Sadar police station. — TNS

Amritsar, October 17
An RTI activist's plea to the city municipal corporation (MC) regarding development funds received by it has evoked different responses at two different points of time, thereby raising a question mark over the working of the MC.

While the MC under former Mayor Shwait Malik said they received Rs 100 crore for development works, the MC under current incumbent Mayor BR Arora said the department received no development grants.

Exercising his right to information, local resident Gautam Majithia on October 14 asked the MC about the details of Centre funds spent on various development projects under the City Development Plan along with the copy of agreements with any company.

The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) concerned replied on November 21 that all Majithia's questions pertained to the deputy controller, finance and auditing (DCFA) and he should file another RTI with the department concerned.

On January 1, when Malik was the Mayor and 'development' was the main poll agenda for corporation elections, the DCFA department replied to Majithia's query that Rs 100 crore was received and was spent on various development projects. However, they refrained from divulging the details of the money spent on any particular project.

Not being satisfied with the reply, Majithia filed another RTI on September 10 (post-elections when Arora had taken over as Mayor) with the same question. This time, the answers were contradictory to the ones received earlier.

The CPIO replied that even as the City Development Plan 2006-2025 had been prepared, till date not even a single penny was received by the MC under this head either from the Centre or the state government. It could be lack of coordination within the MC's wings or those were just 'hollow claims' by politicians just to garner the vote bank. The revelation has raised doubts over the authenticity of the public money being spent on projects and integrity of officials.

Amritsar, October 17
Seems like the city can never get tired of a treat, whether it is in flavour or fashion. The three-day Indo-Pak Friendship Exhibition at MK International here has become a major crowd-puller, especially women.

Designer-made ethnic wear and accessories has made sure that the women get a chance to choose from a range of trendy things. A variety of fabrics and designer wear from across the border has hooked the fashionistas. Bringing in a collection of hand-embroidered suits in chiffons, cottons and crepes, the exhibitors are receiving good response.

The exhibition has 40 stalls from across the north India and 19 from Pakistan. The famous Pakistani suits are the highlight of the exhibition. The imitation jewellery from Tehzeeb, a brand from Hoshiarpur, is a crowd-puller. Exclusive designs in ethnic and elegant jewellery are available at affordable prices.

Another popular stall at the exhibition is of tarot reading. Now, who doesn't like a little sneak peak into one's future. Women were seen hoarding the stall exuberating excitement.

The exhibition, which is primarily women-centric, has a reason to be so. "We know that the festive season is round the corner and women like to be pampered. So all products and brands, including clothes, jewellery and accessories, are primarily focusing on women," said Sameeksha, an organiser of the exhibition and designer from Amritsar.

Students participate in “Litart - 2012” organised by Spring Dale Senior School in Amritsar on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Amritsar October 17
Spring Dale Senior School organised “Litart - 2012”, a festival of Literary and Artistic Events, today in which different teams from the city schools participated.

The literary activities included interview, radio jockey, debate (turncoat), spellathon, poetry recitation, extempore, art activities, poster making and graphic designing.

The team of Senior Study School, Amritsar, bagged the maximum number of prizes. It bagged first prize in the categories of interview, poetry recitation, spellathon, radio jockey, debate (turncoat) and poster making.

Amritsar, October 17
Management guru and life coach Vishwas Vaishnav yesterday gave a powerful audio-visual presentation to the students of Khalsa College providing valuable tips on “positive thinking” and “personality development”.

Known nation-wide for his “motivational” classes, Vaishnav asked students to set targets, think positively and achieve success in life through planned activities and discipline.

Vaishnav, who came here on the invitation of Khalsa College principal Dr Daljit Singh, said the negativity in life must go and students should develop of positive attitude among them to achieve small and bigger goals.

He was honoured for his motivational lecture by Dr Daljit Singh. Based basically in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Vaishnav said positive attitude, knowledge and skill were the three pillars on which the personality of an individual was built.

He also gave tips on memorising things through narration of a story.

Students said the lecture was highly useful for them.

Dr Daljit Singh, principal of the host college, said the aim of the lecture was to apprise students about positive thinking and develop spirit to achieve their goals in life.