Jalandhar, October 26
Eluding police personnel, a prisoner, who was to be produced before a local court, escaped from outside the courtroom today afternoon.

Kundal Kumar, hailing from the Rampur area in Bihar, along with some other undertrials, was brought to the local court from the Kapurthala Jail in a case of snatching when he managed to give the police a slip.

The city police has initiated departmental action (negligence in performing official duties) against two policemen, Jatinder Singh and Jarnail Singh.

A case under Sections 223 and 224 of the IPC had been registered against them at New Bardari police station, said Vijay Kanwar Pal Singh, Station House Officer (SHO).

Kundal, currently residing in Kathra Mohalla in the Bastri Bawa Khel area, was made to sit handcuff in the ‘Bakshi Khana’ prior to his production before the court. As the policemen took him outside the courtroom without shackles, he gave them a slip.

The SHO said the police parties had been dispatched to conduct raids at his suspected hideouts.

Jalandhar, October 26
It was Jalandhar Doordarshan, which had accorded the first chance to Jaspal Bhatti to don the hat of an actor from a cartoonist with ultra-popular social series and satires - “Rang Wich Bhang” and “Ulta-Pulta” - in early 80s.

People at Doordarshan remember him as the ‘most versatile actor with a golden heart’ who took a dig at social evils without any bias. To pay a tribute to the multi-faceted comedian Bhatti, Jalandhar Doordarshan aired a special programme, “Rula Giya Hassiyan Da Badshah Jaspal Bhatti” showcasing all aspects of Bhatti’s personality and clips of his programmes.

In fact, it was Jaspal Bhatti who had approached the then Jalandhar Doordarshan director Bashir Ahmed Bhatt with ideas of starting ‘Rang Wich Bhang’, a social satire. Bhatt immediately accepted it and directed him to meet young producers Agya Pal Randhawa and CL Hakku. His next venture, “Ulta-Pulta”, was shaped up by another producer Govardhan Sharma who was also a force behind his another popular programme, ‘Roz Da Rona’.

If this was not enough, Bhatti did a large number of other comedy and variety of programmes of DD, including ‘Tik Tik Tik-2001’, which he anchored along with actor Divya Dutta. These programmes were produced by Jalandhar Doordarshan and were aired at the national level by the DD authorities. These programmes - based on social evils and day-to-day life of a common man - were so popular that people used to anxiously wait for them.

“He was so meticulous. He worked so hard and got so involved in projects that he even used to forget about taking food. We were planning to involve him in a programme on Punjab Day on November 1, but he passed away,” said Om Gauri Dutt Sharma, Director of Jalandhar Doordarshan.

“We all will miss him a lot. He used to be the soul of our programmes and his film career was shaped up at DD Jalandhar. We all knew that he would rise to be a film star and he accomplished it. He worked very hard on his projects,” reminisced Manohar Bharaj, a producer with DD Jalandhar.

“He came to us with the idea of ‘Ranch Wich Bhang’. Bhatt and we decided to take a big decision to stop the very popular “Chitrahaar” programme midway and air “Rang Wich Bhang”, which was aptly named. At that time, people were sceptical about this style but it worked very well,” said another DD producer Agyapal Singh Randhawa.

“Bhatti used to write his script and act also. We have lost a versatile actor whose brain was loaded with novel ideas,” said Randhawa.

“He was the finest actor I have ever come across as his personality was laden with morals. He used to come for two days a fortnight. He satirised people and situations, but he never launched any personal attack against anybody. Doordarshan people, including me, were impressed by his idea of starting the ‘Nonsense Club’ in Chandigarh. He was a man with a spark and a humanist, humourist and satirist all-in-one personality,” said Govardhan Sharma, a former director of Doordarshan.

Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Anandpur Sahib MLA and the spokesperson of the SAD (Badal) and Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh remembered Bhatti as a talented person with a strong will power.

“He always managed to send across his message to the masses by making them laugh. He never compromised on his principles,” said Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, while talking to The Tribune.

Bhatti was also an alumnus of the local DAV College, where he did his pre-engineering.

Jaspal Bhatti was so meticulous. He worked so hard and got so involved in projects that he even used to forget about taking food. We were planning to involve him in a programme on Punjab Day on November 1, but he passed away.
—Om Gauri Dutt Sharma, Director of Jalandhar Doordarshan

Amritsar, October 26
The APJ College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, lifted the overall championship trophy of the Inter-Zonal Final Youth Festival of Guru Nanak Dev University today.

More than 600 students from colleges, affiliated to the university, participated in the festival. The BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar, came runners-up and DAV College, Jalandhar, stood third in the festival.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Ajaib Singh Brar presided over the valedictory function and awarded trophies to the winners. He congratulated the winners and motivated the students to participate in national and international-level cultural activities to show their hidden talent. He said cultural activities were mirror to the society.

On the occasion, Jatinder Singh Brar, Director, Punjab Natshala, was the guest of honour.

Jalandhar, October 26
Mayor Sunil Jyoti today took a surprise round of the Suwidha Centre of the Municipal Corporation. He directed officials to ensure provision for certain basic amenities which are amiss.

Right before stepping into the centre at the basement of the administrative complex, Jyoti caught hold of the agents sitting there helping visitors fill up forms in lieu of extra payment. He warned them from sitting there in future.

He then went inside and took a round of all counters, including those for water bill payment, house tax, birth and death certification. He also checked the presence of staff. The Mayor quizzed the staff as to why the floors had not been cleansed well.

He then asked the registrar, Birth and Death, Dr Varinder Kalia, to assure the provision of facilities like benches for sitting and water coolers. He also directed him to expedite the case for setting up a small cafeteria in front of the centre with provisions for soft drinks, juices and light refreshment.

He also checked for a direct link of the basement with upper floors so that the staff and visitors could take a short route to toilets in the main building.

The Mayor also asked the System Manager, Rajesh, to ensure computerised billing for levying of fee for birth and death registration.

Jalandhar, October 26
A one-day workshop was organised by the CBSE on continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE) at Police DAV Public School, Jalandhar. As many as 50 CBSE schools of the Jalandhar region participated in the workshop. One of the main features of the continuous and comprehensive evaluation, the formative assessment, has come to occupy the centre stage in the classroom transaction of curriculum under the CCE.

The workshop was held to train teachers and principals for conducting formative assessments true to their objective in their respective schools.

The resource persons were Dr Rashmi Vij, principal, Police DAV Public School, and Dr Rakesh Sachdeva, principal, DAV Model School, Chandigarh.

Various tools such as MCQs, quiz, projects, models, debate, discussion, role play, seminar, etc., were discussed in detail and the participants were made aware of the difference between a tool and a technique. On this occasion, books on formative assessment on various subjects were also made available by the CBSE.

Sports meet

Healthy mind dwells in a healthy body. Physical growth is as important as intellectual growth. Keeping this in mind, a sports meet was organised at Guru Amar Dass Public School, Primary Wing, Jalandhar. Maninder Kaur, principal of the school, declared the sports meet open by lighting the torch, which was carried by the sports captain of the school. Inter-house matches of kho-kho, badminton, throwball and skating were held on the occasion.

Cricket tournament

Jalandhar Independent Sahodaya Complex Inter-School Cricket Tournament (U-19 Boys) is being organised by Police DAV Public School, Jalandhar, from October 26 to 30. As many as 24 teams of Jalandhar and the adjoining areas are participating in the tournament. The tournament was inaugurated by Dr Rashmi Vij, principal, Police DAV Public School, Jalandhar.

Jalandhar, October 26
Responding to the age of digitisation heralded by technological advancements in the IT sector and the resultant shift in the nature of teaching-learning environment all over the globe, Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (KMV) today opened a two-day international conference on "role of technology in enhancing the quality of higher education".

John Battaglino, Executive Director, and Dean, Student Activities, Boston University, USA, was accorded felicitations by Dr Atima Sharma, principal of KMV, and members of the KMV Managing Committee.

The keynote speaker, Prof Maria Nikolova Zlateva from Boston University, USA, highlighted the importance of digital tools to cater to the student-tailored learning system.

She said the technology had expanded language materials by combining e-text books, workbooks and databases by allowing the linkage of informal with formal teaching-learning methods.

Dr Atima urged that despite big budgets, the existing systems must be made ready to adapt and evolve into the one, which is vibrant, healthy and transformative by rewriting effective methodologies without losing human touch.

Dr GP Kothiyal, an invited speaker from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, discussed the role of advanced technology for new functionality in glass and glass-ceramics and their application related to optical fibres, window panes/architectural materials, windshields, etc.

Another invited speaker, Dr Carol Shepherd from National University, California, USA, in her enlightening talk, highlighted the importance of using non-human forms of ICT like avatar in enhancing student learning and retention.

Mathew Cullen, Educational Consultant, Compton Education India Pvt. Ltd., UK, spoke on social media opportunities in higher education.

Lauding the initiative taken by KMV, chief guest John Battaglino shared his experiences at Boston University.

The chief guest said in addition to scholarship, a comprehensive education could thrive in a healthy, living and learning environment that enriched the students’ lives by developing and implementing dynamic strategies.

On the first day of the conference, about 120 paper presentations were made by the scholars and researchers from all over the country in 10 technical sessions.

Phagwara, October 26
The police has arrested one Sonia of Jagat Ram Sund Colony and recovered 100 grams of intoxicant powder from her possession.

In another incident, the police has arrested another drug peddler, Rohit Kumar of the local urban estate, and recovered 150 grams of intoxicant powder from his possession.

Phagwara, October 26
Two persons were killed in separate mishaps in Phagwara yesterday. Pawan Kumar, a groundnut seller, was killed when a speeding vehicle hit him near Chachoki village on the national highway.

The driver of the vehicle managed to flee after the incident, the police said.

In another accident, one Neeraj Kumar of the local Gobindpura was run over by a train near the Phagwara Railway Station yesterday.

The dead bodies of both deceased were sent to the local Civil Hospital for postmortem examinations.