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Woman raped for six years, 8 booked
Admn learns from last year’s experience, starts
GNDU relents, allows hockey team to participate
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MC gives ‘incomplete info’ on pvt hospitals
Amritsar, October 30 Writing a letter to the Municipal Corporation, an RTI activist has accused it of providing incomplete and irrelevant information to him. Two months on, health dept yet to get test reports of food samples
Protesting teachers go on mass leave
College holds seminar to mark Science Day
Auditions for Mr Singh International held
Epilepsy needs newer treatments: Neuroscientists
Rajpal Yadav ready for directorial debut with a musical satire
Prestigious project |
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Woman raped for six years, 8 booked
Amritsar, October 30 Putting up a brave face today, the victim approached the police and lodged a complaint against the two persons, identified as Varinder Singh and Rajinder Singh, along with their six other family members for the alleged sexual harassment. All the accused, running lathe machine workshop in the Sultanwind road area, are absconding. The police has served a lookout notice for them. Six years ago, Varinder Singh had trapped her in an affair when she was just 17 and was studying in Class XII, the woman alleged. One evening, he took her to a house belonging to Rajinder Singh. She alleged that she was made to consume a soft drink laced with some substance which made her sub-conscious. Thereafter, both of them, reportedly, raped the girl and captured the act on their mobile phone. They had threatened the victim against reporting the matter to the police else they would upload the MMS clip on the internet, she further alleged. Other booked are Varinder Singh's father Mohan Singh, mother Darshan Kaur, sisters Ranju, Ruby, Manpreet Kaur and her husband Rinku. Dinesh Singh, SHO of the B-Division police station, said the victim has lodged a complaint against the eight for alleged sexual exploitation. He said the accused have been booked under Section 376 and 511 of the IPC with the B-division police station. "The victim has named Varinder Singh and Rajinder Singh as the main accused who kept raping her on different occasions. It is a matter of investigation to confiscate the MMS clip captured by the accused. She has also said she was forced to sign a blank paper to which she had declined. We have booked the entire family members including the main accused, who are absconding since last evening," he said. In the second case, a widow working as a sweeper in a mall has lodged a complaint with the Maqboolpura police station that her colleague raped her on the pretext of marriage. The accused, identified as Pargat Singh, alias Kaka, a resident of Jandiala, was booked under Sections 366, 376 and 506 of the IPC. He could not be arrested so far. Sweetmeat seller tries to molest girl
In another incident, a 12-year-old girl of the Sultanwind road area was allegedly shown a porn clip by a sweetmeat seller with an intension to sexually exploit her. In this instance, the B-Division police has arrested the accused, identified as Kuldip Singh alias Kala, a resident of Drumanwala Bazaar. Investigating office Balraj Singh said Kuldip Singh was arrested under Section 376 and 511 of the IPC for showing objectionable material to the girl and attempting to assault her sexually. "She told that she just went to his shop for buying samosas yesterday at about 4 pm. The accused, who was shirtless then, passed on objectionable gestures to the girl and later showed her an obnoxious clip on his mobile phone. Before he could fulfil his ill-intentions, the girl ran away and narrated the incident to her parents. The girl lodged a complaint against the accused and we arrested him", he said.
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Admn learns from last year’s experience, starts
Amritsar, October 30 The traders this time expect more time for the business as there are still more than two weeks to go for Divali. Last year, the traders got only four days to sell crackers in a legal way prescribed by the administration after obtaining licences. A team of district officials had conducted a site inspection of the Jhajgarh market, the place where firecrackers’ sale is allowed owing to the security reasons. The inspection team has asked the traders to fulfil all the security related formalities to be eligible for getting licences. During a visit to the area today, The Tribune found shopkeepers busy in filing application forms for the licences. Most of the shopkeepers have also installed fire extinguishers at their shops to control any untoward incident. President of the firecracker sellers association, Harish Dhawan said, “Besides installing fire extinguishers, we have also built five large water tanks in front of the market to control any fire mishap.” He said traders would also arrange for the security guards to keep an eye over the godowns day and night. He said the district administration would be giving licences to 20 traders in the market. He said traders had hailed the administration’s move at timely dispensation of licences to them so that they clear all of their stocks before the season ends. It is hoped that with administration issuing timely licenses and making traders fulfil all security related norms, the sale of crackers in densely populated areas would be checked to an extent. Last year, one such shop and godown operating from the densely populated area had caught fire resulting in huge loss of property in the neighbourhood. The later investigations had revealed that the trader was running his business in violation of norms.
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GNDU relents, allows hockey team to participate
Amritsar, October 30 The hockey team of Guru Nanak Dev University College, Narot Jaimal, will now face the team of Khalsa College Physical Education, Heir, tomorrow. Yesterday, the GNDU authorities were adamant of not including the team as its members did not possess identity cards. The GNDU authorities had even refused to acknowledge the college’s authorisation letter signed by the principal of the college, Dr Barinder Kaur, as well as the team’s dissent note. Nevertheless, the matter was sorted out after the intervention of GNDU Vice Chancellor Prof AS Brar, who instructed the Sports Department to accommodate the team in the tournament. Dr Barinder Kaur said, “We are thankful to the VC, who took cognisance of the matter, and preferred to be flexible.” she said. “This tournament meant a lot for these players who generally hail from the rural belt. They seldom get a chance to play on the astroturf, otherwise they play only on the ordinary grounds,” she added. The players too were now delighted to be part of the tournament. “It was a rare chance for us to have exposure on the astroturf. We all have instinct to play hockey on a professional level. You never know that some of us might get a chance to be part of the university team and thereafter in the state or national-level”, said the players. It has been learnt that the college officials, meanwhile, downloaded the identity card applications from the GNDU’s official website and submitted them back after getting them signed by Dr Barinder Kaur, who had personally dropped down today for the purpose.
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MC gives ‘incomplete info’ on pvt hospitals
Amritsar, October 30 People’s Party of Punjab youth leader and activist Sandy Randhawa had earlier asked for information about various private hospitals running in the city. He had asked the information under 10 points. “Though I have got a letter, the MC officials have practically not given me any information,” he said. Randhawa said in the letter he has been asked to contact individual wings of the MC. He said he had asked if these five hospitals have got permission from the MC to operate from residential areas. He had further asked about the approved and certified copies of the maps of these hospitals besides the information about the action taken by MC officials to check commercial activity from residential areas. He had also asked about the parking facilities created for patients and their attendants at these hospitals.
“The MC first did not reply for more than a month. And when finally it gave a reply it was more of a formality.” said Randhawa adding that he has written to the MC officials about their care-free approach about applications under the RTI Act. He said the MC has in its incomplete reply said no NOC has been given to buildings by the MC wings. “But they have failed to reply as to what action has been taken against them if they do not have an NOC,” said Randhawa. Now, he would take up the matter with the state information commission.
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Two months on, health dept yet to get test reports of food samples
Amritsar, October 30 The district health department usually gets the reports of the samples sent for testing within a fortnight. But two months on, the department has not got reports of samples collected during this period. The delay in reports from the state agency is surely delaying action against the adulterants which can be commenced only when the reports are available. District Health Officer Dr Shivcharan Kahlon said they had collected 128 samples during the time. He said 61 samples were collected in the first month and 66 in the second. He said the department had also destroyed around five quintals of skimmed milk and other eatables which were of substandard quality. Recently, the department also discovered an illegal noodle making factory. He said besides imprisonment, guilty traders could be fined Rs 25,000 to Rs 5 lakh. He said the department would surely take action against shopkeepers and food sellers whose samples fail the quality parameters. He confirmed that the department has not yet received any reports regarding the samples sent for testing. The sources in the department said as the health officials in each district are actively collecting samples in the festive season, there is a huge rush of these samples at the state food laboratory. “The laboratory has not been able to issue reports of the samples in a timely manner,” said the source adding that the reports of the earlier collected samples are expected to be dispatched soon. Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Mitra said they had also formed a special committee to check hygiene and cleanliness at eating joints.
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Protesting teachers go on mass leave
Amritsar, October 30 Addressing the teachers, Dr Kuldip Singh, general secretary of the PCCTU, briefed the teachers regarding various demands, including lifting of ban on recruitments, implementation of pension and gratuity scheme of December 18, 1996, immediate disbursement of arrears pertaining to the revised pay scales with effect from January 1, 2006, relaxation from refresher courses as per UGC guidelines, creation of the posts of professors in the colleges as per the Central and state government notifications. Condemning the case registered against 22 teachers who were booked for creating alleged ruckus during the agitation last year opposing elevation of Khalsa College into a university, the president of the PCCTU Prof JR Prashar said the teachers working in the colleges affiliated to the GNDU would cease work for two periods on November 14, which is the date of next hearing in the case in the local court of Amritsar. Prof HS Walia, state convener, DAV Colleges, demanded immediate disbursement of arrears pertaining to revised pay scales with effect from January 1, 2006; raising the retirement age from 60 to 65 as per Central government notification (dated December 31, 2008); and relaxation from refresher courses up to June 30, 2010. Prof Mukhwinder Singh, vice-president of the PCCTU, demanded that the finance department of the state government should immediately sanction an amount of Rs 195 crore due on account of revised pay scales. Prof VK Sareen, finance secretary, PCCTU, and Prof Virli demanded that the state government should include teachers working against the un-aided posts in the ambit of security of the Service Act.
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College holds seminar to mark Science Day
Amritsar, October 30 The seminar was organised to mark Science Day. Experts, including Dr MS Batra, Dean, Sciences, and Dr Atul Khanna, deliberated upon the issue and advocated that nuclear energy was the cleanest energy source and if adequate safety measures were taken, it was the safest also. Welcoming guest speakers, Dr Daljit Singh, principal of Khalsa College, said the seminar was sponsored by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology and the National Council of Science and Technology. He said more such efforts were required to deliberate upon the rising demand of energy. A quiz competition was also organised on the occasion. The team from the Biotechnology Department won the first prize, while the Department of Physics and Zoology stood second. The Department of Botany bagged third position in the contest. In poster-making contest, Karamdeep Singh of B.Sc (computer science) won the first position, Sakshi Beri from chemistry stood second and Ranjodh Singh and Vijay Kumar from the Physics Department bagged third prize. Dr JS Gandhi, Dr Manjit Kaur Bhangu, Dr Mohammad Arshad, Dr Harvinder Kaur, Dr Jasjeet Randhawa, Dr Kamajit Kaur and Dr Taminder Singh were also present on the occasion.
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Auditions for Mr Singh International held
Amritsar, October 30 The glamorous event, which will have the best groomed talent from the region competing for the title, aims at spreading cultural awareness and responsibility among the youngsters of Punjab. The auditions were held on the Chief Khalsa Diwan premises and saw hundreds of aspiring youth turning up for the primary round. The candidates were judged on the basis of a personal profile and impromptu acts. “Mr Singh International is a concept that aims at promoting youngsters from Punjab to the glamour industry while maintaining the pride of the Sikh culture. The auditions were held in all major cities in the region and selected candidates were auditioned today. The zonal round of auditions will be held in Phagwara on November 4,” said S. Charanjit Singh Chadha, president, Chief Khalsa Diwan, who was one amongst the judges along with secretary S. Santokh Singh Sethi, joint secretary, Finance, S. Narinder Singh Khurana and Director Education S. Dharamveer Singh. The main event will take place in December in Amritsar, which will have all selected candidates from Punjab, Haryana and J&K competing for the main title. “The event is open to all those youngsters who feel proud to wear the symbols of their cultural and religious identity. Today, Sikh men with turbans have inspired so many in the fashion and glamour industry, which was once not open to such concepts,” added Chadha.
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Epilepsy needs newer treatments: Neuroscientists
Amritsar, October 30 They said Indian children don’t have access to several epilepsy drugs available in the developed world as they are expensive. This mega event with a theme of ‘Translational Neurosciences: Unraveling Mysteries of Brain in Health and Disease’ was organised by the Department of Biotechnology of the university under the aegis of Indian Academy of Neuro Sciences (IAN). More than 400 delegates including many neuroscientists from all over the India and world participated. Experts hoped to see more fellowships abroad for Indian PhD students so that they could be trained at a global level before they come back and apply their new skills for the welfare of the needy patients. Another idea was conceptualised to promote Aussie-Indo ties for mutual research programme funded from both sides to promote research and initiate a new era in ‘welfare medicine’. On this occasion, the winning participants from the conference were also honoured. Experts said neuro disorders are not only increasing in India but also across the world because of lethargic lifestyle. The scientists suggested that stress and anxiety needed to be avoided and healthy lifestyle with yoga and natural food are needed to prevent neuro disorders. They were also of the view that mass campaigns needed to be launched to create awareness. GNDU Vice Chancellor Prof AS Brar presided over the function. Dr Raj Kumar from AIIMS, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand delivered the valedictory lecture.
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Rajpal Yadav ready for directorial debut with a musical satire
Amritsar, October 30 Having made his niche in comic roles, there is more to this petite actor who has achieved towering success in his 150-odd film career. “I have never let the load of expectations weigh on me. When I entered the industry, many wrote me off as a character actor. But I tried giving my best even with that tag,” says Yadav. The actor, who was in Amritsar on a promotional tour for his directorial debut Ata Pata Lapata, visited the Golden Temple and interacted with media and fans. “It’s a serene feeling to be here today. It’s my first visit to the Golden Temple and I hope it’s an auspicious start for my dream debut as a director,” he said. The film, which releases on November 2, reflects his creativity in a way he always wanted to, said Rajpal. “Ata Pata Laapata is an exciting musical satire based on the loopholes and exploited systems of life. Be it the governance, the bureaucratic systems, or the unspoken pattern in which a society runs, the film exposes the selfish attitude of people in power; those who have it and those who want it through.” The film is made in a nautanki style theatrical dance drama, with Rajpal in lead, along with Ashutosh Rana, Rasrani, Vijay Raaz, Yashpal Sharma, Govind Namdev and late Dara Singh. “The film aims at bringing the truth along with entertainment. The film being a musical, has a song after each scene, but it’s not the usual sing and dance routine,” said Yadav. From an actor to director and producer, the change was not easy for Yadav, but he didn’t want to make Ata Pata Lapata someone else’s baby. “Right from the conceptualisation to script and set design, I involved myself in each aspect of the film. I knew that nobody could do justice with how I had imagined the film would be made.” And in the process, he learnt how demanding it could get behind the camera. “I had to manage 175 actors, all of whom are an important part of the film. Moreover, one gets to know what mistakes actors often make in front of camera, which is difficult to get by when you are facing it.” The actor-turned-director is now waiting to see the response from the audiences. No expectations, no judgements on his mind. “I tried to break away from the usual with movies like ‘Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh’ and ‘Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon’, when people thought otherwise. I feel these films triggered the wave of off-beat films, which are categorised neither as art nor commercial. People liked them and then there were many more such as ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’, ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’, ‘Bheja Fry’, and ‘Tere Bin Laden’. These became a pattern of good cinema. Last, he expressed disappointment over the sudden demise of Jaspal Bhatti, who he said, was the king of satire. “I wish he was there to watch the film, it would have been such an honour for me.”
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Hanging fire for 9 years, Heritage Village to come up in 2013
Tribune News Service
District Tourism Officer Balraj Singh said the Heritage Village will be thrown open to the common public early next year. He revealed that 28 structures are being built under the project, which includes sarpanch’s residence, houses of farmers, haveli, dhaba, post office, grocery store and a village school. He said the tourists would get to see all the colours of Punjab’s culture and traditions at the Heritage Village. The project is among those being closely monitored by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. During his recent visit to the holy city, he had issued directions that development and promotion of Heritage Village be handed over to a professional tourism agency having experience in running such establishments. The project had been hanging fire for the last around nine years. Its foundation stone was first laid in 2003 by noted writer Giani Gurdit Singh and the then GNDU Vice Chancellor Dr SP Singh. Interestingly, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal once again laid the foundation of the project in October last year during his foundation laying spree in the holy city ahead of the Assembly polls in January 2012.
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Amritsar, October 30
Amritsar, October 30
The tourism authorities today claimed that the work on Rs 12-crore Heritage Village project at the Guru Nanak Dev University is on at full swing and it will be completed soon.
District Tourism Officer Balraj Singh said the Heritage Village will be thrown open to the common public early next year. He revealed that 28 structures are being built under the project, which includes sarpanch’s residence, houses of farmers,
haveli, dhaba, post office, grocery store and a village school.
Amritsar, October 30