The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	GNDU’s outsourcing move Safai karamcharis go on fast Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 The 24-hour ultimatum to the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Prof A.S. Brar, for reviewing the decision of outsourcing safai karamcharis did not work for the affected workers. Dejected by the refusal of the GNDU authorities to roll back their decision of employing workers through a private firm, the daily wager safai karamcharis, who were laid off, today sat on a chain hunger strike for indefinite period in protest outside the university gate. Terminating the services of existing 55 daily wager safai karamcharis, the university authorities had replaced them with 50 new workers, who, too, would be paid DC rate wages on daily basis, but only through a Abohar-based contractor. The Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for SCs, Dr Rajkumar Verka, had yesterday intervened into the matter. Showing solidarity with the affected 55 safai karamcharis, Dr Verka had stated that it was unjustified to terminate the services of the workers who had been performing their duties for over 10 years and that the university would have to absorb them at the first instance. On the other hand, Prof Brar maintained that these safai karamcharis were never on roll of the university and hence did not qualify to be university employees. They also did not come under the purview of the National SC Commissioner. Partap Singh, one of the affected employees, said the VC had outrightly rejected their plea and now they had no choice but to resort to hunger strike. Showing solidarity with them, various trade employees unions, including the Safai Mazdoor Union (IFTU), Punjab Students Union, Naujwan Bharat Sabha, Democratic Employees Front and Kirti Kissan Union, today participated in the protest march. The protesting safai karamcharis said they had been unable to run their kitchens for the past one week. “We were all paid at the rate of Rs 164 daily, as prescribed under DC rate norms. It has been a week that we are unable to run our kitchens. This would compel us and our families to come on road,” said Partap Singh. A group of five safai karamcharis among them are on a chain hunger strike. “If the university still does not roll back its decision and reinstate us, our agitation would be intensified in days to come,” he said.
	ASI’s murder Residents worried about failing law and order situation in city Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 Amritsar woke up to the shocking news of a policeman being shot dead in broad daylight by three persons just a few metres away from a police station. The reason: He was fighting to save his daughter from being harassed by a political leader and his men. The appalling incident was another reminder of how the law and order in city is being played with by the “well connected”. The brazen act has once again made residents of the holy city question their safety and the efficiency of law enforcement agencies in handling the situation. While crimes are happening in daylight, without any fear or regard for law, the citizens voice their concern and wonder how worse the situation could become if immediate damage control is not done. “The incident shows that there is something seriously wrong with the law and order situation in the city or else how would one explain a policeman being shot twice in front of a police station. Of course, people are going to feel insecure as the blatant disrespect for the law has become a regular thing in the city. In most cases the complaints go unheard if one is not well-connected and even if the police tries to do its job, it all stops at political leaders,” shares Nita Mohindra, an academician and noted theatre person from the city. Dr Inderjit Singh, Registrar, Guru nanak Dev University (GNDU), too, agrees, “There is a serious law and order problem we are facing and this incident is just another proof of that. While I maintain that in totality, the situation should not be taken for worse, but the incident does question the security of girls in city. The police and administration both need to pull up their socks to tighten noose around the miscreants in the city.” He also suggests that political parties should also filter out anti-social elements from their organisations. “Since in most cases the rules are flouted by those with political connections, as also in this case, the parties should check the background of a person before giving him the office of responsibility,” he said. Sehaj Gulati, a prominent social activist and member of the People for Animals, too, believes that the situation demands a serious brainstorming by authorities concerned over the law and order problem. “We always blame the police for not doing its job. But this incident happened because a policeman was doing his job. Its more about a deteriorating society and value system, where we tell our kids that it’s okay to get away with anything if you have good connections. The law is being taken for granted and someone has to do something about it,” Sehaj said. While the citizens are angry and distressed over the state of affairs, Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora maintains that too much should not be read into the situation. “It’s a condemnable act and the crime committed is grievous. But the law and order situation is under control and there is no reason to panic. I maintain that nobody should be allowed to take law in his hands and the guilty would be brought to justice, irrespective of their political background.” Jasmine Bawa, member of the Punjabi Samvaad and a professional from the city, feels the issue raises the risk for girls in the city, who are the immediate victims of a bad law and order situation. “Since, the core issue behind the crime was of eve-teasing and a father was just trying to protect his daughter, the incident should not be brushed under the carpet. If the police is not safe, how can a common man be sure about his safety? And since weapons were used openly, without any fear of the consequences, the authorities must put use of arms under scanner,” Jasmine said.
	Six booked for firing at, injuring waiter Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 The Sadar police has booked six persons in an attempt to murder case in which a waiter of a resort located on the Fatehgarh Churian bypass road was shot at and injured. The victim, identified as Sartaj Masih, sustained a bullet injury as the accused fired at him when he was lifting empty plates. Among those booked include Dinesh of Putlighar, Pamma of the Kot Khalsa area and four unidentified persons. A case under Sections 307, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against them, while no arrest has been made so far. Massu Masih, brother of the victim, in his complaint stated that he along with his brother used to work in Golden View Resort as waiters. The accused, who were armed with weapons, were having drinks. When his brother tried to lift empty plates from their table, one of the accused fired at him with .315-bore rifle. He said the bullet hit his brother in his leg and he fell down. The accused fled from the scene. Subeg Singh, in charge of the Fatehgarh Churian bypass police chowki, has been entrusted with the investigation in the case. Subeg Singh said the accused were on a run and raids were being conducted to arrest them.
	Chawla, supporters hold protest at Attari post Demolition of Ram Mandir in Pakistan Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 Angry at the demolition of ancient Hindu temple in Pakistan, former Punjab Cabinet minister Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla and her supporters staged a protest at the Attari-Wagah joint check post today. She resented the silence of the Pakistan authorities on the demolition of century-old Ram Mandir and the atrocities on Hindu families living there. “It was shameful on the part of the Pakistani authorities to be silent on the murder of three Hindu brothers, who were killed recently. Similarly, doctors and a Sikh youth were kidnapped and later murdered. These brutal instances were not enough to wake up the Pakistan Government from its deep slumber,” she said. Prof Chawla asked the Centre to call up the Pak Ambassador and fix his liability for such instances. “It becomes the liability of the Pakistan Government to safeguard the interest of its citizen unmindful of their religion. I also urge the human rights organisation to come out openly to oppose this act of violence openly,” she said. A protest march was conducted from Hindu College before holding a demonstration at the border where slogans were raised against the Pakistan Government. Others present in the march included Dr Ram Chawla, Dr Rakesh Sharma, Pawan Kundra, Vicky Dutta, Neelam Sharma and activists of the Ram Navami Committee, Majith Mandi, Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra Memorial Society, Shakti Mahila Sahayata Kendra, Shani Mandir Committee, Sri Raghunath Mandir Committee, Gaushala Bhore Wala Ram Tirath and Rani Jhansi Society.
	Cops to protect girls from eve-teasers Tribune News Service Manmeet Singh Gill Amritsar, December 6 The police has deployed cops outside few of the schools in city following the directions from the Director General of School Education. After the deployment of the cops the eve teasers have stopped harassing the girls outside the gates of schools. But as soon as girl students take next turn on the street and are out of sight of these guarding policemen, the eve teasers indulge n openly harassing them. "We do not let anybody stand outside the schools but we cannot keep an eye everywhere," complained a policewoman on duty. She claimed that incidents of eve teasing have gone fewer after deployment of cops outside the schools. She admitted that gheris of eve-teasers outside schools increases invariably, when the students are leaving for their homes. Kanwar Singh, a parent said, "Girls are no longer safe in schools. We have seen boys following them till they reach home. After what happened yesterday, they would even fear reporting the matter to their parents." He said there is a need to instill confidence among the residents by imposing harshest of the punishments for the eve-teasers. The phenomenon is more visible outside educational institutions which are not co-educational and where only female students are enrolled. Even outside the BBK DAV College on Lawrence road, where police guards are present almost through out the day, girls' do not seem safe when police are out of sight. "The problem with eve teasing is that culprit would choose a place where nobody is looking around or at least where he feels that nobody would be able to stop him," said Balwinder Kaur, a school teacher. "Once an eve-teaser builds confidence, he starts thinking that no body would be able to stop him," she said. Geetika Lal, a mother said, "Every boy before he harasses a girl should think that he too has a sister and how he would feel if somebody harasses her." She said, "Moral values are depleting fast and parents should ask their sons' to act appropriately."
	Red Ribbon Express to arrive in city on Dec 31 Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 The Red Ribbon Express, to create awareness about HIV/AIDS, will arrive at the Verka Railway Station on December 31. “The train will stay in the city for two days,” said Additional Deputy Sandeep Rishi after a meeting with the officials to take stock of the preparations made for the event. He said the train has special facility for conducting tests which would be done free of cost during the train’s stay in city. He said four bogies of the train would have presentations and posters, creating awareness about the disease and precautions needed. Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Mitra said, “From December 26 to December 30, an IEC (Information, Education and Communication) Van would be creating awareness about the disease through street plays and audio visual aids. He said NGOs, schools, colleges and other organisations should arrange for taking their students and members for seeing the Red Ribbon Express. District Health Officer and Nodal Officer Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon said general public should take benefit from the event which would also help in clearing many misconceptions related to the disease.
	‘Maan Dhiyan Te’ winners announced Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 The Sarhad-e-Punjab Sports Club today announced this year’s ‘Maan Dhiyan Te’ awards. In a press conference held at Virsa Vihar, Gurinder Singh Mattu, president and former national-level athlete from Punjab, announced the names of this year’s winners. The sports club has selected over 100 girls’ from across 35 schools and institutions from the city and its peripheries, along with the 20 girls selected from all over the state, who have achieved merit in higher and senior secondary studies. The initiative was undertaken to honour and appreciate girls who had achieved academic and sporting excellence.“Our club has been running the programme for the past 10 years. This year we got excellent response from schools. The message through the programme is that girls are special. When given opportunity, they can achieve anything,” said Gurinder. The awards would be conferred on the winners on December 11 at a gala to be held at Virsa Vihar.Amongst the recipients, there are prominent names like Arjun Awardee Dr Suman Sharma, a former basketball player from the country; Anjana Gupta, principal, DAV International Public School; and Ripudaman Kaur Malhotra, principal, Guru Harkishan International School, Ranjit Avenue. “Awards like ‘Maan Punjab Da’ and ‘Mai Bhaggho’ will be given to women who have achieved sporting excellence. Through the initiative, we not only appreciate their efforts and achievements but also aims to spread the message of saving the girl child and recognising them as important members of society,” said Gurinder.
	Lecture on invention of Fugo blade held at GNDU Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 Dr Richard J Fugo, a world renowned ophthalmologist, who is also the inventor of Fugo Blade, delivered a lecture on ‘Invention of fugo blade and its applications’. The lecture was organised by the Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University, at the Guru Nanak Bhawan Auditorium of the university. Vice-Chancellor Professor Ajaib Singh Brar presided over the event. Dr Vanita Kumar, head of the department, welcomed the speakers and guests and introduced Dr Fugo to the audience by summarising his achievements. Dr Daljit Singh, ophthalmologist; Dr Hardas Singh Sandhu, orthopaedics; and Dr Bholla Singh Sidhu, surgeon from Parvati Hospital, Amritsar; were also present on the occasion. Fugo Plasma Blade is a battery powered plasma ablation device. The device has been approved for surgery by the US FDA and is being used in many fields, including ophthalmology, heart surgery, orthopaedics, ENT, and general surgery. Dr Fugo said, “This is the most revolutionary form of surgery world-wide. As compared to other techniques of surgery; using Fugo Blade takes very less time. It is a blood less surgery. There is no inflammation after surgery. The healing and recovery time is very short.” He also shared his experiences on plasma ablation surgery at numerous institutions world-wide, including the US Military, University of Hong Kong, Wills Eye Hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Moran Eye Center (Utah), Hahnemann University, the University of Buffalo, the University of Nebraska, the American College of Eye Surgeons, the University of Minnesota, and many other Institutions world-wide. Dr Fugo owns all of the patents on this technology and has four US FDA approvals for plasma ablation surgery. Professor Brar congratulated Dr Fugo for this grand discovery and appreciated the first hand information shared by him on this blade and its medical applications. He said the inventions of any kind at any corner of the world should be shared with general masses so that its real advantage should reach them. On this occasion, Dr Daljit Singh, who is using this Fugo blade for the surgery of cataract, glaucoma, squint and other eye ailments, showed videos of these surgeries to the audience. Dr Hardas Singh Sandhu and Dr Bholla Singh Sidhu also shared their unique experiences of surgeries using this Fugo blade.
	Central Railway, Mumbai, log win Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 6 The 10th ONGC All India Maharaja Ranjit Singh Junior Gold Hockey Cup (girls') was inaugurated here today by the vice-chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Caste Raj Kumar Verka. The first match was played between Western Railway, Mumbai, and Central railway, Mumbai, in which Central Railway, Mumbai, won the match by 6-2. The second match was played between Jarkhar Hockey Academy and Guru Gobind Singh Vidya Mandir Mohali. The Vidya Madir defeated Jarkhar academy by 5-4. In the third match, PNB defeated Chandigarh Academy by 6-3. In the fourth match, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, beat Guru Nanak Dev University by 6-1.