Jalandhar, December 16
As part of reforms and to provide a better policing, the city police has introduced the beat system in the areas falling under the City Commissionerate jurisdictions.

The beat system that is the brainchild of Punjab Police chief Sumedh Singh Saini, who introduced it in two police stations as a pilot project during his November 27 visit to the city, was finally adopted by the police after its positive results.

The beat system has come up almost after 11 months from the introduction of e-governance in the city. Former Punjab DGP PS Gill introduced e-beat, e-investigation and e-challan under the e-government in Jalandhar on January 2011, besides the Commissionerates of Amritsar, Ludhiana and Mohali districts.

Under this system, the city, having 14 police stations, has been divided into 107 beats, which would be looked after by 342 beat officers.

Talking to The Tribune, Additional Deputy Commissioner of City Police, special branch, ADCP, Diljinder Singh Dhillon, said dedicated, trained and well-equipped police personnel had been deployed with each beat to bridge the police-public gap.

Every beat officer will prepare dossiers of criminals in their beats and will have a data base of each and every establishment, including hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, religious institutions, hospitals, banks and their head and employees.

The police personnel will also conduct door-to-door visit to their respective beats and hold meetings with prominent personalities to exchange information and to get feedback, the ADCP added.

Jalandhar, December 16
Officers and soldiers celebrated Vijay Divas at the Vajra Corps War Memorial in Jalandhar Cantonment here today.

Lieut-Gen Sanjeev Madhok, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, veterans of the 1971 war and other senior serving, retired officers, JCOs and other ranks paid homage and tributes to the martyrs at the Vajra Corps War Memorial.

Paying rich tributes to the martyrs, Gen Sanjeev Madhok assured their families that the Army had been supporting them and would extend all possible support to them. He stressed the need of operational readiness and exhorted all ranks to be well prepared for any eventuality. “Professional excellence alone can help us achieve such spectacular victories in the future,” said Madhok.

"Vijay Divas" commemorates the finest hour of the Indian Armed Forces which came about with the triumph in the 1971 war. This historic victory signifies a unique and unparalleled feat, wherein Indian troops fought selflessly for a just and noble cause to liberate the people of Bangladesh.

The Vajra Corps proved its mettle on the strategic Western Front and achieved its objectives with elan and vigour. A proud nation has conferred as many as eight MVCs, 47 Vir Chakras and numerous other awards on the valiant men of the Vajra Corps.

The Vajra Corps has also been bestowed with the Theatre Honour: Punjab and Battle Honours: Sehjra and Dera Baba Nanak.

Jalandhar, December 16
The recent formation of the Dynamic Councillor Group by dissident Congressmen has driven district Congress to convene a meeting of its party councillors. The main motive of the district Congress was to ensure putting up a united face in the MC house meeting on Monday.

All the 22 party councillors were present in the meeting presided over by district Congress chief Arun Walia. The meeting held at Congress Bhawan that started here around noon lasted for about an hour.

Addressing the Congress councillors, Walia said, “All councillors should work to strengthen the party and should put up a united face in the MC house meetings to send a positive message among the citizens who chose them.”

Later, one of members of the Dynamic Councillor Group, Sushil Rinku, told The Tribune, “He along with all the Congress councillors will work in the MC house as per the directions of the party.”

At the same time, he said the existence of the Dynamic Councillor Group would continue and their main motive was to raise the issues of public concern in one way or the other at the MC house meetings and in the public.

Some dissident Congress councillors who could not make it to the posts of Leaders of Opposition during an election held earlier this week, formed a parallel group by the name Dynamic Councillor Group.

Among those who announced this group are some old-timers and heavy weights of the party, including Sushil Rinku of ward number 46, Sharwan Grover of ward 49 and Bal Krishan Bali of ward 7.

New-comers Baldev Singh Dev of ward 42, Harsimranjit Banti of ward 47, Gurvinder Kaur Mintu (wife of former councillor Kuldip Mintu) of ward 44 and Amanpreet Kaur Major of ward number 48 also hopped on the same wagon and so did three independent councillors, including Kanwaljit Kaur Gullu of ward 26, Mandeep Jassal of ward 13 and Amit Dhall of ward 19.

All three independent councillors who joined the Dynamic Group are former Congress leaders and decided to contest the recent MC elections as independent candidates, as the party did not allocate tickets to them.

The party had re-elected Jagdish Raj Raja as the Leader of the Opposition, Surinder Kaur had been elected as Senior Deputy Leader of Opposition and Des Raj Jassal as Deputy Leader after election held in Chandigarh on Monday.

The party leaders who could not draw any consensus on the issue even three months after the appointment of Mayor had to finally resort to polling. The councillors who are members of the Dynamic Councillors’ Group had been opposing the re-appointment of Raja, claiming that the opposition under his leadership had remained very weak.

Jalandhar, December 16
It’s the season for tinkling bells, snow flakes, decorated trees and Santa Claus.

With Chritsmas round the corner, markets here wear red and green hues.

While the craze to celebrate each festival with aplomb is certainly catching up with the youth, the mood of the markets is proof enough that the city is all geared up for a rocking Christmas and New Year (doomsday predictions notwithstanding).

Inflatable and soft-toy Santas, Christmas caps, shiny, decorative Christmas trees, Merry Christmas buntings and a plethora of bells and lightings have decked up market shelves, with Christmas less than 10 days away.

The buzz this season is inflatable Santas, which you don’t have to blow air into, caps which dance and light up and rolly-polly singing Santas.

For those who like the entire house themed in Christmas hues, there’s even red and green cutlery and hangings.

Talking to The Tribune, Rohini Budhiraja of Party Hunterz said, “There’s a plug in inflatable Santa which shall be inflated with electricity, Christmas foil tree and snowman centerpieces, Santa door covers (both for indoors and outdoors), snowflake danglers etc on offer this season.”

For party animals, there are a myriad Christmas hats (Santa caps, antler caps, antler head bands, spring caps etc) and goggles (jumbo, translucent, lined and opaque) available with us.”

The store also offers tissue bells, light balloons and myriad choices in funky Chritsmas cutlery.

Gurdeep Singh, from Greeter’s Junction, said, “This year there is a huge variety of trees on offer. There are plain and decorative trees available between heights of 1 to 6 feet high.”

“We also have Santas in various sizes and styles, costing between Rs 150 to Rs 2,000. There are Santas fitted with an electronic module which makes them sing and/or dance. The costliest Santa is the dancing Santa available at Rs 7,500, ” he said.

Bells and decorative balls are also available in various shapes and sizes, in ranges between Rs 250 to Rs 1,500.

Gurdeep Singh also said there were various Christmas caps available in the store, including a dancing Christmas cap available at Rs 1,000 that. “Its upper portion moves and sings.

While entrepreneurs have stocked their shops with all the good stuff, they say the sales are yet to pick up because Christmas is still a few days away and the sales usually start four to five days ahead of the festival.

However, given the range of choices available at the market, shoppers are bound to go home satisfied this season.

Some stores have already begun stocking up New Year stud already.

Rohini Budhiraja said we are expecting a number of amazing options for the New Year shoppers as well.

The options, especially for the New Year party animals, are wide. LED hair braids, bands and bracelets, caps, glitter hats, goggles, champagne bottle (shaped) balloons, among other goodies.

Jalandhar, December 16
Pingla Ghar on Gulab Devi Road has got a new ambulance, donated to it by the UK-based HPD Welfare Society for the convenience of the inmates.

Baldev Singh Gill and Sukhdev Singh Dhanoa, members of the HPD Welfare Society, contacted the Pingla Ghar management about two months and asked if the inmates required any equipment or vehicle. Subsequently, members of the HPD Welfare Society visited Pingla Ghar to see the facilities being provided to over 450 patients and other inmates there. They appreciated the level of cleanliness and maintenance of at Pingla Ghar and decided to donate a van," said Col BS Multani (retd), administrator of Pingla Ghar.

"They were so impressed with the arrangements at Pingla Ghar that they have made commitment to extend more help for the improvement of facilities for the patients at the place," said Col Multani.

Jalandhar, December 16
In protest against the government’s reluctance to waive the fees of SC students, the BSP will hold a demonstration on December 18 in the city.

District general secretary and in charge of the Kartarpur segment of the BSP Kamal Dev Jandu Singha declared this in a statement issued here today.

He said during the demonstration by the party, an effigy of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would be burnt at Company Bagh.

He alleged that the government was deliberately ignoring the right of Dalit students in the state.

The BSP leader exhorted all Dalit students and their parents to be a part of the dharna on December 18.

Jalandhar, December 16
Police DAV Public School organised an inter-school Sahodaya Punjabi skit competition. As many as 20 schools of the region participated in the competition and presented skits on various themes, such as social evils, everyday domestic problems and comic situations from life.

The panel of judges comprised Prof Gagandeep Sharma, Prof Uminder Johal and Veena Arora. While Police DAV Public School stood first, DIPS second and Shri Guru Harkishan Public School third in the competition. The consolation prize was bagged by DIPS School, Dhilwan.

Annual day

Apeejay School, Model Town, organised annual day function on its premises. The sound and light extravaganza was entitled "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".

Pargat Singh, MLA and former Indian hockey player, presided over the function. Kamna Raj Aggarwal, joint secretary, Apeejay Education Society, also attended the function.

English play "Forty fortunes" mesmerised the audience by transporting them to the world of mystery and intrigue, kings and thieves and Arabian dancers. Hindi play "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", songs, roller skating dance and Punjabi folk dance were also presented.

The chief guest distributed prizes among the winners in various categories. Principal Meera Javed and headmistress Namrata Sharma read out the annual report and highlighted the achievements of students for the year 2012- 2013.

Aerobics event

Aerobics activity for pre-wing students was organised on the campus of DIPS, Suranussi. All students came dressed in white aerobic outfits for the event. Tiny tots had colourful ribbons tied to their wrists. Under the guidance and supervision of their respective class teachers, children performed aerobics to the tune of music. Principal Bela Kapoor encourage students to exercise daily.

Saudi Arabian delegation

A two-day visit of a delegation under the leadership of Second Ambassador from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Dr Ali Mohammad Al Shehri to the Lovely Professional University concluded here today.

The delegation comprised Hisham Mohammad Ajmal from the Royal Embassy, Dr Ali Al Ghonaim of the Al Qassim University and a nominee of the Ministry of Higher Education of Saudi Arabia. The delegates met university Chancellor Ashok Mittal, Pro-Chancellor Rashmi Mittal, Vice-Chancellor Dr Ramesh Kanwar, Deputy Director Aman Mittal and the software support team of the university to discuss about collaborative opportunities.

During the discussion, the topics for collaborative work were ‘Providing English language programme to Saudi Arabian students’, ‘Empanelment of LPU with Ministry of Higher Education of Saudi Arabia for joint study’, ‘Student and faculty exchange programmes’, ‘Development of joint vocational programmes with vocational institutions in Saudi Arabia’, ‘Hosting of Gulf conference at LPU’, ‘Software development for Saudi Arabian universities’ and ‘Visit of professors from Saudi Arabia’.

The Chancellor said, “We would like to develop joint cooperation programmes with universities of Saudi Arabia. We can develop 2+2 programme at the undergraduate level and 1+1 programme at the Masters level in engineering, information technology, computer applications, business, pharmacy and physiotherapy.”

The visitors took a tour of different departments, hostels, laboratories, central library and other areas of importance at the university. They had an interaction with students and faculty members.

Volleyball, badminton matches

The IT forum of Apeejay College of Fine Arts organised in-house volleyball and badminton competitions here today.

The volleyball matches were held between boys’ teams and badminton matches between girls’ teams. The first prize in volleyball went to the BCA-III team and the second to the BCA-II. In badminton, the first prize went to the BSc (computer sciences)-III and the second to the BCA-II.

Gold medal

Manjit Maini, a clerk-cum-data entry operator at Hans Raj Mahila Mahavidyalaya, has got a gold medal at the Punjabi University for securing first position in the Bachelor of Library Sciences examination. He had appeared as a private candidate.

Scholarships for 1,300 students

The Shri Ram Navmi Utsav Committee is organising a scholarship distribution function for 1,300 needy school students from over 260 schools at DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology on Sunday. The students will be given cheques and school bags containing various items. A cultural programme and free medical check-ups will also be held.

Phagwara, December 16
Thirteen bus passengers, including driver, sustained injuries when a Ludhiana-bound bus rammed into a truck near Goraya late last night.

All injured were admitted to nearby hospitals, the police said.

The accident occurred when the truck driver apllied brakes and the bus rammed into the truck from rear.