Tinted glasses in vehicles go unnoticed 
Amritsar, December 29
At a time when the Delhi gang rape incident has sounded a wake-up call against the use of tinted glasses in buses, the authorities in Amritsar have failed to curb the malpractice. Importantly, the police has now decided to hold Station House Officers (SHOs) of respective police stations, under whose jurisdiction these buses would be found, responsible for the lapse.

A bus with black films on windowpanes in Amritsar. Photo: Sameer Sehgal

Amritsar, December 29
“We don't want your condolences. We don't want your fake sentiments. We demand immediate action to strengthen the laws against sexual violence.”

As the country took to silent protests and prayers for the Delhi rape victim, who died in Singapore today, the holy city too made its intentions clear in supporting the cause while raising slogans and placards bearing strong messages.

Candlelight marches, silent rallies and tributes to the victim marked the day of her death.

Taking peaceful protest marches, a number of social organisations paid tributes to the victim. The International Human Rights Organisation held its silent protests at Jallianwala Bagh; Akhil Bharatiya Human Rights Organisation led a candlelight procession at Company Bagh; Rotary Club and groups led by individuals joined in the agitation.

“It was an incident that shook the conscience of the entire nation. It’s a time to self-introspect and break the silent suppression of women in our society. We demand severe punishment for the culprits and a strict law for such heinous crimes,” said APS Chatha, president, Rotary Club, Amritsar. He further emphasised that the police force should be made accountable and able to curb such crimes.

Speaking out strongly against the inhumane act, Raminder Singh, district president, International Human Rights Organisation, too demanded a safe environment for girls. “We all join together in voicing concern for our daughters and sisters who face a serious threat in form of sexual crimes. It was an attack on humanity and reflects the constricted mindsets of our society, as well as raises serious questions on our legal and justice system.” Jyoti Thakur, a member of the organisation, called the victim a martyr. “If she could be brave enough to fight against the crime, we should make sure that we carry on the battle now.”

Former and current women councillors in the city too came out in full force. Neetu Mahajan, Mamta Dutta, Neelam Bala, all joined in the protests in the city, demanding justice and prompt action to punish the culprits responsible for the death of an innocent girl. “Every woman feels outraged by this shocking and inhumane incident. It’s not about one brave girl who lost to demented psyche of a few men and incompetence of law enforcement agencies, but each girl who is now scared for her life post this crime.”

“We urge to the government and police authorities to shun their ignorant and careless attitude and provide a rightful safe environment to women citizens of the country,” said Neetu Mahajan, councillor from Ward 9. Sharing similar sentiments, Mamta Dutta, former councillor, said, “Our true homage to the brave girl will be to ensure a prompt justice and harsh punishment to her wrong-doers. She has become a symbol for women who have long suffered due to lack of legal and social safety being provided to them.” Neelam Bala, councillor from Ward 14 held peaceful protest and candlelight march in her ward, asking women to break their silence and stand up against a common cause. 

Amritsar, December 29
Following the instructions of the state government on zero tolerance and immediate action in complaints filed by girls and women, the city police has formed a panel headed by deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) to review the cases and check the pendency of cases after every fortnight.

Police Commissioner Ram Singh held a meeting with senior police officials, including ADCPs, ACPs and Station House Officers, and asked them to clear the files as soon as possible.

The meeting on Friday evening also looked in to the security arrangements being made ahead of the New Year’s eve.

“DCP Dr Kaustubh Sharma will review the complaints filed by girls and women. He will hold a meeting with police officials after every fortnight to clear the backlog,” he said. “Police personnel found adopting negligent approach will face action,” he added.

He said instructions had been passed to each and every police official to instantly react to complaints filed by girls.

The sources revealed that during the meeting, the Police Commissioner pulled up the police officials for the huge pendency of such cases which included eve-teasing, dowry cases, domestic violence etc. It has been learnt that over a dozen such cases have been pending in the police stations for want of investigations.

“The police officials have been directed to deal with the cases pertaining to women in Saanjh Kendras rather than in police stations,” said Ram Singh.

He said adequate security arrangements are being made ahead of the New Year’s eve. He said special nakas and traffic diversion have been planned for the occasion. 

Amritsar, December 29
At a time when the Delhi gang rape incident has sounded a wake-up call against the use of tinted glasses in buses, the authorities in Amritsar have failed to curb the malpractice.

Importantly, the police has now decided to hold Station House Officers (SHOs) of respective police stations, under whose jurisdiction these buses would be found, responsible for the lapse.

In a city which has seen an alarming rise in heinous crimes, a large number of private buses with tinted glasses travel on roads right under the nose of the police.

The Supreme Court in its order has directed the state governments to get black films removed from buses or any other vehicle by May 4.

But scores of private buses can be spotted operating from Hall Gate, bus stand, Queens’s Road etc.

Scores of vehicle accessory shops on the Queens Road can be seen pasting the black film on the private vehicles too.

The police has not taken any action in the issue, felt residents.

On April 27, the Supreme Court ordered a complete ban on use of tinted plastic films on windscreens and other glass panels of vehicles throughout the country. “None can be permitted to create his own device to bring down the percentage of the VLT (visual light transmission) thereafter,” the court had said. The SC had granted time till May 4 to the owners to remove black films from their vehicle’s windowpanes.

Police Commissioner Ram Singh said, “It is a grave issue. I have just conducted a meeting with my officers on this issue. I have directed that SHOs concerned in whose areas the buses with tinted glasses would be found plying, will be held accountable for the lapse.” 

Amritsar, December 29
Four flights to the city were delayed while one was cancelled due to heavy fog here today.

Suneel Dutt, Director, Sri Guru Ramdass Ji International Airport, said Turkmenistan Airlines flight from Ashgabad was delayed by six hours and 30 minutes. The other flights which got delayed included Air India's flight from Delhi (2 hours), SpiceJet’s flight from Delhi (2 hours and 30 minutes) and Qatar Airways flight from Doha (2 hours).

He said flight of Jet Airways between Bombay-Delhi-Amritsar was cancelled.

Amritsar, December 29
Heavy fog and frost has led to a sharp rise in asthmatic cases at OPD of the District TB Hospital.

The number of such patients at the hospital has increased by five times as compared to the summer months, said Dr Naresh Chawla, District TB Officer. He said fog and frost in winters can cause respiratory problems and even respiratory failures in some cases.

He said at least 70 per cent of the patients of the total visiting OPD are suffering from asthmatic conditions.

Dr Chawla said, “In summers the count of such patients is very low. At the maximum they are 15-20 per cent of the total patients.” He added in winters the pollutants come down to the lower zone which is the breathing zone.

With the fall in temperature, the patients feel heaviness in the chest area and breathing exercise becomes very difficult. As the fog and frost increases, the smoke and dust pollute the air which causes a problem for asthmatic patients, he said.

Amritsar, December 29
Barely 17 days after the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) struck a deal with shunted daily-waged safai karamcharis, the tussle erupted again with the workers accusing the university Vice Chancellor of backtracking from “mutual agreements.”

The workers even accused the VC of using caste-based remarks against them during the course of agitation. The agitating safai karamcharis had lodged a police complaint, but the police found nothing substantial in these allegations.

Up in arms again, the safai karamcharis have now given a call to stage a protest on January 2.

Earlier, the controversy started when GNDU laid off 55 safai karamcharis engaged on a daily-wage basis and replaced them with workers from an Abohar-based firm. This led to a hunger strike by the affected safai karamcharis who called off their strike after the university authorities accepted their demand to take them back but only through the Abohar firm.

But the relations got sour again when the safai karamcharis came to know that their contract period would be only for a year. After that period, the university would not take their responsibility, the workers alleged.

Partap Singh, president of Safai Mazdoor Union (IFTU) and one of the affected safai karamcharis, said the university authorities backtracked from the mutual agreements which led to the culmination of the hunger strike against the outsourcing move.

They also alleged that the university authorities had filed court cases against five of the workers. “I have received summons to appear before the court on January 5. The university authorities had filed a case against us for causing disturbance during the hunger strike outside the university gate.”

“When the authorities entered into a mutual agreement with us, they should have withdrawn the case against us. Now we have decided to explore the matter on a state-level meeting,” he said. official speak

Amritsar, December 29
Rajkumar Verka, Vice-Chairman, National Commission for SCs/STs, today asked IG border range to conduct an inquiry into a theft case in which a resident of Fatehgarh Churian has allegedly been falsely implicated.

The victim, Sukhchain Singh, had a dispute with a head constable Karamjit Singh who made caste-based remarks against him following which he filed an application in the Punjab Human Rights Commission besides approaching senior police authorities in this regard.

Sukhchain had alleged that he did not get positive response from the senior police authorities as Karamjit Singh enjoyed considerable political clout.

He had alleged that on December 22, the police registered a false case of theft against him. In his absence, the police took his son Savkirat Singh and illegally detained him for about 10 hours. Sukhchain alleged the officer has been threatening his family.

Dejected by these developments, Sukhchain approached the National Commission for SCs and STs which served a notice to SSP Batala.

On behalf of the SSP, DSP Kirpal Singh, who has been investigating into the case, presented the case before the Commission’s vice-chairman. The DSP said the matter came to his notice on December 23 and he immediately stayed further proceedings in the case.

Hearing police version, Rajkumar Verka directed the IG (border range) to conduct an inquiry against police officials who had lodged “fake complaint against Sukhchain Singh”. “I have directed the IG to submit a report within 15-days and take action against the police officials,” said Verka. 

Amritsar, December 29
The Civil Lines police today arrested three members of a gang of robbers that was involved in many cases of snatchings and lootings in the city.

The arrested members are Lakhan of Jhabal Road, Ajay Kumar of Gawal Mandi and Suresh Sharma of Adarsh Nagar, Islamabad. The police seized a country-made pistol (.32 bore) and sharp-edged weapons from their possession.

Four other gang members --- Vishu of Godown mohalla, Lovely Samraat of Khandwala, Robin of Putlighar and Wada Lakhan of Guru Nanak Pura --- managed to escape.

The police claimed that the trio was nabbed following a tip-off. Hiding near Guru Nanak Stadium, they were planning to commit a crime. A case under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC, 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered in this connection.