Jalandhar, January 10
While the traditional Lohri has been a part of Punjabi folklore for long, the city will see Lohri with a twist this year, as along with the traditional Punjabi celebrations, a local educational group has also roped in acclaimed pop band Euphoria to usher in the Lohri warmth for little girls in the city this year.

In order to promote the role of girls in the society and disseminate the message of gender equality, the CT Group of Institutions, Pahal and BIG FM are going to organise "Kudyian di Lohri: Ek jashn apni nanhi pari de naam" on the CT Maqsudan Campus.

The most conspicuous flavour into this celebration will be added by the sparkling live performance of pop band Euphoria, especially coming for saluting the idea of celebrating Lohri in the name of girls.

The function is scheduled to start on the evening of January 13 and other than the band’s performance, will be marked by cultural items like gidda, bhangra and Punjabi folk songs highlighting Punjabi culture and the significance of Lohri.

Lohri rituals will be performed with the accompaniment of special Lohri songs, devoting the celebration of the festival to the girls.

Manbir Singh, Managing Director, CT Group of Institutions, said,” Lohri celebrates fertility and the joy of life in the event of the birth of a male child or a marriage in the family. But we want to celebrate Lohri for girls too as they are equally important. We wish that people should arrange Lohri in the event of the birth of a girl. The CT Group of Institutions also announces to provide free education to the girl taking birth in Jalandhar on this auspicious day of Lohri (13.1.13).”

Jalandhar, January 10
The abandoned, mentally challenged woman, who began receiving treatment at the Civil Hospital as per orders issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) on Saturday, was on Wednesday ordered to be shifted to Nari Niketan.

While earlier, there was a speculation that the woman might be shifted to Amritsar, based on the report and recommendations of doctors at the Civil Hospital, the Chief Judicial Magistrate on Wednesday ordered the woman to be shifted to Nari Niketan.

However, the woman, now identified as Gurpreet Kaur, was ultimately taken to the State Women Protective Home at Basti Gujan here yesterday, after the Nari Niketan authorities refused to accept her.

The order issued by the CJM (a copy of which is with The Tribune) issued here yesterday, stated, “Medical certificate of Gurpreet Kaur received. As per the same, she is suffering from mania and psychotic features and as per the same she needs further treatment. It has been advised by the doctor that she can be shifted to Nari Niketan, Jalandhar, as she needs follow-up treatment.”

“Disability activist Amarjit Singh Anand, who first began the task to bring justice to the woman, said while the court orders were for Nari Niketan, the Niketan authorities, citing the reason that they only adopt children up to the age of 16 years, refused to take the mentally ill woman.”

Anand, along with ASI Harjit Singh, GRP, Jalandhar, and women staff then approached the State Protective Home for Women, Basti Gujan, Jalandhar, requesting them to accept Gurpreet Kaur.

While the home’s in charge agreed to accept the patient, she has asked for the order to be amended in the next two days, so that Gurpreet can be kept there.

Notably, the statement of Gurpreet’s father Mohan Singh, a resident of Harnamdaspura locality in Jalandhar, was also recorded and taken into consideration before the aforesaid order was issued.

Mohan Singh confirmed that Gurpreet was "not of good mental health".

While Mohan Singh’s wife has also died, he stated Gurpreet had also tried leaving his house various times earlier. While Gurpreet was married, her husband had also died.

Jalandhar, January 10
As per the data available after the special cancer awareness survey, as many as 8,179 persons have been found having various symptoms of cancer in the district.

Stating this, Jalandhar Civil Surgeon Dr RL Bassan said 5,893 persons were found having symptoms of cancer in villages, whereas 2,286 persons were found as suspected cancer patients in urban areas of the district during the special survey conducted recently on the directions of the Punjab Health Department.

The persons found with various symptoms of cancer were advised to get their different tests done to confirm whether they were suffering from cancer or not, he said.

Bassan said 3,249 cancer patients died in the district in the last five years as per the survey report. Of them, 1,726 were from urban areas, whereas 1,523 were from rural areas, he added.

The Civil Surgeon said, “A total of 1,777 persons are found suffering from various types of cancer and getting treatment from different hospitals located in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh. Of them, 828 cancer patients are from urban areas, whereas 949 cancer patients are from rural areas.”

A total of 20,34,683 persons (12,51,420 rural and 7,83,263 urban) were covered and 4,36,844 houses (2,64,484 rural and 1,72,369 urban) were visited during the survey conducted from December 1 last year to January 5 this year.

To a query, Bassan said, “While several cancer patients have already received financial help for treatment under the CM Relief Fund. If anyone needs financial help from the CM Cancer Relief Fund, one may contact his office and the financial help will be provided after completing the required formalities.”

Jalandhar, January 10
Though the sun provided relief to the residents of the city and its surrounding areas during the day as mist disappeared, the extreme cold conditions forced them to shiver as the temperature plummeted below freezing degrees (0°C) from dusk to dawn, as the minimum temperature recorded here was -0.4°C on Thursday.

While it was the lowest temperature of this winter here, the maximum temperature increased a bit to 18.1° C because of sun-shine on the second consecutive day today.

As a whole, extreme cold wave in the region continued even today. Meanwhile, the meteorological department predicted continuation of cold wave even on Friday. As per weather forecast, the sky would remain party cloudy with mist and fog during the next 24 hours. The lowest temperature was registered in Adampur (-0.4°C) and maximum 18.1°C, the minimum temperature in Amritsar was 4.2°C and maximum 10.4°C.

In Halwara, minimum and maximum temperature was recorded as 3°C and 19.4°C respectively.

Jalandhar, January 10
A function would be held to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand, at Sain Dass Anglo Senior Secondary School, Patel Chowk, on Saturday, January 12. A procession in this regard would also be carried out from the school on that day. RSS Leader Kashmiri Lal Khanna, looking after Punjab BJP affairs, urged the party leaders and workers to participate enthusiastically in the function and the procession to mark Swami’s birth anniversary.

Addressing a meeting of workers of various mandals at Circuit House on Thursday, Khanna shed light on Swami’s life and exemplary achievements. BJP’s executive member and Punjab spokesman Manoranjan Kalia also addressed the party workers. State Secretary Ravi Mohindru, BJP IT cell state convener Rakesh Goel, District Mahila Morcha president Urmil Vaid and Anil Sacher were also present at the meeting.

Jalandhar, January 10
With the setting in of the festival season, rural sports activities in Doaba belt pick up as the flow of the non-resident Indians (NRIs) to their mother land gathers momentum.

Certain sports loving NRIs, while enjoying holidays at their native villages, also give a boost to sports like kabaddi, hockey, football, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting, body building and certain traditional games besides gambling.

Some of them, however, indulge in drug trafficking and even in other criminal activities, as per the police records.

A player turned politician, Pragat Singh, former Sports Director, Punjab, said the NRIs spend Rs 35 to 37 crore on various sports events organised in their respective villages annually.

He instead advised the NRIs to set up sports academies to coach the rural youth to stop them from getting addicted to drugs.

Recently, Tut brothers had offered organic Californian almonds for players participating in the 29th Indian Oil Surjit Hockey Tournament.

The office bearers of Jai Baba Lakh Data and Jai Baba Mallji Mela Prabandhak Committee have announced a Tata Nano and a horse to the winner and the runners-up of a wrestling match, to be held at Beas Pind, on January 14 and 15.

Balwinder Kumar, president of the Committee said more than 10,000 visitors were expected to attend the mela and watch the wrestling, in which wrestlers of National and International fame would participating. 

Jalandhar, January 10
The Jalandhar (Rural) police today arrested two drug peddlers, residents of Bhoepur village, near Shahkot, and recovered 300 kg poppy husk, 500 gm opium, revolver, two cartridges, Mahindra jeep and Rs 58,000 from their possession.

Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a naka in Bhoepur village and intercepted a jeep (PB-29D-5262) early this morning, a press note issued by police chief Yurinder Singh Hayer revealed.

The SSP said that the occupants of the jeep, Puran Singh, alias Poona, and Jodh Singh, alias Jora, both resident of Bhoepur village, tried to sped away as they were signalled to stop by the policemen. Following this the police chased the jeep and nabbed them.

During a search of the vehicle, the police recovered the contraband and cash from the duo.

The SSP claimed that during questioning the police came to know that Puran was wanted in a case registered again him under the NDPS Act by the Fazilka police. He had been eluding the police for a long time.

The duo had been using the jeep that they had stolen from Sector-3, Chandigarh, for committing crimes with a fake registration number.

The police had started investigations to know that from where and how they acquired the weapon and the ammunition.

Meanwhile, a case under various provisions of the NDPS Act, Arms Act and sections of the IPC has been registered against them at the Shahkot police station.