Amritsar, January 17
The district administration brought at least 23 homeless beggars to Raen Basera, a shelter for the homeless, last night. The beggars were brought from various places by a team that inspected the city.

Randhir Singh Thakur, joint secretary of the Red Cross Society, said the administration's drive to provide shelter to homeless and beggars has resulted in less number of people using footpaths for sleeping.

He said the team visits various areas in the city and gets hold of those found sleeping on the roads. The administration had earlier this month found 24 beggars from various places and brought them to the shelter home.

The caretaker at the shelter home, Dharam Pal, said at present, the centre has 61 inmates. He said in order to provide more facilities to the inmates, they recently installed water heating devices in the bathrooms.

He said that earlier, the shelter home had installed television for them. The home has been stated to be providing beds, beddings, food and other facilities.

“During their stay here, we motivate them to earn their living through hard work and not begging. We even try to find jobs for the willing. Though employers are suspicious of them, we give them a guarantee,” said Dharam Pal.

The district administration, in collaboration with the Red Cross Society, had earlier initiated the shelter for beggars on February 12, 2010. So far, the Raen Basera has given shelter to 1,808 persons. Dharam Pal said around 800 of them had been rehabilitated.

Amritsar, January 17
A drug addict, Nathu Ram, resident of Ramdass, attempted to commit suicide by setting himself ablaze after pouring kerosene at his native village last evening.

However, a police party reached the spot just before his attempt to commit suicide and saved him. In the incident, head constable Nirmal Singh sustained burn injuries.

Avtar Singh, SHO, Ramdass police station, said the police received information that Nathu Ram was a drug addict and roaming in the area with kerosene, matchbox and a sharp-edged weapon in his hand.

The police team immediately reached the spot. But before they could do anything, Nathu Ram poured kerosene and set himself ablaze. After dousing the fire, Nathu Ram was immediately rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, where he is stated to be out of danger.

Head constable Nirmal Singh, who also sustained 10 per cent burn injuries, was admitted to a private hospital.

The SHO said a case under Section 309 of the IPC was registered against Nathu Ram. He said according to his family members Nathu was a heavy drug addict.

Amritsar, January 17
The killer roads of the holy city continue to take their toll, with a former assistant additional sessions judge, Bihari Lal, losing his life in yet another road accident yesterday evening.

Bihari Lal, a resident of Nirankari Colony located on Fatehgarh Churian Road, was driving his scooter when he was hit by a canter carrying oxygen cylinders near Rattan Singh Chowk.

After he was hit, he fell in front of the canter which ran over him.

The truck driver tried to flee the spot. He was chased by several youth who later caught him from a residence where he hid, leaving his vehicle on the road.

The accused was identified as Vipan Singh, a resident of Verka. The people handed him over to the Faizpura police, which registered a case under sections 304-A, and 427 of IPC against him.

According to information, the former judge was going towards Karampura, Navi Abadi, when the incident took place. People gathered at the spot and informed the police about the accident.

Amritsar, January 17
Justifying the GNDU organising committee’s move to debar over 50 shooters representing around nine universities from various parts of the country from participating in the inter-varsity shooting meet underway at the GNDU shooting range, the AIU (Association of Indian Universities) has said the university's authorities should ‘adhere to the rules’ applicable for conducting the event.

A controversy was triggered when the GNDU organising committee denied some visiting university shooters participation in the event as their confirmation of participation did not reach the GNDU committee by the stipulated date, December 28.

Two days ago, the agitating shooters, putting up on the GNDU campus, had attempted to disrupt the ongoing event, allegedly by damaging the shooting range, its targets and throwing empty bottles in the premises to lodge their protest against the university's refusal to entertain their participation in the event.

Several shooters, who allegedly manhandled the GNDU organising committee members, received minor injuries in the melee, following which the police had to intervene.

Even as no case was registered in the matter, future of sportspersons from either side being taken into consideration, the agitating shooters and the managers accompanying them were debarred from entering the shooting range where the event was underway.

On the other hand, representatives of the agitating universities said they too preferred not to get involved in what could lead to a police case, but the "rigorous" attitude of the GNDU authorities in denying them participation was not justified either. One of the coaches said there were no hard and fast rules and that the GNDU authorities could be flexible in permitting them to participate in the event.

“We have with us some of the best shooters whose morale got damaged due to this unpleasantness. We have travelled thousands of kilometres to participate in the event, but we never expected such a rigid attitude on the part of the GNDU authorities,” he said, while stating that they had sent their side of the story to the AIU too.

Amritsar, January 17
Patients at government hospitals would soon start getting free medicines at the out-patient department. Supplies of 45 medicines out of 159 on the list have been made.

The supplies have been made to government hospitals including primary health centres, community health centres, sub-division hospitals and district hospital.

A senior medical officer at Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital confirmed that they had received the medicines. He said free medicines would be given from Monday onwards.

He said the employees were in the process of getting records pertaining to medicines updated in the books and work is expected to be complete by Monday.

He further stated that the stock received is expected to run for six months. The hospital, on an average, attends to 500 patients at the OPD. The medicines would be provided to patients irrespective of their economic status.

The state department had earlier announced provision of as many as 277 generic essential drugs and consumables for free. Earlier, the state had also made neo-natal care free for 28 days after the birth of a child.

Amritsar, January 17
Dr Sameera Irfan from Mughal Eye Trust Hospital, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan, delivered a special lecture on "Oculoplastic Surgery: Its Psycho-social Impact".

The lecture was organised by the Department of Human Genetics of the Guru Nanak Dev University here today at the seminar hall of the department. A large number faculty members, research scholars and students of the life sciences department were present on the occasion.

Ophthalmologist Dr Daljit Singh was the guest of honour. He shared his views on surgery of eyes with squint and also on glaucoma patients.

Dr Irfan, in her lecture, talked about oculoplastic surgery, its procedure, technical skills and its psycho-social impact on patients. She said oculoplastic surgery, also known as ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive, oculofacial or eye plastic surgery, is a surgical sub-specialty of ophthalmology that deals with medical and surgical management of deformities and abnormalities of the eyelids, lacrimal (tear) system, orbit (bony socket) and the adjacent part of the face.

She said this surgery is a kind of plastic surgery which relates to the eyes and its surrounding structures.

“Most of the patients requiring the help of an oculoplastic surgeon belong to a younger age group; either they are at a marriageable age or are applying for work and are highly troubled by their appearance. In addition, loss of an eye in a young person due to a road traffic accident, chemical injury or a tumour is highly traumatic, both emotionally and psychologically, affecting the personality of a person. The eyelids and surrounding areas are extremely complex and delicate structures that are vital to the preservation of sight and are important features of a normal facial appearance. It entails surgical intervention in and around the eyes to restore normal appearance and function of the eyes as well as the eyelids. This surgery requires special skill," she said.

Dr Irfan is of the view that successful surgery could come as a ray of hope as far as a patient’s personality is concerned.

Amritsar, January 17
The Health Department targets to administer polio immunisation drops to around 3,39,113 children during the Pulse Polio drive commencing from January 20.

Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Mitra said 2,855 teams were formed for the purpose. As many as 294 supervisors would manage the entire drive.

Dr Mitra said the number of teams in comparison to the previous drive had been increased. He said teams would be targeting 4,53,423 homes thereby covering a population of 25,33,116. Dr Mitra said 5,696 employees and volunteers would be participating in the drive. Besides, 1,472 booths to administer polio drops would be set up.

Earlier, a meeting of the district task force for the control of polio was held. The meeting was attended by officials of the Education Department, Police Department and principals of nursing colleges.

Dr Mitra said the drive could not be successful unless all government departments and all sections of society worked for it. He said the country was on the verge of wiping out polio entirely and thus it became even more necessary that every child was immunised.

"Even if a single child is left without administering polio drops, the entire country would be at risk," he said.

He said polio drops could be administered even if the child had been earlier covered, sick or newborn. Small children in the age group of 0-5 years were required to be administered drops. He urged the parents and school authorities to cooperate in the drive.

Amritsar, January 17
All the 42 teams from various universities of the country, who are participating in the ongoing All-India Inter-University Shooting (Men and Women) Championship organised at the shooting range of Guru Nanak Dev University, are facing stiff competition.

Dr H.S. Randhawa, Deputy Director, Sports, said today that in the air rifle (men) competition, Jadhav from NMU, Jalgaon, scored 587 points and got the top position.

Similarly, in the air pistol (men) competition, Vivek Malik from CCSU, Meerut, secured 567 points and excelled in the category.

In the of air rifle (women) competition, Meghana from Jain University, Bangalore, scored 393 points and Amanpreet from the host university got 385 points and got top positions.

In the air pistol (women) competition, Neha Tokas from Delhi University, Delhi, secured 368 points and got the top position.