Jalandhar March 8
A security guard of a private financial institution, Indian Infoline Finance Limited, located near Narinder Cinema, sustained bullet injuries when a rifle of his colleague accidentally went off this morning.

The incident occurred at about 9.30 am when Ramesh Kumar, a security guard of the financial institution, was handing over the weapon to his colleague, Kulwinder Singh, after finishing his duty. The bullet pierced through a foot of Kulwinder Singh. Kulwinder Singh was rushed to the the Civil Hospital, where his condition is said to be stable.

Hearing gun shot, some areas resident informed the police, following which the ADCP (City-II), PS Bhandal, reached the spot and investigated the matter. The police, however, has arrested Ramesh Kumar for performing his duty negligently and a case has been registered against him at the Division No 7 police station.

Jalandhar, March 8
The city advocates observed “no-work day” for the second day today on the call of the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council to express their solidarity with the lawyers of Chandigarh.

The advocates protested against the registration of an FIR against some advocates for allegedly thrashing a head constable.

Being second Saturday, there will be no work in the courts tomorrow. The advocates will decide on Monday the further course of action regarding the ongoing protest. Meanwhile a number of litigants suffered a lot due to the strike.

Jalandhar, March 8
An effective reaction to, or protest against, a gruesome crime or atrocity might not always be violent or even loud in nature. Creative, artistic or cultural means of protest, history is proof, have been as effective in mobilising opinions and causing movements.

While a widespread public outburst has been missing in the state, in response to the spate of atrocities women have had to undergo in the recent days, it was heartening to see an intense reaction to the incident from students of a local college.

Taking an artistic means of expressing their pain - with respect to the December 16th Delhi gang rape incident, widely referred to as the "Damini" case by many sections of the media, and the rise in crimes against women in general - students of the college sought music as a medium.

Choosing International Women's Day to share their angst, students of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of Doaba College launched their poetic single "Nanhi pari" at a press conference here today.

The song, written by MMC (first year) student Robin Bansal and sung by MJMC (first year) student Gunjan Kapoor, is an emotional reminder of the gruesome incident. While its initial draft was composed by the duo, music director Gurmoh composed the music for the final version of the song, which brought tears to many eyes today.

While the overpowering lyrics by Robin touched hearts, the haunting composition, sweet-voiced vocals of Gunjan and the skill with which the song has been executed, certainly made it seem like the work of professionals, rather than a bunch of students.

While the song is written from the point of view of the girl, commenting on how he was able to feel like her, Robin said, "I felt one has to be human enough and one can feel the pain. This wasn't a matter of pain only for women. It's a sorrow and shame that every human being capable of feeling pain would carry in their hearts."

In the song he thinks like a "nanhi pari" (little fairy), and talks about her laughter, her life and her eventual deep hurt as she lays abandoned on a road.

Gunjan's reaction to the incident was initially of fear, "After the incident, I was scared and my parents were scared. I did not want to hear about the case or such incidents and avoided hearing or talking about it," she said.

"When Robin shared that he had written a song about the incident my initial reaction was that I won't read the song," she said.

But eventually, with the support of teachers and co-students, Gunjan was convinced on the issue and she eventually agreed to sing the song with a view to "bring to the world what Damini felt".

While the venture thrived under the support of Head of the Department Simran Sidhu, she shared that the project became so important for students, that they wanted to complete it in time.

"So we ourselves funded and completed the venture since there was no time to write applications and ask for permission from higher-ups," Sidhu said.

In fact the recording of the song was also completed just a few days ago. The college tied up with Radio Mirchi for the release of the song and it has been playing on 32 Radio Mirchi stations across India. Nitin from Radip Mirchi, on the occasion, said people had flooded the station with calls after listening to the song.

Now that the project has been completed, Doaba College faculty say they will also look to make a video for the song. The college authorities, including president Arya Shiksha Mandal, Chander Mohan and Principal Naresh Kumar Dhiman said they would also look into launching the song internationally.

Jalandhar, March 8
To sensitise the police personnel on handling crime cases with regards to women, the Punjab Police today on the occasion of Women’s Day organised a police-public interaction at the Apeejay College of Fine Arts.

An all-women panel, including IG (Zonal) Gurpreet Deo, Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh, Head of the Department of Sociology, Panjab University, Dr Rajesh Gill, Principal of the host college Dr Sucharita and Dr Manjot Kaur addressed the gathering and answered their queries.

IG Deo talked about the implementation of the Criminal Amendment Ordnance-2013 after the December 16 Nirbhaya case. She discussed how Section 354 of the IPC on outraging the modesty of a woman had now been further categorised ensuring harsh punishment for a more serious offence. She even elaborated on the amendment to Section 326 by incorporating part B for acid attack case wherein the sentence could be 10 years upto life imprisonment.

Deo said six women police stations had come up in Punjab, besides women cells in other places. She said even the law stipulated that statements with regard to a rape case be recorded by a woman police officer as far as possible. She said 350 women sub-inspectors and 1,200 woman constables would be recruited by 2015.

She urged the police personnel from six districts in the periphery to ensure more public interaction and live up to the expectations of the masses. Regarding working of the Suvidha Centre, she said open membership by means of advertisement would be introduced for better working

Jalandhar, March 8
A delegation of French meat industrialists today visited a local leather unit with a view to exploring trade possibilities between the two countries. here.

The 22-member delegation, including breeders, meat processors and slaughter house owners, went to Raghu Exports as part of its 10-day Indian tour.

Head, Agrofood Department, French Trade Commission at French Embassy in India, Jerome Desquiens, said, “India is the number one exporter of bovine meat in the world and French meat processors were keen to see Indian meat and leather industry as France also had a significant cattle population and daily production.”

The delegation will visit several units in five cities of various states. The delegation visited a meat processing plant in Meerut, UP, on Thursday and a macro dairy plant in Ludhiana. It will tour a unit in Chandigarh on tomorrow and an industry in Aligarh thereafter.

Jerome said, “We will work on the possibilities of co-operation and trade possibilities between the meat and leather industrialists of the two countries after completing our Indian tour.”

Managing Director, Raghu Exports, said, “It is a matter of honour for Jalandhar and our unit that the French delegation has chosen this city and our unit for its visit.” The delegation members are Olivier Allain, Jean Paul Chapin, Philippe Dagorne, Catherine Debroize, Jean Philippe Derquer, Yves Fantou, Herve Goar and Jean Louis Hervagault among others.

Jalandhar, March 8
Various educational institutions in the city observed International Women’s Day holding award ceremonies and seminars.

St Soldier Group of Institutions organised an event to mark the International Women’s Day celebrations.

As many as 50 girls were awarded the Master Raj Kanwar Chopra scholarships worth Rs 3 lakh on the occasion. The function was inaugurated by chief guest Neelam Kumari, District Education Officer; Dr Reshmi Khurana, Director, All India Radio, Jalandhar; Anil Chopra, chairperson, St Soldier Group of Institutions; Sangeeta Chopra, Vice-Chairperson, St Soldier Group of Institutions, Prof Manhar Arora, Managing Director and Dr Subhash Sharma, principal, St Soldier Law College.

In her inaugural speech, Sangeeta Chopra said this was the time for women to raise their voice to get their due in society.

Neelam Kumari, DEO, said Punjab lagged behind in the field of girl education. Surjit Lal, District Career Counsellor, said there was a need to improve the education system and only then women would get equal status and recognition in society.

Dr Reshmi Khurana said women should appreciate themselves for being what they are. They should empower themselves through education, she said. It was the duty of girls to not accept dowry from their parents, Khurana said.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a function to mark the culmination of the academic session was organised at the KMV College, Amarjyoti.

Gynecologist Dr Sushma Chawla was the chief guest on the occasion. Principal Atima Sharma said the ceremony was being organised for the past few years on International Women’s Day as education was the most powerful tool to empower women. As many as 352 students were awarded for excellence in academics on the occasion.

DIPS Dhilwan also celebrated International Women’s Day with focus on women empowerment and giving them the opportunity to raise their voice against discrimination. Principal Romila Sharma shared her views on the importance of the day.

Women’s Day was also celebrated at the Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Nursing School of the local Civil Hospital. Civil Surgeon Dr RL Bassan was the chief guest on the occasion.

He said women need to be aware of their rights and speak against all kinds of injustice in the society. Students presented skits on the occasion.

Guru Nanak Dev University College, Ladowali Road, celebrated International Women's Day in which Manjit Kaur Saini, ACP, and Surinder Saini, member of welfare society, were invited as guests.

They inspired the students to think progressively for women empowerment and their uplift. A poster-making competition and declamation contest were also held on this occasion in which students highlighted the various roles of women in the form of daughter, wife, sister and mother.

College Principal MJ Kalra honoured Manjit Kaur Saini with the title of "Flying women of the year". In the poster-making competition, Atamjit stood first, Sakshi stood second and Rishika stood third.

In the declamation contest, Jigyasa bagged the first position, Mandeep Kaur second and Mehak third.

Jalandhar, March 8
More than 831 patients were examined and 205 underwent eye operations at a free eye check-up camp at Malri village in Nakodar, near here, today.

Billa Sandhu, Satnam Sandhu and Baroos, all NRIs, organised the camp in the memory of their grandparents. Dalip Singh, a trustee of Sewak Public School, Nakodar, inaugurated the camp.

A team of surgeons, led by Dr Sanjiv Duggal, examined the patients at the camp and later operated upon them at a city-based Hospital for cataract. Patients were also given medicines and spectacles free of cost.