Women constables lift a protester in the city on Friday.

Amritsar, April 12
The police today foiled an attempt to gherao the office of the Inspector General of Police (IG-Border Range) by the farmers who were protesting against the arrest of about a dozen people in connection with the death of ASI Kulbir Singh at Geobala village in Tarn Taran last month.

A large number of activists of various farmer organisations who gathered at the historic Jallianwala Bagh to proceed to the IG office were stopped at Fuwara Chowk.

The police and the protesters entered into a scuffle as a result of which an old farmer was injured. He was rushed to the hospital. The police took several farmers, including women, in custody and released them later. Agitated over this, the farmers started shouting slogans against the SAD-BJP government.

Kisan Sangharsh Committee, the farmer organisation which is spearheading the protest, claimed that about 40 farmers were arrested from Cheecha village who were heading towards city to participate in the protest.

The farmers were staging a dharna at the C-block Ranjit Avenue, near Chabba village and Fuwara chowk till the filing of report.

Farmer leaders demanded judicial probe from a sitting High Court judge in the ASI’s death who was in-charge at the Manochahal police post. They also demanded immediate release of 11 farmers who were arrested by the police in the case.

Pointing out that the ASI had died due to cardiac arrest, the farmers said the post-mortem examination report confirmed that there was no injury marks on the deceased’s body. They alleged that a murder case was registered in a bid to scuttle the farmers’ agitation.

Heavy police force was deputed in the city last evening to thwart any attempt by farmers to stage protest outside the IG office. The police succeeded in stopping groups of farmers outside the city limits and did not allow them to enter.

Amritsar, April 12
The scene of the Jallianwala massacre, that took place in Amritsar 94 years back on Baisakhi day in which hundreds of people were killed, will be recreated by erecting angle irons donning topiary art at the venue.

Hundreds of people were killed in the reckless firing at the unarmed gathering protesting peacefully at Jallianwala Bagh by soldiers under the command of British officer Gen Dyer on April 13, 1919.

The saplings will be pruned in a manner that they will depict the exact locations where the innocent people were gunned down. For visitors, the site will appear as a true life presentation of the event.

The project, a part of the Central-funded Rs 60 lakh landscaping, is being designed and monitored by senior Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) horticulturist Dr Satish Narula and his team.

At a distance will be a life-size topiary of Gen Dyer ordering his men — kneeling down and in standing position— to fire.

There will be around 15 bushes and hedges as soldiers aiming at around 30 hand and fist plant images representing the martyrs, falling to bullets. The front of the planted fist images will bear slogans of “Jai Hind”.

“These hand-fist topiaries engulfed in hedges and fragrant saplings will be part of a light and sound show but it will take at least two years to take a final shape. The falling or dead plants would be removed and it would be a tribute to the martyrs with a message that their sacrifices will be cherished,” said SK Mukherjee, secretary of the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Trust.

After establishing the not-for-profit souvenir counter, the trust is also initiating to start an exclusive website depicting the details about various programmes, timings of light and sound besides the historical depiction.

Mukherjee said nod had been received from the Central government in this regard.

“We will rope in firms which could help us launching the website of Jallianwala Bagh so that visitors could have beforehand information about this great historical place. On an average 35,000 to 40,000 people come here,” he said.

Amritsar, April 12
The Amritsar rural police has absolved Vipin Kumar, who was nabbed after an exchange of fire at Mattewal village in December, from robbery and attempt to murder charges.

Surprisingly, the police department gave the accused a clean chit notwithstanding the fact that he reportedly confessed to his involvement in several robbery cases. It is mentioned in the FIR that Vipin was nabbed with a .32 bore revolver and cartridges.

Amritsar Superintendent of Police (SSP-rural) Manmohan Singh said the accused had been discharged from the case following an inquiry conducted by SP (D) Jagdeep Singh.

The SP (D) said though Vipin was caught from "near the spot", his role could not be verified in the probe. He did not have any previous criminal record, he added.

He said the accused had

gone to pay obeisance at a dera located near the crime scene.

Sources in the department said Vipin was caught from near a tubewell room along with other criminals. Moreover, the dera was located on the main road, several kilometers from the spot, they said.

The police department has already promoted some police officers for arresting the gang allegedly involved in several cases.

Besides Vipin Kumar, the Amritsar rural police had arrested Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, Gurdeep Singh, Akul Kumar Sharma and Pardeep Singh following an encounter. Sulakhan Singh, son of slain militant Seetal Singh Mattewal and Major Singh had escaped from the spot. The police had recovered two .315 bore rifles, two .315 bore pistols and a .32 bore revolver at the encounter site.

The police had claimed that it had got a tip-off that Sulakhan Singh was involved in forming a gang of looters who had been hiding in him outhouse.

Amritsar, April 12
Dalit land right activists from across the country have come together under the banner of National Alliance for Dalit Land Rights (NADLR) to claim land as had been promised to them at the time of Independence and by various consecutive governments.

Rajeshri Mandloi, senior programme officer, Amritsar, said, "A large number of Dalit land rights bodies have come together to raise their voice to articulate their concerns and demands."

NADLR and Jan Satyagraha have come together for a 'joint action programme' from April12 to 14 in Delhi to demand land for the landless, especially Dalits, Adivasis and women.

Vincent Manoharan, Chairperson, National Federation of Dalit Land Rights Movement, said they would gather at Jantar Mantar tomorrow and day after and push for demands such as equitable distribution of land, freeing land from NRIs and corporations who do not use arable land for agriculture, ensuring land of slum dwellers be registered in their own names."

Amritsar, April 12
The students and the staff of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) are a harried lot these days due to the increasing menace of stray dogs on the varsity campus. Students complain that these dogs are seen on the passage leading to classrooms.

In over 10 incidents the students or the family members of the staff were attacked by the dogs.

On Saturday last, daughter of Prof Davinder Singh had a narrow escape when dogs loitering on the campus attacked her while she was playing near her house. Some days ago, daughter of Prof Prabhdeep Singh was bitten by the canines following which she had to be administered anti-rabies injections.

A student of IT department said that she was always scared of even going to her classroom.“That day we find the dogs sitting in our classrooms in the morning. The authorities here have turned a blind eye. Despite the fact that we have jointly brought it to the matter of our teachers”, told a student.

On the other hand, the university authorities maintained that the MC authorities have repeatedly been apprised of this problem.

These dogs are generally seen spotted around the staff quarters,hostels and canteens.

But with repeated instances of dog attacks, the teachers have decided to raise their voice against it.Prof Davinder Singh, who is also president of the GND University Teachers Association said the matter would be deliberated upon in the campus committee meeting.

• GND University Registrar Dr Inderjeet Singh: It is true. We have approached the MC authorities for redressal of this problem on many occasions earlier but they did not pay any heed to it. I am again writing to the Commissioner, MC, to look into the matter on a priority basis.

• MC Commissioner Bhupinder Singh: The problem of stray dogs is rampant in the city. Despite all constraints, we are taking measures to control the menace. The GND University’s problem would be looked into instantly.

Amritsar, April 12
The holy city faces a major issue of garbage disposal. Unscientific and irregular system of lifting and disposing of garbage and non-execution of the Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Processing Project proposed at Bhaktanwala make residents of the city live in most unhygienic conditions.

The proposed Solid Waste Management Plant project never took off as the Mumbai-based company moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the authorities’ refusal to award the work in its favour.

The matter is still pending, but the court had sternly directed the then Municipal Commissioner, Dharampal Gupta, to make the door-to-door collection and garbage disposal system efficient.

But it was not to be. Since August 7, the Antony Waste Handling Pvt. Ltd., the firm which was engaged to collect and dispose of the garbage at Bhaktanwala dumping site, had withdrawn its operations following a tussle between its management and the Amritsar Municipal Corporation over the payment of its dues. It was then that the MC was forced to engage private trolley operators to do the job, as it was not equipped with adequate infrastructure to remove the garbage from city.

Since these private trolley operators are not professionals, the garbage transportation was not being performed efficiently.

Yet the moot point is that the disposing of garbage is not being done in a scientific manner. After collecting solid waste, it is mandatory as per the government’s waste management rules 2000, to segregate the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, which is not being executed by the firm.

Dr Adlakha said by segregation, the volume of the waste gets sufficiently reduced and it becomes convenient and quick to send dry waste for recycling.

“To encourage citizens, municipal authority shall organise awareness programmes to segregate waste and promote recycling or re-use of the segregated material.”

“For this purpose, regular meetings at quarterly intervals shall be arranged by the municipal authorities with epresentatives of local resident associations and non-government organisations. To our disappointment this rule is not being followed even 12 years after the framing of these rules and there is no record available regarding following of this rule, in the office of Secretary, Local Bodies, Punjab,” he said.

Amritsar, April 12
A musical programme was organised by the Department of Music of Guru Nanak Dev University, here, at the Guru Nanak Bhawan of the university. The programme was organised to mark the occasion of Navratra Pujan.

Diwakar Kashyap and Prabhakar Kashyap popularly known as Kashyap Bandhu, eminent artistes from the Banaras Gharana presented ‘Durga Stuti’, a ‘vandana’, followed by Hori, Chhaiti and Tappa, distinct musical styles.

They also give a brief introduction about various musical concepts of their Gharana.

While expressing concern about the contemporary music, they said: “The need of the hour was to attract the young generation towards our rich heritage of music and vulgar singing should be condemned.”

Dr Gurpreet Kaur, Head and Dean of Visual and Performing Arts, welcomed the chief guest and the others.

She said the department was always encouraging traditional music. Abd it would also organise sufiana evenings and seminars relating to Sufism shortly.

She also honoured Kashyap Bandhu with a shawl and memento on behalf of the university.

Dr Rajesh Sharma Assistant Professor, research scholars Dr Murli Manohar, Ravi Kant and Narinder Singh and students were among those others present.

Amritsar, April 12
The holy city prepares for yet another display of the rich culture and values through the Baisakhi festivities.

A vibrant and exhilarating festival, Baisakhi is typically Punjabi in its celebrations, be it in villages or big cities. Colourful dresses, langar, bhangra and dhol beats are enough proof of the prosperity it is associated with.

But one thing that stands out is its status of being an important festive platform to keep some traditions alive.

“Amongst bhangra and gidda performances, the festival connects us to our rich past. It is important in the Punjabi tradition as it celebrates the simple yet powerful culture of Punjab,” says DS Rataul, Deputy Director, PR, Khalsa College Governing Council.

Celebrating Baisakhi at their educational institutions, students indulge in entertaining acts of bhangra and gatka martial arts.

“We teach gatka and martial arts as a part of school sports curriculum as these serve the purpose of keeping several other baisakhi traditions celebrated by us through generations alive. Baisakhi is also a festival of `positive approach to life’ and a celebration of old and new,” he adds.

Akal Purakh Ki Fauj, a cultural NGO, will be celebrating the festival by spreading the message of keeping the cultural identity alive.

“We have planned a ‘Dastaar March’ on the auspicious day. The procession will be held from the Hall Bazzar to the Golden Temple, with placards encouraging and glorifying ‘Sikhi Swaroop’, said Jaswinder Singh, advocate and president of the NGO.

Of course amidst the cultural calls would be colourful bhangra and gatka performances.

“Festivals in Punjab have cultural and historical importance and through such activities we want to make sure the current generations know and identify these, not just for fun and enjoyment but for the values they stand for. Baisakhi is one such important festival,” says Jaswinder.

Amritsar, April 12
On the eve of Baisakhi festival, as many as 200 students of Central Khalsa Orphanage run by the Chief Khalsa Diwan, were baptised by five beloved ones (panj piyaraas) today.

Children of Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial Secondary School, being run from the premises of the orphanage, presented a cultural programme, besides performing bhangra and gatka (Sikh martial arts).

Amritsar, April 12
On the eve of the 94th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, activists of the All-India Anti Terrorist Front today paid tributes to the victims of the massacre at the historic Jallianwala Bagh memorial here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohinder Singh Sidhu, vice-president of the Punjab chapter of the front, stated that terrorist organisations based in foreign countries were trying to revive terrorism in the state. But, he said, people of Punjab would not allow their nefarious designs and were ready for making supreme sacrifices if the need be. They raised slogans against terrorism and took a pledge to preserve the freedom and integrity of the country.