Amritsar, May 16
In a late-night raid, the Sultanwind police rescued 15 children, aged between 5 and 10, who were reportedly being forced to work in inhuman conditions.

They were forced to work for around 18 hours daily and were also beaten up with wires and wooden sticks in case they tried to defy the contractor, who had brought them here after luring their families.

A majority of these children belong to Bihar and their parents are very poor and work as farm labourers. The children said they were given food only twice a day. The wounds and marks on the body of several children tell the tale of inhuman treatment meted out to them.

Some rescued children show the injury marks on their arms in Amritsar on Thursday. Photos: Sameer Sehgal

A rescued child shows the picture of the contractor, Arwind Jaiswal, who brought them from Bihar to Amritsar, on Thursday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal

They used to manufacture artificial earrings.

The police has initiated action under the charges of the Human Trafficking Act against their contractor, identified as Arvind Kumar Jaiswal, also a resident of Bihar.

For the past one and a half year, they never went out of their rented accommodation. They were kept in the house taken on rent by Jaiswal.

“Since the day we were brought from our house in Bihar, we were never allowed to go out of the house,” said an inmate Vikas Kumar (10), who used to cook the food for all the children. He said, “Our maalik (owner) allowed us to prepare and serve food at 11 am and at 6 pm, while we woke up at about 4 am and sleep at 12 pm."

Another child Ritav Kumar said they were not given money for their labour. Jaiswal told us that he gave Rs 1,000 per month as salary to our parents in Bihar.

A team of the Labor Commissioner office and health department reached the spot after they were informed by the police party.

Jagir Singh, labour inspector, said their condition at the rented accommodation were pitiable. All children were packed in a single room where they lay on the floor. They were given dirty and torn clothes to wear.

The matter came to light when a lady, Shambo Devi, noticed three boys on the roof the house who were demanding something to eat.

“I entered the house from the rooftop and was shocked to see the pathetic condition of these children. I immediately informed the police station about this,” she said.

Snehlata, child development and project officer, said a meeting of child welfare board would be held tomorrow morning about the rehabilitation of the rescued children.

Arun Sharma, SHO, Sultanwind police station, said a case under the Human Trafficking Act was being registered against Jaiswal, who had gone to his village for his marriage.

Chandigarh, May 16
Nearly two decades ago, the Punjab Government had claimed that a no-objection certificate for acquiring land to set up BSF campus in Amritsar district was issued on the condition that a member of the oustee families would be appointed in the paramilitary force.

But, the BSF authorities have now turned down the plea on the ground that there was no such provision under the recruitment rules.

It has also claimed that such a promise was never made. The Punjab and Haryana High Court too has refused to interfere in the matter. The issue was brought to the High Court’s notice by Gurlal Singh and other petitioners after land in three villages of Amritsar district was acquired for setting up the campus. In their petition against the Union of India and others respondents placed before Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa, the petitioners had raised a claim for recruitment to “suitable posts” in the BSF.

The petitioners had claimed that they belonged to a family whose land was acquired in 1988 for setting up the campus. To substantiate their contention, they had referred to a communication issued by the Under Secretary to the Government of Punjab, Revenue Department.

The Under Secretary had asserted that no-objection certificate for the acquisition of land in Mehmoodpura, Valtoha and Daudpura was being issued subject to the condition that “one eligible adult member from the family of each landowner, whose land is acquired, would be provided employment by the BSF".

Taking up the matter, Justice Dhindsa asserted, “The claim of the petitioners apparently has been considered and rejected by the BSF authorities in the light of a letter dated January 6, 2010, whereby it has been clarified that the BSF had never made any promise as regards providing any employment in lieu of land acquired and there is no such provision under the recruitment rules.”

Dismissing the petition, Justice Dhindsa added, “In the present writ petition, there is no challenge raised to the letter dated January 6, 2010, which can be construed clearly as a rejection of the claim of the petitioners raised in the instant writ petition. Accordingly, the prayer raised in the instant writ petition cannot be entertained.”

Amritsar, May 16
The Punjab government recently passed orders for transferring a piece of Municipal Corporation land in the name of an individual about which the concerned departments of the civic body, Amritsar, had no idea.

The Municipal Corporation, later on, in a damage control mode, instantly withheld the registry of the land till further orders. The land, measuring approximately 30.62 square yards, belonged to the MC located adjacent to the house of one Dr Krishan Thakur.

Krishan Thakur said his house was located at the end and that the complainants did not belong to the same locality.

“This is a false and fabricated story concocted by some persons who themselves have been facing criminal proceedings against them. They live in a separate locality and the land under question does not hinder any public passage,” he said.

“They want to malign my image. They themselves have encroached upon a 250 square yard mosque located behind my house,” he claimed.

Krishan Thakur, however, refrained from commenting upon the Punjab government’s orders which had directed to allot the chunk of land to him. Neither did he comment over who had issued the orders or how these orders were obtained.

The government’s orders, the copy of was produced by complainants Ashwani Kumar and Arun Kumar, say that the piece of land falling in fire brigade street, Mahan Singh Gate, should be transferred in the name of Dr Thakur for a sum of Rs 3.25 lakh.

The officials of Land and Estate Department, Municipal Town Planning Department or Engineering Department were clueless about the development.

They said the case regarding the said piece of land was never put up for sale to the Punjab government by the MC. The residents of the locality had reportedly submitted their complaint with the MC in writing.

“This piece of land was MC’s which Thakur intended to grab at nominal rates by misleading government officials. We had approached the HC which had directed the MC officials on January 23 to clarify and submit the ownership status of the land but the officials could not reach any conclusion till date,” said Ashwani Kumar, one of the complainants.

MC Commissioner Bhupinder Singh Rai said, “We had received government orders for transferring the piece of land in the name of a particular resident. But the registry has been withheld after we received complaints from the residents. I have ordered a thorough inquiry into the episode which will be conducted by the Assistant Commissioner. We need clarification from the government regarding the authenticity of the orders and the basis on which such orders were passed. We are seeking clarification before proceeding in the matter.”

Municipal Town Planner Des Raj said, “We have checked our records and no communication has been sent from our department about the case.

“This case was never sent through our department. The matter is subject to verification and has been brought to the knowledge of the MC Commissioner to take further action,” Estate Officer Vishal Wadhawan said.

Amritsar, May 16
Continuing his love-hate relationship with his fans and critics, rapper Honey Singh has again made it to the headlines. The popular Punjabi rapper faced the ire of the Punjab and Haryana High Court when it slammed the singer and the Punjab Government for bringing disrepute to the Indian culture. The court asked the government for taking steps to check vulgarity and obscenity in the Punjabi music and entertainment industry.

The recent criticism has opened a can of worms again, refuelling the debate on the increasing vulgarity in the music industry and lewd lyrics. We talk to some industry insiders about the burning issue.

"Honey Singh has been just one amongst many popular singers who are being blamed for culture corruption through music. I believe the high court verdict should be taken seriously by the authorities and steps taken to ensure that such trend should not be encouraged. They might be popular, but the popularity doesn't come with obsene lyrics. Gurdas Mann is also popular, in fact he is a legend in the Punjabi music industry and his songs were entertaining without any cheap gimmicks," says Kala Nizmpuri, Punjabi lyricist and composer.

Padma Shree Surijit Patar, noted Punjabi writer, too, shared his happiness over the attempt to clean the polluted Punjabi entertainment industry. "Poetry is missing in today's Punjabi songs. A woman's beauty described with beautiful poetry has been replaced by 'lacharpan', reducing it to a mere body."

Punjabi actor Arvinder Bhatti, too, feels that the decision is welcome as it will ensure that punjabi culture doesn't deteriorate anymore than it already has, thanks to such vulgar songs. "Earlier, public outburst against the ones responsible for encouraging profanities in Punjabi music fell on deaf ears. But now with the high court directing the government to take action, something worthwhile will emerge. As far as the creative hand in cinema is concerned, freedom should not be taken for granted."

The rapper had earlier, too, faced public ire and has PIL's filed against him. His concerts had been cancelled due to protests over his lyrics post the Delhi rape Case. His controversial music always in limelight, Honey Singh has managed to bag plum Bollywood projects and has also signed a record deal for Rs 70 lakh, to compose a song in an upcoming Hindi film.

"Anti-women songs have become a trend now. Whether its Honey Singh's alleged songs or the 'Chikni Chamelis' of Bollywood, songs that objectify women are being enjoyed without any guilt. So why blame only one artiste?" says Vandana Kumar, a Punjab-based art and culture critic. "Yes, his songs promote misogyny and are provocative, but so are others," she emphasises. "If Honey Singh's official Facebook page has over 2 million likes and his shows are being attended by thousands of youngsters, there is a problem in the mindset and not just the singer. Having some laws to keep a check on it might help, but that will have to be seen," she says.

Amritsar, May 16
Resentment is brewing among the students at Government Medical College here as the college has taken a decision to club their summer vacations with anti-ragging holidays.

The students said this had been done to favour some NRI students at the college. As per the schedule followed for years now, the students would have summer vacations in the month of June, while anti-ragging holidays would commence from August 1.

A disgruntled student said, “Many of the students at medical college are from other states. We had already made our train reservations and now it is not fair on the part of the college to change the system, which had been in practice for years.”

The anti-ragging holidays are from April 1 to 13. As the new MBBS batch joins the college from April 1, there has been a practice to send the older students on leave so that new-comers can adjust in the atmosphere without any fear of being ragged by the seniors.

Another student said, “The older system was best as it gave the opportunity to students to meet their parents twice. It would be better if the authorities revert to the older system.”

The students said they had met the college principal to apprise him of the problem they would face if the system is changed. “The Principal had assured that the old system would be followed. But we do not see the promise being fulfilled,” said another student.

The students said they could not afford to cancel their reservations as it would be difficult to make a fresh reservation if the holidays were not on the old schedule.

Meanwhile, the others who are in favour of clubbing the holidays said, “It would give us more time to be with our families. It would not be possible for us to fly out to our countries twice within a month. So if the holidays are clubbed, we will get a chance to meet our families.”

Amritsar, May 16
International award-winning filmmaker Meera Dewan has come with her new production ‘Gur Prasad: The Grace of Food’.

The film is a 58-minute-long documentary on India’s tradition of food sharing. ‘Gur Prasad: The Grace of Food’ is made for the film division of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Dewan visited the historical Khadur Sahib to present the film’s first copy to Baba Baldev Singh, representative of Kaar Sewa Khadur Sahib.

“Filmmaking is my passion. My first documentary film was Gift of Love. It was an anti-dowry film that won 11 international awards at leading film festivals worldwide,” said Dewan while talking to the mediapersons.

About the new documentary, she said, “At a time when there is widespread hunger and a nutritional crisis in India, the film recalls a rich living tradition of food sharing as widely practiced at langars or community kitchens by the Sikh community.”

She appreciated langar arrangements at Mata Kheevi Langar run by Baba Sewa Singh Kaar Sewa Wale, a noted environmentalist and religious preacher.

Meera has produced over 30 documentaries for Doordarshan and various ministries of the Governement of India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Women and Child Development among others.

She collaborates with TV stations around the world to produce films on human rights and themes of alternate visions, particularly around issues relating to Indian women and their movements.

Her films have won over 21 international and national awards. Notable among them are the awards she won at the International Film Festival of India, Festival de Films du Femmes, France; Oberhausen Film Festival; Leipzig Film Festival; Reina Film Festival, France; Okomedia Film Festival and the Mumbai International Film Festival.

Amritsar, May 16
After the car of a doctor at Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital went missing from the hospital premises yesterday, hospital employees have demanded more security staff on the hospital premises.

The car of Dr Arun Sharma, working with the blood bank at the hospital, went missing from the parking area yesterday. He came to know about the incident when he started to leave the hospital after duty hours.

Rakesh Sharma, chairman, Civil Hospital Employees Welfare Association, said the hospital needed to have more of security personnel to guard the premises. The hospital also often faces the problem of theft of sanitary fittings from its washrooms, as a result of which hospital employees and visitors have to face a problem. — TNS

Amritsar, May 16
A government school principal, Kanwaljit Kaur, today accused a SAD leader and his family for grabbing their ancestral land.

Addressing mediapersons along with her mother, Amarjit Kaur said around 5 acres agricultural land in Jasraur village besides a house located in Jujhar Avenue, Ajnala road belonged to her father Jaspal Singh who died in March 2008. She said her only brother Ramandeep Singh also died in November 2012.

She alleged that Ramandeep’s wife along with her parents and Harjit Singh of Jasraur village hatched a conspiracy to usurp their share (Kanwaljit’s and her mother’s) in the property by forging documents and preparing bogus will of her father.

She alleged that the accused along with a patwari also tampered with the revenue record to grab the property. She approached the senior police officials and the district administration seeking justice.

An inquiry is being conducted by the District Revenue Department. The police said SP (D) Jasdeep Singh was conducting the probe.

Jasdeep Singh said the investigations were under progress and appropriate action would be taken against the culprits if found guilty. Ratan Singh Randhawa of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha said they would start an agitation if the departments concerned failed to provide justice to the family. — TNS

Amritsar, May 16
NRI Sachin Gupta, who hails from the city, has become the youngest ever Mayor of London Borough of Hounslow. Born and bred in Amritsar, Gupta, 37, has made his family and the city proud with his achievement. Since the news arrived, the Gupta family has become the talk of the town.

Gupta served as a cabinet member for education and communities in 2012 and added communication to his portfolio is 2012. He will succeed Pritam Grewal as the Mayor of Hounslow. In an email sent to his family on the day he got elected, Gupta expressed his happiness over the responsibility that has been put on his shoulders. His father Amarjit Gupta has been receiving congratulatory calls since.

“Sachin went to the UK in 1998 to pursue his management degree. His interest in politics and community activities made him a popular face amongst the Indian community in UK which resulted in his becoming a councillor in 2010.”

Gupta did his schooling from KBR Mordern School in Shastri Nagar and later went to DAV College.

After mayoral election, he announced his two charities for the coming year which will be Ovarian Cancer Action and Tropical Zoo, now based at Hounslow Urban Farm.

He currently works for Heathrow Airport where he is a facilities inspector. His wife and two children Aryan, 5, and Sienna, 3, live in Bedfont. — TNS

Jalandhar, May 16
An elderly farmer and his nephew were kept in illegal custody allegedly at the behest of a local Akali leader for two days at the Kartarpur police station.

Narrating their woes, Pargat Singh and his nephew Gurpreet Singh said ASI Pargat Singh had come to their house on Sunday evening asking them to come to the Kartarpur police station to discuss the issue of wall construction on their land.

Pargat Singh was reportedly constructing a wall covering a portion of his land. SAD leader Lakhbir Singh and his associates opposed it as they wanted to use his land to reach his fields.

"Instead of discussing the issue of wall construction, the police kept us in illegal custody till Tuesday," he alleged.

During their custody, he said, Lakhbir Singh and his aides forcibly entered his house and attacked his son Girdawar Singh and his wife Balbir Kaur on Sunday night itself.

Girdawar said Lakhbir and his aides attacked them with sharp-edged weapons and pelted stones at them. Both Girdawar and his wife Balbir Kaur sustained injuries in the attack and were admitted to the Kartarpur Civil Hospital.

The police did not register an FIR against the assailants even as BSP district general secretary Kamal Dev Jandusingha brought the matter to the notice of senior police officials, including Superintendent of Police (SP-D) Rajinder Singh and Kartarpur DSP Jasbir Singh Rai.

The police booked Pargat Singh and his nephew Gurpreet Singh under sections 107 and 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Tuesday after keeping them in captivity for two days.

They were released on the same day after getting bail from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

Some members of the other group were also booked under same sections.

Meanwhile, the police has booked some members of Lakhbir Singh's group for attacking Pargat Singh's son. But serious sections were not slapped in the FIR, Jandusigha said.

DSP Jasbir Singh Rai said, "I visited the spot on Thursday. Pargat Singh and his nephew Gurpreet Singh should inform me about their illegal confinement. I will get it verified."

Jandusingha has demanded legal action against Kartarpur SHO Inderjit Singh and slapping of sections 307 and 452 of the IPC against the accused for attacking Pargat's family.

Amritsar, May 16
While the number of infectious diseases here are on the rise, the city's only specialised health institution to deal with such ailments has given way to the busy IDH market near the inter-state bus terminal.

The present IDH market has got its name from the Infectious Diseases Hospital, which was at the place during the pre-Partition era. In the present scenario, the place is occupied by shops of electrical goods shops, besides substandard bakeries and noodle manufacturing units.

Naresh Johar, a city-based socialite, said, “There used to be a specialised hospital named Infectious Diseases Hospital for treating various kinds of infections only. Even this day, around 40 per cent of the total diseases of humans are infectious or caused by some infections. The hospital was of immense use to the people of the area before 1947."

The old building of the hospital was demolished decades ago and a whole new market in its place came up. Balkaran Singh, a shopkeeper operating from the market, said, “Our grandfather had bought the shop long ago. We have heard from elders that there used to be a hospital at the place. At present, there is no visible sign which could suggest that a hospital ever existed."

The city has another hospital, Municipality Hospital at Dhab Khatika whose building was inaugurated in 1917. At the time of its opening, the hospital was named Princess of Wales Jenana Hospital and was inaugurated by Lady Chemsford on April 16, 1917.

The Municipality Hospital is still run from a block of the old building, parts of which are considered unsafe. Sushil Kumar, a local resident, said, “The Municipality Hospital has such a large building that it could house multi-specialty hospital. At present, the hospital helps in normal child deliveries and immunization. The place should be preserved and put to good use, otherwise after a few years, it would have the same fate as IDH."

Amritsar, May 16
Dr Urmila Lakhanpal, former head of the Community Medicine Department, Government Medical College, Amritsar, was cremated at the Sri Durgiana Mandir Cremation Ground here today. The funeral ceremony was held amid prayers for the peace of the departed soul. She passed away on May 14. The family members, acquaintances and the entire DAV fraternity bid a tearful adieu to the departed soul. Lakhanpal was also a social activist involved in several social, educational and religious organisations.

She laid a strong foundation for ‘Nav Chetna’ and ‘Nav Prerna’ projects for underprivileged section of the society. A number of organisations expressed their grief on her death. The entire staff and students of DAV International School observed silence for two minutes to pay their homage.