Amritsar, October 5
The deadlock between the municipal corporation (MC) authorities and the employees ended after their issues were resolved amicably at a meeting held with MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda here today.

The employees were on a warpath against the non-payment of salaries to their colleagues associated with various departments.

The meeting ended after Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi intervened in the matter and released funds in the evening amounting to Rs 3.25 crore.

With this outcome, the employees suspended their programme of protest scheduled to be launched from Monday.

Kharbanda said all employees would be given their salaries by October 10. "We have received funds from the government and several employees were paid their salary cheques today only. The rest, too, would get their salary cheques soon," he said.

Visibly satisfied, Surinder Tona, MC Workers Union, president, said almost all grievances had been redressed in a cordial atmosphere. 

Amritsar, October 5
The alleged corruption prevailing in the district health department has come to the fore again, with the revelation that medicines purchased by it from the market were at a much higher price than the one approved by the state government.

Sources in the health department said medicines worth approximately Rs 30 lakh were purchased in the past few months and a few of the medicines were purchased at much higher prices than approved by the state government.

The sources said that every month, medicines around Rs 2-2.5 lakh were purchased by the district department, besides the medicines sent by the state government. These medicines are purchased for meeting the emergency needs in various health institutions in the district.

The sources added that some of the senior officials in the department were aware of the malpractice, but had not initiated any action for want of a written complaint, which was very unlikely to happen.

Earlier, the local purchase of medicines and surgical items had come under scanner when some doctors had refused to use the surgical items distributed from the same lot, alleging that these were substandard. A local doctor had even filed a written complaint, alleging that substandard surgical items were a threat to the safety of doctors.

The department had even purchased recycled cotton, which surgeons had alleged was against the norms.

The district health department had earlier, too, been in the news on charges of corruption. Even during the month of December last year, a health department employee Jai Karan Singh had accused officials of demanding Rs 10,000 for issuing a no-objection certificate required by him for getting a passport issued. An inquiry was immediately ordered, the outcome of which is not known till date.

Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Mitra could not be contacted about the charges of corruption prevalent in the department despite repeated attempts.

Amritsar, October 5
The nine-day Navratra festival, comprising the world-famous unique "Langoor mela" in which children dressed as "langoors" twice a day visit Pracheen Sri Bara Hanuman Temple situated inside Shri Durgiana Mandir, began here today.

The Durgiana Committee, in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation (MC) and Amritsar Police Commissionerate, have made elaborate arrangements for the festival.

The parents whose wish for a son, according to a legend, are granted, make their sons dress as "langoors". These "langoors", dancing to the tune of traditional dhols and passing through different parts of the city, is a rare feast for the eyes.

What Durga Puja is to West Bengal and Dandiya celebrations are to Gujarat, the 10-day "Langoorwala Mela" is to Amritsar, which concludes with Dussehra.

In bright red outfits, with silver and golden trimmings, conical caps, faces smeared with fuller's earth and make-up like "langoors" complete with long tails and silver-coloured staffs, children dressed as "langoors" dance for all nine days of Navratras.

Muslims and Sikhs, who do not believe in idol worship, also bring their children to the Bara Hanuman Temple, which is part of the ancient Durgiana Temple. The temple reportedly has the biggest idol of Lord Hanuman in a unique posture.

The idol of Lord Hanuman is lying in a unique posture as if he is in a relaxing mood. Except Hanuman Gadi, Ayodhya, such a posture cannot be seen anywhere in the world.

Giving details of the "Langoor mela", Harish Taneja, spokesperson, Durgiana Committee, said more than 10,000 children had become "langoors" this time and they had been thronging the ancient temple since the break of the dawn.

According to a legend, the temple of Bara Hanuman was built at a place where twin sons of Lord Rama - Luv and Kush (Lahore and Kasur in Pakistan were named after them, respectively) - who lived in exile with their mother Sita, captured the Ashwamegha horse, let loose after the Ashwamegha yajna performed by Lord Rama to stake his claim over the territories where the horse set the foot. Hanuman, who came to defend the horse, was taken prisoner by the twins and tied to a banyan tree. Later, a temple was built at this place. To commemorate this, couples still tie a red thread on this ancient tree.

The "langoors" remain bare-foot all 10 days and sleep on the floor. On the first day, they bring some sweets, coconut and flowers after seeking blessings from the head priest.

Many childless devotees, irrespective of their religion, don the garb of a "langoor" to seek Lord Hanuman's blessings for the birth of a child, while many children can be seen wearing the "langoor" dress to show their gratitude towards him.

On their part, the parents or the devotees sleep on floor, observe fast, avoid footwear, eat vegetarian food uncut with knife and recite verses from the Ramayana during the entire period. The mela concludes with Dussehra when "langoors" finally take off their outfits near the banyan tree. In case of illness only, "vhibhuti" from the temple is used for cure.

The childless mothers, gifted with a child, untie the thread on the ancient tree only after the fulfilment of their wish.

Amritsar, October 5
With the arrest of four persons, the city police today busted a gang of robbers involved in various robbery instances. One of their accomplices, however, was still absconding.

The police has recovered five snatched mobiles from their possession while more recoveries were likely to be made during interrogation.

Among those arrested were identified as Vikram Singh, Ajaypal Singh, Joban Singh and Samual Masih, all residents of Indira Colony, Verka. Their fifth accomplice Manga was still out of reach of the police net.

Harjit Singh, Station House Office (SHO) Verka police station, said during investigations it was found that the accused were involved in the snatching and other petty crimes and were active in the Amritsar-Attari bypass road till Vallah.

The police has recovered five mobile phones along with sharp-edged and blunt weapons besides a motorcycle without any number.

A case under Sections 399, 402, 382, 411 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against them while further investigations were under progress.

Harjit Singh said the accused were brought on one-day police remand while they would seek more police custody for them.

Amritsar, October 5
The Municipal Corporation’s ‘novel’ way of dismantling a portion of road divider on main Grand Trunk (GT) road near Canal office to ease traffic seems to have taken a backseat as the point has turned into a traffic nuisance point and an accident prone area.

The cemented road divider was dismantled a few months ago just till few meters before the busy cross-section located near the exit gate of the railway station.

The idea was to provide a space for the buses coming from Ajnala road side to take a u-turn just before the cross section for its onward journey to Jhabal road, Sultanwind and Tarn Taran via Lahori gate after crossing over the Rigo Bridge that connects old-walled city and with the remaining city.

But, contrary to MC’s vision it has failed to solve the problem and just has added to the chaos. The buses coming from Bhandari Bridge and Fatehgarh Churian road (Albert road) use the cross section.

The situation becomes dismal when three or four buses coming from Bhandari Bridge, Fategharh Churian road and Ajnala road (via Rani Ka Bagh) converge at same time leading not only to traffic jam but also lead to often brawls and accidents.

The commuters plying two-wheelers are at receiving end as they are those who are under tremendous threat of an accident.

“The drivers of the buses also drive rashly and come dangerously close to the two-wheelers in their attempt to outdo the other bus. This could anytime lead to fatal accident. The authorities, instead of solving the traffic snarl, have just ended up creating another bottleneck,” said a nearby shopkeeper.

What is worse, there are two prominent schools – Holy Heart School and Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary School located at a distance of around 500 meters– are also situated on the same stretch.

“The situation gets worsened during the opening and closing time of the schools,” said Rajan, an auto driver.

The authorities are waiting for a mishap to occur before they act wisely, he said. Moreover, the temporary encroachments by the pull carts selling fruits on the roadside have also added to the chaos.

DPS Kharbanda, MC Commissioner, said he would personally visit the area and look into the problem. “If there is any problem being faced by people, I will get it rectified,” said Kharbanda.

Amritsar, October 5
The satellite hospitals in the city have a role model in Bhai Dharam Singh Satellite Hospital that has set a record by conducting 68 deliveries in a month.

Of the five satellite hospitals in city, Bhai Dharam Singh Satellite hospital is the only one which has conducted more than 40 deliveries in a month.

“We get over 60 delivery patients on an average every month. The number is increasing each day,” said Sanjeev Anand, an officer at the hospital. He said even patients from posh colonies of the city come here for child-delivery services.

The hospital was earlier headed by Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu who later resigned on getting elected as MLA. Even during Dr Sidhu’s time, she had managed to better the services in comparison to other hospitals using her influence.

The satellite hospitals were opened to reduce the rush of delivery patients at Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. However, problems like old buildings, staff shortage and geographical location of the other satellite hospitals have been the reasons for their under performance.

The satellite hospital at Ghanupur Kale is virtually in a pool of stagnant water with wild grass around it. Even the one at Fatahpur village which presently is facing the threat of demolition is located on a piece of barren land where not many people go even during day.

Dr Kuldeep Kaur, in-charge, Bhai Dharam Singh Satellite Hospital, said, “It takes time to build the reputation of an institution. But we are proud that our team has done it.” She said considering the services being provided by the hospital, it should be upgraded and the facility of Caesarian section should be introduced.

Dr Kuldeep Kaur and Dr Hardeep Kaur provide gynaecology services at the hospital. The latter is also assigned the duty of government dispensary at Mannawala, where she goes thrice a week.

Amritsar, October 5
The Municipal Corporation would be hiring technical know-how to implement the Punjab Municipal Outdoor Advertisement policy, 2012, in its ‘true letter and spirit’.

The Local Bodies government has directed the MC to engage a private consultancy firm who could sort out the locations where the hoardings, billboards and banners could be pasted in a manner that it should not deface the surrounding.

Ironically, it would be none other than our worthy leaders themselves, who leave no stone unturned to flout the norms and deface the public properties and city surroundings by letting their hoardings and banners erected while giving two hoots to the High Court norms which restraint from erecting hoardings or advertisements on the roadsides as it cause accidents, besides dotting the city surroundings.

Plugging this menace, the MC Amritsar, has spared a dedicated team under the tutelage of MC Commissioner, DPS Kharbanda. This team would make sure that the stipulated norms as per the guidelines of the HC should be adhered to before letting the sites allowed for installing hoardings.

According to new norms, these unipoles and advertisement sites would be auctioned for a shorter duration of three months.

It was for the first time that the Punjab Government had taken a decision to conceptualise an ad policy and decision was taken by the Council of Ministers at a meeting held a couple of months ago under the Chairmanship of CM Parkash Singh Badal.

Earlier, no norms were in sight while awarding the contracts in 2005-2006 to the firms for displaying their advertisements. Consequently, there was a total mess. Even the sights vacated were being misused by the advertisers and political bosses.

Official records revealed that there is around 112 government and 150 non-government hoardings or unipoles in various parts of the city. Out of 112, the validity of around 95 unipoles has already expired, still majority of them galore in the city.

Similarly, defying all rules, the owners of the properties (both residential and commercial) have been earning handsome amount by leasing out their rooftops to private firms while letting them to put up their hoardings. All these attempts were clear violation of the HC directions.

Kharbanda said Local Bodies minister Anil Joshi had directed to hire the consultancy firm seeking their technical advice for the purpose of installing hoardings and bill boards so that the HC directions should not be violated.

“The tenders for hiring the firm would be floated within a span of one week. We would have a guide way. We will be adopting a transparent and uniform policy in auctioning the sites for advertisement,” he said.

Amritsar, October 5
DAV International School emerged as winners in the U-19 (Boys) category during the three-day CBSE North Zone II Lawn Tennis Championship 2013 held at the DAV International School here from October 3 to 5.

About 300 tennis players from various CBSE affiliated schools from all over Punjab and Haryana exhibited their skills during this lawn tennis fiesta. It was organised under the aegis of CBSE under the able guidance of principal, Anjana Gupta. In the closing ceremony today, RJ Khanderao, Joint Secretary, CBSE, Panchkula, was the chief guest. The entire school campus was adorned for the occasion and the whole ambience appeared to be in the mood of fervour and festivity.

Keeping alive the Indian tradition of welcoming the guests, the dignified guests were escorted to the venue under the canopy of Phulkari. They were given a warm floral welcome by the principal of the school which was followed by lamp lighting ceremony. Vedic Mantras were chanted to invoke the blessings of the Almighty. A fusion dance titled ‘Krishna’ portraying ‘Krishna as a Saviour’ was presented by the students of DAV International. Also, an energy-packed Punjabi Fiesta- a folk dance presentation enthralled the audience with its richness.

Dr VP Lakhanpal, chairman of the school, appreciated the efforts put in by the players. CBSE North Zone II Lawn Tennis Championship 2013 was declared closed by the Chief Guest. At the end, a prize distribution ceremony was held in which all the winners were awarded with trophies and certificates by the chief guest.

Amritsar, October 5
With the opening of multiplex Trilium today the residents of the holy city would be in a position to enjoy state-of-the-art shopping at their door steps.

Despite the global slowdown the Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited claimed to have rented out 140 shops out of a total of 220 in the retail mixed use mall.

Raised at an investment of Rs 510 crore the shopping mall, spread over 7 lakh square feet, is located at Circular Road. The shopping mall will be a part of the proposed International City Centre, which will house a 5-star hospitality property – ‘Vivanta’ by Taj, and upscale commercial and residential complexes. Trilium, with its design and the All Under One Roof (AUOR) concept, will be the one stop shop for Amritsar residents and its grandeur will add to the inimitable Punjabi spirit of celebrating life.

Designed by the international architectural firm – RTKL, USA, the mall will offer a diverse blend of retail and entertainment arenas that include a food court with over 800 seating capacity.

Amritsar, October 5
The Punjab police has arrested nine persons on the charges of possessing narcotic substances and illicit liquor in the city as well as the rural belt of the holy city.

Among those arrested include three Maharashtra residents who were held with 6 kg of poppy husk and Rs 65,000 cash. They were identified as Kuldip Singh, Pargat Singh and Heera Singh, all residents of Mohari Shivanand Housing Society, Dhulia, Maharashtra.

The Maqboolpura police has also impounded a truck from their possession numbering MH-18-AA-4455.

The Sultanwind police has arrested Gurnam Singh, a resident of Tirathpura, and confiscated 100 gram of heroin from his possession.

Raghuraj, a resident of Shareefpura, and Amritpal Singh, a resident of Baba Bhori Wala Chowk, were nabbed with 110 gm of narcotic powder and 180 capsules of habi- forming drugs, respectively.

They all have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS act.

Meanwhile, the Amritsar rural police held Ajit Kumar, a resident of Bihar and Baldev Singh, a resident of Zeera, Ferozepur, with 400 intoxicant tablets and 100 gm of narcotic powder, respectively.

Also, Bikka Masih, a resident of Naag Kalan, was arrested with 7,500 ml of illicit liquor.

Amritsar, October 5
Ten months after a body was found in mutilated condition in Mand area near bank of Beas river, the Amritsar Rural police today claimed to have solved the blind murder case.

The deceased was identified as Saawan Singh, a resident of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

The police has arrested a migrant from Uttar Pradesh identified as Pappu Singh in this regard while his accomplice, Goldy, a resident of Sathiala village was still absconding.

The two had allegedly murdered Saawan over a monetary dispute and later dumped his body in the Mand area.

While detailing, Manmohan Singh, Senior Suprintendent of Police Amritsar rural, said Saawan along with his three friends Anwar, Iqbal and Ashu had visited to a religious Dera at Beas in December last year.

They deposited their mobile phones and clothes there and later came to Amritsar in search of a job.

Saawan left them in Amritsar and returned to dera and from there fled away with their mobile phones and other belongings.

He sold the mobile phone of Ashu to one of the accused Pappu Singh and started staying with him. Through him he came in contact with the second accused who was a drug addict.

During this period, a dispute occurred between Saawan, Pappu and Goldy. Enraged over this Pappu and Goldy decided to teach him a lesson and took him to Mand area on the pretext of consuming ‘Bhang’.

The Senior Suprintendent of Police said the accused tied Saawan’s hands and legs before stuffing a piece of cloth in his mouth. Later, the accused strangled him to death. The whole episode came to light when Pappu narrated the whole incident to his friend Brij Pal, a resident of Karnal (Haryana).

The Senior Suprintendent of Police said while the police has arrested Pappu, raids were being conducted to nab his accomplice Goldy who has been on run.