Jalandhar, November 28
The investigation into the Rashi Sharma death case has come to a dead end, at least for now, as the medical board conducting investigations into the matter today maintained a two-fold view on it.

While on the one hand, the medical board said Rashi could have died of medical negligence or anaphylactic shock during the septum removal surgery at Vardaan Hospital in September, on the other it also maintained that the exact cause would only be ascertained once the post-mortem report was received.

The report has been submitted to the Civil Surgeon’s office.

“We have thoroughly scrutinised Rashi Sharma’s treatment process at various levels to check if any negligence took place. But we were not able to detect the exact stage as when exactly it had happened. However, the role of the anaesthetist is under scrutiny as it seems that he was not able to notice the change in Rashi Sharma’s vital signs on time. Now, we are waiting for the post-mortem report to identify the exact cause of death,” said RL Bassan, Civil Surgeon, Jalandhar.

Basan said Rashi’s viscera had been sent for histopathology to Amritsar and for chemical examination to the Kharar laboratory the results of which may take months to come out due to huge backlog.

The police have since long been waiting for the medical board report to conduct further investigations into the case. They now will have to wait for months for the post-mortem report to find the actual cause of Rashi Sharma’s death.

The medical board constituted by the Civil Hospital comprised Dr Balbir Singh Multani, Chairman, Dr Kashmiri Lal, Dr Mukesh Verma and Dr Varinder Kaur.

Did Rashi have bicarnate uterus, not septum?

During the investigations of the medical board, a new theory has also surfaced as whether Rashi was having a bicarnate uterus which was mistakenly taken as septum by the doctors at Vardaan Hospital.

A bicarnate uterus is like heart-shaped abnormal uterus with muscles placed like walls. If the muscle entirely divides the uterus into two parts then only it is called a septum. Rashi's family claimed that the doctors mistakenly took muscles as walls and cut it thus causing excessive bleeding and abdominal pain after the first surgery following which she was called again on the fateful day of 30th September for a re-look.

Although, Rashi's family asked the hospital authorities to preserve the uterus, it was not done by them. If the uterus would have been preserved by the hospital authorities, it could have been very helpful in the investigations.

Questions raised by Rashi’s family & panel's replies

Q. On what parameters did the medical board check medical negligence?

Ans: A thorough scrutiny was carried right from day one of Rashi's first visit to the Vardaan Hospital to her death at Johal Hospital. All seven doctors who had examined her during the treatment have been called and examined if any negligence took place on their part. However, role of the anaesthetist is under scanner.

Q: Why Rashi was taken to Johal Hospital and not to PIMS or SGL which were very near to Vardaan Hospital?

Ans: Under good faith and trust in the doctors of Johal hospital, Rashi could have been taken there for a super-specialty treatment by the Vardaan management.

Q: Vareesh, the Managing Director of Vardaan, is not a doctor. But he is treating patients and has done many courses which only a doctor can do. He has got fake degrees and certificates.

Ans: Though not being a doctor, Vareesh can run the hospital by hiring medical professionals. As far his fake degrees are concerned, the complainant will have to submit original certificates to prove their point. Also, a case is going on in the court in this connection.

Q. Vardaan did not send the case history of Rashi when she was taken to Johal Hospital. On what basis, they started her treatment?

Ans: Vareesh had spoken to Dr Johal on phone and briefed him about the case.

Q. In the first statement to the medical board, Vareesh confirmed not to have an ICU and ventilator in his hospital. Then how come he got the ventilator just a day before the inspection of the medical board team in his office?

Ans: He had shown us old receipts of ventilator which he had bought a few years ago.

"There seems to be some discrepancy in the report. In the absence of fluid measuring device in the OT, the fluid with excessive force gushed into the lungs at once thus causing immediate pulmonary oedema. In such cases, the reaction is quick"

— DDr Mahinder Pal, anaesthetist in question

"There cannot be any negligence on part of Dr Mahinder Pal as he is a very sincere anaesthetist practising for the last 14 years with Vardaan. His efficiency is beyond doubt. Since he changed his statement twice in front of the board, he came under the scanner"

— Vareesh Kumar, Managing Director, Vardaan Hospital

"The report is complete eyewash to save Vareesh Kumar. With such vague report, the hands of police are tied till the post-mortem report comes out. But we are approaching the Punjab Medical Council against Vareesh and the unprofessional way the medical Board conducted the investigation. We want to put the culprits behind bars"

— Amit Sharma, Rashi Sharma's husband

Jalandhar, November 28
Even as the Mandi Fentonganj Girls Senior Secondary School Managing Committee has alleged discrepancies in the mid-day meal being served at the school, not even a single report has been submitted on the inquiry ordered into the matter by the officials concerned so far.

On 31 July this year, Ajay Jagota, joint secretary of the School Management Committee had written to Rajesh Bagha, chairman, SC Commission, Punjab, alleging misutilisation of funds and misappropriation of funds and goods provided by the government for mid-day meal at the school.

The letter also alleged that the school had been charging fee from the children belonging to the SC community.

The letter addressed by Jagota also claimed that on a number of occasions, RTI applications have been sent to inquire about expenses made by the school in preparing mid-day meal from 2005 to 2013 but no record had been made available to him till date (of sending the letter).

DC Varun Roojam, taking note of the alleged discrepancies, on November 18 had ordered the checking of mid-day meal and sought a report on the issue of fee being charged from the SC/BC students, the inquiry on it had been marked to Deputy DEO Harinder Pal Singh, who was given a week to look into the matter.

But no report on the issue has reached either the chairman of SC commission or the Jalandhar DC till date.

Ajay Jagota said, “In 2005, a school watchman had alleged that some members of the school management had asked him to sell ration meant for mid-day meal. I had written to the then District Education Officer (DEO), DPI (Secondary), Deputy Commissioner and school principal. Later on, discrepancies in mid-day meal ration or distribution were pointed out and questioned by us. All I am asking for from the school management is bills of mid-day meal ration purchased from 2005 till now. But they have not provided the bills so far.”

Rajesh Bagha, chairman, SC Commission, said, “A complaint on the issue had been received by me. An inquiry has been marked to the DEO Secondary. As soon as I get the findings, they will be made public and adequate action will be taken.”

DC Varun Roojam said, “An inquiry was marked to the Deputy DEO but the report has not been submitted to me so far. The department has been asked to submit it.”

Meanwhile, Madan Lal, chairman of the School Management Committee said, “There is nothing wrong with the mid-day meal being served at the school. We are also 
not charging any fee from SC/BC students. These are false claims made to malign the image of the school.”

While Jagota is one of the members of the original SMC, Madan Lal has been appointed as the SMC chairman over two months back (as he claimed). Their respective stances on mid-day meal and fee issue differ and they have also openly raised questions about each others validity as SMC members.

Jalandhar, November 28
The Co-operative Department of Punjab has reduced the premium of new membership for cooperative societies to avail the benefits of the Bhai Ghanaiya Scheme.

The members up to the age of 75, under the scheme, can get medical treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam yesterday said the department had decided to reduce the premium from Rs 1,300 to Rs 684 for new members. He said it was a novel scheme under which a member has to pay a nominal premium of Rs 101 for the dependents up to the age of 45, Rs 202 for dependents up to the age of 65 and Rs 270 for those aged between of 65 and 75.

Roojam further said Jalandhar with 7,765 members and 11,281 dependents collected a premium to the tune of Rs 1.23 crore and more than 3,500 members had already availed the medical benefit of over Rs 1.5 crore. 

Jalandhar, November 28
The members of the SSA/RMSA Non-Teaching Employees Union today staged a dharna outside the Press Club and distributed pamphlets in support of their demands here.

The protest by the SSA/RMSA employees about the implementation of revised pay scales reached its 11th day. Meanwhile, the pen-down strike of the employees reached its 39th day.

District president of the union said the Education Department on November 22 arranged a meeting of the union members in the presence of Education MinisterSikander Singh Maluka, Principal Secretary Education, Anjali Bhawra and Director General of School Education (DGSE) Kumar Rahul.

Union members alleged that during the meeting, the Education Minister backtracked from the promises which he made in three previous meetings held in the presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and said the Punjab finance department could not pay its 35 per cent share.

The Centre, however, is ready to pay its own share of the 65 per cent, union members said. The employees started a campaign under which pamphlets were distributed at the bus stand, various localities and villages across districts.

In continuation of the campaign, the protesting members of the union will also hold dharnas in New Delhi against the Akali candidates contesting elections from the Delhi Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Rajouri Garden, Kalka Ji, Shahadara and Harinagar.

Jalandhar, November 28
Sandeep Sachdeva, an auto-rickshaw driver and the father of Class VI student Paras who is suffering from a life-threatening disorder, is running from pillar to post these days.

Unaware of the disorder hypogammaglobulinemia, Paras feels exhausted after playing for 15 minutes.

His condition worsened in October when he could not come out from respiratory distress and was put on medication for tuberculosis at a city-based hospital.

A brilliant student, Paras was referred to the advanced paediatric centre of PGI, Chandigarh, where doctors diagnosed him of primary immunodeficiency disorder (X-Linked agammablobulinemia).

The diagnosis came as a bolt from the blue to Sandeep Sachdeva, who earns his livelihood by plying an auto-rickshaw to rear five members of family, including two daughters.

Sachdeva earlier owned a grocery shop in GTB Nagar but he suffered major losses and had to earn his livelihood by driving auto-rickshaw.

Sachdeva said chest congestion and cold had frequently been gripping Paras and used to recover from the ailment after getting medicine.

"This time, the ailment was prolonged and the physicians at a private hospital put him on medication for tuberculosis. He was then referred to the PGI on October 22 after the doctors failed to diagnose the exact disease. I am not able to afford the treatment cost and have sought financial help from the Punjab government," he said.

Dr Anju Gupta, Associate Professor, APC, PGI Chandigarh, said Paras has hypogammaglobulinemia as a result of which he has very low level of serum IgG. This is life-threatening condition and requires three-four injections of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) weekly for the rest of life.

The IVIG is an expensive drug as its cost varies from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 (approximately Rs 3 lakh-Rs 4 lakh annually).

Donations may be made to Paras by contacting his father Sandeep Sachdeva, a resident of House number 28, New Kartar Nagar, Jalandhar. He may also be contacted at 09803474649.

Phagwara, November 28
After the announcement by the state government to deposit newly imposed property tax with a 10 per cent discount by November 30, the law-abiding residents have been put to a great inconvenience as they have not been able to get an accurate assessment of the property tax.

The crowd of the city residents at the Municipal Corporation Office has swelled manifold here these days. On taking a round of the corporation office here today, it was found that almost none from the crowd was aware about the assessment of the property tax.

When contacted, Phagwara Municipal Corporation Executive Officer (EO) Adarsh Sharma said Rs 46 lakh had been collected as property tax in the past 11 days, while an arrear of Rs 2.70 crore was to be collected by the end of this month. He said Rs 9 lakh were collected in a single day today.

The EO said the people could deposit property tax on Saturday also. When asked about the awareness among the local populace, he said the corporation had opened four collection centres at Chachoki, Industrial Area, Adarsh Nagar, Sukhchain Nagar. Eight counters were set up on the corporation premises to assist the people visiting the corporation office for depositing property tax, he added.

The Executive Officer encouraged the people to come forward to deposit property tax for the overall development of the city.

Phagwara, November 28
Community Health Centre (CHC), Bara Pind, organised a special family planning camp today for providing permanent birth control measures. The camp was held under the guidance of Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Dr Balwinder Singh Kahlon. On the occasion, Surgeon, Dr Rajeev Sharma, operated patients using no scalpel vasectomy (NSV) and tubectomy techniques. 

Besides operating patients free of cost, free medicines and the facility of lab tests without any charges, was extended to patients. An incentive of Rs 1,100 was also given to those who underwent surgery. Dr Kahlon appreciated couples for opting birth control measures. He said these techniques were safe and a patient was discharged immediately after operation. — OC

Jalandhar, November 28
Following startling revelations coming each day since the arrest of Arjuna awardee wrestler Jagdish Bhola, the Punjab Police has plans to keep a close watch on kabaddi players, who would participate in the forthcoming World Cup.

Jalandhar Zone IG Balbir Kumar Bawa, who took over the charge today, stated this during his first interaction with the media here. Bawa said even as there was just one match falling in his jurisdiction at Hoshiarpur, he and his team would be keeping a close watch on not just the players but also NRI sponsors. He said even as there were some persons from the city involved in the case, he would act only when there would be directions for the same. “If their involvement is found, there certainly will be some arrests,” he added.

The IG said his priority would be to have better night patrolling. “We will be changing naka points more frequently and nabbing miscreants by surprising them every now and then,” the IG said, adding that checks on drug trafficking and illegal mining would be his other priorities.

SSP Rural Jaspreet Singh Sidhu and SP D Rajinder Singh welcomed the IG. Asked about the recent case in which four persons from Bhogpur had been nabbed for unlawful activities and planning a terrorist attack, the IG said he was unaware about the case as he had joined recently. SSP Sidhu, however, said all four had been sent to jail without elaborating further on the case.

Sidhu said a website for the rural police with updation on FIRs would be launched soon. 

Jalandhar, November 28
Some people are good at expressing themselves and others bad. But there are some, who never having overcome their fear of facing the world, need an interpreter between themselves and the mankind. The play “Bobby breaker” staged at the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall yesterday, discusses the life and times of the eternally anxiety-stricken and stammer-ridden Vishwas Joshi and what a little love in his life miraculously does to his years’-old verbal jinx.

Vishwas is born naughty and film loving, but his puritan, domineering father’s lofty principles and inclination towards pure things cause’s initial jitters. Vishwas starts stammering. Never having overcome the initial hiccups, the smirking world and insensitive peers, neighbours and associates (barring one) make Vishwas’s life worse. Loss in love that - he discreetly doted on the lady-at-the-bus-stop and constantly failing efforts to kick-up conversations with strangers (suggested by a doctor to overcome his mental handicap) made it worse. One day he totally stops trying and immerses himself in newspapers.

Then one fine day, a little help from the only friend, who stood by him through all these times, convinces lady-at-the-bus-stop of his problem. He finally finds the love he has been looking for.

Filled with confidence, his social skills and work place see a huge transformation. He finally makes it to the top of the ladder and the head of the office union.

The play laced with little delicate moments, subtleties, soft humorous punches was full of intelligent humour. Though a bit too racy and dramatic in the end, compared to its usual happy pace, the play delighted audience and evoked a lot of laughter.

Although the script and subject wise, the play had nothing path breaking or new to say, the quaint little story of a shy, innocent man, putting up an innocent but brave fight with the world charmed the audience. The stammering, scared Vishwas aka Bobby was an endearing and different hero. He was aptly portrayed well.

The acts by Vishwas and Rajinder Sharma were superlative and Sharma’s potrayal as the guitar player, stammering boss, South Indian guy, the tie-clad underwear-seller and the new neighbour had the audience in splits.

The acts by an office watchman (and other guys) and Vishwas were also much loved. The fact that the crew of the play are Bollywood regulars and do theatre on a priority basis aroused added respect for them.

Jalandhar, November 28
Two eternal bad guys of the Indian small screen and a pretty VJ-actor are attempting a fresh take at the Punjabi comedy, the Bollywood way. Karanvir Bohra, his wife TJ Sidhu and musician Ishq Bector today came to the city to promote their upcoming film “Love You Sohniye”.

The film will feature TV’s eternal bad guy Karanviur Bohra (known for popular negative roles in Kasauti Zindagi Kay and Dil Se Dua….Saubhagyavati Bhava) and his wife VJ-actor TJ Sidhu in the lead roles. Roadies-fame tough guy Raghu Ram shall also be debuting in Punjabi films with a pivotal role. So is the Punjabi audience in for some solid villainy? “Not at all,” said Bohra. He said, “Both me and Raghu shall be playing good guys in the film. In fact Raghu shall be playing my wise elder brother and shall be sporting a turban for the first time on screen.”

Speaking of the Bollywood and television connections, the actors say the film’s concept literally came together during casual banter after the serial Saubhagyavati Bhav (SB) ended. “SB had ended and all of us had nothing special to do. So we thought of heading to Pollywood. I told Karan we just need a proper crew for the project and I would handle the Punjabi part,” said TJ in a chaste Punjabi. Film director Sahil Kohli and cinematographer were also associated with the SB.

TJ said,“Yes, the look of the film is very Bollywood. We aim to up the cool-quotient of Punjabi films with Love You Sohniye. In fact while both me and Karan have done cameos in Bollywood films, we have moved towards Pollywood for our first lead roles because of our love for everything Punjabi. However, the presence of actors like Vindu Dara Singh and Upasna Singh will also keep alive the desi flavour.”

The film’s music has been given by Ishq Bector, a popular DJ and a hit in the techno and hip-hop circuits. The film’s music will feature Bector’s much-loved sassy tinge.

The film also has a wicked number (titled ‘O Moti - I like My girl Fat’) which Bector originally wrote for his mother on her birthday, but ended up making its way to the “Love You Sohniye” soundtrack. Of the total six tracks in the film, four are by Bector and the rest two from Harry Anand and Rishie Rich.

The film is all set to release on December 6.