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Nip drug trade

This is apropos the editorial “Tricks of drug trade” (January 9). I feel that the Punjab government should hand over the investigation to the CBI, clearing the doubts of the common man and allegations of the opposition parties. The drug menace is taking a toll in Punjab at an alarming pace. This is a very serious matter. The drugs are ruining the youth and the government is not taking adequate preventive steps to nip this evil in the bud. If the accused, Bhola, has named a minister, B S Majithia (a close relative of the Badals), let the investigation be handed over to the CBI as the Punjab police will not be in a position to bring out the truth.

UJAGAR SINGH, Chandigarh

Big fish in drug trade

It has been proved in the past that there is a nexus of smugglers, politicians, bureaucrats and policemen in the drug trade in Punjab. Quintals of heroin, smack, charas, opium and other forms of drugs have been caught and are being caught in the state. Nothing has ever come out of such cases and nothing will come out of this case also.

So, if Bhola is naming some senior Punjab ministers of their involvement in the drug abuse cases, he might not be totally wrong. The Punjab government is afraid of big fish being caught in the troubled waters of the drug ocean.

If the CBI takes up the matter, many skeletons of powerful heads belonging to politics, police and business houses will tumble out from the proverbial cupboard. The Punjab government will not hand over the case to the CBI for an independent probe. The issue will be hushed up and brushed under the carpet with time.

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

Collective effort pays

Recently, I got a chance to visit Government College in Narnaund. The college was started in the current session and I was part of the inspection committee constituted by the university. I was surprised to know that there was no college for girls in the area between Jind and Hansi and most girls dropped studies after school because their parents did not allow them to commute daily to Hansi or Jind. There had been a demand for a government college in that area for a long time. Some girls who had dropped studies years back have now joined the college.

This was possible because of the efforts of the people in that area. They have built the college building with donations and now they have received a grant from the government. Such success stories encourage us to work for the betterment of society and highlight the importance of collective efforts.

Hemlata Sharma, Kurukshetra

Check train wires

In the last few days, there have been two cases of fire in a train in which innocent people have lost their lives. As in other cases, the probable cause of the fire is short-circuiting. It is surprising that in all cases of fire, the prima facie cause is the electrical short-circuit. The question arises as to whether proper electrical protection swichgears are in place to take care of short-circuiting, earth fault or overloading faults and who has certified it. In trains, the electric protection systems are well taken care of and regularly checked.

For domestic connections, a small amount has to be paid to get the test certificate, but generally, this test is given the go-by. Later, the load is increased and wires are modified. There is no system of enforcement of rules. This needs to be seriously thought and implemented. Electricity is safe, if we use it safely.

J.B.SINGH, Ex-IRSEE, via email

Cut-off marks low

The result of the common written examination was declared by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) a few days ago. It is surprising that the IBPS has kept a very low cut-off for the written test which is required to get an interview call. The cut-off is 61 marks out of 200 for the general category and 26 for ST candidates. The IBPS must justify why the aspirants not securing even 25% marks in the written test are getting interview calls. Will such a candidate do justice to the scale I post?

ANKIT PATHANIA, Palampur

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