The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	City garbage remains unattended Class IV employees of Municipal Corporation on indefinite strike Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 With the Class IV employees of the Municipal Corporation going on indefinite strike, the garbage collection system in the city has collapsed. The agitating employees even prevented the privately-engaged garbage collecting trolleys from operating in the city and piles of garbage could be seen unattended in several parts of the city. Various state unions of Class IV employees today held a meeting and complained that nothing has been done to safeguard their interests in view of the government's proposal to set up a solid waste management plant in the city through private parties, besides other demands. Anticipating the end of their job avenues, they said the government should install the solid waste management plant and fill up the vacant posts of the safai karamcharis and other class IV posts, as was promised earlier. Four garbage-laden privately-run trolleys were stopped by the agitating employees' midway and were forced to drop the garbage by the roadside in Madan Mohan Malviya road, opposite the Dental College, at the Hussainpur chowk near the bus stand and Lahori Gate. Vinod Bitta, president of the Safai Mazdoor Union, and Surinder Tona of the MC Workers Union said they were not opposing the setting up of solid waste management plant in the city but were against the policy matters under which this multi-crore plant was being established. "The private companies would induct their own staff for garbage picking and processing jobs whereas there were over 1,000 Class IV employees associated with the MC for over a decade, whose services were not regularised till date. Various promises were made in this regard. We want that the government should install the plant and open up new job avenues for those MC Class IV employees who were still lurching to get their jobs secured," said Tona. Chandan Garewal of the Punjab Safai Mazdoor Federation said it was on October 31, 2011 when the Punjab government was compelled to take a u-turn in hiring the private firm for door-to-door garbage collection system. "The decision was taken after a meeting held with the CM who ordered withdrawal of the decision of hiring private firms for garbage lifting keeping in view the interest of thousands of safai karamcharis. The CM had ordered then that only the MC employees would be deputed to collect the garbage and later when the processing plant gets installed, it would be their job to transport the garbage to the plant. We want this decision to follow, otherwise we would intensify our agitation,” they said. They also demanded that senior safai sewaks, sewer men and drivers should be regularised. Besides, they demanded continuation of ex-gratia, leave encashment and gratuity benefits.
	Visitors inconvenienced at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital No proper arrangements made for their stay; forced to sleep in corridors Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 Even as the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital got the possession of the building to be converted into a serai for the attendants of patients five months ago, they have been forced to sleep in the corridors of the hospital. The hospital had proposed to start a serai in view of the hardships faced by the visitors in June last year. Then the question of ownership of the building, which was then under the control of the Red Cross Society, had arisen. The issue was was finally settled in August last year. However, since then, rooms of the building are locked even as a notice- board was put up outside the building, indicating that it was a serai for patients' attendants. Sources said the building did not have any washroom besides electricity and drinking water facilities. The hospital is trying to rope in a social organisation to manage and run the place. On the other hand, attendants of patients said that they could not leave the patients unattended as they were required to give medicines and food to them. They said they were ready to sleep in the hospital corridor or stay awake to help the patient. However, they emphasised on the need of a place where they could take bath. "Such a facility will be a boon to patients' attendants. People from faraway places come to the hospital and most of the time they do not have anyone to help them in the city," said Kanta Rani, who is accompanying a patient in the hospital.She is from Gurdaspur. Meanwhile, medical superintendent Dr Sujata Sharma said the building would be made available to patients' attendants soon. She said creating facilities for the visitors was the foremost priority of the hospital.
	Mental health institute gets its first batch of patients Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 The Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Health has received its first batch of four patients with mental disorder as a part of the government's initiative to provide treatment to such patients. The four patients — three men and a woman — were brought yesterday evening to the institute. "They were given a shower and hair cut on their arrival," said Dr BL Goyal, the institute's director. Vinni Mahajan, Director, Health, had earlier in December last year, during a workshop with the senior police officials, motivated them to bring homeless patients with mental disorder to the institute. As per the guidelines, the police have to take such persons in protective custody and produce them before the CJM within 24 hours. The CJM can order their medical examination after which he may pass an order to send such persons to the institute for the treatment. "Earlier on Friday, the police had brought nine such people from Ferozepur and one from Batala. However, they were sent back as they didn't bring orders from the CJM," said Dr Goel. "Four of them were found to be in perfect health, while two others had a low intelligence quotient which could not be termed as mental disorder," said Goel. The institute expects that more of these patients would be brought to them by the police from all the districts of the state. Talking about the mental condition of the new patients, Dr Goel said, "As of now only one of them can tell his name. We have now reasons to believe that with proper treatment, they would be able to recover their memory soon." The patients with mental disorder, who can be spotted wandering on roads in the city, are often victimised by people and bullied by beggars. The lack of treatment and unsympathetic treatment only worsens their mental condition. Dr Goel said they have made elaborate arrangements to accommodate such patients who would be brought by the police.
	Police make no headway in 16-yr-old’s murder case Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 Even as the police denied any significant breakthrough in the murder of 16-year-old Jagjit Singh, a native of Luddar village, it is learnt that the needle of suspicion points towards the involvement of his colleagues in the crime. Jasdeep Singh, SP (D), Amritsar rural police, said: "There is nothing concrete at this point as the investigation is under progress." The body of the deceased was handed over to the family members after the post-mortem examination. He was cremated at the village cremation ground. Jagjit Singh's body was found dumped in a bore well in his native village yesterday evening. According to police officials, he was beaten to death by unidentified culprits who had later thrown his body in the bore well located in the fields. The family members believed that he was robbed and then killed. The deceased used to work as peon with a firm located at the Mahan Singh Gate. His body was discovered by the labourers engaged in the field of Balwinder Singh who found foul smell emanating from a bore well located in the fields. They raised an alarm and informed the police. Jasdeep Singh along with other officials reached the spot. The police pulled out the body and later it was identified as that of Jagjit Singh. The victim's father, Jarnail Singh, who plies rickshaw, said that as per routine, his son used to return home at around 7 pm daily. "On the night of January 13, he did not reach home following which they tried to contact him on his mobile but it was found to be switched off," he told the police.
	48 hrs on, police yet to nab accused Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 Even after 48 hours, the main culprit who shot dead a Naraingarh resident, Naresh Kumar alias Monu, is still on the run and police has not been able to arrest him. Naresh Kumar, a resident of Kirpa Nagar, Naraingarh, was shot dead by Munish Kumar of Naraingarh at a liquor vend on January 13 following a minor dispute. Harish Behal, SHO, Chheharta police station, said: "The accused is still at large and raids are being conducted to nab him." The police have registered a murder case on the statement of Rakesh Kumar, a relative of the deceased. As per the available information, the victim was celebrating Lohri with his family members at his residence when a friend of his insisted on serving liquor. Monu and his friend went to a nearby tavern to have drinks. It was there that he entered into a verbal tiff over a seat with a stranger, later identified as Manish. In a fit of rage, Manish, who had a revolver, shot at Monu, leaving him dead on the spot. The police claimed that they have no record of the revolver owned by Manish. His relatives informed the police that Manish have a licensed weapon. The police officials said they were investigating the ownership of the revolver used in the crime. Meanwhile, Raj Kumar Verka, Vice-Chairman, National Schedule Caste Commission and MLA of the area, met the aggrieved family and expressed his condolences to them. Verka assured the family that the accused would not be spared at any cost.
	MC earmarks spots to remove encroachments Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 The Municipal Corporation has identified the spots from where encroachments will be removed to pave the way for the city bus service. Vendors have been given two days to remove the encroachments. MC teams under the supervision of estate officer Vishal Wadhawan raided the area near the Inter-State Bus Terminus and removed the encroachments. Various other spots, including Dharam Singh Market, are on the list of enforcement wing staff to facilitate the movement of buses. Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Vadhawan said traders had been told to remove encroachments. MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said every detail was being examined for the hassle-free launch of city bus service and all formalities have almost been completed. "We don't want to leave any error before the launch of this first-ever public transport. The process of furnishing insurance and registration of buses with the District Transport Office is underway. Besides, we are introducing the electronic ticketing service to bring transparency in fare charges. We are also introducing the bus fare card system for passengers to pay their fare," he said. It has been learnt that inspection of the Mall Mandi bus stand, exclusively built for city buses, will be carried out tomorrow by XENs Harinder Singh and Navtej Singh.
	protest by congress Cops keep diversion plan ready to avoid traffic snarls Amritsar, January 15 In view of the proposed Chakka Jam’ by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee in favour of a CBI probe into the multi-crore drug racket, in which the name of Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia has figured, the city police have devised diversion plans to avoid traffic snarls. Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said according to sources the Congress Party would hold dharna at two key points-Gumtala bypass and Bhandari Bridge- from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm. “To avoid traffic chaos, vehicles, including buses, entering the city from the Chheharta bypass side would be diverted to the 22 number railway crossing opposite to Khalsa College For Women and from there the traffic will reach Lahori Gate and then be diverted to the bus stand,” Aulakh stated in a press statement issued here today. Similarly, the traffic coming from Ajnala and Rajasansi side would be diverted to Khairabad road and Loharka side. From Khairabad, the vehicles would enter Ram Tirath Road and reach Valmiki Chowk. From here the traffic will be diverted to the 22 number railway crossing. From the Loharka road side, commuters will enter city through the Fetehgarh Churian bypass and the Majitha road bypass. — TNS
	Remove encroachments from near Golden Temple: DC Amritsar, January 15 At a meeting to review the progress of the Galiara Project around the Golden Temple, Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat instructed officials to remove encroachments from the roads leading to the holy shrine. He instructed the traffic police to stop the entry of all three and four-wheelers on the roads leading to the Golden Temple. Bhagat said the administration would soon provide two more battery- operated vehicles to transport devotees to the shrine. He said signboards bearing the history of various shrines should also be installed near the Golden Temple. He said cleanliness of the area and the toilets near the shrine should be ensured at any cost. — TNS
	Headless body found, yet to be identified Amritsar, January 15 An unidentified person was found killed at the Loharaka road here. According to police officials, the accused beheaded the deceased after stabbing him with a sharp weapon. His body was found yesterday evening. Sukhdev Singh, SHO, Kamboh police station, said: “They are yet to identify the deceased. His body was found in a semi-nude condition on the airport road.” The body was found by a Meerakot resident, Jagdeep Singh. He told the police that the body was covered with a piece of cloth while the head was missing. Sukhdev Singh said the body was kept for 72 hours for identification. He said they had informed all the nearby police stations and other districts. Though several families reached for identification, but the deceased could not be identified. — TNS
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