ADCP Naresh Dogra gives instructions to the policemen deputed outside the MC office during the House meeting in Jalandhar on Friday. Tribune photos: Sarabjit Singh

Tight security

Apprehending reaction from the nearly 2,000 agitating safai karamcharis, tight police security was maintained at the MC office. ADCP Naresh Dogra and ACP Jasvir Rai led a heavy posse of the police that remained deployed at the MC office gates, verandahas and the meeting hall.

Only three Congress councillors turn up

Only three Congress councillors out of 19 attended the meeting on Friday. Leader of the Opposition Jagdish Raj Raja, Des Raj Jassal, Surinder Kaur, Uma Beri, Aruna Arora and other Congress councillors were absent. In Raja’s place, Sushil Rinku held his chair as other councillors of the dynamic group who attended the meeting were Amanjit Kaur and Harsimarjit Singh Banti. Independent councillor Amit Dhall was with them.

Highlights

• While the safai karamcharis kept on insisting that their demands be discussed during the meeting, the councillors were more bothered about their own salaries. As Joginder Singh Tony raised the issue of doubling their salary, all banged the desk in support of the proposal and the proposal was cleared.
• After the two-hour zero session, the agenda of the meeting was passed. The issue of enhancing trade licence fee was, however, withdrawn.

Jalandhar, January 24
The police claimed that Raksha Nayyar (80) was the killed by her servant Suresh, who was accompanied by his friend Dalip, a resident of Gurunanak Pura locality, on the day of murder. The motive behind the murder was to loot Rs 50,000. Both the accused belong to Uttar Pradesh.

The woman was murdered by a hockey stick on the intervening night of January 20-21. The police had rounded up Suresh on the day of the murder. According to the police, he confessed to the crime during questioning.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rahul S said Dalip was involved in a theft at the victim’s house few years ago and had spent few months in jail for the crime. The main accused, Suresh, was living along with his wife in a servant quarter of the victim's house, the DCP added. Since both the accused were friends, they hatched a plan to loot.

The DCP said Suresh had brought Dalip to the house on the fateful night. Dalip remained hidden in a bathroom for few hours and later stealthily entered the store room of the house.

“When the woman went to sleep at 11.30 pm, Dalip opened the door of the deceased’s room from inside for Suresh. The duo was also carrying a hockey stick, ” the DCP said. Sensing some disturbance in the room, the woman inquired about the presence of a strangers in her room but Suresh hit her on head with the hockey stick, the police said.The woman died on the spot.

The accused ransacked the whole house and decamped with Rs 50,000. Later, at 2.30 am, the duo divided the burgled amount, the DCP said. Suresh also went along with Dalip to Gurunanak Pura locality on a rickshaw.

Of the looted amount, Dalip bought an expensive mobile of Sony company that cost him Rs 20,000. When asked if Suresh’s wife was aware of the conspiracy, the DCP said as of now, they ruled out her involvement in the crime.

Jalandhar, January 24
Activists of the Istri Jagriti Manch held protests across different districts of the state burning the effigy of Cabinet Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia for his alleged involvement in the drug trade in the state.

Following arrest of drug kingpin Jagdish Bhola’s allegations of the minister’s involvement in the drug trade in the state, the activists demanded a CBI probe in the issue.

The protests were also held at Jalandhar, Patiala, Barnala and Nawanshahr today. Activists demanded the arrest of Majithia and Jail Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur. They also demanded strict action against those involved in drug racket.

Activists said while the drug menace was eating into the society, women and children were most affected by it. While the Istri Jagriti Manch has been noted for its agitation against the use of degenerative lyrics and symbolism in the Punjabi music industry as well, activists also pointed out that the state government hadn’t hardened its stance against singers promoting drug abuse.

Activists also said the report tabled by former DGP (jail), Shashi Kant, on drug abuse, the surfacing of Akali MLA Bonny Ajnala and Veer Singh Lopoke and the state government’s denial about getting a CBI enquiry conducted on the issue hinted that the government had something to hide.

State president Gurbaksh Kaur Sangha, general secretary Amandeep Kaur Deol, state vice-president Chanranjit Kaur Barnala, state leaders Anita Sandhu and Jasvir Jassi addressed the gathering on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the members of city-based NGO formed by doctors and activists Drug De-Addiction Forum also raised their voice against the menace of drugs in the city.

Addressing the media at the press club here today the group members said the featuring of political names in the issue indicated the extent to which the political class was involved but the issue also had its own fallouts.

They said drugs had been reduced to a political issue in the state which was distracting people from the basic problem.

Activists Dr SS Sidhu, Dr Tarsem Lal Chopra and Gurmeet demanded a CBI probe into the drug issue and also gave a call for all political parties to seek a united solution on the matter.

The activists said there was a flood of drug related problems regarding which complaints have been flooding in.

Activists alleged that despite springing up of many drug de-addiction centres, the problem had only aggravated in the state, which also indicated a lack of intent in centres.

The NGO members are also working on a documentary on the Maqboolpura area of Amritsar where many people have lost lives owing to the drug menace.

Jalandhar, January 24
The police nabbed three youths for misbehaving with Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Naresh Dogra last night. The ADCP had gone to calm down people resorting to protest after a minor road accident.

The incident occurred at 10.30 pm when a person rammed his motorcycle into a stationary tractor-trolley near the Workshop chowk and fell off the bike.

Holding the tractor-trolley driver responsible for the incident, he called his supporters and demanded action against the driver. Annoyed over the police inaction, they laid siege of the road and blocked the traffic for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, the ADCP reached the spot and asked the protesters to put off the protest, but they misbehaved with the officer. When they did not lift the siege, the police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disburse them.

Meanwhile, the police arrested Rajinder, Gurwinder and Harvinder for interrupting a public servant from discharging his duty and registered a case under Section 332, 352, 186, 283 of the IPC.

Jalandhar, January 24
While political parties are gearing up for the LS elections, for many youngsters it is the time when politicians will start accusing each other to have a taste of power. According to the district electoral office, 60 per cent of the youngsters have failed to register themselves as voters. While many of them dream to settle in other countries, others do not feel any role in the election process. Moreover, in absence of student union elections in the state for the past 30 years, youngsters have lost interest in politics.

“Student union elections have not been held in state universities and colleges from the past 30 years due to which political wisdom could not be inculcated in youngsters,” said Dr Gurpinder Singh, Principal, Lyallpur Khalsa College. He said though the Supreme Court had ordered to hold student union elections in all colleges across the country, the Punjab Government had failed to act on the directions of the apex court.

With only 30, 901 youngsters between the age group of 18 to 19 year enrolling themselves for voter ID cards in the district so far, it seems the AAP effect has failed to get hold of the youth.”It is very difficult for AAP to repeat the Delhi performance in the state as a lot of money and muscle power is involved in elections. A youngster can’t even think of joining politics in the current political scenario in Punjab,” said Ashutosh Khanna, a PTU student.

Many feel as most of the youths in Punjab have offshore dreams, they are not interested in the election process. Though the government has authorised principals of schools and colleges to distribute new electoral forms among students who attained 18 years of age, it couldn’t attract the youth towards politics. “During a special voter identity card drive in our college, only 8 to 9 students out of 2,000 showed interest. There is a need to include political studies in the main curriculum. Colleges should hold regular lectures or seminars on the performance of various political parties,” said Dr Sucharita Sharma, Principal, Apeejay College of Fine Arts.

Though Lovely professional University (LPU) has a dedicated desk to enrol students for voter ID cards, only 1,000 out of the 25,000 students came forward to get their voter cards made. “ We have a lot of foreign students but the number is far less as compared to the number of students in our university,” said Harjot Singh, media coordinator, LPU.

Unlike previous years when the youth power was glorified by politicians, 2014 is different. Over 65 per cent of the state’s population is under 35. The first-time voters in the state (between 18-23 years) are 14 per cent of the total voters. “That's a staggering number. The difference it can make to our polity is huge. But, it will not effect much in the forthcoming LS elections as a majority of them are drug addicts,” said Surinder Saini, a social activist.

Pahul, a city resident, said , “Recall Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. Through the social media and a host of youth forums, Obama not only grouped young voters together but also persuaded people to vote. Due to those efforts, the youth vote reshaped and energised the world's oldest democracy. This can also happen in the the world's largest democracy. it's the time that youngsters exercise their right. You want growth and good governance, then vote. “

According to a Home Ministry report, seizure of heroin in Punjab was around 813 kg while in Delhi it was 180 kg. Punjab accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the heroin seizures in the country. Heroin seizures in Punjab stood at 209 kg in 2011, 443 kg in 2012 and 200 kg till July last year.

Jalandhar, January 24
The Commissioner of Police today placed two policemen under suspension following escape of a thief from their custody this morning.

The Division Number 1 police had arrested two thieves in connection with a theft committed at a jewellery shop in Ashok Vihar locality. It was at 6 am today that one of the arrested person Sukhdev alias Beeru of Jamalke village in Fazilka requested cops to take him to washroom.

While he was being put back in the lock-up, he managed to flee. The cops on duty chased him but taking advantage of darkness and fog, he managed to escape. Head Constable Harjinder and Munshi Jaspal have been suspended. Both of them have been booked under Section 223 and 234 of the IPC.

The theft had taken place on January 9 while the arrest was made on this Monday. The thieves were in police remand till January 26. The police also recovered 1 kg of silver ornaments, 3 tola gold, a Maruti car, two bikes, a mobile phone and 425 gm of intoxicant powder from them. The second accused Parkash Harjan of Makhu from the same gang is still in custody. Sukhdev had also committed a burglary at a grocery store five years ago, and in 2004, he had also stolen a scooter. — TNS

Jalandhar, January 24
When a set of officers hired to safeguard, facilitate and enhance the green cover of a district are given the task of ensuring the safety and protection of wild animals, a task they have no clue on how to handle, chaos ensues.

The state government’s decision, to merge the forest and wildlife preservation departments, has caused a set of officers with no prior experience or training, to handle wild animals.

To accentuate the trouble, a dismal lack of infrastructure and equipment at the forest offices further cripples the officials in the department.

While animal lovers blame the incompetent officials for the careless manner in which many of the cases regarding animals have been handled, officials cite government apathy.

Phagwara, January 24
Perturbed over the non-availability of ambulance facility (108) to Phagwara residents, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) spokesperson, Nimisha Mehta shot off a letter to Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Punjab. In her letter, she mentioned accident which occurred on the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road where a few victims were crying for help. She called at 108 for ambulance, but no positive answer came.

She then called at the police station, the police personnel came too late and then refused to take the accident victims to hospital. The SHO, Rawalpindi, rejected the request saying he knew his duty and taking victims to hospital was not his duty.

She spoke to the DIG, who ultimately directed the SHO to send victims to hospital in his vehicle. On reaching the Civil Hospital three ambulances were found parked in the hospital.

When contacted, Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Phagwara, Dr Jaswinder Singh told this correspondent here this evening that one driver was sent to Phagwara by Union Government under the National Rural Health Mission who has joined here today. He would be deputed on the Mobile Lab provided by Union Minister of state for Health and Family Welfare Santosh Chaudhary. The SMO admitted the shortage of drivers and disclosed that one driver from Kala Sangha is working on deputation in Phagwara presently.

Jalandhar, January 24
Two special children, Ishwinder Singh and Vivek Aggarwal, may be awarded by the district administration during the R-Day celebrations on Sunday for their contribution to the field of sports.

The duo had brought laurels to the state by winning silver medals during the Asia Pacific Special Olympics Games at New Castle in Australia in November last year.

Although their candidature is under consideration by the district administration, the children are confident as the neighbouring state of Haryana has decided to honour two of its special children with Bhima Award.

“We are hopeful that our children will be felicitated by the district administration. They have shown courage to come out of the dark corners of the houses and showed society their unparalled effort and will power. The government should acknowledge their efforts,” said Dr Kuldeep Singh, father of Ishwinder Singh.

Amarjit Singh Anand, president of the Chanan Association for Mentally Retarded Children, said the government should promote and motivate special children like in Haryana, which had recently announced state awards for two of its special children on Republic Day.

With no rehabilitation programme for special children, many of them are forced to confine to the dark corners of their houses with no place for them in society. “There are no rehabilitation centres in the state for such children. There are no special trainers or certified councillors to teach them and make them independent. We are not looking for any monetary benefit. At least, the government should acknowledge their efforts,” said Jyoti Handa, mother of Kashish, a child with down syndrome.

Jalandhar, January 24
Coming as a big reprieve for the residents across the city, a 10-day long strike by the safai karamcharis today ended with Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) KD Bhandari giving them an assurance regarding acceptance of their demands.

Bhandari gave them an assurance after the House meeting had ended at 6 pm after which the protest was withdrawn.

Right at the start of the meeting, as the councillors started raising the issue, Mayor Sunil Jyoti told them that the CPS was on way to give an assurance to staff. The work of lifting garbage would be resumed tonight. There would be proper door-to-door lifting from tomorrow onwards. The health staff had started spraying medicines on the heaps of garbage to check the breakout of diseases.