Amritsar, February 16
The state government has spent crores on the construction of the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT road, a 3.5-km stretch of elevated road, but due to lack of maintenance, it has become a risky ride for the commuters.

While the problem of water-logging continues unabated during the rainy season, it has taken its toll on the road surface also. It is full of potholes, thus posing a danger to the commuters, especially the two-wheelers.

The elevated road, leading to multiple destinations, including the Golden Temple complex parking, was constructed at a cost of over Rs 230 crore, yet no thought was spared to devise a mechanism here to prevent water from accumulating on the road.

Even as the MC officials claimed that they got it repaired, there are still huge pits and potholes on the road.

The road is in a bad shape as the drains remain choked due to want of cleanliness. The problem has been aggravated because the3.2 km-long rainwater harvesting pipe that had been laid beneath the incline, was stolen a few months ago. But the authorities have not bothered to replace them.

The stretch through which the traffic comes to Bhandari Bridge has become totally worn out on both the sides.

Naresh Johar, a resident of Rani Ka Bagh, said: "Even after missing many deadlines, this project was not executed well. This clearly shows that material with the required specifications was not used to build this elevated road and a large amount of money has been siphoned off."

Ravleen Kaur, who uses the elevated road daily to reach the GNDU, said: "From day one, I have been observing major snags on the elevated road and it's virtually a risky drive. During the rains, the MC workers can be spotted draining out water by installing a motor. The problem needs a permanent solution."

Amritsar, February 16
A woman was allegedly raped by four youths on the pretext of giving her a lift in their car.

The incident took place when she was waiting for a bus at the Rajasansi bus stand.

Following preliminary investigations, the police have identified three persons while their fourth accomplice is yet to be identified.

Among those booked include Shamsher Singh alias Soni, Shamsher Singh alias Shera and Navraj Singh. All are residents of Saidpur village. Soni is a member of the Saidpur panchayat.

All the accused were absconding after the incident. The victim, who is in her mid-thirties, works as a helper at a private diagnostic centre in Amritsar. She along with her children lives separately in ward number 7 of the Rajasansi area.

She is believed to have told the police that the accused offered her a lift in their car while she was waiting at the Rajasansi bus stand. She alleged that instead of dropping her at her residence, the accused took her to a tube well room located on the periphery of the village and took turns to rape her. After committing the crime, the accused left her outside the Rajasansi.

Rashpal Singh, SHO, Rajasansi police station, said as per the preliminary probe, one of the accused was known to the victim but she did not identify the remaining accused.

He said investigations were under progress and a case under Section 376 of the IPC has been registered against the culprits.

Amritsar, February 16
Even as a number of police officials up to the rank of inspectors have been transferred out of the city following the instructions of Election Commission of India in view of the Lok Sabha polls, the work at various police stations and posts has been affected as the new officials are yet to take charge.

According to police sources, the officials would join their duties in next couple of days.

The Election Commission has asked the police department to shift out those officials who have been working at a station for over three years or have been deputed in their home towns in view of the Lok Sabha elections. IG (Border Range) Ishwar Chander had ordered the transfer of around 250 police officials out of the city, while the remaining were sent to the Police Lines by the city Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh after objections were raised by several police officials who were transferred.

Additional SHOs have been working in place of SHOs while police officials have been deputed at the posts for their smooth functioning.

Amritsar, February 16
There has been no let up in the instances of prisoners making Guru Nanak Dev Hospital their escape route. In the latest instance, Kartar Singh (68), a resident of Anngarh area, managed to gave a slip to the jail guards who were responsible for keeping an eye on him at the hospital. The Majitha road police have registered a case against him besides three head constable who were on duty.

The incident came to light when the doctor attending on him at the hospital found him missing while the guards belonging to the Tarn Taran police were also not present on the spot.

R K Sharma, officiating jail superintendent, said Kartar Singh, who belonged to Anngarh area which is notorious for drug abuse, was nabbed with half kilogram of heroin around a year ago.

He said the inmate was suffering from a kidney problem and was therefore referred to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for dialysis.

"Both his kidneys were damaged. The Guru Nanak Dev Hospital had earlier referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh, from where he was referred back to the hospital. He was shifted to the hospital for dialysis," said Sharma.

He said the jail officials tried to call the police officials deputed with Kartar Singh, but the phone was switched off. He said the Tarn Taran police has been informed in this connection.

The Majitha road police said that a case under Sections 223 and 224 of the IPC has been registered against him besides the three head constables deputed with him at the hospital.

Amritsar, February 16
In the case of dual vote, Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi's trouble does not seem to have subsided. Today, Congress workers burnt his effigy at Rattan Singh Chowk. They demanded that the Vidan Sabha Speaker should cancel the candidature of Anil Joshi with immediate effect.

Speaking on the occasion, Sandeep Shah, vice-president of the Ranjit Avenue block, alleged that at least 27,000 bogus votes were polled in favour of Joshi during the Assembly elections in Amritsar's north constituency.

Rajvinder Lada and Inderjit Bobby said it was only with the help of these fake votes that Joshi manipulated and won the election in 2012.

"He played with the emotion of the people and cheated them. Now, the people of the constituency want strict action against him. There were 45,000 votes polled in favour of the Congress candidate Karamjeet Singh Rintu but with the help of 27,000 fake votes, Anil Joshi won. Otherwise, the actual winner would have been only Rintu,” they said.

Karmjeet Singh Rintu said, "The state government should withdraw the ministerial powers of Joshi with immediate effect so that investigations which are being conducted by the Election Commission of India are not affected."

He claimed that all the bogus votes were polled in favour of Anil Joshi who used every means to win the election. He alleged that Joshi and his supporters were instrumental in preparing bogus votes.

He said following the delimitation process, around 1.32 lakh voters were identified in the Amritsar north constituency. But during the polling, over 1.63 lakh votes were polled, raising eyebrows.

He said he had informed the senior authorities of the National Election Commission and the State Election Commission and alleged that no action had been taken in this connection so far.

Others present on the occasion included Sahib Singh, Yograj Fauji, Wilson Gill, Ravinder Sharma, Rajesh Billa, Jaimal Singh and Darshan Singh Pardhan.

Amritsar, February 16
The police have arrested Avinash Chander, a resident of Kot Atma Singh, for allegedly securing fake bail. Along with him, the police have booked Devdhar of Mehta village, Baba Bakala, on the charge of forgery.

A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the IPC has been registered in this regard. Saminderpal Singh, Judicial Magistrate, submitted a complaint that the accused forged the documents for securing the bail of Avinash Chander.

Mohinder Singh, investigating officer, said Harpreet Singh had lodged a complaint with the police regarding the bouncing of cheques.

When Avinash Chander came to know about this, he applied for anticipatory bail which was later granted by the court.

However, later it was found that he got the bail on the basis of forged documents following which a case was lodged. He said Avinash Chander, who runs a marble shop, has been arrested while Devdhar was still at large.

Amritsar, February 16
Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi today ordered investigation by the Vigilance Bureau into the accusations of contractors using substandard floor tiles at the Government Medical College here.

He has also instructed the Medical Education Department to computerise the entire system of examination for ANM and GNM nurses online and ensure that results are declared on time.

Joshi said with an increase in number of MBBS seats at the GMC from 150 to 200, the department would soon come up with new super-specialty departments in view of the services required for the public and the norms of the MCI.

He said instructions have been given to frame rules for the Punjab Medical Education Services. He said till the time the rules were finalised, the posts would be filled as per the Departmental Promotion Committee norms till December 31 2014. — TNS

Amritsar, February 16
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), in their submissions before the Election Commission of India (ECI), have claimed that members of their parties abstain from alcohol and other intoxicants. But this was far from reality, alleged Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, the patron of Amritsar Vikas Manch.

In a communiqué to the heads of the Congress and the SAD, Dr Gumtala has urged them to implement the ban on the use of liquor.

He has written to the AICC president Sonia Gandhi, state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in this regard.

Drawing their attention to their submissions before the ECI, he called upon them to implement the clause in letter and spirit.

He added that each member of these parties must give in writing that he or she abstained from alcohol and other intoxicants.

Its negative impact was visible in society as serving liquor at marriage parties and other functions had become a status symbol for many, he said. Most of the other parties, including the BJP, did not have this clause in their constitution, he added.

Amritsar, February 16
Looking every bit of the stunner that she is, on and off screen, Bollywood actor Huma Qureshi, mesmerised the Amritsar fans as she came calling to the holy city. The pretty lady was here to launch the latest collection of Forevermark jewellery at Khurana Jewellers.

Posing happily for shutterbugs and interacting with fans, Huma felt at ease and said, “I have come to Punjab after a long time. The last time I was in Ludhiana when we shot for Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. This time it’s special as I will visit the Golden Temple for the first time.”

Riding high on the critical success of her last release Dedh Ishquiya, Huma said she was proud of the film. “I feel lucky to have fulfilled the biggest wish of my life with Dedh Ishquiya, which was to work with my idol Madhuri Dixit.”

She represented the film and the Indian cinema at the recently concluded Berlin Film Festival. While she missed her co-stars at Berlin, Huma was impressed by the audience response to her film. “I was surprised to see that the film was well received by the European audience. Since Dedh Ishquiya was rustic, rooted and depicted Muslim community and culture, it was overwhelming to see the global audience resonate with the story and characters,” she added.

She enjoyed being grilled at the panel discussion, “Since the festival was organised by the German Consulate and the Indian government, there was this massive Q/A session I had to go through.”

But nothing made her happy than sharing screen space with Madhuri. “She is every girl’s idol, and to work with her was so easy and inspiring. So, of course, I never felt intimidated or overpowered by her presence in the film,” the actor said.

Excited for her upcoming projects, Huma refused to divulge any details. “I have been lucky to be a part of films that made a mark or were able to break industry norms. I will keep on doing more such films…only time will tell,” she sighed off.

Amritsar, February 16
Sub-regional office of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation has launched a special drive to recover outstanding dues from the defaulting establishments and employers.

Assistant PF Commissioner Kashmir Singh requested the employers of defaulting establishments to deposit their outstanding dues immediately to avoid action against them under relevant provisions of law.

The PF Department is empowered to take action under Section 8 of the EPF and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. Under this act, the department can attach bank accounts, immovable and movable properties, arrest and detain defaulting employers in civil prison.

In addition to this, action can also be taken under Sections 406 and 409 of the Indian Penal Code.

Kapurthala, February 16
“The state youth is fast becoming addicted to substance abuse. There is a desperate need to channelise their energy in a constructive way through applied sciences and the result will be astonishing. We will have at least 1,000 new entrepreneurs every year. They can then generate employment for several others.”

This was stated by Dr Anil Gupta, Professor, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, founder, Honey Bee Network, and executive vice-chair, National Innovation Foundation, through a webcast on the concluding day of the 17th Punjab Science Congress. The event was held at Punjab Technical University, near here, today.

Dr Gupta failed to attend the Congress due to the cancellation of his flight. He expressed his concern over failure of Punjab in setting up processing units despite being a major producer of fruits and vegetables.