Jalandhar, March 1
To strengthen the public transport system in the city, the Municipal Corporation (MC) will introduce the monthly pass system for the first time-ever in the city from Monday.

With a cost of Rs 300, the pass will be valid for all existing four and the proposed 13 new routes that would be covered by the existing fleet of 15 buses and 128 new buses. However, no discount will be offered presently to the students, women or senior citizens. But MC sources revealed that a proposal pertaining to this was on its way that might see the light of the day after the plying of new buses on the approved routes.

"Presently, the public transport system of the city is in a shambles. To improve it a little, we have taken certain measures recently. Along with introducing 128 new buses on 13 new routes, we are simultaneously introducing the monthly pass system for daily commuters. This will not only help increase the passenger volume of the existing fleet of the city bus service but also help them fight against the illegal fare war with auto-rickshaws plying on their routes," said Sunil Jyoti, Mayor, Jalandhar.

The application form for the passes will be available from the MC office from Monday.

Jalandhar, March 1
The Jalandhar rural police today claimed to have nabbed a daily wage labourer and recovered 11 bags of poppy husk, weighing 3 quintals and 30 kg, from his possession. He was camping in the cremation ground of Dhirowal village to deliver the consignment.

The peddler was identified as Surinder Pal, alias Tota, a resident of Dhirowal village near Adampur.

The police had received a tip-off that Tota was into the trade and had been supplying narcotics to local smugglers. Sources also told the police that Tota had dumped narcotics at the village cremation ground from where he used to supply poppy husk further.

Accordingly, the police conducted a raid at the place and intercepted the peddler. When the police went ahead to nab Tota, the latter attempted to flee from the spot, but was nabbed by the police.

During preliminary interrogation of the accused, he told the police that he was a daily wage labourer and was into the profession for the past four months only. Tota revealed to the police his earnings were meagre and to earn more in a short time, he ventured into this trade.

The accused was produced in a local court, which sent him to one-day police remand.

Rural police officials said the interrogation of Tota might lead to the arrest of several local smugglers who were receiving supply from him, adding that the police would also try to find the source from where Tota was receiving the supply of narcotics.

A case under Section 15/61/85 of the NDPS Act was registered at the Adampur police station.

Meanwhile, HPS Khakh, who recently joined as Superintendent of Police, Detective, in Jalandhar said he had called a special meeting of all rural police officers to review the crime scene in the district. All pending cases of heinous crime cases, in which accused were at large or untraced, would be reviewed.

Jalandhar, March 1
Three persons were crushed to death by trains in separate accidents near Jalandhar.

The first accident occurred near Suranasi. The victim was identified as Palwinder Singh (60), a resident of Vivek Vihar here. He was crossing railway tracks near Suranasi Colony when the Amritsar-bound Tata Moori Express crushed him to death.

The second incident took place at Hamira village where Baij Nath (75) was crushed to death by a train. Nath failed to notice the train coming from the Jalandhar side, leading to the tragedy.

The third incident occurred near Bhogpur village, where a Hoshiarpur-based person met with a similar tragedy. The deceased was identified as Bakhshish Singh, a resident of Nandachor village in Hoshiarpur. The Government Railway Police (GRP) officials said all three deaths were due to negligence of the victims as they fell prey to speeding trains.

After conducting the postmortem of the bodies, inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Cr PC were initiated by the police.

Jalandhar, March 1
With Jalandhar Tribune highlighting the water scarcity problem and the missing of water coolers from the Civil Hospital premises for the last two days, the authorities today located all six coolers kept in various store rooms in a pathetic condition.

Two out of the six water coolers that were found in working condition were installed immediately on the ground floor. The administration was planning to send the remaining four for repair. The hospital authorities confirmed that reading the water scarcity problem in the paper, many NGOs and welfare organisations had come forward and offered to hold water "chabeels" on the hospital premises till the repair work and the installation of coolers got over.

“Most of the coolers were found to be without taps and with rusted bodies,” said Dr Jagjit Singh Cheema, Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital.

Further investigation revealed that the coolers were removed from their sites during the building repair works held a few years ago. “Once the repair works got over, the authorities might have forgotten to reinstall the water coolers back to their place. Even after severe water scarcity all these years, no body reported the matter to the hospital administration.

With The Tribune highlighting the issue, the authorities realised their mistake.

“This will actually help 2,000 people who come to the hospital everyday from far off areas,” said Surinder Saini, member of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti of the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar.

Jalandhar, March 1
To celebrate 65th Raising Day of the Vajra Corps, various events including a wreath laying ceremony and a fair were organised at Corps War Memorial at Katoch Stadium here today.

Lt Gen AK Bakshi, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, paid homage at the Vajra Corps War Memorial.

The Vajra Corps, the defenders of Punjab, was the first corps raised in 1950 by Lt Gen Kulwant Singh at Ambala. The headquarter of the corps was later relocated at Jalandhar in 1951.

The corps proved its mettle on the strategic Western Front.

The nation conferred eight MVCs, 47 VrCs and numerous other awards on the valiant men of the corps.

The corps was also bestowed with the Theatre Honour, Punjab and Battle Honours, Sehjra and Dera Baba Nanak.

Jalandhar, March 1
Police investigations to trace ‘Maasha’, the kingpin of cricket bookies, is seemingly lying in limbo as the city police are yet to arrest him. ‘Maasha’s’ name had cropped up during the interrogation of four bookies nabbed by the Bhargo Camp police on February 23. They were identified as Sukhpreet Singh, Gurbinder Singh and two brothers Ravi Julka and Amit Julka.

During remand they disclosed some mobile numbers suspected to be of their accomplices and of the near aides of Maasha.

Interestingly the nabbed bookies were also not aware about the whereabouts of Maasha. Their relation with Maasha and his aides was just confined to taking line to bet on cricket matches.

Paramjit Singh, ASI- cum- investigating officer, said although the police have got to know about ‘Maasha’ but his real identity was still a mystery for the police. Police were only aware of the fact that he reportedly belonged to Chandigarh.

Police sources said Maasha is a millionaire as he owns property worth several crores in Abohar and Chandigarh. His network was not confined to Punjab only, he was reportedly operating from Himachal, Haryana and Delhi as well.

Jalandhar, March 1
Around 70 players from Punjab left for Pakistan today to participate in the Indo-Pak games to be held in Lahore from March 1 to 4. The participation of these players was confirmed at the last minute due to some communication glitch between the Pakistan government and the Pakistan High Commission at New Delhi. The visas could not be issued to the players till Friday night. The players would compete in wrestling, weightlifting, tug-of-war, kabaddi (men and women) and boxing. Pawan Kumar Tinnu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary for Sports, flagged off the bus carrying players to the Wagah border.

“Due to their visa being approved at the last minute, all the transportation arrangements and issuance of sports kits took place in the night itself. The players had already reached the city on Friday. Since the invitation was sent by the Pakistan government we were hopeful about getting their visas,” said Rakesh Kaushal, District Sports Officer, Jalandhar.

Jalandhar, March 1
Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala, today observed National Science Day in collaboration with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Girish Sahni, Director, Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh said the human mind - right from childhood- was driven by curiosity and imitation, two of the foremost ‘core’ mind-associated drives that were required for survival in the world. Both science and arts were the natural consequences of these, once they were coupled with a third human capability- that of imagination! If we look around, the modern world was full of elegant and wonderful examples of the ingenuity of human beings to both comprehend and then master our environment in a sustainable and useful manner.

He stated that the role of science in today’s world cannot be overestimated since human development in all its varied aspects was dependent on the spirit and application of science to solve human problems.

Dr Rajesh Grover, Director, Science City said National Science Day was celebrated all over India on February 28 to mark the invention of the ‘Raman Effect’ in India by Sir CV Raman on the same day in the 1928.

Science City celebrated National Science Day on March 1, to commemorate and honour this event. 

Jalandhar, March 1
Fissures between the Congress councillors came to the fore during a two-hour protest organised by the party over the state of roads at Kapurthala Chowk today.

While the call for the protest was given by Leader of the Opposition in MC Jagdish Raja and district urban president Rajinder Beri, the councillors working under the banner of Dynamic Group failed to join the issue being raked up by the party.

Councillors Dr Pardeep Rai, Gurvinder Bantu, Palani Swami, Tarsem squatted at the chowk. However, Congress councillors including Sushil Rinku, Amanjit Kaur and Harsimranjit Banti and their independent ally Amit Dhall stayed away.

Addressing the gathering, Raja said the Mayor’s commitment made two days ago in the presence of SAD-BJP candidate Pawan Tinu of assuring good roads by April 15 was a mere eyewash. “They have laid foundation stones but they will not be able to get the work done. The contractors have been forced to put in tenders. They have expressed their helplessness in completing the work the work at one go for fear of not getting timely payment. I challenge that if the Mayor is able to meet his deadline, then other councillors and I would resign.”

Beri said the cold weather had returned after rain. “The MC will have to wait for some days now. The roads get worn out just six months after they are laid. We just want the contractors not to rush with work and instead do quality work”, he said. 

Jalandhar, March 1
The Punjab Government Transport Workers Union today condemned the state government at a meeting and threatened to launch a dharna from March 6 to 11 at Chandigarh. The union criticised the state government for not fulfilling their long-pending demands, despite the assurance given by Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal on February 18.

Jagdish Singh Chahal, general secretary of the union said none of their demands had been fulfilled during the tenure of Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, who promised to fix a meeting between office-bearers of the union and Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa on February 17. But then they gave the an excuse of Narendra Modi’s Jagraon rally for violating the promise.

“Punjab Roadways employees would organise a protest march at Shahkot, home town of Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, on March 7,” he added.

The meeting was attended by presidents, general secretaries and other office-bearers of 18 Punjab Roadways depots. — TNS