Amritsar, May 1
A pregnant woman was beaten to death by some persons in Sathiala village falling under the Beas police station in Amritsar today. She was killed following a dispute over the extension of a power line from a tubewell to a gurdwara.

The victim, identified as Rajwinder Kaur, was seven-month pregnant. She, along with her father-in-law Gurbachan Singh, was at home when the incident took place.

The police have registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against five persons.

The accused have been identified as Gurnawab Singh, Rupinder Singh, Amarjit Kaur, Karam Singh and Kuldeep Singh, all residents of Sathiala village.

Amarjit Singh, SHO, Beas police station, said raids were being carried out to nab the accused. "They would be arrested soon," he added.

While giving details, the SHO said Gurbachan's elder brother Dalbjir Singh had some dispute with the accused over the extension of power line from a tubewell to a local gurdwara.

The accused, who are relatives of the victim, were against this. Both the families have a common tubewell. Though the dispute was settled with the intervention of the village panchayat, the accused harboured a grudge against the victim's family.

"A day before yesterday, the accused barged into the house of Gurbachan Singh. His daughter in-law Rajwinder tried to bolt the door from inside. However, the accused pushed the door due to which Rajwinder fell down. The accused attacked her, causing grievous internal injuries,” the SHO said.

The neighbours reached there after hearing the victim's cries. The victim was immediately rushed to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The police handed over the body to the victim’s family after conducting a post-mortem on Wednesday.

The accused are still on the run and the SHO said they were making every possible effort to nab them.

The victim, identified as Rajwinder Kaur, was seven-month pregnant She, along with her father-in-law Gurbachan Singh, was at home when the incident took place Five booked under Section 302 of the IPC. The accused still at large

Amritsar, May 1
Though the authorities had set up model polling booths with various facilities and adopted several novel ways to woo the urban voters, polling in the urban areas remained low in comparison to the rural areas.

The maximum number of votes were polled in the Ajnala Assembly segment (75 per cent) followed by Rajasansi (74 per cent). While Majitha witnessed 72 per cent polling, about 70 per cent people exercised their franchise in Attari.

In the urban areas, the maximum number of votes were polled in the Amritsar-Central (69 per cent) Assembly segment followed by Amritsar-North (68 per cent), Amritsar-East ( 65 per cent) and Amritsar-South ( 63 per cent). In the Amritsar-West Assembly segment, only 60 per cent votes were polled.

Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Ravi Bhagat said during an analysis of the vote percentage in the last Lok Sabha elections, it was found that less votes were polled in the urban areas.

He had said the main reason behind this was that the urban voters did not want to wait in long queues outside polling booths. Though the constituency witnessed 70 per cent polling, the voter tunrout in the urban areas stood at 65 per cent. In the 2009 elections, the constituency had witnessed a 66 per cent polling.

The maximum number of votes were polled in the Ajnala Assembly segment (75 per cent) followed by Rajasansi (74 per cent). While Majitha witnessed 72 per cent polling, about 70 per cent people exercised their franchise in Attari In the urban areas, the maximum number of votes were polled in the Amritsar-Central (69 per cent) Assembly segment followed by Amritsar-North (68 per cent), Amritsar-East ( 65 per cent) and Amritsar-South ( 63 per cent). In the Amritsar-West Assembly segment, only 60 per cent voters exercised their franchise

Amritsar, May 1
The cantonment police have booked former municipal councillor Surinder Chaudhry, his nephew Rajnish and eight others for allegedly thrashing a Congress activist over the setting up of a booth near a polling station in Putlighar today.

The incident had taken place only a few minutes after the voting stared at the Government Senior Secondary School for Girls polling station yesterday.

Harish Kumar, aks Dimple Arora, told to police that he was setting up a booth around 7.15 am near the school when Chaudhary, along with others, reached there and entered into an altercation with him. Notably, Surinder Chaudhary who remained a Congress Municipal Councillor in the past had joined the Shiromani Akali Dal just before the MC elections.

The police have registered a case under Sections 323, 506, 148, 149 of the IPC. Those have been booked include Sanjiv, Sonu Kumar. Six persons are yet to identified.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered against a former Mayor of Jalandhar and a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Suresh Sehgal, and two others for allegedly beating up a Congress worker Subhash Sharma at a polling booth in Rasta Mohalla after there was confusion over the working of an electronic voting machine during the Lok Sabha elections yesterday.

Amritsar, May 1
The Amritsar administration’s endeavour to encourage the youth to vote seems successful, if the impressive turnout of the first-time voters is taken into account. Nonetheless, the occasion also gave the youth an opportunity to pamper themselves with good evening food offered on 30 per cent discount to them at city hotels, restaurants or dhabas. All hotels, restaurants and eating joints kept their doors open for the first-time voters.

According to an estimate, there are 37, 286 first-time voters, including 24, 103 boys and 13,183 girls, in Amritsar. Subway and Aura at Ranjit Avenue were among the favourites. “ Indelible ink on their fingers and the special appreciation certificates issued by the administration made them eligible for the discount. Hardly, any table was vacant during the evening hours yesterday," told Arun Kumar, proprietor of the eating joints.

Hotel Ramada’s financial controller Rajiv Khurana said at least three groups of youngsters visited their hotel to avail the offer. “It was a little gesture extended from our side towards the youth," he said.

Grand Hotel official Sanjay Kumar and Ritz’s Piyush Kapoor said their bar rooms were crowded with the first-time voters yesterday. “We do not mind extending such offers. Moreover, it was a lifetime opportunity for them to celebrate their participation in the electoral process," said Piyush.

Excise and Taxation Officer Harmeet Singh, who had been coordinating the move from the administration side, said though the exact percentage of the first-time voters could not be declared as the scrutiny was underway, a large number of appreciation certificates were awarded to the first-time voters. These certificates made them eligible for the discount.

The Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHARA) president, APS Chatha, said it was indeed a great move to encourage the youth to vote and the association would always help in such initiatives.

“Those who couldn’t avail the offer because of any reasons, they should not feel sad. They can extend the gesture to their friends or relatives outside Amritsar. Their appreciation letter would entitle them to have 30 per cent discount in accommodating their guests. The offer will remain valid for next 30 days," he said.

Amritsar, May 1
A city resident, identified as Amar (35), committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence at Gillwali Gate here today. According to his family, he was mentally upset for the past couple of months.

The police have initiated action under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code and handed over the body to the family after the post-mortem examination today. Rozy, wife of the deceased, said her husband was under stress for the past couple of months. He was a painter and for the past two months, he was unemployed.

Amritsar, May 1
The resentment among the student community against the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) authorities over the alleged wrong marking in the political science examination has refuses to calm down.

The authorities concerned had agreed to re-evaluate the BA (political science-Part II) paper held in November last year, if the students applied for it by depositing the requisite fee. The students are adamant to get the valuation done without paying an extra penny as they believe that it is not a paid exercise.

The matter came to limelight on April 17, when the students under the banner of Punjab Students Federation lodged their protest outside Vice-Chancellor AS Brar’s office.

They alleged that almost all the student of the seven GNDU affiliated colleges were declared failed by the authorities concerned due to abrupt marking.

They stated that it could never be justified on the part of the GNDU authorities to make every student pay Rs 1,200 to get the papers re-evaluated. The students also threatened to launch a massive protest against the authorities shortly.

Vatandeep Kaur, an activist of students federation, said burdening the students was an unjustified move when a majority of them belonged to the underprivileged section.

“The fee for re-evaluation is Rs 1,000, whereas the form alone costs Rs 200. It is sheer loot on the part of the university authorities. Why students should bear this burden for the folly committed by the university teachers. We want valuation to be done by a single teacher designated by the university, whose decision will be final. It is acceptable to us,” said Vatandeep while hinting at launching the protest shortly.

Sarbjit Singh Harry of Bhagat Singh Naujuwan Sabha said this was not the case with any particular college but at least seven colleges. “It shows that the marking is faulty. Otherwise, how can such a huge number of students are affected. We want valuation of papers not the re-evaluation. This process should be free of cost,” he said.

The GNDU Registrar, Dr Inderjit Singh, on the other hand admitted that complaints regarding marking of answersheets in November-December last year were received, but the remedy to the was the re-evaluation only, as per the university norms.

“We cannot go beyond the norms. Re-evaluation is the only answer to this problem as it is done in a very professional manner by two teachers separately. But for this, the requisite fee has to be deposited”, he added.

Amritsar, May 1
The Health Department has planned a serious of reconstruction surgery camps for the benefit of leprosy patients in the district. Civil Surgeon Usha Bansal said a series of these camps would be held in the month of June.

Dr Bansal said: “Leprosy is a disease, which is treated free of cost at all government health institutions. Failure of the treatment at the earlier stage may worsen a patient’s condition and limbs may have to be amputated.”

She said in order to avoid further complications, patients suspected of carrying the disease must approach the nearest health centre at the earliest. Re-construction surgery camps would help in rehabilitation of leprosy patients. Dr Bansal said a detailed schedule of all these camps would be released soon.

District Leprosy Officer, Dr Jyoika Kalsi, said a total of 84 cases of leprosy were reported in 2013. She said all patients were saved from physical disabilities due to the timely treatment provided by the medical experts of the department. “Special camps for the people with skin problems are organised every month at Baba Bakala, Verka, Lopke and the Civil Hospital, Amritsar. The department has provided artificial limbs to nine patients in the previous year,” added Dr Jyoika. — TNS

Amritsar, May 1
A full-grown tree at the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Hospital was burnt as a heap of garbage under it was set on fire by hospital employees. Instances of garbage burning are frequently reported from the government hospital, which is also a threat to the city’s environment.

Even the garbage piled along roadsides and inside public parks is often set on fire. Environment laws prohibit burning of garbage and even plant residue such as rotten leaves.

The municipal corporation and the authorities at the helm of government health institutions are mum on the issue.

An employee of the ESI hospital said someone set the garbage piled up under the tree on fire in the night.

He said as people objected to the smoke emanating from burning of garbage during the day, the heap was set on fire at around 9 pm. “It takes years for a tree to grow. We already have a shortage of the green cover in the city,” said the employee, adding that senior officials must take strict action against the person whosoever was guilty.

Gurbhej Singh of Mission Aagaaj, an NGO said, “The local administration must take serious view of burning of garbage heaps.” He said on one hand the administration organised tree plantation drives to increase the green cover and on the other it took no notice when a tree was set on fire.

The people residing near the hospital said garbage must be transported to dumps for disposal instead of burning as it caused serious health problems. “A lot many people, especially old ones suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems. Whosoever sets these heaps on fire must think about the people suffering from such health related issues,” said Satinder Singh Bal, an area resident.

Amritsar, May 1
As the Lok Sabha polls are over, the city police feeling relaxed, are back to their routine work with officials reporting at their offices and attending to the people coming to them for redressal of their grievances and finishing their pending work.

For the last one month, since the declaration of the Lok Sabha elections, the Police Department was on its toes preparing for the security arrangements. During last couple of days, all policemen were busy in regular checking and patrolling in various parts of the city. They were maintaining round-the-clock vigil on every entry and exit point of the city.

The city policemen along with paramilitary forces were deputed at various city intersections while teams were moving around with election supervisors in order to check violations of the model code of conduct imposed in view of the elections and verify expenses incurred by political leaders during the polls.

“Yes, we are relaxed and happy that elections are over in a peaceful manner barring a few skirmishes. I am still in my office finishing the work, which is lying pending due to the parliamentary elections,” said Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh. ADCP Baljit Singh Randhawa, special and district community policing officer, said,

“Definitely there is a feeling of some relaxation after spending a hectic month in the preparation of the security arrangements and peaceful completion of elections.” “But it’s all part of the duty. The Punjab police are always ready for such challenges,” said Randhawa.

Another inspector rank official said it was really a tiresome month.

Amritsar, May 1
The two incidents of doctors being roughed up in government hospitals on Tuesday have highlighted the fact that the medical fraternity is often at the receiving end of the public’s ire.

In one such instance, a postgraduate student- cum-doctor at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here was slapped by a patient’s attendant on Tuesday afternoon. In the second instance, which occurred at Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital in the late night, a few miscreants manhandled medical staff and damaged records.

Such incidents of manhandling the hospital staff have occurred in the past too, but it seems that no lessons have been learnt as proper security arrangements do not exist on the hospital premises.

In September, 2012, a doctor at the emergency block of Jallinawala Bagh Memorial (JBM) Civil Hospital was manhandled, bundled up in a vehicle and taken away by the relatives of a patient. The doctors had to launch a protest to get all the accused booked in the case. Earlier, in June 2012, a woman doctor at a satellite hospital was manhandled and misbehaved with by over two dozen miscreants.

The postgraduate doctors at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital had staged a protest demanding deployment of security guards at the hospital to prevent any such instances. Even at the Civil Hospital, doctors had earlier demanded setting up of a permanent police post for the security purpose.

The Civil Hospital has only four guards of its own to guard the premises at night. A policeman also has been assigned the duty to provide security to the doctors.

The doctors at the Civil Hospital said ample security arrangements, especially during the night, should be made so that doctors and other medical staff felt safe. Chairman of hospital’s employees’ welfare committee Rakesh Kumar said the police should take strict action against such miscreants so that the tendency to attack doctors and medical staff could be curbed.