Jalandhar, May 21
Yet again, girls have taken the lead in the recently-declared Class X results of the ICSE board. Girls of St. Joseph's Convent School secured the top positions in the district.

Sunpriya Kaur Bhatia (middle), along with her parents, in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Photo: Malkiat Singh

Shreya Malhotra of St Joseph’s Convent School (Girls) has topped the district with 96.8 per cent marks. She is followed by two students of the same school- Prachi Goyal and Sunpriya Bhatia. Both the students bagged 96.6 per cent marks.

Shreya Manhan and Khyati from St Joseph's (Girls) have bagged the third position with 96.2 per cent marks. Muskaan Sharma from the same school has bagged the fourth position with 95.6 per cent marks and Ananya Jindal and Nikita Gupta have bagged the fifth position with 95.4 per cent marks.

Ananya and Nikita are accompanied by Shivam Mahajan from St Joseph's Convent School (Boys) on the fifth spot. He also secured 95.4 per cent marks.

Nilesh Sharma with 95.2 per cent marks stood sixth in the district.

As many of the toppers are taking coaching for various exams in Chandigarh, Rajasthan and other places, their parents had to deal with the flood of congratulatory calls.

Dr Dipple Malhotra, mother of Shreya Malhotra, said Shreya was in Chandigarh for her coaching classes "Shreya worked very hard. She studied 7 to 8 hours every day and was was consistent in studies," Dr Malhotra said. While Shreya's father Nidhi Malhotra is also a child specialist, she is planning to opt medical stream. "She is aiming at the AIIMS and we support her," she said.

Both Shreya Malhotra and Shreya Manhan are in Chandigarh for their coaching classes. Talking to Jalandhar Tribune, they said they always remained regular with their studies. "My parents wanted me choose non-medical but I stick to my plans as I was inspired by my parents," Shreya Malhotra said.

Manhan wants to be a dermatologist. "People are concerned about how they look. It is going to be much in demand in future," she said.

Both the girls, who were nervous about the results, now plan to celebrate their success with a quiet dinner tonight.

Meanwhile, Prachi Goyal, who secured the second spot in the district is preparing for IIT and is at Kota. Her father Rajesh Goyal, a businessman, said, "She always studied 10 to 12 hours every day day and never took tuitions."

Sunpriya Bhatia, who also stood second, said she was expecting a good result. She also plans to opt non-medical.

Jalandhar, May 21
Issuing an advisory to the residents desirous of going abroad, the Commissionerate of Police today asked them to visit authorised travel agents only. Police Commissioner Ishwar Singh said people should visit only those agents who were registered under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012.

"The advisory has been issued due to a spurt in the number of duping incidents by unauthorised travel agents. A massive drive will be started against illegal agents," he said. When asked about the number of authorised travel agents in Jalandhar, he said they would put their names on their official website.

He said people were being cheated by fake travel agents as they failed to check their antecedents. "Before visiting any travel agent, people should check if that agent is registered with the state government and carries the registration number necessary under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012," the Police Commissioner said.

To rule out the possibility of fraud, people should approach concerned embassy/high commission to know if their agents had submitted the documents, he added. "The people desirous of working in a foreign country on a valid work permit should check the terms and conditions of the contract before embarking on a journey and should verify the credentials of travel agents from the authorities concerned, including the Protector General of Emigrants. They must obtain a receipt of money paid to travel agents. They should pay the money through a cheque or pay orders," he said. 

Jalandhar, May 21
To improve soil fertility, protect natural resources and encourage crop diversification, the Agriculture Department, Jalandhar, launched an awareness campaign. Two vans loaded with concerned literature will visit 1,005 village of Jalandhar in next 10 days. The information will also be disseminated through an audio message.

Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Suttantar Kumar said, "Punjab Agriculture University had recommended that if a phosphorus containing fertiliser had already been used during the sowing of wheat, there was no need to use the same fertiliser in paddy plantation. In this way, Rs 800 crore can be saved. "

He said mud making plays a vital role in paddy plantation. "For the past 10 years, a six-inch layer of mud has developed over soil, which has effect natural fertilisation. Through this campaign, we are trying to promote chisel plough, a farming instrument, as it is useful in breaking the layer. We are trying to ensure the availability of 200 chisel plough on rent in Jalandhar district through cooperative societies," he added.

Dr Suttantar said to improve the water table, direct sowing of paddy was being encouraged. 

Jalandhar, may 21
Despite the lack of clarity over a government notification, in which the ADC (D) was not authorised to exercise the powers of the executive magistrate, the Deputy Commissioner has allowed ADC Pritam Singh to hold an inquiry into the alleged police torture of minor boy Gagandip.

The DC said ADC (D) Pritam Singh would submit the inquiry report soon. There is some confusion over the issue as a January 29 notification issued by the state government states that magisterial powers will be attached to the posts the DC, ADC (General), SDMs, Assistant Commissioners (General and Grievances) and District Transport Officer except the post of the ADC (Development).

As these orders were passed by Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, some administrative officials in the district had said that the ADC (D) was not authorised to hold any magisterial inquiry or function as the Additional District Magistrate. However, ADC Pritam Singh held a hearing in the case and recorded statements.

Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam today said that he had checked the notification. “I interpret it as a general notification for all these posts. The notification is a simpler way of ensuring that an officer starts discharging his duties soon after joining and the official delay in the issuance of powers does not hinder his working. Since, there is a PCS officer who after clearing a departmental examination held the post of the ADC (D), he cannot be divested of his ADM powers," he said.

When asked why the ADC (D) was not mentioned in the notification, he said, “It may be due to some error. In some districts, IAS officers are posted as the ADC (D) and they can issue firearms licences.”

Meanwhile, Pritam Singh said he had recorded the statement of the most of persons involved the case. “There is just one statement left and it will be recorded tomorrow. I think I will be able to submit the report by Friday or Saturday," he said.

The ADC (D) was asked to carry out the inquiry after the victim's family expressed dissatisfaction over the report of ADCP (Headquarters) Naveen Singla on May 8. 

Jalandhar, May 21
Table tennis players at Raizaada Hansraj Stadium are a harassed lot nowadays as the district administration has failed to unseal the table tennis hall by removing the concrete structures erected at its doors and windows. The able tennis hall was converted into a strongroom for keeping EVMs during the elections. Though the hall has been reopened for public, players are complaining of suffocation due to closed doors and windows.

“All players are complaining of suffocation as ventilation points inside the hall and in the adjoining changing rooms are sealed. The election staff has also damaged the wooden floor of the hall by throwing trunks on it. Players are facing a lot of problem due to this. The administration should begin the repair work at the earliest,” said a coach.

"Strong concrete structures were erected at all openings of the tennis hall by the administration during the LS poll. Even all windows of the adjoining changing rooms were also sealed. Though the authorities shifted the EVMs one day before the counting, they seem to have forgotten to unseal the table tennis hall, which is visited by 50 to 75 players every day. The number is expected to reach 150 during summer vacations," the coach said

Moreover, four cops were guarding the empty hall till even after 20 days of elections.

Meanwhile, Karnail Singh, tehsildar (elections), while accepting the fact said the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Punjab Armed Police had been asked to remove the temporary structures and the PAP staff from the venue at the earliest. The PAP cops were removed soon after the election tehsildar and the police authorities were informed about it. 

Jalandhar, May 21
After winning Lok Sabha seat from the city, Congress leaders today projected a united face, as they came together at the death anniversary programme of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, organised by the District Congress Committee in its office.

The newly-elected MP, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, his elder brother Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, his son and Punjab Youth Congress chief Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary were the first ones to pay respect during the ceremony.

The District Congress Committee chief Rajinder Beri seemed quite upbeat today as all party leaders congratulated him for steering up the campaign in the city. Councillors including Gurvinder Singh Banti, Tarsem Lakhotra, and party leaders Harkrishan Bawa, Anil Vashisht and Arun Jain also attended the programme. 

Jalandhar, May 21
The city police conducted an awareness drive for bus drivers against the consumption of intoxicants here today.

ADCP-II, Parminder Singh Bhandal, ACP Model Town Manpreet Singh, SHO Division Number 6 Sheetal Singh and PCR teams sensitised the drivers against the use of intoxicants, emphasising that they should completely refrain from driving under the influence of liquor or drugs.

The ADCP also interacted with the drivers of the cars and autorickshaws parked at the bus stand taking the same lesson to them. He said the programme was held in view of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking falling next month.

He also conducted a search of all inter-state buses parked in the bus stand, and checked the luggage of passengers for any explosive or unwanted articles.

Bhandal asked them to inform the police immediately, in case they found any suspected articles in the buses. The campaign lasted for two hours. 

Jalandhar, May 21
Puspa Gujral Science City (PGSC) today celebrated Bio-Divercity Day.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jagbir Singh, Professor Zoology Department, Punjabi University Patiala, said one million species of animals wouldl extinct from the globe by the end of this century.

He said Satluj river,Harike wetland,Kali and Chitti Bein are the major sources of biodiversity, that had been facing serious threat from polluted water flowing in from the Nangal factory and many other industrial units. Dr Jagbir said the state needs immediate attention as far as forest cover is concerned, because only less than 3 per cent of the forest cover had been left behind.

He said Buddha Nala of Ludhiana was a major source of biodiversity once upon a time, with 200-250 animal and plant species. However, these have disappeared due to the polluted water released from industrial units.

“According to a survey carried out in the USA, the global warming and excessive deforestation are the major threats to the plant and animal species. After 30 years we will be left with only 5 per cent species. During the last decade we have lost 38,502 animal and plant species”, said Dr Jagbir.

Dr Rajesh Grover, Director, PGSC, said India is one of the richest nations in terms of biological diversity. “Biodiversity is fundamental to the existence of the life on the Earth and the importance of it cannot be underestimated. In the past few centuries, humans have had negative effect on biodiversity,” he said

To mark the occasion the Science City organised a painting competition in which around 250 students participated.

Jalandhar, May 21
The Punjab Government Pensioners Welfare Association seeks jobs for next of the kin of deceased employees on compassionate grounds.

Brahma Singh, representative of the association, said a case of Tarsem Singh had been filed to the Deputy Commission, Jalandhar, around two years ago. But, nothing has been done so far in this regard. He said Tarsem’s father, Sukhdev Singh, was a Patwari, who died in 2011. — TNS