Ludhiana, June 3
For getting drugs they can go to any extent. They would indulge in violence at home, fight with friends and neighbours, steal things from their own houses. The daily dose of drugs is a must for them to “survive”.

As the state government has cracked the whip on drug-peddlers and addicts in Punjab, on an average, around 30 addicts are daily lodged in the Central Jail here. More than 350 drug-addicts have been lodged in the jail in the past six days.

A visit to the Central Jail on Tajpur Road revealed most of the addicts are in the age group of 19 to 35 years. A majority of them are from the rural background and are unmarried. Heroin (they call it white powder) is the only thing that matters in their life.

Though there are other addicts who use traditional drugs such as opium, poppy husk and cannabis, heroin and smack are fast catching the fancy of youngsters. And for them, availability of these expensive drugs is never a problem.

“You come to our village and you can get any kind of drug. You just have to carry money to pay those who bring these in bulk. I consume the drug either orally or through intravenous methods daily. I spend around Rs 3,000 to get the powder (daily dose),” said Ravi Kumar, a 22-year-old youth from a village near Jagraon. He dropped out after the eighth standard. He has been taking drugs for the past five or six years. When asked how he managed to arrange money, he said he worked with a DJ and during the wedding season, he was able to make enough money for his “survival”. Besides, he would sell household goods in extreme cases.

Jaidev Singh (32) is a driver in Dubai. About three months ago, he was diagnosed with some disease and he returned to his native place of Banga, near Nawanshahr. His monthly income in Dubai was around Rs 1 lakh a month. A graduate, Jaspal said his friends forced him to get the kick (shots of heroin) once and after that the drug had become a part of his life. “I spend around Rs 25,000 a month to get heroin, which was available like fruits and vegetables in the Banga and Nawanshahr areas. But I want to shun drugs,” he admitted.

A student of BA I at Khalsa College, Sudhar, Prabhdeep Singh said his was a group of four friends, all addicts. He said in the entire Mullanpur area, drugs were easily available. “The availability of drugs is never a problem. You can get them anytime you want in villages. You need to have a good rapport with those, who supply it. I consume a dose worth Rs 1,000 daily. I often fight with my family, sometimes hit them when they refuse to give me money,” said the youngster.

Dr Gurcharan Singh said very few of them had the willpower to shun drugs. “They are being rehabilitated. Though they will be kept here for more than a month, it is not easy for them to come out of addiction,” said the doctor.

Note: names have been changed to protect the identity of the drug addicts

Addicts devise novel ways to sneak drugs into jail

KS Cheema and Gurpreet Singh, Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, respectively, of the Central Jail, said many addicts devised “novel” ways to sneak drugs into the jail. They would swallow the packets of drugs and vomit them out inside the jail. Many of them would make cuts on their bodies to conceal the small packets of drugs under bandages. “They have no emotions. Nor are they bothered about the plight of their parents and families. For them, heroin/smack is their life,” said the officials.

Drug peddlers roam freely in villages

Most of the addicts lodged in the Central Jail in Ludhiana belong to villages in the Jagraon, Banga and Nawanshahr areas. They said drug peddlers roam around freely in villages without any fear of law. They lure youngsters into addiction of expensive drugs such as heroin and smack.

Ludhiana, June 3
A jilted lover, in an attempt to win back the girl, who was in a “live-in” relationship with another person, set her house on fire so that she would go back to her mother’s place and he could start a relationship with her again.

The incident took place on the night of May 31. At that time, the police considered it as a normal fire incident. While scanning the footage of a CCTV camera, the police got suspicious and later found that the house was set on fire.

Division Number 7 SHO Sandeep Garg said everything was done in a planned manner. Tarannum (name changed), a 27-year-old girl, who worked with an orchestra group, was in a live-in relationship with a person. Both lived in LIG flats near the Vardhman factory. Vishal Dhiman, an old acquaintance of Tarannum, was in love with the girl, whose parental house was on Gill Road.

“Since the girl lived with her partner and Vishal wanted to win her back, he hatched a plan. With the help of a friend, Harpreet, Vishal set Tarannum’s house (LIG flats, near Vardhman) on fire when both the girl and her partner were not at home. To make it appear like a theft, he stole a TV set, air-conditioner and an inverter from the house.

“That day there was no electricity supply in the area for more than an hour and Vishal made the most of it. One could have easily thought the fire was caused by a candle. But footage of the CCTV cameras installed near the flat revealed the movement of a person, who looked familiar to the neighbours. After investigation, we came to know that he was Vishal Dhiman who lived nearby,” said Garg.

Vishal was arrested while his accomplice Harpreet is at large. A case under sections 457, 380, 436 and 427 (34) of the IPC has been registered.

“His planning was perfect. The girl started living with her mother at her Gill Road house while her partner shifted to his parental place. The AC and the inverter have been recovered from Vishal,” said Garg.

Ludhiana,June 3
Students of Fishery College of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) marked the second day of their protest by polishing shoes here today. More than 20 students, a majority of them girls, of the final year of Bachelor of Fishery Sciences polished shoes outside the Veterinary Hospital near Gate No. 5.

The students have been demanding their recruitment as fishery officers in the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fishery of the Punjab Government.

The students alleged that they had met Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, and Gulzar Singh Ranike, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fishery, and discussed the issue with them.

“Instead of recognising our academic qualification, both the Chief Minister and the minister have demoralised us by not show a positive response. So, we decided to go in for a protest against the state government. We will continue our protest till the government advertises the posts for fishery officer,” said Parm, a student.

The girl students said if the state government did not respond to our demand, then they would block Ferozepur Road.

“Our batch will pass out after 10 days. What will we do with our degrees after the convocation. If there are no jobs in the field, then why did the state government start the institute?” said another girl student.

Meanwhile, the students decided to hold a protest during the 13th convocation of the College of Veterinary Sciences that will take place at Pal Auditorium on the Punjab Agriculture University campus on June 5.

The College of Fishery, GADVASU, is the only institute that offers a course in Bachelor of Fishery Sciences.

The state government deputes fishery officers at the block level.

Ludhiana, March 3
The Health Department today issued 30 challans for violating the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA).

The challans were issued on the directions of Civil Surgeon Subhash Batta. The District Health Officer, Dr Abnash Kumar, said a total of 30 challans were issued and Rs 5,440 was collected as fine.

The challans were issued at Feroze Gandhi Market and Model Town Extension for advertising tobacco products and for not displaying warning boards outside the shops selling tobacco products.

Dr Abnash Kumar said every year, smoking killed thousands of patients. In India, of every 100 cancer patients, 40 die due to the use of tobacco.

What COTPA says

* Smoking in public places, except in special smoking

* zones in hotels, restaurants and airports, is prohibited.

* Advertisement of tobacco products, including cigarettes, is prohibited. Surrogate advertisement is prohibited as well under the Act.

* Tobacco products cannot be sold to a person below the age of 18 years, and in places within 100 metres radius from the outer boundary of educational institution, including schools, colleges and institutions of higher learning.

* The owner/manager/in-charge of a public place must display a board carrying the warning, “No smoking area - Smoking here is an offence”, in appropriate manner at the entrance and inside the premises.

* Places where tobacco products are sold must have appropriate messages like “Tobacco causes cancer” and “Sales of tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years is a punishable offence”.

Ludhiana, June 3
A fire that broke out at Dimple Textile Mills at Iqbal Ganj destroyed textile products and shawls worth lakhs this morning. The fire started early morning. When someone noticed smoke and flames billowing out of the factory, he raised the alarm.

The fire started at 4.45 am and it took firefighters more than two and a half hours to control it. Five fire tenders, including three from the headquarters, were pressed into service. The firefighters controlled the fire by 7.30 am.

Prem Gupta, owner of the factory, said the loss ran into several lakhs. “Everything lying in the factory was burnt,” he sighed.

An eyewitness said the fire spread quickly. It was caused due to a short-circuit, said the officials of the Fire Department. The factory was insured. — TNS

Ludhiana, June 3
Members of the Inspector 2010 Batch Union, Punjab (Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs), struck work for second day today. Protesting against the dismissal of two Inspectors, the union members sat on a dharna in front of the office of the District Food and Civil Supply Controller, Ludhiana.

Union president Saravdeep Singh Bedi said: “Members of the state-level union today went to Chandigarh to meet the Commisioner, Food and Civil Supply. However, no decision has been taken yet by the authorities. So, the strike will continue tomorrow as well in all districts of Punjab.”

Due to the strike, work related to the Atta Dal Scheme besides issuing of ration cards and new blue cards was affected.

Simarjit Kaur, a visitor to the DFSC office, said, “I came to get my ration card prepared. After reaching here, however, I got to know about the strike and could not get my work done.”

Meanwhile Inspectors from both the offices of the DFSC, i.e. Ludhiana East and West, reached the Zone-D office of the DFSC in Sarabha Nagar and showed their resentment against the dismissal of their two colleagues.

The union alleged, “The Inspectors were dismissed on the whims of senior officials, which becomes evident from the fact that despite getting a clean chit in the inquiry conducted by the central vigilance committee of the department, they were punished severely.”

The union is demanding the reinstatement of the two Inspectors.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 3
Medication-assisted de-addiction programmes at government and private health centres are providing solace to drug addicts, with habit-forming drugs virtually unavailable due to coordinated efforts of the state police.

The investigating teams that have nabbed petty drug peddlers and addicts are also finding it difficult to arrange pharmaceutical preparations to avoid withdrawal symptoms among the detainees.

Relatives and friends, too, are making every possible effort to make temporary arrangements to avoid withdrawal symptoms among addicts.

Finding it stigmatic to admit the addicts to drug de-addiction centres, their families are taking them to unauthorised physicians practicing medication-assisted, short-term de-addiction programmes.

Acknowledging the tendency, prominent doctors of the region say number of patients seeking treatment for withdrawal symptoms had increased substantially during past few days.

Most patients seeking medical assistance have been advised oral administration of buprenorphine salt in varying quantities.

Dr Sunit Hind, chairman of Hind Hospital, said buprenorphine could produce typical opioid agonist effect, but its maximal effects were moderate.

At low doses, buprenorphine produces sufficient agonist effect to enable opioid-addicted individuals to discontinue the misuse of opioids without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Showing satisfaction over performance of the police force, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gill, Gurpreet Singh Sikand, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurmit Singh said investigating officers had been advised to seek assistance of authorised physicians for preventing withdrawal symptoms among addicts in the police custody.

Ludhiana, June 3
Despite admissions to the newly opened residential school for meritorious students set to begin on June 5 and classes slated to start from July 1, the construction of the building is yet to be completed.

Officials of the Public Works Department say the construction is on in full swing to meet the deadline.

Satish Vohra of Public Works Department said: “The construction work is almost complete. We are giving final touches to the building. The school building will be ready in next four to five days. More than 200 workers have been deputed on various tasks to complete the work before June 10.”

The Education Department, meanwhile, is awaiting orders of senior officials to start the admissions.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of the school in December 2013. It was proposed that the building would be ready by the coming academic session.

The state government had initiated the project in six districts of the state to provide a platform to intelligent rural students who cannot afford pursuing studies after Class X. The students will reside and study free-of-cost in these schools, which will run under the Society for Promotion of Quality Education for Poor and Meritorious Students.

Students who score more than 80 per cent marks in Class X examination can get admitted to these schools in medical, non-medical and commerce streams.

A few weeks ago, District Education Officer Dr Charanjit Singh issued a letter to government schools of the districts to make students aware of these schools.

The DEO said, “The construction work of the school building in Ludhiana is on in full swing. District officials have been working hard to complete the construction. Tomorrow, a meeting will be held at Chandigarh in this regard. We will act as per the directions of the senior officials of the Education Department.”

Khanna/Machhiwara, June 3
The police are still clueless about the whereabouts of 25-year-old Sarabjit Singh who is missing from Machhiwara for past 10 days. According to the Sarabjit Singh’s brother—Surjit Singh, sarpanch of Hyatpur village—the former had gone to Machhiwara with his friends on May 23, but never returned.

After registering a case of abduction, the police retrieved Sarabjit’s call details. His location was traced to near Khant village in the vicinity of Khamano, after which the phone was switched off.

The Station House Officer, Machhiwara, said suspects were being questioned and the police expected an early breakthrough in this case.

The police, reportedly, picked up some Facebook friends of the missing youth, including a girl on whose phone the youth had allegedly made the last call, from Jalandhar. Some of them, including the girl, were let off after questioning.

The girl’s father has alleged that the police was harassing his daughter without any evidence. He said the girl was forced to sit in a police station for about six hours two days back.

The missing youth is a cousin of a Mohali-based big realtor.

Ludhiana, May 30
Before popping pills for cough, cold and fever or using sugar-fee powder in your tea, you can use some herbal medicines that you can grow in your home garden or in planters.

Medicinal plants at Herbal Garden in Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Photos: Inderjeet Verma

Stevia is a sugar-free plant that according to experts can be used as an alternative to sugar. It leaves are said to be 200 times sweeter than sugarcane and doesn’t have calories. Tulsi (basil) has traditionally been known for preventing fever, according to experts. Types of Tulsi, including Kapoor Tulsi, Kali Tulsi, Ram Tulsi and Sham Tulsi, are known for being antioxidants, prevent fever and other diseases. Juice and pulp of aloe vera are known to prevent fever, stomach disorders and skin problems. Giloy or guduchi controls fever and blood sugar levels. Desi gulab can also be grown and is used to make ‘’gulkand’’. It’s extract can be used as rosewater. The flower of akarkara plant is used for healing gums and painful teeth.

Dr R Vatsyayan, ayurvedacharya, Haar Shingar, is good for treating fever. Giloy or guduchi easily planted in home garden and is good for treating chronic fever and indigestion. Brahmi grows well in Punjab and is known for curing depression and anxiety. Aloe vera that needs no maintenance is good for treating abdominal and skin diseases.

According to another ayurvedic expert, Dr Nalini Saklani, aloe vera hibiscus oil, is good for hair and skin. Bringraj can be used to prevent greying of hair and dandruff. “Patha is used for controlling uric acid,” she said.

Dr Rajinder Kumar from the PAU said many varieties of medicinal and herbal plants were grown at the university’s Herbal Garden. He added that medicinal plants should not be used without the consultation of ayurvedic experts.

Ludhiana, June 3
The fresh instructions issued for getting monetary benefits under the Chief Minister’s Cancer Relief Fund have brought relief to cancer patients in the state. The state government provides Rs 1.5 lakh as financial assistance to cancer patients who are undergoing treatment at government hospitals or at hospitals empanelled under the scheme.

Earlier, the amount was provided to a patient just once and if the patient’s preliminary treatment cost was less than Rs 1.5 lakh, he/she was not allowed to avail the remaining amount for the second round of treatment.

The new guidelines will be applicable from April 1, 2014, onwards and the patients undergoing treatment for cancer can avail the benefit according to the updated guidelines.

As per the recent guidelines issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab, the fund could be availed by patients who had not used the full amount during the first round of treatment.

“This has come in as a relief for the cancer patients. My mother is undergoing treatment at Oswal Hospital and I am relaxed that I will be able to get the full amount of the relief fund. The treatment is very costly and assistance provided by the government proves of a great help,” said Jagtar Singh.

Apart from the Civil Hospital has three empanelled hospitals for the treatment of the cancer patients. These are Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Christian Medical College and Hospital and Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Hospital.

A patient who wishes to get the relief fund has to be resident of Punjab and the funds are directly transferred into the account of a hospital after a doctor provides an estimate cost of the treatment. “The cost of medicines, treatment and tests will be covered under the relief fund,” said Dr Parneet Kaur Sidhu, nodal officer, cancer.

Ludhiana, June 3
A joint action committee of the PEPSU Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) held a protest at the PRTC Ludhiana depot. Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal stated that the PRTC was reeling under financial crunch due to unfavourable policies of the state government. “The employees have not got their salaries for the past two months and those who have retired have not received their pensions,” he said.

Jarnail Singh, a member, said illegal private buses were plying on the routes of PRTC buses.

The employees demanded that their salaries should be released at the earliest.

“The Punjab Government should release the Rs 250 crore to support the PRTC. The buses should be started on all routes. Contractual workers should be regularised,” said Sucha Singh , another leader. 

Ludhiana, June 3
Taking serious note of the issuance of a “fard” without getting the mutation sanctioned, Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal today banned the annual increments of the patwari for two years. 

Ludhiana, June 3
A few women advocates have accused a male colleague of “harassing” a woman advocate. The complainants alleged that Ajay Chanchal had written the name of Meena Rani in the toilets of the courts complex and that he sent objectionable messages to her.

Briefing mediapersons, the trio said Chanchal had sent “fake” summons to Meena Rani in order to harass her. They said an inquiry was on following Meena Rani’s complaint.

Chanchal had filed a complaint against the former president of the District Bar Association. An inquiry into the matter is on. “He is being supported by a political leader. He keeps harassing Meena Rani,” alleged the advocates.

They said a case was registered against Chanchal at the Division No. 5 police station for instigating a woman advocate, who hurled abuses at her colleague and called her a Scheduled Caste in front of everybody.

Chanchal said all allegations levelled against him were baseless. And these were being levelled at the behest of the former president of the District Bar Association. “He wanted me not to contest the DBA elections, so he is playing gimmicks. I have filed a case in the Consumer Court against one of his friends for damages and the former president wanted me to withdraw the case, but I refused. So he involved all these advocates to malign my reputation. I do not even know the telephone number of Meena Rani, how can I write her number in washrooms?” asked Chanchal.

Advocate booked

The police has booked Aman Sharma, an advocate, for allegedly thrashing her colleague Rupina Mohini, belonging to Backward Classes.

Mohini, a resident of Moti Nagar, alleged that she and Aman shared the same chamber (of advocates at Mini-Secretariat. She alleged that being arrogant, Sharma would often indulge in fight with her (Mohini). On May 31, she was sitting in the chamber with one of her colleagues when Sharma entered the chamber and hurled abuses at her.

Mohini alleged that Sharma even lifted a chair and threw it at her and that she suffered injuries as she hit her too. Following the incident, Mohini was taken to the Civil Hospital.

Ludhiana, June 3
With the city receiving Rs 60 crore for the disposal of value added tax (VAT), traders are hopeful of getting pending VAT refunds.

In Ludhiana district alone, refunds amounting to Rs 128 crore are pending. Sources said as officials were busy performing election duty, the refunds were not cleared. Instructions have also been issued to follow the principle of “first in first out” regarding VAT disposal.

“We have been making rounds of the department to get our VAT refunds, but to no avail. Officials of the department are busy. We are hopeful of getting the refund soon,” said Harsh Gupta, a trader. Only 50 per cent of the pending refunds will be cleared with Rs 60 crore. Prem Gupta, another trader, said huge VAT refunds were pending and the future investment had been halted. “As the city has received the fund, we will get our VAT refunds,” he said. 

Ludhiana, June 3
Ravneet Singh Bittu, MP from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency, said the Punjab Government’s campaign against drugs was a political drama of the ruling party. He alleged that instead of nabbing smugglers in the state, the police were harassing the common man in the name of the anti-drug campaign. Bittu stated that if the state government was serious to check the drug menace in Punjab, it should nab the culprits.

Bittu said: “The police nabbed only the poor people, who earn their bread and butter with hard work.”

He said Jagdish Singh Bhola, a drug peddler, had already named the Akali ministers, who had been patronising the drug trade in the state. Former DGP Shashi Kant had also named a few ministers involved in the drug trade. He alleged that instead of saving the youth, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was shielding his ministers.” 

Dengue case confirmed

One more case of dengue was confirmed on Tuesday. The patient, a 22-year-old woman from Amritsar, is undergoing treatment at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.

Road safety camp

The District Transport Office will hold a camp under “Safe Vahan Scheme” at Dana Mandi on Wednesday. District Transport Officer Anil Garg said: “During this camp, vehicle fitness check of school vans and medical check-up of drivers will be conducted. The drivers will also be given first-aid training besides tips on how to use fire extinguishers and other safety measures.

Residents meet DCP

The Ludhiana Citizen Council apprised the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Nilambari Jagdale, of various problems being faced by residents. Council chairman Darshan Arora said the first major problem that needed to be looked into was traffic congestion. “The police needs to devise traffic plans so that the ever-increasing problem of traffic congestion can be tackled,” he said.

Meeting

A meeting of the Ludhiana wing of Punjab Field and Workshop Workers’ Union took place on Tuesday. Wing president Harpreet Singh Grewal said 23 employees of the sewerage board, working in the department for over 25 years, had not received their salaries. The union will hold a dharna on June 5.

Awareness drive

Members of the Belan Brigade on Tuesday went door to door in Meharbaan area on Jagirpur Road to make people aware of ill-effects of liquor and drugs. Brigade president Anita Sharma said drugs were ruining many lives across the state. “The youth should understand their responsibility and work towards nation building, instead of falling prey to drugs,” she said.

Revenue court

The Revenue Department will organise a revenue court at Sihora village in Payal tehsil to dispose of cases with the consent of both parties on June 7. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal said this initiative had been taken to dispose of case pending in courts for long. — TNS

Jagraon, June 3
The Sidhwan Bet police have arrested five persons allegedly involved in illegal mining of sand from Sutlej River. The accused were arrested by police teams at Akuwal and Kotumra villages near Sidhwan Bet during a raid, following a tip-off, last night.

The police also impounded five tractor-trailers. The suspects have been identified as Chamkaur Singh of Agwar Lopon area in Jagraon, and Tirlok Singh, Harmit Singh, Dalip Singh and Makhan Singh, all residents of Khurshaidpura village near Sidhwan Bet. They were booked and later released on bail.

Ludhiana, June 3
Sports lovers had a reason to cheer as a sports equipment store was inaugurated in the city today. Games can also be played in the store spread over 25,000 sq feet.

Store manager, Decathlon, Dashmesh Singh Aulakh, said people could come to learn skating and waveboard on Sundays for two hours. “As store managers specialise in one sport or the other, they will also coach people interested in learning sports,” he added.

He said it was the second biggest sports store in Punjab. It had 11,000 sq feet of playing area.

Sports enthusiasts said it was good that international sports store had opened in the city as some of the sports equipment were not available here earlier. “Some equipment such as hiking gear, cycling and scuba diving products, hydration bags are hardly available at the local stores. Now, one can get these easily. This may boost sporting events not played in the city professionally,” Ranjit Singh, a sports lover. One had to go outside the city to get equipment for horse riding and golf.

Aulakh said three categories of the products were available. “The ‘blue products’ are inexpensive and can be used by a person when they begin a sport. Some of the innovative products are also available, including a camping tent, that opens in two seconds,” he added.

“One can try the equipment before they buy as there is ample space for football, basketball, table tennis, badminton and other sports,” said another attendant at the store. 

Khanna, June 3
The Sub-Junior, Cadet and Junior National Karate Championship, 2014, was held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, from May 29 to June 1. Around 42 players from Punjab clinched seven medals, including two silver and five bronze medals.

Pooja Joshi (cadet category) and Attinder Singh (junior category) bagged silver medals. Parneet Kaur, Gaganpreet Singh, Hamanpreet Kaur, Akashdeep Shukla and Rayanth Nanda got bronze medals. As many as 1,400 players participated in the championship.

The Karate Association of India (KAI) also held a national-level refership exam. Seven players took the exam.

The following coaches from Punjab were given licences.

Rajesh Joshi (Punjab Police), Jagmohan Vij (Hoshiarpur), Rajesh Sharma and Davinder Kaur (Education Department).

The black belt fourth DAN (WKF) certificate was given to Rajesh Joshi (Punjab Police).

Rajesh Joshi, general secretary of the Punjab Karate Association, Sanjay Sharma, chairman of the association, IV Sharma, president of the association congratulated the players and coaches on their achievement.