Amritsar, June 22
The hot weather continued to take its toll on the destitute as five more deaths were reported in the city in the last 24 hours.

This has highlighted the fact that district administration has failed to provide shelter to the homeless persons loitering around the holy city, despite the fact that the Supreme Court had already directed all district authorities to formulate a policy to provide shelter to the destitute.

Though the administration has made a provision for providing a reasonably comfortable shelter home in the city, there are few takers for this hospitality in the absence of any concrete rehabilitation programme.

Except for Baldev Singh, identified as a resident of Khalsa Nagar Bhai Manj road, the others who died due to the hot weather were kept as ‘unknown’ and were reported by the local residents who spotted them. The body of a lady in her 50s was spotted by a resident Tarsem Singh, a resident of Radala village in the Chhehartta area.

The police officials said most of the bodies were found near the religious shrines where they get free food and alms.

Earlier, Hardip Singh of New Tehsilpura, Jagmohan Singh of Habibpura and an unidentified person were found dead under identical conditions.

The police took action under the criminal procedure code after the initial probe and following the statement of either those who located them or the family members of the deceased, in case they were traced.

With this, around 10 persons have died this season due to heat wave and a majority of them were beggars and the destitute.

No takers for admn’s hospitality

The Amritsar administration in collaboration with the Red Cross runs a programme since February 12, 2010, for the rehabilitation of the destitute by accommodating them in a portion of a building at Old Dr Karam Singh's ward, now termed as Rain Basera. They are provided with meals, clothing and medicines but this hospitality was probably not enough to prevent them from begging, as they claim to earn anything between Rs 250-300 daily.

Recently, the administration, with assistance from the Municipal Corporation has renovated the Karam Singh ward to provide a reasonably good shelter to the homeless. The walls of this building were newly painted, the broken doors and windows were replaced with the new ones, the bathrooms and toilets were fixed with new seats and tiles. Apart from providing fresh sets of blankets and quilts, a new television set with cable connection and a set of ten single-board beds were also put there. Similarly, new water storage tanks provided 24X7 water supply.

Officialspeak

Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said, “It is really a sorry state of affairs. We, on our part, have made ample provision to accommodate the homeless. We have even tied up with small- scale industries to absorb them in jobs and also coordinate with the schools to provide education to the teenage children loitering in the city. Nonetheless, this exercise needs to be carried out in a more intensive way. We, in coordination with the police department and the Red Cross authorities, have been conducting drives to nab them and put them up at the Rain Basera.

Amritsar, June 22
In an attempt to eradicate the menace of drugs from the holy city, the Amritsar rural police have set up a dedicated helpline where the people can share information regarding those involved in the illegal trade.

Police officials said that the identity of the informer would be kept a secret while the helpline would remain operational 24X7. They urged the people to come forward to weed out the evil of drug abuse from Punjab.

"The public can play a vital role in this drive against drug addiction. They can call at 0183-2402546 at any time to provide information about the drug peddlers and prompt action would be taken against the persons involved in the illegal trade," said the official.

Meanwhile, the district administration has opened up substance abuse treatment centres at various community health centres at Manawala, Mehta, Verka, Tarsikka, Majitha, Thariyewal and Lopoke in addition to the Swami Vivekanand De-addiction Centre at Government Medical College here.

Civil Surgeon Dr Rajiv Bhalla said these centres would remain open on Sunday, i.e. June 22 also. They were opened after the directions received from the state government.

Yesterday, chairman of the NRI affairs, B Purusartha had held a meeting with senior police and administrative officials of Amritsar and Tarn Taran. He said the drugs addicts would not only be treated free of cost but transportation facility would also be provided to them to take them to the drug treatment centres being opened in the 22 districts of Punjab.

In an attempt to eradicate the menace of drugs from Punjab, the state government has announced setting up of a four state-of-the-art 50-bedded de-addiction centres. Stating this, B Purusartha, Chairman, NRI affairs, also urged the sarpanches, NGOs and prominent citizens of the society to come forward and join hands to curb the problem of substance abuse.

Amritsar, June 22
There is always a very thin line between the reel and real when it comes to sensitive issues. As the history goes, cinematic representation of anything inspired by real life has always managed to ruffle up some feathers.

When the team of Punjabi film 'Punjab 1984', including director Anurag Singh, actor Diljit Dosanjh and actress Sonam Bajwa, came to promote their upcoming film, the conversation went beyond the usual.

As the name suggests, the film depicts the darkest time Punjab suffered and a story of a mother's wait for her son, who disappears suddenly one day. But before you point a finger towards anything controversial, director Anurag Singh clarifies, "Our film doesn't aim to create any controversy, political or otherwise. It's a fictional story, inspired by true incidents."

Hinting at the storyline, Anurag shares, "It's a story of a mother, who spends an entire year waiting for her son, lost during the turbulence of 1984. The story covers the timeline between 1984-86, showing a mother's pain and a son's struggle, and connects with every person who was directly affected by the disturbing times."

Playing the lead, Diljit Dosanjh, who plays on-screen son to Kirron Kher, says that the film was his dream project. 

Amritsar, June 22
The Amritsar unit of the Aam Aadmi Party, led by its district convener Ashok Talwar, today held a candle-light march to express their solidarity with the Indians hailing from Punjab who are trapped in Iraq.

The march was joined by party workers in large numbers. It started from Lawrence Road and ended at the residence-cum-camp office of the Deputy Commissioner. A memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister would be presented to the DC tomorrow with an appeal to expedite the evacuation of the Punjabis stranded in the war-torn country. Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Talwar said: "AAP is deeply concerned about the well-being of the Indians in general and Punjabis in particular who are stuck in the strife-torn Iraq where a ferocious battle is going on between the militants and the Iraq Government." "It is a matter of worry that during the melee, the militants have taken many Punjabis hostage. Their whereabouts and fate is believed to be not known to the Indian Government," he said. The passports of many Punjabis, employed in infrastructure and construction companies in Iraq, have been confiscated by the companies so that they do not leave their country. The families of the persons who are in captivity or have been stranded at their workplaces are in regular touch. They are passing thorough the toughest phase and are pitching for their safe return to India.

"The panic among these families is growing with each passing day as instead of a respite, the war is intensifying. Moreover, there has been no appropriate communication by the Centre and the state government with the families who need care and support in this hour of trauma," he said. Vijay Mehta, general secretary AAP, Amritsar, urged the Chief Minister to ensure the safe exit of all the Punjabis from Iraq in coordination with the Government of India. He said that necessary directions may also be issued to the Indian Embassy in Iraq to accommodate the persons who do not have passports or valid documents.

On this occasion, JS Gill, Jagdeep Singh, Sardara Singh Gill, Balkar Singh Khehra, HS Dhanjal, Chunni Lal Chopra, Sanjeev Lamba, Anil Mahajan, Anil Sharma, Princepal Singh etc appealed to the residents to stand by the affected families in this period of anxiety and pray to the Almighty for the safe return of their fellow nationals trapped in Iraq. 

Amritsar, June 22
Rapid urbanisation, high footfall from surrounding towns, countryside and tourist inflow leads to higher influx of vehicles on the holy city’s roads.

These roads, grappling with perennial problems of rampant encroachment, haphazard parking, are unable to withstand the rising traffic in the absence of traffic signals. Over the years, the rise in the traffic has led to the installation of traffic signals at various spots. However, the response of the authorities concerned to the changing requirement is extremely slow. There are points where traffic signals are lying defunct.

Insufficient number of traffic signals in the city could be a major reason for the sharp rise in the number of road accidents in the past couple of years.

Over the passage of time, these signals have become a necessity at many city crossings. What intrigues the residents is why are these light- points missing at many spots leaving the traffic unguarded.

Ghala Mala Chowk, bifurcation of Majitha Road between Circular Road and Guru Nank Dev Hospital, Circular Road leading to Jammuwali Road, on GT Road, outside Khalsa College for Women, Khalsa College, Guru Nanak Dev University and old Octroi Post Chowk are a few places where traffic signals are required urgently.

Thousands of students face problems in the absence of traffic signals. The administration has never bothered to take adequate measures to manage the traffic. Another busy crossing on Court Road and Link Road is also without signals. This crossing is on Mall Road, where Green Avenue and Kennedy Avenue are situated. The traffic flow increased many times since the multi-storey shopping malls came up in the city.

At Thandi Khuhi Chowk, an entrance to historic Ram Bagh, there is no traffic signal despite the heavy rush. The requirement of a traffic signal is also felt on Maqbool Road leading to Race Course Road. A busy Rani Bagh Road, leading to Mc Leod Road, is again without traffic signal.

Over the years, many oversized roundabouts have become dangerous as many accidents take place regularly in their vicinity. There is a need to sensitise commuters about obeying traffic rules. For instance, massive roundabouts at Batala-Verka bypass, Parshuram Chowk near Gol Bagh, outside Hathi Gate and others have outlived their use due to sharp increase in traffic volume. Approach roads around these roundabouts have become narrow and unable to cope with the pressure of rising vehicles.

Barring traffic signals guarded by traffic policemen, commuters do not follow traffic rules at the rest of the light points in the city. People have to be educated to obey the traffic signal for their own safety. 

Amritsar, June 22
Ahead of the presentation of the Union budget, various industrialists and entrepreneurs have written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reminding him of the promises made before the Lok Sabha elections in the holy city.

A leading industrialist, Kamal Dalmia, in a communiqué to the Finance Minister stated that the industry, which was the second largest employer after agriculture in the country, was grappling with various issues. He said redressal of these issues would catapult the industry on the path of growth.

He said there was a need to raise the income tax exemption limit from Rs 2.20 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. He added that high prices of essential commodities had dented the budget of the common families, which adversely impacted the sale of non-essential items. It has resulted in stagnation in the industries.

Dalmia said, "Higher spending will also drive up the tax collection as all items are taxed. Similarly, corporate tax slab of 30 per cent needs revision. It should be brought down to 25 per cent to drive the growth."

The government must have single tax instead of having an additional tax or surcharge. Besides, tax saving investment limit of Rs 1 lakh and medical reimbursement limit of Rs 15,000 should be increased, added Dalmia.

He said industrialists must be given relief by reducing dividend distribution tax rate from present 15 per cent to 7.5 per cent. Similarly, the minimum distribution tax of 18.5 per cent must be reduced to 10 per cent. Wealth tax exemption limit should be revised and increased to one crore from the present Rs 30 lakh as inflation has led to skyrocketing of real estate prices.

Fixed assets investment limit of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) must be doubled from the present Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore. The limit was last revised in 2006. Since then, prices of property and machinery had gone up manifold. Excise exemption limit of Rs 1.5 crore, which was revised about eight years ago, needs revision. To encourage the small-scale industry, it must be raised to Rs 5 crore, stated Dalmia in the communique.

Goods and Service Tax is the need of the hour to facilitate domestic industry and foreign investors.

Another industrialist, Sundeep Khosla, stated in the communiqué that the MNREGA scheme must be reviewed as it has created an acute labour shortage in the industry. He suggested that people above 50 years only should be given employment under the scheme. He said the Right to Service tax must be implemented in all government departments to accelerate the pace of the work.

He suggested that voluntary disclosure scheme be introduced once in five years to weed out black money from the system. Judicial system must be consolidated at the bottom level to bring down the pendency of cases. Besides, the Union government must offer broad guidelines to the state governments for preparing state budgets, added Khosla. 

Amritsar, June 22
The Youth Congress activists staged a protest against the recent hike in rail fare. The activists burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They termed the hike in fare as a step against the general public.

Addressing the activists, Youth Congress president Vikas Soni said the increase of 14.2 per cent in the fare would pinch the common man. He said till now, the rail journey was a common mode of travelling for the masses as the fare was low.

The increase in rail fares would impact prices of many other goods as the rail transportation was the cheapest mode of transportation of goods, he added. Raj Kanwal Preet Singh, Paramjit Singh Batra, Paramjit Singh Chopra, Sandeep Singh Dunna were among others present on the occasion.

Amritsar, June 22
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed an insurance company to pay Rs 51,296 to a local resident, whose claim was repudiated on the ground that her medical condition did not require hospitalisation. The forum has also directed the company to pay Rs 2,000 as litigation expenses.

Earlier, Rashmi Sharma, a resident of Shree Ram Avenue here, had filed a complaint against Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company stating that she had purchased an insurance policy from it. She further stated that she fell ill and was to be hospitalised for a month. She alleged that her claim for insurance was denied by the company.

The insurance company stated that the complainant was admitted to the ENT hospital of the Government Medical College. As per verification of documents of the complainant, she was hospitalised for investigation and treatment of actute labyrinthitis, said the company. The company claimed that the claim was rightly repudiated as no treatment was given or any investigation procedure performed, which supports the need for the hospitalisation.

The forum observed that the complainant had produced on record the certificate issued by the Assistant Professor of the Department of ENT, stating that the patient was having symptoms and signs of acute labyrinthitis. According to the certificate, it was a complication of the disease and needed active medical treatment and hospitalisation as indoor patient.

The forum stated that the insurance company could not rebut the certificate issued by the doctor and had not even filed an affidavit of any doctor that the aforesaid treatment administered by the ENT Hospital, could be done outdoor or that the hospitalisation of the complainant was not required.

Amritsar, June 22
The Indian Academy of Fine Arts (IAFA) organised an art fair at the art gallery in continuation of its ongoing summer art festival and camp. The exhibition-cum-sale of paintings, sculptures and photographs saw a rush of art lovers picking up some valuable pieces at affordable prices.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Rajinder Mohan Singh Chinna, president of the IAFA. Paintings and sculptures displayed are a mix of the IAFA’s private collection as well as national and local artists. The exhibition will remain open till June 30, from 10 am to 6 pm.

Amritsar, June 22
As many as 11 persons, including a woman, have been arrested by the city police on charges of drug peddling and bootlegging in eight separate instances.

The Cantonment police have nabbed three persons, including the woman for allegedly possessing 340 gm of narcotic powder, 7 gm of smack and two SUVs (PB-10-CZ-4504 and PB-08-CQ-1568).

Those arrested were identified as Raj Karan Singh, his brother Jaskaran Singh, both residents of Palah Sahib road and their sister Sukhraj Kaur who resides at Jujhar Avenue. Gurwinder Singh, SHO, Cantonment police station, said the police have specific inputs that the accused were involved in drug peddling for a long time, but they always escaped the police net. Yesterday, the police laid a naka at Loharaka road and nabbed them. He said the accused were being produced in the court. He said that the police would try to know about their links and source of the drugs. In yet another major seizure, the Chheharta police confiscated a huge quantity of illicit liquor and nabbed three persons while three of their accomplices managed to escape from the spot. Those arrested were identified as Gaurav, his brother Johny of Indira Colony and Vicky of Shaheed Udham Singh Colony. Their fourth accomplice, Satnam Singh of Anngarh, fled. The police seized 6,30,000 ml of illicit liquor.

The police also confiscated 100 gm of narcotic powder and impounded the tempo. Meanwhile, the Division C police arrested Sandeep Kumar, alias Sunny, of Sajan De Bambi, Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Balwinder Singh and Davinder Singh of Ibban Kalan village with 110, 120 and 100gm of narcotic powder, respectively. The Sultanwind police nabbed Sukhdev Singh and Ajit Singh with 100gm intoxicant powder each while the Sadar police held Jagroop Singh with 200 habit-forming tablets.—TNS

Amritsar, June 22
The Civil Lines police have booked an unidentified car driver in connection with a road mishap, in which a girl died and two of her relatives were injured. The incident occurred in the Ranjit Avenue area.

Simranjit Singh, a resident of Navi Abadi, stated to the police that his brother Gurjant Singh, along with his daughter Pawanpreet Kaur and niece Amanpreet Kaur, were going for some work on a scooter, when an unidentified rashly driven car hit them. They fell from their vehicle and sustained serious injuries due to the impact of the collision. They were admitted to a nearby private hospital, where Amanpreet Kaur succumbed to her injuries while Gurjant Singh and Pawanpreet Kaur are recuperating.

The police have registered a case under Sections 304-A, 279, 337, 338 and 427 of the IPC in this regard. Efforts were on to identify the accused car driver, the police added. 

Amritsar, June 22
The Cantonment police have arrested a cable operator on the charge of attempt to murder while his five accomplices were also booked in the case. They allegedly attacked Gurwinder Singh, a resident of Guru Arjun Dev Nagar, who is the cable operator's neighbour.

Gurwinder sustained a gunshot injury and was admitted to a private hospital. Besides, Ravinder Kaushik, the cable operator, others who have been booked, include Pamma and Biri, both residents of Islamabad area and three unidentified persons.

Gurwinder, in his complaint to the police, alleged that he was returning home when the accused attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. Ravinder fired at him with the intention of murder, he alleged.

About the reason behind the attack, Gurwinder said they had an old dispute and the accused had entered into a fight with him earlier also. A case was registered in this regard.

He alleged that Ravinder was now pressurising and threatening him to withdraw the case.

Investigating officer Bhagwant Singh said Ravinder was arrested by the police while the remaining accused were still at large. He said raids were being conducted at their suspected hideouts to nab them.

A case under Sections 307, 506, 148, 149 of the IPC and 25/27/54/59 of the Arms Act had been registered at the Cantonment police station in this connection, added the investigating officer.