Ludhiana, June 30
In a major twist to the death of 21-year-old Abhishek Banerjee, who was suspected to have died due to drug overdose, the city police have rounded up the nephew of a police officer who was sitting in the victim’s car on the night of June 21.

Abhishek was found dead in his car outside SCD Government College on June 22. Abhishek’s father Dr AK Banerjee had stated that his son had lent money to some of his friends during the IPL matches and that they were reluctant to return the amount.

Banerjee added that Abhishek had left the house on the pretext of watching a football match along with his friends at a five star hotel.

Banerjee, who runs the Sadbhavna Group of Institutes in Raikot and a de-addiction centre, said according to the autopsy report, his son had died at 11.48 pm on the night of June 21. “His hands and legs had turned blue. This does not happen in a drug overdose case. There was no injection mark,” said AK Banerjee, questioning the police’s theory of Abhishek’s death due to drug overdose.

The police have also questioned the nephew of a police officer who was allegedly seen with Abhishek. Banerjee said the youth was his patient and that he had befriended Abhishek at the de-addiction centre.

He said the youth had given a false address. The suspect (police officer’s nephew) has reportedly told the police that Abhishek was standing near his car along with five persons when he left the place at 8 pm.

“It is not an open and shut case. There was blood in my son’s mouth. It does not happen in drug overdose case,” said AK Banerjee.

While talking to The Tribune, investigating officer Pawan Kumar said the police had scanned the call details of the mobile phone used by Abhishek on the night he died.

Six persons have been questioned in connection with Abhishek’s death so far. The viscera has been sent for testing.

Banerjee revealed that after quitting drugs a few months ago, his son had helped the Dugri police bust a gang of drug peddlers.

Ludhiana, June 30
ATM frauds have triggered panic in the city. On June 23, a woman was duped of Rs 2.5 lakh. It is learnt that an ATM card cloning gang, operating from Canada, is behind the fraud.

ATM cloning and credit card fraud are the latest white-collar crimes and a number of city residents have fallen prey to the gang.

Simranjit Kaur, a resident of Model Town and a government schoolteacher, told the police that she went to a shopping mall at Ferozepur Road on June 23. Later in the evening, she went to Ghumar Mandi and bought a few items. When she checked her bank account, she was shocked to find that someone from Canada had withdrawn Rs 2,22,534 from her account.

Simranjit Kaur is not alone, two years ago Avneetpal Singh Gill (name changed) became a victim of the gang.

Avneetpal Singh had used his debit card for filling fuel in his car. At the fuel station, one of the employees cloned the card. Later, the employee’s accomplice used the cloned card to buy a mobile phone. The gadget was further sold to an official of a beverage company.

Avneetpal was shocked when he learnt that Rs 20,000 had been deducted from his account. The bank authorities investigated the matter and returned Avneetpal’s Rs 20,000. However, the police caught hold of the mobile shop owner and the official of the beverage company was also nabbed. He further led to the arrest of the cloning gang.

The police said in Simranjit Kaur’s case, the gang used a local link to withdraw money from Canada. They said owner or one of the shop employees could be hand in glove with the gang.

Ludhiana, June 30
The police have arrested an auto-rickshaw driver for killing Manoj Kumar, whose body was found from a vacant shop in Ishar Singh Nagar market on April 17.

The accused has been identified as Inderjit Singh. The police have recovered the victim’s identity card and mobile phone from the possession of the accused.

ADCP (Crime) MS Dhesi said monetary dispute was the reason behind the murder. He said Inderjit confessed to have killed Manoj. Inderjit told the police that he had invested Rs 1 lakh in a scheme managed by Manoj. As he needed money to buy an auto, he took Rs 50,000. Later, Inderjit stopped giving him instalments. Manoj told Inderjit that he would file a complaint with the police, if the latter failed to give him the remaining amount.

On April 17, Inderjit took Manoj to Ishar Nagar, where the duo entered into a scuffle. Inderjit hit Manoj with a brick. After killing Manoj, Inderjit dumped his body in a vacant shop and fled the scene. 

Ludhiana, June 30
The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) today auctioned seven residential plots in Dugri Urban Estate, Phase II, for Rs 4.42 crore, raking in a premium of Rs 38 lakh over the reserve price of the properties which stood at Rs 4.04 crore.

GLADA estate officer RK Popli said two plots measuring 100 and 150 square yards and three plots measuring 200 square yards were sold while six plots (three each measuring 100 and 125 square yards) found no bidders. Against the floor price of Rs 36,730 per square yard, the highest bid went up to Rs 42,800 while the lowest successful bid was Rs 37,700 per square yard.

In all, over 20 bidders, each one of them having deposited eligibility fee of Rs 2.5 lakh, took part in the auction.

As per the offer document, successful bidders were required to deposit 10 per cent of the total bid amount at the fall of the hammer, in addition to 2 per cent cess under the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infrastructure Fund Act, 2013. The bidders will also have to pay 15 per cent of the total cost within 30 days of the date of the auction.

They can make 75 per cent of the payment either in lump sum within 60 days of the issuance of the allotment letter or in six equated half-yearly instalments. The residential plots were sold for residential use with no provision for subsequent division or sub-division and with no permission for change of land use at any stage.

Ludhiana, June 30
The executive engineer (Zone B), Municipal Corporation, has written a letter to the senior manager of Vodafone South Limited Company, Mohali, asking him to pay damages to the civic body.

In the letter (a copy of which is with The Tribune), the official stated that the company had dug up Chandigarh Road near Gopi petrol pump without seeking permission from the Municipal Corporation. A portion of the road had caved in and water supply lines had been damaged, the letter read.

The executive engineer said they had procured a duct bearing the company’s name from the site.

He said the company had caused losses to the tune of Rs 1,01,911 to the Municipal Corporation. It has been asked to pay the damages within three days, failing which an FIR will be registered.

This is perhaps for the third time that a private cable laying company has damaged the road by digging it up at night.

Earlier, Pakhowal Road and a road near Kitchlu Nagar had caved in as these were dug up without the Municipal Corporation’s permission. 

Ludhiana, June 30
Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), completed three years in office today.

Highlighting the achievements of the university, he said the annual grant that they received from the Punjab Government had increased from Rs 183.6 crore (2011-12) to Rs 300 crore (2013-14). This had helped them introduce research, teaching and extension programmes.

Dhillon said the ICAR’s development grant to the PAU had enhanced from Rs 4.0 crore (2011-12) to 5.4 crore (2013-14).

“The university has created a new endowment fund and has collected Rs 2.15 crore from different sources,” he stated.

He said the PAU was getting more research projects. “Last year, the university bagged 73 research projects worth Rs 23.78 crore. It got 33 research projects from the UGC, highest among all state agricultural universities,” he added.

Dhillon said the PAU was the first university in India to get a haploid inducer for maize from the CIMMYT, Mexico. “The university has started a similar programme for rice,” he stated.

He said the university had signed an MoU with the Gujarat State Seed Corporation to incorporate Cry 1 Ac gene in cotton variety LHH 144.

“Also, transgenic chickpea varieties are being evaluated in collaboration with Assam Agricultural University,” he stated.

During the last academic session (2013-14), 74 students won junior research fellowships from the ICAR, UGC and CSIR as compared to 16 in 2011-12.

The sale of seeds, nursery plants, farm literature and other products had made the university richer. The VC said they needed more funds for the completion of the auditorium building.

The university had received Rs 100 crore in 2009. “The defunct screen displaying weather updates at Gate No. 2 will be replaced,” he said.

On learning that the food served at canteens was of poor quality, the VC said the rate list would be revised soon.

Jagraon, June 30
A large number of farmers of Talwandi Kalan, Sawadi, Chaunkiman and nearby villages staged a protest against the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PowerCom) at Sawadi village, near Jagraon, today.

The protesting farmers raised slogans against the PowerCom authorities for failing to supply electricity to the farmers.

According to the protesting farmers, they have been facing frequent power cuts on a daily basis and though they have taken up the issue with the authorities of PowerCom, nothing has been done to improve the situation so far.

“PowerCom has been imposing power cuts up to 4-5 hours daily which is against the promise made by the state government of providing uninterrupted power supply to the farmers during the paddy season,” said a protesting farmer.

“The state government had instructed the farmers to start the cultivation of paddy after June 1 and had promised that the farmers will be provided with minimum eight hours of power supply every day, but this promise has not been materialised so far,” said a farmer union activist, Mohinder Singh.

“The regular power cuts will delay the paddy cultivation which will further postpone the harvesting of the crop. In that situation, we will have to face huge losses,” rued Parminder Singh.

The XEN PowerCom, Chetan Sharma, claimed that PowerCom has been doing its best to provide uninterrupted power supply to the farmers.

“We have been providing sufficient power supply to the farmers but we have to impose power cuts to repair the faults in the power supply lines. Repair work of some of the snags takes a long time,” said Chetan Sharma, XEN PowerCom.

Ludhiana, June 30
The strike of the fishery students at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University (GADVASU) entered Day 30, here today.

Students will meet the Chief Minister, Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, and Gulzar Singh Ranike, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fishery at Chandigarh.

Several non-governmental organisations and political leaders have extended their support to students by visiting the venue of the strike at GADVASU.

The Bachelors of Fishery Sciences (BFSc) students have been demanding jobs in the fishery sector of the state government.

Students said if the Chief Minister does not provide them with job opportunities, they would not end the strike. 

Ludhiana June 30
Students bagged top positions in BSc-II examinations of Panjab University. The results were declared by PU today. Ishit Sehgal of SCD Government College topped in university by securing 1,292 marks of 1,400.

Meanwhile, Nishi from the Government College for Girls bagged second position by getting 1,286 marks of 1,400.

Ludhiana, June 30
A free medical and heart check-up camp was organised by Dayanand Medical College and Hospital Unit-Hero DMC Heart Institute, in association with Kalgidhar Trust Baru Sahib at Akal Academy, Cheema Mandi.

The camp was inaugrated by Dr GS Wander (chief cardiologist, HDHI) followed by a lecture on common heart diseases and their prevention.

Dr Rajinder Bansal, neurologist at DMCH, was also present at the camp to provide free-of-cost consultation to patients.

More than 500 patients were provided with medical-aid in the camp. Team of doctors and technicians, Dr Rohit Tandon, consultant at HDHI, served the patients.

Dr Rajinder Bansal, neurologist, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said, “We helped more than 500 underprivileged patients on the occasion.”

Meanwhile, Desh Bhagat University and Desh Bhagat Ayurvedic Hospital also organised a free medical check-up camp in collaboration with Sangmeshwar Sewa Dal of Arunai (Pehowa) at Patiala.

A team of doctors, headed by the director of the University School of Ayurveda, examined more than 150 patients in the camp. 

Doraha, June 30
The State Committee of Marxist Communist Party (United) has described increase of Rs 50 per quintal in the minimum support price of paddy and an equally unnecessary increase in the price of other crops, as a cruel joke with the farming community.

They are already on the verge of debt, said the party workers.

The State Committee has also demanded a regular power supply of minimum eight hours to the farmers for paddy.

A meeting of the Punjab State Committee of MCPI (U) was held here under the presidentship of Hardev Singh Kheri at Kaushal Memorial Bhavan, Doraha, today.

Members from the districts of Patiala, Mohali, Ropar, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Chandigarh participated in the meeting including polit-bureau members Prem Singh Bhangu and Kiranjit Sekhon, Kuldip Singh, national general secretary, and Pawan Kumar Kaushal, secretary, Punjab State Committee, MCPI (U).

On the occasion, the State Committee strongly condemned the increase in the hike in rail-fare by the Modi government, just before the budget session of the Parliament.

The State Committee also condemned the hike in bus fare.

The committee in a resolution expressed concern over the drug menace. They urged the Punjab Government to take stern action against the smugglers.

Corruption in the Bhai Ghania Society Scheme was also denounced by the committee. The board has demanded an increase in the minimum wages of agricultural and industrial workers in the state in proportion to the increase in the prices of essential commodities.

Doraha, June 30
Gurjinder Chahal’s book ‘Petals-An offering in verse’ attempts at evaluating the complex human nature of the world around him and the dilemma through which the modern man is passing through at present.

Chahal has compiled a number of poems of different genres. In these poems, readers get to the see the world as perceived by the poet. Some of the poems in this book are based on real life experiences while, others move on the mental plane.

Gurjinder Singh Chahal, assistant professor at Government College, Karamsar, said his poetry in itself is a collection of deep-rooted thoughts in which various human emotions have been captured in an incredible way.

“The purpose of my writing is to reflect life as I see it and to deliver a social and moral message by the medium of poetry,” said the author.

Dr Manmohan, IPS, an eminent writer and Sahitya Academy Award winner said, “Gurjinder’s poetry contains post-modern metaphysical elements and rhythmic felicity. The conflict between Capitalism and Socialism can be easily traced through the pages of his book.”

Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, director, World Punjabi Center, Punjabi University, Patiala, also appreciated the efforts of the poet.

Ludhiana, June 30
Over 100 students submitted their forms for re-appear and compartment examinations at the district office of the Punjab School Education Department, Punjabi Bhawan, here today.

Students had to face inconvenience due to retirement party of one of the employees.

According to the PSEB officials, around 10,000 forms have been received till June 23, without late fee.

Students, who could not deposit their forms, can submit them with a late fee of Rs 1,000 till July 14.

Baljinder Singh, depot officer, said, “There was a heavy rush at the window. They need to submit their forms on time to save money.” 

Ludhiana, June 30
Taking into notice the number of complaints made by city residents against “illegal” constructions, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pradeep Aggarwal has shot a “warning” letter to the Assistant Town Planners (ATPs) of Zones A, B C and D, draftsmen and building inspectors.

The letter was issued to all officials concerned on June 26. As per the letter, 15 days’ time has been given to the building branch officials to ensure no illegal construction was going on in their zones.

In case buildings are constructed illegally, then action should be taken against the defaulters as per building bylaws, states the letter.

If things are not streamlined within the given period, special investigation teams will be constituted to check the ongoing constructions, the MC chief has written.

The failure on the part of officials will also invite disciplinary action against them, states the letter.

An ATP, wishing not to be quoted, said many illegal building were being constructed in the city in connivance with certain officials of the building branch.

“There is a dire need to take stern action to stop such illegal activities. In the past two months, nearly 50 illegal constructions have been demolished in all four zones,” said the ATP.

When asked about the number of complaints against illegal buildings pending with the department, the official said: “There are over 100 such complaints, of which some are fake and some come under compoundable offence.”

The ATP, however, accepted that the number of illegal constructions had increased in the recent past due to the negligence of certain officials.

Ludhiana, June 30
A city-based RTI activist has complained against “corrupt” practices of certain Building and Roads Department officials to the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab.

The activist, Rohit Sabharwal, has accused the officials of draining crores of rupees from the public exchequer by turning a blind eye towards contractors who used substandard material in various developmental works.

Sabharwal said samples taken from Pakhowal Road where work on laying premix was going on failed the quality tests, following which notices were issued to the contractor concerned and certain officials of the department.

“The officials have not complied with the notice to date. Also, crores of rupees have been paid to the contractor despite knowing that he used substandard material,” said the activist.

He said this clearly indicated that the department officials were working hand-in-glove with the contractors.

“It has also come to the notice that the contractor has not adopted proper methods for leveling the roads, due to which crores of rupees will be wasted after roads get damaged in rains,” said Sabharwal.

In the complaint, Sabharwal has also sought monitoring of similar works being carried out near Ishmeet Singh Road and Dugri Road. He has asked the higher officials to instruct the Building and Roads Department officials to ensure that quality material was being used for the construction of roads, so that public money, like in the case of Pakhowal Road, is not wasted.

Ludhiana, June 30
Doctors who begin their careers with debt running into lakhs of rupees soon realise that that wearing a “white coat” doesn’t redeem their expenses.

Dr Kalki, who works as a physician at a private hospital, says, “I always dreamt of a stable and secure profession. Soon after graduating, however, I realised things were not that ideal. I am nowhere close to repaying the loan amount.”

Another 33-year-old doctor says: “I belong to a middle class family. My farther mortgaged his land to pay my fees. My family had to struggle a lot to see me through the medical college. They thought once I graduated and became a doctor, I would be able to repay the loan. The things are not that easy and I am really worried about the present situation.”

Experts say the increase in fees for medical education at private institutes has a major impact on the cost of healthcare. Consultation charges, for example, have gone up to Rs 1,000 from Rs 100.

Dr Ravinder Vatsyayan, a city-based ayurveda expert, says: “Today Rs 40 lakhs are being paid as admission fee. This increase in educational fee is directly affecting the healthcare facilities.”

“The exorbitant admission and tuition fee is leading to commercialisation and corporatisation of the profession, which was essentially a service. If a person is investing so much for attaining education, then he or she will naturally think of earning that money back,” said another city-based senior doctor.

“Medical education has become costly, with capitation fee escalating every year. Even postgraduate seats are available at an exorbitant capitation fee. Any investment made by a person is done with a hope of good returns. This is affecting the profession,” said Gurbir Singh, a senior citizen.

Ludhiana, June 30
Medical malpractices have become a big blot on the “noble” profession. While people accuse doctors of exaggerated expenses, unnecessary tests and surgeries and even stealing organs, doctors blame high expectations of patients for the same.

“Patients are in a hurry and want quick results,” says Dr Raj Kumar, president of the Indian Medical Association’s Ludhiana wing.

The doctor has to resort to prescribing costly medicines, conducting varied tests and seeking opinion of specialists to do faster diagnosis, he says.

Dr Rajinder Gulati, head of the paediatric department at the Civil Hospital, says no doctor ever wants his or her patient to suffer. The medical profession, however, is witnessing a deteriorating patient-doctor relationship, with people losing faith in their doctor’s abilities, he says.

“To be sure, tests are performed. People should have confidence in their doctors. This is still a noble profession,” he says.

“The easy availability of medical information and misinformation on the Internet is also responsible for patients doubting their doctor’s advice,” says the doctor.

People need to realise that behind the white coat and stethoscope there is a normal human being, says Dr Ravinder Vatsyayan, an ayurveda expert.

“Like other professionals, doctors, too, need appreciation for their work and efforts. They take care of the sick and need to be commended for this,” says Dr Vatsyayan.

Ludhiana, June 30
The city police, along with the Agriculture Department officers, conducted a raid at an illegal fertiliser unit in Partap Singh Wala on Hambran Road.

The police seized 131 quintal of fertiliser from the godown, on the occasion.

BS Chahal said the fertilisers unit was being run without licence.

Surinder Mohan, station house officer (SHO), Haibowal police station, said Rajinder Kumar Garg,, owner of the Global Fertilises, was not present when the raid was conducted at the godown.

The Agriculture Department Officer has collected the samples of illegal fertiliser from the godown.

The samples have been sent to the special laboratory for testing.

The seized fertiliser has been handed over to the police.

Chief agricultural officer BS Chahal, agricultural development officer (enforcement) Pritpal Singh, associate project officer Dharampal Singh, were also present on the occasion. 

Ludhiana, June 30
The PAU police have registered a case against three unidentified persons for robbing a Maharaj Nagar resident.

The victim, Lalit Kumar, said he hired an auto-rickshaw from the bus stand. Two youths were already sitting in it. When the vehicle reached near PAU Gate No. 2, he asked the driver to stop it. The driver, however, increased the vehicle’s speed and the two youths started thrashing Lalit and robbed him of Rs 12,800, stated the complaint.

Complainant fears of being implicated in false case

A complainant, an advocate, has expressed concern over being implicated in a criminal case.

Surinder Kakkar, in his complaint, had alleged that his father-in-law—a former CBI officer, Harshamsher Singh Chopra—did not reveal the correct age of his daughter, who turned out to be elder to the complainant.

He did not even disclose that his daughter was suffering from weak eyesight, stated Kakkar in his complaint. Following this, a case was registered and Chopra was arrested by the Model Town police on June 22.

Now, Kakkar says he fears he will be implicated in a false case by his in-laws.

Ludhiana, June 30
Five city students shined at the Science Olympiad Foundation’s International Olympiad. A Class II student from Sat Paul Mittal School, Aanya Chowdhery, Class III student from Guru Nanak Public School, Guranurag Singh and Ripudaman Singh, Class VI student from Senior Secondary School have got state rank one in the Olympiad.