Jalandhar, July 5
An Innova SUV was reportedly snatched by certain miscreants from a city based driver at gun-point. The police have initiated a probe to inquire if the complaint is genuine. Raids were also being conducted to nab the accused.

The complainant Avtar Singh, a resident of Jandiala Manjki, in a written complaint at the bus stand police post on July 3, stated that four youths had come to book a taxi for Bagha Purana at National Taxi Stand on Garha Road.

“I had sent my driver Raman along with four youths and after a few hours, the driver called me that the Innova had been looted by miscreants at gun-point. The moment the vehicle reached 66 Feet Road, the miscreants took control of the vehicle and bundled him in the dickey.”

The complainant further revealed that armed miscreants later threw him in Talwandi Sabo and escaped with the vehicle.

The police said the only motive of the miscreants was to loot the vehicle, as they had not inflicted any injuries on the taxi driver. We are inquiring if the complaint was genuine. We will be in a position to comment only after establishing the truth behind the complaint, bus stand police post in-charge Sukhvir Singh said.

Jalandhar, July 5
Some youths allegedly duped a woman by withdrawing Rs 40,000 from her account after snatching her ATM card of ICICI Bank here today. The woman has filed a complaint with the Kartarpur police in this regard.

Geeta Rani of Kartarpur, whose husband in employed in the CRPF, in her complaint, stated that she had gone to withdraw money from an ATM situated near the Kartarpur police station, and when she was trying to withdraw the money, some technical error was coming. Suddenly, three youths arrived at the place and offered to help her.

The youths then snatched her ATM card and handed her another ATM card and fled from the scene. The victim alleged that she tried to chase the miscreants, but in vain.

She also alleged that after a few minutes, she received a message that Rs 40,000 had been withdrawn from her account.

The Kartarpur police said the police had obtained the CCTV footage of the ATM in which a youth was caught withdrawing cash, adding that efforts were being made to identify the youth who withdrew the money.

Jalandhar, July 5
Two persons were killed in separate mishaps here today. In the first incident, Paramjit Singh, a resident of Patala village, died after the tractor-trailer he was driving turned turtle near Khalra village in the wee hours.

Police sources said the victim might have been driving fast. Also, the sorry state of roads could have led to the mishap. After the tractor overturned on the road, the victim fell from it and got crushed under the vehicle.

Sources said the victim sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot.

Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Cr PC were initiated by the police.

In the second incident, Ram Lap of Jamsher village was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the village. His body was found lying in a drain.

His wife told the police that her husband, who was working in a dairy, had gone to work last evening, but didn’t return home till this morning. While they were searching for him, they were stunned to see him lying dead in a drain. The police said the post-mortem would clear the exact of the death.

Jalandhar, July 5
Taking action on a petition filed by a Jalandhar-based activist regarding the issue of cleanliness at the railway stations, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the authorities concerned to take appropriate action within eight weeks and to inform the complainant of the action taken in the issue.

Taking a serious note of the lack of cleanliness and hygiene at railway stations, Jalandhar-based human rights activist had approached the NHRC on April 7 to bring the issue to its notice.

A centre for human rights, initiative training and research association co-convener, KS Nagra, in his complaint, quoted news reports published in The Tribune from Jalandhar and New Delhi on February 18 this year and August 25, 2013, respectively, which state the condition of railway stations.

In his complaint, he said the condition of railway stations is such that garbage can be seen scattered all around platforms. The garbage bins are overfilled and appear to have been never emptied.

Quoting the news reports, Nagra further said in the complaint that the picture painted in the news item and CAG inspection report clearly show great negligence on part of the Railways, causing a gross violation of human rights of thousands of passengers who often belong to the poor segment of society.

He said tracks are littered with night soil, which is highly infectious and emits obnoxious smell, making it uneasy for passengers to breathe while waiting for the trains on the platforms. Rats can be seen roaming on the tracks and yards freely. The accumulation of garbage blocks drains.

The complaint further stated that the continued dropping of human excreta had become a major public health problem for the Railways that requires immediate attention of the authorities to contain the spread of disease among the travelling public.

“Filthy toilets, crawling cockroaches and dirty linen are some of the things noticed by the Comptroller and Audit General (CAG) in its audit of cleanliness and sanitation in the Railways.

The country’s highest audit, which presented the report in Parliament in August 2013, pointed out that despite the issues having been raised in the past as well, the unhygienic conditions continue to prevail not only on stations but also in coaches,” the complainant stated.

Jalandhar, July 5
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujawan Sabha has announced their support to Dihati Mazdoor Sabha’s protest against Badal Kalan village issue, where the police resorted to a lathi charge on Dalits and landless labourers, who had been peacefully opposing the auction of panchayati land.

President of sabha Jaswinder Singh Dhesi said they would support Dihati Mazdoor Sabha’s protest on Wednesday, in which Tehsildar’s office would be gheraoed.

He said they were going to organise eight conventions in the state with the help of Punjab Student Federation against the growing drug menace. “We will hold meetings with youngsters in villages and other affected areas to assess the condition,” added Dhesi.

He said the ruling parties were also responsible for rampant unemployment, which prompted youths to take to drugs. Certainly some influential people, including those from political parties, were involved in spreading drug menace. “The Punjab Police is reluctant to take action against them. The police is rather targeting drug addicts which is not solving their problem,” said Dhesi.

Jalandhar, July 5
The Punjab Roadways Employees Joint Action Committee in a meeting has decided to stage gate rallies at the 18 depots of Punjab Roadways on Monday and agitation rally on Wednesday at Bus Stand, Sector 43, Chandigarh, to protest against Punjab Government’s dilly-dallying approach in dealing with their issues.

The meeting was presided over by Punjab Roadways Worker’s Union and INTUC president, Mangat Khan, which was attended by representatives of all organisations of the state working with Punjab Roadways.

Committee convenor Amrik Singh Gill said their long-pending demands for the betterment of roadways, which was accepted by the state government, had not been implemented. “Despite the fact that meetings with Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Transport Minister, Secretary Transport and Director, State Transport, have been held several times, however, nothing conducive has been done,” added Gill.

He said their long-pending demands, including the merging of 571 debt-free PUNBUS to the mainstream Punjab Roadways, providing jobs to the kin of roadways employees, who died in harness, regularisation of PUNBUS employees have not been fulfilled, despite being accepted in the meeting. — TNS

Jalandhar, July 5
He caught the attention of the masses with his outing in the teleserial ‘Nukkad’. He is a script’s baby and above all believes in doing justice to his character. His has been one of the few faces, which has never gone out of vogue in the trying film industry, where the biggest and the best have had their share of bad times.

From the flamboyant Salim (Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro) to Milkha’s steadfast coach in ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, his outings are marked with an intensity and presence, which have made him noticeable even in the most star-crowded sets.

His latest outings have been the film ‘Children of War’, based on the 1971 Bangladesh genocide, which was released in May this year, and the hit ‘Punjab 1984’, directed by Anurag Singh, which is winning accolades the world over.

He shall next be seen in Bhagat Puran Singh’s film being made on the legendary founder of the Pingalwara in Amritsar.

As sensitive as he is as an actor, he is also immensely aware politically. Talking to The Tribune, on his recent visit to the city, Pawan Malhotra spilled the beans on his journey so far:

Q. What change in cinema have you perceived over the ages, especially given the fact you stepped in at the time of hardcore parallel cinema?

A. While parallel cinema started in the late 60s and through the 70s uptill the 80s, when I stepped in it was on decline. Senior actors told me back in its peak, four scripts of such films came in every day and now they were four in a year. With the multiplexes as well, cinema changed. I have always liked doing parallel cinema but as an actor I also feel one should do all sorts of work. Not just one kind. Cinema changes with the times, and one should be willing to change with it.

Q. So how have you been able to get into the skin of whichever character you were given?

A. People copy the styles of stars. But there’s a different side to acting. I feel an actor’s style and mannerism changes with every film.

For Bhagat Puran Singh I copied Bhagat Ji’s mannerisms. Shooting Salim (Langde Pe Mat Ro) and Bagh Bahadur – back to back to – they were two absolutely different characters. One was a cocky guy, had to be flamboyant and everything was to be exaggerated but Baag Bhagadur was an artiste. He talked with his eye.

Like for Black Friday – I dug out Tiger Memons mannerisms. How he walked, how he bowed towards people while talking. I wanted to do the same. He used to have supari a lot – so I figured he must be carrying a toothpick too. We used that. After the film, five people told me you looked and behaved just like him. It was a great compliment for me. Sometimes one might not have to necessarily stick religiously to a character. The idea is to tell the story sincerely, deliver in front of the camera. How you did it, doesn’t matter.

Q. Serials have undergone a sea change. They are different now. What do you think?

A. It all depends on what people like. There are 2,000 to 5,000 makers, but crores of watchers of serials. People still remember projects like ‘Nukkad’ because substance stays in their minds. Somewhere an actor wants to be part of the cinema, which people hunt for and remember even 20 years later. I feel every project of mine should be seen by crores of people. So about the serial industry – I would say - that which people want to see is good. Rest the people have to be decide – the wrong or right of it. There’s huge money in the ‘Saas bahu’ serials today – there’s huge money because people watch it.

Q. A lot of talented actors didn’t survive the change from the good-ole-days to the brave new world of cinema. You did.

A. Actually destiny plays huge role. I am thankful I did. Great actors and stars faced hard times. I also believe changing perspective and confirming to audience’s needs is also important. Acting is our vocation but someone once told me never forget the ‘biz’ part in showbiz. Remembering it helps. As far as actors of the yore are concerned, they are very important. During a shoot I found out some people in my staff didn’t know about Balraj Sahni. I got angry. I showed them Do beegha Zameen first thing after we went back.

Q. Most people have forgotten Bangladesh 1971. Do you think Children of War played an important role in putting things into perspective?

A. Lots of youngsters don’t know of the 71 or even that Bangladesh was part of Pakistan. As a kid in those days I used to give tea and biscuits to people in trains, and even polished people’s shoes at the bus stand to collect money for school. I knew when the refugees came. So as far as memory is concerned, yes it has been a vital.

90,000 Pakistan forces men surrendered. Even assuming 2000-5000 were killed by the Mukti Vahini or Indians, imagine all the rest of them going on a rampage. And raping all women and killing all men they saw. All intellectuals, professors, teachers and doctors were killed. I’m sure we haven’t been able to show it. I believe that story needed to be told. It happened in our neighbourhood. Our people died. Till date India is paying the price for Bangladesh happening. Assam is still troubled because of that. People don’t want to talk about it because US and Europe decided that west was with Pakistan. They turned their faces away because Bangladesh didn’t have oil or a position like Pakistan. I guess jute and fish is not that important.

Q. And what about the present migrant situation?

A. Something should be done about it. I can understand the grudge of local people. Some kind of solution should be there for porous borders.

Q. Tell us about your role in Bhagat Puran Singh.

A. When I first heard of the role, I felt I can’t do it. It was a huge responsibility. I was scared of playing a part. I‘m never like ‘jaunga.. kar dunga’. Being cautious works for me, and I hope in this case also it has.

Q. What lessons did his character bring for you?

A. We brush, but we don’t turn off the tap. There is no light in big cities today. We have been brought up in comfort. But we don’t value things that way our parents did. My parents came to India as refugees – they realised everything has value. Today people value humans by the phones and watches they own. Societal values have changed. Bhagat Puran Singh is a kind of man who happens once in a lifetime.

He never did anything for himself. I think we have been able to portray a minuscule part of his personality – he was vast. He had no bed or suitcase or even a room to himself. He asked for other people not for himself. He was self made man – he read and wrote and started a printing press – all on his own. We shot at the Pingalwara – the place that he has created continues to inspire even today. I admired them. Men like him happen once in 100 to 200 years and they are precious blessings. Back in his times, Bhagat Puran Singh raised environmental concerns which are valid even today and more so today.

He was ahead of his times. Water pollution, dying air, depleting ozone layer - these were his concerns back when no one even saw it coming. He tries to wake people. But people are still not awake. We are actually sleeping. I am humbled by playing his character and he has profound influence on me. But if I say I will be able to be like him or emulate him, I’d be lying. But he is one of the most essential lessons Punjab has to remember and re-learn.

Q. Tell us about your role in the film Punjab 1984?

A. I am very wary of what sensitive films portray. I am willing to trust myself with a maker who balances the issue well. I thought Anurag Singh balanced this film very well. That is my general approach with films like this. The whole idea is not to scratch the wounds. And that is what I believe the project achieved so I was willing to be a part of it.

Malhotra will next be seen in the Punjabi film Zorawar and Hrithik-Katrina and Danny Dezongpa starrer Bang Bang releasing on October 2nd. He will also be seen in an untitled work by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan.