Jalandhar, August 9
Sixteen students of Janta Model Senior Secondary School in Bhulath were injured, while six sustained serious fractures after the bus they were travelling in turned turtle at Bhagwanpur village near Bhulath in Kapurthala today.

The bus was ferrying the children to home from the school when it met with the accident.

Two children who were admitted to the Trauma Ward of the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, were identified as Gurpreet Singh (7) and Harpreet Kaur (8). They had sustained serious fractures on their legs and arms, while other four injured were admitted to a hospital in Bhualth.

Other injured school children were identified as Amandip Kaur (8), Kamaldip Kaur (8), Lovepreet Kaur (6), Amandeep Kaur (12), Kirandip Kaur (17), Sharandip Singh (16), Baldip Singh (14), Manjot Singh (14), Kamaldip Singh (6) and Amandip Kaur (6).

The bus was being driven by Visakha Singh. Injured children said after the bus reached near Bhagwanpur village, the driver lost control over it, resulting in the bus turning turtle in the fields.

The police said the driver fled from the spot immediately after the accident. A case under Sections 279, 337, 338 of the IPC was registered against him and efforts were on to nab him.

Jalandhar, August 9
While the Deputy Commissioner’s transport meeting was held with only schools within the city limits, the overturning of a school bus, injuring over a dozen children today, underlines the risk that students continue to face everyday, not just in the city but in the periphery as well.

As the formalities and prompt meetings — by the district administration — informing schools about traffic rules grab eye balls, beneath the surface of lectures and meetings, the stark reality of the school transport situation in the district is that a number of illegal school vehicles still continue to ply on city roads.

Ever since the tragic Aarush incident, the Transport Department hasn’t been able to take action against a single one of these erring schools even though accidents continue to happen.

Meanwhile, schools continue to dare the district administration as a parallel meet held by schools — on the day of district administration’s meeting with principals — underlined.

Reacting strongly to the schools’ request to the administration to provide certificates for their school vehicle drivers, the DC said, “The schools should at least come to us and tell us what it is that they need so that we might look into the issue. None of the schools have so far approached us regarding this demand even though they have been told quite clearly during the meeting what is expected of them. As far as certificates are concerned, what kind of certificates do they need? Do they need them for contractual or permanent drivers, or drivers they have already hired?”

Reacting to the lack of action against school vehicles, the DC said, “We are carrying out regular challans and erring schools won’t be spared. We certainly can’t run mass challaning drives against schools all at once. I would also request parents to take a drive down the vehicles they send their wards in. Proactive parents would automatically drive schools to be more careful.”

Jalandhar, August 9
While various food outlets have decked up shops to celebrate the auspicious festival of Rakhi, as the weather gets a bit more pleasant and rains make the mercury in the city dip, residents braced themselves for the occasion.

The traditional thread which binds the auspicious relationship of brothers and sisters decked up stalls across the city markets.

Rakhis of various sizes and makes, both hi-tech and old school versions of the good old thread, have been on display this year.

While even the most modest of Rakhis do not cost beyond Rs 100, the highest go up to Rs 5,000.

For the lovers of swish and classy rakhis special Rakhi for men also did the rounds at some jewellery shop.

Some of the lucky siblings spill the beans on their Rakhi plans on their special Sunday Rakhi tomorrow.

Nivedita, a resident of Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh Nagar, said, “Me and my brother have an age gap of only two years. We are more like buddies. While we dig gadgetry, our style quotient of Rakhi is always traditional. Traditional sweets and clothes are our favoured way of celebrating Rakhi. So this year, much like before, I have chosen a traditional gold Rakhi and another one with the letter K (for Karanveer) inscribed on it. Last time, he gifted me a necklace but he’s keeping this year’s gift a surprise so far.”

Speaking about what the festival means to her, she said, “Both of us are students so the rare Sunday Rakhi is a delight. Although we never say it out to each other, Rakhi is a very special occasion because we share a strong bond and often save each other in crisis from parents (laughs). After completing the ceremonies in the day, our family has planned a night out with a dinner at a restaurant tomorrow,” she quips.

Eighteen year old Vibhor, a resident of the Basti Gujan area says, “My sister is married in Batala and Rakhi is very special to us all because she never misses it. Although she won’t be able to come this time, she has sent me beautiful Rakhis. My local cousins – who number five in total will be coming, however – and even though we usually pick fights among each other otherwise, tomorrow is expected to be a relatively peaceful visit because it involves festivities and loads of gifts.”

Planning to watch a film with friends later in the afternoon, Vibhor says, “Even though I don’t gel well with some of my cousins, I respect them a lot. I take a lot of pride in flashing all the Rakhis on my arms on the day and it makes me feel very lucky and special.”

Jalandhar, August 9
Drunken boys and girls created ruckus at the New Jawahar Nagar market 
here today.

As per the police, all youths belonged to affluent families. They were rounded up by the police for the incident. Some of the girls were students of class XII and were studying in a nearby school.

The incident took place at 3 pm when over 10 boys and girls, reportedly in a drunken state, started arguing with each other in the public place. Meanwhile, shopkeepers of the area informed the police control room about the incident.

Nirmal Singh, SHO, Model Town police station, said 40 students had gathered in the Sunny Side UP Bar for a party. After they came out of the bar, two girls argued with each other. Later, other boys and girls reached the place and created ruckus outside the bar.

“We took some boys and girls to the police station. All were released by giving them a warning. One of the boys, Jaskaran, seemed drunk, and if medical examination report confirmed this, the required legal action would be taken against him,” the SHO said.

Sunny Side Up Bar director Aditya said the boys and girls had created ruckus outside the bar only, so he had no concern with that. He claimed that nothing objectionable had happened inside the bar.

The SHO said the police had initiated action under Section 188 against Sunny Side Up Bar on July 6, 2014, for violating the orders of the city police issued under Section 144 of the Cr PC.

Notably, nearby shopkeepers had alleged that this was not an isolated incident. Many times in the past, youths after drinking at the bar, had created ruckus.

Jalandhar, August 9
Following the rigorous stance of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on irregular and unscientific garbage dumping at Nakodar, a team led by Local Bodies Secretary Ashok Kumar Gupta has inspected the situation of cleanliness at Nakodar.

The next hearing for the case is scheduled to be on August 22 by the NGT.

In the ongoing case over the dumping of garbage and cleanliness in cities and towns, including Nakodar, the NGT, on July 30, had said it would be compelled to issue a contempt notice to the officials concerned as well as the civic body for not complying with its directions.

A Nakodar-based environmentalist, Gaurav Jain, had filed a petition before the NGT regarding the issue of cleanliness and unscientific dumping of waste in the town.

In its directions, the NGT had said there was a clear violation of the orders of the tribunal dated May 24, 2013, by the authorities concerned. The applicant brought to the NGT’s notice certain photographs, which showed there was an indiscriminate and unscientific dumping of municipal solid waste (MSW) at the site in question. The applicant submitted that this was causing serious health hazards, public nuisance and stink to the extent that it was difficult to live in the vicinity. The NGT also directed the authorities concerned to ensure that in future, dumping should be strictly done in accordance with the MSW rules and the orders of the tribunal. Later speaking to Jalandhar Tribune, Gaurav Jain said as per his knowledge, the work to maintain the cleanliness scientifically in the town had been initiated. The dumping place in the middle of the town in ward No. 8 is being worked out and improved.

Municipal Corporation Jalandhar Commissioner MS Chattwal, who was also a team member that inspected the Nakodar cleanliness situation, was not available for comments. 

Jalandhar, August 9
A 22-year-old youth was crushed to death by a train near the Dyalpur level crossing today. Police sources said the youth was mentally disturbed. The deceased has been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, a resident of Dyalpur village near Kartapur.

His father Kulwant Singh said Gopi was suffering from some head injuries. He had sustained the injuries during his childhood. Due to the injury, he was not mentally fit. This morning, he left from home and an hour later, someone informed him that Gopi was lying dead on the railway tracks, Kulwant Singh added.

The police said no suicide note was recovered from the spot. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC were initiated. — TNS

Jalandhar, August 9
Veterinary inspectors across the state staged a dharna in front of the offices of the deputy directors on Friday following a call for protest given by the Punjab State Veterinary Inspectors Association.

To intensify their protests, the association has decided to stage further protests at Patiala and Talwandi Sabo on August 17. Keeping in mind the by-election at both the places, the association has decided to launch a door-to-door campaign against the state government's policies which they say are opposed to the veterinary inspectors.

Association president Barinderpal Singh Karon said they would keep observing non-work strike until they get a legal and written recognition for their work.

The veterinary inspectors have already surrendered their artificial insemination kits to the department. A representative of the association AS Kahlon said the veterinary inspectors look after 80 per cent of the work in veterinary hospitals and dispensaries. Still, they have been working without any legal recognition.

He said there are around 2,000 veterinary inspectors in Punjab who have been working as per the Veterinary Act, after getting the required training. Meanwhile, a notification has been issued by the Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, in 2011 that the work of artificial insemination will not be done by the veterinary inspectors.

Despite having issued the notification, the Animal Husbandry Department intentionally did not circulate it among the veterinary inspectors. However, the inspectors carried on doing the work until now. "We have been illegally made to work since the issuance of the notification. The credit for the work done by us was being given to the veterinary doctors," he alleged.

Kahlon said the veterinary inspectors are willing to work as they have been doing all along. What they want is that credit for their job should be given to them with legal recognition.

Jalandhar, August 9
Five of the terrorists who have now been named by the Jalandhar rural police in a fresh case of hatching a conspiracy to commit terror acts in Punjab, were also involved in plotting a conspiracy to assassinate Jograj Sharma, state president of Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) in September last year.

It is learnt that these five terrorists, namely, Narinder Pal Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Surinder Singh, Harpreet Singh and Manpreet Singh were arrested by the Gurdaspur police on September 15, 2013 on the charges of committing terror acts in Punjab. Of these five, four have been granted bail by the court while Manpreet was declared a proclaimed offender (PO).

They have now been nominated in the fresh FIR registered by the Jalandhar rural police following the arrest of three Jammu-based terrorists, namely, Harpreet Singh alias Harmeet alias Pintu of Simbal Camp, Karanjit Singh alias Pamma of Basti Gobind Puri and Sarwan Singh Shabba of Narri, all places in Jammu. They were working for two Pakistan-based outfits, Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) and the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).

After the above said five terrorists were granted bail, a senior police official requesting anonymity said they reportedly continued to work for the banned terrorist outfits like Khalistani Liberation Force (KLF) headed by Harminder Singh Mintu, whose name also figured in the FIR of Gurdaspur and Jalandhar rural police.

Since the Jalandhar rural police have now booked them in a fresh case for hatching a conspiracy to commit a bomb blast at Anandpur Sahib on Independence Day (August 15), all five are now in the wanted list of the police. "The four are also attending court hearings and residing at their homes, while the whereabouts of one, who is a PO, is still unknown. We have launched a manhunt to nab them to clear their role in the fresh case," a rural police official said.

Sources revealed that all the terrorists were reportedly in touch with their contacts in Pakistan through the internet. 

Jalandhar, August 9
A masterpiece of revolutionary theatre actor and director, the deceased Gursharan Singh's legendary serial 'Bhai Mana Singh' has gone missing from Doordarshan Jalandhar.

As per the information sought by Faridkot-based Jaswant Jass under the Right to Information Act on July 30, Deputy Director (General Programme), confirmed that the masterpiece was not available in the library any longer.

The serial was based upon social issues including drug addiction, superstitions and violence and was very popular in Punjab, particularly with the rural audience in 1986-87. The serial had a total of 18 episodes.

Speaking to the Jalandhar Tribune, Jaswant Jass said following the death of Gursharan Singh on September 27, 2012, his fans from across the state wrote to Doordarshan Jalandhar to screen the same episode again. He also added that he has been a huge fan of Gursharan Singh's plays.

Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall Committee today severely condemned Doordarshan Jalandhar for not preserving the masterpiece of the serial.

A representative of the committee Amolak Singh said it was the responsibility of Doordarshan Jalandhar to preserve the work of legendary figures and it was unfortunate that they have failed to do so.

Meanwhile, Areet Kaur, daughter of Gursharan Singh, is dismayed about it. "I believe Doordarshan Jalandhar doesn't value his work, that is why they have failed to preserve it," she said.

Deputy Director, General (Programme), Om Gauri Dutt Sharma, said he was not fully aware of the development. However, he assured that he will try to search for a copy of the legendary artist's work. "Perhaps it has been displaced while developing the old work at par with new technology," he added.