The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	PSPCL employees held hostage by villagers Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 Residents of Dharamkot village along with activists of farmer organisations today held the officials of flying squad of PSPCL hostage when they had gone there to check power theft. They allegedly broke windowpane of the vehicle of PSPCL officials besides puncturing the tyres. According to information the police teams which reached the spot however had a tough time to get them released. However, Jagatpreet Singh, DSP, Rajasansi, said the police got them released within 10 minutes. He said several inhabitants of the area had punctured the tyres of the vehicles of PSPCL staff but there was no instance of breaking of window glass. As per details available, the PSPCL officials registered 11 cases of power theft during early morning swoop down in the village. The six-member flying squad including an SDO rank official. They villagers allegedly misbehaved with the staff. Balwinder Singh, SDO, said the PSPCL employees demand action against the villagers who had misbehaved with staff and stopped them from discharging their duties. The PSPCL employees association warned the police if they did not take any action against the guilty persons, they would not check power thefts in future. On the other hand the residents of the village said the PSPCL employees made false cases against the people and forcibly enter their houses in the morning hours. They asked them to destroy the challans they have issued to the residents and they will let them go.
	Enhanced vigil at Indo-Pak border Smugglers find new ways to dupe BSF PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 The enhanced vigil by Border Security Force at the Indo-Pak border has forced the Pakistan-based smugglers to change their modus operandi to sneak in the contraband and arms. They are resorting to throwing the contraband from over the barbed fence wrapped in yellow adhesive tape. The BSF jawans today confiscated around 1.3 kg of high quality heroin near a water channel along the flood light line. “What was new in this technique was that the Pak-based smugglers have wrapped the drugs in a shape of long spiral type tube instead of packets,” said DIG BSF, Amritsar sector, MF Farooqui. We have adopted zero tolerance against smugglers and shot down a number to them. Recently, two Indian smugglers were gunned down by the BSF jawans who had come to retrieve the contraband being smuggled from other side of the border, said Farooqui. Today morning the BSF troops of 50 Battalion deputed in the area of Border outpost Kahangarh observed three packets lying in the water channel along with border. He said it appeared that the smugglers wanted to push in the drugs by hiding in the cavity of goods train running between two nations. The BSF also recovered two tubular packets of 8 and 4.5 feet containing the contraband, a pistol with six live cartridges and a magazine, two mobiles and two Pakistani SIM cards. He said the killing of smugglers has instilled a sense of fear among the Pakistani smugglers and their Indian counterparts. Now, instead of smuggling huge consignments they have started smuggling small quantity. Out of total 264 kg heroin seized on Punjab frontier, the Amritsar sector of BSF has seized over 168kg of heroin during this year. The Amritsar sector recovered Rs 7.93 lakh of counterfeit currency, arms and ammunition and killed three pak smugglers and four pak intruders during the year. The BSF has also gunned down two Indian smugglers and arrested 3 Indian smugglers.
	Jethuwal Distributory land Despite HC orders, admn fails to remove encroachments Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 Even after the High Court has directed the Forest Department and Irrigation Department to remove the encroachments on public land alongside Jethuwal Distributory within three months, the departments have managed to remove only 25 of the total 144 encroachments within the stipulated time. All the encroachments removed by the department so far were done by private individuals. Local RTI activist PC Bali who had earlier filed a PIL in the High Court demanding removal of the encroachments said. “Of the total 144 encroachments, 19 are done government. The department has not touched even a single one of them.” The High Court had earlier given a three month time to the Forest Department and Irrigation department on June 30 this year. Bali said, “Not even a single encroachment of illegal concrete constructions made by institutions and commercial shops had been touched.” Pali who had filed a fresh RTI application with the Divisional Forest Office to know the progress of the case was informed that the department has removed 25 encroachments and planted 6,000 saplings. Bali said it is clear that the local administration has no interest to recover the encroached land and especially the forest lands which aims to provide green cover to the city. Amritsar has already been made bereft of hundreds of aged old grown trees for BRTC project. Jethuwal Distributory used to flow across the city, but is now dry. In the absence of any check or in connivance with government officials and political leaders, a number of government departments, police stations and privately owned shops had reportedly cropped up over the land. Ironically, to provide a passage, a metalled road was also laid on the land. With the road built by the civic authorities, several residents have opened their backyards and constructed shops along the road. The court had directed the departments concerned to clear the encroachments and take possession within three months after removing the encroachments and plant trees. The encroachers allegedly include big shots as BBKDAV College for Women, Shivala Bagh Bhaiyan, Bhawan Public School, Municipal Corporation Water Supply Department, Police Station Mohkampura, houses of DC office employees besides temples.
	Counterfeit medicines seized from three shops Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 In a major breakthrough, the Health Department has detected counterfeit medicines of a multinational brand from three shops in the city. The department while confiscating the stocks of the medicines has sent the samples for testing. The investigations regarding the origin of counterfeit medicines has seemingly reached a dead-end for now as the medicine provider having his shop on Tarn Taran road has gone into hiding. However, the department has sealed his shop and filed a police complaint. The sale of counterfeit medicines came to light after the officials of the MNC approached local health department with a complaint yesterday. The sources in the department said as the company officials had information about sale of counterfeit medicines they purchased medicine from 40 different shops in city. Later, it was found that medicines purchased from four shops were counterfeit. Starting the investigations immediately, a drug wing team raided Bagga Medical Store outside Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. The team seized three strips of counterfeit medicine from the shop. On investigation, the team found that a person named Prince was supplying the medicines. As Prince was called to the shop on the pretext of a fresh order by the shopkeeper, the team caught hold of him and enquired about the source. Later, the team raided Dyal Pratap Pharma and V Brothers Pharma in Katra Sher Singh area, who allegedly revealed the name of Raman Kumar, a medicine retailer operating from Tarn Taran road. The department collected a total of 51 strips of the medicine out of which few have been sent for testing. However when the team reached the place, they found the shop locked. Drug inspector Sukhdeep Singh said, “The team went to his home but no one came out after repeated calls.” The department has sealed the shop owned by Raman Kumar and informed the police about the matter.
	NGOs stage protest against felling of trees in city Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat’s representation to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in response to a civil writ petition filed by Amritsar MP Capt Amarinder Singh versus state of Punjab and others, has been flayed by the environmentalists. A number of city-based NGOs under the banner of “Team for Trees” has termed the DC’s representation as a shock to the environmentalists. The move has not gone down well among the environmentalists. Executive Director of ‘Mission Aagaaz’ Deepak Babbar said, the number of trees planted in the aftermath of indiscriminate chopping of trees to facilitate the BRTS project in the city was eyewash. Members of these NGOs today staged a protest on Circular Road where they alleged that centuries-old Pippal trees were axed. The NGO termed the speaking order issued by the office of Deputy Commissioner vide No. 3838 dated September 23, 2014 as purely a bureaucratic and diplomatic blend aimed at misleading the court. General Secretary of ‘Mission Aagaaz’ Gurbhej Singh Sandhu stated that on the one hand the government emphasised the need for preserving green cover and heritage of the city. On the other hand, it justified the cutting of trees to accomplish certain development works, he added. A committee comprising of Improvement Trust Chairman Sandeep Rishi, PWD Executive Engineer JS Sodhi, District Forest Officer, Improvement Trust Executive Engineer Rajiv Sekhri was constituted to analyse the viability of saving maximum numbers of trees. The NGO claimed that the Committee had verbally assured its members that no tree will be cut within 7 feet strip on both sides of the roads but in the order the area was restricted to 5 feets. The NGO claimed that no action has been recommended against the contractor and officials concerned who failed to save the trees which were away from the planned widening of roads which would have acted as deterrent to stop the mindless cutting of green lungs in future. The speaking order stated that the forest department diverted 11.2 hectares forest area for the BRTS project, which is to be compensated by planting 1,21,830 trees in the next plantation season. Nearly 93,000 trees have been planted in Amritsar district against the diverted forest areas of previous years, out of which 14,000 trees have been planted in Amritsar municipal limits itself. Similarly, by adopting no further tree cutting in 5 feet strip on both sides, nearly 218 trees have been saved from cutting in various projects being executed by PWD (B&R) including 198 trees under the BRTS project.” The NGO claimed that the opinion of the committee that the tree cutting has been done by adopting due process of law after getting clearance and NOC from MCA is also contradictory as it has already been established that barring the recent clearance of 298 trees from Macleod Road to Hartej Hospital, no NOC was issued by the MCA after getting approval of the House of Councillors which is mandatory, it alleged. Moreover, the Municipal Corporation, Amritsar itself does not have any record of the trees under its jurisdiction which implies that the NOC is illegal in nature, it alleged.
	Langoor mela Devotees flout safety norms Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 Scores of children dressed-up as Lord Hanuman took part in the ongoing Langoor Mela risk their lives by commuting atop on the roof of autorickshaws. These youngsters dressed up in traditional attire and holding maces in their hands in imitation of Lord Hanuman were traveling in more than entitled numbers in the autos. Caring two hoots for the norms, they are even traveling atop the autos. Many of them have placed big size maces on the autos. The traffic police seemed to be oblivion of the violation of norms. They hardly seemed to have take note of the violation. Vijay Kumar Mehra, a resident of Katra Moti Ram, said, since he was living close to Durgiana Temple he observed the violations many a time. He said it was shocking to see many of them perching atop the autos. He felt that the traffic police must take note of it and stop the practice before it turns tragic. Police too looks the other way even as auto-rickshaws throw norms to wind by overloading autos to cash in on festive season. Another local Ravi Sood said, many of these youngsters travel in autos meant for transporting merchandise. He said this was an apparent violation of traffic norms. Besides, these overcrowded autos attain height and come dangerously close to power cables hanging loose. Langoor Mela is organised during every Navratras at Bara Hanuman temple situated in Durgiana temple. Mothers blessed with male children dressed up their children as Langoors and pay obeisance at the temple daily.
	Swachh Bharat Abhiyan begins in city Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 The Education Department today launched the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ from Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Mall road, today. District Education Officer (Secondary), Satinderbir Singh, who initiated the campaign, said following Prime Minister Narender Modi’s ‘Clean India’ initiative, a “Beautiful and clean school” mission was launched to keep the school and its surroundings clean and beautiful. He said the drive would initially be implemented in 16 schools. Addressing the students, he said, “We can stay healthy physically and mentally, only by keeping our environment clean.” A rally was also carried out with the student making posters, paintings and slogans to convey the message of cleanliness to the public. In her address, school principal Mandeep Kaur said wellness depended on the cleanliness of one’s surroundings. “Cleanliness associated with body, home and school surroundings, attire, water, air and diet are important and If we fail to keep any one of these clean, we will harm ourselves with poor health and sickness,” he said.
	Majithia flags off relief for J&K Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia today flagged off 12 truckloads of relief material worth Rs 50 lakh to Jammu and Kashmir from his Majitha Assembly segment as per the requirement submitted by the flood-hit state. Addressing mediapersons on the occasion, Majithia also announced to dispatch contingents of volunteers to supplement the efforts of the Centre as well as the Jammu and Kashmir government in relief operations. He said he himself would soon visit the flood affected areas of Kashmir valley to assess and then submit the requirements of flood victims to the Punjab government so that it could make a significant contribution in bailing out the suffering humanity there. “We were all aware that unprecedented floods have caused havoc in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the death of hundreds of people with lakhs of them being rendered homeless. Property and infrastructure worth crores have been damaged. Jammu and Kashmir needs our help at this critical hour to tide over the calamity and to rebuild the lives of its people. It becomes our duty to help them with our resources to supplement the government’s efforts,” he said. Majithia expressed gratitude to leading industrialists, businessmen, social organisations and religious personalities of Majitha for contributing towards the relief material. He said it was a matter of pride that when the nation faced any challenge, Punjabis had always risen to the occasion and made significant contribution for the resettlement of their suffering brethren. Khanna Paper Mills, Spring Dale Educational Society, Rice Millers Association, Indo-Swadeshi, Indo-Pak Exporters Association, Rajpal Uppal, Kamal Dalmia, BK Bajaj, Tarun Singh, Bobby Shah, Bimal Gupta, Rakesh Mehra, Naval Kapoor, Sanjay Khanna, Mohit Khanna and Baba Ajaib Singh Ji Tahli Sahib Karsewa Wale also made major contribution in sending this Rs 50 lakh worth of relief material. The relief material comprised wheat, rice, sugar, clothes, medicine, blankets and water. Majithia said the relief material would reach Gurudwara Shaheed Bunga Sahib where the volunteers led by Major Shivcharan Singh would ensure its prompt distribution among the needy. Aditya Sharma is coordinating the supply of relief material on behalf of the NGOs in Jammu and Kashmir.
	GMC employee accuses senior officials of bias Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 An artist employed by the Government Medical College has accused the senior officials of the Health Medical Education and Research Department of bias while demanding removal of disparity in his salary. In a complaint to the Principal Secretary, Research and Medical Education, Jasminder Singh has alleged hat despite being a five year degree holder in Fine Arts, he is getting the same pay as the photographers who are only Class X pass. Jasminder Singh alleged that even medical lab technicians who had done a one year diploma course after class X are getting better pay. In his complaint, Jasminder alleged that even at the time of promotion, he was discriminated against while removing anomalies in pay. “I have been denied my rights time and again because I do not have a political approach or money to bribe the officials,” he wrote in his complaint a copy of which is with The Tribune. Jasminder has demanded from the Principal Secretary, Research and Medical Education, Hussan Lal to get an investigation conducted in his case so that the pay disparity in his case can be removed.
	Inauguration of Bunga Majhabi Sikha put off Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 A ‘bunga’ associated with Baba Jiwan Singh Ranghreta could not be inaugurated at the Golden Temple Complex here due to the ongoing tussle between rival factions of Ranghreta community. Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal and Cabinet Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike had also reached here for the inauguration ceremony, but it had to be put off at the last minute due to orders by a local court. However, the ‘Bhog’ ceremony of the Akhand Path organised to mark the occasion did take place. Various organisations associated with Baba Jiwan Singh Ranghreta Dal had been demanding for the past sometime that a ‘bunga’ named after Baba Jiwan Singh Ranghreta should be constructed along side the ‘Parikarma’ at the Golden Temple. They contended that the ‘bunga’ existed there earlier as per the history. In view of their demand, the SGPC had constructed a symbolic structure where an Akhand Path was organised on Friday. SGPC’s junior vice-president Kewal Singh Badal and other SGPC officials too had reached the city to participate in the event today. Though the stage was set for its inauguration, an organisation associated with Ranghreta community raised an objection over the name and upkeep of ‘bunga’ and took the matter to the court which granted a stay on its inauguration. Talking to the Amritsar Tribune, Sarab Sanjha Ranghreta Dal leader Bibi Kartar Kaur said the SGPC should intervene to resolve the matter and constitute a committee comprising representatives of all the organisations to look after the maintenance of ‘bunga’. She said the formation of a joint committee will put an end to the tug of war. On the other hand, the SGPC officials said they have fulfilled the demand of Ranghreta community by constructing the ‘bunga’ and it is now for them to sort out their differences. Meanwhile, a demand has also been raised to rename the ‘bunga’. At present the SGPC has named it “Bunga Majhabi Sikha”. However, Sikh leaders say it is against the Sikh tenets which don’t differentiate with anyone on caste lines and therefore it should be named after Baba Jiwan Singh.
	GHPS hosts workshop for CBSE principals Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 ‘Expressions India’, an empanelled agency by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) today initiated a three-day workshop for the principals of CBSE schools on “Effective school management and leadership” from September 27 at a local hotel. The workshop which was inaugurated today is being headed by Dr Jatinder Nagpal, programme director, Expressions India. About 45 principals of CBSE schools from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur are attending the workshop. Resource persons Hema Sharma, Manju Madan and Geetanjali Kumar were given a floral welcome by Dr Dharam Veer Singh, chairman, Amritsar Sahodayas. “It is an honour for Amritsar Sahodayas to host such an educative workshop,” he said. At least two workshops or seminars are mandatory for all principals and teachers per year. It is a constant endeavour by the CBSE to identify the specific needs of the school principals, coordinators and teachers and provide them with the best positive solutions through workshops and seminars. The resource persons began with an interaction with the principals. The three-day workshop will certainly enhance the competence of the principals which would enrich their skills and create significant opportunities for academic and personal improvement. The topics covered on first day were national life skills, value education, school wellness programme and gender sensitivity in schools.
	Seminar on personality development held Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 27 Manav Public School organised a talk on personality development for its Plus Two students on its campus today. The resource persons for the talk were Tejinder Walia and Kirti Beri, both assistant professors at Swami Satyananda Management College. They encouraged the students to imbibe professional skills and prepare for interviews along with studies. They put stress on learning, self-introduction and personality development. They asked the secondary students to look for their capabilities and then work to attain excellence in them. They encouraged them to read motivational stories to achieve their goals in life. The teachers motivated the students to put their ideas into action.
	FEEDBACK Take care of water supply to Golden Temple sarovar About four decades back, the supply of water to the Golden Temple sarovar was made through Hansli, which started from Jethuwal distributary at Damuhi near village Tung. When this distributary was abandoned, Hansali was shifted to the UBDC on GT road. The site was shifted once again to the left of the canal bridge which is the present site. I have visited this site three times. But each time, the garbage in the canal near the starting point of the covered water channel, constant dumping of industrial and household waste in the site's vicinity, was shockingly distressing. The concrete structure was surrounded by high-rise weeds and grass giving the site a deserted look. There was no caretaker at the site. Since the water from this place is supplied to the most sacred place, it needs to be taken care of with seriousness. While taking care of cleanliness around the Golden Temple, the SGPC should also take steps to properly maintain the area. Surinderjit Singh Sandhu, Amritsar Majha area being discriminated against Just as a stepson is discriminated against, Amritsar is also being given step-motherly treatment. The SAD-BJP government takes away projects sanctioned for the city to their favourite Malwa region. Schemes like the Central University sanctioned for Amritsar by the then PM Manmohan Singh, was eventually set up at Bathinda. A world class university at Amritsar, offered as a lollypop, will remain just a pipedream. GND University, one of the top ten universities, can easily be made a world class university, if our leaders are sincere in their promises. The solid waste project, serious sewerage and other problems being faced by the holy city are discussed as a refresher course but never get the nod. All the big cities in Punjab, except Amritsar, have more than one university or institute, but Amritsar is not in Malwa and is therefore not favoured by our political masters. The way smaller states are being created, soon, there may be two new states called the mighty Malwa and its poor cousin, the much ignored Majha area, in the near future. LJ Singh, via email