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Cop beats up disabled beggar, wife holding infant
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City residents welcome ‘Swachh India’ campaign
Three killed in two separate road mishaps
Air India told to refund ticket amount, compensation to baptised Sikh
Students protest as college loses recognition
CPI, AITUC demand action against DSP for using objectionable language
Two held with heroin worth
Rs 7.5 crore
Police remand of notorious terrorist Rattandeep extended
BSP behind Congress debacle, claims MP
Chatiwind Chowk residents protest erratic power supply
NGO to start school for poor children
Walkathon for heart awareness
Ryan School holds taekwondo camp
Punjab State Rural Games for Girls to begin today
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Cop beats up disabled beggar, wife holding infant
Amritsar, September 28 Last evening around 4 pm, opposite to Ritz Hotel on the Mall Road, a handicapped beggar and his wife (holding an infant) were treated in an inhumane manner in full public view by two police policemen. While one of them was standing by, the other brutally beat them up in a full pubic view realising little that the woman was holding an infant. He was identified as head constable Gurpreet Singh (No. 2444/Asr). An eyewitness, Rohit Sachdeva, said the policeman dragged them and brutally beat them up with his baton without caring that it could not only prove fatal for the handicapped person and his wife but also for the little child. “On one hand, efforts are being initiated to implement community policing, on the other, look at the brutal way the police show its true colours,” he said. Stunned by such a callous attitude of the police, an onlooker Tarlochan Singh, said, “I am otherwise not a supporter of begging, but there is always a way out. Their offence was that they were sitting on a roadside. The man was handicapped and the woman was carrying an infant, but it was quite shocking to see the way the policemen treated them like that,” he said. When the matter was brought to the notice of Deputy Commissioner, Ravi Bhagat, he said, “It was insensitive attitude of the policemen to deal with the beggars. I will definitely speak with the Police Commissioner about it,” he said. Police authorities
act swiftly
In instant action, Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh took cognisance of the instance and put the head constable Gurpreet Singh under suspension and shifted him to the Police Lines for questioning. “I have directed to suspend him and a departmental inquiry has been ordered. The action has been taken so that such an instance should not be repeated and the image of the police does not get tarnished because of such incidents,” he said.
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City residents welcome ‘Swachh India’ campaign
Amritsar, September 28 The Municipal Corporation Amritsar, too, has paced up the beautification and cleaning of the city through various efforts. Cabinet Minister Local bodies, Anil Joshi, inaugurated the campaign this morning from Durgiana Temple complex, while on the other hand, former minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, in a recent statement, said it’s just another ‘poster campaign’ and that active participant and aggressive implementation of the cleanliness solutions is required rather than face–saving efforts. She said the most troubled areas inside the walled city are marred by garbage heaps and clogged drains, while the officials are just posing with the brooms outside their offices. As the PM set a deadline of October 2 for the Swacch Bharat campaign, we ask the citizens to what extent the campaign will sustain. Shilpi Ganguly, principal, Ibadat School for Special Children
Dr Rakesh Sharma, medical practitioner
Rishi Jaitley, professional
If any such campaign has been initiated in the city by the MC, it doesn’t seem to have the desired effect. The walled city is a mess with sight of garbage and filth all around. Water clogging problem is not just restricted to certain areas but the entire city is affected. Hygiene was never a part of the core agenda and the effort is conspicuous by its absence. Indu Aurora, vice-president, Voice of Amritsar
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Three killed in two separate road mishaps
Amritsar, September 28 Sub inspector Tirath Singh, investigative officer, in the case said the bus, belonging to Gill Green Transport, was going from Fatehgarh Churian to Amritsar via Majitha. The deceased have been identified as Gian Singh (65), resident of village Hamja and his daughter-in-law, Balwinder Kaur. They were travelling on a motorcycle bearing registration number PB-02-DS-0471. Tirath said the bus was behind the motorcycle and preliminary probe found that it was the fault of the driver which led to the mishap. According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the bus came down and saw that the victims had died. He, immediately, fled from the scene along with the bus and later was caught by the police party which was chasing the bus. The police have registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) against the driver and further investigations were under progress. Meanwhile, in another road mishap, an ex-serviceman was crushed to death by the truck while he was going to Sohal Pandher village at Majitha on his scooter numbering PB-18-F-3607. The deceased has been identified as Bachan Singh (74), a resident of Babbowal village. Sources said that the incident occurred while Bachan Singh was crossing the main Amritsar-Pathankot bypass and a truck bearing registration No. PB-02-Q-4848 hit him. The truck was coming from the Batala side. Sources added that Bachan died on the spot.
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Air India told to refund ticket amount, compensation to baptised Sikh
Amritsar, September 28 In a complaint before the forum, the complainant, Amarjeet Singh, a 66-year-old resident of SJS Avenue, had stated that he was fully aware of the fact that Kirpan is not allowed inside International Airports so he had booked a domestic flight where it is allowed. Singh alleged that status of the flight was changed from domestic to International and as such he suffered from mental agony and harassment. Singh stated before the forum that a month and a half before the travel date, September 24, 2013, he broke his leg in an accident and instead of treating him with sympathy he was treated in a harsh manner. As the complainant denied removing his kirpan and board the flight, he later came to Amritsar on a train after a few days. Air India representatives, in their reply to the forum, stated that as per the guidelines, rules and regulations, carrying of a kirpan is not permitted in the cabin of an aircraft on an International flight either on domestic or International sector. It was submitted that on such International flights kirpan can only be carried in registered baggage in aircraft hold. A kirpan with a total maximum length of nine inches but a blade not exceeding six inches is permitted to a Sikh passenger on his person within India or on an Indian registered aircraft on domestic route of fully domestic flight within India subject to requirement of public order. The airlines stated that as change of status of flight from domestic to international flight was owing to various security and other reasons so there was no question of giving any intimation in advance to the complainant regarding change of flight as change of flight depends upon the circumstances prevailing before taking off the flight. However, as a matter of good gesture and keeping in view the religious sentiments of the complainant, he was asked to carry it in his registered baggage which he refused to do so. The Airlines also claimed that the passenger was not stopped by the officials of Air India but by officials of the CISF. The forum observed that the opposite party could not produce any evidence in this regard that the status of the flight was changed from domestic to International flight due to security reasons. The complainant being baptised (Amrit Dhari) Sikh could not remove the kirpan which was containing four inches blade which was within the permissible limits of domestic flights as per circular 14 of 2005 of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security nor the opposite party could arrange another domestic flight for the complainant as a result of which the complainant had to suffer mental and physical pain and harassment as he had to arrange railway ticket. The forum directed has directed the Air India to refund the amount of Rs 3,300 paid by the passenger on ticket along with the compensation and litigation expenses.
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Commuters suffer in absence of footpaths, parking lots
GS Paul Tribune News Service
Amritsar, September 28 Little thought has been spared for making adequate parking lots at the main shopping centres. There is a little check on the encroachments on the roadsides, leaving the narrow lanes narrower. There has been improper lifting and disposing of garbage and inefficient rainwater drainage system. Unfriendly flyovers
The first main flyover was built on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road. This elevated road, leading to multiple destinations, including the Golden Temple Complex parking, was constructed at a cost of more than Rs 230 crore. It is an irony that no mechanism was devised to clean up the drains on a regular basis so that the water is not accumulated on the road. Though this stretch caters to heavy and fast moving vehicles, its uneven and patchy and makes for a risky ride for the commuters. One of its ramps leads to the Golden Temple parking. This ramp first merges with the busiest GT Road stretch underneath before taking further elevated ride to the second level of the Sarahgarhi parking lot. The entry to this flyover is in a mess because it is located adjacent to the truck repair market near Phulla Singh Bridge. A few months ago, the 3.2 km long rainwater harvesting pipeline that had been laid beneath the elevated stretch, was stolen. Till date, the authorities have not bothered to reaffix new pipes. Also, the entry to and exit from Alpha One Mall always remain inundated with knee deep water when it rains as there is no place left to drain water. The first elevated road within the city limits was constructed over Kitchlew Chowk. This Rs 22 crore overpass, measuring 900 meter, was mooted in September 2011 with the aim of decongesting traffic and providing free access to commuters bound for Sree Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport and areas along Ajnala Road. It is strange that the highly qualified and experienced civil engineers under whose supervision the flyover was built had absolutely failed to visualise that the curved divider at the foot of the bridge would prove to be a disaster for the vehicles coming down the bridge at a high speed. Slippery sand and pebbles still prevail at this 50 meter stretch on both
the sides. Uneven manhole covers
A random round of the holy city, be it a posh area such as Lawrence Road, Green Avenue, Ranjeet Avenue, the Mall Road or other public areas such as Majitha Road, Indira Colony or roads leading to Durgiana Temple, Sultanwind Road, Jahajgarh Road, will show that manholes are not properly covered. While at some places, the entire lid of the manhole has caved in and the concrete padding around the lids had come out, exposing the lids at other places. Mostly accidents take place when commuters notice the broken lids but get little time to maneuver their way. Pedestrians’ safety
This 'out of order' planning, massive encroachments by traders or small time vendors, and lack of footpaths, have put the lives of pedestrians in a danger. It is not on the agenda of any party to save the rights of pedestrians, who walk in extremely unsafe conditions and become victims of crashes and accidents. Even the upmarket areas such as Lawrence Road, Crystal Chowk and Cooper Road don't have proper pedestrian paths. From Crystal Chowk to Cooper Road turn, one side of the road has a footpath but the other does not. It is one of the busiest lanes in the city as it receives traffic coming from Batala Road, Majitha Road, Railway Link Road and Lawrence Road. Due to faulty rainwater drainage system, a brief spell of rain makes the city submerged in water and it becomes quite impossible to cross over whether on foot or on a vehicle. Haphazard parking
Haphazard parking can be witnessed in the walled city as well as civil lines areas. Along the major commercial areas such as Mall Road, Queens Road and Hall Bazaar, there is no provision of organised parking spaces. Even as the city has designated parking lots in posh areas such as Lawrence Road, Nehru Shopping Complex, due to wrong parking of vehicles, the traffic flow gets disturbed. There is a similar scenario on the roadside opposite to Crystal Chowk, in front of the malls and banks on the Mall Road, opposite to the shops located on the Albert Road and not to forget the mess created by auto-rickshaws opposite to the bus stand and railway station. Similarly, the entire walled city has little parking facilities. Most of the vehicles are parked along the roads, thereby reducing the effective road width. Further, the wholesale markets such as the fish market, iron market, plywood and furniture market of Katra Sher Singh, Bagh Akalian, iron and steel market, Cheel Mandi timber market and Bakarwala-Ghee Mandi, are blocked due to loading and unloading of goods on the roadsides. This causes traffic congestion, wastage of time and inconvenience to tourists and commuters. Garbage lifting
and disposal
The problem of garbage lifting and disposal may be solved once the solid waste management plant is installed. This could be a time consuming exercise but before that it is essential for the government and the administration to make sure that garbage lifting must be done as per the Municipal Act. There is a dire need to collect door-to-door garbage and segregate it before dumping it at the designated site, but this could never be done till date.
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Students protest as college loses recognition
Amritsar, September 28
Chintpurni Medical College was earlier recognised by the Medical Council of India. The students complained that their future is in dark as the Medical Council of India had not given recognition to the college after 2011. The students are pressing upon the state government to shift them to other medical institutions so that they may get a degree from a recognised institute. Students of Chintpurni Medical College stated that they would continue their sit in at the GMC, which comes under the assembly constituency of Medical Education and Research Minister Anil Joshi. As the students and their parents had met Anil Joshi to request him to issue instructions to shift 120 students of Chintpurni Medical College to other colleges, a press release later issued by his office had stated that he had assured to find a solution within three days. They said they had been holding protest against the management of Chintpurni Medical College since long as the degree from the college is not recognised. They claimed that as per the MCI rules, students of colleges, which are de-recognised at a later stage after admissions, can be shifted to other colleges within the same state. It has been learnt that Vice Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences had already written to the state government to allow shifting of these students to other colleges. The students of Government Medical College here said they would offer all help to the protesting students as their cause was genuine. The students expressed solidarity with the protesting students by participating in the protest today. Later, the students took out a candle march on city roads to garner support from the residents.
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CPI, AITUC demand action against DSP for using objectionable language
Amritsar, September 28 Amarjit Singh Asal, a CPI leader, alleged that during the protest, the DSP used objectionable language against the agitating computer teachers while saying that he would send them to Pakistan just like sheep and buffaloes. In a press conference here today, Amarjit said the government should take a serious note of this as he was behaving like an agent of a Pakistani agency. A number of activists said they would launch an agitation against the DSP and would gherao the DC office on September 30. He said the agitation would be intensified in all over the state if the government failed to take any punitive action against him. The unions also urged the Punjab government to accept the genuine demands of the computer teachers. Asal said during such protests in which women also participate, the government should depute women police. Besides Asal, among others who were present during the conference include Daswinder Kaur the of Working Women Association, former councillor Pravesh Rani and former councillor Parveen Kaur.
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Two held with heroin worth
Rs 7.5 crore
Tarn Taran, September 28 According to sources, the accused have been identified as Sukhjinder Singh Sukha of Sakhira and Jodh Singh of Machhike (Ferozepor) . The accused were riding a mobike without bearing any registration No. when they were going to deliver the consignment. A case under Section 21, 61, 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at Sarhali police Station against the accused. Sarabjit Singh, in- charge, narcotic cell, was heading the police party.
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Police remand of notorious terrorist Rattandeep extended Amritsar, September 28 The SSOC has sought the police custody from two weeks for the further interrogation. They pointed out that the investigations were yet to the completed. In a major catch, the SSOC nabbed Rattandeep Singh from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Rattandeep had been absconding for the last 15 years after he escaped from the custody of Haryana Police. He was carrying Rs 10 lakh reward on his head. He was found carrying a Pakistani passport, identity card when was held by the SSOC from the outskirts of Gorakhpur where he had arrived to target a prominent leader. He was, earlier, a top operative of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF). Later, he joined Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and became its operational head. In July this year, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan revived the BTFK. At that time, Col Sahbaz Minhas of the ISI had joint meetings with Wadhawa Singh (BKI) and Rattandeep Singh to affect the new arrangement. The ISI picked up Rattandeep Singh to head the BTFK, the police investigations had revealed.
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BSP behind Congress debacle, claims MP
Amritsar, September 28 Addressing a seminar of party workers here, he said it was proved in the by-elections held for assembly seats in 9 states and three Lok Sabha constituencies of the country. The BSP did not field any of its candidates and the BJP failed to win a majority of the seats, he added. He said on the surface it indicated that the Modi wave had fizzled out but in reality there was no mode wave at all. In the recently held by-elections for the 11 assembly seats in UP, the Saffron party managed to win only three seats while 8 seats went to the ruling SP, he said. However, he claimed that the trouncing of Congress in the Lok Sabha elections fulfilled the dream of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Karimpuri said, as per the directions of the party supremo Mayawati, the party was being consolidated at the grass root level. As per the directions, 5 youths are being attached to each booth. He asked the party workers to spread the message among the masses that the BSP was not for a section of the society but it represented all.
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Chatiwind Chowk residents protest erratic power supply
Amritsar, September 28 They alleged that due to the fluctuations in the power supply, a number of electronic and electrical appliances at their homes had been damaged. They accused the PSPCL authorities of negligence in repairing a power transformer which was lying defunct for the last one week. The agitators raised slogans against the Powercom and gharaoed the office for over half an hour. The police teams reached the spot immediately and tried to pacify the protesters. Following the protest, an SDO and Junior Engineer of the PSPCL, reached the spot and assured to residents that the power transformer will be repaired by the next day. After their assurance, the dharna was lifted. They, however, threatened to launch a protest again if the authorities failed to repair the erratic power supply in the area.
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NGO to start school for poor children
Amritsar, September 28 Major Amit Sareen and Manish Kumar Mahajan of the NGO said, the Integrated School would impart free of cost vocational training along with academic and spiritual teachings to youths. They said the NGO had a mission of eradication of child beggary and scavenging. Inspired by the ideals of Anna Hazare, both of them are motivated to work for the upliftment of the downtrodden through imparting education and creating awareness.
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Amritsar, September 28 The walk was led by Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi and Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Pradeep Sabharwal. The walk started from Company Bagh and culminated near BBK DAV College for women. More than 1,000 participants from all sections of society, including members of Daily Walkers Association, traders association, college students, nurses and renowned doctors, took part in it. Anil Joshi said, "Time has come that we should commit ourselves to good and healthy habits. This will not only keep us physically fit but also keep our minds clean," he said. Dr HP Singh, medical director and Dr Pinak Moudgil, facility director, congratulated the participants for their involvement in a cause of public awareness. — TNS
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Ryan School holds taekwondo camp Amritsar, September 28 Teams from 14 schools along with Government College, Amritsar, participated in the camp which 218 participants and 25 coaches took part. School principal Rajni Kalra inaugurated the camp. Students participated with zeal and zest and showcased their skills in the sport. They were encouraged to discover themselves and their potential. The camp is dedicated to enriching the mind, body and soul besides promoting physical health among the students. — TNS
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Punjab State Rural Games for Girls to begin today
Amritsar, September 28 City’s Guru Nanak Stadium will host the games, being held under the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan’ (RGKA) scheme of the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, said Rupinder Singh, assistant director, Sports. Addresing mediapersons, Rupinder Singh, who has been deputed as a nodal officer to supervise all the arrangements for the games, said that as many as 300 officials had been deputed for smooth conduct of the games. Top players from these games would be picked up for intensive training, prior to their participation in the coming National Rural Sports Meet, he added. He informed that the department had earlier conducted Punjab State Games for Boys (under – 16 years) in Patiala. The assistant director, Sports, explained that most of the talent was found in villages and keeping this in view, the Union government had launched the scheme. The 12 disciplines included in the sports meet are athletics, basketball, boxing, football, hockey, handball, judo, kho kho, kabaddi, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling. A media centre has been established at Virsa Vihar, Guru Nanak Stadium, for the convenience of the media. Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia will preside over the opening ceremony to be held at Guru Nanak Stadium tomorrow. Pawan Kumar Teenu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary of Sports and Youth Services, will be the guest of honour. The closing ceremony will be held on October 1 at Guru Nanak Stadium in which Minister for Forest and Wild Life Prevention and Labour, Chunni Lal Bhagat, will be the chief guest.
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The Clean India campaign, announced by the Central government, has initiated a mass cleanliness drive that will cover various cities across the country. As the positive initiative taken towards creating environment awareness and increasing individual support towards active sustainable development gains momentum, the authorities and citizens seem to be joining hands.
Call it faulty planning or lackadaisical attitude of the officials concerned, it ultimately resulted in causing inconvenience to the public. There seems to be some fault in road engineering and designs as the key roads in the city are devoid of pedestrian paths.
The heaps of garbage are a real problem inside the walled city. There is no spot or area in city that doesn’t smell of dump and drainage system is near collapse. So, the campaign comes as a positive direction but implementation should be strict. Individuals and NGOs should be involved if the deadline has to be achieved.
It is quite heartening to have a PM who is privy to the major issues and their possible solutions. But the cleanliness drive is not the only way out. We have to aggressively make a statement by keeping our public places clean and make a habit. The message is important and it should be carried out with dedication. There is no solid waste management plant in city, which should be an utmost priority.
There is no harm in applauding the good thinking of our PM, who thinks that our cities should be clean and green. But the directions should be implemented in action not words. It’s a positive step, but how long will it take to sustain, is to be seen. All these years of lying low and neglecting the issues, one cannot expect changes overnight. Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Go Green, Go Clean campaign, too, generated excitement and hope, but unfortunately, it was sidelined. Unless enforced actively, the
campaign might go the same way.
