Ludhiana, October 16
The Health Department today sealed the machines at Dr Rama Sofat Hospital after a criminal case was registered against them for fraud and criminal conspiracy on the complaint of the Punjab Medical Council (PMC).

“We have received orders regarding the criminal case registered against Dr Rama Sofat Hospital. Following the receipt of the orders, the department has sealed the machines at the hospital,” said Dr Subhash Batta, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana.

Doctors of Dr Rama Sofat Hospital, namely Dr Rama Sofat, Dr Amit Sofat and Dr Ruchika Sofat, were served notices by the PMC for unethical activities, especially continuously advertising on the electronic and print media soliciting clients, which is a violation of the Indian Medical Council (Professional, Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation, 2002 and 2004.

Meanwhile, an emergency executive meeting of the Indian Medical Association, Ludhiana, was called today over action taken by the PMC against Dr Rama Sofat, Dr Ruchika Sofat and Dr Amit Sofat. Their registration has been suspended for three months and they have been booked under a case of fraud allegedly for cheating people.

“The IMA members reviewed the technicality of the case and are of the opinion that the PMC is not taking any action against large corporate hospitals and laboratories but targeting individual doctors. The quacks are doing illegal practice right under the nose of the PMC and fleecing innocent patients,” Dr Raj Kumar Sharma, president of the IMA, said in a press note.

During the meeting, it was reiterated that the IMA should be involved before deciding on such serious allegations and taking such harsh decisions against doctors. It was also decided to send the case to the Punjab State IMA through its President, Dr Sudhir Raj, who is also ex-officio member of the PMC.

Earlier, four doctors were booked for fraud and criminal conspiracy following a complaint made by the PMC registrar Gurdeep Singh of SAS Nagar on October 14.

Dr Meenu Chibber, Dr Rama Sofat, Dr Amit Sofat and Dr Ruchika Sofat were booked under section 420, (fraud) and 120- B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and were subsequently suspended by the PMC.

The action was taken nearly a week after the PMC lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), seeking registration of a case under sections 420, 120B and Anti-Quackery Act against Dr Meenu and Dr Rama Sofat.

The registrar said the doctors of Dr Rama Sofat Hospital were served notices by the Punjab Medical Council, Mohali for unethical activities. These medical professionals invented a novel method of advertising, stated Gurdeep Singh. The doctor trio, in connivance with Dr Meenu Chibber, started floating similar advertisements regarding IVF.

Dr Meenu, in an advertisement, mentioned the name of her clinic called “Banjpan” with a strip reading: “Next to Dr Rama Sofat Hospital”.

Ludhiana, October 16
While the Health Department forwarded the names of more than 300 people in whose houses larvae of dengue mosquito were found, only had 20 turned up to pay fine at the Municipal Corporation’s office during the past month.

To check spread and outbreak of dengue in Ludhiana, the department and the MC have joined hands to trace mosquito larvae and fine erring residents. Despite the department detecting larvae at more than 300 locations last month, the civic body has failed to collect a fine of Rs 500 each from the erring residents.

“What surprises us the most is the casual approach of the people towards important hygiene issues. Detecting of larvae in the areas mostly inhabited by migrants is quite normal but it is unexpected in the posh localities such as Sarabha Nagar and Gurdev Nagar. It is not that they are not aware but it is their “chalta hai” attitude, which is not making them take the issue seriously. It is the casual approach of people that is leading to a rise in the cases of dengue,” said the District Epidemiologist, Dr Anil Verma.

Health Inspector, Municipal Corporation, Vipin Malhotra said he did not have the exact data of challans issued during the past month. “Only 20 persons came to submit the fine while the remaining cases have been sent to the court”.

Ludhiana, October 16
The Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC&H) came out in support of the two doctors, who have been booked in an abetment-to-suicide case following suicide committed by an MD III student, Dr Supriya.

The Chairman of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission, Rajesh Bagha, today confirmed Dr Puneet Aulakh Pooni and Dr Deepak Bhatt were booked in the abetment-to-suicide case under Section 306 of the IPC following the statement of Supriya’s father, Dr Balwinder Singh, who is posted as District Health Officer in Jalandhar.

Nearly 20 doctors of the DMC&H, led by its secretary Prem Gupta and legal counsel Harpreet Sandu, today met ADCP (Headquarters) SS Brar and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajat Aggarwal and submitted them a resolution, demanding a free and fair probe into the matter.

The delegations claimed that the two doctors were innocent and had been dragged in the controversy. They said the incident and subsequent controversies had caused a lot of panic among the doctors.

In a statement issued by the DMC, it was stated that the management, faculty, staff and residents fully cooperated with the police in its investigation and the statement of both the doctors were recorded by the special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the case on October 3, 9 and 10.

Hitting back at Dr Supriya’s father, Dr Balwinder Singh, the resolution stated Dr Balwinder was raising baseless and malicious allegations to pressure the police and to implicate the two doctors.

The resolution further reads Dr Balwinder has virtually damaged the reputation of the esteemed institution like the DMC and its doctors by dragging it in the controversy.

Dr Supriya’s suicide note, which was recovered by the police from the hostel room, does not point an accusing finger the DMC teachers. It does not contain the names of the doctors or anybody associated with the institution. Hence, it has been observed by the management and faculty that the two doctors (Deepak Bhat and Puneet Aulakh Pooni) were being implicated merely on a complaint filed by Dr Balwinder.

On September 29, Dr Supriya, third year student of MD (Paediatrics) was found hanging in the PG hostel of the DMC&H. His father, Dr Balwinder, and mother Rupinder Kaur found a suicide note that reads: “Mummy, Papa I love you. I am sorry I could not prove to be a good daughter. I will prey to God never to give you a daughter like me again. Mummy papa I am tired now. Mari kellay lar lar ke bus ho chukka hai. Tusi meri tension na lo. Tohaday kol Nonnu hai. (I am tired of fighting alone. You don’t worry about me. You have Nannu (Dr Supriya’s younger brother) to look after.”

It was learnt that Dr Puneet Aulakh Pooni was neither Supriya’s guide nor co- guide. There was no mention of the Pooni in Supriya’s call details and messages.

Ludhiana, October 16
For many people, a big part of the Diwali celebrations is relishing delectable delicacies. A variety of chocolates are set to tickle your taste buds this festive season, more than other delicacies.

With the dry fruit prices going through the roof in the wake of the Kashmir floods, the traditional sweets losing flavour among residents and residents waking up to health concerns, most residents are laying their hands on chocolates of different varieties, both for sharing and gifting this Diwali.

A variety of chocolates, white chocolate, dark chocolate or those mixed with nuts, have flooded the markets. The chocolate balls, many of which are imported, are equally popular.

Handmade chocolates have been gaining popularity steadily over the past couple of years and this year the demand is even more, says chocolate-makers. “The demand for homemade chocolates is rising every year and Diwali has become the time for enjoying chocolates these days. The homemade chocolates are healthier than those available in the market because fresh ingredients and real essence are used to prepare them. These chocolates are of high quality and have cocoa butter,” says Shanu Sharma, a city-based chocolate-maker. These can also be packaged attractively and offer numerous tastes like ginger, strawberry or even chilli,” she says.

“Big companies cannot afford to make such wide varieties of chocolates or customise them according to an individual’s demand,” she says.

Diwali is the best time to have chocolates, say many residents. “I avoid all sweets and chocolates throughout the year. But Diwali for me is the licence to enjoy chocolates as much as I like. But still I prefer the dark chocolate because these are supposed to be healthy,” says Komal, a resident.

The popularity of chocolates has been rising steadily, say shopkeepers. “Thanks to the raids by the Health Department against adulteration and use of sub-standard raw materials for making traditional sweets, people are fast turning to other alternatives. With chocolates being promoted as sweets for celebrations, there is a marked change in the demand for chocolates,” says a department store manager at Dugri.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 16
The police have beefed up security ahead of Diwali. Besides enhancing patrolling and surveillance it has organised special temporary check posts at sensitive points.

The move has brought a wave of happiness among residents visiting their friends and relatives during night hours, but has upset the anti-social elements, including drug peddlers, eve-teasers, money launderers and smugglers of crackers and explosives.

Though the cops will be initiating action against criminals directly, violators of laws pertaining to other departments will be handed over to the officials of the departments concerned.

Circle officers at Amargarh, Payal, Gill and Raikot claimed that they had enhanced the vigil in their respective regions with intent to prevent anti-social elements to succeed in their sinister designs on the occasion of festival of lights.

Specially constituted anti-sabotage teams have been directed to enhance vigil near venues of celebrations, besides undertaking combing operations to keep a vigil on strangers and anti-social elements that might slip into the area under the garb of visitors and relatives of residents.

Besides enhancing the night vigil, the police have intensified patrolling throughout the area.

Teams of police personnel supervised by Harvinder Pal Singh SHO, Sadar; Amandeep Singh Brar, SHO, Dehlon; and Tejinder Singh, SHO, city, undertook combing operations in localities situated under their jurisdiction during past nights.

Maintaining that the exercise was done to boost the morale of residents and ensure their safety during the festive season, Assistant Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Sikand said the strategy had been drafted on the basis of crime profile of various beats. Organisation of round-the-clock nakas was additional step taken this time.

“Having identified sensitive points which have witnessed petty crimes during the past few years, we decided to organise round-the-clock nakas at these spots,” said Gill claiming that naka at Kaind Bridge had forced miscreants to stagger their activities during the past days.

The decision to beef up the security was taken during meetings chaired by the Police Commissioner, Ludhiana; Senior Superintendent of Police, Khanna; Senior Superintendent of Police, Sangrur, and SSP, Ludhiana (Rural), recently. The police chiefs had directed the officials to deal strictly with miscreants.

Ludhiana, October 16
Service tax will now be levied on NRI remittances, a move that will affect lakhs of NRIs who regularly send money back home.

Punjab has always emerged as the top recipient of money from abroad and people feel the move might lead to a rise in anti-national activities, with money remitted through hawala as an alternative.

The circular issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) says that banks and financial institutions which levy a fee or commission for facilitating the transfer of money from abroad will have to pay service tax.

Kartar Singh, a senior citizen whose children live abroad, said, “The circular is completely unfair to NRIs who send remittances to the country. The move was also initiated in 2012 but was rolled back then.”

“No service provider pays service tax from his pocket. This move will directly affect people who work abroad and send their hard-earned money back to their parents,” he added.

“Just to save a few bucks, people tend to send money through illegal remittance system, which works outside the circle of banks and formal financial systems, which works on the basis of several middlemen known as hawaldars or hawala dealers,” added Singh.

“Hawala works by transferring money without actually moving it. In an actual hawala transaction, no physical movement of cash is there,” said Prem Kumar, a retired bank official.

It is a welcome news. We hope that good days will arrive ahead. I hope the new government also looks into the cost of other essential commodities.

Arun Bansal, businessman

There was a time when petrol worth ~100 was sufficient for a week but nowadays fuel worth ~500 is exhausted in two days. Address our problems.

Sawan Benipal, private service

The inflation is at its peak. In these times, a decrease of even Re 1 is welcome. The prices of petrol, pulses and vegetables should also be decreased.

Inderjeet Singh, resident

I knew that the new government will bring a change. The decrease in the price of petrol is a welcome step and hope the same will be done for diesel.

Vinod Kapoor, private service

Decreasing the rate of petrol by Re 1 will not bring much change. The government should also regulate the rates of petrol and diesel.

Sahil, shopkeeper

Ludhiana, October 16
The Government College for Girls has installed Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the college campus for electronic surveillance. According to college management, the objective to install the cameras is to keep a vigil on the movement of students and visitors inside the campus.

CCTV camera installed on the college premises. Photos: Inderjeet Verma

The cameras were installed at the scooter stands, corridors, outside the principal’s office and girls’ hostel. The college didn’t install the cameras on the entry gates due to some technical hurdle.

Principal Gurminder Kaur said, “We have installed a few cameras on trial basis. We will install some more cameras later. These CCTV cameras will help to maintain discipline in the college.”

According to the information, the college has been facing sheer shortage of Class IV employees. So, the cameras will also help to check security in the absence of watchmen.

Also, SCD Government College installed the cameras a few years ago. Most of the private colleges and schools have installed the cameras to keep the surveillance.

“We are quite late in installing the cameras. The private colleges have installed cameras in every nook and corner. The use of technology to maintain discipline and surveillance is good. We got the funds to upgrade the infrastructure. So, we observed that installation of cameras was a basic need,” the p[rincipal added.

While the students of the college feel that the CCTV cameras should also be installed outside gates to keep vigil on anti-social elements roaming outside the campus. “We will try to install the cameras at all important points in the college,” the principal added.

Ludhiana, October 16
Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal has asked all the departments concerned to establish maximum ‘No litter zones’ in the city.

The DC said this while addressing the monthly review meeting of different departments here today.

On the issue of defacement of public property, Aggarwal said, “Many companies and businessmen paste posters on public or private property to promote their products. They do so without seeking permission of the owner. This practice is illegal. In such cases, legal action should be taken against the violators after the registration of an FIR.”

The DC also asked the officials to make prior announcements about power cuts to residents. He also asked officers to visit mandis and redress farmers’ complaints on the spot.

“The phone numbers of the officers concerned should be pasted in the registers kept at the mandis so that farmers can contact them,” he added.

The DC also advised the farmers not to burn paddy husk. The Education Department was asked to keep a tab on the mid-day meals.

Ludhiana, October 16
An open space — which has been converted into a garbage dumping site — has become a permanent source of nuisance for the residents of Maharishi Valmiki Nagar besides posing a serious health hazard.

The residents of the colony — which has been developed and maintained by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) — stated that garbage collected from houses and commercial establishments in the area, was dumped by the sanitation staff at the vacant site adjacent to the Government Institute of Textile Chemistry and Knitting in F Block.

In the absence of proper disposal, the waste material and garbage is littered on the road and in front of houses.

To make matters worse, foul stench emanates from the dumping site throughout the day, causing harassment to students and staff of the institute as well as residents of the colony.

The open garbage dump has also become a favourite ground for stray cattle and dogs, which has further compounded the problem.

In complaints submitted to the LIT authorities and the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Satish Thaman, a resident of the colony — who is also a member of Ludhiana West Sub-Divisional Grievances Redressal Committee — said, “The dumping site, right at the entry point of the colony, not only poses a pathetic picture of insanitation but also mocks the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Thaman and other residents of the colony have urged the LIT authorities to initiate action for shifting the garbage dump to a spot which is away from educational institutes and residential areas.

Meanwhile, LIT officials said adequate sanitation staff had been deployed for sweeping roads in the colony. “The complaint of an open dumping ground near the entry point of the colony is being looked into and appropriate action will be taken.”

Ludhiana, October 16
Cyclone Hudhud, which hit the coastal states recently, also affected Punjab.

According to the weather experts, Hudhud was responsible for Tuesday’s rainfall in the city and surrounding areas. This led to a sudden dip in the temperature.

Earlier, officials of the Indian Meteorology Department informed that the weather was dry and there were no possibilities of rain in the last few days.

But when the cyclone hit India through Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, the rain lashed several northern states.

The rain caused a dip in the temperature. The residents have been feeling the chill in the air from the last two days.

The Agro Meteorology Department of the Punjab Agricultural University recorded 28.8 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature and 15.0 degrees Celsius as the minimum.

The percentage of maximum humidity was 89 per cent and the minimum humidity 40 per cent.

Surinder Paul, Director, Indian Meteorology Department, stated, “The effect of cyclone Hudhud was minimal but it led to rain in Haryana and Punjab. Several districts of the state received rain due to the cyclone. The rain was light and did not make much impact on the weather in the state. However, the mercury has come down with the effect of rain”.

Meanwhile, residents have welcomed the change in weather.

“The rainfall was unexpected but it led to the sudden change in weather. I could feel the nip in the air. I will start wearing full-sleeved shirts during the morning walk. Even the sun was soothing,” said Mandeep Singh Sidhu, a local resident.

Ludhiana, October 16
A riot of colours, spirituality and myriad themes came alive through the paintings on display at the Festive Strokes, a two-day art exhibition organised at Sutlej Club.

As many as 48 paintings, mostly oil or acrylic on canvas, have been made by artists from different parts of the country.

Delhi-based artist Chanchal Ganguly exhibited six paintings. “I paint mostly in abstract or Indian mythology. In abstract, most of my paintings are underscored by the theme of ‘abiogenesis’ which means that life comes from lifeless matter.”

“In this abstract painting titled the Journey, the dots symbolise the genesis of life as well as the end, and the larger strokes of colour depict the various up and downs, turns and vicissitudes of life in between,” she said.

City-based Picky Bindra also made a painting on the theme of women empowerment during the inauguration of the exhibition. Her work ‘Shiva and Shakti’ had striking bright and cool colours juxtaposed against the black background.

Landscapes from Sayaram Waghmare from Mumbai painted the landscapes with bold brush strokes with the colourful sky rising above the horizon.

Motion and energy in bold and bright had the play of colour in the three paintings by Rakesh Singh from Jaipur. His paintings depicted dance and energy on canvas.

Paintings of Asit Sarkar had the subtleness of mythology from Krishna to Mirabai.

The signature strokes by RS Shakya from Uttar Pradesh also impressed one and all. Mukhtar Ahmed Sardar from Mumbai had the paintings of Buddha and Krishna depicted in almost three-dimensional effect.

Paintings by Ashwin Chauhan from Gujarat gave the impression of Lord Krishna like a royal prince with Radha in the canvas.

Jagraon, October 16
In view of the ongoing festival season, a team of Health Department officials conducted raids in various areas of Jagraon today. The team members visited several sweets shops in Jagraon.

The Health Department team led by Dr Surinder Singh and comprising health inspectors Gurdev Singh and Hari Singh visited several sweet shops to examine various sweets and other eatables being prepared there. The team members first visited the sweet shops near the local bus stand.

Following this, the Health Department team visited a famous sweet shop situated on the Tehsil Road, Jagraon, and examined the preparation of eatables in the shop and did not find any wrongdoing. However, the team instructed the shop owners to maintain proper hygiene while preparing the eatables.

Later, the team members visited several other shops located on the Raikot Road, College Road, Old Grain Market, Subhash Gate and some other areas of the town. At couple of shops the team found stale sweets which were destroyed on the spot.

SMO Jagraon Civil Hospital Dr Sukhjiwan Kakkar said the Health Department would continue to conduct such raids in the coming days. “Instructions have been issued to the shopkeepers to maintain complete hygiene while preparing sweets and other eatables. We have also asked the shopkeepers to provide gloves to their workers who prepare sweets,” the SMO said.

“We will not allow anybody to sell unhygienic eatables and play with the health of the consumers. If any shopkeeper is found selling eatables in unhygienic conditions, a strict action will be taken against him,” the SMO added.

Machhiwara, October 16
Eight cows died in the last few days due to the foot-and-mouth disease that has erupted in the Bet area at Jatiwal and Sansowal villages.

There is an animal dispensary at Panjgraian village but no veterinary doctor has been appointed from the last two months.

Bagh Singh, nambardar of Sansowal village, revealed that although there were animal dispensaries in some other villages of the Bet, including Hambowal, Burj Powat and Mand Jharoudi but all were without doctors. Bagh Singh, who also lost his three cows, said if the survey was conducted then the figures could go higher. When the district deputy director, Inderjit Singh, was contacted in this regard, he said they had dispatched teams for vaccinations in the villages and had written to the departments to depute doctors at the village animal dispensaries.

Girls rehearse for the Zonal Youth Festival in Ludhiana on Thursday. Photos: Inderjeet Verma

Dr HS Gosal, director, Regional Centre, Ludhiana, and Dr Nirmal Jaura, director, Youth Welfare, Panjab University, Chandigarh, addressed the press conference highlighting the events to be performed during the festival.

He apprised that 15 colleges from Zone A would be participating during the four-day fest. The fest is based on the theme: ‘Lets Nurture Drug Free Society’.

Every day of the fest will be dedicated to the legends of Punjab, including Sahir Ludhianavi, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Dr Randhir Singh Chand and Ustad Lal Chand Yamla Jatt.

Dr Nirmal Jaura said the participants winning at the zonal levels will get weightage in marks.

Dr HS Gosal said for the smooth conduct of the event parking arrangements had been done at the municipal ground near Lakkar Pul.

As per the schedule of the Day I of the youth fest, competitions of shabad/bhajan, group song, classical music vocal, geet/gazal light vocal, folk song, vaar kali, kavishari, poem writing, short stories and easy writing will take place.

On Day 2, competitions of bhangra, classical dance, group dance, instrumental music Indian orchestra, quiz, on the spot painting and photography will be organised.

On the third day, one act play, histrionics, skit, mimicry, mime, debate, rangoli, embroidery, phulkari and bagh will take place. Meanwhile, on the last day, competitions of giddha and group folk dance will be organised.

Jagraon, October 16
Non-teaching staff members of Lajpat Rai DAV College, Jagraon, observed strike in support of their various demands. During the strike organised on the call given by the DAV College Employees Coordination Committee, the protestingnon-teaching employees raised slogans against the management.

The protesters staged a dharna near the college gate and ended it only after the classes were over.

The demands include free education to the children of the DAV College employees in the schools and colleges run by DAV management, job to the kin of the employees in case an employee dies on duty, proceed the promotion cases of the employees which have been stopped by the management, increase in the salary as per the grade set up in December 2011, etc.

Convener of the DAV Coordination Association, Jagdeep Singh, said the DAV College management had been unnecessarily delaying the just demands of the non-teaching staff members.

Urging the management to approve the demands of the employees, the Non-Teaching Employees’ Union, Jagraon president, Sushma Rani, said if the management fails to fulfill their demands in near future, they would have no choice but to sharpen their struggle further.