Amritsar, October 24
The district Health Department destroyed around 70 quintals of substandard sweets seized from an illegal food factory in the Mustafabad area here. The sweets were destroyed after the reports of a food testing laboratory stated them to be unsafe for human consumption.

The department, in an action taken before Diwali, had seized over 100 quintals of sweets from the factory. District Health Officer Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon said reports for some of the samples collected from the lot of seized sweets had been received.

He said further action would be taken on the basis of reports of the remaining stock. A case against the owner of the factory would be filed in the court as per the procedure, he added.

He said the sweets were destroyed by throwing them in a nullah.

The Health Department had collected a total of 71 samples from various shops before Diwali. Kahlon said action would be initiated against all the shops after receiving the reports.

The DHO said as per the procedure, action for samples found substandard and misbranded was being taken by the department while for samples found unsafe for human consumption, a case was filed in the court.

The department recently destroyed five quintals of khoya seized from outside the district transport office. Sensing sale of substandard and unhygienic foods, the department had started an extensive sampling and inspection drive before Diwali.

Kahlon said, “The drive was successful as we managed to seize large stocks of unhealthy food items.” He said the drive against substandard food would be continued with increased vigour.

Amritsar, October 24
City-based traders have a mixed opinion about trade in the festival season that almost came to an end with the Diwali festival.

Gold ornaments traders recorded a rise of about 20 per cent in their sales in comparison with the last Diwali.

Harish Dhawan, a firecracker trader, said there was a 7 to 10 per cent rise in the volume of trade in comparison with the last Diwali. He said the traders got more days to open their shops ahead of Diwali this year.

Ankit Seth, a jeweler, said a spike in the trade was anticipated as the gold prices were about 11 per cent lower than the last Diwali. This time, the gold prices were hovering below Rs 28,000 per 10 gram in comparison with over Rs 31,000 per 10 gram in the run up to the previous Diwali.

The price trend generated positive affect among the customers and they tried to make the most of the opportunity.

A readymade garments trader dealing in traditional women apparels, Gaganpreet Singh Bawa, said there was a good response from the customers. He elaborated that it was not practically possible to quantify the trade volume and do a comparison with the last Diwali.

However, in typical Indian context, after festivals marriages are the major drivers of trade growth. Since the marriage season is approaching, many customers did their shopping keeping that in mind.

Manager of a leading sweetmeat firm, Ranjit, said the response of customers towards traditional sweets, especially made of khoya, saw a visible decline.

He said with the passage of time, people were becoming health conscious and find sweets as a reason behind obesity and other diseases. Besides, reports of adulterated sweets being confiscated are also causing harm to the business.

He said the loss witnessed in traditional sweets trade was a gain for dry fruit, chocolates, namkeen and bakery items.

A utensils trader, Gurbachan Singh, said there was a spurt in the sale of utensils between 15 and 20 per cent in comparison with the last Diwali.

He said certainly, the concept of online shopping harmed their business but the joy of live shopping and satisfaction from it could never be substituted.

Women exposed to new and modern cookware and accessories by the visual media have developed a craving for these items, he added.

He said, evidently, these kitchen items made cooking more interesting and easier and the traders need to keep abreast with the latest arrivals in the market.

Amritsar, October 24
Even as no major accident was reported, at least 18 minor fire incidents due to firecrackers and more than 26 drunken brawls were reported during the Diwali night.

At the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital, the medical staff on duty during the night remained busy with patients injured in drunken brawls.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said, “Medico legal reports were issued in eight cases during the night.”

He said the number is high in comparison with the normal days. The hospital also received two cases of minor burn injuries due firecrackers. However, none of the cases was of serious nature, said Ghai.

Even at other hospitals in the city, including Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, the cases of injuries due to drunken brawls were reported. The hospital staff reported about six such cases.

The officials at the Fire Department stated that 18 minor fire incidents were reported during the night. The department employees remained on their toes to reach out to these places even as at most of the places, local residents had themselves doused the fire before the arrival of the teams.

City residents observed a decrease in trend of burning of firecrackers due to continues campaigning. Even the shopkeepers selling firecrackers reported of decreased sales. However, firecracker selling shops were spotted in various localities even as the administration had allowed their sale only from designated places. — TNS

Amritsar, October 24
Those who think that art appreciation comes with a deep understanding of aesthetics, passion and creative thought process must go for a reality check. Art has become a product, which if marketed well, brings in moolah. At least that’s what the changed market dynamics spell out.

Amritsar, known as a haven for artists, recently hosted three big art events. The exhibition-cum-selling platforms had art works of nationally renowned artists.

The Kala Mela organised by Brijesh Jolly, the National Art Exhibition organised by the Indian academy of Fine Arts and the special launch of Chic Wall, an art endeavour by Australian entrepreneur Mike Gauba were a sellout. Reason — they brought in affordable and accessible art for city connoisseurs.

Affordable and accessible, the new mantra for artists seems to be breaking a few staples. Popular assumption that art in Amritsar doesn’t find buyers as people do not show much interest has been changed. The latest trend of selling seems to be buyer-friendly as well as a great promotion for the artists, says Brijesh Jolly, art critic and convener from the city.

“Even big artists have found USP in trying out certain forms of gimmickry. But one needs to understand that contemporary forms of art have turned it into a product, which has to be marketed well. Buyers look out for the best possible deals. So, local artists have found a mid-ground by selling the art at pocket-friendly rates, allowing the exhibition turning into a selling platform,” he said.

He emphasises that affordable art is a good way to promote and initiate selling. “The art gallery’s property is huge, including the collections of artists that are exhibited there. Now, keeping that art collection packed and piled up inside a room is not a healthy option. Instead, selling them at affordable rates and clearing it out and generating more interest in the process is the better way to go. Amritsar buyers will never invest in Rs 25,000 painting unless it reads a big name. So, why waste your talent waiting when you can make money and name by selling it easy,” says Brijesh.

Mike Gauba from Chic Wall endorses the point. He organised two exhibitions back to back in the city. “I have a team of artists working with me, creating contemporary pieces of graphic and modern art. And my selling price never exceeds Rs 500. It’s a healthy trend to promote art. Not every artist has to sell like an MF Hussein or Soba Singh painting. Even they had to struggle as beginners. So, the point is to get your art to hang in someone’s living room for visibility and gradually develop a clientele.”

Working on the visibility factor is also important. Jolly says art needs to go to the people and not vice versa. Turning public places like malls, airport lounges and company gardens into cultural platforms, artists are trying to break the mould.

“Artists too need to understand that expecting a huge amount for a piece of work seldom happens. More often, one has to market his art by reaching out to majority buyers, who would not quite pay you big but most definitely would promote your work,” says Jolly.

Amritsar, October 24
Resentment prevails in the Education Department as the state government has reverted to its previous order of classifying teachers as A, B and C grades. The teachers who were authorised to attest documents can no longer do the same.

This was conveyed by the government through a letter issued last month. It stated that despite the revision of pay band and grade pay of the some categories of employees, they would continue to remain in their old groups with the result that school masters and JBTs were again to be treated under group C employees.

School masters now feel degraded and humiliated.

Punjab Employees Rights Protection and Welfare Union general secretary RR Preenja said the new directions compounded the problem for the employees and the government as well.

Since as per clause 5(3) of the group insurance scheme 1982, no reduction in the rate of deduction was admissible even on reversion of the group. Thus, the enhanced rate of deduction from their salary will continue despite their not being in that group.

The government has not elaborated this point while issuing the letter after such a long time, he added.

Before the last assembly elections, the state government, with a view to win over all segments of employees, had revised the grade pay and pay band of employees in the Education Department. This has not only increased their salaries but also their status.

The masters, for example, working in government schools came in group A from group C and were eligible to attest documents. Similarly, JBT teachers teaching primary classes were elevated to group B from the previous group C.

Consequently, their pay bands and grade pay were revised at the fag end of 2011 and the deduction for the group insurance scheme (GIS) also started at the enhanced rate as per their new groups with effect from January 1, 2012.

It is pertinent to mention here that the grade pay determines the status of the employees in government departments.

Amritsar, October 24
Three persons were seriously injured after sustaining bullet injuries in three separate incidents occurred during Diwali here.

Damandeep Singh of Hukum Singh Road and his friend Naveen Arora of Professor Colony were attacked by several armed assailants when they were eating snacks near Partap Nagar area just opposite to Alpha Mall located on the main GT Road.

Damandeep stated to the Division B police station that he along with his friend were having snacks at a roadside rehri when four armed persons came out from a car and opened fire at them.

He said Naveen sustained a bullet injury on his left leg while he was also hit by a bullet on his knee when he was trying to rescue his friend.

He said several other persons were sitting in the car. A case under Section 307, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code and 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the unidentified culprits.

Investigating officer Amrik Singh said an old enmity seemed to be the reason behind the incident, though Damandeep had not named anyone in the case so far. Further investigations were in progress, he added.

In another incident, a youth identified as Parveen Singh Bhandari was critically injured after a bullet hit his head in the intervening night of October 22-23.

Amar Singh, father of the victim, said he along with his son had gone to the market for buying some household commodities. He said he dropped his son outside a Gurdwara.

Two unidentified motorcycle-borne youths came from behind and the one riding pillion fired at his son, which hit his head, he added.

He said he immediately rushed his son to a private hospital where his condition is stated to be critical. A case under Sections 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the culprits.

In the third incident, the Division D police station have booked Satish Arora alias Sunny Arora of Gali Jattan Wali for allegedly firing at Vishal Arora of the Lahori Gate area.

Vishal stated to the police that the accused, who was in an inebriated condition, came out in the street and started abusive language against him. He said when he came out, he fired at him with his revolver and fled away while threatening him of dire consequences.

A case under Sections 307 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered while no arrest has been made so far.

Amritsar, October 24
The Civil Lines police have arrested five persons for allegedly trespassing a house, creating ruckus and injuring a few persons. The accused allegedly broke the windowpanes and damaged three cars at the house.

Those arrested were identified as Vivek Sharma, his brother Vishal Sharma, both residents of Ranjitpura, and Paras Khuranna of Nava Kot, Mohan Sharma of Bhillowal village (now residing at Chheharta) and Ravi Sharma of Railway Colony Islamabad.

The police have booked around 11 persons while the remaining accused were yet to be identified.

Kewal Kapoor, a resident of the Circular Toad area, stated to the police that he along with his son Karan and nephew Jatin was sitting in the lobby of his house while gardner Mukesh and his helper Shiv Nath were gardening when the armed accused trespassed his house.

He alleged that they broke the windowpanes and damaged three cars in his house. He said when his gardener tried to stop the trespassers, the latter thrashed them and later ran away from spot.

The police authorities said a case under Section 452, 323, 506, 427, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in this regard. He said the five accused were arrested while investigations were in progress to identify and arrest the remaining culprits.

An old enmity is stated to be the reason behind the incident. — TNS

Amritsar, October 24
Cracking down on gamblers on Diwali city the police have arrested 16 persons and recovered an amount of Rs 12,000 from them in three separate incidents. The accused were later released on bail.

Among those arrested include Sunny, Shashi Parkas Sarma, Rohit Kumar, Padam, Rahul, Rajinder Kumar, Prince, Satta, Bhola, Ashok Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Raju, Sarabjit Singh, Gaurav, Vijay and Money. All the accused have been booked under the Gambling Act.

Amritsar, October 24
Spring Dale Senior School gold in (U-19) CBSE Basket Ball Cluster Tournament held recently at Tanda, Hoshiarpur.

The school team included Deeshwar Singh Randhawa, Ankush Sharma, Ranjit Singh, Sumer Singh Randhawa, Sidharth, Alvin, Tanveer Singh, Krishan Chandel, Angad Singh, Suhail Khan and Rishab Mehta.

“They are all promising players and the school is proud of their achievement,” said Dr Kirat Sandhu Cheema and Sahiljit Singh Sandhu, both Directors, Spring Dale Educational Society and added that the school management was committed to develop sports. 

Amritsar, October 24
A Punjabi play ‘Shikhar Dopahar Raat’ with a theme of ‘Say no to drugs’ was staged for the students of Shri Ram Ashram Public School.

Staged by the artistes of the Punjab Natshalla in collaboration with the Social Security Department, the narrative of the play called upon its viewers to develop a steely resolve to withstand the peer pressure and societal thrust to guard against the addiction.

Through their splendid performance artistes encouraged the students to stay away from drugs.

Rajbir Singh, Manjot Uppal, Vijay Koti, Rajbir Cheema and Jagroop Singh mesmerised the audience with their performance.

The play was directed by Anita Devgun and written by Hardip Gill. Manager-cum-educational advisor of the school, SN Joshi, appreciated the commendable efforts of the artistes and encouraged the students. Joshi called upon the students not to spoil their future while consuming drugs and choose the path of progress.