Jalandhar, October 30
As the winter is about to set in, the Municipal Corporation (MC), which got its tenders cleared for the badly worn-out Garha Road in February, has woken up from its slumber and decided to get it repaired.

The road work began today, with the contractor getting its base scrapped on the stretch behind the bus-stand. The one-side passage towards the side of the road from Bhagwan Parshuram Marg towards the Kings Hotel side was blocked for the same reason.

The contractor had earlier got the dividers constructed, but did not do the roadwork which led to a lot of inconvenience for the thousands of commuters passing through the road daily. The road had got completely washed away at the rear of the bus-stand.

Most passersby were of the view that the work should have at least started last month. Now when November has already started and the temperature has started dipping,

there is no point in getting the work started now. At the most the contractor would be able to lay the bed and the commuters would be made to pass by the stony road for the next four months till it again becomes conducive for them to relay the road, said HK Bawa, a resident of Urban Estate.

Not just bus commuters, school buses, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles pass from the road daily with prayer on their lips that they move past safely. Since the road has several banks, commercial buildings and links various colonies, including Green Park, Radio Colony, Narinder Cinema market and other areas, most commuters cannot avoid it completely.

The MC had sanctioned the work for this stretch of the road for a whopping amount of Rs 99 lakh work ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The contractor is also to construct road gullies and footpath along the road.

Jalandhar, October 30
The samples of the much-discussed Maqsudan Road, which had developed a deep crater soon after being laid about a year ago, have failed the laboratory test, which the Vigilance Bureau got conducted recently.

Top officials of the economic offence wing of the Bureau confirmed that the road, which had been constructed for an amount of Rs 19 lakh, had failed laboratory tests, the report of which had been sent to the Local Bodies Department in Chandigarh.

Congress councillor from ward No. 1 Des Raj Jassal said he had pointed out the anomalies since long. The road had given way a long ago and heavy vehicles used to fall into the depression whenever a vehicle used to pass from a particular stretch. As the road was being constructed, residents saw garbage being used to fill the bed, he alleged.

He said, “Now that the report had come and our stand has been vindicated, we will seek action against the erring staff and contractor.”

SE (B&R) Kulwinder Singh said inquiry had been conducted, but he had not seen the report. It must have gone to the higher officials, he said. — TNS

Jalandhar, October 30
As the Municipal Corporation (MC) today started levying charges for the regularisation of the illegal colonies, industrialists began their series of protests, indicating their stand that they would not make any payment for the regularisation of their industrial plots.

The industrialists have been demanding that the industrial plots in the Wariana cluster, Gadaipur and the New Industrial area should be exempted from any charges as they now fell under the industrial zone as per the Master Plan made for the city by the District Town Planning Department. They said the traders had decided that they would be forced to stage protests in case any pressure tactics were used against them.

Representatives of the Federation of Jalandhar Industrial and Traders Association got together at Saini Colony Industrial Area here and said they would boycott Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi on the issue. The members said they had NOCs from various departments, including the Punjab Pollution Control Board, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, District Town Planner and Municipal Corporation.

Jalandhar, October 30
An NRI couple from Canada has demanded an inquiry against a Station House Officer who, they alleged, did not lodge a case on their complaint for five months.

The FIR was registered after the duo approached the Inspector General of Police, Punjab NRI Wing, Gurpreet Deo.

The couple, Jatinder Jaswal and Mandeep Jaswal, has accused their relatives, local dentist Vijay Shukla and his wife Aradhana Shukla (Mandeep’s sister), of defrauding them of Rs 1.29 crore fraud on the pretext of investment in real estate.

“Why have dedicated police stations when the grievances of NRIs are not to be heard,” they asked.

The couple also accused the dentist and his family of torturing their minor daughter when she had stayed with the latter in Jalandhar in 2007. “We submitted three complaints at the NRI police station, but the police refused to register a case… They treated our minor daughter with cruelty. We had even furnished medical proof, school records and statement of our daughter to the NRI police station in Jalandhar,” they said.

Jatinder, a lawyer, said registration of an FIR was mandatory under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code if the information disclosed commission of a cognisable offence and no preliminary inquiry was permissible in such a situation.

The duo said it was only after they approached Deo that action was taken. They said Deo referred the inquiry to the Jalandhar Commissioner of Police, who further directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police to act as per law.

After an inquiry, a case was registered under Section 406, 420 and 120-B of the IPC and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 on October 16. The accused are at large.

Station House Officer Dalbir Singh said, “As per Supreme Court guidelines on fraud cases, a police officer can inquire a complaint before registering an FIR. The registration of case took five months as an inquiry was on.”

Deo did not respond to phone calls.

Jalandhar, October 30
Dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Kamagata Maru incident, the three-day-long Mela Ghadri Babeyan Da kicked off at the local Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall (DBYH) here today.

The DBYH premises bore the name of Bajbaj Ghat for the first day. As many as 90 book stalls put up on the premises of the hall found favour with the book enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, one of the major crowd pullers were the remains of the 1857 Ajnala Martyrs, which were dug up earlier this year, displayed on the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall premises. These soldiers — who rebelled against the British — were buried in the Ajnala well after being shot on the intervening night of July 31 and August 1, 1857, and the excavation of the site opened up to the world, the testimony of the valiant acts of men, who chose death over subordination to the British Empire.

A declamation contest on the topic – new economic policies and their detrimental effects on women and challenges – was held besides revolutionary singing contests.

Harsmran Kaur (DIPS School, Suranussi, Jalandhar), bagged the first prize in declamation contest. The second place was bagged by Satbir Kaur (Sant Heera Dass Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Kala Sanghiya), Kamaldeep Kaur (Government Senior Secondary School Bhagat, Bathinda) and Kuldeep Kaur Ugrahan PSU (Shaheed Randhawa) stood third.

Ten consolation prizes were also awarded.

In the singing contest, junior solo, Master Vineet from Inder Lok Musical College, Rurka Kalan stood first; Gurkamal Singh from SRT DAv Public School, Bilga stood second and Karan Rajput from Government Senior Secondary School, Cheema Kalan clinched the third position. Ten participants were also awarded consolation prizes.

Many students also bagged special prizes in the singing junior group and senior categories.

The winners were awarded books, mementoes and certificates.

Tomorrow(Oct 31), quiz and painting contests will be held in the morning, kavi darbar in the evening followed by a cultural night. 

Jalandhar, October 30
Three days after Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishor Yadav had held a surprise check in his office and found 59 employees of his office and the sub-registrar offices absent, he today told all of them to mark their PL for the day.

The Deputy Commissioner said any employee found repeating the offence would be proceeded against through disciplinary action wherein major penalties could be imposed.

The Deputy Commissioner said he was also in the process of checking the names of employees found absent during his previous surprise check. Those found absent in both lists would be taken to task now with departmental inquiries against them and their increments getting stopped, he said.

The Deputy Commissioner said he had issued show-cause notices to all the absentee employees, of whom only a few had replied till the last date today.

Jalandhar, October 30
In order to spread awareness among students about breast cancer, Lovely Professional University and Rani Breast Cancer Trust (RBCT), an NGO, organised a motivational seminar.

The RBCT Chandigarh Managing Trustee, Bittu Safeena Sandhu, inspired students to take strides against breast cancer. Sharing her experiences and best practices in preventing, diagnosing and treating breast cancer, social worker and motivational speaker she explained about the fast-spreading dangerous disease.

Sandhu said overweight can increase the risk of breast cancer and healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce it.

Later,an awareness rally was organised on the campus,in which students were encouraged to come forward and create awareness in their own family, neighbour hood and society about the silently kill disease.

LPU Pro Chancellor, Rashmi Mittal, thanked Safeena for her valuable guidance and suggestions. 

Phagwara, October 30
The police have registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC against a former policeman Gurjeet Singh, a resident Jattpura village, near Kapurthala, for allegedly duping Surjit Singh, a resident of Phagwara, of Rs 15 lakh on the pretext of selling land to him near Bhakhriana village.

Investigating Officer Shaminder Singh Bhatti said the complainant had alleged that the accused made a deal of Rs 17.50 lakh and took Rs 15 lakh as advance from him, but did not appeared before the Registrar to register the deed. When he was asked to honour the commitment, the accused threatened him. No arrest has been made yet. — OC

Jalandhar, October 30
BSP leader Nathpal, who was brutally injured here allegedly by supporters of an Akali councillor some weeks ago, has alleged that the police were working under the pressure of the SAD and BJP leaders. Despite the registration of an attempt to murder case, no arrests had been made by the police, he added.

Nathal, who fears danger to his life, alleged that the accused were roaming free and might attack him again, but the police were not providing him security.

After the October 9 attack on Dhiwan-based man Nathpal, he had alleged that Akali councillor Balvir Singh Bittu was behind it due to an old enmity. The police had, however, denied the role of councillor Balvir Singh Bittu in the attack.

Seven persons, who were charged with attempt to murder and other Sections of the IPC, were identified as Narinder Kumar Kala, Sunny, Sabhi, Rakesh Kumar, Kishna, and two women. A case under Sections 307, 323, 341, 354, 148 149 of the IPC was registered at the Rama Mandi police station. Only one accused Rakesh was arrested by the police so far.

Jalandhar, October 30
Northern Railways Delhi made flying start by defeating Indian Air Force Delhi 4-2 in the inaugural match of the 31st Servo Indian Oil Surjit Hockey Tournament at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today.

Earlier, Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema Education Minister, Punjab, inaugurated the tournament and announced a grant amounting to Rs 5 Lakh to the Surjit Hockey Society. Parvez Bandara, president, Punjab Hockey Association Pakistan, Pargat Singh, MLA, Jalandhar Cantt, KK Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner Phagwara, also graced the occasion .

In the inaugural match, both teams displayed fast hockey. Indian Air Force took lead in the 9th minute when Lovedeep (jr) converted the first penalty corner into a goal.

In the 22nd minute, equaliser came from the stick of Sukhmanjit of Northern Railways, when he converted first penalty corner into a goal and eqalised the score(1-1).

In the 30th minute of the play Sukhmanjit Singh converted the penalty stroke into a goal for Northern railways to take the 2-1 lead.

At half time Northern Railways was leading 2-1.

In the 55th minute Manpreet Singh consolidated the lead of Northern Railways by scoring a field goal with the score at 3-1. In 64th minute Sukhmanjit Singh once again netted the ball for Northern Railways (4-1). In the 67th minute Indian Air Force reduced the margin when Lovedeep (sr) converted the penalty corner into a goal (2-4).

In the earlier matches Indian Navy Mumbai beat EME Jalandhar by 3-1. For Indian Navy the scorers were Naveen, Parteek and Rana Partap. For EME Jalandhar S Munda was the only scorer.

In the second match CRPF Delhi beat Corps of Signals, Jalandhar, by a penalty shootout 5-4. Both teams were locked at 2-2 at the stipulated time. For CRPF Mikhal Barla scored in the 54th and Bikash Kajur in 58th minute of the play. For Corps of Signals Manjinder and Rajnish scored in the 28th 33rd minute of the play respectively. 

Jalandhar, October 30
The Punjab Police clinched the top positions in all disciplines in the 63rd All India Police Volleyball Cluster-2014.

The closing ceremony of the 63rd All India Police Volleyball Cluster-2014 (basketball, handball,kabaddi and volleyball) concluded today on the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) Campus with pomp and show.

DP Sinha, Special Director Information, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Education Minister, Punjab, Daljit Singh Cheema, former Punjab DGP, M S Bhullar, ADGP Armed Battalions and Central Sports Officer, Sanjeev Kalra, Naresh Arora IGP Operations, Armed Battalions-cum- Organising Secretary graced the occasion.

The event started on October 26, in which around 1,700 sportpersons from 34 states, UTs from all over the country took part. This cluster was organised under the guidance and patronage of DGP Sumedh Singh.

Before the prize distribution, a band display was performed by a team of the Punjab police band. Yoga show was performed by Police DAV Public School students followed by a body building show of the jawans of the Punjab Police. A mass bhangra performance by the Punjab police jawan mesmerised the audience.

March past ceremony of this cluster was performed by the participating teams.

The chief guest, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Education Minister, Punjab, gave away the prizes to the winners and position holders. He wished them good luck for the next cluster to be held next year.

The Punjab police led the march past by getting the honour of winning all the four disciplines including Bastkeball, Handball, Kabaddi, and Volleyball. A fireworks show was also performed.

In bastkeball, the Punjab police clinched the top position followed by the BSF and the CRPF. Gurkirpal Singh was adjudged the best player in basketball.In handball, the Punjab Police bagged the top position followed by the BSF and the CRPF respectively. In kabaddi, again the Punjab Police stood first followed by the Haryana Police,the BSF and the CRPF.

In vollyball the Kerala Police and the ITBP stood second and third respectively. HC Gurinder Singh was adjudged as the best player.

The Education Minister, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, announced a grant amounting to Rs 10 lakh for the organising committee of the police games.