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Health a casualty in toxic Bet villages
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US firm Monsanto to launch improved Bt cotton variety
Mayor’s Post
Campaign to seek justice for ’84 riot victims
Pak surgeons visit Golden Temple
Moga DDPO demands legal intervention to protect common land
Amritsar boy inducted into Victorian police
NGO, health centre spar over medical facilities
Floating restaurant set for a makeover
Job letters for 106 dental surgeons
Eco education made compulsory
Vienna shootout
Gangster Shera’s girlfriend sent to judicial remand
SIT to investigate fake encounter case
SGPC member’s son commits suicide
Death at gym: Negligence charge against owner
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Health a casualty in toxic Bet villages
Ludhiana, September 9 At Harnam Singh’s house in Hujran village, an old woman greets us with a faint smile. She is a cancer survivor. It took her almost a year to get the disease diagnosed. Finally, she got treatment from a private hospital in Rajasthan. The disease has aged the woman prematurely. There’s no government dispensary in the village, says her husband. A young woman places two glasses of water on the table. She insists that we drink the water at once lest it turns yellow. A woman visiting them complains of hepatitis. Another woman from the same village mistakes The Tribune reporter for a doctor. She hastens to narrate her medical history, observing that a medical practitioner in the village is a rarity. Adjacent to this house is a government school where a girl, after having her midday meal, is gulping water drawn from a hand pump. Some boys are seen queuing up for tap water. We ask them whether any RO system has been installed at the school. “We’re told by a teacher that the school does have an RO system. The teachers drink treated water. We’re told that there’s a plan to dismantle the hand pump and to connect taps to the waterworks in the village,” says one of them. Apart from the foundation stone at the schoolgate, three other stones announcing various developmental works catch one’s eye. At Bhaini Gujran, students at Government Primary School are drinking water from a hose pipe. The “RO system”, we are told, is out of order. “As a social worker, it pains me to watch these students drink this foul water. The school does not have a connection to the village waterworks. We’re playing with our children’s health ,” says Kiranjit Kaur, an anganwadi worker at a centre on the school premises. At Bhaini Araiyan village, a patriarch whose five family members are cancer patients, talks only of the polluted water that the villagers in the Bet area are forced to consume. “The poison flowing from the Budha Nullah is killing the residents,” he says. “No one from the Health Department has ever visited us,” he claims. At Walipur Khurd, sarpanch Ranjit Kaur’s daughter-in-law Kulwinder says though they get the water from the waterworks, it turns yellowish if kept overnight in a container. The family has installed an RO system at home. The sarpanch, referring to some cases of hepatitis C and cancer, says in case of illness, the villagers have to go to Hambran for treatment though the nearest government dispensary is at Bhundri. Ghamnewal village sarpanch Manjit Singh says there is a need to bore deeper for waterworks. At the far-end of Walipur Khurd village, four households near the bundh along the Sutlej complain about the water drawn from the recently installed hand pump. “If we keep the water unused for a few hours, it gets spoilt,” says Pal Kaur. Social activist Sohan Singh Salempura says: “The Bet area is the backwaters of Punjab. The people here, instead of consulting medical experts, prefer to repose their faith in tantriks and quacks. Many villagers are unaware of the grave threat that the polluted water poses to their health. Lack of adequate healthcare services is turning desperate residents towards quacks and
tantriks.”
He claimed that the healthcare facilities were adequate. “In the recent past, we conducted 23 major surgeries. Sixty deliveries were conducted at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Sidhwan Bet. Out of these surgeries, seven C-sections were done. Our daily OPD gets more than 150 patients. a round-the-clock emergency services are available at the CHC. Ambulance 108 are also available,” he said. “The bed occupancy rate at the CHC is more than 100 per cent. We have adequate staff. There are 25 sub-centres and 16 subsidiary health centres in the Sidhwan Bet block,” he added. Legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali said he would make all efforts to ensure that the villagers faced no problem. “We plan to new health schemes for the villagers,” he said.
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US firm Monsanto to launch improved Bt cotton variety
Bollgard 11 has two genes of soil bacterium bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) which produce two proteins toxic to the main pest of cotton bollworm, helicoverpa. Bollgard 111, which will have three Bt genes, will also cover a host of lepidopteran insects, including caterpillars. During an interaction at the Farm Progress Show here recently, Dr Robb Fraley, chief technology officer, Monsanto, who is regarded as one of the founding fathers of agriculture biotechnology, termed bollgard 111 as an exciting new technology for cotton farmers. He said this variety would give Indian cotton growers an enhanced spectrum of caterpillar control. However, Monsanto’s claim that it is getting ready to launch bollgard 111 in India next year depends on the regulatory nod. Frelay said the company was aware that there were a few changes in the regulatory approach in India. The company claims Bt cotton has resulted in a 37 per cent increase in yield and a 41 per cent decrease in insecticide application. Frelay said he disagreed with the view that biotech seeds affected germ plasm. “We are breeding seeds around the world and seen the advantage of biotech traits. These actually enhance the native germ plasm”. Frelay said claimed since the introduction of biotech crops in 1996, 29 countries had adopted them and these were now being cultivated on 20 per cent of the world farmland. “We are yet to witness a single case of food or animal safety”, he added. The farm biotechnologist said the company was testing its biotech corn seed in India to generate data for approvals. “We are committed to bring the new corn technology to India”, he added. Monsanto Director, Emerging Markets, Rashmi Nair said the Punjab Government was supporting the development of new corn traits. Corn is being projected as an alternative to paddy which is leading to depletion of groundwater in the state. She said Mahyco, Monsanto’s Indian partner, had tested corn traits at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, where the results had been encouraging. “Farmers who were exposed to the tests want the seeds immediately,” she added. Nair said corn trials would be over by October when the three-year regulatory period would end. She said corn trials had already been approved by the Haryana and Gujarat governments, but the company was awaiting approval from the Central Government. Scientific edge
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Mayor’s Post
Patiala, September 9 It is learnt that the performance of the civic house in the past five years, allegations of corruption levelled against Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli by BJP councillors and the party’s performance in the Patiala (Urban) and Patiala (Rural) constituencies in the 2012 assembly poll would be given due consideration. The Patiala (Urban) and Patiala (Rural) assembly segments cover 50 municipal wards of Patiala city. Though Akali leaders are unwilling to speak on record, senior SAD leaders say Sukhbir wants to select a candidate who is competent, hardworking and has a clean image. The Patiala (Urban) constituency covers 28 municipal wards and the Patiala (Rural) 22 wards. During the 2012 elections, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Amarinder Singh had defeated former Punjab Minister Surjit Singh Kohli, father of Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh, with a margin of 42,318 votes. In the 2007 elections, Amarinder’s victory margin was 32,750. This means the lead went up by 9,568 votes in 2012. Likewise, from Patiala (Rural), the Congress wrested the seat by 27,596 votes. “The victory margin clearly reflects the shrinking base of the Akali Dal in the city with one of the main reasons being lack of development activities,” said a senior Akali leader. Of the four corporations in the state, Patiala and Ludhiana have Akali Mayors. Party sources say Sukhbir is looking for the “right” candidate to be made Mayor of Patiala as he is eying the 2014 parliamentary elections. Of the eight assembly segments in Patiala, this time, the SAD had won three seats whereas in 2007 it had won only one seat. Sources close to Sukhbir said the main reason behind the defeat of Akali candidates in successive Lok Sabha elections was the fact that in Patiala city alone more than 70,000 votes were polled in favour of the Congress. “Now, with the Akali Dal winning Ghanaur, Samana and Shutrana, the party is in a competitive position vis-a-vis the Congress. Now, Sukhbir wants the royal city to see unprecedented development in the next one-and-a-half years. And this is only possible if the party finds a dedicated person for the Mayor’s post”, said a source.
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New Sutlej bridge to help revive rural economy
Gidder Pindi (Jalandhar), September 9 The bridge, formally opened on September 4, has reduced the distance between Jalandhar and Ferozepur by around 30 km, as it offers a direct and more efficient link between the Doaba and Malwa regions.It has also brought a relief to commuters hailing from the two regions. Earlier, they had to face a lot of hardships, delays and inconvenience while using the century-old rail-road bridge over the Sutlej. As the old British-era railroad bridge, considered to be unsafe for the high-volume traffic, used to get closed to vehicular traffic in the evenings after 7 pm, commuters on the Jalandhar-Ferozepur section were left with no choice but to take a detour via the Kawanwala Pattan bridge. Even during daytime, vehicle owners were put to harassment for they had to wait for long durations to cross the bridge, particularly on the Ferozepur-Jalandhar section. “Commuters were virtually left at the mercy of the railway staff manning the rail posts at the bridge, as it was natural for them to give preference to rail traffic. Even if there was no rail traffic, the bridge was opened to vehicular traffic on one side at a time, causing delays for commuters,” said Shubhendhu, a resident of Lohian Khas. The new bridge was also expected to give a big push to the economy of the areas falling on both sides of the river. Owing to lack of direct connectivity between Lohian (Jalandhar) and Makhu townships (Ferozepur), trade had almost come to a halt particularly during the period of turmoil in the state. “As people preferred the Kawanwala Pattan route to the old railroad bridge due to restrictive flow of traffic on the old bridge, the businesses had almost come to a standstill. The uninterrupted flow of vehicular traffic may now lead to development of new businesses like petrol pumps and “dhabas” in the area,” said Surjit Singh, a resident. Residents, farmers in particular, said they were happy as the prices of their lands were likely to go up with the opening of the new bridge.“We hope the area will lose the status of being underdeveloped. The bridge has brought a fresh wave of enthusiasm among people,” said Niranjan Singh, a farmer. major boost
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Two Abohar sub-canals breached
Abohar, September 9 Lekh Ram Rinwa of Daulatpura village said the locals noticed a 40-ft-wide breach in a sub-canal around 5 am. The sub-divisional officer concerned of the Irrigation Department was informed and water supply from the head-works upstream suspended. Another breach, over 40-ft wide, was noticed between Chak Radheywala and Bazidpur villages in Lambi sub-canal. Most of the farmers in the area had sown Bt-cotton this year in anticipation of good remuneration, but the downpour shattered their hopes. Officials said the breaches would be plugged once the rain stopped. Most of the residential areas in the old walled city were under knee-deep water. Traffic was also disrupted at several places. Two cars were damaged after the roof of a garage gave in Nai Abadi area.
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Coal crisis: State thermal plants ‘well-stocked’
Patiala, September 9 A report issued by the Operation Monitoring Division of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on September 4 mentioned out of 89 thermal plants, monitored by the CEA, 30 are having less than a week’s coal stock. The report states none of the thermal plants of Punjab figures in the super critical category, but all of these are having less coal stock than required as per norms. The latest figures by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) reveal Bathinda thermal plant is having coal stock for 22 days (for three units, one is non-operational at present), against the normative requirement of 30 days. Ropar thermal plant has coal availability for 17.5 days against the normative requirement for 25 days. Similarly, Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant is having coal stock for 17.5 days, against 30 days. PSPCL Director (Generation) GS Chhabra said there was no need to panic as sufficient coal stock was available. Punjab may be comfortable as far as coal stock is concerned but the coal crisis in the country has certainly delayed the signing of fuel supply agreements (FSAs) between developers of the upcoming thermal plants in Punjab with subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL). These plants include 1,980 MW Talwandi Sabo thermal plant, 1,400 MW Rajpura thermal plant and 1,320 MW Gobindpura thermal plant.
facts
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Govt okays Rs 8,700-cr urban revamp plan
Chandigarh, September 9 Sukhbir discussed the project with Local Government Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat and Forests Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani yesterday. He later asked the Principal Secretary (Local Government) to stagger the development of cities and towns over a five-year period. The Deputy Chief Minister said projects to build over-bridges and under-passes in urban areas, besides other traffic engineering improvement works, would also be given to the same agency. He said the aim was to make a single agency accountable for the execution and maintenance of various projects. For timely execution of all these projects, Sukhbir suggested appointment of a special mission director, who would deal with the execution agency that is assigned the work. The trio also discussed distribution of funds in different phases. They also decided to launch a campaign to regularise unauthorised water supply and sewerage connections under a separate scheme. Sukhbir said his mission was to provide world-class amenities to the urban populace, including the poorest of the poor, so that they could live a quality life. He said the focus of the Punjab Urban Development Mission was to make cities slum-free. Housing for poor
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Campaign to seek justice for ’84 riot victims
Amritsar, September 9 Senior advocate of the Supreme Court HS Phoolka said here today that the victims had been awaiting justice for 28 years. He said he welcomed the court’s verdict in the 2002 Gujarat riots and wanted that similar action be taken against those behind the anti-sikh riots. He said in order to generate awareness among the masses on the issue, a number of programmes had been finalised. “An akhand path would be held at Gurdwara Bangala Sahib where an exhibition of photographs and paintings on the riots would be held.” He said as per government record, 3,000 Sikhs had died in the riots. Hence, 3000 turbans with names of those killed would be placed at India Gate. For this, the approval of the Akal Takht had been sought. Activist Jarnail Singh said the campaign was apolitical and all justice-loving people, including the Prime Minister, were welcome to join it.
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To attract tourists, martyrs memorial to get facelift
Ferozepur, September 9 Ferozepur MLA Parminder Singh Pinki said he had taken up the matter with the Minister, following which Sahay had promised to allocate funds for the purpose. The memorial was constructed in the memory of martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who were unceremoniously cremated by the British rulers here. Last month, Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil visited the memorial and sanctioned Rs 20 lakh for its development. Patil had also asked Punjab Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Sarwan Singh Phillaur, who accompanied him, to take steps on behalf of the state government to develop the memorial in the best possible manner. Earlier, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had sanctioned Rs 18 crore for the development and beautification of the India-Pakistan joint check post at Hussainiwala; the work on the project has already started. Pinki said Rs 40 lakh has been sanctioned for the construction of a gymnasium near the memorial, which would be thrown open for the rural youths of the border area. The aim was to wean the youths off drugs, he said.
about the memorial
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Pak surgeons visit Golden Temple
Amritsar, September 9 The delegation members today paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and later crossed over to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border. Prof Javed Iqbal of Kaid-e-Azam Medical College said the governments of both the countries should work towards adopting flexible travel policy for medical aid. Prof Javed’s has his roots in Ferozepur. His ancestors migrated to Bahawalpur in Pakistan post-Partition. They were honoured by SGPC officials.
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Moga DDPO demands legal intervention to protect common land
Moga, September 9 While forwarding a copy of this report to the Director, Panchayat Department, Punjab, the DDPO has demanded departmental action against the successive BDPOs for their negligence of duty and has insisted on suitable legal intervention to protect the panchayat property of the village. The total disputed property of pasture land has been calculated at 862 kanals and 16 marla, the cost of which, as per the prevailing market rates is estimated at Rs 40 crore. The majority of the land is also encroached upon. The local residents of this village had pooled in to reserve more than 108 acres of land for ‘charand’, a pasture, for the grazing of cattle, but unfortunately the village panchayat could not keep hold of its possession for common purposes. As a result of which, in the recent past, many ‘powerful’ people had illegally occupied most of this pasture land including another chunk of 100 acres of village common land. The DDPO Ranbir Singh Mudhal in its report has categorically found that a local religious leader, late Baba Nahar Singh, was ‘illegally’ gifted 278 kanal and 15 marla of pasture land out of which he leased out 152 kanals for 99 years to ‘Atam Prakash Vidhyak Conference’, an NGO based at Ludhiana. He further sold 251 kanal and 3 marla land to different persons. Thus, he sold 125 kanal 7 marla land over and above his actual possession of land, finds the inquiry. Ajay Sood, a local resident, who has filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court demanding to vacate this village common land from encroachments, alleged that many outsiders had forcibly grabbed their common land by manipulating with the local authorities even as the revenue records spoke the truth. Salina village is situated at a distance of just 10-km from the district headquarters, which lost its historical significance of being a famous trade centre over the years after the independence. It was mostly inhabited by the Sood and Aggarwal communities engaged in trade and business along with farming on a small scale for their own consumption. At that time, the land in this village was by and large saline in nature and plagued with water logging. But the region got prosperous due to its flourishing trade and business. Now, it is a nondescript village with hardly any signs of its glorious past.
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Amritsar boy inducted into Victorian police
Harpreet Singh Marwaha, who moved to Australia seven years ago for a course in hotel management, was the only one picked from among hundreds of Indian students. His formal induction into the Victoria police took place on August 31. He joins a select band of turbaned Indian boys who are already serving in the Victorian police. A series of incidents of violence targeting Indian students in general and those from Punjab in particular had rocked Australia a couple of years ago. Though subsequent investigations had virtually ruled out any racial bias behind these incidents, both the Australian government and the Victorian government have tightened security measures and also started inducting protective service officers from among the minorities. It is part of this ongoing exercise that now Harpreet took oath of allegiance as Protective Services Officer on August 31. Talking to The Tribune over telephone, Harpreet said he had undergone an intensive training at the Victoria Police Academy. The passing out parade and oath ceremony took place at the academy. The Victoria police commissioner congratulated Harpreet and presented him a certificate of appreciation for winning the excellence award in community services. After moving to Australia as a student in 2005, Harpreet on completion of his course bought a business there. He also took to community service. His father Rajinder Singh Marwaha is Director, Punjab Trade Industries Board. “I want to serve my community by providing it a safe environment. Before my induction into the Victorian police, I also received the Community Services Excellency award. I am also serving as general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) NRI wing Australia,” he said.
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NGO, health centre spar over medical facilities
Bathinda, September 9 The man, 27-year-old Jatinder Singh of Ruldu Singh Wali Bangi, was thrown into the water channel after being seriously injured. Jatinder was working near Bikaner in Rajasthan and a woman called him to Bathinda where his cash and other belongings were looted near Fauji Chowk. A volunteer of the NGO Sangat Sahara, Pali Mashana, said despite his chopped fingers and grievous head injuries, Jatinder managed to come out of the water channel and reached a nearby dhaba. The workers at the dhaba informed the NGO and the man was taken to the healthcare centre. "The attitude in dealing with such a serious case was not right. There was hardly any doctor available at the Community Health Centre at Sangat. The staff at the hospital asked us to take the unidentified patient to the Bathinda Civil Hospital," said Pali. He said it took them a while to brief the doctors at the Bathinda Civil Hospital after which the patient was admitted. "The authorities demanded the referral card from the Sangat CHC as the man was found injured in Sangat," Pali said. He alleged that the medical services becomes out of reach for the people at night as the doctors deployed at the Sangat CHC reside in Bathinda. Dr Seema, who has the additional charge of Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at the CHC, Sangat, while refuting the allegations, said all the doctors deployed at the CHC reach the hospital within 10 to 20 minutes. " Since the admission rate of patients is less than five a day in the 30-bed hospital, the doctors do not stay at the hospital. However, the staff has been deployed there for assistance round-the-clock," Dr Seema said. She said the man admitted with the serious injuries had to be shifted to the Bathinda Civil Hospital even otherwise. "He was given first aid and only then was he shifted to Bathinda," the doctor said. Head constable Hoshiar Singh at the Sangat police station said since the crime took place under the Civil Lines police station, the case has been handed over to them for investigations.
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Floating restaurant set for a makeover
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 9 The foundation stone of the restaurant was laid by the late Giani Zail Singh on July 22, 1976. The restaurant had night-stay facilities but all its eight rooms have been closed now. A part of the restaurant resting on steel tubes and floating in the Bhakra waters has been weakened with rust. The roof of the restaurant, made of steel sheets, has corroded as it has not been given a fresh coat of paint since years. The roof starts leaking even after a drizzle. The Delhi-Lahore bus daily halts at the restaurant to help passengers take breakfast or lunch. The restaurant, earlier under the control of the Punjab Tourism Corporation, was later handed over to the Punjab Heritage Tourism Promotion Board. Sources say the restaurant is expected to be renovated soon. It will be run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in collaboration with the Punjab Government. One of the managers at the restaurant said that estimates for the renovation work had already been sent to the higher authorities. A group of employees, pleading anonymity, said they had received their salary through a contractor. They said they were being forced to sign on a paper, showing higher remuneration.
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Job letters for 106 dental surgeons
Anandpur Sahib, September 9 The minister said strict action would be taken against government doctors if found to be running private practice. “So that doctors don’t find it difficult to work at their places of posting, it has been taken care of that they get a station of their choice,” he said. To ensure that shortage of doctors did not not come in the way of better healthcare, at least 600 more specialists and medical officers would be recruited, the minister said.
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Eco education made compulsory
Chandigarh, September 9 A social activist from
Amritsar, Prabhdayal Singh Randhawa, has succeeded in getting the subject included as a compulsory paper in diploma courses. In his PIL filed through advocate HC
Arora, the petitioner had contended that in 992, the Supreme Court in MC Mehta’s case had directed all the governments and education boards to include the subject. But, even after a lapse of 20 years, the directions were not complied with. On notice of motion being issued by the High Court, the State Board took the decision to implement the judgment.
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Vienna shootout
Chandigarh, September 9 The query came nearly three years after fatal shooting of a visiting guru at a Sikh temple in Vienna resulted in rioting across northern India. As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain asked the State to specify whether the panel had been made fully functional; and whether necessary infrastructure had been provided. Fixing October 4 as the next date of hearing, the Bench also asked the police to complete the probe. The hearing also saw the State informing the Bench that 95 media persons were associated in the investigations to establish the identity of the culprits. Justice Bali is to decide the claims furnished by the victims of large-scale violence witnessed in some parts of the state in 2009. Former sessions judge from Punjab, CR Goyal, too has been appointed as assessor-cum-registrar to assist the commission. A notification regarding the appointment of Justice Bali and Goyal has also been issued by the Punjab Government.
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Gangster Shera’s girlfriend sent to judicial remand
Bathinda, September 9 Namdeek, whose parents are abroad, told the police that she met Shera at a function near Patran in Haryana four months ago. She said her financial troubles had drawn her towards Shera who promised her help. Sources said 28-year-old Namdeek held a degree in M.Sc (Physics). She had worked with a multinational mobile company in Chandigarh. Namdeek claimed she had been working as a lecturer in a polytechnic in Bathinda and that her name figured on the college website.
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SIT to investigate fake encounter case
Nabha, September 9 An
ASI, Inderjit Singh, a head constable, Bhoma Singh and two Punjab home guard personnel, Rajinder Singh and Gurmeet Singh are under the SIT’s scanner. The investigating officer registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC against the accused policemen. No arrest till date has been made in the case as the victim’s kin under pressure from the police compromised with them. “We are poor people and we can’t fight with the police,” said one of the villagers, not willing to come on record against the
local police. The FIR was registered on the statement of victim’s father, Rattan Singh. He said his son Kuldeep was traveling with 5 persons in a Tempo. “A Maruti car was escorting the Tempo when a police party at a naka near Grid Chowk tried to stop the vehicles. But the drivers didn’t stop the vehicles and the police followed them. Near Agaul village, police fired a bullet at one of the
tyres. It pierced through the vehicle and hit Kuldeep Singh on his neck,” reads the FIR. Sources said under pressure from the police victim’s father said in the FIR that the bullet was fired at one of the tyres of the vehicle and not at his son. Rattan could not possibly have made this statement when he wasn’t present at the spot, they added.
Gurinder Bal, Nabha Sadar SHO, said the probe conducted by Nabha police was fair. It was only when someone moved the High Court, the probe was shifted to an SIT. HS Mann, SSP Fatehgarh Sahib, said “Following directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the probe has been handed over to us and we have formed an SIT which would probe the matter and submit a report. Arshdeep Gill, DSP would lead the investigation.”
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SGPC member’s son commits suicide
Abohar, September 9 Vijaypal, a 26-year-old law graduate, shot himself with his father’s .32 bore revolver. He was rushed to Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital where doctors declared him “brought dead”. Vijaypal left a suicide note stating that nobody was to be blamed for his death. The police has begun inquest proceedings.
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Death at gym: Negligence charge against owner
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 9 HS Mann, Senior Superintendent of Police said Ravi, who was still at large, would be arrested soon. He ruled out the murder theory and said the victim died after overdosing on smack. Both Ravi and Amrik were drug addicts and when Amrik’s condition at the gym deteriorated, Ravi let him die, he added. He said the viscera of the deceased had been sent for analysis and appropriate action will be taken only after the report came out. Mann had directed all the SHOs in the region to keep a close watch on gyms and beauty parlors as more and more drug peddlers were operating from these places. The gym where Amrik died is located opposite an engineering college and a leading school of the district.
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Dr Satpaul, Senior Medical Officer, Sidhwan Bet, when contacted, said, “We keep organising awareness camps in the villages. From time to time, we call sarpanches and panches to these camps as we feel that the people will pay heed to their suggestions.” 
Boone (Iowa, US), September 9
Chandigarh, September 9