L U D H I A N A

Municipal Corporation, Improvement Trust on collision course
Ludhiana, April 12
Persistent encroachment by the Municipal Corporation administration on the territory of Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has created a lot of bad blood between the two bodies and if the state government failed to effectively intervene, and soon too, the situation might lead to an open confrontation, which could also adversely affect the development works in the city.

PAU austerity drive stepped up
Ludhiana, April 12
Facing a serious shortage of funds, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has initiated a serious austerity drive by cutting short the wasteful expenses on electricity consumption in the form of removal of air-conditioners, stopping unchecked use of official cars and even using heaters.

Two youths bashed up for digging grave Ludhiana, April 12 Tempers ran high in Raikot here today when a number of persons caught red-handed two youths digging up the grave of a child laid to rest on April 10.

People silent over youth’s death
Ludhiana, April 12
A youth of Chander Nagar here, who was seriously injured in a brawl in the colony in February, died at the DMC yesterday. The police is helpless in registering a case of murder as the family of the victim and other residents, witnesses to the incident, have entered into a compromise with the opposite party.

Liquor contractors remain adamant
Ludhiana, April 12
Senior officials of the Excise and Taxation Department face a piquant situation over the issue of auction of liquor vends for remaining groups in Ludhiana district since the state government has not been able to make up its mind as to how to go about, and the liquor contractors sticking their ground and not obliging the department with a hike in revenue to the desired level.

Telephones out of order
Ludhiana, April 12
Several telephone lines falling under Mata Rani Exchange (numbers starting from 74 and 70 digits) and Dholewal Exchange (numbers starting from 60 and 66) went out of order today.

BOTTOMLINE
Ludhiana Cong a divided house
Ludhiana, April 12
After yesterday’s fiasco during the protest rally organised against the Tehelka expose, the faction-ridden Congress in Ludhiana has not even left any scope for the pretension of unity. While the rivalry and confrontation among the local leaders was no secret earlier either, its public exhibition in front of thousands of party workers was quite surprising and much shocking for the organisers and senior leaders like Mr Moti Lal Vora and Capt Amrinder Singh.

COMMUNITY

Nagar kirtan taken out on Baisakhi eve Ludhiana, April 12 An impressive nagar kirtan was taken out on Baisakhi eve with traditional gaiety and devotion in the city. A large number of leaders of political, religious and social organisations, besides large number of men, women and children, band parties, gatka parties, students, decorated tractor trailers, trucks, cars and two wheelers.

Children attired in traditional ‘Khalsa dress’ and “Panj Piaras’ along with prominent political and religious personalities of the town take part in the nagar kirtan procession taken out to mark Baisakhi festival on Thursday. — Photos Inderjit Verma

110-yr-old refuses to retire
Ludhiana, April 12
Mr Waryam Singh claims that he is 110 years old, but he has no proof to substantiate it. One of his sons died recently at the age of 80. Another son of his 76 years old.

Objects of desire — the status symbols
IF you want to be on the top rung, you have to be dressed in the right clothes, possess the right set of wheels, flash the latest models of cell phones. All these trappings have a magical effect and act as a passport for one to join the elitist society. 

‘Cong leaders should not air grievances in public’
Samrala, April 12
Dr Satwant Singh Mohi, a former MLA and organising secretary of the PPCC, has urged senior Congress leaders not to air their grievances in public. They should meet the AICC general secretary or the president of PPCC to discuss their problems.

The poet of composite Punjabi culture
APRIL 7 was a memorable day as the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Police Academy arranged a seminar on Sufism in Phillaur. Its director, Mr A.A. Siddique, established the Centre for Sufi Studies on the campus three years ago.

Dr Howie’s nostalgic visit to city
Ludhiana, April 12
‘‘I am taking with me very pleasant memories of my three-week stay in Ludhiana. I will cherish the warmth and affection of the people. It was indeed a privilege for me to renew my acquaintance with my students, who have now become doctors. I am glad to see the emergence of the Christian Dental College.

Internet services disrupted
Ludhiana, April 12
The Internet services have remained disrupted in the city during the past 24 hours with most of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) remaining inaccessible or very slow.

CRIME

Rs 2 lakh stolen from shop
Ludhiana, April 12
The Division Number 2 police of the city has registered a case of theft under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC on the complaint of Mr Kidar Nath, a resident of Civil Lines, who stated that the lock of his shop was broken open on the night of April 9 by some unknown persons who stole Rs 2 lakh from the shop before making good their escape.

• Nambardars held

Ex-servicemen exhorted to set up industrial units
Ludhiana, April 12
Dr A.N. Dubey, Director Ministry of Defence, Directorate General Resettlement, New Delhi, held a meeting with the bankers and ex-servicemen in the office of the District Sainik Welfare Board here today. All District Co-ordinators of the leading banks took part in this meeting.

Enterprising roadside entrepreneurs WHILE going round the city, one invariably finds the pavements occupied by the small time vendors. These vendors with ‘mobile’ business can start any work any time and at any place.   A young girl looks after her parents’ roadside shop in Ludhiana.

AGRICULTURE

Efforts to step up organic farming
Ludhiana, April 12
Mr Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, will visit Punjab Agricultural University on April 18. During his visit he will hold discussions with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, and other experts of the university to explore the possibilities of mutual cooperation in various research projects and exchange of scientists and students.

Standing wheat crop burnt
Samrala, April 12
Standing wheat crop on about 10 acre area was burnt today afternoon at Chehalan village, 2 km from here, belonging to four farmers of Ladhran-Chehalan due to electric short circuiting.

EDUCATION

PAU research fellows selected for studies abroad
Ludhiana, April 12
Two research fellows working on bio-control laboratory of Dr R.S. Singh, Department of Plant Pathology, have been selected for Doctorate studies abroad for conducting an advance research on control of plant diseases. Mr Gurpiyar Singh Sandhu has been selected for admission to PhD in the USA to work on transmission of rice blast disease through seed and Ms Jaspal Kaur has been nominated by the Indian Government for Israel Government scholarship to work on biological control of plant diseases.

College wall demolished
Doraha, April 12
The recently built wall around the playgrounds of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, was reportedly demolished by a few persons on the intervening night of April 9 and 10.

COURTS

Forum quashes PSEB demand
Ludhiana, April 12
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed a demand of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) of Rs 16,486 from Mr Anil Kumar Sharma a resident of Tagore Nagar. The forum further directed the PSEB to refund the amount deposited against the disputed demand along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of deposit till the date of actual payment.

• Arrest of 2 stayed

CULTURE

Miss Punjaban prelims Ludhiana, April 12 A few preliminary rounds of a beauty contest for Miss World Punjaban Canada were organised by Sabhyacharak Sath and Kumar Sharma from Canada here today. The contest got a warm response and 80 girls participated from all over Punjab. Participants of a beauty contest dressed in Punjabi attire in Ludhiana on Thursday.

Renuka takes to script writing
Ludhiana, April 12
Actress Renuka Shahane has graduated to script writing. After performing memorable roles in films and television serials she has now started writing scripts for television serials.

HEALTH

IMA clarification
Ludhiana, April 12
Dr Gursharan Singh, President, Indian Medical Association, Ludhiana, in a fax message to Ludhiana Tribune today denied the involvement of Dr Ashwini Kumar Malhotra in a vigilance trap according to which he was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 from a private practitioner.