L U D H I A N A

Robbers decamp with cash, jewellery; injure four

	Khanna, May 23 Armed with iron rods and sticks, about six persons attacked a family in Khanna and decamped with cash and ornaments after seriously injuring three family members.
Injured Baljinder Kaur admitted at the DMCH, Ludhiana, on Wednesday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Punjab Roadways staff observe two-hour strike
Ludhiana, May 23
More than 2,400 buses of Punjab Roadways came to a standstill today in the state when 9,000 employees of the roadways observed a two-hour strike in 18 depots on a call of Joint Action Committee of 12 employees’ unions. 

Move to privatise water supply, sewerage
Ludhiana, May 23
In a complete volte face over its earlier move to provide free water supply and sewerage facility to the city population, the Municipal Corporation has embarked upon a scheme to privatise these services in order to extend the cover and to bring about a qualitative and quantitative improvement over a long term period.

BJP councillors to stage dharna
Ludhiana, May 23
In a rather unprecedented move, Bharatiya Janata Party councillors would launch a campaign against the City Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, from tomorrow, when the party workers would stage a daily dharna in front of his office to press for their demand for cancellation of nine resolutions, brought before the MC general house through a last minute supplementary agenda and subsequently adopted with a majority vote, without any discussion.

Tastefully decorated Roza Sharif at Fategharh Sahib attracts devotees on the occasion of annual Urs on Tuesday night. 
— Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

	Terrorists return to world of crime May 23, 2001
	Armed robbers loot workshop, injure two May 22, 2001
	NRI alleges partisan role of police in shootout case May 21, 2001
	SHO transferred after Akalis hold dharna May 20, 2001
	Elevated road project approved amidst high drama May 19 , 2001
	PAU to deal firmly with staff doing private work May 18 , 2001
	CM’s sops for industrialists  May 17 , 2001
	Move on privatisation of water supply, sewerage May 16 , 2001
	Free power for PAU farms May 15 , 2001

New fruit varieties approved
Ludhiana, May 23
The State Variety Approval Committee for horticultural and floriculture crops which met under the chairmanship of Dr Jagtar Singh Mann, Director of Horticulture, Punjab, approved four new varieties of flowers, three varieties of fruits and one variety of vegetable crop for cultivation in Punjab.

High-handedness by PSEB officials alleged
Ludhiana, May 23
Several activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), its youth wing and office-bearers of various trade and industrial organisations have charged the Punjab State Electricity Board authorities with highhandedness and vindictive attitude against a local steel mill, owned by Mr Balwinder Singh Bains, president of the youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar).

• PSEB directed to pay compensation
• Staff to stage dharna
• Former staff seek free power

‘Institutional friction stunting growth’
Ludhiana, May 23
“The present growth rate of about 6 per cent of the Indian economy, can be raised to 9 per cent provided the country can get rid of institutional frictions — failure of physical and human infrastructure to work efficiently. 

COMMUNITY

‘Most burn victims are young women’
Ludhiana, May 23
“A victim with 60 per cent burns has 90 per cent chances of survival, whereas a person with 70 per cent burns has 40 per cent chances of survival. A burn victim needs a lot of financial support, besides family support, to survive,” says Dr Abraham Thomas, in charge of burn unit and plastic surgery unit in CMC Hospital. 

Power situation improves
Lalton (Ludhiana), May 23
Thanks to recent rain in the region, this small village like several others has got pleasant relief with the duration of power cuts reduced by about eight hours. Electricity remains off for not more than eight hours these days.

Notices served on Cong leaders
Ludhiana, May 23
The Congress high command is understood to have issued show-cause notices to some local leaders, including the District Youth Congress Committee (Urban) president, Mr Parminder Mehta, for their alleged role in April 11 incidents before and at a party rally and also for allegedly indulging in slogan shouting against the Pradesh Congress Committee President, Capt Amarinder Singh.

No protest was staged: Makkar
Ludhiana, May 23
A senior Akali leader and the acting district president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, today denied that he had staged any demonstration against the police or the government.

Stop contract system: sabha
Ludhiana, May 23
A meeting of the ladies wing of the Shri Guru Valmiki Sabha, Punjab, was held at Naali Mohalla here yesterday, which was presided over by its vice-president. A resolution was passed, asking the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, to immediately implement his recently announced decision regarding the payment of wages for Saturdays.