L U D H I A N A

6 migrant labourers’ houses looted, 1 injured
Amloh, June 9
After injuring one person, six houses were looted by a gang of 10 persons in the early hours of Saturday morning, one kilometre from here the Mandi Gobindgarh road. All the six victims were migrant labourers from Bihar.

Travel agents continue to dupe the unsuspected
Ludhiana, June 9
Case 1: A physically challenged man pools all his life savings to send his son abroad. He, however, falls in the net of travel agents and loses Rs 3 lakh. The family is ruined and are presently in dire financial straits.

Mr Jagdish Singh Chandan and Mr K.K. Bawa, president of the Bairagi Maha Mandal, Punjab, get awards at a function in Ludhiana on Saturday. — Photo Rajesh Bhambi

Banda’s martyrdom day observed Ludhiana, June 9 Bairagi Maha Mandal, Punjab, celebrated the martyrdom day of Bairagi Banda Bahadur with great zeal at Punjabi Bhavan here today. Mr Krishan Bawa, the president of Bairagi Mandal, paid rich tributes to Banda Bahadur for his supreme sacrifice.

School inspection report gathers dust
Machhiwara, June 9
Though the Education Department of Punjab claims that the standard of education has improved in the state, in reality the claims fail to be substantiate. 

Withdrawal of surcharge sought
Ludhiana, June 9
The United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association has strongly condemned the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) for levying a surcharge for high consumption.

COMMUNITY

Ghanta Ghar no longer pride of Ludhiana  Ludhiana, June 9 Ludhiana’s icon — the ‘Ghanta Ghar’ — is no longer a pride for the Ludhianvis as congestion around this historical monument is increasing with the passing of each day, making the area look like a dirty slum, courtesy, the ever increasing number of rehriwallahs, who are occupying every available inch of space around it. Being right in the middle of the old commercial centre of the city and close to the railway station.

A boy cuts onions on the road along Guru Tegh Bahadar Market while another washes dishes behind Ghanta Ghar.  — Photo by the writer

CITY SCAN
A larger than life Ludhianvi
HISTORY records the story of Baba Gurmukh Singh (Lalton Khurd) as being one of a courageous ‘Ghadri Baba’. The annals highlight the role of Baba Gurmukh Singh from (Heddon-Bet of erstwhile Patiala State) who strengthened man’s service to God through service to family, society and mankind. The Birlas are scions of a family which made an educational oasis in the deserts of Pilani. 

WOMAN POWER
Donning her late husband’s mantle
LIFE became difficult for Ms Swaranjit Kaur, a resident of Field Ganj, when her husband, Manjit Singh, a cloth merchant in the busy bazaar of Field Ganj expired four years ago of a cardiac arrest. She used to go to her husband’s shop to deliver food and beyond that she did not know anything about the shop work.

Girl child continues to be discriminated against
Ludhiana, June 9
The declaration of 1990 as the Year of the Girl Child by SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) provides an opportunity to the seven countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives) in the region to focus their attention on the girl child and initiate corrective measures to end gender-based discrimination.

Cops’ healing touch, a novel experiment
Doraha, June 9
The number of road accidents has increased considerably with an increase in the density of traffic. The number of deaths caused due to road accidents may far exceed those occurring during a World War, or due to any disaster or epidemic.

BKU to protest against erratic power supply
Samrala, June 9
The Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal ) has decided to stage a dharna in front of the PSEB Head Office in Patiala on June 11 from 10 am onwards. This was disclosed by Mr. Balbir Singh Rajewal, the national general secretary of BKU, here yesterday.

Congress workers hold meeting
Khanna, June 9
A meeting of Congress workers, including party panches and sarpanches of villages in Khanna constituency, was held at Congress Bhavan, here today.

Jathas to visit Pakistan
Ludhiana, June 9
On the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh scores of ‘jathas’ are going to Pakistan to pay their tributes to him.

CRIME

Harassed husband commits suicide
Ludhiana, June 9
The Haibowal police today booked a woman, Renu Bala, charging her with creating circumstances that forced her husband to commit suicide yesterday.

EDUCATION

Teachers seek changes in promotion policy
Sahnewal, June 9
A teacher can make or mar the future of his students. The overall development of society depends on the quality of human resource, and a teacher plays a vital role in shaping this resource. So, the appointment and promotion policy of teachers should be such that only meritorious and capable teachers are allowed to serve.

Dr Singla to head business management dept
Ludhiana, June 9
Contrary to the claims of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) authorities about deciding the question of headship of the Department of Business Management only after inviting applications from prospective candidates, the university is believed to have decided to appoint Dr S.K. Singla as the Head.

Corruption fuels brain drain: toppers
Ludhiana, June 9
“No one can save the country from brain drain in the coming years as most of the students that the country is training in engineering and other streams with tax payers’ money will leave for other countries after completing their studies,” say city toppers.

COURTS

9-month sentence in cheque bounce case
Ludhiana, June 9
The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Ashok Kapoor, has convicted Rajesh Syal, Director, M/s Marigold Leasing India Ltd, Manimajra, Chandigarh and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for nine months, besides a fine of Rs 5,000 for having committed an offence punishable under section 138 of The Negotiable Instruments Act.

Man held under NDPS Act acquitted
Ludhiana, June 9
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Mehndiratta, has acquitted Ghochar Singh (75), a resident of Leela village, Sidhwan Bet, from the charges of possessing 35 kg of poppy husk, as the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

Judiciary to the aid of unborn female child
Ludhiana, June 9
The legislature and executive wings of the government having failed to check female foeticide, it is once again the judiciary that has come to the aid of the unborn female child.

Bail for building inspector
Ludhiana, June 9
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr G.R. Banyal, today granted bail to Zora Singh, building inspector, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, in a corruption case. The Inspector was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau, on June 5, for allegedly taking bribe of Rs 10,000 from Bhupinder Singh of Guru Nanak Colony.

HEALTH

A CT scan in time saves nine
Ludhiana, June 9
The word ‘tumour’ strikes terror in the minds of people. According to Dr Yashbir Dewan, Prof and Head of Neurosurgery (Christian Medical College), a tumour is an abnormal growth of cells . It can either be benign or malignant. The malignant is the one that causes cancer. Doctors are able to tell the status of a tumour only after a biopsy of the tumour is performed.

Rare heart surgery
Ludhiana, June 9
The cardiac team of Hero DMC Heart Institute, led by Dr V.M.Kohli, Chief Cardiac Surgeon, conducted four bypasses together in one surgery, by using the saphenous vein.

SPORTS

District swimming championship
Ludhiana, June 9
The A.S. Swimming Club, Khanna, stole the limelight in the Ludhiana District Junior and Sub-Junior Swimming championships’ which started here on Saturday. The club bagged four gold, three silver and a bronze on the first day of the championship.