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Cricket gambling returns in big way
5 bookies held; cash, diaries, tapes recovered
Ludhiana, February 1
The arrest of five bookies from a house near the Subhani building by the CIA wing-II team of the local police is fast emerging as a tip of the iceberg of the widespread network of bookies and punters having their head office in Dubai, suspectedly managed by gang members of wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim.

• Raid that was for money alone

4 students hurt as roof caves in

Angry villagers blame school staff Bhattian (Ludhiana), February 1 Four schoolchildren and three women of Bhattian village, near the war museum, were injured when the roof on which they were attending a class along with 22 students collapsed.

A view of the collapsed roof of a house at Bhattian village which left seven persons hurt. — Photo RB

POLITICS

Akalis fight it out in streets, literally
Ludhiana, February 1
The ongoing war between two Akali factions led by party vice-president Amarjit Singh Bhatia and the acting district president, Avtar Singh Makkar, who is also the party candidate from Ludhiana west, took an ugly turn today when both of them fought on the streets, literally.

Chances of violence increase as tempers run high
Ludhiana, February 1
The frustration level among candidates and supporters is rising fast, pointing towards heightened possibilities of poll violence in the district. Directives from the party high commands notwithstanding, internecine conflicts are on the rise if Friday’s incident involving two senior Akali leaders of the city is any indication.

Tighter security for Amarinder
Ludhiana, February 1
The Punjab Government has tightened the security cover of Capt Amarinder Singh, President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, and is being termed as ‘Z’ security. A Superintendent of Police (SP) has been given the charge of security of the PPCC Chief. According to sources close to the Punjab Government, the security of Capt Amarinder Singh has been beefed up following directions from central intelligence agency.

Farmers will suffer if Cong returns: CM
Khanna, February 1
The farming Community will suffer if the Congress comes to power in next Assembly elections. They will face problems in selling their produce, said Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, at a rally organised at Guru Amar Dass Market here in favour of the SAD candidate, Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, today.

SAD activist joins Congress
Ludhiana, February 1
The Election campaign of Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Congress candidate for the Payal Assembly seat in this district, got a shot in the arm when a senior leader of the Panthic Morcha, Mr Pritpal Singh Bishanpura, former general secretary, Youth Akali Dal, and vice-president of the district unit of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Khanna, along with hundreds of party functionaries and workers, joined the Congress and declared his support for Mr Tej Parkash Singh.

COMMUNITY

Tarksheel chief’s body given for research
Ludhiana, February 1
Family members of Krishan Lal Bargari, president, Tarksheel Society, donated Krishan’s body to the Anatomy Department, Christian Medical College and Hospital, for scientific study, teaching and research.

NCC cadets who participated in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi being welcomed by officers in Ludhiana on Friday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Civic staff vow to oppose ruling combine
Ludhiana, February 1
In a significant move, all unions of the Punjab Municipal Workers Federation (INTUC) have decided to extend their whole-hearted support to the Congress candidates in the Assembly poll in view of the total failure of the SAD-BJP government to deliver the goods.

Historic site in utter neglect
Ahmedgarh, February 1
At the historical site where 35,000 Sikhs were massacred by Ahmed Shah Abdali’s forces on February 5, 1762, stands a pennant erected on a mound formed amidst ruins.

Syal says he’ll return 980 crore to investors
Chandigarh, February 1
The Chairman and Managing Director of Golden Forest, R.K. Syal, said his company owed Rs 980.14 crore to 24,65,231 investors, besides a Rs 22,500 lakh interest on this investment calculated at a rate of 8 per cent per annum. Mr Syal gave these details to a consumer court here today and said he had already given these detail to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Printer’s devil spells misery for him
Ludhiana, February 1
Imagine the plight of a person who has been receiving over 50 calls daily for the past six months, seeking enquiries from the railway reservation service. The fault of Subhash Chander is that his telephone number has been misprinted in the Tata Press Yellow Pages, Ludhiana, 2001-2002.

Beauty contest today
Ludhiana, February 1
Herbal Glow, a Delhi-based company in skin, hair and bodycare products will organise a “Herbal Glow Beauty Queen Punjab” contest at Guru Nanak Bhavan on February 2. Ms Malini Jain, marketing manager and beauty counsellor, addressing a press conference here today, said over 20 participants from the state would participate in the event. 

Eye donation getting popular among villagers
Ludhiana, February 1
After 10 years of hard work and motivation, villagers of the district have now started considering eye donation as a cause of selfless service towards humanity.

I’m neutral, says Baba
Ludhiana, February 1
The International Shiromani Sant Khalsa Foundation, Dhaki Sahib, has clarified that it has not announced its support for any particular candidate or political party. Referring to reports that the foundation head, Baba Darshan Singh, had declared his support for the Panthic Morcha, a press note said that there was no such appeal.

• PCCTU plea to CEC

• Fire in shop

CRIME

Official held on graft charge
Ludhiana, February 1
On the directions of Mr R.P.S.Bajwa, SP, Vigilance, Mr Gurjit Singh, DSP, arrested Avtar Singh, a senior assistant with the district administration, on charge of accepting Rs 600 as bribe for issuing a duplicate copy of a land mutation yesterday.

Orientation programme for teachers

Ludhiana, February 1 To replenish the knowledge of its staff, the management of SDP College for Women organised an orientation programme here today. Addressing the teachers, Brig N.K. Dhir, Director, Defence Institute of Quality Assurance, Bangalore, said it was important for the teachers to adapt themselves to the growing need to prepare students for facing fresh challenges.

Brig N.K. Verma, resource person, addresses the staff of the SDP College for Women during an orientation programme for teachers held on Friday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Sahir Memorial Inter-college Cultural Fest begins

Ludhiana, February 1 Contests in folk-singing and extempore marked the opening of the two-day Sahir Memorial Inter-College Cultural Festival at SCD Government College here today. Aabha and Vibha, students of Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology, participate in an extempore contest during Sahir Memorial Inter-College Cultural Festival at SCD Government College, Ludhiana, on Friday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Essay contest
Ludhiana, February 1
Students of USPC Jain Public School participated in an essay writing contest organised by the Directorate of Field Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, on Thursday.

City blood banks unable to provide blood
Shortage of blood-test kits to blame
Ludhiana, February 1
During the past one month needy persons, who visited the Red Cross Blood Bank, had to return home disappointed as they did not get even a single unit of blood for their dear ones who were struggling for life. Despite having good stock, the Red Cross staff could not give a single unit to anyone as the stock was being tested.

Mental ailments: counselling, not drugs, is the answer
AMISHA, wife of a successful corporate officer, mother of two college-going children, with a lovely house, an expensive car, presented a picture of happiness and bliss to the outside world. Rather she was the envy of other ladies due to her smooth complexion, husband’s seven-figure income, but no one knew the emptiness in the heart of Amisha.