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HOSTEL RENOVATION SCANDAL
PAU authorises Registrar to conduct inquiry
Ludhiana, February 4
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has authorised the Registrar to conduct an inquiry into the hostel renovation scandal involving lakhs of rupees in which certain senior officials of the Estate Office and employees were chargesheeted some time ago.

Admission time: ‘moms’ on hire
Ludhiana, February 4
Limited seats and “high standards” of admission in reputed schools of the city are making parents try all means for getting their wards in. Heavy donations and recommendations apart, smart-looking ladies are also being hired as moms by some parents to achieve what they think is not possible otherwise. 

100 bottles of liquor seized
Ludhiana, February 4
A number of areas in the district are fast witnessing free supply of liquor in the run-up to the state assembly elections. While two days ago, a man died allegedly due to excessive liquor drinking in Basti Jodhewal, now the area under Vardhman police station, which covers Chandigarh road and Focal Point, is witnessing free flow of liquor.

Liquor distribution likely to boomerang: survey
Ludhiana, February 4
Those attempting to lure voters through free distribution of intoxicants may be in for a shock if the survey conducted by local anti-addiction organisations is any indication. Several candidates in the region are reported to be indulging in distribution of liquor and other intoxicants to win over the support of voters, especially in rural areas.

POLITICS

Campaigning adds to traffic chaos
Ludhiana, February 4
With ever-increasing vehicle population, slack enforcement of traffic rules, rampant encroachment on roads and haphazard parking of vehicles, crossing most roads here has become a nightmare.

Congress activist joins BJP

Ludhiana, February 4 The Punjab Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, who is seeking re-election from the Ludhiana East assembly segment in the city, took out a march passing through Islam Ganj, Mushtaq Ganj, Habib Ganj and Prem Nagar localities, where he opened some election offices and addressed several meetings.
The BJP candidate from Ludhiana East, Mr Sat Pal Gosian, with his supporters during a door-to-door campaign in Ludhiana on Monday.

‘Ayodhya temple not on NDA agenda’

Ludhiana, February 4 “Construction of temple at Ayodhya is not a part of agenda of the NDA government and the government is committed to maintain law and order at all costs,” said Mr Syed Shah Nawaz Hussain Khan, Union Civil Avitation Minister while talking to mediapersons here today. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shah Nawaz Hussain addresses a rally in support of the BJP candidate from Ludhiana East, Mr Satpal Gosain, at Janakpuri in Ludhiana on Monday. — IV

Payal heads for close contest
Doraha, February 4
In Payal constituency, the contest between the two main candidates, is getting tougher. Mr Tejparkash Singh, the sitting MLA from Jalandhar Cantt and son of Beant Singh, and Mr Jagjiwan Pal Singh Gill, the SAD candidate, are both confident of their victory in their areas of influence.

Coming up with an alternative
Ludhiana, February 4
Mr Harish Rai Dhanda, president, District Bar Association, who is contesting as an Independent candidate from Ludhiana West, is doing it alone. Not alone, for he has a lot of following. He claims that he has been coming up with an alternative to both the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance.

Congress rally at Salana

Amloh, February 4 “Amloh was given the status of a subdivision and a block, the school here was upgraded and teachers were recruited for it, among several development works when the Congress ruled the state,” said Mr Sadhu Singh Dharmsot, a former Punjab minister, at an election rally at Salana village, 4 km from here, on Monday.
Mr Sadhu Singh Dharansot, candidate from Amloh (reserve) constituency, with party leaders at Salana village on Monday.

COMMUNITY

Punjabi writer Trilochan Singh Gill awarded
Ludhiana, February 4
Trilochan Singh Gill, a Canada-based Punjabi writer, was honoured by the International Punjabi Sahit Sabhyachar Manch at a function organised at Punjabi Bhavan here yesterday.

Punjabi Writers Association holds meeting
Doraha, February 4
A meeting of the Punjabi Writers Association was organised at Rampur village under the presidentship of Mr Sukminder Singh Rampuri, a renowned Punjabi writer. The following were elected office-bearers for the year 2002: president — Mr Surinder Rampuri, vice-president — Mr Mohinder Kuadi, general secretary — Mr Jasvir Chajj, secretary — Mr Harbans Malwa.

Resolve to make Kila Raipur drug-free
Kila Raipur, February 4
Former minister and Panthic Morcha candidate from this constituency Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal today said that he had made it his primary resolve to make Kila Raipur a drug-free zone. He said he would also ensure that the illicit liquor that had been made to flow here like water is stopped forthwith.

CRIME

Fraud detected in bank
Ludhiana, February 4
A fraud of about Rs 20,000 has allegedly been committed in the Civil Lines branch of the State Bank of India. An employee of the bank has been held responsible for the fraud by the bank management.

• 3 held with smuggled liquor

• Sahnewal

Tipsy barber shaves child’s head, attacks father
Ludhiana, February 4
In a bizarre case, an inebriated barber in the Tibba Road area shaved a child's head instead of cutting his hair and later attacked his father who came to protest against his act here yesterday.

Man drugged, looted
Ludhiana, February 4
A city resident was drugged and looted in a hotel here yesterday. Mr Varinder Singh, the victim, has lodged a complaint that Vijay Kumar took him to the hotel and gave him a glass of juice. Shortly afterwards he became unconscious.

Exams bring anxiety among students
Ludhiana, February 4
As the exams are approaching, signs of nervousness, depression and stress cannot be ruled out on the faces of majority of students in the city. This is evident from the fact that many parents have been approaching psychiatrists to find out the reason of memory loss and aggressiveness among their children.

Prize distribution function

Ludhiana, February 4 The top three position-holders of all classes received prizes at an annual function held at Gupta Model High School here today. Ritika Kapoor of Class IX received the best student prize. Class V students received the best class of the year prize. Students of Gupta Model High School present a choreography item at their annual prize distribution function in Ludhiana on Monday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

COURTS

PUDA directed to refund excess interest
Ludhiana, February 4
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) to refund the excess interest charged on enhanced price amount (Rs 9,468) to Mr Jasjit Singh, a resident of the Urban Estate (Phase I), Dugri.

CULTURE

PNB cultural meet concludes

Ludhiana, February 4 The 19th PNB inter-region cultural meet organised by the bank management concluded here today. Mr Keshav Aggarwal, Deputy General Manager, PNB, Punjab Zone, who had inaugurated the two-day meet, gave away the prizes to the winners. A PNB team participates in a cultural programme showing a politician sitting on a policeman’s neck.

Striking the right chord with ‘Paro’
Chandigarh, February 4
Laurels come easy to him. Right from 1983 when he won the best folk singer award at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar to 2001 when he entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the best bhangra artiste in the world, Malkit Singh has been striving to keep “Punjabiyat” alive through his music.

• Cultural meet
  

Healing Ministry Week
Ludhiana, February 4
A nationwide call is given by the Christian Medical Association of India to all health agencies in India to observe the Healing Ministry Week from February 4 to February 10, 2002. During the week, special emphasis will be laid on health related issues from holistic perspective to provide better health care to the masses.

Chemists’ association seeks tax exemption
Ludhiana, February 4
The District Chemist and Drugs Association at its meeting held here today urged the government to exempt all medicines from taxes to give relief to the public and promote better health culture in the country.

SPORTS

Prerna, Amit best athletes
Ludhiana, February 4
Prerna Sood and Amit Lakhanpal, students of Class XII and participants in the under-19 age-group, were adjudged the best athletes among girls and boys, respectively, at the conclusion of the three-day 59th annual athletics meet of Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School here today.