The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Robbers leave woman for dead
Take away goods worth Rs 2 lakh
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 23
Armed robbers struck at a house in Ranjodh Park of Haibowal here early today and decamped with cash and jewellery worth more than Rs 2 lakh after injuring a middle-aged woman.

The woman, Parveen Bhalla, a teacher in a local school, was admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital here with multiple wounds on her body and had not regained consciousness till the filing of this report.

She was alone in the house at the time of the robbery and her only son was out of station. The robbery was detected when one of her relatives came to visit her and found her in a pool of blood. According to the Haibowal police, the visitor, Mr Sucha Singh, raised an alarm and informed the police. He and some of the woman’s neighbours took her to the hospital.

According to a statement given to the police by Mr Sonu Bhalla, woman’s son, who returned here today, the robbers took away more than Rs 2 lakh. The police had no clue to the identity and the number of robbers because the woman was not in a position to give a statement.

Mr Sonu Bhalla said the condition of his mother suggested that she had been attacked with rods and sharp-edged weapons before being strangulated. The robbers had left her for dead, but she survived.

The police said the incident seemed to have occurred at about 2 am. Mr Sucha Singh told the police that he had found the house ransacked in the morning, with blood stains at several places.

According to the police, the woman used to organise kitty parties and had a lot of ready cash in house. It said the incident did not look stage-managed.

Tension prevailed in the area after the news of the incident spread. Those who lived here said incidents of theft and robbery were on the rise in the area, to stop which, they needed regular night patrolling by the police.

City pays homage to martyrs
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 23
Several functions were organised in the city today by activists of various political parties to pay homage to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.

Addressing a function organised by the District Congress Committee in Congress Bhavan here, Mr Rakesh Pandey, Minister of State for Printing and Stationery, said people ought to follow the footsteps of their martyrs and maintain mutual love, unity and amity so that the hard won freedom of the country could be safeguarded.

The DCC president, Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, said it was due the sacrifices made by martyrs that the countrymen were enjoying fruits of independence. He exhorted the party workers to follow the ideals of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Youth Congress activists, led by the Punjab Youth Congress secretary, Mr Manoj Rawal, took out a march in the city, which commenced from Sardar Nagar and passed through Bajwa Nagar, Kalyan Nagar, Daresi Road and Clock Tower areas before concluding at Jagraon Bridge where floral tributes were offered to the martyrs. The YC workers also observed two-minute silence on the occasion.

All-India Youth Federation (AIYF) activists also organised a prayer meeting at Jagraon Bridge to pay tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Various speakers, including Dr Arun Mitra, assistant secretary, of the District Committee of the CPI, Ms Amarjit Kaur, secretary, of the All India Trade Union Congress, and general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women, and Mr O.P. Mehta expressed their anguish on the ongoing carnage and hatred campaign, going on in the country under the name of religion. Workers of the National Congress Party (NCP) offered floral tributes to their martyrs at Jagraon Bridge.

Tangri booked for supplying arms
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 23
On an application by the Superintendent of Police (City-I), Amritsar police district, the Jagraon police has registered a case against a Shiv Sena leader for supplying arms to some workers for causing rioting in the region.

According to an FIR registered at Division No. 3 police station here, Shiv Sena president Jagdish Tangri has been booked for collecting arms to wage a war against the Government of India. The leader was yet to be arrested. The police was not divulging more details about the case.

Meanwhile, Jagdish Tangri while justifying steps to safeguard the rights of the Hindu community, has denied that his party was in any way involved in the communal riots in Gujarat.

Mr Tangri, who was booked under Sections 121/122 of the IPC by the local police on March 19 for his alleged involvement in communal riots, has described the action as politically motivated. He further claimed that keeping arms for self defence was a tradition of Shiv Sainiks and by arming themselves with swords and ‘trishuls’, they were only following their deities.

In a note of warning to the government and the administration, Mr Tangri said if the Hindus were discriminated against in any manner and false cases continued to be registered against them, the Shiv Sena would be forced to launch an agitation.

Towards a world free of TB
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, March 23
There is perhaps no other city in the region for which the World TB Day matters more than Ludhiana, the industrial capital of Punjab, which has the largest concentration of labour. Many of these people are affected by this dreaded disease. Poor health of these workers directly reflects on the economic and social growth of city. No wonder then that World TB Day is taken so seriously here.

The Ludhiana TB Eradication Society has taken up the challenge to eradicate TB from the city. The society has been working effectively in the city for the past five years. The society, which was founded by Nauria Hospital, Jamalpur, has treated over 350 poor patients free of cost, including lab tests, X-rays and regular monthly check-ups.

This most common and infectious disease among migrant labourers is caused by Mycobacterium tubercul bacillus. There is a misconception that TB affects only the lungs, but the truth is that this disease can effect different areas of the body and one can be affected by TB of the brain, bones, joints, digestive system, urinary system and reproductive system. One significant aspect of the disease is that it is an HIV-associated disease. Life-time risk for TB among HIV positive patients is about five times more than that for HIV negatives.

Dr Satish Nauria, the president of the Ludhiana TB Eradication Society, along with his wife, Dr Savita Nauria, said that the aim of the society was to organise free TB detection camps every month in the industries. “The patients are then adopted by the society and given free treatment for 6-9 months. Lab tests and X-Rays are done regularly”, said Dr Satish Nauria.

The society also gives awareness lectures to workers and asks them to maintain proper hygienic conditions and good sanitation. Dr Savita Nauria said that industrial labourers are advised to get their whole family screened if a case of TB was detected in the family.

Dr Satish Nauria said that TB of lungs was the most common of all among city residents. “The disease is prevalent among the people with inadequate nutrition, crowded homes and poor living conditions but once the treatment is started, the patient no longer remains contagious”, said Dr Nauria.

He maintained that the symptoms of the disease may not be noticeable until the course of disease was quite advanced. Anyone can be infected from TB. A person can get the infection from a sick TB patient, from a close friend or a relative with regular coughing.

Dr Savita Nauria added that children must always get BCG vaccination. She added,” Other than this, one should always use a handkerchief while coughing or sneezing, not spit in the open and in case of standing fever and cough, immediately contact a qualified doctor”.

PAU student assaulted, injured
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 23
The police has registered a case against five persons who had assaulted a Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) student injuring him seriously in the midnight yesterday.

Jatinder Kumar, a postgraduate student of the College of Agricultural Engineering of the PAU and belonging to Faridkot, was attacked by five persons at around 11.30 pm yesterday with sharp-edged weapons and hockey sticks in his room in hostel No. 5 of the university.

The case under Sections 308, 452, 323, 406, 148 and 149, IPC, has been registered against Gurinder Singh Sidhu of Fatehgarh Sahib and four unidentified persons. No arrest has been made so far. The injured had identified only Gurinder and he could not acknowledge four others who were accompanying him.

He was admitted to the DMC Hospital in the night from where he was discharged today evening and was shifted to the PAU hospital.

Kushal Bhalla said Jatinder was already anticipating that he would be attacked as he was receiving threatening calls from some persons. The trouble had arisen 20 days ago when he had stopped some boys from misbehaving with his sister who was a student of the College of Agriculture.

He said Jatinder, who is a brilliant student of PAU and has been adjudged the best athlete, had even written to the Vice-Chancellor, Dean, PG and Director Students Welfare asking for security stating that his life was in danger. But the authorities did not take any note of it.

Bhalla also said that with the incident, all PAU hostel inmates were feeling insecure. He said while the PAU was virtually converted into a castle, the students could anytime be attacked. He further said that there was no ambulance facilities in the PAU.

Govt departments reiterate commitment to consumers
Our Correspondent

The Transport Minister, Mr Tej Parkash Singh, pays homage to Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar at Nau Ghara in Chaura Bazar, the birth place of Sukhdev, on the occasion of martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, in Ludhiana on Saturday.

Ludhiana, March 23
Various government departments, including the civic body, reiterated their commitment towards the consumers during a series of functions organised to mark the Consumer Protection Week which began in the district on March 15.

Presiding over the concluding function at Bachat Bhavan in the Mini Secretariat here, the Additional deputy Commissioner (Development), Mr A.K. Sinha, stressed the need to safeguard the rights of the consumers and create awareness among the members of public about rights of the consumers.

The function, organised by the Department of Food and Supplies and Consumer Affairs, was largely attended by members of various consumer voluntary organisations, commercial organisations, government and semi-government departments and prominent citizens. In his welcome address, Capt Parveen Vij, District Food and Supplies Controller, explained special features of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Focusing on amenities being provided to the people, the Assistant Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Mr B.K. Gupta, said that the civic body was providing clean drinking water and sewerage facilities, besides other basic amenities to the residents. The city had been divided into four zones and each zone had three sub-zones. Each zone had a grievance officer to look into the complaints of the citizens. Mr P.S. Gill, Senior Executive Engineer of the PSEB, told that in order to redress the grievances of the public, dispute settlement committees were formed at the circle and headquarters levels.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jarnail Singh Dhillon, president, Ludhiana Consumers Protection Forum, said that various laws had been framed by the government to safeguard the interests of the consumer and the public should be aware and alert to knock at the doors of the enforcement machinery and the government departments to get their complaints redressed. He emphasised that complaints regarding electricity meters be redressed with sympathy as these are provided and sealed by the PSEB.

Mr Dwarka Dass, President, Punjab Khapatkar Cell, pleaded that the government should constitute an independent consumer affairs department to strengthen and streamline the set-up for the protection of consumer rights. He asked the district and the civic administration to fix the rates for parking of bicycles, two-wheelers and cars.

Mrs Santosh Bhatia from Mass Education Wing of the Health Department, Mr Kamal Gupta, general secretary, Beopar Mandal, Mr Gian Chand, president, Khapatkar Association, Mr Hans Raj Goyal, general secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat Samiti and other speakers discussed several other key issues.

State transport system to be revamped soon
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 23
If the claim of the Punjab government is to be believed, passengers in Punjab will soon heave a sigh of relief as the government proposes to increase the frequency of bus services in the state as part of the new transport policy to be announced by April 15.

This was disclosed here today by the State Transport Minister, Mr Tej Parkash Singh. While talking to Ludhiana Tribune, he said bus services would be improved and buses running at night would be increased as per the need and convenience of the public by State Transport Undertakings. During militancy in the state, night service had been discontinued and had been started later, but the frequency of the services had never equalled public requirements.

Mr Tej Parkash Singh was here to attend the Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukdev martyrdom day function at Nau Ghara in Chaura Bazar area (the birth place of Sukhdev). He said that besides improving bus services in the state, inter-state bus terminuses in the state especially those of three major cities, at Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar would be renovated by the government concern, PUNSUP.

While commenting on the alleged malpractices by some transporters who were running more buses on limited transport permits in the state with help of some public servants in the transport and other departments, Mr Singh asserted, “ Strict instructions have already been given to all district transport officers and their superiors and stringent action would be taken against those found indulging in such activity.”

Other than issues related to his ministry, Mr Tej Parkash Singh had also promised to the Thapar community and Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust (SSTMT) to set up a memorial at Sukhdev Thapar’s birth place in Chaura Bazar area. He said that he would do his level best to initiate the work as soon as possible.

The president and general secretary of the trust, Mr Vinod Thapar and Mr Ashok Thapar appealed to the Transport Minister and representatives of the government to set up Sukhev Thapar Chair in state universities so that the new generation could study and understand the value of sacrifice of the great freedom fighter.

Others present on the occasion were, Minister for Printing and Stationery Mr Rakesh Pandey, Member Legislative Assembly, Mr Surinder Dawar, District Congress president, Mr K.K. Bawa, senior Congress leaders, Mr Ashok Makkar, Mr Dileep Thapar and Mr Ashok Prashar.

Miraculous escape for car passengers
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 23
Two persons, including a young girl, had a miraculous escape when a car in which they were travelling fell into the Sidhwan canal near Verka Milk Plant this morning. The girl, Riti Jain, and a driver of the car managed to come out with the help of some passers-by, including some policemen.

According to the car driver, he lost control while saving a cyclist and fell into the canal. The car (PB-10-AD-4770) was later taken out of the canal with the help of a police crane. ASI Beant Singh said he was just passing over the bridge when he saw quite a crowd at the site and saw the car in the canal. He along with some other persons helped the girl and the driver come out of the car.

Mr Subash Jain, the girl's father, later told the police he did not want any case in the matter. The car also did not suffer much damage.

A man with unique skills
Our Correspondent

Pawan adjusts an egg on a pen cap, 500gm of weight on a nine-inch cone atop and finally another egg.

Ludhiana, March 23
He has done it again. Yet another unique thing that would require a lot of imagination, concentration, skill and ingenuity. Pawan Kumar, a tailor from Goraya, has been in news several times for his unique creations. Earlier, he had balanced an egg atop another egg. Now he has gone many steps further and performed a near impossible feat.

He got the idea of adjusting an egg on the tip of cap of a pen. But his creative urge pushed him to put a weight of half kilo on the egg. Atop the weight, he placed a nine inch cardboard cone and was able to balance another egg on top of the cone. It took Pawan four hours to carry out this delicate operation.

Bank guard accused of fraud
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 23
In an interesting case, a woman has accused a bank guard of gypping her of Rs 5.4 lakh, to whom she had given a withdrawal slip for Rs 20 lakhs.

The Kotwali police has registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC on the statement of Ms. Sita Rani, a resident of New Shimla Puri, against Balbir Chand, a security guard employed in Vijaya Bank. The ‘duped’ woman had alleged that she gave a withdrawal slip for Rs 20 lakh to the guard, but he somehow managed to change the amount to Rs 25.4 lakh. She came to know of the fraud committed on her later when she studied her account statement.

DORAHA
Liquor seized: The Payal police has seized 10 bottles of liquor from Joga Singh of Ghudani village. A case has been registered under the Excise Act.

Man beaten up: A resident of Katani Kalan was allegedly beaten up by some unidentified persons. The police has registered a case under Sections 342, 506 and 34 of the IPC

JAGRAON
One arrested: The Dakha police has arrested Jora Singh, alias Jawala Parsad, of Simra Ghahaunia in a case registered under Sections 382 and 511 of the IPC. He, along with his uncle, Kishori Lal, of Behrai (UP) had allegedly tried to snatch cash from Ravinder Kumar, a salesman of the Shivalik Gas Agency, after throwing chilli powder in his eyes. Kishori Lal was apprehended by the persons present there, but Jora Singh managed to escape from the scene of occurrence. 4 booked for gambling

The Anti-Gunda Staff arrested Ram Parkash alias Soni, Jasvir Singh, Tarsem Singh of Sidhwan Kalan and Faroza Ram of Baghdia Jodi from near Janta Petrol Pump on the charge of gambling and seized a pack of playing cards and Rs 519 in cash. A case under Sections 13, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act has been registered against the accused at the Sidhwan Bet police station.

Lahan recovered: The police has arrested Pargat Ram and Paramjit Singh of Sidhwan Khurd and seized 35 kg of Lahan from their possession.

A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered.

Ludhiana
Mystery shrouds trainee’s death: Mr Pritam Singh, 27, a driver in the Northern Railways posted at Ambala, but belonging to Saharanpur, who was under training here after a promotion recently, was found dead in his bed here yesterday morning under mysterious circumstances.

The police as started proceedings under Section 174 of the Cr. P.C. and sent the body for an autopsy.

Woman beaten up: Ms Santosh Rani, 27, daughter of Mr Radhe Shyam, a resident of Prem Nagar, who has been admitted to the local Civil hospital after being beaten up by her in-laws on Thursday, has alleged that she was confined to a room for four days and during her detention, she was not given any food and beaten mercilessly, she added. Demand for more dowry was seen to be the reason for the incident, according to the victim. In her statement to the police, she said that her in-laws had started harassing her for more dowry.

Neighbours informed her father on telephone about her ordeal and he rushed to her rescue. He was also manhandled by her in-laws, but somehow managed to take her back to Ludhiana and get her admitted to the hospital.

She further stated that she had been married with Sohan Lal, son of Mr Jeet Ram, a resident of Bikaner and they had two children. She further alleged that her husband developed illicit relations with her sister-in-law, and when she raised her voice against the same, she was subjected to torture. The accused named by her are Jeet Ram , father-in-law, Parmeshwari Devi, mother-in-law, and Geeta Devi ,sister-in-law.

The division number two police has registered a case but no arrest has been made so far.

Kidnapping alleged: The Haibowal police has registered a case of alleged kidnapping under Sections 363,366,342 and 34 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Prem Parkash, a resident of Rishi Nagar, against Baljinder Singh, Charanjit Kaur, Sanjiv Kumar and Vijay Kumar, all residents of Dugri. The complainant had alleged on Thursday that the accused had kidnapped his wife and were keeping her in confinement somewhere.

Poppy husk seized: The Haibowal police on Thursday arrested Bhajan Singh, a resident of Himanshupura under the Sidhwan Bet police station and Kulwant Singh, a resident of Humbran village and allegedly seized 18 kg of poppy husk from their possession. The accused have been booked under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act.

Assault on shop keeper: The division number six police has registered a case under sections 325,324,452,427,148 and 149 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Trilochan Singh, a resident of SAS Nagar, against Bhupinder Singh, Urmila Devi, Kiran and five to six unknown persons. The complainant had alleged that the accused, armed with sharp-edged weapons, arrived at his shop on Thursday and beat him up. The accused also threatened him, he added.

Rehriwalla booked: The division number three police on Thursday arrested Makhan, a rehriwalla, from the Saban Bazar chowk, and booked him under section 283 of the IPC for hampering the flow of traffic.

SAHNEWAL
One injured in attack: Parminder Singh, son of Karamjit Singh of Katani village was reportedly injured and hospitalised as a result of an alleged attack on him by Kuldip Singh, who later had a personal dispute with the victim. A case under Sections 341, 323, 506 and 34 of IPC had been registered at Sahnewal Police Station.

One booked for rash driving: A driver of Tempo no. PRV-8297 was reportedly booked for rash driving at Sahnewal Chowk when he allegedly crossed the red lights. The driver has been identified as Gurmail Singh, son of Mohinder Singh of Ramgarh (Sahnewal) and a case under Section 279 of IPC registered against the accused. He, however, fled from the place.

Killed in accident: A man reportedly died on Wednesday evening after he was hit by a car while he was easing himself by the roadside near Nandpur village, half km from here. His Tata Sumo was parked nearby.

The deceased was Mukhtiar Singh of Amritsar. The driver of the car, however, absconded from the place of incident. Mukhtiar Singh was rushed to Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital where he breathed his last.

A case under Section 304-A of the IPC has been registered against the unidentified car driver at the Sahnewal police station.

Liquor seized: The Sahnewal police seized 10 bottles of illicit liquor form Jasbir Singh of Gaddowal village, yesterday evening. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered.

McDonalds’ highway restaurant
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 23
The first outlet of McDonald’s will serve travellers and, Ludhianivis, perpetually on the lookout for new eating joints, burgers , pizza puffs, milk shakes and icecreams from their first restaurant in the region at Doraha on National Highway No.1, 15 km from here when it begins its operations on March 25. The restaurant covers an area of 3,500 sq feet and has a large parking area that can accommodate 100 cars. It would be the first ‘drive in’ restaurant for the city.

Mr Vikram Bakshi, the Managing Director and joint venture partner of McDonald’s India, in an exclusive interview to Ludhiana Tribune, said after deliberating whether to open McDonalds in Chandigarh or Ludhiana, it was decided that a Highway McDonalds at Doraha would be a better choice in terms of space. Many people from Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana travel to and fro on National Highway No. 1 and the response would probably be good. Moreover people would experience the thrill of driving in and driving off with packed food or they would sit down and enjoy the ambiance.

He further said that in cities like Chandigarh and Ludhiana, the image has to be larger than life as people have higher expectations than these in metros. “We are offering unique opportunities to the families, offering fun and games for the children. The mascot Ronald McDonald would also be arriving to offer fun. He will mesmerise his best friends, the children with his magic tricks. Later as part of McDonald’s school services, Ronald will be back in city later to conduct educational workshops in schools on important social issues such as road safety and saving the environment. Mr Vikram said that as in Delhi during a drive against plastic bags, students collected 500 kg of plastic bags with the mascot.

We are bringing the motto of McDonalds-quality, service, cleanliness and value for money. We will supply hot and fresh food in spotlessly clean and hygienic conditions.