Richa Jindal tops CBSE plus two exam
Seven more students get above 90 per cent marks
Deepkamal Kaur

From left to right: Richa Jindal, Gurjeet Kaur, Supreet Khurana and Supriya Gupta From left to right: Arshdeep Jindal, Saurabh Chawla, Ruchi Gupta and Ankur Ahuja

Ludhiana, May 23
As many as eight students from the city have attained more than 90 per cent m arks in Class XII examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education this year.

Standing on the top is Richa Jindal, a commerce student of Kundan Vidya Mandir, with 93 per cent marks. Securing second position is Gurjeet Kaur, a non-medical student of Guru Nanak Public School, with 92.6 per cent marks. Third position has been bagged by Supreet Khurana, a medical student of Kundan Vidya Mandir, with 91.4 per cent marks.

The next five positions have gone to students of Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar. Supriya Gupta (medical student) has got 91 per cent, Arshdeep and Saurabh Chawla (both non-medical students) scored 90.8 per cent, Ruchi Gupta (commerce student) got 90.6 per cent and Ankur Ahuja (non-medical student) achieved 90.4 per cent marks.

Next in line are Ish Garg (medical student) of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Ankita Garg (medical student) of DAV Public School and Sidakpal Singh (non-medical) of Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, all with 89.6 per cent. Manmeet Chhabra and Kunjan Sood, both non-medical students of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, have got 89 per cent marks. Among students from humanities group, Ruchi Gupta, a student of BCM, has stood first with 88.8 per cent marks.

The topper Richa is still not able to believe in her success. ‘‘I had been having sleepless nights for the past one week as my result was fast approaching. I could not sleep even a little as during last night I had read in The Tribune that the result would be declared at 2 am on the new phone service of the school board. When I called up, I was so shocked for a while that I made a call for the second time on the same number to confirm it. Since then I have been telling my friends, relatives and teachers about my result. All of them want me to throw a party which I am planning to host after two to three days.’’ Daughter of an advocate, Richa wants to do MBA after completing B.Com from a local college.

Gurjeet, however, aims to become an electronics engineer. She owes her success to her teachers, father, who is a professor in the College of Agricultural Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, and mother, who is a retired school teacher. Hardwork and blessings of the almighty certainly played a major role, she says.

The third position holder, Supreet Khurana, wants to become a paediatrician. She says that she draws inspiration from her mother who is a gynaecologist at a local dispensary. Supriya Gupta, however, aims to become a genetic researcher. She has already cleared her AFMC written test and would appear for interview on June 17. Ankur Ahuja wants to pursue MBA after completing electronics engineering.

Ish Garg has also cleared AFMC written test. Son of a businessman, he wants to become cardiac surgeon. Sidakpal Singh aims for electronics engineering and feels that his brother, who is doing computer engineering, has been of immense help while preparing for examination.

My stand has been vindicated: Nisha
Tribune News Service

Raikot (Ludhiana), May 23
Ms Nisha Kaura sits victorious in her house in this town, about 40 km from Ludhiana. With the Punjab Lokpal upholding her stand against irregularities made in the recruitment of science teachers, she is feeling on the top of the world.

Talking to The Tribune from her residence in this town, Nisha said she was delighted. ‘‘I had never thought my letter and complaint to the Lokpal would bring such a drastic and immediate action. My confidence has grown considerably and I feel all is not lost in this world ’’.

Just after she had complained to the Lokpal and her letter was picked up as a befitting example of corruption in the recruitment process by The Tribune, she was nervous over what would be the ramifications of her action. In an interview to The Tribune at that time, Nisha had said she was depressed and wanted to vent her anger by writing a letter. She was little apprehensive also, as she and her family were fearing any backlash from persons or politicians concerned with the recruitment process.

However, today she was confidence personified. ‘‘I am very happy that my stand has been vindicated. Someone had to take the initiative. I am delighted it was me.’’

Today, Nisha was overwhelmed with congratulatory messages that poured in from different places after the publishing of the news regarding the Lokpal’s decision.

“Telephone calls started coming in since early morning. Neighbours and several residents of the town came. When I went to my college, where I am doing Masters in education, I was flocked by friends and teachers who praised and congratulated me.’’

Stating that the last few months were very difficult for the family as they were apprehensive about the coming events, Nisha’s father, Mr Varinder Kaura, a junior engineer with the PSEB, told Ludhiana Tribune that some friends had cautioned them but no one had threatened them.

The courageous father-daughter duo had stood by whatever the letter had said and had gone ahead complaining to the state Lokpal regarding the alleged irregularities conducted in selection of JBT and B.Ed teachers by the Punjab Government. ‘‘We were ready for anything,’’ said Mr Kaura.

Nisha after getting a B.Ed degree, was confident of getting a job. She was a topper in M.Sc examination in chemistry from Panjab University. Several persons having less marks than her got appointment letters whereas she was denied one.

She said she had raised the issue locally to politicians and complained to the Lokpal but when nothing happened, she decided to write a letter to the Chief Minister.

The letter worked wonders as it was picked up by the media. Although she is still reluctant to allow mediapersons to take her picture, she said that her nightmares a seemingly over. 

Police forcibly occupies CDPO building
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 23
In a case of illegal possession by a law-enforcing agency, the Shimla Puri police station staff has allegedly forcibly occupied a part of the building of the Child Development and Project Office (CDPO) near Gill canal bridge much to the chagrin of the office staff, who have now been forced to work with the ‘disturbing’ atmosphere of a police station housed in the same building.

The action has sparked off a confrontation between the two departments. The ‘victim’ staff of the CDPO have approached the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police, Ludhiana, requesting them to remove the illegal encroachers. However, even though two days have passed since they filed their complaint, no action has been taken so far.

Even as the CDPO office staff is awaiting action in the case, the Shimla Puri police staff have established a full-fledged police station in the building. The police station has earmarked rooms of the SHO, munshi and even interrogation office. The furniture has been placed and the SHO has started functioning from the office.

The police move is particularly harassing the women staff of the CDPO (Urban-1) office. This office is located on the ground floor of a building whereas the police has allegedly occupied the top floor. The stairs leading to the top floor go from the ground floor. The police and its paraphernalia have made life difficult for the women staff.

To add insult to injury, the police station is accessing power supply from the power connection of the CDPO staff causing apprehension over who will foot the bill.

‘‘They make all kind of noises and indulge in dirty, vulgar conversation. Whenever, some criminal is brought, his cries are ear-piercing. Then people flock the building either in support of the accused or get him severely punished’’, confided a woman employee, who did not wish to be identified.

While talking to Ludhiana Tribune, both the departments had their own claims over the building. However, the Shimla Puri police station staff admits they have not got any permission from the government to shift here. It pleads that the administration and the public should give due thought to the needs of the Police Department also as the previous building of the police station had inadequate space.

Police sources said they possess both the buildings now. ‘‘This building was vacant and would be put to optimum use by the police. It has space for the malkhana and for vehicles also. The public will also have enough space to sit,’’ said a senior police official. He expressed confidence that the building would be sooner or later transferred to the Police Department.

The sources in the CDPO office said they were the rightful owners of the building as the offices were always located here. An official said one office of the department housed in the building, which had been illegally occupied, had recently shifted to Prem Nagar. The police, which was eyeing the building earlier also, came and broke the locks on the election day, saying they had to keep election material here.

However, two days ago, the police shifted the entire furniture along with case property vehicles sparking off the controversy.

No overloading of school vehicles: DC
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 23
Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, has said that as per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, school-buses, auto-rickshaws and Maruti vans, engaged in carrying school children to the various schools, would not be allowed to overload their vehicles with the students and further directed all the school heads to report violation of rules by any such vehicle concerning their school to the District Transport Officer so that strict action could be taken immediately.

These directions were given by the Deputy Commissioner at a meeting of principles and headmasters of schools and other officers concerned held here today.

Taking a serious view of the frequent violation of the rules by these vehicles, particularly by auto-rickshaws, which were carrying much more students than the prescribed numbers, thereby causing a serious danger to the lives of students. He asked the heads of the schools to immediately hold meetings with the parents of the students to apprise them about these violations by the vehicle owners so that they could make alternative arrangements at their own level. He also directed the managements of the schools not to allow the parking of scooters of underage students without driving licences and to persuade the students not to drive vehicle without licences.

Mr Aggarwal asked the officers of the Transport Department to strictly check the pasting of black films on vehicles carrying school children and advised the school heads to submit registration number of such vehicles with the DTO Office. He appealed to the parents to cooperate with the administration to follow these instructions as these were issued in the interest of their wards.

Cong leader acted as Sidhu contact?
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 23
A former general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) may be holding key to certain missing links in the multi-crore recruitment scandal centering round disgraced Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission Ravi Sidhu. However, according to sources he may not be implicated in the case given his proximity to some senior AICC leaders in Delhi.

It is learnt that the leader, who has Ludhiana connections also, has a house in Sector 10 of Chandigarh. Mr Sidhu is reported to have made his first call to the leader after his arrest from the hospital. It is said that he also paid the medical bills of Mr Sidhu after the latter’s arrest for medical investigations. The leader is learnt to have purchased a spacious house in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar here also about two years ago.

Sources say that given his proximity to a senior AICC leader from Madhya Pradesh, he is unlikely to be implicated in the case, but his questioning is not ruled out.

MC hall being decked up
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 23
With the municipal elections over, hectic preparations are on to renovate the MC meeting hall for the oath-taking of 70 newly elected councillors. Thereafter, the General House will elect the city Mayor, the Senior Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Mayor in the next few days.

The meeting hall is being painted and furnished afresh, with new carpet, curtains and upholstery

Mr R.L. Kalsia, MC Commissioner, Mr Raminder Singh, Additional Commissioner and Mr Ashok Kumar, Superintending Engineer, visited the meeting hall on Wednesday to inspect the renovation work.

The lobbying for the Mayor’s election has begun. The notification of the State Election Department on the completion of municipal elections in four towns was expected to be issued today, according to senior MC officials. After the names of the elected councillors are notified, the civic administration will request the Divisional Commissioner of Patiala to administer them the oath of office. The Divisional Commissioner will nominate one of the councillors the presiding officer for the General House meeting.

The majority party gets a week’s time to elect the three top men in the House, but with consensus, the elections can be over at the first meeting only.

Thereafter, the Mayor has to give a programme for setting up four statutory bodies — the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC), the Buildings and Roads Committee, the House Tax Committee and the Water Supply and Sewerage Committee — with newly elected councillors.

BSP to go it alone
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 23
The Punjab unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party will go it alone in the coming elections to the Zila Parishads and panchayat samitis. This was decided at a meeting of the party here today, where Dr Mohan Singh Phallianwala, president of the unit, was also present.

The persons who attended the meeting included prominent leaders of the unit like Mr M.P. Singh Goraya, Mr D.P. Khosla, Mr Jagdip Singh, Major Pritpal Singh, Mr Abdul Shakur and Mr Mohan Singh.

Club members resent fee hike
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 23
Resentment is brewing among members of the Sutlej Club here due to the imposition of a compulsory building fund. The members feel that this is an extra burden on them imposed by the club authorities. They allege that the management has taken the decision to cover-up the financial losses, which will in turn burden them over the next three months.

The club has imposed the ‘building fund’ of 1 per cent on the membership fee (per month) for three months. This includes the general category, including permanent and dependent members, professional category (A and B) and officers category. However, senior citizens, widows and armed forces have been exempted from paying the fund.

Ms Sudershan Sood, one of the club members, said:: “I consider it as an extra burden on members. There are three members from my family, which means we have to pay Rs 15,000. Why should we pay such huge amount from our pocket for the fund”. The club management has recently renovated the health club and constructed bowling alley, conference hall and library.

Mr Sushil Jain, general secretary of the club, admitted that the building fund was levied on the members. He said: “The club members have always appreciated the facelift of the club. The club is not an individual’s property, every member enjoys the facilities. The ones who say that this is an extra burden are absolutely wrong. Almost the whole of the club has been renovated in the last few months and the renovation of kitchen and lobby is required.

Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner and president of the club, said everything was being done for the benefit of the members. 

Truck driver beaten up
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 23
A scene was created in Kheri Jhamerian village here this afternoon when a number of villagers caught a couple trying to elope and gave them a thrashing. While the woman was later released as she claimed she was being forcibly kidnapped, the man, identified as Jaspreet Singh, a truck driver was tied with the pillar and beaten for several hours.

The man was even garlanded with shoes. The villagers said he was trying to kidnap the woman, who was the mother of three children. The villagers took the law in their own hands and did not wait for the police. They said they had complained to the police. However, till late evening the man was not handed over to the police. His whereabouts were also not known.

More DA for pensioners
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 23
The Punjab Government has released one more instalment of the dearness relief for pensioners with effect from January.

Mr Yash Paul Ghai, additional general secretary of the Punjab Government Pensioners Association, in a press note issued here today, said the dearness relief would be increased from 45 per cent to 49 per cent of the basic pension. The association has received a copy of a notification in this regard.

Youth succumbs to burns
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 23
Fateh Singh, 20, of the Islam Ganj locality, who allegedly been set afire after being doused with petrol by a neighbour on March 17, succumbed to his burns at the CMC Hospital, here yesterday.

The accused, Billu, 40, has been arrested and booked under Section 307 of the IPC.

Kidnapping case: The Civil Lines police has registered a case of kidnapping and intimidation under Sections 366 and 506 of the IPC on the statement of Ms Krishna Devi, a resident of New Prem Nagar, against Sardul Singh, alias Bittu, a resident of a village in Sangrur district. The complainant had alleged that the accused kidnapped her daughter on April 12 who somehow managed to escape and reached home on April 23. Now the accused was again threatening the complainant on telephone.

Charas seized: The Division No. 3 police on Tuesday arrested Sonu Kumar, who resides near the Laxmi Ladies Club on the Club road, and seized charas and ganja from his possession. The accused has been booked under the NDPS Act.