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| Saturday,
October
11, 2003,
Chandigarh, India
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Dept backs suspended cop Ludhiana, October 10 The cop was suspended for daring to take head-on the alleged nuisance caused by the sons of Congress Minister Malkiat Singh Birmi and Municipal Councillor K L Chhabra. The suspension orders were received late last evening. He was relieved of the charge today and Sub-Inspector Pawanjit Singh has been posted as the new SHO of the police station. The orders are being perceived as a loss of face for the police officers here who had supported the cop arguing that the law of the land was equal to all. Though the five-day long drama has seen a bitter ending for the police, the issue of the alleged VIP menace, especially in the Sarabha Nagar area, has been again brought to the centrestage. It has put a question mark over the claims of new Punjab DGP A A Siddiqui that no political interference would be tolerated in the police functioning. Political compulsions have clearly ruled over policing in this case. ‘‘Think of the constable on the road. Anybody will challenge his authority and insult him” said a senior police official, wishing not to be quoted. Recently, much storm was created by the VIP’s two sons, who were challaned in the Sarabha Nagar police station area by the city traffic police. Sources in the Police Department said the decision would not have hurt so much if the senior authorities had recommended action against the youths also for misbehaving with the cops on duty. The youths not only abused the cops but also threatened them with dire consequences inside the Sarabha Nagar police station on Saturday last. ‘‘You will be suspended. I will get your uniforms removed”, is what the youths had told the cops on duty’. They continuously abused and threatened them. ‘‘You don’t know the influence we wield. We will insure you get a severe punishment,” the youths had threatened. It all began at about 9 p.m. on Saturday last when the police station got a call that some youths were drinking in a car parked near the Sarabha Nagar main market and harassing people. A police team deployed near the market was directed to find out. The cops, however, were taken aback when the youths abused them and asked ‘‘Tuhadi Auqat ki hai, sanu rokken di’’ (what is your status to ask us), they said. The cops took them into custody and brought them to the police station. The youths in highly drunkard state continued their mis-behaviour. They told the identities of their fathers but this had no effect on the cops, whose anger had crossed all limits by that time. Mr K L Chhabra, father of one of the youths, said the police had picked up the youths unnecessarily and the SHO had slapped his son. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune he claimed his son was a teetotaller and was illegally detained and harassed. Mr Birmi was not available for comments. The issue has snowballed into a major controversy with the police and the politicians making it a prestige point. With local police officials deciding to stand by the officer, Mr Birmi reportedly threatened to quit if no action was taken. The threat worked. |
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Tension over control of Nanaksar dera Siarh (Payal), October 10 While one group consisting mainly of the village residents prefer the chairmanship of the dera trust in the hands of the three sons of the late saint, the other group is supporting the continuation of the Baba Harnek Singh as the trust head. The villagers have accused Baba Harnek Singh of indulging in certain activities bringing a bad name to the sect. On the other hand, supporters of Baba Harnek Singh allege that the controversy has been created because of the political interests of some Congress leaders in the area and the power of the sect abroad. The civil and police administration has called a meeting of the two groups tomorrow to find some amicable solution of the matter. Sources said there was not much chance of a compromise by the either party, whose supporters were ready for any eventuality. The control of the dera would provide the beneficiary hold over near 7000 acres of land in Canada, besides several thousands of acres in Punjab and elsewhere in India. The stakes are quite high as three lakh million dollars are said to be the earnings from one crop in Canada only. DSP (Payal) Amrik Singh said the police would try to solve the matter across the table only. The police was kept on tenterhooks by the supporters of both the groups since yesterday morning. Today an akhand path on the occasion of Pooran Mashi was held. The function went off peacefully. A visit by a team of The Tribune to the spot revealed that tempers were running quite high in the rival camps even though the administration had succeeded in keeping them at bay. Sources said Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh was being regularly informed about the developments. Sources close to the present chairman Bhai Sahib Harnek Singh informed that he had been installed by founder chief of the sect, Sant Baba Meehan Singh, before his death around 10 years ago. For all these years he has been looking after all the religions places and property worth millions of pounds in international market. Baba Harnek Singh was made chief by Baba Meehan Singh, who ignored his sons, including Mann Singh, Sewa Singh and Harchand Singh. At present, Swami Kanwaljit (Incharge Asian group), Mann Singh, Govinder Singh and Surjit Singh Jodhan are members of trust headed by Harnek Singh. The number of followers of the sect is in lakhs, including foreigners and VVIPs. The affairs at Siarh Thath were told to be normal till September 11, when the present management
allegedly got the rooms vacated which were till now occupied by Mann Singh, Sewa Singh and Harchand Singh (sons of the late Baba Meehan Singh). Residents of the village initiated a move to install Mann Singh, eldest son of the founder as head of the organisation and chairman of the trust. Mr Kanwaljit Singh (husband of the village sarpanch Ms Balwinder Kaur) said: “There are serious allegations against Harnek Singh which will be made public shortly. Sangat wants only a family member of Sant Meehan Singh to be chief of the sect.” On the other hand supporters of Harnek Singh alleged that some political forces with vested interests have been trying to disrupt the harmony among the followers of Sant Baba Meehan Singh. They accused opponents of distributing defaming pamphlets at the time of the Chhapar
Mela.
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Two found
murdered Ludhiana, October 10 Fifty-year-old Ram Singh was found stabbed to death in his shop in Chaura Bazar this morning while a middle-aged man, Pawan Sharma, was found strangled to death in a gurdwara in Janakpuri this afternoon. The police has arrested Suraj Bhan, who lived with Ram Singh. In the second incident, Pawan Sharma, a resident of Payal, was found murdered in a gurdwara under mysterious circumstances. A siropa was used to strangle him, the police claimed.
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‘BSNL’ Divali gift
for consumers Ludhiana, October 10 Announcing the schemes exclusively to Ludhiana Tribune, Mr G S Julka, General Manager, BSNL, here said the schemes aimed at providing the state-of-the-art services to the consumers. The ‘online bill availability’ facility aims to end the problem of not receiving the telephone bill in time. BSNL site the information about the amount would be available easily. The department has become the first one in the region to introduce the facility. Log on to www.ludhiana.BSNL.co.in, type phone number at the appropriate entry and one can see the bill. Further, one can get a print out of the amount and pay it at any of the cash collection centres. The collections centres are online. The moment the bill is deposited, the computer shows the record in the subscriber’s account. If a subscriber’s phone was disconnected because of the non-payment of bill, it would become functional within minutes, said Mr Julka. The late delivery of bills has emerged as a major problem here. The postal department has even put the entire blame on BSNL claiming that the addresses on bills were either wrong or incomplete and caused the delay. Mr Julka said the facility of getting a print of the bill would mitigate the problem. Even duplicate bills can be taken from the website. The eagerly awaited limited mobility telephone service called the WLL service would also see the light of the day finally. Mr Julka said all preparations for the introduction of the service have been finalised. “ It would be launched in first week of November and take on the local telephone service of Reliance and Connect.” He said. Fulfilling a long-pending demand of the residents of Mullanpur Dakha and surrounding places in the rural belt of the district, BSNL has decided to open an online cash collection centre there also. This would be the 45th such centre in the district. The 44th centre was inaugurated at the Sabzi Mandi here yesterday. |
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Niharika Club organises ‘Karva queen’ contest Ludhiana, October 10 A meena bazar was built with many stalls of different items for women. The main attraction of the programme was the ‘Karva queen’ contest in which more than 20 members of the club participated. The participants were dressed up in colourful lehengas, sarees and suits. The contest was in two age groups — below 35 and above 35. Dress designer Sonu Gandhi was invited to judge the contestants. Five titles were awarded to participants. All members were given a Karva Chauth gift on the occasion. |
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Busy time for mehndi artists Ludhiana, October 10 Every year, hundreds of mehndi artists come to the city from Rajasthan, seeking good business during these days. Some of the mehndi artists bring more than 30 to 35 men with them as their assistants from far-off villages of Rajasthan because they feel it to be a good “investment”. Each time they try to bring with them new and unique patterns for their customers. These mehndi artists can be spotted anywhere on the roadside right from the interior city to Ghumar Mandi, Dandi Swami, Civil Lines, outside Durga Mata temple, Model Town, Kitchlu Nagar, Tagore Nagar, Model Town extension, Chaura Bazaar etc. Mr Devi Das, a mehndi artist from Rajasthan who came to the city yesterday, said: “Some of my relatives work here in industries. They call me every year for mehndi application. They make arrangements for my boarding and lodging and I give them commission. But yes, I make thousands of rupees during these two-three days.” Another mehndi artist, Mr Saran
Narain, said people (other mehndi artists) call him to give them support and latest tips on the art. “I get henna from Rajasthan, which is not only pure but the colour is long lasting,” he said. The rates of these artists vary between Rs 21 and Rs 101 per hand depending on the labour. For small girls, the rates vary from Rs 5 to Rs 10 per hand. But these artists increase their rates in the last days when there is great rush. Ms Indira Ahluwalia of Grace Beauty Institute said during Karva Chauth days, they stop taking other orders. “Because the art is so time consuming and a lot of perfection is needed, only mehndi orders are accomplished.
Zardozi, geometrical, traditional and Arabian mehndis are in for the season. There is shaded mehndi also with very dark and light shades. Zardozi mehndi is of different colours with glittery and shiny material applied on hands. These glitters can last for over four days”, said Indra
Ahluwalia. Jannat, another beauty salon in Kitchlu Nagar, has offered free mehndi application to women. Mr Vicky Sharma, the proprietor said: “For five days, mehndi experts from Rajasthan and Delhi will display their skills in creating exquisite patterns of mehndi all free of cost.” |
Everyone accountable in UK, says
Ealing Mayor Ludhiana, October 10 He advised students to make the best use of the opportunities during their college life. He said, “It is the young people who have to take steps to correct the wrongs in society as the older generation is too set in its ideas. After graduation, when you go into the outside world, you have to work with determination , dedication and should have the capacity to change the world.” Mr Gurcharan Singh said Indians were today progressing in all spheres of life because of their determination and dedication. He not only exhorted the students to work hard and aim high in life, but also asked them to preserve their rich culture and heritage. Earlier, he visited an exhibition of traditional phulkaris, utensils and charkas. He was pleased to see that cultural heritage was being cherished. He said one had to keep a track of the achievements of one’s forefathers as they had brought us to this point of prosperity. Dr Varinder Kaur Thind, Principal, Khalsa College for Women, Mr Pritpal Singh Grewal, president, Khalsa Divan, Dr S.S. Grewal, vice-president, Khalsa College, Mr Gurdish Singh Grewal and Mr Sudarshan Singh Deol welcomed the chief guest. Mr Gurdish Singh Grewal delivered the welcome address. Mr Gurcharan Singh honoured Mandeep Kaur, first runner-up in the junior international powerlifting championship, 2003, and presented her a cheque for Rs 21,000. He also honoured Harleen Kalsi, national cadet, and presented her a cheque for Rs 5,100 on behalf of the managing committee. Mr Pritpal Singh Grewal presented a shawl and honoured Mr Gurcharan Singh. Later, talking to the media, Mr Gurcharan Singh said the basic difference in the political scene in the UK and India was that in the former, people joined politics to serve society and not to make money. He said, “I plan to contest the Great London Assembly elections next year. I belong to the Labour Party. For getting the ticket, I will not have to go to Mr Tony Blair or any other political bigwig. There is a committee of members and they select a candidate through an electoral process. There is greater transparency. I migrated to England in 1972 out of frusration as I did not get a job for a year. On my own, I have worked my way up. As I am a Mayor of a multi-racial and multi- national society, I will also be visiting Pakistan”. “When I became Chairman of the Planning Committee in 1988, I saw to it that the houses were not distributed on a racial basis, as was being done earlier, but depending on the needs of the people”, he stated. |
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Halwarvi’s death mourned Ludhiana, October 10 Professor Mohan
Singh Memorial Foundation held a condolence meeting here yesterday to pay tributes to Mr Halwarvi whose sudden demise has shaken Punjabi literary world. The condolence meeting was held under the presidentship of Jagdev Singh Jassowal. He said that his contribution to the growth of Punjabi literature was immense. Remembering his services in the field of art and culture, Mr Pargat Singh Grewal, president of the foundation, said: “Halwarvi was given the Professor Mohan Singh Yaadgari Kavita Puruskar in 1995 as he was a wonderful poet.” A condolence meeting was held at Punjabi Bhavan yesterday under the presidentship of Dr Surjit Patar. He said that Mr Halwarvi was a lifetime member of the Punjabi Sahit Akademi. Paying rich tributes to him , Mr Surjit Patar said that Halwarvi, a famous poet, was the Editor of Desh Sewak. He was the winner of Bharti Sahit Akademi Puruskar and Dhaliwal Award. Gurbhajan Gill, senior vice-president of the akademi said: “We have lost a good poet.” Professor Ravinder Bhatthal, general secretary of the akademi, said Halwarvi was a great friend and a good philosopher. In this meeting, M.S. Cheema, Inderjeet Hasanpuri, Ajit Singh Sikka, Dr Guriqbal Singh, Principal Prem Singh Bajaj, Kulwnat Jagraon, Budh Singh Neelon, N.S. Tasneem and others were present. |
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159.46 cr spent for welfare
of weaker sections Ludhiana, October 10 Mr Tej Parkash Singh was addressing a function organised to celebrate the Parkash Utsav of Bhagwan Valmiki at Jarg village ,35 km from here today, according to a press note. Referring to the commitment of the Congress government for the upliftment of the weaker sections of society, Mr Tej Parkash Singh informed that a Special Component Plan for the integrated development of the Scheduled Castes had been chalked out. He said funds amounting to Rs. 819.95 crore were being spent in the state and a sum of Rs 159.46 crore had already been spent for this purpose during 2002-03. He added that it was always during the tenure of Congress governments that substantial steps were taken for the welfare of the weaker sections and whenever a non-Congress government ruled the state the poor people were completely ignored. The minister said the government had also launched a prestigious programme to provide gainful self-employment to the youth belonging to the Scheduled Castes and during the current financial year subsidised loans amounting to Rs 63.50 Crore were being released through the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development Corporation and loans amounting to Rs 30.87 crore were distributed during the last year under this programme in the state. He further claimed that the problems of Backward Classes were also being properly looked into and during this year loans of more than Rs 7.02 crore would be released to the unemployed youth belonging to Backward Classes and such loans amounting to Rs 1.34 crore were distributed during last year for this purpose. Earlier, the minister also addressed a function regarding the Parkash Utsav of Bhagwan Valmitki at Dhamot village. He assured to get the required funds released at the earliest for the development projects in the villages. Among others who paid their tributes on the occasion were Mr Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Mr Bant Singh Doburji, Mr Amrik Singh Rauni, Mr Baljit Singh Dhamot and Mr Nazar Singh, president Block Congress Committee. |
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Valmiki Jayanti celebrated Ludhiana, October 10 The nagar kirtan procession moved from Jawahar Nagar Camp to Model Town and ended at ESI Hospital. AMLOH: The Valmiki Sabha, Amloh, celebrated birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki here on Friday. Sabha chief Baldev Singh Aulakh unfurled the flag at the inaugural function. Mr Geja Ram, chairman, Punjab Pradesh Valmiki Sabha central committee, inaugurated the shobha yatra. Mr Dharpal Bains, president of the sabha, and councillor Budhraj spoke at the occasion. Talking to the mediapersons, Mr Prem Chand, former councillor said a cultural programme would be organised on Saturday and SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra will be the chief guest. |
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Left parties flay Congress govt for
‘anti-people’ policies Ludhiana, October 10 The meeting of the Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI), Communist Party of India — Marxists (Pasla), Communist Party of India — ML (Liberation) and Forward Block, Punjab, was attended by Mr Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri, Mr Kuldip Singh, Mr Prem Singh Bhangoo, Mr Mangat Ram Pasla, Mr Tarsem Jodhan, Mr Kiranjeet Singh Sekhon, Mr Rajwinder Singh Rana and Ms Jeeta Kaur representing their respective parties. While discussing the economic and political situation in the state, they expressed concern over the ongoing agitations, especially of farmers in the state and the ruthlessness with which the government had dealt with the demands of the people. The meeting took a serious note of the fact that instead of accepting the demands of different sections of society the state government was out to suppress the agitations by unleashing a reign of terror and use of force. “Even the judiciary is also going out of its way and overstepping its jurisdiction by banning the peaceful strikes and agitation as reflected in the judgement of Supreme Court and various high courts.” The functionaries of the Left parties considered it a direct attack on the democratic rights of people and contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution. They felt that these democratic rights of the masses could not be snatched away merely by the court judgement, because these rights were the outcome of the long drawn historical struggles and experience of the people. The meeting viewed with concern the communalism of BJP and its frontal organisation whose leaders like Togadia and others were trying to spread the poison of communal hatred even in Punjab, which was a threat to peace in the state. The meeting called upon the democratic and secular forces to defeat their nefarious designs. The Left parties castigated the state and the union governments for pursuing anti-people policies under which the poor working people and sections of middle classes were being fleeced with rising prices and heavy dose of direct and indirect taxes. The policy of privatisation of PSUs, particularly the profit making ones, also came in for a sharp criticism since it was further compounding the problem of unemployment. It was decided to hold state level convention at Chandigarh on November 20 to discuss these burning issues and other crucial matters relating to the common man. In preparation of the convention, another meeting of these four parties would be convened on November 5 here, added Mr Kuldip Singh, state secretary of MCPI, who released the proceedings to the Press. |
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Seminar on life of
Banda Bahadur Ludhiana, October 10 Mr Surjit Jajj examined the political vision of Banda Bahadur and called him a revolutionary thinker and fighter. Mr Raman threw light on contemporary situation to bring out the real spirit of Banda Bahadur’s devotion in making a welfare state free of terror and misrule. Dr P.S. Sohi laid emphasis on the economic reality of the agrarian revolution started by Baba Banda Bahadur. Dr P.S. Sohi, Mr Rajinder Singh, Mr Ravinder Nandi took part in deliberations . Papers were read out highlighting the salient features of Babaji’s vision, sacrifice and political struggle. It was a fairly critical review of history and culture. |
7 arrested for gambling Ludhiana, October 10 In the first case, Sandeep Kumar and Neeraj Kumar, residents of Durga Puri and Dev Raj, a resident of Joshi Nagar, were arrested. A sum of Rs 41,225 and a deck of playing cards were seized from their possession. The persons arrested in the second case have been identified as Bhupinder Kumar, a resident of Gur Nanak Pura, Munish, a resident of Joshi Nagar, Narinder Bhardwaj and Pirthi Lal, a resident of New Moti Nagar. A sum of Rs 10,550 and a deck of playing cards were seized from their possession. Poppy husk seized The Civil Lines police yesterday arrested Joginder Singh, a resident of Dashmesh Colony, and seized 10 kg of poppy husk from his possession. He was arrested in front of the Dhian Singh Complex and booked under the NDPS Act. Case against driver The division No. 6 police registered a case under Sections 279, 304-A and 427 of the IPC on the statement of Ram Sarup, a migrant from Uttar Pradesh, living in Dashmesh Nagar, against Jyoti Kumar, a truck driver from Gurdaspur. The complainant had stated that the driver’s truck had hit his brother, Kishan Kumar, at Samrala Chowk. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died. Truck driver booked The Haibowal police registered a case yesterday under Sections 279 and 427 of the IPC on the statement of Kulwant Singh, Junior Engineer, PSEB Unit-II, against the driver of a truck (PB-32B-4791), which hit an electricity pole and damaged the transformer installed on it. Robbers held The division No. 2 police yesterday arrested Bala Parshad, Sunil Kumar, Jaikul, Mohinder Parshad and Ganga Ram, all migrants from Uttar Pradesh, and booked them under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. The police said today that the suspects had assembled near the Old Jail on Sunday and were planning to commit a robbery in the city when a police party arrested them on a tip-off. The police stated that a stolen scooter along with two pistols and live cartridges were seized from their possession. Booked for abduction The Salem Tabri police registered a case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC on the statement of Hari Singh, who lives near New Dana Mandi, against Sheru, a resident of the same area. The complainant had alleged that the suspect had abducted his 16-year-old daughter on September 29 and taken her to an undisclosed place. Assault cases The Koom Kalan police registered a case under Sections 323,341,294,451,506 and 34 of the IPC on the statement of Mohinder Singh, a resident of Kandiana Kalan, against Charanjit Singh, Sonu and Pappu, wife of Charanjit Singh. The complainant had alleged that the suspects came to his house on Wednesday, beat him up and also threatened him. On the statement of Gurbakash Singh, a resident of Haqiqat Nagar, the Haibowal police yesterday registered a case under sections 323,324,356 and 34 of IPC against Kanta Rani, Ravinder Kumar and his wife, residents of the same locality. The complainant had alleged that the suspects beat him up outside his house and snatched his gold chain and Rs 5,000 before running away. Liquor seized The division No. 6 police yesterday arrested Rajiv Kumar, a resident of Janak Puri, and booked him under various Sections of the Excise Act and the Motor Vehicle Act. The police said today that five bottles of illicit liquor and a scooter were recovered from his possession. The suspect was later bailed out. One held for cheating The Model Town police yesterday arrested Sanjeev Mehra, a resident of Gali Oswal in Miller Ganj, and booked him under various Sections of the Copyright Act and Section 420 of the IPC. Jagmohan Singh, a resident of Urban Estate, Phase-I, Dugri, who runs a hosiery unit, had complained to the police that the suspect had been selling bed sheets and blankets in the market after putting his trademark on these without his permission. |
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20-year-old commits suicide SAS Nagar, October 10 According to the police, the victim was suffering from depression due to the family’s poor economic condition. “Mukesh lived with his father Man Singh and younger brother here but was not working,” informed Mr Harcharan Singh Bhullar, SP Mohali. Mukesh’s mother had died when he was a child and the family had shifted from Nepal some years ago to Mohali. |
Life Insurance Co. achieves Rs 180 cr sum Ludhiana, October 10 Mr Seith said in the financial year 2002-03, the company generated new business premium of Rs 132 crores nationally, generating a year-on-year growth of over 260 per cent. He said the company also declared its third successive bonus for participating policy holders, thus becoming the first new life insurance company to achieve the landmark. Another major achievement for HDFC Standard Life Insurance was that the cumulative insurance coverage or the sum assured for the policyholders, crossed Rs 5,000 crore mark during the year and had reached Rs 5,800 crore till June 30, added Mr Seith. He said bulk of the company investments were in government securities and others were very carefully chosen investments. He said this made them very safe and helped them to ensure financial security of policy holders and their families. Mr Maninder Sood, Branch Manager, said HDFC Standard Life Insurance had recently increased its share capital by Rs 37.5 crore. This was necessitated on account of the growth shown by the company in the current financial year in its life insurance and pension business. |
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New range of chinaware Ludhiana, October 10 Addressing media persons here today, the Chairman and Managing Director of the company Mr Sajjad Hussain claimed that for the first time, the company would sell quality goods imported from China under a warranty and further that the marketing network would be supported by a comprehensive after sale service network.
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Antique brings
traditional furniture Ludhiana, October 10 |
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