L U D H I A N A

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TOP STORIES

Councillor's son held for merchant's murder
Illicit relationship suspected motive
Ludhiana, January 2
The district police today claimed that a Janakpuri-based cloth merchant, Ashoki Lala, whose body was found from Jainpur village, near Hambran, on New Year eve, was murdered by four persons over an allegedly illicit relationship with a woman municipal councillor of the Congress.

The four accused of murdering the cloth merchant are escorted out of Sadar police station in Ludhiana on Friday. The main accused, Avtar Singh, is in a black sweater. — Photo by Inderjeet Verma.

Tension at Siahar continues
Siahar/Ludhiana, January 2
Tension continued at the Nanaksar Ashram Thath today following the press statements and advertisements regarding the claims and counterclaims of two rival groups over the control of the dera in Siahar village.

Alleged liquor smugglers Puran Singh and Makhan Singh are produced before mediapersons with the seized liquor that was being brought into Ludhiana from Chandigarh. — Photo by IV

Another ‘kabootri’ racket busted
Ludhiana, January 2
Ditched by her boyfriend in the UK, separated from her husband in Germany and deported to India under controversial circumstances, a UK-born graduate girl, Jaswinder Kaur Jassi, duped at least 10 youths of Ludhiana and Nawanshahr districts of lakhs of rupees on the pretext of taking them abroad.

Man kills wife, surrenders
Ludhiana, January 2
Upset over his wife’s alleged illicit relationship, Nanak Dass, a resident of Kailey village near Gurusar Sudhar, hit her on the head, causing her death, in his house last night. He surrendered to the police at about 2 am after committing the murder.

COMMUNITY

It’s a changed CM, says Hanspal
Ludhiana, January 2
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president H.S. Hanspal today defended Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, saying he had changed his style of functioning and was accessible to people and the party. He said the Chief Minister routinely attended to the public and also visited the party office to listens to people’s problems.

Simplify tax laws, says BJP
Ludhiana, January 2
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a strong plea for the simplification of taxation laws and to remove harsh provisions of the value added tax (VAT) before it is given effect in April 2004, as proposed by the government.

Insects in biscuit packet! Ludhiana, January 2 Next time you happen to buy a pack of Parle biscuits, check it before munching it as it might carry insects. This is what happened with Mr Vikas Passi, a resident of Upkar Nagar Colony in Civil Lines area here. The packet of biscuits which had insects in it. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Two killed as car hits truck
Sahnewal, January 2
Two persons, including a child, died on the spot when the car they were travelling in hit a truck due to poor visibility, near Sahnewal, early this morning.

• PSEB men stage dharna

 

BUSINESS

BSNL to recover Rs 34 crore from subscribers
Ludhiana, January 2
The Ludhiana circle of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is to recover Rs 34 crore from its subscribers. While most of the subscribers owe less than Rs 1 lakh, about a hundred are supposed to pay over Rs 1 lakh. There are some wilful defaulters also who owe over Rs 10 lakh to the BSNL. The long list of defaulters includes several government departments and officials also.

Encroachment charge baseless, say traders
Ludhiana, January 2
Responding to notices served by the municipal corporation to hundreds of traders in Chaura Bazar for allegedly encroaching upon a part of the road, the Ludhiana Traders Association has refuted the allegations, terming these as misdirected and contrary to facts.

AGRICULTURE

Aulakh calls for farming initiative
Ludhiana, January 2
In a New Year message to the farmers of Punjab, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, has urged them to adopt new techniques and knowledge. He pointed out that the competition in the changed market conditions worldwide, deterioration of soil health, diminishing water resources and environmental pollution were the latest challenges.

PAU handbook released
Ludhiana, January 2
PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr K.S. Aulakh released the PAU Handbook (English and Punjabi versions) and the University Calendar for the year 2004 and presented first copies of the Handbook to Dr G S Nanda, Director of Research, and Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director of Extension Education.

EDUCATION

Govt College gets first woman Principal
Ludhiana, January 2
Mrs Indra Bhatia took over as the first woman Principal of the 80-year-old Government College for Boys yesterday from Mr V.P. Gaur, who has retired. The only other woman to head this college as acting Principal was Mrs Swarn Garewal, who took over the command of the college in the late eighties.

Centre for PG diploma in geriatric medicine opens
Doraha, January 2
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has set up a programme study centre for postgraduate diploma in geriatric medicine in collaboration with Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana. The centre will be headed by Prof M.K. Mann, head of the Orthopedic Department, and will start functioning soon.

NISST starts furnace operator course
Mandi Gobindgarh, January 2
National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology, Mandi Gobindgarh, started a 16-week re-heating furnace operator course from yesterday. It is being sponsored by Small Industries Development Bank of India, Chandigarh.

Singapore students visit school
Ahmedgarh, January 2
A Singapore International Federation-sponsored cultural exchange programme was held at the local Anand Isher Public Senior Secondary School yesterday. A team of Singapore students and residents of villages performed on stage at a function organised on the school campus.

PSU gives charter of demands to DC
Ludhiana, January 2
Leaders of the Punjab Students' Union met the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, here today and gave him a memorandum of their demands.

CULTURE

‘Rang Canada De’ released
Ludhiana, January 2
Releasing a book, “Rang Canada De”, the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, expressed the need for such books in Punjabi to understand the gulf between the national and western cultures as the new Indian generation is lured to foreign lands in search of greener pastures.

Lodhi Club ushers in ’04 with Jazzy B Ludhiana, January 2 It was fun and frolic at the Lodhi Club last night as members and their guests swayed to the beats of songs sung by Jazzy B. They had gathered to usher in 2004 and came out in large numbers, notwithstanding the cold weather. Jazzy B along with his troupe performs at the Lodhi Club. — photo by IV

Workshop on good health on tomorrow
Ludhiana, January 2
Swami Anand Vairagayji will conduct a workshop on managing self for good health and work efficiently at the Vardhaman Training and Development Centre here on Sunday. This was stated in a press note issued today by Dr D.K. Sindwani, Chief Executive, Vardhman Special Steels, Ludhiana, who is coordinating the workshop.

Eye camp organised
Ludhiana, January 2
An eye donation camp was organised by HDHI Employees Welfare Association on December 30, 2003, at Dumra Auditorium Hall.

SPORTS

Ludhiana, January 2 The stage is set for the two-day International Canada Kabaddi Cup Tournament slated to be held here at the Guru Nanak Stadium on January 3 and 4. According to Mr Rajinder Singh Hissowal, president, Malwa Sports Association of Canada, eight top teams with some Indians settled abroad in their ranks would be seen in action during this two-day kabaddi extravaganza.
Padma Shri Kartar Singh, Director, Sports, Punjab, addresses a press conference in Ludhiana on Friday. — photo by IV

Amanjot Kaur is best sportsperson
Ahmedgarh, January2
The annual athletics meet of Anand Isher Public Senior Secondary School concluded here recently. Lt Col Vinay Mullick, commandant, 19 Punjab Battalion, NCC, presided over the closing ceremony and Mr Anil Kumar Aggarwal Executive Director SIL, was the chief guest.

ADMINISTRATION

Khanna police told to book 3 directors of firm
Ludhiana, January 2
Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, here has directed the Khanna police to book three directors of a Doraha-based factory on charges of dismantling and removing machinery detained by the Central Excise Department. Interestingly, the Khanna police did not take any action on a similar recommendation made by the Central Excise Department seven months ago.