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3 labourers killed in factory blast
Ludhiana, December 30
Three labourers were killed and two others were seriously injured in a mysterious blast at Mukesh Steels Ltd at Giaspura late this evening, raising fear of scrap bombs again finding their way in scrap moulded in such factories.

A policeman inspects the site of the blast that took place in a factory in Ludhiana on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Scandal in Braille Press
Six of seven booked arrested

Ludhiana, December 30 The Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau has unearthed a scandal in the sale, purchase and repair work of electronic equipment and furniture of Braille Press at Jamalpur here.

The six suspects in the Braille Press scandal, unearthed by the Vigilance Bureau in Ludhiana on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Fill vacant posts, demand teachers

Ludhiana, December 30 The Unemployed Elementary Teachers Union, Punjab, the Nav Niyukt Employed Teachers Union, the Unemployed Teachers Union and the DSWA held a massive rally here today in protest against the alleged failure of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to keep his promise made in October that 6,000 vacant posts of elementary teachers would be filled soon. Teachers stage a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

New Year functions cancelled
Ludhiana, December 30
In the wake of tsunami disaster, the executive of the local Sutlej Club has cancelled the New Year celebrations function to be held on December 31 in the club.

Hosiery shop gutted Ludhiana, December 30 A fire broke out in a hosiery shop in Kutcha No. 7, Field Gunj, today morning and reduced to ashes readymade garments and rolls of cloth. The incident took place in Raman Brother’s hosiery shop around 5 am and it took over four hours for the firemen to douse the flames. The fire engines took a lot of time to reach the spot as the approach streets were quite narrow. The hosiery shop in which a fire broke out in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo by Sayeed Ahmed

COMMUNITY

MC favouring select few, says Bansal
Ludhiana, December 30
To protest against the passing of a proposal regarding amendments to town planning rules to allegedly ‘benefit an influential industrialist’, the opposition in the municipal corporation will take up the matter with the Secretary, Local Bodies.

Rs 7 crore being spent on development in Dakha
Ludhiana, December 30
Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, MLA and former state minister, has asserted that the pace of development of the Dakha constituency has been accelerated and work on various development projects has been accelerated and funds amounting to around Rs 7 crores are being spent on these.

2004: IN RETROSPECT Infighting hit MC functioning Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 30 Factionalism among councillors marred the development of the local town this year and despite efforts by mediators, the civic body chief could not win the confidence of 10 councillors, who had showed their resentment by moving a no-confidence motion against him six months ago. Central tax base widened, revenue up

Service tax camp for transporters

Ludhiana, December 30 The Department of Central Excise today began a two-day service tax registration camp for transporters in the city. Even as the process of spot registration continued till evening, around 120 units had got themselves registered. Officials of the Central Excise Department interact with transporters during a service tax registration camp at Transport Nagar in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Pledge to check female foeticide
Ludhiana, December 30
The 10-day NSS camp underway in SCD Government College saw an extension lecture on ‘Female Foeticide’ delivered by Dr Kuldeep Kar Sahni, DIO Ludhiana, from CMO office today.

Mittal is chief of Aggarwal 
Ludhiana, December 30
With the unanimous re-election of Mr Pardeep Mittal as president of the Akhil Bharatiya Aggarwal Sammelan and seven other office-bearers, the elections of the body, scheduled to be held on January 9 had been rendered unnecessary.

Resentment against PSEB
Ludhiana, December 30
Resentment prevails among residents of Rajguru Nagar against the PSEB authorities over alleged biased treatment being meted out to them in the matter of supply of power.

CRIME

2004: IN RETROSPECT
Crime rate down in city, at least figures say so
Ludhiana, December 30
Ludhiana may be regarded as one of the most crime-prone areas in the region, but the figures for the passing year suggest otherwise. The official figures indicate that there was a huge decrease in all kind of crime in the city in the past 12 months.

Held for liquor smuggling
Ludhiana, December 30
The Sunder Nagar police post officials caught an alleged notorious smuggler bringing 60 bottles of liquor in a Palio car here today. Sources said the police had specific information about the movement of the alleged smuggler, Harmel Singh. A number of checkpoints were set up at strategic places.

Mobile phone shop burgled Ludhiana, December 30 Two unidentified burglars struck at a mobile phone shop near Ghumar Mandi Chowk in the early morning today and decamped with phones worth several lakhs. The burglars, who had come in a car, used a novel method to avoid being noticed. Forensic experts take fingerprints at a mobile phone shop which was burgled in Ghumar Mandi, Ludhiana, on Thursday. — Photo by Sayeed Ahmed

BUSINESS

• Biz Clips

NSS volunteers spread awareness
Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 30
A 10-day NSS camp of volunteers of Guru Har Krishan Girls College, Phallewal, concluded at Nathumajra village yesterday. The concluding function was presided over by Mr Amarjit Singh Parag; director of the college Mr Labh Singh Ahluwalia, chairman, was the chief guest.

1,000 examined at medical camp
Ludhiana, December 30
More than 1,000 persons were examined at a two-day medical camp organised by International Sikh Dharam Parchar Manch at Gurdwara Alamgir here. The camp concluded today. Those diagnosed with various diseases were also provided with free medicines.

SPORTS

Players bowled over by hospitality
Participants and officials of the ongoing 55th Dhanoa Senior National Basketball Championship are bowled over by the sports infrastructure in the city as well as the hospitality of the Ludhianvis. They are particularly impressed by the organisers of this meet for holding the nationals in a systematic way.