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Morning jolts cause panic
Buildings develop cracks; shocked schoolchildren collapse 

Ludhiana, October 8 Panic gripped residents in the district today following an earthquake, measuring around 7 on Richter scale, rocked the region in the morning. Fresh tremors, though of minor intensity, were felt later in the evening. Ganga, an 11-year-old girl, who fell unconscious after an earthquake hit Ludhiana on Saturday morning. Photo by Inderjeet Verma

Services of PAU accounts officer terminated
Ludhiana, October 8
The Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr K.S. Aulakh, has ordered the termination of services of accounts officer Sat Pal Sharma with immediate effect for misconduct and breach of discipline.

Passing Thru

COMMUNITY

Illegal sand mining posing threat to canal

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 8 A nexus among officials in the Irrigation Department, mining contractors and transporters has added to the woes of residents of villages located along the banks of Sirhind branch of the Bathinda canal where alleged illegal sand mining has been going on unabated for decades leading to the weakening of embankments on both sides. Machinery being used in illegal mining of sand from Sirhind branch of the Bathinda canal. — Photo by writer

SAD(A) flays pardon to 2 cops
Ludhiana, October 8
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has condemned the decision of the Punjab Governor, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), of granting pardon to two Punjab police officers, Jaspal Singh and Charan Dass, who had been convicted of various crimes.

Gujaratis set to celebrate Navratras

Ludhiana, October 8 Shri Gujarati Samaj Ludhiana is all prepared to celebrate the Navratras in traditional fervour here from tonight. Living far from their homes Gujratis here try to get together on this occasion and celebrate the festival with enthusiasm and charm. The Laxminarayan temple that has been tastefully decorated for the Navratra celebrations in Ludhiana. — A Tribune photograph

Pilot, controller work in tandem
Halwara Air Force Station, October 8
A fighter pilot and air traffic controller (ATC) are complimentary to each other when it comes to the safety of the Air Force personnel and the people of the nation.This was claimed by top-rung authorities at the biggest air base of the North India here.

Coming of age of Halwara air base

Halwara Air Force Station, October 8 With the coveted Battle Honours being conferred by the President of India on one of the squadrons located here for Operation Safed Sagar, the air base stands elevated in the air defence chain of the country. A fighter pilot gets ready to take off in MiG 23, a fighter aircraft with folding wings, from Halwara Air Force Station, near Ludhiana. — Photo by writer

11-year-old rescued from employer’s clutches

Ludhiana, October 8 Residents of Naveen Nagar here and a team of the Haibowal police rescued an 11-year-old boy, Desh Raj, from the custody of his employer who had allegedly kept him in shackles for the past five days. He allegedly used to force him work without food and wages.   Desh Raj, 11, after being rescued from the custody of his employer in Ludhiana on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Cong leader visits rape victim in hospital
Ludhiana, October 8
Youth Congress leader and member District Grievances Committee Ajay Johar today visited an alleged rape victim who has been admitted to the Civil Hospital. Condemning the barbarous act he demanded strict action against the accused.

‘Directionless youth’ discussed
Ludhiana, October 8
A panel discussion on “Directionless youth and its plight” was organised on the second day of the 33rd annual function of the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle here today. Dignitaries who participated in the discussion included Prof Manjit Singh, Dr Sardara Singh Johl, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Dr Harkesh Sidhu and Prof Manjit Singh Calcutta.

Institutional arbitration emphasised

Ludhiana, October 8 A conference on “Dispute prevention and resolution” was organised by the India Council of Arbitration (ICA) here. Mr Justice Ashok Bhan, Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice D.K. Jain, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Mr Justice A.K. Sikri at a conference on dispute prevention and resolution in Ludhiana on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Marriages of 13 girls solemnised

CRIME

Rs 2.5 lakh missing from car
Khanna, October 8
In a complaint to the local police Om Parkash, a brick kiln owner, has complained of disappearance of Rs 2.5 lakh in cash from his car and accused his driver of theft. In his statement, Om Parkash said he had come to the town with his driver Surinder Singh, who lives on the Malerkotla road, Khanna, on Thursday evening.

Two held for default
Khanna, October 8
Recovery officers of the Cooperative Department had arrested two persons for default of payment of loan taken by them. According to Bikram Jit Singh, manager of Ludhiana Central Cooperative Bank, Khanna, two firms — Pammi Music House and Vaishali Motors — had taken loan from the branch but the owners of the firms had not paid off the amount.

Youth’s body found
Khanna, October 8
The body of an unidentified youth was found lying in the bushes near Bahomajra village on Thursday evening. According to the police, Jang Singh, watchman of the village, noticed the body in the bushes.

BUSINESS

‘Land constraint for SEZ’
Ludhiana, October 8
The Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Mr S.C.Aggarwal, today said that with a view to tapping the huge potential of the IT sector, the government was planning to allot 1,500 acres in this sector in the state. He said the sector held immense potential in terms of employment too.

Building jinxed! Ludhiana, October 8 Is the building that housed the Tick-Borne Disease Centre of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Ferozepore Road, which was recently given to Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University for opening its administrative offices, jinxed? Jinxed?: The building of PAU that was given to Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University in Ludhiana. — Photo by I.V.

From Schools & Colleges
ICFAI students showcase talent

Ludhiana, October 8 The ICFAI National College organised “Expressions Showcasing of ICFAI Talent” here yesterday. Mr D. Goswami, vice-president of Vardhman, was the guest of honour. The event was organised at the Punjab Trade Centre. Students of Kiddies Paradise celebrate Navratras and Dasehra on the school campus in Ludhiana. — A Tribune photograph

CULTURE

Workshop on facial expressions
Ludhiana, October 8
The Maya Academy conducted a two-day workshop on facial expressions and movements in filmmaking. The workshop, which concluded today, was conducted by Paresh Parekh from the Mumbai film industry.

CME on overactive bladder
Ludhiana, October 8
Urinary incontinence is a devastating problem for all ages in all parts of the world. Urologists and uro- gynaecologists have strived hard to address this problem. Overactive bladder (OAB) was one of the common problems, found both in men and women, said Dr Kim Mammen, Head of the Urology Department, Christian Medical College and Hospital, here today during a CME on overactive bladder.

Blood donation camps
Ludhiana, October 8
A team of doctors and technologists led by Dr Amarjit Kaur, Head, Department of Transfusion Medicine, supervised two blood donation camps organised last week. A “Mega Blood Donation camp” at Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa (Haryana), was organised recently to mark the foundation day of Shah Satnam Ji of Green-S Welfare Society. The followers of Dera Sacha Saudha participated in the camp and 400 units were collected.

SPORTS

A budding athlete
Ludhiana, October 8
With P T Usha and Anju Bobby George as her role models, a class VIII student of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Vishakha Sood, is a budding athlete. She won the Best Athlete trophy for two years in running. She was declared best athlete in under-16 category this year, while last year she won the coveted trophy in under-14 category.

PSEB JE, driver suspended
Khanna, October 8
The Executive Engineer (stores), PSEB, Ludhiana circle, has suspended a junior engineer and a driver of the board’s local branch for embezzling funds. According to information received, junior engineer (stores) Devinder Singh and driver Bhagwan Dass posted here were involved in embezzlement of funds.