L U D H I A N A

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TOP STORIES

Two Avon units close down today
300 workers to be rendered jobless
Ludhiana, September 7
There was a flurry of activity at Avon Bicycle Components Private Limited today as two units of the company would be closed down from tomorrow. Anticipating violence by the employees’ union, police personnel were deployed at the factory on the Gill road here.

Police personnel deployed at Avon Bicycle Components Private Limited on the Gill road in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Sayeed Ahmed

Schools ignore directive on Vande Mataram
Ludhiana, September 7
Most of the private schools ignored the directive of the Central Government to sing the National Song to mark its centenary today. Only a few government schools and others, reportedly being run by the RSS, observed the directions in Ludhiana.

Highway robber dares cops with strikes 
Victim doctor turns investigator
Ludhiana, September 7
In a shocking incident of police apathy, a middle-aged highway robber is daringly striking at one victim after another on the National Highway No. 1 stretch from New Delhi to Ludhiana with the police unable to track him for the past 10 days.

MC orders probe into pool scam
Ludhiana, September 7
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation today ordered an inquiry into the alleged swimming pool scam following allegations that some local body employees had pocketed public money paid by residents to become members.

Pool closed, to be filled afresh

Of vanishing tribe of folk singers

Chhapar (Ludhiana), September 7 The number of visitors to the annual Chhapar Mela in this district may be increasing every year, but the traditional folk singers, who used to entertain the visitors there, seem to be vanishing. So are the listeners who would sit through the nights to listen to them. The melodious voice of the folk singers seems to have been lost in the din of conferences at the mela. Folk singers perform at Chhapar Mela. — A Tribune photograph

2 women end life
Ludhiana, September 7
Two women reportedly committed suicide in separate incidents in the city in the last 24 hours. Mamta (30), a resident of Gagan Nagar, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her house today afternoon by her husband.

COMMUNITY

Damaged Bhakra canal wall gives villagers sleepless nights

Khamano, September 7 Residents of around 12 villages adjoining Thablan village, situated on the banks of the Bhakra canal, are in a state of panic as concrete surface has come off at around 10 places on about 2 km stretch of the canal wall. Some farmers, working in their fields nearby the canal, said water might breach the canal at those damaged points anytime, inundating their fields. They had informed the canal authorities many times, but in vain. According to reliable sources, huge funds reach canal officials every year for carrying out repair work, but they pay no attention towards its condition, resulting in widening of the damaged patches with the each passing day. Concrete surface has come off at several points on the 2-km stretch of the Bhakra canal wall in the Thalban village area, near Khamano.

Ganesh idols immersed in canal Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 7 Various local religious organisations celebrated Ganesh Mahotsav and immersed idols of their deity amidst drumbeats and chants of “Ganpati Bappa Moriya” in the Sirhind Canal, near here, yesterday. An idol of Lord Ganesh being taken out in a procession to be immersed in the Sutlej in Ludhiana on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi on Wednesday evening. — A Tribune photograph

MLA lays stone for sewer line
Ludhiana, September 7
To meet the needs of all areas in the city, the government is laying a sewerage at a cost of Rs 190 crore with help from HUDCO. This was stated by Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, MLA, while addressing people at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a stretch of the sewer line on Gill Road here recently. Mayor Nahar Singh Gill was also present on the occasion.

Taxation Bar members rue harassment at barriers
Ludhiana, September 7
All bonafide registered dealers could obtain Central Sales Tax form C in desired quantity provided they appended the list of used C forms with their applications. The Excise and Taxation Department was maintaining sufficient stock of C forms and the dealers would have no problem, whatsoever in this respect.

Conferences galore

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 7 Thousands of devotees thronged the biggest rural fair of North India, Chhapar Mela, to pay obeisance to Guga, the embodiment of “nag devta”, on the second day of the mega event near here today. Local leaders of various political parties addressed their conferences though they had to take the help of singers and “dhadis” to attract gathering. Doctors at Hind Hospital, Mandi Ahmedgarh, attend to three children who were drugged by miscreants at Chhapar Mela. — Photo by Mahesh Sharma

Son, daughter-in-law cut man’s beard, hair
Machhiwara, September 7
The police has booked son and daughter-in-law of Amar Singh of Powat village for cutting his beard and hair. Amar Singh said his son, Balwinder Singh, alias Bobby, and his second son Nachhattar Singh’s wife, Surjit Kaur, used to quarrel with him. “Surjit Kaur used to cast aspersions on my character,” he added.

Robbery bid at Chhapar Mela
Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 7
Four members of a family, including three children, were drugged by some miscreants whose robbery attempt failed as incidentally some members of the family did not consume a drug-laced ladoo offered by them.

AGRICULTURE

‘Pashu palan melas’ on September 21, 22
Ludhiana, September 7
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, will hold ‘pashu palan melas’ jointly with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Kisan Melas at Ludhiana and at its Regional Research Stations.

EDUCATION

PAU-Audit Dept confrontation resolved
Ludhiana, September 7
The confrontation between Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and the local Audit Department appears to have ended following the receipt of a letter from the state’s Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr D.S. Kalha, addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh.

Vet varsity to have fisheries institute
Ludhiana, September 7
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, will soon start an institute of fisheries and wildlife. This was recently approved in an Academic Council meeting of the university.

Students bare social evils through poems
Doraha, September 7
The Youth Club of the local Guru Nanak National College organised a poetical symposium for the undergraduate and postgraduate students of the college today. Twentyseven students participated in it. Most of the participants recited their poems focussing on the ills of society, including female foeticide, dowry, cultural degeneration, moral laxity, drug addiction, communalism, etc. They even suggested reformative techniques to free society of such evils.

“Exclusive Expressions” at Desh Bhagat institute
Mandi Gobindgarh, September 7
“Exclusive Expressions-2006” began on the campus of the Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences here yesterday. It was inaugurated by singer Sardool Sikandar.

Class X, XII students told of career options
Ludhiana, September 7
A career seminar was organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Kheri Jhaneri, here yesterday for students of class X and XII. Mr Ajit Singh, Additional Superintendent Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board, was the resource person.

From Schools & Colleges  Seniors welcome newcomers Ludhiana, September 7 Senior students of MCA, BCA, M.Sc (IT) and PGDCA of the Khalsa Institute of Management and Technology (KIMT) organised a cultural show to welcome newcomers here yesterday. Girls present giddha at the freshers’ day at Malwa College, Bondli, Samrala, on Thursday.

Monsoon spells trouble for skin, hair: expert
Ludhiana, September 7
The prevailing weather conditions are conducive for fungal infection of the skin, particularly around the feet. At the same time, the rate of falling hair goes up in this season which calls for more care of the whole body and the hair.

Doctor wins patent for software
Ludhiana, September 7
Dr Saroop Chand Garg, a local doctor, has been granted patent by the Government of India for his novel invention of a medical software recently. This would help doctors reach accurate diagnosis. Dr Garg has been granted patent for his invention — novel apparatus for disease detection for human safety. The patent would be valid for 20 years.

SPORTS

Rural sports from September 10
Ludhiana, September 7
The local edition of the annual block-level rural sports will be held between September 10 and 13 at A S Senior Secondary School, Khanna, and Kila Raipur. According to a press note issued today by Mr Gianinder Singh Sandhu, District Sports Officer, Ludhiana, these sports will be organised jointly by the Punjab Sports Department and the Sports Authority of India with the help of local panchayats, sports clubs and zila parishad.