Ludhiana, April 30
Greed of gold and cash had allegedly led a couple to brutally murder their next door neighbour NRI Jasmer Singh in his house at Gurmail Park colony, Tibba Road, on the April 26 night. He was stabbed 39 times after being tied to a bed.

The NRI, who had retired from Ford Company as a worker with the Assembly Line unit, seemed to have done in for his habit of boasting a lot about his wealth. He used to make lofty claims about his heavy weight jewellery and lakhs of rupees stacked in his locker.

SP-Detective Gurpreet Singh and SP- City III Sajjan Singh Cheema stated in a press conference this afternoon that the couple, Kamaljit Singh, 35, and his wife Manjit Kaur, 32, had killed the NRI for his money.

The couple dreamt of making over Rs 10 lakh from the murderous loot but much to their disappointment, they could find 14 tola gold jewellery, 46 pounds, two mobile phone and VCD player, all worth about Rs 2 lakh only.

The police officials said though initially it was suspected the NRI was killed due to some illicit relationship, investigation revealed he was done in for robbery only.

The accused Kamaljit Singh belonged to Hatholi village near Phagwara. He makes plastic products parts. An investigation team of CIA in charge Gurbans Singh Bains and SHO Basti Jodhewal Balwinder Singh found that the accused couple had the best chance to visit the house of the NRI.

They used to frequent it quite often but still could not spot the open house and murdered the man inside. Eventually, it was after 24 hours that the body was found when relatives of the deceased came to inquire why he was not in touch with anyone for a day.

The police said the NRI was living alone ever since his son had flown back. He too was scheduled to return to England on April 30. He had come to India to solemnise the marriage of his youngest son. Both his sons work in London.

The officials said the accused claimed that this was their first crime. They first gave sleeping tablets to the NRI in a drink. The indisposed victim was tied to the bed after which Kamaljit stabbed him a number of times.

The police said the accused had revealed the NRI had woken up at being stabbed. At this, the woman stuffed him with a pillow. In order to avoid leaving finger prints on the crime scene, the accused wore a pair of socks. The socks were left behind in the kitchen.

The accused hid the gold jewellery and the mobile phones of the deceased under the ground in their house. They told cops they had read in the newspapers that cop trace the mobile phones.

Ludhiana, April 30
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered the DTDC courier company to pay Rs 10,000 to an agrrieved consumer for its “deficient services”.

The courier company failed to deliver a parcel in the US even after more than one year.

The orders were passed by the president of the forum, J S Chawla, and its member Daljit Singh Bakshi while deciding the complaint filed by H S Gill, chief manager of Allahabad Bank, Clock Tower branch, here.

The complainant had submitted before the forum that he wanted to send a parcel to his son Navjot Singh Gill, in the US. So, he placed an order before the courier company for sending the parcel in Feburary 2007. He paid Rs 1,500 as charges. The parcel contained clothes and spectacles.

He was assured by the courier company that the parcel would be delivered at the destination within a week. But the parcel did not reach his son in the US within the prescribed period. When the parcel did not reach there, he approached the company officials and enquired about the non-delivery. He was advised to wait for another week.

Again he went there on March 15, 2007, for making enquiries but the courier company officials failed to redress the problem. First they tried to linger on in the matter but later flately refused to even hear him, added the complainant.

Then he served a legal notice to the courier company but to no effect. Even after being summoned by the consumer forum, the courier company officials failed to contest the case. After appreciating the evidence on record, the consumer forum found that there was clear-cut deficiency on the part of the company, as it failed to deliver the goods booked. 

Ludhiana, April 30
Revenue to the tune of lakhs is being lost by the State Transport Department. Thanks to the politicians, bureaucrats and other influential people, who pressure the authorities concerned to let their "near and dear ones" retain the same old special numbers on their vehicles. Though, no registration number from old series under the Motor Vehicle Act 1939 can be allotted to any vehicle, still the practice continues.

According to reliable sources, the number-savvy residents in the district are continuing with the same old numbers on the vehicles. The vehicles of many of these owners are the latest but they bear same old numbers, some of them are even as old as 10 years.

One of the clerks with the District Transport Department (DTO) here said they were often pressured by the "well-connected" people for retaining the same number.

There is no other way for a writer to celebrate his birthday, even if it is the 80th ,except by presenting another book to the readers. Something that happened tentatively 50 years ago, when the first book came into existence, has now taken the form of a many-layered parchment. It is not the result of a plan well-executed as such thing had never been in existence.

Like the doddery steps of a toddler, shaky at first and then steady, a writer in the making is unsure of the receptivity of his creative work. The applause that ensues, when the child is successful in balancing itself on its feet, is like the reassuring review of the first book. No one knows, least of all child, when the steps take the form of a brisk walk. Likewise the writer is unaware, in the days to come, of the milestones he has left behind.

William Shakespeare said-“When in the chronicle of wasted time.” John Keats exclaimed-“Much have I travell'd in the realm of gold/And many goodly states and kingdoms seen.” Robert Browning remarked -“Grow old along with me!/The best is yet to be.” Time perhaps is like a stream that meanders through thick and thin to reach the river of eternity. The mystics sometimes visualise the stream in a bubble or the stream as a bubble.

The symphony of life continues to reverberate in the corridors of time. In fact there is neither a beginning nor an end in the scheme of things. It is always a renewal of the things past or continuity from end to end. W.H. Auden was not sure when he wanted to confide in the readers his innermost 
feelings-

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,

There must be reasons why the leaves decay;

Time will say nothing but I told you so.

Mankind is ever in quest of something remarkable. Individuals, on their part, are like islands that exist in an ocean where the waves are striking against the shores relentlessly. Indeed there is the meeting of the minds but generally the minds move about in their own orbits. At the end of the day, reappraisal has to be made. What happens when one finds that his best is not considered good enough. Such a realisation is indeed disturbing but at the same time it is comforting as the burden of uncertainty is lifted off the mind.

Now at this phase of existence, there seems to be no turning back. At times, however, the mind spins new plots to replace the older ones. It occurs that certain acts of omission and commission in the past could have been avoided if the path had not been replete with stumbling blocks. These reveries of wishful thinking delight the heart while putting a balm on the bruises. But then realisation ensues that the bent of the mind had cast the die long ago. No amount of ingenuity and dexterity could help, even if such an effort could have been possible.

To me life is a mirror in which are reflected many splendid images. This moving spectacle keeps humanity on its toes in the hope of the revelation of a marvellous panorama. But the pageant, while it delights the heart, casts a gloom occasionally. The mind that seeks the colours of a rainbow must be ready for the dark clouds of nothingness. But, as has been said earlier, there is a continuity from end to end.

— N.S. Tasneem

Ludhiana, April 30
The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association (PAUTA) and the Non-Teaching Employees Union of the PAU at a meeting held here today criticised finance commissioner (Development) R.S.Sandhu’s statement on the financial crises and pension issue plaguing the university.

Terming the statement to be “kiddish” and “uncalled-for”, the members said the government was shrugging-off its shoulder from the present situation. Senior vice-president, Non-Teaching Employees Union, Lakhwinder Singh Sandhu, said the pension was not university’s internal matter and the government had to take its full responsibility.

“After the Pay Commission recommendations and taking government representatives into confidence, the pension scheme was implemented in 1991. The university is being funded by the state government, which must take the responsibility of pensioners as well”, he added.

Ludhiana, April 30
Monthly meeting of the Innovative Fish Farmer’s Association (IFFA), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) was held at the fisheries unit here today. A large number of fish farmers from different districts of Punjab attended the meeting. Dean, College of Fisheries, Kamaldeep Kaur and assistant physiologist (reproduction) Meera D. Ansal answered the questions put forward by the farmers.

Farmers doing fish farming in village ponds were provided the required know how for maintaining optimum water quality in the ponds for higher productivity. Periodic replacement of water, regular use of lime and disinfectants like potassium permanganate, frequent aeration and excess nutrient extraction by duckweed culture was suggested to reduce the excess organic (nutrient) load from the ponds, which is basically responsible for oxygen depletion and production of toxic gases like Carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and sulphur dioxide and hence poor growth of fish or mortality in severe conditions.

Ludhiana, April 30
A seminar was organised here today by the representatives of an overseas study and immigration consultant company, Teamgate English Institute of UK, a member of international immigration club, USA.

Interacting with mediapersons, British solicitor B.S.Mondair said the British government had made many positive changes in the immigration services during the last one year. He said the future of students was bright in the UK as the government was providing many benefits to them. He said the skilled workers would benefit highly under the new British immigration rules.

He said all the visa categories were going to be changed. There would be only five bands (tiers). Tier 1 was for highly skilled workers while 2 would be for skilled workers who had a specific job. Tier 3 was for limited or quota number of low-skilled workers to fill temporary gaps in the labour market. Students came in the Tier 4 category while Tier 5 was for youth mobility and temporary workers (holiday workers). Tier 1 was not introduced in India and all other bands would slowly be brought in this year.

Doraha, April 30
The Punjab Lok Cultural Manch, under the direction of renowned artiste and dramatist Gursharan Singh (Bhai Manna Singh), will celebrate Labour Day that falls tomorrow at Punjabi Bhawan, Ludhiana.

On this occasion, a play directed by Sompal Heera entitled “Ik See Heer” by Sirjana Art Group, Raikot and Doraha, will be performed by artistes including Prof Sompal Heera, Kawal Dhillon Jagroop Singh, Narinder, Shimpi, Karnail Bhatti, etc. Apart from this, a play by Harkesh Chowdary entitled “Jine Lahore Nahin Vekhia”, a play by Anita entitled “Kuch Karo Yaro”, a play by Hansa Singh entitled “Sparks”, plays produced and directed by Gursharan Singh and Ajmer Singh Aulakh will also be presented.

Most of the plays, especially organised on this day, tend to present the pulls and pressures that the labour class has to undergo in subjugation of their employers. Alongside, a message of positive improvement in their position through a general social awakening is also the theme of most of  these plays.

Ludhiana, April 30
A team from the National Institute for Urban Areas (NIUA) visited the city today to prepare a progress report on the projects being run by the municipal corporation under the National Urban Renewal Mission.

Led by B.K. Dhar, HUDCO chair professor, NIUA, the team held a meeting with officials of the MC including commissioner Vikas Partap and discussed slum upgradation and sewerage schemes being undertaken under the mission.

They also discussed the double-entry system, earmarking of funds for basic services for poor in the budget, user charges, property tax, building bylaws and the rain-harvesting system.

The commissioner said the MC had already prepared a software of double-entry system and it would be fully functional by the next year. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 30
Accusing successive governments of ignoring the interests of redeemers of cultural heritage of the state who have been producing documentaries, serials and theatre events, Yog Raj Sedha, an artiste-turned-producer and office-bearer of the Punjabi Films and TV Producers Association has called upon organisers of various cultural organisations to impress upon the government to rescue the Punjabi film and theatre entrepreneurs by announcing special concessions.

At the same time, Sedha pleaded that the producers should not compromise with quality at any cost.

While talking to The Tribune after interacting with local artistes, Sedha maintained that “defective policies” of the successive state and Union governments had endangered the existence of Punjabi film industry and theatre.

“While the Punjabi theatre has already lost favour with art lovers, the Punjabi film industry will collapse if drastic steps were not taken to revive the declining trend,” said Sedha, ruing that the government, instead of announcing special facilities, had treated them (Punjabi producers) on a par with multi-star movie producers.

Recollecting his experiences, Sedha claimed that he, along with other founder-members of the Punjab Rang Manch and Punjabi Kala Manch, had been organising workshops for imparting fundamental training to youngsters in various parts of Punjab and abroad. But, unfortunately, people have lost interest in this art.

“The trend has brought us at a stage where performers and viewers have become conspicuous by their absence. The trend has resulted in a situation where even organisers of Ram Lila have to engage professional artistes and viewers are to be allured on various pretexts,” said Sedha. 

Ludhiana, April 30
The dreams of Jasbir Singh (19) to have a productive and purposeful life like all other boys his age were shattered when he fell victim to the life-threatening condition of kidney failure about two years back.

The disease not only changed his life for the worse, but also drained all the limited financial resources of the family which went toward life- sustaining twice-a-week dialysis since then.

The failing health of Jasbir, a resident of Basti Jodhewal locality in the city, forced him to quit his small-time job with the result that his father, Daljit Singh, a street vendor, has been finding it difficult to support a family of four members while at the same time spending money for the treatment of his son.

The doctors in the urology department of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, where Jasbir is admitted now, have advised the patient to go for kidney transplant. Preliminary tests for this purpose have already been conducted on both Jasbir and his father, who has offered to donate his kidney to save the life of his son.

According to the doctors at the DMCH, the estimated expenditure on kidney transplant and follow-up treatment will be around Rs 3 lakh which is beyond the limited means of the patient and his family.

Jasbir, as also his family, is now looking toward kind-hearted people of the region for financial assistance for the kidney transplant which seems to be the only ray of hope for the young boy.

Although some donations have started pouring in, but the DMCH management has once again issued an appeal to the kind-hearted people and philanthropists to chip in with financial help for Jasbir.

Those willing to extend a helping hand to the family can send their donations to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana with "Treatment of Jasbir Singh, CR No 114456 written on the back side of cheques, drafts or on covering letter, or else could contact office of the medical superintendent (Phone 0161-4687504) or PR office (Phone 0161-4687514, (M) 094178-06606).

Ludhiana, April 30
The industry in general and the engineering industry in particular have hailed the steps taken by the Union Government to contain the steep rise in prices of iron and steel while expressing confidence that the move will yield the desired results.

The Federation of Punjab Small Industries Associations (FOPSIA) president, V.P. Chopra, said even though considerably belated, the imposition of export duty on semi-finished steel products and cut in basic customs duty on iron and steel products, is a step in the right direction. The government should have acted much earlier as the small-scale sector had been wrung dry of its liquidity due to an unwarranted hike in prices of iron and steel material over a long period.

Chopra further said that the economy of small-scale sector of industry using iron and steel as basic raw material had been shattered. "It is regrettable that the government chose to ignore the hue and cry raised by the industry and failed to check the ever- rising prices of essential raw material."

He urged the government to look into the “cartelisation” by main producers and put in place a regulatory mechanism for determination of prices of iron and steel as had been done in the case of pharmaceutical sector.

The United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association also welcomed the measures initiated by the government to rein in inflation and keep the prices of iron and steel under check. Inderjit Singh Pardhan, senior vice-president, and Pradeep Wadhawan, secretary of the association, said that slapping export duty on semi-finished steel products and abolition of counter-vailing duty were bound to make the material cheaper. They asked the main producers like SAIL, Tata, RINL, Essar Steel and Jindal not to increase the prices of iron and steel in the interest of the industry.

Ludhiana, April 30
TVS Motor Company organised a "Flame Rally" in the city to launch its new 125 cc motorcycle TVS Flame here today. The rally was flagged off by Gurkirat Singh, director, Gulzar TVS. Rahul Wadhwa, sales manager of the TVS, was also present.

He claimed that the new bike was the best in the 125 cc segment that offered 3 valve CCVTI technology with on road mileage indicator for optimum fuel consumption. "For the first time, a two-litre glove box has been provided within the fuel tank to safeguard the valuable items. The bike offers self-start and alloy wheels as standard features with disc brake as an option."

Wadhwa invited potential buyers of motorcycles to take a test drive of TVS Flame at their nearest TVS dealership to have a feel of the latest technological marvel. The motorcycle has an ex-show room price tag of Rs 45,990 in the state of Punjab.

Sahnewal, April 30
Most of the educationists and students have demanded a single paper for the compulsory subject Punjabi for the B.A.courses conducted by Panjab University as against the system of taking A and B papers which they term as sheer wastage of money, time and resources.

The students who appeared in the paper-B of compulsory Punjabi said there were two papers of 45 marks each, which has always sounded very irrational to them. “If paper-A requires not more than an hour to be completed, paper -B can easily be finished within half an hour. We don’t understand the rational behind putting two papers when a single paper can easily suffice. Moreover, the syllabus is also not much,rather it seems to be an unnecessary prolonging and wastage of time” they added.

A student of Punjabi said, “I never study before compulsory Punjab paper- B as there is nothing much to go through .Conducting two papers makes no positive sense .Moreover, framing a single paper of Punjabi can save our energies as one can devout more time to other papers and finish the examination early”.

According to a centre superintendent of a local college, students who appear in Punjabi compulsory papers are the most relaxed ones. But, they get uneasy after an hour. As a large number of students take exam at one go, those taking other exams are disturbed as these students tend to leave the hall much before time. “It would be a wise step on the part of the university if these two papers are merged thus saving a lot of expenses incurred on stationary, deployment of staff for setting, conduct and evaluation along with the wastage of time and energy”, he added.

While talking to one of the heads of the Punjabi department of a college, it was analysed that there is no good in continuing with what originally is being followed.

“Two papers for Punjabi are not required. Just a single paper can suffice as the prescribed syllabus can be easily covered in a single paper”, the head opined.

Even at the evaluation centre, the job of the evaluators for this particular subject is not much as a 45 mark paper requires less time as compared to a full-fledged paper of 90 marks.

Former principal Tasem Bahia said there wasn’t any harm if two papers were reduced to one as Punjabi being the mother tongue requires less effort and time to be brought home to the students as compared to a foreign language. “Moreover, as both English and Punjabi papers are of one credit and there are no parts for compulsory English paper, compulsory Punjabi paper should also be single carrying 90 marks. Only two-credit papers of 180 marks are divided into A and B parts. So there is no fun in dividing a single credit paper as is being followed in the case of compulsory Punjabi”, the educationists added.

Ludhiana, April 30
A fast-track court headed by Manjinder Singh, additional sessions judge, has adjourned the attempt to murder and land- grab case involving BIS Chahal, former media adviser to ex-CM Capt Amarinder Singh till May 22.

The additional public prosecutor today filed the reply to the application filed by one of the accused in this case, Kartar Singh Garewal, seeking discharge from the case. He had pleaded that he along with other family members was falsely implicated due to political rivalry.

Whereas, the public prosecutor had submitted that it was not a case of discharge. It was claimed in the reply that the proseuction was having sufficient evidence against the accused persons.

Apart from Chahal, all other accused were also present before the court. It may be mentioned that Chahal along with his relatives was booked on June 10, 2007, on the charges of allegedly attempting to grab the land of a person at Daad village after launching a murderous attack. 

Ludhiana, April 30
The department of orthopaedics at SPS Apollo hospital here will organise an international symposium on recent advances in knee- replacement surgery on May 3. Giving this information here today, Dr Harpreet S. Gill, senior consultant in orthopaedics and organiser of the symposium, stated that the event would be attended by orthopaedic surgeons from several states in northern India.

One of the leading knee-replacement surgeons of the world, Dr J.L. Briard from France, will be the guest faculty. The French orthopaedic surgeon has pioneered the mobile-bearing knee replacement surgery technique now being followed worldwide. The symposium will include a live surgery for the delegates and lectures from experienced faculty. Knee-replacement surgery has gained universal acceptance for restoring the functions of walking, activities of daily living, and light recreational activities in patients disabled by arthritis, Dr Gill added.

Ludhiana, April 30
Shivangi along with Himani More and Charvee Saxena recorded victories in their respective quarterfinal matches to advance into the last four stage of the annual PAU AITA Total Tennis Talent Series Tournament being organised at Punjab Agricultural University here yesterday.

In the girls u-12 years category, Shivangi trounced Shweta 6-0, 6-1 while Himani overpowered Pukhraj Gill 6-3, 6-2 and Charvee Saxena got the better of Rajni Berry 6-3, 6-1 to secure their berths in semifinals.

In the pre-quarterfinals (boys u-12), Dheeranshu outplayed Param 6-4, 6-2; Santbir defeated Aseem Verma 6-3, 6-3; Fatehdeep overwhelmed Kabir Bhatia 6-0, 6-1; Rohan beat Devang Mehra 6-1, 6-3; Ankush Arora outnumbered Tegbir Singh 6-1, 6-3; Arush Sood outclassed Amartya 6-1, 6-2 and Karandeep fought a pitched battle against Akhil Bansal and eventually romped home victorious 3-6, 6-3 and 6-2.

In the boy's u-14 years section, Arush Sood pipped Devang Mehta 6-0, 6-1; Ankush proved too good for Ravjit Singh 6-0, 6-1; Fatehdeep Singh outclassed Siren 6-0, 6-1; Ajay Singh drubbed Suresh Seth 6-1, 6-0; Rajat Sindhu beat Kushan Nath 6-1, 6-2 and Rahul Singh blanked Kawaljot Singh 6-0, 6-0 to secure their places in the quarterfinals.