Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 15
Devotees continue to throng at the Guga Mari temple at Chhapar village to pay obeisance to snake, the embodiment of ‘nag devta’.

The third day being important due to political conferences, witnessed unprecedented gathering of devotees and activists of various political parties. Leaders of all factions of various political parities left no stone unturned to prove their worth by carrying maximum number of activists to the mela site. Top leaders of various political parties addressed their conferences today.

While the SAD and SAD (A) arranged ‘dhadi jathas’ to act as fillers between the speakers, the Congress engaged singers to attract crowd. Probable candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, irrespective of their allegiance, were seen trying to appease their apex leaders of their parties.

The police, which was busy in making security arrangements, found it difficult to control the crowd. It had a tough time handling vehicles carrying activists. Everybody wanted to drive his vehicle to the conference site of his party. However, separate parking places at the mela site eased traffic to some extent.

Organisers of fun rides, maut ka kuan, magic shows and mini circuses did brisk business today. Police had to make special arrangements near the fun ride stalls.

SSP, Ludhiana (rural) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who is also in charge of the meal, said no untoward incident was reported during the mela.

To keep a check on sale and use of liquor, special teams have been constituted. Officials of excise department were also called in to check illegal sale of liquor at the mela site.

Ludhiana, September 15
Laxity of the Railways and insufficient security by the police is failing all attempts of the state excise and taxation department to control “peti” mafia.

Within the last 10 days, at least three-four incidents, where mafia men snatched goods captured by the tax officials, have taken place.

Helpless officials are upset over the tax evasion that continues amid terrorising ways of the mafia. Members of the mafia gathered in large numbers when officials tried to capture the goods that were being sent without billing or by using wrong bills. They then managed to snatch the goods from the officials.

"The mafia is prevailing there but when officials try to check it, they gather and prevent the officials from doing their duty. We are not getting any co-operation from the Railways. Unless the officials get sufficient police security and help from the Railways, evasion via peti mafia cannot be checked," DETC Param Pal Singh told the Ludhiana Tribune.

The beginning of the festive season also marks the start of peak business time for industries like hosiery that send and receive goods in large quantities from outside the state. The officials said they had been making efforts to check tax evasion but it is a Herculean task due to the mafia that helps suppliers who want to evade tax.

Members of this mafia charge around Rs 500 per “peti” to carry a box of goods from entry point of the station to the godown without billing or by furnishing wrong bills.

In spite of massive evasion, the Railways has failed to maintain proper security at its entry and exit points. "Railway officials should ensure that the people who enter with goods are genuine. It will deal with the problem to a large extent."

It is learnt that the officials of the excise department also urged the police to provide them with sufficient security but nothing has happened so far.

Ludhiana, September 15
Cyber cafes seem to be a "safe home" for terrorist outfits planning to create terror through their mails as most of the city cafes are openly violating the directions of collecting ID proof.

Cyber cafes seem to have learnt no lessons despite the series of bomb blasts, which struck the country in the past few months. These cafes seemed to be busy in making money and putting the city's security at threat as anyone could use a computer without revealing his or her identity.

It came to fore when the Tribune reporters had an easy access to these cyber cafes and much to their astonishment they found that most of the owners were hardly bothered to know who was using their computer systems. A few issued an identification number to the users. These cafes included areas like Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Sarabha Nagar, Pakhowal Road, Model Town, Atam Nagar and Dugri.

Interestingly, most of these cafes had pasted rules and regulations to be followed by them according to the cyber law but were hardly bothered to implement them. A visit to the Raja Cyber Café located at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar was an example of disobeying laws. When a reporter asked the staff boy about the formalities to open an account, he replied casually that one just needs to create an account for Rs 100 and added that identity proof was not a requirement.

Same was the case with another cyber café located in Sarabha Nagar. An account was opened with the café without asking for the identity proof.

Similarly, a cyber café opened at a home in Model Town too was a part of the list. Being run by a woman, the owner didn't bothered to know who was using her computers. She just took Rs 30 as usage charges for one hour and went away. The case was same at a cyber café in Toor Complex where no entry register was being maintained.

Gurpal Singh, a regular visitor to the internet cafes, added that since he was facing some problem with the internet at his home so he had been visiting cafes frequently from the past one month and nobody ever asked him for his identity.

A college student Harpreet, who is a regular café user, said: “Since I often visit different cyber cafes and am hardly asked to give verification proof. Besides, if some one asks we always have another option," he quipped.

SSP R.K. Jaiswal said three months back the department had issued instructions to all internet cafes to maintain record and ask for identification proof of the person using the computer. "Maintaining a record helps a lot as we were able to crack couple of cases by taking help from the record books. I will re-issue the instructions and direct the cafe owners to collect the ID proof of the person using the internet facilties", he added.

Ludhiana, September 15
The demolition drive started by the municipal corporation here at the Ferozepore road seemed to be a "pick and choose" drive as only a few had to face the authority's wrath.

The three-hour drive which started at around 3 pm seemed to be "soft" as the municipal corporation only demolished the land area and not the roof shades of various shops.

MC tehbazari superintendent Naveen Malhotra said, "Under the drive, we will be removing encroachments on the left side of the Ferozepore Road starting from Gulmohar Hotel till Octroi tax barrier followed by the right side."

He added that the MC had given two hours to the encroachers to remove their materials.

However, Anil Kumar, a shopkeeper on the Ferozepore Road, alleged that the municipal corporation was being "choosy" as it had spared banks and some establishments.

He said the MC authorities asked shopkeepers to remove generators and demolished pathways, but they never asked the UCO Bank which was next to his shop to remove their generator.

Another automobile shopkeeper, whose iron stairs and some machinery was removed, said, "We never thought the MC would be too quick in its actions. They should have given us at least two or three days because one could not get labour in two hours and collect everything."

A similar scene was witnessed when the MC demolition team spared the stairs of Canara Bank in the same lane.

Malhotra said, “Since the bank was a government undertaking we have asked the bank authorities to show the building map to senior officials. He added that if the stairs were not found to be a part of the passed plan, they would be demolished tomorrow”.

Malhotra said according to the MC directions, the shopkeepers could have folding shades at the height of 10 feet, provided they used those shades only in the time of rains.

Ludhiana, September 15
Quarrying of sand from the rivers of the state is a big business now. Just as political pull is needed in getting the liquor vends, similarly political pressure is necessary to get the contract for sand quarry in Punjab. It has become a trade and sand mafias, which manage to get the contracts, have to share the booty with the political bosses (Congress and the Akali, whosoever in power).

This year the sand quarry contracts have fetched Rs 35 crore to the state exchequer... and the officials of the state mining department claim that no political pressure was seen in the auction of the spots in the rivers.

S.S.Channy, principal secretary, industry and commerce, under whose department falls the sand quarry business claimed that for the first time there was an open auction of the sand deposits of the rivers and streams. For the first time entire auction was videographed.

Channy said the revenue from the auction was three times more as compared to the previous auctions. This year the total auction money collected was Rs 35 crore against the last year’s Rs 12 crore. The contracts had gone to different contractors in the state.

The quarrying of sand would be done at the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and the Ghaggar. Besides, there a few small streams and villages sand dunes were auctioned. The panchayats and individuals shared royalty, he added.

The maximum deposits of sand are available in Ferozepur district and the same fetched more than Rs 12 crore followed by Ludhiana district (the Sutlej) with Rs 10 crore. Sand deposits are available in Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur districts as well.

An official of the industries department explained that the quantity of quarrying is fixed at the time of auction. But the contractors dig more sand with political pressure. Under the rules, the individual owners of sand dune and panchayats are supposed to get 1/3rd of the auction money as (Malkana compensation).

Sand mafia also works in the state and the members of such a mafia charges different rates from the trucks, tractor trolleys and carts, which remove sand from the riverbed. The vehicles carrying sand cannot move out the riverbed unless the money is paid to the members of these gangs.

According to official sources, the sand contractors are supposed to remove sand from the riverbed only and leave 50-foot space on both sides of the rivers to save the river bund. But this practice is also not followed religiously.

While the state politicians (mostly belonging to the ruling party... whether Akali or Congress make hay while the sun shines, the care of river banks is not taken at all. The state government has not taken steps to protect Punjab from floods since the past more than one decade. As a matter of fact, after 1988 and 1992 when the state witnessed heavy floods, the successive governments have failed to take anti-flood measures with the result that the state was subjected to heavy floods in the districts of Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Ludhiana. Luckily for the Punjabis, the rains stopped after last week of August.

Despite witnessing heavy losses due to floods in 1988 and 1992, the state government has not formulated any disaster management plans to meet the natural calamities like floods, accidental fires and epidemics. 

Ludhiana, September 15
Residents of Malerkotla house in Civil Lines here have taken upon themselves the task of punishing a building bylaw violator when the Municipal Corporation has failed to do so.

The residents, who fought a legal battle against coming up of a building in violation of building bylaws but could not do much, have now put up banners warning the potential buyers about the violations.

The banners have been put up on the building. These read ‘‘The structure is not in accordance with the site plan approved by the corporation. The latter had even issued demolition orders which were never carried out. We are fighting a case in a court also and details can be taken from the neighbours,’’says a banner put outside the house of Amrit Lal Aggarwal.

Anupam Kumaria, another resident, said the construction of the house was started two years ago. The owner got a different site map approved while on the ground he started constructing one-room apartments with attached bathrooms. As many as 16 rooms and 16 bathrooms were constructed in a 300 square yard plot while in the plan he showed it to be just a two-and-a-half storeyed house.

‘‘We knocked at the doors of the MC as it had passed the plan with 20 square feet space in the rear on the ground and first floor. He covered the entire area. He was to cover only 30 per cent on the top but he covered 90. After we took up the matter, the MC issued demolition orders. These were never carried out as the owner went to the court. Though the MC was in a position to remove the violation it never did,’’ said Kumaria.

The matter was taken up by chief parliamentary secretary, Local Bodies, Harish Rai Dhanda also but to no avail.

‘‘How can they allow such a violation to come up? It cannot be compounded. Moreover, he is blocking sun and air to the houses in neighbourhood. And you can imagine the pressure on civic amenities when a 300 square yards would house 16 houses. This is nothing more than a modern vehra,’’ said Kumaria.

Jatinder Sharma, owner of the house, said his neighbours were harassing him. He said they were trying to blackmail him as they wanted to own that plot. Sharma admitted that he had constructed an extra area of 600-700 square yards that was not included in the site plan. ‘‘There are so many houses in the city that violate building bylaws. The MC does not demolish those. Then why should they pull down my structures? ’’ he asked.

Ludhiana, September 15
Blaming the Nitish Kumar government for the flood situation in Bihar, RJD Member of Parliament from Saharasa in Bihar Ranjeet Ranjan said that despite warnings, the Bihar government failed to take precautionary measures.

She was in the city yesterday to launch a website ‘www.saveourpunjab.com’ by Congress MLA Jassi Khangura where people could raise issues and list their complaints against corruption.

Giving details about the flood situation in Bihar, the MP said, "This was not a regular flood and was an outcome of state government's carelessness. Despite repeated communications by the Centre asking the Nitish Kumar government to take a stock of pre-flood measures, the latter told the Central government that there were no threats. She alleged that the junior engineer on the Kosi dam had written to the CM and warned him of the situation, but to no avail.

She said the blame game being played by the Nitish government was just a tactic to get funds from the Centre, adding that more than 40 lakh people had been affected, including those residing in her constituency which falls in north Bihar.

Wife of RJD leader Pappu Yadav, Ranjeet said that it was tough for honest politicians to sustain in the Indian system. Refuting allegations levelled on her husband's family, she said that electronic media was responsible for portraying his wrong image. She said that caste politics ruled Bihar and since her husband belonged to a backward class, some people were trying to tarnish his image. She added that if the people were not happy with them, they would not have voted them to power.

Talking about her brainstorming speech in the trust vote on July 22, the MP said she spoke as Punjab's daughter and not against the Akalis. "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is one of the few politicians who are not corrupt and my speech in Parliament was an attempt to tell people to keep politics away from religion."

Replying to a query, the MP said if the RJD supports the UPA in the parliamentary elections next year, she might campaign for the Punjab Congress.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 15
Accusing successive governments of failing to provide basic amenities to residents of the border town, Leftists have urged the Congress and the SAD-BJP to shun vindictive politics.

State leaders of the CPI and the CPM alleged that the SAD-BJP government had done nothing for the welfare of people of terrorist-affected border state.

While talking to the Tribune after addressing a joint conference of Leftist parties, Professor Balwant Singh, state secretary, CPM, and Dr Joginder Dyal, national council member, CPI, alleged that the state government had failed to provide adequate facilities to the residents. While hundreds of employees had retired from education and health departments, no fresh appointments were made in these services.

The administration has virtually become a puppet in the hands of land mafias, alleged the leaders.

Showing concern over losses caused due to natural calamities, including recent floods in the state, Prof Balwant Singh rued that no compensation was paid to flood victims. The grant worth Rs 1,644 crore that was sent by the union government under the national calamity fund was not account for.

Terming agriculture to be the foundation of economy of the state, Prof Balwant regretted that even inputs, including fertilisers, were not available to the peasants.

Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon, district president, Baldev Singh Latala, general secretary Kissan Sabha, and Sukhdev Singh Bari, vice-chairman, All-India State Government Employees Federation, also addressed the conference.

Terming expulsion of Captain Amrinder Singh from assembly as undemocratic, CPI national council member Dr Joginder Dyal said a judicial commission should be constituted to decide such issues.

Dr Arun Mittra, state committee member, and Kartar Singh Buani, district secretary, were also present on the occasion.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 15
Major eye ailments, including myopia and hypermetropia, are caused due of a lack of concern about eye care among people living in rural and suburban areas.

This was observed by a team of ophthalmologists after examining around 350 persons at an eye camp organised by the health authorities at Anand Isher Senior Secondary School. A team of doctors, led by Dr Gurjit Singh, examined 150 patients for allied ailments.

Ophthalmic surgeon Dr Rajesh Garg said a majority of the patients had ignored eye health care. “Besides ignoring hygiene they paid little attention to nutritional constituents required for optimum vision," maintained the doctor.

Showing concern over deteriorating eyesight of students, Dr Garg called upon the management committees of educational institutes of the area to arrange routine check up to detect the problems at an early stage.

Referring to examination conducted on around 200 students, Dr Garg pointed out that a substantial number of them were suffering from myopia and related diseases.

Over 50 people were identified for implantation of intraocular lenses. The surgeries were performed at civil hospital and the beneficiaries were provided free spectacles today. Dr K.C. Goel, SMO, Malerkotla, and municipal councillor Bimal Sharma were also present.

Ludhiana, September 15
Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, organised a seminar on “Attitude - How IT matters?” for the MCA students here today.

The resource person was Raghav of the Nest Soft Wares (NSPL) who gave an informational and motivational talk on career prospects in IT. He asked the students to set their goals, choose the right path and have a positive attitude to achieve the same. He also discussed a paid training programme "EDGE" started by NSPL.

NSPL assures right quality, accuracy and high value returns. "EDGE builds a partnership between the academic world and the IT industry to develop industry-relevant skilled professionals. The activities of this programme are career development, professional industrial training placement, skill testing competitions and scholarships,” said Raghav.

All students of the MCA department attended the seminar and they were later screened through the aptitude test and HR interview.

Dr H.S. Singha, director, GNIMT, said the company selected 10 students for paid training and two students got selected for free training due of their extraordinary performance in test and interview.

Ludhiana, September 15
The Gayatri Club revived old memories in a function organised today, in which members of the club danced to the tunes of old Hindi numbers. The melodious songs from the times of Raj Kapoor and Nargis came alive on the stage.

Ravneet Kaur depicted the various stages of a person's life through her songs. The immortal song ‘Pyar hua, ikrar hua’ captivated everybody's heart.

"Today's songs are a hip-hop and full of jazz and loud beats, while the old songs were very soothing and help make you calm. The function was very beautifully choreographed, and everybody enjoyed it to heart's content," said one of the club members.

Ludhiana, September 15
In a clear violation of the MTP Act, drug stores in the city are indulging in rampant sale of MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) pills without the prescription of the qualified gynaecologists, thereby endangering the lives of women.

Misigest and misoprostol are the common pills for termination of pregnancy which are available at almost all chemist shops in the city. Despite the clear instructions written on the pack of tablets abstaining from their use without the recommendation of the doctor, women are using them on their own and on the advice of “dais”.

The pills priced between Rs 350-Rs 500 are used to terminate the unwanted pregnancy under the supervision of qualified gynaecologists. On the contrary, women are using them on their own which has increased the incidents of complicated abortions in hospitals across the city.

There have been incidents wherein women after administering these pills went into shock because of excessive bleeding and even lost their lives.

Ironically, Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr SP Sharma expressed ignorance about the practice, adding that, "Drug inspector will know about the jurisdiction of the department in the sale of MTP pills without prescription."

Terming the mafia run by drug store owners and 'dais' as culprits for the partially terminated pregnancies, Dr Neelam Sodhi, a senior gynaecologist at Guru Teg Bahadur Charitable Hospital, while protesting against the illegal practice, said, "The chemists are not only selling these tablets but are also encouraging the women and girls to use protodin injections to terminate unwanted pregnancy. The results are dire as these injections are used to control bleeding after childbirth," further complained the doctor.

Oblivious of the repercussions in failure of pregnancy termination through these pills, many patients subject their newborns to the risk of moebius syndrome (multiple malformation).

Dr Vaneet, president, Ludhiana Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists under the banner of FOGSI (Federation of Gynaecologists society of India), expressing helplessness, said the society could initiate action against obstetrician and gynaecologists alone but not the erring chemists and dais.

Taking a strong notice of the unlawful practice of selling these pills without the doctors’ prescription, gynaecologists have called on the district health authorities to intervene as this is a major factor that has facilitated female foeticide in the recent past.

Ludhiana, September 15
The authorities at Yuvraj hospital in Gyaspura have expressed concern over the municipal corporation’s failure to take notice of the stagnant water that has accumulated in a nearby vacant plot.

The knee-deep water in the plot, along with puddles, has become a breeding ground for the mosquitoes thus adding to the woes of people suffering from health hazards.

Dr Janinder, a doctor working at the hospital, while pointing towards the impeding danger of dengue, said, “Gastroenteritis was a major problem in the vicinity as the authorities concerned, despite our repeated requests, has failed to take action. Now, we are getting stray cases of diarrhoea and dengue, but there is probability of dengue outbreak if the stagnant water is not cleared from this particular plot and other dark and dingy corners of Gyaspura,” added the doctor.

Other doctors and staff at the hospital, speaking on behalf of the area residents, said, “The patients belong to poor section of society who can’t afford treatment at a private hospital. We help them to some extent, but then have to refer them to ESI hospital.”

The influx of patients suffering from stomach-related disorders during the rainy season is a constant process, which is followed by patients suffering from dengue and malaria in post-monsoon season, the doctors stated.

The hospital staff, while emphasising on the plight of the underprivileged inhabitants, added that they have to bear with overflowing sewerage, unclean drinking water, stinking heaps of garbage and mosquitoes in absence of fogging in their colonies. “The local politicians just use them as their vote bank, bribing them at the time of elections and forgetting about them soon after,” alleged an employee.

Ludhiana, September 15
The eight-year old project of railway overbridge in place of Lakkar bridge has once again come back to square one with the railway authorities asking the municipal corporation to seek the clearance from the Railways before going ahead with the project.

The fact came to light today during a meeting of officials of the municipal corporation, PWD (B&R) and the Railways to discuss the fate of pending project that is hanging fire for last eight years.

Though so many years have passed since the project was started but the MC is yet to get the project cleared from the railway authorities. The railway officials also asked the MC to mark the alignment of the overbridge on the ground so that its feasibility should be checked and project should be given clearance.

Besides, the project would cost dearly to number of shops near Shingar cinema that would be demolished before the municipal corporation starts with the completion work on railway overbridge.

Decision to this effect was also taken during the meeting. The meeting was chaired by commissioner, MC, G.S. Ghuman and attended by Rajpreet Singh Sidhu, XEN, PWD, Avtar Singh, section superintendent, Railways, besides many other officials.

The high tension wires near Society cinema will also have to be removed before going ahead with the project. 

Ludhiana, September 15
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum is without a regular president for the past several months, thanks to the indifferent attitude of state government in taking the issue lightly.

The post had fallen vacant after the retirement of presiding officer of the forum A.S. Narula in January 2008. He had retired after completing his tenure of five years as president. However, no regular president has been appointed after that.

Now, the consumer forum is functioning with part time presidents. In a make-shift arrangement, two officers posted in other consumer forums of state have been deputed here. One president attends this forum for three days and another for remaining two working days.

The president of Moga consumer forum, J.S. Chawla sits here and attends the cases on the first three working days of the week. While the president of Muktsar consumer forum, T.N. Vaidya functions here on Thursday and Friday.

The forum comprises a president and two members. However, one post of the member of the consumer forum is also lying vacant since long.

A member of the forum, Pooja Dewan, had retired in November 2007. The post is lying vacant since then. This has affected the functioning of the forum causing inconvenience to the consumers.

As per the norms, for deciding any matter, there should be quorum of at least a president and one member or two members in case of absence of president.

In order to cope with this situation, Jagjit Kaur Mander, a member of the Nawanshahar consumer forum has been directed to sit here twice a week.

Sources maintain that the president of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Justice R.S. Mongia had recommended the names for appointments after interviewing them a long time back, But the appointments were still awaited. 

Ludhiana, September 15
An exporter, Vinod Kumar, owner of JKW Exports, Kalyan Nagar, has been sentenced to 18-month imprisonment in a cheque bounce case.

Pronouncing the decision, judicial magistrate Charanjeet Arora directed the convict to pay Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation to the complainant. The court held that mere sentence would not serve the purpose and the complainant needs to be compensated.

The orders came on a complaint filed by a senior citizen, Sukhdev Raj Jain, owner of Sukdev Raj and Company, Ghas Mandi, Ludhiana.

The complainant had submitted before the court that he had advanced a loan of Rs 2 lakh to the accused in June 2005. Later, in order to repay the loan amount, the accused issued a cheque in August 2005.

However, when the cheque was sent to the banker for realisation, it was dishonoured as the accused was not having sufficient funds in his account. A legal notice was served on him to make the payment of cheque, but he failed, added the complainant.

On the other hand, the accused said that he had given the cheque as security for getting loan from the complainant. But neither he gave the loan amount nor returned the cheque in question.

But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found him guilty and sentenced accordingly.

Ludhiana, September 15
Nagma Mirza of Ludhiana district and Rajan Sharma of Ludhiana Basketball Academy have been selected to lead Punjab girls' and boys' teams, respectively, in the 25th Youth National Basketball Championship slated to be held at Bhilai in Chhattisgarh from September 18 to 25.

Releasing the list of players here today, Punjab Basketball Association honorary general secretary Teja Singh Dhaliwal said names of six cagers from the Ludhiana Basketball Academy have figured in the boys' squad.

The players were given a warm send-off prior to their departure for Bhilai. The association organised a function here today at Guru Nanak Stadium, during which office-bearers of the Ludhiana District Basketball Association and coaches were present to wish the players good luck.

The names of the Punjab teams are: Boys: Rajan Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Baljit Singh, Komalpreet Singh, Jimmy Joy and Harshavab, all from the Ludhiana Basketball Academy; Hardeep Singh from Mansa district; Ajay from Ludhiana district; Kuldeep from Muktsar district; Tarandeep Singh from Kapurthala district; Guriqbal and Jaskaran from Jalandhar district. Lakhwinder Singh has been appointed coach of the team.

Girls: Amandeep Kaur, Chetna Sharma and Rohini from Gurdaspur district; Jagroop Kaur, Kawalpreet Kaur and Mamta from Amritsar district; Nagma Mirza, Sandhya and Avneet Kaur from Ludhiana district; Gauri and Poonam from Kapurthala district and Karamjeet Kaur from Mansa district. Satpal will accompany the squad as coach.

Ludhiana, September 15
The Punjab Handball Association (PHA) will conduct trials to select the Punjab boy's team here at Punjab Agricultural University on September 17 at 2.30 pm, according to the association president, S S Channy.

Aspirants born on or after January 1, 1989 are eligible to take part in these trials. The selected players will represent the state in the Junior National Handball Championship scheduled to be held from October 1 to 7 at Bhilai, Channy said.

Doraha, September 15
Ramandeep Kaur was declared best player in inter-class kho- kho championship organised by sports council of Guru Nanak National College on the college grounds here today.

A total of five teams participated in the championship. The team of BA-II was placed on first position, while the trophy for runners-up team went collectively to MA, PGDCA and BA-III classes. Sandeep Kaur was declared first runner up and Jasmeet Kaur best chaser.

Special guest Prof Balwant Singh Pangali, general secretary of college management committee, and Prof Harwinder Kaur, girls’ wing incharge distributed the prizes among winners. Prof Pangali exhorted the students to play with dedication and team spirit.