Ludhiana, October 6
Security arrangements made by the city police in the district court complex went up in smoke today, when a witness in a rape case allegedly pumped three bullets into a youth, who came in support of the accused inside the court premises here today.

Manvir Singh, a resident of Gill village, was rushed to DMC hospital where his condition is reported to be serious. He sustained one bullet shot in his chest and two in his legs.

An advocate, who tried to mediate, also sustained injuries.

Interestingly, the shootout took place, when an MP and an MLA were present inside the court premises.

Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, MP and Harish Rai Dhanda, MLA, were attending the facilitation ceremony, just 50 metres away where the alleged shootout had taken place.

Manvir Singh, the victim, had come in support of the two accused, Ram Sharan, alias Mona, and Amandeep Singh, who are already undergoing imprisonment in the case. Both of them were also present in the court along with their supporters.

According to an eyewitness, the comments passed by the accused in the rape case provoked the witness and both parties started scolding each other outside the court of Additional Session Judge A. S.Grewal.

Sources said the presence of Manvir Singh, who came in support of the accused, irked Inderjeet Singh, Bhagwant, Jasvir Singh and Gurdeep of Shajad village, who were the witness in the rape case and had come in support of the rape victim.

The eyewitness said after attending the court, both parties exchanged blows at the ground floor. One of the witnesses allegedly fired four shots at Manvir Singh and fled from the spot.

The sources said both parties were up in arms against each other over this issue.

SP (City I) Rupinder Singh said: “Three empty bullet shells were found from the spot. An attempt to murder case has been registered against the four accused.”

However, no accused has been nabbed so far. The police has launched a manhunt for the accused.

Another eyewitness Naveen Sharma, who happens to be an advocate, tried to intervene but was attacked by the accused, due to which he sustained minor injuries on his hand.

Ludhiana, October 6
“No one is safe in the court complex” was the spontaneous reaction of the Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, G.K. Rai, when he visited the spot in the court complex where assailants fired a few shots before fleeing from the spot.

The Sessions Judge called SSP, Ludhiana, R.K.Jaiswal to his chamber and asked him to make adequate security arrangements in order to avoid such incidents within the court complex in the future.

Lack of adequate security in the court complex, where thousands of litigants, lawyers, judges, and judicial staff visit everyday, was a matter of grave concern. This matter would be reported to the Punjab and Haryana High Court soon, added Rai.

He said the police post was established here only a few months ago but that, too, had not proved effective to stop such incidents.

Showing strong resentment over the lack of security arrangements, city lawyers went on strike today afternoon. A call has also been give by lawyers to observe strike tomorrow.

Condemning the incident, District Bar Association president Parupkar Singh Ghumman said the firing incident had not come in as any surprise as the local police as well as the district administration had shown an absolute lax attitude over security arrangements in the court complex.

‘Is is not absolute callousness to witness hooligans enter the court complex unchecked, fire and then even run away without any resistance. We have on several occasions requested the local police and the administration to take necessary steps but no heed had been paid. The result was in front of us, which was shocking and disturbing’, added Ghumman.

Ludhiana, October 6
In the wake of acute financial crunch being faced by the state government, especially for major developmental projects, the sale of vacant government land for commercial purposes in major cities has come in handy to all local bodies and other government agencies.

Close on the heels of two chunks of the prime land in the mega city having been transferred to the municipal corporation by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust for sale through open auction, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has identified yet another 2.8 acre land on the Ferozepur Road which will be put under the hammer soon for commercial purposes.

The piece of land, bound by the Ferozepur Road, a state highway on one side and 100-foot wide road leading to the Lodhi Club in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar on the other side, is located just adjacent to West End Mall and it will be put for sale through open auction sometimes in November after the end of festival season.

The GLADA authorities have already commenced demolition of commercial booths, constructed in a part of the site so that the entire stretch can be prepared as a single chunk of the vacant land. Going by the land prices in prime commercial areas of the city, the sale of this land is expected to yield anything around Rs 300 crore. Only last month, GLADA had sold 3.6 acres from out of the old district courts complex for Rs 228.26 crore.

Talking to The Tribune, R.K. Sharma, superintending engineer, GLADA, said in the era of shopping malls and multiplexes, there were no takers for small booths in this up market commercial area.

“Moreover, it has been decided at the government level to sell the entire land in a single chunk to raise a substantial amount which could be spent on major development works like construction of flyovers as also widening and carpeting of major roads in the city, to be undertaken by GLADA,” Sharma said.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 6
The Sudhar police has arrested a cashier of a dera at Saholi village in Ludhiana, for allegedly stabbing a farmer to death on Saturday evening. Dispute over the non-payment of proceeds of wheat collected from the villagers, was reported to be cause behind the rivalry.

A police team led by SHO Manohar Lal arrested Amrik Singh of Saholi village while he was trying to leave the area yesterday evening. He had been booked for allegedly killing Jarnail Singh (61), farmer of the same village, on Saturday evening.

Investigation revealed that the enmity between Amrik Singh, cashier of Baba Roshan Shah Dera, and Jarnail Singh over the issue of the non- deposition of the proceeds of wheat donated to the dera by the villagers.

In a statement made before the Sudhar police, Baljinder Singh alleged that Amrik Singh had stabbed his (Baljinder’s) father, Jarnail Singh, to death. Jarnail Singh had purchased some quantity of wheat from the dera organisers some time ago. Though the villagers for preparing food for devotees visiting the religious place donated the wheat, the organisers, including the accused, had sold it to Jarnail Singh for Rs 1,600. Amrik Singh received the amount from Jarnail Singh but failed to deposit it the dera’s accounts.

The victim and the suspect developed enmity over this issue.

“When I tried to ask about the non-deposition of the amount in dera’s account, Amrik Singh, who had received the payment from our family threatened me of dire consequences. He fought with us when we were standing in street on Saturday evening and stabbed my father to death after villagers persuaded me and my brother, Buta, to go into our house,” Baljinder told the police.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Amrik Singh had used kitchen knife to kill Jarnail Singh. Jarnail Singh died on the spot after he was stabbed on the left side of the abdomen just below chest.

The police has seized the weapon from the accused possession.

Ludhiana, October 6
Overlooking their economic and communal divides, city residents, came together to keep alive the hundred year old ritual of taking out ‘dola’ carrying idols of lord Rama, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughan and Sita from Thakurdwara Nauhrian to the Ramlila maidan in Daresi.

Human ethos wins the race against all the ongoing technological advancement especially when it comes to traditional fervour of Dussehra mela in Daresi. A Sikh family of ‘kahars’ abiding to their single-minded reverence carries the ‘dola’ weighing between 400-600 kilograms.

Mahinder Singh, the great grandson of Harnama Ram, and his eleven cousins are from the fourth generation that has carried the ‘singhasan’ from every nook and corner of old city since the inception of Dussehra mela in Daresi.

Tracing back the history of ‘dola’, patron Ramlila committee, Daresi Krishan Kumar Marwaha said, “Against all odds, the customary practise has carried on uninterrupted even during curfew hours in terrorism days. The administrative officials taking into account sentiments of the people provided enough security for peaceful procession,” stated Krishan Kumar.

Twelve kahars from the same family carry the bedecked ‘dola’ covering different routes earmarked as per occasions beginning with Ramlila and concluding on Bharat milap.

The ‘Sita vivah’ performed on the fourth day of Navratras is still one of the most awaited occasions for the families referred to as crème of the crop in Ludhiana. A doctor couple while phrasing their passion for the event said, "We might have shifted from the old city but the soul is still there.”

Ludhiana, October 6
Sessions Judge G.K.Rai today adjourned the hearing on the application seeking cancellation of bail to 18 accused in the city centre case, against whom a witness has filed application.

The court asked the defence lawyers to argue on the application on November 1. The defence lawyers had requested for hearing them on the question of maintainability of the application.

Sunil Kumar Day, a witness in this case, had alleged that the owners and officials of Today Homes company were threatening him to resile from the statement given to the Vigilance Bureau. It was also alleged in the application that he was being pressurised by adopting unfair means. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 6
Even after the ban on smoking at public places, most educational institutions of Sangrur and Ludhiana districts have failed to implement the orders of the district administration regarding the provisions of the cigarettes and other tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.

What to talk of sensitisation of students against smoking and consumption of tobacco products, these institutes did not bother to display notices warning traders against display and sale of these products.

Contrary to the provisions of the Act, most educational institutes have some hidden spot for puffing the banned products.

About three years ago, the deputy commissioners of both districts had directed the heads of all educational institutes to ensure that cigarettes and other tobacco products were not being displayed or sold within a 100-yard radius of their institutes.

Though they had asked them to display notice boards on their institutes regarding ban on the sale of these products, yet no such board was seen displayed in any institute of this area.

As per the Act, an owner or manager or any person in charge of the affairs of educational institutions should display a board outside the premises stating that the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in an area within 100 yards of the institute was strictly prohibited and that it was an offence punishable with fine up to Rs 200.

A quick visit to the area revealed that most educational institutes had at least one sale point where cigarettes or the other tobacco products were being sold openly.

There were a few institutes that had a cigarette vendor adjoining the boundary wall but no school or college was found displaying the required board. Heads of some educational institutes even felicitated smoking at their offices by providing ashtrays and cigarette lighters to resourceful persons visiting them.

Besides flouting the rules, these organisations have even ignored the recommendations of the World Health Organisation which urged the member states to resort to legislation and other effective measures for protecting their citizens from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke and other harms.

Enquiries from organisers of these institutes revealed that most of them were not aware of the consequences of the disobeying the Act.

They considered a fine of Rs 200 to be a minor punishment in comparison to the income from their customers.

It was reported that teachers of some institutes usually asked their students to bring cigarettes for them from nearby shops thus violating the rules themselves.

Ludhiana, October 6
The dean, College of Home Science, Neelam Grewal, has reportedly issued letters to the director Students Welfare and the female complainant to meet tomorrow for the proceeding of an inquiry into the alleged sexual harassment case.

It was also learnt that certain students of the Home Science department would be submitting a signatured campaign to the dean late evening, for conducting the inquiry in a fair manner.

Keeping anonymity, one of the students disclosed the incident had brought disrepute to the university. “We have respect for both the parties. It will be unfortunate if Dulcha Singh Brar, against whom charges have been framed, is found guilty. But, it will be more shameful if fake complaint has been lodged to defame the official. We certainly want the truth to come out. The signed memorandum is being given by students for conducting a fair inquiry,” the student said.

Meanwhile, this issue has become a topic of debate in the university. The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA) seem to have extended its support to Dulcha Singh Brar. The representatives of the association had met the vice-chancellor M.S. Kang recently in this regard and had requested him to get the inquiry completed at the earliest.

“The controversy must not be dragged too much. Whatever the truth is, it should come out. Such incidents bring disrepute to any institution,” he said.

While several faculty members feel that teachers must not involve themselves in such sensitive issues, a senior faculty member said the committee had been constituted, let it decide the verdict on the basis of statements recorded and proofs submitted. 

Ludhiana, October 6
Rainfall in the region in last 24 hours has left farmers worried. Though not much damage has been done to standing paddy crop but if it rain again, the matured crop will be badly affected. According to experts with the agro-meteorological department of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), strong winds accompanied with rain prove more harmful to the standing field crop. Weathermen predict cloudy weather accompanied with mild to medium rainfall at many places in the next 24 hours.

Dr G.S. Bains, head of the agro met department of PAU, told The Tribune that the farmers had every reason to be worried about their crop. "The crop is ready to be cultivated any time (depending on sowing process) by the farmers. The sudden rain can damage the crop. Reports of the damage done to vegetable crops have already been reported from several parts in the state. Clouds and rain are expected in the region in the next 24 hours, which can pose a threat to the crop", said Dr Bains.

President Bharti Kisan Union (BKU), Balbir Singh Rajewal, said so far not much damage had been reported to the crop from any part in Punjab. But if rain continued, the farmer will suffer huge losses, he said. "The standing crop falls flat due to strong winds that accompany rain. Secondly, harvesting with combine machines will become difficult and the farmers will have to engage in manual labour, which will prove costlier. Rain can damage the grain to the tune of 3-4 quintal per acres", said Rajewal adding that this season, harvesting will continue till mid November as paddy was sown late because of the government's strict guidelines.

He further added that at certain places, the crop had not even matured properly. "The farmers have already taken the matter of relaxing the strict guidelines on paddy with the Central government. We expect the state government to come to the rescue of the farmers, too. The farmers can not fight with nature and the government should understand their plight", said Rajewal.

Ludhiana, October 6
Dandiya is the mesmerising poetry of human movements in tune to captivating rhythmic beats, intermittent jingling sound of bells and clattering of sticks with the electrifying flow of colours and lights in the backdrop. For those who have entered, even once, in the magnetic range of its enticement, it is poetry par excellence. Since it is a globalised social dance, so come Navratras and not only the Gujju community, but also the entire city is in the grip of dandia and garba fever.

Dandiya has successfully traversed the bounds of all human contrivances of nationality, religion, and sectarian interests and people belonging to all religions can be seen dancing to the tunes of Gujrati folk music. Women wear traditional dresses such as colourful embroidered choli, ghagra and bandhani dupattas dazzling with mirror work and heavy jewellery, while men dress themselves in special turbans and kedias.

“I had heard a lot about dandiya in the serials and movies but I got the first hand experience on last night during the ongoing Navratra festival at Gita Mandir. Though it was always a crowd puller of sorts but it was not so popular as it is today. However, it is still having much of the religious and ritual flavour but it has amassed in its growth, from the cultural transitions of Gujarat and Rajastan”, says Anu, a fashion deisgning student.

Sudesh, a senior citizen said that Navratras are a great festivity time for them and on the last day the families of their community get together for the puja in the morning. Throwing some light on the dance he added that “raas” or “dandiya raas”, along with garba, is the featured dance of Navratra evenings. “There are several forms of “raas”, but “dandia raas”, performed during Navratra in Gujarat is the most popular form.

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 6
Panjab Government would have gone bankrupt and would have failed to pay salaries to its employees had the centre not provided financial aid to the state, said former Pardesh Congress chief, Shamsher Singh Dullo, to the mediapersons here after attending a social function at the residence of district Congress general secretary, Malkiat Singh, at Kapoorgarh village.

Lashing out at the tall talks of development by his government, Dullo, asserted that Centre has provided 20 lakh Tongrain for distribution among the people living below poverty line besides various other schemes for weaker section of society. The finance minister has admitted the poor financial health of the state.

The Congress, under the leadership of Nehru family, has made unique contribution to pay its reverence towards the Sikh gurus by releasing a grant of rupees 15, 000 crore on '300 sala gurta ganddi sangam' at Hazoor Sahib, Rs 200 crore was given on ‘300 sala khalsa sthapna divas' to be celebrated at Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo.

What is the contribution of Badal's government in such historical events except spending ‘guru ki golak’ public offerings for their personal benefits? Moreover, the Panjab government has failed to give the expenditure statement of grants to the Centre so far. When in opposition, Badal had been opposing VAT, but now he and his colleagues are spending money on luxuries.

Terming the Nehru Pariwar's respect for Sikh Maryada is evident from the visit of Rahul Gandhi of Panjab state and he first paid respect to the Golden Temple. and took langar in the langar hall.

Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, MLA, Dr Harbans Lal, former chief Parlimentary secretary, Congress leader, Balwinder Singh Kotli, youth congress district senior vice-president, Jagwinder Singh Rehal, former council chief, Jagmeet Singh, Sahota and Surinder Singh advocate were also present on the occasion.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 6
Intent to promote their ventures forced them to settle at other towns and cities, but they remained connected to their roots through Ramlila during Navratras. Their love for acting and belief in principles of lord Rama and other characters of Ramayana is so keen that they schedule their business commitments according to Ramlila calendar.

Toni Kansal of local Chand Cinema road, now settled at Dyal Nagar, Ghumar Mandi, Ludhiana, has been playing the role of lord Rama and Lakshmana for over 12 years. He is so committed to Ramlila that he reschedules his business engagement in consultation with Bharat Bhushan, director of the club.

Kansal, along with his fellow artistes, claims that staging of Ramlila benefits all sections of society by spreading messages about ideal role of persons in his or her various capacities.

“If I have succeeded in maintaining teetotaller and pious lifestyle, it is due to my acting as lord Rama and Lakshmana. For months together I remember that viewers, including my friends and family members, expected me to behave like an ideal person in real life too,” said Kansal adding that he used to sleep on ground for years. Late Kewal Krishan Dhand, then director of the club, persuaded him to do so. Jatinder Kumar Laddi of Gill Road, Ludhiana, plays the role of Meghnath every year. Besides rehearsals and stage performances, he supports the club financially.

Ludhiana, October 6
It would take few minutes and the effigy of Ravana would be up in the ashes on Dusshera. City would enjoy the win of good over the evil but nobody ever wondered how much hard work had been poured in by the artists to make these effigies. Though Dusshera is a Hindu festival but interestingly, the fire to the effigies at Daresi ground would be lit by the Muslim artists who have specially flown in from Muzzafarnagar to prepare the same. 

In other way these festivals also help in developing a strong bond between the people of different religions and communities. The effigy of Ravana at Daresi ground will stand tallest in the city at 80 feets.

It is not the first time that these artists have come so far to prepare the effigy of Ravana in the city. They have been coming here since generations. Ishaq Ahmed the leader of the group, said his fathers and forefathers have been coming in the city to prepare the effigy and now his son has also started accompanying him. It has been more than a month that Ahmed along with his son and other members of their group have arrived in the city to prepare the main feature of this festivity.

A group of twenty people are busy as the final day is fast approaching. Some are busy making the jewellery while others are stitching the costumes while the remaining are busy in panting the faces of the effigies.

Adding on Ahmed's son said it is he along with his father who decides about the dress and jewellery of the Ravana and other effigies. "Since Ravana is always dressed in black so we have no other colour option but this time we have taken the black cloth with shinning silver dots to give that special 'shimmering' look to the dress of the main protagonist", he said.

Further he added that when it comes to jewellery they have numerous options as they can choose from a wide range of colours. The jewellery is also prepared using coloured papers and hard board. "Back in Muzzafarnagar we prepare hukkas. Since it is a Muslim dominated area so hukkas are always in demand. Coming to Ludhiana is a lucrative option for us as we can earn some quick bucks within a short span of time", added Ahmed.

Ludhiana, October 6
A march to commemorate the 300 years of ‘Gurta Gaddi Divas’ of Guru Granth Sahib will be held from Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib on October 11.

While addressing the press conference here today, president of Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, Pritpal Singh, said the march will start from the gurudwara at 8.30 am and then will pass through Jagraon bridge, Vishavkarma chowk, Campa Cola chowk, Aatam Park, Dugri road and then pass through Model Town area, Sarabha Nagar to Ferozepur road and Ghumar Mandi and back to Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib.

He appealed to all the religious organisations, women satsang sabhas, and youngsters to take part in the march.

Special functions would also be held on the gurudwara premises from October 8 to 24 during which the parkash utsav of Guru Ram Das would be celebrated from October 8 to 10.

Ludhiana, October 6
The engineering industry, using iron and steel as its main raw material, has asked the government to take effective steps to curb the rise in prices of steel.

Among other measures, it has suggested setting up of a “Steel Price Regulatory Commission” comprising government officials, as well as representatives of main producers and steel consuming industry.

Holding a meeting at New Delhi on October 4, the steel consumers council under the chairmanship of union minister of steel Ram Vilas Paswan, functionaries of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, stressed main producers of iron and steel be directed in order to provide input cost of their material on a website as the consumers were ignorant about it.

The general secretary of the association, Varinder Kapoor, who attended the meeting along with joint secretary Rajinder Singh Pappu, further urged the minister to increase the export duty on steel from 15 to 20 per cent so that the steel producers would rather meet the domestic demand of the raw material than resorting to exports.

Paswan said the producers, including Steel Authority of India Limited, and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited had been instructed to discontinue the practise of entering into “purchase term contract” with the secondary producers, and instead allot material to stockists and consumers at same prices. It was made clear that essential raw material would be allotted to big, medium and small units as per their actual demand and requirement.

Those, present in the meeting, were of the unanimous view that stern measures were called for to discipline the main producers, and if possible, the government ought to bring the iron and steel material under the Essential Commodities Act to check hoarding and profiteering.

Ludhiana, October 6
The department of surgery, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), is organising an international conference and workshop on October 7, which will conclude on October 8 on the theme “upper GI, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery”.

The conference aims to address modern surgical management of all related diseases as renowned international surgeons, including Professor Sudhakar Rao, chief of surgery and hepatobiliary surgeon from Royal Perth Hospital, Australia, will talk on the management of various pancreatic and liver malignancies. 

Swarg Dham, a cremation ground situated at Phase-2, urban estate, Dugri, Ludhiana, is not being maintained properly by the authorities concerned. One can see long and thick bushes there. No light arrangement has been made. Recently, I had to attend the last rites of my close relatives, when I came to know about the lack of basic facilities there. Woods for the cremation are lying open in rain.

The cremation ground is used by residents of Phase-1, Phase-II and the Dhandra road localities. The residents appeal to the councillor of ward No 40 to take immediate steps for the development and maintenance of Sawarg Dham.

Manjit Singh, Ludhiana

Readers are invited to mail letters (not more than 200 words) at "ludhiana@tribunemail.com" or post the same to The Tribune, 1, 2 Improvement Trust Building, Badaur House, Clock Tower, Ludhiana.

Mandi Ahmedgarh,  October 6
The Sudhar police has booked a dead man for allegedly smuggling poppy husk. Besides this, the police also claims to have recovered about 2 kg of contraband from his possession.

Avtar Singh of Hera village, whose body was found lying near Sudhar village market today, has been booked under Sections 25-54-59 of the NDPS Act for allegedly possessing and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances after the police recovered about 2 kg of poppy husk from his ‘possession’.

Sources at the Sudhar police station revealed that Avtar Singh of Heran village had left his home yesterday. When he did not return till late night yesterday, his family members started searching for him. Passers by spotted his body lying at the market and informed the police.

Sudhar SHO Manohar Lal began the probe after receiving information about the presence of an unidentified body in the market and deputed his staff to initiate probe into the sequence of events leading to his death. The deceased, identified as Avtar Singh, was suspected to suffering from epilepsy as thick foam was seen oozing out of his mouth.

His body bore no external injury marks. To know the precise cause of death, the police got the postmortem conducted on the body. Further action will be initiated after receipt of the postmortem report.

Senior officials in the police department said, the case had been registered to complete technicalities. “If investigations don’t lead to association of some other person with the seized contraband, the case will be cancelled,” said a police official.

Ludhiana, October 6
Resident doctors at DMCH today staged a protest against beating of their colleague Dr. Alok Jain by attendants of patient on Saturday.

Terming violence against the doctors as uncalled for, the doctors called the hospital management to make proper arrangements for their security. The doctors said if the management failed to take immediate measures for their security, they would go on a strike.

The incident occurred on Saturday when Sushma (35), a resident of GDB Nagar, Khanna, was admitted in DMCH in a critical condition.

The patient suffered a cardiac arrest following which the doctor on emergency duty, Dr Alok Jain, gave her CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation) but was unable to revive her. As the doctor declared her dead, the attendants of the patient attacked the doctor injuring him badly.

However, the timely intervention of security guard saved the doctor.

Extending support to the protesting doctors, the hospital management today promised to bring changes in the security arrangements for the doctors. Also, a strict action against the offenders would be initiated under Punjab Protection of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions Act 2008, management members added.

An FIR against the guilty was also registered yesterday.

Dr B.S. Shah, a medical superintendent at DMCH while addressing media said, "Patients come in critical condition to the hospital wherein we make immediate arrangements for the required treatment but violence on any account is uncalled for."

He also said the hospital authorities would deal strictly with people indulging in violence against the doctors and the institution. 

Ludhiana, October 6
Additional Sessions Judge G.S.Saran today granted bail to tehsildar-cum-sub registrar (West) Arvind Parkash Verma and his gunman Harjinder Singh, in a bribery case.

Despite bail, the duo were not released from the jail, as the surety bonds could not be furnished. The orders were pronounced by the court at around 5 pm. One of the accused Parminder Pal Singh withdrew his bail application today.

Meanwhile, one of the accused Gopal Krishan has got interim anticipatory bail from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Earlier, his anticipatory bail application was declined by a local court.

Arguing the bail application, the defence counsel said his client was a victim of political vendetta.

A false case was planted upon him. Moreover, the alleged recovery had already been effected. The accused was in judicial custody since long and no more required for any investigation.

The Vigilance Bureau had arrested the tehsildar on the charges of accepting Rs 10,000 through his employees on September 19. The Vigilance Bureau sleuths had taken action following a complaint lodged by an NRI. He remained in police 
custody for four days. Then he was remanded in judicial custody. 

Ludhiana, October 6
The 9th edition of the Punjab Schools Hockey League for boys u-19 to be organised by the Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Club will be held at Jarkhar village, near here, from October 14 to 18 in which over 12 teams will slug it out.

Players born on or after January 1, 1990 are eligible to take part in this league. Interested teams may confirm their participation with the chief organiser, Harminder Pal Singh, at 98142-16505 by October 10.

According to sarpanch Dapinder Singh and the Jarkhar Hockey Academy president, Satinder Singh Gill of Canada, defending champions of Sangrur Academy besides Dala Academy, Moga, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Academy, Amritsar, Jarkhar Academy, SAI Centre, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Moga, Jagtar XI, DAV School, Chandigarh, and other top outfits of the state would be seen in action.

The matches will be played on league-cum-knock-out basis. Manpreet Singh Ayali, chairman, Ludhiana Zila Parishad will inaugurate the league.

Ludhiana, October 6
The District Sports Office, Ludhiana, will conduct trials here on October 7 at Guru Nanak Stadium and Punjab Agricultural University campus ground from 10 am onwards to select the women players, district sports officer (DSO) Jasvinder Singh Bhandari said.

The trials would be held in disciplines of athletics, basketball, badminton, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, handball, gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, lawn tennis and volleyball. While hockey and lawn tennis trials would be at the PAU campus ground, others would be organised at the Guru Nanak stadium, he said.

The selected players would represent Ludhiana in the forthcoming Punjab State Women’s Games, scheduled to be held at Bathinda from October 11 to 14, Bhandari said.