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Brick kiln owner shot dead
Safai karamcharis postpone indefinite strike to Oct 21
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Three shopping malls set to open in next two months
Youth held with 1 kg charas, accomplice escapes
Of scrap butterflies, dried-leaf Ganeshas and faces that speak
Allottees of LIG flats in Bibi Bhani Complex await possession
Child helpline rescues mentally challenged girl
Tracer Club win hockey tourney
YAC to hold dharnas from October 18
Grin and bear the bumpy ride on these ‘roads’
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Brick kiln owner shot dead
Jalandhar, October 9 A bullet pierced through Bahadur Singh’s chest. The motive behind the shooting incident could not be ascertained. The assailants, escaped after committing the crime. The SHO, Maqsudan police station, Paramjit Singh, revealed that some passersby informed family members of Bahadur Singh. The police also reached the spot after receiving the news. The SHO said the family rushed critically injured Bahadur Singh to a nearby private hospital but he could not survive. The body was handed over to the family after postmortem at the Civil Hospital this afternoon. The SHO said the type of weapon used in the crime had not been identified so far. The police had registered a case of murder under Section 302 of the IPC against unidentified assailants at the Maqsudan police station. A hunt for the suspects had also been launched by the police, he added. The police had also rounded up some suspects and started investigations. |
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Safai karamcharis postpone indefinite strike to Oct 21
Jalandhar, October 9 From tomorrow morning, the safai karamcharis would start lifting the garbage and cleaning the city from 6 am onwards for organising the Valmiki Jyanti shoba yatra in the city. Valmiki Jyanti falls on October 11. Members of the Nigam Safai Mazdur Union said the shobha yatra would commence at 2 pm, before which the city would be completely cleaned. The decision to defer the strike came following an assurance by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting held with various safai karamcharis’ unions under the Safai Karamchari Sangharsh Morcha, Punjab, at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. General secretary of the Nigam Safai Mazdur Union Ashok Dheel said Badal invited members of various unions to Chandigarh on October 21 at 5 pm. The safai karmcharis had been demanding the cancellation of the allotment of solid waste treatment plants to private companies, regularisation of safai sewaks working under the Mohalla Sanitation Committees and covering safai sewaks under the pension scheme. “The strike has been lifted subject to the approval of our three main demands. If the Chief Minister failed to fulfil them we would restart our statewide agitation from October 22. And this time it would continue with a hunger strike,” said Chandan Garewal, president of the union. In fact, even the safai karamcharis had also been looking forward to a way out for organising the Valmiki Jyanti celebrations in the city. Thankfully, the assurance of Badal came at a right time. Ashok Dheel added that they would boycott the SAD-BJP combine in the upcoming Assembly elections if their demands were not met even after a meeting with the CM on October 21. It is pertinent to be mentioned here that the strike, which began on October 4, had virtually brought the entire cleanliness system of the city crumbling down. From the sub-urban areas to the posh localities of the city, like Model Town, Jawahar Nagar, Cool Road and Urban Estates, all one could witness was heaps of garbage as no door-to-door lifting of garbage was done by the safai karamcharis. |
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Three shopping malls set to open in next two months
Jalandhar, October 9 As many as three shopping malls — DLF Galleria, MBD Neopolis and The City Square — are set to open in the next two months. Besides, Hotel Kamal Palace is set to open its new branch in Chhoti Baradari market on October 11. The construction work of MBD Neopolis in a covered area of 1.8 lakh sq feet near BMC Chowk is over. “The mall is likely to get opened in two months’ time as anchor store Shoppers’ Stop and cine group PVR are busy with their own fittings,” said Rakesh Rawat, General Manager of the mall. The mall will house a four-screen PVR multiplex, kids’ gaming zone and a food court. The finishing work is on at The City Square and it should open in the next two months, said Anil Chopra, a leading realtor and owner of the PPR group. The USP of the mall was that each shop faced the front side and their display windows could be seen from outside at one glance. Chopra revealed that he was coming up with two
new innovative projects, “We have just started on with the construction of a mini-plex near PPR Mall at Mithapur Chowk. The two 100-seat cine halls that we are planning to construct will have luxurious dining facilities for everyone.” The group is also planning to start another project “Parikrama” near Jyoti Chowk, which if gets sanctioned will be the first revolving restaurant in the city. Constructed in an area of 1.8 lakh sq feet on Nakodar Road, The DLF Gilleria, is also set to come up in two to three months. “The mall will have Reliance as the anchor store. Most of the showrooms will be for office purposes. Besides, there will be a food court and a gaming zone. There will be a parking space of nearly 125 to 150 cars in the double basement,” said Nikhil, Marketing Manager of the company. A lounge restaurant Flame Grill ‘n’ Garden got opened recently near Urban Estate, Phase-II, recently. Harkirat Toor, owner, said he was offering Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Lucknavi and Mughlai food. Live singing programmes were also likely to start soon, he added. Another restaurant Park Balluchi opened inside Viva Collage Mall this week. Other mega projects in the pipeline in the city include 180-room Lally Hotel on the Jalandhar-Phagwara road to be managed by the renowned Taj group. “It will have two banquets, a spa and parking provision for 200 cars. The construction is due to start next month”, said Sarabdeep Lally, owner of the group. The Lotus Bawa group is also scheduled to restart their pending mall project from next month. The group has snapped ties with MRMGF group and is now proceeding independently. “Coming up in a covered floor area of nearly 5.5 lakh sq feet, it has a parking provision of nearly 1,000 cars. Three-screen multiplex is to be set up by the Adlabs”, said Atamjit Bawa, owner of the group. |
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Youth held with 1 kg charas, accomplice escapes
Jalandhar, October 9 The CIA staff in charge said during interrogation the arrested youth was identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Baldev
Nagar. His accomplice, who managed to escape was identified as Dharmendra of the same locality, he added. The police found that Vijay Kumar had concealed the contraband in plastic packets by tying it to his thighs. The police said the suspect admitted to have been active in the trade for quite sometime and used to sell the drug hereon retail basis.A case under the NDPS Act was registered against the duo, he added. The police had also impounded the motorcycle used in
the crime. |
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Of scrap butterflies, dried-leaf Ganeshas and faces that speak
Jalandhar, October 9 The exhibition, Kaleidoscope-2011, is showcasing paintings, sculptures and photographs. A look at the foursome that made it possible: Name: Amita Age: 39 Started: As a kid, taking painting classes from elder sister. For her first lesson, she painted Tin Tin. Talks of: Women, emotions, subtleties. USP: Surreal mysterious greens tinged with blacks and reds. About her: A housewife, she started early, but constantly kept at it even after she got married. Uses acrylics and waters. Paints women, lovers, bonds, and mountains (water colours). Her paintings have something dark lurking beneath their surface. She herself likes leaving things subtle and unsaid. Is a hit with Delhi galleries. Her ‘Posession’ was priced at Rs 60,000 on suggestions from people from a Delhi gallery. Says: “My work is loved more when people don’t know I’m from Ludhiana. The same goes for all the artists in the region. People think if you are from New Delhi or Mumbai you are a better painter.” Shows: Two solo, four group. Just held a show at the Taj Palace in New Delhi and will hold another (group show) at the Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, on October 27. Masterpiece: Possession Name: Harpreet Singh Boparai Age: 30 Started: In 2003, with a resolve to become a good artist. USP: Give him scrap, he will give you a masterpiece. Has made, dogs, flowers, ostriches, martyrs, women and butterflies out of scrap. Talks of: Simple things, philosophically. About him: Born at the Ghudani Kalan village in Ludhiana. He took a lot of time evolving. First started working with wood, POP, cement, mixed media, etc, he slowly found his calling in scrap. The first work, milk cans shredded at the bottom, with lids for the head and handles for the hair, found many takers at his first exhibition. He has sold works to the likes of Maneka Gandhi and Gurdas Mann. Mann is a fan, he gifted him a Waris Shah sculpture. His works has also got takers abroad. His Bhagat Singh and Durga Bhabhi sculptures also adorn the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall. Says: “There are individuals and there are crowds. I have always wanted to become an artist that stands out from the crowd of other artists.” Shows: Over 10. A couple of national shows and he has an upcoming art exhibition by an international society as well as one at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. Masterpiece: The dog with a cycle-seat face and the needle-lady. Name: Dilpreet Age: 28 Started: During her fine arts course at BBK DAV College in Amritsar. USP: Vibrant palette, mastery over geometrical patterns. Talks of: Emotions, human beings, spirituality. About her: Fresh into the field, she is creating waves with her work. An assistant professor for fine arts at a local college, she has already been approached by some local art groups for teaming up with her. Says: “I dream of taking up painting as a full-time vocation someday.” Shows: This was the fourth. Masterpiece: Victory Name: Sandeep Sharma Age: 35 Started: Five years ago USP: Photography with a difference. Talks of: Poetry, symbolism and literature through his photographs. About him: A lecturer in Punjabi at a government school in Ludhiana, he has been lauded for the abstraction in his photographs. Has been a party of several contests too. A childhood friend of Boparai, both of them have inspired each other in the arts. Says: “While Harminder is responsible for my shift from only poetry to arts, I have inspired him to write. He made me an artist and I made him a poet.” Shows: Five Masterpiece: Ganesha
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Allottees of LIG flats in Bibi Bhani Complex await possession
Jalandhar, October 9 While the allottees claim that the construction was to be over in May, 2011 and flats were also to be handed over to them around the same time, the work was already five months behind schedule. Since only the basic civic work is yet over with entire fitting and finishing work is still pending, they apprehend that the project could get delayed by another five months. A signboard at the site, which falls in the JIT scheme of Guru Amar Dass Nagar, also mentions May 16, 2011, as the date of completion. The estimated cost of the project, which started on November 17, 2009, has been pegged at 9.86 crore. Under the scheme, the trust had proposed to construct 276 flats in a total area of 28 kanals and nine marlas, originally with the Municipal Corporation. Since the officials have failed to acquire a small portion of land from the proposed site, the construction of eight flats is still pending. The brochure of the scheme mentions that the ground floor of the flat in the covered area of 542 sq feet has been priced at Rs 6,01,800, first floor for Rs 5,64,800 and second floor for Rs 5,33,100. The flooring work, laying of kitchen shelf, fitting of doors and other finishing works are still pending. The railings of the staircase are also yet to be fitted. The pace of work also seemed to be too slow. B.S. Saini, an allottee, said, “The delay in giving possession of flats has been inordinate. The officials need to get the work expedited.” The SE of the JIT, Mukul Soni, said, “It is a self-financing project wherein the pace of work is determined by the payment of installation by the allottees. The last instalment is still due in December. I hope that the work should be completed by that time. By that time, we too would be in a position to hand over the flats to the allottees.” Asked if he felt that the Amritsar-based contractor was going too slow, he added, “Ready-made doors have already been procured and the process of fitting has just begun. The contractor has been a bit upset over the cost escalation of the construction material being used in the project which we should be able to resolve soon.”
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Child helpline rescues mentally challenged girl
Jalandhar, October 9 Speaking about the matter, Kulwinder Singh Nagra, coordinator, Child Helpline, said since August 9, this was the first case of mentally challenged child brought to the notice of the helpline. “Though there are many child harassment cases that we have been noticing in the past few days. While many of them still go unreported, as the helpline service picks up we expect people will report about such incidents more bravely.” Talking about future plans, Nagra said, “So far we have primarily handled cases concerning financial needs. Soon, we plan to start a drive wherein we will ask priests to check birth certificates of brides and grooms before solemnising their weddings. Many underage kids still get married and this happens because society is not vigilant enough. We will also visit marriage palaces to put a stop to this trend.” The Jalandhar team would regularly check with the Amritsar home authorities about the welfare of the mentally challenged girl, he said. |
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Tracer Club win hockey tourney
Jalandhar, October 9 In a keenly contested match, both the teams displayed good hockey with the Tracer men mounting pressure right from the word go. In the Tracer Club, Avtar Singh and Daljit Singh scored two goals each, Baljit Singh, Mahipal and Balwinder Singh scored one goal each leading the team to victory. Till half time Tracer Club was leading 4-3. While in the Jonex Club, Shamsher Shera posted two goals, Kulbir Singh, Daljit Singh, G.S. Sangha and Sohan Singh scored one goal each.
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YAC to hold dharnas from October 18
Jalandhar, October 9 Upholding Rajbala (who lost her life due to the crackdown by the police during the Baba Ramdev agitation) as a martyr, they condemned the police apathy during the anti-corruption movements in the recent times.
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Grin and bear the bumpy ride on these ‘roads’
Jalandhar, October 9 It is sheer providence that apart from the injuries suffered as a result of scooter and motorcycle skids, no major incident has taken place in the past few weeks. The stock official line is that the tenders have been floated only a few days ago and it will take some time before the actual re-carpeting starts. But going by the mood of the contractors, who alleged that the civic body is broke and has not paid them for their past works, it will a bone-rattling ride for the commuters. So commuters will just have to grin and bear! — TNS
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After witnessing piles of garbage and bearing stench everywhere, city residents will finally heave a sigh of relief as the safai karamcharis have postponed their indefinite strike to October 21.
It being a festival season and time for NRIs to visit India for shopping and investment, the city is set to witness a splurge in the realty sector with the opening of new projects, including malls, multiplexes, hotels and restaurants.
The allottees of LIG flats coming up in Bibi Bhani Complex of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust
(JIT) are a harassed lot as they claim that the possession of flats had got delayed, for the authorities had failed to meet the deadline of construction work.
