Ludhiana, March 7
After removing permanent encroachments from the Jawahar Nagar Camp locality and along Ferozepur Road from Jagraon Bridge to Sidhwan Canal, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has now chalked out an action plan to remove encroachments from other roads in the city. The drive will start from Friday.

Officials of the building branch of the MC confirmed that notices to all owners of residential and commercial properties, identified to have encroached upon the government land on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh Road, Jalandhar bypass to Samrala Chowk (GT Road) and at Sherpur Chowk, had already been issued.

“Some of the encroachments had already been removed and some have produced documentary proof of the ownership of the land on which the structures or extensions have been raised," said Monica Anand, assistant town planner of Zone B.

She said the drive to remove encroachments as per the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court would be initiated from tomorrow and all illegal buildings, structures and extensions in front of the residential and commercial properties would be removed.

Several residents and shopkeepers of the ‘now targeted’ roads say that a few influential and ‘politically connected’ persons were holding others to ransom by encroaching upon parts of service lanes or scheduled roads with the result that localities face congestion, flow of traffic is disrupted and no parking places are available to shopkeepers and their customers.

"The MC ought to have acted at its own to remove encroachments, but even the belated action is welcome if it provides relief to the residents," said Kulwinder Singh, a shopkeeper of the Samrala Road area. 

Ludhiana, March 7
A 30-year-old truck driver was allegedly hacked to death by his wife at LIG flats on Chandigarh Road today.

The incident took place early this morning when the victim, identified as Gurmeet Singh, returned home in an inebriated condition and stated fighting with his wife, Darshna. The quarrel turned ugly when Gurmeet allegedly started beating up Darshna, who, in a fit of rage, stabbed the former in the neck with a sharp-edged weapon. Gurmeet died on the spot. Darshna informed the police after the incident. — TNS

Ludhiana, March 7
High drama was witnesses at Rajpura Chowk near Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College this morning when a drunk man ran in front of bus ferrying 15 girl students of Bhutta College.

The driver of the bus, Jasdeep Singh, applied breaks and averted a mishap. The drunk man started abusing the driver and also smashed the windscreen of the bus with his liquor bottle. The girls on board the bus started screaming in fear.

Driver Jasdeep alight from the bus to overpower the drunk man, but the latter launched an attack on him. The passers-by came to the aid to the driver and the drunk man hid under the bus. He also sustained a head injury in the process.

He was rushed to the Civil Hospital from where he escaped. 

Ludhiana, March 7
A 20-yr-old girl was stabbed in the neck when she resisted a rape attempt on her at her residence in Makkar Colony, Dhanadari area, this evening.

The victim suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital where here condition was stated to be critical.

The incident took place around 9 pm when she was alone at home. A man carrying a knife entered her one-room apartment and tried to rape her. She retaliated and in the process she injured her hand. Enraged over her resistance, the assailant stabbed her in the neck and fled.

Ludhiana, March 7
A retired assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was shot at while his son, a Youth Akali Dal leader, had a miraculous escape after four persons barged in their office in Dharampura and opened fire.

The victim, identified 60-year-old Major Singh, sustained injuries on his shoulder and leg. He was rushed to a hospital where his condition is stated to be serious.

Deepinder Singh, the victim’s son, said the incident took place when Anup Singh, vice-president of the Ludhiana chapter of the SAD (Amritsar), and his three sons Major Singh, Parminder Singh and Karamjit Singh, barged in their office and fired four gunshots. Both Major Singh and Anup Singh are residents of Dharampura street No. 6 and both the groups are at loggerheads with each other over nine acres of land at Kakka Dholla village.

Anup Singh's relatives said Deepinder and Major Singh took Mohinder Singh to their office for settling the dispute. A heated argument ensued during the meeting. Major Singh snatched a pistol from Mohinder and shot himself on the shoulder and leg, said Anup Singh’s relatives.

The police has registered a case against Anup Singh, Mohinder Singh, Parminder Singh and Karamjit Singh. A hunt has been launched to nab the culprits. 

Ludhiana, March 7
For these city-based women, Women's Day is just another day. Yet, in their quiet way, they manage to make it special. Their tribute to womanhood is their desire to lead a life of dignity despite all odds.

These gutsy women share with The Tribune reporters their stories.

Life is a delectable delight

Forty-eight-year-old Asha slogs it out every day to make a living. She prepares 'paranthas', tea for visitors at local sabzi mandis organised at different parts in the city on different days of the week. She has been doing this work for past 20 years. Her day is done past midnight and her morning starts early.

A smile plays on her lips when she takes a peep into her gratitude inventory: Her husband helps her in her culinary venture. One of her sons is pursuing BA and the other one is working as an apprentice at a local furniture shop. It's enough to keep her motivated to take her 'dukaan' (shop) to the next 'sabzi mandi'. It matters the least to her that her 'shop' is just a hand-driven cart!

A hard lesson

Gurdeep Kaur of Sunet village lost her husband to throat cancer last year and her 15-year-old daughter about two years ago. For two and a half years, she saw her husband fight the disease that eventually consumed him. The burden of these memories often makes her sad. But this has not weakened her resolve to take care of her family that includes her two sons - one is appearing for Class VIII exams and the other one, aged 5, is yet to start his schooling. This under-matriculate 35-year-old woman has only one concern - to earn an honest living. In winters, she managed to do some hosiery work. But now the season has ended. She's trying to get for herself some tailoring-related work like fixing buttons on shirts. "I am also trying my level best to get the job of a cook. I request good Samaritans to provide me an opportunity for any kind of honest livelihood," she pleads.

Life is a 'guarded' secret

In a sleepy town like Mullanpur, people are not easily awestruck. But Kirandeep Kaur, a security guard at a local mall, just has to slip into her uniform and she's a role model for simple village girls. The girls from her village in Mullanpur keep asking her about her job profile. And she proudly lists her duties. But there are tough days, too, when she's reminded of her gender and also the bias that accompanies it.

She shares her little secret: It was after her marriage that she took up this profession. Her husband is also a security guard. They go to work together, have their lunch together and in the evening return home together. There's another secret too. And it's that her uniform intimidates children!

It’s all about braving the odds

Suman, in her 40s, works at a local fastener-making factory. It is very difficult to run a household in the days of inflation, she says. "But I'm not the one who'll complain about short funds or meagre income. If I have both the ability and the opportunity to work, I have reason enough to be happy."

Working in extremely hot as well as cold conditions inside the factory, she has to stand for hours at a stretch. Due to the long working hours, her feet often get swollen. But when she visualises about her children's "bright" future, her discomfort vanishes and she's ready to work even harder. Her dream: Her children do not have to slog and toil; and they lead a comfortable life.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 7
Accusing officials of the local office of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited of harassing them by demanding a huge bill on the pretext of advance consumption deposit, the middle-scale industrial consumers have urged the higher authorities to intervene. They have also sought an inquiry into the matter.

Denying the allegations, SDO (City) Upinder Singh said additions were made to the bills according to a list received from the billing center. “The same will be rectified in case consumers approach us with receipts proving payment of the deposit made earlier,” he said.

Consumers led by Vijay Goyal, vice-president of the district unit of BJP, alleged the “unauthorised” move had upset the financial management of consumers, resulting in corruption as some agents had offered to get the bills rectified by paying bribes to the officials concerned.

"A hidden agenda of extracting money from consumers is clear from the stand of the senior officials that individual consumers should come and get the bills rectified. Had they been sincere about removing corruption, they would have directed the officials to rectify the bills after checking the records," said Goyal.

Citing his own case, Goyal said he had been asked to pay an amount of Rs 71,919 as the advance consumption deposit when he had already paid Rs 35,554 in December, 2011.

Ludhiana, March 7
The District Congress has begun preparations for the 2014 Parliamentary polls. As part of preparations, the party is starting a mass contact programme here. The public would be apprised of the "people-friendly schemes" initiated by the UPA at the Centre, said the District Congress Committee, Ludhiana (Urban), president Pawan Dewan, while addressing the party block presidents today.

Flaying the state government for "taking credit" for various schemes initiated by the Centre, he said the people of Punjab were unhappy with the Akali-BJP governance.

The Congress leader in the Municipal Corporation, Hemraj Aggarwal, said all the party councillors would work along with the District Congress for the mass contact programme.

BJP announces new office-bearers

Meanwhile, the District BJP today announced its office-bearers. Ramesh Sharma and Sunil Modgill have been nominated as the general secretaries of the district unit, while the post of the vice-president is being shared by Pushpinder Single, Harish Tandon, Jatinder Mittal, Sarabjit Singh Kaka, Rajinder Singh Hans, and Rajeshwari Gosain.

Ludhiana, March 7
Principal Rajinder Singh is busy signing documents on the first day of his joining the principal’s office at SCD Government College. "A lot of work was pending," he says.

Till last year he was Prof Rajinder Singh, head of the English department at the college, before getting promoted to the post of principal at the government college in Mansa.

He is happy to be back at the SCD Government College; this time as the principal. He not only taught at the college for 32 years, but also completed his postgraduation from here in 1973-75. From studying to teaching at the college to now leading it, it has been a wonderful journey, he says.

He wants to take the college forward. "I want to improve the academic atmosphere of the college,” he says, before getting back to work.

Ludhiana, March 7
The industry has pinned high hopes on the government. It has raised several demands ahead of the state budget.

Members of the Knitwear Club stated that there should be an exhibition centre in the city. In the absence of a spacious place, the industrialists have to install temporary set-ups to organise exhibitions.

"The industrialists don't get VAT refunds within a stipulated time and face many problems. The process of providing the details of A-D party should be abolished," said Vinod Thapar, chairman of the Knitwear Club.

"Effluent treatment plants should be installed area wise," said Darshan Dawar, president, Knitwear Club.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Punjab stated, "VAT on food should be waived in Punjab," said Manjit Nagpal, president of the association.

Amarvir Singh, general secretary of the association, said luxury tax on hotel rooms should be reduced to 2 per cent from the present 8 per cent.

Cycle makers submit memorandum

The United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association has submitted a memorandum to the Regional Joint Director, Foreign Trade, Darshan Singh, regarding the foreign trade policy.

Gurmeet Singh Kular, president of the association, said duty free replenishment of inputs had benefited traders in bringing Indian manufacturers exporters/merchants exporters on a par with their global competitors both price wise and quality wise.

“The fact that the validity of such import authorisations has been reduced from existing 24 months to 18 months is totally impractical," said Kular.

“Recently, the government scrapped all in-house stuffing of the exporters/manufacturers.

The permission is now being granted by the central excise office to manufacturers," Kular said, adding that the process of seeking permission should be simplified.

The members of the association said India was the major producer of bicycle and parts. "The cheap imports of bicycle and parts are  posing a threat to the existence of the industry. The cycle industry has requested the government to increase the import duty on complete bicycles to 50 per cent and on parts to 40 per cent so that their problems are solved," they said. 

Ludhiana, March 7
Overburdened with additional duty and long working hours, the employees of the fire department of the Municipal Corporation today served a fresh demand notice on the civic body.

They threatened that they would adopt a path of agitation if a policy decision for the improvement of their working conditions was not taken within the next 10 days.

Led by activists of the Municipal Fire Brigade Union, a deputation of firefighters met MC Additional Commissioner Devinder Singh to apprise him of the pathetic conditions that the employees were working in.

Earlier, the union had submitted a memorandum to the authorities through the Assistant Divisional Fire Officer, asking for an eight-hour working shift.

Most of the firefighters are made to work for 12 hours everyday.

The union members pointed out that the 15 days' time given for the fulfilment of their demand had lapsed and the authorities had neither considered the demand nor any assurance to this effect was given to the affected firefighters.

President of the union Atish Rai said the employees were determined to wage a battle to seek justice. "If the authorities fail to take note of our demands within 10 days and take remedial steps, the MC fire staff will have to seek other recourse," he said.

Ludhiana, March 7
Officials of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation while cleaning a sewer line on Ferozepur Road opened a manhole cover in such a manner that it could have led to a fatal accident.

An open manhole on Ferozepur Road in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

It is not for the first time that the MC officials have put the lives of city residents in danger. The officials later claimed that the cover was not removed by their staff.

Ferozepur Road is one the busiest roads of the city.

In February 2011, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation had decided to get an FIR registered against those who hired private contractors to get the sewer lines cleaned without their permission.

Two MC employees had lost their lives while trying to open a sewer line in the Bhagwan Chowk area of the city.

Another person died in the Haibowal area in July last year. After the February 2011 incident, the senior MC officials had issued orders stating that those found cleaning a sewer line without taking permission from the higher officials would be suspended.

The employees were told not to enter a manhole without safety kits. Ravinder Garg, Executive Engineer, operations and maintenance branch, MC, claimed that some private contractors had opened the manhole cover.

"I sent my staff to the spot but by that time the persons who had opened the manhole cover had left. Later, we came to know that a prominent businessman of the area had hired some persons to clear the sewer line," he claimed.

Following the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari and Civil Surgeon Dr Subhash Batta, a team of the Health Department today collected two samples of the mid-day meal from the central kitchen. Food Safety Officer Ravinder Garg said samples of curry and rice were sent for testing. Recently, the department had received many complaints regarding the poor quality of food being served under the mid-day meal scheme. Following this, the Deputy Commissioner instructed the Civil Surgeon to ensure that one official was deputed at the central kitchen. The official will certify that the food was cooked in hygienic conditions and was fit for consumption  of students.

Ludhiana, March 7
Thieves struck at a house in at Field Ganj Kutcha No.12 and decamped with Rs 30,000 in cash and a gold ornaments, a laptop and a camera.

Jaspreet Singh, the owner of the house, woke up to find the house ransacked.

Ludhiana March 7
Two juveniles were caught stealing sanitary items from the maintenance store at Punjab Agricultural University.

The PAU authorities said they were checking the record to ascertain the exact number of stolen items.

A few days ago, a pensioner had found sanitary items lying in a vacant area. He informed the security guards about it. When the juveniles came to collect the items, the guards nabbed them.

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, visited the spot yesterday.

He was accompanied by Estate Officer Jaskaran Singh and PAU Registrar.

Sources said the records showed that the stolen items had already been used for renovation purposes.

The Vice-Chancellor said, "I don't know what the records say. We have not decided anything as yet. We will conduct a probe, if required."

Estate Officer Dr Jaskarn Singh said, "It is not possible that the stolen items are not listed in the records. It is a case of theft. We will investigate the matter."

SHO Gurveer Singh said security guards caught hold of two juveniles, claiming that they had stolen goods from the store. The university will provide us with a list of missing items and only then we will be able to take action." 

Ludhiana, March 7
Sub-Inspector Rajesh Thakur, who was posted as the in charge of the Jagatpuri police post, has been sent to the lines for dereliction of duty.

The officer was absent from duty and reportedly found drunk.

Taking strict action, ADCP-I Nilambari Jagdale got the medical examination of the SI done and sent him to the lines after alcohol content was found in his blood.

SI Harjit Singh has replaced Rajesh Thakur. Fearing embarrassment, the matter was kept under wraps by the police department.

Sources said the incident took place two days ago when ADCP-1 Nilambari Jagdale was inspecting the late night police naka in Jagatpuri and Division No. 4 area.

The nakas were put up to keep a tab on the increasing incidents of snatching in the area.

Sources said the ADCP-1 had asked for Thakur's whereabouts.

It was learnt that Thakur told the officer that he was on duty, following which the ADCP-I lost his cool. Thakur, who was at home, was taken to the Civil Hospital for medical examination.

The ADCP-I said, "Rajesh Thakur has been sent to the lines."

When asked whether Thakur had consumed liquor, the ADCP-I said the SI was found drunk.

Ludhiana, March 7
As many as 911 budding players (662 boys and 249 girls) were shortlisted for sports wings and academies being run by the Punjab sports department at various centres across the state.

A list was released today by Kartar Singh Sehmbey, district sports officer, Ludhiana, who is also the coordinator for the trials conducted by the department at Guru Nanak Stadium yesterday.

The players, who could not take part in the trials yesterday, were given a chance today.

About 1,052 players from Roop Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa and Mohali, besides Ludhiana district appeared for the trials on Wednesday.

The selected players will be enrolled in different sports wings and academies run by the state sports department. The games include athletics, boxing, badminton, basketball, cycling, football, gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), judo, handball, kabaddi, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

"In addition, 25 per cent of the total number of selected players have also been chosen as a standby in case any player is found absent," said Kartar Singh.

The break up of selected players: Ludhiana (266 boys + 60 girls), Mansa (8 boys + 34 girls), Moga (51 boys + 33 girls), Mohali (15 boys), Patiala (85 boys + 38 girls), Ropar (69 boys + 30 girls) and Sangrur got (168 boys + 54 girls).

Apart from these allotted seats, some other wings have also been created in some pits of the districts concerned.

The selected players will get Rs 200 (daily diet) for residential wing and Rs 100 has been allocated for day scholars.

Ludhiana, March 7
Trials to select probables (U-16) for the Regional Coaching Centre (RCC) will be conducted at Arya College on March 10. Players born on or after September 1, 1997, are eligible for the trials.