Ludhiana, August 26
Ludhiana district has topped the charts with an urban population of 59.2 per cent followed by SAS Nagar and Amritsar with 54.8 per cent and 53.6 per cent of population, respectively.

The city which is known as the industrial hub of the state has provided employment to lakhs of skilled and unskilled workers not just from Punjab, but other states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand as well.

As per the latest Census by the Directorate Census, Punjab (2011), the urban population of Ludhiana district is 20,69,708 while the rural population is 14,29,031.

The urban population has been growing fast as in 2001 it was 55.8 per cent. The rural population which was 44.2 per cent has gone down to 40.8 per cent. SAS Nagar has an urban population of 54.8 per cent followed by Amritsar with 53.6 per cent of urban population.

The reasons behind the growing population in these districts are development, better job opportunities and setting up of industrial units

Commenting on the trend, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari said, "The city houses a number of industries and has provided employment to lakhs of labourers."

Presenting a study in contrast, Tarn Taran district has an urban population of just 12.7 per cent. A majority of people residing in Tarn Taran are ruralites.

Besides, the city has two leading hospitals and several educational institutions, including two government colleges and two universities, which have attracted a huge population from other districts. Pintu, working at a hosiery unit, stated that he came to the city seven years ago. "The industry is fast growing here and the labour is paid well. I have asked my brothers to come here. A number of industrial units have come up in the city with the passage of time which is why labourers prefer the city to other states," said Pintu. 

Ludhiana, August 26
Aedes aegypti, the mosquito responsible for the spread of dengue, stings between 6 am and 8 am, and 5 pm and 7 pm.

Integrated Diseases Surveillance Project (IDSP) Officer Dr Anil Verma said: “The mosquito remains active between these hours in the morning and evening, — two hours after the sunrise and two hours before the sunset."

People who venture out for morning and evening walks need to be cautious. Dr Verma said the mosquito could be easily identified. It has zebra strips on its legs and has silver coloured wings. Its incubation period is 14 days.

A total of 110 cases of malaria and six cases of dengue have been reported in the district this year. 

Ludhiana, August 26
Former Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh kept his promise and nabbed the killers of ASI Gurdial Singh, but the state government failed to keep its word and failed to provide a job to Ajay Kumar, who was shot at along with ASI Gurdial Singh.

Ajay, a private helper of ASI Gurdial Singh, had sustained bullet injuries on his back while overpowering Jaswant Singh and his accomplice at Vishal Nagar on May 18, 2011.

Ajay, who had earned accolades for his exemplary display of bravery, lamented that the government did not keep its promise.

Ajay, who tried to nab armed snatchers along with ASI Gurdial Singh, said besides Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, senior police officials visiting the hospital had also assured him of a job in the police department.

But even after two years, Ajay is still being made to run from pillar to post for a job in the Punjab Home Guards. “I am still jobless. I am doing odd jobs to eke out living. A senior officer in the Punjab Home Guards made fun of me saying why I was seeking a job in the Home Guards as I suffered a bullet injury for the Punjab Police. All thanks to the former Commissioner of Police, Ishwar Singh, who had foot my medical expenses, otherwise I would have died in the hospital for want of treatment," said Ajay.

He said the incident had put additional burden on his shoulder. “I paid a heavy price for my courageous act. Whenever the police used to nab snatchers, I was asked to identify them. I used to spend money for visiting police station," said Ajay, who is the only breadwinner of the family. 

Ludhiana, August 26
A few reminiscences, some shared notes and a heady dose of politics peppered with pure economics.

As Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal unveiled the biography of Hero Cycles Limited founding chairman OP Munjal, the lessons from the politics of life merged seamlessly with the business of politics.

While the Munjal family shared interesting anecdotes on the man who had brought Ludhiana on the industrial map of the world, the CM in his extempore recalled the inception of his own political career as a sarpanch.

“I have had close relations with them (the Munjals) for the past many years," said the CM, while praising the family for their sense of togetherness.

The old-world charm of the talk on the core values that played a decisive role in OP Munjal's life was juxtaposed against the sheer pragmatism of the CM's speech that praised the Munjals as the highest tax paying family in Punjab.

Badal said, "We (the Punjab Government) need the cooperation of the industry. The industry can do a lot to give employment to the youth."

The CM talked politics that had an economic edge to it. He blamed the Union Government for giving concessions to neighbouring states to boost the industry in those states.

The author, Priya Kumar, who had penned the biography, shared her experiences of writing the book, which according to Badal was now a must-read on his agenda. The CM, in lighter vein, said, “I think they (the Munjals) will give me the book." He added that it is very difficult for politicians to read books as they (the politicians) have a 'limited' time. However, he averred, "I must say I will read this book and learn something from it."

Ludhiana, August 26
Family members of two brothers who were arrested for allegedly assaulting a lawyer rue that no advocate was willing to contest their case.

Advocate Harinam Singh Sandhu (26) was allegedly assaulted while he was answering nature's call on a wall of the plot belonging to Amandeep Singh and Rajdeep Singh.

The court today extended the police remand of Amandeep and Rajdeep for a day.

President of the Ludhiana District Bar Association Paropkar Singh Ghuman, who appeared on behalf of complainant Harinam Singh Sandhu, lambasted the police for its ‘sluggish’ investigation.

“The police has not arrested three accomplices of Amandeep Singh and Rajdeep Singh. Our petition demanding an independent probe from a magistrate has also been accepted," said Ghuman. He said no lawyer had been stopped for appearing on behalf of the accused. It was a democratic right of everyone to defend themselves.

On the other hand, Rajdeep Singh’s wife Paramjit Kaur claimed that her husband was thrashed while he was being presented in the court during the previous hearing. A medical test was conducted which proved that he was manhandled.

“Ask anyone who can endure seeing stranger urinating on the wall of their property. It was not the lawyer but my husband who had called the police. Little did we know that we were up against the strong lobby of advocates. When my husband, his brother and friends reach the police station to lodge a complaint, nearly 60 to 70 lawyers also came there. The police did not listen to us and attested my husband and his brother," said Paramjit Kaur.

Refuting the allegations Ghuman said that Harinam Singh Sandhu was answering the nature's call. He did not know that the plot belonged to the duo. What was the need of forcibly taking Sandhu in a house where they tied his arms and legs and beat him up, he questioned.

“Amandeep and Rajdeep let loose their dog on Sandhu. The bite marks on his arm are still evident. The episode was not only shocking but it was inhuman as well," said Ghuman.

Countering Ghuman's claims, Paramjit Kaur said the issue was blown out of proportion.

She said that it was the advocate who had trespassed on the house where the dog attacked him. 

Ludhiana, August 26
A 22-year-old woman succumbed to her burn injuries while her seven- month-old son is battling for life at a hospital.

The woman caught fire from a stove when she was cooking food at her house in Dhillon Nagar near the Daba area today.

The deceased was identified as Khushbu. Her seven-month-old son, Anku, was rushed to a hospital.

It is learnt that Anku was taken to the Civil Hospital after his father Nitish Kumar failed to foot the bills at a private multi-speciality hospital.

Nitish too suffered burn injuries while trying to save his son and wife.

The incident took place this morning when Khushbu was cooking food in her house. Anku was lying in her lap, said neighbours.

Nitish said he and his neighbours doused the flames.

They rushed Khushbu and Anku to the hospital where Khushbu was declared brought dead. The police has ruled out foul play benind the incident. 

Ludhiana, August 26
Lawyers in the city today expressed displeasure over the functioning of the police and observed strike.

They alleged that the police was not arresting the remaining accused who assaulted a young lawyer. Meanwhile, Judicial Magistrate Ashish Thathai today extended the police remand of two persons facing accusations of assaulting the lawyer for a day.

A few days ago, the police had arrested Rajdeep Singh and Amandeep Singh of Gurdev Nagar, Ludhiana, in the case. The police said the medical report had confirmed dog bite injuries on lawyer Harinam Sandhu.

A case under Sections 382, 323 and 149 of the IPC was registered against the accused yesterday. President of the District Bar Association Parupkar Singh Ghumman, president of the Lawyers’ Brigade Sanjiv Malhotra have condemned the incident. 

Ludhiana, August 26
The efforts of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) authorities to put an end to the ongoing deadlock between the students and authorities proved futile, as the meeting organised for the parents of the students and the authorities concerned yielded no positive outcome.

In the meeting, parents requested the authorities to redress the grievances of students and at the same time asked their wards to end the strike as their studies were suffering.

The vice-president of the Punjab Agriculture University Students’ Association, Karanvir Singh Sandhu, said there is a proper procedure to be followed for everything. If three students have committed a mistake, the punishment should have been given accordingly. Termination of the students is an extreme step.

"They could have been given a strict warning, a fine could have been imposed on them, or their hostel seats could have been cancelled. In extreme cases, they could have been rusticated for around six months, but permanent termination of the students from the campus is totally an unjustified act of the authorities," said Sandhu.

Meanwhile, a faculty member of PAU on the condition of anonymity said, "Authorities should have got the medical check-up done immediately so that students could be punished then and there. Now students are unnecessarily dragging the whole issue, worsening the situation even more. Students are lagging behind academically as well, as the strike had entered its 10th consecutive day. They have to sit for their examinations too, in October." 

Sahnewal, August 26
Panjab University has instructed all the colleges to prohibit students from taking admission in the non-attending mode.

In a letter issued, on August 16, it has been stated that some of the colleges are accepting dummy admissions, which is against the rules and regulations laid down by the university. “The breach of regulation invites strict action against the erring colleges and can result in disaffiliation,” the letter stated.

“You grant permission to one out of compulsion and hundreds follow the pattern. In our college 25 per cent of the seats are lying vacant but if we wish to fill the same, we can do that in less than an hour. Students are very much interested in joining the colleges which permits them to get admission through non-attending mode. They are even ready to pay additional fees for the same. But we cannot afford to compromise with our standard of education. We will only award degree to those who have 75 per cent attendance,” shared Dr Sandeep Shawney, principal, Doraha College of Education.

“We do not go after numbers, it is quality which should be the hallmark of any educational institution, not quantity,” said Dr Narinder Singh Sidhu, principal, Guru Nanak National College, Doraha.

“Not only students but colleges too are to be blamed for this emerging trend. It is the colleges which are promoting this culture among the students. No student will feel like attending classes if he can get a degree with the power of money,” said the principal of a college on condition of anonymity.

Dean College Development Council, Panjab University, Prof Naval Kishore said, “We shall be conducting surprise visits. Any college found violating the rule will not only result in cancellation of the affiliation but the students concerned will also be rusticated. In a day or two, we will be giving a public notice in the leading newspapers warning the colleges against admission to non-attending students.”

Ludhiana: A two-day 'Micronutrient Analysis Training in Wheat and Rice Biofortification' began at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Monday. The event is being organised by the PAU School of Agricultural Biotechnology (SAB), department of plant breeding and genetics (PBG), department of soil science and Harvest Plus-India Biofortification.

Ludhiana, August 26
As many as 500 teachers from aided-schools of Punjab are expected to reach Chandigarh tomorrow to gherao the DPI (Schools).

The teachers have not been paid salaries for the past five months.Hundred teachers from aided schools in Ludhiana district will also join the protesters. General secretary of the Aided-Schools Association Devinder Rehan said, "We are left with no option but to hold protests, dharnas and rallies to press for our demands. Around 4,000 teachers have been without salaries for the past five months,"said the general secretary. — TNS

Ludhiana, August 26
On the instructions of Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, Dr Subhash Batta, a team of the health department collected 12 samples of eatables.

The health team collected samples of dal chana from a grocery store on Jassiyan Road, pan masala from a shop on Tibba Road, samples of curd, milk, paneer, sugar, rajmah, dal cahna and moong dal from shops at Civil Lines.

Samples of mid-day meals were also collected from a government school on College Road. 

Ludhiana, August 26
Residents of Street Number 1,2,3 and 4 of Basti Mani Singh have requested the municipal corporation Commissioner, not to allow a private company to install a mobile tower in the densely populated area.

In a letter written to the Commissioner, the area residents said near Gurdwara Nanaksar (Shaheed Baba Bachittar Singh) Chowk, a private company was installing a mobile tower on the second floor of a building. Besides, causing deadly diseases like TB, cancer etc, these towers emit radiations, which also pose danger to birds and animals.

The residents complained that since the company was installing the tower near a gurdwara and a government school, it could pose danger to those visiting the area. The residents have asked the authorities not to give permission to the company to install the tower in the area.

Khamano, August 26
A programme was organised by Suvidha Centre at Khamano and Kheri Naudh Singh to apprise public of the services provided by them.

The programme was carried out under the guidance of the Suvidha centre incharge, Raj Parminder Kaur. Superintendent of Police (District), Fatehgarh Saheb, Gurpreet Singh, was the chief guest on the occasion. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Khamano, Ramandeep Singh, presided over the function. The SP appealed the masses to avail more benefits from the Suvidha centres.

A play ’Dukhdi-E-Rag Punjab Di’ was also staged by the Akas Rang Manch Samrala under Rajwinder Samrala portraying the condition of youths who consume drugs. The play with a social message advised the youths to stay away from drugs.

Raj Parminer Kaur said, “As many as 51 cases of marital disputes were reported in the Suvidha centre out of which 46 were settled amicably.”

Station house officer (SHO), Khamano, Palwinder Singh; SHO, Kheri Naudh Singh, Raj Kumar; CRPC Incharge Devinder Singh; SGPC member Avtar Singh; BDPO, Khamano, Manjit Kaur, and various sarpanches and panches, apart from the police officials concerned, participated in the function.

TRADERS FROM REGION VISITED CITY

As Ludhiana was an industrial hub in the region, the traders from Amritsar, Jalandhar, Batala, Ferozepur, Chandigarh, Patiala and other cities visited the city to buy goods daily. The small traders bought the goods from the wholesale market and ferried them to their respective cities on trains. The Railway authorities said that small traders of the city, who transported cloth and other items from Ludhiana to other cities on trains, were the routine violators.

Ludhiana, August 26
The Income Tax Department might be soon knocking at your door if you have failed to file an income tax return for any assessment year in the past and later changed your mailing address without informing the department.

Income Tax Department had sent letters to non-filers, but many of them did not receive intimation apparently because of a change in address. The department has now started a search operation.Sources said, the department was relying both on formal and informal methods for reaching non-filers. Transaction trails of these people are being monitored. In some cases, neighbours at the earlier address, are being contacted."In many cases, letters were not served because people changed their address. We are making enquiries to take these cases to their logical end. We are expecting substantial success, as most people leave a trail while carrying out transactions," said an official from the department. A compliance management cell has been set up to monitor return filing and tax payment of the target segment.

Ludhiana, August 26
Those companies and establishments which have not formed a committee to resolve sexual harassment complaints will face the Labour Department's heat.

The move comes following a meeting between the Women and Child Welfare Department and the Labour Department. It was decided that the Labour Department should be roped in to help implement the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.

The Women and Child Welfare Department is looking after the Act's implementation in public sector organisations while the Labour Department has been assigned the task of seeing that the committees are formed in the private sector organisations.

An official from the Labour Department said, "The department will be carrying out checks to find out if the establishments have formed internal complaints committee to resolve complaints of sexual harassment. If not, the department will take action against the firms".

The provisions of the Act say that an internal committee must be formed in the establishments, which have more than 10 employees. The presiding officer of the committee should be a woman employed at a senior level at the workplace.

Besides her, there should be three other members, including an outsider, who should be a member of an NGO or committed to the cause of women or familiar with issues related to sexual harassment. The Act also says that half of the committee members should be women.

If the number of employees is less, then a local complaints committee will be set up by the District Collector. A nodal officer would be appointed by the DC at the block and tehsil level to receive complaints and forward them to the committee.

The Women and Child Welfare Department is looking after the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) 2013 Act's implementation in public sector organisations while the Labour Department has been assigned the task of seeing that the committees are formed in the private sector organisations. An official from the Labour Department said, "The department will be carrying out checks to find out if the establishments have formed internal complaints committee to resolve complaints of sexual harassment. If not, the department will take action against the firms".

Ludhiana, August 26
A deputation of Congress Councillors under the leadership of Hemraj Aggarwal met Sumit Jarangal, Additional Commissioner, municipal corporation, and briefed him about the problems being faced by them.

Parminder Mehta, councillors’ spokesperson, said that the authorities were biased towards the Congress councillors. He said that the posts of sweepers were lying vacant in many wards but sweepers were provided in wards of the BJP and Akali councillors and the posts were still lying vacant in the wards of Congress councillors. Besides, Mehta said that in the last General House meeting of the MC, tenders had to be floated for the development works in all the wards. Barring a few, the tenders had not been floated till date, said Mehta. "We met the Additional Commissioner and handed-over our representation", said Mehta. The councillors also asked authorities to take action against the miscreants who allegedly broke the foundation stone at Ward No. 40. 

Ludhiana, August 26
In a significant development, a team of neurosurgeons and ENT surgeons of Christian Medical College and Hospital have successfully performed a brain tumour surgery through nose with the help of endoscopic technique.

A hospital press note said, "A 50-year-old man was diagnosed with brain tumorand underwent a surgery at CMCH. A team of neurosurgeons and ENT surgeon headed by Dr Sarvpreet Singh Grewal successfully operated upon the patient."

Dr Sukhdeep Singh Jhawar, associate professor, neurosurgery, and Dr Navneet, associate professor, ENT, were also part of the team. The patient’s vision improved after surgery and was discharged on the fifth day of the surgery. Dr Jhawar said that such cases could only be done through coordinated team work and modern technology. —TNS

Ludhiana, August 26
The police has arrested two persons for stealing a motorcycle. The accused have been identified as Rahul and Noor Alam of Uttar Pradesh.

The incident took place on August 23. The complainant, Deepak Kumar, a resident of Brown Road, said he had parked the motorcycle outside his house.

Ludhiana, August 26
A 40-year-old man was crushed to death by a pickup truck near Gyaspura Chowk here last night.

The victim has been identified as Pritpal Singh, a driver by profession, was walking towards his house when a truck came from behind and run over him. Pritpal Singh was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The police has registered a case under Section 304-A of the IPC against Mahinder Singh of Hoshiarpur.

In the second incident, Ghaniya Lal (31), who fell from a private bus and sustained injuries, died in a private hospital here yesterday.

Ghaniya Lal, a resident of Gonda village near Uttar Pradesh (UP), came to the city two months ago, in search of work.

The police has initiated inquest proceeding under Section 174 of the CrPC and started the investigation.

Samrala August 26
Four persons have been booked by the Samrala police for murdering a 30-year-old married woman last night.

The deceased has been identified as Laly, alias Sardaro. The victim, a resident of Ropar, had come to visit her parents at Ambedkar Colony, Samrala, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. She was allegedly beaten to death by the neighbours at her parent's house due to a minor scuffle.

As per the information, the neighbours attacked her and some of her family members with sticks. The attackers allegedly kept on beating her until she breathed her last. As the news of her death spread in the colony, scores of people gathered outside the house and surrounded the attackers.

Station house officer, Samrala, said, “A case has been registered against six persons, including two women, in this regard.” 

Phillaur, August 26
A student was crushed to death by a speeding truck near Katpalan village on Phillaur-Nawanshahar road this afternoon.

The deceased has been identified as Dharmendera. He was returning from his school when the incident took place. The truck driver fled the spot.

A case has been registered against the truck driver. Investigations are on. — OC

Ludhiana, August 26
Judicial Magistrate Jagmilap Singh Khushdil has convicted Darshan Lal of Jassian road, Haibowal Kalan, Ludhiana, in a Rs 50,000 cheque bounce case.

He was ordered to undergo imprisonment for three months.

The court ordered the convict to pay Rs 50,000 as fine to the complainant for his sufferings.

The orders were pronounced by the court while deciding the complaint filed by Basdev Verma of Guru Nanakpura, Ludhiana.

The complainant submitted before the court that the accused had issued ac Rs 50,000 cheque for repaying the loan amount.

But the same was dishonoured for want of sufficient funds in the account of the accused.

The accused failed to make the payment despite the notice, added the complainant.

However, the accused pleaded innocence. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found him guilty.

Ludhiana, August 26
Thanks to the sensible batting by top order batsmen, Chandigarh were cruising well to post a big total in the first innings against Ludhiana on the opening day of the four-day match in the Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Tournament for the Katoch Shield at the Punjab Agricultural University ground here today.

At draw of stumps, the visitors were comfortably placed, hoisting 286 runs after losing four wickets in 90 overs. The highlight of the first day's play was useful contributions with the bat from Gurkirat Singh (82), Jaskaran Singh (48), Vishal Bhalla (45 retired hurt) and Amit Prashar (73 n.o).

For the hosts, medium pace bowlers, Amritpal Singh and Baltej Singh shared the bowling spoils, claiming two wickets each after conceding 47 and 19 runs, respectively.

Ludhiana, August 26
The two-day long Inter-school District Yoga Championship started here today at Bhartiya Vidya Mandi, Udham Singh Nagar. It is being organised by the District Education Department. Bandana Sethi, school principal, inaugurated the championship.

Various competitions are being held for girls and boys under agegroup14,17 and 19 years. As many as 12 schools, including BVM Udham Singh Nagar, Governmen Senior Secondary Secondary School, Sangowal, BCM Focal Point, BCM, Shastri Nagar, R S Model, BVM, Kitchlu Nagar, Drishti Public School, Govt. Senior Secondary School Division No. 3, GNPS, Sarabha Nagar, Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School, Government High School, Gureh, Satpaul Mittal Senior Secondary School, participated in the championship.