Ludhiana, November 13
A maid was killed in a freak mishap while construction work was under way in a house in the Haibowal area here today. The deceased, identified as Pushpa Rani (55), was a resident of Wadhi Haibowal.

Pushpa was mopping the front yard of Harbans Singh Dard's house at Durgapuri around 12.10 pm. A concrete mixture lifting-and-dumping machine had been installed for construction work at the house of Dard's neighbour. When the workers started the machine and it lifted the first container of mixture, the lift tilted towards Dard's house and the container full of concrete crushed Pushpa, who was working in yard, to death.

Dard said Pushpa had been working in his house for the past 25 years. "Today, a kitty party was being organised at our house and Pushpa was asked to assist in the kitchen work. She was about to go inside the house when the mishap took place."

Dard said the family members used to often bask in the sunshine at the same place where the mishap took place.

The Division No. 4 police reached the spot. The body of the deceased was sent for a postmortem to the Civil Hospital.

Family members of the deceased and the owner of the under-construction house, Balraj Vashisth, reached a compromise. The family members of the deceased did not lodge a complaint.

Bittin Kumar, SHO of the Division No. 4 police station, said, "We did not receive any complaint from the family members of the deceased. So, we have registered a case under Section 174 of the IPC.

Ludhiana, November 13
Residents remained at the receiving end as outsourced drivers and conductors of Ludhiana City Bus Service Ltd continued their indefinite strike today, affecting three bus routes. Due to the strike, 28 of the 50 low-floor buses did not ply.

Since yesterday, around 60 drivers and conductors, who have been outsourced by the LCBSL, are on strike over non-payment of dues, besides some other issues.

Due to the strike, the GT Road, Chandigarh Road and Ferozepur Road city bus routes were affected.

The LCBSL has a fleet of 50 low-floor non-AC buses, of which 20 are operated directly by the LCBSL authorities, while for the remaining 30, drivers and conductors are provided by two contractors.

According to the contract, the contractor pays Rs 3.19 per km to the drivers while Rs 2.75 per km is paid to the conductors. The contractor then deducts the provident fund, ESI, income tax and his own profit, before making the payment to the drivers and conductors.

The drivers and conductors working with the contractors have alleged that the contractors are not releasing their salaries on time. "We get our salaries on the 10th of every month and till date, we have not received our salaries. Besides, we have not been provided receipts of funds deducted from our salaries," alleged Parjit Singh of the Ludhiana City Bus Employees Union.

Baljit Singh, manager, LCBSL, confirmed that the outsourced drivers and conductors were on strike. "The contractors have been called for a meeting with the LCBSL tomorrow so that the matter can be sorted out. We are somehow managing the affairs with the staff hired directly by the LCBSL," said Baljit Singh.

Initially, the LCBSL had planned to recruit both drivers and conductors on its own as the department was willing to operate the city bus service. Even the recruitment process was over and the candidates were expecting appointment letters, when senior LCBSL officials decided to scrap the entire recruitment process and go in for outsourcing. This plan of outsourcing of drivers and conductors was formulated because the LCBSL authorities felt that at a later stage, the contractual employees may ask for permanent employment.

Ludhiana, November 13
The building branch of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation is in deep slumber as two illegal shops have come up in a residential area in the posh Sarabha Nagar locality here. The shops have come up overnight opposite the Sarabha Nagar main market and the MC is yet to take any action against the violators.

The shops are "illegal" since these are located in a residential area and have been carved out by a person from a portion of his house.

Ironically, these shops are located right opposite the Sarabha Nagar main market, which is frequented by a large number of people, including MC officials, and no one seems to have taken a note of these violations.

A resident who owns a shop in the Sarabha Nagar main market said traders had spent lakhs of rupees in setting up shops in the market, "And now residents whose houses are located near the market are converting these into shops illegally. The Sarabha Nagar main market is meant for commercial purposes and the MC should check illegal commercial activity around it," he said.

MC Additional Commissioner and head of the building branch, claimed that she would personally visit the area and make sure that if any illegal shops exist there, these were shut down. "We will not tolerate illegal commercial activity in the city," she said.

Ludhiana, November 13
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has impounded an illegal mobile advertising van and has lodged a police complaint against a private company which operates these vans in the city. The advertising van was parked near the GLADA office on Ferozepur Road and was displaying an advertisement of a realtor.

The MC has also filed a police complaint against a person who was installing boards to welcome Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Some private companies are making a quick buck by using mobile vans to display advertisements on prominent roads in the city. This is not only a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act but such advertisements are also banned under the new advertising policy of the state government.

According to the policy, display of advertisements on such vehicles is not allowed in the city. It is also a violation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directions. The court has banned advertisements on mobile vans.

Speaking to Ludhiana Tribune, Isha Kalia, MC Additional Commissioner, said the mobile advertising van had been impounded. "We have issued a challan and have also filed a police complaint against the owner. Besides, four illegal boards were removed and the person who was installing these was challaned and a police complaint filed against him. "I have asked my staff to get FIRs registered against the violators," said Kalia.

Jasdev Singh Sekhon, superintendent, MC, said the mobile advertising van was displaying an advertisement of Vipul World, a township. "The van was impounded and handed over to the police," said Sekhon.

Ludhiana, November 13
The city police has arrested two persons on a charge of making a hoax call to the police control room regarding someone having planted a bomb at the Christian Medical College and Hospital on Monday.

The accused have been identified as Prince, a resident of Shivaji Nagar, and Lovepreet, a resident of New Shivaji Nagar.

According to the police, the main accused, Prince, had called from a mobile number, which they got activated by submitting a fake identity proof to the telecom company concerned.

Rajwantpal Singh of the Division No. 3 police station, who is the investigating officer in the case, said, "Prince's uncle was admitted to the CMCH a few days ago and passed away on November 10 during treatment. Prince blamed the hospital for his death and wanted to take revenge from the authorities. He got some numbers activated on fake identity proofs thinking that he would not be traced. He then called the police control room number and made a hoax call."

During investigation, the police found that Prince and Lovepreet had been involved in a fake SIM card business. The police seized two phones and two SIM cards from their possession.

A case has been registered against the accused.

Ludhiana, November 13
Despite efforts of diversification on part of the state government and its agencies, the area under sugarcane cultivation has been decreasing day by day in absence of any sound policy to promote the crop among farmers. In fact, the state government has sold the land occupied by non-functional sugar mills.

According to the official data, an area of only 96,000 hectare is under sugarcane this year, which is likely to decrease by 10 per cent in the next crop year.

Sugarcane had a stronghold in Punjab before 2005. In 1996, the crop was grown on two lakh hectare, but the area decreased to 1.35 lakh hectare in 2005.

According to the diversification plan, the state government would ensure Rs 290 as the minimum support price (MSP) for the early maturing crop, Rs 280 for the mid-maturing variety and Rs 275 for the late maturing crop. If the government succeeds in ensuring this, there is a possibility of an increase in the area under sugarcane cultivation.

With the cooperative sugar production failing in most areas of the state, seven out of 16 cooperative mills have been closed so far. On the other hand, 24 private sugar mills are successfully functioning in the state.

The state government had handed over sites of closed mills to Punjab Urban Development Authorities and the land is being sold as residential plots. Recently, sugar mill sites at Jagraon and Faridkot have been sold.

As far as the marketing of sugarcane is concerned, most of the produce is purchased by food processing companies, a small part by sugar mills and the remaining used for domestic purposes.

Dr Vipin Sharma, sugarcane expert at Punjab Agriculture University, attributed the decrease in area to unsure marketing. The wheat and paddy crops are “sure crops” as an MSP is set for these every year.

“If the government makes provisions in the annual budget and reserves special budget amount of Rs 100-150 crore for providing MSP for sugarcane, the area under cultivation can increase,” he said.

“The Uniogovernment provides Rs 210 as the MSP for sugarcane at present, but the state government is offering only Rs 80. It should be enhanced,” said Sharma.

Baljeet Singh Gill; and (below) a poster on the girl child designed by him. Photos: Inderjeet Verma

Ludhiana, November 13
His is a "mission possible". That’s his firm belief. Even though Baljeet Singh Gill, physical education teacher at BVM School, knows that waging a war against female foeticide and a whole truckload of gender biases is a tough task, he has initiated a project “Beti” that promises to spread awareness about the rights of the girl child.

“I started the project on October 4 this year on the occasion of my younger daughter Amitoj's birthday,” says Gill, father of two daughters, both of whom are football players.

He says if his efforts can help save even one girl child, he will consider himself blessed. The poet in him has penned a touching verse on the girl child - a girl asks her mother why her sister was killed in the womb. Gill has already distributed hundreds of posters of this poem in the city.

"My objective is to reach out, through these posters, to different strata of society,” he said. His posters are finding a place in the city hospitals, educational intuitions and other public places.

Apart from the expenses he has incurred on the initial phase of the project, he plans to spend at least 10 per cent of his salary (dasvandh) on "Beti".

“I have not asked for any sponsorship or monetary assistance so far. The help has come from unexpected quarters. My former students are pitching in. The BVM School Trust and principal Vandana Sethi (Udham Singh Nagar branch) have been very encouraging,” he said.

Gill has a message for the city on the occasion of the Children's Day: “Aao Baal Divas par kasam khaain, Chacha Nehru ki Gulaab hai beti, ise seenay say lagaaen (let's take a pledge on the Children's Day… daughters are like Chacha Nehru's rose… let's love our daughters)”.

Ludhiana, November 13
As many as 15 dengue cases were confirmed from Ludhiana today, taking the total number of cases to 850 this season. Out of these 15 cases, 11 are from city, while four are from the rural areas.

Ten cases are from out of district-three are from Hoshiarpur, two from Barnala, one each from Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Mansa and Sangrur. Three dengue cases are from out of state-two from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Haryana. 

Ludhiana, November 13
Increasing inflation and hike in taxes have failed to deter the spirit of true Ludhianavis as they still love to dine out. Opening of new restaurants every other day is a testimony to the fact that the city residents do not mind loosening the purse strings for a meal or two, once or twice in a month.

Punjabis love to eat and so do Ludhianavis. Punjabis and food are inseparable. Despite high taxation and introduction of service tax, the city residents still love to dine out, especially on weekends. Special occasions give them a reason to dine out with their loved ones.

“Ludhiana has changed a lot. During my visit to the city, I saw a number of new cafes and food joints have mushroomed in the city. Many international chains are also doing a brisk business. Ludhianavis no doubt love to eat. Being a true Ludhianavi, I am trying every new restaurant and fast food joint opened in the city recently,” said Mehar, an NRI visiting the city these days.

Ludhiana, November 13
The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has flayed the Punjab Government for turning a deaf ear to the genuine pending demands of the workers, while at the same time wreaking havoc on the state economy by gross financial mismanagement.

In a joint statement, district president Swarn Singh and general secretary Suresh Sood said the dearness installment of 10 per cent was yet to be released and arrears of 8 per cent of DA also remained unpaid.

They said on one hand the government went on to claim that there was no financial crisis, while on the other salaries were not being paid on time to the PAU, PRTC employees, government schoolteachers and the payment of pensions was also erratic. In a desperate bid to stay afloat, the government was out to sell whatever vacant land was available.

The trade union leaders said the working classes and the poor people in the state were at the receiving end due to the imposition of unbearable financial burden by way of property tax, hefty advance consumption deposit (security) in electricity bills and exorbitant charges for regularisation of colonies and properties in such colonies. At the same time, faulty government policies had led to skyrocketing prices of sand and gravel, thereby rendering lakhs of construction workers jobless.

Reiterating the pending demands of the workers, the INTUC functionaries demanded that the minimum wages of unskilled workers be raised to Rs 10,000 per month and the employers be sternly asked to ensure scrupulous compliance of labour laws.

Ludhiana November 13
Tension prevailed near the Bhaiwala Chowk when two groups had a face-off over a commercial property worth crores at the chowk. According to information, SS Thind, owner of the building, visited the spot and claimed his ownership on the property.

Today, the owner tried to install a gate at the entrance of the building on which shopkeepers, to whom the space was rented out, objected and protested in the market.

The shopkeepers in the building held a press conference and levelled allegations against the owner of the property.

Naval Kaura, a shopkeeper, alleged that they were running their shops on rent for the past 30 years and now the owner wanted them to vacate the shops.

The police also reached the spot but no case has been registered against any party. The shopkeepers alleged that the owner was forcefully evicting them from this building with the support of some politicians. Despite several attempts, SS Thind did not respond to phone calls.

VK Thind, wife of the owner of the building, claimed that the property belonged to them and they did not force Naval to vacate the shops.

Earlier, MLA Bharat Bushan Ashu also tried to solve the issue, but failed.

Ludhiana, November 13
Good news for those students who excel in sports. In the annual examinations, conducted by the Punjab School Education Board, if the students of Classes IX, X and XII, secure first, second or third positions at both state and national level will be given extra marks in aggregate. The step has been taken by the Punjab government, in an attempt to boost sports in state.

Giving details about the move, the Education Minister, Sikandar Singh Maluka, said young generation has lots of calibre but there was a need to give them a boost. “If the students of these classes take board exams and secure good positions in state or national level, they will be given extra marks in aggregate. A notification in this regard has been sent to all concerned by the department and the board has also been directed about it,” said Maluka adding that the step was taken to encourage students towards sports, too.

Deputy Director, (sports) Education Department, SS Toor, told The Tribune that the students of Classes IX, X or XII, if secure first, second or third positions in any sport at state level, will be given 15 additional marks in aggregate and if the students get these positions at national Level, 25 more marks will be added to their aggregate marks.

“This will be of great help to the students. Suppose a student fails in a particular subject and requires five marks, then five marks will be added in that particular subject and remaining 20 marks will be added in the aggregate (in national level sports competitions). Besides, the students will start taking interest in various sports too,” said the Deputy Director.

Appreciating the move, one of the principals of a government school here said though it was a god step to promote sports among the youth yet in absence of proper sports facilities, it was not easy for students to excel in sports. “Government needs to provide proper sports infrastructure in schools only then students will show interest in it. The students cannot secure good position in sports on their own alone,” said the principal.

Ludhiana, November 13
A contingent of 40 members from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is all set to participate in the 29th North-Zone Inter-University Youth Festival 2013-14. The fest will be organised by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, from November 15 to 19.

Satvir Singh, Welfare Officer, Dr Vandana Kanwar and Dr Princy Dogra will accompany the PAU contingent.

The students will participate in more than 20 events pertaining to literary, fine arts, theatre and music. Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, conveyed his best wishes to the students and motivated them to give their best in all the events.

Dr Balwinder Singh, Director Students Welfare, PAU, urged the students to participate in the fest with a competitive spirit.

Ludhiana, November 13
A seminar on youth welfare was organised at the Pensioners’ Bhawan today by the Punjab Irrigation Retired Engineers Association. They have formed a National Forum for youth welfare. KL Bhargava, president of the association, said there was a dire need for addressing the need for youth welfare in the country.

Talking about the need for practical training, he said rather than some specialised training, all the youngsters should be made to undergo a compulsory multi-purpose course or degree, so that they become multi-faceted managers and are able to handle various kinds of jobs. He said the youngsters these days have the degree on paper but do lack much practical knowledge.

He said the youth wants to settle abroad, but this trend needs to be reversed for the betterment of the nation. All this is happening because we are not able to provide enough jobs and contented life to the youth, he added.

Another pensioner said the future of the country and the society lies in the youth. He said that there was a need for making the youth self-reliant and utilise their talent for nation building.

“If the youth are mired into drugs and disillusioned, it is our own fault as people, and now we have to right the wrongs as a nation to focus on the youth and focus on employment generation," he said. The government must rethink its policy and open more jobs to the youth, rather than focusing on privatisation, said another member of the association.

Bhargava said that for the betterment of the nation, all must cast our vote and not criticise the governments, he said. "As people, we have started criticising the governments too much. Rather than criticising, we must advise the government and support in suggesting remedial measures, and sheer criticism serves no purpose," he said.

Jagraon, November 13
Punjab Revenue and Public Relations Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia today claimed that more than 10 Members of Legislative Assembly of the Congress are willing to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Majithia stated this while speaking to mediapersons during his visit to Jagraon to condole the death of the mother of a senior journalist of an English Daily.

“There are more than 10 MLAs in the Congress who are feeling insecure and are ready to leave the party. These Congress MLAs will join the SAD before the forthcoming Parliamentary elections,” said Majithia.

Majithia said like state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, several other Congress MLAs were indulged in the practice of grabbing public land illegally and they would be exposed very soon.

He, however, dodged the question about including those Congress MLAs who were facing charges of grabbing public land illegally into the SAD.

“I cannot comment on this as the decision to include any leader into party fold will be taken by the party president,” said Majithia when asked if the SAD would embrace 'tainted' Congress MLAs.

Speaking about the controversial land deals of Punjab Congress Chief Partap Singh Bajwa and his young MLA brother Fatehjang Bajwa, Majithia said Bajwa brothers had amassed property worth several lakh crore rupees illegally and the people would teach them a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections.

Majithia also gave a clean chit to the SAD MLA from Dera Bassi, NK Sharma, who has also been facing the allegations of grabbing public property. “Nobody will be allowed to grab the land belonging to the common man of Punjab. A strict action will be taken against every person who is found grabbing public property in an illegal manner,” said the minister.

He said the Youth Akali Dal would demand at least 3 tickets for youths during the Parliamentary elections.

Jagraon, November 13
Divisions among different fractions of Jagraon unit of Shiromani Akali Dal came to the fore openly during Punjab Revenue and Public Relations Minister, Bikramjit Singh Majithia's, visit in Jagraon today. The divisions in the party became visible when the current and the former party MLAs organised separate functions to welcome the Cabinet Minister within one hour.

In the beginning, Majithia visited Green City Enclave where he inaugurated a newly-constructed office of current MLA, SR Kaler. Later on, he visited the residence of former MLA Bhag Singh Mallha.

Though a former, MLA, Bhag Singh Mallha, was present during the inauguration ceremony of the office of MLA, SR Kaler, but a large number of party workers close to the former MLA skipped the function. Similarly, several party workers who are close to MLA SR Kaler, were absent during Majithia's visit to the residence of former MLA Bhag Singh Mallha.

Apart from others former Jagraon Municipal Council president, Baldev Krishan Dhir, who is considered close to Mallha, also gave a miss to the inauguration function. However, he was present at the residence of Mallha when the cabinet minister visited there. The absence of former Jagraon Municipal Council president, Baldev Krishan Dhir, from the inauguration function was the center stone of discussion among the party workers.

Ludhiana, November 13
Greatest threat to teachers in coming years is from their own students, who will be more tech savvy and digitally-oriented. And the teachers need to realise what exactly should be done to make their students connected more with humans and disconnected with the digital world. This was the aim of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which held a National Conference on Future Ready Schools-2020 in Amritsar recently.

As many as 980 principals from the CBSE-affiliated schools from all over the country actively took part in the conference and tried to understand the demand of the time in coming years. About 25 principals from Ludhiana district participated in the conference.

Director of the Sahodya Schools Complex, Harmit Kaur Waraich told The Tribune that the principals were told to be ready to face the challenges in coming years.

“The CBSE is focussing on group tasks, group projects and group activities. It wants that with the help of teachers, group activities should be encouraged. There should be collaborative efforts, where teachers will be playing slightly passive role,” she said.

Further elaborating, Harmit said the teachers will be sharing and not just dictating or teaching the students, in coming times.

"The activities like formative and summative assessments are to be encouraged for the overall growth of the child. The role of teacher should be sensitising the students towards humanity. The CBSE wants that students need to be taught about social, emotional values as with the arrival of latest gadgets and technology, the children were going far from the moral values,” stressed Harmit.

Principal of BCM School, Shastri Nagar, said the CBSE tried to focus that the future generations (the students) could not be "rootless". "They need to be told about morality, their culture and heritage and technology could be incorporated in regular teaching for gaining knowledge. Awareness has been made by the CBSE for the principals that there are many challenges ahead and these have to be tackled cautiously,” said Paramjit Kaur.

The conference held between November 9 to 11 in Amritsar, was chaired by the CBSE Chairman, Vineet Joshi.

Ludhiana, November 13
A postage stamp on the Central Bureau of Investigation has been released by the postal department. The stamp was released to mark 50th anniversary of India's foremost investigation agency.

Established in 1941 as the Special Police Establishment, it was consolidated as the Central Bureau of Investigation in 1963. As the SPE to work as a watchdog against corruption in the War and Supply Department of India during the World War II, it started investigating corruption of government employees and later in all the departments of the government.

In 1987, it was divided into two divisions including Anti-Corruption Division and Special Crimes Division. The headquarters of the agency are housed in a state of the art 11-storey building in New Delhi and the CBI academy is in Ghaziabad.

“The CBI is the most respected of the investigation agencies in India. It is good that a postage stamp by the postal department has been released," says Gurmukh, a city-based philatelist. "I have bought a complete sheet of the stamps," he says. "It has been instrumental in solving so many complicated crimes," he says.

"Of the investigation agencies in India, including the National Investigating Agency (NIA), the Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation and the National Intelligence Grid (Natgrid), the CBI is the foremost investigation agency. It has completed 50 years, and it is great to have a postage stamp of the agency in my stamp collection," said another philatelist.

Ludhiana, November 13
Working at the tea stall, where he serves tea, young Vijay starts his day early scurrying across to serve tea in the buildings and offices nearby and the evening ends the same way. He tells his age to be 15 although he looks much younger and he works hard to earn a living, contributing to the family income pool.

After further questioning, he said he has been told to tell his age as 15, whenever someone asks, as prying eyes of people in the NGO's or officials may question the owner of the tea stall where he works for violation of the child labour laws. He doesn't even know what Bal Diwas and Children's Day is. Many like him have no clue about Chidlren's Day.

Although laws have been formed and Right to Education being in place, these are being violated with impunity and the lot the children who have not had the pleasure of childhood joy continues to lead a life of adults.

Unfortunately, children bear the brunt of slavery in the country. A recent study by the Walk Free Foundation found that India has the highest number of modern day slaves accounting to about 14 million. Children have no knowledge and understanding about their rights and do as they are put are told, says Rohit, a teacher. Children continue to serve as slaves even when there is freedom and it is a democracy, he adds.

Form of slavery has changed now, says Dr Sukhdev Singh, a sociology professor at the PAU. Children start working at a very early age, as parents need more working hands in underprivileged families, he says. Another reason for child labour is the increasing urban population and thus increasing slums and life there is not much development oriented, he says. The society is also insensitive, as people talk against child labour but they employ children at home and for work, he says.

“Although laws are made, implementation is a big problem. What lacks is the awareness among people against the child labour. Even educated people, government officials continue to employ children as household help," says Nilam Kapoor, from Jago NGO. A lot more needs to be done by the government and by the people, she added. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 13
The Sadar police has booked nine persons for allegedly murdering a youth of Rasulpur village in Sangrur district and injuring four others. Some old rivalry due to land dispute was reported to be reason behind the assault.

The accused were identified as Faqiria, Dilwar and Bari of Rasulpur village and their accomplice and the deceased was accused’s nephew, Riyaz Mohammad (35).

According to the FIR, registered at the Sadar police station, the accused had attacked the victims with sharp-edged weapons, sticks and rods when the later were returning home after tilling land situated on outskirts of the village in the afternoon today.

Profusely bleeding victims, including Riyaz, his brother Roop Mohammad, cousins Ramzan Khan, Riyaz Ali of Dugri village and Soodan were brought to the local Civil Hospital by villagers. Doctors referred the victims to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Riyaz reportedly collapsed on the way to Patiala and remaining injured were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Malerkotla.

Investigations by a police team, supervised by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Amargarh Gurmit Singh, and SHO, Jasvir Singh, revealed that the accused and the victims had been fighting cases in connection with possession of a piece of land measuring eight bighas. The land belonged to victim family and the main accused was tilling it on rent.

Though the owners of the land had won a legal battle regarding possession of the said land, Faqir Mohammad and his other partners refused to vacate the land.

Riyaz and his associates took the possession of the land and were returning home in the afternoon when the accused led by Faqiria, Dilwar and Bari attacked them and injured seriously. — OC

Ludhiana, November 13
The two-day annual athletics meet of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Public School, Rose Garden, Civil Lines, concluded today. Navsharan Singh and Sumanpreet Kaur were declared the best athletes among boys and girls, respectively, in group A, while this honour in group B was bagged by Rajat and Sobat Mann in the boys section and Asawari was declared the best athlete in the girls section.

Similarly in group C, Gurbaz Singh and Jasmeet Kaur were adjudged the best athletes in the boys and girls sections, respectively. The BDS House was adjudged the best house in this 27th edition of the annual meet.

Paramjeet Singh Gill, Police Commissioner, Ludhiana distributed prizes among the position holders. Karnail Singh, director-principal, GGN Public School, proposed the vote of thanks and congratulated the winners. Prof Sohinderjeet Singh, Dr SP Singh, Prof Prithipal Singh Kapur, Kuljeet Singh, S Jaspal Singh and Hardeep Singh, members of the school management committee, were among others present there to encourage the students.

Today, Harshit Arora won 100m race to emerge as the fastest runner among boys in group A, while Abdul Mannan and Rahul Singh finished at second and third place, respectively.

Manavjeet Singh clinched gold medal in shot put in the same group, followed by Dipanshu who finished at second place and Harmeet Singh at third place.

In group B, Sobat Mann romped home victorious in long jump. Gursimran Singh and Harmanjot Singh secured second and third place, respectively.

In the girls section, Gagandeep Kaur bagged top honour in discus throw in the group B to stamp her superiority and Satyajeet Kaur secured second position. Pallavi Saini had to content with third position. In group B, Jaazleen Kaur won 200m race, while Gagandeep Kaur and Sukhmandeep Kaur secured second and third positions, respectively.

Ludhiana, November 13
The third edition of the All-India Sahibzada Ajit Singh Hockey Champion Trophy-2013 will be organised by the Sports Council of Ludhiana from December 17 to December 23 at Olympian Pirthipal Singh Hockey Stadium, Punjab Agricultural University, here.

The organisers of this mega sports event said eight national teams would compete against each other in the men section and four in the women section in this week-long hockey extravaganza.

The participating teams from the men section are Air India Mumbai, BPCL, ONGC, Indian Army, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and CRPF. While addressing the press conference recently, Davinder Singh Kehal, president, Sports Council of Ludhiana, said to promote hockey at the grass-roots level, there had been a new addition where four hockey academies would be participating.

The participating hockey academies include Surjit Academy Jalandhar, Namdhari Academy, Sonipat Academy and Punjab and Sind Bank Academy.

Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, chairman, Sports Council of Ludhiana, said the teams from the women section include Chandigarh XI, Gwallor XI, Sonipat Xl and Western Railways.

AII matches would be played under floodlights, which would add charm to the visitors, Bhinda said.