Ludhiana, December 6
Despite opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress as well as independents, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation today passed its agenda in merely four minutes.

Interestingly, the BJP, which otherwise backs the Akali Dal on several issues in the MC House, today openly opposed it when the proposal regarding the new advertising policy was passed.

This is for the first time in the present MC House that the BJP, Congress and independents teamed up against the ruling Akali Dal.

Proposals to extend the city limits by a kilometre and increasing the licence fee were deferred by the Mayor and councillors.

Interestingly, after the zero hour got over, the Mayor asked the House that as the councillors had read the agenda, it should be passed.

To this, the councillors demanded that the proposal of extending the MC limits by a kilometre and increase in the licence fee should be deferred while the remaining be passed.

When the Mayor announced that the agenda had been passed, the BJP councillors led by Deputy Mayor RD Sharma, Gurdeep Singh Neetu and Inder Aggarwal said the agenda should also be deferred.

However, Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, accompanied by state PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon (who chaired the meeting) and MC Commissioner, left the committee room where the General House was on.

Speaking to The Tribune, BJP councillor Gurdeep Singh Neetu said the Akali Dal kept them in the dark over the advertising policy. “The Mayor had promised in the core committee meeting that the proposal would be deferred, but he backtracked from his commitment. After all, we are the coalition partners and the Akali Dal should have taken us into confidence. The advertising policy was not even discussed in the House and was passed in haste. We have the support of 40 out of the total 75 councillors who are against the policy,” he said.

Sources in Akali Dal said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal wanted the advertising policy to be passed at any cost.

“How can we oppose or defer it when the Deputy CM wanted it to be passed,” said a senior leader of the Akali Dal. The presence of Sharanjit Singh Dhillon in the MC House also raised several eyebrows as he chaired the meeting.

Congress councillor Balkar Singh Sandhu said their party also opposed the advertising policy. “How can the Akali government give the advertising rights of the city to a single company for a period of 15 years, which can be extended to five more years? The interesting part is that the BJP is also opposing it, but the government is least concerned,” said Sandhu.

Ludhiana, December 6
Two persons were booked on the charges of taking Rs 55,000 for bribing a police officer.

The accused have been identified as Gurjot Garcha and Jhonny Sidhu. The duo has been arrested under Sections 8 and 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It is learnt that the duo had taken money from Perminder Singh Pindri, who was involved in a broad daylight shooting incident at Tagore Nagar, about a month ago.

The incident came to light after Pindri was arrested while the latter was attending his sister's wedding on December 4.

The police said Pindri, who was on the run following the incident, contacted Gurjot and told him that his (Pindri's) sister was getting married on December 4 and express his desire to attend the function.

Sensing the opportunity to pocket money, Gurjot introduced Pindri to Jhonny Sidhu.

In police custody, Pindri reportedly told the police that Jhonny Sidhu took Rs 55,000 from him on the pretext of bribing a police officer.

After taking the money, Johnny assured Pindri the police would not conduct a raid at the wedding venue.

But when Pindri was attending the function, the police raided the venue and arrested him.

Pindri narrated the incident to ADCP- III Joginder Singh following which Gurjot Singh and Jhonny Sidhu were arrested.

Ludhiana, December 6
An 18-year-old youth committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his house in Azad Nagar near Dhuri Lines today.

The deceased was identified as Ravinder Kumar, who was working at an electronic showroom.

In another incident, a 20-year-old youth committed suicide in a similar fashion at Bal Singh Nagar near Sunder Nagar. The deceased was identified as Brajesh Kumar. The incident came to light when residents of the area spotted his body hanging with a ceiling fan. — TNS

Ludhiana, December 6
The court of Additional Sessions Judge RK Jain convicted Rishi Sood, a resident of Haibowal Kalan, Ludhiana, on the charges of raping a girl of Ghaziabad on the pretext of marrying her.

He was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 years. A fine of Rs 10,000 was also imposed on him.

A case under Sections 376, 307, 420, 506 and 120-B of IPC was registered against Rishi and two others on March 21, 2007, at the Sarabha Nagar police station.

After inquiry, the police had declared the accused as innocent. The police had asserted that the version of the girl was not true. But the police investigations did not stand to the judicial scrutiny.

Following the complaint of Rishi Sood, the police had booked the girl in a case of cheating and forgery. The case was pending in the court of Judicial Magistrate.

The girl she had received a miss call on her cellphone. When she called back, they started talking to each other. With the passage of time, the friendship deepened. She levelled allegations that the accused had promised to marry her. He exploited the girl physically several times and refused to marry her.

Ludhiana, December 6
The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) today sold 12 commercial sites and a residential plot through public auction in Sector 32-A, Urban Estate, on Chandigarh Road which yielded Rs 6.24 crore.

From among 22 booth sites put on the block, 12 were sold for Rs 5.37 crore at a premium of 72 per cent as against their total reserve price of Rs 3.13 crore. Out of the 10 residential plots measuring 300 and 400 square yards proposed to be auctioned, only one found the buyer at Rs 87 lakh against its reserve price of Rs 81 lakh.

Executive officer, GLADA, RK Popli, who conducted the auction with other officials, said that two booth sites (23.03 square yards) on Chandigarh Road (Sector 32-A) were sold for Rs 1.51 lakh and Rs 1.50 lakh per square yard as against the floor price of Rs 1,35,859 per square yard.

Similarly, eight booth sites (22.69 square yards) out of the 20 proposed to be auctioned opposite BCM School in the same locality attracted a highest bid of Rs 2.32 lakh per square yard against its reserve price at Rs 1,19,673 per square yard while the lowest successful bid was Rs 1.98 lakh per square yard.

The lone residential plot measuring 300 square yards was sold at Rs 29,000 per square yard against its reserve price of Rs 27,071 per square yard, Popli said.

In all, 41 bidders having deposited the eligibility fee Rs 50,000 each, participated in the auction proceedings. The successful bidders were required to deposit 10 per cent of the total sale price of the sites along with 2 per cent Punjab State Drug Addiction and Cancer Treatment Infrastructure Fund at the fall of hammer and another 15 per cent within 30 days of the date of auction. The buyers had the option to make payment of the balance amount within 60 days of issue of allotment letter with five per cent rebate or else four equated annual instalments in case of commercial sites and six equated half-yearly instalments for residential plots. For payments made in yearly or half yearly instalments, the buyers will have to pay 12 per cent interest.

Under the terms and conditions of the sale for the sites sold through auction, the commercial sites and residential plots will be used for the purpose specifically mentioned in the allotments letters and no change of land use, division or subdivision of the sites at any stage will be permissible.

Ludhiana, December 6
Rail passengers were at the receiving end as traffic on the Amritsar-Ludhiana section went haywire after an overloaded truck fell off the railway overbridge on the rail tracks near the Manawala railway station in Amritsar district this morning.

The incident took place around 6.30 am and the track was cleared with the help of a crane at 11 am. The down line (from Amritsar to Ludhiana) remained blocked during this period. Six trains were delayed for periods ranging between one and four hours. However, the rail traffic on the up line (from Ludhiana to Amritsar) remained unaffected and all Amritsar-bound trains were running on time.

Station superintendent RK Sharma said the Amritsar-Saharsa Jansewa Express, Amritsar-Haridwar Janshatabdi and Amritsar-New Delhi Intercity Express were delayed by more than two hours while the Amritsar-Bandra (Mumbai) Pashchim Express and the Amritsar-Katihar Amrapali Express arrived nearly four-and-a-half hours behind schedule.

Passengers waiting at the Ludhiana railway station were harassed as complete confusion and uncertainty over arrival of their trains prevailed till noon. Railway employees manning the enquiry counters were seen calling their seniors to know the extent of delay caused due to the accident. Navneet Kumar, a passenger waiting to board the Amrapali Express, said he waited for the train for more than four hours.

Khamano, December 6
A team of revenue officials who had gone for the demarcation of a private college, Cordia Group of Institutes at Sanghol, had to return empty handed as they failed to enter the premises due to the closed gate of the college.

The team members said the watchman was informed by them but entry was denied due to the directions issued by the officials of the institute.

As per the information, BDPO Khamano on a complaint by some villagers had moved an application with the Tehsildar, Khamano, for the demarcation of the college premises land as the college is occup-ying more panchayat land than alotted by the village panchayat.

The officials led by Kanugo Mukhtiar Singh and others kept on waiting for some time outside the college but to no use.

As per BDPO and Naib Tehsildar, Khamano, the revenue officials had informed the senior officials about the development and will soon send a written report in this regard.

Meanwhile, the college Director, RK Sharma, when contacted said the demarcation was not possible during the college hours and was possible only on a holiday.

He said they should be given prior information about it and they would cooperate in the process.

Sahnewal, December 6
Though the paddy season is over from more than 15 days now, but nearly 25,000 paddy sacks are still lying unattended, waiting to be lifted, in the grain market of Sahnewal. The requests made by Artiyas to the officials concerned, have failed to bear fruit.

Sarabjit Singh, president, Artiya Association, said, “The PUN Grain has already purchased paddy but as far as the lifting is concerned, there is utter lack of concern on its part. As a result, we are in a fix as it has become difficult to guard it every time or for that matter, leave it entirely unattended. This is adding to the problems of the residents of the area as well.”

“Though these are the orders of the government that once the agencies purchase paddy, its clearance should be ensured within 72 hours but even after the passing of 15 days, the agency seems to be least bothered about its clearance,” he said.

“Succumbing to our pressure, the agency had begun with its process of lifting only to be halted all of a sudden. About 5,000 sacks were hardly lifted, when the work was left in between by the agency, for reasons best known to them,” he said adding that he has already informed DFSC who had in turn assured that the needful shall be done at the earliest.

“We fail to understand what to do. The paddy is lying in the open. We are facing labour shortage at present. As a result its guarding is all the more becoming an uphill task for us,” he said.

Secretary Market Committee Basant Singh Khalsa said they had given a notice to the PUN grain to ensure the lifting at the earliest. “The agency is suffering severe shortage of space, due to which the produce has been accumulated at the grain market. But since we have served a notice to them, they shall be doing so in the shortest time possible”. He further said the PUN grain officials had asked for 3 days time within which the paddy shall be lifted.

District Food Supplies Officer Dr Sona Thind when contacted said, “I have asked the AFSO to ensure that the needful is done as soon as possible.”

Ludhiana, December 6
The Ludhiana unit of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) today held a massive demonstration in front of State Bank of Patiala, zonal office. The protest was a part of the chain of agitational programmes framed by the UFBU.

Addressing the employees, Naresh Gaur, convener United Forum of Bank Unions, said wages and service conditions in the banking sector were governed by the industry-level bipartite settlements signed between the Indian banks association and the trade unions of bank employees and officials.

“All the public sector banks will be observing an All India Bank Strike on December 18 for immediate wage revision and to stop unnecessary banking reforms,” Gaur said.

He said the Indian banks were saved because of strong regulations of the public sector banking. “But in the name of banking sector reforms, the government is taking various steps and measures to liberalise and de-regulate the banking sector. Recently, the RBI has announced in its discussion paper that the government’s equity capital in the banks can be reduced to less than 51 per cent which means nothing but privatisation of our public sector banks,” Gaur said.

Ludhiana, December 6
The State Ministerial Services Association continued its pen-down strike on the second day.

Work remained suspended in government offices. Sukhminder Singh, state president, State Ministerial Services Association, said,"We are going to hold a state-level meeting at the Mini-Secretariat tomorrow."

Those visiting the Deputy Commissioner office, Civil Surgeon Office, District Revenue office, Excise and Taxation office, Improvement Trust, irrigation department, District Transport Office, health department, agriculture department and PWD office had to return without getting their work done. Sushil Kumar, district president of the association, said,"Our major demands are implementation of the revised pay scale, release of 10 per cent DA instalment with effect from July 1, 2013, promotions of employees, 50 per cent selection grade to the steno category and creation of clerical posts as per the government norms in the newly formed districts." — TNS

Ludhiana, December 6
The Finance and Contracts Committee will be formed this month. This was stated by the Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria today. Ever since the new MC house was formed last year, the civic body has failed to form the F&CC.

In the previous MC General House meeting, the Mayor had assured that the F&CC would be constituted in the next General House meeting (which took place today).

The Congress and the Akali Dal have been cornering the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine over the issue. The F&CC is one of the most prestigious committees of the civic body. Any development work to be carried out in the city or allocation of funds for any project need to be sanctioned by the F&CC.

At present, the F&CC consists of only three members, Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, Senior Deputy Mayor Sunita Aggarwal and Deputy Mayor Ripu Daman Sharma. The remaining two members are yet to be elected and the committee is yet to be formulated.

During the Zero Hour, Congress councillor Rakesh Prashar questioned the Mayor over the formation of the F&CC. "You had promised in the last meeting that the F&CC would be constituted in the next meeting. The day has come and still there are no signs of the formation of the F&CC," he questioned.

Mayor Gohalwaria said, "Even we want that the F&CC should be constituted at the earliest. Though I had announced in the last meeting that the F&CC would be constituted in the next meeting, today's meeting was convened because we need to pass some agendas which are required for taking HUDCO loan. I assure the MC house that the F&CC would be formed this week," he claimed.

Ludhiana, December 6
Women will be imparted free training in dairy farming under the Dairy Farming Women Empowerment Scheme. Information regarding the scheme was given by Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal today.

Subsidy to set up a dairy farming unit and loan will also be provided under the scheme. He said women should avail the benefit. The initiative has been taken by the state government for the promotion of agricultural diversification and attracting people towards agriculture-allied occupations.

Under the scheme, married matriculate women with rural background, aged between 25 and 40, with family in possession of at least 5 acres will be given a 15-day training. Those purchasing cattle, cattle shed, milking machine, bulk milk cooler and insurance chip will get a subsidy of 35 to 50 per cent.

Applications for availing the scheme can be sent to the deputy director, dairy office, Model Town.

Ludhiana, December 6
A large number of youngsters turned up at the Army recruitment rally at Military Complex, Dholewal.

The event, which began on December 3, will conclude on December 10. The Army officers said they had screened 8,572 aspirants from Moga district, Ludhiana and Roopnagar till December 5.

Today, 1,200 aspirants came from Mohali. Brig Udai Yadav, Deputy Director-General, recruitment (Punjab and J&K) said 1,500 aspirants had been shortlisted so far.

He said a written test would be conducted for the candidates in February.

A board of five officers was constituted, he said, adding that most of the youngsters had come from rural areas.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 6
A carpenter of Hargobindpura Mini Chhapar, the only bread earner of the family consisting of four children, wife and old parents, is in need of financial help as he is suffering from Bilateral Subclavian Artery Thrombus, a rare disorder.

Dharampal, the patient, is seeking treatment at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, and requires over Rs 3 lakh for his treatment that will include a preventive surgery and amputation. Doctors attending him have already started amputating fingers of his hands which have developed gangrene due to insufficient blood supply. An immediate surgery was required to avoid further amputation and to save his life said Dr HS Bedi, HOD CTVS Department.

Sanjiv Vinayak, a social activist helping the family, said donations could be sent directly to the hospital in favour of Dharmpal admission number C74 83892 (bed number 2211 ward 14).

Ludhiana, December 6
Armed Forces Flag Day was celebrated here today.

It was started off by Col (retd) Kanwar Preet Singh Atwal District Sainik Welfare Officer and Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal today. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to residents to contribute to the Flag Fund. The funds are used for the welfare of families of the ex-Army personnel, martyrs who have laid their lives during wars, their widows, handicapped Armed forces personnel. The Deputy Commissioner said that the day was celebrated with enthusiasm throughout the district. — TNS

Jagraon, December 6
The Jagraon police have booked three persons, including the husband of the complainant for allegedly raping a married woman. The accused have been identified as Sandeep Kumar and his cousin Tarsem Lal, both residents of Jagraon, and Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Kothe Rahlan village near Jagraon.

Confirming the development, Sub Inspector Hari Mittar said the police have registered a case against three persons under Sections 376 and 120 B of the IPC at Jagraon City police station.

However, none of the accused have been arrested so far. “Raids are being conducted to trace and the arrest all the accused,” said Hari Mittar.

In her complaint to the local police, the woman alleged that her husband Sandeep Kumar was a greedy person and he forced her to develop physical relation with Tarsem Lal and Gurmeet Singh for earning money.

As per the information, the victim who hails from Ludhiana was married in Jagraon a few years ago. “A couple of years after the marriage, my husband started forcing me to develop physical relations with other men. When I objected, he used to beat me,” alleged the victim.

According to investigating officer Hari Mittar, the victim approached the police on October 22. “After thorough investigation of the matter, the police have booked victim’s husband and two other persons on rape charges,” he said.

Ludhiana, December 6
The police have claimed to have arrested the accused who had fired gunshots during a function, killing two-year-old Kumkum.

The accused has been identified as Raj Kumar, alias Billa of Mohalla Kashmir Nagar.

His brother-in-law Bittu and six other accused are still at large.

The accused had fired gunshots from double barrel .12 rifle during a function on December 1.

The bullet hit Kumkum, who was standing on the rooftop of the house.

Raikot, December 6
The local police have booked three members of a notorious gang of drug peddlers involved in trafficking of banned products in this part of Malwa.

Around 158 bags (68 quintal) of poppy husk and the vehicle used in the crime were seized from the lone accused arrested by the police on Thursday.

The accused were identified as Parmod Kumar of Monavarganj (UP), Nirmal Singh alias sarpanch of Dolowal in Moga area and Raj Kumar of Yamuna Nagar.

A team of cops led by Sukhminder Singh and Nirmal Singh intercepted a tempo (HR 58 2763) at Baranala Chowk here and recovered the contraband loaded in it. Parmod Kumar, driver of the vehicle, showing ignorance about contents of the bags informed the police that he was following instructions of Nirmal Singh and Raj Kumar who were travelling in another vehicle going ahead of the tempo. However, the occupants of the ‘Pilot’ vehicle managed to flee.

Jagraon, December 6
A Goraya-based trader was allegedly robbed of cash, ATM card and a mobile phone by three unidentified youths on gunpoint on the Ludhiana-Bathinda highway last night.

As per the information, the incident took place around 1 am near Sudhar when Jeevan Singh was travelling to Bathinda for delivering machines manufactured by him in a tempo.

The trader approached Mullanpur Dakha police today and lodged a complaint. In his complaint, Jeevan Singh said, “When our vehicles reached near Gurusar Sudhar on the Ludhiana-Bathinda highway, three unidentified youths travelling in a black Mahindra Scorpio SUV stopped us and robbed of Rs 30,500, an ATM card and a mobile phone from me at gunpoint. The accused robbers also took Rs 2,500 and mobile from the tempo driver before fleeing towards Raikot.”

Mullanpur Dakha SHO Dilbagh Singh informed that a case has been registered against the three accused.

“The police have already initiated efforts to trace the robbers. The accused would be arrested soon,” assured the SHO. — OC

Ludhiana, December 6
More than 4,000 students of SDP schools namely SDP Senior Secondary School, Hazuri Road, SDP Senior Secondary School, Basti Jodhewal, and OP Gupta Model Senior Secondary School, Quilla Mohalla branches, competed in different events besides fun games in the annual athletics meet organised at the SDP College for Women near Daresi ground here today.

Gurmeet and Abhimanyu were declared the best athletes in the boys U-19 and U-16 categories, respectively while Sonia and Shallu were adjudged the best athletes among girls U-19 and U-16 year groups, respectively.

Paramjit Kaur Chahal, District Education Officer (Secondary), Ludhiana, was the chief guest at the inaugural function while Balraj Bhasin, president, SDP Sabha, and institutions presided over the function.

S Verma, director along with Jasveer Singh Chauhan, Sanjeev Bindra and Sarita Goel, all principals of SDP Schools welcomed the guests. HK Chugh, JL Narang, RK Khurana, Vijay Verma, Dhari Shah Singla and Virendra Gupta were among other dignitaries present there.The students of SDP schools who excelled at the district, state and national level tournaments recently were honoured and were given mementoes.

Ludhiana, December 6
Hosts Guru Nanak Public School (GNPS), Sarabha Nagar, bagged the overall trophy in the Sahodaya School Athletics Meet that concluded here yesterday.

GNPS was named the best school in the boys U-14, girls U-16 and boys U-19 categories to secure the overall trophy while Bal Bharti Public School was declared the best school in the girls U-14 section, Nankana Sahib Public School, Kila Raipur was adjudged the best in the boysU-16 category and Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar, was declared the best school in the girls U-19 category.