Ludhiana, March 25
As many as seven students were caught using unfair means during the Class X science examination of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) across the district today. The Education Department had constituted 39 teams to prevent cheating in the examinations.

The flying squad led by the Deputy District Education Officer, Charanjit Singh, caught five students at Government High School, Chappar village.

Singh said the students were found using study material in the presence of invigilators.

The Deputy District Education Officer relieved the entire staff at the examination centre, including the superintendent, controller and invigilators for negligence in duty.

“When our team reached the examination centre, we found study material on the premises. The practice of cheating has been going unchecked at the centre. We found study material from the possession of five students. The examination staff has been replaced with new staff,” said Singh.

Another team led by Principal Sukhminder Kaur caught two students at Government High School, Salaudi.

While one student was found using a Bluetooth device, the other was caught using earphones to cheat in the exam.

Meanwhile, the flying squad team led by principal Reva Gupta relieved the superintendent at Government Senior Secondary School, Sidhwan Bet, as a science teacher was deputed on examination duty during the science examination.

Meanwhile, students who took the science examination expressed satisfaction with the question paper.

“I attempted all the questions and hope that I will score good marks. The paper was quite lengthy,” said Gaurav, a student.

officialspeak
When our team reached the examination centre, we found study material on the premises. The practice of cheating has been going unchecked at the centre. We found study material from the possession of five students. The examination staff has been replaced with new staff.
— Charanjit Singh, Deputy District Education Officer

Ludhiana, March 25
The recent advancement in technology has revolutionised mobile connectivity. So much so, students are adopting new tools to cheat during the examinations.

Despite strict vigil by the officials of the Education Department, students still manage to use Bluetooth devices and earphones in examinations.

The flying squad today caught two students using mobile phone devices during the Class X science examination of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) at Government High School, Salaudi.

PSEB chairperson Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal had directed the flying squad teams and the district education officers to switch on the Bluetooth device on their mobiles during inspection.

This was aimed at tracing students using Bluetooth during the examination.

Members of the flying squad said many students concealed their Bluetooth devices under their turbans.

Sukhminder Kaur, principal of Government High School, Salaudi, who caught the students, said, “A student hid his Bluetooth device under the turban. Another student hid it in a handkerchief.”

Sukhdarshan Singh, president, Anti-Copying Teachers Front, said, “The use of Bluetooth during an exam can be easily detected. PSEB should install mobile sensors in examination halls. “

Ludhiana, March 25
The District Congress today received a jolt with the chief of the Mahila Wing, District Congress Committee Ludhiana (rural) — Neelam Kohli — quitting the party to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal welcomed Kohli to the party fold and presented her a siropa during a programme at Meharban village.

Charging the Congress with ignoring its workers, Kohli said, “I quit the party as my efforts were not being acknowledged by the leaders.”

“The District Congress used to organise programmes near my (party) office but I was rarely invited,” she alleged.

Stating that she had been associated with the Congress for more than 15 years, Kohli said, “I had never thought that I would quit the Congress to join another party. I tried to take things in my stride. How can a party ignore its sincere workers?”

A few months ago, Kohli, as a Congress leader, had held a programme at the Circuit House here to felicitate the families that had left the Akali Dal to join the Congress.

Asked about her own switching of loyalties, she said, “The Congress has no place for committed workers. I quit the party with a heavy heart.”

Kohli had been quite vocal when Congress leader Dimple Rana had quit the Congress to join SAD.

It is learnt that Kohli had problems with the District Congress Committee Ludhiana (Urban) chief Pawan Dewan.

Meanwhile, Dewan could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Cong leaders hail Bittu’s candidature
Congress leaders on Tuesday welcomed the nomination of Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Singh Bittu as the Ludhiana candidate. The leaders said preparations were on in full swing to welcome Bittu to start his campaigning in the Ludhiana constituency. Senior Congress leader and former district president Amarjit Singh Tikka said the Kotli connection would work in Bittu’s favour. Bittu is the grandson of former Chief Minister Beant Singh. Even as some local Congress leaders blamed Tewari for being ‘indecisive’ and for harming the party’s poll prospects, others said, “Bittu is the right choice against the Akali Dal candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali.” “Bittu was born in Ludhiana. He knows the pulse of the city,” said Tikka.

Political analysts say issues related to the anti-incumbency as well as factionalism won’t be much of a problem with Bittu in the fray.

Ludhiana, March 25
Tightening the noose around the betting system, the city police have arrested four bookies for allegedly betting on the T20 World Cup matches.

The accused — Panna Verma, Ashok Kumar, Amit Singh and Talwinder Singh — are residents of the city.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided their rented accommodation in the Basant City area on Monday night

The four bookies were placing bets on the T20 match between New Zealand and South Africa at that time.

A customised exchange, Rs 35,000, laptop, 36 mobile phones, digital recorder and an internet dongle were recovered from the possession of the accused.

ADCP (crime) MS Dhesi said the accused had rented the apartment in the Basant City area a few days ago.

The police said the bookies were placing bets on gamblers — a majority of them being businessmen.

A case of fraud under Section 420, IPC, and other relevant sections under the Gambling Act have been slapped against the accused.

“The owner of the house feigned ignorance about the activities of the four accused. We are verifying his statement,” added Dhesi.

Meanwhile, the accused were presented before the court on Tuesday, which remanded them in police custody.

Ludhiana, March 25
The arrest of four bookies has revealed that they are mere pawns as the main accused — running the betting business in the city — is still at large.

ADCP (crime) MS Dhesi told Ludhiana Tribune, “There is a hierarchy system among the bookies. The four bookies were reporting to the main bookie, who controls the betting business in Ludhiana. The main bookie further reports to his senior, who resides in another city or abroad. This is a huge network. We have arrested the four accused and their local head will be nabbed soon. We cannot divulge his name right now.”

The police said several lakhs of rupees had been invested in the betting racket. Besides placing bets, the accused were also collecting the cash, added Dhesi.

Panna Verma, heading the four-member betting racket, is the son of a railway employee.

An engineer, Verma faced huge losses in business and thereby entered the world of betting on cricket matches.

Verma was working for a financier-turned politician, who runs an office in the Railway Colony.

Money started flowing and soon accused Ashok Kumar, Amit Singh and Talwinder Singh joined Verma.

“At some occasions, the accused operated their betting business in cars and from hotel rooms. But, recently, they rented a room. With the help of their customised exchange, the accused would hold conversations with as many as 18 persons at the same time,” said Dhesi.

Meanwhile, the arrest of the four bookies has caused panic among a section of businessmen in the city, who were betting on cricket matches through the accused.

Dhesi said, “We are scanning the mobile phone details of the accused and whosoever is involved will be arrested. More leads are expected in the case soon.”

officialspeak
At some occasions, the accused operated their betting business in cars and from hotel rooms. But, recently, they rented a room. With the help of their customised exchange, the accused would hold conversations with as many as 18 persons at the same time.
— MS Dhesi , ADCP (crime)

Political patronage
Police sources said the accused were politically well connected. Upon their arrest, they tried to use their political connections to evade police action. The police switched off their phones thereafter. The police seized 36 phones from the possession of the accused and did not attend calls on them.

Betting on election too
Besides cricket matches, the accused were also placing bets on elections. Police sources said not only local politicians, bets were being placed on national parties and regional parties. Who would be the next Prime Minister and whether it would be a coalition government or a government with a clear majority.

Ludhiana, March 25
To accommodate the heavy rush of passengers from April to July, the Northern Railways will run four summer special trains through the city from April 1.

In all, these four trains will make 208 trips to and fro the originating and terminating points.

Railway officials said the 04606/04605 unreserved weekly special train will run between Amritsar-Samastipur-Amritsar from April 6 to July 29.

The train will depart from Amritsar every Sunday at 12.35 PM and reach Samastipur at 4.25 PM, the following day.

On its return, the train will leave from Samastipur every Monday at 8.15 PM and reach Amritsar at 2.55AM on Wednesday.

With 14 general coaches, besides two second class-cum-luggage van coaches, the weekly summer special train will halt at Jalandhar City, Ludhiana, Sirhind, Rajpura, Ambala Cantt., Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Borhwal, Gonda, Manakpur, Basti, Khalikanbad, Gorakhpur, Deori Sadar, Siwan, Chhapra, Sonpur, Hazipur and Muzaffarpur stations en route both the directions.

A weekly AC summer special train (02207/02208) will run between Ahmedabad-Jammu Tawi-Ahmedabad making 26 trips in all.

From April 3 to June 26, the train will depart from Jammu Tawi every Thursday at 9.30 AM and reach Ahmedabad at 1.20 PM, the following day.

In the return direction, the train will leave Ahmedabad every Friday at 3 PM and reach Jammu Tawi at 8.00 PM, the following day.

Having 10 AC 3-tier coaches, the train will stop at the Sabarmati Jn., Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Falna, Rani, Marwar Jn., Pali Marwar, Luni, Jodhpur, Gotan, Merta Road, Degana, Didwana, Ladnun, Sujangarh, Ratangarh, Churu, Sadulpur, Hissar, Dhuri, Ludhiana, Jalandhar City, Pathankot and Kathua stations.

Another summer special train 04051/04052 will run between Anand Vihar Terminal (New Delhi)-Udhampur-Anand Vihar Terminal five days a week. From April 1 to July 1, the train will make a total of 130 trips.

The train will depart from Anand Vihar every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 4.15 PM and reach Udhampur at 7.30 AM, the following day.

On its return journey, it will leave Udhampur every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3.50 PM and reach Anand Vihar at 5.35 AM, the following day.

Comprising nine sleeper class, four general class and two second class-cum-luggage van coaches, the train will stop at Ghaziabad, Meerut City, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Jagadhari, Ambala Cantt., Ludhiana, Jalandhar Cantt., Chakki Bank and Jammu Tawi stations in both the directions.

Another weekly superfast summer special train 09021/09022 will run between Bandra Terminus-Jammu Tawi-Andheri from April 7 to July 2. The special train will depart from Bandra Terminus every Monday at 5.10 AM and reach Jammu Tawi at 3.25 PM, the following day. In the return direction, the train will leave Jammu Tawi every Wednesday at 5 AM and reach Andheri at 1.40 PM, the following day. The train will have one AC 2-tier, two AC-3-tier, six sleeper class, six general class and two disabled-friendly coaches.

Ready to chug off 04606/04605 unreserved weekly special train will run between Amritsar-Samastipur-Amritsar from April 6 to July 29. Weekly AC summer special train (02207/02208) will run between Ahmedabad-Jammu Tawi-Ahmedabad from April 3 to June 26. Special train 04051/04052 will run between Anand Vihar Terminal (New Delhi)-Udhampur-Anand Vihar Terminal from April 1 to July 1. Weekly superfast summer special train 09021/09022 will run between Bandra Terminus-Jammu Tawi-Andheri from April 7 to July 2.

Ludhiana, March 25
The civic body is facing an acute shortage of technical staff. As per norms, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation needs at least 111 engineers. It, however, has only 33 engineers in the Building and Roads Department, with the majority of them being senior officials (executive engineers and superintending engineers).

Despite several requests made by the civic body, fresh recruitment of engineers has not been made by the state government. Moreover, till the model code of conduct remains in force, no recruitments can be made.

This is hampering the developmental works worth over Rs 700 crores that were initiated in the city when Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was on a foundation-laying spree some months back.

Officials are hopeful once the election gets over, the MC would get an adequate number of engineers to monitor the ongoing works.

As per data available with the MC, the city needs at least 72 junior engineers as per the norms, but only 13 are taking care of the entire city.

Also, against 27 assistant corporation engineers needed, the MC is managing the affairs with only 10.

The strength of corporation engineers and superintending engineers, however, is satisfactory with seven and four respectively against the required eight and four.

BJP councillor Inder Aggarwal said there was an immediate need to recruit more technical staff, else work would suffer and public money would be wasted.

"Thirteen JEs have to look after the works in 75 wards. How can we expect that a JE will do justice to his job when he is asked to supervise works in around half a dozen wards? The quality of work will never be maintained if we do not have adequate staff,” said the councillor.

Officialspeak
MC Additional Commissioner Dr Sumit Jarangal said the civic body had written to the government about the shortage of engineers. "Once the election gets over, we will be able to get sufficient number of engineers to monitor the ongoing works. For the time being, we are trying to manage the affairs with the available staff in the best possible manner,” he said.

Ludhiana, March 25
Brick-kiln workers led by the Lal Jhanda Punjab Bhatha Mazdoor Union staged a district-level protest at Chatar Singh Park here today. The workers marched toward Labour Commissioner’s office on Gill Road to demand revision of their wages.

Union general secretary Parkash Singh Hisowal said the official was not present in the office.

The labourers raised anti-government slogans outside the office.

Tarsem Jodhan, a communist leader, said anti-labourer policies of the Akali-BJP government had pushed the brick-kiln workers into a deep financial crisis.

“Brick-kiln workers get only three months’ employment in a year and are unable to provide education to their children. The owners pay them marginal salaries. We demand a hike in the daily wages,” said Jodhan.

The union activists had tried to meet the Labour Commissioner on March 20 as well. Then, too, he was reportedly not available. 

Ludhiana, March 25
The civic body has served notices on around 30 hospitals in Zone D seeking reply within 15 days on as to why they had not made proper arrangements for visitors to park their vehicles on the premises.

Assistant Town Planner (Zone D), who is taking “a serious note of the problem”, said premises of those hospitals would be sealed whose replies were found unsatisfactory.

Earlier this month, on March 6, another order was issued in this regard by the Assistant Town Planner (Headquarters). It directed the officials concerned to conduct surveys of these hospitals to find violations of building bylaws. However, no headway has been made in the case.

ATP (Headquarters) Kamaljit Kaur said she had asked the officials concerned to conduct the surveys and submit the replies, but she was yet to get the details.

ATP (Zone D) Rajinder Sharma, however, said the replies given by the hospitals were received, but needed to be scrutinised first.

"We may have to visit the premises to see the violations of building bylaws,” he said.

When asked as to how much time it would take to complete the process, Sharma gave no conclusive answer.

Acting on a complaint against the misuse of parking space for other commercial purposes by the hospitals, the ATP (Headquarters) in a letter written to ATPs had asked them to conduct surveys of the hospitals to find which hospitals had violated the building bylaws.

The letter further read that the hospitals that had left no parking space should be given directions to provide it. It was directed that the hospitals which were using their parking space for other commercial purposes be demolished.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner Shruti Singh, on being contacted, said she was out of town and would personally look into the matter on returning.

The complainant, RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal, said the officials were turning a blind eye towards all the violations.

"The officials do not want to take any action as most of the doctors are well connected with high-ups and political leaders,” alleged Sabharwal.

Ludhiana, March 25
Over 5,000 youths turned up on the first day of the recruitments for the 103 Infantry Battalion of Territorial Army’s Sikh Light Infantry.

The drive being held to recruit general duty soldiers and tradesmen will go on till March 29 at the Army cantonment near Millar Gunj.

Today, candidates from Punjab, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir attended the drive.

Recruitment of aspirants from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi NCR will be carried out tomorrow.

Documentation and medical examination for the screened candidates will be done from March 27 to 29.

Educational qualification required for soldier (general duty) is matriculation (Class X) with 45 per cent marks, except for candidates belonging to districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. For these candidates, passing Class VIII is the minimum criterion. The educational qualification required for soldier (tradesman) is also matriculation.

Ludhiana, March 25
Actor Tom Alter was in the city today to promote the upcoming movie “Honour Killing”. The veteran actor was accompanied by director Avtar Bhogal and writer Rajinder Singh Aatish.

Bhogal said the movie was set in the UK and dealt with honour killing.

“The problem of honour killing is not only prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. Indians and Pakistanis migrated with this mentality to abroad as well,” he said.

Bhogal said women were still being killed for the sake of “honour” in Britain as well, he said. He said the movie is based on a real incident in which a girl of Pakistani origin was killed for being in love with a Sikh.

Pakistani actress Zara Sheikh plays the girl’s role. Protagonist Sudeep Singh is making his debut with this film. They are joined by veterans Gulshan Grover, Prem Chopra and Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh.

Tom Alter said the movie was a must-watch for the issue it raised.

The movie also showcases how the love affair wrecks the friendship between a Sikh, a Muslim and a Christian, emphasising on how parochial people were, he said.

Writer Aatish said whenever any such movie is made, religious sensibilities of people were kept it mind. So, care was taken while writing the dialogues, he said.

The movie will be released in India and the UK on April 4. Audience in Pakistan, South Africa and Australia would be able to see it in theatres later in the year, said Bhogal.

Ludhiana, March 25
After the teachers of government schools raised hue and cry, the education department changed the dates of result for non-board classes. According to the fresh directions, now the result of non-board classes will be announced on March 31 and the parents-teachers meeting will be held on April 7. Earlier, the Education Department had given instructions to hold the parents teachers meeting on April 26 to announce the results.

Teachers and teacher unions opposed the move of education department and demanded to change the date of parents-teachers meet. Some of the activists of teachers unions met Anjali Bhawra, principal secretary, School Education and demanded to change the date of meet.

Generally, Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) declares results of non-board classes on March 31 but this year the Education Department had announced to declare the results on March 26 that is exactly a day after the completion of practical examinations of Classes IX and XI on March 25.

The examinations of non-board classes including IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and XI concluded on March 21. Today was last practical examination for these classes. The teachers informed to the department officials that they can not prepare result within one day.

According to the education department officials, the school staff will be busy on March 31 which is the scheduled date for Class X mathematics examination.

Anjali Bhawra, principal secretary, School Education, said, “The parents and teachers organisations expressed their objection to the date, which we had announced earlier. So, we have decided to change the date. The result will be announced on March 31 and schools will hold a parents-teachers meeting on April 7 to announce the result.”

Ludhiana, March 25
A blood donation camp was organised by the students of Punjab Agricultural University, today. Camp was held at Gurudwara Singh Sabha, PAU. Gurshaminder Singh, a student, said ‘Social Workers Association’ is a group of university which organises various blood donation camps every year.

“This is the fourth blood donation camp organised by the organisation this year and nearly 600 blood units were collected. In addition to this, our association has also adopted few children suffering from thalassemia who regularly require blood and the association members look after their needs,” he added.

Dr Mangal Singh Sidhu, director, Agriculture Department, appreciated the efforts of the students and said the students are doing a very noble cause by donating blood. “Blood donation is the highest form of donation and more and more people should come forward and join the league as it can save precious lives."

Ludhiana, March 25
The Independent candidate Simarjeet Singh Bains met the Chief Election Commissioner of India VS Sampath at New Delhi today and submitted a memorandum to him, demanding that the Ludhiana constituency be declared as a highly sensitive constituency.

The memorandum alleges that the police and the district administration “are stifling all attempts of a free and fair election.”

The memorandum, while demanding that the “false police cases” were framed against the supporters of Bains should be withdrawn, alleges that the police officials are regularly harassing the supporters of Bains.

Bains, in the memorandum, says: “The SAD candidate, in his speeches in the public meetings, has been openly telling the public that the police and the government officials have been instructed by the ruling party not to attend my phone. He (the SAD candidate) threatens the government servants in the public meetings that if any official gives me a hearing me, he will not be spared and will be punished hard.”

Jagraon, March 25
A high drama was witnessed at Roop Vatika School, Jagraon, when a large number of parents of the children studying in the school held a protest against the school management for allegedly forcing the school children to purchase new school uniforms and books from the school at high prices. The angry parents of the school children raised slogans against the school management. The protesting parents alleged that the school authorities have increased the school fee many times.

“The school authorities are forcing the children to buy brand new uniform for the summer season. The children whose families refused to buy the new uniforms as they already have the uniforms of the last season are being abused in the school,” claimed Harpreet Singh, a protesting father.

However, the school authorities denied the allegations of forcing the children for buying uniforms and books from the school. “We have only asked the students to purchase new uniforms for the summer season. No child has been forced to buy the uniform or books from the school. The parents can buy the uniforms and books from anywhere,” claimed principal Paramjit Kaur Dhaliwal.

A similar kind of protest was held by the parents of the school children in December when the school authorities allegedly forced the students to buy new winter uniforms from the school. At that time, the matter was resolved following the intervention of SDM Jagraon.

Ludhiana, March 25
Pallavan, a pre-school, franchised from Delhi, organised a graduation ceremony for children here today. It was an initiative to wish them good luck for their future in primary school.

The place was well-decorated emphasising upon the importance of the occasion. The day began enthusiastically with a convocation ceremony. The students came dressed up as their favourite wild character and spoke a few lines about it. Ritu Aggarwal wife of Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal was the chief guest for the occasion. She awarded the degrees and certificates to the children.

On this special occasion, Pallavan took the opportunity to award the winners of their social media contest, Star Kid ‘14. The contest that was recently held became viral on Facebook as more than one lakh people were engaged in it. Star Kid ‘14 saw a participation of 91 entries out of which 17 fun titles and prizes were given to the children along with the declaration of one grand winner.

Ludhiana, March 25
The city police have arrested a person for possessing bottles of cough syrups. In all, 50 bottles were recovered from his possession during a check.

The accused, identified as Ramesh Kumar of Jagraon, was caught at Bharat Nagar Chowk following a tip-off last night.

Ramesh reportedly told the police that he had purchased the bottles from Jagraon for Rs 50 a piece and was selling them at four times the price.

Ludhiana, March 25
In its golden jubilee year, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital is all set to organise the North Zone Inter-Medical and Dental Colleges Tournament (NOZIT) 2014.

Around 2,000 students from various medical and dental colleges of the region will be participating in the meet from March 28 to 30.

DMCH Managing Society secretary Prem Kumar Gupta said to mark the year a memorable one, the hospital would host a number of academic and cultural activities.

DMCH Sports Committee chairperson Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina said the inter-college tournament would witness students competing for the top honours in various sports including athletics, cricket, basketball, football, tennis and hockey.

Principal Dr Daljit Singh said the event aimed at provide the students a much-deserved break from their hectic medical education.

“The three-day fest will give them an opportunity to party, play and enjoy themselves to the fullest,” he said.