L U D H I A N A

A marriage palace adjacent to the Baddowal 
ammunition dump in Ludhiana. 
— Photos by Rajesh Bhambi

Let us go on a two-year ‘baby holiday’
THE problem of increasing population in the country has shaken every right-thinking person as the population has crossed the staggering one billion mark. It is well on the way to leaving China behind in less than a quarter of the next century. 

Differences between lawyers over new chambers
LUDHIANA, June 7 — The much-awaited shifting of the lower courts and the advocates’ chambers from the worn-out old courts complex near the Mall to the new district courts complex near the mini-secretariat has formally begun with the District Bar Association announcing the process of collecting instalments of construction of the 550 odd chambers of lawyers.

Moving around with dignity at 115 and calling the shots
JHANDE (Ludhiana), June 7 — Do not be mistaken by the deep lines on her face. Or her bent posture and unsteady walk. Because when this matriarch of Jhande village talks with the wisdom coming from age and experience, the children, young and old, the illiterate and qualified of the village listen and obey.

Meenu Gupta’s saviour
LUDHIANA, June 7 — It was a good samaritan in the person of 25-year-old Padam Shastri who displayed true grit, courage, determination and presence of mind to save the life of Meenu Gupta when she was brutally assaulted by her servant with an iron rod on Monday afternoon.

COMMUNITY

Congress activists stage dharna
LUDHIANA, June 7—In response to a call given by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, workers of the Congress staged dharnas at the block level throughout the district in protest against policies of the state government detrimental to the interests of farmers, workers, employees and the working classes.

Fall in influx of migrant labour
When middle-aged Ram Naresh arrived in the city nearly 30 years ago from Rae Bareilly in UP, it was a dream fulfilled for him as the daily wages of a labourer were Rs12 as against Re one in his home state. But today, the wage difference is not much.

Head Post Office up for sale
LUDHIANA, JUNE 7 — The Head Post Office building near the Bharat Nagar Chowk here is up for grabs as a district court has executed its attachment order while another has ordered it to be put for sale and report by August 24.

SPCA to launch awareness drive
LUDHIANA, June 7—The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would launch an awareness campaign with a view to eradicate cruelty against animals.

Vacant plot turns into garbage den
LUDHIANA, June 7 — Residents of New Madhopuri area are piqued over a vacant plot in street no. 17 of the locality which has become a permanent nuisance. The plot, having no boundary wall, is being used by people all around it to throw garbage, food leftovers, waste material and at times the sweepers in the area empty their garbage handcarts at this site.

CRIME

Four booked in pension case
LUDHIANA, June 7—The police has booked four persons allegedly for producing fake papers for claiming pension as freedom fighters. The case has been reportedly booked on the basis of an application submitted by the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana.

2 officials held for accepting bribe
LUDHIANA, June 7— The Vigilance Bureau, Ludhiana range, has nabbed two government officials, including Piara Singh, Readerto the SDM, Kharar, and Harinder Pal Singh, JTO, Telecom Office, Dholewal, for accepting bribe of Rs 2000 and Rs 500, respectively, and registered cases against them under the Anti-Corruption Act.

EDUCATION

Students at the mercy of the schools
LUDHIANA, June 7—Confusion reigns supreme among students seeking admissions in various CBSE-affiliated schools as every such institution is offering all kinds of teaching facilities. 

COURTS

Court official held for bribery
KHARAR, June 7 — A Reader in the court of the SDM, Kharar, was arrested by the Vigilance Department, Punjab, while accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000 from a person yester day. A team of Vigilance Department led by Mr Malvinder Singh Sidhu arrested Piara Singh, Reader, while accepting the bribe.

GM, Telecom, served contempt notice
LUDHIANA, June 7 — Mr B.K. Mehta, Civil Judge, Senior Division, has issued notices to the General Manager, Telecom Circle, Ludhiana, Mr J.C. Aggarwal, and his Accounts Officer, Mr Ramesh Chander, for contempt of court proceedings against them for not complying with a court order of restoring the telephone connection of Mr S.R. Sharma, a resident of Agar Nagar in the city.