L U D H I A N A

Hosiery traders block rail track 
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — Railway traffic remained disrupted for sometime at Ludhiana railway station as hundreds of hosiery manufacturers, dealers and traders blocked track in protest against the joint raid by the officials of the CBI and the Sales Tax Department here last night.

Hosiery dealers block the Bombay-bound Swaraja Express at Ludhiana railway station. — Photograph by Rajesh Bhambi

Has PAU violated reservation norms?
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — Punjab Agricultural University has allegedly violated the reservation policy of the government in the appointment of Administrative-cum-Accounts Officer.

Six computers for 25 ITI students!
LUDHIANA, Dec 5 — Six computers for a batch of 25 students! This is the situation at Government Industrial Training Institute, Gill Road, where the students are taking a postgraduate diploma in e-commerce and software engineering under a joint venture between Punjab Technical University and Asset International.

New farm policy in next session of LS
MACHHIWARA, Dec 6 — The Union State Minister of state for Agriculture, Mr Shreepad Naik, said here today that to improve farming in the country, a new agricultural policy would be presented in the Lok Sabha, during the next session. He had come to Hayatpura village near here to visit charhdi kala farm of Mr Darshan Singh Tabiba.

MC debars two contractors from submitting tenders
Ludhiana, Dec 6 — The Commissioner of the local Municipal Corporation, Dr S.S. Sandhu, has debarred two contractors, Mr Shanti Sarup Singla and M/s D.M. Construction Company, from submitting tenders for MC works.

PSEB lineman held on graft charge
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — The Vigilance Department has arrested a lineman of the PSEB, Gurbax Singh, on the charge of accepting a bribe. According to information, Mr Manjeet Singh of Janata Nagar here has applied for the replacement of the meter. All official formalities were completed, but Gurbax Singh allegedly demanded Rs 4,000 for the replacement.

Phone services disrupted
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — Telephone services remained disrupted in and around Ludhiana this evening.

SPEAKING OUT
Punishment to Azhar too mild
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — Cricket lovers in the city have hailed the lifetime ban on Azharuddin for his alleged involvement in match fixing. Reacting to the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), a cross- section of people, whom Ludhiana Tribune talked to, while welcoming the ban said the punishment should have been more severe as the ban will not serve any purpose since Azhar is “as good as already retired”.

COMMUNITY

Enlist as Punjabis in census, says Tarlochan Singh
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — The Vice-Chairman of the National Minorities Commission, Mr Tarlochan Singh, called upon all Punjabis across the country to ensure that they enlist themselves as Punjabis in the forthcoming census. This, he said, was essential not only for promoting Punjabi but also for strengthening the sense of belongingness among the Punjabis all over the country.

Punish guilty officials, demand class IV staff
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — A massive convention of workers was held here today in front of the mini-secretariat by the Class IV Government Employees’ and Workers’ Union, Ludhiana. The convention passed a unanimous resolution that action should be taken against Mr Sajjan Singh and his followers who had attacked four employees on November 21, 22 while working in the Canal complex.

YC members remember Ambedkar
Ludhiana, Dec 6 — Glowing tributes were paid to Dr B. R. Ambedkar at a function organised by the District Youth Congress at Habib Ganj Ravi Das Dharamshala here today to mark the death anniversary of father of the Indian Constitution.

Janata Dal (S) seeks Badal’s resignation
Ludhiana, Dec 6 — The Punjab unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) has hailed the dismissal of an appeal filed in the Supreme Court by the Punjab Government against the judgement of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had given a clean chit to a former Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr V. K. Khanna, and had recommended action against two senior IAS officers, Mr Bikramjit Singh and Mr I. S. Bindra. The state president of the party, Mr Harish Khanna, said that the government had lost its credibility and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, should resign.

Mayor Apinder Singh is Grewal Brotherhood patron
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — In a bid to nurture their roots and promote interaction in the Grewal community of the region an organisation called Grewal Brotherhood, has been floated under the patronage of Mayor of Ludhiana, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal.

Postal staff stir continues
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — The indefinite strike by postal and Railway Mail Service (RMS) employees entered the second day today, with the postal services remaining completely paralysed.

Home Guards celebrate raising day 
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — The 40th Raising Day of Punjab Home Guards and Civil Defence was celebrated here today. More than 250 officers and guards participated in the function, which was presided over by Mr K S Ghuman, District Commandant. Addressing the gathering Mr Ghuman appreciated the services and sacrifices made by officers and jawans during the period of terrorism.

CRIME

Probe against MC official begins
KHANNA, Dec 6 — The police has started investigation against a sectional officer of the local municipal council following a complaint, filed by some councillors for allegedly grabbing MC funds.

1 dead, 4 hurt in mishap
SAHNEWAL, Dec 6 — A woman was killed and four others from a family sustained injuries in an accident on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road near Bhaini Sahib chowk.

BUSINESS

Punjab and Sind Bank to tap rural market
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — Punjab and Sind Bank has decided to focus on the rural areas which have so far been ignored by other private and public sector banks. This was disclosed here today by Mr M.S. Kapur, executive director and acting chairman of Punjab and Sind Bank.

Textile site launched
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — textile4all.com, a dedicated textile portal, was launched by Mr Ashok Oswal of Oswal Group of Industries of Ludhiana, India.

EDUCATION

Teachers’ strike on Dec 12
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — In response to a call given by the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations, the members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union will join the protest march to Parliament on December 12 in Delhi, where college and university teachers from all over the country are converging upon the UGC office.

Home Science students hold exhibition
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — The Department of Home Science, Extension Education, College of Home Science, PAU, Ludhiana, in collaboration with IFWA celebrated International Day of Women in agriculture in Pamal village.

MLAI convention concludes
Ludhiana, Dec 6 — The National Convention of the Medical Library Association of India concluded at Dumra Auditorium Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, here today.

Gaiety marks annual day celebrations
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — Over 300 students were given away prizes at annual function organised at Sargodha National Public Senior Secondary School, Field Gunj, here today.

Green Grove Public School celebrates annual day
KHANNA, Dec 6 — Green Grove Public School organised its annual day function here today. Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Technical Minister, Punjab, was the chief guest. The function was presided over by singers Sardool Sikander and Amar Nuri.

CULTURE

Hans Raj Hans honoured at Baba Farid mela
LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — The first Baba Farid Mela held at Kohara today got an overwhelming response. The mela was organised by Baba Farid Foundation International, Ludhiana to promote cultural activities in the area.

ADMINISTRATION

M.N. Sharma is Chief Engineer
Ludhiana, Dec 6 — The Punjab Government has promoted Mr M. N. Sharma, Superintending Engineer (Civil) in the Municipal Corporation, here as Chief Engineer (Civil) against a new created post.