L U D H I A N A

Tax evasion
Nexus between traders, sales tax officials?
LUDHIANA, Dec 13—The recent seizure of hosiery goods on the railway station by CBI and ST officials may have put a number of traders in the dock, but it has also left several questions answered. How did goods worth Rs 5 crore in more than 4,500 containers reach the station? What were Excise and Taxation Department officials concerned doing when 1,877 quintal hosiery goods reached the station? These are among the several questions which the department officials concerned are supposed to reply.

The city seems to be in for foggy mornings ahead. This picture of sunrise was taken at 8.15 a.m. in Urban Estate, Ludhiana, on the Chandigarh road, on Wednesday by D.B. Chopra.

Typhoid cases reported in city
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — Many private hospitals here have been flooded with typhoid patients. On an average about 10 cases are being reported daily in different hospitals. One worrying factor has been that the number of children is more than adults. While the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Kaur, said she had no earlier information about the outbreak, but the moment the matter was brought to her notice, teams were deputed to various areas to assess the situation.

Child drowns in sewerage pit 
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — Tragedy struck the family of Kalim Ali, a resident of Kirpal Nagar here, when his minor son Ali Mohammad fell into an open manhole and drowned.

Encroachments in villages to be removed
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — Encroachments from all villages in the periphery of the city will be removed within one month. The BDPOs and tehsildars concerned were today directed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner to ensure demarcations and get the encroachments removed with the involvement of village panchayats within the stipulated period.

Armed robbery in Lajpat Nagar house
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — Armed robbers struck at a house in Lajpat Nagar of the city past night and decamped with cash and jewellery worth about Rs 1 lakh after locking the family in the kitchen.

3 booked under Copyright Act
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — On the directions of a local court, the city police today booked five persons, including three directors of City Cable, for alleged violation of the Copyright Act. The police has booked Sunil Talwar, Vikas Arora, Deshvir, Rajesh Sharma and R. Sadi on the complaint of Mr Balkdev Krishan Vij, owner of the Cable Chemical Communications here.

Case registered against dead munshi
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — A case has been registered against a dead munshi of Payal Police Station for embezzling funds to the tune of Rs 6.34 lakh, in the Payal Police Station. The SSP Khanna, Mr R.N. Dhoke, has deputed DSP (H), Mr K.S. Bhinder, for departmental inquiry.

SPEAKING OUT
People upset over Vajpayee’s remarks on Ayodhya
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — The controversy over the construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya sparked by the Prime Minister’s statement that it was a national sentiment, has generated a live debate among the common men. While most people disapprove of a moderate Vajpayee making such an extremist statement, some attribute it to the compulsions within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the forthcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and the eroding base of the party over there.

COMMUNITY

WOMAN POWER 
Holistic approach to life holds the key
Ludhiana, Dec 13 — “When the embers of life are extinguished, there are only two things that remain — your contribution towards humanity and your ‘word’. My ‘word’ is my poetry. It celebrates the beauty of life. Why should one harp unnecessarily on the harsh realities when elevating emotions like love and kindness still reign supreme?” says Shakuntala Shrivastava, a Hindi poetess, who has more than 10 poetry books to her credit.

Industrialists sick of bad roads
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — Owners of the industrial units situated along Kali Sarak on the outskirts of the city say that even after paying huge taxes, they have to live in a place that has been ignored by authorities. There are about 100 industrial units along Kali Sarak on the Jalandhar bypass. The area was supposed to be a model for industrial development, but there is still no sign of a proper road or sewerage system here.

A multifaceted club of the city
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — Inaugurated on October 26, 1996, the Lodhi Club has emerged as one of the reputed clubs in the city in a short span of about four years. The club was established with the objectives to promote and encourage social, cultural and sports activities. The club has a beautiful building and is spread over a spacious 2.5-acre pollution-free area in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar. More than 1700 citizens, including businessmen, professionals, defence officers and servicemen, have been associated with the club.

Course in dairy farming
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — The Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University organised four-day advanced training course in dairy farming for experienced progressive farmers of the state. Dr J. S. Kolar, Director of Extension Education, said the course was organised in view of the vital importance of the dairy farming as economy booster and potential employment provider to the rural youth.

CRIME

Did failed love marriage lead to man’s death?
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — It was a love marriage gone sour that led to the death of an amritdhari Sikh resident of Patiala, Tejpal Singh, whose body was found on the Jalandhar bypass two days ago.

• Man commits suicide
  
  

EDUCATION

Malwa Khalsa girls bag top 5 positions
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — Students of Malwa Central College of Education for Women have secured top five positions in the Master of Education examination conducted by Panjab University in April this year.

Jagriti wins declamation contest 
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — An inter-house Hindi declamation contest was organised by the Senior Humanities Forum of Kundan Vidya Mandir, city branch, here today.

Amarjot wins declamation contest
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — Thirtyeight students from 19 schools of the city participated in a declamation contest, organised at Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, here today.

Course for food scientists
LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — In order to meet the challenges of World Trade Organisation in the context of globalisation of the market the scientists and the industry engaged in food processing have to join hands for fulfilling their respective objectives. The responsibility for giving technology for processing and maintaining the quality of food rests with the scientists while the food industry has to apply this technology in order to provide good quality packaged food.’’

SPORTS

Sport body office-bearers
SAMRALA, Dec 13 — A general-body meeting of the Malwa Sports Association of Samrala was held here today in the local Civil Rest House. The meeting was headed by Mr Jagjit Singh Kang, Chairman of the association.

• City athletes for national meet
  
  

ADMINISTRATION

Road cleared of encroachments 
Ludhiana, Dec 13 — Traffic on the usually congested Katchehri Road between Ghanta Ghar Chowk and Lakkar Bridge is unusually smooth since yesterday morning, following some measures taken by the local traffic police.