L U D H I A N A

Land grabbing cases on rise
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — A new land mafia appears to have come up in Ludhiana. The matter has also come to the notice of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who has asked the Deputy Commissioner to file a report on the issue within one week.

Tantarix — the band with magic tunes
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — The PAU grounds appeared to have turned into fairy grounds with coloured flags, hustle and bustle, and spirit of bonhomie during the CII fair held here recently.

Members of Goan Tantrix Band make their maiden appearance in Ludhiana at the CII fair on the PAU grounds, and (right) youngesters dance to its tune.
— Photo by Rajesh Bhambi 

War against TB begins today
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — AASHA, a social organisation in association with the Department of Health and Family Welfare of Punjab, is going to launch a state-level tuberculosis eradication and awareness programme under the leadership of Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Punjab Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Ms Mohinder Kaur Josh, State Health Minister of Punjab, tomorrow in Guru Nanak Dev Bhavan here.

No light-and-sound show at Jor Mela
FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 24 — Various social and religious organisations of the district have criticised the move of the government not to stage the traditional light and Sound program,” Sirhind Ki Dastan”, a main attraction of the Three-day annual Saheedi Jor Mela, held in the memory of two younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh.

Firing in Kidwai Nagar
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — Panic gripped the Kidwai Nagar area here last night when some unidentified youth fired at the house of Mr Gurdeep Singh Nittu, political secretary to the Deputy Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Satpal Gosain.

Flouting PSEB rule on fire-fighting systems
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — Most of the schools in the city are flouting safety norms with impunity in the absence of the implementation of the Punjab School Education Board rules which make it obligatory for the school managements to install proper fire-fighting equipment on their premises.

Traders shift station to avoid taxmen
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — Hosiery traders, railway employees and booking agents seem to have once outsmarted officials of the Excise and Taxation Department. The sales tax officials had increased their vigil at the local railway station after the December 5 raids to expose the “nexus” between traders, railway staff and sales tax employees.

The first Christmas of the millennium
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — Christmas— it is a time to celebrate, time to put up multi-coloured baubles, to bake plum cakes, hang misetle-toe on doors, put colourful streamers, hang up stockings, and place prettily wrapped gifts at the base of a Christmas tree. Most Christian homes also put lighted stars outside their homes.

ROADSIDE ENTERPRENEURS

They weave comfort for us
EVERY household has beds, chairs, stools etc. In this age, people have discarded time-tested baan for making of charpoys. Earlier, bamboo cane was commonly used for interlacing lounge chairs, sofas, stools etc. But now, gone are the bamboo cane, niwar and baan and in place of these has come all pervasive nylon, in various gaudy colours.


 

                                                                        
                                                                                                                                    A cane-weaver at work. — RB

A tribute to Mohd Rafi
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — "Dil ka soona saaz tarana dhoondega mujhko mere baad zamana dhoondega" "Tere aane ki aas hai dost sham phir kyon udas hai dost mehki mehki fiza yeh keh rahi hai tu kahin aas paas hai dost"

Mohammad Rafi immortalised himself by singing endless number of songs which still enliven our hearts.


A participant performs at Rafi Memorial Nite in Nehru Siddhant Kendra, Ludhiana, on Sunday. — RB

Garhwalis hail Uttaranchal creation
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — The Garhwal Sabha here has hailed the creation of the new Uttaranchal state. The Garhwal Welfare Society (Haibowal Kalan), today organised a cultural programme to celebrate the creation of the new state.

No threat to NDA govt: Dhindsa
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — The Union Minister for Fertilisers and Secretary General of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, today criticised the Congress for its attempts to create fissures among the partners of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Govt pursuing Sangh Parivar agenda: CPI
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — ‘‘It is not the NDA agenda which is being currently followed by the Vajpayee led NDA government, but the Sangh Parivar agenda. The PM was implementing the hidden agenda in a subtle manner.

Seminar on ayurveda
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — A seminar on ‘Ayurveda in Modern Era’ was held yesterday, by the confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Bentavox herbal, jointly. Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, presided over the seminars.

Traffic chaos in town
KHANNA, Dec 24 — The traffic problems here have multiplied over the years with an increase in the population and the number of vehicles.

Punjabi writers honoured
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — The Punjabi Sahit Trust, Dhudike, in collaboration with Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, honoured six Punjabi writers in its annual function at Punjabi Bhavan here today.

CRIME

Woman commits suicide
JAGRAON, Dec 24 — Ms Sukhdip Kaur, a PCO owner and also ran a beauty parlour, reportedly committed suicide by jumping in Akhara Canal at Jagraon. Before committing suicide, she gave a telephone call to her family members at Raikot. The police recovered a suicide note from her scooter in which she said that no one should be held responsible for her death. The police has reportedly traced the diary of Ms Sukhdip Kaur.

EDUCATION

Honoured for research
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — Dr P.P. Gupta, Additional Director of Research, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, has been awarded Dr Nemi Chand Jain and Jawahar Lal Vegad award for the outstanding research contributions in pathology during the last five years, by the Indian Association of Veterinary Pathologists(IAVP).

SPORT

Alankar Memorial Tournament
SAMRALA, Dec 24 — The eighth annual three-day Alankar (Tony) Memorial Tournament of the Malwa Sports Association concluded here today.

Inter-school cricket
LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — Fine batting by Parveen and Jassi enabled Government Model Senior Secondary School, Punjab Agricultural University, to register a 44-run win over Sargodha National Public School in the second match of the Parle-G PCA Inter-School Cricket Tournament being organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association at the PAU cricket ground, here today.