The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Government must intervene to save farmers from WTO
From Manoj Kumar
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — Indian farmers were unable to give a befitting reply to the farming lobbies of the West, who were being highly subsidised by their governments, unless the centre and state governments came forward to help them.

All experts and governments may be asking farmers to diversify, but no one was ready to answer the question of marketing and reasonable returns from diversified crops. In fact, in the coming two or three years the agriculture of surplus states, especially of Punjab, was bound to suffer heavy losses because of the inactivity of the governments.

The agricultural technocrats of Punjab have tried to understand the implications of WTO’s influence on Punjab’s agriculture. Since the centre and state governments had failed to prepare farmers about the fast changing scenario in view of the implementation of GATT, the Agricultural Technocrats Action Committee (AGTAC), Punjab has decided to create awareness among its members. Later, more than 25 district-level awareness workshops and seminars would be conducted for the farmers.

Efforts would be made to pressurise the government to take steps to face the threats of WTO. These views were expressed by Dr Daler Singh, Secretary, AGTAC. He was speaking at an awareness workshop conducted here today on World Trade Organisation : Its impact on Indian Agriculture.

The two-day workshop has been organised by Agricultural Technocrats Action Committee, in association with PAU Employees Union, Ludhiana.

Speakers were of the view that it was time not only to discuss the negative impacts of WTO on farmers but also to prepare them for the coming changes. While more than 90 per cent of the Indian farmers were small and marginal ones, the majority of the farmers in the developed countries had large land holdings. It was difficult for the Indian farmers to compete with highly subsidised farming lobbies of the developed countries without the government’s support.

The PAU has tried to encourage farmers to diversify from wheat-rice cultivation by setting up about 150 demonstration farms on main roads all over the state. But the farmers had not shown much interest in diversification because of uncompetitive prices of other crops. The ‘pro-farmer’ government had failed to take care of their interests.

Mr D.P. Maur, president, PAU Employees Union, said, "There was enough scope of increasing tariffs on imported oilseeds and palm oil under the WTO, but the Indian government till recently had imposed just 44 per cent duty on oilseeds. It had resulted in a loss of about Rs 44,000 crore in foreign exchange after 1990s. We could have easily saved that amount provided we had worked sincerely on the oilseeds mission."

Prof Joginder Singh, Head of the Department of Economics and Sociology, PAU, in his keynote address said, “There are lots of opportunities and threats to Punjab’s agriculture after the full implementation of WTO in April, 2005. In case the government acts fast in the right direction, we could also benefit by exploring untapped markets. We would have to improve the quality of products, besides decreasing the cost of production.”

He pointed out that in spite of increasing opportunity for export of agricultural products, there was increasing stress on sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures to protect human, animal and plant health. So there was need to raise quality consciousness and improve packaging facilities.

For instance, in the field of milk production, the government can promote commercial farming by promoting investments in modernised milk farms in a big way. It was difficult for the small milk producers to supply milk at internationally accepted standards.

The government had not taken any steps to amend the patents law till now. He urged the government to act firmly and fast before it was too late.

About 100 agriculture technocrats from different parts of the state are participating in this state level workshop. Interestingly, the AGTAC, Punjab is organising district and state level workshops at its own level, without any government help.

Dr R.P.S. Aulakh, General Secretary, Plant Doctors Service Association was of the view, “We want to create awareness among our colleagues, media and politicians about WTO implications.”

Octroi evasion unearthed
From Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, Dec 27 — The Municipal Corporation (MC) has detected octroi evasion on a consignment of electronic goods, including TV sets, and a composition fee of Rs 1,36,512 was recovered from the defaulting firm, as against unpaid octroi of Rs 8532.

According to the MC Commissioner, Dr S.S. Sandhu, on the basis of a secret information, a party of octroi enforcement staff raided the godowns of two electronic firms in Moti Nagar and intercepted a tempo, which was unloading a consignment of television sets. Inquiries revealed that octroi had not been paid on these goods. On a plea made by Mr Yogesh Bansal, a representative of the defaulting firms, the offence was compounded and penalty, besides due octroi, was recovered.

Meanwhile, the MC Commissioner has placed under suspension Mr Sukhdev Singh, a health worker, for willful absence from duty, without permission of the senior officers. The civic body employees have been warned to perform their duties diligently, failing which strict action will be taken against them.

AIDS spreading its tentacles in villages
From Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, Dec 27 — About 10 cases of HIV-infected patients received in a civil hospital in this village (name not revealed due to obvious reasons) that caters to the need of a number of villages in the Bet area of the Sutlej river, bear testimony to the fear of the growing incidence of the dreadful disease and its penetration in rural areas.

With truck-drivers or their close relatives forming the majority of the patients of the cases reported so far, there is no immediate cause for alarm for the residents of these villages. However, with one death reportedly occurring after a close relative received infected blood, calls for urgent measurers to prevent such incidents in future.

The health department has kept the reporting of incidence, the highest in the district, strictly under wraps. It has valid reasons for doing so. It is apprehended that the patient may feel the same social stigma as TB patients used to face in the past. Further, a government policy not to reveal the names of the patients or even disclose the figures, also stops health authorities from identifying such persons.

With no health official willing to come on record, the exact number of such cases could not be ascertained. However, employees in hushed tones reveal that about 10 cases had already been received in the hospital. Of these, 3 had already died. The villagers whose relatives have already died due to AIDS do not admit on record that they were victims of the dreadful disease. The excuse put forward is that they died of fever.

In a similar case a man in his thirties died due to AIDS. His family kept on telling people that he had died due to typhoid. But his father, who had received blood from his son when he was alive some time ago also caught a disease with similar symptoms as his son’s. He was later denied visa to some foreign country. His wife is known to cry openly over the fate of her dead son and suffering husband, saying that ‘the disease’ had consumed her entire family.

It was learnt that most of the infected persons were truck drivers and had been frequently visiting other states. With ‘mobile prostitution’ rampant on the highways of our country, they easily get infected with the deadly virus. With blood transfusion not exactly safe all the time, the infected patients unknowingly infect innocents. Two deaths taking place in one family of one of the villages are being attributed to the unsafe transmission of infected blood.

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no need of alarm at the incidence of these cases as no local resident had been infected. He said only truck drivers were victims and that too a very small number. However, he said that there was a need for the Health Department to start some programmes in that area, so as to create awareness among the masses at the grassroot level.

Despite repeated attempts, the Chief Medical Officer of the district was not available for comment.

Youth alleges torture, police denies
From Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

ludhiana, dec 27 — A 30-year-old youth of Jamalpur village has levelled an allegation of torture against two constables of the Salem Tabri police station. He was admitted to the local civil hospital last night with a broken leg and injuries on other parts of his body.

The police denied the allegation and counter alleged that it had received information about the involvement of the youth in poppy husk smuggling and had gone to his house to arrest him. However, the police claimed, the youth tried to run away by jumping from the roof of his house and broke his leg in the process.

No case was registered till evening on the complaint of the youth. The SSP, Mr Kuldip Singh assured in the evening that he has directed a senior police officer to record the statement of both the constables and the youth and register a case after investigation, if required.

Mr Babu Singh, father of the youth Swaran Singh, alleged that his son had gone to the village market last evening and was stopped by two police constables. He alleged that the constables started harassing him without any provocation and even demanded money in lieu of setting him free.

When he refused to oblige, the constables allegedly pushed him around and started beating him. They continued to beat him till he became unconscious. Some women of the village saw his son lying unconscious on the village path and informed his parents. He said his son was writhing in pain, bleeding from several parts of his body and was not able to move his legs.

He also alleged that even though senior police officers were informed about the alleged high-handedness of the constables, no case had been registered against the two. He accused police of inaction on his complaints.

The SSP, Mr Kuldip Singh, when contacted, said he had directed a senior police officer to record the statement of the youth and register a case after investigating the veracity of the allegations. He assured that stringent action would be taken against the constables if they were found guilty.

Id-ul-Fitr to be celebrated today
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — Id-ul-Fitr, the festival of prayers, love, peace and brotherhood, would be celebrated here tomorrow at Jama Masjid.

A large number of Muslim devotees would gather at the mosque to celebrate the festival. Maulana Atik-Ur-Rehman, president, state unit of the Indian Muslim Council, said the festival would be celebrated with traditional fervour and colours.

Mr Mohammad Usman, a devotee, said that Id follows the month of Ramzan when the devotees keep fast throughout the month and do not drink even a drop of water from 5 o’clock in the morning till evening.

Devotees from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Kashmir and Bengal would gather at the mosque and offer their prayers. One of the devotees said," whatever we save throughout the year, some part of it is given to poor and needy on this day, which signifies a sense of belongingness to God and his people”.

Mr Khursheed Ahmed, a Kashmiri resident, who visits the city for his shawls business says," people and children wear new clothes on the occasion and a variety of good and tasty meals are cooked in every house and the festival seems to be incomplete without ‘sewanyian.”

Rehman, an artisan in the city says," we try to forget every sorrow of ours and start life with a new beginning on this day. We feel that Allah’s rehem descends upon us and we are secured”.

Do they suffer because of karma?
From Asha Ahuja

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — When God made man, He made him in His own image. It is mankind who created differences of class, caste and religion. During Christmas time, when sharing with other and loving should have been of paramount importance, thousands of migrants from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and UP are living in abject poverty, abandoned and uncared for by society. What is their fault? Is it their karma that they were born in poor families? Why do they suffer hardships and live lives of great and sorrow?

The migrant colony located on the outskirts of Haibowal, like many other of its kind, presented a bleak picture of poverty-stricken humanity. They subsist on a bare minimum. Panwar, said, “We have all migrated from Madhya Pradesh, for we had no house, little land to till and no drinking water. Here we are slightly better off. For 50 jhuggies in this settlement, there is only one tap and that also gives impure water. We have to beg for clean drinking water from houses. Women and men have are all employed in breaking stones”.

“Our income is not steady as we do not get work everyday. We have no toilet facilities. We go to the nullah to answer nature’s call. We are as miserable as we can be,” said Deepa.

It was discovered that each family had a large number of children. When asked why do they not use any family planning methods, Sitabai answered, “Nobody comes to advise us what contraceptive methods to use. We do not know anything about family planning so we keep on having children. In a year, we lose 10-12 children at child birth. During pregnancy, nobody goes for a checkup for we do not have the money. At the time of child birth, a dai or a midwife comes to deliver the child.”

Kallu, another migrant labourer said, “We do not earn enough to give good food to pregnant women. So, infant mortality rate is high here. Time and circumstances teach us to bear the loss of children stoically. We take everything as coming from the hands of God. “

The children were swarming around the colony unkempt and ragged, without proper clothes and shoes, whiling away their time talking and fighting. Nimma said, “We want to educate our children, but there is no government school nearby. We cannot afford to send our children to private schools. Our life is full of misery. We do not have electricity and no proper place to live. After every six months, workers of the Municipal Corporation come and break our jhuggis.”

“Where do you live then ?”

Ram Lal said, “We keep lying here out in the open. There is a nullah behind. We cut the cane which grows on its banks. We use that and little pieces of wood to reconstruct our hovels and slowly, life limps back to normal. But what is this life? We hardly get two square meals a day. We do not have any comforts like woollen clothes, proper drinking water, toilet facilities, no education for children.”

“What do you do in case of sickness?”

“We wait for the person to recover on his own. Otherwise, we take the patient to a doctor, but they usually charge too much money. Some of us are suffering from TB but we have no money for treatment. We cannot give a bath to our children as we cannot buy soap nor can we wash our clothes, for want of money.”

“Do men folk drink and become violent then?”

“Sometimes only, we may spend Rs 30 on drinks, but nobody gets violent”.

Hari succinctly summed up his situation, “Our greatest problem is poverty and lack of education. All other problems are off-shoots of poverty. For us, there is no government, may be not even God, or else he would not have seen us suffer so much. During the rainy season, our life is a pool of misery as our houses are washed away by the rain water from the nullah. Our lives are examples of a living hell. We come leaving our homes and states in the hope of an El dorado, but we get only chaff and our dreams are trodden down upon.”

This is not the story of an isolated migrant colony, but a representative picture of all such existing colonies. Are there any social organisations willing to come to their aid?

COMMUNITY

Strike affects working of SBI branches
Transfer of chargesheeted employees a routine matter, says manager
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — With the State Bank of India Staff Association claiming that work in 144 branches of the bank in Ludhiana module, comprising nine districts, was paralysed on the second day of the two-day strike by the employees, the SBI management refuted the claim, asserting that 32 per cent of the clerical staff had reported on duty and functioning of all the branches was near normal, with bankers clearing house working at all places.

The SBISA (Chandigarh circle) had given a call for two days strike on December 26 and 27 in Ludhiana module to protest against transfers of two trade union activists, terming it as a vindictive action.

Addressing a news conference here today, Mr D.S. Bengali, Deputy General Manager of the SBI, claimed that the strike call given by SBISA had little effect on the working of SBI branches under the jurisdiction of the Ludhiana Zonal Office. Most of the branches in the city and elsewhere rendered normal banking service, including cash transactions.

Mr Bengali observed that transfer of the chargesheeted employees of the bank was a routine matter, which had earlier been effected in a number of cases. The transfers, ordered by the bank management, were necessary to ensure an impartial inquiry and to check any attempt by the concerned employees to destroy evidence. He said the SBISA had made it a matter of dispute due to its internal dissensions.

Meanwhile, the striking bank employees staged dharnas and held rallies in front of the Civil Lines branch of the bank and the zonal office near Dholewal Chowk here today, demanding justice for the victimised employees. Mr Dharam Chand Landhra, deputy general secretary, Mr Rajinder Singh Kalra, assistant general secretary, Mr Balram Kakkar, vice president and Mr Rakesh Mahajan, regional secretary of the SBI Staff Association, among others, addressed the rallies.

According to Mr Landhra, the employees would resort to protest demonstration, work-to-rule and wearing black badges from tomorrow onwards. The SBI employees in Haryana module went on a two-day strike from today. He said the agitation will continue till their genuine demands were acceded by the bank management and the SBISA might further intensify the struggle if the management did not relent.

CICU flays strike
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — The Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) has flayed the strike by the employees of the SBI.

According to a press note issued here, the frequent strike has disturbed the whole business activities of the trade and industry of Ludhiana.

Mr Inderjit Singh Pardhan, President, and S Avtar Singh, general secretary of the CICU, Ludhiana, has taken a serious note of this sort of sudden obstructions caused by the bank employees and condemned it vehemently.

Mr Pardhan further urged that management of these banks should make up to such strikes and breakdown in the normal working of the banks by amicable settlement of the disputes of the State Bank of India employees and the trade and industry should not be trusted upon the repercussions employees fury.

Speaking out
Residents live in mortal fear of robberies
From Asha Ahuja

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — A few days ago, Ludhiana Tribune, carried an article titled ‘A robbery a day, keeps Ludhiana awake’, which highlighted the increasing robberies, murders, kidnapping and increasing crimes in Ludhiana. Residents feel unsafe even during day time, for many incidents of broad daylight robberies have been reported in the recent past.

How safe do people feel in their houses? How safe, especially are the old couples, all by themselves in their houses? Is the police doing enough to bring a sense of security to the minds of people? What is the solution for curtailing the rapidly mounting crime graph? To find answers to all such questions, this correspondent spoke out to both young and old people.

Mr Nazar Singh, 80 years of age, and his wife, Devinder, who is partially blind, live alone, as their children are settled in Canada. Both of them said, “Actually we don’t possess any valuables things, so we do not expect robbers to enter our house. But yes the law and order has certainly gone down. We are happy that our children are abroad, or else, we would have been worried about their safety all the time. We don’t open our doors to anyone at night.

Mr Gurdial Singh, who lives with his wife, is terribly upset when he hears of robberies. Since he is hearing-impaired, his fears have been heightened, as he is scared that even if the intruders enter, he would not know. He says, “In our times, we never even locked our doors. Now the night turns into a nightmare, as we are terribly apprehensive of robbers entering any house and murdering people. We do not think the police is doing anything for the safety of lonely couples.”

Mr Shakti Swaroop Kalia, a retired major, has put an extra grill to provide added safety. But he too reiterates, “Still I do not feel safe. The daylight robberies these days have really shaken our faith in law and administration. I feel it is the migrant labour who are behind all these robberies. The police should make it a point to list all migrant labour and keep track of their activities. The police patrolling is not there at all during night and that what is required.”

Mr Gurbhajan Singh, vice-president, Punjabi Sahit Academy said, Disorder has increased. I think Ludhiana has become a wild city. The migrant labour is responsible for thefts. We are lucky that local criminals and migrants have not formed a nexus as yet. If that happens, then the law and order situation will go out of hand. Ludhiana is in the hands of SPOs. The regular trained constables, who can handle crime are not much in number, so crime investigation is delayed. So many police personnel are merely providing security to VIPs. Moreover, the nature of population has changed. The divide between the rich and poor has also increased. Unemployment has also turned people into thieves. Right now, there is a great fear in the minds of people. Policing should be good.”

Dr Harbans Singh, retd Dean Student’s Welfare, Punjabi University, said, “I strongly feel that there is laxity on the part of the police department. Neither do they enter FIRs nor do they do any follow up. There is no investigation even after the FIR is registered. The police must increase patrolling and follow-ups. It can involve senior residents and other volunteers to cooperate with them in forming Mohalla Committees, which would take actions to safeguard the safety of their mohalla. The police should come out from their stations and interact with people. Servants should be identified and their records should be kept in the police station.”

Rita Verma said, “I do not feel safe on the roads when I go for my job and come back. I have to be escorted by my mother. We have great fear walking by ourselves. The fear of kidnapping and robberies is deeply instilled in us. Definitely, the police has to do more patrolling to give us a feeling of safety.”

WOMAN POWER
‘Make a difference with your efforts’
From Minna Zutshi

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — Ms Sarah Johnson is a woman who has brone the vicissitudes of life with the unruffled calmness of a nishkam karmayogi. Years ago, when she came from Kanyakumari to this industrial city, she was not sure of the course her life would take.

Born to a Catholic mother and Hindu father, the turning point in life came when her marriage was fixed to Mr Edward Johnson, who is visually impaired. It was an arranged match. Like a dutiful, trusting daughter, she decided to abide by her parents’ wishes.

“Though I was not sure of the direction of my life at the time of my marriage, yet I had an inkling that something positive would emerge out it. I felt as if the Lord Himself was chalking out my destiny and I should not, therefore, interfere with His plans,” says Sarah.

Sarah’s confidence was not misplaced. Her marriage to Mr Johnson introduced her to a new world — a world in which each moment of life had an almost cosmic significance. She found her husband to be remarkably independent in spite of his disability. Interestingly, he was also involved in working with the war-disabled. Soon, she joined her husband in his altruistic endeavours.

Her desire to work for the disabled found its culmination in her association with the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre for the disabled. “Being married to a visually- impaired person has made me sensitive to the problems of the physically disabled. I can empathise with them,” says Sarah.

When asked about her role as a home-maker, she says that she did not have to grapple with the role conflict that often accompanies a career-oriented woman’s life. She has always considered her work in the Vocational Centre as an extension of her familial responsibility. In fact, says Sarah with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she has more than a hundred children as she considers the inmates of the Vocational Centre no less important than her own kids.

Sarah thinks herself to be immensely fortunate. Usually, people begin searching for life’s meaning when they are past middle age. But she says that she found her life’s goal at a young age.

Though a practising Christian, Sarah is a humanist to the core. She believes that the myriad paths of different religions all lead to the same Ultimate Reality. Her secular approach has won her admiration from the students of the Centre.

“My dream was to make a difference in the life of at least one individual. With all humility, I can say that this dream has been realised manifold, thanks to the kids at the Centre. My heart swells up with happiness when I see the kids from our Centre pursuing well-paid jobs independently,” says Sarah.

Army man injured in brawl
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 27—An Army personnel was injured in a brawl, involving two Army personnel and railway employees, at the local railway station in the afternoon here today.

The brawl took place when Lance Naik Yulpa, along with another colleague, entered into a dispute with a railway supervisor over the absence of railway staff at a booking counter.

While the Army personnel claimed that the supervisor was rude to him , the latter claimed that he misbehaved.

The argument soon turned into a brawl as some other railway employees joined in.

The SHO, Government Railway Police, Mr Lakha Singh, said the injured man had been sent for medical examination and a case would be registered only after receiving the report.

He said the army personnel has claimed that he was pulled into the booking room and beaten by five persons when he objected to the non-availability of railway employees at the booking counter.

The railway employees have, however, complained to the police that the Army personnel picked up the fight without any provocation and even hit a supervisor with his helmet.

Suresh Oberoi visits city
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — “I believe that nothing belongs to you and you belong to nothing. I want to enjoy, smile and be happy in my life and I want to convey the same message to my fans through media.” These were the views of Bollywood star, Suresh Oberoi, who inaugurated the first Berkowitz clinic at Malhar Road, here today.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune here today, Mr Oberoi, who was born in Quetta, Balochistan and brought up at Hyderabad said that a confused approach to life was not desirable. One immediate need was to bring clarity in the mind, only then could one succeed in life.

The Bollywood star was accompanied by Dr Jaishree, the lady behind the Berkowitz chain. Suresh Oberoi said that the clinic would be helpful and provide relief to persons suffering from various diseases due to lack of fresh air in the city.

Suresh, in his usual commanding voice, said that he has been lucky enough to get both name and fame from the very first day of his career. He said, “I have been always appreciated by radio, television and film fans. If you want to prosper in life, you should never bring your ego in between. I always do whatever my director demands”.

But he has his own ideology. He strongly believes in jaisi drishti, vaisi srishti . He says, “If someone offers me even Rs 10 lakh to do a rape scene, I will be the last person to do this kind of job. Money is not everything in life”.

Mr Oberoi wants to enjoy life. He likes to spend most of his time with his family and children. He does not believe in any rat race for making money. He feels a star can be more popular through films. Characters of small screen fade away from the minds of public very easily. He says," I give cinema my experience, I do not take anything from it”. However, he felt very happy to reveal that shortly his son, Vivek Oberoi, would be launched by a Bollywood director.

CII fair a big draw
From A Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — Christmas celebrations added to the lively atmosphere of the evening on the closing day of the CII fair. People, from all walks of life, had turned up in huge numbers. One of the organisers said that they had spent 44 lakh on the infrastructure. According to newspaper reports, the fair generated a business of Rs 7 crore. A good bargain. A good opportunity for the business community and for the people to have fun and frolic.

On the stage for the last day was D.J. Bhanu. Speakers belted out Punjabi numbers. People enjoyed dancing. Most of them were executing vigorous bhangra steps. Their body language suggested their happiness. The music had to be stopped, as the crowd was getting too boisterous. The foot tapping music started again for the girls and boys who had been working very hard for past four days and the members of CII. They, too, danced ecstatically.

The sales girls were being paid Rs 300 per day and were happy to interact with people, though irritated at times by meaningless queries. They were looking forward to the dance party. The great favourites in the kitchen section were cut-glasses, cut-glass vases, Ganeshas, ice-cream bowls. Mr. Nathaniel, Manager of the stall said, “Of Course, there was pilfering. A pair of birds worth Rs 1000 were pilfered.” In another stall, selling wrought iron knick-knacks adorned with dry flowers, the sales girls had to be on their toes to check breakage of fragile glassware. The girls, however, maintained their cool.

Maruti people were distributing free pamphlets to the people to write a slogan to qualify for the lucky draw. The lucky winner would drive home in a free Maruti 800. Unfortunately, they ran out of forms. Similarly Mantra.com were offering a lot of free time in the lucky draw, but there was a mix up, too, in the timings.

Children could play computer games. The women were fascinated with the computers giving them a new hair style, which would enhance their looks. Games, based on KBC, were very popular.

In the health section, Ayurveda ruled the roost. There were remedies for all ills. Slimming capsules provided hope to obese people. Weight-gain capsules were also available for underweight people.

The executive lounge looked very attractive. It was a low structure, with easy lounge chairs, beautiful fountains, a good ambience. The hospitality was lavish.

All eating joints did brisk business. Maharaja Regency were the official hosts.

The fair was a big hit with everyone, including the business people, the media.

CRIME

Man found murdered
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — A dead body of an unidentified migrant labourer was found lying in the fields of Bilga village near Sahnewal here today.

The body was spotted by a villager, Gurmail Singh, and his brother, Avtar Singh, last night. It was packed in a big plastic bag. It presented a ghastly site as the neck bore strangulation marks, the mouth was bleeding and the tongue was protruding out. It seemed that the man was killed just few hours ago.

The panic-stricken brothers rushed back to the village and returned with other villagers. The police was informed. The body has been sent for a post-mortem. The Sahnewal police has registered a case of murder against unknown persons.

No clue about the identity of the man or the motive behind his murder could be ascertained. The police said it had flashed messages in all the police stations of the district and surrounding areas detailing the description, but no headway had been made so far.

Man accused of kidnapping minor girl
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — A man, father of four children, has allegedly been accused of abducting his sister-in-law. The police has registered a case of abduction against the man on the complaint of the girl’s father.

According to the FIR registered in the Sadar police station here today, Mr Jeet Ram has complained that Satnam Singh, husband of his daughter Ruby, has kidnapped his second daughter Surinder Kaur, who is a minor.

In his complaint he stated that the accused was married to his elder daughter about 12 years ago, but now suddenly he wanted to marry his younger daughter. When the parents declined, he kidnapped her.

The police said that no arrest had been made so far in the case, but an investigation about the veracity of the complaint was on.

Bid to occupy school land
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — The city police today booked Murrari Lal besides others on allegation of trying to illegally occupy a portion of the land of government school at Mullan near Kesar Gunj Chowk here yesterday.

In the FIR registered on the complaint of the Block Primary Officer, Ms Pritam Kaur, the accused along with some unknown persons forcibly tried to occupy the land and a portion of the school building. Immediate action was taken by the school authorities to check the move. No arrests have been made so far.

BUSINESS

Exporters asked to adopt e-commerce
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 27 — The engineering exports from Ludhiana is about Rs 500 crore and it is necessary that manufacturers take advantage of the information technology, especially the e-commerce, to expand their market.

These views were expressed by Mr Lalit Sisodiya, manager of the regional branch of the SGS India Ltd. He was speaking in a seminar organised here yesterday on the ‘‘ Importance of e-commerce in exports’’. The seminar was organised by the Engineering Exports Association of India to create awareness among exporters about the use of e-commerce.

Mr Rajinder Jindal, president of the association, said, ‘‘The share of Ludhiana in bicycle and bicycle parts exports from India in the previous year was about 65 per cent (about Rs 350 crore). This can be enhanced manifold by following e-commerce. This seminar is a part of the activities undertaken by the association to promote engineering goods exports from Ludhiana’’.

There were companies that were providing services not only of search engines for e-commerce, but also of training and consultancy in quality management of the products to be exported via Internet. The exporters can tap the global market via this medium, he added. About 30 leading exporters of the city participated in the seminar.