L U D H I A N A

Rain brings cheer to farmers, puts damper on revellers
Ludhiana, Jan 1 — The city had a sloppy start to New Year as a result of the rain that started last evening and continued intermittently throughout the night and the day today.

Neglected at primary level
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — The primary wing of Government Middle School in Sarabha Nagar is facing shortage of staff and poor infrastructure.

Thawing the cold within — A family celebrates New Year as any other cold day in Ludhiana on Monday.

PAU official reverted after 22 years
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — The Sub-Divisional Engineer (SDE) of Punjab Agricultural University has been reverted to the Junior Engineer after a period of 22 years, following a recent judgement of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on a seniority list of sectional officers drawn up by the university.

A calendar forever, claims Dr Punia
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — Now you can calculate the day of week for a particular date of any year in less than a minute. No paper work required. No mathematical calculations involved. The day of weak is just three steps away. A 73-year old local scientist has devised a simple, two-table calendar which can be used by even a Class I student.

Mobile patrolling squad flagged off
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — With a view to enhancing the effectiveness of police on the crime prevention and detection front, and to improvise upon traffic management and regulation, the local police has constituted a mobile patrolling squad, consisting of 10 fully equipped motor bikes. The mobikes, manned by 20 chosen police personnel, were flagged off today by the DIG, Ludhiana Division, Paramjit Singh Sandhu.

Immigration mafia active
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — An immigration mafia is reportedly active in Punjab duping hundreds of gullible people of lakhs of rupees. The mafia is said to have devised a unique method of sending people to Canada by including them in various cultural troupes who visit Canada and the USA for various performances. For each illegal immigration Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakhs are charged from the aspiring immigrant.

Gang of robbers busted
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — The Phillaur police today claimed to have busted a gang of robbers responsible for many cases of robberies at various shops and a case of scooter snatching. 

COMMUNITY

Footpath vendors are back
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — Soiled currency changers and roadside vendors of tea, samosas, peanuts, cut papaya cigarettes and biris, who had fled chowk Ganta Ghar following police action some time ago, are back in business.

TV channels disappoint
With a number of TV channels, and the sharp competition among them, one had expected their New Year programmes to be entertaining. The promos were interesting, but all the programmes put up by different channels turned out to be of poor quality. They all seemed to have run out of ideas.

Sant Kishan Singh’s death anniversary
DORAHA, Jan 1 — Sant Kishan Singh is being remembered by thousands on his death anniversary at Gurdwara Karamsar Rara Sahib.

Bus pass holders - a harassed lot
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — Students with bus passes are a harassed lot. Long-route buses run by the state government do not stop at small stops. The private bus operators do not allow the students to avail the facility.

Peacock released in safari
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — A peacock, which was treated at Jeev Daya Sadan, was released in Tiger Safari here today.

CRIME

Crime on the rise in Ludhiana
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — The first year of the new millenmium saw a spurt in incidence of murders, gambling and economic offences in the district. At the same time, there was a minor fall in cases of kidnapping and thefts.

BUSINESS

Paav-bhaji — a good business
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — Paav-bhaji, a favourite dish of Maharashtra has come to stay in Ludhiana. According to Rakesh Kumar, a paav-bhaji seller on the Bhadaur Market Road, he uses boiled potatoes, boiled peas, capsicum, brinjals, ginger, cauliflower and tomatoes to prepare the dish. He sells a plate for Rs 10 on Sundays, he uses 20 packets of buns and 10 or 12 on week days.

EDUCATION

Everest School celebrates annual day
LUDHIANA, Jan 1 — Students and staff of Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, celebrated its 30th annual prize distribution day here today.