L U D H I A N A

Protest against youth’s murder 
Traffic blocked on GT Road
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — In yet another incident of staging dharna and blocking traffic in protest against a crime the traffic on the busy GT Road near Chowni Mohalla in the heart of the city was jammed for more than four hours in protest against the murder of a youth in New Sabzi Mandi here yesterday.

Residents of the Chowni Mohalla area block traffic on the GT Road  in Ludhiana on Wednesday. 
— Photo by Rajesh Bhambi

Chowni Mohalla scene of gang wars
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — With the murder of Suraj Bhan, alias Bau, in broad day light near New Sabzi Mandi here yesterday and the subsequent protest and jamming of traffic today, the ‘gunda raj’ and ‘lawlessness’ prevailing in the Chowni Mohalla for the past two years has come to the fore once again .

Villagers await execution of CM’s order 
Primary school issue
MACHHIWARA, Jan 17 — Though the Punjab Government claims to redress problems of villagers by organising sangat darshan programmes of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, yet many of these problems remain unresolved.

Political interference hits police working
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — Political interference in police postings, particularly that on the SHO level, is believed to be one of the main reasons for an alarming increase in the crime rate in the city. During the past seven days five murders were reported. The posting of the SHO is reportedly not decided at the local level but at the top. It is the Chief Minister's Office which decides on the issue of SHOs’ postings.

Telecom Dept told to pay compensation
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed the General Manager, Telecom Department, to pay Rs 4,000 as compensation for deficiency in services to the complainant, Mr Nirmal Singh Saini, a resident of Janakpuri.

Encroaching for survival
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — This ever-expanding city is full of encroachments. Shopkeepers have extend their sweep well beyond the footpaths. Stationary rehris illegally occupy places meant for public use. House-owners encroach upon public land by growing hedges and constructing garages.

A small plastic shelter which a rag picker has built in a PUDA park in Ludhiana to keep the winter chill away.
 — Photo by writer

• Missing trader’s body found
  
  

COMMUNITY

YC groups work hard to outsmart each other
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — Rival groups in the Youth Congress have been working hard to outsmart each other in finalising the arrangements for the protest rallies being organised throughout the state to highlight the failures of the state government.

Power restrictions resented
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — The Punjab State Electricity Board’s reported restrictions on the medium-scale industrial units have sent a shock wave among the local units.

Shopkeepers stage dharna
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — Hundreds of shopkeepers, located on the Old GT road in the city, yesterday staged a dharna in front of the Municipal Corporation’s office here in protest against the proposed construction of a 2.5 km elevated road from Jagraon Bridge to Chand Cinema over the existing Old GT Road.

Journalist’s death condoled
SAMRALA, Jan 17 — A meeting of the local Press Club held here on Wednesday in the Civil Rest House, condoled the untimely death of Mr Jagdish Singh Bansal, Chief Sub Editor, Punjabi Tribune. Silence for two minutes was observed to pay homage to the departed soul.

BUSINESS

Directory of boutiques
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — There is good news for boutiques and parlours in the city as a new directory ‘‘Boutiques and Parlour World’’ has been launched by Idea Ads.