L U D H I A N A

Cop held in custodial death case
Another case of police high-handedness
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — In yet another criminal case involving a Punjab police cop under suspension and former in charge of the CIA, Maninder Bedi, was arrested last night by the Mohali police and was sent to one-day police remand by a district court here today after he was brought here by a police party of the city.

Maninder Bedi, a suspended police Inspector, being taken to court and (right) police personnel wait outside the court in Ludhiana on Tuesday. — RB photo

Police accused of inaction in rape case
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — The allegations and counter-allegations surrounding the alleged rape of a 30-year-old woman of Nichi Mangli Colony are getting murkier day by day.

Talwandi for ban on bhog ceremonies
FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 23 — A flutter was created among the audience when Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, SGPC President, and a close relative of Mr R.S. Cheema, former minister, started addressing the congregation on the occasion of the first death anniversary function of the latter’s wife.

Pinki’s remand extended
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — Gurmeet Singh alias Pinki, the main accused in the Avtar Singh murder case, was remanded to police custody for one more day by the Senior Judge, Mr Justice B.K. Mehta, here today afternoon amidst heated arguments by the public prosecutor and the defence counsel.

Tension over police’s questioning bid
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — Tension prevailed in a market alongside the CMC here in the forenoon, following a move by the Salem Tabri police, which tried to question a youth in connection with the murder case of Suraj Bhan alias Bau, and a later incident of violence during the observation of a bandh early this week.

World abandoned them
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — They call her Gudia. She is just two months old. She had been abandoned by her parents. Paul Steven, an octogenarian who is hard of hearing, is staying relaxed here, trying to forget his bitter past. Neela, in her late teens, is mentally unstable and is taken due care of. All of them have one tragic thing in common. 

LUDHIANA CALLING POLITICIANS always interpret various issues according to their views, which explains why the government and the opposition never agree on anything. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, too, can handle any serious issue in a casual manner. He was here recently to attend the marriage ceremony of the niece of one of his colleagues in the Cabinet.

SPEAKING OUT

Residents approve of flyover project
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — The much-awaited flyover project from Jagraon bridge to Chand cinema is facing strong reaction from traders doing business in the area, whereas the general public appears to be in favour of the elevated road, which they feel would go a long way in bringing improvement to the chaotic traffic conditions prevailing in the city.

COMMUNITY

Sadhu Singh, who takes care of the ailing animals at the People for Animal Centre in Ludhiana. — Photo by Rajesh Bhambi

NGO runs hospital for birds and animals LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — Humans show a lot of cruelty towards animals. This is evident when one sees a horse with a fracture, because his owner always over burdens him, a burnt cow, scabied dogs, pigeons suffering from Ranikhet disease and cows with a prolapsed uterus at a hospital run by an NGO, People for Animals.

Blood donors to be honoured on R-Day
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — In order to promote blood donation and to make it a mass movement, the district administration will honour blood donors who have donated blood more than 25 times, at the district-level Republic Day function, to be held at the local Government College for Boys.

CPI flays govt on WTO
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — The Communist Party of India has criticised the ruling SAD-BJP government in Punjab for its policy towards the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime.

Ex-servicemen flay Central Government
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — The Indian Ex-Services League (Punjab and Chandigarh) has expressed concern over the delay by the Central Government in acting on the recommendation of the Fifth Pay and Pension Commission. It planned a state-level rally to highlight the discriminatory attitude of the Central Government.

Withdraw eviction notices: CICU
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — Mr Inderjit Sigh Pradhan, President, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), Ludhiana, has urged the Industry Department to cancel the notices issued to the entrepreneurs in the Focal Point, the Industrial Area A, the Industrial Area B and the Industrial Estate.

Direct cargo flights favoured
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — There is a lot of scope for refrigerated vegetables and meat products in the European and other foreign markets. The rates of vegetables and other perishable commodities were at least hundred times higher abroad compared to rates that are prevailing in the Indian market.

Flower show
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — Nearly 50 senior section students of Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, participated in a flower arrangement competition organised here today.

EDUCATION

Punjab Governor gives degrees to 694 graduates
SIDHWAN KHURD, Jan 23 — It was a proud moment for 694 graduates and postgraduates of the Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, and the Guru Hargobind Harparkash College of Education, both affiliated to Panjab University, as degrees in BA, MA, MEd, BEd and BSc were conferred on them at a convocation in the presence of the Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), in the college auditorium here today.

The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. (retd), at the convocation of the Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, Ludhiana, on Tuesday.  — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Despite cold, students prepare for R-Day
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — Hundreds of students of various schools and colleges here are preparing for the Republic Day function that is to be held in the local Government College for Boys.

Netaji’s birth anniversary celebrated
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — Students of Gupta Model High School celebrated the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose here today. The cultural programme began with Saraswati Vandana.

Duties of invigilators to be shuffled daily
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — All examination centres of the Punjab School Education Board will be divided into groups of five to eight and the duties of invigilators will be shuffled among these centres everyday to prevent copying.

COURTS

Insurance co directed to pay over Rs 1 lakh
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed United India Insurance to pay Rs 1,06,780.49 to the complainant, Mr Sukhminder Singh, in a car accident case.