L U D H I A N A

As the moon wanes, police steps up vigil
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — 'Worried about robberies or thefts? Be vigilant on dark nights.’ This message has been given to the public by the district police, with display of special calendars based on the waxing and waning of the moon in the current year.

3 members of jebkatri gang arrested
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — The police has arrested three women members of the infamous jebkatri gang for their alleged involvement in a number of chain-snatching incidents in the city, especially along the Jalandhar byepass road.

Kisan mela dates finalised
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — The Punjab Agricultural University has finalised the dates of kisan melas held every year to spread awareness about the scientific methods of growing kharif crops in the state. This decision was taken at the two-day conference on kharif crops held at Pal Auditorium, PAU, here today.

When parents become their kids’ enemies
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — Gone are the days when children and youngsters used to play hopscotch, marbles, rope skipping, kite flying, hide and seek and other games like carrom, ludo and so on. Nowadays, children in the city are more interested in net chatting, dating, watching latest movies of Shah Rukh Khan and Julia Roberts on video CDs and attending late night parties.

Candles for Gujarat by Nirdosh students LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — Mentally challenged children of Nirdosh school in Sarabha Nagar here have also been touched by the tremors in Gujarat. When they heard that survivors in Bhuj and Ahmedabad needed candles, they told their teachers that they could make these for them. Candles are needed there because there is no electricity in the affected areas.

Mentally challenged students of Nirdosh school, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana, make candles for survivors or the Gujarat earthquake and (right) candles that are to be sent to Gujarat.  — Photo by Rajesh Bhambi

Woman dies of fear
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — A woman of Gurdev Nagar here died of fear when five persons allegedly entered her house and threatened her husband, Dalip Singh, to withdraw a case that he had registered against them.

LUDHIANA CALLING THE recent devastating earthquake in Gujarat has made mankind realise how vulnerable it is and how nature can wipe out entire cities. The fact that devastation brings together people from all communities, religions, and ages to help the hapless and shattered victims is very heart warming. Generous Ludhianvis Fashion show Two-wheelers Useless press conferences

COMMUNITY

Protest march against killings in valley
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — Several trade organisations and shopkeepers’ associations today took out a protest march against the killing of Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir and later burnt the effigies of J and K Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah and Pakistan’s military ruler, General Parvez Musharraf at the Clock Tower Chowk here. Mr Amarjit Singh Happy, president, Akal Market Shopkeepers Association, led the march.

‘Implement WTO provisions’
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — Major issues which require immediate attention on farm scientists, policy planners, and farmers are deterioration of soil health, decline in water-table, over-capitalisation of agriculture, improvement in productivity and quality of farm products. This was stated here today by Dr G. S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, while speaking at the two-day workshop on kharif crops.

Donations continue for quake relief
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — Rising to the occasion, the large-hearted people of the city, from all walks of life, continue to make liberal contributions towards the relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake-affected people in Gujarat.

Coal traders to take ‘extortion’ head on
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — Coal merchants and traders here have decided to confront the alleged “Goonda Tax Commissioner”, R.S. Gandhi. The official has been accused of collecting “goonda tax” from truckers on the loading of coal from the Dhandhari Kalan railway station. The tax was alleged to be Rs 300 per box of coal. At least one to three racks containing 40 to 42 boxes of coal each are unloaded here everyday.

Anti-farmer policies decried
AMLOH, Feb 6 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal and member of the Rajya Sabha, accused the Punjab Government of patronising anti-farmer policies which would ruin the agriculture of Punjab.

CRIME

‘Taxi driver was intoxicated’
DORAHA, Feb 6 — The murder case of an NRI, allegedly by a Nabha-based taxi driver on Saturday morning, is taking a new turn each day, as more and more facts are coming to light.

EDUCATION

Harassment of students continues
Many still without roll numbers
LUDHIANA, Feb 6 — Today was the penultimate day of the practical examination of Class X and many students appearing as private candidates for the Punjab School Education Board were still making efforts for getting their roll numbers and information regarding their centres.

ADMINISTRATION

Rs 2 cr for Amloh development
AMLOH, Feb 6 — The Punjab Government has released Rs 2 crore for development works in the Amloh assembly constituency. This was disclosed by Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur, MLA, at a meeting held here yesterday which was presided over by Mr Swaran Singh Chinarthal, district President of the Akali Dal.