L U D H I A N A

NRI alleges partisan role of police in shootout case
Ludhiana, May 20
Alleging the ‘partisan’ role of the city police in a shootout incident at Raghunath Enclave earlier this week, an NRI has, in a unique case, produced photographs and live video footage in support of his claim.

Absent PAU teachers warned
Ludhiana, May 20
The authorities of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have issued warning letters to some teachers of the university for being absent from duty without prior information.

Nabbed robber a terrorist, claims police
Ludhiana, May 20
The city police today claimed that one of the two alleged robbers arrested from Ghumar Mandi earlier this week had concealed his identity from the police and was in fact a former hardcore terrorist, Jasbir Singh Jassa.

Police toughens stand on political interference
Ludhiana, May 20
Ousted Station House Officer of the Sadar Police Station Ramandeep Singh is likely to resume his duties after being exonerated in an inquiry conducted by the SP (Headquarters). The inquiry was conducted against him on the charges that he had manhandled a youth leader of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in the police station.

Bank officer booked for fraud
Khanna, May 20
The SSP, Khanna, Dr R.N. Dhoke, has stated in a press note that Kuldip Singh, Manager, Bank of India’s branch at Maloud, has made a complaint that Gurdev Singh, a resident of Sachar colony in Randhir Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, who was posted as bank officer in this branch in June 1997, had allegedly withdrawn Rs 3,35,725 from the account of Malkiat Singh; Rs 5 lakh from the account of Sukhdev Singh of Saharan Majra village; Rs 17 lakh from the account of Kartar Singh of Nathu Majra; Rs 18 lakh from the accounts of Kamikar Singh of Daulatpur, Nachhattar Singh and Surjit Kaur of Daulatpur; and Rs 2.90 lakh from the account of Malkiat Singh.

Jacob laments lack of competitive spirit
Ludhiana, May 20
The Governor of Punjab, Lt Gen (retd) J.F.R. Jacob, has called for adopting an aggressive approach for rapid economic development in the country. Delivering the presidential address at the 23rd annual day function of the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA) here today, he regretted that the aggressive spirit was lacking, which was essential in today’s competitive world.

Girl hurt in house collapse
Ludhiana, May 20
A girl was injured while several other persons escaped miraculously when first floor of an old house collapsed near Meena Bazar Chowk today evening.

COMMUNITY

Release of Indian soldiers sought
Mandi Gobindgarh, May 20
Mr Jagmeet Singh Sahota (Bawa), chairman of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF), Punjab, in a press statement, released here today, urged the Government of India to take immediate steps for the release of Indian soldiers lodged in Pakistan jails. They had been taken captive during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Budh Purnima celebrated
Ludhiana, May 20
Hundreds of devotees today took out a shanti march on the occasion of Budh Purnima Divas. The march was taken out for world peace and welfare of humanity.

Minister lays foundation stones of roads, streets
Sahnewal, May 20
Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Technical Education Minister, laid foundation stones of various approach-roads and streets in surrounding villages and announced grants for various developmental projects.

ITFT national seminar
Ludhiana, May 20
The Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends (ITFT) Chandigarh, Chandigarh Administration and Civil Aviation Department, Punjab Government, will organise a national seminar on “Emerging Trends in the Airline Industry in Northern India” on June 2 at a hotel in Chandigarh.

Shootout victim remembered
Khanna, May 20
About two hundred persons paid tributes to Jaswinder Singh at Budh Singh Akhara here, today. The programme passed off peacefully.

AGRICULTURE

Kanwaljit for subsidy to farmers
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 20
If the Central Government withdraws from the procurement of agricultural produce and transfers procurement to states, the SAD (B) will oppose it, warned Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister of Punjab, while addressing a state-level agriculture technocrats kisan rally here yesterday.

EDUCATION

5 lakh donated to school Ludhiana, May 20 The local MP, Mr Lajpat Rai, donated Rs 5 lakh for computer education to Arya Senior Secondary School here today. He also released a souvenir, Arya Jyoti, on this occasion. Members of the giddha team of Arya Senior Secondary School in Ludhiana, who performed at the school function on Sunday.  — Photo by Inderjit Verma

CULTURE

MLA inaugurates exhibition
Ludhiana, May 20
Mr Hira Singh Gabaria, MLA, inaugurated an exhibition of Param Institute. The function was presided over by the Divisional Manager of Usha International, Jalandhar, Mr V.K. Saigal, and Baba Kultar Dev Singhji Kalsi of Meghowal.

SPORTS

Sutlej Club beat MC XI
Ludhiana, May 20
A one-day cricket match was played between the Sutlej Club XI and the Municipal Corporation XI at Punjab Agricultural University, here today.

ADMINISTRATION

DC asks for information on vacant posts
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 20
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Vikas Pratap, directed the heads of all departments of the district to furnish information about vacant posts which could be filled by direct recruitment in their respective departments, so that the posts reserved for dependants of terrorist and riot-affected persons could be filled up.