L U D H I A N A

Terrorists return to world of crime
Ludhiana, May 22
While a number of terrorists who were spearheading the movement are coming back to the mainstream, several others have been indulging in robbery, kidnapping and even contract killings.

Students decide to continue agitation
Ludhiana, May 22
The agitating students of the College of Agricultural Engineering (COAE), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), today announced to stage a dharna in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office tomorrow to press for their demands.

Blast spreads panic in melting units
Ludhiana, May 22
The death of two persons in a scrap blast at Focal Point last evening has once again brought to the fore the seemingly ‘forgotten’ danger of explosives which arrive “accidentally” in the city along with the scrap imported from the Middle-East, ordnance factories in the country or scrap of used shells picked up from war exercise grounds.

Clinic fined for power theft
Ludhiana, May 22
The enforcement wing of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) got a major breakthrough in checking the power pilferage when Mr A.S. Grewal, Senior Executive Engineer, with his technical staff raided the premises of a dental clinic in Model Town on Monday.

Akali factionalism comes to SHO’s rescue
Ludhiana, May 22
Notwithstanding the clean chit given to Ramandeep Singh, SHO, Sadar, in an inquiry conducted against him by the SP (Headquarters) for allegedly manhandling a leader of the youth wing of the ruling Akali Dal, it was actually the factionalism in the local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), which ultimately came to his rescue.

Non-lifting of procured wheat irks agents
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 22
Resentment prevails among the commission agents and labourers, particularly of Sirhind town, against the failure of certain government agencies and the FCI to lift the procured wheat even after one month of purchase.

COMMUNITY

Course on juvenile delinquency
Ludhiana, May 22
A three-day-course on juvenile delinquency for NGOs got underway at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, here yesterday.

Child care services poor in city: study
Ludhiana, May 22
With increase in the number of working women, the day care centres have become essential and play a vital role as the working mothers leave their children at these centres while going to offices and pick them up while returning home.

Eight couples tie nuptial knots Ludhiana, May 22 The Shaheed Memorial Sewa Society organised mass marriages of hapless and orphan girls at the Ramgarhia Girls’ College here today. Newly wed couples after the marriage ceremony at Ramgarhia Girls’ College, Millerganj in Ludhiana, on Tuesday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

People oppose rationalists
Machhiwara, May 22
In an interesting incident which took place on Samrala road here yesterday, the members of the local unit of Tarksheel Society, Punjab, were caught in a fix when they had to face the opposition of general public. They had gone there to expose an astrologer, but the situation took a dramatic turn.

Free courses for women
Ludhiana, May 22
The 16th series of various free courses for women organised by the Shri Gyan Sthal Mandir Sabha commenced today, according to Mr Jagdish Bajaj, the sabha president.

‘Bhutta’ sellers do brisk business
Ludhiana, May 22
Heat and grime are a part of summers and so are luscious mangoes and several other delicious fruits. Another favourite is corn or “bhutta”. Many persons find self employment in the form of bhutta selling. They buy a few kilograms corn, choose a busy corner, arrange a small tray and by burning charcoal roast the corn. 

Vacations — fun time for all
Ludhiana, May 22
It is fun time for all. With the opening up of summer camps for kids, cooking classes for girls, finishing schools for youth and tour-and-travel packages for families, the city seems to be suddenly bursting with recreational activities for all age groups.

Demonstration by PSEB staff
Ludhiana, May 22
Employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) held a demonstration at Alamgir office yesterday demanding registration of cases against persons who had a scuffle with the board employees on Saturday and had obstructed them from performing their duty when they had gone to ‘Bains Allied’ factory to install an electronic meter.

5 lakh for Mullanpur
Ludhiana, May 22
Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, Dakha MLA, laid foundation stones of various development works in various wards of Mullanpur nagar panchayat yesterday and distributed development grants.

LUDHIANA CALLING
MR O.P. Munjal, the jovial chairman of a leading cycle manufacturing company is a brilliant poet as well. He loves to recite his own and others’ couplets often. Perfect timing and tuning are his strong points and also make the audience enjoy fully. Mr Munjal recited some such couplets on the annual day function of the Ludhiana Management Association, in praise of the Punjab Governor, Lt Gen (retd) J.F.R. Jacob who was preside over the function.

CRIME

Labourer murdered
Ludhiana, May 22
A labourer was found murdered in a factory in Gill village last night. The police has registered a case of murder and was trying to identify the murderers.

BUSINESS

Glass fibre manufacturer gets award
Ludhiana, May 22
The glass fibre industry of Ludhiana got its due recognition when Mr Mahesh Mangla, Managing Director, Mangla Glass Fibres, was awarded the Rashtriya Rattan Award by the Global Economic Council, New Delhi. He has been awarded for ‘outstanding individual achievements and distinguishing services to the nation’ in the field of glass fibre industry.

‘Cycle industry should lessen overhead costs’
Ludhiana, May 22
Lack of strict labour laws, cheap raw material and high level of industry discipline are some of the reasons for the competitive edge China has in the bicycle market. If the Indian industry can reduce its overhead costs by 10 to 15 per cent, besides improving the labour productivity through zero rejection model of China, no rejection of produced material, the Chinese can be beaten not only in the international market but also at their own turf.

AGRICULTURE

Wheat arrivals pick up
Khanna, May 22
Arhtiyas of the grain market and flour mills are competing with each other in importing wheat from UP and Kota in Rajasthan. The flour mills are purchasing this wheat since the wheat from Shahjahanpur (UP) is cheaper and of good quality as compared to Punjab.

EDUCATION

Students’ parents stage dharna Ludhiana, May 22 Demanding slashing of school fee and funds, parents of the children studying at Smt Satyawati Oswal Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Millerganj, staged a dharna in front of the school here today. Parents of children studying in Satyawati Oswal Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Millerganj, stage a dharna on Tuesday.

PAU training courses for youth club leaders
Ludhiana, May 22
Dr Kashmira Singh Sekhon, Dean, Postgraduate Studies-cum-Director Students Welfare, PAU, advised the rural youth to work hard and take full advantage of every moment of their lives. Dr Sekhon gave this advice while inaugurating a training course for youth club leaders in farm project work organised by the Department of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana. 

MLA grants Rs 2 lakh to school
Amloh, May 22
“The educational policies of the previous Congress government in the state by upgrading the standard of schools without providing teachers, and the announcement of no failure policy in fifth class since 1972 have lowered the standard of education which is now being improved by the allotment of funds raised through cess on liquor,” said Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur, MLA, while addressing a gathering in Senior Secondary School, (Boys) on Monday.

Summer school at PAU
Ludhiana, May 22
The Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has organised a summer school on recent advances in the field of seeding and harvesting machinery which was sanctioned by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Grant for school
Ludhiana, May 22
The Punjab Technical Education Minister, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, announced the upgrading of Government High School in Jarkhar village to plus 2 level and presented a cheque for Rs one lakh for the computer centre in the school. He also promised a further grant of Rs one lakh for the proposed basketball stadium in the school.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURT
10-year RI in murder case
Ludhiana, May 22
The District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Arora, has convicted Surjit Singh (29), a resident of New Shimlapuri for culpable homicide under Section 340 (1) of the IPC. Mr Arora sentenced him to 10-year rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 2,000 for killing Subhash (27). However, the other accused Charanjit Kaur (36) was acquitted in the case giving her benefit of doubt.

CULTURE

Hariharan intends to sing Punjabi numbers Ludhiana, May 22 “Chanda re, chanda re, kabhi to zameen par aa, baithenge baatein kareinge”, sang Hariharan in his melodious voice on popular request at a press conference held in Maharaja Regency today. Renowned playback singer Hariharan addresses a press conference held in Ludhiana on Tuesday. —  Photo Rajesh Bhambi

Lecture on health awareness
Ludhiana, May 22
To create health awareness among the public, the Health Education Cell of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital will organise the 24th Public Health Lecture on Health in Your Hands (Apka swasthya apke haath) on May 24 at the Dumra Auditorium.

SPORTS

Rural sports meet ends
Mandi Gobindgarh, May 22
The Punjab Government has failed to provide the right direction to the youth and has opened liquor vends in every village, said Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, MP, at the prize distribution function of the three-day rural sports tournament organised by the Shiva Club at Kumbra village, 4 km from here, yesterday.

Fatehgarh Sahib record victory
Ludhiana, May 22
In the first match of the Inter-District Summer Under-16 Cricket Tournament Fatehgarh Sahib defeated Moga by 147 runs and entered the second round of the championship here on Tuesday.

ADMINISTRATION

Contractors’ workers to be in uniform
Khanna, May 22
The SDM of Khanna has directed private octroi contractors that their employees should be in complete uniform and should carry their identity cards with them.