Police ‘tortures’ cable operator
Victim’s kidneys damaged, say doctors
Ludhiana, May 31
Raj Kumar, a cable operator from Fatehgarh Sahib, has alleged that the SHO, Fatehgarh, Sahib tortured him to an extent that both his kidneys got damaged and stopped functioning. The victim had been admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). 

Alert PAU officials avert robbery bid
Ludhiana, May 31
Two alert officials of the Department of Horticulture in Punjab Agricultural University here averted a robbery bid by two unidentified youths outside the university branch of the State Bank of India.

Man kills mother-in-law, injures wife, kidnaps daughter 
Sahnewal, May 31
A man allegedly murdered his mother-in-law and badly injured his wife and her uncle and kidnapped his 12-year-old daughter, on last night.

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
Cigarette, gutka sachets burnt
Ludhiana, May 31
A joint meeting of seven non-government organisations of the city to mourn the death of nearly 8 lakh Indians who died last year due to excessive use of tobacco was held outside the mini secretariat as World No Tobacco Day was observed here today.

Focal points go out of govt focus
Empty hospitals, taps tell the tale
Machhiwara, May 31
In 1978, when Mr Parkash Singh Badal was the Chief Minister of Punjab, a rural focal point scheme was launched to develop backward areas. In the first phase of the scheme, a focal point was also established at nearby Panjgraian village in 1978.

COMMUNITY

Shopkeepers stage dharna against elevated road project
Ludhiana, May 31
A sangharsh samiti of shopkeepers from several markets and commercial centers on the old G.T. Road, around Clock Tower, today joined hands with the BJP in the ongoing agitation against the city Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal.

Madhok formula on J&K supported
Ludhiana, May 31
Mr Poonam Rajpurohit, president of the national youth wing of the Akhil Bharatiya Jansangh reiterated here today that only the Balraj Madhok formula could provide a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem.

Statute ‘needs to be amended’ 
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 31
Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, while addressing members of the District Bar Association here today, said, “The country can be stronger only if the states are strong, more amendments are required in almost every Article of our Constitution on the pattern of 73 and 74 Amendments which had given more powers to our panchayats, municipal councils and nagar panchayats”.

• FM addresses party workers

A clarification

CRIME

In-laws booked in dowry case 
Ludhiana, May 31
The police registered a case against Harpreet SIngh, Baljit Kaur, Bhupinder Kaur and Jasbir Kaur of Shimla Puri here today. They have been accused of harassment and beating up Manjit Kaur for not bringing adequate dowry. Manjit Kaur has accused them of trying to kill her by putting her on fire.

Man beaten up, hospitalised
Doraha, May 31
A man was reported to have been beaten up so cruelly by some persons of the same village that he got severe injuries on his body and had to be hospitalised at the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana.

JE held on graft charge
Ludhiana, May 31
The Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau claims to have caught Gurmail Singh red-handed while taking bribe.

• 4 held for gambling

Thank you, readers
A YEAR ago on this day, The Tribune took a major step forward and launched Ludhiana Tribune to serve Punjab’s most vibrant city with detailed coverage of events and problems having a bearing on the city. A team of correspondents was mobilised and equipment put in place to cover all aspects of happenings in this prosperous mini metro and its surrounding areas.

A city that never goes to sleep
It is 12 o’clock in the night. Ludhiana is still awake. In fact, the megacity never goes to sleep. Sheela, a well-known party hopper calls up his friend from the Satluj Club. Tells him he has already ordered for his favourite drink and he can come anytime.

After Dharmendra, it’s Divya
The short, sweet Divya Dutta, with a bundle of talent, is today on the road to name, fame and success.

Theme parties take root
A decade ago, entertainment events in Ludhiana generally meant flowing booze and snacks, men sitting separately from women, loud banter which grew louder and more disconnected as the party progressed. But a lot has changed since ... 

Average town becomes megacity
Ludhiana is not just the Manchester of India but also the industrial capital of the North. 

Winds of change transform Ludhiana
Gone are the days of friendly neighbourly ‘kiryana dealer’ shops. The shopping scene has undergone a revolution.

Crime rate rises with growth
No place in the state acquires more attention than Ludhiana when it comes to crime. 

• When city had no police stations

From Rs 25 per month to millions
Ludhiana is today known for its hosiery units. It was the vision of a group of entrepreneurs that has made all this happen.

Pioneer of cycle industry
Mr M.S. Bhogal, founder of the Bhogal Group of Industries and a pioneer in the cycle parts manufacturing, recounts the rise of the cycle industry.

History forgotten: poor care for rich heritage
Ludhianvis’ acumen in business is well known, but the city residents and the successive administration over the years seem to care little for history.

Tourism potential of city lies untapped
Ludhiana, the financial capital of Punjab, attracts visitors from far and wide, yet the potential remains unexplored.

Youngsters hooked to drugs
Sanjay (not his real name), a good looking, educated boy of 25 years, got into drugs when he was only 18. He went to Amritsar to study law. But his life took a new turn there in new surroundings and with new friends. He was away from his family. There were mixed feelings.

Youngest ‘cyber kid’ in town
He can barely say his name, but with the ease with which he can handle the computer keyboard surprises most. 

Lure of riches via satta wrecks many
Thanks mainly to the get-rich-quick approach of the people and a corrupt police force, satta mafia in the city rules the roost.

Work on for 10 years, but war museum still awaits completion
Work on Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum, the only one of its kind conceived and owned by the State Government, still awaits inauguration.

AGRICULTURE

Mentha crop faces pest attack
Farmers may face huge losses
Laddowal (Ludhiana), May 31
The cultivation of mentha, which was being projected by the state Agricultural Department as an alternative to wheat and paddy crop was facing a serious threat from insects and pests. As insecticides were proving of not much use, farmers in this district were facing huge losses.

EDUCATION

A unique gift to PAU
Ludhiana, May 31
The Vice- Chancellor, PAU, Dr. K. S. Aulakh, received a beautiful gift ,a collection of photographs titled ‘ Nature’s Own’ from an ace photographer, Mr T.P.S. Sandhu, at a function held at Parker House, PAU, today.

Dr Tiwana to take over as Dean today
Ludhiana, May 31
Dr Malvinder Singh Tiwana will take over as Dean of the Punjab Agriculture University College of Agriculture, tomorrow. Dr Tiwana had joined the university in October 1968.

HEALTH

Heart attack can be prevented
Ludhiana, May 31
Indians, who are six times more prone to coronary artery diseases (CADs) than their western counterparts, can now reduce the incidence and severity of athero-sclerotic heart disease by taking some precautions.

‘3.5 cr suffering from depression’
Ludhiana, May 31
Depression, it seems has taken its toll in the city. Most psychiatrists in the city have started receiving a large number of such patients everyday with the female patients outnumbering males. This is more so because females experience more hormonal changes than the males and the life of a women is more stressful and eventful than that of males, opines a leading psychiatrist.