Drive against power theft
Ludhiana, June 6
Strong protests from the industrial and trade unions against a drive of the Punjab State Electricity Board’s enforcement wing to curb power theft in the city, has forced authorities to slow down the drive. According to board officials, power theft in Ludhiana city had already crossed Rs 200 crore per year. 

Fulfil promises, demand villagers
Fatehgarh Sahib, June 6
Resentment prevails among the six village panchayats of the district, as the promise made to them by the Chief Minister has not been fulfilled yet.

Id celebrated with fervour

	Ludhiana, June 6 Id-ul-Milad, the birthday of Mohammad Mustafa, the last Nabi of Islam, was celebrated with religious fervour here last evening. A big procession was taken out in the afternoon from Sunni Noori Jama Masjid in Shivpuri, in which thousands of people took part.
	A view of the Id-ul-Milad procession in Ludhiana on Tuesday evening. — Photo by Inderjeet Verma

Go vegetarian, says PFA
Ludhiana, June 6
Emphasising the need to go vegetarian to be a truly ‘environment-friendly’ individual, the local chapter of the People For Animals, on the occasion of Environment Day, came up with some interesting facts and figures supporting the case.

Homage paid to martyr
Khanna, June 6
A solemn function was organised to pay homage to Sepoy Harjinder Singh at his village, Turmuri, 21 km from here, yesterday. Hundreds of people with tearful eyes were present for the antim ardas.

Doctor commits suicide
Ludhiana, June 6
In a shocking incident, a young resident doctor, Ms Sheetal Franklin, of Christian Medical College, committed suicide under mysterious circumstances today afternoon. Ms Sheetal was a resident doctor posted as Emergency Medical Officer in the Casuality Ward of CMC.

4 booked for beating up XEN
Ludhiana, June 6
A case under Sections 353, 186, 452 and 506 of the IPC has been registered at the Division Number 6 police station on the statement of Mr Surinder Pal Singh, an Executive Engineer of the Punjab Mandi Board and a resident of Sarabha Nagar, against Surjit Singh and three other unknown persons for beating him up and abusing him in his office.

BUSINESS

Withdraw surcharge: industrialists
Ludhiana, June 6
Mr Joginder Kumar, president, Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of India, in a press note has condemned the imposition of surcharge by the PSEB from April 15 on the industrial consumers.

Arihant Cotysen workers threaten stir
Ludhiana, June 6
About 300 workers of the Arihant Industries held a dharna in the factory premises here today, demanding the payment of their wages pending for the past three months. 

PDS wheat being sold on the open market
Machhiwara, June 6
Wheat meant for sale at subsidised rates to the persons living below the poverty line in the area is being sold on the open market at high rates. According to sources, the quota of wheat released for this area by the Food and Supplies Department, Punjab, is 545 quintal for every two months. 

EDUCATION

Rs 40 crore for schools: Atwal
Ludhiana, June 6
The Punjab government would be spending Rs 40 crore for renovating school buildings, repairing furniture and providing other infrastructure in the government schools of the state.

COURTS

Lawyers’ strike
Ludhiana, June 6
The Ludhiana Bar Association has decided to participate in the strike by lawyers all over the state on June 7, to express solidarity with the lawyers of Sangrur who were subjected to a lathi charge by the police when they were holding a peaceful demonstration with regard to the foundation-laying ceremony for the lawyer’s chambers at the Judicial Complex.