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First tortured, then implicated in case

Ludhiana, July 19 In a shocking incident, Mr Harmel Singh, a 68-year-old farmer of Dango village, 20 km from here, was first allegedly kidnapped, brutally tortured (his left leg was pierced with an iron rod) by three persons of the same village due to a land dispute and then in alleged connivance with certain cops was booked for causing injuries to one of the alleged attackers.

Harmel Singh at the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana

Work begins on road project despite protest
Ludhiana, July 19
The Municipal Corporation today gave a ‘go ahead’ to the firm, which was awarded the contract for the 2.5-km ‘Elevated Road’ over the Old G.T. Road from Jagraon Bridge to Chand Cinema in the city. The Rs 33-crore project, which has been in the eye of the storm for quite sometime now, was approved in the general house meeting of the MC here yesterday.

Kidwai award for PAU don
Ludhiana, July 19
Dr P.P. Gupta, Additional Director of Research, Punjab Agricultural University, has brought another laurel to the university. He has been awarded the ICAR Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for the year 2000 for outstanding research in animal health.

NABARD cancels chair at PAU
Ludhiana, July 19
In an apparent jolt to research work at the Department of Sociology and Economics, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) has cancelled a chair set up and funded by it for carrying out extensive research on a project.

BKU wants NRIs’ problems redressed Ludhiana, July 19 The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has urged the government to take immediate steps to redress the problems of NRIs, particularly those settled in Canada and other North American countries. A fresh beginning could be made in this direction by providing ‘dual citizenship’ to the NRIs.

Summit, a political stunt: BSP chief
Ludhiana, July 19
“The Agra summit between Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was a political stunt aimed at distracting the attention from ‘Tehelka’ exposures and involvement of several key functionaries of the ruling NDA in corruption cases,” said the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President, Mr Kanshi Ram.

COMMUNITY

Gear up for Assembly poll: Sonia
Ludhiana, July 19
The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, has asked the Youth Congress functionaries in Punjab to gear up for the coming Assembly elections and the YC activists should take upon themselves to propagate the policies and programmes of the party among the people.

Chaos on Link Road subway Ludhiana, July 19 Commuters have no alternative but to suffer daily due to the chaotic condition of the subway made on Link Road near Gill Chowk. The subway was made due to the flyover project, which was started with the objective to facilitate commuters. The subway was made due to the flyover project, which was started with the objective to facilitate commuters.

Traffic chaos on Link Road.

AT THE CROSS ROADS
Sardar Panchhi — poet of love & beauty
Ludhiana, July 19
In Ludhiana Sardar Panchhi found himself to be an alien when he shifted here from Rae Bareli in 1984. He was doled out lip-sympathy in abundance but no genuine help came forth. If someone were to ask him at that time what he needed most, his reply would have been “My self-respect, of course”. In that peculiar state of his mind, he composed a ghazal ....

Intern dies of brain haemorrhage
Ludhiana, July 19
A 24-year-old intern Rishi Rajpal of the CMC was found dead in his hostel room yesterday afternoon. The CMC authorities today claimed that the doctor had died of a disease and they were not suspecting any foul play behind the incident.

Office-bearers

CRIME

Drug-trafficking charge against seven Ludhiana, July 19 In a joint operation, the Ludhiana and Jagraon police has claimed to have achieved a major success against drug-traffickers today by arresting seven persons, including two proclaimed offenders, on charge of smuggling narcotics.

Seven persons who were arrested from Khandoor village on Thursday on drug-trafficking charge.

Life sentence for killing brother
Ludhiana, July 19
Mr A.K. Sharma, Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, convicted Gurmail Singh (46), a resident of Panj Rukha Khanna village, and sentenced him to undergo rigorous life imprisonment after holding him guilty of murdering his own brother, Mehar Singh, by inflicting axe blows on May 2,1997, due to some property dispute.

AGRICULTURE

Workshop on agricultural equipment
Ludhiana, July 19
The Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), is organising a 20-day training programme for artisans from different parts of the state on ‘manufacturing techniques of agricultural equipment’.

ICAR chief visits farm, impressed
Ludhiana, July 19
Dr R.S. Paroda, Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Government of India, was highly impressed with the innovative approaches followed by Jagjiwan Ram Puruskar-1999 winner Darshan Singh at his farm in Hayatpura village near Machhiwara in this district.

EDUCATION

Orientation course for fresh medicos
Ludhiana, July 19
The class of 2001 at Christian Medical College (CMC) is an exuberant lot after attending a week long ‘Orientation Course’, unique to CMC. In all, 50 new students have converged from all over in India to receive medical education in the college.

Academic year of compartment students at stake
Ludhiana, July 19
Hundreds of students of Class XII who have been placed under compartment in examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board are facing problem in getting admission to BA or BSc courses in Panjab University colleges.

Teachers for change in promotion pattern
Ludhiana, July 19
The PhD and MPhil School Teachers’ Association, Punjab, has held a meeting with the Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, demanding a change in the promotion pattern in the government schools.

CET results declared
Ludhiana, July 19
PAU today declared the result of CET, re-conducted by the university on July 16. Sukhminder Singh (roll number-3882) topped the test this time with Jatinder Singh (roll number -2754) following him in the list.

D.Pharma students await results
Ludhiana, July 19
While the admissions to Bachelor of Pharmacy to be conducted by Punjab Technical University (PTU) has already started, students who had appeared in the final year of the Diploma in Pharmacy examination conducted by the Punjab Technical Board and are eligible for the degree are yet to get their results.

GCTA condemns transfer order
Ludhiana, July 19
The Government College Teachers Association, Punjab, has condemned the transfer order given by the Department of Higher Education to Mr Yogesh Sharma, a lecturer in Instrumental Music at Government College for Women.

COURTS

Insurance company to pay Rs 1.85 lakh
Ludhiana, July 19
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed United India Insurance Company Limited to pay Rs 1.85 lakh to M/s Dashmesh Transport Organisation, 12, Transport Nagar, Ludhiana. The forum has also directed the company to pay an interest at the rate of nine per cent per annum from April 4, 2000, to the date of actual payment.

CULTURE

Hands that make delicate artefacts Ludhiana, July 19 There are ideas in their minds. Promise in their eyes, and art in their hands. Aditi Gupta and Kanika Arora, two young students of this city, have made their mark in creating beautiful artefacts from wax. Whether these are small and delicate idols of Ganesh, or candles or cups, everything they create inspires admiration. Some of the artefacts of wax created by Kanika and Aditi. — Photo Rajesh Bhambi

Are diagnostic centres overcharging patients?
Ludhiana, July 19
Are diagnostic centres in Ludhiana overcharging the patients? The question has assumed significance in view of the massive price cuts announced by one of the leading diagnostic centres in Ludhiana recently.

Health Department employees on strike
Ludhiana, July 19
Employees of the Health Department here went on an indefinite strike today at the Civil Surgeon’s Office, demanding stay of transfer orders of Mr Major Singh, a supervisor. The call for strike was given by the Joint Action Committee of Health Department employees.

16 gastroenteritis, cholera cases reported
Ludhiana, July 19
Keeping in view the increase in the number of gastroenteritis and cholera cases, Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha started a public awareness campaign here yesterday.

Action against road encroachers in offing
Ludhiana, July 19
Taking serious notice of the increasing instances of stacking rice husk meant to be used as industrial fuel on road sides and public places outside the factory buildings, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, has directed the Joint Commissioner of Municipal Corporation to lodge an FIR against the defaulting factory owners after a personal inspection of the sites on Monday positively.