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TOP STORIES

Woman booked for selling daughter
Ludhiana, March 16
The Jagraon police today arrested a couple on the charges of being involved in a sensational case of human trafficking that had rocked the region recently.

George gives away degrees at CMC
Ludhiana, March 16
Defence Minister George Fernandes exhorted the medical and nursing graduates to keep ‘shradha’ or faith as their mantra and try to follow the principles of hard work of the prestigious Alma mater when they pass out and assume their roles as doctors and nurses.

Defence Minister George Fernandes at the annual convocation of CMC&H and College of Nursing; and (right) a group of degree holders. —Photos Rajesh Bhambi

Minister inaugurates MC building
Doraha, March 16
The Transport Minister, Punjab, Mr Tejparkash Singh, today inaugurated the renovated building of the Municipal Council, Doraha. The annual budget of the Nagar Council was also passed at this occasion.

Woman booked in ‘abortion’ case
Ludhiana, March 16
A resident of Kot Umra village is running from pillar to post to prevent his wife from aborting their child. The interesting case came to light when the man, Khajan Singh, lodged a complaint with the Jagraon police that his wife was adamant on aborting the child against the law and against his wishes.

COMMUNITY

Liquor cartels bury hatchet
Ludhiana, March 16
In a total turnaround from the earlier situation preceding the auction of liquor vends last year, two major groups of liquor contractors, headed by a liquor baron from Uttar Pradesh Mr Ponty Chadha and Mr Man Singh Garcha, brother of Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, a Cabinet minister in the previous SAD-BJP government, decided to bury the hatchet to avoid competition, which could push up the bids for each of 15 groups of vends even beyond a limit which would make the business not viable.

Govt seized of fiscal crisis: Ratra
Ludhiana, March 16
The Chief Secretary, Mr Y.S. Ratra, yesterday said the government was seized of the grave financial crisis facing the state and a Cabinet subcommittee for fiscal reforms, headed by the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had already been set up to find ways and means to tide over the crisis and to put the state economy back on rails.

Revival of economy tough: minister
Amloh, March 16
The newly formed government has to face a herculean task of tackling with financial crises and crippled economy in the state before undertaking development works promised to the electorate in the party manifesto, said Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa, Minister of state for Public Health, Rural Development and Panchayats, while talking to mediapersons at Lakha Singhwala, his native village, 3 km from here, on Saturday.

BKU to hold indefinite dharna in front of SC
Ludhiana, March 16
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) activists would stage an indefinite dharna outside the Supreme Court building in Delhi from March 19 to protest against denial of the rights to river waters to the state of Punjab.

Tiger Safari set to welcome new guests

Ludhiana, March 16 The local Tiger Safari has received a gift of eight barking deer from Solan Zoo and is all set to welcome many other animals who would become a part of the family of the animals at the safari. While the barking deer have already arrived in the safari, enclosures are being constructed for other animals who would be arriving here within this month. Work in progress at the local Tiger Safari to build enclosures for deer from the Solan Zoo.

Encroachers — a determined lot

Ludhiana, March 16 While traffic chaos on the GT Road stretch between the Jagraon bridge and chowk Ghanta Ghar has increased manifold due to the ongoing work on the elevated road project, vendorsas well as shopkeepers on both sides of the road remain an adamant lot as far as encroachments made by them are concerned. Encroachers refuse to budge from the G.T.Road.

Minister to lay stone of flyover today
Ludhiana, March 16
Another ambitious project of the Municipal Corporation will take off with the Punjab Minister for Local Bodies Mr Jagjit Singh, laying the foundation stone of Rs 13 crore flyover here tomorrow.

LSS holds kirtan march

Ludhiana, March 16 The Ludhiana Sewa Sangh organised a ‘kirtan march’ from Indodevi temple in Rupa Mistry street to the Sanglan Wala Shivala here yesterday. Addressing the members, the sangh president, Mr Suresh Gupta, said it was unfortunate that the BJP, which came to power on the basis of its commitment to build Ram temple at Ayodhya, was now backing out of its promise because it was in power at the Centre.

Members of the Ludhiana Sewa Sangh participate in kirtan march in Ludhiana on Friday. —Photo D. B. Chopra

• Shiv Sena chief flays Wadala’s comment

CRIME

BYM leader booked for assault
Ahmedgarh, March 16
The local police has registered a case of rioting and beating some persons against former state president of the Bharatiya Yuva Morcha and four others for allegedly assaulting Municipal Council president and his family and ransacking his house.

Desire to marry costs him dear
Ludhiana, March 16
In a bizarre case, a bridegroom who came to the city to marry, not only had to return without his bride but had to lose half of his property as well. According to information, Mr Palwinder Singh, a resident of Baba Bakala village in Amritsar district, has stated in his complaint that he had obtained a legal divorce from his wife.

BUSINESS

Bunte Bunte contest results
Ludhiana, March 16
Vardhaman announced the results of their mega contest ‘Bunte Bunte Kismat Chamke Phirse’ here yesterday. Ms Nancy Arora from Amritsar won the first prize Matiz SD car.

Order on tuitions evokes mixed response
Ludhiana, March 16
The recent notification issued by the State Education Department prohibiting teachers of government-aided colleges from taking private tuitions and holding principals and managements responsible for its violation has evoked a mixed response in the colleges here.

Great creations by NIFD students

Ludhiana, March 16 Students of the National Institute of Fashion Designing (NIFD) presented their creations at their annual exhibition Bhavyakriti held at NIFD Centre here today. Garments, articles of interior designing, embroidered bags, wall hangings, furniture made of junk items and candles were put on display.

The exhibition Bhavyakriti put up by NIFD students here at their centre. —Photo Inderjeet Verma

Lectures on economic scenario
Ludhiana, March 16
Two lectures were delivered by Prof S.L. Kansra and Prof A.C. Julka, Panjab University, Chandigarh, on “Compensation Criterion of Welfare” and “Indian Economy development continuity and change”, respectively, on the premises of Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College, Subhash Nagar, Daresi Road, on Wednesday.

Seminar held on banking
Mandi Gobindgarh, March 16
The Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Science organised a seminar on banking industry here today. Mr Sanjeev Gupta, cluster head, HDFC, Ludhiana, told students about the current scenario in national and international banking industry. 

PAU awarded commendation certificate
Ludhiana, March 16
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has been awarded commendation certificate for excellent display of its products in the Punjab Pavilion in India, International Trade Fair — 2001, held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi recently. 

125 students honoured
Sahnewal, March 16
The annual function of the Mai Bhago College for Women, Ramgarh, was presided over by Ms Amritpal Kaur Baliawal, a member of the SGPC. The chief guest was Dr Ramesh Kapoor, Deans, College Development Council, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

COURTS

Forum quashes PSEB demand
Ludhiana, March 16
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed a demand of Rs 1,46,097 of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) from Mr Harminder Singh, a resident of Focal Point. The forum has also directed the PSEB to refund the amount deposited against the said demand along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of deposit till actual payment.

ICD — a hope for heart patients
Ludhiana, March 16
“Open-heart surgery has become common place, but I feel that there should be a strict code of conduct by the Medical Council of India (MCI) or by the Cardiac Society of India (CSI) on the centres and institutes that perform such surgeries so that a minimum standard is maintained”.