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TOP STORIES

No rotation of reserved wards for MC poll
Ludhiana, April 3
Setting all speculations at rest, the Punjab government has decided that there would be no rotation of wards, reserved for women and various other categories for the forthcoming elections to the Municipal Corporations of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala to be held sometimes in the middle of next month.

Blast in foundry wakes up neighbourhood
Administration still asleep

Ludhiana, April 3 A powerful blast in a steel foundry rocked Vishvakarma Colony early today. The police said the blast had been in a furnace of the JB Foundry where scrap material was moulded.

Policemen inspect the site of a blast in a foundry, in Ludhiana on Wednesday. —Photo Inderjeet Verma

Row over vigilance raids
Ludhiana, April 3
The raids by the Vigilance Department officials at several primary health centres and dispensaries in Hathoor and Sidhwan block of the district recently, in which a number of employees were found absent from duty, have sparked off a row with about 20 employees communicating to the Health Department that they were on leave or on official tour and were being victimised for proving something to the political bosses.

Rural experience course proves costly
Ludhiana, April 3
The ongoing eight-week course of Rural Area Work Experience (RAWE) at Pamal village has proved costly for two students of the College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, who were yesterday found to have contracted small pox, which is quite prevalent in the village these days.

School clubs with a difference
Ludhiana, April 3
Gone are the days when there used to be simple activities in schools like music, dance and drama. City schools have now come up with clubs which perform an array of functions. Activities are not just limited to the middle and senior sections as was done earlier, these have now become more common among the primary section kids.

PAU council gives nod for PG entrance tests
Ludhiana, April 3
With an aim to putting an end to cases of nepotism and giving admission to the deserving candidates, the Academic Council of Punjab Agricultural University has finally given approval for conducting entrance tests to various postgraduate courses for the coming session.

Farmers protest  against arhtiyas
Ludhiana, April 3
A number of farmers of Mullanpur Dakha and nearby villages staged a dharna in the grain market of the town today in protest against non-payment of their dues by several arhtiyas.

Stolen goods recovered; five held
Mandi Gobindgarh, April 3
The police claims to have arrested five members of a gang of thieves and recovered stolen goods from them. This is according to a press note issued here today by Mr B. Chander Shaker, Senior Superintendent of Police at Fatehgarh Sahib.

COMMUNITY

Cong men burn Chautala’s effigy

Ludhiana, April 3 Hundreds of Youth Congress activists led by the state vice-president, Mr Komal Khanna, today burnt the effigy of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for his stand on the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal and for adopting confrontation with the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh. Youth Congress activists burn an effigy of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in Ludhiana on Wednesday. —IV

Netherlands food technologists hold bakery workshop

Ludhiana, April 3 About 75 housewives and 15 professional bakers are busy these days, attending a ‘bakery workshop’ underway at the Department of Food Science and Technology, PAU. The four-days workshop started here on Monday.

Cookies prepared by food technologists from the Netherlands at a bakery workshop organised in Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; and (right) the experts brief the participants. —RB

Food technologists get award for research 
Ludhiana, April 3
The Ludhiana chapter of the Association of Food Science and Technology (AFST) has adjudged Dr S.K. Berry and Dr Alok Jha as senior and junior scientists of the year, respectively.

Demands not met, says committee
Ahmedgarh, April 3
Getting its demands fulfilled has proved a challenge for the Dharam Yudh Morcha Shaheed and Peerat Parivar Committee, an organisation established for the rehabilitation of victims of police firing of the rasta roko andolan 19 years ago on April 4.

Pensioners resent cut in interest rate
Ludhiana, April 3
“There has been a dent for the second time in the recent past on the savings of the retired persons from government and public sector jobs by a decision of Union Government slashing the interest rates on special deposit schemes, general provident fund accounts and other deposits from 9.5 to 9 per cent effective from April 1,2002.”

• Shobha yatra 

CRIME

One booked for  noise pollution
Ludhiana, April 3
The Focal Point police on Monday arrested Naresh Kumar, a resident of Vishwakarma Colony, and booked him under the Noise Control Act. The accused was speaking loudly into a public address system and the resultant sound disturbed the peace of the area, charged the police.

• Taxi driver deprived of vehicle

New exim policy hailed
Ludhiana, April 3
Mr Vinod Thapar, president and Mr Narinder K. Miglani, general secretary Knitwear Club, welcomed the new exim policy in which Ludhiana has been granted the status of town of export excellence.

AGRICULTURE

Farmers rue meagre MSP increase
Ludhiana, April 3
The Rs 10 hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat has caused strong resentment among farmers of the district who feel they have been cheated and let down by the government.

• Dr Chahal on ICAR panel

New academic session begins

Ludhiana, April 3 After a fortnight-long break in schools following the annual examinations, most of the city schools are once again abuzz with activity as for the new academic session begins here. Carrying new school bags, new Tiffin boxes, new books and dressed in new uniforms, the kids were excited as they went to their new classes, met friends after a 15-day gap and shared holiday experiences. Students of Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, come out of the gates after the first day of the new academic session in Ludhiana on Tuesday. —Photo Rajesh Bhambi

Teachers’ body for revival of council
Ludhiana, April 3
The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) has demanded the reconstitution and revival of the State Council of Higher Education in Punjab for speedy solution to problems of non-government colleges in the state.

Verghese — the new principal of CMC
Ludhiana, April 3
Dr Mohan Verghese has been appointed Principal of Christian Medical College from March 23. Earlier, Dr Jasbir Dhanoa was officiating as the Principal, but according to the constitution of the Christian Medical College & Hospital, only a Christian can head the institution, hence the way was paved for Dr Mohan Verghese.

COURTS

Forum directs ‘Big Bubble’ to pay Rs 2 lakh 
Ludhiana, April 3
In a landmark order, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the manufacturer of “Big Bubble” chewing gum, Perfetti India Limited, Gurgaon, to pay Rs 2 lakh on account of return air fare of two persons to USA and three nights and four days stay there, to Mr Jeevan Kumar, a resident of Payal. 

• Life term for killing father-in-law

Drive against polio

Ludhiana, April 3 For eradication of polio in the country, the Health Department started its five-day mop-up operation against polio today. Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, in a statement said that the district had been divided into sectors and sub-sectors.  Volunteers administer polio drops to a child during a drive in Ludhiana. —IV

SPORTS

Thakarwal sports from April 8
Ludhiana, April 3
Bullock-cart races, volleyball, shooting and kabaddi in different age groups will be the main features of the annual sports festival to be held on April 8 to 10 at Thakarwal village, near here.