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Gender segregation irks college boys
Classes boycotted, demonstration held
Phillaur, September 2
The month-old tension in Desh Raj Vedhera DAV Public College here over the students’ demand to allow them to mix with members of the opposite sex and the college administration’s insistence on segregation of the sexes to ensure discipline reached a flash point today when boys boycotted classes and staged a demonstration outside the college gate.

Students on strike outside DAV Public College, Phillaur, on Tuesday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Paddy crop under pest attack
Laddowal, September 2
The hot and humid weather followed by rains in the region has proved to be a bane for farmers as their paddy crop in the district is facing a threat from a worm. Paddy growers fear that the pest, which has affected a large area, may cause them fiscal losses.

Police begins inquiry into forged stamps scandal
Ludhiana, September 2
On the recommendations of the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Chandigarh, the district police has launched an inquiry into the forged stamps case. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Narinderpal Singh, has asked the prosecution wing of the police to submit a report within a week.

Herbal gardens not on Kalam’s itinerary
Ludhiana, September 2
It all revolved around herbal gardens. From the first meeting of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, with Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice- Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, at herbal gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, their common interest in certain ornamental and medical herbs, till Dr Kalam’s consent for visiting the varsity campus to view 200 varieties of herbs planted on the university campus. But now a visit to the herbal gardens is not in the itinerary of the President.

Myriad of dignitaries to converge on PAU
Ludhiana, September 2
It is after eight years that the Governor and the Chief Minister will get together at the PAU on the visit of President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on September 4. It may be recalled that Mr Surender Nath and Mr Beant Singh, the then governor and chief minister, respectively, had attended the university convocation in 1995.

Much excitement over Kalam’s visit
Ludhiana, September 2
The mood in the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA) is upbeat over the forthcoming visit of President APJ Abdul Kalam on September 4. Narrating the sentiments of members of the Association, the president, Mr Manjit Singh and the general secretary, Mr VK Goyal, said: "this is going to be the greatest moment in the history of LMA when the President of the country addresses its member".

4,500 cops in city on security job
Ludhiana, September 2
The city will witness an unprecedent security cover on September 4 when President A P J Abdul Kalam makes his maiden visit here. As many as 4,500 police personnel drawn from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Khanna, Jagraon and reserve battalions of the Punjab Armed Police and the Indian Reserve Battalion will be put on security duty. A team of the Special Security Guards will accompany the President.

LUDHIANA CALLING Ludhiana has suddenly gone green, but not because of weather nor any environmental reason. In fact, bushes and shrubs have been cut from various places and stuck in pavements giving the appearance that these were growing there. Thousands of manhours have been spent in an effort to present a clean and green city to the President. Media packaging Who cares? Ministerspeak President’s visit Desolate courts Playing cards LSS deserves kudos Dalroti.com Hangover

COMMUNITY

Government claim on uninterrupted power challenged
Ludhiana, September 2
The Punjab politburo of the Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI) has challenged the claim of Mr Rana Gurmit Sodhi, political secretary to the Punjab CM, regarding uninterrupted power supply to more than 12,000 villages in the state.

Congress leaders lambast  Mann, Lohara
Ludhiana, September 2
The Congress MLA, Mr Milkiat Singh Dakha, former District Congress Committee (DCC) president, Mr Gurdev Singh Lapran, and vice-president of the Pradesh Youth Congress, Mr Amarjit Singh Tikka, have condemned the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, and general secretary, Mr Charan Singh Lohara, for their remarks about former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.

Magician who is also a healer
Ludhiana, September 2
What to you feel when you watch a magic show? Surprised, shocked, awed or, per: haps a mixture of all. Believe it or not, there is a world that exists beyond magic, where the real and the imagination merge to form a new whole. This was what one felt while watching the performance of magician at Shingar Palace here. Jadugar Samrat Shankar is a healer of the mind. With his incredible perception and intuition, hypnosis and meditation, has he been able to cure persons with various ailments.

NCC faces serious resource crunch
Ludhiana, September 1
Nearly 50 per cent of the 49,000 NCC cadets in the state face imminent de-enrolment, courtesy the financial crunch faced by the NCC (North) Directorate to carry out its activities because of the non-payment of funds by the Punjab Government.

Gurdas Mann earns Sikh panel's wrath
Ludhiana, September 2
The International Sikh Dharam Parchar Manch has asked popular folk singer Gurdas Mann to apologise at Akal Takht for singing in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib along with his troupe at a religious function held at Mazara Nau Abad village near Banga.

6 sewerage contractors surrender
Ludhiana, September 2
Six contractors accused of involvement in the Rs 4.5-crore scam regarding execution of certain works in the city by the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board today surrendered before the Vigilance Bureau here after evading arrest for over two months.

LIC gives away wheelchairs

Ludhiana, September 2 The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) today distributed wheelchairs among the physically challenged at its Sham Nagar branch, near Bus Stand. The function was presided over by the Senior Divisional Manager of the LIC, Mr P.K. Rath. Officials of the LIC with the physically challenged who were given wheelchairs. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Shiv Sena sets up labour wing
Ludhiana, September 2
The Punjab unit of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray), on the pattern of Maharashtra, has introduced its labour wing, known as the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena. Addressing a rally of workers at Gias Pura ,Focal Point, yesterday, Mr Surinder Dogra, vice-president of the party, said the party was setting up its labour wing in Punjab on the directions of Bala Saheb Thackeray and Lt-Gen P.N.Hoon, who was in charge of Panjab affairs.

Hike in petrol prices flayed

CRIME

Tantrik held for teasing woman
Ludhiana, September 2
Mian Pasha, a tantrik operating from Minerva market, near Clock Tower, was arrested yesterday under Section 294 of the IPC. He was arrested on the complaint of Ms Rajinder Kaur, a resident of Amritsar, saying that the accused teased her on her mobile phone. The tantrik was later released on bail.

BUSINESS

Heavy rush for exim forms
Ludhiana, September 2
Amidst the ongoing controversy that the introduction of exim forms in Punjab will hamper the trade, heavy sale of the forms was reported in the city for the second day today. Even the Excise and Taxation Department here has ordered one lakh forms to be procured from Patiala. Mr Parampal Singh, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (II), said there was heavy rush for the forms today. He said the department had procured adequate number of forms.



Traders crowd outside the office of the Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Ludhiana, for exim forms on Tuesday.

Customer care campaign
Ludhiana, September 2
Tata Motors, the manufacturers of commercial vehicles, today started a three-day “Maha Customer Care Campaign” at Dada Motors Workshop on Jalandhar Bye Pass. The campaign will continue till September 4. The campaign was inaugurated by Mr Satbir Singh, AGM Tata Motors.

Jaidka is chief of woollen council
Ludhiana, September 2
Two traders of Ludhiana, Mr Ashok Jaidka and Mr Avinash Rai, have been unanimously elected chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the Wool and Woollens Export Promotion Council.

Agitating students  block traffic Ludhiana, September 2 Protesting against the decision of the Punjab Government to privatise its polytechnic and industrial training institutes (ITIs), hundreds of students under the banner of Ludhiana Students’ Union blocked traffic outside the Mini Secretariat here today. Students from ITIs and polytechnics block traffic outside the mini-secretariat in Ludhiana on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

‘Aaghaas-2003’ welcomes  freshers

Ludhiana, September 2 Aaghaas-2003, a party to welcome the freshers, was held at the Khalsa Institute of Management and Technology, Civil Lines, here today. Ms Jaswinder Kaur, president of the students’ council, along with other seniors welcomed the fresh batches. Freshers of the Khalsa Institute of Management and Technology line up for a fashion show in Ludhiana on Tuesday.

CMCH starts rural health centre
Ludhiana, September 2
The Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) has started patient medical services at its rural health centre at Malsianbhaike village. Stating this here today, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Rajiv Kapoor, said the rural centre had been constructed by the Development and Welfare Trust run by a UK-based NRI, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu.

PCMS doctors to  get allowance
Ludhiana, September 2
The PCMS doctors will continue to get their pay inclusive of the NPA till a comprehensive and workable organisational and financial restructuring plan is prepared to meet the objective.

PCMS back decision on allowance
Ludhiana, September 2
the PCMS Post-Graduate Association has welcomed the decision of a high-powered committee to make Non-Practice Allowance optional for doctors. A meeting of the executive committee of the association was held here under the chairmanship of its president, Dr Bhupinder Singh.