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MC swoops down on shopkeepers Ludhiana, October 24 There was pandemonium in the market and the vendors as well as customers ran helter skelter as MC employees started removing goods, tables, benches and other items and loading these in a truck accompanying them. There were heated exchanges between the shopkeepers and the MC staff, led by the Tehbazari Superintendent, Mr Daljit Singh. Some of the affected shopkeepers alleged that the MC employees had taken money from them in the morning, with a promise of not interfering when the festival purchasing was at its peak. However, the MC staff termed these allegations as baseless and a result of frustration against their attempt to clear encroachments and ensure the smooth flow of traffic in the busy commercial centre. Temporary encroachments by the vendors and shopkeepers in this area were posing a serious problem in the way of traffic movement and several measures adopted or proposed by the MC and the traffic police had failed to have the desired results. A proposal by the traffic police to have one-way traffic in the entire commercial centre was rejected by the shopkeepers, who felt that any restriction on the movement of vehicles would dampen the spirit of buyers and adversely affect the
business. |
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MC fire
staff on high alert Ludhiana, October 24 According to the MC Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sharma, the 90 odd employees and officials of the Fire Department had been put on high alert along with the entire fleet of 30 fire tenders and a rescue tender on Divali. All holidays and weekly offs this Saturday and Sunday had been cancelled and the fire brigade staff in all four fire stations at Mata Rani Chowk, Samrala Road, Focal Point and Miller Ganj would be present in full strength. Men and machines would remain in a state of readiness to meet any eventuality, he added. During an intensive exercise in the past couple of days, all fire tenders were thoroughly inspected for any malfunctioning, and necessary repairs and maintenance were carried out. Similarly, all fire hydrants and hot lines for water supply, particularly in the thickly populated and congested areas of the old city, were checked to make sure that these were functional. The fire-fighting capacity of the MC fire brigade had been further strengthened with the recent addition of a most modern and state of art 'rescue tender', which is equipped with high-tech tools, fixtures and features to deal with cases of major fire incidents, including those caused by chemicals and explosives, Mr Sharma added. |
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Making
the most of Divali Ludhiana, October 24 Being the industrial and business capital of Punjab, industrialists and businessmen are known for making the most of the occasion and lavishing expensive gifts on officers, journalists, bankers and politicians. Anybody who is somebody here in the city is handsomely “gifted” on Divali. The range of gifts is wide and extensive and expensive as well, depending on the importance, the preference and the proximity of the person to be given the gift. These include jewellery, electronic gadgets, imported liquor and woollens. No wonder some of the bureaucrats, police officers and politicians are also found to search the buyers in the post-Divali period for excess items. The volume of gifts is usually enormous, with some important officials being flooded with gifts. Not only bureaucrats and politicians, even schoolteachers and principals are also presented expensive gifts on Divali. However, there are some exceptions among bureaucrats, the police and even politicians who do not accept gifts on Divali. Although very few in number, these people assert themselves and politely refuse everyone who comes with gifts. Divali is considered to be an occasion where relationships are acknowledged, and that too handsomely. Local grapevine has it that the integrity of an officer is judged only on Divali. Notwithstanding the reputation of any officer in the administration or the police about his honest credentials, Divali happens to be the acid test in which some people do resist the temptations. Some of the officers even do not accept sweets and dry fruit. They will just like to exchange greetings with the visitors. Queues of cars, most of these luxury, can be seen outside the residences of most of the officers in the administration, police and also the politicians. Gifts are not given to officers at random, but only to those who matter and who can be of any use later in the year. Divali helps in establishing and consolidating relationships with the people who matter. |
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Brisk sale of diyas Ludhiana, October 24 Women and children who had set up their shops by the roadside were displaying the diyas in an attractive manner to lure the customers. Sugar candies and heaps of puffed rice could also be seen as these are important ingredients of Divali
‘puja’. Many people were seen buying pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord
Ganesha. Calendars with pictures of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi were also selling like the proverbial hot cakes. Last night the midnight bazzar too was on as on the occasion of
“Dhanteras”. Entire families had come out to buy utensils and kitchenware and the shopping spree continued till late in the night. |
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Cracker sale banned in congested areas Machhiwara, October 24 The orders have been imposed in Purana Bazaar, Machhiwara, and Darbi Bazaar, the Guru Nanak road and the Sabzi Mandi in Samarala. The orders will remain in force till November 8. Talking to press correspondents, Mr Jassi said he had imposed Section 144 to avoid any untoward incident.
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Be careful while bursting crackers Do’s and don’ts
Ludhiana, October 24 While Divali festivities were at their peak, senior doctors of the DMCH were struggling to save Manpreet. As he was unable to breath, an emergency upper respiratory bypass procedure was performed to pump air into his lungs and stop the bleeding. After giving first aid, the biggest challenge for DMCH doctors was to restore the voice of Manpreet but this task was not so easy as his voice box was blown to pieces. But taking timely decision, multiple plastic and reconstructive surgery was performed on his voice box and windpipe by Dr Manish Munjal, ENT expert at the DMCH. Dr Dinesh Sood gave paediatric anaesthesia. Assistance in the surgery was provided by Dr Puneet Bajaj. During the past year, minor procedures were performed to restore his torn voice box and give him back the gift of speech. Dr Munjal said such incidents could be avoided if precautions were taken.
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Divali celebrated in schools Ludhiana, October 24 Sanatan Vidya Mandir:
In the middle section, the top position went to Classes VII A and VII B and the second to Classes VIII B and VI B. In the senior section, the first prize was bagged by X C and the second prize by Classes IX A, IX B and plus one B. A cultural programme was also
organised on this occasion. The students presented devotional songs. The Principal of the school, Ms Sadhna Sharma, highlighted the importance of Divali. She advised the students not to burst crackers and make the environment peaceful, happy and pollution free. Mr P.C. Gupta and Mr C.L. Sachdeva president and manager of the school, respectively, extended Divali greetings to all. Sharad Divali Utsav:
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School kids’ date with Ramayana characters Ludhiana, October 24 First prize was given to Kahan, who enacted the role of Rama, Prerna for her performance as Sita. Second prize was given to Isha who acted as Kakaiyee. Rohan who was dressed up as Ravana, Pupral (Shivji), Mudit (Hanuman) and Sachin (Brahma) also won prizes.
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Divali festivities at Ek Prayaas Ludhiana, October 24 Ganesha and Lakshmi puja was performed in a traditional manner. The children enjoyed the bursting of crackers and were thrilled to watch fireworks. The Principal thanked the members of the management, guests, parents and volunteers for attending the function. |
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The dark side of Divali Ludhiana, October 24 Many other migrants and daily wagers, including children and women selling their wares by the roadside, will work till late on Divali night in the hope of selling as much as they can. Divali is not an off-day for them. Even roadside vendors, in the hope of making maximum sales, do not mind forgoing their Divali to make an extra buck, which will come handy to enable them to buy woollens for winters. Beggars also work overtime on the day. The people get emotional during festivals and loosen their purse strings easily. So the queues of beggars outside temples lengthen on Divali, as people moved by the religious aspect of the festival give alms more readily. “Celebration, what celebration!” say some of the beggars sitting outside the Dandi Swami Temple. “We do not even have a proper roof over our heads. We will be lucky if some generous soul gifts us a blanket. Some people do that every year. We are so many and everyone wants a blanket as the nights are now turning colder. We will get a lot of assorted sweets and money on Divali, but for that we will have to sit and wait. This will ensure that we do not go hungry for the next couple of days. Divali is for well-off people, not for beggars.” Many persons below the poverty line hardly get to eat two square meals in a day and for them Diwali has no significance. For people living on the roadsides, many even without even a bedding, Devali will mean lighting the stub of a candle. And many would probably have to go without meals this Divali. |
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Divali gift for PF contributors Ludhiana, October 24 According to Mr K.L. Goyal, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, the provident fund subscribers could lodge their claims on holidays through the drop box scheme and also obtain the PF claim forms on holidays from the security staff. He asked the PF contributors to provide complete particulars in their claim forms and attach necessary documents to ensure speedy settlement of claims. The local sub-regional office is also accepting claims pertaining to other cities for onward transmission. Mr Goyal said a PF lok adalat was being organised on the 10th of each month (next working day if 10th fell on a holiday) to settle complaints and grievances of PF contributors and efforts were being made to take on-the-spot decisions.
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Sehajdhari body chief trains
guns at RSS, Akalis Ludhiana, October 24 In a press note issued here, Dr P.S. Ranu, national president of the Sehajdhari Sikh Federation, said the notification would soon backfire on the “conspirators”. Dr Ranu alleged that the SGPC and the Sikh leadership was playing into the hands of RSS under a conspiracy to drive a wedge between the already fragmented community, besides denying representation to 80 per cent of the Sikhs in the world. He asked that when a particular Act had been enacted by Parliament, then was any modification vide a notification legally justifiable by any Union Government. He said his party’s legal affairs committee was working it out with various legal experts regarding the notification and was determined to challenge it in a court of law shortly. He stated that as per Section 2(9) of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, a Sikh was a person who believed in Guru Granth Sahib and the 10 Gurus and performed all ceremonies as per Sikh rites. Basically, there are only two categories of the Sikhs — the Amritdharis (baptised) and the Sehajdharis (non-baptised). He said Sindhi Sikhs were the followers of Guru Nanak Dev and had firm faith in the religion. Labelling them as non-Sikhs by the SGPC leadership is not only an insult to the community but violation of the
philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev, he added. He said the SGPC leadership had misguided the Union Government apprehending that non-Sikhs may take over their shrines. “All this is contrary to the fact since the issue of management of shrines has been addressed and stands protected in terms of the provision of Section 45(6) of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, under which qualification of the right to contest for a post has been confined only to Amritdhari Sikhs and all other categories excluded to maintain the purity of management”, he added. Meanwhile, the Lok Bhalai Party, headed by former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, has flayed the Akali leadership for the denial of voting right to Sehajdhari Sikhs in the SGPC elections. The party has appealed to this section of the electorate not to cast their vote in favour of Akali Dal in Assembly and Parliament elections as well. In a statement issued here today, the general secretary of the party, Mr Paramjit Singh Sidhwan, said the Sehajdhari Sikhs, including the nirmale and udasi sects, had unflinching faith in Guru Granth Sahib, were an integral part of the Sikh community. These people have made significant contribution in bringing glory to the Sikh Panth and they are still following all tenets and traditions of the Sikh religion in their daily life, the statement said. On the other hand, the self-styled representatives of the Panth, including key functionaries of the SGPC, are themselves flouting the teachings of the religion with impunity, it added. Terming the denial of voting right to Sehajdhari Sikhs as a gross discrimination against them, Mr Sidhwan alleged that ever since the Akali leadership had assumed control of the SGPC, the basic values of the religion and the promotional activities (dharam parchar) had been given the go-by. “Under a well- thought-out conspiracy, the ‘illiterate’ leadership of the Sikh Panth has not only been committing nefarious acts like misappropriation of gurdwara funds and silencing the critics with muscle power, but also pushing intellectuals and the elite section of the community away from religious institutions, Mr Sidhwan said.” |
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Case property vehicles not sold, says police Ludhiana, October 24 The police said the vehicles were shifted to the main malkhana at the Sadar police station and the allegation that some employees of the police station had sold them off was found wrong. In an inquiry conducted on the orders of the local SSP, Mr Narinderpal Singh, the police said due to shortage of space in the police station for the parking of these vehicles, the vehicles had been deposited in the district malkhana as per the prescribed procedure. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, the SSP said he had got sworn affidavits from the staff concerned regarding the allegations and they had stated that not a single vehicle was missing. Interestingly, the police inquiry did not include the questioning of some scrap dealers who were allegedly the buyers of the vehicles sold off by some non-gazetted rank officers of the police station. Commenting on this, the SSP said he did not view any stronger proof than the affidavits to give a clean-chit to policemen. He said 30 vehicles, including three trucks, 12 cars and 11 scooters, had been deposited in the district malkhana and 13 vehicles were available in the police station malkhana. He said it was impossible that somebody could sell off vehicles in such a manner. He said a fortnightly checking of case properties of malkhana was regularly done by the SHO and a report in this regard was made in the roznamcha regularly.
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DSP to probe charges against cop Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 24 Mr Ajaib Singh, Sarpanch, Chhapar, had accused the chowki in charge of beating up Mela Singh, a social worker, and Dhanna Singh another resident of the village. The two had reportedly demanded Rs 50,000 from the in charge which he had borrowed from them on the occasion of Chhapar Mela in September. Mr Chheena said, “Though the allegations seem to have come up as a result of political factionalism prevailing in the village, Mr
J.S. Khaira, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dakha, has been deputed to investigate the matter.” Referring to the preliminary information received from the chowki in charge, Mr Chheena said a Dalit shopkeeper of
Chhapar, Mela Singh, had complained to the Latala chowki on October 19 that Mela Singh and Dhanna Singh had beaten him up and threatened him with dire consequences. Mr Dhillon had taken action against the suspects and registered an FIR under Section 160 of the IPC. The village panchayat then levelled charges against the incharge. Mr
J.S. Khaira, DSP, Dakha, said he was yet to start the investigations. Mr Dhillon denied the charges and maintained that he was being made a scapegoat, as he had dared to book those persons who were proving to be a nuisance for the
villagers. The Dalit, Mela Singh, who had lodged a complaint against Dhanna Singh and Mela Singh, alleged that he was being harassed and threatened by supporters of the sarpanch for political reasons, Malkiat Singh, a Dalit
panch, has urged the district police to conduct a fair inquiry.
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Cash-strapped museum offers tax rebate to sponsors Ludhiana, October 24 This was stated today by Brig J.S. Jaswal, Director, Sainik Welfare Department, during the review of progress of work on the museum after the release of a grant of Rs 50,000 by the state government a few months ago. Expressing satisfaction at the pace of work, he said two galleries had been completed with the first grant of Rs 50,000. He said the second grant of Rs 35,000 would be released shortly. Lt-Cdr Tarlochan Singh, Assistant District Sainik Welfare Officer, Ludhiana, said work on the museum was suffering due to lack of funds. He said donations would help in expediting the work. The museum has been struggling for funds since its construction was started in 1991. Originally planned to be completed in two years, the museum remains incomplete even after more than a decade. Sources said the museum had last received funds from the state government a few months ago after 2000-01. While the paucity of funds has been quoted as the primary reason, the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned seems to be a major factor, particularly in the post-Kargil phase, where the state government had umpteen times announced policies to commemorate sacrifices made by defence personnel hailing from the state. The foundation stone for the museum was laid in 1991 by Gen O.P. Malhotra, the then Governor of Punjab. At the ceremony it was announced that the museum had been planned to commemorate the sacrifices made by people from Punjab in defending the country. The museum aimed to present at one place almost all feats of the defence personnel of the state. Though it was promised that the work on the museum would be completed on a war footing, it has now been 12 years since the initiation of the construction work. Four years ago, a hall for screening a film based on the feats of Punjabis in both pre and post-Independence India for defending the motherland was completed and inaugurated. The completion of this work had raised hopes that the remaining portion would also be completed at the earliest but these are yet to be fulfilled. |
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Doctors condemn
Gagandeep’s arrest Ludhiana, October 24 The members also criticised the case filed against Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh, a urologist. “The calibre of Dr Aulakh can be judged from the fact that he will be organising an international conference of live operative endo-urology and the 13th annual conference of the Urological Society of India, next month, which will be first of its kind in the city,” said Dr Bhupinder Singh. The members said Dr Aulakh did this particular surgery as per international standards. The patient should have thanked Dr Aulakh for saving his life and kidney. The booking of the doctor under Section 307 amounts to disrespect of the entire medical community, said the doctors. |
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State-level Vishwakarma Divas tomorrow Ludhiana, October 24 Giving details Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, informed that Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, would be the chief guest and Mr Harvinder Singh
Hanspal, President, PPCC, would preside over the function. He said a number of ministers of the Punjab Cabinet, MPs, MLAs and scholars would also address the function. To give the final touches to the arrangements, the Deputy Commissioner along with Mr Kuldeep Singh, SDM West, and other officers concerned and office-bearers of the Vishwakarma Foundation International visited the site of the function and issued the required directions. Mr Verma said the function was being organised with the active involvement of the Vishwakarma Foundation, Ludhiana. He urged the followers of Baba Vishwakarma to participate in large numbers to pay their tributes to the
sant. Mr M.S. Bhogal, president, Mr Ajit Singh Kular, general secretary of the Vishwakarma Foundation International, Mr Jagat Singh, Chairman, Ramgarhia Educational Council, Mr K.K. Seth, general secretary, Ludhiana Engineering Association, and Mr
G.L. Pahwa, president, Mr Varinder Kapoor, general secretary, and Mr Manmohan Singh
Ubhi, Mr Inderjit Singh Navyug, senior vice-presidents, United Cycles and Parts Manufacturers Association participated in the meeting and welcomed the initiative of the Chief Minister. |
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Car catches fire on Jagraon bridge Ludhiana, October 24 Mohan Singh, the car owner, had come to the city to buy tyres for the car. The vehicle caught fire on the bridge in the thick of traffic. The driver, however, managed to come out of the car in the nick of time. The incident caused a major traffic jam and the police had to divert traffic.
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Thieves drive off truck full of paddy Machhiwara, October 24 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune about the incident, which took place in the vicinity of the Koom Kalan police station, Mr Barjinder Singh Dhillon, DSP, Sahnewal, said the owner of the truck, Mr Surjit Singh, had loaded 500 bags of paddy in his truck (PB-06 2845) from Markfed, Amritsar, and was accompanied by his driver Kaka Singh. They were supposed to unload the paddy at the Kiran rice mills, Machhiwara. Mr Dhillon said an empty truck started chasing his truck from Kohara. The truck was stopped by the thieves at a distance of 2 km from the Pirthipur bus stand. The culprits asked Mr Surjit Singh to come down and assaulted him mercilessly. After this, they fled away with the loaded truck and its driver after throwing injured Surjit Singh on the edge of the road. However, he somehow managed to reach the Pirthipur bus stand. Next morning a woman saw him and informed the Koom Kalan police station and he was admitted in the Civil Hospital, Sahnewal. The thieves were speaking Malwai language and appeared to be from the Ludhiana region, SHO Inderjit Singh said. The police has registered a case under Section 82, 364 and 34 of the IPC. According to the information, the police was able to seize the empty truck from near Bela village in Ropar district, but whereabouts of the driver and the thieves were not known.
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Man held for clubbing woman to death Ludhiana, October 24 A complaint was lodged against the suspect by Rajesh Kumar, son of the victim. The woman had developed illicit relations with the suspect after her husband’s death. The complainant stated in the FIR that the suspect was trying to persuade his mother, Reeta Rani, to quit working as a housemaid but she had been resisting his efforts. The suspect, who lives in Pawitter Nagar, came to the woman’s house yesterday and beat her up with a cricket bat. The woman later succumbed to injuries. Man succumbs to injuries:
Cases of fraud:
The Haibowal police registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC yesterday on the statement of Kiran Kumar, a resident of Udham Singh Nagar in Civil Lines, against Anita Bedi and Amit Bedi, residents of Rishi Nagar. The complainant had alleged that he had paid Rs 5,02,4000 to the suspects for getting his two sons sent to a foreign country. But the suspects neither sent any of his sons abroad nor returned his money, the complainant said. Another case of alleged fraud was registered under Sections 429,120-B and 180 of the IPC at the same police station on the statement of Reeta Rani, a resident of Arjan Nagar in Kara Bara village, against Yograj Singh, Preetam Singh, Kamal and Banso, residents of Partap Singh Wala village. The complainant had stated that the suspect had prepared forged documents pertaining to her plot in Partap Singh Wala village and sold it to somebody. The Model Town police has registered a case under Sections 406, 468 and 471 of the IPC on the statement of Arvinder Singh, managing director of a finance and consultancy firm operating from Model Town, against Sandeep Kumar Sarna, a resident of Durga Puri, Haibowal. The complainant had alleged that the suspect had fraudulently obtained a loan by showing himself to be the owner of a company. The Sadar police registered a case under Section 406 of the IPC on the statement of Man Kaur, a resident of Baddowal village, against Sonia, a resident of the village. The woman had alleged that the suspect had borrowed Rs 1,50,000 from her but failed to return the money in spite of repeated reminders. Booked for assault: The Focal Point police has registered a case under Sections 324,323,148 and 149 of the IPC on the statement of Surinder Singh, a resident of Urban Estate, Phase-II, Focal Point, against Pal Singh, Varinder Pal, Sunny, Hunny and Khalsa. The complainant had alleged that the suspects had beaten him up and injured him. He had to be admitted to a hospital, added the complainant. On the statement of Ms Naresh Kanta, a resident of Gopal Nagar, the Focal Point police has registered a case under Sections 451,323,506 and 34 of the IPC against Sanjay Kumar and two other persons accompanying him. The woman had alleged that the suspects came to her shop, beat her up and threatened her. The assailants also took away her gold chain before running away, she said. The Salem Tabri police has registered a case under Sections 323,342,506 and 34 of the IPC on the statement of Punit Khera, a resident of Kabir Nagar in Basti Jodhewal, against Arvind Jain, a resident of Kabir Nagar, Raju and Pawittar. The complainant had alleged that the suspects came to his house, beat him up and threatened him. The suspects bound him up and confined him in a room in Shiv Puri on October 20, the complainant said. Cane crop burnt: Forcible possession: Poppy husk seized: Scrap recovered: Gamblers held: The other case was registered against Ramesh Ravat, Rahul, Rajesh and Santokh Gupta, residents of Anand Nagar. A sum of Rs 1820 and a deck of playing cards were seized from their possession, The police said today that the suspects were caught while gambling at a public place. The Model Town police also registered two cases under the Gambling Act. In the first case, those arrested were Sonu and Ramesh, residents of Dhakka Colony. A sum of Rs 100 was seized from their possession. The other case was registered against Shivkaran Giri, a resident of Bakery Wali Gali, Rishi and Kala, residents of Ambedkar Nagar. A sum of Rs 330 and a deck of playing cards were seized from their possession. The Salem Tabri police arrested Raman Kumar, a resident of New Aman Nagar, Bhupinder Kumar, a resident of Laxmi Pura, Jatinder Singh, a resident of Salem Tabri while they were gambling at a public place and booked them under the Gambling Act yesterday. A sum of Rs 11,575 and a deck of playing cards were seized from their possession. The Shimla Puri police also registered two cases under the Gambling Act. Those arrested in the first case were Joginder Singh, a resident of Janta Nagar, who was booking darra and satta bets in the area. A sum of Rs 2600 along with some incriminating slips were seized from his possession. Another satta operator arrested was identified as Keso Ram, who lives near the Arora Palace cinema. A sum of Rs 550 was seized from his possession, the police said today. Liquor seized:
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