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Encroachments: MC wary
of influential defaulters
Ludhiana, December 17
Time-bound clearance of thousands of encroachments in different parts of the city on roads, public streets, parks and other municipal properties, in itself is a gigantic task but hundreds of influential persons among those guilty of unlawful occupation of municipal or government land, make the job more difficult.

Two killed in school van-bus collision
Ludhiana, December 17
Dense fog claimed lives of two persons, including a 12-year-old student of DAV School, Phillaur, when a school van rammed into a private bus in a head-on collision at Sangdhesian village near Phillaur here today at around 7.30 am. Of more than 10 children in the van, five were seriously injured and have been admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here.

Injured schoolchildren admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph.

Sonali adds to “masti and dhoom” in city

Ludhiana, December 17 Bollywood is full of hypocrites. You get exactly what you give to others in the film industry. Though we have entered the 21st century, problems faced by a woman have remained the same. These views were expressed by Sonali Bendre, the brand ambassador for Omega, at a signature campaign in Ludhiana today. A graduate in Economics, Sonali feels that whatever she is today is because of hardwork and moral values given to her by her parents. “I have been wedded to moral values since my childhood,” she adds. Bedazzled: Actress Sonali Bendre is all smiles as she answers queries during a signature campaign for Omega watches in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Gang of car thieves busted
Ludhiana, December 17
The police has busted a gang of vehicle thieves and seized a truck, an LTV and a car. According to sources, a team from the Haibowal police station, led by SHO Gurpreet Singh, got a tip off that the gang was staying in their area.

17 cases of liquor seized
Ludhiana, December 17
The Excise and Taxation Department has confiscated 17 cases of whisky from a liquor smuggler. According to Mr G.S. Bahia, Excise and Taxation Officer, a naka was laid on the night of December 16 and a car, without any registration number, intercepted near the Cheema chowk. A search of the car yielded 17 cases of whisky and rum.

Fog engulfs city, day temp dips to 18°C Ludhiana, December 17 The city remained engulfed in dense fog for most part of the day today. Mercury also dipped to a minimum of 10.8°C while the maximum was recorded at 18°C. The warmth of friendship keeps the cold at bay: A group of students on their way to school as fog engulfs the region. — Photo by Pradeep Tewari

COMMUNITY

BJP flays Congress on flyovers’ issue
Ludhiana, December 17
The district unit of the BJP yesterday attacked on the ruling Congress in the civic body here for lending blind support to several major projects, including the elevated road from Jagraon Bridge to Chand Cinema which were taken in hand during the tenure of previous House.

Immigration to Canada still difficult
Ludhiana, December 17
Even as the Canadian Government has relaxed points for applicants in the skilled category, yet it will be difficult for the applicants to qualify for Canadian immigration. As such, new application forms have been despatched to all applicants who had filed their papers before January 1, 2002.

Signboards which misguide

Khanna, December 17 The geography of areas along the G. T. Road has changed if one trusts the informations given on signboards installed by the National Highway Authority of India in Punjab. Misleading information: A milestone on the GT Road shows Ludhiana at a distance of 40 km from Khanna while the signboard installed by NHA showing Ludhiana at a distance of 26 km from Khanna. — Photo by writer

Creditors hope Dheer would reveal some names
Ludhiana, December 17
The main accused in the multicrore financial scam, Vicky Dheer was today remanded to three days police custody. The Sarabha Nagar police, which arrested him yesterday produced him before the Judicial Magistrate, Mr Jaspal Verma. The prosecution sought the remand on the ground that investigations were to be carried as Dheer was likely to reveal the names of people from whom he had to get the money. Dheer will again be produced in the court on December 20.

Youth Cong activists burn PM’s effigy
Ludhiana, December 17
Activists of the Youth Congress, led by former vice-president of the party Sarbjit Bunty today held a demonstration against “dual policies of the NDA government at the Centre.” They later burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Session Court. 

Experts discuss child rights
Ludhiana, December 17
A talk on child rights was held at Senior Secondary Government School for Girls, near ESI Hospital, Kochhar Market, here today to mark the World Human Rights Day. It was conducted by counselling psychologist Manmeet Grewal and Human Rights Activist Preeti Kansal.

READERS WRITE
The price we pay for being honest
THE situation in Bihar is a pointer to the hollowness of our weak political system and corrupt and inefficient bureaucratic set-up whose criminal nexus thrives perpetually on the haplessness of the commoners who fail to fight such nexus. Anyone who fights the status quo pays the price like Satyendra Dubey — a brilliant IIT engineer who wanted to expose corrupt in the high project has been gunned down.

Pensioners’ Day celebrated
Ludhiana, December 17
Pensioners Day was celebrated today by pensioners in Ludhiana district. Mr B.R. Kaushal, chairman, Pensioners Information Centre (PIC) Management, while welcoming the chief guest, Mr U.S. Bhargava, General Manager, Punjab National Bank zonal office, Ludhiana, explained the significance of the day. Mr Kaushal gave details of the facilities at the Pensioners Bhavan.

CRIME

Four satta operators held

BUSINESS

Gas plant sought for Gobindgarh
Ludhiana, December 17
The Gobindgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mandi Gobindgarh, has sought the setting up of gas plant based on natural gas to meet the energy needs of the steel town of the state. The Gas Authority of India has proposed to set up gas plants bases on natural gas, says a memorandum submitted to the Punjab State Electricity Board by the chamber.

Billing problems irk Reliance subscribers 
Ludhiana, December 17
Innumerable billing problems and exchange of heated arguments between thousands of dissatisfied subscribers and dozens of employees of Reliance India Mobile marked the customer service camp organised at Welcome Palace, Sarabha Nagar, here today.

Mini Singapore coming to Ludhiana
Ludhiana, December 17
One of the principal attractions of the three-day Food Expo 2k3, starting December 19, is Mini Singapore. The fest will be held at Maharaja Palace. A special pavilion by the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Roars is being set up.

Follow internal assessment rules, DEOs told
Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 17
The Director, Academic, Punjab School Education Board, has directed all DEOs and heads of schools affiliated with the board to follow the guidelines regarding internal assessment prescribed vide National Education Policy, 1986. While most of the teachers and heads of schools concerned have welcomed the implementation of the policy, some parents have apprehended exploitation of students at the hands of teachers and heads.

PAU ex-employee donates  Rs 4.22 lakh
Ludhiana, December 17
Encouraging various achievements made by wards of the non-teaching staff of Punjab Agricultural University, Mr Rup Singh Roopa, founder president of the PAU Employees’ Union, donated Rs 4, 22,000 at the inaugural function of the newly-elected union held at Pal Auditorium here today.

400 college teachers participate in rally
Ludhiana, December 17
In response to a call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), a district-level rally was held in the front of Rose Garden. As many as 4000 teachers from private-aided colleges attended the rally.

Sample survey workshop begins
Ludhiana, December 17
A four-day workshop cum regional training conference being organised by the National Sample Survey Organisation under the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation started here yesterday. The NSSO and the state Directorates of Economics and Statics would carry out the sixtieth round programme jointly for a period of six months starting from January 2004.

COURTS

Judicial officers felicitated
Ludhiana, December 17
As many as four local lawyers, who have been elevated as Judicial Officers were felicitated in the new judicial complex here today by the Young Lawyers Welfare Association. They all are members of the District Bar Association and practising here since long. Lawyers greeted them and presented them with mementos.

CULTURE

Gursewak honoured at Varinder Yaadgari Mela

Ludhiana, December 17 Hundreds of people thronged the Varinder Yaadgari Mela, which concluded amidst fanfare at Mullanpur Dakha on Monday. Popular folk singer Gursewak Mann was honoured with this year’s Varinder Yaadgari Award by the wife of the late actor, Pammi Varinder, who had especially flown in from Mumbai to grace the event. MP G.S. Galib honours the victorious bhangra team at the 12th Varinder Yaadgari Mela at Mullanpur Dakha. — A Tribune photograph

Cultural fair from Dec 21

SPORTS

Athletes for all-India LIC meet
Ludhiana, December 17
On the basis their performance during the three-day athletics meet of the North Zone Athletics Meet of the Life Insurance Corporation of India held here at the Punjab Agricultural University ground on December 12 and 13, the following 10 athletes have been selected to represent the zonal team in the forthcoming All-India LIC Athletics Championship slated to be organised during the second week of next month in Hyderabad.