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No old-age pension, yet served recovery notice

Ghalib Kalan (Ludhiana), March 9 A septuagenarian, Fakir Singh, has received a notice from the Social Security Department of the district directing him to repay Rs 1,400 that he had received as old age pension, as he had produced wrong information while applying for the same.

Fakir Singh shows the recovery notice he received from the Social Security Department at Ghalib Kalan village in Ludhiana. Amar Singh is also seen in the picture. — A Tribune photograph

Garbage dump near martyr Sukhdev’s house

Ludhiana, March 9 The nation that forgets its martyrs, is doomed. So goes an old adage. What would anybody say if the people of a country throw garbage in front of the ancestral house of a great martyr, who laid down his life for the country’s freedom?

Garbage piled up in front of martyr Sukhdev’s house in the Nau Ghara area in Ludhiana. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Life imprisonment for 2 women
Ludhiana, March 9
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr D.R.Arora, has sentenced Gurmail Kaur of Kular village falling under the Sudhar police station to rigorous life imprisonment on the charges of killing her daughter-in-law, Karamjit Kaur by setting her ablaze. Gurmail Kaur’s daugther-Sarabjit Kaur has also been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Vijay Dhand arrested
Ludhiana, March 9
The city police today arrested a proclaimed offender Vijay Dhand, brother of Nirdosh Dhand, a notorious criminal as per the police records, in the much publicised Lalla murder case for allegedly providing funds and other material used in the crime.

Panchayats contemplating returning grants
Doraha, March 9
Grants worth lakhs of rupees are lying unutilised with panchayats, thanks to a huge difference between the price of bricks fixed by the Deputy Commissioner and their prevalent market rate.

Destitute women live in misery Ludhiana, March 9 While the entire world is celebrated International Women’s Day yesterday, a 40-year-old mentally challenged woman with an amputated leg is forced to spend her life on the road as she seems to be abandoned by her relatives forever. Anita had damaged her left leg two months ago after meeting with an accident with a running train. She was admitted by GRP cops at the local Civil Hospital where her left leg was amputated. Anita, a mentally challenged woman, before being taken to the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana on Tuesday. — Photo: I.V.

Tribune Impact
Cleanliness drive launched in Kila Mohalla
Ludhiana, March 9
The Municipal Corporation launched a cleanliness operation in the Maseet area of Kila Mohalla here today following the direction of the District Magistrate, Mr Anurag Verma, to ensure clean drinking water in the area.

Passing Thru
How have people in this region received private insurance companies?
Private insurers in the region are performing very well and have, infact, captured a sizeable market share. In case of Bajaj Allianz, for instance, the Ludhiana branch alone mopped up a business premium of Rs 600 lakh this fiscal and crossed Rs 8-crore mark in gross premium.
Mr Sam Ghosh, country manager, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company

COMMUNITY

Govt staff threaten stir

Ludhiana, March 9 The Punjab State Ministerial Services Union has served an ultimatum of one month on the state government for acceptance of all pending demands within a month, failing which the government employees would be left with no other alternative than to launch a statewide agitation. Employees raise anti-government slogans at a state convention of the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Move to bring judiciary under Lokpal opposed
Khanna, March 9
Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, president of the Anti Terrorist Front, had opposed the government move to bring the judiciary under the Lokpal while addressing a press conference at a local club here today. He was in the city to attend the bhog ceremony of Gurmeet Singh Bhari, personal assistant of late Chief Minister Beant Singh.

Fate of farm workers worries Akali leaders
Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 9
The district unit of the SAD (A) will launch a movement to create awareness among people about the declining standard of life of the agricultural labourers. It has showed concern over the degrading dignity of the women in the state.

2 killed in mishap
Khamano, March 9
Two scooter-borne youths died in an accident at Manderan village, near here on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana road last night.

Rich-poor gap widening: MCPI
Ludhiana, March 9
The Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI), while reiterating its commitment to forge the unity of genuinely Left and democratic forces in the country, has condemned the leadership of the CPM and the CPI for tailing behind the pro-capitalist and pro-imperialist parties while the working people continued to suffer and groan under weight of poverty and rising prices.

NHRC orders probe into lathi charge on BJP workers
Ludhiana, March 9
Almost three months after BJP workers protesting against the police were allegedly lathi-charged by the city police, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has ordered an inquiry into the case.

BSNL employees decry FDI hike Ludhiana, March 9 “BSNL employees should remain prepared for a persistent struggle in the wake challenges before the public sector undertaking from private telecom operators on one side and the pursuance of privatisation and disinvestments policies of the Union Government on the other.’ Mr V.A.N.Namboodri,general secretary, BSNL Employees Union, addresses a seminar on “Challenges Before BSNL” at Pal Auditorium in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — A tribune photograph

Generation gap on the rise
Ludhiana, March 9
The news that a father strangulated his 21-years-old daughter for having intimate relationship with a married man speaks of the great generation gap. The remorseful father said that when he became aware of his daughter’s relationship he tried to dissuade her, but without success.

Safe haven for old cows
Ludhiana, March 9
“Ailing and old cows found on streets would live in safe haven of Krishan Balram Gaushala being constructed at a rapid pace these days,” said Mr Rajesh Garg, president of the Krishan Balram Goshala Trust (regd).

CRIME

Drug peddler held for exploiting daughter-in-law
Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 9
A notorious drug peddler, who had been physically exploiting his daughter-in-law for more than five years, has been arrested. Mr Mukand Singh Mahli, DSP, Malerkotla, said Teja Singh (60) of Malerkotla had been booked in this regard.

AGRICULTURE

Bee-keepers concerned over low honey prices
Ludhiana, March 9
Progressive beekeepers from across the state gathered at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) under the banner of PAU Punjab Kisan club here.

Doraha college holds seminar on Union Budget
Doraha, March 9
The Commerce Association of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, organised a seminar on the Union Budget 2005-06 yesterday. Prof. Balwant Singh Pangali, chief guest, said since the Budget was a significant policy document of the government the common man should be spread among masses.

Hazy computerised photos raise the risk of impersonation!
Doraha, March 9
While the class XII examinations of the Punjab School Education Board commenced on March 3, it is being felt that cases of impersonation may be more this time, as a majority of computerised photographs on admit cards of examinees are difficult to identify even by the latter what to talk of the invigilation staff.

Govt College students bid farewell to seniors

Ludhiana, March 9 Students of BA II nd year bade farewell to their seniors. A cultural program followed by Miss Farewell contest was also organised on the occasion. Participants wait for their turn to walk on the ramp for Ms Government College for Women title. — A Tribune photograph

Factionalism dogs teachers’ union
Ludhiana, March 9
The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union seem to be divided into two factions with each faction levelling allegations against the other. The two factions openly condemned each other over several issues concerning the college teachers.

Dr N. Prasad Memorial Award for Dr Aulakh
Ludhiana, March 9
Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, has been selected for Dr N.Prasad Memorial Award for 2005 by the Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology.

CULTURE

Indian classical music growing, says maestro
Ludhiana, March 9
“Due to globalisation, our classical music has also been affected. It has changed, I do not know for good or bad, but definitely there have been changes,” said renowned USA-based sitar player Ustad Hidyat Khan.

‘Kijabe’ translated into Punjabi 
Ludhiana, March 9
‘Kijabe’, the first novel by US-based Pally Dillon, originally written in English, has been translated into Punjabi in India by Gursharan Singh Narula and renamed ‘Surkh Haneri’. The novel is going to be released on March 17 by Novel Academy in Punjabi Bhavan.

HEALTH

IDA president to be felicitated
Ludhiana, March 9
The Punjab state and Ludhiana branch of the Indian Dental Association will felicitate a city-based dental surgeon, Dr Bhagwant Singh, at a function here on March 13. Dr Bhagwant Singh has taken over as president of the Indian Dental Association and is the second dentist from Punjab in the past 60 years to hold this prestigious post.

Seminar on improved nutrition for women
Ludhiana, March 9
A seminar on “Empowering Women for Improved Health and Nutrition” was organised at Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women here today.

SPORTS

RIMT athletic meet ends
Mandi Gobindgarh, March 9
The two-day athletic meet organised at RIMT Institute of Engineering and Technology concluded here yesterday. Mr Hukum Chand Bansal, Chairman, RIMT group of institutions, was the chief guest.