L U D H I A N A

Top stories | Community | Crime

Business | Education

TOP STORIES

Farmers clash with police, 18 hurt 
Jagraon, February 28
At least 15 activists of the Kirti Kisan Union and three policemen were injured in a clash near Dalla village late last evening when the police was removing a road blockade laid by over a hundred activists.

PAU gets Rs 100 cr grant
Ludhiana, February 28
Thanks to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), the city was part of the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambram’s Budget speech today. The minister praised the university for being “a pioneer in the Green Revolution” and allocated a special grant of Rs 100 crore as an acknowledgement of its efforts.

Tiny tots in a playful mood at Punjab Agricultural University during a flower show on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Conman poses as kidnapper, nabbed

Ludhiana, February 28 A Dugri-based family that has been moving from pillar to post for the past three weeks in search of its missing son was shocked to learn that a kidnapping drama had been enacted by a conman who claimed he had kidnapped the youth. The conman proved to be a gambler and lottery trader who hoped to make a fast buck by taking advantage of the situation. Mohan Lal in police custody in Ludhiana. — A Tribune photograph

Scramble for duplicate roll numbers
Ludhiana, February 28
Even as the examinations of both the PSEB and the CBSE are beginning tomorrow, students continue to visit the district office of the PSEB to get duplicate roll numbers.

Scooterist killed

COMMUNITY

MC removes encroachments 
Ludhiana, February 28
After several unsuccessful attempts in which the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation had to beat a retreat while demolishing some structures in the city, a demolition squad of the civic body today succeeded in taking possession of around 10 acres in Dairy Complex, Haibowal, and Pavitter Nagar.

A bulldozer removes encroachments in Pavitter Nagar; and (right) the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation puts up a board announcing possession of land in Dairy Complex, Haibowal, Ludhiana, on Tuesday. — Photos by I.V.

Govt focus on urban people, industry: Dullo

Ludhiana, February 28 The Congress government in Punjab is committed for the all-round development of the state, particularly to extend major relief to the urban population and industry. Action on various fronts has been initiated to achieve this objective. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Shamsher Singh Dullo at a meeting of party workers in Ludhiana on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Budget leaves many yearning for more
Ludhiana, February 28
Termed as insipid by experts, Budget 2006 evoked mixed reaction from city residents and industry. While a large section complained of lack of initiatives, many people felt that it was a case of no news being good news.

Fire in shawl unit Ludhiana, February 28 Shawl material worth lakhs was gutted in a fire that broke out in a shawl unit at Lalu Mal Street in Chaura Bazar here last night. The fire broke out in Duggar Shawl Unit late last evening and was doused only after five fire engines were pressed into service. Shawl material worth lakhs was destroyed in a fire that broke out at a shawl unit in Lalu Mal Street, Chaura Bazar, Ludhiana, on Monday night. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Pingalwara chief visits Preetnagar

CRIME

Cops ‘beat up’ farmer, probe ordered
Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 28
A farmer of Rangia village has accused the Dehlon police of thrashing him and insulting him publicly at the behest of some residents of the village. The SSP, Jagraon, has directed the Circle Officer, Mullanpur, to probe the matter.

Petrol station staff robbed at gunpoint
Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 28
Three unidentified miscreants robbed a petrol station at gunpoint at the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road near Dehlon early this morning. The police has started a massive hunt after registering a case.

BUSINESS

Mega expo to mark Women’s Day
Ludhiana, February 28
To mark International Women’s Day, Excelsior PR in association with the Aagaz Charitable Foundation has planned a unique event, “The Woman 2006,” an exhibition that would highlight the best products available for women all over the world. It would also provide a platform for successful women leaders and entrepreneurs to interact with one another.

Budget: Mixed response by steel re-roller units
Khanna, February 28
There was mixed reaction from steel re-rollers after the Union Budget presented in Parliament. The re-rollers were expecting reduction in excise duty from 16 per cent to 8 per cent as there was heavy recession on the iron and steel market. Re-introduction of Compounded Levy Scheme was also expected in the Budget. By not providing these amendments, re-rollers community feeling aggrieved.

Section 144 around exam centres
Ludhiana, February 28
In view of the forthcoming exams of classes VIII, X and XII of the Punjab School Education Board, the district administration has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC around all examination centres.

Students of the PCTE at a car rally to spread the message of peace in Ludhiana on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Vocational training students visit planetarium
Ludhiana, February 28
An educational trip for 200 students of vocational training schools being run by the National Child Labour Protection (NCLP) Society for child labourers was conducted at the planetorium at Nehu Rose Garden here today. Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner and chairman, NCLPS, said for children below 14 years working in occupation or processes listed in the schedule of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, or in occupation and processes which adversely affected their health special schools had been set up in the city.

Students urged to use power judiciously
Jagraon, February 28
Various contests were organised to create awareness among students about renewable energy resources under the patronage of Ms Parveen Kaur, Principal, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, here today.

Lecture organised
Ludhiana, February 28
A three-day lecture-cum-demonstration was organised by the Department of Fine Arts of Devki Devi Jain Memorial College for Women, here today. Eminent artists, including Mr Parveen Kumar from Govt College, Ludhiana, Mr Jaswinder Singh from Khanna and Mr Bhatia from Government College, Hoshiarpur, were invited to deliver the lecture.

Car rally by PCTE students
Ludhiana, February 28
Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) will organise an international literary-cum-cultural festival on March 3. Teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh are also expected to participate in the festival.

National Science Day celebrated
Ludhiana, February 28
Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology celebrated National Science Day on the college premises here today. Many students participated in the Review Paper presentation on the topics related to environment. Gauravpreet, Shveta, Preeti and Manveer were the winners. A lecture was delivered on 'Nurture for Future'.

COURTS

Lok adalat organised

Ludhiana, February 28 The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum today organised a lok-adalat to settle the pending cases under the supervision of its president, Mr A.S. Narula. The forum settled 13 cases. Fortyone cases were placed before the lok-adalat. The consumers got compensation worth Rs 6, 29,000. Mr A.S. Narula, president of the Consumer Forum, hears litigants during a lok adalat in Ludhiana on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Sayeed Ahmed