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60 fresh dengue cases reported
Ludhiana, October 5
Negating the claims of the civic body and the health administration about the situation arising from the outbreak of dengue in the mega city being under control, nearly 60 fresh cases of mosquito-borne viral infection had been reported by the city hospitals during the last 48 hours. The number of dengue patients admitted to different hospitals here has crossed the figure of 200 even as the authorities still appeared to be groping in the dark as how to tackle the grim scenario.

When politics takes precedence over health
After 125 dengue cases, Mayor makes a ‘tamasha’ of fumigation drive 
Ludhiana, October 5
Trying to reap “political benefit” from the spread of dengue, Mayor Nahar Singh Gill inaugurated fogging operations in the city with much fanfare last evening when already 125 cases of dengue had been reported.

SEEKING PUBLICITY? Mayor Nahar Singh Gill flags off fogging machines in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Players of Punjab and Karnataka circles in action on the third day of the All-India Postal Hockey Tournament at PAU Grounds, Ludhiana, on Thursday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

MC flayed for delayed action against dengue
Ludhiana, October 5
The People’s Awareness Forum has expressed its concern over the unprecedented rise in dengue cases in Ludhiana and other parts of Punjab and has held the municipal and health authorities responsible for the same. The president of the forum, Prof Prithipal Singh Kapoor, former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University and president and Prof Gurcharan Singh, general secretary, today assailed the Ludhiana municipal corporation and health authorities for their failure to take timely preventive steps against malaria and other water-borne diseases like dengue.

Primary students told to wear trousers
The dengue fever has pressed the panic buttons in schools. In certain schools, students of primary classes have been asked to wear trousers. Students of primary schools normally wear shorts in summers and trousers in winter. The summer shorts are in different colour from the winter trousers. Principals say they are taking this measure to safeguard the children from mosquito bites. Generally, people have been advised to cover themselves and wear full sleeve shirts and trousers.

Road on rivulet: flood threat looms large

Ludhiana, October 5 Tension gripped Karabara chowk area today in the afternoon when labourers allegedly filled up several acres of a seasonal rivulet in order to construct an approach road to a colony coming up nearby. The nullah land is owned by the Central Government. A seasonal rivulet being filled near Karabara Chowk in Ludhiana. — A Tribune photograph

Dowry Death Case
Man gets life term
Ludhiana, October 5
Additional Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh has sentenced Vinod Kumar of Gulchaman Gali to undergo life imprisonment in a case of dowry death. A fine of Rs 10,000 has also been imposed on the accused.

Slum children disappointed again
Construction of school building stopped

Ludhiana, October 5 All hopes of slum children to have a school building on the Pakhowal road were once again dashed to the ground when the Ludhiana Improvement Trust stopped the construction of the building on the plea that the site was auctioned to a hotel and the matter was in the court. Slum children attend a class in the open in Ludhiana. — A Tribune photograph

Sambhu case: probe against munshi
Ludhiana, October 5
The city police has opened a departmental inquiry against a munshi of the Focal Point police station for the “wrong” recommendation made for issuing the arms licence to Sambhu Kumar Singh, an accused in several cases.

COMMUNITY

Market body secy denies having issued certificate
Blames faux pas on supervisor
Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 5
The secretary of the Market Committee, Kila Raipur, has denied having issued any certificate for the completion of arrangements for the handling of paddy and providing basic amenities for farmers bringing their paddy at many procurement centres on September 25, as claimed by the senior functionaries of the department.

Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti burn an effigy of terrorism while demanding the execution of Mohammed Afzal, in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Inderjit Verma

Urban Vihar residents demand regular water supply
Ludhiana, October 5
A delegation of different organisations, including the Urban Vihar Citizens Council, Urban Estate Welfare Association, LIG Welfare Association, MIG Welfare Council and Ram Lila Dasehra Committee, yesterday met the city Mayor, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, and demanded civic amenities in their areas.

ZP, service providers on collision course
Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 5
The Zila Parishad (ZP) has asked a number of doctors, who were selected as service providers at various Subsidiary Health Centres in the area but failed to provide services for some reasons, to either deposit salary for three months or face legal action for not giving adequate notice before leaving job as prescribed in the contract. Terming the decision of the ZP as arbitrary, the doctors accused the authorities of harassing them unnecessarily.

Ashwmedh yagya begins Ludhiana, October 5 The Gayatri Parivar from Shanti Kunj, Hardwar, began an Ashwamedh Yagya. The yagya began with kalash yatra’. Women from all areas of the city carried kalash containing water from their houses. The venue of yagya is Sector 39, Urban Estate, Chandigarh Road. OC Women take part in Ashwmedh yagya in Ludhiana. — A Tribune photograph

Man accused of shooting groom’s kin succumbs to injuries
Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 5
Intolerant and irate mood of Punjabi farmers engulfed peace and prosperity of at least six families of Andloo village, near here. While close relative of a groom, who was shot dead by a farmer for not getting passage from vehicles accompanying the marriage party, had died on the Dasehra day, the main accused, who was later beaten up by the victim’s family, succumbed to his injuries last night.

In-laws booked for dowry harassment
Jagraon, October 5
The local police has registered a case under Sections 406 and 498, IPC, against Parminder Singh, Harminder Singh and Gian Kaur of Talwandi Bhangrian, Moga district on the charge of demanding dowry from Rajwinder Kaur, who belonged to Malak, and for subjecting her to cruelty. No arrest has been made so far.

Bank of Maharashtra targets commoners
Ludhiana, October 5
The local branch of Bank of Maharashtra organised a function to mark the end of its customer mobilisation month recently. Highlighting the achievements of the branch during the month-long campaign, Mr P.S. Lamba, Branch Manager, said the branch targeted students and encouraged them to open saving bank accounts with the aim of inculcating saving habits among them and to help them learn all aspects of banking.

Industrial unit completes expansion of yarn facility 
Ludhiana, October 5
Abhishek Industries Limited, a flagship company of the Trident group, yesterday said it had completed the expansion project of its yarn facility. According to a press note, the company had invested Rs 1,800 million towards the implementation of the project. Commercial production on over 46,000 spindles had also been commenced, it said.

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AGRICULTURE

Don’t take unwanted loans, farmers told
Ludhiana, October 5
Punjab Agricultural University has advised the farmers not to take loans without thinking of the way to return it or investing the amount properly. At a field day at Dhaula village in Sangrur district, the PAU Director of Extension Education, Dr S.S. Gill, advised the farmers not to seek loans which they could either not repay or which did not help them to increase their income.

EDUCATION

Concept paper ‘vital’ to utilise Rs 100-cr grant for PAU
Ludhiana, October 5
Dr M. S. Bajwa, member of the management board, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), feels that the university will have to prepare a ‘concept paper’ for the optimum use of the Rs 100 crore special fund granted by the Union Government.

German delegates visit PAU
Ludhiana, October 5
A 30-member German delegation, representing scientists, students and farmers, visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here yesterday. Introducing the group representing the Federal Agricultural Research Centre to the activities of the university, the Director of Extension Education, Dr S.S.Gill, explained to them how teaching, research and extension education worked hand-in-hand to disseminate need-based scientific knowledge and information on agriculture and allied activities to farmers of the state.

PAU to host international conference
Ludhiana, October 5
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) will host the ‘International Conference on Fertilisers’ from November 22 to 25 with the joint effort of the International Potash Institute and the ICAR. The conference would aim at advocating a balanced use of fertilisers in agriculture.

Veterinary science students call off strike
Ludhiana, October 5
The strike by students of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University which had hogged limelight due to the alleged brutal suppression of the agitation by the local police, was called off yesterday after an understanding was arrived between the striking students and the government on the key demands of the students.

DC visits school for mentally challenged

Ludhiana, October 5 It was a joyous day for students of Nirdosh as the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana , Mr Ashok Gupta ,visited the school here today. He was very happy to see the facilities provided to the mentally challanged students. He was enthusiastically received by children, staff, and members of the Inner Wheel Club. Mr Ashok Gupta was told that members of the Inner Wheel had been running the school for the last 28 years. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Gupta, interacts with students of Nirdosh School, Ludhiana, on Thursday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

From Colleges 
NSS volunteers get yoga tips
Ludhiana, October 5
A 10-day NSS Camp at GNDEC is in full swing these days. Volunteers daily practise Yoga Asanas taught to them by Mr Virbhan Gupta and Ms Veena Gupta, members of the Patanjali Yog Training Society, Hardwar.

COURTS

Businessman convicted in cheque bounce case
Ludhiana, October 5
The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Charanjit Arora, has convicted a businessman, Mr Tarsem Lal Jain, of M/s Padam Shree Enterprises, Basant Bagh, in a cheque bounce case. Mr Jain was ordered to undergo imprisonment for one year and pay compensation of Rs 50,000 to the complainant. A fine of Rs 5,000 was also imposed on him.

Sirjan to encourage creativity Ludhiana, October 5 “Sirjan — 2006”, an apt name for a workshop on sculpture, is on at Tac Art Gallery her. The workshop which got underway yesterday is being conducted by Paramjit Singh Rana from Delhi College of Art. He is a leading sculptor of North region. Budding sculptors at a workshop being held in TAC Art Gallery, Ludhiana. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Workers protest against health authorities
Ludhiana, October 5
Protesting against the district health authorities, members of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a dharna outside the CMO Office here today. The workers alleged that doctors were resorting to undue harassment and were not issuing disability certificates.

DMCH doctor wins laurels
Ludhiana, October 5
Advanced endoscopic techniques developed at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here have gained recognition at the SAARC congress with Dr Manish Munjal, Professor of ENT, being awarded the first prize at the prestigious SAARC Congress at New Delhi for his endoscopic surgical presentation on “Endoscopic trans-nasal optic nerve and orbital decompression”.