Ludhiana, December 9
Three members of a gang of robbers, who used to come on motorcycles brandishing pistols and wade through city traffic at high speed after the act, have been arrested. The remaining five member of the gang, including the kingpin, were likely to be arrested soon, said SSP A.S. Rai at a press conference here this afternoon. The arrest was effected by the city and the Delhi Police jointly.

The gang members used to open fire while barging into the victims’ offices or when they stopped them on the road. The terror of gunshots ensured submission by the victims.

Among those arrested was Abid Hassan of Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh), who used to harbourer members of the gang. He stayed in a rented accommodation near the Tibba road. The gang members used to keep their arms, ammunition and cash there. They also used the place for short stays.

Other gang members produced before mediapersons were Babu Qureshi of Aligarh and Khuram of Alipur in Uttar Pradesh. SSP Rai said the gang had become a headache for the police of Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The accused have been booked in connection with four major robberies that took place in the city this year. They were identified on the basis of sketches prepared by a local artist. The sketches led the Delhi Police to identify the gang members and arrest them after conducting raids in Delhi.

The accused had allegedly shot and wounded a trader, Pawanjit Singh, and looted Rs 3.65 lakh from him near a railway barrier at Shimla Puri on July 7.

On September 6, they looted another trader, Mohan Lal Jindal, of Rs 5 lakh near Dhurri Line, Moradpura.

On September 19, they committed a daylight robbery at Sudarshan Textiles and looted over Rs 5 lakh from the owner, Manish Gupta. They shot thrice in the office to scare the victim.

The accused’s fourth strike was on November 25 when they barged into the office of a trader and BJP leader, Devinder Singh Mehra, owner of Mehra Wool Industry. They seriously wounded Gursukh Bhatia, a trader who was present in the office of Devinder Mehra at that time. They had decamped with Rs 50,000 and drafts worth Rs 4 lakh.

SSP Rai said the police had seized two Italian pistols of 9 mm and .32 bore besides Rs 30,000. Several drafts had also been recovered.

Ludhiana, December 9
The local chapter of the People for Animals (PFA) is in a spot over its claims of rescuing and releasing a family of barn owls early this week as only four owls were released in the Matterwara forest range while six had been rescued.

While a communique by Mr Sanjeev Jain, general secretary of the PFA, claimed that a male adult and a baby owl had died, pictures released by them to various newspapers showed five and even six owls.

Many a eyebrow are being raised over the claims of the PFA activists as an owl is worth lakhs of rupees in this industrial capital of the state where the bird is sacrificed at the altar of Goddess Lakshmi.

The press note of the PFA, signed by Mr Jain, had claimed that they had rescued two adults and four chicks. They were being carried in a sack by some persons in Shivpuri area. After getting a tip-off, PFA activists had reached the place and rescued the owls. The persons carrying them managed to flee the spot, stated the PFA activists.

They had further claimed that the male adult was not able to survive and succumbed to injuries. Seeing the dead male, the female owl killed one of her chicks and consumed her. Though in the pictures that were released, all owls were shown to be hale and hearty.

An animal lover on the condition of anonymity suspected some hanky panky in the entire episode.

Mr Ajay Jain, president of the PFA, said the press note was prepared by Mr Sanjeev Jain and he did not know anything about it. He, however, said they had handed over the dead owls to the Mattewara forest range officials. He was quick to add that the remains of the chick consumed by its mother were too handed over to the forest officers. Mr Mohan Sing, range forest officer, was not available for comments.

Animal activists said an owl is bought by a tantrik and is used for performing black magic. They said even dried flesh, beak, claws, feathers and blood of owls were used in performing magic. 

Ludhiana, December 9
Congress workers and leaders celebrated the 60th birthday of the party president Sonia Gandhi with great pomp and show. A number of functions were organised across the city by the party and individual leaders.

Senior party leaders, Mr Amarjit Singh Tikka and Mr Gurdev Singh Lapran, distributed sweets among the inmates of an old age home at Model Town. Prayers were held for the long and healthy life of Ms Gandhi.

A function was organised by the Terrorists Victims Association, Punjab, under the leadership of its president, Krishen Kumar Bawa. Mr Bawa said Ms Gandhi had set a great example in Indian politics by renouncing the Prime Minister’s post.

A special meeting was organised by the association where the members prayed for the long life of the leader. They assured full support to the leader and resolved to follow the path of "sacrifice and renunciation" set by her.

Mullanpur Dakha, December 9
Tension gripped this town here yesterday morning when a gate erected by supporters of SAD President Parkash Singh Badal was burnt down by some miscreants.

In a complaint lodged at the Dakha police station, Sarpanch Sadhu Singh stated that the gate and the posters pasted on it in support of Mr Badal were completely burnt down. The police had to pacify tempers of SAD-BJP workers in the region.

Darshan Singh Shivalik, an Akali leader, said the incident smacked of the frustration of congress leaders and workers over the growing popularity of the SAD-BJP combine.

Ludhiana, December 9
The Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Ludhiana, will donate 500 books to the Batalvi Sabhyacharak Kender, Batala, and help set up a Shiv Kumar Batalvi library in Batala soon. Mr Gurbhajan Gill, senior vice-president, Punjabi Sahit Akademi, at a function held in Batala yesterday said Batalvi was a feather in the crown of all Punjabis. He was addressing a gathering of the intellectuals and literary persons. He said since the last three decades, the Kender had not been functioning properly. But now with 500 books sent by the akademi, the library would get a good start. The books would be kept under the care of Dr Ravinder.

Inderjit Hasanpuri, Bibi Balwant, Parminder Jeet, Prof Ravinder Bhattal, Prof Surjit Judge, Prof Gurbhajan Gill, Sukhdev Premi, Dr Ravinder, Dev Dard, Dr Amrish, Varinder Parihar from England, Bhupinder Singh Preet, Amit Bawa and Prince Amarpreet read out their poems at a kavi darbar organised by the Akademi.

Prof Surinder Kahlon recited Batalvi's poem 'Ek kudi jida naam mohabat hai gum hai, gum hai'. Kewal Dhaliwal and his theatre group presented a play ‘Loona’ by Batalvi. Prof Gurbhajan Gill, Prof Ravinder Bhattal, Amarjeet Gurdas Puri, K. Sharanjit Batala and Biba Balwant Kaur were honoured by the kender. Social worker Satnam Singh Nijjar said his family would donate two cupboards for the library. He also said if the akademi got posters of Batalvi ready, they would distribute it to Punjabi literary lovers.

Ludhiana, December 9
The councillor of ward No. 4, Mr Madan Lal Bagga, inaugurated development projects worth Rs 17 lakh in Shankapuri in ward No. 63 here today.

The project would involve installing a tubewell and metalling seven streets of the colony.

Mr Satnam Ahuja, area councillor, said that it was a long-pending demand of the area residents. With the installation of the new tubewell, shortage of potable water would be addressed.

Ludhiana, December 9
The Punjab Government's decision to grant interim relief to its employees and pensioners came as a relief to them, however, its date of effect November 1, 2006, has saddened them.

They fail to comprehend as to how the amount of interim relief will be absorbed in the pay /pension revision which is expected from January 1, 2006.

They have urged the state government to modify the notification and absorb the amount of interim relief in pay/pension revision from January, 2006. A communication to this effect has been sent to the Punjab Chief Minister.

Ludhiana, December 9
In yet another incident of female infanticide in the city, body of an infant girl was recovered from near Oswal Cancer Hospital this morning. The girl seemed to belong to a Punjabi family.

The police has registered a case and investigations are on to identify the parents. Just two days ago, another infant was found abandoned in the bushes near a school in Shimla Puri. The child was probably left there to die, but she miraculously survived.

Ludhiana, December 9
The growing Indian economy offers hope to a prospective service industry in India. The world is looking forward to India, not as a huge market, but as a progressive economy that will have a decisive role in the global economy.

Mr Devinder Sra, senior vice-president, American Remington chain of hotels, believes that this offers a huge potential for the service, particularly the hospitality industry in India, where the middle-level business remain untapped and unexplored.

Talking to The Tribune here today, Mr Sra maintained that the Indian hotel industry, offered the best services in the world. At the same time, there was scope for growth. With the economy growing and all sectors improving considerably, hotel industry is progressing too. He pointed out, the concepts were changing. "Earlier, suppose we had to go to a particular place or city, we would look out for our relatives and friends to stay with for the night or two...but now most of us straightway check into hotels according to our ability to pay", he remarked.

He said, the hospitality industry was a part of the growing service sector in India. Like there is IT sector, hotel industry has also phenomenal potential to grow in India. Because, the world looks forward to India as a major upcoming and promising economic power. "Earlier the focus was on Europe and Japan, now it has shifted to India and China", he remarked. However, he said, the infrastructure in China was slightly better than what it was in India.

Born in a Bathinda village, Mr Sra has studied in DAV School and DAV College Chandigarh. After graduating, he migrated to the USA in 1973. IN the USA, along with his studies he picked up a job with a hotel group. He is also on the advisory panel of some leading hotel chains, including the Hilton as well.