Ludhiana, January 6
With the government turning its back towards the polluted Sidhwan canal, Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal of Kali Bein fame began the process of cleaning the waterbody here today following an initiative of a city resident.

The Baba took command of a JCB machine posted in the canal himself and removed silt from the bed. He stated that he would lead an army of kar sewaks in February that would clean the canal when there would be no water released in it.

The enthusiasm and zeal of the Baba, who already has to his credit the cleaning of 160 km long polluted Kali Bein, reached new heights when he was supported by the religious heads, writers and people from all walks of life in the city. As the noted writer, Dr Surjit Patar termed the event as a historic day for the city, the Baba vowed to give the Ludhianvis a clean water body.

‘‘I am sorry to state that the land of five rivers was reduced to be the land of polluted drains. We can no more drink this water nor the fishes can survive into it,’’ said the Baba after taking a stock of the situation.

He stated that things had come to such a pass that the sewage of cities was making way into the water bodies. ‘‘Jalandhar is disposing its sewage in Chitti Bein and Ludhiana doing so in the Satluj. How can we do this to the holy water?’’ he asked while citing some couplets from Gurbani depicting importance of water.

Coming heavily on residents throwing religious items in the canal, the Baba said they were ruining the water body. He called upon them to use these things as fertilisers in fields from where the food grains were produced and help the humankind.

‘‘We are not bothered about the health of people and are just amassing wealth. But we cannot buy health with money. ’’ he remarked.

Dr Surjit Patar said with the initiative taken by former Commandant of Home Guards Gurbax Singh and Baba Seechewal accepting his initiative, a hope that was lost somewhere was rekindled in them that the city's canal too would be cleaned.

In his own style, Dr Patar said, ‘‘The Babaji's effort has given us a ray of hope that things can change here also. Otherwise, we were living with a feeling that nothing can change for better in this country.’’

He said he had prepared the skelton of his first creation while sitting on the bank of this canal in 1978 and three decades down the line, it had was becoming a water of shame.

Gurbax Singh, the man behind the proposed cleaning, said he would not accept any cash from anybody and whosoever wanted to chip in should help by providing the material. As many as 100 JCB machines were already hired, kar sewaks of various villages had agreed in principle to help them.

While there was no representative from the district administration during Baba Seechewal's visit today, the presence of many prominent persons was enough to prove that such drives, if started, would have the support from at least the well-meaning persons. Besides Dr Surjit Patar, another writer, Gurbhajan Gill, well-known photographers of the city, T.P.S. Sandhu, Dr Ranjodh Singh, Col Chanan Singh Dhillon (retd), man behind melas, Jagdev Singh Jassowal, Sant Amir Singh of Jawaddi Taksal, Namdhari Jagmohan Singh Harbans Singh Sube, DIG Home Guards, G.S. Ghuman, many villagers and many other residents were present on the occasion. Dr K.S. Verma, coordinator of NSS, PAU, promised to help the drive with his volunteers. Eminent scientists Dr S.S. Johl's message assuring support was also read out on the occasion. 

Ludhiana, January 6
Two years after a middle-aged woman, a resident of Guru Amardass Nagar, went missing under mysterious circumstances, his 20-year-old son is hoping against hope to see her alive again.

The youth Kamaljit Singh runs a garments store in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar to fund the studies of his younger brother. His father is schizophrenic and dependent on him.

The cops are no help to him in search of his mother. For almost a year after she went missing on April 11, 2005, he searched every place he could think of. But remained unsuccesful.

He suspected a shopkeeper of Bhai Randhir Singh Market behind the disapperance of his mother. That man was trying to be friends with Amarjit Kaur.

The Sarabha Nagar police after dilly dallying for several months booked and questioned that man for alleged kidnapping. He was released on bail after a few days with the cops giving him a clean chit. The case was dumped in the dusty police files since then.

His mother had left her house on April 11 last year saying she was going to visit a religious place in Himachal Pradesh. That was the last time they saw her.

"I suspected that man as he had been also missing for some days after the incident. But later he returned and when asked, he said he did not know anything about her. Now, he is sending feelers to us to withdraw the case and accept money as he was not involved in it," claims Kamaljit to the Ludhiana Tribune in a previous interview.

The Sarabha Nagar police said the woman seemed to have gone away on her own. They said all efforts were made to trace her. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 6
The Payal police has booked a woman of Kadon village in Ludhiana district for alleged mysterious disappearance of her ex-serviceman husband about four months ago.

The case had been registered after social and political organisations of the area had started accusing the police of inaction in connection with a complaint lodged by the mother of the missing person.

Harpreet Kaur of Kadon village was booked under Sections 365 and 120 B of the IPC for alleged illegal detention of her husband Pritam Singh. Pritam Singh was not seen in the village after he had gone with Harpreet Kaur to participate in Mela Chhapar in the second week of September last year.

Though mother and wife of Pritam Singh had lodged separate complaints, accusing each other of killing him, the police found matter in mother’s version and registered a case against the wife.

Jagir Kaur, a widow of Kadon village near here, had alleged that her son Pritam Singh, who had gone to Mela Chhapar along with his wife about four months ago, had disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Accusing Harpreet Kaur of concealing sequence of events leading to disappearance of Pritam Singh, the widow had urged the Payal police to bring the truth to surface.

Harpreet Kaur, in a separate application, however, maintained that Pritam Singh had gone with Kuldip Singh, his cousin, of Landa village, to join a job at Chandigarh after returning from the mela and had not returned after that.

The police had earlier initiated investigations after registering a "missing report" but Jagir Kaur was not satisfied with the progress of the case. Leaders of various social and political organisations, including panchayat members, had urged the higher authorities to ask the Payal police to expedite investigation and register a case against Harpreet Kaur.

According to Naveen Kumar, SHO Payal, preliminary investigations had revealed that Paritam Singh had retired from the Army this year. He, along with Harpreet Kaur, had gone to Chhapar village to participate in village fair about four months ago. He was not seen in the village after that. When Jagir Kaur asked Harpreet about his disappearance, she told her that he had gone to Chandigarh to join a private job there.

“As Harpreet had told me that Pritam will be coming home on Dusehra, I did not complain the matter to anyone. Now when he has not returned even after such a long period, I suspect that she has got him killed with an intention to usurp the money he had received on his retirement,” Jagir Kaur said to the police.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 6
Over 95,000 children were administered polio vaccine at nearly 255 booths set up in the local town and surrounding villages of Sangrur and Ludhiana districts.

Though the turnout was not very encouraging, the authorities claimed the remaining 50 per cent target would be achieved through door-to-door campaign during the next two days.

According to Dr K. C. Goel, district health officer, Sangrur, more than 95,000 children were administered polio vaccine at 255 booths at Ahmedgarh, Malerkotla and surrounding villages. As many as 1,92,440 children in Sangrur district and 60,169 beneficiaries in Malerkotla subdivision were identified by the health authorities.

The vaccine was also administered at booths set up at various villages falling in Ludhiana district, including Chhapar, Ghungrana, Latala, and Barudni.

Jagdish Singh Garcha, former MLA, Kilaraipur, claimed that office-bearers of his party had launched a move to make people aware about significance of the life-saving drug. He administrated drops to children at Primary Health Centre at Chhapar village.

Earlier, students of M G M N Senior Secondary School and officials of the civil hospital had organised an awareness rally in the town yesterday. Members of Rotary Club, led by Kedar Nath Kapila, president, and Pardeep Sharda, secretary, coordinated with health authorities during the vaccination programme.

Ludhiana: A district level pulse polio camp was held at the Revamping centre, Shivpuri, here today which was inaugurated by the civil surgeon Dr Satpal Sharma.

Dr Sharma said in this phase of polio campaign, 1,850 booths were set up in the district where 5.6 lakh children under five years of age will be administered polio drops. Despite this, mobile teams were arranged for door-to-door survey, which will cover slum areas of urban estate and Dugri. Eighty transit teams will cover railway station and bus stands. Not only this, the teams will go door-to-door for another two days so that no child is left.

Amongst others present were councillor Anil Malhotra, Rakesh Jain, Dr Prem Gupta, Dr Manjit Kaur etc.  

Ludhiana, January 6
The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed Spice Jet to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 for deficient services to a city resident, whose baggage the airlines lost in transit.

The forum upheld the plea of the complainant consumer Rajesh Garg of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar here that the airlines shoud be peanlised for the lost baggage.

He travelled to Mumbai from Delhi via Spice Jet Airlines. His baggage containing items worth about Rs 1.49 lakh did not reach there. The airlines accepted the mistake and compensated him by giving him a cheque of Rs 3,000. This was not acceptable to Rajesh as his loss was much more.

He approached the forum to penalise the airlines for compensating the loss of Rs 1.49 lakh and also Rs 50,000 towards compensation for harassment and mental agony suffered by him.

A representative of Spice Jet claimed before the forum that the luggage had been retrieved but claimed the complainant did not come to identify it.

Forum president A.S.Narula ordered the bag to be opened in his presence. Some articles were found to be short. He observed that though the complainant could not produce the proof of ownership of the articles but it reflected the deficiency on the part of the airlines. 

Baldness
Baldness, that affects a few middle age people, left a local resident wondering when he was told to apply kerosene on his bald head. The self-styled baldness expert even handed him kerosene bottle. But this man did not have the courage for applying it. This angered the expert who was pacified only by a strong sense of humour of the bald man, who gave a pat reply, ‘‘You never know my wife throws a burning match stick on my head and I am gone.’’

Greeting cards
Every year newspaper offices receive a large number of greeting cards on New Year. But this year not many cards were sent and people relied on smses and emails to convey their greetings. The idea was liked by environment-conscious people, who would like to save trees. Though the politicians sent the cards in abundance, the common men seem to have learnt to wish the eco-friendly way.

Whose campaign is it?
With almost all newspapers taking out a local supplement in the city, competition among mediapersons has become harder. With every new issue taken up by either the administration or the common men, the mediapersons start claiming that it was due to the impact of their reports. A few say they were the first one to highlight the issue and others say that had just written when the development started. Anyway, the result that something is moving keeps the mediapersons happy whose prime concern is to get the things going.

Ludhiana, January 6
The fate of a large number of senior as well as junior scientists, applying for the key posts at PAU, will be decided at a meeting of the board of management tomorrow at Chandigarh. Speculations about the selections are rife within the faculty but the sources say that everything has already been decided and it will just be a formality tomorrow.

The much-talked about posts include posts of dean, College of Home Science; dean, College of Agriculture; and director, Research. A few big names are in the race for these key posts. Director (Research) remains the focused post in which seven applicants have applied. These include Milkha Singh Aulakh from PAU, Dr Mukhtiar Singh Gill, project director, cropping system, ICR and Dr Gurwatan Singh Mirapuri, an outsider but an old PAU alumnus.

Sources said Dr Mirapuri was most likely to become director (Research). But, Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association (PAUTA) has expressed its resentment over Dr Mirapuri’s appointment. The association members feel that there was no fun in appointing Dr Mirapuri as director as he was going to retire after five months. And they were against his extension, too. One of the members added, “We are not against Dr Mirapuri but against his extension. Even if he becomes the director, PAU will look for another director after five months?”

There are five applicants for the post of dean, college of home science. These include Dr Neelam Grewal, Dr Manjit Kaur Dhillon, Dr Sangha, Dr Rupa Bakshi and Dr Varinder Randhawa. The names of Dr Neelam Grewal and Dr Manjit Kaur Dhillon were being taken as the main contenders.

Meanwhile, the university has already proposed the names of six new heads of a few departments. For soils, the name of Dr A.S.Sidhu has been proposed while for the head of the economics department- Dr R.S.Sidhu, processing and agriculture sector- Dr Jarnail Singh, forestry- Dr S.P.Sharma, food, science and technology- Dr Nagi and agronomy-Dr U.S.Walia have been proposed.

The sources revealed that earlier, the names of deans and directors were also proposed in the agenda but this time, there was a blank with no proposed name. “Last time, a controversy took place during the appointment of dean, college of home science; we never wanted to invite any criticism this time. The whole picture will be cleared tomorrow”, said one of the senior officials of PAU. 

Chandigarh, January 6
The Chandigarh traffic police yesterday organised a conference on road safety and school area management at the Sector 29 Traffic Auditorium, in which principals from various local schools participated.

DSP Traffic Jasbir Singh Cheema said aiming at “catching them young”, the school teachers and principals were educated about sensitising students about the traffic norms to make roads safer. He added that the principals had been told to encourage pooling scheme among parents to reduce traffic congestion outside schools. Besides, they were asked to prohibit their drivers to ply buses on V-6 roads and also to park their vehicles inside the school compounds.

The police also distributed literature pertaining to traffic rules and requested the school principals to organise regular lectures by the traffic police in their schools.

The Chandigarh traffic police conducted a first-aid workshop in association with Fortis Hospital, Mohali, for the police control room (PCR) and the traffic police personnel at Traffic Auditorium Sector 29 on Friday. About 100 policemen took part in the workshop, in which they were given first-aid tips by experts with the help of a dummy.

The SSP (traffic) AS Ahlawat said the aim of the workshop was to teach ways to properly lift the injured from the accident spot, minimising the chances of fatality. Besides, a workshop for rickshaw-pullers was also organised at Chandigarh Traffic Park, Sector 23-A, in which over 100 rickshaw-pullers were educated about traffic rules and regulations. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 6
Terming attempt of seditious forces to revive terrorism as catalyst for discouraging NRIs from investing in the native state, office-bearers of Sikh organisations of Canada and the USA urged the state and union governments to check extremist activities with a stern hand. 

They called upon leaders of a few social, religious and political organisations to work together for safeguarding region’s peace.

According to Harbans Singh Jandali, former chairman, the Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council, Canada, NRIs in general and Sikhs settled overseas in particular, were worried over the state’s changing scenario. Sequence of events leading to incidents like Shingar blast and subsequent developments had frustrated those NRIs who had made up their mind to invest their hard-earned money in projects in their native state.

“Though a large number of NRIs, including Sikhs, had made up their mind to invest in mega projects in Punjab earlier, they are hesitating to visit their relatives now,” said Jandali while talking to Ludhiana Tribune.

Emphasizing on the need of maintaining peace in the state, Jandali apprehended that the terrorism, if revived would not affect a particular community now. “Investigations by the police have revealed that hardcore terrorists have succeeded in smuggling huge quantities of explosives from across the border. Obviously any such incident would harm members of all communities equally,” argued Jandali.

Referring to outcome of meetings between a few Sikh organizations of Canada and USA, Jandali claimed that none of them supported terrorism spread by exploiting religious sentiments of innocent Sikh youth. “Rather majority of them wish that the Sikh organizations of Punjab should persuade youth to follow teachings of our gurus,” claimed Jandali adding that none of gurus had taught to hurt humans.  

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 6
Terming imposition of special road tax on buses deployed for ferrying students, studying in private-affiliated school and colleges, as direct burden on the parents, office-bearers of a few parent teacher associations have urged the state government for reviewing its decision and waive the tax.

Transport minister Master Mohan Lal has assured that the matter would sympathetically be considered.

PTA office-bearers, falling under area of district Ludhiana and Sangrur resolved to impress upon SAD and BJP leaders of their respective area to urge the state government to the decision vide which special road tax had been applied on vehicles deployed by private-affiliated schools for ferrying students.

“As majority of affiliated schools are being run by individuals or private business groups the enhanced tax would become a direct burden on parents,” argued Rajesh Sharma, PTA office-bearer, a local school. He maintained that frequent rise in fuel; taxes and insurance premium had forced the management committees of private schools to charge higher fare from the students.

Albu Deen Saffi, another PTA office-bearer, said a deputation of the association had submitted a memorandum to the minister. “He has assured us that the matter would be considered sympathetically,” said Saffi while talking to Ludhiana Tribune.

Rajinder Kumar Sharma, president, Private Affiliated Schools Association, alleged that the successive governments had been ignoring genuine demands of the schools, raised through the association during past years. Referring to decisions taken at a recent meeting of the association, Sharma threatened that managers of schools affiliated with the association would handover keys of buses and schools to the authorities in case needful was done to save these organisations from collapsing.  

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 6
Terming statements of Simranjit Singh Mann against senior BJP and SAD leaders as character assassination for getting cheap publicity, activists of the local unit of the BJP and the BJYM have urged the government to initiate action against the SAD (A) leader.

Ashoo Tosh Vinyak, councillor and former president of the state unit of BJYM, said the activists had resolved to launch a signature campaign for demanding action against Mann, who had allegedly tried to malign the image of senior leaders like Manoranjan Kalia, Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bibi Jagir Kaur.

Referring to decisions taken at joint meeting of two wings, Vinayak claimed that the activists of these parties and law-abiding citizens of the area were upset over inaction against Mann and his associates who had been frequently trying to malign the image of these leaders.

Appreciating the Kalia’s role in safeguarding the interest of people, irrespective of their political alliance, Vinayak held inaction against people trying to malign his image would frustrate leaders.

Vijay Goyal, block convener, Prem Gupta, Gora Lal and Kishori Lal Verma were present on the occasion. 

Ludhiana, January 6
With one after another terrorist being arrested in Punjab, Delhi and elsewhere the allegations that innocent youths are being framed have also started cropping up. It was the booking of innocent youths that had become an encouraging factor for terrorism in the troubled days of militancy.

Family of the alleged Babbar Khalsa terrorist Kulwinder Singh of Khanpur village near Jarkhar here is crying hoarse these days on similar lines. According to them, Kulwinder was innocent as he was already acquitted in a false case of terrorism after spending five years in a Delhi jail.

The Delhi police had claimed yesterday that Kulwinder and three others were trained militants who were trying to plot the killing of Baba Bhaniarewale. The cops claimed that a revolver was recovered from him.

However, his sister, Gurdeep Kaur, and wife, Sandeep Kaur, has a different story to tell. They claim that Kulwinder was kidnapped by track-suits wearing Delhi cops who picked him from his house in the village on January 2.

“He has seen this all before also. In 1996, the Delhi police had booked and arrested him for involvement in some blast incidents in Delhi. After spending five years in jail, he was acquitted. He left Amritsar to start life afresh in Khanpur but now again he is being falsely implicated,”claims Sandeep Kaur.

But he had to pay a heavy price for the implication, “First, he lost five years of his precious life in the jail. His wife also divorced him and he lost entire property and savings to fight the case.”

Bursting into tears while talking to Ludhiana Tribune, she said Kulwinder married again a year ago and had a 10-month-old son. She said his wife, Sandeep, and son, Sehajpal Singh, suffered injuries when the Delhi cops pushed them around on January 2 when they took away Kulwinder.

The family had no idea where he was until they saw his pictures in a few newspapers. The family has appealed to the Prime Minister and the President of the country to intervene in the matter and release Kulwinder. 

Jagraon, January 6
The Dehlon police has booked Gurdev Singh of Mullanpur along with two others for possessing poppy husk. It intercepted a car (DL-3CU-3024) at Narangwal village and seized 52 kg of poppy husk from them. But the accused, Gurdev Singh along with two others, manage to escape from the spot. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the three persons.

3 traffic violators held
Jagraj Singh of Roopa Patti, Harjit Sinhg of Pandori and Manpreet Singh of New Abadi, Akalgarh, was arrested on the charges of interfering with the police duty. These three persons were signaled by the cops to stop their car (PB-10P-4732) at Seeloani village. However, the driver ignored, jumped the cop’s signal. But, all accused were arrested and a case registered against them.

AGRICULTURE

Sugarcane growers angry over selective procurement
Our Correspondent

Amloh, January 6
Farmers have expressed resentment against Nahar Sugar Mills, Khumna village, for procuring sugarcane from Haryana, thereby ignoring the interests of those who had brought maximum area under sugarcane cultivation.

Cane growers waiting for the demand slip told mediapersons that Shamsher Singh of Majri Arian, Sohan Singh of Sounti, Parminder Singh of Kumbh, Shamsher Singh of Salana, Avtar Singh of Matorda, Paramjit Singh of Kaulgarh and Amarinder Singh of Faridpur village have cultivated sugarcane on 33 acre, 20 acre, 13 acre, 14 acre, 20 acre, 36 acre and 5 acre, respectively, on the assurance of timely procurement given by the mill. Now, they are coming to get the date for bringing the cane for the past a few days.

The farmers alleged that the mill is engaged in the procurement of sugarcane at lower rate from Haryana and a trolley from the state was spotted entering the mill. When contacted Kulwant Singh, GM, and Dr A.P.S.Mann and other officials told mediapersons that the mill had issued interest-free loans worth Rs 4.64 lakh to the cane growers of the mill area and denied the report of cane being procured from Haryana but failed to reply when their attention was drawn towards a loaded trolley from Haryana entering the mill.

SDM Manish Kumar said the matter of the mill waste spreading foul smell would be brought to the notice of the pollution control board and the traffic problem on the Amloh-Khanna road discussed with the DSP. 

EDUCATION

Maha Rishi Vidya Mandir wins quiz contest
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 6
Maha Rishi Vidya Mandir, Guwahati, in juniors while, Varun Public School, Jodhpur, in the senior division won the 7th edition of Bharat ko Janno Quiz Competition that concluded at KVM School here today.

While, Delhi Public School, Dhanbad, and Model Basic High School, Sunam, secured the second and third position,respectively, in the senior division. In the junior division Dashmesh Public School, Faridkot, and D.N Model School, Jeend, stood second and third, respectively.

V.K. Teneja,vice-chancellor,Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and B.K.Goel distributed prize. 

Ludhiana, January 6
The Ludhiana Badminton Academy (LBA) organised a special session yesterday at Shastri Hall of Guru Nanak Sports Complex during which the trainees of the academy were shown videos of matches they played during various tournaments. About 48 shuttlers attended this programme.

Mohinder Kumar Chopra, LBA president, said the programme was conducted for the players so that they could know the mistakes they had committed during the competitions and overcome these shortcomings. This would become a regular feature, he added.

"We have decided to organise such sessions, periodically in order to analyse shuttlers' strong as well as weak points, followed by training programme for improving their performance," Chopra added.

Giving details of the academy's achievements, Chopra said 2007 had been an excellent one as trainees of the academy performed exceedingly well. Raj Kumar and Pranav Chopra, both trainees, represented India in Vietnam and Indonesia. Raj Kumar created history when he won mixed doubles title in the Asian Badminton Championship in Indonesia.

Pranav and Raj Kumar have also been selected among probables to attend a training camp for the next Commonwealth Games slated to be held in New Delhi in 2010. They won four National Ranking Tournaments (sub-junior doubles) besides emerging doubles champions in the national championship in the same category at Dehra Dun.

Two other boys from this academy, Sachin and Jasjeet Singh, won doubles title in the under-10 years section of the Punjab State Badminton Championship while Sachin also clinched the singles title in this championship.

Another upcoming shuttler of this academy brought fame when he came out triumphant in the doubles (under-16) and also annexed the singles title. 

Ludhiana, January 6
Kulbir Singh struck five goals, including a hat trick, as Malwa Khalsa Senior Secondary School,Ludhiana, registered an easy 8-0 win over Grewal Academy, Kila Raipur, in an under-16 year’s Punjab Hockey League match for boys being organised by the Punjab Sports Department at Prithipal Singh Memorial AstroTurf Stadium, Punjab Agricultural University, here today. All goals were scored in the first half.

Malwa Khalsa School surged ahead in the very first minute of the encounter when Garmanjeet Singh found the target. Next minute, Ramandeep Singh sounded the board while two minutes later, Chamkaur Singh struck to make it 3-0.

In the eighth minute, Prabhjot Singh added a goal to further cement the lead.

Then Kulbir Singh pumped in four goals ( 16th, 27th, 28th and 32nd minutes) to complete the rout 8-0.

The second match (under-14) of the day was played between Grewal Academy, Kila Raipur, and Gurukul Mehta Academy, Doraha, which ended in a draw (1-1). Kila Raipur lads were leading 1-0 at the half time.

Gurbir Singh of Kila Raipur Academy converted a penalty corner in the 17th minute to put his side into the lead. Damanjeet Singh of Gurukul Mehta Academy, Doraha, scored a field goal in the 48th minute to level the score.

Both teams tried hard to gain the lead again, however, they wasted a number of scoring chances and the tie remained unresolved. Thus the two teams shared one point each.