Issewal (Hambran), February 20
What the police could not do for months to prevent thefts of transformers, a group of youths of this village, all soldiers, has done in just six days.

I will honour them. They have presented the best example of community policing. Such acts only strengthen the hands of the police — The Ludhiana-Rural (Jagraon) SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar PSEB official denied that his employees were seeking bribe to replace the transformers. Transformers were not replaced immediately, as it is a lengthy process and takes time. — SDO, Hambran, Avtar Singh

Bugged by the regular thefts of transformers, plunging this and surrounding five villages in darkness, the group formed a vigilante squad and last midnight nabbed seven members of the gang.

The squad later nabbed a scrap dealer of Mullanpur who provided ready market for the stolen parts of transformer.

About 20 transformers were stolen in the last couple of months only causing a loss of over Rs 15 lakh to the Punjab State Electricity Board. But for villagers the loss was much more.

The operation nicknamed "Transformer" was planned and executed with such clinical precision that would put the best of cops in awe.

The group, including Harinder Singh, Gurinder Singh, Baljinder Singh alias Gola, Amritpal, Devinder Singh, Karamjit Singh, Jagdev Singh, Hardeep Singh, Iqbal Singh, Sultan Singh, Satveer Singh and Gurpreet Singh, were divided into five groups. They spent the chilly nights in the open fields.

Gurinder Singh, a key member of the group, said they saw three persons near a transformer on a drain outside the village. The youths got in touch with other groups over the mobile phone and encircled the gangsters.

The three accused were disassembling a transformer. A group of three youths swooped on them and nabbed a thief. Not content with nabbing one only, the group interrogating him. This accused led them to others and one by one all seven members were nabbed.

Gurinder revealed that the scrap dealer Shiv Kumar was caught from his shop only where he was waiting for the gang members.

Most of the residents of Issewal, Salempur and Phagla villages were out in the fields after an announcement about the thieves was made from the Issewal village gurdwara.

The presence of village elders prevented the youths from beating the gangsters black and blue. The gangsters, all migrants, were identified as Sagar, Ajay, Dilip, Deepak and three others besides the scrap dealer.

Sukhpal Singh, ex-sarpanch, revealed to a Tribune team that the scrap dealer used to buy the stolen transformer parts for not more than Rs 2,000 whereas a new transformer costs between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.50 lakh to the electricity board.

Ludhiana, February 20
Two youths were killed and six others injured in a major pile up of vehicles at the Bus Stand road opposite Fortune Klassic Hotel this afternoon.

A Ludhiana-Yamunanagar PRTC bus seemed to be the cause of the pile up when the vehicle went out of control after hitting a Palio car then mowing down a scooter, a Kinetic Honda, a motorcycle, an autorickshaw, a Scorpio and an Accent car.

Two youths, Karamjit Singh and Jaspreet Singh, were killed while six others, Harbhajan Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Devinder Singh, Raghbir Singh, Raman Kumar and a girl Harpreet Kaur, were injured. All except the girl were taken to the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital while the girl was admitted to CMC Hospital.

Witnesses said the accident took place at about 2:15 pm. The bus PB11 N-0754 heading towards Preet Cinema chowk came at a high speed down the bus stand fly over.

The driver Jagtar Singh, allegedly could not negotiate an intersection where vehicles intending to turn to Model Town side, including the ill-fated Palio, were waiting for the red light to turn green.

The Palio car overturned because of the impact. Two advocates Jaswinder Singh and his father Harbhajan Singh were riding the car. Both were injured. The bus went further to crush a scooter rider Karamjit Singh and a motor cyclist Jaspreet Singh, who were standing at the same traffic light intersection.

It finally came to a halt after hitting an Accent car driven by another advocate Vivek Bajaj.

The police has arrested the bus driver Jagtar Singh.

Ludhiana, February 20
Putting an official stamp on the allegation of political support in constructing three commercial booths in the new courts complex in contravention of rules, Member Parliament from Ludhiana and a Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, today inaugurated the booths here.

The booths had come up allegedly illegally on February 9 and were encroachments as the cabins and booths were allotted after a legal process when the courts were shifted to the new courts complex. The advocates and sale-deed writers, who were allotted these places, had paid thousands of rupees to the administration for allotment.

The three sale-deed writers, who had allegedly grabbed the mini secretariat land to raise their structures, were being backed by Akali leaders. MP Dhillon today vindicated the allegations of the Old Court Welfare Association that the administration had not taken any action against the violators due to political pressure. Dhillon was flanked by Municipal Corporation councillor Simarjit Singh Bains on the occasion.

Ludhiana, February 20
Come what may, one must move on in life, believes Dr S.S. Swatch, whose both arms got amputated during a farm-accident in November 1995. This courageous man did not lose heart and decided to come back to his normal routine. It took eleven months to get adjusted to his disability but he successfully came out from frustration, depression and misery.

Both the arms of Dr S.S. Swatch, working as a soil testing officer-cum-agriculture officer, Khanna block, and general secretary of the Agriculture Officers Association, Ludhiana, were cut in a farm-machine (wheat-thresher) while cultivating wheat at the farms of his brother at Lalouri near Samrala on November 12, 1995.

“I was wearing cotton gloves, which were loose. By the time I realised that my both arms were cut, it was too late. I screamed and somebody working with me switched-off the machine immediately. Though I was profusely bleeding but I was fully conscious. My family members took me to Civil Hospital, Khanna, where the first-aid was given. I was referred to CMC where we decided to move to my brother in Canada for further treatment,” said Dr Swatch in a trembling voice.

That time, Dr Swatch had no money, passport or visa for going abroad. But, his friends and relatives arranged everything without wasting much time.

Canadian Embassy in Delhi called him for visa query. The female officer on duty was so impressed with his determination that she assured him to get ‘Minister Permit’ at his residence only.

The treatment started under Dr John Warver at Vencouver, Canada. His brother staying in Canada had already deposited the treatment amount of $ 42,000.

“The worst time was when I had to stay at my village for four-five months. It was the untiring efforts of my wife that I started thinking of living again. She is a bold woman, who lost her father, brother in accident at a tender age. Not only this, our elder son (26) also met with an accident and he cannot walk and speak properly till date. But she faced everything courageously. I am proud of her”, said Dr Swatch.

Today, with 70 per cent disability in left arm and 40 per cent disability in right arm, Dr Swatch is able to write, eat food, tie his turban, drive his auto-gear car with the artificial limbs. “I felt bad only while getting my fitness certificate at CMO office in Ludhiana in 1995. The concerned officer asked me to pay at least Rs 40,000 to get the certificate. Then, medical examination team from Rajindra Hospital took me to Patiala, examined me and provided me the fitness certificate on basis of which I joined my duty back”.

Ludhiana, February 20
The Kisan Mela of PAU will be held On March 13 and 14 at the university campus here. It has been decided to arrange a produce competition on this occasion. Dr Surjit Singh, senior extension specialist (agronomy) and the convener of the produce competition committee, said the produce competition would be held on March 13, the first day of Kisan Mela, for which the entries will be entertained up to 12 noon at the produce competition stall. He said judging of the produce samples would be held immediately after that.

The farmers may bring the samples of produce for the competition personally from different districts. No produce samples brought by the district extension specialist / KVK faculty members will be entertained for the competition, said Dr Singh. 

Machhiwara, February 20
Terming the cooperative movement to be a resuscitator for the agricultural sector, local SAD leaders and officials of the Punjab Agricultural Development Bank (PADB) called upon framers of the area to utilise the policies of the financial institutes to supplement their income.

The authorities distributed grants worth over Rs 50 lakh to the beneficiaries of 35 villages falling under the jurisdiction of the local block.

While addressing the farmers of the area at a function organised at the community centre here today, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, former MLA, and Harnek Singh, GM, PADB, claimed that the cooperative movement had proved to be a resuscitator for agriculture that had ceased to be a remunerative profession.

Accusing private moneylenders of having exploited the helplessness of the peasants, Atwal and Harnek Singh called upon the farmers to make the maximum use of projects being launched by various cooperative agencies, governed by the state government. “Observations reveal that small and marginal farmers who once borrowed money from private moneylenders could not come out of the vicious cycle of an ever-compounding interest. On the other hand, a part of nominal interest they pay on the loans availed from cooperative societies returns to them as profit,” said Atwal, claiming that the SAD government had focused attention on rehabilitation of farmers who had faced losses due to policies of the previous government.

Atwal distributed cheques worth over Rs 50 lakh to beneficiaries under the 12th Finance Commission and Indira Aavas Yojna. The grants will be utilised for providing drinking water facilities and construction and repair of kutcha houses in about 35 villages.

Rupinder Singh Behlolpur, chairman, PADB, Machhiwara, Jasmel Singh Bondli, chairman, PADB, Samrala, A S Gujral, BDO, Jagmohan Singh Takkar, general secretary, and Harjit Singh Sherian, circle presidents, also spoke on the occasion. 

Ludhiana, February 20
A group of 14 students pursuing fourth year of their graduation at the School of Agriculture (ESITPA) of Rouen, a school for the ministry of agriculture in France, that was on a two-week visit to Punjab Agricultural University, met PAU vice-chancellor Dr Manjit Singh Kang today.

The students were elated to see the agricultural progress and praised Punjabis for their warm-hearted hospitality. Dr Daljit Singh Dhillon, head, department of extension education, who led the group, said the purpose of their visit was to apprise them of the state’s agriculture especially the predominance and effects of rice-wheat cropping system. He added that the students during their stay at the university visited the centre for communication and international linkages, museum depicting rural life of Punjab, farmer’s service centre, plant disease clinic, farmer’s training complex at Kairon Kisan Ghar, Dr M.S.Randhawa library, Dr Uppal museum of water and power resources of northern India, department of economics and sociology and field areas of wheat and oilseeds.

Dr Kang spoke on similarity between Indian and French family system and said globe was becoming a village where one could learn from each other for the betterment of humanity. In the evening, the group visited the vice-chancellor’s residence where his wife interacted with them and inquired about their backgrounds and aims in life.

Dr Dhillon said the students interacted with dean, postgraduate studies, Dr Tejwant Singh and dean, college of agriculture, Dr M. S. Aulakh, faculty members and members of the Punjab Kisan Club. The students also discussed auxiliary agricultural ventures such as bee-keeping and mushroom growing with entrepreneurs visiting the university. Director of extension education, Dr N.S.Malhi, explained about the research and extension linkages and the transfer of technology mechanism of the university. Professor of extension education Dr Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal, coordinator, said the students also visited a nearby villages to have on the spot knowledge about farming and farmers.

Ludhiana, February 20
The department of computer science and engineering and information technology of Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College organised a one-day workshop on “Democratic Digital Mapping” here today.

Schuyler D. Erie, a founding member of the OSGeo Foundation, and Mikel Maron, senior developer of My Yahoo in GNDEC, were the resource persons.

The workshop started with an interaction on “Revolution of Open Sources” and the importance of open and free softwares in a developing country like India. 

Ludhiana, February 20
The music department of GCW organised its annual society here today. The function was presided over by R. K. Aulakh, college principal, and at least 20 students from graduate and postgraduate sections took part in it.

Neelam Sharma, head of the department, said Sohrab Singh topped in the university (MA-I) with 88.4 per cent marks and Rajneet Kaur topped in MA II.

She received gold medal and cash award worth Rs 1500.

Ludhiana February 20
G. K. Rai, district and sessions judge, has said that a quarterly Lok Adalat will be organised at the New Judicial Court Complex on February 23 to decide pending cases and a mega Lok Adalat will be organised, separately, on March 7 and 8 to clear the pending traffic cases/challans in different courts.

Giving details, the judge said all types of cases, including criminal, civil, marital disputes and motor-accident claims, besides certain other categories, would be taken up at the quarterly Lok Adalat.

Giving details of the mega Lok Adalat, the judge said all presiding officers at Ludhiana would preside over the Benches to ensure that all pending cases were disposed of. He appealed to the people with pending traffic cases/challans in different courts to get their cases decided at the mega Lok Adalat and get the compounded documents released.

Rai further said that to create awareness among the people on issues like foeticide, intoxicants and crime against women and children in society, a state-level seminar was being organised by the Punjab State Legal Services Authority in coordination with the Bar Association, Khanna, and NGOs on March 8 at Grain Market, Khanna. The Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Vijender Jain, would inaugurate the seminar. Justice Methab Singh Gill, judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and chairman, Punjab State Legal Service Authority, and some 
other judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court would also address the seminar. 

Ludhiana, February 20
Members of the pastoral committee of Kalvari Church have welcomed the decision of the management of Christian Medical College and Hospital to postpone the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the Regional Cancer Centre for the time being.

Meanwhile, representatives of the US-based company Modern Oncology held talks with the management and faculty of CMCH and are reportedly waiting for the green signal to kick off the project.

The proposed RCC project is being built by CMCH in collaboration with Modern Oncology, USA. The Rs 100-crore project will have all the high-end components of comprehensive cancer care, including medical, surgical, radiation, diagnostic and preventive oncology.

Amarian Gill of the pastoral committee said they had also postponed their agitation and would have a prayer meeting at Kalvari Church in the evening to welcome the decision.

According to one of the senior faculty members of CMCH, the director of the hospital had gained a lot of popularity because of recent collaborations with big companies. The others in race (for directorship) were against this popularity. "They tried to settle the scores through this project", he said.

On the other hand, one of the members of the CMCH Union alleged that the present management was not working in the interest of Christians or the CMCH people. "The construction contracts and renovation work are being given to the outsiders. We want that the management should keep in mind the interests of the CMC employees as the top priority. We are against the privatisation move because it will affect us most,” he said.

Ludhiana, February 20
Chitra and Mohit Arora were adjudged best athletes in the girls’ and boys’ category, respectively, in the two-day annual athletics meet of Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College, Daresi Road, that concluded today.

Harish Rai Dhanda, chief parliamentary secretary, Punjab, gave away prizes to the position holders. MLA Harish Bedi was the guest of honour at the prize distribution funtion.

Results: Boys (5000m): 1 Mohit Arora, 2 Jasbir Singh and 3 Lalit Kumar; Javelin throw: 1 Inderjeet, 2 Munish and 3 Gurvinder; 800m: 1 Neeraj, 2 Sachin and 3 Ramesh.

Long jump: 1 Sandeep Kumar, 2 Pankaj Soni and 3 Mohit Arora; 10,000m: 1 Sonu, 2 Vikas and 3 Mohit Arora and Jatinder; 1500m: 1 Sachin, 2 Pardeep Kumar and 3 Mohit Arora; 200m: 1 Neeraj, 2 Domar Singh and 3 Nitul Handa; 400m: 1 Abhishek, 2 Mohit Arora and 3 Sachin Kumar.

Discus throw: 1 Domar Singh, 2 Sachin Lehar and 3 Balvinder; shot put: 1 Inderjeet, 2 Rajeev Tiwari and 3 Balvinder Singh; triple jump: 1 Domar Singh, 2 Mohit Arora and 3 Munish.

Girls: long jump: 1 Amandeep, 2 Chitra and 3 Kamalpreet; shot put: 1 Kamalpreet, 2 Amandeep and 3 Chitra; 400m: 1 Gaganpreet Kaur, 2 Richa and 3 Monika; 200m: 1 Chitra, 2 Richa Sharma and 3 Monika.

Ludhiana, February 20
The Punjab squad (visually-impaired and physically-challenged) that was selected for taking part in the National Athletics Meet for the physically-challenged left for Faridabad today. The event is slated to be held from February 21 to 24.

Those selected for the squad are: Gurpreet Singh Machhiwara, Balwinder Singh, Harmanpreet Kaur, Tripatpal Singh, Gurbinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Bikrampreet, Vivek Monga, Anu Monga, Sandeep Kaur (all visually- challenged), Sukhwinder Singh of Hoshiarpur, Manjeet Singh of Nawanshahr, Gursahib Singh of Taran Tarn, Mahabir Singh of Ferozepur, Kuldeep Singh, Narinder Pal Singh, Naresh Kumar, Amarjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, Baljeet Singh, Chetan Sharma, Rajeshwar and Jagdeep Kumar, all from Jalandhar (physically-challenged).