Ludhiana, April 3
High velocity winds, coupled with intermittent showers, lashing the city since last night disrupted the power transmission system as also water supply, thereby throwing normal life of the residents out of gear.

In several city localities, the power supply was disrupted last night due to failure of main lines as the rain and thunderstorm struck and supply could not be restored in many areas till late morning. As a result, the tubewells in the affected localities were also rendered inoperative and people had to go without their quota of morning water supply.

Even as the sky remained overcast all through the day, intermittent rain, which continued till late afternoon, led to inundation of low lying areas and most of the roads and streets even in posh localities and prime commercial centres, as also part of mini secretariat were submerged.

In many residential localities like Civil Lines, Sarabha Nagar, Gurdev Nagar and Model Town, power supply remained off for most part of the night and then again played truant during the day.

With no power and water supply, the office goers, students and house wives were the worst sufferers. Said Renu Sabharwal, a home maker, "We could not have proper sleep during the night due to power failure and there was no water supply in the morning as power supply was not restored till 9.30 am. As a result, my husband got late in going to office and children had to go to school without having their bath."

According to senior officials of the Punjab State Electricity Board, main transmission lines in some areas had got short-circuit due to rain and thunderstorm. Efforts were made to restore supply as early as possible. "In some cases, there might have been some delay in restoration of power supply as rain continued for almost the whole night and, in such weather, at times, it becomes difficult to rectify the transmission faults," the officials added.

PSEB chief engineer, central, B.S. Bath told The Tribune that snags in the power supply had been rectified and it remained stable during the day.

Ludhiana, April 3
Farmers in the region are worried over the sudden weather change in the past 24 hours. Mild rain or low temperature can be "tolerable" for the standing wheat crop as it will prevent early maturing but the thunderstorm and fast winds accompanying sudden rain last night have shown the harmful effects on crop at some of the places.

The farmers feel if the strong winds continue to blow in the region, along with rains and thunderstorm, the standing crop will be uprooted, leading to considerable loss. Even the weather men predict sporadic rain and strong winds at some of the parts in state, thus adding to the fears of farmers.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, BKU Rajewal, said wheat crop had reportedly been damaged at places near Nabha and Sangrur areas. "The exact loss has not been known. Now harvesting is round the corner, sudden winds can pose threat to the standing crop. If the wheat crop is laid down due to strong winds, the harvesting will become ineffective and there are chances of shattering of the crop. The harvesting is expected to be starting within a week as the crop is not fully matured", informed Rajewal.

The farmers said as the wheat crop was in its full growth having attained the maximum height, the strong winds can lead to uprooting and damage. The crop is at the maturing stage, said the farmers.

On the Ludhiana suburbs, wheat crop has reportedly been laid down at certain areas. Rajwinder Singh of the Mundian Kalan village said the standing wheat crop had laid down due to the winds which continued blowing for some time during last night. He said, however, the damage was not extensive.

However, there was a saving grace, he said. "The crop, which has fallen flat can recover depending on the extend of damage to the stem. In due course, it would recover but only if the weather remains fair and there are no more strong winds".

Dr G.S.Bains, head, agro meteorological department of PAU, said so far, there were no reports of major loss to the standing crop. "But thundershowers and rains are expected to remain in the next 24 hours. By Saturday evening, weather is expected to be cleared. If strong winds continue to blow, then farmers have every reason to get worried", he said.

Ludhiana, April 3
In an utter violation of Panjab University norms and the UGC, managements of certain private colleges here have ‘sold’ the lectures to students at a price so that they can get their roll numbers issued by the university.

Under the garb of college fine, the college managements have provided the lectures to students by getting Rs 20, 30 or 50 per lecture.

One of a senior lecturer working at a local private college disclosed that the managements cared a damn for rules and regulations. He said he had got the record where some of the students did not attend even 10 lectures in a year but they were issued the roll numbers by the college.

“The college has collected a huge amount from these detained students who were more than 200 in number. Besides, there were other VIP students who did not pay even a single penny as fine but got their roll numbers issued”, he said, further adding that the collected fine was never deposited to the university.

He further said the detained students were from arts, science and commerce streams. The management relaxed all conditions, either under pressure or to mint money.

Prof Tarsem Bahia, former senate and syndicate member, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and convener, Punjab Education Forum, said it was a pitiable state of higher education in the state. “We are compromising with the quality education”, he said. Terming it a mockery of the system, Prof Bahia said this was not the only case.

“Several colleges in the district are doing this unethical practice. Hundreds of students are detained every year and later, most of them manage to get the roll numbers. The college managements have the power to provide just 10 per cent lectures and that too in special cases. The university must take a stern action against the defaulting colleges”, said Prof Bahia.

Meanwhile, V-C of Panjab University, Chandigarh, Dr R.C. Sobti, said he had not received written complaint against any college. “If I start taking action without any documentary proof, I will be termed as biased. I will definitely take a stern action if I get anything in black and white”, said Dr Sobti. 

Ludhiana, April 3
A dispute between her parents might claim a year of a plus two student Rekha, who, along with her two siblings and father, was rendered homeless allegedly by her mother 10 days ago and she was not even allowed to carry her books and information stored in the computer.

Rekha, an 18-year-old student of commerce, her father Ranjan Kumar, younger brothers Rajinder (16) and Narinder (6) were allegedly not allowed to enter the house by her mother and they left the house in their night suits on March 24.

Despite prodding that she had to appear in exams, Rekha's mother, Kusum Lata, who is an employee in the Social Welfare Department, did not allow her to take her books and notes. She appeared in three exams without studying.

Ranjan alleged that on March 22, Rekha had seen some objectionable visitors to their house in government apartments behind State Bank of Patiala on Mall Road. She told her father about it. This led to a dispute and Kusum filed a complaint to the police on March 23 against him that he had pushed her out of the car.

The police effected a compromise between the two parties and asked them to maintain peace and live separately after March 30 as Rekha's exams would be over. ‘‘But she filed another complaint with the police on March 24. When we went to appear before the police, she locked the house and did not allow us to enter,’’ alleged Ranjan.

He said they spent that night in a hotel and the next day rented a house. Ranjan said everything was going well for the past 20 years since they were married. Suddenly something happened to her and she started behaving in a strange way. ‘‘Now she is not opening the lock so that we can take our things. The children want to stay with me and not with her. But she is not willing to relent, ’’ said Ranjan as her youngest son described how his mother would lock them in a room when she had visitors in the house in the absence of Ranjan.

He approached the SSP, who marked the case to MD cell. Later, it was referred to DSP Sarabha Nagar Bhupinder Singh.

DSP Bhupinder Singh said it was a case of marital dispute. The woman was allotted the house by the government as she was a government employee. She had every right not to allow anybody there. He had summoned both parties tomorrow and would find out if they wanted to live together or not.

Kusum Lata was not available for comments as she was stated to be admitted to a hospital. Speaking on her behalf, her brother said Kusum's husband had been mistreating her for years together. Now he had pushed her from a moving car he was driving. She had sustained injuries.

He counter alleged that Ranjan was politically backed and he had prevented the Civil Hospital doctors to provide a true medico-legal report that showed she had two injuries. Later they got another report that stated she had 14 injuries. ‘‘I am going to meet the ADGP at Chandigarh tomorrow. I will see that he is punished, ’’ he said.

Ludhiana, April 3
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) decision to abolish access deficit charges (ADC) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has not gone down well with the BSNL employees, who said the move would benefit international carriers who stand to gain more than Rs 1,000 crore annually for routing international calls to India.

The employees held a lunch-hour protest demonstration outside the GM Telecom's office here today.

Addressing the employees, Balbir Singh, circle secretary of the BSNL Employees Union, Punjab circle, said the payment of ADC was being done to the corporation for providing and maintaining lakhs of telephones in villages and in remote areas where it was not financially viable to do so.

The losses caused to the BSNL were being compensated by way of payment of ADC, said the union.

"TRAI had been reducing the ADC charges every year and this time it completely abolished them which is unjustified," said Singh.

The protesting employees said that abolishing ADC would hit subscribers as the burden of losses would be passed on to them. It would benefit international carriers who would save Re 1 per minute on all international calls routed by them to India.

Alleging that TRAI took the decision under pressure from private telecom operators, the union members said the BSNL would be hit badly on account of abolition of the charges.

"On one side, the BSNL would be hit financially and on the other lakhs of people in the rural areas would be deprived of new technology and telecom services. It would have an adverse effect on the growth of land line connections, internet and broadband services."

The employee union has urged the communication minister and department of telecom to intervene in the matter and cancel the decision.

Among others who participated in the demonstration were M.S. Dhaliwal, general secretary of the All India BSNL Employees Association, Paramjit Singh, district president, BSNLEU, and Harbhajan Dass, district president, SNEA.

Ludhiana, April 3
The 2nd annual conference of Indo-Pak Punjab Psychiatric Society was held at Fountain House, Lahore, from March 27 to 30.

President of the society and a city-based psychiatrist, Dr A.K. Kala, led a delegation of 40 mental health specialists from Punjab to Pakistan via Attari check post. The Indian delegation was accorded a warm reception at Wagah.

Vice-chancellor of Punjab University, Lahore, Prof Mujahid Kamran inaugurated the conference and lauded the spirit behind starting such a cross-border initiative. On this occasion, a book entitled ‘Culture and Mental Health,’ authored by Dr Kala, Dr Ravinder Kala and Dr D.J. Singh was released by the chief guest.

Theme of the conference was ‘Role of stigma in preventing effective treatment of psychological problems in traditional societies’. Many experts from Pakistan and India opined that proper education of public to remove social stigma about psychological problems would lead to better outcomes.

During his stay in Pakistan, Dr Kala also inaugurated an Indo-Pak friendship corner at Farrukhabad near Sheikhupura. The conference concluded with a ten-ten cricket match between Pakistani and Indian mental health specialists, which the Indian team lost by two wickets.

Ludhiana, April 3
“Jashne baharaan”- the 47th annual alumni association meet of the college of agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, was organised at Pal auditorium here today. Addressing the old students’ vice-chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University Dr Jairoop Singh said scientists and researchers need to interact with farmers for rekindling the agrarian status of Punjab.

He added that it was unfortunate that Punjab was reeling under debt worth Rs 55,000 crore. Loan waiver of farmers was not as lucrative as it looked. “The farmers would now start taking more loans and suicides will be the only outcome in case they fail to repay”. He said agriculture could get a boost if government tries to uplift it.

Presiding over the inaugural session, PAU vice-chancellor Dr M.S.Kang said the university was planning to start four-year degree course in agriculture at Gurdaspur. Administrative board member Hardial Singh Gaznipur said efforts must be made to educate village children. P.P.S.Gill, Kahan Singh Pannu, Dr Pritpal Singh Virk, Dr Kulwinder Singh Gill, Dr Jasbir Singh Mangat, Dr B.S.Ahluwalia, Dr Khem Singh Gill, Dr Jagmohan Singh Chauhan and Dr Amarjit Singh were among those present on the occasion.

Mandi Gobindgarh, April 3
The RIMT-IET’s department of business administration organised a seminar on “inflation- causes and remedies” here today. A large number of academicians, economists and scholars took part in it. 

The function was chaired by principal Dr Pritpal Singh and Harsh Sadawarti. Head of the department Dr Bimal Anjum said the government of India should take all necessary steps to control inflation. High inflation rate at this stage will adversely affect the country’s economic development. He added that the hike in bank rate and CLR would not help in controlling the inflation. The price hike at this stage is due to the recession in developed countries like the USA, he added. Harsh Sadawarti said the duty charges should be reduced from the necessary commodities so that inflation growth does not affect society.

Dr R.S.Sachan said the recommendations of the sixth pay commissions and clearance of farmer’s debts were the main reason behind the inflation. A competition was also organised among students. the first position was won by Ira Kanwar and Tejinder Kaur stood second. Dean (academics) Rakesh Mohan and dean, students’ welfare S.S.Singh also spoke on the occasion.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 3
Rain and strong winds dashed hopes of farmers who after fighting with menace of sap-sucking aphid “tela” were preparing for reaping of their wheat crops.

While fields in vicinity of habitations were saved from loss due to high velocity wind, last night’s shower and wind had caused massive damage to ripened crop in fields situated along highways and link roads.

Farmers of Jitwal, Kup Kalan, Jandali Kalan, Jandali Khurad, Chhappar, Latala, Jartoli, Rachhin, Barundi, Andaloo, Halwara, Barundi, Rauni, Kalakh, Ghungrana, Dhulkot, Khera and Pohir villages were the worst affected.

As the crop was ready for reaping, farmers apprehended loss due to qualitative and quantitative degradation. Colour and texture of grain in case of fallen crops would deteriorate, they apprehended.

Ludhiana, April 3
Farmers from Maharashtra took part in a training camp organised by the Punjab Agricultural University kisan club. Dean, college of home science, Dr Neelam Grewal, said the university had been regularly holding training programmes for upgrading the knowledge of farmers’ and farm women. They were apprised of the club activities by its coordinator, Dr T.S.Riar. 

Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt gave tips on the post-harvest handling of onion and garlic. He said physiological weight loss, rotting and germination were the general post-harvest problems faced by the farmers. Through harvesting at proper stage and storage such losses can be reduced.

Dr Tejinder Bains said pulses could play a vital role in diversifying the rice-wheat based agriculture. He said besides improving the soil fertility and providing protein for the nutritional security of vegetarians, pulse cultivation had often proved to be profitable for the farmers. He urged them to cultivate pulse crops in some areas. Dr U.S. Tiwana said fodder plays a vital role in making dairy farming a successful venture. He gave tips on different varieties of fodder and their production technologies.

Dr M.S. Sidhu said farmers should take loans only for productive purpose. 

Ludhiana, April 3
The prime accused in a Rs 4.5-crore fraud case, Rajesh Bassi, accountant with Kaka Ram, Babu Ram Aggarwal and Sons, dyes and chemical distributors, surrendered before a district judge yesterday.

He had allegedly duped his employers of the huge amount by transferring the money in a bank account opened in a fraudulent manner. His assistant accountant Imran had already been arrested a few weeks ago.

Machhiwara, April 3
The Koomkalan police has booked at least 20 persons in two FIRs registered regarding an incident in which Som Nath, a farmer of Kariana village, had committed suicide and many persons were injured during a free-for-all brawl.

ADC, Ludhiana, Kamaljit Kaur Brar, has been asked to probe the sequence of events leading to violence and attempt to commit suicide by the peasant family, which had been tilling the panchayat land many years.

Meanwhile, relatives and sympathisers of the victim led by MLA Isher Singh Meharban organised a dharna at Doraha. They were demanding action against cops, who, according to them, had failed to protect the life and property of Som Nath.

The dharna was lifted after senior police officials assured to suspend SHO Gurcharan Singh and Surinder Pal Singh, in charge, Mattewal chowki.

A perusal of records revealed that Nihang Virsa Singh of Meonwal, Som Nath (the deceased), Surinder Kaur, Meeto, Meena, Kulwinder Kaur, Manjit Kaur, Lamba Ram along with their accomplice were booked on the statement of Surjit Singh of Kariala village under various sections of the IPC for allegedly attempting to murder him and his associates yesterday.

Surinder Kaur, who along with other members of her family had attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous substance, alleged on the other hand that Amarjit Singh, Pammi, Pammi Jatt, two sons of Amarjit Singh and members of the panchayat had allegedly abetted her husband to commit suicide.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Som Nath had been tilling a piece of panchayat land measuring about four acres for many years. The village panchayat had auctioned this piece of land to the family headed by Amarjit Singh of the same village. The land was to be handed over to Amarjit Singh after reaping.

Failing to convince the panchayat office- bearers, the peasant family called Virsa Singh of Meonwal village for help. The Nihang erected a pennant (Nishan Sahib) and a hut in the land in this morning after which the panchayat reported the matter to the police.

Virsa Singh allegedly attacked the police party when the latter tried to remove his belongings from the venue. This was followed by a free-for-all brawl.

Referring to the information collected from the villagers, Daljit Singh Rana, DSP, Samrala, claimed that Virsa Singh had tried to exploit the religious symbol for grabbing land and had inflicted injuries on his body himself to implicate the opponents in a false case.

He declined to comment further on the issue as it might affect the outcome of the probe. “As additional deputy commissioner, Ludhiana, has been entrusted with the inquiry in the case, we reserve our comments,” said Rana, adding that suspension of two cops had been recommended.

The body of Som Nath was cremated under tight security after getting a post-mortem examination conducted at the civil hospital, Ludhiana. 

Ludhiana, April 3
A one-day workshop on teaching and assessment skills will be organised by the medical education unit (MEU) of Christian Medical College (CMC) here on April 5.

The keynote speaker at the workshop would be Dr Abraham G. Thomas, the founder patron of the MEU. According to an official release, CMC is the first college in Northern India to organise such a workshop in response to the call given by the Medical Council of India to have nation-wide celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee year of MCI.

As many as 50 participants from various colleges of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have already enrolled for the programme.

The central theme of the workshop would revolve around the ways and means to give regular and constructive feedback to learners.

Ludhiana, April 3
Taking congnisance of the petition filed by a senior citizen alleging encroachment by a retired ASI of the Punjab police, Bharat Singh, upon the MC land, a local court has issued notice to the former cop as well as the municipal commissioner for April 5.

The Civil Judge Senior Division, K S Cheema, issued notice on a petition filed by Tarlok Singh. He has claimed that the former cop was illegally constructing on the kutcha portion along the metal road (near Budha Nallah) in Basant Nagar Shivpuri.

The petitioner had submitted that he was having a house in Basant Nagar and on the northern side of the house, which opens in the street, there was a kutcha portion of land along the metalled road. If the alleged encroacher was not stopped, it would block his ventilators and windows.

He claimd that when he asked the former ASI not to raise construction on the corporation land, he flatly refused to do so and even threatened him. Filing the case, he had also sought directions to the MC for safeguarding its own land.

Ludhiana, April 3
Hosts Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic College, Ludhiana, in the boy’s section and Sat Guru Ram Singh Government Polytechnic College for Women, Ludhiana, in the girl's section bagged overall trophies in the two-day 37th Punjab State Inter-Polytechnic Athletics Meet organised by the Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic College, Gill road, Ludhiana, that concluded today.

At least 45 teams comprising 700 students drawn from various polytechnic colleges of the state competed in various events. The meet was conducted under the supervision of Balkar Singh, president, Punjab Technical Institute Sports, and Birinder Singh, principal of the host college.

Minister for technical education Swarna Ram presided over the closing ceremony and distributed prizes among the position holders.

Results:(Boys)- Hammer throw- Gagandeep Singh of GNDPC, Ludhiana,Ist, Jaspreet Singh of Adesh Polytechnic, Muktsar,IInd; Kulwinder Singh of LLMR, Ajitwal, IIIrd; pole vault- Jasmer Singh of Adesh Polytechnic, Muktsar,Ist; Manrajvir Singh of GNDPC, Ludhiana,IInd; Sanjay of BIS Polytechnic, Moga, IIIrd; 1,500mts- Gurdeep Singh of GPC,Khonnimajra,Ist; Satnam Singh of SSP, Gurdaspur,IInd; Ashok Kumar of J.R. Polytechnic, Hoshiarpur, IIIrd; 200mts-Anrej Singh of Malwa Polytechnic, Faridkot,Ist; Vinod Sharma of CPC, Chandigarh,IInd; Gagandeep Singh of Adesh Polytechnic, Muktsar,IIIrd; 400mts hurdles- Simranjit Singh of GNDPC, Ludhiana,Ist; Hardit Singh of LKPC,Kapurthala,IInd; Kamalpreet Singh of GTB, Moga, IIIrd; 800mts hurdles- Guljinder Singh of SSS Polytechnic,Gurdaspur,Ist; Pardeep Singh of LLMR, Ajitwal,IInd; Gagandeep Singh of BG Polytechnic,Sangrur, IIIrd.

4x100 relay- SSS Polytechnic, Gurdaspur,Ist;GNDPC, Ludhiana,IInd;LLMR, Ajitwal;IIIrd; 5000m- Adesh Polytechnic, Muktsar, Ist; Manoj Kumar of BBSB Polytechnic,Fatehgarh Sahib,IInd; Nirbhai Singh of GNDPC,Ludhiana, IIIrd; high jump- Bikramjit Dhingra of Bhikiwind, Ist; Amandeep of GPC, Bathidna,IInd; Balwinder Singh of LLRM Polytechnic, Ajitwal,IIIrd; Jaspreet Singh of GNDPC, Ludhiana; 100m- Harpreet Singh of Adesh Polytechnic, Muktsar,Ist; Angrej Singh of Malwa Polytechnic, Faridkot,IInd; Vinod Sharma of CPC, Chandigarh, IIIrd; 110mts hurdles- Kamalpreet Singh of GTB, Garh,Moga,Ist; Gagandeep Singh of SK Polytechnic College, Fazilka,IInd; Gourav Singh of SB College, Badhani,IIIrd.

Girls:100 mts- Jagdeep Kaur of SRSGPCG, Ludhiana,Ist; Kirandeep Kaur of LLRM Polytechnic, Ajitwal,IInd; Manvir Kaur of GPG Polytechnic, Dinanagar, IInd; 200m- Jagdeep Kaur of LKPC, Kapurthala,Ist; Anita Chand of GIGT, Amirtsar, IInd; Neha Thakur of GPC, Patiala, IIIrd;high jump- Tarandeep Kaur of CCET, Chandigarh,Ist; Ranbir Kaur of SRSGPCG, Ludhiana,IInd; Pooja of GPC, Patiala, IIIrd; 4x400mts relay- Mai Bhago Polytechnic, Amritsar,Ist; LLRM Polytechnic, Ajiwal,IInd; AB Polytechnic, Kotli, Pathankot,IIIrd.