Ludhiana, April 26
An unidentified youth broke into the house of a manufacturer of sewing machine parts in Barrewal Colony early this morning and shot twice at the elderly industrialist and injured his wife with rifle butt before fleeing.

Exemplary courage displayed by the 63-year-old industrialist Gurcharan Singh prevented the youth from killing him and his wife.

Gurcharan Singh said he was doing yoga in a room when the youth came in at about 5.30 am and pointed a double-barrelled rifle at his chest. Unfazed, the victim grabbed the rifle when the youth shot twice.

Splinters from the first shot hit him while the second shot was fired when the victim was grappling with the accused. The man hit him in the lower abdomen.

Hearing the gunshots, his wife Surinder Kaur came out of the bathroom. The youth hit her with the butt of the rifle twice and ran away.

Their 15-year-old granddaughter and six-year-old grandson were sleeping in another room and rushed for their help. They called their relatives and the police. The son and daughter-in-law of the couple are working in China.

The police said the motive of the crime was unclear. The youth did not try to rob the house or snatch the jewellery worn by the woman. The couple and their relatives stated that they had no enmity with anyone and there was no property dispute.

ASI Jagjit Singh, in charge of the Raghunath police post, said the house had high walls and gate. He said the youth did not seem to be a professional else he would have come prepared with more cartridges and a better weapon to kill the couple.

Satwinder Singh, a nephew of the couple, said he got a call from the girl that someone had shot at her grandparents. “Our uncle resisted the youth and went up to the car himself. When we reached the house, he was in the car, taking care of his wife,” he said.

The couple told the police that the assailant was of average height, fair complexion and athletic.

The investigating officer said the house was situated in a thickly populated colony, but it was not clear how and when the youth entered the house.

Ludhiana, April 26
A woman of Kila Raipur village, who was allegedly molested by an excise cop and a villager, is struggling to get a case registered against the duo for the past four months.

The 33-year-old woman has made several rounds of police stations, where she is usually told to effect a compromise.

She even approached the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) which asked the SSP to inquire into the matter, but nothing was done.

She is married to a granthi. She alleged that on the night of December 29, 2007, Maninder Singh, a constable with the excise police, and Chamkaur Singh entered her house at 11 pm and asked her husband to get a bottle of liquor from the vend so that they could drink it in their house.

“The accused took my husband outside the house and started abusing and manhandling him. One of them misbehaved with me,” she said.

Since then, the couple has been visiting various offices to get a case registered.

The woman said she even went to the DSP (D), Jagraon, Satnam Singh, several times. He recorded the statements of both parties, but no case has been registered.

“Instead of booking them, they started forcing me to effect a compromise. I do not want anything. I just want that they are booked and I get justice through court. I have no faith in the police,” she said.

The DSP said the couple owed money to Chamkaur Singh and he often used to visit their house at that time. On the day of the incident, he took another person along. “We called both parties, but the woman only came two-three times. If the complainant does not come to us, how are we supposed to do anything?” he asked. 

Raikot, April 26
The Circle police is in dock for allegedly coercing Lachhman Dass, president, Swami Ganga Giri Senior Secondary School, to extend the term of its management committee and nominate an unaccredited person as manager of the institute.

SSP Ludhiana (Rural) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar acting on a complaint filed by 12 out of 17 members, who were led by legislator Harmohinder Singh Pardhan, has directed the SP (D) to probe charges levelled against the circle officer.

They requested the SSP to make security arrangements for the elections to a few offices to be held on May 1 on the school premises. Investigation revealed that a registered body constituting 17 members had been running affairs of the unaided school affiliated with the Punjab School Education Board, for decades.

Term of the management committee headed by Lachhman Dass, brother of former MLA Nirmal Singh Mahant, was scheduled to end last year. Though a large number of members wanted to reelect the office-bearers, the circle police, in order to appease local SAD and BJP leaders allegedly coerced the president to nominate Satish Aggarwal, who was not even a member of the committee, as manager of the institute. In fact Aggarwal’s father was a member of the committee.

The issue remained subsided till last month when Jagjit Singh Talwandi, a SAD leader, was nominated as patron of the school besides some other important changes.

“We were shocked to learn that Narinder Singh Ruby, along with a few cops had come to school in August last year and forced Lachhman Dass to nominate Satish Aggarwal as manager. Now, when we have asked the police chief to provide us security for convening election, he says that the cops can not interfere in school matters,” said Pardhan accusing higher authorities of shielding the erring cops.

Ludhiana, April 26
British cops are in the city to probe into the murder of NRI Mehar Singh, who was found dead at his house in London in 2006.

While the British cops stayed away from the media, local police officials accompanying them said Mehar Singh belonged to Rehri Mohalla in Field Gunj here.

The police was unable to find any clue behind his murder.They are here to enquire from his relatives whether property dispute was one of the reasons behind his murder or was killed by a few contract killers.

Bassi Pathana, April 26
On the directions of Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes, Bassi Pathana police have registered an FIR against advocate Vikas Sibbe, working at district courts in Fatehgarh Sahib and a resident of Bassi Pathana, under sections 3(1) (10) of SC/ST ( Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.

According to information, Bhagh Singh, a tailor at Bassi Pathana had complained to the commission alleging that advocate Sibbe had passed casteist comments on him when he came to his shop to collect his clothes. Taking cognizance of the matter, the Commission sought a report from the then deputy commissioner. The complainant also sought an independent inquiry. Subsequently, the commission again asked DC of Fatehgarh Sahib to conduct a fresh enquiry after which the allegations of the complainant were upheld.

Meanwhile, Rajwinder Singh Sohal, DSP, said although the advocate is at large a case has been registered. 

Ludhiana, April 26
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) organised week-long activities to mark World Veterinary Day at Veterinary Clinical Services Complex (university hospital) from April 21 to 26. Activities like free anti-rabies vaccination of dogs, deworming and sterilisation of pets was undertaken.

The activities culminated today with a function wherein people participated enthusiastically and brought their animals/pets for vaccination and general check-up. Dr V.K. Taneja, vice-chancellor, GADVASU, inaugurated a state-of-the-art clinical diagnostic laboratory equipped with the latest instruments for the biochemistry, hematology, urine analysis, blood gas analysis and photo moicrography. "This is the ultramodern lab well-equipped with the latest instruments that will be useful for the diagnosis of clinical cases presented in the university hospital. The result will be reliable and prompt and it will be excellent teaching facility for the students. It will definitely prove to be a boon for the farmers," said Dr Taneja.

He exhorted the veterinarians, teachers and students to work hard to mitigate the suffering of animals. He said veterinarians’ role was not only limited to treat animals, but also to serve the human beings by controlling zoonotic diseases, bio terrorism and preserving environment. A teaching laboratory for the students of clinical lab diagnosis equipped with the latest protection aids was also inaugurated. 

Ludhiana, April 26
Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology (LCET) under the aegis of the consultancy, training and placement cell (CTP) and department of business management organised an industrial expo-cum-fete on its campus here today.

The expo was organised with an objective to achieve three Is i.e. institute, industry, interface and provide a platform for interaction of industry executives and students.

The event was inaugurated by S.K. Sharma, managing director, Max Electronics, Parwanoo, and Ashok L. Keswani, general manager, Bharti Teletech, Hambran, was the guest of honour.

S.P. Sharma, dean, CTP cell, while interacting with the guests and students, apprised them of the dire need of skilled manpower for the upcoming industrial projects and said the expo was an effort in this direction.

A number of companies, institutes and industrial organisations that participated in the event included Hero Cycles, SKF Company, Kapri Trainers, HDFC Bank, ICFAI National College, AIHT, Kalsi IT Solutions, NIIT, Jetking, LG, Pitanjali Chikitshalya, Gateway Studies and Immigration, Prashant Computers, WWICS, SBI Life Insurance etc. 90.4 FM was the radio partner.

Students of electronics and communication, computer science and information technology displayed their working projects. Students were also seen providing refreshment and fun to the visitors.

Mandi Gobindgarh, April 26
The second convocation and prize distribution function of Punjab Institute of Management & Technology (PIMT), Mandi Gobindgarh, was held at Kanhaya Lal Bardeja Lions Bhawan here today. The function was presided over by Justice K.C. Puri, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh. The convocation started with the lighting of a lamp followed by Saraswati vandana. PIMT governing council chairman Chaman Lal Garg accorded a warm welcome to the guests and parents. He advised students to be updated, adaptable and hardworking.

Director-general of the institute Dr S.L. Bhardwaj read out the annual report highlighting the achievements of the institute. As many as 455 students of MBA, MCA, BBA and BCA were awarded degrees by the chief guest.

The academic roll of honour was given to Kamalpreet Kaur, Gurvinder Kaur, Ruchika Jain, Amrita Goyal (all MBA students), Archana jain, Leti Mahawar, Monika Passi, Geetika Gupta (MCA), Mohinder Kumar, Kamal Bindra, Gaurav Gupta, Seema Rani (BCA), Vineet Raina and Harpreet Kaur (BBA). Institute colour was also awarded to 30 students for achieving excellence in various fields.

Ludhiana, April 26
An inter-house salad-making competition was organised at MGM Public School here today.

Students from all four houses- Hemkunt, Vatican, Ajmer and Jagannath - participated with zeal and fervour. Hemkunt House was declared the overall winner. Vatican and Ajmer Houses won the second and third prizes, respectively.

Individually, Bhavleen of Class VI bagged the first position while the second position went to Surleen of Class XII (commerce). Simran and Jugvinder of Ajmer House collectively won the third prize.

Director of the school Gajjan Singh Thind and principal Mona Singh congratulated the winners.

Results: Aashish topped in the city and ranked third in the state whereas Pooja Jha stood the second position in the city and ranked fifth in the state in the International Maths Olympiad.

There are more than 60 students, who scored more than 90 per cent marks in the test.

The meritorious students are: Shashank Rana, Amrinder Singh, Harleen Kaur, Jasmeen Kaur, Komal preet, Suruchi Sharma, Kushaljeet Singh, Preetinder Singh, Puneet K. Singh, Reet Singh, Gursewak Singh, Yukti, Komal Preet, Aashish, Akash Agnihotri, Deepak Singla, Pooja.

CULTURAL BONANZA: As many as 600 students were given prizes during the two-day annual prize distribution function that concluded at Kundan Vidya Mandir here today.

Justice Ashok Bhan, Judge, Supreme Court of India, presided over the function.

School principal S.C. Saxena and members of the school managing committee accorded a formal welcome to the chief guest.

The function started with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp and invocation of Goddess Saraswati.

An English group song "I have a dream....." candidly depicted an urge to keep on moving.

Vice-principal of the school Navita Puri introduced the chief guest and eulogised his achievements. The principal congratulated the prize winners and their parents. He emphasised on the need to be regular.

A choreography "Vinemrata Ki Jeet" laid stress on the virtue of politeness. A dance by Dhriti and another dance "Are Ja Re Natkhat" by Ridham held the audience spellbound. "Khabo Ki Satta Par Bikharta Bachpan"- choreography on how the childhood was constantly being marred by the pressures of the modern world was well appreciated. At least 100 students participated in this cultural bonanza.

The chief guest appreciated the grand show. He stressed upon the need for progressive education to build a meaningful society.

School manager Ashwani Kumar presented a memento to the chief guest and proposed a vote of thanks. The chief guest gave away prizes to the meritorious students.

Meanwhile, Class-XII student Harneet Kaur fell unconscious soon after Justice Ashok Bhan started his speech. The girl had been standing for seven hours. A teacher said such incidents were common during functions as the students had to stand for long hours.

Doraha, April 26
Dr Jagjit Kiran Gera, principal, Doraha College of Education, was recently invited by American Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, to participate in a videographic symposium on “Sustaining Cultural and Biological Diversity in a Rapidly Changing World” - a lesson for global policy.

Dr Kiran Gera presented a video of one-hour duration on linkages between cultural and natural world. The excerpts from this video were shown to the audience in the symposium. The entry was appreciated as it reflected Indian cultural and religious practices that promoted conservation of the natural world.

The inputs in the video were drawn from the temples of Punjab and Rajasthan. A part of video of 15 minutes duration has been permanently incorporated in the website of American Museum of Natural History.

During her three-week stay in New York, Dr Gera visited colleges of education. She also gave a presentation on teacher training courses of Panjab University. She has planned to initiate a cultural exchange programme (CEP) and faculty development programme (FDP) between College of Education in New York and Doraha College of Education.

Ludhiana,April 26
The physicians association organised a “Neurology Update- 2008.” According to general secretary of the association Dr Vikas Loomba, 86 physicians from the city and surrounding areas attended the camp.

Professor of neurology, AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr M.V. Padma, additional professor,Dr Vivek Lal, and assistant professor,department of neurology, PGIMER, Chandigarh,were the guest speakers.

Speaking about stroke management, Dr Padma stressed on the need for early diagnosis and management of the ischaemic stroke.

"If the patient reaches the hospital within 3 hours of the stroke, he or she can be given t-PA, the latest in the management of stroke which can improve the results by 80 per cent."

Dr Parampreet spoke about the need for undergoing proper diagnosis about the type of epilepsy. Once the aliment was diagnosed, it could help in reducing the side effects of the drugs and its better management.

Earlier, founder president of the association Dr Karamvir Goyal welcomed the guests.