Ludhiana, July 9
As if charging hefty "fees" while giving admission to students was not enough, certain private colleges here have started demanding money for providing their degrees to the students.

These colleges have not held their convocations for the past three-four years and the students, who wish to get the degrees, were being asked to shell out money.

Anita Rani (name changed), a parent whose daughter did her B.Com from SDP College for Women here in 2004-2005 said the college had failed to organise its convocation for the past 3-4 years. Students could get degrees only during convocations.

"Since the convocation by the college was not held, I asked my daughter to get it by hand as her several other friends had already got their degrees. She was asked to pay Rs 100 to get it. She was told by a clerk that this was the rule of the college and every child had to pay to get her degree", added Anita.

The case is no different in Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College. The office staff asks to pay Rs 200 (each student) to hand over the degree. Such college are flouting the university norms.

Principal SDP College Veena Maan said she was not aware about it." I have to confirm it from the office staff", she said.

While, Dr M.M.Gupta, principal, Kamla Lohtia, on the other hand, said since he was new to this institution, he did not know about the rules.

The correspondent, posing as student, spoke to a number of other colleges as well, who asked her to collect the degree without paying anything.

Dr S.S.Bahri, registrar, Panjab University, Chandigarh, said under no circumstances, students should be asked to pay to get the degrees.

"Only for the Ph.D students, for their citation, etc, the university asks for Rs 300 and it has been passed by the committees. The colleges cannot demand money for giving degree to the students", he said.

Ludhiana, July 9
Three days after four unidentified assailants kidnapped and stabbed an MBA student and left her for dead near a marriage palace on the Ferozepore road, the police is groping in the dark to nail the accused or trace the car of the girl.

This is the second crime of this nature where the police has failed to trace the accused or locate the car. Earlier, three armed assailants had killed an insurance agent in Sant Ishar Singh Nagar. They had decamped with his Maruti Swift Car. There is no trace of that vehicle also even months after the crime.

The assailants took away the silver color Maruti Swift Car PB 10 - BZ 5435 from the girl. The police said the only motive behind the crime seems to be the car only. The police said the assailants may have required the car for its use in some other crime.

However, there is no trace of the vehicle so far. No police station has reported use of such car in any crime. The vehicle has not been found abandoned anywhere. SP City-III Sajjan Singh Cheema said the police was not sitting idle. "We are working on some leads, which cannot be disclosed at this juncture," he said.

The 24-year-old girl, Sonika, who is pursuing MBA from the Khalsa Institute of Management Technology, Model Town, here, had gone to the market with her mother Charanjit Kaur and an aunt, Chanchal when the incident took place.

Ludhiana, July 9
The Shimla Puri police has booked 14 persons for allegedly beating and injuring eight persons, mostly of one family, in a dispute over parking of a car in a taxi stand in the area late last night.

The group allegedly attacked Mangat Ram in the taxi stand over a recent dispute over parking of a Scorpio car. The group had allegedly beaten a youth Surjit earlier.

Ludhiana, July 9
The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has given a nod to the project for development of four existing parks out of the total seven parks in Rishi Nagar Colony here. This was stated by Harish Rai Dhanda, chief parliamentary secretary, Local Bodies, Punjab, while planting a sapling in one of the parks to mark the commencement of development work here today.

Responding to the demand made by the functionaries of Rishi Nagar Block C Welfare Association, Dhanda assured that he would take up the matter with the LIT officials to initiate development and maintenance work of remaining parks in the locality as well.

On the issue of handing over the work of maintenance of parks to the park management committees (PMCs) in all colonies of LIT, Dhanda said the issue would be taken up with the state government at the appropriate level to implement the pattern adopted by municipal corporations in this regard in all the improvement trusts 
in Punjab.

The area residents brought to the notice of Dhanda that loose low-tension electric lines at several places in the colony and electric poles standing in the middle of some of the roads were a constant threat to the people. Dhanda told the residents that he would convene a meeting of officials concerned on July 16 to sort out civic and other related problems of the colony.

Ludhiana, July 9
Taking strong exception to the failure of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) management to implement the agreement with the trade unions and stop vindictive transfers of union activists posted at Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant, Ropar, to far away places, the PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC) has decided to launch an agitation.

The state committee of the body, which met here today under the presidentship of Karam Chand Bhardwaj, announced that extended meetings would be convened in all circles till July 15, which would be followed by gate rallies at division and subdivision levels all over the state from July 16 to 22, 2008.

According to Kewal Singh Banwait, vice-president of PSEBEF, the agitation will culminate with a state convention on July 22 at Jalandhar, which will be addressed, among others, by Gurudas Das Gupta, MP. Besides deliberating on the several key issues related to PSEB employees, the convention will also chalk out a detailed programme for the next phase of the agitation.

The meeting, through a resolution, called upon the state government to grant dearness allowance on the pattern of the Union Government to all employees. It was further decided to hold elections to the federation on September 20 and 21, 2008, at Khanna.

Prominent among those present at the meeting were Amrik Singh Maseeta, Sukhdev Sharma, Brij Lal, Dilbagh Singh Atwal and Karam Chand Khanna.

Ludhiana, July 9
The deteriorating crime situation in the city is causing a lot of panic and fear among the residents. The incident of kidnapping and taking away of a car from a young female student on Sunday night in particular has created a lot of fear among them.

On Sunday night, four persons kidnapped an MBA student, Sonika, from the canal bank near Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar when her mother and aunt were busy purchasing vegetables from apni mandi. Four persons forced their entry into the car while the girl was sitting on the wheel and made her get up from her seat at the point of a dagger. Two persons sat on the rear seat and one on the left side of the front seat. They took the girl near Badowal and threw her out of the car and escaped with the car. The injured girl was taken to the Medicity hospital by two youths on a motor bike on Ferozepur road.

The police has registered a case and started the investigation after recording the statement of the girl. The incidents of taking away of vehicles and theft of the same are on the increase in the town and the culprits indulge in such daring crimes without any fear, notwithstanding the fact that even at canal bank, hundreds of people were present and a large number of vehicles were parked there as the people were busy in buying vegetables. Apni mandi on the canal bank attracts a lot of people on Sundays and there is so much rush on this road along the canal that it becomes a big traffic bottleneck.

A similar incident of a bid to forcibly take away a car was reported on June 13 around 8 pm.

In the congested and busy area of Dandi Swami Chowk, a young boy had gone to the market along with his mother and as his mother was busy in buying some articles from a shop, two persons approached the boy who was sitting on the driver's seat. They told him that the car he was driving was a stolen one and belonged to them. The boy was intelligent enough to ask them to let him know if the car was run on petrol or diesel. He further asked them - what was the series number of their car. But they could not give any satisfactory reply. They followed him till the old courts chowk and finally the boy took the risk and came out of the car and told them to behave. The two persons again told him that their two associates were coming to identify the car.

However, the boy came home with his mother and informed the police authorities who took the matter casually. After pressure was put, the police registered the FIR on his complaint after two days of the incident. The police authorities always try to avoid registration of FIRs of any such incident.

The police administration has to be more active to nab such criminals who are active in the town.

Ludhiana, July 9
The launching ceremony of NGO Gift of Life-Organ Donation Awareness Society (GLODAS INDIA) will be held on July 12 at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Police Academy, Phillaur.

A seminar will be organised at the launching of the NGO wherein Dr B. S. Aulakh, president of the organisation, will be the chief resource person. The NGO aims at providing a platform for active coordination and support from the people for the success of life-restoring therapy of organ transplant.

Says Dr Aulakh of renal transplant and urology department, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, “There are around 1.5 lakh people who need kidney transplants every year but only a fraction of them (roughly 3 per cent) are lucky enough to undergo kidney transplant. The reason is that people are still not aware of cadaver donations i.e. organ donation from brain- dead people. ‘Brain death’ became legal in India in 1994 with the passing of the Transplant of Human Organs Act 1994.”

The main objective of this NGO is to spread awareness about the need of organ donation and motivate public for this noble cause.

The organisation has prominent personalities as its members including Dr L. S. Chawla, former vice-chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (Faridkot), and Rajdeep Singh Gill, DGP, besides the deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police, Ludhiana, as its patrons. The members include eminent doctors, teachers, industrialists, philanthropists and other like-minded 
personalities. 

Ludhiana, July 9
Bikram Singh Majithia, minister for information and public relations, water supply and sanitation, science and technology, Punjab, and patron, All-India Youth Akali Dal, has announced that the Youth Akali Dal will launch an agitation (morcha) against the Congress government at the Centre for its “discriminatory” and “apathetic” attitude against Punjab farmers and the spiralling price rise, which had crushed the common man.

The date of the morcha will be fixed shortly in consultation with the SAD president. Majithia unfolded the programme while addressing a largely attended conference of the Youth Akali Dal organised to mark the 47th birthday of SAD supremo Sukhbir Singh Badal at Alamgir here today.

Majithia said during the agitation the Youth Akali Dal workers in large numbers will gather in Delhi and will organise a gherao (seize) of the residence of Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of UPA, which will continue till the Union Government corrects its anti- Punjab and anti-farmer policies.

He said the Congress government at the Centre had committed a number of blunders to dishonour Punjabis, as it had attacked Darbar Sahib, was responsible for ‘84 anti-Sikh riots in which thousands of Sikhs were killed and had adopted a discriminatory attitude towards Punjab farmers, who had bailed out the country from a grave food crisis.

At the meeting, Majithia also announced that a new programme dedicated to the birthday of Sukhbir Badal named "Jiwan Dan Programme" was also being launched by the YAD, under which 51,000 blood units will be donated by the youth workers by organising blood donation camps in all districts of the state. He said the district units of the YAD will shortly conduct the camps and will deposit the receipts of the donated units at the Chandigarh office of the YAD.

The minister further announced that a special tree- plantation drive was also being launched in the state by the Youth Akali Dal under which one lakh trees will be planted to improve the environment. Highly appreciating the performance of the Students of India (SOI) during the recent past, he said it had launched a number of programmes to eradicate the social evils from society including educating the youth against the drug addiction. In future SOI will also organise de-addiction campaign in the whole state to divert the youth towards the development process of the state.

Criticising Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, president, PPCC, for raising questions on SOI and for launching a youth brigade of the Congress, Majithia said Bhattal was resorting to such gimmicks in desperation only and had no faith in the youth wings of her own party- Youth Congress and NSUI.

Listing more achievements of SOI, he said SOI had done exceedingly well in settling the dispute between students and bus transporters and taking the case of international level Sikh boxer Pushpinder Singh, who was being deprived of participation being a Sikh, keeping beard and hair.

He said the youth of the state were proud of Sukhbir Badal, who had wisely led the Youth Akali Dal in the most trying circumstances and in various morchas and agitations launched against the atrocities of the previous Congress government. 

Ludhiana, July 9
The Bairagi Mahamandal Punjab will launch a membership drive to enroll members of the body all over the state. The membership campaign will commence after its formal inauguration by national president and chairman of Punjab Housefed Krishan Kumar Bawa at Punjabi Bhawan during a state committee meeting here on July 13, 2008.

Punjab state president of mahamandal Hari Das Bawa and general secretary Bikramjit Singh Rauni said in a statement here today that the meeting would discuss the proposal for the construction of Baba Banda Bahadur Bhawan and also deliberate to select a venue for the celebration of the 338th birthday of Banda Bahadur, falling on October 16, 2008.

According to Bawa, the forthcoming meeting of state office-bearers and district presidents here will also give final touches to the elaborate programme chalked out to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the historic meeting between the 10th Guru of the Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Hazoor Sahib Nanded (Maharashtra) on September 3.

In a separate statement, Jagdev Singh Jassoweal, patron, Krishan Kumar Bawa, president, and Baldev Bawa, convener of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur International Manch, have expressed gratitude to the functionaries of the overseas wing of the manch Gurmeet Singh Gill, Bahadur Singh Sidhu Rakba, Buta Singh Hans and Gurbhajan Singh Gill for observing the martyrdom day of Banda Bahadur in the gurdwara at New Jersey (USA).

The coveted “world heritage site” status to the 104-year-old Shimla-Kalka rail track is a tribute to Bhalkoo, an illiterate genius who played a vital role in translating the dream project of the British into a reality. It will also put the hill state on the world heritage map and help boost tourism.

The engineering marvel called the “toy train” could not have become a reality but for Bhalkoo, a man of extraordinary engineering acumen who came to the rescue of British engineers every time the project hit a roadblock. The British came close to abandoning the project on several occasions, but Bhalkoo, who claimed that the trace of the rail track had been revealed to him by his “devta” (deity), put them on the “right” track.

However, his contribution went virtually unnoticed and he remained an unsung hero all these years. Some recognition came only during the centenary celebrations organised to mark the 100 years of the rail track on November 9, 2003. Subsequently, his bust was installed at Chail, close to his village, Jhajja. It was also announced that a railway museum will be set up in his memory, but the project has not come up so far.

A celibate, Bhalkoo had little interest in the materialistic world. The people believed that he was blessed with supernatural powers that transformed him into “Baba Bhalkoo” over a period of time.

His shabby looks and unclean habits not withstanding, even the British respected him. The manner in which he pinpointed the exact sites for boring tunnels or constructing bridges with a long staff that he always carried with him, they also started believing that he possessed supernatural powers. His matted hair provided shelter to lice, which he used to feed by pouring flour and sugar over his head. He claimed his “devta” communicated with him through the lice.

British engineers had full faith in his engineering capabilities. They had issued numerous certificates to him. He was not only associated with the construction of the Kalka-Shimla rail track but was also instrumental in laying out the alignment of the Hindustan-Tibet road while serving in the hills road division.

He would be remembered for his role in laying the toughest and the most expensive projects of its times, involving construction of 107 tunnels, numerous lofty arched viaducts, over 800 small and big bridges and continuous succession of as many as 919 reverse curves.

Ludhiana, July 9
Payments worth lakhs of rupees of traders from this industrial town are stuck due to problems in sending goods to Jammu and Kashmir that is facing law and order problem these days.

The state holds a high share in total demand catered to by Ludhiana's in summer and winter garments.

"We sent our goods in the third week of June. However, our buyers are yet to receive them. Under such situation, we will also not get our payments which means that the further production cycle is hampered. There may be delays in further production," said Vishal Bandha, a trader.

Even as trucks laden with goods started moving on a few routes today, manufacturers and traders here said many transporters were unwilling to go to areas where violence was reported.

Problem is being faced in sending goods to Lakhanpur, Ramban, Anantnag, Baramula, Sopore, Kishtwar and Shopian Pulwana, said suppliers.

"Several truckers have put the goods in their godowns as they fear violence in many parts of the state. Many others have refused to move any further. As a result, business is suffering. Until the situation normalises, traders who rely on demand from that state will be forced to cut down on production," said Vinod K. Thapar, president of Knitwear Club.

Many said they were uncertain about the whereabouts of their goods.

They fear that several buyers will try to take advantage of the situation and delay payments even after receiving the goods.

"Payments are already delayed. There are chances that several customers will make further delays in an attempt to take undue advantage of the situation," said Sunil Dutt, another manufacturer.

Ludhiana, July 9
Scientists of the Punjab Agricultural University felt humiliated when state government authorities failed to provide chairs to those who had gone to attend a farmers’ meeting in Chandigarh yesterday. The meeting was addressed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the Punjab Bhawan.

The meeting was called for discussing the problems being faced by farmers. PAU vice-chancellor Manjit Singh Kang and 12 experts, including heads of a few departments were also invited for taking part in the meeting. The vice-chancellor had taken the experts solve the farmers’ queries.

At the meeting’s venue, the vice-chancellor, director (Research) and director (Extension Education) were provided chairs but other experts had to come out of the hall as chairs were not available for them. The experts sat in an adjoining room for sometime but had to return to Ludhiana without taking part in the meeting. The experts were not even offered a cup of tea at the Punjab Bhawan.

One of the senior university experts told The Tribune today that as they reached the Punjab Bhawan, they were frisked by security personnel but allowed to enter the premises only after they verified with authorities concerned.

When asked the vice-chancellor said he was told that the arrangements were being made. He was not aware that the scientists had returned to Ludhiana in a PAU bus.

"I was told this thing by my driver while I was returning to Ludhiana," he added.The incident has caused lot of resentment among scientists over the humiliating attitude of the government departments. The scientists happen to the senior members of the faculty and majority of them were heads of various departments.

Ludhiana, July 9
In order to create awareness among officers and employees of various departments of Punjab against the “Bird-Flu”, it is necessary to provide them extension training on this aspect. Bird-Flu is a communicable disease and can cause mortality. Thus, prevention is better cure. Bird-Flu results in heavy loss to poultry farmers besides affecting export business. There are authentic records indicating heavy human deaths due to this disease in the past.

Training was organised for the rapid response teams, derived from different departments of Ludhiana district in the Silver Jubilee Hall, the College of Veterinary Sciences, GADVASU, by the Central government through the animal husbandry department here yesterday. Inaugurating the training camp, Dr Paramjeet Singh, deputy director, Animal Husbandry, Ludhiana, advised trainees to keep their nerves cool in case of any eventuality. He asked them to guide the public in general and the poultry farmers in particular about maintaining hygienic conditions in and around the poultry farms.

Dr Vinay Mohan, senior scientist, Regional Disease Diagnostic Lab (RDDL), Jalandhar, delivered a lecture on biosecurity measures, which should be adopted in case of any irrational mortality of birds at any farm. He further said the complete disinfections; vaccination and medication should be a routine affair in all farms.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr K.B. Singh told trainees about the cleanliness. He taught them about maintaining proper farm records, create security zones, donning and un-donning of special kits, disposal of carcass of birds, feed-feedbag, regulating the entry of trucks, visitors etc.

Priyank Bharti, ADC (D), distributed certificates among the trainees.

Ludhiana, July 9
A youth leadership training, hiking-trekking and adventure camp was organised by Panjab University, Chandigarh, for girls at Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh recently. At least 90 girls from 18 colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh took part in it.

Amanpreet Kaur, lecture, Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management, along with 10 girls took part in the leadership camp.

They took part in activities like hiking trekking, leadership training, debates, group discussions and local sight seeing. Dr A. S. Chandel, director, Youth Welfare Department, Dr Y.S. Parmar University, Solan, inaugurated the camp.

The camp started with morning exercises and concluded with a regular campfire.

All campers covered at least 15 kms to Gompa Monastery in a day. On the second day they covered 14 km to reach the famous Krishna temple at Solan. A visit to Shimla was also organised for the campers to rejuvenate them from the rigorous schedule.

Each camper learned the art of public speaking, management, leadership and discipline in life. S.M.Kant, director, Youth Welfare Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh, gave tips on positive thinking and living and communication skills etc. Sri Aurobindo College Of Commerce and Management campers won the best duty group award in the final prize distribution ceremony whereas Gagandeep Kaur of college won the best camper award. 

Ludhiana, July 9
BCM Dudes XI defeated BCM Kings XI by 20 runs in the final of the best of three matches cricket tournament organised by the Ludhiana District Twenty20 Cricket Association at the Government Institute of Polytechnic, Rishi Nagar. Matches of 10 overs each were conducted in this tournament.

In the first match, BCM Dudes XI scored an emphatic 46-run victory over BCM Kings XI.

Brief scores: BCM Dudes XI 115 for 6 (Simant 32, Anmol 14, Manish 10 and Vivek 10 (Sourav 3 for 3, Parm 1 for 10 and Ashkaran 2 for 14).

BCM Kings XI:69 all out (Ashkaran 16, Param 10, Nitish 10 and Manish 17, Vivek 1 for 1, Rahul 1 for 9, Anmol 1 for 13 and Rohan 1 for 10).

In the second match,BCM Kings XI outplayed BCM Dudes XI by 6 wickets to square the score one-all.

Brief scores: BCM Dudes XI- 84 for 9 (Anol 14, Vivel 10, Kartik 11, Simant 8 and Daniel 9 n.o.; Ashkaran 2 for 12, Sourav 1 for 11, Parm 1 for 16 and Nitesh 1 for 9)

BCM King XI- 85 for 4 (Ashkaran 20, Sourav 14, Manish 13, Nitesh 8, Lovedeep 9; Munish 2 for 18, Kartik 1 for 21 and Anmol 1 for 10).

In the final, BCM Dudes XI won the toss and elected to bat first. They made 82 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the stipulated 10 overs. The contributors were Anmol (16), Sourav (10 n.o.), Daniel (9 n.o), Manish (12) and Kartik Behal (13). For BCM Kings XI, Nitesh, Ashkaran and Anshul accounted for one wicket each.

In reply, BCM Kings XI could muster 62 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 10 overs. Munish scored 18 runs while Parm made 14 runs and Sourav chipped in with 10 runs.

For BCM Dudes XI, Rohan claimed two wickets for 13 runs in 2 overs and Anmol scalped one victim for 9 runs in one over while Simran grabbed one wicket for 15 runs in two overs to help their team to wrap up the issue and emerge champions.