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Goodbye my son
Ludhiana, July 31 When the van carrying his body, escorted by his father, relatives and friends, entered the street near his house, neighbours broke down. Women were seen running along the van, crying bitterly. His shattered father, Gurpinder Singh Sodhi, walked ahead of his son’s body when it was taken inside the house. A proud father had suddenly aged. His mother, Amritpal Kaur, sat next to the body. She uncovered Ishmeet’s face and kissed him before breaking down. She had not cried for the past two days, leaving the family worried. As the family grieved, those witnessing the scene could not control their emotions. It seemed the tragedy had struck not only Ishmeet’s family, but also those present there. Later, the body was kept outside in a glass chamber. The head was covered with a saffron cloth. People who loved him queued up in the sultry weather to have a last glimpse of Ishmeet, whom they had once cheered to victory. Several elderly people, who had trouble walking, waited patiently for their turn to see him once more. “Ishmeet’s family members are not alone in their grief. We are with them. We all have lost a promising and talented son,” said Narinder Kaur (70) from Dugri, while summing up the sentiments of scores of Ludhianvis.
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Singers salute his talent
Ludhiana, July 31 “God has destined everything for us mortals,” Hans said, quoting a couplet “Ekna nu to dhiyan deven, dhiyan de ghar dhotre, ekna nut un puttar deven, puttarn de ghar potre, ekna nu to eko deven, o vi jave mar, kaun kahe tainu dadheya rabba... “I had stayed with Ishmeet for two days to train him during “Voice of India” and sensing his apprehension despite his immense talent, I had asked him have a positive attitude,” Hans said. “Ishmeet’s death is a personal loss as he was like a son to me,” playback singer Abhijeet said. “He had a distinct voice and I was bowled over by the tranquillity and composure in his singing. We used to spend hours singing and choosing songs suitable for his voice,” he added. Recalling his first meeting with Ishmeet, Punjabi singer Pammi Bai termed his death as a loss to the music industry. “The boy had just started his ‘alaap’ in terms of singing and he is gone. I saw an unusual quality in him when I shared the stage with him. He was ambitious, yet poised, which is rare for a man his age,” he said. “He had called me up to take my advice before posing for an advertisement of the state lottery. I told him that he was a fortune icon for the people of Punjab and let people gain from his luck,” he said. Jasbir Jassi said: “We never met but his passion for Gurbani and willingness to recite shabad had established a bond between us. During our telephonic conversation, we had planned to do an album together, but as they say good souls have a short life. Ishmeet came, contested, conquered and has gone.”
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Doctors perform autopsy with heavy heart
Ludhiana, July 31 Outside, the medical staff, including paramedics, cried and jostled with rickshaw-pullers, rehri wallas, mediapersons, traders, and beggars to take a look at the body of their hero, who they knew only through his melodious voice. A human chain was formed for the smooth passage of the body. “Why did God not take me away instead?” said Leela, a beggar. “He had such a sweet voice and he looks calm in death also,” she cried. A rickshaw-puller
said he had not gone on work for two days. “I wanted to pay my last respect to him. I have been standing here since morning,” he said. Dr Jasbir Singh, one of the three doctors who performed the autopsy, said he was a fan of the singer. “I performed the autopsy with a heavy heart. We generally go about it in a mechanical way. But today it was different.” |
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NRIs shocked
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 31 Cursing their ill luck for not getting an opportunity to watch his stage programmes in India or their respective nations, the fans have started asking for DVDs and CDs showing Ishmeet’s programmes. Ishmeet’s innocent face and melodious voice, besides being a Punjabi had mesmerised the NRIs belonging to this border state. “Though I have enjoyed a large number of Indian and foreign singers, none could impress me like he did. I don’t think one can forget the melodious voice and an innocent face he had,” said Teena Sharma of the local Gall Mandi area. As she is to return to New York soon her mother Suman Sharma has asked her to buy a few DVDs and CDs showing Ishmeet’s performance. Dr Sandeep Joshi, an NRI from Takhar Kalan, maintained that the news of his demise had sent shocked NRIs, predominantly Punjabis. They remained glued to their TV sets for viewing special programmes presented by Indian channels. Dr Rishi Bhardwaj, while talking to The Tribune on telephone said the death of the young star had frustrated his fans in the USA. A musical group of South Carolina had decided to felicitate him and had requested him to visit the USA. “But the cruel destiny snatched him from us before we could see finalise the programme,” sighed Dr Bhardwaj. According to Sudhir Kalia of Canada, the NRIs settled there were also crazy to have memoirs of the deceased.
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A thorough gentleman, say friends
Ludhiana, July 31 Talking to the Tribune correspondent, exclusively, Inderpal Singh said “Recently, Ishmeet had a miraculous escape, when the tyre of his newly-bought black Optra car busted 10 days ago. He was driving on roads of Mumbai. The air bags, instantly, opened and saved him from any impact of the crash. This time, however, he had no life-saving equipment.” He said, “Only last week, I was reading the contract he had signed with the big music company. I was greatly annoyed with the last lines, which stated, “in case of death the contract stands terminated.” I never thought the contract would end so soon and abruptly.” He further said, “I had spoken to him on July 26 just a day before he left for Maldives. He was telling me that the schedule is quite hectic. He was also planning to attend a marriage in Bangkok. He promised me that he would celebrate his birthday on September 2, with us at Club Nirwana. Unfortunately he could not keep his promise this time.” Arshpreet, his schoolmate and fellow contestant in the Voice of India contest, said with tears in his eyes, “He was a thorough gentleman during the VOI (Voice of India) contest. Girls, in particular, simply adored him, as he was cultured and soft spoken. He used to share his entire secret with me. I will miss him.” His friends maintain that “He was an extremely shy person’. His friend Inderpal said he was invited by Khalsa College for Women authorities to perform at a function on March 4, but he insisted his friends and relatives to accompany him to college as he was shy to visit girls college alone.” One of the reasons of his popularity was his simplicity and down to earth attitude. Angad, another childhood friend of Ishmeet, said, “He was extremely thankful to people. He used to tell me how he could pay back, the love and respect people have shown to him. He always said that it was due to the local support and love that he was able to win this competition.” Harman, who used to sing with him since childhood said, “People used to pinch him to get his attention and in gurdwara he was thronged by people. I was upset seeing pinching or pushing him to get his attraction. He always remained calm. He told me that due to these people he could win the VOI contest. He told me that how people loved him. I am sure he took bagfuls of love with him on his last journey.”
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Sarpanch booked for detaining cops
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 31 The incident occurred when women panches were protesting against the alleged partisan role of the presiding officer deputed for the election to the post of sarpanch. Police sources said Jarnail Singh Kala reportedly interfered in the official duty of havaldars Jagroop Singh and Balwinder Singh and SPO Jang Singh when they were trying to control a group of women panches and their supporters who were agitating. Jagjit Singh, assistant registrar cooperative societies, Moonak, had earlier declared Jarnail Singh elected as sarpanch. When some Congress-supported women panches and their supporters started protesting against the alleged partisan role of the staff, the police personnel on duty tried to persuade them to leave the place. Instead of cooperating with the police, the accused misbehaved with them and detained them. The accused have not been arrested so far.
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Dyeing units checked; samples of treated effluent taken
Ludhiana, July 31 A team from the institute visited 20 units located at the focal point and collected samples of treated effluent. The names of these units were drawn randomly through computer programming. There are 141 members of the federation. “The idea behind such an action is to have independent and impartial assessment of the efficiency of the treatment plants. On the receipt of the test reports, the federation will share information with the Punjab Pollution Control Board,” the federation said. The federation will be setting up its own testing laboratory at a cost of around Rs 7 lakh. The federation also plans to cover all units for testing to ensure 100 per cent compliance of pollution control norms. “We will draw a comprehensive action plan under which we will persuade member units to install a water meter at the inlet and outlet points and an electrical sub-meter at the plant,” office-bearers of the federation said. This would also facilitate the instant checking of the operation of the plants. Member units have also been advised to create fish ponds near the treatment plants so that the survival of fish and the toxicity level can be monitored. |
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7-yr RI for two in rape case
Ludhiana, July 31 They were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs 3,000 each. The accused were booked under Section 376 of the IPC in 2007 following the statement of a girl that they frequently visited her house and in the absence of her parents one day, they raped her.
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Lovers commit suicide
Ludhiana, July 31 The police said 26-year-old Pala and Anita (20) from UP ate poison in the fields outside the village. The SHO, Jangjit Singh, said both wanted to marry but their parents did not agree. Pala’s parents are farmers while the father of Anita is a railway employee who belongs to UP. The police was conducting investigations under Section 174 of the
CrPC. |
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IT Returns: People opt for e-filing
Ludhiana, July 31 With majority of assesses turning up on the last two days, the department had set up three additional counters and extended their working hours till 8 pm to accommodate lakhs of them. Returns were accepted at IT offices in Aaykar Bhawan, Rishi Nagar, Udham Singh Nagar and Tagore Nagar offices. A few assessees complained that the return forms were lengthier and required much more details. Tax professionals, too, increased their charges from Rs 700 to Rs 1,5000 for filing the returns stating that it took more time to file the lengthier forms. "The number of people who have turned up, though large, is not as high as we had expected. Online filing seems to be catching up," said J.R. Kajla, additional commissioner, Income Tax. The department is expecting 10 to 15 per cent rise in the number of assesses from the previous year. The region, which comprises five districts, including Ludhiana and Jalandhar, has at least 7 lakh assessees. Many assessees said the return forms required a large number of details like cash, stock etc due to which they had to seek professionals' help. Tax experts also said the assesses, particularly professionals, were finding it tough to furnish all details. "The forms are lengthier and confusing for asessees. The department should have continued with single page return forms," said Jatinder Khurana, tax lawyer. Experts said those who failed
to submit their returns till today would be required to pay their tax along with an additional 1 per cent interest. In case of online returns the department will begin processing only after a few days, when the assessing officers receive the ITRs from their national data centre.
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Sarpanch Poll: Congress cries foul
Ludhiana, July 31 “The election of sarpanch has been postponed thrice on whimsical grounds which is a clear indication that the officials entrusted with the responsibility for conducting the election are hand in glove with the ruling combine which does not want a Congress panch to be elected to the post,” alleged Lakhwinder Singh, one of the Congress panches, who also happens to be the organising secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Talking to The Tribune, he claimed that of the seven elected panches, four were from the Congress, and the party was in a position to get one of its nominees elected as sarpanch. Sensing that they were in minority, the SAD-BJP panches had got the election postponed on July 22 for no apparent reason. Then again, on July 25 when the process for election of sarpanch was set in motion and the Congress members of the panchayat had signed their presence in the attendance register, one of the SAD-BJP panches snatched the register and ran away. When Congress panches tried to intervene, some of them were beaten up. “Ironically, the police force present on the spot remained a mute spectator while returning officer Daljit Singh, SDO, Punjab State Electricity Board, also turned a blind eye to highhandedness of the SAD-BJP panches. Rather than taking action against those who disrupted the election process, false criminal cases were registered against us and on the top of it all, the police refused to accept bail of the persons named in the FIR even though the offences were bailable,” charged Lakhwinder Singh. That the administrative machinery was working at the instance of ruling alliance was amply proved when the returning officer failed turned up for conducting the election on July 30 which was the third date fixed for this purpose. After waiting for a couple of hours at the venue, the Congress panches were curtly told that the returning officer had fallen sick and no alternative arrangements could be made to hold the elections. When contacted for his comments, Daljit Singh said he had a cervical problem and was admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital for treatment. “I had informed the BDO and other senior officers about my inability to conduct the election of sarpanch on July 30 with the request that alternative arrangements be made if elections can not be postponed further,” he maintained. While the district returning officer was not available for comments, Lakhwinder Singh apprehended that the SAD-BJP could go to any length to get one of their members elected as sarpanch in connivance with the district election authorities through manipulation or bogus election.
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Sahnewal Chowk a killer stretch
Sahnewal, July 31 The heavy flow of traffic, toll-evaders who take the Sahnewal-Kohara route, residents of the surrounding
villages, vice-versa has worsened the condition to such an extent that a pedestrian has to endlessly wait for crossing the road which seems next to impossible. The situation worsens in the absence of the traffic lights. Much to the astonishment of the people, this busy stretch has been left entirely at the mercy of the god with no one to monitor the traffic except at times when a minister has to cross this spot. The school and college-going students, who have to board their buses or vans on the opposite side early in the morning, seem to be the worst sufferers. The aged people, too, find it hard to cross the crowded road. The position of the two-wheeler drivers is no better. On numerous occasions students have to miss a few buses as a result of this. The traffic police seems to be least bothered about the mess that is created in the absence of traffic lights or for that matter due to the absence of any regulatory authority in the chowk. It has been observed that while the commuters jostle their way or manoeuvre the flow of traffic coming from all four
directions, two or three police men enjoy the scene from a distance assuming that commotion will automatically subside after some time.
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Dhanda assures land for Udham Singh Bhawan
Ludhiana, July 31 Chief guest Harish Rai Dhanda, chief parliamentary secretary, spoke on revolutionary’s life and unparallel heroic deeds of Shaheed Udham Singh. He said his life and sacrifice would continue to inspire our coming generations. He assured the Trust that all efforts would be made to allocate a suitable piece of land for raising Shaheed Udham Singh Bhawan at Ludhiana. The function was presided over by a penal comprising Jagdev Singh Jassowal, president of Desh Bhagat Yadgari Society, Lakhbir Singh
Rattanpal, member, Akal Academy and Sukhjinder Singh Khinda, president, Shaheed Udham Singh Trust,
Dharamkot.
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Seminar on dairy farming
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 31 Addressing owners and managers of dairy farms in a seminar at village Kheri near here, Dr Singh claimed that the experts of the department had formulated ideal combination of fodder and concentrates according to the requirement of various categories of the milk cattle. He said the nutrient requirement in cows and buffaloes varied with difference for races and categories. "Even during different phases of gestation period, the animals require varied ratio of minerals and vitamins. The breeders, instead of following traditional combination, should make use of knowledge acquired through persistent research undertaken by specialists in the subject," added Dr Singh, alarming that overdose of certain concentrates had affected reproductive capacity of the cattle.
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Patwari held for graft
Ludhiana, July 31
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Freak accident
Ludhiana, July 31 The accident took place when a car hit a heap of crushed stones lying on the bridge. A portion of the debris fell down and hit the victim. He died on the spot. The Division No. 6 police were trying to ascertain his identity.
— TNS
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PAU School Cricket Tourney
Ludhiana, July 31 In the match played on PAU school grounds between Kundan Vidya Mandir School and Government Senior Secondary School, Haibowal Khurd, the former scored 146 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. The main contributors were Geetansh Khera and Sanchit Gosain, who made 61 and 35 runs, respectively, while Akhil Aggarwal contributed 17 runs. For Government Senior Secondary School, the wicket-takers were Anand (1 for 27), Raj (1 for 25), Sanjeev (1 for 19) and Gagandeep (1 for 35). In reply, Government Senior Secondary School, Haibowal Khurd, could muster 105 runs in 19 overs. Deepak was the top-scorer with 18 runs, while Vicky made 17 and Manish and Raj scored eight runs each. For the winners, Geetansh Khera succeeded with the ball also. He sent down four overs and scalped five victims for 19 runs. Akhil Aggarwal took three for 18 while Gagandeep captured two for 20 and Abhinav Bhati took one for 17. In the under-14 match, played at Sarpanch Bachan Singh Academy grounds, Saraswati Senior Secondary School scored an emphatic eight-wicket win over Sanatan Vidya Mandir School to enter semifinals. Batting first, Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, scored 31 runs in 7 overs. For Saraswati school, Nikhil grabbed three wickets for three runs and Harpal took two for 9 and Ashu captured two for two runs. In another under-14 match, Government Senior Secondary School, Haibowal Khurd, defeated Green Land Senior Secondary School by 22 runs to secure a berth in the final. Government Senior Secondary School made 84 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs. Love Divedi scored 22, while Vishwanath made 25 and Sachin contributed 13 runs. Ajay made 10 runs. For Green Land School, Rishabh Rana took three wickets for 16 runs and Gaurav claimed three for 18 while Harjot took 2 for 12 runs. Chasing the target, Green Land School's innings culminated at 62 with two balls to spare. Umesh Handa and Avinash scored 16 and 13 runs, respectively, while Harjot made 12 runs. For Government school, Baijnath and Love Divedi captured thee wickets each after conceding seven and nine runs, respectively. Manjit grabbed three wickets for 10 runs.
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We want to serve in villages: Vets
Ludhiana, July 31 After getting her BVSc degree, Amandeep Kaur Gill told The Tribune that she would like to do Masters in Surgery to get perfection. "People feel that profession was below dignity. I had got admission in MBBS but I left and chose to be a veterinary officer. I would like to serve in villages where farmers need our guidance and assistance," she added. Harvinder, another student from Sangrur, said veterinary professionals could be of great help to farmers. "We have been trained to perfection and we need to put forward our expertise to the farmers. It will be possible only if we establish a good rapport with them. Veterinarians need to visit villages, ask about the problems being faced by farmers, suggest them with remedies and provide the needful tips, guidance and knowledge," she said, adding that majority of doctors wanted to remain in cities, but she preferred to serve for rural areas as "True Punjab exist in villages". As many as 54 BVSc students got their degrees from VC Dr V.K. Taneja at a function held on university campus today. Dr Taneja asked students to reach to farmers' homes and listen to their problems. He also asked them to create their website and be in touch with the varsity. Dr Taneja said majority of pass-out students were absorbed in government hospitals and remaining were picked up by the Army, pharmaceutical companies and banks. "We are lucky to have young and energetic doctors at GADVASU, who provide necessary guidance to farmers," said Dr Taneja. A scholarship of Rs 3500 each was given to two students, Rajesh Kumar and Sandeep
Pandita, by INTAS.
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Swimmers selected for Punjab meet
Ludhiana, July 31 Competition in all the national events will be held during the three-day championship. The selected swimmers are boys (15-17 years): Samarpal Singh Grewal, Bharat Kumar, Jivesh Batra, Nikhil Sunil, Jagdeep Singh, Shivroop Singh, Abhishek Vats, Harsharan Singh, Sukhpreet Singh, Hitesh Nayyar, Prateek Goel and Jaskirat Singh. Girls (15-17 years): Arushi Gupta, Arshpreet Kaur Grewal, Swapanpreet Kaur, Kiranjeev Kaur and Jaspreet Kaur. Boys (13-14 years): Adhiraj Sharma, Akshit Bawa, Jaspalpreet Singh, Jitendervir Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Kunal, Rishav and Amandeep. Girls (13-14 years): Seerat Gill, Jannat, Kamalpreet Kaur, Armaan Kaur, Aarkiza Wadhera, Tarundeep Kaur and Harnoor Kesar.
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