Ludhiana, September 20
In a gruesome incident, a boy raped his classmate in the playground of SCD Government College  for Boys here today afternoon.

The 17-year-old girl, a student of Class VIII, Government Primary School, Civil Lines, was returning home after school when she was taken to the playground of the adjoining college by Vijay on the pretext that he wanted to talk in private with her. The girl, in her innocence, accompanied him to the playground.

His friend Rahul accompanied Vijay. They took her behind the bushes where Vijay allegedly raped her. Rahul gagged the girl after she started screaming. After she started bleeding, the boy hired a rickshaw for her, paid the rickshaw puller Rs 10 and sent her home. The boys fled away from the spot.

After she returned home at the local Rajpura Road she fell unconscious. Her father was home at that time. She was rushed to the Civil Hospital. Doctors attending to her said they had to perform a minor surgery on her. They confirmed she was raped. Her condition is said to be stable.

After the parents lodged a complaint with the police, the division No. 5 police arrested Vijay, a resident of Ghumar Mandi. Rahul, a resident of Rani Jhansi road, is absconding. Raids are on to nab him.

SHO Shawinder Singh Dhillon said they were investigating the matter. He said Vijay in his statement to the police had admitted to having committed the crime. They have been booked for raping a minor under Sections 376/ 34 of the IPC.

He said the boys had already planned about the crime when they had asked the girl to come along with them. Incidentally, they took her to the college where her father was a Class IV employee. The girl had lost her mother sometime ago.

Ludhiana, September 20
Chief Judicial Magistrate Lachhman Singh today remanded Tehsildar- cum-Sub-Registrar (West) Arvind Parkash Verma and two other employees of his in police custody for two days. The Vigilance Bureau had arrested them in a bribery case yesterday.

Vigilance Bureau’s government’s pleader Sukhchain Singh has sought the police remand of accused on a plea that much was yet to be enquired. He has submitted that it has come to his notice during preliminary investigation that a few persons working the Sub-Registrar’s office used to collect Rs 7.5 lakh from the public daily. So, the agency needs sufficient time to probe into the matter.

The defence counsel strongly opposed the Vigilance Bureau’s contentions. He submitted that his client was innocent and had been falsely implicated due to political vendetta by the ruling party. He also alleged that the Tehsildar was beaten up by the Vigilance Bureau officials and stressed on getting him medically examined.

He said Verma paid heavily for filing a writ petition against the state government after his transfer from the same post due to the political interference. In the writ petition he had leveled allegations against the SAD leaders for replacing him. After transferring him, one Mukesh Kumar was given this post. One local chief parliamentary secretary and other leaders had garlanded him and accompanied him at the time of his taking charge as Tehsildar here.

Aggrieved with all this, Verma had showed such photographs in the High Court during the hearing of his writ petition. The High Court had then ordered him to be given the same post. Subsequently, Mukesh Kumar was transferred from Ludhiana and accused was posted here again. Due to all this, he was framed in this false case, further added defence counsel.

But after hearing both parties, the Judge remanded him in the police custody. 

Ludhiana, September 20
With the arrest of Tehsildar-cum-Sub Registrar, Arvind Parkash Verma and two others by Vigilance Bureau in a graft case, many skeletons are expected to tumble out of the closet.

Sources in the Vigilance Bureau said questioning of the accused had revealed that many local politicians, senior officials and other professionals were involved in the racket. The bureau was all set to investigate the role of all named by the accused.

The Vigilance action brought to the centre stage the allegations that the office was a den of corruption.

The residents had been raising a lot of hue and cry over the past few months but nobody could do anything till Verma was caught on graft charges yesterday.

Incidentally, Verma was appointed Sub-Registrar in April this year following the directions of the High Court. He had moved the court after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had handpicked Naib Tehsildar Mukesh Sharma for the post to reward him for his honesty in August last year.

Badal had categorically stated that he wanted an honest officer like Mukesh to handle the affairs of an office that made crores of rupees every month for the state exchequer. The office was always in the midst of a controversy as sale deeds of lands in Ludhiana, where land is very expensive, were registered here everyday.

The development had not gone down well with Verma, who was replaced with Mukesh. He had filed a petition in the High Court at that time. The court had given direction in his favour and he had to be appointed at the post.

Meanwhile, the associations of Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars of the state were holding a meeting to discuss ‘‘atrocities’’ committed on Tehsildar by the Vigilance Bureau at Jalandhar tomorrow. Spokesperson of association Gurpreet Singh said they had taken a strong notice of the way he was picked and beaten up by the Vigilance officials.

The associations would chalk out its future course of action during the meeting.

Ludhiana, September 20
Industries and commerce minister Manoranjan Kalia today said the SAD-BJP government was committed to develop industry in the state which has a major role in economic growth.

Speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day state-level conference of company secretaries here today, the minister said new industrial policy for the state was on the anvil.

The new industry policy is being framed by UNIDO, a subsidiary of UNO. The agency has been engaged and its report is in final stage, he added. After the report is submitted, it would be implemented soon, he added.

A focal point would come up in an area of over 200 acres in Kapurthala and four thermal plants with a capacity of 9,000 MW would come up with an investment of Rs 50,000 crore from the private sector, added Kalia.

The minister said the state government, with aid from World Bank, would widen and strengthen road network and spend Rs 1,500 crore for the purpose. He added that master plans for 40 towns would be notified soon.

The company secretaries submitted a memorandum of demands to the minister on the occasion. Responding to their demand regarding permitting CSs to perform audit in case of VAT, the minister said the demand would be considered positively.

Deputy speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Satpal Gosain and chairman of northern region of Institute of Company Secretaries of India Hitender Mehta also spoke.

Kayoor Bakshi, president, ICSI, Nesar Ahmed and P.K. Mittal, council members of the institute, were present.

Ludhiana, September 20
In the course of massive raids carried out by the enforcement wing of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) at Bawa Colony in the Haibowal locality here on Friday, nearly 50 per cent of the people living in the colony were caught stealing power through “kundis”. On the basis of connected load of the defaulting consumers, a penalty of around Rs 24 lakh had been worked out on account of the power theft.

Even a colonizer was found stealing power as numerous under-construction buildings in the colony were found to be drawing electricity from the low-tension cables without any permission having been obtained.

Enforcement director of the PSEB S.S. Kohli told The Tribune that on specific complaints, a team of officials had inspected about 75 houses in the colony where at least 34 residents were found stealing power.

The inspection continued for several hours and the members of raiding party got all kundi connections removed. Power supply of those stealing power was also disconnected. It will only be restored after penalty amount is recovered, Kohli added.

A few residents of the colony alleged that the power was being stolen by a large number of people on regular basis in connivance with a few PSEB officials working in the Aggar Nagar division office. “Those stealing power in the area and causing huge revenue loss to the PSEB are paying a fixed amount every month to the conniving officials,” claimed a resident.

Foreign tour fever grips city schools
Charu Chhibber
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 20
The trend of arranging education tours to foreign countries is picking up in the city. While two city schools have already taken their students to the US, three others have already made the requisite arrangements with many more planning to join the bandwagon.

Students of BCM Arya Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, and Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, have already been to the US, including NASA, Florida, New Jersey and Orlendo.

Paramjit Kaur, principal, BCM Arya Senior Secondary School, says: "It was our first trip abroad. Such tours are enriching for everybody be it students or teachers. It was a 12-day trip and we advertised about the same. Students from different classes, who were interested to go, were welcomed. Twenty two students and eight teachers went on the trip and learnt a lot from it," she said.

The principal said the school would plan more such trips in future if they get an opportunity.

Students of Guru Nanak International School, Model Town, are being taken to the same destination next month. The 11-day trip from October 1 will include 22 students, seven teachers and the principal. Principal Gulati says: "The trip is a guided tour and all arrangements have been taken care of by a Delhi-based company which deals in organising such tours. It will cost Rs 1.65 lakh to each student."

"The offer was open to students from Classes VI to XII. The response has been tremendous. Many parents are still coming to us with the request that they would want their kids to be a part of it the next time when we organise such a trip," he said.

Whether or not such tours serve any meaningful purpose, the students surely have a gala time. Afreen Grewal, a Class-X student of Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, says: "We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly during those 10 days. As the tour was organised during our summer vacations, we did not even miss out on our studies."

However, not all parents are excited at the thought of spending a fortune on a tour which might or might not benefit their kids. "After all, not every child, who visited NASA, would want to become a scientist and many may not be able to. So, the purpose of such trips is a little vague. But we had to send our child because she was really keen on going," said father of a Class-XII student of Guru Nanak Public School.

Ludhiana, September 20
Kindergarten section of GMT Public School celebrated Fruit Day on its premises today.

Tiny tots attired as colourful fruits were looking pretty and charming. They brought different fruits to accentuate healthy eating habits. Shalini Dhir, coordinator of the kindergarten section, encouraged students to include the fresh fruits in their diet.

Principal Amarjeet Dhaliwal and coordinator Meenu Tangri were also present on the occasion.

Mandi Ahmedgarh

Shortlisted: Six students of Bhutta College of Engineering and Technology were shortlisted for employment in various wings of Bajaj Allianz, a multinational company.

The selection was done during a campus interview conducted by Amit Verma and Sandeep Singh, business development managers of the company, today. Director of the company Dr R.S. Gupta said final selection would be made after an interview on the company premises. — OC

Ludhiana, September 20
Lecturers of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women (GNKCW) are surprised at the last-minute change in the name of the presiding officer for the Panjab University’s senate poll tomorrow. The college will now have two presiding officers for two booths.

Kamaljeet Kaur, the original presiding officer, said she had called up the university to learn that she had been removed. The college principal said she had only been informed about the change by the university. “We have come to know that the polling will now be held in two booths for which Dr Gursharan Kaur, principal, and Prof Veena Sharma will be the presiding officers. We fail to understand why they have changed the earlier presiding officer?” a lecturer wondered.

Kamaljit Kaur said: “I did not get any intimation from the university. When the college authorities told me that I had been replaced, I called up the university and a clerk confirmed it,” she said. Prof S.S. Bahri, PU registrar, said two booths had been set up on the request of the college authorities.

“Since the new principal had taken over the charge, she requested to change the presiding officer. The university just conceded the request,” Prof Bahri said.

However, Dr Gursharan Kaur said she did not know anything about the newly appointed presiding officers. She said it was a decision of the university and the college simply obeyed the orders. “I did not ask for any change. Appointing or changing presiding officers is the university’s decision, not ours,” she said.

Meanwhile, some contestants were sending SMS for support even at midnight. A voter said it was disturbing to get messages at 12 in the night. Some contestants were seen campaigning at various institutes with the entire college staff for. “So many lecturers are accompanying them today, which means no classes were held at their respective institutes. Why should students suffer?” a voter asked.

Ludhiana, September 20
The cake carnival at Hot Breads in Sarabha Nagar today was a unique experience for the women of the city as they learnt new recipes and designs of making cakes.

The team of chefs prepared cakes in different shapes and sizes on demands of the people present. Chef Vidhu Mishra from Delhi headed the team of chefs from 'Rich' company. The chefs had come from different parts of the country.

From rich chocolate flavours to light vanilla, strawberry, pineapple and blackforest, each cake was a temptation, especially the ones embellished with fresh fruits, candies, nuts, crunch and chocolate.

The chefs gave a detailed demonstration. It was difficult for the guests to resist the aroma of fresh baked cakes.

The show was a delight for the amateur young bakers who could not hold back their inquisitiveness to ask the chefs about easy- to-prepare recipes. Ruchi, a bride-to-be, said, "I just happened to be there and learnt three recipes which I would try to achieve perfection before my wedding in November."

A new cake creme ‘Niagra’ was also introduced. The creme is known for its non-greasy spread and luscious taste. 

Ludhiana, September 20
The regional resource centre “Mamta”, in collaboration with the district health authorities, organised a workshop on “declining sex ratio” in Punjab. The seminar was attended by NGOs, including Guru Angad Dev Sewa Society and BSB Welfare Society.

Dr Reena Sandhu, district family welfare officer, in her address spoke on varied facets of the PNDT Act and the efforts being made by the district health administration in the field. Talking about the positive results of campaign, Dr Saba George, a renowned activist from Chandigarh, called people to join the struggle against female foeticide. Following discussions, the group reached a consensus to initiate a social movement against the social evil.

Civil surgeon Dr S.P. Sharma, Dr Manorama Avasthi and intellectuals from different walks of life were also present. 

Ludhiana, September 20
Hosiery industry that feared huge losses after demand from the Jammu and Kashmir came to a halt is now hopeful with fresh orders coming from the strife-torn state.

A large number of Kashmiri buyers are visiting this city these days in order to place fresh orders and also make their pending payments. Revival of activity in the hosiery industry can be witnessed in most of the city areas, including Mochpura Bazaar, Daal Bazaar, Madhopuri, Bet Ganj, other old city bazaars and even industrial areas, receiving a large number of visitors from J&K.

As demand has revived due to the holy month of Ramzan, industry is hopeful of covering its losses. "Buyers are coming in large numbers. It is good for us as we had nearly given up hope that there would be any demand from J&K this season. If orders continue at the same pace, we may be able to recover our losses," said Vishal Bandha, a trader.

While this has brought smiles back on the faces of industrialists that were relying on Jammu and Kashmir for their business, most manufacturers and traders are still sceptical and not giving credit to their buyers. After the turbulence in J&K, a large section of enterprises had been badly hit as demand came to a halt. Payments, too, got stuck as a result of which many units had to cut down drastically on their production. The small and medium enterprises were the worst hit. "We will be able to conduct our business only if peaceful situation continues. Most of the sellers are not giving credit to buyers as we are unsure if things would be normal in future as well. We are now keeping our fingers crossed ," said Sunil Dutt, a manufacturer-trader. 

Doraha, September 20
Jagjit Singh Kapoor of Kashmir Apiaries Exports has been awarded a gold medal for being the largest producer and exporter of honey from India during the second International Beekeeping Congress held in Thimpu, Bhutan, recently.

Earlier this year, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the ministry of commerce and industry, the Government of India, awarded for the eighth time in succession the “Biggest Exporter of Quality Honey Award” to Kashmir Apiaries Exports and Little Bee Impex.

Jagjit Singh dedicated himself to the world of honey business since 1981.He owns melliferous apiaries with 25,000 bee colonies and fully automated high-capacity export-oriented honey-processing plant capable of handing 20,000 mt honey in India.

He also runs one of the biggest nationwide buy back networks for the quality honey, beeswax and the melliferous colonies from the vulnerable beekeepers thus providing them sustainable livelihood.

In order to solve the problems of the beekeepers, Kashmir Apiaries, has established a Lee Bee International Institute of Beekeeping and Agro-Enterprises aimed at providing the latest technical know-how, skill-up gradation and sos outreach services through different trainings, workshops and awareness camps.

Doraha, September 20
Local college students holding bus passes are undergoing physical and mental torture at the hands of drivers and conductors of the Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses, who not only ignore them, but also treat them indecently.

Not a single day passes when the students of various colleges and technical institutions don’t have a brush with the drivers and conductors for the simple reason that the latter are seldom willing to let students having passes board the buses.

Kush Kumar, a B.Com IInd-year student, alleged that he sustained injuries due to the obnoxious behaviour of the driver of a Punjab Roadways bus (PB-10-BP-0467) while he was waiting at the Sherpur Chowk, Ludhiana, the other day.

“The bus driver intentionally slackened the speed and sarcastically signaled us to board the bus. The moment we tried to get in, he drove away, leaving me hanging in between. As I was yet to balance myself, the bus picked up speed and I fell under the bus. It was by sheer good luck that I rolled myself out before the rear tyre could pass over me.

My ordeal was not yet over and had a second escape when I had to roll once again to save myself from an Indica coming behind the bus.

That one cruel joke played by the driver could have cost me my life,” complained the student.

Rajan Nanda, another college student and pass holder, states, “The same endless wait, agony, clashes and the same old story every day. My classmates and I have to board a bus from Ludhiana but drivers and conductors of the Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses, it seems, regard us as untouchables and speed away once they see students. If at all they halt for other passengers, we remain their most unwelcome guests.”

Narrating his tale of woe, Nitish Kumar said: “I was standing with other boys to board a bus from Doraha in the afternoon. A PRTC bus halted and that, too, half a kilometre away from the main stoppage. Hardly had I stepped in when the conductor blew the whistle. As a result, I fell down and sustained injuries.”

The problem of girl pass holders is even worse. Nikita (name changed) complains, “Boys somehow manage to board by running, but it is difficult for girls.

Moreover, the conductors try to take undue advantage of our pleas and behave indecently with us.”

Doraha, September 20
Sidhu Hospital, Doraha, has opened an exclusive pediatric ward, which was inaugurated by Dr Harbans Singh Sidhu, managing director of Sidhu Hospital, yesterday.

Dr Gursaran Kaur Sidhu, head of the medicine department, shared that a need to provide the latest facilities for treatment of newborn babies was being acutely felt for some time, as the facilities for the exclusive treatment of such patients were virtually non-existent in the rural areas. Keeping this in view, the hospital has now established the pediatric ward for the treatment and care of the newborn babies and children, equipped with the latest equipments. "We hope to add more equipments and facilities in the near future", the surgeon added.

While elaborating and giving details Dr Sukjinder Singh Wadwah, managing director (pediatrics) and head of the pediatrics department (HOD), said for any specialised treatment in respect of the newborn babies, the nearest facilities were presently available only in Ludhiana.

He said the pediatric department at Sidhu Hospital had now its own ICU, ventilator, warmer, photo therapy, double volume exchange transfusion (DVET) and piped-oxygen supply, which were essential for the care of critically sick newborn babies. "The pediatric ward has been designed to ensure a proper natural lighting and continuous monitoring of the patients by medical staff", he claimed.

A free medical check-up camp for children of all ages was also organised by the Rotary Club, Doraha, on the inaugural day. More than 150 children were examined on the occasion.

Ludhiana, September 20
The state government has made a mockery of the public health sector as it has failed to ensure proper supply of vital drugs. This has led to the increase in the expenses incurred on childbirth in the civil hospitals.

In contrast to the inexpensive services in ‘institutional deliveries’ for economically weaker sections provided a decade age, people, now, are shelling out Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 for normal delivery followed by Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,500 for Caesarean cases in the civil hospitals across the state.

The patients admitted to the local civil hospital, apart from paying Rs 375 for a normal delivery and Rs 500 for Caesarean as the fee are also procuring antibiotics, antiseptic, painkillers, IV fluids, injections, suturing material and even bandages on their own.

Cefixime (antibiotic) priced for Rs 130 per strip to Diclofenac (analgesic tablets) Rs 39, Ornidazole for Rs 44.67 and other compulsory ointments and supplements varying in prices are also being procured by patients and their attendants.

A group of doctors pointed out deterioration in dispensing system of medicine over the past three years. They added that the Punjab Health System Corporation was not bothered about the regular supply of drugs in the civil hospitals. “Despite repeated reminders, pleas remain unheard as with growing population the gap between demand and supply is gradually increasing,” the doctors rued.

The charitable hospitals across the city are charging anything between Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000 for normal deliveries and Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 for Caesarean cases and are even providing medicines free of costs in case patients are unable to afford it. Moreover, the facilities as compared to civil hospital are better at charitable hospitals.

Anwara, wife of a daily wager living near Dholewal Chowk, gave birth to a baby boy after Caesarean last Thursday in civil hospital. She said, “ This is my third delivery in the civil hospital but there is drastic change in the set up as hospital provided most of my medicine during my first Caesarean five years ago whereas this time we have practically purchased everything, including the glucose, bandages and antibiotics.”

Other two patients Sukhminder Kaur and Harpreet Kaur said they had spent around Rs 6,500 each. “My husband borrowed some amount from a relative for meeting the expenses of childbirth at the hospital,” Harpreet said.

However, Harvinder Singh, SMO, said patients were in the habit of adding up their personal expenses to give exaggerated figures.

“ At least 25 vital drugs and 44 essential drugs prescribed by PHSC are available at the hospital and there are NGOs that volunteer to make arrangements for medical expenses of poor and needy patients” Harvinder added.

Ludhiana, September 20
The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has demanded construction of sheds in government mandis at a rally here today.

Addressing the rally, district president Swaran Singh said the government had failed to fulfil its promises. "The atta-daal scheme failed and so did the others that were listed in election manifesto," said Singh.

The labourers said the government had assured that they will not have to resort to dharnas and rallies to raise their demands but they were disappointed as the government had ignored them.

The protesting workers also demanded education for their children, health facilities and cheap ration. They said the government should provide them with cheap housing.

The union threatened to hold a protest march in Ludhiana on September 29 in case the government did not fulfil their demands.

Heaps of garbage are a common sight in the city. One can see these on the Ferozepur road near Verka Plant, the Mall road, grain market near Arora Palace, the Pakhowal road, Sherpur and at many more spots in the city which give out a foul smell and are a threat to residents’ health.

Residents of the areas complained to authorities concerned, but in vain. The media has also brought it to the notice of the municipal corporation but nothing has been done.

This is a grave problem and the MC should take immediate steps to check it.

Manjit Singh Mehram, Ludhiana

Readers are invited to mail letters (not more than 200 words) at "ludhiana@tribunemail.com" or post the same to The Tribune, 1, 2 Improvement Trust Building, Badaur House, Clock Tower, Ludhiana.

SPORTS

Punjab Hockey League
Gurukul Academy win by 3-2
Anil Datt
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, September 20
Gurukul Academy players of Doraha survived a scare against their spirited opponents from Mata Sahib Kaur Academy of Jarkhar before squeezing past 3-2 in a group A match of the u-14 section in the Punjab State Weekend Hockey Tournament being organised by the Punjab sports department at the Prithipal Singh Memorial Astro Turf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University campus, here today.

Doraha lads struck in the very first minute of the encounter when Jaspreet Singh scored a fine field goal to put his side ahead. They increased the lead through Inderjeet Singh in the 16th minute while Jaspreet again found the target in the 24th minute to read the score sheet 3-0.

Trailing by three goals, Jarkhar Academy reorganised themselves. They weaved some good moves and swarmed rivals' territory time and again. The pressure tactics yielded results in the 30th minute when Amandeep Singh sounded the board to reduce the margin 1-3.

They continued to raid the Doraha citadel and finally forced a penalty corner off which Rajbir Singh scored to make it 2-3. They pressed hard for an equaliser, however the much-needed goal eluded them.

Doraha Academy lads managed to hang to the one goal lead till the long hooter and heaved a sigh of relief by wrapping the issue 3-2.

The second match of the day, played between Roomi XI and Kurali XI in the group B of the u-14 section turned out to be one-sided with the former romping home victors easily 4-0.

Gurjant Singh opened the account in the 21st minute and three minutes later Harpreet Singh scored a field goal to enhance the lead 2-0. The third and fourth goal came off Harvinder Singh's stick in the 28th and 32nd minute, respectively, which sealed Kurali XI's fate.

In the third match of the day in the group B of u-16 category, Grewal Hockey Academy of Kila Raipur defeated Bathinda XI 3-1 after leading by one goal at half time.

Kila Raipur lads surged ahead in the 16th minute through a field goal scored by Dalbir Singh. He again struck in the 41st minute to consolidate the lead. They further cemented the lead in the 43rd minute through Gurvinder Singh. The lone goal for the losers was scored by Gurpreet Singh off a penalty corner in the 47th minute (1-3).