Ludhiana, September 29
Two brothers Baldev Singh, alias Beda, and Satnam Singh and their mother Harbans Kaur, residents of Jhorran village in Raikot, have been sentenced to life imprisonment on the charge of killing their neighbour Kulwinder Singh, a constable in Punjab police, in March 2003 due to previous enmity.

Delivering the verdict, Additional Sessions Judge A. K. Mehta also ordered the accused persons to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 each. The accused were also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on the charges of causing injuries to the father of the victim. However, all sentences shall run concurrently.

The father of the convicted brothers, Dalbara Singh, was also one of the accused in this case, but he died during the course of the trial.

A case under Sections 364, 302, 307, 323, 324, 148 and 149 of the IPC was registered on March 29, 2003, against the accused persons at the Raikot police station, on the statement of Surjit Singh, father of the victim.

The police had recorded the statement of complainant in Civil Hospital, Sudhar. Surjit had also been injured while trying to save his son.

The complainant had stated to the police that on March 28, 2003, at about 8 pm he along with his son Kulwinder Singh was present outside their house. The accused Baldev Singh, who was drunk, started shouting and inciting them.

After sometime, he and the other accused armed with sharp-edged weapons attacked them. They were saying that Kulwinder Singh should be taught a lesson for getting a criminal case registered against them. It was further alleged that the accused hit Kulwinder’s head with a ‘gandassi’.

The accused persons had pleaded implication. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found them guilty and sentenced them accordingly. 

Ludhiana, September 29
Residents seem to suspect everything lying abandoned as a bomb in the wake of recent bomb blast in Delhi.

The entire Gill Chowk area was gripped in panic today when a passerby spotted an abandon tiffin box at the pavement of the Gill Chowk and presumed it as a bomb.

The news of tiffin bomb spread like wild fire and the team of bomb squad was pressed into service to defuse the bomb.

After checking the tiffin, the squad said it was a normal tiffin box and there was no need to panic.

In the mean time, a patrol pump employee at Baddowal complained to the police of suspicious activities of some people, who were in a Scorpio.

Around 10 complaints of bomb have been made at different places of the city in a fortnight.

SSP R. K Jaiswal has ensured the resident that the police had made all necessary arrangements and there was no need to panic.

Police sources said the police had traced the man who made a hoax call of a bomb at railway station a few days ago.

Ludhiana, September 29
The police today conducted a search operation in the District Court complex to check security arrangements in the wake of recent terror attacks here today.

A police party headed by ASP Pradeep Yadav searched all sensitive locations of the court complex.

Sources said the District Court complex was a sensitive location from the security point of view. Despite many high profile politicians, thousands of people visit the complex every day.

The police party frisked all eight floors of the court complex and even checked lawyers chamber. The police also checked the proper functioning of metal dictator and the Bakshi Khana, where inmates are kept before their court hearing.

Ludhiana, September 29
The police has nabbed a proclaimed offender (PO), who was absconding in many cases of theft took place recently in different parts of the city.

According to the police, accused Lakhwinder Singh alias Sami used to shift his place after committing a theft. He often changed his name and identity to confuse the police.

He was previously booked by the police of various districts in connection with theft and had undergone jail many times.

Shockingly, the entire family of Lakhwinder Singh is facing criminal charges.

Lakhwinder's father Surinder Singh is undergoing jail term on the charges of kidnapping a minor girl. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 29
The Payal police has claimed to have busted a gang of miscreants that has been robbing passersby by waylaying them at gunpoint.

A police party led by Kulbir Singh nabbed Sukhwinder Singh, alias Kuku of Dhabewal village, when he along with Jassie, alias Binder of Sangalian, was going to loot a liquor vend at Jhammatt village, near here, last evening.

The accused, Kuku, who is reportedly the kingpin of the gang, admitted having committed at least six robberies last year and shot at two persons during this period. The police found a pistol and motorcycle from his possession.

According to Payal DSP Rattan Singh Brar, the accused were intercepted on the basis of secret information provided by residents of the area.

After receiving information, the police laid a naka. The party succeeded in nabbing one of the robbers, who even fired on cops after being intercepted. The pillion rider, who was later identified as Jassie, alias Binder, succeeded in dodging the police.

Investigation revealed that Kuku and his accomplice had been robbing passersby by waylaying them at deserted places. They were found involved in robberies at Raul bridge, Bhikhi, Karamsar and Rajgarh villages. Earlier, they had committed a robbery at the shop of Heera Jewellers in Ludhiana.

The investigation further revealed that the robbers used to evade identification of their vehicle by changing number immediately after committing crime.

"Even yesterday, they had pasted cello tape digits of a wrong number to misguide the watchers. While the number plate bore digits PB 10 BN 9486, the actual registration number was PB 10 BN 2436," Brar told The Tribune.

Balwinder Singh of Sangalian, another member of the gang, had died in an accident about two months ago.

The police added Sections 307, 468 and 471 of the IPC to cases registered under various sections of law.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 29
Security arrangements are being tightened to thwart any attempt to create disturbance around the venues of Eid celebrations at nearby Malerkotla town, surrounding villages and local habitation.

Besides, deploying an additional force constituting 600 cops, the police has installed video cameras at roads leading to Eidgahs and main markets in the area.

Authorities were prodded into a review of security, in view of full alert in the state that was revamped after Mehrauli blast. The security had already been tightened after the serial blasts in Delhi a fortnight ago.

According to DSP Gupreet Singh Sikand, Malerkotla, SSP Naunihal Singh, Sangrur, had directed the rank and file in the circle and had asked the police to be extra vigilant till Eid celebrations were over on Thursday. Directions were given at a meeting held last night.

In order to thwart any attempt by anti-social elements during Eid celebrations, the circle police has requisitioned an extra force of 600 cops. Motorcycle borne and well-equipped patrolling parties have been deputed to vigil the area round the clock.

The beat in-charge has been directed to search the vehicles entering and leaving their respective areas besides, conducting a routine check up of suspected hideouts of the anti-social elements.

We have appealed to office-bearers of social and religious organisations to inform the police about intrusion of the suspected persons," said Sikand adding that the police had already started installing the video cameras at certain points.

Ludhiana, September 29
In the wake of two threats of bomb blast received at the railway station here last week, security has been beefed up by the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Senior superintendent of police R.K. Jaiswal conducted a surprise check at the railway station late last evening after a tip-off that a Jammu-Varanasi special train might be blown up by two suspected youths travelling in the train. An intensive search of the train was carried out at Ludhiana and later at Ambala, but it yielded nothing.

The SSP directed the railway officials to cut down the heavy rush of passengers and other visitors on platforms, especially at the time of arrival and departure of trains, carrying migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Station superintendent Ashok Singh Salaria and inspector of the RPF Kulwant Singh today convened a meeting of porters, vendors, and mechanical, operating and checking staff at the railway station to impress upon them the need to maintain high alert in view of the threats to railway installations.

The porters, vendors and other railway employees have been told to report about any suspicious person or unclaimed object to the authorities so that timely action 
can be taken to avert any untoward incident.

Ludhiana, September 29
The ongoing controversy of the transfer of two doctors from Primary Health Centre (PHC), Mansuran, took a new turn when sarpanches of adjoining villages, along with Block Samiti members, decided to counter the allegations levelled against Dr Mandeep Kaur and Dr Gurmeet Singh.

A faction of villagers from Mansuran had accused Dr Mandeep (eye specialist) of having spoiled some cases and stealing some goods given by the Block Samiti members.

Following three departmental inquiries, the doctor concerned was given a clean chit.

Dr Mandeep said, "People, who are levelling allegations, should look at the reports of the inquiries. Moreover, fans and air conditioners are still with the Block Samiti members as they had given it to the PHC for the staff working there.

My resignation is not out of some guilt but because of constraints that I am facing due to a politically motivated group of villagers’’, the doctor said.

A deputation of the villagers from Mansuran, along with sarpanches of adjoining villages, met the state health minister asking her to intervene but to no avail.

Even the protest staged by the villagers in Chandigarh resulted in vain as the minister refused to roll back the transfer or accept the doctor's resignation.

The sarpaches of eight gram panchayats in a written statement said the PHC had a large number of patients in OPD and a number of eye operations were done.

The department, instead of acknowledging Dr Mandeep's services, was humiliating her for something she had not done.

They have already given in writing to the SSP, Ludhiana, and the Health Department in favour of Dr Mandeep and Dr Gurmeet Singh.

Sarpanches and block samiti members said cases in the OPD in Mansuran health centre had gone down to 10-15 patients as compared to over 100 after the transfer of Dr Mandeep Kaur and Dr Gurmeet Singh. 

Ludhiana, September 29
An annual training camp for NCC girls’ cadets is being organised by 3 Punjab Girls’ Battalion, Ludhiana, at Government College for Women. During the ongoing camp a blood donation camp was also held today in which nearly 58 girls donated blood. The camp was organised with the help of Krishna Hospital. R.K. Aulakh, principal, was chief guest on the occasion.

Commanding officer, 3 Punjab Girls’ Battalion, Ludhiana, Colonel S.S. Deol, thanked the principal for providing hostel accommodation to the cadets. The girls’ cadets from 19 institutions are participating in the camp. Deol informed that the selection and training for the Republic Day camp 2009 for senior and junior-wing girl cadets would also be carried out during the camp.

The activities carried out during the camp include firing, weapon training, map reading, inter-unit professional and cultural competitions, drill and PT. 

Ludhiana, September 29
Christian Medical College after almost one year has restarted open heart surgical procedures.

Coronary bypass grafting and reconstructive procedures have fetched excellent results under Dr Shylesh Kumar, who has recently joined CMCH.

Having worked at the Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, for two years and three years at Sydney, Australia, Dr Shylesh, a postgraduate from Mumbai, has had a brilliant academic record and practical training with Dr K.M. Cherian, Dr Robert Coelho at the Madras Medical Mission and with Dr Nick Hendel, Dr Ian Nicholson and Dr David Horton in Australia.

Cardiac surgery at CMCH is backed by a brilliant team of cardiologists, anaesthetists, ICU care and allied super-speciality departments working as a comprehensive team.

Ludhiana, September 29
As many as 218 patients were examined during a week-long free heart check-up camp which commenced at Ludhiana Mediciti Hospital on September 28.

Cardiologist Dr Brajesh Badhan and Dr D P Marik, chief cardiac surgeon, examined the patients following their basic 
diagnostic tests, blood sugar level, ECG and blood pressure.

Dr Brajesh stated that the sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits, along with stressfull routines, have resulted in high incidence of heart diseases.

Ludhiana, September 29
Tomorrow being the last date for filing income tax returns, corporates here had a busy day today.

In order to accommodate the assessees, the IT department also decided to keep its return receipt counters open from 9.30 am to 8 pm on the last two days.

Sole proprietorship firms, partnership firms and companies with turnover of Rs 40 lakh and more, which are required to get their accounts audited, stayed engaged in getting their work done.

As online filing is mandatory for firms and companies, most of them tried to get the task finished today itself going by their experience of the last year when servers of the department went down.

"Last year, we had a tough time when the servers conked off post noon and the work had to be done manually which was a headache. Therefore, we decided to get the work finished by today," an assessee said.

The condition, however, does not apply on sole proprietorship concerns.

As assessees, who fail to submit their returns within the due date, may face heavy penalty, tax professionals advised them to get the task done well in time. "The penalty is half per cent of their turnover or Rs 1 lakh, whichever is lower," informed Jatinder Khurana, president of the Taxation Young lawyers Association.

Last year, the deadline for submitting returns was October 31 but this time, it was pre-poned by a month.

Ludhiana, September 29
Call it wastage of resources or lack of planning but the restaurant on the top floor of the municipal corporation's multistorey parking at Mata Rani Road has few takers since its inception.

Planned to be a source of revenue for the MC, the floor is now in a poor condition with broken window panes. It’s not that the authorities have not tried to lease it out, but they have not found anyone ready to take the charge of running this eating joint.

Inaugurated in 2001, when Dr S.S. Sandhu was the municipal commissioner, the restaurant today has become a meeting place for drug addicts and gamblers.

They have an easy access to it, especially during evening and night. The floor remains strewn with syringes, drug packets and play cards.

According to sources, neglect on the part of the municipal corporation is one of the reasons why the eatery has become an unsafe place. They said, according to rules, 10 per cent of the total revenue earned from the building should be used for its maintenance but that had not been done. They said even the multistorey parking of the building was unsuccessful as there were regular complaints of thefts.

Talking to The Tribune, joint commissioner Mohinder Pal Gupta said, "We had called for tenders many times but could not find anyone ready to take the restaurant on lease." He added that since he had got the charge of Zone a few months ago, he would take up the matter with the municipal commissioner G.S. Ghuman. 

There is traffic congestion at the Dugri canal bridge especially in the morning. One can see a heavy rush of three wheelers, cars and scooters coming from all four directions of the city creating traffic jam and thus causing problem to people.

Sometime back the municipal corporation took a few steps to calculate the estimate for the construction of the Dugri canal bridge but no progress seems to happen. Political leaders of the area, when appealed by residents, make promises but situation remains the same. Through this letter, I appeal to related counsellors and the MLA to look into the matter and expedite it on priority in the larger interest of the public.

H S Lamba, 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.

Jagraon, September 29
Rajinder Singh (60), son of Kulwant Singh, committed suicide by shooting himself with his gun at his residence today. Rajinder Singh, who resided opposite Police Lines on the Tehsil road, Jagraon, shot himself in the chin with his .315 bore licensed gun in the bathroom around 10 am.

At the time of the incident, only his wife was present in the house. He is survived by a son and daughter.

The suicide note recovered from the body revealed that he was a cancer patient and it had become unbearable for him to tolerate the trauma of cancer. The police has initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. The body was handed over to the family after conducting postmortem.

Ludhiana, September 29
Cricket fans have hailed the appointment of former cricket star Yash Pal Sharma as national selector. Yash Pal, who hails from Ludhiana, was the member of the Indian team that created history by winning the World Cup in 1983.

Cricket lovers thronged Yash Pal Sharma's house here to congratulate his mother and elder brother Bal Krishan Sharma. They presented bouqets to Sandhya Devi, mother of Yash Pal, and distributed sweets to celebrate former cricketer's elevation as national selector by the newly constituted body of the BCCI.

Talking to The Tribune on the phone from Delhi, Yash Pal Sharma expressed gratitude towards Shashank Manohar, the president of the BCCI, and his team for showing faith in him and give the responsibility to represent the North Zone in the national selection committee.

Yash Pal's mother Sandhya Devi said it was sheer dedication and commitment towards the game that his son had got the “pride’’ to be a member of the selection committee.

An overwhelmed Bal Krishan Sharma too shared his happiness over the later's appointment as national selector with the visitors who turned in large number to congratulate his mother.

Meanwhile, the Ludhiana District Cricket Association has welcomed the decision of the BCCI to appoint the former cricketer from the city as selector. The senior vice-president of the association and chairman selection committee, Punjab (seniors), Chaman Lal Malhotra (mentor of Yash Pal), along with its other office-bearers and Ashok Gupta, congratulated the newly appointed selector and wished him success during his four-year term.

Ludhiana, September 29
Maharaja Agarsen Senior Secondary School, Sirsa, stamped its authority by winning top honours in the girls’ section (u-14 and u-19) in the four day CBSE North Zone II Hockey Tournament for boys and girls, which concluded at Sant Ishar Singh Ji Memorial Public School, Rara Sahib, near here today.

In the girls’ section (u-14), Akal Academy, Reet Kheri, Patiala, finished as runners-up while the third place was bagged by Police Public School, Hissar. The second position in the girls’ under-19 category was clinched by MDN Public School, Rohtak, and Akal Academy, Balbehra, in Patiala district.

In the boys’ section, SGG School, Mehta Chowk, Amritsar, won top honours in the u-14 section while Mehta Gurukul School, Doraha, and host, Sant Ishar Singh Ji Memorial Public School, Rara Sahib, finished second and third, respectively.

In the boys’ (u-19) section, Bright Scholar Senior Secondary School, Raipur (Sonepat), proved their mettle to emerge champions. Pooja Modern Public School, Pipli, and Mehta Gurukul School, Doraha, secured second and third positions, respectively.

Ramandeep Singh Grewal, former captain of the national hockey team and deputy director, sports, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, gave away prizes to the position holders. Trustees of the host school along with faculty and students were present at the prize distribution function. 

Mandi Gobindgarh, September 29
The second day of the CBSE Cluster XVI Table Tennis Tournament being held at GPS saw stiff competition and DAV, Amritsar, GPS Mandi Gobindgarh, Apeejay Jalandhar, Alpine International School Ludhiana and Innocement Hearts School, Jalandhar reached the semi-finals in the various age groups of the boys and girls table tennis tournament.

Results: Under-14 boys: DAV Int. School Amritsar beat MGN POUB School Jalandhar 0-2, BCM Arya, Ludhiana, beat Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir Fazilka 3-0, Innocent Heart School, Jalandhar beat Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir 3-0. Alpine International School, Ludhiana ,beat Ryan International School 3-0, GPS Mandi Gobindgarh beat MGN Jalandhar 3-0, DN Model School Moga beat DPS Amritsar 3-0, Apeejay Public School beat Darshan Academy Ludhiana 3-0, DPS Jalandhar beat Guru Amardass Public school, Jalandhar 3-0. AV Public School Fazilka beat Safron Public School 3-0, AV Public School Fazilka beat DPS Jaladhar 3-0, Apeejay Jalandhar beat GPS Mandi Gobindgarh 3-0, DAV International School Amritsar beat Innocent Heart School Jalandhar 3-1, Alpine International School beat DN Public School Moga 3-0.

Under 14 Girls: DAV Public School Ludhiana beat Ryan International Ludhiana 3-1, Apeejay School, Jalandhar beat Innocent Heart School Jalandhar 3-1 and DAV International School Jalandhar beat AV Public School Fazilka 3-2.

Under-16 Boys: Alpine International School Ludhiana beat Springdate Public School 3-0, Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir Fazilka beat St. Joseph’s Convent Pathankot 3-0, Innocent Heart School Jalandhar beat DAV International School Amritsar 3-2, Bhawan S.L.School Amritsar beat Greenland Public School Ludhiana 3-0, GPS Mandi Gobindgarh beat AV Public School Fazilka 3-1, MGN Kapurthala beat DPS Jalandhar 3-0, GPS Mandi Gobindgarh beat DN Public School Moga 3-1, Apeejay Jalandhar beat Guru Amar Dass Jalandhar 3-2, Guru Amar Dass Public School Jaldndhar beat Darshan Singh Pheruman Public School, Rayya 3-0, Bhawan S.L. Public School Amritsar beat MGN School Kapurthala 3-1, Apeejay School Jalandhar beat Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir Fazilka 3-1, GPS Mandi Gobindgarh beat Darshan Academy Ludhiana 3-0 and Innocent Heart School Jalandhar beat Alpine Int. School Ludhiana 3-2.

Ludhiana, September 29
Ludhiana team comprising Tarun Priya, Himani Bhatia, Sahiba Walia of Sat Paul Mittal School and Drithi of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir bagged a bronze medal in the under-14 section of the Punjab State Schools’ Table Tennis Championship held at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Amritsar, which concluded yesterday.

According to O. S. Nagi, sports incharge of the school, the Ludhiana squad topped their pool in the league phase to advance into the super league.

The city girls thrashed Bathinda in straight sets 3-0 but lost to Ferozepur and then went down fighting against Ferozepur to content with third spot. Ropar and Ferozepur girls finished at first and second place, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the Punjab State Schools Skating Competition held at Patiala from September 26 to 28, two girls from this school represented Ludhiana and won bronze medals.

Sanea Mahajan finished third in 1 km road race while Gurmehar Kaur (8), the youngest competitor among all participants, gave a good account of herself and clinched a bronze medal in the rink race I and III.

Director of the school, Lt Col (Retd), Dr D. B. Sharma appreciated the girls on their maiden achievement in the state-level tournament. He congratulated the students and O. S. Nagi for bringing fame to the school.