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Mob beats up ‘thief’ to death
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
In yet another case of mob justice, residents beaten up an alleged thief to death and injured his accomplice at Karamsar Colony near Basti Jodhewal this morning.

The alleged thief Kala, who was killed by the irate mob, was a resident of Subhash Nagar, situated just 500 yards away from the colony. While the accomplice Kiran Premi is a resident of the Noorpur road.

According to the police, several cases of theft have been reported in this area in the past few days and the residents of this area were conducting night patrolling to nab the thieves.

The residents of Karamsar Colony spotted the youths on the roof of a school in the wee hours and raised an alarm.

The duo tried to escape but nabbed by the residents. They tied them with rope and started beating the thieves.

Despite handing over the thieves to the police, the residents decided to teach them a lesson and every one tried his hands on the thieves.

The residents of the colony said the deceased was under the influence of drugs. As Kala was from their neighbouring colony, he had to face the wrath of the angry residents, who smashed his head several time against a school wall. The bloodstains on the wall of the nursery school was telling the brutal story of mob justice.

The injury proved fatal for Kala, who, after taking some painful breaths, died on the spot.

According to the residents, the angry mob kept on beating the duo for more than two hours but there was no trace of police in the area.

The police came only after the alleged thief succumbed to injuries.

SP City Sajjan Singh Cheema said, "The accused will be booked after verification of the fact.The department will question PCR officers and the officer concerned for their failure to reach the spot in time."

The police said two youths, Sunny and Sanju, both residents of Karamsar Colony, were detained by the police.

The residents alleged that there was a gang operating in the area for the past few months and the theft cases were also on the rise. Recently, some thieves tried to kidnap a little girl of the colony after which the residents decided to conduct night patrolling in their colony.

Some residents also alleged that Kala was also part of the gang who tried to kidnap the girl that was the reason he was beaten up mercilessly by the residents.

"As the police is busy on the VIP duty, there is no one to report our complaints. The residents were already very angry over the repeated incident of thefts and today they nabbed the thieves and gave vent to their suppressed anger, "said a resident of Karamsar Colony.

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Columbia varsity, PAU ink pact
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
Columbia University, New York, and PAU signed an agreement for the project innovations for reversing groundwater depletion and promoting secure agricultural income in Punjab and other parts of India here today. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the vice-chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, and Prof. Upmanu Lall, director, Water Centre, Columbia University, at a function.

The MoU has been valid for three years. Columbia University will provide funds to the tune of Rs 27 lakh for completion of the project.

Dr Kang said PAU had already inked MoUs with a number of advanced international universities in different areas of agriculture. Discussing the rampant problem of the depleting water table in Punjab, Dr Kang said working together by scientists of the two universities would help develop strategies for dealing with the problem effectively.

He mentioned that PAU had a plan to send young faculty members to institutes of advance learning for training in the upcoming areas. He hoped that PAU scientists could also be sent to Columbia University in the area of water management.

Prof. Lall said Columbia University had programmes in the areas of global resource and environment challenges, energy crisis management, climate-related research, agricultural economics, alternative energy sources, etc where PAU scientists could be interested. He discussed how the programme envisaged in the MoU could become beneficial.

Highlighting the project, Dr R.S. Sidhu, head, department of economics and sociology, PAU, said it aimed at developing and testing strategies for reversing the ground water depletion in the region through innovation in agricultural supply chain development for enhancing crop diversification and using financial and climatic risk management instruments.

He added that the goal of the project was to develop and test a model for public and corporate strategies towards sustainable water and production while mitigating financial risks, improving agricultural supply and value chain reliability.

Dr Sidhu added that the project would help promote equitable increase in the livelihood of farmers. Prof. Lall and Dr. Kapil Narula from Columbia University and Dr R.S.Sidhu and Dr Kamal Vatta from PAU will work under the project. The project entails capacity building in economic modeling through exchange mechanism.

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Restrictions on Dharna
VC’s letters irk PAU staff
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
The recent letters issued by the registrar on behalf of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) vice-chancellor, Dr M.S. Kang, about refraining non-teaching employees from sitting on dharnas, issuing statements against authorities and vitiating peaceful academic atmosphere on the campus, have irked the university employees. They feel since they are the citizens of a democratic nation, such "dictatorial" attitude will not be tolerated at any cost.

As per the letter (a copy of which is with The Tribune) issued to various heads of the departments of non-teaching employees, efforts were being made by certain employees to tarnish the image of the university in the eyes of the general public.

The document also said several statements were being made against the PAU authorities to vitiate the peaceful academic atmosphere of the varsity and the VC had taken a very serious view of this act on their (employees) part. "However, taking a lenient view this time, the worthy vice-chancellor has desired that certain employees be advised to refrain from such activities in future," said the letter further asking the concerned heads to take necessary action in the matter at the earliest under intimation to this office.

One of the employees, who was issued the letter, said if something was going wrong at the varsity, employees had every right to raise objections. "We have also contributed a lot to the institution and we are very much a part of it. We had raised objections over the appointment of a teacher to the post of secretary to the VC. Employees had organised a rally which was addressed by several leaders. May be VC did not like the revolt against him and issued these letters. But we were justified in our demand," said the employee adding that on October 30, a meeting of all fractions of non-teaching employees would be organised to discuss the matter in detail.

"Not only this, we will represent our case to political leaders, including the CM and Sukhbir Badal. Anyone likes it or not, the employees will fight for their rights," said the agitated employee. The VC and registrar could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.

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Railway Underbridge
GLADA to begin work soon
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, October 27
While a final decision is yet to be taken by the state government on an execution agency for the proposed recarpeting and widening of the old G.T road from the Jagraon bridge to the Jalandhar bypass and the Ferozepur road from the Jagraon bridge to the octroi post, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Agency (GLADA) is learnt to have been given a go ahead to commence work on construction of a railway underbridge (RUB) on the Ferozepur line railway crossing on the road leading from Lodhi Club to Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar in the city.

Confirming this, A.K. Sinha, chief administrator of the GLADA, said today, feasibility study of the project, estimated to cost around Rs 20 crore, had already been done by the Rail India Technical and Engineering Services (RITES) and the agency had now been asked to prepare a detailed project report so that necessary approval from the Northern Railway authorities could be obtained and the process for calling technical and financial bids be set in motion. The construction work on the RUB is expected to commence in the next two months.

As far as the work for the recarpeting of the old G.T. road and Ferozepur road is concerned, the MC top brass appears to have prevailed upon the government to retain the project with them. Before the GLADA authorities were sounded to take the work, the MC had invited tenders for recarpeting both the roads at a tentative cost of Rs 15 crore.

It was authoritatively learnt the government has now decided in favour of the MC executing these works, albeit with a rider that the RITES should be involved with the project to ensure the highest quality of work. Experts of the agency have now been asked to undertake a detailed study of the two roads and submit their report with the details of technical specification. In the wake of the report from the RITES, a final decision would be taken as to whether the tenders have to be reinvited or work could be allocated against the technical and financial bids already received by the MC.

The MC superintending engineer Dharam Singh informed the tenders received for the recarpeting of the old G.T. road and Ferozepur road have been kept in abeyance as per the instructions of the state government. "We shall proceed further and take necessary steps to execute the project once a final decision is taken and conveyed to us," he added.

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Pension: Aided-school staff block traffic
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
The Punjab State Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union held a dharna and blocked traffic on the Bharat Nagar Chowk for more than an hour seeking pension for employees of 95 per cent government-aided schools.

The agitators marched towards mini secretariat to submit a memorandum of their demands but were not allowed to meet deputy commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar. They too had a minor scuffle with the police and later an official from the DC office came to take the memorandum on behalf of the DC.

The protesters said former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had announced a pension scheme for the government-aided schools staff and even Parkash Singh Badal had promised it in his poll manifesto. However, none of the governments implemented it, they added.

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4 held for theft at Reliance insurance
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
A group of thieves, who allegedly committed burglary at Reliance General Insurance company office situated at Surya Kiran building at Mall Raod on the night of October 19, offered a golden awning, "chattar", as part of their theft to a deity soon after committing the theft.

The thieves, Jagbir Singh, Anil Kuamr, Deepak Sharma and Vikas, who were nabbed by the CIA police from Dugri canal bridge, revealed during the investigation that they offered a golden awning to the goddess at a city temple soon after committing the theft.

Dilpreet Singh, CIA II in charge, said during the interrogation, Jagbir Singh, who used to work at Reliance General Insurance centre as security guard, admitted to have committed the burglary.

The police said Jagbir Singh was the mastermind of the burglary. On the night of burglary, his accomplice went upstairs and overpowered the security guard Sonu Gumber and then took away the safe containing cash Rs 1,43,000 and two laptops. Meanwhile, Jagbir kept on sitting in the car.

The police has recovered the cash and the laptops from the accused.

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Markets in Diwali mode
Manav Ghuman
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
With only one day to go for the festival of lights markets are dazzling with a wide range of gift items and other decorative material without which Diwali is incomplete.

Every market, be it Ghumar Mandi, Sarabha Nagar or Model Town, is shimmering with articles like candles, idols of Laxmi and Ganesha and door hangings which add a zing to the festival. People are flocking to buy gifts, decoration stuff and pooja.

From electronic goods to crockery, from chocolates to cookies, people have a number of options to choose from suiting their taste and pocket.

Idols of Laxmi-Ganesha are considered the best gift for the festival. While some are buying them in gold and silver, still others prefer rexin-made idols. Fitted with stones and jarkans, the price of these idols start from Rs 500. Apart from electronics, a variety of household items like vases, clocks, decorative statues, candles are on the list of the shoppers.

Chocolates in attractive packaging are the other most sought-after option. In fact, chocolates have become a good substitute for traditional sweets. Every bakery in the city is catering to the needs of chocolate and cake lovers.

Cookies are yet another choice. Cookie Man has launched an entire range of festive-themed premium packaged hampers. The hampers include a wide array of traditional and contemporary designs, reflecting the warmth and vibrancy of the festival. Customers can choose from a wide variety of packaging, including ceramic, glass, steel and cane-engraved boxes decorated with diyas and motifs in brilliant colours.

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Sweets for health conscious, too
Manav Ghuman
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
Even after the seizure of synthetic koya from the city, it fails to dampen the spirits of the people to buy sweets. Heavy rush was witnessed today at all major sweetmeat shops in the city.

Diwali is considered incomplete without sweets as these are an integral part of the celebrations. Every year, sweet sellers come up with something strikingly different from the stuff being sold at normal days.

For those who do not want to indulge in increasing the calorie count, they can have special sugar-free sweets. Though slightly priced high, the people do not mind paying extra for the same. The range of sugar-free sweets includes pinni, besan laddoo, rasgulla, rasmalai burfi and rabri.

"People are going for in for sugar-free sweets as every individual these days are watchful about their weight. In routine days also we are having good sales of the sugar-free sweets," said Mohan Lal at Bikaner Mishthaan Bhandar.

The basic sweets like motichoor laddoo, burfi, gulabjamun, rasugulla, kalakand and peda are always on the wish list of every individual. But to catch the taste of the kids who are addicted to chocolates these days, sweet sellers have started adding a dash of chocolate in their sweets. Chocolate burfi, jammu burfi, bournvita burfi, chocolate peda and chocolate rolls are there to cater to the needs of the kids.

"Though I hate eating sweets but I have developed a special liking for Jammu burfi and it is there in our home at every special occasion," adds Jairaj, a student of class first at Guru Nanak Public School.

Sweetmeat shop owners are also offering attractive packaging for the sweets. Boxes in the shape of Laxmi-Ganesh in different colours have become an instant hit with the consumers.

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Cracker show held
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
A cracker show was held yesterday evening at Sutlej Club in order to celebrate Diwali. An artist had specially come from Muzzafar Nagar for the “aatishbaazi” show. Club members had a gala time while enjoying the pre-Diwali event. Such functions knit people closely and give them a chance to enjoy the spirit of the festival together.

Meanwhile, Sat Paul Mittal School glittered with the glitz of diyas and rangoli. The array of diyas lit by dainty little kindergartens was a treat for the eyes. Every nook and corner of the campus was brimming with gaiety and festivity.

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Indian crackers score over Chinese
Sales dip due to high prices

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
After taking the market by storm, China, it seems, has failed to catch the fancy of the people when it comes to crackers as they still prefer buying India-made crackers. People like to celebrate Diwali with clatter of crackers.

As China-made crackers have a low sound quality, they prefer country-made crackers.

The recession in the economy has also shown its effects on the sale of crackers. Crackers, this year, are costlier and the discount offered on them is low as compared to the last year. Though the crackers are being sold at a price less than the MRP, still they are 15 per cent costlier than the last year.

Baljinder Singh, one of the cracker stall owners, said if last year a customer had shed Rs 30,000 on crackers, this year he is buying crackers only worth Rs 10,000. "The prices of crackers are high that has led to decrease in the sales," he added.

Golden willow, golden Chicago, twelve stars, golden flash, golden rain and golden world are some of the crackers which are selling like hot cakes. "I prefer buying India-made crackers as they are more powerful and have a high sound quality as compared to those made in China," adds Hardeep Singh, a customer. Though China is leading in every field, but when it comes to crackers, the preference of the consumers lie with made-in-India tag.

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Doctors warn people against unsafe sweets
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
The IMA, Ludhiana, has appealed to the people to eat fresh and genuine sweets and be vigilant against spurious and stale sweets, especially those containing milk and milk products like khoya and cheese.

It is necessary to check the date of manufacturing and expiry in canned food items and drinks, stated IMA officials.

The doctors said people should not play with fireworks as this caused injury through inhalation of poisonous gases like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and suspended particles like carbon and metals leading to choking and aggravation of asthma.

In addition, the loud noise causes deafness, rise in blood pressure and heart rate and mental stress. However, if the children insist they should be educated about the harmful effects of the crackers and should be allowed fireworks in the open.

The IMA, while giving further instructions, stated that in case of any burn injuries, the affected part should be washed with cold water immediately and a qualified doctor should be consulted for further treatment. It is necessary to prevent eye and ear injuries and prompt specialist treatment should be sought in case of any such injury.

Diabetics, hypertensive and cardiac patients are advised to observe dietary restrictions by avoiding excessive sweets and fat-rich diet while asthmetic and patients prone to allergy should keep their inhalers with them to avoid any exacerbations.

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High-intensity crackers hazardous for pregnant women
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
High-intensity fireworks can produce irreversible side effects on pregnant woman and disturb her child in the womb, revealed Dr Vineeta Munjal, consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, Guru Teg Bahadur Charitable Hospital, Ludhiana.

While citing the example of women exposed to blast trauma during festival season during the past three months of pregnancy, who were admitted with excessive movements of the unborn baby in the womb, Dr Munjal said these women had to be hospitalised with strict bed rest and were kep under medication. Often women came with pre-term labour pains due to exposure to high-intensity sounds, she added.

Restlessness, irritability, hypertension and hysteria were the other features noted in pregnant women exposed to noise and chemical trauma of pyrotechnics. Crackers exploded in narrow alleys and closed spaces, especially by children, were the culprits in the maximum number of cases.

Dr Munjal said children born to women with prolonged exposure to a particular low-sound level did not suffer from any adverse effects, but if pregnant women were subjected to very noisy situations after fifth month of the pregnancy, when the ears of the unborn child have developed and the baby can perceive sound, newborns could not tolerate loud noises and began crying every time they were exposed to such sounds.

Dr Munjal suggested that women in the second and third trimesters should avoid exposure to fireworks which produced very loud noise. If exposed to noise or blast trauma, they required immediate admission to the labour room for monitoring the status of the yet-to-be-born baby and delivery if need be, she added.

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Lotus Blooms
All roads lead to flower shops
Manav Ghuman
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
At the time when people were today seen rushing towards the cracker and sweet shops for their last-minute shopping, huge rush was also witnessed outside flower shops in the city. People were seen jostling each other at flower shops outside the mandirs to buy lotus flowers. Reason: Lotus is considered to be the main ingredient of Laxmi puja.

People perform Laxmi puja on Diwali night to invite Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth, to their homes. Since the Goddess stands on lotus flower while showering coins on the same so it is considered auspicious to perform puja with lotus flowers. For the festival, flowers have specially flown in from Kolkata.

As on Valentine’s Day roses are sold in black, the same scene prevailed outside the shops selling lotus flowers. Normally one lotus flower costs between Rs 5 and 10, but today the flowers were sold for Rs 25-30. Lucky were those who had their advance booking for the flowers.

Sanjay, a flower seller outside Durga Mata Mandir, Rakh Bagh, said today they were selling lotus flowers for Rs 25 to those who had their advance booking while the customers who did not have their bookings earlier were sold the flowers at Rs 50. "Tomorrow, the same flowers will be sold between Rs 100-150 per piece," he predicted. Ludhiana was known as the city of riches, but still people here did not want to leave any chance to enhance their wealth, he said.

Mannat Singla, a city resident, said she had her advance booking for the lotus flower and got it for Rs 25, whereas tomorrow, it would be difficult to get one. "I booked it in advance because I did not want to take any chances," she adds. Lotus flower will also be available at the selected florists tomorrow.

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Meanwhile, depression on the rise
Anshu Seth
Tribune News Service

To elevate mood

  • Indulge in social activity
  • A cup of coffee with lots of chocolate too is a good anti-depressant
  • Sunshine is another easy remedy to lift up the morose spirits
  • Avoid alcohol as it enhances depression

Ludhiana, October 27
Despite the ongoing festivities, depression is on the rise in all age groups in the city after the onset of winter. Leading psychiatrists, homoeopaths and Ayurveda experts in the city are getting 3-4 cases of depression every day wherein people feel lethargic and avoid company.

Dr Rajiv Gupta, leading psychiatrist, said people desist from going to their workplaces and try to confine themselves indoors. "Adolescents too stay away from their classes and there is considerable decrease in their physical activity," the doctor went on to add.

North Indians are the worst sufferers as people with acute depression develop negative thoughts thereby stirring suicide instincts in them, said Dr Gupta.

Interestingly, a psychologist summed up the weather as a spoilsport in terms of romance as he cited the example of some newly wedded couples coming to him with problems of detachment for their counterparts.

Pointing towards the psychosomatic disorders, Dr Mukhtinder, a paediatric homoeopath, said the tedious lifestyle and stress in mothers had also resulted in infantile depression cases. "I am treating one-year-old child suffering from infantile depression, who didn't smile or react till recently. But following the treatment, the child is gradually responding," he added.

However, science proclaims the rising depression during this year with the shifting of neurotoxins in the body which the astrologers phrase as the direct outcome of the change in the position of moon.

The experts while giving the list of remedies for seasonal depression called upon people to indulge in social activity. A cup of coffee with lots of chocolate too is a good anti-depressant as it serves as a stimulant driving away the sluggishness. Sunshine is another easy remedy to lift up the morose spirits.

At the same time the doctors advised people to avoid alcohol as it enhances depression and adds to the melancholic state of mind.

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Gun culture booms
Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
In a new-found penchant for guns, at least 400 apply for gun licences every month. The fact is important in the context of three gruesome killing on Saturday. All involved had licensed weapons that brings to the fore the dirty face of the prevailing gun culture in the city.

The two incidents on Sunday, where a paramour killed his beloved and later in the day a lover shot his beloved and himself, were not the stray ones. Murders at the pistol point have been on the rise since past few months.

First major killing came to light when the notorious Shiv Sena youth wing leader Suraj Ahluwalia allegedly shot the taxi driver Kawaljeet by using the service revolver of his gunner.

Barely a week after the incident, another youth leader of the Samajwadi Party Taranjit Singh allegedly shot a youth Vikas Kumar near Daba road on September 15.

Recently, three brothers - Inderjeet Singh, Bhagwant Singh and Jasvir Singh - of Sehjad village allegedly shot a youth Manvir Singh of Gill village. Manvir is still recuperating at DMC Hospital.

With the district administration is going soft on curbing the gun culture, the day is not far when it will take a volatile shape. As every one seems to be keen to carry a gun soon the menace will go beyond the hand of the district administration, said Amit Behal, an insurance executive.

The police, which is already reeling under immense staff shortage, it will be difficult for it to safeguard the city from the growing gun culture.

K.B.S Sodhi, former president of the PCCTU, said, "You curb violence only by restricting the easy availability of weapon. How can you curb violence by making the weapon easily available to people with criminal background? Thorough, verification is must before issuing a licence."

Incidents have been reported in the past when children carried weapons owned by their parents in their schools.

Jasvir Singh, an educationist, said, "If we keep on promoting the gun culture like this, the day is not far when we will find ourselves in a similar situation in which the American society is going through."

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From Schools
Contests mark Diwali celebrations
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
Lord's Divine Public School, Grewal Colony, the Noorwala road, held a rangoli competition here today to celebrate the festival of lights- Diwali. Candle decoration and diya decoration contests were also held on the occasion. All three competitions were divided into three groups. Group A consisted of classes II and III, Group B consisted of classes IV and V and Group C consisted of middle classes. All winners were given trophies and participants were given certificates of participation by principal H.C. Gupta.

Diya decoration

The air of festivity engulfed students of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Kitchlu Nagar, today on the occasion of Diwali celebrations. Tiny tots of classes I and II exhorted their creativity by making glittering candles, beautifully decorated diyas in a diya decoration competition for the students of III-V. Sculpture and thali decoration competitions were also organised for the students of classes VI-VIII.

Diwali in unique way

Vardhman International Public School celebrated Diwali in a unique way. Weeklong celebrations concluded today with students enacting the scenes from Ramayana. They presented Ram Stuti and Ram Bhajan. The weeklong celebrations included various competitions like rangoli, card making, diya and candle decoration. Chief guest Vijay Kumar Jain, president of the society, did the coronation of the character of Lord Rama as depicted in the Ramayana. Principal Dr Anima Jain, highlighted the importance of Diwali celebrated amongst different religions and told the students the true meaning of the festival to adopt the path of truthfulness as truth was always victorious.

Rangoli contest

On an auspicious occasion of Diwali, different competitions were held today at Sanatan High School, Deep Nagar. Students from classes VI to X participated in various competitions, including candle making, and rangoli.

All students looked enthusiastic celebrating the favourite festival. President Rajan Kashyap and manager Chaman Lal Sachdeva encouraged the students to take part in such activities.

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Teachers condemn state government
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
Representatives of the Ludhiana unit of the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), Punjab, have condemned the Punjab government for failing to address grievances of computer teachers in the state.

In a press note issued here today, the outfit's district president Mahinder Singh Kamalpura, Joginder Azad, Jarnail Singh and Shiv Dev Singh, said the state government's attitude was proving that it was not ready to keep its promise, which it had made during the polls.

The demands put forward by the computer teachers were their right but lathi charge on them showed that the SAD-BJP alliance was deviating from its words, the leaders added.

Kamalpura appreciated the DEO (elementary) for bringing transparency in the process of station allotment to the newly appointed teachers and alleged that the DEO (secondary) didn't perform its duty well as she didn't put the lists of vacant posts on the notice board.

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50 poplar trees stolen
Tribune News Service

Khanna, October 27
Two farmers from Samrala and Machhiwara have lodged complaints with the police that poplar trees grown in their farms were cut and stolen by someone late last night. The farmers rued that they were about to cut the trees to sell it in the market.

Baldev Singh, a resident of Machhiwara, complained that the thieves took away his 20 poplar trees from his farms in Boha village last night. The thieves axed the trees, probably with some electronic cutter, and would have taken these away in tractor. A case in this connection has been registered. The police is investigating the case. No arrests have been made so far.

While Satnam Singh, a resident of Phulka village, complained that his 30 poplar trees were stolen from Garhi late last night. He also suspected that the trees were chopped off with the help of modern woodcutters. The police has not registered a case in this regard.

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City remembers Pritam Singh
K.S. Chawla

Ludhiana, October 27
The Shiromini Sahitkar principal Pritam Singh, who passed away on Saturday in Patiala, had a close association with Ludhiana. Besides, serving as the principal of Government College for Boys, he also served as the president of the Punjabi Sahit Akademi.

It was during the tenure of Pritam that the Golden Jubilee of Government College for Boys was celebrated with all pomp and show in 1970, which was attended by a galaxy of old students. Those who participated in the celebrations included Sahir Ludhianvi, Harkishanlal an internationally renowned painter, Amrita Pritam and Shiv Batalvi.

An Indo-Pak mushaira was also organised on the occasion, which attracted Urdu poets from across the border.

He also served the Punjabi Sahit Akademi as its president after the death of Dr Mohinder Singh Randhawa, then president of the Academi.

He was honoured by the Punjabi Sahit Akademi with a lifetime achievement award of Kartar Singh Dhaliwal Shiromini Sahitkar Award and was also presented an award of Rs 1 lakh. Instead of taking the money home, he put Rs 20,000 more in the amount given and gave it to the Punjabi Sahit Akademi, which instituted Mata Jaswant Kaur Memorial Award of Rs 11,000, to be given to a writer, who writes children’s literature in memory of Pritam’s mother. Prof Prithipal Singh Kapoor, former pro vice-chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, while paying his tributes to Pritam said a doyen of Punjabi studies had passed into history. He was the one who after the partition got associated with the development of Punjabi language, said Kapoor.

Gurbhajan Gill, a popular Punjabi poet, said he had the fortune of working with him in the Punjabi Sahit Akademi and he treated him as his Guru.

Meanwhile, a condolence meeting was held today to pay tributes to Prof Pritam Singh at Punjabi Bhawan. General secretary of the academy, Dr Sukhdev Singh said Prof Pritam Singh during his tenure as the president of the academy took the academy to new heights.

"Writers will always remember him for his contribution," he said. Janmeja Singh Johal, while paying tributes, added that writers would always follow the path shown by him and his contribution to the literary world cannot be ignored.

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Prabhjot, Jaspreet crowned Miss Farewell
Our Correspondent

Khamano, October 27
Students of Victor Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences, Ranwan, celebrated Diwali and a farewell-cum-fresher party was also organised by the students. Chief guest Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, a member of the All-India Congress Committee, presided over the function.

In her address, she said nursing was a noble cause. Giddha, bhangra, songs and cultural programme were presented by the students of the institute. During a modelling contest, Prabhjot Kaur and Jaspreet Kaur were declared Miss Farewell while Manjeet Kaur and Veenu Rani were declared Miss Fresher. The winners were honoured by the institute on the occasion. Director Col B.S. Garcha (retd) thanked all and wished good luck to the outgoing students and welcomed the freshers.

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Two electricians suffer burns
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
Two electricians suffered burn injuries after a transformer exploded at Satluj Club here this evening.

The hot oil of the transformer fell on the face and hands of Kirpa Shanker and Manjit Singh.

The victims were rushed to a trauma centre in a serious condition.

The exact cause of the incident could not be found out.

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Letters

Better late than never

As per notification issued by the Central Government, ban on smoking in public places comes into force. Better late than never. It should have been done earlier. Smoking is banned in public places, including hospital buildings, educational institutions, auditorium, railway waiting rooms, work places, shopping malls, libraries, etc.

Any violation of the Act is punishable offence with a fine of Rs 200. To implement this Act, display boards with message should be put up in Punjabi, Hindi and English. Social organizations. District administration should strictly work for the implementation of this Act.

H S Lamba
Dugri, Ludhiana

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Jarkhar lads win hockey c’ship
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
The lads of the Jarkhar Hockey Academy again proved their worth by winning the 54th Punjab State Inter-District Schools Hockey Championship in the Under-19 category played at Mata Sahib Kaur Hockey Stadium, Jarkhar, here today.

The academy lads made all their opponents bite the dust in the super league encounters and emerged champion by registering seven points in three matches.

In the final encounter, the academy boys beat Ludhiana district hockey team by 7-0.

In their pervious encounters, the academy lads beat SAI Academy, Patiala 3-1, while the match ended in a draw against Sangrur Academy 2-2.

Sandeep Singh of Jarkhar Hockey Academy stood man of the tournament.

In the girls section, Ludhiana sports wing beat Karon wing Taran Taran 1-0 to achieve the title in the girl section.

Manpreet Singh Ayali, chairman, Zila Parishad, distributed the prizes to the teams.

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KVM shooters bag bronze
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27
Girls of Kundan Vidya Mandir School won bronze medal in the junior category of air pistol during the All-India KSS Inter-School Shooting Competition held in Meerut from October 21 to 25.

The winning team comprised Mehak Gupta, Aditi Sewak and Vagisha Sharma. The event witnessed participation of 80 schools.

In the men's category, Aank Dhanda got the third position in air pistol junior as he scored 362 out of 400. School principal Rajiv Nagalia congratulated the team and coach Chander Sharma for their performance.

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