Ludhiana, November 14
Taking follow-up action after issuing notices for violation of building bye-laws, the department of town planning, municipal corporation, demolished parts of three buildings, two under-construction buildings on Cemetry Road and Arora's Arcade on the Mall Road.

The exercise which was undertaken around 8.30 in the morning was done under the supervision of ATP Surinder Singh Bindra. Talking to The Tribune, Bindra said, "The MC had issued notices on November 10 and had given a time period of 72 hours to the defaulters to correct violations. However, some of them who turned a blind eye to the directions and proceeded with work which comes under the category of a non-compoundable offence. The structures of those who had ignored the notices were demolished."

According to information, the step was taken following a PIL hearing scheduled for November 20 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The sources said a complaint regarding irregularities was also send against some senior officials. Besides, the notices which were served on November 10 were earlier scheduled to be served on October 31.

Following the action by the department of town planning, joint commissioner Kuldip Singh ordered a team of 15 members of the municipal corporation to be present on the Mall Road as the commissioner planned to check the parking spaces available in various complexes. However, the joint commissioner didn't turned up and the officials kept waiting for around three hours.

Notably, there had been various complaints of parking chaos and building bye-laws violation on the Mall Road which is one of the most expensive commercial areas in the city.

Ludhiana, November 14
Yet another trouble has cropped up for Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Sumer Singh Gurjar. The Speaker Vidhan Sabha, Nirmal Singh Kahlon has summoned him in two different complaints regarding fire cracker stall allotment and for not attending a meeting of the delegation of Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone today, Kahlon said he had summoned the DC to appear before him on November 19. If he is not satisfied with the explanation of the DC on the matter, he would forward the case to Vidhan Sabha Privileges Committee comprising certain MLAs, who would then listen to the bureaucrat.

Kahlon said he would look into the complaint of Deputy Speaker, Satpal Gosain also, who had levelled allegations of corruption against Gurjar.

Recently, the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal had also ordered an inquiry against him over allotment of fire cracker stalls in city. Badal had announced the inquiry would be conducted by Commissioner, Patiala Division and he would take further action following the report.

The action against the DC had followed after the allegations that money exchanged hands during the allotment of stalls in the city. The allotment of cracker stalls was in the thick of a controversy during Diwali this time. Gosain had levelled allegations when the allotment was made. He had alleged lakhs exchanged hands during the allotment, holding the Deputy Commissioner directly responsible for the same. He had even shot off letters to the CM about the matter.

The leader had directly named the DC stating he was involved with the cracker mafia.

In the other case, a delegation of Punjab State SC commission, led by Sohan Singh Thandal had visited the city some time ago to conduct a survey of Scheduled Castes. They had held a meeting at the Circuit House. But no representative of administration had bothered to attend the meeting. The commission had even waited for them for quite some time. They had then complained to the Speaker to take action against DC for not taking the work of the commission seriously.

Kahlon said he had summoned Gurjar earlier on November 12 but he was not satisfied with his reply. So he had summoned him again on November 19. 

Ludhiana, November 14
One-way route implemented by the city traffic police to regulate traffic at Domoria bridge backfired on the first day. Traffic chaos marred the day for the commuters visiting Chaura Bazar and surrounding areas as they were stuck-up in the serpentine queue for hours.

Thanks to the mismanagement by the traffic police, who in spite of easing traffic, created total chaos and made commuters to drive their vehicle at a snail’s pace.

Frustrated by the chaos, people even argued with the cops deputed at Domoria bridge.

"We are stuck up here for more than an hour and there seems to be no exit. The queue is too long and traffic police is doing little to regulate the traffic,” said commuters.

Some commuters even resorted to an agitation against the policemen. Vijay Singhal, a commuter whose car broke down on the incline road stretch leading to Arya School, due to over-heating was visibly upset because of the traffic chaos.

He said, "I will complain to the higher-ups about the mismanagement. Before implementing one-way traffic the police should have made a reality check as to how it will affect the people.

Commuters fear that tomorrow the situation will turn from bad to worse due to the Rath Yatra going to be held. The administration should realise the value of peoples’ time and money and should also think about the environment. How much oil gets burned due to traffic-jam and causes pollution? Why are they sleeping over the matter and how can they let this happen? Every time they are made to answer, they pass the buck on to each other, said Manoj Mangat, disgusted over the prevalent situation.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 14
Over 120 activists of the Bharatiya Kissan Union (Ekta, Punjab) who marched towards Chawa village to block railway traffic there were detained by the police. The activists were protesting against alleged anti-peasant policies of the Union Government.

As many as 64 activists were detained at the Payal police station. Other activists were shifted to Samrala and Khanna police stations. They were booked under Section 188 of IPC for allegedly violating section of 144 CrPC, imposed by the administration in area.

Accusing the police of attempting to suppress their movement by detaining the protesting activists, BKU (Ekta, Punjab) state present Balkar Singh Dhakaunda maintained that the union succeeded in expressing anguish against the government.

Investigations by Ludhiana Tribune revealed that a large number of activists of the union had been detained by police parties led by Dharam Pal, SHO, Khanna, when they were going to block railway traffic this afternoon.

Satwant Singh Wazidpur, general secretary, Gurmail Singh, block president, Patiala, Amar Singh Mimsa, general secretary, Zamhoori Kissan Sabha, Sangrur, Ram Singh, cashier, Jagroop Singh, president, Patiala district, Sukhwinder Singh Tullewal, SVP, Mohan Singh Ghaloti and Sukhdev Singh Lehal (of BKU Ekta, Ugrahan) were among others who were detained at the Payal police station along with Dhakaunda.

Union leaders alleged that the government was bent on destabilising economy of the border state by exploiting farmers. "The government has tried to set up a new precedence by purchasing paddy and cotton at a price below MSP (minimum support price)," rued leaders. Though price of diesel have witnessed steep fall in international market, the union government has not bothered to implement the decrease in the local market, lamented union leaders. 

Ludhiana, November 14
The court of Additional Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar has sentenced Ajmer Singh of Dullian village, Dilbagh Singh of Raqba and Chhinder Singh of Ludhiana to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 14 years on the charges of possessing huge quantity of narcotics.

Delivering the judgment, the court held that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the charges against the accused. All accused were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh each.

Declining the plea of leniency raised by the convicts, the court observed that the menace of drug peddling was ruining the lives of the youth in the state. Such malpractice needed to be curbed with strong hands.

The accused were booked under Section 15 of the NDPS Act at the Dehlon police station on Feburary 12, 2006.

According to the prosecution, Inspector Amarjit Singh of the Dehlon police station, along with a police party, was holding a naka at the link road leading from Kila Raipur to Mehma Singh Wala village. At about 7 am, the accused were seen coming from the side of Kila Raipur in a truck.

The police gave a signal to stop the truck. Seeing the police, the accused tried to run away. On suspicion, the police party apprehended the accused. However, accused Chhinder Singh fled. Later on, he was also apprehended in this case. When the truck was searched, 89 bags of poppy husk weighing 3980 kgs were recovered.

The accused had pleaded false implication. But after appreciating the evidence on record the court found them guilty and awarded severe punishment.

Ludhiana, November 14
Vaibhav Verma (21), who was assaulted by unknown assailants nine days ago, is struggling for life in the ICU of DMCH. His family has lost confidence in 
the police.

Nine days after the city witnessed the brutal show of strength by some armed miscreants at Pakhowal Road, the police has yet to make a headway in the case.

Five persons were mercilessly attacked with swords and other sharp-edged weapons at Pakhowal Chowk on November 4. "The brutal show of strength continued for 15 minutes, but there was no trace of the police when the miscreants pounced on us and attacked us with swords," said Vishal Joshi, one of the victims.

However, the police completed the legal formalities by registering an attempt-to-murder case against 15 identified and unidentified accused, but has failed to nab a single person as yet.

Talking to The Tribune, Asha Verma, mother of Vaibhav Verma, said: "For nine days, I have not slept and have been praying for my son’s life. I don't know why the police has not arrested the accused as yet."

Vaibhav is the only brother of three sisters. His father has died 10 years ago. He is the only hope of a possible good future for aging mother.

Joshi alleged that Jasvinder Singh, a financier, and his accomplice had attacked him. He said the police was not taking any action due to political pressure.

Ludhiana, November 14
The Safai Labour Union and Disposal Workers Union held a dharna and submitted their charter of demands to Zone A commissioner Mohinder Pal Gupta.

Talking to The Tribune, the outfit's general secretary Vijay Kumar said the reason behind this protest was the dilly-dallying attitude of the municipal corporation in regularising the employees of the sanitation committee and failing to meet other demands of the MC workers.

The state local bodies department had directed the municipal corporation to abolish mohalla sanitation committees and place all safai karamcharis of the committees on a regular basis, but to no avail. The circular was issued on August 28 and a time limit of three months was given which finishes on November 28. He rued that nothing has been done till today despite their repeated requests.

He added that their other demands include pension for those who retire after April 1, 1990, computerisation of GPF and CPF funds and recovery of DA instalment from the Punjab government.

Khamano November 14
Witness through video-conferencing will be started very soon in Punjab jails so that the problem of hard-core criminals escaping when they are taken out of jails to courts can be prevented. This was stated by cabinet minister Hira Singh Gabria while talking to mediapersons at JNV Farour near here. He was here to inaugurate the two-day Jawahar Navodaya Vidalaya Regional cultural meet 2008 in which 24 schools of North zone of JNV Society are participating. He said that Punjab government has sent the proposed Bill of video-conferencing to the Governor Punjab who, after approval, has sent the Bill to the President of India for the final approval. He said that the state government has decided to open shops of daily use in the three jails of Ropar, Nabha and Kapurthala that are to be constructed very soon and the process of setting up of these shops in existing jails is under consideration.

While answering a question, Gabria said that the department inquiry into the death of the Nihang chief is almost complete and action will be initiated according to this. He also said that the outcome of judicial inquiry into this matter is awaited after which several steps will be taken. He said that there is enough place for prisoners in Punjab jails. Overcrowding takes place only when the strength of under-trials increases.

While talking about promoting tourism in Punjab, he said the Punjab is first state which has finalised a master plan to link religious and ancient places to attract tourists and a sum of 4 crore has been released for this purpose.

On their arrival, Gabria and MLA Samrala, Jagjivan Singh Khirnian, were welcomed by school Principal Anuradha Prashar, M.L. Sharma Deputy Commissioner of North Zone of Navodaya Samiti and other distinguished persons. Gabria lit the lamp to inaugurate the cultural competition after which the students presented Saraswati Vandana.

Students of different states presented a cultural programme. The audience saw the art work of students of visual arts that was aimed to save the environment from pollution. 

Ludhiana, November 14
Chief Judicial Magistrate Lachhman Singh today took pledge from the inmates of juvenile home, for not to indulge in the crime in future after being freed. He appealed them to become responsible citizens of the country on the occasion of Children’s Day.

CJM was presiding over a legal literacy seminar organised by the District Legal Services Authority at the juvenile home, where the children were lodged on the accusation of being involved in criminal cases.

He also apprised them about their legal rights. He said they were entitled for the free legal services. For this purpose, a panel of 15 lawyers had already been constituted. If anyone wanted the services of any lawyer, he was entitled for the same from the Legal Services Authority, he added.

Neeta Gupta, juvenile home superintendent, Arvind Markan, an official of the Legal Services Authority, and Pappy Abhinash Singh, a social worker and member of the State Legal Services Authority, also interacted with them.

Ludhiana, November 14
Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) and party spokesman Manish Tewari yesterday alleged that there was a nexus between big colonisers and the government at the cost of common farmers.

In a statement issued here, Tewari said the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state had evolved a new policy for setting up of the housing colonies for the benefit of big colonisers.

He pointed out that now the government had made it mandatory that no private colony would be less than 100 acres in area. This has obviously provided undue monopoly to the big colonisers. No small coloniser is allowed to set up the housing colony.

Tiwari said this had hit everybody. While the houses would no longer be available at competitive prices because of the monopoly of the big colonisers, on the other hand the farmers would also not be able to sell their land easily. Now they would be at the mercy of the big colonisers who would decide the rates of their land and sell plots to people for the housing purposes.

The AICC secretary also pointed out that earlier the Congress government used to provide NOC to the colonisers at the rate of Rs 3 lakh per acre, while now it is 43 lakh per acre. 

Ludhiana, November 14
With the scene for parliamentary elections hoting up, a few Congress leaders are lobbying hard for the party ticket for contesting the poll.

Though the name of AICC general secretary Manish Tewari is making the rounds that he would surely be the Congress candidate, a few others are trying hard for getting included in the list of candidates by meeting their godfathers.

Former MP Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, Raikot MLA Harmohinder Singh Pardhan, former MLA Surinder Dawar and former Youth Congress leader Amarjit Singh Tikka are trying hard for contesting the poll on the Congress ticket.

Senior Congress leaders said Tewari had already been conveyed that he was one of the candidates but other leaders were still not taking any chances. A few of them were even bad mouthing Tewari at several platforms.

Tewari had contested the Lok Sabha poll from Ludhiana last time also. He had put up a good fight and trailed behind with a margin of only 25,00 votes. SAD MP Shoaranjit Singh Dhillon had defeated him.

The ticket contenders, however, agree that Tewari has remained in touch with his electorate during the past five years. Still, they are leaving no stone unturned to project him as an outsider.

Sources said Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Leader of Opposition in the assembly, was supporting Tewari. On the other hand Amarinder Singh is learnt to have promised a berth to Ghalib.

Dawar was also in the race for the ticket and was making rounds of a few leaders. Tikka was also learnt to have met AICC supremo Sonia Gandhi over the issue.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 14
A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) faction led by Garcha brothers of Kila Raipur constituency received a shot in arm when the administration of 12 villages of the segment, falling under Payal police station, were transferred to the Ludhiana (rural) police district.

Dakha DSP Paramjit Singh Goraya took charge of the Sihar chowki after the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a petition filed by the sarpanches of nine villages, seeking quashing of the state government notification of including these villages in Ludhiana (rural) district.

The villages that have been included are Sihar, Kalarh, Nanakpur Jagera, Jhammat, Kila Hans, Bhikhi Khatra, Dhaul Khurad, Dhaul Kalan, Pandher Kheri, Roshiana, Saharanmajra and Zirakh.

The development is being viewed as a setback to former minister Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, besides Congress legislator Jasbir Singh Khangura as they had apposed the government's move to shift the administration of these villages to the Dehlon police station.

According to DSP Paramjit Singh Goraya, a notification transferring administration of these villages to the Dehlon police station had been passed in October last year. Though the Dehlon SHO had formally taken charge of the Sihar chowki then, further action was stayed after a sarpanches of nine villages, led by the then sarpanch of Dhaul Kalan village, filed a petition against government's decision in the Punjab and Haryana Court.

Investigations by the Ludhiana Tribune revealed that the administration had taken a decision after senior Akali leader Jagdish Singh Garcha, who represented the Kila Raipur constituency twice and had lost the last election, impressed upon the government to do so last year.

The Payal police station falls in the Payal Assembly segment, where officers are appointed at the behest of Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, sid sources.

Similarly, in Kila Raipur, it is the Garchas who have a lot of say in the posting and appointment of officers, added sources. Kila Raipur MLA Jasbir Singh Khangura had also resented the move then. He had maintained that the DSP in charge of the Delhon police station sat at Dakha, which was quite far from these villages. 

Ludhiana, November 14
Controversies mar the functioning of the District Education Office as DEO Sudesh Bajaj and teachers are at loggerheads over several issues.

Though she enjoys the reputation of being a disciplinarian, teachers have been gunning against her.

Joginder Azad, general secretary of the DTF, alleged that Sudesh Bajaj was acting against the interest of the teachers. Not content with holding meetings with people like Harish Rai Dhanda, chief parliamentary secretary, and Satpal Gosain, they had even approached Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his sangat darshans in the city. Badal even went on record to say that he would hold an inquiry into the allegations.

Trouble started arising ever since she joined the office. Her opponents in the department accused her of not having the abilities to run the office.

Though the DEO had been silently bearing all allegations, she broke her silence yesterday and said she was a victim of politicking in her office. She said she had been very busy doing her job of taking care of 560 schools, attending court cases, visiting schools, attending meetings in Chandigarh. ‘‘But now that they have complained to the CM, I have decided to send the reports of teachers alleging irregulraties to the higher authorities."

She further said they had never met her nor submitted any memorandum of their demands or complaints to her.

Mahinder Singh Kamalpura, district president, Democratic Teachers' Front, said they had been holding dharnas against her about not-so-transparent transfer policies, but she never summoned them. According to them, the onus is on the DEO to listen to their demands.

Sudesh Bajaj said four teachers, Surinder Singh, Doraha, now SS Master, Joginder Azad, Khanna, Hindi teacher, Bhajan Singh, Daad, Art & Craft teacher, and Baldev Mangat, Pomal of DTF, are campaigning against the DEOs . They had even locked up the former DEO Usha Sidhu. She said ,"Teachers' job is to teach and not go on dharnas. Their results are poor. They are in the classes for only one-third of the stipulated periods so what justice are they doing to their jobs? Their main purpose is to get the attention of the media. I have decided not to respond to them but sometimes it causes undue harrasment to us. Then we have to give our explanation against false charges. It increases my burden."

Ludhiana, November 14
Children belonging to the weaker section of society are absolutely oblivious of the significance of the Children’s Day. During a visit to a Government Primary School, this reporter was shocked to know that the girl students were not aware of "who Chacha Nehru was". There was no celebration of Children’s Day in the school, and it was just another day for them.

There are 290 students on rolls of the school, and almost all of them are the wards of the migrant labourers hailing from UP and Bihar. However, the boys had some knowledge about Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Viyas, a student of the school, said “Chacha Nehru” loved the children. "Voh topi pehnte thay (He used to wear a cap),” he said.

Raveen, a Class V student and son of a driver, said he had seen the students of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School celebrating Children’s Day, and felt like celebrating it.

Anita, daughter of rickshaw-puller from UP, has high ambitions in life as she wants to become a doctor.

Bimal Kumar, son of a mason, does dusting in a private house in morning and evening and the house-owner looks after his studies.

Anita, a student of Class III and daughter of a watchman from Bihar, is quite studious and is and has secured 80 marks in mathematics. She wants to become a teacher.

The teachers complained that they had not received flour till 11.30am today to cook midday meals for the students. There was only one lady employed to cook the meals for 300 students, who is paid Rs 50 per day. She not only cooks the food but also cleans the utensils. There were only two teachers present in the school, and the rest were attending the seminar.

The teachers grumbled that participation in the seminars was wastage of time. “The senior officials sitting in the air conditioned offices are giving the impression that India is on the move. The officials should visit the schools and see the real situation," said one of the teachers.

Ludhiana, November 14
The Children’s Day was celebrated in various schools with great fervour. Kundan Vidya Mandir campus was vibrating with excitement. The beautifully dressed-up children participated in various activities. The children of DAV Public School were dressed in colourful attires and celebrated the day with full enthusiasm in their classrooms.

The students of BCM Senior Secondary School presented a cultural programme comprising of variety of items, which enthralled the audience. Santosh Mehta was chief guest. The day was celebrated with great gaiety at Ryan International School. All the cultural items were organised and performed by the teachers.

The uniqueness of the programme at Vardhman International Public school was that the students were the chief guests.

SDP celebrated the day with full vigour on the school campus. Students presented their views about Pandit Nehru through patriotic poems and speeches.

It was a multi-activity day for Nankana Sahib Public School. Classes from Nursery to UKG enjoyed with their teachers as they had a fruit party.

Students of Tagore International Senior Secondary School presented melodious songs, dances and morality plays. Brilliant students were awarded in the function. Principal of the school Col Kulwinder Singh inaugurated the function.

Various competitions like poem writing, fancy dress, essay writing, dance and drama were organised at Bharatiya Vidya Mandir to mark the day depicting Chacha Nehru's love and passion for the children.

Bal Bharati Public School was decorated with colourful balloons. Children enjoyed games like toffee race, musical chair and passing the parcel.

Government Senior Secondary School, PAU, and teachers of Doraha College of Education celebrated the day on the school campus.

The day was celebrated with great festivity at GMT Public School, Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School, St Bawara Public School, Channan Devi Government Girls High School, Sanatan High School and MGM Public School

Fancy dress competitions were organised at Small Wonders and Kids Zone Play-Way School, where the children dressed up as Chacha Nehru. The students of Little Blossom Nursery and City Blossom School also celebrated the day. They paid homage to Chacha Nehru.

Fusion 2008: Three-day cultural fiesta “Fusion 2008”, the inter-school youth festival started at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School in the most vibrant and spirited fervour. Near about 33 schools from Punjab, UP and abroad participated in the grand event.

Ludhiana, November 14
Thanks to Pandit Nehru and his love for children that the children have their day on the birthday of their beloved Chacha Nehru today. Hence, there were celebrations revolving around the children in schools and colleges. Inner Wheel Clubs also spoke about the importance of children.

Alka Gupta, president of Inner Wheel Club Mid Town, and her team members celebrated it with the students of their adopted school under NCLP (National Child Labour Programme) in a slum of Moti Nagar.

She said even Harish Rai Dhanda, the chief guest, was impressed with how smart the children looked in the uniform provided by them. The children recited poems and were eagerly waiting for the day when they could talk about Chacha Nehru. The students cut cakes and also enjoyed special treats provided by the members and were happy to receive gifts.

Alka said they asked the chief guest to provide them land to build a school for the children.The school has to shift as it is in a rented accommodation.

Members of the Inner Club of Sarabha Nagar organised an art competition for children with special needs from Nirdosh, Ek Prayas, Ashirwad, Red Cross School for Deaf and Dumb Children and Deaf & Dumb School, Tagore Nagar, with the support of Citibank & Camlin.

The paintings were simply mindblowing.One could not think that such lovely creations were the works of challenged students in one or the other way.

The most touching moments were when electricity failed, the students stopped dancing but two boys of Deaf & Dumb School continued to dance as the music is within them. The chief guest Kanwalpreet Brar, ADC, gave away the prizes. 

Ludhiana, November 14
Gurpurb was celebrated in schools. A fancy dress competition was organised at Everest Playway and Nursery School. On this occasion, the school was resounded by the slogan of 'Bole So Nihal….'

There was a programme of dance presented by tiny tots. Cakes and sweets were distributed among children. Poonam Sharma, principal, explained the duties of the students. Rajinder sharma, president, Association of PSEB Affiliated Schools of Punjab, gave away the prizes to the well-dressed students. Sidhi Goyal stood first, Keshav stood second followed by Anmol Bhatia who stood third.

A special assembly was organised in Bal Bharati Public School. All students of Mont II and class I recited shabad. Punam Dogra, principal, encouraged the students to inculcate the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev in their lives.

Guru Gobind Singh Public School celebrated Gurpurb. The children recited shabad. Manjit Kaur, principal, briefed the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev to the students and encouraged them to inculcate the teachings in their lives.

Career counselling: A seminar on career counselling was held in Hedgewar Sabha Grih of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School by Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar. The resource person from LPU Bhuvan made the students of commerce stream aware about vast career options after +2. He acquainted the students with various courses offered by LPU like BCA, BBA and MBA in various trades, hotel management etc.

CAMPUS PLACEMENT: Punj Lloyd conducted a grand joint campus placement drive at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College recently.

The company has offered a package of Rs 6 lakh with lucrative perks as well as international exposure in countries like the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and many more. The principal, Dr M S Saini, has congratulated dean, training and placement cell, Prof K S Mann, and deputy dean S K Singla for their efforts which make this placement drive possible.

Seminar: Kangaroo Studies, an overseas education consultant company dealing in student visa for New Zealand, held a seminar on "Study in India and settle in New Zealand" here yesterday.

Doraha, November 14
Roshni-2008, a two-day annual cultural competition, was inaugurated yesterday by Sarbjeet Singh, deputy dean, Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, at Doraha Institute of Mangement and Technology.

Shabad was presented by students of Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha. A total of 13 schools participated in different items such as as quiz, drawing, mehndi, creative writing, bindas bol, folk songs, dance to the tune, poster making.

The results of these competitions are as under: The overall trophy was won by B.C.M. Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh Road, Ludhiana.

Rangoli-Shubham Mehta, Gurukul Public School, Kaddon-1, Satnam Singh, Govt. Senior Secondary School, Sanehwal-2, Gurleen Kaur-Tagore International Senior Secondary School, Sanehwal-3.

Creative writing-Gagandeep Kaur of R.S. Model Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana -1, Navreet Kaur of Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha-2, Gurleen of B.C.M. Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-3.

Collage-making- Jaspreet Nagi, Deep Singh, Rohit Bector of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha-1, Sukhpal, Rahul, Seema of Mehta Gurukul Public, School, Kaddon-2, Nisha Bhardwaj, Talwinder Singh, Jagdeep Singh of Tagore International Senior Secondary School, Sanehwal-3.

Poster-making- Amrita of R.S. Model Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-1, Gurmeet Singh of B.C.M Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-2, Komal of B.C.M. Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-3.

Bindas Bol- Tanreet Kaur of B.C.M, Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-1, Sukhpreet Kaur of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha-2, Sukhpal Singh of Mehta Gurukul Public, School, Kaddon-3.

Cartooning- Manreet Kaur of B.C.M. Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-1, Harneet Kaur of B.C.M. Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-2, Manoj Kumar- Govt. Senior Secondary School, Sahnewal-3.

Mehndi-Kanika Jain of R.S. Model Senior Secondary School Ludhiana-1, Santoshi Soni of B.C.M, Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-2, Karamjeet Singh of Govt. Senior Secondary School, Sanehwal-3.

Face-painting - Komal of B.C.M,. Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana-1, Bhawandeep Kaur of B.C.M. Senior Secondary School, Chd. Road, Ludhiana-2, Jaspreet Kaur of Govt Senior Secondary School, Sahnewal-3.

Dance to the tune - Navdeep Singh of Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School-1, Kulvir Kaur of Saraswati Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha-2, Harkirat Singh of B.C.M, Senior Secondary School, Chd. Road, Ludhiana-3.

Folk song - Ajay of B.C.M, Senior Secondary School, Chd. Road, Ludhiana-1, Rajni of D.A.V. Model Senior Secondary School, Khanna-2, Rashid Mohd. of Saraswati Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha-3.

Jassowal (Ludhiana), November 14
Ronit Bisht of Delhi bagged double crown while Shweta Rana of Haryana clinched title in the singles category in the annual AITA National Lawn Tennis Championship (u-16) that concluded at the Harvest Tennis Academy courts, Jassowal, today.

In the boy's (u-16) doubles final yesterday, Ronit and his brother Rohit brushed aside Digvijay Singh Mehta of Himachal Pradesh and N Sai Kartik of Andhra Pradesh to emerge champions while in the boy's singles final played today, Ronit Bisht faced a little resistence from his rival Digvijay Singh Mehta to bag the title.

In the first set, Ronit went down fighting 4-6. However, in the next set, he bounced back with vengeance to wrap it up 6-0. In the third set, Ronit was leading 3-0 when Digvijay Singh complained of twisted ankle and withdrew from the contest and conceded the match.

The final in the girl’s singles (u-16) played between Shweta Rana of Haryana and Prathana Thombare of Maharashstra turned out to be a mismatch in which Prathana surrendered meekly without putting semblence of fight. Shweta won the verdict without conceding any point 6-0, 6-0 to clinch the title.

Harvinder Saran, president, Harvest Tennis Academy, gave away the prizes to the winners and runners-up. All participants, their parents, accompanying them, and coaches appreciated the efforts done by the Harvest Tennis Academy for conducting the tournament smoothly and hospitality rendered to them by the organisers.

Simmy Saran, vice-president, HTA, announced that the academy would now host the AITA Super Series Tennis Tournament for Boys and Girls Under-14 and Under 16 (Singles & Doubles) from December 5.

Thank you for giving us your full support throughout the week.

The final results of the tournament is as follows: -

Boys' Singles Under 16 Finals : (1)Ronit Bisht (DLI) beat (2)Digvijay S Mehta (HP) 4-6, 6-0, 3-0 (Retd.)

Girls' Singles Under 16 Finals : (2)Shweta Rana (HP) beat (3)Prarthana Thombare (MAH) 6-0,6-0.

Boys' Doubles Under 16 Finals : (1)Ronit Bisht (DLI) & Rohit Bisht (DLI) beat (2)Digvijay S. Mehta (HP) & N. Sai Kartik (KAR) 6-1, 7-6(4).

Girls' Doubles Under 16 Finals : (1)Ankita Raina (GUJ) & Shweta Rana (HP) beat Smriti Joon (HAR) & Pooja Naranaya (DLI) 4-6, 6-4 (10-3).

Jassowal (Ludhiana), November 14
Kundan Vidya Mandir School, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, defeated Sacred Heart Convent School, Khanna, by five wickets in the quarterfinal of the Ludhiana Sahodaya Schools Complex Cricket Tournament (u-19) played at the Rahda Vatika Senior Secondary School, Khanna, today.

Sacred Heart Convent School scored 96 runs for the loss of three wickets in the stipulated 12 overs with the main contributions coming through Abhishek (40), Luvlish (26) and Sukhwinder (21).

For Kundan Vidya Mandir School, Abhijit Randhwa, Gagandeep Singh and Kunal Partap Singh grabbed one wicket each after conceding 20, 25 and 16 runs, respectively.

Kundan Vidya Mandir School made the required runs after losing five wickets with five balls to spare. The notable contributors were Abhijit (37 n.o), Sanchit Gosain (20), and Abhishek Talwar (14 n.o).

For Sacred Heart Convent School, Khanna, Sukhwinder was the pick of bowlers, claiming three wickets for just nine runs while Abhishek captured one wicket for 30 runs.