Ludhiana, August 10
Additional Sessions Judge AS Grewal has convicted Inderpal Singh of Daba Colony, Shimlapuri, of killing his wife Baljinder Kaur, a former stenographer of the PAU, in 2007. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Delivering the verdict, the court held: “This court is of the view that he does not deserve any leniency as he has killed his wife due to his own greedy/selfish reasons as his demand of getting money was not met. Everyone who kills his wife, due to the above expectations of getting more money from his in-laws should be dealt with iron hand so that nobody in the society should try to commit this type of offence.”

A case was registered against the accused on the statement of Jit Singh, father of the victim, who said the accused was eyeing his property and used to demand money.

He said on March 7, 2007, he had gone to visit his daughter. At midnight, he heard noises from the room of his daughter. When he reached there, he found that the accused had covered the face of his daughter with quilt and suffocated her to death.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was being falsely implicated. But after the evidence of 10 prosecution witnesses, the court found him guilty.

Ludhiana, August 10
Professional colleges have made it mandatory for boarders to submit an affidavit to the college authorities before admission that they would not indulge in ragging. This has already been implemented at Guru Nanak Engineering College (GNEC), the DMCH and the DAV College of Engineering and Technology.

The affidavit provides that the student concerned has “carefully read and fully understood the law prohibiting ragging and directions of the Supreme Court and Central\State government in this regard as well as the UGC regulations on curbing the menace of ragging in higher educational institutions”.

It states that if found guilty, the student may be punished as per provisions of the UGC regulations.

A senior teacher at the GNEC said: “In the recent past, there has been a sharp increase in ragging cases. The education authorities have taken a serious note of the development and various courts have also made some serious observations in this regard.”

A student seeking hostel at an engineering college said: “We are facing a number of hurdles while seeking admissions to the hostel. First, we needed local guardians and now we also have to get the signatures of our parents that we will not take part in any ragging activity. I think mere promises on paper do not mean anything.”

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 10
The police has beefed up night vigil following a spurt in the number of unidentified bodies being recovered from deserted places, including fields, canals and ponds. Besides putting in more labour to solve suspected blind murders, the police also has to manage funds for cremating the bodies.

The attempts to get the bodies identified by residents of nearby localities prove futile as the victims usually hail from far-off places.

Circumstantial evidence in a majority of cases shows that the victims were murdered somewhere else and the bodies were dumped at deserted places.

The police succeeded in solving some cases in which the accused, members of the victims’ family, had disposed of the bodies at distant places.

About 12 bodies of men and women ranging between 20 and 40 years of age have been recovered from the area falling under the Ludhiana, Ludhiana (rural) and Khanna police districts over the past few months.

The bodies bore multiple injuries. The police had called hundreds of persons from nearby localities to identify the victims. Besides spending money on the publication of public notices in newspapers, investigation officers had hired the services of cable operators, but to no avail. The police had to spend thousands of rupees on shifting the bodies to hospitals, mortuaries and later cremating them.

“On an average, Rs 3,000 is spent on the procedural disposal of an unidentified body. In the absence of any funds available for the purpose, we have to spend this amount from our pocket,” a police personnel said on the condition of anonymity. In some cases, cremation was undertaken by some social organisation or the civic body.

Ludhiana, August 10
The state government’s proposal for providing a bus service for the city has the small-scale transporters fuming who are claiming the service, if extended beyond the municipal corporation limits would be detrimental for their business.

The small-scale bus operators, who ply their buses outside the municipal limits and helps rural transporters reach their destinations, said they would be ruined if the bus service would be extended outside the city.

They said vide a letter by the Urban Development Authority, Punjab Government, the proposal of city bus service was said to be extendable beyond the municipal limits. “This is really going to create troubles for us.

There are hundreds of transporters, who are dependent on buses plying on rural 
routes in the district,” said JS Grewal, president, Small Scale Bus Operators 
Association, Punjab.

He added they were paying more taxes than would be levied on city bus operators. If they would go outside the municipal limits, they would be charging lesser fare than them. ‘‘This would lead to unhealthy competition,” he added.

The state government had decided to start city bus service under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and had sought transporters’ help in starting it.

About 200 low-floor AC and non-AC buses are to be plied on 15 different routes identified in the city. The residents are eagerly waiting for a mass transport 
as travelling of city roads has become a nightmare due to ever increasing 
traffic and pollution. 

Ludhiana, August 10
Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle, Punjab, has demanded a central monitoring on the implementation of the MHRD notification on pay scales.

In a memorandum submitted to minister of human resources development Kapil Sibbal, Government of India, through MP from Ludhiana Manish Tiwari, RGSC, said there were certain agencies, which were making efforts to topple the spirit of the MHRD notification.

According to RGSC, the University Grants Commission (UGC) was making unnecessary delay in notifying the regulations for the implementation of the pay scales. The draft notification regarding the regulations put on the website of the UGC has exceeded in many instances, the mandate of the UGC.

In many cases, the UGC is putting unnecessary conditions on the teachers where the MHRD notification has not asked the UGC to draft the regulations.

The memorandum requested the MHRD Ministry to ensure that the final regulations of the UGC should not dilute the true spirit of the MHRD notification.

The memorandum says, “It is also observed on the implementation part of the MHRD notification that the state governments are either not serious about the implementation or are in the process of dilution.”

When 80 per cent of the enhanced salary burden is to be borne by the Central government then the MHRD should develop a mechanism to have a check on the state governments to ensure the total implementation of the MHRD notification.

It is said in the MHRD notification that the state governments should implement the entire scheme as a package and should not dilute the package.

Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle has suggested to the MHRD Ministry to formulate a committee in the MHRD, which should screen the state government notifications regarding the pay scales of the university and college teachers and only such state governments should be given the cheques of the Central government grants which have implemented the entire MHRD notification.

Many state governments, including the Punjab government, have not yet implemented the previous pay review committee report of the UGC, according to RGSC. There are also apprehensions this time that the state government may dilute some of the important provisions of the MHRD notification, which may cause disrespect to the teaching community. The circle has also demanded the full notification on the pay scales of the college and university teachers and rejected the theory of part 
notification.

Ludhiana, August 10
The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has criticised the government for the deteriorating financial health of the state. Its members alleged that the government did not think twice before increasing the salaries of politicians but was silent over the issue of demands put forward by common man.

Swaran Singh,president, INTUC, Ludhiana, in a press notes issued here yesterday said that Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal had recently stated that the state was under the debt of Rs 57,369 crores. The state was taking money on interest for repaying the debt. In 2008-2009, the state had paid Rs 4818 crore as interest. The financial year 2009-10 had incurred losses worth Rs 4233.92 crore.

The president said the state was delaying the implementation of the 6th pay commission report on the pretext of financial crunch. The poor condition of the Punjab State Electricity Board, Roadways and the Municipal Corporations etc was also not hidden from anyone. No development work had been undertaken as the state wasn’t financially sound. To save money, the government had also come out a proposal for increasing the retirement age to 60 from 58.

“But nothing has been done so far. The government is adamant to privatise many a department.

As far as demands of employees, farmers and labourers are concerned, the government was silent over this issue. But the ministers and those close to ministers were being paid handsome salaries. The government is doing nothing but befooling the innocent people of the state”, rued Suresh Sood, INTUC general secretary. The organisation has also threatened to resort to agiatation if their demands were not met by August 15. 

Ludhiana, August 10
The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace organised a workshop on youth leadership training, “Let us join hands to build a bright future”, at PAU. More than 300 student volunteers of National Service Scheme (NSS) from College of Agriculture, College of Home Science and College of Agricultural Engineering participated in the workshop.

PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, was the chief guest. The workshop had five sessions on diverse subjects, including “motivation and life skills”, “new vision for youth in the 21st Century”, “discovering my identity”, “principles of love and peace” and “responsibility of youth”. Each session had video and power point presentations on the subject.

David McLackland, education director of UPF, India, Ursula McLackland, regional secretary general, UPF-Asia, Sandeep Verma, joint secretary, UPF, and Dr Jyoti Ganesh, medical officer, UPF, conducted the proceedings of the workshop.

David enthralled the audience with his guitar. Ursula said Indians were frontrunners in understanding and propagating the philosophy of universal brotherhood, as ordained in Vedas.

Later, the participating volunteers had group discussions in three groups and group leaders shared their reflections about the workshop.

The workshop had a screening of video on, “Youth Federation for World Peace”, wherein emphasis on addressing the social problems through joint efforts was laid.

The clippings segments depicting cleaning operation of Nairobi River by involving the masses were shown.

Dr Kang said youth of today was much more informed and had a lot of energy, which needed to be channelised constructively.

He said the NSS unit at PAU had been involved in several social and civic activities such as making the campus clean and green, creating awareness against drug abuse, inculcating the tolerance, etc.

Ambassador for Peace awards were presented to the PAU Vice-Chancellor; programme coordinator, Dr KS Verma; additional director of communication, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman; and four programme officers, namely Dr TK Gill, Sarita Saini, Dr JP Singh and Dr Harmeet Singh Salarch.

In addition, 52 selected NSS volunteers were also given awards.

Dr Verma highlighted various activities undertaken by the PAU unit of NSS during the year and informed that in future also the UPF would be involved in the organisation of the NSS programmes at the PAU.

Ludhiana, August 10
The construction of a boundary wall around Sector 39 on the Chandigarh Road, a residential colony being developed by the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), has become a bone of contention with the authorities claiming that the work was being undertaken as per the original layout plan of the colony. 

Whereas, residents of more than six colonies are up in arms as they would be denied access to the main road if the wall comes up.

As the foundations for the boundary wall were being laid at the site on Sunday, a large number of residents of colonies located around Sector 39 protested against the ongoing construction work. 

Led by councillor of Ward No 9 Gurpreet Singh Gora, the residents pleaded to scrap the plan for constructing the boundary wall, since it would block the passage to the main road as well as commercial areas to be developed inside Sector 39.

The protest by the residents led to stoppage of the construction work and the GLADA staff present on the spot said they would bring the matter to the notice of the senior officials. The officials would be able to take final decision in this regard after discussing the issues of public convenience and security of the GLADA colony.

A senior GLADA official told The Tribune that they were open to discussion on the contentious issue but at the same time they had to watch the interest of those who were to become future residents of Sector 39 residential colony.

“Most of the colonies, which had sprung up around the GLADA site during the past few years are unauthorised. The residents of these colonies are not only throwing domestic waste and garbage in the vacant plots in Sector 39 but most of them are taking advantage of main sewer and water supply pipes laid in the colony through illegal connections which could led to disaster at a later stage,” the official maintained.

Even though the residents were adamant that they would not allow GLADA authorities to raise the boundary wall, the officials were confident that the matter would be amicably resolved. “A team of administrative and technical officials will visit the site and meet the affected residents to sort out the matter,” they added. 

Jagraon, August 10
The local police has stepped up its vigil to prevent any unwarranted incident from taking place on Independence Day. Naveen Pal Singh, SHO, yesterday checked the railway station, theaters, court complex, bus stand and other public places. He took the help of a dog and the anti-explosive squads to taken any unforeseen mishap.

Though this is a part of the routine security drill but the surveillance has been stepped on the directions of SSP Ludhiana (Rural) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. He told in charge of these public places to be more vigilant and urged residents not to touch anything abandoned or suspicious objects.

If such things are spotted, the police should immediately be informed about it. He, however, refuted that there was any terror threat hovering over the city. 

Ludhiana, August 10
A fortnight after the launch of the online police verification programme, members of Plateau Technologies along with the city police have launched an awareness campaign to educate people on the inter-state migrant information centre situated at the Police Lines.

As part of the campaign, they have started pasting stickers on vehicles and imparting information about the centre.

This follows poor response received by the police during the fortnight of the launch of the campaign, with the police receiving just 12 online responses.

Policemen and company members visited the Mall Road, Civil Lines and Sarabha Nagar areas raising awareness among residents about the benefits of the verification of servants.

Plateau Technologies director Sandeep Mittal said: “It was observed that residents often waited for a theft to happen to approach the police. They are ready to suffer losses worth lakhs of rupees but are reluctant to spend Rs 80 on verification of their domestic help or employees.”

Citing a recent incident in which a cashier appointed at a liquor collection centre fled with cash and jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh, a policeman said residents often trusted their servant with lakhs of rupees without even knowing their credentials. When they fell prey to their employees, they pressured the police to 
take action.”

Under the first phase of the programme, 5,000 stickers would be pasted on vehicles.

SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said information regarding verification of migrants was earlier available only through phone. With the introduction of online verification website, the facility was now accessible through the Internet as well.

He said the entire procedure of verification could be completed at home as one could register the details of their employees/tenants/servants and even upload their
photograph while sitting at home.

Gill added that the website — www.ismic.org — had a search feature that helped residents know the exact address of migrant labourers.

Residents could call 9876622797 and representative of the police would visit the caller’s address to verify the servant or employee’s antecedents, he added.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 10
A family of Brahampur village has donated a fully equipped ambulance in the memory of their members Brig Zora Singh, PVSM, and his son Dr Gurjit Singh.

The management of the local Hind Hospital will maintain the ambulance. The ambulance was presented at a function organised at the village gurdwara yesterday.

Recollecting the contribution of Brig Zora Singh and Dr Gurjit Singh, speakers, including councillor Ravinder Puri, Dr Sunit Hind and Bhupinder Singh Benipal, appreciated the role of the family in initiating development activity in the village.

Calling upon office-bearers of social and religious organisations of the area to aware prospective beneficiaries about the ambulance service, the organisers claimed that the facility would be provided on no-profit-no-loss basis. However, poor patients would be transported free of cost.

Councillor Bimal Sharma, Paramjit Kaur, Tehal Singh Rangoowal and Latala SHO Kulwant Singh were present.

Brig Singh, an alumnus of King George Royal Indian Military School, Jalandhar, joined the IMA, Dehradun, in December, 1941. He played an exemplary role during the Kashmir operation in 1948 and the peacekeeping mission in Congo in 1962.

He was awarded the PVSM (Param Vashisht Sewa Medal) by the President of India on January 26, 1966.

Dr Gurjit Singh was an ENT specialist who played a key role in starting many social service projects in the area.

Ludhiana, August 10
Power cuts of seven to eight hours during the day, coupled with unscheduled cuts and power failure due to snags for hours in the city, have led to protests, demonstrations, gheraos and traffic jams by irate residents.

Amidst this, the apathetic attitude of the staff and officials of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) is adding fuel to the fire.

Irked by erratic power supply and line faults, residents held a protest at Shastri Nagar and New Subhash Nagar and burnt an effigy of the PSEB last evening.

They alleged that in some localities, power supply was disrupted during night and was not restored till late afternoon despite repeated complaints lodged with the complaint office and approaching senior officials of the division.

Similarly, residents of around 10 colonies, including New Punjabi Bagh, Ajit Nagar, Maharana Partap Nagar, Grewal Colony squatted on the main road for over an hour, disrupting vehicular traffic in protest against frequent breakdown in power supply.

The residents alleged that they received power supply for barely two to four hours and even that was uncertain.

“We have no power supply, no water in this hot and sultry weather and our lives have become miserable due to criminal negligence of the PSEB officials, who turn a blind eye to the plight of consumers. Even senior government functionaries, including the Chief Minister and others, continue to make tall claims without realising the ground reality as far as bleak power scenario in the state is concerned,” said Karnail Singh, a resident of New Punjabi Bagh colony.

Residents of Durgapuri and other localities in the Haibowal area continued to fume and fret as the power kept playing truant all through the day today.

Affected people were sore over the evasive attitude of the officials right from junior engineer and SDO at the sub-divisional level to their superiors at divisional and circle level.

“The officials are aware of the poor quality of power supply and frequent power failure for the past many days but no remedial measures have been taken so far,” the residents complained.

In Rishi Nagar locality under Aggar Nagar division, power supply to a large number of households was affected as one phase had blown.

Residents rued that they were getting low voltage and facing voltage fluctuation for the past two days as a part of the cable had burnt but had not been replaced till now.

Ludhiana, August 10
You don’t need to starve yourself on a wacky fad diet if you want to look better in your shorts or skirts. The secret to weight loss during summer is to choose healthy foods and take in fewer calories than you burn. And it’s just easier to make better food choices in summertime, when heavy, high-calorie dishes seem less appealing.

The best foods for weight loss in summer are not only light and refreshing but also keep you out of the hot kitchen.

The easiest way to trim calories from your summer diet, experts say, is to load up on fruits and salads. Besides being low in calories, produce is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. “Enjoy fresh produce in season. You will be thrilled at how fresh, delicious and satisfying it tastes,” says an expert.

Go for fruits and salads. To keep your cool and cut your time in the kitchen, start with prepared produce, such as cut-up fruit and washed greens.

Add rotisserie chicken, soups and pre-threaded kebabs when you need something a bit heartier. Pre-prepped foods may cost a little extra, but they save time in the kitchen.

Sameera, a nutritionist at a health clinic in the city, says: “In summer one should drink as much water as one can to avoid dehydration in the body.”

But there are people who don’t feel like having their meals because the intake of water makes them full. In that case, one can switch to lemon juice, coconut water in between meals,” he explains.

“Summer is the time when our appetite reduces, so I keep experimenting with recipes. I don’t like curd, so I make raita. Fruit salads and shakes have food rich in proteins. Eating fresh fruits is the best option during summer,” adds Anjali, a regular gym-goer.

Ludhiana, August 10
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s Internet protocol television (IPTV) service, which enables viewers to watch TV channels using their fixed telephone line at home, has become a big draw among subscribers.

Through this system, an interactive digital television service is delivered over a broadband connection instead of the traditional way of transmission through a cable network.

Users also get specialised services such as video on demand wherein they can watch their favourite movies for a fee.

They can also pause, fast forward and rewind live and recorded content stored on a remotely located server by the service provider.

“Since IPTV delivers TV channels in digital form, the quality of TV viewing is much better as compared to analog transmission. We are providing 130 channels, while the monthly rental is Rs 200,” said Nahar Singh, commercial officer, BSNL.

To avail the service, subscribers will have to take a broadband connection from the BSNL and deposite a security of Rs 999. In addition, subscribers will have to pay Rs 200 each month for receiving all 130 channels, he added.

“With this, we can watch the TV channels on their television set as well as on computer just like cable TV. The IPTV is cheaper in comparison to cable and the DTH,” adds Gurtej Singh, a subscriber.

Another subscriber, Neha Arora, added that opting for the IPTV was a better option. “We have a landline connection, a broadband connection and IPTV, all of the BSNL. For a few months, we were given the IPTV free of cost for trail and were satisfied with the picture quality and clarity. So we permanently opted for it,” she added.

Ludhiana, August 10
An exhibition was organised by staff and students of the Guru Nanak Institute of Design and Technology, a learning centre of Punjab Technical University in which designs and creations of students were displayed. The clippings of student’s practical work were also showcased.

The display was all about the freedom of expressions, which was displayed in five rooms. Every room had a different theme. RPS Bedi, Dean, PTU, inaugurated the exhibition.

Center head Sukhpal Kaur said the institute believes in proper balance of curricular and extra curricular activities for the overall development of students and the institute would continue to organise such exhibitions in future to make its students efficient.

Ludhiana, August 10
Leon Ryan, a Nuffield scholar from Australia along with David Fulwood, a Nuffield scholar and an agri-professional, visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today.

In an interaction with PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, Ryan discussed the current issues facing local farm production, effect of climate change and prevailing government policies on agriculture.

Ryan said the Nuffield farming scholarship provided an opportunity for Australian farmers aged between 25 and 45 years to travel on a six-week global focus programme after which scholars pursued their individual study.

He said the objective of doing this was to increase practical farming knowledge, techniques and management skills. The scholarship provides an opportunity to study the farming practices in New Zealand, Europe, Asia and the US, said Ryan adding that his objective of the study was to know the impact of demands for foods as population expands.

Giving details, he said their farms had a five-year crop rotation consisting bread wheat (1,100 ha), malt barley (350 ha), durum wheat (250 ha), canola (500 ha) and Kaspa field peas.

David Fulwood wished to know about poultry as a venture allied to agriculture and the role of farmers’ bodies like the PAU Kisan Club in bringing more farmers to interact with the agricultural experts.

The visitors were shown around plant clinic in the Directorate of Extension Education where they learnt about the diverse services provided to the farmers under one roof.

Dr Kang apprised the visitors about the agricultural scenario of Punjab highlighting the post-green revolution constraints.

Dr Kang said by making significant contribution towards the central pool of food grains, PAU was endeavouring for the food security of the country.

Dr Kang mentioned that the green revolution had a major focus on cereals and now pulses and oil seeds ought to be given a renewed focus.

He informed the delegation that the research-extension linkage in the university was strong and partnership with the farmers and industry had served a useful component in the development and transfer of farm technologies.

Additional director communication, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, additional director research (agriculture), Dr SS Gosal, and senior oilseeds breeder, Dr SS Banga, also participated at the interaction meeting.

Later, the visitors had interaction with the plant breeders, geneticists and biotechnologists on various issues concerning research on crop improvement at the PAU.

They also visited the School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Centre for Communication and International Linkages and Museum of Water Resources of Northern India. They were presented with the information brochure about the PAU.

Ludhiana, August 10
While addressing a function at GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, Ludhiana MP and national spokesperson of the Congress Manish Tewari said yesterday that India needed dynamic and educated leaders for launching it on the path of development.

He laid the foundation stone of digital library at the college. It is the first digital library in Punjab, which would cost about Rs 3 crore, he added.

He congratulated the college management for the move. Tewari said it would give exposure to students.

The college principal, Dr Sawaranjit Singh Deol, said the college had set up the central digital library. This would be the first such library in the state, he added.

Counselling for parents

Counselling session for parents at Ram Lal Bhasin Public School was arranged by Ram Lal Bhasin Public School, Phase I, Dugri. Amarjit Kaur, MA, M Phil (Psychology) interacted with parents. She asked them not to criticise their slow learning power for it might lead to frustration in children. 

After Akali Dal councillors had beaten up a tehsildar, and the BJP leaders created a ruckus at a hospital in Doraha after the death of one of their activists following a weight-loss surgery, it was the turn of the Congress leaders, who led a mob which went on rampage at the divisional office of the Punjab State Electricity Board to protest against the disruption in power supply.

Contributed by Kuldip Bhatia, Shivani Bhakoo, Manav Ghuman and Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Sound foundations of young minds are easier laid before and during teenage. Schools thus play an important role in building ones principles and influencing ones life greatly. It goes for some teachers too, who leave an impression with their knowledge and behaviour.

One such teacher was Jagan Nath Grover, who was the most respected and distinguished teacher at DAV School, Lahore, and after partition at Arya High School, Ludhiana.

Dressed up in a white kurta, a narrow pyjama with an achkan and a turban, he used to give a simple yet an elegant look.

He used to teach history and geography as the subjects. He had also authored books on both subjects, which were widely read for decades by the students in Punjab and beyond.

The meticulous maps of India or England, depending upon the lesson of the day, with relevant details to suit the subject were a memorable reference point in his lessons.

He eloquently described India’s evolution from ancient through medieval and modern times to its partition and independence.

His command over both English and Hindi was outstanding. This enabled his description and portrayal of historic situations or events to be so forceful and dramatic that the students imagined themselves to be a part of the scenario.

His lessons were a good combination of thorough and sincere efforts put by him to go into the minutest details of the topic added with a bit of humour to make them more interesting.

He was a total nationalist but never clouded his mind in assessing history. In his lessons, he praised the likes of Bentinck, Curzon amongst others who, he felt, despite their imperialism enriched India and its people through their governance.

Contemporary events and happenings had little space in his lessons. He felt these were not yet a part of history and conveyed his hope that much of what was happening or going on in the Indian politics and society would not be perpetuated.

He had no interest in gossip or superficial talks. In the school a few, if any, could claim to be his close friends. This was not due to any eccentricity or a sense of superiority but his adherence to sound principles and values with which many did not feel comfortable. Those who did tried to emulate him in learning and values.

At a meeting in 1950s of the DAV institutions, apex body Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan, former president of DAV institutions, said both schools in Lahore and Ludhiana were fortunate in having Grover as the teacher.

Fame and recognition did not seem to occupy Grover’s mind. If and when these followed him, his way and style did not alter even a bit.

Finally, a learned and dignified teacher was remembered after more than half-a-century. The write up is an attempt to express my reverence for the ideal guru.

Ludhiana, August 10
CIA- I police today nabbed Vinod Kumar, kingpin of a gang, who posing as a Mumbai-based extortionist had demanded Rs 2 ransom from a local industrialist.

The alleged extortionist, who had gone in hiding since March, was nabbed from Faizabad by a joint team of CIA- I Ludhiana and the Faizabad police.

CIA in charge Gurpreet Singh said the police had earlier arrested three accused namely Rakesh Singh, Deepak, alias Sonu, and Mohammad Anzar Kahan, while the fourth and the main accused Vinod Yadav managed to escape.

Rakesh Singh, son traffic head constable Paras Singh and son-in-law of ASI Balwinder Saini, was working as recovery agent with a multinational bank along with his friend Deepak, a resident of Gopal Nagar Haibowal.

The third accomplice Mohammad Anzar Khan, a resident of Dhandri kalan was also doing make shift business.

SP (D) SK Kalia said the acting on a tip off that the accused was hiding in Faizabad, a police team was sent to nab him, who had allegedly called the Mumbai-based industrialist and demanded Rs 2 crore ransom.

Jagraon, August 10
The Sidhwan Bet police arrested eight members of a gang of tubewell motor thieves here yesterday. The gang had been giving farmers of the area sleepless nights by stealing tubewell engines from their fields. The police has recovered five stolen engines from their possession worth Rs 1 lakh.

Talking to the The Tribune, Ludhiana (rural) SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said a police team arrested five persons near the canal bridge at Rauwal on the intervening night of August 9 and 10.

They were travelling in a Tempo (PB 10 C TC (T) 2411) and planning to steal motorss.

Those arrested have been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Preet, of Lohara Colony, Ludhiana, Gurwinder Singh of New Teg Bahadur Nagar, Ludhiana, Joginder Singh, alias Lucky, of Lohara Colony, Ludhiana, Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, of Preet Nagar, Quality Chowk, and Happy Kumar of Basant Nagar, Barota Road, Shimlapuri, Ludhiana. Gurpreet Singh was the kingpin of the gang.

The police had earlier arrested their accomplices — Amit Kumar and Babblu of Lohara Colony, Ludhiana and Parvesh Kumar of Jandiali. These accused had stolen tubewell motors during the intervening night of June 10 and 11 from Gidderwindi and Sodhiwal villages.

The villagers had chased their Jeep but the accused managed to escape. They later had to ditch the Jeep due to accident.

Their accomplice, Deepak Kumar of Tibba Road, Shimlapuri, was then arrested along with stolen motors.

The police said the accused disclosed that they had stolen a Mahindra Jeep of Amarjit Singh Sidhu of Industrial Area, Mohali, from Mandi Gobindgarh.

The gang confessed to stealing around 100 tubewell motors from the Ludhiana (rural) area and efforts were on to recover them.

The gang used to pick their target during daytime and make good with the bounty at night.

The accused had earlier been arrested in July, 2008 in a
theft case.

They had started stealing motors again after obtaining bail.

The eight have been remanded in police custody till August 12.