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Violence
Row over migrant’s death
Dhandari Kalan residents claim he died of bullet injury; cops, hospital think otherwise
Jyotika Sood
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
Controversy over the death of one of the seriously injured persons during the police-mob clash at Dhandari Kalan on Friday took an ugly turn the body was brought from the Civil Hospital to his home.

The deceased has been identified as Amir Hasan (35), a resident of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. He was living in the city for the past 20 years.

The discharge slip issued by the Civil Hospital to the family states that the migrant died following “peritonitis” (inflammation of peritoneum), the residents of Dhandari Kalan alleged that the victim has succumbed to bullet injuries.

Following the claims and counter-claims, the police finally took the body back to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination after 2 pm. The body was released by the Civil Hospital in the morning. However, the police took it back to the hospital in the afternoon thus making the situation more traumatic for the bereaved family. The post-mortem report was yet to arrive till the filling of the news item.

Talking to The Tribune, Hasan’s brother-in-law Shamsudin said: “I live near the Vishkarma Chowk and when I came to know about the police action against the migrants on Friday, I called up Hasan’s neighbour the same evening. He said a bullet had hit him and medical aid had been provided to him and he was fine.”

“But after a day or so, Hasan’s condition deteriorated and he started complaining about severe stomach pain. We were told by the doctors to get an ultrasound done and the reports stated that intestine has ruptured and blood is required. I immediately called his family and by the time they arrived, he was no more,” added Shamsudin.

While Hasan’s wife was in the state of shock, his son gathered strength to tell about his father. Hasan’s son Mohammad Qutabdin Ali said: “My maternal uncle Shamsudin informed us that condition of father is not well and he is admitted to the hospital. When I along with my mother reached Ludhiana at 8 pm yesterday, we were told that he had expired on December 8.”

Hasan’s wife and son were shocked at the death. ‘‘He was in the city for the past 20 years but we never knew that the city, which gave us so much, would one day consume our dear one, ’’ said his son.

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No bidders for LIT complex, auction called off
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, December 10
The public auction for a Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) commercial complex in an upmarket residential-cum-commercial area of the city slated for today failed to evoke any response. The built-up modern complex is located on Maharani Jhansi Road in an area of 2.22 acres

Not even a single bidder turned up at the venue, nor did any one deposit the one percent eligibility fee even as LIT chairman Ashok Juneja and other senior officials including SDM Prem Chand were kept waiting for the auction proceedings to commence. After more than an hour the auction was called off.

The freehold commercial complex with an area of 7,634 square yards, and constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore, was to be put under the hammer as a single unit at a reserve price of Rs 197 crore. The intending bidders were required to deposit one percent of the reserve price before participating in the auction.

Talking to reporters after postponement of the auction, Juneja said that prevailing slump in the real estate sector and the dismal investment scenario might have kept buyers away from the auction. "We shall review the matter in depth and forward a proposal to the Punjab government to obtain approval to sell the complex in parts in such a manner that the LIT did not suffer any financial loss”, he added.

Before it had decided to sell the complex as a single unit at a reserve price of Rs 197 crore, the trust had had talks with the local government department to sell the property in separate units of shops, offices, showrooms, food marts and penthouses with an expected yield of Rs 105 crore. However, the state government shot down the proposal and asked the LIT to sell the property as a single unit, which could enhance the returns.

With a floor area of 118,000 square feet excluding the basement, the complex has a parking area for 251 cars in the basement and lower basement, space for two banks and 12 showrooms on the ground floor, two restaurants, one departmental store and 11 showrooms on the first floor, 36 offices and four shops on the second, third and fourth floors and 8 penthouses on the fifth floor.

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Schoolteacher dies
Suspected to have contracted H1N1 virus
Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 10
A government schoolteacher of the local town, first suspected patient of Mandi Ahmedgarh, died at a multi-specialty private hospital in Ludhiana today. He had been admitted to the hospital two days ago. Health officials are keeping their fingers crossed and waiting for the report of his samples.

Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dr Chandan Jit Kondal said the victim, Bhupinder Singh Grewal, a physics lecturer at Government Senior Secondary School, Bhogiwal, who was admitted to the multi-specialty hospital died at about 4 am today.

The hospital authorities informed the health officials that the patient was suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome at the time of admission. Later, however, it was observed that he had developed symptoms similar to swine flu.

His samples were taken during treatment in Ludhiana and sent to the PGI, Chandigarh. The report is awaited.

The administration was mulling action against the hospital as it handed over the body, suspected to carry dreaded virus, to kin of the deceased without taking necessary precautions.

“We took preventive measures immediately after receiving information about the death suspected due to the swine flu. A team of physicians led by Dr Karnail Singh sealed the body in polythene bag and supervised rituals till its cremation,” said Dr Kondal claiming no relative or friend was allowed touch the body. Contrary to common practice, the body was not bathed before cremation.

The civil surgeon, however, admitted that the doctors in Ludhiana had committed a blunder by handing over the body to family in open without, warning them of threat of contracting the virus in case it was a positive case.

Maintaining that it was a first suspected case of swine flu in Sangrur district, Dr Kondal said preventive measures would be taken in case samples sent for chemical examination turn positive.

“In case it turns out to be positive case of swine flu, we will start prophylactic treatment of all members of the victim’s family and acquaintances and get them examined for the virus,” said Dr Kondal.

The deceased is survived by a son and wife besides old parents.

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‘Jan Aushadhi’ fails to benefit poor
Anshu Seth
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
‘Jan Aushadhi’, the low-cost generic drug store at the city’s Civil Hospital, has been unsuccessful in benefiting less well-off patients visiting the hospital as the doctors there reportedly continue to prescribe patented (branded) drugs that are not available at the drug store.

This has defeated Jan Aushadhi’s purpose which is to “serve the economically weaker sections” by providing them medicines at discount. The generic drugs that it stocks and are procured by the government are priced lower as compared to branded medicines.

When Jan Aushadhi was opened at the Civil Hospital last June by Punjab Health Minister Laxmikanta Chawla, she had asked the hospital to ensure that doctors would prescribe only the medicines that were available at the new drug store.

Instead, patients have to buy expensive medicine manufactured by multinational companies and big pharmaceutical firms from outside the hospital.

Krishan Chand, the drug store’s manager, had filed a written complaint on the matter to the Civil Hospital SMO Dr Harvinder Singh, following which the assistant civil surgeon marked an inquiry. "Unfortunately nothing has been done about the issue as members of the inquiry committee are also doctors. The latter are part and parcel of the system wherein doctors take commissions from drugstores outside the hospital for prescribing branded drugs," alleged Chand.

Out of a list of 300 generic medicines the state government has already provided 160 drugs for Jan Aushadhi. However, doctors at the Civil Hospital choose to prescribe branded drugs that cost twice or thrice as much.

Citing the example of Augmentin syrup (an antibiotic), which is priced at Rs 109, Chand said he had tried giving a substitute drug to patients at half the price but the doctor had told them to return the medicine terming it “obsolete”.

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Three get life for killing woman
Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Ludhiana, December 10
The court of Additonal Sessions Judge Munish Singal has convicted Balbir Singh of Agwar Ladhai, Jagraon, Manjit Kaur of Lamme village and Sarabjit Kaur of Jatpura village, Raikot, on the charges of killing Paramjit Kaur of Agwar Ladhai by setting her ablaze.

Pronouncing the verdict, the court held that the prosecution had successfully proved the guilt of the accused. They were ordered to undergo rigorous life imprisonment. Dismissing the plea of leniency raised by the accused persons, the court also ordered them to pay fine of Rs 2500 each.

Initially a case was registered against the accused persons for attempting to murder, on the statement of badly burnt Paramjit Kaur at the Jagraon police station on September 14, 2006. Later on, she succumbed to the burn injuries. Before her death, she had recorded her statement with the police in hospital.

She had stated that her husband had died nine years ago. She had developed relationship with accused Balbir Singh. Even she sold her land and helped him for opening medical store at Lamme village. Later on, Balbir Singh allegedly developed illicit relations with other two co-accused. When she came to know about all this, she restrained him from doing so.

Due to this reason, on September 13, 2006, when she was present at her house along with her son and Balbir Singh, both women entered her house. They started abusing her with the plea that I (complainant) was levelling false allegations against them. Then they caught hold of her and sprinkled petrol and then put her on fire. Thereafter all accused ran away from the spot, she added.

According to prosecution, badly burnt woman was taken to Kalyani hospital and then referred to DMC hospital, where her statement was recorded.

However, the accused pleaded false implication. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court held that the statement of Paramjit Kuar was duly counter signed by Dr Dharain Bassi.

Accused failed to show any enmity with the doctor. So, there was no occassion for the doctor to depose against them, if the statement was not recorded in his presence, remarked the judge while convicting all accused.

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Industrial activity back to normal
Migrant workers still feel insecure
KS Chawla

Ludhiana, December 10
Industrial operations at Focal Point, Dhandari and other industrial areas of the city has returned to normal after four days of violent clashes and imposition of curfew, with manufacturing units have begun functioning in right earnest.

However, a sense of insecurity still prevails among migrant workers, most of whom are reluctant to work in factories after sunset. The district administration and the police in particular are yet to inspire confidence among the workers that their life and property would be fully protected, say city industrialists.

Avtar Singh, general secretary of the Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings, Ludhiana told The Tribune today that though industrial units had resumed operations from today migrant workers were still living in fear. “They are not yet sure if they would get full protection if there was a repetition of such incidents in the future”, he added.

“The migrant workers aren’t willing to work in factories after 6 pm. Most industrial units operate from 8 am to 5:30 pm in the first shift with the second starting from 6 pm. The workers were not ready to work overtime, which they were doing till 9 pm before the clashes on Thursday and Friday”, said Avtar.

He said the police administration had to assure the migrant workers their life and property would be safeguarded at all cost. “The police department needs to post honest cops at the ‘vehras’ of the migrant workers to ensure their safety. Confidence must be restored among them that they would not be robbed or humiliated by policemen”, he added.

Avtar stated he had visited some of the ‘vehras’ accompanied by a team of officials from Bihar and assured the migrant workers that no harm would be allowed to be caused to them in future. “The visiting Bihar officials were satisfied with the treatment being meted out to migrants in Ludhiana”, he added.

Avtar also called upon the Punjab government to inquire into the circumstances leading to the clashes last Thursday and Friday. He felt some “mischievous elements” were behind these incidents that had disturbed the peace in the city. Industry suffered an estimated loss of Rs 2,000 crore.

He also called upon the district police administration to give details of those arrested, said to be members of a ‘bikers gang’, who were reportedly the main cause of trouble at the Focal Point and other industrial areas in the city.

“The state administration should not forget industry in Punjab was largely dependent on migrants and any exodus of labour would cripple the manufacturing sector”, noted Avtar.

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Cong blames govt for recent violence
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
The District Youth Congress (DYC) today slammed the SAD-BJP government in Punjab, charging it with creating communal and regional hatred for its vested political interests.

Addressing a meeting of party activists here last evening, DYC chief Dimple Rana said the violence following protest by migrant workers and clashes between Hindu and Sikh radical groups, which led to curfew and brought life in the city to a stand still, had caused immense loss of business and industrial production.

"Ironically, both partners of the ruling coalition were either directly or indirectly involved with the perpetrators of violence or else, had lent their support to the them. That the government did not want the administration or police to deal firmly with the clashing groups of radical elements was more than evident from the lackadaisical attitude of the top political leadership," he maintained.

Announcing the team of party ranks under the "aam admi ka sipahi" (AAPS) drive, launched by Rahul Gandhi, the DYC president said that Rahul Bhasin would oversee the programme in Ward Number 20. Other members of the team were nominated and nomination letters were handed over to them.

Rana said under the AAPS drive, the party activists were getting ample opportunities to closely interact with the masses. The drive was serving dual purpose - while the people were benefitting by way of community welfare projects being undertaken by the party workers, the YC ranks had been provided with a forum for leadership development and mass contact which would yield rich dividends in due course of time.

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Migrants in Malwa decide to stay put
Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 10
Apparently unmoved by rumours of an exodus of migrant workers in Punjab’s major cities flocking back to their native states, migrants employed as labourers in this part of the Malwa belt have decided not to quit and leave. Content with their living conditions and the treatment meted to them by the locals, they fear their children’s future would be ruined and they might even face starvation if they returned to their native villages.

“How can we think of turning our backs on our employers, who have taken care of our all needs, after our friends and relatives back home had left us at the mercy of nature decades ago?” reacted Atma Dass Paswan of Chauri Chaura village in Uttar Pradesh, who has been brought up by a local family.

“Ever since I was a child ‘biji’ and the late ‘bauji’ have never let me think they are not my parents. They provided me all the facilities that were available to their biological children and contributed the most when I got married and settled here with my family,” said Atma. “I was able to help my relatives and friends due to the generous nature of my employers”, he added.

Atma’s wife Kiran is happy their son Prism and daughter Paritma not only studied in a ‘public school’ but did very well in the examinations too. The idea of returning to their native village makes her apprehensive about her children’s future. Besides she is convinced their lifestyle would be negatively affected if they go back.

Varinder, a migrant labourer from Bihar, is among those whose lifestyle changed drastically after they began living with peasant families in the Malwa region. Improved living conditions, including nutritious food, ‘pacca’ houses and good clothes are the major factors behind their resolve to remain in Punjab.

“I’m better off here and will stay put come what may,” Varinder told his uncle who had come to take him home yesterday.

Terming the “furore” politically motivated, Jang Bahadur of Faizabad district in UP denied there was any discrimination between Punjabi and migrant workers. “Rather, our employer who is also a municipal councillor and a social activist backs us whenever there is any dispute with any local resident. Had I not moved my family to this place my children would have in all probability remained uneducated like me,” said Bahadur.

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Focal Point SHO transferred
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
Focal Point SHO Pardeep Sandhu was today transferred to Ropar following an inquiry into the Dhandari incident in which a mob of angry migrants had held the city to ransom besides damaging property worth lakhs.

Sandeep Vadhera has been transferred to Focal Point police station in Sandhu place with immediate effect. He took over the charge today.

The police had ordered an inquiry into the role of Sandhu in handling the situation that later flared up the tempers of the migrants. The report stated that he was not able to tackle the problem.

SSP Dr SS Gill said the SHO did not take any action himself nor did he apprised the senior authorities of the situation when it was going out of hands.

The SSP had ordered the departmental inquiry after the incident. He had also sent the in charge of the Dhandari police post to police lines two days ago.

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Post-violence kids living in fear
Jyotika Sood
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
The kids of Dhandari Kalan don’t sleep these days. They wake up at midnight and cuddle up with their mother and father. Reason: blood, cries and bullets to which they were witness.

The two-day violence in Dhandari Kalan has left deep scars not only on children of migrant labourers, but even on adults who don’t have guts to walk alone at night. Besides, a few of them don’t even stay at their homes in night. They go and spend nights with their relatives and friends to ensure their safety.

The fear is writ large on their faces and could be gauged from the fact that most of the “vehras” that became victim of the police and mob anger have been vacated.

A random survey conducted by The Tribune team brought to the fore the fact that almost every migrant labourer is living in fear. While a few of them are waiting for their salaries to leave the city, a majority of them want to visit their homes at least once to assure their families that they are well.

Surinder Singh, a resident of Ishwar Colony, who also sustained injuries, said, “In the evening I go and stay with my relatives. Safety is always above life and you cannot keep on risking it every time.”

Opinder Shahi from Motihari district of Bihar, said: “I earn my living by selling fruits and the mob burned my handcart on December 4. The room where I live has been robbed off. I don’t have anything except the clothes I wear.”

My friends have already left and there is no one from whom I can borrow money, he said, adding that his family has been urging him regularly to return.

Similarly, Jawahar from Gazipur district of Uttar Pradesh has been working in Ludhiana from the past 12 years. “For the first time I have witnessed such a violence. We all don’t step out of our homes as soon as it becomes dark and in case there is a necessity, we prefer to move in group of 10-12 persons.” He added that women were feeling more insecure than males.

Puro Devi, who resides with her husband and three kids, has been insisting her husband to leave Ludhiana. “Husband is the biggest jewel and if you loss him, what do you want in life. I told him that not luxuries but family makes life, but he is not ready to understand. Village people are already forcing us to leave the place and now we are waiting for his salary to take the final decision,” she added.

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Strike in PSEB offices
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, December 10
All PSEB offices remained closed due to the strike by the electricity department workers against the proposed privatisation of the PSEB.

The board offices of Jagraon, Raikot and Mullanpur besides that of Hathoor, Sidhwan Bet, Sudhar, Pakhowal, Humbran remained closed and the work remained paralysed . The board employees are not ready to give a second thought regarding privatisation of PSEB. The move by the Punjab Government regarding the postponement of the final deal in three months were not welcome by the employees and they were demanding an declaration in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha by the Chief Minister that the PSEB would not be dissolved and privatised.

Talking on the real causes of the losses incurred by the PSEB. Kamaljit Khanna, a union leader stated that it was the policies of the board and not the employees who were responsible for the huge losses. Citing an example he said till date crores were spent by the board to fix the electric meter of the consumers outside their premises in a iron specially made boxes. Now when this task has not been accomplished completely, the board has now issued orders that the meters will now be transferred to the pillar boxes outside the streets causing losses of crores incurred by the board.

He said the top brass of the board had become a puppet in the hands of capitalist forces and only this had caused the losses to the board. Terming the board's decisions as anti-consumers and anti employees, he said no one is able to understand for whom PSEB is working for. Increasing the electric tariffs backdated is inhuman he added.

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Local bodies dept to probe fake bill scam
Jyotika Sood
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
The multi-crore fake bill scam where three contractors, including a BJP MLA and Deputy Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, Satpal Gosain’s grandson, has been indicted, would be probed by the Punjab Local Bodies Department too.

Talking to The Tribune today over the phone, DS Bains, principal secretary to the Local Bodies, said it was a serious matter and they would look into it.

Bains reaction came following the Commissioner AK Sinha’s yesterday statement that the Mayor would decide the further course of action to be taken against those indicted. Bains said: “I would call for the papers immediately and ensure that everything is done in a transparent manner.”

The scam was unearthed in mid November, following which Sinha had asked Additional Commissioner KP Brar to inquire into the matter. In her report, Brar had stated that the BJP MLA Satpal Gosain’s grandson along with two contractors Kulbir Singh and Varinder Kumar had submitted fake bills for works already paid for.

Apart from these three, MC officials, including SE Arun Sharma, JE Raghubir Singh, SE Dharam Singh and several others have also been indicted.

While the inquiry was still underway, the issue got a hearing in MC house on November 27 and Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura announced that a three-member committee of councillors to would probe into the matter. However, the committee has not been formed till date.

The officials and the contractors who have been proved guilty by Brar have raised finger on the inquiry officer too.

Pleasing anonymity, they said, “Additional Commissioner KP Brar is already under the Punjab Vigilance Bureau scanner following Tehsildar Arvind Prakash Verma case.

The Tehsildar had in his affidavit stated that KP Brar, then ADC (G), too, had a share in Rs 7 to 8 lakh that was given by him to former Deputy Commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar.” The case is also being pursued in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

They said, “When the inquiry officer is herself facing an inquiry by the Vigilance Bureau, how can you expect that she would be justified in what she does. First let her come clean chit and than she should point fingers towards us.”

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Road Construction
Contractors meet Municipal Commissioner, seek payment
Jyotika Sood
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
Contractors undertaking the road construction work met Municipal Commissioner AK Sinha here today to ask about the payments that were withstanding on part of the civic body.

Talking to The Tribune, contractors said, “Sinha told us that the corporation at present just had Rs 5 crore which would be distributed equally among us depending upon the quantity of work taken by us.”

They rued that the civic body was paying them after two months and that to half the amount. “The civic body would be inviting tenders for Rs 58 crore in one or two days. When they don’t have money to pay us, what is the fun of calling bids for more work,” questioned contractors, adding that the paucity of funds is the reason given to them generally when they go to the corporation office to get payments.

A contractor said, “We were about 20 to 25 contractors and it was a peaceful dialogue. But the question about payments is still there. The municipal corporation has no right to call tenders if they are not willing to payments. Whenever such a condition arises over the division of money, it’s the best time for the civic officials to ask for money.”

“Now, XENs, SDOs and JEs would ask for their share so that we get a better share of our amounts from the total of Rs 5 crore. The contractors who have taken work of inferior quality would surely give money to these municipal officials, but what about us who give a genuine work and there are no complaints against us,” said another contractor.

The duo said, “We are not sure exactly what would happen, but one thing for sure is that commissions of B&R branch officials would surely increase.”

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Poor kids given woollens
Our Correspondent

Raikot, December 10
Showing a noble gesture, the Lions club, Raikot, today distributed woollens to the students of Government Elementary School, Talwandi Rai, near here. More that 180 students of the school that were not wearing woollens as their parents could not afford them were given sweaters as per their needs. Village sarpanch Mohan Singh Talwandi appreciating the move of the club said it was the duty of each and every citizen to keep their poor counterparts at par. At least when it came to helping the poor. Jagmail Singh, principal of the school, however, said the co-operation of the Lions club could not be adjudged in monetary terms. He said it was the attitude of the members of club to serve the mankind that made the real difference.

Club president Mukesh Kumar Gupta accompanied by other members, including Dr Durgesh, KK Sharma, Dr Naresh Goyal, Manish Dass Mahant, and Sandeep Sharma said on the occasion that it was not possible for anybody to come forward and identify each needy person. He said it was the duty of the social workers to come forward and sought donations for the needy.

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No-confidence motion against Nagar Panchayat chief
Our Correspondent

Khamano December 10
Eight members of Nagar Panchayat presented a no-confidence motion against present Nagar Panchayat president Jathedar Gian Chand to EO Surinder Kumar. There were 11 members in all.

In their, no-confidence motion, the eight councilors alleged that they had lost faith in the president as the development works had come to a halt, streetlights were not functioning and he had failed to make arrangement for water in different wards.

Eight councilors includes vice-president Kamlesh Kumari, Balamjit Singh Princi, Gurdeep Kaur, Sarbjit Kaur, Amarjeet Kaur, Ravinder Kumar Babla, Balbir Singh, Amarjeet Singh and Jaswant Singh. Kumar said that a copy of the no-confidence motion had been forwarded to president Gian Chand and the agenda would be presented in 14 days.

When the president was contacted in this regard he said that all charges levelled against him were baseless.

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Welfare body members elected
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
The following have been elected office-bearers of the Rishi Nagar (F-Block) Welfare Association for 2009-10: Chairman-Satish Thaman; president-Raman Gogna; senior vice-president-Vinod Gupta; vice-president-Sandeep Salwan; general secretary-Bhupesh Gupta; joint secretary-Rakseh Arora and treasurer-Manoj Bhardwaj.

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PAU staff start chain fast
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
The state government may have released a grant to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for payment to teachers as additional amount for implementation of new pay scales but bitterness among the employees against the government's "callous attitude" refuses to die down. On the 15th day of their protest, the employees of farm university started their hunger strike today.

One of the PAU Employees Union leader Lakhwinder Singh Sandhu said that nothing was being done in their case. Neither the government not the authorities were taking their demands seriously. Hundreds of employees held rally and raised anti-government slogans against the dilly-dallying attitude in implementing new pay scales.

"Though we have been asked to call-off the strike but the struggle will continue till new scales were implemented. Authorities need to issue a letter in this regard by tomorrow evening. In case they fail to do so, we will boycott the ongoing examinations of undergraduate classes from Monday. The research work will also be hampered. And university will be held responsible for all the losses", he said.

The employees who sat on hunger strike today include Avtar Singh, Jasbir Singh and Ram Prakash Sharma- all members of PAU Employees Union. Besides, Dr GPS Dhillon and Dr RS Gill from Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA) also joined employees in their hunger strike.

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PAU Notes
‘Light irrigation must for indoor plants in winters’
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
In view of the dipping of mercury this winter, PAU floriculturists have advised that the sensitive indoor plants need to be protected against cold. head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr. Ramesh Kumar said that a number of plants such as croton, ixora, agronema, syngonium and dracaena are weather sensitive.

To protect them in winter, these should be moved to safer places or under cover, Kumar said.

He said under frosty conditions or too low temperature, the plants need to be provided light irrigation.

Brij Mohan Bharadwaj, assistant professor of landscaping said that the lawns turn yellow in winter due to cold injury.

To protect the lawns, light irrigation during early morning hours is useful, he said. Some people apply fertilisers like urea to cure yellow lawns. Bharadwaj mentioned adding that this should not be practiced as the best time for fertiliser application is February end onwards.

The seedlings of winter annuals such as pansy, petunia, helichrysum, calendula,allysum, astern, antirrhinum, garden nasturtium, etc. should be transplanted in the field or pots within the next few days, if not done by now.

Delayed transplanting will make them prone to severe winter stress, he said.

Tips on vegetable cultivation

The Precision Farming Development Centre (PFDC) in the Department of Soil and Water Engineering organised a training camp on poly houses and plastic mulching in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kender (KVK), Fathegarh Sahib and All India Coordinated Research Project on 'Application of Plastics in Agriculture' funded by ICAR.

Dr PPS Lubana, Principal Investigator (PI) of PFDC said that this was the eighth training for farmers adding that the Centre organised trainings in micro-irrigation and protected-cultivation from time to time.

Dr Rakesh Sharda, co-principal investigator of the project said the participants included 34 farmers from the area, who were provided know how about different aspects of poly-houses, net-houses and plastic-mulching.

Sharda said that to promote plastic mulching and protected cultivation of vegetables the state government under the aegis National Horticulture Mission (NHM) provides subsidies to farmers. Discussing the importance of plastic mulching and poly houses, he said that these technologies lead to enhanced production and profitability through producing quality vegetable.

Dr KG Singh, senior research engineer, provided tips on the construction of structures for covered cultivation of winter vegetables. Earlier, Dr Harinder Singh, deputy director, welcomed the participants and experts and provided an overview of the training activities being or ganised from time to time for the benefit of farmers and farm women. The farmers were shown around different types of net houses.

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Admin against religious preachings in schools
Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 10
Heads of all schools have been directed not to allow any type of religious or reformative discourse by missionaries or officials of any of religious organisations.

Though the directions were enforced a few weeks ago, tension following clash among followers of the Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan and the radical Sikhs seemed to have prompted authorities to be more cautious.

Remaining tight lipped on religious angle, the officials maintained that the ban had been imposed apprehending adverse affect on education of students due to obvious erosion of available time for formal teaching.

Investigation by the Tribune revealed that heads of all schools had been directed to stop practice of allowing preachers of religious sects.

Perusal of a communication sent by the director-general (school education) to the DPI ( senior secondary ), the DPI

(elementary education ) , the circle officers at Nabha, Jalandhar and Faridkot, besides all district educations officers revealed that preachers of Shri Sant Asa Ram Ji Bapu Sansthan had been organising lectures and contests for students in various educational institutes, including state-run schools.

Maintaining that preaching of any religion was not appropriate in educational institutes, the DGSE directed all district education officers to ensure that no religious discourse was allowed in schools falling under their jurisdiction.

“It has been observed that some schools were allowing such preaching. The matter has been examined minutely. You are strictly directed not to allow any preaching in your schools,” read communication received at a government school of Sangrur district. A paragraph read that the letter was written after receiving approval of the Education Minister.

Acknowledging that the preaching by Shri Sant Asa Ram Ji Bapu Sansthan, aimed at sharpening memory of students, the authorities argued that they (preachers) could not be allowed to deliver lectures in schools, as organisers of other sects would also follow the trend.

Avoiding questions on association between communal tension following the Ludhiana episode and reinforcement of the ban orders, the officials maintained that the action was taken to save time for formal teaching. The step would go a long way in preventing unsavory situation due to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of religious preaching, admitted authorities.

“What to talk of allowing outsider religious preachers to deliver lectures in schools, we ourselves avoid touching religious aspects of certain topics as students might misinterpret our saying. Any word conveyed to outer world in a distorted way can create problem for us,” said one head of a school on condition of anonymity.

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Seminar on de-addiction in schools
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10
The Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Gurmati Institute and the Aas Kiran de- addiction centre of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle are jointly organising seminars against female foeticide and drug de-addiction in various city schools.

A seminar for the same was organised at Guru Nanak Education High School in Bhatta Bhagat Singh Nagar, SDM High School Shimlapuri and Dhami Public School, Jammu Colony.

Students were motivated through an interestingly scripted slide show, wherein, they were asked to adopt constructive habits by giving up on destructive ones.

The students were also given an orientation on career guidance.

Professor Darshan Singh, director, Ass Kiran, was also present on the occasion.

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City Concerns
Planned project can wreck havoc

The railway over bridge that would come up in place of the Lakkar Bridge would not be connected to the elevated road thereby defeating the entire purpose despite Rs 60 crore spent on it. As per the design, the bridge is in a Y-shape with the tail starting from the Civil Lines. While the downward ramp would end at the Central Post office at the Mata Rani Chowk, the upward ramp would start from the Reikhy Cinema chowk. Though Municipal officials claim that this design would ease the flow of the traffic, experts feel that vehicular mobility would get worse. Should the municipal corporation go ahead with the project or consult the experts once again before going ahead with it. This is the response of Tribune readers

I personally feel that the present project, as planned will wreck havoc with the already worsening condition of the traffic in the city. No doubt, the plan must have been designed to better the present scenario, but those who live in the city or visit it daily have better idea of its outcome. I think that the railway over bridge, which will replace the famous Lakkar Bridge, should be connected to the elevated road. This will make the plan worthwhile. We should also keep in mind that the project is going to cost Rs 60 crore and even if it is not going to benefit the common man, then what is the use of doing so. The corporation or those in power must think twice before going ahead with the project, and the elected government of the state should also give green light to the MC, only if they satiate the public demand, which will remain ditto, in case the project is given the final shape. The vehicular mobility will also worsen as more corners and gullies will be created thereby increasing the congestion. We know that it’s very difficult to plan and give final shape to any project, which will please all, but why not to please majority of the residents and the visitors?

HS Dimple

Seismic risk

The railway over bridges, like other types of bridges, is the lifelines and is critical components of the transportation systems. About 500 bridges have been damaged in January 26, 2001 Bhuj earthquake alone. Most of the bridges suffered severe damage or collapse due to failure of their piers, although the bridge decks were undamaged due to high in-plane stiffness. Therefore, it’s important to develop measures to quantify the associated seismic risk and to predict the possible damages that can be experienced by the ROB structure under seismic events. With this risk quantified, rational decisions can be made as to whether the ROB / bridge should be retrofitted or replaced, or to accept the risk and leave the bridge in the existing state.

Seismic vulnerability assessment and development of fragility curves for existing bridges are getting increased attention among the researchers. Fragility curves of bridges can be developed empirically as well as analytically. Empirical fragility curves are usually developed based on the damage reports from past earthquakes. Since earthquake damage data are very scarce in developing countries like India, analytical development of fragility is the only feasible approach of development of fragility curve. Analytical fragility curves are developed from seismic response analysis of bridges, and regression analysis of simulated response data to establish the probabilistic characteristics of structural demand as a function a ground motion parameter. Mander and Basoz (1999) have presented the theory of fragility curves for highway bridges. It is therefore observed that that the development of fragility curves for seismic vulnerability assessment are more sensitive to the structural modeling for higher damage level.

Ravi Chander Garg

Vehicle management

I have seen three to four tier over bridges in London Southall, then why cannot be here, otherwise the government is planning overhead metro for the city. The politicians are putting hindrance for proper designing of the bridge and the corporation should call overseas expert for this purpose if Indian designers are not capable.

This bridge would facilitate smooth flow of traffic giving some respite to residents of inner areas. The traffic moving from the Civil Lines towards inner bazaar will reach the surface road at Bhadaur House near the Central Post office after getting on the ROB from the front of Society Cinema.

The ramp constructed from the Civil Lines locality will be four-lane for the smooth flow of traffic whereas the ramp moving towards the inner areas would be two-lane to improve vehicle movement. However, the authorities will have to cope with the daunting situation of managing vehicles in both localities of the inner bazaars till the work goes on. The up-ramp at Jagraon bridge is also expected to make lives of residents of internal areas better as automobiles will also be able to get through there in easily.

Sher Singh

Plug loopholes

The road link between old city and the Civil Lines area in place of old Lakkar Bridge, needs a review, as the present planning of connecting the Civil Lines area with elevated road, will not solve the traffic problems of the old city. Presently, all pressure of the traffic is on the Jagraon and Damoria bridges are not capable for handling the traffic problem coming from to and fro. All matter regarding connecting the old city by Y-shape bridge, will not in a position, to handle the traffic problem as to receive traffic from the other side of the city to the old city also needs technical handling which at present is not available due to untrained traffic control officers and lack of traffic sense among the common people. So, therefore, first of all, traffic experts should be consulted for all the loopholes before completing the project. Otherwise no purpose will be solved for smooth flow of the traffic.

Manjit Singh

Work begun: Bansal

Senior deputy Mayor Praveen Bansal said they would go ahead with the project. “When the SAD-BJP government came into power at the municipal House, our topmost priority was to complete all stalled projects and the Lakkar Bridge is one of them. The project has no problems at all and once completed it would be a boon for the residents,” he added.

The BJP leader was of the opinion that the construction of bridge would give an additional way to join old city with the new city area. “The existing traffic has just two ways and provision of an additional way would make plying of vehicle easily,” said Bansal, adding that he has full confidence in the reports and plan approved by the civic body officials.

The PWD has already started work on it and the money has been deposited. “As far as your opinion is concerned that Lakkar Bridge should be joined to the elevated road, XEN HS Khaussa, project in charge, has already revealed that it was not possible. He is an intelligent officer and has handling so many projects that were lying incomplete,” said senior deputy Mayor. The politician was of the opinion that the project would be in the centre of the city and people are already elated after they got the news of it being restarted.

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8 booked for burning woman
Tribune Reporters

Raikot, December 10
The Raikot police has booked 8 members of a family for physically assaulting and burning a married woman. They suspected that she was having extra marital affair. Asha Rani of Mehal Khurd village in her statement at Life Care hospital, Raikot, had stated that she was married to Rajan Singh of Johalan village near here for around 12 years and had two sons from this wedlock. She said her husband and his family had always doubted her character. She had lived with her parents for a month and had returned to her in-laws this week. On Tuesday she phoned her parents and told them that her husband and his family were again fighting with her as they suspected that she was having extra marital affair with a man from the same village. Her parents came to her in-laws house and a compromise was reached between the two families in front of the sarpanch of the village. After returning home, Rajan set her on fire after Kamla Rani (mother-in-law), Shivjee Singh (father-in-law) and Karamjit Kaur (sister-in-law) caught hold of her and her brother-in-laws Jagtar Singh, alias Tari, Vijay Singh, Gopi Singh and Jagraj Singh poured kerosene oil on her. She was admitted to hospital by the in-laws with about 50 per cent burn injuries. The Raikot police has booked all eight members under Sections 307, 148, 149 IPC. No arrest has been made so far. Ludhiana Tribune, investigated and found out that at the time of incident the two accused named in the FIR Jagtar Singh and Jagraj Singh were not there as they had gone to Utter Pradesh for some job.

Two killed in road mishap

PHILLAUR: Motorcyclist Gurpreet Singh (19) and his pillion rider mother Smt Sarabjit Kaur(41), residents of Mau Sahib in Phillaur sub division, were killed on the spot when the motorcycle number PB-37B-6113, on which they were riding collided with a Innova Car number PB-07S-5646 on the Phillaur-Nawanshahar road, six km from Phillaur on Wednesday night. They were going to condole the death of their relative in nearby Bansia village. Both vehicles were badly damaged in the mishap. The bodies of the mother and son were sent to Phillaur Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination. However truck driver managed to escape leaving his vehicle behind.

5 booked for dowry

RAIKOT: The Sudhar police has booked 5 members of a family for physically assaulting a married woman with the intention of seeking more dowry. Kamaljeet Kaur of Nangal Khurd village near here stated in her complaint to Ludhiana Rural SSP on November 4 this year that she was married to Manjinder Singh of Shahpur village under Sudhar police station early this year on February 4. Her parents had spent as per demand of her in-laws in the marriage beyond their capacity.

Soon after marriage, her in-laws began harassing her mentally and physically for bringing inadequate dowry and started beating her frequently. They used to pressurise her to ask for more money from her parents.

On November 4 last, she was thrashed by her in-laws, who then turned her out of their house. ASI Inderjit Singh, Chowki in charge, Jodhan, conducted an inquiry and found the allegation levelled by Kamaljeet Kaur was correct and on Wednesday booked Manjinder Singh, his mother Balbir Kaur, his father Piara Singh, his sister Kanwaldeep Kaur, alias Kammi, and Narinder Singh, alias Neet, under sections 406, 498Aof the IPC. No arrest has been made so far.

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