Ludhiana, January 4
Defying the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate’s order to close all city schools, numerous schools remained open here today, creating a lot of resentment among parents and students.

DC Vikas Garg had, last evening, ordered the closure of all city schools till January 8 in the wake of severe weather conditions prevailing in the region for the past five days.

Several schools, including Sacred Heart Convent, Sarabha Nagar; Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar; GMT Public School, Jalandhar bypass; Greenland Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar bypass; CFC School, BRS Nagar; remained open today, among others.

Not only this, the authorities of many schools even failed to pass on clear directions to the students and their parents if the schools would remain open or closed during the week as per the order.

This has led to widespread resentment among parents, who have termed the act of the schools as "irresponsible".

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, father of two students of Sacred Heart Convent, Sarabha Nagar, said, "This is absolutely absurd. When, keeping in mind the welfare of the students, the district administration has shut all schools due to severe cold, why are the authorities defying the order? This clearly shows the schools are not bothered about the students' well being."

He demanded that the "irresponsible behaviour" of the schools should be dealt with strictly.

Another parent added, "The DC's order had come as a respite for the kids as well as their parents, but the managements chose to ignore the students' welfare and opened the schools even in this harsh weather, forcing the children to brave the icy winds blowing in their faces and reach their schools early in the foggy morning. This calls for a strict action," he said.

"Venturing out in such cold, that too so early in the morning, is so difficult, especially for small kids. But the schools seem to be least bothered," added a mother of two students of Arya Model Senior Secondary School, which remained open today.

Parents feel that the school managements need to be more sensitive to children's welfare and "stop being indifferent".

Meanwhile, District Education Officer (secondary) Bachhitar Singh said no action would be taken against the schools which remained open today as the DC's order came very late in the evening and, thus, parents and students could not be informed about the development.

Interestingly, talking to this correspondent, the DEO added, "In case any schools open tomorrow, do inform me. I would take action against the authorities."

Ludhiana, January 4
Struggling for the last eight years to get appointment as Lascars in the NCC, 54 youths from all over the state have become victims of political rivalry between the successive governments.

Despite having contested the case till the High Court-level that gave a direction in their favour, the youths are still forced to make rounds of various officials.

These unemployed youths were selected by the Subordinate Service Selection Board, Punjab, in December 2001 during the SAD-BJP regime following a written test and an interview. The lascars were to be posted in the NCC branch of the DPI (Colleges).

But to their misfortune, as soon as their results were declared, election code of conduct came into force and their appointment letters could not be issued. To add to their woes, the Congress came into power after the elections and announced abolition of posts announced by the previous government.

After making rounds of corridors of babudom, the youths knocked at the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. After hearing the case, the HC finally gave the verdict in their favour.

On November 7, 2005, the High Court directed the state government to give them appointment letters. The state government, however, moved the Supreme Court stating they had banned further recruitment in the state keeping in view the poor fiscal health.

The SC, however, directed: “ In the fitness if things and in the interest of justice and fair play, the respondent be accommodated to the posts of lascars for which they have been selected as and when the ban of government is relaxed or when the posts are revived.”

The direction came in February 2007 when the state went to polls for the next term. The SAD-BJP was back in the saddle. “But it did not make any difference to us. Though many vacancies have been filled and especially the homeopathic dispensers, who were given selection letters along with us, have been appointed, we are left out to suffer,” said Harminder Singh, one of the victims. “We have nowhere to go. We don’t know what to do. We have lost all hope,” he added.

Ludhiana, January 4
Accusing the medical superintendent and gynaecologist at BL Kapoor Memorial Hospital of violation of the PNDT Act, Prabhawati, wife of Suresh Chand, a class IV employee at the same hospital, has given a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg.

The couple has alleged that following the failure of tubectomy of Prabhawati, she conceived but the doctors concerned in order to hide their failure, not only disclosed the sex of the child but also forced her to abort the child.

Prabhawati has clearly mentioned in her complaint that she had refused to go ahead with the abortion and instead forwarded a complaint to the Civil Surgeon’s office and Deputy Commissioner's office in April 2009. As As result, her husband was suspended from job and they were asked to vacate the house on the hospital premises.

Prabhawati refused to give in to the pressure tactics and worked day and night as domestic help to bring up her children in the absence of her husband's job. "I gave birth to a baby boy in November 2009 and am bringing up my children on my own, as neither the district administration nor the health department is helping me to get justice for my husband," rued Prabhawati.

The couple has also questioned the health authorities for having given a clean chit to the hospital doctors in the inquiry conducted in 2009 following their complaint.

The duo has accused the hospital authorities of having tampered with the dates of the ultrasound reports.

However, District Family Welfare Officer (DWFO) Dr Reena Sandhu said the tubectomy was performed by a team of government doctors and it was not a case of "negligence", as there are chances of failure in some family planning cases. She also said that sex determination is impossible at 10 weeks pregnancy, thus the allegation of the PNDT Act violation stands refuted.

On the other hand, Dr Waheguru Pal Singh, medical superintendent at BL Kapoor Memorial Hospital, refuted the allegations levelled by Suresh Chand and his wife Prabhawati. " All the allegations are baseless and our team has faced all the inquiries, including the ones conducted by Civil Surgeon, SSP, Punjab State Human Rights Commission and have been given a clean chit in each one," added Dr Waheguru Pal Singh.

He also said that Suresh Chand following his false allegations against the hospital staff, was given a show-cause notice. But Suresh Chand did not reply to the same and was put under suspension by the hospital management.

Ludhiana, January 4
Recession proved to be a boon for the Army recruitment rally, despite cold, as 5,000 youths from Ludhiana and surrounding villages reported on the first-day of recruitment conducted at the Guru Nank Stadium here today.

The army officers also expressed delight at the encouraging turnout.

While around 1,000 youths could not participate as they could not produce the relevant documents.

Colonel Sharad Dhindaw, Director Army Recruitment, also expressed delight at the encouraging turnout of youngsters, who participated enthusiastically in the recruitment drive.

He admitted that recession had made a partial effect on youths, who were now, wanting to join the Army as it gave them permanent job opportunity.

Baljinder Singh, a resident of Doraha, who was participating in the trials said he was working as a security guard at a computer company, but due to recession he lost his job after the company closed its operation in the city.

"The Army is still the best career option. It offers a secure job and a secure job means better future. It is also a well-respected profession," Baljinder Singh said.

For Navjot, it was a moment of happiness as he was selected in his second attempt and managed to complete 1,600-m race in little over five minutes.

"Due to the cold weather, I could not complete the race in the schedule time in the first attempt but I tired my luck for the second time and I managed to complete it in record time," said Navjot, who was ecstatic after completing the race.

While Balbir Singh, was taking part in the recruitment rally said as tears rolling down his cheeks, "My father is not well and due to over drinking his liver is not working. He requires urgent medication and there is no source of income. Today, I ran for my father, as once I get through the Army I can ensure that my father gets the best treatment in an army hospital."

Ludhiana, January 4
Cracking a whip on unauthorised auto-rickshaws, the city police has nabbed eight auto-rickshaw drivers in connection with two separate cases of snatching incidents which took place in the recent past.

The accused have been identified as Ram Saran, Rishi Kumar, Gurdeep Singh, Raj Pal, Gurtej Singh, Savinder Singh, who were nabbed by the Kotwali police while they were planning to commit a snatching near Clock Tower Chowk.

Jag Saran Kapoor and Ravinder Singh, alias Mani, were nabbed in connection with a snatching incident that took place near the railway station a few days ago.

The accused were identified by the victim.

Manjinder Singh, SHO, Kotwali, said the accused persuaded the victim Arvind Kumar to hire their auto-rickshaw. When the vehicle reached outside the railway station, the duo threatened the victim by showing him knife and robbed the victim of his purse containing cash and ATM cards.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 4
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will dedicate Bhai Nigahia Singh Gate to Sikh Sangat during the Gurparab celebrations at Manji Sahib Gurdwara in Alamgir village near here tomorrow.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar will preside over the function.

Gurmel Singh Sanghowal, member, SGPC, said the gate had been erected by residents of the area to commemorate the sacrifice of Bhai Nigahia Singh, a native of Alamgir, who had sacrificed his whole family for the sect.

When Guru Gobind Singh arrived in Alamgir in 1704 AD, Nigahia Singh had presented him his best horse. After staying here for three days, Guru Gobind Singh left the palanquin and rode this horse to Raikot.

The Mughal army was after Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru had left the village before the Mughal Army arrived. They surrounded Bhai Nigahia Singh’s house, but he managed to escape and reached Mulowal in Sangrur district.

All members of the Nigahia Singh clan were massacred by Mughal forces. A dharamsala in Patti Lakhmir of the village is believed to be Bhai Nigahia Singh’s home.

Ludhiana, January 4
In a noble gesture, alumni of the College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), have come forward to provide financial assistance to students from the economically weaker section of the society studying in their alma mater.

The veterinarians, all passouts from the college in 1980 and members of the Vets' Association 1980, decided to constitute a scholarship for the economically weaker students of the college during the general body meeting of the association.

Association president Dr Narinder Singh Saini, who is also head, department of surgery and radiology, said every year, the scholarships would be given to those students who were academically brilliant but could not afford to pay for their educational expenses.

"We will identify such students and provide for their college fee. In case they are unable to pay their hostel fee, we will provide for that too," Saini added.

He added that financial support would also be given to their families at the time of need. Saini said the association had also decided to hold events every three years for professional interactive updates.

Earlier, the 1980 passouts of the college had celebrated the silver jubilee of their passing out from the college as well as of their profession under the banner of their association. The celebration was attended by eminent veterinarians of this batch from the US, Canada, Australia and India.

Dr Harvinder Singh Grewal, Dr Pritpal Singh Rangi, Dr Ravinder Khara, Dr Binder Sahai from the US and Dr Baljit Singh Gill and Dr Jaswant Singh from Canada had participated in the event. Teachers were honoured for their contribution towards the veterinary and teaching profession. 

Ludhiana, January 4
The annual meet of the alumni of the College of Agriculture (COA) of Punjab Agricultural University has been scheduled for February 11-12.

Giving details, dean of COA Dr Milkha Singh Aulakh said alumni of the college from Faislabad, Pakistan would be invited to participate. He said special technical sessions would be organised on 
the occasion.

Aulakh said a special lecture on food security scenario would also be delivered by World Food Prize Winner Dr Gurdev Singh Khush and that the alumni making significant strides in different fields would be honoured, including Dr Jai Rup Singh, Dr KR Dhiman, Dr Arvind Bakshi, Dr SS Chahal, who became vice-chancellors of different universities, and Dr Gurbachan Singh who joined as the Agricultural Commissioner, Government of India.

The students who qualified for the prestigious administrative positions in the country would also be honoured, said Aulakh. He has invited all alumni to stay in touch with the college.

Ludhiana, January 4
More than 60 students from various schools of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Chandigarh participated in “Be a dancing star”, a dance show organised by the Prabhuji Productions group.

The quarterfinal competition was organised at the Friends Regency on Ferozepur Road.

Beating the chill, the students danced with enthusiasm thereby giving each other a tough competition. Three-four minutes time was given to each performer.

Said Vandana, a parent of a performer: “I have worked hard with my daughter as I used 
to take her for dance practice soon after her school and then sit with her throughout. I am sure that she will be amongst the top 10.”

Noted theatre and film artiste Nirmal Rishi was in the panel of judges, who shortlisted 30 children from today's competition. These 30 children will perform in semi finals to be held on January 12 at Vanjali Restaurant in Shivpuri which will be followed by final competition on January 30 which will be staged at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan.

Madhvi Malhota, the chief organiser of the show, said that every participant will be given a certificate followed by a prize money of Rs 51,000, Rs 21,000 and Rs 11,000 for the first three winners of the show. 

Ludhiana, January 4
The Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) students’ chapter and training and placement cell of the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology, Gujar Khan campus, organised a campus interview for MBA students today.

The drive was conducted by Step Up Placements, a company that offers multiple solutions in human resource, general management, operations, IT/ITES etc. Abhishek Upadhya, CEO and MD of the company and former vice-president (HR and administration in Trident Group), delivered a pre-placement talk (PPT).

The talk included a brief profile of the company and job profile for the available vacancies. Bela Sethi, director (operations), and Swikar Sethi, director (expansions), and head, IT search, conducted the interview. Wg Cdr SS Arora (retired), informed that two students were selected for the post of executive consultant - talent acquisition. — TNS

The car of the scribe that caught fire in Ludhiana on Monday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

The car was however completely damaged.Fire fighters said the fire broke out in the LPG gas kit installed in the trunk of the vehicle.

Mullanpur Dakha, January 4
A Turban-tying contest was organised here today. It got tremendous response especially from schoolchildren. At least 800 students attended the festival and almost 600 took part in it.

A seminar on ‘turbans and its importance’ was also organised during the festival. The turban-tying contest was organised in four categories: Classes VI to VIII, Classes IX and X, Classes XI and XII and open category. The ‘Turbanites’ group, which gives training in turban tying techniques, also attended the festival to gives tips to the students.

Girls also took part in the competition and showcased their beautiful ‘dastars’. Amanjot Kaur, a Class XI student of GNI School, Ludhiana, said: “When she got the news of turban-tying contest, she along with her friends took part in the competition as she believes that ‘girls don’t lag behind boys in any aspect so why miss the turban-tying contest’.

Canadian MP Tim Uppal, Dr Davinder Singh Chhina of the Punjab Culture Promotion Council, Dr Saroop Singh Alagh of Alagh Shabad Yagya International Trust, Gurmeet Singh of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Dr Hari Singh Jachak, Panthak International poet, SP (H) Jagraon, Gurpreet Singh Toor, Dr KNS Kang, Director, PCTE, and others addressed the gathering during the seminar on ‘Turban — its importance in Sikhism’.

Results: Boys group: Harmanpreet Singh 1st; Harcharan Singh 2nd and Arashdeep Singh 3rd .

In Group 2: Prabhdeech Singh, Agyapal Singh and Balpreet Singh bagged the top positions. In Group 3: Baljinder Singh, Hardeep Singh and Dharampal Singh managed to get first, second and third places, respectively, and in Group 4: Gurmeet Singh, Bhawandeep Singh bagged first and second position whereas Onkar Singh, Manjinder Singh and Balwinder Singh shared the third position, respectively. An old man Maghar Singh was given a consolation prize whereas Gurmeet Singh bagged this prize for his multicoloured turban tied by him.

Japleen Kaur, Ishdeep Kaur and Bhavandeep Kaur bagged first, second and third positions in the girls category by securing 46, 43 and 37 points, respectively. All participants were given medals, diaries and turbans.

Ludhiana, January 4
Hundreds of jhuggi dwellers were rendered homeless on a cold afternoon following the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment drive in Gyan Singh Rarewala market today.

Even as the sun remained elusive and cold winds blew all through the day, the jhuggi dwellers were asked to vacate their houses by the building branch officials of the MC.

The demolition squad reached the area in the morning where the encroachers had usurped a green park and raised shanties on it. The squad warned the dwellers to raze the structures themselves and take the material away lest they would have to use force for doing so.

The dwellers agreed to remove the encroachments as they could take away their valuables, household items, tarpaulin and even wood.

After the anti-encroachment drive, the dwellers were seen shivering in the cold. “Our children would be spending the night in the open. We do not know what to do. I have been rendered homeless,” said a dweller expressing her bitterness towards the MC officials. She, however, pleading that she should be allowed to spend the winters in her temporary shed.

The MC had removed the encroachments a few months back also, but the encroachments were back after a few days.

Meanwhile, the demolition squad also demolished an encroachment by a factory near Jawaddi gurdwara. A flourmill owner was also given a warning to remove his encroachment. 

Ludhiana, January 4
More than 10 organisations of industrial labour, farm workers and farmers along with trade union activists held a protest demonstration and submitted a memorandum demanding justice for the victims of violence against migrant families at Dhandari Kalan.

They also asked the authorities to take steps for granting compensation to the affected families, release of arrested migrants, withdrawal of criminal cases registered against them and bringing the culprits to the book.

Addressing the rally, the speakers lamented that even after one month of the incident of mob violence against migrants at Dhandari and despite the fact that several fact-finding bodies had submitted their reports to the Union and state governments as well as the state and national human right commissions, the migrants were still languishing in jails, were not being given proper meals and the injured were denied treatment.

They termed it unfortunate that the jail authorities and the government was still being vindictive towards the migrant families rather than sympathising with them and providing relief to the victims.

Among the participants in the rally were Harjinder Singh and Vijay Narayan of Moulder and Steel Workers Union, Shyam Narayan Yadav of Lal Jhanda Textile and Hosiery Mazdoor Union, Hardev Sunet of Lal Jhanda Punjab Nirman Mazdoor Union, Lakhwinder Singh of Karkhana Mazdoor Union, Sudagar Singh Ghudani of Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahana), Baldev Billu of Pendu Mazdoor Union, Malkit Singh of Democratic Teachers Front, Jaswant Zeerakh and AK Maleri of Association for Democratic Rights, Punjab. 

Ludhiana, January 4
Severe cold and intermittent rain marred the fourth day of the ‘traffic week’ being organised by the city traffic police here today. Plans to hold a ‘traffic awareness programme’ at various schools to sensitise students about traffic hazards were also thrown out of gear after the deputy commissioner ordered all schools to close due to the biting cold.

Due to inclement weather the drive lasted only till afternoon. The cops made some attempts at spreading awareness on observing traffic rules amongst commuters and even distributed pamphlets containing importance of safe driving. However, their efforts to distribute pamphlets at every roundabout in the city met a dead end as the streets remained largely deserted due to the rain.

After receiving a discouraging response, traffic SHO Anil Bhanot went to the army residence quarters in Badowal and interacted with family members of soldiers. Here too traffic police officers distributed pamphlets and conducted an hour-long seminar in the residential quarters.

The chilly weather further forced the traffic police to halt the ‘awareness drive’ in the evening. Said a cop on the condition of anonymity: "What’s the use of conducting such a drive if there are no commuters on the streets?"

Bhanot told The Tribune the drive could last only till afternoon as there was virtually no vehicular traffic due the cold and rain.

Ludhiana, January 4
Following dense fog and cold weather conditions, the authorities have installed light reflectors on NH-1 at several intersections near Ludhiana, where the construction of widening the road stretch is in progress.

The project officials said the move of installing reflectors had been taken to cut down the risk of accident during evening.

But the foggy conditions are posing problems for the commuters as the diversions are barely visible even during the day. Further, these reflectors remain switched off during the day.

In view of the situation, the reflectors would be increased in order to avoid accidents, said an official of the construction company. He, however, expressed ignorance when told that reflectors were not working during the day.

It is learnt that in the past few days, several accident were reported on the stretch between Doraha and Ludhiana, as the diversion are hardly visible. In a majority of the accidents, the drivers lose control over the vehicle while negotiating a turn and end up ramming vehicles near the construction site.

Now, commuters are demanding use of night reflectors during the day also as a thick carpet of fog remains on the NH-1 even till the afternoon.

Jagraon, January 4
Two swindlers, identified as Gurbachan Singh of Hujra village and Malkait Singh of Dhurshaidpur village near Sidhwan Bet, were arrested while they were trying to cheat villagers. Both accused used to enter a village guesthouse and fill forms of the old-age pension, Shagan Scheme and of unemployment stipend of the villagers. They used to charge Rs 50 each from the villagers after getting their documents photocopied.

They were arrested while cheating residents of Sidhwan Kalan village. Jasvir Singh of the village, however, got suspicious and lodged a complaint with Gurmeet Singh, sarpanch. They reached the guesthouse and inquired about them. When they failed to satisfy them, the sarpanch detained them and reported the matter with the police.

They were booked under Sections 420, 467 and 468 of the IPC and bundles of photocopied ration and voter cards; education and caste certificates were seized from their possession.

Ludhiana, January 4
The 24th edition of the annual sports festival, popularly known as the “Modern Rural Olympics” will be organised by the Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Club at Jarkhar village near here from January 22 to 25.

Narinder Pal Singh Sidhu and Harkamal Singh, chairman and president, respectively, of the organising club, said competition in eight games would be held during this festival to be held under the aegis of the Punjab Rural Sports Promotion Council.

The games include grass hockey, Astroturf hockey, volleyball smashing and shooting, basketball, handball, wrestling and kabaddi. Matches will be conducted in the boys as well as girls sections in all games, except for kabaddi and wrestling.

The festival will begin on January 22 while the formal inauguration is slated for January 23 when the games torch will be brought in a procession from the historical Gurdwara Manji Sahib at Alamgir, followed by a cultural programme.

Sandeep Singh, captain of the national hockey team has been chosen for this year's Surjit Singh Randhawa award while the skipper of the women's hockey squad and Arjuna awardee, Surinder Kaur will be bestowed with the Prithipal Singh award, they added.

Popular singers, Mohd Siddique and Bibi Ranjit Kaur will be honoured for their contribution in the field of culture while Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, the renowned environmentist will also be felicitated by the organisers for his selfless service to the society.

Meanwhile, the organising committee of this festival will be meeting here tomorrow to review the preparations being made for the event.