People buy peanuts, gachak and popcorns on the eve of Lohri in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Confusion over filing of VAT forms
Ludhiana, January 12
Confusion prevails among traders and the excise and taxation department over the filing of Forms C and H with the annual VAT return. Traders say that the last date for the filing of the forms has been extended till March 31, as assured by minister Hira Singh Gabria, but officials say that they have no intimation from the department in this regard.

Nitin's family offers reward for killer’s arrest
Ludhiana, January 12
With the aim of speeding up the investigation into the murder of Nitin Garg, the 23-year-old Jagraon youth who was stabbed to death on January 2 in Melbourne, his family has announced a cash reward of AU $10,000 to any one who provides information leading to the arrest of the killer(s) to the Australian police.

Students come to college covered with woollens in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Condolence Meeting
Rs 5 lakh given to Nitin’s mother
Jagraon, January 12
A condolence meeting in the memory of Nitin Garg, who was killed in an attack in Australia, was held here today. Representatives of various political parties, officers of the district administration and social organisations paid tributes to Nitin.

Domestic LPG cylinders seized from eateries
Ludhiana, January 12
The department of food and civil supplies seized 10 domestic LPG cylinders from restaurants and dhabas here today. Restaurants and dhaba owners were using domestic LPG in place of commercial LPG, which is a violation of the Essential Commodities Act.

Residents approach CM against cattle menace
Khamano, January 12
A number of residents of Sanghol and adjoining villages have approached the Chief Minister against the cattle menace in their villages. They had written about the problem to the local administration and also given a representation to the Deputy Commissioner recently, but to no avail.

‘Declare hurling shoes, knickers an offence’
Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 12
Disturbed over the increased incidence of hurling articles like footwear, trousers and bottles filled with dirty water or urine on hate targets, activists and office-bearers of certain organisations have demanded that such acts be declared an offence.

They forget stars, look into eyes here
Ludhiana, January 12 The Nehru Planetarium at the Rose Garden here, once known as the astronomic land of the city, has turned into dating hot spot. Couples visiting the Rose Garden have been taking shelter at the planetarium for dating in the chilly weather. The Nehru Planetarium in Ludhiana. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Chill keeps kites off sky Ludhiana, January 12 Weather seems to be playing spoilsport with Lohri revellers this time. With chilly winds blowing in the region for the past several days and mercury staying low, not many kites are being flown by residents in the city. With the number of buyers of kites dropping this time due to intense cold wave, shopkeepers complain of incurring losses in Ludhiana. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Motorists grapple with smog
Mandi Gobindgarh, January 12
After being developed into a major steel town, Mandi Gobindgarh has also become one of the most polluted towns of the country. Beside a large work force suffering from various respiratory disorders, including tuberculosis, asthma, etc. commuters complain of poor visibility on the GT Road due to smog emanating from industrial units.

Ayali to head district health panel
Jagraon, January 12
The department of health and family welfare has constituted a state health monitoring and planning committee to promote community participation in health planning and monitoring initiatives in the state.

Blood group directory soon: BJYM Ludhiana, January 12 The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, has taken up the task of compiling a blood group directory to provide detailed information of voluntary blood donors of different groups. BJYM workers get their blood group examined in Ludhiana on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Simplify licence procedure, says councillor
Ludhiana, January 12
A councillor and secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Parminder Mehta, has urged the district administration to simplify the procedure for procuring a learner’s driving licence in the wake of problems being faced by the public at the Suvidha Centre at the mini secretariat here.

From Schools & Colleges
Lohri celebrated with fervour
Ludhiana, January 12
The pre-primary wing of Guru Nanak International Senior Secondary Public School celebrated Lohri in a very traditional way here today. The tiny-tots sat around the bonfire and danced to Punjabi hit numbers.

Sonia declared Miss Fresher
Jagraon, January 12
The students of GHG Harparkash College of Education at Sidhwan Khurd today organised a colourful cultural programme to welcome the freshers of BEd and MEd courses.

Labourer dies of asphyxiation
Mullanpur Dakha, January 12
A labourer reportedly died of asphyxiation at Humbran today. The deceased has been identified as Bal Krishan (40). He along with one other had lit fire in the room last night to keep warm. The room did not have any ventilation.

CRIME

Mishap victim dies at hospital
Raikot, January 12
The Raikot police yesterday registered a case against the driver of an unidentified vehicle for killing a rickshaw-cart-puller. The accident took place near the Binjal village, near here, on the Jagraon road on December 31, injuring the rickshaw-cart-puller seriously.

Gang of snatchers busted, 3 held
Raikot, January 12
The police has busted a gang of snatchers by arresting its three members here. Jalaldiwal police post in-charge Mohan Das said the three — Daljit Singh of Chand Bhan village, near Jaito; Gurdeep Chand of Chauke village, near Rampur Phool.

Firing at Function
2 booked for injuring girl
Khamano, January 12
The local police has registered a case against two persons for firing a shot that hit an orchestra girl at Baur village, near here. According to sources, a programme to celebrate Lohri had been organised at the house of Inderjeet Singh where dancers of an orchestra group had been engaged to perform.

Man held with 2 kg charas
Raikot, January 12
The local police arrested a drug-peddler and seized 2 kg charas from his possession here on Sunday. Davinder Singh, in-charge of Lohatbaddi police post, arrested the accused — Naveen Kumar Rajput, alias Bittu, — of Dharu village in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh on the basis of a tip-off.