The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Officials monitor the road-marking work in Ludhiana Road markings to reduce traffic chaos
Ludhiana, January 31
Patience, care and courtesy are the only driving mantra that could solve the increasing traffic problem of Ludhiana. While this effort is expected to come from commuters, the Municipal Corporation, adding its bit to ease the traffic and for the safety of commuters, has started a project of traffic markings on the road.
Officials monitor the road-marking work in Ludhiana. A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

PAU removes dead crow
Ludhiana, January 31
Stung by criticism from animal rights activists, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today removed the dead crow hung by it in the fields to scare away birds. The crow was tied to a pole with a thread till yesterday and a report about it was carried in these columns today. Following the report, the university authorities removed the crow today.

Unorganised units poor on fire-safety norms
Ludhiana, January 31
The recent fire incident at Jain Udey Fabrics Private Limited - the lone operational factory at Punjab Apparel Park near Doraha - has put a question mark on the fire-safety norms of hundreds of industrial units being run in the district. The fire reduced to ashes property, machinery and raw material worth Rs 50 crore to ashes. Though owners of the unit claim to have taken an insurance cover of the losses, several "unorganised" units in the city are being run on "God's grace" alone.

At the Crossroads
Flitting across the good old days
During the wintry season, my imagination carries me to Shimla where nature weaves the web of snowflakes at intervals. My association with this place is due not only to its ambience but also to the individuals who came into my contact over the years.

Randhawa joins as Chief Commissioner, I-T
Ludhiana, January 31
GS Randhawa, the 1977-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, joined as the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Ludhiana. He has replaced RK Tiwari, who has been transferred to Ghaziabad. Randhawa has worked in various capacities at different places, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai and Mumbai.

Shrishti, Kavanraj adjudged healthy babies
Kids perform a dance in the healthy baby contest in Ludhiana on Sunday Ludhiana, January 31
The Ludhiana Citizens’ Health Council organised a healthy baby contest at Guru Nanak International Public School here. The programme was inaugurated by Dr JP Singh, director, health services and family welfare. The contest was categorised in three categories, 2-3 years, 3-4 years and 4-5 years.
Kids perform a dance in the healthy baby contest in Ludhiana on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Palak shines in declamation contest
Doraha, January 31
Green Grove Public School organised a declamation contest for students of UKG yesterday. President JPS Jolly presided over the function. The contest began with a welcome song by Class III (A) students.

Cultural extravaganza at DCM school
Ludhiana, January 31
DCM Presidency School organised a wellness programme-cum-cultural extravaganza where tiny tots presented a musical song and dance performance, which set every foot tapping and hands clapping.

Hannah Montana is now the hot teen rage
Ludhiana, January 31
Nearly four years since Disney channel began airing the TV series starring Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana has become immensely popular with the city’s teens and preteens. The market is flooded with Hannah Montana products like bags, lunch and pencil boxes, mugs, pens, towels, dolls and diaries. Youngsters can even be seen dressed like the teenaged pop star, whose stickers and posters are selling like hot cakes.

Need for fuel conservation stressed
Ludhiana, January 31
Technical seminar on industrial lubricants was organised today by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation here last evening. Various manufacturers of fasteners, auto parts, cycle parts, rubber products, textile and hosiery from all over Punjab participated in seminar.

Book of poems released
Mullanpur Dakha, January 31
The Punjabi Sahit Sabha organised a book releasing ceremony in which noted poet Surjit Patar released a book of poems, “Ik Lamba Khat Likhin”, written by Gurdial Singh Parwana.

Over 100 examined at medical camp
Ludhiana, January 31
More than 100 patients were examined at a free medical check-up camp organised by RG Stone Urology and Laparoscopy Hospital here today. According to Dr HS Jolly, who along with Dr Anand Sehgal, examined the patients and rendered follow-up advice to patients on problems related to gall bladder, kidney and stone.

Best research paper
Doraha, January 31
A research paper entitled “Coping up with the global economic recession: A study of US, UK, India and China”, by Prof Gagandeep Sharma, coordinator, department of management studies, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib, was declared best at Orlando conference, Florida, recently.

Without aid, villagers begin clean-up drive
Mullanpur Dakha, January 31
Unable to secure a financial grant from any government agency residents of nearby Raqba took upon themselves the task of cleaning up the village. The task is being accomplished by the village’s Naujawan Sabha with the active participation of its panchayat as well as NRIs.

Stinking pond to give way to mini-rose garden
Ludhiana, January 31
The stink of sewer, coupled with algae over water, is how a pond in the mayor’s ward has been “greeting” the public for over the past four decades. But now the pond will look like a mini-rose garden.

Police medal for ASI
Sahnewal, January 31
ASI Gurdev Singh, presently posted at the Sahnewal police station, has received a police medal on the occasion of the Republic Day celebrations. Gurdev Singh has been honoured for performing his duties honestly. He said he was proud to receive the honour.

Rs 2.25 cr undisclosed income surrendered
Ludhiana, January 31
Undisclosed income of Rs 2.25 crore was surrendered during the income tax surveys held at three firms. Surveys were conducted under the supervision of Joint Commissioner, Range VII, SC Narang.

Two factory workers killed
Mandi Gobindgarh, January 31
A migrant worker, Mintoo Ravat of Sehova district in Bihar, was killed when he was working at a furnace of a factory at Ambey Majra village late last evening. In another incident, a chowkidar, Labh Singh, working in a factory near the Grain Market died following cardiac arrest.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar
The E-block of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, which has been virtually turned into a garbage dump MC fails to clear garbage
Ludhiana, January 31
Despite tall claims by the municipal corporation to maintain cleanliness in the city, heaps of garbage in the E-block of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar on Pakhowal Road abound. Area residents rue that several letters to the Ludhiana Improvement Trust and the Punjab State Human Rights Commission have proved futile as the area is yet to be cleaned.
The E-block of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, which has been virtually turned into a garbage dump. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

‘Social Security Act needs amendment’
Mandi Gobindgarh, January 31
A four-day national convention on social security (SS) for unorganised workers was held recently at Patna, which discussed at length the effective implementation of unorganised workers social security Act 2008, Scheduled Castes Commission member Dalip Singh Pandhi told mediapersons here yesterday.

Violation of Norms
Administrator issues notice to commission agents
Mullanpur Dakha, January 31
Traders of the Mandi Dakha grain market are shaken, as the administrator of New Mandi Township, Punjab, has issued notice to more than 60 original owners of the SCFs in the grain market for cancellation of allotments of their SCF to others.

Temporary Suspension of Student Visas
UK-bound students left high and dry
Ludhiana, January 31
The students who had applied for study visa in the UK were left high and dry after the UK government temporarily suspended accepting applications from today. The students who had applied for the “March intake” in different universities in the UK were the worst affected.

IED in parked car: Vehicles being searched
Ludhiana, January 31
Following the recovery of about 10 kg of an improvised explosive device (IED) that was found from a car parked near the Halwara airbase a day before the Republic Day function, security personnel at shopping malls and other commercial establishments in the city are now conducting searches under the hood as well as in the boot of vehicles before they are allowed to park there.

Mal Singh award for Dalal
Ludhiana, January 31
Noted economist Sardara Singh Johl today conferred Bai Mal Singh memorial award on Punjabi fiction writer Gurdial Dalal in a function organised by Sirjandhara here today. He was presented a memento, a shawl and a cash prize. Jagjit Singh Gurm read out the commendation letter given away to the author.

French delegation visits farm
Ludhiana, January 31
A delegation of French farmers visited Gill Farm at Sudhar village near here recently. The 32-member delegation led by Marry was on an exposure visit to the farm to get acquainted with the Indian farming system.

Prosthetics, tricycles distributed
Ludhiana, January 31
Shaheed Sukhdev branch of the Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) organised a “viklang sahayta” camp at Shree Sidheshwar Dham Mandir here today in which prosthetics, calipers, tricycles and hearing aids were distributed among 61 physically challenged persons free of cost.

Free osteoporosis detection camp
Ludhiana, January 31
As many as 90 patients were examined during a free osteoporosis detection camp organised at Guru Teg Bhadaur (GTB) Hospital here yesterday. The free check-up camp was organised in association with Kindex and Universal companies.

Injured barn owl rescued
Ludhiana, January 31
A resident of Madhopuri today helped rescue of an injured barn owl that got entangled in a kite string. Kamal Bassi saw the bird on a treetop in a plot in the area when it was being attacked by crows as it was not able to fly due to injuries.

CRIME

Bike-borne youths rob man of laptop, wallet
Ludhiana, January 31
Two motorcyclists robbed a man of his laptop, wallet containing cash and gold ring while he was going back home near Pratap Chowk here this morning. The incident took place at about 6:30 am when Shivdutt Sharma, a sales manager in a multinational firm making inverters, was walking towards his home after returning from a trip to Mandi.

Shutters of 5 shops, offices broken
Ludhiana, January 31
In the third such incident in the city during the past one week, the shutters of five shops and offices located in Tagore Nagar were found broken. Though no loss of valuables was reported the shop owners were tense the entire day, complaining mechanics to repair the shutters were hard to find as it was a Sunday.

Cops nab one of 9 suspects in shootout
Jagraon, January 31
In a major breakthrough the local police arrested one of the suspects involved in the January 20 shootout in which the president of the Jagraon wing of the Students Organisation of India, Hargunjeet Singh, was killed while his friend was injured when armed men belonging to a rival group opened fire outside the courts complex here.

The oxen which were rescued at a shed at grain market in Mullanpur Dakha 15 oxen rescued
Mullanpur Dakha, January 31
The district president of the Gau Raksha Dal, Punjab, along with members of the organisation rescued 15 oxen from the clutches of UP-based butchers last night. The police has arrested three accused, while their accomplices managed to flee under the cover of darkness.
The oxen which were rescued at a shed at grain market in Mullanpur Dakha. Photo: Rakesh Gupta