Ludhiana, March 19
It was A to Z Liquors that was allotted the first liquor vend in the city during the draw of lots for vends held here today by the excise & taxation department.

For the second consecutive year the Malhotra group got the maximum number of vends, managing to snap up six zones - 2, 12, 20, 21, 22 and 30, as compared to only 11 zones last year.

The Singla group got the second largest number of zones at five while four went to the alliance of Garcha and Chadha.

The city was divided into 30 zones and had 229 vends, with a group of 5 to 9 liquor vends allotted for each zone.

A total of 126 draws were taken out for Ludhiana I, II and III. Five draws were taken out for Khanna, four for Jagraon, two draws each were taken out for Doraha and Raikot while one draw each was taken out for Samrala, Machhiwara and Payal.

Meanwhile, the draw of lots for Fatehgarh Sahib was held in that district.

The revenue earned during this fiscal from Ludhiana I, II and III is expected to rise by 15 per cent to Rs 380.46 crore as compared to Rs 330 crore collected last year. "There has been an addition of Rs 50 crore in the revenue collection during the last financial year," said DETC Parampal Singh.

This year the revenue collected from application forms itself was Rs 39 crore as against Rs 30 crore last year, with the department receiving a total of 19,500 applications.

After the vends were allotted the allotment fee of 5 per cent was submitted by the licensees concerned within 48 hours of the draw, while 15 per cent security has to be submitted by March 31.

The new vends will be operational from April 15. The licensee lying within municipal corporation limits will have to submit an initial amount of Rs 10 lakh, while those falling under municipal committees will have to deposit Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh will be have to submitted by those belonging to rural areas.

Ludhiana, March 19
"What is the use of having deaddiction camps when medical drugs are easily available over the counter at chemists shops across the city?" asked Pradeep Kumar, who works for a tent shop. He was taking part in a drug deaddiction camp organised by the local police in collaboration with the social securities department in Gill village today.

Pradeep’s remark aptly describes the vulnerability of the ever-rising number of youths who feel hapless due to medical drugs having become a part of their daily life.

Nearly 200 drug addicts from Shimlapuri, Dabba, Gill village and surrounding areas came to attend the camp. Interestingly, all of them became habituated to medical drugs. Those hooked to drugs like opium, hashish, cocaine, heroine and marijuana were negligible in number.

The addicts said prices of narcotic substances had touched the roof and it had become impossible for them to buy expensive drugs smuggled from across the border, adding they found medical drugs much cheaper.

“Capsules and syrups don’t cost much. I take two strips of medicines and cough syrup daily and they cost me Rs 100 a day," said Babbu, afflicted with polio since early childhood. Now he wants to quit drugs but every time he makes a resolve to do so a chemist entices him and even gives him capsules for free, he adds.

“I’m stuck deep in this dirty world of drugs even though I want to come out of this mess but these chemists are not letting me quit the habit”, he laments.

ACP Narinderpal Singh Rubi said, "Drugs and crime are very closely connected. An addict can go to any extent in order to buy drugs and often he or she doesn’t hesitate to commit crime to buy drugs. The majority of youths who have come to the deaddiction camp here for treatment have a criminal past. If drugs stop spreading its tentacles the crime graph would automatically come down."

Ludhiana, March 19
Vendetta politics, or settling scores with political opponents by the party in power, is not a new phenomenon, and deputy speaker of Punjab Assembly Sat Pal Gosain might not have anything to do with it during the past three years when the SAD-BJP government assumed power in the state. But his plea for bringing the politics of hate and vengeance to an end has come as a big surprise in political circles here.

A senior leader of the Congress party, requesting not to be identified, said the prominent BJP leader, who has now written to the Speaker of Punjab Assembly Nirmal Singh Kahlon to take steps for bringing to an end the politics of vengeance, had unabashedly indulged in filing of criminal cases and lodging several complaints against the then Congress legislator Surinder Dawar way back in 2002 after he lost election to him from the Ludhiana East assembly segment with a huge margin.

"Gosain filed criminal complaints against Dawar for defamation, and he was also said to be instrumental in implicating the son of his political opponent in an alleged case of fabrication of university documents and later lodging a complaint against the dyeing unit owned by Dawar charging use of prohibited fuel," asserted the Congress leader.

Ludhiana, March 19
A major search operation was conducted in the city today following intelligence reports of a possible terror strike or explosions at busy markets in different parts of the city.

Dog squads and various other search parties conducted checks in Chaura Bazar, Clock Tower and surrounding areas. A thorough check was conducted at the railway station along with the railway police.

Till the time of filing of this report, a police team had launched a combing operation in the Dana Mandi area.

Ludhiana, March 19
The two-day Kisan Mela concluded at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) amidst promises of a better future in the agriculture sector today. Keeping aside their grievances, the farmers from Punjab and other northern states attended the interactive sessions with the university experts.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit Singh Kang urged the farmers to adopt new technologies that help in preserving the resources, particularly, the soil and water, which are necessary for sustained agricultural production. Accentuating on the problem of lowering the underground water-level and deteriorating soil fertility in Punjab, Dr Kang stated that the farmers should use water-saving technologies like delayed transplanting of paddy, use of happy seeder and zero tillage in wheat; use of laser leveller tensio-meter. “We must aim for an evergreen revolution in Punjab by using latest technologies”, he added.

He also urged the farmers to take maximum advantage of the farm literature published by the university.

Dr Kang distributed the prizes among the winners of different competitions. Ranjit Kaur from Ranjt Bagh (Gurdaspur) was adjudged as the best women entrepreneur while Parmjit Kaur from Khera Jattan (Patiala) stood second in the women entrepreneurship category.

Sunita Rani from Kalyan (Patiala) won first prize for preparing utility articles from waste followed by Manpreet from Lohara (Ludhiana), who bagged first prize for mehndi. Ninderjit Singh from Rangian (Sangrur) won the first prize for painting with natural dyes while Gurdip Kaur from Alhom Kalan, Nabha, Patiala, was declared winner under best ‘roti’-making competition. In the agro-industrial exhibition, several firms were awarded prizes for their excellent displays and a few firms were given the best stall awards.

Department of Plant Breeding, PAU, was awarded first prize for best display in the agro-industrial exhibition while the Department of Plant Pathology and the Department Soils bagged second and third prizes, respectively. In the field demonstration Department of Agronomy was adjudged the best and departments of horticulture and vegetable crops were placed second and third, respectively.

In the category of sale of the PAU farm literature, the first prize was bagged by Bathinda and second prize by Mukatsar.

Noted singers, Vir Sukhwant and Ram Singh Albela enthralled the audience. Kartar Dhuga and lyricist Karamjit Puri were also honoured for their songs on social awareness programme.

Ludhiana, March 19
The “offshore dreams” of the rural Punjabi youth came to the fore during the two-day biannual Pashu Palan Mela of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) that concluded here today.

Youths, especially those from rural background, thronged the lone stall promoting overseas education and visa services with vivid dreams of going abroad clearly visible in their eyes.

“It has been a childhood dream to go abroad but I never got the right kind of guidance. I did not even know whom to contact and how. But this mela has proved to be quite helpful both in terms of knowledge that I gained in dairy farming as well as in gaining vital information about the right way to apply for a visa,” smiled Harman Singh Chahal, a young farmer from Sahnewal.

Another youngster from Lakhowal village, Pukhraj Singh, added: “The concept of setting up of such a stall in the mela is unique and beneficial for people like me who have limited access to information.” Confirming that rural youths had been coming in large numbers to make enquiries about studying abroad, the stall manager, said, “The response in these two days has indeed been tremendous.”

He added that company had been putting up stalls at the mela with a view to attract the rural youth since long. “This mela is perhaps the best platform these youths get to interact with the world outside their villages. And the best opportunity for us too, to attract prospective clients,” he added.

Ludhiana, March 19
Pashu Palan Mela that attracted a large number of livestock farmers from across Punjab as well as the neighbouring states, concluded here today with a note to meet again with new researches and latest information.

Farmers showed interest in adopting livestock farming as their profession during the fair. Different departments of the university provided services and know how for the betterment of these farmers. Talking about the total output of the Mela, Dr OS Parmar, director, extension education, GADVASU, revealed that the response was overwhelming with farmers coming from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. 

Ludhiana, March 19
Gurmeet Singh Sohi of Nathmalpur in Ropar district stole the show by winning trophies for best produce of rose, marigold, coriander, turnip, cabbage and cauliflower in the farm produce category organised at the two-day Kisan Mela that concluded today at Punjab Agricultural.

Swaran Singh Chandi of Boolpur village in Kapurthala district and Manjit Singh Ghuman of Nagra village in Sangrur district were other two proud winners, who bagged five trophies each in the farm produce category.

Humility was writ large on their faces as they shared their success mantra with The Tribune. “I have been associated with Punjab Agricultural University for the past one decade which has helped me a lot in diversifying from the regular crops that is wheat and paddy,” shared Gurmeet Singh.

Swaran Singh Chandi, proud winner of best quality honey, turnip, gladiolus, peas and turmeric clutched his trophies adding, “I feel as if my children whom I nurtured with love and care have rewarded me at last.”

I plan to increase my area of cultivation area under honey, as there is a huge demand for quality honey in domestic as well international market, Chandi stated.

Success is not new to Manjit Singh Ghuman, the owner of Ghuman seed farm, who bagged best produce awards for chilli, French beans, and carrot, broccoli and baby corn. Sharing his excitement Ghuman said, “Broccoli and baby corn is a new venture but very lucrative as I have already established a good market in Chandigarh, Delhi and Patiala.”

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr MS Kang gave at least 34 first prizes and an equal number of second prizes to farmers in different categories. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 19
The administration has announced a major reorganisation of the administration in Ludhiana (Rural), Khanna and Ludhiana police districts. Residents of about a hundred hundred villages coming under the jurisdiction of these districts will now have to knock on different doors for redressal of their problems.

The development is bound to affect political loyalties also as local leaders will be subservient to those in charge of various political parties at the subdivision level.

With an aim to streamline police functioning the administration has reorganised some police stations and ‘chowkis’ (police posts) in the villages of the area. Notably the Dehlon police station has been transferred from Ludhiana (Rural) to Ludhiana police district. Residents of about 50 villages under the jurisdiction of this police station will be now be freed from tiring visits to Jagraon town to seek justice.

Some villages that were governed by Ludhiana Sadar police station have been included in this police station’s jurisdiction, whereas Hargobind Pura, Latala, Ghugrana, Jartoli, Dhulkot, Jurahan and some other villages have been included in the jurisdiction of the proposed Jodhan police station.

A dozen villages that were transferred from Payal police station to Dehlon about 15 months ago have once again been restored to their earlier position. Residents of these villages, namely, Sihar, Kalarh, Nanakpur Jagera, Jhammat, Kila Hans, Bhikhi Khatra, Dhaul Khurad, Dhaul Kalan, Pandher Kheri, Roshiana, Saharanmajra and Zirakh will now have to go to Khanna instead of Jagraon for seeking police assistance.

The development is expected to affect political affiliations also. Local leaders of various parties, who were associated with senior leaders during the earlier scheme of things, may now how to shift their loyalties for obvious reasons to get their work done through those heading the reorganized subdivisions. Residents are happy they would have to travel lesser distances to get their routine jobs done. Issue of police clearance certificates and character verifications is expected to be less cumbersome after the reorganisation.

However, the development is being viewed as a setback to former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha and his associates who had got 12 villages included in Dehlon police station jurisdiction about 15 months ago. Sarpanches of nine villages, led by then sarpanch of Dhaul Kalan village, had filed a petition against the government's decision in the Punjab & Haryana High Court.

Ludhiana, March 19
A day after Punjab assembly deputy speaker Satpal Gosain sought cancellation of a political vendetta case against him, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader whom the police booked on charges of assault and various other criminal offences alleged the senior politician of being “vindictive”.

Mohinder Singh, a goldsmith who resides in Amarpura, who along with his two sons, Varinder Singh and Bhupinder Singh, was booked for reportedly assaulting his neighbour Balbir Singh, has alleged Gosain and ward councillor Gurdeep Singh Nittu implicated them in a “frivolous case in order to settle old political scores”.

Mohinder, who fought the last assembly election against Gosain, accused the latter and Nittu of “backing his neighbour in order to involving him in an alleged fake case”. He claimed Nittu along with his supporters staged a ‘dharna’ (sit-in) to put pressure on the police to take action against him.

Mohinder and Nittu have been at loggerheads since the time the former contested the assembly poll against Gosain. Both engaged in a heated argument recently over a property dispute at the division no 2 police station.

According to the police, the incident took place last night when Mohinder along with his sons attacked Balbir Singh. The investigating officer stated Mohinder thrashed Balbir and snatched the latter’s gold chain.

Some people who were reportedly staging a ‘dharna’ at the police station accused Mohinder and his son of serving liquor to visitors in their vehicles. They alleged after getting drunk Mohinder and his sons together with some of these visitors used to create a “ruckus”.

They further stated area residents began opposing the “drinking habits” of Mohinder and his sons following which the latter pelted stones at his house.

On the other hand Mohinder claimed his house was attacked instead and the police took no action against the culprits.

In the meantime, Gosain has refuted the allegations against him as “baseless”, saying he had nothing to do with the entire incident.

"In my entire political career I’ve have never filed a complaint against anyone, leave alone engaging in political vendetta. I’ve always enjoyed a very clean image and have never believed in petty politics. There is not a shred of truth behind these allegations," Gosain asserted.

Despite repeated attempts Nittu could not be contacted.

Ludhiana, March 19
Salaam Zindagi Foundation in coordination with the NSS Club of Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic College organised a blood donation camp wherein 371 units of blood were collected.

The camp was organised in memory of national heroes, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who sacrificed their lives for the national freedom.

College principal Birinder Singh inaugurated the camp by donating blood.

The principal lauded the efforts of Salaam Zindagi Foundation for its role in promoting the cause of blood donation in the city.

Dr Bishav Mohan, an eminent cardiologist from Hero Heart Centre, along with the Youth Chemist Welfare Club sponsored refreshments for blood donors and assured for every possible help in future also.

Salaam Zindagi Foundation president Manjit Saini thanked the management of GNE Polytechnic College and volunteers of the NSS Club for their support.

Salaam Zindagi Foundation chairman Rajesh Kaul appealed to all students of the city to donate blood regularly.

Ludhiana, March 18
Keeping a pace with the changing times and in view of considerable research evidence to support the powerful role that technology has come to play in the cognitive, social and language development of children, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar, has joined hands with Educomp to start “Smart Classes”.

School director Father John and school principal Sister Sobel inaugurated the newly digitised classrooms here yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Father John said, “It is a matter of pride to introduce children to the Smart Classes, a sophisticated technology programme, which enhances the teaching-learning process in the classrooms and gives the students an edge in today’s knowledge age.”

Sister Sobel also motivated the teachers to take advantage of this innovative facility to make the learning process absorbing and engaging.

Father John further informed that Educomp’s Smart Classes brought about a complete transformation in the classrooms by replacing the lecture method with interactive white boards and use of a large repository of digital instruction materials, including 3D animated modules and videos, mapped to the school curriculum through its exclusive partnership with Eureka, Discovery and Crocodile, simulations software for physics, chemistry and mathematics.

“It works as a virtual lab inside the classes, the instructor-led education solution for private schools has brought about a revolution in the teaching-learning process by enhancing the academic performance of the students, increasing teacher effectiveness and productivity in the classes and instant assessment of learning outcome in the classes,” he said.

Raikot, March 19
A national-level seminar on “Development of employable skills” was organised at Sadbhavna College of Education for Women here today, as a part of the “college to career programme” of the college.

The workshop was sponsored by the Academy of Learning Techniques, Research and Training, Gurgaon. Dr Vijay Lakshmi, principal DDJ College of Education, Moga, Dr Sneh Gargi, principal, Moga College of Education, Moga, Dr RK Kulshreshtha, principal, FS College of Education, Shikohabad, UP, and Dr Kiran Arora, MT College of Education, Sampla, Haryana, were the key speakers, besides resource persons from the college.

It was resolved that the main cause of rural unemployment is the lack of access and exposure to urban sophistication, though rural students do match their urban counterparts in knowledge and skills.

Dr AK Banerjee, college president, said the institution was committed towards the empowerment of rural women folk and to make them sustainable in the harsh world.