Ludhiana, March 26
Waking up to the loss of three lives in accidents involving municipal corporation’s trucks, the civic body has now decided to phase out the vehicles that have outlived their life.

As a precautionary measure, the corporation has also abstained its drivers having licence for only light moving vehicles (LMVs) from driving heavy vehicles like tippers, JCBs and garbage trucks.

Talking to The Tribune today, Senior Deputy Mayor Parveen Bansal said they had sought a complete record of trucks from the departments concerned. “We are trying to see the condition of these old trucks and the maintenance they require. We will condemn these if we find these unfit for use. The list will reach us within a day or two,” he said.

He added that a number of drivers had already been asked to get trained for driving heavy vehicles. “I do not have the exact number now but we are not taking any chances. We want to ensure that the trucks are handed over to experienced drivers alone. We cannot allow them to be a potential threat on the roads,” he added.

Meanwhile, investigations revealed that in the recent past, many truck drivers of the civic body had hired drivers privately and they had handed over vehicles to the latter. The civic body’s drivers themselves did some other job or just stayed away.

Bansal said they had received several complaints in this regard. They would now ensure that nothing of the sort happened.

Head of departments concerned were asked to hand over the vehicle to the person hired by the civic body directly and not anybody else. There were further directions to inspect the vehicles on road to ensure that there was no irregularity.

The drivers have already learnt a lesson after three persons, including two minor boys, lost their lives in accidents.

“They are all very cautious now,” said Bansal.

Ludhiana, March 26
A team of health officials caught the owner of a milk-chilling centre with 50 quintal adulterated cheese covered with thick layers of fungus here today.

Mehar Singh, the owner of Jhallian Di Dairy, in Haibowal Dairy Complex, after procuring spoiled milk from dairies and milkmen, used to make cheese and sell it at his retail outlet on Chauri Sarak, near Chaura Bazar.

Mehar Singh was also reportedly selling adulterated cheese to some taverns, which coated it with gram flour/turmeric to prepare snacks for customers.

Food inspectors Kamalpreet Singh and Abhinav Khosla along with other members of the team took four samples of the cheese, which would be sent to Chandigarh for testing.

“The rest of the material has been sealed and we have taken a surety bond from the owner that the product will not be sold,” said food inspector Kamalpreet Singh.

The department of health and family welfare, after getting a tip-off from a person who had fallen ill after consuming the adulterated cheese, had conducted the raid under the supervision of civil surgeon Dr Maninderjit Singh.

Dr Maninderjit Singh said the department would register a case under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act as soon as the reports of the samples were received by the department.

“The entire team was surprised to see trays of cheese covered with fungus and emanating foul smell. Fungus causes severe intestinal infections, including diarrhoea and gastroenteritis, which can even cause death,” Dr Singh added.

He assured that the department would not let the culprits go scot free, as they were playing with the lives of people.

Ludhiana, March 26
The former sarpanch of Hissowal, Harnek Singh, has taken the lead in setting an example of "benevolence" as he celebrated his daughter's birthday by organising a free eye checkup camp in the village.

Harnek’s daughter, Tanveer Kaur, who turned 9, was elated to cut her birthday cake in the presence of over than 300 people, saying she would be more than happy to celebrate every birthday with the aim of serving humanity.

This was the fifth free checkup camp organised in the village by Harnek. The last four were organized on the death anniversary of his brother, Nirmal Singh Manila.

Punarjot Eye Bank Society, an NGO working for the cause of eye donations and corneal transplants, organised the camp.

More than 75 people registered themselves with the society for cataract operations, following which they would be provided lenses free of cost.

“Humility and generosity, when combined with wisdom, becomes elemental in creating awareness that goes a long way in serving the best interests of humanity”, said Dr Ramesh of the Punarjot Eye Bank Society. "Harnek Singh and his family members have pledged their eyes and motivated over a dozen people to pledge their eyes. This has given a fillip to the eye donation movement in the village”, he added.

Having served as village sarpanch from 2003 to 05, Harnek has consistently fought against social evils and at the same time campaigned for the causes that serve humanity.

"I plan to work for the cause of eye donation in a bigger capacity as it is painful that the visually impaired can not experience light. However, each one of us can make a large number of blind people see the world by pledging our eyes," Singh said.

Ludhiana, March 26
There is good news for allottees of properties in colonies developed by government agencies like the Improvement Trusts, PUDA, local area development authorities or urban local bodies as the state government has decided to grant further extension for registration of title deeds on the reserve price till June 30. Earlier, this facility was available only till March 31.

Jaspal Singh, secretary, Punjab government, Department of Revenue and Rehabilitation, told The Tribune today that a decision to this effect had already been taken and the notification for the extension of the date for the registration of title deeds on reserve price for another three months was expected in a few days.

While extending the facility of the registration of sale deeds at reserve price in January 2009, the state government had notified the Punjab Stamp (Dealing of Under-valued Instruments)(Second Amendment) Rules 2009 framed under the Indian Stamp Act 1899 (Central Act No 2 of 1899).

As per the notification, it was laid down that the consideration amount fixed at the time of the allotment of immovable property by any government/semi-government organisation shall be deemed to be the collector’s rate and the stamp duty shall be charged for the registration of document upon the consideration amount fixed by the government/semi-government organisation, provided that document is got registered by the original allottees up to cut off date (June 30 in this case) or within three months of payment of the last installment as per schedule of payment of such allotment.

Welcoming the extension, Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) chairman Ashok Juneja said even though a large number of original allottees of plots and properties of the trust had availed the concession which was being allowed since March 2009, but still another period of three months (till June) would benefit those allottees who could not get their sale deeds registered till now for one or the other reason.

As far as the Ludhiana Improvement Trust allottees are concerned, Juneja said nearly 90 per cent pending files for the registration of sale deeds had been disposed off during the past couple of months and documents for the registration had already been handed over to the allottees. “We shall take necessary steps to clear all pending cases of transfer or registration of properties and clearance for registration of title deeds will be handed over to the allottees well before the cut off date.”

Ludhiana, March 26
A senior professor of the department of English of SCD Government College, an Urdu poet and a recipient of State Award, Prof Bhupinder Singh Parihar, has been booked for allegedly abducting and molesting a five-year-old girl at Flower Dale Enclave here today.

The incident took place this morning when the girl, daughter of a Nepalese couple who live in the neighbourhood of the professor, went missing while playing outside her house at Madhuban Enclave here.

After failing to locate her, the panic-stricken parents, along with other residents, started searching for her.

The victim’s father, who works as a waiter in a hotel, alleged that someone told them that they had spotted a man in his mid-50s take the girl towards Flower Dale Enclave.

He alleged that when he reached the spot, he was shocked to find Parihar kissing the child.

Suhwinder Kaur, SHO of the PAU police station, stated that Parihar was in an inebriated condition.

It is learnt that the professor was manhandled before being handed over to the police.

The police has booked the accused under Sections 365 and 354 of the IPC for abducting and intending to outrage the modesty of a girl.

The police said the girl was safe and did not sustain any injury.

Neither the professor, nor anyone from his family was available for comments. 

Ludhiana, March 26
The entire teaching fraternity was shocked following the arrest of senior professor BS Parihar in connection with a molestation case.

Some accused the professor of shameful conduct while the others termed the incident as part of the prevailingcollege politics which was getting worseeach year.

Jasbir Kaur Makkar, principal of SCD Government College,said: “I came to know about the incident from a professor. Tomorrow, we have a prize distribution function and today was its rehearsal. We were waiting for him, but he did not arrive. Wesent him several reminders, but no one responded. It was in the evening that we came to know about the unfortunate incident.”

Expressing shock over the professor’s arrest, a colleague said Parihar was nearing his retirement.

“He has ruined it all. He had earned a special place among Urdu poets of the state. It is a very sad incident. He has left a blot on the teaching fraternity,” he stated.

A senior professor of the department of English of the college raised doubt over the entire issue.

He alleged that it could be part of the ongoing mudslinging among professors.

Doraha, March 26
Doraha College of Education organised a national seminar-cum-panel discussion on “Indian Education System: Challenges Ahead” here yesterday.Dr Inderpal Singh, former Pro Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was the chief guest.

He inaugurated the seminar. Principal Dr Sandeep Sawhney, said the aim was to ponder over trends in education system where the teachers should be able to keep pace with the fast changing vistas of education and equip students with all modern teaching aids and facilities, so that they may become capable of competing with foreign universities entering the Indian Market.

Jasvir Chahal, dean faculty of education, Panjab University, Chandigarh, delivered the keynote address in a revolutionary style.

She said Kapil Sibal should give a second thought to his statements concerned with grading system, deemed universities and entry of foreign universities. “We should first try to redefine the real meaning of education. It is no use watering the top after cutting the roots”, she added.

Dr Anand Padhan, department of education, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Dr Raminder Singh Sidhu, senoir professor Punjabi University, regional centre, Bathinda, Paramjit Kaur, principal, BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, Dr SS Sangha, fellow Panjab University, Chandigarh, highlighted numerous challenges, issues and concerns of education system through their presentations on “reforming and restructuring Indian education”, “Internationalisation and globalisation of education”, “rebuilding evaluation patterns” and “quality assurance in Indian education”, respectively.

Upkar Singh, former principal, Ramgarhia College of Education, Phagwara, and Dr Khushwinder Kumar, principal, BCM College of Education, Ludhiana, were the panelists, along with four resource persons.

As many as 50 delegates and principals from various institutes participated in the discussion. Sukhpal Singh, chairman Doraha Group of Institutions, honoured the guests.

Ludhiana, March 26
Workers of the BSNL Employees Union, Sanchar Nigam Executives Association, All-India BSNL Executives Association and the National Federation of Telecom Employees today staged a daylong dharna outside the general manager’s office. The joint action committee comprises 13 associations and unions of executives and no-executives having strength of more than three lakh employees.

The joint committee has given a call for indefinite strike from April 20 onwards.

Balwinder Singh, district secretary, BSNL Employees Union, said the ITS officers absorption in BSNL was a major concern of the joint committee. Despite assurances of the minister of communication and the BSNL management the issue is not settled even after 10 years of BSNL’s formation.

“Non-absorption of ITS is adversely affecting the day-to-day development and expansion plans. BSNL has decided to disinvest 10 per cent of its shares. We are against the disinvestment and privatisation of BSNL which is not in the interest of the country and BNSL workers,” added Balwinder.

The Sam Pitroda panel’s recommendations to retire one-lakh employees through voluntary retirement scheme will badly affect the livelihood of lakhs of the family members and employees. “We will never allow the government and management to implement these recommendations,” he added.

Doraha, March 26
Now on the verge of superannuation, Major Madan Singh Bhandari has been a major in the literal sense, playing an indispensable role both at home and the workplace. He completed his matriculation in the 1960s in a school located in a remote hilly area of Uttaranchal during a time when few thought of acquiring an education. Later he enrolled in college, going on to earn BA (honours), MA (Hindi) and BLib degrees.

Bhandari also made a mark in the field of sports as well. He earned the university colours in basketball for being the all-round best player.

Not only this, Bhandari remained the captain of the varsity team and represented the university in the All India Inter University Basketball Tournament four times. He also represented Haryana state in the National Basket Ball Championship four times.

As a member of the National Service Scheme for three years, Bhandari was awarded a special prize for rendering service in the field of community development, public health and hygiene, adult education and relief for Bangladesh refugees. He was also adjudged the best orator of Kurukshetra University.

Bhandari was appointed as a regular lecturer in Hindi at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha in 1974. Though he was selected for the final interview for the post of deputy superintendent of police in the central armed police forces in September 1975, he preferred to continue teaching at the college.

As a lover of sports, Bhandari was the first to install a basketball ground in Doraha. During his tenure in the college he was the first to start an NCC there. In August 1977 he was commissioned as an NCC officer. His performance in the refresher course held in 1988 at the NCC Officers Training School at Kamptee was adjudged to be “outstanding”. He remained on the NCC selection board for several years and actively participated in 32 camps including rock climbing, mountaineering, hiking and tracking.

Bhandari was also secretary of the Lions Club of Doraha. He was commendably awarded for his physical fitness, weapon training, professional ability, drill and instructional ability. By virtue of his perseverance he rose to the rank of lieutenant and was later promoted as captain and finally as major in the National Cadet Corps in 1990.

However, Bhandari had to face another test in his life after his wife went into a coma after undergoing a minor operation and remained in that state for eight long years. He had to fight the battle single handedly.

Though a major portion of his life was spent as ‘caretaker’ of his NCC cadets he took care of his unconscious wife though he had meager financial resources and three small children to raise at home. Yet he endured-the ordeal with unflinching faith and determination.

Ludhiana, March 26
Bhutta College of Engineering and Technology (BCET) organised a visit to Vardhman Yarns and Threads, a unit of Vardhman Group for MBA students.The purpose of the visit was to make the students aware of the manufacturing processes, marketing strategies and export procedures.

Ratinder Parsad, production manager of the company, said the company got raw material from its Hoshiarpur plant.

The company was engaged in the manufacturing of sewing threads since its inception and had its own dye house.

He explained various manufacturing processes of sewing threads like winding twisting, dyeing, measuring and packing.

Sanjay Kumar, senior manager (HRM), said Vardhman's thread was exported to the US and other European countries.

Jaswinder Kaur Khehra, HR manager, replied to the queries of the students regarding HR policies and social welfare schemes being adopted by the unit.

She also provided guidance to the students regarding their summer training recruitment and placements in the Vardhman Group.

Students awarded at PU convocation

Deepika Batra of MBACIT and Manmeet Kaur of MA (music vocal) of Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women were presented gold medals by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee during the annual convocation of Panjab University, Chandigarh, for securing first position in university examinations held in April last. Manmeet Kaur was also awarded Tejpal Singh Bandhu medal for her achievements in the field of music.

College principal Parveen Kaur Chawla congratulated the students and the faculty for their performance.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 26
Two Dalit families of Kasba Bharal village in Sangrur district have accused the village civic body chief and certain officials of the block development office of setting their huts on fire to dislodge them from the common land where they had been living for two generations.

Denying allegations, sarpanch Jagga Singh, panchayat secretary Sukhjit Singh and Balbir Singh counter-alleged that the complainants had lodged a false complaint to pressure the authorities to allow them grab the common land.

Acknowledging receipt of the complaint, Sandaur SHO Rajinder Bhalla said action would be initiated after verifying allegations leveled by the complainants.

Doraha, March 26
The work of replacing the worn out expansion joints on the Doraha flyover (National Highway No. 1) has finally been taken up by a private company.The plight of commuters and residents, who were facing difficulty due to the ever-widening gap between the joints, had specifically been highlighted in the columns of this paper. 

The gap had increased to a disastrous extent and was proving to be a major cause of accidents. The flexible expansion joints, which require periodic maintenance, had worn out and consequently broken, thus creating big gap, which appeared to be no less than big holes on both sides of the National Highway.

This was resulting in minor to major mishaps every now and then of which the authorities were hitherto oblivious. The commuters had rued that such grave obstructions and that, too, on the National Highway could prove to be catastrophic especially during night hours when a two wheeler could suddenly bump into the gap and invite trouble.

Also, with the constant hammering of the vehicles into the gaps, the general security of the vehicles crossing from over the bridge and the bridge itself was in peril as opined by the technical experts.

Ludhiana, March 26
To glorify the sacrifice of an NRI in the United Kingdom, who saved a British woman from muggers and got killed himself, the Delhi Youth Akali Dal has demanded a memorial in his name to be erected in the city.

Sukhwinder Singh (31), who hailed from Dholanwal village near Kohara, was attacked while pursuing two robbers on January 8, who had robbed a 28-year-old woman near the Barking station. When he caught them, a fight broke out and he was stabbed. He was taken to Royal London Hospital where he died later on.

He had immigrated to London 10 years ago and had never visited India after reaching there. He was planning to visit India in April, but as the destiny would have it, his body arrived.

Following his act of bravery, the United Kingdom government suitably rewarded him posthumously. The political outfit of Sikh youths has, now, demanded that he be given the status of a martyr here also.

‘‘With his act, he has made the world proud of our country. The tales of our valour were there in the books but with him laying his life, the world could practically see what we are capable of doing. He was our ambassador of bravery and he should be glorified,’’ said Gurdeep Singh Gosha, president, Delhi Youth Akali Dal (Punjab).

In a letter to Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India, Preneet Kaur, Gosha has demanded that his sacrifice shall be acknowledged by India also.

Meanwhile, his 10-year-old son, Gurjinderpal, who was born after he had left for London, had never seen his father as only his pictures have been reaching them.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 26
Pre-harvesting season is proving to be thorny problem for farmers of this area. Infestation of wheat fields by Philarus Minu, a weed called “guli danda” in a local dialect and long and inadequate irrigation system have shattered their dreams to have bumper crop after many years.

Apprehending losses due to sun drying, microbes and weeds they (farmers) have started putting in all efforts to minimise the loss.

Investigations by The Tribune revealed sun drying, microbes and weeds, which have been flourishing due to humidity and high temperature, had affected the wheat crop standing in thousands of acres.

Farmers, who were expecting a bumper crop a few weeks ago, are now worried about maintaining normal quantity and quality of their crop. While certain weeds, overgrowing parent crops have already shown affect by competing for nutrients with the wheat plants, frequent and long powers cuts have affected availability of the water for the crop.

Peasants are peeved owing to shelling out extra money on running diesel pump sets as water is most required for wheat crop before starting its harvesting in a fortnight from now.

Larges patches of affected crop were seen in Jandali Kalan, Chhapar, Latala, Barundi, Rangoowal, Jurahan, Jartoli, Seelon Kalan and Jartoli villages. Hardial Singh Sekhon of Chhappar village said a major portion of the crop standing in his fields had started drying up. “It seems impossible to maintain quality and quantity of wheat grain unless we shell out extra money for irrigating fields before harvesting,” said Sekhon.

He apprehended that the yield would fall at least by 20 per cent due to the decrease in the grain size.

Referring to information received through farmers of the area, Baldev Singh Latala, general secretary, Punjab Kisan Sabha, and Mohinder Singh Seelon, president, Zamhoori Kisan Sabha, said “tela”, a decease caused by a microbial organism and infestation of fields by philarus Minu would decrease the yield to a great extent. 

Ludhiana, March 26
Those visiting the local government offices were at the receiving end as clerical employees and supervisory staff up to the superintendent level, went on strike today in response to a call given by the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union to press for acceptance of their demands.

Addressing a protest rally at the mini secretariat here, Sukhwinder Singh, state president, Vijay Marjara, district president of the union, and other trade union leaders alleged that even though most of the demands of the ministerial staff, including the revision of pay scales, were accepted in principle by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting on October 21, 2009, no action had been taken to implement it.

The government had not only been callous towards the genuine demands of the employees since long, but the clerical staff and other ministerial employees are being denied their dues by the way of revised pay scales, allowances and other monetary benefits, they maintained.

Speakers at the rally said the government had played a cruel joke by granting pay scale of the matriculation level to the clerks while their minimum qualification had been raised to graduation. Similarly, employees with higher qualification (graduation plus 120 hour computer training) were also placed in a lower pay scale. In a veiled threat, they said agitation would be further intensified if demands were not accepted immediately and arrears of revised pay scales with effect from January 2006 were not paid without delay.

The functionaries of the union claimed that all work came to a halt in the local government offices, including those of the deputy commissioner, departments of health, education, excise and taxation, treasury, irrigation, Punjab Roadways, transport, public health, food and supplies, social welfare, agriculture, animal husbandry, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, soil conservation, horticulture, public relations, town planning, PWD, industries along with Ludhiana Improvement Trust and other local bodies.

Ludhiana, March 26
The department of health and family welfare organised a workshop for health workers on the execution of national health programmes carried out under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) here today.

Issues like drug de-addiction, female foeticide, minor marriages, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), HIV/AIDS control programme and school health programme were discussed by the officials.

Multipurpose health workers (MHW) from all over the district attended the workshop and interacted with officials, apprising them about the problems they faced in the field.

District family welfare officer (DWFO) Dr Reena Sandhu, district TB officer Dr Ashish Chawla, district epedemiologiost Dr GP Mangla, mass media officer Satish Sachdeva and other officials working in the department of health and family welfare and the National Rural Health Mission addressed the health workers.

Speaking on vector-borne diseases, Dr Mangla said the city had witnessed over 2,500 cases in 2009. “It is must for each one of us to educate people to regularly check the breeding of mosquitoes inside their houses. Coolers are the main breeding ground for the Aedes mosquito for which residents should change pads and re-paint them. Also, it is necessary to check accumulation of water in broken vessels and tyres in the backyard,” added Dr Mangla.

Dr Sandhu on the other hand emphasised the need for creating awareness against female foeticide.

She said it was the duty of every health worker and the common man to start a campaign against individuals who encouraged “sex determination” tests done so as to abort the female child.

“It is not just the violation of the PNDT Act but violation of human rights, which should be checked at every step,” Dr Sandhu added.

She elaborated upon the “Janani Surakhiya Yojana” wherein NRHM in order to curtail the infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) gave every pregnant women Rs 500, 600 and Rs 700 for institutional deliveries from the NRHM.

District programme officer for the NRHM Dr KL Kapoor dwelled on village health and sanitation committees that had been formulated to provide hygienic environment to villagers.

The mass media officer called upon mothers, fathers and grandparents to take pride in bearing and bringing up daughters.

Ludhiana, March 26
Justice Ashutosh Mohantta, Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court-cum-Administrative Judge for Sessions Division, Ludhiana, today assured that arrangements would soon be made to provide potable water to litigants, lawyers and judicial staff at the judicial complex here.

He said he had instructed Sessions Judge SP Bangarh to take up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner for providing clean drinking water. “I hope that the problem would be sorted out within this month.”

He was addressing lawyers after completing his two-day inspection of district courts here. He was welcomed by District Bar Association president Naval Kishore Chhibber, vice-president ND Chopra and other office-bearers.

Reacting to lawyers’ demand for removal of a controversial wall, Justice Mohantta said he had received a representation here and would look into the same. “If the wall needs to be removed, necessary orders will be passed,” he added.

He, however, said judges needed exclusive parking. “I could not understand how lawyers were facing problems when they had sufficient space for parking. Moreover, they would get more space for parking after the completion of work on new chambers complex.”

Earlier, Bir Inder Sekhon handed over a representation signed by around 100 lawyers demanding removal of the wall, with the plea that it was erected on a public passage.

The representation said lawyers’ vehicles should be given access from Feroze Gandhi market side to the mini secretariat.

Jagmohan Sanghe also highlighted the issue of the wall and denial of anticipatory bail by the local courts before registration of an FIR even if a complaint was pending with the police.

Former DBA secretary Rana Harjasdeep Singh said the wall issue had been hanging fire for some time.

He said the present executive of the DBA had failed to perform its duty towards its members by not raising the issue.

Several lawyers, including SK Uppal, Avinash Chander Gupta, Trilok Singh Sood, shared their problems.

Chhibber demanded setting up of more civil courts as cases were piling up in the courts.

Mullanpur Dakha, March 26
The Dakha police has booked a senior Congress leader for bid to grab land of two NRI sisters.Major Singh, state secretary of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee, was accused of grabbing the land belonging sisters Navdeep Kaur and Navjeet Kaur yesterday.

Equipped with an affidavit and copy of revenue records of the disputed plot measuring 8 biswas, Navdeep Kaur had approached SSP (Ludhiana rural) Harinder Singh Chahal last evening.

After verifying the records, the SSP ordered registration of case against Major Singh.

The Dakha police booked Major Singh under Sections 420, 447, 506, 511 and 120B of the IPC.

Dakha SHO Jangjit Singh said he had got an application in this regard around 20 days ago. He had verified facts and booked the accused, he added.

The family of Navjot Kaur owned the plot since 1994 through a title deed, whereas Major Singh had last month bought the plot from Deepi of Jangpur, who, in turn, had bought it from Seeta Devi.

Deepi had bought the plot for Rs 5 lakh and sold it to Major Singh for Rs 10 lakh whereas the market price of the plot in the area was over Rs 20 lakh.

Moreover, the khasra number (25) of the plot bought by Major Singh did not match with the khasra number (24) of Navdeep Kaur’s plot.

Major Singh claimed innocence stating that he had been booked under Section 420 without having any evidence of fraud against him.

He said he had bought the land through a genuine registered sale deed at the local registrar’s office and the seller had handed over the possession to him as per the law.

He said he would approach the appropriate court. 

Ludhiana, March 26
Trials to select players (u-19) will be held at MGM Public School, Phase I, Opposite LIC Building, Dugri, on March 28 at 3 pm, according to Ludhiana District Cricket Association general secretary Vinod Chitkara.