Ludhiana, March 31
A week after a three-year-old girl was rescued from the clutches of a professor, who allegedly abducted and molested her, the victim’s family has been forced to spend their days in penury, as the only breadwinner of the family has lost his job.

Bhupinder Singh Parihar, a senior professor with the English department at SCD Government College, allegedly abducted and molested the girl at Flower Dale Enclave on the Barewal road on March 26.

The mother of the victim alleged that though the accused was nabbed and sent in 14-day judicial remand by court, the unfortunate episode rendered her husband jobless.

Krishan Chand (name changed), who was working as waiter at a local fast food joint, lost his job while pursuing the case.

“I could not go to the food joint for the past three days. My employer was not ready to listen to me and I lost my job. I hope I will get a new job soon as we are left with no money and food,” lamented Krishan Chand.

Rajvir, an eyewitness, said, “The girl went missing at 8:30 am and at 9:20 am, I saw the professor outside my house. The professor was trying to force himself on the victim.

I came out of my house and asked the professor what he was doing. The professor told me that the child was not keeping well and he was going to a chemist shop to buy some medicine.”

Rajvir added that the professor was reeking of alcohol. He said he had found the girl abandoned on a street and after buying medicine for her, he would take her to his residence at Sunil Park Colony.

“I immediately informed the police about the incident. The professor tried to intimidate me and started talking about his political and police connections,” said Rajvir.

Residents gathered at the spot and started questioning the professor. Another professor of the college said it was not easy to book a professor of Parihar’s stature.

He alleged that Parihar was caught having liquor at the college a few years ago. Despite repeated attempts, no one from the Parihar family was available for comment.

A relative, who did not wish to be named, said the incident took place when the professor was in an inebriated state.

Ludhiana, March 31
The city’s young brigade can be quite vindictive. That is what the ‘overused’ and ‘over-abused’ social networking websites tell us.

A large number of ‘hate-teacher’ forums and communities created by the city’s youngsters on various social networking sites is proof of how mean they can get when rubbed the wrong way by their teachers.

The most popular site to vent one’s ire against teachers is perhaps Orkut, which continues to hold ground despite the high popularity of other social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Ibibo, LinkedIn and Hi5.

According to data, there are over 1,000 communities on Orkut alone, related to Ludhiana, of which over 60 per cent are in the category of ‘alumni and schools’ or ‘schools and education’.

Almost all educational institutes, including most schools and colleges, have a community named after them on the site. You name a school or a college and you have it on Orkut or some other site.

GGN Public School, GGNIMT, Arya College, BCM School, Joseph’s School, USPC Jain Public School, BIS Public School, GRD Academy, BVM School, RS Model School, GCW, LCET, GNIPS, Jain Public School, DPS, KV Badowal, MGM Public School, DAV Public School, Everest Public School, GNE College, KIMT, Tagore Public School and others have communities named after them on Orkut, most of which are formed by students, present or former.

Not quite amusingly, every such community has one or more ‘hate-teacher’ forums, where members interact about their most-hated teachers.

Calling names, thinking bad about teachers, recounting ‘horror-filled’ classes, student ‘abuse’ and ‘bad habits’ are discussed blatantly through such forums.

‘Hitler’, ‘Devil’, ‘Chuhi’ and ‘Boring Aunty’ are a few of the derogatory names the members of these communities have given to their teachers.

Members of one particular community, named after a local school, have gone a step further and suffixed ‘Jail’ to the name of their alma mater.

They encourage others to write negative things about their teachers by saying, “Do not worry, they are not here to read this. Do not be scared and let out your feelings.”

While the members argue that these forums are a way to interact with friends freely, teachers have often faced harassment due to such acts of their students.

Last year, an incident had come to light, wherein derogatory and offensive stuff was posted about a local school principal.

After a thorough investigation, the police had concluded that it was the work of a student of the same school.

“The incident not only created shock waves among the teaching community, which had never expected such things from their students, but also threw light on the fast-eroding social values among the younger lot,” remarked a teacher.

Another teacher commented that with this kind of incidents on the rise, she had never felt so threatened and uneasy in all her years of teaching.

Parents, too, are a worried lot. Said Gurinderpal Singh Cheema, who had a teenaged son, “I have seen numerous such communities on Orkut. The way children talk at forums about their elders, especially teachers, is shocking. The worst part is that there is no check on such forums and communities.”

Ludhiana, March 31
It was money that created fissures between siblings and prompted a woman to hatch a conspiracy with her paramour to abduct her nephew.

The boy, identified as Jimmy, a resident of Dugri, Phase I, was rescued by the police from Bhattiya village in Khanna late last evening.

Prime accused and key conspirator Indu was nabbed while her paramour Ganesh Bangali managed to flee.

Addressing a press conference, ADCP-II Sushil Kumar said the accused was eying the Rs 3 lakh the family had received following a dispute.

Indu told the police that her niece Neha, elder sister of Jimmy, received the money after getting a divorce from her husband.

The police official said Indu had a disturbed marital life and fell in love with Ganesh, who reportedly enticed her, and they hatched an abduction conspiracy.

Jimmy was on a visit to Indu’s house at the Jammu Colony, near Model Town, to spend the holidays following his Class V examination.

He was abducted by Ganesh and his accomplice. They took the victim to Bhittian village and locked him in a room.

They called up Suman, the victim’s mother, from a PCO at Khanna and demanded a ransom of Rs 3 lakh.

In the meantime, the police launched a search operation. The police also mounted pressure on Indu and put mobile phones under surveillance.

The police caught and interrogated Indu. She cracked and told the police about the whereabouts of the boy. The police rescued the boy, but Ganesh managed to flee.

The police was clueless about the involvement of others. Indu was produced in court and remanded. Suman was in a state of shock.

Talking to the Ludhiana Tribune, she said, “I could never believe that my sister could do such a heinous act. My children used to take her as their mother and she was planning to kill for money.”

Ludhiana, March 31
In clear contravention of the Supreme Court ruling of 1996, the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, supporters of MLA Darshan Singh Shivalik, under the garb of area development, chopped off 16 fully grown trees on forest land at Barewal village.

Further defying rules, the offenders, after axing the trees, disposed those of without the permission of the forest department.

The district forest department failed to take action against the offenders, who after flouting regulations, were bragging about the construction of a concrete road across a watercourse from Sidhwan Canal to Barewal village.

The chopped trees included eucalyptus, kikar and shahtoot, which were 25 to 30 years old and important for the ecological balance.

As per the provisions in the above-said Acts, a person cutting trees on forest land could get 2 to 6 years’ imprisonment, in addition to heavy penalty.

The cutting of trees was to be treated as contempt of court as the Supreme Court, in its ruling, had mentioned that no forest land could be used for non-forestry purposes.

Rued Ram Singh, a retired government official, “It is shameful on the part of the people who have cut the trees as they belong to villages and are closer to nature as compared to urbanites. Even a layman knows about the importance of trees. It is not taught at schools and colleges, but is a part of our social and cultural life,” he stated.

Shivalik refuted the allegations and said, “I do not know about the cutting of trees. I am aware that cutting trees on forest land is an offence. I have absolutely no idea.”

On the other hand, his personal assistant, Sukhdev Singh, had specifically posed in a photograph in front of a JCB machine, used for clearing the trees axed.

District forest officer Vishal Chauhan said, “The incident has been brought to my notice and I will look into the matter. Action will be taken against the guilty.”

Ludhiana, March 31
A team of MC officials, under the supervision of assistant town planner, Zone D, SS Bindra, demolished pillars and beams of a building constructed illegally over encroached land at the Nim Wali Street, Brindaban Road, here today.

Despite objections by the owner, the MC demolition squad went ahead with the drive in the morning.

Bindra told the Ludhiana Tribune that extended portions of the building were demolished with the help of a JCB machine.

He said the owner had got maps sanctioned from the MC, but there were violations of building bylaws as parts of the construction were on encroached land of the MC.

“I have seen the maps, which are clear. The beams and pillars constructed on the encroached land have been demolished,” said Bindra, adding that an affidavit had been taken from the owner that the building would be used strictly for residential purposes and not for any commercial use.

Residents of the area had complained that this was a residential area, but the owner had constructed a basement to give it on rent for some commercial activity and four more storeys were being constructed for commercial purposes.

Said Nippy, a local resident, “The construction has caused damage to walls of next-door neighbours’ houses. Due to improper plaster in the basement, the underground mud has slipped and cracks have appeared on the walls of neighbours’ houses. If the owner has sought the MC’s permission, we have no problem. We will not tolerate the property being used for commercial purposes.”

Ludhiana, March 31
In the absence of cattle ponds in the city, the stray cattle menace has surged manifold.

Be it a busy market, a road or some other place in the city, stray cattle continues to pose a threat to the lives of hundreds of commuters.

Despite the repeated pleas, it seems the MC has turned a blind eye to the growing menace.

The stray cattle population in the city is above 2,000.

As there are no cattle ponds, a majority of these animals can be seen roaming on roads, outside busy shopping malls and temples.

The day before yesterday, an octogenarian was killed after being attacked by stray cattle at Haibowal.

A priest at Dandi Swami Temple, Pt Mahanand, said the attack by stray animals had become a routine affair.

Three to four incidents had been reported in the recent past, where devotees/small children were attacked by stray cattle, he added.

Though gaushalas have been constructed by various NGOs/animal welfare organisations for these animals, the paucity of space at these gaushalas has forced these animals to stray on roads.

The government should do something to contain the menace.

At times, these animals are found straying on the busy Fountain Chowk, Domoria Bridge, Ghumar Mandi, Model Town and Dandi Swami. Commuters are harrowed by their movement as it becomes difficult to manoeuvre vehicles in their presence on the roads.

“Entire traffic gets disrupted, as these animals block roads.

In a recent incident, a child was attacked by one of the animals,” said Rajinder Singh, a shopkeeper on the Deepak Cinema road.

The MC Commissioner said the construction of cattle ponds could not be started due to shortage of man power.

“We have sufficient money. But the paucity of attendants has delayed the project, as these animals need a lot of care. Staff crunch is already an existing problem here in the MC,” said the Commissioner.

Ludhiana, March 31
Following the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision against giving extension to Civil Surgeons in Punjab, Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr Maninderjit Singh was relieved from his services today.

District Family Welfare Officer Dr Reena Sandhu has been given the officiating charge of the civil surgeon.

Dr Singh was to retire on January 31, 2010, but was continuing in his office after getting an extension by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab.

The outgoing civil surgeon stated that his tenure in Ludhiana was amongst the most challenging one, “I was able to tackle problems like gastroenteritis, swine flu, food adulteration and PNDT Act violation with the support of senior medical officials, paramedical staff and other officials.

I am happy to have been able to dispense my duties with precision and motivate others for the same,” Dr Singh went on to add.

Ludhiana, March 31
The flying visit of DGP PS Gill to the city kept cops on toes. From the traffic police to PCR officials and lower rung cops were deputed at the Ferozepur road to clear traffic.

According to police sources, the DGP was on his way to Moga to attend a function and his cavalcade was scheduled to pass through the city at 10.30 am.

The journey of DGP came as a pleasant surprise for commuters, as they did not face any traffic hiccup during office hours.

The traffic cops kept a special check on auto-rickshaw drivers. It is learnt that some auto rickshaws were impounded for violating traffic rules.

Elated with the presence of cops on the road, Rajiv Saluja, a commuter, said, “If the police keeps on regulating the traffic like this, there would be no traffic jam.”

Ludhiana, March 31
Out of syllabus question paper of the English compartment examination of BA-II created panic among students in various city colleges here today.

Hundreds of students appearing for the exam expressed their displeasure and annoyance towards the apathetic attitude of the Panjab University authorities.

While many made a consolidated written complaint to the authorities regarding the problem they faced, there were others, who did not attempt even a single question and submitted blank answersheets.

There were yet others who wrote to the registrar, PU, demanding re-examination.

“This was our last chance to clear the compartment of the English exam, which was held in April 2009. But the kind of paper we got today, we are worried that no one will be able to clear the exam,” rued Maninder Kaur, a private candidate.

Another student Aditi added that candidates in her examination hall were not able to answer the questions, as 45 per cent of the questions were out of syllabus.

“When we expressed our desire to walk out of the examination hall, we were forcibly made to sit for one-and-a-half-hour on the plea that as per the university rules, one cannot leave the exam hall so early.”

Angry students were seen making complaints at various examination centres demanding re-examination.

“If not re-exam, we should at least me marked leniently so as to enable us to score passing marks,” said Rupinder Kaur.

Teachers at various examination centres confirmed that as soon as the question paper was distributed to students, there was instant panic and commotion, as students alleged that half of the questions were out of the prescribed syllabus.

“There is a lot of mayhem on the college premises, as angry students have gathered outside the principal’s office to submit their complaints with regard to the compartment paper held today. Similar reports are coming in from other examination centres as well,” disclosed Dr Nagi, professor, SCD Government College for Boys.

Meanwhile, the PU authorities and officials could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Ludhiana , March 31
Divvy Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, a socio-spiritual organisation, and University Institute of Laws, Panjab University Regional Centre, Ludhiana, today organised a seminar on constraints in awareness and implementation of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act at Punjab University Regional Centre, Ludhiana.

With national Census 2011 approaching, the experts and activists on gender and population issues are getting skeptical of what would emerge as the latest sex ratio.

As per the last census in the year 2001, sex ratio in the 0-6 age group has fallen to 896 girls per 1000 males, the lowest ever in a decade for the world, and second most populous nation worst hit is Punjab with Fatehgarh Sahib having a ratio as low as around 747 girls per 1000 boys.

The intellectuals while speaking at today’s seminar said though the Pre-Conception Pre-Natal Diagnostic Test Act had been enacted more than 16 years ago, the practice of sex determination and sex selection of foetus was not subsiding.

PCPNDT Act prohibits any pre-conception and pre-natal detection and sex selection techniques.

The seminar held presentations on legal, social and medical aspects of poor implementation and ignorance about PCPNDT Act. Harish Rai Dhanda, chief parliamentary secretary, chaired the programme.

Ludhiana , March 31
A nine-member delegation led by Dr MS Aulakh, Dean, College of Agriculture, visited Pakistan from March 23 to 27 to participate in the “University Festival” of University of Agriculture, Faislabad.

The delegation comprised Dr PS Minhas, director of research, Dr MS Gill, director of extension education, Dr GS Buttar, director, PAU Regional Research Station, Bathinda, Dr DS Dhillon, head, department of extension education, and some other heads.

Punjab Agricultural University has its roots at Faisalabad (erstwhile Lyallpur), where Punjab College of Agriculture was established in 1906. After the Partition, Government College of Agriculture was re-established in Ludhiana, which was subsequently upgraded to Punjab Agricultural University in 1962.

An international seminar on agriculture, kisan convention, research output exhibition, technology display, flower show, horse and cattle shows were organised during the festival.

Other attractions were a hostel decoration competition, milk competition for livestock and tent pegging.

Dr Gill deliberated upon “PAU model” of integrated agricultural education, research and extension programme.

Dr Aulakh spoke on various agricultural education programmes of the PAU.

Dr Minhas enlisted the achievements of the PAU. He highlighted the current scenario and future of agriculture in India.

Kuldip Singh Sandhu, a farmer, shared his experiences.

Scientists of University of Agriculture, Faislabad, were looking forward to join hands with the PAU for handling regional problems in agriculture, said Dr Hafiz Abdul Qayyum.

He strongly felt that the visit of Indian delegation would further strengthen the relations between the two nations.

He, along with other authorities, proposed the vote of thanks.

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Kang said efforts would be made in future to enhance interaction and collaboration between the two universities.

Ludhiana, March 31
Emerging markets, especially India, China and Brazil are strong candidates for defining economic and financial stability in the world. These views were expressed by managing director Amit Rathi, Amit Rathi Financial Services, Mumbai, while delivering a lecture on “Global economic environment and financial markets” to members of the Ludhiana Management Association.

Dr KNS Kang, general secretary, Ludhiana Management Association, while speaking on the occasion said the world had passed through a tough time of economic recession in the US. The impact of US recession has affected other countries of the world and particularly the growth of economy in Western Europe is showing negative trend. In such a scenario, countries like India, China and Brazil have overcome the effect and emerged as the strong economic powers.

Amit Rathi said next five years were critical for the world and would define economic landscape. He said the US had been leading and driving the economies from the last 30 years. Now the focus will change and global economy is going to face new avatars in the form of emerging markets like India, China and Brazil.

Ludhiana, March 31
The court of judicial magistrate Lukhwinder Kaur has summoned former state minister Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal of Ludhiana to face trial on the accusation of allegedly committing cheating by forging documents.

Apart from him, others who were summoned included Dr Gurvinder Singh, Balbir Singh, Parminder Singh, all residents of Model Town, and Vandana Mangat of Dr Sham Singh Road, Ghumar Mandi, Ludhiana.

The orders were passed as a result of complaint filed by Gurbir Singh, son of the former Chief Minister of Punjab. They were issued summmons for May 29.

Passing the order, the court held, “After scrutinising the entire oral as well as documentary preliminary evidence on record as led by the complainant, the court is of the considered view that there are sufficient grounds to proceed against all accused in this complaint for the offences purported to have been committed by the accused punishable under Sections 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120B of the IPC.”

In its complaint, the complainant had claimed that he was the president of Guru Nanak Education Trust, Model Town, Ludhiana.

Taking advantage of death of trustee Jaswinder Singh, three trustees Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Gurinder Singh and Balbir Singh along with Parminder Singh entered into a criminal conspiracy to illegally grab and usurp the trust property and accounts. They forged and used documents purportedly signed by Jaswinder Singh to operate account SB 1325 of the trust in Punjab and Sind Bank, Model Town, Ludhiana.

The trust college was administered by a principal who was assigned powers, functions and duties, inclusive of bank operations. In March 1994, college principal Prabhjot Kaur, who was on deputation from the Punjab government relinquished her post. Then Jasbir Minhas assumed the charge as the officiating principal.

Taking the advantage of the change of principal, all accused except Vandana Mangat formed a conspiracy and created a situation vide letter dated March 22, 1993 to the bank authorities, whereby principal Jasbir Minhas was prevented from operating the bank accounts.

As a stopgap arrangement, the bank operations were illegally continued by these persons in the name of previous principal.

Though they could not do so, these persons induced Vandana Mangat to pose as the principal with allurement of undue gain of office and funds. Accused Balbir Singh and Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal posing as president and secretary of the trust issued a letter to Vandana Mangat on the basis of a false trust resolution for operating the bank accounts.

Thereafter, she operated accounts as the principal and later on inserted word “for” before the word “principal”. Whereas, it came to knowledge that the word “for” was not written in the seal affixed on documents sent to the bank. In this way, around Rs 29 lakh were blocked at low or no interest, said the complaint.

Jagraon, March 31
Eighth seeded Aayush Mintri, fourth seeded Fatehdeep Singh, second seeded Rishab Dev, all of Punjab, and third seeded SK Mukund of Andhra Pradesh completed the semifinals line up of the boys’ singles under-16 at the HTA-AITA Championship Series 2010 being played at the Harvest Tennis Academy.

In the Boys’ singles under-18 event, top seeded Vilasier Khate of NTA, unseeded Rishab Dev, seventh seeded Manoj Sheoran of Chandigarh and second seeded Vishwesh Sinha of Maharashtra reached the semifinals.

Rishab Dev of Punjab and a trainee at HTA defeated fifth seeded Sonam Phuntsok in three sets coming back from a set down 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

In the girls’ singles under-16 category, top seeded Rimpledeep Kaur of Punjab, third seeded Ambika Pande of Tamil Nadu, fifth seeded Riya Bhatia of Delhi and second seeded Rajbir Kaur of Punjab will face each other in the semifinals.

The girls’ singles under-18 semifinals line up is top seeded Megha Sehrawat of Maharashtra, third seeded Rimpledeep Kaur of Punjab, eighth seeded Ambika Pande of Tamil Nadu and second seeded Jaspreet Kaur of Punjab.

Boys’ singles under-16 quarterfinals: Aayush Mintri (8) beat Sahaj K Dave (Guj) (LL) 6-2, 6-3; Fatehdeep Singh (4) beat Arindam Dutta (NTA) 6-1, 6-3; SK Mukund (AP) (3) beat Pranav Suri (Chd) (Q) 6-1, 6-1; Rishab Dev (2) beat Pawan Surya (AP) (5) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Boys’ singles under-18 quarterfinals: Vilasier Khate (NTA) (1) beat B Sai Reddy (AP) (8) (WC) 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 6-2; Rishab Dev beat Sonam Phuntsok (HP) (5) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2; Manoj Sheoran (Chd) (7) beat Pawan Surya (AP) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2; Vishwesh Sinha (Mah) (2) beat Fatehdeep Singh 6-1, 6-0.

Girls’ singles under-16 quarterfinals: Rimpledeep Kaur (1) beat Tejaswani Surya (AP) (8) 1-0 (conc); Ambika Pande (TN) (3) beat Hasan Abdaal Dhanoa (7) 6-1, 6-0; Riya Bhatia (Del) (5) beat Harkirat Kaur Bains 6-2, 6-1; Rajbir Kaur (2) beat 6-0, 4-6, 6-1.

Girls’ singles under-18 quarterfinals: Megha Sehrawat (Del) (1) beat Riya Bhatia (Del) (6) 6-4, 6-3; Rimpledeep Kaur (3) w/o Tejaswani Surya (AP); Ambika Pande (TN) (8) beat Gundeep Kaur (4) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3; Jaspreet Kaur (2) beat Rajbir Kaur (5) 6-4, 5-7, 7-5.

Boys’ doubles under-16 quarterfinals: Sushant Mohanty (NTA) and Arindam Dutta (NTA) (1) beat Nishat Eqbal (WB) & Ishaque Eqbal (WB) 5-3, 4-0; Aditya Vikram (Del) & Shaurya Dhankar (Har) (3) beat Kapil Ghuraiya (Har) & Pardeep Andrews (Chd) 4-1, 4-0; Jotpal Singh & Jagtar Singh (4) beat Faizal Qumar & Dalwinder Singh 5-3, 4-2; Pranav Suri (Chd) & Sean Yip (Chd) beat Ravinder Singh & Jajbir Singh (2) 4-1, 4-1.

Boys’ doubles under-16 semifinals: Sushant Mohanty (NTA) & Arindam Dutta (NTA) (1) beat Aditya Vikram (Del) & Shaurya Dhankar (Har) (3) 4-6, 6-4, 10-5; Pranav Suri (Chd) & Sean Yip (Chd) beat Jotpal Singh & Jagtar Singh (4) 6-0, 6-2.

Boys’ doubles under-18 quarterfinals: Harpreet Singh & Hardeep Singh Sandhu w/o Vishwesh Sinha (Mah) & Manish Kumar (Del) (1); Arjun Tomar (Del) & Pawan Surya (AP) beat B Sai Reddy (AP) & Rishab Dev (4) 4-5 (5-7), 5-4 (8-6), 10-4; SK Mukund (AP) & Vilasier Khate (NTA) (3) beat Prithvi Kanda (Del) & Sohrab Singh Kunwar 4-1, 4-1; Aayush Mintri & Manoj Sheoran (Har) beat Sonam Phuntsok (HP) & Harry Jindal (Chd) (2) 4-2, 4-2.

Boys’ doubles under-18 semifinals: Arjun Tomar (Del) & Pawan Surya (AP) beat Harpreet Singh & Hardeep Singh Sandhu 6-3, 6-3.

Girls’ doubles under-18 quarterfinals: Jaspreet Kaur & Gundeep Kaur (1) beat Simarjeet Kaur & Pooja Maurya 4-1, 4-1; Ambika Pande (TN) & Hassan Abdaal Dhanoa (3) beat B Moulika Ram (AP) & Prabhuti Singhania (Mah) 5-4 (8-6), 5-3; Riya Bhatia (Del) & Shivani Dabas (Del) (4) beat Lavanya Sarvanan (TN) & Tejaswani Surya (AP) 2-4, 5-4 (7-4), 10-6; Megha Sehrawat (Del) & Pooja A Narayana (Del) (2) beat Victoria Chahal (Har) & Kavita Mishra (Mah) 4-0, 5-3.

Girls’ doubles under-18 semifinals: Megha Sehrawat (Del) & Pooja A Narayana (Del) (2) beat Riya Bhatia (Del) & Shivani Dabas (Del) (4) 6-3, 6-2.

Mandi Gobindgarh, March 31
The annual athletics meet of RIMT Institutes began on the college ground here today.

Chief guest district police chief Gurpreet Singh Gill encouraged the students to actively participate in sports.

The meet began with a marchpast, which was followed by torch lighting and unfurling of the flag.

RIMT Institute of Engineering and Technology principal, Dr Harsh Sadawarti stressed on the importance of sports and emphasised that the need of the hour is to inspire, instill and inculcate a true sportsman spirit among youngsters.

The two-day event will witness innumerable sports activities like races (100 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1,500 m); throws (javelin and hammer throw); jumps (long and high, triple jump); shot put, musical chair, slow cycling, tug of war, etc.

Results: Women: Javelin throw: 1st Sheetal, 2nd Prabhjot and 3rd Sanjli.

Men: Long jump: 1st Himanshu, 2nd Sahil and 3rd Sukhjit; 400m: 1st Mandeep, 2nd Amit and 3rd Manvir; 800m: 1st Jagdeep, 2nd Vikram and 3rd Karan.