Ludhiana, June 19
In a daring incident, armed assailants struck again and robbed a youth of his car here last night. The youth was returning home after watching a movie with his friend at the PVR Mall located near the Sarabha Nagar market.

The incident occurred around 1.30 am, when 24-year-old Ankit Walia, a resident of Model Town, who is pursuing a course at a film institute in Mumbai, was about to sit in his Honda Accord car (PB-10-BW-4546), which he had parked opposite the mall. Two youths in their mid-20s and armed with pistols, alighted from a white Ford Fortuner parked next to Ankit’s car.

“One of the youths trained his pistol on my chest and asked me to hand over the keys of the car and my wallet. They also threatened me of dire consequences if I raised the alarm,” said Ankit, who is still in a state of shock. He said there were three robbers. While two of them alighted from the vehicle, the third one was still in the SUV. “As it was dark, I could not read the number of the vehicle,” he said.

His friend, Ankur, who was watching the film with him, came out of the mall. Ankur, who was standing at a distance, was not aware of the development.

“The two robbers sat in my vehicle and followed the white SUV. The vehicle headed towards the Ferozepur road,” Ankit said.

The victim rushed towards Ankur and narrated the incident to him. They then informed the police. Senior police officials reached the spot. An alert was sounded and all entry and exit points were sealed, but the robbers managed to give the police the slip.

After failing to spot Ankit in the parking, he went upstairs and saw him on the other side of the road. “It was after the youths fled in Ankit’s car and he came rushing to me that I came to know of the incident,” Ankur stated.

Ludhiana, June 19
Giving a whole new meaning to the father-child relationship, Varinderjit Kaur of Chak Kalan village has set an extraordinary example that even nature will stop and rethink.

The 23-year-old girl has taken the exclusive prerogative of giving life from a mother. The gutsy girl has given her father the most precious gift, the gift of life, by giving him a part of her liver.

Recalling the trauma, Varinderjit narrated her tale of woe. “In 2008, my father, Gurcharan Singh Dhaliwal, was diagnosed with hepatitis-B, which damaged his liver. In October that year, we were told that daddy was dying and we should take him home. Our refusal to accept fate made doctors rethink and after a detailed discussion, they suggested a liver transplant at Apollo Hospital in Delhi,” Varinderjit recalled.

Gurcharan Singh was immediately taken to Delhi, where his wife volunteered to donate her liver, but health problems posed a hindrance. “That was when Varinderjit came forward and offered to donate her liver,” said her proud father.

“Not once did I think twice. All I wanted was to save my dying father. The family objected to it, as did relatives, who argued that it would kill my chances of marriage. Marriage or no marriage, I had decided,” remarked Varinderjit, her voice choking with the pain of past memories.

After several counselling sessions with doctors, Varinderjit and her father Gurcharan were operated upon on October 19, 2008.

“Just before the operation, Varinderjit expressed her desire to have a look outside the window with me beside her. For her, that was the defining moment and may be our last,” said Gurcharan, tears of pride welling up in his eyes.

Since then, Varinderjit, a postgraduate in Punjabi, and an upcoming singer, had been dedicatedly looking after her ailing father. “She gave up the prospects of a singing career to care for me,” remarked her father.

Proud of his daughter, Gurcharan had only one thing to say, “Daughters do what many sons cannot even dream of. My girl is a living example. I wish that people learn something from her and stop killing daughters in the womb.”

He conceded that the donation had become a major social stigma for his daughter. “People come with marriage proposals, but when they know about the operation, they quietly go away, never to return,” said a distressed Gurcharan, adding that his girl had been leading a normal and healthy life after the operation. “I wish people can recognise her sacrifice and accept her,” he said.

As fate would have it, the brave daughter’s sacrifice did work for her father, but only till February this year. “Daddy was diagnosed with liver cancer a few months back. Doctors have given up on him. Only a miracle can save him now,” said a sad Varinderjit.

Ludhiana, June 19
“I do not want to go away from this world without giving it another Saroj Khan,” says veteran Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan.

In the city to launch her dance school, Saroj Khan Dance Academy, she says dance is her life and passion.

“I love dance. I want to share my talent with the world and distribute it among dance lovers. This is precisely the reason that I have ventured into dance schools,” reveals ‘Masterji’, who has over 2,000 film songs to her credit, including in Malayalam, Marathi and Tamil, besides Hindi.

She already has a number of dance schools across India as well as one in Dubai. “I visit all my schools every month to review the performance of my students,” she says, adding that many Bollywood artistes are known to have opened many such academies, but opening a school is not enough.

“For me, recognising talent, nurturing it and giving it a proper platform is important. For that, personal involvement is essential,” she says about her dance academies.

On opening a dance school in the city, she remarks, “Punjab has immense talent and beauty, which is yet to be fully explored by the film industry. I want that more film producers explore Punjabi talent through my academy.”

She reveals that besides Ludhiana, she has set up similar schools at Chandigarh and Amritsar in collaboration with Leo One Production, while the ones at Patiala, Jalandhar and Pathankot are on the anvil.

“May be some day, I find another Saroj Khan from among my students, or may be a Madhuri Dixit or Sridevi,” she hopes.

Ludhiana, June 19
The city will now come under high-resolution satellite data, which will show each individual’s property clearly to the municipal corporation (MC).

Within two months from now, the latest high-resolution satellite data (World View/Quick Bird) will take care of any changes in the MC boundary in the near future by merely clicking pictures of each building, its exact location, approximate area and number of storeys added.

Giving details about the concept, MC Commissioner AK Sinha said after a recent meeting with the Chief Secretary of Punjab, it was decided to bring Ludhiana under high-resolution satellite data.

“The database will not be beneficial for the MC alone, but will be useful to other departments, including the police, emergency services and the election and electricity departments,” said Sinha, adding that it had to get approval by the F&CC now.

The satellite data would clearly demarcate household polygons, parks, vacant plots, roads, water tanks, hospitals, schools, shopping centres and other utilities and generate detailed land-use map for each ward.

“The data will provide a unique ID to each house for house tax. Though the MC generates good revenue from house tax every year, many are left untouched. Through this technology, no industrial, commercial or institutional building will be left. We will be able to get all geographical information of buildings,” added Sinha.

The data would be collected by a team of officials from the revenue department and the MC together to avoid any confusion. The database would comprise many attributes, including MC property Number, number of storeys and quality of construction.

The area recorded in the registry might be deemed correct and used for tax calculations. The data would be passed on to MC officials, who could use it for house tax calculations and billing for water and sewerage. All data would be updated every six months.

Ludhiana, June 19
A huge chunk of land, measuring 5,100 square yards and worth Rs 20 crore, at BRS Nagar here has become a bone of contention between residents, municipal corporation functionaries and local politicians, who want the land to be used for different purposes.

While a section of residents is leaving no stone unturned to set up a shooting range in the area, others are opposing the move tooth and nail, stating that the land should be used for setting up a park for children.

The land, earlier panchayat property of Sunet village, incorporated in municipal corporation limits, has suddenly evoked interest as every square yard of commercial land is worth Rs 40,000 in this prime area.

Two factions of residents have been levelling allegations and counter-allegations of land-grab against each other and have moved court also.

Surinder Pal Singh, a resident, says there are about 60,000 residents in the area, alleging that certain politicians want to grab it under the garb of a shooting club.

“As there is no community centre or public park in the village, children play a variety of games on the land, which is lying vacant. There was a crematorium and villagers had to pass through the land to reach there. We have filed a case in court against the proposed shooting club and the next hearing is on July 16,” he elaborates.

Jaswant Jeerath, general secretary of the Ludhiana Mahasabha, who is also a resident of Sunet, alleges that the area councillor is not willing for a shooting club on the land due to vested interests.

“Even the Chief Minister has sent approval on the issue. I do not know why people are opposed to a shooting range here. There are many aspiring sportspersons who cannot achieve their goals as proper facilities are not being given to them in the city. The shooting club will not be the property of a single person. The MC will remain the owner of the land and the land will only be given to sportspersons for training,” he says.

Area councillor Dr Hari Singh Brar says the MC took over the land in 1983-84. “The village has given areas like BRS Nagar, Rajguru Nagar and Aggar Nagar, but there is no amusement park for children. The land must be developed for recreational activities so that children can play and the common man can relax in green environs while shooting, a game for the elite, can be shifted anywhere,” he says.

The issue came up for discussion during the General House meeting of the MC on June 15, but was put on hold as the House failed to reach a consensus on the issue.

Phillaur, June 19
All-India Youth Congress president Rajiv Satav has launched a campaign against drug abuse, for which five villages from each district in the country will be identified.

Following directions of Rahul Gandhi, the Jalandhar District Youth Congress (Rural) is the first unit to adopt and initiate the campaign.

Its president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary said they started work on ‘A Tragedy Untouched’ from Goraya in the Phillaur subdivision today, adding that the youths taking drugs would be treated at de-addiction centres.

He stated that Union Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik had assured financial help to the Punjab Youth Congress to make the campaign a success and urged the state government to keep a check on ‘illegal’ de-addiction Centres and book the guilty.

Chaudhary alleged the open sale of intoxicants from several chemist shops in connivance with health department officials, asserting that the Youth Congress would work as a watchdog to monitor the sales of chemists selling intoxicants without ‘valid’ prescription.

Ludhiana, June 19
Financial constraints faced by the family of a 13 year-old boy, suffering from a painful condition of chest, is forcing him to live in misery, as he is not able to afford the treatment.

Girish Arora, a student of Class IX, have lumps in his chest. In medical terminology, it is known as gynecomastia. Since then he is struggling with it even as his parents do not have enough money to get him treated.

Son of a teacher in a private school, Girish has been advised surgery by local CMC doctors and he would have to spend Rs 1.80 lakh on it. ‘‘I have no money at all. I cannot afford his treatment, ’’ said Raj Arora, his father. Raj added that he got his son examined at several Delhi hospitals.

‘‘There they said he could be treated without surgery and the lumps would be dissolved with the help of medicine. But even for this treatment, I need at least Rs 1 lakh,’’ said his father. Good Samaritans can help this boy and lift him out of misery.

Ludhiana, June 19
The greatest gift I have ever had from God is my Dad!

The third Sunday of June is marked as the Father’s Day and is celebrated all over the world as a mark of love, respect and thanksgiving to the most special man in our lives-our father.

The man, with all his virtues and moral values nourishes our development. He spends his hard-earned money on us so that we get a better education as well as better facilities in all aspects of our life. But he never asks us anything in return.

Why? Because he is our father! So, why not make him feel special for at least one day?

Ludhiana Tribune found out that city’s youngsters as well as the not-so-young ones are all geared up to celebrate the Father’s Day with great enthusiasm and zest and dedicate the day to the greatest man in their lives.

“The Father’s Day is one occasion that every member in the family looks forward to. It is the time where individuals can spend quality time with their fathers. Those fun-filled activities and going out are some things that make this day truly special for fathers as well as the children,” says Aparna KR, a 27-year-old bank executive, who intends to take her father to meet his old friends at his native village in Amritsar as a gift on this Father’s Day.

Youngsters, too, have their plans. Fifteen-year-old Himanshi says, “I have got a set of two identical T-shirts, one for my dad and the other for me, with his and mine pictures printed on it. I guess this is the loveliest gift for him from me this Father’s Day.”

And when youngsters are at it, the old ones are definitely not the ones to lag behind. “I have prepared my father’s favourite dishes ahead of the Father’s Day and will surprise him, when he comes home from his daily morning walk. I have also brought his favourite bunch of pink rose flowers and written a small note of love. Though unsaid till now, this time, I felt like making the most of the day and express my love for him and make him feel very special,” smiled 59-year-old Devinderbir Kaur.

Meanwhile, gift stores across the city are decked up ahead of the Father’s Day with an array of gifts lined up on their shelves to attract loving sons and daughters. City’s schools, especially play ways, had been busy through the week, celebrating the day on their premises with kids and their fathers involved in fun-filled activities together.

Ludhiana, June 19
The district administration will be setting up flood control rooms at the district headquarters and the subdivisional level to monitor the flood situation during monsoon.

This was stated here today by the Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Tiwari. He said flood control rooms would be set up from July 1 and would remain functional till September 30. He was presiding over a meeting of officials of various departments here today.

The control rooms would function round the clock. The subdivision-level control rooms would be set up in the offices of the SDMs.

He directed officials to chalk out plans for flood protection to be carried out at vulnerable sites along the Dhussi bundh and other places in the district.

A 90-km stretch of the bundh along the Satluj passes through the district. As many as 205 villages are in close vicinity of the bundh. The SDMs have been told to form a cluster of five villages each and deploy officials to give information on the rise of the water level to the control rooms.

Surinder Singh, SDO, drainage department, said Rs 45 lakh would be spent on strengthening spurs and studs at vulnerable sites in Madhepur, Mattewara, Dhulewal and Jamalpur Lely.

The XEN, drainage, has been told to set up information and working control rooms in his office, which would have contacts with the Bhakra head works to collect information regarding the discharge of water into the rivers.

The Civil Surgeons and Deputy Director Animal Husbandry have been instructed to constitute teams of doctors to meet any kind of emergency and keep sufficient life-saving medicines in stock.

Ludhiana, June 19
The Pensioners’ Bhawan Management celebrated the eighth foundation day of Pensioners Bhawan here today.

Pensioners/family pensioners and their dependents from all over the district participated in the celebrations.

PK Khandelwal, deputy general manager, Union Bank of India (regional office), Ludhiana, was the chief guest on the occasion.

BR Kaushal, chairman, Pensioners' Information Centre Management Committee, introduced the project to guests and said that the bhawan was constructed and equipped with necessary infrastructure at an estimated cost of Rs 22 lakh.

Since then it was being maintained by pensioners in a dedicated manner, without any financial assistance by the government, he added.

“It provides a platform to all of us to share our ideas, views and social get-together. We discuss our problems, difficulties related to pension or pensionary benefits, etc. But we condemn the state government for its failure in not specifying its policy regarding the release of arrears of revised pension for the past 43 months,” said Kaushal.

RS Behal, general secretary of the Pensioners Information Centre Management Committee, said as per the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, arrears were already disbursed by the Government of India and other neighbouring states.

Pensioners urged the state government to allow fixation of the revised pensions based on the National Fixation of Pay as was done and recommended by the Punjab Third Pay Commission so as to bridge the gap between the pre and post retirees from January 2006.

Others present on the occasion included Dr Lakhbir Singh Brar, RS Behal, GL Bajaj, VK Khanna, JS Dhillon, Prem Sagar Sharma, Gurmail Singh and Harbhajan Singh.

Ludhiana, June 19
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and minister for animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development Gulzar Singh Ranike released the first issue of Pashudhan Gyan Vigyan here.

Usha R Sharma, secretary, Government of Punjab, Dr HS Sandha, director, animal husbandry, Punjab, Dr HS Dhalla, editor-in-chief of the publication were also present. Dr Sandha said the literature on animal husbandry would be an official and regular feature of the Punjab Livestock Development Board and the animal husbandry department.

He added that it was the first literature for livestock farmers in Punjabi language along with photographs of prized animals of North India.— TNS

Mullanpur Dakha, June 19
The police arrested a youth for possessing 6 gms of smack last evening.

The accused has been identified as Harpreet Singh, alias Kala, a member of panchayat at Boparai Kalan village.

According to SHO Jangjit Singh, the accused was nabbed at Rurka village.

A police party led by SI Chaman Parkash yesterday rounded up two youths Ricky and Sumit.

The police interrogated the duo and swooped down on Kala with the help of the Anti-Narcotic Cell sleuths.

Other two accused, Gill of Jangpur village and Geeta of Ludhiana are still at large.

Sources, however, revealed that the police actually recovered 1 kg of opium, three cough syrup bottles and three wrappings containing smack from the accused.

It was learnt that the police released Ricky and Sumit at the behest of some Akali workers.

Later, the police also refused to have recovered opium or cough syrup bottles.

Jagraon, June 19
The police today arrested a youth and recovered 6 kgs of opium from his possession.

The accused has been identified as Gurdeep Singh, alias Baba, a resident of Bathinda.

SSP Ludhiana (rural) Harinder Singh Chahal Mohan Dass, said the accused was nabbed by a patrolling team near Khothe Khajooran.

The accused had concealed the contraband in a steel case.

The SSP said the accused had bought it from Meharban, a resident of Ramganj Mandi, Rajasthan, to sell it further to drug peddlers in the area.

A case under Sections 16, 61, 85 NDPS Act has been registered against the accused.

Ludhiana, June 19
Mahajan Juniors and Super Club recorded victories in their respective matches in the 15th Chaman Lal Malhotra Cricket Cup Tournament (U-14) being played at the MGM Public School, Dugri, here today.

The match played between Mahajan Juniors and Pankaj Club turned out to be a mismatch, in which the former romped home winners by nine wickets.

Pankaj Club were bowled out for 73 runs in 20 overs.

For Mahajan Juniors, Shivang was pick of the bowlers. He captured three wickets for 18 runs, while Piyush took two for 20.

Mahajan Juniors made the required runs in just eight overs after losing one wicket. Piyush remained unbeaten on 44, while Mohit remained unconquered on 20.

In the match played yesterday, Vishesh (30) and Akhilesh (27 runs and 3 for 22) helped Super Club record four-wicket victory over National Club.

Batting first, National Club scored 137 runs in 29.5 overs. The main contributor was Sumin Sood, who chipped in with 61 runs.

For the Super Club, Akhilesh accounted for three wickets, while Parveen and Deepak Mehta grabbed two wickets each.

In reply, Super Club made 138 runs for the loss of six wickets in 30 overs to wrap up the issue by four wickets.

Vishesh scored 30 runs, followed by Akhilesh, who made 27 runs, while Parveen and Saurabh contributed 20 and 15 runs, respectively.

For the losers, Nitin claimed three wickets and Shubhankar secured two wickets.

Scores

Pankaj Club: 73 all out in 20 overs (Akshit 1 for 10, Piyush 2 for 20 and Shivang 3 for 18).

Mahajan Juniors: 74 for 1 in 8 overs (Gokul 4, Piyush 44 n.o and Mohit 20 n.o).

National Club: 137 all out in 29.5 overs (Nitin 5, Shivam 6, Sumin Sood 61, Arshmeet 12, Maan Singh 5, Akhilesh 3 for 22, Parveen 2 for 6, Deepak Mehta 2 for 17, Gurpreet Singh 1 for 11 and Manjot 1 for 23).

Super Club: 138 for 6 in 27 overs (Parveen 20, Vishesh 30, Saurabh 15, Manjot 5, Deepak 12, Akhilesh 27, Nitin 3 for 18, Tushar 1 for 20 and Shubhankar 2 for 8).