The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

High drama at mini-secretariat
Members of two riot victim organisations clash
Ludhiana, August 20
A high drama was witnessed at the mini-secretariat when two groups led by Surjit Singh, president of the Danga Pirit Welfare Association, and Charanjit Singh, president of the 1984 Sikh Qatl-e-Aam Peerit Action Committee exchanged blows and tossed turbans in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here today. The two groups continued to clash for nearly half an hour, but neither the police nor the public intervened to settle the issue.

A riot victim protests outside the DC office after the clash. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Unclaimed vehicles to go under hammer
No effort made to trace owners
Ludhiana, August 20
Though the police is trying to auction unclaimed vehicles that are lying idle in all city police stations, literally no effort has been made so far to trace their actual owners. On one hand the cops complained that they were grappling with space shortage, but on the other crime busters have so far failed to trace the stolen vehicles.

Unclaimed vehicles at a police station in Ludhiana. A Tribune photograph

Panchayat land worth Rs 200 cr grabbed, allege villagers
Ludhiana, August 20
More than 21 acre of panchayat land, including 3 acre area of pond worth over Rs 200 crore at Jhammat village has been allegedly grabbed by influential persons in connivance with the village sarpanch, her predecessors and officials in the revenue and rural development departments.

Chinese rakhis to don Indian wrists
A girl having a look at Lumba rakhis being sold in Ludhiana Ludhiana, August 20
China has come calling again and the dragon is hidden no more. India's festival season is set for a touch of Chinese “wrist work”. Chinese manufacturers have mastered the art of making traditional Indian Gods and religious symbols. Even Indian rakhi manufacturers are importing raw materials from China and are assembling these in India.

A girl having a look at Lumba rakhis being sold in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

COMMUNITY

Delayed Regularisation
BEd teachers up in arms against govt
Ludhiana, August 20
BEd teachers of the state are once again up in arms against the Punjab government. They protested against the government's decision on delayed regularisation of BEd teachers. State president of the BEd Teachers' Front (Punjab) Ajit Pal Singh Jassowal and district president Harvinder Singh said today that the government's decision on delayed regularisation of BEd teachers would be opposed tooth and nail.

Villagers in tizzy over unexploded bomb shell
Don’t panic, shell harmless: Authorities
Jagraon, August 20
While authorities were busy searching unexploded bomb shell which, according to the Indian Air Force (IAF) Halwara officials, had fallen outside the boundary of the Sidhwan Khurad range last night, residents of localities surrounding the range were spending sleepless nights.

Budding designers cast spell
Ludhiana, August 20
Models showcase the creations of PIFT students during a fashion show in Ludhiana Pinnacle Institute of Fashion Technology (PIFT) organised its annual fashion show “Fashionista” last evening to encourage the upcoming designers of the institute. The fashion show marked the completion of 10 years of the institute in imparting fashion education to students. The fashion show represented the latest style. Style, design, innovation and creativity was showcased by graduating students.
Models showcase the creations of PIFT students during a fashion show in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Residents continue to get adulterated milk
Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 20
Residents of Mandi Ahmedgarh and nearby areas are fortunate that the milk supplied to them does not contain chemicals that are hazardous for health. However, almost 50 per cent residents are being duped as the milk they get is adulterated with water.

From Colleges
Talent hunt
Students participate in a singing contest at Arya College in Ludhiana on Friday A talent hunt programme was held today at Arya College. The function was inaugurated by principal Dr TL Joshi. He appreciated the efforts of dean Dr VB Sudhir and co-dean Dr SP Singh for organising the event. More than 200 students participated in the function. A variety of items like folksongs, ghazals, solo-dance, group dance and instrumental music were presented by the students.

Students participate in a singing contest at Arya College in Ludhiana on Friday. A Tribune photograph

5,000 visit industrial expo on Day I
Ludhiana, August 20
International Industrial Expo and Conferences, Ludhiana, was inaugurated at Punjab Trade Centre by Inderjit Pradhan, chairman of the Small Scale Industrial Development Board, here today.

Rajiv Gandhi remembered
Ludhiana, August 20
Congress leaders and workers paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 67th birth anniversary today, terming him as the architect of computer age and laying the foundation of a strong panchayati raj system in the country.

Rare surgery performed
Ludhiana, August 20
Dr BS Aulakh, professor of urology and head transplant unit, DMC and Hospital, who was honoured with the state award on Independence Day this year, performed a rare laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy.

Printer’s panel get Rs 5.70 lakh grant-in-aid
Ludhiana, August 20
Arun Kumat Jha, Director, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises today distributed the grant-in-aid to the tune of `5.70 lakh among delegates who visited the Sino-Label and Printing South China Trade Fair at Guangzhou, China, under the banner of the Offset Printers Association (OPA) under the international cooperation scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Youth development board a farce, says RTI activist
Ludhiana, August 20
If the information provided by the Director, Youth Services, Punjab, who is also the convener/member secretary of the Punjab State Youth Development Board under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) is any indication, the board has failed to do any worthwhile work since its inception some one-and-a-half year back and serve the desired purpose.

Tributes paid to Longowal
Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 20
At least 200 SAD-BJP activists, led by Jagwant Singh Jaggie and Amar Singh Saraon, left for Longowal on Friday to join the activists from other parts of the state to pay tribute to late Harchand Singh Longowal.

Unidentified body found
Ludhiana, August 20
Panic gripped the Ferozepore road area after commuters spotted the body of youth floating in the canal here today. The youth could not be identified, but preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was killed with the help of sharp-edged weapons.

CRIME

Cash, valuables stolen from car
Ludhiana, August 20
Unidentified thieves decamped with a bag containing cash, a laptop and a mobile handset by breaking the windscreen of a car at Basti Jodhewal here today. Simran Sidhu, who runs a garment export unit in Jammu Colony, said she went to a factory unit at Basti Jodhewal in the afternoon for purchasing hosiery material and left the bag inside the car.

SPORTS

LBA lads retain title
Players of the Ludhiana academy after emerging victorious in the Punjab State Junior Basketbll Championship in Ludhiana on Friday Ludhiana, August 20
Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA) won their semifinal league fixtures in the boy’s section to retain the title, while in the girl's section, Jalandhar dethrone reigning champions Ludhiana district in the 61st Punjab State Junior Basketball Championship that concluded at Guru Nanak Stadium, here today.

Players of the Ludhiana academy after emerging victorious in the Punjab State Junior Basketbll Championship in Ludhiana on Friday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Green Land School emerge victorious
Ludhiana, August 20
Students of Green Land Senior Secondary Public School, Jalandhar bypass branch, bagged titles in the girls under-17 and 19 categories in the Ludhiana Inter-School Chess Championship being played at Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Kitchlu Nagar branch, here today.