Ludhiana, September 30
Peace prevailed after the Allahabad High Court delivered its verdict on the Babri Masjid dispute as city residents reacted with maturity and there were no attempts to disrupt the calm.

The city, which was tense ahead of the judgment, heaved a sigh of relief with life going on normally and crowds returning on the streets in the evening. Various political parties also exercised caution and refrained from issuing any seemingly provocative statements.

Though there were anxious moments throughout the day, especially during the hours leading up to the court’s verdict, peace was the order of the day by the evening. No untoward incident has been reported after the judgment was pronounced till the filing of this report.

People congratulated each other on the phone after the verdict was announced. ‘‘We feel greatly relieved that all political parties are exercising caution on the issue and has refrained from putting out any provocative statements, ’’ said Manjit Singh Khalsa, a resident.

‘I’m really glad city residents handled it so well”, said SS Chana, a local environmentalist.

Meanwhile various religious organisations appealed to the people not to do anything to disrupt mutual harmony. The Shahi Imam of Punjab, Maulana Habib ur-Rehman Sani, appealed to the people for maintaining peace and harmony.

Talking to The Tribune after the verdict was announced Sani said: “We haven’t gone through the judgment as yet. We’ll first read it and then decide any further course of action tonight. We’ll be clear about the issue tomorrow. But at the same time I call upon the masses to exercise restraint and not to take the law into their hands”.

‘‘We’re citizens of a democratic country and, if required, we’ll move the Supreme Court. We’re yet to go into the details of the judgment, ’’ he added.

Meanwhile, activists of a Hindu organisation, while expressing happiness at the court’s judgment, there was no reason for anybody to react. 

Ludhiana, September 30
While the entire country remained tense over the outcome of the court verdict on the Babri Masjid dispute, fearing a religious confrontation, residents of the city’s Kidwai Nagar locality conveyed a subtle message of unity among members of different faiths.

The area, with the Sufia Bagh Masjid, on one side of a street and the Shiv Shakti Mandir, on the other, presented a picture of harmony. Here one could see Muslims offering ‘namaz’ (prayers) at the mosque and Hindus performing ‘hawan’ (a ritual) in the temple. In between members of the two communities exchanged pleasantries.

Both mosque and the temple were built around the same time about 30 years ago. Hifzum Rehman, who conducts ‘namaz’ everyday, said he has been here since 1997 and has seen both structures side by side.

Chet Ram Sharma, head priest of the temple, said: “On every special occasion and on festivals we exchange gifts and sweets with each other. Every one should respect the verdict pronounced by the court”.

"On every Eid we hug each other. We share ‘seviyaan’ on Eid while they send us sweets on Diwali. These are the small gestures to show love and respect to each other. This tradition has been continuing since years and we will maintain it for years to come," said Rehman.

"Whenever there is a religious congregation or festival one of us lowers the volume of the speakers for the other," said Sharma.

"In a world of hatred and religious divides there’s a place in the city where faith acts as a bridge to unite people belonging to different religions. Whenever I visit a mosque for offering prayers I also pay a visit to the temple as it is just next to it," said Shakeel Khan.

Ludhiana, September 30
A local leader, owing allegiance to the SAD, has been booked in a murder case following the death of a man, who was set on fire following a property dispute on Sunday afternoon.

After struggling for four days, Paramjit Kumar (32) lost his battle with life at a private multi-speciality hospital late last night.

Paramjit Kumar, who sustained over 60 per cent burns, along with his brother Ashwani Kumar, were set afire at Karamsar Colony near the Tajpur Road on Sunday afternoon following a property dispute.

With the death of the victim, the police has booked six persons, including Kala Hans, in the murder case. Hans and his accomplices were currently on the run.

Ashwani Kumar, who sustained 20 per cent burns and was stated to be out of danger, said the incident took place on Sunday when his sister-in-law Suman, along with a local leader Kala Hans, entered the house in Karamsar Colony and told him and Parmjit to vacate the house.

Ashwani further alleged that his sister-in-law and Kala Hans were trying to grab the ancestral property of 250 sq yd located near the Taj Pur road.

He said the property was in his possession and Kala Hans, along with his men, came to the house and tried to get it vacated.

Eyewitnesses said the leader, along with his accomplice, thrashed Paramjit Singh and Ashwani Kumar, when the duo refused to vacate the house and put up resistance.

Ashwani said amidst the melee, one of the assailants poured petrol on him and his brother and set them afire.

After the incident, the Jodhewal Basti police registered a case under Sections 307, 452, 447,511,149 and 120- B of the IPC against Kala Hans, Pawan Kumar, Suman, Sarod, Deepak and Ramveer. The case was registered on the complaint of victim Paramjit Singh.

"With the death of Paramjit, we would now add more sections against the accused and book them for murder," said SHO Jatinder Kumar.

It is reliably learnt that the one of the accused Deepak, alias Deepu, was also running a "petti mafia" racket - ferrying of hosiery goods in railway station by evading taxes - and was previously arrested by the police.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 30
With the administration tightening security at public places ahead of the pronouncement of the Ram Janambhoomi- Babri Masjid verdict today, the passengers travelling in long-distance trains were among the most harassed lot last night.

While cops deployed for security in moving trains were reported to have forced groups of travellers to leave the train at stations, whereas security personnel at the stations did not allow them to spend the night on platforms.

Some of these groups and families, including women and children, had to sleep in the open.

Maintaining that the action had been taken keeping in view of the nationwide alert, the authorities at railway stations said only male members, who failed to explain reason of their dropping at respective stations were asked to leave.

Investigations revealed that a large number of passengers travelling by long-distance trains had to face the brunt of alert security ahead of the pronouncement of the verdict today. While some of them were forced to break their journeys due to alleged highhandedness of the police deployed for security in the moving trains whereas the others suffered at the hands of officials at the railway stations of the town and surrounding localities, including Kilaraipur, Kup, Himtana and Malerkotla.

Women and children had to sleep on the ground in the open, as the officials at the railway station did not allowed them to stay at the platform in the night.

Though they intended dropping at the Ludhiana junction, the police deployed for security in trains forced them get out of the trains at the local platform. Those waiting in the waiting room were told to leave the hall at midnight by the railway officials and were forced to spend the night at unsafe places.

“Despite our repeated request, the officials did not allow us to spend the night at the railway station and we had to stay at an unsafe place,” alleged Bhima, a traveller, claiming that the male members of the group remained awake to guard the children and women.

Ram Partap of Lehra, who had dropped at the Kup railway station by mistake, had to walk down to the town to reach the house of one of his relatives, as the officials at the station did not allow him to stay in the waiting room.

Ludhiana, September 30
It was an endless wait for the people at the DC office where no file was cleared for the second consecutive day, following the pen-down strike of the ministerial staff that entered its second day today.

Responding to the call given by Punjab State Ministerial Services Union to intensify the agitation for acceptance of pending demands, the routine work in the government offices came to a halt.

People in government offices alleged inconvenience as the clerks refused to move a single document at various government offices.

The senior officials at DC office when approached by the people expressed helplessness adding that they had no option but to wait till the strike ended.

The strike that commenced on Wednesday will continue till Friday, the last working day of the week. Saturday and Sunday being non- working days will result in five "non working days" this week, which will add to the backlog of work in the government offices.

Sources at the DC office said that Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari worked from his camp office yesterday so as to avoid public dealing in wake of the pen-down strike of the clerical staff.

A senior official said, "It is already difficult to clear the pending files in Ludhiana as we cater to a population of more than 50 lakh and now this pen-down strike will mount up the incomplete documentation in respective offices."

Sukhwinder Singh, state president and Vijay Marjara, district president of the union, charged the government with discriminating against the clerical staff who were being denied pay scale of Rs 10,300-34,800 to which they were entitled on the basis of their educational qualification.

Nirmal Singh, the state general secretary of Punjab State Ministerial Services Union, stated that the government should do away with the typing test conducted at the time of recruitment of clerks and commence computer training within the department soon after the recruitment.

The functionaries of the union further made a case for payment of entire arrears of revised pay scales for the past 43 months in lump sum to the serving government employees. The agitating government employees will also burn effigies of the government tomorrow afternoon and have planned to meet at Jalandhar on October 2, 2010 to finalise the next course of action.

Ludhiana, September 30
“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success, as has been proved by individuals from different walks of life, who have formed a special blood donation squad to save the lives of people battling with dengue at city hospitals.”

A group of 200 persons, who are members of "Salaam Zindagi", an NGO working for the cause of voluntary blood donation, today pledged to save every life battling with dengue.

Chemists from Pindi street, professor from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), members of Punjab Medical Representatives Association (PMRA) and some city philanthropists are also members of the squad.

The outbreak of dengue in Jalandhar followed by rising number of patients from Amritsar and Ludhiana has made it impossible for private city hospitals to admit patients, as a result many patients were being referred to other cities.

Majority of the dengue patients are being referred to the DMCH and CMCH.

The NGO has been provided with a room at the DMCH, wherein service will be available round-the-clock to make provisions for blood donation to dengue patients.

Manjit Saini, president of “Salaam Zindagi” said: "The two deaths from dengue recently left a scar on the NGO. An action plan is formulated by the NGO members to save people suffering from dengue by donating blood."

Dr Amarjit Kaur, blood transfusion officer (BTO) at the DMCH, said: "With the help of voluntary blood donors, the DMCH blood bank could transfuse platelets to the needy patients. But considering the rising number of patients, I appeal to the general public to come forward to donate blood voluntarily."

Ludhiana, September 30
The third-day of the ongoing Panjab University Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival (Zone-B) started at Ramgarhia Girls College, Miller Ganj, today.

Chief guest Amarjit Singh Sekhon, Zonal Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, and Dr BS Shah medical superintendent, DMCH, presided over.

Ranjodh Singh, president, Ramgarhia educational council; Harcharan Singh Birson, Tarlok Singh Padam, Hakam Singh, principal Dr Narinder Sandhu and former principal Harmit Kaur inaugurated the function.

The competition began with the recitation of the college shabad by students.

On the third day of the festival, competitions like drama, histrionics, skit, mimicry, mime and quiz were held.

Spectators were thrilled to see the spectacular performance of the participants.

Chief guest Amarjit Singh said such performances encourage students to face life boldly.

Principal Dr Sandhu said students had not just depicted the problems of life on stage, but also suggested solutions to solve them.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 30
Today, social and religious organisations of the area came forward to share burden of the administration for boarding and lodging of cops requisitioned from other areas.

Investigations revealed that a large number of social and religious organisations of the area had played an important role in providing accommodation and meals to the police deployed at various places in the area today and yesterday.

Management committees of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Shree Ram Mandir Dharamsala and Aggarwal Dharamsala chipped in making arrangements for the boarding and lodging of the police coming from outside the local police station.

Besides providing rooms and beddings, the organisers prepared langar for the cops. Mobile teams of volunteers; accompanied by respective beat in-charges, supplied food to the police at the place of their deployment so that the vigil was continued without interruption. 

Ludhiana, September 30
After receiving a copy of the report submitted by the local government department’s chief vigilance officer in the Rs 75 lakh fake bill fraud, senior officials of the municipal corporation once again find themselves in a fix over filing an FIR against the suspects. This is because one of them, Sunny Gosain, who is the grandson of Punjab assembly deputy speaker Sat Pal Gosain, happens to be one of the three contractors involved in the scam.

The fraud, in which excess payment was made to three contractors - Sunny, Kulbir Singh and Varinder Kumar - against fake invoices and forged documents, was uncovered in November last year, creating a flutter due to the involvement of a "politically connected" contractor (Sunny).

Even as the local government department’s vigilance wing was conducting a probe into the fraud, allegedly committed with the connivance of a dozen MC officials, the contractors had deposited the excess payment made to them. At about the same time eleven civic officials were suspended for their conniving with the key suspects who had embezzled the public funds.

MC additional commissioner Kamalpreet Brar, who had indicted civic officials for not performing their duties in accordance with the regulations, also conducted a parallel inquiry into the misappropriation of funds.

After a thorough scrutiny of the relevant records, including forged invoices, measurement books, vouchers and other documents pertaining to the case, the chief vigilance officer said the offence was “grave in nature” and called for registration of criminal cases against the suspects. Concurring with the report, the state government had reinstated the suspended officials while directing the civic administration to file an FIR with the police against the guilty.

The civic body, however, has not proceeded on the matter on the plea that the government had not forwarded a copy of the CVO’s report to it.

When contacted, MC commissioner AK Sinha told The Tribune a copy of the report submitted by the CVO to the government had been received. “The report is almost on similar lines as the observations made by the MC additional commissioner in this matter. We’re going through the contents of the report and have sought legal opinion as well. In a day or so an FIR will be filed with the police against those indicted”.

Ludhiana, September 30
Cop, who had reportedly slapped a boy for standing outside his house in Sector 32, Chandigarh Road, last night, apologised for the unruly behaviour after Police Commissioner Ishwar Singh intervened and asked them to tender an apology for the incident.

Jatin (17), a student of Class XI of Spring Dale School, Chandigarh Road, was standing outside his house in Sector 32, when two police vehicles stopped outside Jatin’s house and he was told to go inside.

Jatinder Sachdeva, father of the boy, said Jatin was waiting for his mother when the cop slapped him. Meanwhile, the boy’s mother came outside the house and objected to cops misbehavior. The cops made a quick exit. They were conducting a flag march in the area.

Jatin further narrated the incident to his father Jatinder Sachdeva, who further brought it to the notice of the Police Commissioner.

Sources said the police commissioner expressed regret over the incident and told the SHO concerned to look into the matter.

Today morning the cop, who had reportedly slapped the boy, reached Jatin’s house and apologised for the entire incident. 

Ludhiana, September 30
The fourth IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) quiz for postgraduate students was organised at Dumra Auditorium of DMCH.

Six teams comprising two students each from the PGIMER, Chandigarh, SGRD Amritsar, Government Medical Colleges of Amritsar and Patiala, Christian Medical College and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital of Ludhiana.

Professor and head of pediatrics department at DMCH, Dr. Harmesh Singh Bains, conducted the quiz. Secretary of DMCH managing society, Prem Kumar Gupta, was the chief guest. He inaugurated the programme by lighting a ceremonial lamp. Principal and professor of the pediatrics department, Dr Daljit Singh, welcomed the participating teams. The winning team will participate in the zonal round of the quiz contest to be held in October.

Ludhiana, September 30
Creator of one of the most popular hymns (aarti by Hindu devotees) "Om Jai Jagdish Hare" Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri was remembered on his 173rd birth anniversary at a function organised by the Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri Memorial Welfare Society, Punjab, at Mata Bhagwati Mandir on Gill Road here today.

Society chairman Krishan Kumar Bawa along with Ashok Makkar, president, paid tributes to the noted Hindi writer of his time, who was also a social reformer, freedom fighter and propagator of moral values.

Speaking at the occasion, Bawa remarked that religion joined human beings. He said with the creation of one of the most popular hymns in the Hindu religion, Phillauri had achieved an immortal status and his creation would live in the hearts of the Hindu devotees for all times to come.

"One of the great writers of his time, Phillauri, not only gave a legendary religious offering (aarti) to the Hindus, he also took active part in the freedom struggle and did significant work to uplift condition of widows, and against child marriage," he stated.

Other speakers including former minister Malkiat Singh Dakha, former legislator Jagdev Singh Jassowal and Gurkeerat Singh Kotli pleaded for perpetuating the memory of literary personalities at par with saints and seers as they were the ones to propagate the message of unity, amity, mutual trust, religious tolerance and moral values. Makkar and other functionaries of the society urged the Union government to issue a commemorative postal stamp in memory of Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri and the state government ought to set up a chair in his name in one of its universities.

Office-bearers of 31 mandir committees from different parts of the city were felicitated on the occasion. Each one of them was presented with a portrait of Phillauri and a shawl.

Phillaur: His 73th birth anniversary was celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm in his home town of Phillauri today.Several prominent citizens, including former minister Santokh Singh Chaudhary first assembled near Phillaur Bus Stand,garlanded the statue of Pt Shardha Ram Phillauri, then a religious congregation was held in a Phillaur Mandir,where hundreds of devotees paid tributes to Phillauri. “Kirtans” and “bhajans” were performed by the devotees. Langars were also organised at several places today.Phillauri was born in a Brahmin family in Phillaur on September 30,1837. He was married to a Sikh girl Mehtab Kaur. He learnt Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, Astrology and Music besides the Gurmukhi script.

Ludhiana, September 30
Dr Amarlal H Kalro, dean, School of Management, Ahmedabad University, and former director, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, while addressing members of the Ludhiana Management Association on “Family-Owned Business: Challenges and Opportunities” said governance issues, succession planning, bringing innovation and creativity in the business, compensation balance among professionals and family members, customer-centric approach rather than family orientation and professionalism were some of the challenges being faced by the family-owned business in today's business environment.

Dr Kalro said family-owned business helped in economic development and wealth creation in the country.

They are highly pervasive from small to large business. Dr Kalro said business contributes 70 per cent of world GDP with large portion of market capitalisation.

He further said in family-owned business difference of opinion and business interest was there, which caused conflicts and instable business.

Dr Kalro believes that professionalism in family-owned business stimulates new thinking and strategic insight, attracts and retains excellent managers, creates flexible and creative organisations, prepare successor leadership and exploit the unique advantage of family ownership.

He highlighted that in competitive and professional business world where only a few family business houses had been able to sustain in the past 60 years, while rest had diminished. The reason is that those businesses had not been able to plan the challenges posed by the business environment.

He said business environment was highly positive for family-owned business to flourish and exploit the opportunities.

He said government policies regarding SEZ, tax exemptions, deregulations, subsidies to SMEs etc are some of the steps that could be exploited by companies.

He said entrepreneurial spirit, strong economic growth, better educational facilities, professionalism in business were the key elements of today's business.

Ludhiana, September 30
The city police has nabbed two thieves, who had created panic in Daba and the surrounding areas with their repeated strikes.

The accused identified as Damodar, a migrant from Uttar Pradesh, and Manjit Singh from Daba, were nabbed red handed by the police last night while they were planning to commit a theft in a house located in the Daba area.

During the interrogation, the accused confessed to have committed the crime.

Besides, sharp-edged weapon, the cops also recovered tools, such as screwdriver and hammers, used for breaking the locks and domestic material, including three cooking gas cylinders, DVDs, television and domestic cooking material from the possession of the accused.

It is learnt that the duo were behind 25 cases of theft that have taken place in the recent past.The accused used to recce the place and strike when the occupants of the house were away. 

Ludhiana, September 30
The annual general meeting of the Ludhiana Sports Welfare Association (LSWA) was held here today with former national hockey coach, Baldev Singh.

The meeting resolved to organise the 7th All-India Guru Gobind Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament here at the Prithipal Singh Memorial AstroTurf Stadium on Punjab Agricultural University campus from October 30 to November 5.

Top hockey outfits of the country, along with a team from Malaysia, will be seen in action during the week-long tournament.

It was also decided at the meeting to office-bearers for LSWA. Harpreet Singh Sidhy, Inspector General of Police, Punjab, was elected chief patron, while Baldev Singh and Arjuna awardee (basketball) Sajjan Singh Cheema were named patrons.

After the meeting, Jagroop Singh Jarkhar, senior vice-president, LSWA, said a five-member technical committee with Olympians as its members was also formed. Ramandeep Singh Grewal, Hardeep Singh Grewal, Jagdeep Singh Gill, Gaganajeet Singh and International hockey star Jagraj Singh were the elected members.

The names of other office-bearers include Dr AP Singh Mangat- president; Amrik Singh Minhas- chairman, Gurnam Singh- vice-chairman; Inderpreet Singh Chadha- chief organiser; Sukhwinder Singh- general secretary; Jagroop Singh Jarkhar- senior vice-president, Harminder Pal Singh- organising secretary; and Parveen Kumar Gorkha- treasure.

The association will also adopt five upcoming hockey players and groom them for the international-level tournaments, said Jarkhar.