Ludhiana, November 2
Dragging the noble profession of teaching into the dingy lanes of lust and earning a bad name for it, a teacher stabbed his student when the latter refused to marry him here today.

Rajesh Kumar (25), a teacher with a local computer institute, was apparently in love with one of his students at the centre. The 21-year-old girl is a resident of Dugri.

Sources said the man, who is polio-afflicted, had been pursuing the girl since long and was trying to woo her to marry him. “It was a one-sided love affair,” alleged the girl’s kin.

This afternoon, Rajesh Kumar asked her to come to McDonald at Ansal Plaza to meet him. At the eating joint, the duo had discussions wherein Rajesh asked her to marry him. The girl refused, following which heated arguments took place between the two.

Enraged, Rajesh Kumar pulled out a knife and stabbed the girl in her ribs thrice in full public view.

The mall’s security personnel rushed to the victim’s rescue. The girl was rushed to the hospital where she was treated for her injuries. She was later discharged from the hospital. She is stated to be out of danger. The accused, however, managed to escape.

Later in the evening, a case under Section 326 of the IPC was registered at the Division No. 5 police station following a complaint lodged by the girl’s family.

Meanwhile, Rajesh Kumar has been terminated from his service at the computer centre.

Talking to The Tribune, head of the computer centre said Rajesh Kumar was terminated immediately after the incident came to light.

“It is a shame that a teacher did such a heinous thing with his own student. He has no right to be a part of the noble profession,” said the enraged centre head.

Ludhiana, November 2
A team of health officials seized 28 cans of frozen “bauli” (colostrum of buffalo) during a raid at a sweetmeat outlet owned by Jhallian di dairy in Chaura Bazaar.

Each can contained 15 kilograms of “bauli”, which was to be churned into “paneer” so as to prepare sweetmeats like “rasgullas”, “cham cham” and “ras malai”. The colostrums is mixed with arrowroot, corn flour and various other adulterants so as to give it the form of the “paneer”.

The owner of the Jhallian di Dairy in the Haibowal Dairy Complex is a habitual defaulter. He also owns a milk-chilling centre from where the health department had seized 50 quintals of adulterated cheese in March.

The cheese covered with thick layers of fungus had been prepared after procuring spoiled milk from the dairies and milkmen. It was then sold at their outlet on Chauri Sarak in Chaura Bazaar.

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

District health officer Dr Jagpal Singh said they had taken samples of the “bauli” and had sent them for the test.

Fungus-infested paneer

The paneer, which is nothing more than layers of fungus, had not been destroyed even nine months after its seizure. District health officer Jagpal Singh said the case was handled by former district health officer and his team of food inspectors. The prosecution was filed very late. They will come after Diwali to destroy the rotten paneer, he added.

Ludhiana, November 2
After gaining notoriety for filing false dowry complaints, city residents are now concocting fake robbery stories, giving a tough time to the police that is grappling with several such cases.

A number of such complaints recently came to the fore when several residents, one after the other, left the police stupefied by stage managing robberies and snatching incidents. The cops were left scratching their heads when the complaints turned out to be false. The crime busters, who would have spent their energy and time on solving other cases, ended up catching the complainants only.

A recent incident in which an iron trader claimed he had been robbed of Rs 11.50 lakh by two youths, brought to the fore how “innovative” residents are coming out with “Bollywood style” robbery tales.

On October 7 the iron trader, Nawal Kishore, 50, put the local police in a quandary when he alleged two armed youths robbed him Rs 11. 5 lakh. The robbery was later found to be stage-managed. The cops eventually got hold of the money and booked the trader and his son for concocting a fictitious robbery story.

That was not a stray incident. Police commissioner Ishwar Singh recently observed that residents were lodging false complaints of robbery to settle scores with their rivals.

The May 14 robbery at a liquor store, in which four armed assailants injured two men and robbed nearly Rs 60,000 from the liquor vend at the Ishwar Nagar bridge near Gill village, turned out to be a spat between the vend manager and the drunken youths. It was later learnt the manager made up a false story to settle score with the young men.

The sensational Rs 7.68-lakh broad daylight robbery on June 7, involving two collection agents of Cash Management Services (CMS), never took place. It was a stage managed crime, scripted and executed by the duo and their six accomplices. Though they executed their plan cleverly, they were done in when they failed to corroborate their claims with evidence.

The police cracked the case after a collection agent claimed he was dragged by the robbers and his shirt was torn in the process. The cops did not find a single injury mark on his body and his shirt appeared to have been torn by him.

The sensational snatching case outside a bank in Sunder Nagar on August 27 was also found to be false. A youth claimed some unidentified assailants snatched Rs 1 lakh cash from his possession. However, his claims fell flat and the police found the money in his cupboard.

In another case, a woman alleged some youths had snatched seven tolas of gold ornament as well as cash on May 11. However during its investigations the police found she had falsely accused the young men in order to settle some score with them.

Experts say people file such complaints to usurp money or to settle scores as the crimes of robbery and snatching attract harsher punishments.

Ludhiana, November 2
Residents of the city always celebrate the festival of lights with gusto and religious fervour. Prior to Diwali, a cleanliness drive begins at homes, shops and business establishments, as it is believed that goddess Lakshmi showers blessings on those who kept their homes neat.

During the cleanliness drive, hundreds of tonnes of garbage is generated from the city every year and a majority of it is dumped on roads by sweepers and residents.

It becomes a Herculean task for the municipal corporation to lift the huge garbage dumps during the festive days. In an effort to clean their premises, residents do not mind polluting their surroundings.

Though the civic body tries to lift the garbage from all over city so that the festival is celebrated in clean environs, tonnes of garbage is left on the roads due to public holidays and shortage of staff and garbage-lifting vehicles.

Supervisor-cum-dump officer Deepak Kumar says hundreds of tonnes of garbage is generated from the city around Diwali. “About 400 vehicles throw garbage in the main dumps, Jainpur and Tajpur, these days. There are 110 garbage-lifting vehicles with the civic body and each vehicle takes four rounds. Around Diwali, vehicles take two or three extra rounds to clean the roads,” he says.

The waste being thrown on the roads includes rotten fruits and vegetables, plastic, paper, polythene bags, discarded wooden items and hospital waste.

Truck labour supervisor Des Raj says days around Diwali are hectic for drivers and sweepers of the corporation.

“These days, drivers and sweepers lift garbage. Residents clean their homes, but throw the garbage in the open. Dumps have been kept at many prime locations, but roads seem to be more convenient to dispose of waste. We try to clean the city as much as we can, but plenty of garbage is left,” he asserts.

Says Sumeda Singh, a resident, “Cleanliness drives take place in cities like Chandigarh, but you cannot see huge dumps of garbage scattered on the roads. There is much awareness among residents there, but here, nobody bothers to keep the city clean.”

Ludhiana, November 2
An industrial unit on the GT Road has become a serious threat to residents living nearby as it is discharging acidic water on a 200-yard stretch.

The huge amount of acidic water which accumulates there poses a health hazard to the people living nearby and has caused the drying up of forest trees.

“The water we get at our homes is polluted and unfit for drinking. Although we have installed water purifiers, those cannot purify acidic water. We have to bring mineral water,” said GS Sidhu, a resident.

He added that the threat of dengue and malaria loomed large as the accumulated water helped breeding of mosquitoes.

Besides the polluted water, the smoke emanating the dyeing unit was hazardous for the people living nearby, said another resident.

“We have lodged a number of complaints with the Punjab Pollution Control Board, but nothing has been done so far and residents continue to suffer,” he added.

Sidhu said they had contacted the owner of the dyeing unit to shift elsewhere, but he always responded by saying he had built a new unit at Bahadur-ke-road and would shift there as soon as he got an electricity connection.

“We have been hearing this excuse for the last three years. He has not shifted his unit and residents nearby continue to suffer,” he said.

Since the unit operated 24 hours a day, it was not possible for residents to sit in the porch of their houses at all because of the smoke.

“I have become allergic to the smoke. We bring mineral water for drinking, but have to use tap water for domestic purposes. As a result, my hands are dry,” said a housewife.

Ludhiana, November 2
Clutches in the shape of a peacock, cup cake, birdcage, camel or turtle embossed with Swarovski crystals are here to give that “royal touch” to your persona this Diwali. Not only because these signature pieces are imprinted with gemstones but also because these handbags and minaudières (small ornamental case for cosmetics, jewelry, or personal items) by Judith Leiber are carried by celebrities and royalty.

This Diwali these clutches will be a perfect gift for someone you love and are already a rage among the city's crème de la crème. A trunk show by Judith Leiber recently in the city has received a good response from the city’s fashionistas. Priced in the range of Rs 1-3 lakh these clutches are worth every penny. Completing the collection is an assortment of sunglasses, which make unique gift for that special someone.

Alpa Mehta, head of operations of the Marigold group which bought Judith Leiber to the city, said: "This 45 year old American luxury brand is synonymous with elegance, style and sophistication. Each minaudière is executed with meticulous attention to detail and flawless handcraftsmanship. It takes nearly one year to prepare the mould for these clutches and then Swarvoski crystals are hand fixed".

"Judith Leiber clutches are exceptionally different from the normal clutches. Designed in the shape of a bird cage, cup cake, turtle, crystal, Dachshund or rabbit these clutches have catch the fancy of the city’s elite,” said a visitor at the trunk show.

All styles are made from American alligator with a shiny, classic finish, available in black, cognac, plum, and cranberry.

Lined in Judith Leiber's signature purple kid suede, the handbags boast interior pockets and accordion gussets spacious enough to accommodate indispensable high-tech accessories.

Since it debuted in 1963, Judith Leiber has earned its status as an American fashion icon with a distinct heritage, timeless quality and international appeal.

The label’s designs are part of the permanent design collections at international museums including London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, and the Smithsonian Institution. This recognition has contributed to their collectible status and enduring popularity.

l Bird Cage: This beautiful minaudière is one of the finest pieces from Judith Leiber's latest Spring 2010 collection. Just like its name suggests, this unique bag is designed like a beautiful birdcage. Adorned beautifully on all four sides, this exquisite birdcage shaped bag features the design of a beautiful pink bird on the front. Glittering and shimmering, this unique bag will make for an elegant accessory for any formal do.

l Cupcake: This clutch has a gold-tone chain-link strap which can be folded inside clutch, is hand painted, a gold tone push-clasp at top with a ring to hold and is fully lined in gold leather. Designer color: Strawberry. Team this meticulously hand-crafted confection with your favorite cocktail dress for a sweet and unique accent.

l Dachshund: This clutch bag is hand-painted, has a silver tone chain-link handle that can be hidden inside the bag, a silver-tone base and push clasp at the top and is fully lined in silver leather. This decadent party piece will bring a flash of glamour to every cocktail look. Meticulously hand detailed with multicoloured fine crystals, the exquisite Dachshund clutch bag will surely draw attention.

Ludhiana, November 2
With free offers such as extended warranty and free maintenance and service thrown in with new vehicles now being taxed, pushing their prices higher, car sales will be affected during the festive season.

Many people prefer to buy cars during Diwali as the companies employing them offer lucrative finance schemes. Auto firms get a boost in October as easy finance and the festival season drives up demand, but after freebies being taxed the situation may be different this year.

"We normally purchase goods during the festival season to avail of discounts but the offers will be meaningless if we excise duty is charged on them”, said Jaswinder, a banker.

An excise department official said: “Offering discounts and freebies for cars is the manufacturer's prerogative and their costs should be added to the vehicle’s price on which excise duty is levied. Aftersales service and predelivery inspection charges will also be included in the assessable value”.

"What’s the use of buying a car during festival offers if we’ve to pay tax on the freebies? In addition to this the model of the car will also be one year older. I’ll prefer to buy it in the new year," said SD Sharma, working in a private firm.

A sales executive at a car dealership said people buy new vehicles during the festive season when many companies come out with various offers or after New Year when they get a new model. "With freebies being taxed there is the possibility people will stay away from making a purchase during festive offers," he added.

Mandi Ahmedgarh,November 2
Slow pace of procurement and lifting of paddy in grain markets seems to have affected the wheat-sowing circle in this area. While a large number of farmers are waiting for clearance of heaps brought by them in mandis, others have staggered their schedule to harvest the crop standing in fields.

The farmers in certain pockets are yet to start preparation of fields for sowing wheat, which normally starts in first week of November. Even those farmers who have harvested paddy crop are yet to clear fields for the next crop.

Apprehended delay in payment for sold produce might affect procurement of inputs for the wheat crop. High yield variety seeds and quality fertilisers are normally not available on credit.

The farmers of this area were worried about apprehended delay in sowing of wheat crop.

“How could I think of preparing fields for the next crop when my produce in lying in open in grain market. The officials have been putting off procurement on one or the other pretext all these days," rued Karnail Singh of Lohgarh village, who had been camping in mandi for the past one week.

Jarnail Singh is among those who have decided to stagger harvesting of paddy after seeing the fate of other farmers who were feeling harassed at the hands of officials of procurement agencies. Though he had been adopting pattern with early sown verities of wheat this time he will have to go for some late-sown variety.

Farmers apprehend that the sowing season would get delayed by almost two weeks. This besides upsetting the sowing-harvesting cycle will adversely affect the yield of the crop.

Jasbir Singh Sekhon, a botanist, said the yield would be decreased at least by one quintal per acre.

In fact, the setting up of the cut-off date for the transplantation of paddy in the state has impacted the sowing of other crops in the state.

As now the paddy crop matures late and harvested late, owing to this the sowing of wheat is also delayed by almost 15 days in the state.

Ludhiana, November 2
“Rajj rajj laad ladaya tenu, loriyan naal khidaya tenu, bhul gaya mera pyar ve, main teri maa di boli aan.” Eyes turned misty, voices got choked, souls were stirred and emotions welled up in every heart as Harbhajan Mann doled out this soulful melody here today.

The audience sat in stunned silence at the end, which seemed the only right response. “Love your mother tongue and be proud of it,” he exhorted the gathering.

Mann was speaking at Ramgarhia Girls College, where he was honoured by the Ramgarhia Education Council with the Giani Bhagat Singh Memorial Award for his contribution to the Punjabi language and for promoting it through his music and movies.

A Punjabi to the core, Mann moved many hearts in the young crowd today when, refusing to perform on stage, he chose to share his experiences with them. “Learn as many languages as you wish, but do not forget Punjabi because when a person forgets his mother tongue, his existence is finished,” said the singer-actor.

Saddened at the unfortunate state of the Punjabi language in the country at large and in Punjab in particular, a dewy eyed Mann blamed artists of the times. “What we learn is what we become. That is what is happening to our younger generation. Our children are being constantly fed with tales on violence and drugs. What will they learn in such circumstances,” he remarked.

He added that the responsibility of motivating the youth rested on the shoulders of today’s artists. “With our music, rich cultural heritage and sweet native tongue, we can make a world of a difference to the status of Punjabi and take it to great heights,” Mann said.

The singer also accused Bollywood of hijacking the language. “A handful of fancy words like ‘balle balle’ and ‘shava shava’ have been hijacked by musicians across the country while the real essence of the language continues to live in oblivion,” he stated in a choking voice.

He also termed piracy as one of the major reasons behind Punjabi music taking a backseat. “Despite being flooded with offers, I am not interested in singing for the Hindi film industry. I cannot let my mother tongue down by deserting it,” remarked Mann, who had spent his childhood at Vancouver in Canada.

Reflecting on his career, spanning 18 years, Mann recalled that his first album ‘Chithiye Ni Chithiye’ came out in 1992, but it was the hit album ‘Oye Hoye’ of 1999 that made him a name to reckon with. “All these years, I have striven hard to work towards the uplift of Punjabi and will continue to do so till my last breath,” said an emotional Mann.

He exhorted students to take an oath to love Punjabi and take it to greater heights around the globe. “I know that it is a hard fight, but I am optimistic that things will get better soon,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Mann was felicitated at the GGN Institute of Management and Technology on the occasion of Punjab Divas. He was given the Maa Boli Puraskar for his contribution to the Punjabi culture. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh,November 2
The PSB Rural Self Employment Training Institute, Ludhiana, has trained at least 35 girls from various villages of the Dehlon block to earn their livelihood by sewing and sticking clothes. The trainees were awarded diplomas on completion of the six-week training camp that ended at Pandher Kheri village.

Raghbir Singh, SGPC member, was the chief guest. Pardeep Aggarwal, assistant deputy commissioner (development), Ludhiana, presided over the function.

Jit Singh, director of the institute, said needy women, desirous of supporting their families financially, were given training in the fields of their choice. He claimed that unemployed young girls from poor families had shown keen interest in learning art of tailoring and draping during the camp.

Aggarwal said this would help the government solve unemployment problem besides eradicating social evils.

The courses, besides enabling beneficiaries launch self-employed projects, make them eligible for specialised jobs in various fields, claimed the authorities. — OC

Diwali was celebrated at Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, with pomp and show here on Tuesday. Tiny tots came dressed as Lord Ram, Bharat, Hanuman, Sita, Shatrughan, Lakshman, Urmila, etc. They presented a colourful programme based on dance, skits and songs. Teachers delivered short stories about Lord Ram. Cakes and sweets were distributed among children. Asha Sharma, principal, underlined the duties of students and exhorted them to follow in the footsteps of Lord Ram. Rajinder Krishan Sharma, president, Association of PSEB Affiliated Schools of Punjab, gave prizes to the tiny tots.

Students of Ram Lal Bhasin Public School, Phase I, Dugri, celebrated Diwali with fervour. Children decorated “diyas” and candles to mark the occasion. Children used mirrors, zari, vivid shades of yellow, blue, pink, gold and silver, fragrant dried flowers, glitters, beads, etc to embellish diyas and candles. School headmistress Tarannum Fatma greeted the students and appreciated their efforts.

Students of Ryan International School visited Neechi Mangali to spread the message of “Safe and environmentally-friendly Diwali” here on Tuesday. They expressed their views through simple and creative street plays, which were appreciated by the local residents. The students highlighted the concept of cracker-free Diwali and urged residents to contribute towards lowering global warming and spreading happiness. Activities and competitions were organised at the school to celebrate the festival. They displayed their creativity through rangoli making, candle and "diya" decoration, puja thali decoration, kandeel making, etc. They also participated in a debate and declamation contest. Principal Gurpreet K Sandhu extended her greetings to them.

Students of Atam Public Senior Secondary School were engaged in various activities to celebrate the festival. Classes were decorated as students lighted candles and “diyas”. They made rangolis and decorative cards. They also decorated notice boards as part of various competitions. — TNS

Ludhiana, November 2
The recent notification issued by the state government on acquiring around 150 acres of fertile land in Gill village, near here, has not gone down well with the Bharti Kisan Union, Punjab.

The farmer body fears the move will render thousands of farmers homeless.

BKU state president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said just for the construction of a missing road link, the state government was playing with the lives of farmers and their families.

There was no need for the construction of a link road, as work on four-laning of the Ferozepur Road to Doraha was already on. This road was already linked to main roads like Dugri, Pakhowal and Malerkotla roads.

“If at all they need to construct a link road from Gill village, they should take the water-course land, which is wide up to 100 feet. This will serve their purpose and also provide relief to farmers,” said Lakhowal.

BKU district president Avtar Singh Mehlon said there were many irregularities in the proposed map of the link road. While at certain points the road was wide up to 450 feet, at other points it was as narrow as 100 feet.

Phillaur, November 2
Criticising the announcement of the local administration to lay sewerage in Goraya by spending Rs 26 crore, former minister from Phillaur Assembly constituency Santokh Singh Chaudhary has claimed that the scheme was announced and launched by the previous Congress government and only Rs 11 crore was to be spent on it.

However, when the SAD-BJP government came into power, it dropped the scheme and deprived Goraya residents of the sewerage facility for four years.

With Assembly elections round the corner, the Badal government had announced the scheme to draw political mileage. With it, it had put an extra financial burden on the state exchequer by raising the project cost.

Santokh Singh alleged that several schemes announced by the previous Congress government were being dropped by the Badal government but the same were being revived to draw political mileage.

The former minister urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to issue a white paper on the development schemes introduced by the previous government and later dropped by the current government.

He said the law and order situation in the state had deteriorated due to the wrong and directionless policies of the SAD-BJP government.

Ludhiana, November 2
The stroke unit of the Christian Medical College (CMC) along with the World Stroke Organisation (WSO) has called for an urgent and immediate action in the global fight against stroke by launching the “One in Six” campaign to commemorate the World Stroke Day, which was observed on October 29.

The theme was identified to mirror today’s reality that one in six people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. Every six seconds, someone somewhere will die from a stroke. WSO members in 92 countries have united to put forth a simple life-saving message - Do not take chances. One in six people is at risk for stroke - it could be you. Learn the facts. Save a life today. Act Now!

Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian, who is spearheads this campaign in South-East Asia, has asked people to commit to six stroke challenges - Know your personal risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol; be physically active and exercise regularly; avoid obesity by keeping to a healthy diet; limit alcohol consumption; avoid cigarette smoke - if you smoke, seek help to stop now; and learn to recognise the warning signs of a stroke and how to take action.

As part of its initiative against stroke, the CMC stroke unit conducted various public awareness programs in the city.

Dr Pandian delivered a lecture on stroke symptoms and its recognition to class XI and XII students of Ryan International School. The meeting was chaired by school principal Gurpreet Kaur Sandhu.

In a bid to detect and manage early the life-threatening condition, the stroke team conducted a free risk-factor screening for people visiting Gurduwara Singh Sabha, Model Town extension.

Blood pressure and blood sugar was checked in 170 people and appropriate advice was given.

In the concluding programme, Dr Pandian gave a stroke awareness talk to a group of residents in BRS Nagar locality.

Ludhiana, November 2
While the Punjab Youth Congress launched a statewide “pad yatra” from Mohali yesterday, the district unit of the party started its series of “Nav inquilab pad yatra” here today.

The yatra will be held in each block of the city to expose the misdeeds of the SAD-BJP government in the state.

The yatra was flagged off at the block Congress Committee office on Jassian Road by party leaders, including former minister Malkiat Singh Dakha, former parliamentary secretary Surinder Dawar, president of DYC Dimple Rana.

The functionaries said the “yatra” was being undertaken to focus on the misrule by the SAD-BJP government, increasing lawlessness, police excesses and corruption both in government offices and corridors of power.

“At the same time, the party cadres will mobilise people against social evils and motivate them to indulge in welfare works like cleanliness, tree plantation and education.”

The yatra which passed through several localities in Haibowal was welcomed at 22-foot Road, Durgapuri, tempo stand, Haibowal main road, Jassian Chowk and Dreamland Society by party workers and area residents. — OC

Khanna November 2
An undertrial, Chander Shekhar, who escaped from police custody yesterday, was yet to be traced, said DP Singh, SSP, Khanna.

The SSP said police parties were raiding his hideouts and a case had been registered in this regard.

He said appropriate action for negligence would be taken against the cops who were escorting him.

Chander Shekhar was being taken to Khanna in a police vehicle with other undertrials, but he escaped through the back door of the vehicle.

A case under Sections 304-B and 34 of the IPC was pending against him in the police station at Samrala. 

Mandi Gobindgarh,November 2
Tarlochan Singh was adjudged the best athlete in the U-19 category during the annual athletics meet of SNAS Senior Secondary School.

The meet was held at the Outdoor Stadium (Dasehra ground). Management society chief Joginder Pal Singla was the chief guest. Principal Usha Sharma welcomed guests.

Results: Senior section: U-19 boys: Tarlochan Singh, Aslam; girls: Shaloo.

Junior section: U-14 boys: Nanjot Singh, Sukhwinder Singh; girls: Jaspreet Kaur.