Sekhewal, November 15
Nearly 1,500 residents of Sekhewal, Kalewal and Haider Nagar villages were displaced after being evacuated for an exercise to detonate 200 quintal of explosives in the Mattewara forest, 2 km away, even as the administration failed to make any arrangements to make their stay comfortable.

Women and children spend the day under temporary shelters on the bed of the Sutlej; and (right) a mother of two kids ponders over her fate after the administration got the village near Ludhiana vacated for detonating 200 kg bombs on Monday. Tribune photos: Himanshu Mahajan

“Iron dealers and industrialists who ‘import’ these bombs are sitting at home, while we have to suffer,” said Nand Singh.

Giving school a miss
No arrangement in place to ferry kids
Mohit Khanna/ TNS

Tough going for the elderly, disabled
Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service

Sekhewal, November 15
The exercise of detonating explosives has created misery for the elderly and added to the inconvenience of the physically challenged residents of Sekhewal village.This morning octogenerian Dalip Kaur, septuagenerian Kartar Singh and 23 year-old and Sulakhan Singh, a physically challenged youth, were transported on cots and taken to the banks of the Sutlej in the wee hours.

This routine would have to be followed for the next 75 days. Kartar Singh (75) complained that he was suffering fever for the last one week. “Not only was I displaced from my own house, but I had to be taken to the banks of the Sutlej in the wee hours. As I could not walk, my children made me sit on the bed and supported it from four sides,” said Kartar Singh.

Similar was the tale of other Sulakhan Singh, and Dalip Kaur, who were also taken in the similar manner.

“Today, I realised the meaning of being handicapped . As cops were pushing me to vacate the house, I had not option, but to scrawl. In the meantime my neighbour came and took me on a motorcycle,” said Sulakhan Singh. 

Ludhiana, November 15
Councillors of the ruling SAD-BJP alliance once again flexed their muscles and got the anti-encroachment drive launched by the municipal authorities stalled.The building branch of the civic body started the drive from the old GT Road from Kapoor Hospital towards Buddha Nullah. The team led by municipal town planner Tarlok Singh and assistant town planner Kanwaljeet Kaur got minor encroachments removed from the area. As soon as they headed for removing the permanent encroachments in the Chauvani Mohalla, residents led by councillor Satish Naagar vehemently opposed the drive.

Naagar immediately called Gurdeep Singh Neetu, the BJP councillor, at the venue to oppose the drive and for getting reprieve for the encroachers. Subsequently, both Neetu and Naagar asked the municipal officers to give some more time to the residents. This led to heated arguments between them. However, bowing to the pressure exerted by the leaders of the ruling alliance, the municipal officials finally agreed to give 10 days time to the residents for removing the encroachments.

After that the municipal staff started the drive from the other side of the road. They removed a large number of temporary encroachments from this area. However, leader of municipal sanitary workers and member of working committee of the SAD Vijay Danav then opposed the drive. He entered into heated arguments with the municipal employees, who were adamant for conducting the drive. Danav was insisting on getting more time for the poor as given on other side of the road. But the municipal officials expressed their inability to do so.

Meanwhile, the municipal staff lodged a complaint with Joint Commissioner VK Sharda, who was also present on the spot. Supporters of Danav threw bricks on the ditch machines of the civic body. Sharda, when contacted, said they had not seen any brick. Later on, the civic officials suspended their drive after heated arguments with the Akali leaders.

Ludhiana, November 15
Working simply to appease political bosses seems to be the sole criteria of the municipal corporation (MC). Foundation stones of various projects to be executed by the civic body were laid by the Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, a few months ago, even though the MC had not bothered to take the mandatory sanctions required for executing the projects, due to which these were delayed.

Sukhbir Badal had laid the stones of ambitious projects, including the covering of the nullah flowing from Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran, construction of two entry points on the Chandigarh and Ferozepur road, subways at Agar Nagar and mini secretariat, and eight-laning of the Ferozepur road. However, most projects have failed to start as the MC and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) had not sought the mandatory sanctions from the departments concerned for the projects.

Highly placed sources in the civic body revealed that for the covering of the nullah, the MC had not got the required technical sanction from the office of the engineer-in-chief of the local bodies. A survey regarding solving the traffic problem during the construction of underpasses at Agar Nagar and the district administrative complex was also conducted late.

Even the work on the eight-laning of the Ferozepur road has been delayed as the consent of the forest department has not been taken by GLADA for axing trees along the road.

MC Joint Commissioner Malwinder Singh Jaggi, said certain documents and sanctions had to be taken before starting work.

Ludhiana, November 15
The city police on Monday booked an NRI for abettment to suicide after a 21-year-old girl killed herself by by consuming a poisonous substance in the wee hours of Sunday.

The accused, identified as Tejinder Kumar alias Billu, a resident of street number 1 in Aman Nagar area of Salem Tabri and now residing in Kuwait, had refused to marry the deceased girl named Sonu, with whom he had allegedly been having an affair for a long time.

In her complaint to the Salem Tabri police, Sonu’s mother Babbu, a resident of street number 2 in Aman Nagar, alleged that Billu was having an affair with Sonu for a long time.

“He had promised to marry Sonu also. On November 4, he reached India and stayed at our house. When Sonu asked him to marry her, he refused blatantly, after which my daughter went into depression. Billu left our house and when Sonu called at his mobile phone, it was switched off,” Babbu stated in her complaint to the police.

When contacted Rawel Singh, Additional SHO of Salem Tabri Police Station, informed that around 1 am on Sunday, Sonu asked for water from her mother.

“When her mother tried to wake her up in the morning, she was lying motionless in her bed and had passed away. Babbu told us that Sonu might have died of drugs overdose, which she was consuming due to depression. After receiving a complaint, we have booked Tejinder Kumar alias Billu in a case registered under section 306 of IPC,” Rawel Singh stated.

Police officials at Salem Tabri Police Station informed that after the registration of the case, the accused would soon be arrested. soon.

Ludhiana, November 15
The local bicycle spare parts industry has been hit so hard due to the import of spares from China that it has forced over 250 units to shut down.

Such is the impact of the “dragon” on the local cycle industry that even the cycle market at the Gill Chowk has been unofficially re-christened “Mini China Market”.

The overall export of cycle spares has fallen to Rs 500 crore from earlier Rs 950 crore. On the other hand, there has been a tenfold increase in imports to Rs 1,000 crores from just Rs 100 crore in the past two years alone.

The city currently receives at least 100 containers of Chinese cycle spares every month at its Dhandari dry port, which has become a major cause for worry for the local small-scale cycle spares manufacturers.

Cycle spares like hub cones, spoke, chain, baskets, chain wheel and cranks, steel balls, plastic handle lever, saddle parts, pedals, pumps, pedal axle, caliper brake parts, etc. are imported from China.

Local manufacturers have stopped the production process in their units and are in turn importing bicycle parts from China.

“We are left with no other option but to import products from China. We have been engaged in air pump production since 1957. But now we have stopped making these here and are importing these from China. We have to shut down our businesses and start importing to sustain ourselves in the market,” said Charanjit Singh Vishvikarma, managing director, Vishvikarma Industries Private Limited.

Over 10 big industrial houses like Hero Group, Eastman, Safari Cycles and Sadem Cycles have even opened up their offices in China to source cheap bicycle components for export to markets in developing countries.

Gurwant Singh, a small-scale manufacturer of bicycle chains, says: “China is selling cycle chains at lower rates. One chain costs Rs 82 in my factory and I sell it for Rs 89. In contrast, Chinese chains cost just Rs 66. Keeping in view the price factor, all cycle parts are now imported from China.”

Joginder Kumar, president of the Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of India, says the Chinese impact has caused massive un-employment and huge financial losses.

“The government should save the domestic industry from complete closure by imposing anti-dumping duty,” he adds. 

Ludhiana, November 15
Students of MA II (English) have been forced to suffer due to “factionalism” simmering on the premises of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College. They have not been attending an optional (Linguistics) classes for the past two months and have even asked management to introduce yet another option (Shakespeare) in the middle of the year as they are being “instigated” by a few teachers for “vested interests”.

Perturbed over not attending the classes, the college principal even sent letters to the parents that their assessment would suffer if they failed to attend the classes. The letter was sent about 15 days ago. Despite this, no regular classes of MA II are being held in the college.

One of the student disclosed that one or two teachers had asked them not to attend the linguistics classes. “Actually, there are two factions of English teachers. Both are trying to show one-upmanship but we, the students have been forced to suffer for no fault of ours. Due to the groupism, four students, who had opted English (Honours) this year have failed in the subject. We don’t want to meet the same fate. Management should sort out the matter so that students’ studies are not affected”, rued the student.

A few students have asked the management to introduce another option - Shakespeare in the middle of the session. They have “boycotted” the linguistics class. The principal even asked students that college could hold extra-classes if they wanted lessons to be repeated but to no avail.

The ad hoc teachers are taking the classes of BA, BCA and B.Com while the three permanent English teachers have “confined” themselves to the postgraduate classes alone.

Principal RP Singh said the letters were issued to the parents for the benefit of students, as they were not taking studies seriously. He further said, “There is no politics or groupism in the college. Only thing is that we can’t introduce the option at this time. At the time of admissions, everything was made clear to students. We are ready to give them extra-lectures if they want”.

President of college management Prithipal Singh Kapur said students not teachers were divided over the option. Half of them wanted to study linguistics while others were not interested. “I don’t interfere in academic matters. These are day today issues, which are to be sorted-out by the college principal. As far as groupism is concerned, I don’t think that there are any factions in the college,” said Kapur. 

Ludhiana, November 15
Dr DS Cheema, head, and Dr Paramjit Singh Brar, senior vegetable breeder, both scientists from the Department of Vegetable Crops, PAU, had recently taken part in the two-day meeting on "Legume Vegetables in India - Present status and future strategies" organised at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore.

More than 30 legume vegetable scientists from all over the country took part in it. Dr ML Chadha, a former PAU vegetable specialist, who is presently Director, Regional Centre of AVRDC, Hyderabad, delivered his keynote paper. He deliberated on the current status of legume vegetables and highlighted the prevailing constraints and prospects in vegetable growing in general and legume vegetables in particular.

Dr Cheema presented the recent advances in legume vegetable research at the PAU. He said the pea varieties developed by the PAU, including, Punjab-87, Punjab-88, Punjab-89, Matar Ageta-6, Mithi Phalli,had been released at the national level. The particular variety Punjab-89 had given excellent results in the plain as well as in the hilly areas of the country. The PAU research findings on protected cultivation of French bean and cowpea were also highlighted.

Dr Brar discussed the future research strategies to enhance production of legumes particularly in view of the climate change and other biotic and abiotic stress conditions. In addition, presentations were also made on organic production of legume vegetables, under-utilised legumes and the use of molecular tools and techniques for studies on resistance legume vegetables to biotic and abiotic stresses. — TNS

Ludhiana, November 15
A workshop was held by members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to equip the corporate and other stakeholders with essential knowledge in Indian accounting standards converged with the international financial reporting standards (IFRSs).

The main aim of the workshop was to provide introduction of the concepts of IFRS, dissemination of knowledge on Indian accounting standards converged with IFRS, and comparison of IFRS with the converged Indian accounting standards.

MP Vijay Kumar from Chennai explained the introduction road map to the IFRS and gave an overview. He also gave a presentation on financial statements.

Bhupendra Mantri, a chartered accountant (CA) from Jaipur, explained the provisions of IAS 18 revenue and IAS 12 income taxes. He also explained the differences between existing the Indian accounting standards and the IFRS/ converged Indian accounting standards — TNS

Students display a science model during an exhibition at Spring Dales school in Ludhiana. A Tribune photograph

Ludhiana: Tiny tots of Class I and II of Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, enthralled the audience during the vocal and instrumental music competition organised here today. The function was presided over by principal Navita Puri and Annu Sehra, in charge, primary section. Sushma from city campus was the judge. Parth (Class I) and Celina (Class II) were adjudged best in instrumental music. The winners in the vocal music category were Chhavi Kabra, Tashmeen Kaur and Manya Bhardwaj from Class I. They stood first, second and third, respectively. Khushi Manchanda from Class I won the appreciation certificate. Among the participants from Class II, Kirti Dhawal Jain stood first, Ronit second, Karan stood third and Shreya Beri won appreciation certificate. While giving the prizes, Puri appreciated the efforts of all participants and encouraged them for future.

Children’s Day

Mehta Gurukul Public Senior Secondary School celebrated Children's Day with great pomp and show. A cultural programme was also organised for the pupils. Speeches in Punjabi, Hindi, English were given on the Children's Day, songs were sung, dance performances were held, jokes told and mimicry done. The children faces were glowing with happiness. They were attired in their best. Secretary of the school Dimple Mehta congratulated the students and distributed sweets to all. Earth house was adjudged the best on the basis of maximum participation and discipline.

Bal Bharti Public School also celebrated Children's Day with lots of excitement as was evident from the faces of children. They giggled and grinned when their teachers accorded a warm welcomed to them by wishing a very "Happy Children's Day". Later, they assembled in the hall where they were shown a PowerPoint presentation on the life and contribution of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Fancy dress

On account of Children's Day, Tagore International Senior Secondary School, Sahnewal, organised a fancy dress competition for tiny tots on the school premises. At least 200 children participated in this memorable affair. Children were dressed in colourful attires. Their parents also enjoyed the function. Winners were awarded with prizes by principal Swati Aneja. Rishab, Ravnoor, Sukhraj from Nursery class bagged first, second and third prizes, respectively. From LKG Rudransh Aneja, Daman and Rihan got the first, second and the third prize, respectively. Manreet, Suneha and Parneet also won the first, second and the third prizes. The principal motivated the students to participate actively in such activities.

World Science Day

DRV DAV Centenary Senior Secondary Public School, Phillaur, celebrated World Science Day for peace and development with fervour. A big map of India was decorated with white pigeons and balloons. Two-minute silence was observed to wish for peace in the world. Thoughts on peace were written on kites. Students also watered the plants on the occasion. —TNS

Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 15
Owners and managers of marriage palaces falling under the jurisdiction of Ludhiana and Sangrur districts seem to have learnt no lessons from disastrous consequences of carrying weapons and firing in the air to express their joy during celebrations.

What to talk of banning the entry of visitors and guests with firearms, the owners encourage their staff to keep lethal weapons while on duty.

Though the administration has directed the owners to put a warning notice against the illegal practice, the police turn out to be toothless in the absence of written complaints against violators and those due to whose negligence many human beings have got incapacitated.

Near-zero conviction rate of the suspects booked in such cases, due to the close relationship between victim and defendant clans was cited as main reason behind continuance of this nuisance that has claimed numerous lives during the past several years. Numerous others had also sustained injuries in these incidents.

A local Congress leader recently sustained serious injuries when a bullet fired from a revolver of one of the organisers of a marriage palace, situated near the Jagera Bridge, pierced his spinal chord.

The presence of the bullet inside victim’s body was noticed several hours after the incident when doctors at a multi-specialty hospital got his X-Ray done.

The Payal police showed inability to proceed against the owner of weapon and the palace till a formal complaint was filed in this regard.

“As the victim is not yet fit to submit statement and his relatives have refused to lodge a complaint we can not proceed in the matter,” said Ratan Singh Brar, DSP, Payal, adding that he had directed beat in charge of the area to investigate sequence of events leading to the injury to the victim.

A majority of victims and suspects were from prosperous families, dominantly landlords and agriculturalists. As on numerous occasions families have been related to each other, the police found it difficult to register cases.

And if at all case was registered, witnesses turned hostile during prosecution, thus bringing down the conviction rate dramatically.

With political and social leaders playing active role in facilitating a deal for the lives lost in such incidents, the complainants usually succumbed to their pressure. If monetary settlements did not work, then suspects to bully complainants and witnesses exploited network of relatives and friends.

There have been instances where policemen have reported to be among both victims and suspects.

A cop, who had sustained injuries in the leg during a celebration in Malwa, did not report the matter to the police, so as to avoid complications for himself and his friend whose folly could have cost him his life.

Residents, too, have urged the authorities to ban the entry of weapons on the premises where public functions are in progress.

Ludhiana, November 15
Monday turned out to be a date of the Municipal Corporation Commissioner with the problems of residents as a large number of delegations met him to apprise him of their problems. A large number of people from various sections of society met the Commissioner, AK Sinha, in his office. Residents of Nitish Vihar, Sant Enclave, Baba Deep Singh Nagar and Sood Enclave complained against the throwing of garbage by the MC on Dhandran road.

They claimed that without permission, the civic body was throwing garbage at the site, which was near Jain Temple and the cremation ground. The Commissioner assured them to look into the matter.

Delegations of the Local Bodies Pensioners Welfare Association also met him and submitted a memorandum demanding pension arrears. They said the state government had already ordered the payment of arrears, but it was still pending in Ludhiana. They asked the MC Commissioner to immediately release the payment like the other corporations had done.

Later, a delegation led by Sushil Kumar Raju Thapar, Congress councillor (Ward No. 29), also met the Commissioner to ask him to begin work on a hospital bridge. He said the foundation stone of the bridge was laid by Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura and chief parliamentary secretary Harish Rai Dhanda on October 24, but work was still to begin.

He said the bridge would prove useful for traffic moving towards the DMCH so it should be started at the earliest.

Doraha, November 15
On the sixth day of the refresher course on environmental studies being conducted at the Academic staff college of Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr RS Yadav, Department of Political Science, Kurukshetra University, spoke on the topic ‘Global Politics of Environment’.

The resource person said before 1960’s, the issue was to get Independence but in the late 60’s when all were able to get sovereignty, the focus changed. “As the economic, political and social disparities began to spring up, the demand for a new social, political and economic order came into being. In the beginning of 1970, the global politics of environment took over. The four major international conferences, including the UN Conference on Environment in 1972, Nairobi Conference in 1982, Reo Di Genaro Conference in 1992 and the Johannesburg Conference in 2002 basically covered the agenda formation stage, confronting of the main issues, the paradoxical development and the role reversal once again” he added.

He further added, “At Stockholm Conference, all communities looked globally and specified the areas such as human settlement, national resources, pollution, education and social environment, development, environment and international organisations. Special focus was laid on the aspect of sustainable development and boosting the idea of conservation. State accountability came into question at the very first stage but in the second stage more serious issues as depletion of environment was discussed threadbare. Proposals for 500 projects were put forward but the contributions from the participating counties being meager in these conferences, the issue of environment was more or less overlooked and allowed to aggravate at its own pace. Some serious issues as the emission of CFC, adverse effect of green house gases etc could not be dwelt upon seriously”.

Ludhiana, November 15
Cancer-affected kidney was removed using laparoscopy at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital recently.The team led by Dr Arvind Goyal, Assistant Professor, Urology. Other members of the team were Dr Atul Mishra, consultant surgeon, and Dr Gurmeet Singh; Dr Katyal and Dr Namrata, both anesthesiasts.

Dr Arvind Goyal, who has been a visiting fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA, added that laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has become the standard of care for kidney cancer surgery. Shorter hospital stays with less post-operative pain are possible for patients who undergo this procedure, and they return to normal activities in half the time as compared to the patients who undergo open surgery. Other advantages of retroperitoneal LRN include quicker access to the renal blood vessels, easier dissection in obese individuals and no intraperitoneal irritation followed by less interference with ventilatory and hemodynamic functions.

Dr Goyal said that studies around the world had reiterated the excellent long-term outcomes of LRN in the form of retrospective comparisons with patients undergoing open radical nephrectomy. 

Ludhiana, November 15
Show cause notices have been served on three senior officials of the local municipal corporation, including an executive engineer, SDO and junior engineer, for forging the documents for making payments.

Sources revealed that the case pertains to the construction of a road at Kanganwal at the cost of Rs 44 lakh. A bill worth Rs 36 lakh was to be paid to the contractor on which the senior officials had raised objections. However, the three officials forged the objection papers and submitted the same for the clearing of the bill. This was detected by seniors after which the show cause notices were served on three officials. 

Ludhiana, November 15
Winter is just not about sipping piping hot coffee at the neighbourhood café with your friends draped in stylish warm clothes and chic boots. It is that time of the year that brings along chapped lips, dry cheeks, red noses and rough hair. The sudden dip in temperature, biting winds and exposure to dry indoor heating can have an adverse effect on skin and hair.

However, if cared for properly before the winter winds can work havoc, your skin and hair can not only win you numerous compliments but also invoke envious stares.

Here are some pointers to help you sail through the winter months with a bounce in your hair and glow on your face.

Ludhiana, November 15
The Indian Institute of Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors today wore black badges as a mark of protest and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner with regards to those insurance companies, which get the surveys conducted by incapable firms and individuals.

Chairman AS Sodhi said there was no transparency in allotment of jobs to surveyor. “In select cities, companies are establishing claim hubs. “Present system of empanelling surveyors in the hubs is not justifiable,” he added.

“Now-a-days insurance companies prefer to sign MOU with vehicle manufacturers /dealers to get large sums of premium. For this, they are not only compromising on percentage of commission but on labour/painting also. This has diminished the surveyor’s negotiation power which otherwise helps in minimising the loss. Paying more commission on one side and much more at the time of claim has hit the fiscal health of insurance companies badly,” he added.

Ludhiana, November 15
The unusual hike in cotton prices and other yarns throughout North India is adversely affecting the knitwear industry. Industrialists fear a total collapse of knitted fabric and garment industry. Entrepreneurs are also in a dilemma, as spinning mills have hiked the converging cost extraordinarily and dominance of cotton yarn export has led to the downfall of domestic knitting and dyeing industries.

Vinod K Thapar, president, Knitwear Club, said: “Our cotton export policy seems to be more concerned about the welfare of our neighbouring countries and a few cotton exporters of our country.”

“Allowing export of the raw material without any supervision will leave the domestic industry with the shortage of the same. Our economy suffers badly at the cost of low garment export and it will not be out of place to mention here that knitwear/textile industry is the second largest segment after agriculture, despite the stiff competition we are facing at the international level, which comes under pressure following these liberties in cotton export policy. Almost every dyeing and knitting unit is going through the recessional phase due to the shortage of cotton yarn,” he said.

Nevertheless the problem, being perennial, needs immediate remedy. “The prices as well as the quantum of cotton arrivals need to be monitored and domestic requirement should be accessed to provide enough cotton to the local market as to safeguard the livelihood of crores of textile related labours with equal growth opportunities for every segment of knitwear/textile industry,” said Thapar.

Ludhiana, November 15
Food security in both developing and developed countries is likely to be affected by climate change. It has been projected that agricultural productivity will see a significant drop due to climate change. The loss is expected to hit developing countries hard as agriculture employs an extensive number of people.

These views were expressed by Dr Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, while addressing a technical session “Towards climate resilient development -- way forward” during a national policy dialogue on climate change on November 12 at Parliament House in New Delhi.

The session was chaired by Prof MS Swaminathan, MP. The event was organised by MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, United National Development Program, World Conservation Union, and Development Alternatives and Watershed Development Trust.

Dr Kang said climate change and weather forecasting were the key focus areas in the feed the future programme for global 
food security.

Climate change could have multiple effects on agriculture, health, purchasing power and market flows, he said. All developed and developing countries would be impacted. In developing countries such as India, climate change could adversely affect the already stressed ecological and socioeconomic systems because of rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and economic development, he observed.

The other speakers who took part in the dialogue include Prof KV Thomas, minister of state, food and public distribution and consumer affairs, Vijay Sharma, secretary, ministry of environment and forest, and RR Rashmi, joint secretary, ministry of environment and forest.

Khanna, November 15
No one saw the body of a convict, but they still attended the cremation of the man who is still alive and is on the run. High drama was enacted to conceal a person from getting life imprisonment and a claim of Rs 50 lakh. At least 40 men and women took part in the cremation.

The police has booked the ‘disappeared’ man and his family. A few of his relatives and villagers, who attended the cremation, are facing the living under fear, as most of them are likely to be booked.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court awarded Balvir Singh, a resident of village near Khanna, along with Major Singh, a resident of Payal, life imprisonment in a double murder case. Both of these persons had killed two others at Rangar Nangal village in Gurdaspur district in 1995. Balvir Singh was awarded life imprisonment by a session Court of Gurdaspur. Later, he was released on bail. He has filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, but the court upheld his life imprisonment in August and issued warrants. But both of them were absconding. Balvir Singh with his family cooked a story that he had died. Thus on 14 August, his family members declared him dead in a hospital outside Punjab. At about 10.30 pm they took the alleged body of the man to cremation ground and burnt it.

Next day the family members collected ashes and immersed it in a river without calling any one. After it they organised an akhand path in the memory of Balbir Singh on August 22 at a village gurdwara at this, people got suspicious. Soon, the rumor spread that the burnt body was not that of Balbir Singh.

A case under Sections 297, 201, 420, 511 and 120B of the IPC was registered against Balbir Singh, his wife Harbans Kaur and his two young sons Harjotvir Singh and Bajotvir Singh, his daughter and a few of his relatives.

The wife of Balbir Singh had sent a courier to the police in September that her husband was treated at Fortis Hospital in Gaziabad where he died. A police team was sent to Gaziabad. It failed to trace the hospital there. She even failed to present his death certificate.

The case came to light after former sarpanch Swarn Singh brought this matter to the notice of DP Singh, SSP, Khanna, who ordered an inquiry. After an inquiry, it was established that the entire story was concocted to save Balbir Singh from punishment. Balbir wanted to live under new identity at any undisclosed location. The police has arrested one of his son Baljotvir Singh, who divulged the entire story. Balbir Singh with the help of Major Singh had murdered Shingara Singh and Parmjit Singh at Ranger village in 1995. Both of them were his business partners.

Ludhiana, November 15
Athletes from Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur clinched two gold medals each on the second day of the Punjab State Rural Games for Girls U-16 being organised jointly by the Punjab Sports Department and the Sports Authority of India under the Central government’s scheme Panchayat Yuva Karida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) at Guru Nanak Stadium here today. Gurdaspur, too, lifted one gold medal to open their account.

In 400m race, Kiranjot Kaur of Jalandhar clocked 1:03.47 sec to romp home victorious. She was followed by Ravinder Kaur of Tarn Taran (1:05.74 sec) and Manpreet Kaur of Hoshiarpur (1:11.23 sec).

In the 4x100m relay, Jalandhar quartet bagged gold medal with timings of 53.19 second. Gurdaspur eves secured silver medal while Tarn Taran girls had to content with the bronze.

Similarly, Hoshiarpur girls won two gold medals to take their tally to three. Today, Jyoti Saini proved too fast (10:46.30sec) to lift gold medal in 3000m race. Another girl from Hoshiarpur with 11:35.55 sec finished as runners-up while Bathinda’s Veer Pal Kaur got bronze medal in 11:36.21 sec.

In shot put, Ramanpreet Kaur annexed a gold medal with a throw of 10.65m while Simran Dhillon of Fatehgarh Sahib with an attempt of 8.53m secured a silver medal and Sarabjit Kaur of Tarn Taran pocketed a bronze medal with 7.48m.

In long jump, Bhumika Thakur from Gurdaspur stamped her superiority. She cleared 5.34 for gold medal, followed by Baljider Kaur of Sangrur and Sukhwinder Kaur of Ferozepur who secured silver and bronze medal, respectively.

Other results: Badminton (pre-quarter finals) Sangrur beat Patiala 2-0; Moga beat Tarn Taran 2-0.

Volleyball- Sangrur beat Amritsar; Hoshiarpur beat Ropar; Nawan Shahr beat Kapurthala and Muktsar beat Tarn Taran.

Hockey (pre-quarter finals)- Ludhiana beat Mansa; Jalandhar beat Hoshiarpur; Gurdaspur beat Ropar; Tarn Taran beat Moga; Muktsar beat Ferozepur; Kapurthala beat Faridkot; Fatehgarh Sahib beat Bathinda and Ludhiana got walk over against Nawan Shahr.

Handball (pre-quarter finals)- Tarn Taran beat Muktsar; Patiala beat Faridkot; Ferozepur beat Hoshiarpur and Ropar beat Bathinda.

Wrestling (38kg)- Sharnjit Kaur of Fatehgarh Sahib beat Beant Kaur of Bathinda; Sukhpal Kaur of Moga beat Priyanka of Ferozepur.

40kg- Swarnjit Kaur of Fatehgrh Sahib beat Prabhjot Kaur of Tarn Taran; Gagandeep Kaur of Bathinda beat Chetna of Gurdaspur and Pardeep Kaur of Moga beat Navseen Kaur of Ferozepur.

43kg- Parveen Kaur of Tarn Taran beat Madhu of Mansa; Sharanjit Kaur of Fatehgarh Sahib beat Sukhdeep Kaur of Bathinda; Navdeep Kaur of Faridkot beat Kajal of Amritsar.

46kg- Manjot Kaur of Faridkot beat Neha Devi of Gurdaspur and Sonia of Fatehgarh Sahib beat Jyoti of Ferozepur.

Kabaddi (pre-quarter finals)- Bathinda beat Mohali; Jalandhar beat Sangrur; Faridkot beat Barnala; Hoshiarpur beat Mansa; Ludhiana beat Faridkot; Bathinda beat Fatehgarh Sahib; Amritsar beat Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur beat Jalandhar.

Table tennis (quarter final)- Amritsar beat Tarn Taran; Nawan Shahr got walk over against Muktsar and Ropar beat Ludhiana.

Basketball- Amritsar beat Muktsar; Gurdaspur beat Patiala; Sangrur beat Mohali and Gurdaspur beat Bathinda.

Ludhiana, November 15
The BSF, Jalandhar and Ludhiana district emerged winners in the men’s and women’s sections, respectively, in the first leg of the 20th Annual Basketball League organised by the Punjab Basketball Association at Gurdial Singh Malhi Memorial Stadium at Gure village, near here, today.

In the men’s section, BSF, Jalandhar, besides DMW, Patiala, and Rest of Punjab collected six points each and on the basis of margin of their victories and points, they conceded, BSF were declared champions. DMW, Patiala and Rest of Punjab secured second and third positions, respectively.

In the last fixture, Rest of Punjab prevailed over DMW, Patiala 56-53 in which Somveer accounted for 18 points for the losers while Talwinder Singh netted 24 points for Rest of Punjab.

In the women’s section, Patiala and Amritsar districts finished runners up and at third place, respectively. In their last league encounter, Ludhiana eves defeated Patiala 71-57. International, Kirajit Kaur contributed 18 points in Ludhiana win while Nimrata fought well for losers with 20 points.

Members of the Ludhiana women’s team were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival at Guru Nanak Stadium here today. Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary, Ludhiana District Basketball Association, and coaches of the squad appreciated their performance.