Ludhiana, December 1
The operation and maintenance (O&M) branch of the municipal corporation (MC) set the ball rolling for collecting pending water supply and sewerage arrears by severing three water connections and recovering more thanRs1 lakh from defaulters.

In a major drive, under the leadership of executive engineer Kamlesh Bansal, a team comprising superintendent Sanjeev Uppal, subdivisional officer Rajinder Singh and RP Gupta initiated action against major defaulters in the Tajpur dairy complex.

The MC collected around Rs1.20 lakh. The staff dealt strictly with the defaulters who had not paid arrears for a long time and disconnected three water connections.

Ditch machines of the civic body were used to plug the points from where sludge of the area was entering the Buddha Nullah. The drive was not a smooth affair.

The civic body staff had to face pressure from all sides. Repeated telephone calls were made to them from political leaders of the ruling alliance and the opposition.

The MC staff remained adamant on take action against defaulters.

Unruly scenes were witnessed as residents tried to obstruct the drive, during which they had heated arguments with the MC staff. The MC staff continued the drive till late in the evening.

Ludhiana, December 1
Instead of easing the growing traffic chaos, the new traffic lights installed at six key intersections of the city have virtually turned into a nightmare for commuters.

The installation of traffic lights has not only annoyed commuters, but has left the traffic police and road safety experts red-faced.

Lambasting the municipal corporation’s step of installing traffic lights, Kamaljit Soi, vice-chairman of the Punjab Road Safety Council, said, “It is a bizarre decision of instal traffic lights at the intersections. Putting a traffic light is no solution to traffic chaos. Why did they did not take the advice of road safety experts before setting up traffic lights? It is sad that decisions are taken in air-conditioned offices and commuters are made to suffer in traffic snarls.”

The new traffic lights had been put up near the Session Judge’s residence at Mall road, PAU’s Gate No. 4, near ESI Hospital, Rajpura Chowk, and near Pahwa Hospital. The traffic lights near the Transport Nagar functioned for only two days.

Who’s Call?

Technically, it is the job of the MC to install and maintain traffic lights. The traffic police has to ensure that everyone obeys traffic rules. Due to mismanagement, the public has to suffer.

Ludhiana, December 1
Gullible residents of the city are falling in the trap of a Pakistani intelligence agent, who is currently sending scores of short messaging service (SMSes) to people, claiming that they have hit the jackpot.

A detailed scrutiny of the account shows a staggering figure, running into lakhs, as people are generously pooling money in the account.

The message states that residents have to deposit between ` 15,000 and ` 18,000 in order to get a cheque for ` 10 lakh.

The illegal funding would perhaps have gone on unnoticed had retired excise and taxation officer SC Vashisht not applied his intelligence.

He explained, “A few days ago, I received a SMS from a Pakistani mobile number (00923027093299), stating that I am an old subscriber of the mobile company and my name has been shortlisted for the grand prize of ` 10 lakh.

“Vinod Kumar, claiming to be an executive with the mobile company, stated that after depositing the amount, I would have to to rush to a nationalised bank. I would have to show the receipt there and bank officials would hand over the cash to me.”

Vashisht got suspicious and called up the helpline to check the authenticity of the claim. The company told him that it had not launched any such scheme and warned him not to fall into any such false claim trap.

The retired excise and taxation officer probed the issue further and got to know that the account was in the name of Anisa Khatun of Bhubaneswar in Orissa. He claimed that in the last two months, over 100 persons had submitted the cash.

Witnessing that more people had been falling into their trap, the cons have jacked up the price from Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 1
Can you imagine, cops are being given Rs 40 and Rs  180 cycle allowances per month for chasing criminals? Sounds strange, isn’t it? But, it is a fact. It’s just a meager amount in the age where criminals are using latest cars to give the police a slip.

The police department is paying Rs 40 to other ranks (ORs) and Rs 180 to non-gazetted officers as cycle allowances, respectively. This is not enough. The allowance was doubled just a few days ago. The amount is so less that majority of cops don’t even bother to enquire whether they are getting it or not.

Terming the allowance as a mockery of the police department, office- bearers of a few social organisations and NGOs have urged the government to review the system governing fixation of allowances and correlate it with average consumption of fuel for performing routine duties by the cops.

Perusal of the police department’s manual revealed that the cops below the rank of non-gazetted officer were entitled to get ` 90 as conveyance allowance before it was revised recently. Though it has been doubled, the cops are yet to enjoy the benefits.

While it is almost impractical for a cop of any rank to perform his duties on the bicycle daily, other rank officials will continue to get the allowance.

About 20 bicycles, which were presented by a business organisation to the Circle Police at Malerkotla a few years ago, ware being rarely used for patrolling.

Expansion of area of operation for constables and havildars has also made the use of bicycle unrealistic. What to talk of chasing criminals riding on motorcycle and four-wheelers, a paddling cop can’t even think of doing routine patrolling.

Regrettably the successive governments have failed to realise the necessity of correlating conveyance allowance with the consumption and fluctuating prices of the patrol and diesel.

On an average the monthly allowance being paid to non-gazetted officers is utilised by them within a day.

Majority of cops feel humiliated by fixation of such a low conveyance allowance, but none wanted to be quoted for demanding rationalisation of the facility.

Admitting that in certain cases complainants were even asked to arrange vehicles for raiding hideouts of suspects, the cops argued that the tendency could have been checked had the conveyance allowance been genuine.

Cops demanded that the allowance should be correlated with prices of fuel depending upon the nature of job.

Ludhiana, December 1
A sexagenarian couple was injured after a roof collapsed in the Islam Gunj area here today.

The incident took place here this afternoon when Kesar Lal (65) and Munni Devi (66) were at home. The roof of their room suddenly gave in.

The loud noise created panic in the area as residents took it to be an explosion and ran for cover.

They realised that it was not an explosion after they saw dust emitting from the house of Kesar Lal.

They launched a rescue operation and pulled out the couple who were buried under the rubble.

They were rushed to the Civil Hospital in an unconscious state.

Besides sustaining severe head injuries, the couple also sustained wounds on other parts of their bodies. Their condition is stated to be serious.

The residents said they had expressed apprehension over the poor condition of the house, but the couple’s son had paid no heed to them, resulting in the incident.

He was not present in the house at the time of the collapse.

Ludhiana, December 1
With the country still having no laws protecting the rights of HIV/AIDS patients, children afflicted with the disease are the worst affected as is evident from the discrimination they encounter every day.

However, what is alarming is that HIV positive children die young due to lack of proper treatment. A class 6 girl from Issru village who tested positive for HIV died recently as she could not get her timely dose of medicine after her death of her mother who was also afflicted with HIV/AIDS.

The Punjab State Aids Control Society (PSACS) claims to have made best arrangements for HIV/AIDS patients but shortage of medicines is a problem that hinders the ant-AIDS campaign. As Prem Chand, father of an HIV positive boy, said: “I’ve to get his medicine from PGI, Chandigarh as it’s not available at the ART centre in Ludhiana.”

However, Dr NM Sharma, PSACS additional project director based in Chandigarh, said the society was doing its best to help HIV/AIDS patients in the way of treatment and counselling.

Each day is a battle for dozens of HIV positive kids in Ludhiana district, who had acquired the disease in their mother’s womb or due to the use of infected needles during blood transfusion. However, thanks to the role played by NGOs working for the cause of HIV/AIDS patients, most of these children are getting emotional support and financial help and are putting up a brave front.

Citing the example of three siblings residing in the city’s Sarpanch colony, Jagjit Singh Mann, the founder-chairman of the Punjab Networking of Positive People’s Society (PNPPS), said: “Their parents died after fighting HIV/AIDS for a long time and now one of the three kids has tested HIV positive. The couple had taken a bank loan to build a house but after their death the children are unable to repay the loan installments and the bank has approached the courts to take possession of their house”.

Quacks exacerbating problem

District president of the Indian Medical Association Dr Narottam Dewan said reused needles and syringes used by quacks in villages were a major source of HIV infection. City-based doctors have come across numerous cases wherein children going to unqualified doctors were tested HIV positive later on. 

Ludhiana, December 1
Department of health and family welfare, Indian Medical Association, and various NGOs observed the World AIDS Day by organising seminars and awareness campaigns to educate people on HIV/AIDS.

The health department organised a seminar at ITI Gill road, wherein Dr Jasbir Singh, blood transfusion officer at Civil Hospital, and Dr Geetika, AIDS officer, spoke on varied issues concerning the disease.

Documentary film “Savdhan” was also shown to the students.

IMA, Ludhiana, observed World AIDS Day with a theme on “Universal Access and Human Rights”, and pledged to work towards universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care, as fundamental human rights.

A function was also organised for industrial workers at the ESI dispensary, Industrial Area, Focal Point.

Dr Sarita Kaushal, deputy director-cum-medical superintendent, ESI, Ludhiana, was the chief guest.

NSS wing of R&D Technical Institute, Focal Point, and NGO Sarav Kalyan Mission also participated. Along with industrial workers about 300 persons attended the function.

Dr Narotam Dewan, president, IMA, Ludhiana, spoke on prevention of HIV infection and AIDS.

Dr Hardeep Singh, secretary at IMA, Ludhiana, said million of people continue to get HIV infected every year. In low-and middle-income countries, less than half of those in need of anti-retroviral therapy are at the receiving end, and a lot of them have no access to adequate care services.

Rising Youth Association also organised a programme to create awareness on World AIDS Day today.

Gurinder Chahal, president of the NGO, said they, too, had taken pledge to spread HIV/AIDS awareness among youngsters.

Khanna, December 1
A few residents of ward Nos. 4 and 5 staged protest and raised slogans against Nagar Council officials and administration for making false promises and for their failure to get the roads repaired at the earliest. People, who were protesting under the banner of the Khanna Samaj Sewa Club, also burnt effigies of the officials concerned.

They reached the Nagar Council’s office and raised slogans against officials concerned for about an hour. Karmjit Singh, president, and Sachin Angrish, general secretary of the club, respectively, alleged that due to the Nagar Council’s negligence residents of Nandi Colony and the Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar are facing hardships. They alleged that there is no outlet to drain the muddy water and the dengue is again spreading in areas falling in these wards. Several cases of dengue were reported from these areas, but the Nagar Council remains unmoved. A resident of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar is struggling for life at the PGI due to the dengue, they added.

Iqbal Singh, president, Nagar Council, said Rs 14 lakh had been earmarked for repairing this road. A police team was rushed to the spot to prevent the situation from worsening after the protestors and Nagar Council officials entered into heated arguments. SDM Khanna Inderjeet Kaur Kang she said she would look into the matter. 

Ludhiana, December 1
Finding solutions to problems faced by the city and that too without spending even a single penny seems to be the Municipal Corporation’s new mantra. To prove this point, municipal engineers had a brainstorming session with representatives of a private company. for finding solution to the problems faced by the city on the public-private partnership mode.

Mrunal Jhaveri and Yogendra Naik, representatives of Dara Shaw and Company, which had successfully implemented the public-private partnership mode in numerous cities gave a presentation on decongesting the city and the multi-modal transport system.

Top brass of the municipal corporation’s engineering branch tried hard to find viable solutions for the major problems. Right from traffic congestion to parking problem, municipal officials enquired about every problem from this company hoping that they would suggest some method by which they could solve the problem.

After it, the municipal staff talked about the haphazard truck parking in Transport Nagar and sought solution from the company. Similarly, the officers raised the issue of poles in the mid of road that creates traffic congestion and enquired about the method of uprooting so as to earn money. They also asked about the method by which the work undertaken by the cable companies to lay down underground wires could be checked so that it could become a source of income for the civic body. In the end municipal officials asked companies to find some solution for the traffic congestion in important commercial places by constructing the parking lots on the public-private partnership mode.

Ludhiana, December 1
Kissan Swaraj Yatra, a nation-wide mobilisation drive to draw people’s attention towards “continuing agricultural crisis in India,” will reach the city on December 3. A public meeting will be organised in front of the PAU. It will be addressed by eminent personalities like Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, Dr Inderjit Kaur of Pingalwara, Singar Manmohan Waris, Prof Jagmohan Singh and journalist Satnam Singh Manak. Representative of various farmers’ union, environmental and consumer right groups, human right organisations and literary figures are reaching the city to participate in the yatra.

It will cover Ludhiana, Dhudhike, Bhotna, Jaitu, Bathinda and Badal in its Punjab leg. This bus-yatra began at Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram on October 2. It will pass through 20 states before reaching Rajghat, New Delhi, on December 11. This yatra has been organised by all-India network of more than 400 organisations-Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture.

Terming the Kissan Swaraj Yatra as a caravan for the third war of Independence, Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Mission, said: “It is the time to reassert our Independence and at same time we have to protect our sovereignty. Imperialism is coming in new avtar. Now several East India Companies are descending to do business and we must remember that earlier business by it pushed us to slavery. Today, we are at a stage where key policy makers in the country are dreaming about displacing millions of farmers from their agriculture and want to create business opportunities around everything for big multi-national corporations.” 

Ludhiana, December 1
The department of veterinary and animal husbandry extension education, GADVASU, organised a seminar for members of the progressive piggery farmers’ association here yesterday.

Dr KS Sandhu, director, extension education, was the chief guest. He said pig farming in the coming times would catch up in a big way.

Alferd Wahl, general manager of Polar Genetics, Canada, and a pig expert, delivered a lecture on artificial insemination in swine.

He said by adopting artificial insemination, there could be maximum utilisation of excellent germplasm as well as fast multiplication of the same and additionally the spread of various diseases like swine fever can be checked.

Penny Jones, logistics manager, Polar Genetics, provided information on transportation biosecurity and swine health.

He stressed on the importance of cleaning and disinfecting trucks and trailers used for the transportation of animals. Polar Genetics supplies live animals as well as semen to various countries.

Samrala, December 1
The forest department removed illegal encroachments near the banks of Sirhind Canal around the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road at Neelon with the help of the police and other teams under Duty Magistrate Surinder Singh today.

The teams reached the spot in the morning with about 150 employees of the department and a strong police contingent and an anti-encroachment team of Nagar Nigam, Ludhiana, besides medical teams.

After warning 19 illegal occupants spread in about half hectare area, the team started the demolition drive with JCBs. The occupants did not resist the drive and all dhabas and kiosks were removed.

According to officials, they had undertaken the drive on the directions of the High Court and the violators had been given prior notice.

The dhabas were creating hurdles for commuters as vehicles would be parked wrongly. Before the demolition, the power supply was disconnected and the teams took about four hours to clear all the encroachments.

Ludhiana, December 1
Causing inconvenience to residents, billing centres and offices of the BSNL remained closed today.

Members of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Employees Union (BSNLEU) went on strike against the management of the public sector undertaking for making unwarranted payment of Rs 18,500 crore to the government towards 3G and BWA spectrum charges.

The protest would continue for two more days. The employees held a demonstration in different offices of the BSNL here.

Addressing the agitators, district BSNLEU secretary Balwinder Singh said the BSNL management had no reason to pay such a huge amount to the government as it had not participated in the 3G spectrum auction.

Focusing on other demands, he said another major issue causing resentment among employees was the non-absorption of ITS officers even 10 years after the formation of the BSNL, despite several assurances by the Union Communications Minister.

Other demands raised included the merger of 78.2 per cent interim DA for wage revision from January 2007, speedy procurement of mobile equipment and a strict no to disinvestment, unbundling and VRS.

Ludhiana, December 1
A delegation of the sanitary workers’ sangarsh committee met Municipal Commissioner AK Sinha in the wake of the Municipal Corporation’s core committee’s decision to recruit sanitary workers on DC rates and sought regularisation of their services.

Lovely Pal Dishawar, one of the committee leader’s, said a delegation led by Hansraj Gagat, Khelar Chand Gupta, Gurjeet Singh Jagpal, Gurmeet Singh Sidhu and others met the Municipal Commissioner to pressurise him to accept their demands. He said the delegation expressed their anguish over the core committee’s decision while ignoring the interests of the employees.

They emphasised that rather then recruiting the sanitary workers on DC rates or in phase-wise regularisation, the Municipal Corporation must ensure that the workers were recruited in a single phase. 

Ludhiana, December 1
The city’s youngsters are making the most of their precious "single" days before they tie the knot. Yes, bachelor/bachelorette parties are the biggest celebratory events these days, next only to the actual wedding parties. In many cases the bride-to-be and her prince charming “go dutch” to have a combo youngsters’ bash.

Chic ambience, loud music, drinks on the rocks and sumptuous mouth-watering food add to the fun and excitement. Be it one of the city’s five-star hotels, dad's farmhouse or a picturesque outdoor location - the soon-to-be-wedded guys and gals are keeping it big and fat.

"A lavish ‘stag’ or ‘doe’ party is the time youngsters can let their hair down and have crazy fun along with their closest pals before (reluctantly) relinquishing their single status and getting hitched. I’ve attended many of such bashes thrown by my friends’ and now it’s my turn to throw one," said Harpreet Sandhu, who is set to tie the nuptial knot on December 10 - but not before celebrating the end of his singledom on December 6.

For businessman Jaskiran Singh, a stag party is a way to soothe the butterflies in the stomach that get bigger with the D-Day approaching fast. Says the strapping young man: "I’m really nervous and guess a stag bash will help me feel a lot better. Having friends and cousins around will definitely give my morale the much-needed boost and drinks can make anyone feel brave (winks)."

Like Jaskiran, Simran Kaur Garcha too is nervous as her wedding day approaches. However, her reasons for throwing a doe party for her friends are different.

"It’ll be my one last chance to have the time of my life before I become the ideal ‘bahu’ (daughter-in-law). My entire gang of girls will head towards Kasauli for my bachelorette bash on December 8. We’re going to have really blast in the hills," says the young entrepreneur.

For Priyanka and her childhood love Ashish, having a pre-wedding party is all about making their friends feel an important part of the biggest day of their lives.

"We want all our friends to know how important they are for us and how much we love them. And, for us the pre-wedding bash is the way. Treating them to some great music with food and drinks unlimited, away from the prying eyes of endless relatives is our way to make our friends special," says the duo that has planned their youngsters’ day out at a disco in Chandigarh over the coming weekend.

Priyanka and Ashish have been dating for a long time and know each others’ friends well. So they are inviting around 100 pals to the "no-seniors-allowed" party.

Another city youngster, Bhawan, feels, "At ‘sangeet’ (traditional music session) youngsters, especially the bride’s or the groom’s friends, are hesitant about dancing in front of elders, but at such a party you can be yourself. Ours will be a combo youngsters’ party wherein my fiancé and I’ll have my friends over for a dance party."

It appears the city surely is in a party mood. So all you betrothed ones out there - take out your dancing shoes and rock the dance floor with your beloved friends before you say ‘I do’!

Ludhiana, December 1
A two-day workshop on "Clinical applications of laparoscopy and endoscopy in small animals practice" was organised by department of veterinary surgery and radiology, GADVASU, in collaboration with Karl Storz Company.

Dr VM Chariar, director, Academy for Veterinary Endoscopy, Karl Storz, Mumbai, imparted training to the faculty members of the departments of veterinary surgery and radiology and animal reproduction, gynaecology and obstetrics.

Diagnostic and surgical aspects of laparoscopy and gastroscopy were demonstrated.

A case of Golden Retriever bitch suffering from remnant ovaries and stump pyometra was also successfully operated by laparoscopic surgery during the workshop.

Dr Narinder Singh Saini, professor-cum-head, department of veterinary surgery and radiology said GADVASU had procured laparoscopic surgery instruments and established laparoscopic surgery unit for dogs and cats, which was operational since two years.

Laparoscopy was a minimal invasive technique and can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

It had many implications like ovarectomy (ovaries removal), spay (ovaries and uterus removal) surgery, gall bladder removal, foreign bodies removal lodged in esophagus and stomach. Above all, laparoscopy was helpful in diagnosing tumours, cysts, abscess of various abdominal organs like liver, kidney, splenic, intestine, urinary bladder etc.

Dr Simrat Sagar Singh, dean, College of Veterinary Science, GADVASU, said laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery was a new technique in veterinary practice.

Hands-on training was a must to generate expertise and to improve surgical skills of veterinary surgeons. 

Ludhiana, December 1
“I don't feel there is any need for dress code in colleges. We are all grown-ups and not school kids anymore that we should come in uniforms,” said Anjana Gupta, an Arts student at Khalsa College for Women when asked about dress code for college students.

Majority of college students, especially girls don’t like the idea of dress code. Students term it to be an “arbitrary” attitude and feel that by wearing uniform for a day things won’t change either for management or for students. But orders are obeyed mostly by students to avoid punishments and penalties, say students.

Most colleges in the city, especially women colleges expect students to wear white coloured salwaar suits for one day in a week.

"White is simply a dull colour and we want to look bright. I can’t carry salwaar suits well, so on dress code day, I get confused,” said Kiran, a student of Ramgarhia Girls College.

Barring a few like Satwinder Kaur, who believes that adhering to dress code just for a day was definitely not too demanding by managements, most students "hate" to wear white salwaar suits.

Satwinder, however, says: “If there is a compulsion then why object? Five days should be more than enough to showcase new clothes or dresses.”

The dress code is imposed in almost all women colleges in the city, including Khalsa College for Women on Wednesday, Malwa College of Education for Women on Monday, Government College for Women on Monday, Guru Nanak Girls College on Monday, Ramgarhia Girls College on Wednesday etc.

Mild punishments or minimal fine is imposed on defaulters. Dr Charanjit Kaur Mahal, principal Guru Nanak Girls College, said: “White salwaar suit was imposed on students so that they learn to maintain discipline. We don’t give any harsh punishment, but we impose penalties so that they follow the rules properly.”

Dr Ravinder Kaur, principal, Malwa College of Education for Women, said students were asked to wear white salwaar suits on Mondays only. "We hold our assembly on Monday. Five students speak on different topics teaching moral values. A sense of discipline, integrity and dedication is developed. Students must support us. Teachers, too, make it a point to wear white salwaar suit or saree that day.”

Ludhiana, December 1
It is literally turning sand into gold. That several groups of influential and politically-connected persons are running a racket of illegal sand mining along the banks of the Sutlej at several places in the district came to the fore today when three trailers loaded with sand on the periphery of the city, failed to produce any permit for sand mining. Documents required under the Motor Vehicles Act were also missing.

Illegal sand mining, which causes loss of crores to the exchequer, in addition to having adverse impact on the interests of licensees of land mining, came to light when SDM (West) Prem Chand inspected the Ladhowal-Khaira Bet area along the Sutlej this morning in the wake of complaints.

Prem Chand said labourers along the loaded trailers near the Ladhowal seed farm did not have any permit or authorisation from license holders and said they were reportedly working for a political leader.

The vehicles and the labourers were handed over to the police for further action. The SHO of the Ladhowal police station said the vehicles had been impounded and would be released only after the settlement of challan at the district transport office and payment of penalty.

Vishwa Bandhu, general manager, District Industries Centre, who is also the District Mining Officer, said a team of officials had been sent to look into illegal mining. “It will be too early to say anything until we have more information,” he said.

According to sources, sand mining involves big money and the cartels comprise either political functionaries of major parties themselves or those enjoying political patronage. As many as 31 locations for sand mining in Ludhiana were auctioned for Rs 3.3 crore in August.

Ludhiana, December 1
Local lawyers felicitated Mr India Sandeep Kumar, who had secured fourth position in the World Bodybuilding Championship, held recently at Los Angeles in the US, at the district courts complex here today.

The lawyers also honoured Padmashri recipient and Arjuna awardee Prem Chand Dogra, who had earned fame in the field of bodybuilding.

The function was organised by the Lawyers Brigade, headed by Sanjeev Malhotra.

He said the association would launch a campaign against drug menance and corruption.

Ludhiana, December 1
Sunny Pandey hammered 79 runs off 43 balls and fashioned Kundan Vidya Mandir’s 63-runs victory over BCM Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh road branch, in the Ludhiana Sahodaya Schools Complex Cricket Tournament, Central Zone (U-19) that began at MGM Public School, Dugri, here today.

Batting first, KVM made 161runs for the loss of just two wickets in the stipulated 15 overs.

Sunny top scored with 79 runs, which included 13 hits over the ropes while Abhinav Bhatia chipped in with 33 runs. Himanshu Garg and Abhishek Talwar contributed 15 and 11 runs, respectively.

For BCM School, Abhishek grabbed one wicket for 38 runs, while Ankit took one for three.

In reply, BCM Senior Secondary School were all out for 98 runs in 14 overs. Neeraj contributed 27 runs, followed by Varun (13), Uday (7) and Abhishek (6).

For Kundan Vidya Mandir, Abhinav was the most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 15 runs. Kunal Partap captured two wickets for 10 runs, while Mrinal Partap and Nimit Malhan secured one wicket each conceding 7 and 5 runs, respectively.

Ludhiana, December 1
The Ludhiana District Table Tennis Association (LDTTA) will organise the District Table Tennis Championship-2010 here at the Punjab Agricultural University campus hall on December 11 and 12, according to the secretary of the association, Fang Jenn Chiu.

During this two-day meet, competition will be held in the cadet boys and girls (u-12) -- born on or after January 1, 1999, sub-junior boys and girls (u-14) -- born on or after January 1, 1997, junior boys and girls (u-17) -- born on or after January 1, 1994, youth boys and girls (u-20) -- born on or after January 1, 1991, senior men and women besides veterans’ singles.

Interested players may confirm their participation with secretary, LDTTA at 7-8, Bhadaur House, cell no 9876191001, or senior table tennis coach, Jaspal Singh, PAU, Ludhiana, cell no 9888576655.

Matches will be played on knockout basis in the cadet, sub-junior and youth sections while matches in the junior, women and men category will be conducted on the league basis. Participants have been advised to bring their age proof certificates.

On the basis of their performance in this tournament, paddlers will be selected to represent Ludhiana in the Punjab State Inter-District and Open Table Tennis Championship slated to begin on December 15 at Jalandhar, added Chiu.