Ludhiana, December 7
Due to poor enforcement and failure to take regulatory steps by the municipal corporation, city residents continue to face frequent disruption caused by streets being blocked for religious, cultural, social and even personal functions with impunity.

Even as there are stringent laws against blocking public roads and intersections under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, with any violation treated as a cognizable offence, violations continue unabated in the absence of inaction on the part of civic officials.

Overzealous religious or social groups obstruct busy streets, even major highways in some cases, at the slightest pretext showing utter disregard to the inconvenience caused to area residents and commuters. The latter can just fume and fret and have no choice but to put up with the street blockades and take a detour or else turn back and take an alternate route to reach their destinations.

Motorists, those riding motorcycles and scooters and other commuters heading for Upkar Nagar or the streets near the Arya College and Kundan Vidya Mandir in the Civil Lines area today afternoon were forced to turn back or take a diversion from a narrow lane as the entire stretch of the road from Jandu Chowk to the Upkar Nagar turning was blocked by iron pipes and a huge tent being erected for a religious function to be held in the evening.

The MC officials concerned declined to say whether the organizers had taken any permission to block the road for the entire day or even if such permission could be granted at all. Area councillor Raju Thapar said he was also invited to the function but feigned ignorance on whether the road had been blocked with the MC’s permission.

"It’s a religious function for only about two hours and the boys have been working very hard for this," were his comments, which aptly sum up the apathy and indifference of the lawmakers and those responsible for enforcing civic regulations maintaining public order.

Ludhiana, December 7
The five lower rung cops who were booked by the Delhi police for helping the suspects accused of flouting the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act flee from the city’s central jail have yet again laid bare the rampant corruption in the police department. The incident has also highlighted the fact that lower rung cops pay scant regard to departmental action against them.

The cops - head constables Surinder Singh, Saroop Singh, Rashpal Singh and Paramjit Singh and constable Sunil Kumar, who have been reportedly suspended following their arrest, were already facing departmental action for dereliction of duty.

A silent admission by a senior police official has revealed how these cops are exploiting the situation. “The cops were sent to Police Lines as they weren’t performing their duty properly but, due to the staff shortage, they were reinstated. Their task was to take the undertrial for a court hearing”, he said.

"We had no inkling these cops would soon form a nexus and help undertrials flee from jail. The cops thought that they would be again suspended and soon let off, but this time they fell into a trap laid by the Delhi police," the senior police official added.

According to him the cops, who are also facing allegations of preparing fake summons, would end up losing their jobs.

Following the incident, the senior police officers have begun screening cops to ascertain whether they were involved in similar activities. However, the senior officials may have to eat humble pie as the lower rung cops know their hands are tied due to the staff crunch. "They know the police department is facing acute staff shortage and even after suspension they would be reinstated," said a top cop.

Nearly 200 undertrials from Gurdaspur and Nawanshahr alone are serving prison terms in the city’s central jail. The lower rung cops are routinely assigned to take them to the local courts for hearings.

Phillaur, December 7
In a major success, the police today succeeded to nab a dismissed police constable Surinder Paul of Barinderpur village, Kapurthala, who was allegedly involved in various criminal cases since 2005.

This was confirmed by Phillaur DSP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh during a press conference here today.

He said the police had registered a case under Sections 171, 420, 465, 467 and 471of the IPC against Surinder, who was arrested by the police yesterday.

The DSP said the accused, who was on a motorcycle having no number, stopped a scooterist Kanwaljit Singh of Ludhiana between Goraya and Phillaur and asked him to show the registration certificate and other documents of his scooter number PB-10DH-7051.

When Kanwaljit became panicky, the accused demanded bribe from him. The moment he pulled out his purse from his pocket, Surinder snatched his purse having Rs 700 and fled.

Kanwaljit informed the police and the accused was nabbed by the police party, the DSP added.

He said the police had recovered fake identity card and a knife from Surinder.

DSP Khakh said Surinder was recruited in police in 1992. Several cases of robbery and snatching were registered against him in Subhanpur, Dhilwan, Phagwara, Majitha and Nawanshahar, since 2002.

The DSP said Surinder was dismissed in 2005, but he never returned his uniform and identity card to the department and went on misusing these to commit crime.

Khakh said Surinder was produced before judicial magistrate Phillaur and was remanded in police custody for two-days for further interrogation.

Ludhiana, December 7
From getting a fake “quota” certificate made to falling in the trap of a “middleman”, unemployed young men in the region are doing almost everything to ensure their berth in the Indian army. The latest gambit is obtaining a Hindi “Prathima” examination certificate from a university located in Uttar Pradesh.

Nearly 70 per cent of candidates for the army from Punjab, whose spoken and written Hindi is regarded as very poor, are said to be securing excellent marks in this certificate.

The Prathima certificate, which is considered equivalent to the matriculation examination, is issued by the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag, Allahabad.

"I was shocked to see youths speaking chaste Punjabi holding up their Prathima certificates. I even asked a few of them to write a sentence in Hindi but they couldn’t. Can you imagine a 17-year-old living in a remote area of the state going all the way to Allahabad to study Hindi?," said Col Sharad Dhindaw, director of army recruitment.

However, this time around students who came with Prathima certificates were sent back home and were considered not eligible for recruitment.

According to the new guidelines issued by the defence ministry, candidates who have cleared Prathima after October 31 would not be considered for the test. The decision was taken following complaints that students who could not clear the matric exam from their respective education boards were getting hold of Prathima certificates to participate in the army recruitment drive.

"We’ve received instructions from the top and students who have cleared Prathima after October 31 would stand rejected for the written test," said Dhindaw. “Yesterday a youth produced a fake certificate claiming he belonged to a minority community to enlist in the army. But when the certificate was crosschecked it was found he had tampered with a few documents”, he added.

Meanwhile, young men from the city thronged the Guru Nanak Stadium during second day of the army recruitment trials held here today.

Senior army officers were visibly happy to see the huge turnout of an estimated 7,000 candidates, of which nearly 3,000 were said to have cleared the physical fitness test.

Ludhiana, December 7
If you had presumed having a weak stamina is the prime factor for being rejected as a recruit for the Indian army, well think again. According to Col Sharad Dhindaw, director of army recruitment, nearly 70 per cent of candidates fail the trial due to - of all reasons- earwax blockage.

"A physician conducting a candidate’s initial medical examination disqualify a candidate if the latter’s ears are blocked by wax as the doctor is unable to judge whether the aspirant is hearing impaired or normal. In such a situation the candidate is declared temporarily unfit (TUF), following which he has to visit the doctor and get the wax removed from his ears. Only after obtaining a certificate that he is medically fit can the candidate apply at the recruitment office for being considered for selection in the Indian army," said Dhindaw.

During the army recruitment trials last July there were nearly 16,000 applicants of which 1,064 were selected after clearing the medical test. Of the 450 candidates who did not clear the test due to various reasons, 430 failed due to earwax.

Another common cause of candidates being rejected for the army is - again surprisingly - nasal blockage.

Said Dhindaw: "We’ve seen though some candidates complete the 1600 meter race in record time, during their medical checkup their nostrils are found to be blocked.

In such circumstances a candidate is considered permanently unfit. In order to reappear for recruitment trials he needs to get his nose treated and get a certificate from the doctor stating him to be medically fit”.

Ludhiana, December 7
In a major fallout following the arrest of highway robbers on November 30, the city police claimed to have solved a sensational robbery case where a former sarpanch of Seehra, Manjeet Singh, was robbed of Rs 29 lakh on May 13 this year.

It was the nephew who hatched the conspiracy to rob his uncle. The “thrill” of making quick buck landed the youth and his three chronic drug addict accomplices behind bars.

Besides Amandeep, son Harjung Singh, elder brother of former Seehra sarpanch Manjeet Singh, who was nabbed on November 30 in connection with the highway robbery case, the police has also nabbed Jatinder Singh, Rajwinder Singh and Darbara Ram and recovered nearly Rs 13.50 lakh of the robbed amount.

Jatinder Singh, Rajwinder Singh, alias Raja, both from Nawashahr, were nabbed from Phillaur following a tip- off. The two were school dropouts and said to be chronic drug addicts.

Darbara Ram was nabbed on a production warrant from Central Jail. The three have been in and out of jail in connection with assault cases.

"Interestingly, none of them have been booked in a robbery case earlier," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Yurinder Singh.

Giving details about the robbery incident, the DCP said, "Amandeep hatched the robbery conspiracy with Darbara Ram, who was working on a partnership basis with Amandeep."

Darbara Ram further involved his two friends Jatinder Singh and Rajwinder Singh in the robbery plan. It was decided that the booty would be equally divided among the four.

To avoid suspicion, Amandeep kept himself out of the robbery bid. According to the plan, when Manjeet was intercepted by the trio when the latter was travelling towards Phillaur to deposit the money in a bank.

The trio thrashed Manjeet, took the cash and fled from the scene. The weapon and the vehicle used by the accused in a robbery incident was seized by the Banga police and Rahon police in connection with an assault case.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ACP) Narinder Singh Sidhu said initially no one suspected Amandeep's involvement in the case as he used to accompany his uncle Manjeet Singh to the police station to check the development of the case. 

Ludhiana, December 7
Making a mockery of the ambulance service, a group of drivers, having converted old Maruti vans into “ambulances”, are using these as commercial vehicles to transport people from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) to their native villages, towns and cities.

Each vehicle has "ambulance" painted in red in addition to the blue siren to give them the real look.

But in reality, the drivers are charging Rs 8-12 per km from the patients discharged from the hospital, which is much more than the rates being charged by the professional taxi services in the city.

Not to miss, the so-called ambulances, after dropping the patients at their homes, go to bus stands, railway stations and taxi stands to ferry passengers to Ludhiana.

The stand outside the DMCH has been named as "Lok Sewa Taxi Stand" wherein fleets of almost 12 taxis are parked on the both sides of the road.

The Tribune Correspondent, posing as a patient's attendant, approached a driver of the ambulance, bearing the number PB-10Y-5445, to take a patient to Hoshairpur. Raja, the owner of the ambulance, readily agreed and demanded Rs 1,500. On being asked about the tentative time to reach the destination, the driver said, "The siren makes it convenient to maintain the speed at 110-120 km per hour that saves more than an hour."

Interestingly, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (LMC) has not noticed the encroachment on both the sides of the road despite the fact that it is an "everyday" nuisance for the patients and commuters.

A traffic cop on duty is stern when it comes to the parking of private vehicles outside the DMCH but he did not have a word of caution for the "ambulance taxi service".

A senior veterinarian, while registering his complaint, said, " The place outside the DMCH should not be utilised by the taxi owners, but by the patients coming to the hospital outpatient departments, who do not get place to park their vehicles in the hospital's parking. I had to park my car on the Hambran Road and walk all the way to consult an eye specialist at the DMCH," the veterinarian rued.

Ludhiana, December 7
Taking a strong note of the inaction on the part of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) against unipoles, hoardings and other signboards on footpaths in different parts of the city and taking it as an infringement of the rights of pedestrians, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has sought a detailed report from the MC on February 7, 2011.

Calling for a report submitted by the sub-committee formed on the issue of unipoles and action taken thereon, notices have been issued to the MC Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner for compliance by the next date of hearing on the complaint filed by a social activist, Arvind Sharma.

On the basis of a report published in The Tribune on August 1, 2009, Sharma had lodged a complaint with the Commission that with an eye on revenue collected from advertisements, the MC had allowed advertising agencies to put up unipoles and other signboards on footpaths denying pedestrians and other road users of their right.

In the course of hearing of the complaint, a superintendent of the MC appeared before the PSHRC with a detailed report on the subject. In his rejoinder, the complainant alleged that the MC was trying to mislead the commission by making false submission and no action worth the name had been contemplated against the erring advertising agencies.

Another report filed by the MC Additional Commissioner stated that a sub-committee had been formed to go into the issue of unipoles and further action will be initiated on the final report submitted by the sub-committee. The MC also desired that the complaint be filed (closed).

The MC claims were again rebutted by Sharma, who maintained that the civic body be directed to get the unipoles on footpaths removed and clear the area for unrestricted movement of pedestrians.

Agreeing with the contention of the complainant, the PSHRC has asked the MC to make available a copy of the report of the sub-committee formed to go into the issue of unipoles and follow up action taken by the civic body on the report on next date of hearing on February 7, 2011.

Ludhiana, December 7
At last, the Centrally-funded project for tourism promotion in the industrial hub of the state seems to be turning into a reality as Punjab Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria today announced that the project for the beautification of Rakh Bagh, Rose Garden and Clock Tower in the city and restoration of historic temple at Chahlan has been given a green signal.

Presiding over a meeting of senior officials of the state tourism department in his office here, the minister said tenders for these development projects would be floated this month itself. He said the work would start in January and projects would be completed within the next six months.

Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura, councillors Pal Singh Grewal and Tehal Singh Gill, deputy director of the tourism department Surinder Bajaj, chief general manager Brig Charanjit Singh and architect Gagandeep Singh also attended the meeting.

Giving details of the works to be undertaken for promoting the city as a tourist destination, Gabria said ` 68 lakh would be spent on the beautification of Clock Tower - a major landmark of the mega city - and setting up of a tourism information centre. Another tourism information centre will come up at general bus stand, he added.

The project for the beautification of Rakh Bagh, including creation of public conveniences, construction of an entry gate and an open-air theatre with a seating capacity of 200 will entail an expenditure of ` 56.62 lakh. Similarly, ` 40 lakh will be spent for the beautification of Rose Garden, while ` 25 lakh will be spent for the restoration of historic Mukteshwar Temple and landscaping of the temple complex at Chahlan village.

The comprehensive tourism development plan formulated for the city will also make provisions for information and direction indication signboards at different places at a cost of ` 52 lakh and restoration of ancestral house of martyr Sukhdev Thapar in Naughara at a cost of ` 20 lakh.

Joining issue with Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari, who had earlier charged the Punjab government with misdirecting the funds released by the Union Tourism Ministry for development of the city as a tourist destination, Gabria said the funds were received only two months back and the department of tourism had started preliminary work immediately thereafter. “The Central funds will be spent for the specified purpose and the Congress MP should desist from taking cheap publicity by making false accusation in the media," he added.

Ludhiana, December 7
In a bid to minimise hassles in paying electricity bills and reduce heavy rush on cash counters, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today made another automated bill payment machine operational at the Aggar Nagar division in Sarabha Nagar.

PSPCL chief engineer of central zone PS Gill formally inaugurated the new machine by pushing a button to make the facility functional. Speaking on the occasion, he said to facilitate payment of energy bills, 35 automated bill payment machines had so far been installed in different parts of the state, and another 30 were in the process of being made operational soon. With the installation of a new machine at Aggar Nagar, the number of such machines in the city has gone up to six.

According to Gill, in the next phase, such machines will be set up in Jagraon and Mandi Ahmedgarh divisions falling under the central zone. He claimed that the PSPCL had taken all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers in the current season and next summer as well. "Foolproof arrangements have been made to meet the demand for power in winter and summer seasons. Barring unforeseen circumstances or major breakdowns, there will be no restraint in power supply to any category of consumers," he asserted.

Neelon (Samrala), December 7
The hoy to ferry people from one side of the Sirhind canal to the other near Neelon village is in a miserable condition and there is no canal department employee to operate it.

Residents of Neelon village and even women run the boat on their own to go to the other side of the canal in the fields for daily routine works.

Holes have developed in this boat at several places. Only a few people can ride the boat at a time, considering the capacity of the boat. This flatboat is a necessity for people of Neelon village and adjoining villages to reach their land, as they have to cover about 4 km more to reach their fields from other routes.

According to ex-sarpanch of the village Sukhwant Singh, a beldaar of the canal department used to operate this barge but about eight years ago, but after his retirement, no employee was dispatched to the site and the boat was left at its fate. People of the village called several officials of the department village many times, but no one took care of this.

The Executive Engineer of the canal department, Ropar, confirmed that there was no employee to run the boat. He also said that there was a shortage of employees and there was no recruitment and no funds from the government. He said they wanted to stop this boat permanently, but due to the facility to the people, they were continuing it. He also said that if the district administration wanted to continue it, there should be arrangements for the repair and employees to run the boat for the people of the area.

Phillaur, December 7
Describing the SAD-BJP government as anti-people and a total failure, Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) president Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged that leaders of ruling parties were working as “Franchise Holders” and civil and police administration was playing in the hands of jathedars.

Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of “Nav Inqalab Yatra” today, Bittu said though high-level officers in civil and police administration were being appointed as per local MLAs choice, but now even SHOs of different police stations were being appointed by the politicians belonging to ruling alliances.

Bittu alleged that the SAD-BJP alliance was causing “political pollution”.

Narrating his allegations about “Franchise holders”, PYC president alleged that drugs and land mafias were being patronised by the ruling government and youths were being misled.

Alleging Akali government as the most corrupt government, Bittu demanded a white paper on the properties of all ministers, chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and MLAs from the date of their election to bring out the truth. — TNS

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 7
Valet parking may add a touch of grandness to an event including parties and social functions, but is not absolutely safe for owners of expensive luxury vehicles, as it increases chances of getting electronic ignition keys programmed by criminal elements in the guise of valets. Service centres and parking lots at malls are other places where the keys can be scanned by unscrupulous people.

Investigations have revealed the engines of most of the luxury cars stolen from outside their owners’ homes or workplaces were started with duplicate ignition keys that were programmed from the original electronic keys while these remained away from the owner for long durations.

The proud owners of these vehicles, who were told their engines could not be started with any other key, faced embarrassing questions by investigating officers, besides suffering monetary loss when the stolen car was used by thieves for committing various crimes.

Incidents of unexpected theft of some cars have led to family disputes in joint families in the past.

Members of a notorious gang of car lifters that was busted by the local police a few months ago disclosed that an electronic engineer, who worked as a valet with a private firm, used to program duplicate keys for luxury cars for them when the latter’s owners were busy attending wedding and other functions. The vehicle was later stolen easily by tracking the owner’s schedule.

Acknowledging the observations made by The Tribune, Ludhiana assistant police commissioner Narinder Singh Ruby suggested an electronic ignition key should not be handed over to unknown people for a long period. “In case one has to avail a valet’s services he or she should ensure the key is deposited at the counter immediately after the vehicle is parked. Alternatively the driver should be asked to stay near the vehicle while the owner is attending the function”, he added.

Referring to information provided by former police division no 2 SHO Harvinder Singh Cheema, Ruby stated one of the accomplices of vehicle lifters nabbed by the cops used to prepare duplicate keys of luxury cars in a similar way.

An electronic ignition key is a popular accessory that acts as security measure for engines of modern cars. The key itself is a type of transponder, or chip, key that is used to start the engine. These specially-programmed keys are synced to the starter and, once programmed, only an electronic key can turn the vehicle on.

One can program an electronic ignition key in seconds from one’s driver's seat as long as he already has two electronic keys that are synced to the starter.

Ludhiana, December 7
As a much needed relief to the mobile phone subscribers, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended hefty penalties and even blacklisting of firms indulging in unsolicited telemarketing calls and SMSes from January 1, 2011.

According to the new guidelines, the defaulting telemarketing companies now stand to pay a penalty between Rs 25,000 and Rs 2.5 lakh if they ring up users who have chosen not to be called (fully blocked category).

Customers can get themselves register under their desired category by calling 1909 or sending SMS to 1909. This service is toll free and the customer will be given a registration number. 

Ludhiana, December 7
After making his presence felt on the big and small screen in India, Jas Arora, who is busy with a TV serial in Singapore "Achaar" meaning "Khatte Mithe Pal", along with model Amit Ranjan is in the city for Study by Janak.

Arora got fame and stardom with “Mera Laung Gawacha” opposite Deepti Bhatnagar. But it was “Gur nalo Ishq Mitha” with Malaika Arora Khan and “Yaroon Sab Dua Karo”, that Arora became a household name.

He first hit the silver screen with “Main Solah Baras Ki”, but later bettered his record by making his presence felt in movies like, “Dushman”, “Monsoon Wedding”, “Chalte Chalte” and “Pyar Ke Side Effects”.

Sharing his experience while working for a serial in Singapore he said: "Working in Singapore is a pleasant experience. In India artists keep working for endless hours, while over there actors work for fixed hours actors. While it would have taken years to complete a serial, I managed to complete the serial in a few months," he added.

He, however, adds that for him modelling happened by chance. "When I had just completed my graduation, a friend suggested that I could be a model and immediately I was approached by Prabuddha Das Gupta to model for Nivea. I didn’t take it seriously in the beginning. It was only after I got my first dues as a model that I began to contemplate on it seriously," he quips.

"I have come here as a fashion guru and to share my fashion expertise on how to look best while celebrating the best day of your life- the wedding day," said the model-turned actor.

Amit Ranjan is happy with the kind of exposure male models are getting today. "Initially, it was only female models who stole the show, but these days male models too are making their mark," said Ranjan.

Telling about the wedding collection by "Study by Janak" Ranjan said the brand had made the wedding a grandeur affair with their wedding ensemble.

"Specially created for this season, the collection includes hand embroidered sherwanis, kurta pyjamas and suits for all wedding ceremonies," he added.

LUDHIANA: Easy, Interesting and Practical Kids Academy and Sur Taal Academy organised a talent hunt contest at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School.

A total 100 students in the aged between 4 and 14 from different schools participated.

Director of both the academies Pretty Banga said such activities helped in boosting the morale of the kids and bringing out the hidden talent in kids.

Akankshi stood first in drawing contest, while Asheesh was declared second and Darvish was declared third.

In the dance category, Janvi was declared first, Jasmehar stood second and Parneet was adjudged third.