Ludhiana, March 15
Death of another patient, who was being treated for swine flu at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), has taken the total toll to 10 in the city. The deceased has been identified as Satnam Singh (47), a resident of Kapurthala. He was admitted to the DMCH on Saturday with severe cold, congestion and high fever.

A total of 14 positive cases of Influenza A (H1N1) infection have been reported in private hospitals of the city since January 2011. Out of whom 10 have died.

Five out of 10 deaths were from Ludhiana. Other patients, who died in the city hospitals, belonged to Kapurthala, Moga, Ferozepur and Jalandhar.

District Epidemiologist, Dr GP Mangla, when asked about the cause behind the rise death of people undergoing treatment for swine flu said, “Recent deaths have become a matter of concern and we are compiling the details of the deceased which would be studied by the experts at the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCDC) in New Delhi.”

However, he added that multiple organ failures had led to deaths in all cases. “Young and old were put on ventilators and were in a bad state.”

The preventive vaccine against Swine Flu has failed to click as the “Panenza vaccine”, which was sent for the doctors and paramedical staff, received a poor response. Reason: A few people became allergic to it. Thus, doctors were reluctant to use it.

Also, the clinical trials, which were due to start at the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for the preventive vaccine, were also cancelled.

Ludhiana, March 15
A prisoner who had recently escaped from the city’s Central Jail reportedly reportedly fired a gun at his younger daughter, injuring her leg, in a fit of anger near Hawaas village near here early on Tuesday morning. The girl was admitted to the Civil Hospital and her condition is now said to be stable.

Basti Jodhewal police SHO Jatinder Singh told the Ludhiana Tribune that Arjun Lal, who was undergoing a sentence for an offence under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, had escaped from the jail about ten ago by drugging the security guards. He added the police had already launched a search for the prisoner.

“Lal along with his nephew and a friend arrived at his home in Indra Colony, Rahon Road at about 2:30 in the morning today. At that time, his 20-year-old daughter, Aarti, was alone at home. According to her statement, her father and his two accomplices tied up her hands, gagged her and took her in a vehicle to a deserted place near Hawaas. Lal then asked her about the whereabouts of his wife and the latter’s alleged lover. Aarti told him her mother had gone to Chandigarh to meet the former’s grandmother and that she had no idea about where her mother’s paramour, Vishal Sharma, resided. Her answer angered Lal who fired a shot at one of her legs. All the three men then left her at the isolated spot after injuring her", said Jatinder.

He further stated Aarti intentionally did not tell anything about her mother and Sharma to Lal as she feared her father may harm her mother. “Though she was injured Aarti managed to walk up to a liquor shop in the village in the wee hours. The police, which was informed about the incident, took her to the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana”, Jatinder added.

The Jodhewal police has filed a case against the three suspects under sections 364, 307 & 25/27/49 of the Indian Penal Code.

Ludhiana, March 15
A domestic servant reportedly drugged his employer and five other members of the latter’s family in an obvious bid to rob the house on Monday night. However, the robbery attempt was foiled and the servant fled from the house by scaling the rear wall after noticing neighbours entering the premises.

According to Jodhewal police SHO Jatinder Singh, Jugal Kishor, owner of Mohini Resorts and a resident of the city’s Sunder Nagar locality, had hired a new domestic servant, a Nepalese national, about a month ago.

“Yesterday night at around 10:30 pm the servant reportedly served drug-laced food to the entire family - Kishor, his two sons, Rohit and Sonu, daughter-in-law Mamta and two grandchildren, Diya, 3, and Parth, 6. Another daughter-in-law had gone to her parents’ home in Jalandhar from where she called up her husband on his cellphone. But when the latter did not respond she called up her brother-in-law, who also didn’t pick up the phone as all the members were apparently sedated”, Jatinder stated.

The worried daughter-in-law then called up some neighbours and asked them to see if everything was fine at her in-laws' home. "When the neighbours were about to enter the house the servant got scared and ran away after scaling the rear wall. The neighbours then informed the police and the drugged family members were taken to the Christian Medical College & Hospital. The condition of five of them is now said to be stable but Kishor was still unconscious till late in the afternoon", Jatinder added.

The police has filed a case against the servant.

Ludhiana, March 15
City-based road safety campaigner Dr Kamaljit Soi was conferred with Godfrey Philip Bravery Award at a special function organised in Chandigarh today. Dr Soi was honoured for saving the lives of 11 critically injured road- accident victims near Neelon in Ludhiana district in May 2010.

In what can be termed as an act of real valour and benevolence, Dr Kamaljit Soi while returning from Chandigarh last year witnessed a head on collision between a Tata Qualis and Indica car near Neelon village, 30 kilometers from Ludhiana.

Dr Soi, who also happens to be the vice-president of the Punjab Road Safety Organisation, immediately took out the critically injured persons from both vehicles, adjusted five in his car and the remaining in another vehicle and rushed the injured to the emergency ward of the Christian Medical College and Hospital.

Reciprocating to the need of the hour, a team of doctors headed by Dr Gaurav Bhatia (emergency in charge at CMCH), did their best to save the lives of the injured.

Dr Soi along with his associates also arranged 50 units of blood for the injured. This noble deed saved the lives of members of three families.

Humility as they say comes easy to the people who live their lives with an aim to help others, Dr Soi soon after receiving the award said, “I will like to share this award with the entire team of nurses, paramedics and doctors headed by Dr Gaurav Bhatia of CMCH, who were instrumental in saving the lives all injured.”

Referring to directions of the Supreme Court, the road safety crusader said, “I appeal to the people to shed all inhibitions about legal botheration in helping the accident victims as the Supreme Court has clearly directed the police department and hospitals not to interrogate those taking injured to the hospitals. Every citizen should adopt a fearless approach in helping the accident victims, so as to curtail the road accident death rate in the state and country.” 

Ludhiana, March 15
It seems the authorities concerned in the industrial hub of the state don’t apply their mind before initiating any development or repair work. This was the case today when the Municipal Corporation authorities started patchwork on the Arya College Road and that too during peak hours.

It was a tough day for commuters moving towards the old city as long queues of vehicles were seen stuck in a traffic jam. The stretch is already witnessing a huge flow of traffic these days due to the construction of Lakkar railway overbridge. As the road from the AC market side has been closed following construction work of the overbridge, the traffic moving from Damoria Pull to Kapoor Hospital usually takes the Arya Road route to reach in inner areas of the city.

The traffic situation worsened as the civic body staff started the patchwork in the morning that lasted till afternoon. As the traffic situation on the road is already bad due to the ongoing work of the overbridge, the unplanned manner in which MC conducted the patchwork showed that it hardly cares for the general public.

Commuters also expressed their resentment with the MC staff undertaking the work. Gaurav Sabharwal, a commuter, rued that MC officials should plan these works in a proper manner so that general public does not face inconvenience. He said these works should be conducted during night hours when the flow of traffic is negligible.

Raman Kumar, another commuter, rued that less important work of even conducting patchwork was being done at peak traffic hours. “It clearly shows that MC officials are insensitive towards the problems of general public,” he added.

Ludhiana, March 15
Students of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) have decided to intensify their agitation after the state government’s “failure” to notify at least 300 posts lying vacant in the agriculture department of Punjab.

President of the Punjab Agriculture University Students’ Association (PAUSA), Ravinder Singh Randhawa, said students would also boycott the kisan mela. “Tomorrow, we are going to lock the main gates- (gate numbers 1 and 2) of the PAU. We will not let anyone to enter the varsity. Students never wanted to adopt such a path, but the state government had forced us to do so. We want vacancies in the agriculture department of Punjab to be filled at the earliest as frustration level among youngsters have increased due to unemployment. The state government has failed to fulfill its promises,” Randhawa added.

A felicitation ceremony to honour a team, which won a gold medal during the inter-agricultural university meet held at Kerala recently, was “postponed” by varsity authorities today.

The examinations, which were supposed to be held today, were “postponed” due to the ongoing strike. An MSc student said students could not sit in exam due to the strike.

“We are here for studies. Such agitations disrupt our studies. But students are fighting for their rights. Basically, the state government is responsible for this mess.

Ludhiana, March 15
The Municipal Corporation and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) have joined hands for chalking out a combined strategy to provide better facilities to residents by ensuring all-round development of the city.

On Tuesday morning, MC Commissioner AK Sinha visited LIT Chairman MM Vyaas in his office in Feroze Gandhi market to discussion important matters. Though both Sinha and Vyaas have been terming it as a routine introductory meeting, sources revealed that the top bosses of both the bodies had a two-hour parley for discussing the agendas, which are acting as a hurdle in development of city.

At the meeting, both Sinha and Vyaas agreed on a point of making final settlement of all the payments pending against each other.

Discussions were also held for handing over the colonies carved out by the LIT, including Rishi Nagar, Sant Isher Singh, Rajguru Nagar and Bharat Nagar Extension, to the MC. LIT officials said though they had passed the agenda for handing over all these schemes to the MC in 2001, the latter is reluctant to take over it citing shortage of resources. However, Sinha assured that he would look into the matter.

Sources said Vyaas and Sinha also discussed the matter regarding the construction of Lakkar Bridge railway overbridge. Similarly it was also proposed that about 7 acres of land in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar that was recently transferred to the MC by the LIT should be developed or sold in joint venture for its optimum utilisation. It was also discussed that both the bodies should develop vacant lands in the city to benefit residents.

When contacted, MM Vyaas termed it an introductory meeting. He, however, confirmed that they held discussions regarding the development of the city. "We believe that our role is crucial in development of the city,” he added.

Khamano, March 15
District managers of two purchasing agencies, who had come to pacify the employees of local tehil complex protesting against problem of pests in wheat and paddy, failed to pacify the agitators in the presence of SDM, Khamano, and also joined the protesters.

Facing the menace of pests and worms, and fed up with the false assurances of higher authorities, the employees of the local tehsil complex suspended their work indefinitely and blocked traffic on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road.

The officials told the protesters that they were unable to do anything to remove the rotting stock of food grains from where these pests were originating. Residents of the area had brought this matter to the notice of the SDM and other officials, but in vain.

Pests were increasing in number as wheat and paddy had been rotting in the area since a long time. They said though the huge stock of wheat and paddy belonged to four leading purchasing agencies of the state, including Warehouse, Markfed, Punsup and Pungrain, the officials of these agencies had done nothing to pick this stock that was rotting in the open.

They threatened that their strike would continue and they would block traffic tomorrow from 10 am for an indefinite period.

When SDM, Khamano, Rupanjali was contacted in this regard, she confirmed that the situation was grave and she was taking up this matter with higher authorities. She said that she would send notices to the officials of purchasing agencies if they failed to lift the stock immediately and cases would be registered against the district managers of all four purchasing agencies.

Ludhiana, March 15
Ludhiana MP and spokesperson of the Indian National Congress Manish Tewari has come down heavily on the SAD-BJP government for presenting a “directionless” budget, which, he said, is jugglery of figures and a sleight of hand.

While making allocations to education, health services, agriculture and other sectors, the Finance Minister has not disclosed from where the government will arrange funds to meet its commitments, he said. "The budget is not even tax-free as claimed by the government as several taxes have already been imposed through government notifications and some more are in the legislative process,” Tewari asserted.

He claimed the state was facing severe resource crunch and the government was keeping itself afloat on the strength of funds provided by the Centre for different welfare schemes. "What the state government has done is packaged Central funds and diverted them to heads other than those intended,” he said.

The District Youth Congress (DYC) and Dr BR Ambedkar Youth Federation have also criticised the Punjab budget presented by Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur in the state Assembly on Monday.

Presiding over a party meeting at Shivpuri here today, DYC chief Dimple Rana said the budget had disappointed members of trade and industry as no measures had been proposed to revive the industrial stagnation.

Chander Shekhar Sahota, president of the Dr BR Ambedkar Youth Federation, who is also the secretary of the PPCC, has termed the populist Punjab budget presented by Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur as directionless and misleading. He said the Finance Minister had failed to provide any relief to the Dalit community, as also the trade and industry. "With manipulation of figures, the SAD-BJP government has made an attempt to show it as a developmental budget which is far from being true. Apprehending defeat in the coming assembly polls, the ruling coalition has given some sops to a section of the people," Sahota added.

Ludhiana, March 15
There is a good news for those owning properties in colonies developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) in the mega city and fighting legal battles in the lower or upper courts or else seeking relief in the District Forum for Redressal of Consumer Disputes for their grievances related to registration of title deed, execution of decrees or waiver of non-construction charges.

The LIT will participate in the mega lok adalat being organised here on March 26 for the settlement of pending cases, which are hanging fire for years together at different levels in the courts or the district consumer forum with the intent of “on-the-spot” decisions.

Talking to The Tribune, LIT chairman MM Vyas, who had attended a plenary meeting with the chairman of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)-cum-District and Sessions Judge this afternoon, said more than 300 pending court cases, a majority of them being execution of decrees, would be taken up for settlement at the lok adalat.

“We are holding a series of meetings with our legal advisors to review the pending cases, complete paper work and prepare grounds for settlement, which will be acceptable to the litigants. A formal request has been made to the DLSA for making provisions of two courts in the lok adalat so that a maximum number of cases could be taken up for disposal,” he added.

In all, some 750 court cases related to residential and commercial properties sold or allotted by the LIT were pending before the courts, district consumer forum or State Commission for Consumer Disputes, the LIT chairman said.

Ludhiana, March 15
The Municipal Corporation has initiated the process for providing basic infrastructure and civic amenities in more then 30 slums of the city under the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Those residing in these slums have been demanding basic amenities from civic authorities since long. But, the officials have not been able to provide facilities to these localities due to the paucity of funds. The Municipal Corporation has now decided to provide such facilities under the Centrally- sponsored the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Private consultants hired by the Union government had visited the city last week and surveyed about 30 slums along with civic officials. These consultants, based on information collected from the survey, prepare a detailed project report and hand it over to the Union and the state governments for approval. Once the project gets approved, the Municipal Corporation, state and the Union governments would share the funds allocated for it. The project has come as a blessing in disguise for the city as a large number of slums have mushroomed due to rapid urbanization.

Once the project gets approved under the scheme infrastructural developments like construction of roads, round-the-clock water supply and sewerage lines would be laid. 

Ludhiana, March 15
Rs 24 lakh was recovered from the defaulters during a drive conducted by the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) branch of the civic body here today.

A major drive for recovery of charges from C and D zone was initiated by O&M branch under the Executive Engineer (XEN) Manjeet Singh.

In the drive, the MC staff recovered Rs 9.78 lakh from C zone, whereas Rs 14.29 lakh was recovered from the D zone.

According to sources, a few days have been left for the current financial year to end, so the pressure on MC staff has increased for expediting the recovery in order to remove the financial crunch.

Ludhiana, March 15
Strike by the textile industry against the proposed 10 per cent excise duty on branded readymade garments continued for the second day today.

Industrialists gathered and protested near the Clock Tower. Addressing the gathering, Vinod Thapar, president of Knitwear Club, said the whole world is brand conscious and even a small manufacturer having an annual turnover of Rs 10 lakh is hoping to create his brand image in the mind of buyer.

"Levy of excise duty on branded goods of small-scale industry has put a question mark on its survival, which is already fighting against high raw material costs and labour shortage," he said.

The industry is already facing a threat from garments imported from China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Due to huge production in China and support from the government, their products are much cheaper. "In that case, it is not possible for our industry to increase price and the industry based in Ludhiana will lose its identity as hosiery cluster," said Narinder K Miglani, general secretary of Knitwear Club.

Doraha, March 15
The NSS department of the Doraha Institute of Management and Technology organised a guest lecture on naturopathy yesterday.

Dr Gurvinder Singh, HBO Group, was the resource person. Dr RK Lekhi, director DIMT, and Dr Nishi Bala, lecturer management and in charge NSS department, welcomed guests.

The lecture was initiated by Dr Gurvinder Singh from HBO Group, an NGO, by giving a slogan “Medicine-free life using naturopathy”.

The resource person told students that diseases like cancer, migraine etc, can be cured using naturopathy. “With the help of different exercises, we can solve maximum problems of the human body. Even side effects of medicines can be removed using naturopathy,” he asserted.

He persuaded the students to avoid negative thoughts and attitude.

“Get up early and do exercise daily. Various critical problems like cervical spondylitis, backache, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, migrane, asthma and epilepsy, etc, were discussed in detail,” he added.

Discussing food habits of youngsters, Dr Singh advised them to avoid tea, coffee, cold drinks and fast food, which are becoming popular now a days. — OC

Ludhiana, March 15
An earnest effort of the amateur artistes of the “Dramatics Society” of PU Regional Centre enthralled the audiences with their dramatics in the play “The Romancers”.

An amalgamation of comedy, passion, camaraderie and perception, the play, written by French playwright Edmond Rostand, which was directed by Dr Hardeep Kaur Vohra, assistant professor of English in the PU Regional Centre, Chandigarh, became an instant hit.

Set up in the French backdrop, the play revolved around the fathers, who make a plan to bring their children together so as to get them married.

Kanav Sharma and Saurav Bhatia portrayed the protective fathers Bergamin and Pasquinot with a precision that added to the dramatic moments in the play.

Despite being amateurs, the lead actors, Karnika, who played Sylvette, and Hassan Inder Hayer, who played the role of Percinet, were successful in giving the right twists and turns to lighthearted satire on love and romance.

Falling in love thinking that their fathers are worst of enemies, Sylvette and Percinet become inseparable. But the moment they realise that the whole plot was set up to bring them together, the duo “fall apart”, depicting the fickleness of young people in love.

However, the fleeing of the boy in search of true love and coming back dejected is an extension of the humour in the play.

Not to miss the musical bonanza and salsa dance in the interludes followed by the concluding number “congratulations and jubilations” that concludes the play on a supple note.

All 15 charatcters in the play were played by the students of BA LLB in the regional centre, Ludhiana.

Dr Hardeep Kaur Vohra, citing “neo-romanticism” of Rostand as the reason for staging this particular play said, “Rostand is best known for his play Cyrano de Bergerac, but The Romancers, with its element of romance and adventure, was just right for the young and old audience.” 

Ludhiana, March 15
Reviver of Sufi singing Satinder Sartaj wishes to sing on compositions of music director AR Rehman, but he doesn’t want to leave his Sufiana style.

He finds Rehman the best music director in the world. He also recognised music director Vishal Bharadwaj on par with Rehman.

Defending his Sufiana singing style, Sartaj said: “I am recognised due to Sufiana singing, I will never compromise with my singing style.”

Satinder Sartaj was here in the city on the concluding ceremony of a hockey tournament.

“Both Rehman and Bharadwaj are best music directors in the world. I hope for an opportunity to work with music directors AR Rehman and Vishal Bharadwaj,” said Sartaj, who claimed to have denied various offers from Bollywood and Punjabi cinema.

Sartaj claimed that he was offered to sing a Punjabi song for the recent Bollywood hit “Patiala House”. “I was told to sing a “peppy” number, but I denied, as I didn’t want to loose my way of singing,” said the singer, who fascinated the spectators at the stadium.

Talking about his interest in photography Sartaj said: “I have clicked the pictures in the music videos. Also, I use to get my own pictures clicked on different locations, which I used in the videos.”

Sartaj said after two successful albums he is planning to bring out another album in January 2012. “Work has been done on another album on the Sufiana singing, which I hope listeners will like,” said Sartaj adding that he would try acting in the movies after establishing himself in the singing world.

Being the brand ambassador of an NGO "Nature Tree Foundation", he released a poster in which his own lyrics had been published on a tree's portrait, requesting to save trees. He also suggested people to protect the Punjabi culture and the language.

Jagraon, March 15
A youth was killed in a road accident on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway near Jagraon late last night. The accident took place near hotel Saneh Mohan Regency on the outskirts of Jagraon when a motorcyclist collided with an unidentified vehicle coming from the Ludhiana side.

The deceased was identified as Harwinder Singh, a resident of Aligarh village, a few kilometres away from Jagraon.

As per information, Harwinder Singh was returning to his home on his motorcycle from Jagraon. As soon as he reached near the hotel, a speeding vehicle, coming from the opposite direction, hit his motorcycle. The impact of the collision was such that Harwinder Singh died on the spot.

The victim was rushed to the Civil Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Meanwhile, a case was registered at the Jagraon police station against an unidentified person on the complaint of the victim’s brother Bittu Ghuman.

Jagraon, March 15
The Ludhiana (rural) police has booked two persons for allegedly duping a person of Rs 1.5 lakh on the pretext of sending him abroad. The accused have been identified as Harnek Singh and Jasvir Singh of Raikot.

In his complaint to the police, Darshan Singh of Galib Kalan village, near Jagraon, had stated that he had met Harnek Singh and Jasvir Singh a few months back during a function at Raikot and since then they remained constantly in touch with him and they became “good friends”.

“After some time Harnek Singh and Jasvir Singh promised me that they could send me on work permit in England. However, they could only arrange a visitor visa,” said Darshan Singh.

He said he had paid Rs 1.5 lakh to them for getting the visa. “I came to know about the facts when I got my visa documents checked by one of my friends. I was shocked to learn that I was provided with a visitor visa, instead of work permit,” added Darshan.

According to the victim, he contacted Harnek Singh and Jasvir Singh a number of times to get his money back. “Every time I ask them to give my money back, they always make excuses,” rued Darshan.

Seeing no chance of getting his money back, Darshan finally decided to bring this matter up before the police and lodged a complaint in this regard at the Raikot police station.

Meanwhile, the police had registered a case against both the accused and started the investigation. Both the accused were absconding till the filing of this report.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 15
Dharminder Singh and Parkash Singh of the Bhutta Group of Colleges emerged as the fastest runners during the 9th Annual Athletic Meet of the institute, which concluded at Bhutta village, near here yesterday.

Gurpreet Singh and Varinda Sharma were declared the best athletes of the year.

Former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha presided over the concluding session of the event that was inaugurated by Pargat Singh, director of the department of sports, Punjab.

Dr PS Aulakh, director of the student welfare department at the PAU, Ludhiana, gave away prizes to the winners.

Harvinder Singh and Paramjit Singh, members of the Punjab University kabaddi winner team, led the procession of athletes and sportspersons.

RESULTS

BCET: 100m (men) — Parkash Singh; 200m (men) — Balraj Singh; 400m (men) — Vinay Kumar; long jump — Ajay Sharma.

Bhutta College of Education: 100m (men) — Dharminder Singh; 100m (women) — Varinda Sharma; 200m (men) — Manpreet Singh; 200m (women) — Varinda Sharma; 400m (men) — Dharminder Singh; 400m (women) — Amandeep Kaur; long jump (men) —Jagandeep Singh; long jump (women) — Amanjot Kaur; shot put (men) — Prabhjot Singh; shot put (women) — Pepsi