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2 teenaged boys feared drowned in canal
Ludhiana, July 15 According to an eyewitness he soon raised an alarm when he realized he was drowning in the canal. On seeing his friend going under the water Pankaj, who worked at a tea stall, jumped into the canal, but both were swept away in the fast the water current. Women living in the shanties nearby informed the youths’ family members about the incident. Soon area residents gathered around the canal and an emergency ambulance as the Sarabha Nagar police later arrived at the scene. A massive rescue operation was launched, diver were also deployed to locate the boys. Ramji’s brother, Sajan Das, said the two youths did not go to work on Friday and instead came to the canal to swim. “Our father died a long time ago and our widowed mother raised us by doing odd jobs. I don’t know why he came to swim in the canal. My mother is inconsolable - she lost her husband and now she fears she has lost one of her sons," said Das, anxious looking into the canal. Meanwhile, Pankaj's parents were camping at the bridge on Ferozepore Road. Both youths have yet to be located till the time this report was filed.
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DMC docs give Pak kids a new lease of life
Ludhiana, July 15 Sitting besides his son, Abdus Ahmad, a resident of a village near Peshawar in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly NWFP), told The Tribune: “Ahmad is one of my fours sons and I also have a daughter. He had had a complex cardiac problem as his heart has a single ventricle and was advised to undergo a bidirectional Glenn open heart surgery by cardiac specialists in my country. But the cost of such an operation there was very steep - Rs 3 lakh - and we were given a waiting time of two years. It was very difficult for me and my family to see our child suffer for so long. Fortunately I came across a friend of mine who told me about this hospital in Ludhiana and we came here. The surgery was performed on Ahmad on July 7 and the ventilator was taken off him the very next day. I’m happy now he is on the way to recovery in an ICU at the city’s Dayanand Medical College & Hospital." Abdus, who is an electrician by profession, said people in the city very affectionate and hospitable. “All the doctors and staff are very good. I will come for the follow up check up of my son. But feel sad also as after that I will not be able to get permission for coming to India as visa regulations are too stringent. "The other Pakistani kid, Ansharah, who was diagnosed with a hole in her heart, was operated upon July 1 and remained on a ventilator for five days. She is now on the way to recovery. Her mother, Saima Imran, was at a loss for words to express her gratitude to the hospital in particular and Indians in general. “She (Ansharah) is my only daughter and Indian doctors have now given her a new lease of life”, she said. Ansharah’s father, Imran Kalim who is a medical representative in a pharmaceutical firm in Karachi. Said: “I plan to set up a trust in my daughter’s name and will help the people whose kids suffer like my daughter. As we were told an amount of Rs 8 lakh for this surgery in our country and that too after a waiting period of three years”. The parents of both children were of the view that medical specialists in India and Pakistan should be allowed to travel freely between the two countries to administer critical medical treatment. "The barriers between the two neighbours have been created by politicians and not by people”, Kalim remarked.
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Year later, new rupee sign still to catch on
The symbol was launched with much fare on July 15 last year and many city residents then felt it was a “proud” moment for the country when the Indian rupee, like the US dollar, euro, British pound and Japanese yen. However, Punjab government departments in the city as well as most official websites and communication still use ‘Rs’ despite a finance ministry notification asking all government entities to use the new sign. The two project tenders floated by the municipal corporation on Friday have denoted ‘Rs’ for rupees and even the district administration continues to use it consistently. When contacted deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari claimed not all state government departments were still using ‘Rs’. "But, yes, some departments are still using the old rupee symbol and plan to shift to the new sign soon," he added. Says noted Punjabi poet Surjit Patar: “Whenever I look at the new rupee symbol I feel good about the fact that our currency is one of the few in the world which has its own sign”.
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15 business houses under IT scanner
Ludhiana, July15 Director (Investigation) of Income Tax Raman Kumar said the raiding teams of the department were still doing their job. A lot of documents, computer data, account books, cash and jewellery seized from the two companies were being processed. And a few bank lockers were also to be searched. The undisclosed income by the firms under the scanner might run into several crores. At least 150 Income-Tax officials under the supervision of Additional Director BK Singh conducted simultaneous raids on 11 business and residential premises of Metro Group at Jugiana, Focal Point, Sarabha Nagar, Miller Ganj in the city as well as in Delhi, Noida and Manesar. At the same time, IT officials searched four premises of Bhawani Iron and Steel Rolling Mill at Mandi Gobindgarh.
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Now, tents put up near park
Ludhiana, July 15 The residents demanded that a park be developed on the piece of land. A liquor vend was constructed on the land, actually meant for a park, in L Block of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, which is near Sunet village here. The vend was demolished by the MC officials on June 27, while two rooms were demolished on July 11. This land was actually acquired by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) for developing a park. Almost a decade ago, some persons encroached upon a portion of it and rented it out to a liquor vend owner. For several years, the area residents had been demanding demolition of the liquor vend, but the MC had turned a blind eye towards it on the plea that LIT had never acquired this piece of land, which was not true. Col JS Brar, president of Maha Sabha, Ludhiana, who spearheaded a campaign against the encroachment, lamented that though the MC officials had demolished the liquor vend as well as two rooms, the vend’s owner has put up tents to sell liquor, which was the first step towards encroaching upon the land yet again. When the park was first encroached upon, its iron grills, which formed the boundary, were removed. Over some period of time, most of the land was encroached upon. It took the MC almost a decade to demolish the earlier encroachments, and if the same land is encroached upon yet again, it might take another decade to get it cleared. Why is the building branch of the MC mum over the issue, which directly concerns the common man,” stated Col Brar.
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Streamline process, demand traders
Ludhiana, July 15 In a communication to the government, PTBA chairman Ashok Juneja and general secretary BR Kaushal demanded all files relating to goods or vehicles detained at any of the ICCs or at any VAT/CST check barriers be transferred for further action to the district headquarters. They said the system would save valuable time of dealers, transports and tax consultants, practitioners and advocates, who had to rush far and wide many a times for appearing at different VAT barriers of the state. The PTBA functionaries said all important decisions on VAT/CST amendments, notifications be taken in a panel meeting for which the names of members of the association had already been recommended. They wanted that favourable legal judgements produced by members of the bar should not be ignored by the officials and dealers. The association pleaded that time-barred cases should not be fixed after the expiry of statutory period for such cases, and further that the changes, amendments and notifications should be made applicable from the next quarter, thereby giving sufficient time to assessees for compliance. It should not be compulsory to deposit 25 per cent of tax, penalty or interest imposed for filing appeals against tax assessment.
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Healthy blood donors could be ‘silent carrier’ of Hepatitis-B and C
Ludhiana, July 15 In a research conducted by the Christian Medical College and Hospital, a very striking fact has come to light that healthy blood donors can also be the silent carrier of Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C. Revealing this to the Tribune, Dr Rupinder Kaur, associate professor of pathology and in charge of blood bank CMCH, Said, “We analysed five years long health-related data of our blood donors. In this we took 62,500 blood donors and found that 2.7 per cent were suffering from transfusion transmitted infection (TTI) or transfusion transmitted disease (TTD). This included patients suffering from V.V.R.L (a sexually transmitted disease), malaria, hepatitis-C, hepatitis-B and HIV-1 and HIV-2. However, out of this, 2.4 per cent suffered from hepatitis-B and C. And if we further segregated this ratio, we found Dr Rupinder said that all blood donors were healthy ones. “We asked these donors if they ever suffered from malaria, jaundice, liver infection etc. It would not be wrong to call them "silent carriers or silent killers" , she added.
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Health dept destroys 2 quintals of papaya
Ludhiana, July 15 Dr Kulwinder Singh, district health officer, Ludhiana, said, "We destroyed approximately two quintals of overripe and rotten papaya as it was unfit for human consumption." The team threw away the rotten fruits in the garbage dumps. A few days ago, a team of the health department did the same thing and it was observed that many needy people picked up the rotten fruits that were unfit for consumption. The DHO said, "In future we will keep it in mind and will take along a truck to pick up the rotten fruits so that they are destroyed at a proper place later."
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Health minister visits civil hospital
Ludhiana, July 15 He observed the working of the telemedicine department in which cases of patients are discussed with experts of the PGI through video conferencing. The health minister told the people there that more patients should be informed about this facility. On this occasion, DR HS Bali, civil surgeon, Ludhiana, and DR Subhash Batta, SMO, Civil Hospital, were also present.
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Panel seeks arrest of four more accused
Jagraon, July 15 The committee members expressed displeasure over the failure of the police in arresting the remaining four accused. The SSP assured the committee members that an impartial inquiry would be conducted into the case. Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Lamma Jattpura village near Jagraon, was kidnapped, along with his beloved Rajdeep Kaur, hailing from the same village by family members of the girl near Jagraon bus stand on July 2. Later, Gagandeep Singh was allegedly beaten to death and his body was fished out of a canal near Badhani village in Moga district on July 3. The police had booked eight persons, including Kulwant Singh, Sukhchain Singh, Janak Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Saudagar Singh, Surjit Singh, Billu and Jugraj Singh, alias Raja, on the complaint of the Gagandeep’s father Gurcharan Singh. Only four accused have been arrested so far. The action committee comprising Kanwaljit Khanna of Inqulabi Kendra Punjab, Amar Singh Bhattian of the FCI Workers’ Union, Baldev Singh Rasoolpur and Sukhdev Singh Manuke of the Pendu Mazdoor Union, Gulzar Mohammad of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Dalit leader Pyara Singh, Sukhjit Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Malkiat Singh of the Punjab Teachers Front and Parkash Singh Hissowal was formed during the bhog ceremony. The family of the deceased had alleged that the police was trying to hush up the matter, as it was under political pressure.
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Basic amenities elude railway station
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 15 The residents alleged that sparkling facelift that the local railway station received during the periodical inspection by teams of top officials faded away after a few hours. “First-aid box, stretcher and wheelchair, which are usually displayed prominently during inspections, resume their original positions after the visit of senior officials,” they added. Denying allegations levelled by passengers and residents, the officials maintained that the facilities displayed during the inspection were available for all. Residents of the area in general and daily passengers in particular were surprised to notice that the platform and waiting hall had been cleaned up and certain facilities which were not available to passengers in routine had been displayed prominently on the platform. However, the sparkle of the façade was short-lived like earlier occasions. Passengers alleged that the local authorities had been trying to mislead inspection teams by simulating ideal condition at the railway station. “While physically challenged and ill passengers had to depend upon their co-passengers for reaching the platform, a wheelchair and a stretcher are usually displayed prominently, along with a first-aid box, during inspections,” lamented a passenger. Tarsem Garg, president of the Social Welfare Society, alleged that the authorities had failed to provide basic amenities, including potable water and clean environment to passengers. The officials’ apathy had resulted in a tendency wherein residents had started adopting alternative modes of public transport instead of travelling by train. This besides resulting in inconvenience to passengers causes financial loss to the railway department too. The residents have now urged the Union Minister to form some high-level committee to verify the allegations and initiate action against the erring officials.
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Computer teachers threaten to boycott Assembly poll
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 15 The members demanded that they be regularised as per the recently approved notification. They said they would stage protests in functions organised by the state government, including sangat darshan. The union activists led by Gurvinder Singh, president, Sarabjit Singh, vice-president, and Naib Singh, secretary, alleged that the government had declared that it would regularise computer teachers, who had completed 30 months of service and against whom no departmental action was pending. Though a large number of teachers were regularised, as many as 1,113 were left out. Maintaining that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had assured them that he would listen to their grievances during a meeting to be held between July 11 and July 16, the activists lamented that no such meeting had been called so far. “We will not wait for their invitation now and will lodge our protest at every government function to be organised by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.”
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Vet varsity students, authorities at loggerheads
Ludhiana, July 15 About 12 students whose attendance was short in one particular course have condemned the authorities for adopting "arbitrary" attitude and not allowing them to take the exams in November. They have even threatened to move the court against authorities. At the same time, GADVASU authorities maintain that they have to produce quality students. Twelve out of total 73 students of B.V.Sc IInd year 2009 batch (the old batch) did not bother to attend the classes of a course following which their attendance fell short. And as per rules, these students could not take the exams in November. A student, who has been detained by the authorities rued that latter did not borther to display lecture-shortage list on the notice-boards of the college. "We did not know that our lectures were short because they did not display our names. Now, they are not allowing us to take the exam, which is not justified", the student said. While another student complained that "step-motherly" treatment was being meted out to them by the authorities. "Despite our pleas, they are not ready to listen to us. They have detained us against all rules", alleged the agitating student further adding that they had already consulted their lawyer and were planning to move the court to get stay-orders. Meanwhile, Dr HS Sandhu, Dean, said that demand of students was unjustified. "How can we allow them to sit for November examinations when their lectures are short in one particular course? We are adhering to the rules of GADVASU. Other 73 students, who have sufficient number of lectures, will be taking the exam but not these 12 students who did not take studies seriously. It is their sweet will to move the court but we are following the rules", he said.
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District Scan
Irked over dilly-dallying attitude of the state government over shifting of ETT teachers as per the agreement, the teachers on Friday burnt an effigy of the state government. In an ultimatum, the activists of the union said if ETT teachers were not shifted to sanctioned posts, other vacant posts were not filled and the separate directorate for teachers working under zila parishads was not set up as promised, the ETT teachers would gherao the Chief Minister, deputy Chief Minister and the education minister on July 20.- Tribune reporters Dance contest
To bring out the hidden talent of tiny tots, a dance contest was organised for classes I and II in Kundan Vidya Mandir (city campus) here on Friday. The function was presided over by headmistress Namita Raj Singh. The winners were Dhruv Gupta and Akshita Munjal from class I and II respectively. Blasts condemned
Expressing grief over killing of innocent persons and wishing for a speedy recovery of those injured in the Mumbai bomb blasts, the Shiromani Akali Dal (panch pardhani) has pointed an accusing finger at the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and the main opposition (NDA) for this act of senseless violence. The party leaders said that the ruling alliance was facing a crisis-like situation with various scams and the pressure over the proposed Jan-Lokpal Bill to check corruption. At the same time, the main opposition party also appeared to be desperate to create a situation in which the government was ousted so that it got an opportunity to regain power. The party demanded that a high-level probe into the blasts under the supervision of the Supreme Court to expose the real culprits. Cabinet reshuffle
The Anti-Corruption Council of India has lodged protest with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for what it termed as discrimination with Punjab in the reshuffle of the council of ministers at the Centre. While the lone member of the central cabinet, MS Gill, had been dropped no other ministerial berth was given to this state even though the Assembly election in Punjab were just round the corner. The council also expressed resentment over the inclusion of certain tainted persons in the cabinet. — Tribune Reporters
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Man cooks up robbery story, arrested
Ludhiana, July 15 Yogesh had created ripples in the police department yesterday after he claimed that a few unidentified men waylaid and snatched Rs 2 lakh from him while he was returning to the factory after withdrawing cash from the bank. “His claims raised doubt as the street remains crowded throughout the day. There wasn’t any eyewitness to the incident either. This made us suspicious and we probed the issue in detail. On being interrogated, Yogesh cracked and confessed having committed the crime,” Inspector Surinder Mohan said. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Naginder Rana, said: “The money was recovered from the house of the accused located in Chander Nagar.” Lust for easy money blinded him and he concocted a robbery story. He told the police that after withdrawing money he came to his house to hide the cash. He raised an alarm on reaching the Over Lock road and informed Karan Malhotra about the incident. Karan told the police that he had employed Yogesh two-year-ago for transacting with banks. |
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Man dies in mishap
Khamano, July 15 According to information, Ram Saroop and his son were on their way to Chandigarh on a motorcycle. When they reached Jatan Ucha village, a truck coming from the opposite side collided head-on with the bike. Ram Saroop died on the spot, while his son Nitin Kumar was injured. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital, where doctors referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh. A case under Section 304A, 279, 331 IPC has been registered against the truck driver, who was overpowered by passersby. The deceased was employed with a factory in Ludhiana.
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Notice to food, civil supplies controller
Ludhiana, July 15 This notice has been issued under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Code. RTI activist Kuldip Singh Khaira from the Vigilant Citizens' Forum stated that he had sought information on a rent deed executed between the Ludhiana municipal corporation and department of food and civil supplies, Ludhiana, regarding the third floor of Zone-D building of the MC from the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the DFSC’s office under the RTI through an application dated May 30. “The official concerned has not replied to the RTI application and thus he has violated the Right to Information Act, 2005. In a revision petition no 1975 [in appeal no 244/04 pertaining to the complaint of Dr SP Thirumala Rao v/s the MC Commissioner, Mysore], the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi, on May 28, 2009, ruled that any applicant under the RTI Act was a consumer and that the non-submission of information by the public authority amounted to deficiency in services under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986,” claimed Khaira. “Before I proceed further, I request you to kindly provide information sought by me and also pay me an amount of Rs 10,000 for causing damages, inconvenience, mental agony and breach of my fundamental rights under Article 19.1.a of Constitution of India within 60 days,” the legal notice read. DFSC Rajnish Kumari confirmed that she had received the legal notice. “I would look into the matter and whatever information, Kuldip Singh Khaira wants, it will be provided to him on a priority basis,” stated the DFSC.
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120 teams for basketball meet
Ludhiana, July 15 According to Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, matches in four groups- sub-junior, youth, junior and senior sections in the boys as well as girls categories would be held. Interested teams may confirm their participation through an e-mail to ludhianaba@gmail or fax at 0161-4632371. Squads only from Punjab state can take part in the league.
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Ludhiana, July 15
