Ludhiana, September 11
There appears to be no end to drowning accidents involving little children. In the latest tragedy the bodies of two little boys who were brothers, both of whom had been reported missing three days ago, were fished out of the city’s Sidhwan Canal. The victims have been identified as Ravi Kumar, 6, and Aakash Kumar, 8, who were residing in the SBS Nagar locality.

While Ravi’s body was retrieved from the canal on Friday evening, his elder brother’s body was spotted on Saturday evening by passers-by near the BRS Nagar bridge.

Giving details about the incident, Omkar Singh, the police officer investigating the accident, said: "Ravi and Aakash’s father, Parmod Kumar, is employed as a sweeper in the Barewal area and his wife is a domestic maid”.

The mishap occurred on September 8 when both children left home when their parents were out. When the latter arrived home they called up the police after they found the kids missing. The cops then launched a search operation to find the children. In the meantime the police received information about the two having fallen into the canal and feared to have been drowned.

A rescue operation was launched but the children could not be traced. On Friday the cops noticed Ravi’s body floating on the canal surface. It was fished out and handed over to his family members. The next day Aakash’s body was found and handed over to his parents. “Inquest proceedings under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code have been initiated”, Omkar said.

Ludhiana, September 11
While city residents were glued to their TV sets to watch the ceremonies marking the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, the heroic exploits of an unsung hero of the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war, army major Bhupinder Singh, who was posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra for laying down his life for the country, went unnoticed.

Soldiers of Hudson Horse unit who came all the way from Pathankot to celebrate India’s victory in the war paid floral tributes to Bhupinder who played a key role in it. However, the shabby condition of the statue of the war hero dampened their zeal.

The statue, standing atop of a Centurion battle tank stationed near Government College for Women, and which was once a source of inspiration for the city’s youngsters, is now languishing in utter neglect. Garbage is littered around and wild vegetation has grown around it.

Jagjit Singh, a soldier of the unit, lamented the state of neglect in which the statue has been kept. “We’ve written several letters to the authorities concerned to clean the area around the statue, but nothing has been done so far. When we come here every year we first wash the statue and clean the surroundings, but as soon as we leave the place antisocial elements come and take way the garlands. We’ve come to know the tank has been used as a shelter by beggars," he added. In the absence of a ladder a soldier perched atop the statue put a garland around the hero’s neck with the help of a wooden stick.

The garland got stuck around the turban and it was after great deal of struggle that the solider managed put the garland around the neck, causing embarrassment to onlookers.

Except Swarn Singh, a retired soldier, no ex-army man was present at the scene to pay tributes to the war hero. Even Bhupinder’s family members did not turn up at the venue.

"We had informed Bhupinder’s relatives about the programme, but unfortunately they couldn’t come," said RIS/Maj Tirath Singh.

Mullanpur Dakha,September 11
Two persons were killed and three injured after the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a speeding tempo coming from the opposite side on the Ludhiana- Jagraon road near here this evening.

Ganesh Pal ( 33) of Dugri and Neeraj Chandla ( 32) of Haibowal Kalan succumbed to their injuries. The Mohindra Van ( PB 10 CS 6039) collided with the speeding Canter coming from the opposite side near a public school.

Harinder Singh of Bhaie Randhir Singh Nagar Ludhiana, Gauarav of Abohar and Neeraj Sharma of Haibowal Kalan were injured seriously.

Though the police impounded both vehicles, the driver of the tempo, who fled from the scene, was yet to be booked.

Ludhiana: Two persons were injured after an overspeeding private bus broke a traffic signal and collided with a car near ESI Hospital here today. The victis were identified as Rohit and Puja.

Narrating the incident, Rohit said he was visiting his relatives along with his sister-in-law.

While they were crossing the road, an overspeeding private bus broke the traffic signal and rammed into their car, he said. The Kochar Market police was investigating the matter.

Mandi Ahmedgarh,September 11
Although banned by the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the practice of snake charming and keeping serpents for receiving offerings in the name of “Guga” flourishes at Chhapar Mela being organised under the control of the administration every year.

What to talk of having written permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden to capture, transfer or hypnotise these serpents, a majority of charmers were not aware that they could be charged under the Indian Penal Code and sentenced for violating provisions of the Act.

Even those who visit the mela to worship reptiles did not realise that the practice was a major factor behind the disappearance of snakes from forests and fields of the state. Besides upsetting ecosystem, the disappearance of snakes results in increased population of rodents in fields, taking a toll on the agricultural yield year after year.

While organisers at the shrine opposed the idea of initiating action against snake charmers and those capturing serpents for religious purposes, officials at the control room said they could not book offenders until some wildlife officials lodged a complaint. Investigations by Ludhiana Tribune revealed that provisions of the Indian Wildlife Act 1972 were being violated with impunity at Chhapar Mela. A large number of snake charmers had been exploiting various species of snakes for seeking alms from devotees and entertaining children for years together here.

Mandi Ahmedgarh,September 11
Even as the National Investigation Agency and the Delhi Police are yet to arrive at definite leads to the perpetrators of the Delhi bomb blast, residents of this part of the border state seem to have turned wary of participating in crowded social functions.

The tendency has shown its affect on the success of Mela Chhappar, which attracted less number of devotees on the second day today.

However, a large number of devotees visited the shrine to pay obeisance during morning hours when fun makers were yet to converge on the mela site.

Activists of various political parties are also hesitant to attend rallies scheduled to take place at the mela site on Monday for obvious reasons of fear of any untoward incident in view of threats of more blasts in the country.

“When they (terrorists) can manage to plant bombs in high-security zone, we cannot terms fairs and social gatherings safe and secure. Moreover, being a supporter of a particular party does not mean that one should attend all rallies and functions,” said Deepak Sharma, an activist of a political party.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 11
With the preoccupation of activists and office-bearers of various political parties in campaigning for candidates contesting SGPC polls, ‘pandals’ set up for rallies almost remained vacant today.

The organisers had to arrange dummy lectures and stage appearance to enable cameramen of vernacular newspapers click pictures to substantiate claims regarding second-rung leaders addressing the ‘gathering’ of activists.

Activists and office-bearers of various political parties had preferred to keep their commitments with the supporters of SGPC candidates rather than pleasing organisers of conferences at Mela Chhappar on second day today.

Some second-rung leaders, who were supposed to address meetings, also remained busy in the campaigning for candidates from their respective segments.

Mandi Ahmedgarh,September 11
In order to streamline the movement of vehicles leading to the venue of the Mela Chhappar, the administration has urged the organisers of various conferences to impress upon activists of their parties to adopt specific routes to reach the venue on the conference day.

This besides facilitating smooth flow of traffic will minimise inconvenience to devotees visiting the fair, claimed the authorities. Ludhiana (Rural) SSP Amar Singh Bhullar said five parking areas had been established to accommodate vehicles coming from various constituencies and directions.

Activists from Jagraon, Barnala, Mehal Kalan and Raikot regions have been asked to adopt Lohatbaddi, Rachhin and Rasulpur route to reach the parking at Maherna village near Guga Mari.

Another parking on the Latala-Chhapar road will accommodate vehicles coming from Sidhwan Bet, Mullanpur, Jodhan and Pakhowal villages.

Activists coming from Amargarh, Malerkotla and Sherpur constituencies have been advised to park their vehicles in the parking lot on Dehliz Kalan road. Ahmedgarh, Dehlon, Payal, Sahnewal, Khanna and Gill parties have been asked to park their vehicles at Anand Isher Public School compound on the Ahmedgarh-Chhapar road. Vehicles coming from Mullanpur, Jangpur Mohi, Jodhan via Narangwal and Kalakh Majri will be parked at Dhulkot village.

On Tuesday, only light vehicles will be allowed to pass through Rasulpur to Chhapar via Majara chowk.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 11
Callous attitude of the health authorities towards checking unhealthy practices at Mela Chhappar has resulted in a situation that those coming here to seek sound health and prosperity can contract pathogens of dreaded diseases.

Tattooing and dental care by unauthorised practitioners, re-circulation of ‘prasad’, mishandling of eatables, unhygienic conditions of preparation and presentation of eatables continue unabated at the biggest rural fair of the region.

The health authorities had failed to check unhealthy practices at the mela during first two day of the mega event, thus falsifying the claims made by the civil administration.

Sweets and ‘patasas’ were re-circulated posing a threat to life. Even the ‘prasad’, which had been thrown on the floor and in the soil after being offered by the devotees, was also recovered by beggars and later sold at shops, obviously to be re-sold after being mixed with fresh ‘prasad’.

“Though senior health officials, including medical officers posted at government hospitals, have been watching beggars and children recovering parsad from soil, none ever bothered to check its consumption and re-circulation,” said Bimal Sharma, a local councillor, lamenting that the practice exposed thousands of devotees to deceases caused by microbes present in the soil, besides transmitting pathogens from beggars suffering from chronic disorders.

The health authorities also failed to check self-styled dental surgeons practicing their ‘skills’ at the mela site. What to talk of sterilisation of the equipment they do not even wash their hands while extracting teeth of rural folks.

A number of youths were seen getting tattoos inscribed on their body. While the youths were unaware of risks associated with the malpractice, the tattoo artists maintained no officials had ever objected to the practice.

“We never forced any one to get tattooed. How can we afford sterilising or changing our machine after every job done on some youth,” said Izhar, a tattoo maker.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 11
Human trafficking for making money through begging at rural fairs is suspected to be an organised profession in this part of the state. Hundreds of drifters coming to seek alms from devotees in the name of God can be seen at all socio-religious fairs, including Mela Chhappar.

The manner in which some physically challenged beggars are shifted from one fair to another and from one corner of the venue to the other suggests some gangs are exploiting the pitiable condition of these beggars.

Suspecting pick pocketing by a section of beggars, the police has urged the devotees not to entertain drifters and beggars. However, it hesitates to deal them with a stern hand, obviously fearing action by human rights organisations.

A large number of beggars, a majority of them migrants, have converged on the mela sites at Chhappar and Dehlon near here before commencement of the fair.

Women and children, outnumbering men, turn out to be more irritating as people find it difficult to get rid of them. Those who beg for alms and parsad sitting in rows do not cause any inconvenience to the devotees.

The authorities concerned have failed to understand that who brings the beggars who are not able to sit and walk. Their pitiable condition makes people donate generously. How could they collect and preserve offerings in cash and kind is beyond the comprehension of the common man.

“We have been visiting the fairs for many years and have observed that some beggars, who are unable to move and walk, are present at all these religious places. Obviously some gang must be working to exploit their pitiable condition,” said Jasbir Singh of Dehlon. He had seen a person collecting money from the bowl of a beggar, who was physical challenged.

Amar Singh Chahal, mela in charge, said the police instead of being strict with the beggars, had deputed extra force at sensitive points at the mela site. “At the same time, we have appealed the devotees to beware of swindlers and pickpockets in the guise of beggars," said Chahal, adding that no incident of pick pocketing has been reported at the mela during first two days.

Ludhiana, September 11
Although the patients suffering from dengue keep pouring in the private hospitals and the figure has crossed 350, yet the district health department says here are less han 100 patients in the disrict.

Dr Kulwinder Singh district health officer (DHO), Luhdiana said, “87 dengue patients have been reported so far and none has died of dengue.”

However, as per the figures of different private hospitals, five patients have died due to dengue.

DHO said, “The private hospitals count the patients without ELIZA test. It is not the right way. We have asked them to conduct Eliza tests."

But the hospitals like CMCCH and DMCH are already conducting ELIZA tests on which the DHO said, “We confirm a dengue patient only after conducting the test at our own.”

Ludhiana, September 11
Patients and attendants are at the receiving end at Ludhiana Medicity Hospital where the elevator is non-functional for the past few days.

Sukhmani Kaur, an attendant of a patient, said, “My sister is undergoing treatment at the hospital and I have to stay here for some hours. But it is a tiring experience as I suffer from joint pain. It is difficult for me to go to the upper floors through the ramp time and again.”

Aneeta, a patient undergoing treatment at the hospital, said, “The lift is not functioning and so, I have to use the ramp to shuttle between floors. The hospital authorities should get the lift functional at the earliest.”

The hospital has all the diagnostic laboratories on the first floor while the intensive care unit is on the second floor.

As the lift is non-functional, not only patients, but doctors are also having a hard time.

Ludhiana, September 11
Ludhiana MP and the national spokesperson of the Indian National Congress Manish Tewari today lashed out at the municipal corporation authorities for their failure to take proper measures for drainage of rainwater before monsoon.

He said the recent rains had caused havoc in the city and people had to bear the brunt. Addressing a series of public meetings in various wards here today, Tewari said, the monsoon is yet to be over and the threat of floods still looms large while the administration has blissfully been ignorant of the people’s plight.

The MP said it was shocking that while Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal were touring various areas of the state for SGPC elections, they had not bothered to visit the flood-hit people.

He reminded Sukhbir about his tall promises of converting Ludhiana into another Paris. He said, Paris is too far, they have not been able to provide the basic amenities to the people and a mild shower is enough to flood the whole of the city with water gushing into the houses and the shops in the mega city.

Speaking on the occasion, former minister Rakesh Pandey criticised the government for its failure to provide relief to the industry. The District Congress Committee president Pawan Dewan maintained that the civic administration had totally failed in its duty to provide relief from the heavy rains that have flooded the entire city.

Ludhiana, September 11
Contractual employees working under the Revised National Tuberculosis Programme have decided to continue their pen-down strike as their meeting with health and family welfare minister Satpal Gosain has not proved fruitful.

According to a press note issued by Gurpreet Singh Gill and Gurjeet Singh Ratan, district and state president, respectively, they will intensify theit struggle in the coming days.

The Auxiliary Nurse Midwife and Lady Health Union, Punjab, has also decided to protest in front of the office of director health services on September 19.

Lakhwinder Kaur Johal, general secretary of the union, has said in a press note that they are fighting for a pay grade of Rs 3,000 for auxiliary nurse midwives and Rs 4,800 for lady health workers.

Ludhiana, September 11
As the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections are just a week away, the candidates are all geared up and have intensified the campaigning. The campaigning is in full throttle with candidates holding meetings in their respective areas, starting from early morning till late evening.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, who is contesting from Ludhiana (West) constituency on Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) ticket, says that every day, he attends atleast 17-20 meetings.

An independent candidate Surinder Singh Ryait, who is contesting from Ludhiana (South) constituency said that on an average, he attends atleast 10 meetings every day. “My constituency is one of the biggest, in term of size as well as number of voters, in the district. Ludhiana (South) is having around 80,000 voters and that is why I have to go meet a large number of people,” he claimed.

As per the model code of conduct, the candidates would be allowed to campaign till September 16 evening. The SGPC elections are scheduled for September 18.

Ludhiana, September 11
A free limb distribution camp was organised at Viklang Sahayta Kendra by Bhartiya Vikas Parishad at Rishi Nagar. 51 physically challenged persons were given artificial limbs free of cost. Polio corrective surgery operations on 11 patients were also conducted and hearing aids were also provided to the handicapped.

Ravinder Mittal, district secretay of the organisation said services of mobile dispensary will be launched in the city soon which will cater the areas inhabited by the poor. RP Gupta, Secretary, said till now 36000 limbs have been distributed and around 2000 polio operations have been done by the organisation.

Ludhiana, September 11
The courses of Human Rights and Education, sponsored by sponsored by University Grants Commission (UGC) failed to kick-off at Arya College here during this academic session as Panjab University, Chandigarh did not to send its inspection team on time. Though UGC provided the first installment of Rs 4 lakhs to the college authorities to start the project in this academic session but PU took its own time of about eight months to send the inspection team for approval of the particular course. The team however, visited recently and asked the authorities to prepare themselves for starting the course next year.

According to information, Arya College had applied for the particular course to UGC, which after verifying the facts immediately gave its nod to start course on Human Rights and Education for under-graduates. The course will focus on the sensitisation and awareness of human rights among the students.

During the one year course, the students will be given certificates, in second year it will be a diploma course while in third year, it will be advanced diploma course in Human Rights. The proposal for initiating the course was sent to UGC in January 2011, which sent its expert committee to see the viability. Immediately after the visit of expert committee, the first installment of Rs 4 lakh was sanctioned to the college to commence the project for five years. Many students had expressed their interest over the new course but the delay on the part of Panjab University disappointed them as well as the college authorities.

Though the college had applied for the approval of the course on time, but the university took about eight months to send its inspection committee. The college principal Dr TL Joshi said, “We had submitted everything on time and we were hopeful that the course would start this year. But the inspection team visited on September 3, it is already late now. But the university has asked us to purchase books and other material.”

Ludhiana, September 11
A book on collection of short stories in Hindi "Theher Gayi Zindagi" written by Dr Asha Aneja was released at Punjabi Bhawan here today. Dr Kailash Nath Bhardwaj, President, Hindi Sahitya Academi during a literary seminar organised of Punjab UNESCO club, released the book. Dr Aneja said most of the stories dealt with the state of women and old people in the society.

“Despite the campaigns, discussions and talks about the improvement in the condition of women, the state in homes remains the same. Only two per cent of the women have have become aware, but the rest remain the same. Old age homes should be home only for those who do not have anybody to look after them. But those with families deserve a life of respect, and should be respected by their children for the time, energy and entire life they spent for bringing up their children. My mother was my inspiration, and I dedicated this book to her,” she said.

The released book is her third one. A book on research of plays titled "Ramesh Bakshi Ji Ke Natkon Mein Naitikta" and a book on poems titled "Kagaz ki Kashtiya" have been published earlier. Aneja is a lecturer in SDP College for Women.