The other officials rushed to her rescue.

The police called for an ambulance and Noor Jehan was taken to hospital, from where she was discharged after some time.

Kamaljit Kaur termed the incident as unfortunate. “We were here to perform our duty and people should assist us. When people know they are living in an encroachment, they should not stop MC officials from carrying out their duties. I was manhandled, but I did not receive any serious injuries. I enquired about Noor Jehan’s health and doctors at the Civil Hospital told me that she is fit and has been discharged,” Kamaljit Kaur said.

Sidhheshwar Singh, father-in-law of Chanchla, said: “The baby had swallowed some waste matter and when the baby did not cry, I approached a doctor for help. The baby was given oxygen by the doctor.”

Dharmender Kumar said he had already lost two children and this was his fourth child.

Ravi Kumar, district in charge of the labour cell of the Shiv Sena, along with some labourers and party workers, raised slogans against the hospital authorities and demanded the suspension of the doctor concerned and the staff for negligence.

Ludhiana, November 4
People have started preferring frozen vegetables over fresh ones owing to rising inflation. With the price of peas reaching an all-time high, consumers are buying frozen peas instead.

In the wholesale market, pea pods are being sold for Rs 50-55 per kg while grocers are selling them for Rs 80 a kg. On the contrary, a packet of 500 grams of frozen peas is available for Rs 80.

“Some companies are even offering schemes, wherein a consumer pays for one packet of peas and gets one packet free. When it comes to frozen peas, it means only peas and not the pods. If I purchase 1 kg of pea pods, I will get only about 200-300 grams of peas. That is why we prefer frozen peas and the quality is the same,” said Mohinderpal Kaur, a resident of Sarabha Nagar.

Dealers are attributing the hike in vegetable prices due to the wedding season. Amarvir Singh, a vegetable trader, said the prices of fruits and vegetables was based on demand and supply. “Now that the wedding season is on, the demand for fruits and vegetables has increased, but the supply is the same. Hence, there is an increase in the prices of vegetables. But after November 15, when the new crop of fruits such as oranges and grapes reach the market, their price will be less as we are expecting a bumper crop,” he said.

A housewife, Surinder Kaur, said: “Ever since the price of pea pods has increased, we have started buying frozen peas. There are very few frozen vegetables available and I think these days people are opting for frozen peas because these are cheaper compared to fresh ones.”

Jagraon, November 4
The agriculture department of Ludhiana organised a district level Farmer Training Fair at Jagraon today. As many as 1200 farmers from various villages of Ludhiana district participated in the district level Farmer Training Fair, held at Over Seven Seas Palace.

An exhibition of various new farming products and equipments was also put on during the occasion during which the farmers were informed about the benefits of using the equipments and machines to maximise their produce. The agriculture experts also taught the farmers about how to use the newly developed equipments and products for farming purpose.

Speaking on the occasion, various agricultural experts touched upon different crucial issues like declining level of under ground water, ill effects of burning paddy stubble by the farmers, excessive use of fertilisers and appealed to save the water and avoid burning paddy stubble and excessive use of fertilisers.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Ludhiana SR Kaler visited as the chief guest and inaugurated the fair. Kaler while addressingm, urged the farming community to adapt new farming technologies for agriculture to increase the produce of their crops.

“In this era of globalisation, the agricultural sector too has become global and there are a number of new challenges being faced by the farming community. Therefore, developing as well as adopting new farming technologies is the need of the hour. The farmers of Punjab shall also use the new farming technologies developed by our agricultural scientists to match international standards of farming,” said Kaler.

Raising serious concerns over the constantly declining level of under ground water, SDM Jagraon, Isha Kalia, asked the farmers to give up the wheat-paddy crop circle and start growing new crops with the use of new farming technologies. Counting upon the ill effects of the practice of burning paddy stubble, she also appealed to the farmers to protect the environment from pollution.

In his address during the occasion, chief agriculture officer Ludhiana Dr Rajinder Singh Pandher said the agricultural department has set a target of sowing wheat on 35 lakh hectares, oil seeds on 4 lakh hectares, sunflower on 2 lakh hectares and cereals and vegetables on 13 thousand hectares of land during the coming season.

Ludhiana, November 4
A three-day national symposium on “Emerging Management concepts for Sustainable Livestock and Poultry Production” and XIX Annual Convention of Indian Society of Animal Production Management (ISAPM) was organised by the department of livestock production management, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), concluded here today.

A plenary and concluding session started today at 10.30am at Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI). Dr HS Sandhu, dean, College of Veterinary Science was the guest of honour. Dr DN Jana, president Indian Society of Animal Production Management (ISAPM) and Dr AL Saini, organising secretary, chaired and co-chaired the session, respectively.

Dr TK Patbandha, NDRI, Karnal; Rohit Gupta and Samita Saini from GADVASU, got the Dr NSR Sastry Young Scientist Award. Dr HD Chauhan, SDAU, Gujrat, got Smt Kadambani Jana Award. Eight sisters NE Best LPM Research Award was given to Dr L Hmar from Central Agricultural University (CAU), Aizawal, Mizoram. Dr Prasanta Saikia from Mizoram, Dr J Muralidharan, Nammakal. Dr Parminder Singh, Dr Chandrahas, Dr V Sangawan and Dr MK Chateli from Ludhiana received the best Oral Presentation Award. Dr Imtiwati from Pantnagar, Dr Kuldeep Gupta, Dr Daljeet Kaur, Dr Jaswinder Singh, from GADVASU, Dr Manjeet Kaur from PAU and Dr D Mridula from CIPHET received the best poster award. Dr Jana, president of the society, said more than 250 delegates from 21 different states of India participated in the conference. — TNS

Raikot/Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 4
Electrical poles erected in the middle of busy link roads and highways are waiting for some major tragedy to happen for the past several years. Night driving is risky as residents apprehend that some major tragedy might occur due to the poor visibility. Admitting that the electricity poles were source of inconvenience to the commuters, authorities of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Powercom) said no request regarding shifting of any of the installation was pending with them.

Rather the officials had to bare losses due to the damage caused to the installations by a few commuters during the past several years said the authorities.

A large number of electrical installations, erected on roads and streets, were posing threat to human lives besides causing inconvenience to them. While poles and transformers in streets and on turnings caused inconvenience to commuters, a number of poles erected in the middle of highways and link roads are waiting for major tragedy to happen.

Supporting high-tension wires, electric poles situated in the middle of the Karamsar- Ahmedgarh road along the Sirhind Canal, is solid example of the administrative apathy. It seems that PWD authorities aren’t moved by a number of minor accidents that have already damaged the poles tin past. The concrete plinth constructed to support the pole has broken due to repeated collisions by vehicles, but the department is yet to shift the pole.

“They are probably waiting for a major tragedy to occur,” said Dr Ravinder Sharma and Yadwinder Singh Phallewal, social activists. They apprehend that some speeding vehicle might fall into the canal after colliding with the pole due to poor visibility.

Similar is situation of electric poles situated on the Ring road. Residents have urged the higher authorities to do needful to avert accidents.

An electric pole erected in the middle of road along the Sirhind canal near Ahmedgarh. 

Jagraon, November 4
Residents heaved a sigh of relief this evening when the Municipal Council of Jagraon finally woke up from slumber and covered the sewerage manhole on the local College Road, which was lying uncovered for the past four days. The manhole had endangered the lives of commuters.

Though it took four days for MC action, repeated requests by area residents to MC officials and several media reports bore fruit and the authorities covered the sewerage manhole.

The cemented manhole cover near Shastri Nagar had given in on October 31 when a tractor trailer passed over it. The manhole was without cover for days but the MC did not take note of it.

Moreover, a Maruti car had got stuck in the manhole when the cover had given in. But even this was not enough to get the MC authorities moving. The manhole remained uncovered till this evening.

Annoyed residents had yesterday threatened to block the road and hold a protest in front of the house of MC president Baldev Krishan Dhir on November 5.

Finally, the MC authorities swung into action and sent some employees to cover the manhole. The episode, however, has brought to the fore the irresponsible approach of the Jagraon Municipal Council.

Commenting on the callousness approach of the MC, a senior citizen Madan Lal Garg said: “The manhole is situated in the middle of the road on which a large number of commuters, including students, commute every day. The manhole remained open for four days. But the MC did not pay any heed to the repeated requests by residents. It seemed as if the MC was waiting for a mishap to take place before covering the manhole.”

This was not the first time that the manhole cover gave in. The same manhole cover had broken twice in the past too. The residents have accused the contractor of using substandard material while laying down interlocking tiles on the road, which was causing the manhole cover to break time and again. The residents apprehend that the new cover would also break down.

Meanwhile, the MC president has sought apology from the people for the inconvenience caused to them by the delay in covering the manhole. Dhir said it took long to cover the manhole because the MC did not have a cover to fit the manhole and it had to get a new cover, which took three days.

Shamashpur(Samrala), November 4
Fear of dengue has gripped Shamaspur village near here as the symptoms of the disease were detected in more than 157 residents of the village. The total population of the village is about 2,000.

The situation has been going from bad to worse over the last six months, but no official of the civil administration or the health department has visited the village. The residents said insanitary conditions were responsible for the spread of the disease due to the apathetic attitude of the administration.

They said they were suffering from fever, bodyache and vomiting for long, but nobody had paid any attention. The drainage system of the village was chocked and the streets were full of contaminated water coming from seven ponds in the village.

A team of 12 members from the health department visited the village and took samples from 45 villagers and examined about 160 persons. Four out of 45 persons were immediately referred to the Civil Hospital at Samrala due to their serious condition. The remaining were under observation of the medical staff.

Gurmel Singh, a member of the panchayat, alleged that due to shortage of funds, they had failed to clean the village ponds. He said had been bringing the issue to the notice of the higher authorities from time to time but no one was listening to them.

Senior Medical Officer, Samrala, Raghubir Singh said every day 15-20 patients with symptoms of dengue and malaria were coming to the hospital from the village and the epidemic was spreading due to the non-availability of basic civic amenties in the village. 

Ludhiana, November 4
Frequent hikes in the prices of petrol is burning a hole in the pocket of common man. The residents have witnessed eight hikes in price of petrol during past one year starting from October 2010 to November this year.

This has spelt doom for the monthly budget of city residents as prices of all essential commodities have spiralled. Finding it difficult to shell out nearly Rs 75, the residents have switched over to diesel run cars and SUV’s.

President of Ludhiana Petrol Pump Association, Ashok Kumar Sachdeva said, “Since last one year, petrol prices are increasing at short intervals and due to which the sale has decreased by 12-15 percent. Along with that customers are purchasing diesel run vehicles instead of petrol.”

He said that some years ago, the number of petrol run vehicle was much more than the diesel ones, but now things have changed due to continuous price hike.

Even Ajay Sandhu, owner of Sandhu Motors dealing in Maruti, says that earlier the ratio between petrol and diesel cars was 70:30. “But over the years, as the price of petrol kept increasing, people have now started switching over to Diesel run vehicles. This ratio has come down to 55:45 and as the demand of diesel cars is increasing, we expect that this ratio might come down further,” said Sandhu. Regarding the Maruti models such as Swift, Ritz and SX4, Sandhu says that 95 percent of total models of these vehicles sold are diesel run.

This is not for the first time that the prices of petrol have increased four times in this year.

Sameer Sharma, a resident of Model Town, said, “Whenever there is price hike, common man is left with no option and have to adapt accordingly. The only change we can make is our vehicle. At most, we can purchase a diesel run car, but the government as well as the oil companies should think something about the common man before taking such harsh decisions, and that also which they are taking at regular intervals.”

Gaurav, a petrol pump attendant, said, “We also face the effect of hike in petrol price in other way. We have to face the frustration of the consumers when they came to us for filling their petrol tanks. Those consumers are annoyed with the government but we have to face their anger". 

It’s not for the first time that the government has increased the petrol prices in a year. Rising inflation, too, is scaring us as prices of all commodities are going to rise~

— Gian Singh, a resident of BRS Nagar

Bad days are approaching. I am fed up. Soon, we will not be able to afford petrol what to talk of vehicles. Thus, I have decided to purchase a bicycle to save money for me and my children’s future~

— Parvinder Singh, Pakhowal Road 

The petrol prices are reflective of inflation in the country. It is becoming difficult to keep the kitchen fire burning. I do not know what is going to be in store. It is really burning a hole in common man’s pocket.~

— Sarbdeep Singh, a resident of Dugri

I have a field job. I am required to drive and meet different people. For this, I require petrol worth Rs 200 everyday. How can I afford petrol worth Rs 6,000 every month and fulfill the needs of my family at the same time?~

— Avtar, a resident of KS Nagar

Ludhiana, November 4
A four-member team of forensic experts from the state forensic sciences department today visited the furnace blast site that had left one dead and 10 others injured two days ago.

The team led by Dr Ashwani Kalia, Dr Davinder Pal Singh, both assistant director, Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh, reached Pal Steels, Phase VII, Focal Point, at around 10 am and collected samples.

According to the SHO of the Focal Point police station, the team is here to examine the blast site and find out the cause behind the incident. “They are investigating whether the incident took place due to the melting of any explosives,” said the SHO.

Later during the day, the team visited the injured and recorded their statements. The team refused to divulge any detail and maintained that the visit was part of the ongoing investigation.

Mukesh Kumar, in charge, Jeevan Nagar police post, said a case had been registered against the owners Kamal Kant, Ravish, Rajesh and Hari Ram under Section 304/A 337 and 338 of the IPC.

“The forensic team is here on our request. We want a free and fair investigation as the industrialists were claiming that the incident took place due to overheating. The team will investigate the real cause behind the incident and appropriate action would be taken following its findings,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashish Chaudhry.

One person died and 10 others sustained injuries in a furnace blast that took place at Pal Steels, Phase VII, Focal Point, on November 2.

At least 11 persons were on duty during in the factory when the incident took place. The deceased has been identified as Vijay Pratap (35), a resident of Uttar Pradesh. Nine other injured persons have been identified as Dinesh Kumar, Sonu, Dinesh Yadav, Saifudin, Lalta Prasad, Dharminder Kumar, Shadi Lal, Shri Kishan and Ajay.

While eight injured are undergoing treatment at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Raj Kumar (32), who suffered serious burn injuries, has been admitted to the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).

One person had died and 10 others sustained injuries in a furnace blast that took place at Pal Steels, Phase VII, Focal Point, on November 2. 

Ludhiana, November 4
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) has received yet another VVIP guest. It is Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal's horse named King Bruce, which has reached the GADVASU hospital, here. This horse reached the varsity hospital in the evening and ever since its arrival, it is being given VVIP treatment.

While the other animals have been kept in the animals ward, the Deputy CM’s horse was kept in a separate room, which has been carpeted with a thick layer of grass and attendants from Badal’s stud farm have been posted round-the-clock outside the special room to take care of the horse.

Moreover, GADVASU doctors and scientists have also been asked to keep a close check on the condition of the horse, whichhas an upset stomach.

This is not for the first time that Deputy CM’s horse has reached GADVASU, which is one of the best veterinary hospitals of the state.

On the morning of June 27, Badal’s Irish horse was brought to GADVASU and at that time, the gynaecology emergency at the university’s veterinary hospital was converted into a special room for the seven-year-old horse named King of Rings, of Irish Tinker breed. An air cooler was also provided to keep it cool. This horse was admitted to the same hospital due to high fever owing to a tick-borne protozoan blood infection.

Again on July 19, Badal’s mare and her foal were brought to the varsity hospital for treatment. At that time also, the gynaecology emergency room in GADVASU's veterinary hospital was converted into a makeshift special room for the mare named Umer and her foal. Umer was suffering from an infection where blood was coming in its urine, while the foal is having loose motions.

Most of the caretakers at the CM's stud farm are Marwaris and all of them wear a special uniform, which is Khaki in colour.

A miniature pony of a European breed from Badal’s stud farm had died at the GADVASU hospital on July 26.

Several attempts were made to contact GADVASU veterinarians, but all calls went unanswered.

Ludhiana
Halloween party: Students of Class IV and Class V of DRV DAV Centenary Public School, Phillaur, celebrated Halloween party with great zeal and enthusiasm. They had dressed themselves as devils, ghosts, skeletons, witches and pumpkins. Classrooms were decorated with pictures of black cats, orange pumpkins and white ghosts, which are the traditional images of this day. They also participated in various craft- related activities. Students of UKG took part in a “Show and Tell Competition”. Parth Gogna stood first, Ruhani second; Tanuj Ahuja and Harjot bagged the third and consolation prizes, respectively.

Ludhiana, November 4
As city schools have rolled out the registration dates for admissions for the coming session, hoardings and unipoles in the city can be seen throughout the city as some of the schools have started using outdoor advertising as a means of spreading awareness among the prospective admission seekers for their children.

Although advertising and promotion by schools are not new to the city, but the scale at which advertising and promotion is being done by educational institutions is on the rise.

The rental charges for using unipoles on monthly basis run into tens of thousands of rupees, which is costlier in the prominent places.

"There is a limited amount of time for the registration process. It is just a way of reaching out to people," says a principal of a private school. "If we are providing something unique and new to our students, why must tell people about it. So outdoor advertising is just right thing to make people notice," she says.

"Abroad lakhs go into brand-building exercises of educational institutes. Even in some other cities of India, educational institutes are into promotions much more," says a director of another school. "Top management institutes in the country are charging lakhs. But their value lies in the human resources and talent they create," he said.

However, raised eyebrows at such expenses being conducted by educational institutes are not uncommon. Raksha Tyagi, a resident of Tagore Nagar, whose child studies in a private school in the city, said the schools are increasingly becoming commercial these days. "If even educational sector starts spending colossal amounts on advertising like business and commercial enterprises, ultimately who will bear the expenses for such exercises? It is we," she says.

"Schools should spend money in teaching the under-privileged or improving education rather than spending so much money on just promotion," said Nitish Gupta, a businessman.

Ludhiana, November 4
The city police has booked eight persons in an attempt to murder case following the yesterday’s shootout incident.

The accused identified as Dharminder Singh of Meharban, his brother Mani, Goldy, Sucha Singh, Aman, Rock Kalyan, Babbi and Grewal were arrested following the statement of Surinder Singh (21) and Sandeep Singh Grewal (22), who sustained grievous injuries in the gang war that broke out near a marriage palace at Kohara the Chowk yesterday.

Surinder Singh from Sangowal village and Sandeep Singh Grewal from Khwajke village, who sustained bullet injuries in the incident, were undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital and the CMCH, respectively.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sahnewal, Jaswinder Singh, said the manhunt had been launched to nab the accused behind yesterday’s shooting incident. 

Ludhiana, November 4
The city police has booked a man for fraud, who misled the revenue department for usurping the land of his parental uncle.

The case was registered following the complaint lodged by Varinder Sharma, a resident of Kitchlu Nagar.

Sharma had alleged that Bhagwati’s son Anand had submitted a fake affidavit in the revenue department to usurp the land of his paternal uncle, Chaman Lal, who died long ago.

In the affidavit, Anand Savroop had claimed that his uncle was a bachelor and he alone was the legal hire of the property.

Varinder, a neighbour, objected to it. During the probe it was found that Chaman Lal was married and had two children.

Sharma said he filed a complaint with the police in 2009 pertaining to the grabbing of a plot in the Kitchlu Nagar area.

But instead of registering a case against Anand Savroop, the district attorney (DA) legal goofed up and booked Bhagwati Savroop, father of Anand Savroop.

The cops later discovered that the man they had booked for fraud had died long ago. The anomaly was rectified following a Tribune expose highlighting how the police booked a dead man.

The police arrested Anand Savroop for fraud. He has been booked for submitting false affidavit in the revenue department and usurping a piece of land belonging to his uncle, said SHO Beant Juneja. 

Ludhiana, November 04
Yet again kabaddi has scored over the Army, the recruitment agency of the Army was forced to shift the venue after the sports department declined the proposal of conducting a recruitment trial at Guru Nanak Stadium, the venue for the final of World Cup Kabaddi.

After failing to get a nod from the sport department authorities, the Army’s open recruitment authorities had to shift the venue.

The development has taken place for the first time. Earlier, the state school games were delayed by a day due to the recruitment rally.

According to Director (Recruiting) Col MS Mehar, the recruitment rally will be organised at the Dholewal Military Complex from November 14 to 18.

District Sports Officer (DSO) Surjit Singh said: “Yes the Army authorities had approached us to conduct the recruitment trial. But we declined their proposal as the preparations were being made for hosting the finals of the World Cup Kabaddi scheduled for November 20. We told them that we cannot handover the stadium due to finals of the kabaddi cup.”

He further said the army authorities kept on approaching them and even sought the intervention of the district administration in the issue.

Sources in the sports department said during the time of recruitment the Army authorities pitch tent in the ground, which causes damage.

“Previously, we have received complaint from players following the recruitment rally. This time we don’t want to take chances as the World Cup Kabaddi is not a small event,” said a sports department coach.

The District Sports Officer said the crewmembers and support staff of event management company would arrive at Guru Nanak Stadium on November 15 and would start rehearsing.

Ludhiana, November 4
Bollywood seems to be creating a new sheen of style and status about the game of Kabaddi among those living in and around the city.

City youths are surprised to see top Bollywood celebrities endorsing and performing for the “desi” game. “I was glad as well as astonished when I came to know that Shah Rukh Khan was in Bathinda to perform in the event,” says Gurpreet Singh, a BA first year student of SCD Government College.

“I missed Shah Rukh’s performance in the opening ceremony, but I came to know that Katrina and Salman would be performing during the closing ceremony. I don’t want to miss that,” said Akhilesh, a student of Khalsa College.

“It is great to see our rural sport getting Bollywood’s attention,” said Ramandeep Singh, a resident of Manjit Nagar. “My friends are enthusiastic about it. There have started playing the game in our area, which was never the case earlier,” he adds.

Kulbir Singh, a student of MA Punjabi (IInd year), says Kabaddi is the game of Punjab and of Punjabis. “Last year, only eight countries participated in the world cup. This year the number of countries have almost doubled. If this goes on, the game will not be considered as a rural sport,” he said. “I’m sure with Bollywood stars performing for the game, it is going to become popular with the youngsters in the cities of state also,” he added.

Ansh, a Class IX student, is hooked to the words “Kabdi, Kabdi, Kabdi” as they speak in the game. “I have heard about the game, but never realized that it could also be so interesting,” he beams.