Ludhiana, June 2
Two murders in Moti Nagar rocked the city in the past 24 hours. According to available information, those killed were migrant labourers aged between 22 and 24 years. The police is trying to establish whether both these murders were inter-linked or the incidents took place separately.

SHO of the Moti Nagar police station Raj Kumar said Ram Naresh (24), a labour, who had gone to get something from a grain market located on the Chandigarh road, was murdered at around 9.15 pm last night. “We have registered a case on the basis of complaint lodged by the brother-in-law of the deceased. Ram Naresh reportedly scuffled with a few persons. He was done to death with a sharp-edged weapon,” the SHO said and added that he was rushed to the Civil Hospital last night, but doctors declared him brought dead.

The SHO also stated that Ram Naresh was residing in a “vehra” at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar. He basically hailed from Uttar Pradesh.

“We are looking into the matter and recording the statements of relatives and eye-witnesses. A case under section 302 has been registered against unidentified persons,” the SHO added.

In yet another incident, the body of Rahul (23) was recovered from near the Sports Club in Moti Nagar at around 8.30 am. The SHO said Rahul was staying with his father Kailash.

The SHO added that a few passersby saw the body lying in the park and informed the police and father of the deceased. “As per our information, numerous cases were registered against Rahul in different police stations. It seems to be a case of personal rivalry. Both the youths were unmarried. Preliminary investigations revealed that both incidents took place separately. The youths (Rahul and Ram Naresh) were stabbed to death with sharp-edged weapons. A case under Section 302 has been registered on basis of statement recorded by the father of Rahul,” the SHO added.

Meanwhile, the body of an unidentified youth was recovered from Gunda Nullah, Civil Lines, near the local railway station. SHO GRP police station, Manjit Singh, told The Tribune that someone informed that the body was floating in the nullah in the morning.

“We reached and took the unidentified body in our custody. The deceased has been identified as Vinod Bihari (25). The murder must have taken place about 36 hours before. And it seems that the deceased had a scuffle with the murderer. The body has been sent to the Civil Hospital for identification. We are looking into the matter,” the SHO added. 

Ludhiana, June 2
To keep a check on illegal residential colonies mushrooming on the outskirts of the city, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) today demolished nine colonies located along the Sidhwan Canal Expressway and the Hambran road. Five such illegal colonies alongside the Sidhwan Canal and four on the Hambran road were demolished today.

Sources within GLADA said an illegal residential colony of a Congress candidate, who is contesting the Municipal Corporation elections against a senior Akali leader, was also demolished by the officials.

Additional Chief Administrator of GLADA, Ajay Sood, along with other officials and police personnel started this drive early today morning. “Illegal colonies namely Imperial Estate, Golden City, Industrial Colony, Industrial Estate, besides some others were demolished,” stated the press note issued by GLADA.

The GLADA officials also demolished roads and uprooted streetlights and electricity poles with the help of ditch machines.

Sood said strict action would be taken against owners of these illegal colonies. “Chief Administrator of GLADA Rahul Tiwari has already constituted various teams to demolish these illegal colonies. I urge residents not to purchase plots in these colonies. Before purchasing any plot, the residents should ask the coloniser to produce the permission taken from the state government so that they should not get cheated,” said Sood.

Doraha, June 2
Doraha Institute of Management and Technology (DIMT) will offer BCom professional degree programme from the new session. Jaspal Singh, chairman of DIMT, said the course will be run as a full time degree programme affiliated to Punjab Technical University.

While counting on the highlights of the course, he said the course has a unique syllabus designed by PTU which will cater to the latest needs of commerce graduates as desired by prospective corporate employers. The teaching methodology will include industrial visits, orientation, internship, case study and research work, he said. ––TNS

Ludhiana, June 2
People residing in the mega city are living a miserable life with the temperature breaking more than a decade record. The power supply is also playing truants for the past 10 days. Even as top brass of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) keeps claiming that all major snags in the transmission and distribution system have been rectified, and the power situation “near normal”, people have to remain without power for half-an-hour or an hour at regular intervals throughout the day.

If senior PSPCL officials are to be believed, a 100 MW new transformer installed at 220 KW Ferozepur Road substation in the city about a fortnight ago had become operational on Thursday evening and the power supply was restored in several localities fed from this sub station which included Model Town, Dugri, Sarabha Nagar, BRS Nagar and Rajguru Nagar. However, in area like Civil Lines and most of the old city localities fed from 66 KV GT Road substation, the power supply had taken a turn for the worse.

Residents of the affected localities complain that unscheduled power cuts are imposed in the name of load shedding for durations ranging from half-an-hour to an hour-and-a-half at regular intervals all through the day. “There is no respite from outage even during the night when power supply is interrupted several times for an hour or so,” lamented several residents of Chhawni Mohalla. PSPCL sources revealed that as a result of the extremely hot weather conditions prevailing in the region, the incidents of breakdown to the distribution and transmission equipment had also gone up considerably, thereby disturbing the power supply in several localities. “A CT in the Janta Nagar division got burnt today morning while several feeders in Civil Lines were affected due to a snag last evening,” said PSPCL officials while claiming that the technical staff was deployed immediately and the faults were rectified to restore the power supply in the affected areas.

While the city residents were grappling with dismal power situation in extreme weather conditions, the senior PSPCL officials at Patiala headquarters out rightly attributed the erratic power supply in the city to infrastructural problems. “Tere is absolutely no shortfall in availability of power as against total demand of electricity at present, and no power cuts on domestic feeders have been imposed not are there any restrictions on power consumption by the industry,” asserted the PSPCL 
officials.

Ludhiana, June 2
A non government organisation 'Voice of Youth Foundation' organised a health awareness programme on “World No Tobacco Day” at the Vardhman Spinning Mill, Chandigarh Road. Dr Subash Batta, Chief Medical Officer, Ludhiana, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Dr Harjinder Singh delivered a lecture on “Effects of Smoking, Health Risk of Tobacco and its Prevention”. He said tobacco is the second cause of death after hypertension worldwide. — TNS

Ludhiana, June 2
Major Issues

n Residents complain that the developmental works kicked off last year only.

n They also complain that roads were carpeted during the end of MC term.

n Problems of sewage disposal in areas, like LIG flats in Phase-1, are not yet solved.

n Residents want more parks in the ward.

n Water-logging in many parts of the ward during the rains is a continuous problem here.

n Areas like Dhandra Road, Passi Nagar continue to have various developmental problems, including provision of basic amenities.

Statistics
Major areas:

Passi Nagar, Karnail Singh Nagar, Green Valley, Punjabi Bagh, Basant Vihar, Urban Vihar, Guru Gyan Vihar, Chhoti Jawaddi, Phase-I, Phase-II, Phase-III, Labour Colony, Jagdev Colony, Dhandra

Water supply is erratic and sometimes unclean. Water-logging is a huge problem in many parts of the ward. The roads have been carpeted to an extent, but many of them have just been carpeted in the wake of elections. Why do we have to wait for the end of MC term for some development to take place?
— Ravider Pal

Ludhiana, June 2
Major issues

n Some of the roads in this ward are still uncarpeted.

n Open drainage and uncarpeted streets are major cause of concern at Guru Nanak Colony area.

n Some of the areas are still deprived from potable water and sewerage system.

Voters: 9,550
Population: 30,000

COUNCILLOR Speaks

We have installed sewerage line by spending Rs 12 crore in the area. As many as six tubewells are installed in this ward during my tenure
— Gurdeep Kaur

RESIDENTS Speak

Developmental work is going on in the ward but it should be speed up. The main road that leads to railway crossing is in a pathetic condition. Potable water supply is also irregular in the area
— binder

Ludhiana, June 2
Issuing a strict warning to rebel Akali leaders, who have filed their nomination papers for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections, senior Akali leader and in charge for the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections, Janmeja Singh Sekhon today warned them to withdraw their nomination papers by today evening, else they would be expelled from the SAD.

Presently at least 12 Akali leaders are contesting the elections as Independents and some of them are even former as well as sitting councillors. A few of these are also considered close to a senior Akali leader of the city and have been associated with them since long.

Sekhon said: “We have asked them to either withdraw their candidatures by today evening else they would be expelled from the party.”

Sekhon was in city to release the manifesto of a SAD candidate from ward number 56, Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, at his house in Gurdev Nagar.

Manpreet Singh Ayali, who was accompanying Sekhon, stated that the names of the rebels were Sohan Singh Goga from ward number 68, Harpreet Singh Bedi (whose wife Veeran Bedi is contesting as an Independent) from ward 57, Balwinder Singh from ward number 61, Kuldeep Singh Lohara, Sher Singh Garcha (sitting councillor from ward number 75), Jasvir Singh Sheera and a few others.

Harpreet Singh Bedi, who was once considered close to former Cabinet Minister Hira Singh Gabria and had even contested the MC by-election held in August 2009 from ward number 57, has now fielded his wife Veeran Bedi from this ward.

When contacted, he said, “The SAD candidate from ward 57 was responsible for my defeat. Instead of taking any action against him, the SAD made him the party candidate. Moreover, I have already resigned from the SAD so my wife could contest the elections at any cost.” 

Ludhiana, June 2
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) has dissolved its youth and business (beopar) wings in Punjab and disbanded its state general body. Confirming the development, the party president Paramjit Singh Sarna said the party's talks were on with many 'panthic' parties. "Two days ago, we had a meeting in Delhi wherein it was decided that we would join hands with like-minded parties. Disbanding various wings of the party in Punjab is a step towards this," said Sarna, while talking to The Tribune on phone.

He added that if the talks were successful, an alliance with other parties cannot be ruled out. "It is important to forge a viable political front that can bring back the lost glory of Punjab," said Sarna.

Jaswinder Singh Baliewal, who prior to the disbanding of the state general body was the Punjab unit president, said the move of dissolving the state general body was to reorganise the party. "I am on my way to Delhi where I would discuss the matter with the party president," he added.

Ludhiana, June 2
Losing his hope in the state government for providing him land for opening his museum, a city-based mechanical engineer, who got his name listed in the Limca Book of Records for owning four different collections in the year 1996 and has rare artifacts with him, plans to come up with his private museum by selling his own collections.

Talking to The Tribune, 41-year-old Narinderpal Singh said, " I have been approaching different state governments for more than 10 years for providing me a piece of land for a museum but no one helped me out. So now I have decided that I will sell my old artifacts and utilise the money in constructing my own museum on the ground floor of my house at Gandhi colony in Model Gram. For this I will have to sell old collection of cameras, projectors, gramophone, artifacts, utensils, sea shells,hookahs of Mughal times, miniature paintings of the British and Mughal eras etc. I hope I will be able realise my dream in coming few months."

A mechanical engineer, Narinderpal Singh runs his own business of manufacturing electric iron and 3-D models of the Golden Temple. He said, "I have the rarest collection of currency notes of more than 120 countries, 100 hand written manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Gurumukhi and Sanskrit, Nanakshahi Coins, weapons including kataar, sword, baggars, arrows, shields, khandas which I will keep in the museum."

Showing a unique currency note released by Indonesia, a 25 rupee note released by the Nepal Rashtra Bank and a collection of currency notes released by Saddam Hussain, he said, "I need Rs 20-25 lakh for constructing my museum which I will name Akal Sahai Museum. I have already started preparing a website of this museum in which all the Gurumukih granths would be digitalised and would be made available online so that anyone across the world can view it."

He got his name listed for possessing 80,000 different coins, 10,000 liquor bottles, 8,000 perfume bottles and 10,000 key chains in the year 1996.

Ludhiana June 1
Those days are gone when students used to visit their maternal parents during summer vacation. Nowadays children head off to far off locations and foreign lands as schools have started taking students on recreational and educational tours.

During this summer vacation, students of Guru Nanak Public School are going to Canada and Dubai to explore foreign destinations. Another group from same school has left for Nanital and Jim Corbett Park.

A group of students from BCM Arya Model School has already left for London and Paris and others are going to Goa and Manali.

According to the schools authorities, these educational and fun trips to abroad provide exposure. "Last year our group went to the USA for tour during summer vacations. It was full of fun and was informative as well," said Avneet Singh a student.

"You can spend 2-3 days at your relatives place and get bored. It is more enjoyable to explore new destinations," said Rahul, a student.

Navita Puri, principal KVM, said, "We organised such trips for student to help them learn how to set and achieve goals, how to take initiative and work as a team. Educational tours offer a great opportunity for self awareness, personal strength and to learn from everyday experience."

"These trips are educational for children. Children read about these places and visiting them gives them a wider exposure. Last year, children visited Biodome in Canada, learnt about the evolution of species and went to Niagara Falls. Plus, going through a journey, travelling, the process of immigration is also a learning experience for them," said Mona Singh, principal, Guru Nanak Public School.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 2
The Dehlon police has arrested two miscreants, who were involved in trafficking of illicit liquor, drugs and narcotics. About 18,000 milliliters of illicit liquor and rich haul of banned pharmaceutical products were seized from their possession.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Gupreeet Singh Sikand, a police team led by Amandeep Singh Brar nabbed Dharminder Singh of Umaidpura and Jaspreet Singh of Patwar Khanna Street, Dehlon, from different places yesterday.

While Dharminder Singh was booked under Sections 61/1/14 of the Excise Act, Jaspreet was booked under the NDPS Act. Seized pharmaceutical products included 2,400 tablets of phenotil, 1,400 of rapitil, 150 of cerocil, 100 packets of nitrozen tablets and 60 capsules of parvon.

Ludhiana, June 2
The four-day match played between Ludhiana and Chandigarh during the ongoing Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Tournament (u-22) at Punjab Agricultural University ended in a draw.

However, on the basis of first inning’s lead of 165 runs, the visitors earned three points. Only one innings could be completed in four days.

Chandigarh’s Abhilash (179) and Karan Goel (134) took Ludhiana bowlers to task. The duo occupied the wicket for almost two and half days. In the process, they snatched away advantage from the hosts who scored 442 runs in their first inning.

The visitors resumed final day’s proceedings at overnight score of 347 for six needing 95 runs to surpass Ludhiana’s score with Karan Goel (124) and Abhilash (58) on the crease.

Karan added 10 runs to the last evening’s individual score before his departure. Then, Abhilash took the reins and went for a leather hunt.

He was eventually dismissed after caught at the slips by Sandeep Singh off Nikhil Chowdhary, but not before hitting 179 runs which included 21 boundaries and 6 sixes. The visitors first innings culminated at 607 runs after 220.1 overs

Brief scores:

Ludhiana (first innings)- 442 all out in 132.3 overs (Sunny Pandey 26, Nikhil Chowdhary 95, Geetansh Khera 15, Davinder Sidhu 112, Gurinder Hara 64, Sandeep Singh 62 and Sukhjinder Singh 20 n.o; Rattan Singh 2 for 110, Gurvinder 4 for 100 and Abhilash 1 for 92).

Chandigarh (first innings)- 607 all out in 220.1 overs (Simranpreet Singh 29, Karan Goel 134, Naveen Dhiman 23, Abhilash 179, Gaurav Puri 43, Udit 69 and Vishal 54; Amritpal Singh 2 for 60, Himanshu 2 for 122 and Sukhjinder Singh 3 for 154 and Nikhil Chowdhary 2 for 107).

Ludhiana, June 2
Xplora Designs XI scripted a seven-wicket victory over Monte Carlo XI to emerge champions in the inaugural edition of the Corporate Cricket Cup Tournament that concluded at the Palm Gardens cricket ground on the GT Road here last evening.

The month-long tournament was organised by Amgeco and 94.3 MyFM in association with Seagram Royal Stag under flood lights in which teams from 20 corporate houses vied for top honours. The matches held during the tournament were of 12 overs each side.

In the final match, batting first, Monte Carlo XI made 56 runs, losing nine wickets in the stipulated 12 overs. Their innings revolved around Ajay, Arun and Rana who contributed 20, 8 and 7 runs respectively.

For Xplora Designs XI, Ravijot and Japkirat were the pick of bowlers who scalped three wickets each, while Bhupinder grabbed two wickets.

Chasing the target, Xplora Designs XI scored 57 runs losing just three wickets with 11 deliveries to spare.

For the winners, Vitin played the pivot role. He faced 27 balls to score 30 runs. Tarandeep and Amarbir made 14 and 8 runs respectively to steer the team to victory.

For the losing side, Arun took two wickets while Pankaj took one wicket.

Japkirat Singh from Xplora Designs XI was named man of the match as well as player of the tournament. Gaurav of Amgeco XI was declared the best bowler while Navdeep from Xplora Designs XI was adjudged the best batsman. Mohit from Monte Carlo XI was declared the best all rounder.

Karan Malhotra, managing director of Amgeco, and Amandeep Toor, a representative of Seagram's, distributed the prizes.

Ludhiana, June 2
Thanks to sensible batting by the upcoming cricketers, the Ludhiana district scored 285 runs losing eight wickets against the Amritsar district on the opening day of the PCA Inter-Regional Coaching Centre Cricket Tournament (13 to 15 years) being organised by the Punjab Cricket Association at Satish Chander Dhawan Government College today.

Put to bat, the Regional Coaching Centre, Ludhiana, made 285 for 8 in 100 overs in which the main contributions came through Saurabh Khurana (68), Jaskaran (39), Shivendhu Goel (34), Rohi Verma (30), Deepin Chitkara (26), Jaish Jain (26) and Harnoor Singh (12).

For the Regional Coaching Centre, Amritsar, Abhishek chipped in with two wickets for 45 runs while Rahul Kashyap and Shivam accounted for one wicket each after conceding 40 and 48 runs, respectively.

Ludhiana, June 2
While aspiring candidates are trying hard to win over the confidence of voters by making several pre-poll promises for making the city “neat and clean”, the Ludhiana Shopkeepers’ Association, Miller Ganj, GT Road, are sore over “callous” attitude adopted by the authorities in getting the dirt and garbage removed from the area.

Sunil Sharma of the Ludhiana Welfare Association said the garbage and filth scattered in the area had not been lifted despite several reminders. “The sweepers start throwing garbage, including polythene bags, waste material, discarded rubber and broken bottles since early morning, but the garbage is never lifted on time. It becomes impossible to work under such miserable condition with garbage scattered all around,” he added.

Surjit Singh, another shopkeeper, regretted that due to the pathetic condition of the area, their customers avoided coming to their shops or business establishments.