Ludhiana, July 18
City residents were at the receiving end following strike by the municipal corporation employees. Even as residents visiting the MC office for work were not allowed entry yesterday, a large number of people were seen returning disappointed today.

The MC employees went on an indefinite strike after the suspension of MC Commissioner Malwinder Singh Jaggi. However, they called off the strike today following an assurance of a free and fair probe from Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura.

Residents who were to either pay their bills, submit applications related to the RTI Act or some other work remained at the receiving end as they were not allowed to enter the offices. Even mediapersons and MC contractors had a tough time entering the Zone-A office located at Mata Rani Chowk.

A city resident, Avtar Singh, who had come to the MC’s Zone-A office for submitting an application related to the RTI Act, rued: “It’s sad that the MC employees went to strike. We all know that MC deals in cases related to civic issues that cannot be ignored and are time bound. So, we expect that even if the employees are on strike, there should be some person who can deal the residents for urgent issues.”

Kuldeep Singh Khaira from the Vigilant Citizens’ Forum said he was to pay two bills —house tax and water supply bill yesterday. “I went to MC’s Zone-C office on Gill Road, but I was surprised to know that the employees are on strike. Later, I went to the Zone-A office, but I was not even allowed to enter,” rued Khaira.

He said as per the Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1966, no government employee shall join, or continue to be a member of an association the objects or activities of which are prejudicial to the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India or public order or morality. No government employee shall in any radio broadcast or in any document published in own name or anonymously, or anonymously pseudonymously or in the name of any statement of fact or opinion which has the effect of any adverse criticism of any current recent policy or action of the Government of India, Government of Punjab or any other state government.

The Congress Workers’ Forum also held a press conference in support of Malwinder Singh Jaggi today and said the state government should have ordered a probe into the incident before taking such a decision.

Ludhiana, July 18
A recently opened restaurant-cum-pub in Ghumar Mandi is being given a "VIP" treatment by the Municipal Corporation and the traffic police.

Even as the traffic police has adopted strict measures to streamline the traffic movement in the city, owners of the restaurant have allegedly encroached upon four-five feet of the public road for the “convenience” of customers.

Not just the traffic police, the MC authorities have also preferred to look the other way while the owners of the restaurant have put up barricades on the road.

Ludhiana Tribune spoke to shopkeepers and residents of the area who complained that a "VIP" treatment was being given to the restaurant. The traffic police personnel on duty make it sure that no vehicle is parked outside the restaurant, they alleged.

Requesting anonymity, a shopkeeper said: "The restaurant owners are well linked. The authorities do not dare to remove the encroachment. The traffic policemen ask passers-by not to park the vehicles in front of the building, even inside the yellow line, which is marked by the authorities themselves. Will they allow us all to encroach upon the public land like this? We also get so many customers and for their convenience, we can also put barricades in front of our shops. Will it be agreeable to the authorities?"

Another resident rued that since the restaurant owners have "political-backing”, the law-enforcing agencies don’t dare to take action against him for the violation.

Jagraon, July 18
A woman was allegedly shot dead by four assailants in Jagraon this afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Amarjit Kaur (48), a resident of the Kacha Malak Road area. Four alleged assailants, including deceased's ex-son-in-law, his two brothers and an unidentified person, forcibly entered the house of the deceased and allegedly shot her and fled from the spot.

The accused have been identified as Amarjit’s ex-son-in-law Gurpreet Singh, his two brothers Harpreet Singh and Joga Singh and an unidentified person. A case has been registered against the accused under Section 302 of the IPC and the Arms Act at the Jagraon City police station.

The police said when the incident took place, deceased’s husband Gursewak Singh and his children were present in the house and they saved their lives by locking the room from inside. Though the assailants also intended to kill Gursewak, but he had also locked himself in the room. The bullet, which hit the deceased on her throat, was allegedly fired by her ex-son-in-law Gurpreet Singh.

Soon after the incident, a police team from the Jagraon City police station, including sub-inspector Hari Mittar and bus stand police post in charge Baldev Singh reached the spot. Jagraon SSP Gurpreet Singh Toor also visited the crime scene.

In his statement given to police, Gursewak said he had married his daughter Kirandeep Kaur to Gurpreet Singh in 2009. As Kirandeep had cleared IELTS, both the husband and wife shifted to Australia after some time of the marriage. "My daughter had informed me that Gurpreet's behaviour changed after arriving in Australia. Their relation turned sour after a few months of the marriage which ultimately lead to their divorce in 2011,” said Gursewak Singh.

Following this, he married his daughter Kirandeep Kaur to Rana Partap Singh, a resident of Mehta Chowk. "This made Gurpreet Singh and his family members angry and they wanted to settle score with me. They had also threatened me a couple of times," alleged Gursewak Singh.

Sub-inspector Hari Mittar said today's incident might be the fallout of remarriage of Gursewak's daughter. But it is too early to reach a conclusion, he added.

He said the police is investigating the case from various angles. Meanwhile, the police has sent the body for post-mortem to the Civil Hospital.

Ludhiana, July 18
The vigilance sleuths today recovered Rs 35 lakh, one kg of opium, Indira Vikas Patra for Rs 5 lakh and property documents worth several crores from the house of Rakesh Gupta, a motor vehicle inspector in the District Transport Department at Ludhiana.

The vigilance sleuths raided his house at Model Town Extension late on Wednesday evening.

Snehdeep Sharma, SP, Economic Wing, Vigilance Department, said Rakesh Gupta was absconding and an FIR had been registered against him. He said it was shocking to recover huge amount of cash and property documents worth several crores from his house.

Rakesh Gupta had reportedly given a no objection certificate to a vehicle which had hit a school student following which he died. The vehicle was impounded by the police and it was in the custody of the Khamano police.

A complaint was lodged with the Vigilance Department. Rakesh Gupta was also having an additional charge of Fatehgarh Sahib. The Vigilance Department has also asked the Income Tax Department to assess the value of the property documents recovered from Gupta's house.

Ludhiana, July 18
After organic cotton garments, manufacturers are now using eco-friendly dyes to make clothes skin friendly.

"Natural, plant-based dyes are making a comeback. Though natural dyes will never be able to completely replace synthetic dyes, still stress is being laid on the use of eco-friendly colours for dyeing. After the use of organic cotton, garment manufacturers are adopting eco-friendly dyes," said Ajay Sood, owner of a dyeing unit.

"There are innovative ways of using plants for multiple purposes and maximising their dying potential. And if people start loving natural colours of fabrics, dyes wouldn't be needed as much. Using natural or eco-friendly colours for dyeing is a healthy option as chemical-based dyes are harmful for skin and one can develop allergies," said Sunil Katyal, an exporter.

"Garment manufacturers are increasingly demanding the use of nature-based dyes as more stress is being laid on eco-friendly stuff around the globe. Special care is being taken of garments that are to be exported as the companies are very specific about the amount of chemicals being used for dyeing,? added Yogesh Bansal, a dyeing unit owner, who supplies garments for export purpose.

Chemical sensitivity Some individuals have chemical sensitivity when exposed to garments. Symptoms in adults for chemical sensitivity range from skin rashes, headaches, trouble concentrating, nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, dizziness and difficulty breathing. Symptoms in children include red cheeks and ears, dark circles under eyes, hyperactivity, and behaviour or learning problems.

Ludhiana, July 18
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to clamp down on gold coin sales by banks amid rising bullion imports adding pressure to the current account deficit and weakening of the rupee.

“Banks were allowed to sell gold by importing it to fight the excess dollar flow. By the same logic, the measure should be reversed now as we are at the opposite end of the spectrum. It was a temporary measure, which unfortunately was made permanent by banks,” said a senior bank official.

The rupee has depreciated 30 per cent since August amid the sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone, which made investors flee to safer havens. “In its recent interactions with bankers, the central bank sounded its discomfort over the practice of banks pushing gold coin sales and asked them to go slow. However, banks have not stopped the practice of giving incentives to their staff to push gold sales as they earn a margin of Rs 100-150 per gram of gold sold,” added a top official of a private bank.

Gold and silver imports $19.26 billion in April-December 2009 $29.50 billion in April-December 2010 $45.76 billion in April-December 2011 Source: RBI

Jagraon, July 18
A middle-aged man, who had gone missing on Tuesday night, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a vacant plot near the Jagraon Grain Market on Wednesday morning.

The incident came to light when some passers-by noticed the body in a vacant plot following which they informed the police. A police team led by Jagraon (City) police station SHO Surinder Singh arrived and took the body into its custody. DSP, Jagraon, Surinder Kumar also visited the spot.

The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Baldev Singh, a resident of Mohalla Rampura near the railway crossing on Sherpur Road. He is survived by his wife and a child.

As the place from where the body was recovered is situated near the residence of the deceased, his family members also came to know about the incident. Family members of the deceased along with some other residents of the locality rushed to the spot and identified the body.

The family members of the deceased said that Baldev was working at a shop in Old Grain Market of Jagraon. After closing the shop yesterday evening, Baldev did not return home till late night after which his family searched for him, but to no avail.

Sources said there were some signs of injuries on the face and other parts of the body which were indicating towards something suspicious behind the death.

The police has sent the body for post-mortem to the Jagraon Civil Hospital. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC have been initiated.

"Baldev was a chronic drug addict and this might be the reason behind his death. But the picture will be clear after the post-mortem report,” said the SHO.

Machhiwara, July 18
Although the Punjab government and education department are claiming better facilities for school students, shortage of teachers has hit the studies hard in the Bet area of Machhiwara block.

As per information, a total of 5,240 students are studying in this area, but the teachers are less as compared to the students. A middle school of Khanpur Mand village has about 46 students, but there is no regular teacher out of the five allotted posts in the school. Only one teacher, who is on deputation from Hambowal school, teaches the students.

Shankar Dass Senior Secondary School, Machhiwara, is also facing shortage of the teachers. Although above 1,000 students of about 70 villages are studying here, the posts of about 22 teachers are lying vacant.

Another leading school of the area, Government Senior Secondary School for Girls has about 300 students, but there are only three lecturers. Another school, Government Senior Secondary School, Hambowal Bet, has about 600 students but nine posts of teachers and lecturers are lying vacant.

At Chhorian village middle school, four out of seven posts are lying vacant, while at Sherpur village, six out of 11 posts are vacant. Similarly, in Manewal village, eight posts out of 14 are lying vacant, at Bhattian village, seven posts out of 13 are lying vacant and same is the position of other schools of the area.

Sukhwinder Singh, a leader of Bhrishtachar Virodhi Front, has demanded immediate filling up of these posts, so that the students do not suffer.

When the DEO, Ludhiana, was contacted, she said after promotions, the posts were lying vacant, but these posts could only be fulfilled after the new recruitment and the recruitment would be done by the Punjab government.

Jagraon, July 18
The announcement of Punjab education minister Sikandar Singh Maluka to close all those middle schools of the rural areas, which have less than 60 students as strength, has not gone well with residents of villages.

A protest was held in this regard at Virk village near Jagraon, in which a large number of villagers, including members of the panchayat protested. The protestors raised slogans against the education minister and asked him to take this decision back.

Jasbir Singh, a resident, criticised the state government for its decision of closing the middle schools with the strength of less than 60 students.

“We will not accept this decision at any cost, as it will ruin the future of thousands of the students from the rural areas. The middle school at our village has good infrastructure and it has produced wonderful results in the past. So, there is no sense in closing such schools, even if these schools have lower strength,” said Jarbir Singh.

Another resident, Darshan Singh, said if the middle schools in the rural areas were closed as per the government plan, a large number of rural students would be deprived of education, as most of the families of the students studying in such schools are not in a position to bear the cost of their education at other schools.

The residents urged the education minister to reconsider his decision, so that every child can be provided education at the easiest way. Later, the residents also met sarpanch Jaswinder Kaur who assured support and promised that she will take up the matter with the state government.

Ludhiana, July 18
Schools associated with the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) have been demanding removal of the condition of the board to sell 60 per cent books published by the PSEB to their students.

There are more than 4,600 schools in the state that are associated with the board. Associated school owners alleged that the PSEB failed to sell their books in market, so they are using the associated schools to sell the books.

The PSEB started making association with the schools two year ago. The schools have to follow some conditions of the board under this policy. The board made this condition last year in which the schools have to send purchase bill of books for 60 per cent students of the schools. The associated school owners are unhappy with this condition of the board and want its removal.

Rajiv Thapar, general secretary of the Associate and Affiliated Schools’ Union, said, “We can prescribe the PSEB books to our students, but it is not possible to sell the books for the PSEB. Most of the times, the students do not buy books and get books from their siblings or relatives. We cannot force poor students to get books from us. So, we want to remove this condition to be removed.”

“Most of the students buy guides of private publishers, as the board-published books often come late in the market. So, how can the schools take risk to buy the books,” said an associated school owner.

Ludhiana/Barnala, July 18
The direct seeding methodology of rice cultivation has crossed 10,000 acre mark this year in Punjab if statistics provided by the research and development wing of a food and beverages company are to be believed.

Though PAU experts have not confirmed the 10,000 acre mark, they said the direct seeding methodology had multiple benefits. It saved labour as well as water and a farmer could finish sowing in a well-stipulated time.

According to experts of the company that is offering farmers a free access to direct seeding machines, the direct seeding methodology results in 30 per cent reduction in water consumption apart from Rs 1,500 per acre reduction in the cost of cultivation and about 50 per cent reduction in labour per acre.

During a programme organised yesterday at Barnala, the company felicitated the farmers who had switched over to the direct seeding methodology.

The farmers claimed that they were being provided technical support throughout the cultivation process by trained field extension staff and also offered free seeds in the initial stages.

“In 2007, the land covered under the direct seeding methodology in Punjab was 150 acres. It increased to 500 acres in 2008. The year, 2012, now marks a 20-fold increase to 10,500 acres in the state. Presently, our company has brought over 13,000 acres of land under direct seeding in India,” claimed the company officials.

Ludhiana, July 18
Many eyes in the city became teary at the demise of Rajesh Khanna, even as memories of the king of romance brought sporadic smiles. The romantic, Rajesh Khanna, whose smile and typical roll of hands and style made many in the city dance, swoon and sigh and created a cult with his style of dressing, is no more.

According to Dr R Vatsyayan, girls of that time were crazy for him. There would be more girls in theatres when his movies were screened, he reminisces.

“His dressing style, kurta paired with pants, was copied by all students in colleges in those days,” he smiles. It was the movie “Anand” that made him popular among everyone. “Haathi Mere Saathi” was favoured by one and all, he said.

He visited the city in 2009 for the promotion of a movie “Kash Mere Hote” and stayed with a city-based actor, Kumar Sahil, who played the lead role in the movie.

“Rajesh Khanna was like a member of my family and I spoke to him about three months ago. He was a gentle person and a father figure to me and guided me through the movie as well,” he said.

“His sense of style is unforgettable and even now whenever I see the movies, I find them as absorbing as they used to be earlier, says Rajni, a resident.

Chhavi, a resident, said “Kaka” would remain etched in the memories of movie-lovers for his versatility, acting and endearing and lasting roles.

Ludhiana, July 18
With Rakhi festival round the corner i.e. on August 2, people have started lining up in queues in the post offices to send rakhis on time. According to post office officials, hundreds of people are coming to the post offices to send rakhis.

Many of the residents are using special rakhi envelopes that have been created by the department of posts, especially for the Rakhi festival. The best part about these envelopes is that they are waterproof and tear resistant with pictures of rakhis on them.

According to Bhajni Sood, an official at the head post office, a large proportion of the rakhis are currently being sent abroad. “I have come to post these rakhis to my maternal uncle in UK,” says Gaurav Gaur.

Jagjit Kaur, who had come to the post office for posting rakhis to her brother in Canada, said it was better to send them now, otherwise these would have to be sent through speed post, which would be expensive,” she says.

Ludhiana July 18
The education minister’s statement regarding teacher’s diary being sent to schools has sent shocked waves among government teachers, as the schools have not received any diaries so far.

Meanwhile, district project office of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) confirmed that they have not distributed diaries to schools yet.

According to a district project official, SSA, due to the absence of block resource persons and district resource persons, the department has failed to distribute diaries to the schools. Ramanjit Singh from the Democratic Employees’ Front said, “The education minister is misleading the teachers by giving such type of statements. We don’t know why the education minister gave such statements.”

“The education department is misleading us about the diaries. Every teacher knows that the diaries have not been issued from the DGSE office,” said a teacher from a government school.

District project officer Ranjit Singh Malhi said, “We did not send any diaries to the schools. The distribution of diaries got delayed due to the non-availability of resource persons in the department.”

Ludhiana, July 18
The Excise and Taxation Department has failed to keep its promise of making the C forms available online from this financial year, and the shortage of these forms is still faced by traders. Like every year traders are facing the problem of shortage of the C forms.

Chief parliamentary secretary Sarup Singla, on his recent visit to the city, had again promised the traders to make the C forms available online but only time will tell if he is able to keep his promise, say the trader community.

Harvinder Singh, a trader engage in a inter-state trade, said the department promised last year that the C forms would be made available online but nothing of that sorts had happened so far. "We face difficulty in procuring the C forms. Generally we get the forms from the neighboring states. The system should be made hassle free and the C forms should be made available online," he said.

Every time any official from the department comes he promises to solve this problem but all these promises prove to be hollow. The department should get serious about making the forms available online, added another trader Subhash Aggarwal.

“Since the C forms were introduced, we have been facing a shortage of the same. In case we fail to submit the C forms on time we have to face the penalty as well. What is our mistake if the forms are not available? It is the time the department should make these forms online,” said Gurbax Singh, owner of a garment unit. 

Ludhiana, July 18
Head constable Jagdev Singh and ASI Mohan Singh have been suspended for adopting a lackadaisical attitude while dealing with the alleged land-grab case, which allegedly led to the death of a migrant labourer yesterday. Besides, Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh has constituted a two-member team, comprising ADCP Sushil Kumar and ACP Swapan Sharma, which will look into the matter.

Meanwhile, a case under sections 302, 506, 447 and 511, IPC, has been registered against Bhupinder Singh Bhupa and Joga Singh at the Basti Jodhewal police station on the basis of a complaint filed by the deceased's wife Nirmala Devi.

Nirmala Devi, wife of Ram Sukh of Satkar Nagar, Tibba Road, has stated in the complaint that about 20 years back, the couple had purchased a piece of land measuring 600 square yards on Street Number 1, Satkar Nagar, Tibba Road, and had the registry and other documents related to the land. She alleged that Bhupinder Singh Bhupa and Joga Singh were trying to grab that piece of land. On July 17, at around 6:15 pm, they brought a JCB machine along with them with the intention of grabbing the piece of land, following which the couple informed the police about the matter.

The police reportedly called Ram Sukh to the police station. It was alleged that instead of giving a patient hearing to Sukh Ram, the police personnel on duty started "threatening" him. Under pressure due to threats by the police and the "land-grabbers", Ram Sukh's condition deteriorated and he was sent back home. On reaching home, he died. The post-mortem report says that the deceased died due to cardiac arrest. Following his death, the local residents staged a protest.

Doraha, July 18
It has been four months now that the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) had reverted from the semester mode of examination to the annual ones. But at the same time, it has failed to deliver the syllabus till date. The non-availability of the same has caused unrest among the teachers, who are taking classes and the students who, in the absence of any guidelines from the board, are preparing but half heartedly lest they should be asked to shift to something else once the syllabus finally arrives.

“We do not have any other option but to teach the syllabus of the earlier annual system. Although the syllabus, which was earlier, divided into two halves may now be integrated but till the actually specified syllabus arrives, how can we be sure that whatever, we are teaching is necessarily a part of the syllabus that is to be. May be when the Board decided to revert the semester system into annual again, it might have thought of some general or for that matter some specific changes in the syllabus too. In that case, whatever syllabus has been covered till date and has already been prepared by the students, during vacations, shall be nullified,” rued a teacher of a local Government Senior Secondary School.

“Finding no such instructions from the Board, we ourselves have assumed that the syllabus may the same as of the annual ones and started preparing the students for the it. Afterall, we have to finish off almost 50 per cent of the syllabus till September and if we keep on waiting for the Board to put the syllabus and instructions on the net, our students shall be ruined. We cannot afford to wait any longer,” expressed DS Gosain, principal, Saraswati Model Senior Secondary School.

“Even the Board has extended the dates of admission from classes IX to XII to July 30 and the fee can be charged till August 7. As a result, the students are taking admission even till this date. Now such students shall find it difficult to adjust as they shall have to cope up with those who have already finished four months in that particular class,” said a school principal.

The students, too, feel themselves to be ill at ease. The reason being that they seem to be groping in the dark as far as the syllabus is concerned. “Although our teachers have assured that the syllabus they are teaching shall for a part of the one to be included yet who knows the ways of the Board? Moreover, we have not been intimated about the style of paper and the division of marks due to which we fail to understand how exactly the preparation is to be done,” complained a student of a local school.

“It is a matter of shame on the part of the education board. If it can think of reverting to the earlier mode of examination why cannot the syllabus part be decided there and then? Why do they always take pleasure in upsetting students and giving them undue stress?” rued another student.

The DEO (Secondary), Paramjit Kaur, when contacted said: “As I have not received any such instructions from the Board yet, neither I am in any position to tell about the matter nor can any such information be intimated to the schools from our side. The Board has to be contacted for this purpose.”

Ludhiana, July 18
The first round of counselling of the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) was completed for three undergraduate courses i.e. Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry (five-year programme), Bachelor of Fisheries (four-year programme) and B.Tech-Dairy Tech. (four-year programme) at Silver Jubilee Block Auditorium of the University here today.

A total 1,582 students took the Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the University on June 27. Over 59 seats of B.V.Sc and A.H, 15 of B.F.Sc and 25 of B.Tech-Dairy Science and Technology were filled in the first counselling held on July 17, 18.

Dr. PD Juyal, registrar, GADVASU, said the university had started B.F.Sc and B.Tech. (Dairy Tech.) courses in 2008 for first time in the region. The very first batches of these courses passed out this year and got the placements.

A heavy rush for admission to veterinary, dairy and fisheries courses was experienced due to the increased popularity of these courses. A total of 1,884 applications for admission to various undergraduate programmes were received this year which is almost double of last year's applications.

A total of 46 (university and management quota) seats for Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar, were also filled as per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The second counselling for B.V.Sc.& Animal Husbandry and Bachelor of Fisheries Sc. will be held on August 16.

The second counselling for B.Tech. (dairy technology) will be held on August 17 while third counselling for all the undergraduate programmes will be held on September 20.

Jagraon, July 18
The “unnecessary” delay by the Jagraon Municipal Council in fixing the interlocking tiles on the remaining portion of the local College Road has annoyed the residents of various localities as well as shopkeepers situated on this road. The area residents have criticised the local municipal council for its failure to start construction work within the given time of frame.

In fact, the local municipal council had promised the residents of this road prior to Assembly elections that it will start the work of laying interlocking tiles on the remaining portion of this road soon after the conclusion of Assembly elections.

But more than four months have passed since the conclusion of Assembly elections, the municipal council has failed to start the work on the remaining portion of the road, which has irked the area residents.

It is reminded here that the local municipal council had awarded the contract for fixing interlocking tiles ahead the assembly elections. Though the contractor, who was awarded the work of laying interlocking tiles on this road, had fixed the interlocking tiles from Old Grain Market Chowk to RK Senior Secondary School only and that the work on the remaining portion of the road is waiting to be resumed.

As a result of the delay in starting the construction work, the area residents are facing a lot of inconvenience. "The contractor who was allotted the work of laying interlocking tiles on this road had managed to fix the interlocking tiles only on less than half portion of the road when the construction work was stopped keeping in view the assembly elections. But now more than four months have passed after assembly elections, the work has not been resumed so far," rued Purshotam Lal, a local businessman. Residents said the road has not been repaired or re-carpeted for a long time.

“There have been several deep potholes from R.K. Sr. Sec. School. There were many instances in the past when some two-wheelers have met with accidents. Though we have raised the issue with the local municipal council a number of times yet we have received only empty promises and nothing concrete has been done,” stated another resident Madan Mohan.

Though there are many educational institutes including LRDAV College, banks and other government offices situated on this road, yet the municipal council has paid no attention towards improving the condition of this road.

The MC president, Baldev Krishan Dhir, when contacted, said that the municipal council had already awarded the contracts. "The work will start very soon and will be completed with a time bound manner to save the residents from the inconvenience. It is estimated that the work will be completed within coming one month," he assured.

Doraha, July 18
The students and teachers of the postgraduate classes in the colleges affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh, have asked the university authorities to revise the promotion policy for the students being admitted to third semester in the currently altered system of examinations.

As per the current norms, a student who has met with one compartment each in first and second semester or two compartments together in one out of the two semesters is alone eligible for admission to third semester. Meaning thereby, that of a total of eight credits, a student has to clear a total of six credits i.e. 75 per cent of the credits. “Contrary to this in the department of law, Panjab University, a student who has cleared four credits out of 8 i.e. 50 per cent credits is promoted to third semester. There should be uniformity in the system. If the law students can be promoted with 50 per cent credits, why not the students following postgraduate courses?” questioned Dr Kuldip Singh, fellow, Panjab University.

“Moreover, the decision regarding the same is being taken and intimated to the students at the end. Not only the freshers clearing second semester are getting admission in third semester but also the students who had earlier, been in the annual mode, are asked to shift to semester mode under the present provisions,” said Prof. LS Bedi, head of the postgraduate department of English, GGN College, Ludhiana.

“In other similar cases, the students are already aware of the terms and conditions of admission and promotion beforehand. But these students are being pressurised with rules when they are already mid way. They never got an opportunity to think and plan beforehand. Hence, they should be duly compensated by giving relaxation in credits, if not as a matter of rule, at least for this particular semester. We have asked the university to think about the same,” said Prof. Bawa Singh, head of the postgraduate department of English, GHG Khalsa College, Sudhar.

“The annual system was far more relaxed. The reason being that in case a student, appearing in annual exam in April gets a reappear, he or she would be able to clear it in the supplementary exams conducted in September while at the same time getting promotion to the second year but in the semester mode, the things have become complicated for the students. The students get no chance to clear their re-appear in the next semester and the sword keeps on hanging on their heads. The ones getting re-appear in first semester shall be given a chance to clear the same in third semester while those of the second shall do the same in the fourth,” said Dr PS Gill, Senator and Syndic, Panjab University.

“On one hand, the admissions have already begun, while on the other hand, the university is yet to intimate the colleges formally about the exact criteria of admission of these students. They are hanging about the colleges everyday for admission but the colleges show their helplessness in this regard. We shall definitely be taking this issue in the meeting of the Senate,” said a PU Fellow Dr Kuldip Singh.

“Whatever may be the case, the students, at least, should not be made the scapegoats. The university should extend the dates of admission so that they may not have to pay late fees for no fault of theirs,” assured Dr Harpreet Dua, a fellow, PU.

Jagraon, July 18
The foreign dreams of a youngster of Bhatha Dhuha village, near Sidhwan Bet, turned sour after the members of his family came to know that they had allegedly been duped of Rs 3.40 lakh by a swindler, who had promised them that he would marry his Canada-based NRI daughter with the youngster.

The matter came to light on Monday when the members of his family approached the police and lodged a complaint against the swindler who has been identified as Santokh Singh of Gobindpur village in Hoshiarpur district.

In his complaint to the police, Gurdeep Singh has stated that he contacted Santokh Singh when he read a matrimonial advertisement in a daily newspaper in which Santokh Singh had sought an alliance for his NRI daughter. "As my younger brother Lakhwinder Singh was willing to go abroad, I contacted Santokh Singh on the contact number given in the advertisement. Later, we held a couple of meetings with Santokh Singh during which he informed us that his daughter was due to come to India in the second week of July and the marriage would be solemnised at the earliest," stated Gurdeep Singh.

"He also demanded Rs 4 lakh from us for marrying his daughter with my brother Lakhwinder Singh and we paid him Rs 3.40 lakh in instalments. We consulted him and fixed July 15 as the date for the engagement ceremony of my brother with Santokh Singh's daughter," added Gurdeep Singh.

According to the complainant, he even got invitation cards for the engagement ceremony printed and invited some of his relatives to ceremony. "But when I rang Santokh Singh up on the number given to me by him in the morning that day, the phone was switched off. When we failed to contact him despite repeated attempts, we went to his village Gobindpur but found his house locked. We realised that we have been cheated by Santokh Singh," said Gurdeep.

Confirming the development, SHO of the Sidhwan Bet police station Jangjit Singh said, "The police has registered a case against Santokh Singh on a complaint of Gurdeep Singh and the investigation is on. A police party also conducted raid at Santokh Singh's house. He has not been arrested so far."

Jagraon, July 18
The Jagraon police has arrested a proclaimed offender wanted in two cases. He has been identified as Gurjant Singh, alias Janta, of Ladakothi village near Dhuri.

According to PO wing in charge Jaspal Chopra, Gurjant was wanted in a hit-and-run case registered at the Mullanpur Dakha police station in July, 2009.

Gurjant was a driver with a private bus transport company and a case was registered against him when the bus he was driving hit another bus three years ago. Gurjant had fled from the spot at that time and remained at large since then.

He was arrested at the bus stand at his native village of Ladakothi yesterday following a tip-off. "We had received the information that Gurjant has arrived at his village following which we conducted a raid at his village and arrested him at the bus stand while he was waiting for a bus for Sangrur."

Gurjant told the police he had joined the PRTC as a drive on a contractual basis to evade arrest some time ago. Gurjant was also wanted by the Moga police in another accident case.

The police produced the Gurjant before a local court which sent him to judicial remand.

Ludhiana, July 18
Golf enthusiasts in the city have hailed Jeev Milkha Singh's victory in the Scottish Open. However, they were unhappy that there is no golf course in the city.

Residents say golf as a game would be an immediate hit, if promoted in the city. "People here love to live in luxury, and a golf club here would be a very popular spot," said Vikrant Aggarwal. "Although it is being built by a private developer, as part of a construction site, it will be great if a golf course is developed for the common public with the help of the government," he says.

Jeev has done it because of his passion for the sport, says Aman, a sportsman. "Punjabis have started making a name in golf. People here are interested in luxury games. Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh show that people here can do it," he says.

Golf would be liked by the residents because they are craving for green and open space, which are lacking here. A golf course would serve as a great place to visit, relax and play, says Ishwinder Singh, a resident.

"Although there is a small golf course at Phillaur, we need a good golf course. Punjab can produce great golfers. People here have both money and passion for luxury sports," says Puneet, a resident. I have been visiting the Golf Club in Chandigarh, and find it absolutely fantastic, he says. The flamboyance and status attached with the sport would surely make people in the city get attracted to the sport, he says.

Ludhiana, July 18
The state government’s decision to set up hockey clubs has brought cheer among hockey players and sportspersons in the city. Ludhiana is one of the six cities where these clubs are being set up, besides Mohali, Bathinda, Faridkot, Amritsar, Jalandhar.

“This is a good step by the government for the promotion of the game. Although the steps have been taken for the promotion of the game earlier, this seems to be a good step,” said Ajay Pal Roomy, secretary, District Hockey Association.

Jagbir Singh Grewal, coach, Malwa Hockey Academy, agreed that it is good for the hockey players. “It would promote the status of hockey. Good infrastructure means more players and achievements. When our youth is getting addicted to drugs, it is an appreciable move of the government in encouraging them towards the right path,” he said.

Sukhbir Singh Grewal, a hockey Olympian, said, “Our government made hundreds of announcements, but they remain only on paper, these would be effective if they implement them in reality. We have no coaches. Players come from villages where the infrastructure is poor. The government has been spending on the urban infrastructure, which is useless, until the government does not emphasise on rural sports infrastructure, not much would come out.”

“I welcome the move, but it would benefit only if it is implemented,” he said.

“As the game comparatively lagged behind cricket, it was essential to promote the game and increase its popularity among youngsters,” said Charanjit Singh, a sportsperson.