Ludhiana, September 2
After a vain bid to cover up losses suffered due to communication towers having been put up on residential and commercial properties without obtaining permission and payment of stipulated fee, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Agency (GLADA) has now cancelled the allotment of 23 properties located in its colonies where these towers are installed.

Further, more than half a dozen cellular service providers, including the public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited have been served with one-week notices to dismantle the towers failing which GLADA will initiate action to remove the towers and pull down the buildings for violation of change of land use (CLU) norms.

The Ludhiana Tribune, in its issue of April 10, 2012 had highlighted the internal and external audit report of GLADA for 2011-12 which had observed that the agency had suffered financial losses of Rs 23 lakh as all the communication towers set up on GLADA properties were illegal as no permission had been obtained nor had the stipulated fee of Rs 1 lakh for each mobile tower had been deposited. The GLADA had also lost revenue which would have accrued to it in the shape of Rs 50,000 as annual renewal fee thereafter, the report had pointed out.

Initially, the GLADA officials had tried to wriggle out of the tight situation by providing vague and misleading information demanded by the Council of RTI Activists, and then made an attempt to whitewash the whole issue by taking a stand that no financial loss had been caused to the agency. However, action was initiated against the owners of residential and commercial buildings following a direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on installation of mobile towers in residential areas.

The GLADA Estate Officer Jeet Ram said that show-cause notices were served to allottees of residential plots who had permitted mobile towers to be erected on their properties which was a grave and non-compoundable violation of CLU. Owners of commercial properties were also asked to explain as to how the mobile towers were put up without obtaining any permission or payment of fee.

"After giving a reasonable time and opportunity to the allottees, 23 allotments have been cancelled and properties resumed," the Estate Officer said while adding that the concerned cellular service providers had now been asked to dismantle the towers and remove the material, otherwise GLADA would demolish the buildings.

Ludhiana, September 2
A team of the district health department today sealed a dairy at the Haibowal Dairy Complex after the owner reportedly fled the spot without signing on the samples of desi ghee that were seized from the premises.

Dr Kulwinder Singh, District Health Officer, Ludhiana, said, "It was at 6.30 am when the team along with Food safety Officer Ravinder Garg reached Sharma Dairy near Haibowal Dairy Complex. As we had to collect the samples of desi ghee, we started looking for the owner, but we were told that on learning about the raid he left the dairy premises. We waited for him till 8 am but he did not come turn up, so we ultimately sealed the dairy. "

The DHO further said that there were about 30 cows and buffaloes at the dairy. He said, "We also saw a container of milk powder there but we could not collect the samples of desi ghee and milk powder as the owner fled the spot and did not sign on the samples. Exercising my powers under the Food Safety and Security Act, I ordered the sealing of the dairy."

On being asked about the next course of action, the DHO said, "The dairy owner will have to request me and we will collect the samples in his presence after opening the seals. "He said that we usually face this problem during sampling when the owners of food houses or eatables flee from the spot and do not cooperate with us in collecting samples.

Ludhiana, September 2
The state government has put the Rs 10,300 crore Ludhiana Metro project on fast track and designated Rakesh Kumar Verma, Commissioner, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation as the Managing Director of the Ludhiana Metro Rail Corporation for time-bound completion of the prestigious project that is set to put Ludhiana on the international business radar.

The decision was taken by the state government during a review meeting held at Chandigarh last evening.

During the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that SAD-BJP government was committed to solving the lingering traffic snarls in Ludhiana and the Ludhiana metro project had to be completed within five years.

Getting into the details of the route plan of the Ludhiana metro project, Badal instructed the authorities that as the land required for the execution of this project was to be provided by the state government, “we have to ensure that there is minimal displacement of people across the city for the execution of the project.”

For the past few weeks, the city residents whose lands will be acquired have been raising questions about the “feasibility” of the project.

Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the state government must lay emphasis on executing the underground metro corridor, especially in densely populated areas, even though it would be quite capital-intensive as compared to fully or partly elevated corridor.

The per kilometer construction cost of the metro will be Rs 175 crore for elevated track and Rs 325 crore for the underground. The average cost per kilometer will be around Rs 250 crore.

At the review meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister said that they had to move with the prime objective to avoid undue harassment to people on account of their dislocation.

The Corridor I is 15. 798-kilometer long and will start from Ayali Chowk on Ferozepur Road and will go till BBMB Power House on the Chandigarh Road. It will have a total of 14 stations, including 10 elevated and four underground. Similarly, the Corridor II is 13.035-kilometer long and will start from Gill village and will end at Rahon Road Octroi Post. This corridor will have 13 stations, including six elevated and seven underground.

Ludhiana, September 2
e-trading in spot gold, silver, copper and other commodities is fast catching up with city residents. Volumes in India’s four online national commodities exchanges are rising daily and analysts expect commodities trading to beat equity business soon.

Till now, buying gold, silver, copper or trading in any commodities has been through physical dealers or through futures exchanges. But these days, the investor frenzy is catching up with e-trading in spot commodities.

“India’s only active commodities exchange for spot market, the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL), offers e-gold, e-silver and e-copper that are driving thousands of investors to trade in the online spot commodities market,” said Amanpreet, a stock broker.

The NSEL’s has launched e-trading in several metals and agricultural commodities. The exchange’s main products these days are e-gold and e-silver products that are posting record turnovers, owing to enhanced participation by retail investors. In terms of lots, daily trading in e-gold takes place to the tune of nearly 200,000 lots, while e-silver has a turnover of around 250,000 lots, added a source from the Ludhiana Stock Exchange.

“e-gold and e-silver are ideal products for retail investors, who want to invest small amounts in gold and silver. These investors can take advantage of recent rally of gold and silver. Moreover, e-gold and e-silver gives investors the option and facility to take physical delivery across various locations in India at a single price without having to worry of either purity or weight,” added Ravinder Singh, an online trader.

Ludhiana, September 2
The Haibowal police has arrested one of the accused in the migrant labourer murder case, who was killed on August 27 in Haibowal. The police arrested accused Santosh Kumar on Saturday evening. He is the brother-in-law of main accused Vinod Kumar, who stabbed victim Omparkash, with a sharp weapon.

Swaran Singh, Investigating Officer, said that on a tip off, they raided Santosh’s house on the Chooharpur road.

"The accused was planning to go back to his native village in Bihar on Saturday night, but the police arrested him. Now, we are in search of the other accused, Vinod Kumar and Munna, who are still at large", said swaran Singh.

"We are also in contact with the Bihar police and they have given us all the details. We have not yet recovered the weapon with which Vinod killed Omparkash", Swaran Singh added.

Om Parkash (27), who hailed from Betia district in Bihar, was living on a rented house at Sant Vihar Colony. In the preliminary investigation, the police found that Om Parkash had illicit relationship with Vinod Kumar’s wife, who also hailsfrom Betia district of Bihar. They often entered into verbal dual over the issue, but no solution was found. Finally, Vinod planned the murder of Omparkash and killed him brutally.

Ludhiana, September 2
Thirteen persons were injured when a bus belonging to a private company lost control and overturned near Pandori village in the Mullanpur area here this morning.

Six of the injured persons were taken to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, where their condition is said to be stable. The other seven persons received minor injuries and were admitted at a hospital in Pandori village.

According to available information, the bus number PB 29 M 9225 was going to Moga from Ludhiana and the accident took place on the Ludhiana-Ferozpur National Highway near Mullanpur when the bus driver, in an attempt to overtake a car, lost control over the vehicle, which overturned.

The passersby immediately gave the information to the Dakha police station and the police party reached the spot. By that time the volunteers of 108 Ambulance also reached the spot and helped in taking out the patients stranded inside the bus.

Those admitted at the DMCH include Kulwant Kaur, Ravinder Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Arjan Singh, Vajir Singh and Sukhdev Kaur. Those admitted at Pandori village included Ranjit Singh, Simarjit Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Baba Baljit Singh, Parminder Kaur, Sukhvir Kaur.

Both the bus driver Vicky and conductor Pawanjit Singh fled from the scene after the accident. The bus has been impounded by the police. The SHO concerned said that after the investigations, a case would be registered as per law. 

Ludhiana, September 2
Girls of adolescent age are becoming victim of ovarian cysts. Dr Veena Jain head of gynecology oncology at Mediways Hospital,said," In a span of two years I have come across more than 12 school-going girls who suffered from ovarian cysts. And four out of 12 girls suffered from malignant cysts and eight from non-malignant type."

Jain further said, “In India, out of all gynecological cancers, cervix cancer is most common among women and after that comes the ovarian cyst cases. There is no specific reason behind it. she said, "In 10 per cent cases high-risk factor remains due to hereditary reasons."

The ovarian cysts are operated laproscopically if they are non-malignant. However in case of malignant cyst, it is operated through open surgery.

Dr Tejinder Kaur, consultant of gyne oncology at Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital said, "Simple cysts which are two to three cm in size occur due to harmonal problems, i.e. when an egg matures but does not rupture or when the ovulation does not take place. Sometimes, many cysts of these parameters exist in an ovary and give rise to polycystic ovaries. Such cysts are treatable through medication. But sometimes cysts become functional cysts, i.e. when they grow in size from two to 3 cm to five to six cm and have solid component in them. There is no documented reason behind functional cysts. So these are treated through surgery."

Ludhiana, September 2
The election to the post of Mayor is likely to be held on September 6. However, no official communication has been received in this regard so far. Sources within the local bodies department said most likely the election would take place on September 6.

Even the newly elected councillors will be administered an oath on the same day. Interestingly, even after passing of almost three months, the newly elected councillors are yet to be administered the oath. The MC elections had taken place on June 10.

With just four days left for the likely Mayoral election, the candidates in race for the post of Mayor have intensified their lobbying.

Interestingly, two days after the June 10 MC elections (on June 12), all elected Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janta Party councillors had given all rights of choosing the Mayor to SAD president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The decision was taken in a meeting held at the house of state PWD minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon on June 12. The meeting was attended by senior leaders, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, Atam Nagar MLA Simarjit Singh Bains, Ludhiana (South) MLA Balwinder Singh Bains, Jagraon MLA SR Kler, Ludhiana (East) MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Gill MLA Darshan Singh Shivalik, former MP Gurcharan Singh Galib, former minister Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Punjab Agro chairman Amrik Singh Aliwal, BJP general secretary Kamal Sharma, BJP district president Parveen Bansal, Punjab SSS Board chairman Santa Singh Umedpuri, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal and Harish Bedi (both ex-MLA’s), former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Harish Rai Dhanda, Hakam Singh Giaspura, Ajmer Singh Bhagpur, besides all elected councillors from the SAD and BJP.

But still the aspirants for the post have been lobbying hard.

The Ludhiana MC is the richest civic body of the state with the annual budget for 2012-13 being Rs 741 crore. As per the internal arrangement between the Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janta Party, the post of Mayor goes with the Akali Dal, while the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor remain with the BJP.

The main contenders for the post of Mayor are three-time councillor Pal Singh Grewal, outgoing Mayor and a five-time councillor Hakam Singh Giaspura and youth leader from the Bains group Kamaljit Singh Karwal. Earlier, the Akali Dal wanted a Hindu face to be its Mayor and which was why, Harish Rai Dhanda was allotted party ticket from ward number 28. But due to Dhanda’s defeat, the Akali Dal had to change its plan.

A senior Akali leader said now that all rights had been given to Sukhbir Singh Badal, it was likely that he would himself decide the final name. "No leader from the Akali Dal has the right to oppose the name chosen by the Deputy CM because they themselves have given all rights to him," he added.

Ludhiana, September 2
With Mayoral poll scheduled for September 6, the Bharatiya Janta Party will be convening a meeting in Chandigarh tomorrow.

In the meeting, the issue pertaining to the appointment of the Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Ludhiana civic body will be discussed and the final names will be announced on September 6.

The BJP has 13 councillors, but after the municipal corporation elections on June 10, the tally reduced to 12.

The newly elected BJP councillors are Sunita Aggarwal (ward number 13), Megha Aggarwal (ward number 14), Inderjit Aggarwal (ward number 18), Monica Jaggi (ward number 20), Sumit Malhotra (ward number 21), Ripu Daman Sharma (ward number 25), Renu Sharma (ward number 29), Narinder Singh Malhi (ward number 31), Gurdeep Singh Neetu (ward number 42), Geeta Devi (ward number 43), Ramandeep Kaur (ward number 44) and Renu Bansal (ward number 51).

The BJP councillors are lobbying hard for the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The

front-runners for the post of Senior Deputy Mayor are Gurdeep Singh Neetu and Sunita Aggarwal. Narinder Singh Malhi and Ripu Daman Sharma are in fray for the post of Deputy Mayor.

Neetu was the leader of BJP councillors while Sunita Aggarwal was the Deputy Mayor.

BJP district president Parveen Bansal, who had unsuccessfully contested Vidhan Sabha elections from the Ludhiana North constituency was the Senior Deputy Mayor.

He was a sitting councillor from ward number 41, but did not contest the recently held municipal corporation elections. That is why, Neetu and Sunita Aggarwal, who are the senior most among the BJP councillors, are now lobbying hard for the post.

Similarly, Narinder Singh Malhi and Ripu Daman Sharma are both first-time councillors. In the outgoing MC house, Malhi’s wife Roopamdeep Kaur Malhi and Sharma’s mother Prem Lata Sharma, were councillors from ward number 31 and 25, respectively. Both of them are considered close to Parveen Bansal.

A BJP councillor said they had received a verbal communication about tomorrow’s meeting in Chandigarh. “The communication was conveyed to us yesterday and we have been asked to reach the BJP office in Chandigarh at 1 pm tomorrow. The senior party leaders have asked us to come alone and without our supporters,” said a BJP councillor.

BJP district president and Senior Deputy Mayor Parveen Bansal stated that the party meeting would be held in Chandigarh tomorrow. 

Ludhiana, September 2
A prisoner suffered serious burn injuries while igniting a gas stove at the central jail on the Tajpur Road here yesterday.

It is not the first such incident at the jail. Three inmates have earlier suffered burn injuries in the mess of the jail while cooking in the past two months.

52-year-old Kewal Singh's clothes caught fire injuring his right arm. The incident took place at 6 am. He also suffered minor injuries on the left hand and other parts of his body.

The jail authorities admitted him to the Civil Hospital where he is being treated in the Emergency Ward. Later he was shifted to the special ward for prisoners.

Kewal is serving a sentence for murder. He hails from Bhattian village under the Phillaur police station.

On June 18, 2012, Ramesh Kumar and Gurinder Singh were burnt in a similar incident and had to be hospitalised for 11 days at the Civil Hospital.

"Kewal was deputed for the first time in the kitchen and he did not know how to light the gas stove. It was just an accident," said Ravinder Loomba, Superintendent of the jail.

However, contrary to what Loomba said, Kewal claimed that he had been working in the mess for four years.

Ludhiana, September 2
"Migrants are falling a prey to diabetes," said Dr Surinder Gupta, founder of Diabetes Free World, an NGO, who also organises free check-up camps once a month.

While conducting a camp at Dandi Swami today, Dr Gupta said,"People from different walks of life keep coming at the camps. The number of migrants coming for the check-up has increased. Their nature of job has changed."

In todays's camp, Dr Gupta and a team of doctors, including Dr Inder Sharma, Dr Rahul Jain, Dr Rajesh Thapar, Dr Ish Handa, Dr Pankaj and Dr Sarjivan Sharma, examined more than 300 patients for diabetes. He said,"With more awareness, the poor are becoming more health conscious. They do come up at follow-up camps."

Talking about migrant women, secretary of the National Integrated Medical Association Dr Gupta said, "Women who work as domestic helps or are employed with factories stay fit while those who depend on their families suffer from diabetes, hypertension and blood pressure."

Ludhiana, September 2
The self-help group project, envisaged to make those belonging to weaker sections self reliant in rural areas, is yet to gain momentum in Ludhiana district.

Moga district is too small as compared to Ludhiana district, but the number of self-help groups there is about 1,000 while in Ludhiana it is just about 150.

The officials have been trying hard to pull up the district programme officers, child development project officers (CDPOs) and supervisors to come up with more such groups so that loans/subsidies can be provided to these to start their own small ventures, still hard work and dedication need to be put in by the staff to make the programme successful.

As per the data available with the ADC (D) office, the total number of self-help groups under the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA) is 147 and 123 villages have been covered so far.

Maximum beneficiaries have been the women, whose number is about 1,700, who are part of these groups.

"The project has been running for the past several years. The women are taught to make doormats, surf making, beauty parlour, sewing, embroidery and knitting. Many women and men, too, have become self employed as banks and government provide them subsidies. Still, a lot has to be done with sincere efforts to make the programme successful," said Rishipal Singh, ADC (D).

An official attached with the project said as Ludhiana was one of the biggest districts in Punjab, the outcome of the project should have been outstanding. "Unfortunately, it is not like that. The project is being mainly run by the district programme officers and District Rural Development Authority. The higher officials have been trying hard that more and more people should get the benefits from such projects, but aanganwari workers and supervisors in the villages also need to make sincere efforts as about 50 per cent of these groups are absolutely dormant," said the official.

He added that the workers in the villages, who had to encourage the rural population towards the programme needed to know about the bank guidelines, which ultimately had to provide the loans for starting new ventures to these groups. "Areas such as Khanna and Sidhwan Belt have been doing a satisfactory job, but those in other blocks have to pull up their socks," said the official. 

Ludhiana, September 2
"The clothes which are dyed with colours produced from natural herbs have a profound healing dffect on body," said Dr Gauhar Vatsyayan, Ayurveda Consultant for a re-orientation programme of teachers of textile and clothing in the Home Science College,PAU. He discussed the need of ayurvedic clothing with college lecturers and students here today.

Dr Vatsyayan said it was an ancient Indian concept of clothing, which was revived in Southern India with the name of 'Ayurvastra' and was gaining global popularity because of its eco-friendly nature. Due to large number of dyeing industries Ludhiana was the most polluted city of India, and PAU could emerge as a pioneer in introducing this novel concept of ayurvedic dyeing which was extremely nature friendly, he added.

Dr Gauhar Vatsyayan also discussed about the therapeutic parts of various herbs, which were being used in Ayurvedic dyeing. He said the main herbs being used for Ayurvedic dyeing were manjisjtha, palaash, dadim, haldi, castor, aloe vera and onion and the ayurvedic way of dyeing was found useful in the treatment of athritis, backache, skin problems and hypertension.

He said India was a pioneer in cotton and silk production and now world over people were discarding synthetic fabrics as they were not eco-friendly and were bad for health.

Machiwara, September 2
A 23-year-old youth was killed and two others were seriously injured in a road accident on the Kohara-Machiwara road yesterday night. The deceased, identified as Ramandeep of Machiwara, and his two friends were returning home in a car when the accident took place.

When they reached near Raian village, the driver suddenly lost control over the car and it collided with a tree. The accident was so fierce that Ramandeep and his friends — Sunny and Deepak — were evacuated from the car with great difficulty by some passers-by.

The injured were rushed to the civil hospital where Ramandeep was declared brought dead. Ramandeep belonged to an influential family of the town and was the only brother of three sisters. The injured youth were in a critical condition and were referred to a private hospital in Ludhiana.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 2
With an intent to improve the functioning of financially-crunched municipal council, councillors led by recently elected president have proposed to take drastic steps including abolishing of plum posts in the civic body, rationalisation of property, and imposition of fines and penalties on residents causing damage to roads and streets.

Proposals, if passed by the council and implemented after approval by higher authorities, might not be digested by all, but will help the council provide better facilities and basic amenities to residents. Maintaining that present situation of malfunctioning had been reached due to piling up of problems for year's together, municipal council president Ravinder Puri said he had motivated his colleagues to take some drastic steps in the larger interest of the residents.

Perusal of agenda of the meeting scheduled to take place on Monday revealed that councillor Jiwan Singh and Harbans Kaur Sekha had proposed to impose a fine varying between Rs 200 and Rs 1,000 on those residents who threw water on roads and streets. "This, besides conserving potable water, will also prevent the newly constructed roads and streets from getting damaged," said Jiwan Singh.

Councillors Bhag Singh and Khushi Mohammad proposed that government veterinary hospital, working in a building owned by the council, should be shifted to a vacant piece of land situated on the outskirts of the town near Chhanna village. Besides helping the council to utilise the present building for more useful purpose, the decision will make it easier for farmers and dairy owners to bring their cattle to the hospital.

Observing that the council was finding it difficult to meet its financial obligations due to fall in income, Manjit Devi, vice-president, and councillor Baljit Kaur Karwal have demanded that some posts including those of municipal engineer and superintendent should be abolished. 

Sahnewal, September 2
The unexpected shifting of postgraduate students from annual to semester mode of examination by the Panjab University is proving dear to students. Little did they know that after passing through the initial rejection and then acceptance to the third semester as per the fresh conditions laid down by the university, another shock was waiting for them.

"I did MA first year in the session 2010-11. Then I got admission in the B.Ed course and went in for that as I thought better to get a professional degree in hand before I move towards my second year of post graduation. In the meantime, the university changed the mode of examination from annual to semester. This year, as I had to get admission in MA-II, I went to the college, which initially refused and then agreed to admit me to the third semester course. Later, I came to know that the university was expecting the students like us to first clear the deficit of the earlier exams in order to come up to the level of the other students who are continuing with the semester mode. I wish to ask the university if it is my fault and should I be asked to clear the deficit when the university is responsible for implementing the semester without sparing even one thought for the students like us," shared Amandeep who has to bear the sudden shift.

Ramandeep, another such student said, "The University is asking us to opt for those subjects which we did not have in our previous class. Why should we be made the scapegoats for all times? Why are we being harassed by the university for no fault of ours? Is it possible to get admitted to a new mode with the burden of clearing the subjects of the previous class apart from that opting for new options in the new class? It is sheer injustice with the students. We shall never be able to score good marks as the postgraduate students are already burdened with the existing options and studying extra options and that too in the given limited span of time is next to impossible."

"Unluckily, the semester system was implemented immediately, when we left for our B.Ed course. But it is a rule that the students can complete their post graduation in the same mode in five years duration, then how can we be left out? The University has to think about it once again otherwise there are many students like me, who would be suffering without any fault," rued another student of the same category.

Dr Narinder Kaur Sandhu, principal, Ramgarhia Girls College, Ludhiana, said: "Earlier, it was due to the absence of any guidelines of admission that the students were suffering but now with still sterner conditions, the students are simply baffled. The university should think about these students as they are already passing through rough times due to the sudden shift from annual to semester."

Panjab University fellow Dr Kuldeep Singh said, "Students have every right to continue with the same mode, if they desire so, for the next three years. The university should act on this decision and better allow them to continue without disturbing their studies. They may be asked to appear as private candidates if not as regular students. The students should not be held responsible for the deficit when it is the university who admitted them in the annual mode and the university is asking them to shift to the semester, apart from imposing stringent conditions on them."

"The decision of implementing the semester system was taken in a haste so much so that it was passed even before it met with clearance in the senate. Whenever, a system is to be followed its pros and cons should be properly taken into consideration," a senator added.

Ludhiana, September 2
It was time to remember superstar Rajesh Khanna as members of the Sutlej Club danced to the tune of his popular songs last evening. The event was organised by a dance studio at Sarabha Nagar today.

"More than 300 members and guests gathered to listen to the melodies, as singers one after the other doled out songs like "Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai" and "Jai Jai Shiv Shankar".

Another programme "Zindagi Ka Safar" was organised at a party hall at Sarabha Nagar. Seventy students took part in the dance programme. Parents were also present on the occasion. The shows were choreographed by Mehak Munjal and Karan Pundir.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 2
The police has nabbed four members of different gangs who had been involved in trafficking of drugs and narcotics for a long time. Twenty-one grams of smack, 15 kg of poppy husk and a rich haul of banned pharmaceutical preparations were seized from their possession.

A police team lead by SHO, Dehlon, Aman Deep Brar nabbed Kulwant Singh alias Banta when he was on his way to supply contraband to one of his regular customers yesterday.

Investigations revealed that Banta had been exploiting innocent youths, mostly students, by first providing them with free samples of smack and getting them hooked to it. The addicts were also used as couriers by Banta. Another party of policemen nabbed Sarabjit Singh of Shankar village and recovered 15 kg of poppy husk from his possession.

Another team led by Jarnail Singh nabbed Kuldeep Singh and Hardeep Khan of Longowal while they were carrying a bag containing scheduled drugs.

The seized drugs included 7,600 tablets of Phenatil, 1,000 tablets of Carimol, 400 capsules of Parvon Spas, 15 bottles of Rexcof, 650 injections of Norgesic and 106 injections of Pheromon.

Ludhiana, September 2
Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar branch, emerged overall winners in the Ludhiana District Inter-School Skating Championship organised by the education department at Leisure Valley Skating Rink here. Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, closely followed them to finish as runners-up.

Results

In-line 300m race (boys U-11): Irwin 1, Manjot 2 and Rishab 3; (U-14): Sahibjot 1, Tejvir 2 and Aryan 3; (U-17): Yovan Bagga 1, Bhavjot 2 and Onkar 3; (U-19): Saurabh 1, Sagar 2 and Manav 3.

In-line 500m race (boys U-11): Irwin 1, Manjot 2 and Rishab 3; (U-14): Tejveer 1, Sahibjot 2 and Aryan 3; (U-17): Harshvir Singh 1, Yovan Bagga 2 and Bhavjot 3.

In-line 1,000m race (boys U-11): Irwin 1, Manjot 2; (U-14): Tejvir 1, Sahibjot 2 and Ekam 3; (U-17): Harshvir 1, Bhavjot 2 and Shubhkarman 3; (U-19): Surya 1, Sagar 2 and Manav 3.

In-line road race (boys U-17): Harshvir 1, Yovan Bagga 2 and Onkar 3; (U-19): Surya 1, Sagar 2 and Manav 3.

Quads 300m race (boys U-14): Paras 1, Karamjeet 2 and Gurkirat n3; (U-14): Utkarsh 1, Gurveer 2 and Jugdvir 3; (U-17): Harmandeep 1, Ranbir 2 and Rupinder 3; (U-19): Bhawneet 1, Japsimran 2 and Godozabor 3.

In-line 300m race (girls U-11): Muskaan Mahal 1, Gaurangi 2 and Gurleen 3; (U-14): Jaap Kaur 1, Varleen Kaur 2 and Tehdil 3; (U-17): Prasha Jain 1, Jasmeet 2 and Anjleen 3; (U-19): Apaar 1, Gurman 2 and Simran 3.

In-line 500m race (girls U-11): Muskaan Mahal 1, Sant Kaur 2 and Shradha Jain 3; (U-14): Jaap Kaur 1, Varleen Kaur 2 and Palak Singla 3; (U-17): Komal 1, Prasha Seth 2 and Jasmeet Kaur 3; (U-19): Savleen 1, Apaar 2 and Gurman 3.

In-line 1,000m race (girls U-11): Muskaan 1; (U-14): Varleen 1, Palak 2 and Tehdil 3; (U-17): Prasha Seth 1, Anjleen 2 and Gurnoor 3; (U-19): Savleen 1, Apaar 2 and Gurman 3.

Quads 300m (girls U-11): Amreen 1, Mehreen 2 and Itnaya 3; (U-14): Saruchi 1, Rashneet 2 and Gunjan 3;

(U-17): Harpreet 1, Arshdeep 2 and Harleen 3; (U-19): Bavleen 1 and Mehakdeep 2.

Quads road race (girls U-11): Mehreen 1, Kavya 2 and Japnoor 3; (U-14): Saruchi 1, Armaandeep 2 and Hamakshi 3; (U-17): Jasleen 1, Arshdeep 2 and Japmehar 3.

Ludhiana, September 2
Kapurthala upset Jalandhar in the semifinal clash during the Mahindra NBA Challenge at the Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

The Ludhiana Academy reached the final in the senior and junior boys' categories.

The seniors defeated Gymkhana Club while the juniors followed suit by outplaying Abohar.

In the semifinal clash between PAU Model School and Mansa, the latter emerged victorious 17-14.

In the girls category, Amritsar and APJ, Jalandhar, will have a face-off next week.

Amritsar beat Gurdaspur while APJ, Jalandhar, got the better of Gymkhana Club.

Results

Senior boys' semifinals: Ludhiana Academy bt Gymkhana Club 69-9 (top scorer: Dildar 26 pts); junior boys semifinals: Ludhiana Academy bt Abohar 76-38 (top scorer: Khushmeet 22 pts); senior women semifinals: Kapurthala bt Jalandhar 56-45 (top scorer: Mandeep and Rajvinder 16 pts); APJ, Jalandhar, bt Gymkhana Club 48-32 (top scorer: Pooja 16 pts); Amritsar bt Gurdaspur 60-26 (top scorer: Samriti 14 pts); sub-junior girls semifinals: Mansa bt PAU Model School 17-14 (top scorer: Shaffy 7 pts).