Ludhiana, October 2
Morning walkers and visitors to parks face the risk of contracting dengue since stagnant water in most of the parks in the city is suitable for the growth of the aedes aegypti mosquito.

Though the government agencies have been trying to create awareness on dengue, it has failed to stop water accumulation in gardens and parks.

Ludhiana, October 2
It could be a miracle cure for dengue. And the best part is you can make it at home. The juice of the humble papaya leaf has been seen to arrest the destruction of platelets.

Ayurveda researchers have found that enzymes in the papaya leaf can fight a host of viral infections and can help regenerate platelets and white blood cells.

A dengue patient suffers from high-grade fever, severe body ache and weakness. Under such circumstances, people have been adopting home remedies to increase their platelet count.

Some are giving juice of papaya leaves and gloe stem to the patients while others are opting for kiwi fruit, which is rich in Vitamin C. Some patients are also using aloe vera juice.

City based ayurvedic practitioner Dr Ravinder Vatsayan said: “The patient should use juice of papaya leaves. Similarly, the juice of gloe stem can also be given to the patient. Both of these enhance platelets. In case there is sudden fall in platelets, the patients should be immediately given amla juice."

Dr Monica Malhotra, Government Ayurvedic Medical Officer, said: “'Tulsi leaves are also equally good as they enhance immunity. People should grow tulsi plant in their home and should also keep a pot of this plant near the bedroom." 

Get proper treatment
However, when contacted, Medical Superintendent of Christian Medical and Hospital Dr Kanwal Maseeh contradicted the claims of ayurvedic doctors. He said: “In allopathy, we do not have any such evidence that these herbs are good for increasing the platelet count. The patient suffering from dengue should get the proper treatment where platelets and symptomatology can be monitored." 

Ludhiana, October 2
Two motorcyclists were injured, one seriously, after being hit by a speeding car near Hathi Complex on the PAU road this morning. The car was reportedly being driven by a policeman. The car crossed the footpath and damaged the boundary wall of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

The incident took place at around 8 am when Ajay Kumar and Lekh Raj, both residents of Jawhar Nagar Camp, were on their way to a temple in Haibowal.

Ajay said since it was Lekh Raj’s birthday, he decided to start the day by visiting a temple. Ajay said when they reached near Hathi Complex, a speeding Maruti Ritz car hit their motorcycle from rear.

Both Ajay and Lekh Raj fell from the motorcycle. Instead of applying breaks, the driver of the car (PB-10-DG-6204) pressed the accelerator. In this process, the driver lost control over the vehicle and rammed the car into the boundary wall.

Ajay and Lekh Raj, who were stuck under the car, and were rescued by two commuters Jaswinder Singh and Baninder Kaur. Ajay and Lekh Raj sustained multiple injuries. Lekh Raj suffered a rupture on the spinal cord.

“Doctor says the condition of Lekh Raj is serious. If he survives, he may not be able to walk again,” said Tilak Raj, uncle of Lekh Raj.

Sohan Lal, investigating officer, said the car belongs to Vishal Kumar, a resident of BRS Nagar. “He is either a policeman or he has sold the vehicle to a policeman,” said Sohan Lal. He added that the car driver managed to flee after the incident.

On the other hand, family members of the victim alleged that police officials were deliberately hiding the identity of the suspect since he was a policeman. 

Ludhiana, October 2
A 16-year-old boy, who fled from Dehradun due to the fear of flunking an exam, took the city police for a ride after he concocted a kidnapping story. The incident came to light this afternoon when the boy identified as, Sanjay Khandari, arrived at a multi-speciality hospital and told the nursing staff there that some unidentified persons had kidnapped him from Dehradun yesterday.

He said the kidnappers had come in a Maruti Omni van.

Sanjay added that he managed to trick the kidnappers and alighted from the vehicle near Aarti Chowk.

The hospital authorities informed the police about the incident.

The police reached the spot and made Sanjay speak to his parents and then started questioning him.

The police asked Sanjay how he was kidnapped and how he managed to escape from the clutches of the kidnappers.

Unable to answer the questions, Sanjay broke down and confessed to have concocted a story.

Sanjay, a Class XI student of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), fled from Dehradun yesterday and came to Chandigarh.

Sanjay belongs to an affluent family. He is the son of an ex-Army officer, Varinder Khandari. His elder sister and brother are working in multinational companies.

Sanjay's father said he had lodged a complaint with the Dehradun police.

Not keen on pursuing science stream
Sanjay told the police that his parents pressurised him to opt for medical stream while he wanted to go in for humanities. He said he would only return home, if his parents agreed to change his stream.

Fled from Dehradun on Monday
Sanjay, a Class XI student of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), fled from Dehradun on Monday. He belongs to an affluent family. He is the son of an ex-Army officer, Varinder Khandari. His elder sister and brother are working in multinational companies.

Doraha, October 2
The shattered Jhajj family of Buani village, whose daughter-in-law and three grandsons was murdered in Belgium, has appealed to the government to assist them in bringing back the bodies to India.

Jang Singh, the grandfather, said he was holding himself together just to have a last look of his grandsons. He repented that he could not spend enough time with them when the last visited India during last winter. “We have given an application to the Punjab government seeking its help in bringing the bodies to India for performing the last rites. Government officials say they would forward the request to the Home Ministry tomorrow, as it was a holiday today,” he added.

Nirmal Singh, the father of deceased Rajvir Kaur, said there was nothing left with them any more. “We just request the government to help us in this hour of grief. While leaving us the last time, my daughter and grandsons had promised to visit India the next year. If the government comes to our aid, their promise could be fulfilled,” he said.

Meanwhile, Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal promised that the state government would extend all possible help in bringing back the bodies to Doraha. — OC

Ludhiana, October 2
Over 400 students of the Chain of Green Land Schools paid obeisance to Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Dham here today. Gandhi Dham, on the banks of Sutlej River, is a historical place where a part of Gandhi’s ashes was immersed upon his cremation in 1948. The children paid floral tribute at the “samadhi” and pledged to follow the ideals of truth, non-violence and simplicity, advocated by the ‘Father of the Nation’.

On this occasion, Rajesh Rudhra, chairman-cum-director of the Chain of Green Land Schools, said Gandhi was an apostle of peace and preached non-violence all over the world. He also said that today’s youth was deviating from the path of non-violence that was a matter of grave concern. They quarrel on trivial issues, which even results in blood shed many a times, he said.

SKN Model High School

The staff and students of SKN Model High School celebrated the 143rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on the school premises today. The function started with a patriotic song. A declamation contest was also held on this occasion.

Jagraon: The birth anniversary of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi was celebrated with enthusiasm at various schools of the town today. Colourful cultural programmes were organised by various schools to mark the occasion, during which the students presented patriotic songs and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

The programme at GHG Academy started with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by chairman Gurmail Singh Malhi. Malhi motivated the students to follow the path of truth and honesty shown by Mahatma Gandhi to become a good human being in their lives. While remembering Gandhi, school principal Hardev Kaur Sidhu recalled his achievements. She stressed on the need to follow the path shown by him. The school students delivered speeches and recited patriotic poems during the function.

A brief function was also organised at DAV School. While addressing the students, school principal Poonam Kapahi said Mahatma Gandhi showed the path of truth, honesty and sincerity to the people of the country. The real tribute to the great freedom fighter would be to follow the path shown by him, she added. She said Gandhi's teachings had great relevance in the present times too.

The students of the school participated in various activities including debate, poem recitation and singing.

Programmes were also organised at Sanmati Vimal Jain Senior Secondary School, Saravhitkari Vidya Mandir School, Swami Roop Chand Jain School and RK Senior Secondary School on the occasion. 

Phillaur, October 2
Factionalism in the Congress party come to fore on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, when two different factions, led by former MLA Gurwinder Singh Atwal and former minister Santokh Singh Chaudhary, paid tributes to the ‘Father of the Nation’ at two different functions in Phillaur today.

Santokh Singh, along with other local leaders and supporters, visited Gandhi Dham to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Later, Santokh Singh distributed ration to 106 poor families.

Meanwhile, Gandhi Dham Peace Mission headed by former MLA GS Atwal held a function, presided by Congress MP Mahinder Singh Kaypee at Gandhi Dham near the banks of Sutlej River. Sarab Dharam Sammelan was also organised in which representatives of Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Christian communities participated and took pledge to work against social evils and to serve the society and maintain dignity of the nation.

When contacted, Santokh Singh said he was not aware of any other function being organised. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 2
The town wore a deserted look on the 143rd birth anniversary of ‘Father of the Nation’ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi here today. Observing the national holiday, people remained confined to their homes.

No major function was organised to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi and former Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastari, whose birth anniversary is also celebrated on the same day.

Although principal and staff of a local school garlanded the lone statue of Mahatma Gandhi installed on the school premises, no politician or social activist bothered to pay tributes to the iconic leaders.

The enthusiasm shown by the local leaders at the political conferences held during the recent Chhapar Mela also seemed absent today.

"How could we organise a function without receiving directives from our party seniors," said an office-bearer of a political party, admitting that he was reminded of the day only after he saw a closed liquor vend.

The government officials posted in the region also did not bother to organise a meeting or a function to celebrate the occasion in their departments.

Heads of some educational institutes, however, did inform students about significance of the day during the morning assembly yesterday.

Students of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial National Senior Secondary School and Lal Bahadur Shastri Public School were among the few who celebrated the birth anniversaries. 

Ludhiana, October 2
Engaged in a procedural battle with the Punjab government and Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) authorities for the past several years against intended closure of a common passage in D Block of Model Town Extension, residents seem to have won a part of the battle while the war is still on as certain vested interests are working against the interests of the vast majority of people.

Area residents said, "A stretch of a vacant land measuring 100 feet in length and 30 feet in width, along plot numbers 1285-D and 1346-D, is being used as a common passage for school buses, other vehicles and pedestrians to have access to the main road for more than a decade."

"However, certain vested interests, including a few property dealers, were conniving with the LIT staff to get the common passage closed so that the vacant piece of land could be converted into plots and usurped by influential persons," maintained the residents.

GS Midha, secretary, Model Town Extension-D, Part II Welfare Society, who has been single handedly spearheading the fight against the injustice, said several LIT officials, including the erstwhile chairman, MM Vyas, had visited the locality and ruled in favour of retaining the vacant land as a common passage.

"But till date, no worthwhile action has been taken to make a modification in the layout plan of the Town Planning Scheme of the area so that the site could be converted into a common passage and a proper road be constructed for the benefit of the residents," he lamented.

After scores of representations to the government without any positive action, there is a small ray of hope now for the residents as the LIT authorities have intimated the local government department (vide memo no 5453 dated July 20, 2012) that as per the report of drawing branch, a piece of 30 feet wide land is located beyond plot numbers 1285-D and 1346-D in the layout plan of Model Town Extension Part II, Block D, which is lying vacant at present.

Midha and other area residents assert that now that the report of the land being used as common passage has been sent by the LIT authorities to the Punjab government, it will be in the fitness of things that a suitable amendment be made to the TP scheme so that the stretch of vacant land is notified as public street to solve the issue once and for all.

LIT officials said the trust was not averse to the passage being converted into a public road keeping in view the demand of the area residents. "We have to take care of the trust properties but at the same time we are also committed to provide amenities and basic infrastructure to the people," they added.

Ludhiana, October 2
Two days after a labourer died after scaffolding of an under-construction shopping mall near Fountain Chowk collapsed, another labourer died after falling from the fourth floor of Sacred Heart senior Secondary School in BRS Nagar today.

The deceased was identified as Ajay Kumar.

"Scaffolding may have collapsed leading to the incident," said sources.

The victim fell from the fourth floor and died on the spot.It is not the first time that such incident took place at school premises. One worker was killed while nine others were critically injured after the roof of an under-construction auditorium of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar, collapsed on June 7, 2011.

Woman injured in mishap

A woman sustained injuries when an auto-rickshaw rammed into her scooty on the Pakhowal Road today.

The auto overturned following the accident. Eyewitnesses said the driver of the auto-rickshaw lost control and hit the scooty. The woman sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital. The driver fled the spot.

Theft at shop

Thieves struck at a mobile shop near Sherpur Chowk and decamped with mobile phones and mobile recharge coupons worth Rs 3.5 lakh.A case has been registered in this connection.

Youth commits suicide

Deepak (26), a resident of Pamal village, reportedly committed suicide by consuming poisonous substance. His parents rushed him to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead. He was said to be under depression.

Ludhiana, October 2
Induction furnace units in Mandi Gobindgarh today went on an indefinite strike against the e-trip system while Ludhiana's industry has reduced its working hours to 12 hours a day from today onwards.

"We have already met the Chief Minister several times in this regard, but to no avail and now are left with no other option, but to shut down our units. All the units in Mandi Gobindgarh are protesting against the e-trip system," said Mohinder Gupta, president of Induction Furnace Association of Mandi Gobindgarh.

"The recent notification by the excise and taxation department for traders/manufacturers to furnish the information online regarding the transportation of goods worth Rs 3 lakh and above is practically not possible at all as most of the SME units are not equipped with computers and Internet facilities. Since most of the entrepreneurs are not aware of the computer terminology so they will now be required to appoint computer operators which will add to their burden," said KK Garg, president of the Induction Furnace Association of North India.

Another induction furnace unit owner, Romesh Aggarwal, said there was every possibility that someone's account might get hacked and he or she might have to bear losses due to this.

"Since one has to enter the time of dispatch, so the order cannot be delayed or rescheduled. In case, the website of the department is not working, we will have to wait till it starts working because we have to fill the time of dispatch. All these conditions are not practically possible for us due to poor infrastructure. First of all, we are not getting power 24 hours and second of all, the website of the department can also develop a snag and in those cases we are left with no other option, but to wait and bear the losses," he said.

Ludhiana, October 2
Industry in the city has condemned the hike in the charges of new electricity connections by the PSPCL. A meeting of the office-bearers of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers (UCPMA) was held under the presidentship of Gurmeet Singh Kular in this regard.

They said, "The government has been assuring us that it will solve our problems, but the hike has come as a jolt."

"The hike in power tariff is forcing us to shut down our units," they added.

"We urge the government to rollback the hike as we don't want to leave our hometown. If the government revokes its decision, industrialists and resident will heave a sigh of relief," added Kular.

The decision of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission and Punjab State Power Corporation to increase the power connection charges from October 1 has taken us aback. It will only aggravate our woes," said Avtar Singh, general secretary, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertaking.

"Power supply to the PSPCL has been irregular for the past four to five years. The government first increased the electricity duty from 10 per cent to 13 per cent, then it imposed 5 per cent electricity duty on captive consumption and now the hike in power tariff is unbearable," they added.

Ludhiana, October 2
People's Party of Punjab (PPP) president Manpreet Badal is on a cadre-building mission in the districts of Punjab.

During his visit to Ludhiana today, he candidly admitted that lack of formal structure in the party organisation at various levels was responsible, in good measure, for the party's poor performance in Vidhan Sabha elections.

To strengthen the party structure at district level and expand the organisational base of the party, Badal plans to visit each district twice a month.

Slamming the "Mission Ludhiana" launched by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, he questioned its underlying principle.

He claimed that the SAD drive against drugs lacked sincerity. "Many in Badal village are involved in drugs," he alleged.

Refusing to let the Sanjha Morcha's dismal poll performance deter his enthusiasm for what he claimed was ideology-based politics, he said he was hopeful that the people of Punjab would respond to the call for greater common good instead of focusing on petty personal gains. "I was disappointed when they (the electorate) wanted to carry on with the (political) system that had not benefited them," he said, adding, "India is being held back by politicians who are reluctant to take right decisions at right time."

On the reforms initiated by the Centre, he claimed that politics had been played for 14 months. It should not have taken so long to bring in the reforms, he added.

On having declined to join the Congress protest against the state government on the issue of "punitive taxes", he said it was important to build a consensus.

"I had conveyed (to the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Captain Amarinder Singh) that their's is the principal Opposition party and that it is better to call a meeting on issues concerning Punjab. These issues include imposition of taxes, curb on civil liberties, victimisation of political opponents. We could work on evolving a broad consensus and he agreed to it."

Badal was accompanied by the PPP senior vice-president, Gurpreet Singh Bhatti. 

Ludhiana, October 2
A truck came in contact with overhead electricity wires at Passi Nagar, Pakhowal, today. Following the incident, the wires fell on the ground. The residents immediately informed the officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and asked them to remove the wires from the ground.

The officials reached the spot after three hours.

Harminder Sangha, member of the Social Welfare Council, Pasi Nagar, said, "Power supply was snapped after the incident. The wires could lead to a fatal accident."

"I have filed a complaint with the PSPCL officials. After calling up at the control room a number of times, an attendant gave us a number, but no one responded to the call," he added.

Executive Engineer, Model Town, Sanjiv Parbhakar, did not take the call.

Superintending Engineer Tarlok Singh said, "The staff must be busy. I will look into the matter."

Ludhiana, October 2
Doraha Public School survived many anxious moments against Government Senior Secondary School, Tarn Taran, before prevailing over with a narrow margin (1-0) on the second day of the North Zone CBSE Schools Hockey Tournament being held at Mehta Gurukul Academy, Doraha, today.

The match started on a brisk pace and players of both the sides exhibited good stick work and depth in their attacks. They made forays repeatedly into each other's territory but failed to get the desired result.

After a barren first half, Doraha Public School players threatened rival's citadel time and again, but Tarn Taran defence line denied them the success.

Doraha lads continued with the pressure tactics and eventually Tarn Taran school wilted under it and conceded a goal just a few minutes before the long hooter. The all important goal came off Avtar Singh' stick.

In the second match, Guru Nanak Modern Senior Secondary School, Doraha, overpowered Shah Satnam School, Sirsa, 2-0. Both the goals were scored in the second half.

The match scheduled to be played between Green Land Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, and the hosts, Mehta Gurukul Public Senior Secondary School, Doraha, was, awarded to the Mehta Gurukul School as the former failed to turn up.

In another match, Spring Dale Senior Secondary School, Amritsar, proved too good for DAV Public School, Jalandhar, whom they outnumbered 4-1 to advance into the next round.

In the fifth match which turned out be a mismatch, Alpine International School, Ludhiana, overwhelmed Akal Academy of Battala near Moga 12-1.