Ludhiana, December 17
Shopkeepers of Chaura Bazar, the commercial hub of the city, have questioned the notices issued to them for removal of encroachments in front of their shops. They have asserted that the extension of 2.5 ft in front of each shop was, in fact, a bona fide allotment made by the MC way back in 1972 against a licence fee.

At a meeting with city Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria at the MC headquarters here today, Som Nath Grover, chairman of the Chaura Bazar Shopkeepers Association, and Swarn Singh, president of the Akal Market Shopkeepers Association, made a fervent plea for the settlement of the issue once and for all as the affected shopkeepers were perturbed over issuance of demolition notices to them at regular intervals.

They explained to the Mayor that in the course of a drive for widening of Chaura Bazar, carried out in 1972, the then Deputy Commissioner, who was also the administrator of the MC, had made an allotment of 2.5-foot space in front of each shop against which an annual licence fee was payable.

"Ignoring the genuine claim of the shopkeepers, vested in them through a legally binding agreement, the civic body has been issuing notices for demolition at regular intervals," leaders of the shopkeepers' associations maintained, adding that the "allotted" sites of extension in front of the shops in Chaura Bazar, were erroneously included in the list of encroachments submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court by the MC in reply to a notice of motion in a civil writ petition for removal of encroachments on government and MC land.

Pleading for the withdrawal of the demolition notices, Grover and Swarn Singh said the issue of non-payment of licence fee as provided in the agreement for allotment of extension could be sorted out and once the demand was raised, the shopkeepers would clear all arrears in this respect.

The Mayor gave a patient hearing to the shopkeepers, and assured that he would get the matter thoroughly examined before moving any further or making any commitment in this regard. "We have to tread cautiously in this matter since directions of the High Court are on record, and have to be followed," he said.

Ludhiana, December 17
Two drug peddlers, Pardeep Singh (28) and Rupinderjit Singh (30), of Lapran village, Ludhiana, have been convicted of possessing 204 kg of poppy husk. They have been asked to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 years each.

Pronouncing the verdict, Additional Sessions Judge Paramjit Singh also ordered them to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. Coming down heavily on those involved in drug trafficking, the court said, "Drug traffickers are out to kill youths for bringing prosperity to themselves. They will ruin the health of thousands of people and also cripple them mentally and physically".

"The contraband they were carrying was a lethal weapon meant for destroying human beings for their own prosperity," observed the Judge, while turning down the plea of leniency raised by the accused.

An FIR was registered against them at the Sahnewal police station on December 25, 2010, under Section 15 of the NDPS Act.

According to the prosecution, the then in charge of the Ramgarh police post, ASI Dalbir Singh, along with a police party, was checking the suspected persons on the GT Road, Kanesh Cut, Sahnewal.

The accused persons were seen coming in a Skoda car (DL-3CV-7515) from the Doraha side. The driver was signalled to stop the car. He stopped the vehicle and the persons sitting on the adjoining seat tried to flee. Police officials managed to apprehend both of them.

Two bags were lying on the back seat and four bags containing poppy husk were in the luggage compartment. DSP Balraj Gill was called to the spot and the bags were checked in his presence.

During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty. After appreciating the evidence on record and hearing the arguments advanced by Additional Public Prosecutor AS Buttar, the court found them guilty.

Ludhiana, December 17
Workers of the CPI and the CPM today held a protest march from Chatar Singh Park to the Mini-Secretariat here against the alleged deteriorating law and order situation. The parties flayed the "anti-people policies" of the Punjab Government.

Speakers at the rally came down heavily upon the government and the law-enforcement machinery for the "increasing lawlessness and incidents of violence, especially those committed by functionaries of the ruling party or under their patronage". The parties said the recent killing of an ASI while trying to save the honour of his daughter by a member of the ruling SAD-B went on to prove that the writ of the government no longer ruled and a virtual "goonda raj" prevailed in the state.

Several other heinous crimes committed by those close to the ruling coalition, including Shruti's abduction, showed the government and the police in poor light. "The role of senior government functionaries and top brass of the police has also been dubious in dealing with most of these cases, to say the least," the parties said.

The parties asserted that all sections of society, particularly women, had never felt so unsafe as they were feeling today. They alleged that there was blatant political interference by the ruling coalition in the functioning of the police. "The land mafia, the sand mafia and drug peddlers are ruling the roost without any fear under this regime," said one of the leaders.

Ludhiana, December 17
In the wake of an ASI’s murder in Amritsar, who was shot dead for trying to save his daughter from being harassed by eve-teasers, the city police today conducted a challan drive against “road Romeos” outside a girls' college.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (West) Gurpreet Kaur Purewal was leading the team that laid a naka outside the Khalsa College for Women.

The youths who could not show documents were taken to the police station and their parents were informed.

The police naka came as a surprise for boys who were roaming around the college. They were caught off guard and were seen taking a U-turn on seeing policemen.

Many youngsters were seen trying to impress upon the police team that they were not there to tease girls.

“Eve-teasing will not be tolerated and police nakas will be a routine feature. Our motive is to provide safety to girls visiting the college. Girls should not hesitate in making use of the helpline No. 100 if they are being followed or harassed by boys,”said Purewal.

Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh had earlier issued a notice stating that eve-teasing victims could directly contact him and lodge their complaints.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 17
As the state government is celebrating the triumph in the world kabbadi championship, the residents wished that potholed roads, leading to different kabaddi venues should also be repaired soon. They said the promotion of the kabaddi and construction of stadia would be a welcome step only if the basic amenities, including good roads are available in both rural and urban areas of the state. The roads are causing inconvenience to commuters.

"Keeping in view the basic needs of the common man, we want that priorities should be fixed, and the government should promote sports in general and kabaddi in particular without affecting the overall development of the state," a resident said.

Social activists Narinder Azad and Tarsem Garg alleged that almost all the roads, connecting various village stadia in the region are in a bad shape. The Grewal Sports Stadium, Kilaraipur, Chahal Sports Stadium, Kanganwal, football stadium, Mehma Singh Wala, and the stadiums at Gujjarwal, Barundi, Latala, Dhulkot, Jartoli, Dehlon, Pakhowal, Jodhan and Kalakh villages are among those playgrounds that can only be accessed by undertaking bumpy and tedious journeys.

The residents say a few decades ago, the roads, leading to the stadia, used to be repaired at least once a year as dignitaries, including chief ministers and ministers, used to visit these places but now even patchwork is no longer being carried out on such roads.

A ride to these stadiums from Ludhiana, Khanna, Malerkotla, Mullanpur, Sandaur and Raikot reveals that only a few roads are in an ideal state. The situation worsens during monsoon. Though elected representatives and leaders of various political parties have been claiming of getting funds from the governments, little has been done for the improvement of link roads. The condition of the link roads, including Jodhan-Ahmedgarh, Lohatbaddi-Ahmedgarh, Maholi-Ahmedgarh, Ghungrana, Jandali and Dhulkot roads is extremely bad.

Ludhiana, December 17
The Northern Railway Pensioners Welfare Association has condemned the Centre and the state government for persistently "ignoring the demands of pensioners and denying senior citizens a life of dignity and respect".

Addressing a function organised to observe the Pensioners' Day at the NRMU Complex here today, Sher Singh, chairman of the association, lashed out at the union government for its refusal to grant full parity in pension for pre-2006 retirees and addition of pay band for the purpose of computation of pension.

He came down heavily upon both the Centre and the Punjab Government for being apathetic to senior citizens. "When the government is going all out to implement the FDI in retail despite vehement opposition by various political parties in a desperate bid to emulate western countries, why is it not allowing concessions and social security to senior citizens which is available to them in developed nations?" he questioned.

Reiterating the pending demands of the railway pensioners, Sher Singh asked the government to set up medicare harmony lodges for retired people, allow free bus and rail travel during non-peak hours and provide comprehensive medical care to pensioners.

Dwelling upon the importance of the Pensioners Day, he said it was on December 17, 1983, when the Supreme Court of India had ruled while delivering a judgement that pension was not a bounty but the benefits were deferred wages of the employees which could not be denied. The court had further ordered that the government was bound to take care of its former employees.

BR Dhawan, general secretary of the association, demanded enhancement of medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 per month and allowing a companion for free during first class travel for pensioners above the age of 70 years. He also called for improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities at the sub-divisional railway hospital.

Ludhiana, December 17
The protest of the PAU employees over the non-payment of 70 per cent arrears according revised pay scale continues. The dharna, which entered its 26th day, was organised by the PAU Employees' Union in front of the Thapar Hall. A large number of employees participated in the protest. The protesters raised slogans against the Punjab Government and PAU Authorities. A large number of retired employees also participated. Narinder Singh, Anant Kumar, Balwinder Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Ram Kewal Yadav sat on the dharna today. While addressing the gathering, Paramjit Singh Gill, president of the PAU Employees' Union briefed that the Punjab Government had decided to release the arrears of the period from January 1, 2006 to July 31, 2009 in three instalments- 40 per cent in May 2011, 30 per cent in May 2012 and 30 per cent in May 2013.

He further said that issue of the grant of arrears was not a demand of the employees but it was a their right. 

Ludhiana December 17
The annual convocation of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) was held here on Monday as a part of its golden jubilee celebrations. Prof Abhijit Sen, member, Planning Commission, Government of India, was the chief guest on the occasion. He conferred Dr Grucharan S Kalkat, former Vice-Chancellor of the PAU and chairman, Punjab State Farmers' Commission, with the Degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa).

Sen also awarded certificates of appreciation to former Vice-Chancellors of the PAU Dr Khem Singh Gill, Dr Gurcharan S Kalkat, Dr Kirpal S Aulakh and Dr Manjit S Kang.

A total of 392 students were awarded degrees and 11 students were awarded medals. These students were also awarded merit certificates. PAU faculty members were given cash awards, plaques and prizes.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Abhijit Sen said, "The PAU is a premiere and a well-known agricultural university of the country. Right from agro-research to transfer of technology, India is proud of this institution. The university has produced outstanding and exceptional human resources. I congratulate the PAU for its glorious service to the farming community." He also congratulated the students who received degrees and merit certificates and asked them to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

Presenting the convocation report, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said during the current year, 10 crop varieties were released for cultivation in Punjab and that the university had produced about 65,000 quintal of seeds of different varieties. He said the PAU produced 30,000 disease-free saplings of kinnow, 60,000 saplings of poplar and 90,000 of other fruit crops. Two mandarin varieties, Daisy Tangerine and W Murcott, were expected to enhance and diversify citrus cultivation, he said.

During the convocation, Ph.D, M.Sc, M.Tech, MBA, MBA (Agro-Business), MCA and MJMC degrees were awarded to 392 students. Besides, 11 students were awarded medals. These include Navpreet Kumar (Sardar Kartar Singh Kahlon Gold Medal 2011-12), Manpreet Jaidka (Dr Gurbaksh Singh Gill Medal 2011-12), Swati Kapoor (Dr K Kirpal Singh Medal 2011-12), Rupinder Pal Singh (Sadar Iqbal Singh Dhillon Medal 2011-12), Ramanpreet Kaur (Dr Sardar Singh Medal 2011-12), Jiban Chandra Nath (Dr Narinder Singh Randhawa Medal 2011-12), Jaskanwal Singh (Dr BR Sharma Medal 2011-12), Hina Malhotra (Dr GS Sidhu Medal 2011-12), Pooja (Shri Puran Anand Adlakha Medal 2011-12), Abhijit Kar (Dr Gurmail Singh Dhaliwal Medal 2011-12), and Jaskirat Kaur Virk (Dr PN Thapar Gold Medal 2012). Shalini Agnihothri was awarded Dr Sukhdev Singh Prize for Essay and Oration 2011-12.

Apart from this, eight faculty members of PAU were conferred with various awards. These include Dr AS Dhatt, Senior Vegetable Breeder (Hans Raj Pahwa Memorial Award 2010-11); Dr HS Dhaliwal, Senior Horticulturist (Harpal Kaur memorial Award 2011); Dr MS Dhaliwal, Senior Vegetable Breeder (Award of Plaque 2010-11); Dr SS Kukal, Prof of Soil Conservation (Award of Merit Certificate 2011-12); Dr JS Brar, Senior Seed Production Specialist-cum-Director, Raja Harinder Singh Seed Farm, Faridkot (Best Outstation Scientist Award 2011-12); Dr TK Gill, Prof of Extension Education (Dr MS Randhawa Best Book Prize 2009); Dr Surjit S Gill, Senior Extension Specialist (Dr Satwant Kaur Memorial best Extension Worker Award 2011); and Dr RK Dhaliwal, Head of the Extension Education Department (PAU Best Teacher Award 2010-11).

Ludhiana, December 17
High- drama took place at the Cemetery Road in Civil Lines area today after a jeweller claimed that armed assailant robbed him and fled with a bag containing Rs 3 lakh.

It was in the afternoon when Rahul Jain, a city-based jeweller, raised alarm and claimed that four armed assailants, riding on two motorcycles intercepted his car.

He said before he could react, the assailants pulled out their weapons and asked him to handover the bag, in which Rs 3 lakh were kept.

When Rahul refused, the accused started thrashing him. Meanwhile, one of the robbers took the bag out of the car. Rahul said he tired to raise alarm but the accused managed to flee.

The incident of broad day-light robbery came as a shock for the police, who had installed a check post in the area.

The news of robbery also held serious inference as the residence of Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh and other senior police officials are also located in the area.

Interestingly, the road remains crowded throughout the day but there was no eyewitness of the incident.

The policeman, who began the probe, went into a tizzy after Rahul refused to lodge any complaint. Sushil Jain, Rahul's father, while downplaying the issue said they did not want to lodge any complaint.

He even went on to say that no robbery incident had taken place. Ranjeet Singh, SHO, Division No 8, said, "I have not received any formal complaint 

SPORTS

Venue of School games unkempt before mega event
Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana December 17
Students who will participate in the 58th National School Games which begin tomorrow at the Guru Nanak Stadium have expressed apprehensions that broken glass of tube lights, pins and nails which are scattered on the ground could cause them injuries.

Around 2,300 students from across the country will participate in various games and many will take part in the march past at this stadium. Ironically, the litter which was left after the World Kabaddi Cup is yet to be cleared and has made the condition of the stadium worse.

Empty boxes of eatables, garlands, used firecrackers are strewn across the stadium.

Sports officials of the Education Department are worried themselves. They say it would be a herculean task to clear the stadium in one day. However, district sports officials arranged labourers from the Municipal Corporation to clean the stadium.

"We are worried about the condition of the stadium as the department does not have enough manpower to clean the stadium before the inauguration of the National School Games. Things which are scattered on the ground can cause injuries to the players, leaving them unfit for the games. The Sports Department should remove this before the event begins," said a sports official from the Education Department.

Kartar Singh, District Sports Officer, said, "It was the duty of the event management company to make the venue neat and clean but they did not bother to clean it before leaving. Now, we have arranged workers and the venue would be ready for use again before the inaugural ceremony of the school games."

Ludhiana, December 17
Over 2,300 athletes, who are part of 28 teams from different states, have come to the city in the wake of the 58th National School Games starting tomorrow. The week-long event, comprising kick Boxing, kabaddi, circle-style kabaddi, hockey and handball, will be held at Government Model School, PAU.

These teams have been provided accommodations in different government schools. However, many visiting students complained of the delay in receipt of mattresses. "Mattresses and quilts should have been here before we reached. We have been travelling for past couple of days and it is too cold here," said one of the players. Some of them said the mattresses were too thin.

Athletes from Uttar Pradesh said the window of their room was broken, which would make it uncomfortable at night considering the cold weather. "There are no lights in our room," said Anand, one of the athletes. A kabaddi player complained that bathrooms were in bad shape. However, some students said the arrangements were reasonably fine.

One of the officials, who was making the arrangements, said they would be done as per the requirements of the visiting teams. Athletes from Madhya Pradesh complained that one of the rooms given to them was too damp.

Earlier in the day, a meeting of the officials and organisers of the event, comprising DEOs and principals who are in-charge of transportation, food, bedding, medical facilities and photography, was organised at Malwa Khalsa School. 

Ludhiana December 17
Two-days after the closing ceremony of the third edition of the World Kabaddi Cup, the District Administration has start reconstructing the boundary wall of Government College for Girls, which was demolished by administration on the eve of World Kabaddi Cup.

Winners of the National Blind Games kiss their medals in Ludhiana. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Ludhiana, December 17
The spirit of triumph was palpable through their voice and confident gait. Although they couldn't see the medals they had won, feeling them with their hands widened their smiles.

22 students from the Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre, who participated in the18th Indian Blind Sport Association National Sports Meet, which was held at Delhi a couple of days back, returned with a new confidence.

"The sports tournament was a great opportunity for us to prove that we are no less than other people . We can compete and perform like any other individual in society," said Sandeep Kaur, who won a gold medal in the shotput event and won two bronze medals.

" We need society's acceptance ," says Sukhvir, who won silver medals during the competition. "We are in fact better than other people in many areas," Sukhvir said. Another student said he would like to play at the international level.

Attending the national sports meet was a good experience as we met with the students from other states," said Nazia, who won a bronze medal in the 800 m race.

"Sports events like this are always a great encouragement for everyone, particularly for visually-impaired, as it gives them confidence that they are no less than others," said Himanshu Ranjan, coach of the team.