Ludhiana, January 8
Braving chill, thousands of youth from Moga today thronged Guru Nanak Stadium to participate in the Army recruitment rally.

About 6,000 youngsters turned for the recruitment rally, out of which 2,000 were sent back due to poor physical standards.

In the one-mile race, the aspirants running barefoot got the better of those running with shoes. Braving the bone-chilling cold, thousands of youngsters queued up outside Guru Nanak Stadium to participate in the test.

Director, recruitment, Col MS Mahar said all arrangements were made for the smooth conduct of the recruitment rally. Foolproof security arrangements were in place at the venue. Army officers in civvies were deployed near the venue to nab swindlers who dupe innocent youngsters by assuring them a job in the Army.

“Despite chilly weather, we received a rousing response. January 9 is reserved for the aspirants from Ludhiana. We expect that more aspirants will turn up at the recruitment rally,” said Col Mahar.

The Army is not allowing aspirants sorting tattoos. The aspirants were seen removing their shirts in the cold weather to show the recruiting officer that they were not wearing tattoos.

“Besides hand and forearm, tattoos are not allowed elsewhere on the body. The aspirants are aware about this and now they do not wear tattoos on their body,” said Col Mahar. 

Ludhiana January 8
There was no let up in biting cold wave sweeping the region with the city registering a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius today.

Experts at the agro-meteorology department of Punjab Agricultural University said there was a minimal increase in minimum temperature — 0.2 degrees Celsius — and 5 degrees in maximum temperature.

“The maximum temperature was recorded at 12.4 degrees Celsius today. Yesterday it was 7 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature was 1.8 degree Celsius yesterday, which increased to 2 degree Celsius today.”

The Met department has predicted no immediate relief from the cold wave conditions. 

Ludhiana, January 8
In a major crackdown on the sale of fake watches of international brands, the city police along with the representative of a consultant company of copyrights, raided at shops of two traders and recovered 1,800 fake wristwatches worth Rs 70 lakh from the Clock Tower market today. They also recovered equipment, stickers of various US-made watches.

Ramesh Dutt, director, Speed Network, Chandigarh, had received a request from Tommy Hilfiger, US Polo and Calvin Klein. These companies complained that fake watches of their companies were being sold in the region by two wholesale companies in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana, January 8
The city police today raided at a cyber café Kadwai Nagar and detained 10 persons, including five women, who were caught in a compromising position.

The raid was conducted following a tip-off. The cyber café has become a meeting point of boys and girls, who bunked their classes.

Despite strict guidelines by the Commissioner of Police, the cyber café manager was not keeping the record of persons visiting the place.

While police claimed that raid was conducted following complaints by residents of the area, questions are being asked on the brazen display of moral policing by police.

“I think the police has not learnt any lesson from the incident that took place in Jalandhar last year where the a woman cop paraded a girl in full public view, who later committed suicide. If anyone of them who were caught from the cyber cafe takes the extreme step, the police would be responsible for it,” said Ramesh Bangar, who runs an NGO, Active Anti-Corruption.

It is learnt that Gaurav Kumar, the owner of the cyber café, is a relative of Ramesh Bangar. However, Bangar has categorically denied having any relations with Gaurav. The police has arrested Vicky, manager of the cyber café, and raids were on to arrest Gaurav.

Ludhiana, January 8
The rise in swine flu cases has rung alarm bells for health officials. As the cold wave is intensifying, cases of swine flu are being reported from different parts of the state.

Confirming this, Dr Deepak Bhatia, state nodal officer for the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Ludhiana, said: “We have been receiving samples of suspected swine flu patients from different parts of the state. By now, a total of 10 persons have been confirmed positive for swine flu. These include one each from Ferozepur and Jalandhar. These patients are undergoing treatment at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.

“Three persons have already died. Two were from Haryana who were being treated at Fortis Hospital in Mohali. These included Daya Rani and Ashok Kumar. The third victim was from Patran in Sangrur district and was being treated at the PGI, Chandigarh,” said Bhatia.

He said that today two more patients tested positive for swine flu. These include Kamalpreet from Patiala and Kiran from Mohali. District epidemiologist Dr Anil Verma said: “Today, we sent four samples of suspected swine flu patients, three from DMCH and one from SPS Apollo Hospital, to Chandigarh for examination.”

Dr Bhatia said: "There is no need to panic. We have enough medicines and free testing facility. We have issued instructions to all district health departments to send samples of suspected swine flu patients at the virology laboratory, Chandigarh, for free testing. We also get these tests done at the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi. In case a patient is tested positive, we trace contacts and start prophylactic treatment to attendants. These include a tamiflu tablet daily to the attendant for 10 days. The positive patient is given tamiflu tablet twice a day for five days. But this tablet is provided through the district health authorities. We appeal that if anyone has the symptoms of swine flu, he or she should contact the nearest district health centre for free tests.” 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 8
Major tragedies are waiting to happen on the four laned Ludhiana -Malerkotla road. A roundabout at Gill village and the Jagera Bridge, were identified as most vulnerable points on the highway, no preventive measure has been taken even after recurrence of accidents on the spots.

Gurpreet Singh Sikand, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gill, said he had already asked officials of the police stations concerned to take up the issue with officials in the Public Works Department once again.

"Though we have already taken up the issue with the officials concerned in the PWD office, they have not done anything, so far. I have once again asked beat in-charges of various police stations to identify vulnerable points falling under their respective areas," said Sikand maintaining that PWD officials would again be asked to do the needful.

Investigations revealed that the roundabout at Gill and Pohir had been identified as accident-prone spots by the officials of the PWD. Though Pohir Chowk had been demolished, the department did not bother to modify the roundabout at Gill. Vehicles coming from Malerkotla side continue to collide at the roundabout and the wall has totally been demolished.

Similarly, the department had sought guidelines from the road safety wing of Chandigarh regarding flow of traffic on the Jagera Bridge diversion.,but no amendment had been made so far. 

Ludhiana January 8
The District Education Official issued a show cause notice to two private schools here today for not follwing the instructions of Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Rahul Tiwari in which he ordered to close down all private primary schools till January 13.

To ensure proper implementation of DC's orders, both the District Education Official (Secondary) and District Education Official (Primary) Ludhiana, conducted a random checking of schools and found all the schools closed till primary classes except MGM Public School and Green land School, Dugri.

Paramjit Kaur, District Education Official (Secondary) said, "We found that despite all the instructions from the education department and district administration some of the schools were still opened. During the inspection MGM School and Green Land School were found open. We issued a show cause notice to them for disobeying the orders."

While Ranjit Singh Malhi, District Education Officer (Primary), Ludhiana, said, "I have visited a number of private schools today to check the status of schools. We found that all the primary schools were closed today."

Meanwhile, the students of high schools also wanted extension in vacations as they also found it very difficult to attend schools in this biting cold. But the schools authorities and teachers said that demand of students was not justified.

Sanjiv Thapar, Principal Government Senior Secondary Model Schools, PAU said, "It is a time for the study and students of senior classes have been focusing on the study. We are conducting class tests as revision of syllabus is going on. So extension in vacation can affect the results".

Ludhiana, January 8
A delegation of the Knitwear Club under the leadership of president Darshan Dawar met Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tiwari to discuss the problems of excise duty, which was imposed in 2011 at 12.36 per cent.

This has resulted in increase in the cost of branded garments. In such a case, it will make its product non-competitive in the market, in comparison to manufacturer producing goods availing SSI exemption.

The delegation also discussed about the problem of the stoppage of the Shatabadi Express. Shatabadi Express trains are a series of fast trains to connect metro cities with other cities which are important for tourism, pilgrimage or business. "Ludhiana city being a hub of hosiery industry, frequently approach Delhi for business motive.

Accordingly, the industrialists usually commute by Shatabadi to reach the destination faster and usually they stop at Sabzi Mandi railway station. But in the schedule of Shatabadi, there is no stoppage at Sabzi Mandi and the businessmen face problem," added Dawar, during the meeting.

Manish Tiwari assured them to take these problems of the industry to the 
Central Govt and would take effective steps to mitigate them.

Ludhiana, January 8
Confusion prevails over the making of Aadhar Cards (UID Cards) in post-offices here. The residents of Miller Ganj area have complained that the authorities making UID cards at the Post-Office, Miller Ganj, here have been rejecting the documents, which bear no attestation either from the MLA or the MP. The residents maintained that it was too difficult to catch the MLAs or the MPs and they should be allowed to get the document attested from the area Councillor but the post-office authorities were not accepting the documents bearing Councillor's signatures.

The area Councillor, Jagbir Singh Sokhi said that the residents had got attested the documents from him but the post-office authorities had refused to acknowledge.

"First, it is too difficult to catch the MLAs or MP. Residents can catch hold of the area councillor and Aadhar Cards have been made on the attestation of Councillors but I fail to understand why post-office authorities are not accepting it. Secondly, it is a humiliation for the councillors that they cannot attest the document. We can attest the documents, on basis of which PAN cards are made or bail papers are prepared but we are not authorised to sign the document for making Aadhar Card", said Sokhi.

Gurcharan Kaur, an area resident said that she was not educated enough to know who the MLA or MP was, how could she approach them? "It is so harassing. We went there in such severe cold conditions but they refused to make the cards, saying the documents were not properly attested", said the woman.

Meanwhile, the Nodal Officer (Post-offices) for making Aadhar Cards Parminder Sandhu said that as per his knowledge, it was mandatory to get the document attested either from MLA or MP. "These are Government of India directions and we are adhering to them", said Sandhu.

While, the District Food and Supplies Controller, Rajnish Kumari, said that she was not aware of any agency other than the one, which had given the contract for making Aadhar Cards "I have also received a complaint on this issue and the department will speak to higher-ups at Chandigarh about this confusion. I am not aware about their enrolment for the making UID cards", said Kumari. 

Ludhiana, January 8
Severely cold weather is a stress factor for animal's health. It may modify body metabolism and predispose the animals to certain diseases. Even the fodders available during winters may induce some dietary inadequacies.

Dr C S Randhawa, professor veterinary medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, stated that the severity and deficiencies of phosphorus and copper got aggravated in domestic animals during winter season because of nature of fodder available, which affected recently calved buffaloes and dairy animals in advanced pregnancy.

"Affected animals pass red to coffee coloured urine. During early stages there is no marked effect on appetite and milk yield. If not treated, the affected buffaloes become severely anaemic and lose appetite, develop severe constipation, go recumbent and may die", stressed the expert.

He further added that in case of illness, consult the local veterinarian and such animal should be treated with intravenous solution of sodium dehydrogenate phosphate.

The veterinarians are advised that this therapy should be combined with usually single intravenous copper injection and regular supplementation of good quality mineral mixture.

For prevention, regular supplementation of good quality mineral mixture to lactating and pregnant buffaloes is required.

The incidence of milk fever in freshly calved crossbreed cows also increases during winter. Often such animals respond slowly to calcium solutions.

Such animals should be treated with combination of solutions containing calcium, phosphorous and magnesium.

Nursing and care was very important for successful recovery when animal remains sitting for more than 2 days, said Dr Randhawa. 

Ludhiana, January 8
As there has been a great demand of Veterinary doctors overseas, a number of NRI students have shown keen interest in getting degrees in various courses from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) here.

Dr H S Sandhu, Dean College of Veterinary Science, GADVASU, said that Veterinary varsity was getting tremendous response from overseas especially from North America/Canada, for admissions in Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Health Programme, under the NRI category. "The university at present has 12 seats for NRI students, which get filled during the first counselling itself with waiting list of many candidates who do not get admission. As per the directions of the Supreme Court of India, the university gives admission only to the true NRIs or their wards", claimed the dean.

Amanjot Brar from Canada had been pursuing degree course from GADVASU and he felt that the veterinary doctors could easily get a job back in America and Canada. "It is one of the top jobs there. A fresh starter can always get anything upto US $ 10,000 per month.” According to available information, the fee structure for NRI students at GADVASU has been kept to about 43,000 US$ for the degree course, which authorities feel is much below the exorbitant fees abroad. 

Ludhiana, January 8
Surjit Singh Randhawa, who led the national hockey team which won the World Cup in 1975 in Malaysia, was remembered on his 29th death anniversary yesterday. The former skipper died in a road accident near the Bidhipur level crossing near Jalandhar.

A large number of hockey lovers gathered at the Mata Sahib Kaur Stadium, Jarkhar village, near here, to pay tributes to the legendary hockey player. They garlanded the statue of the great drag-flicker who died in his prime youth, leaving a big void in the hockey arena.

A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of Surjit Singh who mesmerised his fans with excellent stick work and earned a special place in the hearts of millions of game followers across the globe.

Pargat Singh, Olympian, paid tributes to Surjit Singh.

An exhibition match was also organised as a mark of tribute to the late player.

Ludhiana, January 8
A city-based girl has alleged that an auto-rickshaw driver took her to a hotel in Chandigarh, where he sedated her and raped her. After receiving the complaint, the police has registered a rape case against Jagjeevan Singh of Leehan village and started the investigation.

Investigating Officer Rajesh Kumar Sharma said the girl, a resident of the Gurpal Nagar area at Tibba road, was working at and industrial unit in the Lodhowal area till a few months ago. She used to commute on the auto-rickshaw.

The girl fell in love with auto-rickshaw driver Jagjeevan Singh.The girl, in her complaint, alleged that she and Jagjeevan Singh were in love and he promised to marry her soon. But later, he told her that his family members were not in favour of their marriage, so he suggested that she elope with him and get married, she told the police.

On January 5, the duo left their home and went to Chandigarh and stayed there at a hotel. During the stay, they reportedly developed physical intimacy.

“The girl has stated that the boy had sedated her by offering her food laced with sedatives, the accused too has confessed that they had developed physical intimacy but with the consent of the girl”, said the police officer.

It is learnt that the girl levelled rape allegations after she came to know that the auto-rickshaw driver was already married.The maternal uncle of the accused, Harlal Singh, was also booked for threatening the rape victim.

The accused was arrested and produced before the court. He has been sent to judicial custody. Harlal Singh is on the run.

Ludhiana, January 8
A city based doctor has been booked for thrashing his dentist wife for dowry and throwing the later out of the house along with their four-year-old daughter.

The doctor has been identified as Hitesh Adya, a resident of Chawal Bazar. Hitesh, who is absconding, was booked by the woman cell police, following the complaint of Sonal Sood. Narrating her ordeal, Sonal said she got married to Hitesh in September 2007. Soon after the marriage, Hitesh began harassing her for dowry, claimed Sonal. The couple have girl child from the wedlock.

Sonal said that Hitesh even thrashed her in the hospital in front of her staff. Ultimately, she lodged a compliant with the police and got a case registered against her husband. 

Ludhiana, January 8
Two motorcycle-borne youths snatched 200 US dollars from a city resident near Sangeet Cinema. Complainant Gurvinder Singh, a resident of Janta Nagar, said the incident took place at midnight when he was returning home from Khanna.

He said that he alighted from a bus near Partap Chowk and started walking towards home.

Gurvinder said that when he reached near Sangeet Cinema, two youths who were riding on a motorcycle, intercepted him.Soon the youth sitting pillion pulled out a sharp-edged weapon and threatened to kill Gurvinder. Gurvinder panicked. In the meantime, the snatcher forcibly took the purse, containing 200 US dollars and important documents, and fled the scene.

Gurvinder said that since it was dark he could note down the number of the motorcycle.

Jaswinder Singh, SHO, Shimlapuri, said a case was registered against unidentified snatcher soon after receiving the information. He said the accused would be nabbed soon.

Ludhiana, January 8
Thieves struck at three shops located on Giaspura Road late last night and decamped with valuables worth lakhs of rupees.

Harjit Singh,owner of Jaggi General Store, the accused decamped with cloth and cash worth Rs 2.5 lakh by breaking open the shutter of the shop. Harjit said the incident came tolight when he came to the shop this morning and found his shop ransacked.

The thieves also struck at two auto-spare parts shops and decamped with spare parts worth lakhs of rupees. The thieves trespassed into the shop by breaking the wall.

In the meantime, the police has registered a case of theft against the unidentified persons and started the investigation.

Amloh, January 8
Amloh Police Station has arrested three persons who are accused of misbehaving with the police party, at a naka and registered FIR under Section 353, 186, 332, 506 and 34 the IPC against the three. DSP, Davinder Singh Brar alleged,"SHO, Amloh Ravinder Kumar, during Naaka at Ghutind village chowk under Amloh Police station, stopped a red beacon Verna car, no. PB-23-H-3720, on Monday night at 10 pm and the Naaka party found three persons including a lady."

He further said that when questioned one of the occupants, he said that he was youth Akali Dal General Secretary Jagdish Singh Lalka, the second was his close relative Rattan Lal Ratti and the third was a lady resident of ward no.1 of Amloh Kamalpreet Kaur. He further said that they were coming from Malerkotla after attending a function.

DSP further alleged,"When ASI Dharmpal asked about the use of red-beacon on the vehicle, they abused the police party and slapped the SHO. The Police arrested the three alleged accused persons, impounded their Verna car and registered FIR under Section 353, 186, 332, 506 and 34 the IPC against the three persons. All the three were got medically examined from civil hospital Amloh and were today produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate Parminder Kaur and the court sent them under judicial custody up to January 21, at Nabha Jail. SSP Fatehragh Sahib Hardial Singh Mann said,"the police has clear instructions from Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal that nobody should be allowed to take law into his hands."

When contacted alleged accused Jagdish Singh Lalka's father Makhan SIngh Lalka, Nabha Halqa in charge, ( Vidhan Sabha halka of Akali Dal) said that if his son had taken law into his hands he had no sympathy with him and he should be dealt in accordance with law.