Ludhiana, March 14
Continuing with its concerted drive against encroachments and unlawful parking in service lanes along Ferozepur Road (a national highway) from the Jagraon Bridge to the Sidhwan Canal and several other posh localities in the city, a team of the tehbazari wing of the municipal corporation today impounded more than a dozen two-wheelers, issued challans to several other vehicles and seized other articles and goods placed by vendors on roadsides.

Tehbazari superintendent Navin Malhotra, along with officials of the traffic police, went round the service lane along Ferozepur Road, main roads in Sarabha Nagar, BRS Nagar and a portion of Pakhowal Road from the railway crossing to the canal bridge and impounded nine two-wheelers parked in service lanes, removed several rehris, "farhis" and other articles stacked on roadsides by fruit and vegetable sellers and tea vendors.

Several temporary and permanent structures raised by shopkeepers, vendors and other unlawful occupants were razed with the help of a JCB machine. Around 50 challans were issued to violators for encroachment on public roads, said Malhotra.

Elsewhere in the city, another team of the tehbazari staff of the MC impounded half a dozen two-wheelers, several rehris and other items placed on roadsides and on footpaths along the Bhadaur House market, a commercial hub in the old city area. 

Ludhiana, March 14
Not caring two hoots about the directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to all local bodies and other government agencies to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against encroachments on government land, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has been dragging its feet on encroachments of "almost a permanent nature" by some 50 residents of the Housing Board Colony in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar on Ferozepur Road here for nearly a decade.

To make matters worse, adopting a pick-and-choose policy, the GLADA authorities had demolished two structures (extension of houses on green belts) way back in 2004 whereas other defaulting residents were spared. Incidentally, both houses that were partly razed belonged to the families of ex-servicemen.

Ludhiana, March 14
Last date for filing of the VAT 15 quarterly returns is tomorrow, but many were unsuccessful in filing their returns due to the slow server.

The last date was extended till March 15, as many dealers were unsuccessful in uploading the returns due to the slow server and other problems.

Filing of the VAT quarterly returns has been made mandatory online from the last quarter (October-December).

"Tomorrow is the last date for filing of returns online, but many returns of my clients are still pending as the server is very slow and it takes a lot of time to upload the returns. Even the next quarter is on the verge ending, but the returns for the last quarter are still pending," said Jatinder Khurana, taxation lawyer.

Another trader, Kunal Arora, rued that he has been trying to upload his return for the past three days, but to no avail. The site hangs and after sometime "submission error" comes on screen. Now, tomorrow is the last date for filing of returns and I am yet to upload it," added he.

"Initially it was taking lot of time to create new passwords and now that I have got a new password I am unable to upload the return. The department should have extended the last date for submitting of the returns, as the system is working slowly. In my opinion the first month should have been a trial period and it should not have been made compulsory," said Gautam Jain, another VAT dealer.

Ludhiana, March 14
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is all decked up for the on-campus Kisan Mela on March 15 and 16.

Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, chairman, Punjab State Farmers' Commission, and former Vice-Chancellor of PAU, will inaugurate the mela at 10.30 am. Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, PAU Vice-Chancellor, will preside over the mela. On March 16, Dr JS Sandhu, Agricultural Commissioner, Government of India, New Delhi, will be the chief guest at the prize-distribution function.

The main objective of the theme of the mela "Ghar di sabzi-dal ugao: sihat banao, paise bachao (Grow vegetables and pulses in your household kitchen garden: Save money and stay healthy)" is to improve the health and economic condition of the rural population.

Vice-Chancellor Dr BS Dhillon has urged the farmers to participate in the mela in a big way, as they are the treasure of knowledge. He appealed to the farmers to participate in the mela along with their families and update their knowledge on the latest farm technologies. "Besides buying the new seeds of field crop varieties, farmers should also buy vegetable seeds and nursery plants when they visit the mela," he said.

Various departments of the PAU will educate the participating farmers on new agri-innovative techniques, and latest technological practices through display and field demonstrations.

Ludhiana, March 14
The Pashu Palan Mela of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University will be very useful for everybody. Dr VK Taneja, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU, expressed these views on the eve of 14th Pashu Palan Mela, which will be held on March 15 and16.

The theme slogan of this mela is "Kheti Vibhinnta da eh uttam badal, Chitey, Neeley inqlab nu karo safal." (The best option of agriculture diversification is to develop livestock professions and fisheries). During the mela, four Chief Minister’s awards will be conferred on progressive farmers of different livestock professions. The winners are Jagdeep Singh for dairy farming (cow category), Dalvir Singh Kang for poultry, Raghuvir Chand is also for poultry farming and Gamdeen for goat farming.

"At the mela, the experts will speak about the inventions in the field of animal husbandry.

The event will also help the unemployed youth and marginal farmers of the state who are interested in setting up their own business in livestock sector with minimum finances.

The university publications containing information relating to livestock diseases, their remedial measures and information regarding training courses will also be available at the stalls in this mela.

Ludhiana, March 14
The DMC&H today observed the eighth World Kidney Day by organising a seminar on "recent advances in acute kidney injury" followed by poster competition and role play by students in the OPD complex.

The theme of this year is “Acute kidney injury, kidney attack” and “Stop kidney attack! protect your kidneys”.Chief guest Dr Daljit Singh, principal and professor of paediatrics department inaugurated the function. There has been global increase in the incidence of acute renal failure.— OC

Jagraon, March 14
A few days after the suspension of SHO Mohamad Jamil from the Jagraon city police station, the police department has revoked his suspension and appointed him as in charge of the traffic wing and the police control room, Jagraon.

Though the police department has revoked Mohamad Jamil’s suspension, still the residents are demanding that Mohamad Jamil be appointed as the SHO, Jagraon city.

Mohamad Jamil was suspended as the SHO, city police station, some days ago when he rounded up a local trader after his name emerged during the investigation of grain theft case. After the suspension of Jamil, Ashish Chaudhry, SSP, Jagraon, said that Jamil was suspended following a complaint of misconduct against him. 

Ludhiana, March 14
In a bizarre incident, the Moti Nagar police allegedly picked up a woman from a shanty and detained her throughout the day yesterday. The poliec reportedly abused her.

The woman, a mother of six, was facing allegations of encroaching upon another shanty. She was let off last evening. Her relatives staged a dharna outside the Police Commissioner's office.

Sources said Jagjit Singh, SHO of the Moti Nagar police station, did not follow the rules. The victim alleged that no policewoman was accompanying the SHO when she was picked up from her house. She was not told why she was detained throughout the day and abused.

ACP (East) Dhruman Nimbale said there was a complaint of encroachment against the woman. "We have listened to both parties and the matter has been resolved," said the ACP.

It is learnt that some colonisers are eying the multi-crore property where the shanties are located and using muscle power to get the land vacated.

Ludhiana, March 14
Sohraabjeet Singh Insaaf Dawao Committee today demanded from the Deputy Commissioner Barnala to register an FIR against the doctors of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and arrest the doctors for their alleged negligence in treating Sohrabjeet Singh due to which he allegedly died here on February 6 at the hospital.

Addressing a press conference here today at the Circuit House, Gurmel Singh convener of Sohraabjeet Singh Insaaf Dawao Committee and his father Sohan Singh alleged, "It was on January 28 when Sohrabjeet was coming back to home along with his friend when he met with an accident after his bike hit a sewerage cleaning machine. The sewerage cleaning machine which was lying without any reflector or indicator. Local people took him to the Civil Hospital, Barnala, from where after giving him first aid he was referred to the DMCH, Ludhana."

They further alleged, "On the very first day, after conducting different tests and investigations, doctors said there was no serious injury on Sohrab's head and that his vital organs were functioning properly. They informed us that only a leg and jaw were fractured and the lungs had been affected a little due to injury in the chest, but there was nothing to worry. But on February 6, Sohrab became serious, his oxygen levels started decreasing. On February 6, it was around 3 pm when resident doctor of the ICU contacted senior doctor several times, but he did not come. At last, it was at 6 pm that Sohrabjeet died."

After that parents of Sohrabjeet conducted the postmortem examination. They alleged that the postmortem report was shocking.

They alleged, "The board of doctors, which had conducted the postmortem examination, reported that while incorporating some tubes in Sohraabjeet's chest, the doctors had injured his lungs badly. Adding to it, a piece of gloves of doctors was also found in a wound of the victim. These reasons have been cited as the reasons of his death in the postmortem report."

The committee members further alleged reasons behind Sohrab's death was the sewerage board who kept machine for cleaning the sewerage at a wrong place and negligence of doctors. With a demand to register an FIR against the officers of the sewerage board and doctors of the DMCH and to arrest them, a deputation comprising of more than 30 public and democratic organisations met the police officers at Barnala and also held a protest on March 3 at Barnala.

They said, "The action against sewerage board is not satisfactory while there no action against the doctors was taken. Deputy Commissioner Barnala has forwarded our complaint to the DC, Ludhiana."

To press upon their demands of the FIR and arrest the committee has decided to hold protest on March 25 in front of the office of DC Barnala.

Ludhiana, March 14
With the recovery of four sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and the arrest of a person, the city police claims to have busted an inter-state gang of vehicle thieves. Members of the gang used to steal vehicles in Uttar Pradesh and sell these in the city by changing their number plates.

The accused has been identified as Shejad, a resident of the Gill Chowk area in the city. Four stolen SUVs have been recovered from his possession.

The police has identified the accused's two accomplices and is conducting raids on their hideouts.

ACP Ramnish Chaudhary said, “Members of the gang were indulging in vehicle thefts for the past many years. They used to steal vehicles from Ghaziabad and sell these in Punjab using fake documents.”

Sources said the city police had traced over two dozen SUVs, which were stolen from Ghaziabad and sold in various districts of Punjab.

Ludhiana, March 14
In a major breakthrough, the city police has cracked a robbery case in which the 60-year-old wife of a retired PAU Professor was brutally assaulted by two armed youths posing as cable operators at Durga Puri in Haibowal.

The police has arrested two persons in this connection. One of them has been identified as Sunny Arora. The identify of the second accused has not disclosed by the police since he is a minor.

The duo was nabbed from a police check-point in the Jagatpuri area last night. They were planning to commit yet another robbery when they were apprehended by a team, led by Division No. 4 SHO Vinod Kumar and Harjit Singh, in charge of the Jagatpuri police post.

The duo are chronic drug addicts and live in the Durga Puri area. They confessed before the police that they committed the robbery in the house for buying drugs.

They told the police that before committing the robbery, they conducted a recce of the house.

On February 27 last year, the duo barged into the house of Sukhdev Sharma, a retired Professor of PAU. They entered the house posing as cable operators. Sharma's wife Prem Lata and her granddaughter were at home.

The accused attacked Prem Lata with shared weapons. Thinking that she had died, they removed her gold bangles and a gold chain. They also took away a camera.

They said they sold the gold ornaments, while Sunny kept the camera.

Recently, an SIT, led by ACP (North) J Elanchezhian, Division No. 4 SHO Vinod Kumar and Jagatpuri Chowki in charge Harjit Singh, was formed to crack the case.

The police zeroed in on Sunny, the prime suspect in the case.Sunny was produced before a court, which remanded him in two-day police custody.

Ludhiana, March 14
A 42-year-old city resident, who had spent nearly eight years in jail in a murder case, was today booked on a charge of raping his daughter.

A resident of Sultanwind in Amritsar, the man recently shifted to the city and was doing odd jobs. His daughter today approached the police alleging that her father had been raping her for the past one year.

Her mother was also accompanying her. The mother told the police that she was scared of her husband due to his criminal background and that was the reason why she kept quiet.

Gurpreet Singh, SHO of the Division No. 2 police station, said a case has been registered against the accused. The accused had allegedly killed one of his colleagues in 1999. Four cases of snatching had also been registered against him. The victim is the eldest among three siblings. — TNS