Ludhiana, May 24
he heat wave has not only affected the mobility of people, it has also started affecting the health of city residents. Segregated cases of high-grade fever, dehydration and gastroenteritis have been reported from city hospitals and clinics.

Dr Rajinder Gulati, a paediatrician at the Civil Hospital, Raikot, said, "Patients suffering from high-grade fever are reporting at our hospital. People who work directly under the scorching sun rays get affected by the heat wave. The worst hit are the children."

Dr BS Shah, who runs a laboratory, said, "Some patients suffering from bacterial and viral diarrhoea are coming for stool tests. Most of them are children."

However, Dr Kanwal, Medical Superintendent, Christian Medical College and Hospital, said, "Isolated cases of dehydration are always there in the OPD. People should know how to save themselves from the heat wave."

The District Epidemiologist, Dr Puneet Juneja, said, "Sporadic cases of diarrhoea are being reported, but not from any particular area."

Ludhiana, May 24
The ongoing heat wave, which has thrown life out of gear in the city, is likely to become more fierce in the coming days. The soaring mercury, which has already crossed the 45°C mark, is expected to touch the 47°C mark by the end of this month.

Schoolgirls enjoy ice candies on a hot afternoon in Ludhiana on Friday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

According to the forecast of the PAU Agrometeorology Department, "The heat wave is likely to increase during the next 48 hours. The mercury is likely to touch the 47°C mark. Clouds may appear on May 27 and May 28."

Dr KK Gill, Assistant Agrometeorologist, PAU, said, "The maximum temperature recorded at the PAU today was up from 45.2°C (recorded yesterday) to 45.6°C. The minimum temperature also incresed to 26°C from 24°C."

Dr Gill said this time till May 20, the heat wave had broken the record of the past 40 years in Ludhiana. However in the last week of May, the maximum temperature usually went up to 47°C. 

Ludhiana, May 24
An incident that took place two days ago in which an employee was booked for allegedly fleeing with Rs 10 lakh has turned out to be a "family drama". The police today arrested the accused, Shawinder Singh, and recovered Rs 9.85 lakh from his possession.

He reportedly told the police that he had hatched a conspiracy to usurp the money along with Palwinder Singh, a hosiery trader. Palwinder Singh is at large.

He told the police that after usurping the money, they had planned to invest the amount in property business.

Two days ago, Palwinder Singh, a resident of Hargobind Nagar, had stated in his complaint that Shawinder had fled with Rs 10 lakh. He had told the police that Amarjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, his brothers, were working as iron commission agents on Gill Road. Shawinder was operating the accounts of both the firms.

Ludhiana, May 24
After raising the issue of alleged political backing in the supply of drugs in prisons across the state, former DGP Shashikant has again taken potshots at the ruling SAD-BJP government, questioning its stand on tacking the drug menace.

Accompanied by former District Youth Congress president Dimple Rana, who was in the news recently after being shot at in the abdomen under mysterious circumstances, the former DGP said he had no political affiliation with any party.

Rana was his close friend and he came to meet him in his personal capacity.

He said when he was the DGP (Prisons), he had handed over a list of people who were allegedly pushing the youth in the state into drug addiction and were supplying drugs in jails across the state.

He claimed that he had also named some politicians, police officers and a few influential persons in the list.

The list had created ripples in the Police Department and had become a matter of heated debate with the opposition Congress demanding that it be made public. He said it had been more than a year since he retired, but the government had not taken any action in the matter.

He said when he was holding the charge of the DGP Govt has failed to act against drug mafia: Ex-DGP (Prisons), he had all requisite evidence to bust the drug mafia and had sought permission for taking action. He had left the requisite files in his office, before being relieved of the charge. He said he had recently floated an NGO, the Nasha Virodhi Manch, which was fighting against drug smuggling. 

Ludhiana, May 24
Amid a protest, the building branch of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, in a joint drive with the tehbazari wing, today demolished at least 24 jhuggis in the Tajpur Road area in the city. The jhuggis had come up on government land and area residents had objected to these several times.

The jhuggis had come up in front of booths constructed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust on Tajpur Road here. The jhuggi dwellers had also encroached upon a portion of Tajpur Road.

As soon as MC officials reached the spot, they had to face the jhuggi dwellers' ire. Some of them even tried to lie down in front of the ditch machine, but were taken away by policemen accompanying the officials.

Assistant Town Planner (Zone B) Monica Anand said they had received a complaint that at least 24 jhuggis had come up on government land on Tajpur Road.

"When we reached the spot, we faced some resistance, but we managed to demolish all jhuggis on government land. The jhuggi dwellers had not only encroached upon the parking area of the LIT booths, they had also encroached upon a portion of Tajpur Road," she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, around 100-odd jhuggis were demolished by Zone D officials near Orient Cinema in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar here. Here also, the officials had to face the jhuggi dwellers' ire, who not only tried to disrupt the drive, but even pelted the officials and policemen with stones.

Ludhiana, May 24
Hopes of government school students to learn science practically through the specially designed kits were dashed to ground as instructions had been given to stop the distribution of these science kits till further orders.

Science kits for as many as 80 schools in the city today reached a government school located at Jawahar Nagar camp. First, the school authorities were informed to collect their respective kits from the school but later after a few hours, orders were issued to stop their distribution. The reason behind the same is still unknown.

Principal of the government school, Jawahar Nagar, Anita Bedi, said: “We have received kits for nearly 80 schools and the schools will now further take these kits to their respective premises.” But later in the day orders were issued to stop the distribution of these kits and those schools which had taken the kits were asked not to open them as they may have to return them back.

When contacted, DEO Paramjit Kaur said they had received the orders from higher officials to halt the distribution of kits for the time being. “Some schools have taken their kits but we have asked them not to open the same as they might be required to return them back,” she said.

While the exact components of the kit are not known as nobody has opened them so far but it is speculated that it comprised of a telescope, a skeleton model, a globe and some puzzles. The state government has issued a directive to promote scientific learning through practical experience.

“We have never seen a science kit or an apparatus. We just learn science from whatever the teachers tells us in the classroom and appear for exams. I was really excited that we will be taught practically with the kits but now the teacher says they are not allowed to open the kit yet,” said Kuljinder Singh, a government school student.

“I once saw a globe along with other equipment at our school. But that was a year ago. Since then, we have not been shown any such equipment, but we do know that a locked box has arrived in the school that has many interesting things in it,” another Class VI student of school said. 

Ludhiana, May 24
A 22-member delegation of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) is going to Germany to participate in “International Congress on Social and Health Effects of Small Arms”. This is first such Congress being organised by International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) at Villingen-Schwenningen, the city located near major gun-producing industry Heckler and Kohl, from May 30 to June 2.

The Congress will focus on “Small arms — weapons of mass destruction, how their production, trade and use affects health and development, economic roots and impact of global arms trade, conversion, political framework and alternative security concepts and solutions and actions: Perspectives and activities international, regional, national”.

The Indian delegation includes seven doctors and medical students from Punjab and rest from the other parts of the country. Dr Arun Mitra from Indian delegation will make a presentation at the plenary session on the subject “Arms race, socio-economic development South Asian perspective”. Dr SS Soodan and Dr Tipu Sultan of Pakistan will conduct a workshop on “Small arms production, trade and use affect health and development — solutions and actions”. Dr NS Bawa will put up an exhibition on the deadly effects of small arms. 

Ludhiana, May 24
The Income Tax Department is sending letters to high spenders who have not filed their returns. The department had earlier sent letters to tax assesses to enquire from them whether they have filed returns.

Pursuant to the letters, many assesses have paid tax as self assessment tax and advance tax in last three months. The department has set up a compliance management cell to ensure follow-up action and track return filing and tax payment of the target segment. Letters are the first stage of reminding tax payers that they have not filed returns, after which notices are sent. The tax assesses are identified from third party information called the annual information returns (AIRs), about spending of these individuals. The AIRs are basically the information given by banks and others to Income Tax Department about spending above a threshold by any individual to the tax department. The department then matches these spending with the income disclosed by the person to find out if true income is disclosed. —TNS

Ludhiana, May 24
City residents are unhappy over the discontinuance of gold coin sale at the sub-post offices coming under the Central Post Office in Mata Rani Chowk and Punjab Agricultural University areas.

Gold coins are available at Head Post Office and Sub-post office Model Town.

The city leads the sale of gold coins in the whole of state. “There has been the highest sale of gold coins at the post offices in the city for many years now,” said an official at the post office. Gold coins of various denominations are being sold at post offices. These 24-carat gold coins with 99.99 percent purity are manufactured at Valcambi, Switzerland, and bear the India Post logo.

“I used to purchase gold coins from the Central Post Office. Why should they withdraw a facility being offered? Now I'll have to go all the way to Head Post Office to get the coins. The sale should not have been discontinued,” said Mohan Bansal, a 63-year-old resident.

Jaspal Singh, Assistant Director at the circle office, said: “There wasn't much sale at these sub-post offices. We had to keep and maintain a minimum amount of gold coins. This only added to operational cost of maintaining the stock. Security of gold coins for maintaining the stock was another issue. So it was not viable to keep the counter open for occasional sales.” 

Ludhiana, May 24
Hundreds of patients, including some emergency cases, usually get trapped in the public protests that choke city roads leading to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. Worst affected are the patients who need immediate medical care.

The DMCH authorities today made an appeal to the masses to not to indulge in such public protests. 

Ludhiana, May 24
Raids by the Income Tax Department at Genex Industries Limited continued for the second day. Department officials has sealed four bank lockers and obtained Rs 30 lakh and large amount of jewellery. Important documents have also been seized by the department while the property investment of the group is also under department's scanner. Bank details have been collected and incrementing documents have been seized by the department.

The main office of this unit dealing in manufacturing of yarn and plastic is located at Cheema Chowk. Raids were simultaneously also conducted on its premises located at Samrala Chowk, Rahon Raod and Dugri. Residence located at Gurdev Nagar was also searched by the team. Raids, which started around 7 am yesterday, went on till filing of the report. Department hopes to unearth huge amount of unaccounted money.

Meanwhile, the State Excise and Taxation Department conducted raid at the Asian Mineral Water. Another raid was conducted at the Mittal Cotton and General Mills at Jagraon. In both the cases, the department has seized important documents and hopes to expose the case of less deposit of VAT by these firms. 

Ludhiana, May 24
The enrolment for Aadhaar cards is going to resume at the Model Town sub-post office in few days. As more and more services and schemes are being linked with the Aadhaar cards, having Aadhaar cards has now become a necessity. "I was not very keen on getting the card made but now it is mandatory for many necessary things. Now, banks have also started asking for the Aadhaar enrolment numbers," said Gagan, a resident.

"Aadhaar card enrolment at the postal department is being carried out in the Head Post Office, Miller Ganj sub-post office (SPO), and sub-post offices at Khanna, Jagraon, Doraha, Malaud and Sahnewal in the district. The enrolment was started at the Central Post Office recently. The enrolments will resume at Model Town post office in few days," said Navneet Verma from the IT enrolment agency.

For enrolment at the Head Post Office one needs to submit the form between 9 am to 10 am. After that, one can get the enrolment done according to the time assigned. At other post offices, the enrolment procedure is on first-come-first serve basis.

"Registration for enrolment can also be done online. Enrolment for 
residents is done on priority if they register for enrolments online at the UIDAI website," said Verma. 

Ludhiana, May 24
Hari Ram Sood, a member of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, today boycotted two meetings called by him as senior district administration officials failed to attend these meetings. These meetings were called to discuss the issues being faced by safai karamcharis of the city.

The MC Commissioner, Rakesh Kumar Verma, was to attend a meeting at 11 am, while the Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Tewari, was to attend the meeting at 2 pm. Hari Ram Sood was left “red-faced” when both the officials failed to reach Circuit House, venue of these meetings.

The officials, who had come to attend the meetings, included the MC Additional Commissioner Dr Sumit Jarangal, Deputy Director (Local Bodies) Babita Kler, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Harsh Bansal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Rishipal Singh, besides others.

While speaking to mediapersons, a miffed Hari said he had faxed to both the officers about the meeting schedule. “If they were unable to attend the meetings, they should have intimated me beforehand. Now that I am in the city, both the officers are missing, which is height of irresponsible behaviour,” he rued.

It is learnt that the MC Commissioner could not attend the meeting as he was in Chandigarh in connection with a court hearing, while the DC is on leave.

Surinder Kalyan, state coordinator of the National Commission of Scheduled Castes said both the MC Commissioner as well as the Deputy Commissioner were informed about the meetings a week back.

“Several issues related to safai karamcharis such as abolishing of solid waste management contract of A2Z Waste Management Ludhiana Ltd, permanent employment to safai karamcharis and sewermen, besides others could not be discussed as both the meetings had to be cancelled,” he said.

While speaking to The Tribune, MC Commissioner, Rakesh Kumar Verma, stated that he could not attend the meeting as he was in Chandigarh in connection with the court hearing.

Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Tewari, could not be contacted as he did not answer to the phone calls made to him.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 24
The staff members of a local civil hospital, led by SMO Dr Arun Kumar Handa, has launched a coordinated movement to spread awareness among masses, including students, labourers and women folk about causes and consequences of dreaded diseases.

Office bearers and activists of social, religious and educational organisations have been roped in to curb evils, including smoking, drug addiction and unhygienic practices.

A team of doctors and paramedical staff led by SMO Dr Arun Kumar Handa has been highlighting causes and consequences of various dreaded diseases, including cancer, pulmonary diseases, diabetes and cardiac ailments. 

Jagraon, May 24
A seminar on female foeticide was organised by the Civil Hospital, Jagraon, at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Jagraon. An on-the-spot painting competition was also held on the occasion. More than 100 students of DIET, Jagraon, and 17 other schools participated in the competition.

While highlighting the plight of girls and women in society, the students advocated the rights of the women and gap in the male-female sex ratio which has widened further.

The students expressed their views and highlighted a variety of problems relating to crime as well as female foeticide.

Dr Balwinder Singh, Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Civil Hospital, Jagraon, and Medical Officer Dr Arun Gupta supervised the seminar. In the technical session of the seminar, Dr Balwinder Singh explained various provisions and terms of offence and punishment or fine under the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act 1994.

Prof Baldev Singh, principal, District Institute of Education & Training (DIET), Moga, coordinated the seminar.

Ludhiana, May 24
Service tax returns for the period July 2012 to September 2012 can be reviewed and can also be revised as per the law. The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has accepted the service tax returns for the period July-September 2012, which were rejected by the system on the sole ground that these returns were filed for the period prior to the dates of registration of the assesses as valid returns.

These returns have been reprocessed in the ACES (Automation of Central Excise and Services Tax) and the status of these returns is being shown in the systems as "filed". These assessees need not file the returns again for the same period and they can view the status of their returns in the ACES under "View XML Status" option.

However, if the returns were rejected for any other reason, then the assessees are required to take corrective action as per the reasons of rejection, said a senior official from the department. — TNS

Ludhiana, May 24
In a major breakthrough, the city police has nabbed a thief, Identified as Randeep Kumar alias Sanjay from Gol Chowk in Basant Avenue area, today. The police has recovered, a motorcycle, three LAD, two televisions, laptop, DVD, video camera, silver coins, two mobiles, gold and artificial jewellery, huge quantity of clothes and home appliances from his possession. According to SHO Sadar Amandeep Singh, the accused was behind series of theft incidents that took place in Foolanwal and surrounding areas.

Three booked for misappropriating funds

The Focal Point police has booked three persons for misappropriation of funds and misusing company's name. The accused have been identified as Ved Parkash Gupta and Sushil Gupta, both residents of Ropar, and Gagandeep Singh of Dugri. According to Jagdeep, a resident of Aggar Nagar, he started a joint venture with the accused in 2007. In 2008, Jagdeep came to know that the accused had flouted rules and floated a namesake company. After investigation, a case under Sections 408 and 120-B IPC was registered against the accused on the statement of the complainant.

Inmate dies in prison

An accused, Pawan Kumar, who was undergoing a jail term after being booked in a kidnapping and rape case died in central jail under mysterious circumstance. According to the paramedics, the victim died of chest pain. Pawan had complaint of chest pain following which he was rushed of the civil hospital but he was declared brought dead on arrival.

Minor girl kidnapped on pretext of marriage

The Jodhewal police has booked Monu, a resident of Jodhewal, for kidnapping a 16-year-old girl on the pretext of marriage.The incident took place of May 22. According to victim's father, a resident of Bhagat Colony, the accused kidnapped his daughter on the pretext of marriage.The police has registered a case under Sections 363 and 366 A of the IPC against the accused who is still at large.

Two booked for duping man of Rs 7 lakh

Two men have been booked by the Division Number 3 police for stealing the cheques and duping a person by withdrawing Rs 7 Lakhs. The accused have been identified as Karam Singh and Raj Kumar, both residents of Fatehgarh Sahib.According to the complainant, Ajit Singh, a resident of Laadian, he had signed cheques for buying a JCB machine. Both the accused were aware of this. The duo had stolen the cheques from the bank and duped of Rs 7 lakhs. A case under Sections 379, 406, 120-B of the IPC has been registered against the accused.

Jagraon, May 24
As the ongoing investigation into the spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is widening and new revelations are coming to the fore, a feeling of fear and panic seems to have gripped the alleged bookies involved in betting on the IPL matches in Jagraon.

Since the spot-fixing scandal and the practice of large-scale betting during the IPL matches has been exposed, several alleged bookies have been arrested by the police in various parts of the state, including Ludhiana.

According to sources, the bookies, arrested by the police, have made some shocking confessions. "These bookies have named several persons involved in betting on the IPL matches during the questioning by the police. The police has prepared a list of such people who are operating this illegal trade of betting on the IPL in different cities of Punjab and these persons are inter-connected to each other," claim the sources.

As the investigation into the illegal trade of betting has been widening further with each passing day, the local police, too, has tightened its noose around the alleged bookies operating in the area. The sources in the local police claim that there are names of at least half dozen persons suspected to be involved in betting racket in the police list.

Keeping in view the expanding police investigation, the bookies involved in betting in the area have shut all their operations and they have gone underground fearing police action. Jagraon DSP, Surinder Kumar, admitted that the police has been keeping a close watch on the suspected bookies involved in illegal betting. "The police has prepared a list of some people suspected to be involved in betting on cricket matches. During the investigation, it was learnt that these people have links with certain alleged bookies already arrested by the police from different places," he added.

He refused to divulge further details as it might adversely affect the police investigation.

COURTS

Two get life term in murder case

Ludhiana, May 24
Additional Sessions Judge Paramjit Singh has convicted Jeet Bahadur and Dumer Singh, hailing from Nepal, in a murder case. They were awarded life imprisonment.

They were facing murder charge of Ram Raj Joshi, a chowkidar. They robbed him on October 7, 2011 of Rs 1.5 lakh. A case was registered at the Shimlapuri police station. — TNS