Ludhiana, July 26
Lambasting the state government for adding to the financial burden of the industry, which is already reeling under a recession, industrialists in the city today joined hands to observe a fast in protest against the e-trip system at the cycle market here. About 1,000 persons, representing various industries, condemned the Punjab Government for giving a "chance to the bureaucracy to indulge in corruption". Twenty-one industrialists observed a fast against the e-trip system here today while hundreds of others sat in protest.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Badish K Jindal, convener of the All-Industry Trade Forum, said six months ago the state government had made necessary amendments to the e-trip rules (Rs 2 lakh on declared goods and Rs 3 lakh on other commodities) and now again, these had been revised. "If the government is under the impression that by making changes in the e-trip system, it will generate a huge amount of revenue, it is mistaken. The step will give a chance to bureaucrats/high-ups to make a quick buck by harassing industrialists. The more the documents, the more chances of corruption by bureaucrats," said Jindal.

Narinder Bhamra, representing the induction and furnace industry, said the state government was adding to the miseries of the industry in Punjab. He said e-trip (above Rs 50,000) meant more computer work, but about 80 per cent of the industry was not familiar with information technology. Each industry, for getting documents made, would need at least one computer professional, regular power and the Internet facility. "The government is not willing to provide power to the industry, but expects us to complete all formalities. How will we do that? Besides, the website of the department leaves much to be desired and anyone can get access to the password. We are already in a recession. How will we survive in such a scenario?" said Bhamra.

The industrialists said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had recently made an announcement that the government was making efforts to give a boost to the industry in Punjab. "We fail to understand what kind of boost is this. All kinds of taxes, tedious work and strict conditions are being enforced on us. In this recession phase, we are already feeling suffocated. The government needs to roll back its decision or else the industry will be ruined," said Raj Kumar Singla, secretary of the All-India Trade Forum. 

Ludhiana, July 26
The decision of the Punjab Government to extend the date for the waiver of interest on arrears of house tax and user charges on account of water supply and sewerage till August 31 has come as a big relief for city residents who could not clear their dues till now. The municipal corporation can also look forward to raking in the much-needed funds from defaulting consumers during the next month.

Earlier, the Department of Local Government, Punjab, had allowed the payment of arrears without interest till May 31. However, a majority of the residents could not avail of this chance as the orders were received late by the civic body, and these were not widely publicised.

According to senior MC officials, the orders for the extension of the date till the end of August were issued by the government on July 16 and were received here on Monday.

While residents at large have welcomed the decision for the extension of the date for the interest-free payment of arrears, those who have cleared their arrears with interest from June 1 to July 22 are feeling cheated. Satinder Singh, a resident of the Model Town locality, said he had cleared his arrears of the water and sewerage bills along with a hefty amount of interest. "Why should the interest paid by me not be refunded by the MC when the interest on arrears has been waived off for other defaulters?" he asked.

An MC official said the issue needed a clarification from the state government. "We have sought directions from the Local Government Department on this policy matter and it would be dealt with as and when the government gets back to us."

As far as the recovery of arrears of house tax and user charges is concerned, the MC has a poor track record. Even though the MC has been facing a cash crunch for quite some time, and development works have been suffering due to scarcity of resources, the defaulters of house tax and user charges, put together, owe a staggering Rs 100 crore to the civic body.

"The outstanding house tax amount is around Rs 70 crore while an amount of another Rs 25 to Rs 30 crore as water and sewerage charges is due against residents," said a senior MC official, while attributing the poor pace of recovery to political intervention and collusion by the field staff.

It was officially stated that the MC now intends to prepare lists of the principal amount of arrears of house tax and user charges and issues notices to the defaulting residents so that the maximum number of people could take advantage of the scheme.

Ludhiana, July 26
With recent rainfall in the city, mosquito larvae have been found at many places in the city. The potholes, especially on roadsides are also full of these. Although the Health Department has found mosquito larvae at many places in the city today but it seems that roadside potholes are yet to catch the eye of the department, which too are full of these.

District Epidemiologist Dr Anil Verma said, "Destroying mosquito larvae is the job of the Municipal Corporation. Prevention is always better. Fogging acts not only kills larvae but also mosquitoes. We spray Temiphos and BTI (Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis) to kill larvae."

In the month of June and July dengue larvae was found from places, including Prem Nagar, Islam Ganj, Field Ganj, Sham Nagar, Chowani Mohalla, Shiv Puri, Railway Colony, Shimla Puri, Makkar Colony, Bihari Colony, Sherpur Chowk, Tyre Market opposite railway Station and Transport Nagar. Dr Verma said he had already written to the MC for fogging in these areas.

Meanwhile, five suspected cases of dengue were reported from the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. Later, all of these were declared negative. One of these belonged to Tajpur Road in Ludhiana. Remaining four were from Fazilka, Mansa, Sangrur and Jammu.

Last year, Ludhiana district received as many as nine dengue cases till July 26. However, this year it has received only one case of dengue positive till date.

Ludhiana, July 26
The Army celebrated Kargil Vijay Diwas at the Army Cantonment near Jagraon Bridge here today. The celebrations turned out to a rich experience for students. While boys were seen thronging a stall displaying highly mechanised rifles, girls could be seen jotting down notes of artillery used in the Kargil War.

Gurmurat Singh, Prajjwal Sharma and Sahibjot, students of Class X at Spring Dale School, were seen trying their hand at rifles.

Patriotic songs were being played in the backdrop. However, what seemed to matter the most to students was the experience of holding a rifle.

Ludhiana, July 26
The move by the Punjab Government to privatise the work of sanitation and disposal of waste and to rope in a Turkish firm for this task has not gone down well with the Valmiki community.

The community has already been holding vehement protests against handing over the work of sanitation and garbage disposal to a private company in Ludhiana.

Addressing a press conference here today, Surinder Kalyan, chairman of the Valmiki Samaj Bachao Andolan, said the move initiated by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to adopt Lahore model for sanitation and disposal of garbage and hand over this task to a Turkey-based firm was aimed at snatching the means of livelihood of the Valmiki community.

Kalyan and other functionaries of the body said the government had gone back on its promise to review the decision of pivatisation of the work of sanitation and waste disposal, which was directly hitting the employment options of safai karamcharis.

He said a state-level meeting of the body to be held at Jalandhar on July 27 would discuss the whole issue of the entry of private companies in place of regular safai karamcharis.

The final decision and the modalities of the agitation would be decided in the meeting. The Valmiki community would not tolerate the gross injustice, said Kalyan.

“The aggrieved members of the Valmiki community are all set to hold a state-level agitation against the Punjab Government and all private companies engaged by the civic bodies for sanitation and garbage handling. The community will give a befitting reply to the ruling alliance for this act of betrayal in the coming Lok Sabha elections,” said the leaders of the body.

Among others, Om Pal Chanaliya and Hans Raj Gagat were also present on the occasion.

Jagraon, July 26
Some unidentified persons stole an electricity transformer, water pump sets, electricity cables and agricultural tools of four farmers belonging to Sidhwan Khurd village near Jagraon yesterday night. The farmers, from whose fields these goods were stolen, said these items were worth several thousand rupees.

The incident came to light when Gurmail Singh of Sidhwan Khurd village went to his fields. Gurmail said when he came to his fields, he was shocked to find the water pump motor, electricity cables and some agricultural tools missing from his fields.

The thieves also stole an electricity transformer, cables, a water pump set and agricultural tools from the fields of three other farmers of the village on the same night. The other farmers from whose fields these goods were stolen include Gurdev Singh, Kuldeep and Charanjit Singh.

The farmers informed the police about the theft incidents. Following which, a police team led by ASI Mahinder Singh from Jagraon Sadar police station reached the spot to take stock of the situation.

Investigating officer ASI Mahinder Singh said the police had registered a case against unidentified thieves after recording the victims' statements and investigations were on. The police had assured the farmers that the accused would be arrested soon.

There has been a considerable increase in the incidents of transformer and cable thefts from the fields in the Jagraon area in the recent months. Several theft incidents have also been reported in different villages of the area so far. This trend has forced several farmers to stay at their fields during the night. Despite this, there seems to be no end to such theft incidents.

The farmers of the area have appealed to the police to step up vigil during the night to stop theft incidents in the future.

Ludhiana July 26
The KVM Class IV Employees Union submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner against the school management yesterday.

The employees alleged that school principal Navita Puri has been misleading the public by issuing factually incorrect statements.

Rajesh, a member of the union, said the statement of principal in newspaper was misleading that the employees have been already given the DA and increments. "We have not received any DA or increments and we are struggling for it," he said.

Navita Puri, principal of KVM School, said: "The Class Iv Employees Union had lost the case in February and started defaming the school management. The management has offered them to take the DA or increments, one from the both. But union worker denied said they want both. Most of the class iv employees get the DA but some of them approached to the CBSE. Now the CBSE will take the decision on the matter." — TNS

Ludhiana, July 26
Two senior medical officers (SMOs) have been transferred and eight newly appointed medical officers (MOs) have been posted in the district.

Dr Amrit Kaur, who was under transfer from ESI Dispensary Number 1, has been posted back to the same place. Dr Kulwinder, District Health Officer (DHO), Fatehgarh Sahib, who was earlier transferred to the Lord Mahavir Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, in the Department of Surgery, has been transferred back to Fatehgarh Sahib as the DHO.

As many as 78 new medical officers were today appointed all over the state. Eight of these have been appointed in different community health centres and primary health centres of the district. These include Dr Jasleen Gill at Community Health Centre, Sidhwan Bet, Dr Abhishek Singla at Primary Health Centre, Bassiyan, Dr Priya Goyal at Community Health Centre, Malaud, Dr Gurvinder Singh Kakkar at Community Health Centre, Manupur, Dr Sandeep, Community Health Centre, Macchiwara, Dr Krishna Sharma, Community Health Centre, Koomkalan, Dr Vega Makkar, Community Health Centre, Koomkalan, Ludhiana, and Dr Harleen Bahaga, Community Health Centre, Sidhwan Bet.

Interestingly, none of the newly appointed MOs has been posted at the Lord Mahavir Civil Hospital, Ludhiana.

Ludhiana, July 26
A day after the police arrested the manager and an employee of a store for selling a replica of an AK-47 rifle that led to the kidnapping of industrialist Manish Bharara on July 13, it has come to light that a majority of the “original-looking” pistols and guns being used in Punjabi films and pop albums were also purchased from the store.

The investigations conducted so far have revealed that people who are involved in the making of Punjabi films and music albums and young industrialists have purchased the replicas of weapons from the store located at a shopping mall on the Ferozepur Road.

In order to prevent similar kidnapping incidents, the police has urged the Director General of Police and the Home Department to devise a strategy to keep a check on the sale of fake weapons as they are leading to an increase in crime incidents.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Harsh Bansal said: "We have brought the matter to the notice of the government and have sought necessary provisions.”

Sources said a team of the Khanna police was all set to leave for Bengaluru today for questioning the businesswoman, who owns the store.

However, the owner of the store spoke to the police official concerned and said she was visiting Khanna today with all requisite documents permitting her to sell the replicas of weapons.

The manager and the employee have been booked under Section 120-0 B of the IPC for criminal conspiracy in a kidnapping case.

The SHO, Doraha, said: “They are not selling toys. They have sold a fake weapon that appears to be original and led to a sensational kidnapping. They cannot produce the document that permits them to sell this stuff in the state.”

Senior criminal lawyer Ashok Lakhanpal, while lambasting the Khanna police, said: “What kind of permission or license is required for selling toys? The registration of the case is a violation of the law.”

He said if the woman was importing weapons then she must have got clearance from various departments of the government. Further, there was no law that bans the sale of toys or replicas. Before arresting the two employees, the police should have checked the documents from the woman.

Dalip Batish, another criminal lawyer, had a different view on the issue. He said the employee's intention could have been malafide. “If it was a toy gun, then what was the need of selling it for Rs 40,000. The woman has also stated that only one AK-47 was sold from her store in the past three years. This also raises suspicion. The government is keeping a check on the sale of acid after an increase in acid attack cases. There should also be a mechanism to check the sale of such weapons,” said Dalip Batish.

Ludhiana, July 26
Adhvik Mahajan, who has now become a television star with “Bani - Ishq Da Kamla”, and plays the role of Soham Singh Mann in this series, was in the city today. He was here as a celebrity guest at a wedding exhibition, which will be inaugurated tomorrow.

This television series is set in Punjab and explores the issue of parents looking for NRI grooms for their daughters in the state.

Having played as a protagonist in Bollywood flick “Contract”, Adhvik said he had been getting offers for Punjabi films as well, but he was too busy with the daily soaps.

“I work 16 hours a day. So, it gets pretty hectic and I can't find time for anything else at this moment,” he said.

“This is my first off day in the past six months. I came especially for this wedding exhibition,” he said.

Adhvik said: “I have been coming to Ludhiana quite oftenly, and people here are conscious about good fashion and designs”.

“This is a two-day wedding exhibition ‘Bandhan Grand Asian Wedding Week’. About 50 fashion brands will be displaying their collections in the exhibition,” he said.

Designers had come from places like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Bengaluru. The exhibition would have jewellery and lifestyle brands as well, he said. 

Ludhiana, July 26
The Government School Teachers Association has said it was moved by the Uttarakhand flash flood tragedy, but teachers should not be “forced” to donate money for the relief fund.

Teachers said the circular issued by the Education Department was enough to ask for the funds but to be in the good books of higher officials, the circular should not be forced on to the teachers.

Ramanjit Sandhu, president, Democratic Teachers Front, said they were getting regular complaints from the teachers that they were being asked to "donate" Rs 1,100 for the Chief Minister Relief Fund.

“The messages are being conveyed by the school heads and block panchayat education officers to the teachers,” said Sandhu.

“Everyone has different financial condition. Some can donate even more than the said amount while others have priorities and cannot donate Rs 1,100. The choice should be left to the teachers. If they wish to donate they can come forward else they should not be forced,” said Sandhu.

General Secretary of Government School Teachers' Union Parveen Kumar said t the unions were getting calls from the teachers that they were being asked to donate. “The heads/higher-ups has to show to the political leaders that they are able to generate whopping amounts to get a pat at their back but why should the teachers be penalised?” asked the general secretary. The union/association leaders said the forceful way to collect money by higher-ups in Education Department must be stopped. “We will not let the teachers donate if he/she is not comfortable with it,” said Sandhu. 

Ludhiana July 26
Over 5,000 computer teachers working in various government schools in the state have decided against filling the pro forma for the regularisation of their services after the completion of the probation period.

The teachers alleged that the bureaucracy has "tactically" changed a word in the pro forma given after the completion of the probation period in first week of July. The teachers said that instead of "on regular services", the senior officials of Education Department have used the word "on regular pay scale" on their job letters, which has changed the condition of their service.

The teachers have been expecting that with the implement of this new condition they will be deprived from the benefits like the CPF, medical reimbursement, CSR and other allowances. Moreover, they will be deprived from the promotions also.

Punjab government has recruited more than 5,000 computer teachers on contract on December 2, 2010. The government has issued notification to regularise their jobs on July 2011 in which government set the grade pay of computer teachers equivalent to vocational master cadre of Education Department.

Harpreet Singh, president of the Computer Teacher Union said, "This is not a clerical mistake. This is a conspiracy of government against teachers. The Punjab government is trying to take turn from the notification in which they regularised our jobs. If the government will not amend the pro forma we will boycott the non-teaching works of the department." 

Ludhiana, July 26
Over 10,000 candidates are expected to appear in the Central Eligibility Test to be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education on July 28. The test will be held at 16 different centres across the city.

Paramjit Kaur, coordinator for the Central Eligibility Test, said following the directions of the CBSE, all necessary arrangements were made to conduct the test. —TNS

Ludhiana, July 26
The Jodhewal police has arrested a 17-year-old youth on a charge of attempting to rape a four-year-old girl.

The accused, Ajay Kumar, a resident of New Shakti Nagar, took the four-year-old girl, who lives in his neighbourhood, to the rooftop of his house and tired to rape her.

The girl raised the alarm following which her parents rushed for help. They spotted Ajay Kumar, who fled the scene on seeing the girl's parents. The girl was taken to a hospital for a medical examination. The police today registered a case against Ajay Kumar and arrested him. 

Jagraon, July 26
A financier belonging to Barsal village near Jagraon was allegedly attacked by some youths of the same village after he refused to lend money to one of them. The financier was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Jagraon, with serious injures.

When the incident was brought to the notice of the police, a police team reached the local Civil Hospital, where the victim has been undergoing treatment, and recorded his statement.

In his statement to the police, the victim, Parminderjit Singh, said he was attacked only because he refused to lend money to one of the youths involved in the attack on him.

The victim said a youth from the village had approached him a few days ago asking him to lend Rs 2,000 to him.

“I refused to lend him money because his family members had already warned me against it. This irked him and he, along with three other youths, attacked me,” said the victim.

Though the police has recorded the victim’s statement, no case has been registered so far. Jagraon Sadar police station SHO Rachpal Singh Dhindsa said the police had launched an investigation into the matter after recording the victim’s statement.

“An appropriate action will be taken against the guilty after verifying the facts of the victim’s statement. The youths who attacked the financer have been absconding and the police is searching for them,” the SHO said.