The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Youth day
Change is in the air
Ludhiana, August 11
As International Youth Day celebrates the power of the youth to bring about a positive change, city youngsters are all set to volunteer for social causes and activities. The youngsters have undertaken initiatives for the welfare of the city. "Students and professionals are carrying out cleanliness drives and spreading awareness on environmental issues," said Dr Amandeep Singh Bains from RBS Roots.

Celebrating the special bond
Ludhiana, August 11
The trend of tying ‘bhabhi rakhi’ is catching up in the city. Sisters not only tie rakhis to their brothers, but to their sister-in-laws too. The rakhi is tied to the bangles and on the middle finger. Called ‘lumba rakhi, these are in the form of ‘hathphool’.

Smiling the blues away: Students of SDP College celebrate Teej on the campus. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Man falls to death from elevated road
Ludhiana, August 11
A 50-year-old man died after falling off the elevated road near the Old Sabzi Mandi area today. The victim was identified as Nar Bahadur, a resident of Miller Gunj. The incident took place this evening when Nar Bahadur was returning home on his motorcycle from the Jalandhar Bypass area. When he reached near the Old Sabzi Mandi area on the elevated road, he met with an accident and fell off the flyover.

Motor vehicle tax
Mini-buses may come to a grinding halt: Union
Ludhiana, August 11
The mini-bus operators in Punjab feel that they will not be able to continue with the services as the transport department has again increased the annual motor vehicle tax. The operators said the government had burdened them with taxes. More than 1,000 bus operators have disposed of their buses and it is expected that another 1,500 mini-bus operators will follow suit if government fails revoke its decision.

Mini-bus operators in the state are sore over the hike in annual motor vehicle tax. A file photo

Rajasthan woos industry
Ludhiana, August 11
With the state government failing to address the grievances of the industry, lucrative proposals are coming its way from neighbouring states. The Rajasthan Government is now attracting industry from the city to invest in solar projects. Officials of a real estate company and government officials were in the city to woo the industry for investing in solar energy in Rajasthan.

COMMUNITY

Potholes dot National Highway-1
Sahnewal, August 11
Height of callousness on the part of the authorities concerned and delay in repair work has angered the residents of Sahnewal. Deep ditches and potholes abound on the path of NH-1 causing inconvenience to both residents as well as the commuters.

The highway in a pitiable condition in Sahnewal. Tribune photographs

Fearing robberies, residents go in for ‘thikri pehras’
Mandi Ahmedgarh/Dehlon/ Raikot, august 11
A week after the administration countered rumours of loot and robbery by the Kala Kachha gang and the African gang, residents of the area are not ready to compromise with their lives and property. Instead of leaving things on the authorities concerned, the residents have started taking preventive measures themselves, in case any unfortunate incident rises in the near future.

Youths keep a vigil on anti-social element in Kila Raipur. A Tribune photograph

From schools
Annual prize distribution
Ludhiana: The Kindergarten wing of Guru Nanak Public School organised its annual prize distribution function on Monday. The event commenced with the welcome of the chief guest and various other dignitaries by Arvinder Sahi. Thereafter, the annual report was read, highlighting the prominent achievements of the school during the academic year 2012-2013 in scholastic and co-scholastic areas.

Students of Guru Nanak Public School present an item during the annual function on the school premises. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

FROM COLLEGES
Seminar
Ludhiana: DAV College, Phillaur, organised a seminar on 'Success Mantra for Civil Services' under the aegis of the Punjabi Sahit Sabha. Professor Harjinder Singh Walia, Director, IAS Training Centre, Punjabi University, Patiala, was the key note speaker. In his lecture, he emphasised on six D's - dreams, desires, dedication, discipline, determination and direction for the success in every fields. Welcoming Dr Walia, college principal Dr SK Mahajan expressed happiness over the quality of contents of the lecture.

GADVASU notes
Dairy, fisheries officers’ workshop
Ludhiana: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, is organising a one-day workshop for dairy and fisheries officers of the state on August 12. G Vajralingam, Financial Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, will inaugurate the workshop.

LUDHIANA CALLING
Independence Day or Republic Day ?
The activists of political parties never miss the opportunity to hog the limelight, especially when it is at public expense and at public places. Political parties are in the habit of installing banners and billboard at all public places to greet the residents on every festival and other occasions.

The banner mentions Republic Day (encircled) instead of Independence Day. A Tribune Photograph

Ludhiana scan
Appointed
Namit Dewan has been appointed as the membership in charge of the Youth Congress from central zone. Harsimran Bajwa, secretary of the Youth Congress handed over the appointment letter to Dewan.

Preparations for Martyrdom Day in full swing
Issru (Payal), August 11
To take stock of the situation of arrangements of the state-level function to be organised by the Punjab Government on the martyrdom day of Martyr Karnail Singh Issru on August 15, the Additional Deputy Commisssioner (ADC) of Khanna, Prem Chand, along with former MLA Ranjit Singh Talwandi visited the venue site today. The function will be organised at Nankana Sahib Public Senior Secondary School, Issru.

They paint dreams on canvas
Ludhiana, August 11
Seven amateur artists came together to showcase their mind on canvas at an exhibition 'Art Utsav' organised at MS Randhawa Art Gallery, Punjab Agricultural University. It was inaugurated by poet and artist Swaranjit Savi. They depicted different themes through various sections of media. Most of the artists are fashion designers.

Pardeep Mandal, an artist, takes a look at one of his works. Photos: Inderjeet Verma

Panj Peer Road reeks of sewage
Ludhiana, August 11
Overflowing sewage has become a bane of Panj Peer Road near Haibowal. Area residents today held a protest against the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. They blocked Hambran Road. The residents alleged that due to defunct water pumps at Balloke Sewage Treatment Plant, the sewage flows on to Panj Peer Road.

Now, foreign donations on I-T dept’s radar
Ludhiana, August 11
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued fresh directions stating that all foreign donations above Rs 1 crore will now come under the scrutiny of the Income Tax Department. The scrutiny is a diligent procedure applied by the I-T authorities to a select a few cases in order to check tax evasion every financial year.

Textile workers take out rally
Ludhiana, August 11
Workers of textile units today took out a rally in support of their demands. Vishwanath, general secretary, Textile Hosiery Workers Union, said labour laws were being flouted in factories. "There is no job security and workers are thrown out at will. Even the labour department does not listen to the pleas of labour," he said. Another representative of the labour union said they were paid meagre salaries.

Workers hold a protest in support of their demands in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Post office gets a few takers for Rakhi bumper
Ludhiana, August 11
Lottery tickets being sold at the Head Post Office in the city are not receiving a good response. An official in the post office said out of the 1,000 Rakhi bumper lottery tickets, only 150 had been sold so far. “We are hopeful of selling more tickets by the time the lucky draw approaches, but people are not purchasing tickets from here.

A woman buys a lottery ticket at the Head Post Office in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Lok Sabha poll: BJP starts campaigning
Ludhiana, August 11
As the Parliamentary elections are slated for next year, the state leaders of the BJP have started campaigning. They have started holding district-level meetings. Aiming at all 13 seats in the state, party activists led by state president of the BJP Kamal Sharma today held a meeting to discuss poll strategy.

State BJP chief Kamal Sharma (extreme right) during a press conference in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

CPI condemns killing of Indian soldiers
Ludhiana, August 11
The state leadership of Communist Party of India (CPI) has announced that the party will participate in the death anniversary of Harchand Singh Longowal on August 25. Dr Joginder Dayal, president, CPI, Punjab, while addressing the district council of the party, said the Communist Party of India (CPI) condemns the killing of Indian soldiers by the Pakistanis.

Show zero tolerance towards discrimination, says Verka
Ludhiana, August 11
Dr Raj Kumar Verka, vice-Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Government of India, assured depressed classes of the society that no more discrimination will been allowed.

Office-bearers of the All-India Punjab National Bank Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Employees Welfare Association honour Dr Raj Kumar Verka, vice-chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, during a function in Ludhiana. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Folk art club to promote bhangra
Doraha, August 11
Rhythm International Folk Art Club has carved a niche for the country in different festivals held across the globe. The club is run by Anish Bhanot, who is a bhangra choreographer.

CRIME

Two booked for snatching gold chain
Ludhiana, August 11
The police has booked two scooterists for snatching a gold chain from a woman outside her house. The incident took place opposite the residence of Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari near Rakh Bagh.

Head granthi shot at
Doraha, August 11
Head granthi of Gurdwara Hothi Mardan of Daburjee village was allegedly shot at, with a country-made pistol, by a resident of Talwandi Sabo today. The victim is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Doraha. The accused has been identified as Paramjot Singh. The accused alleged that his brother died due to drugs supplied to him by the head granthi. The police said, Paramjot had visited the head granthi with an intention of snatching his pistol. A case under Sections 394 of the IPC and 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act has been registered.

2 gm of smack seized
Jagraon, August 11
The local police arrested a youth with 2-gm smack and 2 cough syrup bottles from the Old Grain market area, Jagraon. A police team led by the Assistant Sub-Inspector, Jarnail Singh, arrested the youth. The accused has been identified as Saravjit Singh of Sherpur village near Jagraon.” A case has been registered against the accused under the NDPS Act. — OC