Ludhiana, February 13
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Zone D office has served notices to 30 hospitals (falling under the particular zone) asking them to fulfil parking norms as per the MC requirement, or else be ready to face the music. The private hospitals have been given 15 days' time to do the needful.

According to available information, the authorities swung into action following an RTI application filed by an activist, asking the authorities to provide information regarding parking arrangements in about 42 hospitals. The authorities provided information that about 30 hospitals and nursing homes did not have proper parking space/facilities.

Giving details, the ATP Zone D, Rajinder Sharma, said, “The hospitals have been asked to reply within 15 days.

Those hospitals that reply, their claims will be checked, but those that do not do so within the stipulated time will have to face strict action. "In case of blatant violations, the hospitals/nursing homes can be sealed too", said Sharma.

Ludhiana, February 13
After the Medical Council of India's (MCI) has proposed to increase the duration of the MBBS course from existing 5.5 years to 7.5 years, students and interns at the local medical colleges are baffled.

Students, interns and doctors of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) will be holding protest in this regard on Saturday on the campus.

Besides duration, the medicos are also against the MCI's proposal that makes rural posting of one year mandatory for doctors to make them eligible to appear for the postgraduate entrance examination for admission to MD/MS courses.

The Indian Medical Association, Punjab, has supported the medical students agitating against the reported move of the MCI under directions from the Central Government to increase the internship tenure to two years and mandatory one-year rural service for eligibility for the postgraduation entrance examination.

The illogical decision to increase the duration of the already longest professional course should be immediately dropped. On the one hand, the government is trying to introduce 3.5-year shortened medical course to produce doctors to serve in the rural area and on the other, it is making an illogical move to increase the duration of the MBBS course. If the policy makers think that the urban people deserve 7.5 years MBBS course trained doctors then why should doctors to be produced after 3.5-year course be unleashed on the rural population?” questioned Dr Manoj Sobti, president, Indian Medical Association Punjab.

More over, the mandatory one-year rural service before postgraduation has its own shortcomings and will create a lot of difficulties for the young doctors, as they will not be able to find jobs in rural areas thus wasting their precious years before they become eligible for the postgraduation entrance examination. This will seriously hamper the availability of specialists in health care services, added Sobti. "We will be in our 30s when we will become eligible to appear for the postgraduate entrance exams, which is not justified. We are joining the nation-wide protest against the move on Saturday”, added an intern from DMCH.

Jagraon, February 13
The Mining Department and the Jagraon police impounded 12 vehicles for illegal mining and smuggling of sand from the Sutlej riverbed near Sherpur village last night.

Area mining officer Gurcharan Singh Deol said they conducted a raid at the said place at around 11 pm last night.

Deol said that six mini trucks and five tractor trailers were impounded during the raid.The police also arrested a few persons while others managed to flee from the spot.

SHO Sadar Bikramjit Singh confirmed the development and said that the police has arrested three persons in this regard. "The police is in the process of registering a case against all the accused under the Mining Act." said Singh.

Ludhiana, February 13
In the wake of forthcoming elections, six Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSPs) posted in Ludhiana district have been transferred.

While Gurbans Singh Bains who was transferred as the ACP (Crime), Ludhiana, has been transferred to Ladha Kothi, Sangrur, Ranbir Singh, DSP (Detective) has been sent as the DSP (SPU), Punjab.

Jagbinder Singh, DSP, Samrala, Pirthipal Singh DSP, Khanna, Navreet Singh, DSP, Mullanpur Dakha, and Rattan Singh DSP (Headquarters), Ludhiana, have also been transferred.

Ludhiana, February 13
The robbery of Rs 15.9 lakh has exposed the chinks in the state government's much hyped night patrolling scheme and put a question mark on the efficiency of the police in manning vital locations falling near the highways across the state.

The state government had launched the night patrolling scheme with much pomp and show in July last year, but nearly eight months after its launch the police personnel have failed to curb crime taking place on highways.

The police claims to have set up highway control rooms every 50 km and deployed over 4,000 personnel to patrol highways at night, but the plan has proved to be ineffective here. The state government has assigned 62 highway patrolling vehicles, 1,014 police vehicles, 22 ambulances, cranes and recovery vans for the night patrolling project, but when the robbery victim, Deepak Kumar, needed help, these policemen were nowhere to be seen.

A forex trader, Deepak Kumar, was shot at and robbed of Rs 15.9 lakh when he was returning home to Mullanpur on Monday evening.

When contacted, Kumar said, "The DSP, Mullanpur, and the SHO visited the spot last night to reconstruct the robbery incident. Otherwise, there is no progress in the case."

The Congress has got an opportunity to corner the ruling SAD-BJP government. "The projects are just an eyewash. The government is spending lavishly on projecting that the state is safe for investment, whereas the businessmen are being looted and the police are mere mute spectators here," said Congress leader Amarjit Singh Tikka.

The robbery incident and subsequent failure of the police to catch the robbers has drawn flak from residents. They complained that the incident had triggered a fear psychosis among businessmen and also raised safety concern among the residents of the locality.

Not the first incident
Earlier on January 12, an advocate had become the victim of carjackers on Ferozepur Road. The incident took place when Karamvir Singh, who was practicing law at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, was visiting Fazilka to meet his family. When he reached near the ITBP campus, Baddowal, two motorcycle-borne youths intercepted his vehicle. The moment Karamvir stopped the car, one of the carjackers pointed a pistol at him. One of the youths got into the car and told Karamvir to take the vehicle towards Pakhowal Road. On reaching Jodhan, the carjackers threw Karamvir out of the vehicle and fled with the latter's mobile phone.

Ludhiana, February 13
The City Police has released the 66 teachers arrested for staging a protest at the Grain Market on the Jalandhar bypass on February 2.

The teachers, working under the Sarav Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), were demanding regularisation of their jobs.

District president of the SSA/RMSA Teachers Union Amandeep Singh Dadhahoor said, "The unconditional release of the teachers is the victory of our struggle. Their arrest was unconstitutional."

The activists of the union had staged a protest at the Grain Market on February 2. More than 1,000 teachers participated in the protest. However, the district administration foiled their bid to hold a march and arrested 58 teachers, including state and districts leaders.

Opposing the arrest of teachers, several teacher and communist unions held demonstrations at Government Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar Chowk, and the police arrested eight more protesters, who were sent to judicial remand.

Activists of various teacher unions today met the Commissioner of Police, Nirmal Singh Dhillon.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, Sukhpal Singh Brar confirmed the release of teachers.

Jagraon, February 13
Hundreds of unemployed rural youth, including a large number of girls, thronged the job fair organised at a local marriage palace here today.

The event was a joint effort of Jagraon MLA SR Kaler, the Ludhiana unit of Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings and the district administration to provide employment to the educated but unemployed youth.

The job fair also brought to the fore contrasting realties of increasing unemployment among the educated youths in the state and the extravagance they indulge in.

Hundreds of job aspirants, who had completed polytechnic diplomas or courses in industrial training in different trades many years ago, flocking to the fair spoke volumes about the increasing unemployment in Punjab. However, several youth were seen carrying costly iPhones and smartphones seeking jobs offering monthly salaries between Rs 7,000 and Rs 15,000.

In all, 166 youths were offered appointment letters on the spot while more than 250 others were shortlisted for various jobs in industrial and commercial sectors. The shortlisted candidates would be called for interviews and it is expected that 100 of them would get jobs.

"During my tenure as MLA for around two years now, I found unemployment was one of the major problems facing the youth in this area. Even skillful youth either failed to find employment or were doing odd jobs. People often requested me to get their children employed during my visits to villages, which moved me to take this initiative,” said Kaler.

Elated over the response today, the MLA announced to conduct such events on a regular basis.

"I feel such job fairs are the need of the hour to reduce unemployment, especially when there is dearth of jobs in the public sector,” said Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal.

Ludhiana, February 13
The second edition of the Indo-Pak International Trade Expo started at Hotel Gulmor here today.

More than 100 stall of different items have been displayed in the expo. On the first day, ladies suits from Lahore, Karachi and non-vegetarian items from Food Street Lahore were the main attractions for the visitors.

The stalls of Pakistani onyx marble, textiles, dry fruits from Kabul, Kashmiri carpets, Jaipur jewellery, home appliances, wellness and healthcare products, crockery, quilts, iron furniture and artificial flowers also fascinated the crowd. Sufi singers from Pakistan also entertained the visitors on the occasion. According to the office-bearers of the PHD Chamber of Commerce, 50,000 people are expected to visit the event. The expo will conclude on February 17.

Mohammad Jamez, a vendor from Food Street Lahore, said, “We also serve Halwa poori, a special delicacy from Lahore. People from Amritsar, however, are more foodie than Ludhiana residents.”

Ludhiana, February 13
Saint Valentine's Day (V-Day) has now turned into a cynical marketing ploy to make people buy more. Many companies try to boost sales in the run up to the ‘romantic’ day using clever tactics.

Though money can't buy love, many will try to give their best shot on Friday.

Earlier, only gift shop owners and confectioners use to do brisk business around the V-Day. But of late, almost every business sector aims at cashing in on the day’s propularity. Even liquor vends in the city have been tastefully decorated and some are even giving discounts and have announced offers for the V-Day.

"The V-Day mania has gripped the city. Every shop, be it a card gallery or a garment store, is abuzz with offers for the day. On February 14, one can see many people dressed in red but one did not find people wearing yellow clothes on Basant Utsav, which passed recently. Indian festivals are taking a back seat and companies and the social media are to be blamed for the trend," said Sukhchain Singh, an ex-serviceman.

Beautifying your social media pages is a great way to attract business. "It is also a right time to use social media to engage your customers by planning online competitions with the Valentine’s Day as the theme," said Vaibhav Suri, a web-designer from the city.

"If you like someone, do nice things for them throughout the year and not restrict it to one day," said Surubhi, a banker in her thirties.

Doraha, February 13
Activists of the Marxist Communist Party of India (United) staged a dharna in front of the office of the Payal SDM against increasing unemployment, price rise, corruption and drug addiction.

The anti-people economic policies of imperialist globalisation, privatisation and liberalisation were resented by the party.

Com Kuldip Singh, national general secretary, while addressing the dharna, said, “We demand remunerative prices for the farmer’s crops, crop insurance and Rs 250 bonus on paddy, on the pattern of Bihar government. Generating resources for employment and unemployment allowance is also mandatory for every government, who otherwise pose to be people-friendly but in reality works in an adverse manner.”

Higher education should be made reasonable, he added.

Pawan Kumar Kaushal, state secretary, demanded high-level judicial inquiry into the nexus among the politicians, police officials and the drug smugglers and said the facts must be brought before the public.

Protesters demanded strict action against those responsible for the communal riots of anti-Sikh, 2002 Gujarat riots, Muzaffar Nagar, Assam and in other places of India and demanded compensation for the victims.

A memorandum in this regard was submitted to the Payal SDM.

The dharna was addressed by Lakhwinder Singh, district secretary of the MCPI (U) and Hardev Singh, president, Punjab Government Pensioners Association, among others.

Ludhiana, February 13
Seeking regularisation of their services, multi-purpose health workers (women) working on contract basis went on strike today.

They staged a dharna in front of the office of the Civil Surgeon here and burnt an effigy of the state government. The president of the Multi-purpose Health Workers Union, Karamjit Kaur, said the government had announced in 2011 that the contractual staff would be regularised but failed to honour the commitment. Nearly 220 workers observed strike today, out of which 80 work in urban areas. — TNS

Ludhiana, February 13
As the 15-day deadline given by 'safai karamcharis' to the Municipal Corporation (MC) to meet their demands ended, Commissioner Rahul Tiwari held a meeting with them here today.

The safai karamcharis had listed about 30 demands and the MC authorities met certain demands on the spot while committees have been constituted to look into other demands. The committees will submit their reports to the Civic Body. The meeting between the MC workers and the Commissioner lasted about two hours.

The major demand of the employees was that Superintendent Rajiv Bhardwaj be transferred from the post. In this regard, the MC has already constituted a committee, which will submit its report within 10 days and action will be taken accordingly.

Another major demand of the Valmiki Sewak Sangh was to regularise the employees working on the DC rates for a long time. A committee under superintending engineer Manjit Singh has been constituted on the issue that will submit its report within a month.

Another demand of the safai karamcharis was to provide jobs on compassionate grounds to 55 applicants. A sub-committee has been formed for the purpose.

The MC authorities have agreed to the demand of the safai sewaks to release salaries on time.

Among others present on the occasion were Zonal Commissioner AS Sekhon and representatives of safai karamcharis.

Ludhiana, February 13
A total of Rs 7.60 crore was surrendered as the Income Tax Department conducted surveys at different hosiery, garments and dyeing firms in the city.

Following the directions of the Commissioner of Income Tax I, BB Nanavati, the department conducted the surveys under the supervision of the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Range-III, Vivek Aggarwal.

The Hem Hosiery on the Noorwala road surrendered Rs 3.50 crore, the Sunidhi Garments on the Bahadu-ke road surrendered Rs 90 lakh, the Lovely Garments surrendered Rs 60 lakh and the Ashwini Knits surrendered Rs 1 crore while other firms surrendered a total of Rs 1.60 crore.

Ludhiana, February 13
Following a complaint by a delegation of shopkeepers from the Rarewala Market, near Preet Cinema here, MLA Simarjit Singh Bains visited the site.

The shopkeepers had complained that the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities had installed iron grills on the road due to which they were losing business as the entry to the market had been restricted.

Simarjit Singh Bains said, "I had a word with the MC Commissioner who has assured that entry and exit points for vehicles would be made by removing a few iron grills."

Ludhiana, February 13
The Municipal Corporation’s building branch of Zone D held a demolition drive here today.

Inspectors Arun Khanna, Nirmaljit Verma, Tarun Kunar and Manpreet Kaur led the drive.

At Jassian Road, a shop was demolished while at Jwala Singh Chowk, a structure being constructed under high-tension wires was razed.

Besides, construction work was stopped at Kitchlu as the owners had not got the building plan approved by the authorities. Illegally built front portions of two houses were also demolished.

At Hambran road, sand-laden that had encroached upon the public land were removed by the Tehbazari Department.

Ludhiana, February 13
An 85-year-old man died after falling from the roof of his house at Rishi Nagar in Haibowal here this afternoon.

Dhanna Singh was basking in the sun and as he got up, he lost the balance and fell on the ground. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Ludhiana, February 13
The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) is allegedly forcing the owners of plots and properties at its 129-acre Rajguru Nagar Scheme to pay enhanced value of land even as the state government had rejected the proposal.

The information provided to Arvind Sharma, secretary, Council of RTI Activists, under the RTI Act by the LIT authorities revealed that the Trust had not given any prior notice or public notice in newspapers asking the allottees to pay Rs 37 per square yard as the enhanced value of land. The LIT officials claim that the enhancement amount was being collected on the basis of a resolution (no 184) adopted in the Trust meeting held on July 11, 2012. However, an official memo (8/52/2012(12)- 2LG2/2260 dated August 27, 2012), says that since all the Improvement Trusts were dissolved by the Punjab Government on July 11, 2012, the resolution numbers 159 to 196 are rendered “null and Void”.

LIT sources said at present, the Trust had no legal right to collect the enhancement amount. To collect the same, a fresh resolution is required to be adopted and it ought to be approved by the state government, which is a statutory requirement.

Sources further hinted that it could be owing to cancellation of the resolution that the LIT did not issue notices or inserted a public notice in newspapers for payment of the enhancement amount.

The LIT officials feigned ignorance about the cancellation of the resolution regarding collection of the enhancement amount in Rajguru Nagar. “In any case, the Trust has already paid the enhanced compensation for the land acquired for the colony on the orders of the Land Acquisition Tribunal and the amount has to be collected from the allottees. Legal formalities, if any, will be completed if the earlier proposal was rejected by the government,” said an official.

Ludhiana, February 13
Protest of guest faculty lecturers of government colleges entered its 23th day today. Lecturers working in SCD Government College and Government College for Girls have been protesting to get the basic pay scales with DA.

The college administrations have been paying to lecturers from Parents Teachers Association funds.

Guest faculty lecturers had started their protest on January 21. The lecturers had staged state-level protest on January 27 at Bathinda.

Around 30 teachers boycotted the classes and denounced the authorities concerned at the Government College for Girls.

Meanwhile, 40 guest faculty lecturers held a protest at SCD Government College.

Manjinder Sood, district president of the Guest Faculty Lecturers Union, said, “We have been holding protest from last 23 days, but the government did not pay any heed to our demands.”

“We will continue our strike till government does not accept our demands. We should be paid salary for 12 months instead of 8 months.” said the district president of the Guest Faculty Lecturers Union.

We will be forced to intensify the protest if our demands are not paid attention to at the earliest, said Sood.

Khanna, February 13
The Khanna Police have claimed to have arrested a person and recovered 700 gm of charas from his possession.

The accused has been identified as Sudhir Mulgar (27), a resident of Uttam Nagar, Khanna. As per the information, a police party, led by ASI Balwinder Singh, was on a routine patrol when they saw a youth near Bahu Majra village. While investigating him, the police party recovered 700 gm of smack from his possession. A case has been registered against the accused under the NDPS Act. As per ASI Balwinder Singh, the alleged accused was presented in a court at Khanna, from where he was awarded a judicial custody for 14 days at Ludhiana jail. — OC

Doraha, February 13
Kiranjot Kaur from the Tagore House was adjudged the best at the 9th annual athletic meet of Doraha College of Education held here today.

Khanna SSP Sushil Kumar, who declared the meet open, inspired students to show sportsmanship not only during games but in their day-to-day life as well. “This will help us to eradicate all the evils prevailing in the society besides bringing positive attitude and energy in us," he said.

Presenting the annual sports report of the college, principal Dr Sandeep Sawhney said the BEd students were not only provided training in teaching but also in the field of sports. He said the students of the college had been proving their mettle at Panjab University inter-college tournaments.

Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of Punjab Basketball Association, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the day-long event. Sukhpal Singh, chairman, Doraha Group of Institutes, Umal Kaur, Japvir Singh and Tapvir Singh from the Doraha Group of Institutes were present.

The events organised during the meet included 100-metre, 200-m, 400-m and 800-m races, 4X100-m relay race, long jump, shot put, javelin throw, three-legged race and tug of war.

Results: 800-m race - Kiranjot Kaur 1, Gurpreet 2, Baljinder Kaur 3; javelin throw - Nisha 1, Manpreet 2, Amandeep 3; 200-m race- Anupreet 1, Kiranjot 2, Davinder 3; needle event - Kulwinder 1, Mandeep 2, Kulwinder Kaur 3; skipping race - Kamalpreet Kaur 1, Sukhwinder Kaur 2, Gagandeep Kaur 3; shot put - Harvir Kaur 1, Nisha Gupta 2, Manpreet 3; lemon-spoon race - Monika Rani 1, Balwinder Kaur 2, Rajni 3; 100-m race - Kiranjot 1, Davinder Kaur 2, Anupreet Kaur 3; long jump - Kiranjot Kaur 1, Baljinder Kaur 2, Nisha Gupta 3; 50-m sack race - Gagandeep Kaur 1, Bhupinder Kaur 2, Nisha Gupta 3; three-legged race - Baljinder and Devinder 1, Harpreet and Parampal 2, Sukhwinder and Manpreet Kaur 3; 400-m race - Kiranjot Kaur 1, Gurpreet Kaur 2, Anupreet Kaur 3; discus throw - Harveer Kaur 1, Sandeep Kaur 2 and Gurpreet Kaur 3.