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Finally, MC cracks down on encroachers
Ludhiana, May 7 The area had been cordoned off by the police since around 8 am. No two wheelers or four-wheelers were allowed to enter the area and the police had put up barricades all around. Only pedestrians were allowed to pass through the barricades. The MC officials, accompanied by more than 300 police personnel, including police women, six JCB machines and eight tippers, reached Ghumar Mandi Chowk at around 10:45 am and started the demolition drive. Fearing backlash by affected shopkeepers, all owners kept their shops shut in the Ghumar Mandi area till mid-noon as the MC team carried out demolition. Double and triple-storey buildings were demolished within no time as shopkeepers and onlookers quietly watched from a distance. Congress councillor of the area Gurpreet Gogi was taken to the Division Number 8 police station when he, along with shopkeepers, tried to prevent the officials from discharging their duty. Meanwhile, Congress leaders, including Ravneet Bittu, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Narinder Kala and Amarjeet Singh Tikka, gathered at the police station. Gogi had been detained for about four hours. The shopkeepers said they should have been given a few hours so they could vacate their shops. Surinder Singh, a shopkeeper, said they were not given time and stocks worth lakhs were damaged in the demolition drive. "We have been ruined," the shopkeeper said. The drive continued till evening as it took at least three hours to clear the Ghumar Mandi road of
the debris. Congress councillor cries foul
The area councillor, Gurpreet Gogi from the Congress, alleged Ghumar Mandi was not in the demolition plan. "Since it was a Congress-dominated area, orders were issued to officials to start the demolition drive from here. A meeting of the SAD/BJP leaders was held with the officials on Tuesday and the area was visited by an ADCP in the evening. "Since officials have to present an action report in the High Court on May 27, the SAD/BJP leaders gave their consent for starting a demolition drive from Ghumar Mandi, as they knew there would be no resistance from the poor and innocent shopkeepers. Area not on MC list of encroachments
After a writ petition was filed in the High Court, the MC had identified around 4,000 structures that were to be demolished. Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Congress MLA, said
We have been ruined, say shopkeepers
Shopkeepers and residents, who have suffered losses running into crores, said when the MC could plead the cases of several other colonies for regularisation, why was their case not considered? "We have been settled here for the past 10 or 15 years," said a shopkeeper, in a choked voice.
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Demolition drive biased, says Congress
Ludhiana, May 7 Bittu, while talking to The Tribune, alleged that the drive was discriminatory. "We smell a rat. Why is the drive being initiated from this particular area? Is it because this is a Congress-dominated area?" He alleged that prior to the demolition drive, no time was given to the shopkeepers in Ghumar Mandi. "If the shopkeepers had been given some time, at least they could have vacated the shops and saved their goods from being damaged." In the evening, Bains held a press meet in which he condemned the demolition drive as "unfortunate and biased". "The pick-and-choose policy smacks of a conspiracy," he alleged. On being asked why politicians throw their weight around whenever there is a demolition drive in the city, both Bittu and Bains said they were not against demolition drives per se, but the drives should not be a punishment to a section of society. Their argument went: "Why should some areas be targeted and other areas be allowed to flout the rules?" Bittu and Bains refuted the allegations that political leaders draw mileage by attempting to stall the demolition drives. Bains said: "We 'appreciate' the demolition drives. We will support the drive, provided it's just and fair." Alleging that bigwigs and influential people are allowed a free run, he said: "Why should the poor be made the scapegoats?" Bains claimed that Ghumar Mandi was 'targeted' as the electorate had voted against the ruling party in the state. He also accused the Congress councillor (of the area) of playing politics for furthering his own interest. He added that the shopkeepers would move the High Court to "seek justice". |
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Youths nab snatcher after chase
Ludhiana, May 7 Sukhwinder Singh, along with his friend, chased the snatcher and nabbed him. They thrashed the snatcher, identified as Harvil Rai, a resident of Ganpati Colony, before handing him to the police. The purse and the cash were recovered from Harvil's possession. Theft at factory
There is no stopping thieves. In the latest incident, thieves struck at a factory near Jalandhar Bypass and decamped with cloth material worth about Rs 1 lakh. The incident came to light on Wednesday morning when employees reached the factory and fond the premises ransacked. They informed factory owner Abhishek Kumar about the incident. Abhishek told the police that the factory was being renovated. The police have recorded statements and started investigation. Two arrested
The police have nabbed two persons for drug and liquor peddling respectively. The accused have been identified as Avtar Sinhgh of Meharban and Balwinder Singh of Salem Tabri. Both were arrested in separate raids conducted by Anti Narcotic Cell and CIA Staff. While 50 gm of heroin was recovered from Avtar, 15 boxes of illicit liquor were recovered from Balwinder's possession. Both the accused are habitual offenders and have been jailed for committing similar offences. According to the police, both the accused were arrested following a tip-off. Attempt to break open ATM
Thieves made a futile attempt to break an automated teller machine (ATM) of a nationalised bank at Sarinh village, near Dehlon, on Tuesday night. The incident came to light when a resident visited the ATM booth to withdraw cash and was shocked to find it damaged. The police intimated the bank authorities about the incident. It is suspected that the thieves tried to break the ATM with a gas cutter due to which the ATM caught fire. According to Gurtej Singh, Dehlon SHO, thieves broke the camera installed on the ATM. There was no loss of cash. It was learnt no night security guard was deployed at the ATM booth. |
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Ex-husband, friend
held on charge of rape, fraud
Ludhiana, May 7 The victim told the police that she got married to Pawan without her parents' consent in 2004. In 2007, the couple got separated and soon the marriage ended in a divorce. The victim said Pawan gave her Rs 5 lakh when they got separated. Soon, he, along with his friend
Ravinder, persuaded her and got the money back. Pawan again established physical relations with her on the pretext of returning the money, the woman said. When she pressed Pawan for returning the money, he, along with his friend
Ravinder, assaulted her. She said for the fear of social embarrassment, she did not tell anybody about her torture at the hands of Pawan. After receiving a complaint from the woman, the Daba police registered a case of rape, criminal breach of trust and fraud under sections 376, 406, 420 and 120-B of the IPC against Pawan and his friend Ravinder and started investigation. |
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Theft incidents on rise in Jagraon
Jagraon, May 7 Despite the tall claims being made by the local police, there seems to be no end to this situation. Residents said the repeated theft incidents were a clear indication of the lax attitude of the police. During the last two weeks, more than half a dozen incidents of theft have taken place in Jagraon town and nearby villages. On Sunday night, thieves broke into the Jagraon branch of Canara Bank at College Road and decamped with 4 computer monitors. Within 24 hours of this incident, some unidentified persons conducted another theft in a posh locality of Jagraon in broad daylight. Theft incident took place on Monday afternoon in Hira Bagh locality. The thieves decamped with gold jewelry and several thousand rupees of cash from the house of a school teacher. Due to rising incidents of thefts, the residents of Jagraon town and the nearby villages are forced to spend sleepless nights. Residents of many villages near Jagraon have started ‘theekri pehras’ (own surveillance) in their villages to avoid thefts. DSP Jagraon Surinder Kumar said the police had already increased the vigil in various areas of the town. "We have also formed special teams to look into theft incidents. The police have received some significant clues about the theft incidents that took place recently and we hope these cases would be cracked very soon," the DSP said.
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PAU Kisan Club holds camp
Ludhiana: The monthly training camp for the members of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Kisan Club was held at Halwara, near Tughal village in Ludhiana. A meet of the women’s wing of the club was also organised wherein women from various parts of Punjab participated. Coordinator of the club, Dr TS Riar, said PAU experts had been educating farmers on solar heat treatment for wheat storage and turmeric processing, raising of mat type nursery and direct seeding of rice. He said the seeds of paddy varieties such as PR 118, PR 121, PR 122 and PR 123 were supplied to the farmers. The members were also provided tips for curing dental diseases. Coordinator of women’s wing of the club, Dr Rupinder Kaur, said they also educated women about issues like consumer awareness. Lecture on thalassaemia
Keeping in view International Thalassemia Day on May 8, the Director Students’ Welfare and Social Workers’ Association of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organised an informative lecture on ‘Thalassemia Awareness’ on Wednesday. Professor (paediatrics, hemato-oncology), CMCH, Ludhiana, Dr Praveen Sobti, delivered a lecture wherein faculty members and students of PAU participated. Director Students’ Welfare, PAU Dr Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal and Assistant Professor (paediatrics), DMCH, Dr Shruti Kakkar, were also present on the occasion. Dr Sobti said, “For prevention of thalassemia, public awareness and screening of blood are vital.” She said nearly 2.5 per cent of the Indian population suffered from thalassemia and the prevalence of the disease was about 5 to 17 per cent among Punjabis. She added that after every hour a child is born in India who suffers from this problem. PAU students enact play
Students of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) enacted a play on ‘Conservation of Natural Resources’ at Fuglana village, Hoshiarpur district, under the aegis of United States India Educational Foundation (USIEF). Member, PAU Board of Management and a progressive farmer, Kulwant Singh Ahluwalia, said the play conveyed a scientific message to the farmers. He said, “If natural resources are not conserved, the future generations will never forgive us.” Along with the judicious use of agro-chemicals, farmers should make effort to conserve natural resources, he said. Chief Agricultural Officer, Hoshiarpur, Dr Kulbir Singh Deol, said due to the indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals, many challenges such as environment degradation and economic loss were being faced.
— TNS
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Educational institutions encourage students to fill in forms on their own
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 7 Extra efforts are being made by government and private educational institutes to prepare their wards to be independent in doing these jobs. According to observations, majority of elderly persons visiting commercial banks, post office and public transport office are hesitant to write applications and fill required documents. The tendency normally results in submission of wrong and insufficient information due to lack of communication. Besides causing inconvenience and loss to the beneficiaries, it requires extra efforts by the staff of the department concerned for rectifications and amendments. However, the new trend shows that students visiting these offices have now stopped seeking help of others in completing documents, including reservation forms, pay-in slips, cheques, withdrawal forms, admission forms and account opening forms. Pardeep Sharda and Samrat Pal Kaur, principals at MGMN Senior Secondary School and Victoria Public Senior Secondary School, Lehra, said students of high and senior secondary classes of their institutes were trained to fill various forms and documents at railway stations, bus stands, post offices and banks. "Having learnt to fill sample forms from their teachers, majority of students of our institutes visiting public dealing offices fill forms and documents on their own," claimed Sharda and Kaur. Principal at Government Senior Secondary School, Dehlon, Balwinder Singh Grewal, said the head of the Department of Commerce of his school, Baljit Singh Taggar, had coordinated with authorities at certain branches of commercial banks for allowing their students to help clients fill forms and documents. "Besides illustrating various concepts to our students, we coordinated with the authorities at certain branches of commercial banks so that students could have practical knowledge," said
Grewal. Acknowledging the practice, authorities at various offices of the area said it was easier to persuade youngsters to fill forms on their own while the elderly persons showed disinterestedness in this regard.
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Misuse of domestic LPG rampant
Jagraon, May 7 As per the norms, the shopkeepers and owners of commercial establishments were restricted from using domestic LPG cylinders at commercial places but still a large number of shopkeepers are using domestic LPG cylinders at their shops. The domestic LPG cylinders are also being used for preparing eatables during marriages and other functions at marriage palaces. The major reason behind use of domestic LPG cylinder at commercial places is the huge gap between the price of domestic and commercial cylinder. As the price of the commercial LPG cylinders is quite high compared to the price of the domestic LPG cylinders, which comes with government subsidy, majority of the shopkeepers, the owners of restaurants and other commercial establishments prefer to use domestic LPG cylinders. In lack of proper vigil by the authorities concerned, the domestic LPG cylinders are openly used by the shopkeepers, owners of the restaurants, roadside vendors, eating joints, tea sellers and at other commercial establishments. Moreover these household LPG cylinders are also being used in a large number of vehicles. Though there is a ban on using domestic LPG cylinders in vehicles but still there are several people who use domestic LPG cylinders to run their vehicles for saving some bucks. According to sources, the domestic LPG cylinders are easily available in the black market and the people who use household LPG cylinders for commercial purpose often buy domestic LPG cylinders from the black market. “There are several local residents who sell their domestic LPG cylinders to the shopkeepers on hefty prices to earn extra money. Food supply officer, Jagraon, SK Beri said the department has been keeping a close vigil to check the misuse of LPG cylinders. “To check the misuse of LPG cylinders at commercial places, we carry out raids at regular intervals. We have imposed fines on several people who were found using the domestic LPG cylinders at commercial places during the recent past,” he added.
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Oral zinc remedies common cold
Ludhiana, May 7 Running nose, headache, sore throat and sneezing are the symptoms of rhino virus causing common cold. Generally common cold in adults is often two-four episodes annually while in children the frequency is between 6 and 10 colds
a year. Earlier, it was reviewed that zinc reduced the duration of common cold when administered within 24 hours of the onset of cold. After both the institutions reviewed the significance of zinc in common cold in 2011, they updated the findings and found that there was a significant reduction in the duration of cold at a zinc dose
of 75 mg/day. Regarding prophylactic zinc supplementation, currently no firm recommendation in adults can be made because of insufficient data. No trials were conducted among high risk participants with chronic illness, immunodeficiency or asthma. They are presently working on the group. Rhino viruses
How to protect yourself and others
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Power shutdown
11 KV Model Gram feeder fed from 66 KV Ferozepur Road sub station, will remain shut down on Thursday from 9 am to 2 pm for urgent maintenance work. During this period, power supply to Jagjit Nagar, Green Field, Kartar Colony, Friends Colony, Shakti Nagar, Sargodha Colony, New Lajpat Nagar, Canal Colony, Nehru Sidhant Kendra and Pakhowal Road areas will be affected. Free eye check-up
HDFC Bank Ltd. is conducting free eye-care camps at 50 of its branches in the Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Hoshiarpur districts of Punjab, as part of its live healthy programme. Visitors can walk into the branches for free camp. HDFC Bank has tied up with an Eye Care Hospital to arrange these camps, which are open to its customers as well as to the general public. The activity was initiated on May 2. Through the live healthy initiative, bank has successfully conducted various types of health camps at its branches across India. Shiv sainiks burn Pak flag
Shiv Sena today burnt the national flag of Pakistan at Kashmir Colony against the attack and stealing of artifacts from a Hindu temple in Pakistan. Condemning the attack, national president, RD Puri said it is not the first incident that a Hindu temple has been attacked in Pakistan. The Pakistan government should adopt a strict view so that such incidents do not happen in future. Thalassaemia Day observed
Dayanand Medical College and Hospital today observed 23rd International Thalassaemia Day by organizing 15th Annual Medicos Voluntary Blood Donation Camp. 200 units of blood were collected during the camp. During the function, Zindagi Live Foundation was awarded 'Novartis Trophy' for making significant contribution in providing safe blood for thalassaemic children.
— TNS
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No specific funds for power bills in govt schools
Ludhiana, May 7 Earlier, the schools collect the amalgamated funds from the students to pay the electricity bills but after the implementation of the Right to Education Act the schools cannot collect any funds from students of Class I to VIII. Moreover, the state government exempted the fee of girl students from class I to XII and students of SC and BC categories. Schools are unable to pay the bills as only boy students of general category from class VIII to XII submitted the amalgamated funds to schools. The girls’ schools and upper primary schools have no specific fund to pay the electricity bills. School heads pay the bills from annual grant which is not meant for paying the monthly charges. A number of schools collect the funds from students to pay bill. Sometimes teachers pay electricity bills from their own pockets. In upper primary and primary schools the teachers ‘adjust’ the bill through grants of Mid Day Meal Scheme. Sukhdir Singh of Nav Chetna Bhalai Manch said, “Number of schools collect the funds from the students to pay electricity bills. Some of the teachers arrange the money from Mid Day meal and other SSA grants. There should be monthly grant to pay the electricity bills in government schools.” Dr Charanjit Singh, DEOsaid, “It is true that schools face problem due to non-availability of any specific fund to pay the bills. Higher authorities are also aware about the fact. We are hopeful that government will take step in this regard.”
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Residents prefer yoga to strenuous workouts
Ludhiana, May 7 Pankaj Sehgal, who has been teaching yoga at home for years, said: "The working class prefers learning yoga at home," said
Sehgal. "Yoga is the answer to many physical and mental ailments. Medicines resolve an ailment, but cause distress due to side-effects," he said. "Because of increasing awareness, people seriously wanting to follow yoga are increasingly preferring learning it from experts at home," he said.
Harpreet, a resident, said rather than learning yoga in the morning, he called an expert at home after office hours. As it is becoming more
organised, some experts have started offering 'packages'. Experts teach yoga at the time and place of convenience. "I teach yoga between 5 am and 9 pm," said
Pankaj. "Many people have started preferring yoga to strenuous workouts in gyms. Even slim people take classes as it lends them natural grace and flexibility, apart from physical and mental well-being," he said.
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Docs to prescribe in capital letters
Ludhiana, May 7 In February 2014, letters were sent to all medical colleges in this regard but it seems to have no impact on the doctors as they continue to prescribe in running hand. The executive committee of MCI had unanimously felt that names and dosages of medicines were at times not clearly written in prescriptions and caused a lot of confusion among both chemists and patients. That is why it had advised the doctors in February 2014 to give all prescriptions in capital letters. Dr Jayshreeben Mehta, president, MCI, confirmed that the ministry would soon be issuing a gazette notification to this effect. Writing prescriptions in capital letters is already a part of medical college curriculum and its strict implementation will benefit both patients and chemists.
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PAU scholar selected for prestigious scholarship
Ludhiana, May 7 The fellowship is jointly given by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in the areas of science, technology, engineering, agriculture and medicine. The fellowship is offered to support aspiring Ph D scholars with double scholarship (up to Rs 6 lakh per annum) - 50 per cent will be provided by the government and the balance by a sponsoring industry - for doing research for four years. The fellowship scheme is currently designed to support 100 scholars in a year. A total of 39 students were selected from all over India in year 2013-14. Head of the Department of Microbiology, Dr Sahota, said Babita Mukhija was the only student from Punjab to have received this
fellowship. She will be working under the guidance of senior microbiologist Dr Veena
Khanna.
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A starry affair
Ludhiana, May 7 Sidhu has also sung a song titled "Ishq Khuda". Sidhu said she entered the film industry as a singer and sung in Bollywood and Punjabi movies, including Qafila, Jatt Airways and
Burrah. She said she never thought of getting into acting, but when she got the offer, she decided to do the film. "Although many singers have turned into actors in Punjabi film industry, but apart from Miss Pooja, not many female singers have been able to do so," she said. Along with acting, she would continue to sing, she said. Directed by Akashdeep Singh Batth, the movie will be released on May 9. It has been shot in and around Chandigarh. Some of the songs have been shot in Ladakh and
Goa.
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Now, shell out more for Tiger Safari at Ludhiana Zoo
Ludhiana, May 7 "The zoo has only a few animals," he said. Divisional forest office Daljit Singh Brar said the entrance fee had been increased as the tenders were revised. He said the signages would be replaced once the funds were received. "The zoo will soon have new entrants," he said. Signages need to
be replaced
Signages at the zoo need to be replaced. "I had no idea that the animals in the cage were porcupines. I clicked the picture and asked my friends on social media to find out what these were," said Jatinder, another visitor. "Not only are the animals much less, but even signages are not placed. Some of the signages are in a bad shape," he complained.
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Couple arrested for
duping youth
Khanna, May 7 As per information, the couple used to lure the youths of the area to get them jobs in the Army by charging Rs 2 lakh. The duo allegedly forged some documents from a shop in
Khanna. Some youths who fell into their trap include Sikander Singh of Jogiana village, Amandeep Singh of Kishanpura village and Satnam Singh of Beer Amamgarh village. They collected more than Rs 28,00,000 between June 2012 and November 16, 2013. DSP Khanna Balwinder Singh Sekhon said the police had registered a case under Sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B and the enquiry was conducted by the EO wing. He said the police were hunting for the alleged accused.
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how come Ghumar Mandi was chosen by the officials to start the drive when it was not on the list of structures to be demolished. "The list has areas including Sem
Nullah, Pavittar Nagar, Gur Mandi, Talab Bazar, Chaura Bazar, etc. Since all the local SAD-BJP leaders did not want these areas to be touched, Ghumar Mandi had to bear the brunt of the drive.
