Ludhiana, June 10
There will be no respite from the scorching heat in the next 24 hours. The city sizzled at 44.6 degree Celsius today.

Dr LK Dhaliwal, Head of Department of Agro Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, said the weather will remain hot till June 12. Days would be partially cloudy after June 12.

“There is no possibility of rain but the maximum temperature may decrease by two or three degrees Celsius after June 12. The heat wave will continue,” said Dhaliwal.

The experts said the temperature was normal and the monsoon would be below average this year.

“The forecast regarding monsoon is not well. The country will witness weak monsoon this year. The state is already facing a crisis due to depletion of water table in the paddy season. The crisis can deepen with weak monsoon,” said Dhaliwal.

Meanwhile, power cuts have added to the residents’ woes.

Ludhiana, June 10
Residents are finding it difficult to work in the prevailing harsh weather conditions. Many employees of different offices of the state government have the same grievance.

Talking to The Tribune, a government employee said: “I am a heart patient. I find it very difficult to reach office at 9 am as by that time it becomes very hot. The government should change the office timings and should start offices at 7 am.”

A woman employee, who fell sick due to heat exposure, said: “Whenever there is a power cut, I feel very uncomfortable sitting in the dark and dingy office. The inverter back-up hardly provides any relief from the scorching heat.”

A few years ago, the state government had changed the office timings after weather conditions became very harsh. The offices hours were advanced by two hours. Many employees demand the state government should change the office timings immediately keeping in view the prevailing harsh weather conditions.

“The instructions about changing the timings of government offices come from the state headquarters. I have not received any such instructions to date. So, I cannot change the timings on my own,” said the DC.

Ludhiana, June 10
Many vehicles, including unclaimed motorcycles and impounded auto-rickshaws, kept in the Kotwali police station were burnt in a fire that broke out in the vehicle compounded of the Kotwali police station here today. Three fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire. The reason behind the fire is not know yet.

It is suspected that a carelessly thrown cigarette butt sparked fire in the dry leaves scattered in the compound.

Massive flames caused panic among the shopkeepers of the nearby Chaura Bazar Market. Soon, firefighters reached the spot and doused the flames. The loss is yet to be assessed.

Yesterday, a fire broke out in the vehicle compound of the Raghunath Enclave police post. Many vehicles were reduced to ashes. The reason behind the fire couldn’t be ascertained.

Ludhiana, June 10
The body of a 24-year-old tube-well operator of the Municipal Corporation (MC), who had gone missing four days ago, was found dumped in a vacant plot in the Ramgarh area.

Passersby spotted the body at Ramgarh village, near Chandigarh road, and informed the police. Soon, the police reached the spot. The victim has been identified as Pappu, who had gone missing on June 5.

The body bore injury marks, suspected to have been inflicted by sharp weapons. It is suspected the victim was killed somewhere else and his body was dumped in the vacant plot.

The police have registered a murder case against unidentified persons and started investigation.

Meanwhile, the police questioned the victim’s relatives and tried to find out whether Pappu had any personal enmity with anyone. The members of his family told the police that on Thursday evening, Pappu left the house on the pretext of some urgent work, but he did not return.

police suspicion

The body bore injury marks. It is suspected the victim was killed somewhere else and his body was dumped in the vacant plot.

Ludhiana, June 10
Not bowing to the pressure tactics of the bus conductors, who went on strike yesterday, the authorities today plied six buses with the help of the Municipal Corporation police. The authorities have asked the Patiala-based company, through which these conductors have been outsourced, to replace the agitating conductors.

In-charge of City Bus Service Baljit Singh said six buses were started on the Green City-Metro route. Though the striking conductors resisted the move, the buses were plied under security of the MC police.

“By tomorrow, we are hopeful of plying 10 or 15 more buses so commuters do not suffer in this scorching heat. We will not bow to their pressure tactics,” said Baljit Singh.

He said officials of the Patiala-based company had been asked to replace the conductors who had been opposing the changes made in the software to check corrupt practices. “If they are clean, then why are they raising a hue and cry over the issue? The city bus service was being criticised because of a handful of conductors,” he added.

Isha Kalia, MC Additional Commissioner, said “blackmailing” would not be allowed. “Why should they raise objections if they are clean? We will not let the passengers suffer unnecessarily and will try to ply as much buses tomorrow as we can,” she said. 

Ludhiana, June 10
Although the civic authorities were to remove an illegal religious structure in Ghumar Mandi today, fearing resistance, they had to put the drive off.

They said they wanted the higher-ups to give it in writing. The structure came up in the area following an anti-encroachment drive by the civic body recently.

Sources in the department said after removing encroachments a month ago, the area was handed over to the B and R department to clear debris and make a boundary wall. But a person encroached upon the land and gave it a religious colour.

“It was the duty of the B and R department to inform the authorities about the encroachment, but it did not bother to do so. Building branch official should have registered an FIR as the orders of Contempt of Court Petition (COCP) 1299 of 2010 state that in case encroachments re-crop, an FIR needs to be lodged within 24 hours, but none took the matter seriously. The negligence has perturbed the civic authorities as well,” said an official of the MC.

ATP (Headquarters) Kamaljit Kaur said the encroachment had to be removed and the MC would do it.

Shopkeepers of the area said the person who had encroached upon the land was a habitual offender. “He has deliberately given it a religious colour so that the authorities are unable to remove the structure,” they said.

Ludhiana, June 10
The Health Department inspected 23 chemist shops here today. The areas covered included Salem Tabri, Gyaspura, Basti Jodhewal, Shimplapuri and New Model Town.

Pharmacists were found absent at 12 shops.

In all, 11 samples of medicines, which included antibiotics, anti-hypertensive agents, cough syrups and ointments, were collected for testing by the teams.

Samples have been sent to a laboratory.

Ludhiana, June 10
The protesting students of the College of Fisheries at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University today burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal outside the Mini-Secretariat.

Earlier, they staged a protest outside the residence of Cabinet Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and raised slogans against the state government. They said Dhillon met them but did not respond to their demands, following which they proceeding to the Mini-Secretariat.

Kushwinder Singh, a protesting student, said: “No one from the state government came to listen to us in these nine days of protest. We will continue this agitation.”

“We are protesting under a scorching sun. We are not doing this just for the sake of it. Our demands are genuine. If the government could not provide jobs, why were such courses started,” said a girl student.

The university authorities, meanwhile, once again appealed to the students to complete their degrees to become eligible for jobs in fisheries sector within and outside the state. The university spokesperson said the varsity would continue with its efforts to get the students placed in near future. He said the students should be patient and should cooperate with the authorities.

“Students’ demand regarding the filling up of vacant posts of fisheries officer available in the State Fisheries Department has already been forwarded to the authorities concerned,” stated a university official.

Ludhiana, June 10
The newly appointed District Education Officer (Secondary), Gurjot Singh, joined office here today.

Earlier, Gurjot Singh served as the Deputy District Education Officer since April 2012. He started his career in the Education Department in 1994. He was the principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Barundi and Ishewal, before he got an administrative position in the department.

Dr Charanjit Singh, who had the additional charge of the DEO (Secondary), after the transfer of Paramjeet Kaur before the Lok Sabha elections, will remain a Deputy Education Officer.

Several teachers’ bodies and individuals met DEO Gurjit Singh and congratulated him.

Gurjit Singh said he would make sincere efforts to uplift educational standards in the district. 

Ludhiana, June 10
The Rs 4 lakh broad daylight robbery at Chhawni Mohalla still remains a mystery. A day after the incident, the police are groping in the dark. The robbery took place at a crowded place, still there is not even a single eyewitness.

The police said they had started investigations.

The complainant, Kapil Kumar of Chander Nagar, is employed with a hosiery factory. He told the police that he was returning home after collecting payments from Amritsar last night.

In the morning, he reached Chhawni Mohalla and was heading towards the factory unit on his motorcycle when two armed robbers accosted him and reportedly snatched his bag by showing a sharp-edged weapon. aSoon the bike-borne robbers fled the scene. The police launched a hunt and scanned CCTV cameras installed in the area, but to no avail. 

Ludhiana, June 10
Police Commissioner RK Jaiswal has pulled up officials for failing to nab snatchers. “I have noticed that the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the snatched mobile phone was not put on surveillance in order to find out whether the phone was working or not. We could have got a crucial lead,” said the Police Commissioner.

Jaiswal, who has solved sensational cases, including the murder of socialite Reema Jain and the killing of Jalandhar college principal Rita Bawa, served as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) during 2008-09.

Petty crimes had also witnessed a dip. There are high expectations from him that he will tighten the noose around the snatchers. Police sources said in the past five months, 120 mobiles phones were snatched, but there has been no recovery yet.

The failure of the police indicates that the snatched mobile phones were not put on IMEI search to trace its current location. The incidents of mobile theft have not even been registered.

CIA staff ineffective

The rise in snatching incidents have raised a finger on the working of the CIA staff. The team of CIA staff that was active till a month ago and successful in nabbing criminals is cooling heels.

Snatchers act smart

After snatchers started targeting women visiting markets and religious places, the police intensified patrolling in the evening. In order to dodge officials, the former started committing the crime in the afternoon.

Ludhiana, June 10
The relatives and friends of Jaspreet Singh Bawa, who was stabbed 26 times with an ice pick outside Pandit Prantha Wala, carried out a candlelit march at the Division No. 3 area to mark their protest.

The march began from the Division No. 3 police station and proceeded towards Pandit Prantha Wala through Chauri Sarak.

Congress leader Ishwarjot Cheema, who was leading the group demanded action against Pandit Prantha Wala for deleting the CCTV footage in which the accused were caught stabbing Bawa.

He added that the eatery had become a den of anti-social elements and the police were not curbing the menace. “We have lost our friend Bawa, but we do not want a similar incident to happen again,” said Cheema. Bawa had accompanied his friend Dheeraj on May 27 to resolve and issue. Bawa was rushed to the CMCH, where he succumbed to injuries.

When the activists gathered outside the eatery, the owner of the shop closed the establishment and fled the scene.

Ludhiana, June 10
Reminding the new NDA government at the Centre of its poll promises, the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) has called for a comprehensive farm policy aimed at giving a boost to the agricultural economy. At the same time, the union has demanded remunerative prices of kharif crops, including basmati rice, on the basis of the recommendations of the Dr Swaminathan Committee.

BKU secretary general Puran Singh Shahkot said the national executive of the body would meet in the first week of July to finalise an agenda based on the problems of the farming community to be pursued with the NDA government.

He said a majority of Punjab farmers had shifted to basmati cultivation in keeping with the government policy of diversification of agriculture. “However, certain vested interests, working at the behest of middlemen and corporate sector are creating apprehensions among the farmers over the purchase of basmati. If the farming reverts to traditional rice-wheat rotation, it will have a disastrous effect on the power consumption and water resources of the state,” the BKU leader said.

Pointing out that paddy sowing was to be taken in hand from June 10, Shahkot urged the state government to ensure a 10-hour uninterrupted power supply to tubewells.

The BKU welcomed the concerted drive launched by the Punjab government against the menace of drug addiction while demanding that drug peddlers be dealt with sternly and that their names be made public so that people could resort to the their social boycott as called by the head priest of Sri Akal Takht.

Other demands raised by the BKU were immediate payment of arrears amounting to around Rs 200 crore to sugarcane growers and remission of all debt of farmers.

Ludhiana, June 10
As the sowing of paddy gets under way from June 10, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) claimed to have made all arrangements to provide an eight-hour power supply to farmers for tubewells from today.

PSPCL Chief Engineer, Central Zone, Rachpal Singh said after a meeting with senior officials and engineers today, instructions were issued to all divisional and sub-divisional heads to monitor power supply to the farm sector and if the supply was disrupted due to some reason at any stage, it should be made up in the next schedule with additional supply.

Asserting that the PSPCL management had made adequate arrangements to meet the increased demand for power during the paddy sowing season, he said uninterrupted power supply would also be provided to all rural and urban feeders round the clock. “No scheduled or unscheduled power cuts will be imposed, but the supply could be shut down for short durations for maintenance and repair work,” he added. The Chief Engineer said the industry would continue to get power supply as per the schedule.

He said all officials of the power utility had been directed to keep in touch with consumers and take every possible step to redress the problems of the people with regard to power supply in the shortest possible time. “Nodal officers of the PSPCL have been asked to keep a close watch on the power supply to all categories of consumers during the period,” he added.

Jagraon, June 10
Residents of the Leppe Shah Bazaar area are facing a tough time due to the un-availability of water. The water supply was shut down two days ago due to some technical glitch in the pump. The residents said water supply to more than 200 houses had been affected.

“It is quite difficult to manage things without water in such a hot weather,” said Prem Verma, a resident.

The residents said the municipal council had failed to resolve the problem.

“Though we were assured that the water supply would be resumed very soon, yet the situation remains the same,” said Iqbal Singh, another resident.

Jagraon Municipal Council Executive Officer Davinder Toor said: “Our technicians are looking into the problem. The water supply would be resumed very soon.”

Ludhiana, June 10
Star cast of the upcoming Punjabi movie “Arsho” was in the city today. Dakssh Ajit Singh, who plays the male lead in the movie, said this is the first Punjabi movie depicting the life of Punjabi duet singers. He said although the movie is not inspired from any real-life singing couple, it touches various facets of a singing star’s life.

“Although, as performers they live a great life, at personal level they are lonely and unhappy,” he said.The female lead in the movie, Mannat Singh, plays the title character Arsho, who is a brilliant singer and dancer, but falls prey to alcohol and starts abusing men.

The hour-and-a-half movie has been shot in Chandigarh and surrounding areas.

Dakssh has also penned and given his voice to the songs in the movie. Mannat Singh and Shafaqat Ali Khan have also lent their voices to the songs.

Ludhiana: Students took part in a number of activities during the summer workshop at MGM School. They honed their skills in dance and sports besides developing their personality. Students worked together in groups.

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony of the 10-day summer camp was an energetic affair at Sri OP Gupta SDP Model School. On the final day, students captivated the audience with various dance, singing and martial art performances.

Teachers’ workshop

New GMT Public School organised a CCE workshop. Teachers were trained in better classroom management, teacher–student relationship and inculcating positive thoughts in students. Resource persons Bhagwant Kaur and Dr Jagtaar Singh discussed common problems faced by teachers and students. The teachers were also explained the comprehensive and continuous evaluation in detail. The workshop ended with fun-filled activities—an important part of CCE.

Free medical camp

A free medical camp was organised at Shifaly International School. Nearly 200 people attended the camp conducted by Fortis Hospital. Bones minerals density test, blood sugar test and blood pressure test were conducted.

Trip to Shimla

Ryan International School, Dugri, organised a trip to Chail and Shimla. Students visited various famous places and beautiful sites during the three-day trip. They also took part in adventure sports such as rock climbing, rappelling and rope activities.— TNS

Grievances aired

Members of the Bhartiya Valmiki Sewa Dal met MC Commissioner Pradeep Aggarwal and kept their problems before him. The delegation was led by Surinder Kalyan. They said sewemen had not got their salaries for the past three months. There were a few who were given salaries on 15th of every month, they said. The Commissioner assured them of doing the needful.

Office-bearers elected

A meeting of the Nagar Nigam Karamchari Sangh was held on Tuesday. It was chaired by Dr DP Khosla. Members read out the annual report and discussed various issues related to the problems being faced by the sangh. Office-bearers were elected unanimously for 2014-2015.

Hospital awarded

Christian Medical College and Hospital and Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA, have been awarded the “Twins of the Year 2013” award. Dr M Joseph John, head of clinical haematology and bone marrow transplant unit, and Dr Naveen Kakkar, head of Special Tests Laboratory, received the award along with Angela Lambing from the USA institute at the award ceremony in Melbourne, Australia. The local hospital has a twinning programme with Henry Ford Hospital to promote the haemophilia care in North India since 2012.

Medical camp

A free medical camp was organised by Sidh Peeth Shree Dandi Swami Mandir Trust. Over 500 patients were examined for various ailments during the camp.

Protest

Bassi Pathana residents are sitting on a hunger strike outside the Mini-Secretariat to get a slaughter house shut down in the area. They said they wanted to save the life of animals.

Tributes paid

District Valmiki Sabha paid tributes to revolutionary tribal leader Birsa Munda. He died fighting for the cause of tribals during the British rule. “He was the source of inspiration for the tribal people to continue their agitation for self rule and scheduled area status across the country,” said sabha president Rakesh Ghai.

Meeting

The Class IV employees of Rural Health and Veterinary Union decided to intensify their struggle to get wages as per government’s recommendations. During a meeting, they decided to organise a dharana outside the directorate of Panchayati Raj at Chandigarh. — TNS

Raikot/Ludhiana, June 10
The vigilance cell of Ludhiana police have arrested two deed writers who had been duping innocent persons, especially NRIs, on the pretext of getting their work done by paying bribe to authorities concerned.

Two deed writers from Raikot, identified as Sudhir Gupta and Jatiner Gupta, were nabbed while accepting Rs 8,200 from one Kulwinder Singh of Barmi village for the registration of a marriage.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (Vigilance), Ludhiana, Satinder Singh said a team of sleuths, led by DSPs Bikramjit Singh and Gurpreet Kaur Purewal, had nabbed the accused while they were accepting the partial payment of the settled amount from Kulwinder Singh at the office of registrar of marriages today.

An FIR under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered at the vigilance police station in Ludhiana.

The investigating team is yet to ascertain whether the amount was shared with government officials or kept by the suspects. 

Ludhiana, June 10
A gang of robbers is on the prowl in the city. They operate in the guise of auto-rickshaw drivers and passengers. The gang members take innocent commuters to a secluded place and rob them.

The gang consisting of four men and a woman, robbed a businessman of Purana Bazaar of cash, a mobile phone and other important documents. Narrating the incident, Deepak Jain said yesterday he left the house at 4 am for buying goods from Delhi. He got into an auto-rickshaw near BL Kapoor Memorial Hospital. He said three men and a woman were in the auto and when it reached near HDFC Bank on Mall Road, the driver took the auto towards a narrow lane leading to Ghumar Mandi.

Before Deepak could understand anything, the men overpowered him and took Rs 25,000 in cash, an iPhone and a purse containing ATM, PAN cards.

After robbing Deepak, the gang members threw him out of the auto. 

Ludhiana, June 10
The police have booked five persons, including three women, in an abetment to suicide case. A woman committed suicide by consuming poison in the Meharban area yesterday. She was identified as Jagdish Kaur. The accused, including Surinderpal, his three sisters Bindro, Soni, Babbi and brother- in-law Sonu, were booked on the complaint of the victim’s father, Sucha Ram. He told the police that his daughter tied the knot with Surinderpal 15-years-ago. He added that the accused were harassing his daughter for dowry.

Driver still at large

Ten days after hitting a 60-year-old businessman near Dugri Chowk, the driver is still at large.

The victim, Arun Kumar Duggal, has undergone two critical brain surgeries.

It was on May 30 when Arun Kumar was hit by a bus belonging to a private hosiery unit. Arun was on a scooter. — TNS

Ludhiana, June 10
The police have booked a youth for sodomising an eight-year-old boy. The accused has been identified as Sonu Kumar of Jamalpur.

The boy’s mother said she was working as a domestic help and left her son at Kajal’s house.

Later during the evening, when she took her son home, the victim told her that Sonu sodomised him.

She reported the matter to the police. Sonu is on the run. — TNS

Ludhiana, June 10
Ludhiana seized the initiative against Mohali, restricting them to a modest total of 135 runs and then hoisted 172 for 4 on the opening day of the match in the Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Championship (U-25) being played at Punjab Agricultural University.

Mohali won the toss and opted to bat first. They found themselves clueless against sensible bowling by Ludhiana bowlers. Ludhiana fielders complimented them well taking some excellent catches to reduce the visitors’ first innings to a small score of 135 runs. Only two batsmen, Arshdeep Brar and Kunal Mahajan, were able to put some semblance of resistance. Brar remained unbeaten on 49 while Kunal contributed 22 runs.

Deepak Bansal and Sukhjinder Singh shared the bowling honours capturing three and four wickets, respectively.

Ludhiana, after some initial hiccups, managed to put their act together. At draw of stumps, the hosts were well settled (172 for four) to post a big total and reach a point from where they could dictate the terms. Anil Sihag and Ankit Pursharthy were at the crease with 67 and 29 runs against their names.

Brief scores

Mohali (first innings): 135 all out in 40.2 overs (Arshdeep 49 and Kunal Mahajan 22; Deepak Bansal three for 25, Sukhjinder four for 25, Amritpal Singh one for 33 and Abhishek Talwar one for 23).

Ludhiana (first innings): 172 for four in 62 overs (Abhishek Talwar 20, Abhinav Bhatia 25, Geetansh Khera 17, Anil Sihag 67* and Ankit Pursharthy 29*; Gurkirat two for 43, Sidhu one for 45 and Barinder one for 36).