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Fuel station worker robbed
Ludhiana, July 13 According to the police and eyewitnesses, the incident took place at around 10:30 pm when Bhagwan Singh (50), an employee of the fuel station, was about to leave for the house of Baljit Singh, the owner of the fuel station, to hand him the cash. Baljit’s house is located on the back of the fuel station. Bhagwan Singh told the police that while he was crossing a street, two men, on a white Honda Activa, accosted him. The pillion rider got down and started assaulting him with a hockey stick. He suffered injuries on his wrist and hand. In the meantime, the robbers snatched the bag containing Rs 7.1 lakh and fled the scene. Hearing the commotion, local residents gathered there. Soon, Baljit Singh also came out of the house and was shocked to see an injured Bhagwan Singh. Bhagwan Singh narrated the entire incident to Baljit who informed the police. Meanwhile, Bhagwan Singh was admitted to a multispeciality hospital. The police, including officers, reached the spot. A high alert was sounded and the police launched a manhunt for the scooter-borne robbers. No headway in Model Town Extension snatching Snatchings and robberies have become a routine affair in the city but the police have failed to make headway in any of the case. It has been nearly 10 days since two motorcycle-borne youngsters tried to snatch a purse from Kanchan Vasdev, a Chandigarh-based journalist, in the Model Town Extension area in broad daylight, but the culprits are still at large. She showed exemplary courage in thwarting the snatching. Despite being injured, she caught hold of one of the snatchers. However, they managed to escape.
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District Cong a house divided
Ludhiana, July 13 Dewan claimed that ignoring the District Congress Committee is a routine affair in case of the programmes organised by the CLP leader. Expressing surprise over the CLP leader’s visit that was kept a “secret” from the District Congress, he said the issue would be raised at a meeting of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Asked if he had expressed his sentiments to the CLP leader, Dewan said, so far, he had not spoken about it to Jakhar. “Senior Congress leaders, including the Punjab Congress in-charge, have been focusing on the need to maintain unity within the party. If things still don’t go right, what can one say,” he said. According to sources, some legislators, considered close to the CLP leader, do not share a good rapport with the DCC president. Jakhar, when asked to comment on Dewan’s ‘absence’ from the programme, said: “Today, we discussed the issues to be raised in the Budget Session of the Punjab Assembly. The Congress legislators from Ludhiana attended the programme. This programme was not about the District Congress.” Executive member of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Ishwarjot Cheema said: “There was no need to invite the DCC chief. It was a CLP meeting. Prior to the Budget Session, the CLP leader wanted to have a meeting with the representatives of industry. Had it been an organisational meet, the District Congress Committee would have been invited.” ‘Programme was not about the District Congress’
On Sunday, we discussed the issues to be raised in the Budget session of the Punjab Assembly. The Congress legislators from Ludhiana attended the programme. This programme was not about the District
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PSPCL pulls a fast one on consumers
Ludhiana, July 13 Initially, the complainant did get an SMS after registering a complaint, followed by another SMS when the complaint was assigned to field staff. After rectification of the fault, yet another SMS was sent to the consumer, saying that the complaint has been resolved. However, the experience of Dr SB Pandhi, a resident of Pakhowal Road, who is also a member of the State Consumer Protection Council, tells a different story. On making a complaint (no. 111754 dated July 4, 2014) about loosely hanging energy meter outside his premises, Dr Pandhi received an SMS that his complaint had been registered. Thereafter, he received an SMS that his complaint had been marked and work was in progress. The complainant felt good that his complaint was being attended to and the meter would soon be set right. Dr Pandhi’s joy was short-lived. To his utter shock and dismay, he received an SMS in the evening on the same day, saying that his complaint had been marked as resolved whereas the fact remained that nobody turned up to set the Thinking that perhaps there might have been some communication error, Dr Pandhi lodged another complaint (no. 114929) on July 5, 2014, which also met a similar fate. He received three SMSes from the PSPCL but the problem remained unsolved. Convinced that the SMS service was a farce and it was not in any manner linked to the system, the consumer lodged two more complaints on July 7 (no. 132871) and July 8, 2014 (no. 137899) but got the same response. He received three SMSes each for the two complaints but the fault was not rectified. Some more consumers from other parts of the city, including Dugri and the PAU campus, have also had similar experiences. The PSPCL officials said the SMS service had just been launched and there might be some teething problem. “We are putting a monitoring mechanism in place to ensure that complaints are marked as resolved only after rectification of faults.” Residents block NH to protest power cutsFed up with erratic power supply, unscheduled power cuts and non-rectification of faults for hours together, residents of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar staged a protest against the state government and the PSPCL authorities. The protesters blocked the Ferozepur road (a national highway) for almost an hour. Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the road. The police intervened and prevailed upon the protesters to lift the blockade after assuring them that their resentment would be conveyed to the officials of the PSPCL.
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Power cuts run taps dry in city
Ludhiana, July 13 The people have to go without water when unscheduled power cuts are imposed. The situation becomes worse when the cuts are imposed in the morning when everyone needs to take a bath and get ready to go to schools, colleges, shops and offices. “At times, when power cuts are imposed in the morning and taps run dry, we have to ration the available water in the overhead tank for morning chores. Once in a while, water is not available even for cooking purposes and we have to fetch water in buckets from one of our neighbours who has installed a submersible pump and a generator set,” said Vineeta Sharma, a resident of Upkar Nagar. Many residents said their repeated pleas to the officials of both the Municipal Corporation and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited to have some sort of coordination so power cuts did not coincide with the water supply schedule in the city localities had fallen on deaf ears. Parminder Mehta, spokesperson for the Congress concillors, said the MC and the PSPCL authorities were oblivious to the plight of the city residents due to uncertainty about the imposition of power cuts. “There is no coordination between the two bodies (the MC and PSPCL). In most localities, power is shut down in the morning when the water is supplied by the MC for two or three hours. As a result, the people have to go without water in this extremely hot weather,” said Mehta. He said the claims of the Punjab Government of the state being power surplus stood thoroughly exposed.
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Better Ludhiana: city unsafe for women Gurvinder Singh Tribune News Service
Snatching of bags, jewellery and cellphones are now common. “Such incidents are no longer isolated stories that you have just heard of. Talk to anyone and they either might have been a victim of such a painful incident or such a snatching might have happened with some woman they know. But the way such snatching incidents have been taking place in broad daylight is akin to jungle raj that anybody can come, snatch bags, jewellery, injure you and go scot-free,” said Preeti, a resident. “Law and order seems to exist on paper only,” she lamented. Residents lamented that it was nothing short of gundaraj, when you can be teased, harassed and hurt without any fear. Eve-teasing incidents are also an everyday thing. “There is absolutely no safety of women here. The power is in the hands of influential people. No action is taken against such criminals,” said Rubina, a resident. Dr Narjit Kaur from the All-India Working Women Forum said there were several cases of women being traumatised, but perpetrators were not worried. Even if police complaints are filed against them, negligible action is taken. “There was an incident of a few boys teasing a girl while she was watering plants. She protested and the boys barged into the house, hit the girl and her parents. The parents ran everywhere to get the police complaint registered, but nothing happened. Finally, they approached NGOs and a case was registered, but still no action was taken against the boys,” she said. Several such cases have come to light. “When the authorities are not serious about the safety of the women, one feels helpless,” she said. “Some addicts are involved in such incidents,” said Dr Arun Mitra. “For how long, can one pursue the issues and run after the indifferent and inconsiderate system. At the end of the day, one has to have fire in the hearth burning. So many people just give in and criminals enjoy the freedom,” she stated. “Women feel terrorised while walking on roads alone,” said Komal, a homemaker. “What is required is not only instant action against the snatchers, but getting to the root cause of the social system for which not only the police, but also the political parties are responsible,” said Shruti Bhogal, an economist and a research scholar. ADCP (Crime) Manjit Singh Dhesi said, “We are carrying out a more rigorous and regular drive. A complete track of those bailed out under the NDPS Act or property theft cases is kept and the data is shared. Regular nakas, apart from other drives, are being laid.”
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Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha poll Anupam Bhagria Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 13 The writers’ body has already unanimously elected Dr Labha Singh Kheeva as its president for 2014-16. After today’s polling, election officer Janmeja Singh Johal announced Atarjit the newly elected senior vice-president with 517 votes. His competitor Sulakhan Sarhadi lost by a single vote. Dr Karamjit Singh was elected the general secretary. He polled 581 votes against Des Raj Kali’s 449. For the four posts of vice-president, seven candidates were in contention. Jasveer Jhajj came out victorious with 654 votes. Defeating his four competitors, Surinderpreet Ghaniya became the new secretary with 809 votes. Manjeet Kaur Meet and Amritbir Kaur have been unanimously elected vice-president and secretary, respectively, on seats reserved for women. The polling took place through computerised multiple system from 11am to 5pm. 30% votes polled went missing: Former office-bearers Harmeet Vidyarthi, former senior vice-president, and Dr Surjeet Singh Judge, former general secretary, alleged that 30 per cent of the total votes polled today went missing. The total number of votes polled today was 1,433. The total number of votes polled for the two candidates for the post of senior vice-president was 1,033. “Where did the remaining 430 votes go?” they questioned. A similar anomaly existed in the number of votes polled for the post of general secretary, the difference being 433, they said. The former office-bearers said election officer Janmeja Singh Johal had no satisfactory answer to their query. Johal, however, clarified that some members voted for only one person inspead of giving their preference. He said the elections were conducted in a fair and transparent manner. “None of the staff deputed for holding the elections was a writer, member of the Punjabi Sahit Akademi or Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha,” he said. Last time, too, there was a difference of 200 in the total number of votes polled and those polled for the candidates contesting for the post of senior vice-president.
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Long power cuts disturb residents’ routine
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 13 Surinder Singh of Jandali village said he had to spend at least two hours at a bank as computers were not working due to a power cut. "I could not even think of returning home as the power inverter back home had exhausted by then and there were no fans to give me some respite," he said. GP Singh, who resides on the Jandali road, was another victim of the frequent power cuts. With internet cafes shutting down in the absence of electricity supply, he could not open his online bank account. Also, shopkeepers were charging too much to photocopy the documents, he said. Manjit Singh of Amarpura area had a similar bitter experience owing to the long power cuts. Be it home or office, everywhere the situation is the same. The tendency has resulted in a situation wherein air-conditioned halls of commercial banks remain packed as people try to get some respite from heat. People keep hanging out at such places on one pretext or the other. Some do not even hesitate to take a nap.
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Girls get a reason to smile
Blocking a public road or street and obstructing the flow of traffic is a violation of civic laws and also a cognisable offence. However, those blocking roads, streets and busy intersections for holding dharnas or taking out processions, often get away with it. The police rarely intervene to bring these “culprits” to book. Those obstructing traffic for religious purposes are the most arrogant kind. Showing utter disregard to commuters’ convenience, the organisers put up ropes and barriers and set up stages or tents on the roads, forcing vehicles to take a detour. In most such cases, police personnel, fearing to ruffle too many feathers, remain mute spectators. Compulsions of life
The scorching heat of July along with humid weather has make life uncomfortable for everyone. While people try to stay home to save themselves from this harsh weather, some children are forced to venture out to earn their livelihood. Such children can be seen selling flowers outside Dandi Swami temple. Those buying flowers from these children cannot even comprehend the compulsions that made them indulge in child labour at this tender age. While this summer seems unending, it seems it is for such children that Helen Hayes had said: “Childhood is a short season.” Contributed by Manav Mander, Kuldip Bhatia and Anupam Bhagria
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Youth get tips on setting up business
Ludhiana, July 13 The workshop aimed at helping young and aspiring entrepreneurs understand and plan business goals. Trainer Raman Nayyer helped the attendees create a vision for their business. Those attending the training session said they learnt many basic things about setting up business. "I learnt that time has to be divided on setting goals, training, marketing, manpower generation, and looking after the finances. Vision and goals are important," said Kanwalpreet Singh, who attended the session.
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Vanamahotsava
Ludhiana: Weeklong vanamahotsava celebrations kicked off at Sri OP Gupta SDP Model Senior Secondary School. A number of activities are planned for the students. On the first day, Anjali Pandey, a science student of Class XII, explained the importance of trees in providing the vital oxygen. The school authorities appreciated the students’ efforts and enthusiasm. Debate
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi, organised an inter-school debate at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary Convent School, Chandigarh Road, Jamalpur. Students, from various cities of Punjab, expressed their views on the topic “Modern living has led to the present environmental crisis” during the three-hour event. Muskan Bakshi of Sat Paul Mittal School was adjudged the best speaker. The local school also bagged the best team award. NCC camp
Students of Gobindgarh Public College, Alour, proved their mettle at a NCC camp held at Ropar recently. Mainderjeet Kaur secured the first position in shooting and was selected, along with Rupinderjeet Kaur, Sunanda and Prince Kumar, for the “thal sena” camp. World Population Day
An extension lecture was organised to mark World Population Day at SDP Collegiate Girls Senior Secondary School. Dr Kiran Kapila made students aware of global population issues and the importance of small family norms. Students shine in PU exam
Doraha: Students of Guru Nanak National College have shown good results in the annual examinations conducted by Panjab University, Chandigarh. In BA-I, Preeti Sharma has secured the first position with 77 per cent marks. Poonam Sharma has topped the college in BA-II with 81.9 per cent marks. In BCA-II, Jaskeet Kaur, who has topped in the college, has grabbed the seventh position in the university with 79.56 per cent marks. In BCom-I, Balraj Singh has secured the first position with 82 per cent marks. In BCom-II, Shivani Sharma has bagged the honours with 77.83 per cent marks. In BCom-III, Jasminder Singh (75.28 per cent) has come first. In BSc-I and II, Harpreet Kaur (83.57 per cent) and Harmanjot Kaur (81.85 per cent) have secured the first position respectively. — TNS
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Official to answer queries related to VAT 15 form
Ludhiana, July 13 President of the District Taxation Bar Association (sales tax) Arun Kanwal said tax professionals were facing a difficulty in filing returns as the form had been released with worksheet 7. “A provisional balance sheet is a must for VAT return because in sheet 7 it is mandatory to submit opening stock,” said Kanwal. DTBA press Secretary Mohit Aggarwal said dealers who did not have computers were finding it difficult to compile the data. Tarsem Gupta, a trader, said the new forms were complex and required detailed information. “The official will answer my queries,” he said. The last date for filing returns for the first quarter 14-15 has been extended.
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AYUSH docs allege discrimination
Ludhiana, July 13 Dr Shivam Garg, homoeopathic doctor working under AYUSH, said it was a service motive that drove him to take up the job. However, he regretted the same now as there existed discrimination at every level. “AYUSH doctors are a neglected lot. We are overworked. Sometimes, when allopathic doctors do not turn up, we are asked to continue our shift. The supply of medicines is irregular and sometimes we pay from our own pockets for medicines, so that patients do not suffer,” said Dr Garg. Sources said allopathy doctors were paid anything between Rs 25,000 and 30,000 while AYUSH doctors got Rs 15,000 per month. “We do not have a place to sit. Ayurvedic and homoeopathy doctors are only given tables. Cabins seem a distant dream,” said Dr Prashant, a homoeopathic doctor. Rural docs denounce govt
The Rural Medical Services Association at a state-level meeting decided that if their demands were not met by the state government in the next 15 days, they would gherao the office of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. More than 200 delegates from Punjab attended the meeting. Issues, including ignorant behaviour of the state government towards rural healthcare and checks conducted by the BDPOs, were discussed at the meeting. Dr Aslam Parvez, state president, said: “We don’t even have oral rehydration solution powder and other medicines.” State general secretary of the association Dr Anand Malhotra stated that they had urged the government to upgrade the infrastructure, but to no avail. Dr Poonam Sayal, state president of the female wing, the government’s decision to allow employees below the rank of rural medical officers to check rural doctors was unfair. State spokesperson Dr Rajesh Sharma said they would discuss the issue at the meeting of the All-India Government Doctors Association scheduled for July 19 and 20.
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Probe ordered into milk purchase from Rajasthan
Ludhiana, July 13 In a press release issued by the spokesperson for the Chief Minister’s office, it was stated that Alaknanda had constituted a committee comprising the Chief Vigilance Officer of Milkfed, heads of finance, purchase and marketing sections of Milkfed. The official has asked the panel to submit a report within a month. The spokesperson said office records had already been sent to the audit department. He said: “Milkfed sent its reply to the audit department on January 3, 2014. — TNS
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Artificial limbs distributed among 60 persons
Members of the Bharat Vikas Parishad distribute artificial limbs. Photo: Inderjeet Verma
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Ludhiana Scan
Residents of Harnam Nagar protested the poor condition of roads, sanitation facilities and streetlights in the area. They accused the area councilor besides the Mayor and the MC officials for ignoring their demands for the past several years. Transfers
Additional Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia, who had the additional charge of Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, has been transferred to Mansa as the ADC (General). ADC (General), Kapurthala, Rishi Pal Singh will join the local civic body as the Additional Commissioner in her place. SDM Ghanshyam Thori will replace Sumeet Jarangal as Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation. Assistant Commissioner (Grievances) Bhupinder Singh has been transferred to Amritsar as the ADC (General). Neeru Katyal, Land Acquisition Collector, Ludhiana Improvement Trust, will replace Baldev Singh as ADC (General). SDM, Khanna, Anand Sagar Sharma will join as Assistant Commissioner (General) in addition to Assistant Commissioner (Grievances), Gurdaspur.
SME meet
Dena Bank organised an SME meet at Park Plaza. FICO chairman KK Seth was the chief guest. Over 80 dignitaries attended the meet. Bank general manager MK Sharma urged the attendees to cooperate with the bank for a rewarding and long-lasting. Various innovative MSME financing schemes were discussed.
Meeting
Shiv Sena Secular organised a meeting at Circuit House on Sunday. Sandeep Kumar, who convened the meeting, said the organization will strive to end fundamentalism. MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu, ACP (West) RPS Sandhu and Suraj Singh Khalsa attended the meeting. Members of the Siklikal community, whose ancestors made weapons for the Sikh army, shared their plight. — TNS
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Kidnapped girl traced to Goa
Ludhiana, July 13 It is not yet known how the girl, a student of Class XII, reached Goa. The girl’s father, Deepak Kumar, a resident of Model Town, stated that on July 10, her daughter left for school on her scooter, but she neither reached school nor returned home. “She is back by 1.30 pm, but on Thursday she did not reach home till 2 pm. I went to her school and was shocked to learn that she had not showed up,” stated the girl’s father in his complaint to the police. He told the police that his daughter aspired to be a model. She could have been beguiled and kidnapped by some anti-social elements, suspected the girl’s father. The working of the police is being questioned. Even Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP- II) Kehar Singh was reluctant to respond to queries. “Speak to the SHO of Model Town. He is investigating the matter,” said the ADCP- II. A police official said the matter was brought to the notice of the police on Saturday evening following which a kidnapping case was registered under Section 363 (punishment for kidnapping) and 365 (kidnapping with intent to secretly and wrongfully confining a person) of the Indian Penal Code. Later when contacted again, SHO Gurdev Singh said the girl had been spotted in Goa. “It is yet to be ascertained how she reached Goa,” he said. The SHO said things would be clear, once the girl returned to the city. Purse snatched Two motorcycle-borne men snatched a purse from a woman in Udham Singh Nagar. Complainant Neena Gabba, a resident of 13-B Udham Singh
Nagar, said she, along with her sister, had gone to see a doctor. On return, two men came on a bike and snatched her purse containing mobile phone, cash and important documents. Youth booked The police have booked a youth for molesting a minor in the Daba area. The accused has been identified as Sunny, a resident of New Aman Nagar. When the victim raised the alarm, Sunny fled the scene. Later during the day, the victim’s relative reported the matter to the police. Besides, booking the accused for molestation, the police slapped Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence on Sunny. Vinod Batra, an activist of the Shiv Sena, said the relatives of Vilayati Ram (55), who was arrested in an attempt to murder case, was threatening the victim and her family members. The victim, who is a migrant, today met the party leaders and sought police protection. Man booked for rape Khanna: The police have arrested a man for raping his stepdaughter. The accused has been identified as Kuldeep Singh. Mother of the victim Daljeet Kaur said on July 9, she went to her parents’ place. On return, her daughter told her about her father’s act. Khanna SSP Harsh Bansal said they had registered a case against the accused. Fishy The girl’s father, Deepak Kumar, a resident of Model Town, stated that when his daughter did not return home, he went to her school and was shocked to learn that she had not shown up there.
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Three held with 15-gm heroin
Jagraon, July 13 They were arrested near Salempura village during routine checking the previous night. “On seeing the police team, the suspects got afraid and tried to flee. The police gave them a chase and nabbed them. Each of them was carrying five grams of heroin,” said SHO Diwan Singh. The police have registered a case against the trio under the NDPS Act. The suspects were produced before a local court that awarded them a day’s police remand. The SHO said the suspects are drug addicts. “During preliminary questioning, they have confessed to being involved in drug peddling for the past couple of months”,” he said.
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Two snatchers target woman
Jagraon, July 13 The victim, Kamaljit Kaur, said she was returning home from market when two the youths came from the rear side and snatched her purse. The purse contained Rs 5,000, a mobile phone and some important documents, she said. ASI Satpal Singh said the police have recorded the woman’s statement and registered a case against unidentified persons. The probe is on, he said. — OC
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Recovery Cup Tournament Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 13 Amarjit Singh, president, Growth Foundation Drug Counselling and Rehabilitation Centre, Chhoti Mundiyan, said, “Jeevajot Foundation, Rasulra, reached the final by defeating Santulan Foundation, Phagwara. A match between Gurshakti, Hoshiarpur, and Jeevanjot, Ropar, is under way. The winner will have a face-off with Jeevajot Foundation, Rasulra.” Hakam Singh Gyaspura, former mayor, graced the occasion. Amarjit said: “Winners will get cash prizes.”Harminder Singh (29), who is representing Ekam Foundation, Kharar, said: “Such events instil confidence in drug addicts.” The tournament was inaugurated by Sarabjeet, Sagar and Amit Puri. The trio work for the welfare of drug addicts. The closing ceremony will not witness any VIPs.
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Ludhiana, July 13
With footwear all set to become cheaper after the government’s Budget announcement, girls have started making plans to add a pretty footwear or two to their collection. “It is just another excuse for college-going girls to go on a shopping spree. The prices might see just a marginal dip, but the girls will end up spending thousands of rupees to buy another pair of footwear,” said a parent. From our side, we wish you “Happy shopping, girls!”
Ludhiana, July 13