L U D H I A N A

Constable arrested for blackmailing mechanics
Ludhiana, June 25
In yet another exposure of police-criminal nexus, a Punjab police constable, who allegedly used to blackmail auto mechanics in the city, was arrested by the vigilance police this afternoon.

Admission scenario dismal at Home Science College
Ludhiana, June 25
The dismal scenario of admissions continues at the College of Home Science in Punjab Agricultural University here. Out of the total 50 seats in the graduation programme conducted by this college, only half are expected to be filled this year.

The temperature has come down considerably during the past few days with the onset of monsoon in the region. A view of the cloudy sky was captured in Ludhiana by Inderjit Verma

Employment office has little to offer
Fatehgarh Sahib, June 25
The District Employment Office at Sirhind, which is supposed to provide employment opportunities to youths of the district, has itself become idle due to the ever-shrinking job market — both in government and private sector. Its job has been reduced to mearly registering unemployed youths and distributing unemployment allowances.

Master Tara Singh Chair planned Ludhiana, June 25 The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has announced that a Master Tara Singh Chair will shortly be set up in one of the universities of Punjab so that thorough research could be conducted on the struggle and contribution made for the state and the country by the great warrior and veteran Akali leader. The government would also put up a life-sized statue of Master Tara Singh at Sherpur Chowk in the city so that the coming generations could draw inspiration from effective leadership provided by him to the Sikh community.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, former SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC Vice-President Amarjit Singh Bhatia, Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal and others at the state-level function to mark the 117th birth anniversary of Master Tara Singh in Ludhiana. — Photo Inderjit Verma

BPEO ‘swindles relief money’
Ahmedgarh, June 25
While most of the countrymen tried to contribute to the Kargil Relief Fund and the Orissa Cyclone Relief Fund, here is a person who tried to dupe contributors of Rs 37,500 in the name of these funds.

COMMUNITY

Preparations for Peoples’ Front rally in full swing
Ludhiana, June 25
The preparations for the Peoples’ Front rally, which is being held at Jalandhar on July 7, are in full swing. The rally is being organised against the rampant corruption in the state, police atrocities and to demand solution of long pending problems in the state. The front is also opposing the globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation of the state departments that are being pursued under the alleged pressure of the World Trade Organisation.

Crusade against drugs, alcohol
Ludhiana, June 25
A deeply religious man, Sukhwinder gets a lot of pleasure when he makes small replicas of gurdwaras. He has had no formal training in either art or architecture, yet he can craft beautiful replicas of gurdwaras in a very professional manner. He uses plaster of paris to make images of gurdwaras. A tailor by profession, Sukhwinder was fired by a desire to become a useful member of society. He started a crusade against drugs, smoking and alcohol. He holds meetings of the young people and educates them against of drug and alcohol addiction.


Sukhwinder Singh and his works. — Photo Rajesh Bhambi

Ghalib: public disillusioned with Akali-BJP govt
Ludhiana, June 25
At a meeting organised by the Youth Congress Traders Cell here last evening, Mr Gurchran Singh Ghalib, MP, said that the people of Punjab were totally disillusioned with the Akali-BJP combine and wanted to overthrow the present government and were waiting for the Vidhan Sabha elections.

BSP not to attend all-party meeting
Ludhiana, June 25
The Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Mr Kanshi Ram, is not much optimistic about the outcome of forthcoming visit of the Pakistan President, Gen Parvez Musharraf, to India and the talks to be held between the visiting President and the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to sort out the Kashmir issue.

Dharna by FCI staff
Ludhiana, June 25
Hundreds of workers of Lal Jhanda FCI and Palledar Union of Punjab staged a dharna in front of the office of the District Manager, FCI, here today in protest against the proposed privatisation of the corporation.

CRIME

Travel agent held in fraud case
Khanna, June 25
A case has been registered at the Payal Police Station on the complaint of Jarnail Singh, Harmeet Singh, Karnail Singh, and Deepa Singh, Machhiwara, under Section 420 of the IPC. They have alleged that on August 20, 2000, Jarnail Singh and Karnail Singh had given Rs 43,000 to Dilbara Singh, a resident of Rampur, as the latter had promised to send them to Malaysia.

Passage dispute leads to murder
Jagraon, June 25
Mr Pritam Singh of Badal Pati Kaunke Kalan village was murdered by Mewa Singh of the same village as the deceased stopped Mewa Singh for passing over his cart on the passage leading to their field, arguing that that passage was exclusively for him.

Youth run over, killed
Khamano, June 25
Sarabjit Singh (22), a resident of Khamano Kalan, died in an accident near Nanowal village, near here. According to information available, he was going on a scooter (CH-01T-2959) when he rammed into a tractor-trailer laden with sand.

AGRICULTURE

Schedule for paddy payments
Ludhiana, June 25
To ensure timely and transparent disbursement of compensation to farmers and to avoid distress sale of their paddy as was done during the last procurement season, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner, S.K. Sandhu has announced a mandi wise time-schedule for the distribution of payments and deputed Block Development Officers to distribute the compensation in different mandis.

EDUCATION

Course in interior design technologies a big draw
Ludhiana, June 25
A 10-day course in advanced trends in interior design technologies has been organised by the Department of Family Resource Management, Home Science College, Punjab Agricultural University. The course started on June 21 and will continue till June 30. Teacher participants from agriculture colleges all over India have come to attend the course. The course has been sponsored by ICAR.

PCCTU to support nationwide strike
Ludhiana, June 25
In response to a call given by the All-India Federation of College Teachers Organisations (AIFCTO), the executive committee of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) has decided to support the nation wide strike against privatisation of defence-related industries on July 25.

SPORTS

Annual Jor Mela
Ludhiana, June 25
Gama Pehalwan of Laddowal village emerged as champion in the annual Jor Mela organised at Jassian village near here today. In the first dangal, Gama outplayed Dharam Singh to win the ‘jhandi dangal’. In the second encounter, Gama beat Gian Singh to emerge victorious. In another dangal Diggy Pehalwan outclassed Maddi Loddowal. This annual mela was organised by Paramjit Singh and Tirlochan Singh Grewal.