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TOP STORIES

Cong leader detained 
Let go on minister’s intervention
Ludhiana, December 30
The detention of Mr Ashwani Sharma, secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee, has caused resentment among party workers here, who claim that this has been made at the behest of a senior party leader and legislator.

Road named after martyr in neglect
Issewal, December 30
While glowing tributes were paid to 1971 Indo-Pak war martyr and ParamVir Chakra winner Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon at the Sekhon Memorial function held at Mullanpur yesterday by several leaders of the Congress and the SAD, no one has paid attention to the completion of the Ludhiana-Issewal canal road stretch named after the martyr.

The unmetaled road named after martyr Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon near Issewal village, Ludhiana. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Rights panel to couple’s rescue 
Ludhiana, December 30
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has come to the rescue of a couple which was being allegedly harassed by the district police. The commission has directed the city police not to arrest any person regarding the case without a notice of at least one week.

ANNUAL REVIEW
Nothing changed, except regime
Ludhiana, December 30
It proved to be quite an uneventful year for Ludhiana. Except for the change of regime, with all four assembly seats of the city and the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation going to the Congress, nothing significant happened in Ludhiana this year. Although the new regime had raised great hopes and expectations, yet there was not much to relish.

Dalits up in arms 
Machhiwara, December 30
Mass agitation is reported to have started against the Machhiwara police for forcibly evicting the Dalit families of Pawat village at 8 km from here. It is alleged that the police has not only dispossessed them of land they have held for the past 50 years, but also implicated the Dalits in false cases of theft.

COMMUNITY

Social worker honoured
Machhiwara, December 30
Naamanigar Publications and Welfare Society, Machhiwara, organised a bonanza of cultural programme ‘Khush-Aamdeed, 2003’ at the local Community Centre. On the occasion, the society honoured three prominent social workers of the town. Mr Rabinder Nath Luthra, retired Principal Hardial Singh and Mr Anil Sood, President, Nagar Council, Machhiwara, for their valuable contribution in different fields.

Canadian minister visits alma mater

Ludhiana, December 30 It was a journey down memory lane as Dr Gulzar Singh Cheema, Minister for Mental Health, British Columbia, Canada, visited his alma mater, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, from where he had passed his MBBS in 1977 and also did his internship and house jobs in the department of paediatrics and psychiatry.

Dr G.S. Cheema, Minister of State for Mental Health in British Columbia, Canada, smiles after unveiling his portrait, drawn by a medical student, that was presented to him by the faculty of the DMC in Ludhiana on Monday. — IV

RPI activists hold protest
Ludhiana, December 30
Activists of the Republican Party of India today held a demonstration in front of the MC headquarters here to press their demand for providing free water supply and sewerage facility to the city population and to chalk out a programme for speedy development of slum areas in the city.

• Kelkar report flayed

• CBI probe sought into ministers’ conduct

CRIME

Minor girl elopes with married man
Ludhiana, December 30
A 28-year-old married man, running a music-recording business in Preet Nagar, has allegedly eloped with a minor girl, who was living near his shop. The parents of the girl informed the police only after failing to trace them on their own. The Shimla Puri police, which has registered a case, is interrogating man’s family members.

Missing girl untraced
Ludhiana, December 30
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of 8-year-old Divya Dhamija remains unsolved as no clue has been found about her even 15 days after her disappearance from Lajpat Rai Nagar.

Couple drugged, looted
Ludhiana, December 30
A middle-aged couple was found drugged and looted in a train at local railway station early this morning. They were returning to the city from New Delhi. Near Rohtak, two youths became friendly and gave them a drug-laced tea. The couple fell unconscious and was looted of Rs 3000 besides precious jewellery.

AGRICULTURE

Expert’s advice on weed control
Ludhiana, December 30
Dr Lall Singh Brar, Head, Department of Agronomy and weed control specialist of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has advised the Punjab farmers to administer certain directions regarding the spray of herbicides in wheat crop for the efficient and better control of Gulli Danda (Phalaris minor) and other broad leaf weeds.

EDUCATION

Teachers resent setting up of directorate
Ludhiana, December 30
The new education policy, 2002, issued by the Punjab Government which states that the Primary Education Board would give way to an elementary directorate has not been welcomed by primary teachers of Punjab.

COURTS

Gurdev Badal’s remand extended
Ludhiana, December 30
Ms Anshul Berry, Duty Magistrate, today extended the judicial remand of former Agriculture Minister Gurdev Badal till January 11. He is facing charges of amassing property worth Rs 1.7 crore disproportionate to his known sources of his income.

Further remand for Tangri
Ludhiana, December 30
Shiv Sena Rashtrawadi’s chief Jagdish Tangri’s judicial remand was further extended for 14-day by a local court. He is in judicial custody in connection with the Gujarat riots.

SPORTS

Rannia, Roomi sail through
Ludhiana, December 30
Kila Raipur went down fighting against Rannia 3-4 while Sansarpur lost to Roomi 4-5 in hockey in the annual sports festival organised by the Boparai Sports and Cultural Club at Ghudani Kalan village, about 20 km from here today. In other matches, Dhamot beat Hamidi 3-1, Mukandpur defeated Rampur 1-0, Takhanwadh prevailed upon Manki 1-0, Attiana drubbed Ghaloti 4-0 while Doraha outplayed Shahpur 4-0.