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One killed, 7 hurt in factory blast 
Mandi Gobindgarh, December 6
A labourer was killed on the spot while seven were seriously wounded in a blast at Sona Casting Furnace here in the wee hours today.

Scarcity of exam forms leaves students panicky
Ludhiana, December 6
A serpentine queue of students could be seen since morning to buy examination forms at the Panjab University extension library here. The students had to return disappointed as the forms were not available. The last day of submitting the forms is December 8.

Serpentine queues of students wanting to buy examination forms at the Panjab University Extension Library, Ludhiana, on Saturday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Board gets strict on copying
Ludhiana, December 6
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will adopt strict means to check cases of copying in annual examination to be conducted at the end of this session.

Teachers’ stir hits studies
Ludhiana, December 6
A total bandh call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh Teachers Union (PCCTU) has affected teaching in private aided colleges here. Teachers of private colleges had gone to Patiala yesterday to press the government to fulfil their long-pending demands. Office-bearers of the union courted arrests in Patiala.

Defunct park panels await payment
Ludhiana, December 6
Members of the now defunct park management committees (PMCs) might be forced to resort to an agitation if their payments held up since September 2001 were not released as per the written agreements signed by the civic administration with them.

COMMUNITY

Gujral optimistic of peace between India, Pak

Ludhiana, December 6 Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral today expressed optimism about peace between India and Pakistan and hoped that better sense prevailed among the powers that be on both sides so that they take note of the aspirations of people who want to live in peace. Mr N.S. Nanda, president of the Dhan-Pothohar Brotherhood, presents a bouquet to former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral at the Ludhiana railway station on Sunday. — Photo by IV

Muslims observe ‘kala divas’

Ludhiana, December 6 Members of the All-India Majlis Ahrar today observed the 11th anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition as ‘kala divas’ here today. They took out a rally outside the local Jama Masjid to mark the day. They demanded that the mosque should be reconstructed on the spot as the Muslims had the right, as provided by the Constitution, to have their religious place in the country. Muslims hold a rally outside Jama Masjid in Ludhiana on Saturday. — Photo by IV

Militancy over, sentry boxes continue
Ludhiana, December 6
The black days of militancy when senior and middle-rung police officers had to live amid tight security have become a thing of the past. However, a number of police officers here continue to have sentry boxes and other make shift structures for security personnel in front of their houses. The government colony in the Rakh Bagh locality is a case in point.

Temporary structures meant to provide shelter to security staff outside the houses of police officials have blocked a part of public road in Officers Colony, Ludhiana.

An approach road to the Sutlej Club and DC’s residence from the Rakh Bagh side in the Civil Lines area continues to be barred for more than 15 years now. — Photos by IV

Grain storage research on anvil
Ludhiana, December 6
The Central Institute of Post-Harvesting Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) organised a meeting to undertake research programme for the improvement of the cover and plinth (CAP) grain storage here today. A discussion was held between scientists of the institute and officials of the FCI.

CM visits city today

CRIME

Three booked in assault case
Ludhiana, December 6
On a complaint of Mr Sahib Singh, a resident of Sanjay Gandhi Colony on the Tajpur Road, the police registered a case under Sections 452, 323 and 323 of the IPC, against Soba, Amarjit Kaur and Ravinderpal Singh, residents of the same colony. The complainant had alleged that the accused had forced their way into his house, beaten him up and injured him. No arrest has been made so far.

Eunuch killed
Ludhiana, December 6
The Jodhewal police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC on the statement of Guddu Mahant, a resident of Bank Colony in Shiv Puri, against an unknown person who allegedly killed an eunuch Sitara Mahant by strangulation in her house in Gulabi Bagh on Thursday and fled.

BUSINESS

Govt to ease ills of steel industry
Mandi Gobindgarh, December 6
The taxation problems of the steel industry of Khanna and here concerned with the Punjab Government will soon be solved where as the issue of the supply of raw material will be taken up with the Centre said Mr S.C. Aggarwal, Principal Secretary, Department of Industry and Commerce, Punjab.

Steel price hike hits small units
Ludhiana, December 6
The industry is up in arms against the recent hike in steel prices by the main producers as it has paralysed light engineering industries, including auto parts manufacturing units, particularly in the small-scale sector.

PNB lends Rs 450 cr in Punjab zone
Ludhiana, December 6
Punjab National Bank, Punjab Zone, has disbursed retail loans worth Rs 450 crore between April to November 2003, which translates into a growth of 123 per cent during the period as compared to the corresponding period last year. This was stated by Mr U.S. Bhargava, General Manager, Punjab National Bank, Punjab Zone, here yesterday.

Bank holds seminar on team building
Ludhiana, December 6
Enjoying work rather than taking it as a burden was the thrust of the seminar on team building organised by the Punjab National Bank for its employees here on Thursday.

School expenses irk parents
Ludhiana, December 6
High expenditure incurred by the parents due to participation of their wards in routine functions of schools has become a bone of contention between the parents and school authorities here.

NAAC for promotion of quality education
Ludhiana, December 6
“The entire objective of the National Assessment Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore, is to encourage colleges to go for quality education. The educational standards have to improve tremendously with the threat of WTO and GATT looming large. 

Cultural bonanza by Sargodha students

Ludhiana, December 6 Students, staff and management of Sargodha National Public Senior Secondary School, Field Ganj, organised its annual prize distribution day here today. Students of Sargodha National Public School, Field Ganj, Ludhiana, show their mementoes and certificates at the annual prize distribution on Saturday. — Photo by IV

90 students given prizes
Ludhiana, December 6
Nearly 90 students of Sant Kirpal Singh Educational Institute, Salem Tabri, received prizes during the annual function of the institute here today. Top three position holders of each class were honoured for their academic achievements. Palwinder Kaur was selected as best overall student of the year while Orush Jafri was declared the most well-mannered student. Kulwinder Singh won prize for full attendance.

CULTURE

Gurdas Mann to sing for Yash Chopra’s film
Ludhiana, December 6
“It has been my constant endeavour to be more creative. Hence, I am making a film ‘Political Afflym’ (in English) which will be titled ‘Des Hoiya Pardes’ in Punjabi. Like ‘Shaheed-e-Mohabbat’, this film too will be based on a true story of a person during the time of 1984 riots,” said Gurdas Mann at a press conference held at Maharaja Regency, here today.

HEALTH

HIV/AIDS — prevention is better than cure
THE number of AIDS patients is increasing everyday. It affects all age groups. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is an infectious disease caused by human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). It was first described in the United States of America in 1981.

Accreditation of clinical labs favoured
Ludhiana, December 6
The Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), held a symposium on the accreditation of clinical laboratories here today. Dr Bharti Uppal, organising secretary of the symposium, said over 100 delegates from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir attended the symposium, which was inaugurated by the Minister for Education and Languages, Mr Harnam Dass Johar.

Physiotherapy for elderly tomorrow
Ludhiana, December 6
In its effort to provide best health care to senior citizens (60 years and above), the Physiotherapy Department of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, under the guidance of Dr Satwinder Kalra, will organise a free physiotherapy camp at the hospital from December 8-13.

SPORTS

Kanika, Navneet excel in athletics

Ludhiana, December 6 Kanika, student of VI class, representing the Gold House and Navneet Kaur of IX class, competing from the Blue House were at the centre stage clinching two titles each on the second day the annual athletics meet of the Sacred Heart Convent Secnior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar here today. Participants at the 800m race in the annual athletic meet of Sacred Heart School, Ludhiana, on Saturday. — Photo by IV

Women’s hockey meet from January 5
Ludhiana, December 6
Twelve top women hockey outfits of the country will be vying for top honours during the VIIIth edition of the All India Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal Women Hockey Tournament scheduled to be held here at the astroturf ground of Punjab Agricultural University from January 5 to 9.

Annual sports begin at Gill village
Ludhiana, December 6
Fireman owned by Sarabjit of Narangwal won the dog race on the first day of the annual sports being organised by the Golden Youth Club in collaboration with the gram panchayat and residents of the area at Gill village, near here, yesterday.