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Politicians obstruct MC work again
Ludhiana, March 2
Political interference once again prevented the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (LMC) from taking action against a building bylaw violator when three councillors of the Congress allegedly did not allow a demolition squad of the civic body to raze an alleged illegal structure in Ghumar Mandi here this afternoon. The MC officials have announced recommending action against the councillors.

Congress councillors argue with MC Joint Commissioner Jaswant Singh near an illegal structure in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo by I.V.

Ponty likely to dominate liquor trade again
Ludhiana, March 2
If the manner in which the state government is dragging its feet on the formulation of excise policy for the next year and tight wraps being maintained on the discussions taking place in the highest political circles in this regard are any indication, no major changes are expected in the new policy.

Substantial hike in MSP likely
Four get CM prize at PAU kisan mela

Ludhiana, March 2 Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices T. Haque today hinted that the farmers might get a good minimum support price for wheat from the next year. He assured the farmers of Punjab that the endeavour of the commission would be to reduce income disparities and adopt an integrated system approach to improve their economies and profits in agriculture.

Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices T. Haque addresses farmers at Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Focus on water at PAU kisan mela
Ludhiana, March 2
The annual kisan mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) began today with focus on conserving water. The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the water table is falling in 90 per cent of the state. The worst off are central districts where the area with water table below 30 feet increased from 3 per cent in 1973 to 95 per cent in 2005.

Farmers take a joyride on a trolley to go around stalls at the PAU kisan mela in Ludhiana on Thursday; (Left) A farmer loads seeds purchased from the kisan mela on a rickshaw. — Tribune photos by Sayeed Ahmed

Gang of nickel robbers busted

Ludhiana, March 2 A gang of nickel robbers who had given sleepless nights to city industrialists for the past two years has finally fallen in the police net. The city police today announced that 11 members of the about 25 member-strong gang that had stolen nickel worth crores of rupees in about more than 24 incidents in the city, apart from 12 other strikes in Delhi, Sangrur and Sonepat, had been arrested.

The nickel robbers arrested by the police. — A Tribune photograph

Gatekeeper held in Devgan murder case
Ludhiana, March 2
Just a few days after a special investigation team of the city police was formed to crack the murder of Prem Nath Devgan, owner of a MEFA needles manufacturing unit, a police team of the city has arrested a gatekeeper of the unit from Bihar.

COMMUNITY

Fire at textile mill, loss pegged at Rs 50 lakh
Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 2
Goods worth more than Rs 50 lakh were destroyed in a fire that broke out at Sainik Textiles Mills Private Ltd at Kup on the Malerkotla-Ludhiana road last night. At least seven persons were injured following the collapse of a wall during rescue operations.

Now postman gives insurance policy too
Ludhiana, March 2
Now your friendly mailman will not only bring letters from your near and dear ones but also offer insurance cover against accidental death and disability. Under an agreement between the Department of Posts and the Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OIC), the post men would sell accidental insurance policies to the post office account holders against a nominal premium.

Youth called upon to check female foeticide
Ludhiana, March 2
The Directorate of Social Empowerment and Economic Development, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, organised a panel discussion on female foeticide at Master Tara Singh College here today.

Paramedics, health staff stage dharna

Ludhiana, March 2 In response to a call given by the coordination committee of para-medical and health employees, Punjab, hundreds of health department employees today staged a dharna at the Civil Surgeon's office here in support of their demands. Paramedical and health employees stage a dharna at the office of the Civil Surgeon in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo by I.V.

Subsidies distributed
Ludhiana, March 2
Industrialists from the textile sector were distributed subsidies to the tune of Rs 1,594 crore at an awareness programme on Technological Upgradation Fund (TUF) held here last evening.

Korean Rotary team in city
Ludhiana, March 2
Rtn Jatinder Chawla, president, Rotary Club of Ludhiana North, stated that the general survey exchange team from Rotary International, distt 3740, Korea, visited the Rotary Club, Ludhiana North, here yesterday.

Handicraft exhibition attracts people

Tax surveys bother industry
Ludhiana, March 2
Income tax surveys have become a major cause of distress to industry, the Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a press note here today. Representatives of the chamber apprised the Income Tax Commissioner, mr M.N.A. Chaudhary, of this problem. "He said the department does not insist on surrendering any amount during the survey. It only collects data so as to use it at the time of assessment," Mr P. D. Sharma, president of the chamber, said.

Bank disburses loans worth Rs 67 crore
Jagraon, March 2
The Oriental Bank of Commerce disbursed loans worth Rs 67.09 crore to 1,630 farmers of the area and also 70 entrepreneurs from the SSI and SME sectors recently. Mr M.D. Mallya, executive director, who along with Mr G.K. Sachdeva, General Manager of the bank, attended a credit camp organised on the Jagraon-Ludhiana road 3 km from here, said this today. Farmers from adjoining villages were present on the occasion.

Tuition days are here again
Doraha, March 2
With the annual examinations for undergraduate and postgraduate classes merely a month away, queues of cars, scooters, bikes and cycles can be seen outside various tuition centres, the owners of which are doing brisk business in this “peak season”.

PCTE cultural fest today
Ludhiana, March 2
The one-day international interinstitutional literary-cum-cultural festival will begin at Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) here tomorrow with five teams from Pakistan and 35 national teams participating in the festival. Dr S.K.Salwan, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, will be the chief guest on the occasion. Mr Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, MLA, Kumkalan, has been invited as a guest of honour.

City school gets Disney Channel prize

Ludhiana, March 2 Shri Harkishan Sahib Senior Secondary Public School has won a prize of Rs 1.85 lakh for sending the maximum number of entries for Disney Channel's "Start Your Story Contest" presented by Microsoft XP. The school was presented the cheque today. The school will buy an HP Pavilion Media Centre PC with the money. Students of Harkishan school display the cheque presented to the school by Disney Channel in Ludhiana on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

COURTS

Couple gets life term in murder case
Ludhiana, March 2
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Gurbir Singh, has sentenced Sanju and his wife Rajo, residents of EWS Colony, to rigorous life imprisonment for killing Ballu Ram of Rajasthan in March 2002. Another accused, Kallu, was also awarded life imprisonment.

Shooting of ‘Samunduru Paar’ from mid-March 
Ludhiana, March 2
The writer , director and actor Dev Diwana of “Dheean Dhan Begana” said he along with the producer, Mohan Sidhu, will start the shooting of the film, “Samunduru Paar” under the banner of Sandhu & Sidhu in mid-March.

Vellore doc delivers lecture at DMCH
Ludhiana, March 2
A guest lecture on “Difficult paediatric airway — challenges” was delivered by Prof Rebecca Jacob, Professor-cum-Head of Anaesthesiology at Christian Medical College, Vellore, at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here today. The lecture was chaired by Dr Tej K. Kaul, Professor and Head, Anaesthesia Department, and Dr Daljit Singh, Principal, DMCH.

SPORTS

Ludhiana pip Hoshiarpur in basketball

Ludhiana, March 2 Ludhiana began their campaign in style by scoring a comprehensive victory over Hoshiarpur in the 56th Punjab State Senior Basketball Championship for men and women at Guru Nanak Stadium here today. A match between Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur in progress during the Punjab State Senior Basketball Championship in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Action against DJ
Ludhiana, March 2
Cracking the whip on errant DJ and music system operators, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma today gave sanction to the prosecution of Nimesh Kumar, a DJ, for performing beyond 10 pm.