Ludhiana, March 8
A man coolly slept next to her wife's corpse for entire night after allegedly killing her in their house at Dabba road. He even made his four-year-old son ready for school this morning. After sending him to school, he raised an alarm that his wife had died in her sleep only.

The murder victim was Balwinder Kaur, employed as a steno with the Punjab Agricultural University, here. The Shimla Puri police has booked her husband Inderpal Singh, an electrician running his shop at Dabba road, for allegedly strangling her with a pillow.

Police sources said the couple were always at loggerheads and traded charges of illicit relationships at each other. Their eight-year-old daughter had gone to her maternal parents yesterday.

The couple quarreled again last night also. He allegedly killed her immediately after they went to bed

Police said the accused kept telling his son in the morning that his mother was unwell and needed sleep. However, the condition of the body and post-mortem examination revealed the women had died of asphyxia.

The man did not admit till late afternoon that he had committed murder. Sources claimed he gave in when confronted with the post-mortem examination report.

The police had in the morning rounded up the husband and his parents. They were following the theory that the man wanted dowry. However, later police investigation and the statement by the girl's parents revealed the disturbed relationship of the couple.

Sources said the couple were suspecting each other of infidelity. Neighbhours and parents have confirmed to the police the frequent quarrels between them.

The police have registered a case of murder against Inderpal Singh. He has been formally arrest on the charges.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 8
The Sudhar police has booked six persons under sections 353, 212, 224 and 186 of IPC for allegedly stopping a Ludhiana police party from performing its official duty and running away after assaulting the cops at Masuran village near here yesterday.

Three of the accused were facing charges of attempt to murder at Marado Chowki Ludhiana. Manpreet Singh son of Kulbir Singh of Gill Village, Gurchet Singh Giba and Kuldip Singh, sons of Paritam Singh of Manakwal, Harjot Singh, Simmerjit Singh and Nirmal Singh of Mansuran village were booked for allegedly absconding after assaulting police team, led by Balkar Singh, In-charge, Marado Chowki, yesterday.

According to Jaswinder Singh, SHO, Sudhar, the police party constituting Balkar Singh, Lakhwinder Masih and Sham Lal, acting on secret information had raided the house of Harjot Singh at Mansuran village yesterday.

The party had been informed that Manpreet Singh, Gurchet Singh Giba and Kuldip Singh wanted in a case registered at Marado Chowki were hiding there.

"On identifying the three accused when we tried to arrest them after disclosing our identity, the owner of house and his accomplice attacked us and felicitated the accused flee from our custody," reported Balkar Singh to incharge at Jodhan Police Chowki.

Though the police had been raiding hide outs of the absconding suspects no arrest was made during the day today. 

Ludhiana, March 8
With dust after the elections having settled and the new regime led by the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in the saddle fate of the bureaucrats hangs in balance.

As the new government is most likely to reshuffle most of the officials, in the police as well as bureaucracy, they (the officials) are keeping their fingers crossed. And it could best be felt in the mini-secretariat here, where an atmosphere of uncertainty prevails everywhere.

An ominous culture seems to have evolved in the state over a period that the bureaucrats and police officials have no qualms in identifying themselves with a particular political party with the result that they always expect 'lucrative' postings once the party they are aligned with gets to power. There is quite a number of others as well, who take no time in betraying their chameleon character.

Ludhiana happens to be one of the most important districts in the state and much sought after by every bureaucrat or the police officer. It is learnt that with the incumbent Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police and the Commissioner, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, having been appointed by the previous regime, everybody expects them to be replaced.

There is already a race for the posting in the district. And the same holds true about other posts like that of the Additional Deputy Commissioners, Sub Divisional Magistrates, tehsildars, Superintendents and the Deputy Superintendents of Police and even the patwaris and the SHOs.

Sukhbir Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary and the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's son, is much sought after man. The officers are learnt to be seen more making rounds of the ministers, and other senior leaders, including the Junior Badal, than in their official chambers.

Lobbying has intensified after the new Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh took the charge.

Although Sukhbir Badal, who will have the final say in the appointment of officers, the protocol of taking the Chief Secretary and the concerned ministers into the confidence is unlikely to be defied.

This uncertainty has cast its shadow over the functioning of the local administration. As everything appears to be in suspended animation for the time being, most people, who are visiting the government offices, including the mini-secretariat, have to return disappointed. 

Ludhiana, March 8
Officials of the State Bank of India, Stressed Assets Resolution Centre, zonal office, took physical possession of two properties at Bihari Colony in Haibowal Kalan and in New Shimlapuri for an alleged default in payments of Rs 5.80 lakh and Rs 23.29 lakh here on Wednesday.

The properties were mortgaged in the accounts of Sanjeev Kumar and M/s Raytex Cycle Components, respectively.

According to bank officials, the possession was taken under the provisions of Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act as the parties failed to repay bank dues. Despite being furnished a notice they failed to come forward for settlement.

Officials said that Sanjeev Kumar availed housing loan facility from the bank's stock exchange branch while a cash-credit facility was availed in the name of M/s Raytex Cycle Components.

Even after a 60-day demand notice was issued, the borrowers failed to come forward following which the bank decided to take physical possession of the properties mortgaged in their account.

The premises were duly locked and sealed by the bank officials yesterday. The entire procedure was carried out with the assistance of M/s GATS Financial Reconstructors Limited. The Authorised Officer warned the other defaulters from such stringent action in case they failed to repay their debts.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 8
Newly elected legislator from Kilaraipur constituency and Youth Congress leader Jassi Khangura received a political jolt when SAD leader Gurjit Singh Majri was crowned as president of the Truck Operators Union by party leaders led by Mann Singh Garcha, a confidante of Chief Minister Punjab Parkash Singh Badal yesterday.

Sukhdev Singh Walia, a close associate of Khangura, former president of the union, was removed earlier. The development is being viewed as initiation of move to snatch all offices from supporters of the Congress MLA to weaken him and demoralise Congress activists who had openly opposed SAD candidate Jagdish Singh Garcha, who was defeated by Khangura.

Though the process of changing the leadership in the union did not last for more than half-an-hour this time, tension used to prevail on such occasions in the past. Violence at local office of the union had followed shifting of the registered office to Pohir area six years ago.

At that time both Walia and Majri belonged to SAD but later former shifted his loyalty to Congress.

Situation became tense during the Congress regime.

There was a time when there were four aspirants for the post and three of them were handed over charge of the union jointly. Ultimately, Sukhdev Singh Walia was crowned as president of the organisation.

Justifying the action, Mann Singh Garcha said, "As the interests of truck operators were not being watched by earlier incumbent and his associates majority of operators decided to entrust the office to some popular operator. We hope that better coordination between operators and traders will benefit members of both the 
communities."

Majri said steps would be taken to enhance violability and profit of the operators.

Senior SAD leaders, including Dr Jarnail Singh, Ajaib Singh sarpanch, Captain Harbans Singh Sayan, Palwinder Singh Bitta, Gurbant Singh Rachhin sarpanch and Harpal Singh Sihar were present on the occasion. 

Ludhiana March 8
The All-India Anti Terrorist Front chief, Maninderjit Singh Bitta, today said the Congress was defeated in the state because it tried to till towards the extremists.

He said the fielding of ex-terrorists in the elections by the Congress was not liked by the people and they voted it out of power. Addressing a press conference here today, Bitta said Harminder Singh Gill from Patti and Manmohan Singh from Chamkaur Sahib were not liked by the people.

He hailed the people of Punjab for rejecting the forces who were trying to go soft towards extremism. — TNS

Ludhiana, March 8
Civil Surgeon Dr Yash Paul Sharma celebrated International Women's Day in a novel way. To spread the message that female foeticide is a heinous crime, a tableau was prepared that carried that message. It also highlighted the stringent punishments which would be inflicted on parents and members of the medical fraternity indulging 
in its practice.

Dr Sharma flagged off the tableau from the civil hospital. It went through Government College for Women, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ghumar Mandi and then back to civil hospital.

Members of Istri Sabha met today and urged that strong action be taken against perpetrators of repression against women. The meeting was held in Dumra Auditorium in Dayanand College and Hospital. The meeting was addressed by the prominent personalities of the city.

Members expressed shock at the shrinking opportunities for women despite the claims to the contrary. President Gurcharan Kaur Kochar, general secretary Jit Kaur Kaushal, president of DMC Employees Union, Rajwant Kaur, Dr Bharati Uppal, Dr Chanchal Gupta, Promilla Samuel, Shanti Bawa and Kusum were present on the occasion.

Members of the Ludhiana Nursing Home and Hospital Association felt that it was sad that in spite of being in the 21st century, female foeticide was on the increase. Skewed sex ratio is causing and would cause havoc in our society in the future.

Members said that to empower women and to consider them as assets, free education should be provided to women at all levels and 25 per cent of legislative seats and jobs should be reserved for them.

Dr Narottam Dewan, general secretary, and other members felt that women are more than just wombs for our future generations, they are the best teachers for our children and the life force of  our society.

Ludhiana, February 8
A district-level function was organised in the zila parishad complex today to celebrate International Women’s Day. Mohinder Kaur Dangia, chairperson of zila parishad, Ludhiana, unfurled the flag. Priyank Bharti, ADC (D), presided over the function.

Addressing the function, Bharti called upon women to empower themselves by acquiring education and professional skills, so that they could further contribute to the improvement of the status of women in society. He said that the theme for the year is "Survival to Success: Celebrate Her Life".

Mr Sukhdev Singh, secretary, zila parishad, and a number of district-level officers, block samiti presidents and sarpanches were also present on the occasion. Similar functions were also organised in all sub-divisions and blocks in Ludhiana district.

In another function, District Legal Services Authority under the supervision of its secretary, S.S. Dhaliwal, civil judge, senior division, held a seminar in the local cell of the women's jail.

He made the inmates of the jail aware about the free legal aid schemes available to them.

He also strongly condemned female foeticide being practised so widely in the state. Chief judicial magistrate K.S. Cheema, superintendent women's jail Chetan Prakash and Arvind Markan, assistant district attorney also spoke on the occasion.

Ludhiana March 8
Parents need to maintain a "balance" while dealing with their children. It is good to take interest in the activities of children but "policing" them is totally undesirable.

City-based psychologists and sociologists have suggested that parents should not suffocate their child with their own ideas, dreams or goals rather children should be given essential ingredients through supportive environment so that they can shape their life in own better way.

Dr Aditi Satija, city based psychologist, said if parents started believing in hard work and perseverance, they could easily enhance the competence of their wards.

She said parenting was a tough job. It became even tougher when parents faced dilemma regarding what kind of attitude to adopt or what line of action to follow.

Dr Satija said parents needed to be responsive to children, both emotionally and intellectually. They should take interest in their child's life and encourage and reinforce their efforts through warm and supportive behaviour. They should let the children explore their environment.

"Provide children with the maximum opportunity to investigate their surroundings. For example, if a room can be made safe, a toddler should not be restricted to a playpen", advised Dr Satija.

She further added that parents should use descriptive and accurate language when speaking with children.

"Baby talk" should be avoided and speak 'with' children, not 'at' them. Parents need to ask questions, listen carefully to children's responses and provide further feedback, she said.

Ludhiana, March 8
The Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association has expressed concern over the statement of Anil Kaura, director, Dairy Development, Punjab, in which he had said that dairy farmers of the state will shortly be provided with liquid nitrogen cylinders and semen straws for inseminating cows and buffaloes.

According to the association, this statement made during the inauguration of the livestock and dairy show at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) here yesterday, led to too much hue and cry among the veterinarians who immediately convened a meeting under the chairmanship of its president, Dr Ashok Sharma.

Dr Sharma said that this practice would lead to the destruction of potential germ plasm of the state’s livestock. He said this would lead to an increase in the number of quacks and various gynaecological problems in dairy animals which in turn will drastically affect the economy of the state.

He said that already many short-term courses are in progress thereby leading to an increase in the number of quacks. These quacks, he said, with no proper knowledge of the genitalia of dairy animals have already destroyed the fertile germ plasm of the animals.

Dr Sukhdev Singh, senior vice-president of the association, emphasised that a panel of veterinarians should have been consulted before implementation of this sensitive decision. He said, being a non veterinarian himself, Kaura should have consulted scientists of the animal husbandry department or the GADVASU.

Ludhiana, March 8
Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Limited (API), real estate developer, in association with garment exporters, Ritesh Industries, will develop a housing project and a business park in Ludhiana.

The project, Hampton Court, located on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road, would involve an estimated cost of Rs 800 crore.

Talking to the Ludhiana Tribune, managing director of Ritesh Industries Sanjeev Arora said: "The business park will have non-polluting units, mainly IT and manufacturing. Our idea is to provide accommodation to those working in these units so that those living here are truly able to enjoy a better quality of life. They will get superior quality environment alongwith the facility to walk to work."

Businesses getting global and increasing demands of international buyers pertaining to environment and issues like child labour are what developers of this project aim to take care of.

"So far the region does not have a similar project which makes us buoyant on the response. It would come up in 42 acres and location would also be a key advantage."

In housing, there would be around 600 apartments while the business park would come up in an area of 1 million square feet. The project, for which initial work has already begun, would come up in three years, added Arora.

He said basic amenities and support infrastructure club, community hall, local shopping centre, bank, health care centre, schools, nursery / crèche, place of religious worship, designated recreational spaces like playgrounds for children, jogging tracks, office space, ample parking lots etc would be a part of the project.

Regarding the real estate boom, he said it would continue given the fact that pace of development was consistently high. "Continous development creates the need for more and better infrastructure. This would keep on giving a fillip to the real estate segment which makes us hopeful of performing well with such projects."