Ludhiana, October 28
Despite spending lakhs of rupees on constructing a market in Rishi Nagar, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) is yet to auction the property three years after its construction.

As many as 25 shops were constructed by LIT under its 256-acre scheme falling in ward number 55. The reserve price of shops was fixed for Rs 5 lakh each. But even after so many years, the shops lie locked and their condition is deteriorating with every passing day.

Intriguingly, in a city where every inch of land goes for a hefty sum, these shops are not being disposed of. There is not a single market in the area where the property is cheap.

Former area councillor Balkar Singh said he had taken up the matter with LIT authorities in the past but nothing was done. ‘‘Before the city centre scam came to light, I kept on telling the authorities that the trust can make money by auctioning these shops,’’ he said.

The councillor said as the property prices had skyrocketed in the city, these shops could fetch crores for the trust. ‘‘Look at the way PUDA has auctioned its properties in the past. They earned crores by giving away the booths only. And these are big shops and can really go for a huge sum,’’ he added.

The shops are deserted and some migrant families have taken shelter under the corridors. Residents of the nearby area said at times these became gambling dens as many gamblers gathered under the corridors to while away time.

‘‘A number of times, drug addicts keep lying in these areas smoking all kinds of narcotics. Nobody can check them. We are scared that some day these shops can be used for committing some crime also,’’ said a resident of Rishi Nagar.

When contacted, an LIT official said the improvement trust could only develop buildings and commercial usage was a prerogative of buyers. "Our role is restricted to developing the buildings. So far as using these buildings is concerned, it is entirely upon the buyers. If they find a place lucrative enough, they use it. 

Ludhiana, October 28
It was a bomb blast targeted at the very seat of the law in the district. On August 13, 2000, a powerful explosion in the building housing the District Sessions Judge court caused a huge hole in the floor, wide cracks in the walls and virtually rocked the city.

Thankfully, there was no casualty. The blast took pace during lunch hour with no one near the room. It was a serious security lapse as the courts were situated right next to the highly secured officers colony and the residence of the city SSP.

The building is not there any more as the courts have shifted to the new court complex. Along with it, the case, too, seems to have gone into oblivion.

While hundreds of blasts had taken place in terrorism and post-terrorism Punjab, this was probably a rare one where the judiciary was the target. Yet, the rarity and attached sensitivity of the case was not enough for tracing the accused.

Three cops of lower rank deputed for security in the courts were suspended. Various theories about perpetrators of the blast followed. All reached dead ends. The then SSP, Kuldip Singh, and IG Zonal J P Birdi had said in news reports that the blast was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

They suspected LeT terrorists. The needle of suspicion pointed towards a murder accused also whose case was under trial in the sessions court. But not much came out of it.

Later in 2004, the cops said a proclaimed offender, Nirdosh Dhand, was the suspect in the blast. However, that theory too fizzled out. Nirdosh is still on run in the Lalla murder case. The present SSP, R K Jaiswal, who is neck deep in investigating the Shingaar cinema blast case, said the first priority of the police was to solve the latest blast. "I am sure the police must have explored all possibilities in finding the accused behind the court blast. No cop likes to leave a case incomplete. But sometimes, it just doesn't work."

The bomb was planted in the publicity board of Free Legal Aid. As it exploded, a cooler installed nearby was broken into pieces. The glass window was reduced to smithereens.

Ludhiana, October 28
With the festival of lights less than two weeks away, migrants from UP and Bihar have started leaving for their homes. Local industry that relies heavily on migrant labourers for their work has already started facing labour shortage. Shingaar blast, said a section of industrialists, was also a major reason for a large number of workers to leave.

The problem of labour shortage will increase in the coming days as more workers will continue to leave till the festival of Diwali. Even households will have to do without help in the coming few days.

The local railway station is witness to workers leaving for their homes in large numbers.

"In hosiery industry, workers normally stay till the first week of December. However, this time we do not have even unskilled workers. The blast incident scared them and we fear the problem of shortage will grow severe in the coming days," said Vinod K Thapar of Thapar Hosiery Mills.

“I, along with my friends, am going to my hometown for 15 days. We all work in a private firm where we do not get holidays, so it is this time of the year that we take 15-20 days of leave. Our friends in hosiery industry will leave in December," said Radhey Sham, who works for a soap-manufacturing unit.

Industrialists said they remained prepared for many workers to extend their holidays as it was quite a frequent thing to happen.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 28
Kin of Gaddar movement freedom fighter Kartar Singh Dukki announced to donate Rs 8 lakh for construction of community hall at the Shaheed Kartar Singh Dukki Memorial Government Senior Secondary School, Latala, near here.

The family members on occasion of inauguration of statue of the patriot made the announcement, yesterday.

Kuldip Kaur, daughter of Dukki, and Jagpal Singh, her brother, said the family besides contributing Rs 8 lakh towards construction cost would throw in resources to perpetuate memory of their father who along with his associates had dared to challenge the British government during Gaddar movement.

“We are happy that our dream to see our father’s statue erected in the school premises has been fulfilled. As successive governments had failed to fulfill the demand raised by the residents, we decided to erect the statue on our part,” said Kuldip Kaur Jasbir Singh Khagura, MLA, Kila Raipur, assured his family would also contribute their share 
in the construction of the hall.

He thanked Kuldip Kaur and Jagpal Singh for donating generously for the development of the area.

Krishna Sharda, principal, said the family had earlier donated Rs 15 lakh to the school during the SAD regime and the amount was utilised for constructing a new wing.

The state government had then christened the school in freedom fighter’s name.

Students presented an cultural programmes on the occasion.

Jagdish Singh, Dukki’s grandson, Jagdev Singh Jassowal, former MLA, Lachhman Singh Mangat, Gurcharan Singh Bains, Gurmit Singh Dhaliwal (all NRIs) and Jagjit Singh Layalpuri acknowledged the goodwill gesture shown by the family. 

Ludhiana, October 28
Eight years after the Punjab Urban Development Authority constructed a colony in phase III of Urban Estate, Dugri, for lower income group and middle-income group families, there are no takers for these apartments even as the condition is deteriorating with each passing day.

Not only the PUDA’s investment went down the drain in constructing these flats but also the residents of neighbourhood colonies are claiming that unoccupied houses were becoming dens for some antisocial elements.

Things have come to such a pass that these structures look like dilapidated buildings with grass and weeds growing all around. These remain deserted throughout the day with only gamblers and drug-addicts frequenting there.

The residents of the nearby colonies like Karnail Singh Nagar and Passey Nagar complained that as there was no street lights in the area, the place plunged into darkness after the twilight and there was every possibility that any anti-social elements could operate from there.

The residents said many incidents had taken place in the past where some brawls between various gangs took place in the locality. They also said there was no watchman in the area and it was not safe.

The colony that is almost complete has well designed parks and roads that have weaned away due to vagaries of the nature. Residents living nearby said that nobody was taking these flats as these were highly priced and in LIG flats there was only a single room on the ground floor that had not much utility.

As many as 1000 flats divided into two blocks, MIG flats and LIG flats, were developed under a PUDA scheme in 1999. Although, some MIG flats have been allotted to some people, there are no takers for LIG flats.

PUDA officials said there were 666 LIG flats that were priced at Rs 1.5 lakh and 256 MIG flats priced at Rs 5.30 lakh at that time. PUDA tried to sell these but there were no buyers.

Then efforts were made to tie up with a government authority or some corporation to provide the houses to their employees. But this was not made possible due to certain areas.

Ludhiana, October 28
The more modern and educated we become, much more do we tend to turn traditional. Hundreds of young people, both men and women are going to keep the Karva Chauth fast today. And if you find a girl wearing swanky jeans and top, do not be mistaken that she is too modern to be traditional. She is certainly keeping the Karva Chauth.

During a random survey by The Tribune among women doing shopping for the Karva Chauth, it was found that quite a number of women were young, highly qualified in holding positions in private and public sector organisations. Quite a number of them were even unmarried. The women said it gave them a feeling of security about the well being of their life partners. Like Henna, a doctor said, “it gives me great sense of well-being about my husband”, she remarked adding that there cannot be great urge than that.

Kangan Khanna, a young unmarried girl working in ICICI said she would be getting married next year. “But I am keeping the fast for my fiancee. Not only Hindus, women from other religions, too keep this fast. It gives a feeling of satisfaction. We are modern but are attached to our roots. We keep the fast for the well-being and long-life of our better-halves”, she said.

Another unmarried student, Sabina said she was not married but keeping the fast. She said her mother told her she could keep it, wishing a happy and prosperous life. Its not only women but men, too are keeping the fast for their wives or girlfriends. Devinder, a bank official said he has been keeping the fast for the past three years, the day when he met Priyanka, his girl friend. “She belongs to Hindu family and her parents are against the marriage. But I keep the fast believing that we will get the blessings of our parents. We will get married without any opposition”, he said.

There are others like him who are keeping fast tomorrow with their wives. Most of the couples belong to generation- X. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 28
A function was organised under the aegis of the Baba Sangat Singh Sewa foundation and Naujawan Bhalai Club Dehlon near here where five couples tied the nuptial knots.

Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Senior Superintendent of Police Ludhiana (Rural), was the chief guest. Newly-weds were presented jewellery, clothes, furniture and cooking gas cylinders.

Bhullar called upon the couples and their parents to create a congenial atmosphere at their respective homes so that the future generations might enjoy a healthy life.

Satwinder Singh Khalsa, chairman of the society, Jasbir Singh sarpanch, Ravinder Singh, Gurjit Singh sarpanch Lehra, Vijay Kumar, Prem Singh SHO Dehlon and Satya Pal were among others who blessed the couples.