Ludhiana, October 30
Cash worth Rs 5 lakh was stolen from a shop in Caliber Plaza Mall in the congested Badaur House market that lies in the centre of the city here last evening.

Mohinder Singh, owner of Classic Apparels, learnt about the theft this morning as Monday was a market holiday.

"It was this morning that I saw the lock of my shop broken. Monday is a market holiday and I came to the shop for some time after which I closed it at 6.30 pm. I was shocked to see the broken lock in the morning”, he said.

He said Rs 5 lakh were missing from his safe.

Khamano (Fatehgarh Sahib/Khanna), October 30
Even as the police is going all out to crack the Khamano bank robbery, but it is yet to make a headway in the case. The police are on an overdrive, conducting several raids and questioning many people a day, but the vital clues are still eluding the police officials.

Superintendent of police (headquarters) P. S. Virk told The Tribune that at least seven police parties had been pressed into service. He said the police had collected a database of suspected persons, who have either undergone imprisonment or have been booked by the police. The SP said policemen dismissed from their service were also under the police scanner.

Meanwhile, senior police officials issued directives to all district police chief to ensure that in case a white Zen car was spotted abandoned in a parking lot or at any other place under the jurisdiction, the matter should immediately be brought to the notice of the senior authorities. They have circulated the posters of the sketches of two out of the three suspects across the state. The police also made an appeal to the public to provide information about the suspects.

It was on October 24 that three men armed with revolvers robbed the State Bank of India's main branch of Rs 46.15 lakh after taking six hostages, who were let off by the accused.

Ludhiana, October 30
In the wake of the ongoing festive season, noise blast on loudspeakers is testing all limits of the human ear in the Manchester of India. Blaring horns and uninterrupted, boisterous honking on the city roads, particularly in the congested corners of the old city, continue unabated to test human endurance while the administration is napping.

The office of the Deputy Commissioner is not even approached for sanction for numerous processions which are more than a kilometre in length. Each accompanying vehicle carries a separate loudspeaker. Commuters often find themselves stuck for hours at a spot because the traffic comes to a halt, and have no choice but to bear the assault of noise. The offices and living quarters along the route of processions and those adjacent to the festivity pandals continue to face trying times which some say is "a part of daily life".

Senior officials in the pollution control board say "we only fix the sound limit. The administration is the implementing agency". The District Transport Office in the city remains unfazed by the innumerable sounds of horns, a majority of them not conforming to the sound quality standards.

The law clearly provides that no permission can be granted by any authority for use of public address system in the open after 10 pm and before 6 am, except to a maximum of 15 days in a year. Prohibition against the use of multi-toned horns is not enforced. Police and ambulance sirens and very loud horns continue to be used, even in Euro-I certified vehicles.

The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, clearly provide that "a person may, if the noise level exceeds the ambient noise standards by 10 dB (A) or more, make a complaint to the authority." The district officials do not confirm receiving any complaint or action taken in this regard.

Neha Kapoor, a housewife, said, "I find it strange whenever the authorities say that they have not received any complaint. Can't the officers hear the cranky noise all around? Sound, we all know is important to life, but, when the sound becomes noise, it is drowning."

Rajat Sinha, a bank executive, said, "The figures on sound limits mean nothing to a common man. We are interested in a lesser noisy living and noise-free working quarters. The noise does not seem to move the official ear-drums".

A senior officer said "it is a very common sight during the ongoing season to have miles of the market area covered by processions. Each vehicle has a separate music system installed with blaring sounds. Some people are stuck in the melee for hours. The noise also affects minds."

Tejinder Kumar, executive engineer in the pollution control board, said the office was still compiling the report for the current season. There is no visible action on the reports submitted during the previous year.

Ludhiana, October 30
Though admissions to all leading schools are in December and January but playway schools have started with their preparations.

Mock interviews and interactions are being conducted these days to boost the confidence of children who, otherwise, feel uncomfortable in new environment.

Teachers of various kindergartens said this exercise was necessary for healthy interactions. The supporting parents, too, extend all cooperation to school managements to make their efforts fruitful.

Schools have prepared typed schedules that are sent to parents in advance. They are intimated about time and day of mock interview.

Different timings are provided to kids to avoid rush and parents are asked to accompany their kids for all interviews.

“We do not want the children to be scary and nervous. The entire exercise is being done to boost their confidence,” said Anubha, a teacher at a kindergarten here.

Appreciating the efforts made by schools, one of the parents Nidhi Jain said earlier there used to be grilling of tiny tots. They were asked to recognise alphabets, colours, and animals like typical bookworms. But now everything had been changed. The management of good kindergartens prepared the children in a friendly way. The children are encouraged to be natural and not scared of anything.

“I, being a mother, enjoy these interviews. Children give spontaneous replies. There is no pressure on the kids these days. The best part is that the interviews are not held on the school premises only. Parents are asked to accompany their wards to different places so that they are not nervous. The entire month of November is interaction-period. We are able to see the improvement of our kids as they give grades in front of us”, said another parent Riddhima.

Even the school managements are asking parents to be prepared for interactive sessions and not for interviews.

Ludhiana, October 30
Work at post offices came to a halt today as clerical staff, postmen and D group employees observed a full-day strike in protest against the non-fulfilment of their long-pending demands.

The strike was observed on a call given by the Federation of National Postal Organisations.

The protesting employees demanded interim relief of Rs 1,000, implemetnation of pay commission from January, 2006, filling of vacant posts and ban on privatisation.

The employees were addressed among others by leaders Gurdev Singh and Ramesh Kumar Kakkar.

Ludhiana, October 30
Punjab Agricultural University has signed an MoU with Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE), Chennai, to collaborate on academic and research cooperation.

The MoU was signed by Prof. V.K.Sehgal, dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, and G. Hari, chief operating officer, in presence of PAU V-C Dr Manjit Singh Kang.

This cooperation is part of promoting industry-institute interface between faculty scholars and professionals on specific academic research requirements in various spheres relevant to farm power.

According to Prof Sehgal, guest lectures and visits will be organised on mutually beneficial topics.

TAFE plans to establish collaborative training facilities for training the students and technicians for improving training competence.

Company engineers and executives will share the research know-how on the research professionals in the department of farm power and machinery.

The collaborative programme envisages in training of students at TAFE. It is also proposed to undertake joint programmes for graduate and postgraduate students or by the faculty under the sponsorship of TAFE on mutually beneficial programmes.

This forum will also organise group meetings, seminars and conferences on different professional themes on tractors. The MoU will be valid for three years at the first instance and can be extended with mutual consent.