Ludhiana, April 30
Property worth crores was gutted in a major fire that broke out in a multi-storey building at Basti Jodhewal at around 6.30 am today.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire started from the fourth floor of the building where generators were kept. Three firemen were injured while dousing the flames.

The fire department officials revealed that owner of the building Hardeep Singh had kept eight generators and 10 drums of diesel on the fourth floor.

“We are careful in dousing the flames as the diesel drums could have exploded leading to more loss. Besides, there were no fire-fighting equipments installed in the building,” said a fire-fighter.

The fire-fighters revealed that more than 100 tanks of water was used to douse the flames. They said the exact cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

Owner of the building Hardeep Singh said he had constructed the building around a year back. “It was a multipurpose store and everything was reduced to ashes. I have lost material worth crores,” he added. He, however, kept mum on the issue of procuring a NOC from the fire department.

The accused in the police custody in Ludhiana on Thursday. Photos: Inderjit Verma

Ludhiana, April 30
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA)-1 of the police has nabbed seven persons and claimed to have busted an inter-state gang of car thieves, who used to sell stolen cars by preparing fake documents and registration certificate (RC) of the vehicle.

The police has recovered 17 stolen luxury cars and SUVs worth over crore of rupees from the accused.

Except cars, the police has seized fake documents and computerised RCs from them.

According to SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill, the police received a tip-off that the accused were preparing fake documents of the stolen vehicles near Abdulapur Basti and further planning to sell it in the market.

The police, headed by Gurpreet Singh, raided the spot and nabbed seven accused, while two accused managed to flee the spot.

The accused are identified as Rashpal Singh, Beant Singh, Amit Kumar, Surinder Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Dara Chand and Gurdutt Singh.

Kingpin of the gang Shewinder Singh and his son Amritpal Singh managed to flee the spot.

As many as nine cars were recovered on the spot, however, eight more vehicles were recovered after the interrogation.

The SSP said the accused were operating their business under the garb of Shagun Motors and were dealing in old (resale) cars at Abdulahpur Basti.

The SSP further said the accused were also purchasing cars from other group of thieves operating in the region.

The accused used to erase the number from the chassis and used to prepare fake RC of the vehicle.

The accused has been booked for theft and various fraud.

Ludhiana, April 30
The key for fire safety in congested and populated city of Ludhiana lies with residents only. “Precautions by you can help you as well as others to be safe,” said former chief fire officer, Punjab, A.K. Tiwari.

He added: “It’s just awareness campaigns and self-realisation which can bring down the fire incidents in the city.”

The irony is that big industrialists are ready to spend on fire equipments, but not the small factory owners. “Every big industrial unit ensures that they have fire hydrants and not even a single small unit has ever given a thought of taking precautionary measures,” said Tiwari, adding that except Chandigarh, no other city in Punjab has hydraulic platform. He said just for saving a small amount of money, these factory owners violate rules.

Every fire department in Punjab has just a staircase that could go up to 30 feet which is a major drawback for the fire-fighting officials. Apart from it, the way the high-tension wires go in Ludhiana, one cannot even think of using hydraulic staircase as it is based on an electronic system.

Tiwari said, “While I was posted in Ludhiana, the only measure taken during that time was a hotline system, where water hydrants on streets were installed and were connected directly to the water tubewells from where water is pumped to the houses.” However, he expressed dissatisfaction over the system and said it was done around 7-8 years back, after which no one ever bothered to give a boost to the fire safety system in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana, April 30
Rentals and property prices for commercial space have drastically reduced in the region-between 35 and 45 per cent-in the first quarter of 2009. And, if experts are to be believed, the slump in the real estate is expected to continue and the capital and rental values of commercial property will reduce over the next six to 12 months.

Gagan Kumar, a local property consultant, says, “Rentals of commercial complexes in the city have drastically fallen over the past six months.”

He further said, “Liquidity for the real estate sector is not going to improve for the next two to three quarters and commercial properties will be suffer the most.”

There are already no takers for commercial property in the city. Moreover, shutting down of numerous shopping malls, complexes, retail chain outlets and stores have led to oversupply in the field of the commercial real estate. This has resulted in further fall in the rentals of the commercial premises in the past six months.

Commercial establishments, which were earlier available for Rs 120 per sq ft, are today being offered at a rent of Rs 90 per sq ft. And all these establishments are prime property, in areas like Ferozepur Road, Pakhowal Road, Sarabha Nagar. Still, there are no takers for the same, said Harsh Basandrai, another property adviser.

Commercial complexes in the city interiors are also waiting for takers even as the rentals have dropped from Rs 50 per sq feet to Rs 25-Rs 30 per sq in some areas, said Gagan Kumar.

Reason is simple to cite. Numerous retail outlets and banking establishments running operations in the city have closed the shop and wrapped up their business due to the negative scenario prevailing in the market.

Even the enterprises, which were planning to open their stores in the area, have shelved their plans. And with sagging business activity, property rentals as well as rates will continue to fall. As rents keep going southwards, in the coming quarter, we will see tougher negotiations between tenants and developers to bring down rents further, added Basandrai.

“Already, a few retail chain outlet authorities and occupants of big stores in the well-known shopping malls of the city are negotiating with the owners to lower the rents,” he added.

Ludhiana, April 30
Even as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s itinerary included the city and its neighbouring villages today, he failed to pay a visit to the grief-stricken families of the sewer men who died in Mansa yesterday.

The CM attended the ‘bhog’ ceremony of the sister of SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and a cremation also. He addressed a rally at Mansooran and a series of workers’ meetings in the evening.

He, however, did not visit the families of the sewer men who lost their lives while helping people of Mansa.

The duo died of asphyxia yesterday when they were cleaning manholes in Mansa that falls under the Bathinda parliamentary constituency. Badal's daughter-in-law and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal's wife Harsimrat Badal is contesting from there.

Though they were employees of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, they were sent to clean sewers in Bathinda constituency.

As the issue snowballed into a major controversy today, Congress leaders alleged that it was shameful that the CM did not feel the need to attend their cremation also. “Announcement of compensation and job is not enough. Had he visited the families, they would have felt consoled,” said Sushil Raju Thapar, a Congress councillor. 

Ludhiana, April 30
A CME on neurosurgery and endocrinology update was organised by the Indian Medical Association, Ludhiana, last evening at Indian Medical Association house.

DMCH principle Dr Daljit Singh was the chief guest and PMC-Punjab president Dr Manmohan Singh was the guest of honour.

Dr Karam Chand, head of neurosurgery at Safdarganj hospital, New Delhi, gave a presentation on latest techniques of surgical management of brain tumour by keeping the patient awake during surgery. This operation gives much better results as various movements of the body and neurological assessments are done during operation.

Dr SN Mathuriya, head of neurosurgey at the PGI-Chandigarh, gave tips on better management of Sub Arachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH), which is commonly seen in patients with high blood pressure and aneurysms. By early detection and surgical management in such patients can be saved without much residual brain damage, the surgeon said.

Dr Anil Bhansali, head of endocrinology at PGI-Chandigarh, said the diabetes was assuming shape of epidemic in the country and more and more people at younger ages are being detected with the disease.

The uncontrolled diabetes can cause damage to kidneys, eyes, heart, nerves and blood vessels at an early age and prove fatal in many cases.

Ludhiana, April 30
With STD being given free of cost to all subscribers of BSNL on landlines, PCO owners are bearing the brunt.

Their customers have now been restricted to the ISD users only. Nearly 50 per cent of the PCOs’ owners have shutdown their operations. Others have started supplementary business side by side. While the common man is happy after the STD calls become local, the PCO owners are in a dock.

Dev, an owner of a PCO at Ghumar Mandi, said he had now opened a confectionary shop to aid his business. There was a time when he was making good money from the PCO but today only a few customers comprising migrant class came to his PCO. "Ultimately one day I have to shut my PCO as it is an ailing business today," he added.

Another PCO owner, Suresh, said he got the PCO under some government scheme for the physically challenged but now was facing huge loses. "I am thinking of starting a stationery shop along with the PCO because running it alone is not a healthy option these days," he added.

Ludhiana, April 30
Cautioning residents against the H1N1 “swine flu”, the district health department has called upon the people to avoid direct contact with foreigners/NRIs coming from affected nations.

Health officials have asked the people to refrain from physical contact with people coming from the US and advised the specific tests for the guests from the country, if any.

The health authorities also warned against the use of pork.

Civil surgeon, Ludhiana, Dr SP Sharma, stated that this was a viral infection which travelled from sick swine to humans and cattle. The symptoms were similar to that of bird flu, which included running nose, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, persistent cough, sore throat and nausea followed by diarrhoea.

Dr MP Gupta, head, epidemiology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) on the other hand, said there was no presence of virus in India. The disease could only come through passengers or infected food items from the affected countries to India.

When asked about the canned food items containing “swine meat”, Dr Gupta said, "This is an important aspect that must be taken care of by the countries exporting these food items and also the government. However, eating pig meat in India is safe so far as it is not there in the swine bred in India," added the expert.

Further elaborating upon the cause of the disease, Dr Gupta said, "It is the mutation of the specific virus that has taken the form of grave disease wherein the virus enters the respiratory tract thereby causing fatal infection." 

Ludhiana, April 30
Forced by political compulsions, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has extended the peak load hour exemption to large supply consumers in the state by one month.

The exemption to run big industrial units during peak load hour restrictions on payment of stipulated charges, which was to expire on April 30, will now be available till May 31.

The large and medium-scale industrial units were making a persistent demand to the PSEB to continue with the exemption and allow the units to run during peak load hour restriction on payment. But the top brass of the board was against it in view of the expected hike in demand of electricity during peak summer season.

A power regulation circular issued by the PSEB on January 27 had stated that the permission granted to run large supply units during peak load hours would expire on April 30. Thereafter, the units would have to observe restrictions as laid down by the board.

Highly placed sources in the board confirmed that daily demand for power in the state during the last couple of days had gone up from around 4200 MW to 4500 MW due to a sudden rise in the temperature.

However, no senior official was willing to talk on this issue. This meant that the decision was taken on political considerations as the ruling combine did not want to earn the ire of members of thjr industrial community with the Lok Sabha elections being less than a fortnight away.

According to a public notice issued by the PSEB for extension of the period, it had been stated that the large supply consumers would continue to avail the relief up to May 31.

The consumers do not need to approach the offices of the PSEB for issue of any fresh extension letter.

It had been further laid down that the extension being granted now would not apply to those consumers whose permission had expired prior to April 30. From June 1, all such consumers would strictly observe peak load hour restrictions and avail only the load permitted to them without extra payment.

Amloh, April 30
In wake of protest against the poor power supply, farmers staged a dharna and blocked the traffic for about an hour on the Amloh-Gobindgarh road here today.

SDM Poonamdeep Kaur sent naib-tehsildar Kamaljit Kaur to take stock of the situation and the blockade was removed on the assurance to take up the matter with the PSEB authorities. Their demand was 12-hour power supply to the farm sector.

Akali Dal (A) district chief Gurdial Singh Ghulumajra, BSP state secretary Kuldeep Singh, Kisan Sabha district chief Sukhdev Singh Tibbi and Kisan Morcha district chief Darshan Singh Bhambri addressed the dharna. — OC

Ludhiana, April 30
The Saragarhi Memorials and Ethos Promotion Forum has sought the intervention of the Punjab government in thwarting the alleged grab of the Saragarhi Memorial at Ferozepur by a dera. The dera functionaries are making efforts to grab this historic place with the connivance of the ruling party politicians, the forum has alleged.

In a memorandum to Punjab Governor Gen SF Rodrigues, Capt Amarjit Singh Jaijee, general secretary of the forum, has alleged that the memorial was constructed to commemorate the gallant action of 21 brave Sikh soldiers of now 4 Sikh Regiment, who laid down their lives defending the Saragarhi post in 1897 (NWFP-Pakistan).

In May 2005, the forum had brought to the notice of the Punjab government that a religious body had managed to take illegal control of the Saragarhi Gurdwara at Ferozepur. The government acted quickly and got the premises vacated and formed Saragarhi Memorial Management Trust under the chairmanship of the GOC of the local Army formation with the Deputy commissioner as its vice-chairman and 12 other members to maintain and look after the memorial.

Capt Jaijee has written to the Governor that with the change in the Punjab government, the dera got active and had managed to get the trust scrapped. The trust had been scrapped despite assurance by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to the Forum and Colonel of the Sikh Regiment. The Deputy Commissioner has now been made the chairman of the trust.

He has further stated that the state government wants to have over the memorial to the religious dera and on February 25, 2009, the dera, which is based in Ludhiana district with the blessings of the local politicians and help of the administration took control of the memorial for five days. "In times to come, they will be allowed entry on more occasions and eventually it might be given control of the entire memorial complex again.

They have no love lost for gallant soldiers and their only wish is to control the prime properties. All offerings at the gurdwara on February 25 were taken away by them for their own use. "The gurdwara has eight acres of land and is situated in the heart of Ferozepur cantonment. The battle of Saragarhi has been listed by the UNSECO of the ten famous battles in world history, where all the 21 Sikh soldiers fought to the last man and last round.

All of them were honoured with the Indian Order of Merit that was equivalent to the Victoria Cross of the British Army. So may awards had never been given for any action, said Captain Jaijee.

Captain Jaijee alleged that encroachment on the Saragarhi Memorial grounds is many ways similar to the Taj Scandal and requires strong and urgent action to demolish the illegal construction and restore the sanctity of the historic memorial.

The British constructed three Saragarhi memorials at Ferozepur, Amritsar and at Obelisk at fort Lockhart in the NWFP close to the Saragarhi post in Pakistan. The Pakistan government has not demolished it and has preserved the same.

The days have gone when the definition of democracy was a government of the people, by the people and for the people. During the current times, democracy is a government of the political parties, by the political parties, and for the political parties. 

Earlier, there was a single-party government, but now, as single party is not in a position to get majority, so certain parties contest the election with their alliance and certain others jointly make coalition government according to the results of the elections.

Practically speaking, only those associated with big political parties, except rare examples, can fight in the election and become the Members of Parliament whether they deserve or not. Most of the candidates, who elect remain busy at Delhi, who lose also indulge in their own business or party activities. No one cares about the public woes and the development work.

They only surface during the election days and after raising hue and cry of certain issues or political stunt they again succeed in their evil design and elope. So be careful while casting your vote. 

Do not give a chance to the candidate of any party, who did nothing during his recent tenure. The people should not caste votes in favour of opportunist, tainted, corrupt and the leaders, who are facing trail of certain criminal cases. Send the persons in the Parliament, who have neat and clean image, and who are young, energetic, educated and innovative so as to establish a healthy government, which may fulfil the expectations of the public at large.

Ludhiana, April 30
Reiterating the charge of "outsider" and a "parachute" candidate against Congress nominee Manish Tewari, SAD-BJP candidate from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat Gurcharan Singh Galib today said the distribution of leaflets in newspapers, wherein Tewari sought to draw his local links, only strengthened the common belief of his being an outsider.

Addressing an election meeting at Maligang chowk in Ward No 35 in the Ludhiana Central constituency last evening, Galib said it was perhaps for the first time in the history of Lok Sabha elections that instead of spelling his agenda for the constituency, any candidate was circulating pamphlets to " introduce" him to the voters.

"Now whatever he may claim, the fact is that he is outsider and has been parachuted from Delhi. Had he been anyone from among the localities there would have been no need to distribute such pamphlets to introduce him to Ludhiana voters," Galib said.

He said it was a common practice among contesting candidates that they distribute leaflets to seek vote and support on the basis of their agenda. But Tewari's pamphlets and speeches had found no mention of issues related to public as he was desperately trying to wash off his hands from the “outsider tag by misleading” the public by raking his local relationships, which were irrelevant to voters, he said.

Galib said the public wanted to meet their local representative and not the individuals with whom the elected representative shared "maternal or parental" relationships. "How will he be available to Ludhiana people when he has to be present in New Delhi at the AICC headquarters and courts in Delhi where he practice as a lawyer. Can he justify his job as an MP by visiting the constituency only on weekends," said the SAD-BJP candidate.

Sitting MP Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, who defeated Tewari in 2004 elections, said there was an evidence on record in form of the newspaper and TV reports that he had remained in New Delhi for over 235 days in one year and had been busy for the tasks of the Congress. 

“Now do he intend to resign as AICC spokesperson to spare time for Ludhiana or continue to befool and mislead the public by merely claiming his AICC links and regular presence in the city," said Dhillon.

"What to talk about Tewari's origin and relationship with Ludhianvis, he did not even held a public meeting once he lost the Parliamentary elections in 2004," Dhillon further said.

The SAD-BJP leaders said Tewari had sensed well in advance that the city people would never allow an "outsider" to represent the constituency. They said history would repeat itself as localities would send Tewari back his home in New Delhi where after second consecutive defeat even his party would "disown" him being a "political burden" on national leadership.

Jagraon, April 30
Around 4,000 Akali-BJP workers gathered at new grain market, Jagraon, to attend a rally addressed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today.

To show solidarity with the Akali-BJP alliance, candidate Gurcharan Singh Galib and Bhag Singh Malla had organised the rally.

MP Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, ex-MLA, Raikot, Ranjit Singh Talwandi, ex-MP Amrik Singh Aliwal, advocate Mohinder Singh, Sidhwan Bet, federation president Gurcharan Singh Grewal, BJP Jagraon president Balbir Chand Kapila and dozens of local leaders attended the rally.

Galib expressed thanks for the overwhelming support of the workers. Badal said hard work done by the party workers would surely result in their victory on all 13 seats in Punjab and assured development of the constituency after coming in power again. He also criticised anti-people policies of the Congress. 

Ludhiana, April 30
Former member of Lok Sabha Amrik Singh Aliwal today claimed that SAD candidate from Ludhiana Gurcharan Singh Galib would win the election with a huge margin and could also create history in the Punjab’s political scenario.

Addressing an election meeting to canvass support for Galib in Model Town extension locality here, he said the SAD believed in actions and not in debates.

Aliwal claimed that the SAD-BJP government had changed the face of the city during the last two years. Better maintenance of roads, parks and creation of new infrastructure were a testimony to the work done by the government.

Harish Rai Dhanda, chief parliamentary secretary, charged the Congress for disturbing the federal structure of the nation.

Making an appeal to the electorate to vote for the SAD-BJP candidate, he said the SAD would continue its efforts to liberate the development processes in the states from the clutches of fiscal and political centralisation.

Meanwhile, the Ludhiana (Urban) unit of Youth Akali Dal organised an election meeting in Islam Ganj here today to step up the electioneering for Galib.

Party general secretary Baljit Singh Chhatwal blamed the successive Congress governments for working to benefit the rich and wealthy while the poor remained neglected as ever.

The Youth Akali leader said the Congress had ruled the country in the name of the poor and professed its commitment to safeguard the minorities. But in fact, nothing worthwhile had been done by the party for the welfare of these sections.

After the meeting, the party workers took out a scooter-motor cycle rally and carried out a door-to-door campaign to mobilise support for Galib. 

Ludhiana, April 30
Security has been beefed up in Punjab following an alert sounded by intelligence agencies about possible attempts by militants to disrupt elections in the state. There is also a possibility of attacks on the VIPs during campaigning.

According to intelligence agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau, there can be attempts by the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), the Khalistan Zindabad Force and Lakhbir Singh Rode-led ISYF to disrupt the polls.

Though the top bosses of the BKI and the Khalistan Zindabad Force Wadhwa Singh and Ranjit Singh Neeta, respectively, are based in Pakistan, they have their activists in Punjab as well.

Sources say that the Punjab government had asked for 200 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre, but it has received only 86.

Out of 20 companies of the Madhya Pradesh Armed Police, five each have been deployed in Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar, three each in Khanna and Nawanshahr and four in Ludhiana.

Similarly, out of 15 CRPF companies, three have been deployed in Mansa, two in Malout, four in Ferozepur, five in Patiala and one in Mohali. While five companies of the Border Security Force have been deployed at Bathinda.

Out of 15 companies from the Maharashtra Armed Police, two have been posted in Bathinda, five in Faridkot and two in Ferozepur.

Out of 15 companies of the Gujarat Armed Police, four each have been deployed in Kapurthala, Batala and Majitha, two in Amritsar and one in Tarn Taran.

Ten companies of the Gujarat Home Guards have also been deployed in the state, five each in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur.

The security of the VIPs, including Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal, has also been tightened.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 30
Despite appeals by the Jathedar of Akal Takht to all parties not to distribute liquor or drugs and the commitment of the Election Commission to conduct fair polls, only some candidates have paid heed to the plea, as most of them are trying to turn tables by luring voters in every possible way.

Funds to entice the voters are flowing from the NRIs and big industrial houses, who avow allegiance to both Congress and SAD.

Distributing liquor and drugs, sewing machines, money, hand pumps and water connections have been reported as means of allurement.

Taking cognisance of these reports, VK Ohri, district election officer, Sangrur, has initiated steps to check the malpractice in areas falling under the Sangrur and Fatehgarh constituencies.

Besides directing the authorities to keep a watch on the candidates approaching the voters, Ohri has ordered them to seek a permission before distributing gifts to the voters.

Investigations by The Tribune revealed that supporters of the candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the region had completed preparations for allegedly beguiling the electorate.

With an intention to please their political Godfathers, a large number of NRIs and industrialists have reportedly contributed towards the funds, which in turn have been used by the candidates to dole booze and narcotics.

Even the administration has noticed the trend.

“It has been brought to my notice that certain NRIs and industrialists indulge in luring voters by giving financial help to political parties,” reads an opening paragraph of orders promulgated by the DC, Sangrur.

Investigations further revealed that the menace of luring voters with cash and goods, including drugs and narcotics, had been going unchecked.

A number of cases were registered under Section 171(H) of The Peoples’ Representative Act, and Sections 420 and 120 (B) of the IPC against those, who were caught distributing cash, drugs and narcotics, but none was carried to conclusive end. 

Ludhiana, April 30
A day after the city police received a whip from Election Commission observers for not taking action against political parties for defacing the public and government property by pasting posters of their candidates, the police today registered three cases against SAD-BJP workers for defacing the public property.

The first two cases were registered by the Haibowal police on the complaints of sub-inspector Bittan Kumar and ASI Rajinder Parsad.

According to the cops, some party workers pasted the SAD- BJP Lok Sabha candidate G S Galib's posters on a park wall and on a wall of a government school last evening.

The cops said the workers came on a car and after pasting the posters they fled the spot.

The third case was registered on the complaint of Kuldeep Singh Khaira, a resident of Chet Singh Nagar near Gill village.

Ludhiana, April 30
SAN Jain Model Senior Secondary School formed its students’ council for the smooth working of all activities throughout the year. Students from different classes participated with great enthusiasm. On-the-spot written test was held and response of the students was quite appreciable.

The selection of stories kept in view the suitable length, crispness and modulation factor. The motive behind organising this event was not only to entertainment but also to get acquainted to the ways of expression in a more natural and comfortable manner. While judging the participants all technical points i.e. memory, content, presentation, props, confidence as well as pronunciation were kept in consideration. 

The praiseworthy and impressive narrators were (class-I)- Pranay, Romita, Arya, Harshit, Aditya, Khushi, Tamanpreet, Secret; (class II)- Janmeet, Ekjot; (class III)- Mankaran, Mehak, Vaanshika, Sukhmeet, Ketan; (class IV)- Mansi, Gurnaaz; (class V)- Harveen; (class VI)- Priyanka, Uchrant, Twinkle; (class VII)- Prabhleen and Jayati. Principal Punam Dogra appreciated the efforts of good narrators and suggested them to select short and crisp stories.

Ludhiana, April 30
The district administration today ordered a magisterial inquiry into a dispute between a landlord and a tenant in Janta Enclave, Dugri, that took an ugly turn late last night.

SDM (E) M.S. Chhatwal was asked to look into the matter by Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg. He has been asked to submit his detailed report in the case.

The tenant and the landlord levelled allegations and counter allegations against each other.

The wife of landlord Kiranjit Kaur even dragged Chief Parliamentary Secretary Harish Rai Dhanda into the issue and alleged that he tried to misbehave with her.

In a complaint to the Sadar police, she alleged that her tenant Rajinder Singh Mehta had started fighting with them last evening. When they went to he police to complaint against them, Dhanda was already standing there. He used abusive language against her and her family, she alleged.

The family and its supporters even staged a dharna outside the Sadar police station today morning. They raised slogans against Dhanda and the police.

On the other hand, the tenant, in his complaint to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said his landlord Yashpal Singh accompanied by the cops, including Mandeep Singh, SHO Sadar, Hardev Singh ASI, chowki Incharge, Basant Avenue, tried to evict them from their rented house last night.

He said they broke opened the lock of the house and misbehaved with the children and his wife.

Ludhiana, April 30
Facing an uphill task against Chandigarh's first innings mammoth total of 482 runs, host Ludhiana wilted under pressure as they could muster only 294 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 95 overs on the second day of the third match of the two-day Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Tournament (U-16) for the ML Markan Trophy being played at MGM Public School, Dugri, here today.

On the basis of first innings lead of 188 runs, Chandigarh emerged victors and secured two points. Despite the loss, Ludhiana managed to secure berth in the semifinal. In the semifinal slated to be played at Patiala on May 2 and 3, Ludhiana will take on Patiala.

Resuming their overnight score of 16 for one, Ludhiana batsmen waged a spirited battle but failed to stand their ground for a long and eventually could score only 294 runs.

The main contributors were Chirag Maria (83), Sandeep Singh (49), Sunny Pandey (30), Gaurav Sharma (30), Gurpreet Singh (30), Abhinav Bhatia (27) and Mankaran Singh (19). 

Ludhiana, April 30
Gurleen Kaur of Alpine International Senior Secondary School, along with Yashi from BVM School, Udham Singh Nagar branch, overpowered their respective opponents to book berths in the final in the cadet girls' section on the opening day of the three-day Ludhiana Schools’ Open Table Tennis Tournament, which got off to a colourful start on the Alpine International School campus here today.

In the first semifinal, Gurleen Kaur faced a little challenge from her rival, Babneet, whom she pipped in three sets 11-1, 11-2 and 11-9, while in the second semifinal, Yashi overcame stiff resistance from Nikita 11-1, 11-9 and 11-8 to settle for the title-clash match.

Earlier, Rajeshwari Dhir, principal of the host school, inaugurated the meet, in which a large number of paddlers drawn from various schools in the district are taking part.

First day's results: Cadet boys’ singles

Ist round: Chetan b Birjot; Jatin b Saksham; Abhishek lost to Kabir; Minaal b Raghu; Karan b Vivek; Chintan b Supreet; Naman b Sourabh and Bharat b Sahil.

IInd round: Jashandeep b Chetan; Jatin b Agamjot; Jasjot Singh b Kabir; Sachit Sethi b Minaal; Vinayak b Vivek; Ayush b Chintan; Mandeep b Naman; Harnoor b Bharat.

Cadet boys:

Quarterfinal: Jashandeep b Jatin; Ayush b Vinayak; Harnoor b Mandeep Singh.

Sub-junior girls: quarterfinal: Dhriti b Simran; Gurleen b Bhawna; Yashi b Rishika; Himani b Divanshi.

Sub-junior boys:

IInd round: Shaun b Kartik; Harnoor b Arshdeep; Shubham Wadhwa b Sameet; Jashandeep b Karan Aggarwal; Saransh b Akshay; Vinayak b Arnav and Sharandeep b Sachit.