Ludhiana, May 26
Most of the schools in the city have achieved cent-percent results in the CBSE Class X exams, results of which were declared today.

Students could get 100 per cent results because of the tough competition among the schools. Also, the schools followed a performance-oriented approach.

Many students of these schools have scored 100/100 in individual subjects like maths and social sciences. The encouraging performance of the students in the Class X has given ample satisfaction to all the school authorities.

Ludhiana, May 26
Panic gripped residents of the city on the second day of violence in protest against the killing of Dera Sachkhand leader Baba Ram Nand even as the district administration relaxed the curfew for most part of the day today.

Except the five sensitive areas, the curfew was lifted in almost all city parts from 10 am to 2 pm. Later, the relaxed hours were extended till 6 pm.

However, it was enforced strictly in Division number 2, Division number 4, Division number 7, Basti Jodhewal and Shiv Puri. The Punjab Police and its commandoes were on guard on the main roads in these areas. Nobody was allowed to come out.

Since fresh incidents of violence were reported from Sherpur Chowk, Samrala Chowk and Basti Jodhewal this morning, the administration did not take any chances and enforced curfew throughout the day in these areas.

As the educational institutes and private establishments remained largely closed, the residents mostly kept themselves indoors. A few came out and several dared to open some shops selling essential commodities to the residents. Several residents were indulging in panic buying of essential commodities. Milk and vegetables were on the top priority of residents who even hoarded flour and other eatables.

The administration had supplied passes to milk vendors of Verka so the milk supplies were not hit. The only problem was that the police was forcing closure of shops in the morning hours.

Confusion prevailed among the residents as no announcements were made about the relaxation hours. They were seen calling up media offices to know the latest on the situation. Some of them were calling their friends asking them whether they could venture out on the roads.

There were no traffic and the roads wore a deserted look.

Situation was tense in those areas where curfew was clamped. Angry protesters were hurling shoes and stones at security personnel and mediapersons who were taking stock of the situation in tensed areas. 

Ludhiana, May 26
The police registered an attempt to murder case against 60 unidentified Sachkhand followers for creating a ruckus and damaging a government vehicle at Jodhewal Basti here last night.

The police who was under fire for being soft towards the agitators today made a backlash by cane-charging the protesters who tried to regain control of the Jodewal Basti chowk this morning.

Ludhiana, May 26
While violence is silently taking its toll in various parts of the city, its good Samaritans who have come out of their comfort zones and providing food and water to hundreds of policemen deployed on curfew duties.

On a visit to various areas affected by the curfew, one could find a handful number of residents, some of which are children below 10 years, serving food and tea without any fear.

One of such example was witnessed in Basti Jodhewal where no relaxation in the curfew was given and four kids, namely Shamsher Singh (12), Hardeep Singh (10), Gurpreet Singh (10) and Harpreet Singh (13), were serving langar with their elders to the police and commandos on duty.

When these kids were asked that didn’t they fear the situation and mob fury, their reply was no and when the same question was asked from their elders, they said, “Sewa layi umar koi mayne nahi rakhdi ate ache kam layi darna kyon (There is no age bar for service to mankind and one needs not to worry for good work).”

Talking to The Tribune, Shamsher Singh said, “My mother is among the women who are preparing food at Gurdwara Nanaksar and she has told me to go and distribute chappatis and tea.”

He added that he had been taught by his family to help people and his mother was accompanied by his sister in the gurdwara.

Railway station also witnessed community kitchen by Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran since 2 pm yesterday.

Gurdwara spokesperson Pritpal Singh said, “More than 20,000 people had been provided food since the situation became tense and curfew was imposed.” 

Jagraon, May 26
The All India Human Rights Body was reconstituted at its annual meeting here yesterday. SS Maan was elected president of the body for the second consecutive term.

Mann said with the support of other members, he would take his best initiative for awareness seminars, free medical camps and special projects to help the needy and meritorious students.

The society also appointed its other office-bearers with Capt Naresh Verma and Vinod Bansal as its patrons, Balvir Gupta as the vice-president, Manjinder Pal Singh as the secretary, Navin Gupta as the joint secretary, advocate Baldev Krishan Goyal as the legal adviser, Jai Gopal Jain as the adviser, Ashok Singla and Rakesh Saini as organising secretaries, Vijay Singla and Suresh Jain as office secretaries, Atul Krishan Gupta and Rajan Bansal as press secretaries, Gurpreet Sehmbi and Jimmy Kalia as reporting officers, and Rajnish Pal Singh and Jatinder Bansal as publicity managers.

Ludhiana, May 26
While last year buyers had to postpone their plans of purchasing a new cooler or a fan, this year their plans might materialise as prices of these commodities have come down. Following stability in the prices of raw material, the cost of finished products has also come down.

Last year, the increase in the prices of iron not only affected the industry but also the common man.

Those dealing in coolers and fans have a reason to cheer, as the sales have surged from 25 to 30 per cent this year.

With the prices of iron coming down, coolers and fans are available at a cheaper price.

Avtar Singh, general secretary, Punjab Coolers Manufacturers Association, Ludhiana, said, “Coolers are now available at an affordable price. Last year, the cost of a single cooler was Rs 4,500 and this year it has come down to 
Rs 3,000.”

One could purchase them on easy instalments, he added.

Along with coolers, the prices of fans have also come down from Rs 700 to Rs 550.

“The sale is high at the start of the season and is expected to rise further during the peak season,” said Surinder Kumar, a shopkeeper at Ghumar Mandi.

Ram Parkash, a gardener in a government department, said, “Last year I could not buy a cooler but with the fall in the prices, I would definitely buy one.” 

Ludhiana, May 26
Working in the local courts was completely paralysed in the absence of a majority of lawyers and litigants in the courts complex. Thousands of litigants were the worst sufferers as their cases were adjourned without hearing.

Panic gripped the legal fraternity and litigants stayed away from the courts in view of the announcement of curfew in the city, after followers of Dera SachKhand and several Dalit bodies went on a rampage to protest against the killing of their Guru.

However, the administration had given relaxation from 10 am to 2 pm. Later, it was extended up to 4 pm. Curfew was lifted in the city except a few areas. But the district courts wore a deserted look. Most of the chambers of the lawyers were found locked in the Lawyers Chamber Complex here.

However, the judicial officers and staff was present in the courts. But they were having no other option but to adjourn the cases.

It was learnt that District and Sessions Judge G K Rai had instructed all the judicial officers not to mark any accused absent and issue arrest warrants against him, even if he was not present in the court to attend his case.

That was the reason that all the judicial officers adjourned the cases to another dates. Several courts issued notices to a large number of accused in different criminal cases so that they may know the next date of hearing.

Chairman of Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana Balwinder Goel, District Bar Association President Parupkar Singh Ghumman, Secretary Kamaljit Sharma condemned the unfortunate incident and express sympathy towards the followers of Dera Sachkhand. They also urged them to stop damaging public and private propery as it would not serve any purpose.

The cell phones of lawyers kept on ringing. Their clients were making queries,as what will happen to their cases in their absence. Majority of the litigants found the same answer from the legal fraternity that they were also not going to attend the courts. They just instructed their clients to call next day, if there was no curfew to know the next hearing of their cases. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 26
The possibility of violence by activists of Dalit organisations and sympathisers of the Dera Sachkhand sect and Sikh organisations here kept the police on its toes today. This part of Malwa has a sizeable population of both Dalit organisations and activists of several Sikh organisations.

As the area had remained the centre of tension, the police had to deploy extra force to avoid any possible violence.

Notwithstanding the restrictions on processions and demonstrations in the state, a large number of activists of various Dalit organisations organised protest marches by carrying swords and canes in their hands. The protesters included women and children.

In order to instill confidence among common people, the administration organised flag marches at the town and surrounding localities in Sangrur, Khanna and Ludhiana (rural) police districts.

Investigation by Ludhiana Tribune revealed that various police parties had been active to control the law and order situation in their respective areas.

The situation was more difficult near localities dominated by Dalits and followers of various deras.

Gurpreet Singh Sikand, DSP, Malerkotla, and Gurlovleen Singh, SDM, Malerkotla, monitored security arrangements and held a flag march.

The police did not stop the activists from organising peaceful protests. However, they were not allowed to indulge in any kind of violence. Situation became tense at certain places where some shopkeepers had opened their establishments ignoring a bandh call by the Dalits.

However, timely intervention by the police saved the situation from turning ugly.

The police had to take extra precautions as senior office-bearers of various radical Sikh organisation, including Damdami Taksal, had been active at religious places situated at Lamma Jattpura and Bopa Rai Kalan in Raekot subdivision.

Some groups of activists of the Dalit organisations had handed over memorandum to administrative officers of their respective areas yesterday and today.

SDM Payal Neeru Katyal and Jaspal Singh, SDM, Raikot, coordinated with office-bearers of social and religious organisations of their respective areas to preserve peace and tranquillity in the region. 

Doraha, May 26
Approximately 1,200 passengers, mostly migrants, who have been stranded here since yesterday due to a commotion in the state, are in all praise for residents of Doraha, who they opine not only granted them aid at the time of dire need but also bestowed upon them the much-needed succour, especially for their kids, who would have otherwise starved for want of water and food.

General secretary Krishan Lal Gupta, All-Traders Union, who is said to be a pivotal figure behind providing relief to the passengers, said, “Panic gripped the passengers yesterday when they found that the Amritsar-Howrah-3050-Down and Duplicate Howrah-3049-Up suddenly returned after leaving the passengers in the lurch. They experienced life coming to a halt as the situation in the state suddenly took an extreme turn.”

It was at this time that the municipal council of Doraha led by president Inderjit Singh Kala along with other social organisations and personalities joined hands and made speedy arrangements for the food and stay of these marooned passengers.

The passengers were provided stay at Gurdwara Singh Sabha and dharamshala of Doraha.

“We are arranging food for the passengers from Katana Sahib, Rara Sahib apart from collecting aid from the localities in these testing times,” informed Inderjit Singh Kala. The passengers at the same time seemed to be disillusioned by the indifferent attitude of the administration.

Ludhiana, May 26
As peace is yet to return to the state, many residents and their relatives are stranded at different stations waiting for violence to be over. Though a special train was started to carry passengers from Ludhiana to Jammu today, many local residents were stranded at different stations and were not able to reach the city.

Several of them were at Amritsar, Jalandhar and even at New Delhi and were trying to come back. The reports of violence, however, did not allow them to do so.

The worst hit were the ones who were stranded at Amritsar and Jalandhar, as the latter had become the epicentre of arson in the state.

Dr Yasmine, a local resident, said she started her journey from Amritsar yesterday early morning. When she reached Jalandhar she found that roads were blocked. She was advised by a police official to check in a nearest dharamshala to be safe.

She immediately did so and since yesterday she is staying there only. “I do not know how to go back. My family is calling me time and again. Neither can they come to me nor can I go back. There is no solution in sight. I am completely frustrated,” she said.

Similar tale was narrated by Major Sher Singh Aulakh, whose daughter-in-law Preeti Aulakh, was stranded in New Delhi since yesterday.

“She flew from Assam on Sunday and was to come here by the Shatabdi Express. The trains were cancelled yesterday and she could not come. Now she is staying at a relatives place there. We do not know what to do?” said Major Aulakh.

Being an office-bearer of an ex-servicemen organisation, Major Aulakh criticised the arsonists. 

Amloh, May 26
Followers of Guru Ravi Dass and the Balmik Sabha went on a protest march in the main bazar of the town in the wake of the killing of Sant Rama Nand in Vienna. The road remained blocked for at least two hours.

All major markets of the town remained closed today.

The protesters raised slogans and demanded strict action against those responsible for the killing.