L U D H I A N A

Residents served with inflated water bills
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — Paying water supply and sewerage bills is not enough but the residents are supposed to keep the receipts in record for years together and produce the same as and when the MC chooses to demand these. That is what has been happening in the city for quite some time now with widespread resentment prevailing among the city residents.

Action panel for CBI inquiry into Pinki’s activities
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — The Avtar Singh Gola murder case action committee will hold a dharna on February 22 in front of the DC office to protest against the administration’s “indifference” and the “tacit support” of some police officials to shield Gurmeet Singh Pinki, who is accused in the murder of Avtar Singh, a 20-year-old youth, on January 7 in Maya Nagar in the city.

• Cracks in the action committee?

Excise Dept lets erring officials go scot-free
Liquor vends licensee case
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — Is the Excise Department itself to blame for facing a loss of more than Rs 2 crore of revenue which was not paid by about five liquor vend licence holders?

PHRC upset at insanitation
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — The Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC) has taken a serious note of the failure of the local civic body to provide basic civic amenities in Preet Nagar Colony of New Shimpla Puri here.

Silver rath to lead Shivaratri shobha yatra LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — For the first time, a hand carved silver chariot will lead the shobha yatra on Shivaratri, likes of which were used during the Mahabharat and ancient times. The committee members were excited as they were able to complete the 14 feet long, 14 feet high and 71½ feet wide silver chariot on time.  Kanwarias — ardent Shiv bhakts

The magnificent silver chariot that will lead the shoba yatra on Shivaratri.  — Photos by Rajesh Bhambi

Move to install cameras at traffic light chowks
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — The local traffic police is experimenting on a novel idea to educate people about traffic rules. Under the scheme, cameras will be installed at various traffic light chowks in the city to detect violations of traffic rules.

Parents and relatives of Manju who is missing since February 14. — RB photo

Minor girl missing for five days LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — The Ludhiana Police remain clueless with regard to the alleged abduction of a minor girl from Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar (BRS), suspected to have been lured by some unscrupulous person on Valentine’s Day. The polio-stricken girl, Manju, was last seen by her sister, Ninawati, while being taken away by an unidentified person on a bicycle.

COMMUNITY

Defence docs do good job at Bhuj
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 —A surgical team of the Air Force station, Halwara, has returned here after performing hundreds of operations in quake-hit Bhuj. The team was led by Wg Cdr A.K. Baral, (Anaesthesiologist). It was around 2.30 p.m. on January 26 that the station received a message from the headquarters that a special surgical team had to proceed to Bhuj to render urgent medical help to earthquake victims. Immediately, the team led by Wg.Cdr. A.K. Baral and comprising Sqdn. Ldr. Anil Kumar (surgeon), Sgt D. Singh, Cpl Mishra, Cpl Sharma — all medical assistants, was constituted and dispatched, along with operation theatre equipment, drugs, medicines and bandages.

7-day working week at SBOP
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — The State Bank of Patiala started the seven-day working week in its Kitchulu Nagar branch and extended working for 10 hours and round-the-clock facility to customers through the ATM at Jalandhar.

Rally by furniture manufacturers
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — The Ludhiana Furniture Manufacturers’ Association held a rally today to protest against the registry of a false case against Mr Sukhwinder Singh, association member.

Resentment prevails in Khatri Sabha
KHANNA, Feb 19 — Resentment prevails among the Khatri community of the city due to a tussle between two groups in an executive body of the Local Khatri Sabha, which led to police interference here today.

Kainth addresses rally
AMLOH, Feb 19 — “Social and economic conditions of Dalits has no chances of improving as long as Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, labourers and small farmers do not come on one platform under the banner of “Bahujan Samaj Morcha”(BASMO)” said Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, national president of the party, while addressing a gathering at the old grain market, Amloh on Sunday.

CRIME

Will forged
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — A case of forgery and cheating was registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC against Gurinder Singh, Kuldeep Kumar, Ramesh Kumar, son of Mohan Lal, Mrs Raj Rawai, Mrs Asha, daughter of Mohan Lal, and Ram Piari, wife of Mohan Lal, resident of Kundan Nagar, Model Town, Balwant Singh Rathi, a resident of Ashok Puri, Civil Lines, and Balwant Singh, a resident of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar.

EDUCATION

400 GNPS students receive prizes
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — Nearly 400 students of Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, were given prizes for their performance in academics, sports and extra curricular activities at an annual day held here last evening.

Sikhya karmis not being paid
MACHHIWARA, Feb 19 — Though the Sikhya Karmi Scheme of the state government to fill vacant posts in areas of rural Punjab along the border has shown good results, but these sikhya karmis are yet to be paid.

CULTURE

Mohan Rakesh Puruskar for Anand
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — The Languages Department, Punjab, has chosen Mr Manohar Lal Anand, a retired Principal, for Mohan Rakesh Puruskar 2000 on his Hindi play, Kangaal. He will receive the award in a function scheduled to be held next week at Patiala.

SPORT

Treat for soccer fans
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — Soccer fans of the city may look forward to some exciting fare as the fourth edition of the National Football League gets under way at Guru Nanak Stadium tomorrow. The opening match, between Tolly Ganj and JCT, will start at 2.30 p.m.

Soccer title for Hambowak
MACHHIWARA, Feb 19 — The three-day sport festival organised by the local Shree Charan Kanwal Sports Club concluded here on Sunday. In football matches, Hambowak beat Manewal, 4-0, to win a cash prize of Rs 4,100.

Athletics meet
LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — Veeraklave and Balram Yadav stole the limelight in the annual athletics meet of the Sanatan Dharam Parcharak Senior Secondary School which started here today in junior and senior section respectively. Veeraklave clinched gold medals in 100m and 400m while Balram Yadav bagged gold medals in 1500m and 800m.

Rural sport meet concludes
SAHNEWAL, Feb 19 — The 29th Annual Rural Sports of Sahnewal organised by Panchayati Raj Sports Club (regd) at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium concluded here on Sunday.