L U D H I A N A

Phone bill collection scheme fails to take off
Ludhiana, April 9
The Postal Department’s proposed scheme of getting telephone bills collected through postmen has come under a shadow with the department having second thoughts over the scheme.

Long wait to deposit bills   People standing in long queues for depositing their telephone bills.  — Photo by Rajesh Bhambi

Cong, YC activists burn NDA Govt’s effigies
Ludhiana, April 9
As a part of the intensive mass contact programme of the Congress and the Youth Congress in preparation for the state level rally here on April 11, activists of Congress, YC, Seva Dal, Mahila Congress and other front organisations today held a massive protest march and rally, demanding the dismissal of NDA government, led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee in the wake of Tehelka scandal.

BJP flays Mayor’s ‘extravagance’
Ludhiana, April 9
With the term of the city councillors about to end and the civic elections also due early next year, the ruling SAD-BJP coalition is fast developing deep fissures. The situation has come to such a pass that barring a few exceptions, the alliance partners are openly speaking against each other and do not let go of any opportunity to criticise the working of their ally, in order to score some points.

A story of missing money orders
Ludhiana, April 9
The six lakh employees of the Postal Department should not feel surprised when even the migrant labourers demand privatisation of the department. The labourers complain of harassment and missing of money orders on the way. The hard-earned money is reportedly grabbed by the department employees by making forged signatures.

Housewife robbed at gunpoint
Khanna, April 9
In a daylight robbery, two unidentified young men robbed a housewife at gunpoint near Adarsh Theatre on Lalheri Road at noon here today.

COMMUNITY

Farooq lauds CMC’s missionary zeal Ludhiana, April 9 The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, was all praise for the selfless service and missionary zeal of the doctors and the paramedical staff at the Christian Medical College and Hospital here. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah shakes hands with CMC staff in Ludhiana on Monday, while Acting Director Dr T.M. Jaison looks on. — Photo on Rajesh Bhambi

Well rounded women roll papads
Ludhiana, April 9
The day was March15th. A pioneer batch of seven women along with a few social workers in a small function started Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad. Papads that add zing and spice to food brought financial help to the women. That fateful day four packets of papads were rolled.

City kids turn Net crazy
Ludhiana, April 9
When Anurag, a six-year-old, refused to eat his meals properly, his mother tried out different ways to coax him into finishing his food. One of them being the lure of using his father’s computer for playing games. Soon she realised that her son was hooked onto the computers. 

Spiritual orientation stressed
Ludhiana, April 9
Various studies have shown that persons with a spiritual orientation have a strong will and the can face hardships of life more effectively.

46 marriages solemnised
Sahnewal, April 9
The Dr Bheem Rao Ambedkar Youth Welfare Club (Regd) solemnised 46 marriages of couples belonging to poor families at Jifco Resorts, Sahnewal, on Saturday. The brides were given gold jewellery, furniture, utensils, sewing machines and fans.

Body found under mysterious circumstances
Sarmala, April 9
The body of Lakhbir Singh, a senior clerk at the tehsildar’s office in Samrala, was found here today. He was also the president of the Tehsil Employees Union.

1-lakh grant for school
Khamano, April 9
The family of Dr Anil Kumar Sharma, an NRI who had spent about Rs 2.5 lakh to build two rooms and a verandah in Government High School, Amrala, was honoured here today. The ADC, Mr Devinderpal Singh Walia was the chief guest.

• Islam Gunj tense

• 5 women hurt in clash

CRIME

Illicit relationship led to kids’ murder
Ludhiana, April 9
Karamjit of Mullanpur Dakha village was arrested yesterday and charged with murdering her two children. Her alleged paramour Shamsher Singh and his friend Tarsem Singh were arrested today.

Family rivalry led to murder
Ludhiana, April 9
The killing of Jagjit Singh, a close relative of Samrala MLA and Congress leader Amrik Singh Dhillon, is being termed as ‘a murder in default’. In fact the killing is said to be the accidental outcome of the rivalry between two other families.

AGRICULTURE

PAU to study water management
Ludhiana, April 9
The PAU is exploring opportunities to do a research on water management in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton, UK. The Vice- Chancellor, PAU, Dr K.S. Aulakh, after meeting with Prof Neil Malcolm, Director, International Relations, University of Wolverhampton, here today, said both universities would hold meetings to reap mutual benefits.

Polytechnic students display talent
Ludhiana, April 9
Students of the Guru Nanak Polytechnic for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, organised a four-day exhibition which was inaugurated by Ms Bubbly Sandhu, wife of the Deputy Commissioner, here today.

COURTS

Refund amount, PSEB told
Ludhiana, April 9
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in a judgement last week quashed a demand of Rs 26,034 of the PSEB from M/s Keeper Knitware. The forum also directed the PSEB to refund the amount deposited by the complainant along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of deposit till the actual payment.

CULTURE

Dance and painting contests held
Ludhiana, April 9
Pankhudi, a social organisation, held a dance and painting contest for children at Municipal Park of Model Town (Extension) recently.

ADMINISTRATION

Annual credit plan released
Ludhiana, April 9
The district annual credit plan has been raised by 20 per cent from Rs 1575 crore to Rs 1819 crore for 2001-2002 as compared to the last year.