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2 brothers freed from bondage

Ludhiana, January 30 Deepak and Vishal, two child labourers, were bursting with happiness and joy. They had been reunited with their mother today after one year. They were released by a warrant officer, appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, recently, from clutches of their employer, who kept them as bonded slaves after giving an advance amount of Rs 1500 and one quintal foodgrains to their guardians.

Vishal and Deepak, two child labourers, with their mother and a social worker, who were released from bonded labour by an High Court warrant officer on Wednesday. —Photo Inderjit Verma

Marriage palace owners allege victimisation
Say Army authorities threatening them
Ludhiana, January 30
Three marriage palace owners, whose palaces were demolished in June 2001 have alleged victimisation at the hands of the Army authorities, saying they were selectively harassed and victimised although the case was pending in the Supreme Court and the Army authorities had no right to act of their own.

Congress instigating terrorism: Khurana
Ludhiana, January 30
The Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, has charged the Congress with spreading and instigating terrorism throughout the country with political motives.

Dhakki Sahib dera head supports Panthic Morcha
Kila Raipur, January 30
Political confrontation between the Panthic Morcha candidate, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, and the sitting MLA, who is contesting on Shiromani Akali Dal ticket from this sensitive constituency, took a new turn today, with the head of the Dhakki Sahib dera Baba Darshan Singh declaring his support for Mr Grewal.

Local Bodies Department transfers 85 MC officials
Ludhiana, January 30
After running into trouble with the State Election Commission over mass transfers of more than 100 officials in the four Municipal Corporations in Punjab on January 18 and 19, the Local Bodies Department has apparently sorted out the matter and a revised list of new posting orders for as many as 85 officials, including Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and Assistant Town Planners, have been issued by the department.

PSEB unions irked by free power poll promise
Ludhiana, January 30
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) unions have condemned the promises made by leaders of the ruling alliance and the Congress to continue free power supply to the agriculture sector.

Father of the Nation remembered

Ludhiana, January 30 Rich tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi on his Martyrdom Day at several functions in the city. Activists of several political parties, freedom fighters and eminent citizens garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandi in the Town Hall complex. An old man pays respects to Mahatma Gandhi in Ludhiana on Wednesday. —Photo Inderjeet Verma

Security garrison
Ludhiana, January 30
With four VVIPs in the city, it has been turned into a security garrison, giving tough time to both the police as well as the public. A senior BJP leader, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, the BSP chief, Mr Kanshi Ram, the NCP president, Mr Sharad Pawar, and the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, scheduled to be here today. The police is literally on their toes.

COMMUNITY

Verdict on Dhakki Sahib issue may influence poll outcome
Ludhiana, January 30
The recent verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing a CBI inquiry into the Dhakki Sahib controversy will have effect on the Assembly elections, at least in two constituencies — Kila Raipur and Payal — to which Punjab Cabinet Minister Jagdish Singh Garcha and MLA Sadhu Singh Ghudani belonged and have been indicted in the case.

Doors closed on rebels: Amarinder
Samrala, January 30
Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, while addressing a gathering at Nankana Sahib Public School in favour of Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, Congress MLA and the local candidate of the party from Samrala constituency, said dissidents who had been expelled from the party for six years would not be allowed to rejoin the party even though any such expelled dissident succeeded in winning the election. 

Casual labour savours poll-time ‘bounties’
Ludhiana, January 30
Even as the fate of most candidates in the electoral fray hangs precariously till the polling day, its an all out win-win situation for hundreds of hitherto unemployed casual labourers in rural Punjab. 

Villagers find employment in making party flags for the Congress in Latala village in the Kila Raipur constituency, Ludhiana district. —Photo Rajesh Bhambi

CM pacifies Ghudani
Doraha, January 30
Mr Sadhu Singh Ghudani, MLA, Payal, who was annoyed with Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, for not giving him the party ticket from Payal was yesterday reconciled with the CM when he visited his house to pacify him.

Voters worried at use of drugs in poll
Ludhiana, January 30
A signature campaign for drug free elections initiated by the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle is getting a massive response from voters in the state. Stating this in a press note, Mr Surjit Singh, zonal secretary, said over 20,000 voters had signed to show their concern against the use of liquor, poppy husk and other drugs during the elections to lure voters. 

Madhu, Tina are “perfect saas-bahu”
Ludhiana, January 30
VLCC organised an inter-club “Saas-Bahu and Sakhi” contest in which the participants of over six clubs participated. The event was based on the theme — how well you know each other.

• PSEB official dies in mishap

CRIME

Tea seller sustains head injuries in attack
Ludhiana, January 30
Mr Balbir Singh, owner of a roadside tea kiosk in Gurdev Nagar, sustained head injuries in an attack yesterday. According to information, two unidentified attackers first beat up Mr Balbir Singh and then one of them hit him in the head with an iron rod as a result of which he was injured.

One dies in road mishap Three injured in road accidents Dowry case

Kidnapping alleged Cases registered Injured

BUSINESS

Centre to re-negotiate Indo-Nepal treaty
Ludhiana, January 30
The Centre is actively considering a proposal submitted by the Indian industry to re-negotiate some clauses of the Indo-Nepal treaty, to safeguard the interests of the domestic units, said Mr N.L. Lakhanpal, Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, here today.

• Biz Clips

5 colleges sans regular principals

Ludhiana, January 30 With the refusal of the DPI (Colleges) to be a part of the selection panel for any appointment in government-aided colleges till mid-March, five Ludhiana colleges are likely to continue without regular principals for the next two months. While three colleges had even advertised for the posts of principal this month, their selection has been delayed due to forthcoming Assembly elections in the state. Students take part in inter-school patriotic song contest held at Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, on Wednesday.

Schools observe Martyrdom Day
Ludhiana, January 30
An inter-school patriotic song competition was organised by Parampara, People for Music, at Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School to observe the Martyrdom Day of Mahatma Gandhi here today.

Foundation stone of school laid
Ludhiana, January 30
The foundation stone of Ryan International School was laid by the St Xavier’s Education Trust at Dhandari Kalan here today.

Anti-Leprosy Day observed
Ludhiana, January 30
The Focal Point Industrial Sheds Association, in association with the District Leprosy Society, held a function at Phase 4 of the Focal Point area to observe the National Anti-Leprosy Day here today.

SPORTS

• Gymnastics meet