Ludhiana, January 13
The state exchequer lost crores of rupees due to the strike of revenue officers as no registration of revenue documents was carried out in the district for the last seven working days.

No work was taken up in revenue offices of the district, including Mullanpur, Jagraon, Khanna, Samrala, Raikot and Sidhwan, and all three Sub Registrar offices in Ludhiana for seven working days and in offices of the Patiala division for two days.

Sale deeds, wills and power of attorneys were not registered. This caused a loss to the state exchequer in the form of stamp duty and registration fee. Though senior revenue officials in the district said it was just a “postponement of realisation of money” to the exchequer as the work would be taken up in the coming days, an official pegged the loss between Rs 75 to Rs 100 crore.

Sources said as the property prices were skyrocketing in Ludhiana, the revenue department contributed the maximum to the state exchequer. No work for seven days translated into a huge loss. The tehsildars had gone on strike from January 6. The offices would work normally from tomorrow.

A senior officer, praying anonymity, said more than the money, it was the inconvenience caused to the public. Several NRIs, besides those who had applied for bank loans or had given a deadline for the registration of deed, were also hit.

Sources said though the Vigilance had arrested a tehsildar on graft charges, nothing was going to change in the system. While he was caught red-handed, his colleagues were resorting to pressure tactics, they said.

With the assurance of no departmental action against the ‘‘tainted’’ Naib Tehsildar, it seems the Vigilance action was futile. Vigilance officials have not taken the announcement kindly. “What is the idea behind Vigilance action if such assurances are given to tainted officials?’’ a senior Vigilance official asked.

Sahnewal, January 13
Traffic lights at Sahnewal Chowk seem to be repaired only to go out of order every now and then. The chowk on National Highway-1 branches towards Doraha, Kohara, Dehlon and Ludhiana and has become a “killer” spot in the absence of the traffic lights, which are either poorly repaired or not at all.

The traffic of commuters on NH-1, toll evaders taking the Sahnewal-Kohara route and residents of surrounding villages has increased to the extent that a pedestrian has to wait for long for the road to clear.

There is no one to monitor the traffic except when a minister has to cross the chowk. School and college students, who have to board buses or vans near the chowk are the worst sufferers. Aged people also find it hard to cross the busy road.

The traffic police on its part seems to be least bothered about the situation. It has been observed that while there is chaos, two or three traffic cops are usually at a safe distance.

The commuters complain that this chowk is one of the most dangerous ones as vehicles on the National Highway tend to speed.

Supply of goods resumes
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 13
Normalcy returned after transporters called off their strike late last evening. The strike was called off after an assurance by the government on their demands and the release of their leaders.

The government assured them that the president of the All India Motor Transport Congress, Charan Singh Lohara, and other members would be released after completing legal formalities and a committee would be formed to consider their demands.

Pritivi Raj Sharma, chairman of the Ludhiana Transporters Welfare Association, said the committee would include two members from the AIMTC and one member from Punjab.

The supply of goods became normal after the strike was called off. Darmesh Nath, a vegetable vendor, said: “We were having a tough time. The prices were going high and we were not getting fresh lot.”

Samrala, January 13
A truck driver was killed and seven persons, including a government doctor, were injured when a speeding Punjab roadways bus collided head on with a truck due to dense fog near Hedon village early this morning.

The bus was going to Shimla from Moga. Sources said the collision occurred when the driver of the bus tried to overtake a truck. The bus collided with a truck coming from the opposite side. The truck driver died on the spot. The injured were taken to hospital at Ludhiana.

The accident led to a traffic jam. Vehicles were diverted through nearby villages. A highway patrol police party reached the spot and took the injured to the civil hospital, from where five of the injured were referred to Ludhiana after first aid.

The deceased has been identified as Manna Singh of Bharwa Kotli of nearby Batala.

The injured are Dr Vinod Beri, Narinderpal, Sandeep Kumar, Surinder Singh, Shamli,Tanvir Kaur and Paramjit Kaur.

The police impounded the bus after registering a case against the driver, who absconded after the accident.

Ludhiana, January 13
After being ignored by subsequent governments for decades, hope floats for the Ludhiana Flying Club, which was on the verge of closure.

Ramesh Inder Singh, Chief Secretary, has instructed Sumer Singh Gurjar, Deputy Commissioner, to complete the formalities for resuming the functioning of the club.

Ramesh Inder Singh visited the Sahnewal Airport and took stock of the situation.

According to sources in the aviation department, the Chief Secretary met Captain Sukjit Singh Hara, chief pilot of the club, and other employees.

Hara said: “Ramesh Inder Singh assured us that all the necessary formalities will be completed soon to make the club operational.” He said the resumption of the club activities would bring about positive results.

The Tribune had highlighted the sorry state of the flying club in its columns on December 5.

Gurjar said the officials of the club had demanded an aviation engineer and improvement in infrastructure.

The Chief Secretary had asked the DC to submit a report on the expected expenditure and requirements of the club within two days.

The sources also said the Chief Secretary had ordered that the plane which was being used by the Patiala Flying Club be brought back. Besides, a new plane would also be provided to the Ludhiana club.

Credited with the prestigious prize of being the best flying school in the country during the 80s, the club was on the verge of closure.

It used to produce 20 to 25 pilots every year, but has not produced even a single pilot over the past three years.

Gliders which used to fly for more than 3,000 hours are rusting in the hangar.

“We hope that the Chief Secretary’s visit would bring back the golden years of the club,” Hara added.

Ludhiana, January 13
Lohri was celebrated throughout the city and was a special occasion for those blessed with babies recently and the newlyweds.

Boys had fun flying kites. “Lohri is incomplete without the beat of drums. Every year my friends and I arrange for ‘dholi’. While the kids fly kites, we beat the drum. My mother had prepared carrot halwa,” Davinder, a college student, said. In the evening, it was bhangra time.

Some people even arranged functions at resorts and marriage palaces. “It was the first Lohri of our grandchild and we wanted to celebrate it in a grand way. We always wanted to celebrate Lohri in a traditional style so every guest was requested to be in traditional outfits. We sang ‘Sundar mundareye’ and everybody danced to the dhol,” Mukhtiar Singh of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar said.

The Nari Jagriti Manch at Green Field celebrated Lohri of newborn girls of the area. All families got together at one place and celebrated Lohri. “Everybody celebrates Lohri of boys, but we thought of celebrating it for girls and today girls are no less than boys,” a resident said.

Colleges also celebrated it with traditional zeal. Girls came to the college in traditional dresses.

Huge rush was witnessed at shops selling peanuts, gachak, ‘reodi’ and ‘bhugga’. Popcorns were also in great demand. “This is the best time of the year as we have the maximum sale. Though for us everyday is Lohri as we light bonfire to brave the chill, we enjoyed peanuts and popcorns while sitting around the bonfire,” Bhawani Das, a popcorn seller, said.

Ludhiana, January 13
The District Bar Association celebrated Lohri with fervour here today. Judges also participated in the function actively.

District and Sessions Judge GK Rai, DBA president Parupkar Singh Ghumman and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Harish Rai Dhanda prayed around the bonfire. They congratulated the lawyers on the this occasion.

Randhir Kanwal, a singer, enthralled the audience with songs and ghazals. Lawyers enjoyed the function while relishing “reoris” and “peanuts”.

Several lawyers, including Naval Kishore Chibber, BP Singh Gill, Jagmohan Sanghe, shared jokes, couplets and songs. Harpreet Sandhu was announced new spokesperson of the DBA.

Additional Sessions Judges MS Virdi, Kishore Kumar, AS Grewal, Munish Singal, RL Ahuja, Manjinder Singh, GS Saran, Civil Judge Senior Division Lachhman Singh, Additional Civil Judge KK Bansal, Judicial Magistrates Jagdeep Sood, Charanjit Arora, Kawaljit Singh, Randhir Verma, Yukti Goyal and Amit Thind attended the function.

Ludhiana, January 13
The future of industry in Punjab, especially the small and tiny sector, is bleak if production losses and resultant retrenchment of work force due to severe power shortage are any indication.

Since there seems to be no sign of improvement in the power scenario in the days to come, the industrial economy of the state, in all likelihood, is doomed.

The industrial units being fed by category I (mixed use) feeders here are being subject to an average four to six hour power cut during the day while those in category II (predominantly industrial areas) have to observe two weekly offs in addition to peak load restrictions on working days.

Added to the scheduled power cut of weekly offs are cable faults, tripping or periodic maintenance shut down, which also affect the working of the units.

An agitated Varinder Kapoor, general secretary of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, the biggest representative body of the cycle industry here, says the crisis-ridden industrial units are prepared for a showdown with the state government. “Scheduled and unscheduled power cuts have led to heavy production loss and massive lay off. Running the units on power generating sets is not viable and the cost of production becomes prohibitive and uncompetitive.”

He maintained that global meltdown and economic slowdown notwithstanding, the cycle parts manufacturers here had received sizeable orders from domestic market, which they were not in a position to execute due to their failure to run units to capacity for want of power.

With heavy loss of production and lower turnover, the industrial sector had no other choice but to resort to lay off to cut down expenditure.

Harish Khanna, president of Small Scale Industries Association of Punjab, maintained that nearly two lakh small-scale industrial (SSI) units in the state, providing employment to over 18 lakh workers, are facing a dark future.

The production has gone down by anything from 35 to 40 per cent and an estimated 50 per cent industrial workers of the SSIs have lost their jobs due to power shortage.

Khanna ridiculed the government claims of coming out with a comprehensive industrial policy to invite mega units to the state.

“The existing industry, and even the small and tiny units in Punjab, are starved of power and have been pushed to the brink of closure. From where will the government bring power for the mega units,” he wondered.

Charanjit Singh Vishwakarma and Narinder Bhamra, conveners of All-Industries and Trade Forum, said the drastic power cuts and other restrictions on industrial sector had wreaked havoc on the state economy with industry, trade and service sector being the worst hit.

Meanwhile, the industry has asked the government to ensure uninterrupted power supply with immediate effect, failing which the industry would be compelled to take to agitation.

A meeting of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association was held in this regard. The members regretted that contrary to the promises made by the ministers nothing had been done so far. “The industry was being given unfair treatment by the government. If these conditions remain in the state for some more time, no new investments will be made in the state,” said Charanjit Singh Vishawkarma, association president.

Ludhiana, January 13
All claims of the government to provide assistance to small and medium-scale industries to tide over the crisis arising out of the economic meltdown have proved hollow and only large houses have benefited. This is a common feeling among most industrialists over the situation prevalent in Punjab.

What has the Punjab Government done for the industry during the past four months? say VP Chopra, president, Federation of Small Industries Associations, Punjab, and PD Sharma, president, Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Satish Dhandha, former chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council, and vice-chairman, Medium Scale Industrial Development Board, Punjab, rued that there had been no monitoring of the situation by the government. There were no contingency plans for the small and medium scale industries by the central and state governments to help the industry.

Dhandha said the Centre had announced two bailout plans since September last and banks had been asked to enhance credit limits. However, not a single limit had been raised.

He said Centre had launched CARE scheme for the industry under which banks were asked to enhance bank limit by 20 per cent. The RBI had asked banks not to base the enhancement of limits on sales and extend the limits to give financial assistance to the industry. However, no bank had paid heed to this.

Dhandha said they had requested the government to ask banks to extent limits as there was a delay in receipt of payments from buyers in view of recession.

He alleged that only big industrial houses and stock exchanges had benefited from the bailout plan of the Central Government.

Commenting on the role of the state government, Chopra and Sharma said the state government had not released arrears of VAT. The arrears for two to three quarters ran into several crores, they added.

The industrialists are also critical of the Chief Minister for his vikas yatra and distribution of grants in the rural areas. This clearly indicated bias of the state government towards small and medium industries.

Chopra said small-scale industries were backbone of the state economy and the government must come to its rescue.

Ludhiana, January 13
When it comes to fashion and style, Ludhianvis want it all. It is this craze for brands that has kept luxury market in the city up despite recession.

Though some stores in leading malls and markets have shut down due to global meltdown, heads of various luxury brands claim that the ongoing recession has had little effect on them.

Stores selling branded products are doing well while some are looking to enter the Ludhiana market.

International brands like Alfred Dunhill will soon be foraying into the Ludhiana market. Coming up with a show this month, the brand is sure to sway Ludhianvis off their feet.

Dunhill specialises in premium men’s luxury leather goods, writing implements, lighters, timepieces, fragrances and clothing. It offers clothing for men ranging from formal, casual to accessories like shoes, cufflinks, ties and bags.

Anjani Kasliwal, head of the division for Brandhouse Retails Ltd., which also deals in British brand Alfred Dunhill, speaking to The Tribune confirmed that luxury brands were not affected by the global meltdown. “Alfred Dunhill will be coming up with a store in the city in the near future,” she said.

She added that they had done research which showed that people in Ludhiana loved to flaunt brands, so the market held a lot of potential for them.

Canali, another leader in luxury clothing for men, has announced its store here. Canali’s entry into Ludhiana would spell out a new experience for the brand and style conscious people of Ludhiana. It is betting big on India and expects it to become second biggest market in the Asia Pacific region after China.

Elaborating on the brand’s entry into Ludhiana, Sanjay Kapoor of Genesis Luxury Fashion Pvt Ltd. (promoters of the brand in India), says: “We are happy to bring Italy’s premier luxury label to the customers of Ludhiana as we feel the consumer is well travelled here and appreciates finer things in life.”

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 13
Instead of organising meetings to prepare for their demonstrations, leaders of various employee outfits have started exploiting SMS service provided by mobile companies for the purpose.

The method besides being economical is easier and secretive. Protesters have also shunned the age-old style of reaching the venue of their demonstration holding banners and raising slogans.

Instead, they blend into the gathering of the party organising function in the honour of dignitaries and strike only when the chief guest rises for address.

Investigations by The Tribune revealed that leaders of employee associations and labour unions have stopped organising meetings to persuade their activists to participate in demonstrations organised at functions of the party in regime.

Instead, they interact with the activists individually and try to keep their programme secretive. Unlike before, the organisers do not issue press note to invite their activists and supporters to the venue.

Also, some employee welfare unions, including the ETT Adhyapak Union and the Pharmacists Union, have explored MMS services for organising demonstrations at “vikas rallies” of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal held in the Malwa belt recently.

The method was so successful that neither the organisers nor the administration got a whiff of their programme till hundreds of activists rose to obstruct Badal’s speech.

The text messages had asked union members to reach the venues singly or at most in pairs.

They were warned against greeting their colleagues and conversing with each other lest the organisers shall smell their plan and remove them from the venue.

The leaders were so apprehensive of being identified that they suggested their activists to avoid wearing formal dresses.

Sikh employees were asked to wear “patka” instead of turban and women teacher were advised to leave their purses at home.

Slogans to be raised at the rallies were also sent through SMSes.

Ludhiana, January 13
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Employees Union, Ludhiana, held an election rally here today. The rally was organised in connection with the forthcoming membership verification of non-executives in BSNL.

The election will be held on January 21 and the result will be declared on January 24. Over 2.4 lakh non-executives will take part in the voting all over India. In Punjab circle, 8,664 employees will cast their vote.

Addressing the gathering, Balbir Singh, circle secretary, BSNL Employees Union, Punjab circle, and RL Moudgil, circle president, Punjab circle, said BSNL employees union would win the election with a thumping majority like the last two elections in 2004 and 2006.

“The biggest achievement of union is that it protected the BSNL from disinvestments/privatisation. And the union achieved this after a sustained struggle,” said Moudgil.

Ludhiana, January 13
With college, university girls and young professional women succumbing to addiction of habit forming drugs and alcohol, there is a steep rise in the number of women addicts in the recent years.

Dr Meharbaan Singh, medical officer in charge of Aas Kiran -- the government aided de-addiction centre run by Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle -- said, “Girl students and professionals are addicted to cough syrups containing codeine, capsules, including proxyvon, tobacco products and alcohol. But owing to the social stigma, having undergone initial counselling sessions at our centre, women addicts prefer to visit private doctors for de-addiction programs.”

Pointing towards the alarming increase of 90 per cent in addiction amongst the younger generation in the district and Punjab in general in the past five years Dr Meharbaan said smack addiction was on the rise amongst college, university boys which is directly linked to their involvement in criminal activities.

The cost of one gram of smack is Rs 400-500 and every addict consumes minimum two grams per day that amounts to an expense of Rs 800- 1,000 per day, which is approximately Rs 30,000 per month (even more than the salary of a middle income group).

Maintaining anonymity, a boy undergoing treatment said, “The smugglers in an early morning train in Jassowal village bring poppy husk and smack for the addicts who line up at the station to pay and get their share. The PCR cop gets his monthly while the security personnel at the station entrance receives his share in kind.”

The youth alleged that in times of shortage, police stations were the best bets to get their dose of smack. The centre was getting many cases wherein students of affluent schools were addicted to inhalants like ink, while fluid thinner and petrol.

Having demarcated the areas according to the addicts, the Aas Kiran data clearly indicates that the youth from the Gill road and adjoining areas are addicted to capsules and cough syrups while areas adjacent to Shimlapuri, Samrala bypass and Sherpur Chowk are addicted to intravenous drugs. Similarly, rural populace above the age group of 30 years is consuming poppy husk followed by smack addiction in urban population living in posh localities, including Sarabha Nagar, Gurdev Nagar and Civil Lines.

Ludhiana, January 13
Harshit Chitkara, a two-year-old child undergoing treatment at Sigma New Life Heart Institute, is in dire need of financial support.

With a hole in his heart and small arteries to lungs, Harshit’s impure blood mixes with pure one. He turns blue on minor exertion.

He was diagnosed with the condition at AIIMS, Delhi, and recommended to undergo early surgery.

He was referred to Dr Harinder Singh Bedi at the hospital. While Dr Bedi has offered to waive his operation fee, the family is finding it hard to bear the cost of the treatment, which is around Rs 3 lakh.

Harshit’s parents — Anjali and Rakesh Chitkara — are residents of Chawni Mohalla here. They have appealed to philanthropists to help the family.

Dr Bedi said after successful surgery such patients had high chances of leading a normal and productive life.

Donations can be made to the child through cheques/demand drafts with ‘For Harshit’ written on the rear.

Ludhiana, January 13
Dr Talwinder Singh Kahlon, fellow of the American Heart Association and research chemist “Processed Foods Research”, United States, delivered a lecture on dietary fibres, cardiovascular health and cholesterol at PAU here yesterday.

The audience comprised of deans, directors and officers of PAU and medical doctors from local hospitals. PAU VC Dr Manjit Singh Kang introduced the speaker to the audience and said he was an alumnus of PAU who had specialised on health foods and had undertaken research at the processed foods research unit at Western Regional Research Centre, USDA-ARS.

Dr Kahlon elaborated that the higher the blood cholesterol level, greater the risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack. He said heart disease was the number one killer in the United States where more than a million people had heart attacks and about half million died from other heart diseases.

He termed high blood cholesterol as a silent killer as it hardened the arteries, restricting the blood flow to the heart. The average age for the first heart attack was 64.5 years in men and 70.4 years in women, he added.

He also mentioned that cardiovascular disease was no longer a problem of the West. He said that the losses due to the problem could be cut by a combination of simple, cost-effective national efforts and individual actions to reduce major risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking. The expert further said that dietary fibre was an essential part of a healthy diet as it had several benefits.

He said that our traditional food habits of consuming natural fruits and vegetables and a physical work culture were health promoting.

The insoluble fibre like whole wheat flour, wheat bran, nuts promoted regularity and prevented constipation. He suggested the incorporation of wheat bran up to 5 per cent for preparation of high fibre chapatis. Dr Kahlon said that soluble fibre (oats, barley, peas, beans, citrus, apples, carrot and isbagol) is gel forming and could help lower blood cholesterol.

Ludhiana, January 13
Small schoolchildren carrying heavy school bags had drawn flak from the educationists. The CBSE is now making an effort to lighten the bags of the schoolchildren.

Most of the schoolchildren leave their bags in the schools and return home with just a tiffin box. No homework is given to them to make the innocent children enjoy the pleasures of childhood, which should not be marred by the heavy burden of academic text books.

Rajesh Rudra, director, Greenland Convent School, having five branches in the town, said no student till Class XII carries schoolbag to home. No homework was given to the students, he said. Whatever work is to be done is finished in the schools only as they are day boarding.

All preparations for the examinations are also done in the schools. The director claimed that anyone could come and ask the students anything and everything would be on their tips. He further added that they were having classroom library for the students who don’t have textbooks.

Col DB Sharma, director, Sat Paul Mittal School, said no child up to Class V was allowed to carry schoolbag home. Their major emphasis is on the use of library. They have one library for junior section and one for senior section and their slogan is “drop everything and read”.

BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School has made racks for the students up to Class V to keep their bags in school. The students up to Class II carry tiffin and school diary home and students up to Class V keep their books in the school, but can carry notebooks home.

A number of innovative steps are being taken up to make education student friendly.

Ludhiana, January 13
Realising the tremendous potential of biotechnology in increasing agricultural productivity, improving human and animal health and providing safe and clean environment, Punjab Agricultural University has established a School of Agricultural Biotechnology under the College of Agriculture.

The school will cover research, teaching and extension activities and its goal would be to innovate processes and products through research and development said Dr SS Gosal, director of the school. He added that the primary emphasis of the school would be the application of agro-biotechnology for providing solutions to the agricultural problems of the state. For example, use of cell and tissue culture techniques for mass multiplication of high quality, disease-free planting material of field and horticultural crops, molecular methods for breeding new and improved germplasm resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly soil salinity and drought.

The applied research would be supported by basic research on genomics, proteomics, gene cloning and genetic engineering. Keeping all this in view, this school had developed two new teaching programmes viz BSc biotechnology (hons) 4 years and MSc biotechnology that primarily will be based on agricultural biotechnology involving plants, animals and micro organisms with greater emphasis on the development of practical skills and entrepreneurship.

The admissions to both these programmes will be made through PAU entrance examination every year during the months of May/June.

Besides, School of Agricultural Biotechnology will also be conducting one-month summer training courses every year on various aspects of plant biotechnology for prospective entrepreneurs, teachers and students from other colleges, universities and institutes in India. The foundation stone laying ceremony of this school will be held on January 16.

Ludhiana, January 13
Teachers of privately managed affiliated colleges of the district will take mass casual leave and proceed to Chandigarh to hold a dharna outside the office of the DPI (colleges), Punjab, on January 15 in support of their demands.

Their demands include withdrawal of ban on recruitment, implementation of the recommendations of the Chadha Committee report, and implementation of the letter of the UGC on CAS for DPEs and librarians.

Prof Rajinder Singh, area secretary, Prof Gurmit Singh Hundal, district president, and Prof Ranjan Garg, district secretary the PCCTU, condemned the government for not considering the demands of college teachers.

Ludhiana, January 13
Sukhbir Singh was unanimously elected regional secretary of Ludhiana region of the PSEB Engineers Association at a meeting here today.

Election officer Charanjit Singh Brar said the nine members elected to the regional committee were Bhupinder Khosla, Charanjit Singh Brar, Yogesh Tandon, Harinder Singh Purba, Gurpreet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Gurbir Singh Kohli, Sukhminder Singh, Ravinder Singh Bedi and Amandeep Singh.

Addressing the meeting, Jaswant Singh Zaffar, member of the central executive of the association, discussed various challenges facing the PSEB engineers.

The committee urged the central committee to organise a seminar in the city to deliberate on the prevailing power sector scenario so as to update engineers working in this region.

It was also impressed upon the central leadership of the PSEB engineers to conduct some of the meetings of the body here so that the members in the Ludhiana region could keep abreast with the pending issues with the PSEB management and other activities of the association.

Ludhiana, January 13
Book titled “Jagat Tamasha” authored by Satnam Singh Salohpuri was released today at Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle.

Reading a paper on the book, Dr Sarabjot Kaur from Government College for Women and Davinder Kaur from Guru Nanak Public School said the book explained the incidents and ideas in simple language.

Jagraon, January 13
The Jagraon police has booked a trader for committing a fraud with another trader. Rajiv Kumar in his complaint said his neighbour Anil Kumar borrowed Rs 7 lakh from him in three instalments and issued post-dated cheques of PNB, Jagraon, to him for each instalment.

However, the cheques bounced as neither the signatures on them matched nor the account had sufficient funds. He alleged that Anil had issued the cheques from his wife Sunita Rani’s cheque book.

He complained the matter to SSP, Jagraon, and after due inquiry and consultation with DA (legal) a case was registered against him under Section 420 of the IPC. SHO, Jagraon, Navin Pal Singh said in due investigation it was found that the wife was also involved and had the knowledge of her husband’s act. She would also be booked subsequently, said the SHO.