AMRITSAR
FREE SERVICE: Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, has asked every private hospital in the state to devote one day in a year towards free service to patients. He was here to inaugurate a free medical camp at Ranjit Hospital. He donated Rs 30,000 from his discretionary quota for the hospital.

HOSIARPUR
CASE REGISTERED: On a complaint of Mr Mukhtiar Singh of Ibranimpur village the Tanda police has registered a case under Section 420and 406,IPC, against Pritam Singh and Didar Singh, both travel agents of Nikki Miani village on Sunday. In his complaint Mr Mukhtiar Singh alleged that both agents had assured him of sending his son to the USA for Rs 6 lakh. He paid them Rs 3 lakh in advance but the agents failed to send his son abroad and so he demanded his money back, but in vain.

JALANDHAR
KILLED: A rickshaw puller was killed when a Tata Sumo hit his rickshaw on the GT Road near the local bus stand on Sunday. According to the police, the rickshaw puller died on the spot. A case has been registered under Section 304, IPC.

KHANNA
MISHAP: One person was killed in a road accident near Lalheri Road Chowk here on Sunday. According to information, a bus of a private company crushed the victim who was rushed to the local Civil Hospital in serious condition from where he was referred to the Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. He died on the way to the hospital. A case has been registered.

LUDHIANA
HANDBOOK RELEASED: In a new year message to the agricultural scientists and the farmers, Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, has exhorted them to get ready to meet the challenges to be faced by our agriculture in the first decade of 21st century. The most important task is the preservation of natural resources of soil and underground water. The environmental pollution due to the unjudicious use of chemicals in agriculture is the other major challenge which requires the attention of the government, scientists, and farmers. The globalisation of agriculture in the face of competition from the world markets also requires serious thought and appropriate action by all concerned. Dr Kalkat warned any laxity in the face of these challenges would be catastrophic not only for the farmers, but for the whole country. “If our farmers do not survive the country cannot survive” added Dr Kalkat. Dr Kalkat also released the Punjab Agriculture Handbook-2001 in Punjabi and English and also the university wall calendar brought out by the Communication Centre.

CONCLUDED: The series of parbhat pheris in connection with the birthday celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh concluded here on Monday. Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Sarabha Nagar, took out the pheris. The birthday celebrations will start on Tuesday with bhog of akhand paath at 7 a.m. after which Bhai Manjit Singh will recite Asa Di Waar in detail for two hours. Other kirtani jathas follow him till 2.15 p.m. Evening diwan will start at 5.45 p.m. which concludes at 9 p.m. after which langar will be served.

MANSA
CONVENTION: The Punjab unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will hold its zonal convention on the coming Sunday at Patiala. Mr P.A. Sangma, former Lok Sabha Speaker and General Secretary of the NCP will inaugurate the convention.

MEETING HELD: A meeting of the Agarwal Sabha was held here on Sunday, which was attended by Mr Charanji Lal Garg, Science and Technology Minister, Punjab. Mr Garg announced a grant of Rs 25,000 for the building of Laxmi Narain temple.

WELCOMED: Mr Megh Raj Goyal, former organisng secretary of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and district president of the Human Rights Department of the Congress, has welcomed the Antyodya Anna Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana announced by the Prime Minister on his birthday.

MOGA
INDEFINITE FAST: The indefinite fast by residents and Congressmen here demanding a CBI inquiry into the murder of a senior Congress leader of Dharmkot village in the district, Harmesh Kumar Makheja, entered its 18th day on Sunday. Workers of the CPI also joined them.

URGED: The Foodgrain Traders Association held a meeting here on Saturday where the government procuring agencies were urged to make full payments against the paddy stocks sold to Punsup and Markfed during September and October. Members of the organisation said although several reminders had been sent to the authorities concerned, but in vain.

ACCOUNT SOUGHT: A former State Minister for Health and general secretary, PPCC, Ms Malti Thaper, and president, PPCC (farmer's wing), Satnam Singh Sandeshi on Monday asked the Punjab Chief Minister to give an account of Rs 350 crore, which he had received from the Union Government for disbursing among the Punjab farmers for the losses they had suffered due to the distress sale of their paddy crop, last year.

NANGAL
LOAN SCHEME: The local branch of the State Bank of India has given loans worth Rs 81lakh since July, last year, under it’s new personalised loan scheme. This was stated by the Chief Manager of the bank recently.

PHILLAUR
TORTURED: Baljinder Kumar, a Dalit of Jandh village in the subdivision, was allegedly physically tortured by the police for the past six days. In a written statement signed by the village sarpanch and panches, Baljinder Kumar alleged that police officials picked him up on December 24 in a false theft case and mercilessly beat him up at the police station. He added that he was released when his family gave Rs 500.

SAMRALA
SANCTIONED: The foundation stone of Islamik School was laid down by Mr Shamsher Singh Doolo, Member of Parliament, at Ikolaha village, 15 km from here, on Sunday. The MP sanctioned Rs 1 lakh for the school and Rs 50,000 for the cremation ground.

REMEMBERED: The first anniversary of Ishar Singh was observed in Girls High School at Daheru village, on Monday. Mr Kirpal Singh Khirnian, member SGPC, granted Rs 1 lakh for the school building. On this occasion, Mr Sikander Singh, Chairman, Market Committee, Mr Bhag Singh Kishangarh and Mr Manjit Singh Daheru were also present.

SANGRUR
CHARAS SEIZED: The police here has seized 2.5 kg of charas from two residents of Himachal Pradesh. The police said here on Sunday that it had seized 1.5 kg charas from Jaskiran Singh of Shimla and 1kg of charas was seized from Khushhal Singh. Both had been arrested and a case registered against them under various sections of the NDPS Act.

TARN TARAN
RESEARCH ACADEMY: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district committee of Folklore Research Academy: president— Mr Bhupinder Singh Sandhu; general secretary — Jaskaran Singh Sra; senior vice-president — Mr Ranjit Singh Rana; vice-presidents — Mr Baldev Singh Sandhu, Mr Harjinder Pal Singh Attari, Mr Subeg Singh, Mr Jasbir Singh Kotli, Mr Santokh Singh Adliwala, Mr Yadwinder Singh Chetanpura, Mr Onkar Singh Rajatal, Mr Mahavir Singh Gill; and treasurer — Mr Jasbir Singh Sursingh.

KIDNAPPING: Sahib Singh (19), a Scheduled Caste youth who was kidnapped by certain residents of Dhotian and Tur villages on December 26, has not been traced so far. The Goindwal police on the complaint of Mr Mohinder Singh, father of the kidnapped boy, had registered a case under Section 452, 364, 506, 34, IPC, against the accused on Saturday.

UNION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Government Classical and Vernacular Teachers Union: president — Mr Pooran Singh; vice-president — Mr Surjit Singh; general secretary — Mr Gurnam Singh; and treasurer — Mr Gurbax Singh.

Kumbh mela: The All-India Sewa Samiti would be sending 150 volunteers to Allahabad for helping the Administration during the Kumbh mela starting on January 21. It was decided at a meeting of the samiti at Rajpura on Sunday. The following were elected for the committee to supervise the duties of the volunteers during the mela: Organiser — Mr S.P. Bhardwaj; Camp Secretary — Mr Ravi Sabharwal; Camp Director — Mr Jeevan Gopal; and Quarter Master — Mr Bisakha Singh.

rolls revised: The electoral rolls for the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency have been revised with reference to January 1, 2001, as the qulifying date after inviting claims and objections and in accordance with the provisions of the Registration of Elector Rules, 1960. A copy of the revised rolls will be published on Wednesday and would be available for inspection in the Election Department, Union Territory, Chandigarh.

NSS CAMP: A 10-day NSS camp of the SGGS College, Sector 26, in which about 100 volunteers took part concluded here on Sunday. During the camp an AIDS awareness rally was organised by the volunteers at the Kishangarh village. The other programmes organised during the camp included a talk on safe blood donation and a talk on drug de-addiction. The main theme of the camp was ‘hygiene and general cleanliness’. A cultural function was also organised on the concluding day. This was stated by Mr P.S. Sangha, principal of the college, in a press note.

Elected: Mr Devi Dayal Sharma was elected secretary of the local unit of the Communist Party of India, here on Sunday. Earlier Mr Sohan Lal Bansal tendered his resignation from the post. This was announced in a press note.

VACCINATION: As many as 20 dogs were given anti-rabies vaccination and about 23 dogs were de-wormed at a camp organised by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, here on Sunday. Seven other animals were also treated during the camp.

elected: The following were elected office-bearers of the Kasmiri Sahayak Sabha: president — Ms Nancy Ganjoo; vice-president — Ms Chand Sandhu; general secretary — Mr J K Raina; joint secretary — Mr R.K. Dalal; financial secretary — Mr Rakesh Madan and social secretary — Mr Ashok Sopory. The following were also re-elected for the trust: chairman — Mr R.K. Zutshi; general secretary — Mr C.L. Pandita and trustees — Mr B.L. Sadhu, Mr P.N. Ambardar, Mr A.K. Kak and Mr T.K. Magazine.

memorandum: A delegation of persons who run their shops at the residential units met Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, local MP, and informed him that authorities of the Chandigarh Housing Board were harassing them. In a memorandum submitted to the MP, they said that the CHB is threatening the cancellations of their residential units if the shops run in these were not closed down. They urged the MP to take up the matter with the Administration and urged the CHB to postpone its move till the report of the committee on by laws was announced. This was said by Mr Kundan Lal, general secretary of the Action Committee for Self Employment, in a press note.

campaign: A legal awareness campaign was organised by NSS volunteers of the Government College for Women, Sector 11, at the Khuda Jassu village, here on Sunday. Dr B.B. Parsoon, Member Secretary of the State Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, was the chief guest. While speaking on the occasion, he said that the legal aid is a right of the people and they should not hesitate to approach the authority. Mr K.K. Monga, a social worker and member of the authority, offered his services to help the villagers in case of need for free eye operation or any health services.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following were elected office-bearers of the local unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party: senior vice-president — Mr Sohan Lal, vice-president — Mr Gurdev Singh; general secretary — Mr Nirmal Singh; secretary — Mr Ajit Singh Saini and members — Mr Tajinder Pal Singh, Mr Mangal Dev and Ms Anita Sampley. Addressing the party workers Mr M.R. Dhiman, president of the unit, said that the BSP would soon replace the Congress as the second largest national party. He announced that during the next year, the party would spread the Ambedkarism, based on equality, liberty, brotherhood and humanity. Mr Dhiman also said that the remaining members of the unit would be announced soon. Meanwhile, in a meeting of the party workers, headed by Mr Balbir Singh Jhangra, the election of Mr Dhiman as the president of the local unit was criticised. They alleged that old party workers were not called during the elections. This was announced in a press release.

free camp: Dr Kharbanda’s Research Centre will organise a free camp on mental tension, stress, anxiety, personality disorders by psychotherapy and homoeopathy. People will be educated to lead a stress free life with relaxation and rejuvenation techniques. The camp will be held on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. 

medical camp: Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Sector 46-D, Chandigarh, will organise a free medical check-up camp on the occasion of parkash utsav of Guru Gobind Singh on Tuesday from 10 a.m. onwards, informed Mr Kesar Singh, president of the Singh Sabha. 

YAMUNANAGAR
ELECTED: Mr Kehar Singh and Mr Dharminder Singh have been elected Directors of zone No.1and 10 of the Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. here. Eight persons have also been unanimously elected directors of other zones.

SOLAN
TRAFFIC BLOCKED: Residents here held a rally and later blocked traffic on the Nalagarh- Pinjore highway for over three hours on Sunday in protest against the alleged failure of the police to curb the growing incidents of liquor smuggling, theft and arson in the industrial township of Baddi.