AHMEDGARH
SNAKE-BITE: Mrs Pavitri Devi (40), a migrant, died of a snake-bite on Thursday. Mr Villet, her husband said she was bitten by a poisonous snake while she was sleeping on the floor. Finding no treatment at the local hospital, she was taken to the Civil Hospital, Malerkotla, where she died 12 hours after the bite.

ERRATIC POWER SUPPLY: Residents of Ward No 11 came on streets to express their anger against erratic power supply last week. They staged a dharna in front of the local complaint centre after marching through the railway road. The power supply was restored at 12.30 a.m. due to pressure by demonstrators.

TRIBUTES: Representatives of almost all the political paid tributes to Mr Ujjagar Singh, an associate of freedom fighter Mr Harnam Singh Chamak, former MLA. Mr Mangat Ram Pasla, central committee member and former state president, CPM, presented a dastar and party symbol to Ranjit Singh, son of the deceased. Jathedar Hardev Singh Lohatbaddi (SAD), Sukhdev Singh Beri (CPM), Surinder Singh Jalaldiwal (CPI), Major Singh Punnawal (Kissan Sabha), Bahadur Singh (SHAD), Mrs Harchand Kaur (Cong I), Gurdial Singh (BSP), and former MLA, Tarsem Jodha, were among others who spoke on the occasion.

AMRITSAR
PROHIBITED: Mr Narinderjit Singh, District Magistrate, in an order has prohibited the use of word “press” on vehicles in the district. He said only accredited print and electronic media journalists were authorised to use it. He also prohibited public movement within 500 meters of the Indo-Pakistan border from 8.30 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. daily.

MEDICAL CAMP: A free medical camp was organised by the local Lions Club for students of Rosy Modern High School at Shaheed Udham singh Nagar here on Thursday. More than 400 students were examined by a team of three doctors. Medicines were also distributed free of cost among the students.

DEAN: Mrs Manjit Kaur Sodhia was on Thursday appointed Dean, College Development Council, in place of Dr S.P. Singh, who took over as the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, on July 23. Mrs Sodhia had recently retired as the Principal of Government College for Women, Ludhiana, according to the university press note issued here on Thursday.

APPOINTED: The national executive committee of the National Students Union of India has appointed Mr Aman Prashar, chief of its district unit, an observer for the forthcoming state Assembly election. This was stated by national president of the union Natrajan in a press note issued here on Thursday.

PREPARATORY CLASSES: The local DAV College will start preparatory classes for the common admission test (CAT) and the graduate management aptitude test (GMAT) from August 1. This will be a totally IT-aided preparatory programme, according to institution sources. The programme is open for students of DAV College and other colleges.

BATHINDA
BLOOD DONATION CAMP: The United Welfare Society will hold a blood donation camp at the local Civil Hospital on July 29, according to Mr Vijay Bhatt, president of the society.

DHARNA HELD: Agriculture scientists of the district on Thursday staged a dharna at the office of the Chief Agriculture Officer, Kheti Bhavan. Dr Harvinder Singh Bhatti, convenor of the district unit of the Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee, said in a press note issued here on Thursday that the Director Agriculture should be appointed from among the Joint Directors working in the department on the merit-cum-seniority basis. A deputation met the Deputy Commissioner and gave him a memorandum of demands.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the sanjha front of the employees of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant: president- Mr Sukhram Singh Parmar; vice- president —Mr Ram Singh; general secretary — Mr Lachman Singh; joint secretary- Mr Mela Singh; and treasurer — Mr Gursewak Singh.

CONDEMNED: The district unit of the Dalit Sena has condemned the beating up of two Dalit boys at Sivian village. In a press note issued here on Thursday Mr Harbans Singh, state general secretary of the sena, said Mr Kiranjit Singh Gehri, state president of the sena, had met Mr Rajpal Singh Meena, DIG, Farikdot, in this connection and demanded action against the guilty persons.

DORAHA
FOUR INJURED: Four occupants of a Honda City car were reported to have been seriously injured when it hit a trailer at Rajgarh village, near Atarsar Sahib, on Friday. The injured have been identified as Sushil Walia, Harish Walia, Kalash Walia and Kaushalaya, residents of Vikas Puri, New Delhi. All the injured were taken to a nearby hospital by an ASI and his first aid team.

FARIDKOT
SCHEME: The local Improvement Trust has drawn up a plan for further development of the town. Under the scheme a colony comprising more than 700 houses will be constructed near Government Guru Gobind Singh Medical College here on 46 acres of land. Twentysix acres of land has already been acquired and the remaining will be ecquired shortly. This was stated by Mr Harjinder Singh Baggar, Chairman of the trust, here on Wednesday.

HOSHIARPUR
CASE REGISTERED: On a complaint by Omesh Singh of Rani Gunj, Bihar, at present residing at Attowal village in the district, the police on Wednesday registered a case under Section 302, IPC, against Babloo Kumar of the same village for allegedly killing his nephew Vinod Kumar by giving him poison in alcohol on July 7.

ARRESTED: The Tanda police on Wednesday arrested Harmesh Singh of Basti Dhakhu, Ferozepore, and seized 41,430 ml illicit liquor from him. In another case Nirmal Singh, alias Nimma, of Mahilpur was arrested and 7.5 kg poppy husk seized from his possession.

BOOKED: On a complaint by Daljit kaur the Tanda police has registered a case under Sections 342, 295A, 506, 354, 323, 149, IPC, against her husband Kuldip Singh and her sisters-in-law Bimal kaur and Raj Kaur of Miani. In her complaint Daljit Kaur stated that she had wilfully gone to Pathankot with Balkar Singh on July 16. On July 23 some persons from Miani forcibly took them to Miani and confined them to a room there for two days. Later her husband Kuldip Singh along with his sisters forcibly removed their hair. They also blackened their faces, put garlands of shoes and paraded them in the mohalla.

PROMOTION HAILED: In a joint press note issued here on Thursday, Dr S.S. Sharma and Mr S.N. Tiwari, president and general secretary of the Senior PCMS Association, Punjab, respectively thanked the Health Minister, the Principal Secretary Health and the Managing Director, Punjab Health System Corporation, for meeting their pending demand of promoting SMOs to Deputy Directors. They said all senior vacant posts at the directorate level should be filled for the better functioning of the department.

KAPURTHALA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Lions Club (Service): president - Mr Vinay Aggarwal; secretary - Mr Surinder Matoo; and treasurer - Mr Mukesh Bhalla.

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED: The district administration has launched a special campaign in the district to get the encroached panchayat land vacated. The decision was taken at a meeting of sarpanches, block development and panchayat officers, secretaries and officers of the Development Department held at the local Yojna Bhavan on Wednesday evening. Mr Vivek Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, presided over the meeting.

KHAMANO
TRANSFER ORDERS: The Punjab Government in a circular has ordered the transfer of three DSPs. Mr Sudesh Agnihotri's transfer has been cancelled and has taken over the charge of the DSP here. Mr Jagjit Singh Gill, DSP, who was earlier transferred here, has yet to receive further posting orders. Mr Tejinder Singh, DSP, Mansa, has been transferred as DSP(H) to Tarn Taran. The orders have come in force with immediate effect.

KURALI
FIVE INJURED: Five persons were injured in a head-on collision between a car (DL-4CF-8344), going on the Kurali-Kharar road, and a truck (PB-12D-9776), coming from the opposite direction. According to information, the accident took place near Chanalo village, 3 km from here. The injured who were admitted to the local Civil Hospital include Mr Khushpreet Singh, a local resident, who was driving the car, Mr Rajinder Kumar, Mr Raj Pal, and Mr Naresh Pal. Due to the accident traffic on the Kurali-Kharar road remained disrupted for about one hour. A case has been registered against the truck driver.

LUDHIANA
VANAMAHOTSAVA: The youth wing of the Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, celebrated Vanamahotsava at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bija here on Thursday. While inaugurating the function, Dr G.S. Saini, Professor of Extension Education and Coordinator of Youth Programme, advised rural youth to consider environment as part and parcel of their day-to-day life. He also exhorted them to come forward to conserve the environment and make it pollution-free. Dr Ajit Singh explained the procedure of plantation of trees, their types and after care. Dr Anjana Kalra discussed the role of youth programme in the overall development of rural youth. The girls were taught about different aspects of Home Science. Ms Parkash Kaur, principal of the school, extended the vote of thanks. She assured the PAU that they would continue their efforts to involve school students in community welfare activities.

TRAINING COURSE: The Dairy Development Department (Punjab), Chandigarh, and the Dairy Development Officer, Moga, organised a two-day training course for the cattle feed manufacturers of the district early in the week. While presiding over the function, the Deputy Commissioner of Moga, Mr Kanwabir Singh Sidhu, emphasised the need for producing good quality nutritive feed for animals, to withstand the threat posed by the WTO in coming future. In the training course, Dr J.S. Chawla, Professor and Head, Dr B.K. Gupta, Dr A.K. Ahuja and Dr M.P.S. Bakshi from Punjab Agricultural University, delivered lectures to the manufacturers on different aspects. Mr Balbir Singh, Director Dairy Development addressed to the difficulties of the manufacturers. He also directed the cattle feed manufacturers to follow the Cattle Feed Act, so that the animals were given good quality unadulterated nutritive feed.

MEETING: A customers’ meet was organised by the Uco Bank, Chaura Bazar, here on Friday in which a number of prominent traders and shopkeepers participated. Mr J.C. Malhotra, assistant general manager of the bank, in his presidential address said the bank’s customers could avail its services on telephone or in person. He assured the traders that their loan applications would be dealt within ten days. A number of traders also put forth their suggestions at the meet. Mr Malhotra assured its customers that the suggestions would be implemented soon. Thanking the customers, the bank manager, Mr Arun Bhardwaj, highlighted the bank’s achievements in the last year and assured them of better facilities in future.

NAWANSHAHR
GANG BUSTED: The police on Thursday said that it had busted a gang of robbers, who had looted Mr Anil Kumar Jain and his brother, Mr Umesh Jain, karyana merchants of nearby Banga town, of Rs 2.50 lakh at gunpoint on July 18 when they were returning home after closing their shop. Those arrested are Jaswant Singh of Nasimabad (Phagwara), Gurnam Singh of Ladhana village (Jhikka), Baljinder Singh of Motian village (Mahilpur), Santokh Singh of Rasoolpur village, Harnek Singh of Daduwal village, Umrao Singh of Narur village and Rajinder Singh of Phagwara. The gang leader, Surinder Pal, alias Baba, of Ghudka village (Goraya) is still at large. This was stated by Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, in a press note issued here on Thursday.

PENSION DISTRIBUTED: Mr Jatinder Singh Kariha, MLA, distributed pension among 101 beneficiaries and awarded ‘appreciation certificates’ to Sakharata sevaks at the Vikas Samagam organised at Kariha village here on Wednesday. Mr Gurpal Singh Bhatti, Additional Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Pritam Singh, SDM, addressed the gathering.

PATHANKOT
KILLED: A nine-year-old boy Lovish was killed when the autorickshaw in which he was going to school overturned in the Indira Colony area on Thursday. The autorickshaw reportedly overturned when the driver lost control of it.

PATIALA
FUNCTION: Mr Satpal Saini, Minister of State for Information Technology and Administrative Reforms, distributed prizes among students of Government Senior Secondary School, Bhadson, at the annual prize distribution function held at Bhadson, near here, on Friday. Mr Saini stressed on the need of computers and their use in day to day life. Mr Gurjinder Singh, Principal of the school, said the students were provided education in all fields, including arts, science, commerce and vocational subjects.

OFFICE-BEARERS: Mr Surmkh Singh was elected as president of the Towns Planning Employees Union unanimously here on Friday. The other office-bearers are: vice-president — Mr Sakhan Lal; general secretary — Mr Manmohan Singh; joint secretary — Mr Inderjit Singh; cashier — Mr Chaman Lal; and executive members — Mrs Veena Jain and Mr Balbir Chand.

PROGRAMME: A training programme, organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Patiala, for rural women and school dropout girls was concluded here on Friday. Mrs Nafisa Gagandeep Singh, wife of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, presided over the concluding function. Trainees have put up an exhibition comprising fabric painting, phulkari making, glass painting and embroidery. Certificates were also distributed among 50 trainees.

SAPLINGS PLANTED: A sapling plantation day was observed by students of Kaintal Junior School here on Friday. The drive, which was initiated by the school Principal, Ms Neena Dhundia, turned out to be quite encouraging with students seen planting saplings in and outside the school premises. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Dhundia said the students were taught about the need of afforestation and the protection of environment.

SAHNEWAL
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Sahnewal Truck Union: president —Mr Avtar Singh Chahal; Cashiers — Mr Nirmal Singh Gahibhaini and Mr Jora Singh Katani; senior vice-president — Mr Sohan Singh and vice-president — Mr Jasmail Singh.

SAMRALA
NEW BDPO: Mr Narpinder Singh Grewal took over as the Block Development and Panchayat Officer on Wednesday in place of Mr Sanjeev Garg, who has been transferred to Sirhind. Mr Grewal was earlier posted at Amloh.

CANECHARGE CONDEMNED: A meeting of literary personalities was held at the Kavita Bhavan on Wednesday under the presidentship of Prof Baldeep Singh. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Hamdardvir Nausheharvi condemned the brutal canecharge on farmers protesting peacefully at Mysarkhana village in Bathinda district, by the police forces from Bathinda, Mansa and Sangrur districts. Meanwhile, Mr Malkiat Singh Ghuman, member of central committee of the Lok Bhalai Party, has urged the authorities to accept genuine demands of the farmers, and arrest the commission agent and bank manager wanted in connection with the suicide committed by Mithu Singh, a poor farmer.

NEW SDM: Mr S. S. Brar took over as the Sub-divisional Magistrate of Samrala on Wednesday in place of Ms Raghbir Kaur Khaira, whose transfer orders are still pending. Mr Brar was earlier posted as General Assistant to the DC, Jalandhar. Ms Khaira served as the SDM for only about one month.

WITHDRAW RESIGNATION: Prof Hamdardvir Naushaharvi, patron of the Punjabi Lekhak Manch and executive member of the Kendriya Punjabi Lekhak Sabha (Sekhon), has urged Dr Tejwant Singh Mann to withdraw his resignation from the post of vice-president of the sabha. He also appealed to the Punjabi Language Department not to interfere in the internal affairs of the sabha. He added that the department should publish its journals, Jan Sahit and Punjabi Duniya, every month, and hold the literary seminars regularly.

STUDENTS’ DHARNA: The dharna of the Panjab University Students Union entered its fifth day here on Friday. The union is demanding revival of a placement cell, re evaluation without detailed marks card for RLL students, Students are also seeking reduction of fees for B Sc (honours) in mathematics and computer science.

INAUGURATED: The PGI Direc-tor, Prof S.K. Sharma, inaugurated a week-long tree plantation programme at the PGI on Thursday. As many as 75 saplings of gulmohar and tun trees were planted by the Director, faculty members and other officials. During the week-long celebration, 700 saplings of different varieties will be planted.

AMBALA
TRADERS’ PLEA: Traders of wholesale cloth market of Ambala City expressed concern that the administration has not taken any measure to check waterlogging in the market during rainy season. A few weeks ago the rain water entered several shops of the market which damaged cloths of several lakhs of rupees. The president of the Wholesale Cloth Market Association, Mr Harcharan Singh Bhatia, said there was no proper drainage arrangement in the market.

BHIWANI
MEMORANDUM: Residents of Ward 30 on Thursday gave a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner regarding the supply of contaminated water in the Ward. A delegation headed by BJP leader and president of the Rashtriya Mahila Utthan Samiti Gita Singh met the DC and complained that the rain water got accumulated in the absence of sewerage in the colonies falling under the Ward posing a threat of epidemic.

POWER SHORTAGE: Residents of Mittathal, Sainawas, Chang and Dhanana villages are facing shortage of power supply due to damaged transformers. BSP leader Nirmala Sharma alleged in a press note issued here on Thursday that three transformers in these villages were damaged and electricity poles near Government Girls School, Dhanana, were leaning forward and could cause accident.

PROBLEM GALORE: Residents of Satnali town are sore over problems like insanitation, disrupted power and water supply. There is no proper drainage arrangement in the town. Several cases of malaria and jaundice have been reported during the past few months. They also complain about the supply of contaminated water.

FARIDABAD
GRANT TO WIDOWS: As many as 10 widows received a financial assistance of Rs 1.10 lakh under the National Family Welfare Scheme at a function here on Wednesday. Presiding over the function, the Deputy Commissioner said the beneficiaries under the scheme were provided grant of Rs 10,000 each. At least 435 families have benefited from the scheme.

JHAJJAR
VENDOR STABBED: A street vendor was stabbed to death by three unidentified assailants at Salawas village of the district on Wednesday night. According to police sources, Vijay of Alwar district in Rajasthan was sleeping in a dharamshala when the three persons attacked him with knives. He reportedly died on the spot. In another incident the Bahadurgarh police seized 200 pouches of illicit liquor.

KALKA
DIRECTION: In the interest of the public, the SDM, Kalka has issued directions to all officials of the subdivision, including the field staff, to remain present in their offices in the first half of the day to hear the public grievances. According to the SDM, the instructions have been issued keeping in view the problems faced by the public when they visit offices and get a reply that officials concerned are in the field. The order will also imply on the revenue staff, including the patwaris.

REWARI
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Satish Yadav and his mother Urmila Yadav in connection with the alleged dowry death of his wife Savitri Yadav of Rajiv Nagar here. Both accused have been remanded in judicial custody by a local court. Earlier, on a complaint by Mr Surat Singh Yadav, father of the deceased, a case was registered under Sections 498-A, 304-B and 34 of the IPC against the husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the deceased.

CASE REGISTERED: Following a complaint by a young married woman of Rampuri village under Jatusana police station in Rewari district, the police has registered a case on the charges of rape, abduction and criminal intimidation against two persons, including a registered medical practitioner.

SONEPAT
CHEMIST APOLOGISES: Mr Krishan Kumar, a chemist on the Rohtak road area on Friday retracted his earlier statement in which he had alleged that he was forcibly evicted from his shop by the district administration. In an affidavit submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, he apologised for misleading and making false allegations against the administration.

JAISINGHPUR
KISAN PASS BOOKS: Every village of the Thural Vidhan Sabha area would be linked by road by the end of 2003. This was stated by the Minister of State for Technical Education at a function organised at Sanghol, about 8 km from here, on Thursday. Earlier, the minister distributed more than 500 kisan pass books among the farmers. Mr H.R. Chouhan, SDM, was also present on the occasion.