The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, May 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
RESOLUTION: The local Bar Association in a meeting chaired by Mr Manmohan Sharma has decided to abstain from court work on Thursday, according to a resolution. The resolution called the selections made by the PPSC through corruption as deplorable.

FEROZEPORE
NOMINATED: Mr Ajaybir Singh Sodhi has been nominated as district president of the BJP replacing Mr D.P. Chandan. Mr Sodhi was earlier an executive member of the state BJP. This was stated by Dr Brij Lal Rinwa, President of the state unit of the BJP.

HOSHIARPUR
MEMORANDUM: Brick-kiln owners of the subdivision are not making timely payment of wages to the labourers in their kilns. This was stated in a memorandum on Monday to the local Deputy Commissioner by leaders of the district branch of the Lal Jhanda Punjab Kiln Mazdoors Union. The union leaders alleged that many of the labourers and their children were deprived of treatment for their sickness for want of money. They demanded immediate health facilities for the affected labourers to save their lives and stern action against their employers. Meanwhile, members of the union, led by Mr Gurmesh Singh, took out a protest march in the main bazars of the city against the brick-kiln owners.

NCC TRAINING: On account of paucity of funds, training of NCC cadets in schools and colleges is suffering badly in Punjab and the desired results are not being achieved. This was stated by Col A.S. Jatana, Group Commander, NCC, Jalandhar, here on Tuesday. He said there were more than 40,000 NCC cadets in the state. The Punjab Government was providing only 35 per cent of the total budget of NCC education in instalments which was insufficient to carry on the task.

KHAMANO
CHARGE TAKEN: Mr Gurdip Singh on Wednesday assumed the charge of SDM. He replaces Mr Nirbhai Singh who has been transferred to Faridkot.

LUDHIANA
WORKSHOP: The state unit of the Indian Dental Association (IDA) organised a one-day compulsory IDA officers workshop here on Sunday. Dr Puneet Girhdar, state secretary, in a press note on Wednesday stated the workshop-cum-seminar was focussed on management, leadership skills, role and responsibility of IDA officer. Around 100 officers from 11 branches in the state participated in the workshop. A special panel discussion and open session was also held.

IDA MEET: The district unit of Indian Dental Association (IDA) held a scientific general body meet here on Sunday. Dr T.P. Singh, president of the local unit, in a press note on Wednesday stated that more than 70 dental surgeons and students of BJS and Christian Dental College participated in the meet. Dr Vimal Sikri, an endodontist, delivered a lecture on ‘Complex restorations.’

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Association of Principals. Principal Sanga of SGGS College, Chandigarh — president; Mr B.D. Budhiraja of Kamla Lohtia S.D. College — general secretary; Ms Anup Kaur Bansal of GGN College, Model Town vice-president; Mr V.K. Sharma of DAV College Dasuya and Mr Raj Garg of DAV College, — secretaries; and Ms Jagdish Kaur of Dev Samaj College — treasurer and financial secretary.

HOMAGE: The local Maha Sabha would pay homage to Shaheed Baba Bhan Singh at a function to be held at Government High School, Sunet, on Saturday at 8 pm, according to a press note here on Wednesday. The annual cultural drama festival would also be held. A drama team led by dramatist Gursharan Singh would stage a number of revolutionary plays. The Taraksheel Society would hold a magic show to make public aware of gimmicks being employed by “tantriks” to exploit innocent people. An exhibition depicting the lives of various martyrs would also be held.

FREE BUS: The Shri Shiv Shakti Sewa Dal, Santosh Nagar, would engage a bus on July 25 to Amarnath in which devotees would be allowed to travel free, according to Mr Shammi Chauhan, president of the dal. Those willing to undertake the pilgrimage could contact the dal.

SANKIRTAN: Shri Ram Sankirtan Mandal would organise its 52nd Shri Harinam Sankirtan Sammelan on Friday, according to Mr Amar Nath Aggarwal, chairman of the mandal. Swami Nigambodh would deliver his discourse on the opening day of the three-day programme. Among others who would participate in the sammelan are Swami Ved Bharti ji Maharaj, Mahant Ram Dass, Acharya Varinder Hari, Jeewan Sharma and Swami Yashodanandacharya ji.

MUNI HONOURED: Acharya Shiv Muni Maharaj bestowed the title of Mahashraman Sangh’s Adviser on Gian Muni Maharaj at a function held here on Tuesday at S.S.Jain Senior Secondary School. Mr Hira Lal Jain, Mr Ram Kumar Jain, Mr T.R. Jain and Mr Narinder Kumar Jain were among those present on the occasion.

PHAGWARA
ONE KILLED: A tractor driver, Deepak Kumar, was killed while three other persons were seriously injured in an accident involving two tractors and a Toyota Qualis near Nanak Nagri colony, 10 km from here on the GT road on Monday. The injured have been identified as Jaspal Dev, Jaimal Singh and Charanjit Singh.

DOWRY DEATH: Parkash Singh, husband, Mohan Singh, father-in-law and Simar Kaur, mother-in-law of Rajwant Kaur were arrested under Sections 304-B and 498-A, IPC, and remanded into police custody for a day, it was learnt on Monday. They have been charged with poisoning Rajwant Kaur, who was pregnant, at Manawali village on Saturday after she allegedly failed to satiate their lust for more dowry. Hari Singh and Sarabjit Kaur, brother-in-law and sister-in-law of the deceased, respectively, are still at large.

SUICIDE: Teenager Amandeep Kaur of nearby Chachoki village on Monday hung herself to death. According to sources the girl took the extreme step following a minor tiff with her sister. Both were watching TV. Amandeep was asked to do a domestic errand. She is said to have taken it to heart that while the other sister was busy watching television, she had been asked to do dreary domestic work. The body has been brought here for a post-mortem examination.

4 INJURED IN CLASH: Four persons were injured in a clash between rivals of a tempo union here on Tuesday. Swords and other sharp-edged weapons were used in the clash which took place following a dispute over parking at a taxi stand on the GT Road. The injured person have been hospitalised.

CHANDIGARH

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Chandigarh Malayalee Association: president — Mr T.V. Menon, vice-president — Ms Sarala Sreekumar; secretary — Mr Vijaya Kumar; joint secretary — Mr Suresh Kumar and treasurer — Mr T.T. Varghese.

LIQUOR SHOP: Members of the Social Welfare Society, Mauli Jagran, has urged the Chandigarh Administration to remove the liquor shop functioning in the village. The society alleges that the shop is unauthorised. In a press note issued here on Tuesday, Mr Anil Kumar Dubey, president of the society, threatened to stage a dharna opposite the shop if the administration failed to remove the shop within a week.

APPOINTMENT HAILED: The Board of Directors of the Gujjar Samaj Kalyan Parishad, Chandigarh, hailed the appointment of Mr Pardeep Chaudhary as one of the members of the Haryana Public Service Commission on Tuesday. Mr Amrik Singh, president of the parishad, said it was for the first time that a person belonging to the Gujjar community has been appointed to the HPSC in the history of Haryana.

COINS MELA: The Chandigarh State Cooperative Bank Ltd. will organise a “coins mela” here on May 10. The Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, Chandigarh, will inaugurate the “coins mela” where customers can exchange their currency into coins of Rs 5, Rs 2 and Re 1 and fresh currency notes of Rs 5 also.

PANCHKULA
ART OF LIVING COURSE: The Art of Living Foundation will organise a four-day residential advanced course at Mansa Devi temple, beginning on Thursday. It will include yoga, pranayam, meditations and silence. As many as 100 persons from different walks of life were expected to take part in the course, said Mr Sunil Gulati, sewa coordinator.

SOLAR ELECTRIFICATION: Ms Meenaxi Anand Chaudhary, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Power, will inaugurate the first phase of solar electrification of hamlets under the Shivalik Development programme at Bhoj Palasra village on Thursday. The Shivalik Development Agency has decided to electrify 26 hamlets (each having 20 or more houses), for which Rs 1.48 lakh have been sanctioned.

ANTI-ENCROACHMENT DRIVE: The Enforcement Wing of the Estate Office lifted a large number of illegal kiosks and rehris that were operating in Sectors 2, 6 and 8 on Wednesday. This was done as part of the on-going anti-encroachment drive. The drive was by and large peaceful. The Estate Officer, Ms Geeta Bharti, said she would herself visit these sectors tomorrow.

SAS NAGAR
OPEN DAY: The NIPER will organise an “open day” on the occasion of the Technology Day on May 11. The institute will be opened for public and scientists to interact with the faculty and researchers between 9.30 am to 11.30. On the occasion, Dr C.L. Kaul, Director of the institute, will deliver a lecture on “Scientific vision to social vision” at the NIPPER auditorium.

HARYANA

AMBALA
BODY FOUND: The body of a youth was found on the railway line near Barara railway station. The deceased has been identified as Satvinder, alias Sonu, a resident of Dabbi village. He used to work as a Tata Sumo driver. He had left for work at 7 am on Tuesday, but did not return home. His body was found on the railway track and his scooter was parked nearby.

UNION HOLDS DHARNA: The Northern Railway Men’s Union held a dharna opposite the Divisional Railway Managers office on Wednesday to press for their demand. Members demanded that the pass system should be continued as before and should not be made taxable income. Speakers at the dharna said if the government did not reconsider its decision by May 15, they would be forced to take other measures.

FATEHABAD
CHILDREN’S COUNCIL: The District Children’s Welfare Council has been working for the all-round development of children in the district. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr O.P. Indora, told mediapersons here on Wednesday that the council had been running three creches in the district at Tohana, Jakhal and Fatehabad. These creches have provision for the admission of 25 children each up to 5 years of age. Mr Indora said the council had also opened a computer training centre, a children’s library and a sports centre in the local Bal Bhavan. The council had also set up computer centres at Rattia, Bhuna, Bhattu and Tohana.

JIND
MURDERED: Chattar Singh, a farmer of Surbra village in the district, was allegedly murdered by his relatives on Tuesday. A land dispute is said to be the cause behind the murder. A case has been registered against six suspects.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: As many as 152 persons donated blood at a camp organised by Jind Engineering College on the premises of the college to commemorate Red Cross Day on Tuesday. Mr L.N. Mittal, director of the college, was among those who donated blood. Mr Inder Singh, Subdivisional Officer (Civil), inaugurated the camp.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHIMLA
BANNED: To prevent the outbreak of diseases like cholera, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and dysentery in Kinnaur district during the current summer, Deputy Commissioner Munish Garg on Tuesday prohibited the sale of rotten, overripe and uncovered fruits and vegetables in the district. The Deputy Commissioner, who issued orders under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, also banned the sale of uncovered sweets, meat, fish and other perishable food articles.

TRAINING COURSE: The state railway and traffic police started a week-long training course for constables and head constables here on Tuesday. The traffic policemen will be given training in using latest traffic gadgets.

ABVP FUNCTION: The ABVP on Tuesday organised a cultural function on the Himachal Pradesh University campus here. As many as 25 items were presented by students notable of them being ‘Kulu Nati’, “Laholi Nati”, “Himachali Nati”. Dean of Studies Suresh Kapoor was the chief guest.

SUNDERNAGAR
INAUGURATED: Mr Roop Singh Thakur, Forest Minister, inaugurated a multimedia laboratory at the local Government Polytechnic College on Tuesday. The laboratory has been constructed at a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh and has 25 latest computers. Later Mr Thakur attended the prize distribution function of the college as chief guest. He said the present government had opened more than 30 technical institutions in the state in the past four years.