R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
PROTEST RALLY: Under the leadership of the CPI villagers of Dhopia on relay fast since March 23, staged a rally against poor civic amenities by the Municipal Council, which posed a health risk, Mr Amarjit Singh Asal, head of district CPI, said here on Wednesday.

GURMAT CAMP: At least 300 granthis (priests) from border villages took part in a four-day Gurmat training camp organised by the Dharam Parchar Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee at Gurdwara Shaheedan, which concluded here on Wednesday. The camp was dedicated to the fourth centenary installation of Guru Granth Sahib.

TRAINING CAMP: A pre-recruitment training camp will be organised on April 16 for children of ex-servicemen and Scheduled Caste aspiring to join defence and paramilitary forces, Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare, Amritsar, Col Manmohan Singh, said here on Wednesday. He said the medical examination of candidates would take place on April 10.

AMLOH
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Clerical Association, Education Department (Punjab), Amloh sub-division: president — Mr Roopchand; general secretary — Mr Achhar Singh; press secretary — Mr Ravinder Singh; cashier — Ms Veena Kumari; and executive members — Ms Parkash Kumari and Mr Avtar Singh.

BATHINDA
ONE KILLED: A 75-year-old woman was killed when she accidentally fell in front of a train on the Bathinda-Dabwali route near Doomwali village, about 15 km from here, on Thursday. The deceased, Bachan Kaur, belonged to Doomwali village.

BODY FOUND: The police found the mutilated body of Jasbir Singh of Beer Talab village on Thursday. Hospital sources said parts of the body had been eaten up by stray dogs.

WOMAN DEAD: Kavita, wife of an Army personnel residing in the Bathinda military station, succumbed to burn injuries on Thursday. She had been under treatment in the military hospital and had suffered 96 per cent burns.

GURDASPUR
BAN ORDERS: Mr KAP Sinha, District Magistrate, has directed that combine harvesters be operated only from 9 am to 6 pm in the district till May 31. Any violation of the order would lead to prosecution under Section 188, IPC. In another order, Mr Sinha prohibited farmers from setting afire wheat straw within a radius of 500 metres of their fields.

HOSHIARPUR
CAMP: Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner of Hoshiarpur, inaugurated a district-level farmers training camp and seminar of the Agriculture Department at Kheti Bhavan here on Thursday. An exhibition on kharif crops was also organised.

KHARAR
REMANDED: Mrs Preeti Sahni, Judicial Magistrate, Kharar, here on Thursday remanded Sub-Inspector Harnam Singh Rana, working in the office of the IG, Vigilance Bureau to judicial remand till April 11. He was arrested for giving photocopies of secret documents to Dr Gurcharan Singh Chahal, Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab, who too is in judicial custody.

LUDHIANA
MEETING: A meeting of the Arya Samaj, Urban Estate, Dugri, was held under the leadership of Mr P.L. Arora here on Thursday. The meeting was held to discuss the preparations for the third annual celebration of the Arya Samaj to be held on Sunday. The spokesperson for the Arya Samaj, Mr Rajnish Mehra, in a press note stated that around 100 “yajmans” would perform yajna on 21 havan kunds and Swami Sampurnanand would extend his blessings. The function would be presided over by Mr Satyanand Munjal, while Mr S.K. Sharma, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, would be the chief guest.

FUNCTION: The annual prize distribution function of Nankana Sahib Public School, Kila Raipur village, was held here on Wednesday. A special prize was awarded to Sandeep Kaur Grewal of Gujjarwal village, who stood first in the district and third in the state in Class X examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board. Students who had stood first, second and third in the examination were also given prizes. A cultural programme was presented by students. Dr Sarup Singh Alag, a scholar of Sikhism, was the chief guest. Delivering his keynote address, Dr Alag advised the students to work hard to achieve their goals. Dr G.S. Randhawa, additional secretary of the school trust, stressed the significance of technical education at school level. Dr Inderjit Singh Grewal, president of the managing committee, Mr Surinder Mohan Singh, Principal, Mr Kuldeep Singh, sarpanch of the village, were present on the occasion.

AGITATION DEFERRED: The Government Primary Teachers’ Association has postponed its agitation against the Punjab Government. This was decided at a meeting held here on Thursday. Stating this, Mr Piara Singh Dhillon, president, said the decision was taken keeping in view a meeting convened by Mr Khushal Behl, Education Minister, Punjab, on April 9 to discuss the new education policy with school teachers. Mr Dhillon also urged the minister not to issue any new letter in this regard till then.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
FETE: A four-day cultural-cum-academic fete, Abhinandan-2003, was inaugurated at the Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences (DBIMCS) here on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, MLA, said students should avoid bad company. Mr Devinder Pal Singh, MD of the DBIMCS, welcomed the guest. The Director of the institute, Ms Shalini Gupta, spoke about the achievements of the college. Mr Jagmeet Singh Bawa, vice-president, Municipal Council, talked about the importance of such programmes. The cultural events included Punjabi folk song, solo song, competition, skit, solo dance, rangoli, mehndi, group song and choreography.

MANSA
FOUND ABSENT: Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner, during his surprise visit to the District Fisheries Department on Wednesday found Mr K.C. Dhiman, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ravi Singla, field officer and Mr Surjit Singh, fish breeder of the District Fisheries Department, Mansa, absent from the office. The Deputy Commissioner also found Mr Nacchtar Singh, clerk and Mr Shambu Dass, peon of the District Soil Conservative Office here absent from the duty.

PHAGWARA
GIRL TRACED: A 10-year-old girl, who was abducted by a tenant, Ramu, was sent back to her parents here after the Khanna police traced her on Wednesday. It is learnt that Ramu spotted a police naka at Khanna and got panicky. He deserted her on the road. She was escorted home.

PATIALA
APPOINTED: The Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Mr Swaran Singh Boparai, has appointed Dr Ranjit Kaur, Professor, English Department, and Dr Anil Narula, Professor, Music Department, as Dean, Faculty of Languages, and Dean, Faculty of Arts and Culture, respectively. Dr Nirmal Singh Azad, Professor, Economics Department, has been appointed Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, and Dr Manjit Singh, Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drugs has been appointed Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, here.

INTERACTION: Interacting with students of IAS and Allied Services Training Centre of Punjabi University, Mr Swaran Singh Boparai, Vice-Chancellor of the university, told them to develop basic values to build a healthy society.

PUNISHED: Punjabi University has punished 97 out of 117 students involved in unfair means cases during examinations of April/September, 2002. Giving this information, Dr Baldev Singh, Professor, in charge (exams), said a student had been debarred from appearing in examinations for five years, 46 students for two years and 48 students for one year.

HAILED: The Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle and the Malwa Arts, Sports, Cultural and Educational Trust hailed the decision of the Syndicate of Punjabi University to institute the Gurmat Sangeet Chair as ‘historic’. Dr Ranbir Singh Sarao, vice-chairman, MASCUT, said the establishment of the Chair would go a long way in highlighting scriptural linkages between Sikh aesthetics and spirituality. Dr Ravi Bhusan, spokesperson for the study circle, said the Chair would impart professional training to young persons and enable them to become qualified performers of Sikh devotional music.

HARYANA

AMBALA
DEMANDED: A senior leader of the Congress, Mr Om Prakash Malik, in a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Haryana, has demanded the withdrawal of realisation of house tax based on the price of land as per the collector rate. He pointed out that according to the new procedure, the enhancement in house tax will be made annually whereas under the Haryana Municipal Act, the assessment of buildings is made after every five years.

FUNCTION: S.D. Trading Corporation, a tractor dealer of Escorts Limited, will organise a function on the occasion of its golden jubilee celebrations on April 4 at Ambala City. Mr I.D. Swami, Union State Minister for Home Affairs, and the Chairman of Escorts Group of Companies will be present on the occasion.

PROHIBITED: The District Magistrate, Mr D.D. Gautam, has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 with a view to checking the menace of cheating in the ongoing examinations of Kurukshetra University.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHIMLA
RESEARCH STATION: A group of progressive farmers, including women from the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, visited the Regional Horticultural Research Station, Mashobra, near here, on Wednesday to learn about the latest techniques and developments in apple cultivation. The visit was sponsored by the National Horticulture Board.