R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

LUDHIANA
MAGIC SHOW EXTENDED: Jadugar Samrat Shankar has decided to extend his magic show in the city till October 9. The show had started on August 29, but it was extended due to heavy rush. Says the magician, I have received overwhelming response from residents of Ludhiana is overwhelming. I have met many of them personally. It is due to their love and admiration that I have decided to extend my stay in the city.

PATIENTS EXAMINED: The Bhai Ghanaiyaji Seva Sanstha observed the anniversary of Bhai Ghanaiyaji on the premises of Bhai Ghanaiya Charitable Hospital, Golden Avenue Colony, Ludhiana. A free medical camp was organised after the bhog of Shri Sukhmani Shaib path. Dr Navin Sikka, Dr B.S. Dang and Dr H.S. Arora checked 210 patients for eye and other diseases. Mr Ranjit Singh Chawla and Mr Jagjit Singh Walipur inaugurated the function and Mr Manpreet Singh Ayalukhurd was the chief guest. The formal inauguration of the Hospital was also done.

YOGA CAMP: The Vishwa Yog Sansthan would hold a yoga practice camp at Devki Devi Jain College near Mini Rose Garden in Suffian Bagh from 5 am to 7 am on Sunday, said a press note issued by the sansthan here on Thursday. As many as 60 yoga instructors would be given practical lessons in ‘anand kirya’ by a yoga specialist, Dr Parmar. The note said the yoga specialist would also dwell on ways to remove blood pressure, heart ailments, body pain and chronic constipation through yoga.

DENTAL CAMP: The Bharat Vikas Parishad, Tagore branch, organised a dental check-up camp at New Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, here on Thursday. The camp was inaugurated by the Principal of the school, Mr Yashpal Gupta. As many as 200 students were examined by Dr Rita Rai, DMC Hospital, and told about dental problems and their treatment. The parishad also decided to organise such dental camps in schools in the slum areas.

CASSETTE RELEASED: A kirtan cassette by four young singers, “Jagat Julanda Rakh Loi,” was released in Gurdwara Ravidas Sabha, Barewal, on Thursday. The age of the singers is between eight to 12 years. They have been undergoing training with Mr Surjit Singh, a ragi in a Gurdwara in Toronto.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
MARTYRDOM DAY: The Shaheed Bhagat Singh Club will observe the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in Municipal Park, Model Town, here on Sunday. Students from different schools, who have achieved distinctions in sports and studies at the district and the state level, will be honoured on the occasion. Municipal council chief Joginder Pal Singla will be the chief guest. Mr Kanahaya Lal Bardeja, a social worker, will be the guest of honour. The function will be presided over by Mr Harinder Singh Bhambri, member, Punjab Pardesh Congress, said Mr Bhambri here on Thursday.

CELEBRATION: Maharaja Agrasen jayanti will be celebrated by the Agarwal Sabha on Friday in community centre, opposite the Dasehra ground, said Mr Parkash Chand Garg, president of the sabha. Mr. Nand Kisore Goyal will be the chief guest and Dr Parshotam Lal Goyal, Civil Surgeon, Fatehgarh Sahib, guest of honour.

INAUGURATION: The Gobindgarh Education and Social Welfare Trust will organise “Panorama – 2003” on Monday at Kanahaya Lal Bardeja Lions Bhavan, said Mr Swaranjeet Singh Bagli, president of the trust, in a press note here on Thursday. Dr K.N. Pathak Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, will be the chief guest. As per the programme, the building of Gobindgarh Public College will be inaugurated and Panorama-2003, a souvenir, released. A cultural programme will be presented by students on the occasion.

GRATUITY GRANTED: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the management of the Malwa College Bondli-Samrala to pay gratuity and leave encashment within three months with 12 per cent interest, to Prof R.D. Gupta and Prof B.S. Pannu, according to Mr Pannu here on Thursday. Mr Pannu said though the non-government aided college were bound to pay gratuity to its employees on the eve of the retirement but the management of the Malwa College did not pay bond to their requests and thus they were compelled to know the doors of Law.

INSTALLATION: The installation ceremony of President elect of the Lions Club Samrala, will be held on September 27 at Rainbow Fast Food, Samrala according to installation chairman Lion Naib Singh. On this occasion District Governor Distt 321-F MJF Lion R.K. Mehta will be the chief guest and Lion Jaswant Rai Garg vice-district governor will perform the installation ceremony and Lion Dr Ashok Singla, district cabinet secretary will be the induction officer. 

NO RATION CARDS: Ration cards have not been issued to the needy persons of this subdivision for the past more than five years, Mr S.P. Kalra, president of the BJP unit of Samrala said. Mr Kalra appealed to the state government to get the ration cards printed and delivered to the applicants immediately.

ROPAR
GROUP FORMED: The district administration has formed a 15-member crises management group to tackle crisis situations in the district. In a press note issued here on Thursday the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Seema Jain, said the group that would be headed by the Deputy Commissioner would include besides others the District Transport Department, District Revenue Officer, Director Factories, District Fire Station officers and representatives of trade unions.

HARYANA

AMBALA
TEACHER HONOURED: Ms Sangeeta Bhatnagar, a primary teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Ambala Cantonment, who was honoured with the Life Time Achievement Award by the President of India, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on the Teacher’s Day in Delhi, was felicitated by Brig D.C. Katoch, Commander Sub Area-cum-Chairman Vidyalaya Management Committee, here on Tuesday. She was presented a cheque for Rs 1,100, a shawl and a coconut at a function held at the school. Ms Urmila Sharma, Principal of the school, presented a bouquet to the teacher. The function ended with a cultural presentation by students.

URGED: The Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday urged the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to withdraw value added tax (VAT). The Senior vice-president of the HCCI, Dr N.C. Jain, urged him to review and consider the demands of the traders as well as industrialists to withdraw VAT. He said the interest of trading community had suffered due to increase in cost of products. 

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of The Science Apparatus Manufacturers Association: president — Mr Gian Chand Aggarwal; senior vice- president —Mr Ram Kumar Dhiman; vice-president —Mr Parduman Kumar Goel; general secretary —Mr Bal Kishan Thakur; secretary —Mr Kailash Nath Dhir; joint secretary —Mr Anil Kumar Dhir; cashier —Mr Subhash Chander Gupta; and auditor —Mr Chaman Lal Mittal. 

DIRECT INTERNET ACCESS: Direct Internet access will soon be introduced in Ambala Cantonment. Nagpal, said facility was already there in Ambala City. The system provides both telephone as well as internet operation, he added.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KANGRA
BODY FOUND: The Kangra police on Wednesday found a body from Loharakkar village falling under Jawalamukhi police station. Kangra district Additional Police chief Santosh Patial said the body was identified as that of Ramesh Chand (33), a resident of Loharakkar village. He said a case under Section 174 of the IPC had been registered.

PROTEST LODGED: Medical representatives affiliated with the Himachal Pradesh Medical Representatives Association (HPMRA) on Wednesday lodged a protest against the increasing sale of the spurious drugs, black-marketing and sale of substandard drugs at different subdivisional headquarters in the district and demanded a CBI probe into the scam. Representatives of the HPMRA on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the government through the local SDM and expressed shock over the sale of spurious medicines.

KULU
JUMPS TO DEATH: Jagat Ram, a patient, jumped to death from the third floor of Zonal hospital here on Wednesday. He was in the habit of drinking and was admitted to the hospital. He jumped from the window of the toilet and died on the spot. The body was handed over to relatives after the autopsy and a case has been registered.

SHIMLA
VIGILANCE CELL: The Himachal Government has decided to open a vigilance cell in the Panchayati Raj Department to monitor inquiries into the complaints against the Panchayati Raj functionaries in the state. An order issued in this regard on Wednesday said that the Deputy Director-cum-Deputy Secretary, Panchayati Raj, would head the cell.