AMRITSAR
SEMINAR: A seminar on “New trends in Punjabi research” was organised at Guru Nanak Dev University as part of the ongoing Punjabi week celebrations here on Tuesday. Dr Satinder Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the university, presided over the seminar. Eleven research papers were presented. Dr Harbhajan Singh Bhatia and Dr Sukhdev Singh Khehra presided over the various sessions.

WHEAT SEIZED: Twentyfive bags of wheat were seized from the godown of a depot holder, who was nabbed by the police for allegedly selling government wheat on the black market. Jaimal Singh, a resident of Jhite Kalan village, allegedly used to sell government wheat which he had stored at a godown along the Bibeksar road. A case under Sections 406, 409 and 34 of the IPC has been registered.

DENGUE SCARE: With the detection of dengue symptoms in a man of Bathan, village dengue scare has gripped this town and surrounding areas. The Health Department has not taken any stepon this connection yet. Swarn Singh of the village, who works at the local electricity board was having fever for some days. When he consulted a private doctor, the doctor finding some symptoms of dengue, immediately referred him to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, where he is recovering. No steps have been taken in this area to check dengue and even DDT has not been sprayed. After survey in the area it was found that many more persons were affected with fever for the past many days. 

SHORT CIRCUIT: Siti Advertisers, a media office in the Nehru Plaza shopping complex, witnessed a short circuit in its display board on Tuesday. Timely action by employees checked the spread of fire on the office premises. Telephone lines were also affected due to the short circuit.

PUNJAB DAY: The Mansarovar Punjab Sahitya Akademi celebrated Punjab Day here on Tuesday. The akademi, under the presidentship of Mr R.S. Bindra, Dr Kulbir Singh Kang, Dr Jatinderpal Singh Jolly and Dr Sukhdev Singh passed six resolutions regarding promotion of the Punjabi language.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
COMPUTER CENTRE: The SSI restarted its computer centre at Sirhind on Wednesday. The centre was inaugurated by Mr Dhiraj Mathur, territory manager. He said that the SSI had engaged highly qualified faculty to provide world standards in computer education. Mr Batra, director of the centre, said modern facilities were being provided to the students. He said besides imparting computer education, stress would be laid on the development of personality and communication skills. 

HOSHIARPUR
BOOKED FOR RAPE: Sarabjit Singh, a resident of Haiyatpur village, was booked by the Mukerian police on the charge of raping a girl of Chibo Chack village on Monday. Police sources said Sarabjit earlier saved the girl from the clutches of Bagga, alias Jajji Bains, while the latter was forcing her to accompany him on his motor cycle. Sarabjit gave the girl a ride on his scooter. He allegedly took her to a room at Meerthal village and raped her. The police has registered a case under Sections 343, 376, 342, 120A and 506 of the IPC against Bagga and Sarabjit Singh.

KILLED IN MISHAP: Anil Kumar, a resident of Pathankot, was killed when he rammed his Qualis into a tree at Bahowal on the Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road, about 20 km from here, on Monday.

KHAMANO
HEART CAMP: A two-day heart check-up camp was organised by the local Bharat Vikas Parishad at Shree Shakti Dharamshala. A team of heart specialists from Escorts Heart Hospital, New Delhi, under the leadership of Dr T.S. Kaler, examined 480 patients. The Durga Mandir Committee Chemists Association and the Ram Leela Committee helped the Bharat Vikas Parishad organised the camp. Dr J. S. Rana, Dr Sunil Gupta, Dr Devinder Dania and Deepak Verma thanked all doctors and patients. This camp was inaugurated with the lighting of lamp by Dr T. S. Kaler followed by a welcome song by students of Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir. 

KHARAR
HONOUR: Indian Ex-Servicemen League, Punjab, Chandigarh, Ropar district, organise a function here on November 15 to honour Major-Gen B.Sadananda (VSM), Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir, for his medical services to ex-servicemen and their wards. 

SEMINAR: Lions Clubs International District-321-F organised a joint district awareness seminar, “Generation Next 2003”, here under the chairmanship of Mr Preet Kanwal Singh, committee chairman of Lions Quest. According to a press note issued here on Wednesday, Mr R.K. Mehta, district governor, attended the seminar as the chief guest. Keynote speaker on Lions Quest Lion Omi Arora from Mumbai talked in detail about the Quest programme emphasised on protecting today’s generation from social evils. He said that Lions Quest took care of the development of the entire personality of a child. Schools should adopt this programme for inculcating self-discipline, responsibility and self-respect among adolescent students. Talking on environment, Dr Reena Singh said every person was responsible for the harm to the ozone layer and all human beings should care about the environment. 

LUDHIANA
ANNUAL DAY: Taal-2003, annual prize distribution and cultural show, was organised at Wylie Memorial High. The President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, was the chief guest. Mr Sunil Pillay, school manager, presented the annual report. He said the school was currently linked with 20 schools of the UK. He said the British Council had chosen Wylie to be one of the six schools across India, and the only one in Punjab, to be awarded the British Council International School Award in March 2004. On the occasion, dances, choreography and music items were presented by school children. 

GURPURAB CELEBRATIONS: Children of Kiddies Care Playway School, Urban Estate, celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. They enchanted hymns and recited the Waheguru jap. Mr Sarabjit Singh, Deputy Chief Organiser, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, spoke on the life and teachings of the Guru. The Nishkam Kirtani Jatha recited kirtan on the occasion. Langar was served at the end of the function. Ms Hardeep Kaur, Principal, told the children to follow the path shown by gurus and saints. 

NAWANSHAHR
FOUNDATION STONE: Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC President, on Monday laid the foundation stone for Guru Teg Bahadur Hall, which will be constructed by the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewa Jatha, Birmingham (UK), at Gurdwara Charan Kanwal, Banga, about 12 km from here. Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Mr Tarlochan Singh Dopalpuri, both SGPC members, Chaudhary Mohan Lal, a former MLA, and Mr Resham Singh Thiara, district president, SAD, among others, were present on the occasion.

AKALI DAL: The working committee of the Akali Dal will meet here on November 13 here under the chairmanship of Mr Ravi Inder Singh. In a press note issued here on Wednesday, the secretary of the party, Mr Rajinder Singh Badheri said the issues which would be discussed pertained to the Regional Akali Conference to be held at Mansa on November 16, Sehajdhari Sikh vote for the SGPC elections, besides organisational appointments and the current political situation in the state. TNS

CONVENTION: Four Left parties, namely MCPI, CPM (Punjab), CPI (ML) Liberation and All-India Forward Bloc, which met here on Wednesday decided to hold a state-level convention here on November 20. TNS