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PUNJAB

Amritsar
CHECKS: Welcoming surprise checks on nursing institutions, Ms Amarjit Kaur, patron, Punjab Post-graduate Nurses Association, said it would check the mushrooming of nursing institutions being run privately by politically influential persons. In a press note, she said most of the nursing homes in the city and district were flouting all norms laid down by the Indian Nursing Council in 1986. The prescribed student-teacher ratio was not being followed in most institutions. Infrastructure like laboratories, audio-visual devices were not provided besides many institutions also employed unqualified staff.

TRAIN SERVICE: The Aman Committee of Kila Bhagiya has urged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Union Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, to start a special train to Hardwar from Amritsar on the occasion of Kumbh Mela that was to be held after 12 years there. The vice-president of committee, Mr Phool Chand Gandhi, informed in a press note here on Thursday.

ENCROACHMENT: Residents of the Mahna Singh road area have alleged that a part of their lane has been encroached upon by a dharmshala in the locality. The builder of the dharmshala is alleged to have illegally occupied more than 30 sq yrd of land. The Mohalla Sudhar Committee has brought it to the notice of corporation officials. Commissioner K.S. Kang ordered the officials concerned to conduct a spot survey on Saturday.

Hoshiarpur
MAN DUPED: The police has booked some travel agents on the charge of duping a person of Rs 9 lakh. Mr Arjan Singh of Ghogra has lodged a complaint against Kabul Singh, his wife, Manjit Kaur, and his son, Baljinder Singh, alleging that the said persons took Rs 9 lakh from him for sending him to America in April 2003 but they neither sent him abroad nor returned his money.

MAGISTRATE’S ORDERS: Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, District Magistrate, Hoshiarpur, has ordered to all able-bodied persons of rural areas to perform duty under the Small Town and Patrol Act in the district for the protection of power lines, transformers, railway lines, government property, food stock, petrol stations, bridges, banks and post offices etc. He has instructed panchayats to get implemented his order in these respective areas. The order will remain in force up to March 16. He has also banned the sale and storage of the certain medicines without prescription slips from registered medical practitioner.

Patiala
Demands: Demanding the rehabilitation of colony residents, the state treasurer of the BJP, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, on Saturday alleged that the Kalka MLA, Mr Chander Mohan, had failed to fulfil his pre-poll promises. Addressing a press conference, Mr Gupta alleged that the Congress was a divided house and had failed to oppose the revised formula for house tax in the Haryana Assembly. If voted to power, the BJP would rehabilitate the colony residents on the Chandigarh pattern and waive off the house tax on self-occupied houses. It had decided to organise ‘atal sandesh yatras’ from January 23 to February 15 all over the country.

Kisan Divas: The Democratic Youth Organisation for Development , Ajrawar, will organise Kisan Divas on January 29. The basic objective of the Kisan Divas was to make farmers of the area aware of problems being faced by the farmers. In an official press note issued here on Saturday stated that lectures would be delivered by agricultural scientists and successful farmers on various issues relating to agriculture. Chairman of the Democratic Youth Organisation for Development Sukhjit Singh Sidhu said farmers would be made aware of improved and cost effective techniques of agriculture, dairy farming and other agriculture allied activities for income and employment generation for small and marginal farmers.

JOINED: Prof Amarjit Singh Dukhi recently joined as acting Principal of Lehra Gaga Government Polytechnic. Earlier, he was the Head of the Department of Commercial Art at Government Polytechnic for Women, Patiala. Besides this, the previous government has sent him to Canada for three months training in the field of environmental studies.

ELECTED: Mr Baljit Singh, Mr Gurjeet Singh, Mr Baljinder Singh, Mr Raj Singh Rathour and Mr Gurcharn Singh have been elected as president, general secretary, treasurer, senior vice-president and press secretary, respectively, of the Malwa Cultural Welfare Club.

Phagwara
ELECTED: Mr Vijay Sharma was elected president of the Bar Association, Phagwara, on Saturday. Mr Suraj Mani Handa was elected general secretary of the association.

NAMBARDAR HELD: Nambardar Sucha Singh of Shivpuri has been arrested under Sections 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC on the charges of fraud and forgery. A man Surinderpal had jumped a bail in a criminal case. His surety bond was filled by Mohan Lal on May 15, 1999. Sucha Singh had attested the bail documents.

Sangrur
FUNDS DEMANDED: Mr Surjit Singh Dhiman, MLA from Dirba, presented a memorandum, demanding Rs 5 crore for the development of Darba area, to Ms Preneet Kaur, MP from Patiala, at a function here on Saturday. The function was organised to distribute prizes to the winners of 30th Shaheed Bachan Singh Yadgari International Kabbadi Festival. Ms Preneet Kaur said she would forward the memorandum to the Chief Minister. An amount of Rs 32.78 lakh had been sanctioned for constructing grain market auction yard at Dirba pucca, she said.

CHANDIGARH

FAX MACHINES: As many as 17 District Red Cross branches were given fax machines on Saturday on sharing information between the district and state headquarters. During a meetings of the district secretaries, it was also revealed that another Rs 18 lakh had been distributed to the district branches for activities at their level. Addressing the officials, Punjab’s Director Health Services, Dr D.P.S. Sandhu, who is also the Vice-Chairman of Punjab State Red Cross Branch, advised the secretaries to “save and spend every penny on welfare of rural masses”.

Furniture expo ends: A two-day Furniture Expo 2004 concluded here on Saturday. Organised by the Godrej group, the exhibition displayed a wide range of furniture and security equipment products. As part of the exhibition, the organisers held a meeting of the architects and engineers and a customers’ meet. Mr Anil Sain Mathur, COO, Godrej Furniture and Interiors Group, said, “ We have introduced an economy range of products which include standard Storwels in the price range of Rs 10,000.

PANCHKULA
HONOURED: As many as 350 students and teachers belonging to Sector 11 and Sector 15 branches of New India Senior Secondary School, were honoured for their outstanding performances in different fields on the 12th annual function celebration held at Aggarwal Bhavan in Sector 16, here on Saturday. The students were given prizes for getting medals and mementoes in academics, sports and other co-curricular activities. The best student award was given to Sulekha who won a gold medal in National Science Congress. In addition to this 24 students were also given cash prizes.

HARYANA

AMBALA
Quiz contest: A quiz competition was organised by Rashtrabhasha Vichar Manch at SD Kanya Mahavidyalaya on Saturday. The schools which participated in the competition were SD Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Hargolal Girls Senior Secondary School, Sewa Samiti Girls Sr Secondary School and DAV Senior Secondary School. The subject was ‘Jhansi ki Rani Laxmibai’. The team comprising Kanika and Latika was first while the team comprising Nisha and Meena secured second prize while the third position went to the team comprising Kavita and Sangeeta. The consolation prize winner was the team of Geeta and Meenakshi. Mr Vinay Mehta gave away the prizes.

Rajput sabha: The following are the office-bearers of the Haryana Kashyap Rajput Sabha, Ambala unit: president — Mr Ramkesh; senior vice-president — Mr Om Prakash Kashyap; vice-president — Mr Ramesh Kumar Kashyap; joint secretary — Mr Kuldeep Singh Kashyap; press secretary — Mr Hazara Singh Kashyap; auditor — Mr Balkar Singh Kashyap; office secretary — Mr Charanjeet Singh Kashyap; and organisation secretary — Mr Harmel Singh Kashyap.

Naggal mandal: These persons have been appointed office-bearers of the BJP Naggal mandal: president — Mr Prabhu Dayal Goel; vice-presidents — Mr Krishan Lal, Mr Baldev Singh Saini and Dr Om Prakash; general secretary — Mr Balak Ram; secretaries — Mr Jagannath, Mr Prem Singh, Ms Surendra Kaur; and treasurer — Mr Praveen Bansal.

Bhiwani
PROMOTED: The Haryana Government has promoted two Headmasters in the Secondary Education Department as Principals in HES-II cadre with immediate effect. A spokesman of the department said the government had also issued their posting orders. Those promoted as Principals are Raghbir Singh of Government High School, Rampura who has been posted at GSSS, Kalod Gudha, and Rajinder Pal of GHS, Kulana, Hisar, who has been posted at GSSS, Chahar Kalan, Bhiwani.

Fatehabad
ROTARY CLUB MEETING: Mr Des Raj has been elected president of the Rotary Club, Fatehabad, for the year 2005-06. The election was held in a meeting of the club at Satyanand Public School on Friday. Mr Rakesh Mehta, president of the club chaired the meeting. Mr Pawan Kalapila, a former president, Mr Paramjit Singh, a former secretary, Mr Pawan Sachdeva, cashier of the club and other members were present on the occasion.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mehtab Singh Sehrawat, said here on Saturday that a sum of Rs 4.82 crore had been spent by three municipal committees of Fatehabad district during the past four years on the construction of roads, concrete streets, parks and toilets. He said 32 schools were upgraded during that period.

Hisar
13 GET JAIL TERM: The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Parveen Aggarwal, has sentenced 13 persons to one-year imprisonment each in connection with a case of group clash. According to the prosecution, more than 12 persons were injured in the clash between two families at nearby Kaliramna village eight years ago over a minor dispute. The police had registered a case against members of both families. The court sentenced Telu Ram, Mahabir, Dalbir, Devi Lal, Lilu Ram, Krishan, Diwan Singh, Satbir, Chandgi Ram, Nathu Ram, Ramsawrup, Mani Ram and Rampha, all residents of the same village, in this connection.

SCIENTIST HONOURED: The Indian Chemical Society has honoured Dr Kuldeep Singh Dhindsa, a senior scientist of Haryana Agricultural University here, for his researches. According to a university spokesperson, the award was presented to him by Professor Ramesh Chandra, president of the society, at the annual conference of the society recently held at Bundelkhand University, Jhansi.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
YOUTH CAMP: A five-day ‘youth work camp’ organised by the Nehru Yuvak Kendra concluded at Palti village, about 30 km from here, on Saturday. Youth Coordinator Somdutt Zard said 41 youths from five Yuva Mandals of the area participated in the “Shramdaan Shivir” and prepared a ground, Chief guest Suresh Chandel (Member Parliament) appreciated the efforts of the youths. He named the ground as “Bhagwat Maidan”. He announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the construction of “Bhagwat Shed”. Ramdass Thakur, president of the Barmana Truck Operators Union, said he would provide free construction material for the shed.

INSURANCE: Himachal Industries Minister Ramlal Thakur distributed insurance amount of Rs 50,000 each to widows of five fishermen from the HP Fisheries Directorate here on Friday. These fishermen had died in an accident. The beneficiaries included Sharotadevi, Rame Shridevi, Swarswatidevi, Nazira Begam and Kalapati.

Kumarhatti
CHARAS SEIZED: The Parwanoo police seized 1.7 kg charas from a passenger on Saturday morning. Harish of Ludhiana, who was travelling in an HRTC (HP-12-4035) bus from Rampur to Chandigarh, was arrested and charas seized from him. A case has been registered.

Rampura Phul
BLOOD DONATION CAMP: Members of different organisations and staff of local branch of the State Bank of Patiala donated 21 units of blood at a camp here on Saturday. The camp was organised with the help of Bharat Vikas Parishad and other voluntary organisations. It was inaugurated by Mr D.J. Mankad, deputy general manager of the State Bank of Patiala (SBOP), according to a press note issued by Mr A.K. Kamra, manager.

Shimla
RASH DRIVING CASE: Mr P.R. Pahadia, Judicial Magistrate, on Saturday convicted Mr Kuldeep Singh for rash driving and sentenced him to six-month imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of Rs 2,500 on him. In case of non-payment of fine, he would have to undergo imprisonment for another six months.

Sundernagar
10-YR RI FOR MAN: Mr V. K. Ahuja, Sessions Judge, Mandi, on Friday convicted Surinder Singh, a resident of Nabha, Punjab, for possessing 2.4 kg of charas and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. In case of non-payment of fine, he would have to undergo rigorous imprisonment for further four years.