R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
URGED: The All-India Hindu Shiv Sena in a letter to the President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, has urged stern action against anti-national elements responsible for the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, living in camps for the past 15 years. The Sena rued that the Central Government was holding talks with Muslim separatists but not having any dialogue with Kashmiri Hindus.

ACTION SOUGHT: Mr Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa, Punjab's Parliamentary Secretary, has said the government will take stern action against defaulter pesticides dealers whose samples had been failed during a recent raid. He was presiding over a farmers' training camp. He said 16 samples out of 50 were found "misbranded."

Fatehgarh Sahib
SEMINAR: The Department of Commerce at Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, organised a seminar on ‘Insurance scenario in India’ which was attended by students of M.Com and PG diploma in insurance business. Mr Gagninder Singh Garry, DSP, Patiala, was the main speaker who discussed the various aspects of insurance at length and shared his experiences. Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia, Principal of the college, while welcoming the guest speaker said with the advent of the WTO regime there has been a lot of change in the insurance sector and now the quality of services provided by the insurance companies has improved a lot.

RESULTS DECLARED: Fifteen students of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib, have secured more than 80 per cent marks in the recently declared result of Punjab Technical University. The Principal, Dr D.S. Hira said the university had declared the results of fourth semester of Computer Engineering, Information Technology and Mechanical Engineering and two branches of sixth semesters Electronics and Communication and Information Technology conducted in May.

PLANTATION DRIVE: To mark the occasion of the third centenary of martyrdom of two Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, the NSS unit of the local Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College is carrying out plantation and cleaning drive on the campus and the road leading from Fatehgarh Sahib to Joyti Sroop Gurdwara. The second phase of the plantation was inaugurated on Wednesday by Deputy Commissioner S.K. Ahluwalia.

Jalandhar
UNION: The Pendu Mazdoor Union held a meeting with the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mr Mahinder Pal Gupta, here on Tuesday. The union members alleged that officers in the Department of Food and Supplies, Kartarpur, had been delaying the process for making ration cards and they were not able to get foodgrains at subsidised rates.

Ludhiana
SENIOR CITIZENS: In a communication to the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, pensioners and senior citizens have pleaded that on October 1, Senior Citizen Day, the government should announce a 1 per cent increase in the rate of interest over the normal rate on the bank deposits of senior citizens.

MISS PUNJABAN: The preliminary selection of the Eighth Miss World Punjaban-2004 has been announced here on Wednesday. The organiser of the contest, Mr Jasmeer Singh Dhatt, said preliminary selection would be held on September 25. The winners of the preliminary selection rounds will take part in the Miss World Punjaban-2004. The semifinal will start from October 23 and the final will be held on November 5 at GRD Academy, here.

WORKSHOP: A two-day workshop on “Personality enhancement through effective communication, listening and presentation skills” will be held at the SDP College for Women, here from September 23.

Patiala
LECTURE: The local Multani Mal Modi College organised a lecture on ‘Recent trends in literature’ here on Wednesday. Dr G.R Kataria, head of the Department of English, Punjabi University, was the main speaker on the occasion. Dr Kataria spoke on the themes of dehumanisation, alienation and isolation of man which were being represented in literature in modern times. Speaking on the occasion, the principal of the college, Dr V.K. Sharma, laid stress on the importance of literature in life.

DHARNA: The circle-wise dharna by the PSEB Employees Joint Forum in front of the board headquarters to protest against the state government move to unbundle the board entered into the 11th day here on Wednesday. While addressing the gathering, Mr K.C Bhartiay, forum leader, said the existing model of the PSEB was well placed and with the implementation of certain internal reforms, the board has started earning profit, where as the World Bank sponsored models failed to achieve desired objectives.

STUDENTS STRIKE ON: Strike by students of Punjabi University in front of office of vice-chancellor entered the sixth day on Wednesday as 10 students sat on fast. A delegation of student leaders met the Dean Students Welfare and appealed to reconsider decision of ban on the entry of Bikramjit Singh Jatana into the campus who had been allegedly caught drinking in the hostel premises.

BOOKS RELEASED: The Samajic Chetna Manch organised a function to mark the occasion of 400th anniversary of installation of Guru Granth Sahib here today. The function was presided over by Mr Sarabjot Singh. He also released two book 'Toward a Global Perspective' and 'Guru Granth Sahib Ate Ajok Sansar' written by Dr Sawraj Singh. General Manager, State Bank of Patiala A.S Bhatia presented a memento to Dr Sawraj Singh.

Phagwara
BURIED ALIVE: A labourer was buried under a pile of earth at Chiheru village here on Tuesday. The victim was sitting on a pile of earth which started slipping. He went down with the pile of earth tumbling over him. He was asphyxiated. The deceased could not be identified.

SEMINAR: Ms Kusum Verma, Principal, Kamla Nehru College, in a press note here on Tuesday, said a seminar on "Women as a professional and an entrepreneur" was held in the college. Mr I.K. Sardana, college president, was the chief guest. Mr I.G. Sharma was the guest of honour. Ms Verma called upon students to opt for professional courses for a successful career.

FAIR: A dharam sansad and a Dalit sahit sammelan will be held during the three-day of Manavwadi Mahanpursh fair at Shiromani Guru Ravi Das Mandir, Chak Hakim village, from October 22. This was stated by Dr Santokh Lal Virdi, convener of the fair.

Phillaur
SARPANCH: Ms Kulwinder Kaur, Sarpanch of Virk village, joined the Congress here on Tuesday. Earlier, she was with the Bahujan Samaj Party. She said she had accepted the leadership of Banga Congress MLA Tirlochan Singh Sondh.

Samrala
Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjabi Human Rights Forum of Samrala unit: president-Raj Kaushal; vice-president-Harish Kumar Saddi; general secretary-Ashwani Kaushal; cashier-Bharpur Singh; and press secretary-Naresh Khera.

Science fair: A science fair was organised at Government Senior Secondary School (boys), Samrala, on Tuesday. Thirteen schools of the tehsil took part in the fair. Various competitions like chart making, a quiz, model making on different themes were held in both senior and junior levels. In the senior quiz competition Navdeep Singh and Sukhjit Singh of Government Senior Secondary School, Samrala, bagged the first position. In the junior group, Government High School, Kotla Shamaspur, was declared first. In the teachers category extempore programme, Mr Sanjiv Kumar Saddi of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Samrala, got the first position and Mrs Ranjit Kaur of Government Senior Secondary School (Boys) bagged the second position. The fair was organised under the presidentship of Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma, District Science Supervisor. Mr Sharma addressed the teachers and the students and gave away certificates and trophies.

training camp: The Agriculture Department Officer, Samrala, with the assistance of the State Bank of Patiala, Samrala, organised a farmer training camp for the coming Rabi crop in the premises of the Cooperative Agriculture Service Society, Sarwarpur, on Tuesday. On this occasion, Dr Satnam Singh Swaitch, Agriculture Officer, and Dr Sajjan Singh, ADO, Dr Baldev Singh, ADO, asked the farmers to adopt the zero tillage technology for sowing wheat crops, which saves a minimum of Rs 2,000 per acre. More than 200 farmers of the area participated.

Farewell: Members of the Anti-corruption Front, Samrala, and prominent Army personnel of the area, including ex-servicemen and senior citizens, gave a farewell to Mr J.S. Jassi, SDM, Samrala, who has been transferred to Malout. Commandant Rashpal Singh and Mr Mehma Singh Kang, president and general secretary of the front, respectively, along with Mr Prem Sagar Sharma, president of the Senior Citizens Mahasangh Punjab, highlighted the services rendered by Mr Jassi towards the retirees and the general public.

INJURED: Harchand Singh, Raji and Charno wife of Balkar Singh, all residents of Nawanpind, were injured when they were fired at here on Tuesday. The police has registered a case against Sardool Singh and his two sons, Ranjit Singh and Anrej Singh, and Surjit Singh of the village.

CHANDIGARH

MANAULI
OFFICE-BEARERS: A meeting of the Sub-Committee (Ram Leela), Sanatan Dharam Sabha, was held here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Mr Rameshwardass Kaushal. The following were elected office-bearers: president — Mr Vishawa Mitter Kaushal; vice-president — Mr Jagmohan Sharma; secretary — Mr Surjeet Sohal; and cashier — Mr Pawan Kumar Sharma. The committee announced that Ram Leela would be held at Pracheen Shiv Mandir here from October 13 to 23.

Mohali
PROCLAIMED OFFENDER: A proclaimed offender wanted by the Mohali police for the past six years was nabbed by a patrolling party on Tuesday night. The accused, Ram Lal, a resident of Shahi Majra village, had been missing since 1998. He was wanted by the police for a case of theft registered against him at the Phase VIII police station. He was declared proclaimed offender in 2001.

HARYANA

Ambala
CHUNMUN CLUB: Children belonging to the Chunmun Club met magician Samrat Shankar on Wednesday. The meeting took place at Batra Palace Hotel, Ambala Cantonment Club director Ashok Sharma said the children asked questions regarding magic. He said the magician explained to the students about various aspects of magic and stressed that people should not be misguided by people who misuse magic.

UMA’S EFFIGY BURNT: Youth Congress activists burnt an effigy of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharati in Ambala City on Wednesday. The effigy was burnt to protest against the statements made against Congress President Sonia Gandhi. District Youth Congress president Tarun Chugh, Bhoom Singh Rana and Janardhan alongwith other Youth Congress activists burnt the effigy at Jagadhari Gate and also raised slogans against Uma Bharati.

DEMONSTRATION: Congress activists led by the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee deputy spokesperson, Dr Pradeep Chauhan, on Wednesday held a demonstration to demand compensation for flood-affected families. Dr Chauhan submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner, Ambala Division, Mr Maha Singh, seeking speedy compensation for the affected families. He said the farmers lost their crops yet no compensation had been provided to them till date.

PUNJABI SAHITYA SABHA: A meeting of Punjabi Sahitya Sabha was held in SD College, Ambala Cantonment, on Wednesday. The meeting was presided over by Dr R.S. Dhillon. The college students presented poems written by them. The office-bearers of the sabha for 2004-05 are: president — Gurdhyan Singh; vice-president — Jagdeep Singh; secretary — Paramjit Singh; and additional secretary — Inderjit Kalra.

BHIWANI
ALLEGED: Rekha, daughter of Pratap, a resident of Lohar Bazar, in a complaint to the police, has alleged that her in-laws, including her husband, have been harassing her for dowry. Rekha was married Anil of Kheri Kanti village. The police has registered a case.

RALLY: The state general secretary of the youth wing of the INLD, Mr Jogender Dhanana, said thousands of people from Dhanana, Talu and nearby areas of Mundhal would participate in the rally being held at Fatehabad on September 25. He said Devi Lal had fought for freedom and laid down his life for the welfare of people.

ASSURANCE: The Haryana School Lecturer Association, here has urged the Chief Minister to consider their various demands. Reminding the Chief Minister of his assurance at Hisar four years ago for a sympathetic view of the lecturers' demand, the senior vice-president of the association, Dr K.K. Sangwan, said here on Thursday that nothing had been done so far despite the assurance.

Hisar
DELEGATION: A delegation of scientists from Central Asian countries arrived at Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) here on Tuesday. The delegation, comprising 14 members from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyryzstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, met Vice-Chancellor M.K. Miglani. Mr Bobo Sanginov, who led the delegation, maintained that collaboration in research would strengthen relations between India and these countries.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Guru Jambheshwar University Teachers Association: president- Dr Narsi Ram Bishnoi; vice-president- Dr Karmpal Singh; secretary- Dr Sanjeev Kumar; joint secretary- Dr Sandeep Rana; and treasurer- Mr Rishipal.

APPOINTED: Mr Bhupender Singh Kasnia has been appointed president of the district youth wing of the Haryana Vikas Party by the youth wing president, Mr Nripender Singh. This was stated by Mr Jagdish Chander Jhajria, district press secretary of the party. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Shimla
LAURELS: Aparna Grover, a final-year student of the local Government Dental College, has won the first prize in student clinician programme of the Indian Dental Association. Prof Dr N.C. Rao, principal of the college, said the winner would be the sole representative of Indian students at the American Dental Association (ADA) annual conference to be held in Florida in the USA next year.

Solan
NOTICE: The All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has given a 15-day notice to the Board of Governors (BOG) of Lawrence School, Sanawar, to effect a revision of pay scales from April 1, 2004, for its workers or else face an agitation. The AITUC, in a press note issued here on Tuesday, said since the school administration had failed to effect a pay revision every two years, as per the orders of the Industrial Tribunal, Shimla, the workers were forced to resort to an agitation if their demands were not met.