Tribuneindia...Regional Briefs

	REGIONAL BRIEFS	Thursday, December 17, 1998
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ABOHAR

Missing: Vinod Kumar of Dharam Pura village, who was working with a local commission agent is still untraceable. He had disappeared after allegedly withdrawing Rs 1 lakh from a local bank on Monday. Two of his friends have also been missing since then, according to family sources. The police is investigating.
Injured: Four persons allegedly attacked Om Parkash, a member of the village panchayat of Haripura, at the bus stand on Tuesday causing fracture in his arm. The panch was admitted to the hospital. In another incident, Amit, a plus-two student of Government Senior Secondary School was allegedly hit and injured by three scooterists on Tuesday. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital with a fracture in his leg.

HOSHIARPUR

Convicted: Mr R.M Gupta, District Session Judge, has convicted Jaspal Singh of Kotla Naudh village of stabbing Birpal of the same village. He was awarded seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000.

KAPURTHALA

Two killed: Two persons were killed in a collision between 10 vehicles due to poor visibility in dense fog on the G.T. Road near Subhanpur here on Tuesday. This resulted in a traffic jam for more than one hour.

NAWANSHAHR

Funds distributed: Mr Satnam Kainth, MP, Phillaur, on Tuesday distributed cheques worth Rs 10 lakh among 25 panchayats from his discretionary fund at functions organised at Gosal and Kariha villages in this district. The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the panchayat ghar of Gosal village.

PATIALA

Welcomed: The Punjab Brahmin Sabha in a statement issued here on Tuesday welcomed the notification issued by the Punjab Government for declaring April 18, the jayanti of Bhagwan Parshu Ram, as a gazetted holiday.
Criticised: The Punjab Medical Officers and Para-Medical Staff Association of the PSEB has criticised the attitude of the management for not implementing the Fourth Pay Commission's scales announced by the state government. The association demanded 25 per cent of the basic pay as NPA and a three-tier promotion system for doctors.
Honoured: The Aradhna Kala Manch here on Tuesday honoured Mr Barjinder Kumar, DIG, and Mr Gurpreet Singh Gill, SP, Patiala, for their meritorious services to society at a cultural programme against drug addiction.

RAJPURA

Elected: The Congress candidate, Mr Rajendir Kumar Nirankari, has defeated the BJP candidate, Mr Tirlochan Chawla, from ward number 14 in the Municipal election.

ROPAR

Foundation stone laid: Dr Vishwa Mitra, head of the Shree Ram Bhavan Sharnam Mission, laid the foundation stone of Shree Ram Sharnam Bhavan near the Bela chowk here on Tuesday. According to Mr Raj Kumar Kapoor, a spokesman of the mission, the bhavan would be built at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

Standards seminar: The northern regional office of Bureau of Indian Standards organised an awareness programme on educational utilisation of Indian standards at ITI, Sector 28, here today. Director, BIS, Mr KK Goel, while inaugurating the programme highlighted the benefits of standardisation for society.

PANCHKULA

Stir threat: Five different workers union of HUDA, under the banner of HUDA Joint Action Committee have threatened to launch an agitation if their 19-point charter of demands were not met by the government, said the Chairman of the JAC, Mr Gurpal Singh, in a press release here on Wednesday.

GURGAON

Three ESI hospitals: Mr Ramesh Kaushik, Labour and Employment Minister, Haryana, said new ESI hospitals would be opened in Gurgaon, Sonepat and Bahadurgarh. He was addressing a function organised by the Labour Welfare Board. He announced that the students belonging to weaker sections who secured more than 60 per cent marks would be given scholarships by the State Government.
Case registered: The Pataudi police has registered a case against Rajinder Kumar of Kakodia village for allegedly attempting to rape a minor girl. The police has not arrested Rajinder so far.

HISAR

Demonstration: Members of the Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union held a demonstration at the railway station here on Wednesday in protest against the indifferent attitude of the railway authorities of Bikaner division towards their demands. Their demands include the implementation of the recommendations of Fifth Pay Commission.

JIND

Sentenced: Ms Neelima Shangla, Chief Judicial Magistrate, on Monday convicted Karam Singh, a bus driver of Haryana Roadways, of negligent driving and sentenced him to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000.
Two killed: An employee of the local milk plant was killed when he was knocked down by a tanker here on Monday. In another accident, one person was killed and two others were injured when the motor cycle on which they were travelling was hit by a truck near Gatoli village on Monday. The injured were admitted to the local General Hospital.
Grant announced: A function to accord a civic reception to Mr Surender Singh Barwala, MP, was held at the local Chhotu Ram Kisan College on Monday. Mr Barwala, lauded the role of Sir Chhotu Ram in the field of education and social development of this region. He announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the construction of a multi-purpose hall in the college. He also promised to pay Rs 5 lakh as a grant to the Chhotu Ram Shiksha Samiti every year.

SIRSA

Case registered: The police arrested Chanderbhan Bavrian of Jodhpuria village on Tuesday in a criminal case registered against him under Section 379, IPC, here and recovered Rs 8600 from his possession. The amount was allegedly snatched by the arrested person from Kashmiri Lal of Maujdeen village on December 9. The police also recovered a pistol and a cartridge from Arjun Singh of Rania village and a dagger from Raju Ram Rajpoot of Bhaudeen village on Tuesday. Both accused have been arrested.
Six injured: Six persons were injured in a road accident in this district on Tuesday. According to sources a jeep carrying them collided with a truck near Sureran village. The injured were admitted here.
Eye camp: As many as 7,000 patients were examined and about 1,000 eye operations were conducted by a team of doctors in a three-day free eye operation camp organised by the Dera Saucha Sauda here, which concluded on Tuesday. The camp was organised in memory of Shah Satnam Singh Ji Maharaj.
Arrested: Charna of Badagudha village in this district was arrested and a case under Sections 380 and 457, IPC, was registered against him on a charge of committing theft on December 11. The police has recovered stolen goods from his possession on Tuesday.
Poppy husk seized: The district police has seized 125 kg of poppy husk in two separate raids. According to the police, it chased a jeep at Trilokewala village and seized 120 kg of poppy husk. However, the four occupants of the jeep managed to escape. In another incident, the police seized 5 kg of poppy husk from Karnail Singh of Baggalehra village. He was arrested in Modi village.

SONEPAT

Youth arrested: The anti-crime branch of the police has arrested a youth Bijender of Siwana village under the Beri police station on a charge of theft and possessing an unlicensed pistol. Mr K. Selvraj, SP, told mediapersons here on Tuesday that the police had also recovered a stolen motor cycle from his possession.
Possession letters: Mr Rajiv Jain, Political Press Adviser to the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, handed over possession letters to the occupants of 126 houses built on the Waqf land, at a function held here on Monday.
Suicide case: Thirtyeight-year-old housewife, Sumitra, along with her nine-year-old daughter Kavita, were reported to have committed suicide by jumping before a train between Sonepat and Sandal Kalan, about 5 km from here, on Tuesday. According to the Railway police, she took the step following a domestic quarrel. Both bodies have been sent for post-mortem examinations.
Man killed: Kartar Singh (42), a resident of Mehndipur village, was killed when he was hit by a tractor-trailer outside the general bus stand here on Tuesday. According to the police, the victim was standing by the road, waiting for a bus. A case has been registered against the tractor driver.
Run over by train: Dharampal, (40) of Shafiabad village, was run over by a train on the railway station here on Tuesday. According to the Railway police, the victim was crossing the railway track when he was hit by the train.
Youth held: The anti-crime branch of the police on Tuesday arrested a youth, Mahabir, alias Tunda, of Pipli Khera village, for possessing a country-made pistol and 375 gm of charas. A case has been resigtered against him.

KULU

Principal murdered: Dev Raj, a student of class IX of Senior Secondary School, Arsu, allegedly murdered his school Principal, N.K. Sharma, on Monday. A case has been registered under Section 302 of the, IPC.
Workshop: A workshop of field and technical staff of the HPSEB was held here on Tuesday under the ‘energy conservation week’ being observed in the state. Mr N.K Sharma, Executive Engineer, called upon the staff to bring awareness among the people about the ‘needed use’ of electricity. A brochure of the Energy Management Centre, Government of India, "Bright ideas to save energy in your home," was also distributed.

MANALI

Two houses gutted: Two houses were completely destroyed in a fire at Shanag village, about 7 km from here, on Tuesday. Local people struggled hard along with fire-engines to control the fire. The cause of the fire is not known.

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

'Green Ambala' drive pays off

The "green Ambala cantonment" project launched in August 1997 has started bearing fruit. Since then, about 3000 saplings of different varieties have been planted in the town.

Mr Anil Vij, the local MLA, who has been spearheading the project, says the aim was to create an awakening among the public and that "objective has been achieved".

Mr M.R. Budhiraja, who has been nursing the saplings like his own "children", says the survival rate had been 100 per cent. Most of the saplings have been provided with tree-guards which have been donated by local residents whose nameplates appear on them.

Among the trees planted are arjun, cassia, gulmohar, teak, jamun, silver oak, ashoka, kaner and bougainvillaea. The purpose was to protect the environment, provide shade, fruit and flowers as well as beautify the surroundings.

To counter pollution, congested areas like Cross Road No.1 and Outer Road have been given preference. The other places covered are Staff Road, Railway Road, Bank Road, War Heroes Memorial Stadium and Cross Roads No. 1 to 5.

Thanks to the social forestry wing of the Forest Department, saplings have never been a problem, Mr Vij says. To ensure survival, members of different teams do rounds every morning and in case of any problem, solve it on the spot. Watering saplings have not been a hurdle, thanks to the civic body. The biggest threat is stray cattle, a big menace yet to be tackled by the authorities. Despite covering the saplings with thorny bushes, complete protection from cattle cannot be ensured, Mr Budhiraja comments.

The project has turned into a "people's movement". He has been appealing to the people to "plant a tree on a birthday instead of cutting a cake". The appeal has starting showing results. Requests are pouring in from people to help them in planting a tree near their houses.

"Not only planting a tree, but its protection as well, is our motto", Mr Vij asserted. Saplings of teak have been planted at some places so that in the long run these could generate revenue.

The next project on the anvil was to have a herbal garden which would include medicinal plants.

His pen attracted militants' ire

Dr Kulbir Singh Kaang is among the few Punjabi writers who were on the hit list of militants in the eighties. In a letter intercepted by the police, a militant organisation had clubbed his name with Khushwant Singh and Jagjit Singh Nand who were to be eliminated. Neither did Dr Kaang seek security nor curtail his movements. The militants who had written the letter were later killed in an encounter.

Dr Kaang (63), who remained controversial for his writings, has penned 66 books. He is among the few Punjabi writers who wrote in English and Hindi, besides translating best-sellers from other Indian languages. His books were prescribed as texts in universities and colleges. Dr Kaang is also one of the contributors to the encyclopaedia of Indian Literature and Makers of Indian Writers for the Sahitya Akademi, Delhi.

Dr Kaang started his career as Assistant Editor, Khalsa Samachar, edited by Bhai Veer Singh. He was associated with eminent writers like Gurbax Singh Preetlari, Bawa Balwant, Sujan Singh, Nanak Singh and Prof Mohan Singh. He is now Fellow at Guru Nanak Dev University.

Though his books are on various subjects, including linguistics and sketch writing, he is popular for being a Punjabi critic and writing lyrical Punjabi essays. He remained associated with a number of Punjabi literary organisations, including the Lok Likhari Sabha, the Sahit Vichar Kendra, the Punjab Sahit Akademi, etc. He also edited a number of magazines from time to time, including the popular Arsi, Lo and Puja.

He won laurels from the state government, the Punjab Sahit Akademi, the IAAPA (Canada). He also won the Dhaliwal, S.S. Amol and Waris awards.

Mahakavi Kalidasa award for HP poet

Keshav Sharma, a Sanskrit poet and playwright, employed with the SCERT, Solan, has been awarded the first Mahakavi Kalidasa Samman. Instituted last year, the prestigious award was conferred on him by the state Education Minister, at the Kalidasa Jayanti celebrations held at Jwalamukhi, recently. His book, "Abhinav Kavanjli", was released on the occasion.

Born at Jarashi village of Shimla district on November 15,1940, Keshav obtained his 'Darshanacharya' and M.Phil degrees with distinction and is a university gold medalist. Starting his teaching career at the Government Sanskrit College, Solan, where he served for 10 years, he moved on to the Government Post-Graduate College, Solan.

During his teaching career spanning over 35 years, Keshav did commendable research work and contributed his mite to the enrichment of Sanskrit lore and literature, reflecting India's glorious cultural heritage. Some of his poems were broadcast from the Shimla station of All India Radio under the "Amarbani" slot.

He won the first prize at the Sanskrit scholars' conference attended by litterateurs from the neighbouring states. The topic Keshav chose and read out to a distinguished gathering was "Haravadhi Sanskrit vktrita", which reflected Keshav's uncanny command over the language and his knack of handling a subtle theme. For his contribution to the enrichment of Sanskrit, he was decorated with the coveted 'Brahmirishi' and 'Shankaracharya' titles.

(Contributed by Jai Parkash Mann, Varinder Walia and Ramesh Dhiman.)