Tribuneindia...Regional Briefs

	REGIONAL BRIEFS	Thursday, October 22, 1998
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FAZILKA

Arrested: The Sadar police has arrested Jasbir Kaur and Kabul Singh for the alleged murder of Teja Singh, husband of Jasbir Kaur, on Tuesday. A case has been registered against them under Section 302 of the IPC.

FEROZEPORE

Association: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab Christian Welfare Association: Chairman — Mr Sohan Lal; President — Dr Aleesha Chauhan; Vice-President — Mr Lazar Masih; General Secretary — Mr Alvin Bhatti; and Cashier — Mr Mukhtiar Masih Bhatti.

HOSHIARPUR

Body found: The body of an old man, partly eaten by animals, found hanging from an eucalyptus tree in a deserted area of Naushahra village on Tuesday. The body was handed over to the local municipal authorities for cremation after post-mortem in the local Civil Hospital.

PATIALA

Ex-servicemen: The local chapter of the India Ex-Services League has made arrangements at the league's office for filling the forms of ex-servicemen to apply for increased pension and medical allowance, according to Mr Prabhjot Singh, President of the league.

SANGRUR

Nominated: Mr Nanak Chand Kalra, President of the district unit of the BJP has been nominated as a member of the District Development and Planning Board by the Punjab Government.

Painting contest: The second annual on the spot painting competition will be held at Pallavi in Sector 5 at Panchkula on October 24.
Meeting: The annual general meeting of the Northern India Christian Federation, Chandigarh, is scheduled to be held on November 29 at Rose Garden, a federation press note said.
Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Mahila Parishad, Chandigarh: president — Mrs Chitra Singh; vice-president — Mrs Kamla Sharma and Mrs Savita Sethi; general secretary — Mrs Prem Lata Duggal and treasurer — Mrs Sudesh Rathor.
Empty soda bottle: Mr Balraj Aggrawal, a resident of Sector 36-A, has alleged that he had found a well sealed empty bottle of soda bottled by a prominent company from a crate of soda bottle, purchased by him from a confectionery shop in Sector 36 market.

FATEHABAD

Three arrested: The police has arrested three proclaimed offenders in the district, according to Mr Rajbir Deswal, SP. He said the accused had been absconding for the past many years.
Dhanwantri day: The local National Integrated Medical Association celebrated the Dhanwantri Day here on Tuesday. Dr Kumar Kamal Bhaskar, President of the local unit of the NIMA, spoke on the occasion.
Competition results: The local Springbells Foundation School has organised various competitions. In the greeting card competition Meenu Chugh was adjudged first in the senior group and Khushboo bagged the first position in the junior group. In the gift packing competition Sahil Munjal was adjudged first in the senior group and in the junior group Jyoti bagged first position.

GURGAON

Two convicted: The Additional Sessions Judge, Dr Bharat Bhushan Parsoon, has convicted Ashok Kumar and his father, Madan Lal, and awarded them 10 years and seven years imprisonment, respectively, in connection with the dowry death of Bimla, wife of Ashok Kumar. The two were convicted under Sections 498-A and 304-B of the IPC.

HISAR

Untraced: Resentment prevails among residents of Muklan village over the failure of the police to trace Bhagwan Dass, who had been missing since October 1. The police has arrested four persons in this connection.

KURUKSHETRA

Seminar: The Women's Studies Research Centre of Kurukshetra University will organise a two-day international seminar on "Politics and Developing Nations" on Friday. Dr Kamla Verma, Minister Local Government, Haryana, will inaugurate the seminar.

SONEPAT

Concern: The Sonepat Citizens Council has expressed concern over the increasing air and water pollution in the city and blamed the authorities of the Haryana Pollution Control Board for this.

BILASPUR

Demands: A deputation of the HP State School Lecturers Association met the Education Minister, Mr I.D. Dhiman, at Ghumarwin on Monday and presented him a charter of demands. Their demands include restoration of gazetted status to them and a separate directorate for higher secondary education.

CHAMBA

Relief: The State Government has distributed Rs 4 lakh as relief to the fire victims of Chowgan Mohalla, Mr Sanjay Murti, Deputy Commissioner, said here on Wednesday.

KANGRA

Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the HP Science Masters Association, Kangra district: President — Mr Punjab Singh Rana; General Secretary — Mr Sukhpal Singh; Senior Vice-President — Mr Joginder Bagga; Vice-President — Mr Arun Sharma; Joint Secretary — Mr Multan Singh; and Treasurer — Mr Karan Singh.

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

Park city now a garbage heap

THE city of parks is today a garbage heap. Yamunanagar wears a shabby look due to poor civic amenities.

As per the master plan parks were provided at almost all localities. These spots have now become the abode of animals.

Yamunanagar, which was developed after partition to settle refugees as it was a quiet and clean place, has now turned into a huge slum.

The photo shows a park in the heart of city near Dasehra Ground where there is no wall on one side. Stray animals keep roaming all around. It is gathered that about 1000 consumers come here daily to pay electricity bills as the electricity office is situated here. Another instance of the municipal council's negligence is that there are no benches in the park for visitors to sit.

City residents provide crores of rupees as revenue to the state and Central exchequer, but in return they hardly get any civic amenities. Stray cattle and pigs feasting on garbage heaps are a common site. Dairies have also added to the problem. Moreover, there is no drainage worth the name.

Rare honour for dog breeder

Why you are the only person from the whole of Asia to be invited as a judge for dog shows in the UK, it is a matter of pride for the country. Such a honour has come to Major Vinod Joshi of 103 Territorial Army, Ludhiana, now posted as Dry Port Manager with the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (PSWC) in Amritsar.

A regular judge for judging German Shepherds at dog shows of the Kennel Club, London, since 1996, he was invited to the biggest dog show in London last month to judge more than 40 working-class breeds. Some of the breeds like Estrella Mountain and Alaskan Malamute are uncommon in India, he points out.

Several kennel clubs in France and Ireland have also extended an invitation to Major Joshi to judge dog shows in their country. Though his job in the PSWC keeps him busy and he does not find time to go abroad frequently, yet his employers have always encouraged him and recognised his achievements.

Major Joshi, who had been breeding the dogs for the past 27 years, has won top prizes dog shows in India.

A magnet for film stars

A small shoe store at Dharampur on the Kalka-Shimla national highway being run by Mr Paul Chhatwal has been a magnet for film stars since 1978. The shoe store situated at the end of this town has attracted many film stars, including villains, and comedians. Those who visited the store include Rajesh Khanna, Suresh Oberoi, Govinda, Arvindswami, Chunkey Pandey, Farooq Sheikh, Jaspal Bhatti, villains Macmohan, Sadashiv Amrapurkar and Danny, and actresses Sonu Walia, Deepika, Raveena Tandon, Shilpa Shetty and Amrita Singh.

Mr Paul Chhatwal, says his shop's location attracts film stars. The film stars who visited his store were of the opinion that buying goods in the market is a herculean task for them as their fans make a beeline for autographs.

"Once a film star enters my store, I persuade him to have tea or coffee at my home. Once Govinda came and asked for a pair of shoes. I took him to my house for tea. He spent about an hour with us and we took photographs with him. The other day when a driver came and asked for a pair of shoes for his boss. I asked the driver to bring his boss to my store. When Danny and Bindu appeared at the entrance of my store, I was surprised. Danny was happy when I told him that I had seen his films by getting tickets from touts. He was going back to Mumbai after shooting for "Pyar Jhukta Nahin", the small time businessman says.

Paul Chhatwal is also president of the Shoe Traders Association and a social worker of repute. He has organised 16 blood donation camps with the help of social organisations in the area. He had shown his concern for humanity by lifting 30 cloudburst victims near Dharampur about a decade ago. His wife had arranged dry wood from various places to cremate the victims. He has been honoured by a number of organisations including Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Rotary Club and Uday Forum.

( Contributed by Ashwani Dutta, Pradeep Sharma and Neha Shaily )