R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
BEST STUDENT: Miss Deepali, a final year M.Sc student was on Tuesday declared ‘‘best student’’ of the year. She was honoured at the annual prize distribution function of the Microbiology Department of the GND University. Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, was the chief guest. He gave away the prizes to students who had excelled in academics, sports and co-curricular activities.

CRITICISED: The Taraksheel Society (Bharat) has taken strong exception to certain programmes being shown on television. In a press note issued here on Monday the society press secretary, Mr Sumeet Singh, criticised anchors who wore non-traditional dresses in programmes being telecast by Jalandhar and Delhi centres of Doordarshan.

DEMOLITIONS: Mr Surinder K. Billa, of the All India Hindu Shiv Sena, has blamed the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, for the unsavoury developments that took place after he had himself ordered the demolition of 25 rooms on the periphery of Shri Ram Tirath temple. In a press note issued on Sunday he said the SDM of Ajnala was only carrying out the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner and had been made a scapegoat in the whole incident.

RALLY: On a call given by the PFUTA, teachers of GND University organised a rally to urge the government to accept their demands. While addressing the rally, Dr H.S. Sidhu and Dr K.S. Thind, president and secretary of the GNDUTA, said Tuesday’s rally was in response to the negative attitude of the state government towards the teachers. The GNDUTA leaders threatened that the teachers would boycott the forthcoming university examination if the government fails to redress their grievances.

BATHINDA
DHARNA: Activists of the National Fertiliser Officers Association and the National Fertilisers Employees Union on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the local unit of the NFL in protest against the Central Government’s move to sell 51 per cent equity of the organisation to the private buyers.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
SEMINAR: An Agriculture Development Committee would be formed at the district-level to look into the problems of farmers. This was stated on Tuesday by Mr V.K. Janjua, Deputy Commissioner, while addressing a seminar on the use of balanced fertilisers in agriculture organised by the Agriculture Department at Sirhind.

JALANDHAR
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the District Congress Committee (Urban): vice-presidents — Mr Uday Vir Singh Grewal, Mr Harjinder Pappu, Mr Vimal Bhagat, Mr Harbhajan Pappu, Mr Manu Trehan, Mr Gur Mohan, Mr Neeraj Kumar, Mr Lucky Saini, Mr Jatinder Singh Marshal, Mr Balvir Singh Purewal, Mr Surinder Arya, Mr Vijay Kala, Mr Harpal Mintoo, Mr Sanjeev Sharma, Mr Naresh Kaka and Mr Vikas Sehgal; and general secretaries — Mr Rajnish Chaha, Mr Rajeshwar Singh, Mr Naveen Mahajan, Mr Ranjit Singh, Mr Rajiv Mahendru, Mr Gurbachan, Mr Samir Suri, Mr Maninder Singh Neena, Mr Bobby Grewal, Mr Sudhir Quggi, Mr Tarun, Mr Mattoo, Mr Ravinder Singh Rinka, Mr Randhir Sareen, Mr Rakesh Pathak, Mr Tinku Suri, Mr Tarun, Mr Gautam Arora, Mr Rajesh Tuli, Mr Rajesh Raja, Mr Tajinder Pal Singh, Mr Chopra, Mr Babbu and Mr Satnam Singh.

LUDHIANA
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Prem Nath Singh, who had been allegedly by accused by his sister, Babita, of firing at her and her husband Sanjay Singh, at their residence on February 3. A .303 rifle which was used in the crime has been seized.

BOY TRACED: The police on Tuesday traced the whereabouts of a 12-year-old boy, Sudhir Kumar, who had reportedly been missing for the past five months. According to an FIR, father of the boy, Mr Rajbir Singh, had complained that the boy had been kidnapped while he was returning home from the factory where he worked. Sudhir was traced out from Young Men Christian Association, Mumbai.

INAUGURATED: The national training programme on command area development was inaugurated by Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, PAU, here on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, Dr J.S. Kolar, Director, Extension Education, PAU, said participants should extend the research based technology to the farmers to increase the water use productivity.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION: The annual prize distribution function of GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, was held on March 12, at Nihang Shamsher Singh auditorium of the college. Dr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Vice-Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, was the chief guest and Mr Jagjit Singh Sidhu, secretary of the Board, presided.

SELECTED: Mr Inderjit Singh Pardhan, president, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings, has been selected as the non-official member of the governing council of the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development for a period of three years from March 1, onwards.

NSS RALLY: More than 250 NSS volunteers of the constituent colleges of Punjab Agricultural University organised a rally to create awareness among local residents about AIDS, drugs, social evils and alcoholism. The rally was flagged off by Dr K.S. Sekhon, DSW, PAU. According to Dr K.S. Verma, programme co-ordinator, of NSS, the rally was a part of its nation-wide programme under the theme, ‘‘Youth For Healthy Society’’ keeping in view the growing menace of drug-abuse among the youth.

PROTEST: The All India Federation of University Teachers’ Association and executive members of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the administrative block of university. They were protesting against the delay in implementing the recommendations of the UGC by the central and the state governments. They demanded the release of arrears of revised pay scales, notification of career advancement scheme and grant of two advance increments to those holding M.Sc Agriculture MV Sc/M.Tech/M.Sc (Home Science) degrees at the time of recruitment.

MALERKOTLA
CONVOCATION: The first annual convocation and prize distribution function was organised by Shanti Tara College, Ahmedgarh, 15 km from here. The function was presided by Mr Prem Gupta. The SDM gave away the prizes to the students.

PATHANKOT
ELECTED: Mr Jit Singh has been unanimously re-elected president of the managing committee of Guru Arjun Dev Girls High School. The SGPC member, Mr Dilbag Singh was present on the occasion.

PATIALA
APPEAL TO JATHEDAR: The Sikh Intelligentsia Forum of Punjabi University on Wednesday urged Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh to rise above personal considerations to resolve the current imbroglio in the Sikh panth. Forum President Dr D.S. Dhillon said the forum expressed concern at the arbitrary way in which the Jathedar was taking decisions on behalf of the whole panth. He said the members of the forum appealed to the Jathedar to maintain the maryada of Akal Takht.

BHARAT VIKAS PARISHAD: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, Patiala, for 2000-2001: President — Mr Harinder Gupta; Secretary — Dr (Mrs) Amita Rishi; Treasurer — Mr Arun Sharma.

CONDOLED: PATIALA: The Forum for Educational Action and Reform on Wednesday condoled the demise of Dr Inderjit Singh Chahal, an active member of its fact finding committee as well as former English Professor at the local Khalsa College. It said Dr Chahal would be remembered for his rational approach towards the solution of problems of teachers. Dr Chahal expired on March 13.

PHAGWARA
FORUM CONSTITUTED: Following dissolution of all state units of anti-corruption last week Mr P.S. Passi, president, All India Anti-Corruption Forum, on Monday constituted a 12-member working committee. Mr Varinder Umatt of Nawanshahr has been made new state president of the forum and Gopal Mohan Sharda Nawanshahr district unit president.

LOOTED: Jewellery and cash worth several lakhs of rupees were stolen from the house of Sucha Ram, a resident of staff colony in Chahal Nagar here on Monday. In another incident 10 to 15 robbers broke into a farmhouse at Thakarhi village and looted cash and jewellery.

SAMRALA
MISHAP: Harmeet Singh (8) of Pohlo Majra, 15 km from here, and Gurmeet Singh of Gaggarwal village were killed in a road accident near Pohlo Majra on Tuesday. Both were crushed to death by a bus while crossing the road.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Welfare Association: chairman — Mr Malwinder Singh; vice-chairman — Mr Ram Lal and general secretary — Mr Krishan Kumar Dhand.

TARN TARAN
CAMP: As many as 550 patients were examined at an eye camp organised at the Civil Hospital here on Monday by the Citizens Council under the aegis of the District Blindness Control Society, Amritsar. Dr Rajinder Singh, Civil Surgeon, Amritsar, inaugurated the camp.

DEMAND: The district secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, Mr Gurnam Singh Daod, has sought reallocation of the fair price shop at Mundapind village which was closed after complaints lodged by the villagers.

DHARNA: The local tehsil unit of the BSP on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the SDM’s office to protest against police atrocities. Ms Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of slain human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, and various other BSP leaders condemned the police for falsely implicating Gurnam Singh, a Dalit youth of Kakka Kandiala village, under the NDPS Act and demanded withdrawal of the case.

CHANDIGARH

BAR PANEL: Seven advocates have been elected executive members of the District Bar Association, the elections for which were held on March 10. The members include Harjit Kaur Rooprai, Anju Sharma, Arun Bassi, Harish Bansal, Charanjit Chadda, Ajay Sood, Neeraj Sahni and Rajesh Singh.

PANEL: The following have been elected office-bearers of Shri Sanatan Hari Mandir Sabha (Sector 32-A): President — Mr Raj Kumar Sharma; General-Secretary — Mr B.D. Kalra; Finance Secretary — Mr H.R. Malhotra; Senior Vice-President — Mr Jagdish Chand Sharma; Vice-Presidents — Mr J.L. Gupta and Mr K.L. Bansal; Joint Finance Secretary — Mr Manmohan Sharma; Store In-charge — Mr O.P. Bansal; Chief Patron — Mr Subey Singh; Patrons — Mr C.L. Sharma, Mr N.N. Prashar, Ms Purna Devi and Ms Kiran Bala Sharma.

PANCHKULA
CYCLIST HIT: A cyclist, Nirmal Singh, a resident of Ramgarh, was injured when a truck, PA-04-5364, hit him near the main market of Ramgarh. The police has registered a case under Sections 279, 337, 338 of the IPC.

RESCHEDULED: The counting of votes for Zila Parishad and panchayat samitis will be held on March 18 instead of March 17. While counting of votes for election to the Zila Parishad will take place at 8 a.m. at the BEL colony, counting of votes for panchayat samitis of Pinjore and Morni will take place at the respective Block Development Offices

MEMO:The Confederation of Housing Societies has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Haryana, to restore roll back the acquisition proceedings initiated by HUDA at Bhainsa Tibba and Saketri. It further added that the people had formed housing societies and invested their money in the purchase of land.

HARYANA

AMBALA
SEMINAR: A seminar was organised by the Akhand Bhartiya Upbhokta Parishad on the Consumer Protection Day here on Wednesday. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ram Niwas, said efforts should be made at every level to make the consumer movement more effective and popular. Mr U.B. Khandooja, President, District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, said the forum had proved to be an effective platform for consumers to get justice at the earliest.

FATEHABAD
COLLECTION: The government has fixed a target of Rs 350 crore to be collected in the current financial year from stamp duty and registration fees. To achieve this target the SDMs have been directed to check at least 25 documents per month. This was stated by Mr V.K. Janjua Deputy Commissioner, while inaugurating the computerised registration centres in Amloh tehsil.

ROTARY CLUB: The Rotary Club on Tuesday organised a Hepatitis-B vaccination camp at the local Sobh Raj Batra Dharamshala. According to Mr Brij Bhushan Midha, project chairman of the club, 978 persons were vaccinated. A special camp will be organised on Thursday for those who could not be vaccinated on Monday.

JIND
BLACK MARKET: Two persons were arrested for selling kerosene on the black market in this district during last month. Mr P.K. Das, Deputy Commissioner, said here on Tuesday that a case under the Essential Commodities Act had been registered against them and about 3,000 litres of kerosene seized. Licences of five fair price shops were cancelled and their security deposits forfeited.

LABOURERS’ STIR: Hundreds of brick kiln labourers on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in support of their demands. The labourers were demanding water, electricity and residential facilities at the kilns. They also demanded hike in wages, payment of bonus and supply of daily use items at cheaper rates. The labourers later submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

KURUKSHETRA
ARRESTED: The police has arrested three persons involved in stealing of cars. The district police chief, Mr Desraj Singh, said here on Wednesday that after their arrest Harsimranjeet Singh, a resident of Housing Board Colony, Sector 13, Rajender Kumar, a resident of Layalpur Basti, and Vipin Kumar, a resident of Subhri village under Thana Brara, Ambala district in their respective confession told the police that on the night of March 7 they stole a Maruti car (HR.24.D0031) from Sector 13. The car owner was Mr Ashok Kumar Bhardwaj, President, District Bar Association, Kurukshetra.

ROHTAK
INSTALLED: The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam has installed a 100 KV transformer at Narwana to cope with over loading problems. Stating this here on Tuesday, Mr S.C. Rajpal, Chief Engineer (Operation), said this transformer was in addition to a 50 MV transformer at 220 KV sub-station. With this transmission will improve in Jind, Narwana, Tohana and Ratia areas, he added.

SIRSA
BOOKED: A student of Class X, Jagdish Kumar, was booked for running away with an answer sheet from the centre no 14 of the local Bharat Sainik School.

ARRESTED: The police on Tuesday arrested Bhadur Singh, an opium smuggler and seized 1 kg of narcotics from him. A case under the NDPS has been registered against him.

SONEPAT
ACCIDENT: Three persons were killed on the spot when a Tata Sumo in which they were travelling collided with a truck on the GT Road near the Murthal Chowk, six km from here, on Tuesday. According to a report, two of the three victims have been identified as Shamsher, son of Mr Dalbir, a resident of Hisar and Ram Diya. A case has been registered in this connection.

YAMUNANAGAR
ACCIDENT: A teacher was killed and three others were injured in a collision between a bus and a truck near Munda Khera village on the Chhachhrauli road, here on Tuesday.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

PARWANOO
CANTEEN SOUGHT: Ex-servicemen serving in various local factories here have demanded a mobile Army canteen for this township. Presently, ex-servicemen are withdrawing their liquor quota and other canteen items from various Army units at Kalka in Haryana. They suggested that Army canteen can visit this place once a month from Kasauli or Dagshai cantonment, which are nearest to this place.

MONKEY MENACE: Residents here have complained against the problems created by monkeys. They say it is difficult to save kitchen gardens from them and sometimes people are attacked by monkeys. Children find it difficult to walk on the roads. They say the local administration has not paid any attention towards this problem.

SUNDERNAGAR
STRIKE EXTENDED: Members of the local Sub-Divisional Bar Association on Monday passed a resolution to abstain from court till March 18. Members of District Bar Association, Mandi have also extended their strike. According to a spokesman of the association the strike was against the proposed amendment of Civil Procedure Code and Indian Advocate Act.

ORDERS ISSUED: The Sub Judge, Jogindernagar, in an interim order issued to the Secretary, PWD, Chief Engineer, National Highway Division, US Club, Shimla, Executive Engineer, NHD Division HPPWD, Jogindernagar, along with two other respondents has directed them not to start the work on the National Highway Number 20. The contract of which was awarded to a private company.