The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, July 24, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
TRAIN PASSENGERS: The North Zone Passengers Association has expressed resentment over the “frequent interruptions” in computerised reservation on the Abohar-Bathinda section. In a memorandum faxed to the Railway Minister on Saturday, the association said two of the five ticket counters at the Bathinda junction were not functioning reportedly due to the shortage of staff. It said passengers had to miss trains due to the late opening of counters besides the slow pace of work of the staff.

WOMAN THRASHED: Shakuntala Devi, a resident of Nai Abadi, in telegrams sent to senior police officers on Saturday alleged that five persons, including two security guards of an MLA, forced their entry into her residence and thrashed her along with her two sons in the presence of the MLA because she had not accepted the terms dictated by the MLA to solve a dispute with her relatives. Shakuntala, who was admitted to the Civil Hospital here, said the police had registered an FIR but no one had been arrested so far. She said her family had been threatened to withdraw the complaint or face the consequences.

BATHINDA
OCTROI CHARGED ILLEGALLY: The Public Grievances Association (PGA) has alleged that the PSEB was illegally charging octroi from the consumers. In a press note issued here on Wednesday, Mr Sadhu Ram Kusla, General Secretary of the Association, said in a letter written to the PGA the Association had demanded that octroi should not be charged from the consumers.

PUNJAB GOVT FLAYED: The Bharti Mazdoor Dal (BMD) has criticised the Punjab Government for not taking care of the labour class. In a press note issued here on Sunday, Mr Gurlal Singh, General Secretary, and Mr Jagir Singh, Vice- President of the BMD, said the government, despite knowing the facts, was not providing any financial assistance to them.

MALERKOTLA
CAMP CONCLUDES: A five-day “Art of Living Camp” concluded on Saturday at the Malerkotla Club. The camp was organised by the Viakti Vikas Kendra under the guidance of Mrs Mohini Devi of Bangalore. As many as 200 persons participated in it. A spokeswoman of the kendra, Mrs Aruna Sharma, told mediapersons that the camp had proved beneficial for patients having mental disorders and other chronic ailments.

MOGA
BOMBS FOUND: Labourers digging a well in Phuelwala village under the Baghapurana police station in the district found two bombs buried in it. The digging work was stopped and the matter reported to the police which immediately rushed to the spot and seized the bombs. Later, the Army’s help was sought to defuse the bombs.

NAWANSHAHR
SCIENCE SEMINARS: Tehsil-level science seminars for students were organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Banga, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Balachaur, for the Nawanshahr and Balachaur subdivisions, respectively, in the district on Saturday. The district-level competitions would be held on July 26 at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Rahon, Mr Balihar Singh Bains, District Science Supervisor, said.

DHARNA: Activists of the district unit of the Berojgar Adhyapak Front on Friday organised a dharna in front of the office of the DEO here and took out a march to the office of the Deputy Commissioner. They submitted a memorandum to the DC demanding that the process of recruitment of teachers should be started immediately.

BLOOD GROUPS: The local Blood Donors Council organised a camp to test blood groups free of cost at Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib Sujjon, about 12 km from here, on Friday. Laminated cards were issued after testing the blood group to about 200 persons, Mr Jaspal Gidda, president of the council, said in a press note issued here on Saturday.

SAPLINGS PLANTED: The local branch of the State Bank of India organised a sapling plantation camp at K C Public School here on Friday. Mr Deepak S Bengali, DGM, Punjab region, inaugurated the camp. About 500 saplings were planted.

TARN TARAN
SEWERAGE: The local Parents Association has taken serious note of the “faulty” disposal system of water and sewerage in the town and has warned the local municipal council authorities to take early steps in this regard otherwise the association “will move to the Human Rights Commission in this regard.” This was resolved at a meeting of the association held under the presidentship of Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal.

CHANDIGARH

BAIL APPLICATION DISMISSED: Mr R.C. Godara, Additional District and Sessions Judge, yesterday dismissed the bail application of Rajesh Kumar and Raj Kumar, who along with two others namely Sohan Lal and Bajinder, had beaten up Naresh Kumar. Nose bone of the victim was broken. The quarrel took place about six years ago on Holi festival. Earlier, Mr Sanjeev Kumar Gautam, Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class), had sentenced Rajesh Kumar and Sohan Lal to one year’s rigorous imprisonment and Raj Kumar and Bajinder to six-month’s rigorous imprisonment.

CONGRESS TRAINING CAMP: The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) will organise a state-level training camp for active members on Saturday. The two-day camp would be visited by several national and state level leaders.

GTU TO HOLD MEETING: The Government Teachers Union (GTU), (UT), will hold a meeting on July 25 near Jama Masjid, Sector 20, to decide on further action after the supension of Mr Harbir Singh Anand, President of the GTU. This was stated in a press release by the GTU here yesterday. In a meeting of the executive committee held today, the committee decided that a delegation would meet the Education Secretary and other senior officials of the Chandigarh Administration in connection with the suspension.

PANCHKULA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Shri Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Sector 15; president — Mr S.L. Jindal; senior vice-president — Mr Shyam Lal Bansal; vice-president — Mr K.L. Sachdeva; general secretary — Mr Diryao Singh; joint secretary — Mr Munish Manik; treasurer — Mr Rajinder Sharma; assistant treasurer — Mr Harinder Sharma; auditor — Mr J.S. Tomar; and caretaker — Mr A.S. Guleria.

SAS NAGAR
UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE REMOVED: Enforcement staff of the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) removed unauthorised structures from an area of seven acres in Sector 68 here today. The land cleared of encroachments has been allotted for a residential colony to the Punjab School Education Board. The staff also removed construction material, unauthorisedly kept along a road side by some shopkeepers, in Phase 8 here.

SCHOOL BAGS FIVE TOP POSITIONS: In the results of the humanities stream of the 10+2 class of the Punjab School Education Board declared recently, students of Sant Isher Singh Model School in Phase 7 here have secured the first five positions in the Ropar district. Ms Hardeep Kaur Gill, Principal of the school, said Amardeep Kaur, Navita Sharma and Navjot Kaur secured first, second and third positions, respectively.

HARYANA

FATEHABAD
SAPLINGS PLANTED: To make the district pollution free 4.15 lakh saplings have been planted in 377 hectares under different schemes in the district during the past one year. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, said here on Sunday that the plantations were carried out on the government land, railway tracks and by the sides of the canals.

KAITHAL
5 YOUTHS HELD: The police has solved the murder case of an 11-year-old boy of Padala village who was strangulated by some youths of the same village after committing sodomy a few days ago. The SP, Mr Parbhat Ranjan Deo, said here on Saturday that five youths allegedly involved in the crime — Randhir Singh (18), Krishan, alias Sethi (19), Bijender, alias Bokan (18), Jaibir (19) and Rajesh, alias Raja (19) had been arrested and booked under Section 302 of the IPC. The victim, Tony, was sleeping outside his house on the night of July 18 when he was taken to an isolated place and done to death by the suspects after committing sodomy.

SIRSA
FALSE PROMISES: The Chautala government has failed on all fronts. This was stated by a senior Congress leader and former Minister, Mr Jagdish Nehra. Mr Nehra added that Mr Chautala had befooled the people by making false promises of free water and electricity.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
HAJ PILGRIMAGE: The Himachal Government has invited applications from Muslims up to July 25 who are desirous of going on the Haj pilgrimage by air in 2001. A communication received here on Saturday from the Secretary, state Haj Committee-cum-Additional Secretary (Home), said the applicants must send a demand draft for Rs 5,500 after getting the application form from the Deputy Commissioner’s office. A character certificate from the SP and a Himachali domicile certificate must also be sent.

KANGRA
CAREER GUIDANCE: A career guidance and functional literacy camp for 200 students of Classes XI and XII of the local MCM DAV College was organised by the local Rotary Club in the college on Saturday. Mr I.D. Sharma, Principal, local Polytechnic College, Dr V.K. Mahajan, BMO, Prof Harish Vaidhya, Prof Vipin Bandhari and Mr S.K. Sharma, Principal, DAV College, briefed the students on various career options. HIGHWAY BLOCKED: The Pathankot-Mandi national highway remained blocked for two hours on Saturday following heavy rain and storm. A big tree was uprooted at Rati village, near here, which fell on a Maruti van leaving a woman injured and blocking the highway.

BODY FOUND: The police found the body of a 25-year-old youth from a rain shelter near Bari village under the Dheera police station in the district on Saturday. Police sources said the body was identified as that of Dharamveer of Annupgarh in Rajasthan. The cause of the death was not immediately known.

KUMARHATTI
RESENTMENT: Resentment prevails among residents of Dharampur and Subathu against the failure of the administration to repair Daghroh bridge on the Dharampur — Subathu road. They alleged that despite their repeated requests nothing had been done so far. The bridge is one of the oldest in this region.