R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
ACCIDENT: Seven persons were injured, one of them seriously, when the Tempo in which they were travelling collided with a truck near Alamgarh village on Thursday. The truck driver escaped leaving behind the truck. A case has been registered in this connection.

BATHINDA
DENTAL CAMP: The Balluana branch of the State Bank of Patiala, organised a dental check-up camp at Government High School on Monday in which 250 patients were given medicine, free of cost. In a press note issued here on Friday, Mr Anil Bhargava, Branch Manager, said Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Science and Technology Minister and Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, MLA, were the chief guests.

MEDICAL CAMP: The Punjab National Bank organised a general medical check-up camp at Government Primary School, Gobindpura, on Friday in which about 350 patients were given medicine, free of cost. Mr CR Khajuria, Regional Manager of the bank here, said a team of seven doctors checked the patients.

DORAHA
MEMORANDOM: A memorandum regarding the release of pension-cum-gratuity scheme was presented by Professor Kuldip Singh, President, district council, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) and the members of the staff of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, to Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, here on Friday. The memorandum stated that the Punjab Assembly had already passed a bill notified on April 24, 1999. All the legal formalities had been completed. A large number of teachers had retired since April 2, 1992. Some of them had expired during this period and their families were facing acute financial hardships. So the urgent implementation of the scheme was demanded, to which the minister gave positive assurance. 

GARHSHANKAR
LOK ADALAT: A lok adalat was held at the local courts by the Additional Civil Judge, Mr Varandeep Aggarwal, on Thursday. Out of a total of 17 cases, 16 were resolved on the spot.

DHARNA: Teachers of local BAM Khalsa College and SGGS Khalsa College, Mehilpur, staged dharnas in front of the offices of their principals on Friday in protest against the non-implementation of the Pension and Gratuity Scheme by the Punjab Government. They alleged that the Finance Department was delaying the implementation of the Bill passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

HOSHIARPUR
ONE KILLED: Vikar Singh of Sherpur Khas village, near here was killed when a vehicile hit his scooter near the Sherpur bridge on Friday. The driver fled with the vehicle. The Hariana police has registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC.

OPEN SCHOOL: Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, MP, inaugurated an open school started by Lala Lajpat Rai Senior Secondary School under a scheme approved by the Punjab School Education Board here on Thursday. He announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh from the MP Local Area Development Project Fund for the construction of a community centre in the premises of the school.

SURPRISE VISIT: Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, Minister for Jails, made a surprise visit to the district jail here on Thursday. he checked the meal being served to the inmates of the jail. he also inspected the female ward and listened to the problems of the female prisoners.

LUDHIANA
SUSPENDED: Dr K.K. Pasricha, acting president of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab, who also heads Arya Vidya Parishad, has suspended Mr Ashwani Kumar, Advocate, and general secretary of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab. It is being alleged that Mr Kumar had violated some norms of the constitution of the sabha. However, Mr Ashwani Kumar, Principal of Doaba College, Jalandhar, has now been appointed as the working general secretary of the sabha. Mr Surinder Murghai, president, Arya Samaj Basti Guja, Jalandhar, has been appointed as the administrator of the office of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, to control and supervise the entire functioning of the office. Consequently, the meeting of Antrang Sabha, which was to be held on Sunday, has now been cancelled till further orders.   

ROTARACT CLUB: The installation ceremony of the Rotaract Club of Government College for Women was held on Friday. Sandeepa Sur has been installed as president, Neha Sood as secretary, Shikha Kholsa as vice-president and Munmum Gupta as treasurer of the club. The members of the club organised a talent search contest in which about 20 girls participated in a song, dance and poetry contest. Rashi who sang Zindagi naam ko hamari hai was declared the best singer. Anjali who danced on the number Maiya Yashoda yeh mera kanhya was declared the best dancer and Debby Rai was declared the best poetess. The guest of honour on the occasion was Dr S.S. Johl, former Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University. Dr Johl apprised the students about the working of the club and encouraged them to take part in the community activities of the club.   

WORKSHOP: A one-day workshop was organised on Friday, in Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in collaboration with US Surgicals on the use of staplers in gastro intestinal surgery. This workshop was organised in the department of surgery under Dr M.L. Gupta, Professor and Head Department of Surgery. A surgical training centre has been started in DMC which on a regular basis will be imparting training to surgeons from the northern region from time to time.   

PROF RETURNS: Dr Paramjit Singh Bagga, plant pathologist regional research station of Punjab Agricultural University, Gurdaspur, participated in the “International symposium on wheat improvement for scab resistance” at Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing and Suzhoe, China on May 5. He presented his research paper titled ‘Fusarium head scab resistance evaluation programme in India’. He also visited the international centre for maize and wheat improvement (CIMMYT), regional offices in Beijing and Bangkok.   

MOGA
LINK ROADS: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kanwalbir Singh Sidhu, on Friday assured residents of various villages in the district that all link roads in the district would be completed soon and would be opened for traffic. He stated this at a meeting of villagers held at Baghapurana town, 15 km from here.

STRIKE CONTINUES: A strike by class III and IV employees of the Telecommunication Department here in protest against the alleged privatisation of the department entered its second day on Saturday. The strike has severly affected business.

PATHANKOT
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Rashtariya Chetana Parishad: president  Mr Rajesh Gupta; general secretary  Mr V.P. Bhandari; and treasurer  Mr Pawan Gupta.

SMALL SAVINGS: Mr Mohan Lal, Higher Education Minister, Punjab, while presiding over the annual prize distribution function of the Punjab Small Savings here said there was a need to make villagers aware of the benefits of small savings. He urged the government agencies and the media to propagate about the national saving schemes.

AT LARGE: A boy, who allegedly attacked Raj Kumar, a shopkeeper of Androon bazar, with a knife on Tuesday, still at large. A case has been registered in this connection.

PATIALA
CAMPAIGNING: Personal Banking Branch of the State bank of Patiala and the Rotary Club, Midtown, organised a tree plantation drive as a part of the Green Patiala campaign. About 200 saplings and ornamental plants were planted in the Model Colony, Aekta Avenue and Pratap Nagar. Mr H.S. Sethi, Chief Manager (Administration), Zonal Office, State Bank of Patiala, emphasised the importance of trees in the global environment. 

QUIZ: A postgraduate neonatology quiz under the auspices of the National Neonatology Forum was held in the Department of Paediatrics, Government Medical College, Patiala, under the chairmanship of quiz coordinator Dr K.K. Locham, Professor and Head of Paediatrics Department, on August 22. All the postgraduate students of the department participated in the quiz. The winners Dr Sanjeev and Dr Chandrika will represent the College at zonal level quiz to be held at Ludhiana, on August 30.

SAMRALA
NOMINATED: The Punjab Government has nominated 12 members to the grievances Committee of sub-division Samrala, according to Mr Sandeep Hans, local SDM, speaking to reporters here on Friday.Mr Hans said that these 12 members were: Mr Sarvshri Arjan Singh Ghulal, Captain Balwant Singh Kubba, Mr Bachan Singh Samrala, Mr Sohan Singh Shad Rattipur, Mr Santosh Marwaha Samrala, Mr Kulwinder Singh Bhatti Machhiwara, Mr Pritam Singh Batra Samrala, Mr Kuldeep Khullar Samrala, Mr Sushil Kumar Luthra Machhiwara, Mr Master Ujagar Singh Machhiwara, Mr Joginder Singh Mushkabad and Mr Jagmohan Singh Takkar Machhiwara.   

UNION: The following have been elected office-bearers of Class IV Employees Union of Nagar Council, Samrala: chairman  Mr Pheru Ram; president  Mr Ashok Kumar Bains; sr vice president  Mr Jaspal Singh Chandan; vice-presidentSri Ram; general secretary  Mr Bhinder Singh; secretaryMs Geeta Devi; propaganda secretary  Mr Ashok Verma; cashierSuresh Pal; and legal advisor Mr Shiv Kumar Advocate.   

POWER THEFT: 37 cases of power theft have been detected by the P.S.E.B. officials, under the command of Mr Harjodh Singh, SDO, PSEB, Machhiwara, on Thursday, in the surrounding villages of Machhiwara. Interestingly, a black-smith who was engaged professionally to stop the electric meter by inserting a Patta in the meter, was also caught.   

CHAMPIONSHIP: The District Rifle Shooting Championship for the year 2000 was conducted by the District Rifle Shooting Association at the ITBP rifle range, Badowal. Mr Rabinder Singh Bhaini Sahib stood first in the .22 Bore Riffle Prone position. Mr Kuldeep Singh, SSP, Ludhiana, Chairman, District Rifle Shooting Association, gave away the prizes.   

MEETINGS: A meeting of the nagar councillors of the Samrala committee was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Mr Sandeep Hans, SDM-cum-Administrator of the Committee, to solve the problems of sewerage and drainage etc. In the meeting Mr Hans said that the sewerage and drainage problems of the city needed large funds and the committee, due to lack of funds, was not in a position to solve the problem. Mr Hans, however, assured that the funds would be collected from the Punjab Government through the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, very shortly. Many councillors also demanded to reduce the water bills which were enhanced some months back and SDM assured them that he would speak with the Director.   

SUNAM
APPOINTED: The following have been appointed office-bearers of the Human Rights Cell, District Congress Committee, Sangrur: president  Mr Bharat Bhushan Menon; convener  Mr Anirudh Vashisht; secretary  Mr Romesh Jain; coordinator  Mr Jaswant Rai Aggarwal.

CHANDIGARH

CHANDIGARH
BONUS ACT: Representatives of the Hotel Workers Union, Chandigarh observed the All India Day for the amendment of the Bonus Act, 1965, on the call of the All Indian Trade Union Congress. The union has demanded that the government must amend the Act in such a way that it should cover all the workmen, said Mr P.N. Sharma, president of the union.  

COMMITTEE : The following have been elected officer-bearers of the Chandigarh Market Committee Employees Union for 2000-2001: chairman  Mr P.S. Lamba, vice-chairman  Mr Karnail Singh, president  Mr. Rajinder Singh, vice-president  Mr MK Sharma, general-secretary  Mr Gurpreet Singh, joint-secretary  Mr Lakhbir Singh, treasures  Mr Lajja Ram and Mr Labh Singh, Mr Darshan Singh, Mr Daljit Singh and Mr Madan Lal as members.  

ELECTED: In a meeting of the members of the Technical Teachers’ Training Institute Staff Welfare Fund following have been elected office-bearers for a period of two years: chairman  Mr S.K. Chopra, vice-chairmen  Mr Manmohan Singh and Mr G.B. Pandey, organising-secretary  Mr Tara Chand Kashyap, treasurer  Mr Ram Dass and Mr Sunil D Jassal, Mr Sudarshan Sharma, Mr Bir Singh and Mr Krishan Pal as executive members.  

PHYSIOTHERAPY CENTRE: A physiotherapy centre has been established on the premises of the Arya Samaj, Sector 7. The centre will provide services to the inmates of the Sadhna Dham run by the Arya Samaj. It will also be open to other senior citizens between 5 and 6 p.m on week days. President of the association, Mr P.H. Vaishnav, a former Chief Secretary of Punjab , thanked the Arya Samaj management.  

BUILDING SOCIETIES: The general-body meeting of the Chandigarh State Federation of Cooperative House Building Societies is scheduled for September 9. The meeting will witness presentation and adoption of annual reports , presentation and approval of audited accounts, amendment of bye-laws, to increase the maximum credit limit. Each society will be allowed to send one representative to attend the general body meeting on behalf of the society. The representative will have to be an elected member of the managing committee, a press release of the federation said.  

COMMONWEALTH: The Commonwealth Youth Programme  Asia Centre located at Jawalamukhi Hostel, Punjab Engineering College, Sector-12, will organise a sapling plantation programme in the college campus on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Mr Raka Rashid, the Regional Director, informed that Mr R.K. Jain, Chief Engineer of the UT Administration, will be the chief guest on this occasion.  

BJP'S MEETING: With a view to consider the agenda for the meeting of the Municipal Council to be held on August 30, all the BJP Councillors will hold a meeting in Sector 21, on August 29.  

BJYM: The Maloya unit of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) celebrated the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter ‘Rajguru’ as Yuva Aketrikaran at Maloya village. Mr Satinder Singh, president of BJYM, Chandigarh, presided over the function. Ms Shanta Abhilashi, Mayor, congratulated the members of the morcha for various welfare activities in the village. Mr Desh Raj Tandon, Senior Deputy Mayor, appealed the youth to work with dedication for the country. Mr Darshan Singh, Chairman of Zila Parishad, Mr Dharampal Gupta, president of BJP, Chandigarh unit, Mr Kanhya Lal, Councilor, Mr Harbhajan Singh, president of Kisan Morcha, Mr Aman Rana, Mr Amandeep Singh, Mr Virjendar Singh, Mr Sanjeev Kumar Lohat, Mr Didar Singh, Mr MP Singh, Mr Naveen Kumar and Mr Gurpreet Singh, were also present at the function.  

CAMP: As many as 207 persons donated blood in a camp jointly organised by the Lions Club Chandigarh Shivalik and Government College, Sector 46, here today. Mr Parag Jain, Senior Superintendent of Police, who was the chief guest, congratulated the donors for this noble cause. The donors were also given T-Shirts by Mr I.J. Singh, President of the Club. Maj D.P. Singh, Principal of Government College, Sector 46, said that two more blood donation camps would be organised during this year.  

CERTIFICATE COURSE: The Department of South Indian Languages, Panjab University, has decided to hold interviews for the late admissions to the certificate course in Tamil, on Aug 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the department. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
STATUS DEMANDED: The president of the local unit of the trader’s cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr Kirti Prasad Jain, has demanded a corporation status for Ambala. He has suggested that corporation can be formed by consolidating Municipal Council, Ambala City, Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, and the Cantonment Board, so that a speedy development of Ambala can take place, a release said. He has also demanded that Saha Growth Centre should be started at the earliest so that more employment opportunities for the Ambala residents can be generated. He suggested that the development of the Saha Growth Centre should be handed over to private sector so that the work can be speeded up.  

JIND
TWO KILLED: Duli Chand and Ishwar of Butani village in the district were killed and Zile Singh, Rupa and Balbir seriously injured on Friday when Randhir attacked them with an axe while they were asleep. The injured have been admitted to the Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak. A case has been registered and Randhir and his mother Phoolpati have been arrested. A land dispute was said to be the reason behind the murders.

PANCHKULA
SAPLINGS PLANTED: As many as 150 saplings of hibiscus and poinsettia were planted by the members of the Residents Welfare Association, Swastik Vihar, Panchkula. Mr Prithi Sharma, president of the Association, said the plantation was sponsored by the State Bank of Patiala, Dariya.  

SIRSA
SENTENCED: Two of the four persons, involved in a murder, have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the District and Sessions Judge, Mr M.S. Sullar, according to an information received on Saturday. The judge pronounced life imprisonment on Milkh Raj and Labh Chand and a fine Rs 5000 each. Lal Chand and another accused Dharmabai were sentenced to five years and one year of imprisonment, respectively.

ARRESTED: A case has been registered against Kundan Singh and Gopal Singh under Sections 302/34 of the IPC. They were arrested for killing Harjinder Kaur, Kundan’s daughter-in-law on Thursday. The police has registered a case against Harjinder’s mother-in-law Gayan Kaur and two other members of the family on the complaint of Mr Sajjan Singh, an uncle of the deceased. He had alleged that his niece was murdered by these five for not bringing dowry.