The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, September 4, 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

HOSHIARPUR
SENTENCED: Mr L.R. Roozam, District and Sessions Judge, here convicted Avtar Singh and Ranjit Singh, residents of Jakhowal village, on Friday for killing Bachan Singh of Gambowal village on May 28 last year. They were sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 302 of the IPC. The two were also sentenced to three years imprisonment under Section 450 of the IPC and fined Rs 1000. In case of non-payment of the fine, they would have to undergo further imprisonment of one more month.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Panjab University Teachers’ Association here: president — Dr Ghanshyam Unial; vice-president — Dr Krishna Saini; secretary — Dr Krishna Murari Sharma; joint secretary — Dr Kanhaiya Lal Parashar; and treasurer — Dr Parbhat Singh Thakur.

JALANDHAR
ROBBED: Amrit Parkash Jairath, 62, was shot at and robbed at Tanda Adda while closing his shop here on Saturday. He was attacked by two men who tried to snatch the cash bag he was holding. But when Mr Jairath scuffled in a bid to save the money, one of the men fired a shot which struck his left shoulder. The robbers escaped with the cash bag. Mr Jairath has been admitted in the civil hospital.

KHARAR
STOLEN: Jewellery and cash was stolen from the residence of Mr Karam Singh, a retired Punjab government employee, in Kurali of Kharar subdivision, in the early hours of the day on Friday. When contacted, Mr Jasdev Singh, SHO, Kurali, said the thieves came to the residence of Mr Karam Singh in the early hours of the day and it is suspected that they used some chemical through the running cooler due to which the family members became unconscious. The burgerlars then entered the house and took away gold ornaments and cash from there. He said that the police had registered a case under Sections 458 and 358, IPC, and had started a search for the culprits.

LUDHIANA
PROMOTED: Mr P.N. Khurana, Zonal Manager, Punjab zone, has been promoted as General Manager, Punjab National Bank. Mr Khurana joined the PNB in 1967 . Under his leadership, the PNB is all set to conquer the new challenges with strong work culture and a futuristic approach in customer satisfaction.

AGITATION: The Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has threatened to launch an agitation if the harassment and exploitation of hotel employees was not put to an end without further delay. The district President, Mr Vir Abhimanyu, and the General Secretary, Mr Nageshwar Singh, have said in a statement that the agitation would include a strike by all the hotel employees in the city. They said the owner of a hotel at the Dugri Road had not only dismissed all the 30 employees but some of them were beaten up and later handed over to police after the employees had made a demand for entering their names in the register and payment of minimum wages fixed by the government. The BMS leaders further alleged that labour laws were flouted with impunity in most of the city hotels and restaurants which led to the employees being deprived of gratuity, provident fund, pension, bonus, medical allowance and leave facilities.

APPOINTED: Sant Shamsher Singh Jagera, president of the International Sant Samaj, has appointed Sant Pritam Singh of Dumeli as the Vice-President of the Sant Samaj. This was stated by Mr Surinder Singh Chauhan, Office Secretary.

CONVENTION: The Punjab state unit of the Republican Party of India (RPI) will organise a ‘save the Constitution convention’ at Punjabi Bhavan here on Sept 10. According to the party General Secretary, Mr Subhash Disawar, the party chief, Mr Ram Das Athawale, MP, will be the chief guest. The convention will focus on exposing anti-Constitution and anti-Ambedkar forces and their evil designs against dalits, backward classes and minorities. Mr Disawar said the party was opposing the Constitution Review Commission by holding rallies, seminars and conventions all over the country. After the convention here on Sept 10, the RPI would hold demonstrations, rallies and dharnas at the district headquarters to raise its voice against attempted review of the Constitution.

PROMOTED: Mr Arun Kumar Sharma, Senior District Small Officer, has been promoted as the Deputy Director, Small Savings Ludhiana, said Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, Principal Finance Secretary of Punjab in a press note issued here on Sunday.

CELEBRATED: A dinner meeting was held by the Rotary Club, Ludhiana, North, to celebrate ‘Charter members’ day and past president’s day”. The club received its charter in December 1971 from the Rotary International. Since then the club is serving the community. The club has a name in the Rotary International and has won awards in the Rotary district and also the citations from the Rotary International. Recently, the club has given financial and other assistance to various educational institutions under literary programme, under the Presidentship of Mr Manmohan Singh Kalanauri, and the Secretary, Ravinder Kumar Singhania. Charter member’s and past presidents were honoured on the occasion.

STIR: Employees of the Central Bank of India held a demonstration outside the bank’s regional office here on Friday to protest against the discriminatory attitude of the Regional Manager, according to a press note by the Central Bank of India Employees Union. The demonstrators also demanded the fulfilment of all promises made by the Regional Manager, Ludhiana. Those who addressed the demonstrating employees included among others Com G.K.Joshi, Secretary, CBIEU (Pb), Com Ajit Kumar Sharma, Assistant Secretary, CBIEU, and Com A. K. Chhiber, Assistant Secretary, PBEF, according to the press note. The speakers assured the agitating employees that the agitation would be carried throughout the zone if need be.

MALERKOTLA
EYE CAMP: The local Lions Club, organised an eye camp at the Kali Mata Mandir complex here on Saturday. Dr R.S. Gill, eye surgeon, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, and his team examined 1,140 OPD patients and operated upon 153 patients at the camp. As many as 103 patients were provided eye lenses, free of cost.

TARN TARAN
CRUSHED: Harbir Singh, a resident of Walipur village, was crushed by diesel multiple unit (DMU) on Saturday when he was crossing railway line. A report has been lodged in this connection.

CHANDIGARH

RADHASHTAMI: The local body of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), will organise a religious function on Wednesday 6, on the occasion of Radhashtami, at Hare Krishna Dham, Sector 36-B, according to its local body president Bhakti Vinod Dasa Prabhu. The programme will be started at 4.30 a.m. with charan dharsan of Radharani followed by tulsi aarti at 5 a.m., nagar kirtan at 6 a.m., Sringaar aarti at 7.30 a.m., guru puja at 7.45 a.m., Path of Bhakti Rasamrit Sindhu about the qualities of Radharani at 8.15 a.m., abhishek of Radha at 11 a.m., offering of rajbhog at 11.45 a.m., discourse at 12.45 p.m.; distribution of prasadam (full feast) at 1.45 p.m., sandhya aarti at 6.30 p.m., nauka vihar at 7.30 p.m., and prasadam at 8.30 p.m.

DHARNA: The dharna staged by the Student Organisation of Panjab University and the students of various science departments entered its 10th day yesterday. The students are demanding table checking to avoid all the discrepancies, early revaluation results introduction of semester system, promotion of students of B.Sc (Honours School) I-year to II year and II year to III year.

BLOOD DONATION: As many as 210 members of St. John’s Old Boys Association (SJOBA) donated blood at the annual blood donation camp organised by the organisation. Mr Yashovardhan Saboo, president of SJOBA, old students of the school, parents and teachers donated blood.

GATE RALLY: Workers of Meters and Instruments (P) Ltd, today held a gate rally in resentment against the closure of the unit in the Industrial Area by the management here yesterday. Mr Devi Dayal Sharma, general secretary, of the All India Trade Union Congress, said that the agitation would be intensified if the management did not allow the workers to enter the factory for performing their duties.

PROGRAMME: In continuation of promoting a model of mental health and to help children, teachers and parents to understand as well as to deal with mental health problems, an interface with class X students and their parents was held at G.M.S.S.S., Sector 16 here. The discussion organised jointly by the Servants of The People Society, Lajpat Rai Bhawan and the Department of Psychiatry, PGI as part of child and adolescent psychiatry community services, revolved around questions by the students and their parents regarding effective ways of studying, enforcement of discipline, effective communication and relationship between parents, children and teachers. These sessions are going to be part of an on-going school mental health progarmme.

ORGANISED: The region 2 of the district 321-F organised a seminar on the role of PROs in disseminating information about the activities of the Lions Clubs to the common man. The seminar was held at a local hotel on Saturday. The seminar was presided over by Lion B.S. Garcha, region chairman and Lion Dr N.K. Grover, district governor, district 321-F, was the chief guest. Members of all Lions Clubs and zone Chairmen of the region attended the seminar. A meeting of the Zone Advisory Committee of district governors was also held before the seminar. Dr N.K. Grover, while speaking on the occasion laid stress on the important role to be performed by PROs in informing the public about the work done by the various Lions Clubs and to project a true and positive image of the organisation. He also laid stress on truth in reporting various activities in order to motivate more and more sincere people to join the club.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Shree Ram Leela Committee, Sector 32: president — Mr Rajnesh Chander; senior vice-president — Mr Yashvir Kumar; vice-president — Mr Rajesh Katial; general secretary — Mr R.S. Parmar; secretary — Mr Jagdish Aggarwal; finance secretary — Mr Satish Katyal; auditor — Mr Kewal Goel; propaganda secretary — Mr Sunil Parashar; and press secretary — Mr Gagan Kumar.

RALLY: The members of the Super Bazar Employees Joint Action Committee yesterday organised a rally against the non-functioning of the General Manager of Super Bazar for the second day. Mr Kamaljit Singh, executive member of the committee, while addressing the rally said the General Manager has not been attending office and the assistant General Manager has no power to make purchase of any item.

YAGNA: The members of the Sanskrit Adhyapak Parisad, Chandigarh, organised a meeting on Sunday to show their resentment against the Chandigarh Administration for not considering their demands. The parisad has also decided to wear black badges during duty hours on Teachers Day (September 5) and to perform a ‘‘Sadbudhi Yagna’’ at a ground in Sector 20, said Mr Dharmesh Sashtri, general secretary of the parisad. Mr Ramdev Sashtri, president of the parisad, has appealed the other teachers in all the schools to join the yagna.

DEMANDED: The Punjab Ayurvedic Medical Services Association has resented the recommendation in respect to the Ayurvedic Medical Officers by the Punjab Pay Anomalies Committee. The committee has recommended a pay scale of Rs 7220 - Rs 11,660 against Rs 8000 - Rs 13,500 (entry Scale), Rs 10,025 - Rs 15,100 (after four years), Rs 12,000 - Rs 15,500 (after nine years) and Rs 14,300 - Rs 18,150 allowed to ayurvedic doctors serving under the Government of India. Mr Bipan Chander Sharma, general secretary of the association, demanded that the government should grant ayurvedic doctors the central pay scales as enjoyed by their counterparts, so that wide spread frustration prevailing in them may be redressed.

FISHERIES CONGRESS: The Department of Zoology, Panjab University in collaboration with the Indian Society of Fisheries Professionals, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, Mumbai, will organise the First Indian Fisheries Science Congress from September 23 onwards. Besides nine sessions for discussion on the important aspects of fishery, deliberations on the theme “Fish and food security” will be held. The National Fisheries Research Institute and various commercial organisations will participate, disclosed Mr M.S. Johal and Mr M.P.S. Kohali of CIFE, Bombay, the local convener and the coordinators of the congress, respectively.

SAPLINGS PLANTED: Over 250 saplings of ashoka and other varieties of trees were planted by the members of the Kayasth Sabha, in Bapu Dham Colony here on Sunday. Mr M.P. Singh, Home Secretary and Municipal Commissioner, along with Ms Sunita Rani and Ms Kamlesh, Councillors planted the saplings said Mr Sanjay Bhatnagar, general secretary of the sabha.

HARYANA

AMBALA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Shri Atmanand Jain College Trust and Society: president — Mr Kuldip Kumar Jain; vice-president — Mr T.R. Jain; general secretary — Mr Kirti Prashad Jain; finance secretary — Mr Om Prakash Jain; joint secretary — Mr Bhupinder Kumar Jain; and press-secretary — Mr Mukesh Sahgal.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Haryana Kashyap Rajput Sabha here on Sunday: president — Mr Gurmit Singh Sarpanch; vice-president — Mr Karam Singh Kashyap; secretary — Mr Naresh Kumar Kashyap; and cashier — Mr Mukhtiyar Singh.

BHIWANI
LOK ADALAT: The 76th Lok Adalat was held at the Judicial complex here on Saturday. About 537 cases were disposed off by mutual consent of parties. Mr N.S. Ahlawat, District and Sessions Judge, here, inaugurated the Adalat by lighting a lamp.

FARIDABAD
PROTEST: Agitating Class IV employees of the Government Badshah Khan (BK) Hospital continued their dharna on Friday in protest against the beating up of an employee on August 26. The employees have threatened to go for a ‘Chakka Jam’ if authorities failed to give justice by September 4.

COMPETITION: An on-the-spot painting competition was organised at the Adkhal Lake Tourist Complex here on Friday to mark Tourism Day. According to Additional Division Manager of the Complex, Raghubir Singh Dhull, students from several public schools took part in the competition.

FATEHABAD
MEETING HELD: In view of the coming paddy procurement season, a meeting of different procurement agencies of the district was held here on Saturday. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, presided over the meeting. Sub-divisional Magistrates of Fatehabad, Rattia and Tohana and officers of the Haryana Warehousing Corporation, the Hafed, the Food and Supplies and the Confed participated.

DENTAL CAMP: The local DAV Centenary School organised a dental check-up camp for its KG class on Saturday. Dr Ranjan Malik, a noted Orthodentist, inspected the teeth of children and teachers and apprised them about methods for proper teeth care.

INAUGURATED: Ganesh Utsav was inaugurated here on Friday by the police chief of the district by lighting a candle. The programme was being organised by the Maharashtra Ganesh Utsav Mandal and Gold and Refinery Association here. Mr Shrikant Jadhav, SP, was the chief guest.

KAITHAL
SAPLINGS PLANTED: The Gramin Yuva Vikas Parishad and Nehru Yuva Kendra here organised a sapling plantation drive at Peoda village, 7 km from here, on Saturday. The District Public Relations Officer, Dr Rajbir Singh, inaugurated this campaign by planting a sapling. Speaking on the occasion, he stressed upon the need to plant trees to check pollution.

RAID: A team of the State Vigilance Bureau along with the District Revenue Officer, Mr Prithvi Singh Rana here, caught Jagdish Chand, a registry clerk at subtehsil Dhand, red-handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 500. Giving this information, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mahavir Singh, said here on Saturday that Mange Ram of Dayanand Colony, Model Town, Karnal, had made a complaint against the clerk following which a team was constituted which arrested the clerk. A case under Section 7/13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused.

KARNAL
COMMITTEE: Mr Ram Kumar Arya, newly elected president of the district unit of the BJP here on Friday announced the formation of 31-member working committee. The permanent invitees to the committee are Mr I.D. Swami, Union Minister of state for Home Affairs, Mr Shashipal Mehta, former Haryana Minister, Mr Ramesh Kashyap, former MLA and Mrs Santosh Atreja.

PANIPAT
INSTALLED : The first installation session of the Inner Wheel Club here under the presidentship of Sanjeeva Guglani was held on Friday. Fifteen scholarships for the needy students were announced on the occasion. Besides this, an amount of Rs 1100 per month, was also announced to be given to the Mother Teresa Home for one year.

SIRSA
DIED: A Himachal Pradesh transport bus coming to Sirsa knocked down two youths riding on a two-wheeler, from behind near Ding More village in the district on Friday. The victims, identified as Chhinder Pal of Ding village and Balbir of Bhirdana village, died on the spot.

FINANCIAL AID: Khadi Gramoudyog Board has targeted to extend financial help up to Rs 1 crore to 20 entrepreneurs with 30 per cent of the amount as margin money. Disclosing this the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Amit Jha, said 13 cases in this regard had been recommended to various banks, five of which have already been provided with Rs 2,441 lakh as loan and Rs 10.37 lakh as margin money.