R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
DEMANDED: The Muslim Human Welfare Society and the Insaaf International, in a press note issued here, said the offerings at the Dargah Baba Hazi Ratan should be spend only on the dargah and Hazi Ratan School.

WORKSHOP: A two-day workshop on the use and spread of Hindi was organised by IFFCO here recently. The workshop was inaugurated by Mr Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda. Addressing the gathering, he said in addition to improving the farm sector, IFFCO was also contributing significantly for the development of Hindi.

JALANDHAR
ASSURED: Mr Sikander Singh Mallooka, Electricity Minister, Punjab, assured members of the Technical Service Union of the Punjab State Electricity Board that the board would not be privatised.

FLAG MARCH: Members of the PWD Field and Workshop Workers Union will organise a flag march in Sunam in protest against the ‘anti-employee’ policies of the Punjab Government on September 19.

LUDHIANA
THEATRE: Art Theatre of Ludhiana will present a comedy ‘Neem Hakeem’ on September 24 at 7 pm at the open air theatre of Punjabi Bhawan. The show will be organized by the local chapter of Punjabi Sahit Academy. In a press note Mr Hira Singh Randhawa, writer and director of the play said that the comedy was based on Moliere’s famous play ‘Doctor Mock’ (French name ‘Le Docteure amoureux). He said that in the present world of satellite channels the people were fed up with the vulgar programmes on the western pattern. The play was prepared keeping this point of view in mind. The music has been composed by Mr Raj Kumar. Known artists of Ludhiana theatre like Raman Kumar, Mandeep Singh, Surinder Simi, Amritpal Kaur, Shashi Kala, Pardeep Joshi, Vijay Kumar and Mayur have also been engaged with the production.

HOSIERY: Dharamshala-based Tibetans who had boycotted the local hosiery market in protest against the steep freight hike by road transporters resumed buying on Friday following an assurance by the transporters to reconsider the hike. The Tibetan buyers were facing great hardships in getting their bulk purchases transported in time through the railways, so a sizeable number of them had started using the road transport to save on time. The hike in freight charges by the transporters was totally unjustified as there had been no corresponding hike in the diesel prices, prompting the Tibetans to boycott the local hosiery market. Though winter is still a couple of months away, the Tibetans have started buying hosiery products from here to be able to transport the same to their selling destination in time. Hosiery worth lakhs of rupees is bought by these Tibetans every day.

SC STATUS SOUGHT: Scheduled caste status was sought for the members of the Vimukat jatis at a meeting of the All India Vimukat Jati Sewa Sangh held here on Friday under the presidentship of Mr Harnam Dass Johar, former Speaker, Panjab Vidhan Sabha. The meeting observed that a proposal in this connection had been put forward during the tenure of Mr Beant Singh late Chief Minister, which was not attended to after his death. The sangh has decided to pursue the matter again to get the SC status for the people of Vimukat jatis failing which it would resort to an agitational approach, a press note issued by the sangh added.

JATHA: A jatha of Akali workers led by Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, acting president, Akali Jatha (Urban), Ludhiana, left here on Friday for Sunam to canvass for the party candidate Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa. Prominent members of the jatha are Jathedar Ujagar Singh Chhapa, Mr Ajit Singh Batra, Mr Inderpreet Singh Bhathal and Mr Amrik Singh. The jatha will travel from village to village in Sunam constituency in keeping with the directive issued by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Before departing for Sunam, Mr Inderpreet Singh Bhathal, who deserted the Bhatia group alongwith hundreds of his followers to join the camp of Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, was honoured at a simple function.

MEETING: A meeting of the All-India Sikh Students Federation (Badal), Bhauma group, held here on Thursday under the presidentship of senior national vice-president, Mr Gurdip Singh Leel, and took a serious note of semi nude dances by girls at functions conducted by various orchestra groups and indecent programmes being telecast by cable operators. In a press note issued here, Mr Leel requested them to desist from indulging in presenting vulgar shows. He urged the cable operators to follow the Jalandhar Doordarshan and DD’s national channel, which never telecast obscene programmes in keeping with the Indian traditions.

HEALTH CARE: A key resource person workshop regarding reproductive and child health project will be organised on Friday at Bachat Bhawan of the mini secretariat. Mr Malkeet Singh, joint secretary, Ludhiana Sakharta Samiti in a press note said, the workshop would be organised under leadership of Mr S.R. Kaler, Additional Deputy Commissioner and secretary of the samiti, between 10 am to 2 pm. The workshop will be conducted by Mr H.S. `Randhawa, district co-ordinator. Ten delegates from each CD block from health department, development and panchayat department, aangan wadi department and Ludhiana Sakharta Samiti would be participating in the workshop. The trained KRPs of this workshop will conduct the resource persons workshops to be organised at the tehsil level. Mr Malkeet Singh further said that cultural teams trained in kala jatha workshops will present one-act plays, skits and action songs based on child and mother health care in 400 places of Ludhiana district on this occasion. This project will be launched by the Sakharta Samiti with the cooperation of district health administration and volunteer organisations of Ludhiana.

MACHHIWARA
ELECTED: In the Municipal Council election held here today Mr Anil sood was unanimously elected president of the council, whereas Mr V.P. Mangat was declared the vice-president.

MALERKOTLA
FINED: The PSEB has imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on various government and private institutes at Amargarh village, 5 km from here. According to information, PSEB officials fined Senior Secondary School (Boys) Rs 30,375, Senior Secondary School, Bagrian Rs 12,946, Punjab National Bank Rs 21,728, veterinary hospital Rs 9663, primary health centre Rs 60,300, Akal Model School Rs 11,550, and petrol station, Amargarh Rs 16,800.

PATHANKOT
MUSIC NITE: The local Nationalist Society, organised a Hans Raj Hans nite at A.B. College on Wednesday in aid of the Red Cross Society of India. Mr Mohan Lal, Minister for Higher Education, inaugurated the function. Several senior officers attended the function. However, the Red Cross Society has denied giving permission to organisers to hold the function.

PATIALA
YOGA CAMP: Renowned yoga exponent, Mr Munni Lal Kumra, is holding a 15-day yoga camp for students at the local Government Mohindra College from September 16. The camp has been sanctioned by Mr Daljit Singh, Director, Youth Welfare, Punjabi University, Patiala.

CHANDIGARH

ATM INSTALLED: The Central Bank of India has selected the Sector 22 branch for the installation of its first ATM in the city because of its strategic location in the market. The branch is also fully computerised. The 24-hour ATM facility will be available in Panchkula, Mani Majra and Chandigarh. Executive Director of the Central Bank of India, Mr K. Cherian Varghese, inaugurated the ATM centre. Mr Varghese said the bank was also considering to install the next ATM in Ludhiana. According to him the bank had got 12 ATMs at different centres and planned to reach the figure of 25 ATMs by the end of the current financial year. Deputy General Manager of the bank, Mr R.P. Sharma said the Chandigarh zone of the bank was catering to the banking needs of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh.

GRIEVANCE: The general body meeting of the Residents Welfare Forum, Sector 46-D, was held to discuss the problems being faced by the residents. The residents complained about the streetlights on the main road and irregular safai karamcharis. They demanded immediate removal of congress grass and stray animals from the roads.

MEETING: At a meeting of the Chandigarh Janswasth Karamchari Sangh, it was decided that all the members of the organisation would go to Delhi to meet the Home Minister. They demand implementation of 8, 16, 24, 32 years special increment, promotion policy from chowkidar-cum-operators to full operator and work-charged to regular and confirmation in the Administration and the Municipal Corporation. They would also demand bonus from the UT and the MC, Chandigarh.

DHARNA: The Super Bazar Joint Action Committee members decided to defer the dharna against the policy of the Chandigarh Administration to liquidate the Super Bazars, till September 17, due to the death of Mr Satish Kumar Sharma, salesman of the Super Bazar.

TREE PLANTATION: The Punjab and Haryana High Court Advocates Cooperative House Building Society, Sector 49, in association with the Environment Society of India will organise a tree plantation campaign on Saturday. Lieut-Gen J.F.R Jacob (retd), Administrator, will inaugurate the campaign.

PROTEST: The industrial workers led by INTUC, AITUC, the HMS, the BMS and CITU held a protest dharna in front the office of the Deputy Commissioner here on Friday. The speakers criticised the Chandigarh Administration for not taking appropriate steps, particularly in respect of revisions of the minimum wages for the workers of industrial and commercial establishments situated in the UT. The speakers also criticised the Administration for its move to privatise CITCO-run hotels, the CTU and dismantling of the Super Bazars. Later a memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Labour Commissioner.

OFFICE-BEARERS: Mr Jitender Thakur was re-elected President of the Market committee, Sector 19-C. Mr Sanjeev Mittal and Mr Dharamjeet were elected Senior Vice-President and General Secretary, respectively.

POSTPONED: The installation of the International Association of Lions Clubs, District 321 A2, due on Friday at 21 Rajpur road, Delhi, has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. This was stated by Master PRO, Mr Kuldeep Kuthiala, in a press note issued here on Friday.

CAMPAIGN: A deposit mobilisation campaign was launched by Mr S.J.S. Chatrath, Deputy General Manager, Zonal Office, Haryana, at the Personal Banking Branch, Sector 16, here on Friday. He highlighted the bank’s various deposits schemes like multi-option, corporate liquid term deposit, gold deposit schemes, etc.

HARYANA

AMBALA
KARGIL MARTYRS: The acting Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr Mohinder Kumar, said on Friday work on the construction of libraries in memory of Kargil martyrs had begun. Mr Kumar said the libraries were being built in memory of three Kargil martyrs from Ambala for which Rs 2 lakh each had been contributed by Mr Devi Lal from the MP fund, a release said. He said one library was coming up at the government school, Kansepur, in memory of Sepoy Manjit Singh who had laid down his life in Kargil. Another library would come up at Dhanauri village in memory of Sepoy Praveen Kumar. In Naraingarh subdivision, Gadhauli village, a library is going to come up in memory of Sepoy Pawan Kumar.

KALKA
LECTURES: The carrier guidance cell of Government College, Kalka, arranged a series of lectures on various career avenues in the present socio-economic scenario here on Thursday. Mr Roshan Lal Dahiya, in charge of the cell, emphasised on the importance of career guidance at the college level. The SDM, Panchkula, Mr Rajeev Ranjan, was the chief guest at the function. He shared his views with the audience about the planning of IAS services as a career.

KURUKSHETRA
SPORTS COUNCIL: Dr K.L. Miglani, Principal, Markanda National College, Shahabad, was elected president of Kurukshetra University Sports Council on Tuesday. Ms Kavita Chopra, Principal, Shah Satnaamji Girls College, Sirsa, was elected vice-president while Ms S.Talwar, Director, Department of Sports, Kurukshetra University, its secretary.

REWARI
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of Rao Lal Singh Shiksha Parishad, Sidhrawali: president — Maj Ashok Yadav; vice-president — Mr Kuldip Singh Yadav; general secretary — Mr Yashvir Singh Yadav; and treasurer — Mr Birender Singh Yadav.

SONEPAT
GANG BUSTED: The Kharkhauda police claims to have busted a gang of robbers operating in parts of Haryana and its adjoining states with the arrest of Kulbir of Mohalla village in Hisar district. Mr A.S. Chawla, SP, told mediapersons on Thursday that the police had recovered a car from him. He said Kulbir confessed to his involvement in several cases of murder and theft.

KILLED: Two persons were killed and two others were injured when their jeep rammed into a divider while overtaking a truck on GT Road near Bahalgarh Chowk, 10 km from here, on Wednesday. The victims have been identified as Kamla (35) of Bankner village (Delhi) and Pawan Kumar (26) of Malikpur village. The drivers of both vehicles filed. A case has been registered against them.

MURDERED: Dalip Singh (70), a chowkidar in the PWD (B&R), was found murdered at a temporary godown near Tihara Mor village in this district on Wednesday. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

TRAFFIC BLOCKED: Hundreds of angry students from various villages blocked traffic for three hours on the Sonepat-Meerut bus route, near Khewra village, about 13 km from here, on Thursday. According to a report, the students were protesting against the erratic bus service on the route. The Haryana Roadways and the police gave them assurance about an improvement in the service.

INJURED: Manjit, was seriously injured in a clash between two rival groups of students on the Sonepat-Mehlana road, near here, on Thursday. The police has registered a case.

RACKET BUSTED: The Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Administrator of the Tikka Ram Education Society, Mr Ashok Yadav, on Friday unearthed a racket relating to the squandering of Rs 25 lakh by the management of the CRZ Senior Secondary School here. He said the school had been suffering a loss of Rs 20 lakh annually on account of mismanagement and superfluous expenditure.

ARRESTED: The Sadar police on Friday arrested three persons allegedly involved in a robbery of an electronics shop on the GT Road, near Murthal Chowk, on March 5. Mr A.S. Chawla, SP, told mediapersons that the arrested persons had been identified as Radhey, Subhash and Sonu of Raipur village. The police recovered two VCRs, one TV set and two radio sets from them.

YAMUNANAGAR
VOTERS’ CARD: Residents of the district will get another chance to get themselves photographed for the voters’ identity card from September 17 to 30. This was disclosed by Mr Rajeev Sharma, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, here on Thursday.

RATION DEPOTS: Mr Rajeev Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, said here on Thursday that the licence of one ration depot was cancelled, the securities of two depots were forfeited due to the irregularities and one depot was suspended in the past one month following raids on them.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KULU
EYE CAMP: A nine-day eye check-up camp will be organised at the Eye Hospital, Raison, from September 25. The check-ups would be free of cost. This was stated in a press note by Dr H.K. Tiwari, Vice-President, National Blindness Eradication Society, here on Thursday. He said a two-day clinic would also be organised at the Community Health Centre on September 29 and 30.

KUMARHATTI
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the students’ union of Goswami Ganesh Dutt Sanatan Dharam College, Subathu, president — Khushdev; vice-president — Aslem Beg; secretary — Urvashi; and joint secretary — Rajesh Kumar.