R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
MEETING: A meeting of the Printing Packaging and Allied Industries Association, held under the chairmanship of Mr Pritam Singh Kalsi, has condemned the recent hike in the rates of minimum electricity charges.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Amritsar Tea Traders Association: president — Mr Chhote Bhai Patel; senior vice-president — Mr Subhash Khanna; general secretary — Mr Rajinder Kumar Goel; and treasurer — Mr Anil Kumar Arora.

NOMINATED: The Governor of Punjab has nominated Mr Ajay Pal Singh Meerankot, MLA, Mr Jagdish Sawhney, MLA, and Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike as fellows of the Senate of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, till June 30, 2002. This was stated in a notification issued by the Punjab Government.

BATHINDA
NEW BRANCHES: Mr Surjeet Singh, vice-secretary, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha, said on Thursday that new branches of the sabha were being opened at Nathana, Sangat, Rampura Phul and Talwandi Sabo. He said a block committee had been formed in Talwandi Sabo and Mr Gurbax Rai and Mr Darshan Shonki had been elected president and secretary, respectively.

FATEHABAD
SUICIDE: Murti Devi (45), a resident of Bhuna village, allegedly committed suicide by consuming an insecticide on Wednesday.

GURDASPUR
FISH PARK: The local fish park will be given a facelift, according to Mr B. Vikram, Deputy Commissioner. A grant of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for the purpose by Mr Vinod Khanna, MP, from the local area development fund.

KHAMANO
DISCRIMINATION: Residents of some villages which fall in Khamano tehsil allege that they have been denied developmental grants for the welfare of the villages by the Punjab Government because of political differences. In the mean time, where sarpanches belongs to the ruling party, they had been given grants. There are atleast 71 villages in Khamano tehsil of which 11 villages, Burj, Manela Kotla Ajmer, Amargarh, Barwali Khurd, Bhutta Jatana Neewan, Manderan, Panaichan, Thikriwal and Mohan Majra, had not received even a single penny from the Punjab Government. The people of these villages ask that if the sarpanches of the above said villages are not associated with the ruling parties, then why all these villages are denied their rights.

KURUKSHETRA
INSTALLED: The Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University (KU), Mr R.S. Chaudhry, installed a statue of Saraswati in front of the KU Tourism Department here on Friday.

LUDHIANA
INQUIRY: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, has ordered an inquiry into the technical soundness and the safety precautions adopted at the various recreational rides at the Hardy’s World on Ludhiana-Jalandhar GT road here. The step has been taken in the wake of accidental death of a youth, Rajiv Kumar, at the Fun Resorts on September 10. According to an official press note, a team comprising SDM (east), executive engineer, PWD (mechanical wing), executive engineer, PSEB, and the DSP (rural) would conduct the inquiry and submit their report at the earliest. 

CAMPAIGN: The SAD activists led by the party Vice-President, Mr Amarjit Singh Bhatia, campaigned for the party nominee, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, in the Sunam bypoll. The Akali Dal functionaries went around many villages, including Fatehgarh, Gaaga, Ladal, Gandhua, Khokhar, Nangla, Gobindgarh, Bhaini and Sangatpura and canvassed support for Mr Dhindsa. According to the District Akali Dal Jatha General Secretary, Mr Jatinder Pal Singh Saluja, the SAD candidate was far ahead of others and was sure to win. 

PROTEST: The revenue patwaris would organise a state-level protest in Sunam on September 23 to express resentment against betrayal by the state government. According to Mr Gurmel Singh, President, Revenue Patwari Union, patwaris, retired patwaris, kanungoes and village chowkidars would join the demonstration. Giving details of the injustice meted out to the patwaris by the state government, Mr Singh informed that during last strike, as many as 32 patwaris were dismissed, criminal cases were registered against another 214 and salary for the strike period was also not paid. The Chief Minister and the State Revenue Minister had promised to grant justice to the patwaris during Nawanshahr byelection, but once the poll was over, all promises were forgotten. 

DEMAND: Mr G.L. Pahwa, president, United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, has urged the Punjab Government as well as the Excise and Taxation Minister, to issue a notification regarding decrease in sales tax on cycle and cycle parts, and furnace oil as per the decision taken at a meeting to give relief to industries.

HONOURED: Mr Satpal Goasin, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, was honoured at a special function held here on Thursday by the Ludhiana Naujawan Sabha. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gosain said he would continue to raise the people voice in the Vidhan Sabha in spite of the office held by him. He announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh each to the Mitter Sabha Janj-ghar and an adjoining school others who spoke at the function were the Deputy Mayor Mr Jagdish Loomba, President Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran, Mr Pritpal Singh, president East Mandal, BJP, Mr Subhash Verma, Mr Satpal Vohra, Mr Gurdip Singh Neetu, Bibi Surjit Kaur, Senior Vice-President Akali Jatha, Ludhiana, Mr Dina Nath Bajaj, Mr Satpal Saggar, Dr Jagdish Bindra, Mr Vinod Bansal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Pappu and Mr Bhupinder Sabharwal, President, Ludhiana Naujawan Sudhar Sabha. 

MACHHIWARA
GRATITUDE: After being re-elected the President of Nagar Panchayat Machhiwara, Mr Anil Sood, has expressed his gratitude to the people of the town. He said that he would complete the remaining development works, including the establishment of a library, renovation of the road from Chaura Kanwal Chowk to Gurdwara Charan Kanwal Sahib and establishment of a sports stadium.

PATIALA
MEDICAL CAMP: On the eve of World Heart Day the Bhai Ghanaya Ji Sewa Society is organising a free medical check up camp for heart, blood pressure, sugar and thyroid on Sunday at Rajpura. A team of doctors from Rajindra Hospital including Dr Manmohan Singh, Head of the Cardiology Department and Dr Raghuvansh Sharma of the Endochronology Department will be supervising the local team of doctors during the camp. Free X-ray, ECG and blood test facility will be provided as recommended by the doctors. 

VANAMAHOTSAVA: Vanamahotsava was celebrated by the State Bank of India, New Officers Colony Branch at Sarv Hitkari Vidya Mandir here on Friday. The bank also honoured Mr Bharat Bhusan Sirhindi, press secretary of Bharat Vikas Parishad and a leading social worker for his contribution to society. Mr Mehra donated twelve ornamental plants, 39 pairs of shoes to students and two sewing machines to the sewing centre being run by Bharat Vikas Parishad. 

PATHANKOT
POPPY SEIZED: The police arrested Sikandhar of Budha Sehwala village in Amritsar district and seized from his possession 4 kg of poppy husk on Tuesday, police sources said. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the suspect.

TARN TARAN
CASE DETECTED: Following the detection of a case of falcipurum malarial disease, from Dhotian village, 12 km from here, the state Health Department has taken precautionary measures, in the area, according to official sources.

TWO HELD: With the arrest of Gurjant Singh and Satnam Singh, the district police claims to have solved the blind murder case in which the Chabal police found on August 21 the crushed body of a youth, later identified as Sawarn Singh (25), alias Sonu, of Maluwal Santan village. This was stated by Mr Jagdish Kumar, SSP, on Thursday. 

CHANDIGARH

HONOURED: Ms Vinita Gupta and Ms Sangeeta Kalra, both teachers of Gem Public School of Phase 3B1, have been honoured by the Lions Club of Mohali for their outstanding service in the field of teaching. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
FREE CAMP: The Giants Group of Ambala Central held a free medical check-up camp on the premises of Government Primary School No. 1 Ambala city. President of Giant Group of Ambala Central Rajeev Soni said seven children underwent a medical check-up and free medicines were distributed. “During the Giants week, three toilets have been built at the government primary school and one 500 litre water tank provided to the school,” he said. Among others Giants Group Ambala Central vice-president P.K. Sabharwal, secretary, Prof Arun Goel, treasurer Lalit Khosla and other office-bearers were present on the occasion. 

CAMP ORGANISED: A day long orientation prgramme was organised by the National Service Scheme at SD College, Ambala cantonment under the direction of Dr S.P. Sharma and Prof Anju Chaudhary. The NSS programme was attended by 200 boys and 100 girls. Speaking on the occasion, principal of the college, Dr Deshbandhu, said NSS volunteers must have self-discipline, a release said. The speakers at the programme gave details about the NSS activities and the need for selfless service. They exhorted the NSS volunteers to fruitfully utilise their education and knowledge in uplifting the downtrodden. 

SENIOR CITIZENS: The Aggarwal Sabha, Ambala cantonment will establish a park for the senior citizens. This was stated by the Vice-President of the sabha, Mr Jai Prakash, here on Friday. He said the sabha would ask for a piece of land from the Municipal Council for this purpose.

DECORATION: Bharat Vikas Parishad, Ambala city organised a flower decoration and salad decoration competition at Parishad Bhawan here on Friday. In the junior group of the flower decoration competition Neha came first while Tamanna and Mahak Jain came second and third respectively. In the senior group of the salad competition, Satinder and Dharma secured first and second position respectively. 

OCTROI: Mr Om Prakash Malik, former organising secretary of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, in a letter sent to the State Union Minister for Home Affairs has demanded the withdrawal of octroi imposed by the Cantonment Board in the Ambala cantonment area. He said that the Haryana government had already abolished it in the state.

SONEPAT
KILLED: Mr Rajesh Sharma, a former Municipal Councillor, was allegedly killed by a group of five persons near his residence at Mohalla Jamalpura here on Thursday night. The police has arrested Rulia Ram, his son Jagbir, Sanjay and Nirmala in this connection and seized iron rods and other weapons from them. This was stated by Mr Hardeep Singh Doon, DSP, on Friday.

ALLOWANCE: The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to order immediate release of the non-practising allowance on the Central pattern to HCMS doctors working in government hospitals in the state. This was stated by Dr D.B. Rawal, president of the association, on Friday.

GAMBLING: The police arrested four persons on a charge of gambling in raids conducted at shops of lottery ticket sellers here on Thursday. The raids followed complaints from the public in this regard, police sources said.

ROAD ACCIDENTS: Four persons were seriously injured when a Haryana Roadways bus hit a Sumo on the GT Road near Nathupur village, 15 km from here, on Thursday. The injured were immediately hospitalised and their condition is stated to be serious. According to another report, two trucks and a car were involved in an accident on the GT Road between Larsauli and Bari village, 13 km from here, on Thursday. All occupants of the car escaped unhurt. The police has impounded the trucks and registered cases of negligent driving against the drivers.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
DEMANDED: The district unit of the AITUC has demanded the abolition of the contractor system for executing various development and construction works in all departments, including the PWD, because the system has allegedly become a source of corruption in the departments. This was stated by the secretary of the district unit, Mr Prem Lal Thakur, on Thursday.

RESENTMENT: The district unit of the Himachal Pradesh Draughtsmen Association has expressed resentment against the non-acceptance of their pending demands by the government. The vice-president of the unit, Mr Malkiyat Singh Chandel, demanded on Wednesday that all vacant sanctioned posts of junior draughtsmen should be filled at the earliest.

DEAD: Gurdevi Thakur (58), retired Principal and wife of BJP leader Narayan Singh Swami, died at a regional hospital here on Wednesday. Her funeral took place at Lanjhta village, near Ghumarwin, on Thursday.

DHARAMSALA
SUSPENDED: The Settlement Officer, Kangra division, Mr M.C. Rana, has suspended Mr Om Prakash, settlement patwari, Morsu, under Badsar tehsil in Hamirpur district, for allegedly committing irregularities in settlement operations.

MANDI
GANG BUSTED: The district anti-corruption wing, in collaboration with the local police, has busted a gang involved in taking bribes for recruitment to the Army. Surjit Kumar Bhaumik, havildar at the local Branch Recruitment Office and Param Dav, a middleman, were arrested in this connection on Thursday.

SUNDERNAGAR
SENTENCED: Mr O.P. Sharma, Sessions Judge, Mandi division, has sentenced Prem Singh of Dodwan village in the subdivision to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 4,000 on him for murdering Hoshiyar Singh on November 3, 1995.