AMRITSAR
EXHIBITION: An exhibition on the theme of ‘Mental health and drug abuse’ was inaugurated by Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, Punjab, at Neuroscience Charitable Hospital here on Monday.

INSPECTORS’ ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab State Cooperative Inspectors Grade I Association: president — Mr Bhupinder Singh Walia; and general secretary — Mr Karamjit Singh Chaddha.

BALACHAUR
POPPY HUSK SEIZED: The police arrested Navjot Kumar of Ram Nagar, Garhshankar, and Jiwan Lal of Bassi Kalan, Hoshiarpur under the NDPS Act and recovered 30.25 kg of poppy husk from them on Monday.

BARNALA
CASES SOLVED: The local police has recovered more than Rs 25 lakh by solving cases of burglaries and general thefts. Giving this information on Monday, Mr Ajaib Singh Kaleka, SSP, said out of 22 murder cases in the region, the police had solved 21 last year.

DHURI
EYE CAMP: The local Eye Bank Samiti in collaboration with the local Nishkam Sewa Sabha organised an eye check-up camp at Mangla Ashram here on Saturday, which concluded on Sunday. As many as 850 patients were examined and 99 were operated upon by a team of eye specialists from Patiala. Medicines were distributed free of cost.

FARIDKOT
PARIVAR DIVAS: The district police organised a parivar divas here on Monday. Police officials along with their families attended it. Various athletic events and a cultural show were arranged.

GURDASPUR
NOMINATED: Mr Warris Masih has been nominated Chairman of the district Youth Congress Minority Cell by Mr Davinder Singh Babbu, president, Punjab Youth Congress.

ACCIDENT: Head constable Taroo Singh was killed when the scooter he was riding on collided with a wooden cart near Purana Shalla here on Monday night.

HOSHIARPUR
CASE REGISTERED: On the complaint of Mr Jaswinder Singh of Badial village, the Sadar police has registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC against Sukhwinder Singh of the same village on Sunday. Mr Jaswinder Singh alleged that Sukhwinder Singh charged Rs 4 lakh from him to send him to Italy, whereas he sent him to Moscow on November 17, 1999, and told his family that he had sent him to Italy.

JAGRAON
BODY FOUND: The local police has recovered the body of Surinder Singh, a resident of Prem Nagar, Moga, from Gurdwara Sahib, Nanaksar. The body was sent for post-mortem to the Civil Hospital. The police suspects some foul play. 

KHARAR
supply to be suspended: According to a press note issued here on Tuesday by the Additional Executive Engineer of the PSEB, the supply of electricity to Morinda area would remain suspended on December 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Similarly, the supply to Majra area would remain suspended on December 22 for the same hours due to urgent repair works. 

Blood donation camp: The International Youth Hostels Association of India is organising a blood donation camp at Khalsa Senior Secondary School on December 25, according to a press note issued here by Mr Ashoke Kumar of Bajheri. 

office-bearers: The following have been elected officer-bearers of the Bhartiya Janta Yuba Morcha, Sohana: president — Mr Ajit Pal Bhardwaj; vice-president — Mr Ranjit Puri; cashier — Mr Sarbjit Singh; and secretary — Mr Gurdarshan Singh. 

LUDHIANA
SCIENTISTS' ADVICE: Scientists of the PAU have suggested that in view of the prevailing cold weather during December the water level in fish ponds should be maintained 41/2 '- 5'. This is necessary to enable the fish to go to the deeper warm layers during the night and early morning. The fish farmers have also been advised not to apply organic manure or inorganic fertiliser if the colour of the pond water is grass green. It has also been suggested to apply quick lime @ 50 kg per acre to prevent the incidence of diseases. The feeding should be reduced to a maintenance level of 500 gm of feed per day per 1000 fish. They also advised the dairy farmers to care newly born calves as they are susceptible to pneumonia. Animals should be given concentrate mixture of high energy. The protein in the concentrate can be reduced 2 to 3 per cent. 

MUNJAL: Jimmy Khullar Pratibha, a Class XII student of R.S. Model Senior Secondary School, has written a book Chal Akela which will be released on Thursday by Mr Satyanand Munjal, Director, Hero Cycles. Ms Usha Sidhu, District Education Officer, will be the chief guest. Mr Mohan Lal Kalra, Principal, has appreciated the efforts of the student. 

THEFT: A theft in a temple at Jain Colony in Vijay Inder Nagar took place here on Monday. Cash and some precious items worth Rs 15,000 were stolen, according to Mr Ram Kissan. A case has been registered by the Focal Point police Station, but no arrest has been made so far. 

PUBLIC HEALTH: The 20th public health lecture on ‘Management of heart attack’ by the health cell of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital will be held on Saturday at Dumra Auditorium. According to a press note, the lecture will be delivered by Dr Vijay Mohan Kohli, Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Hero DMC Heart Centre. 

MEETING: The local branch of the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) will organise a meeting of exporters and local bankers on Thursday. Mr S. Mukherjee, Assistant General Manager, ECGC, have informed in a press note that credit and insurance problems of the exporters will be discussed. Mr B.B. Sharma, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, ECGC will preside over the meeting. Mr Vijay Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Cycles Limited, will address the gathering. 

ANAESTHESIA: A one-day update on ‘Paediatric anaesthesia’, organised by the Department of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation, DMCH, with the collaboration of the Indian Society of Anaesthetist, north zone, will be held on Friday. According to an official press note, Dr Fredric A. Berry of the University of Virginia, USA, and Dr Dalip K. Pawar of the AIIMS will be the faculty guests. Nearly 150 anaesthetists, consultants, residents of the northern region are expected to participate.

MALERKOTLA
OLD-AGE HOME: The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), laid the foundation stone of an old-age home at Jalwana village, 20 km from here, on Monday. The home will be constructed at a cost of Rs 7.5 lakh and will have all necessary amenities.

MOGA
WHEAT PRICES: Wheat prices have come down considerably on Monday following increased arrival of it from neighbouring villages and government godowns all over the state.

NAWANSHAHR
FOUNDATION STONE: The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, laid the foundation stone of the plus two block of the local DNRNSD Senior Secondary School and presided over the prize distribution function here on Tuesday. He announced a grant aid of Rs 3 lakh for the school building. He said a sum of Rs 30 lakh had been sanctioned for setting up fire station here. He also announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh to the dispensary at Balmiki Mohalla and Rs 2 lakh to Government Middle School, Rahon.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Punjab State Cooperative Department Ministerial Services Association: president — Mr Kamaljit Singh; senior vice-president — Ms Rani Bala; general secretary — Mr Harjinder Kumar; treasurer — Mr Narinder Kumar; and press secretary — Mr Sher Singh Jindal.

ARYA SAMAJ: Mr Prem Kumar Bhardwaj, president of the local unit of Arya Samaj, has been elected treasurer of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab.

ROTARY CLUB: Mr Om Parkash Chopra has been elected president while Mr Gurinder Singh Toor secretary of the local Rotary Club.

PHILLAUR
REFRESHER COURSE: The 27th refresher course in fingerprint identification for investigating officers was inaugurated at Punjab Police Academy, here on Monday. The course is being organised by the ADGP, Computer and Wireless, Punjab, Chandigarh. Thirtyfive participants from all over the Punjab are participating in the course. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ms Anita Punj, Deputy Director, PPA, stressed the need to make aware the investigating officers about the latest techniques in fingerprint identification. Mr Darshan Singh, in charge, Fingerprint Bureau, Phillaur, and experts are participating in the course. 

SAMRALA
3 HELD: The local police has arrested three persons for possessing 16 bottles of country-made liquor and a slip of satta along with Rs 1,215. A case under Sections 13-A and 367, IPC, has been registered. 

TARN TARAN
HANDICAPPED PERSONS: Training will be given to handicapped persons at the community health centre, Kairon, for the self employment purpose. Dr Surat Singh Mahia, Senior Medical Officer and the in charge of the centre, said here on Monday that handicapped persons in 55 villages falling under the health-block Naushehra Pannuan would be given certificates for travelling purpose and reservation in jobs. Sixtyeight persons had already been given certificates at a camp organised at the centre on Saturday, he added.

CULTURAL MELA: The eleventh annual cultural mela organised here by the local Majha Rang Manch and Sabhayacharak Kendra concluded on Sunday. Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Minister for Cooperation, Punjab, was the chief guest.

Education and development: As many as 40 teachers of science and social sciences streams participated in a five-day programme on Population and Development Education organised by the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Chandigarh. Dr P.S. Salaria, deputy director, Nayodaya Vidyalya Samiti, Chandigarh region, in his key note address stressed on the importance of education on the concluding day, here on Tuesday. Mr H.B.L. Vohra, HRD Director, Kandi Development Board, Haryana was the chief guest. 

Strike: All the officers of the State Bank of Patiala have decided to take part in the one-day nationwide strike on Thursday. The call for the strike was given by the United Forum of Bank Unions against the Central Government’s move to lower its stake in banks from 51 per cent to 33 per cent. The officers are also agitated on the introduction of the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). This was announced by Mr I.G. Gupta, general secretary of the All-India State Bank of Patiala Officers’ Association in a press note. 

elected: The following were elected the office-bearers of Government Employees Residents Welfare Association, Type JE-13, Sector 22-D: Chairman — Mr Gurnam Singh Gandha; president — Mr Parmdeep Singh Bhabat; senior vice-president — Mr Rohtans Chaudhary; vice-president — Mr Raghbir Singh Saini; general secretary— Mr Dharmpal Singh; secretary — Mr Maam Chand; organising secretary — Mr Sewa Singh; cashier — Mr Jaswant Singh and cultural secretary — Mr Harjinder Singh. 

DEAD: Harbans ‘Arman’, state committee member of the Marxist Communist Party of India, died here today at the PGI. He was seriously ill for last four months. He was also the general secretary of the local unit of the party. Several national and state leaders expressed grief over his demise. His funeral procession would take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, from his Sector 15 residence. 

dharna: The Footpath Cycle Workers Union has decided to boycott the Thursday dharna by the Foothpath Workers Union. In a press note, Mr Ram Milan Goda, president of the cycle workers union, said that no cycle worker would take part in the proposed dharna. He also announced that to oppose the dharna, all the footpath unions would hold a meeting at the Math Mandir, Sector 20 on Wednesday. 

function: The Town Official Language Implementation Committee held its function at the PGI auditorium, here on Monday. The chief guest, Mr Ashavani Luthra, Commissioner of Income Tax, north-western region, emphasised to work more in the official language, Hindi. He also honoured the position holders of the Hindi competitors and awarded them. Prizes were also given to the heads of the institutions who implemented the use of official language. The transport battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force was adjudged first for the year 1999-2000. Mr P.S. Papta, Hindi officer and deputy commandant, was also honoured. 

NSS camp: The NSS unit of Government Senior Secondary School is organising a ten-day NSS camp from Tuesday at Hallomajra. The camp was inaugurated by the Principal of the school, Ms S. Malik. The President, PTA, Mr Raghbir Singh Khrola, was also present at this occasion. According to the programme officer, Mr Amarjit Singh Bathana, the main project of this camp is youth for healthy society and cleanliness, tree plantation, aids awareness and pulse polio awareness . As many as fifty volunteers were taking part in this camp. 

Office-bearers: Dr V.K. Anand of the Department of Continuing Education, Panjab University, has been elected president of the Panjab University Library Staff Association (PULSA). The other office-bearers are: vice-president — Dr S.S. Pawar; secretary — Mr P.S. Dorka; joint secretary — Mr S.L. Arora; treasurer — Ms Navjeet Kaur; executive members — Mr Rakesh Kumar, Ms Neelam Sharma, Mr Vinod Grover, Mr B.D. Sehra, Ms Harpreet Walia, and Dr Hari Mittar. 

meet: A meeting of the executive committee of the Punjab Regimental Officers Association was held at Chandimandir, here on Monday. Maj. Gen. S.K. Awasthy, AVSM, presided over the meeting. A large number of regimental topics were discussed at the meeting. It was also decided to hold a function for ex-servicemen, disabled soldiers and widows of martyrs, at Hamirpur, during March 2001. General Awasthy also announced that the ex-servicemen’s rally had been promised administrative and financial support by the Himachal Pradesh government. This was stated by Col. J.M.S. Hattar, member of the executive committee. 

AMBALA
robbed: An armed robbery took place at a petrol pump located on the GT road on Monday night. The incident took place at the Haryana Service Station which is situated opposite to the oil terminal. Two youths arrived at the petrol pump at about 10.50 p.m. and they pointed a revolver at the petrol pump attendant, Jagdish Lal, and demanded the cash kept at the filling station. The duo took away Rs 10,000 from the attendant and walked upto a car parked near the petrol pump and escaped towards Shahbad. The Superintendent of Police, Mr K.K. Mishra, said that special teams have been constituted to nab the culprits. “We are soon going to solve the case,” he assured. Meanwhile, a liqour vend was also robbed last night. In this case too, the modus operandi of the robbers was apparently similar to the one involved in the petrol pump heist. The robbers took away cash kept in the liqour vend after brandishing a revolver at the employee. 

opposed: The Ambala unit of the Haryana Pradesh Mandal has opposed the move of Municipal Council to recover commercial tax from the shopkeepers forcibly. The president of the district unit of the mandal, Mr Arun Garg, and the local president, Mr Ramesh Verma, in a joint statement said that a meeting of the shopkeepers was organised on Tuesday in the Panchayat Bhavan in which it was decided that none of the shopkeepers would deposit the commercial tax. They said that nowhere in the state such a tax was collected. 

Declamation contest: Sumit Chawra of S.A. Jain Senior Secondary School was declared first in the declamation contest organised in PKR Jain Senior Secondary Girls School on the occasion of its golden jubilee celebration on Tuesday. Prerna of Sewa Samiti School secured second position and Abhay Sood of PKR Jain Public School stood third in the contest. In recitation competition, Rimpi of DAV Public School stood first, Gaurav Gulati of SA Jain Senior Secondary School and Priya of the AS Senior Secondary School secured second and third positions, respectively. 

DOWRY CASE: The police registered a case for making dowry demands against Narender Singh and four of his family members on the complaint of Rajinder Kaur under Sections 498-A, 406, 323 on Tuesday. According to the SP, Ambala, Mr K.K. Mishra, Rajinder was married to Narender five months back. In her complaint she alleged that the family members of her husband had been harassing her and forcing to bring Rs 5,000 from her parents. They had also threatened to kill her, she alleged in the complaint. 

BHIWANI
SUICIDE: Savita, wife of Vinod Kumar of Bharat Nagar, allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison. She was admitted to the local Civil Hospital, where she died. A case has been registered.

STUDENT KILLED: Sandeep Kumar an MA student, and resident of Prem Nagar was killed when he slipped down from a moving bus. A case has been registered.

KURUKSHETRA
INTERNET TRAINING: The 35 teachers, who are attending a refresher course in zoology, were given two-hours training-cum-demonstration in Internet, website surfing and e-mail at university library here on Tuesday.

SONEPAT
CITU MEETING: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) would hold its five-day tenth all-India convention from December 27 in Hyderabad, Mr S.N. Solanki, president of the Haryana committee of the CITU, said here on Tuesday.

BSP CONVENTION: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will hold its state-level convention on December 31 on the premises of the community hall in Panipat. Mr Aman Kumar Nagra, former MP and president of the state unit, will preside over the convention.

SOLDIER CREMATED: The body of Raghbir Singh, an Army officer, was cremated with full military honour at his native village of Kathura, 45 km from here, on Monday. A large number of people attended the cremation.

DECOMPOSED BODY: The police recovered the decomposed body of a newly-born child from the Ramlila ground here on Monday. A case has been registered.