AMRITSAR
WELCOMED: The All-India Youth Akali Dal (Urban) has welcomed the nomination of Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli as president of the Sarb Hind Youth Akali Dal. Sikh youths languishing in jails were ‘not alone’ and the dal would fight to secure their rights, Mr Jaspal Singh Dhillon said in a press note issued on Tuesday.

PARKASH UTSAV: The Sri Guru Singh Sabha here has announced that it will celebrate Guru Gobind Singh’s parkash utsav jointly with the Darbar Sahib Committee on January 2. Giani Mahinder Singh, general secretary of the sabha, said all preparations for the Gurpurub were complete. A nagar kirtan on January 1 will mark the occasion.

BARNALA
HEADMASTER DEAD: Sur- inder Sharma (60), Headmaster of the local Government High School ( Boys), who was the recipient of Best Teacher National Award and Best Teacher State Award died of cardiac arrest here on Tuesday. He is survived by two daughters and a son.

BATHINDA
PNB STAFF BODY: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab National Bank SC, BC Welfare Association, Bathinda region: president — Mr Gurtej Singh Kandiara; vice-president — Mr J.S. Jyoti; regional secretary — Mr Om Parkash Sarova; assistant secretary — Mr Mohinder Kumar; and treasurer — Mr Jagdish Chander.

GURDASPUR
FOUR BOOKED: The police has booked four persons for allegedly misappropriating cement meant for the construction of warehouse building at the grain market here. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said on Tuesday that Hardeep Singh, Inderjit Singh were arrested on Tuesday while their accomplice Parvesh Mahajan, and Saini, a contractor of Pathankot were at large.

HOSHIARPUR
TRIPLETS BORN: Mrs Parbhjot (24), wife of Mr Deepak Kumar of Kamalpur Mohalla, gave birth to three baby boys at a hospital here on Tuesday. According to hospital sources, the delivery was premature and the newly born babies were underweight. They had been shifted to a children’s hospital where they were kept in an intensive-care unit.

KHARAR
MISHAP: Mr Baljinder Singh and his wife were injured this evening when their scooter was hit by a tractor near Radiala village of the Kharar-Morinda road. According to the police, the injured have been sent to Civil Hospital, Kharar.

DEMANDED: Mr Tilak Raj Chadda, Secretary, BJP, Ropar district, and Mr Mam Raj Chaudhry, Secretary, BJP, Kharar, have demanded that the Punjab Government should order the repair of Randhawa Road and Badala Road in Kharar. They said that both roads were in a very bad condition and it was very difficult for any vehicle to pass through these roads.

URGED: Dr Om Parkash Sharma, block secretary, CPI, has urged the Punjab government and the local municipal committee to fix a reasonable price of shops owned by the committee which are to be sold to the traders occupying these shops on rent. He said here on Wednesday that the price fixed by the committee was on the higher side.

POWER SUPPLY: Power supply to Kharar, Morinda, Majra will remain suspended on December 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. due to some urgent repair work, according to a press note issued here by the PSEB.

LUDHIANA
VAJPAYEE'S B'DAY: The Bharatiya Janata Party (Urban) observed 76th birthday of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, in the city by organising a series of free medical- check up camps. Mr Rajendra Khatri, press secretary of the district unit of the party, informed that medical check-up of a large number of people was conducted in various localities and free medicines were distributed. The BJP state general secretary Mr Narottam Dev Ratti, while inaugurating the medical camps, focussed on the achievements of the NDA government in the Centre, led by Mr Vajpayee. In another function, a foot overbridge at Vishwakarma Chowk, was dedicated to the public. Veteran BJP leader and member of Rajya Sabha Lala Lajpat Rai formally inaugurated the bridge.

ANNUAL FUNCTION: Baba Namdev Sewak Society will hold its annual function from February 9 to 11, 2001. This was decided at a meeting of the society held here on Tuesday under the presidentship of Mr Devinder Singh Sekha. The meeting discussed in detail the future programmes and reviewed the progress of the work for construction of Baba Nam Dev Bhavan in the city. It was also decided that once the building was completed, a dispensary should also be set up in the new premises. Besides, Mr Balbir Singh Rakhra, chairman, Mr Balwant Rai Patti, general secretary of the sabha, others present at the occasion were Mr Daya Singh, Mr Gurjant Singh, Mr Jarnail Maghera, Mr Pappi Kainth, Mr Harbans Bialia, Mr Sadhu Singh, Mr Raj Kumar Jassal, Mr Paramjit Singh and Mr Avtar Singh Kamboj.

TRIBUTES PAID: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has paid rich tributes to the veteran journalist, Mr R. Dhiman, who had passed away after a brief illness. A meeting of the executive committee of the district unit of the party, presided over by Mr Rashpal Singh Gill, described Mr Dhiman as a leading light in the field of journalism, who also had actively participated in the freedom struggle. Those present in the meeting observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

MANSA
ROAD REPAIR SOUGHT: Residents of Budhlada and several neighbouring villages and towns of the district have complained about the poor condition of the 2-km-long stretch on the Bhikhi-Budhlada-Boha road. They said though a tender for the road repair had been awarded to a contractor, but the work had been stopped due to the shortage of funds. Mr Megh Raj Goyal, President, Budhlada Vikas Manch have requested the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to intervene in the matter.

ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION: The state pollution control board authorities have failed to check the increasing air, water and noise pollution which has posed a threat to the health of the residents. The district has a number of medium and small scale industries, including chemicals units, which discharge untreated effluents into the sewerage. The local Environment Society has demanded immediate action to check the pollution so that the residents may be saved from the diseases like asthama and tuberculosis.

THREE HELD: A 20-year-old unmarried woman delivered a baby at the civil hospital. The police has registered, an FIR against Sushil Kumar, Darshan Kumar, both brothers and their father Jain Kumar all residents of Bhikhi on her complaint. In the FIR, she alleged that Sushil Kumar had illicit relations with her and he promised to marry her. The accused have been arrested and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

DHARNA STAGED: Residents of ward number seven of the local municipal council staged a dharna on Tuesday in front of the council’s office and raised slogans against the council President, the Executive Officer and the Subdivisional Magistrate for the alleged discrimination on the part of the council President, Mr Pawan Kumar Matti, in the development of their ward. Mrs Amarjit Kaur, municipal councillor of the ward, alleged that the president had done nothing to develop the area. The employees union of the council also staged a dharna here to seek the implementation of their demands already accepted by the council.

CHEMISTS’ BODY: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Retail Chemists Association: president — Mr Ashok Kumar Garg; secretary — Mr Lachman Dass; joint secretary — Mr Suresh Jindal; and treasurer — Mr Ramesh Goyal.

BANK STAFF STRIKE: On a call given by the Ludhiana zone of the State Bank of India (SBI) Staff Association, its members observed strike on Tuesday and Wednesday in protest the transfer of union leader Updesh Passi, from the Moga branch to the Raipur branch on the bases of ‘‘bogus charge sheet’’.

TEACHERS’ SEMINAR: A seminar-cum-teachers training workshop for Hindi teachers of DAV schools of Bathinda and Mansa districts was held here on Wednesday at SDKL DAV Centenary Public School. At least 20 delegates from 10 DAV schools participated. Mrs S.L. Latka, principal, DAV Senior Secondary School, Bathinda, was the chief guest.

MOGA
RELAY FAST: The indefinite relay fast by Congress workers against the alleged failure of the police to nab the culprits responsible for the murder of a Congress leader of Dharamkot in district, Harmesh Mukar Makheja entered its seventh day on Tuesday. Congress workers also staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

SAMRALA
ELECTED: The following have been unanimously elected office-bearers of the local Five Star Welfare Club : president, Karamjit Singh Raju, vice-president, Balwinder Singh, general secretary, Ravinder Bittu and cashier, Suresh Kumar.

COMPETITION ORGANISED: A poetry-recitation competition organised here on Tuesday by the Punjabi Lekhak Manch was presided over by Dr Parminder Singh of Malwa College and Commandant Rashpal Singh Chahal, who was the chief guest. In the Senior Group, Rajwant Singh of GSS School, Khamanon, was declared first and Rajwant Kaur of Ottalan, was placed second. Consolation prizes were given to Dilraj Kaur and Pardeep Kaur. In the junior group Harminder Kaur of Rohley stood first, Kiran Sharma of Samrala stood second; famous Punjabi poet, Lal Singh Dill, was also present on the occasion.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: The Indo-Swiss Training Centre of Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) organised a blood donation camp here Wednesday. The camp was inaugurated by Dr R. P. Bajpai, Director CSIO and Mr SP Mehta, Deputy General Manager, State Bank of India, presided over the camp. Nearly 100 students and staff members donated blood.

LEGAL SERVICES: As a part of 10- day camp organised by NSS units of Government Postgraduate College, Sector 45, a talk on “Legal services” was organised by the State Legal Services Authority here yesterday. Dr B.B. Parsoon, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, was present on the occasion.

DHOBI SOCIETY: Dhobi Welfare Society will welcome Mr Gurbachan Singh, president, Nationalist Congress Party, Chandigarh unit, on Friday at Labour Chowk, Sector 20-D here. According to a press note issued here on Wednesday, by Mr Sham Lal Kanoujia, vice-chairman, and Mr Sham Lal Pradhan, president, of the society . 

ID PRAYER TIMINGS: According to a press note issued by Maulana Mohammad Ajmal Khan, Imam of Jamma Masjid, following are timings of prayers on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitra: Jama Masjid, Sector 20, at 9.30 a.m.; Nurani Masjid, in Sector 26, at 9.40 a.m. Sabri Masjid, Sector 45, at 10 am; Milk Colony Dhanas at 9.25 am; Burail Iddgah at 9.45 am; Mani Majra at 10 am; Mohali Phase II at 9.45 am; Shahi Majra at 10.35 am; Panchkula at 10.15 am; and Nayagaon at 10.30 am on Thursday.

APPOINTED: Mr Namit Kumar, advocate, Punjab and Haryana Court, has been appointed as Additional Central Government Standing counsel in the Central Administration Tribunal (CAT), Chandigarh Bench, by the Government of India for a period of three years.

CASSETTE RELEASED: The songs of yesteryear were full of depth. There used to be a story from beginning till the end in each song,” said Sunita Bhatti at the release of her album Time Time Dee Gall at the Chandigarh Press Club here on Wednesday. The cassette was released by the Cabinet minister, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjala. “I started singing while studying in Class VIII and did my graduation in music. I got my first break with Fakir Chand Patanga and we sang many songs together,” remarked Sunita. The cassette has been released by Raja Entertainers and the music director is Sukhpal Sukh. The director of Raja Entertainers, Mr Maninder Singh Gill, said the main aim of launching new Punjabi artistes was to promote Punjabi culture.

PROMOTED: Mr Dharam Singh Aujla has been promoted as Additional Secretary of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Mr Aujla, who was working as Deputy Secretary, has also worked in various capacities as Under Secretary and Secretary to the Speaker.

AMBALA
NEW COURSES: Several new courses will be commenced in S.A. Jain College, Ambala city, from the forthcoming session. It was decided at a meeting of the management committee of the college held here on Wednesday. The secretary of the committee, Mr Kirti Prashad Jain, said the new courses include M.Sc (software), MIT, B.Sc (IT), BIT, PGDA (evening), B.Com, M.Com (afternoon/evening). He said the efforts were being made to introduce MCA at AIMT which has already become the study centre of IGNOU.

BRIDGE INAUGURATION: Maj-Gen B.S. Khanduri (retd), Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways, will inaugurate 800-metre long bridge on January 2. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will also be present on the occasion. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, the bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore on the Ambala-Delhi highway at Ambala cantonment.

FARIDABAD
WORKER DEAD: A factory worker, Hansraj of Dabua colony has succumbed to his injuries received in an accident at a packaging unit here. A case has been registered.

REWARI
WRONG BILLING: Mr Dayaram Krantikari, secretary of the Gramin Bharat, a voluntary organisation, has urged the Chief Minister to order an inquiry into the alleged wrong and excessive billing of at least 150 domestic electricity consumers in Khandora village of the Bawal subdivision. He alleged that the billing was arbitrary and in excess of the actual consumption.

SIRSA
ONE ARRESTED: The police, following a tip-off, has arrested a youth, Hargobind Singh, for stealing over Rs 1 lakh from a shop at Mandi Kalanwali. He has reportedly confessed the crime.

SONEPAT
YOUTH HELD: A 19-year-old youth, Surinder was arrested by the railway police on Tuesday on the charge of creating panic among passengers of a train at the Ganaur railway station last month. A case has been registered against him.

TRAINS LATE: Road and rail traffic was adversely affected for several hours on Tuesday as a dense fog enveloped the area. According to a report, all incoming and outgoing trains were behind schedule causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers.

FARMERS’ COMMITTEE: The district unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union on Tuesday started a campaign for the constitution of farmers’ committees in the villages to mobilise the farmers against the “anti-people and anti-farmer” policies of the central and the state governments. A spokesman for the union said union leaders visited Guhna and Pinana villages and constituted a 21-member committee there.

JAWALAMUKHI
34 TAKE OATH: Newly elected members of the Dehra Block Samiti today took the oath of the office at a simple function held at Bachat Bhavan, Dehra, about 10 km from here, on Wednesday. Thirtyfour members of the block samiti were administered oath by the SDM, Mr Gopal Sharma. Hectic lobbying is reportedly on for the post of the chairman of the samiti.

KULU
HASHISH SEIZED: Guddu, a resident of Chhinjra in the Manikaran valley, was nabbed by the Manali police on Monday for possessing one-and-a-half kilogram of hashish, according to the Additional Superintendent of Police.

NAHAN
SMALL SAVINGS: A sum of Rs 3.20 crore has been mobilised through small savings in Sirmaur district which includes 33 lakh recurring deposits by a network of more than 200 saving agents. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Kaushal, disclosed this at a meeting of district officers. District Programme Officer Soma Chauhan said anganwari workers would also be motivated to act as agent for mobilising small savings in villages.

It has become a fashion for a few candidates to woo voters by providing liquor at the door-step or establish bars at their election office.

The workers of the party candidates need something to relax and then boast of their day’s achievements. The wine contractors help them in this need of the hour.

Kulu district has 196 panchayats and four urban bodies — Kulu, Manali, Bhunter and Banjar.

The elections, being held for 14 zila parishad members, 98 panchayats samiti members and 186 panchayats, besides the urban bodies, have brought heat despite the chill in the weather.