R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

DEMONSTRATION: The BSP activists headed by Mr Gurpal Chand Saroya, ex-MLA, Mr Onkar Singh Jhamat, ex-president of the BSP, along with family members of Pawan Kumar who had died at the Civil Hospital here on Thursday after consuming a poisonous substance at Model Town police station, Hoshiarpur, demonstrated against Mr Naresh Kumar Aggarwal and Mr Moti Lal Sud, municipal councillors here, for their support to Kashmiri labourers who had filed a complaint against Pawan Kumar which had forced him to commit suicide.

LUDHIANA
CAMP: A ten-day NSS camp was organised by the volunteers of Partap College of Education at Partap Singh Wala village, Hambran road, from December 21 to December 30. The camp was inaugurated by Dr H.S. Deol, former DPI (colleges). It was divided in four groups — Gandhi group, Tagore group, Mother Teresa group, Swami Vivekanand group. The main activities were levelling of college grounds, digging trenches at proper places, sapling plantation and maintenance of lawns of the college. Lectures were delivered by eminent personalities like Dr Balwant Singh, Dr H.S. Deol, Dr M.S. Deol and Dr (Mrs) Ramesh Inder Bal. Volunteers were also taken to old age home at Daad village. Mr Gurdip Singh Bhatti, Assistant Programme Adviser, North-Zone, was the chief guest on the occasion. Report of the camp was presented by NSS volunteers which was followed by a cultural programe. Mr Bhatti congratulated the volunteers for the excellent work done by them. 

organised: A nagar kirtan was organised by Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Model Town Extension, Ludhiana, in connection with the 334th birth anniversary celebrations of Shri Guru Gobind Singh. The students of Guru Gobind Singh Public School participated in the nagar kirtan. 

ceremony: Er Karnail Singh Sivia and Er M.N. Sharma took over as Chairman and General Secretary of the local centre of the Institution of Engineers (India) at the 15th annual general meeting-cum-installation ceremony here. The Punjab Minister for Technical Education, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, was the chief guest while the city Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, presided over the function. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Garcha emphasised the need to promote technical education and training in information technology (IT) among the youth to prepare them for the global challenges. He said the country, though rich in human resources, lagged far behind in the field of technical and vocational education and the institutions like the ‘Institution of Engineers’ (IEI) could effectively fill the gap. In his report, the outgoing Secretary, Er Karnail Singh Sivia, informed that the work for construction of the new building of the institution had already been taken up and a building sub committee, headed by Mr M.N. Sharma, was supervising the project, estimated to cost Rs 36.40 lakh. 

celebrated: 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 another function, a foot overbridge at Vishwakarma chowk, across the GT Road, 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. This was decided in 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 the Baba Nam Dev Bhavan in the city. It was also decided that once the building was completed, a dispensary would also be set up on the new premises. Besides, Mr Balbir Singh Rakhra, chairman, Mr Balwant Rai Patti, general secretary of the sabha, others present on 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 veteran journalist, Mr R. Dhiman, who 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 had also actively participated in the freedom struggle. Those present in the meeting observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul. 

homage PAID: About 15 km from here in Jassowal village, a function was organised to pay homage to Late Gurdev Singh, convener of the Lok Sangrash Samiti, who died recently. Mr Tarsem Singh, a leader of the samiti, said, “Mr Gurdev Singh played an active role in the struggle for the rights of the workers in the past 30 years. Besides others, Mr Harjinder Singh, president, Khet Mazdoor Union, Mr Sadhu Ghaloti, district president, Bharti Kisan Union and Mr Amlok Singh, general secretary, Lok Morcha, Punjab, also paid tributes to the leader. 

MACHHIWARA
GRANT: Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, will disburse an amount of more than Rs 75 lakh, in his proposed Sangat Darshan programme at Government Senior Secondary School, Koomkalan, on January 2, to 80 villages of Block -I and II of Ludhiana. This was stated by Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, MLA, Koomkalan, and Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, after attending a meeting of party workers. He told that the first Sangat Darshan programme in the constituency would pave the way for major development projects in the area. 

MALERKOTLA
KILLED: A five-year-old child was crushed to death by a truck near Ahmedgarh village on Friday. According to information, Neelu, the child was crossing the road with his mother Surjit Kaur when a truck hit the child. The driver of the truck managed to escape. A case has been registered.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Malerkotla Welfare Association: president — Mr Munish Jindal, general secretary — Mr Rupinder Goyal, joint secretary — Mr Jeet Kumar Gogia and treasurer — Mr Azhar Chowdhary.

MOGA
ROAD MISHAPS: A youth died and five others were seriously injured in a Jeep-Maruti car collision on the Moga-Kotkapura road, 33 km from here, on Thursday. In another accident, two scooterists of Korewala village, under Baghapurana police station, were seriously injured when their scooter collided with a Jeep near their village. Meanwhile, seven persons were injured when a state transport bus collided with another vehicle, 58 km from here, on the Moga-Ludhiana road.

GOVERNMENT URGED: The farmers of almost all villages in this district, on Friday, urged the state government to make proper arrangements for supply of canal water for watering their fields for rabi or make the Kingwan canal pass through various villages in this district perennial.

DUMPED: According to a report received here near Budhsinghwala village under Baghapurana police station in this district, two truckloads of potatoes were unloaded on Thursday near the village as the stocks were rendered unfit for human consumption. According to reports, huge stocks of potatoes which had been stored in the cold store in this district have been damaged due to bumper crop of potatoes this year.

NAWANSHAHR
BOOK RELEASED: Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib), released two Punjabi books on Sikh History “Guru ke Bete” and “Jiwan Darpan Bhai Sangat Singhji” authored by Mr Jaswant Singh here at a function organised by the local Zila Sahitya Kala Manch on Friday. A symposium on these books was also organised on the occasion.

SAMANA
HONOURED: The local Lions Club organised a function at the Rotary Bhavan here on Friday in which the club honoured local press reporters during the official visit of district Governor Lion Dr N.K. Grover. District Governor appreciated the working of the local Press Club on this occasion.

SAMRALA
Death condoled: Silence was observed for two minutes by members of local Malwa Sports Association on Saturday to pay tributes to Sucha Singh (48) of Balion village, who died in Apollo Hospital, Delhi on Friday. The association in its emergency meeting condoled his untimely death and prayed that the departed soul may rest in peace. 

SANGRUR
FREE URDU CLASS: The Punjab Language Department will commence free Urdu classes from January 1 in the premises of the local Government Girls Senior Secondary School.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab Government Colleges Principals Association: president — Dr Vidwan Singh Soni, Principal of Government Mohinder College, Patiala and general secretary — Ms Nisha Sard, Principal of Government College, Sangrur.

TARN TARAN
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Janwadi Istri Sabha unit Pandori Gola village: president — Ms Preeto, vice president — Ms Sawinder Kaur and secretary — Ms Lakhwinder Kaur.

CHANDIGARH

AIR OFFICIAL: Capt Amrik Singh, in charge of the Regional News Unit of the All-India Radio, Chandigarh, retires on Sunday from the post of the Joint Director (News) on attaining the age of superannuation. Mr G.C. Bhardwaj, at present, working as Senior Correspondent for Punjab and UT, takes over as bureau in charge. 

HARYANA

OLD-AGE HOME: Mr Dev Raj Dewan, an independent MLA, will inaugurate an old-age home at Hullaheri village in this district on Monday. A community lunch will also be organised on the occasion.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SOLAN
LIQUOR SEIZED: A team of district CIA raided, on Thursday, the premises of a liquor vend at Kalu Jhanda, under Barotiwala police station, on the Haryana-Himachal border and seized 3,504 bottles of “Old fox” and “Security” brand whisky worth Rs 4 lakh. A case under the Excise Act has been registered and two persons, Sudesh and Ram Dyal, working as salesmen there were arrested.