ABOHAR
INJURED: Seven women were injured when a vehicle carrying them collided with a BSF truck at the bypass chowk on the Abohar-Malout road on Thursday. The injured were stated to be out of danger.

BODY FOUND: The body of Darshna D. Rani was recovered from a canal near Jandwala Meera Sangla village on Wednesday. She had reportedly been missing along with her two-year-old daughter since December 23 from Jhotianwali village. Her brother Mangat Ram had lodged a complaint with the police fearing that she might have been murdered. A post-mortem examination was also conducted.

OPIUM SEIZED: Jasjit Singh and Som Nath, both of Kharar, and Kulwant Singh and Jaswinder Singh, both of Jagraon, were arrested under various Sections of the NDPS Act for carrying 2 kg of opium in a truck on Tuesday. The truck was on its way from Nashik to Ropar.

DORAHA
OPIUM SEIZED: The Payal police has seized 2 kg of opium and 15 kg of poppy husk at two different places during the past 48 hours. Mr R.N. Dhoke, SSP, Khanna, declared in a press note here today that Shiv Dyal of Uttar Pradesh and Randhir Singh of Sohian were caught by inspector Ashish Kapoor and ASI Lekh Raj while they were trying to steal 2 kg of opium out of Sohian village, late last evening. A case under Sections 18, 61 and 85, of the NDPS Act, has been registered. In another incident, 15 kg of poppy husk was recovered from Surinder Singh of Bilaspur village and a case was registered against him under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the IPC at the local police station.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab Ophthalmic Officer Association: president — Mr Narinder Mehta; general secretary — Mr Jaswinder Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Karnail Singh; vice-president — Mr Rakesh Sharma; finance secretary — Mr Arvind Sharma; and joint secretary — Ms Jagdis Kaur.

FEROZEPORE
CRITICISED: Criticising the Punjab police for holding “akhand path” at various police stations in Moga, the secretary of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee, Major Harminder Singh Bhullar, said on Friday that it was a part of the pre-election stunt of the ruling Akali Dal.

BOYCOTTED: The staff of the State Bank of Patiala on Friday boycotted the clearing activity in protest against the arrest of its branch manager, Mr S.S. Gupta, by the Vigilance Bureau. The irate members of the officers’ association threatened to intensify the stir, if the case registered against Mr Gupta was not quashed.

GURDASPUR
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Goga of Hamirpur, Kangra district, who had been declared a proclaimed offender since November 16, 1977. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said on Friday that the accused was involved in the smuggling of illicit liquor and a case under the Excise Act had been registered against him.

RALLY: A “chetna rally” was organised here on Thursday as part of the road safety week celebrations by the District Transport Office. More than 2000 children from various educational institutions participated. Mr B. Vikram, Deputy Commissioner, presided.

FOUR ARRESTED: The police has arrested Prem Chand of Dinanagar, Kuldip Singh, Diwan Singh and Suraj Parkash of Pathankot for cheating Kartar Chand of Dadwan village of Rs 20,000. Mr Varinder Kumar SSP, said during preliminary interrogation the accused had admitted to having cheated many persons like this. A case under Sections 420/120 B of the IPC had already been pending against them city police station, Gurdaspur. A new case under Sections 24-B/120-B of the IPC had been registered.

HOSHIARPUR
CAMP: Mr Vivek Partap Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated a medical check-up camp organised by the District Transport Department for the medical examination of Punjab Roadways and private transport companies’ drivers at the Punjab Roadways workshop here on Thursday.

GRIEF EXPRESSED: Mr Balwant Singh Khera, chairman, Malta boat tragedy probe mission, has expressed his grief over the sinking of a cargo vessel carrying Indians, Pakistanis, Afghan nationals and Bangladeshis nationals near the Turkish coast on Monday. This was stated in a press note here on Thursday.

NCC CAMPS: An NCC junior and senior boy cadets camp was organised at Kapurthala from December 24 to January 3 in which 740 cadets from Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala and Jalandhar participated. A girl cadets camp was also held from December 25 to January 4 at Jalandhar in which 270 girls participated.

PROMOTED: Dr S.S. Sharma, Dr T.R. Aggarwal, Dr Gurdip Singh and Dr Rupinder Singh Walia, all senior medical officers of the Health Department, Punjab, have been promoted as Deputy Directors, according to a spokesman of the department here on Thursday.

LUDHIANA
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Rural Development and Employees Welfare Organisation, Siahar, Ludhiana district: chairman — Dr Gulzar Pandher; president — Mr Kuldeep Singh Pandher; senior vice-president — Mr Shingara Singh Pandher; general secretary — Mr Gurdev Singh Pandher; joint secretary — Mr Darshan Pal Sharma; cashier — Mr Ajit Singh; joint cashier — Mr Rajinder Singh Pandher; and Propaganda secretary — Mr Gurmail Singh Pandher. The executive members are: Mr Hardev Singh Pandher, Mr Gurmail Singh, Mr Uhhagar Singh, Mr Bant Singh, Mr Gian Singh, Mr Kamikar Singh, Mr Mohinder Singh, and Mr Harnek Singh.

APPOINTED: Dr A. Alam, Deputy Director General (AE) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has been appointed as a member of the board of management, PAU, for three years. As per information received from the ICAR, Dr Alam has replaced Dr Mruthyunjaya, Director, National Centre of Agricultural. Economics and Policy Research.

ADVISED: Scientists of Punjab Agricultural University have advised the farmers to observe the wheat crop carefully to check the deficiency symptoms of micronutrients and take corrective measures accordingly. In light textured soils, where wheat follows paddy sulphur and manganese deficiency can be expected. Manganese deficiency causes interveninal chlorosis of the middle leaves. Such deficiency symptoms can be corrected with spray of 0.5 per cent solution of manganese sulphate. Two sprays of 500 g manganese sulphate each at weekly interval may be done. In case of sulphur deficiency upper leaves become light green and then yellow while the lower leaves are still green. If such symptoms are noticed, one quintal gypsum/acre may be broadcast in the field and shallow irrigation may be given or if the soil is in proper moisture conditions, this may be mixed by hoeing. Zinc deficiency can be expected where zinc has not been applied to the preceding kharif crops. In case, zinc deficiency is noticed, 25 kg zinc sulphate mixed with equal quantity of soil may be applied by broadcast in one acre of wheat.

CHARGED: The Sarb Hind Shiromani Youth Akali Dal General Secretary, Mr Sukhwinderpal Singh Garcha, has charged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, with betraying the electorate and failing to fulfil its poll promises. Addressing a party workers meeting here, he said, rather than providing any relief to the masses, the government was imposing more and more burden upon the people by way of new taxes. Mr Garcha further alleged that prices of essential commodities had touched a new high and repeated hike in power tariff had made the life of common man miserable. The law and order situation in the state had worsened, with the criminals and anti-social elements ruling the roost. The people in Punjab, he added, were feeling frustrated and helpless, over the anti-people policies of the SAD(B)-BJP government.

SEVA SOCIETY: The Guru Gobind Singh Sewa Society would celebrate Gurpurb from January 5 to January 7 by holding akhand path. On January 7, the bhog of akhand path would be performed and kirtan and ragi jatha would recite gurbani and shabad kirtan.

SHIV SENA: The Shiv Sena will distribute widow pensions to 175 beneficiaries in Mahavi Mandir in the city on January 26. Giving this information, Mr Jagdish Tangri, National President of the party, said that in addition to grocery and household items, the party would present one quilt each to the pensioners registered with the party.

VACCINATION CAMP: To intensify the fight against hepatitis-B, the Health Education Cell of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital will organise a hepatitis-B vaccination camp at the Dumra Auditorium on January 8 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The dose will be administered to those who got their first dose in August and second in September. The charges will be Rs 50 for children and Rs 100 for adults. During the first three camps more than 4000 persons were vaccinated, according to Dr Rajoo Singh Chinna, convener, Health Education Cell.

MALERKOTLA
TWO KILLED: Two persons were killed in a road accident near Bardwal village, 14 km from here, on Thursday. According to sources they were on their way from Bhasaur village to Dhuri when their scooter slipped and was hit by a tractor-trailer. The deceased have been identified as Jagdish Singh and Pawan Kumar.

ORTHOPAEDIC CAMP: A free orthopaedic camp was organised by the local Rotary Club at Home for the Blind, which concluded here on Thursday. As many as 300 patients were examined and medicines free of cost were distributed at the camp. Mr Chaman Lal Jain, organiser of the camp, said the club had been giving treatment free of cost to the needy disabled children.

PATHANKOT
CULTURAL CONTEST: Rama Kala Mandir will organise the annual all-India cultural contest on Saturday and Sunday on the premises of Kawari Dharamshala here, according to Mr Manu Sharma a spokesperson for the institution.

PATIALA
AWARENESS WEEK: The State Transport Department is observing awareness week from January 1 to 7 in collaboration with the district police, the Health and the Education Departments. Mr Avtar Chand Sharma, District Transport Officer (DTO), said that eye check up of truck drivers is being conducted at the camps organised by the department. Drivers who are found intoxicated while driving will be fined. In a press note, he said that there would be a cultural programme, comprising quiz, painting and slogan contests, presented by school children at the polo ground on Saturday.

FILM: A film on voluntary blood donation Katra Katra Khoon Ka, produced by Ultimedia Production in collaboration with the Department of Transfusion Medicine, Government Medical College, will be telecast by all city cable networks on January 6 at 8 p.m. Star donors and various non-government organisations will feature in the film. Dr Kulbir Kaur, Professor and Head, Department of Transfusion and Medicine informed that the purpose of the film is to remove all misconceptions regarding blood donation and create awareness among masses about it.

SAHNEWAL
ONE KILLED: A man was killed and two others were injured in an accident that took place near Machian Kalan village last evening. It is reported that Malkit Singh was coming from his work from Jodhewal to his native village, Mattewal, along with Sajjan Singh and Baldev Singh on an autorickshaw at about 4 p.m. yesterday. When they were nearing their place, an autorickshaw from the front, hit the one in which they were trevelling. Malkit Singh died on the spot, and the other two were injured. A case has been registered against the accused under Section 304 of the IPC.

SAMRALA
WELCOMED: The Punjab Tourism Employees Union has welcomed the decision taken by the Tourism and Cultural Minister Punjab, Mr Swarna Ram, that the Punjab Government will not sell its tourist complexes in future. Mr Mangal Singh Hundal, president of the union, has thanked the minister for accepting their demands.

APPEALED: Mr Jagjiwan Singh Khirnian, chairman, Samrala Land Mortgage Bank, has appealed to the taxi and tempo unions not to charge excess money from customers. He was speaking at a function organised by the unions.

EDUCATION CAMP: The Ludhiana unit of the Food and Nutrition Board, Department of Women and Child Development, will organise an integrated nutrition education camp in the Community Centre Club, Samrala, from January 16 to 20. The camp will be inaugurated by the local SDM, Mr Sandeep Hans, according to Ms Avtar Kaur, Child Development Project Officer, Samrala block, on Friday.

RESENTED: The Chandigarh Industrial Fasteners Association has said that the decision of the UT Administration to increase power tariff would be harmful to the growth of the small-scale units. “Though the increase is not really exorbitant, but the industry is already going through a recession and the small-scale units will find it hard to absorb the increase at this time,” said Mr A.L. Aggarwal, president of the association. The members of the association have urged the authorities to keep the implementation of the notification in abeyance till the issue is sorted out with the representatives of the industry.

DISTRIBUTED: Uphar, a voluntary organisation, distributed uniforms and shoes at Government Senior Secondary School, Dhanas, here on Friday. The president of Uphar, Mr Y.P. Sharma, said that the organisation would also organise a blood donation camp in future. ASP Central (UT police) H.G.S. Dhaliwal was the chief guest on the occasion.

CONDEMNED: The local unit of the Akali Dal has condemned the demolitions carried out by the UT Administration in the Sector 21 auto market. Mr Navjit Singh Brar, secretary of the unit, said the action was at the behest of the Congress Mayor who wanted to affect the vote bank of the BJP-Akali alliance. He said many mechanics had been rendered unemployed since their tools were crushed by the bulldozers.

AMBALA
ASSOCIATION: The Haryana Non-Government College Principals’ Association has demanded that principals with M.Phil/PhD and higher degrees should be placed under the Rewarding Merit Scheme of the UGC. The association pointed out that the principals with M.Phil/PhD were being denied benefit of higher qualification. “They should be awarded the supertime scale of 22,000-500-24,500 at par with Professor of Eminence,” a release said. Dr D.P. Asija, president of the association, congratulated the Punjab Government for granting pension-cum-gratuity to teachers working in non-government colleges of Punjab. He also thanked the Haryana CM, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for up-to-date payment of salaries. Even the salary for the month of November has been released. He hoped that this trend will continue in the future.

GUIDANCE WEEK: To give guidance on employment opportunities and self-employment, a commercial guidance week will start here from Monday. The week will be inaugurated by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mahinder Kumar, on Monday at DAV Senior Secondary School, Ambala Cantonment, a press note stated. The Employment Officer, Mr Dhull, said that during the week, information would be provided regarding career opportunities and technical assistance available.