AMRITSAR
PATWARI HELD: A patwari was arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 1,000. Joginder Kumar was caught red-handed by the Vigilance Bureau Range DSP, Mr Savinder Singh, while accepting the bribe from Surjit Singh. He has been booked at the Jalandhar Vigilance Bureau.

BARNALA
PROTEST RALLIES: The newly formed Rashtriya Mulazim Dal has decided to stage district-level protest rallies from January 15 in Punjab to get the grievances of employees redressed and their demands conceded. In a press note issued here on Thursday, Mr Harbans Singh Sherpur, president of the dal, said the dal would launch the agitation by organising a rally in front of the District Education Office, Sangrur, on January 15.

KHAMANO
MP'S VISIT: Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, MP, will meet the public of this subdivision on January 16. Sources said that he would go to 29 villages in the Samrala constituency. On the occasion, Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, MLA, will accompany him to listen to the problems of the public.

KHANNA
INAUGURATED: The New Bank Colony Welfare Society Khanna has decided to provide security gates at all entrances of the colony. A function in this regard was organised by the society. According to Mr Kamal Jit Singh, assistant secretary of the society, the gates were inaugurated by Mr Ram Singh, chief guest of the function. A colourful cultural programme was organised on the occasion by children of the society. Mr Chadar Kant Sharma, president of the society, Rakesh Gupta, Avtar Dhir, Pawan Kumar, Bhupinder Singh Gill, Tarsem Kohi and Chaman Lal Goyal were among the prominent speakers on the occasion.

LUDHIANA
FUNCTION: To mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the Akhil Bhartiya Vidya Parishad organised a prize distribution ceremony of Vidyarthi Gyan Pariksha at U.S.P.C. Jain Public School here on Friday. Pankaj Singla of Dayanand Modern School, Raveesh of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Garima Jain of Kundan Vidya Mandir and Maninder Singh of G.N. Model School were given first, second, third and fourth prizes, respectively.

WORK BEGINS: Work on the sewerage project for Kanchan Colony, Vishal Nagar and Master Karnail Singh Nagar was inaugurated at Vishal Nagar Chowk on Friday. The councillor of ward number 42, Giani Baldev Singh, was applauded by residents for taking keen interest in this work. Those present on the occasion were Mr Gurtej Singh, Niranjan Tasneem, Dr Joginder Singh, Mr Gurmel Singh, Mr Moti Lal, Mr Major Singh Khandoor, Mr Buta Singh Jawaddi, and Mr Naseeb Singh.

AWARDED: Dr E.M. Johnson, Director, Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre, Kitchlu Nagar, has been awarded Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose National Award for Excellence-2001. The award will be presented to him on January 23 by Jagruti Kiran Foundation, India. Dr Johnson has been selected by a three-member selection jury consisting of experts.

SABHA HELD: A monthly meeting of Punjabi Likhari Sabha was held here with Mr Darshan Singh Darshan in the chair. Members present included Harbans Malwa, Chanan Lal Sukhi, Bhupinder Singh Harsh Kartar Singh Kalra, Pritam Singh Pandher and Darshan Singh Darshan. Mr Inderjeet Singh gave information about the forthcoming Punjabi journal, Sat Samundron Paar.

MANSA
SCHOLARSHIPS: Mrs Raji P. Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner and president of the District Red Cross Society, on Thursday distributed scholarships of Rs 300 each among 50 poor and brilliant senior secondary school students here. She also distributed five sewing machines to poor widows.

CRIME RATE DOWN: The recovery under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropics Substances Act (NDPS), 1985, was up while the crime rate decreased in Mansa district during last year. This was disclosed by Mr Yurinder Singh Hayer, SSP, at a press conference on Friday. Mr Hayer said over 100 quintals of poppy husk were seized under the NDPS Act during the year as compared to 85 quintals during 1999. Mr Hayer said last year 12 cases of murder were registered as against 23 in 1999 of which 11 had been worked out. Eight cases of rape were registered as against nine in 1999.HISAR

APPOINTED: Mr M.P.S. Jain, president of the Hansi branch of the International Junior Chamber, has appointed the following as office-bearers of the Hansi unit: director, public relations — Mr Sanjay Bhutani; chairperson, women cell — Mrs Vimi Thukral; joint secretaries — Mr Rajesh Khurana and Mr Parveen Popli; and treasurer — Mr Sanjeev Munjal.

LOUD SPEAKERS: Mrs Raji P. Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner, has prohibited the use of loud speakers in the district without prior permission from the Subdivisional Magistrate concerned. She has also instructed owners of all marriage palaces, hotels and restaurants to get no-objection certificates within 15 days.

MOGA
PCO OWNERS: Over 200 owners of PCO and STD booths in the town on Saturday protested against the decision of the Telecommunications Department asking them to install coin-operated telephone sets with immediate effect. They said the cost of the set was Rs 5,000 and these were not available in the market.

NAWANSHAHR
GRIEVANCES HEARD: Dr Roshan Karia, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, jointly listened to the grievances of people at a “sangat darshan” programme organised at Talwandi Fattu village, about 15 km from here, on Friday. Addressing the gathering, the DC asked the villagers to actively participate and monitor development works. Mr Ishwar Singh said a massive drive against drug traffickers had been launched in the district.

URGED: The 1984 Sikh Parvasi Sangarsh Committee, Punjab, has urged the state government to impose a ban on the sale of plots, shops and houses allotted to 1984 riot victims. Sikh families for a period of five years. This was stated by committee adviser Dr Varinder Singh Gambhir and chairman Balkar Singh Dheer here on Thursday.

PATIALA
REVIEWED: Mr Harinder Singh Khalsa, a member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, met the management of the State Bank of Patiala at its head office here on Saturday and reviewed the implementation of the reservation policies of the government for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Mr A.K. Batra, managing director, said the bank had achieved a high level of over 20 per cent with regard to the scheduled caste employees of all cadres and further development was being pursued to ensure proper layout of the directions put forth by the commission for financing the weaker sections of society.

TARN TARAN
ORGANISED: The Social Security and Women and Child Development Department organised “Meena Day”, dedicated to the birth celebration of female child, at Naushehra Pannuan on Thursday. The function was presided over by Ms Saneh Lata, Child Development and Project Officer, Amritsar.

DEMANDED: The Head Masters Association of the district on Thursday demanded the state government to notify the Class II status for headmasters from January 1996, pay scale on Haryana pattern, practical allowance for the headmasters who teach science, and to fulfill the vacant posts of principals through promotion.

GANG BUSTED: The police has busted a gang of dacoits by arresting its three members, Nirmal Singh, alias Nimma of Narli, Sarddol Singh Sulla of Lehian and Manjit Singh of Bagga Kalan. A case under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC has been registered against the accused.

MEDICAL CAMP: A medical camp was organised a the local N.K. Chug Hospital on Wednesday. Medicines were given free of cost to the patients.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Patti Chouthan (Pouri Garhwal) Vikas Mandal: president — Mr Manbar Singh Rana; vice president — Mr Umed Singh; general secretary — Mr P S Rana; cashier — Mr Dhan Singh; cultural secretary — Mr Daya Dhar; record secretary — Mr Shankar Dutt; auditor — Mr Ramesh Mishra; and advisor — Mr Bhagwan Singh.

LAUNCHED: The Council for Social Action and Intellectual Development was launched here on Friday. Dr Mehar Singh Manick, chief spokesman of the council, said it would only be concerned with intellectual issues and not with politics. The objective of the council were also discussed.

INAUGURATED: On the occasion of National Youth Day, Swami Pitambarananda, secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, addressed students of Government College for Boys, Sector 11, on Friday. He inaugurated a book exhibition on Swami Vivekananda and youth in the college library. He appealed to students to develop moral values and positive attitude and uphold integrity and righteous living.

AMBALA
COMPLAINTS: The district administration has introduced computerisation for the registration of electricity complaints in Ambala City. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam, said the consumer could call up the centre on telephone and the complaint regarding electricity would be registered, a press note said. The complaints could be registered on telephone numbers 555127 and 555128. The consumer would then have to dial the area code, which was 101 for Jagadhari Gate, 102 for Badshahi Bagh, 201 for Ghas Mandhi substation, 301 for Model Town and 302 for Baldev Nagar. After registering the complaint, the computer would allot a six-digit number, which could be used for further reference.

PARK: With less than ten days left for the inauguration of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Park, spread over 17.5 acres, by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, work is progressing on a war footing to complete the project. The pedestal on which the statue of Netaji will be installed is nearing completion. The workers are in the process of laying the pathway and taking out weeds from water bodies within the park. Mr Anil Vij, the local MLA, said on Saturday that a deep bore tubewell had been set up and a covered diversion drain had been constructed. An official at the park said the park would be divided by a storm water drain and Rs 2.55 lakh had been sanctioned for a concrete parking area outside the park.

FUNCTION: A prize distribution function was held at Kendriya Vidyalaya 1, Ambala Cantonment, on Saturday, in which about 1600 students and teachers were present, according to a press note. About 375 prizes were distributed to students who had stood first, second and third in different competitions held this session. Prizes were also given for excellence in different activities like NCC, SUPW, scout and guide, music club and drawing. 

SPEECH CONTEST: A speech competition for students of primary classes was organised by the Rashtrabhasha Vichar Manch at Vivekanand Primary School, Ambala Cantonment, on Saturday. Shikha Yadav of Hargolal Kanya Vidyalaya was first and Parul of Arya Girls Senior Secondary School was second. Kiran Bala of Vivekananda Primary School was third, according to a press note.

SHIMLA
CHARAS SEIZED: The police on Wednesday arrested Mast Ram of Pongna village in Mandi district and seized about 900 gms of charas from his possession. A case has been registered against him.

DHARNA STAGED: Activists of the NSUI on Thursday staged a dharna in front of HPU Vice-Chancellor’s office. They were protesting against the university’s decision to close the hostels in the winter vacation.