AMRITSAR
EXAMINATION: The practical examinations for BA, BSc, BSc (Home Science) and vocational courses of Guru Nanak Dev University would commence from March 5, informed the Registrar, Dr R.S. Bawa. he said the roll numbers to all eligible candidates had been despatched. Those, who did not receive their roll numbers till February 26, were required to contact Mr Chanchal Singh, Deputy Registrar (Examinations), along with original certificates of the lower examination passed by them, he added.

CAMPS FOR WOMEN: The first chain of orientation camps for women welfare have concluded at Verka, Kairon and Thiriyewal villages. Care during pregnancy, male-participation, uses of mother’s milk, anaemia among women and balanced diet were emphasised at the camps. The next phase of camps will start from February 25 at Kangra Colony, Amritsar.

EX-SERVICEMEN: Mr Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, Minister of Excise and Taxation, announced the construction of a district sainik bhavan while addressing a rally of ex-servicemen. A grievances committee would also be set up for ex-servicemen, he said. He announced the government proposal to present Rs 2 lakh to 11 of the bravery awardees or their families every year.

BALACHAUR
BOOKED: A case was registered on Friday against Kashmira Singh Jat of Rail Majra village on the complaint of Sant Satpal Singh, chief organiser of Dera Baba Bandli Sher. The FIR said the accused had released electric current into the fence installed around his field to protect his crops. As a result four cows and one ox were electrocuted.

BATHINDA
LOK BHALAI PARTY: Mr Bharat Bhushan, district secretary, Lok Bhalai Party, on Saturday said the new government in the state would be of the Third Front. The Congress had been weakened by the factionalism and the misrule of SAD-BJP combine would act against the present government.

TEACHERS’ DEMAND: A deputation of the state government employed teachers met the District Education Officer (P) here on Saturday and urged the authorities to accept their long pending demands. Mr Karam Singh, district co-convenor of the Democratic Teachers Front, Punjab, said in a press note issued here on Saturday that the main demand of the front was that the benefits of promotions should be given to teachers who had obtained higher qualifications.

HOSHIARPUR
ARRESTED: The district police has arrested proclaimed offenders Satnam Singh of Bassi Daulat Khan and Jaswant Singh, alias Goga, of Saria Khas in Jalandhar district. This was stated in a press note issued by Mr Sanjeev Kalra, SSP, Hoshiarpur, here on Friday.

CONVICTED: Surjit Singh, alias Tarlochan Singh, of Fatehgarh village has been convicted under Sections 366 and 376 of the IPC for abducting and raping a minor of the village on September , 1999. He has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 2,000. The District and Sessions Judge further sentenced him to ten years’ imprisonment and fined him Rs 5,000 under Section 376.

SELF-HELP GROUPS: The Social Security Department organised a function at the Ram Colony camp here on Friday evening to create awareness among women. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu said 248 self-help groups had been constituted with the help of the NABARD in rural areas to help women in self-employment.

CONTRIBUTION: Mentally challenged children of the local Asha Kiran School, have collected Rs 11,000 and sent the amount to the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, said Mr A.S. Arneja, general secretary of the Asha Deep Welfare Society, here on Friday.

JAGRAON
PROJECT: The government of Punjab Department of Health, Chandigarh, has entrusted the International Council of Ayurveda, Punjab Chapter, to launch the ‘Reproductive Child and Health Project’ . Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, Punjab, handed over the letter of sanction to Dr Ashish Sharma, General Secretary of the council. Talking to this correspondent, Dr Sharma said that the RCH project was needed to impart education and medical facilities for better health of mothers and children. He also disclosed that they proposed to start a drug de-addiction rehabilitation programme to help the youth. 

SEMINAR AND CAMP: Jagraon Citizens Welfare Council held a medical seminar and camp to impart information of Reproductive and Child Health and to check up patients, particularly pregnant women and school children at Government School, Kotha Rahlan. Dr Ashok Sharma announced the adoption of the village for a year for providing free medical check up and treatment. Mr Baldev Singh of DIET delivered lecture on the history, symptoms, channels of spread and prevention of AIDS. 

KISAN RALLY: A kisan rally is to be organised at Leela Mehar Singh on February 25 in the memory of Mr Piara Singh, Gabib Kalan, for making the farmers’ voice heard and to find reasons why farmers commit suicides and against the repressive policies of the state government being adopted under World Trade Organisation. 

JALANDHAR
GANG BUSTED: A 10-member gang of thieves was busted with the arrest of four members on Thursday. Two countrymade pistols were seized from their possession. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said the raid was conducted on a tip-off. The arrested persons had been identified as Ajay Khan, Parmod, Muthuswami and Rajesh Kumar.

RACKET BUSTED: The police has busted a racket involving preparation of forged documents like sponsorships, invitations, ration cards, bank statements and educational certificates required for grant of visas. Three persons have been arrested in this connection. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said the accused had been identified as Dhanpat Rai of Bath Kalan village, Paramjit of Haripur and Rakesh Kumar of Mehli Gate, Phagwara.

KHAMANO
LIQUOR SEIZED: The Khamano police has recovered 48 bottles of illicit country made liquor and Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) from Kuldeep Singh of Parour, along with a blue Maruti car, bearing registration number PB-10AB-8402. The police has registered a case under Section 61/1/14 of the Excise Act. Kuldeep Singh is an employee of a Samrala-based contractor. 

DEMONSTRATION: Some residents of Vijay Colony on Friday demonstrated in front of the office of Nagar Panchayat, Khamano, against muddy water of the area. The demonstrators, led by BJP leader Radhey Shyam included women who brought pitchers full of muddy water and broke them in front of the Executive officer’s office. They alleged that they had made repeated appeals to the EO and other concerned officers, but nothing had been done in this direction. They warned that if alternative arrangement was not made by February 26, they would gherao the Nagar Panchayat’s office for an indefinite period. The EO, when contacted dismissed it as a minor issue. 

FUNCTION: A function was organised in the Senior Secondary School on Saturday where about 25 students were given prizes for achievements in study, games and extra curricular activities. These prizes were distributed by DPI (S), Dr Jagtar Singh. DEO H.S. Bhullar, Dalbara Singh DPI (S) and prominent persons of the town were present on the occasion. 

KHARAR
SPORTS DAY: Guru Nanak Foundation Public School of Chappar Chiri village celebrated its first sports day on Friday in which Mr Satya Pal Jain, former MP from Chandigarh, was the chief guest. He distributed prizes among the children. Mr I.S. Boparai, director of the school, welcomed the chief guest. Jagpreet Kaur of Class VII was declared best athlete among the girls and Jatinder Singh of Class VII among the boys in the middle segment. Harmanpreet and Manbeer from the primary and Sukhwinder and Amitoj from Nursery, were declared best athletes in their respective segments. Cultural trophy was won by Vigyan House and sports trophy by Upkar House. 

POPULATION CONTROL: Mr Ranjit Bhatia, district governor, RI District 3080 has stressed the need to control population increase in the country. He appealed to the Rotarians to work for creating public awareness about this. He was addressing a gathering on Saturday in connection with his official visit to the Rotary Club, Kharar. He advocated ‘one child norm’ and stressed the need of education of girls. He said the Rotary District 3080 has already sent 10000 blankets and 200 tents worth Rs 23 lakh for Gujarat earthquake victims and a sum of Rs 12 lakh would be sent soon Mr Balwant Singh Rangi (president, Rotary Club, Kharar), Mr J.P. Dhiman (ex-president) and Mr Balwant Singh Badwal also spoke on the occasion. 

MANSA
BODY FOUND: Body of a youth, Vakil Singh (16), of Dariypur village was found on Friday near railway line here. It was sent for a postmortem. According to the information, the deceased was run over by train.

APPROVAL: The Deputy Commissioner, Ms Raji P. Sirivastava, said at a meeting of district officials on Friday that the state Finance Commissioner (Revenue) had approved of a tehsil complex at Budhalada in the district. She directed the Executive Engineer, B and R, to amend the blueprint of the complex.

DAMAGED: Residents of Mandir Wali Gali and Ramji Dass Pardhan Street complained of heavy losses on Friday morning due to sudden increase in the voltage from a transformer installed by the PSEB. The residents complained the voltage increased to almost double at around 6.15 a.m. resulting in damages to electric gadgets.

COURT COMPLEX: Members of the District Bar Association at a meeting urged the Sessions Judge, Bathinda, Mr B.C. Rajput, to build bar chambers for advocates on the premises of the newly constructed court complex. They also requested Mr Rajput not to shift offices to the new complex until the chambers were constructed. Mr Rajput was on a visit to inspect the court complex.

PATIALA
SCIENCE DAY: A two-day exhibition will be organised by the Science Department of the Punjabi University on Tuesday and Wednesday. Informing this, Dr Jagtar Singh Banait, coordinator of the exhibition and head of the Chemistry Department, said the exhibition would be organised to mark the occasion of Science Day. The exhibition would highlight modern developments in various fields of science including non-conventional sources of energy, proper utilisation of domestic and other wastes, pollution and its control, radiational effects of house-hold electronic gadgets, ozone hole and other issues. Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor will inaugurate the function. 

MOURNED: The National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS) mourned the death of Hardev Singh Jadugar, Assistant Director (Culture) of the PSEB, on Saturday. Mr Pran Sabharwal, Director of the NTAS, along with others paid tributes to the departed soul. 

SHOOTING COMPLETED: The shooting for the Punjabi TV serial Kaun Jane Peer Parai for DD Punjabi channel has been completed within the scheduled ten days around villages Kauli Fatehpur Jattan and surrounding areas of city. Mr Krishan Sahni, director said that the serial is based on the temperament of four old men who make acquaintance with each other during a morning walk and develop admiration during that period. Ms Sonia Sahni, producer of the serial, said the serial depicts the pleasures and grief of the four men. The serial is scheduled to be telecast from March 15 onwards. 

EMPLOYEE MISSING: Mr Vijay Kumar, Kumra a 52-year-old PSEB employee, has been missing since February 17. According to his father, Mr Muni Lal Kumra, Mr Vijay went to the State Bank of Patiala to withdraw some money. From there he was to go to join his duty at Sanaur. He alleged that his son might have been kidnapped by some anti-social elements for ransom. The case has been reported to the SSP who has directed police authorities concerned to look into the matter. 

PHAGWARA
KILLERS HELD: Three persons, including a dismissed policeman, have been arrested for allegedly murdering a youth after robbing him of more than Rs 4 lakh on March 25, 1999, in the local Chadha Market, reliable sources said here on Friday. The victim was shot dead from a point-blank range.

KRISHI CARDS: Krishi Cards worth Rs 52,00,000 were handed over to 102 farmers by the local SDM, Mr Pritam Singh, at a function organised by Punjab National Bank (PNB) at Rehana Jattan village near here on Thursday. Manak, Wahid, Jagpalpur, Rehana Jattan villages and local Nehru Nagar PNB branch have been covered in the camp.

ELECTED: Mr G.S. Sidhu was unanimously elected president of the body of officers of Punjab and Sind bank who had opted for the VRS, during a meeting held here on Friday. Mr B.P. Singh was elected general secretary, while Mr T.P. Singh was elected treasurer of the body. According to a press note, it was resolved that the “house” would go in for a legal action if full benefits were not provided. It also condemned the “unceremonious relieving of the officers.” 

SAPLINGS PLANTED: The management of the GGS College for Women, Sector 26, has decided to allow the Children’s Alliance for Protection of the Environment (CAPE) to develop an area of the half acre of the college campus. The area which once had a pond was filled up with debris by the college and now led by the Principal, Mr H. Khanna, the students have planted more than 350 saplings of neem, maulsari, ashoka, mulberry and kadamba. An orchard is also being developed where 10 species of fruits will be planted. 

FLAYED: The Roadside Shoe Repair Workers Welfare Association has criticised the Chandigarh Administration for not issuing them identity cards. In a meeting, Mr Lila Ram Jeywaria of the association in a press note said that shoe repairers were working in the city for the past 30 years and they should be given identity cards. The association has threatened that a protest march against the administration will be organised on March 1. 

DEMANDED: The Mazdoor Sudhar Sabha met the Mayor of Chandigarh on Friday and demanded the repair of road in Sector 32-C. The sabha also requested the Mayor to ensure improvement in the condition of the park in the area. In a press note, Mr Ram Avtar, president of the sabha, urged the MC to take special care of the green belt behind the Nirman cinema. 

AMBALA
APPOINTED: Dr Ram Nath Sharma has been appointed a member of the Telephone Advisory Committee, Ambala. Dr Sharma has been appointed under the medical profession category and he will remain a member till July 31, 2002. 

ANNUAL FUNCTION: Bell Toll Public High School, Ambala City, celebrated its 23rd annual cultural-cum-prize distribution function on the school campus. The students presented a variety of programmes which enthralled the audience. Ms Veena Chhibber, MLA, was the chief guest who encouraged students for academic and cultural excellence. In the annual report, the Principal of the school, Ms J. Partal, highlighted the achievements of the school in various fields. 

AWARENESS CAMP: The Haryana-Delhi Industrial Consultancy Limited (HARDICON) conducted a two-day “Entrepreneurship awareness camp” at S.A. Jain Institute of Management and Technology, Ambala City, on Friday. The institute director, Mr Mukesh Sehgal, said that HARDICON was a channelising agency which was working to promote entrepreneurship in the country. Mr S.K. Goyal, in charge of the District Industrial Centre, Ambala Cantonment apprised the management students of facilities extended by the DIC for the growth of the industry in the districts, a release said. 

COMPETITION RESULTS: Various competitions were held in the 2nd Haryana State Philatelic Exhibition Harpex-2001. In the painting competition, first group, Priyanka Kathuria, DAV Public School, Ambala City, got the first prize. The second prize went to Meenakshi of KV No 4 Ambala Cantonment. The third prize was bagged by Sunny Rawat, KV No 4 Ambala Cantonment. In the second group, Poonam Yadav of Kendriya Vidyalaya No 4, got the first prize while the second prize went to Deepak Kalyan of Kendriya Vidyalaya No 4. The third prize also went to a student of KV No 4, Ranjit Kushwaha. In the essay writing competition, Avantika Sharma of PKR Jain Sr Secondary School, Ambala City, was first. Hiran Mani of Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Ambala Cantonment was second and Suman Arora of PKR Jain Sr Secondary School, Ambala City, was third. The consolation prize went to Gurpraj Singh of Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Ambala Cantonment. Mr S. Sahoo, president of the Philatelic Congress of India, was the chief guest. 

YAMUNANAGAR
THEFT: A cash box of the Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam containing Rs 90,000 disappeared under mysterious circumstances at its office at Bilaspur, about 25 km from here, on Thursday. The cash box was locked by cashier Patram Gupta before he left for lunch. When he came back, he found the box missing. He informed the SDO who reported the matter to the police. The cashier has been placed under suspension till the inquiry is completed.

BILASPUR
NOMINATED: Mr Hemraj Sankhayayan, Mr Mancharial Sharma and Ms Radha Devi of the BJP have been nominated to Ghumarwin Nagar Panchayat by the Himachal Pradesh Government. This was stated in a notification issued by the Governor on Thursday.

BANNED: The state government has imposed ban on beggars, reharis, skill games, use of mikes and beating of drums in the month-long Deotsidh fairs which begin from March 13 at the Shahtalai temple, 70 km from here. This was decided at a meeting of the mela management committee presided by HP Cooperatives Minister Rikhiram Kondal at Talai on Thursday.

DHARAMSALA
SHOT DEAD: Darshan Singh (26), serving in the CISF, was shot dead by his mentally deranged brother-in-law Avtar Singh at Dob village near Shahpur on Thursday evening. The police said Darshan Singh had gone to the house of his brother in-law, retired Armyman, to take him for treatment to Amritsar. A case has been registered against Avtar Singh, who surrendered after the murder.

NAHAN
CHILD DEVELOPMENT: The Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur, Mr Rakesh Kaushal, at a meeting on Friday with the Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) expressed concern over the charging of compound interest by banks on loans from self-help groups instead of simple interest. Mr Kaushal asked the banks to remove the anomaly. He also directed the CDPOs to visit interiors of the district so that benefits of the schemes could reach the people in the remote areas.

NURPUR
DECISION OPPOSED: The Himachal Pradesh PWD Mechanical Employees Federation has taken an exception to the recent government decision to bring the Mechanical Wing under the control of the Civil Circles. Mr Tilak Raj Dogra, president of the state unit, on Friday alleged the government had taken the decision to harass the mechanical employees.