MOGA
KILLED: Two brothers were killed when a car in which they were travelling collided with a truck on the Moga-Kotkapura road, 14 km from here, on Saturday. Their bodies has been sent for post-mortem examination.

KEROSENE SHORTAGE: Resentment prevails among poor people here against the authorities over an acute shortage of kerosene for the last several months. They said here on Sunday that although the kerosene was not available at government fair price shops but it was available in the open market but at a premium.

PATHANKOT
PERFORMANCE: Singer Bhupi Chawla, whose new album “Naag Ishq Da Ladiya”, will be released soon, will give a performance at Pathankot Club on March 31, according to the secretary of the club.

BRIDGE: Sarna Bridge on the Amritsar-Pathankot-Kullu road here is in bad shape and about to collapse. According to the local residents, this bridge has never been repaired for the past many decades.

BEOPAR MANDAL: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Beopar Mandal: president — Mr Surinder Mahajan; general secretary — Mr L.R. Sodhi; and treasurer — Mr Rajesh Kumar.

PATIALA
ORAGNISED: Multiculturalism is insepearble from democracy, especially in India. This was observed during the second panel discussion on multiculturalism organised by the Institute of Multiculturalism and Sikh Studies, in its programme for holding conferences and seminars on recent trends in world thought held here on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bhagwan Singh Josh of Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi, in his presentation said that capitalist democracy was inimical to local cultures. He said that India had always been a dialectal nation, following the path of the national and federative principles. He also asserted that Guru Granth Sahib was the most ideal multicultural text for recognizing the futuristic multicultural societies of the world. Dr Manjitinder Singh of Punjabi University added that multiculturalism had also been enriched by the work of feminists and subalterns.

PHILLAUR
STRIKE: More than 10,000 photographers of Punjab will observe a strike on March 27 in protest against service tax imposed on photography. This was stated by Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, state executive member of the Punjab Photographers Association.

RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE: Bhagat Hans Raj addressed a religious congregation here on Saturday. He urged the people to adopt the Indian culture which, he said, was the oldest culture in the world.

ROPAR
DISTRIBUTED: Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Punjab, visited Daroli village in his constituency. He distributed 87 cheques worth Rs 50 lakh for various schools, community centres, dharamshalas and the repairs of panchayat ghars in the rural areas.

CONCLUDED: Functions regarding the women empowerment week and the national environment awareness organised at Chamkaur Sahib by the S.S. Memorial Educational Society concluded on Friday. Mr G.P.S. Bhullar, SSP, presided over the concluding ceremony.

SAHNEWAL
MAN CONSUMES POISON: A migrant labourer, Giran Kumar, native of Arohari, Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh and temporarily staying in a labour colony at Kohara, allegedly consumed poison and died. The police has registered a case.

KABADDI TOURNAMENT: The three-day 7th Kartar Singh Memorial Gold Cup Kabaddi Tournament is going to be organised by the Mangat Sports Club, Katani Kalan, from March 30. The main events of the show would include kabaddi open, kabaddi, athletics, bullock-cart races, pigeons flights etc. The team who would win kabaddi all-open tournament for third consecutive time, would be awarded Kartar Singh Gold Cup Trophy and a cash prize of Rs 31,000 by the Mai Harkrishan Kaur Trust. No individual feats would be included and the games would be strictly according to the rules of Punjab Rural Sports Promotion Council.

ORGANISED: A free-eye camp was organised by the Gurdwara Swami Bhola Ram Lok Sewa Trust. On this seven-day camp, approximately 400 patients were examined, out of which 300 patients were discharged after examination while 45 patients were operated upon. Dr Jatinder Mohan Sin and his team is providing free medical aid for the camp. Medicines and eatables are being provided free of cost by the people of the Dera Giani Didar Singh.

TARN TARAN
EYE CAMP: A three-day eye camp was organised at Community Health Centre, Naushehra Pannuan, by an NRI, Mr Hardyal Singh. Dr Surat Singh Mahia, SMO, Kairon, supervised the camp.

CARNIVAL: Spring Valley Public School arranged a two-day carnival for kids. Children from various schools of Mohali, Panchkula and Chandigarh participated in the on-the-spot drawing and painting competition. Puppet show, electronic rides and mickey mouse bouncy were the main attractions of the carnival. A free medical camp was also held for the children and their parents.

MUSICAL NIGHT: A Punjabi musical night will be organised by a cassette company on April 1, 2001 in Tagore Theatre here. Punjabi pop singers Nirmal Sidhu, Bill Singh, Boota Singh, Dolly Guleria and others are expected to take part in the night. This was informed in a press note of the cassette company.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: The Bharat Vikas Parishad organised a blood donation camp on the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh here on Saturday. The camp was held at Shiv Manas Mandir, Industrial Area, Phase II and over hundred units of blood were donated. This was stated by Mr Sanjay Singh, branch secretary of the Parishad in a press note.

‘FILL VACANT POSTS’: The UT Building Maintenance Workers Union held a gate meeting at the Sector 24 maintenance booth and shouted slogans against the UT Administration here on Saturday. It was demanded that the vacant posts in the Administration be filled up immediately. This was stated by Mr Jaipal, president of the union in a press note.

TRAINING: As many as 40 domestic workers from Colony No 4 in the Industrial Area, Phase-I were imparted training on various fronts during a three-day workshop, organised by the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, in association with Jan Shiksha Sansthan from March 22 to March 24. In the workshop, which was organised under the Swaran Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) scheme, the participants were taught techniques to handle emergencies such as provide first aid in case of animal bites and mouth-to-mouth respiration. Other aspects highlighted were the importance of nutritious food, kitchen management and hygiene while attending to day to day chores. Mr Ashok Vasistha, Assistant Commissioner-I, during his visit to the workshop motivated the participants for improving their working capability and competency.

AMBALA
FOUR KIOSKS GUTTED: As many as four kiosks were turned into ashes early on Monday morning near Nahan house at Ambala city. The fire tenders rushed to the spot immediately and controlled the fire. The reason of the fire could not be ascertained.

HEPATITIS-B CAMP: A hepatitis-B camp was organised by the Giants Group of Ambala in Mission School Ambala city on Monday. Ms Raman Gulati vice-president of Federation-5, inaugurated the camp. Around 1,000 people were administered the dose. Besides Mr Anil Gupta, member central committee, Mr Rajiv Soni, Mr Arun Goel, Mr D.P. Gupta, Mr Anil Bindal, Mr Gurpartap Singh, Mr Anil Goel, Mr Anand Prakash and Mr Anil Aggarwal and adviser of the Federation, Mr H.K. Gulati were also present on this occasion.

RAPED: A four-year-old minor girl of Jandli, village adjoining Ambala city, was reportedly raped by an unknown youth on Sunday evening. The police registered a case under Sections 363 and 376 against an unknown person in this regard. According to police reports the girl had been missing since Sunday noon from her residence. Her father and other family members searched for her in the village. She was found lying in the wheat fields in an unconscious condition. The victim was brought to the local civil hospital on Monday morning for medical examination where doctor, who conducted the examination, cofirmed rape. The girl reportedly told the police that one ‘fauji uncle’, took her to the fields on a bicyle. She was afraid and not able to explain the incident properly. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (head quarter), Mr Sultan Singh and SHO, Mr Jai Singh, visited the place of incident and also met the family members of the victim.

RESIGNATIONS DEMANDED: The president of Indian National Youth Congress, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, has demanded resignation from the Chief Minister of Haryana and Punjab for their failure to provide sufficient minimum support price of wheat to the farmers. Addressing a workers’ meeting at Congress Bhawan, Ambala City on Sunday evening, he said that both chief ministers after meeting the Prime Minister twice, had assured the farmers that their interests would not be ignored by the Union Government and they would be provided at least Rs 735 minimum support price of the wheat, while the farmers have got only Rs 610 which is too less. He said that on March 28, a rally of the Youth Congress of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, would be organised at Chandigarh, where they would demand the resignation from the central as well as from Haryana and Punjab government too. Former ministers Mr Nirmal Singh, Phool Chand Mulana and the president of DCC, Ambala, Mr Balwant Gupta also spoke on the occasion.

CHALLANED: The Ambala range police issued challans for traffic rules violations to 6023 motorists during the month of February. The IGP Ambala, Mr H.S. Ahlawat, said that during February, 5,871 challans were deposited and Rs 13,98,995 was recovered as penalty. Meanwhile, the police nabbed three gamblers on Sunday. The police recovered Rs 4,028 from Harpal Singh, Amar Singh and Mohammad Ali. A case has been registered.

MEETING HELD: A meeting of Sangharsh Vahini was held at Ambala Sadar under the presidentship of Mr Hira Lal Yadav. The meeting was attended by representatives of different social and market associations. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Yadav said that the recent bandh was a success due to the cooperation extended by the people who are heavily burdened by the imposition of different taxes. Mr Yadav reiterated that Sangharsh Vahini was not a political organisation. He said that political interference would also not be accepted and the organisation had been formed to protect the interests of the common man. Among others, Mr Gyan Chand Aggarwal, Mr Satpal Dhal, Mr Mahesh Chand Gupta, Mr Darshan Lal Budhiraja, Mr N.D. Arora and Mr Shyam Manchanda were present.

AMBALA JUNIOR CHAMBER: A “Husband’s Nite” was organised by the ladies wing of Ambala Junior Chamber at Railway Club, Ambala Cantt on Sunday. Sakshi Goel presented a dance which was followed by Dandia dance headed by ladies wing chairperson, Ms Shweta Jain. Different games were held and the husbands were given humourous titles. Best Dressed member award went to Rishabh Bhardwaj, Mr A.P. Bansal and Mr Viresh Bajaj. The games were won by Dr Sushil Kansal, Mr Surinder Sethi and Mr A.P. Bansal. The project director was Ms Neelu Gupta.

INAUGURATED: Mr N.K. Chidambaram, Member Electrical, Railway Board inaugurated a traction sub-station at Ghaggar, which is on the Ambala-Chandigarh-Kalka route of Northern Railway on Sunday. Senior railway officers including Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala and Chief Project Manager, Railway Electricification, Ambala were present on the occasion. The traction substation was set up at Ghaggar for feeding 25 KV of power to the electrified route of Ambala to Kalka. The total cost of the substation including payments made towards state electricity board for drawing power is Rs 4.32 crore.

KAITHAL
OPEN DARBAR: The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, listened to the grievances of public at an open durbar at Harsola village of Pai Assembly constituency in this district on Saturday. The representatives of 45 panchayats put up their grievances before the Chief Minister, who directed the officials present to solve the problems.

KILLED: A nine-year-old boy was allegedly killed after sodomy by a man at Kaul village in Pundri sub-tehsil. According to an FIR lodged by balwan, father of the victim, his son Sanjeev was taken to a lonely placed by Pardeep of the same village on Saturday and killed after sodomy. In another case, Santosh a housewife, allegedly committed suicide at Pinjupara village in Kalangat sub-tehsil on Friday by consuming some pesticides.

CASES SETTLED: About 130 cases relating to bank loans were settled at a Lok Adalat presided over by the Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, and Additional Sessions Judge, Mr R.C. Gupta, here on Saturday.

VACCINATION CAMP: As many as 950 persons were vaccinated against hepatitis-B at a camp organised by the District Rotary and Rotaract Club here on Sunday.

KALKA
RESIGNATION SOUGHT: S.S. Nanda, president of block Congress Committee of Kalka, demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on ‘moral grounds’ in the wake of the government’s role in the defence deal as exposed by tehelka.com. He also demanded the registration of FIRs and criminal cases against those named in The expose. Nanda, while demanding legal action against George Fernandes, for violating the oath of secrecy said that the Congress party would soon start protest rallies on the issue.

STOLEN: Theft of one Maruti van has been reported from Shakti Nagar here in Kalka town. Sanjay in his complaint to the local police station here, said that his Maruti van (No HR-37-0006) was stolen on Saturday night from his house in Shakti Nagar. He added that he had parked the van in front of his house at about 11 p.m. on Saturday night, but found it missing on Sunday morning.

KURUKSHETRA
SCHEME: The Haryana Government has launched a scheme “Kanyadan” to provide financial help to members of the Scheduled Castes for the marriages of their daughters. Ms Jyoti Arora, Deputy Commissioner, said the grant-in-aid would also be provided to voluntary organisations and departments engaged in running and constructing hostels for boys belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

SONEPAT
CLASH: Six persons, including two women, sustained injuries in a clash between two groups at Tihar Malik village, about 25 km from here, on Saturday. A case has been registered in this regard. According to another report, a woman was assaulted by some members of a family at Guhna village, about 15 km from here, on Saturday.

ESCAPED UNHURT: All occupants of a car belonging to the family of Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Minister for Agriculture, Haryana, escaped unhurt when the car in which they were travelling met with an accident with three other cars. The occupants of other cars also escaped unhurt.

DEMONSTRATION: A large number of workers of the Haryana Vikas Party, including women, held a procession here on Saturday to register their protest against the shortage of drinking water in the mandi and its adjoining areas of the city. They held a demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. A memorandum listing the demands of the party was also submitted to the DC.

JOGI SAMAJ: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Jogi Samaj: president — Mr Kali Ram; vice- president — Dr Om Parkash Chopra; general secretary — Mr Jagbir Singh; treasurer — Mr Surat Singh; and auditor — Mr Rameshwar Dayal.

MAHILA CONGRESS: Ms Chandresh Kumar, president of the Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress , on Monday nominated Ms Kalawati Panchal secretary of the Haryana unit of the party.

TRANSFORMER STOLEN: The entire village of Sardhana plunged into darkness following the theft of an electricity transformer on Sunday. According to a report, a gang of thieves is stated to be active in and around the area and a number of such thefts had taken place at Panchi Jatan, Rajlu Garhi and other nearby villages in the past.

EYE CAMP: At least 250 patients suffering from various eye diseases were examined and treated free of cost by a team of eye surgeons and specialists at a camp organised at Bahalgarh village, about 10 km from here, on Sunday.

KILLED: Om Parkash was killed when he was hit by the New Delhi-bound Shatabdi Express near the railway crossing of Hindu College here on Sunday. According to the GRP, the victim was crossing the track when the accident occurred.

ASSAULTED: Three persons assaulted the secretary of a cooperative bank and confined him to illegal custody on Sunday. The secretary alleged that he was forced to sign a blank paper by the three persons. A case has been registered in the regard.

SAMMELAN: A one-day Kashyap Rajput Sammelan was held here on Sunday. Delegates from all over the district participated.

YAMUNANAGAR
FOUNDATION STONE: Sant Baba Balwant Singh, Patron-in-chief of Sarv Bharti Gujjar Raj Memorial and Vikas Board, laid the foundation stone of Sant Balwant Singh Institute of Technology at Alisherpur Majra village, 33 km from here, on Saturday. He also inaugurated a computer centre. He released a book “A Short History of Gujjars”, written by Rana Ali Hassan Chauhan.

CHAMBA
LOK ADALAT: A Lok Adalat was held here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Mr J.L. Gupta, District and Sessions Judge, Chamba. Sixteen out of 33 cases placed before the Adalat were settled. In two motor accident claim petitions, the Lok Adalat awarded Rs 3.05 lakh as compensation.

BRAHMIN SABHA: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha: president — Mr Devi Prashad Upadhaya; vice-president — Lt Col (retd) Ravi Vaid; general secretary —Mr Rajendra sharma; organising secretary — Mr Bhagat Ram Vyas; press secretary — Mr Shiv Sharma; treasurer — Mr Kamlesh Sharma; and chief adviser — Mr Nitya Kalyan.

DALHOUSIE
DRIVE: The officials of the Department of Tourism has launched a drive to check hotel owners who have been running their hotels and transacting their business by violating the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh. Registration of Tourist Trade Act.

DHARAMSALA
PROTEST: Veterinary doctors of Kangra district on Monday took out a protest march and handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner against the decision of the government to withdraw the Non-Practicing Allowance being given to them. They wore black badges and took mass casual leave.