R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BALTANA
BABY SHOW: A baby show was held at Strawberry Public School, Baltana, in which 56 contestants from Zirakpur, Baltana and Panchkula participated. Baby Prince and Princess were elected. Results: 1 to 2 years — Raghav and Vansh; 2 to 3 years — Sahib and Uditi Sharma; and 3 to 4 years — Vasu Rupal and Shefali Jagra (prince and princess, respectively).

DERA BASSI
UNION PRESIDENT: Mr Kuljit Singh Randhawa, president of the Dera Bassi Mubarikpur Truck Operators Union, resigned on Monday. He has constituted a seven-member committee for the functioning of the union.

DORAHA
RALLY: The Congress rally of Doraha Block would be organised on April 4. The rally would begin from Malaud and passing Dhamot, Siora, Payal and Kaddon, ultimately arrive at Doraha. This information was released by Mr Bant Singh Daburjee, local Congress leader, at a meeting held under the presidentship of Mr Gurkiratn Singh Kotli. The rally would form a part of the protest being undertaken by the Congress against the existing government from April 2 to 6. 

HOSHIARPUR
TRUST TO START BAMS: Baba Harnam Dass Trust will start Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medical Science (BAMS) and BDS college at Jian village, 14 km from here, on Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road from this academic session. This was information was given here on Monday by Swami Sadanand, personal secretary of Swami Brahmdev Ji. He said the trust had provided two acres of land for this college and the required funds were being given by NRIs of the area.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the District Bar Association: president — Mr Jaswinder Singh Parmar, vice-president — Mr Gur Iqbal Singh; secretary — Mr Gurnam Singh and joint secretary — Ms Chanderlekha.

JALANDHAR
PROMOTION: Mr Balmukand Sharma, District Manager, Punjab Markfed, Ludhiana and noted comedian of “Chankata” fame has been given a premature promotion by the Markfed authorities. Mr Sharma was promoted to Deputy Chief Manager’s post and transferred to Chandigarh by the authorities on Friday.

KAPURTHALA
IN-LAWS BOOKED: On a complaint lodged by Mrs Reenu (28), wife of Gaurav Makool, the city police on Saturday registered a case under Sections 498-A, 406 and 506 of the IPC against her husband, mother-in-law Reeta Makool, father-in-law Rajinder Makool, sister-in-law Meenu Verma, her husband, Sanjeev Verma, and two others for harassing and torturing her for not bringing adequate dowry.

BANNED: Mr V.K. Singh, District Magistrate, on Sunday banned the plying of trucks, tractors-trailers and carts for entry into the town on the Kapurthala-Amritsar road from the octroi post, Amritsar, to the bus stand keeping in view the high rush of traffic on this road. These vehicles can enter the town via the Kanjli road.

KHANNA
KHATRI SABHA: The local Khatri Sabha had decided to open an information technology centre to provide employment to the youth of the khatri community at a meeting held here on Monday. According to Mr Khatri Nanda, joint secretary of the sabha, the infighting in the sabha started from past couple of months was came down on Monday when two parallel general secretaries resigned from their respective posts. These resignations were accepted and the president was authorised to appoint new general secretary of the sabha. Mr Kunti said the sabha has also decided to form a fund to help the needy persons of the community. It was also decided that the sabha will co-operate to organise the fifth annual function of the sabha to be held at Ludhiana on April 29. 

ARRESTED: The Khanna police here on Monday claimed to have arrested four persons under a special drive launched against anti-social elements. According to a press note of SSP Khanna, the police arrested a satta operator Nirmal Singh of Khirnia village and recovered Rs 1740 from satta players. A case u/s 13 A/3/67 has been registered against him. Another person was arrested under the Noise Control Act. Meanwhile, the Payal Police arrested one person Babu Singh for having liquor without permit. The Samrala police also arrested Sukhdev Singh of Khattran for having 12 bottles of liquor without permit. Cases u/s 61/1/14 have been registered.

KHAMANO
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Punjab Chandigarh Patarkar Parishad: President — Mr Jagdish Rai; Vice-President — Mr Manmohan Singh Kaler; General Secretary — Mr Sanjiv Kumar; Press Secretary — Mr Vinod Kumar; Cashier — Mr Harjinder Bittu; Patron — Mr Harjit Singh Nagra; and Chairman — Mr J.S. Thind. 

MEETING HELD: A meeting of Tarksheel Society, Punjab, was held at Khamano under the chairmanship of Mr Gurmeet Singh, president, Ropar zone. At this meeting office-bearers of Khamano unit were selected unanimously. According to the Mr Gurmeet Singh, Avtar Singh Sarwarpur was elected as president, Harbans Singh Manela as general secretary, Gagandeep Khamano as vice-president and press secretary, Swaranjeet Singh Khamano as cashier and Jagdev Singh as secretary. 

APPROVED: About 700 new old-age pensions have been approved in the Khamano area after the charge of old age pensions have been given to the SDMs of the respective areas in December. The local SDM, Mr Nirbhai Singh, told that the new approved pensions will be released soon. He also informed that about 700 persons of the area were already taking old-age pensions. He said that remaining applications will be approved as soon as possible so that more people can take the advantage of this scheme meant for the poor. 

NEW OFFICE: The office of AR was opened at Khamano in the local Tehsil Complex on Saturday. While inaugurating the office, the DR, Fatehgarh Sahib, told that the office has been opened by the district administration to lessen the public problems of the Khanna area. He also said that AR, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr Gurdeep Singh Waraich, has been given additional charge of this office.

LUDHIANA
APPRECIATED: The People For Animals (PFA) has appreciated the police for booking the sellers of skins of tigers and leopards. According to a press release issued here on Monday, this incident would send right signals to the people involved in crime against animals. The PFA has demanded that the whole nexus of poachers and smugglers need to be exposed as the skins and bones of these animal are in demand. It was stated that the smuggling of the skin of these animals have become a lucrative business.

HAILED: The Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle has hailed the appointment of Dr K.S. Aulakh as the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University. On the occasion, Principal Ram Singh, chief organiser, and Mr Gurmeet Singh, chief secretary, appealed to Dr Aulakh to encourage research and development and help foster communal harmony. The members also lauded the contribution of Dr G.S. Kalkat towards various projects in improving facilities in agriculture.

FREE EYE CAMP: The Environmental and Welfare Association, New Janta Nagar and Shimla Puri, will hold a free eye camp on April 7 at Dera Dumeli Sahib in collaboration with Bhai Lalo Ashram International. Dr Ramesh, MD, will perform the operations. Medicines and spectacles would be distributed free to the patients who have been advised to bring their own beddings and an attendant alongwith. Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, MP, will inaugurate the camp. 

SEMINAR: A national seminar on Sufism is being organised at Maharaj Ranjit Singh Police Academy, Phillaur, on April 6 and 7 by the Centre for Sufi Studies. According to a press release, the seminar will focus on Sufi philosophy, composite culture, heritage and national integration. A mushaira will also be organised on the concluding evening. The seminar will be inaugurated by the Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr N. K. Arora. 

NAWANSHAHR
PUNJABI CULTURE: The Punjab Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to spend Rs 5 to 12 crore to preserve and promote Punjabi art, literature, culture and historical documents and monuments. This was stated by Mr Swarna Ram, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, while addressing a gathering on the occasion of Master Bhag Ram Memorial Sabhyacharak Mela at nearby Barnala Kalan village on Saturday. He said the government would constitute a Censor Board to check vulgarity in Punjabi songs.

DISTRICT CREDIT PLAN: Mr Jagjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, released the District Credit Plan of Rs 248 crore for 2001-02 at a district-level review committee meeting of banks here on Saturday. Loans worth Rs 248 crore would be disbursed to 22,679 beneficiaries during the current financial year.

PATHANKOT
BAR ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the District Bar Association: president — Mr Viresh Nanda; vice-president — Mr Joginder Singh; general secretary — Mr Darbari Lal and joint secretary — Mr Jagmohan Singh.

PATIALA
SONIA’S EFFIGY BURNT: Effigy of Ms Sonia Gandhi, Congress President, was burnt by the Bharti Janta Yuva Morcha (Rural) at Samana, Ghagga and Patran on Monday, according to the morcha president, Mr Ravinder Dhillon. The general secretary, Mr Sukhwinder Laki, alleged that during the Congress rule a number of scandals had rocked the nation. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Mr Sachin Mittal, Mr Ved Prakash, Mr Yashpal Garg, Mr Anil Kumar, Mr Prem Singla, Mr Darshan Jain, Mr Rakesh Goyal, Mr Krishan Gopal, Mr Dharam Pal, Mr Ram Lal and Mr Ram Pal. 

FOUNDATION STONE: Raja Narinder Singh, Public Health and Civil Aviation Minister, laid the foundation stone of a link road leading to a dharamshala at Ajnoda Kalan village, in Nabha subdivision, on Monday. The minister said about 150 old-age pension cases of this subdivision had been passed. He said the Chief Minister would redress the grievances of the public during the sangat darshan at Navi Anaj Mandi, Nabha, on April 25.

PHAGWARA
IMA MEETING: The general body meeting of the local branch of the Indian Medical Association has decided that every member of the association will adopt at least one poor TB patient to help eradicate the disease. A press note issued by the association secretary, Dr Kiranpreet Kaur Makkar, on Sunday said the meeting further decided to raise funds for purchasing anti-tuberoular medicines for at least 250 poor patients.

CHANDIGARH

EFFIGY BURNT: Activists of Ward No 14 of the BJP on Sunday burnt the effigy of the Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, against his alleged irregularities in the construction of shops in Mani Majra. Demanding his resignation, the protesters also alleged that no attention was being paid by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh towards the roads, sewerage and sanitation of Bapu Dham Colony. Prominent among those who addressed the protesters were Mr Gian Chand Gupta, a former Mayor, Mr Dilip Sharma, mandal president, Mr Hari Shankar Mishra, president of the Colonies Cell, Mr Radhey Sharma, and Mr Shambu Banerjee.

HARYANA

FARIDABAD
OFFICE-BEARERS: The president of the District Congress Committee, Mr B.R. Ojha, has announced new office-bearers of the committee: senior vice-president — Mr Basant Khatak; vice-presidents — Mr Rakesh Sharma, Mr Gulshan Bagga, Mr Radha Narula and Mr Raj Kumar Teotia; and general secretaries — Mr Subhash Mangla, Mr Raj Kumar Sharma, Mr Dalpat Singh, Mr A.C. Sethi and Mr Baljit Kaushik.

INAUGURATED: Dr R. P. Jain, Director of the BM Institute of Engineering and Technology, inaugurated the ATEC computer education centre at Subhash Chowk here on Monday. A number of prominent citizens and mediapersons of national dailies were present on the occasion.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
RALLY CALL: The Indian National Trade Union Council (INTUC) affiliated Himachal Road Transport Corporation Employees Federation has given a call for a state-level rally and demonstration at HRTC headquarters at Shimla on April 16 to press for their 16-point demands charter. This was decided by the state federation after meeting the HRTC Managing Director, Mr T.G. Negi, at Shimla on Saturday.

POWER THEFT: The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board has launched a campaign against power thefts in the state and several theft cases have been detected and penalities imposed. The Superintending Engineer, Mr S.K. Soni, said here on Sunday that various officers were raided and 32 theft cases detected and penalities worth Rs 95,000 were charged in Bilaspur, Suharghat, Ganguwal, Sundernagar and Nerchowk during past few weeks.

TWO KILLED: Two persons, Roshan Lal (32) of Kolthin village and Naresh Chand (27) of Malokhar village, were killed when a rock slided down from its place to a latrine-pit which some labourers were digging below the rock, near here, on Sunday.

KANGRA
ORGANISED: An eight-day yoga camp organised by the Vivekananda Kendra, a spiritually-oriented service mission, was inaugurated by 100-year-old freedom fighter Jagan nath Sharma here on Sunday at a local senior secondary school.