ABOHAR
DE-ADDICTION CENTRE: The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has ordered establishment of a de-addiction centre here. A delegation, led by counsellor Bhopal Singh Bhola, met Mr Badal during a sangat darshan programme here on Monday and alleged due to passiveness of some police officers, intoxicants and narcotic drugs were being sold openly in the market. The Chief Minister has ordered the Civil Surgeon of Ferozepore to open a de-addiction centre immediately.

AMRITSAR
SEMINAR: A two-day seminar on “administrative reforms - problems and solutions” is being organised on Tuesday by the Punjab State Organising Committee for debate on reforms, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, in collaboration with the placement unit of Guru Nanak Dev University at Guru Nanak Bhavan auditorium of the university here.

RESEARCH PROJECT: Prof A.K. Thukral and Dr Renu Bhardwaj of Department of Botanical Sciences and Prof S.K. Garg of Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Guru Nanak Dev University have been awarded a major research project by the University Grants Commission for Rs 5.5 lakh. This was stated in a press note issued here on Monday by the university.

APPOINTED: Dr Satinder Singh, a senior professor in the school of Punjabi studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, joined as Director of Research of the university.

BATHINDA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab Animal Husbandry Services Association: chairman — Mr Jaspal Singh Brar; president — Mr Baldev Singh Brar; vice-president — Mr Resham Singh; general secretary — Mr Surinder Singh; and finance secretary — Mr Sukhjinder Singh.

ELECTED: Mr Tej Singh Chahal has been elected president of the Gurdwara Sahib Sangat (regd) for two years. This was stated by secretary of the gurdwara, in a press note issued here on Monday.

CANCER SCREENING: The district unit of the Chetak Army Wives Welfare Association ( AWWA) would organise a cancer screening week from Thursday. Family personnel of serving and ex-servicemen would be screened for the disease at the Military Hospital here. This was stated in an press note issued by the military authorities here on Monday.

TRANSFERRED: Two senior police officers, including Mr Kapil Dev, SP (Operations), and Mr Pawan Kumar Raj, ASP (City), have been transferred from here to Chief Minister’s security wing. The names of officers to be appointed in their place have not been disclosed.

FTV BANNED: The District Magistrate has banned the broadcast of Fashion TV through cable networks in the district. Mr Jaspal Singh, District Magistrate, said the FTV programmes were not in good taste and vulgar in content. The orders had been issued under Section 19 of the Cable TV Network (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000.

LOUDSPEAKERS: The District Magistrate has banned the use of unauthorised loudspeakers in the district under Section 144 of the IPC. The use of olive green dresses and vehicles by personnel other than those of the armed forces have also been banned. This was stated in an official press note issued here on Monday.

DORAHA
BKU MEETING: A meeting of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Block-II, Lakhowal, held at Sahnewal under the chairmanship of Mr Avtar Singh Menlon, district general secretary, on Monday demanded that the government should make immediate provision for buying of the barley, rapeseed and oilseed crops at the support prices. The support price for barley had been fixed at Rs 500 per quintal and that of rapeseed Rs 1,200 per quintal, but these were being sold to private agencies at much lower rates.

GURDASPUR
MAN HELD: Major Singh, resident of Deepowali in Police District Batala was arrested on Monday for being in possession of 520 gm charas. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, the accused was arrested during a naka at Dhar Kalan road. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

PISTOL SEIZED: Amar Nath, alias Neeta, resident of Dhakhala in the district, was arrested and a .12 bore pistol and three cartridges seized from his possession. Besides, Rs 70,000 cash which he had looted at gunpoint on Thursday were also recovered from him.

HOSHIARPUR
DHARNA HELD: Nearly 500 members of GNA and DP Industry Mazdoor Union Mehtiana, started an indefinite dharna in front of the District Courts here on Monday to press upon the district administration to get implemented the agreement of January 3, according to Mr Jaswant Singh, secretary of the union.

MOGA
PIPES STOLEN: Iron pipes for draining out water from certain nullahs in Ladhaike village under Baghapurana subdivision in this district were stolen from near the village fields according to reports here on Sunday.

DIVERSIFY CROPS: Gurdev Singh Badal, Punjab Agriculture Minister, on Monday while addressing farmers at Baghapurana called upon the farmers to diversify from the traditional paddy sowing to other crops so that the sub-soil ground water-level should not fall further. He suggested that the area under paddy cultivation be reduced if they wanted to get maximum benefit.

PATIALA
PCACTA MEMBERS: Dr P.K. Rishi was re-elected as the president of the Punjab and Chandigarh Ayurvedic College Teachers Association (PCACTA) during a meeting held here on Tuesday. The other elected members are: chief patron — Dr Vibhakar Sharma; patrons — Dr N.K. Chawla, Dr Sharadindu Sharma and Dr M.P. Singh; Senior vice-president — Dr Pankaj Sharma; vice-presidents — Dr Dinesh Sharma and Dr Chander Mohan; general secretary — Dr Suresh Chauhan; and finance secretary — Dr Raghubir Singh.

ELECTED: Mr Mukhtiar Singh Toor has been elected as the president of the Raghbir Nagar Residents Welfare Association. The other members are: vice-president — Mr B.C. Verma; general secretary — Mr R.K. Arora; and treasurer — Mr Satbir Singh Dhidsa.

DEATH CONDOLED: Dr Madan Lal Hasija, Director, State Language Department, has condoled the death of Mr Raj Dular, a Shiromani Sahitkar awardee who passed away recently. Mr Dular had made immense contribution towards the Punjabi language. Some of the major works are: Udhika, Duphair Khiri, Tapdi Mitti, Baba Harji, Kar Bahla Ho Bahla, Jeha Karo Teha Bharo, Bhan Da Barota, Guli Danda, Supneya Da Desh, Himmat Da Phool, Sharat Da Natija, Lot Pot, Kawa Kawa Dhol Waja, Khand Da Gol Gappa and Akal Diya Galan.

INAUGURATED: Mr Ram Murti Goel, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, inaugurated the NIIT SWIFT point at Passi Road here on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “NIIT has emerged as one of the largest IT education institutes not only in India, but also abroad.” Mr Shubhodeep, marketing executive of NIIT (North Zone), said the main aim of the centre was to create computer literates.

PHAGWARA
DEATH MOURNED: The President of the Indian Medical Association, Punjab, Dr OPS Kande, and Medical Action Committee-cum-Legal Cell state IMA Chairman, Dr Raman Aggarwal, today mourned the demise of Dr Kuldip Singh of Phagwara who was owner of the local Swaran Hospital.

MAN KILLED: Sandip (30), a migrant worker, was crushed to death under a tractor when it turned turtle on the GT Road here on Sunday. He was sitting on the tractor when the mishap took place. The owner of the tractor, Laxmandas, was hospitalised with multiple fractures.

NABBED: Jagjit Singh, alias Sunny, of Hadiabad, was nabbed with 25 gm of smack at a naka at nearby Narang Shahpur village on Sunday.

PHILLAUR
APPOINTED: The president of the Punjab BJP, Prof Brij Lal Rinwa, has reconstituted BJP ex-servicemen Cell and appointed Lt Col Ram Lal Arora as general secretary. This was stated here on Monday by the office secretary, Mr Raj Bhatia. District Presidents of eight districts who have also been appointed are Col Amrik Singh, Amritsar; Col M.S. Behal, Gurdaspur; Lt Col C.S. Chahal, Jalandhar; Major G.S. Ahluwalia, Kapurthala; Brig Ajit Singh, Hoshiarpur; Lt Col S.B. Singh, Ludhiana; Col S.S. Hundal, Ropar and Captain Bhagat Ram Soni, Patiala.

INAUGURATED: More than Rs 1 crore would be spent on sewerage to facilitate the people. This was announced by the Punjab Tourism Minister, Mr Swarna Ram, while inaugurating a sewerage scheme in Guru Harkrishan Nagar here on Monday.

ROPAR
FIREARMS BANNED: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G S Grewal, has banned carrying of any type of firearms or other weapons within limits of district. The police personnel and those authorised to keep arms due to religious beliefs have been exempted from these orders. The orders would remain enforced till May 15.

SAMRALA
ONE KILLED IN ACCIDENT: A person, Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Sihaba near here was killed in a road accident near Kakkar cold storage on the Chandigarh road. According to the report, Mr Sanjeev Kumar was coming towards Samrala on his scooter when he hit a truck from backside, which was standing on the road.

LESS WHEAT ARRIVALS: Due to unexpected rains the wheat being brought to the mandis has between 18 to 22 per cent moisture content, according to an official of the local grain market. The sources said that 2,470 quintal of wheat reached the grain market which is being purchased by Markfed, Punsup, Punjab State Ware Housing and Punjab Agro Agencies and the target is 4 lakh quintals.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the ESPL Technocrats Association: president — Mr Mohinder Pal; general secretary — Mr Sanjay Jain; vice-presidents — Mr G.S. Nibber and Mr Sanjeev Garg; treasurer — Mr Vipan Verma; propaganda secretary — Mr S.K. Arora; press secretary — Mr P.K. Chand; organising secretary — Mr Manjeet Singh; office secretary — Mr Rekha Kaul; and secretary (Delhi office) — Mr J.S. Ramana.

SHORT COURSE: A two-month summer short course in hotel education started at the Food Craft Institute, Sector 42, here on Monday. Mr Alok Shivpuri, Principal of the institute, formally inaugurated the course. Three short courses in cookery, bakery and confectionary and restaurant services will be run simultaneously. Forty participants which include students, hotel professionals and women entrepreneurs are doing the course where in two months they will receive training in culinary skills and restaurant service methods.

APPOINTED: Mr Satwinder Singh Sandhu of Pehowa has been appointed president of the Haryana unit of the Indian Youth Congress by the all-India IYC president, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala. Other office-bearers of the Haryana unit will be chosen subsequently. Mr Surjewala has also appointed Mr Krishan Veer Maina from Rohtak as the IYC in charge of the states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

MINISTER'S VISIT: The Union Urban Development Minister, Mr Jagmohan, has cancelled his scheduled visit to the city due to some other pressing engagements, well placed sources in the Chandigarh Administration said. The Minister was to come on Wednesday and attend some public functions.

SAS NAGAR
DIRECTORY RELEASED: A directory of Phase 4 compiled by the Residents Welfare Association was released by the president of the Citizen Welfare Council, Mr B.S. Tej, at a function held here on Tuesday. On the occasion the members of the association decided to help in solving the problems of people of the area, said Mr Puran Singh Kirti, president of the Phase 4 Residents Welfare Association.

CRITICISED: The House Owners Welfare Society of Phase 5 has criticised the allotment of a government school site to a private educational institution, Green Field School. Ms Deep Kaur Shyan, Municipal Councillor from the area, said the members of the council had been assured by the Chief Administrator of PUDA that the site would be kept for government school. The society has demanded cancellation of the allotment.

DEATH MOURNED: The Ropar unit of the Indian Ex-Services League of Punjab and Chandigarh at its meeting held on Tuesday mourned the death of Maj- Gen M.P.S. Mann (retd). Lieut-Col Didar Singh, president of the league, said the Maj-Gen Mann did commendable work for the betterment of ex-servicemen.

AMBALA
SEWA PARISHAD: The Ex-servicemen Sewa Parishad (Haryana) is going to organise a function on the occasion of Azad Hind Fauj anniversary at SD Senior Secondary School, Ambala Cantonment. The senior vice-president of the parishad Brig P.K. Bhalla and the general secretary, Maj Kartar Singh, said that the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, would be the chief guest. Former president of the parishad, Maj-Gen Avinash Chandra Mangla, would preside over the function, a press note said.

ACCIDENT: One person was killed and another injured in a road accident near Sahjadpur 40 km from here on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Pawan Kumar. According to police, Pawan succumbed to his injuries at PGI, Chandigarh.

3 ARRESTED: The police has arrested three satta operators at Ambala Cantonment on Monday evening. A case has been registered. Some cash was also seized from them.

LIQUOR SEIZED: The police seized 410 pouches of liquor from some persons in Ambala city on Monday evening. Two persons, including a women, have been arrested in this regard. Another accused, however, succeeded to escape.

ROBBERY: A robbery took place in a jewellery shop in Gobind Nagar on Monday night. The robbers decamped with jewellery from the shop after breaking open the locks. The owner of the shop got information late in the night that his shop was open. When he reached the spot, he found that robbers had decamped with jewellery.

HISAR
HELD: The police arrested Bhale Ram of Chirod village of the district on Monday for murdering his friend Atma Ram. The two had been drinking together in a field when Bhale Ram attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon. He died on the spot.

KALKA
CONGRESS RALLY: Congress party activists of Kalka and surrounding areas led by Mr S.S. Nanda, president block Congress, took out a rally on scooters and held a demonstration on Monday here demanding the dismissal of the NDA government for its involvement in Defencegate scandal. Later on the rally was flagged off to Panchkula to join a rally organised at Mini-Secretariat by Mr Chander Mohan, MLA from Kalka constituency. The activists submitted a memorandum to the Additional Commissioner. Mr Nanda said the memorandum was to be forwarded to the President of India.

SONEPAT
SUICIDE BID: Naresh Kumar, a youth, reportedly attempted to commit suicide by consuming at least 50 sleeping pills at his house in Sector 14 here on Monday. According to a report, he was immediately hospitalised and his condition is stated to be out of danger. No case has yet been registered.

VEHICLE STOLEN: A new motor cycle belonging to Sumit Sachdeva, a resident of Mohalla Jamalpura, was allegedly stolen outside a community centre of Sector 14 here on Monday. According to the police, he had gone there to attend a marriage function. An FIR had been lodged.

BODY FOUND: The Government Railway Police (GRP) found a body lying on a railway track near Sandal Kalan railway station, about 5 km from here, on Monday. The body has not been identified.

SEIZED: Officials of the Excise and Taxation Department seized a truckload of imported leather on the G.T. Road, near Kundli village, about 25 km from here, on Monday. According to official sources, the leather was being sent to Karnal from Delhi by a Korean firm.