R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
INQUIRY DEMANDED: The National Consumer Awareness Group, a registered body, at its executive body meeting on Sunday demanded the resignation of Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, Punjab, and a CBI inquiry into fake appointments in the Health Department.

ARRESTED: The police on Sunday arrested Sudarshan Kumar, Naib Subedar (retd), for illegally transporting Dalda ghee from Punjab to Kathua. As many as 346 tins and 175 packets of Dalda ghee were seized from him. A case under sections 420/467/ 4680/471 IPC has been registered.

FEROZEPORE
MEDICAL CAMP: The National Integrated Medical Association on Sunday organised a free heart check-up camp jointly with doctors from Escorts Hospital. Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, inaugurated the camp. More than 500 patients were examined and given medicines free of cost.

HELD FOR GRAFT: Jaspal Singh, patwari of Ena Khera was caught red-handed while taking bribe from Karnail Singh for providing a copy of the mutation. A case has been registered.

HOSHIARPUR
YOUTH CONG: Mr Devinder Singh Baboo, President, Punjab Youth Congress, has reacted sharply to the statement of Mr Krishanvir Maina, All-India Youth Congress observer for Punjab, which appeared in a section of the Press on Monday in which Mr Miana stated that the Punjab Youth Congress had been dissolved due to its “ineffective role” in the agitation against the NDA government over the Tehelka expose. Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Baboo said the executive of the Punjab Youth Congress had already been dissolved a year ago.

WHEAT PROCUREMENT: As many as 72 centres have been set up for the procurement of wheat in the district. This was stated by Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, in a press note issued here on Monday. He expected an arrival of 2.50 lakh tonnes of wheat this time.

LUDHIANA
DATE EXTENDED: The Municipal Corporation has further extended the date for regularisation of irregular water, sewerage connections in the city till April 30. Giving this information the MC Additional Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sharma, informed that a large number of residents could not avail of the facility granted earlier under which irregular water and sewerage connections could be regularised on payment of a fee of Rs 600 each. Similarly, the one time facility for payment of arrears of water and sewerage charges, without interest, was also available till April 30.

YC MEETINGS: A team of the SC-ST cell of the Punjab Youth Congress visited a number of colonies in the city to mobilise public opinion against the BJP government which was exposed by the Tehelka. com. Mr Jagtar Singh Dhanola, chairman of the SC-ST cell of the YC, and Mr Jasbir Johny said in a press note that the team had held meetings at Manohar Nagar, Habib Gunj, Islam Gunj and Prem Nagar. Leaders demanded immediate resignation of the NDA government at the meetings.

TEMPLE FUNCTION: Shri Durga Mandir Committee, Urban Estate, Dugri Road, will organise “Sri Bhagwat Katha Saptah” from April 25 to May 1 on the eve of the annual celebrations of Murtisthapna Day, according to Mr Ramesh Garg, president of the temple body. The week will begin with a “kalash yatra” on April 24.

LADIES CLUB FUNCTIONS: The Geetanjli Ladies Club organised ‘husband’s night’ on the club premises on Sunday evening. A fashion show and a game called ‘kaun banega lucky pati’ were organised on the occasion. Dr K.S.Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, was the chief guest on the occasion. Dr J. Bindra, chairperson, and Ms Asha Miglani, president of the club presented the vote of thanks. In another function, members of the Roopika Ladies Club organised a function on the club annual day on Monday at hotel Mariate. The club organised a show to choose ‘Roopika Queens’ of the year.

ACCIDENT: The SHO, Sadar Khanna, and his gunnman were killed in a road accident on Monday at 12.20 p.m. near Kohara chowk. According to the reports, the SHO, Mr Ram Singh Chahal, and his gunman, Mr Kartar Singh, were travelling from Ludhiana to Samrala by their Maruti car (PB-10-T-008). When crossing Kohara chowk, their car hit a truck (PB-1022-9599) as a result of which the SHO died on the spot, while the gunman was rushed to the CMC Hospital, Ludhiana, where he was declared dead.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
PENSIONERS' CONVENTION: A convention of the Punjab Government Pensioners Association will be organised at Fatehgarh Sahib on April 25, which will be attended by delegates of 13 districts of the state. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab and Ms Satwant Kaur Sandhu, Minister for Pensions, Punjab, have consented to address the gathering. Mr Balwant Singh Sodhi, state general secretary of the association, said the main demands of the association will be discussed.

MOGA
WHEAT PROCUREMENT: The Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kanwalbir Singh Sidhu, on Monday called upon the procurement agencies to make arrangements for the smooth procurement of wheat so that farmers do not face any problems. They asked the agencies to operate on Sundays also.

APPOINTED: Jaswinder Singh, former president of the Youth Akali Dal of the Sarv Hind Shiromani Akali Dal of Moga district was on Monday elected president of the party of Faridkot, Moga, Ferozepore and Muktsar districts.

PATIALA
WELFARE ASSOCIATION: Mr N.D. Goel has been elected as the President of the Ratan Nagar Welfare Association during a meeting held here on Monday. The other office-bearers are Senior Vice-President — Mr D.P. Goel; General Secretary — Mr Rakesh Malhotra; Joint Secretary — Mr J.S. Guleria; and Organising Secretary — Mr Tarsem Lal.

DISTRIBUTED: Books, school uniforms and stationery were distributed by Helping Hands, a social organisation, amongst 50 students of the Sun Flower Complex during a function held here. Mr Arvind Ghai, a member of the organisation, announced an award of Rs 500 for that student who secured the maximum marks while another cash incentive of Rs 1,000 was announced by Mr N.S.Narula, another member, for college students. Mr Sushil Gupta of the Helping Hands society has decided to organise a free medical check-up camp in the near future. Elections were also held after the function where new appointments were made. Mr Vijay Gupta was elected as the President of the society while Mr Jatinder S Narula was elected the General Secretary.

ELECTED: Prof M.S. Dhillon from PNM College, Rajpura, was elected as the District President of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union at a meeting of the District Council of the union held at Khalsa College here on Monday. The other members elected on the occasion were Prof Jaswant Singh from Khalsa College, Patiala, has been elected as the Secretary while Dr Harcharan Singh from Modi College, Patiala, has been elected as the Press Secretary.

DHOBI MAHA SABHA: Mr Jagdish Kumar Rajoria was elected as the President of the Dhobi Maha Sabha at a meeting held here on Monday. The other office-bearers are:Senior Vice-President — Mr Kishori Lal Chauhan; General Secretary — Mr Rajesh Kumar Mandora; Vice-Presidents — Mr Dalip Kumar, Mr Bhagwan Dass, Mr Gopal Mandora and Mr Moti Ram Bageria.

PHAGWARA
SEX DETERMINATION: The Punjab unit of the Indian Medical Association, on Monday called upon the medical fraternity to refrain from pre-natal diagnostic tests for sex determination leading to female foeticide. Dr Raman Aggarwal, Chairman, College of General Practitioners, an academic wing of the IMA, Punjab, also pleaded with the fraternity to strictly observe the provisions of the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994, which was enacted to guard against sex determination done with the aim of eliminating the girl child.

PHILLAUR
COMMISSION DEMANDED: The Shri Brahmin Paratinidhi Sabha, Punjab, has demanded the institution of non-SC/ST commission in the state. President Joginder Modi on Sunday urged the state government to implement the Janjua Commission report in all departments and abolish reservations in all categories. According to him the sabha would celebrate birthday of Lord Parshuram on May 6 at Shri Devi Talab, Jalandhar.

MERGER HAILED: The vice-president of the Punjab unit of the Shiv Sena, Mr Pawan Parbhakar and the president of the Phagwara unit, Mr Inderjit Karwal, have welcomed the merger of the BJP Democratic Front, led by former Punjab BJP general secretary Jugmohan Kaura, in the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray). They urged the government to take stern action against Wassan Singh Zaffarwal.

BRAHMIN SABHA’S PLEA: The Shri Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha have demanded the institution of a non-SC/ST commission in the state. Sabha’s President Joginder Modi on Monday urged the government to implement the Janjua Commission report in all departments of the state and said reservations in all categories should be abolished.

MERGER WELCOMED: The Shiv Sena Punjab unit vice-president Pawan Parbhakar and Phagwara unit president Inderjit Karwal have welcomed the merger of the BJP Democratic Front led by former Punjab BJP general secretary Jugmohan Kaura, with Shiv Sena, (Bal Thackerey). At a meeting here on Monday they urged the government to take stern action against hardcore terrorist Wasan Singh Zaffarwal.

SAHNEWAL
DOWRY CASE: The Sahnewal police has registered a case of dowry harassment under Sections 498-A and 406 of the IPC on the complaint of the Sunita Sharma of Dhandhari Kalan who was married to Sarbjit Singh of Bhairomunna village in 1995. The complainant has alleged that since her marriage she is being harassed, both physically and mentally, by her-in-laws. A case has been registered against her husband and in-laws.

MAN DUPED: Mr Gurdeep Singh, son of Avtar Singh of Miani village, has alleged that Nirmal Singh, Gian Singh , Mukhtiar Singh, Pindi and Saima have duped him of the property which was to be registered in his name. An amount was paid to Ajmer Singh, whose 18 kanal and 13 marlas of property was to be registered in the name of Gurdeep Singh, but the above named persons got the property registered in the name of Paramjit Kaur wife of Nirmal Singh, one of the alleged accused. Gurdeep Singh also alleged that they assaulted him while he was cutting sugarcane in his fields. A case has been registered.

SANGRUR
PROTEST MARCH: Members of the local Rehri Union on Monday observed a complete strike and took out a march through the town protesting against the forcible removal of their rehris in the Dhuri Gate area by the local municipal council authorities and the police, a few days ago.

CHANDIGARH

SAS NAGAR
WORKSHOP: The Sohana Chemist Association organised a workshop on drug abuse here on Monday. Addressing the participants, Mr Amit Duggal, District Drug Inspector, said the chemists had to play an important role in checking the drug abuse. Mr Harish Sethi and Mr Harpreet Singh Bhatia, President and General Secretary, respectively, of the Ropar District Chemist Association also spoke on the occasion.

HARYANA

HISAR
KILLED: One person was killed when the tractor, on which he was travelling, overturned near Sorkhi village on Saturday. He was identified as Mahender Singh of the same village.

ROHTAK
YOUTH COMMITS SUICIDE: Unable to bear separation from his wife a youth committed suicide by consuming poison at Bhali village on Saturday. He had been identified as Ishwar Singh. His wife had deserted him nearly two weeks ago alleging harassment at the hands of her in-laws. A case of harassment for dowry had been registered against the in-laws.

PRINCIPALS’ PLEA: The Principals’ Association of the Non-Government College of Haryana has expressed its concern over the decision to close plus one and plus two classes from the colleges from this session. Dr Ramesh Kumar, general secretary of the association said here on Monday that if the decision was implemented it will affect many rural and women colleges students since plus two classes are not available in all rural areas. The association at a general body meeting held on Saturday decided to request the state government to give some time for the change over of plus two classes from colleges to schools.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

JAISINGHPUR
ZP MEMBER’S CHARGE: Mr Jaswant Singh Rana, Member, Zila Parishad Jaisinghpur ward, has charged the Himachal Government with not honouring the spirit of Parthanmantri Gramin Sarak Yojna announced by Prime Minister on his birthday last year. In a press note issued here on Monday, he alleged that representatives of panchayat, block and zila parishad were being ignored while selecting roads to be taken up under the yojna.

UNA
MEDICAL CAMP: The Lions Club, Mehatpur, will organise a free heart check up camp at Service Club Industrial area, Mehatpur on April 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in which heart specialist would conduct check up and ECG, free of cost, according to a press note issued here on Monday.