The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, May 11, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
RECRUITMENT RALLY: The Army will organise a recruitment rally for soldiers’ general duty for Mazabi and Ramdasia Sikhs from all districts of Punjab from May 22 at the military camping ground, Rayya.

BATHINDA
INAUGURATED: Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated the first computerised centre at the sub tehsil office, Nathana, on Wednesday. He said the task of computerisation of the offices at the sub tehsil-level in the district would be completed soon.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
PROCUREMENT: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Vikas Partap, said here on Thursday that the different government agencies had procured 2.60 lakh mt wheat in the district till Tuesday. He said the FCI procured 87286 mt, the Food and Supply Department 23390; the PUNSUP 31354; Markfed 58791; the Ware Housing Corporation 27860; and the Punjab Agro 30307 mt in the district. While private traders purchased 142 mt only.

FAZILKA
DEAD: Devi Lal (45), a resident of Hiranwali village, 11 km from here, died after taking a poisonous substance at the local Civil Hospital on Wednesday. He is survived by three children.

GURDASPUR
DISTRIBUTED: Under the dental health education programme, the local units of the Indian Dental Association distributed 400 packs containing tooth brushes and tooth pastes, free of cost, among students of SD Senior Secondary School for Girls here on Wednesday.

TB HOSPITAL: The TB Hospital of Babri, which had been closed by the joint decision of the Health Minister and the Director, Health Services, has been revived. A grant of Rs 5 lakh has been sanctioned for the repair of the hospital.

HOSHIARPUR
CHAIN SNATCHING: A youth riding a scooter snatched a gold chain from Ms Neeru Aggarwal, a resident of the local Mohalla Nai Abadi, near her house on Tuesday.

RAIDED: The Enforcement Directorate, Jalandhar, with the help of the district police, raided the house of Dev Raj Vinod Kumar Karyana Merchant at Kot Fathui and seized Rs 20.70 lakh. Mr Sanjeev Kalra, SSP, said here on Wednesday that the firm was suspected to be dealing in hawala transactions.

DEAD: Mr Bakshish Singh of Chhanga succumbed to his injuries at Dasuya Civil Hospital on Tuesday. He was going on his bicycle when Sukhwinder Singh of Pannole village, driving a motor cycle, hit him. The police has registered a case.

DEMOLITION CONDEMNED: A deputation of BSP leaders of Punjab headed by Dr D.P. Khosla, vice-president, and Mr Hargopal Singh, secretary, of the state unit of the party, visited the scene near the Gaushala Bazar Bridge to review the recent demolition of Valmiki Temple by the district administration. In a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, they demanded the arrest of officers involved in the demolition.

KHARAR
SDM WARNS ENCROACHERS: Mr Devinder Singh, SDM, Kharar, has asked all traders and other persons, who have made temporary and or permanent encroachments on Landran Road, Badala Road, Old Morinda Road and in the markets to remove them immediately, or the same would be removed by the administration. While talking to this correspondent on Thursday, he said that these encroachments were responsible for road accidents, besides creating problems for the general public.

VILLAGERS DEMAND: Although Gurdeep Singh, sarpanch of Gharuan village having a population of many thousand persons, passed away about five months ago, but till date neither has a new sarpanch been elected nor has any other panch been given powers of the sarpanch by the administration. Giving this information here on Thursday, Mr Kamlesh Sharma ex-sarpanch of the village and others said that the villagers were facing a lot of problems as their forms were not being attested by anyone else. They have demanded action in this regard by the administration.

LUDHIANA
BEAUTY CONTEST: Charu, Sangeeta and Vandana Choudhry were declared ‘Summer Queens’, while Roopika, Suman and Sudesh Arora were adjudged runners-up in the over 25, below 45 and above 45 years age group, respectively, in the ‘Summer Queen’ contest organised by the Triveni Ladies Club, here on Thursday. Nearly 16 club members participated in the contest. The judges — Dr Madhu Bassi and Ms Sonia — had a tough time while giving the judgement.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Sahitya Sadan: president — Mr Rajesh Sharma; and secretaries — Mr Sunil Sharma and Mr Ashok Jain.

SHSYAD MEETING: The SAD, legislator, Mr Hira Singh Gabria, has exhorted the youth to play a constructive and meaningful role in the present political scenario. Addressing a meeting of Sarb Hind Shiromani Youth Akali Dal workers at the residence of party secretary general Sukhwinderpal Singh Garcha, he called upon the workers to propagate the programmes and policies among the people in order to mobilise support for the coming elections in Punjab. Stressing the importance of youth in carving out a just and equitable society and fighting against the social evils, Mr Gabria observed that the younger generation should take upon itself to cleanse the political system and to safeguard the rights of weaker sections and other neglected sections of society. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Garcha said the party had launched a ‘mass contact’ programme from mohalla level to district level. Meetings and rallies will be organised under the programme to propagate the policies of the party and senior leaders, including legislators concerned, would participate in the meetings. Others who addressed the meeting were Mr Jasbir Singh Dhillon, general secretary, Youth Akali Dal, Mr Sohan Singh Goga, District (Urban) president, Mr Rajinder Singh Sandhu, District (Rural) president and Mr Sukhwant Singh Chak Kalan.

SCHOOL FUNCTION: Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, general secretary of the youth wing of the SAD (Badal), has stressed the need for spreading the education in rural areas. He emphasised the role of the private sector in this regard and hailed the setting up of private educational institutions in rural areas. Speaking at the annual day function of Jyoti Public School at Gadhapur village, near here, Mr Dhillon pointed out the importance of education in progress and development of the country. He said, besides the formal education, the students need to be imparted with moral education as well. The Akali leader distributed prizes among meritorious and outstanding students. In her welcome address, the Principal of the school, Mrs Raj Rani, listed various achievements of the students. She assured that the management of the school was committed to provide education to the rural students at reasonable cost. Others present on the occasion included the village sarpanch, Mr Mohan Lal, Mr Ajit Singh Batra, Mr Inderpreet Singh Bhattal and others.

MANSA
ADMITTED: Mrs Nirmla Devi (32), a housewife, was admitted to the local Civil Hospital with 100 per cent burn injuries. The cause of the burn injuries has not been disclosed.

NAWANSHAHR
SEMINAR: The Democratic Teachers Front will organise a seminar on “The 73rd Constitutional Amendment and its impact on employees” at Universal College, Garhshankar, about 12 km from here, on May 12.

KAVI DARBAR: The local Begampuri Musical Group organised a kavi darbar at Begampur village here on Wednesday. Mr Gurpal Singh Bhatti, ADC (Development) presided. Poets and social workers were honoured.

STONE LAID: Mr Jatinder Singh Kariha, the local MLA, laid the foundation stone of a dharamshala at Hargobindnagar. He assured the villagers that Rs 2 lakh would be given for carrying out the construction work.

NAVJOT SANSTHA: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Navjot Sahitaya Sanstha: president — Mr Satpal Sahlon; general secretary — Mr Chaman Lal; senior vice-president — Mr Sodhi Ram; vice-president — Mr Makhan Kranti; secretary — Mr Chet Ram Rattan; and treasurer — Mr Makhan Bakhlaur.

ROPAR
COMPUTERISED: Government offices in the district have been equipped with computers. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G.S. Grewal, informed this while talking to newsmen here on Tuesday.

SAMRALA
POWER SHORTAGE: The gram panchayat of Dhindsa village, 5 km from here, has deposited the amount for 24 hours regular supply of electricity, but villagers are annoyed with officials of PSEB for cuts. Villagers tried to meet the local XEN at Ghulal but he was away on duty. The villagers said one of the transformers of the village is defective and the officials are asking for money to repair it.

INAUGURATED: Bishop Joel V. Mal of CNI, Chandigarh, inaugurated a clinical laboratory here on Thursday, according to Mr J. William, owner of the laboratory.

GRANTS DISTRIBUTED: A sum of Rs 90 lakh has been given to 25 villages falling in the Samrala constituency, according to Jathedar Kirpal Singh Khirnian, a member of the SGPC, here on Thursday. He said Mr Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister, has distributed Rs 90 lakh among 25 villages for the various development projects of the villages and these grants were given during sangat darshan at Faraur village. He said till now Rs 1.90 crore has been distributed in this constituency.

HARYANA

AMBALA
MAN ROBBED AT GUNPOINT: A man was robbed at gunpoint in a Naraingarh village by four youths. The incident took place when the man was accosted by the youths, who forcibly took away the cash he was carrying. The same youths are also suspected to have tried to forcibly take away two two-wheelers. The scooterists, put up stiff resistance and in the ensuing melee, one of the scooterist sustained minor injuries. The youths then escaped.

BODY RECOVERED: The decomposed body of a labourer, living in Dudhla Mandi, was found on Wednesday night. The labourer, Haribhajan, had been missing for the past two days. He was last seen at a religious function on that night.

MICROSCOPE MODEL: A microscope model, which had been installed at the GT Road, to highlight the scientific instruments industry of Ambala is today gathering dust. Different scientific instruments associations, through a joint statement, have expressed concern over the non-installation of the microscope, 5-feet high and made of metal. Earlier, the microscope model had been installed at the entry gate of Ambala Cantt on GT Road, opposite the Railway Station. Later on this microscope model was removed by the district police authorities and installed at the police park on GT Road. When the four-laning project was sanctioned, the microscope model was removed by the PWD authorities and kept in a store near the fire station located on Jagadhari road, the release said. The Ambala instruments industry has sought the installation of the model at a suitable place, preferably at Indira Chowk.

FUNCTION: Mother’s Day was celebrated at Convent of Sacred Heart on Wednesday. A function was held, following which, Mrs Bhale was adjudged as Mrs Convent of Sacred Heart. Among others, Ms Gyan Prakash, Ms Rakhee Prakash and principal, Ms Luckhwinder Arora were present, a release said.

VALMIKI MAHASABHA: The annual sammelan of Haryana Valmiki Mahasabha, Mullana, would be held at Barara village valmiki Dharamshala on May 13 at 10 am. A release said that Haryana Minister, Mr Risal Singh, will be the chief guest. Issues concerning the Valmikis will be discussed in the sammelan and a memorandum will be submitted.

BHIWANI
LOOT BID: On a tip-off, the CIA staff and the local police in a joint operation, foiled a bid to loot a petrol station and arrested Satish of Hanuman Dhani and Rampal of Haluwas Gate here on Tuesday. The police seized a .315 bore countrymade pistol and an iron rod from them. Two of the miscreants escaped. A case has been registered under Sections 399/402 of the IPC.

ALLEGED: Residents of the city have alleged the withdrawal of the local bus service introduced by the authorities eight months ago. But the depot in-charge has denied the allegation, saying that the buses are plying on schedule.

SIRSA
STD SERVICE: STD services in the district were disrupted after these were disconnected by the authorities on Tuesday. PCO owners and subscribers have resented the recurrent collapse of the STD services.

DONATED: Residents of Ward 13 in the district have donated a piece of land for installing a tubewell to overcome the problem of acute water shortage.

SONEPAT
PROCUREMENT: The buying of wheat at the support price by officials of procurement agencies restarted on Thursday. It had been stopped for two days.

ARRESTED: The police arrested two person, Ved Parkash and Surinder of Shahpur Turk village, and seized a gun and three live catridges from them on Thursday. A case under the Indian Arms Act has been registered against them.

SEIZED: The Superintendent of Police, Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat told mediapersons here on Thursday that the police had seized 192 quarters of English wine and 600 pouches of liquor from a Jeep and arrested Bijender of Ishapur of Delhi and Sanjay of Khewra village. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against them.

APPOINTED: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has appointed Mr R. K. Hooda as the General Manager, (Telephone), of the district.