The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, May 25, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

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

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
CONDEMNED: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) has condemned the raids allegedly conducted by the Punjab police on Tuesday on the residence of Maghar Singh, a farmer of Ghanduke village in the district. In a press note issued here on Thursday, Mr Jhanda Singh Jethuka, president of the union, said a police party led by Mr Amrit Pal, SHO, conducted the raids.

STRIKE: Activists of the FCI and Punjab Food Agencies Palledar Union of Maur Mandi have decided to end their 11-day-old strike as the FCI and the Punjab Food Agencies has agreed to make the payments of palledars. This was stated in a press note here on Thursday by Mr Zora Singh Nasrali, state secretary of the union.

HOSHIARPUR
THREE SENTENCED: Mr A.S. Narula, Additional District and Sessions Judge, on Wednesday sentenced Kamaljit of Bhaura, Salim of Boora and Sohan Lal of Johami, to 10 year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh each for smuggling poppy husk under the NDPS Act. According to the police, 612 kg of poppy husk was seized from them on May 14, 1999.

LICENCES SUSPENDED: Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, said here on Wednesday that licences of 11 commission agents of foodgrain of in the district had been suspended due to irregularities.

CASE REGISTERED: On a complaint of Simranjit Kaur, the police registered a case against her husband, Sukhjinder Singh, a resident of Kanwanwali, under Sections 498A and 506, of the IPC on Tuesday. She had alleged that her husband was harassing her to arrange Rs 2 lakh for sending him abroad.

DEAD: Narinder Kaur (24), daughter of Thakur Singh of Sajna village, died in the Civil Hospital here on Tuesday. She had consumed some medicines after their date of expiry.

SODOMY: On a complaint of Mandip Singh (14), a resident of Akalgarh, the police registered a case under Sections 377, 342 and 506 of the IPC against Gurbinder Singh, alias Natha, and Charan Singh of the same village for allegedly sodomising him at their residence on Tuesday.

ARRESTED: The police on Tuesday arrested Gurdev Kaur, Managing Director of a finance company, her husband, Jaswant Singh, and Jatinder Saini, Director, under Sections 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC for failing to make payments to their investors. The case was registered on a complaint of Kalwinder Singh of Kakon village.

VHP RECRUITMENT: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad will recruit 10,000 preachers, according to a press note issued by Mr Om Parkash Shastri, president of the local unit of VHP, on Tuesday. A three-day training camp of the Punjab State Durgavahini and Mahila Wing of the VHP will begin on June 13.

JAGRAON
BOOKED: Gurnam Singh, Branch Manager of Ludhiana Central Cooperative Bank Limited, Kamalpura, has been booked for committing fraud with the account holders of the bank during his tenure at Sawadi Khas in the year 1991 to 1993. A case under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 of the IPC has been registered against him at police station Sidhwan Bet. As per the FIR, Mr Jaspal Singh, Branch Manager in the year 1999-2000, found out that Gurnam Singh had committed a fraud of Rs 92,500 with various account holders pertaining to their term loans. The allegations were found to be true after an inquiry was conducted by Mr Narinder Kumar, Deputy Manager of the bank.

LAWYERS' STRIKE: Members of the Bar Association of the city convened a meeting and decided to strike work on Thursday in support of the lawyers community. A seven-member delegation of the bar has left for Sangrur where a state-level meeting of the district level presidents and secretaries of different Bar Associations would be held to decide the future course of action.

KHAMANO
SCHOOL UPGRADED: The Punjab Government under the leadership of Mr Parkash Singh Badal is making all efforts to give best education to children in villages. The schools are being upgraded to save the time of students, who had to go to distant places for higher education” said Mr Bachan Singh Cheema MLA, Khanna, while speaking at a function held on the occasion of upgradation of Goslan Government High School for Girls. He also said staff for the school would be available within a few days. He also assured the people on this occasion that Goslan-Khanna road via Manupur Goh, Harion, Lelheri would be repaired soon. A cultural programme was also presented on the occasion by students of the school.

CHEQUES HANDED OVER: Four cheques for Rs 5100 each under the shagun scheme were given to needy persons of Bhutta and Barwal villages by SGPC member Jathedar Kirpal Singh Khirnia at the office of Akali Dal (B), Khamano. About 20 cards of old age pensions were also given to needy person of nearby villages.

TWO HURT: Two persons were injured when their vehicle was hit by a truck near Sanghol, near here. According to reports legs of the driver of the vehicle Makhan Singh, and another person Kuldip Singh were fractured in the collision. Khamano police has registered a case against truck driver Harminder Singh.

LUDHIANA
FACTORY RAIDED: A factory near Gill Chowk manufacturing cattle feed using paddy husk was raided in a joint operation by local CIA staff and the Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab, Mr Devi Dass, on Wednesday. According to sources, the raiding party detained the owner of the factory and the cashier employed there after the feed being manufactured in the unit was allegedly found to be ‘spurious’. However, a CIA staff official said Mr Dass had taken samples and the exact details would be available after the tests were conducted in a lab. Detained men were subsequently released. Further action would be taken after the receipt of the report.

NAWANSHAHR
FLOOD CONTROL: Deputy Commissioner Jagjit Singh, along with other officials, toured a 51-km stretch of the dhussi bundh, along the Sutlej in the district to identify vulnerable spots, to tackle floods. A sum of Rs 90 lakh has been earmarked for strengthening the dhussi bundh. This was stated in a press note here on Wednesday.

PATHANKOT
COLLISION: Eleven pilgrims from Vaishno Devi on way to Amritsar were injured near Jakolahri village when the Tata Sumo they were travelling in collided with a truck on Tuesday. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. The police has registered a case.

PHAGWARA
FATAL FALL: An 11-year-old boy, Ranjan, a resident of Khalwara Gate, died when he fell from a wall here on Wednesday.

200 CHALLANED: Over 200 persons have been challaned in the town during the past two days for various traffic violations. This was stated by Mr Sucha Singh, the new traffic in charge, Phagwara, here on Thursday.

WORKSHOP HELD: The Child Protection Council, Phagwara, organised a workshop on child abuse and children’s rights at the local Kamla Nehru College for Women, according to a press note issued here on Thursday. Ms Kusum Verma, college Principal, inaugurated the workshop. Mr Parveen Sinha, Deputy Director, Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, presided.

SAMRALA
CONTEST: A paper reading contest was organised in the local Government Girls Senior Secondary School on Wednesday. Mr C.S. Sohal, Additional Superintending Engineer, PSEB, Khanna, was the chief guest. The topic was: “How to save electricity?” Students from different schools participated. Mr Bachittar Singh Barn, Principal of the school, welcomed the chief guest. Neeru Chaman of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Samrala, got the first prize; Naindeep Sharma of GHS, Ottalan, got the second prize; and Simar Preet Kaur of Nanakana Sahib Public School, Samrala, stood third in the competition. On this occasion, Mr Tarlochan Singh, Assistant Director, Energy Conservation, PSEB, Patiala, explained the various methods to save electricity, while Mr Sohal gave away prizes and certificates to winners.

WELFARE CLUB: The local Five Star Welfare Club has decided to honour Tarlochan Singh and Narinder Manku, both artistes, on Saturday, according to Mr Arinder Kumar Vashishat, director of the club. The SDM will be the chief guest.

CELEBRATED: The birthday of Bhagat Dhanna Jatt was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Sanghe village, 13 km from here, on Tuesday. After the bhog, langar was served.

MARTYRDOM DAY: To observe the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev, all arrangements at Sant Ashram, Ghulal, 5 km from here, have been completed, according to Sant Kuldeep Singh. He said on Friday after bhog, a shobha yatra would be taken out.

OFFICE SHIFTED: Keeping in view the visit of a World Bank team to inspect 150 hospitals falls under the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, the office of the SMO was shifted to a new building on Tuesday. According to sources, the team will visit Punjab on May 28.

CHANDIGARH

MARTYRDOM DAY: The Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, will be the chief guest at the Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s Martyrdom Day function to be organised by Gurdwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev in Sector 40 here on Saturday in the memory of the fifth guru of the Sikhs. The Governor will also listen to the katha and bhajan kirtan performed by well-known ragis, Giani Harbhajan Singh Roparwala, Bhai Managat Singh Kanpurwala, Bhai Joginder Singh of Chandigarh and Bhai Manpreet Singh Kanpurwala at the function. Langar will also be organised.

PUNJABI LANGUAGE DAY: The Haryana Panjabi Sahitya Akademi, Panchkula, will observe “Punjabi Language Day” on May 29. The Director of the Akademi, Major A.S. Shergill (retd), said a function to mark the occasion would be held at S.A. Jain College, Ambala city. The Minister of State for Education, Mr Bahadur Singh, would be the chief guest on this occasion. Mr Pawan Diwan Sahni, MLA from Naraingarh, would preside over the function and Mr Kirti Parshad Jain, former President Municipal Committee, Ambala city, would be the guest of honour. He said in the morning seminar, papers would be read by Dr Sukhdev Singh, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Mr Ishar Singh Taang, Patiala, Dr Pawan Sameer, Kurukshetra University and Dr Surinder Komal, Kamal and in the afternoon session, a kavi darbar and cultural programme would be held.

PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION: The Government Pensioners Association has expressed its gratitude to the Punjab Government for announcing the old age allowance to the pensioners at the age group of 65 and 75 years instead of 70 and 80 years, respectively. The association urged the Punjab Finance Minister to issue the notification in this regard at the earliest. This was stated by Mr Yash Paul Ghai, Additional General Secretary of the association. Meanwhile, the Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress (I) has urged the Punjab Government to immediately implement pension-cum-gratuity scheme for the college teachers also. The Mahila Congress welcomed the notification regarding granting of advance increments to teachers with M.Phil and Ph.D qualifications of non-government aided colleges of Punjab, a press note issued by Ms Jaswant Ghai, Convenor, Teachers Cell of the Mahila Congress, said.

HARYANA

AMBALA
WELFARE ASSOCIATION: The Defence Enclave Welfare Association has been running from pillar to post to ensure that the only playground in the area does not submerge in waste water. Their efforts are yet to bear any fruit. The President of the association, Mr Tirath Ram, said all the assurances given by the authorities concerned and the political leaders have turned out to be hollow. “We had shown the affected area to Ambala MP Ratan Lal Kataria and also discussed the problem with MLA Jasbir Mallour during the course of the visit to Boh. Both have understood the gravity of the problem but the problem still remains,” he said. Mr Kataria said he was aware of the problem. “I have already taken up the matter with the authorities concerned. As a matter of fact there were some more issues which have been taken up by me,” he said. Mr Triath Ram said the Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R) had also inspected the site and was of the view that the problem needs an immediate culvert on the Boh road to streamline the flow of waste water of the houses to a nullah, which is flowing closeby.

DEAD: The famous Jain Sadhvi Swarnkanta ji Maharaj left for his heavenly abode around 1 a.m. here on Thursday. The funeral procession of the sadhvi will start from Mahavir Jain Bhavan, Ambala City, on Friday at 10.30 a.m. Sadhvi ji had been sick for the last two years and she had not been taking any food or liquid for the last ten days. Hundreds of people from Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh have been reaching Ambala to pay their homage to the departed soul. She will be cremated on the PKR Jain School campus.

AWAS YOJNA: Ambala district got first position in Haryana for implementing the 20-point programme in the district in decent way. The Deputy Commissioner Ambala, Mr D.D. Gautam, said the district had achieved 100 per cent target in this field. He said under self employment scheme Rs 215.29 lakh were distributed in the district similarly 710 houses were constructed for the weaker sections under the Indira Awas Yojna.

SEMINAR: A three-day seminar sponsored by the SCRT, Haryana, started in GRSD Senior Secondary School here on Thursday. The seminar was inaugurated by Mr Shanker Kashyap, a local principal. The delegates participated in the seminar discussed the introduction of English subject from primary classes in the state.

BHIWANI
KILLED: Jaiveer, sarpanch of Ladawas village, was beaten to death by some miscreants here on the premises of the Civil Hospital on Tuesday. The assailants also beat up a policeman on duty when he tried to stop them. The police has registered a case.

EX-SERVICEMEN: The Haryana Ex-services League has launched a drive to form village-level committees of ex-servicemen in the district. The vice-president of the league, Colonel Brahmanand (retd), said here on Wednesday that Bhiwani was among the first 10 districts in the country in respect of the number of ex-servicemen and serving personnel and that the league was demanding quick redress of grievances of ex-servicemen and also various facilities like loans, government jobs, etc for their dependants.

BEATEN: Over 12 persons beat up a Jeep driver, Krishan, son of Roop Chand of Leghan village, at Bidhnoi village. Krishan alleged that the assailants had previously had a brawl with the conductor of the Jeep and on Wednesday beat him up in retaliation.

FATEHABAD
POPPY HUSK SEIZED: The district police on Thursday seized 205 kg of poppy husk from a truck and arrested three persons in this connection. Stating this, the SP, Mr Hanif Qureshi, said the police stopped the truck near Gorakhpur village in the district and found 5 bags of poppy husk in it. Gurpreet Singh, Sohan Singh, son of Nok Singh, and Sohan Singh, son of Mohan Singh, all residents of Bareta village in Punjab were arrested. In another case, the police arrested Kala Singh of Dhani Lamba village and seized a working still and 100 kg of lahan from his possession.

JIND
GODOWN RAIDED: The Tehsildar, along with the Quality Control Inspector and officials of the Agriculture Department, conducted a raid on the godown of a fertiliser dealer at Narwana on Tuesday. They seized 385 bags of alleged spurious zinc sulphate fertiliser. Samples of the seized chemical have been sent to a laboratory for test.

BANNED: Mr Hawa Singh Dhankhar, District Magistrate, on Wednesday banned the sale of uncovered sweets, over-ripe fruits and cut-fruits, in the district. He also banned the manufacture of ice with contaminated water. The orders would remain in force till the end of the year.

KURUKSHETRA
PROJECTS SANCTIONED: The Haryana State Flood Control Board has sanctioned two flood-relief projects worth Rs 38.46 lakh. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Abhilaksh Likhi, said on Tuesday that a water-drainage project, worth Rs 23.60 lakh near Bhadra Kaali Mandir and a similar project costing Rs 14.86 lakh at Shahabad Markanda, had been sanctioned.

NARNAUL
SUICIDE: Pawan Kumar (25), a barber, working at the bus stand of Gheli village, reportedly died after consuming celphos tablets. He was rushed to the local Civil Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

REWARI
APPOINTED: Mr Chandkiran Yadav, a former President of the Haryana Yuva Janata Dal, has been appointed national Vice-President of the Yuva Janata Dal (United) by its national President, Mr Avinash Kakde.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Gurgaon Gramin Bank Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe Employees and Officers Organisation: president — Mr Krishan Kumar Jatav; vice presidents — Mr Kailash Chand Jiloha and Mr Jaipal; and general secretary — Mr Rajendra Singh Narwal.

SONEPAT
ELECTROCUTED: Ajay Malik a 24-year-old worker, was electrocuted at a factory in Dhaturi village, 12 km from here, on Wednesday.

MURDER: Jagbir, a truck driver, was allegedly murdered by the cleaner of the truck with sharp-edged weapons near Butana village, about 45 km from here, on Wednesday. The police has registered a case.

KILLER REMANDED: Mani Ram, involved in a double murder case was produced before a Judicial Magistrate here on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody till the next date of hearing. Mani Ram had allegedly murdered his wife and son on Tuesday near Rattan Garh village on the Sonepat-Gohana road.

BODY FOUND: The Government Railway Police recovered the body of a youth on the railway track between Sonepat and Rathdhanna railway stations near Jagdishpur village, 7 km from here, on Wednesday. The youth reportedly fell from a running train and was killed on the spot.

MURDER: Mani Ram, a native of Madhya Pradesh, killed his wife, Daropadi (24) and son, Gajender (3), with a sharp-edged weapon on the Sonepat-Gohana road, near Rattan Garh village, about 10 km from here on Tuesday. Later, he tried to commit suicide but was apprehended by the passers-by. The police has registered a case.

PROCESSION: Several hundred brick-kiln workers took out a procession here on Tuesday in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands by the owners of brick-kilns in the district. The procession was led by Mr Ram Diya Ratewal, president of the district unit of the Brick-kiln Mazdoor Vikas Manch. The workers alleged violation of the labour laws and the Minimum Wages Act by the kiln owners.

YAMUNANAGAR
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Jan Kalyan Parishad, Jagadhari: patron — Mr Shanti Swarup Gupta; president — Mr Jai Bhagwan Garg; vice-presidents — Mr Parmod Kumar and Mr Satpal Manchanda; secretary — Mr Jai Parkash Gupta; joint secretary — Mr Anil Kumar; and treasurer — Mr Lal Chand Bansal.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
AWARENESS WORKSHOP: ‘‘Chetna’’ a social organisation, organised a ‘‘mahila jagrukta karyashala’’ at Bhaged, 13 km from here, on Wednesday. It was presided by the chairman of the Himachal State Social Welfare Board, Ms Indu Goswami. More than 200 women leaders from Harlog, Auhar, Amarpur, Fatoh, Chandpur, Talyana, Kuhmajhwaad and Chalehli gram panchayats participated.

OFFICE-BEARERS: Ms Vidya Devi Thakur, president, BJP Mahila Morcha, Kot Kehloor unit, here on Thursday announced the following office-bearers of the unit: Ms Santosh Devi, Ms Savitri Devi, Ms Sunita Devi — vice-presidents; Ms Prem Sharma — general secretary; Ms Kamlesh Sharma, Ms Sudarshna Devi, Ms Sheela Devi — secretaries; Ms Banti Devi Sood — treasurer; and Ms Rita Devi — press secretary.

NAHAN
TRAINING CAMP: A seven-day training camp for newly elected presidents and vice-presidents of panchayats commenced here on Wednesday. As many as 42 elected representatives from 21 panchayats of the Paonta area are participating in the camp. The Deputy Commissioner of Sirmaur, Mr Rakesh Kaushal, briefed the representatives on the occasion.

NURPUR
POLICE RAID: The police raided a private hotel near Sadwan on Tuesday night and nabbed a couple on suspicion of immoral activities. The gram panchayat, Sadwan, passed a resolution condemning the hotel owners for such incidents.

PAONTA SAHIB
MEETING CONCLUDES: A state-level meeting of Akali Dal office-bearers and Sikh leaders of Himachal Pradesh concluded at the Paonta Sahib gurdwara on Tuesday. According to a press note of the Himachal Akali Dal, the leaders demanded that the local Surindera Club be shifted from its present location and its land be allotted to the gurdwara.

SHIMLA
ANNUAL FUNCTION: The local Kendriya Vidyalaya organised its annual function here on Wednesday. As many as 18 items, including bhangra, giddha and group songs, were presented by students. Mr S. Ray, Secretary Education, was the chief guest.

ANTI-RABIES CAMP: Mr P.C. Katoch, Deputy Commissioner, on Wednesday said the local unit of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would organise a special camp for anti-rabies vaccination of dogs on June 10 here. He urged the people to bring their dogs and also stray dogs at the camp from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.