The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, May 31, 2001, Chandigarh, India

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PUNJAB

BARNALA
COURSE CONCLUDES: The 21-day-long in-service education course for primary teachers of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Chandigarh region, hosted by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Air Force Station concluded here on Wednesday. Mrs Nisha Sarad, Principal, Government Ranbir College, Sangrur, who was the chief guest, presented course certificates to the participants.

BATHINDA
OFFICE-BEARERS: A local resident, Mr Zaberjung Singh Sidhu has been unanimously elected president of the All-India LPG Distributors of the north-west region. The body comprises all oil companies of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir.

WELFARE ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Civil Lines Residents’ Welfare Association: patron — Brig Bant Singh (retd); president — Mr Mohinder Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Nand Lal Garg; general secretary — Mr Adarsh Pal Gupta; and treasurer — Mr Janak Raj Aggarwal.

EYE CAMP: The local Divine Eye Research Foundation (DREF) organised a fee eye testing and eye donation awareness camp on Sunday in which 207 patients were examined. The information was given by Mr Rakesh Narula, president of the foundation, said in press note issued here on Wednesday.

EDUCATION PROGRAMME: Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, on Tuesday said the Central Government had sanctioned Rs 18 lakh for the education to all programme. For its smooth implementation the district had been divided into two parts and the ADC(D), Mr Vivek Aggarwal, and the ADC(G), Mr Ajaib Singh Bhatti, had been appointed in charge, he added.

DORAHA
GRANT: A grant of Rs 30 lakh was released by Jathedar Sadhu Singh Ghudani, MLA, Payal, for the reconstruction of link roads to various villages and also for the development work. A grant of Rs 8 lakh has been released for the construction of the link road between Begowal and Araichan, Rs 14 lakh for a road between Katari and Bilaspur Pull, Rs 2 lakh for road between Dhamot and Shamshpur and Rs 6 lakh for the grain market of Dhamot. At the meeting Mr Mohan Singh, general secretary, Market Committee, Doraha, informed that this year 18 per cent more grain has arrived in the market as compared to the past year. Mr Ghudani said the hard work put in by the farmers should be properly utilised and suitably rewarded.

ARRESTED: Maloud Chowki in charge ASI Lekh Ram has succeeded in arresting three persons of a gang of robbers allegedly involved in the robberies at Jogi Majra village, Gagarmajra and Harbanspura villages. This was declared by Mr R.N. Dhoke, SSP, Khanna, in a press release. The chowki in charge according to the SSP, had imposed a naka near Zhah village, when three persons were stopped on the way appearing to be doubtful in appearance and behaviour. Mr Dhoke further added that a 315 bore pistol, two gold rings, and ear rings, were recovered from their custody. The three later a admitted that they had stolen things from village Jogi Majra village on the intervening night of May 21 and 22. A case under Sections 457 and 380, IPC, has been registered against them. Mr Dhoke said they have also admitted that they were involved in the robberies in Gagarmajra and Harbanspura villages.

SAVED: The police first-aid post, Doraha, under the command of ASI Harbans Singh did a commendable job, on Tuesday evening, when it succeeded in rescuing the driver of the tractor on whom the trailer came upon after being hit by a Punjab Roadway bus, near Kanaich village. It all happened when a bus (Pb20-A9338) in the process of saving an old man on the cycle crossing the road tried to take a sudden turn thus turning a trailer upside on its tractor, thus stuffing the driver inside. Immediately the first-aid team of Doraha, asked for help in order to rescue the driver. According to ASI Harbans Singh, “It took three and a half hours to take out the man safe and sound notwithstanding the minor injuries received by him.

FEROZEPORE
BRIBE CASE: A vigilance team led by DSP Ramandeep Singh, caught Karam Singh, Patwari of Kot Sadar Khan in Moga district, while accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 from Hardeep Singh of Dholewala for providing a copy of mutation. In another case of graft, Yog Raj, a mechanic at the telephone exchange, Churava village, Moga, was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 350 from Lal Singh of Kapure village for repairing the latter’s telephone. A case has been registered.

DRUGS SEIZED: In separate incidents, the police has recovered 1 kg of opium and 8 gm of smack from three persons and arrested them in this connection. According to Mr Harchand Singh Sidhu, SSP, a drive has been launched against drug trafficking in the district and a number of cases under the NDPS Act have been registered in the past couple of weeks.

TRACED: The police has traced Ms Paramjit Kaur, who was missing for the past five months. The SSP, Ferozepore, said she was working as a maid in the house of Ms Vidwant Kaur of Jalandhar after changing her name to Charanjit Kaur. Ms Vidwant Kaur had informed the police after seeing Paramjit’s photo in the missing columns of a paper.

HOSHIARPUR
FUNCTION HELD: Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, while addressing a function organised by the District Small Saving Department to honour agents and government officials, here on Tuesday said Rs 2,858 crore had been deposited in small savings during 2000-2001 in the state.

CRITICISED: In a joint press note released here on Tuesday, Mr Amar Singh, president, Multi-Purpose Health Employees Union, Mr Lal Chand Dhanola, chairman, Paramedical and Health Employees Union, and Mr Surinder Ghai, co-convener, alleged that the Health Department in the state had been converted into a private company and that the national health programmes had been politicised.

LOK MANCH: The state unit of the Janata Dal (S) decided to form a Lok Manch in the state. Mr Raj Kumar Niddar, spokesman, in a press note said the decision was taken in a meeting of the state executive held here on Tuesday. He appealed to like-minded parties and social groups to unite under the banner of the Lok Manch.

KHAMANO
BLOCKADE: An indefinite blockade of the FCI gate by Shiv Shaktoi Rice Mill owner with trucks and tractor trailers entered second day on Wednesday against the alleged harassment at the hands of some FCI officers. According to rice mill owner Harpal Singh, about 170 wagons of rice are lying outside the godowns but the FCI officers were denying him the allotted space. He alleged that FCI officers were harassing him on the instances of another rice mill owner who has high political links. But the other rice mill owner when contacted, refuted the charges Mr Harpal Singh said he had brought this matter to the notice of DFSC, Fatehgarh Sahib, but nothing has been done so far.

LUDHIANA
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: Following members were elected as the members of the Genco Alumni Association, an association of the alumni of Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College: Bhagwant Singh Warrer — president; Mr A.S Chawla and Dr H.K. Grewal — vice-presidents; Mr B.S. Brar and Mr Kanwaljit Singh — Secretaries; Principal R.P. Singh — patron; Mr Jasminder S. Grewal — finance secretary; and Mr S.S. Mavi and Mr Bakhshish Singh — executive members.

BEOPAR MANDAL: The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal has demanded that the assessee whose turn over exceeds Rs 40 lakh should get their accounts audited from Chartered Accountants. Mr Tulsi Das Jaitwani, president PPBM in a press statement on Wednesday said the limit was not increased from the last 17 years. Government had increased various exemptions and limits but the amount of Rs 40 lakh had not been increased and as a result the accounts were not audited. Mr Jaitwani said amount should be increased to Rs 1.50 crore by the Central Government to provide relief to traders and industrialists. The PPBM also demanded that government should issue notification and instructions that no cess should be charged from exempted units. The units which were exempted from the levy of sales tax were not liable to pay additional tax but the cess was being demanded from dealers and manufacturers, which was totally unjustified.

INSPECTION: Mr Justice A. S. Gill, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, will conduct the annual inspection of Civil and Criminal (Judicial and Executive) courts of Ludhiana Sessions Division on Thursday and Friday. Giving details, Mr. S. S. Arora, District and Sessions Judge, in a press release issued here on Tuesday, informed that during his two-day visit, Mr Justice A.S. Gill would also have interaction with the members of the District Bar Association and litigant public to redress their problems and to bring about qualitative improvements in the working of the courts in the district. Justice Gill would also make inspections of the sub-divisional courts in the district. Mr. Arora said a befitting reception would be accorded to Mr Gill in the Circuit House here on his arrival by all the heads and other officers of the civil administration, police and the judiciary.

MEETING: At least 500 Congress workers from every rural area in the district and office-bearers of the District Congress Committee (Rural) will participate in the conference being organised by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President, Capt Amarinder Singh, at Jalandhar on June 3 to focus on the problems of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and other weaker sections. This was decided at a meeting of the DCC (Rural), held here under the presidentship of Mr Harmohinder Singh, MLA. The DCC President informed that the party would arrange transport and meals for the participants from the district.

APPEAL: The residents of Kucha Rai Sahib Mangat Rai have drawn the attention of police and the district authorities towards the nuisance created by a health club and a billiard pool in the locality. The mohalla committee of the area, in a petition signed by a large number of residents, have alleged that these joints were frequented by all sorts of people and the residents were facing many problems due to unchecked parking of vehicles in front of the houses, frequent brawls and incidents of eve-teasing. The residents have further complained that despite being approached several times, the concerned police station had failed to take any action.

MALERKOTLA
DHARNA: The local branch of the Field and Workshop Union held a dharna in front of the Public Health Rural Water Supply office here on Tuesday. The employees were protesting against the alleged corruption and indifferent attitude of the SDO with the workers. They demanded the withdrawal of a case filed by the SDO against the union members.

MANSA
ELECTROCUTED: A plumber, Balraj Singh (43) was electrocuted while working at a bungalow near the District Courts complex on Wednesday. He was reported to have been pulled by high-tension wires over the house.

THEFT CASES: Some unidentified persons took away 11 buffaloes from the dairy farm of Mr Darshan Singh on Tuesday. In another incident a truck owned by Mr Happy Bahia, was stolen from the office of the local truck union. Besides, some persons broke open the shop on the Gaushala road and stole some grocery items.

NAWANSHAHR
TWO ARRESTED: Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, in a press note issued here on Tuesday claimed to have busted a gang of robbers with the arrest of Jaspal Singh, alias Joker, and Ranbir, alias Biri, both residents of Mubarakpur village. They were wanted in a case of looting tractor-trolley and attempted murder of Kulbir Singh of the same village. The tractor-trolley had been recovered from them.

CHEQUES DISTRIBUTED: Mr Jagjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, while presiding over a meeting of the District Sainik Welfare Board here on Tuesday, distributed sewing machines and cheques to war widows. He said a Flag Day Fund to help the families of martyrs and a National Equity Fund to help ex-Armymen had been set up.

PATHANKOT
SUMMONS: Mr Karnail Singh, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Pathankot, on Tuesday summoned Roshan Din, Barkat Ali, Dalbir, Kasim, Parshotam Lal, Bhago and Bano under Sections 323, 324, 325,148, 149, IPC, on a complaint filed on behalf of Madan Kumar of Souli Bholi village. The accused had allegedly attacked and injured the complainant on December 12, last year.

PATIALA
PENSION CUT-OFF DATE: Retired officials of Punjabi University have claimed that the pension cut-off date fixed by the university was illegal and contrary to natural justice. In a representation, to the Chancellor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob, the retirees have urged him not to approve the pension cut-off date as recommended by the university. Retired officials including Mr Gurdev Singh Saluja, Mr Sukhdev Singh, Mr Kuldip Singh Ahluwalia, Mr Daljit Singh Rosha and Mr Surinder Singh Sheetal said that if this date of February 23, 2000, was approved, the officials who retired between September 12, 1995 and February 23, 2000, would condemn the decision with one voice.

CAMP HELD: A Personality Development camp was organised by the Bharat Vikas Parishad here on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister for Information, Mr Sat Pal Saini, emphasised the need for the students to inculcate Indian thoughts. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kashmiri Lal, Assistant Punjab State Parcharak encouraged the children participating in the camp and said, “The character of a person is mirrored by his behaviour rather than his clothes. The project in-charge, Mr Subhas Dhamija said 100 children, including 48 girls, participated in the camp. He added that stress was laid on games, yoga and other social activities. Mr Saini donated Rs 31,000 to the parishad.

INDEFINITE FAST: The indefinite fast by members of the PRTC Workers Action Committee entered its sixth day on Tuesday. Members said if their demands were not met by the management then a massive rally will be held on June 4 in front of the PRTC head office.

ESSAY COMPETITION: The State Bank of Patiala organised essay writing and poetry recitation competition at Government Primary School, Jalal Khera, on Tuesday. The function was attended by the bank officials and village panchayat. The bank also organised various other community services for the weaker sections of society. The activities comprise medical check-up camps, adult literacy camps, veterinary camps and special programmes for school children.

PHAGWARA
GURMAT CAMP: Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht Sahib, will inaugurate a gurmat training camp at the local Guru Nanak College on Friday. Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, general secretary, SGPC, will preside over the concluding day function on Monday. The camp will have various sessions which will be addressed by noted Sikh scholars.

RELIEF DISBURSED: A relief of Rs 1.75 lakh was disbursed among the families of eight victims of thresher accidents by the chairman, Local Market Committee, Mr Sarwan Singh Kular. He said Rs 2.5 crore would be spent on the repair and construction of link roads.

SAMRALA
STRIKE: All the lawyers of the local bar association observed full-day strike here on Wednesday on the call given by the Sangrur Bar Association, according to Mr S.S. Guron, senior advocate, Samrala. Mr Guron told the reporters that a meeting under the presidentship of Mr M.G. Prasher, vice-president of the bar, was held and in a resolution they demanded to withdraw the cases against the lawyers, to punish the guilty police officials and to give suitable and proper place for chambers to the advocates.

SANGRUR
CRITICISED: The All-India Federation of Democratic Youth (AIFDY) has condemned the attitude of the Punjabi University authorities for gagging the voice of intellectuals by serving them with show-cause notices. Mr Kiranjit Singh Sekhon, general secretary, on Tuesday, said it was a direct attack on the freedom of expression.

TARN TARAN
IMA OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local unit of the Indian Medical Association ( IMA): president — Dr Surinderpal Singh; vice-president — Dr Kuldip Singh Chug; secretary — Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal; joint secretaries — Dr Harbinder Singh and Dr Harepal Dhariwal; literary secretary — Dr Karanjit Singh and treasurer — Dr G S Dhariwal.