R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

• Hill denizens tap tourist power

• College set for golden jubilee

• PMT topper from Kurukshetra

AMLOH
SEMINAR: A seminar on decline in female population will be organised by Mr R.S. Jangu, SDM, Amloh, at Sangam Palace here on July 20 at 11 a.m.

AMRITSAR
POSTPONED: The secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, informed on Wednesday that the counselling of passed students of CET to be held at Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, had been postponed to July 26.

‘DHADDI DARBAR’: The Dharam Parchar Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has proposed to hold a two-day ‘‘dhaddi darbar’’ (recitation of important incidents in the Sikh history) at Tarn Taran from July 19. This was stated by Mr Baldev Singh, president of the Guru Gobind Sahib Daddi Sabha, here on Wednesday.

SUPPORT ANNOUNCED: Announcing support to unemployed elementary teachers, All-India Sikh Students Federation general secretary Sandeep Singh Wahla added that the federation would resort to wearing black tunics in a district-wise dharna outside the department concerned if the demands of the teachers were not conceded.

BATHINDA
RALLY HELD: Members of the Unemployed Elementary Teachers Union held a rally in the city on Sunday to press for their demands. They have demanded a ban on the appointments of B.Ed teachers to the posts of ETT teachers.

DORAHA
DHARNA: Lecturers of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, staged a dharna in front of the principal’s office of Wednesday to press the government for speedy implementation of pension-cum-gratuity scheme. According to Prof R.S. Pali, president, PCCTU, Doraha unit, a similar protest would be held on July 20. All colleges of the district would actively participate in the agitation.

FEROZEPORE
2 ARRESTED: The police has arrested Balvir Singh, alias Bira, of Bhauvala village under the Patti police station and seized 15 kg of poppy husk and a .12-bore pistol from him. This was stated by Mr H.S. Sidhu, SSP. Sultan Singh, son of Waryam Singh, was also arrested for the illegal possession of a .12-bore pistol, he added.

MEETING HELD: In order to redress the grievances of ex-servicemen on the spot, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Ladhar, held a meeting in which officials of the Sainik Welfare Department and District Sainik Board participated. He said an administrative complex would be set up in the district in which a separate block would be set up to deal with the cases of welfare of ex-servicemen.

CAMP FOR HANDICAPPED: Under various schemes for the welfare of the handicapped persons, 609 tri-cycles, 105 wheelchairs and 278 artificial limbs have been provided to the needy persons in 9 different camps organised so far. This was stated by Ms Saroj Ladhar, chairperson, the welfare branch of the District Hospital, while inaugurating a camp for the handicapped at the BDPO office complex in which 70 persons were provided with artificial limbs.

KHAMANO
AMBULANCE SERVICE: An ambulance service has been started at the police station here by a society of Fatehgarh Sahib. The service will be used for accidental cases.

KHARAR
THEFT: Mr Pawan Kumar, who is running a karyana wholesale business in Anaj Mandi, Kharar, has reported to the Kharar police that a theft has been committed in his shop on Tuesday night. He has informed the police that he has locked his shop on Tuesday night and when he opened his shop on Wednesday 36 bags of tea eight boxes of battery cells and four boxes of juice were missing. 

LUDHIANA
IMPRISONMENT: Mr B.S. Mehndiratta, Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, convicted Bikkar Singh (55), a resident of Rajgarh, Raikot, and sentenced him 13 years’ rigorous imprisonment for possessing 4200 kg poppy husk. The Judge also ordered the accused to pay Rs 1 lakh as fine. In default of payment he will have to further undergo imprisonment for one year. However, co-accused Joginder Singh has been acquitted.

ACQUITTED: The Special Judge, Mr G.R. Banyal, has acquitted Rajinder Singh, JE, PSEB, and Gurdip Singh, assistant line-man, in a corruption case for want of evidence. An FIR was registered against both of them by Vigilance Bureau, Patiala, on March 12, 1996, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, on the complaint of Surajpal of Dashmesh Nagar, Ayali Khurd. The complainant had alleged that the two officials had demanded Rs 5,000 as bribe for installing a new domestic power connection at his newly purchased house at Ayali Khurd.

OFFICE-BEARERS: Mr Surjit Singh was elected as president of the Mohinder Nagar Mohalla Sudhar Committee in the election meeting, supervised by Mr Ramesh Gautam, in charge, Dakha area of the CPI (M-Liberation). The other office-bearers include: Mr Suresh Kumar Verma — vice-president; Ms Gurmeet Kaur — secretary; Mr Gutkan Jha — treasurer; and Ms Sudeh Kumari, Ms Poonam, Ms Lalita Devi, Ms Seema Devi, Ms Sunita Devi, Mr Lallan Pal, Mr Hari Lal Pal, Mr Anil Kumar, Mr Jawahar Lal, Mr Jagdish, Mr Om Parkash Shukla — all members of the executive committee.

MACHHIWARA
ELECTION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj, Samrala unit: president — Mr Raj Kumar Chanan; vice-president — Mr Suresh Kumar; general secretary — Mr Amandeep Bhatti; joint secretary — Mr Shiv Charan Dass; cashier — Mr Shiv Kumar Bains; and propaganda secretary — Mr Pawan Kumar Bhatti.

MANSA
SUSPENDED: The Director of Panchayats, Punjab, Mr J.P. Singla, has suspended Mr Surjeet Singh, Ms Kuldeep Kaur and Mr Sukhdeep Singh, all members of the gram panchayat of Saspali in the district, for not attending any meeting of the panchayat after their election.

STONE LAID: Mr Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, local MLA, on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of a new building of Government Senior Secondary School and presented a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to the Principal, Ms Vijay Laxmi, for its construction.

MOGA
POWER FLUCTUATION: The fluctuation in power supply in various villages of the district has caused considerable damage to electrical goods during the past few days. This was stated by former president of the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union Kuldeep Singh Sandhu here on Wednesday. A deputation of progressive farmers said they were ready to pay for the power if the government ensured uninterrupted power supply to them.

PHAGWARA
STREET LIGHTS: Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar here has been plunged into darkness due to the breakdown of street lights for the past four days. Ms Daljit Kaur Gill, member of the welfare association of the locality, alleged on Tuesday that despite several complaints the authorities concerned had done nothing so far.

SAMRALA
SCHOOL UPGRADED: Government Middle School, Mushkabad, 5 km from here, has been upgraded. This was disclosed by the village sarpanch, Mr Ranjeet Singh, here on Wednesday. He said a function would be held on Sunday to mark its upgradation. It would be inaugurated by Mr Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and presided over by a senior Akali leader, Mr Jewan Singh Dhindsa. A cultural programme would also be held.

DEMANDED: Mr Hullas Singh, president of the Samrala unit of a body of 1984 riots-affected persons, demanded reservation in educational institutions and government and military jobs. He demanded this at a meeting held at the local Civil Rest House, here on Wednesday.

MEMORANDUM: A deputation of the local unit of the CPM comprising Mr Satnam Singh Dao, Mr Baldev Singh Pandori, Mr Charanjit Singh Bath and Mr Sukhdev Singh Bath has presented a memorandum to the subdivisional magistrate demanding repair of the damaged stretch of the Jandiala road near Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School.

CHANDIGARH

STRIKE: Employees of the Punjab Civil Accounts and Punjab Civil Audit will observe a strike on July 25 to oppose anti-employees policies pursued by the government. A joint statement issued by Mr Kimti Lal and Mr M.R. Vatsyayan, general secretaries of the Punjab Civil Accounts Association and Punjab Civil Audit Association, respectively, said the decision to observe the strike on July 25 was taken at the convention of Central and state governments employees held on May 27 in Delhi. On that day an “anti privatisation day” was also observed. the employees had flayed the economic policies pursued by the government. The Union Government in the garb of liberlisation recklessly privatise even profit earning public sector undertakings. The press note said the employees urged the Union Government not to pursue anti-employees policies.

HARYANA

AMBALA
PROTEST: A gate meeting of the All-India Central Ground Water Board Employees Association was held here on Wednesday. The union members protested against the “anti-employee” policies of the government and demanded abolition of privatisation and contractual system. The members also demanded no change in the pension scheme and filling of vacancies.

KILLED: Three buffaloes are reported to have died due to electrocution in the Naggal area on Wednesday morning. A villager said three buffaloes which were being taken in the Naggal area, were electrocuted when they entered a flooded field. A villager who was taking the buffaloes was walking a little distance behind them and was saved.

KALKA
MEETING: A meeting on the flood relief and precautionary measures was held in the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kalka, on Wednesday. All block-level officials, including SDOs, BDO, DFO and Tehsildar, attended the meeting. The SDM said the officials had been asked not to leave the headquarter without prior permission and to be ready to meet any emergency due to floods in the area. Precautionary measures to be taken at the time of flood were also discussed at the meeting.

AWARENESS CAMP: A five-day camp to create awareness about drug abuse was organised by the Red Cross Society on the premises of the Diesel Component Works (DCW), here on Wednesday. Reasons for accidents were also discussed during the camp. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Asha Ram, Director, Drug Rehabilitation Centre of the Red Cross, said with more than 250 crore people taking drugs in country, the very roots to prosperity were getting weakened. He said people addicted to drugs were more prone to cancer, asthma, hypertension, leprosy, heart and mental problems. Road safety measures were also discussed.

RALLY: Members of the Punjab and UT Employees Joint Action Committee on Wednesday condemned the policies of the Central Government towards employees. The committee also expressed resentment over the WTO issue by holding a dharna followed by a rally in front of the District Courts. The members alleged that employees were being transferred to remote areas including the transfer of Mr Balbir Singh Ramuwalia, general secretary of the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, from Moga to Fazilka, on Rajasthan border.

NOMINATED: Mr Anand Sharma has been nominated general secretary of the Haryana unit of the All-India Brahmin Sabha. Mr Krishan Chhikara has been nominated president of the local rural unit of the Yuva INLD.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

UNA
ATTACK CONDEMNED: Mr Ram Das Bhatia, president of the Una Block Samiti Panchayat Pradhans and Up-Pradhans Union, condemned the alleged attack on Ms Praveen Saini, Gram Panchayat Pradhan, Jankaur, by Mr Jagdev Singh, a defeated candidate of gram panchayat pradhan post of Jankaur, and his supporters in a signed press statement issued here on Wednesday.

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

Hill denizens tap tourist power

IF you happen to leave behind the sultry weather conditions prevailing in Chandigarh and visit Hadimba temple in Manali, remember to get yourself photographed with Rani Sahiba.

Clad in a red blouse, covered with a glittering chunni of a matching hue, she will gladly stand by your side. If you are polite enough, the Rani Sahiba might just permit you to place your arms around her fragile shoulders. And for the entire exercise, the monkey’s master will charge Rs 5.

Out there — in the lap of the gods — it’s a blooming business. Just for a few bucks, you can get yourself snapped with bunny rabbits also. So the next time you visit the temple, remember to carry a lot of loose change.

“Phirangs” know how to enjoy life. Unlike Chandigarh residents, who play game of cards in their air-conditioned rooms cooped up in tourist resorts here, the foreigners zip up and down the meandering roads cutting through the treacherous mountain terrain on 350 cc macho bikes. Not all bikes are rented. Some of the aliens buy them in Delhi and ride all the way up.

College set for golden jubilee

The Radha Krishan Arya College at Nawanshahr is gearing itself up for its golden jubilee celebrations during the current academic session.

Mr Prem Kumar Bhardwaj and Mr Shashi Kumar Sharma, president of the college managing committee and principal respectively of the college, while giving details of the institution’s historical background, said the college was founded in 1952 and its foundation stone was laid by Jawahar Lal Nehru. Having started off on such an auspicious note, the college never looked back and is poised to scale new heights in the pursuit of higher education.

As Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj, insisted on social, cultural and moral development through education — the most potent weapon to bring about social change — a number of dedicated Arya Samaj leaders such as Lala Dharam Chand, Siri Ram Narad, Chiranji Lal Sengar and Dr Asa Nand Bhalla, motivated philanthropists to convert their dream of establishing a college into reality. They got an encouraging response from all sections of the society here. The biggest donation came from a philanthropist, Dr Radha Krishan, and the college was named after him. The college is being run by Pandit Harbans Lal Sharma, president of the Arya Prathinidhi Sabha, Punjab.

The college has a vast campus spread over 240 kanals of land. It is ideally located and has a park.

As part of the golden jubilee celebrations and realising the scope of information technology is fast, the college has introduced a faculty of information technology, which will provide prospect for the career enhancement of the youth of the area. Besides, two new computer courses — post-graduate diploma in computer application and diploma in computer application have also been introduced.

A reception room-cum-tower whose foundation stone was laid recently by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and a seminar room as a monument to mark the golden jubilee celebrations, are being constructed.

Mr Bhardwaj and Mr Sharma stated that an old students association had been constituted. A state-level Arya Sammelan would be organised in the college in August. In October and November cultural and sports events would be organised while in February a prize distribution function would be held.

PMT topper from Kurukshetra

Mashal Dhir of Gita Niketan Awasiya Vidyalaya, Kurukshetra has brought laurels to Haryana in general and this holy town in particular by securing the first position in the PMT examination conducted by the CBSE in May.

According to the school principal, Mr Rishi Goel, this achievement is a milestone not only for the institution but for whole of Haryana, because the PMT in the last decade has become the most widespread medical entrance examination in the country in which about 1.5 lakh students appear at the all-India level.

Mashal, a son of ophthalmologist, V.K. Dhir of Pehowa, has been a bright student throughout. He set a record of 97.33 per cent in P.C.B. ( Physics, Chemistry, Biology) in the senior school exam.

Mr Goel says Mashal has got the second rank in entrance examination of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, considered to be one of the most prestigious medical institutes in the country.

The principal recalls that although Saurabh Sethi of the same school, made a record by getting the sixth rank in the AIIMS in 1999, this record has been broken by Mashal.

All these toppers have carved a niche for the holy city of Kurukshetra on the educational map of the country, he adds.

Contributed by Saurabh Malik, Parmod Bharti and D.R. Vij.