R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
TUBEWELL OPENED: Mr Brij Mohan Kapoor, Mayor, inaugurated a tubewell in the Gali Tiwarian area here on Monday. He listened to the problems of people and directed the employees concerned to solve these.

INAUGURATED: Maharani Jinda Girls Hostel, built on the premises of Khalsa College at a cost of Rs 20 lakh, was inaugurated by Mr Narinderjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, here on Monday. The function was presided over by Mr Rajmohinder Singh Majitha, MLA. Mr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, Principal of the college, said the UGC had given Rs 3.5 lakh to raise the college.

BALACHAUR
ELECTED: Mr Ranbir Singh, Sarpanch of Asron village, has been elected president of the Dashmesh Tempo Union, Kathgarh Mor, Balachaur (Nawanshahr district). Mr Nand Lal, MLA, Balachaur, was present on the occasion. Mr Ranbir Singh has been authorised to nominate other members of the union.

BATHINDA
WORKSHOP: A workshop on ‘Foeticide — a crime’ will be organised at Model Town Gurdwara here on August 25 by the district programme office. Mr R. Venkatratnam, Deputy Commissioner, will be the chief guest and Mr R.L. Kalsian, Director, Social Security and Women and Child Development Department, will preside over the workshop.

WINS: Mata Bainti Devi Convent School of Aklia Kalan village of the district has won the first position in the cultural programme section of the Independence Day celebrations function here. In all, 11 teams participated in the programme.

OFFICE BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Punjab Kisan Sabha: president — Mr Jasveer Singh Aklian Khurd; general secretary — Mr Jagdeep Gill; senior vice-president — Mr Jagjeet Singh Joga; deputy general secretary — Mr Amrik Singh Phul; and treasurer — Mr Gulzar Singh.

NAME FOR ROAD SOUGHT: Residents have urged the president of the local municipal council to name the road between the Gol Diggi market and the public library as ‘Mahavir Marg’. Persons owning shops on the road said on Monday that no name had been given to the road for the past 17 years and it was difficult to find addresses on the road.

GURDASPUR
MERGER ANNOUNCED: The Khatri Sabha, Punjab, and the Punjab Khatri Sabha announced their merger at a meeting here on Monday. Ms Santosh Amba was elected president of the new Sabha. Ms Amba, Mr K.K. Puri and Mr Shiv Lal were jointly Empowered to nominate office-bearers.

ARRESTED: The police has arrested Vinod Kumar, a registry clerk, for allegedly embezzling over Rs 12 lakh. Mr Sukhdev Singh, SSP, said the accused instead of depositing the amount at the State Bank of Patiala, kept it with him and manipulated bank vouchers. His accomplice, Hans Raj, is absconding. A case has been registered in this connection.

HOSHIARPUR
BOOKED: On a complaint of Amar Kaur of Tanda Ram Sahai, the police has registered a case under Sections 363, 376 and 506, IPC, against Raju and Bakshish Singh of the same village for allegedly raping her daughter-in-law while she was returning home near Barota village on Sunday.

PO ARRESTED: The district police arrested proclaimed offender Gurnam Singh, alias Gamma, of Allowal village of Gurdaspur district on Sunday. He was wanted in a case registered under Sections 302 and 369, IPC.

WHISKY SEIZED: During a naka by the Excise Department and the police on the Bhajlan road at Garhshankar 240 bottles of whisky meant to be sold in Chandigarh were seized from a Fiat car on Sunday. Mr Randhir Singh, Excise Officer, said Sukhwinder Singh, alias Nittu, of Mohali was arrested in this connection. A case under Sections 61,1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered.

JALANDHAR
ARRESTED: The district police arrested Ludhiana-based businessmen Jagmohan and Ramesh for allegedly assaulting Sukha of the Basti Pirdad locality over some financial dispute here on Sunday. A case has been registered under Sections 307 and 34, IPC, and 25, 27 and 59 of the Arms Act.

KAPURTHALA
POPPY HUSK SEIZED: The district police arrested four persons during nakas at various places in the district and seized 57 kg of poppy husk from them, said Ms Gurpreet Deo, SSP. The arrested were identified as Gian Singh of Tajpur village, Parkash Kaur of Delawala village of Amritsar, district Satnam Singh of Dugarpur village of Amritsar district and Amarjit Singh of Arianwala village of Kapurthala district. Cases have been registered against them under the NDPC Act.

KHARAR
ACTION DEMANDED: Mr Chajja Singh of Badali village in a letter written to senior police officers of the district has demanded action against a travel agent of SAS nagar who had allegedly taken Rs four lakh from him for sending his son Balwinder Singh to Italy, but failed to do so. He alleged that his son came back and died after sometime due to this shock. He alleged that the agent had taken money from him in the presence of two witnesses in May.

LUDHIANA
DECLAMATION CONTEST: A vedic declamation contest was organised by the Ved Prachar Mandal at the Sargodha Khalsa College here on Monday. Kumari Rajni stood first in the contest. According to a press release, the contest was organised as part of the cultural awareness programme launched by the Ved Prachar Mandal. The Principal of the college, Ms Manjeet Rana, presided over the function. Ten students participated in the contest and spoke on different topics related to the vedic culture. Ms Surinder Anand, Ms Kamaljeet Kaur and Ms Narender were judges on the occasion.

VANAMAHOTSAVA: The NSS and NCC students from SCD Government College celebrated Vanmahotsava 2001, at a function held on Tuesday. On the occasion, the students launched a sapling plantation drive in which they planned to plant 200 saplings. The students pledged to take care of the new plants. Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, appreciated the efforts of the students. Mr A.S. Turna, Principal, said few saplings would be planted inside the campus, while the majority would be planted near the boundary wall of the college so that the residents of the area also benefit for the drive.

DECISION HAILED: The Aas-Kiran De-addiction Centre, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, has welcomed the decision of the Tamil Nadu Government to enact a legislation banning the sale of tobacco-gutkha, and pan masala in the state. The Tamil Nadu Government has realised that the school children were increasingly using these products leading to higher incidence of mouth cancer. The Aas Kiran has demanded that Punjab Government should also ban the sale of these products in the state. A survey conducted by two experts of Punjab Agricultural University has recently disclosed that presently 66 per cent school children in the state were using gutkha and pan masala. Medical experts have already termed gutkha as a gateway drug which later on leads to addiction of narcotics and other synthetic drugs. Mr Rawail Singh, centre incharge, said more children were coming to de-addiction centre and majority of them started with Gutkha. He appealed the masses not to be swayed by the advertisements of these products.

DEATH MOURNED : An executive body meeting of the North Zone Indian Society of Anaesthesiologist was held here on Tuesday to mourn the death of Dr Harivir Singh, former Professor and Head of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Department of the PGIMER, Chandigarh. Dr Tej. K.Kaul, president, and Dr Avtar Singh, secretary of the society, highlighted and praised the contributions made by Dr Harivir Singh in uplifting the speciality particularly in critical care. Dr Avtar Singh said, “He was a doyen of the medical profession and trained innumerable doctors many of whom are at present heading the departments in prestigious institutions in the country and abroad.”

MEETING: The Bhartiya Balmiki Param Samaj organised a meeting at Dhanansu village on Monday. Members from more than 12 villages attended the meeting and planned arrangements for Balmiki Jayanti to be held on November 1. Presidents of every village were chosen which included Mr Gurdeep Singh from Dhanansu village, Mr Pritam Singh from Bhuthdi Kalan, Mr Mangat Ram from Chaunta village, Mr Rishi Pal from Jagti village, Mr Darshan Singh from Budhewal village and Mr Raj from Bhagpur village.

SUNAM
RESENTMENT: Resentment prevails among the members of a sub-committee formed by the local civic body against its chairman as he had ignored them on all issues. They alleged that he neither summoned any meeting of the sub-committee nor sought the members’ opinion in assessing the damage to buildings and to get a suitable relief package for affected persons from the Punjab Government. Dr Vikram Sharma, Municipal Councillor and member of the sub-committee, alleged that the chairman had not informed the members regarding the visit of local SDM.

CHANDIGARH

POWERMEN DELEGATION: A delegation of the UT Powermen Union Chandigarh, on Tuesday called upon the Chief Engineer and apprised him of their demands. The powermen also requested the Chief Engineer to take action against the cable operator who had reportedly manhandled electricity department employees at Kajheri village here on Monday. The employees were removing cable television wires from electricity poles. Among others who formed the delegation were Mr Bhag Mal Rana, Mr Ujjagar Singh Mohi, Mr Vijay Singh and Mr Mehar Chand, general secretary, senior vice-president and chairman of the union, respectively.

HARYANA

AMBALA
VISIT: The Dean of Colleges, Kurukshetra University, on Tuesday visited S.A. Jain College, Ambala City, following a complaint by a student. He went through the college records and the list of admissions particularly in the B.Com course. A student, A.K. Tomar, had filed a complaint after he was not allowed to shift from B.Com evening to B.Com morning classes. Later, a local leader levelled charges of irregularities. “We maintain transparency and we have handed over records which were asked for by the Dean of College, Dr Amar Singh,” he said.

BANK MANAGERS’ MEET: The State Bank of Patiala organised a branch managers’ meet to emphasise on the need to give focussed attention to retail banking. The meet was presided over by Mr J.R. Devgan, General Manager (Operations) of the bank. Mr Devgan impressed upon the branch managers to go in for aggressive marketing of new schemes. He highlighted the bank’s project “anywhere banking” which the bank is going to launch at its various branches at Chandigarh, Panchkula and Chandi Mandir. The bank is also going to install 25 ATMs during the next two months. Mr M.M. Sehgal, DGM, Haryana zone, also addressed the branch managers on the occasion.

RAISING DAY: The Kharga Army Wives Welfare Association will celebrate raising day of the Army Wives Welfare Association on August 24. To commemorate the occasion, a number of programmes were being organised in Ambala Cantonment and neighbouring military stations which were continue upto Friday. A healthy baby competition, a medical camp, including a cancer detection programme, a painting competition for children, clean house competition and an entertainment programme would be organised in this connection, a release said. Mrs Gita Vij, president of the association will be the chief guest at the concluding function to be held at the Kharga auditorium, Ambala Cantonment on Friday.

CAMP: The Green Circle has started a free plant distribution camp in cooperation with the Forest Department at Indira Park. Plants will be distributed between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The camp will continue till Friday. Fruit and other plants were available at the camp, a release said.

KAITHAL
HEPATITIS B CAMP: A large number of children and adults were vaccinated against hepatitis B at a camp organised by the local Rotary Club on Sunday. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Pardeep Kasni, inaugurated the camp. He lauded the Rotary International for its role in helping the poor sections of society. Mr Satish Seth, president of the club, also spoke on the occasion.

KURUKSHETRA
DIABETES CAMP: A diabetes camp and seminar was organised on the premises of the local L.N.J.P. Hospital. It was sponsored by Alembic Limited. The heart, chest and diabetes specialist of the hospital, Dr Shailender Sharma, examined patients. He said next millennium was going to have an epidemic of diabetes and this could have tremendous pressure on health exchequer.

NARNAUL
FOETICIDE CASES: The foeticide cases and sex determination tests are being done in Mahendragarh district in spite of vigils by the Health Department. Dr P.P. Lekha, Civil Surgeon, said in the light of Supreme Court directions the owners of clinics had been directed to place a sign board in front of their clinics saying that sex determination tests are not done.

PANIPAT
ORDERED: The District Magistrate, Mr M.R. Anand, has ordered thikri pehras in the villages of Panipat district. Under the orders, all able-bodied adult male inhabitants of the villages in the district shall be liable to perform patrol duties at the night. The order, which has been issued under the Punjab Village and Small Town Patrol Act of 1918, has come into force with immediate effect and will remain in force up to November 20, 2001.

SHAHBAD
APPOINTED: Mr Karam Singh, Principal of the local Janata High School, has been appointed general secretary of the city unit of the Indian National Lokdal, said Mr Bharat Bhushan Gupta, president of the unit.

SAINI SAMAJ SAMMELAN: The Saini Samaj of Haryana will honour the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for his services towards the development of the state. Giving this information, Mr Gurnam Singh Gajlana, Director, Haryana Rural Development Fund Administrative Board, said here on Monday that a state-level sammelan would be held shortly to express faith in the leadership of Mr Chautala.

SONEPAT
SUICIDE BID: Rohtas, a youth, was reported to have made an attempt to commit suicide by consuming celphos tablets in his house at Khewra village, 13 km from here, on Monday.

DREADED CRIMINALS: The district police has launched a campaign to arrest 18 criminals declared as most wanted proclaimed offenders by various courts in the district.

GIRL KILLED: A 10-year-old girl was killed on the spot when a brick hit her head at Kansala village, about 30 km from here, on Monday. A group of monkeys was allegedly jumping on the roof of a house due to which the brick fell on her head.

DEAD: A drunk truck driver, Ramesh was found dead in a house at Shershah village, about 25 km from here, on Monday. A fire reportedly broke out due to an accidentally thrown fag in his room when he was asleep which led to his death.

3 INJURED: Three persons, including a woman, were injured in two road accidents at Rohat and Chitana villages of the district on Monday.

YAMUNANAGAR
LOK ADALAT: A lok adalat will be held on August 25 on the premises of the new judicial complex under the chairmanship of Mr Dhani Ram, Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority. This was stated by Ms Anita Dhahiya, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretry of the authority, here on Monday.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

VANAMAHOTSAVA: The Minister of state for Urban Development, Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, planted saplings at Jalapaid in Nahan at a vanamahotsava function on Monday. State Planning Board Vice-Chairperson, Ms Shyama Sharma, said trees helped in soil conservation.

PALAMPUR
RARE BOOKS DUMPED: Over 20,000 rare books worth several lakhs of rupees have allegedly been thrown out in dust bin by the local Municipal Council since it rented out its library building to the Police Department. The Plumper Citizen Council has decided to take up the matter with the higher authorities. Though the president of the council, Ms Shama Shawney, had said the library would be restored within one month, nothing has been done so far.

SOLAN
PLANTATION DRIVE: The local branch of the Bharat Vikas Parishad organised an annual tree plantation drive at Barog village, near here, on recently. About 40 members of the parishad planted saplings. A committee under the chairmanship of Mr. H.P. Sharma, IFS, president local unit of the parishad has been formed for the follow-up of the plants.