AHMEDGARH
FALLING SEX RATIO: A seminar on sex ratio was held at the local Sacred Soul Public School on Friday. Speakers at the function expressed concern over deterioration in the sex ratio. Dr Karan Chand Goyal said the ratio had declined alarmingly in the state. In comparison with the national ratio of 1000:933 it is 1000:793 in Punjab. Fatehgarh Sahib district with sex ratio of 1000:754 is now at the lowest rung in the state. Referring to the latest data he said Chamkaour Sahib was having lowest ratio of 1000:653.

AMLOH
INCOME TAX CAMP: Mr Gurbachan Singh, Income Tax Officer, Mandi Gobindgarh, said here on Saturday that a tax awareness camp will be organised at the local Aggarwal Dharmshala on Tuesday and income tax returns would be filed on the occasion.

REGULAR POWER: Mr Baldev Singh Mann, Administrative member, Punjab State Electricity Board, in a recent meeting with a delegation of industrialists at Mandi Gobindgarh assured regular power supply for five days a week with no power cuts.

AMRITSAR
STRIKE: On a call given by the Private Colleges Non-Teaching Employees Union, Punjab and Chandigarh, a strike was observed in various colleges of the district here on Friday. The teaching staff has been on strike for the past 10 days against the alleged indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government towards their demands.

NEW JURISDICTION AREA: The Commissioner, Income Tax, Mr Mohinder Singh, in a press note issued by the IT Department here on Friday said the area on the left side of the GT Road while going from Jalandhar to Amritsar would come under his jurisdiction. He added that the area falling on the right would be looked after by the Commissioner, Income Tax-II.

APPEALED: Mr Harminder Singh Gill, president, All-India Sikh Students Federation, has appealed to Mr George Bush, President, USA, to ensure the safety of the Sikhs there. He condemned the terrorist attacks on the USA.

FARIDKOT
INAUGURATION: The birth anniversary of Baba Sheikh Farid began with the inauguration of painting competitions at the local Amar Ashram on Saturday. Mr A. Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated it. Students in the age group of 5-18 of different educational institutions participated in the competitions.

GURDASPUR
RESENTMENT: Resentment prevails among residents of Library Road here against the Municipal Committee authorities for their “discriminatory” attitude during the removal of encroachments. Mr Janak Raj said the removal of encroachments was not only discriminatory but also illegal since the road belonged to the PWD (B&R).

PROBE SOUGHT: Mr Swaran Singh, president, Mr Bawa Singh, Hardeep Singh and Harbhajan Singh, all members of the Gunnopur Agricultural Society, in a complaint to the Registrar, Cooperatives, Punjab, have sought a probe into the alleged misappropriation of Rs 16.60 lakh belonging to the society. The audit report of the society submitted on March 31 had confirmed the embezzlement of funds.

BAN ORDERS: Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, District Magistrate, on Friday banned all types of movement from the Pakistan border to the BSF fencing and from there to 500 m inside the border in the district till November 10. However, the order will not apply to officials of civil or paramilitary forces on duty.

HOSHIARPUR
TRAINING CAMP: A farmers’ training camp was organised by the District Agriculture Department at the Kheti Bhawan here on Friday in which more than 100 farmers participated along with agriculture officers and experts.

GARBAGE PROBLEM: Local residents have been facing inconvenience due to heaps of garbage seen lying around in the city even after the strike by the sanitation staff was called off on Thursday. These heaps are not only emitting foul smell but also posing great threat to the health of the public.

SUCCUMBED: Sunita, wife of Sampuran Singh of Daullowal village, succumbed to her burns at Civil Hospital, Dasuya, on Thursday. She was injured when she fell on the gas stove while preparing food in her house. In another incident Shammi Bala, wife of Madan Lal of Tikhowal Mukerian, also succumbed to her injuries on Thursday.

ILLICIT LIQUOR SEIZED: The Tanda police has arrested Bharon of Miani village and seized 30,000 ml of illicit liquor from him on Thursday. A case has been registered in this connection.

KHAMANO
MOUNTAIN ROAD: Mr Jagtar Singh, DPI (S), Punjab, on Friday examined a working model, of an “accident-free mountain road”, prepared by students of Government Senior Secondary School, Khamano Kalan. The model has been selected for the 28th Jawahar Lal Nehru National Science Exhibition for Children to be held by the NCERT in Allahabad in November.

LUDHIANA
EXTENSION COUNTER: The extension counter of the Bank of India at Doraha has been upgraded into a full-fledged branch. A function on this occasion was organised at Grain Market here on Saturday. Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, Principal, Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, lighted the lamp to mart the inauguration of the branch. Mr H.S. Bhatia, Zonal Manager of the bank, thanked the customers for their support in business development and assured them of best computerised services at the branch. Mr R.N. Kalyan, Manager of the branch, proposed a vote of thanks on the occasion while the General Manager of the bank, President of Municipal Committee Doraha and Chairman Budhewal Sugar Mills also addressed the gathering.

ROTARY CAMP: A Rotary dental check -up and treatment camp was held at Government Primary School, Civil Lines, Ludhiana on Friday. According to Mr K.K. Chaddha, secretary of the club, the camp was inaugurated by the past president, Rotarian Rajinder Dewan. Dr D.S. Kang from CMC Hospital along with his team of dental surgeons and nurses examined 230 children. The camp was organised by the local Rotary Club. The club will organise a hepatitis-B camp on Friday at Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, hepatitis-B injections will be provided on subsidised rates at the camp.

VISHVAKARMA MANDIR: Twentyfive sewing machines will be presented to widows and destitute women at a function to be organised by the Municipal Workers’ Union at Vishvakarma Mandir, Miller Ganj, on Sunday. According to Mr Khelar Chand Gupta, general secretary of the union, former city Mayor and Vibhag Sangh Chalak of the RSS, Chaudhry Sat Parkash, and Mr Raminder Singh, Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, will be the chief guests. Among others who will attend the function include Mr Jagdish Prasad Loomba, Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Vir Abhimanyu, Mr Kartar Singh Rathor, general secretary, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, and Mr Ram Lubhaya Bawa, National General Secretary, Federation of Local Government Employees of India.

HEALTH CAMP: The Amarjit Grewal Club, Gujjarwal, will organise a free health camp at Gurdwara Puran Das in the village on Sunday. Mr Pavittar Singh Grewal, Chairman of the club, said a team of doctors from Christian Medical College and Hospital would examine patients and educate them about preventive measures against diseases like hypertension and diabetes. Also a team from Christian Dental College will examine the patients for dental ailments.

HINDI DAY: An essay writing contest marked the Hindi Day celebrations at Punjab and Sind Bank here on Friday. Mr Devinder Singh, general manager, stressed the need for adopting Hindi in day-to-day activities. The Language Officer, Mr Surinder Vir Singh, asked the staff members to work in Hindi. Ms Madhu Gupta of zonal office won the first prize, Mr P.S. Bevli of Gurudwara Kalgidhar branch was declared second, while Ms Deepti Aggarwal of GGN College branch got the third prize. Meanwhile, the week-long ‘Hindi Divas’ celebrations organised by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited concluded here on Friday. Fifty employees participated in the various contests organised on the occasion. General Manager V.S. Shrivastav lauded the Hindi Association on the success of programme. He urged the employees to try to do all their work in Hindi. Ms Rajdulari, Ms Sunita Rani, Mr Vishavdas, Mr Rakesh Kumar Anand, Ms Chandarkanta, Mr Jagdish, Mr Amrik Lal, Ms Uma Sood, Mr Hari Krishan and Ms Nisha Rani were awarded for working in Hindi. Meanwhile, the zonal office of Bank of India also celebrated ‘the Hindi Divas’ on Thursday. Hindi essay writing contests and Hindi declamation contests were organsied on the occasion. Sixteen participants took part in these competitions.

PEACE RALLY: Activists of the Dharmik Ekta Club and the Yuva Shakti Sangathan led by Mr Ajay Kumar Sidhu, president of the club, will take out a scooter-motor cycle rally on Sunday to promote peace and harmony. The rally will commence from Chawni Mohalla on the GT Road. Mr Darshan Arora, Chairman, Ludhiana Citizens Council, and Mr Ashwani Salwan, Deputy General Manager, Department of Telecom, will flag off the rally. According to Mr Sidhu, the rally is being organised with the active cooperation from Mr Rakesh Malhotra, Sri Guru Valmiki Sabha, Punjab, Mr Arun Sidhu, president, the Punjab Samaj Sevak Sangh, Mr Randhir Singh Nikka, president, Ek Noor Welfare Society, Mr Ashwani, vice-president, the Dharmik Ekta Club, and Mr Ashok Kundra, president, Market Association.

SNAKE-BITE: Mr Harpreet Singh (25) of Sihala village, near here, died on Saturday following a snake-bite. He had reportedly gone to fields to fetch fodder for his cattle. The body was handed over to his family members after a post-mortem examination in the local civil hospital.

TRAINING PROGRAMME: Two-day contact lens education programme (CLEP) for ophthalmologists and opticians of the city and neighbouring cities started here on Saturday. The programme, launched by Bausch & Lomb, will train, practitioners and students of optometry. The topics like soft and rigid contact lens fitting, care and maintenance of lenses , toric and disposable lenses will be covered by the CLEP.

CONDEMNED: Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi, President, Gurmat Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj, has condemned Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib, for his statement against Baba Nand Singh, founder of Nanaksar Kaleran. Commenting on the statement of Giani Kewal Singh, Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi said Nanaksar Kaleran was one of the most respected ‘Samparda’ of the Sikhs and had played a great role in spreading the teachings of the Gurus. He asked Giani Kewal Singh to desist from such malicious propaganda against holy personalities like Baba Nand Singh and called upon the people to beware of the persons people like Giani Kewal Singh.

MACHHIWARA
WOMAN DEAD: Ms Soma Devi (65) of Hyatpura village succumbed to her injuries at Oswal Hospital, Ludhiana, on Saturday. She was allegedly hit by a speeding car belonging to Malwa Industries, Harian. The police is yet to register a case.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Bharatiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj’s Partapgarh village unit: President — Mr Satnam Singh Vaid; vice-president — Mr Jaspal Singh; general secretary — Mr Santokh Singh; joint secretary — Mr Tarsem Singh; and cashier — Mr Kulwant Singh. Office-Bearers of The Samaj’s Ratipur village unit include: president — Ms Surinder Kaur Panch; vice-president — Mr Pardeep Singh; general secretary — Mr Piratpal Singh; joint secretary — Mr Kuldip Singh; and cashier — Mr Dharam Pal.

NAWANSHAHR
SANGAT DARSHAN: The district administration, with a view to redress grievances of the general public on the spot, organised a sangat darshan programme here on Thursday at the DC meeting hall. Mr Jagjit Singh, DC, presided over and heard the grievances and problems of the people. He disposed of as many as 50 complaints on the spot, said an official press note.

DISMISSED: Mr Jagjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, has dismissed Satya, a helper posted at Anganwari Centre, Karyan, from service for committing irregularities in pension cases. He also ordered registration of a case against her. According to an official press note issued here on Thursday, Satya had been found guilty of forging signatures on the pension papers and pasting “wrong” photographs on the pension forms.

PHAGWARA
RUN OVER: A 30-year-old pedestrian was run over by a railway engine while he was crossing the Satnampura railway barrier here on Thursday afternoon. The deceased is yet to be identified.

ROPAR
REVIEWED: The Commissioner, Patiala Division, Mr D.P. Reddy, who visited here on Thursday for the first time after taking the charge reviewed the implementation of various development schemes launched by the government. He directed the district administration to simplify the revenue procedures.

SAMRALA
CONVICTED: Mr Ravinder Kumar, Judicial Magistrate, Samrala has convicted Harinder Singh, alias Hinda, of Rahimabad Khurd village and Kuldeep Singh of Panj Graian village in a theft case under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC.

STONE LAID: In Baghaur village, 5 km from here, construction of a Shiva temple has started. The foundation stone was laid by Baba Charan Dass Ji Kuraliwale.

TARN TARAN
BOOKED: On the complaint of Mr Harwinder Singh, a local resident, the police here has booked five members of a family into which he had married his daughter, under Section 498-A and 406, IPC, for demanding more dowry. They are residents of Phattu Dhinga village, Kapurthala district.

JE BOOKED: The Goindwal Sahib police has booked Sawinder Singh Sandhu, Junior Engineer, Goindwal Industries and Investment Corporation, under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Mr Lakha Singh of Bharowal village in his complaint to the police stated that he had applied for a residential plot in the industrial complex, Goindwal Sahib, in 1993 for which the JE had demanded Rs 10,000 as bribe to get the plot allotted. But neither the plot was allotted nor the money returned.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Chandigarh Kendriya Ramlila Mahasabha (Regd.): chairman — Mr Ishwar Dass Singla; president — Mr Subhash Katariya; senior vice-president — Mr Jai Singh Bisht; vice-president — Mr Bhagwan Singh Rawat; general secretary — Mr Sabar Singh Bisht; secretary — Mr Kulbir Singh Rawat; organising secretary — Mr Devender Sharma; cashier — Mr Satish Joshi; and auditor — Mr Harish Bainjwal.

TRIBUTES: A meeting of the Kashmiri Sahayak Sabha on Friday paid tributes to Pt Tikka Lal Taploo, who was shot dead by militants on September 14, 1989. The meeting expressed its concern over the alleged failure of the government to solve the problems of Kashmiri Pandits who continued to live in exile under miserable conditions after their forcible exodus. A two-minute silence was also observed in memory of those who had laid down their lives while fighting militancy in the valley.

CONSUMER FORUM: The UT Disputes Consumer Forum-II adjourned the case filed against Jetage Computer Traders, Sector 17-E, and HP India Limited, New Delhi, by a city resident till November 2. The complainant, Mr R.M. Bhatnager, a resident of Sector 11-D, filed the complaint before the forum. As per the complaint, the complainant had bought a computer HP-Pavilion-6615 from M\s Jetage Computer Traders on October 25, 2000. The complainant alleged that the computer started having problems of hanging from the very first day of installation. He alleged that despite repeated requests the computer traders failed to rectify the fault with the computer. The complainant pleaded that HP India Limited be directed to pay a sum of Rs 50,000 as compensation for the physical harassment and mental agony suffered by him. Also a sum of Rs 10,000 be further directed to be paid as deterrent damages for indulging in unfair trade practice.

SAPLINGS PLANTED: The Advisor to the UT Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, along with the Mayor, Ms Harjinder Kaur, on Friday planted saplings in Sector 46 A and B, which is to be developed as a green belt. The green belt, spread in an area of around 3 acre, will be developed by turfing it with green grass and about 200 saplings of neem, arjan, bahera, amaltash, jamun, bail, pipal etc. along with flowering shrubs. A pedestrian path and a thatched hut with garden benches will be provided and a tubewell with irrigation lines has already been installed. Area councillor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, said the green belt will be developed at a cost of Rs 11 lakh within four month. Among those present were MC Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh; Chief Engineer, Mr Manmohanjit Singh; Superintending Engineer (B and R), Mr I.S. Sokhey and SE (Public Health) Mr Swaran Singh Kanwal; XENs, Mr Lakhwinder Singh and Mr Raghubir Singh.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The Chandigarh Kendriya Ramlila Sabha has elected its following office bearers: chairman — Mr Ishwar Dass Singla; president — Mr Subhash Katariya; senior vice-president — Mr Jai Singh Bisht; vice-president — Mr Bhagwan Singh Rawat; general secretary — Mr Sabar Singh Bisht; secretary — Mr Kulbir Singh Rawat; organising secretary — Mr Devender Sharma; cashier — Mr Satish Joshi; and auditor — Mr Harish Bainjwal.

WELFARE ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Welfare Association, Sector 47-D: president — Mr M.L. Puri; vice-president — Mr Sukhwinder Singh; general secretary — Mr V.P. Sharma; joint secretaries — Mr Prem Parkash Sharma and Mr N.K. Nayyer; treasurer — Mr Dalip Singh; propaganda member — Mr A.S. Sachdev; and propaganda secretary — Mr R. Yadav.

PANCHKULA
BOOKS EXHIBITION: In a series of ‘rajbhasha’ mass celebrations, the State Bank of India organised a books exhibition in Sector 14, here on Friday. Books on language, literature, banking, management, information technology and general interest were put on display apart from an exhibition on audio-visual computer presentation on “official languages policy”. Organised to promote usage of Hindi in the banks, the exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Rajindra Kakkar, Chief General Manager, Chandigarh circle. He also emphasised on maximum use of Hindi books in day-to-day working. Mr H.L. Khanna, Assistant General Manager, said various competitions would also be organised to mark the mass. Apart from a number customers, Mrs H.Z. Agha, Circle Development Officer, and other bank employees were also present on the occasion.

EXHIBITION: An exhibition of precious and semi-precious gemstones and vastu and fengshui items started at Kalagram, Chandigarh from Saturday. Organised by Mr Bharat Bhushan Hooda, a city-based gemologist and astrologer, the idea of the exhibition is to create awareness regarding gemstones, their astrological, medico-astrological uses.

SHIMLA
STIR THREAT: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has threatened to launch a statewide stir if Himachal Pradesh University allowed private B.Ed colleges to increase fee. It pointed out that the fee was already high and most of these colleges lacked the requisite facilities like proper buildings, library and staff. They also did not fulfil the norms laid down by the National Council for Teachers Education, it added.

CHALLANED: In a special drive to check noise pollution, the local police challaned 40 vehicles for using pressure horns, hooters and music stereos. Four buses were also booked for deviating from the allotted routes.