The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, January 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

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

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
MOBILE MEDICAL TEAMS: Ten emergency mobile medical teams will be formed for border villages in the wake of Saturday’s mine blasts. Stating this, Dr Ajaib Singh Sandhu, SMO, said each team would consist of a pharmacist, an assistant medical officer, a staff nurse and a male paramedical-cum-multipurpose server. Emergency kits for sarpanches of 65 villages would also be distributed shortly, he said.

SUPPORT PLEDGED: The Janwadi Naujawan Sabha has decided to support Mr Najar Singh Seadpur from the Beas Assembly constituency and Mr Paramjit Singh Bhullar from Valtoha constituency. This was stated by Mr Gurbinder Singh Cheenda, general secretary of the sabha.

DEPT DIRECTOR: Dr Satish Verma, Professor of economics at the Punjab School of Economics, Guru Nanak Dev University, has taken over as Director of the newly-created Department of Distance Education of the university for a year. Prof Verma served as Head of the Punjab School of Economics from 1997-2000 and also as Dean, Faculty of Economics and Business, during 1999 and 2000.

ALLIANCE FORGED: The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Monday announced that it had forged an alliance with the Panthic Morcha. Speaking at a press conference here, Mr Dinesh Chander Tyagi, union president of the sabha, said negotiations were on with the morcha for Assembly seats. Mr Tyagi said a formal announcement about candidates would be made on Monday.

REPAIR SOUGHT: Mr B.K. Chopra, president of the Nagrik Welfare Forum, has criticised the “indifferent” attitude of the municipal corporation with regard to the work of metalling the GT Road here. He said the road was damaged at several places and needed immediate repair. He urged the authorities concerned to repair the road without further delay.

LUDHIANA
CELEBRATED: Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday was celebrated by students of Spring Dale School, Sherpur, here on Saturday with religious fervour and tradition. Ms Avinash Kaur Walia, Director of the school, in a press statement said on Sunday that school students lead the nagar kirtan procession with ‘panj piyare’ which was organised by Gurdwara Sri Singh Sabha, Sherpur Kala. The school band and kirtani jatha along with other students participated in the nagar kirtan which were the main attraction.

CONDOLENCE MEETING: The staff of SCD Government College condoled the death of renowned scientist Satish Chander Dhawan at a meeting held on Monday. The scientist was a pass out of the college in 1940s as he did completed his BSc with physics and mathematics. The teachers said the college was named after him in 1976 by the Punjab Government. Mr Avtar Singh Turna, Principal, was also present at the meeting.

HUSBANDS’ NIGHT: It was one day in the year when the husbands were pampered by their wives. The occasion was the ‘Husbands’ Night’ organised by the members of Niharika Ladies Club here at Rotary club on Saturday night. Ms Shahee, secretary of the club, in a statement said on Sunday that club was tastefully decorated by the members. A play ‘Nilam ghar’ was performed by the members and various surprise gifts were given during the play. The couples danced to the various tunes of DJ. Mr and Mrs Manmeet Makkar were declared the best dancing couple. The best female dancer was Ms Ramanjot while Mr Aman Kapur won the best male dancer prize. The best well dressed couple were Mr and Ms Navraj Gill. Lovely Kalra won the prize for being best well dressed male while Rimmi Dang was the best well dressed female. Mr and Ms Sushma Gupta were declared the oldest couple on this occasion. More than 150 enthusiastic and lively couples participated in this night.

LOHRI CELEBRATIONS: The Asian Club has decided to hold Lohri celebrations with the students from the School for the Deaf, Rajpura road, on January 12. The students would hold a cultural show and present a variety entertainment programme. The club members would give gifts, and distribute ‘gachak’ and ‘reori’ among the students, said Mr Ravi Nandan Sharma, chief organiser of the club.

MANSA
MURDER CASES: The district police chief, Mr Dilbagh Singh Gill, said here on Tuesday that 25 cases of murder were registered in the district during 2001. As many as 21 attempt to murder cases and one case of dacoity were also registered.

PROMOTED: As many as 101 constables of Mansa district have been promoted as Head Constables. The SSP, Mr Dilbag Singh Gill, said here on Tuesday that the constables were promoted after completing 16 years of service and on the recommendation of a three-member Departmental Promotion Committee. Eight Head Constables were also promoted as Assistant Sub- Inspectors, he added.

MOGA
CONDEMNED: At a meeting of Congress workers held at Dhudike village on Tuesday, the president of the farmers’ wing of the PPCC, Mr Satnam Singh Sandeshi, condemned the attack on Congress workers at Ramuwala Kalan village in Moga district. He said the party workers had requested members of the SAD-BJP to not use religious places for political purpose. Following this, the local Akali leaders allegedly asked some unscrupulous persons to beat up the Congress workers.

PATIALA
RALLY: Markfed field employees staged a rally on Tuesday to protest against the alleged failure of the management and the state government in taking action against senior officials involved in malpractices and engaged in alleged defaming of the field staff. They also protested against registration of false cases by the Vigilance Department of the Punjab police, implicating the field staff in the recently concluded paddy procurement.

AWARDS: Shri Dasondhi Ram Birji Foundation announced seven awards for students to be given every year on May 15 on the occasion of Birji’s birth anniversary. The chairman of the foundation, Mr Mohan Lal Gupta, said two teachers would be given Birji Best Teacher Award and Birji Vashisht Guru Award. Schools around the district had been requested to submit applications by March 31.

CAMP: The Junior Red Cross organised a camp at Raiwala on Tuesday for students from poor families. More than 80 students from 10 schools attended the camp and were imparted knowledge about first-aid, disaster management, drugs and distress and road safety.

ROPAR
CAMP: The Lions Club here and the Punjab State Electricity Board jointly organised a free medical check-up camp at Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant here. Ropar district police chief Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and thermal plant General Manager Er. V.K. Mohindru jointly inaugurated the camp, which was held in collaboration with late Hazura Singh Advocate family. Medicines were given to heart patients free of cost.

TARN TARAN
GANG BUSTED: The local police claims to have busted an inter-state gang of car thieves by nabbing three of its members. The police has recovered five stolen cars from their possession. Mr Gurdeep Singh SSP, said in a press note on Monday that the gang members had been identified as Goverdhan Singh of Ludhiana, Harpal Singh, alias Bhala, of Kale village under Bhikhiwind police station and Gurpal Singh of Rataul. A case under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC has been registered against them.

DHARNA STAGED: Employees of the local Municipal Council, including safai karamcharis, observed a strike on Monday and staged a dharna in front of the council office. The employees were addressed by Mr Romesh Kumar, Mr Sarabjit Singh, Mr Maninder Singh, Mr Pritpal Singh and others, who stressed the need for reviewing the decision on abolition of octroi and initiating development works in the area.

HARYANA

AMBALA
DEMANDED: The federation of welfare societies and associations of Mahesh Nagar area on Tuesday demanded that the annual rental value (ARV) be retained as it was and not doubled. The secretary general of the federation Mr N.D. Arora said it resented the proposed 50 per cent house tax and doubling of ARV. The federation also resented the imposition of fire tax at 40 per cent of house tax or one per cent of ARV.

KAITHAL
EX-SERVICEMEN MEETING: Speakers at a state-level meeting of the National Ex-servicemen Coordination Committee here on Sunday gave a call to ex-servicemen to be prepared for fighting terrorism. The meeting, which was presided over by the state president, Mr Balbir Singh, resolved to support the government in the war against terrorism.

INVESTIGATION: Government agencies have reportedly started an investigation into the telephone calls made from PCOs at Cheeka and Guhla to Pakistan and Bangladesh. The agencies have obtained telephone numbers from the records of PCOs from which calls were made to these countries recently. The PCO owners have been directed to keep a record of the persons making calls to these countries.

MEDICAL CAMP: The Lions Club (Grace) organised a free medical check-up camp at Khanna Homoeopathic Clinic here on Sunday. Dr Umesh Kant Khanna examined 64 patients and gave them medicines. Giving this information here on Monday, the club secretary, Mr Dhan Sachdeva, said a former district governor, Dr Kamlesh Bansal, Dr D.R. Miglani, club founder, and other members of the club were present on the occasion.

SIRSA
COTTON CULTIVATORS: The Special Executive Officer of the Cotton Technology Mission of the Government of India, Mr B.M. Vithal, has visited various “mandies” in the district. Speaking at a press conference at the local market committee, he said cotton cultivators would have to improve the quality of the crop, besides increasing its production to be able to compete in the international market.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
DIRECTIONS TO ADMN: Mr Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Himachal Education Minister, here on Monday directed the district administration to ensure that miners doing work in various parts of the district did not cause damage to roads and old water sources. He said those violating government instructions should be booked under the law of the land. Mr Dhiman said this while presiding over a meeting of the district-level grievances committee.

BJP ‘ANTI-DALIT’: The Himachal BSP chief, Mr Balwant Singh, here on Monday charged the BJP with adopting anti-Dalit and anti-OBC policies. He said the BJP was making false promises to the Dalits that it would send their representative to the Rajya Sabha. Mr Balwant Singh said if given a chance to govern the state, his party would ensure 52 per cent reservation for Dalits and other backward classes on the basis of their population in all government services and for political posts.

INAUGURATED: The first branch of Himachal Gramin Bank in Hamirpur was inaugurated here on Monday by Mr Suresh Chandel, MP. Ms Urmila Thakur, Himachal Parliamentary Secretary, was present on the occasion. Mr Chandel said more branches of the bank would be opened in the districts of Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur.

KULU
MINISTER’S VISIT: The Minister of State for Primary Education and Environment, Mr Karan Singh, visited Banjar subdivison of the district on Monday to assess the developmental work. He visited Narauli village and met those who had lost their property in the fire on the Friday. He distributed money and blankets to them. The minister also visited Tandi and Kanaun villages and heard grievances of the villagers.

HOLIDAYS: Deputy Commissioner Ajay Vara Prasad announced the local holidays for 2002 in Kulu, Manali and Banjar sub divisions of the district on Monday. According to a press note, January 14 and September 16 will be holidays in Kulu and Manali sub divisions for Maghi and Serry festivals, respectively. In Banjar, January 15 and September 16 would be the holidays for the two festivals.

PALAMPUR
ELECTROCUTED: Three persons, including two women and a child, were electrocuted when they accidentally touched an electricity wire in a forest, near Baijnath, on Monday. According to a report, the victims had gone to the forest to collect fuel wood when they touched the 11,000-kv, electric cable, which had fallen from a pole, and died on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Dhondo Devi (32) Hako Devi (27) and her three-year-old son.

BODY FOUND: A six-year-old Dalit girl, Rinku, who had disappeared from her house under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday was found dead in bushes near Pargati Maidan here on Tuesday. A police spokesman told mediapersons that wounds on the body indicated the possibility of murder. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered.