The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, January 14, 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
THEATRE WORKSHOP: The state government should come forward for the development of theatre and waive off the entertainment tax being paid by theatres. This was stated by Dr Atamjeet, noted playwright and director, while talking to this correspondent here on Saturday at a theatre workshop being organised by the Sangeet Natak Academy in collaboration with Guru Nanak Dev University.

EX-GRATIA DEMANDED: The Border Sangharsh Committee has demanded an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for each civilian who died at Mahwa village in a landmine blast. In a press note issued here on Friday, the committee also demanded a government job for one member of the family of the deceased.

PROHIBITORY ORDER: The District Magistrate has issued prohibitory order under Section 144 Cr PC, 1973, banning carrying of firearms and ammunition, except “kirpans”, in public. In a press note issued here on Friday the Deputy Commissioner said the order would remain in force till February 28.

ROAD SAFETY: The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Raj Kamal Chaudhary, has urged people to be more cautious while driving and obey traffic rules. He was addressing children who were manning roads during the road safety week, here on Friday.

HOSHIARPUR
RE-ARRESTED: A prisoner, Avtar Singh, who escaped on Friday when he was being brought to the court of Ms Romesh Kumari, Judicial Magistrate, Garhshanker on Friday, was re-arrested on Saturday. Mr Sanjiv Kalra, SSP, said a case had been registered and action was being taken against negligent policemen.

MARTYR CREMATED: Mortal remains of Sub-Inspector Malkiat Singh of 9 BSF, who laid down his life fighting militants in the Awindgund area in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, were consigned to flames with full military honours at his native village Bassi Jalal Khan in Dasuya subdivision here on Sunday. Malkiat Singh was killed when two militants suddenly opened fire while he along with others was patrolling the border area on January 11. Both militants were also killed in the retaliatory fire.

CHANDIGARH

SEMINAR: The Chandigarh chapter of Patiala Medical College Alumni Association, GOMCO, will hold a seminar on menopausal syndrome on the occasion of its fifth annual conference scheduled to be held on January 27 in Rock Garden. The seminar will focus on the latest trends in the prevention of menopause associated ailments and their management. More than 200 delegates are likely to participate in the conference.

DANCE CONTEST: To encourage youngsters shed their inhibitions and develop confidence, the Chandigarh Art Theatre will organise a dance contest, ''Taal se taal mila'' on January 20. The contest, to be held at Tagore Theatre, will be open to dancers and dance groups between the age group of five to 25 years. There will be four categories five to 10 years, 11 to 15 years and 16 years onwards and dance groups. Besides, there will also be surprise gifts and vouchers for those among the audience who answer the right questions.

PANCHKULA
NOMINATED: Mr S.K. Nayyar has been nominated as the chief adviser of the House Owners-cum-Plot Holders Association, Sector 15. The other office-bearers of the association are Mr M.S. Cheema (president), Mr Ravi Rawal (senior vice-president), Mr V.K. Puri and Mr Hari Singh (vice-president) and Mr J.S. Parmar (general secretary).

CAR STOLEN: A car (HR-03A-4721) was reportedly stolen from near house No 162, Sector 10, on the night of January 11. In another case of theft, the electric motor of a hand pump in Billa village was stolen. A case under Section 379 of IPC has been registered on the complaint of the motor pump owner, Mr Govind Singh.

DHARNA THREAT: Mr Hemant Kinger, a social worker, has threatened to stage dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner from tomorrow. He announced this here at a press conference. He said that he had been forced to take this step because of the failure of the administration to redress the grievances, mainly imposition of house tax, water bills and hike in cable tariff. Mr Kinger said that if the administration failed to redress these grievances, they would organise a relay fast.

HAY ON FIRE: Stacks of hay worth Rs 5 lakh, meant for the horses of the Army, were gutted in a fire near Kiratpur village on the Nalagarh road on Sunday. According to information available, the fire broke out around 11.30 am when a stack of hay caught fire. The breeze added to the damage and soon the fire spread to the entire hay stacked in the area. It took two fire engines, one from Panchkula and another from HMT, Pinjore, five hours to extinguish the fire.

HARYANA

AMBALA
AWARENESS CAMP: The Life Insurance Corporation organised an awareness camp in Shahpur village here on Sunday. The branch manager, Mr P.K. Bhardwaj, and the Development Officer, Mr R.K. Mittal, explained the different insurance policies. Mr Bhardwaj said the corporation had launched a “village insurance scheme” for the rural people. Under this scheme, Rs 25,000 would be given as a grant to the panchayats which would adopt it.

2 KILLED: Two labourers were killed in Ambala city while unloading marble stones from a truck. According to information, the labourers were pressed when marble plates fell on them. One of them, Raj Kumar, died on the spot, while the other succumbed to his injuries in the PGI, Chandigarh. The police has registered a case in this regard.

SERVICE CAMP: The NSS unit of SD College, Ambala cantonment, organised a one-day service camp in slum areas. Students distributed woollens among several residents of Balmiki Colony and Dehra Colony. The Principal of the college, Mr Desh Bandhu, and senior lecturers were present on this occasion.

PANIPAT
RE-ELECTED: Mr Satyindra Singh was re-elected as the president of the District Bar Association here on Saturday. He defeated Mr Randhir Singh Ghangas by a margin of 67 votes. Mr Subhash Chander, Mr Varinder Sharma, Mr Sandeep Panchal and Mr Sat Pal Verma, have already been elected as vice-president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer, respectively.

DEBATE CONTEST: Priyanka Sethi of the local Bal Vikas School won the first prize in an inter-school English debate contest organised by Delhi Public School (DPS), Panipat Refinery, on Friday. Sakshi Sharma of Bal Vikas and Priyanka Lajpal of DPS won second and third prizes, respectively. Mr Jaspal Singh, Executive Director of the refinery, gave away the prizes.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KANGRA
AWARDED: The District Friends Club, Rey, conferred LJN award-2001 on Mr Rajiv Mahajan, a journalist of Nurpur, for his contribution in the field of journalism. Dr Rajan Sushant, Revenue Minister, gave away the prize during the closing ceremony of the International Bharat Mahotsava organised by the club at Rey on Friday.

NURPUR
LOK ADALAT: A lok adalat was organised here under the chairmanship of Mr J.K. Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-Additional Judicial Magistrate, on Friday. As many as 38 cases were scheduled and presented in the adalat and of which 23 were disposed of.