The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, February 25, 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
SEMINAR CONCLUDES: The three-day national seminar on the life and times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh concluded with the presentation of 10 papers by scholars here on Saturday. The seminar was organised by the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Chair of Guru Nanak Dev University to mark the bicentenary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

HEALTH CAMPAIGN: Medical services of the Army’s Panther Division undertook a family health awareness campaign (FHAC), a national programme, in Punjab. As an ongoing programme, an informational, education and communication (IEC) node has been established at the station health organisation, Amritsar cantonment. More than 500 families of Army personnel attended the camp organised at IEC node here on Saturday.

TEACHERS URGED: Dr Amrik Singh, former secretary of the Association of Indian Universities and former Vice-Chancellor of the Punjabi University, Patiala, on Saturday urged the teachers of Punjabi and other languages to come forward to work for the development of regional languages. He was addressing the first convocation of the faculty of languages and humanities of Guru Nanak Dev University.

PHILLAUR
VALEDICTORY FUNCTION: The valedictory function of the six-day “Vertical interaction course” was held on Saturday at the MRS Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur. In his valedictory address, Mr DR Bhatti, IPS, Director of the Academy, stressed upon the need to initiate concrete steps to sensitise the police forces in the country on ethical issues.

CHANDIGARH

ELECTED: Mohinder Singh, Bant Singh and Satpal Singh were elected president, vice-president and general secretary respectively of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Transport and Mechanical Workers Union on Sunday. Mohan Lal, cashier, Raju, press secretary and Ashok Kumar, secretary were among others elected a press note of the union said.

RESIDENTS SEEK REDRESS: The Residents Welfare Association, Sector 45-A, in its general body meeting on Sunday decided to approach the Administration, the Municipal Corporation and the police for solutions to their problems. The association demanded immediate implementation of the August 14 orders of the Administrator and Advisor for closing all unauthorised passages in the sector with sealing walls for safety and security reasons as well as maintenance of parks and V-6 roads, fixing iron railings around the V-5 road near Burail to check encroachment and entry of stray cattle, provision of a park in front of houses numbering 101 to 113 and cancellation of permission for a guest house in front of houses numbering 101 to 113.

BAD ROAD: The road approaching Rajdhani, Pushpak, CSIO, Labour Bureau and Punjab and Sindh group housing societies in Sector 48 is in a pitiable condition. It had pot-holes and water logging was one of the major problems witnessed by residents, a resident told the Chandigarh Tribune. The road built a year back was unable to bear the heavy traffic due to construction activity, he said.

QUIZ WINNER HONOURED: The International Forum for Awareness and Accountability honoured the young winner of Zee TV’s quiz show, Baazi Kiski, Ravjot Singh, here on Sunday. Mr Harbhagwan Singh, Chairman of IFAA, and a senior advocate, presented a trophy to Ravjot Singh at a small get-together. Mr Harbhagwan Singh said that IFFA was dedicated to the cause of spreading awareness about human rights and inculcate a respect for human life, in which the youngsters like Ravjot Singh could play a role.

PANCHKULA
HEPATITIS-B CAMP: A free hepatitis-B immunisation camp was organised by Rotary Club, Panchkula at Saket Institute for its orthopaedically-handicapped inmates in association with the district health administration. Mr Parveen Kumar Goyal, vice-president of the Club, informed that this was the third camp where the third and last dose of the medicine was given to 45 inmates. Later, the members of the club distributed sweets to the inmates. Mr Rakesh Jhalani, Director of the Institute, thanked the club president, Mr Mahesh Chandgothia for dedicated service to the society.

JOINT FORUM: A meeting of representatives of all Welfare Associations was held here today, where it was decided to dissolve the existing forums — Panchkula Joint Welfare Association Forum and the Panchkula Resident Welfare Forum in order to unite all associations under the banner of Federation of Welfare Associations, Panchkula. Brig. (retd.) R.S. Sharma, president House Owners Welfare Association, Sector 17, has been appointed as the adhoc president.

HARYANA

BHIWANI
ONE ARRESTED: The police has arrested a person on the charge of threatening a trader. The district police chief, Mr Rajender Singh, said the accused was arrested within two hours of his giving a threat call. The trader, Mr Radhey Shyam, told the police that an anonymous person had sent a letter to him demanding a ransom of Rs 3.25 lakh. The miscreant had also threatened to abduct and kill his son if the amount was not handed over to him near the Devsar crossing.

UNION LEADERS BOOKED: The police arrested five leaders of the Khanak Pahad Mazdoor Union when they were meeting the Deputy Commissioner in his camp office. The leaders have alleged that the arrests were pre-planned. The SP Mr Rajender Singh Gahlot, said the arrest were made on the directions of the DIG, Dr John V. George. The police has registered a case under Sections 147, 148, 149, 395, 307, 332, 353, 186 of the IPC and 25, 57, 59 of the Arms Act against these leaders.

OPIUM SEIZED: The police on Saturday seized opium worth Rs 1.50 lakh from an accused and booked him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. According to police sources, the accused identified as Sanjay, a resident of district Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, was nabbed after a small chase. On searching the bag, the police found 10 kg opium in it.

FATEHABAD
UNDERTRIAL BOOKED: An undertrial was booked here on Saturday for threatening an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) who was on duty to produce him in court. According to sources, when the ASI, Mr Jai Narayan, was boarding a bus with the accused Chhotu Ram the latter insisted on going after some time. But when the ASI refused to heed to his request, the accused allegedly abused the cop and threatened to eliminate him. The police has booked the accused under Sections 343, 186 and 506 of the IPC.

SONEPAT
LIGHTNING KILLS YOUTH: A 25-year-old youth was killed when he was struck by lightning at Basaudi village, about 20 km from here, on Saturday, the police said. The youth, identified as Kuldeep, was working in a field when he met the tragic end, the police said, adding that the body had been sent for a post-mortem.