AMRITSAR
CAR STOLEN: A Maruti van belonging to Mr Brij Bedi, president of citizens’ Forum and husband of super cop Kiran Bedi, was reportedly stolen by some miscreants late on Monday night. The van was stolen from outside the house. A case has been registered.

LOANS DISTRIBUTED: Loans worth Rs 2.43 crore pertaining to bank’s various schemes like housing and personal loans were distributed by Mr Rajindra Kakkar, Chief General Manager of the bank, at the loan disbursement function here on Tuesday.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following were elected office-bearers of the PSEB Stenographer’s Union on Tuesday. Mr Narinder Singh — president; Mr Satnam Singh — general secretary; Mr Gurdial Singh Scolia — adviser, Mr Bal Krishan — publicity secretary, and Mr Prem Chand — finance secretary.

INAUGURATED: Mr Brij Mohan Kapur, Mayor, on Tuesday inaugurated the work of laying premix on the metalled roads at Krishna Nagar locality here. He also listened to the problems of the residents of the area.

BATHINDA
FOUR HELD: The police arrested four persons under the Gambling Act and has recovered Rs 700 from their possession on Tuesday. An official press note issued here said those arrested had been identified as Mahesh Kumar, Raj Kumar, Mangat Ram and Hari Darshan, all residents of the city.

FAZILKA
FATAL BURNS: Neeru Chopra (26) of Nehru Nagar locality succumbed to her burn injuries at the local Civil Hospital on Tuesday. In her dying declaration, Neeru had stated that she had sustained the burns accidently while lighting the stove. The deceased was the wife of a fruit merchant and is survived by three minor children.

SUICIDE: Jagtar Singh (50), a farmer of Bannawala village, 30 km from here, allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poison. He was admitted to the local Civil Hospital in a critical condition and died after a short while.

GURDASPUR
LIFE IMPRISONMENT: The District and Sessions Judge, Mr K.K. Garg, on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to undertrial Sukhjinder Singh for murdering Surjit Singh. According to an FIR lodged in 1997 with the Dhariwal police station by Sukhjinder Singh, a resident of Sidhwan village had accused Surjit Singh of stealing a cock from his poultry farm. As per the FIR the victim was done to death with a sharp-edged weapon.

HOSHIARPUR
CONSUMERS FUNCTION: The District Food and Civil Supply Department, Hoshiarpur, organised a function to make consumers aware of their rights. Mr Vivek Partap Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, presided over the function on Tuesday. Representatives of various social organisations, prominent citizens and consumers participated.

SHOBHA YATRA: A big shobha yatra of Shiva Lingam of “Saphetic Manni” (jewel), to be installed at Kuttstheshwar Mahadev temple at Sukhi Choei Ashram, was taken out by devotees of Brahmlin Swami Kuttstheshwrananda in the main bazar of the city here on Wednesday. Thousands of disciples and devotees of Brahmlin Swami, including saints from all over the country, participated. Langers of sweets and fruits was served.

JALANDHAR
BANNED: As a preventive measure against the outbreak of diarrhoea and other diseases in the district, Deputy Commissioner K. Shiva Prasad has imposed a ban on the sale of all uncovered eatables, including fruit, ice and uncertified mineral water. This was stated in a press note issued here on Wednesday.

AWARENESS CAMP: An eye-cum-environment awareness camp in memory of former Akal Takht Jathedar Sadhu Singh Bhaura will be organised on March 24 and 31 at Akal Eye Hospital here. This was stated by Dr Balbir Singh Bhaura, chief eye surgeon of the hospital, here on Wednesday.

BODY FOUND: The police on Wednesday found the body of Jaswant Singh from the fields near Meeru village under Nakodar police station. A report said that the victim had been murdered allegedly with sharp-edged weapons. On the complaint of relatives of the deceased, a murder case has been registered against Pavitar Singh of the same village.

LUDHIANA
EYE OPERATION CAMP: The 41st free eye camp by Dr B.L.Kapoor Memorial Hospital will be organised on Sunday at Shiv Mandir Noorwala Road, Kanija village . Dr T.S.Cheema, Medical Superintendent, of the hospital in a press note said that Eye Specialist Dr R.Danial and Dr Chaterjee, former professor in Christian Medical College and Hospital will examine the patients. Free operations will be done at Kapoor Memorial Hospital and free medicines provided to the patients.

MEDICAL CAMP: A medical camp will be organised by Bhai Ghanya Ji Sewa Sanstha,(Hebowal Khurd) at Golden Avenue near the office of Golf Link Colony, Hambran Road on Sunday. The camp will include dental, eye and medical checkup. General medicines will be given free to patients. Blood groups also will be checked according to a press note.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
‘DISSOLVE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES’: With the coming in of new state government, traders and industrialists are demanding dissolution of existing district level grievances committees. According to Anil Suraj, vice president Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, these committees have been constituted while ignoring the norms laid down by the government and in most of these committees, the business community has not been given due representation.

MOGA
LOK ADALAT: Judges, who are members of the Moga Bar Association, and other officers of the local courts in a meeting chaired by the Additional Sessions Judge, Mr J.S. Chawla, on Wednesday discussed about the proposed Lok Adalat to be held here on April 20. The District Sessions Judge, Mr A.N. Jindal, has directed the managers of the banks to submit their cases pertaining to bank loans by March 27th to the court so that the same could be settled in the Lok Adalat.

MOTOR CYCLE STOLEN: A motor cycle belonging to the Gurmeet Singh, parked in front of the Kaura Nursing Home on GT Road, was stolen on Tuesday evening. According to information available, some unidentified persons drove it away from there after unlocking it. A case has been registered.

SOILED NOTES: The Reserve Bank of India has directed all nationalised banks in Punjab to replace the soiled currency notes being circulated in the state. According to reports, currency notes of the denominations of Re 1 to Rs 10 valued at lakhs of rupees, which are at present in circulation are not being accepted by the banks.

NAWANSHAHR
SENTENCED: Mr Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, Additional District and Sessions Judge, has convicted and sentenced Liyaqat Ali and Amarjit to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500 each under Sections 302 of the IPC for murdering Harish Kumar of Banga in October, 2000.

TEACHER’S SORE: The teachers working in the Government middle schools of the district are sore over the non-payment of their salaries for the past couple of months. A deputation of teachers led by Mr Bhupinder Singh Warraich, district president of the Democratic Teachers Front, met the District Education Officer, Mr Ujjagar Singh Mahi, in this connection, who assured to take up the matter with the higher authorities.

INSTRUCTIONS: Mr Ashok Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, in a press note issued on Monday stated that as per the instructions of the state government the district officials had been asked to remain in their offices to hear the grievances of the general public on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The officials would be required to visit the villages every Tuesday and Thursday. The complaints received would be sent to the officials concerned who in turn were to send their report within 15 days, the DC added.

ART EXHIBITION: The local Ralla Mal Bhucher DAV Centenary Public School organised “Srijan” an exhibition displaying art and craft works prepared by the school children, here on Wednesday. Ms Guriqbal Kaur, wife of Mr Parkash Singh, MLA, inaugurated it and presided over the prize distribution function. The students who have excelled in different activities were awarded on the occasion, informed Ms Indira Singla, the school principal.

ROTARY CLUB: Mr Harminder Singh, district governor, Rotary Club, paid a visit here on Sunday to take stock of the construction work of the Rotary Bhavan. He lauded the efforts of the club for making the social service projects in the area a success.

PATHANKOT
MUNICIPAL BUDGET: The Sujanpur and Dinanagar municipal councils have passed budgets of Rs 2.30 crore and Rs 2.10 crore, respectively, for 2002-2003. Mr Vinay Mahajan, president of the Sujanpur municipal council, said adequate funds would be provided for the construction of a children park, a bus stand, a community hall and the development of a Dalit basti.

MEDICAL CAMP: A medical check-up camp was organised at Banilodhi village near here on Tuesday by the local Rotary Club. Mr Ashneel Makkar, chairman of the project, said more than 600 patients were examined and given medicines free of cost.

PATIALA
APPOINTED: Mr Rakesh Dhiman, resident of the B-Tank road here, has been appointed the general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress (PPYC). This was stated in a press note issued by the president of the PPYC, Mr Devinder Singh Babu.

CLUBS ON DECLINE: A deputation of the Patiala Aviation Club Workers Union headed by its president, Mr Balinder Kumar Sharma, met the Chief Minister, Mr Amarinder Singh, on Wednesday and presented a memorandum to him apprising him of problems being faced by employees of the four flying clubs here. The Chief Minister was also briefed about the deteriorating conditions of the flying clubs in the city. The Chief Minister assured the deputation that he would look into the matter on priority basis.

NEW IGP: Dr P. M. Das belonging to the 1978 batch of the IPS assumed the charge of Inspector-General of Police, Indian Reserve Battalions, here on Wednesday. Mr Das was earlier posted as the Inspector-General of Police, Railways.

OFFICE-BEARERS: A meeting of the Patiala Chemists Association was held here on Wednesday. Mr Surjit Mehta and Mr Gurinder Singh were elected the president and the general secretary of the association respectively.

AWARD FOR DC: Sai Model High School here has decided to honour Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, former Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, and his wife, Ms Ravinder Kaur Bir, in recognition of the commendable work done by Mr Bir for the development of Patiala. The Principal of the school, Ms R.K. Modgil, will present the Sai Raj Kirpa Award to them.

SHOWS TO CONTINUE: The National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS) here, after staging more than 25 shows of its musical play “Daire” in several districts of the state, has decided to continue with the shows to coincide with the World Theatre Day, falling on March 27. Director of the play Pran Sabharwal said the statewide success of his production has inspired him to stage more shows.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: A blood donation camp was organised at the State College of Education in collaboration with Punjab National Bank here on Wednesday. The principal of the college, Mr Kanwarjit Singh, said more than 90 students and several bank officials donated blood. An exhibition of posters and slogans was also organised at the camp.

PHAGWARA
MUNICIPAL BUDGET: At a meeting held here on Monday the local Nagar Council adopted a Budget of Rs 10.41 crore. The term of the council is expiring on Tuesday. As per the break-up, Rs 628 lakh would be spent on the development of the town, Rs 365 lakh on establishment and Rs 48 lakh on contingency.

SANGRUR
HEALTH CAMP: As many as 150 patients were examined by Dr Manmohan Singh, a cardiologist from Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, at a free heart check-up camp on Sunday. The camp was organised by the Prem Goyal Memorial Trust at the local Mata Kali Devi temple, said Mr Dinesh Goyal, chairman of the trust.

TARN TARAN
THEFT: A resident of the town, Mintoo, today allegedly stole Rs 15,000 and six tolas of gold jewellery from the house of Mr Satish Kumar Jhamb, Principal of the local Government Senior Secondary School. Mintoo also allegedly hit Mr Jhamb's mother with an iron rod. Meanwhile, a car belonging to Mr Gurjinder Singh of Gumtala village was stolen in Goindwal, near Amritsar.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Panjab University Stenographers’ Association: Chairman — Mr J.R. Dhiman; vice-chairman — Mr Dwarka Nath; secretary — Mr Shiv Sharma; joint secretary — Mr S.K. Bhandari and treasurer — Mr Bikram Singh.

HAMIRPUR
YUVA VIKAS CAMP: A five-day-long Yuva Vikas camp concluded at Bijheri in the district on Tuesday evening. The camp was organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra, Hamirpur, in cooperation with the local people. Mr Amarjit, a member of the zila parishad called upon the youth to shun the use of intoxicants and thereby save the society from its wrath.

NAHAN
SIX HELD: The Nahan police has arrested six persons for gambling, from a small flour mill near the Delhi gate, here on Tuesday and seized Rs 10,290 as gambling money from them. According to the police, the persons were allegedly caught red-handed and have been bailed out.

SOLAN
RATION MONEY: The Himachal Pradesh Police Service Officers Welfare Association, at a meeting held at Shimla on Sunday, thanked the government for its decision to grant “ration money” to police personnel upto the rank of DSP. However, in view of the current financial crunch, the association requested the government to restrict the allowance up to the rank of Inspectors, said ASP Sundar Lal, president of the association, while talking with mediapersons.