R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
MINOR ABDUCTED: The police has booked Gourav, a resident of Guru Nanak Pura, under Islamabad police station, allegedly for abducting a minor of the same area. Mr Puran Chand, father of the victim, in his complaint has alleged that the accused, who works in a private firm, had abducted his daughter on Thursday. A case has been registered.

LOK ADALAT: As many as 24 cases were disposed of by the Labour Lok Adalat here on Friday. An amount of Rs 3 lakh was awarded as compensation to workers. The adalat was organised under the presidentship of Mr Harpreet Kaur Jeewan, presiding officer, Labour Court.

TWO KILLED: Two persons were nabbed for fishing in a banned area of the Harike bird sanctuary here on Friday. The two, Ramu and Arvind, residents of Uttar Pradesh, worked for a local fish contractor at Harike. The accused have been sent in judicial lock up till October 1.

DONATED: Mr R.L. Bhatia, MP, on Saturday gave a cheque for Rs 1 lakh to a computer centre run by Mata Kaulan Mission Hospital for the poor.

GROUP SONG COMPETITION: Students of Manav Public School on Saturday bagged the top position at a district-level national group song competition organised by the Bharat Vikas Parishad.

BATHINDA
KISAN MELA: Dr G.S. Dhaliwal, Director, Punjab Agriculture University, Regional Research Station has said a kisan mela would be held in the city on September 24 where farmers would be apprised of the latest development in the farming sector. An exhibition of seeds, pesticides and model farming techniques would also be organised.

PLANTATION: A plantation drive was started at Government High School, Daan Singh Wala village, near here, with the plantation of more than 100 saplings. The students were motivated to adopt a sapling each.

FARIDKOT
TERRORIST VICTIMS’ KIN: A deputation of the Terrorist Victim Families met Mr M.S. Bhullar, DGP near Pakka village on Friday and demanded the revision of pensions and removal of anomalies. They also submitted a memorandum in this connection.

ELECTED: The following have been selected office-bearers of the District Plant Doctors Services Association: President Dr Atma Singh Sidhu; vice-President Dr Navdeep Singh; General Secretary Dr Jagbir Singh; Joint-Secretary Dr Baldev Singh, and Treasurer Dr Karamjit Singh.

HOSHIARPUR
PSEB WORKSHOP: A workshop on revenue bouyancy was organised at the PSEB circle complex here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Mr H.M. Jain, Engineer-in-Chief/OP (North), Jalandhar. The workshop discussed means to increase revenue.

ABDUCTION CASE: The police on Friday registered a case under Sections 363 and 366, IPC, against Nane of Beedaeon for allegedly abducting a 16-year-old girl. In his complaint, Babhu Dayal, father of the girl said his daughter was abducted from the house when she was alone.

WELFARE PANEL: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Krishna Nagar Walfare Committee” Patron — Dr S.K. Narad; President — Mr O.P. Badwal; General-Secretary — Mr R.K. Julka; and Treasurer — Mr Arjun Singh.

VOTER LISTS: The Election Commission of India has made some changes in the schedule of revision of voter lists. The preliminary publication of voter lists would be done on November 6, 2002. Claims and objections would be received from November 6, 2002 to November 21. The disposal of claims and objections and work for printing and supplements would be done on January 20, 2003. The publication of final voter lists would be made up to January 28, 2003. The District Election Officer, Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar gave this information.

JALANDHAR
RECRUITMENT: The 112 Infantry Battalion (Dogra) will organise a rally to recruit soldiers (general duty) in the Territorial Army at Jalandhar Cantonment on September 23 and 24. Candidates between 18 and 42 years and domicile of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are eligible. Candidates sound in shooting, computers, nursing, repair of vehicles and games will get preference.

LUDHIANA
OFFICE-BEARERS: Mr Tarsem Lal Thapar, president, Samadhi Baba Gajju Ji Thapar Biradari, has nominated the following office bearers: Mr Raj Thapar — senior vice-president; Mr M.L. Thapar, Mr Harsh Thapar and Mr Sunil Thapar — vice-presidents, Mr Karan Thapar — general secretary, Mr Parveen Thapar — secretary, Mr Satish Thapar — secretary (Bhanadara); Mr Ashwani Thapar — secretary (maintenance), Mr Sandeep Thapar — joint secretary-cum-coordinator; Mr Anil Thapar — finance secretary; Mr Vir Bhushan Thapar — joint finance secretary; Mr Prem Thapar — propaganda secretary; Mr Ashok Thapar and Dr Rajesh Thapar — press secretaries; Mr Ramal Thapar — auditor, Mr Raj Kumar Thapar — legal advisor; Mr Ajay Thapar, Mr Ashok Thapar, Mr Atul Thapar, Mr Munish Thapar, Mr Pardeep Thapar, Mr Sunil Thapar, Mr Jagat Mohan Thapar, Mr Surinder Thapar and Mr Harish Thapar — members of the executive committee.

COMPETITIONS HELD: One act play and painting competitions were organised at Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondary School. The judges for the one act play were Mr Paramjit Singh Pammi, Mr Mandeep Singh and Mr Boota Singh Neelon. The first prize for one act play was bagged by students of Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondary School and the second prize was won by Government High School, Sahnewal Rajni Dhawan won a prize for good performance. The judges for the painting competition were Mr Gurmit Singh, Ms Seeta Kalia and Ms Surinder Kaur. Nine students participated in the competition and the results are as follows Kamaljit Kaur of Government High School, Ramgarh stood first. Charandeep Singh of Satyawadi Oswal Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana, stood second and Dilpreet Kaur of Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondary School stood third.

DENTAL CHECK-UP CAMP: A dental check-up camp will be organised by Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in association with Baba Jaswant Singh, Multi-Speciality Dental College at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Sarabha Nagar. Dr Vikram Prabhakar and his team will examine the patients on this occasion.

LAUNCHED: Neva Garments, a part of Duke Group, will introduce their new range of undergarments for men and women. Mr Anuj Jain, Assistant Manager, Advertising, in a press issued here on Saturday said that the company would launch their new product under the brand name of Neva Esancia.

MEDICAL CAMP: Swami Vivekanand Swarag Ashram Trust will organise a medical, dental and eye check-up camp at Sri Hans Raj Jain Eye and General Hospital on Sunday. According to a press note, Dr Sumit Sukhi, Dr Firdaus Sukhi, Dr B.S.Ahuja, Dr Gagan Bajaj and Dr I.P.S. Chabra will examine the patients.

SLIDE SHOW: Dr Jaidev Singh Dhillon and Dr Ajay Chhabra organised an educational slide show at Sacred Health Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, on Friday for primary and junior section of the school. The experts also demonstrated the correct method of brushing the teeth.

SYMPOSIUM: Sofat Infertility Centre will on Sunday organise a workshop and symposium on ‘New Trends in Infertility Management’ on their premises. According to a press statement, a panel of experts will address the delegates converging from all over India. The experts will also conduct a workshop for the purpose of imparting training to the doctors who were interested in the field of infertility treatment. Those attending the workshop are Dr R. Rajan from Kottayam and Dr Vimal Soneshwar from Mumbai.

BANK BRANCH: Allahabad Bank, opened its maiden specialised commercial agricultural finance branch in Punjab at Ludhiana. Mr Chopra, Assistant General Manager of the bank, elaborated various loan schemes launched by the bank including merchant credit and Kisan Card for farmers. Bank has already issued over 2 lakh Kisan Cards all over the country, he said. Mr Chopra said that on the technology front, about 80 per cent of the bank’s working had been computerised and the bank would have 100ATMs by the end of this financial year.

MEDICAL CAMP HELD: Bhai Ghanaya Ji Seva Sanstha (regd.), Haibowal Khurd, organised a camp in memory of Jaspal Singh Pala who had donated his eyes. The camp was held in Chaunki Mann, Ludhiana at Baba Nand Singh Charitable Hospital. Dr Ramesh of Mansuran examined 205 patients. Dr Narinder Tur and Dr Sachin examined 180 children. The convener, Mr Kartar Singh Garib, urged the people to donate their eyes. The camp was inaugurated by the chairman of sanstha, Mr Harcharan Singh Chann and Mr Kartar Singh Garib.

MUKTSAR
COMBINE HARVESTER: Ms Usha R. Sharma, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, has banned the use of combine harvesters and other such mechanical tools to harvest paddy in the district from 7 p.m. to 9 am till October 31.

PATHANKOT
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected-office bearers of the Nehru Market Welfare Associations — President — Mr Baljit Singh; Vice-President — Mr Som Dutt; General Secretary — Mr S.K. Mehra; and Tresure — Mr G.S. Bhatia.

PATIALA
COMPUTER LAB: In order to provide computer education to the under-privileged and rural students the State Bank of Patiala under its Community Services Banking, established a computer lab at Government Middle School, Jindalpur here on Saturday. Mr P. Dinkara Rao, General Manager (Planning & Development) of the bank while inaugurating the lab also declared that the bank will also provide funds for the schools library. Assitant General Manager S.K. Ghai and Chief Manager, Community Services Banking Mr M.S. Jaggi were also present on the occasion. Mr Rao while speaking on the occasion informed that the bank had already established computer labs at three other schools in the district so far.

SOUGHT: The Culture and Heritage Conservation Society on Saturday demanded National Heritage City status for Gharam which is situated 27 km from here where it claimed Lord Rama had actually been born. In a statement here, Society Convener M.S. Randhawa appealed to the state government to celebrate Dasehra festival at Gharam. He said even the Punjab State Gazzeteer of 1904 described Gharam as the “nansal” of Lord Rama. He said Gharam was at one time a big town equal to Multan, Jalandhar and Sirhind as per the tourist guide published by the Director, Archives, Pepsu. Dr Randhawa said the excavations by the Punjab Archives Department had proved the antiquity of Gharam with ancient pottery and coins of Ramayana period being discovered from the mound.

AIDS AWARENESS CAMP: An AIDS awareness camp was organised on Thursday at Patti by the International Forum for Education and Development (IFFED). Mr Baldev Singh, a truck operator presided. More than 150 truck drivers and cleaners participated.

HARYANA

AMBALA
DEMANDED: Citizens Council Ambala Cantt today demanded that Jagadhari road needs time-bound repair. Chairman of the council, Mr N.C. Jain, said the Jagadhari road from PWD rest house to Tangri bridge is damaged in certain places. “The repair work is handled by the PWD authorities. Though they made the patchwork but the work is badly done. It is a sheer wastage of public money,” a release said. He said the Jagadhari road, which is a state highway, needs immediate widening on priority basis.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: On the occasion of International Peace Day a blood donation and eye donation camp was organised by AIMT, Ambala City with the cooperation of Rotary Club, Ambala Central. The camp was inaugurated by the Inspector General of Police, Ambala range Mr Alok Joshi. The president of the club Mr Tajinder Bajaj, president Inner Wheel Club, Ms Nisha Aggarwal, project chairman Mr Atul Jain, secretary of college management Mr Kirti Prashad Jain and Dr Jagtar Singh were present on the occasion. The chief guest, Mr Joshi also donated blood.

ELECTED: Mr Subhash Kalia and Mr Jagdish Parshad Aggarwal have been elected chairman and vice-chairman of the Shree Ramlila Committee of Sector 32. Other members include: president — Mr Satish Katyal; senior vice-president — Mr Rajneesh Chander Sharma; vice-president — Mr Yashvir Kumar; general secretary — Mr Rajinder Singh Parmar; finance secretary — Mr Rajat Bajaj; joint secretary — Mr Nagesh Kumar; propaganda secretary — Mr Rajesh Katyal; director — Mr Ram Prakash Bhardwaj; and chief patron — Mr Ashwani Khurmi.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DHARAMSALA
BUFFALOES RESCUED: The police intercepted a truck near Chanani village while reportedly smuggling 32 buffaloes out of the state. According to the SP, the police arrested Dilshad Ali of Bodhpur in Saharanpur and registered a case under Section 289 to the IPC and Section 11(1) A of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The truck had been impounded.

MANDI
RSS CAMP: A three-day provincial camp of the RSS will be held next month at Dhangu in the Balh valley of this district from October 19. Provincial sangh chalak Jagan Nath Sharma said on Saturday that several national and state-level officer-bearers would attend the camp.