The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, March 10, 2003, 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
GND VARSITY EXAMS: Guru Nanak Dev University has despatched the roll numbers to eligible candidates for BA/BSc/BCom etc for part I, II and III annual examinations commencing from March 29. Any candidate who does not receive his or her roll number up to March 10, is advised to contact the officer concerned of the examinations branch along with original documents of the lower examination and two attested passport size photographs on any working day.

COP BOOKED: The Majitha district police, near here, has booked a Head Constable for taking bribe from Harjit Singh, a resident of Bhinder village under Beas police station. Harjit Singh in his complaint alleged that on February 18 the Head Constable, along with a police party, raided his house saying that he had information that the complainant was selling illicit liquor. They searched his house, but found nothing. He alleged that the accused threatened to implicate him in a false case and demanded a bribe of Rs 2,000. He, however, gave Rs 1,500 to him. A case has been registered.

DOCTORS’ MEET: The State Bank of India, Town Hall, Amritsar branch, organised a doctors’ meet at a local hotel to launch their new scheme, “Doctor Plus”, here on Friday. The scheme is meant to finance qualified medical practitioners. Mr V.S. David, Deputy General Manager, was the chief guest.

BATHINDA
BLOOD DONATION : Volunteers of the United Welfare Society on Saturday donated 11 units of blood at the local Civil Hospital.

INJURED: Two persons were injured in separate incidents in the district while two bodies were cremated by an NGO. A cyclist was injured when he was hit by a vehicle on the Bathinda-Muktsar road about 10 km from here on Friday night. He has been identified as Pokhar Ram. In another incident, another cyclist Makhan Singh was injured when he was hit by a car on Saturday.

FAZILKA
TWO KILLED: Two persons were killed in two different road accidents. According to the available information Satnam Singh (35), a resident of Mullianwali village of this subdivision, was crushed to death when the motorcycle, on which he was sitting pillion, was hit by a sugarcane-loaded tractor-trailer. He died on the spot. The accident occurred between Nukerian and Aliana villages, about 20 km from here, on Friday evening. In another accident a Maruti car collided with a Punjab Roadways bus of Ferozepur depot going from Fazilka on Sunday, at around 4 a.m. near Ladhuka village on the Ferozepur road, 14 km from here. Sanjiv Kumar (22), a resident of Abohar, died on the spot. The other occupants of the car sustained minor injuries.

HOSHIARPUR
BAN ORDERS: Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, District Magistrate, has re-imposed Section 144, CrPC, in the district. He has banned the assembly of five or more persons, taking out of processions and shouting of slogans and carrying of firearms and sharp-edged weapons in public places.

JALANDHAR
VISIT: Mr Justice Jasbir Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court visited the local School of Legal Studies at the Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus on the Ladhewali Road here on Friday. Dr Daljit Singh, Headmaster of the school, welcomed the chief guest.

ELECTED: Mr Rabinder Singh Marok, has been elected president of the Bar Association of Nakodar while Mr Raj Kumar Sidhu, Mr Satwinder Singh Khinda and Mr Sandeep Bakshi have been elected vice-president, secretary and joint secretary, respectively, of the association.

LUDHIANA
DENTAL CAMP: A dental camp was held on Sunday on the campus of Dr D.N. Kotnis Health and Education Centre in memory of freedom fighter Gian Singh Dhingra. The camp was inaugurated by Mr Madan Lal Bagga, councillor. Mr Pardeep Thakur, Bureau Chief of a vernacular daily, presided over the camp. Dr Sukhmeet Kaur, BDS, examined around 150 patients.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
CONTEST: A paper reading contest was organised by the Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences to mark International Women’s day here on Saturday. It was inaugurated by Mr D.S. Chawla, president of the local United Cycle Parts Manufacturing Association. Fifteen colleges from Punjab and Ludhiana participated.

PATIALA
AWARD: The Lions Club International on Sunday conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award on the State Bank of Patiala General Manager, Operations, Mr J.R. Devgan, Punjab Police DIG (Intelligence), Mr H.S. Randhawa, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) member, Finance, Mr H.S. Sohi, Director and former Director, Research and Medical Education, Mr Ajmer Singh, for their contribution towards society. Speaking on the occasion, the region chairman, Mr K.S. Sandhu, said the group had also organised a region conference, “Amarpreet 2003”, here on Saturday.

RESENTMENT: The State Bank of Patiala Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Employees Welfare Association on Sunday claimed that the bank management was violating the guidelines of the Union Government on reservation policy. Speaking at its fifth triennial conference in which the SC and ST National Commission member, Mr Narain Singh Kesri, was the chief guest, the association secretary, Mr J.S. Jaggi, said the violations had been brought to the notice of the commission. Mr Kesri also submitted a memorandum to Mr Kesri. Prominent among others who spoke were Mr Subhash Kankheria, Mr Rajinder Pratap Singh, Mr M.S. Walia, Dr Gurmit Singh Kallermajri and Prof Gurnam Singh Muktsar.

PHILLAUR
KIDNAP BID: Certain miscreants allegedly attempted to kidnap a woman from near Phillaur bus stand on Friday. The police which was alterted by some residents chased the vehicle and succeeded in nabbing one of the three miscreants.

ROPAR
SAVINGS AWARDS: Small saving investors in the district have received 1,500 awards in the coupon scheme that ended on November 2002. The first award of 1 kg gold was received by Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Mohali, and a petrol car by Poonam Saini, a resident of Ropar. The Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Ms Seema Jain, gave this information in a press note here on Thursday. She further said this year out of a target of Rs 253 crore, Rs 208 crore, had been collected till date.

WOMEN’S DAY: The Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bhaddal, organised a blood donation camp and a paper reading contest on Friday in which 21 technical institutes affiliated with Punjab Technical University participated. The programme, organised in connection with International Women’s Day, was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Ms Seema Jain.

BANNED: The local district magistrate has ordered the closure of liquor vends in the areas where the municipal council alections are scheduled to be held on March 9 in the district. The order will remain in force from 7 pm of March 8 till 7 pm on March 9.

CHANDIGARH

AWARENESS CAMP: A 10- day awareness generation camp at Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, was inaugurated on Saturday by Mr Christopher J. Edwin, Vice- President, National Council of YMCAs of India. Addressing the gathering, he congratulated the women on Women's Day and emphasised the need to empower women at the grassroots level. At least 50 women are attending the camp. Among others, Mr Arvind J. Noel, general secretary, YMCA, Chandigarh, and Ms Tejinder Bajwa of Bal Bhavan also addressed the women.

WORKSHOP: A workshop on “Vedic Science Rituals and Vaastu” was organised by Transmedia Times, an NGO working for the promotion of science and technology, in association with the All-India Rajput Students Aid Society here on Sunday. According to Mr Jagdish Singh Ranawat, coordinator of the workshop, the aim of the workshop was to popularise Vedic sciences among people. During the course of the workshop an objective and scientific insight into the Vedic “karmkand” and different religious practices prevalent in various sects, faiths and cults was given through scientific explanations.

CAMP: The local unit of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation organised a health awareness and “sadhna” camp at Hallo Majra village here on Sunday. At least 378 patients were diagnosed by medical specialists and medicines were distributed among them free of cost, according to a press note.

HEALTH CAMP: The local Mukat Hospital and Heart Institute organised a social awareness and free multi-speciality check-up camp at Nahan on Sunday. At least 352 patients were examined during the camp and 75 ECGs were done free of cost. The camp was organised in association with the Rotary Club, Nahan. A continuing medical education (CME) programme was organised for doctors on common cardiac problems. More than 50 doctors from the area attended the CME. The resource persons were Dr S. Jindal, Dr A.N. Ghosh and Dr Pratik Soni.

PANCHKULA
LEPROSY CASES: As many as 238 cases of leprosy have been reported in the township, according to a survey conducted by the Health Department in the slum colonies here. These patients were examined by a team of doctors at Sherawali temple here on Sunday and iven free medicines free of cost, informed Dr Sandeep Sahni.

SAS NAGAR
UNION RALLY: Members of the Punwire Employees Union held a rally at Balongi Chowk here on Sunday. Leaders of the union addressed the rally and demanded that Punwire be started again and the employees paid their pending salaries.

ARRESTED: The police has arrested Amrik Singh Sodhi under the NDPS Act and seized 500 grams of opium from his possession. Sodhi allegedly used to supply opium to addicts from a house in Sector 11 here. He has been remanded in judicial custody till March 21.

FOOD FESTIVAL: The Kerala food festival was held here on Sunday. Hundreds of residents from the township and Chandigarh visited the festival and tasted various delicacies. It was organised by the local Malayalee Samajam. The festival was inaugurated by Mr T.K. Nair, Chairman, Public Enterprise Selection Board, and former Chief Secretary, Punjab.