The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, April 6, 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

ABOHAR
RALLY HELD: A rally was held here to express anguish over attack by the coalition forces on Iraq. A large number of employees and farm workers assembled at Nehru Park on Friday. they were addressed by Mr Gurmail Singh, district president, Democratic Teachers Front, Mr Om Parkash, convener, Mazdoor Mulajim Taalmail Kendra, mr Maan Singh, Kisan Sabha, Mr Harnam Singh, Khet Mazdoor Sabha and others.

PROTEST HELD: Heads and teachers of various private schools aided by the Education Department on Friday marched to the subdivisional complex to register their protest against the denial of cheques by the local treasury against grant-in-aid for the last quarter of the year. After expressing resentment before the assistant Treasury Officer, they met the SDM, Mr Jaskiran Singh, to apprise him of the situation. The SDM called the Assistant Treasury Officer in his court and sought his explanation. The ATO reportedly told the SDM that District Treasury Officer, Ferozepore, had denied permission to issue cheques to the aided schools.

AMRITSAR
DHARNA HELD: Hundreds of factory workers along with shoddy spinning mill owners on Friday staged a dharna in front of the Central Excise Office on The Mall. The general secretary of the Federation of Shoddy Industry Association, Mr R.C. Khanna, said the entire textile industry here had joined the day-long dharna in protest against the withdrawal of exemption of excise duty to the shoddy segment.

STRESSED: Prof Darbari Lal, state Minister for Education, stressed the need for fact-based reporting by newspersons. He was presiding over a seminar organised by Amritsar district unit of the Punjab and Chandigarh Union of Journalists here on Friday.

BATALA
HOUSES FOR SCs: The Punjab government will provide 8000 houses to the Scheduled Castes/Tribes families under the Begampura Housing Scheme. This was disclosed here on Friday by Mr Ashwani Sekhri, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare.

GURDASPUR
SEIZED: The police on Friday arrested Rupinder Singh, alias Rubi, of Jiwanwal Babri and Yunus Masih, a resident of Amipur, under the Excise Act. According to Mr RPS Brar, SSP, 10 cases of whisky and one case of rum were seized. A case under Section 61/1/14 of the Excise Act has been registered.

ARRESTED: The police on Friday arrested two persons for preparing duplicate CD cassettes of T-Series. Mr RPS Brar, SSP, identified the accused as Bhagat Singh, alias Rinku and Vikas Mahajan, alias Rishi, both residents of Gurdaspur. As many as 143 duplicate CD cassettes were recovered. A case has been registered.

KAPURTHALA
SEMINAR ORGANISED: The local unit of the Red Cross in collaboration with the Punjab State AIDS Control Society organised a seminar on AIDS and drug abuse for panches and sarpanches. Mrs Ashu Verma, wife of the Deputy Commissioner and president, District Welfare Society, presided over the seminar. Mrs Verma gave 35 booklets to each sarpanch for distribution in their villages.

KHARAR
ARRESTED: The local police has arrested Vicky, a resident of Mauli Jagran village, after the recovery of a stolen car (DL-08CA-7158) from his possession at a naka near Balaungi village on Friday. According to Mr Rupinder Singh, DSP, Kharar, the accused used to sell cars after stealing these. A scooter (PB-23A-0479) and a Maruti car (CH-01-D-1711) were also reportedly stolen by him. The police has registered a case.

SUNAM
CHARITY SHOW: The local Red Cross Society organised a charity show in memory of singers Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar here on Friday night. Mr Sarvjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, was the chief guest while Mr Parminder Singh Gill, SDM, Sunam, presided over the function. Brijesh Ahuja, a playback singer from Mumbai, and his troupe presented a cultural programme.

CHANDIGARH

PU SEMINAR: Panjab University in collaboration with the ICSSR (North Western Regional Centre) will organise a one-day seminar on “Governance — its present challenges” on April 7, according to an official press note. It will be inaugurated by Mr T.N.Chaturvedi, Governor of Karnataka. Mr R.S.Varma, a former Chief Secretary of Haryana, will deliver the keynote address. Prof K.N.Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, will preside over the function.

MP’S ASSURANCE: Mr Pawan Bansal, local MP, and Mr Subhash Chawla, Mayor, have announced that the MC will frame better policies for the uplift of residents living in the colonies by ensuring basic amenities to them. They were addressing a public meeting organised by residents of Daddu Majra Colony here, on Friday evening. Mr Bansal announced to release extra funds for sanitation projects in the colonies from his contingency fund to improve the sanitation condition in the colonies. He asked the MC officials to prepare the estimates of such sanitation projects and get these approved from him for the release of funds under the MPLAD scheme.

DHABA OWNERS: The dhaba owners of the transport area whose dhabas were demolished by the enforcement wing of the MC on Thursday along with their area councillor Sohan Lal met Mayor Subhash Chawla and demanded that they should be allotted appropriate sites to run their business. The Mayor assured them that he would visit the area along with senior officials and decide an appropriate site in the transport area to shift their dhabas. However, he warned that encroachments would not be allowed at any cost.

RESIDENTS’ PANEL: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Residents welfare Association, (SBI flats Sector 42-C): president — Mr B.S. Chauhan; vice-president — Mr J.N. Saneja; secretary — Mr Satish Sharma; assistant secretary; Mr R.K. Kapoor; organising secretary — Mr Vinod Sharma; finance secretary — Mr Ashok Gupta and assistant financial secretary — Mr S.L. Aggarwal.

ATM IN PEC: Punjab National Bank has connected its extension counter located on the Punjab Engineering College (PEC) campus with its national network along with installing an ATM machine. The ATM was inaugurated by the college Principal, Mr Baljeet Kapoor.

SPCA PRESIDENT: Dr R.M. Sharma has been chosen the president of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), SAS Nagar. The office-bearers were elected at the general body meeting of the society held here today. Dr Ram Singh was chosen the senior vice president and Ms Jyotsana Kohli was chosen the junior vice president. Dr Kanwarjit Singh will be the honorary general secretary, while Dr Alamdeep Kaur will be the honorary joint secretary. Dr R.K. Arora will be the honorary veterinarian, while Mr Karnail Singh will be the honorary legal advisor. Mr Tara Chand will be the publicity secretary.

SAS NAGAR
MASS MARRIAGE: The Guru Nanak Naam Sewa Mission here will conduct mass marriages of 16 girls at Garhshankar on April 6. According to a press note of the Mission, the girls are either from economically weaker families or handicapped. The mission will spend about Rs 30000 each on the weddings. A competition in tying turbans and a free medical camp will also be held on the occasion.

HARYANA

AMBALA
ELECTED: Mr J.S. Kohli was elected president of the Ambala Bar Association, elections for which were held here on Saturday. Mr Kohli, who polled 221 votes, defeated his rival Raman Sharma by 43 votes. Mr Randhir Singh was elected vice-president, while Mr Ashok Gupta was elected general secretary and Karam Singh joint secretary.

FIVE HURT: Five persons was injured when a car carrying members of a marriage party collided with a truck near Patiala Chowk at Ambala City on Friday. The car was coming from the Patiala side. Hakam Singh, Harjit Kaur, Jasprit Singh and Jasmer Singh sustained injuries and were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. The driver of the truck fled from the site. A case has been registered.

MEDICAL CAMP: The Ayurveda Department here organised a free medical camp at Ambala Cantonment, on Friday in which around 350 patients were examined. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ms Neelam Kasni, inaugurated the camp. District Ayurveda Officer Pirthi Singh Malik was also present on the occasion.

FATEHABAD
IRRIGATION SCHEME: The INLD MLA, Mr Abey Singh Chautala, on Friday laid the foundation stone of the ‘Manawali minor extension irrigation scheme’ at Bodiwali village.