Jalandhar, December 1
Rallies and seminars marked the AIDS awareness day in the city. Lyallpur Khalsa College, in collaboration with NGO Kiran, UNAIDS India, Punjab State AIDS Control Society, health department and others, organised a seminar in its premises. The volunteers gathered at the college in the morning from where they took a rally out to the BMC Chowk and later back to the college.

The rally was flagged off by Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, advisor to the CM Punjab, in the presence of Amarjit Singh Johal, judge from UK, MLA Jagbir Singh Brar. The volunteers wore red ribbons carried banners and placards on AIDS and drugs to create awareness among the masses.

Addressing a seminar, Dr Raghbir Singh Bains, an AIDS educator from Canada, said, “With more than 3 million people dying from HIV/AIDS in the world annually, it is awful that reasonable efforts are not being made worldwide to stop this epidemic. India is under severe attack while Punjab is under brutal assault.” AIDS is not simply a health problem but with it come social repercussions which cause the victim to be stigmatized in the society, which is unfair, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, NGO Kiran’s coordinator Sarabjeet Singh asked for free travel facility at the ART centre for the HIV infected and AIDS patients. He said the victims have to visit the centre every month and sometimes, due to financial constrains, people are unable to visit it.

Another rally was taken out by staff and students of Government Arts and Sport College, who shouted slogans like “Stop AIDS, keep the promise” and “AIDS ka gyan, bachaye jaan”.

A lecture on AIDS was delivered by Dr Bimra of civil hospital at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya. He gave different tips on preventing AIDS and said one should not feel shy about making their children aware about AIDS.

The district legal service authority also held a seminar on the legal rights of the HIV infected and AIDS patients at HMV College of Nursing.

Speaking on the occasion, chief judicial magistrate Virinder Aggarwal said AIDS victims have full right to have medical aid and treatment.

Nawanshahr, December 1
The elections for panchayati raj institutions, which include panchayats, block samitis and zila parishads, would be held in the state next year in the months of March and April. This was disclosed by rural development and panchayat minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura at the Kirpal Sagar Complex, near Rahon on Saturday.

The minister had come here to inaugurate Dr Harbhajan Singh Memorial Hospital and a month long free medical checkup camp organised on the 75th birth anniversary of founder chairman Kirpal Sagar. He also flagged off a mobile health service van to provide healthcare facilities to the remote villages in the district. Lauding the contributions of Kirpal Sagar, the minister announced a grant of Rs two lakh. Among others present on the occasion were Biji Surinder Kaur, Dr Karamjit Singh, patron and chairman of Kirpal Sagar, Narinder Singh, deputy director, rural development and panchayati raj 
department and Avtar 
Singh Bhullar.

Answering a query over issue of red beacon for the SGPC members, Brahmpura justified it by saying that the SGPC members were democratically and constitutionally elected as per the Gurdwara act. When asked whether the facility would be extended to the members of block samiti and zila parishad, the minister tried to evade the issue by saying the block samiti and zila parishad members were already enjoying a number of facilities. Talking about rural development, Brahmpura said a scheme to provide underground sewerage system has been chalked out and around 100 villages would be covered in the first phase. — OC

Hoshiarpur, December 1
The district police has claimed to have rescued a four-year-old boy from his kidnapper, with the arrest of Inderjit Singh, a resident of Mewa Miani.

According to SP (D) Sushil Kumar, Shamsangam (4), son of a barber Ashwini Kumar, a resident of ward no 5, Urmur Tanda, was allegedly abducted by an unidentified person at around 5:15 pm when he was playing outside his house. Some residents, including members of the boy’s family noticed the alleged kidnapping. They informed the police and chased the kidnapper.

The accused took the boy in a private bus belonging to Sahni Bus service from Mohali to Chandigarh and got down from the bus at the Pul Pukhta bus stop. He was overpowered by the police and persons chasing him at the bus stop.

The kidnapper has been identified as Inderjit Singh. The child has also been handed over to his parents. A case under section 364 of the IPC has been registered at Tanda police station. SP (D) said the kidnapper was allegedly under the influence of liquor due to which his interrogation could not be conducted.

Jalandhar, December 1
Actress, model and cricket commentator Mandira Bedi will soon be seen in a Bollywood flick, focusing on the problems of budding cricketers.

Titled “Meerabai Not Out”, the movie has the lady in the lead role. Looking ravishing in a digital design saree during the launch of a new collection of garments at Satya Paul store on Mall Road here today, Mandira said “The movie will have a cameo by the Indian test skipper Anil Kumble.”

The avid cricket fan is all praises for Team India. “ Anil has already spearheaded the boys to a marvellous victory. Yuvi is my favourite, especially after those super sixes he hit in the T-20 World Cup. I am also big fan of MSD.”

Regarding ICL, she said, “I believe that the league is giving a good opportunity for all the talented guys who have not got a good opportunity otherwise.”

The vivacious commentator has been keeping busy with her other assignments. “I have just completed 100 shows of play ‘Anything but love’ which was staged in Mumbai. I am also doing a humour show ‘Funjabi thahake’ with Navjot Singh Sidhu on Star One,” she added.

In the store, Mandira showed keen interest in the latest collection of polka dot and animal print designs. She took a round of the store with the Satya Paul design head Puneet Nanda, who revealed that the brand was soon coming up with a new range for women. 

Jalandhar, December 1
Troops of the Border Security Force (BSF), deployed all over Punjab, celebrated the 42nd raising day with zest and enthusiasm. On the occasion, a bada khana was organised at border out posts, battalion HQs, sector HQs and frontier HQs. Sweets were also distributed among the personnel.

At the FHQs here, a meeting of Ex-Paramilitary Personnel Association was organised. Many retired senior officers, subordinate officers, officers of other ranks and widows of former troop members settled in the state were present on the occasion in addition to senior serving officers of the force.

IG Punjab Frontier Arvind Ranjan discussed various steps being taken by the BSF for the welfare of the retired personnel. He heard the suggestion put forward by the retirees and promised to appraise the higher authorities about their grievances. — TNS