The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, October 24, 2001, 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

BARNALA
ANGANWADI WORKERS: A state-level demonstration and rally were held at the Assembly constituency of Mr Gobind Singh Kanjala, Punjab Social Security Minister, at Sherpur by the Anganwadi Mulazam Union, Punjab, on Sunday to express resentment against the retrenchment of Anganwadi employees and to press for their reinstatement.

POLICE MARTYRS DAY: Mr Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu, SSP, on Sunday honoured 26 families of police martyrs at the “shradhanjali samaroh” held at the local police lines to mark the Police Martyrs Day. The families were presented blankets.

CAR THIEF HELD: The local CIA staff nabbed Shamsher Singh, alias Somi, a member of an inter-state gang of car thieves. A Maruti car, stolen from Ludhiana, has been recovered from him. In another incident, the Bhadaur police and the local CIA staff have seized 10 kg each of poppy husk from Gursewak Singh and Chand Singh, both residents of Rayia. Cases have been registered.

BATHINDA
SEMINAR: The prevalence of heart diseases in a large number of Indians is due to some genetic disorder, besides bad eating habits. This was stated by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, senior consultant, cardiovascular and cardiothoracic, Fortis Heart Institute, Mohali, while speaking at a seminar here on Monday. Dr Bedi was in the city to speak on “Advances in Cardiac Care” along with Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalra, senior consultant, invasive cardiology, Fortis Heart Institute, Mohali.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
RJD CAMPAIGN: To defeat the BJP and Akali alliance in the coming Assembly elections, the state unit of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has decided to form an alliance with secular parties in the state, said Mr Amar Handa, vice- president of the state unit of the RJD, in a press note issued here on Monday. He said the party had initiated a membership campaign in the state and more than 20,000 members had been enrolled.

HOSHIARPUR
CHEMISTS’ CONVENTION: Ms Mohinder Kaur Josh, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, while addressing the Punjab chemists convention here on Sunday urged the chemists and the state Drug authorities to jointly start a campaign to stop the sale of spurious drugs in the state and organise awareness camps for the youth to make them realise the ill effects of intoxicants.

YOUTH FESTIVAL: A three-day Panjab University Zonal Youth Festival of Hoshiarpur zone-A was inaugurated by Dr K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh, at the local DAV College on Monday. According to Mr I.S.Dhillon, Director, Panjab University Youth Welfare Department, more than 3,000 students from 11 colleges of zone-A are participating.

LIQUOR SEIZED: Sukhpal Singh, a resident of Defence Colony, Jalandhar, was arrested and 12.6 litres of whisky seized from him on Sunday. A case has been registered under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act.

BOOKED FOR CHEATING: On the complaint of Times Watch Company, Nasrala, a case under Section 420 of the IPC has been registered against Sain Dass and Sons, Ambala Cantt, on Sunday. According to the FIR, Sain Dass and Sons purchased watches worth Rs 25,699 from the watch company and issued two cheques for Rs 15,699 and Rs 10,000 of National Bank against the payment. But it was found that the firm had no account in the bank.

SABHA MEETING: Members of the Rajput community expressed resentment against the reservation policy of the state and the Central government at a meeting of the Rajput Sabha, Hoshiarpur, here on Sunday. Col (retd) K. Mohinder Singh, president of the sabha, said the poor of the general category were being neglected.

JALANDHAR
PREVENTIVE MEASURES: Keeping in view the anthrax scare in different parts of the country, the Railway Mail Service (RMS) authorities provided special face masks and gloves to its staff here on Monday. Mr Des Raj Soi, Superintendent of the RMS, told reporters at the local railway station that preventive measures were being taken while handling overseas mail.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been appointed office-bearers of the district unit of the National Students Union of India: president — Mr Jaswant Kumar; vice-president— Mr Bhupinder Sharma; general secretary — Mr Vishal Jyoti and Mr Vikas Jaitly and secretary — Mr Manoj Sharma.

URGED: The Punjab Government-Aided Colleges’ Retired Employees Association had urged the state government to implement the pension-cum-gratuity scheme immediately, Mr G.C. Mago, general secretary of the association, said here on Monday.

APPOINTED: Mr N.S. Sahota had been appointed co-convenor of the Scheduled Caste cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, a Congress spokesman said.

CRITICISED: The Punjab Market Committee Employees Union has criticised the government agencies for their failure to check procurement by private traders, who are not releasing payments to farmers. This was stated by Mr S.S. Johl, president of the association, in a press note issued here on Monday.

KHAMANO
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Multi-Purpose Health Workers’ Union: president — Mr Balvir Singh; secretary — Mr Ram Murti; treasurer — Ms Baljeet Kaur; senior vice-president — Mr Gurnam Singh; vice-presidents — Ms Margret and Mr Mohinder Singh; joint secretary — Ms Baljinder Kaur; press secretaries — Mr Bahadar Singh and Mr Gurdial Singh; secretary — Mr Madan Singh; joint treasurer — Mr Baljinder Singh.

MALERKOTLA
CELEBRATED: The Anjuman Haderi celebrated the birth anniversary of Hajrat Imam Husain at Imambara Sayedan here on Monday. Hundreds of Muslims attended the function. A “kavi sammelan” was also organised.

MANSA
LOK ADALAT: A state-level Lok Adalat held on the District Courts complex here was presided over by Mr Harbans Lal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mansa. Out of the 227 cases placed before three Lok Adalats, 104 cases were settled with mutual consent of the parties and Rs 21,24,900 was awarded to the parties. Mr G.S. Mann, Assistant District Attorney (Legal Services), Punjab, distributed literature for the guidance of people.

PADDY PURCHASE: Ms Raji P. Srivastva, Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, said on Monday that in the district various government agencies had purchased 2, 18, 438 metric tonnes of paddy so far as against only 1,23,904 metric tonnes during the corresponding period last year. She further disclosed that 84 per cent of the paddy had already been lifted from the purchase centres.

NAWANSHAHR
EYE CAMP: The Nirmal Kutia, Banga, about 13 km from here, organised an eye operation camp on Sunday.

PATIALA
PROCESSION: The Class IV Government Employees Union, has demanded cash bonus from year 1997-98, onwards. The employees had gathered in protest against the non-implementation of their demands here on Tuesday. The union led a procession through the main bazaars of the city wearing black clothes, and were led by its president and general secretary Mr Roop Lal Bagga and Mr Darshan Singh Labana, respectively. The other demands include extending the benefits of placement in higher time scales after 4, 9 and 14 years to class-IV employees on the pattern of class-I officers and regularisation and confirmation of daily and ad hoc employees who have been left out for the want of regular vacancies. The employees also demanded revision in the rates of conveyance, washing and fixed medical allowances. They also lamented the inaction of the state government in its failure to interest-free advance for solemnising marriages of the wards of class-IV employees.

CONGRESS RALLY: The District Congress Committee (Urban) would organise a rally on Sunday at Chotti Baradari here. The Punjab Beopar Cell would also join the rally. In a statement here on Tuesday, DCC president, Mr Ved Prakash Gupta; said the rally would be addressed by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Capt Amarinder Singh, along with other Congress workers. AICC Treasurer, Mr Moti Lal Vohra, is also likely to address the rally.

SAMRALA
INAUGRATED: Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, Member Parliament, inaugurated the work of brick-lining of streets and drains at Katani Kalan village, 10 km from here, on Tuesday. Dr A.S. Nagpal of the Nagpal Sewa Society, Ludhiana, donated Rs 50,000 for the construction of sheds and Harijan cremation grounds. Mr Ishar Singh Meharban, a former minister, appealed to Mr Ghalib to give grants for the village development.

CHANDIGARH

TELEPHONE BILLS: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), here has stated that the telephone bills posted after October 1 are pre-paid and subscribers who receive these bills do not have to pay any postal charges. However, it said, it has come to notice that money is being demanded for the delivery of bills in some cases. People should not make any payment against unstamped receipt of telephone bills, a press note stated.

KIRTAN DARBAR: A kirtan darbar would be held in Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Sector 37, here from 5 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on November 25 according to a press note issued by Mr Jarnail Singh, president of the Gurdwara Committee. He said eminent ragis, including Bhai Balwinder Singh Rangila, Bhai Jasbir Singh Khannewale and Bhai Onkar Singh, would recite gurbani at the kirtan darbar.

BEST MARCHING CONTINGENT: The Territorial Army’s 102 Infantry Battalion (Punjab), based at Kalka, has been adjudged the best marching contingent during the Territorial Army Day celebrations at Delhi, earlier this month. The former Defence Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, had reviewed the parade.

ALLEGED: The managing director of Global Mediscripts Infotech, Mr Charanjit Singh, has alleged that the UT police was delaying the registration of a case of cheating and theft against his former employees Kirondeep Nijjher and Pooja Kumar. In a statement issued here, he alleged that in spite of an inquiry conducted by the DSP (Lines), Mr Devinder Singh Thakur, who found the employees guilty of misappropriating funds, a case has not been registered. Last month, students of the firm had filed a case against the director for not fulfilling the promises made at the time of admission and for getting any stipend. They had also complained about unsatisfactory standards of teaching at the institute.

DASEHRA CELEBRATED: Amidst bursting of crackers and burning an effigy of Ravana, the tiny tots of Little Angels School celebrated Dasehra on the school premises here on Tuesday. Earlier, a cultural programme was organised in the evening in which children staged some acts of Ramayana, depicting the end of Ravana. Sweets were also distributed among the students and parents accompanying them.

HONOURED: The local Rotary Club on Tuesday honoured Mr Bahadur Singh, Headmaster, Government High School Sector 40, with Vocational Service Award — 2001-02 for his outstanding contribution towards promoting literacy. He has also been managing two night schools. The others who were awarded at a function on Tuesday were Mr Gurdev Singh, Assistant Public Relations Officer, PGI; Mr Shri Chand, a constable with UT police; and Ms Manju Bharti, a night school voluntary worker from Kejhery. Presiding over the function, Mr Ramsekhar, Deputy Commissioner, gave away the awards and mementos.

SAS NAGAR
ALLEGED: The general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Ms Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, on Tuesday alleged that the SAD-BJP government had cheated the farmers on the villages through which the proposed Ludhiana-Chandigarh railway line was proposed to pass. The farmers were not being given adequate compensation, she alleged. Naming some villages, including Kambal, Kambali, Raiupur, Kunimajra, simblmajra, Tolemajra and Pir Sohana, she said the compensation rates varied between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 10 lakh per acre. She said the government at the time of acquisition had promised that no one would be paid less than the reserve price for which minimum cost of stamp duty has been fixed. According to her, the minimum price was Rs 5 lakh per acre. She further alleged that the government had not taken the village sarpanches and local MLA in confidence while fixing the compensatory prices.

HARYANA

AMBALA
DEFENCE EXERCISE: The Civil Defence on Tuesday carried out its various exercises at SA Jain Senior Secondary School Ground. The defence personnel displayed their capabilities under adverse conditions. The school students, witnessed a live demonstration of their exercise. The services included fire brigade, first aid, information department and various warden services. The infrastructure demonstration like siren call was also displayed. Besides civil defence wardens, the SP Home Guard and Deputy Controller Civil Defence were also present at the exercise.

JHAJJAR
MINOR RAPED: A minor girl was allegedly raped by a youth in Raipur village of the district on Sunday, the police said here on Monday. The 16-year-old girl was going towards the fields when she was caught by Krishan of the same village who took the girl to an abandoned place and raped her. The police has registered a case and arrested the suspect.

PINJORE
DANCE COMPETITION: An inter-school group dance competition was organised by DAV Senior Public School, Surajpur, here on Tuesday. Eighteen schools comprising 22 teams participated in the competition. Justice D.B. Sehgal, vice president, DAV College Management Committee, New Delhi, was the chief guest and Mrs Sobha Koser, a kathak dancer, was the guest of honour on the occasion. The function was inaugurated by Dr R.K. Chouhan, regional director, DAV Public Schools of Ambala zone.

ROHTAK
ASTHMA CAMP: Shri Ganpati Jyotish Kendra, Sector 2, will organise an asthma camp near Dr Marwah’s residence at the DLF Colony on October 31. The patients will be provided medicine free of cost. Dr Manmohan Vats, organiser of the camp, said the interested persons must contact him by October 25.