R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AHMEDGARH
BRONZE MEDAL: Mr Amarjit Singh Sidhu, Principal of the local Shanti Tara College, has stated that Shoeb Bhatti, a student of the college, had bagged a bronze medal in boxing championship held recently at Punjabi University.

RS 4 LAKH AS GRANT: The SAD (Amritsar) has expressed concern over the global unrest and demanded a check on atrocities on minorities. Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, MP and President of the SAD (A), while addressing a gathering at local Vishawkarma puja celebrations said his party was against any type of terrorism but at the same time it opposed oppression of minorities. Mr Mann announced a grant of Rs 4 lakh for the development of the town, which included Rs 2 lakh for the construction of Vishawkarma Mandir. Mr Hira Singh Gabria, MLA; Mr Charan Singh Lohara, General Secretary; Mr Kuldeep Singh Karwal; and Mr Kishorilal Badham, president MC; were among others who spoke on the occasion.

AMLOH
VOTERS’ I-CARDS: The work on the preparation of 78 Vidhan Sabha constituency voter cards will begin on Sunday and will be completed on November 30. This was stated by Ms Raghbir Kaur Khehra, in a press note released here on Friday. According to the schedule, voters of Salana, Rattan Pallon, Ramgarh villages would be covered on the first day. The rest of the towns and villages would be covered by November 30 and necessary information has been made available in the towns and villages concerned.

AMRITSAR
PENSIONERS’ DEMANDS: Mr B.R. Preenja, general secretary, Punjab Employer Rights Protection and Welfare Union , has criticised the government for its failure to fulfil pensioners’ demands here on Thursday. He alleged that the Punjab Government had enhanced the DA with effect from July, 2001, but the letter in this regard had not been issued so far.

INJURED: Swaran Singh, a resident of Khara village, under Sarhali police station was seriously injured on Wednesday. The cause of the quarrel was stated to be a land dispute. Karam Singh, Nishan Singh and Geetu of the same village have been booked under Sections 326, 324, 34 of the IPC in this regard.

BATHINDA
KILLED: A man who was found in a serious condition in a coach of the Jodhpur-Bikaner train on November 12 died here on Thursday.

BARNALA
PAPER ON PSYCHIATRY: Dr Sandeep Kumar, a psychiatrist will present his paper entitled “Rationalist Movement and its Relevance to Psychiatry” on November, 25 on the concluding day of the second annual conference of the Indian Association of Private Psychiatry.

PLAY ON MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH: In connection with a week-long bi-centenary celebrations of the coronation of the Sher-e-Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a play entitled “Ik Ukh Ik Nazar” directed Harpal Tiwana depicting his saga would be staged at the local open air theatre on November, 23 at 6 pm.

OPEN HOUSE SESSION: The Sangrur Telecom district will organise an “open house session” at the local Telephone Exchange on November, 22 at 11 am. Mr Gursharan Singh Gill, General Manager, said this session would be convened to improve the Telecom services in the rural and urban areas of Sangrur.

VACCINATION CAMP: The three-day long “Hepatitis ‘B’ vaccination camp organised at the local Barnala Police Lines Complex concluded on Thursday. The camp was inaugurated by Mr Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu, SSP, Barnala, on November 12.

BUDHLADA
SAFFRONISATION OF EDUCATION: “The communal forces in the country are great threat to democracy and the country and it is essential to curb these forces with iron hand”, said Mr Chand Singh Chopra, state secretary of the Punjab unit of the CPM, while talking to mediapersons here on Friday. He criticised the NDA government for saffronisation of education.

GANG OF THIEVES BUSTED: The local police has busted a gang of rice and paddy thieves with the arrest of its seven members and recovered a tractor-trailer loaded with 150 bags of paddy from them. Those arrested have been identified as nazar Singh, Labh Singh, Bhola Singh, Major Singh, Leela Singh, Charanjit Singh Mistri, all residents of Ferozepore and Sukhwinder Singh of Hassanpur village of Mansa district.

ROAD MISHAP: Sanjay Kumar of Bhikhi town near Mansa died on the spot when his scooter collided with a Jeep coming from opposite side on the Bhikhi-Barnala road on Wednesday, according to information reaching here on Friday.

GURDASPUR
CONG RALLY: Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, MP, on Thursday strongly criticised the SAD-BJP government for not providing requisite teaching staff and furniture to 1,400 schools which were recently upgraded in the state. He opposed 10 per cent surcharge being charged by the PSEB on electric bills above Rs 2000. He said a district level rally of the Congress workers would be held on 1st December at Roshan Ground, Hoshiarpur, under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh.

JAGRAON
DENTAL CAMP: The Punjab Government Health Department and Health System Corporation are holding a fortnight-long dental care camp beginning from Saturday at the local Civil Hospital. Apart from treatment of dental ailments, information on dental care would also be provided to the people.

GAS CYLINDER BURSTS: A gas cylinder reportedly burst in the house of Mohinder Singh, located on the Tehsil road, causing substantial loss to the household articles and property. The cause of the blast was not assertained as the family was away at the time of blast. The entire household articles were burnt and two roofs collapsed following the blast. No loss of life was reported.

LUDHIANA
SAPLINGS AS GREETINGS: A Barnala-based industrial group, manufacturing agriculture products, has sent saplings as Divali greetings to a number of persons, especially teachers and scientists at Punjab Agricultural University. The group has sent saplings with a message that crackers were hazardous to the environment as they caused pollution. The message said instead of sending costly greeting cards, which are manufactured from plants, people should send saplings. According to Dr S.S. Gill Additional Director Extension Education (Communication Centre), it would help in protection of environment.

FANCY DRESS: Kids of Jingles Nursery School, Model Town, participated in a fancy dress contest on Friday. Prabhjot, who presented himself as ‘‘Clean green Ludhiana’’ won the first prize, followed by Mohit, who was dressed up like a fairy, and Prabhleen for performing as a Nihang. Students were dressed up like a joker, bride and groom etc. Ms J. Chugh, Principal, gave away prizes to the students. conservation of energy.

MATHEMATICS TEST: To encourage Mathematics wizard, genius, ace and experts of the year 2001, the Castle Regional Corporate Office will organise the fourth Punjab State Level Mathematics Test on November 25 at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar. This test will be open to all students of Classes IX and X. Ms Rima Juneja, vice president, said winners would be given medals along with sponsored gifts. Twelve experts will be rewarded with trophies and special prizes will be given to the top three students of Class IX.

DIVALI CELEBRATED: Tiny tots of Sparkle Nursery School, Sarabha Nagar, celebrated Divali on Wednesday. Saraswati, Lakshmi and Ganesha puja was performed on the occasion. The school was decorated with lights, candles and ‘diyas’. Ms Vandita Rajiv Raj, Principal, advised the children to avoid spending money on crackers and instead use it to help the needy.

FREE EYE CAMP: A free eye-operation camp by the Atri Times Eye Research Foundation will be held at Dera Baba Brahm Das, Phillaur, on Saturday and Sunday. According to a press note, 108 operations will be performed in the camp. Mr Arun Atri of the research foundation said the operations will be conducted by Dr Dinesh Garg and Dr Harbir Singh. He said many people were losing their vision due to diabetes. He pleaded others to donate eyes and serve for the cause.

FREE ARTHRITIS CAMP: A free arthritis camp will be organised by Hunjan Bone Hospital on Sunday. Dr Balwant Singh Hunjan, in a statement said the patients suffering from backaches, joint pains and other such ailments will be examined in the camp.

SEMINAR: The Charity Medical Trust will organise a seminar on “Female Foeticide” at Lifeline Hospital Complex, Gill Road on Sunday. Representatives from non-government organisations of Punjab, Human Rights activists, doctors, community health volunteers and Panches and Sarpanches of rural areas will participate in the seminar. Dr R.S.Maheshwari, president of the trust, said incidents of female foeticide were highest in India and the male-female ratio was going down drastically. Volunteers and members of the trust will visit urban and rural areas of Punjab to spread awareness the evil.

MALERKOTLA
CAMP CONCLUDES: An eye camp organised by the local Youth Club, Qila Rehmatgarh, concluded at Islamia Senior Secondary School here on Thursday. Mr Rashid Handa, president of the club, said at least 850 patients were examined on the occasion.

HONOURED: Mr Baljit Singh of Punjab Motors, Malerkotla, was honoured by Castrol India Ltd at a function organised at the College Road here on Thursday. Mr Harbir Singh, Senior Sales Manager of the company, presented a Hero Honda, CRB Plus to him on the occasion.

MOGA
CHASED AWAY: Residents of Jhakkarwala village in this district had on Thursday chased away officials of the Excise and Taxation Department who had reportedly gone to the village to raid illegal distilleries.

NAWANSHAHR
STONE LAID: Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Welfare Minister, while addressing a gathering at Garupur village, about 15 km from here, on Thursday, after laying the foundation stone of a ‘sansi dharamshala’, said the Badal government was committed to provide reservation benefits to five ‘vimukt castes’ including ‘sansi’, by bringing them under ‘Scheduled Tribes’ category. The state government had sent a Bill to the Centre for granting ST status to these castes, he added.

FOUNDATION DAY: The Kirpal Sagar Academy, Rahon, about 15 km from here, on Thursday, celebrated its 12th Founders Day. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Science and Technology Minister, was the chief guest and Dr Karamjit Singh, Chairman of the academy, presided over the function.

VOTERS ID CARD: Mr Jagjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, in a press note issued here on Thursday said the photo identity cards of the voters of this Assembly segment would be prepared from November 20 to 26.

PATHANKOT
SEMINAR: The Gurdaspur unit of the Youth Congress will organise a seminar on “political awakening” at Pathankot on Sunday. Mr Rakesh Malhotra, Chairman, Media Committee of the youth wing, said here on Thursday that Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, former Union Minister, would inaugurate the seminar.

WARNING: During a meeting organised by the Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee here on Friday, the Punjab Agriculture Officers Association President, Mr Balwinder Singh, appealed to the Punjab Government to pay attention to farmers’ demand regarding their concern in respect to the WTO treaty. “We will have no option left except appealing to the Supreme Court, if no genuine concern is shown to the farmer community while singing the WTO treaty,” he said.

TARN TARAN
ONE KILLED: Kuljit Singh, 25, a resident of Tur village, was killed on the spot when his scooter collided with a cart on Wednesday.

CHANDIGARH

OFFICE-BEARERS: Mr Sharan Pal Singh has been elected president of the Market Welfare Association, Sector 22-A, Chandigarh. Other office-bearers are: Mr Yogesh — chief adviser, Mr Pavitar Singh — senior vice-president, Mr Amarjeet Singh — vice-president, Mr J.P. Singh — general secretary, Mr Sanjay Dhall — joint secretary, Mr Ajay Joshi — press secretary and Mr Brij Gulati — finance secretary. 

PANCHKULA
ACTION SOUGHT: The Citizens’ Welfare Association has urged the local police to ensure that vehicles are not allowed to switch on high beams at night in order to avoid accidents. In a press note, Mr S.K. Nayar, president of the association, has said the streetlighting in the township is good and thus there should be no high beam drive in the town. The population of the township is around 3 lakh and more than 50,000 vehicles ply on the roads of the township. He said B-roads in the sectors of the town have simple streetlighting system and these single roads are 25 feet wide. With vehicles running on high beams, these roads become accident prone as vehicles entering the sectors on B-roads are also overspeeding.

HARYANA

FATEHABAD
COMMITS SUICIDE: Krishana (28), wife of Balbir Singh, committed suicide after allegedly poisoning her three children at Kamalwala village on Wednesday. Her two daughters, Dimple (8) and Pooja (4) died on the spot while son, Aman, aged one and a half years was battling for life in a private hospital at Barwala in Hisar district. A case has been registered.

SIRSA
PRIZE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION: The Haryana Government will provide modern education to enable the youths to meet the challenges of the 21st century. This was stated by Mr Ajay Singh Chautala at an annual prize distribution function of Kamla Motessori School after inaugurating the newly constructed block named after Devi Lal here on Thursday.

SONEPAT
SEMINAR: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.N. Roy, on Friday called upon mediapersons to play a vital role in maintaining the unity and integrity of the country in the wake of current national and international situation. This was stated by him at a seminar organised by the Press Club and the Journalists’ Association.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
FOLK SINGER HONOURED: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Joginder Singh Rana, has honoured folk singer, Sunderram, writer Dr Lekhram Sharma and Havildar Udham Singh (posthumously) at a district level function organised by “Him Kala Sangam” at Dhartatch village in collaboration with district Language Department, district Cultural Council and the Himachal Kala Sanskriti Academy, 28 km from here on Wednesday.

EXTENSION COUNTER: Mr Krishan Kumar Kaushal, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, inaugurated the 17th extension counter of Cooperative Bank at Harnoda, 28 km from here on Wednesday. This counter would provide loans to KoL Dam oustees of the area.

HAMIRPUR
FEDERATION DAY: The Himachal Pradesh Arajpatrit Karamchari Mahasangh will observe its Federation Day in Chamba on November 20. A meeting of the federations’ committee would also be organised in Chamba on the same day, Mr Prem Singh Bharmaurla, general secretary of the state federation, said here on Thursday.

PHONE CONNECTIONS: Mr Mohan Lal, General Manager, Telecom, Hoshiarpur, said 2,500 new telephone connections had been provided and 752 lines added in the different exchanges of the district in October. The total connections and switching capacity have been increased to 1,07,227 and 1,39,468 lines, respectively.

KANGRA 
SCOOTERIST KILLED: A 34-year-old scooterist, Balkher Singh, of Thoray Ballen, was killed in a road accident at Chatroli village under Nurpur police station on Wednesday.

SHIMLA
VIKAS YATRA’: The Bhartiya Janta Legislative Party will meet here on November 20 to assess the impact of its ‘vikas yatra’ programme.