R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
SURGEONS CONFERENCE: A conference of the Association of Surgeons being organised by the Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research here will open here on November 22. The organising secretary of the northern chapter of the association, Mr U.S. Dhaliwal, said the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, would inaugurate the conference. More than 600 eminent surgeons would participate in the three-day conference.

BATHINDA
MEDICAL CAMP: The Youth Welfare Club of Bhuccho Khurd village of the district organised a medical check-up camp at Government Primary School of the village. Dr Ravi Kant of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Dr B.S. Khippal, Dr Ravinder Khippal, Dr Puri and Dr Harjeet Kaur examined about 400 patients free of cost during the camp.

CHILDREN’S DAY: The Goodwill Society, a non-governmental organisation, celebrated Children’s Day at the local Goodwill Public School. Mr R.K. Jain, a local businessman, was the chief guest on the occasion. Mr K.K. Garg, general secretary of the society, said Mr Jain distributed woollen clothes among 150 students of different schools.

PHARMACISTS’ RALLY: Hundreds of members of the Punjab State Pharmacists Association (PSPS) held a protest rally on Sunday at Lambi village, the home constituency of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Raghbir Chand, press secretary of the association, said Mr S.L. Goel, chief adviser of the association, presided over the rally. He said not a single demand accepted by the Chief Minister had been given a practical shape.

DORAHA
FUNCTION: The annual function and prize distribution ceremony of Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School, here, will be held on Wednesday. According to the Principal, Mrs Urmil Sood, the chief guest will be Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Technical Education Minister, and the function will be presided over by Mr Sadhu Singh Ghudani, MLA, Payal.

KHARAR
SURPRISE CHECK: Mr Devinder Singh, SDM, on Monday conducted a surprise check on the presence of staff members in the SDM office and the Tehsildar office here at 9.10 a.m. and found that four staff members were absent from the duty. He said suitable action would be taken against the offenders. He asked all employees of the subdivision to remain present in their offices.

APPEAL: The local Animal Welfare Society in a letter has appealed to the Chief Minister that a piece of land measuring around 8 to 10 acres be allotted to the society in Kharar for the welfare of animals. They have stated that the condition of animals in the area was deplorable and their society had been recommended by Mrs Maneka Gandhi, Minister of State, Union Government.

LUDHIANA
IMA HONOUR: The President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr O.P.S Kande was conferred the ‘IMA Punjab Rattan Award’ at the 56th annual conference (PIMACON 2001) at Sahnewal on November 18 for his services to the medical community and for social work. Dr Ketan Desai, National President of the IMA and Chairman of the Medical Council of India, in a press statement said Dr Kande and Dr N.S. Bawa have written a book on “Female Foeticide- A Crime: Let Us Fight It Out”, which was the first of its kind in the country.

DOCTOR HONOURED: The district unit of the IMA recently honoured Dr Ketan Desai, President of the Medical Council of India and National President of the IMA. Dr Desai in his address stressed that all senior doctors should sponsor the membership of the IMA for younger doctors. Responding to his call for sponsorships, all seniors promised to adopt about 10 members every year.

ASSURANCE: Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Chief Minister of Punjab, has assured the IMA on getting the Punjab Medical Council revived at the earliest if her party came to power. Dr Gursharan Singh, President IMA Ludhiana, in a statement on Monday said that had been the main demand of the IMA Punjab for the past many years. In her address Ms Bhattal said her government would spend maximum amount on health and education. She lauded the IMA for creating awareness in the society about female foeticide.

ELECTED: The following have been unanimously elected office-bearers of the Himachal Jan Kalyan Sabha, Basti Jodhewal, according to a press statement issued here on Monday. Chairman Mr Thakur Balwant Rai; vice-chairmen Mr Pandit Gita Ram and Mr Paras Ram Sharma. President Mr Thakur Ramesh Verma; vice-presidents — Mr Ram Lal Sharma and Mr Kashmiri Lal; general secretary Mr V.M. Sharma; Accountant Mr Rajiv Sharma, secretary — Mr Kuldip Kumar Rana, joint secretary — Mr Kishori Lal Sharma, Legal Advisor — Advocate Roshan Lal Rana; Advisor — Mr Suresh Sharma, head cashier Mr Rakesh Sharma and cashiers — Mr S.K. Sharma and Mr Bishan Singh Rana.

GAYATRI YAGYA: A four-day gayatri yagya and ved prachar programme concluded at Arya Samaj, Dal Bazar, here on Sunday. Mr Roshan Lal Arya, General Secretary, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, who presided over the concluding function, said Maharshi Dayanand founded the Arya Samaj to defend the Vedic Sanatan Dharama. Brahmachari Ram Parkash, speaker-in-chief, highlighted vedic teachings. Among others who were present at the function were Mr Sant Kumar Arya, Mr Atam Parkash Arya, Mr Jagjivan Pal Sood and Mr Rajender Kumar Dewan, Swami Shobhanand Saraswati, Swami Sumnamati, Brahmachari Ram Parkash, Pandit Satya Pal Pathik and other scholars were also honoured on the occasion.

URGED: The Class IV Government Employees Union has urged the District Education Officer to accept all pending demands of the class IV employees working in various schools. In a press note issued here on Monday, Mr Harbhajan Singh, President of the educational wing of the union, said in spite of a meeting in that regard on October 18 and assurances given by various officials, nothing has come out so far. The demands include immediate release of the GPF slips and grant of uniforms to the employees.

NOMINATED: Mr Amrit Lal Aggarwal, president of the newly-elected Ludhiana Dharamshala Committee, Chintpurni, has nominated five executive members to the committee. The strength of the executive committee has now risen to 20. Earlier 15 members had been elected under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, on the directives by the Himachal Pradesh High Court. The nominated members are Mr Om Parkash Malhotra, Mr Balraj Bhasin, Mr Sanjiv Gupta, Mr Vijay Verma, and Mr D.J. Jain.

MANSA
BODY FOUND: The Mansa police has recovered the body of Kuldeep Singh (22) from Bhaidesa village of the district. He was reportedly kidnapped by two of his accomplices on Divali night. The police has sent the body to the Civil Hospital here for the post-mortem examination after the registration of a case in this regard.

CASE REGISTERED: The Bareta police has raided the house of Jagsir Singh Seera of Sirsiwala village in the district and seized 6 bags of poppy husk from him. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against him.

MOGA
DATE EXTENDED: The Chief Election Commissioner, has by a notification, extended the date of registration of voters for the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee election from November 2, 2001 to December 12. This was stated by the SGPC here on Monday.

PATIALA
MEETING: The Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Federation’s state chief organiser, Mr Jasmail Singh Dhindsa, stated here on Monday that the federation would hold a meeting of delegates from the region in Jalandhar on Wednesday and Thursday. Citing the diminishing influence of trade unions, he stressed on the need to have a single union of Electricity Board employees sans any political affiliations.

COACHING CLASSES: Punjabi University’s IAS and Allied Service Training Centre would start its coaching classes from Saturday for ‘presonality development-cum-interview preparation’ for candidates who had qualified for the interview for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police. Giving the information, Director of the centre, Dr G.S. Bajwa said mock interview of the candidates would be held at the end of the course.

DPRO BEREAVED: Former Patiala District Public Relations Officer Ujjagar Singh, who is currently serving in the same post at Faridkot, has been bereaved with the demise of his elder brother Charan Singh at his native place Kadon village in Ludhiana district on Sunday. According to information available here, Charan Singh (63) died following a massive heart attack. He had been keeping ill for some time. He is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters. Bhog ceremony in memory of the deceased would be conducted at Kadon village in Ludhiana district on November 27.

SAHNEWAL
SUICIDE: Sunil Kumar (17) of Jugiana village committed suicide by jumping in front of a train near the railway crossing here on Sunday. The body was handed over to relatives after post-mortem. In another case, two girls of Sahni village were injured when their moped was hit by a car coming from the Delhi side on Monday. They were admitted to a hospital at Ludhiana. No case has been registered so far.

SAMRALA
APPOINTED: On the recommendation of Capt Amarinder Singh, President PPCC, Mr Gurdev Singh Lapran, President DCC, Ludhiana, has appointed youth Congress leader Prem Nath Dana as District General Secretary DCC (Rural).

TRIBUTES PAID: Rich tributes were paid to Jathedar Harcharan Singh Madpur, who fought for the Punjabi Suba Morcha and the Dharam Yudh Morcha, at his native Madpur village, 5 km from here, on Sunday. Among others those who paid floral tributes included Sant Amrik Singh Panj Bhaini, Sant Randhir Singh Bhanglan, Giani Mohinder Singh Bhanglan, Mr Gurtej Pal Singh Madpur, Mr Rupinder Singh Mundi, Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli and Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, MLA, Jathedar Kirpal Singh Khirnian, member SGPC.

TARN TARAN
COMPETITION HELD: An inter-college cultural competition was organised at Mata Sahib Kaur Girls College, Bharowal, on Saturday. It was presided over by Baba Inderjit Singh, president of the college managing committee. Dr Gurdev Singh Gill, Chief Agriculture Officer, Amritsar, was the chief guest. More than 10 college teams participated in the competition.

TWO KILLED: Mukhtar Singh (40), sarpanch of Lalpur gram panchayat, was killed on the spot when his motorcycle hit a tractor-trailer near Naushehra Pannuan on Saturday night. An unidentified 35-year-old mentally retarded woman was killed by Subash Chander, a resident of the town and employee of the Panjab State Electricity Board, on Saturday near Noordi village. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against the accused.

ZIRAKPUR
SAMBHAR BURIED: Carcass of the sambhar that was chased to death by some residents of Bhabhat village on Sunday morning was buried after a post-mortem examination conducted by Government Veterinary Hospital in Ropar on Monday. According to Mr Amar Preet Singh, in charge of Bhabhat police post, reports of the post-mortem examination confirmed that the animal had died due to shock.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHIMLA
CARDIAC CAMP: The Rotary Club organised a cardiac camp at Rotary town hall here on Sunday. About 300 patients were examined at the camp, which was inaugurated by Mr H.N. Kashyap, Commissioner, Shimla Municipal Corporation. Echocardiography, lipid profile, ECG and sugar detection tests were performed free of cost at the camp.