R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ENCROACHMENTS: Mr A. Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, has ordered the removal of all encroachments on the government land in the district within two days. He warned of a stern action against the violaters. In a press note issued here on Friday, the Deputy Commissioner took a serious view of the large-scale encroachments made by different sections of the society. He asked the workshop owners, carpenters, iron merchants and vegetable sellers not to keep their material in the open places.

JAGRAON
CHARGES REFUTED: The local Bar association, at its meeting held here on Friday, took serious view of the contents of the letter published in a section of press of Mr N.J.S. Mahal of Chandigarh. It refuted his charges, terming the trial court of lawyers as introducing falsehood in pleadings and siding with criminals. It authorised its office-bearers to take appropriate action against Mr Mahal and the editor of the newspaper. The Bar also struck work.

KHANNA
DEBATE: A debate on the issue “Police is the best friend of society” was organised by Ek Nai Aasha Club at local Hindi Putri Pathshala Senior Secondary here on Friday. Eight teams from Hindi Putri Pathshala, DAV Senior Secondary School, Springdale Public School, Government Senior Secondary School, A.S. Senior Secondary School, Atam Manohar Jain Model School, D.I.B. H.C.S. Mandi Gobindgarh and Green Grove Public School Khanna participated. The first prize was bagged by Nisha Mann of D.A.V Senior Secondary School while the second by Nidhi of the same school. The third prize was won by Rita Kapoor of Green Grove Public School. The consolation prize was awarded to Simranjeet Kaur of Hindi Putri Pathshala while the best team award was given to DAV Senior Secondary School, Khanna.

KHARAR
APPOINTED: Mrs Sabari Begum of Khanpur has been appointed vice-president (in charge) of the district unit of the Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress (I), according to a press note issued here on Friday by Mrs Gurkanwal Kaur, president, Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (I).

MEETING: A meeting of sarpanches and panches of Kharar block under the banner of the local Panchayat Union has been stated for Tuesday at 2 pm in the local Civil Rest House, according to an information given here on Friday by Mr Gurcharan Singh Radiala, Sarpanch of Radiala village.

LUDHIANA
MEDICAL CAMP: To provide best health facilities regarding cardiac disease, skin disease and eye disease and to create health awarness among the rural masses, a medical camp jointly organised by Hero DMC Heart Institute and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital was held at Pohir village near Ahmedgarh on Friday. Over 700 villagers from Pohir and nearby villages visited the camp and got themselves examined. Free medicines were distributed and free investigation and therapeutic procedures were done. The camp was managed by the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine of DMCH.

EYE CAMP: Mr Ravi Khosla will organise a free eye camp at Nigam Niketan, Ved Mandir Marg, Daresi, on Sunday. Mr Madan Mohan Vyas will be the guest of honour. Patients will be examined and operated upon by Dr S.S.Sabharwal. Free medicines will be provided to needy patients.

PUT OFF: The rally by the Punjab Health Department Employees Action Committee, scheduled to be held at Lambi on Saturday, has been postponed. Mr Harpal Singh, president of the Punjab Ophthalmic Association, in a press note, said the next date of the programme would be decided at the next executive body meeting of the action committee. 

SEMINAR: Students from over 12 schools will participate in a seminar on “Management of Agro-residue” to be organised by the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha at the Department of Agriculture on Friday Giving this information, Dr Arun Mitra, general secretary, said the disposal of agro waste had become a serious problem and there was need to spread awareness about the problem by organising seminars.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
DISTRICT BODY FORMED: Dr Sakinder Singh, President, District Congress Committee, after getting approval from the President, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee, announced a list of 75 members of the district executive in a press note here on Friday. The list contains 14 vice-presidents — Gurdev Singh Amloh, Gurdev Singh Khanian, Master Baldev Krishan, Dr Ravi Nandan Sharma, Kashmira Singh Mianpur, Dr Sohan Lal Badali, Piara Singh Talania, Dr Joginder Singh Maini, Om Parkash Tangri, Malook Singh Virk, Gurpal Singh Himatpura, Partap Singh Baini Zer, Parampal Singh Chanarthal, Ranjit Singh Lohar Majra; 14 general secretaries — Amritpal Singh Handa, Rajesh Takedar, Dr Satya Rani, Bharat Bhushan Verma (advocate), Shashi Vardhan Bhari, Shiv Kumar Shahi, Om Parkash Mukheja, Devinder Sharma, Hemant Kumar Panjni, Lakhvir Singh Mulleypur (advocate), and Mohan Lal Sharma, Cashier-cum-press secretary, Mr Raj Kumar Bhardwaj, besides 30 secretaries and 16 members of the executive committee.

MANSA
SUICIDE DEATHS: Mukhtiar Singh (25) of Malkon village in the district allegedly committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance due to his poor economic condition. In another incident, Kala Singh (28) of Nangal Kalan village, near here, also committed suicide by consuming insecticide. Beera Singh (20) also consumed insecticide and is now under treatment at a hospital in Rattia.

PATIALA
BDPO COACHING CLASSES: The IAS and Allied Services Training Centre, Punjabi University, Patiala, will start coaching classes for the Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPO) on December 3. The last date for applying for admission to coaching classes is Thursday and the interview will be held on December1,at 10 a.m.

DENTAL BODY INVITED: In lieu of the ongoing agitations by the Punjab State Medical and Dental Association (PSMDTA), Patiala, the Principal Secretary for Medical Education and Research has invited the PSMDTA members to a meeting on Monday. The association, deferred its rally on Friday. It has called on a meeting of its general body on Thursday to discuss future actions in view of the negotiations to be held with the administration. 

PSEB ID CARDS: The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has decided to issue computerised identity cards to both its regular and work charged employees. A total of 84,255 identity cards have so far been issued. All employees are expected to get the cards by the end of the year. The display of these cards has been made mandatory during duty period and while checking consumer’s premises. 

PUNJABI IN COURTS: The Language Department, Punjab, has ordered the courts operating in the state to use Punjabi as its official language. Referring to the directive by the Registrar, Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Language Department has ordered the use of Punjabi as per the State Language Act, 1967. The department has also ordered the District Language Officer to ascertain that the courts in their areas abide by the orders.

TARN TARAN
SEMINAR HELD: The college units of the NSS organised “Anti-corruption seminar” at the local Mata Ganga Girls College. It was presided over by Ms Kuljit Kaur, Principal of the college. Satnam Bhutani and Ranju Sharma, in charge of the college unit of the NSS, convened the seminar, college sources said on Thursday.

HARYANA

AMBALA
NCC CAMP: An annual training camp of the NCC cadets, organised by 2 Haryana Battalion NCC, Ambala Cantt, is currently under way. The camp was inaugurated by the camp commandant, Lieut Col S.P. Sahi. In his inaugural address to the cadets, he stressed upon discipline and unity besides giving details of the training to be imparted in the camp. Maj Ashwani Sharma is the deputy camp commandant. The NCC cadets did voluntary work at Panjokhra Sahab Gurdwara, Sant Asha Ram Bapu Ashram and Khalsa College, Panjokhra Sahab.

POETRY RECITATION: Deepak Gupta memorial poetry recitation contest was held at MDSD Girls College, here on Friday. The running trophy was won by Government College, Ambala Cantt. The first prize was won by Ms Anuradha of Government College, Ambala Cantt, while the second prize went to Ms Geetika of MDSD Girls College. The third prize was bagged by Mr Rahul Sharma of SA Jain College, Ambala City. The consolation prizes were given to Mr Pawan of DAV College, Ambala City, and Mr Shaminder Singh of GMN College, Ambala Cantt. Special Sanskrit prize was given to Ms Shveta of SD College, Ambala Cantt.

INTEGRATION CAMP: Students of Bell Toll Public High School, here participated in a camp held National Bal Bhavan in Delhi. The students participated in the International Children’s Assembly and integration camp held from November 14 to 20 on world peace, amity and cooperation. The camp had been inaugurated by Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, according to a press note.

WORKSHOP: The Haryana Ophthalmic Academy would organise a live surgery Phaco and Lasik laser workshop at Drive-in-22, a tourist complex on the Ambala-Chandigarh Highway, on Sunday, in which around 300 eye surgeons from Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi would take part. According to organising secretary of the academy Mahesh Manocha, the inaugural function would be presided over by Dr J.K. Pasricha, president of the All-India Ophthalmologic Society. Dr H.K. Tewari, chief, R.P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences AIIMS, New Delhi, would be the chief guest on the occasion. Dr J.L. Chaudhry, Director General, Health Services, Haryana, and Dr M.C. Luthra, president of the UP State Ophthalmology Society, would be the guest of honour.

FATEHABAD
ADOPTION WEEK: The District Council for Child Welfare is observing “National adoption awareness week”. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr O P Indora, who also heads the council, said the Haryana State Council for Child Welfare, Chandigarh, was a government authorised centre from where issueless couples could adopt children.

JIND
BAG SNATCHED: Two unidentified armed youths stabbed and injured a trader, Mr Birbhan, and took away his bag containing Rs 40,000 on Thursday evening. According to reports, the youths stopped the trader in a busy area of the town near the local Old Gain Market and tried to snatch money bag from him. When he resisted, one of the youths stabbed him and snatched the bag. The youths fled on their motorcycle.

KURUKSHETRA
BLOOD CAMP: The district committee of the Students Federation of India (SFI), organised a blood donation camp on the university campus here on Thursday to commemorate the martyrdom day of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. The camp was inaugurated by the Registrar of Kurukshetra University, Dr Hawa Singh. A social worker of Chandigarh, Ms Manju Singla, was the chief guest. The camp was sponsored by Punjab National Bank here.

REWARI
SECURITY PROVIDED: A security guard has been provided to Mr M.M. Dhonchak, Civil Judge (Senior Division), here by Mr Manjit Singh Ahlawat, S.P. Earlier the judge had made a complaint to the District and Sessions Judge, Narnaul, and asked for personal security as he had received threatening calls from unknown persons.

ROHTAK
ROBBED: Three motorcycle-borne youths allegedly robbed Rs 30,000 at gunpoint from the driver of an oil tanker on the Rohtak-Sonepat road, near Bohar village, on Thursday. According to information, the youths intercepted the tanker and threw chilly powder into the eyes of the driver, Suresh. Thereafter, they snatched the cash from the driver at gunpoint.

POLICY FLAYED: The Haryana Beopar Mandal has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister against the new house tax policy. Mr Laxmi Chand Gupta, president of the mandal, said in the memorandum that the new policy would put excessive financial burden on the people.

EXPOSITION: The Psychology Department of Maharshi Dayanand University here will organise a psychological exposition, “Psycho-Expo 2001” on November 29. This was stated by a spokesman of university on Thursday.

SONEPAT
2 KILLED, 2 HURT: Two persons were killed and two others injured in different road accidents in the district on Thursday. According to a report, a patwari, Satbir, was killed when his motorcycle was hit by a Tata-407 near Gohana, 40 km from here. Dayanand of Rohna village was killed when his bicycle was hit by a Jeep near his village, 25 km from here.

MASON HURT: Mr Imdat Ullaha, a mason, was seriously injured when he fell down from the roof of a house under construction in the Nandwani Nagar area here on Thursday.

GOODS STOLEN: Goods worth thousands of rupees were stolen from a karyana shop on the old DC road here on Thursday night. According to a report, the thieves broke open the shutter to gain access to the shop. The police has registered a case in this regard.

TRAVELLERS CAUGHT: More than 150 passengers were caught travelling without ticket by the checking staff of the Railways here on Thursday. According to a report, the ticket less travellers were produced before the Railway Magistrate, who imposed a fine on them. As many as 82 of them paid the amount and were let off. The remaining persons were sent to Ambala jail.

LIQUOR VEND LOOTED: Two unidentified armed youths reportedly looted a liquor vend at Palri Khurd village, 15 km from here, on Thursday night. According to a report, the miscreants assaulted the attendant, Mr Naresh Kumar, with a knife and took away the cash. The Rai police has registered a case in this regard.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SUNDERNAGAR
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the District Bar Association here: president — Mr S P Parmar; vice-president — Mr M P Sehgal; general secretary — Mr Bharat Bhushan; joint secretary — Mr Dinesh Saklani; librarian — Mr Rajesh Sharma, and finance secretary — Mr Hement.