R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AHMEDGARH
WOMAN HELD: The Sandaur police has arrested Ms Chhinder Kaur of Kasba Bharol for possessing 106 kilograms of poppy husk, while her husband Chamkaur Singh managed to escape. According to an FIR registered under the NDPS Act 15, the couple was preparing to retail the husk when Mr Bhadaur Singh, in charge, Sandaur police, nabbed her.

AMRITSAR
FIRE: A fire engulfed a chemical factory premises at Hayre village on the Ajnala road on Monday. According to the Assistant Divisional Fire Officer, Mr Harminder Pal Singh Bhullar, the fire started in the factory shed possibly from a cigarette butt or a short circuit.

SCIENTIST: Mr Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi, lecturer of pharmaceutical sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, attended and presented a paper at a meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, 2001, at Denever, USA, from October 21 to 25. His visit was sponsored by AICTE, New Delhi.

PROJECT: The Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, has been sanctioned a coordinated project by the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, amounting to Rs 24.63 lakh for three years. The department will be working in coordination with leading research institutes like the National Environment Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, and the Central Food Technology and Research Institute, Mysore.

COMPETITIONS: The Lions Club, Amritsar, held an on-the-spot painting competition and a fancy dress competition to pay homage to a former Prime Minister, the Late Jawaharlal Nehru. Seven schools from Amritsar district participated in the function. The running trophy in the painting competition was won by GND DAV Public School, Bhikhiwind, while the trophy in the fancy dress competition was won by DAV International School, Amritsar.

BATHINDA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following were elected office-bearers of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation Employees Union on Tuesday: president — Mr Sukhwinder Singh; Chairman — Mr Kewal Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Gurpal Singh; general secretary — Mr Harbans Singh; general secretary — Mr Baldev Krishan; and treasurer — Mr Ganda Singh Dhaliwal.

KHAMANO
POLICE-PUBLIC MEET: A police-public meeting was organised at the local police station. Addressing people on the occasion, DSP Agnihotri appealed the people to start thikri pehras in the town and villages. He appealed the panchayats to sort out minor problems of the people in villages. He also appealed to be vigilant to avert any untoward incident. The SHO, Mr Rajwinder Singh, Mr Janak Singh Uppal, a businessman, nagar panchayat president, Mr Dharmpal, chairman, Market Committee Chamkaur Sahib, Mr Gurdial Singh Bhagu, among others were present on the occasion.

EKTA RALLY: An ‘ekta rally’ was organised by the students of DPS Public School and people of adjoining villages. The rally, which was dedicated to National Integration Week, passed through Kheri Naudh Singh, Udalpur, Damheri, Luhar Majra, Salar Majra and some other villages. This was stated by the school Principal, Mrs Rupinder Kaur.

WOMAN DIES: A woman, Harpreet Kaur, died after an abortion at Sanghol village, near here. According to a police report, which was reported by Satnam Singh, father of the deceased, Harpreet Kaur who was three-month pregnant, and her husband Sajjan Singh approached Dr Manjeet Kaur, a mid wife and running Gill Nursing Home at Sanghol, for abortion. After abortion, her condition deteriorated and she died after reaching home. The police has registered a case under Sections 313 and 314 of the IPC but the accused is at large. 

KHANNA
ELECTED: Mr Roop Chand Sedha has been elected president of the local Swarankar Sangh in a meeting held here on Monday. The following have been appointed office-bearers of the sangh: Mr Som Nath Verma — vice-president, Mr Harmesh Verma — general secretary and Mr Surinder Kumar — cashier.

CULTURAL PROGRAMME: A cultural programme was organised at Radha Vatika Senior Secondary School here on Sunday. The programmes included a skit on noise pollution made by religious places, ‘Bhakti ke rang’, speeches about ‘Religion-based terrorism’ and female foeticide. The prizes were distributed by Mr Vijay Chopra, Editor, Hind Samachar, among the students for academic and sports performances. Annual report of the school was read by Principal D.R. Jalota. An industrialist, Mr Kanahia Lal, was also honoured for his social service. Swami Jai Shree Ji of Kurukshetra called on the school authorities not to take examinations before admission. Mr Nirmal Sofat, chairman of the school, thanked the guests and participants.

PROTEST: A strike was observed by the local Arthiya Association in protest against the functioning of the police. Mr B.C. Bector, general secretary of the association, said the police had failed in nabbing the robbers who had robbed Rs 2 lakh in the broad daylight just 100 meters from the Police Lines. Meanwhile, according to information, three car-borne clean-shaven youth fled after filling petrol in their car without paying the amount. An employee of the petrol station, M/s New Patiala Goods Booking Agency, said on Saturday that the number of the car was concealed and could not be ascertained.

KHARAR
EXHIBITION: Guru Nanak Foundation Public School, Chappar Chiri, will celebrate its first educational exhibition and second sports meet on Friday. Mr Tota Singh, Minister of Education, will be the chief guest.

LUDHIANA
SCIENCE CONGRESS: The eighth district-level Children’s Science Congress was held at Government High School, Salem Tabri, on Sunday. The theme of the congress was ‘Indigenous scientific knowledge’. The students were divided into two groups — seniors and juniors. In the seniors group, Karamjeet Kaur from Government Senior Secondary School, Dhandran, was declared first. Second prize went to Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Mnasuran, and third prize went to the student from Sargodha Khalsa Co-educational High School. In juniors group, Hari Mittal from Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, was declared first, followed by Santosh from Government High School, Salem Tabri. The congress was presided over by Ms Samistha Bawa, District Science Supervisor.

NEWBORN WEEK: To spread awareness regarding the health of newborn babies, Paediatrics Department of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital celebrated the Newborn Week under the aegis of the National Neonatal Forum of India last week. “The week is celebrated every year by the department and this year DMCH organised a series of programmes to mark the occasion, according to Dr Parveen Sobti of secretary of the NNF, Punjab state branch. A poster competition was organised on Break the bottle and save the child’ for the nursing students, which was won by Manju Bala, a first year nursing student. A talk on ‘Primary care of the newborn’ was also organised. Another lecture on ‘Advantages of breastfeeding was delivered to mothers who visited the OPD of DMCH by Dr P.A. Pooni. A workshop for interns on ‘Resuscitation of new borns’ was organised by Dr H.S. Bains president of the NNF. A seminar on ‘Fluid Therapy in the newborn’ was delivered by Dr Bindu Aggarwal.

ELECTED: Dr A.K.Kala, Consultant Psychiatrist from Ludhiana, has been elected president of the Indian Association of Private Psychiatry at the second annual conference of the association held at Jodhpur from Friday to Sunday. According to a press note, 450 psychiatrists from all over the country attended the conference. The main issues discussed were: extending mental health services to community, the law against attempted suicide and treatment of depression that was assuming epidemic proportions.

FELLOWSHIP: Mr Hukum Deo Narain Yadav, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, has conferred the fellowship of the Society of Pesticide Science India (SPSI) on Dr G.S. Dhaliwal, Professor of Ecology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The fellowship was conferred on Dr Dhaliwal at the inaugural session of the international conference on Pesticides, Environment, Food Security that concluded at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, recently. He was selected for his outstanding contribution towards the pest and pesticide management. Dr Punjab Singh, Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Dr P.K. Singh, Director IARI, and Dr Mangala Rai, Deputy Director ICAR, were also present on the occasion.

LECTURE: An extension lecture-cum-workshop was organised at the Malwa Central College of Education for Women on the topic ‘How to write a research report?’. Dr S.K. Bawa, lecturer in the Department of Education at Punjabi University and resource person, told the students regarding the purpose and format of research writing. She told them the way to look for related literature on the subject of research. A question-answer round was held in which the queries of students regarding writing of thesis were discussed, said Dr Ravinder Kaur, Principal of the college. 

MEDICAL CAMPS: Two successive free medical camps to check gynaecological and dental problems were organised by the Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College concluded here on Tuesday. The camps were held at Gyan Vidya Mandir, Jassian road, as well as the college and more than 200 patients were examined. Medicines were distributed free of cost. Camps were inaugurated by Dr R. Kochhar, Principal of the college. Many complicated cases were given indoor admissions at Smt Anjana Rani Oswal Maternity Wing of Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College.

PARBHAT PHERIS: Parbhat pheris are being taken out in different parts of the city by various gurdwara bodies in connection with the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev on November 30. According to a press release by Gurdwara Gur Sagar Singh Sabha, Salem Tabri,here on Tuesday, a nagar kirtan would be taken out on November 29 on the eve of Guru Nanak’s birthday. The nagar kirtan, which would be led by the Panj Piaras, would also include schoolchildren with their respective bands and a number of ‘gatka’ parties.

MANSA
AGENTS’ COMPLAINT: In a representation to Ms Raji P. Srivastva, Deputy Commissioner, here on Tuesday, commission agents alleged that officials of the Food Corporation of India had not made payment for the paddy purchased on October 25 from Akalia centre of the district. At least 4,400 quintals of paddy was purchased. They alleged that now the officials were not making payment saying that the paddy was beyond rejection limit and they had not purchased it. Ms Srivastva assured them of an early action in this regard.

EYE CAMP: An eye operation camp, organised at Joga village in the district by the City Club here in collaboration with the Rotary Club, Mansa Greater, concluded on Tuesday. A team from the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, examined 698 persons patients and operated upon 47 patients, according to Mr Prem Kumar Aggarwal, secretary of the Rotary Club.

MOGA
PENSION: The Punjab Government has decided to provide pension to the staff of aided schools. This was stated here on Tuesday by the State Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, while addressing the annual sports function of the local Sacred Heart School.

NAWANSHAHR
CONCERN EXPRESSED: Dr Kuldip Chand Agnihotri, national coordinator of Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch and coordinator of the Himalaya Bachao Muhim, talking to mediapersons here Monday, expressed concern over the increase in the activities of the church and the ISI in the Himalayan region. He stressed upon the need to evolve a mechanism to ensure cooperation among Himalayan nations in this regard.

PATIALA
APPOINTMENT HAILED: President, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGS) Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, hailed the appointment of Kirpal Singh Badungar as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief here on Tuesday. Dr Ahluwalia, while felicitating Badungar, said that this election would pave the way for radical transformation of the Gurdwara management. He hoped that Mr Badungar, with his experience of Sikh praxis and knowledge would initiate the process for the long, overdue ‘second Sikh reformation. The Local Managing Committee of Khalsa College Patiala also congratulated Mr Badungar on his appointment.

PHAGWARA
‘RUN FOR FUN’: The 8-Punjab NCC Batallion organised a ‘Run for fun’ here on Monday to celebrate the NCC raising day. Mr Inderjit Singh, Principal, Guru Nanak College here flagged off the race from the college. Lieut-Col R.S. Chahal, Commanding Officer of the batallion, Lieut-Col Manoj Tripathi, Administrative Officer of the batallion, and Lieut Sawinder Singh, Company Commander, were present on the occasion.

BURIED TO DEATH: A labourer, Karnail Singh of Malerkotla, was buried under the heap of rice husk and got asphyxiated here on Sunday. It was learnt on Monday that a truck loaded with rice husk had come from Samana to the local JCT Mills. When he was cutting the strings for unloading the husk, the entire heap accidentally fell over him. By the time the rice husk was removed, Karnail Singh had died of suffocation.

HOUSE BURGLED: A theft took place at the house of Paramjit Singh, a contractor, at Virendar Nagar here. He and his family had gone to Ludhiana and when they returned on Sunday, they found the locks broken and the rooms ransacked. The police has registered a case. In another case, the thieves broke the lock of a charity box and took away the money from the ‘mazar’ of Punjpir.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Indian Medical Association, Phagwara branch: president — Dr Karamjit Singh Bamrah; vice-presidents — Dr Anoop and Dr Rajiv Gupta; honorary secretary — Dr G.P. Singh; and treasurer — Dr Ashutosh Gupta.

FELLOWSHIP: Dr Karamjit Singh Bamrah, newly elected president of the IMA, Phagwara, has been selected for the fellowship of the College of General Practioners, an academic wing of the IMA. The fellowship will be conferred by Dr Ketan Desai, national president of the IMA and president of the Medical Council of India, at a convocation to be held on December 29 in New Delhi, according to a press noted issued here on Monday.

SAMRALA
SPORTS MEET: The Malwa Sports Association has decided to hold a sports meet from December 15 to 17 in the grounds of Malwa College, Bondli-Samrala, according to the press secretary, Mr Behari Lal Saddi. The meet will be inaugurated by Capt S.S. Brar, SDM, while Mr Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, will distribute prizes among the winners.

GURPURB CELEBRATIONS: Sant Kirpal Singh Panthi Public School will hold celebrations on December 2 to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nank Dev, according to Ms A. Bakhshi, director of the schools. After ‘akhand path’ bhog at 10 am, the schoolchildren would chant ‘shabad kirtan’. Later, Baba Bakhan Singh, chief patron of the school, would talk about the life of Guru Nanak Dev. A langar would also be served.

ANNUAL DAY: The seventh annual prize distribution function of Punjab Public School, Ropalan, 9 km from here, will be held on Saturday, according to Mrs Gurbinder Kaur, Principal of the school. She said schoolchildren would present a cultural programme on the occasion. The function would be presided over by Capt S.S. Brar, SDM, while Dr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Vice-Chairman of Punjab School Education Board, would be the chief guest, she added.

MASS LEAVE: The veterinary doctors of the sub-division went on mass casual leave here on Monday on a call given by the Punjab Veterinary Officers Association. Talking to mediapersons in the local Civil Rest House, Dr Ashok Kumar Sharma said the Punjab government had assured the association of implementating genuine demands like non-practising allowance, academic allowance, postgraduate increments, conveyance allowance and DDO powers to SVOs in various meetings held with minister, Secretary etc. But no action had been taken. 

DHARNAS DEFERRED: The proposed dharnas on Wednesday by the revenue patwaris at district headquarters, have been postponed till further decision, according to Mr Gurmel Singh, state president, and Mr Sukhdev Singh Chauhan, state cashier of the Punjab Patwar Union, here on Tuesday. Both the leaders said the decision had been taken after an assurance given by the Revenue Minister, Mr S.S. Sekhwan, to the leaders of the union, in which they had agreed to release the pay of the strike period to the patwaris. The leaders said a meeting of the state body had been called on Thursday at 10 am in the old tehsil building in which the next programme will be chalked out.

HARYANA

AMBALA
MEET: The Ambala police organised a police-public meet at Government Senior Secondary School, Balana, 10 km from here, on Tuesday. Panchayats members, anganwadies workers and local residents participated in it. The DSP, Mr Raj Gopal, advised the villagers to provide better education to their children for their future. Mr Satbir Saini, a lecturer of the school, also spoke on the occasion.

MEETING: The HSEB Workers Union at a meeting held here on Tuesday chalked out a programme for the proposed rally at Jind on December 9. Mr Ram Pal, secretary of the district unit, said their demands were not accepted by the state government. Mr Devi Prashad Bhatt, Mr Ravi Kumar, Mr Radheshyam Kesri. Mr Purushottam Sharma and Mr Rameshwar Dass were also present at the meeting, among others.

COMPETITION: Two students of S.D. High School (Chakwal), Topkhana Bazaar, have done well at declamation and song contest held at S.D. Mandir. The Principal, Mr L.K. Bansal, said the function was president over by the Ambala City MLA, Ms Veena Chhibber. While Sunny Grewal won the first prize in declamation, Ajay Goyal was second in the song competition. The students won the running trophy. TNS

CONTEST: VLCC here organised ‘Hunt for the Heaviest person’ on the occasion of Anti-Obesity Day. Mr Santokh Singh from Shahbad won the contest, according to a press note.

PANIPAT
ACCIDENT: One person was killed and two others were injured in a collision between a jeep and a car near Shahpur village on the Panipat-Rohtak highway on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Mahaveer of Pardhana village.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
SOUGHT: The Himachal Pradesh Judicial Employees Welfare Association has decided to approach the National Commission regarding its demands. At a meeting of the association held at Dharamsala recently, the association demanded higher pay scales and provision for more promotional avenues.

NURPUR
PROTEST: The Yuva Morcha of the Lok Janshakti Party, Jawali unit, held a demonstration at Jawali on Monday under the leadership of Mr Ramesh Badyal, state president of the party, in protest against the recent hike in water and electricity tariff. The morcha also submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the local SDM.

FISH FARMING: The Fish Farming Development Agency, Kangra district, on Monday organised a three-day fish farming awareness-cum-training camp at Jawali. Farmers were educated on new techniques of fish farming by experts from the Fisheries Department. Mr Gurcharan Singh, Assistant Director of the department, presided over the camp.