Tribuneindia...Regional Briefs

	REGIONAL BRIEFS	Saturday, May 15, 1999
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AMRITSAR
Protest: Class IV employees on Thursday held a protest rally in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here. In a memorandum submitted to the SDM, the employees warned that they would be forced to launch an agitation if Babu Ram, a labourer who was injured while working on Rania bridge, was not given compensation.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
1 killed , 10 hurt: One person died and 10 passengers were seriously injured when a truck (HNX-5946) collided with a Punjab Roadways bus (PB-12-9401) near Dalo Majra village on the GT Road at Sirhind. The deceased is Amar Singh, driver of the truck.

GURDASPUR
Workshop: Mr P.H.Vaishnav, former Chief Secretary and Convener of the Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies and Mrs Surya Pandit, Convener, Chetna Society, on Thursday participated in a workshop held here on the empowerment of women. Mr S.K.Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, was also present. They said one of the four blocks — Narot Jaimal Singh, Pathankot, Kabnuwan and Qadian — in this district would be selected for implementing schemes to empower women.

JALANDHAR
Appointed: Dr Sanjiv Sharma (M S) has been appointed Vice-Chairman of the doctor/medical cell of the Punjab Youth Congress by Mr Devinder Singh Babbu, President of the Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress.

KAPURTHALA
New DC: Mr Vijay Kumar Singh on Thursday took over as Deputy Commissioner of the district in place of Mrs Usha R. Sharma, who has been transferred to Chandigarh.
Safai sevaks: Carrying of night soil on heads by safai sevaks had come to an end in the district. This was stated by Mr V.K. Singh, Deputy Commissioner, at a meeting held on Thursday at the local Yojna Bhavan to assess the welfare schemes for the safai sevaks in the district.

LUDHIANA
Seminar: The Department of Extension Education, PAU, organised a seminar for heads of schools and teachers from five districts of the state on all-round development of the youth. Dr S.S.Sokhi, Additional Director, Extension Education, PAU and Dr S.K. Mann, Dean, College of Home Science, PAU, were among those present.
Resentment: At a meeting of the teaching staff of Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College held here on Wednesday, resentment was expressed over the 'discriminatory' attitude of the state government towards homoeopathy. The association of the college teaching staff, in a press note issued on Thursday, said compared to six allopathic and seven ayurvedic college, there were only seven homoeopathic colleges in the state.
Appointed: Mr Rabinder Singh Sohil has been appointed coordinator of the foreign relations wing of the AICC by the party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi. Mr Sohil will work in association with Mr K. Natwar Singh, a former Minister of External Affairs and chairman of the AICC's foreign relations wing.
Inaugurated: Dr G.S. Momi, Head , Department of Extension Education, PAU, on Thursday inaugurated a month long training course for unemployed youth at the university. The course has been organised by the Department of Extension Education in collaboration with the Centre for Punjab Youth Training and Employment, Chandigarh.
Bulletin: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will release a bulletin for the "Rural Demonstration and Training Centre for Self-employment" in Kal Jharani village of Bathinda in Chandigarh on May 17. This was announced here on Thursday by Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University.
Welfare schemes: The Director of Social Welfare, Mr R.L. Kalsia, has said that 1999, is being celebrated as the Year for the Old. In view of this several schemes are being launched for the 16 lakh persons over 60 years in Punjab.

PATIALA
Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Grid Colony (B-block) Residents Welfare Association: President — Mr S.C.Sachdeva; Vice-President — Mr K.K.Singla; and General Secretary — Mr N.K.Kalra.
Postponed: The Dr Ravi Memorial annual function scheduled for May 19 has been postponed: according to the secretary of the Memorial Trust, fresh dates would be announced later.
Distributed: The Jan Hit Samiti, Punjab at its annual function held recently at SDSE Senior Secondary School, Arya Samaj, distributed books, copies and summer uniforms to poor students and old age pensions.

PHAGWARA
Body found: The body of a new born baby was found wrapped in a plastic cover in the old sabzi mandi on the Banga road on Thursday. The body was spotted while it was being dragged by a dog.

TARN TARAN
Elected: Mr Gurmej Singh Shahura, former district Jathedar, SAD, has been elected Jathedar of the Shiromani Akali Dal Bachao Front, Amritsar district. The front has been formed by rebel SAD leaders like Mr Prem Singh Lalpura, MLA, Mr Major Singh Uboke, former MP and Bhai Ranjit Singh.
Decried: Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, Secretary, PCMS Eye Surgeons Association, Punjab, and Dr Harjeet Singh Brar, Vice-President of the PCMS Association, Amritsar unit, on Thursday condemned the steep rise in tuition and hostel fee in medical colleges of the state. They urged the government to withdraw the hike immediately.

UDHAMPUR
Body found: The body of a village lambardar, Prem Chand of Chenani, has been recovered from Tawi river. The police has registered a case.

Welfare committee: A delegation of the Mazdoor Ekta Welfare Committee of Dadu Majra Colony, on Friday, met Mr Manmohanjit Singh, SE of Public Health and B and R, to discuss their grievances. According to Mr Ramesh Kumar, President of the committee, the colony had poor civic amenities and the place for garbage dumping needed to be shifted for the cleanliness of the surroundings. Carpeting of roads and ensuring proper water supply to the colony, were also discussed. The delegation was assured that their grievances would be solved soon. In view of this assurance, the plan to picket the MC office on Saturday has been postponed.
Demanded: The Chandigarh Cheap Houses Welfare Confederation has demanded the abolition of the lease of cheap houses as per the notification of the Government of India. In a memorandum given to the Mayor, Mr Kewal Krishan, the confederation demanded that in view of the rising prices of land in the city, cheap houses' owners in Sectors 15-D, 19-C, 19-D, 20-C and 24-C should be allowed to build a storey and a half more. Development of parks, recarpeting of roads, replacement of defective streetlights, cleaning of open spaces and provision of rain-water gullies were the other demands listed in the memorandum.
Migrant groups: As part of the ongoing tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, the Federation of Migrant Groups From North Western India, now Pakistan, will organise a seminar "Multani, Seraiki and Pothohari in Sri Guru Granth Sahib," on Sunday at the Sector 10 Government Museum Auditorium. Eminent scholars, including Dr Harnam Singh Shan, Dr Harkirat Singh, and Dr S.S. Joshi will participate in the seminar, a press note of the federation said here on Friday.
Celebrated: The annual 'Urs-e-Mubarak' of Baba Sakhi Sarvar Pir was celebrated at his Sector 29 dargah here on Friday. On this occasion, a 'Rasm-e-Chaddar' was held in which a number of followers and Mr Satya Pal Jain, local MP of the dissolved Lok Sabha, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, former Mayor, and Dr Anwar Ali, General Secretary of the National Muslim Welfare Movement participated. Qawals, including Nasir Khan and Neele Khan, entertained the participants by presenting 'qawalis' and 'kalaams'.
Meeting: The meeting of the general body of the local Jandid Brahman Sabha will be held on Sunday at the Sector 29-A Garhwal Bhavan here. In a press note issued here on Friday, Mr Dharambir Singh, General Secretary of the sabha, said the annual accounts of the sabha would be presented before the general body at the meeting. It will be presided over by the sabha President, Mr Balbir Singh Jangid.

PANCHKULA
Elected: The following have been elected the office-bearers of the Chamber of Panchkula Property Owners: President — Mr Pawan Valecha; General Secretary — Mr P.R. Chhabra and Treasurer — Mr Naveen Bansal.

BHIWANI
Loan camps: Mr K.S.Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, on Thursday said here that 25 loan camps would be held in the district to provide loans to families living below the poverty line to enable them to start their own ventures. Officials will sanction loans on the spot to eligible persons.

FARIDABAD
4 arrested: The police on Wednesday night arrested four persons, including a married woman, on the charge of carrying on prostitution in Mujesar, near here. Those arrested include Shiv Shankar, Satish Kumar and Gayatri Devi.
Looted: Three armed persons on Thursday morning looted Rs 30,000 from a liquor shop in Sector 10 here. Later they escaped on a scooter (DL-3-F-6173). In another case, Mohan Singh of Sector 29 has been arrested for defrauding several persons of lakhs of rupees by running a fake lottery.

GURGAON
Gang busted: The police has busted a three-member gang of thieves involved in stealing electricity wires in Punhana. According to the SSP, Mr N.S.Virk, the CIA staff of the district police has seized stolen wires worth Rs 75,400. Those arrested are Abdul Majiz, Issail and Haneef of Shahchokha village. In another case, the police arrested a suspected opium peddler, Devi Sharan of Sohana town, and seized about 3 kg of the drug from his possession.
Nominated: The Haryana Government has nominated Mr Tejpal Singh Tanwar and Mr Begraj as chairmen of the Gurgaon and Sohana, market committees, respectively.
Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Shahri Dehati Vikas Panchayat (rural unit): President — Mr Surajmal Gupta; Vice-President — Mr Hari Chand; and General Secretary — Mr Nathu Ram.

PANIPAT
Removed: Encroachments on 6 acres of the local Improvement Trust's land were removed by a demolition squad of the administration. This squad was led by the SDM.

SIRSA
Lightning: Hari Bhagat (50), an ex-serviceman of Ludeshar village in this district, died after he was struck by lightning. Members of his family, including his wife and two sons, received injuries when they were also struck by lightning while collecting fodder in fields on Thursday.
Burnt: Baby Suman (16) of Kirti Nagar here received serious burns at her house on Thursday and has been hospitalised. Her mother said her clothes caught fire when she was cooking food on a stove.
Employee held: Des Raj, an employee of a milk plant here, was arrested by Vigilance staff here on Thursday while accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000. He was allegedly taking bribe from a driver of a four wheeler engaged in the transportation of milk. A criminal case has also been registered against him.
Imprisonment: Dr Abdul Mazid, Judicial Magistrate (Class I), on Thursday sentenced to three years and imposed a fine of Rs 9,000 on Hazari Lal of Balasar village in the district in a criminal case registered against him at the Rania police station. According to the prosecution, Hazari Lal assaulted his elder brother Kanshi Ram, a farmer, on May 20,1993, and injured him seriously.
Criminal case: A criminal case under Sections 7, 10 and 55 of the Essential Commodities Act was registered at the city police station here on Thursday against Bhupinder, owner of Bhupindra gas agency, and his manager, Anil Sharma. Mr B.S. Sandhu, SSP, said the case was registered on a complaint by Mr Narotam Kumar Mittal, District Food Supply Controller, in which it was alleged that the accused were charging excess rates from the consumers for supplying LPG cylinders. Anil Sharma was arrested on Thursday.
Arrested: Gurnam Singh Bavrian and Nand Lal Balmiki were arrested by the local police on Thursday on the charge of attempt to murder in a criminal case registered against them on the complaint of Mr Puran Chand Kamboj of Vaidwala village. Mr Kamboj alleged that he was injured seriously with sharp-edged weapons by the accused on Thursday and had to be hospitalised. The cause of the assault was stated to be a financial dispute.
Molestation: Vinod Kumar of Bhagwar village in the district was arrested by the Odhan police on the charge of molesting a minor girl in the village with his accomplices, Raju and Om Parkash. A criminal case was registered against the three accused on the complaint of Mr Bir Singh, in which it was alleged that the accused molested his minor daughter and tried to abduct her.
Narcotics: Hardev Singh of Mulewala village in Sangrur district was arrested by the Dabwali police on Thursday on the charge of smuggling narcotics. The police also recovered 10 kg of poppy husk from his possession. A criminal case has been registered.
Criminal case: A criminal case on the charge of criminal intimidation and assault was registered against Anil and his brother, Naresh, at the Ellenabad police station on Thursday on the complaint of Mr Jagdish. Mr Jagdish alleged that he was injured by the accused on Thursday. Both accused are absconding.
Burnt: Ram Vashisht, an artisan, set himself on fire on Wednesday at his residence in Gandhi Colony here. He has been admitted to the local civil hospital.

SONEPAT
Arrested: The police foiled an attempt of five armed youths to loot a petrol station on the National Highway No 1 and arrested them near Sewli village, 15 km from here, on Thursday. Those arrested are Manoj and Mukesh of Bharna village in Ghaziabad, Sudhir, alias Andi, of Asas village, Bhupinder of Jarod village in Bulandshahr and Virender of Asan village. Three country-made pistols, six live cartridges and two sharp-edged weapons were seized from their possession.

YAMUNANAGAR
Welfare forum: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Consumer Welfare Forum, Radaur: President - Mr Pritam Singh Gupta; Secretary - Mr Sushil Sharma; and Treasurer - Mr Raj Kumar Gupta.

BILASPUR
8 held: As part of its campaign against illicit liquor, the police has arrested eight persons, including a woman, and registered cases against them under the HP Excise Act. As much as 36,000 ml of country-made liquor, 31,375 ml of raw liquor and 540 kg of Lahan has been seized by the police during the past few days.

NAHAN
Cleanliness drive: Mr P L Jain, Superintending Engineer, Irrigation and Public Health (I&PH), said here on Thursday that a special drive to clean over 1,100 drinking water sources and over 800 storage tanks has been launched under the Nahan I&PH division. Under this 'operation cleaning' programme, all officers of the department are participating alongwith the field staff and the people of the area.
Shut-down: Mr B.Kapoor, Executive Engineer, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, said here on Thursday that the Nahan electrical circle would observe a 'shut-down' on second Wednesday of every month for repair and maintenance of the power supply system. There would be no power supply from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the day of the shut-down.
Ban: The Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur, has banned plying of vehicles in the main market of Nahan town from 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.