The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Saturday, October 13, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
INCREMENT: Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA, has stressed the need to fulfil the long-pending demand with regard to an increase of Rs 20 in the daily wages of Home Guards. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had also assured the Home Guards of the same earlier this year.

AGRO PRODUCTS: Markfed is trying to introduce agro products at reasonable prices in foreign markets, said Mr L.S. Sekhon, district manager, Markfed, here on Thursday. He said Markfed was the only institution which had the licence to sell grain in foreign countries after purchasing the same from Punjab.

CELEBRATIONS: Amritsagar School for special children celebrated ‘World Mental Health Day’ here on Thursday. As a token of love small gifts were given by Bhatia Neuropsychiatric Hospital, to the children, the hospital is celebrating ‘Mental Health Week.

NEW COURSE: Guru Nanak Dev University has decided to introduce MA in Police Administration for private candidates from this academic session. According to a university spokesman, the duration of the course shall be two years.

BATHINDA
SEMINAR: A seminar on environment protection was organised by the Punjab Eco-Friendly Association at the local Guru Kashi Regional Centre. Mr V.K. Kaushik and Mr Harmeet Singh Sandhu presented papers on Environment Jurisprudence and Air Pollution, respectively.

MEMORANDUM: In a memorandum given to the Punjab Chief Minister, the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation (PSSF), has urged the government to accept their long-pending demands. Mr Harminder Singh Dhillon, joint secretary of the federation, in a press note issued here on Friday said the state leadership had decided that if the demands were not accepted, the federation would have to resort to agitation. He said the demands included levying of income tax on the basic pay only, pension to employees of corporations, the universities and bonus for all employees.

HOSHIARPUR
STRIKE: Employees of the Drainage Division, Hoshiarpur observed a pen-down strike and staged a dharna in front of their office here on Thursday to protest against non-payment of their salaries since June, 2001. Mr Ashok Kumar Nanda, district president of the Punjab State Services Federation, Hoshiarpur, warned the authorities that if the salaries were not released at the earliest, the employees would intensify their agitation.

DEMANDS: A deputation of the Punjab Polytechnic Engineers Association led by its president, Mr Jasbir Singh Gill, met Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Minister for Technical Education, Punjab, here on Wednesday and apprised him of the problems of the engineers. The minister assured the deputation of pay parity with PWD engineers.

MEETING: To pursue cases in courts abroad and in the country against those behind the Malta boat tragedy, the Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission has convened a special meeting here on October 26, 2001. Mr Balwant Singh Khera, chairman of the mission in a press note issued here on Thursday said 22 youths who had escaped the tragedy and families of the victims had been invited to the meeting.

JAGRAON
EYE CAMP: Baba Ishar Singh Charitable Trust will hold its eighth free eye operation camp at Nanaksar Kaleran on October 13 and 14. Baba Lakha Singh will inaugurate the camp and Dr Dhanwant Singh from Patiala, who will be the chief guest, will examine patients and perform operations.

SAMMELAN: The Seventh Virat Sant Sammelan will be held at Gita Bhavan here from October 13 to 15. It will be inaugurated by Mr Karanjot Singh Galib.

KAPURTHALA
STRIKE: Members of the District Bar Association observed a strike here on Thursday to protest against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. The lawyers abstained from work.

SUICIDE: Randeep Kaur (19), an unmarried girl of Badial village, and Paramjit Singh (21) of Kalasanghian village, allegedly committed suicide here on Wednesday after consuming some poisonous substance. Their bodies were sent to the local Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered and matter is being investigated.

KHARAR
JUDICIAL REMAND: Mr R.L. Chauhan, Judicial Magistrate, on Friday remanded B.P. Kohli of the Punjab Mandi Board in judicial custody till October 25. He was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Department on Thursday while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from Mr Hardeep Singh, an employee of the board. The police party was headed by Mr Zora Singh Brar, DSP. Mr J.S. Pannu, Assistant Public Prosecutor, appeared in the court on behalf of the state.

LUDHIANA
MEDICAL CAMP: The Bhai Ghanayiya Ji Sewa Sanstha, Ludhiana, will organise a free medical camp at Mai Bhago College of Ramgarh village on the Chandigarh road on Sunday, according to Mr Shamsher Singh, president of the social service society. The team of doctors, which will examine patients, would include eye specialists, ENT specialists and dentists. Various tests, including ECG, would be done free of cost, added Mr Singh.

WORKSHOP: A two-day workshop on make-up and hairstyles concluded at Grace Beauty Clinic here on Thursday. Mr Kishor Thakkar, a make-up artist from Bollywood, told the beauticians about latest techniques of make-up and facelift. He also demonstrated latest techniques of bridal, casual and party make-up with matching hairstyles. Beauticians from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan attended the two-day workshop.

CAMP: Guru Angad Dev Charitable Hospital will organise a free diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases check-up camp on Sunday. The patients will be examined by Dr Parminder Singh and Dr Kulwant Singh. Tests will be done free of cost and medicines will also be provided free to the needy. The patients will also be told about these diseases.

MEETING: A meeting of the Government Ayurvedic and Unani Upvaid Union was held under the guidance of Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister on Wednesday at Chandigarh. The Health Minister directed that ‘Upvaids’ would now be called Ayurvedic Pharmacists. He also ensured that the posts of Ayurvedic Pharmacists would be created at the district level. The meeting was attended by Mr Sanjay Popli, Mr Arvind Dogra, Mr Satish Kumar, Mr Madan Lal, Mr Prem Sharma, Mr Bahadur Singh and Mr Hansraj.

CUSTOMERS’ MEET: UCO Bank organised a customers’ meet programme at the office of Municipal Corporation, here on Friday. Loan cheques for Rs 108 lakh were distributed among 60 employees of the corporation. The meeting was presided over by Mr Jagdish Malhotra, Assistant General Manager, UCO Bank. The Mayor of the corporation, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, was the chief guest. Mr J.S. Gill, Manager of the bank, while addressing the gathering said the bank had a special scheme of cash loans for employees and traders with simple procedures. He said the bank also offered 1 per cent more interest on deposits to senior citizens.

MANSA
AWARD GIVEN: Mr Chander Shekhar Srivastva, Commissioner, Faridkot Division, distributed “Friendship Genius Award-2001” to 18 students of various schools of the district at a prize distribution function organised by the Friendship Yuva Club here on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Srivastva stressed the need to provide education to the children to make them responsible citizens.

PHAGWARA
TWO NABBED: The local police arrested two proclaimed offenders here on Thursday. Bawa Ram, a proclaimed offender hailing from Khaira village, is wanted in various cases since 1986, the other, Kashmir Singh, hailing from a village under the Jandiala Guru police station was declared offender in 1984.

PHILLAUR
FIVE ARRESTED: A labourer Vinod Kumar, was allegedly beaten to death by five of his own companions at Masani village here on Thursday evening. A minor money dispute was said to be the cause of the murder. The police has arrested all accused under Section 302 of the IPC.

SAMRALA
VISION 2005: Mr B.M. Mahajan, Managing Director of Milkfed, while talking to mediapersons at the local Civil Rest House, said that ‘Vision 2005’ was being launched in the state with an intention to increase profit margin in dairy business. According to him, technical services, including health care of milch cattle, would be provided to the milk producers at their doorstep under this scheme. He said despite an increase in the cost of ingredients of cattle feed, Milkfed had slashed its rate with effect from September in order to give relief to the milk producers.

FUNCTION: A state-level inaugural function of the Punjab Police and Joint Projects, an NGO, will be held at Kulbir Palace, Doraha, on Saturday at 10 am. This was stated by Mr Ram Singh, SP (Operations), Khanna, here on Friday. Mr Sarbjit Singh, DGP, Punjab, will be the chief guest and Mr R.N. Dhoke, SSP, Khanna, will preside over the function.

MEETING: A meeting of SC/BC employees of Samrala tehsil will be held at Punjab Public School, here on Sunday at 10 am, according to Mr Amrik Singh, tehsil convener, SC/BC Employees Union. Mr Gurmeet Singh and Mr Makhan Singh, finance secretary and joint secretary, Punjab, will address the meeting, he added.

ACQUITTED: Mr Ravinder Kumar, Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Samrala, on Friday acquitted Manjinder Singh Dhillon, a liquor contractor, Nachhattar Kaur and Surinder Kaur against whom a case was registered at the Machhiwara police station on March 25, 1991, under Sections 435, 420 and 427 of the IPC for burning paddy belonging to Markfed. The main accused in the case, Jagjit Singh, alias Jaggi, was murdered some months ago.

ARDAS DIVAS: To atone for the burning of the holy ‘Birs,’ the Benipal Taxi Union of Beeja village has decided to organise ‘ardas divas’ from October 14 to 16. The president of the union, Mr Kamaljit Singh, said here on Friday that leaders of the Akali Dal, including Jathedar Kirpal Singh Khirnian, a member of the SGPC, will address the gathering.

ASSURANCE: Mr Sushil Kumar, DSP, Samrala, listened the complaint and grievances of family members of ex-servicemen of this tehsil, in the local police station on Friday. He assured them that their problems would be solved within a week.

APPOINTED: Mr Ajay Kumar Apadahaya of Samrala has been appointed vice-president of the Punjab unit of the Lok Jan Shakti Party of Indian by the general secretary of the Punjab Unit.

DEATH ANNIVERSARY: The death anniversary of Devinder Singh Takhran, who was killed in Kargil war, was observed at his native village, Takhran, 7 km from here on Friday. On this occasion, the local SDM, Mr S.S. Brar, and Wing Commander Randhawa of the District Sainik Welfare Board, Ludhiana, gave a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to Ms Sarbjit Kaur, widow of Devinder. Ms Sarbjit Kaur is now working as Assistant in the local SDM’s office.

PROTEST: The Revenue Patwar Union of Punjab has decided to organise protest dharnas at all district headquarters in Punjab on October 16, according to the state president, Mr Gurmel Singh, and the cashier, Mr Sukhdev Singh Chauhan, here on Friday.

CAMP: As many as 106 caste certificates domiciles etc were issued at a camp held at Chack Muafi village, 10 km from here, on Thursday by the local SDM, Mr S.S. Brar, to students of the surrounding areas, according to Mr Raj Paul Sekhon, Naib Tehsildar, Samrala.

PATHANKOT
CONVICTED: Mr Naginderjit Singh, Special Judge, Gurdaspur, has convicted Didar Singh of Singhpura village in Jalandhar district for carrying 6 kg of poppy husk. He has sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment and imposed on him a fine of Rs 1,00,000. A case under Section 15 of the NDPS Act was registered against the accused in February last at the sadar police station, Pathankot.

PATIALA
HOMAGE PAID: Children from Kumar Sabha Bal Niketan were given dresses and other material at a function organised at Lahori Gate to pay homage to social worker Bhagwan Swaroop Goel on the occasion of his birth anniversary here on Friday. Presiding over the function, the Assistant Commissioner (Grievances), Mr Rahul Gupta, lauded the social activities initiated by the late social worker. The son of the late social worker and senior Congress leader, Mr Brij Lal Goel, besides Mr Rahul Gupta, Mr Ram Prasad, Mr Sham Lal Navyug, Karnail Singh Bhattewale, Principal Mr Mohan Lal Chug, Mr Vijay Goel, Mr K.C. Chadda, Mr Madan Lal, Mr Ram Goel and others garlanded the photo of the social worker. Food was also provided to the girls of Bal Niketan apart from fruits and a shawl. Later, langar was also served to the patients of Pingalwada on the Rajpura Road.

FOUNDATION STONE: The Punjab Finance and Planning Minister, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, on Friday laid the foundation stone of 2.5-km long Shaheed Jaswinder Singh Marg link road that would run from Khijarpur to Bhagwanpura village, falling in Nabha block. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said while the Punjab Government had provided free electricity and water supply to the farmers, it had also provided Rs 200 crore for developments in the agricultural sector. He allocated a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the development of the village.

RALLY: The Bahujan Samaj Morcha on Friday organised a protest rally for the fifth consecutive day on the call given by the Valmiki Dharam Yudh Morcha in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner. The District President, Ms Seema Vaid, demanded the fulfilment of the demands put forth by the Morcha leaders , failing which the protesters threatened to resort to ‘do or die’ strategy.

REFRESHER COURSE: The Chemistry Department of Punjabi University would organise a UGC-sponsored refresher course on the university campus from Monday here. The thrust area of the course would be ‘Spectroscopic methods and recent trends in Chemistry’, particularly in the field of Advanced Chemistry in the modern times.

LOK ADALAT: A meeting of the District Bar Association was held under the presidentship of Mr Balbir Singh Billing to discuss about the Lok Adalat scheduled to be held at the District Courts on Saturday for the settlement of bank loan cases and settlement of cases at pre-litigation stage with the cooperation of the district administration. The association appealed the general public and advocates to take part in the event.

CHANDIGARH

NEW CENTRES: The Regional Resource Centre for Adult and Continuing Education, Panjab University, would adopt five experimental centres in Janata Colony, Sector 25, Panjab University campus and Dadumajra colony, to impart vocational training and literacy to the neoliterates and semi-literate in the community. These centres would be inaugurated by Mrs Harjinder Kaur, Mayor of Chandigarh, on Monday.

DHARNA: The Panjab University Non-Teaching Employees Federation organised a dharna in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office in protest against the alleged increasing interference by the state government in the internal administration of the universities. The executive members of all the associations owing allegiance to the federation participated in the dharna. They criticised the strategy of the government to encroach upon the autonomy of universities, imposing sharp cuts in grants in violation of negotiations between the state government and the university and stalling filling up of vacant budgeted posts.

FREE ARTICLES DISBURSED: In a colourful function organised by Government High School in Sector 40, free shoes and stationery were distributed among night school students, here on Friday. Welcoming the chief guest, Baba Harpal Singh of the Sant Anan Mission, and Mr Bahadur Singh, Principal of the school, stated that 48 students chiefly belonging to slum areas were given shoes and over 60 were given stationery, including school bags, uniforms and books. Baba Harpal Singh assured the school authority of all kind of help from his mission for such projects. A colourful cultural programme was also organised on the occasion with a number of students presenting songs, poems and a play.

DEMANDS SUBMITTED: A delegation of the Government Teachers Union (UT) met the Education Secretary, UT, Administration, Mr R.S. Gujral, and submitted a charter of their demands. The teachers demanded bonus to class III and class IV employees, special increment after completion of 5, 9 and 14 years of service, release of DA in instalment, filling up of vacant posts of different categories by promotion or direct recruitment, promotion to the post of principal, lecturer, headmaster and other categories by promotion on priority-basis, seniority list and confirmation cases of teachers and rectification of the transfer orders that have violated the transfer policy. They also demanded the transfer of the deputy DEO stating that he had already completed 7 years on the post, inflow of teachers on deputation be stopped, two advance increments on account of higher qualification for teachers and creation of more posts in all subjects. The convener of the union, Dr Vinod Sharma, stated in a press note that the Education Secretary has assured appropriate action at the earliest.

INTER-SCHOOL DEBATE: Students from over 30 schools participated in the PACE Forum 2001, an inter-school debate held at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, here on Friday. The first prize was bagged by Loveleen of Government Model Sr Sec School and Tahleen of St Peters High School, whereas the second prize went to Simrat of St Peters and Animesh of Bhavan Vidyalya, Sector 27. Amita of Bhavan Vidyalya and Sneha Sood of Army Public School won the third prize while the consolation prize went to Harkaran Singh of St Kabir Public School and Gaurav Chhibber of St Stephens High School.

PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY: Mr Yashpal Mahajan, convener of the local unit of the BJP, on Friday said the party had started preparation for the proposed gathering on October 28 at the party office on the eve of its golden jubilee. Mr Neeraj Tayal, a member of the Adhoc Committee, had been appointed in charge for the preparations. A press note issued by the party stated that it would hold meetings at the mandal level in all four districts of the party. Mr Mahajan said senior leaders of the party, including Mr Satya Pal Jain, a former MP, Mr Dharam Pal Gupta, former president of the party, Mr Purshotam Mahajan and Mr Neeraj Tayal, had been making all possible efforts to activate all workers of the party for the municipal corporation elections to be held in December.

HARYANA

AMBALA
ATTACKS CRITICISED: The Lok Sangharsh Manch on Friday organised a demonstration here in protest against the attack by the USA on Afghanistan. A press note alleged that the USA had been instrumental in spreading terrorism.

BHIWANI
CONVICTED: The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Lalit Batra, has convicted Dharmender and Madan, residents of Shiv Nagar Colony, for raping a minor girl. According to the prosecution, the victim was raped by the accused on November 7, 1997.

DEMONSTRATION: The Yuva Haryana Vikas Party will stage a demonstration on November 2 in front of the power house at Jhojhu village in protest against the inadequate supply of canal water and electricity, said state president of the youth wing of the party, Mr Nripender Singh, while addressing mediapersons at a press conference here on Thursday. He added that the party would organise a series of demonstrations throughout the state and the next “yuva sammelan” would be held at Rohtak.

BODY FOUND: The railway police found an unidentified body from outside the railway station here on Thursday. The body was sent for a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered. In another incident, Surender, who consumed poisonous substance, was admitted to the Civil Hospital in serious condition.

CONVENTION: The Akhil Bharatiya Bhrashtachar Nirodhak Samiti will organise a state-level convention at Pandit Neki Ram Auditorium on October 14. The state president of the samiti, Mr S.N. Jindal, said its national convener, Mr D.S. Gill, would be the chief guest.

FOUNDATION STONE: The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will lay the foundation stone of Parvati Devi Memorial DAV Public School at Kaunt road here on October 14. The Chief Minister will also preside over the monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievances Committee the same day.

SUICIDE: Ram Kishan (50), a resident of Mahendergarh, allegedly committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance here on Thursday evening. He died at the Civil Hospital. Harish (35) of Mai Khurd village was injured when attacked by three persons here on Friday.

ROHTAK
LOOTED: Three masked robbers looted Rs 50,000 at gunpoint from an employee of an ice factory located on Sugar Mill Road here on Thursday night. According to police sources, the three youths forced their way into an ice factory as soon as Hari Singh, an employee opened the gates. They snatched the keys of the office almirah from him and took away the cash.

POWER THEFT: The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has detected 783 cases of power theft in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts during the past over one month. Mr M.P. Tyagi, Superintending Engineer, Rohtak Circle, said 6,200 power connections were checked during the period and a fine of Rs 84.25 lakh was imposed on the defaulters. Mr Tyagi said power consumers could get unauthorised power loads regularised without penalty till October 31 and the consumers whose electricity meters were tampered with or seals broken should report the matter to the power authorities by October 15.

SONEPAT
INJURED: Six persons, including two women, were seriously injured in a clash between two rival groups at Mirzapur Kheri village, about 40 km from here, on Thursday. All injured were rushed to hospital. The police is investigating the case, though no arrest has been made so far. A long-standing enmity was stated to be the cause of the clash.