The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Saturday, November 10, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

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50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

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

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
HEALTH CAMPAIGN: A health awareness campaign and a medical camp was organised at Soths village of Muktsar district by the district Health Department with the help of gram panchayat and the local Guru Gobind Singh Sports Club. Mr Jagdev Singh, Deputy Commissioner, in a press note issued here on Friday said 364 patients were examined at the camp.

DEVELOPMENT GRANT: The Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) of the district in a press note issued here on Friday said the cheque for Rs 30 lakh given by Mr Parkash Singh Badal for the development of Goniana Mandi during a ‘sangat darshan’ programme at Nathana village had been issued to the authorities concerned. Mr R. Venkatratnam, Deputy Commissioner, had constituted a five member committee in this regard.

DORAHA
STOLEN: A case of the theft has been registered at Payal police station under Section 379 of the IPC on Thursday. Charan Singh, a resident of Doraha, has complained that Baljit Singh and Dharampal Singh stole his bullock on September 2, 2001.

CASE REGISTERED: A case of fraud and theft was registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 435, 427, 506, 379 and 120-B of the IPC at Payal police station against Major Singh, Najjar Singh, Kulwant Kaur, Beant Singh, Baljit Kaur of Chummo village and Balwinder Singh and his wife of Lehran village. According to the complainant Rulda Singh of Giaspura in Focal Point, the accused had allegedly stole his paddy causing him a loss of Rs 1.25 lakh. They also broke open the locks of his motor room, cut the wires, misplaced the grip and fled with the farming equipment.

JAGRAON
BAN ON SALE OF CRACKERS: Mr Jaspal Mittal, the local SDM, has ordered that no sale of fire crackers could take place within the municipal area without his permission. Procurement of licence from the Municipal Council has also been made mandatory for this purpose.

KHANNA
STRIKE: Members of the local Arhtiya Association went on a strike on Friday to protest against the non-payment for the paddy procured by the state government procurement agencies. The association also held a protest rally in front of the office of the local market committee. Earlier, the arhtiyas held a meeting under the presidentship of Sadhu Ram Nanda to chalk out the action plan for pressurising the government to clear the pending payment of about Rs 60 crore. Mr Ranbir Sood, press secretary, Punjab Arhtiya Association, told Ludhiana Tribune that no other agency, except for the Food Corporation of India, had made any payments after October 15, 2001. He alleged that the Food and Civil Supplies Department had assured the arhtiyas last week that Rs 20 crore would be disbursed shortly, but not even a single penny had been given to them. He stated the arhtiyas would continue their strike till the payments were made to them.

SPECIAL MEASURES: Mr Pardeep Sabharwal, the local SDM, assured here today that special measures were being taken to avoid any untoward incident during Divali celebrations. He told Ludhiana Tribune that the town had been divided into four zones, and one officer had been deputed to each zone. He also convened held a meeting of the Halwai Association, and directed the ‘halwais’ to keep a strict check on the quality of sweets and to maintain cleanliness.

PATIALA
HONOURED: Judicial officers play a vital role in cleansing the society and creating respect for justice and propriety”, said Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University in his presidential remarks while honouring the selected PCS (Judicial) trainees of the IAS and Allied Services Training Centre at the Senate Hall of the university here on Thursday.

DECLAMATION CONTEST: An inter-school declamation contest, sponsored by the regional chopter of the Indian Science Congress Association was organised by Our Lady of Fatima Convent Secondary School here on Thursday. Large number of teams from various schools participated in the contest. The first prize was bagged by the host school. Trophy for overall performance was awarded to Budha Dal School, Patiala.

REGULARISE WORKERS: The Punjab State Karamchari Dal on Thursday demanded the state government to regularise 613 daily wagers working at the Punjab Urban and Development Authority (PUDA) here. Addressing a meeting of the association here the president, Mr Hari Singh Tohra, accused the Chief Minister of inappropriately spending crores of rupees in the name of sangat-darshan programmes and cited the pathetic conditions of government quarters, including judges’ residences around the state where not a single penny had been allocated for maintenance. He accused the Badal government of failing to distribute any bonus to government employees since 1997. He criticised the non-abolition of contractorship and non-payment of pension schemes in boards and corporations.

PHAGWARA
ACTION PANEL: An action committee of 10 villages was constituted on Thursday at Gurdwara Hajipur. The panel has threatened an agitation against the proposed Phagwara bypass, according to Mr Kulbir Singh Kang, convener of the committee and former vice-president of the municipal corporation. He said the committee would meet Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Phagwara visit in this regard. The bypass would displace hundreds of farmers, he said.

PHILLAUR
COWS RESCUED: The police impounded a truck laden with cows meant for slaughtering near the Noormahal road, Phillaur, on Wednesday night. The truck was bound for Uttar Pradesh. The DSP, Mr Satinder Singh, said here on Thursday that 19 cows were rescued and Shahad, Aasso and Sonu, all from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested.

SAHNEWAL
FORGERY: A son reportedly forged his father’s will as a result of which a case has been registered against him and two others at Sahnewal police station. According to the FIR registered, Dyal Kaur, wife of late Ajaib Singh had complained that her son Hari Singh had forged the will of his father and illegally made Balbir Singh and Lambardar Seetal Singh witnesses to the will.

SAMRALA
EMPLOYMENT FAIR: An employment fair will be held at Panjgrayan village, 15 km from here, on November 11. This was stated by Mr Jawahar Lal Duggal, the local Employment Officer, here on Friday. He added that the unemployed youth of Samrala tehsil would be guided by Fisheries Officer and other officers of Dairy and Agricultural Departments to fill forms for loans to start their own business. Mr Duggal said the function would be presided over by Ms Daljit Indira, District Employment Officer. He appealed to the youth to attend the camp in large numbers and to take benefit of various loan schemes.

CHANDIGARH

WEBSITE LAUNCHED: A website of the Food Craft Institute, Chandigarh, was formally launched by the UT Home Secretary, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral. The website “www.foodcraftchandigarh.com” contains detailed information about the institute, the courses offered, admission procedure fee structure, facilities at the institute, a photo gallery and a page containing latest happenings at the institute. The website will be useful to people across the globe wanting to know about the institute . A link with the Chandigarh Administration’s website has also been created. The institute has also formed an alumni association. All former students of the institute can now get in touch with the institute by filling in the registration form provided on the website.

COMMISSIONED: A 1,000 line Remote Line Unit (RLU) E-10B exchange was commissioned at Sector 25, Panchkula Extension, on Wednesday by Mr Prithipal Singh, Director Operations , BSNL, New Delhi. Commissioning of the new exchange will wipe out waiting list of 100 subscribers. Mr S.C. Chaudhary, CGMT, Punjab Circle, and Mr R.C. Vaish, Principal General Manager, Telecom, were also present on the occasion.

FUNCTION: The IFFCO Zonal Office (North) organised a function on Wednesday its premises after the Vigilance Awareness Week concluded. Mr H.S. Randhawa, SP Vigilance (Flying Squad), Punjab, was the chief guest. According to Mr Inderjeet Singh, Senior Manager (Agriculture Services), said during this week a series of programmes like kavi sammelan, poster drawing and slogan writing were held. The main attraction of this function was a quiz competition for children which was coordinated by Capt Arun Samant, Deputy Manager (Vigilance). Mr Inderjeet Singh delivered a brief lecture on vigilance in the light of social values.

LEGAL AID CELL: The Executive Chairman of the Union Territory Legal Services Authority, Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi, will inaugurate Legal Aid Cell at the Burail Model Jail, on Friday. According to Mr B.C. Gupta, Member Secretary of the State Legal Services Authority, on the occasion of “Legal Services Day” special Lok Adalat consisting of 18 Benches would be organised by the State Legal Services Authority. A large number of cases of Motor Accident Claims, matrimonial disputes, bank loan cases and rent petitions would be taken up. A large number of summary trial cases under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Shops Act would also be taken up at the Lok Adalat to provide speedy and inexpensive justice he added.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected as office-bearers of the Hindu Parv Mahasabha: chief patron — Mr K.G. Goswami; patron — Mr Ramesh Malhotra; president — Mr R.K. Lakhanpal; Senior vice-president — Mr Vijay Kapuria; vice-president’s — Mr R.P. Sareen; — Mr K.L. Gupta, Mr T.R. Vohra, Mr Prem Shammi, Ms Usha Sharma, Mr B.C. Sood and Mr O.P. Malhotra; general secretary — Mr B.P. Arora, and joint secretary — Mr B.P. Gupta.

ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Diploma Engineers Association (Public Health branch): President — Mr Suresh Kumar Garg; vice-president — Mr Beant Singh; general secretary — Mr S.S. Sodhi; joint secretary — Mr Parvesh Kumar; finance secretary — Mr Roop Lal, organising secretary — Mr M.K. Bhatnagar; auditor — Mr Janak Raj Gupta; executive members — Mr Dyal Singh, Mr Varinder Singh Kochhar, Mr Daljit Singh; secretaries divisional — Mr Manjit Singh, Mr Harbhajan Singh, Mr Sham Lal Singla and Mr Satish Rattan. TNS

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: As many as 115 students and staff of the Food Craft Institute, Sector 42, donated blood at a blood donation camp organised by the Blood Bank Society, PGI, in association with the State Bank of India.

EXHIBITION: A four-day exhibition-cum-sale of Chinese collections imported from China opened at Aroma Hotel on Friday. More than 200 items on display include porcelain ware, lamps, vases, murals and crockery. Most of the range is gold plated. The price ranges from Rs 300 to Rs 45, 000. According to Mr Mandeep Singh, proprietor of Motherson International (P) Ltd., this is the second exhibition held by him in the city. Good response to his earlier exhibition held in the month of August encouraged him to return.

ELECTION DEMANDED: The president of the PGI Class III/IV Employees Welfare Union has demanded that the elections to the PGI Employees Union be held soon as it has been over two months since the tenure of the last union officers expired. In a press note Mr Jagtar Singh Jaggi, president of the welfare union, stated that the matter of elections had become controversial since many employees felt that the union was not doing enough for the welfare of the employees and the leaders were merely interested in procuring offices for themselves. A meeting of the workers with the Director, PGI, is scheduled to be held on Monday wherein the matter of elections would be discussed.

FILM SOCIETY REVIVED: The Film Society of Panjab University was revived on Friday with the screening of recent Bollywood release ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ here in the afternoon. Mr Santokhwinder Singh Nabha, president of the Panjab University Campus Students Council, said the society had been revived after a gap of more than a year and regular screenings would be ensured in future. The film witnessed a large audience at the Law Auditorium.

PANCHKULA
REGISTRATION CENTRE: The Deputy Commissioner, Ms Jyoti Arora, on Thursday inaugurated computerised registration centres in Morni, Barwala and Rajpur Rani sub-tehsils. She said the state government had decided to computerise the registration work in all tehsils and sub-tehsils in the state. The computerised centres would provide the facilities of on-the-spot registration. The centres would also undertake the work of land jamabandi; other revenue records; birth and death registration; voters card; old age, widow and handicapped pensions records; and 22 other facilities in the near future. She said the district-level Integrated Informatics Centre would provide information about development schemes. The DC said an individual could also register his personal complaints regarding water and electricity, administrative and other departmental grievances through the centres established at sub-tehsils. The problems would be solved within three to six days. District Revenue Officer, District Informatics Officer, Tehsildar, and other officials were also present.

POOR UPKEEP OF PARKS: The Citizen’s Welfare Association, in a representation to the Administrator of HUDA and the Executive Officer of Municipal Council here, has deplored the poor maintenance of parks and sanitation system in the township. There is a general resentment among residents over maintenance of parks. The association has suggested that preventive maintenance works be carried out periodically. It has also been alleged that sanitation system was in a poor condition. Stray-cattle menace is another problem being faced by the residents. Mr S.K. Nayyar, president of the association, said the garbage bins be covered and placed in a planned manner.

RESENTMENT: The Mohalla Welfare Committee, Sector 15, has resented the different set of rules guarding the Urban estates and the Housing Board colonies, and the blatant flouting of rules in the latter. In a press note, Mr S.K. Nayar, chairman and Mr S.C. Sikka, convenor secretary, said in spite of the fact that HUDA had decided to initiate action against violators in Housing Board colonies, nothing had been done so far. Though HUDA had removed all beautification works outside houses in its jurisdiction, no action had so far been taken in Housing Board colonies.

HARYANA

KAITHAL
OPEN DARBAR: As many as 120 cases relating to various departments were settled on the spot at an “open darbar” presided over by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Fateh Singh Dagar, at Pundri on Wednesday. Addressing villagers on the occasion, Mr Dagar called upon them to clear arrears of power bills by November 16 to avail the benefit of waiver of interest.

ADVOCATES’ STIR: The District Bar Association, Kaithal, at a meeting held here on Thursday decided to intensify its agitation against the Subdivisional Officer (C), Mr Ashok Bishnoi. Disclosing this, a spokesman for the association, Mr Ranvir Parashar, said resentment prevailed among advocates against the officer for his “misbehaviour” which resulted in the boycott of his court about a month and a half ago. The advocates decided to take out a procession to press for their demand to transfer Mr Bishnoi from Kaithal.

TRIBUTES PAID: Tributes were paid on Wednesday to Vikas bharadwaj, Assistant Commandant, BSF, who was killed in an encounter with militants in Kupwara sector of Jammu and Kashmir recently. Mr Lila Ram, local MLA, Mr Surinder Madan, former minister and Mr Fateh Singh Dagar, Deputy Commissioner, besides representatives of social and voluntary organisations, friends and relatives and a large number of prominent citizens were among those who paid tributes to the martyr.

PANIPAT
CASH LOOTED: Four gangsters reportedly looted Rs 40,000 from a factory premises on the Kacha-Kabri road in the wee hours on Thursday. The police has registered a case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC. According to a complaint lodged by Parveen Kumar, owner of Sri Ram Spinners, the gangsters entered the factory premises at around 3 a.m., broke an almirah and looted the cash.

SIRSA
DHARNA: Farmers staged a dharna in front of the residence of Mrs Vidya Beniwal, MLA, from Darba Kalan in the district here on Friday. Farmer’s owing allegiance to the BKU, were protesting against the careless handling of American bollworm. The President of the BKU, Mr Hansi Ram Kumar Malik, and Mr Maha Singh, president of Sonepat unit of the BKU, led the farmers.

SUMMONED: Sukhdev Singh, an INLD leader has been summoned by the Judicial Magistrate to appear in a case registered against him for assaulting a local journalist in September 1996. Rajender Kumar, a journalist from Baragudha, had lodged a complaint on September 26, 1996, against Sukhdev Singh.

SONEPAT
CRUSHED TO DEATH: An unidentified youth was crushed to death under a truck on the Sonepat-Bahalgarh road near the Civil Hospital here on Thursday. The police has registered a case against the truck driver on the charge of rash and negligent driving and causing death.

STIR THREAT: The All-Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union on Friday opposed the retrenchment of employees in the corporation and threatened to launch an agitation if it was not stopped immediately. In a press note, the union said that its other demands should also be accepted immediately.

DOCTOR HELD: A doctor, Parmod, was taken into custody by the Murthal police on the charge of murderous assault and sodomising a Nepalese boy, Arjun, in a motor workshop on the GT Road near Murthal on the night of November 6 last. It is alleged that the suspect sodomised the youth and set him on fire after pouring kerosene on him. The youth sustained serious burn injuries. A case under Sections 307 and 377 of the IPC has been registered.

SHOPS RAIDED: Officials of the Sonepat Municipal Council on Friday conducted raids on shops and caught six persons while selling crackers and explosives without licences. According to a report, the officials have sent a report to the Deputy Commissioner seeking action against them.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
CRACKERS BANNED: The District Magistrate of Hamirpur, Mr Rajeev Shanker Sharma, has imposed a ban on cracker-bursting in “silence zones” of the district like hospitals, educational institutions, district courts and temples. According to an order, the bursting of crackers has been banned between 10.00 p.m. and 6 a.m.

MANDI
2 KILLED: Two persons were killed and three others injured when the maxi cab they were travelling in rolled 500 feet down the road at Matel village near Karsog, a remote subdivision of the district. Hari Singh, owner of the jeep, and Uma Ram, a peon, both hailing from Karsog, died on the spot while Bhagat Ram, Kanshi Ram and Hem Chand were seriously injured.

PAONTA SAHIB
CAMP: The Himachal Pradesh Financial Corporation organised a camp, “Niptara”, at Paonta Sahib on Wednesday to solve problems of entrepreneurs and industrialists. At least 35 cases, mostly relating to sick units, were settled on the spot. The camp was presided over by the Managing Director, Himachal Pradesh Financial Corporation, Ms Uma Chaudhary.

SHIMLA
MEETING HELD: The Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association held gate meetings all over the state in protest against the policy of “globalisation”. Addressing the protesters here, Mr A.C. Chauhan, secretary of the association, said the policy was against the interests of the developing countries and the common people.

CULTURAL TROUPE: A 32-member troupe from Meghalaya will visit the state from November 10 to 17 under the inter-state cultural exchange programme. The troupe, comprising tribal folk artists, will give performances at Jhakri, Bhabhanagar, Rampur, Shimla, Hamirpur and Darlaghat.