AMRITSAR
POSTPONE ELECTIONS: The janata Dal (Urban) has urged the Election Commissioner to postpone the Punjab Assembly elections which will be held on February 13. Mr Jaspal Singh Kapoor, state President of the party, said here on Saturday due to the tension in border villages most of the residents were forced to settle temporarily at safer places. Meanwhile, Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, President of the All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, has also urged the authorities to postpone elections. He said keeping in view of the tension in the border areas, the fair elections could not take place.

GURDASPUR
ACHIEVEMENTS: Mr Lok Nath Angra, SSP, talking to newsmen here on Saturday, highlighted the achievements of the district police in 2001. He said the police had solved eight cases of murder. Besides, 34 cases of thefts and 29 cases of cheating had been also solved, he added.

MISSING: Mr Gurmeet Singh of Ghot Poker village near here is disappointed due to lack of efforts by the police to trace his son who has been missing since October 18. Gurmeet Singh said on Saturday that he reached his village from Italy on October 22 after receiving information that his 11-year old son was missing. He said an FIR had also been lodged with the police station Sadar, Gurdaspur, and a case had been registered against Harjit Singh Pamma, Tajinder Singh Laadi, Kailasho, Joban Masih and Bunty of the village under Sections 364/34 of the IPC but no action had been taken so far.

HOSHIARPUR
DEAD: Gaupal Singh of Mukhliana village succumbed to his injuries at DMC, Ludhiana, on Friday. Gaupal Singh and his son, Varinder Singh, were injured when their neighbour, Harjeet Singh, and his son, Onkar Singh, allegedly assaulted them with sharp-edged weapons over a dispute on Thursday. A case has been registered under Section 302, IPC.

JOINED: Mr Anand Bansal, former Private Secretary to Mr Tikshan Sud, State Minister for Excise and Taxation Punjab, and Mr Chetan Sud, son of Mr Moti Lal Sud, local councillor, along with their supporters joined the state unit of the Shiv Sena, according to a press note issued by Mr P.K. Shiv convener, local unit of the Shiv Sena, here on Saturday.

FUNCTION HELD: To distribute prizes to winners of the 19th lucky coupon scheme of small savings in Punjab and to open the 20th draw, a function was organised here on Saturday. Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, said there was a considerable number of NRIs in this district. They had deposited Rs 4,600 crore in various banks in the district. He would persuade them to make investments in small savings, he added.

NCC CAMP: An eight-day annual training camp of NCC cadets of the 12th Punjab Battalion NCC, Hoshiarpur, concluded at the local DAV College on Saturday. As many as 595 cadets from the district participated. Lt.-Col. Nasib Singh, camp Commandant, said training in firing was imparted to the cadets at the police BSF fire ranges at Police Training Centre, Jahan Khelan, and at the Subsidiary Training Centre, Kharkan. Battle craft and drill practice was also done.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office bearers of the Indian Medical Association Hoshiarpur, president — Dr Rajinder Sharma; vice-president — Dr Balwinder Singh Ahuja; secretary — Mr Ashwani Janeja and cashier — Mr Rubby Chaudhry.

MANSA
RECOVERED: A sum of Rs 125.89 lakh has been recovered as fine under the Motor Vehicles Act from those found violating traffic rules since August. This was stated by Mr Jasbir Singh Toor, District Transport Officer, in a press note issued here on Saturday. No private vehicle would be allowed to carry on the transportation work without registration as public carrier under the Act, he added.

SBP SCHEME: With a view to meeting production and consumption needs of the farmers who have had a good repayment record for the past five years the State Bank of Patiala on Sunday launched SBP-Kisan Gold Card Scheme. Mr J.P. Devgun, General Manager Operations, said the farmers would be provided loans up to Rs 5 lakh. He said the purpose of the loan could be purchase of agricultural implements, land development, purchase of bullocks and carts, repairs of farm machinery, etc. The card would be valid for one year and can be renewed.

MEDICAL CAMP: Around 50 persons with joint and bone problems were treated during a free orthopaedics medical camp organised by Vandana Luthra’s Curls and Curves, Sector 8 here on Sunday. Dr Salil Saha, Orthopaedic Surgeon, said most of the people who visited the camp suffered from arthritis and majority of whom were women. Under the supervision of Dr Rakesh Soni, Consultant Doctor, free medicines like calcium and anti-oxidants were provided to the needy. Besides, subsidised tests related to orthopaedics problem were also conducted during the camp.

CELEBRATIONS: The Lions Club Chandigarh Shivalik celebrated its 21st Christmas-cum-New Year at Sector 35-based hotel here on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr K.K Sawhney, former Multiple Council Chairman - MD 321, lauded the services rendered by the club in organising eye camps, blood donation camps, creating awareness on topics like dowry, AIDS, child abuse. Mr R.S. Vasdev, president of the club, was also present on the occasion. This was stated by Mr D.V. Sharma, Secretary of the club.

FREE CAMP FOR ANIMALS: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals held a free camp for mass anti-rabic vaccination, deworming of dogs and treatment of other animals here on Sunday. Twentyseven dogs were treated for rabic diseases, while 28 were dewormed and 8 were treated for ailments. The public was also told about the objectives of the SPCA and were advised to aware their neighbours about their participation for the welfare of the animals. 

PANCHKULA
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Indian Dental Association: president — Dr Nitin Jain, secretary — Dr R.K. Takkar and treasurer — Dr S.D. Goyal.