The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, May 6, 2003, 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

JALANDHAR
CELEBRATED: The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samiti celebrated Bal Vikas Divas at the Red Cross Bhavan here on Sunday. The programme aimed at inculcating spirit of national integration among the children between the age of four and 14 years.

KAPURTHALA
BODY FOUND: Body of a youth, Raghbir Singh of Bhandal Dona village, was found on Saturday from a field in Sidhwan village. The body which bore injury marks was brought to the local Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. According to a report lodged with the police, Ranjit Singh, uncle of the deceased, alleged that Raghbir Singh, who had been working as a driver, went to Fatehpur village on Friday but did not return. A case had been registered.

LUDHIANA
BEAUTY WORKSHOP: VLCC arranged a hair, skin and make-up training seminar for beauticians from Mullanpur, Jagraon, Moga, Faridkot, Sangrur, Ropar, Samrala and other surrounding areas. Lucy Chung, conducted the workshop.

AWARDED: Mr Atmanand Jain Sabha, on the eve of “jeev daya yatra” conferred Bhagwan Mahavir Jeev Rakshak Award, 2003, on the People for Animals (PFA). The award was presented to Dr Sandeep K. Jain and Mr Ajay Jain, president and secretary of the local PFA, respectively, by Mr Tej Parkash Singh, State Transport Minister.

JAGRAN: The Akhil Bhartiya Ayyappa Sewa Sangam, Ludhiana, organised its first Bhagwati Jagran at Shree Mahaganpati Temple in Sector 32-A, on Saturday night. A Ganpati poojan ceremony was held in the morning by Brahmshiri Arun Gaur. Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, Minister, Jails and Urban Development, Punjab, was the chief guest on the occasion. Other special guests who also attended the jagran included Mr Kesho Ram Vij, Mr Rakesh Kapur, Mr Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, Mr V.A. Hari and Mr Harish Bedi, president, Shree Ganpati Sewa Sangh, Ludhiana.

MOGA
CALVES KILLED: A number of new-born calves have been mauled to death by stray dogs in the area between Langeana Nawan and Jaimalwala village under Baghapurana police station. An ex-Army personnel, Mr Mohinder Singh, told reporters here on Monday that despite repeated reminders to the administration, no efforts had been made to check the problem.

MANHOLE COVERS: A number of manhole covers in the town have been stolen recently which has been creating death traps in several areas of the town. In a complaint to the local administration, the residents said in the absence of night patrolling, thefts of manhole covers had increased.

POWER BILLS: Several power consumers here on Monday complained that they had been receiving power bills amounting to several thousands of rupees. A local industrialist, Kulwant Singh, alleged that the bills that he received were double the amount in his previous bills.

PENSION SOUGHT: A number of senior citizens of the district on Monday complained that they had not received their monthly pensions since long although they had repeatedly visited the offices but to no avail. Ms Mayawati, a resident of the Civil Lines area, said she had not received pension for the past several years.

PATIALA
NEUROLOGICAL CAMP: A neurology camp was organised by Mandi Gobindgarh unit of the Seva Dal, near here, on Sunday. A team led by Dr Satwant Sachdeva, neurologist, examined about 150 patients in the camp. The Seva Dal also solemnised a few marriages on the occasion and the couples were blessed by Swami Ganga Giri.

SANGRUR
DONATED: Sant Parmatma Dass, an NRI from Germany, had visited Government Senior Secondary School at Thales village, Near here, recently . He gave a cheque of Rs 31,000 to the Principal of the school . He also distributed sweets among the students.

TARN TARAN
REVOLVER SEIZED: The Chabal police has seized a .32 bore revolver from the possession of Ajit Singh, a resident of Sohal village and registered a case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. The local district police sources on Monday said a number of drugs and injections were seized from the possession of Sarav Singh, a resident of Marri-Kamo-Ke village falling under Khalru police station. A case has been registered.

CHANDIGARH

PANCHKULA
CONTEST: A cookery show was organised at the VLCC centre here on Sunday. Participants from Panchkula, SAS Nagar and Chandigarh had brought home -prepared delicacies like salads, puddings, snacks and beverages. Other than women, many men also participated in the contest.

DECLAMATION CONTEST: A declamation contest was organised by Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation at Vijay Public School . Students from 15 local schools spoke on the topic, " Always think positive". Akanksha Sharma won the first prize in individual category, while the team trophy was bagged by Akanksha Sharma and Shweta Kirti.

SAS NAGAR
DEBATE: About 25 students from Class XI and XII participated in a debate on the topic ''Iraq war —justified or not''. The debate was organised by English Department of Gian Jyoti Public School , Phase II on Monday. Nikhil of Cass XI (medical ) bagged the first prize. The second and third prize went to Amanpreet Bhogal of Class XI and Yurvinder of Class XII (non- medical ), respectively. Consolation prize was won by Subreet Singh of Class XI ( non- medical).

HARYANA

AMBALA
ROAD MISHAP: One person was killed in a road accident on the Ambala-Jagadhri road near Mulana on Monday morning. According to information, Mohmad Yasin was crossing the road on his motor-cycle when a truck coming from an opposite direction hit him. Yasin died on the spot. The police has registered a case against the truck driver.

HISAR
INAUGURATED: Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand inaugurated third floor of the Administrative block at Guru Jambeshwar University here on Monday. Mr R K Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the building had been constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh.

CASE REGISTERED: The Uklana police on Monday registered case against three persons in connection with a murder. According to the police, Surjeet Kumar, a resident of Saniana village, had gone to neighbouring Kinala village two days ago for harvesting. Later, his body was recovered along the road near Kinala village. A case was registered against Jag Ram, Krishan Kumar and Jasbir, all residents of the same village, in this connection.

COURT REMAND: A local court has remanded Ishwar Singh of Kaithal district in judicial custody for 14 days on the charges of smuggling. A police party arrested Ishwar Singh on Sunday from the local bus stand and seized 12 kg of poppy husk from his possession.

KURUKSHETRA
APPOINTED: The incharge of the All-India Congress Seva Dal, Haryana, Mr P Andrew Gurung, in a communication received here on Sunday, informed the vice-president of the City Congress Mr Surendra Singla, that the chief organiser of the organisation, Mr Prahalad Yadav, had appointed Mr Singla as convener of the Constructive Programme Department of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Seva Dal.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
CHAMOLI PROJECT: Mr Dharam Singh Pathania, a former chairman of the Salooni block in the district and an executive member of the Congress, has requested the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to commence work on the 13 MW Chamoli hydroelectric project on the Siul rivulet in the Salooni tehsil area of the district. He said the project would provide employment opportunities to the local people.

DALHOUSIE
ENCROACHMENTS: The state government has initiated action against the unwarranted constructions and encroachments around the hill resort by issuing show-cause notices to the local municipal council and its functionaries. The move had created panic among the defaulters.

KUMARHATTI
DEMANDED: The Dharampur panchayat has taken serious note of the remote location of Kasauli Tehsil Social and Welfare office at Mashobra village near Kasauli. In a resolution to the Director, Welfare, the panchayat on Monday demanded the shifting of the office to some place which was approachable.

PARWANOO
CONDEMNED: The local unit of the Himachal Pradesh Seva Dal (Congress) has condemned the arrest of Amarjeet Singh Bawa, president of the Himachal unit of the INTUC , by the Haryana police , on Sunday. In the meeting which was presided over by Mr Ish Kapoor, state organiser of the Himachal Seva Dal, and Mr Rajesh Kumar, president of the local unit of the Seva Dal, said the Himachal Pradesh Government should take up the case with the Haryana Government because the Haryana police had picked up Mr Bawa from Shimla without informing the Himachal police.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Himachal Pradesh Brahmin Sabha : presidents— Mr Om Prakash Sharma and Mr Prem Attri; senior vice-president— Mr Sulekh Bhardwaj; vice-presidents—Mr Chander Sekhar Gautam,Mr Mool Raj Sharma and Mr Deepak Sara; general secretary— Mr K.L.Prashar and treasurer— Mr Ramesh Sharma.

SHIMLA
PROBE SOUGHT: The Theog Block Congress Committee on Sunday demanded an inquiry into the disproportionate sources of income of Independent MLA from Theog, Mr Rakesh Verma. Addressing mediapersons here, Mr Rajinder Singh Verma, who unsuccessfully contested the Assembly election against Mr Rakesh Verma, alleged the Independent MLA resigned from the BJP for his vested interests.