PostedChandigarh: Additional Chief Architect P.C. Kansil has been posted as chief architect, Haryana, with immediate effect vice S.C. Thukral, who has been appointed as officer on Special Duty. Kansil, who took over his new assignment today, has earlier served as senior architect in the Chandigarh Administration.Gang bustedPatiala: The Patiala district police claimed to have busted an inter-state gang of robbers by arresting three members of the gang and recovering a snatched vehicle from them. SSP Parampal Singh Sidhu said the gang members hired a jeep from Ambala upto Bhadson on March 28, and later shot at and injured the driver of the vehicle Bhola Singh and his friend Bittu. They were arrested at a naka today.Dal Khalsa rallyAmritsar: The Sikh hardliners, in a bid to corner Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on issues concerning violation of human rights, has drawn a strategy to involve families of militants and victims of police atrocities in their ``struggle''. Dal Khalsa International will hold a rally and march in Chandigarh on April 4, in which families of former militants and victims of police atrocities would take part.Gas agencyHoshiarpur: Hindustan Petroleum has started a separate LPG agency in the Police Lines for the benefit of police personnel. The outlet was inaugurated by Suresh Arora, DIG Jalandhar range on Tuesday. He handed over the gas connection copies to one thousand persons. SSP Hoshiarpur R.P. Mittal said that 64 connections have been given to widows of terrorist victims and 100 connection to retired police personnel on the occasion. About 40 solar cookers and 40 sewing machines were also distributed among poor widows.LIC crosses targetHoshiarpur: The LIC branch office crossed the budget target of 1998-99 by 115% in respect of policies, sum assured and first premium income. Branch manager Surjit Chawdhary said that for the third consecutive year, the branch achieved excellent audit rating.Night curfewGurdaspur: District Magistrate S.K. Sandhu has ordered imposition of night curfew in the area from the international border to the border security fencing. From this area, the curfew has been extended to about 500 meters on the home side falling in Gurdaspur district. The order will come into force with immediate effect and continue till May 22. However, this order will not be enforceable on the GT road running from the border barrier to Gurdaspur. Night curfew has also been imposed on both sides of the railway lines, the canals, their distributories and on the Dhussin Bandh (katcha embankment) of river Beas falling in Gurdaspur district up to the track off one hundred and fifty feet. This order will remain in force up to May 20.Annual credit planNawanshahr: The Deputy Commissioner, Roshan Sankaria, yesterday launched the district annual credit plan of Rs 136 crore for the year 1999-2000. According to an official release issued here, the plan was launched while the DC was presiding over the meeting of District Consultative Committee. About 13517 beneficiaries in the district would be extended benefits under the scheme. The release added that while a sum of Rs 94.62 crore has been earmarked for the agriculture sector, Rs 11.63 crore has been kept aside for small scale industry and Rs 30.01 crore for other beneficiary schemes.Farmers block trafficBathinda: Farmers whose land was acquired for the PSEB Lehra Mohabat Thermal Plant near here today, blocked the main Bathinda-Chandigarh road in protest against the non-fulfillment of promises made by the PSEB authorities.About 300 farmers led by BKU (Ekta) leader Surjit Singh Phool held a rally at the thermal plant, where they raised anti-government slogans for acquiring their lands against petty amounts and for harassing them by denying jobs to their wards. Later, they blocked traffic for about half an hour. They also submitted a memorandum of demands to the Chief Minister through the thermal plant chief engineer.They are opposing the 1996-97 legislation of the PSEB through which the power board had decided to give jobs only to those whose more than two acres of land was acquired. They are demanding that jobs to be given to one member of the each family whose land has been acquired, irrespective of size of land.Eye campsKhanna: Guru Angad Dev Sewa Society, Ludhiana, in association with Helpage India, organised two free eye operation camps at village Mundian Kalan and Begowal near here. More than 600 patients were examined and 95 operations were preformed by Dr A.S. Nagpal, M.D. Free medicines and spectacles were given to the patients.
