R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Arrested: The police on Tuesday arrested two grocers, Kuldip Singh and his son Mandeep Singh, for alleged adulteration of spices by mixing rice powder. According to a police press note, these traders were caught in special raids being conducted against criminals. The police seized 15 gunny bags of adulterated turmeric and chilly powder and five bags of rice powder. A case under Sections 272, 273 and 420, IPC, was registered against the two.

GURDASPUR
Exhibition: The Station Commander of Tibri Cantonment, near here, on Wednesday inaugurated an exhibition of weapons captured by the Army during ‘Operation Vijay’ in the Kargil Sector and indigenous arms and weapons used by the Army against Pak infiltrators. A large number of NCC cadets from various educational institutions visited the exhibition.

LUDHIANA
Visit: Dr K.S. Aulakh, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, and Dr S.S. Malhi, Associate Director, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, PAU, Patiala, are visiting the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Manila, Philippines, from January 16 to January 23, 2000. Their visit has been sponsored by the University of Wales, Bangor, UK, under the project "Participatory crop improvement in high production potential systems and salt affected areas of Punjab state."

Elected: The annual general body meeting of the Junior Telecommunications Officers Association (India) held here on Monday unanimously re-elected Mr Sanjeev Kumar (Ludhiana) as District Secretary for the second consecutive year. The following were elected office-bearers of the association unanimously: District President — Mr Lachman Dass; Vice-Presidents — Mr Balwinder Singh and Mr Sukhminder Singh; and Treasurer — Mr Deepak Kumar.

PATIALA
Deaf and dumb children: Ramkali Devi Welfare Handicapped Sewa Society celebrated the festival of Lohri with deaf and dumb children here on Monday. Mr Ashu Kumar Vajpayee, Principal of Ramkali Devi Deaf, Dumb and Mentally Retarded Children's School, said in a press note issued here that due to holidays the function could not be organised on the Lohri day. According to him, Mr Shyam Lal Navyug, an industrialist, distributed utility items to the children. He also honoured talented children of the school.

HARYANA

SONEPAT
Dreaded criminal held: With the arrest of a dreaded criminal, the police on Wednesday claimed to have solved as many as eight cases of murders, dacoities and loot committed by the culprit in Sonepat and other neighbouring districts as well as in Delhi. The SSP, Mr K.P. Singh, told mediapersons here that the arrested criminal had been identified as Krishan, a resident of Aata village in Panipat district and the police had recovered a country-made pistol, two cartridges and Rs 4,500 in cash from his possession.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Killed: A Forest Guard Rooplal (40), of Saryali-Deoli village near here, was crushed to death under the rear wheels of a Manali to Delhi bound HRTC bus of Mandi region on the main gate of the ACC cement factory at Barmana, 18 km from here, on Monday when he tried to board the bus from its front door and the driver suddenly started the bus. Reports said the driver fled with the bus but was later arrested by the police. The Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Roshanlal Rana, provided an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 to the family of the victim on behalf of the government.

Rally: Led by their Circle Organising Secretary and District General Secretary, Mr R.R. Sharma, a large number of members of All-India Postal Employees Union (Class III and Class IV) and E.D. Employees Union held a joint rally and a demonstration in front of the head post office here on Tuesday to protest against the failure of the Central Government to implement a written agreement of December 18, 1998, with their confederations. The leaders of the unions warned of launching an indefinite strike if all their demands were not immediately accepted.

New ration cards: In an attempt to weed out fake ration cards and to ensure supply of essential rationed items to deserving cases, the district administration here has ordered issuing of new ration cards from February throughout the district. Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chander Sharma said here on Tuesday that application forms for new ration cards would be available at all ration shops and these could be returned after filling by January 25.

Medical camp: The Satya Sai Seva Samiti organised a day-long free medical camp at Auhar near here on Monday in which 1,100 patients were examined and provided medicines free of cost while 25 patients were operated upon for eye ailments and were provided with free lenses. Earlier, at the nearby Badoa village, the samiti, led by its Youth Club, started manual labour for the construction of a sports complex which was inaugurated by the HP Education Director, Dr Shayam Sunder.

NURPUR
Ayurvedic doctors: The Himachal Pradesh Unemployed Ayurvedic Doctors Union has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to give appointment letters to those ayurvedic doctors who had appeared in interviews in May, 1999. Mr Sanjiv Guleria, state president of the union, in a statement said that these interviews were conducted by the Directorate of Ayurveda and a batchwise panel for fresh appointments was made.

SHIMLA
Asphyxiated: Three persons died of asphyxia caused by coal smoke at Hangtoo village near Jhakri in Kannaur district on Monday, the police said here on Tuesday. All deceased were labourers.

Demanded: The whole-time contingent paid Class IV employees of Government College, Sanjauli, have demanded that they should be paid wages at par with other Class IV employees. They have pointed out that they are being denied the basic pay of Rs 2,620 per month.