R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

FARIDKOT
Protest: Members of the District Bar Association went on a four-day strike on Saturday in protest against the alleged manhandling of a local advocate, Mr Ranjit Singh Wahniwal, by a client, Mr Rajeev Jain, at district courts, Muktsar, on Friday. The lawyers demanded action against the alleged accused.

GARHSHANKAR
Elected: Mr Surinder Singh Bajaj has been unanimously elected as President of the Garhshankar Municipal Committee.

Nominated: Mr Chanchal Verma has been nominated as President of the Mahilpur wing of the Youth Congress by the state President of the IYC, Mr Davinder Singh Baboo.

One killed: One person was killed in a head-on collision between a Maruti van and a tractor-trailer near rest house here. A case has been registered.

Case registered: The local police has registered a case against a senior office-bearer of the local Municipal Committee for allegedly accepting a bribe.

GURDASPUR
Cardigans distributed: Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister, at a function held at Sekhwan village on Sunday said all revenue records in the state would be computerised shortly. He said Rs 108 crore would be spent during this year on various welfare schemes to raise the standard of living of the schedule castes and backward classes. He also distributed 1,200 woollen cardigans.

KHARAR
House burgled: Mr Kuljit Singh of Garden Colony has lodged a complaint with the police that his house was burgled and thieves took away cash and goods amounting to Rs 55,000. The police has started investigations after registering a case.

NAWANSHAHR
Camp: The Guru Nanak Mission Medical and Education Trust, Dhahan Kaleran, organised a free medical check-up camp at Naura village, 15 km from here, on Saturday to mark the death anniversary of Sant Sewa Singh. Mr Narinder Pal Singh, an NRI, inaugurated the camp in which 500 patients were examined, according to a press note issued here on Sunday.

PATIALA
FCI union: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Food Corporation of India Staff Union for 2000-2001: President — Mr C.M. Bhardwaj; Vice-President — Mr J.S. Butter; District Secretary — Mr Gurdeep Singh Virk; District Joint Secretary — Mr Gulzar Singh; District Cashier — Mr Narinder Kumar.

PHILLAUR
Five held: The local police has arrested five miscreants and seized seven quintals of poppy husk, 1,43,750 ML illicit liquor and four grams of smack. Mr Sajjan Singh Cheema, DSP, said this while talking to mediapersons here on Sunday.

ROPAR
Cases settled: Two Lok Adalats were held in the District Judicial Complex here on Sunday and settled nine cases, according to Mr Maghar Khan, District and Sessions Judge.

HARYANA

HISAR
Demonstration: Members of the Haryana Agricultural University Teachers' Association (HAUTA) on Saturday staged a dharna in protest against the delay in the pay revision of the professors promoted under the Merit Promotion scheme. Meanwhile, the association has postponed its general body meeting scheduled for Monday to Saturday.

SIRSA
Cyclist killed: Sohan Singh (18), a resident of Ghukhanwali village, was killed when he was allegedly knocked down by a Haryana Roadways bus of Sonepat depot. According to information, he was riding in a bicycle when the bus hit him. He died on the way to hospital.

Bodies found: The Nathusari Chopta police has recovered a decomposed body near Kagdana minor. The body was sent to the Civil Hospital for autopsy. In another case, the DSP, Ellenabad has informed that a body was found in fields at Darba Kalan village.

SONEPAT
Robbed: A woman was robbed of earrings and other valuables by a youth at gunpoint at Gohana, 35 km from here, on Saturday. The matter was reported to the police.

Transformer replacement: The HVPN has decided to replace a transformer installed at the 132 KV grid power substation in Fazilpur. Mr S.K. Handa, Superintending Engineer, Operation, Sonepat circle, said here on Sunday that the power supply to the consumers fed from 11 KV Model Town feeder, essential feeder, Sector 14 feeder, Sector 15 feeder, old city feeder and double storey areas would be given on staggered basis on January 27 and 28. He said the supply to ECE (transformer division), Osram Industries and Atlas Cycle Industries would remain suspended during this period.

Murder case solved: With the arrest of two persons, the Gohana police claimed to have solved the alleged murder of Rajpal, a resident of Kathura village, on Tuesday. Mr K.P. Singh, SSP, said here on Sunday that the arrested persons had been identified as Ramesh and Kala of the same village.

CM’s visit: Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, will visit Ahulana village in Gohana subdivision on January 25. According to official sources, Mr Chautala will take part in the “bhumi poojan” programme related to the construction of a cooperative sugar mill in the village.

Suspended: Mr H.C. Jain, General Manager, Haryana Roadways, has suspended the driver and conductor of a bus bound for Baghpat following a complaint of passengers alleging that the driver had harassed them.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Plea: The Elder Citizens's Association, a body of retired officers, has urged the government to release five per cent additional dearness allowance instalment which has been pending since July 19, 1999 and provide all facilities on the Punjab pattern, according to the General Secretary of the association.

JAWALAMUKHI
Relief fund: The Dehra Block Samiti presented a cheque for Rs 4.62 lakh to the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

KUMARHATTI
Liquor seized: The Parwanoo police seized 11 bottles and 125 pouches of whisky from a car on the Kalka-Shimla national highway on Saturday. According to the police, a police party signalled the car coming from Chandigarh to stop but the driver fled. The police party led by Mr Dhoop Singh, ASI, chased the car. Later, the occupants of the car abandoned it near Himfed bottling plant, Parwanoo. But the police managed to arrest Amar Singh, a resident Patengli village, near Mashobra. A case has been registered.

NAHAN
Cases settled: A redressal camp was held at Mahdon Bag under Rajgarh subdivision. Mr R.L. Jhamda, Subdivisional Magistrate, Rajgarh, settled 42 of the 66 cases on the spot.