R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
Strike: A strike was observed by shopkeepers on a call given by the Main Bazar Association to express solidarity with the BJP councillor, Mr Suresh Phutela, who had been on fast since Wednesday. Mr Phutela was protesting against his expulsion from the party. The local BJP President, Mr Arun Naranghad, had suspended Mr Phutela for anti-party activities.

FAZILKA
Knocked to death: An old man was reportedly knocked down by a vehicle near Lalowali village on the Ferozepore road here on Friday. He was admitted to the local civil hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. The Sadar Police has registered a case and efforts are on to identify the deceased.

HOSHIARPUR
Priest arrested: A temple priest Bhagwan Dass Roeli was arrested on Friday for allegedly raping a minor girl after abducting her. He was charged with kidnapping a nine-year-old girl and sexually abusing her in a room where she was illegally confined. According to an FIR the abduction took place on Wednesday at Bahadurpur.

KAPURTHALA
Elected: Mr Tej Paul Singh Walia was on Friday elected as the president of the District Bar Association. Mr Walia secured 73 votes, while his opponent, Mr N.S. Noor secured 60 votes.

Science city: The science city being set up on the Kapurthala-Jalandhar road near Wadala Kalan village will start functioning from 2001. This was stated here on Friday by Mr V.K. Singh, Deputy Commissioner. He said orders for the purchase of Rs 5 crore equipments had already been placed and the Central Government would soon release Rs 10 crore. The Punjab Government was setting up Rs 3 crore grid station for supplying electricity to the ‘science city’.

LUDHIANA
Meritorious teacher award: Dr S.S. Chahal, Professor of Plant Pathology, has been selected for the meritorious teacher award of Punjab Agricultural University, in recognition of his services in human resource development. Recipient of Prof M.J. Narasimhan Merit Academic award and Pesticides India award , Prof Chahal has distinguished himself in the field of epidemiology.

Demand accepted: The PSEB has accepted the demand of the Punjab Hotel and Restaurant Association regarding the clubbing of the meter and extension of the load. It will charge Rs 750 per kw on the extended or increased load. This was stated here on Friday by Mr N.S. Nanda, president of the association. Mr Nanda said the PSEB chairman, however, refused to concede to their demand of charging industrial instead of commercial tariff from the hotel industry.

Atma Raksha Sangh: The Atma Raksha Sangh has asked all political leaders to give up their security cover on which crores of rupees were spent every month. At its executive body meeting held here on Thursday the sangh asked the Central and the state leaders to publicly declare the money being spent on their security.

SAMRALA
Demand: A deputation of unemployed youth along with Mr Baljeet Singh Baghaur met Mr Nirbhai Singh, SDM, Khamanon on Saturday. They demanded cancellation of the type tests taken by the Khamanon nagar panchayat on Wednesday. The SDM assured them that he would talk to the authorities concerned.

TARN TARAN
Rally: The local Parents Association on Friday organised a rally to awaken people against the use of drugs. Hundreds of students took part in it. The rally was addressed by Mr Jagdish Kumar Mittal, SSP, Mr Jatinder Kumar Sood, nagar parishad president and Dr Karanjit Singh, SMO.

CHANDIGARH

Declamation contest: Dipti Soni from the local MCM DAV College won a declamation contest organised by the Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, here on Saturday. The subject of the contest was ‘Quality work equals quality life’. Pooja Sharma from GGDSD College won the second prize, while the third prize was bagged by Latika from the Government College for Girls, Sector 11.

Dr Bhattacharyya: The Chairman of the Fine Arts Department in Panjab University, Dr D.C. Bhattacharyya, has been nominated as an expert in the standing committee by the All-India Council for Technical Education, an official press release said here today.

Rally: On the call given by the Aarakshan Samapti Ahbiyan Samiti, members of the Central Government General Employees Association held a rally here on Saturday in protest against the policy statement of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vaypayee, regarding the caste-based admissions and recruitments. Mr S.S. Sharma, President of the Punjab State General Category Welfare Federation, said any attempt by the Central Government to undo the SC judgments on the reservation issue or amend the Constitution was fraught with danger. Meanwhile, a relay fast would be held at the Matka Chowk here in Sector 17 on February 26 and 27.

Business quiz: Forty two teams representing the corporate sector, management institutes and local colleges will participate in the Mastermind Business Quiz, being held in the City on Sunday. The corporate sector teams include Timesbank. Times of India, Glide Internet Services and National Institute of Sales. Prominent among management institutes teams are the teams from University Business School of Panjab University, Centre for Management Training and Research, Mohali, and Gyanjyoti, Mohali.

DERA BASSI
Students awarded: The Rattan Chand Memorial awards were given to 100 students at the fifth annual prize distribution function of Deepmala Public School on Saturday. Besides poetry recitation, an impressive cultural programme was presented by students. Shilpa Singh was declared the best student of the school and was given a cash award of Rs 500. Rohit won the first prize for fancy dress, while Prabhjot Singh was second, and Bhavneet Kumar and Avneet Kumar were placed third. Earlier, Ms Anita Mittal, Principal of the school, read the annual report of the school.

PANCHKULA
Sambhars: The Haryana Wild-Life Department captured two sambhars late in the evening on Friday. The antilopes had found their way into the residential areas of the township. The two were first sighted in Sector 9. The residents tried to shoo them away, following which they got separated. Mr R.S. Lamba, Deputy Chief Wild-Life Warden, Haryana, said one of the sambhars was captured from Mani Majra by the UT authorities, and the other from Sector 12 of Panchkula. Both were released in the Nada Sahib forest zone this morning, he said.

Fast continues: The District Bar Association, here has resolved to continue the relay chain fast which entered its sixth day on Saturday and to suspend work till its demands are met. Mr Amit Singla, Secretary of the association, said in a press note that the setting up of the office of the Additional Sessions Judge at Panchkula would serve a useful purpose and people will not have to go to Ambala for various legal processes.

Held for stealing: Rajesh Kumar of Bir Ghaggar village, was arrested by the local police on Friday for stealing “belygears”, tractor components, from the HMT premises. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered at the Pinjore police station.

HARYANA

SONEPAT
Arrested: The city police has recovered a 15-year-old girl, Jyoti who was allegedly kidnapped by Satyavan, of Datauli village, four-day back from her house. She was handed over to the her parents. Satyavan who was tenant at girl's house has been arrested.

Two killed: Two persons were killed on the spot when their car collided with a tractor-trailer on the GT road near Kundli village, 25 km from here on Saturday. The victims have been identified as Sunil Kumar (40), of Chawri Bazar, and Mr Virender, of Shahdra. Both were residents of Delhi. The Rai police has registered a case against the driver of the tractor-trailer. However, no arrest has been made in this connection.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Wards reserved: Mr Jagdish Chander Sharma, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, in a notification issued here on Friday reserved the wards for the Scheduled Caste men and women in nagar and panchayat parishads of the district. Lakhanpur ward no 11, Nainadevi nagar parishad 'chungi' ward no 4, Ghumarwin nagar Panchayat, Bajcha ward No 5 and Talai nagar panchayat ward no 4 would be reserved for the Scheduled Caste men. Main market ward no 5, Dakkadi ward no 7 and Talai nagar panchayat ward no 6 would be reserved for Scheduled Caste women.

Awareness: The Himachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Department and the HP AIDS Control Society has jointly organised a camp at the regional hospital here. Doctors and paramedical staff are being trained to make people aware of AIDS and other diseases, according to Dr O.D. Sharma, state programme officer.