R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BARNALA
Traffic lights: Mr Rahul Bhandari, Sub-Divisional Magistrate said here on Monday that to avert accidents at the Handiaya Kanchian chowk traffic lights would be installed at an estimated cost of Rs 3 lakh.

Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local unit of the BJP: senior vice-president — Mr Som Nath Sahorewala; general secretary — Mr Raghbir Prakash Garg; secretaries — Mr Jawahar Lal Verma and Mr Tarsem Chand Sharma and treasurer — Mr Jagdish Chand Singla.

DHURI
Dowry death: A dowry death case has been registered under Section 304-B against Sukhdev Singh at the Sadar police station. Mr Ram Singh of Dirba in a complaint lodged with the police alleged that her daughter Rajpaul Kaur, married to Mr Sukhdev Singh of Hasanpur village, was being harassed for more dowry.

Lok Adalat: A Lok Adalat for the settlement of judicial cases will be held on Saturday at the judicial courts. Mr Manjinder Singh, Additional Civil Judge ( Senior Division) here will preside.

HOSHIARPUR
Bodies found: The bodies of a woman and three children were found in two bags near the canal at Simbli village, according to the police here on Monday. A case has been registered in this connection.

LUDHIANA
Mela: The Justice Gurnam Singh Memorial Mela will be held at Narangwal village on Thursday to mark the end of his birth centenary celebrations. This was stated by Mr Jagdev Singh Jassowal and Mr Gurbir Singh, patron and president of the Justice Gurnam Singh Memorial Foundation, while addressing a press conference here on Monday.

Painting contest: The local Chapter of the People for Animals held a painting contest during the animal welfare fortnight recently. About 100 students from various schools took part.

MALERKOTLA
Jewellery stolen: Gold jewellery was stolen from Prince Jewellers, jewellery shop, here on Monday. According to information available, the thieves broke open the locks and took away the jewellery and other items from the shop.

Association: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Chemists Association: president — Mr Ravinder Jain; secretary — Mr Subhash Chandra; press secretary — Mr Mehmood Ahmed Thind; and finance secretary — Mr Manoj Jain.

MOGA
Temple demolition: A temple has been demolished at Jhandewala village by certain persons of the village. The villagers protested against the demolition and urged the district police to arrest those responsible for the act.

Facilities sought: Residents at a meeting held here on Monday urged the Punjab Government to set up the court of a sub-judge in the town. They also demanded facilities of drinking water, toilet and other amenities at the courts complex.

Theft: Thieves looted the shop of a goldsmith in the main bazaar on Sunday and decamped with jewellery. According to reports, thieves entered the shop of Harnam Singh by breaking the locks.

PATIALA
Elected: Dr D.S. Bhullar, medico-legal consultant, Department of Forensic Medicine of Government Medical College, here has been elected joint secretary of the Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine for the current year at a conference held at Manipal (Karnataka).

PHAGWARA
Attacked: Rajpal, a local resident, was attacked with sharpedged weapons by 12 persons on motor cycles here on Monday. A case has been registered in this connection.

Fatal fall: A person was killed on Sunday after he accidentally fell from the bus in which he was travelling.

PATHANKOT
Licencing authority: Resentment prevails among residents here against the licencing authority for not issuing registration certificate or licences in time. They alleged that some get these on the same day itself and urged the higher authorities to look into the matter.

PHILLAUR
Meeting called: Mr O.P.Kohli, national returning officer of the BJP, has summoned an urgent meeting of all state returning officers of the party on Wednesday in New Delhi. This was stated by Prof Brijlal Rinwa, vice-president of state unit of the BJP.

SAMRALA
Apology sought: Lawyers of the local Bar Association observed strike on Tuesday to protest against a statement issued by the Law Minister, Mr Ram Jethmalani regarding them. They demanded an unconditional apology from the minister.

TARN TARAN
Open darbar: An open darbar was held here on Monday to redress the grievances of the people of the area. Ms Puneet Kaur, wife of Mr Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, Excise and Taxation Minister, Punjab, presided. Mr Gurinder Pal Singh Sahota, SDM, and other civil and police officials were also present.

CHANDIGARH

Job-oriented BSc (maths) course at PU: Panjab University is introducing a job-oriented BSc (Honours) course in mathematics and computing in the Centre for Advanced Study in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, from the 2000-2001 session. The department will admit 15 students to this course every year starting from July, 2000, and those students who have passed the senior secondary examination with mathematics will be eligible to appear in the common entrance test (mathematics) being conducted by the university on May 19 and 20 to join the course.

Foreign students' function: The Dean of Foreign Students, Panjab University, will organise an international students meet, the annual cultural programme of foreign students studying in the university, in University Auditorium on Wednesday. Prof M.M. Puri, Vice-Chancellor, will preside over the function. The programme include cultural activities by foreign students and a prize distribution function.

School's farewell function: A cultural programme was presented by students of Sanjay Public School, Sector 44, on the occasion of its farewell function on Tuesday. The programme included Manipuri, Rajasthani, Western and classical dances, a fashion show, modelling show, bhangra and a dance drama. Prizes and trophies were given to the meritorious students.

Jacob's working appreciated: The BJP President, Mr Dharam Paul Gupta, has appreciated the effective working of the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd). In a statement on Tuesday, he said the party was with General Jacob as he wanted to streamline the functioning of various offices of the Chandigarh Administration.

Free hotplate service: Considering the tremendous response, the Bharat Gas has extended the free hotplate service up to March 11. All Bharat Gas customers could avail of the facility at the Super Gas Service, Sector 35-C, Nirmal Gas Agency, Sector 30, and KP Gas, Sector 18-C, according to a press note.

Power men hold rally: Members of the Electricity Streetlight Employees and Workers Union held a rally here on Tuesday in protest against the illegal promotion orders of an assistant lineman to JE-II by Mr P.K. Kashyap, Executive Engineer. The union demanded his repatriation to the parent cadre of Haryana for allegedly throwing norms to the winds.

Bank cell for senior citizens: The Punjab Engineering College branch of the State Bank of India on Monday opened a senior citizens' care cell. The cell was inaugurated by the college Principal, Prof Rajnish Prakash. Mr C.L. Sethi, AGM, presided over the function.

FCI to hold workshop: As part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the national language, the regional office of the Food Corporation of India will organise a three-day workshop from February 23, according to a press note.

SAS NAGAR
Government's decision welcomed: The local Senior Citizens (Pensioners) Council has welcomed the decision of the Punjab Government to continue with the concessions being given to the senior citizens in the state. Mr H.K. Pathak, General Secretary of the council, said the main concessions were issuing of identity cards to senior citizens above 65 years of age, separate queues for senior citizens at the public dealing counters, marking of three seats in government-run buses and giving due respect to senior citizens in government offices. The council urged the state government to follow the Central Government in declaring persons above 60 years of age as senior citizens.

HARYANA

SONEPAT
Website launched: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, inaugurated the website of Jankidas Kapur Public School here on Monday. The website has been developed by the Group Computer Systems here.

Crushed: Mukesh Kumar, a student of Jajal village, was crushed to death by a bus on the Sonepat-Bahalgarh road near Garhi village, 8 km from here, on Monday. According to the police, the victim made an attempt to board a bus but fell down and was crushed to death. A case has been registered.

Injured: Mr Inderpal Singh, a local resident, sustained serious burns when a kerosene lamp fell on him while he was sitting in the bathroom of his house here on Monday. His condition was stated to be serious.

Expelled: Mr Braham Singh Dahiya, vice-president of the district unit of the BSP, has been expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years on account of his anti-party activities by supporting the CPM candidate.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KUMARHATTI
Smuggled wood seized: The police seized 16 logs of "tunni" wood from a jeep on Sunday at Subhathu. According to the police, the logs were seized during a special naka at the Subhathu chowk. The jeep was impounded and the driver Vinod Kumar, and his accomplice, Om Parkash, were arrested. A case under certain sections of the IFA and IPC has been registered.

Arrested: Basant Singh of Baddi was arrested and 60 gm of charas seized from him at Baddi on Sunday. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

Demonstration: Workers of Samtel Electronics held a demonstration on Monday against the decision of the company management to terminate two workers allegedly involved in illegal activities. The protesting workers demanded the reappointment of the two workers.