R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Lecture: A lecture on "Globalisation, Urbanisation, market Economy and Loss of Sovereignty of the Third World" was held here recently at the Department of Political Science, Guru Nanak Dev University. Dr B.S. Bolaria, Professor of Sociology, University of Sasakatoon, Canada, spoke on the occasion.

BARNALA
Poppy husk seized: The district police seized 38 kg of poppy husk and 384 bottles of liquor in the district on Thursday. Seven persons were held in this connection.

Appointment: Ms Kamlesh Sharma, a member of the local Improvement Trust, has been appointed president of the BJP Mahila Mandal Morcha, here according to a press note issued on Thursday.

BATHINDA
Strike: Members of the Punjab State Engineering College Teachers Federation observed a strike on Thursday in protest against the delay in implementation of the revised pay scales.

Appointed: Mr Yadwinder Singh has been appointed president, Youth Congress, Bathinda district. Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, he said the new body would be constituted within three weeks.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
Decision upheld: The Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has upheld the decision of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in connection with the compensation of Rs 2,500 to be given by the Department of Telecommunications to Mr Baljit Singh of Sirhind. Baljit Singh, said although he had paid his telephone bill yet the department disconnected it.

FEROZEPORE
Bribery case: Sanjeev Kumar Garg, an Assistant Engineer working with the Northern Railway and presently posted here, was caught red-handed by a team of the Vigilance Bureau on Thursday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from Mr Jatinder Kumar Sharma, a building contractor. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered.

Open darbar: An open darbar was organised at Jibhi village in Banjar subdivision on Thursday. Mr S.R. Thakur, Additional Deputy Commissioner, presided.

GARHSHANKAR
Two killed: Amit Malik and Punit Komal, who were Godrej employees based in Chandigarh, were killed in a head-on collision between their car and a truck at Saila near here. A case has been registered. The truck driver has absconded.

GURDASPUR
Travel agent held: Kashmir Singh, a travel agent of Chhoti Pandori area in the district, has been arrested for allegedly taking money from unemployed youths on the promise of sending them to Malaysia. A case under Section 420, IPC, has been registered.

Bills through drafts: Resentment prevails among PCO owners against the insistence of the Department of Telecommunication to pay them through drafts against bills exceeding Rs 2,500. Mr Janak Raj, a PCO holder, has complained to the Chief General Manager (Telecom), Punjab circle, Chandigarh, in this connection but to no avail.

JALANDHAR
Eye check-up camp: A free eye check-up-cum-operation camp was organised at Atwal Hospital, Dhogri Road, here on Thursday. medicines were given free of cost to patients.

KHARAR
Dhanoa is Notary Public: Mr Avtar Singh Dhanoa, an advocate, has been appointed Notary Public for Kharar subdivision, according to an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar. The copy of the order was received here on Friday

Agitation threat over power cuts: The Bhartiya Kisan Union, Ropar, alleged on Friday that the Punjab State Electricity Board was imposing power cuts on electricity supply from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in villages, causing inconvenience to villagers. Mr Shamsher Singh, president of the unit and others, in a press note, threatened to start an agitation if the board did not stop these power cuts.

Lawyers’ strike continues: The local advocates observed a strike on the second day on Friday to protest against the proposed amendments in the CPC by the Union Government. The advocates criticised the lathicharge on advocates in Delhi on Thursday. They decided to observe strike on Saturday also.

LUDHIANA
Flower show: A flower show organised by the Department of Floriculture was inaugurated on Thursday by Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University. Various organisations dealing in flower seeds and garden tools took part in the two-day show.

Bulletin released: A Punjabi bulletin "Gatha Parmanu Sakti Di" written by Mr Mewa Singh Gill, a former MP, was released by Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, on Thursday.

MALERKOTLA
Arrested: The local police has recovered 20 kg of poppy husk from Melo, wife of Dalip Singh of Ahmedgarh. A case under Sections 15, 61 and 85, NDPC Act, has been registered.

Suicide: Gurdial Singh (40) of Sabadi village committed suicide near Rohira railway station here on Wednesday by allegedly jumping in front of a train. A case has been registered.

Suspended: The Director, Food Supplies, Mr D. Brijlingum, has suspended three AFSOs and three inspectors while checking samples of paddy here on Wednesday.

Revenue adalat: A revenue adalat was held at Amargarh and Ahmedgarh in the local subdivision on February 18 and 22, respectively, to dispose of cases related to driving licences.

PATIALA
Colony committee: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Dhillon Colony Welfare Committee: Patron — Dr R.K. Garg; President — Mr K.K. Kaushal; Vice-President — Mr Harinderpal Singh; Secretary — Mr Pawan Goyal; Legal Advisor — Mr Surinder Gupta and Treasurer — Mr Sushil Kumar.

Powermen’s body: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab Power Employees Federation: Chairman — Mr B.M. Singh; President — Mr Devinder Singh; General Secretary — Mr Jagroop Singh and Finance Secretary — Mr Surmukh Singh.

Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Patiala Allopathic Practitioners Association: Patron — Dr O.P.S. Kande; President — Dr Sukhir Pathak; Secretary — Dr Jagbir Singh and Finance Secretary — Dr Ashok Gupta.

Medical camp: The Sardarni Balbir Kaur Charitable Trust, in collaboration with the Sadhu Basant Community Care Centre, Sular, (Patiala), Rotary Club, Patiala, Inner Wheel Club and Lions Club, Patiala Central, will organise a free medical camp at Community Centre, Basti Daru Kutia, on Sunday.

PATHANKOT
Crushed to death: Two women on a moped were crushed to death by a truck near Mulkara bridge on Wednesday. A case has been registered.

PHAGWARA
Mishap: Ram Parshad was killed and six were injured, including two women, in a collision involving a truck, two scooters, two cars, a tempo and a cycle near the sugar mill chowk on the GT Road on Thursday. The truck was impounded and the driver arrested.

CHANDIGARH

Chart-making: The Biology Association of Government College for Girls, Sector 42, organised an inter-college chart-making competition in collaboration with the Indian Association of Biology Teachers (Colleges), on Friday. The Principal of the college, Ms Mohini Sharma, inaugurated the competition. Winners in the botany category were Jaya Laxmi (1), Gouri Ningthojam (2) and Gurpreet Sidhu (3). In zoology category, Sarita (1) Sapna (2) and Ishpreet Malhotra (3) were the winners

SBI association: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local unit of the State Bank of India Staff Association: Chairman — Mr Vinod Sharma; Vice-President — Mr D.S. Puri; Secretary — Mr Verinder Sikka; Assistant Secretary — Ms Sita Aggarwal; Treasurer — Mr M.L. Gupta and Assistant Treasurer — Mr Gurdev Singh.

PANCHKULA
Farewell function: Final-year B.Com students of Government Degree College in Sector 1 were given a warm sendoff at a function held in the college on Thursday. The function began with a skit by second-year students. A cultural programme was held, which included songs, dances, mono-acting and poetry recitation. Titles were awarded to students to sum up their special characteristics. The Principal, Mr V.K. Madan, urged students to take right decisions in life. The organisers thanked their seniors for their support.

HARYANA

FARIDABAD
Gang busted: The police has arrested three members of an inter-state gang of criminals, who had committed thefts in the town and other parts of Haryana. They were identified as Pappu and Vinod Kumar of Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) and Raj Singh of Panipat.

SIRSA
Sentenced: The Additional District and Sessions Judge has sentenced four persons to four years' imprisonment and fined them Rs 1,000 each in an assault case. A case had been registered in this connection on a complaint by Bhagwan Das of Kuttabarh village against Rangu Ram, his son Mahender Singh, Baj Singh and his son Fateh Singh.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

NAHAN
Awareness drive: Experts from local NGOs visited more than 12 villages of the district on Thursday to create awareness among people regarding the ill-effects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

KANGRA
Gratitude expressed: The Himachal Pradesh Schoolteachers Association has expressed its gratitude to the Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board for accepting some of its demands.

KULU
Training imparted: More than 200 awareness guides have been imparted training by the District Literacy Committee during the month. This was stated by the secretary of the district literacy committee here on Thursday.

PARWANOO
Charas seized: About 1.34 kg of charas worth Rs 50,000 was seized by the police from Hem Raj of Chamrog village, Shimla district. A case has been registered under Section 20, NDPS Act.