R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

FEROZEPORE
BOOKED: The Vigilance Bureau here has booked Baldev Singh, a Deputy Collector, Irrigation Department (Ferozepore), under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1,000 from Mr Nishan Singh of Golewala village, Faridkot district in return doing a favour.

GURDASPUR
DIGGING BANNED: Mr B. Vikram, District Magistrate, on Friday banned digging of soil for the manufacture of bricks by brick-kilns along the Chakki river beyond the Chakki bridge up to the limit of the district. This was because in this area the Chakki river was changing its course towards the national highway.

JALANDHAR
ONE ARRESTED: The SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, said here on Friday that Satnam Singh of Santokhpura Mohalla here, was arrested and four scooters were recovered from him. He was produced before the magistrate, who remanded him in police custody for two days. A case has been registered under Section 379/411/467, IPC.

KHARAR
CASE REGISTERED: As per a complaint of the district administration to the SSP, Ropar, the Kharar police has registered a case under Sections 379, 409 and 120 B against two employees of the Revenue Department on the charge of theft of record of consolidation of land of Madanheri village in Kharar tehsil. In the complaint it was mentioned that the record of the consolidation of land was handed over to Harpal Singh on August 3, 1995, and after that on this post another patwari Paramjit Singh was posted. Paramjit Singh issued attested copies of this record but later on the record was found missing.

MOGA
RESENTMENT: Residents here expressed resentment over the low voltage and frequent breakdowns in the city. They complained that the electronic appliances were not functioning properly.

PATIALA
APPOINTMENT: The executive committee of the World Sikh Intellectual Council has hailed the appointment of Mr Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu as the new Chairman of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board. In a press release, the council president, Mr Baldev Singh Balluana and secretary, Col. S.S. Nishan, lauded the appointment. The council assured full cooperation to Mr Sandhu regarding the affairs of the PSSSB.

NEW PROGRAMMES: Twentytwo new programmes catering to different sections of society, including a regional news bulletin, have been introduced by the Patiala station of the All India Radio. According to a press release of the AIR, the broadcasting hours have also been increased from 6 hours to 13 hours daily and the number of transmissions have also been increased from two to three per day.

SUMMER CAMP: Scientology summer camp 2000 concluded with a function organised by the scientology centre, Patiala, here in Thapar Auditorium on Saturday. The month-long summer camp on scientology, which means “knowing how to know answers”, taught 110 children to improve their ability and to resolve their problems. The chief guest, Mr R.C. Gupta, member, Punjab Public Service Commission, praised the scientology centre, in its effort to imbibe a sense of pride, honesty and courage among the children through scientology techniques.

ROPAR
MEMORANDUM: A function was held at the Kisan Haveli in Anandpur Sahib on Friday where sarpanches of about 20 villages presented a memorandum to the SDM, Mr P.S. Sahota, commending the services of the district Telecom Department.

CHANDIGARH

PLANTATION CAMPAIGN: A tree plantation campaign was launched by the State Bank of India to observe the State Bank Day at Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management. Around 150 saplings of various plants, including Arrocaria, Silver Oak, Ashoka and Gulmohar were planted. Mr Naveen Kumar Nanchahal, Principal of the institute, while inaugurated the campaign.

SCHOOL OPEN: St Anne’s Convent School will open on July 10 instead of July 3, said a communique of the school. The faculty is to report on July 8 at 9.30 am and the first unit test will be held on July 11.

MEDICAL CAMP: The Chandigarh Press Club will organise a free medical camp for women and children on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The team of doctors invited includes Dr Mangala Dogra, Dr Rashmi Singh, Dr Minoo Bawa and Dr Avneet Kaur. The camp is open to all women members, wives and children of other members.

IETE CHAIRMAN: The 23 rd annual general meeting of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), Chandigarh centre, was held here last night to elect the new office bearers of the executive council for the years 2000--2001. The newly council is: chairman— Wg Cdr D.N. Misra (retd); secretary — Mr V.P. Giridhar; and treasurer — Mr P.K. Goel. The other members of council are: Wg Cdr K.D.S. Bali (retd), Dr R.S. Prasad, Mr D.P. Goel, Mr B.K. Sharma, Mr R.C. Arora, Mr A.K. Paul and Wg Cdr Gurmail Singh (retd).

TREKKING TEAM: The District Youth Coordinator of the Nehru Yuva Kendra, Mr Gurmail Singh Bajwa, recently flagged off a five-member trekking team of the Chandigarh Adventure Club to the Garhwal Himalayas. The team, consisting of Amarjit Singh, Jitender, Sumit Upadhyaya, Aman, Deep Singh and Samrat Kanodia, will cover a distance of 250 km in 10 days.

ADMISSION: Admission to B.Com, BCA and BBA courses for the academic session 2000-2001 in all colleges affiliated to the Panjab University and having these courses will be held college wise and strictly on merit basis and other prescribed eligibility criteria. Admission to these courses will be held as per the reservation policies of the State for UT Chandigarh and Punjab separately. The reservation policy for UT Chandigarh will be followed by the colleges situated in Chandigarh and students would be admitted in the colleges of Punjab as per policy framed for Punjab, a press note stated.

HOSTEL WARDENS: Panjab University has appointed three new part-time wardens for its hostels for the next session. Mrs Veena Sachdeva from the Department of History has been given the charge of Sarojini Hall girls hostel. Mrs Manju Jaidka from the Department of Physics and Mr S.K. Deweshwar from the Department of Punjabi will look after Laxmibai Hall and the boys hostel - II, respectively.

RESOLUTION: The Kashmiri Sahayak Sabha, Chandigarh, has strongly condemned the passing of controversial resolution of autonomy by the Jammu and Kashmir legislature. In a statement, Mr J.K. Raina, general secretary of the sabha, said that the National Conference was trying to destabilise the country under the instructions of its overseas masters. Instead of making concrete efforts to bring peace and normalcy in the state and rehabilitating the Kashmiri migrants, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has preferred to go ahead with implementing such evil designs.

SAS NAGAR
STABBED: Three youths were stabbed by 10 unidentified persons in Silvy Park in Phase X here on Friday evening. According to information, the youths — Jaswinder, Amanpreet and Vikramjeet — all residents of Housefed Colony in Phase X, were strolling in the park when they were attacked. The seriously injured persons were rushed to the Sector 32 Government Hospital, Chandigarh.

HARYANA

FARIDABAD
CAMP: A grievance redress camp was organised at Mindkola village in the Hathin block on Thursday. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, presided.

KAITHAL
LOK ADALAT: About 10 cases relating to power disputes were settled at a Lok Adalat headed by the president of the District Consumer Redressal Forum, Mr H.K. Mudgil, here on Friday.

REWARI
CONVICT ESCAPES: Khem Ram, a farmer of Shahpur village, about 15 km from here, has escaped from the revenue lock-up of Bawal tehsil. A case has been registered under various sections of the IPC.

ROHTAK
CASES REGISTERED: As many as two cases were registered on Friday under Sections 8 and 9 of the Prison Act against two prisoners on the charge of breaking parole. According to police sources, Rajpal and Rajender were lodged in the district jail and were released on parole for two and four weeks, respectively, but failed to report back.

FINANCIAL HELP: The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) has got first place in the state for providing financial help to persons under the self employment scheme last year. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.K. Khullar.

SIRSA
SUICIDE: A girl committed suicide by allegedly consuming poison. According to information received on Saturday, Durga of Bhadra Bazar consumed pesticides on having failed in class XII examinations.

DIED: Two persons died in different accidents in the district. According to information on Saturday, an Army truck dashed against a tree near Panniwala Mota village when a cow came in its way, killing jawan Nayab Dharampal who fell out of the truck due to the impact. In another accident near Tanteanwali village Gandeep of Bhediawali village died as his scooter collided with a jeep.

WATER SHORTAGE: Resentment prevails among residents against the Public Health Department for water scarcity in some parts of the city. The health authorities said water shortage was because of low voltage.

BODIES FOUND: Two bodies were recovered in the district, according to information received on Saturday. The body of a young man was found on the Civil Hospital road and the other was of an old man. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examinations.

ARRESTED: The district police has arrested Kartar Singh of Baragudha village under the NDPC Act while trying to smuggle opium into the district jail, according to information given by Jail Superintendent S.S. Galaout on Friday.

SONEPAT
NEW POLICE STATIONS: The Haryana Government has opened three police stations at Murthal, Kundli and Civil Lines in the district. According to the notification issued by the state government, the police stations have started functioning from Saturday and Mr Siri Krishan Sharma, Mr Ram Phal and Mr Ram Dhan have been appointed as the new SHOs.

ARRESTED: The Kharkhauda police on Saturday arrested Jassa of Kundal village in connection with the murder of Narinder, a youth of the same village, three days ago. In another case of double murder at Khandrai village of Gohana police arrested Sanjay, Sunil and Sumit, raising the number of arrests to 10. A financial dispute was the main cause behind the killing.

YAMUNANAGAR
SUM ALLOCATED: A sum of Rs 9.86 crore has been allocated for providing clean drinking water and sewerage facility to different villages in the district under a special campaign launched by the central government. This was stated by Mr Rajiv Sharma, Deputy Commissioner.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
FUNCTION: A "samman samaroh" was organised by the district BJP unit on Friday in honour of those leaders who suffered in jails during Emergency. The Himachal Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr Jagat Prakash Nadda, presided.

CHAMBA
LITERACY CAMP: A legal literacy camp was organised at Mangla village in the district on Thursday under the chairmanship of Mr J.L. Gupta, District and Sessions Judge. About 300 persons participated.

SENTENCED: Mr J.L. Gupta, Sessions Judge, on Friday sentenced Laloo Ram of Tikabani, Dharamsala tehsil, to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fined him Rs 1 lakh under the NDPS Act.

KULU
ARRESTED: Prem Kumar has been arrested for possessing drugs near Nigam village on Friday. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act and he has been remanded in police custody.