R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BARNALA
QUAKE RELIEF: Kendriya Vidyalaya, Air Force Station, Indian Medical Association (IMA), and Gandhi Arya Senior Secondary School (NSS unit) here have contributed Rs 74,000 towards the Gujarat relief fund.

BATHINDA
CAMPAIGN: The Women wing of the BJP will send its members for campaigning in Majitha byelection in support of the SAD-BJP candidate. This was decided at a meeting of the district presidents of the party. Ms Trishna Manhas, president of the state unit of the party, said on Thursday that volunteers from all over Punjab would hold rallies and meetings.

GUJARAT RELIEF: Members of the local Indian Medical Association, on Wednesday handed over a draft of Rs 2 lakh to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jaspal Singh, for the Gujarat earthquake victims. Volunteers of the local Young Blood Club has gone to Gujarat for undertaking relief works there.

LAW FORUM: Advocate Vasudev Aggarwal, president of the Peoples Law Forum (PLF), said in a press note issued here on Wednesday that the PLF would fight for the cause of the law and would check that law inforcing agencies do not violate the laws themselves. Mr Aggarwal said the PLF was a non-profit organisation and would act as a parent body for the law graduates. It would give them a platform to work for the public good. 

DERA BASSI
BLOOD DONATION: As many as 125 units of blood was donated by the students and the teachers of Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology here on Thursday, informed Mr Avtar Singh, Chairman of the Institution. 

JAGRAON
DHARNA: Municipal Council contractors, who had completed various work for the council have not been paid their outstanding amount of Rs 70 lakh even after a year. They staged a dharna on the Municipal Council campus and raised slogans against the officials. They alleged that their payment was not released till they paid “commission” to the officials. Mr Suraj Parkash, executive officer of the council, said they were unable to pay the amount due to the shortage of funds moreover, the Punjab Government had not paid their share of Rs 1.75 crore out of excise collection on liquor and Rs 13 lakh remains to be collected as rent from the shops of the council. The contractors have threatened to initiate legal action if their payment was not made within 15 days. 

KHAMANO
TOURIST COMPLEX: Ashoka Midway, a tourist complex, at Sanghol, near here, will be opened soon by the Managing Director, Punjab Tourism Development Corporation, Mr Sanjay Kumar. It has been made by the corporation and has been given on lease to a private contractor. 

SHO: Inspector Rajwinder Singh has taken charge as SHO of the Khamano police station. At his first meeting with prominent persons of the area, he appealed them to cooperate with the police to tackle the crime. 

LUDHIANA
APPOINTMENT: The Punjab Youth Congress vice-president, Mr Amarjit Singh Tikka, has hailed the appointment of Mr Subodh Kant Sahay, a former Union Home Minister, as Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee. In a statement here on Thursday, he said Mr Sahay would look after the party affairs of seven states, including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttaranchal, with his senior party colleague, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad. 

RELIEF MATERIAL: The Nishkam Sewa Ashram has sent one truck load of relief material to Morvi in Gujarat. According to a press note, the material comprised 1,525 blankets and shawls, 100 T-shirts, 150 underwears, 3,000 sweaters, 450 sarees, 2,000 shirts and trousers, 2,000 ladies suits and 2,500 pieces of children wear. In addition, non-perishable food items like sugar, pulses, flour, biscuits and utensils have also been sent. Mr Sarwan Kumar and Mr K.K. Sood have also accompanied the vehicle to ensure its proper distribution. 

CAMP: The Lions Club Ludhiana (Venus) organised a free bone marrow densitometry test camp at Kitchlu Nagar, on Wednesday. The camp was inaugurated by the region chairman of the club, Mr Yoginder Taneja. Dr Sandeep Chauhan, president of the club, said the camp was held to detect osteoporotic changes in adults after 40 years. The disease was more common in females. Nearly 150 patients were examined by Dr Anil Mittal. 

TALK: A lecture on “Inculcating reading habits in children” was organised at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, on Thursday. Ms Ravina Gandhi, Principal, GRD Academy, highlighted the advantages of inculcating reading habits. Ms Paramjit Kaur, Principal, was present on the occasion. 

MANDI GOBINDGARH
MEETING: A press reporters meeting will be held on February 17, to discuss “Challenges before Press reporters in public life” at Gymkhana Club. It has been organised by Mr Anil Suraj. The Deputy Commissioner of Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr B.S. Suddan, will be the chief guest. Press reporters of daily and weekly newspapers of the district will participate in the discussion. 

FLAYED: Complaints had been pouring in the office of the Steel Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on the alleged harassment of traders/industrialists at the hands of staff posted at the information centres by the Excise and Taxation Department Punjab. The chamber has urged the Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, at Patiala, in a memorandum to stop its officials from causing unnecessary harassment. 

MACHHIWARA
MAJITHA POLL: As many as 11 activists of circle Akali Jatha, Machhiwara, led by circle president Harjit Singh Shrian have left for Majitha, to campaign in the byelection, for the party candidate Mr Rajmohinder Singh Majitha. The group, including Mr Gurcharan Singh Mithewal, Chairman Market Committee, Sarpanch Joga Singh Sansowal Kalan and many others would enlighten the public about welfare policies and achievements of the ruling coalition. 

MALERKOTLA
ROBBERY FOILED: The local police on Wednesday registered a case against two robbers on the complaint of Mohd Arshad, Accounts Officer, of an industry situated on the Nabha road. Mr Arshad said he was coming from bank when two persons tried to rob him.

MOGA
PCO OWNERS: Over 300 PCO/STD owners in this district have on Thursday decided not to install coin collecting boxes in front of their respective units although the Telecom Department had directed them to install these boxes immediately or face disconnection.

MANSA
GOODS TRAIN: A goods train arrived at the local railway station from Budhlada leaving behind 17 oil tankers and a guard compartment on its way. The incident occurred at 4.05 am on Wednesday. The train driver came to know about it after reaching here. The local railway officials arranged to bring back these tankers and the guard compartment.

CRUSHED: Papu Singh (48) was crushed to death by the Janata Express, a train running between Ferozepore — Mumbai. The body was handed over to his parents after the postmortem.

CAUGHT: Surinder Pal Sharma, a revenue Kanungo, was caught red-handed by Mr Gurmail Singh Neor, DSP (Vigilance) while accepting a bribe of Rs 1,000 from Mr Gaja Singh of Daleywala village (Gulabgarh) in the district. He was produced before the Duty Magistrate, Ms Gurmeet Kaur, on Wednesday and sent to the judicial custody till February 27.

RESENTMENT: Resentment prevails among residents of the town as the District Telegraph and Telecom Centre have been shifted 3 km away from the city. People have demanded to shift this office on the premises of the sub-post office building of the town, from where the telegraph office was shifted.

NAWANSHAHR
CULTURAL PROGRAMME: The local R.K. Arya College organised its annual prize distribution function here on Wednesday. Dr L.R.Badhan, an old student, was the chief guest and Mr Prem Bhardwaj, president, managing committee, presided. The students presented a colourful cultural programme.

CONVENTION: A cluster-level literacy convention was held at the Panchayat Bhavan of a nearby Barnala village under the chairmanship of Mr Rachhpal Singh, Cluster Officer, on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by anganwari and literacy workers of Sauna, Barnala, Kulam, Durgarpur, Chuharpur, Mehandipur, Mubarakpur and Alachaur villages. They were urged to make efforts to achieve target of 100 per cent literacy.

CAMP: The local Blood Donors Council organised a blood grouping and haemoglobin testing camp at Government Middle School, Sauna, about 5 km from here, on Wednesday. Mr Jaspal Singh Gidda, President BDC, inaugurated the camp. Eighty students were examined in the camp.

PATHANKOT
DEAD: Ms Krishna Devi, mother of Mr Satya Paul Saini, a state Minister of Punjab, died here on Wednesday. She was 90. Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, president of the state unit of the BJP, Mr Mohan lal, Higher Education Minister of Punjab, and BJP workers joined the funeral on Wednesday.

PATIALA
CHECK-UP CAMP: As many as 966 patients were examined and 78 operated upon by Dr Sughdip Singh Boparai, Chief Consultant and the eye surgeon from the Patiala Eye Hospital, and Dr Kiran Verma at the second free eye check-up and operation camp held at Kal Banjara village from February 11 to 13. The camp was organised by Lala Niranjan Lal Mahajan Memorial Charitable Trust in collaboration with the Dashmesh Charitable Society to mark the eight death anniversary of late Lala Niranjan Lal Mahajan. 

CONTRIBUTED: Mr M.M. Sayal, Manager, Mr Arvind Gupta, Secretary, Education, and Mr R.K. Vashishta, Principal of the S.D.S.E. Senior Secondary School, presented a draft of Rs 27,300 on behalf of the staff and the students of the school to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to Mr Kharak Singh Cheema, DEO, to help the people of Gujarat. 

FREE MEDICAL CAMP: A free medical check-up camp was organised under the directions of the Labour Department in collaboration with the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Punjab Government at the Escorts Goetze Charitable Hospital in Bhadurgarh here. The camp was held by the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rameshwar Chander. 

HIGHLIGHTED: Senior officials of the district administration met at the Red Cross Hall to formulate a District Disaster Management Plan in a meeting held here under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir. Mr Bir highlighted four main objectives of the plan. Firstly, to understand the vulnerability of the district to disasters. Secondly, to ascertain the status of existing resources and facilities available with the various agencies involved in disaster management in the state. Thirdly, to assess their adequacies in dealing with a disaster and lastly, to identify the requirements of institutional strengthening and capacity building. 

PHAGWARA
DONATION: The Principal, teaching and non-teaching staff of the local Guru Nanak College had donated their one-day salary for the Gujarat quake relief. Mr Inderjit Singh, Principal said on Wednesday the contribution amounted to Rs 15,000.

SANGRUR
QUAKE RELIEF: Mr Amar Singh, a resident of Bapla village, near Jalwana in Malerkotla subdivision has contributed Rs 3 lakh towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The draft was handed over to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr G.K. Singh, on Tuesday.

CHANDIGARH

ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the CITCO Employees Welfare Association: President — Mr Baldev Raj; Vice-President — Mr Mahesh Giri; General Secretary — Mr Harjinder Singh; Joint Secretary — Mr Nek Ram; Cashier — Mr Mani Pal; and Press Secretary — Mr Swaran Singh. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
RECRUITMENT: The Superintendent of Police, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, said on Thursday that the process of selecting 75 police constables in Ambala will start from February 19. Mr Khirwar said that 70 men and five women will be selected. He said taht this time certain changes have been introduced in the selection process. The candidates will now have to deposit a draft of Rs 500 and the money will be deposited in the Haryana Police Welfare Fund. The fund will be utilised on the welfare measures of police personnel, a release said. He said that while the men candidates will be selected only for Haryana Armed Police, the women candidates will be selected for the district police as well as the Railway police. 

SURPRISE CHECK: A team of officials conducted a surprise check in Ambala regarding the process of census on Tuesday. The team consisting of Mr Krishan Kumar, Mr R.K. Kakkar, Mr Chandra Shekhar Sapru and Mr Vinod Babbar conducted a surprise check in which they went through the forms filled up by the enumerators in different parts of the district, a release said. The officials have suggested that the enumerators must note down the details as stated by the people. 

HELD: The police has nabbed four gamblers from Ambala Cantonment. The four persons, Ranjit Singh, Rakesh Swami, Mohan Singh and Harbhajan Singh were caught with Rs 13,500. A case has been registered against them. 

FIRE: A major fire in Sadar Bazar gutted two shops and dwelling units located above the shops on Tuesday night. The smoke coming out of the shops was first spotted by two beat constables at about 11.40 pm. A local shopkeeper immediately informed fire personnel, who sent fire tenders. The fire soon intensified and spread to dwelling units located on the shops. More fire tenders were called in from Panchkula, Air Force, Yamuna Nagar and Thanesar, which brought the blaze under control by 2.30 a.m. Two shops were completely gutted. Meanwhile, local shopkeepers claimed that the fire could have been brought under control earlier if the fire tenders of Ambala Cantt had been more effective. Among others, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police were also present at the site. 

FARIDABAD
QUAKE RELIEF: The judicial officers and employees of the local sessions division have contributed Rs 55,800 towards the relief of Gujarat earthquake victims. This was stated by the District and Sessions Judge, Mr Pritam Pal, here on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a special Lok Adalat will be held at mini secretariat here on February 24 to settle bank loan cases.

SONEPAT
KILLED: A motorcyclist was killed when he was hit by a Haryana Roadways bus on the Sonepat-Meerut road near Khewra village, about 13 km from here, on Wednesday.

BURN INJURIES: A housewife and her daughter sustained serious burn injuries when they made an attempt to extinguish the fire which broke out in their house at Khewra village, about 13 km from here, on Wednesday. According to a report, both of them were taken to a local civil hospital. The mother was shifted to the medical college hospital at Rohtak for further treatment.

CRIMINALS HELD: Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, SP, said here on Thursday that three criminals namely Anil Kumar of Kasrehti village, Sunil Kumar of Farmana village and Jai Parkash of Sewli village were arrested following the recovery of a countrymade pistol, a revolver, two cartridges and a knife from their possession. A case has been registered.

ARREST SOUGHT: A widow of Barwasni village has demanded immediate arrest of the culprit who had assaulted her while she was asleep in her house on Saturday.

REOPENS: After a 13-day closure, the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) reopened here on Thursday on the orders of the District Magistrate, Mr Sudhir Rajpal. The ITI was closed down for an indefinite period on February 2 after the incidents of arson.

YAMUNANAGAR
ARRESTED: The police has arrested a CID Inspector on a charge of attempting to sodomise Sudha, working in a canteen of mini secretariat. The inspector has been remanded to judicial custody till February 28.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION: Mrs Anuradha, Director, Higher Education, Haryana, has applauded the role of women in the development of the society. She was speaking at the annual prize distribution function of Hindu Girls College, Jagadhri, on Wednesday. She also inaugurated a new administrative block of the college.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
HEARTCARE CAMP: ACC Cement Factory, Barmana, near here will organise a heartcare camp at its hospital in collaboration with Escorts Heartcare and Research Centre, New Delhi on Sunday. This was stated by the factory manager, Mr A.K. Mahajan, on Thursday.

JAWALAMUKHI
DROWNED: A 24-year-old fisherman Desh Raj of Bhatoli Fakorian was drowned in Maharana Partap Sagar Dam on Thursday. Desh Raj had gone there for fishing. The body is yet to be fished out.

SCHOLARSHIPS: The Director Education, Dr Prem Kumar, said here on Thursday that the government would award scholarships to those who go to primary schools at far away places following the closer of the schools in their area. While addressing the students of a local Senior Secondary School, after laying the foundation stone of purposed educational block, he said students would be given Rs 20-25 per month as travelling expenses. This would encourage parents to send their children to school regularly, he added.

KULU
SENTENCED: The Additional Chief Judicial Judge, Mr A.C. Dhaliwa, on Thursday sentenced Kulbir Sharma for six months imprisonment for selling unbranded turmeric powder. He was also awarded an additional six months sentence for selling foodgrains without valid licence.

CONTRABAND SEIZED: Mr N. Venugopal, SP, said here on Thursday that 40 kg of hashish had been seized during the past 45 days and 20 persons arrested. He said 2.425 kg of charas was seized in two separate cases on Wednesday.