R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
SEMINAR: A two-day seminar on “Study of Folklore and Culture” was organised at the conference hall of Guru Nanak Dev University by the School of Punjabi Studies of the university. Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, presided over the inaugural session.

BATALA
INAUGURATED: Mr Jagdish Sawhney, local BJP MLA, inaugurated the construction work of streets and roads of Kali Barnian village, 6 km from here, on the Batala-Kahnuwan road, on Tuesday. Mr Sawhney said an amount of Rs 1.5 lakh would be spent on construction work in this village.

DEMANDED: Mr Mohan Singh Saggu, president of the Batala mandal of the BJP, has condemned the withdrawal of security cover provided to Mr Uma Shankar, a veteran RSS leader. Mr Saggu on Tuesday demanded the restoration of the security cover.

BATHINDA
EYE CAMP: The local Divine Eye Research Foundation (DERF) organised an eye camp and an eye donation awareness programme at Seva Bharti Hospital here. This was stated by Mr Rakesh Narula, president of the DERF, here on Tuesday.

FARIDKOT
APPEAL: Mr A. Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, has appealed the farmers to bring cleaned and dry crop of wheat to ensure proper procurement. He said a number of complaints made by various state government purchasing agencies had been received during the past few days regarding the arrival of moistured and uncleaned produce in the mandis.

URGED: The All-India Lok Bhalai Party has urged the Punjab Government to impose sales tax on the grocery items at the initial stage to give relief to the grocers in the state. This was stated by Mr Gurtek Singh Sidhu, a member of the party’s central working body, here on Wednesday.

GURDASPUR
QUACK HELD: The police has arrested Kulbhushan, a medical practitioner without an authorised licence to practice, from Dorangla. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said the clinic of the quack had been sealed.

HOSHIARPUR
FIRE: Fire broke out at a sports shop located in the Gurain Gate locality here on Tuesday. On receiving information, the municipal fire brigade reached the spot and controlled the fire within half an hour.

VOTERS’ LIST: An intensive revision of voters’ lists will be carried out in Ward No. 7 of the Haryana Municipal Council on the basis of eligibility on January 1, 2001. This was stated by Mr Paramjit, SDM, here on Monday.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been nominated office-bearers of the district unit of the BJYM: vice-presidents — Mr Prithvi Raj, Mr Sudhir Sharma and Mr Neter Chand; general secretary — Mr Sunil Kaliai, secretaries — Mr Jaswinder Singh, Mr Balvinder Singh and Mr Kuldip; and treasurer — Mr Sudhir Gupta.

KAPURTHALA
FATHER, SONS BOOKED: The kotwali police on Sunday registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and Section 25/54/59 of the Indian Arms Act against Sardara Singh and his three sons, Baghel Singh, Balwinder Singh and Mandeep Singh of Chiragpur village, on the charge of murdering Lakhbir Singh (50) and Manjit Singh (35). The suspects are absconding

KHAMANO
PENSION FORMS: Filling up of pension forms was in full swing here on Tuesday. Long queues of old men and women were seen in the civil courts complex. 

DRUG ABUSE: Medicines and narcotics were being used in this belt in full swing. All political, social and welfare committees demanded stern action against this evil. Sources said some policemen were in connivance with smugglers.

LUDHIANA
FORUM'S APPEAL: The Lal Bahadur Shastri Social Forum on Wednesday appealed to the Education Minister and the Chief Minister to put a check on the amount of fee, funds and donations being levied by public schools in the state. Stating this in a press note, Mr Sushil Malhotra, president of the forum, said the students were being charged exorbitantly and no receipts were being issued for the donations. Alleging embezzlement of funds by the managements, Mr Malhotra appealed that the Income Tax Department must make enquiries into the affairs of some CBSE schools of the city. 

GOVT, PAU FLAYED: A meeting of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Employees Federation, Punjab, was held here on Monday, which was presided over by Mr Achhra Singh Lapran. Various speakers flayed the Akali- BJP government for its anti-Dalit policies. Punjab Agricultural University was also criticised with regard to admission of Dalit students to the veterinary course. 

CONTEST TODAY: Students from over 15 schools will participate in an inter-school extempore contest to be organised at Kundan Vidya Mandir by the Vardhman Spinning and General Mills Limited on Thursday. Actress Renuka Shahane, will be the guest of honour. 

PENSIONER'S BODY: The following have been elected office-bearers of the joint action committee of the PSEB Pensioners Association: convener — Mr Mohan Singh (Batala), Secretary — Mr S.K. Kapoor (Ludhiana) — secretary and members — Mr Parduman Singh (Ropar), Mr Lakhan Pal (Nangal), Mr Nasib Singh (Ropar), Mr D.L. Sehgal and Mr Sohan Lal (Jalandhar), Mr Gurmail Singh (Ludhiana), and Mr V.N. Sharma (Patiala). 

MANSA
DEMANDED: Farmers have expressed resentment over the non-procurement of barley and mustard and have demanded that both state and Central governments should start purchasing these crops. They alleged that in the absence of government procurement agencies, they were not getting the minimum support price for their crops.

ELECTROCUTED: An assistant lineman of the PSEB was electrocuted on Tuesday at Phaphre Bhaike village in the district. According to the information, assistant lineman Raghu Nath of Bhikhi subdivision of the PSEB was repairing the electric wires when he came in contact with a live electric wire and died on the spot.

LIMIT RAISED: Mr Balraj Singh Bhundar, Managing Director of the Mansa Central Cooperative Bank said here on Wednesday that the Punjab Government had increased the cash credit limit for the farmers to Rs 10 crore. An insurance scheme had also been introduced, he added.

NAWANSHAHR
INAUGURATED: Mr Sarwan Singh, Welfare Minister, Punjab, inaugurated a primary school building at Gahil Mazari village, about 20 km from here, on Tuesday. He also inaugurated a Dharamshala building at Shekhupur village. The minister announced a grant of Rs 1,50,000 for the construction of drains, streets and “janj ghar” at Gahil Mazari village.

COMMEMORATION: The Basiala circle of Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana, will commemorate the 100th death anniversary of Giani Ditt Singh, founder of Singh Sabha Lehar. This was stated by Mr Gurcharan Singh, in charge of the Basiala circle of the college, here on Tuesday.

SAMRALA
FIRST POSITION: Mr Anarvir Singh, son of Mr Lachhman Singh Rai, former President of the local Bar Association, has secured first position in LL.B. IX Semester FYIC, from Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus, Jalandhar. This information was received through a certificate issued by Mr Daljit Singh, Director cum of Head of the Department of Law College, Jalandhar. 

PENSION CASES: Mr Sandeep Hans, the SDM Samrala, has sanctioned 552 cases of old-age pensions, widows and handicapped category, at a function held at Gurdwara Charankanwal Sahib, Machhiwara, which was presided over by Mr Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha. On this occasion, 62 cheques of shagan scheme were also distributed to the Dalit families by Mr Atwal. 

SAD OFFICE: The office of Shiromani Akali Dal was inaugurated by Jathedar Kirpal Singh Khirnian, member SGPC, at Bija chowk village on Tuesday. This office will remain open on every Friday from 10 am to 3 pm, according to Mr Manjeet Singh Daheru, press secretary of Mr Khirnian. 

TARN TARAN
CONDOLENCE MEETING: Several employees organisations have expressed their condolences over the death of Hari Singh, who was the president of the Government Class IV Employees Union and chairman of the Punjab Anti-Corruption Forum. A meeting of different organisations held here on Tuesday, under the presidentship of Mr Ajit Singh, appreciated his contribution to the trade union movement.

CHANDIGARH

STUDENT BODY FORMED: The Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers Student Forum (IETESF), a student body in Shaheed Udham Singh College, was launched here on Wednesday. Dr R.P. Bajpai, Director of the CSIO, who was the chief guest, highlighted the importance of biotechnology and asked the students to work in the emerging field. Dr R.S. Prasad of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, spoke on the emerging field of optical communications. The office-bearers of the forum are: Counsellor — Navita Sekhon; Chairman — Aditya Sawhney; Secretary — Nitin Bhayana; and Treasurer —Sumita Malik.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CITIZENS COUNCIL: The Citizens Council has demanded action against the supply of substandard food articles. The council has demanded that defaulters be suitably punished. Besides, people should check the expiry date printed on the article bought for consumption. The council has expressed concern on a number of sub-standard food articles reaching the market, a role said. 

GANG BUSTED: The police has busted a gang of robbers who stole goods from residential areas during day time. Two persons, Ajay alias Rajan and Shiklingam, have been arrested in this regard. According to police, the accused admitted during interrogation that they were involved in thefts at Mahesh Nagar, Model Town, Baldev Nagar and Badsahibagh areas. The police has also recovered some valuables from their possession. 

PROSTITUTION RACKET: The police has succeeded in busting a prostitution racket here on Monday evening. According to SP, Ambala, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, four persons, including a girl, Rani Devi were nabbed red-handed from a house in urban estate in Ambala City. In another raid, Manjit Kaur and Sudarshan Kumar were nabbed from the house of a property dealer. The police has registered two separate cases in this regard. 

BHIWANI
WATER SCARCITY: Various social organisations and residents of the old grain market here, have complained of the acute shortage of drinking water prevailing for the past several days. The residents informed that the water supply had been disrupted for the past 20 days and threatened to gherao the SDM’s office if it was not restored within a week.

DIED: Naresh (20) of Patwan village, succumbed to his injuries at the Civil Hospital here. He was injured in a road accident on Monday.

FATEHABAD
GROUP CLASH: Four persons, Sultan, Bhupender, Suresh and Jitender, were injured in a group clash over a piece of agricultural land at Baropal village in the district on Tuesday. The injured have been admitted to the local General Hospital with bullet injuries. The police has registered a case under Section 307 of the IPC on their complaint.

DIRECTED: The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Mewa Singh, has directed the police to register a case under the Dowry Act against the in-laws of a married woman, Mrs Seema Rani of Mohammad Pur Rohi village in the district. She had filed a petition in the court in which she alleged that her husband Leelu, mother-in-law Patasi Devi and brothers-in-law Subhash and Rakesh harassed her for bringing insufficient dowry.

ROHTAK
CASE SOLVED: With the arrest of Ombir of Kharhar village on Monday, the Bahadurgarh police claims to have solved the case of murder of a 15-year-old boy, Sandeep, on Sunday. The suspect has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

SONEPAT
FIRE: Two buffaloes sustained serious burn injuries as fire broke out at Rathdhanna village, about 5 km from here, on Tuesday. The municipal fire brigade rushed to the site and controlled the fire. A short circuit is said to be the cause of the fire.

7 HELD: The police, during a special campaign, has arrested seven persons on the charge of smuggling liquor and seized 78 bottles of country-made liquor and five litres of illicit liquor from their possession. This was stated by Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, SP, here on Wednesday. Those arrested have been identified as Randhir Bairagi of Ram Nagar, Dilbagh, alias Tunda of Nandnaur village, Govardhan of Asadpur village, Amrik Singh of Rakashhera village, Jaipal of Kundal village, Hans Raj, alias Hanse, of Mor Kheri village, and Sant Ram of Gopalpur village. Cases under the Excise Act have been registered.

YOUTH INJURED: A youth, Mohinder, was allegedly assaulted with sharp-edged weapons by five youths in the Dev Nagar area here on Tuesday. The assailants, allegedly under the influence of liquor, knocked the door of a woman’s house around midnight. The woman raised an alarm, hearing which Mohinder reached the spot and tried to intervene. Thereupon, he was attacked and got injured. The assailants managed to escape after the incident.

THEFT: Thieves reportedly entered the house of a bank employee after breaking the locks at the Eight-Marla colony here on Tuesday and decamped with some cash and a few articles. A case has been registered.

SUCCUMBED: A milk vendor, who was seriously injured in a road accident, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Delhi on Tuesday. He was coming to the city on his motorcycle when he was hit by a Tata 407 on the Sonepat-Bahalgarh road.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHIMLA
HIMACHAL DAY: A state-level Himachal Day function will be celebrated at Rampur in the district on April 15. The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, will preside over the function.